New Lesson Series

No lesson was presented last week due to my being out of town for the holiday weekend. This week we begin a new series on the problem of sin and the Gospel answer to it. Having looked at a series of lessons on Jesus, The Way, concluding with Finding Jesus, The Way, this new series will examine the problem of sin and how Jesus and the gospel message He came to provide solves the problem.

The Gospel Of Christ And The Problem Of Sin

How The Gospel Addresses The Problem Of Sin
The Gospel's Answer To The Love Of Sin (Faith In Jesus)
The Gospel's Answer To The Practice Of Sin (Repentance)
The Gospel's Answer To The State Of Sin (Baptism)
The Gospel's Answer To The Guilt Of Sin (Remission Of Sins)
The Gospel's Answer To The Power Of Sin (The Holy Spirit)
The Gospel's Answer To The Result Of Sin (Eternal Life)

This study is from a collection of sermon outlines and Bible study lessons by Mark A. Copeland . These outlines were developed in the course of my ministry as a preacher of the gospel. Feel free to use them as they are, or adapt them to suit your own personal style. To God be the glory!
The Executable Outlines Series, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2001

God Bless,
Jim Newsted
Shamrock, Tx
The town that turns green for a week every year

Join my Bible Study Group at internet-bible-studies-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
or http://groups.yahoo.com/group/internet-bible-studies/join

Even though you can't see the air, It doesn't stop you from breathing
Even though you can't see God, It doesn't stop you from believing
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Finding Jesus, The Way - Part Two

Jesus, The Way
Finding Jesus, The Way - Part Two

In our last lesson we left off with noting that Jesus left it up to the Holy Spirit to complete the work of guiding the apostles into all the truth. Therefore, to truly find Jesus and what His Will is for us today, we must also turn to the rest of the books of the New Testament.

We find Jesus in the Acts and the Epistles. First in the Book of Acts. We see the fulfillment of Jesus’ promise to send the Holy Spirit who would guide them into all the truth - Ac 2:4 "The Holy Spirit took control of everyone, and they began speaking whatever languages the Spirit let them speak." We see the Holy Spirit:
Guiding the apostles and early church in its formative stage - Ac 13:2 "While they were worshiping the Lord and going without eating, the Holy Spirit told them, "Appoint Barnabas and Saul to do the work for which I have chosen them."’, 4 "After Barnabas and Saul had been sent by the Holy Spirit, they went to Seleucia. From there they sailed to the island of Cyprus."
Guiding them into all the truth - Ac 15:28 "The Holy Spirit has shown us that we should not place any extra burden on you."
Revealing things taught during Jesus’ ministry not recorded in any of the four gospels Ac 20:35 "By everything I did, I showed how you should work to help everyone who is weak. Remember that our Lord Jesus said, "More blessings come from giving than from receiving."’

Second, in the Epistles. The words of the apostles (i.e., the epistles) were to be received as if from Jesus Himself! As Paul wrote to the church at Corinth - 1 Co 14:37 "If you think of yourself as a prophet or a spiritual person, you will know that I am writing only what the Lord has commanded." And to the church at Thessalonica - 1 Th 2:13 "We always thank God that you believed the message we preached. It came from him, and it isn't something made up by humans. You accepted it as God's message, and now he is working in you." As Jesus said it should be - Jn 13:20 "I tell you for certain that anyone who welcomes my messengers also welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me." The Holy Spirit did in fact guide the apostles into all the truth - Jn 16:13 "The Spirit shows what is true and will come and guide you into the full truth. The Spirit doesn't speak on his own. He will tell you only what he has heard from me, and he will let you know what is going to happen."

