Quest for Truth

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To begin a Quest for Truth one must have an overwhelming hunger and thirst for Truth.

"You can know the Truth and the Truth will make you free." These words were uttered by the Author of Truth.

At another time a man of much lesser significance uttered, "What is truth?"

In our time we hear "there is no absolute truth." This comes from confusing one's own Agenda and Truth.

If there is no absolute Truth, then all that appears to be truth is merely superstition.

It is true that one cannot, of oneself, devise Truth. One cannot create Truth, one can only discover or learn It.

The consequences of some truth is confined to time. That is called "temporal" truth because it is confined to time.

The consequences of "eternal" Truth survive time and the grave. That is the Truth for which we are on a quest. The quest for Eternal Truth is to be a lifelong journey.

The source of all Truth is God for His every Word is Truth. He is the Creator of Truth.

Truth is sought because it frees one from the penalty for the Lie (Sin). In contrast, Truth brings great reward.

Jesus Christ came as the embodiment of Truth. Jesus Christ was the Truth become flesh.

The quest for Truth begins with a total commitment to Truth. Not a half-hearted, once a week commitment but a lifelong, total commitment to Truth. One must set aside ones's own Agenda and also the agenda of others. One must set aside prejudices and biases. One must remove traditions and customs in one's quest for Truth. One must not elevate one's own opinions on this journey. One must empty--deny--oneself in this search for Truth.

One must come to know, believe and love the Truth, which will activate one's life. Only then will one receive the benefits of Truth.

"Seek the Truth and you shall find It." "Knock on the door of Truth and It shall be opened to you."

Join me on the Quest for Truth!

Author Unknown (I did not write this-kw).

-- Kevin Walker (kevinlwalker572@cs.com), December 21, 2003

Answers

Continued from above.

Characteristics of Truth.

Truth is sometimes difficult. That is why total commitment to It is necessary. It takes Courage to Know, Believe, Love and Practice Truth. Truth is Consistent. It is the same wherever one goes. Truth is the same whether one is in Space or on the Earth.

Truth Endures. It stands the test of time. Truth is the same as it was 10,000 years ago. It will still be the same 10,000 years from now. The Lie cannot stand the test of time.

Truth is based on Evidence and Reason. Truth is not just some mystical, mysterious, nebulous idea.

Truth does not contradict Itself. One does not find Truth in one place and then in another place find It contradicting Itself.

Truth is Uncompromising. This is the difficult part. One cannot compromise the Truth and It still be the Truth. Truth is always right and correct.

Truth's message is the Same to everyone. No matter when or where, the message of Truth is the Same. Truth doesn't present one message to one person and another message to another person. If two people disagree, one can know for sure that one of them is wrong and possibly both.

Truth is not partisan. It does not belong exclusively to one group.

Truth is available to all who will seek and accept It.

Truth Unifies. Unity based on Truth is the only true unity.

Truth Conquers. Truth in the end will win. To be conquered by Truth may appear to some to be enslavement. But no, Truth is the true liberator. The Truth will make one free. It will set one free from the penalty for the Lie. Truth will bring great reward.

The Perception of Truth is not necessarily the same as a Principle of Truth.

There is a unique thing about Truth. One must accept All of It or one has accepted None of It.

Quest for Truth--Danger Signs.

When one takes a trip across the country, one sees many signs. Signs tell one that one is on the correct highway. Signs try to lure one off the highway. Signs tell where motels, restaurants and service stations are. Signs tell of dangerous situations ahead. These danger signs are the ones that one must especially heed.

In the Quest for Truth one must watch for the danger signs of Error or the Lie.

Researchers doing a scientific study must always be on their guard for Error that might influence the results of their research. Some researchers seeking to establish a name for themselves ignore the Error that finds its way into their study. The results are then in error and should not be believed.

Truth seekers must also be on their guard for Error. The Lie is the great Deceiver in Truth-seeking.

A premise not based on Evidence will not produce Truth. Truth is supported by Evidence. The danger sign says, "Where?s the Evidence?"

Tradition not based on Truth will not produce Truth. Tradition alone is not a solid foundation. The danger sign says, "On what is the Tradition based?"

Everyone carries with them biases and opinions from the past. These influence one?s perception of what is Truth. The danger sign says, "Discard all biases and opinions first!"

Each person has attachments to other people, such as family and friends. These attachments influence one's approach to Truth. The danger sign says, "Don?t let attachments influence one's approach to Truth!"

Each person is influenced to some degree by the desire for Power, Pleasure and Prestige. These influence our perception of Truth. The danger sign says, "Put Truth first!"

In one's Quest for Truth, one must heed the danger signs. It is the Principle of Truth not the Perception of Truth that counts.

The Source of Eternal Truth.

God is the Creator of Truth. Therefore His every Word is Truth. His Word is Truth and His Word is Life-giving. His Word is the Eternal Truth that we seek.

One must have the Humility to Hear and Learn to receive the benefits of God's Eternal Truth.

God's Word of Truth provides what is necessary: (1) for our learning of Truth, (2) to convince us of the Lie in our life, (3) to restore us to the right state in our life, (4) for the increase in virtue (excellence).

God's Word of Truth is Complete--nothing is left out. It will give one everything that is necessary to Know and Practice Truth. God has given us a complete road map to Truth.

Remember that Truth is Consistent? God's Word of Truth is consistent. It does not Contradict Itself. It does not give one message to one person and another message to another person.

God's Word of Truth has endured the test of time.

God's Word of Truth shows the Way to the Narrow Gate of Truth that opens to the Path of Eternal Truth which leads to life.

Mankind's opinions and theories are not the Source of Eternal Truth.

Mankind's great philosophers have not produced Eternal Truth. Mankind has not, in some mysterious way, found Eternal Truth. Mankind has not received Eternal Truth from some angelic being.

God's Word is the Source of Eternal Truth.

Eternal Truth is obtained by Hearing and Learning His Word--the Source of Eternal Truth.

Characteristics of the Source of Eternal Truth.

God's Word is powerful. By His Word He Created all things. By His Word He sustains all things.

God's Word is alive. It is active. God's Word is not dead. Daily It is affecting the lives of individuals. It is daily drawing lives to the Eternal Truth.

God's Word penetrates even to the Well-Spring of one?s life--the heart and mind, soul and spirit. It can reveal to oneself the thoughts, intents and attitudes of one's heart.

It is the seed, when planted into a receptive heart, which brings forth Life.

By It one is Confronted, Convinced and Comforted.

It is an integral part of the process of Birth to Life. Without God's Word one cannot Live. Without God?s Word there is no Life. By God's Word one learns of God's Promises and the keeping of those Promises so that one may have Faith. By It one learns that God is Trustworthy.

God's Word is Sure. It did not have as its source man. Its Source is God. God's Sure Word of Truth did not originate with the spirit of man nor by angels nor by some mysterious fantasy but with God. One must come to Know, Believe, Love and Practice Truth to receive Its benefits.

Superstition.

Has anyone ever told you that you are superstitious?

Does a black cat crossing your path worry you?

Do you believe that it is bad luck to walk under a ladder?

Do you avoid walking on a crack in the sidewalk?

Do you consult your astrology charts or consult a psychic?

Do you cross your fingers hoping that something will or won't happen?

Most people would call those things acting out of superstition. That is true but is superstition only just those things?

Superstition is believing in a premise that is not valid.

Having a belief that has no basis in evidence or reason is superstition.

Having a belief that has no authoritative standard is superstition.

Having a belief that is based purely on feelings is superstition.

Having a belief that is based on mere tradition is superstition.

Actions done merely to appease an angry god is superstition.

The only premise on which one can safely place one's trust must be based on a proven authoritative standard.

God's Word is the only proven authoritative standard on which one can securely place one's trust.

But can one place one's trust in just a portion of God's Word and still be practicing superstition?

It is difficult for some to accept, but to choose just a portion of God's Word to practice would still be practicing superstition.

God's proven authoritative standard, His Word, must be fully accepted and practiced to obtain the benefits of His Word.

Indicators of superstition:

1. It doesn't really make any difference if ....

2. It doesn't really matter if.....

3. It isn't really important if ....

4. I know it says that but ....

LET'S BEGIN OUR QUEST.

Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free." They answered Him "We are Abraham?s descendants and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can you say, 'You will be made free'?" Jesus answered them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed," John 8:31-36 (New King James Version and throughout).

To be a disciple of Jesus one must continue to live by His Word. It is in His Word that the Truth is found. And it is in His Word, the Truth, that one finds the door to freedom from sin. It is in His Word, the Truth, that one finds the keys to remove the shackles of sin. Those who commit sin are slaves to sin and therefore are in bondage?slaves?to sin. To be free from sin, the Son must set one free. This He does through His Word?the Truth. To live in the House of the Father one must be a son. To be a son, the Son must first set one free from the bondage, slavery, of sin. Then one will be free indeed?as a son. Therefore, we must be committed in our Quest for the Truth, whose author is the Son. Each of us must be committed, dedicated to learn His Word and to live by it.

The purpose of Truth is to make you ______.

From what does Truth set you free_____?

If you are not free, then you are a ______ to _____.

Jesus answered and said to him (Judas), "If anyone loves me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him and We will come to him and make Our home with him. He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the words which you hear are not Mine but the Father's who sent me. These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you [the Apostles] all things that I said to you," John 14:23-26.

Those who love Jesus live by His Word. The one who keeps His Word will be loved by His Father also. Then the Son and the Father will live with that disciple. Jesus was departing to go back to the Father. He knew that His apostles would then need help to carry out their mission. That Helper would teach and help the apostles to remember all things that Jesus taught them. Then their words would be the same words that Jesus taught them.

Did the apostles' words contain the same truth as Jesus' words? _______

"For the law was given through Moses but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ," John 1:17. The Law of Moses was a great law but something far superior came by Jesus Christ?grace and truth. The Law of Moses was a messenger of death to those who were not obedient to it. But grace and truth that came through Jesus Christ brings life. Quite a contrast isn't it?

Grace and _______ came by ______ ______.

Did enough truth come by Jesus Christ? ____

Jesus praying to the Father said, "Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth," John 17:17.

Whose words are truth? _____

Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me," John 14:6. Jesus is the Way to the Father, the Truth of the Father and the Life that is in the Father. He is the only Way. He is the only Truth. He is the only Life. That should give us a strong desire to learn the truth that He would have us to know. That should give us a strong desire to Search for Truth.

Jesus is the ____, the ____ and the _______.

Can you come to God, the Father, through any other person? ____

"Buy the truth and do not sell it, also wisdom and instruction and understanding," Proverbs 23:23. Truth comes with a price. Solomon says for us to be willing to pay the price for the truth?buy the truth. This is a principle that has and will hold true for all ages. Then once we have paid the price for the truth, do not sell it for any reason. Do not trade truth for power, pleasure or prestige. Do not sell it for friendship or love.

What would you give in exchange for the truth that sets you free?____________

Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it and whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?" Matthew 16:24-26. Jesus said, "He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me," Matthew 10:37.

