When is the first time the Bible reveals God displaying His skills working with "clay"? Gen. 1:26, 27, 31; 2:7.

The first time we see god working with clay is in the creation narrative. At the end of the creation week God uses clay to create man. God shows His skill in using clay. He made the most complex machine known to the universe, man.

Read Jeremiah 18:3–10, Isaiah 64:5–8, Psalm 51:10. How is the imagery of God as potter used in some of these texts?

In these passages we see that we are the clay and God is the potter. God is the one who creates within us new hearts and new minds. God is the master artist who understands His medium entirely and no matter what happens to it he can shape it into something beautiful. If we are the clay we must trust what the potter is doing.

Russian writer Fyodor Dostoevsky created a fictional character who had, Dostoevsky said, a "beautiful soul." What is your idea of a "beautiful soul," and what things in you do, and do not, correspond to that ideal?

We understand a the Soul to be the complete totality of who the person is. The persons’s character can be representative of their beauty. As well as a persons character there may have certain idiosyncrasies which are also beautiful. There is so much to admire about the crowing act of God’s creation humans.

Prayer: Lord God, Almighty help us to trust you as the master potter over our lives. Thank in Jesus name Amen.

Read Exodus 19:18, 19; 20:18; Deuteronomy 5:22; and Hebrews 12:21, descriptions of the giving of the Law at Mount Sinai. Why would it be something so terrifying?

From these descriptions we see that there was thunder and lightning, this is something which is scary. Even today when we hear thunder or loud sounds we are arested with fear I do not think that their response was inappropriate. The interesting thing was that Moses was not afraid. Moses understood and recognized the voice of God. We must developed a closeness with God where we do not run away from His presence but we run toward His presence.

Read Romans 7:8–13. How do these verses reveal this crucial truth? What is Paul saying that the law does? See also Ps. 119:6.

In this passage it shows us what the law does for us. The law points out the fact that we are sinners. There is nothing wrong with the law, the law is perfect and because it is perfect it reveals how imperfect we are. God the lawgiver is perfect just like His law.

Read Exodus 20:1–17. Do you find yourself trembling before the law? Do you find yourself convicted by it? What are your emotions as you read the law and compare yourself with it?

When I read the law I see clear instructions for our behavior and conduct. This clear declination leaves me no question as to what I should do. I wish to honor God in all I do and I pray that God will helps me to be faithful to him. God the lawgiver wants us to recognize our need for Him.

Prayer:  Lord God Almighty we pray that you help us to to be faithful to you. Thank you in Jesus name amen.

Read Genesis 3, the account of the Fall. In what ways are both themes, that of judgement and grace, revealed?

In this passage we see that God is passing Judgement on the serpent, the man ,and the woman.The grace of God can be seen in the promise of the One who will crush the head of the serpent. In this passage we see God’s plan to rescue humanity for the consequences of sin. God also takes away their fig leaves and gives them his clothing, this also prefigures the work of redemption. God is in the business of showing grace even from the very beginning of time. The Gospel is a message of grace in the light of God’s judgement.

In what ways might the Lord be saying to you, "Where are you?" What are you doing that, perhaps, is causing you to hide from Him? Why is understanding grace a crucial first step in heeding His call to draw near to Him and away from the deceiver?

This question really hit me in the heart. I feel that God is saying what happened to all the time we used to spend together where are you? What are you doing? Sewing your own fig leaves has never worked , I guess I need to learn that same lesson. It is sobering question, we should all ask ourselves.

Prayer: Father help us to come back to you. If we find ourselves hiding , and sewing fig leaves help us to not hide but expose our nakedness to you and have you clothes us.Thank you in Jesus name Amen.

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Read the following verses. What are they about? Who is judged? What happens in these judgments? What do these texts reveal about the nature and reality of divine judgment?

Eccles. 12:13, 14 ; 1 Cor. 3:13 ; 2 Cor. 5:10 ;Heb. 10:30 ;Matt. 16:27 ;Rev. 20:12 ;Rev. 22:12
Matt. 12:36, 37 ;1 Pet. 4:17 ; Rev. 14:6, 7

The Judgment day is when God will bring all our deeds under examination. When Jesus comes back, He will come with a consuming fire, and the type of deeds we had will be revealed. The examination of our deeds is something that no one can avoid, it is something that God has promised. Everything that we are doing is being recorded, and will be examined during the judgement. We will have to give an account for everything which we have done. Judgement will being with the house of God. The message of judgement constitutes the last day message which will go all around the world. The judgment is a reality that we will all have to face, yet it is something that we do not have to fear.

Prayer: Father I pray that you will keep us and help us to be ready in the judgement. Thank you in Jesus name.

"But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us (Rom. 5:8). What is this text saying to us?

It is not our good deeds or behavior that makes us acceptable before God. Jesus Christ died for us because we are sinners, His death during our state of depravity demonstrates His unconditional love toward us. We must not strive to be justified by our own  goodness, we must accept the goodness of Jesus Christ. The complete and total acceptance of the righteousness of Jesus Christ justifies us before God, and undoubtedly this is our only hope.

Paul is not afraid to discuss the wrath of God. How does he express it in Romans 1:18?

God’s wrath is revealed against ungodliness, and unrighteousness. We see that God is a God of love but he is also a God of Justice. The two tensions of God’s love and God’s wrath must be held in tension.

How seriously do you take the sin in your life? And what criteria do you use to justify your answer?

I take is seriously. My conscience notifies me if something has gone awry, and I seek the grace and mercy of God to cleanse me of my sins.

Prayer: Father thank you for what you have done for us at the cross in your Son Jesus Christ. Help for us to look toward you the Author and Finisher of our faith. In Jesus name amen.

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Creation Week

In the Beginning

"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth" (Gen. 1:1, NKJV). How does this opening line automatically make the Bible and Darwinian evolution mutually exclusive?

Evolution teaches that life on earth evolved from a common ancestor about 3.7 billion years ago. In contrast to this , the bible teaches we were created by God. Evolution teaches that we evolved, the bible teaches that we were created in seven literal days during creation week.

According to the following texts, who also believed in the biblical account of Creation? Matt. 19:4
Exod. 20:8–11 ,1 Tim. 2:13,Isa. 40:26

In each of these passages we can see that the biblical writers believed in the biblical account of the creation.

Everything in the Bible testifies to the fact that the Lord created the world, speaking it into existence just as depicted in Genesis 1 and 2. Scripture leaves us no wiggle room on that matter. One can choose Creation, or one can choose evolution, but honesty allows no melding of the two. The texts themselves don't leave us that option.

Prayer: Father we thank you for creating us and being our creator, as we study this subject please fill our minds with understanding. In Jesus name Amen.

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