|
|
Seeker's Beginner Guide
These studies can be used as a DIY helpfile for any who want to know the very basic truths that bring a person who is seeking God, to find Him through faith in Jesus Christ. They can also be used with a friend who is a believer , who may be able to assist in understanding the scriptures more easily. Either way, it is best to begin with a prayer;
"O God in heaven I pray that you will help me to understand these scriptures and open my spiritual eyes so that I can truly see and know who Jesus is. Amen."
Anyone can say what they believe but very few have any genuine unchanging authority for what they believe.
Those who have believed the Bible and the way of Salvation shown in the New Testament, have a continued faith, founded on unchangable authority. Millions throughout the last 2000 years have found the joy of sins forgiven and a deep assurance of salvation which comes by the Holy spirit who comes to dwell in everyone who believes in Jesus Christ.
"O God in heaven I pray that you will help me to understand these scriptures and open my spiritual eyes so that I can truly see and know who Jesus is. Amen."
Anyone can say what they believe but very few have any genuine unchanging authority for what they believe.
Those who have believed the Bible and the way of Salvation shown in the New Testament, have a continued faith, founded on unchangable authority. Millions throughout the last 2000 years have found the joy of sins forgiven and a deep assurance of salvation which comes by the Holy spirit who comes to dwell in everyone who believes in Jesus Christ.
What is God like?
|
| ||
What is God like?
Einstein the famous scientist once said that we have made God in our own image. How true that is. Almost everyone has their own ides of what God is like. Those ideas range from a space traveler to a bearded old man, from a powerful force to someone who doesn’t really exist.
BUT according to the bible, who is it that shows us clearly what God is like?
John. 14. V. 8-9 …………………………………..
Hebrews ch 1 v. 1-2 ……………………………….
John ch 1 v. 18. ……………………………………
As a great preacher once said;
“If I want to know what God is like, I take a long look at Jesus”
Why do you think that Jesus so clearly shows us what God is like?
Who was Jesus, according to John ch 1 v. 1 and v. 14
……………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………….
Who did the prophet in the Old Testament say Jesus was;
Matthew ch 1 v 22-23 ……………………………………………….
Who did Thomas call Jesus in John ch 20 v. 26-29
…………………………………………………………
Did Jesus rebuke him or deny it? ………………..
How would you explain John ch 8 v. 58, remembering that Abraham lived 2000 years before Jesus?
……………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………
The Bible makes it abundantly clear that Jesus did not begin in Bethlehem. On the first Christmas to the amazement of the whole universe, God the Son stepped from eternity into time and became a little baby.
If the Lord Jesus existed before He came to the planet earth, who do you think would be the first to recognise him when he came?
Luke ch 2 v 8-14 …………………………………..
Mark ch 1 v 21-24 ………………………………….
Mark ch 5 v 1-7 …………………………………….
It is certainly good to know what God is like, especially in the middle of a mixed up world as we have it today.
God has not left us to stumble in the dark, He has sent to us a very clear and adequate revelation of himself. The record of that revelation is in the Bible.
He has revealed himself to us through Nature, Conscience, The Law of Moses and finally through Jesus Christ
In the person of the Lord Jesus God talks to us in a language we can understand, because He became a human person just like us.
From the following verses, can you discover what the Lord Jesus (God) wants to do for you personally.?
John ch 6 v 35. ………………………………………………………….
………………………………………………………….
John ch 8 v 12. ………………………………………………………….
………………………………………………………….
John ch 10 v 10 ………………………………………………………….
………………………………………………………….
John ch 14 v 6 …………………………………………………………..
………………………………………………………….
1 Timothy ch 1 v 15. ………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………….
Luke ch 19 v 10. ………………………………………………………….
………………………………………………………….
So we can see God when we look at Jesus, and we can hear Him when we listen to what He said.
One of the things that we see clearly from the life and death of Jesus is that God loves us.
BUT according to the bible, who is it that shows us clearly what God is like?
John. 14. V. 8-9 …………………………………..
Hebrews ch 1 v. 1-2 ……………………………….
John ch 1 v. 18. ……………………………………
As a great preacher once said;
“If I want to know what God is like, I take a long look at Jesus”
Why do you think that Jesus so clearly shows us what God is like?
Who was Jesus, according to John ch 1 v. 1 and v. 14
……………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………….
Who did the prophet in the Old Testament say Jesus was;
Matthew ch 1 v 22-23 ……………………………………………….
Who did Thomas call Jesus in John ch 20 v. 26-29
…………………………………………………………
Did Jesus rebuke him or deny it? ………………..
How would you explain John ch 8 v. 58, remembering that Abraham lived 2000 years before Jesus?
……………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………
The Bible makes it abundantly clear that Jesus did not begin in Bethlehem. On the first Christmas to the amazement of the whole universe, God the Son stepped from eternity into time and became a little baby.
If the Lord Jesus existed before He came to the planet earth, who do you think would be the first to recognise him when he came?
Luke ch 2 v 8-14 …………………………………..
Mark ch 1 v 21-24 ………………………………….
Mark ch 5 v 1-7 …………………………………….
It is certainly good to know what God is like, especially in the middle of a mixed up world as we have it today.
God has not left us to stumble in the dark, He has sent to us a very clear and adequate revelation of himself. The record of that revelation is in the Bible.
He has revealed himself to us through Nature, Conscience, The Law of Moses and finally through Jesus Christ
In the person of the Lord Jesus God talks to us in a language we can understand, because He became a human person just like us.
From the following verses, can you discover what the Lord Jesus (God) wants to do for you personally.?
John ch 6 v 35. ………………………………………………………….
………………………………………………………….
John ch 8 v 12. ………………………………………………………….
………………………………………………………….
John ch 10 v 10 ………………………………………………………….
………………………………………………………….
John ch 14 v 6 …………………………………………………………..
………………………………………………………….
1 Timothy ch 1 v 15. ………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………….
Luke ch 19 v 10. ………………………………………………………….
………………………………………………………….
