Appendix C — Evaluation Answer Suggestions
_____________________________Appendix C
Evaluation Answers
Before you simply read the answers to the evaluation, take the time to try and answer the questions yourself. If you have gone through the book and answered the questions in each chapter, your answers to these questions will be better than you might imagine. Try not to think of this as a “test”. The questions are phrased to represent issues that might come up in your home, church or place of work. The answers listed below represent the basic points to answer the questions in the evaluation. Of course, more lengthy answers and additional Scriptural references are possible, but these answers will give you a start.
1. List three Bible Study Tools and describe how you would use them to understand a passage of Scripture.
Concordance – to cross-reference words to find other scriptures that use the same word
Study Bible – to learn what someone else thinks about a particular topic
Bible Dictionary – to learn the appropriate culturally correct definition of a word
Encyclopedia – to learn about general topic areas
2. A person tells you that the Bible is mostly allegory and that you can’t really trust what you read. List the five principles of Biblical Interpretation. Explain how you know that your Bible is true from cover to cover.
Scripture is to be Taken in its Natural, Normal and Customary Usage
All Scripture is to be Interpreted Within the Context of the Passage
All Scripture Is To Be Compared With Other Scripture
Contradictions are Only Apparent
Prophesy is Recognizing The Near And Far Implications Of Scripture
2Pet 1:19-21 states “…that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” Since God’s Word is perfect, and the Bible was written by God via the Holy Spirit, it is all true.
3. Describe what you would say to a person who believes that there are contradictions in Scripture.
While it may appear that certain scriptures do not agree, the basic principle is that there are no contradictions in scripture. There is only one truth contained in the Bible. Psalm 19:7-11 states that God’s Word is perfect, sure, right and pure. Because scripture is inspired, its one Divine author requires that each passage has one correct interpretation. If something appears to conflict, it is safer to believe that more study is required to get to the true meaning of the verses.
4. Describe the issue of God’s sovereignty. Why do some people have trouble with this issue?
Sovereignty means supreme power or freedom from external control. God does what He pleases to accomplish His purposes. There is no power or authority greater than God. 1 Cor 8:6 tells us that God is the ultimate source and destiny of all things – which means without exclusion. Nothing can frustrate the timing and purpose of God. Because this sovereignty has no exclusions, it extends to areas where humans believe that they have authority and control, including areas we normally ascribe as “free will” or choosing Christ in salvation. 1 Peter 1:1-2 and Ephesians 1:4 state that God elects certain people for salvation. The idea of a God who does not allow us to choose him on our own volition is difficult for some to accept.
5. Demonstrate with Scripture that Jesus Christ is God. Use at least two references.
In the Old Testament, Isa 9:6-7 call Christ the “Mighty God” and the “Eternal Father”. In the New Testament, John 1:1,14 tells us that Jesus is equal with the Father, and that the Word, Jesus, is eternal. Further, John 1:3 establishes Christ as creator, an ability reserved for God. Though born of a woman, his birth was unique in that Mary was a virgin. Luke 1:34 establishes His birth apart from any normal human process. Philippians 2:5-8 asserts that Christ was completely God.
6. Describe three ministries that the Holy Spirit accomplishes in the life of a Believer.
Regeneration – the impartation of life from God which is wholly foreign to fallen man
Baptism – 1 Cor 12:13 states that the baptism of the Holy Spirit brings a believer into the body of Christ.
Indwelling – Holy Spirit indwells the life of the believer
Sanctification – Heb 10:14-15 states that the Holy Spirit joins us with Christ.
Instructing – John 16:12-15 states that the Holy Spirit is the master teacher.
Sealing – Eph 1:13 states the believer is sealed with the Holy Spirit as belonging to Christ.
7. Describe three limitations with respect to the power, intellect and holiness of Angels.
Space – as creatures, they do not have omnipresence. They must move spatially from one location to another.
