Mesa Apostolic Lutheran Church Bible Study Discussion Sessions:
Principles of the Doctorine of Christ

For I say unto you, that except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Parisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:20)

Review of Session 1:

• Not understanding nor having gone beyond basic principles is dangerous, for such spiritual immaturity leads to falling away from the truth. (Hebrews 5:11-6:3)
• As members of the royal priesthood, we cannot be of meainignful service if we have not "come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ." (Ephesians 4:11-16)

Section 2: Repentance (pp. 2 & 3)

• The Righteousness of God
  • God's graciousness reveals his righteousness or "holiness"
  • We often have an external view of God's righteousness.
  • But see -
  • Mark 12:29-34
  • Hosea 6:6
  • Deuteronomy 10:12, 13
• How, then, do we define "God's righteousness."
• Dictionary definition of "righteous": morally upright, without guilt or sin; in accordance with cirtue or morality
• Sources of meaning in the New Testiment
• Micah's declaration of God's righteousness.
• So: How, then, do we define "God's righteousness"?
• How can we attain such righteousness?
• Refer back to the Sermon on the Mount.
• 3rd Article of the Creed
• John 1:14 [No longer external but internal, or part of us... See Jeremiah 31:31+]
• Romans 8:2-4
• Galatians 3:22-29
• The Living Word (Hebrews 4:12), which is the sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:17) - a word of grace and truth (John 1:14) - reveals to us that we are in need of a Savior (Romans 3:22, 23)
• John 16:7, 8
• Romans 1:16, 17
• Luther's Tower Experience
• What is "imputation"?


• Discussion: pp. 2 & 3 of Principles of the Doctorine