So we can see God when we look at Jesus, and we can hear Him when we listen to what He said.
One of the things that we see clearly from the life and death of Jesus is that God loves us.
2. How much does God love you? |
| ||
John 3:16 Enough to; …………………………………………………….
1 John 4:19 Enough to; …………………………………………………..
Romans 5:8. Enough to; ………………………………………………..
Why Does God love me?
He loves you because he made you, and you are special to Him.
There is not another person in the world like you.
However, there is a problem. A Big Problem
From the death of Jesus we see that God loves sinners but hates sin.
The sin that spoils the planet
The sin that spoils society
The sin that breaks up families
The sin that spoils your life
The sin that stands as a great barrier between you and the God who loves you.
Like a mother who has a baby with a fatal disease, who hates the disease but loves the baby, so God loves you but hates the sin that ruins your life and stops you from having a personal relationship with Him.
How big that problem is, and what God has done to solve it, are the themes of our next two bible studies.
But don’t be in too much of a hurry. Think carefully about what you have already studied. If you have any doubts, or things are not too clear go over the study again. If someone asks you, What is God like? You should now be able to give them an answer.
WHO AM I?
Someone once described man as a magnificent ruin? How true! Created to know, love and serve God His creator man is described in the bible as lost, blind and perishing?
The bible is God’s means of telling us our true state. If he had not told us we would not know what we should really be. Does a bird born in a cage know what freedom is? Does a man born blind know what sight or colour is?
Now the tremendous news is that heaven has launched a rescue operation in the person of Jesus Christ, to bring us back to where and what God made us.
This is the exciting theme of our next study.
1 John 4:19 Enough to; …………………………………………………..
Romans 5:8. Enough to; ………………………………………………..
Why Does God love me?
He loves you because he made you, and you are special to Him.
There is not another person in the world like you.
However, there is a problem. A Big Problem
From the death of Jesus we see that God loves sinners but hates sin.
The sin that spoils the planet
The sin that spoils society
The sin that breaks up families
The sin that spoils your life
The sin that stands as a great barrier between you and the God who loves you.
Like a mother who has a baby with a fatal disease, who hates the disease but loves the baby, so God loves you but hates the sin that ruins your life and stops you from having a personal relationship with Him.
How big that problem is, and what God has done to solve it, are the themes of our next two bible studies.
But don’t be in too much of a hurry. Think carefully about what you have already studied. If you have any doubts, or things are not too clear go over the study again. If someone asks you, What is God like? You should now be able to give them an answer.
WHO AM I?
Someone once described man as a magnificent ruin? How true! Created to know, love and serve God His creator man is described in the bible as lost, blind and perishing?
The bible is God’s means of telling us our true state. If he had not told us we would not know what we should really be. Does a bird born in a cage know what freedom is? Does a man born blind know what sight or colour is?
Now the tremendous news is that heaven has launched a rescue operation in the person of Jesus Christ, to bring us back to where and what God made us.
This is the exciting theme of our next study.
STUDY NO. 3. WHO AM I? |
| ||
Did you ever wake up in the middle of the night and wonder “Who am I?”
Strange isn’t it how, when we are alone with our own thoughts, we have a sense of being more than a body.
Did you ever feel a strange “home sickness”, for something you couldn’t put a finger on?
One time you didn’t exist, now you do: One day you’ll die? Is that the end? Weird isn’t, when you start thinking like this?
Let’s see if the Bible can help?
Psalm 8 v 3-8.
Who created us? v 5…………………………… ……………………………………………………………..
Is man just another animal? v 6-8
……………………………………………………………………
From the beginning of each of the following verses in Genesis, write in the missing word:
Ch 1 v 27; So God ………… man
Ch 1 v 28. And God ………….. them
Ch 1 v 29 And God …………….
Ch 2 v 16. And the Lord God ……………..
and from Job ch 33 v 4: Who made you? ...............
So according to the bible:
“Man” is God’s creature, living in God’s world, made by God, for God, to live unto God.
BUT if we leave God out of that definition, we get;
“Man is a creature, living in a world, someway, for something, to live somehow.”
And that is just the problem with planet earth- WE leave God out!
Leaving God out is what the bible calls sin.
According to Romans ch 3 v 23 who has sinned?
………………………………………………………
Let's read Ephesians ch 2
Here Paul is writing to the church at Ephesus and is describing to them the privilege they knew of God coming into their life. He uses many phrases to describe how they used to be before God came in and revolutionised them
From Ephesians ch 2, v 1,2,3 and 12, choose eight phrases to describe an ordinary person before God revolutionises their life
.…………………………………………………..
.…………………………………………………..
.…………………………………………………..
.…………………………………………………..
.…………………………………………………..
.…………………………………………………..
.…………………………………………………..
.…………………………………………………..
In John ch 8 v 42-44, how does Jesus did Jesus describe the religious folk who didn’t really love him or understand Him”
Your Father is ……………………………………..
Many folk are shocked, even offended to be told this.But it is not difficult to prove, that by nature we are not children of God, for if we were by nature Holy and Righteous we would not need to train a child to be good. We have to train a child to be good because by nature we know they will learn, imitate and practice bad behaviour.
If God made you and wants to be so real to you personally, what has gone wrong?
How might Isaiah ch 59: v 2. Help? ………………………………………………………………….
……………………………………………………………………..
It is important to distinguish between SIN and SINS?
Before you read on, think what might be the difference?
1. SIN is the root principle in your life which rebels against God and disobeys His will. You choose to run your own life. That is the spiritual disease called SIN
2. SINS are the product of this sinful nature, like the bad fruits of a bad tree. As an apple tree bears apples so a sinner produces sins.
Lets see how the bible describes SINS and check if these symptoms are true of you?
1 John 3: v 4. …………………………………………………
From Mark ch 12 v 28-30 which is the most important commandment?
…………………………………………………………………….
Have you always kept it? …………………………….
How is sin described (or qualified) in Romans ch 3 v 23
Sins are……………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………….
