We Believe # 4 Study
#4: “Conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary” “He Became What We Are So That We Could Become What He Is.” ~Irenaeus~ Genesis Three World: “Because Of The Brokenness of The World Around Us We Question the Goodness of God”.
We Can Sin Against God By Our Irreligion Or By Our RELIGION. Stop bringing meaningless offerings! Your incense is detestable to me… Your New Moon feasts and your appointed festivals I hate with all my being.. Isaiah 1:13-14 The Nature of The Triune God: God Is a God Who INITIATES Toward His Rebellious Creation. "In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth..." Luke 1:26 God Is a God Who Knows No IMPOSSIBILITIES. "And Mary said to the angel, 'How will this be, since I am a virgin?'" Luke1:33 "For nothing will be impossible with God." Luke1:37 “We Serve A God Who Initiates Toward His Rebellious Creation And knows No Impossibilities.” Understanding The Virgin Birth 1. The Virgin Birth Shows Us That SALVATION Ultimately Comes From God God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children Galatians 4:4-5 2. The Virgin Birth UNITED Jesus’ Human Nature To His Divine Nature Jesus Christ, Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage, rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! Philippians 2:26-8
3. The Virgin Birth Made Possible Jesus’ Full Humanity Without SIN. “Therefore the child that will be born will be called holy” Luke 1:35 “Remaining What He Was, He Became What He Was Not” ~Wayne Grudem~ Application: We Are Called To Be An INCARNATIONAL People “A People Who Are Willing Step Into The Brokenness Of This Genesis Three World And Bring God’s Kingdom Rule To Bear.”
The Apostles Creed I believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, God's only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; He descended to the dead. On the third day He rose again; He ascended into heaven, He is seated at the right hand of the Father, and He will come again to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy universal church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. Life Group Questions
(Interested in connecting to a Life Group? Contact Pastor [email protected])
•
As a group read the Apostle’s Creed Together.
•
Pastor Shaun said that “Nobody gets out of a ‘Genesis Three World” unscathed.” How has the broken condition of this work effected your view of God?
•
Discuss the statement: “We can sin against God by our irreligion or by our religion.” Which have you been most prone to?
• Read Luke 1:26-38 •
In the birth of Jesus we see the three persons of the Godhead actively engaged in what C.S Lewis called “the dance”. What other moments in Scripture do we see this occur?
•
Knowing that God alone is the initiator of your salvation what response does that illicit in you?
•
Why do you thing so many people struggle with the ideas of “salvation by grace alone?”
•
(see Ephesians 2:8-9).
•
Discuss the statement “God is a God who pushes out impossibilities” Have you experienced this to be true in your own life? If so share with the group.
•
What have your thoughts been on the importance of the virgin birth prior to hearing this message?
•
What if anything has changed?
•
Which of the three reasons given is most compelling for you?
•
Understanding that there will always be an element of mystery surrounding the incarnation, what tensions remain that you are still struggling to manage?
•
Think of ways that you and your group may practice being an “incarnational” people.
Sources: • Systematic Theology _ Wayne Grudem – Zondervan Publishing • I Believe –Exploring the Apostles Creed _ Alistair McGrath - IVP Books • Affirming The Apostle’s Creed _ J.I. Packer - Crossway Books • The Apostle’s Creed – Together We Believe _ Matt Chandler – LifeWay Send feedback or questions to Pastor [email protected]
We Can Sin Against God By Our Irreligion Or By Our RELIGION. Stop bringing meaningless offerings! Your incense is detestable to me… Your New Moon feasts and your appointed festivals I hate with all my being.. Isaiah 1:13-14 The Nature of The Triune God: God Is a God Who INITIATES Toward His Rebellious Creation. "In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth..." Luke 1:26 God Is a God Who Knows No IMPOSSIBILITIES. "And Mary said to the angel, 'How will this be, since I am a virgin?'" Luke1:33 "For nothing will be impossible with God." Luke1:37 “We Serve A God Who Initiates Toward His Rebellious Creation And knows No Impossibilities.” Understanding The Virgin Birth 1. The Virgin Birth Shows Us That SALVATION Ultimately Comes From God God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children Galatians 4:4-5 2. The Virgin Birth UNITED Jesus’ Human Nature To His Divine Nature Jesus Christ, Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage, rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! Philippians 2:26-8
3. The Virgin Birth Made Possible Jesus’ Full Humanity Without SIN. “Therefore the child that will be born will be called holy” Luke 1:35 “Remaining What He Was, He Became What He Was Not” ~Wayne Grudem~ Application: We Are Called To Be An INCARNATIONAL People “A People Who Are Willing Step Into The Brokenness Of This Genesis Three World And Bring God’s Kingdom Rule To Bear.”
The Apostles Creed I believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, God's only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; He descended to the dead. On the third day He rose again; He ascended into heaven, He is seated at the right hand of the Father, and He will come again to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy universal church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. Life Group Questions
(Interested in connecting to a Life Group? Contact Pastor [email protected])
•
As a group read the Apostle’s Creed Together.
•
Pastor Shaun said that “Nobody gets out of a ‘Genesis Three World” unscathed.” How has the broken condition of this work effected your view of God?
•
Discuss the statement: “We can sin against God by our irreligion or by our religion.” Which have you been most prone to?
• Read Luke 1:26-38 •
In the birth of Jesus we see the three persons of the Godhead actively engaged in what C.S Lewis called “the dance”. What other moments in Scripture do we see this occur?
•
Knowing that God alone is the initiator of your salvation what response does that illicit in you?
•
Why do you thing so many people struggle with the ideas of “salvation by grace alone?”
•
(see Ephesians 2:8-9).
•
Discuss the statement “God is a God who pushes out impossibilities” Have you experienced this to be true in your own life? If so share with the group.
•
What have your thoughts been on the importance of the virgin birth prior to hearing this message?
•
What if anything has changed?
•
Which of the three reasons given is most compelling for you?
•
Understanding that there will always be an element of mystery surrounding the incarnation, what tensions remain that you are still struggling to manage?
•
Think of ways that you and your group may practice being an “incarnational” people.
Sources: • Systematic Theology _ Wayne Grudem – Zondervan Publishing • I Believe –Exploring the Apostles Creed _ Alistair McGrath - IVP Books • Affirming The Apostle’s Creed _ J.I. Packer - Crossway Books • The Apostle’s Creed – Together We Believe _ Matt Chandler – LifeWay Send feedback or questions to Pastor [email protected]
