In this passage we see four results of justification through faith- peace with God, standing in grace, hope of glory, and assurance of God's love. The legal declaration of innocence sinners receive through faith in Christ means that the hostility holy God has towards sinful man has ceased. Sinners are now in the realm of grace, enjoying a constant state of forgiveness. Moreover, justified sinners look forward to receiving glorified bodies. Even the sufferings between justification and glorification result in strengthened hope, which will not disappoint. Lastly, acquitted sinners experience an inexplicable assurance of God's love for them through the testimony of the Holy Spirit.

As Peter concludes the second major section of his epistle on Christian living, he picks up on the eschatological themes from 4-4-6, exhorting his Christian readers to love one another in light of the -end of all things- being at hand. Looking at these things in light of Jesus' saving work and second coming, Peter encourages his readers to be self-controlled for prayer, to love - forgive one another, to be cheerfully hospitable, and to serve one another with their spiritual gifts. However, Peter underlines that all these things must be done by the strength God supplies, so that all glory may go to God. A brief excursus is had concerning how a Christian practically serves in God's strength, rather than his-her own.

Shortly after the Babylonian empire is overthrown, Daniel meditates on the end of the Israelites' exile to Babylon in the words of the prophet Jeremiah. Daniel's reaction to God's unconditional promise to restore His people after the exile is one of confession of sin - pleas for mercy - forgiveness. Daniel gives a model prayer for sin, exemplifying- acknowledging the loving God to whom he's praying, identifying with the sinful Israelite people, being specific with sins, admitting the shame that comes with sin, admitting full repentance has not yet come, and justifying why God should forgive them. However, to conclude, we remember that it is not our prayers or confession that forgives us, but Jesus Christ.

After leaving Athens, Paul arrives at Corinth, a city of pagan worship and immorality. There, church planting experiences unexpected turns. We see that church planting strategies are flexible. The team changes from Silas and Timothy to Aquila and Priscilla, Paul's usage of time switches between full-time ministry and bi-vocational ministry, their target audience moves from Jews to Gentiles, and his source of funding turns from tent-making to support from other churches. However, definitions are not flexible. The definition of the Gospel, the church, God, and the Christian are not subject to change. We see that church planters are weak as evidenced by Paul's fear. Yet Jesus is strong. He is the one who strengthens.

Q46. What is the second commandment-----A. The second commandment is- -You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who loveme and keep my commandments.- It requires us to keep all religious worship pure and in line with what His Word demands. It forbids any form of worship based on images, or that draws the heart away from His glory instead of toward Him. -Exod. 20-4-6- Deut. 32-46- Matt. 15-9, 28-20- Deut. 12-32-Rom. 1-22,23- Col. 2-18-----Q47. What is the third commandment-----A. The third commandment is- -You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.- It requires the holy and reverent use of God's names, titles, attributes,ordinances, words, and works. It forbids all abusing of any thing through which God makes Himself known. -Exod. 20-7- Ps. 29-2, 111-9- Deut. 28-58- 59, 32-1-4- Matt. 6-9, Eccles. 5-1- Job 36-24- Mal. 1-6-7- Rev. 15-3-4-----Q48. What is the fourth commandment-----A. The fourth commandment is- -Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work.-

In the last section on -How to Study the Bible- we tackle the discipline of meditation. We look at the definition, practice, blessings, and goal of meditation. We also learn about chiasm and parallelism, two literary devices used frequently in the Old Testament.

In this passage we are first confronted with the great need for the Gospel. Paul went to Athens, a city full of idols and pagan philosophers. None had heard of the Gospel, and they viewed Paul as a mere babbler and proclaimer of some strange deities. The great need for the Gospel remains two thousand years later - the majority of the world's population still do not know a Christian personally. Paul, taking his stand in the midst of the Areopagus, then proclaimed the great Gospel for the need. He spoke boldly of the existence of the One True God, of creation, of God's sovereignty, of God's imminence, of judgment, and of the resurrection. Two thousand years later, the great Gospel for the need remains unchanged. From Paul's example we see that contextualization is not about changing the message to accommodate to modern culture, but rather speaking the old message handed down from the Apostles in a way that is clear to the audience.

The first three lessons in Evangelism 101 were centered around the content and message of the gospel of Jesus Christ. This lessons starts the next major part of the series, namely 'Defending the Gospel' - where we will explore objections to various parts of the gospel message, and how to respond to them. Here, we briefly explore 7 common objections to the inspiration and authority of Scripture, and how to respond to them. Each objection - response is not treated exhaustively, but an overview is given to whet the listener's appetite to study these topics more-

Pastoral ministry is hard. It is agonizing labor and toil. Yet Paul charges young Timothy to lead by example in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity. He is not to be discouraged because whenever Scripture is faithfully taught work, however imperceptible, is being accomplished. He is to immerse himself in ministry and in doing so, by God's grace, improve. He is to watch his soul closely through accountability and appropriate rest. The outcome of his ministry will not only be beneficial to his congregation but to himself as well. The minister's labor will ultimately not be in vain.

We see that work is good, work has purpose, work is cursed, and work is redeemed. In Genesis 1-2 we see God as a worker and God's design for man to work. We further see the communal nature of work in the cultural mandate and that work has benefit to the individual. However the curse has made work hard and broken relationships add to the difficulty. Yet as regenerate Christians we can work in the power of the Spirit to love others and to glorify God. As application, Christians are to work excellently, work with the aroma of the fruits of the Spirit, embrace a biblical view of rest, and view work as a place of discipleship and ministry. Lastly, we look forward to glorified work in heaven.