With the gospels, the book of Acts and the epistles (including Revelation) we find the teachings of Jesus and about Jesus completely, fully, and finally revealed! No more revelation is needed. We have all that is needed to live godly lives - 2 Pe 1:2-3 "I pray that God will be kind to you and will let you live in perfect peace! May you keep learning more and more about God and our Lord Jesus. We have everything we need to live a life that pleases God. It was all given to us by God's own power, when we learned that he had invited us to share in his wonderful goodness." We have all that is needed to be complete - 2 Ti 3:16-17 "Everything in the Scriptures is God's Word. All of it is useful for teaching and helping people and for correcting them and showing them how to live. The Scriptures train God's servants to do all kinds of good deeds." Not even an angel from heaven appeared with new doctrines - Ga 1:8-9 "I pray that God will punish anyone who preaches anything different from our message to you! It doesn't matter if that person is one of us or an angel from heaven. I have said it before, and I will say it again. I hope God will punish anyone who preaches anything different from what you have already believed." Our task is to simply remain true to what has been revealed once and for all - Ju 3 "My dear friends, I really wanted to write you about God's saving power at work in our lives. But instead, I must write and ask you to defend the faith that God has once for all given to his people."

With the writings of the New Testament, we are able to see Jesus through the eyes of completeness! All we need to know to follow Jesus as The Way is there, for us to learn it, and live it! No other revelations are needed. Having said this, let me finally emphasize that we only find Jesus when we truly obey Him. Obedience was emphasized by Jesus. He said we must abide in His word to be His disciples - Jn 8:31,32 "Jesus told the people who had faith in him, "If you keep on obeying what I have said, you truly are my disciples. You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."’ Jesus abides with us as we keep His commandments - Jn 14:21,23 "If you love me, you will do what I have said, and my Father will love you. I will also love you and show you what I am like." - "Jesus replied: If anyone loves me, they will obey me. Then my Father will love them, and we will come to them and live in them." This is how we truly know Him - 1 Jn 2:3-5 "When we obey God, we are sure that we know him. But if we claim to know him and don't obey him, we are lying and the truth isn't in our hearts. We truly love God only when we obey him as we should, and then we know that we belong to him."

Finding, knowing and obeying Jesus is illustrated in baptism. When we come to Jesus in faith and repentance, and submit to His command to be baptized - Ga 3:27 "And when you were baptized, it was as though you had put on Christ in the same way you put on new clothes." Having received (or "put on") Christ in baptism, we are now in Christ, where all things are
"new" - 2 Co 5:17 "Anyone who belongs to Christ is a new person. The past is forgotten, and everything is new."

Yes, all things are "new", for in finding Jesus by keeping His commands we find a better life; forgiveness for our sins; reconciliation with God our Father; the privilege of being in the Lord’s church (and not some denomination begun by men); the assurance of eternal life. Have you found Jesus, or are you following some cheap imitation of the real thing...? Which at best is a misconception fostered by honestly mistaken people. Or at worst a slick promotion marketed by those seeking numbers rather than disciples? You have truly found Jesus if you are heeding the implications of His "Great Commission". Accepting the authority (power) He has in heaven and on earth - Mt 28:18 "Jesus came to them and said: I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth!" You have truly found Jesus if you have been baptized (upon faith and repentance) as He commanded - Mt 28:19 "Go to the people of all nations and make them my disciples. Baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit," Then being careful to observe all things that He commanded - Mt 28:20 "and teach them to do everything I have told you. I will be with you always, even until the end of the world." Such are the only ones who have the assurance: "I am with you always, even unto the end of the world." They are ones who have "found" Jesus! Let Jesus be your way to everything that is truly good! Trust and obey Him today!

Finding Jesus, The Way - Part One

Jesus, The Way
Finding Jesus, The Way - Part One

In this series, I have attempted to present Jesus as The Way to many blessings; indeed, He is the source of every spiritual blessing that God has to offer - Ep 1:3 "Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ for the spiritual blessings that Christ has brought us from heaven!" But how can we be sure that we have found the true Jesus and are truly His disciples...? Jesus made it clear that simply believing in Him does not constitute true discipleship - Jn 8:31 "Jesus told the people who had faith in him, "If you keep on obeying what I have said, you truly are my disciples." How can we be sure that we are not actually following some caricature. A misrepresentation of Jesus, presented to us in error by others? By those sincerely mistaken themselves (such as our parents, preachers, churches)? To be sure that we have truly found Jesus, The Way, we must begin with the only reliable source of information about Him: The Bible!

