Dead and resurrected

Rom 6:4-11

4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6 We know that our old self [1] was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. 7 For one who has died has been set free [2] from sin. 8 Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. 10 For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. 11 So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.

Footnotes
[1] 6:6 Greek man
[2] 6:7 Greek has been justified

• How was your baptism like death and resurrection for you?
  
• Was your baptism mostly a theological, ceremonial, or life-changing event?
  
• What were the results of your old self being crucified with Jesus?
  
• What sins were you a slave to before baptizm?
  
• What sins are trying to maintain a hold on you?
  
• How is living to God seen in you?
  
• What does it mean to be alive to God in Christ Jesus?

Spiritual inheritance

1 Pe 1:3-5

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

• How did God's mercy cause you to be born again?
  - What was the result of your being born again?
  - What is living hope?
  - Through what means or mechanism were you born again?
  
• What is the object of your living hope?
  - How does Peter describe the permanence of your inheritance?
  - Where is your inheritance now?
  - How does this inheritance reinforce your being alien in this world?
  
• What protects you?
  - What is the goal or outcome of this protection?
  - What role does faith play in this protection?
  - When will you receive your salvation?
  
• How do the following influence your daily life?
  - living hope
  - reserved inheritance in heaven
  - God-powered protection
  - waiting salvation

Harold's Musings:
While I was growing up, I don't think I ever thought of what I would inherit from my parents when they went Home. As they get older, they bring up things that they have left in their will for me or for my sister. Some of the things have only sentimental value. Some have financial value. Others are of undetermined value. Regardless they will be mine or my sister's because our parents have chosen to give them to us. God has planned an inheritance for his children that is of matchless value. It is waiting in heaven just for you as His child. The object of your hope should be waiting in heaven. The inheritance is there, but is that where your hope is anchored?

Just animals

Eccles. 3:18-22

18 I said in my heart with regard to the children of man that God is testing them that they may see that they themselves are but beasts. 19 For what happens to the children of man and what happens to the beasts is the same; as one dies, so dies the other. They all have the same breath, and man has no advantage over the beasts, for all is vanity. 20 All go to one place. All are from the dust, and to dust all return. 21 Who knows whether the spirit of man goes upward and the spirit of the beast goes down into the earth? 22 So I saw that there is nothing better than that a man should rejoice in his work, for that is his lot. Who can bring him to see what will be after him?

• How is man without God's influence different from the beasts of the earth?
  
• From Solomon's pre-Christ perspective, how are man and beast the same?
  - If man and beast are the same, why bother with being righteous?
  - If man and beast are the same, what is better than being happy in what you do?
  
• How did the coming of Christ make the difference between man and beast clearer and wider?
  - Without Christ, how is man's fate different from the beasts?
  - With Christ, how is man's fate different from the beasts?
  - Without Christ, how is man's motivations different from the beasts?
  - With Christ, how is man's motivations different from the beasts?

Harold's Musings:
Once again, Solomon concludes it is better to just rejoice in your work. At this stage in the journey, things are not looking hopeful. You bury a man and his dog; then dig them up years later, you see roughly the same thing: bones. As Solomon says, who knows if their fate was the same or different. If I look around me today, I hear people saying there is no difference; that when you die you are over. People are reaching the same conclusion that Solomon did. But we have insight that the wisest man on earth did not. We know that Christ came and that he provided a solution for the question posed here. I love my dogs, but God loved me enough to send His son to die for me and you. I am different than a beast because I am in Christ.

Confess your Lord

Romans 10:8-13

8 But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart" (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); 9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. 11 For the Scripture says, "Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame." 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. 13 For "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."

• What does it mean to "confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord"?
  
• How does belief in Jesus' resurrection relate to confessing His lordship over you?
  
• What do you see in US culture today that provides an illustration or parallel to lordship?
• How might the US culture make it difficult to fully grasp the concept of lordship?
  
• How does calling on the name of the Lord relate to confessing Jesus as Lord?
  
• Why is confession an important aspect of being saved?
  
• Is confession a one-time event or a continual process? Why do you think this?
  

Living Hope

1 Peter 1:3-5
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

• How does the resurrection of Jesus give you hope?
• What is the difference between a living hope and some other hope?
• What is the difference between the hope in God's Word and wishful hope of our society?
  
• What does this passage state we can/should be hoping for?
• What protects you and how?
• At the functional level, what do you put your hope in? What are you most seriously hoping for?