2 Corinthians 1-5

2 Corinthians 1-5

Answers

2009

Everywhere a good work begins, you can be sure that Satan will quickly be there to counter-act it. It was so in Corinth, as Satan continues to attack the work of Paul and Timothy, and attempts to destroy the Corinthians and their newfound faith. Paul had previously sent Timothy to continue the work he began there and to continue to minister to the people as they struggled in their walk. The church was now struggling with the arrival of self-styled false apostles, who in their attempt at creating a platform to teach their false gospel, began to attack Paul’s credibility as a true apostle of Christ. Paul went immediately to Corinth to try to stop the demonic attack, but the Corinthians showed a lack of loyalty to him and even openly insulted him. He returned to Ephesus and wrote what is known as the “severe letter” (1 Corinthians) and later found that many of the Corinthians had repented because of it. He now writes 2 Corinthians to express his joy over their repentance, to defend his apostleship, and to confront his opponents head-on. The book is very personal in its character as opposed to the doctrinal passages in his first letter. In it, we see Paul the apostle of Christ and the great love he has for God and for whom he has been sent to.

Chapter 1

Paul wastes no time in asserting his apostleship, “This letter is from Paul, appointed by God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus (v.1).” There were those who questioned whether Paul was actually an apostle, commissioned by the Lord.

1. What is his answer? (A) He did not choose the ministry by his own will; men didn’t ordain him, but Christ Jesus had sent him into the work through the will of God.

2. Paul is far removed from the likes of the false apostles in Corinth. His heart is always in the right place as he reminds the Corinthians of their blessing by “God the Father of the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the source of every mercy and the God who comforts us (v.3).” What is the relationship between God’s ability to comfort us and our ability to comfort others? (A) “He comforts us in all of our troubles- why? - So that we can comfort others. When others are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. You can be sure that the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with His comfort through Christ. So when we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your benefit and salvation (vv. 4-6).” Scripture once again shows us that the Christian life is not about “me,” but it is all about how God uses the faithful believer to bring comfort, encouragement and exhortation to others in time of need. God uses the very things we suffer to build and strengthen us, so that we in turn can use those same things to build and strengthen others. We are not meant to simply exist, even as Christians, but as is expressed in Ephesians 2:10, “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so that we can do the good things He planned for us long ago.” Do you understand? He already created the good things we are meant to do and He created them before the foundations of the earth! All things are given for our good so that we can glorify our Lord and help others.

3. V.17 – Paul’s accusers used his unexpected change of plans, to accuse him of untrustworthiness and tried to use it to discredit him. How does Paul answer their accusations? (A) He answers that just as surely as God is true, his yes means yes, and his no means no. He was speaking of his missionary plans, but now applies the same argument to his preaching. Their message (Paul, Silvanus and Timothy) was not in vain, because Jesus Christ, the Son of God never changes.

4. What is he saying in v.20 –“For all of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Him?” The NKJV says, “For all the promises of God are Yes and in Him, to the glory of God.” (A) All of God’s OT and NT promises of peace, joy, love goodness, forgiveness, salvation, sanctification, fellowship, hope, glorification and heaven are made possible and fulfilled in Christ Jesus.

5. We can identify with the Corinthians because God too has given us the ability to stand firm. How? By anointing us with the Spirit, qualifying, empowering and teaching us. While the NLT says that He has placed the Spirit in our hearts as the first installment, other versions say that God has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee. The Spirit living in us is the mark that the believer now belongs to God and that he is eternally secure. The Spirit is also a pledge that believers will enter into the full inheritance of God. All that is His is ours!

Chapter 2 – Forgiveness for the Sinner

Remembering 1 Corinthians, the church there had a problem by a man sinning by committing incest with his stepmother. He had hurt the church because many simply chose to ignore the problem rather than to apply biblical principles to correct it.

1. What advise is Paul now giving to the church? (A) V. 6 – the sinner was punished enough when most of the Corinthians were united in their judgment of him. The judgment was to excommunicate him from the fellowship until such time as to when he repented fully. He did repent and now Paul urges them to forgive and seek to strengthen him by receiving him back into the fellowship (v.6).

2. What might be the consequences of not forgiving him? (A) V.7 –“Other wise he may become so discouraged that he won’t be able to recover.” “Now show him that you still love him.”

