These questions are intended as a study aid, to spur further thought on the concepts discussed in this lesson and to help you apply them on a personal level.
These questions are intended as a study aid, to spur further thought on the concepts discussed in this lesson and to help you apply them on a personal level. We suggest you take the time to write your answers to these questions and compare them to the scriptures given. Please feel free to write us with any comments, questions or suggestions about the course or this lesson.
• Does God force us to conform to His will? Or does He allow us to make our own decisions as to whether we will follow His ways? (Deuteronomy 30:19I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:
See All...).
• Does freedom of choice allow for good and evil outcomes? (Romans 3:15-17 [15] Their feet are swift to shed blood:
[16] Destruction and misery are in their ways:
[17] And the way of peace have they not known:
See All...; Numbers 14:18The LORD is longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation.
See All...).
• Wrong choices bring sorrow. What is the result of following the lead of the Spirit of God and making right choices? (Galatians 6:7-8 [7] Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
[8] For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
See All...).
• Our innermost character is important to God. What power does He offer us to enable us to follow His ways and have character like His? (Ezekiel 36:26-27 [26] A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
[27] And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.
See All...).
• Christ suffered so we can be justified and reconciled to God. What do Christians need to learn from Jesus' sufferings? (1 Peter 2:19For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.
See All..., 21; Philippians 1:29).
• Who is behind much of mankind's suffering? (1 Peter 5:8Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
See All...; 1 John 5:19And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.
See All...).
• Throughout history God's followers have suffered for their faithfulness. What can we learn from their examples? (James 5:10Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.
See All...; Hebrews 11:24-26 [24] By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;
[25] Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;
[26] Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.
See All...).
• How do our daily sufferings compare with the future that awaits us if we are among the faithful of God? (Romans 8:18For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
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• Are we told to avoid certain activities and thus avoid bringing on ourselves unnecessary suffering? (1 Peter 4:15But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters.
See All...; Proverbs 1:29-32 [29] For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD:
[30] They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof.
[31] Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.
[32] For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them.
See All...).
• God provides help and comfort for sufferers. What is the ultimate comfort and assistance provided by Christ's sacrifice? (Hebrews 2:17-18 [17] Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
[18] For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.
See All..., 1 John 1:7-9 [7] But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
[8] If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
[9] If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
See All...; 2:1-2).
• What is the permanent reward for those who suffer for righteousness' sake? (Romans 8:17And 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 together.
See All...; 2 Timothy 2:11-12 [11] It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him:
[12] If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:
See All...).
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