God's Pattern and Purpose

Week 3
Chapter 3

God’s Provision

No one can be kind enough or good enough to merit God’s gift of salvation!
God gave man the ability to think, feel, respond to others, and know right from wrong.
Because of the fall of man-Sin those abilities has become perverted!

Biblical Understanding of Sin and God’s Provision for eternal life with Him

God’s provision through Jesus to deal with past sin as well as present sin.
Our Provision is Jesus!

Assurance in our salvation..1 John 5:13

My purpose in writing is simply this: that you who believe in God's Son will know beyond the shadow of a doubt that you have eternal life, the reality and not the illusion. And how bold and free we then become in his presence, freely asking according to his will, sure that he's listening. And if we're confident that he's listening, we know that what we've asked for is as good as ours

God’s perspective of our past Sin .1 Corinthians 6:9-11

And such some of you were [once]. But you were washed clean (purified by a complete atonement for sin and made free from the guilt of sin), and you were consecrated (set apart, hallowed), and you were justified [pronounced righteous, by trusting] in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the [Holy] Spirit of our God.
　2 Corinthians 5:17Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:

 1 Timothy 4:7Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly.
　
　

　Replace-Exchange-Transform-Renew our Thoughts/Minds

"Putting On" /"Putting Off"

With God’s Grace we can work out diligently at "putting off" wrong, sinful thoughts and "putting on" biblical right thoughts and actions!

Chapter 4 -A Wife’s Understanding of Relationships. God’s Pattern

The Trinity
God designed relationships
To be one with the Father and One another perfected in unity!
Husband a wife= One as the Trinity= One=Father-Son and Holy Spirit
Unity only through Christ- the overall theme is what we have through Jesus!
God intended for man to have many of these characteristics-Pg 28
Perfect Harmony and Intimacy. Only in Christ can the relationship of husband and wife be godly, good and righteously intimate.
As there is harmony in the God-head there can be harmony in a marriage relationship.
Sin- Results in Lack of the characteristics caused by fallen man

God wants us to stop living for ourselves, to stop destroying relationships and to start to live for Him.

　
2 Corinthians 5:15And He died for all, so that all those who live might live no longer to and for themselves, but to and for Him Who died and was raised again for their sake.
Ask How can we glorify God?
　2 Corinthians 5:9Therefore, whether we are at home [on earth away from Him] or away from home [and with Him], we are constantly ambitious and strive earnestly to be pleasing to Him.
　
　
Giving yourself to your husband/others is not going above and beyond the call of duty. It is only doing as you ought to. You ought to be kind to your husband/others. You ought to be open, transparent and honest with him. Perhaps you struggle with openness, transparency and honesty. If you do, the reason is that a sinful man:

.....seeks to be isolated

..... seeks to be in control

.... seeks to hide, cover up from hurt/pain

....seeks to be self protective

.... tends to be self focused

Challenge:Pray the 10 ways to pray for your husband everyday

http://www.imom.com/tools/build-relationships/10-ways-to-pray-for-your-husband-bookmark/

Ask God to search your heart and show you areas of Sin that is blocking Intimacy and Oneness from your husband and Him.
Journal

Next week we are studying Chapters 5 and 6

A Wife's Understanding Of Marriage- God's Purpose
A Wife's Understanding Of Her Role-God's Perfect Plan

Eventually the godly response becomes the automatic response

Repentance- Discipline ourselves

The old has gone, the new is here!