3. V. 11 is a warning to obey the Christian and godly principles set forth in Scripture “so that Satan will not outsmart us.” We are to judge wisely, according to the principles set forth, and we are to forgive and reaffirm our love by opening wide our arms and receiving back with joy and tenderness, the one who repents.

4. God has a perfect plan and often our plans do not run in concert with His. Paul had planned to meet Titus to hear how the Corinthians had received his first letter. He could not find Titus and searched for him in Troas where God opened up a tremendous door for him to preach. He was still troubled about the Corinthian church and headed for Macedonia in search of Titus for news. Paul is never far from praising the God he serves. In your own words, describe what Paul means in v.14. (A) Paul refers to the Roman tradition of honoring a victorious general with a ceremony called the “Triumph”, in which a victorious general, leading his captives, was honored with a joyous, ceremonial parade in which incense bearers walked along both sides of the parade and the incense fragrance would permeate the whole scene. Paul pictured the Lord marching as a conqueror from Troas to Macedonia and everywhere the gospel is preached and leading the apostle Paul in his victory procession. Wherever the Lord goes, there is victory. Wherever we go, the Lord wants to use us to tell others about Him and to spread the Good News like a sweet perfume.

5. V.15 continues the analogy –as the victorious general presents himself before the pleased emperor along with all of the sweet fragrance of the burning incense, wherever God’s servant is faithful and is an influence for the gospel, God is pleased.

6. How can the same gospel be either the smell of death or the fragrance of life (v.v.15-16)? (A) To some the gospel brings eternal life and ultimate glorification. To others, it is a stumbling block of offense that brings eternal death. In and of ourselves, we can’t preach this message. It is only through and with Christ’s authority that we teach it. How can you spread the aroma of Christ in the environment in which you live? _____________________________________________________

Chapter 3 –Christ’s Epistle

Paul continues his defense against the critics of the ministry, asking if he and his fellow workers must again commend themselves for what they teach. He is not implying that they did commend themselves, but that they were accused of doing so and he expects the critics to do so again.

1. What does he mean by the letters of recommendation he refers to? (A) The false teachers came to Corinth with letters of recommendation, maybe even from Jerusalem and they left Corinth with letters of recommendation from the Corinthian - however, it is the only thing they had to commend them. Paul had the Corinthians themselves! He came to Corinth when they were pagan idolaters. He led them to Christ. The Lord had set a seal on his ministry by giving him precious souls in Corinth. There lives were Paul’s letter, written in his own heart but known and read by all men.

2. He also says that they are a “letter from Christ prepared by us.” How are they a “letter from Christ?” (A) The Corinthians were Paul’s letter of recommendation because it was clear to all that the Lord had done a work of grace in their lives. They were Christians. Since Paul had been the human instrument in bringing them to the Lord, they were his credentials. The Lord did the work, but He did it through Paul.

3. Is Paul bragging about his ministry? (A) Not at all. He declares his confidence in his ministry because of one reason, his great trust in God through Christ. That confidence gave him the ability to stay the course and continue moving toward the goal. He shows how right on his ministry was when he declares, “Our only power and success come from God (v.5).” It is always about Him, and through Him and for Him. Only God can make a person adequate to do His work, and Paul realized that truth.

4. Paul says in v.6 that Christ enabled us to represent the New Covenant. What is the New Covenant? What is the Old? (A) The New Covenant, here called Spirit, represents the spiritual fulfillment of the types and shadows of the Old Covenant. What the Law demanded but could never produce (complete obedience and godliness) is now effected by the gospel. The Old Covenant is the law given by God, specifically through the Ten Commandments. Everyone who did not keep the entire law was condemned. Now there is no condemnation in Christ Jesus. We are saved by grace!

5. How does keeping the “letter of the law” kill? (A) It results in a living death. Paul thought he was keeping the law, but all it did was kill his peace, joy, and hope. It results also in spiritual death. His inability to keep the entire law sentenced him to eternal death.

6. How does v.9 contrast what the Old Covenant brings as compared to the New covenant? (A) The OC, while glorious because God gave it, brought condemnation because we could not keep the commandments; the NC makes us right with God, called justification, because Christ was the fulfillment of the commandments.

7. What does Paul mean by the “veil which covered their minds” in vv.14, 15? (A) The veil represents unbelief. The Israelites of Moses’ day did not understand the glory of the OC because of their unbelief. Paul makes the point that just as the OC was obscure to the people of Moses’ day; it was still obscure to those who trusted in it as a means to salvation. Without Christ, the OT is unintelligible. But when a person comes to Christ, the veil of ignorance is lifted and his spiritual perception is no longer impaired. With the veil remove, believers are able to see the glory of God revealed in Christ. They understand that the law was never given to save them, but to lead them to the One who would!