If we make something and it is not very good, does it “glorify” us?
Are we happy to boast that we made it.
What are you more likely to do with something you are not very proud of?
……………………………………………………………………..
(Did someone write “burn it”, or “destroy it” I wonder?)
Who was the only one to live on this earth and bring glory to God?
John 17 v 4. …………………………………
From 2 Corinthians ch 4 v 6, whose life demonstrated the glory of God……………………………………………………..
Have you always lived like Him? ………………..
How does James define sins in James ch 4 v 17.
……………………………………………………………………..
Have you always done what you know is right? ………………..
From this diagnosis, are you a sinner? ………………….
What will happen to those who do not believe in Christ?
See John ch 8 v 24. ……………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………
Ponder Point: IDENTITY.
A person or thing is only identified by it’s relationship with other people or things.
A wall is a wall without identity. A wall in the middle of a street, identifies it slightly. It’s identity is increased when the identity of the street is increased i.e the wall in the middle of Park Street.
We are identified by our relationships. We can be someone’s brother, father, uncle, husband, friend, workmate, enemy, compatriot, etc all these relationship give us a good idea of the person.
How well we fulfil our roll in relationships enhances our identity. A son may be a son, but if he never visits his mother or ever offers to help her, then to the mother he may not be a son as she thinks a son should be. So she has no real mother/son relationship. He is only a “son” in his own mind.
We are related to each other in so far as we fulfil the other person’s vision or idea of a friend, brother, father etc.
We should consider our relationship with God in the same light to understand our true identity.
Strange isn’t it how, when we are alone with our own thoughts, we have a sense of being more than a body.
Did you ever feel a strange “home sickness”, for something you couldn’t put a finger on?
One time you didn’t exist, now you do: One day you’ll die? Is that the end? Weird isn’t, when you start thinking like this?
Let’s see if the Bible can help?
Psalm 8 v 3-8.
Who created us? v 5…………………………… ……………………………………………………………..
Is man just another animal? v 6-8
……………………………………………………………………
From the beginning of each of the following verses in Genesis, write in the missing word:
Ch 1 v 27; So God ………… man
Ch 1 v 28. And God ………….. them
Ch 1 v 29 And God …………….
Ch 2 v 16. And the Lord God ……………..
and from Job ch 33 v 4: Who made you? ...............
So according to the bible:
“Man” is God’s creature, living in God’s world, made by God, for God, to live unto God.
BUT if we leave God out of that definition, we get;
“Man is a creature, living in a world, someway, for something, to live somehow.”
And that is just the problem with planet earth- WE leave God out!
Leaving God out is what the bible calls sin.
According to Romans ch 3 v 23 who has sinned?
………………………………………………………
Let's read Ephesians ch 2
Here Paul is writing to the church at Ephesus and is describing to them the privilege they knew of God coming into their life. He uses many phrases to describe how they used to be before God came in and revolutionised them
From Ephesians ch 2, v 1,2,3 and 12, choose eight phrases to describe an ordinary person before God revolutionises their life
.…………………………………………………..
.…………………………………………………..
.…………………………………………………..
.…………………………………………………..
.…………………………………………………..
.…………………………………………………..
.…………………………………………………..
.…………………………………………………..
In John ch 8 v 42-44, how does Jesus did Jesus describe the religious folk who didn’t really love him or understand Him”
Your Father is ……………………………………..
Many folk are shocked, even offended to be told this.But it is not difficult to prove, that by nature we are not children of God, for if we were by nature Holy and Righteous we would not need to train a child to be good. We have to train a child to be good because by nature we know they will learn, imitate and practice bad behaviour.
If God made you and wants to be so real to you personally, what has gone wrong?
How might Isaiah ch 59: v 2. Help? ………………………………………………………………….
……………………………………………………………………..
It is important to distinguish between SIN and SINS?
Before you read on, think what might be the difference?
1. SIN is the root principle in your life which rebels against God and disobeys His will. You choose to run your own life. That is the spiritual disease called SIN
2. SINS are the product of this sinful nature, like the bad fruits of a bad tree. As an apple tree bears apples so a sinner produces sins.
Lets see how the bible describes SINS and check if these symptoms are true of you?
1 John 3: v 4. …………………………………………………
From Mark ch 12 v 28-30 which is the most important commandment?
…………………………………………………………………….
Have you always kept it? …………………………….
How is sin described (or qualified) in Romans ch 3 v 23
Sins are……………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………….
If we make something and it is not very good, does it “glorify” us?
Are we happy to boast that we made it.
What are you more likely to do with something you are not very proud of?
……………………………………………………………………..
(Did someone write “burn it”, or “destroy it” I wonder?)
Who was the only one to live on this earth and bring glory to God?
John 17 v 4. …………………………………
From 2 Corinthians ch 4 v 6, whose life demonstrated the glory of God……………………………………………………..
Have you always lived like Him? ………………..
How does James define sins in James ch 4 v 17.
……………………………………………………………………..
Have you always done what you know is right? ………………..
From this diagnosis, are you a sinner? ………………….
What will happen to those who do not believe in Christ?
See John ch 8 v 24. ……………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………
Ponder Point: IDENTITY.
A person or thing is only identified by it’s relationship with other people or things.
A wall is a wall without identity. A wall in the middle of a street, identifies it slightly. It’s identity is increased when the identity of the street is increased i.e the wall in the middle of Park Street.
We are identified by our relationships. We can be someone’s brother, father, uncle, husband, friend, workmate, enemy, compatriot, etc all these relationship give us a good idea of the person.
How well we fulfil our roll in relationships enhances our identity. A son may be a son, but if he never visits his mother or ever offers to help her, then to the mother he may not be a son as she thinks a son should be. So she has no real mother/son relationship. He is only a “son” in his own mind.
We are related to each other in so far as we fulfil the other person’s vision or idea of a friend, brother, father etc.
We should consider our relationship with God in the same light to understand our true identity.
