Jun 29 2009
Bible Study Week 33 - Pressing Toward The Mark
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Purpose of This Bible Study Lesson
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This lesson will lead you to understand that God’s primary purpose is to conform you to the image of His Son, who is the Author and Finisher of your faith.
Learning Goals
This lesson will guide the participants to:-
- Discover the purpose of being conformed to Christ’s image
- Discover the process of being conformed to Christ’s image.
- Discover the importance of being an image-bearer of Jesus Christ
Introduction
In the book of Genesis we learn that when God created human beings, He wanted them to have His image; He said “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. . . And God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them” (Gen 1:26Gen 1:26
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the heavens, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
a-27). Man was therefore meant to bear God’s image but sadly that image was distorted by sin and that image now appears as though being seen through a shattered mirror. It is only when we are reconciled back to God through His Son Jesus Christ do we gain the original image.
Begin Today’s Lesson by Reading: Romans 8:1-17Romans 8:1-17
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
8
1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus.
2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus made me free from the law of sin and of death.
3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God, sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
4 that the ordinance of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
5 For they that are after the flesh mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
6 For the mind of the flesh is death; but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace:
7 because the mind of the flesh is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can it be:
8 and they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
9 But ye are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you. But if any man hath not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
10 And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the spirit is life because of righteousness.
11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwelleth in you, he that raised up Christ Jesus from the dead shall give life also to your mortal bodies through his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
12 So then, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh:
13 for if ye live after the flesh, ye must die; but if by the Spirit ye put to death the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.
15 For ye received not the spirit of bondage again unto fear; but ye received the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
16 The Spirit himself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are children of God:
17 and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with [him], that we may be also glorified with [him].
, Gal 5:22-23Gal 5:22-23
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 meekness, self-control; against such there is no law.
and James 3:13-17James 3:13-17
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
13 Who is wise and understanding among you? let him show by his good life his works in meekness of wisdom.
14 But if ye have bitter jealousy and faction in your heart, glory not and lie not against the truth.
15 This wisdom is not [a wisdom] that cometh down from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.
16 For where jealousy and faction are, there is confusion and every vile deed.
17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without variance, without hypocrisy.
Conforming to Christ’s Image
The English dictionary defines the opposite of conform as “rebel” and that is exactly what the Adam race has become, a people who have rebelled against God’s plans. In Rom 8:29Rom 8:29
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
29 For whom he foreknew, he also foreordained [to be] conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren:
Paul gives an assurance to believers in Rome about God’s conforming work in them by saying that “For whom he foreknew, he also foreordained to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren:”. Paul realized that Adams race is a corrupted race, but Christ’s race is a special race of whom the apostle Peter writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit said of this race that “But ye are an elect race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, that ye may show forth the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light” (1 Pet 2:91 Pet 2:9
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
9 But ye are a elect race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for [God's] own possession, that ye may show forth the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
).
The purpose of being conformed to Christ’s image therefore is so that we “may show forth the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness” to become a beacon of light in a dark and desperate world.
The process of being conformed to the image of Christ is not an easy one because it involves the total surrender of our will to the will of God. The starting point is to yield our hearts to God fully and seek Him with all our being. Again the task is made harder because our faith is being tested by the various trials that we undergo, just as Peter warned us saying “In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you have to suffer various kinds of trials, so that the genuineness of your faith, which is more valuable than gold that perishes when it is tested by fire, may result in praise, glory, and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.” (1 Peter 1:6-71 Peter 1:6-7
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, ye have been put to grief in manifold trials,
7 that the proof of your faith, [being] more precious than gold that perisheth though it is proved by fire, may be found unto praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ:
).
Purification is a process that God uses to remove the dirt and dross of the impurities in our faith which is compared to Gold; and to the believer suffering acts as a purification process.
When Christ was confronted by the Pharisees about whether to pay taxes to Caesar or not, He asked them to show Him a coin, and looking at it, He asked them whose image was engraved on the coin and they replied that it had an image of Caesar. This settled the whole matter when He told them “render unto Ceaser the things that are Caesar’s, and unto God the things that are God’s”. We also bear an image of God and we therefore belong to God, because He has reconciled us to Himself through His Son.
Bible Study Questions For Discussion - Week 33
- What are the eight virtues that come from above according to James 3:17James 3:17
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without variance, without hypocrisy. ? Please list them
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. - Why do you think it is important for you today to pursue the mind of Christ? Please explain
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. - Why do you think most people experience conflict within them in regards to their desires? Please explain
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. - How can you describe the word “desire’? How can we overcome ungodly desires?
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. - What kind of desires should we have as Christians today?
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. - Do you think it is possible for us to have godly desires today as Christians living in the 21st century? Please explain
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. - What is the evidence of a godly life according to Gal 5:22-23Gal 5:22-23
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 meekness, self-control; against such there is no law. ? Please explain
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. - In your own words please explain briefly why you think some Christians are still bound by the works of flesh listed in Gal 5:19-21Gal 5:19-21
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are [these]: fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousies, wraths, factions, divisions, parties, 21 envyings, drunkenness, revellings, and such like; of which I forewarn you, even as I did forewarn you, that they who practise such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. . Please explain
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
Memorize Philippians 1:6Philippians 1:6
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
6 being confident of this very thing, that he who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Jesus Christ:
“And so I am sure that God, who began this good work in you, will carry it on until it is finished on the Day of Christ Jesus”.
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