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The first lesson covers the rebuilding of the national religion of Israel after the return from exile; featuring the reading of the law, confession of sins, and agreement signing
After Ezra had read the law, the people gathered together, separated themselves from the foreigners, and fasted wearing sackcloth
The Levites summoned the people to praise God the creator of all things and they expressed his majesty and glorious name
They confessed their sins and the sins of their ancestors
They recount their history with the call of Abram, his walk with God, and God’s promises to his descendants
How the children of Israel were delivered from Egypt, crossed the Red Sea, and enjoyed God’s presence and provision all through the wilderness to the Promised Land
They recalled how their ancestors rebelled refusing to obey God’s command, yet God forgave and showed them mercy
Paul talks about the Christian movement as the new way for which they have been encouraged, renouncing secret and shameful ways
If the Good News is hidden, it is only to those who are perishing because Satan has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe
God has entrusted this powerful message of the gospel to people described as jars of clay because they are relatively insignificant and unattractive compared to the inestimable worth and beauty of the gospel itself
This makes it clear that the power and effectiveness of the gospel is from God, not human origin, and that’s why the opposition has failed in the attempt to truncate the gospel
Paul carries around in his body the suffering of Christ facing the risk of death every day so that the gospel may result in eternal life for his audience
Though his body is dying his spirit is being renewed every day, not looking at the troubles of the day but at what is unseen and eternal.