Surprising as it may be to some, a good place to start is with the Old Testament. It contains many things about Jesus although completed hundreds of years before He came. As stated by Jesus on at least two occasions - Lk 24:27 "Jesus told the people who had faith in him, "If you keep on obeying what I have said, you truly are my disciples.", 44-48 "Jesus said to them, "While I was still with you, I told you that everything written about me in the Law of Moses, the Books of the Prophets, and in the Psalms had to happen." Then he helped them understand the Scriptures. He told them: The Scriptures say that the Messiah must suffer, then three days later he will rise from death. They also say that all people of every nation must be told in my name to turn to God, in order to be forgiven. So beginning in Jerusalem, you must tell everything that has happened." It imparts wisdom that leads to salvation in Jesus - 2 Ti 3:14-15 "Keep on being faithful to what you were taught and to what you believed. After all, you know who taught you these things. Since childhood, you have known the Holy Scriptures that are able to make you wise enough to have faith in Christ Jesus and be saved."

In the Old Testament we see Jesus through the eyes of prophecy. For example, from Isaiah we can learn things regarding:
The birth of Jesus - Isa 7:14 "But the LORD will still give you proof. A virgin is pregnant; she will have a son and will name him Immanuel."
The suffering of Jesus - Isa 53:4-6 "He suffered and endured great pain for us, but we thought his suffering was punishment from God. He was wounded and crushed because of our sins; by taking our punishment, he made us completely well. All of us were like sheep that had wandered off. We had each gone our own way, but the LORD gave him the punishment we deserved."
The sovereignty of Jesus - Isa 9:6-7 "He suffered and endured great pain for us, but we thought his suffering was punishment from God. He was wounded and crushed because of our sins; by taking our punishment, he made us completely well. All of us were like sheep that had wandered off. We had each gone our own way, but the LORD gave him the punishment we deserved."
Many more prophecies could be taken just from Isaiah alone (one reason why he is commonly called "The Messianic Prophet"). Other prophets have much to say about Jesus. It has been estimated there are more than 300 prophecies about Jesus in the O.T.! So we should read the Old Testament in our efforts to find the true Jesus! But as important as it is in helping us to find Jesus, it’s purpose was predictive, to prepare people for Jesus (Ga 3:24-25 "In fact, the Law was our teacher. It was supposed to teach us until we had faith and were acceptable to God. But once a person has learned to have faith, there is no more need to have the Law as a teacher.").

Therefore, to find Jesus more fully, we must also come to the gospels. There are four accounts of His life. Matthew emphasizes the "teachings" of Jesus (especially in regards to the kingdom). Mark features the "miracles" of Jesus, showing His power. Luke underscores the "humanity" of Jesus (without detracting from His divinity). John stresses the "divinity" of Jesus (without detracting from His humanity). The goal as expressed by John: to create faith - Jn 20:30-31 "Jesus worked many other miracles for his disciples, and not all of them are written in this book. But these are written so that you will put your faith in Jesus as the Messiah and the Son of God. If you have faith in him, you will have true life." The goal is to see Jesus through the eyes of fulfillment, as they carefully document how He fulfilled prophecy.

