Lesson Highlights

What does it mean to die to the law?
What does it mean to die to the law?

What does it mean to die to the law?

In "Biblical Perspective" Gordon Snider writes concerning Romans 7:4:

In verses 1-3 Paul had shown how death changes the relationship of the surviving marriage partner to the deceased. In this analogy the sinner is married to the law. But death (i.e., being crucified with Christ) breaks that bond. We would have expected that if man is married to the law, the law would have had to die in order for man to be free to marry another. It is not the law that dies, but the believer dies to the law. So long as we live for the law, we cannot live for Christ. That ye should be married to another. The person who is satisfied merely to be delivered from guilt does not truly understand the work of the cross. We are delivered from the law to be united with Christ, that we should bring forth fruit. In 6:22 Paul spoke of “fruit unto holiness,” and that thought seems to be carried on here, as the next two verses suggest.

Source: Studies in Romans: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 34.

Herald & Banner Press2017-01-06T09:00:00+00:00January 6th, 2017|Categories: Lesson Highlights|Tags: Law|0 Comments

The Struggle of the Believer
The Struggle of the Believer

The Struggle of the Believer

In "Word Focus" Glenn McClure writes:

In verses 18 and 21, we have another important word that helps us to see the struggle of the believer — to will is present with me (v. 18), and evil is present with me (v. 21). The Greek word for is present with means “to lie beside” or “to be near.” It can be defined also as “to be present, at hand.” What a paradox! The “will” or intent to do good is present or at hand, but to “perform” (carry the desire into effect) is not present. In other words, the desire to do good was possible, it was in his power, and it was his habitual inclination and purpose of mind to do right. But in contrast, verse 21 also says that evil is present with him. This “evil” is as near at hand as the desire to do good. It raises its ugly head unbidden and undesired, to turn one from doing good. Thus we see here man with sin dwelling (or making its abode) within him and causing him to miss the design of doing good. Even when the will to do good is present, the power of sin is also present. There is only one Power that can enable man to overcome the power of sin — that is the indwelling power of the blessed Holy Spirit.

Source: Studies in Romans: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 34.

Herald & Banner Press2017-01-05T09:00:00+00:00January 5th, 2017|Categories: Lesson Highlights|Tags: Carnality|0 Comments

The Story of Humanity
The Story of Humanity

The Story of Humanity

In "God's Word for Today" William Snider writes:

Romans 7 is, in all reality, a story of humanity. Faced with a sober assessment of his own nature, the troubled/convicted person seeks a peace which, he comes to understand, is beyond his reach. It is a painful moment of self-realization. The awareness of the human limitation aided by the awakening/convicting grace of God provides for a view of a struggle in the inner self. The quality of life being lived by the supplicant suggests that he is an awak-ened sinner, fleeing what Bunyan described as “the city of destruction.” In his self-promoted revolution, he meets with total defeat. First, he proposes to change the pattern of his past and commit himself to doing what is ethically right. Apparently confident in this resolution, he is surprised to discover that the law or reality of sin as a governing principle in his life makes it impossible for him to achieve his goal. Disappointed in his resolution and now aware of his weakness, he resolves to at least avoid that which is wrong as determined by obedience to the law. Whatever ideas he had of who he was in terms of righteousness, he now becomes aware that, despite intentions otherwise, not only can he not do right, but he cannot avoid doing wrong. The first revelation is disappointing at best, but the second is grounds for despair. Locked into an ever-revolving world of sin and death, he looks away from himself for assistance, but where to look? …

Source: Studies in Romans: Adult Teacher's Insights, pages 34-35.

Herald & Banner Press2017-01-04T09:00:00+00:00January 4th, 2017|Categories: Lesson Highlights|Tags: Humanity|0 Comments

What does the relationship of the Christian to Christ look like?
What does the relationship of the Christian to Christ look like?

What does the relationship of the Christian to Christ look like?

In "Doctrinal Discussion" Omar Lee writes:

Hardly any orthodox Christian will deny that a person who is a Christian should be in a relationship with Christ. What that relationship is may draw widely differing doctrines. Perhaps the two that are most often put forward are these: 1. We are “in Christ.” Therefore, God sees only the righteousness of Christ, and we are accepted by God no matter how we live after being accepted through faith in Christ. 2. Others contend that, while we are “in Christ,” we must also have “Christ in us.” This teaching conforms more closely to the Scriptures. Romans 6:1 asks the question, “Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?” The following verse gives the emphatic answer, “God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?”

See your Adult Insights for the conclusion of Dr. Lee's thoughts.
Source: Studies in Romans: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 32.

Herald & Banner Press2016-12-31T09:00:00+00:00December 31st, 2016|Categories: Lesson Highlights|Tags: Christian Living|0 Comments

What are the implications of being baptized into Jesus?
What are the implications of being baptized into Jesus?

What are the implications of being baptized into Jesus?