Jesus' disciples must be willing to pay the price for truth, for Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. No one can occupy the place that belongs to Jesus andbe His disciple. Jesus is to occupy first place in your life; everyone else is to occupy less than first place.

Since Jesus is truth, what are you to love more than truth? _____

Who are you to love more than truth? ___________

ATTITUDE TOWARD TRUTH.

Paul gives instruction in our search for the truth. "Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth," II Timothy 2:15. In the quest for the truth one must handle correctly the word of truth. One must interpret each verse of the Scripture consistently with the total picture. To be approved of God one must give the necessary extra effort. One must correctly interpret the word of truth by keeping it in proper context.

Are you to rightly divide (correctly use) the word of truth? ___

Must you be diligent (make extra effort) to be approved by God? ___

Are you expected to understand the word of truth? ___

Can you know that you are approved by God? ___

"It is written in the prophets, 'And they shall all be taught by God.' Therefore everyone who hears and has learned from the Father comes to Me," John 6:45. Since coming to Jesus is a direct result of hearing and learning, one can see more powerfully the need for the search for truth in His word.

To come to Jesus you must _____ and _______.

Paul sums it up in, "So then faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God" Romans 10:17.

From where do you hear and learn of the Father? _____ ___ ______

Does it take extra effort to know the Truth? ____

SOURCE OF TRUTH.

We have seen the importance of the search for truth. We have seen that the search must be in the word of God. Some may ask the question, "Does the Scripture give me adequate knowledge to be pleasing to God?"

"We also have the prophetic word made more sure, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private origin, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but men spoke from God, being moved by the Holy Spirit," II Peter 1:19-21.

Paul also affirms in II Timothy 3:16-17, "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine (teaching), for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work." God has given us what is necessary to make us complete.

Is Scripture adequate to make you complete (mature)? ____

Will Scripture equip you for every good work? ____

Scripture provides for _______, _______, _______, _______.

James, in James 1:25, confirms what Paul said, "But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does."

James calls it a perfect law that liberates us from sin. "Know the truth and the truth shall set you free." Because what we have is already perfect, we need no one to add anything to it because that would make it imperfect.

The law of liberty is _________.

If you add something to the perfect law of liberty, that would make it ___________.

Will you be blessed by keeping the perfect law of liberty? ___

Must you continue in the perfect law of liberty? ___

Must you be a doer not just a hearer only? ___

Peter adds his confirmation to what Paul and James, moved by the Holy Spirit, have already said, in II Peter 1:3, "As His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue." Because we already have "all things", we have no need of anything additional.

God has given you ____ things that pertain to life and godliness.

If God has given you that, is anything more necessary? ___

Are all things to do with life and godliness through the knowledge of Jesus? ___

God's Word is sufficient!

DANGER SIGNS. In our search for truth we also must be on the lookout for that which is biased. In the search for truth in any field it is required that one be willing to discard anything that is found that cannot pass the test of truth. All men come to truth with their opinions, prejudices and biases. These must not be allowed to cloud the truth. Even in the days of the apostle Paul there were those who taught truth and those who taught that which was false. "For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works," II Corinthians 11:13-15.

Now, Paul did not say that these men intentionally taught that which was false. But they did, at least, allow the truth to be clouded by their opinions and traditions. Satan does intentionally teach that which is false. And he does deceive many.

Are there those who claim to be apostles, but aren?t? ___

Are there those who claim to be ministers of light but are not? ____

"Therefore, of these men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John to that day when He was taken up from us, one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection," Acts 1:21-22, 26. Luke shows what the requirements of a true apostle are. Those who do not meet God's requirements are false apostles.

What are the requirements to be an apostle? __________________

John addresses the problem of those who teach that which is not true. "Beloved, do not believe every spirit but test the spirits, whether they are of God. Because many false prophets have gone out into the world," I John 4:1. These are those who do not live by Jesus' word. These are those who bought the truth but then sold it. We must test what is taught to see if it is of God?truth.

Is there a way to identify those the Apostle Paul called Satan's ministers? _____

But with what are we to test the spirits. The writer of Hebrews gives the answer. "For the word of God is living and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit and of joints and marrow and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart," Hebrews 4:12. We must look to God's word as the source of truth in our quest for truth. It is the only standard of truth by which we can measure anything that is taught religiously.

With what are you to try the spirits? ______ __ ____

Jesus said, "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly they are ravenous wolves." Jesus confirms what Paul said. Satan transforms himself into an angel of light. Satan's servants also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness. "But there were also false prophets among the people [those under the law of Moses], even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them and bring on themselves swift destruction," II Peter 2:1.

Even in the days of the apostles, Peter and Paul, there were some who were misunderstanding what was taught. "As also in all his letters, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which those who are untaught and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures," II Peter 3:16. Here Peter adds credibility to the writings of the apostle Paul. He, the apostle Peter, the companion of Jesus Himself, adds them to the rest of the Scriptures.

Is it possible for Scriptures to be misunderstood? ____

Those who do not understand are either _________ or _________.

Were the apostle Paul's letters equal to the rest of the Scriptures? _____

Now, these are people who, in most cases, are trying to do the right thing. They do not necessarily set out to teach falsehood. They are, generally, teaching what they believe to be the truth. But they have let their opinions, prejudices and biases influence their perception of the truth. "For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves (the eldership) men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves," Acts 20:29-30. Paul is saying that there will be those who become elders, those who are supposed to be the strongest in the flock, who will place their opinions above truth. And they will try to draw the disciples to their opinions and traditions.

Since our belief, commitment, dedication, trust is based on living by Jesus' word, we must diligently search for the truth found in Scripture. "But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God and that believing you may have life in His name," John 20:31. Without belief we have no life. Without what is written we have no belief. This makes it imperative that we continually search the Scriptures. "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 and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God," I John 5:13. Our very hope is based on the Scriptures.

Without the Scriptures we would have no hope. And without hope we would be hopelessly lost. From God's word we learn of the promises that He made and that He keeps His promises. God?s word produces our faith and by it our faith is sustained.Paul deals with anything additional, in Galatians 1:8-9, "But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed." Paul is not satisfied with pronouncing the Holy Spirit inspired curse just once. He repeats it for emphasis. So if you hear of an angel delivering some new gospel, you can know that it comes from a cursed angel.

If an angel delivered a message different than the Scriptures, should you listen to it? ___

If a man delivers a message different than the Scriptures, should you listen to him? ___

What is pronounced on those who teach something different from the Scriptures? ______________

Now, there are some who claim to be prophets today. You may ask, "Is there some way of identifying the false prophet?" God showed the sign of a false prophet long ago in Deuteronomy 18:22, "When a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the thing does not happen or come to pass, that is the thing which the Lord has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously, you shall not be afraid of him." We are not to fear what that prophet (teacher) says. We are not to listen to what that prophet (teacher) says because he is a false prophet (teacher).

If someone predicts something that does not happen, is he a true prophet? ___

These are the kind of prophets that God spoke about in Ezekiel 13 and especially verse 3, "Thus says the Lord God: 'Woe to the foolish prophets, who follow their own spirit and have seen nothing.'" These false prophets follow their own ideas (spirit) not the word of God.

Is it possible to follow one's own spirit and be wrong? ___

Now, since there are false prophets (teachers), will some innocent people be led astray? Jesus answers that in Matthew 7:21-23, "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord,' have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name and done many wonders in Your name? And then I will declare to them, I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness." Jesus did not accuse these of not doing the things that they said they did. He said that He never knew them because they had not done the things necessary to become the offspring of God.

We can know one thing for sure; they were not doing all the will of the Father.

To enter heaven, must you do all of the will of the Father? ____

Will some who acknowledge that Jesus is Lord miss heaven? ______

Did these people think that they were right? _____

Can a person be wrong without intending to be wrong? ____

Will you do all the will of the Father. (Initial ______Yes, ______No __________Date)

Earlier Jesus had identified those who did all the will of the Father. Matthew 7:13-14, "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life and there are few who find it."

The point is that few truly search for the truth.

Because few search for the truth, few will enter the narrow gate.

Therefore, the majority will not be saved.

This really shows the need to be dedicated and committed to finding the truth.

We cannot find the Father without it.

Will the majority go to heaven? ___

Does the majority want to be lost? ____

I Timothy 4:1-3, "Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, forbidding to marry and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth."

These depart because they do not _________ and _______ the truth.

Do you want to know and believe the Truth? (Initial _____Yes _____No ________Date)

"The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs and lying wonders and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the 'love of the truth', that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not 'believe the truth' but had pleasure in unrighteousness," II Thessalonians 2:9-12.

What did they lack? ___________ and _________ of the ________

Will you believe and love the truth? (Initial _____Yes _____No)

Jesus is before Pilate recorded in John 18:37, Pilate therefore said to Him, "Are You a king then?" Jesus answered, "You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. EVERYONE WHO IS OF THE TRUTH HEARS MY VOICE."

Is someone who does not learn Jesus' teachings and does not practice them a follower of the truth? ___

Therefore, "Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth," II Timothy 2:15. Because we must do all the will of the Father, we must make sure that we "handle aright-correctly understand and apply" the word of God.

THE LAW OF MOSES.

There are three ways that God has dealt with man. From the beginning until Moses God dealt with the fathers of each tribe. This period of time is referred to as being under the law of the patriarchs (fathers). God gave the Israelites the Law of Moses at Sinai. For the gentiles the law of the patriarchs continued in effect until Jesus died on the cross. From Moses until Jesus died on the cross the Law of Moses was in effect for the Israelites.

When Jesus died on the cross, the Law of Moses (for the Israelites) and the law of the patriarchs (for the gentiles) were replaced with the system of grace in Christ Jesus. Most of the Old Testament deals with the Israelites under the Law of Moses.

"And Moses called all Israel and said to them: Hear, O Israel, the statutes and judgments which I speak in your hearing today, that you may learn them and be careful to observe them. The Lord our God made a covenant with us in Horeb (Sinai). The Lord did not make this covenant with our fathers, but with us, those who are here today, all of us who are alive," Deuteronomy 5:1-3. Moses shows that the Israelites were the ones who were receiving this law (covenant). Israel was the people to whom the Law of Moses was given, including the Ten Commandments.

To whom were the Ten Commandments given? _____

Paul speaks to the Jews at Rome, "But now we have been delivered from the law (of Moses), having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter," Romans 7:6. Paul continues in Romans 8:2, "For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death (Law of Moses)."

Paul is showing that we are not under the Law of Moses but under something far superior to the Law of Moses. The law of the Spirit of life has freed, delivered, us from the Law of Moses with its penalties.

You have been _____________ from the old law.

Christ Jesus set you _______ from the Law of Moses.

There is a problem with wanting to keep part of the Law of Moses. Paul says in Galatians 5:3, "And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised (as a part of the Law of Moses) that he is a debtor to keep the whole law."