8. Who is the Lord in v.17? (A) He is Yahweh of the OT, the same Lord Jesus who is saving people in the NC through the ministry of the Holy Spirit. The same God is the minister of the OC and the NC. Wherever His Spirit is, there is freedom –from sin and the futile attempts to keep the law as a way to earn righteousness.

9. He concludes with a beautiful image of all believers being mirrors which can reflect the glory of the Lord. As the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more like Him and reflect His glory even more! Are you reflecting His glory in your life?

Chapter 4 – The Light of Christ’s Gospel

1. What exactly is “this ministry” given Paul by Christ’s mercy (v.1)? (A) It is the New Covenant gospel of Christ – The Messiah, Jesus, born of man, crucified, buried, raised and ascended into heaven, all to put an end to the law and bring redemption to the repentant. Paul was to take this message of redemption to the Gentiles. We are charged with the same ministry, to bring the gospel to the unsaved of the world. The work can be difficult and there is much to discourage and depress us in Christian service, but the Lord gives mercy and grace to help in every time of need.

2. In v.2, Paul exposes the shameful and dishonest work of the false teachers who distort the Word of God by mixing law and grace. What was Paul’s method of ministry? (A) To tell the truth in a plain and understandable way. We also tell the truth when we live it in our lives before others so that they can see it by our example. Paul preached the gospel and he lived it too.

3. We try to reach the lost, but try as we may; there are some who refuse to listen. The apostle faced the same dilemma –what is his explanation (vv. 3, 4)? (A) Paul explained about the tremendous care he used to make the truth of God clear, both by instruction and by practice. If the gospel is veiled or hidden to some, it certainly is not God’s fault, and Paul doesn’t want it to be his fault either. Who are these people who can’t see? Those who are perishing (v.3)

4. Why are the perishing blinded (v.4)? (A) Satan is the cause. He is called the god of this evil world, the god of this age, who has succeeded in putting a veil over the minds of the unbelieving ones. He doesn’t want them to see the light of the gospel that is shining on them so he puts barriers between them and God. It may be the sickness of pride, or of rebellion, or self-righteousness, or any of a hundred other things. But they all serve effectively to hinder the light of the gospel from shining in. Because of their blindness they don’t understand the message about this Jesus we preach, God who put aside His glory to come to earth to be like us, to take upon Himself the fullness of our sin, and to die for us so that we will never have to bear the burden of our sin.

5. V.5 spells out the gospel in it’s simplest and clearest form - we preach Christ Jesus the Lord! Paul did and we must, seek to bring men and women to the place where they are willing to bow their knee to Jesus Christ and to willingly serve Him as Lord of their lives. Like Paul and his co-workers, we are called to be bondservants, willingly serving Christ the Lord in whatever capacity He calls us to, always putting the truth of the gospel in the fore front.

6. How can we “understand that this light in the darkness is the light of the glory of God seen in the face of Jesus?” (A) As in creation, light shines on the darkness. As the gospel is preached, the spirit moves in the heart of a person, just as He moved on the face of the deep in creation. Then God shines into the heart of this person, showing him that he is a guilty sinner and needs a Savior. Just as the material world began with light, so to does our spiritual creation as God shines His light in our hearts through the Holy Spirit.

7. Paul explains that this “precious treasure,” the light and power of Christ that is now in us, is contained in “perishable containers” (jars of clay). Why? (A) V.7 –so that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us! God doesn’t want men to be occupied with this human instrument that is us, but rather with His own power and greatness. Ever wonder why the most powerful gospel is often preached by the weakest, most common of human beings –so that all the praise and glory go to the Creator and not the creature.

8. Think back to Judges 7 and the story of Gideon. The Lord directed him and 300 soldiers to hide lit lamps in jars of clay and to surround the enemy. Upon a signal, the lamps were to be broken and the light that shone forth from those lamps was so bright in the darkness that the enemy was confused and terrified and then beaten. So, it is with us. Only when our human “jars of clay” are broken and surrendered to the Lord can the gospel shine forth through all of its wonder and glory!

