Table of Contents
Lesson 1: Salvation
“What does it mean to be saved? How was I saved
and what is my new relationship to God?”
There are three essential truths for a person to embrace if they will experience the love of God and be delivered from the wrath of God. The first is, “I am a sinner who needs a Saviour.” Second, “Jesus Christ is the Saviour.” And the third, “He is now my Saviour!”
When you know that the Lord Jesus Christ has saved you from your sins, then you can begin to enjoy the eternal relationship with God’s treasure, His Son. And that is the purpose behind this lesson: to introduce you to this wonderful relationship with the God who has so graciously saved sinners.
When one receives the Lord Jesus Christ as their Saviour, a whole lot of things change, and begin to change. Since it is very likely that you have some questions regarding how this comes about, and what this means, this lesson aims to provide biblical answers.
EXPLANATION: What is the primary purpose of this lesson?
The purpose of this lesson is to explain what takes place at salvation and how receiving Jesus Christ affects the believer’s relationship with God.
EXPECTATION: How will these teachings help me to be obedient to the Lord Jesus Christ?
·
By obeying
the Lord’s command to repent and obey the gospel.
Acts 2:38; 17:30; Matthew 4:17
· By obeying His command to give glory and thanks to God for His gift of salvation. Ephesians 1:12-13; Revelation 19:1
· By obeying His command to show through your life the salvation that which He gives. Philippians 2:12; 1 Timothy 1:16
I. What are we saved from?
a. To be “saved” implies danger or a threat.
i. If you are in a building on fire, you are saved from the fire by a fire fighter.
ii. If you are in water and cannot swim, you are saved from drowning by a life jacket or a lifeguard.
iii. So, what do we need to be saved from before God? Matthew 1:21 says, “She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” Sin is the problem.
II. Are we all really that bad? Won’t our good works be enough to outweigh our bad works?
a. The Bible’s testimony of mankind is dark and honest.
b. Romans 3:10-12 claims that “none is righteous, no not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.” (see also Romans 3:23).
c. Proverbs 20:9, “Who can say, ‘I have made my heart pure, I am clean from my sin’?”
d. God does not just see our
actions, but also the very intentions of our hearts. Even our motives and
thoughts will be judged one day.
Hebrews 4:13; 1 Corinthian 4:5; Matthew 5:27-30; Exodus 20:17
e. The standard is not how well we
have done in comparison with other people, but if we have met the
perfect, righteous standard of God’s law. We must be holy as God is holy.
Leviticus 11:44; James 2:10; Matthew 5:48
III. Why do we need to be saved from sin?
a. Because God is holy and just and
cannot let even one sin go unpunished.
Exodus 34:7
b. On the Final Judgment, God will
bring to light everything we have ever done, whether good or bad, and judge
each person with perfect justice—including you!
2 Corinthians 5:10; Revelations 20:11-15
c. If we are guilty, we can do
absolutely nothing to pay off our debt. Sin is an infinite offence against an
infinite God. Only a substitution or giving of a sacrifice can atone for our
sins.
See Hebrews 9:22
d. That is why the Bible can also
speak of being saved from God. We need God to save us from Himself
because of our sin against Him.
Romans 5:9; 1 Thessalonians 1:10
e. To justify (declare innocent) the guilty (a true criminal) is an abomination to God (Proverbs 17:15). But we are all wicked, so how could God ever declare us righteous before Him?
IV. How then can anyone be saved if we all have sinned?
a. God Himself, in great love, gave
the sacrifice to take away our sins by giving up His only Son on the cross.
Isaiah 53:6, 10; John 3:16
b. Christ lived the perfect life of
obedience that we never could and died the death for the penalty of sin we
could never pay.
2 Corinthians 5:21; Galatians 3:10-13
c. According to 2 Corinthians 5:21, there are two things necessary to be made right with God:
i. Our sin needed to be paid for. Christ became sin for us and bore our sins in His body on the tree (1 Peter 2:24). The full record of our sin is credited to Christ’s account—past, present, and future (Colossians 2:13-14). He suffered the wrath of God as if He committed every single sin of every person that would ever believe in Him.
ii. We need a perfect righteousness before God. Christ’s perfect record of obedience (loving the Lord His God perfectly and loving others perfectly every second of every moment) is credited to our account through faith in Him (Romans 3:21-24; Philippians 3:7-9).
d. If all our sins are paid in full and if every demand of the Law is perfectly fulfilled and credited to our account, we can say with Paul in Romans 8:1, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Praise be to God’s glorious grace!
V. How does this salvation take place?
Salvation takes place by the grace of God alone, through faith alone in Christ alone (Ephesians 2:8-9). The Bible informs us that the following things will happen as we experience this salvation as the result of the “new birth.”
a. A comprehension of the true nature of God and the reality of sin.
b. Contrition (sorrow) over sin.
c. Repentance from dead works (a forsaking of trust in anything else for salvation and a wholehearted turning to God).
d. A conversion from sin to Christ (a trusting and committing to Christ as Lord and Saviour).
VI. What are the results of being saved?
a. You are regenerated and born again (John 1:12-13; 3:3-5). The new birth can be described as the salvation that God gives to believers. Not only does such a birth change the believer’s spiritual lineage, but it also results in their deliverance from:
i. The penalty of sin.
ii. The power of sin.
iii. The presence of sin.
iv. The pleasures (enjoyment) of sin.
VII. Being in God’s family separates the believer from the devil’s family.
a. His body becomes the temple of
the Holy Spirit. God’s Holy Spirit lives inside of those who have been born
again.
1 Corinthians 6:19
b. Believers are “ethically”
different from the lost.
2 Corinthians 6:14-18
c. The new life is succinctly summarised in 2 Corinthians 5:17-18, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation.”
VIII. What is one’s relationship to God upon being born again?
a. God is their heavenly Father, and
they are His child.
1 John 2:1
b. God no longer deals with them as
an enemy, but rather He deals with them as sons.
Romans 5:10
c. That relationship is pictured by the earthly relationship between a father and his son.
i.
A good father
loves and cares for his son.
1 Peter 5:7
ii.
A good father
protects his son.
Matthew 18:6
iii.
A good father
provides for his son.
Philippians 4:19
iv.
A good father
guides and teaches his son.
John 14:26
v.
A good father
helps his son.
Psalm 46:1
vi.
A good father
encourages his son.
Philippians 4:13
vii.
A good father
disciplines his son.
Hebrews 12:5-11
viii.
A good father
feeds his son.
Matthew 4:4
ix.
A good father
has a plan for his son.
Romans 8:28-29
d. A good father will never do
anything to purposely harm his son. He will only do those things which will
help him to grow and mature into the young man he wants him to be. God, the
heavenly Father, relates to His sons in the same way, only His ways are
perfect. Unlike earthly fathers who sometimes fail, God never makes a mistake
in His dealings with His sons.
Matthew 7:11; Hebrews 12:9-11.
IX. The believer does not become sinless at the time of their spiritual birth. Therefore, believers can expect an ongoing struggle with the temptation to sin.
a. A believer is one person with two
natures.
Galatians 5:17
i. The nature of the old man: physical, sinful, in Adam’s image.
ii. The nature of the new man: spiritual, perfect, in God’s image.
b. Both natures are present constantly. Therefore, the believer is called to a life of putting off sinful attitudes and actions and then replacing those by putting on righteous, Christlike attitudes and actions. This is where the struggle occurs!
i. Colossians 3:5-10
ii. Ephesians 4:22-24
X. Basic questions.
a. Will I sin after I am saved?
Yes, you
still have your old sin nature.
Romans 7:14-25
b. How does sin affect the believer’s relationship with his Father?
God does
not remove a believer from His family. When a believer sins, He disciplines
them as a son.
Hebrews 12:5-11
c. What should believers do when they sin?
Confess
it and trust the Lord Jesus Christ to cleanse from sin. He does so through His
sacrificial work that He accomplished on the cross.
1 John 1:6-10; Proverbs 28:13
d. Believer’s don’t have to sin!
They have a choice. Sin is now a matter of “I won’t do right” rather than “I can’t do right.” Romans 6:1-2
e. What evidence of salvation can I look for in my life?
Based on Acts 2:37-47 we can find that there are some things that will be true of a new believer.[1] These include (but are not limited to):
i. True repentance has occurred: the broken and contrite heart looks to God for mercy and grace.
ii. A new understanding of God’s Word, and submission to its authority, has dawned.
iii. A strong sense of attachment and belonging to God’s people is present, by which we know we have passed from death to life.
iv. A wonderful new ability to pray is manifested, including praise and spiritual petitions; and prayers are answered.
v. The receiving of a new heart is evidenced by a new appetite. That is, the believer finds that his or her desire in life is to be free from serving self and rather now he or she desires to serve the Lord; to live for Him. With the new heart the sanctifying process is commenced: the desire to obey and please the Lord.
vi.
The peace of
God and the initial sense of belonging (assurance) are placed in the heart by
the Spirit.
Romans 8:14-16.
vii.
The assaults
of Satan are now felt in new temptations, doubts and fears. The spiritual
warfare has begun.
Galatians 5:16-17
XI. Key memory verses.
a. 2 Corinthians 5:21
b. Romans 5:12
c. John 3:3
d. 1 John 1:9
XII. In many churches today, some popular teachings are:
a. All mankind is part of one large family of God.
b. People can earn their way to heaven.
c. People can get to heaven through any way they choose.
d. If there is such a thing as sin, it must be confessed to some kind of a human priest in order to be forgiven by God.
From the Bible principles taught in this lesson, you should understand that these teachings are false, and why.
XIII. Suggested Scripture readings
a. The Gospel of John & the First Epistle of John
b. The Book of Romans
c. Genesis (Chapters 1-11)
XIV. Suggested basic reading:
a. Ultimate Questions and Right with God by John Blanchard
b. Basic Christianity by John Stott
XV. Suggested advanced reading:
a. Today’s Gospel: Authentic or Synthetic? by Walter Chantry
b. Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God by J. I. Packer
c. The Gospel According to Jesus by John MacArthur, Jr.
Lesson 2: The Trinity
“What is the Trinity? Where is this teaching found in the Scriptures? What common objections will I hear against this doctrine?”
The doctrine of the Trinity is one of the cornerstone doctrines of our faith. From the earliest heresies to modern day cults, the Trinity has been a doctrine under attack to undermine the faith. It is a first-tier doctrine, meaning that one cannot intelligibly deny it and be saved at the same time. This is a hill we must die on and defend against false teachers and cults.
EXPLANATION: What is the primary purpose of this lesson?
The purpose of this lesson is to explain the doctrine of the Trinity, show its importance, and how to answer objections against it.
EXPECTATION: How will these teachings help me to be obedient to the Lord Jesus Christ?
· By obeying His command to worship the Father through the Son in the power of the Holy Spirit.
John 4:23-24
· By obeying His command to baptize others in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Matthew 28:19
I. The Trinity Summarized
a. We may define the doctrine of the Trinity with a few short prepositions:
i. There is but only one true and living God. This is God’s essence. We may refer to this as the “what” of God.
ii. There are Three Persons in this one God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This is the “who” of God. God is 1 “what” with 3 “who’s”.
iii. All Three Persons share the same divine essence (The Father, Son, and Spirit are not 33.33 % God each, but each Person is 100% God). In other words, the simple essence of God cannot be divided into parts.
iv. Yet, the Father is not the Son, the Spirit is not the Father, and the Son is not the Spirit. They are distinct Persons, not to be confused with one another.
v. Here then is a basic definition: “The doctrine of the Trinity, simply put, is that God is absolutely and eternally one essence subsisting in three distinct and ordered persons without division and without replication of the essence.”[1]
vi. The best visual illustration is what is known as the Shield of the Trinity (see illustration).
vii. Below, we will look at these prepositions and show it from Scripture.
II. The Scriptures teach that there is only one true and living God.
a. This is the clear teaching of the Bible (even most sects believe this!).
Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 43:10; 1 Corinthians 8:6; 1 Timothy 2:5
b. Even though Scripture mentions other so-called “gods,” it does not imply that they exist in reality.
1 Corinthians 8:4-6; 10:18-20; Isaiah 43:10
c. A false god would include using the right name (Yahweh, or Jesus) but then to create a version of Him which we have made up in our own imagination (see Exodus 32:1-6; Deuteronomy 4:12-19). For example, “My ‘god’ would never send someone to hell.” We may say, “You’re right, because your god doesn’t exist.”
d. That there is only one God means that there is only one, simple, divine essence—not two, three, or a million.
III. The Scriptures teach that the Father is God.
a. The evidence for this is abundant, that only a few passages will suffice.
See Ephesians 1:3; 1 Corinthians 8:6; 1 Timothy 2:5
IV. The Scriptures teach that the Son is God.
a. There are explicit statements calling Christ God.
John 1:1, 14; 20:28; Titus 2:13-14; Philippians 2:5-11; Colossians 2:9; Hebrews 1:6-9
b. His titles show us that He is God.
i. Immanuel (God with us) (Matthew 1:23).
ii. Saviour (Only God is man’s saviour) (Isaiah 43:11; Titus 1:4).
iii. Alpha and Omega (Compare Revelation 1:8 with 22:12-13).
iv. The I AM (John 8:58! See Exodus 3:14).
v. Yahweh. The NT frequently applied OT passages about Yahweh to Jesus Himself (Joel 2:32 with Romans 10:9-13; Deuteronomy 6:4 with 1 Corinthians 8:6).
vi. Mighty God (Isaiah 9:6; 10:21).
vii. Son of God (John 5:17-18).
c. His acts show us that He is God
i. All things were created through Jesus (John 1:1-3; Colossians 1:15-17).
ii. All things are sustained by Jesus (Hebrews 1:1-3; Colossians 1:17).
iii. All things were created for Jesus (Colossians 1:16; cf. Romans 11:36).
iv. Christ has authority to forgive sins (Mark 2:1-12).
v. Christ has authority to command the wind and the sea (Mark 4:35-41; cf. Psalm 107:23-32).
vi. Christ has authority to raise HIMSELF from the dead (John 10:18).
vii. Christ has the power to keep His sheep in His hands without losing one (John 10:27-28).
viii. Christ could satisfy the infinite wrath of God for a countless multitude of sinners in a few hours (2 Corinthians 5:21; Galatians 3:13).
ix. Christ hears and answers prayers (John 14:13-14).
x. Christ has authority to bless His church with grace and peace along with God the Father (1 Corinthians 1:3; Ephesians 1:2).
d. He shares attributes which only God possesses.
i. He is omnipresent (Matthew 18:20; 28:20).
ii. He is omniscient (Mark 2:8; John 2:24-25).
iii. He is omnipotent (John 10:28-30).
iv. He is immutable (Hebrews 13:8).
v. He is without sin (Hebrews 4:15).
vi. He is the eternal I AM of Exodus 3 (John 8:58).
e. He is One Person with two Natures.
i. In the incarnation, Christ took upon Himself a second nature. Christ is 1 who with 2 whats. He is true God and true Man. We could say that He is 200% authentic!
ii. The two natures did not “blend” or “mix” to make one new hybrid. The two natures remained distinct, yet united in one Person.
iii. This simple fact will clarify much of the objections against the Trinity (see below).
V. The Scriptures teach that the Spirit is God.
a. The Spirit is called God by Peter in Acts 5:3-5.
b. The Spirit is eternal (Hebrews 9:14).
c. The Spirit knows all things, even the depths of God Himself (1 Corinthians 2:10-11).
d. The Spirit causes us to be born again (Titus 3:5-6).
VI. All three Persons work together in their works of creation and redemption.
a. In Creation
i. The world was created by God the Father through God the Son in the power of God the Holy Spirit (Genesis 1:1-3).
b. In Redemption
i. The Father planned our salvation (Ephesians 1:3-6).
ii. The Son accomplished our salvation (Ephesians 1:7-10).
iii. The Spirit applies our salvation (Ephesians 1:13-14).
iv. Therefore, only God gets the glory for both creation and salvation (See Revelation 4:11; 5:9-10).
v. We are to baptize people in the name (singular) of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Spirit (Matthew 28:18-20). There is only one name yet three Persons.
VII. Objections against the Trinity
a. Often the objections will come in a form of a syllogism:
i. God cannot get hungry; Jesus became hungry; therefore, Jesus is not God.
ii. God knows all things; Jesus did not know the hour of His return (Mark 13:32); therefore, Jesus is not God.
b. Other objections will come in the form of confused questions:
i. To whom did Jesus pray to on the cross? God? How can Jesus pray to Himself on the cross?
c. These objections confuse the essence of God with the Persons of God. God is not one essence with one Person, but one essence with Three Persons. It was the Son who spoke to the Father on the cross. But these Persons existed from all eternity past.
d. These also confuses the different natures Christ has: Christ is both God and Man. It was not as God that Jesus became hungry, but as a man. It was not as God that Jesus did not know certain things, but as man. Because He was 100% man (like you and me), He had to grow and learn like any human being must (see Luke 2:52).
VIII. Conclusion
a. The Trinity is a profound mystery that our limited human minds will never be able to grasp. It is not a logical contradiction (there is a difference between a what and a who), but it will always be a mystery. Any illustration of the Trinity fails and turns into heresy.
i. God is not like H2O which can turn into gas, liquid, and solid and yet still be H20. God does not turn from the Father into the Son and then into the Spirit. There are Three Persons at the same time always.
ii. God is not like an egg who has the yoke, the egg-white, and the shell, yet be one egg. This divides the essence of God into parts.
b. But if we cannot understand the Trinity, then what must we do with it? Simply this: worship. There is no one like God. Nothing can be compared with Him. God is in a class all on His own. Therefore, He is always the proper object of our adoration and worship.
c. The Trinity is important for our salvation. If Jesus was not God, He could not have satisfied the infinite wrath of God on the cross for our sins. If the Spirit is not God, He cannot apply salvation to our lives. This touches on the very gospel itself.
d. The doctrine of the Trinity also helps us to pray more biblically:
i. We pray to the Father in the name of the Son by the power of the Holy Spirit.
ii. We may worship all Three Persons as our heart’s delight.
iii. We avoid loose praying like, “Father, thank You that You died on the cross.”
IX. Key memory verses.
a. Matthew 28:18-20
b. 2 Corinthians 13:14
X. Suggested reading:
a. Simply Trinity by Matthew Barret
b. The Forgotten Trinity by James White
c. Delighting in the Trinity by Michael Reeves
[1] John MacArthur & Richard Mayhue, Biblical Doctrine: A Systematic Summary of Bible Truth (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2017), 189.
Lesson 3: The Word of God
“What is the significance of the Bible in my life?”
Christianity unashamedly claims to be the recipient of an absolute written authority from God. Having the Word of God is essential to the Christian’s growth in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ. The standards by which a Christian is to govern his life in every detail are found in the pages of the Word of God.
EXPLANATION: What is the primary purpose of this lesson?
The purpose of this lesson is to acquaint the believer with the basics of the Bible and how it relates to everyday life. The disciple of Jesus Christ can then begin to understand how its principles are to guide every facet of walking with Jesus Christ.
EXPECTATION: How will these teachings help me to be obedient to the Lord Jesus Christ?
- By obeying His command to desire His Word.
1 Peter 2:2; Matthew 28:20
I. The Word of God is active in salvation.
a. 1 Peter 1:23 says a man is born again “through the word of God.” The Holy Spirit uses the Word of God to bring about the new birth.
These Scriptural examples highlight this truth:
i. Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith …”
ii. Romans 10:17 says, “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.”
iii. James 1:21 says the Word of God is “able to save your souls.”
b. Paul’s summary of the gospel in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 declares that the gospel is truth for it is in accordance with the Scriptures.
i. Jesus Christ died for our sins. He was buried. He rose from the dead. According to the Scriptures.
ii. Without the Bible, there is no gospel and thus no salvation!
c. Consider that you must believe what the Bible says about God, your sin, your condition, and God’s gift of salvation in order to be saved.
II. Since you are saved through the Word of God, you can rest in it as your infallible guide to tell you how to live. To illustrate:
Every major purchase (car, appliance, etc.) is accompanied by an owner’s manual, which tells you how to operate it. If you don’t go by the book, it won’t work.
The Bible is God’s “owner’s manual” for your life. God would not save you and call you to service without clear and exact directions. Our responsibility is to learn and to “go by the book.”
III. What is the purpose of the Word of God for the believer?
a. The Word of God equips you for
service: “that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every
good work.”
2 Timothy 3:15-17; Psalm 119:98-100
b. The Word of God sustains you. This is illustrated in the Bible as “spiritual food” (see Job 23:12 and Jeremiah 15:16). It is a complete and balanced diet.
i. Milk (1 Peter 2:2);
ii. Honey (Psalm 119:103; Proverbs 16:24);
iii. Bread (Luke 4:4);
iv. Water (Isaiah 55:10-11; Ephesians 5:26); and
v. Meat (Hebrews 5:12-14; 1 Corinthians 3:1-2).
c. The Word of God cleanses you for
service to the glory of God.
Psalm 119:9-11; John 15:3
IV. Is the Bible completely reliable?
a. It is more reliable than any
experience that one may have. This is a very critical and important point! It
must be understood that all “experiences” are to be judged by an infallible
standard which is greater than any experience.
See 2 Peter 1:16-21; and compare Matthew 17:1-9
Peter said the Word of God was “more sure” (KJV) than any experience one may have. Peter had heard the audible voice of God but he insisted that his readers believe God’s Word rather than merely his personal testimony (even though it was authentic).
b. The Bible is completely reliable
because it is authored by the infallible God. God used men to write the Bible
but He “breathed out” His Word through them thus ensuring that everything
written was exactly how He intended.
2 Timothy 3:16-17
c. The Bible is the standard by which men are judged. Sinful mankind has no right to sit in judgement of the Word of God. Something that is flawed and unrighteousness can never judge something that is pure and perfect. With that said, we personally know the Bible is reliable by both its internal witness [an inner beauty, glory, consistency, harmony, fulfilled prophecies etc.] as well as outward evidence [archaeological, historical, eyewitnesses of the resurrection, logic, etc.]. However, we believe until God opens someone’s heart to believe, the message of the cross will remain foolishness to unbelievers (1 Cor 1:18) and that people will supress the truth in their unrighteousness (Rom 1:18-21).
V. What are the attributes of the Bible?
a. The Bible’s attributes may be summarized by the SCAN acronym:[1]
i. S – Sufficient. The Bible is all we need to know God’s will for our lives and to live for His glory (2 Timothy 3:14-16; Psalm 119:105). Any revelation or teaching that claims to be “new” for the church or “not revealed in the Bible” denies this crucial attribute of the Bible.
ii. C – Clear. The Bible is clear in its main message of salvation and how to live a life honorable to God (2 Timothy 3:14-15). Not all parts are equally clear (see 2 Peter 3:15-16), but we mean that “ordinary people using ordinary means can accurately understand enough of what must be known, believed, and observed for them to be faithful Christians.”[2]
iii. A – Authoritative. What the Bible says, God says. Even though God used human authors, the final product of the written Word are the very words of God (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:21; 1 Thessalonians 2:13). God’s Word always has the final authority over traditions or teachings of men (see Mark 7:1-23).
iv. N – Necessary. God’s Word is necessary to be heard in order to be saved and to know God rightly (Acts 4:12; Romans 10:13-17). That is why missions are such an urgent task for the church!
