From Discipleship Weekly

(a publication of the Presbyterian Church of Islip)

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A Word from Our Sponsor "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. "He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life." -- John 12:24-25 The Heidelberg Catechism: Part 3 - Thankfulness Week 33 88. Q. How many parts are there to the true repentance or conversion of man? A. Two: the dying of the old self and the birth of the new. [Rom. 6:1-11; I Cor. 5:7; II Cor. 5:17; Eph. 4:22-24; Col. 3:5-10] 89. Q. What is the dying of the old self? A. Sincere sorrow over our sins and more and more to hate them and to flee from them. [Ps. 51:3-4, 17; Joel 2:12-13; Rom. 8:12-13; II Cor. 7:10] 90. Q. What is the birth of the new self? A. Complete joy in God through Christ and a strong desire to live according to the will of God in all good works. [Ps. 51:8,12; Is. 57:15; Rom. 5:1; 14:17; Gal. 2:20] 91. Q. But what are good works? A. Only those which are done out of true faith, in accordance with the Law of God and for his glory, and not those based on our own opinion or on the traditions of men. [Lev. 18:4; Deut. 12:32; I Sam. 15:22; Is. 29:13; Ezek. 20:18-19; Matt. 5:7-9; John 15:5; Rom. 14:23; Eph. 2:10; I Cor. 10:31; Heb. 11:6] Suggestions for discussion and review: Is "dying of the old self" a one time act or a continual process, or both? Why? Using Colossians 3:5-9 as a guide, give examples of what it means to "run away from sin." What sort of sins are listed in this passage? How difficult is it to avoid these? Using Colossians 3:12-17, list the words that describe our new life in Christ. * * * * * * * * * * What I'm looking for is a savior-not someone who will just tell me what I ought to be, but someone who will forgive me for what I am, and then with his very love will enable me to be more than I ever believed I could be. It's exactly that that Jesus does. -- Bruce Thielemann