9. Can you identify with Paul? Most of us should, and do. V. 8 says, “We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed and broken. We are perplexed, but we don’t give up and quit. We are hunted down, but God never abandons us. We get knocked down, but we get up again and keep on going. Through suffering these bodies of ours share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies (vv. 8, 12).” We all have our own problems, but God, in His infinite wisdom, sees fit to allow us, His servants, to be touched by sickness, sorrow, affliction, persecution, difficulties and distresses. All are designed to break our “bodily jars of clay” so that the light of the gospel might shine out more clearly.

10. Paul’s’ closing remarks hopefully mirror our own thoughts. Most of us will never face death as he did when preaching the gospel, but the secret to his fearlessness can be our own. He knew that this life was not all there is. He knew that for the believer there was the certainty of the resurrection. The same God, who raised up Christ Jesus, will also raise you up with Jesus and present you on the day of glory. Paul understood that the more he suffered, the more the grace of God was made available to others. The more people who were saved, the more thanksgiving was offered up to God. And the more thanksgiving offered up, the more God was glorified. “Our troubles will soon be over, but the joys to come will last forever (v.18)!”

Chapter 5 – Assurance of the Resurrection

Paul has undergone so much suffering, both physical and emotional, as the very people he tried to save brutalized his body. His heart suffered as he saw the people he loved being deceived by false teachers and robbed of their salvation by Satan. He never knew what to expect around the next corner, but he did know, that when his present body, this earthly tent, was destroyed, he had waiting for him a new, glorified body, not made by hands, but by the work of God.

1. How does Paul’s confidence in his future relate to 4: 16-18? What role does faith play in this? How does Paul’s “home” affect his daily living (vv. 6-10)? (A) V. 4: 16 - 18 speak of his body dying but his spirit being renewed every day. Whatever trouble he is going through will produce immeasurable great glory that will last forever. He looks forward to that which he has not seen and the joys that will last forever. In chapter 5 he is speaking of his coming days in glory, his work finished, his body, destroyed, but living in a new glorified body in eternal joy. He knows that no matter what happens on earth, his future and the rewards it holds are his, secured by the Spirit. He not only has faith, he knows for certain that what God says is true and will come to pass.

2. Paul “longs for the day when we will put on new heavenly bodies (v.2)” What will these new bodies be like? (A) Our earthly bodies carry all the weight of sins, frustrations, sickness and weakness that weigh us down every day. Our new, glorified bodies will not be some disembodied spiritual life (see the Ghost Whisperer- not!!!), but a real, eternal, resurrection body. Our bodies will be full of God’s glory, immortal, perfect, a different but nonetheless real body, just as Jesus received.

3. What does v. 5 mean to you? (A) Our heavenly existence will come to pass according to God’s sovereign purpose (Rom. 8:30), He has given us the Holy Spirit has the guarantee!

4. So many people are fooled into believing the false adage, “Seeing is believing.” The Christian has an entirely different perspective. (A) “That is why we live by believing, not by seeing. Yes, we are fully confident, and we would rather be away from these bodies, for then we will be at home with the Lord (vv. 7, 8).” For those who are unsure: There are three states given to the earthly body- 1) The present life on earth with our mortal body. 2) The state between death and the coming of Christ, a disembodied state, but one in which the spirit and soul are consciously enjoying Christ’s presence. 3) Finally, the fulfillment of our salvation when we receive our glorified bodies at the coming of the Lord Jesus.

5. Paul says that a believer’s aim is to please the Lord always (v.9). Why? (A) While the believer’s salvation is not dependent on his works, his reward at the end time will be directly proportionate to his faithfulness to the Lord. Someday, all believers will stand at the Judgment Seat of Christ, the Bema Seat. There our lives of service to Christ will be revealed, just as they have been. Not only the amount of our service, but the its quality, and even the very motives that prompted it will be brought under evaluation.

6. Some will ask, “What about my sins? (A) Although sins after conversion will have an effect on our service, a believer’s sins have all been forgiven when Jesus bore them on the cross, the debt fully paid, never to be seen again.

7. Why did Paul serve God so tirelessly and unselfishly? His answer – the love of Christ (v.14)! It controlled him.

8. Does the phrase “the love of Christ” refer to His love for us or our love for Him? (A) The only reason we love at all is because He first loved us. It is His love that compels us, moves us along in relationships and in service. This love for us showed itself at its fullest at the cross.

