Answers compiled by Wanda B. largely based on the lesson by Dr. Mary Craig.
Hear complete teaching at www.mcmtffr.org.
Question 1:
(Consider in your answer “thought,” “words,” and “deeds/actions.”)
What is bitterness?
***Student Answer**** Words that wound, fester and infect, spread poison, pain designed to rot foundations. Bitterness is a root, manifesting in
words and language, contorting and tormenting through unforgiveness. It penetrates the heart, seeking to bear fruit in thoughts, words, and deeds. (Bitterness--The Greek root of Bitterness, pic, means “to cut, to prick.” Something, some word, some action pricks or punctures, penetrating the soul with pungent acrimony and threatening life with its malignancy.)
What was Simon doing?
***Student Answer****
In Acts 8, a man named Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was given. He offered money and requested that he be given this power so that he could lay hands on people and have them receive the Holy Ghost. Peter perceived, however, that Simon was "in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity" for the thought of his heart. (Acts 8:18-19)
What did Peter say to Simon in Acts 8?
***Student Answer****
Peter said to Simon, "Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. You have neither part nor lot in this matter: for your heart is not right in the sight of God."
Question 2.
Hebrews 12:15 says that a root of bitterness springs up to cause trouble, defiling many. To minister to others effectively, we need to “stay clean”
before the Lord. What does that even mean?
***Student Answer****
A root of bitterness bears fruit if nurtured, watered, fed, and left unchecked. With bitterness we carry someone else’s sin inside of us. Bitterness keeps us bound. Bitterness holds us to sins others have committed against us. Bitterness clings to us as we“fail of the grace of God.” Bitterness holds on to feelings, becoming resentment. Resentment simmers into desires for retaliation. Things heat up as anger turns into hatred, and hatred plots violence, and violence erupts in murder. Someone will pay the price, justice will out. Many may be defiled by the trouble.
How do we get “clean” and stay “clean”?
Consider in your answer confession of sin, faith, and repentance
***Student Answer****
In Ephesians 4:31, 32,
Paul said "Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. And be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you."(turn in repentance)
Bitterness is a root. It penetrates the heart, seeking to bear fruit in thoughts, words, and deeds (sin). Nevertheless, Jesus is the Root and Offspring of David, a man after God’s own heart. In the end it is Jesus’ words that bring life, that are spirit and life. Jesus’ words cleanse as His words of love draw out the poison of bitterness in our souls. For it is Jesus’ words that will judge, as He, the Judge of what is living and what is dead, judges with righteousness and purity of heart. (faith)
Bitterness eats away, like a cancer. It festers within, producing toxins. The enemy knows that bitterness, guilt, and fear can be used of him to control us as we compromise the spiritual dynamics of God’s truth. (sin) Our thoughts influence our body chemistry. Our bodies secrete chemicals in response to our thoughts, feelings, and emotions.
Jesus died to pay the penalty of sin. The wages of sin is death. Our sense of justice, fueled by Satan and twisted by his lies and perversions, tells us to seek vengeance (sin). Someone must pay for this wrong, this abuse, this hurt, this dart of death. But "vengeance is Mine," says the Lord. “I will repay.” (Romans 12) (faith)
We can’t hang on to bitterness, to anger, to resentment, to hatred (sin) and also to the gospel of Jesus Christ at the same time (faith). We are
serving two masters, believing two "gospels." We deceive ourselves if we think we are not struggling with such issues.
We can oppose the principle of sin with the service and worship of God. We are to serve one another in love. We worship only after we come to God with thanksgiving for what He does and praise for who He is. We approach on the basis of the Blood of Christ, celebrating not only what Jesus has done for us, but what He will do in us (faith). His words, taken in, ingested, are as medicine. He is a Balm in Gilead, healing in worship, as the worth and holiness of Christ soaks into our soul (faith). We cast down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5) (repentance).
In anger, fear, and frustration, in self-serving, self-protection, concern for how others might judge us, we lash out to bite and devour one another (sin) Yet the words of Christ restore. Jesus said in John 15 that we are made clean by the words which He speaks (faith). We bring our bitterness (sin) to God together with the Blood of Christ. We offer up the Body and the Blood of Christ, desiring to be healed, cleansed of the bitterness (repentance) Jesus the Root puts an ax to the root of bitterness, drawing to Himself the venom from the bite of the snake. He bore sin in His own body on the tree. On the cross He became sin (the sin offering) for us (faith) that we might die to sin and live for God (repentance). The grace of God has done this for us (faith).
Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? (Romans 6:1, 2)
Look up John 15:3; John 17:17; Romans 6:19; 1 Corinthians 1:30; Ephesians 5:26; James 4:8ff; Hebrews 9:14; Hebrews 10:10; 2 Timothy 2:20-22; 1 John 1:7, 9; Jude 19, 20; Revelation 22:1.
Heb 12:15 looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness (sin) springing up cause trouble, and by this many become
defiled;
Joh 15:3 You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you
Joh 17:17 Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.
Rom 6:19 I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness.—(turn in repentance)
1Co 1:30 But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption—
Eph 5:26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, (faith)
Jas 4:8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.(turn to God from evil)
Jas 4:9 Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom.
Jas 4:10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.
(turn in faith and repentance)
Jas 4:11 Do not speak evil of one another, brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law and judges the law. But
if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge (sin).
Jas 4:12 There is one Lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy. Who are you to judge another?
Heb 9:14 how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead
works to serve the living God?(faith)
Heb 10:10 By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all (faith).
2Ti 2:20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor.
2Ti 2:21 Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter (dishonor/sin), he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for
every good work. (turn in repentance)
Question 3:
Read Ephesians 4:17-32, Ephesians chapter two, 1 Corinthians 6:9-11;
1 Corinthians 13.
What condition were we in when Christ forgave us our sins?
And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. (Ephesians 2:1-3)
Read 1 Peter 5:6; Proverbs 15:22; Philippians 2:5-8.
How does pride inhibit forgiveness?
To have the mind of Christ, we must die to self will, be humble and serve. (Philippians 2:5-8)
Our relationship with the Father?
***Student Answer****
God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. (I Peter 5:5)
Class Discussion: Pride and anger inhibit forgiveness because we don’t listen and try to understand the other person at all angles. God is the best judge for
He knows all and judges from all angles. The first rule is: Make no assumptions. Then be (1) quick to hear, (2) slow to speak and (3) slow to anger. Why? Because the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.
Jas 1:19 So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be (1) swift to hear, (2) slow to speak, (3) slow to wrath;
Jas 1:20 for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.
Ephesians 4:17-32 BSB So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. They are darkened in their understanding and alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardness of their hearts.
Having lost all sense of shame, they have given themselves over to sensuality for the practice of every kind of impurity, with a craving for more.
But this is not the way you came to know Christ. Surely you heard of Him and were taught in Him—in keeping with the truth that is in Jesus—to put off your former way of life, your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be renewed in the spirit of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one another. “Be angry, yet do not sin.” Do not let the sun set upon your anger, and do not give the devil a foothold.
He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing good with his own hands, that he may have something to share with the one in need.
Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building up the one in need and bringing grace to those who listen.
And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, in whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, outcry and slander, along with every form of malice.
Be kind and tenderhearted to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you.
By Grace Through Faith
Eph 2:1 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins,
Eph 2:2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world,
according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience,
Eph 2:3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by
nature children of wrath, just as the others.
Eph 2:4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,
Eph 2:5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),
Eph 2:6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
Eph 2:7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
Eph 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,
Eph 2:9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.
Eph 2:10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
One in Christ
Eph 2:11 Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh—who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands—
Eph 2:12 that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having
no hope and without God in the world.
Eph 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
Eph 2:14 For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation,
Eph 2:15 having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man
from the two, thus making peace,
Eph 2:16 and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity.
Eph 2:17 And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near.
Eph 2:18 For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.
Eph 2:19 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,
Eph 2:20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone,
Eph 2:21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord,
Eph 2:22 in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.
1Co 6:9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor
homosexuals, nor sodomites,
1Co 6:10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.
1Co 6:11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the
Spirit of our God.
The Way of Love
1Co 13:1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.
1Co 13:2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
1Co 13:3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.
1Co 13:4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not
parade itself, is not puffed up;
1Co 13:5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil;
1Co 13:6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;
1Co 13:7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
1Co 13:8 Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail;
whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.
1Co 13:9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part.
1Co 13:10 But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.
1Co 13:11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
1Co 13:12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.
1Co 13:13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
1Pe 5:6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time,
Pro 15:22 Without counsel, plans go awry, But in the multitude of counselors they are established.
Php 2:5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,
Php 2:6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God,
Php 2:7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.
Php 2:8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.