James answers the problem with trying to be justified by the Law of Moses. "For whoever shall keep the whole law and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all," James 2:10. Under law there is no justification unless the law is kept perfectly. Under law, one infraction brought the full penalty for violation of the whole law?death. So why would one want to still be under the Law of Moses?

"But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises. For if that first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second," Hebrews 8:6-13.

Paul again shows that the Law of Moses has been abolished. "Having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace," Ephesians 2:15.

Jesus ______________ the Law of Moses when He died on the cross.

"Having wiped out (erased) the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross," Colossians 2:14. Paul here shows the end of the Law of Moses. Jesus once and for all nailed it to the cross and put it to death. It can be confidently affirmed that the Law of Moses is no longer in effect and that we are not to practice any parts of it because it is dead.

We cannot, we must not attempt to justify any Christian practice by the Law of Moses or any of the practices under it while it was in effect.

Jesus nailed the old law to the _______.

Jesus summed it up in Luke 24:44-47, "Then He said to them, 'These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be (must have been) fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.' And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures. Then He said to them, 'Thus it is written and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.'" "The law and the prophets were until John. Since that time the kingdom of God has been preached and everyone is pressing into it," Luke 16:16.

The Law, Prophets, Psalms had served their purpose?to point to Him. All things that were written in them had been fulfilled. In them all things had pointed to the Christ who was to come. Now He had come and had finished the work that He had come to accomplish. As He said on the cross, "It is finished."

The work that He had come to do had been accomplished. (John 17:4) The plans that He and the Father had made at the beginning had been fulfilled. A new age had come?the age of Jesus Christ as Lord and King.

Were all things, about Christ, in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms fulfilled? ____

**********

Now is the time for a spiritual checkup. Please write your answers in ink.

(1) Have you ever made a commitment to Christ (or was it made for you)? ___

(2) If yes, were you: a. An infant; b. Young child; c. Adolescent; d. Adult?

(3) Were you required to "Accept Jesus as your personal Savior"? ___

(4) Did you make a confession at that time? ____

(5) What did you confess: a. That Jesus Christ is the Son of God; b. That God for Jesus' sake forgave your sins; c. That you are a sinner?

(6) Did you say the sinner?s prayer? ____

(7) Have you been baptized? ____

(8) How were you baptized: a. Sprinkled; b. Poured on; c. Immersed?

(9) How long after your commitment were you baptized? ________

(10) For what purpose were you baptized: a. To be admitted to your church; b. To provide a clear conscience; c. For the remission of sins?

(11) Was belief required before your baptism? ____

(12) Was repentance required before your baptism? ___

(13) Were you saved (before, after) your baptism?

THE APPLICATION OF TRUTH.

"There is none righteous, no, not one," Romans 3:10. Paul is quoting from Psalms 53:1-3 showing that this is still a principle of truth. "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," Romans 3:23. "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us," I John 1:8.

In your quest for truth this may come as a startling revelation. This truth is not taught by the world. "I'm Okay, You're Okay" is what the world says. This is a humiliating experience to recognize that you are a sinner. All who have tasted the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil must come to this realization.

How many have made themselves righteous? _____

How many are sinners? ____

If you say that you have no sin, the ______ does not dwell in you.

On your own you are totally hopeless and helpless.

And then you discover another startling revelation. "For the wages of sin is death..." Romans 6:23. Then you learn that you were "...aliens... strangers... no promises... no hope... without God..." Ephesians 2:12.

What a desperate situation!

But finish Romans 6:23, "...but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."

From hopelessness to eternal bliss in Christ Jesus. God reaches out with His great gift?redemption, forgiveness, reconciliation, sanctification, justification, eternal life all in Christ Jesus. And all you have to do is reach out and receive (in accordance with God's will) that great gift. In your quest for truth you must learn how to receive that great gift.

You have already learned that to come to Jesus you must hear and learn.

You know the proper place from which to learn?God's word.

What are the wages for sin? _______

How many sins does it take to bring that penalty? _____

What must you do to obtain any gift? ________

Is eternal life earned? _____

Must you do the will of the Father to receive that great gift? ____

Must you know, believe and love the Truth to receive that great gift? ____

"For by grace you have been saved through faith and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them," Ephesians 2:8-10. To have salvation without having to earn it is contrary to the heart of man. You want to earn what you have but not so with God. God offers His gift by His grace. You must receive (according to His will) it in order to have it. You cannot do enough to earn God's love?He offered it freely. Yes, action is involved?the moving to God (born of His will) to receive His great gift. God wants to work in you to do those things for which He will make you anew in Christ Jesus.

"He came to His own and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God," John 1:11-13. "As many as received Him". Not a preset number, but "as many as" received Him. These are given the power to become offspring of God. These will be born. This birth is not of blood?born to an Israelite. This birth is not of the will of the flesh?the desire to earn this birthright. This birth is not of the will of man?a cleverly devised philosophy. This birth is of the will of God. Not my will, Father, but Yours. It is by the grace of God that it is within your grasp to become the offspring of God.

What has God's grace given you the power to become? ____________

Of whose will are you to be born? _______

To whom is the power to become the offspring of God given? ______________

To how many is this power given? ________________

"For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the 'ungodly.' For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were 'still sinners', Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were 'enemies' we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only that but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through Whom we have now received the reconciliation," Romans 5:6-11.

Now that is grace. God showed His grace by letting Jesus die for you while you were: ungodly, a sinner, an enemy. That is unique love.

God loved you while you were still His __________.

Whose death was required for your reconciliation? ___________

Was it necessary for you to become righteous for Jesus to die for you? _____

"For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him," II Corinthians 5:21. Jesus took upon Himself your very own sins and paid the price for them on the cross.

What great and wonderful love!

Not only did the sinless Jesus die for you while you were still a sinner (an enemy) but He also became _____ in your place and paid the penalty for your sin by His death.

"Who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness?by whose stripes you were healed," I Peter 2:24.

Jesus bore your sins in His own ______ on the cross.

"In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace," Ephesians 1:7.

These verses, summed up, say that Jesus paid the price exacted by your sin with His death on the cross. Redemption is the price required. The penalty for sin is death. Rather than have you die to pay the penalty for sin, Jesus paid that penalty for you on the cross.

Look at Jesus on the cross. The sins of the world are placed on Him. God, the Father, who is completely Holy, for He cannot even look on sin, could not even look on His Son with the sins of the world on Him. He had to turn His back on Jesus, laden with the sins of you and me. This is why Jesus cried out on the cross, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" God had to turn His back on His Son so that you and I might become His offspring. Wracked with the pain of crucifixion, He surrendered His life for you. Won't you surrender your life to that wonderful grace?

"We love Him because He first loved us," I John 4:19. Isn't that reason enough to love God? Without condition, He let Jesus die on the cross that you might become His offspring through Jesus Christ.

Why would you love God? _____________________

God speaking through Isaiah of the coming Redeemer in Isaiah 52:13-53:12 says, "Behold, My Servant shall deal prudently, He shall be exalted and extolled and be very high. Just as many were astonished at you, so His 'visage [face] was marred' more than any man and His form more than the sons of men; so shall He startle many nations. Kings shall shut their mouths at Him; for what had not been told them they shall see and what they had not heard they shall consider."

"Who has believed our report? And to who has the arm of the Lord been revealed? For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant and as a root out of dry ground. He has no form or comeliness; and when we see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him. He is 'despised' and 'rejected' by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with 'grief'. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was 'despised' and we did not esteem Him."

"Surely He has 'borne our griefs' and 'carried our sorrows'; 'smitten' by God and 'afflicted'. But He was 'wounded' for our transgressions, He was 'bruised' for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him and by His 'stripes' we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all."

"He was 'oppressed' and He was 'afflicted', yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so He opened not His mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment and who will declare His generation? For He was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgressions of My people He was 'stricken'. And they made His grave with the wicked?but with the rich at His death, because He had done no violence, nor was any deceit in His mouth." "Yet it pleased the Lord to 'bruise' Him; He has put Him to 'grief'. When You make His soul an 'offering for sin', He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand. He shall see the 'travail' of His soul and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall 'justify many', for He shall bear their 'iniquities', therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great and He shall divide the spoil with the strong, because He poured out His soul unto death and He was numbered with the transgressors and He bore the sin of many and made intercession for the transgressors."

Underline the things that Jesus endured for you.

"For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works," Titus 2:11-14. The grace of God compels you to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts and to live soberly, righteously and godly. With this evidence of such glorious grace, what else could be your desire?

Grace teaches you to deny (stop) doing ____________ __________ and to live _________ _________ ___________ _________________

"For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive for the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad," II Corinthians 5:10. Our judgment is according to what we have done while in this physical body. You are responsible for your actions, whether they are of the flesh or spirit and your actions have consequences.

Are you responsible for all your actions in this life? _____

To reject such great grace has dire consequences. "In flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ," II Thessalonians 1:8.

Vengeance is to be taken on those who never developed a relationship with (know) God and those who reject God's grace by not obeying the gospel.

God will take vengeance on those who ___ ____ _____ God and those who do not _____ ____ ________.

Doesn't this encourage you to be obedient to the Gospel? ____

"Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you 'received' and in which you 'stand', by which also you are 'saved', if you hold fast that word which I preached to you?unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ 'died' for our sins according to the Scriptures and that He was 'buried' and that He 'rose again' the third day according to the Scriptures," I Corinthians 15:1-4. There are several things to note about the gospel, the evidence of God?s grace: you must receive it, it is that in which you will be able to stand, it is by it you are saved. And the gospel is summarized in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ our Savior.

You must ________ the gospel.

It is in the gospel that you ____.

It is what _______ you.

What three things did Paul deliver? ________, ________, __________

BORN OF THE WILL OF GOD.

"For if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins," John 8:24. Hebrews 11:6, "But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him."

To come to God you must have an active faith, belief, trust because, "You believe that there is one God. You do well? Even the demons believe?and tremble!" James 2:19. You must believe that God is and believe that He will save you if you are obedient to Him. Included with this belief is that God sent His Son to die on the cross to save you from your sins.

Does God want you to believe that Jesus Christ is His Son? _____

Your belief must be more than the ________.

You must believe that God will _____ you.

Faith is defined as believing that God is and that He rewards those who _________ seek Him.

"And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem," Luke 24:47. For this great commission see also Matthew 28:18-20 and Mark 16:16.

"For godly sorrow produces repentance to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death," II Corinthians 7:10. You must turn away from your sin or God, who is holy and cannot have fellowship with sin, cannot accept you. Repentance is more than being sorry. It is to be sorry for your sins and turn away from them. "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance," II Peter 3:19.

God waits for you to repent. He wants all people saved but not on their terms.

Does God require that you repent? ____

Repentance is the result of faith and ______ _________.

Repentance is a change of _____ resulting in a changed ______.

How many does God want to be saved? _____ _______

Since God wants all people saved, who bears the responsibility for your being saved? __________

-- Kevin Walker (kevinlwalker572@cs.com), December 21, 2003.