9. V. 15 –“He died for everyone” goes so much deeper than it sounds. It literally means that “He died in behalf of”, or “in the place of.” This truth is at the heart of the doctrine of salvation God’s righteous anger against sin required death; Jesus took away that anger and died in the sinner’s place. He took away God’s wrath and satisfied God’s justice as a perfect sacrifice. Scripture says that when we accept Him as Savior, we “died with Him on the cross” (“For I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live but Christ who lives in me.") Gal 2:20. We therefore receive all the benefits of His substitutionary death.

10. V. 17 tells us that those who become Christians become new persons, “therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new person (NKJV). What does it mean to be “in Christ?” (A) It speaks of our unending redemption, which includes: 1) our security in Christ; 2) the believer’s acceptance in Him with whom God alone is well pleased; 3) our future assurance of eternal life and the promise of our full inheritance sealed by His Spirit; 4) our participation in the divine nature of Christ (2 Peter 1:4).

11. Define v.19. (A) God by His Own will and design used His Son, the only acceptable and perfect sacrifice, as the means to reconcile sinners to Himself. We, as Christ’s Ambassadors, are to preach this message to the world.

2 Corinthians 1-5

Questions

2009

Chapter 1

1. What is his answer? (A) He did not _________ the ministry by his own will; men didn’t ordain him, but Christ Jesus had ________ him into the work through the ________ of God.

2. Paul is far removed from the likes of the false apostles in Corinth. His heart is always in the right place as he reminds the Corinthians of their blessing by “God the Father of the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the source of every mercy and the God who comforts us (v.3).” What is the relationship between God’s ability to comfort us and our ability to comfort others? (A) “He comforts us in ____ of our troubles- why? - _______ we can comfort others. When others are troubled, we will be able to give them the _______ comfort God has given us. You can be sure that the more we _____ for Christ, the more God will ______ us with His comfort through Christ. So when we are weighed down with ______, it is for your ______ and _________ (vv. 4-6).” Scripture once again shows us that the Christian life is not about “______,” but it is all about how God uses the faithful believer to bring comfort, encouragement and exhortation to ______ in time of need. God uses the very things we ______ to build and strengthen us, so that we in turn can use those same things to _______ and _________ others. We are not meant to simply exist, even as Christians, but as is expressed in Ephesians 2:10, “For we are God’s __________. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so that we can do the ____ things He planned for us long ago.” Do you understand? He ______ created the good things we are meant to do and He created them before the foundations of the earth! All things are given for our good so that we can glorify our Lord and help others.

3. V.17 – Paul’s accusers used his unexpected change of plans, to accuse him of untrustworthiness and tried to use it to discredit him. How does Paul answer their accusations? (A) He answers that just as surely as God is __________, his yes means yes, and his no means no. He was speaking of his missionary plans, but now applies the same argument to his preaching. Their message (Paul, Silvanus and Timothy) was _______________, because Jesus Christ, the Son of God ________ _________.

4. What is he saying in v.20 –“For all of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Him?” The NKJV says, “For all the promises of God are Yes and in Him, to the glory of God.” (A) All of God’s OT and NT ___________ of peace, joy, love goodness, forgiveness, salvation, sanctification, fellowship, hope, glorification and heaven are made possible and __________ in Christ Jesus.

5. We can identify with the Corinthians because God too has given us the ability to stand firm. How? By _________ us with the Spirit, ________, __________ and _______ us. While the NLT says that He has placed the Spirit in our hearts as the first installment, other versions say that God has ______ us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a __________. The Spirit living in us is the mark that the believer now _________ to God and that he is eternally _____. The Spirit is also a pledge that believers will enter into the full inheritance of God. All that is His is ours!

Chapter 2 – Forgiveness for the Sinner

1. What advise is Paul now giving to the church? (A) V. 6 – the sinner was punished enough when most of the Corinthians were united in their judgment of him. The judgment was to _______________ him from the fellowship until such time as to when he ___________ fully. He did repent and now Paul urges them to _________ and seek to _________ him by ________ him back into the fellowship (v.6).

2. What might be the consequences of not forgiving him? (A) V.7 –“Other wise he may become so __________ that he ____________ able to recover.” “Now show him that you still love him.”

3. V. 11 is a warning to obey the Christian and godly principles set forth in Scripture “so that Satan will not outsmart us.” We are to _____________, according to the principles set forth, and we are to _______ and _________ our love by opening wide our arms and receiving back with joy and tenderness, the one who repents.

