ANSWERS TO ASSIGNMENTS FOR 1994
1. Jas. 2:15,16 (write out).
2. (1) illustrates mercy; (2) grace; and (3) pity.
3. Eph. 5:2,25; Rom. 5:8 (write out).
4. John 14:15,21,23,28 (any two); 1 John 4:21 (write out).
5. John 1:14-18: “The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us … we beheld His glory … John bore witness of Him … grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.”
6. Isa. 61:1 (write out); the speaker is Jesus (Luke 4:18-21). In Isa. 61:1, “Lord God” or “Jehovah God” refers to God the Father, while the speaker is God the Son, and “the Spirit” is God the Holy Spirit.
7. The holiness of the Father is shown in Psa. 22:3 and Luke 1:49; that of the Son is in Luke 1:35; and that of the Spirit in Luke 1:15,35,41,67 (write out at least three verses).
8. The Father indwelling the believer is shown in Eph. 4:6; the Son in Col. 1:27; and the Holy Spirit in 1 Cor. 6:19 (write out three verses). (Note that the assignment erroneously referred to chapter 6 rather than chapter 4 of Ephesians.)
9. The Father will reward us openly (6:4,6,18), forgive us (6:14), feed us (6:26), and clothe us (6:30), The Father will not reward certain ones (6:1), will not forgive the trespasses of certain ones (6:15). (Write out portions of six verses.)
10. He referred to Himself as the Son of man with power on earth to forgive sin (Mark 2:10) and as the Lord of the sabbath (2:28). Also, by saying to the paralytic, “Arise, and take up your bed, and go your way into your house” (2:11), He referred indirectly to His divine omnipotence.
11. Characteristics of Jehovah in Isaiah 43 and of the Lord Jesus Christ: Creator (43:1; John 1:3; Col. 1:16); Redeemer (43:1; Gal. 3:13; Col. 1:14; Rev. 5:9; etc.); One who is with us (43:2,5; Matt. 28:20; Heb. 13:5); Holy One (43:3; Luke 1:35; Acts 2:27; 3:14); Saviour (43:3; Matt. 1:21; Luke 2:11; 1 Tim. 4:10; 2 Pet. 3:18; etc.); God (43:12; John 1:1); no other Saviour (43:11; Acts 4:12); the I AM (43:13; John 8:58); King (43:15; 1 Tim. 1:17; 6:16; Rev. 19:16); One who has power over the sea (43:16; Matt. 8:26); One who gives water to drink (43:20; John 4:10-14).
12. Matt. 24:36; John 8:28.
13. John 13:15; Phil. 2:5; 1 Pet. 2:21; 1 John 2:6 (write out).
14. A man with an unclean spirit cried out, “What have we to do with Thee, Thou Jesus of Nazareth?” (Mark 1:23,24). Another man with an unclean spirit cried out, “What have I to do with thee, Jesus, Thou Son of the most high God?” (Mark 5;7). To the best of my knowledge, there was only one other occasion recorded in Scripture where one addressed the Lord Jesus Christ directly by His personal name, Jesus. Blind Bartimaeus cried out, “Jesus, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me” (Mark 10:47). And even in this case, when others tried to get him to be quiet, he dropped “Jesus” and cried, “Thou Son of David, have mercy on me,” at which Jesus responded to him and healed him.
15. The Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins (Mark 2:10) and He has authority over the sabbath (2:28) (write out).
16. Arguments against the swoon theory: (1) The soldiers observed that Jesus was already dead, and just to make absolutely sure, one of them pierced His side–and obviously His heart–with a spear (John 19:33,34). (2) Jesus’ body was wound up with a long linen cloth, with about 70 pounds of spices wrapped up with the body as a preservative (John 19:39,40). (3) The women who came to the tomb were collectively not strong enough to roll away the stone. So how could Jesus, even if somehow He could have survived the crucifixion, have summoned up enough strength to wriggle out of the grave clothes, roll the stone away, and then walk for seven miles with no evidence of pain or weakness (Mark 16:1-3; Luke 24:13-31).
17. Surely Joseph, the owner of the tomb, would have been able to identify it later; also two of Jesus’ followers were watching intently during the burial, knowing that they would want to find it on Sunday morning (Matt. 27:57-61). Then, when the women came on Sunday morning, it was at the rising of the sun, so they were able to see where they were going (Mark 16:2).
18. The Spirit led Amasai to side with and help out David (1 Chron. 12:18). By the Spirit God has garnished the heavens (Job 26:13). The Spirit empowered One to preach, heal, proclaim liberty, and to comfort (Isa. 61:1,2).
19-1. Mercy is helping people in their misery and troubles, while grace is doing good or showing favor to those who deserve just the opposite.
19-2. God’s love is self-sacrificing (Eph. 5:2) and is independent of the behavior of its object (Rom. 5:8) (write out verses). (For other acceptable answers, see the February issue.)
19-3. The Holy Trinity is a term that describes the one God who exists in three Persons–Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Each of the three Persons of God knows what the other two are thinking, planning, speaking, and doing at every moment throughout time and eternity, and all are in perfect agreement with one another’s thoughts, plans, and deeds.
19-4. (1) The three Persons of God are united in Their thoughts and wills, in contrast to the pagan gods who were always disputing with one another (Psa. 40:8; Luke 22:42; John 16:14). (2) They are united in Their attributes and abilities, in contrast with the pagan gods who were very specialized (Psa. 90:2; Mic. 5:2; Heb. 9:14). (3) They are united in their actions, such as the creation of the universe (Psa. 102:25; John 1:3; Job 26:13).
19-5. God, as Father, chastens us (Heb. 12:7) and He holds us securely in His hand (John 10:29).
19-6. Jesus Christ was fully God (John 1:1 and 10:30) and fully Man (Luke 1:31 and Matt. 4:2).
19-7. Jesus Christ’s being born of a virgin was necessary to show that He was both fully human and at the same time fully God.
19-8. Jesus is referred to as holy, totally separate from evil (Heb. 7:26). Also, the believer’s new, Christ-like nature “cannot sin” (1 John 3:9) and so therefore Jesus Christ Himself could not and cannot sin.
19-9. Christ was/is Prophet (John 1:18), Priest (Heb. 2:17,18), and King (Rev. 19:16).
19-10. The resurrection of Christ provided unmistakable evidence that He was truly the Son of God and that He had truly completed the work of redemption that He was sent to carry out. Before the resurrection, the disciples showed a great deal of anxiety and fear, and were already beginning to scatter. The resurrection filled them with boldness in their testimony for Christ and united their hearts together.
19-11. Psa. 139:7; Acts 5:3,4; etc. (write out).
19-12. Responses will vary according to individual experience.
Foundations of Faith
Running the Race