New Life: THE OLD LIFE Satan is called “the god of this age” in 2 Corinthians 4:4. According to this verse, what does Satan do to the minds of unbelievers, and why? Ans: According to 2 Corinthians 4:4, Satan, referred to as "the god of this age," has blinded the minds of unbelievers to prevent them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ. The verse states: "The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God." (2 Corinthians 4:4) So, Satan's intention is to keep people from understanding and accepting the truth of the gospel, thereby maintaining his hold on them and preventing them from coming to faith in Jesus Christ. Place a check by the diagram below which best illustrates the way unbelievers are described in Ephesians 4: 18. □ Hardened hearts ►ignorance►darkened understanding and separation from God □ Sincere mistakes►trouble►anger at God □ Enjoyment of life►unexpected hardships►bitterness toward God Ans: Hardened hearts ► ignorance ► darkened understanding and separation from God This diagram accurately illustrates the progression described in Ephesians 4:18, where a hardened heart leads to ignorance, which in turn causes a darkened understanding and separation from God. ("They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart".) The passage continues, saying that those who have hardened their hearts against God have lost touch with reality and God, and are unable to understand or have knowledge because they refuse to listen. They have lost all shame and use their lives for evil. In Ephesians 2:1, what condition did Paul say we once were in? Ans: "And you were dead in the trespasses and sins."(Ephesians 2:1) Paul is saying that before coming to faith in Christ, believers were spiritually dead, separated from God, and trapped in a life of sin. This spiritual death resulted from Adam's disobedience, and it's a state from which only God can revive us through faith in Jesus Christ. ( Paul contrasts this former state with the believers' new life in Christ ) How is God described in Ephesians 2: 4-5? Because He is this way, what has He done for us? Ans: God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)" (Ephesians 2:4-5) Here, God is portrayed as: - Rich in mercy - Abounding in great love Because of these characteristics, God has: - Made us alive together with Christ (given us spiritual life) - Saved us by grace In essence, God's mercy and love led Him to rescue us from our spiritual death and give us new life in Christ, not because of our own efforts but by His grace. A NEW CREATION Read Romans 8:16. Why can we know inwardly that we are God’s children? Ans: "The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God." (Romans 8:16) According to this verse, we can know inwardly that we are God's children because the Holy Spirit testifies with our own spirit, giving us a deep-seated assurance of our relationship with God as His children. This inner witness of the Spirit confirms our adoption into God's family and affirms our identity as His beloved children. In 2 Corinthians 5:17, what description is given of the person who is “in Christ”? Ans: "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." (2 Corinthians 5:17) According to this verse, the person who is "in Christ" is described as: - A new creation - Old things (sinful nature, former life) have passed away - All things have become new (new life, new nature, and new identity) This verse emphasizes the transformative power of being in Christ, where believers undergo a radical change, leaving their old life behind and embracing a new life in Christ, empowered by the Holy Spirit. According to Galatians 3:26, what allows us to be sons of God? Ans: "For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus."(Galatians 3:26)This verse states that faith in Christ Jesus allows us to be sons of God. In other words, our faith in Jesus Christ is what enables us to become children of God, enjoying a personal and intimate relationship with Him. This sonship is not based on our works, heritage, or efforts, but solely on our faith in Christ. Read carefully Galatians 4:4-7, which tells why God sent his Son to earth to redeem us. Which one of the following statements is the most accurate view of our relationship with God as it is taught in this passage? (We are God’s children, but only in a very narrow sense / We are God’s children, with full rights as his heirs / We are more like God’s slaves than God’s children.) Ans: □ We are God’s children, with full rights as his heirs. "But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, 'Abba, Father!' Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ." (Galatians 4:4-7) This passage emphasizes that: - God sent Jesus to redeem us (v. 4-5) - We receive adoption as sons (v. 5) - We are no longer slaves but sons (v. 7) - As sons, we are heirs of God through Christ (v. 7) This passage teaches that through faith in Christ, we become God's children, enjoying a loving relationship with Him ("Abba, Father!") and possessing full rights as His heirs.