Study 4; What is salvation?
|
| ||
Picture a drowning man being swept towards the mighty Niagara Falls: more than anything else in the world, that man needs to be saved.
God’s rescue operation for the human race is called in the Bible “Salvation”.
You need to be saved from your sins and your Sin
Many people hope to find God by doing their best. But let’s look at what the bible says:
According to Ephesians ch 2 v 8-9 what is one way you will NEVER be saved?
……………………………………………………………………..
……………………………………………………………………
Can anyone get right with God by doing their best?
See Romans ch 3 v. 20 and explain your answer.
……………………………………………………………………..
……………………………………………………………………..
……………………………………………………………………..
……………………………………………………………………
A Holy God cannot just forget all our past sins because we decide now “to turn over a new leaf”. And if we’re honest with ourselves “turning over a new leaf” doesn’t last very long anyway.
What we really, really need is to be made a brand new person deep inside.
The good news of the gospel is that the Lord Jesus can do for us what we cannot do for ourselves.
What does the name “Jesus” mean?
Matthew ch 1 v 21. ……………………………………………………….
……………………………………………………………………
The Lord Jesus can save us from our sins and from our sin.
HOW CAN GOD FORGIVE SINS?
Did the Lord Jesus die by accident?
John 10 v 17-18. ………………………………………………………….
………………………………………………………
What could he have done?
Matthew ch 26 v 53-56. …………………………………………………….
……………………………………………………..
How long had his death on the cross been planned?
1 Peter ch 1 v 18-20. ………………………………………………………
How did John the Baptist describe Jesus?
John ch 1 v 29. …………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………..
What does that mean? Take your explanation from Leviticus ch 4 v 32-35.
……………………………………………………………………..
……………………………………………………………………..
For whose sins was Jesus NOT dying?
Hebrews ch 4 v 15 ……………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………..
2 Corinthians ch 5 v 21 ………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………..
1 Peter ch 3 v 18. ……………………………………………………..
……………………………………………………………………..
For whose sin WAS Jesus dying?
Romans ch 5 v 8.
……………………………………………………………………..
Isaiah ch 53 v 4-6
……………………………………………………………………..
1 Peter ch 2 v 24
……………………………………………………………………..
As the old hymn says;
There was no other good enough To pay the price of Sin
Only Jesus could unlock the gate Of heaven and let us in.
HOW CAN GOD CHANGE SINNERS?
What happened three days after the crucifixion.
See 1 Corinthians ch 15 v 3-4
……………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………
What happened 40 days later? See Acts ch 1 v 3 and 9-10.
……………………………………………………………………..
What wonderful promise had Jesus given to his disciples in John ch 16 v 7? (Check John ch 14 v 26 for help)
……………………………………………………………………..
……………………………………………………………………..
Following the ascension and heaven’s gift of the Holy Spirit, where would the Holy Spirit live? John ch 14 v 17
……………………………………………………………………..
……………………………………………………………………..
This tremendous promise came true on the day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit came to live in those early disciples. – they became the first Christians.
It is interesting to discover how the Bible describes a Christian.
Who lived in Paul? Galatians ch 2 v 20
……………………………………………………………………..
How can you tell if you are a genuine Christian?
2 Corinthians ch 13 v 5.
……………………………………………………………………..
……………………………………………………………………..
……………………………………………………………………..
Who doesn’t belong to God?
Romans ch 8 v 9.
……………………………………………………………………..
When the Lord Jesus, in the person of the Holy Spirit, lives in a person, a new life has begin. How did Jesus describe this in John ch 3 v 3.
……………………………………………………………………..
……………………………………………………………………..
Read and compare Mark ch 14 v 66-72 and Acts ch 4 v 1-12. What difference did the indwelling Spirit make to Peter and the disciples?
……………………………………………………………………..
……………………………………………………………………..
What a wonderful, wonderful rescue operation God has mounted!
The Life , death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus makes forgiveness of sins available to you!.
The Holy Spirit is available to come and live inside YOU., to make you a NEW person.
However, this salvation is not automatically yours. In the next study we will discover what you must do to be saved.
If one person gets to heaven by their own good works then Jesus Christ no need to have died. God would have said, “He or she did it so why couldn’t you”
Because no-one could live without sinning Jesus died for all
Everyone needs Jesus. He is the only Saviour
God’s rescue operation for the human race is called in the Bible “Salvation”.
You need to be saved from your sins and your Sin
Many people hope to find God by doing their best. But let’s look at what the bible says:
According to Ephesians ch 2 v 8-9 what is one way you will NEVER be saved?
……………………………………………………………………..
……………………………………………………………………
Can anyone get right with God by doing their best?
See Romans ch 3 v. 20 and explain your answer.
……………………………………………………………………..
……………………………………………………………………..
……………………………………………………………………..
……………………………………………………………………
A Holy God cannot just forget all our past sins because we decide now “to turn over a new leaf”. And if we’re honest with ourselves “turning over a new leaf” doesn’t last very long anyway.
What we really, really need is to be made a brand new person deep inside.
The good news of the gospel is that the Lord Jesus can do for us what we cannot do for ourselves.
What does the name “Jesus” mean?
Matthew ch 1 v 21. ……………………………………………………….
……………………………………………………………………
The Lord Jesus can save us from our sins and from our sin.
HOW CAN GOD FORGIVE SINS?
Did the Lord Jesus die by accident?
John 10 v 17-18. ………………………………………………………….
………………………………………………………
What could he have done?
Matthew ch 26 v 53-56. …………………………………………………….
……………………………………………………..
How long had his death on the cross been planned?
1 Peter ch 1 v 18-20. ………………………………………………………
How did John the Baptist describe Jesus?
John ch 1 v 29. …………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………..
What does that mean? Take your explanation from Leviticus ch 4 v 32-35.
……………………………………………………………………..
……………………………………………………………………..
For whose sins was Jesus NOT dying?
Hebrews ch 4 v 15 ……………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………..
2 Corinthians ch 5 v 21 ………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………..
1 Peter ch 3 v 18. ……………………………………………………..
……………………………………………………………………..
