Queen's Road Cell

For Thought and Discussion: Why does Peter mention God’s plan and foreknowledge in 2:23? Why is it important for us to remember? Peter assures his heaers that Jesus' crucifixion was not evidence of His criminal acts, but rather, an event foretold and planned for by God. This establishes His righteousness rather than His culpability. It tells us that compatibilism alone allows us to deal with evil and suffering in the world and in our lives. God is still in control.    For Thought and Discussion: Peter tried to convince Jews about Jesus by showing how scriptures they already accepted supported his claims. Would this approach work with your friends? Why or why not? If not, what beliefs that you already hold in common could you use to draw them toward examining the Scriptures?   A s in Acts 17 with Paul in Athens, Peter establishes common ground with his hearers. But where there is no common ground, different approaches e.g. meaning of life, life after death, morality,...

 3. Peter says that the babble of languages is a sign of something greater than drunkenness. What does the sign demonstrate (see 2:15-21)?  God's work. Fulfillment of prophecy of the Spirit's outpouring, and the opportunity for salvation.   4. Next Peter recounts the key facts of Jesus’ life (see 2:22-24).  a. How could the Jews have known that Jesus was a special person sent by God (see 2:22)?   ' mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst' b. How did Israel respond to Jesus (see 2:23)?  ' you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men '. The teachers of the Law had acted contrary to the Law in causing Jesus to be killed by Gentiles. ' delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God ' cf. Acts 4:28 -  a powerful affirmation that God's permissive/decretive will is often fulfilled through the breaking of His revealed/prescriptive/preceptive will.   c. What was the crucial event of Je...

We spoke again about the 1) reasonableness of Adam being our perfect representative, as well as 2) how it is that his sin can be imputed to us. We have alluded to this in a previous discussion last year (https://queensroadcell.blogspot.com/2017/01/qc-and-sg-accountability-13117.html). We also mentioned the alternate understanding of imputation of sin: "seminalism" as opposed to "federalism". The former takes the view that we were all represented by physical descent in Adam's loins, just as Levi was said to have paid tithes to Melchizedek via Abraham (Heb 7:9-10). Sin is described in the Bible both in terms of a falling short of God's glory (the visible radiance of His inner perfections, Rom 3:23) as well as a transgression of His perfect will as expressed in His law. Sin entered the world through Adam, but might have been said to exist because Satan fell after the original perfection of Creation (Gen 1:31) and could commit the evil of tempting man. Howev...