In "Biblical Perspective" Gordon Snider writes:

To be baptized into Jesus Christ means that we have been totally united with Christ. Paul used the same wording in 1 Corinthians 10:2 where he referred to the Israelites' being “baptized unto Moses.” The verses following that text show that their baptism meant that they participated in all the privileges that came with being associated with Moses. The argument here is that, since we are justified, we are participants in all the privileges associated with Christ. This union with Christ, therefore, means that we were also baptized into his death. If we are united with Him at all, then that includes uniting with Him in death. Since His death was a total break with the past, our participation in His death produces a total break with our past.

Source: Studies in Romans: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 28.

Herald & Banner Press2016-12-30T09:00:00+00:00December 30th, 2016|Categories: Lesson Highlights|Tags: Baptism|0 Comments

What is the "old man" in Romans 6:6?
What is the "old man" in Romans 6:6?

What is the "old man" in Romans 6:6?

In "Biblical Perspective" Gordon Snider writes:

In identifying what Paul meant here by old man we must remember that the context emphasizes the total change that takes place at the time of justification. The believer is no longer “in Adam,” but “in Christ.” It seems best to understand our old man as referring to our lives as we lived them before justification. The purpose of the crucifixion of the old man is to break the power of the body of sin. Thus old man and body of sin cannot be synonymous. Some understand the latter as referring to our physical bodies, particularly where the body has become an instrument of sin. Another option is to understand the body of sin as equal to “the body of this death” spoken of in Romans 7:24. The latter would mean that the body of sin is the root of sin from which acts of sin spring. The purpose of both actions is that we should not serve sin. We cannot be recipients of forgiveness without also being recipients of deliverance.

Source: Studies in Romans: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 29.

Herald & Banner Press2016-12-29T09:00:00+00:00December 29th, 2016|Categories: Lesson Highlights|Tags: Old Man|0 Comments

What is the significance of baptism?
What is the significance of baptism?

What is the significance of baptism?

In "God's Word for Today" William Snider writes:

The Epistle to the Romans brings the explanation of the origins of sin and the forgiveness that is available through Christ. The presence of grace by which forgiveness is provided exceeds our comprehension. Some were saying that then perhaps the additional presence of sin brings more of this wonderful grace. Sin does not matter, because God will forgive anyway. In an interesting continuance of this logic, sin is a wonderful thing because sin gives the grace of God a continuing opportunity to operate. In short, sin brings grace. Paul recoiled in holy horror, “God forbid.” The thought was almost blasphemous. Paul argued from baptism that such a thought is totally inconsistent with the work of Christ in the heart of the believer. Baptism is a dividing line in the life of an individual. It marks a departure from the old life and an entrance into a new and different manner of living. Consequently, in a negative understanding, professing to live the new life while practicing the old life is a complete and total contradiction.

Source: Studies in Romans: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 28.

Herald & Banner Press2016-12-28T09:00:00+00:00December 28th, 2016|Categories: Lesson Highlights|Tags: Baptism|0 Comments

Christmas is the joy…
Christmas is the joy…

Christmas is the joy…

Herald & Banner Press2016-12-24T09:00:15+00:00December 24th, 2016|Categories: Lesson Highlights|Tags: christmas|0 Comments

The Love of God in Christmas
The Love of God in Christmas

The Love of God in Christmas

In "Doctrinal Discussion" Omar Lee writes:

Oh! love divine, how can we show our appreciation for it? It is only by taking what He freely gave us, which is salvation. Christmas is a great time to choose Jesus! His birth introduced a new factor into the human realm. Before this, we were all children of Adam and doomed to sin. Now Immanuel (God with us) or Jesus (Savior), the God-man gives us the realization of the hope of humanity for a Savior! His birth further assures humanity of one who understands us, having experienced trials as well as known them. His birth foreshadows our spiritual birth. He was born of a woman that we might be born of the Spirit. There can be, there must be, the supernatural in our spiritual birth. His birth is a guarantee of greater events for us! The first coming has been proven true! The second will come also. In the Christmas story we have authentication for all God had promised, and in His resurrection, we have the zeal that all that He has promised will come to pass.

Source: Studies in Romans: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 26.

Herald & Banner Press2016-12-23T09:00:00+00:00December 23rd, 2016|Categories: Lesson Highlights|Tags: christmas|0 Comments

How is the Word the light of humanity?
How is the Word the light of humanity?

How is the Word the light of humanity?

In "Biblical Perspective" Gordon Snider writes concerning John 1:4:

John was fond of borrowing words from Genesis 1 and infusing them with new spiritual meaning. Life here is more than biological life, but the life principle itself. Life is a key word in this Gospel. But whereas John usually used it to refer to spiritual, eternal life, here the term is broader. The life was the light of men. To understand this phrase, the reader must review the occurrences of light in this Gospel (8:12; 9:5; 12:36, 46). John said that light flows from the life that is in the Word. One way of understanding this is to remember that the Word is life because the Word communicates the nature of God to us. We receive light — or truth — as we see the glory of the Father revealed in the Son.

Source: Studies in Romans: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 23.

Herald & Banner Press2016-12-22T09:00:00+00:00December 22nd, 2016|Categories: Lesson Highlights|Tags: light|0 Comments