For whose sin WAS Jesus dying?
Romans ch 5 v 8.
……………………………………………………………………..
Isaiah ch 53 v 4-6
……………………………………………………………………..
1 Peter ch 2 v 24
……………………………………………………………………..
As the old hymn says;
There was no other good enough To pay the price of Sin
Only Jesus could unlock the gate Of heaven and let us in.
HOW CAN GOD CHANGE SINNERS?
What happened three days after the crucifixion.
See 1 Corinthians ch 15 v 3-4
……………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………
What happened 40 days later? See Acts ch 1 v 3 and 9-10.
……………………………………………………………………..
What wonderful promise had Jesus given to his disciples in John ch 16 v 7? (Check John ch 14 v 26 for help)
……………………………………………………………………..
……………………………………………………………………..
Following the ascension and heaven’s gift of the Holy Spirit, where would the Holy Spirit live? John ch 14 v 17
……………………………………………………………………..
……………………………………………………………………..
This tremendous promise came true on the day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit came to live in those early disciples. – they became the first Christians.
It is interesting to discover how the Bible describes a Christian.
Who lived in Paul? Galatians ch 2 v 20
……………………………………………………………………..
How can you tell if you are a genuine Christian?
2 Corinthians ch 13 v 5.
……………………………………………………………………..
……………………………………………………………………..
……………………………………………………………………..
Who doesn’t belong to God?
Romans ch 8 v 9.
……………………………………………………………………..
When the Lord Jesus, in the person of the Holy Spirit, lives in a person, a new life has begin. How did Jesus describe this in John ch 3 v 3.
……………………………………………………………………..
……………………………………………………………………..
Read and compare Mark ch 14 v 66-72 and Acts ch 4 v 1-12. What difference did the indwelling Spirit make to Peter and the disciples?
……………………………………………………………………..
……………………………………………………………………..
What a wonderful, wonderful rescue operation God has mounted!
The Life , death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus makes forgiveness of sins available to you!.
The Holy Spirit is available to come and live inside YOU., to make you a NEW person.
However, this salvation is not automatically yours. In the next study we will discover what you must do to be saved.
If one person gets to heaven by their own good works then Jesus Christ no need to have died. God would have said, “He or she did it so why couldn’t you”
Because no-one could live without sinning Jesus died for all
Everyone needs Jesus. He is the only Saviour
|
STUDY 5. WHAT IS REPENTANCE?
|
| ||
So far we have looked at ourselves in God’s mirror, the Bible, and have seen that we are sinners. Although created to know, love and serve the creator, we are described in the bible as being lost, blind and perishing.
We have then looked at God’s tremendous rescue operation in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ.
But (incase you hadn’t noticed) the world is still in a mess 2000 years after Jesus came. Why is this? The answer is really very simple. So FEW folk realise that we must PERSONALLY RECEIVE God’s salvation for oneself. If a doctor diagnoses a disease and provides an antidote, only the patient who takes the medicine will be cured.
How, then, do we personally receive Salvation.?
Which two words describe how we should respond to God’s rescue operation?
Mark ch 1 v 14-15.
…………………………………………………………………….
Acts ch 20 v 20-21.
…………………………………………………………………….
In this Bible study we will see what Repentance really is.
Who told people to repent?
Matthew ch 3 v 1-2 ……………………………………..
Matthew ch 4 v 17. ………………………………………
Mark ch 6 v 7,12. ……………………………………….
Acts ch 2 v 38 …………………………………………….
Acts ch 26 v 1, ch 19 v 20 ………………………………..
Acts ch 17 v 30 …………………………………………….
Repentance is mentioned 70 times in the New Testament. It is the first vital step in receiving salvation.
Who must repent?
Acts ch 17 v 30. ………………………………………….
2 Peter ch 3 v 9 ………………………………………….
What happens to anyone who fails to repent?
Luke ch 13 v 1-5. …………………………………….
To repent then, is not an optional matter. It is the solemn command of a loving but Holy God who hates sin.
We must therefore consider just what it means and how we are to repent.
The word repent means to “think again”. Like Dick Whittington we must think again and turn from the road we are presently on.
Everything begins in the mind. We must be willing to stop thinking as we have thought in the past and begin to think as God thinks. This will result in a complete change of attitude and behaviour. I must change my mind about God, about sin and about myself.
This does not earn me the right to be forgiven. Forgiveness is God’s undeserved gift to be received by a grateful sinner.
But this does mean that I am treating my sins as seriously as God does. With His help, I intend to be a brand new person. From now on the Lord Jesus will run my life instead of me.
This change of mind, heart and will, if genuine is bound to lead to a change in behaviour.
What proves that a person has repented?
Acts ch 26 v 20 ……….………………………………………………………..
Matthew ch 3 v 7-8. ………………………………………………….
……………………………………………………………
Which of the following people really meant business with God?
Cross out either Yes or No and explain how you know?
Zaccheaus in Luke ch 19 v 1-9 YES/NO
…………………………………………………………………….
…………………………………………………………………….
…………………………………………………………………….
The young man in Luke ch 15 v 11-24 YES/NO.
…………………………………………………………………….
…………………………………………………………………….
…………………………………………………………………….
The Thessalonians in 1 Thessalonians ch 1 v 9. YES/NO .
…………………………………………………………………….
…………………………………………………………………….
…………………………………………………………………….
The young man in Mark ch 10 v 17-22. YES/NO.
…………………………………………………………………….
…………………………………………………………………….
The people of Ephesus in Acts ch 19: 17-22 YES/NO.
…………………………………………………………………….
…………………………………………………………………….
…………………………………………………………………….
A famous preacher once put it this way:
There is not one verse of scripture that indicates you can be a Christian and live any kind of life you want to. When Christ enters the heart, he demands that He be Lord and master. The christian life doesn't "work" any other way.
He demands complete surrender. He demands complete control of your intellectual processes. He demands that your body be subject to Him and to him alone.