Continued from above.

Characteristics of Truth.

Truth is sometimes difficult. That is why total commitment to It is necessary. It takes Courage to Know, Believe, Love and Practice Truth. Truth is Consistent. It is the same wherever one goes. Truth is the same whether one is in Space or on the Earth.

Truth Endures. It stands the test of time. Truth is the same as it was 10,000 years ago. It will still be the same 10,000 years from now. The Lie cannot stand the test of time.

Truth is based on Evidence and Reason. Truth is not just some mystical, mysterious, nebulous idea.

Truth does not contradict Itself. One does not find Truth in one place and then in another place find It contradicting Itself.

Truth is Uncompromising. This is the difficult part. One cannot compromise the Truth and It still be the Truth. Truth is always right and correct.

Truth's message is the Same to everyone. No matter when or where, the message of Truth is the Same. Truth doesn't present one message to one person and another message to another person. If two people disagree, one can know for sure that one of them is wrong and possibly both.

Truth is not partisan. It does not belong exclusively to one group.

Truth is available to all who will seek and accept It.

Truth Unifies. Unity based on Truth is the only true unity.

Truth Conquers. Truth in the end will win. To be conquered by Truth may appear to some to be enslavement. But no, Truth is the true liberator. The Truth will make one free. It will set one free from the penalty for the Lie. Truth will bring great reward.

The Perception of Truth is not necessarily the same as a Principle of Truth.

There is a unique thing about Truth. One must accept All of It or one has accepted None of It.

Quest for Truth--Danger Signs.

When one takes a trip across the country, one sees many signs. Signs tell one that one is on the correct highway. Signs try to lure one off the highway. Signs tell where motels, restaurants and service stations are. Signs tell of dangerous situations ahead. These danger signs are the ones that one must especially heed.

In the Quest for Truth one must watch for the danger signs of Error or the Lie.

Researchers doing a scientific study must always be on their guard for Error that might influence the results of their research. Some researchers seeking to establish a name for themselves ignore the Error that finds its way into their study. The results are then in error and should not be believed.

Truth seekers must also be on their guard for Error. The Lie is the great Deceiver in Truth-seeking.

A premise not based on Evidence will not produce Truth. Truth is supported by Evidence. The danger sign says, "Where?s the Evidence?"

Tradition not based on Truth will not produce Truth. Tradition alone is not a solid foundation. The danger sign says, "On what is the Tradition based?"

Everyone carries with them biases and opinions from the past. These influence one?s perception of what is Truth. The danger sign says, "Discard all biases and opinions first!"

Each person has attachments to other people, such as family and friends. These attachments influence one's approach to Truth. The danger sign says, "Don?t let attachments influence one's approach to Truth!"

Each person is influenced to some degree by the desire for Power, Pleasure and Prestige. These influence our perception of Truth. The danger sign says, "Put Truth first!"

In one's Quest for Truth, one must heed the danger signs. It is the Principle of Truth not the Perception of Truth that counts.

The Source of Eternal Truth.

God is the Creator of Truth. Therefore His every Word is Truth. His Word is Truth and His Word is Life-giving. His Word is the Eternal Truth that we seek.

One must have the Humility to Hear and Learn to receive the benefits of God's Eternal Truth.

God's Word of Truth provides what is necessary: (1) for our learning of Truth, (2) to convince us of the Lie in our life, (3) to restore us to the right state in our life, (4) for the increase in virtue (excellence).

God's Word of Truth is Complete--nothing is left out. It will give one everything that is necessary to Know and Practice Truth. God has given us a complete road map to Truth.

Remember that Truth is Consistent? God's Word of Truth is consistent. It does not Contradict Itself. It does not give one message to one person and another message to another person.

God's Word of Truth has endured the test of time.

God's Word of Truth shows the Way to the Narrow Gate of Truth that opens to the Path of Eternal Truth which leads to life.

Mankind's opinions and theories are not the Source of Eternal Truth.

Mankind's great philosophers have not produced Eternal Truth. Mankind has not, in some mysterious way, found Eternal Truth. Mankind has not received Eternal Truth from some angelic being.

God's Word is the Source of Eternal Truth.

Eternal Truth is obtained by Hearing and Learning His Word--the Source of Eternal Truth.

Characteristics of the Source of Eternal Truth.

God's Word is powerful. By His Word He Created all things. By His Word He sustains all things.

God's Word is alive. It is active. God's Word is not dead. Daily It is affecting the lives of individuals. It is daily drawing lives to the Eternal Truth.

God's Word penetrates even to the Well-Spring of one?s life--the heart and mind, soul and spirit. It can reveal to oneself the thoughts, intents and attitudes of one's heart.

It is the seed, when planted into a receptive heart, which brings forth Life.

By It one is Confronted, Convinced and Comforted.

It is an integral part of the process of Birth to Life. Without God's Word one cannot Live. Without God?s Word there is no Life. By God's Word one learns of God's Promises and the keeping of those Promises so that one may have Faith. By It one learns that God is Trustworthy.

God's Word is Sure. It did not have as its source man. Its Source is God. God's Sure Word of Truth did not originate with the spirit of man nor by angels nor by some mysterious fantasy but with God. One must come to Know, Believe, Love and Practice Truth to receive Its benefits.

Superstition.

Has anyone ever told you that you are superstitious?

Does a black cat crossing your path worry you?

Do you believe that it is bad luck to walk under a ladder?

Do you avoid walking on a crack in the sidewalk?

Do you consult your astrology charts or consult a psychic?

Do you cross your fingers hoping that something will or won't happen?

Most people would call those things acting out of superstition. That is true but is superstition only just those things?

Superstition is believing in a premise that is not valid.

Having a belief that has no basis in evidence or reason is superstition.

Having a belief that has no authoritative standard is superstition.

Having a belief that is based purely on feelings is superstition.

Having a belief that is based on mere tradition is superstition.

Actions done merely to appease an angry god is superstition.

The only premise on which one can safely place one's trust must be based on a proven authoritative standard.

God's Word is the only proven authoritative standard on which one can securely place one's trust.

But can one place one's trust in just a portion of God's Word and still be practicing superstition?

It is difficult for some to accept, but to choose just a portion of God's Word to practice would still be practicing superstition.

God's proven authoritative standard, His Word, must be fully accepted and practiced to obtain the benefits of His Word.

Indicators of superstition:

1. It doesn't really make any difference if ....

2. It doesn't really matter if.....

3. It isn't really important if ....

4. I know it says that but ....

LET'S BEGIN OUR QUEST.

Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free." They answered Him "We are Abraham?s descendants and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can you say, 'You will be made free'?" Jesus answered them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed," John 8:31-36 (New King James Version and throughout).

To be a disciple of Jesus one must continue to live by His Word. It is in His Word that the Truth is found. And it is in His Word, the Truth, that one finds the door to freedom from sin. It is in His Word, the Truth, that one finds the keys to remove the shackles of sin. Those who commit sin are slaves to sin and therefore are in bondage?slaves?to sin. To be free from sin, the Son must set one free. This He does through His Word?the Truth. To live in the House of the Father one must be a son. To be a son, the Son must first set one free from the bondage, slavery, of sin. Then one will be free indeed?as a son. Therefore, we must be committed in our Quest for the Truth, whose author is the Son. Each of us must be committed, dedicated to learn His Word and to live by it.

The purpose of Truth is to make you ______.

From what does Truth set you free_____?

If you are not free, then you are a ______ to _____.

Jesus answered and said to him (Judas), "If anyone loves me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him and We will come to him and make Our home with him. He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the words which you hear are not Mine but the Father's who sent me. These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you [the Apostles] all things that I said to you," John 14:23-26.

Those who love Jesus live by His Word. The one who keeps His Word will be loved by His Father also. Then the Son and the Father will live with that disciple. Jesus was departing to go back to the Father. He knew that His apostles would then need help to carry out their mission. That Helper would teach and help the apostles to remember all things that Jesus taught them. Then their words would be the same words that Jesus taught them.

Did the apostles' words contain the same truth as Jesus' words? _______

"For the law was given through Moses but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ," John 1:17. The Law of Moses was a great law but something far superior came by Jesus Christ?grace and truth. The Law of Moses was a messenger of death to those who were not obedient to it. But grace and truth that came through Jesus Christ brings life. Quite a contrast isn't it?

Grace and _______ came by ______ ______.

Did enough truth come by Jesus Christ? ____

Jesus praying to the Father said, "Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth," John 17:17.

Whose words are truth? _____

Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me," John 14:6. Jesus is the Way to the Father, the Truth of the Father and the Life that is in the Father. He is the only Way. He is the only Truth. He is the only Life. That should give us a strong desire to learn the truth that He would have us to know. That should give us a strong desire to Search for Truth.

Jesus is the ____, the ____ and the _______.

Can you come to God, the Father, through any other person? ____

"Buy the truth and do not sell it, also wisdom and instruction and understanding," Proverbs 23:23. Truth comes with a price. Solomon says for us to be willing to pay the price for the truth?buy the truth. This is a principle that has and will hold true for all ages. Then once we have paid the price for the truth, do not sell it for any reason. Do not trade truth for power, pleasure or prestige. Do not sell it for friendship or love.

What would you give in exchange for the truth that sets you free?____________

Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it and whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?" Matthew 16:24-26. Jesus said, "He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me," Matthew 10:37.

Jesus' disciples must be willing to pay the price for truth, for Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. No one can occupy the place that belongs to Jesus andbe His disciple. Jesus is to occupy first place in your life; everyone else is to occupy less than first place.

Since Jesus is truth, what are you to love more than truth? _____

Who are you to love more than truth? ___________

ATTITUDE TOWARD TRUTH.

Paul gives instruction in our search for the truth. "Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth," II Timothy 2:15. In the quest for the truth one must handle correctly the word of truth. One must interpret each verse of the Scripture consistently with the total picture. To be approved of God one must give the necessary extra effort. One must correctly interpret the word of truth by keeping it in proper context.

Are you to rightly divide (correctly use) the word of truth? ___

Must you be diligent (make extra effort) to be approved by God? ___

Are you expected to understand the word of truth? ___

Can you know that you are approved by God? ___

"It is written in the prophets, 'And they shall all be taught by God.' Therefore everyone who hears and has learned from the Father comes to Me," John 6:45. Since coming to Jesus is a direct result of hearing and learning, one can see more powerfully the need for the search for truth in His word.

To come to Jesus you must _____ and _______.

Paul sums it up in, "So then faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God" Romans 10:17.

From where do you hear and learn of the Father? _____ ___ ______

Does it take extra effort to know the Truth? ____

SOURCE OF TRUTH.

We have seen the importance of the search for truth. We have seen that the search must be in the word of God. Some may ask the question, "Does the Scripture give me adequate knowledge to be pleasing to God?"

"We also have the prophetic word made more sure, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private origin, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but men spoke from God, being moved by the Holy Spirit," II Peter 1:19-21.