4. God has a perfect plan and often our plans do not run in concert with His. Paul had planned to meet Titus to hear how the Corinthians had received his first letter. He could not find Titus and searched for him in Troas where God opened up a tremendous door for him to preach. He was still troubled about the Corinthian church and headed for Macedonia in search of Titus for news. Paul is never far from praising the God he serves. In your own words, describe what Paul means in v.14. (A) Paul refers to the Roman tradition of honoring a victorious general with a ceremony called the “Triumph”, in which a _________ general, leading his captives, was honored with a joyous, ceremonial ______ in which ______ bearers walked along both sides of the parade and the incense _________ would permeate the whole scene. Paul pictured the Lord marching as a conqueror from Troas to Macedonia and everywhere the gospel is preached and leading the apostle Paul in his victory procession. Wherever the Lord goes, there is _______. Wherever we go, the Lord wants to use us to tell others about Him and to spread the Good News like a sweet perfume.

5. V.15 continues the analogy –as the victorious general presents himself before the pleased emperor along with all of the sweet fragrance of the burning incense, wherever God’s servant is ___________ and is an _________ for the gospel, God is pleased.

6. How can the same gospel be either the smell of death or the fragrance of life (v.v.15-16)? (A) To some the gospel brings ________ and ultimate __________. To others, it is a stumbling block of _______ that brings eternal death. In and of ourselves, we can’t preach this message. It is only through and with Christ’s authority that we teach it. How can you spread the aroma of Christ in the environment in which you live? ________________________________________________________________________

Chapter 3 –Christ’s Epistle

1. What does he mean by the letters of recommendation he refers to? (A) The false teachers came to Corinth with letters of recommendation, maybe even from Jerusalem and they left Corinth with letters of recommendation from the Corinthian - however, it is the only thing they had to commend them. Paul had the _________ themselves! He came to Corinth when they were pagan idolaters. He ___ them to Christ. The Lord had set a seal on his ministry by ____________ precious souls in Corinth. There ____ were Paul’s letter, written in his own heart but known and read by all men.

2. He also says that they are a “letter from Christ prepared by us.” How are they a “letter from Christ?” (A) The Corinthians were Paul’s letter of recommendation because it was clear to all that the ______ had done a work of _____ in their lives. They were Christians. Since Paul had been the _________ instrument in bringing them to the Lord, they were his credentials. The Lord did the work, but He did it _________ Paul.

3. Is Paul bragging about his ministry? (A) Not at all. He declares his confidence in his ministry because of one reason, his great ______ in God ____________. That confidence gave him the ________ to ___ the course and _______ moving toward the goal. He shows how right on his ministry was when he declares, “Our only power and success come from God (v.5).” It is always about Him, and through Him and for Him. Only God can make a person __________ to do His work, and Paul realized that truth.

4. Paul says in v.6 that Christ enabled us to represent the New Covenant. What is the New Covenant? What is the Old? (A) The New Covenant, here called Spirit, represents the ________________ of the types and shadows of the Old Covenant. What the Law demanded but could never produce (complete obedience and godliness) is now effected by the gospel. The Old Covenant is the ____ given by God, specifically through the Ten Commandments. Everyone who did not keep the _______ law was condemned. Now there is no condemnation in Christ Jesus. We are saved by grace!

5. How does keeping the “letter of the law” kill? (A) It results in a ____________. Paul thought he was keeping the law, but all it did was kill his peace, joy, and hope. It results also in __________________. His inability to keep the entire law sentenced him to _________ death.

6. How does v.9 contrast what the Old Covenant brings as compared to the New covenant? (A) The OC, while glorious because God gave it, brought _____________ because we could not keep the commandments; the NC makes us right with God, called ______________, because Christ was the fulfillment of the commandments.

7. What does Paul mean by the “veil which covered their minds” in vv.14, 15? (A) The veil represents _______. The Israelites of Moses’ day did not understand the glory of the OC because of their unbelief. Paul makes the point that just as the OC was obscure to the people of Moses’ day; it was still obscure to those who trusted in it as a means to salvation. Without Christ, the OT is unintelligible. But when a person comes to Christ, the veil of ___________ is lifted and his _______ perception is no longer impaired. With the veil remove, believers are able to see the glory of God ___________ in Christ. They understand that the law was never given to _________ them, but to ________ them to the One who would!