VI. A brief overview of the Bible.
a. A total of 66 books. 39 in the Old Testament and 27 in the New Testament.
b. Penned by more than 40 authors from all walks of life.
Penned over a time span of about 1,600 years, and yet it fits together perfectly as if written by one man. In spite of its diversity of authors and genres, it has one theme: The establishment of God’s kingdom for God’s glory through God’s Son.
c. Totally accurate in all it teaches, whether it is history, science, prophecy, etc.
d. Contains not a single contradiction.
VII. Consider this quote by Dr. C. D. Soper concerning the Bible:
“The Bible contains the mind of God, the state of man, the way of salvation, the doom of sinners, and the happiness of believers. Its doctrines are holy, its precepts are binding, its histories are true, and its decisions are immutable.
Read it to be wise, believe it to be safe, and practise it to be holy. It contains light to direct you, food to support you, and comfort to cheer you. It is the traveller’s map, the pilgrim’s staff, the pilot’s compass, the soldier’s sword and the Christian’s charter.
Here paradise is restored, heaven opened, and the gates of hell disclosed. Christ is its grand subject, our good its design, and the glory of God its end. It should fill the memory, rule the heart, and guide the feet.
Read it slowly, frequently, prayerfully. It is a mine of wealth, a paradise of glory, and a river of pleasure. It is given to you in life, will be open at the judgement, and remembered forever. It involves the highest responsibility, rewards the greatest labour, and condemns all who trifle with its holy contents.”
VIII. Basic questions.
a. Where should I start reading?
As a new believer, focus on the primary places which deal with your new relationship with your heavenly Father. The Gospel of John, the epistle of 1 John, Psalm 119 and the opening chapters of Genesis are excellent places to begin.
b. The Gospel of John is written
that you might believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.
John 20:31
c. The epistle of 1 John is written
that you might have assurance of salvation.
1 John 5:13
d. Psalm 119 is the greatest chapter in the Bible on a man’s love for the Word of God.
e. The first eleven chapters of Genesis introduce all the major teachings on which the rest of the Bible is based.
IX. What if I find something I don’t understand?
a. Don’t get frustrated, God will
reveal it to you in time—when you are ready.
John 16:12; Proverbs 4:18
Be sure you live what you do understand. God will not give you more than you are capable of handling. As you put into practise the things you are learning, God will entrust you with more.
b. Seek help from an older believer.
Acts 18:26; Proverbs 11:14
c. Someone once said that it’s not the parts of the Bible that he doesn’t understand that bother him, but rather the parts that he does understand! That is, the Bible has the ability to convict us of sin.
X. Six essential steps to practically help you in Bible study.
a. Prayer:
We come to God humbly, relying on His Holy Spirit to illuminate our minds and
hearts to see the wonders of His Word. Here are a few biblical prayers to pray
before studying God’s Word:
i. Psalm 119:18, “Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.”
ii. Psalm 119:34, “Give me understanding, that I may keep your law and observe it with my whole heart.”
iii. Psalm 119:36, “Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to selfish gain!”
iv. Psalm 119:37, “Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me life in your ways.”
b. Saturation:
Immerse yourself in the book, chapter, passage you desire to study. Read it
many times to get a feel for the context, basic theme, etc. Exposure to its
content is the goal in this step.
For example, if you want to study 1 John it would be wise to read through it once a day for three to four weeks to get a proper understanding of the content.
c. Investigation/Interpretation:
This step includes approaching the passage(s) with questions such as, “Whom is
the writer addressing?”; “What is the historical context?”; “What do these
words mean?” etc.
This is where you get down to serious study. A concordance is essential for this step.
d. Meditation:
At this step Bible study becomes personal and spiritually profound. Think
through the implications of what you are learning. Begin to “digest” what
you’ve discovered. This enables you to personalise the truths and to know why
as well as what you believe.
cf. Joshua 1:8; Psalm 1:2; 119:15, 23, 48, 78, 148
e. Application:
This is essential if your Bible study will be meaningful! Without application
you will experience stagnation. That is, if you don’t obey what God shows you,
you won’t learn more and your spiritual growth will be stagnant.
John 7:17; 13:17; Ephesians 4:21ff
f.
Propagation:
God doesn’t teach His disciples so that they can hide their knowledge away. He
teaches disciples so that they will make disciples! That which you learn in
Bible study is to be shared with others.
It is a
fact that the best way to learn is to teach. And God shows us truth in order
for us to live it and for others to learn it as well.
Matthew 28:19-20
XI. Key memory verses:
a. 2 Peter 1:21
b. Psalm 119:9
c. 2 Timothy 3:16-17
XII. NOTE: Many popular attitudes about the Bible are:
a. The Bible is just another religious book written by men.
b. The Bible can only be understood by “clergy” or by years of formal education.
c. Only parts of the Bible are inspired and we must decide which ones are and which ones are not.
From the Bible principles taught in this lesson, you should understand that these attitudes are wrong, and why.
XIII. Suggested further reading:
a. The Divine Inspiration of the Bible by A. W. Pink
b. Thy Word is Truth by Edward J. Young
c. Why I Teach That the Bible is God’s Word by W. A. Criswell
d. Taking God at His Word by Kevin DeYoung
Lesson 4: Baptism
“Now that I am saved, where do I start?”
Virtually every denomination in Christendom teaches some form of baptism and the diversity of these teachings is wide.
EXPLANATION: What is the primary purpose of this lesson?
This lesson is intended to give the Bible’s clear and definite teaching on the subject so the disciple of Jesus Christ understands clearly from the Scriptures what God’s intention is regarding baptism.
EXPECTATION: How will these teachings help me to be obedient to the Lord Jesus Christ?
- By obeying His command to submit to
baptism.
Matthew 28:19-20; Matthew 3:13-17 - By obeying His command to give public
testimony of salvation.
Acts 8:36-39; Romans 10:10 - By obeying His command to walk in newness of life and thus no longer be the slaves of sin. Romans 6:1-7
I. Why does God instruct us to be baptised?
a. Baptism is an act of obedience to the Lord.
Jesus
set the example Himself by submitting to baptism before He began His public
ministry.
Matthew 3:13-17; see also Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:21-22
b. In Matthew 3:13-15, it is clear that Jesus was baptised in obedience to God’s plan. In v. 15, He said, “Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting to fulfil all righteousness.” This point of identifying with Christ in submission and obedience is the most important thing to realise regarding baptism.
c. Note these examples of Bible characters who submitted to baptism after salvation.
i. The Ethiopian eunuch.
Acts 8:36-39
ii. The apostle Paul.
Acts 9:18
iii. The Philippian jailer and his
household.
Acts 16:25-33
II. What is the purpose of baptism?
a. Water baptism is a picture of a spiritual truth. The important point to consider is the picture portrayed by baptism.
Romans 6:1-7 (specifically verses 3-4) shows the two purposes of baptism.
i. It pictures the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
ii. It is a public testimony of the believer’s identification with Jesus Christ in His death, burial and resurrection. This is the basis on which one is saved. It identifies the believer with the Lord Jesus Christ.
b. There are therefore four important days to consider when one gets baptised.
i. The day of Christ’s death.
Apart from the death of Christ on the cross there would be no acceptable payment for our sins. The immersion of the believer pictures our identification in His sacrificial work. Galatians 2:20
ii. The day of Christ’s resurrection.
This is the culmination of our Lord’s sacrificial work on the cross. He died, was buried and rose again. This is the completion of the event that baptism pictures. It is the reason why we are baptised. Colossians 2:12
iii. The day of your salvation.
This is the day when you were baptised by the Holy Spirit into Christ. It is a spiritual event that takes place in the life of all believers at the moment of salvation. Galatians 3:27; 1 Corinthians 12:13
But it should be noted that though God knows the day on which a person is born again, the individual himself may not know for sure. That is not essential, what is essential is that you know that you are trusting Christ alone for salvation.
iv. The day of your water baptism in the church.
This is an actual event that takes place at some point in time after salvation. You are showing others by this event that you know that you have already been baptised into Christ. The physical act of water baptism represents all of the above. Romans 6:3-4
v. Note: The purpose of baptism is not:
1. To wash away your sins. Your sins (past, present and future) were forgiven by God when the Lord Jesus Christ died for you at Calvary. Being baptised does not make you any more holy in God’s eyes; it is your obedience that is pleasing to Him. 1 Peter 3:21
2. To satisfy anyone else’s requirements. You are not to be baptised because your parents tell you to, or because you are trying to please your friends. While other people may guide you in the decision to be baptised, you are only doing so in order to obey God through the local church. The decision to be baptised must be made by you as a consenting believer with a good understanding of what it entails. 1 Peter 3:21
III. Who should be baptised?
a. In Matthew 28:19, Jesus says that disciples should be baptized.
b. The only requirements for baptism are the requirements for salvation found in Romans 10:9-10.
i. Complete trust in Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour.
ii. Confession that He is Lord and Saviour.
c. There are no cases of baptism in the Bible of anyone but believers. The Bible never shows us children/infants being christened.
i. When “households” were baptised in Acts, it is clear that the members of the household were old enough to understand the message of the gospel and to be saved.
ii. See Acts 10:47-48 with 11:13-15 (see also Acts 16:31-33; 18:8).
iii. These clearer texts above should help us understand a text like Acts 16:14-15 which is less clear.
d. What about Acts 2:37-39? Doesn’t this text show that baptism is a “promise” which children should receive as well?
i. The context denies the possibility of this text meaning that infants were baptized.
ii. First, notice in verse 41, “So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.” Not everyone was baptized but only those who accepted the words of Peter.
iii. “The promise” does not refer to baptism, but to the promise of the Holy Spirit (see Acts 2:33, 38 with Acts 1:4-5). It is simply not what the text means.
iv. Therefore, we don’t have any example of where children are baptized but only those who were old enough to hear the Word of God, believe, and so be saved.
IV. What is the method of baptism?
a. Again, Acts 8:26-39 gives the clearest example. In vv. 38-39, both Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch went down into the water and came up out of the water.
b. In Matthew 3:16, Jesus was baptised in the same manner.
c. As seen previously, baptism is a picture of death burial and resurrection. The only way to bury someone is to put them completely underground. The biblical method of baptism is complete immersion in water. Just as we would not consider one to be buried by the mere sprinkling of dirt on them, neither would one be considered to be biblically baptised by merely sprinkling water on them. The Bible does not teach believers baptism by immersion but rather it teaches baptism, which is immersion.
V. How important is it to be baptised?
a. It is not essential for salvation. Ephesians 2:8-9 makes it clear that a man is saved by grace through faith without works, including baptism.
b. It is essential for service and spiritual growth. Matthew 28:19-20 (the “Great Commission”) proves it is essential. Baptism is an integral part of the Great Commission and precedes teaching. Baptism is an important part of your growth as a disciple of Jesus Christ.
To follow Jesus Christ is to obey Him in all areas. If we fail to obey Him here, we will hinder the ability to be shown more truth. That is, if a professed disciple refuses to obey the Lord in this point, it may become easier to disobey Him in other areas as well. Matthew 3:13-15
VI. Basic questions.
a. Where should I be baptised?
Since baptism is a public confession of your faith in Jesus Christ, most often it will be publicly in front of the local church. Many times people will be baptised in streams or rivers, which is fine; the Lord Jesus Christ was baptised in the river Jordan. The act of public testimony of your identification with the Lord Jesus Christ is the important point.
b. How does baptism relate to my spiritual growth?
Just as the Lord Jesus Christ was baptised at the outset of His public ministry (Matthew 3:13ff), we should see baptism as the first step in our life of ministry for the Lord Jesus Christ. When you are asked at your baptism if you are doing this out of obedience to the Lord Jesus Christ and you respond, “Yes!” you are signifying to everyone present that you desire to be involved in fulfilling the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20). If you are baptised and then refuse to be involved in ministry or are then unfaithful to your local church, you will be going back on the commitment you made when you were baptised.
c. What’s next? What should I do after baptism?
In the early church, baptism was seen as your membership in the church. When you were baptized, you were also a member of the church (see Acts 2:41). Ideally, that should be the same with us. It is unbiblical to want to be baptized, yet not be part of the church. After baptism, you should seek to serve the Lord in His church with the gifts He has given you.
d. When I was baptised, I did not know all of this. Do I need to be baptised again?
It is not necessary for you to be baptised again if you did not understand all of this when you were first baptised. What’s important is that you were following Christ in obedience at that point in time, even though you may not have understood it very well. However, if you were not saved when you were first baptised, then you should ask to be baptised again.
VII. Key Scripture passages:
a. Matthew 3:13-17
b. Acts 8:36-39
c. Romans 6:1-7
VIII. There is much false teaching among religious groups concerning baptism. The Christian should be aware of some of them.
a. Man must be baptised in order to be saved.
b. Baptism by being sprinkled is just a meaningful as immersion.
c. Babies should be baptised into God’s family, or into “the church.”
From the Bible principles taught in this lesson, you should understand that these teachings are false, and why.
IX. Suggested further reading.
a. Baptism: Sign & Seal of the Covenant of Grace by Brian Russell
b. The Testimony of Baptism by Erroll Hulse
c. Baptism: A Matter of Obedience by John MacArthur, Jr.
d. The Baptism of Disciples Alone by Fred Malone
Lesson 5: The Lord's Supper
“What is the importance of the Lord’s Supper in my life?”
God has given the church two ordinances: baptism and the Lord’s Supper. The Lord’s Supper signifies many spiritual truths for us as believers. Although it does not play any part in our salvation, it is important as a memorial of Jesus Christ’s death; a memorial as a means by which we grow in Christ.
EXPLANATION: What is the primary purpose of this lesson?
The purpose of this lesson is to acquaint the believer with what the Bible teaches about the Lord’s Supper; its importance and therefore the attitude with which it should be celebrated and conducted.
EXPECTATION: How will these teachings help me to be obedient to the Lord Jesus Christ?
- By obeying His command to properly
partake of the Lord’s Supper.
1 Corinthians 11:23-31 - By obeying His command to be in union
with the Body of Christ.
1 Corinthians 10:16-17
I. The importance of the Lord’s Supper.
a. 1 Corinthians 11:26 says that “you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.” The Lord’s Supper is a means by which we bring to our remembrance the sacrificial death of the Lord Jesus Christ. Luke 22:19 states, “Do this in remembrance of Me.” It is intended to bring our attention back to what Christ has done for us.
b. We are told in 1 Corinthians 11:24 that His body was broken for us. Not only are we to remember His death, but also His suffering and service for us through His earthly body. This is signified in the breaking of the bread, as shown in Matthew 26:26.
c. The blood, which cleanses us from our sin, is pictured in the juice of the vine. This blood was shed for us (Mark 14:24) and the importance of the shedding of blood is stated in Hebrews 9:22.
II. Who should participate in the Lord’s Supper?
1 Corinthians 11:20-34 describes how the Lord’s Supper should be observed. The people to whom Paul was writing were believers. Lost people are not included at the Lord’s Table because the death and suffering of Christ would not have any significance to them. Thus, the Lord’s Supper is for believers alone.
III. Since the Lord’s Supper is important, how often should it be held?
The only instruction that God has given to us concerning the frequency with which we have the Lord’s Supper is found in 1 Corinthians 11:25-26. In v. 25 it says, “as often as you drink it,” and v. 26 states, “For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup.” The frequency of observance is usually decided by the church officers.
IV. How should the Lord’s Supper be observed?
a. There are no explicit instructions concerning the procedure to follow. But a couple of important details should be noted.
i. Unleavened bread may be used in accordance with the Passover Feast, which the Lord’s Supper fulfils (Matthew 26:17; Luke 22:1). Yet, since the Lord’s Supper is a new covenant ordinance, unleavened bread is not required. It is interesting that the Lord commanded leavened bread to be used at the feast of Pentecost (Leviticus 23:16-17) and thus the first New Testament, inaugurated on the Day of Pentecost, would have celebrated the Lord’s Supper with leavened bread (see Acts 2:1, 41- 42).
ii. Those believers who wish to
participate should be allowed to do so; providing they meet the requirements as
laid down in Scripture. And as God wants all things done, it should be done
decently and in order.
1 Corinthians 14:40
V. In what manner should the Lord’s Table be approached?
1 Corinthians 11:17-34:
a. With fear and trembling.
Paul rebuked the Corinthians for taking this event lightly in 1 Corinthians 11. They had turned it into some kind of feast for satisfying one’s hunger rather than a time of remembering the Lord’s death. This is a sacred time and it should be approached with a sacred attitude. When we partake without reflection on the Lord’s death we do so unworthily.
b. With desire.
Jesus Christ desired to eat the Passover with His disciples (Luke 22:15). Although the Lord’s Table should be approached with reverence, a believer should look forward to the Lord’s Supper as a way of bringing his attention back to what Christ has done for him.
c. With a clean heart.
The Bible tells us to examine and judge ourselves (1 Corinthians 11:28, 31) when we partake of the Lord’s Supper. This examination and self-judging is to make sure that our relationship with God is right and that we do not participate “in an unworthy manner” as commanded in 1 Corinthians 11:27, 29. Verse 30, of the same chapter, states, “For this reason [i.e. for eating and drinking in an unworthy manner] many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep [i.e. are dead].” God chastens those partakers who are not clean before Him. The Lord’s Supper is a reminder that our sin was the cause for Christ giving His life for our salvation, and God wants us to be clean when we partake of the Lord’s Supper.
d. With a commitment to serve the Body.
When the believer remembers that the Lord gave His body for the Body of Christ, it should induce him to examine his service to the local church. For a believer to partake of the Lord’s Supper while refusing to serve Christ in His appointed Body (the local church) is to partake unworthily and hypocritically. (See how the bread also symbolizes the unity believers enjoy with one another because of their union with Christ in 1 Corinthians 10:16-17).
e. Most importantly, we are to partake of the Lord’s Supper by faith. That is, we are to be looking to Christ, trusting Him alone for our acceptance before God.
When we partake of the Lord’s Supper, we are to do so trusting the finished work of Christ for our salvation. The Lord’s Supper is to be Gospel focused.
Sometimes believers speak of the Lord’s Supper as being a “means of grace.” This does not mean that it saves, but rather it is an ordinance given to us by God by which the believer is strengthened in his love for Christ and therefore in his/her spiritual growth.
VI. Basic Questions.
a. Am I really eating Christ’s body and drinking His blood?
There are some who teach that the body and blood of Christ are really consumed when they take Communion. This is clearly not Scriptural.
i. When Jesus Christ spoke of believers eating His flesh and drinking His blood in John 6:53-63, He was very careful to explain that He was not speaking literally. John 6:63 tells us that the words that Christ spoke unto them “are spirit.” They were not to physically eat Him, but to spiritually “partake” of His life and death.
ii. The Jews were commanded in Leviticus 17:11-12 not to eat blood, for the blood is the life of the flesh. That is why the Jews in John 6:52 and v. 60 were confused with Christ’s statements and they said, “This is a hard saying.” They were trying to apply what Jesus had said literally and physically. They thought He was teaching them to go against Old Testament Scripture.
iii. Would Christ teach us to be cannibalistic? And if He did teach us that, how would we eat of His body today? He has risen from the dead and ascended to the Father. There is no body available to eat!
iv. Rather, we believe Christ is spiritually present in a unique way with His church when we gather to partake of the Lord’s Supper. As we partake by faith, Christ is really there and we enjoy communion with Him and one another.
b. If I have sin in my life, should I not partake so that I will avoid partaking unworthily?
i. No. You should repent and confess your sin immediately so that you can partake along with the Body of Christ. The purpose of the Lord’s Supper in bringing remembrance of sins is not so that you will withdraw, but so that you will repent and take your proper place among the Body. To refuse to partake is to continue on in your sin and to invite chastening from the Lord. 1 John 1:9 tells us that our Lord is faithful and will forgive us if we confess our sin.
ii. If you need to make restitution and there is not the immediate opportunity to do so, the commitment should be made to do so as soon as possible.
c. Do I have to be baptised to partake of the Lord’s Supper?
Since the Lord commands the believer to be baptised (review the lesson on baptism) it is therefore imperative that one be baptised (or be committed to do so at the next available opportunity) to partake of the Lord’s Supper. A professing believer who refuses to be baptised should not partake of the Lord’s Supper. One who refuses to be baptised is refusing to identify with the Lord’s death, burial and resurrection. Thus, it would be hypocritical to participate in an ordinance that centres on Christ’s death.
d. Do I have to be a church member to partake of the Lord’s Supper?
Not necessarily. However, if the reason for not being a church member is due to a lack of commitment to Christ or a refusal to submit to the authority of the local church then obviously such a one should not participate in the Lord’s Supper. To partake would be to do so unworthily and hypocritically.
VII. Key memory verses:
a. John 6:63
b. 1 Corinthians 11:26
c. 1 Corinthians 11:28
VIII. Many popular attitudes about the Lord’s Supper are:
a. The Lord’s Supper, or Communion, has some mystical power to save.
b. The elements of the Lord’s Supper are transformed into the literal body and blood of Christ at Communion.
From the Bible principles taught in this lesson, you should understand that these attitudes are wrong and why.
IX. Suggested further reading.
a. The Lord’s Supper Is A Celebration Of Grace by Gordon J. Keddie (Evangelical Press)
b. The Lord’s Supper by Peter Jeffery (Evangelical Press)
Lesson 6: Prayer
“How important is prayer in my life?”
Someone once said that a Christian is only as strong as his prayer life. There is a great deal of truth in this because prayer is simply your direct communication to God. When you read the Bible, God speaks to you; and when you pray, you speak to God. Your personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ cannot grow without proper communication.
EXPLANATION: What is the primary purpose of this lesson?
The purpose of this lesson is to acquaint the believer with what the Bible teaches concerning prayer so that they can practise this in their life.
EXPECTATION: How will these teachings help me to be obedient to the Lord Jesus Christ?
- By obeying His command to pray to the
Father.
Matthew 6:5-15 - By obeying His command to pray without
ceasing.
1 Thessalonians 5:17
I. What is the purpose of prayer?
a. It is not to change the mind of
God (from the perspective of His eternal decree); yet, from our perspective,
prayer does change things, especially us.
James 4:3
b. A proper prayer life results in
peace of heart and mind.
Philippians 4:6-7
c. A proper prayer life creates a
desire for holiness.
Matthew 26:41
d. To draw you close to God so He can prove His sufficiency for every need! This is a very important principle of prayer. Remember we are always dependent upon God and prayer is an admission of that dependence.
i. God is active in every detail of
your life, and He knows exactly what you need even before you ask.
Matthew 6:8
ii. God allows needs to come into
your life so He can draw you to Him to meet with Him.
Psalm 50:15
iii. The most dangerous time in your
life is when every single need is met, and you have need of nothing; it is at
such times that you may be tempted to forget about your need of God.
Revelation 3:16-17; Deuteronomy 6:10-12
iv. God uses needs to draw you to a
place where He can bless you and reveal to you that your only real need is
simply the Lord Jesus Christ and His grace. The classic example of this
tremendously important principle is Paul’s thorn in the flesh.
2 Corinthians 12:7-10
v. This is why it is absolutely
essential to give thanks in everything, including, and especially, during the
difficult times of your life.