Paul also affirms in II Timothy 3:16-17, "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine (teaching), for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work." God has given us what is necessary to make us complete.

Is Scripture adequate to make you complete (mature)? ____

Will Scripture equip you for every good work? ____

Scripture provides for _______, _______, _______, _______.

James, in James 1:25, confirms what Paul said, "But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does."

James calls it a perfect law that liberates us from sin. "Know the truth and the truth shall set you free." Because what we have is already perfect, we need no one to add anything to it because that would make it imperfect.

The law of liberty is _________.

If you add something to the perfect law of liberty, that would make it ___________.

Will you be blessed by keeping the perfect law of liberty? ___

Must you continue in the perfect law of liberty? ___

Must you be a doer not just a hearer only? ___

Peter adds his confirmation to what Paul and James, moved by the Holy Spirit, have already said, in II Peter 1:3, "As His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue." Because we already have "all things", we have no need of anything additional.

God has given you ____ things that pertain to life and godliness.

If God has given you that, is anything more necessary? ___

Are all things to do with life and godliness through the knowledge of Jesus? ___

God's Word is sufficient!

DANGER SIGNS. In our search for truth we also must be on the lookout for that which is biased. In the search for truth in any field it is required that one be willing to discard anything that is found that cannot pass the test of truth. All men come to truth with their opinions, prejudices and biases. These must not be allowed to cloud the truth. Even in the days of the apostle Paul there were those who taught truth and those who taught that which was false. "For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works," II Corinthians 11:13-15.

Now, Paul did not say that these men intentionally taught that which was false. But they did, at least, allow the truth to be clouded by their opinions and traditions. Satan does intentionally teach that which is false. And he does deceive many.

Are there those who claim to be apostles, but aren?t? ___

Are there those who claim to be ministers of light but are not? ____

"Therefore, of these men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John to that day when He was taken up from us, one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection," Acts 1:21-22, 26. Luke shows what the requirements of a true apostle are. Those who do not meet God's requirements are false apostles.

What are the requirements to be an apostle? __________________

John addresses the problem of those who teach that which is not true. "Beloved, do not believe every spirit but test the spirits, whether they are of God. Because many false prophets have gone out into the world," I John 4:1. These are those who do not live by Jesus' word. These are those who bought the truth but then sold it. We must test what is taught to see if it is of God?truth.

Is there a way to identify those the Apostle Paul called Satan's ministers? _____

But with what are we to test the spirits. The writer of Hebrews gives the answer. "For the word of God is living and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit and of joints and marrow and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart," Hebrews 4:12. We must look to God's word as the source of truth in our quest for truth. It is the only standard of truth by which we can measure anything that is taught religiously.

With what are you to try the spirits? ______ __ ____

Jesus said, "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly they are ravenous wolves." Jesus confirms what Paul said. Satan transforms himself into an angel of light. Satan's servants also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness. "But there were also false prophets among the people [those under the law of Moses], even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them and bring on themselves swift destruction," II Peter 2:1.

Even in the days of the apostles, Peter and Paul, there were some who were misunderstanding what was taught. "As also in all his letters, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which those who are untaught and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures," II Peter 3:16. Here Peter adds credibility to the writings of the apostle Paul. He, the apostle Peter, the companion of Jesus Himself, adds them to the rest of the Scriptures.

Is it possible for Scriptures to be misunderstood? ____

Those who do not understand are either _________ or _________.

Were the apostle Paul's letters equal to the rest of the Scriptures? _____

Now, these are people who, in most cases, are trying to do the right thing. They do not necessarily set out to teach falsehood. They are, generally, teaching what they believe to be the truth. But they have let their opinions, prejudices and biases influence their perception of the truth. "For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves (the eldership) men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves," Acts 20:29-30. Paul is saying that there will be those who become elders, those who are supposed to be the strongest in the flock, who will place their opinions above truth. And they will try to draw the disciples to their opinions and traditions.

Since our belief, commitment, dedication, trust is based on living by Jesus' word, we must diligently search for the truth found in Scripture. "But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God and that believing you may have life in His name," John 20:31. Without belief we have no life. Without what is written we have no belief. This makes it imperative that we continually search the Scriptures. "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 and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God," I John 5:13. Our very hope is based on the Scriptures.

Without the Scriptures we would have no hope. And without hope we would be hopelessly lost. From God's word we learn of the promises that He made and that He keeps His promises. God?s word produces our faith and by it our faith is sustained.Paul deals with anything additional, in Galatians 1:8-9, "But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed." Paul is not satisfied with pronouncing the Holy Spirit inspired curse just once. He repeats it for emphasis. So if you hear of an angel delivering some new gospel, you can know that it comes from a cursed angel.

If an angel delivered a message different than the Scriptures, should you listen to it? ___

If a man delivers a message different than the Scriptures, should you listen to him? ___

What is pronounced on those who teach something different from the Scriptures? ______________

Now, there are some who claim to be prophets today. You may ask, "Is there some way of identifying the false prophet?" God showed the sign of a false prophet long ago in Deuteronomy 18:22, "When a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the thing does not happen or come to pass, that is the thing which the Lord has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously, you shall not be afraid of him." We are not to fear what that prophet (teacher) says. We are not to listen to what that prophet (teacher) says because he is a false prophet (teacher).

If someone predicts something that does not happen, is he a true prophet? ___

These are the kind of prophets that God spoke about in Ezekiel 13 and especially verse 3, "Thus says the Lord God: 'Woe to the foolish prophets, who follow their own spirit and have seen nothing.'" These false prophets follow their own ideas (spirit) not the word of God.

Is it possible to follow one's own spirit and be wrong? ___

Now, since there are false prophets (teachers), will some innocent people be led astray? Jesus answers that in Matthew 7:21-23, "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord,' have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name and done many wonders in Your name? And then I will declare to them, I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness." Jesus did not accuse these of not doing the things that they said they did. He said that He never knew them because they had not done the things necessary to become the offspring of God.

We can know one thing for sure; they were not doing all the will of the Father.

To enter heaven, must you do all of the will of the Father? ____

Will some who acknowledge that Jesus is Lord miss heaven? ______

Did these people think that they were right? _____

Can a person be wrong without intending to be wrong? ____

Will you do all the will of the Father. (Initial ______Yes, ______No __________Date)

Earlier Jesus had identified those who did all the will of the Father. Matthew 7:13-14, "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life and there are few who find it."

The point is that few truly search for the truth.

Because few search for the truth, few will enter the narrow gate.

Therefore, the majority will not be saved.

This really shows the need to be dedicated and committed to finding the truth.

We cannot find the Father without it.

Will the majority go to heaven? ___

Does the majority want to be lost? ____

I Timothy 4:1-3, "Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, forbidding to marry and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth."

These depart because they do not _________ and _______ the truth.

Do you want to know and believe the Truth? (Initial _____Yes _____No ________Date)

"The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs and lying wonders and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the 'love of the truth', that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not 'believe the truth' but had pleasure in unrighteousness," II Thessalonians 2:9-12.

What did they lack? ___________ and _________ of the ________

Will you believe and love the truth? (Initial _____Yes _____No)

Jesus is before Pilate recorded in John 18:37, Pilate therefore said to Him, "Are You a king then?" Jesus answered, "You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. EVERYONE WHO IS OF THE TRUTH HEARS MY VOICE."

Is someone who does not learn Jesus' teachings and does not practice them a follower of the truth? ___

Therefore, "Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth," II Timothy 2:15. Because we must do all the will of the Father, we must make sure that we "handle aright-correctly understand and apply" the word of God.

THE LAW OF MOSES.

There are three ways that God has dealt with man. From the beginning until Moses God dealt with the fathers of each tribe. This period of time is referred to as being under the law of the patriarchs (fathers). God gave the Israelites the Law of Moses at Sinai. For the gentiles the law of the patriarchs continued in effect until Jesus died on the cross. From Moses until Jesus died on the cross the Law of Moses was in effect for the Israelites.

When Jesus died on the cross, the Law of Moses (for the Israelites) and the law of the patriarchs (for the gentiles) were replaced with the system of grace in Christ Jesus. Most of the Old Testament deals with the Israelites under the Law of Moses.

"And Moses called all Israel and said to them: Hear, O Israel, the statutes and judgments which I speak in your hearing today, that you may learn them and be careful to observe them. The Lord our God made a covenant with us in Horeb (Sinai). The Lord did not make this covenant with our fathers, but with us, those who are here today, all of us who are alive," Deuteronomy 5:1-3. Moses shows that the Israelites were the ones who were receiving this law (covenant). Israel was the people to whom the Law of Moses was given, including the Ten Commandments.

To whom were the Ten Commandments given? _____

Paul speaks to the Jews at Rome, "But now we have been delivered from the law (of Moses), having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter," Romans 7:6. Paul continues in Romans 8:2, "For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death (Law of Moses)."

Paul is showing that we are not under the Law of Moses but under something far superior to the Law of Moses. The law of the Spirit of life has freed, delivered, us from the Law of Moses with its penalties.

You have been _____________ from the old law.

Christ Jesus set you _______ from the Law of Moses.

There is a problem with wanting to keep part of the Law of Moses. Paul says in Galatians 5:3, "And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised (as a part of the Law of Moses) that he is a debtor to keep the whole law."

James answers the problem with trying to be justified by the Law of Moses. "For whoever shall keep the whole law and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all," James 2:10. Under law there is no justification unless the law is kept perfectly. Under law, one infraction brought the full penalty for violation of the whole law?death. So why would one want to still be under the Law of Moses?

"But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises. For if that first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second," Hebrews 8:6-13.

Paul again shows that the Law of Moses has been abolished. "Having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace," Ephesians 2:15.

Jesus ______________ the Law of Moses when He died on the cross.

"Having wiped out (erased) the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross," Colossians 2:14. Paul here shows the end of the Law of Moses. Jesus once and for all nailed it to the cross and put it to death. It can be confidently affirmed that the Law of Moses is no longer in effect and that we are not to practice any parts of it because it is dead.

We cannot, we must not attempt to justify any Christian practice by the Law of Moses or any of the practices under it while it was in effect.

Jesus nailed the old law to the _______.

Jesus summed it up in Luke 24:44-47, "Then He said to them, 'These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be (must have been) fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.' And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures. Then He said to them, 'Thus it is written and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.'" "The law and the prophets were until John. Since that time the kingdom of God has been preached and everyone is pressing into it," Luke 16:16.

The Law, Prophets, Psalms had served their purpose?to point to Him. All things that were written in them had been fulfilled. In them all things had pointed to the Christ who was to come. Now He had come and had finished the work that He had come to accomplish. As He said on the cross, "It is finished."

The work that He had come to do had been accomplished. (John 17:4) The plans that He and the Father had made at the beginning had been fulfilled. A new age had come?the age of Jesus Christ as Lord and King.

Were all things, about Christ, in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms fulfilled? ____

**********

Now is the time for a spiritual checkup. Please write your answers in ink.