Power – Only God is omnipotent. Angels are greater in power than man (II Peter 2:11) but not equal to God. They are sometimes taxed in the accomplishment of their duties (Rev 12:7)
Intellect – though mighty in wisdom, they need God’s revelation and can be amazed as they learn (1 Pet 1:11-12
Holiness – Isa 14:12 states that they fell into sin and bondage through defection from God’s will.
8. Describe three ministries particular to Angels in the lives of believers.
Revealing – God uses angels to communicate His will and word to men. Acts 7:52
Guiding – Used by God to direct men. Matt 1:20-21
Providing – Provided physical needs like food. Gen 21-17-20
Protecting - Caring for Daniel in the lion’s den (Dan 6:20-23
Strengthening and encouraging – After freeing the apostles from prison, an angel encouraged them (Acts 5:19)
9. Satan is at work today in relation to both unbelievers and believers. Describe two of his activities in each of those relationships.
For Unbelievers –
Causes a barrier to the Gospel to penetrate the heart
Makes Gospel sound foolish
Promotes salvation by works
Persuades there is no need for salvation
For Believers
Seeks to defeat in life and service
Tempts to sin with lies, sex sins, rely on human wisdom, pride, and discouragement
10. You hear that someone thinks the actions of a friend are being controlled by a demon sent from Satan. Can a Believer be “demon possessed” (have a demon operating inside them)? Explain.
No. When saved, the Holy Spirit regenerates the Believer and the Spirit resides in us, making us sanctified and holy, ultimately making us the temple of God. No evil can reside within that temple. John 7:37-39 and Rom 5:5
11. Someone tells you that man is basically good and, left to his own, will usually do good things. Describe the issue of total depravity. If Satan was not active today, would man still sin?
Man was created by God to bring glory to Him. At the fall, that fellowship was broken, resulting in total depravity, spiritual death and physical death. Total depravity holds that man is bad-off – because of sin we are parted from God. II Cor 5:21, and there is no way that we can repair that relationship on our own. Left to himself, man is hopelessly lost in his sin dead and bound for a Christless eternity. If Satan were not active, our condition would be the same – Satan only makes matters worse by tempting man to a life void of victory.
12. A person in a Bible Study tells you “their loving God wants all people to be in Heaven and that all people could be saved”. How does the doctrine of election differ with that of ‘free will’ with respect to salvation?
The doctrine of election states that God does not simply look down through the corridors of time to look for those who will respond favorably to the gospel, but rather, He determines by a sovereign work those who will be saved. Eph 1:4-6 stipulates that God selected those he desired to elect, that no man would, on his own, seek God.
The doctrine of “free will” uses the issue of foreknowledge to say that God, in his omniscience, sees who will choose Him, and so he elects to choose those individuals for salvation. The basis for this belief is that it would be unfair for God to choose some and not others, and it offers man an opportunity to have a part in the salvation process. The fallacy of this point of view is that scripture allows for God to choose throughout the Old and New Testament, yet in this area, God is somehow seen as un-loving if He were to act as sovereign.
13. A friend tells you that they are seeking a “second baptism” from the Holy Spirit so that they can demonstrate the gifts of the Spirit. Describe the problem with what they are talking about. Include the issues of positional, progressive and ultimate sanctification.
Normally, the second baptism is considered an event after a person realizes salvation where the Holy Spirit gives additional gifts or strength. It is sometimes considered because of the descending of the Spirit at Pentecost, and Believers today assume that it continues in the lives of all current believers. It is a false belief because the Spirit indewells the believer at the moment of conversion, making the believer positionally sanctified (I Cor 1:2) for all eternity. Progressive Sanctification depends on some degree of yieldedness to God wherein the Believer grows in his Christian life. We are Ultimately Sanctified into final perfection in glory when we see Christ face-to-face after our physical death.
14. A person tells you that they think there should be more concerts and parties for singles at Church. Discuss your view of this thought and describe what Titus 2:1 and Matthew 28: 19-20 say about the mission and ministry of the church.