He demands your talents and abilities. He demands that all your work and labour be performed in His name.
He does not make demands as a tyrant, but by his very person. Realising who He is, will demand that he takes his rightful place in our lives and that is 1st.
Do those demands seem to heavy- They may do to most but this is where the miracle is. We only know true freedom when we become a slave of Jesus Christ.
His yoke is easy and His burden is light. Better to be a slave to Jesus Christ who loved you enough to die for you, than a slave to the Devil. His only purpose is to steal your life and destroy your soul.
A change must take place!
Jesus desires Lordship over everything. God’s Holy Spirit is given to those who are ready to obey Him. He wants you to yield everything concerning your social life, your family life, your business life to Him. He must have first place in everything you do, or think or say, for when you truly repent, you turn towards God in everything”
The Hymnwriter put is like this.
When I survey the wondrous cross, On which the Prince of Glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss and pour contempt on all my pride.
See from His head, his hands, His feet, sorrow and love flow mingled down
Did e’er such love and sorrow meet Or thorns compose so rich a crown
Were the whole realm of nature mine, that would be an offering far too small
Love so amazing , so divine, Demands my soul, my life , my all.
Is there a response in your heart to that right now?
Do you need to repent? …………………………….
Why?……………………………………………………..
…………………………………………………………….
Are you able to say that there a spirit of repentance in your heart now?…………
We have then looked at God’s tremendous rescue operation in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ.
But (incase you hadn’t noticed) the world is still in a mess 2000 years after Jesus came. Why is this? The answer is really very simple. So FEW folk realise that we must PERSONALLY RECEIVE God’s salvation for oneself. If a doctor diagnoses a disease and provides an antidote, only the patient who takes the medicine will be cured.
How, then, do we personally receive Salvation.?
Which two words describe how we should respond to God’s rescue operation?
Mark ch 1 v 14-15.
…………………………………………………………………….
Acts ch 20 v 20-21.
…………………………………………………………………….
In this Bible study we will see what Repentance really is.
Who told people to repent?
Matthew ch 3 v 1-2 ……………………………………..
Matthew ch 4 v 17. ………………………………………
Mark ch 6 v 7,12. ……………………………………….
Acts ch 2 v 38 …………………………………………….
Acts ch 26 v 1, ch 19 v 20 ………………………………..
Acts ch 17 v 30 …………………………………………….
Repentance is mentioned 70 times in the New Testament. It is the first vital step in receiving salvation.
Who must repent?
Acts ch 17 v 30. ………………………………………….
2 Peter ch 3 v 9 ………………………………………….
What happens to anyone who fails to repent?
Luke ch 13 v 1-5. …………………………………….
To repent then, is not an optional matter. It is the solemn command of a loving but Holy God who hates sin.
We must therefore consider just what it means and how we are to repent.
The word repent means to “think again”. Like Dick Whittington we must think again and turn from the road we are presently on.
Everything begins in the mind. We must be willing to stop thinking as we have thought in the past and begin to think as God thinks. This will result in a complete change of attitude and behaviour. I must change my mind about God, about sin and about myself.
This does not earn me the right to be forgiven. Forgiveness is God’s undeserved gift to be received by a grateful sinner.
But this does mean that I am treating my sins as seriously as God does. With His help, I intend to be a brand new person. From now on the Lord Jesus will run my life instead of me.
This change of mind, heart and will, if genuine is bound to lead to a change in behaviour.
What proves that a person has repented?
Acts ch 26 v 20 ……….………………………………………………………..
Matthew ch 3 v 7-8. ………………………………………………….
……………………………………………………………
Which of the following people really meant business with God?
Cross out either Yes or No and explain how you know?
Zaccheaus in Luke ch 19 v 1-9 YES/NO
…………………………………………………………………….
…………………………………………………………………….
…………………………………………………………………….
The young man in Luke ch 15 v 11-24 YES/NO.
…………………………………………………………………….
…………………………………………………………………….
…………………………………………………………………….
The Thessalonians in 1 Thessalonians ch 1 v 9. YES/NO .
…………………………………………………………………….
…………………………………………………………………….
…………………………………………………………………….
The young man in Mark ch 10 v 17-22. YES/NO.
…………………………………………………………………….
…………………………………………………………………….
The people of Ephesus in Acts ch 19: 17-22 YES/NO.
…………………………………………………………………….
…………………………………………………………………….
…………………………………………………………………….
A famous preacher once put it this way:
There is not one verse of scripture that indicates you can be a Christian and live any kind of life you want to. When Christ enters the heart, he demands that He be Lord and master. The christian life doesn't "work" any other way.
He demands complete surrender. He demands complete control of your intellectual processes. He demands that your body be subject to Him and to him alone.
He demands your talents and abilities. He demands that all your work and labour be performed in His name.
He does not make demands as a tyrant, but by his very person. Realising who He is, will demand that he takes his rightful place in our lives and that is 1st.
Do those demands seem to heavy- They may do to most but this is where the miracle is. We only know true freedom when we become a slave of Jesus Christ.
His yoke is easy and His burden is light. Better to be a slave to Jesus Christ who loved you enough to die for you, than a slave to the Devil. His only purpose is to steal your life and destroy your soul.
A change must take place!
Jesus desires Lordship over everything. God’s Holy Spirit is given to those who are ready to obey Him. He wants you to yield everything concerning your social life, your family life, your business life to Him. He must have first place in everything you do, or think or say, for when you truly repent, you turn towards God in everything”
The Hymnwriter put is like this.
When I survey the wondrous cross, On which the Prince of Glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss and pour contempt on all my pride.
See from His head, his hands, His feet, sorrow and love flow mingled down
Did e’er such love and sorrow meet Or thorns compose so rich a crown
Were the whole realm of nature mine, that would be an offering far too small
Love so amazing , so divine, Demands my soul, my life , my all.
Is there a response in your heart to that right now?
Do you need to repent? …………………………….
Why?……………………………………………………..