(1) Have you ever made a commitment to Christ (or was it made for you)? ___

(2) If yes, were you: a. An infant; b. Young child; c. Adolescent; d. Adult?

(3) Were you required to "Accept Jesus as your personal Savior"? ___

(4) Did you make a confession at that time? ____

(5) What did you confess: a. That Jesus Christ is the Son of God; b. That God for Jesus' sake forgave your sins; c. That you are a sinner?

(6) Did you say the sinner?s prayer? ____

(7) Have you been baptized? ____

(8) How were you baptized: a. Sprinkled; b. Poured on; c. Immersed?

(9) How long after your commitment were you baptized? ________

(10) For what purpose were you baptized: a. To be admitted to your church; b. To provide a clear conscience; c. For the remission of sins?

(11) Was belief required before your baptism? ____

(12) Was repentance required before your baptism? ___

(13) Were you saved (before, after) your baptism?

THE APPLICATION OF TRUTH.

"There is none righteous, no, not one," Romans 3:10. Paul is quoting from Psalms 53:1-3 showing that this is still a principle of truth. "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," Romans 3:23. "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us," I John 1:8.

In your quest for truth this may come as a startling revelation. This truth is not taught by the world. "I'm Okay, You're Okay" is what the world says. This is a humiliating experience to recognize that you are a sinner. All who have tasted the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil must come to this realization.

How many have made themselves righteous? _____

How many are sinners? ____

If you say that you have no sin, the ______ does not dwell in you.

On your own you are totally hopeless and helpless.

And then you discover another startling revelation. "For the wages of sin is death..." Romans 6:23. Then you learn that you were "...aliens... strangers... no promises... no hope... without God..." Ephesians 2:12.

What a desperate situation!

But finish Romans 6:23, "...but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."

From hopelessness to eternal bliss in Christ Jesus. God reaches out with His great gift?redemption, forgiveness, reconciliation, sanctification, justification, eternal life all in Christ Jesus. And all you have to do is reach out and receive (in accordance with God's will) that great gift. In your quest for truth you must learn how to receive that great gift.

You have already learned that to come to Jesus you must hear and learn.

You know the proper place from which to learn?God's word.

What are the wages for sin? _______

How many sins does it take to bring that penalty? _____

What must you do to obtain any gift? ________

Is eternal life earned? _____

Must you do the will of the Father to receive that great gift? ____

Must you know, believe and love the Truth to receive that great gift? ____

"For by grace you have been saved through faith and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them," Ephesians 2:8-10. To have salvation without having to earn it is contrary to the heart of man. You want to earn what you have but not so with God. God offers His gift by His grace. You must receive (according to His will) it in order to have it. You cannot do enough to earn God's love?He offered it freely. Yes, action is involved?the moving to God (born of His will) to receive His great gift. God wants to work in you to do those things for which He will make you anew in Christ Jesus.

"He came to His own and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God," John 1:11-13. "As many as received Him". Not a preset number, but "as many as" received Him. These are given the power to become offspring of God. These will be born. This birth is not of blood?born to an Israelite. This birth is not of the will of the flesh?the desire to earn this birthright. This birth is not of the will of man?a cleverly devised philosophy. This birth is of the will of God. Not my will, Father, but Yours. It is by the grace of God that it is within your grasp to become the offspring of God.

What has God's grace given you the power to become? ____________

Of whose will are you to be born? _______

To whom is the power to become the offspring of God given? ______________

To how many is this power given? ________________

"For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the 'ungodly.' For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were 'still sinners', Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were 'enemies' we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only that but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through Whom we have now received the reconciliation," Romans 5:6-11.

Now that is grace. God showed His grace by letting Jesus die for you while you were: ungodly, a sinner, an enemy. That is unique love.

God loved you while you were still His __________.

Whose death was required for your reconciliation? ___________

Was it necessary for you to become righteous for Jesus to die for you? _____

"For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him," II Corinthians 5:21. Jesus took upon Himself your very own sins and paid the price for them on the cross.

What great and wonderful love!

Not only did the sinless Jesus die for you while you were still a sinner (an enemy) but He also became _____ in your place and paid the penalty for your sin by His death.

"Who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness?by whose stripes you were healed," I Peter 2:24.

Jesus bore your sins in His own ______ on the cross.

"In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace," Ephesians 1:7.

These verses, summed up, say that Jesus paid the price exacted by your sin with His death on the cross. Redemption is the price required. The penalty for sin is death. Rather than have you die to pay the penalty for sin, Jesus paid that penalty for you on the cross.

Look at Jesus on the cross. The sins of the world are placed on Him. God, the Father, who is completely Holy, for He cannot even look on sin, could not even look on His Son with the sins of the world on Him. He had to turn His back on Jesus, laden with the sins of you and me. This is why Jesus cried out on the cross, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" God had to turn His back on His Son so that you and I might become His offspring. Wracked with the pain of crucifixion, He surrendered His life for you. Won't you surrender your life to that wonderful grace?

"We love Him because He first loved us," I John 4:19. Isn't that reason enough to love God? Without condition, He let Jesus die on the cross that you might become His offspring through Jesus Christ.

Why would you love God? _____________________

God speaking through Isaiah of the coming Redeemer in Isaiah 52:13-53:12 says, "Behold, My Servant shall deal prudently, He shall be exalted and extolled and be very high. Just as many were astonished at you, so His 'visage [face] was marred' more than any man and His form more than the sons of men; so shall He startle many nations. Kings shall shut their mouths at Him; for what had not been told them they shall see and what they had not heard they shall consider."

"Who has believed our report? And to who has the arm of the Lord been revealed? For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant and as a root out of dry ground. He has no form or comeliness; and when we see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him. He is 'despised' and 'rejected' by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with 'grief'. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was 'despised' and we did not esteem Him."

"Surely He has 'borne our griefs' and 'carried our sorrows'; 'smitten' by God and 'afflicted'. But He was 'wounded' for our transgressions, He was 'bruised' for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him and by His 'stripes' we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all."

"He was 'oppressed' and He was 'afflicted', yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so He opened not His mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment and who will declare His generation? For He was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgressions of My people He was 'stricken'. And they made His grave with the wicked?but with the rich at His death, because He had done no violence, nor was any deceit in His mouth." "Yet it pleased the Lord to 'bruise' Him; He has put Him to 'grief'. When You make His soul an 'offering for sin', He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand. He shall see the 'travail' of His soul and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall 'justify many', for He shall bear their 'iniquities', therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great and He shall divide the spoil with the strong, because He poured out His soul unto death and He was numbered with the transgressors and He bore the sin of many and made intercession for the transgressors."

Underline the things that Jesus endured for you.

"For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works," Titus 2:11-14. The grace of God compels you to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts and to live soberly, righteously and godly. With this evidence of such glorious grace, what else could be your desire?

Grace teaches you to deny (stop) doing ____________ __________ and to live _________ _________ ___________ _________________

"For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive for the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad," II Corinthians 5:10. Our judgment is according to what we have done while in this physical body. You are responsible for your actions, whether they are of the flesh or spirit and your actions have consequences.

Are you responsible for all your actions in this life? _____

To reject such great grace has dire consequences. "In flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ," II Thessalonians 1:8.

Vengeance is to be taken on those who never developed a relationship with (know) God and those who reject God's grace by not obeying the gospel.

God will take vengeance on those who ___ ____ _____ God and those who do not _____ ____ ________.

Doesn't this encourage you to be obedient to the Gospel? ____

"Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you 'received' and in which you 'stand', by which also you are 'saved', if you hold fast that word which I preached to you?unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ 'died' for our sins according to the Scriptures and that He was 'buried' and that He 'rose again' the third day according to the Scriptures," I Corinthians 15:1-4. There are several things to note about the gospel, the evidence of God?s grace: you must receive it, it is that in which you will be able to stand, it is by it you are saved. And the gospel is summarized in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ our Savior.

You must ________ the gospel.

It is in the gospel that you ____.

It is what _______ you.

What three things did Paul deliver? ________, ________, __________

BORN OF THE WILL OF GOD.

"For if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins," John 8:24. Hebrews 11:6, "But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him."

To come to God you must have an active faith, belief, trust because, "You believe that there is one God. You do well? Even the demons believe?and tremble!" James 2:19. You must believe that God is and believe that He will save you if you are obedient to Him. Included with this belief is that God sent His Son to die on the cross to save you from your sins.

Does God want you to believe that Jesus Christ is His Son? _____

Your belief must be more than the ________.

You must believe that God will _____ you.

Faith is defined as believing that God is and that He rewards those who _________ seek Him.

"And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem," Luke 24:47. For this great commission see also Matthew 28:18-20 and Mark 16:16.

"For godly sorrow produces repentance to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death," II Corinthians 7:10. You must turn away from your sin or God, who is holy and cannot have fellowship with sin, cannot accept you. Repentance is more than being sorry. It is to be sorry for your sins and turn away from them. "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance," II Peter 3:19.

God waits for you to repent. He wants all people saved but not on their terms.

Does God require that you repent? ____

Repentance is the result of faith and ______ _________.

Repentance is a change of _____ resulting in a changed ______.

How many does God want to be saved? _____ _______

Since God wants all people saved, who bears the responsibility for your being saved? __________

-- Kevin Walker (kevinlwalker572@cs.com), December 21, 2003.


Continued from above.

"Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven," Matthew 10:32. "That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead you will be saved. For with the heart one believes to righteousness and with the mouth confession is made to salvation," Romans 10:9-10. "And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father," Philippians 2:11.

Does God require that you confess (acknowledge) that Jesus is His Son before others? ____

If you believe in the Lord Jesus and have repented of your sins, does God want you to confess (acknowledge) that Jesus is His Son? ____

If you confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, is God glorified? ____

Do you want Jesus to be Lord of your life? _____

"And Simon Peter answered and said, 'You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God,'" Matthew 16:16. "And he answered and said, 'I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God,'" Acts 8:37. You must acknowledge your belief before all people. Not just one time but at every opportunity.

"Then Peter said to them, Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and you shall receive the Holy Spirit as a gift," Acts 2:38. "Then those who gladly received his word were baptized and that day about three thousand souls were added to them," Acts 2:41. "Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, 'See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized ?' ...So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and he baptized him," Acts 8:36-38. "And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized," Acts 16:33. Does it appear that baptism is necessary for remission?forgiveness?of your sins?

In all four cases above what action was performed in each case? ___________

Does this suggest that the action was important? ___

How many examples of conversion in the New Testament occurred without baptism? _______

"Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His 'death'? Therefore we were 'buried' with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was 'raised' from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should [be raised to] walk in newness of life...yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered," Romans 6:1-23. Baptism has three things in common with the gospel?death, burial and resurrection (I Cor. 15:3-4; Colossians 2:12).

It is in baptism that you obey the gospel.