The mission of the church is to make disciples who will in turn engage in worship, growth, fellowship and service. The task of the church is to teach sound doctrine. (Titus 2:1) While there is room for many other activities within the walls of the church, the idea that the church can be a social club, a restaurant, a music hall or a fellowship group should be secondary to the primary mission taught in Matthew 28:19-20 - making disciples.
15. A new attendee at your church asks you when they are going to have congregational meeting to vote on new leadership and to approve the new budget. Describe the different forms of government within the church, and explain a biblical structure for decision-making.
There are three types of church government.
Episcopal, where the chief ministers are Bishops, taken from the view that the original apostles became Bishops who then appointed new Bishops throughout history to lead the church. This system is primarily seen in Catholic Churches as well as some Methodist and Lutheran Churches.
Presbyterian, where stresses the importance of elder leadership with pastors, deacons and elders to direct the ministry of the church.
Congregational governments put the emphasis on the congregation because we are all priests under Christ. This form of government was adopted by the Pilgrim Fathers and so became the style of leadership within many new churches after 1620.
There is only one form of government that is described in detail in scripture – Presbyterian (Titus 1:5, Acts 14:23).
16. You become aware of a regular attendee at your church who is involved in a moral sin. What are the 5 steps of how you handle the situation Biblically?
Discipline has been established not to punish a believer, but to restore them to fellowship after sins of divisiveness, discipline, disruption or sins of the flesh have been made known. There are 5 steps, though the process may be ended at any step if appropriate measures and correction are made.
1. Note and mark those in need of correction.
2. Arrange a private meeting with the offender
3. A second meeting with others present
4. Bring the unrepentant one before the entire church
5. Excommunicate the unrepentant one, denying Christian fellowship.
17. Someone asks you why people do communion at their church. Describe the two ordinances Christians observe and the significance of each; what they mean, as well as what they do not mean.
The two ordinances are baptism and the Lord’s Supper.
Baptism has been divinely appointed to allow Christians to confess to others, by immersion in water, faith and identification with Christ. It is an illustration of what has already taken place and in itself, has no saving virtue, nor is it essential for salvation.
The Lord’s Supper is a spiritual experience commemorating the death of Christ and it’s meaning for those in the church. It is a time of heart-searching, confession and restoration. We do not believe that the juice and bread actually become the blood and body of Christ, but are a symbol of them for the Believer.
18. Someone tells you they saw a ‘Left Behind’ movie and says that we can be taken “at any time”. Give them the Scriptural perspective on end time events. (To help organize your thoughts, include - but do not limit your answer to - concepts of the beginning birth pangs, the rapture, the tribulation, the Day of the Lord, the millennial kingdom and the battle of Armageddon.)
We believe that though we do not know the exact timing of end time events, there are indicators that allow us to know approximately when things will happen and what will happen. We do not hold to a belief that end time events are a mystery that we cannot understand. We hold to a pre-wrath rapture, pre-millennial view and believe that certain things will happen to indicate where we are in the cosmic time-clock established by God. The overview of the end time is also known as the 70th week of Daniel lasting approximately 7 years, beginning when Israel signs a peace treaty with a being later known to be the Antichrist.
The beginning birth pangs take place in in the first 3 ½ years of the 70th week and are characterized by various difficulties including wars and rumors of wars, famine, and death.
The period of time from the mid-point of the 70th week until the rapture is known as the Great Tribulation, when the Antichrist seeks to destroy Israel and believers in Christ.
The rapture takes place to cut short the tribulation, and removes all believers in Christ from the earth.
The Day of the Lord is God’s judgment upon the Antichrist and those who follow him, and consist of the Trumpet and Bowl judgments.
The Day of the Lord is climaxed by the battle of Armageddon when God destroys the armies of Satan and the earth.
The Millennium begins after the battle of Armageddon and continues for 1000 years where Christ reigns on earth. There is one final battle where those who rebel against God are destroyed along with the final destruction of Satan. This begins a time of Eternity and contain some of the most beautiful promises in Scripture for the Believer (Rev 20,21) A new heaven and a new earth, river of water of life, tree of life, no death, no pain, no mourning or crying.