A gathering of the saints on March 25, 2012

 

We gathered at the Schrock’s once again.  Teri, Ray and Vana were here too.  So many good discussions, I didn’t take many notes but here is what I have:

-  We asked the question again “Are you a saint or are you a sinner saved by grace?”  Each person’s answer is so revealing.  What would your answer be?

-  What is the definition of a saint?  My bible dictionary says a saint is anyone declared righteous by God.  My bible concordance lists these verses for “saint”:

• Romans 8:27
• 1 Corinthians 6:2
• Ephesians 1:18
• Revelation 5:8
• Psalm 149:1
• 1 Samuel 2:9
• Psalm 30:4
• Psalm 116:15
• Daniel 7:18

-  The past couple of weeks a lot of “What if…..?” questions have been asked to see what a person would do in certain situations.   Paul came up with I would consider the best answer to any what if question --- “I will rely on God to direct me.”

-  As we started to get into the “formal” part of our discussion time, we joked about that we will go on into the night ‘until someone falls out of a window’.  Jordan asked what this ‘falling out of a window’ refers to?  So we went to look up where this story is told.  Acts 20:7-12

-  CRUCIAL CONCEPTS IN ROMANS

• ELECTION = God’s choice of an individual or group for a specific purpose or identity  (Romans 9:10-13)
• JUSTIFICATION = God’s act of declaring us “not guilty” for our sins  (Romans 4:25 and 5:18)
• PROPITATION = The removal of God’s punishment for sin through the perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ.  (Romans 3:25)
• REDEMPTION = Jesus Christ has paid the price so we can be free.  The price of sin is death.  Jesus paid the price.  (Romans 3:24 and 8:23)
• SANCTIFICATION = Becoming more and more like Jesus Christ through the owrk of the Holy Spirit.  (Romans 5:2 and 15:16)
• GLORIFICATION = The ultimate state of the believer after death when he or she becomes like Christ.  (Romans 8:18 and 19 and 30)  (1 John 3:2)

-  we talked a lot about FAITH. 

            -  Jordan made the comment that Abraham must have been close to having a faith the size of a mustard seed.

           -  Lori asked, “Is there levels of faith?”  (great faith?)  (mustard seed faith?)

-  Romans 4:15 --- questioning “the law brings wrath and where there is no law there is no transgression”

There was so many things we discussed that is not included here.  Lots of sharing and encouraging.

After supper (after Teri, Ray and Vana left), we watched the film called “I AM”. (http://www.iamthedoc.com/)

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Noah shared a poem and did some drawings.

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A gathering of the saints