1 Thessalonians 5:18
vi. This is also why it is absolutely
essential to develop a consistent prayer attitude where your first reaction in
a difficult moment is to go to God in prayer.
1 Thessalonians 5:17; Psalm 63:5-6
II. How do I pray?
a. The posture of the heart is more
important than the posture of the body.
Luke 18:10-14
i. Pray sincerely.
Matthew 6:7
ii. Pray confidently. God is your
Father who is close and He cares.
1 Peter 5:7; Psalm 34:4, 15
iii. Pray directly. Realise that you
have direct access to the Father through the Lord Jesus Christ. You do not need
to go through any man to talk to God.
1 Timothy 2:5; Ephesians 2:18
iv. Pray continually. Develop a
lifestyle of prayer.
1 Thessalonians 5:17; Luke 18:1
b. Be sure to protect your relationship with God the Father. There are some things in your life that, if not dealt with, will hinder your prayers.
i. A refusal to deal with known sin.
Isaiah 59:1-2; Psalm 66:18; Proverbs 28:9; James 4:1-3
ii. An unforgiving spirit.
Matthew 6:14-15
iii. Bitterness toward your mate (as
well as others).
1 Peter 3:7
iv. Doubt and unbelief
James 1:5-8
c. Remember, Romans 8:26-27 makes it clear that we don’t always know how to pray or what to pray for. That is why the Holy Spirit who lives inside you intercedes for you in prayer.
d. A pattern to help you pray.
The
Lord provided us with a pattern to give structure to our prayers. These are
principles to personalise.
Luke 11:1-4
i. Worship the Person of God (v. 2a).
ii. Desire the purpose of God (v. 2b).
iii. Ask for the provision of God (v. 3).
iv. Ask for the pardon of God (v. 4a).
v. Ask for the protection of God (v. 4b).
At church, we follow the PRAY acronym to guide our prayers:
I. P – Praise. We begin by praising God for who He is and what He has done. Here, we also worship each member of the Trinity and for their unique role in Creation and Salvation. Prayers of thanksgiving should be included here as well.
II. R – Repent. We confess our sins to God, trusting in Christ alone to forgive our sins through His finished work on the cross. (1 John 1:9).
III. A – Ask. We bring our requests to God. We are to pray for our daily bread (notice the plural!). It is healthy to pray for the church family regularly and for our own needs.
IV. Y – Yield. We yield ourselves to God’s will and submit our lives under His Word. At church, we do this by preparing our hearts to receive God’s Word. At home, we do this by filling our minds with the Word of God and asking for the Spirit to guide and lead us.
III. Some other biblical examples of prayer.
a. Worship, praise and thanksgiving.
Deuteronomy 32; Judges 5; 1 Samuel 2; 2 Samuel 7 & 22; Luke 1:46-55, 68-79;
Revelation 4:11; 5:12-13; 7:12; 19:1-5
b. Confession and repentance.
Ezra 9; Nehemiah 9; Psalm 6, 38 & 51; Daniel 9
c. For God’s help and provision.
1 Kings 8; Psalm 77 & 121
d. For God’s justice and judgement
Psalms 5, 12, 27
e. Intercession for others
John 17; Romans 10:1; Colossians 1:9; 1 Thessalonians 5:25; 2 Thessalonians
3:1; Hebrews 13:18
IV. Keep track of your prayer requests.
a. Making a list will help you remember what to pray for. This will help your prayer life to be consistent.
b. Keeping a list of answered prayers is tremendously helpful in reinforcing our faith in God’s faithfulness to answer prayer.
V. Basic questions.
a. Does God answer all my prayers?
God is your heavenly Father and all His ways are perfect. We can rest in assurance that He has heard us. He does not always answer the way you might want Him to, or at the time you want Him to. There will be times when in His infinite wisdom, the best answer to prayer will be “no” or “not yet.” In those times, simply trust Him.
b. How important is it to pray for others?
i. Paul prayed for others
continually (Romans 1:9) and requested prayer on many occasions.
Ephesians 6:18; 2 Thessa1onians 3:1
ii. Samuel said it was a sin against
God not to pray for those for whom he was responsible.
1 Samuel 12:23
iii. Keep at it. The full results of your prayers will never be known completely in this life. An example of effectual prayer is given in James 5:13-18.
iv. It is important to emphasise that
the New Testament depicts prayer as very much a corporate activity. That is,
the church was often gathering to pray. Believers must make it a priority to
pray with other believers, especially within the context of the local church.
Acts 2:42; 4:23-31; 12:1-5; 13:1-3
VI. Key memory verses.
a. 1 Timothy 2:5
b. Psalm 66:18
c. 1 Thessalonians 5:18
VII. NOTE: In many churches today, some popular teachings are:
a. Man should pray to idols, saints or other men.
b. If you pray long enough or hard enough, God will change His mind and do what you want.
c. The best prayers are those which have been written by others and are just “said” by you.
d. Prayer must be at a set time in a set format.
From the Bible principles taught in this lesson, you should understand that these teachings are false, and why.
VIII. Recommended further reading.
a. The Lord’s Prayer by Thomas Watson
b. E. M. Bounds on Prayer by E. M. Bounds
c. A Call to Spiritual Reformation by D. A. Carson
d. Give Him No Rest by Errol Hulse
e. Praying the Lord’s Prayer, by J.I. Packer
Lesson 7: The Local Church
“What is the purpose of my involvement in a local church?”
God has established three major institutions on this earth: the family, civil government, and the local church. It is the local church that has been commissioned by God to carry out His purpose in reaching the lost and perfecting the saved. Therefore, God’s revealed will is that the believer be properly related to the local church.
EXPLANATION: What is the primary purpose of this lesson?
The purpose of this lesson is to impress upon you the central role which the local church should play in your everyday life.
EXPECTATION: How will these teachings help me to be obedient to the Lord Jesus Christ?
- By obeying His command to not forsake
His church.
Hebrews 10:25 - By obeying His command to edify His
church.
1 Corinthians 14:12 - By obeying His command to live
righteously in His church.
1 Timothy 3:15
I. What is the local church?
a. It is not a building (the
believers are the church).
Acts 2:47; 14:27
i. We worship God in spirit and in
truth.
John 4:24
ii. Our bodies are the temple of God
and thus corporately believers make up the temple of God.
1 Corinthians 6:19 & 3:16 (note the plural “you”)
b. It is not a denominational group of congregations.
c. A “local” church is an assembly, a body of born-again believers who have been placed by God to serve in a specific area.
d. “The Church” (in the universal
sense) is the Body of Christ, the saved multitudes from every nation.
Matthew 16:18
i. In 1 Corinthians 12:27, Paul, writing to saved people, states clearly, “You are the body of Christ.”
ii. Paul compares the church body to the human body in this passage (1 Corinthians 12:14-27).
1. Each member has a different function (vv. 14-20).
2. No one member can function alone (v. 21).
3. Each member’s contribution is important (vv. 22-24).
4. A properly functioning body operates as a single unit (vv. 25-27).
II. What is the purpose of the local church?
a. To glorify God by making disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Before
the Lord Jesus Christ returned to His Father, He gave His disciples a
commission that clearly explained their activities, goals and work as the body
of Christ. We call this the “Great Commission.”
Matthew 28:18-20
b. This “Great Commission” outlines for us the purpose and activities of every local church and of every believer in the local church.
i. Believers are to live under the authority of Christ (v. 18).
ii. Believers are to be telling others about Christ with the goal of discipling them unto Christ (v. 19).
iii. The church is to be carrying out the ordinance of baptism (in order to fulfil all righteousness) (v. 19).
iv. Believers are to be teaching others how to live in obedience to the commands of Christ (v. 20).
These activities can only be effectively carried out within the context of the Body of Christ—the local church. To neglect the local church is to neglect God’s chosen means for Christ-centred discipleship.
III. What is the function of the local church?
a. The first local church in the Bible was founded in Jerusalem (Acts 2:41-47). The believers there assembled in their church for the following purposes:
i. The teaching of the Word of God (v. 42).
ii. Fellowship with other believers (v. 42).
iii. Prayer (v. 42).
iv. The observance of the two ordinances of the church: baptism (v. 41) and the Lord’s Supper (v. 42).
v. To be a testimony of God’s grace and power (v. 43).
vi. For mutual assistance and ministry (vv. 44-45).
vii. To reach out into the community (vv. 46-47).
viii. To glorify and praise God (v. 47).
b. The single most important
priority of the local church is to glorify God by edifying (building up,
teaching, strengthening) the saints.
Ephesians 4:11-16
IV. How do I function in the church body?
a. As a Christian, you should grow through three broad, general stages, as outlined in Ephesians 4:12.
i. The equipping of the saints: observe and learn.
Your
first priority should be to submit to the teaching of the Word of God and
therefore to learn to be the person God wants you to be.
2 Timothy 3:15-17; Matthew 11:28-30
ii. The work of the ministry: participate.
In
time, you will grow to the point where you can exercise some basic functions in
the ministries of your church.
Matthew 4:19; James 1:22-25
iii. The edifying of the body of Christ: lead / “influence for good”
As your growth continues, you will begin to minister to others in the same way you have been ministered to and this will further build (“edify”) the church. Ephesians 4:16-17; 2 Timothy 2:2
b. These three stages can be roughly
compared to the stages of growth physically: childhood, youth and adulthood.
1 John 2:12-14
c. Be patient! This process takes time. But as you remain faithful to obey Christ, in a proper relationship with His local church, you will grow.
V. What resources will help me to function as a fruitful church member?
a. Trustworthy Books: Become a reader. God’s sent and gifted teachers are not all available to us in person, neither are they all still alive, therefore we need to be prepared to increasingly make the effort to read in order to learn. Believers must all read the whole Bible for themselves, but it is naïve and unwise to expect that their reading would be limited solely to the Bible. Every discipleship booklet includes a section on suggested additional reading.
b. Doctrinal Confessions: Know what you believe in summary form. The 1689 Baptist Confession is an excellent resource to help you keep things in perspective and explain it to others.
c. Bible Study Aids: Know how to study things out for yourself in the Bible. All true believers would want to not forever be dependent upon the insight and perspectives of others regarding the Bible; they would increasingly want to feel confident to investigate matters for themselves. In this pursuit the use of a Bible concordance and Bible dictionary are vital. Every believer should regard themselves as a student of the Word.
d. Church Covenant: Have convictions to which you are willing to commit yourself publicly. As a prerequisite for membership at HBC, we require new members read the church covenant (based on the 10 commandments) and publicly affirm it. This covenant, we believe, is a practical exposition of God’s requirement on how His people are to live.
VI. Basic questions.
a. What is “membership” in a local church and why is it so important that I become a “member” of a local church?
i. Actually, there is no “formal” membership of a local church mentioned in the New Testament. But there was also no need for a “formal” membership as the early believers knew what it meant to be attached to a local church. They knew what expectations would be placed upon them once they had been joined by God to that church. In fact, for most it would mean persecution, loss of job, family, or even loss of life itself.
ii. Most Bible-believing churches today have some formal requirements for membership. These may include:
1. Confession of salvation.
2. Believer’s baptism.
3. Acceptance of the doctrines and constitution of the church.
iii. These requirements are all based
on the Scriptural requirements for being recognised as a “Christian” (follower
of Christ).
Acts 11:26
iv. The benefits of organising the membership of the local church into a formal structure include:
1. A sense of unity and belonging:
The church will know who is committed to the body and who is not part of the
body.
1 Corinthians 11:18-19
2. Effective administration: It
makes it easier to administer the church as a single body of organised
believers.
Ephesians 4:12
3. Priority of ministry: The leaders
and members of the local church know on whom to focus their ministry; that is,
those who have declared their desire to be a part of the body.
Galatians 6:10
4. Legal personality: A church that
is organised and properly constituted gains legal status according to the law
of the land (South African law) which we are to respect as a God-given
authority.
Romans 13:1
b. If God moves me to another location, how do I discern the particular local church in which God wants me to serve?
i. Joining the local church, in which God wants you to serve, is far more important than your career, your children’s education, etc. In most cases, one should not relocate unless there is a good spiritual home there for your family.
ii. Pray about it! Ask God to show you the church with which to commit yourself. James 1:5
iii. Observe the qualities of the particular church and compare them with the biblical requirements of a proper church.
1. Are they committed to Christlikeness?
Acts 11:22-26
2. Is there evidence of evangelism
and discipleship?
Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 2:47
3. Do they believe and teach the
Bible as the Word of God and thus the infallible guide for life?
Titus 1:9
4. Does the spiritual leadership of
the church meet the biblical requirements given in the Word of God?
1 Timothy 3:1-13; Titus 1:6-9
5. Is the membership encouraged to
read and study the Bible?
Acts 17:10-12
6. Do they minister to the needs of
the people?
Acts 6:1
7. Do they send out and support
missionaries?
Acts 13:1-3
VII. Key memory verses.
a. Ephesians 4:11-12
b. 1 Corinthians 12:27
c. 1 Timothy 3:15
VIII. Many churches today are not fulfilling God’s plan because their primary attitudes are:
a. Church membership is not important.
b. The primary purpose of the local church is to be a social or political organisation.
c. The local church is primarily for weddings, funerals and religious holidays.
d. Only the “leadership” of the church is charged with any responsibility of meeting people’s spiritual needs.
From the Bible principles taught in this lesson, you should understand that these attitudes are wrong, and why.
IX. Suggested further reading.
a. Life in the Father’s House by Wayne Mack & David Swavely (Presbyterian & Reformed)
b. The Body Dynamic by John MacArthur Jr. (Grace to You)
c. How to Behave in Church by Peter Jeffery (Evangelical Press)
d. Onward Christian Soldiers by Don Kistler (editor) (Soli Deo Gloria Publications)
e. Sola 5 Confession and Core Values.
Lesson 8: Corporate Worship
“What is corporate worship and how important is it for the disciple of Jesus Christ?”
The Lord Jesus said that the Father is seeking true worshippers (John 4:23). That is in fact the reason why God saves people. And since He unites believers into local churches, it is apparent that He desires corporate worship; that is, a body of believers gathering together for the purpose of giving God praise, as they learn and submit to His Word.
EXPLANATION: What is the primary purpose of this lesson?
The purpose of this lesson is to teach the disciple what God has prescribed concerning the corporate worship of the church. In the words of the apostle Paul, the believer is to know “how … to conduct [behave] yourself in the house of God” (1 Timothy 3:15).
EXPECTATION: How will these teachings help me to be obedient to the Lord Jesus Christ?
- By obeying His command to worship God.
John 4:23-24 - By obeying His command to worship in
His appointed way.
1 Corinthians 14:40; 1 Timothy 3:15
I. What does it mean to worship?
a. We find the word “worship” for the first time in the Bible Genesis 22:5. The context of its use highlights the concept of bowing to God’s will; a submission that flows from reverence and love for Him (see vv. 1-4).
Because God is great, Abraham gave of his best.
b. From the above we learn that
worship is to show our love and obedience to God with respect (reverence) and
thankfulness because He is great.
Psalm 48:1; Exodus 34:10-14; 1 Chronicles 16:29; Psalm 95:6-7
II. Where and when should this worship take place?
a. Our humble submission to the greatness of God is for all times and in all places! Worship is to occur 24/7.
Worship
is not limited to a specific location at a specific time. We are to be always
recognising and responding with gratitude and service to God.
1 Corinthians 10:31; John 4:19-24
b. Besides our private worship, we must also regularly worship together with other believers. We call this “corporate” or “public” worship.
i. Believers are commanded to regularly gather, to “congregate,” as a body for public worship. In fact, there are over 420 Scriptural references to God’s people “congregating” or “assembling” for the purpose of corporately serving, obeying, that is, worshipping God.
1. God’s people, His church, did so
in the times of the Old Testament.
Exodus 12:3, 6, 19, 47; Leviticus 23; Psalm 35:18
2. God’s people, His church, did so
in the times of the New Testament.
James 2:2; Hebrews 12:23; Acts 12:12; 14:27; 1 Corinthians 5:4
ii. Summary: Believers are to worship all the time. But like so much in the Christian life, the disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ is at certain times to worship together with other disciples. God is not pleased with a worship that is merely individualistic. To forsake this is to endanger your soul; it can be spiritually deadly. Hebrews 10:19-27
III. What are the things that the Bible tells us to do when we join together for corporate worship?
a. We are to sing God’s Word
Colossians 3:16; Ephesians 5:17-19; Psalm 66:1-4; 96:1
b. We are to read God’s Word and to
listen as it is preached
1 Timothy 4:13 (“reading” = public reading); 2 Timothy 4:1-2; Nehemiah 8:1-8
c. We are to pray God’s Word
See for
example the Psalms. These were prayers/hymns to be prayed/sung by God’s people.
See Nehemiah 9 where the public praying is deeply saturated with Scripture.
See Acts 4:23-31 where the church corporately prayed nothing but the Word!
See Acts 2:42; 1 Timothy 2:1; Colossians 4:3 (a request made to the church
corporate).
d. We are to “see”/“show” God’s Word
When the church does Christ’s ordinances, the “word of the gospel” is being proclaimed visibly.
i. Baptism: This ordinance proclaims the death, burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus.
ii. The Lord’s Supper: Paul distinctly says that when this is properly observed, the church (corporately) is “proclaiming” the gospel (1 Corinthians 11:26).
IV. How is the believer to participate in the elements of corporate worship?
a. From a heart filled with the
Spirit, the disciple is to thankfully join others in singing unto the Lord.
Ephesians 5:18-21
For authentic worship (real and true worship) to occur the believer must be God-focused in the worship service.
b. With a heart that is expectant that the Lord will hear the requests and praises of the church, the disciple is to enter into the public prayer(s) of the service. This is done by “amen”-ing (whether silently or verbally) what is being prayed. Do not be a passive spectator but rather join in the corporate soul of prayer as you silently pray along with the one leading in prayer. Pray also for the Lord to speak to you, as well as to the church as a whole, in the worship service.
c. With a prayerful expectancy, the disciple is to listen to the Word as it is read and expounded (explained). Listen for the Lord to speak to you, as well as to others, through His Word; let the Word correct you rather than you attempting to correct the Word.
For many, taking notes helps them to meaningfully interact with the preached Word. Avoid allowing yourself to be distracted. Bring your body under subjection (don’t doze!) as the Word is declared. Feel free to interact verbally by an “amen” if you are so inclined.
d. With humble gratitude, the disciple should rejoice as others are baptised; and with “solemn joy,” the disciple is to meaningfully partake of the Lord’s Supper. As the church observes the ordinances be sure to be gospel focused. That is, let the ordinances remind you of the glorious gospel of the grace of God.
V. How should the believer prepare for corporate worship?
All of the above will most likely be of no avail if you do not prepare yourself before gathering with the church for worship. Below are some suggestions on what you can do to prepare for worship.
a. Make it a priority to get a good night’s rest the night before corporate worship. A well-rested body helps you to concentrate when you worship. Worship requires work and is more easily accomplished when the body is fresh.
b. Protect your thoughts.
Proverbs 4:23
The night before corporate worship, take some time to read Scripture. Read through the portion that you expect will be preached the next morning; read the chapter that is perhaps next in line for the sequential public reading of Scripture.
Pray for
the preaching and teaching of the Word that will take place the next day. Pray
for the Body to experience the love and illumination of God.
Ephesians 3:14-21
c. Plan ahead so that you will be a punctual worshipper.
If you are rushing around on the morning of worship then most likely you will be distracted in your spirit. Therefore, lay out your clothes (and those of the children) the night before. Wake up in sufficient time so that you will gather with the church on time. In short, do whatever is practically necessary in order to be a “ready and able” worshipper.
d. When you arrive for corporate worship, and after extending warm greetings to others, take your seat and ask the Lord for His gracious assistance for worship.
e. Finally, after corporate worship, be sure and guard your heart so as not to spoil the fruit of the worship experience. That is, don’t go home and criticise others, the sermon, etc. Do go home and think through what the Word says. Search the Scriptures as you evaluate what you have heard (Acts 17:10-12). Commit yourself to respond to God’s Word. Worship demands that you do something about what God told you in the message from the Bible.
VI. What are some “proprieties” required for meaningful corporate worship?
At the best of times, believers fight against being distracted in our quest to worship God. And this is no less true as we gather for corporate worship. Sometimes when the church gathers, we may sense tsunami-like corporate distractions! What then can each believer do to avoid being a distraction?
a. Be courteous in your disposition; be kind and friendly.
Nobody likes being around a grump; someone who is sour; especially when the church gathers to worship.
Be careful to esteem the needs of others first by not responding to fellow worshippers with a bad attitude. Loving, honest transparency is one thing, selfish grumpiness is another. If someone has taken your parking spot or seat, rejoice in the Lord!
b. Be conscientious in your dress; think about your clothing.
Is there
a dress code for attending church? In fact, there is.
1 Timothy 2:8-10
i. In v. 8, men are commanded to avoid quarrelling and therefore they will be able to pray. The “apparel of their attitude” is to be such that neither they nor others will be distracted in corporate worship. They are to clothe themselves in humility.
But one’s disposition can also be reflected in one’s clothing. That is, sloppy clothes can reflect a sloppy spirit (or vice-versa). Therefore, though the Bible does not prescribe specific clothes as we gather for corporate worship, certainly it would seem reasonable that a believer should not “dress down” when they gather? Since we are meeting with the King should this not be reflected in our clothing?
ii. In vv. 9-10, Paul instructs the women to be very careful, not only in their attitude/disposition but also in their physical dress, as they gather for corporate worship.
If a woman’s clothes draw inordinate attention to herself, and particularly to her body, then corporate worship will be negatively affected.
A woman is to wear clothing that is modest; that is, it should cover her so that there is no suggestion of sensuality. This is a very serious problem in our culture today and even within the Church. We must remember that corporate worship is a Body affair; it is not for drawing attention to one’s body. When women expose their bodies inappropriately, worshippers can be distracted and worship will be derailed.
c. Be careful about disturbance; do not disturb.
This has to do with being considerate of others as worshippers. There are some distractions in a church that are beyond our control, and yet there are others that we can minimise. For instance, if you have small children who cannot sit during the service then avail the use of the crèche (if one is available). If you are ill and must leave the service then do so unobtrusively and if you can return, then sit at the back. Bring your body under subjection/control (1 Corinthians 9:27) and deny its immediate call for that “urgent” drink of water, etc.
Do your best to focus on the elements of worship and avoid body language that could hinder others from hearing the Word. Consider the eternal value of what is taking place and thus avoid causing unnecessary disturbances.
VII. Some basic questions.
a. What does it mean to “worship God
in Spirit and in truth”?
John 4:24
i. To worship God “in Spirit” means to do so as a true believer; that is, from a regenerate heart. It means to avoid mere external, cold, ritualism.
ii. To worship God “in truth” means to worship God in the way prescribed by God; that is, according to His Word.
b. What if I don’t feel like worshipping? Should I stay away from corporate worship?
No! Since worship is a command, we are to obey whether or not we feel like it. In most cases, right feelings follow upon doing the right thing.
c. Since acceptable/good worship requires hard work, should we wait until the children are older before they join with us?
No! We
must raise our children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord, and
obviously that includes both family and corporate worship.