…………………………………………………………….
Are you able to say that there a spirit of repentance in your heart now?…………
|
STUDY 6;
HOW CAN I BECOME A NEW PERSON? |
| ||
We have traveled a long way since study No. 1, but we’re almost at the journey’s end. We have seen clearly that the Lord Jesus loves you and wants to change you. He wants to forgive your sins and make you a brand new person.
Can you remember the two things you must do
…………………………………………………………………….
(if you have forgotten, take another look at Mark ch 1 v 14-15.
At this study we are going to take a closer look at what the bible teaches us about FAITH.
******************
FAITH IS VITAL.
Let’s see what happens to those who believe.
According to John ch 3 v 14-16 what happens to those who believe ( who put their faith in) the Lord Jesus.
……………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………
In Acts ch 16 v 29-31, what question did the Jailer ask, and what was the answer?
Question………………………………..
Answer ………………………………………………
………..................................……………………….
This was even prophesied about hundreds of years before Jesus came.
What do the Old Testament prophets teach about Jesus according to Acts ch 10 v 43. .............………………………………………
…………...................................……………
What else happens when you put your faith in Jesus Christ.?
Acts ch 13 v 38-39.
……................................………………………
…...............……………………………………
According to Acts ch 15 v 9 what lovely thing does God do when you put your faith in Christ.
……………………………………………………………………
At the moment you believe, who comes to live in you? See Galatians ch 3 v 14.
…………………………………………
Perhaps you feel that you could never live the Christian life. What encouragement does Romans ch 1 v 16 give you? ..........................................................................
..............................................................................
But let’s see what happens to those who don’t believe. Write your answers in your own words.
Mark ch 16 v 16
……………………..........…………………………
……………………..................…………………….
John ch 3 v 36.
……………………………………………………
John ch 8 v 24.
…………………......................……………………
…………………………………..........……………
So you see how vital faith is in coming to know the Lord personally.
But what exactly is faith?
********************
OUR FAITH RESTS IN FACTS
Many people say something like this “Well it doesn’t really matter what you believe so long as you believe something”
Do you agree? …………………..
Does the Bible agree?
Look at Acts ch 4 v 10-12. Before you answer and then explain why you answer as you do.
…………………………………………………………
………………………………………………….
It is ESSENTIAL that you believe the truth. It is Essential that you believe in Jesus Christ who said “I am the TRUTH”
*******************
FAITH IS MORE THAN JUST AGREEING TO SOME FACTS.
Write down some of the things ( facts) that demons believe in.
Mark ch 1 v 21-26.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Acts ch 16 v 16-18.
……………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………
Acts ch 19 v 13-16.
……………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………
James ch 2 v 19.
…………………………………………………………………….
……………………………………………………………………
Obviously it is possible to believe some things in your head which are true and yet still not be saved.
What was missing in the kind of “faith” that we have just been looking at?
……………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………….
SO WHAT DOES IT REALLY MEAN TO BELIEVE IN JESUS?
One of the clearest verses is John ch 1 v 12.
What are the two ways of describing the folk who were given the power to become children of God.?
1……………………………………………………………………
2……………………………………………………………………
Faith is receiving what God gives.
By faith you must personally receive the Lord Jesus as your Saviour and Lord.
Look at Revelation ch 3 v 20.
According to this verse, where is the Lord Jesus?
……………………………………………………………………
What is He doing?
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
What does He promise He will do if you open the door of your life to Him?
……………………………………………………………………
Do you need Christ?………………….
Do you want Christ? ………………..
Would you like to receive Christ right now? …………
Read Romans ch 10 v 9-13.
According to verse 13, how can YOU right now be saved.
…………………………………………………….
…………………………………………………….
……………………………………………………..
Many people have discovered that calling on the Lord in the words of a prayer like this has settled the issue. May be you would like to pray that prayer. Pray it in faith and believe that God is listening and ready to answer
O God in Heaven,
I realise that I am a sinner. I now confess my sins to you. Against you have I sinned. I have broken your commandments. I am so sorry for that Lord, but I thank you for showing me how I can be saved. I thank you for sending your own Son Jesus to die in my place upon the cross for my sins.
I know Lord Jesus that you want to come into my life. Now Lord Jesus I welcome you into my life as my Saviour and Living Lord. From now on I want you to run my life
Thank you Lord for hearing my prayer and I believe you have answered it. Amen
Faith does not exist in a vacuum. For example you can put as much faith as you like in a chair with a broken leg, but it will probably let you down. The person who skates on thin ice, might have as much faith as one who skates on thick ice, but the one who puts their faith in the thin ice is likely to court disaster. So it is not sufficient to say you have faith, you should be able to say what you are putting your faith in and why.
When a new baby is born it requires three vital things to live.
They are Air, Food and Exercise.
When a person is born again , to become a child of God, three similar things are required.
1 Spiritual air. This is PRAYER. Breathing prayers to God as your father keeps you in touch. Pray without ceasing. Talk to Him all the time
2 Spiritual Food. This is the Bible which is the word of God.
Food comes in different forms. Milk , Bread, Meat. All give certain kind of nourishment and some needs more digesting or chewing than others. As a baby you start on milk.
1 Pet 2:2 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation
You get this from your preaching or teaching at church like a baby receives from it’s mother.
The Bread is your own daily readings at home. This is like a packed lunch which will get you through the day.
Meat is like Bible study. Take time to meditate, write notes . Digest.
It may be best to Begin at Mark’s Gospel. Get to know Jesus as God’s servant from it. Then read John’s Gospel in which you can see that Jesus as the Son of God. Then read and study Romans ch 1-8 over and over.
3. Spiritual Exercise. This is living out the “food” you have eaten. In other words obey the word that you read. Witness for the Lord. Tell others. Never be ashamed of Jesus. Share these studies with interested friends.
The Greatest Misconception in the world, is probably that God has a large book in heaven in which he keeps accounts of all our deeds. If the good deeds outwiegh the bad deeds then God will allow us into heaven.