8. Who is the Lord in v.17? (A) He is Yahweh of the OT, the same Lord _____ who is saving people in the NC through the ministry of the Holy Spirit. The same God is the minister of the OC and the NC. Wherever His Spirit is, there is ________ –from sin and the futile attempts to keep the law as a way to ______ righteousness.

9. He concludes with a beautiful image of all believers being __________ which can reflect the __________ of the Lord. As the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more like Him and reflect His glory even more! Are you reflecting His glory in your life?

Chapter 4 – The Light of Christ’s Gospel

1. What exactly is “this ministry” given Paul by Christ’s mercy (v.1)? (A) It is the _______________ gospel of Christ – The Messiah, Jesus, born of man, crucified, buried, raised and ascended into heaven, all to put an end to the law and bring redemption to the _________. Paul was to take this message of redemption to the Gentiles. We are charged with the same ministry, to bring the gospel to the ________ of the world. The work can be difficult and there is much to discourage and depress us in Christian service, but the Lord gives mercy and grace to help in every time of need.

2. In v.2, Paul exposes the shameful and dishonest work of the false teachers who distort the Word of God by mixing law and grace. What was Paul’s method of ministry? (A) To tell the ______ in a plain and understandable way. We also tell the truth when we _____ it in our lives before others so that they can see it by our _________. Paul preached the gospel and he lived it too.

4. Why are the perishing blinded (v.4)? (A) _____ is the cause. He is called the god of this evil world, the god of this age, who has succeeded in putting a _____ over the minds of the unbelieving ones. He doesn’t want them to see the light of the gospel that is shining on them so he puts barriers between them and God. It may be the sickness of pride, or of rebellion, or self-righteousness, or any of a hundred other things. But they all serve effectively to hinder the light of the gospel from shining in. Because of their _________ they don’t understand the message about this Jesus we preach, God who put aside His glory to come to earth to be like us, to take upon Himself the ______ of our sin, and to die for us so that we will never have to bear the burden of our sin.

5. V.5 spells out the gospel in it’s simplest and clearest form - we preach Christ Jesus the Lord! Paul did and we must, seek to bring men and women to the place where they are willing to _______ their knee to Jesus Christ and to _______ serve Him as Lord of their lives. Like Paul and his co-workers, we are called to be bondservants, willingly serving Christ the Lord in whatever capacity He calls us to, always putting the truth of the gospel in the fore front.

6. How can we “understand that this light in the darkness is the light of the glory of God seen in the face of Jesus?” (A) As in creation, light shines on the darkness. As the gospel is preached, the spirit moves in the heart of a person, just as He moved on the face of the deep in creation. Then God shines into the _____ of this person, showing him that he is a _________ sinner and needs a _______. Just as the material world began with light, so to does our spiritual creation as God shines His light in our hearts through the Holy Spirit.

7. Paul explains that this “precious treasure,” the light and power of Christ that is now in us, is contained in “perishable containers” (jars of clay). Why? (A) V.7 –so that the ___________ of the _____ may be of ____ and not of us! God doesn’t want men to be occupied with this human instrument that is us, but rather with His own power and greatness. Ever wonder why the most powerful gospel is often preached by the weakest, most common of human beings –so that all the praise and glory go to the ______________ and not the creature.

8. Think back to Judges 7 and the story of Gideon. The Lord directed him and 300 soldiers to hide lit lamps in jars of clay and to surround the enemy. Upon a signal, the lamps were to be broken and the light that shone forth from those lamps was so bright in the darkness that the enemy was confused and terrified and then beaten. So, it is with us. Only when our human “jars of clay” are ________ and ____________ to the Lord can the gospel shine forth through all of its wonder and glory!

9. Can you identify with Paul? Most of us should, and do. V. 8 says, “We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed and broken. We are perplexed, but we don’t give up and quit. We are hunted down, but God never abandons us. We get knocked down, but we get up again and keep on going. Through suffering these bodies of ours share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies (vv. 8, 12).” We all have our own problems, but God, in His infinite wisdom, sees fit to allow us, His servants, to be touched by sickness, sorrow, affliction, persecution, difficulties and distresses. All are _________ to break our “bodily jars of clay” so that the _____ of the gospel might shine out more clearly.

10. Paul’s’ closing remarks hopefully mirror our own thoughts. Most of us will never face death as he did when preaching the gospel, but the secret to his fearlessness can be our own. He knew that this life was ___ all there is. He knew that for the believer there was the _______ of the resurrection. The same God, who raised up Christ Jesus, will also raise you up with Jesus and present you on the day of glory. Paul understood that the more he ________, the more the grace of God was made available to _____. The more people who were saved, the more __________ was offered up to God. And the more thanksgiving offered up, the more God was glorified. “Our troubles will soon be over, but the joys to come will last forever (v.18)!”

