If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. 2 Cor 5:17
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Go to the source! Discover what the Bible says about …
These pages are designed to aid study or investigation for Christian discipleship through individual Bible study, Cell groups, Home groups, or meeting one to one. The questions could be used alone allowing each person to use their own Bible.
Introduction
Our life with God is marked by new qualities of faith, hope and love. It is these qualities that are valued by God in our lives, they are the evidence of God being at work in us.
God changes us from the inside. Our personality, the essence of who we are, stays the same, but our character, how we handle hardship, changes to reflect God. This change happens as God lives in us through the spiritual life by such dynamics as faith, hope and love. These dynamics themselves are the factors that really count in life, they are the marks of a truly great person.
Bible Zone
- What counts? - Being a new person through God, and love expressed by faith.
- Essentials of life - reinforces this message, highlighting faith, hope and love.
- God works in people - God at work is seen through changed lives.
How we live can be an expression of what we really believe is important in life. Many will say one thing is important, but their life shows something else. Paul gives us some clear statements about what God thinks are important. Galatians 5:6 (NIV) followed later in the same letter by Galatians 6:15 (NIV)
- What did Paul consider as most important?
- How could ‘faith expressing itself through love’ be demonstrated in real life?
- What is the link between ‘new creation’ and faith through love?
Galatians 5:6 (NIV) “The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.” ... Galatians 6:15 (NIV) “What counts is a new creation.”
Paul when writing to the Thessalonians shows that three dynamics of faith, hope and love are in his thinking when he is evaluating a time of ministry. 1 Thessalonians 1:2-3 -
- What does Paul say about how the Thessalonians have lived?
- What are the qualities behind the way the Thessalonians have acted?
- What have these things to do with God?
1 Thessalonians 1:2 We always thank God for all of you and pray for you constantly.3 As we pray to our God and Father about you, we think of your faithful work, your loving deeds, and the enduring hope you have because of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Paul looks nat at the things a person does, but at the faith through which it was done. He sees beyond how hard the Thessalonians have worked, to the love that motivated it. Finally Paul sees how the Thessalonians persevere through difficulties because they hope In the Lord Jesus. These faith, hope and love are the means by which they have engaged with God.
Paul now goes on to explain how He was sure that they had become God’s people, a new creation, through God’s work in them. 1 Thessalonians 1:4-10
- How had Paul seen God’s power at work in the Thessalonians?
- What were Paul’s conclusions having seen this power?
- What was the fruit of God having worked in the Thessalonians?
1 Thessalonians 1:4-10 4 We know, dear brothers and sisters,* that God loves you and has chosen you to be his own people.5 For when we brought you the Good News, it was not only with words but also with power, for the Holy Spirit gave you full assurance* that what we said was true. And you know of our concern for you from the way we lived when we were with you.6 So you received the message with joy from the Holy Spirit in spite of the severe suffering it brought you. In this way, you imitated both us and the Lord.7 As a result, you have become an example to all the believers in Greece—throughout both Macedonia and Achaia.*
8 And now the word of the Lord is ringing out from you to people everywhere, even beyond Macedonia and Achaia, for wherever we go we find people telling us about your faith in God. We don't need to tell them about it,9 for they keep talking about the wonderful welcome you gave us and how you turned away from idols to serve the living and true God.10 And they speak of how you are looking forward to the coming of God's Son from heaven—Jesus, whom God raised from the dead. He is the one who has rescued us from the terrors of the coming judgment.
The temptation for many is to despise our own spirituality, and think we have no such faith, hope and love. The reality is that we are our own worst judges. If you have doubts in this area, don’t trust your own opinion, but ask others. Be content that God loves you, listen to what He has to say and it will become real to others.
DYNAMICS OF LIFE