Question 4:
What do we learn from Lazarus being raised from the dead and about loosing the bonds of shame? (John 11: 38-44)
***Student Answer****
After Jesus raised Lazarus from the grave, He said to those around watching, "Loose him, and let him go." (John 11:44)
Only God can bring life from death. Many today pray for the healing of diseases, but when disease comes out of bitterness and unforgiveness, we
need instruction. We need others to perceive, to approach us in our grave clothes and unwrap the bindings of death.
We are to go to one another in love to remove the curse of death from our lives, to comfort and console, to bring the gospel of grace, the message of the Body and Blood of Christ, that we might encourage one another to confess our bonds of iniquity, our common humanity, the out-workings of our fallen nature. As we minister grace to others, we find others ministering to us.
Class Discussion: Only God can raise the dead. Jesus holds the keys to Death and Hades, not the devil. (Revelation 1:18) We are to comfort one
another with the comfort he has shown us, praying for the Holy Spirit to work through us. (I Corinthians 1:3-4). When bitterness defiles a person, it can defile many. We devise our plans but God has to direct our steps. (Proverbs 16:9)
Rev 1:17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last,
Rev 1:18 and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.
2Co 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,
2Co 1:4 who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we
ourselves are comforted by God.
Pro 16:9 The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps.
Jesus Raises Lazarus Joh 11:38 Then Jesus, again groaning in Himself, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it.
Joh 11:39 Jesus said, "Take away the stone."Martha, the sister of him who was dead, said to Him, "Lord, by this time there is a stench, for he has been dead four days."
Joh 11:40 Jesus said to her,";Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?"
Joh 11:41 Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, "Father, I thank You that You have heard Me.
Joh 11:42 And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me."
Joh 11:43 Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice,
"Lazarus, come forth!"
Joh 11:44 And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with graveclothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, "Loose him, and let him go."
Question 5:
Review Ephesians 4:17-32. (See Question 3)
***Student Answer****
Those made alive in Christ are to put off former way of life and put on the new man created in Christ in progressive sanctification by the Holy Spirit.
If we are not called to bite and devour one another, to offer our members as instruments of destruction and death, to what are we called?
2 Corinthians
7:1; Galatians 6: 1,2; 2 Timothy 2:14-26.
***Student Answer****
We are called to life, to the giving of life. We are called to forgive. We are called to extend the grace, peace, and mercy of God to others. We are called to be sons and daughters of the Most High. We are called to the worship and service of the One true and living God, believing in Jesus and loving one another.
Evil things within defile. (Mark 7:20-23) We are to cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. (2 Corinthians 7:1) As we are saved by grace, so also we walk in accord with the Spirit of Grace, the Holy Spirit. We are not to serve sin and give it
mastery over us, but rather, the Living God. We serve what we worship. We worship what we ascribe worth to, what we value. As Paul carried the light of the gospel, he wrote, ";Brethren, if someone be overtaken in a fault, you which are spiritual, restore such a one in the spirit of meekness; considering yourself, lest you also be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." (Galatians 6:1, 2)
"And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all, apt to teach, patient, in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God
peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; and that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil who are taken captive by him at his will." (2 Timothy 2:24-26)
2Co 7:1 Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
Mar 7:19 because it does not enter his heart but his stomach, and is eliminated, thus purifying all foods?"
Mar 7:20 And He said, "What comes out of a man, that defiles a man.
Mar 7:21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,
Mar 7:22 thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness.
Mar 7:23 All these evil things come from within and defile a man."
Question 6:
It is said that “bitterness is betrayal’s baby.”
Discuss the role of betrayal behind the root of bitterness.
***Student Answer****
Words or actions that wound fester and infect, spreading poison, pain designed to rot foundations. Bitterness is a root, manifesting in words and language,
contorting and tormenting through unforgiveness. The wound that brought the poison is real, the wrong horrible, the misery gripping to the grave, the issue demanding resolve.
What was Jesus doing while Judas was in the process of betraying Him?
See 1 Corinthians 11:23-26.
***Student Answer****
He was instituting the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper (communion of the body of Christ).
Identify two other times when Jesus was tempted by another’s words or actions that we would deem a betrayal?
***Student Answer****
Jesus was betrayed by the (1) Religious Court headed by Caiaphas.( Matthew 26:57-65) and the
(2) Government Court headed by Pontius Pilate and also by the people before his crucifixion. (Matthew 27:15-26)