Ephesians 6:1-4
VIII. Key memory verses
a. John 4:23-24
b. Psalm 100:1-3
c. Colossians 3:16
IX. Some common falsehoods/misunderstandings concerning corporate worship:
a. Corporate worship is not necessary for the believer. As long as one is worshipping God privately then that is acceptable to God.
b. Worship can be done in any way with which the local church feels comfortable. There are no right and wrong ways to worship.
c. Worship is easy and therefore no preparation is required.
d. How one dresses is not important when it comes to public worship. The “comfort” of the worshipper is all that matters. It is no one else’s business how the believer dresses.
e. Worship is for adults only; children need not gather for corporate worship.
From the Bible principles taught in this lesson, you should understand that these teachings are wrong and why.
Lesson 9: Church Discipline
“What is church discipline and how is it exercised in the local church?”
The Lord Jesus Christ gave Himself for the church and He continues to wash His Bride in His Word in order that she will one day be without blemish, spot or wrinkle (Ephesians 5:25-26). He is committed to His church being holy and expects her to have this same commitment (1 Peter 1:15-16). And in order for this purpose to be facilitated our Lord gave the local church specific instructions how to deal with sin when it surfaces.
EXPLANATION: What is the primary purpose of this lesson?
The purpose of this lesson is to examine the Scriptural teaching on why and how the local church is to confront sin. By doing so, we will properly understand and appreciate the local church’s commitment to the pursuit of Christ-centred holiness.
EXPECTATION: How will these teachings help me to be obedient to the Lord Jesus Christ?
- By helping me to obey His instructions
concerning the doctrine of church discipline.
Matthew 18:15-20; Galatians 6:1-2 - By helping me to obey His command to
keep the church pure.
1 Peter 1:22; 1 Corinthians 5:7-8 - By helping me to obey His command to
love one another.
John 13:34-35
I. What is the responsibility of the local church to her members?
a. To live a holy life.
1 Peter 1:15-16; Ephesians 5:25-27; Galatians 6:1-2; Colossians 1:27-29; Acts
20:28-32
b. To love a holy life.
2 Timothy 1:9; Romans 12:1; 1 Corinthians 6:18-20; Hebrews 12:14
c. To learn a holy life.
This is what discipleship is all about; what the Christian life is all about:
learning to live like our Master!
Romans 8:28-29; Ephesians 5:1-18
II. What is the responsibility of the local church to a member that is violating the biblical responsibility of a holy life?
a. She must care enough to be
convicted. The local church should feel the sorrow of sin in the life of
another member of the Body.
1 Corinthians 12:25-27
b. She must care enough to confront.
Church discipline is essentially about so loving God and His children, that we
are willing to confront one of His children about their wrong conduct.
1 Corinthians 5:1-8; 1 Peter 1:15-16; Romans 15:14
III. Specifically, what is church discipline?
a. What it is not: It is not retribution (2 Corinthians 2:1-8). In other words it’s not about harshness.
b. What it is: It is the loving
attempt at the restoration of a sinning church member to a life lived under the
Lordship of Christ. It must be kept in mind that discipline is about
discipleship.
Galatians 6:1-2
c. In sum, church discipline is about the members of the local church lovingly holding each other accountable to live a life of holiness; a life that is pleasing to the Lord. Church discipline is an act of love because only the holy are truly happy (cf. Matthew 5:3-8)!
The emphasis is always upon reconciliation not alienation; restoration not retribution; helping not hurting (cf. Matthew 18:15, “You have gained [lit. “profited”] your brother”).
IV.
What is the
process of church discipline?
Matthew 18:15-20
a. The responsibility of church
discipline.
Matthew 18:15-17
i. Personally reprove (v. 15).
1. “Tell him his fault”—Point out the wrong (lit. “rebuke,” “reprove”).
2. “Between you and him alone”—Go to
the individual privately with a humble spirit. This will aid you in gaining all
the facts and thus not be guilty of bearing false witness.
Proverbs 18:13
ii. Corporately reinvestigate (v. 16).
1. If there is no repentance after the initial private meeting you are to take one or two more with you to once again personally reprove. This enables others to witness the spirit and words of both the offender and the offended. It will also guard against false accusations but if there is indeed guilt, then it will include others to help reinforce the call to repentance.
iii. Corporately reinforce (v. 17a).
1. If the individual continually “refuses” (lit. “to refuse to listen”) to deal properly with the sin then the next step is to inform the local church Body. This is done through the church leadership. The church is then to seek restoration of the believer. More people are now praying and pleading for repentance.
iv. Corporately remove (v. 17b).
1. If the disciplinary process is not successful in securing repentance then the individual is to be removed as a member of the church. This is what is meant by “let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.” That is, treat them no longer as a brother in the Lord but rather as lost person. Note that we are to continue to love them but now we see our goal as evangelism rather than discipleship.
b. The authority of church
discipline.
Matthew 18:18-20
i. The Lord of the church has given the local church the authority to enact church discipline (cf. 1 Corinthians 5:4-5).
ii. Since church discipline is delegated from the Lord to the local church, we must be careful to not neglect or misuse this authority.
c. Other passages that shed light on the doctrine of church discipline.
It should be noted (from the following passages) that there are different scriptural approaches to church discipline according to the nature of the offence. For example, in some cases there will not be the longer process as detailed in Matthew 18. That is, where there is open defiance of the church’s leadership, heretical teaching and/or when immorality is public knowledge; in such cases discipline will need to be handled far more swiftly because the immediate testimony and health of the church is at stake.
i. 1 Corinthians 5:1-13
ii. 2 Thessalonians 3:10-15
iii. Titus 3:9-11; Romans 16:17
iv. 2 Corinthians 2:1-11; 7:1-16
V. What is the result of church discipline?
a. A church that is growing in
purity.
1 Corinthians 5:7
b. A church that is pleasing (i.e. to her Lord). Obedience is always a blessing to God. Matthew 18:20
c. A church that is progressing. God
builds His church and He is pleased to add to a church that takes His name
seriously.
Acts 5:1-14
d. A church that is passionate about
people (i.e. a loving church). Since love seeks the prosperity of its object
and since holiness gives true prosperity, then the church which exercises
biblical church discipline will be one overflowing with love.
Matthew 18:7-14
VI. What is the prerequisite for church discipline?
a. A true commitment to Christ, your
local church and His Word.
Matthew 22:37-38
b. An honest personal
self-examination.
Matthew 7:1-5
c. A willingness to be involved in
the lives of others.
John 13:1-17
d. A meek and loving spirit.
Galatians 6:1
VII. Basic questions.
a. Is there a danger of “Pharisaism” or a “spiritual police” mentality?
We are
to obey the principle of self-examination in order to avoid this happening.
Love is our motivation.
Matthew 7:1-5; Galatians 6:1-2
b. Does it always work?
Yes,
when the Scriptures are properly obeyed. Not everyone will be restored to the
Body, but obedience is always blessed. God has His purpose even in what we call
“failure.” That is, even where the offender is not repentant, the pursuit of
Christ-centred purity is a victory.
2 Corinthians 2:14-17; Isaiah 55:8-11
c. Won’t this make the church seem harsh and unloving to the surrounding community? Acts 5:11-14
The church exists for Christ, not for the community (Acts 20:28). Discipline properly exercised is the greatest evidence of love.
d. Is the responsibility of church discipline upon the leadership or upon the membership?
Both.
Matthew 18:15-17; Acts 20:28-32; 1 Peter 5:1-2; Romans 15:14
e. How much time do you allow between the steps of Matthew 18?
Situations vary. The confrontation should allow enough time for thoughtful repentance. Love is patient but not blind.
f. When would removal of a church member take place?
After all Scriptural requirements have been fulfilled. The preferred time to do this is at a regular church service where the membership comes together. Some churches do this at a Communion service.
VIII. Key memory verses.
a. Matthew 18:15-20
b. 1 Corinthians 12:25-27
c. Romans 15:14
d. 1 Peter 1:15-16
IX. Many churches today are not exercising church discipline because their primary attitudes are:
a. To exercise church discipline is to be unloving and uncompassionate.
b. The church should allow people to come and go as they please and not interfere in their lives.
c. Church discipline is only the responsibility of the church leaders.
d. The Holy Spirit will deal with people about their sin; we should not usurp His working in their lives.
From the Bible principles taught in this lesson, you should understand that these attitudes are wrong, and why.
X. Suggested Further Reading:
a. Biblical Church Discipline by Daniel E. Wray (Banner of Truth)
b. Forgiveness by John MacArthur Jr. (Grace to You)
c. A Guide to Church Discipline by J. Carl Laney (Bethany House)
d. Handbook of Church Discipline by Jay E. Adams (Zondervan)
Lesson 10: Eternal Security
“Now that I am saved, can I ever lose my salvation?”
The Scriptures clearly reveal that salvation is by grace alone through faith alone, in Jesus Christ alone. That is true when a person initially calls upon the name of the Lord, and it remains true throughout his/her existence. This is the essence of what is sometimes called the doctrine of eternal security, or “the perseverance of the saints.”
Everyone who believes on the Lord Jesus Christ as their Saviour will continually be preserved by Him and thus will persevere in growing to be like Him. This process will finally be completed when the believer is perfected at their death and/or the Lord Jesus Christ’s second coming (Romans 8:28-30).
EXPLANATION: What is the primary purpose of this lesson?
This lesson examines the state of the new believer in God’s family, and from the biblical facts, settles the question of their eternal security. This study will give the believer biblical evidence that God is the author of his salvation and that He will continue to accomplish His purposes in the life of the believer to the very end (Philippians 1:6).
EXPECTATION: How will these teachings help me to be obedient to the Lord Jesus Christ?
- By obeying His command to live with the
knowledge of what we possess in Jesus Christ.
1 John 5:13 - By obeying His command to believe His
promises regarding eternal life.
1 John 2:25 - By obeying His command to avoid boasting in our works, because “salvation is of the Lord.” Ephesians 2:8-10
I. Study the clear testimony of Scripture regarding the total security a believer has in his salvation.
a. Philippians 1:6, “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”
b. 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24, “Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.”
i. Note that being found blameless before God at the coming of Christ is connected to the faithfulness of God. There is only one way a true believer can lose his or her salvation: if God becomes unfaithful.
c. Jeremiah 32:40, “I will make with them an everlasting covenant, that I will not turn away from doing good to them. And I will put the fear of me in their hearts, that they may not turn from me.”
d. Romans 8:30, “And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.”
i. There is not one justified Christian (a truly saved person) that God won’t also glorify. To be glorified refers to the act of God in which we are given our resurrected bodies for all of eternity (see Romans 8:17). It is so certain that it can be put in the past tense (glorified) as if God already did it. God is faithful!
e. John 10:27-30, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 28I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.”
II. But what about all those Christians who do leave the faith? Does not Paul say some made “shipwreck” of the faith (1 Timothy 1:19)? Does not Paul say that “in later times some will depart from the faith” (1 Timothy 4:1)? How are we to make sense of this?
a. The Apostle John tells us how to think regarding those who leave the faith in 1 John 2:19, “They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us.”
b. Jesus said to many who even called Him “Lord, Lord” that He never knew them (Matthew 7:23). Notice that it was not that they were saved at one point and then lost. They were never saved to begin with.
c. There are many like Judas Iscariot that might look saved outwardly, even doing “miracles” and good works who nevertheless do not know God.
III. “Okay, God won’t cast me out, and no man can take my salvation, but what about myself? Can I do something to lose my salvation?”
a. Salvation is by grace through
faith, and not by works. It is a gift from God. No believer can cause himself to
lose his salvation because he did not cause his salvation.
Ephesians 2:8-9
IV. “Okay, God won’t cast me out, no man can cause me to lose my salvation, and I can’t lose it of myself, but is there anything else that can cause me to lose my salvation?”
No! Romans 8:38-39 says, “For I am persuaded that neither …”
a. “Death”—you can’t lose it when you die.
b. “Life”—you can’t lose it while you are alive.
c. “Angels”—can’t take it from you.
d. “Principalities”—the government can’t take it from you.
e. “Powers”—the devil can’t cause you to lose it.
f. “Things present”—nothing happening right now can take it away.
g. “Things to come”—nothing in the future can make you lose it.
h. “Height”—nothing above you can make you lose it.
i. “Depth”—nothing below you can take it away.
j. “Nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
V. Why is this?
a. Because “salvation is of the
Lord.”
Jonah 2:9
b. Because your relationship with
God is now a Father/son relationship by birth.
John 1:12-13
When you
were born physically, there was a record made of your birth called a birth
certificate. In the Bible, there is a written record of your spiritual birth on
which you can depend. That is, you have God’s sure Word on it! (See Lesson 2)
1 John 5:11-13
c. Your birth certificate was marked
with a seal. Your spiritual birth is sealed by the Holy Spirit of God.
Ephesians 1:13; 4:30
d. You will be your father’s son forever because you were born of his seed. You could leave the country, change your name, etc., but it will never change the fact that he is your father. The same is true of your heavenly Father. You can die, but you can never be unborn. Your birth is fixed for eternity, both physically and spiritually, and even God Himself will never change that fact.
VI. Basic questions.
a. How can I know for sure that I am saved?
The epistle of 1 John is written for this purpose. 1 John 5:13 says, “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.” As a new Christian, 1 John should be a primary focal point to help you grow and to settle this issue.
b. What happens if I don’t feel saved?
i. Your salvation is not based on feelings. It is based upon the objective, factual Word of God. Titus 1:2 says, “In hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began.”
ii. Believe what God has said!
1 John 2:25
c. What evidence can I look for that I am saved?
i. Review the section on signs of salvation in the lesson dealing with salvation.
ii. It is natural for all believers
to ask questions about their salvation. There is nothing wrong with it and is
in itself a good sign. Remember, an unbeliever is not concerned about being
right with God and does not seek after it. As you grow in the Lord and in the
knowledge of His Word, He will help you to grow in assurance of His salvation.
Philippians 2:12-13; 2 Peter 1:3-11
d. What about these passages in the Bible …?
i. Hebrews 3:12-13 seems to suggest that someone can “fall away from the living God.” But the very next verse denies such a view.
1. “For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end.” (Hebrews 3:14).
2. You have come to share in Christ (that is, you may know someone is saved as a past reality) if you hold on to your faith till the end (by persevering till the end). The perseverance is the evidence of your sharing in Christ.
ii. Hebrews 6:4-6 shows a person who has:
1. “once been enlightened” (v. 4)
2. “tasted the heavenly gift” (v. 4)
3. “have shared in the Holy Spirit” (v. 4)
4. “tasted the goodness of the word of God” (v. 5)
5. “[tasted] the powers of the age to come” (v. 5)
6. “and then have fallen away, to restore again to repentance . . .” (v. 6).
7. Does this not teach that someone might be genuinely lost after salvation? No.
a. Because Hebrews 3:14 teaches otherwise (see notes above).
b. The immediate context teaches otherwise. In verses 7-9, the author uses the illustration of two types of ground. One ground produces fruit while the other produces thorns and thistles. Both grounds received rain (the blessings of verses 4-5) but only one was truly saved. This reminds us of the parable of the sower. Some accepted the Word with joy but eventually fell away for various reasons. Only one ground produced fruit.
c. A parallel may be drawn between the Hebrews 6 person and someone who has committed the unpardonable sin. It is a final rejection of Christ despite the clear evidence and enlightenment by the Holy Spirit that Christ is the Messiah.
iii. See also Hebrews 10:35-39.
VII. Key memory verses.
a. Ephesians 2:8-9
b. 1 John 2:25
c. 1 John 5:13
VIII. In many churches today, some popular teachings are:
a. We must work to keep our salvation.
b. If we sin after we are born again, we can lose our salvation.
c. No one can know that they are saved until they die.
d. If one merely professes that they are saved, then they are assured of everlasting life.
From the Bible principles taught in this lesson, you should understand that these teachings are false, and why.
IX. Suggested reading.
a. Examine Yourself by John MacArthur, Jr.
b. Seven Certain Signs of True Conversion by Peter Masters
c. The Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan
Lesson 11: The Holy Spirit
“Who is the Holy Spirit and what is His relationship to me?”
The moment that you were born again, the Holy Spirit took up permanent residence inside your body. The third Person of the Trinity is perhaps the most misunderstood and ignored reality of a believer’s relationship with God.
EXPLANATION: What is the primary purpose of this lesson?
The purpose of this lesson is to give the disciple a basic understanding of who the Holy Spirit is and what He does in the believer’s life.
EXPECTATION: How will these teachings help me to be obedient to the Lord Jesus Christ?
- By obeying His command to be filled
with the Holy Spirit.
Ephesians 5:18 - By obeying His command to walk in the
Holy Spirit.
Galatians 5:16
I. Who is the Holy Spirit?
a. The Holy Spirit is third Person
of the Godhead; He is a Person as much as the Father and Son are Persons. He
has a mind and a will. He is omnipresent, omniscient, omnipotent, and eternal.
He is the third Person of the Trinity and is therefore God.
1 Corinthians 2:10-11
b. The Bible reveals His many names
and titles such as “the Spirit of God,” “the Spirit of Christ,” “the
Comforter,” etc.
John 14:26; Romans 8:9
c. The Holy Spirit of God is not an impersonal “force.” He is God and must be regarded with all the respect and reverence due unto the living God.
d. The Holy Spirit is symbolised in many different ways in the Bible. He is pictured as:
i. A Dove (John 1:32)
ii. Water (Isaiah 44:3)
iii. Oil (Hebrews 1:9)
iv. Wind (Acts 2:1-2)
v. Fire (Acts 2:3; Hebrews 12:29)
II. Where does He dwell?
The Holy
Spirit, being omnipresent, has always been here on earth working in, for and
amongst people.
Genesis 1:2; Acts 7:51; 2 Peter 1:21
The Holy Spirit also lives on this earth inside the body of every believer. He comes in at the moment of salvation and takes up permanent residency.
a. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 is a definitive passage.
b. See also John 14:17, Galatians 4:6; Ephesians 2:22; 2 Timothy 1:14; Romans 8:12-17
III. What is the function or ministry of the Holy Spirit?
a. The Holy Spirit convicts of sin.
John 16:8-9
i. In the lost, He convicts of sin to bring them to the recognition of the Lordship of Christ and their sinfulness.
ii. In the saved, He convicts them of
sin to keep them clean and show them how to live for Jesus Christ.
Galatians 5:16-18; Romans 8:13-14
N.B. It is important that you understand the difference between conviction and condemnation.
1. Conviction is God pointing out
that something is wrong so you can make it right.
Isaiah 1:18
2. Condemnation is the devil
accusing you of being unworthy to receive God’s blessing and thus making you
exempt from His forgiveness and thus tempting you to focus on yourself rather
than on Christ.
Romans 8:1; Revelation 12:10
b. The Holy Spirit creates and regenerates.
i. The Holy Spirit was active at
creation.
Genesis 1:2; Job 33:4
ii. In Jesus Christ, you are a new
creature, born again by the Holy Spirit, baptised into Christ. This is called
regeneration (or the “new birth”).
John 3:3-8; Titus 3:5; 1 Corinthians 12:13
c. The Holy Spirit seals you once
you are saved.
2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; 4:30
This means that we are forever preserved in Christ. Our salvation is secure!
d. The Holy Spirit bears witness
that you belong to God.
Romans 8:16
e. The Holy Spirit teaches you the
Bible.
John 14:26; 16:13-15; 1 Corinthians 2:9-10
f. The Holy Spirit intercedes in
prayer for you.
Romans 8:26-27; Ephesians 2:18
g. The Holy Spirit comforts you in
time of need.
John 14:15-18
h. The Holy Spirit empowers you to
serve God with spiritual gifts.
Zechariah 4:6; Ephesians 3:16; 1 Corinthians 12:4ff
i. The Holy Spirit influences
people.
Acts 13:2-4; 2 Peter 1:21
j. The greatest ministry of the Holy
Spirit is that He glorifies the Lord Jesus Christ!
John 16:13-14
IV. What is the result or evidence of the Holy Spirit in my life?
a. In addition to the above, the indwelling Holy Spirit empowers (enables) you to obediently live for God; to grow in Christlikeness.
The Holy Spirit produces a set of character qualities as you yield your life to Him and thus walk in His power. This set of character qualities is called the fruit (singular) of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23 (see below). It is singular because all of these qualities are produced at the same time by a close relationship with the Holy Spirit. This fruit is the character of Jesus Christ, specifically:
i. Love
ii. Joy
iii. Peace
iv. Longsuffering (patience)
v. Kindness
vi. Goodness (benevolence)
vii. Faithfulness
viii. Gentleness (meekness)
ix. Self-control
b.
The Holy
Spirit also produces good works in your life; the conduct of Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 2:10; Philippians 1:11; 3:9
V. Basic questions:
a. What is “being filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18) and how can I experience this?
i. It does not mean:
1. To be “drunk” in the Spirit. To be filled with the Spirit instead of with “wine” is to be “under the control” of the Spirit. Ironically, the more the Spirit controls you, the more “self-control” you will have, since that is a fruit of the Spirit (see Galatians 5:22-23).
2. Not the same as baptism of the Spirit. To be filled is a continues experience; to be baptized with the Spirit is a once off event at salvation (see Acts 1:4-8).
3. Not joyless serving of God by sheer will power. Some think just to obey God is enough. But we miss the power of the Spirit when our service is always joyless. “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Romans 14:17).
ii. It does mean:
1. Something you must do. It is a command to “be filled with the Spirit.” This does not happen automatically without our obedience. Yet, it is a passive command. It is to allow something to happen to you rather than you filling yourself with the Spirit.
2. Something that must happen throughout your life. This is a command we must obey over and over again as we walk with the Lord. This is not a once off thing or event.
3. To confess your sins. We must ask, “Where in my life am I grieving the Holy Spirit?” (Ephesians 4:30). He is the Holy Spirit. When we cling to sin, we are not being led by the Spirit (Romans 8:13-14). When we cling to bitterness or unforgiveness, we are going against His work of uniting us together as a church (Ephesians 4:1-3).
4. To be filled with the means of grace He uses. Comparing Ephesians 5:18-19 and Colossians 3:16 reveals that investing your life in the Word of God and letting it dwell in your heart will produce the same results in your life as being filled with the Spirit. The more you saturate your mind with the Word of God, the closer your relationship to the Holy Spirit will be. The reason: because He inspired the Scriptures (see Ephesians 6:17-18)!
5. Ask for the Spirit. The Father will give us the Holy Spirit if we ask (Luke 11:13). To be filled with the Spirit is to prayerfully depend on His power.
6. Trust God’s willingness to give the Spirit and walk by faith. In Luke 11:11-12, Jesus says that even evil parents give good gifts to their children. Why will God withhold the Spirit from His children? After we have prayed, we must believe that God will answer our prayer by faith.
VI. Key memory verses.
a. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
b. Galatians 5:22-23
c. Galatians 5:16
VII. NOTE: In many churches today, some popular teachings are:
a. A believer does not get all of the Holy Spirit at salvation.
b. The Holy Spirit can leave you if you sin.
c. The Holy Spirit is not a person at all, but just a “force” of God.
d. You will always speak in tongues as evidence when you have the Spirit
From the Bible principles taught in this lesson, you should understand that these teachings are false, and why.
VIII. Suggested reading.
a. The Silent Shepherd by John MacArthur, Jr. (Grace to You)
b. Keep in Touch with the Spirit, by J.I. Packer
c. The Doctrine of the Holy Spirit by George Smeaton (Banner of Truth)
Lesson 12: Spiritual Gifts
“What are spiritual gifts and how do they relate to my life?”