No one can know Jesus without reading these gospels carefully. We may often be surprised to find out how different the real Jesus is and what He actually taught, from the one imagined by many! For example, many feel that they are going to heaven when they die. Jesus taught that most will not - Mt 7:13-14 "Go in through the narrow gate. The gate to destruction is wide, and the road that leads there is easy to follow. A lot of people go through that gate. But the gate to life is very narrow. The road that leads there is so hard to follow that only a few people find it."
Many will be surprised at the Judgment Day - Mt 7:21-23 "Not everyone who calls me their Lord will get into the kingdom of heaven. Only the ones who obey my Father in heaven will get in. On the day of judgment many will call me their Lord. They will say, "We preached in your name, and in your name we forced out demons and worked many miracles." But I will tell them, "I will have nothing to do with you! Get out of my sight, you evil people!"’ Contrary to the "simple believism" many think is what is involved in following Jesus the real Jesus taught self-denial - Lk 9:23-25 "Then Jesus said to all the people: If any of you want to be my followers, you must forget about yourself. You must take up your cross each day and follow me. If you want to save your life, you will destroy it. But if you give up your life for me, you will save it. What will you gain, if you own the whole world but destroy yourself or waste your life?"

The real Jesus expected disciples to "observe all things" - Mt 28:18-20 "Jesus came to them and said: I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth! Go to the people of all nations and make them my disciples. Baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and teach them to do everything I have told you. I will be with you always, even until the end of the world." Does this sound like the "Jesus" proclaimed by many today? By reading the gospels, then, we come much closer to finding Jesus. But Jesus did not reveal the complete truth while on earth (Jn 16:12-14 "I have much more to say to you, but right now it would be more than you could understand. The Spirit shows what is true and will come and guide you into the full truth. The Spirit doesn't speak on his own. He will tell you only what he has heard from me, and he will let you know what is going to happen. The Spirit will bring glory to me by taking my message and telling it to you.")! He left it up to the Holy Spirit to complete the work of
guiding the apostles into all the truth. Therefore, to truly find Jesus and what His Will is for us today, we must also turn to the rest of the books of the New Testament which we will do in part two of this lesson.

Jesus, The Way To Eternal Life - Part Two

Jesus, The Way
Jesus, The Way To Eternal Life - Part Two

Since Jesus is the way to eternal life, let’s now in this continuing lesson consider what Jesus has to say about it...? Jesus teaches that eternal is prepared for a prepared people. People are not going to stumble into it by "accident" - Mt 7:13-14 "Go in through the narrow gate. The gate to destruction is wide, and the road that leads there is easy to follow. A lot of people go through that gate. But the gate to life is very narrow. The road that leads there is so hard to follow that only a few people find it." The way to life is such that few find it. Lack of preparation is the reason! Jesus taught several parables to stress this point. The parable of "The Wedding Feast" - Mt 22:1-2,11-14. The parable of "The Ten Virgins" - Mt 25:1-13 (please read these Parables). Also in His sermon on the mount - Mt 7:21-23 "Not everyone who calls me their Lord will get into the kingdom of heaven. Only the ones who obey my Father in heaven will get in. On the day of judgment many will call me their Lord. They will say, "We preached in your name, and in your name we forced out demons and worked many miracles." But I will tell them, "I will have nothing to do with you! Get out of my sight, you evil people!"’ Being religious does not ensure eternal life. We must do the Father’s will!

