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Lesson OneRomans: Paul's Theological Magnum Opus5 Activities1 Assessment
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Lesson TwoPhilemon-Ephesians: Four Letters of Joy From an Imprisoned Apostle5 Activities1 Assessment
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Lesson ThreeArchaeology and the New Testament5 Activities1 Assessment
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Course Wrap-UpCourse Completion1 Activity1 Assessment
Participants 3
Discussion Questions
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In his letter to the Romans, how does Paul justify that the Jewish people should accept Christ?
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11 Replies
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The Jews lived by the letter of the Law. They were so intently waiting and watching for the Messiah that they did not recognize Christ. To the Jew, following the Law was the way to eternal life. Paul pointed out that only acceptance of the Messiah grants eternity in Heaven.
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Paul explains that the old law is not enough and only Christ’s blood can wash away our sins. No works or sacrifices could earn us God’s acceptance. The law was meant to prepare the Jews for the coming of Christ.
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Paul uses the Old Testament as a basis to teaching that the Law was never meant to save anyone but rather to point to the fact that no one could ever live by the standards of the Law 100% of the time thereby failing and falling “short of the glory of God”. He says that the Law required a sacrifice in order to cover their sins but in was faith in God that would make them right before God, not the Law or the sacrifices. He declares that Christ was the complete sacrifice to bring redemption and salvation to the Jews.
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By revealing to the Jews the purpose of the law. The purpose of the law was to bring conviction and prove guilt, not for justification. The Jews could never obtain the righteousness of God by works. Paul also reveals that all have sinned, thus only way to be justified for both the Jews and gentiles is through faith in Jesus Christ.
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Because the law cannot be satisfied, they were doing the law to be in God’s grace not out of faith, and we know that nobody can by personal means meet God’s standards is through sanctification that we start to change to a lifestyle more incline to God’s will.
Paul also explained that while the law was righteous, it was a tool sin used to create more sin, because it called to our flesh and that natural desire of rebellion we have from Adam.
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What similarities and differences does Paul point out between Adam and Jesus Christ? (Recall Romans 5:12-21.) What is the significance of these observations?
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12 Replies
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The comparison mainly shows the morality of man and the immorality of Christ. Even as a “man” walking on the Earth, Jesus remained without blemish. Adam, however, sinned and brought death. Jesus came to bring life.
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Adam and Jesus were both men. Adam disobeyed God and all of us were made sinners and Jesus obeyed God and all of us are made righteous in the eyes of God. Sin reigned in Adam and life reigns in Jesus.
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Adam was the first human and his choice to disobey God determined the initial fate of humanity, eternal separation from God. Jesus came to change the result of eternal separation from God by being the “second Adam” to redeem the fallen mankind by living a perfect obedient sacrificial live to the Father in order to revere the curse.
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The similarity between the old Adam and the new Adam, JESUS is; individually, they both affected the humanity through their actions.
The differences are first Adam’s action led to sin, a fallen world and separation from GOD. The second Adam, JESUS CHRIST’s action brought salvation (restoration of the relationship between GOD and man). Another difference is the old Adam represents the natural while the New Adam, Jesus represents the spiritual.The significance is through Adam came sin ( one sin to many sins) and all of its’ consequences including death; all humanity is condemned. But through JESUS CHRIST salvation has come to all that will believe, (realize that you are a sinner and have faith to believe that JESUS died for your sins and accept Him as Lord and Savior). Then the relationship is restored between GOD and man.
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Both of them are a type of men. Adam the first, Christ the last.
Both of them did one main action that had consequences for everybody.
Differences, Adam brought sin, Jesus salvation.
Adam brought death (ultimately consequence of sin) and Jesus brought life to those who believe in Him.
Adam affected everybody, Jesus’ justification is for the elected.