In the Church today there is much confusion (as well as false teaching) regarding the so called “gifts of the Spirit” (1 Corinthians 12:1). Is the believer to expect that he/she will speak in tongues? Should we look for those with the gift of healing? How does the believer know what spiritual gifts he has been given by Christ? This lesson is designed to answer some of these questions.
EXPLANATION: What is the primary purpose of this lesson?
The purpose of this lesson is to give the disciple a basic understanding of the subject of “spiritual gifts” and how these gifts are to be properly exercised.
EXPECTATION: How will these teachings help me to be obedient to the Lord Jesus Christ?
- By obeying His command to serve the
Body of Christ.
1 Corinthians 12:4-7 - By obeying His command to rightly
divide the Word of Truth.
2 Timothy 2:15 - By obeying His command to submit to the
Scriptures rather than to experience.
2 Peter 1:15-21; 1 Thessalonians 5:19-22
I. What is a “gift” of the Holy Spirit?
a. A divinely bestowed capacity for
service in a particular area(s) for the spiritual building up of the Body of
Christ through the building up of the local church.
1 Corinthians 12:4-10, 28; Romans 12:6-8; Ephesians 4:11-16
b. It is important to recognise that
the Scriptures do give some lists of gifts and yet these are not exhaustive.
That is, these are probably examples of the various categories of gifts.
1 Corinthians 12:8-10; 27-28; Romans 12:6-8; 1 Peter 4:10-11
II. Are all of these listed gifts still in operation today?
No. Some of these gifts were for the purpose of confirming new revelation from God, and thus they were temporary in nature. The purpose of these miraculous gifts was to provide evidence that the person performing the miraculous gift was indeed serving God.
In the
early church there was no completed New Testament and thus there were times in
which there was a need for verification of a teacher’s message. Therefore, the
Lord gave signs to authenticate the “thus says the Lord” of these people. God
used the miraculous gifts to verify His Word.
John 3:2; 20:30; Romans 15:18; 2 Corinthians 12:12; Hebrews 2:4; Mark 16:20
a. The miraculous sign gifts
(temporary).
These were apostleship, prophecy, miracles, healing, tongues and the
interpretation of tongues. The sign gifts were given primarily to validate the
authority of the message of the apostles prior to the writing of the New
Testament. Afterward, this miraculous proof was no longer needed, for the
Scriptures themselves reveal the true from the false.
b. The other gifts (permanent).
These gifts are still in operation in the Church today and each believers
possesses at least one of these gifts (or some biblically unspecified gift in
these categories).
III. How are these gifts to be used?
We will examine each of these gifts (and offices) so that the believer may understand how each of the gifts relates to him in his spiritual life.
a. Apostleship: Those who personally saw Christ, were commissioned by Him, and were instrumental in the founding of the early church. These men were endued with special power to function in a unique office for a special time—the beginnings of the church. Note the special requirements for apostleship:
i. A witness of the resurrected
Christ.
1 Corinthians 9:1; Acts 1:22
ii. A personal calling from Christ.
Acts 1:8; Romans 1:1; 1 Corinthians 1:1
Obviously this gift or office is no longer in operation today. The apostles were never told to pass on their office to other men and no man has the authority to claim this office.
b. Prophecy: The God-given ability to (1) “forth-tell” (preach) a revelation from God, and (2) to “foretell” (predict future events), with authority. Prophets were the mouthpiece of God in a time when the Scriptures were still being written down. They were known by their characteristic phrase, “Thus says the Lord” (see Zechariah 1:3). This was part of God’s way of completing the Scriptures. If someone claims to be exercising this gift today, remember:
i. You should test anything that
claims to be prophecy.
1 John 4:1; 1 Corinthians 14:29; 1 Thessalonians 5:19-22
ii. The Old Testament called for the
test of fulfilment. If the prophecy did not come true, the person was
identified as a false prophet and was killed (stoned).
Deuteronomy 13:1-3, 5; 18:18, 20-22
iii. Many modern day “prophets” claim that their gift is of a different sort than the Old Testament prophetic revelation and therefore not subject to the same tests. The Bible makes no such distinction.
iv. Many of the “prophecies” today
are spurious because they either repeat Scripture (which makes them unnecessary),
or are given for selfish motives such as the desire for personal fame or gain.
2 Peter 2:1-3; 2 Timothy 4:3-4
v. A person who believes that biblical prophecy continues today in either of its basic forms is expressing belief that revelation continues today. This is patently false. Ephesians 2:20; 2 Peter 1:21
vi. Prophecy is the revelation of the
Word of God and we have God’s revelation today in the Bible. We are told that
we are not to add to or take away from the Scriptures.
Proverbs 30:5-6; Ezekiel 13:7; Revelation 22:18-19
c. Miracles: The God-given ability
to perform events outside and beyond the laws of nature. Miracles were always
used in the Scriptures for a sign to verify the credentials of the one
performing the wonder. In fact the Greek word for miracle—sameion—is the word
from which we get our English word “sign.” Again there is no need for this gift
today as the Bible carries its own credentials. That is not to say that God
does not perform miracles today, but rather that He does not use specially gifted
people to perform them.
Acts 2:22; 19:11; Hebrews 2:3-4
d. Healing: The God-given ability to cure human ills, whether of physical, mental, or demonic origin. Again this gift was given to affirm the authority of the one doing the healing. Some things to remember concerning the biblical gift of healing:
i. The healings were instantaneous,
total and permanent.
Acts 3:1-11; 9:32-34; 14:4
ii. Even people with organic and
congenital illnesses were healed.
Acts 3:1-11; 5:14-16
iii. Those who healed, healed anyone they
attempted to, regardless of the “amount” of their faith.
Acts 5:14-16; 28:8-9; 13:11-12
iv. God used Paul to heal people, but there were some that he could not heal; e.g. Timothy (1 Timothy 5:23), Epaphroditus (Philippians 2:26), Trophimus (2 Timothy 4:20).
v. Even the dead were raised to life
again.
Acts 9:36-42
While God may still choose to heal people today, He no longer gives the gift of healing to an individual. There is no longer any need for healing to be a sign to people. The Scriptures have been completed and God is revealing Himself through the Scriptures, not through any modern “miracle” of healing.
e. Tongues: Until the completion of the New Testament (which was shortly before the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD) God used the gift of tongues to act as a sign to the unbeliever (primary to the Jewish unbelievers) as well as a means to edify believers. These tongues were always “natural,” recognisable languages that could be interpreted or understood by those who were fluent in that language. As such, tongues were also a means of authenticating the gospel. There were very strict rules governing the use of this gift and it was classed as the least of all the gifts of the Spirit.
Note the following:
i. From the beginning this gift was the Spirit-given ability to speak in a natural, recognised dialect that was not the speaker’s own dialect or language.
1. Romans 8:26 is talking about the Holy Spirit Himself praying to God on our behalf in a voice that nobody can hear! This verse is not saying that our own spirit inside of us is praying to God!
2. 1 Corinthians 13:1 is not saying that Paul was able to speak with the tongues of angels! This verse is a conditional statement. Paul is saying, “If I were able to speak in the language of angels and I did not have love I would sound like a meaningless noise to you.” The truth is Paul could not speak in that (angelic) language, but he was using that possibility to illustrate the importance of love.
3. In 1 Corinthians 14, as found in the King James Version, Paul often refers to an “unknown” tongue. You will see that the word “unknown” is in italics meaning that the word does not occur in the original Greek, but has been supplied by the translators to clarify the meaning of the sentence. (You will notice that the word “unknown” is not found in the New King James Version and other modern translations.) Paul is saying in each one of these verses that the purpose of the unknown tongue (a foreign language) was to glorify God. In the same chapter he also says that speaking in the unknown tongue does not edify the listeners (unless someone can interpret the language—see the next gift below). The one doing the speaking was to pray that there would be someone there to interpret the foreign language to those around him.
ii. There were many specific rules that governed the use of this gift. 1 Corinthians 14 lists many. Here are some of them.
1. If there was nobody present to interpret the tongue then the speaker was to be silent (v. 28).
2. There was only to be one interpretation (v. 27).
3. Not more than three people were to speak in tongues in any given meeting (v. 27).
4. There was not be any confusion in the churches (v. 33).
5. Women were not permitted to speak at all in the churches in the sense of preaching or teaching and the gift of tongues was included in this restriction (v. 34).
iii. While the gift of tongues would have been an evidence of the work of the Holy Spirit (in the early church), the New Testament nowhere commands all believers to speak in tongues and never teaches that speaking in tongues will follow the filling of the Holy Spirit.
f. Interpretation (of Tongues): This gift is very closely related to the above gift, but involves the God-given ability to interpret (translate) an unknown tongue into an understandable language. This person was edifying the listeners by allowing them to hear what the person speaking in tongues was saying. Obviously since the gift of tongues is no longer active today, this gift is also inactive.
g. Discernment: The God-given ability to distinguish between human, divine, and demonic spirits in or through another person. This would have been essential before the Scriptures were completed.
This is the last of the temporary “sign” gifts.
h. Wisdom: The God-given ability to understand, rightfully apply and spiritually employ the truth found in the Scriptures.
i. Knowledge: The God-given ability to grasp the meaning of God’s revelation in His Word. A gifted teacher of the Word would have this gift.
j. Giving: The God-given ability to give large proportions of one’s resources or finances to the glory of God. This is not necessarily a gift reserved for the wealthy.
k. Exhortation: The God-given ability to motivate people and spur them on to spiritual growth and service.
l. Ministering (helps): The God-given ability to render practical help in both physical and spiritual matters.
m. Mercy: The God-given ability to minister to the sick and afflicted out of a heart of compassion and love.
n. Ruling (administration): The God-given ability to organise, to administer, and promote the various affairs of the local church. A local church will not grow beyond a certain point unless it employs the ministry of those individuals empowered with this gift.
o. Faith: The God-given ability to believe and expect great things from God.
p. Evangelism: The God-given ability to point sinners to Christ and to burden believers about soul-winning. All believers are to witness for Christ whether they have this special gift or not. Timothy, for example, was not an evangelist, but he was to do this work (see 2 Timothy 4:5).
q. Pastor-Teacher: The God-given ability to preach and teach the Word of God and to feed and lead the flock of God. Note, not all teachers are called to be pastors, but all pastors are teachers.
It should be noted that there are some with the gift of a “pastor’s heart” who may not be at the same time gifted to be a pastor-teacher. In fact, though some women have the wonderful ability to “shepherd” other women, the Bible prohibits her from being an elder and thus from being a pastor-teacher as well.
r. Teaching: The God-given ability to communicate and clarify the details of the Word of God. While no one can present a better gospel than that in the Bible, there are those who can teach that gospel better.
IV. Basic questions.
a. How do I know that certain of these gifts have ceased?
As mentioned before, the answer to this question lies in the nature of the gifts themselves. Scripture tells us in 1 Corinthians 13 that some of these gifts would cease in operation.
“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” (v. 8).
i. Clearly Paul is saying that these gifts will at one time come to an end. The time of ceasing would come “when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away” (v. 10). This doubtless refers to the final return of the Lord Jesus Christ to earth.
But note that the original tense of the Greek word for “cease” in v. 8 means that the gift of tongues will cease in and of itself. That is, it will all of a sudden come to an end. But when?
Remember that the tongues were a sign to unbelieving Jews regarding God’s judgement (1 Corinthians 14:20-22). And this judgment came in 70 AD at which time both Jerusalem and the Temple were destroyed. At this time tongues ceased for the judgement to which they pointed came to pass.
“Prophecies” failed (literally, “ceased”) when Scripture was completed. With the written “thus says the Lord,” the gift of prophecy was no longer necessary.
b. Why would some believers claim to have gifts that they do not have?
There may be several reasons:
i. They may have a strong emotional desire to “belong” to those who seemingly exercise these phenomena.
ii. Traditional churches may be boring for them or they may have little interest in actually studying the Bible.
iii. They may have had some false teaching and they may have been misled into thinking this way.
iv. They may be more committed to experience than to the Scriptures themselves (e.g. family or church heritage).
c. If they do not have these gifts then where are they getting the power to perform the things that they do?
Again there may be several possible reasons for this.
i. They may be making things up out of a desire to please others or to be accepted into the group. Normally the emotional pressures exerted on people in situations like these are strong and may cause people to set aside rational thinking for the sake of conformity.
ii. In light of the above, they may be imitating a learned behaviour or they may be engaging in some psycho-emotional behaviour.
iii. It is also possible that Satan himself could be deceiving them. The Scriptures tell us that we should not be amazed that Satan and his ministers can transform themselves into “angels of light” (2 Corinthians 11:14-15). The false workers of the devil could mimic the miracles of the children of God.
d. Is it possible that people who have been deceived into thinking that they may have some of the miraculous sign gifts are saved?
It is entirely possible that they may be truly saved and have simply fallen under the sway of some false teaching. But it is also possible that they may not be saved and may have just had some emotional or spiritual “experience” instead of being truly converted.
e. What other unscriptural teachings are often found amongst such groups?
There are several other unscriptural teachings that pervade many (but not all) churches who believe they still practise the sign gifts.
i. The “prosperity” gospel teaching. This is the teaching that God never wants any of His children to be sick or in poverty. Various Scriptures are twisted in support of this ungodly philosophy, but the truth is that Scripture nowhere teaches this doctrine. Very closely aligned to this is the “name it and claim it” teaching. This is the idea that God will give His children whatever they want if they just name it. Nowhere are we told in the Bible that we can “order” God around.
ii. Being “slain in the Spirit.” This teaching claims that when the Holy Spirit comes upon a believer it will be manifested by that person falling backward in a comatose state. Again there is no support for this in Scripture. People never lose control in the presence of the Lord and you will never see anyone falling over backwards. In the Bible people most often bow down on their faces in worship before the presence of God.
iii. The so-called “deliverance” ministries. While Scripture teaches that it is possible for people to be possessed by demons, we are never commanded to make the deliverance of these people a primary ministry or focus of the church. This teaching places an undue emphasis on the spirit world at the expense of an emphasis on Christ. While we are to be aware that our adversary is walking around like a roaring lion (1 Peter 5:8), we are nowhere in Scripture commanded to follow him or his demons around trying to war against them. People who engage in this ministry “rebuke” the devil in the “name of Jesus” and try to “bind” him and his demons. Again, Christians are never commanded in Scripture to engage in these activities. We should prayerfully ask the Lord to protect us from the attacks of Satan. And we should pray for people who are under his power; we should preach the Word to them. Christians should be spending the bulk of their time on familiarising themselves with the Word of God and letting God take care of the rest.
f. What about the so-called phenomenon of “praying in tongues”?
There is no biblical evidence for this claim. Though there is not space sufficient here to deal with this issue, let it simply be said that the texts that are often used to substantiate such claims are mishandled. Remember, spiritual gifts are given to edify the Body of Christ, not the individual member. This fact alone nullifies all claims to praying in tongues. See the recommended reading for further light on this topic.
g. Is it wrong to speak about God in a way that makes people think that He spoke to me or influenced me in some way?
Christians often speak in terms that may cause people to think that God has spoken to them or told them something. They will often use phrases like “God spoke to me” or “God burdened my heart.” This is not necessarily wrong, as in most cases these people are referring to how God has influenced them through their reading of the Scriptures or through the advice or influence of other Christians.
But in some cases, people make the claim that God spoke audibly to them. This claim is often made by some leading Charismatic proponents such as Kenneth Hagin, Benny Hinn, Paul Crouch, etc. This is contrary to Scripture.
i. Peter told us that the written Word of God was more sure than any experience of the revelation of God, that “the prophetic word” has been “confirmed” (2 Peter 1:19, cf. KJV).
ii. Some in Scripture who did receive revelation from God in visionary form were sick for many days afterward (Daniel 8:27).
iii. The canon of Scripture is complete (Proverbs 30:5-6).
V. Key memory verses.
a. 1 Corinthians 12:4-7, 28
b. Romans 12:6-8
c. Ephesians 4:11
VI. In many churches today, some popular teachings are:
a. A Christian does not get all of the Holy Spirit at salvation.
b. The presence of the Spirit in your life will be evidenced by your ability to speak in tongues.
c. All of the gifts and the abilities that the apostles had are available to the believer today.
d. The revelation of God’s Word is not completed in the canon of Scripture, but is ongoing through modern prophecy and visions.
From the Bible principles taught in this lesson, you should understand that these teachings are false, and why.
VII. What good books or material can I read to get more information about this subject?
Here is a list of books that will help you if you are looking for more information on this subject.
a. Charismatic Chaos by John F. MacArthur, Jr. (Grace to You)
b. Signs of the Apostles by Walter J. Chantry (Banner of Truth)
c. Christianity in Crisis by Hank Hanegraaff (Harvest House)
d. The Final Word: A Biblical Response to the Case for Tongues and Prophecy Today by O. Palmer Robertson (Banner of Truth)
e. The Agony of Deceit: What some TV Preachers are Really Saying edited by Michael Horton (Christian Art)
f. Ashamed of the Gospel: When the Church becomes like the World by John F. MacArthur, Jr. (Grace to You)
g. Pentecost Today by Iain Murray (Banner of Truth)
Lesson 13: Giving
“What is the meaning of giving, and what are my responsibilities in this area?”
Giving is an extremely controversial subject in the Church today, largely due to the severe pressures exerted on God’s people to give to so many worthy causes, but also due to the unscriptural and unscrupulous approaches that many people have adopted in this area. This is perhaps one of the most misunderstood and abused subjects in Christianity.
Before you can properly understand the nature of New Testament giving, you must understand one fact clearly: God does not need your money! He owns everything.
EXPLANATION: What is the primary purpose of this lesson?
This lesson will deal with the believer’s responsibility in stewardship of his life, which includes his resources.
EXPECTATION: How will these teachings help me to be obedient to the Lord Jesus Christ?
- By obeying His command to offer up my
body (my life) as a living sacrifice to God.
Romans 12:1-2 - By obeying His command to trust Him to
supply all my needs.
Philippians 4:19 - By obeying His command to love Him and
thus to be a ‘giver.’
John 3:16
I. What is the preparation for my giving?
a. Before any giving can be truly proper, you must be willing to give of yourself first.
i. God bought you with a price, His
blood, and you belong to Him.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20; Acts 20:28
ii. God commands you to present your
body as a living sacrifice, not just your money.
Romans 12:1
iii. A willing mind and heart with a
life committed to service to God must precede financial giving in order for God
to bless it.
2 Corinthians 8:3-5, 12
b. True New Testament giving begins with your life yet includes all of your resources.
II. What is the reason for my giving?
a. Giving proves the sincerity of
your love for Jesus Christ.
2 Corinthians 8:8-9
b. We give because of God’s grace.
2 Corinthians 8:1
c. Giving is an investment in
eternal riches and gets your eyes off of earthly riches, which will fade away.
Philippians 4:17; Matthew 6:19-21
d. The person who benefits most from
your giving is you!
Acts 20:35
III. Where am I to give?
a. Your primary responsibility is to
your local church. All giving in the New Testament is done within the context
of a local church ministry.
1 Corinthians 16:1-3
b. Obviously, anyone is free to give
to causes outside the local church, and God may use and bless it. However, it
is the local church which is central in God’s plan. Any giving outside of it
should never be done at the expense of what God would have you do in your
church. This is equally true of time and service.
Galatians 6:10
IV. For what is my giving going to be used?
a. Support of those within the
church body who are unable to support themselves, and who have proven
themselves faithful under the New Testament guidelines.
Acts 6:1; 1 Timothy 5:9-10, 16
b. The support of the leaders of the
church.
1 Corinthians 9:13-14; 1 Timothy 5:17-18
c. Other works of God supported
through your church as well as to meet other needs as suggested by the
leadership of your church.
Philippians 4:15-16; Acts 11:27
V. What am I supposed to give?
As already seen, you are supposed to give your life and therefore all of your giving is to be out of a willing heart, motivated by love for the Lord Jesus Christ.
Let us examine amounts of giving from the Bible.
a. The “tithe”: In the Old
Testament, the Jews were required by law to give a stipulated percentage of
their income. This tithe was one-tenth of a person’s income. In addition, the
Jews gave freewill offerings for various other works of God, bringing their
total giving to well over ten percent.
2 Chronicles 31:11-12; Deuteronomy 12:5-7
The
Church is not bound by the letter of the Old Testament Law. However, the
principles of the Old Testament establish patterns concerning our relationship
with God.
1 Corinthians 10:11; Romans 15:4; 1 Corinthians 9:7-14
b. The New Testament principles of giving are applied in three areas:
i. Structure: A young believer must establish discipline in his life in all areas. In giving, the Old Testament biblical principle of ten percent provides that basic structure. When a believer gives, he experiences the joy and blessing of God.
ii. Grace giving: As an individual grows in the Lord, he will develop an attitude that goes beyond basic structures. The grace of cheerful giving then becomes more of a reality in his life.
The New Testament principles of giving are summarised in 2 Corinthians 9:7:
1. “As he purposes in his heart.” Your giving is between you and God.
2. “Not grudgingly.” If your giving is done with the wrong attitude, you will not experience God’s grace.
3. “Or of necessity.” You are not bound by legalistic duty.
4. “For God loves a cheerful giver.”
iii. Sacrificial giving: Christian
maturity will result in sacrificial giving. When God enables a believer to give
beyond what seems reasonable, it costs him something. At this point, God’s grace
of sacrificial giving is bountifully experienced in the believer’s life.
2 Corinthians 8:3; 2 Samuel 24:24
VI. Other principles of giving.
a. Give as God has prospered you.
Don’t concern yourself with the giving of others; just give according to the
amount with which God has blessed you.
1 Corinthians 16:2; 2 Corinthians 8:12
b. Remember at all times the law of
sowing and reaping.
2 Corinthians 9:6; Galatians 6:7-9
c. True New Testament giving goes much further than a simple “tithe.” It is humbly submitting your life and resources to Jesus Christ. If God is recognised as having control of your life, He will have access to your resources. All of the above principles of giving can be applied to your time and service as well as money.
Note the following principles:
i. God’s plan is that we be
conformed to the image of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 8:29
ii. God’s essential nature is giving, manifest in the Person of our Lord Jesus Christ. John 3:16; 1 John 4:10; 2 Corinthians 8:9
iii. When you give according to Bible
principles, you will manifest the nature of the Lord Jesus Christ in your life,
resulting in God being glorified through you.
2 Corinthians 9:8-15; 1 Chronicles 29:8-13
VII. Basic questions.
a. How can I be sure I am giving to the right things?
Build your giving (time, service and money) around the local church. It is God’s ordained institution for this age.
b. How can I be sure that my money (and time) is being used as God would have it?
In most
churches, a group of members are entrusted with the responsibility of handling
the financial matters of the body. If you have prayerfully sought God’s
leadership in choosing a local church, and you have followed the principles in
His Word in doing so, then you ought to trust the leaders of the church to
handle this matter properly. If you have good reason to believe that the
church’s resources are not being used Scripturally, then speak to the
individuals with that responsibility. When doing so, keep in mind the
principles of the lessons dealing with the local church, church discipline, and
other Christians.