Can you remember the two things you must do
…………………………………………………………………….
(if you have forgotten, take another look at Mark ch 1 v 14-15.
At this study we are going to take a closer look at what the bible teaches us about FAITH.
******************
FAITH IS VITAL.
Let’s see what happens to those who believe.
According to John ch 3 v 14-16 what happens to those who believe ( who put their faith in) the Lord Jesus.
……………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………
In Acts ch 16 v 29-31, what question did the Jailer ask, and what was the answer?
Question………………………………..
Answer ………………………………………………
………..................................……………………….
This was even prophesied about hundreds of years before Jesus came.
What do the Old Testament prophets teach about Jesus according to Acts ch 10 v 43. .............………………………………………
…………...................................……………
What else happens when you put your faith in Jesus Christ.?
Acts ch 13 v 38-39.
……................................………………………
…...............……………………………………
According to Acts ch 15 v 9 what lovely thing does God do when you put your faith in Christ.
……………………………………………………………………
At the moment you believe, who comes to live in you? See Galatians ch 3 v 14.
…………………………………………
Perhaps you feel that you could never live the Christian life. What encouragement does Romans ch 1 v 16 give you? ..........................................................................
..............................................................................
But let’s see what happens to those who don’t believe. Write your answers in your own words.
Mark ch 16 v 16
……………………..........…………………………
……………………..................…………………….
John ch 3 v 36.
……………………………………………………
John ch 8 v 24.
…………………......................……………………
…………………………………..........……………
So you see how vital faith is in coming to know the Lord personally.
But what exactly is faith?
********************
OUR FAITH RESTS IN FACTS
Many people say something like this “Well it doesn’t really matter what you believe so long as you believe something”
Do you agree? …………………..
Does the Bible agree?
Look at Acts ch 4 v 10-12. Before you answer and then explain why you answer as you do.
…………………………………………………………
………………………………………………….
It is ESSENTIAL that you believe the truth. It is Essential that you believe in Jesus Christ who said “I am the TRUTH”
*******************
FAITH IS MORE THAN JUST AGREEING TO SOME FACTS.
Write down some of the things ( facts) that demons believe in.
Mark ch 1 v 21-26.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Acts ch 16 v 16-18.
……………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………
Acts ch 19 v 13-16.
……………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………
James ch 2 v 19.
…………………………………………………………………….
……………………………………………………………………
Obviously it is possible to believe some things in your head which are true and yet still not be saved.
What was missing in the kind of “faith” that we have just been looking at?
……………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………….
SO WHAT DOES IT REALLY MEAN TO BELIEVE IN JESUS?
One of the clearest verses is John ch 1 v 12.
What are the two ways of describing the folk who were given the power to become children of God.?
1……………………………………………………………………
2……………………………………………………………………
Faith is receiving what God gives.
By faith you must personally receive the Lord Jesus as your Saviour and Lord.
Look at Revelation ch 3 v 20.
According to this verse, where is the Lord Jesus?
……………………………………………………………………
What is He doing?
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
What does He promise He will do if you open the door of your life to Him?
……………………………………………………………………
Do you need Christ?………………….
Do you want Christ? ………………..
Would you like to receive Christ right now? …………
Read Romans ch 10 v 9-13.
According to verse 13, how can YOU right now be saved.
…………………………………………………….
…………………………………………………….
……………………………………………………..
Many people have discovered that calling on the Lord in the words of a prayer like this has settled the issue. May be you would like to pray that prayer. Pray it in faith and believe that God is listening and ready to answer
O God in Heaven,
I realise that I am a sinner. I now confess my sins to you. Against you have I sinned. I have broken your commandments. I am so sorry for that Lord, but I thank you for showing me how I can be saved. I thank you for sending your own Son Jesus to die in my place upon the cross for my sins.
I know Lord Jesus that you want to come into my life. Now Lord Jesus I welcome you into my life as my Saviour and Living Lord. From now on I want you to run my life
Thank you Lord for hearing my prayer and I believe you have answered it. Amen
Faith does not exist in a vacuum. For example you can put as much faith as you like in a chair with a broken leg, but it will probably let you down. The person who skates on thin ice, might have as much faith as one who skates on thick ice, but the one who puts their faith in the thin ice is likely to court disaster. So it is not sufficient to say you have faith, you should be able to say what you are putting your faith in and why.
When a new baby is born it requires three vital things to live.
They are Air, Food and Exercise.
When a person is born again , to become a child of God, three similar things are required.
1 Spiritual air. This is PRAYER. Breathing prayers to God as your father keeps you in touch. Pray without ceasing. Talk to Him all the time
2 Spiritual Food. This is the Bible which is the word of God.
Food comes in different forms. Milk , Bread, Meat. All give certain kind of nourishment and some needs more digesting or chewing than others. As a baby you start on milk.
1 Pet 2:2 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation
You get this from your preaching or teaching at church like a baby receives from it’s mother.
The Bread is your own daily readings at home. This is like a packed lunch which will get you through the day.
Meat is like Bible study. Take time to meditate, write notes . Digest.
It may be best to Begin at Mark’s Gospel. Get to know Jesus as God’s servant from it. Then read John’s Gospel in which you can see that Jesus as the Son of God. Then read and study Romans ch 1-8 over and over.
3. Spiritual Exercise. This is living out the “food” you have eaten. In other words obey the word that you read. Witness for the Lord. Tell others. Never be ashamed of Jesus. Share these studies with interested friends.
The Greatest Misconception in the world, is probably that God has a large book in heaven in which he keeps accounts of all our deeds. If the good deeds outwiegh the bad deeds then God will allow us into heaven.
If you thought like that before this study we hope you now know that nothing you can do or have done will earn your eternal salvation. It is only because you believe that Jesus died to pay the whole debt of your sins on the cross, that God will allow you into heaven. He sees your faith in Jesus and counts that as righteousness. Read Romans ch 3 v 20-26.
Rom 3:26
To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
Rom 3:26
To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
