Fall Cycle, Week 6
Start your time with a Check-in (about 15 minutes)
inductive bible study (30-40 minutes)
Open your Bibles and begin with a prayer, asking the Holy Spirit to help you read God's word. Read the passage out loud once together and then silently once more on your own, noting your observations and questions. Then take a few minutes to share your observations and questions together.
Key Scripture: Romans 3:21-26
21 But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22 This righteousness is given through faith in[h] Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 25 God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement,[a] through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— 26 he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.
Footnotes
[a] Romans 3:25 The Greek for sacrifice of atonement refers to the atonement cover on the ark of the covenant (see Lev. 16:15,16).
Take a few minutes to share your observations and questions as a group.
You might consider:
- What's happening here?
- What key words are you noticing? What do they mean?
- What's the culture background we need to know to make sense of this text?
- What's the big idea?
Take some time to answer a KEY QUESTION you've raised as a group and think through how the issues you've explored apply to your lives.
DISCUSSION (about 20 minutes):
In his commentary, N. T. Wright points out:
"People often translate the words of verse 22 as 'faith in Jesus', but they mean just as easily 'the faith of Jesus', and in the light of the whole drift of the chapter we can see that this is correct..."
To this ends, Wright reads v. 22 as: "This covenant justice (righteousness) comes into operation through the faithfulness of Jesus the Messiah, for the benefit of all who have faith."
Is this a new way of reading verse 22 for you?
Are there any ways this reading adds to your understanding of the good news Paul is announcing?
However we read v22 (and scholars are split over both options), the point is clear: God's righteousness comes into our lives through Jesus (who he is and what he's done) and through faith in Him.
What do you think it means to have faith in Jesus Christ? (What does the text say about where faith comes from and what it is?)
Consider verses 24 -26:
How does Paul describe WHAT Jesus did when he died?
What do these verses tell us about WHY he died on the cross?
Application:
How does this gospel:
- Humble us?
- Enable us to be honest with ourselves?
- Free us from anxiety?
- Stop us fearing failure or death?
- Build up our faith?
- Empower us to live for Jesus?
(You could have breakouts discuss the different questions and share with the group)
Close with a time of prayer.