2 Corinthians 8:20-21
VIII. Key memory verses.
a. 2 Corinthians 9:7
b. Matthew 6:21
c. 2 Corinthians 8:9
IX. From many pulpits, and on most radio and television shows, you will hear the following teachings regarding giving:
a. The believer’s primary responsibility in giving is his money.
b. Believers are obligated to give to any good cause.
c. If you don’t give, the work of God will suffer.
From the Bible principles taught in this lesson, you should understand that these teachings are false, and why.
X. Suggested further reading.
a. The Autobiography of George Muller (Whitaker House)
b. George Muller of Bristol by A. T. Pierson
c. Beyond Greed, by Brian Rosner
d. The Treasure Principle, by Randy Alcorn
Lesson 14: Other Christians
“What is my relationship to other Christians?”
As we learned in our lesson dealing with salvation, when you were born again, you were moved from the devil’s family into God’s family. Spiritually, you now have a new family with many brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ.
We have seen in the lesson on the local church how the church is likened to a body. In this lesson we will study the special relationship which you now have with your spiritual family.
EXPLANATION: What is the primary purpose of this lesson?
This lesson is designed to give the individual a clear understanding of how the body of Christ operates as a family unit.
EXPECTATION: How will these teachings help me to be obedient to the Lord Jesus Christ?
- By obeying His command to love one
another.
John 13:34-35 - By obeying His command to edify the
body of Christ.
Romans 14:19; 1 Thessalonians 5:11 - By obeying His command to put others
first.
Philippians 2:1-3
I. How am I related to other believers?
a. They are your brothers (and
sisters) in Jesus Christ.
Matthew 12:49-50; 1 John 3:1-3; Hebrews 2:9-12
b. They are your fellow labourers in
service for Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 3:5-10
II. What are my responsibilities toward other believers?
a. We are to pray for each other. Almost every one of Paul’s letters opens with a prayer for those to whom he is writing, and in most of his letters he requests their prayers for him. 1 Thessalonians 1:2-3; 2 Timothy 1:3; 2 Thessalonians 3:1; 1 Thessalonians 5:25
b. We are to minister to each other.
i. Physically: For those in your
immediate spiritual family …
Galatians 6:10; Romans 12:13
… as
well as other biblical local churches.
Acts 11:27-30
ii. Spiritually.
Galatians 6:1-2; Romans 15:1-2
iii. Emotionally.
1 Corinthians 12:26; Romans 12:15; Hebrews 13:3
c. We are to encourage and edify one
another.
1 Thessalonians 5:11
d. We are to serve one another with
humility.
Philippians 2:3-4; Matthew 20:25-28
III. What should be my attitude toward other believers?
a. The primary attitude should be to
love them.
John 13:34-35; 1 John 3:14-16
b. Be patient with them.
Romans 15:5-7
c. Be sensitive to their needs.
1 John 3:17-18
d. Be forgiving of each other.
Ephesians 4:32; Colossians 3:13; 1 Peter 4:8
IV. What is “fellowship”?
a. “Fellowship” is a term used by
believers generally referring to getting together for activities or times of sharing
common interests. However, this is only a small part of true fellowship. It is
true that fellowship is to share things, but true biblical fellowship goes far
beyond just a meal or an activity. It is the sharing of life through the person
of the Lord Jesus Christ with another believer. The word “fellowship” means “a
sharing together,” “a partnership.” Thus believers share the life of Christ.
Philippians 1:3-6; 2:1-2; 1 Corinthians 1:9
b. The foundational elements of true biblical fellowship are not physical matters such as social status, friendship, common interests, etc.; but are spiritual elements of personal character. That is, to experience true fellowship it is essential not only that we share in the life of Christ but that we also share in the practical expression of His disposition.
i. Humility (Philippians 2:3-8)
A Christ-driven commitment to put others first
ii. Honesty (Ephesians 4:25; 2 Corinthians 4:1-2)
A Christ-driven commitment to transparency
iii. Love (John 13:35; Galatians 5:13-14)
A Christ-driven commitment to give of yourself to others
iv. Hospitality (Acts 2:42, 46-47)
A Christ-driven commitment to build relationships
This word means “a lover of strangers” and carries with it the concept of a willingness to reach out to those that you do not know as well as others. Because of our common bond with Christ, there is a sense in which we should never see other believers as ‘strangers’ but rather we should view them and treat them as family members.
A practical expression of this is inviting believers to your home for a simple meal, providing meals to those who are incapacitated, engaging believers in meaningful conversation, etc. At issue is a commitment to build loving transparency; openness to building a Christ-centred relationship with the Body as a whole rather than merely with those with whom you feel the most “comfortable.” It is a commitment to leave your comfort zone for the spiritual health of the Body.
c. The means of true fellowship include, among others:
i. The Word of God (Philippians 1:5; Acts 2:42)
ii. Prayer (2 Corinthians 1:11)
iii. Ministry (2 Corinthians 8:4; Galatians 2:9; Acts 13:1-2)
iv. Suffering (Philippians 3:10; 1 Peter 4:13)
d. Although doctrinal beliefs are
vitally important, true biblical fellowship is based on the Person and Work of
the Lord Jesus Christ. You must learn to have fellowship with Him personally
before your fellowship with other believers will be proper.
1 John 1:3-7; 1 Corinthians 1:9-10
V. Basic questions.
What do I do when another believer offends me?
i. Yes, this will happen to you sooner or later as you spend time with your brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ. There will be times of offence, hurt, and disagreement within the body of Christ, just as in your physical family.
1. First ask yourself (and the other
party) if you have properly understood the situation and what was said. Most
apparent offences are nothing more than a misunderstanding. Do not jump to
conclusions or make accusations without first establishing what actually happened.
Also do not gossip to others about any perceived offences.
Proverbs 18:8, 13, 15, 17, 19, 24
2. IF it is serious enough, the
Bible reveals a definite procedure by which to deal with the matter. Review the
appropriate biblical principles that were discussed in the lesson on church
discipline. You must follow that biblical pattern.
Matthew 18:15-20
ii. Do not go to the lost world to
settle a problem within the body of Christ.
1 Corinthians 6:1-6
iii. If after following the correct biblical procedure the matter still cannot be resolved:
1. Personally accept the wrong.
1 Corinthians 6:7-8
2. Commit the situation to the
Father. He will handle it justly.
1 Peter 2:19-23
3. Be willing to forgive your
brother.
Matthew 6:14, 15; Colossians 3:13
4. Pray for your brother.
Matthew 5:43-48, Romans 12:14
iv. Remember that the church is growing towards perfection; it is not there yet. One reason God allows disagreement to occur is so that we can learn to have a Christlike response.
VI. Key memory verses.
a. Ephesians 4:32
b. 1 John 3:14-15
c. 1 John 1:7
VII. Among many churches today, the following attitudes prevail:
a. We are not to associate with Christians who do not believe exactly as we do.
b. “Fellowship” must be centred around a meal or an activity.
From the Bible principles taught in this lesson, you should understand that these attitudes are wrong, and why.
VIII. Suggested further reading.
a. Ready to Restore by Jay E. Adams (Presbyterian & Reformed)
b. The Pillars of Christian Character by John MacArthur Jr. (Grace to You)
c. Relationships: A Mess Worth Making, by Paul David Tripp
d. Instruments in the Redeemer’s Hands, by Paul David Tripp
Lesson 15: Dealing With Sin
“How do I overcome sin in my life?”
A preacher once said that when a believer begins to battle with sin in his own life, he enters a combat so intense it makes World War II look like a Sunday School picnic! This truth is not always evident to a young believer; but as you grow you will realise further the intensity of the struggle.
As we saw very briefly in our lesson regarding salvation, when you were born again, you became one person with two natures: a sinful nature and a new holy nature.
EXPLANATION: What is the primary purpose of this lesson?
This lesson is designed to help you combat the sin nature within you.
EXPECTATION: How will these teachings help me to be obedient to the Lord Jesus Christ?
- By helping you to obey His command to
put to death the deeds of the old man.
Ephesians 4:20-24 - By helping you to obey His command to
be holy.
Matthew 5:48; 1 Peter 1:15-16 - By helping you to obey His command to
continue in His Word.
John 8:30-32
I. What is sin?
a. Sin is breaking God’s law.
1 John 3:4
b. Sin is any unrighteousness.
1 John 5:17
c. Sin is anything done apart from
faith.
Romans 14:23
II. Why do I sin?
a. You sin because you inherited a
sinful nature from Adam.
Romans 5.12; 1 Corinthians 15:45-49
b. You sin because your old nature
draws you into sin.
James 1:13-14; Romans 7:14-25
c. You sin as a result of temptation
in three major areas which are outlined in 1 John 2:15-16. Jesus was also
tempted in these three areas, yet without sin.
Hebrews 4:15.
i. The lust of the flesh: Eve was tempted in this point when she saw that the tree was “good for food” (Genesis 3:6). Jesus overcame this temptation in Matthew 4:3 when the devil tried to get Him to turn stones into bread.
ii. The lust of the eyes: Eve was tempted there when she saw the tree was “pleasant to the eyes.” Jesus overcame this temptation when the devil showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and promised to give them to Him in exchange for worship.
iii. The pride of life: Eve saw that the tree was “desirable to make one wise.” Jesus overcame the temptation to cast Himself down to prove the angels would take care of Him.
III. How does God look at my sin? He hates it!
a. Your sin was judged by God at
Calvary.
2 Corinthians 5:21
b. If you continue in sin, God will discipline
you as a father disciplines his son.
Hebrews 12:5-11
Because God is the Sovereign Ruler of the universe, there are many things that He can use to discipline His erring children. However, there are some important biblical examples of discipline from which we can learn.
i. Physical strain due to the guilt
of sin.
Psalm 32:3-4
ii. Emotional strain due to the guilt
of sin.
Psalm 38:4-6
iii. Physical illness.
James 5:13-15; 1 Corinthians 11:30
iv. Physical death.
Acts 5:1-11; 1 Corinthians 11:30
v. Oppression from the world.
Judges 2:1-3, 11-23; 1 Corinthians 5:1-5
vi. Withdrawal of divine blessing.
Judges 16:20
c. God will allow you to reap
according to what you have sown.
Galatians 6:7-8
IV. What can I do to overcome sin?
a. You are accountable before God for your sin. You must accept responsibility for your sin. You will never correct anything until you face up to this personal responsibility. Note: Adam blamed Eve and God; Eve blamed the serpent. God accepted none of these excuses. See Genesis 3:8-19; Proverbs 28:13; James 1:13-15.
b. Don’t allow sinful thoughts to
control your mind.
2 Corinthians 10:5
c. Don’t make provision for the
flesh. That is, make a plan to avoid temptations.
Romans 13:14
d. Realise that you are dead to sin
in Jesus Christ. Hence, you do not have to sin!
Romans 6:6-13; Colossians 3:1-10
e. Judge your own sin. Agree with
God that it is sin. That is, confess your sin to God.
1 Corinthians 11:31-32; 1 John 1:9
f. Hide God’s Word in your heart. This will arm you to battle sin.
1 Corinthians 10:13 says that God has made a way to escape from temptation. That way of escape is found in Psalm 119:9-11. It is the Word of God. Memorise it and it will be available in your times of temptation. Jesus Christ overcame His temptation by quoting Scripture.
The
only sure way of overcoming sin in your life is through the power of the Word
of God. Thus, you must hide it in your heart and apply it to your life. Trust
God’s promise to cleanse you, to equip you for victory through the Lord Jesus
Christ.
2 Corinthians 7:1; Hebrews 4:15-16; Philippians 4:13
g. Walk in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Galatians 5:16-25
h. Remember the ‘put off’, ‘put on’ principle for change:
i. Eph 4:22-24 says, “to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, 23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.” Also see Hebrews 12:1-2 for the same practical idea.
ii. Put off – Consider what sinful habits, actions, thought patterns, etc. needs to be put off or stopped in your life. Make every effort to make it as difficult as possible for yourself to sin (see Matthew 18:7-9 for a graphic example!)
iii. Be renewed in the spirit of your minds – Consider what God’s Word says about the sin, it’s opposite, and how to think biblically about the issue. We are to be “transformed by the renewal of our minds” according to Scripture (Romans 12:2).
iv. Put on – It is not enough to just “stop sinning.” We are to consider what the opposite virtue or righteous act is of the sin we are struggling with. For example, in Ephesians 4:28, Paul says, “Let the thief no longer steal [that’s put off], but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. [That is put on].” The full “put on” is not just to work, but to give your money to the needy.
V. Basic questions.
a. Can a believer be in bondage to sin?
In 1
Corinthians 6:9-11 Paul instructs us that when one is born again that their
life changes (“such were some of you”). That is not to say that they will not
battle with sin but rather it is to emphasize that the believer is freed from
sin. Hence a person who was an alcoholic and who is now saved is no longer an
alcoholic; a homosexual who is born again is no longer such; a liar who is
converted is no longer a liar. The gospel of God indeed sets us free!
Yet, God does provide the help of the local church for sins which are
particularly “sticky.” Galatians 6:1 says, “Brothers, if anyone is caught in
any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of
gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.” It is healthy to
confess our sins to one another (James 5:16) and to ask for other’s help if we
keep on falling.
b. How do I keep the influences of a sinful world from affecting me?
Don’t
involve yourself with sinful activities. Of course, you must associate with
lost people in order to try to win them, but don’t get involved in their sin.
Ephesians 5:5-12
i. Separate yourself from the ways
of the world and follow the Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Corinthians 6:14-18; James 4:4
ii. Realise that “separation” is also a positive thing. Not only are you to be separate from the world, but you are to separate yourself unto the gospel. Romans 1:1
iii. Consider your “diet.” What do
you watch, listen to, and spend your time and money on? Are those things
helping you in your purity, your affections for Christ, your love for the
saints, and your pursuit of holiness?
James 1:27; 4:4-8; 1 John 2:15-17
VI. Key memory verses.
a. Psalm 119:11
b. Hebrews 4:15
c. Romans 6:11
VII. In many churches today, some popular teachings are:
a. There are “big sins” and “little sins.”
b. Sometimes you have to sin because someone else forces you to.
c. If I sin badly enough, I can lose my salvation.
d. There is an “unpardonable sin” that the believer can commit.
From the Bible principles taught in this lesson, you should understand that these teachings are false, and why.
VIII. Further suggested reading.
a. Holiness by J. C. Ryle
b. The Pursuit of Holiness by Jerry Bridges
c. How People Change, by Timothy S. Lane & Paul David Tripp
Lesson 16: The Will of God
“What is God’s will for my life?”
It has often been said that success is finding the will of God and then doing it. That is a very profound statement. The true measure of a man’s success is not his social status, his bank account, his influence, or his fame. It is simply doing what God wants him to do.
EXPLANATION: What is the primary purpose of this lesson?
The purpose of this lesson is to give the believer a basic understanding of how to know God’s will for their life and to trust Him concerning His plan.
EXPECTATION: How will these teachings help me to be obedient to the Lord Jesus Christ?
- By obeying His command to know God’s
will.
Ephesians 5:17 - By obeying His command to trust Him
with all of my heart.
Proverbs 3:5-6 - By obeying His command to be immersed
in His Word
Psalm 119:105
I. What is the will of God for my life?
a. Many people, including believers, often ask or wonder about such questions in life as: What career should I pursue? Who should I marry? Where should I live? etc.
These are important questions, and as a believer, it is essential to seek God’s leadership in the decision making process concerning these matters.
b. But how can you know what God wants for your life? This is not an unreasonable or foolish question, for as Christians we realise that we are not our own, but are bought with a price (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). God created us for a purpose and that purpose is found in Revelation 4:11:
“You are worthy, O Lord,
To receive glory and honour and power;
For You created all things,
And by Your will they exist and were created.”
c. There is, however, a difference between God’s will and His plan for your life.
i. God’s will is the same for every believer, but His plan for each believer differs. His plan is the way in which His will is worked out in your life.
ii. God is infinitely more interested in your becoming the type of person He wants you to be than in your doing for Him all the “mighty works.” Be what He wants you to be, and He will show you what it is He wants you to do. The “good” that God is working together in our lives is specifically the good of being conformed to the image of His Son (see Romans 8:28-29).
II. God’s clearly revealed will is found in His Word, the Bible.
a. God’s will is no mystery. It is
not something we have to wonder about. In other words, we need not concern
ourselves with “finding the will of God”; it is clearly revealed in the Bible,
and He wants us to understand what the will of the Lord is.
Ephesians 5:17; Deuteronomy 29:29
b. God’s will is:
i. That all men repent. In His Word,
God has commanded “all men everywhere to repent.”
Acts 17:30
ii. That all believers should be
Spirit-filled; that is yielded and controlled by the Holy Spirit.
Ephesians 5:17-19
iii. That we be joyful and that we be
thankful.
Ephesians 5:15-20; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
iv. That we be submissive servants.
Ephesians 6:5-8; 2 Corinthians 8:3-5; 1 Peter 2:13-15
v. That we be sanctified, that is
set apart for holy purposes. We are not to be conformed to this world, but
transformed by the renewing of our minds.
1 Thessalonians 4:1-7; Romans 12:1-2
vi. That we sometimes suffer.
1 Peter 2:15ff; 3:17; 4:19.
vii. That we be ultimately conformed
to the image of His dear Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 8:28-29; John 17:20-23; Ephesians 4:13-15
III. God’s plan for your life.
a. As we have seen, God has clearly revealed through the Bible what He desires for each of His creatures. But that doesn’t help us to determine whether we should buy that car, or take this job. What is God’s will and plan concerning these things?
i. First, we are commanded to renew
our minds (Romans 12:1-2). We do so by filling our minds with the revealed will
of God, that is, with the Bible. With a Scripture informed mind we then make
decisions from a Christ centred from of reference as we “let this mind be in
you which was also in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:5).
Be careful! Don’t just open the Bible at random and point at a random verse and
take that as God’s leading. Also, don’t read a verse out of context. If our
hearts want a “yes”, we will read it into a verse somehow. We are to ask
rather, “What truths, principles, commands, promises, etc. are applicable to
the situation?”
ii. Second, we are to pray for God’s
guidance and wisdom.
Philippians 1:9-11; James 1:5; Proverbs 16:3
Be careful! The ordinary way God leads His people is not through a ‘still-small-voice’
in our minds. It is rather by the renewed mind (Romans 12:2) in
prayerful dependence on His Spirit to lead us. God expects us to think and
discern what the will of God is in our lives.
iii. Third, live in a Bible-saturated community. It is often as we belong to a healthy, local church where we discover God’s place for us in His kingdom. The body was designed to build itself up in love (Ephesians 4:11-16) and fellow Christians are to encourage one another to love and good works (Hebrews 10:24-25). See also Proverbs 11:14 for a wise principle regarding decision making.
iv. Fourth, consider your natural
abilities and gifts. God has made us a certain way to serve His body and the
world for His glory. What are you naturally good at? What gives you energy?
What do you learn quickly without much effort? These may be indicators of a
talent God has given you to use for His glory.
Craig Hamilton wrote, “We’re not all ears. We’re not all eyes. There are many
parts but one body. Ears don’t have to be eyes. Ears can be ears. God has made
us this way. If you’re an ear, instead of increasing your eye-ness focus on
being a better ear. Be who you are. Don’t feel guilty that you’re not someone
else.”[1]
v. Finally, gratefully accept God’s providence in your life. Instead of being frustrated at not being where you want to be, serve the Lord right where you are now (1 Corinthians 7:20-24). We are to make our plans for the future while acknowledging that God is sovereign over our lives and His will for us will happen (James 4:13-17). Learn to wait on God for an opportunity. He opens and closes doors of opportunity.
IV. In summary, the Lord Jesus Christ laid down a principle that should govern all our life when He said, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (Matthew 6:33).
a. First, seek God’s kingdom and righteousness, fulfilling His will that is clearly revealed in the Scriptures.
b. Then:
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.”
(Proverbs 3:5-6; see also Psalm 37:1-5)
V. Basic questions.
a. Why doesn’t God reveal all of the details of His direction for me now?
i. It would overwhelm you before you got started.
ii. You may not be equipped to handle it yet.
iii. You may not be the type of person God wants you to be yet.
iv. This is illustrated by the old question asked of children, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” If all the five-year olds in South Africa were surveyed with this question, then forced to stick with their answer, in 20 years there would be nothing but firemen, policemen, cricket players and nurses! As time goes on and you grow spiritually, your interests, talents, and desires will grow and change. Be patient and wait on God while fulfilling His specific, Scripturally revealed will for your life.
VI. Key memory verses.
a. Romans 12:1-2
b. Matthew 6:33
c. Psalm 37:4-5
d. Proverbs 3:5-6
VII. There is much confusion today about the will of God. Some popular beliefs are:
a. The will of God is different for every individual.
b. God doesn’t have a specific will and plan for your life.
c. It is our responsibility to “find” God’s will.
From the Bible principles taught in this lesson, you should understand that these beliefs are false, and why.
VIII. Suggested further reading.
a. Found: God’s Will by John MacArthur, Jr.
b. Men of Destiny and Men of Purpose by Peter Masters.
[1] Craig Hamilton, Wisdom in Leadership: The How and Why of Leading the People You Serve (Sydney, Youngstown: Matthias Media, 2015), 104.
Lesson 17: Money and Possessions
“What should be my attitude toward money and possessions?”
One of the greatest temptations we face is the tremendous materialism in our South African culture. We are geared to think that success is measured by the abundance of our material wealth; when in reality, a man’s success is measured by fulfilling God’s will for his life, as we saw in a previous lesson.
The Bible has a great deal to say about our attitudes toward physical possessions.
EXPLANATION: What is the primary purpose of this lesson?
The object of this lesson is to determine how God would have us deal with money and possessions in light of biblical principles.
EXPECTATION: How will these teachings help me to be obedient to the Lord Jesus Christ?
- By obeying His command to focus on our
relationship with God rather than on the physical, temporal things.
Matthew 6:33-34 - By obeying His command to be content
with what He has given me.
Hebrews 13:5; Philippians 4:11
I. Pleasing God is not dependant on being either wealthy or poor.
a. This is very important to understand. Spirituality is not measured by either the abundance or absence of material goods. Nowhere in the Bible does God condemn anyone simply for having money, neither does He commend anyone for having no money. Instead, He assesses individuals according to their heart attitude. (cf. Luke 16:19-31 with 1 Timothy 6:17).
b. The Bible does not say that money is the root of all evil. It says “the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil” (1 Timothy 6:10).
c. Many godly Bible characters were wealthy.
i. Solomon was the wealthiest man in
history, yet observe his conclusion concerning the priority of life.
Ecclesiastes 12:13-14
ii. Job was the wealthiest man of his
day (Job 1:3), yet when all his wealth was gone, observe his attitude.
Job 1:20-22
iii. Even the Lord Jesus Christ was
accompanied by a group of wealthy women who provided for Him materially.
Luke 8:1-3; John 12:3
II. At what point do money and possessions interfere with my relationship with God?
a. When you trust in it rather than
trusting in God.
Mark 10:23-27; Proverbs 11:4, 28; 1 Timothy 6:17
b. When your affections are set on
your earthly possessions instead of your heavenly possessions.
Matthew 6:19-21; Colossians 3:1-4
c. When you think that your own
spirituality, another man’s spirituality, or God’s blessings can be measured by
material possessions.
