Questions for reflection, application, and discussion 1. What is the ...

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from Samuel's response that God did not accept his confession as sincere. a. What is the difference between a sincere an
Questions for reflection, application, and discussion 1. What is the difference between religion and true Christianity, defined by a relationship with God through Jesus Christ? How is this illustrated in the story of Saul as recorded in 1 st Samuel 15? 2. One of the distinguishing traits of Samuel’s confrontation of King Saul in 1st Samuel 15 is that after Samuel confronted him over his disobedience, King Saul repeatedly insisted that he had in fact obeyed God. a. What was behind Saul’s insistence that he had actually obeyed God? Do you think he was trying to deceive Samuel, or was he deceiving himself, or something else? Explain your answer. b. When you are caught in a sin, is your natural initial response to admit your guilt or to deny guilt, claim innocence and/or offer excuses? If it is to deny and excuse, why do you think this is your natural initial response? c. When you have responded to a confrontation by denying guilt, claiming innocence, and/or offering excuses, to what degree was that response driven by and attempt to deceive others, and to what degree was it driven by an attempt to deceive yourself? Explain your answer. 3. God gave Saul a very clear command, but Saul saw it through the prism of religion rather than through the prism of a relationship with God. How do we make this mistake? What does it look like when we see morality and moral principles through religion? 4. Among the numerous excuses and justifications that Saul gave for his disobedience, there were a number of religious justifications, for example saying they spared the best sheep and oxen to sacrifice to God. a. Do we still offer religious excuses for our sin? If so, what are some examples of how we do this today? b. When Saul offered these religious excuses, to what degree was he deceiving himself, and to what degree was the trying to deceive Samuel (and God)? When we offer religious excuses, are we deceiving ourselves? Explain your answer? c. If we can deceive ourselves, how can we defend ourselves against this danger? 5. After his initial denials and excuses, Saul eventually confessed his sin. However, it is clear from Samuel's response that God did not accept his confession as sincere. a. What is the difference between a sincere and an insincere confession? b. Do you think that a person who makes an insincere confession is always aware of their insincerity, or can they deceive themselves? Explain your answer. c. First John 1:9 promises “if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Does God forgive a person when they make an insincere confession? Explain your answer. 6. Read 2nd Samuel 12:1-14. In this passage, King David was confronted by God's prophet over and even greater sin. Both David and Saul responded to God’s confrontation by saying “I have sinned,” but God accepted David’s confession while rejecting Saul’s. What was the

difference between Saul’s and David's response to the confrontation? What was the difference between their confessions of sin?