Note that earlier it was found that God's vengeance would be on those who do not obey the gospel. It is from baptism that you are resurrected to the new life. One can have consolation in Jesus' resurrection from the dead in that one is resurrected to a new life from the death of the old man in baptism. Not only that, one has hope of resurrection from the dead when Jesus comes again to turn His Church/Kingdom over to God.

Jesus conquered death so that Christians may know that they will also conquer death through the power of God.

It is from baptism that you are delivered into the new life.

Baptism is the delivery in being born again.

You have now seen how you are to receive the gift of God!

The obedience to the gospel begins with what overt action? ______

You are __________ into His _______.

You are _________with Him in __________.

You are _______ to a new life from _____________.

A physical birth requires a delivery to begin a new life.

The spiritual birth requires a delivery to begin the new life.

Where does that delivery occur? ____ ____________

Must your obedience be from the heart? _____

You now know how to move to God, to be born of the will of God, to receive the great gift that He offers. One must not be so arrogant to think that receiving God's great gift is in any way earning, deserving or working for it.

"But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins" ? then He said to the paralytic, "Arise, take up your bed and go to your house," Matthew 9:6. Jesus had power to forgive sins while on this earth, even the thief on the cross.

"And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance. For where there is a testament, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. For a testament is in force after men are dead, since it has no power at all while the testator lives," Hebrews 9:15-17. While on the earth, Jesus held the power of forgiveness. After His death, His testament (will) reveals how forgiveness is to be obtained.

Did Jesus have power to forgive sins when He was on earth? _____

Since His death, what controls the forgiveness of sins? _______

Is what we have looked at so far been the truth? If it is the truth, are you willing to be obedient to that truth?

Now review your 'spiritual checkup' that you filled out in ink.

Does it match up with what we have studied?

If not, why not?

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ," Ephesians 1:3.

If every spiritual blessing is in Christ, shouldn't you want to find out how to get into Christ?

____ spiritual blessings are ___ Christ.

"For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ," Galatians 3:27. "For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body...," I Corinthians 12:13.

Baptism puts you into Christ where all spiritual blessings are.

Are there any spiritual blessings outside of Christ?

"And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved." Acts 2:47. And then the Lord Himself does the adding to His body, not a month later, not a week later but daily?in other words as you rise from baptism.

How do you get into Christ where all spiritual blessings are? __________

Who does God see when you put on Christ? _________

How do you get into the Church? ________

If you have put on Christ, will you be seen as Christ's? ____

Who added to the Church those who were being saved? ________

How soon were they added? _______

"And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine (teaching), fellowship, in the breaking of bread and in prayers," Acts 2:42. They didn't just go home and get their religion from the television set. They became a part of the Christian community?the Church. And they were active in it and in the worship of God. They went about telling others about what God had done for them. Shouldn't this generation of Christians do the same?

What four things did the disciples do after they were baptized? __________, __________, ____________, ____________

The Christians that resulted from the apostles? teaching (truth) fellowshipped one another. They joined boldly in prayer together to God and God heard their prayer. Individually they continued in prayer to God daily. They fellowshipped together in eating the common meal in each other's homes. They preferred to be with one another. They showed their love for one another in their daily contact with each other. They showed their love for one another in their meeting the needs of each other as those needs arose.

"And I also say to you that you are Peter and on this rock, I will build My church and the gates of Hades (death) shall not prevail against it," Matthew 16:18. Jesus promised to build His church. Jesus was successful in building His church. And the church was not a substitute for an earthly kingdom as some suggest. Jesus is always successful in what He promises to do. "For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them and that Rock was Christ," I Corinthians 10:4. This gives the answer to who the Rock is in Matthew 16:18.

What did Jesus promise to build? ________

Was He successful in His promise? ____

Ephesians 2:19-20, "Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone."

"Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood," Acts 20:28. Here you see the cost of the church?the blood of Jesus Christ. Because of the great price paid for the church, should you put down the importance of the church?

"And He put all things under His feet and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body," Ephesians 1:22-23. Jesus is head of the church?not some man. Jesus is the head of His body. The body and the church are the same thing.

"Speak also to the children of Israel, saying, 'Surely My Sabbaths you shall keep, for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the Lord who sanctifies you...Therefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant...'" Exodus 31:13-17. The Israelites, Jews, were given the Sabbath law and to them only was it given. Christians are to meet on the first day of the week for collective worship to God. Worship.

"Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given orders to the churches of Galatia, so you must do also: On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come," I Corinthians 16:1-2. Here you see how the financial needs of the church are to be met. He is even suggesting that the financial needs be provided for before the need arises. And this is to be done on a weekly basis?in order to put the Lord first.

When did Paul expect the disciples to meet together? ___________

What did Paul tell them to do at that time? ________

Who was to observe the Sabbath Day (seventh day)? ___________

"And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment," Philippians 1:9. "But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue (excellence), to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Therefore, brothers, be even more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ," II Peter 1:5-11. Peter gives very good directions in which the Christian needs to grow.

Did Paul and Peter expect the disciples to grow? ____

"Speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord," Ephesians 5:19. Paul shows that our music is to be a form of speaking to each other. The origin of the melody is to be from the heart and that melody is directed to the Lord and to one another.

"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord," Colossians 3:16. Paul further shows that our music is to teach and encourage. We are sing with favor in our hearts to the Lord and to one another. As we noted earlier, the Law of Moses was done away, at the cross, with all of its practices. Therefore you cannot look to the Law of Moses for your practices in Christianity.

What kind of music is pleasing to God? _______

Is the kind of music used under the Law of Moses acceptable to God today since you are not under the Law of Moses? _____

Christians are to ______ to each other in their singing.

Where is the melody to be made? _________

Christians are to ___________ and __________ one another with their singing.

Shouldn't this be the way that we do it in our generation also? ____

"And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but encouraging one another and so much the more as you see the Day approaching," Hebrews 10:24-25. As we learned earlier Christians met on the first day of the week to do certain things. The writer shows another reason for the assembling of the saints?to encourage love and good works. We can see that one purpose of the Church is to be a support group.

One purpose for the saints to assemble together is to _______ to _______ and good _________.

Is it wrong for a Christian to neglect the assembly of the saints? ____ Commitment.

"I beseech you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable (spiritual) service. And do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God," Romans 12:1-2. Jesus' sacrifice brought physical death. Your sacrifice is to bring spiritual life. Your sacrifice is a holy life?separated from sin.

What kind of commitment does God expect from you? ______________

"He who rejects Me and does not receive My words, has that which judges him?the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day," John 12:48. Since Jesus' words will judge us, we must be encouraged to learn everything that Jesus would have us to know. It is not the opinion of man that will judge us.

"The thief does not come except to steal and to kill and to destroy. I have come that they may have life and that they may have it more abundantly," John 10:10. Jesus came to bring abundant life?in this life and the one to come. Without the words of Jesus you will have no life. You must be diligent to learn the words of Jesus and do them. "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments," John 14:15. If you don't do what Jesus says, do you love Him? And if you don't love Him, what hope do you have? For to love God is the first commandment. "I do not pray for these alone but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they may be one , as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me," John 17:20-21. From this we understand that Jesus wants His disciples to be as one. And they will be one if they love Him and keep His commandments. Or did Jesus pray in vain?

"Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin," James 4:17. If you know what Jesus wants you to do and you do not do it, you are sinning.

"Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a servant, and coming in the likeness of men and being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death, even the death of the cross," Philippians 2:5-8.

What kind of obedience was Jesus'? ____________

Is your commitment and obedience to be any different? ____

THE KINGDOM.

"And I also say to you that you are Peter and on this rock I will build My church and the gates of Hades (death) shall not prevail against (overcome) it. And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven and whatever you bind on earth will be (will already have been) bound in heaven and whatever you loose on earth will be (will already have been) loosed in heaven," Matthew 16:18-19. It is apparent that, in this context, Jesus is using 'church' and 'kingdom' as synonyms?meaning the same thing. Jesus is saying that Peter (and the Apostles) will be given the thing, the keys, that opens the kingdom. So, the kingdom will be opened by them during their lifetime.

"For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. But each one in his own order; Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ's at His coming. Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. The last enemy that will be destroyed is death," I Corinthians 15:22-26. All men die. Christ became the first to overcome death. Then those who are His will overcome death when Jesus comes again. At that time Jesus will deliver the kingdom to the Father. Jesus is reigning now and will until death is destroyed. And death will be destroyed, when those who are His overcome death, when He comes again. His coming is for the purpose of delivering the kingdom to the Father.

"All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth," Matthew 28:18. Jesus has had this authority since He ascended to the Father. Jesus has all authority now and is reigning as king now. And since He is a reigning king, He must be reigning over a kingdom, else He wouldn?t be a king. "Who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him," I Peter 3:22.

Is Jesus reigning now? ___

How long will He reign? ____________

Has death been destroyed yet? ____

"You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice," John 18:37. Jesus came to be king. Jesus is king now. Everyone who is of the truth believes that Jesus was successful in His mission.

Did Jesus come into the world to become King? ___

Was Jesus successful in becoming King? _____

"Assuredly, I say to you, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom," Matthew 16:28. And he said to them, "Assuredly, I say to you that there are some standing here who will not taste death till they see the kingdom of God present with power," Mark 9:1. "But I tell you truly, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the kingdom of God," Luke 9:27. Jesus is saying that during the lifetime of His audience the kingdom would come. He was saying that it was shortly to come to pass. The kingdom did shortly come into existence. That was on Pentecost after His resurrection. Will you believe Jesus or what many say today? Jesus Christ has the authority of king and He is reigning in His kingdom now.

Was the Kingdom to come during the lifetime of Jesus' audience?

"Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, The kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say, See here! or See there! For indeed, THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS WITHIN YOU." Luke 17:20-21. He was saying that His kingdom was not what they were expecting. Its coming was not the way that an earthly kingdom came into existence. Its king you cannot see. Its territory you cannot see. Its territory is the heart of mankind (within you).

"Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here." John 18:36. Jesus is saying that His kingdom is not an earthly kingdom. And if it were, His servants would fight and win. "Or do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels?" Matthew 26:53. Who would want to fight that army? Yes, Jesus died that He might establish His kingdom in the hearts of His people.

Is the Kingdom physically visible? ____

Was anyone able to physically see its coming? ___

Where is the Kingdom? __________

Is Jesus' Kingdom a worldly kingdom? ____

"Jesus answered, Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God," John 3:5. "Not by works of righteousness which we have done but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit," Titus 3:5. To enter the kingdom one must be born of water (washing that brings regeneration?baptism) and the Spirit (renewing of the Holy Spirit?the Holy Spirit given new life that begins when you rise from baptism.) This is not the description of obtaining citizenship in an earthly kingdom. The spiritual birth makes a spiritual citizen in the spiritual kingdom. (See also I Corinthians 12:13.)