Chapter 5 – Assurance of the Resurrection

1. How does Paul’s confidence in his future relate to 4: 16-18? What role does faith play in this? How does Paul’s “home” affect his daily living (vv. 6-10)? (A) V. 4: 16 - 18 speak of his body dying but his spirit being _________ every day. Whatever trouble he is going through will produce immeasurable great glory that will last___________. He looks forward to that which he has not seen and the joys that will last forever. In chapter 5 he is speaking of his coming days___ ________, his work finished, his body, destroyed, but living in a new glorified body in eternal joy. He knows that no matter what happens on earth, his ________ and the ___________ it holds are his, secured by the Spirit. He not only has faith, he knows for certain that what God says is true and will come to pass.

2. Paul “longs for the day when we will put on new heavenly bodies (v.2)” What will these new bodies be like? (A) Our earthly bodies carry all the weight of sins, frustrations, sickness and weakness that weigh us down every day. Our new, glorified bodies will not be some disembodied spiritual life (see the Ghost Whisperer- not!!!), but a_______, ___________, _____________body. Our bodies will be full of God’s glory, immortal, perfect, a different but nonetheless _______ body, just as Jesus received.

3. What does v. 5 mean to you? (A) Our heavenly __________ will come to pass according to God’s sovereign ____________ (Rom. 8:30), He has given us the Holy Spirit has the guarantee!

4. So many people are fooled into believing the false adage, “Seeing is believing.” The Christian has an entirely different perspective. (A) “That is why we live by believing, not by seeing. Yes, we are fully confident, and we would rather be away from these bodies, for then we will be at home with the Lord (vv. 7, 8).” For those who are unsure: There are three states given to the earthly body. 1) The present life on earth with our __________ body. 2) The state between death and the coming of Christ, a disembodied state, but one in which the spirit and soul are consciously enjoying Christ’s presence. 3) Finally, the fulfillment of our salvation when we receive our glorified bodies at the coming of the Lord Jesus.

5. Paul says that a believer’s aim is to please the Lord always (v.9). Why? (A) While the believer’s salvation is not dependent on his__________ , his reward at the end time will be directly proportionate to his ___________ to the Lord. Someday, all believers will stand at the Judgment Seat of Christ, the Bema Seat. There our lives of ___________ to Christ will be revealed, just as they have been. Not only the ___________ of our service, but the its __________ , and even the very ___________ that prompted it will be brought under evaluation.

6. Some will ask, “What about my sins? (A) Although sins after conversion will have an effect on our service, a believer’s sins have all been ______________ when Jesus bore them on the cross, the debt ___________ paid, never to be seen again.

7. Why did Paul serve God so tirelessly and unselfishly? His answer – the _________ of Christ (v.14)! It controlled him.

8. Does the phrase “the love of Christ” refer to His love for us or our love for Him? (A) The only reason we love at all is because He __________ loved us. It is His love that compels us, moves us along in relationships and in service. This love for us showed itself at its ______________ at the cross.

9. V. 15 –“He died for everyone” goes so much deeper than it sounds. It literally means that “He died in behalf of”, or “in the place of.” This truth is at the heart of the doctrine of salvation God’s righteous anger against sin _____________ death; Jesus took away that anger and died in the sinner’s place. He took away God’s wrath and satisfied God’s _____________ as a perfect sacrifice. Scripture says that when we accept Him as Savior, we “died with Him on the cross” (“For I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live but Christ who lives in me (Gal 3:20).” We therefore receive ______ the benefits of His substitutionary death.

10. V. 17 tells us that those who become Christians become new persons, “therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new person (NKJV). What does it mean to be “in Christ?” (A) It speaks of our unending redemption, which includes: 1) our __________ in Christ; 2) the believer’s ______________ in Him with whom God alone is well pleased; 3) our future ___________ of eternal life and the promise of our full _____________ sealed by His Spirit; 4) our _________________ in the divine nature of Christ (2 Peter 1:4).

11. Define v.19. (A) God by His Own will and design used His Son, the only acceptable and _________ sacrifice, as the means to ___________sinners to Himself. We, as Christ’s Ambassadors, are to preach this message to the world.