Questions in light, read by the leader.
Answers in bold from the Bible, inspired by God, read by all.
Who made us and all this?
“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.”
“All things were made through him.”
What happened to this creation of God that was perfect at first?
“Sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned.”
“For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now.” 2
What does this mean about the way we live?
“We all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature the children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.” 3
Thus we were separated from our holy God. Can we get back together with our holy God by keeping His Commandments?
“By works of the law no one will be justified.” 4
What did God do to rescue us and make us acceptable in His holiness?
“God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so we might receive adoption as sons.” 5
And He died with all our sins on His back, taking our punishment on himself?
“All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” 6
This is for everyone? We all need this?
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” 7
How do we receive this gift? How did Otto live with such assurance of peace with God?
“Since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” 8
So we are justified or declared righteous by placing our faith in Jesus and what He did for us?
“To all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” 9
How should we live when this is true?
“He died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.” 10
So this sure thing was why Otto and others like to talk about the possibility?
“We are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.” 11
And this is also why someone can be brave in the face of death?
“We are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.” 12
The real person, in spirit and without this body we have known, is with the Lord now?
“We know that if this tent (body), which is our earthly home, is destroyed, we have a building from God…eternal in the heavens.” 13
And we who are in Christ will see him again?
“The Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command….And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.” 14
“Therefore encourage one another with these words.” 15
“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more….He who testifies to these things says, ‘Surely I am coming soon.’ Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.”16
Source:
1. Genesis 1:1; John 1:3 2. Romans 6:12; 8:22
3. Ephesians 2:3 4. Galatians 2:16 5. Galatians 4:4
6: Isaiah 53:6 7. Romans 3:23,24 8. Romans 5:1,2 9. John 1:12
10. II Corinthians 10:15 11. II Corinthians 5:20 12: II Corinthians 5:8
13. II Corinthians 5:1 14. I Thessalonians 4:16,17
15. I Thessalonians 4:18 16. Revelation 21:4; 22:20,21