How do you enter the Kingdom? ________________

Do you enter the Kingdom when you are born of the water and the Spirit? ____

"For the kingdom of God is not food and drink but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit," Romans 14:17. The kingdom does not deal with such physical things as food and drink but with such things as righteousness, peace and joy?the things of the spiritual person. This also shows that, since the kingdom is not an earthly kingdom, it does not deal with such things as swords, guns, bombs, tanks or airplanes. "Now this I say, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God...," I Corinthians 15:50. God's kingdom citizens are not flesh and blood citizens but spiritual citizens.

What cannot inherit the Kingdom? _________________

"He has delivered us from the power of darkness and translated us into the kingdom of the Son of His love," Colossians 1:13. We are in one of two places: we are in the kingdom of darkness or the kingdom of light. When we were born of the water and the Spirit, God translated?transferred?delivered?us into the kingdom of the Son of His love. When we were added to the Church, we were added to the kingdom.

How do get into the Kingdom? ______________________

"That you would have a walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory," I Thessalonians 2:12. God is calling His children into His kingdom. "Heaven is My throne and earth is My footstool...," Acts 7:49. God and Jesus reign from His throne in heaven, not from earth that is His footstool. "Then Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, 'All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth,'" Matthew 28:18. Jesus has the authority as king, now, given to Him by the Father. How could any earthly authority exceed that? "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom," Matthew 5:3. "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteous-ness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven," Matthew 5:10.

When is the Kingdom theirs, present or future? _________

"But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added to you," Matthew 6:33.

When are you to put the Kingdom first? _______

Some say that Jesus came to set up an earthly kingdom but was unsuccessful in doing that, so He set up the Church as a substitute for the earthly kingdom. And they say that He will come again to set up an earthly kingdom because He was unsuccessful the first time. Jesus prayed, "I have glorified You (God) on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do," John 17:4.

Some men say that Jesus did not finish the work that He was sent to do.

Jesus said that He finished the work that He was sent to do.

What do you say?

"While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed then; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!" Matthew 17:5. So, who are you to hear? Some man? Not man, but Jesus Himself.

"Who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God," Philippians 2:6.

"God, who at various times and in different ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high," Hebrews 1:1-3.

This shows Jesus' equality with God the Father and that Jesus is not subordinate or inferior in any way to the Father.

"But made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a servant and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross," Philippians 2:7-8.

Can you do differently?

You must also humble yourself, take the form of a servant and become obedient to God and it does require your life.

"And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him," Colossians 3:17. Everything that you do, you must be able to do in the name of Jesus. If you cannot do it in His name, you must not do it.

"Knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin," Romans 6:6. "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me," Galatians 2:20.

"And those who are Christ?s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires," Galatians 5:24. You must crucify your old man of sin with its passions and desires. You are to be dead to sin. But you are to be alive to Christ.

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new," II Corinthians 5:17. "For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything but a new creation," Galatians 6:15. "Having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever," I Peter 1:23.

We have been born again, through the word of God, to become a new creation?a new life form. And the seed of that new birth is the word of God. See also Luke 8:11, "Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God."

This reaffirms your need to seek the truth in God's word.

"Therefore we do not lose heart, Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day," II Corinthians 4:16.

"And be renewed in the spirit of your mind," Ephesians 4:23. "And have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image (pattern) of Him who created him," Colossians 3:10. Your renewal is to be daily in your mind through the knowledge of Jesus Christ. So you must daily search for the truth to bring renewal of your inward man. "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light," Matthew 11:28-30.

"And the Spirit and the bride (church) say, 'Come!' And let him who hears say, 'Come!' And let him who thirsts come. And whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely," Revelation 22:17. "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him," I Corinthians 2:9 and Isaiah 64:4.

What will you do with Jesus?

What will you do with the Truth?

JESUS IS COMING AGAIN!

"Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven," Acts 1:9-11.

"For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord," I Thessalonians 4:15-17. When Jesus comes again, it will be in the same manner as He re-turned to Heaven. His coming will be announced with a shout. The voice of the archangel will be heard. The trumpet of God will sound. Christians will meet the Lord in the air to be with the Lord forever.

Jesus will come back in the same __________as He returned to Heaven.

What will accompany His coming? __________, __________, ____________.

Where will we meet the Lord? ___ ____ ______.

"Behold, He is coming with clouds and every eye will see Him and they also who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him...," Revelation 1:7. "Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth?those who have done good, to the resurrection of life and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation," John 5:28-29. Jesus will return with the clouds. Every eye shall see Him. Every ear shall hear His voice. Both those who are in the grave and those who are alive shall both see and hear him.

How many will see Him at His coming? ______

How many will hear His voice? _____

Some will be resurrected to _____ and others to _______________.

WHEN IS HE COMING?

"But of that day and hour no one knows, no, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only," Matthew 24:36. "Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of man is coming," Matthew 25:13. "But of that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father," Mark 13:32. "Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect," Luke 12:40. "But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night...," II Peter 3:10.

Who knows when Jesus is coming again? ________

He will come at a _____________ time.

If someone tries to predict when Jesus is coming again and it doesn't (won?t) happen, what kind of prophet made that prediction? _________

Should you listen to that prophet? _____

PURPOSE OF HIS COMING.

"But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ?s at His coming. Then comes the end, when He 'delivers the kingdom to God the Father', when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. The last enemy that will be destroyed is death," I Corinthians 15:23-26. "In flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ," II Thessalonians 1:8. "And as it is appointed for men to die once but after this the judgment, so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation," Hebrews 9:27-28.

One purpose of Jesus' coming is to ________ the __________ to God.

Another is to take _______________on the disobedient (those who rejected the sacrifice of His Son).

Jesus came the first time to take away (to be the sacrifice for) ______.

He will come the second time to bring eternal ____________ for the obedient children of ______.

GOD HAS APPOINTED A DAY.

"Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has 'appointed a day' on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all, by raising Him from the dead," Acts 17:30-31.

GOD HAS APPOINTED A JUDGE.

"For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son," John 5:22. "And has given Him (Jesus) authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man," John 5:27. "I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom," II Timothy 4:1.

Who is that Judge? __________ ____________

"He who rejects Me and does not receive My words, has that which judges him?the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day," John 12:48.

What is the standard by which we will be judged? _______ __ ____

PURPOSE OF JUDGMENT.

"For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment," James 2:13. "Then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment," II Peter 2:9. "But the heavens and the earth which now exist are kept in store by the same word, reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men," II Peter 3:7.

Judgment is for the ______________, the ______________ and the ______________.

THE DAY OF THE LORD.

"But the heavens and the earth which now exist are kept in store by the same word, reserved for fire until the Day of Judgment and perdition of ungodly men. But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is long-suffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved being on fire and the elements will melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells," II Peter 3:7-13.

The earth and heaven are reserved for ______ until _________ day.

Will the Lord come at an expected time? ____

The elements will melt with a _________ heat.

The earth and everything on it will be _________________

What will be left that we can now see?

THE JUDGMENT SCENE.

"But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written: 'As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to God.'" (Isaiah 45:23) "so then each of us shall give account of himself to God." Romans 14:10-12. "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad," II Corinthians 5:10. "Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven and of those on earth and of those under the earth and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father," Philippians 2:9-11.

How many will be present on judgment day? ____

We will be judged according to what we have done in this _______.

How many will bow the knee before the Judge? ______

How many will confess that Jesus is Lord? ______

How many will give account of themselves to God? __________

How many will cry for mercy on that day? ______

"When the Son of Man comes in His glory and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His Glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. And He will set the sheep on His right hand but the goats on the left."

"Then the King will say to those on His right hand, 'Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.'"

"Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?'"

"And the King will answer and say to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.'"

"Then He will also say to those on the left hand, 'Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.'"

"Then they also will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison and did not minister to You?'"

"Then He will answer them, saying, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.'"

"And these will go away into everlasting punishment but the righteous into eternal life," Matthew 25:31-46.

What is in store for those on the right hand of the King? _______

What is in store for those on the left hand of the King? ____________________

What caused those to be lost? _____________________________

"For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment," II Peter 2:4. "And the angels who did not keep their proper domain, but left their own habitation, He has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness for the judgment of the great day," Jude 1:6.

Besides people, who else will be judged on judgment day? ________

"But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the Day of Judgment. For by your words you will be justified and by your words you will be condemned," Matthew 12:36-37.

How important are the words that we speak? _____________

What kind of words will bring condemnation? _______________

"And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment," Hebrews 9:27.

Doesn't this show that there is no second chance, after death, to change before judgment day? _______

"Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have bold-ness in the Day of Judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world," I John 4:17. "Then He adds, 'Their sins and their law-less deeds I will remember no more,'" Hebrews 10:17.

What is the attitude of the faithful Christian on judgment day? _________

What is the reason for that attitude? ________________

HELL.

"Then He will also say to those on the left hand, 'Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels,'" Matthew 25:41.

Who is hell prepared for? ___________ _________________

What has God done so that man may choose not to go there? ____________

"Then the king said to the servants, 'Bind him hand and foot, take him away and cast him into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth,'" Matthew 22:13. "And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth," Matthew 25:30. "Raging waves of the sea, foaming up their own shame; wandering stars for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever," Jude 1:13.

How dark is outer darkness? ________

Not only is there blackness of darkness but there is such pain that there is ________ and__________ of teeth.

When does this stop? ___________

"These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power," II Thessalonians 1:9. God is Light.

Without the presence of God, how much light is in hell? _____

God is Love.

Without the presence of God, how much love is in hell? ______

God?s power brings order out of chaos.

Which will hell have order or chaos? _____

Matthew 13:42, "...There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth." Again in verse 52, "...There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth."

Is wailing done quietly or loudly? _______

Can you imagine pain so great that you would grind your teeth? _______

When does this stop? ______

"And if your hand makes you sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed, than having two hands, to go to hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched?where 'their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched...,'" Mark 9:43-48 (Isaiah 66:24).

When does the fire of torment go out? _________

Could water put it out if it were available? ____

When does the worm of torment die? ______

Is hell a place where you would like to take an extended vacation? ___

THE REWARD.

"Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. There was found no place for them. I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. The dead was judged according to their works, by the things, which were written in the books. The sea gave up the dead who were in it and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. They were judged each one according to his works. Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. Anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire."

"I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for husband. I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, 'Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men and He will dwell with them and they shall be His people and God Himself will be with them and be their God. God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying; and there shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.'"

"Then He who sat on the throne said, 'Behold, I make all things new.' And He said to me, 'Write, for these words are true and faithful.' And He said to me, 'It is done! I am Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.'"

"'But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.'"

"I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it and the Lamb is its light. The nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it. Its gates shall not be shut at all by day (there shall be no night there). They shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it. But there shall by no means enter in anything that defiles or causes an abomination or a lid but only those who are written in the Lamb's Book of Life." Revelation 20:11-15, 21:1-8, 21:22-27.

To be acceptable to God one must come to KNOW, BELIEVE, LOVE and PRACTICE the Truth.

-- Kevin Walker (kevinlwalker572@cs.com), December 21, 2003.


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