Luke 12:15; 1 Samuel 16:7
d. When your guiding objective in
life becomes to earn as much money as possible.
Proverbs 23:4; Ecclesiastes 5:10-12; Matthew 6:24
e. When you think that you provide
for your needs rather than acknowledging God as the source of your provision.
Philippians 4:19; Deuteronomy 8:10-18
III. What are the proper attitudes I should develop toward physical possessions?
a. First and foremost, be content with what you have. To be content is not to grudgingly resign yourself to accept your state, but to rest satisfied in God’s provision; realising whatever you have been given is a blessing.
i. We are to be content with our
possessions.
Hebrews 13:5; 1 Timothy 6:6-8
ii. We are to be content in whatever
state we find ourselves, resting in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Philippians 4:11—Note that Paul wrote these words while imprisoned!
b. Realise that there are many essentials for a godly life; essentials which money cannot buy.
i. Wisdom.
Proverbs 16:16
ii. A righteous life (a good
testimony).
Proverbs 16:8; 28:6; Psalm 37:16
iii. A good night’s sleep.
Ecclesiastes 5:12
iv. God’s Word.
Psalm 119:14, 72, 127
v. Good health.
Luke 8:43
vi. Quietness and peace.
Ecclesiastes 4:6; Proverbs 15:16; 17:1
c. If and when God blesses you
materially, don’t forget Him.
Deuteronomy 6:10-12; Proverbs 30:7-9; Revelation 3:17
d. Realise that if God were to take
away all of your wealth, then He is still trustworthy.
Job 1:20-22
e. Don’t be envious of someone
else’s wealth.
Psalm 49:16, 17; Exodus 20:17 [see two Psalms on this theme: Psalm 37 and 73].
f. Finally, recognising that our
culture (through the media) is saturated with temptations to materialism, you
must guard your heart. Make sure your major desires are spiritual instead of
physical.
Proverbs 4:23
IV. Note the biblical balance regarding money and possessions.
a. The same Bible that says not to worry about your physical provisions (Matthew 6:25-34) also says that if a man doesn’t provide for his family, then he is behaving worse than an unbeliever (1 Timothy 5:8).
b. The same Bible that says, “the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil” also says, “the labourer is worthy of his wages” (1 Timothy 5:17-18).
These are not contradictory statements, but balancing principles to show you how to handle physical possessions.
V. What is God’s way to acquire wealth?
a. Avoid debt as far as possible and
pay off your debt as quickly as possible.
Proverbs 6:1-5; 22:7; Romans 13:8
b. Avoid “get-rich-quick” schemes.
Proverbs 20:21; 28:20, 22
c. Avoid instant gratification –
don’t always buy the first thing you desire.
Proverbs 21:17, 20
d. God expects us to work for our
money.
Proverbs 10:4; 2 Thessalonians 3:6-12
e. We should plan how we will spend
our money as good stewards.
Proverbs 21:5
f. We should save up money for the
future. It is often wise to have something like an emergency fund for unplanned
expenses.
Proverbs 10:15; 13:11
g. We should be generous with the money we have. First, to the church (Proverbs 3:9-10), to our families (1 Timothy 5:8), and to those in need (Proverbs 11:24; 19:17).
VI. Basic questions.
a. What will God provide for me?
i. God promises to meet your needs.
Philippians 4:19; Matthew 6:25-34
Those needs will be physical as well as spiritual.
ii. You must discern between needs and wants. This is a very difficult thing to do, especially in our society. If God gives it, it is a need. If He doesn’t then you can assume that it is a “want.” And yes, God sometimes, oftentimes, gives us “wants.”
1 Timothy 6:6-9 is very insightful concerning the difference between needs and wants! According to this passage, anything in addition to food and raiment is a “luxury.”
VII. Key memory verses.
a. Philippians 4:11
b. Philippians 4:19
c. Colossians 3:2
VIII. Some common attitudes regarding physical possessions are:
a. If you get enough material wealth, you will be satisfied.
b. God must be pleased with wealthy people for Him to have blessed them so much.
c. A wealthy person must have violated God’s laws to obtain his wealth.
d. Your worth as a person is measured by your material wealth.
From the Bible principles taught in this lesson, you should understand that these attitudes are wrong, and why.
IX. Suggested further reading.
a. A Biblical Theology of Money and Possessions by Gene Getz
b. The Life of David Brainerd by President Edwards
c. David Brainerd’s Personal Testimony by Walter Searle
d. Beyond Greed by David Rosner
e. The Autobiography of John G. Paton (Banner of Truth)
Lesson 18: Liberty in Christ
“What is my responsibility concerning activities which are not condemned by Scripture, but upon which other believers tend to frown? Am I free to do as I please?”
The New Testament is very clear that the believer is free from the condemnation that accompanies the breaking of God’s law (Romans 8:1-2). But with this freedom comes a responsibility; namely, to live with due regard to the holiness of God and the spiritual health, both of ourselves as well as that of other believers. This means that there will be times when we will need to refrain from activities which, though not condemned by Scripture, may not be the most beneficial course of action. This is called “Christian liberty.”
EXPLANATION: What is the primary purpose of this lesson?
The purpose of this lesson is to help the disciple to understand what ‘Christian liberty’ looks like.
EXPECTATION: How will these teachings help me to be obedient to the Lord Jesus Christ?
- By obeying His command to not be a
stumbling block to others.
Matthew 18:7-10; Romans 14:13 - By obeying His command to die to self.
Matthew 16:24 - By obeying His command to live a life
that is a good testimony.
Matthew 5:16
I. Am I free to do whatever I want?
a. As a believer, you have the
ability, the freedom to make choices about what activities you will or will not
do.
Romans 14:1-5
b. As a believer, you are eternally
secure in Jesus Christ. You are not bound by the Old Testament Law as the means
of obtaining salvation.
Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 8:1-4; Galatians 3:24-25
c. However, Christ is not just our Saviour but our Lord (Romans 10:9-13). That means, we are not free to do whatever we want, but to do whatever Christ wants us to do. If we live in sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us (1 John 1:5-7; 3:9-10). Remember, that your works will either show that you are saved or that you are lost. James can simply say, “For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.” (James 2:26). The freedom we have in Christ regarding the “grey areas” is to serve others, not ourselves (Galatians 5:13).
II. How does my freedom affect me personally?
a. You are free to make your own
choices, but you must make such choices in the light of Scriptural precepts and
principles.
1 Corinthians 6:12; 10:23
b. You must consider the effect that
such an activity will have on your pursuit of glorifying God.
1 Corinthians 10:31
c. You must consider the effect that
such an activity will have on your body; which of course belongs to God.
1 Corinthians 6:19
For example, drinking alcoholic beverages, eating certain kinds of foods, smoking, etc.
III. How does my freedom affect those around me?
a. Your life will be a testimony for
good or for bad. The choice is yours.
Matthew 5:16; Romans 2:22-24; 1 Timothy 6:1
b. You are to avoid things which
could cause a weaker Christian to stumble in his faith.
Romans 14:13-15; 1 Corinthians 8:9-13
c. You are to avoid things which
appear wrong even though they may not be wrong.
Romans 14:14-16; 1 Thessalonians 5:22
d. You are to have a good testimony toward both saved and lost people (Romans 14:18).
i. To the saved.
Acts 6:1-3; 16:1-2
ii. To the lost.
Colossians 4:5; 1 Timothy 3:7
iii. The purpose of this is to
influence them for good in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Acts 2:42-47; 1 Corinthians 9:19-23
IV. What are the bounds of my liberty?
There are many “grey areas” when it comes to actions and activities which are scripturally ‘permissible.’ In these cases, ask yourself some questions.
a. Am I being brought under the
power of something that should not be controlling my life?
1 Corinthians 6:12
b. Am I edifying myself or others?
That is, what is my heart attitude towards others as I make this decision? Am I
concerned about their welfare or my pleasure?
1 Corinthians 8:13
c. Can I ask God to bless it with a
clear conscience? Do I have doubts that this will honour God or not?
Romans 14:23
d. Perhaps the best question is not merely, “Is this course of action harmful?”; rather, ask the question, “Is it helpful?”
That
is, “Is it helpful in my pursuit of the glory of God? Is it helpful regarding
my testimony of the greatness of Christ? Is it helpful regarding my spiritual
growth? Is it helpful to build up others?”
1 Corinthians 6:12
V. Basic questions.
a. How do I achieve a balance between my liberties and other people’s needs?
Only
through the power of the Holy Spirit as you walk with Him. As you grow in Christlikeness
you will be increasingly concerned more about the needs of others than the
exercise of your own liberties.
Ephesians 5:18-21
b. What if I disagree with another believer over an issue of liberty (without it being a stumbling-block); how should this be addressed?
Be
charitable. There are various issues over which godly believers disagree. You
must make sure that your conscience is clear before God. You will answer for
your own liberty, not for that of another.
Romans 14:5-13a
c. Does the moral law as revealed in the Ten Commandments have any claim on me as a believer? i.e. Am I under obligation to keep them?
Yes,
but it is a joyous obligation, a God-given desire to obey the one who saved
you.
Philippians 2:12-13; 1 John 5:1-5; Romans 7:4-6
VI. Some Practical Examples
a. The Christian and alcoholic beverages
This has, in every age, been a debated subject; should the believer totally abstain, or can he drink in moderation?
Let’s apply the principles learned so far:
i. Does the Bible clearly prohibit the consumption of alcoholic beverages? No.
ii. By consuming such will it harm my testimony before my family, friends and others whom I am trying to reach? Could this be a stumbling-block towards those who have been, or are, alcoholics? Would I want my children to be influenced to consume alcohol? Will this action tempt me to over-indulgence?
iii. Having considered these questions, you then need to make a decision. Whatever is decided, make sure that your conscience is clear before the Lord. But also, be sure to be charitable if another disagrees with your decision. We need to give liberty to others to disagree even as we exercise our liberty to either allow or to disallow an activity.
b. The Christian and smoking
Let’s apply the principles:
i. Does the Bible prohibit smoking? No.
ii. Will such behaviour be harmful to my body (which belongs to God)? Will it be helpful?
iii. Will smoking inhibit or help my testimony?
iv. Will smoking be a stumbling-block to others? That is, is this the kind of behaviour that I would want others to emulate?
v. In light of the above it is pretty obvious what decision should be made. And if another believer chooses to smoke, don’t sit in judgement upon their love for the Lord.
VII. Key memory verses.
a. Galatians 5:13
b. Romans 15:1
c. 1 Corinthians 10:31
VIII. In many churches today, some popular teachings are:
a. There is a “set of rules” a believer must live by in order to please God.
b. You are free to do whatever you want regardless of how it affects other people.
c. What you do has no real influence on other people
From the Bible principles taught in this lesson, you should understand that these teachings are false, and why.
IX. Further suggested reading.
a. The Shadow Of The Cross, by Walter J. Chantry
b. Grace Awakening by Chuck Swindoll
c. The Glory of God’s Grace by James Montgomery Boice
d. The Law of Perfect Freedom by Michael Horton
Lesson 19: The Lost World
“As a Christian how do I relate to the lost world?”
The Bible is very clear that the evil world system is opposed to God’s eternal purpose (1 John 5:19). God commands His children to be separate from this world system; yet at the same time to reach the lost men and women who live in it for Jesus Christ. As it is often said, “we are to be in the world, yet not of the world” (John 17:15).
EXPLANATION: What is the primary purpose of this lesson?
This lesson is designed to show how the believer is to live in this world in order to influence people for the Lord Jesus Christ; without the world influencing them for evil.
EXPECTATION: How will these teachings help me to be obedient to the Lord Jesus Christ?
- By obeying His command to be separate
from all that is not pleasing to God.
2 Corinthians 6:17 - By obeying His command to live a
righteous life in the sight of all men.
Titus 2:12 - By obeying His command to exercise the
right kind of relationship with the lost.
Philippians 2:15; Romans 12:18
I. You must realise that if you live for Jesus Christ, you will encounter opposition from the world.
a. You will be opposed because Jesus
Christ was opposed.
John 15:18-21
b. You will be opposed only if you
live for Him. If you go along with the world, they will not oppose you.
2 Timothy 3:12
II. From what areas will this opposition come?
a. Your primary opposition will
often come from those closest to you; from those who know you the best:
friends, family, fellow workers, acquaintances.
Matthew 10:35-36; John 1:11; Mark 6:4
b. From lost people in general. The
two spiritual families have never gotten along and never will.
Galatians 4:29; 1 John 3:10-13
c. From society in general. The
nature and course of this present world system are against God. This opposition
is communicated subtly through the media (literature, television, radio, etc.);
through political agendas; through cultural practices; etc. You must judge
those things by the Word of God.
1 Thessalonians 5:21; 1 John 2:15-17; James 1:27; 4:4
d. Of course, the mastermind behind
this opposition is Satan.
2 Corinthians 4:3-4; Ephesians 2:1-3; 1 John 5:19
III. How can I overcome this opposition?
a. Give a soft answer. Avoid fights
whenever possible.
Proverbs 15:1; Romans 12:18
b. Please God with your life by
living by faith in Him.
Proverbs 16:7; 1 John 5:4-5
c. Love your enemies and help them.
Pray for them. Jesus Christ loved His enemies enough to willingly die for them.
The world cannot understand this type of sacrificial love, and those who are
seeing the truth will be drawn to it.
Romans 12:14, 20-21; Matthew 5:44
d. Keep good company. Associate with
people who love God and want to serve Him.
Proverbs 13:20; 1 Corinthians 15:33
e. Immerse yourself in the Word of
God. The result will be a Christ-like mindset. Keep your focus on Christ.
Romans 12:1-2; Colossians 3:1-3; 1 Peter 2:21-25
f. Keep yourself unstained from the world (James 1:27). We should be careful of the mindset of the world that is in opposition to God’s Word (1 John 2:16). Ultimately, the opposite of loving the world is to love the Father (1 John 2:15). Therefore, to overcome a love for the world, we are to fuel a love for the Father.
IV. How should the lost world view me as a believer?
a. They should view you as a
Christian; i.e. Christ-like.
Acts 11:26; 1 Peter 4:16
b. They should know you love God—not
by your mouth, as much as by your life. Your lifestyle should separate you from
the world; your behaviour should be “peculiar.” That is, you should be
wonderfully different from the world
2 Corinthians 6:14-18; 1 Peter 2:9; Matthew 5:13-16
c. However, do not be an
isolationist. You are to minister to those who are of the world.
1 Corinthians 5:9-13; Colossians 4:5-6
d. They should see a living
testimony of the grace of God. Generally, you should be of “good report.”
Philippians 2:14-16; 1 Timothy 3:7; Acts 2:46-47
V. How should the believer view the world?
a. You are a pilgrim in a strange
land.
1 Peter 2:11
b. This world is a “mission field”
in which we are to reach the lost with the gospel as we seek to make disciples
of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15; Acts 1:8
c. This world, along with its desires, is passing away (1 John 2:17). It is foolish to “gain the whole world and lose your soul” (Mark 8:36). Live for God’s kingdom, not temporary gains in the world (cf. Jeremiah 9:23-24).
VI. Basic questions.
a. What are my responsibilities in the workplace?
i. It is important that you view your job as a ministry opportunity, not just as a job.
For
most believers, your fellow-workers are the greatest exposure you have to lost
people. Your life may be the only true witness of the Lord Jesus Christ they
ever see. You are a light representing Jesus Christ. You will have a much
greater influence on those with whom you spend the most time. Although total
strangers are surely an opportunity for a witness, those who can see a consistent
testimony of a Christian’s life are much easier to win.
Matthew 5:14-16
b. What attitudes should I have toward my supervisors and the company I work for?
i. Serve as if the Lord Jesus Christ
is your employer. Respect the authority of their position. Obviously, no
employer will be correct in every point. In fact, you may even disagree with
some of their decisions. However, you are to submit to their leadership, using
it as an opportunity to show them a testimony of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 6:5-8; Colossians 3:22-24; Titus 2:9-10
ii. Respect your company’s property.
Respect your company’s time: “do eight hours of work for eight hours of pay.”
Failure to do so is a type of theft.
Leviticus 19:11; Colossians 3:22-23
iii. You are to do the very best you
can to help the company succeed and benefit your employer.
1 Timothy 6:1-2; Proverbs 10:4; 18:9; 21:25; 22:29
N.B. Joseph is the greatest example of this in the Bible in Genesis 39-50.
iv. Mind your own business and don’t
let someone else’s laziness affect you.
1 Thessalonians 4:11; 2 Thessalonians 3:10-13
c. As an employer, does the Bible say anything about how to relate to those under my leadership?
Yes, it does. Ask the following questions.
i. Do I treat my people justly and
equally? Do I set standards for them which I refuse to keep myself?
Colossians 4:1; Ephesians 6:8-9
ii. Am I consumed by my own
self-interests without considering the needs of those around me?
Philippians 2:1-3; Matthew 22:37-39
iii. Even in a position of leadership,
you should always maintain the attitude of a servant.
Mark 10:42-45; 1 Corinthians 10:33
d. What if my job conflicts with spiritual matters?
i. There will always be some conflict between church activities/responsibilities and your work schedule. You cannot quit your job or take off work because of a few minor conflicts. Remember, your job is a ministry opportunity. However, you must not use your job as an excuse to neglect your responsibilities to your church. You must maintain a balance in this area.
ii. When your job responsibilities are contrary to Bible principles, then you must draw a line (Acts 4:19; 5:29).
1. Refuse to lie or steal for your employer or violate other clear commandments of God.
2. Guard against temptations associated with your job.
3. Don’t be influenced by sinful activities around you.
e. How do I handle “persecution” on the job?
iii. Be sure that the “persecution” is
not the result of your own wrong-doing or lack of personal commitment to the
Lord. If you are being “persecuted,” it is for one of two reasons: your
behaviour is improper, or your proper testimony is an offence to someone.
1 Peter 3:16-17
iv. Expect a certain amount of
adversity from the world if you are truly serving Jesus Christ.
2 Timothy 3:12
v. Learn to commit that adversity to
the Lord.
1 Peter 2:18-23; 4:19
f. What are my responsibilities to my government?
i. Government is one of the three
institutions ordained by God; the other two being the family and the church. You
are to submit to the ordinance of God.
Romans 13:1-2
ii. If you do what is right, you have
no reason to fear. God will honour you for doing right.
Romans 13:3-5
iii. Render to the government what is
due by law. Submit to their ordinances and laws.
Romans 13:6-7; Matthew 22:15-22; 1 Peter 2:13-15
iv. Honour the office of those in
authority, even the wicked, without partaking of their wickedness. Commit any
adverse situations to God and trust Him handle to them. Honour the position
even if you cannot respect the person.
1 Peter 2:17—When Peter wrote these words, Nero was king, perhaps the wickedest
king Rome ever had.
VII. Key memory verses.
a. 2 Timothy 3:12
b. 1 John 2:15
c. Proverbs 13:20
VIII. In many churches today, some popular teachings are:
a. Believers are to be totally separate from lost people.
b. I should do anything to keep people from being upset with me.
c. The best way to fight opposition is with an aggressive approach.
From the Bible principles taught in this lesson, you should understand that these teachings are false, and why.
IX. Suggested further reading.
a. Beyond Culture Wars by Michael Horton
b. A Christian Manifesto and How Should We Then Live? by Francis Schaeffer
c. Disciplines Of A Godly Man, by R. Kent Hughes
d. How to Survive in a World of Unbelievers and Why Government Can’t Save You by John MacArthur, Jr.
Lesson 20: The Judgement Seat of Christ
“Is there a judgement day for Christians? And for what will I be held accountable?”
Someone has said, “Only one life, it will soon be past, only what’s done for Christ will last.” That is a statement packed with truth. It is imperative that believers live with an “eternal perspective.” That is, believers are to live focused on the Lord Jesus Christ rather than on the things of this world. In the words of Christ, the believer is to “lay up treasures in heaven.”
EXPLANATION: What is the primary purpose of this lesson?
The purpose of this lesson is to explain your final accountability/ responsibility to the Lord Jesus Christ.
EXPECTATION: How will these teachings help me to be obedient to the Lord Jesus Christ?
- By obeying His command to live with an
eternal perspective rather than to be focused on earthly, material things.
Matthew 6:33 - By obeying His command to minister to
the Body of Christ and evangelise the lost with the proper motives.
Romans 12:4-8 - By obeying His command to live a
righteous and holy life in the light of His return.
2 Peter 3:10-14
I. What is the Judgement Seat of Christ?
a. It is not a judgement of your
salvation.
Romans 8:1
b. It is a judgement of your service
2 Corinthians 5:10; Romans 14:10-12
II. What will I be judged for at the Judgement Seat of Christ?
a. You will be judged for your
ministry in and to the Body of Christ.
1 Corinthians 3:11-15
b. Your work will be judged for your motive behind your ministry.
i. “… of what sort [what kind] it
is.”
1 Corinthians 3:13
ii. The heart attitude behind your
works will be revealed. You should note that if the proper attitudes are
developed, the proper works will come naturally.
1 Corinthians 4:4-5; 1 Thessalonians 2:4
c. You will be judged concerning
your maturity in accordance with your opportunity.
Matthew 25:14-23; Romans 14:1-10
III. When will this take place?
a. At the Lord Jesus’ final coming (sometimes referred to as His “second coming”) to earth.
b. This will occur at the end of history as we know it. He will return to raise the dead and to judge the world. Believers will receive glorified bodies (1 Thessalonians 4:13-17; 2 Corinthians 5:1, 2; Romans 8:22, 23) and unbelievers will be cast into the lake of fire. This will usher in what is sometimes referred to as the “eternal state.”
c. See also John 5:28, 29; 1 Corinthians 15:20-26.
IV. What are the negative consequences of this judgement?
a. Paul said in speaking of the Judgement Seat of Christ, that the “terror of the Lord” motivates us to persuade others (2 Corinthians 5:11). A believer need not fear going to hell, but there are some things to beware of in relation to the final judgement. Some believers will be found:
i. Ashamed for not living for the
Lord Jesus Christ at His appearing.
1 John 2:28
ii. Suffering loss because their
works were not Christ-centred.
1 Corinthians 3:15
b. Summary: Be sure to invest in
heavenly rewards instead of earthly rewards. The real servants of the Lord will
be revealed at the Judgement Seat of Christ.
Matthew 6:19-20; Colossians 3:1-4
V. What are biblical rewards?
a. The rewards obtainable at the
Judgement Seat of Christ are not earned by us due to our merit. They are given
to us by God’s grace. He is the One who has enabled us to serve Him and thus
the rewards are an undeserved inheritance that He graciously gives.
Ephesians 1:11-14; 2:10; Colossians 3:23-24
“But since it is God’s purpose to bring us to our inheritance by way of the race of good works, the term ‘reward’ appropriately emphasises our human responsibility in the race.” (Graeme Goldsworthy)
b. Fundamentally, the “reward” or
“inheritance” is the gift of Christ-likeness.
Philippians 3:7-14
c. The New Testament speaks of “crowns,” which represent various aspects of Christ-likeness which will, to varying degrees, mark every child of God. Every Christian is a gracious recipient of these as the reward of perseverance.
i. The crown of righteousness (2 Timothy 4:8): given to the believer because he or she loves the appearing of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Your
overriding desire should be, at all times, to be with the Lord.
