Read the context: Hebrews 1 In a letter written to Jews scattered around the Roman Empire who were questioning who Jesus Christ really was, the author describes the amazing supremacy and uniqueness of Jesus in several particulars. He begins by comparing Jesus to the angels whom the Jews bordered on worshipping. Jesus is the Son, sitting at the right hand of God, conqueror of His enemies. In contrast, angels are servants of God ministering to God’s people. The Jews (and us) should think of Jesus as much higher than angels.

God Asks Us: Hebrews 1:5, 13-14 :5 'For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are my Son, today I have begotten you”? Or again, “I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son?"

13 And to which of the angels has he ever said, “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet”? 14 Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?

Ponder:

? Why does God make the comparison between Jesus and angels?

? What level of importance are angels normally given? Why?

? How significant are the various comparisons God makes?

? What kind of relationship between God and Jesus do these verses describe?

? How can these verses be used to claim that Jesus is less than equal with God?

? How are the definitions of the words "begotten," "father," and "son" important to these descriptions of Jesus?

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Titus 3:4-7 "But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, :5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, :6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, :7 so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life."

Read the context: Titus 3

Ponder:

? How do the words "for" (vs:3) "not" "by" and "but" emphasize the contrasts in this verse?

? What is "his" (who is he) part in our salvation?

? What is the Holy Spirit's part in our salvation?

? What is Jesus' part in our salvation?

? What is "not" our part in our salvation?

? What other questions come to your mind while pondering these verses?

Genesis 1:26–27 "Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them."

Read the context: Genesis 1,2

Ponder:

? Why would one "God" refer to Himself as "us" and "our?"

? Does "image" and "likeness" mean identical in every way, another of the same kind? Or, what are some other things "image and likeness" could mean?

? If Adam and Eve were exactly like God in every way, why did they need to be given "dominion?" Couldn't they just create with a word whatever they wanted?

? If Adam and Eve were exactly like God, why did they sin, or why would they need to progress in their obedience in order to become Gods themselves?

? Was "man created in God's "male and female mage?"

? What are some other questions that come to your mind as you read these chapters?

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Read the context: Genesis 3 Adam and Eve had just disobeyed God by eating the fruit He had told them to not eat. Not wanting to face God they hid from God hoping they could avoid facing Him in their guilt. Like He always did, God came walking through the garden to enjoy visiting with Adam and Eve. They were not in plain sight and so God called out …

Genesis 3:9 "But the Lord God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?”

Ponder:

? What were Adam and Eve misunderstanding about God by trying to hide from Him?

? What was God actually asking Adam and Eve? Or, Why was God asking Adam and Eve "where are you?"

? If God knows everything, why might He ask you "where are you?"

? What is the significance of the fact that God was initiating the contact with Adam and Eve?

? What are some ways I try to hide from God?

? What are some ways God is calling out to me?

? Where am I?

? What is another question I think of about this text?

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