Philippians 1:23-24
ii. The crown of life (Revelation 2:10): the faithful martyr’s crown.
1. Every believer is to be a faithful witness for the Lord Jesus Christ.
2. This crown is also mentioned in James 1:12 as given to those who endure trials. This perseverance in faithfulness testifies or witnesses to the faithfulness of the Saviour.
iii. The imperishable crown (1 Corinthians 9:25): this crown represents the self-control which characterises the Christian.
1. The context of this verse is from vv. 23-27. Paul is stating that the Christian proves his faith by bringing his desires under the Lordship of Christ.
2. Again, this crown speaks of the perseverance of the believer in his walk with and work for Jesus Christ.
iv. The crown of rejoicing (1 Thessalonians 2:19): this is the reward for being faithful with the gospel in the Great Commission.
1. Pictures those who minister the
Word of God to others; i.e. those who make disciples.
Philippians 4:1
2. Every believer is to be engaged, in some practical way, in the work of making disciples.
v. The crown of glory (1 Peter 5:4): the shepherd’s crown, given to those who pastor or shepherd people in the Word of God.
1. The New Testament is very clear
that all saved people are to be actively teaching someone the Word of God, not
just preachers.
Ephesians 4:11-16
2. This requires great wisdom which
can only be obtained through the Word of God.
Proverbs 4:7-9
d. What will we do with these crowns?
The
Bible teaches that we will worshipfully give them to the One who enabled us to
obtain them!
Revelation 4:10
“Because the final inheritance of Christians follows on a life characterised by good works, it may be spoken of as reward, even though its basis is not those works but Christ’s merits.” (Graeme Goldsworthy)
VI. Basic questions.
a. Why should I be concerned about the Judgement Seat of Christ?
i. The focus on the return of the Lord Jesus Christ (and on our death at which time we will enter His presence) is one of the most practical biblical doctrines for everyday living. Notice in the following verses the practical character qualities that are produced by focusing on the return of the Lord Jesus Christ.
1. Faith
1 Peter 1:3-7; James 5:7-8
2. Hope
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Titus 2:13-14
3. Love
1 Thessalonians 3:12-13; 5:8-9; 2 Thessalonians 3:5
4. Holiness.
1 Thessalonians 3:13; 1 John 3:1-3
5. Diligence in service.
2 Timothy 4:1-8
ii. The rewards you receive on earth
are all temporal and will perish. The rewards you receive at the Judgement Seat
of Christ are eternal and will never perish.
Matthew 6:19-21; 2 Corinthians 4:17-5:4
iii. By consistently remembering our
final accountable to Jesus Christ, you will naturally develop a desire to
please God rather than men. Developing this attitude is the surest way to
handle criticism and opposition.
1 Corinthians 4:1-5; 2 Corinthians 5:6-10
iv. It will help to protect you from
the sin of a judgemental spirit.
Romans 14:4-12
VII. Key memory verses.
a. 2 Corinthians 5:8-9
b. 1 John 2:28
c. Luke 16:15
VIII. In many churches today, some popular teachings are:
a. God is going to judge Christians for their sin.
b. Christians will be judged for what they have done without regard for their motives.
c. Our rewards and losses are all received in this life.
d. We must perform good works in order to obtain salvation.
From the Bible principles taught in this lesson, you should understand that these teachings are false, and why.
IX. Suggested further reading.
a. The Pursuit of God by A. W. Tozer
b. Through Gates of Splendour by Elisabeth Elliott
Lesson 21: Evangelism
“What are my responsibilities in taking the gospel to the lost world?”
Salvation is totally of the Lord. Yet He used someone in some way to bring the gospel to you. He has ordained the end as well as the means to that end. Now it is your responsibility to take that same gospel to the lost world around you with a view to others being saved.
EXPLANATION: What is the primary purpose of this lesson?
The purpose of this lesson is twofold. First, to show you your responsibility to evangelise, and second, to help you to have a proper doctrinal context to guide your evangelism.
EXPECTATION: How will these teachings help me to be obedient to the Lord Jesus Christ?
- By obeying His “Great Commission.”
Matthew 28:19-20 - By obeying His command to not be
ashamed of the gospel.
Romans 1:16 - By obeying His command to give an
answer to every man.
1 Peter 3:15
I. The work of God in salvation.
a. If necessary, you may want to review the lesson on the Holy Spirit. It is important that you realise that you yourself cannot save another person’s soul, nor can you, by your own power, draw that person to the point of salvation.
i. The Father must draw them to
salvation.
John 6:44
ii. It took the sacrifice of the Son
in order to pay for their sins.
2 Corinthians 5:21
iii. The Holy Spirit must convict them
of their sin.
John 16:8-9
II. The work of the believer in salvation.
a. While the supernatural act of salvation is done by God and God alone, God uses the believer as His tool to bring about that salvation.
i. We are farmers that must sow the
seed.
Matthew 13:3-8; 1 Corinthians 3:5-6
ii. We are preachers that must
proclaim the Word.
Romans 10:13-15
iii. We are ambassadors that must
proclaim the gospel message of reconciliation to a sinful world.
2 Corinthians 5:17-21
III. The commandment to evangelise.
a. We must take the gospel to all
the world with the view to making disciples.
Matthew 28:19-20
b. In the power of the Holy Spirit,
we must be witnesses to all.
Acts 1:8; Romans 1:14-16; 10:15; Mark 16:15
IV. The presentation of the gospel.
It is important when sharing the gospel to deal with five essential issues.
a. The character of God.
i. God is absolutely holy, and His
Law demands perfect holiness.
Leviticus 11:44-45; 1 Samuel 2:2; 1 John 1:5
ii. Because He is holy, God hates
sin.
Genesis 2:17; Exodus 20:5; Zechariah 8:17
iii. Sinners cannot stand before Him.
Psalm 1:5; Exodus 34:7
b. The condition of man.
i. Sin is what makes true peace
impossible for unbelievers.
Isaiah 57:20-21
ii. All have sinned.
Romans 3:10-18, 23
iii. Sin makes the sinner worthy of
death.
James 1:15; Romans 6:23
iv. Sinners can do nothing to earn
salvation.
Isaiah 64:6; Romans 3:20; Galatians 2:16; Ephesians 2:8-9
v. Sinners are therefore in a helpless
state.
Hebrews 9:27; Luke 12:2; Romans 2:16; Revelation 21:8
c. The character of Christ
i. He is eternally God.
John 1:1-3, 14; Colossians 2:9
ii. He is Lord of all.
Revelation 17:14; Philippians 2:9-11; Acts 10:36
iii. He became Man.
Philippians 2:6-7
iv. He is utterly pure and sinless.
Hebrews 4:15; 1 Peter 2:22-23; 1 John 3:5
d. The cross of Christ.
i. The sinless One became a
sacrifice for our sin.
2 Corinthians 5:21; Titus 2:14; Ephesians 1:7-8; Revelation 1:5; 1 Peter 2:24;
Colossians 1:20
ii. He was buried for three days.
1 Corinthians 15:4; Matthew 12:40
iii. He rose triumphantly from the
dead.
1 Corinthians 15:4; Matthew 28:7; Acts 13:30
iv. This was in accordance with the
Scriptures.
1 Corinthians 15:3-4; 2 Timothy 2:8
e. The call to man.
i. Repent. Those who will be saved are
commanded to turn away from sin by turning to the Saviour.
Ezekiel 18:30-32; Acts 17:30; 26:20; Isaiah 55:7; 1 Thessalonians 1:9; Mark
1:15; Luke 9:23, 62
ii. Trust Christ as Lord and Saviour.
Acts 16:31; Romans 10:9-13; 2 Corinthians 5:20
iii. Count the cost thoughtfully.
Luke 14:26-33; Matthew 10:34-38
V. Some things to remember …
a. A person must understand that
Christ died for him while he was still a sinner, not after he cleans up his
life.
Romans 5:8
b. A person must believe that he is
justified by the sacrificial and substitutionary death of Christ.
2 Corinthians 5:21
c. A person should see that the
payment of Christ’s blood saves believers from the wrath of God. This wrath
will be fully experienced in hell.
Romans 5:9; Revelation 21:12-15
d. A person must understand that
salvation comes by faith in the person and work of Christ; not faith plus
works. Believers are saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone!
Romans 3:28
VI. Basic questions.
a. How should we present the gospel to children?
i. Make sure they are old enough to understand.
ii. Do not force the issue—be patient.
iii. Do not streamline or abbreviate the message. Do not try to “soften” the message.
iv. Use biblical terminology.
v. Trust the Holy Spirit to do His work.
b. What are some good tracts or materials to use in sharing the gospel?
i. We recommend a little booklet called Ultimate Questions by John Blanchard (Evangelical Press). Ask your pastor to provide you with some of these or you could order some through your local Christian bookstore.
ii. Be wary of tracts that oversimplify the gospel message, leave out the need for repentance or offer some trite prayer as the way of salvation. They are no substitute for the proper presentation of the gospel.
VII. Key memory verses.
a. Romans 3:10, 23, 28
b. Romans 5:8-9
c. Romans 10:9, 13
VIII. These heresies concerning evangelism should be avoided:
a. God is a God of love and therefore would not send anyone to hell.
b. Man can save himself by simply being a good person.
c. Living the gospel without preaching the gospel is sufficient to convince others to trust Christ.
d. Believers strive to get people to pray a prayer, raise their hands or to walk the aisle during an invitation.
e. The method of the presentation of the gospel is more important than the message of the presentation.
From the biblical principles taught in this lesson you should know that these statements are false and why they are false.
IX. Suggested basic reading.
a. Ultimate Questions by John Blanchard
b. The Master Plan of Evangelism by Robert Coleman
X. Suggested advanced reading:
a. Today’s Gospel: Authentic or Synthetic? by Walter Chantry
b. Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God by J. I. Packer
c. The Sovereignty of God by A. W. Pink
d. The Gospel According to Jesus by John MacArthur, Jr.
Lesson 22: Discipleship
“What is discipleship and what role do I play in it?”
Today’s Church is blessed with all kinds of resources and programs as means to learn biblical truth. However, there is often a missing human element in this quest for growth: a loving, caring, selfless Christian who is committed to teach another “all things that [Jesus]…commanded” (Matthew 28:19-20).
EXPLANATION: What is the primary purpose of this lesson?
The purpose of this lesson is to help the disciple to understand their purpose, which is to glorify God by making disciples.
EXPECTATION: How will these teachings help me to be obedient to the Lord Jesus Christ?
- By obeying the Lord’s command to make
disciples.
Matthew 28:19-20
I. What is a disciple?
a. Literally, a disciple is a
“learner,” one who follows the teachings of another. Thus, biblically, a
disciple is one who follows and obeys the Lord Jesus Christ.
Matthew 11:28-30
b. It is imperative to understand
that everyone who is born again is a disciple. It is biblically impossible to
separate the one from the other.
Matthew 11:28-30; John 8:31
c. The longer that one is a
disciple, the more Christlike he will become. And being Christlike is what
being a “Christian” is all about.
Acts 11:26
II. The principle behind discipleship.
a. The believer (the disciple)
learns what Christ commands and then obeys these commands.
Matthew 28:20; Luke 6:46
b. This obedience is carried out
within the local church where there is accountability and opportunity to grow.
The disciple learns to submit to Christ by submitting to the church.
Ephesians 5:18-21; Hebrews 13:17
c. The disciple thereby grows in
commitment to truth and love, with the result that he is involved in the
ministry to and maturing of the Body.
Ephesians 4:11-16
III. The propagation of discipleship.
a. As the disciple is maturing, it
becomes his responsibility to reproduce Christlikeness in the lives of others.
Thus, he will begin to teach one or more believers what Christ expects of them
and how to fulfil these expectations. This is more than merely teaching
information; it is the transference of life, Christ’s life.
2 Timothy 2:2; Galatians 4:19; 1 Thessalonians 2:8
b. In short, the maturing disciple
is now involved in the process of helping another disciple to grow in maturity.
Ephesians 4:13; Colossians 1:28; 4:12; Galatians 6:1-2
IV. The purpose of discipleship.
a. There are four basic goals that we aim for in our discipling of others.
i. To establish the believer in the
Word of God; to help the disciple to become a student of the Word.
1 Thessalonians 3:2; Psalm 19:7-14
ii.
To establish
the believer in the fellowship of the saints; to help the disciple to begin
relationships with believers.
1 Thessalonians 3:2; Acts 2:42; 1 Corinthians 1:9
iii. To establish the believer in the structure of the local church; to help them to understand their responsibility and accountability to the local church. Hebrews 10:24-25; 13:17; Ephesians 4:11-16
iv. To establish the believer in the
ministry of the local church; to help them to understand that they are to use
their gifts to serve the Body.
1 Corinthians 12:4-7
V. The price of discipleship.
a.
Following
Christ is costly. And part of this cost is that of the time and energy and
emotional investment required to disciple others. But the reward is worth the
expense!
Luke 14:26-33; 1 Thessalonians 2:19, 20
VI. The process of discipleship.
a. Discipleship begins at salvation
when one calls upon the name of the Lord as they willingly submit to Christ.
Matthew 16:24
b. Discipleship continues as the
believer daily takes up their cross and obeys Christ’s Word.
Luke 9:23-25
c. Discipleship matures through the
help of another who holds the disciple accountable to know and obey God’s Word.
Matthew 28:20; Luke 6:40
d. Discipleship is deemed fruitful
when the one who has been discipled, proceeds to disciple another.
2 Timothy 2:2; John 15:16
VII. The practice of discipleship.
a. How can discipleship take place?
i. In a small group. Jesus chose a
small group of twelve.
Luke 6:12-13
ii. One on one.
Acts 16:1-4; cf. 1 Timothy 1:2
b. How should discipleship be carried out?
i. Men discipling men.
Titus 2:1-2, 6, 8
ii. Women discipling women.
Titus 2:3-5
c. It is essential that the discipler meet consistently with his disciple and that he is held accountable for his walk with the Lord. If the disciple ceases to show commitment, it is often wise to suspend the discipleship until commitment is forthcoming.
VIII. The priority of discipleship.
Discipleship
is not a program; it is not about simply teaching material. It is about the
Lord expecting obedience from those who claim Him as Saviour. Thus, the
disciple must be held accountable to “do” as well as to “know” the truth.
John 13:17; 8:31; James 1:22-27
IX. The product of discipleship.
a. The product, the goal, is that
the believer worships God by bowing to His will. Thus, a life of obedience
which will reflect the glory of God.
Matthew 5:16
b. The ultimate test is this: is the
disciple growing in Christlikeness? This is what the Lord meant when He spoke
of fruit-bearing.
Acts 11:26; John 15:1-8; Galatians 5:22-23
X. Basic questions.
The discipler may encounter the following attitudes and objections in regard to discipleship.
a. “I am not a good teacher or speaker, so how can I disciple others?”
Every
believer has gifts that can be used in reproducing the life of Christ in
another believer.
1 Corinthians 1:27, 29; 2:4-5
b. “Can’t I learn the Bible by myself without being somebody’s disciple?”
God’s
chosen method is to use people to teach people. Biblical truth is to be learned
in the context of relationships.
Acts 18:24-26
c. “I don’t like telling people what to do. Isn’t that the Holy Spirit’s duty?”
The Holy
Spirit works through the Body of Christ.
Romans 15:14; 2 Corinthians 1:24
d. “Jesus is my Discipler and Master, I don’t need any other.”
This
kind of individualism is foreign to Scripture.
2 Timothy 2:2, 15; 1 Corinthians 12:7; 12-19
e. “Discipleship is only for super-committed Christians, the really good ones.”
Though
some believers are more gifted at making disciples than are others, the
responsibility is for every believer. Each believer must strive to improve
their skill as a disciple maker.
Acts 1:8; Matthew 28:18-20; 2 Peter 1:3-10
XI. Key memory verses.
a. 2 Timothy 2:2
b. Matthew 28:19-20
c. Luke 9:23
XII. These errors concerning discipleship should be avoided:
a. Not all Christians are disciples.
b. Discipleship is only for those who desire it.
c. Discipleship is made up of some introductory lessons to the Christian life.
d. There is no relationship of dependence between the church and the new Christian and their growth is their own responsibility.
From the Bible principles taught in this lesson, you should understand that these teachings are false, and why.
XIII. Suggested further reading.
a. The Master Plan of Discipleship by Robert Coleman
b. The Training of the Twelve by A. B. Bruce
c. The Disciple-Making Church by Bill Hull
d. Instruments In The Redeemer’s Hands, by Paul David Tripp
Lesson 23: Missions
“What is missions and what is its significance in my Christian life?”
God is passionate about His glory. He desires to be glorified throughout the earth and thus missions, the means of this glory being spread, is His ‘heartbeat.’ Therefore it is to be at the heartbeat of the church. But what is the meaning of missions? What is a missionary? What is the believer’s responsibility with regards to missions? What is the role of the local church with respect to missions?
The purpose of this lesson is to answer these and other questions. Once we understand what the Bible teaches about missions, then the believer will wholeheartedly embrace his or her mission in God’s mission!
EXPLANATION: What is the primary purpose of this lesson?
The believer will learn that missions is about God’s eternal purpose being worked out on earth through His people.
EXPECTATION: How will these teachings help me to be obedient to the Lord Jesus Christ?
- By obeying the Lord’s command to make
disciples of all nations.
Matthew 28:19-20 - By obeying the Lord’s command to seek
first His kingdom.
Matthew 6:33; Revelation 22:20 - By obeying the Lord’s command to be a
shining light to the nations.
1 Peter 2:9; Philippians 2:15
I. What is the meaning of “missions”?
a. When we speak of missions, we are
speaking of God’s purpose to redeem a people to Himself and to conform them to
the image of His Son (Romans 8:29-30). Specifically, it is God’s accomplishment
of this purpose through His people.
Acts 1:8; Matthew 28:19-20
b. The concept of cross-cultural ministry is at the heart of missions. In Matthew 28:19 the word for “nations” is ethnos and refers to ethnic groups.
c. This mission has been given to the local church, and when it actively engages in making disciples in locations and cultures outside its geographical area, then we refer to this as missions.
d. God expects every local church to be concerned that disciples are made throughout the world. He also expects that, given providential opportunity, the local church be a participant in doing so.
II. When did missions begin?
a. Many believers erroneously think that missions is a New Testament phenomenon. But, in fact, missions is what the entire Bible is about—from Genesis to Revelation.
i. Adam and Eve were the first
people to be given the assignment to make disciples.
Genesis 1:26-28
They were to be fruitful and multiply and thereby fill the earth with others like them (i.e. made in the sinless image of God in order to perfectly worship God).
ii. After the fall, Enosh sought to
make disciples.
Genesis 4:25-26
In some way, the Lord used him to reach others for Him.
iii. Noah and his family were to make
disciples.
Genesis 9:1
They were saved by grace (Genesis 6:8) and were to fill the earth with others who would follow the Lord.
iv. Abraham was another who was to
make disciples.
Genesis 12:1-3
Through
Abraham, God would continue to accomplish His purpose through the nation of
Israel. Israel was to point the world to the Lord. Thus, throughout the Old
Testament we see people chosen by God to preach to other nations.
Psalm 67; Isaiah 49:6
v. In the New Testament, the church
is now given this mission.
Matthew 28:19-20
The church is used by God to reach His chosen with the gospel and to disciple them. We call this “the Great Commission.”
vi. The Great Commission will
continue until the Lord’s return. The mission will be accomplished when all of
God’s elect, from every tribe, tongue, nation and kindred are saved.
Revelation 5:1-10
III. What is a missionary?
a. The term is not found in the
Bible, but the concept is. The word “missionary” is from the Latin, meaning “a
sent one.” A biblical missionary is a believer that has been sent with the
blessing of, and under the authority of his local church to go and make
disciples in another location and/or culture.
Acts 13:1-4ff; see also Acts 14:25-26
b. The biblical local church will be
developing the leadership that God raises up. As this leadership exercises
God-given gifts in the church, the Lord will often lead them to go to another
culture to minister. The local church must be committed to sending only its
best men and women.
Acts 13:1-4 (NOTE: They were already involved in ministry.)
No one should be “sent out” who does not meet the qualifications laid out in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:6-9.
c. The task of the missionary is to make disciples. Thus, no one should be called a missionary who is not actively engaged in making disciples under the authority of the local church.
IV. What is every believer’s responsibility with regard to missions?
a. Every believer should prioritise
missions. Since it is God’s priority, so it should be ours.
John 3:16; Romans 10:13-15; 16:26
b. Every believer should pray for
missionaries and missions.
Acts 13:3; Romans 15:31-32; 1 Thessalonians 5:25; 2 Thessalonians 3:1
c. Every believer should provide for missionaries. The believer should sacrificially give to support those who are truly carrying out God’s mission of making disciples.
Acts 13:3 (The word “sent” most likely includes the idea of sending them with provision—see Philippians 4:15-19.)
NOTE: The promise: you meet their need and God meets your need!
d. Every believer will, in some way, participate in missions. If given the opportunity, it is a tremendous blessing to visit a missionary on their “field.” The visitor can be a great source of encouragement and the visit can enlarge one’s vision of what God is doing in the world. Some may even one day find that they are now being called to be sent!
V. What is the role of the local church with respect to missions?
a. The local church is to do corporately what the members are doing individually.
i. The local church should supply missionaries.
True missionaries come from local churches! i.e. The local church makes disciples whom they then send to make disciples elsewhere.
ii. The local church should send missionaries.
The local church is the biblically legitimate “sending agency.” The missionary is thus sent under the authority of the local church and therefore accountable to it.
iii. The local church should support missionaries.
This almost goes without saying! NOTE: If able to, the local church should help to support legitimate missionaries that are sent from other local churches.
VI. What is the responsibility of the missionary to the local church?
In Acts 14:21-28, we have the record of Paul and Barnabas completing their first missionary journey. We see them returning to the church at Antioch from which they were sent (v. 26). From this we learn the responsibility of the missionary to his local church.
a. They are to return to their church (v. 26).
This is sometimes called a “furlough.” This gives them opportunity for their own refreshment.
b. They are to rehearse before the church what the Lord has done through them (v. 27).
This encourages the church and keeps the missionary accountable.
c. They are to reinforce the church (v. 28).
As the missionary spends time with the church, he should utilise his gifts to build up the church. In this sense, his furlough is a “working holiday.” He should be helping at home to make disciples!
VII. Key memory verses.
a. Matthew 28:19-20
b. Acts 1:8
c. Romans 10:13-15
VIII. NOTE: In many churches today, some popular teachings are:
a. “Every believer is a missionary.”
b. Missionaries should be sent by mission boards or agencies.
c. Missions is just another “program” of the church.
d. Missionaries are “second class” ministers who “couldn’t make it” as pastors.
From the Bible principles taught in this lesson, you should understand that these teachings are false, and why.
IX. Recommended further reading.
a. Let The Nations Be Glad by John Piper
b. Eternity In Their Hearts by Don Richardson
c. A Biblical Theology of Missions by George Peters
d. Operation World by Patrick Johnstone and Jason Mandryk
e. From Jerusalem to Irian Jaya, by Ruth Tucker
f. Biographies or Autobiographies of missionaries (William Carey, Hudson Taylor, John Paton,etc.)