The only alternative is Hell! Prepared for unprepared people - cf. Mt 25:41 "Then the king will say to those on his left, "Get away from me! You are under God's curse. Go into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels!", 46 "Then Jesus said, "Those people will be punished forever. But the ones who pleased God will have eternal life."’ Hell is a terrible place vividly described by Jesus - cf. Re 20:10-15 "Then the devil who fooled them will be thrown into the lake of fire and burning sulfur. He will be there with the beast and the false prophet, and they will be in pain day and night forever and ever. I saw a great white throne with someone sitting on it. Earth and heaven tried to run away, but there was no place for them to go. I also saw all the dead people standing in front of that throne. Every one of them was there, no matter who they had once been. Several books were opened, and then the book of life was opened. The dead were judged by what those books said they had done. The sea gave up the dead people who were in it, and death and its kingdom also gave up their dead. Then everyone was judged by what they had done. Afterwards, death and its kingdom were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death. Anyone whose name wasn't written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire."\pard fs28 ; 21:8 "But I will tell you what will happen to cowards and to everyone who is unfaithful or dirty-minded or who murders or is sexually immoral or uses witchcraft or worships idols or tells lies. They will be thrown into that lake of fire and burning sulfur. This is the second death." Hell is the only place that people will "stumble" into! Unfortunately it is where most people will wind up ("many" as opposed to "few") - Mt 7:13-14 "Go in through the narrow gate. The gate to destruction is wide, and the road that leads there is easy to follow. A lot of people go through that gate. But the gate to life is very narrow. The road that leads there is so hard to follow that only a few people find it." Judgment is reserved for those who "know not God" - 2 Th 1:6-9 "It is only right for God to punish everyone who is causing you trouble, but he will give you relief from your troubles. He will do the same for us, when the Lord Jesus comes from heaven with his powerful angels and with a flaming fire. Our Lord Jesus will punish anyone who doesn't know God and won't obey his message. Their punishment will be eternal destruction, and they will be kept far from the presence of our Lord and his glorious strength."
"Punished with everlasting destruction" What a terrible alternative to the eternal life Jesus offers!

God and Jesus have prepared a terrible fate for those who "know not God" and "obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ". They certainly do not want people to experience this...!
God desires all men to be saved - 1 Ti 2:4-5 "God wants everyone to be saved and to know the whole truth, which is, There is only one God, and Christ Jesus is the only one who can bring us to God. Jesus was truly human, and he gave himself to rescue all of us." Jesus is offered as a ransom for all - 1 Ti 2:5-6 "There is only one God, and Christ Jesus is the only one who can bring us to God. Jesus was truly human, and he gave himself to rescue all of us. God showed us this at the right time." In order that "eternal life", and not "everlasting destruction", might be the destiny of all men God has provided the most precious thing to Him as the Mediator between sinful man and Holy God: Jesus - His Beloved Son! God has provided Jesus as The Way to all that is good, both in this life and the one to come! But if what one does not accept Jesus as the Way? Then he or she is destined to a life with little direction here on earth! To die in their sins!
To be forever separated from God! To go through life in religious confusion! To go through eternity in eternal condemnation!

How much better to come to Jesus, and let Him be your Way... To a better life! To forgiveness of sins! To a loving and close relationship with God! Out of religious confusion! To eternal life, with all its prepared glory!

If you haven’t, obey the Lord Jesus and His gospel today! - cf. Mk 16:15-16 "Then he told them: Go and preach the good news to everyone in the world. Anyone who believes me and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who refuses to believe me will be condemned."; Ac 2:38 "Peter said, "Turn back to God! Be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, so that your sins will be forgiven. Then you will be given the Holy Spirit."; 22:16 "What are you waiting for? Get up! Be baptized, and wash away your sins by praying to the Lord."

If you would like to make this decision and need some help please contact me at jnlnewsted@nts-online.net

Jesus, The Way To Eternal Life - Part One

Jesus, The Way
Jesus, The Way To Eternal Life - Part One

We have considered how Jesus is truly The Way to many good things: He is The Way:
To a better life (by correcting misconceptions and teaching us to seek new goals)
To forgiveness of sins (by offering Himself as a propitiation, or sacrifice, for our sins)
To God (by helping us first to comprehend God, then to be able to approach Him in a close,
personal relationship)
Out of religious confusion (through His own example, and by guiding us through His apostles’
doctrine)

In this study, we shall see why we can also say Jesus is The Way To Eternal Life. Please Note: In this study we shall be considering those passages which use the expression "eternal life" as a future hope, which will be realized after this life. In the writings of John, the expression "eternal life" is often used differently, referring to that "abundant life" which stresses a new relationship with God and Jesus, and is a present possession of those who have come to "know" them - see for example Jn 17:3; 1 Jn 5:13,20

First, let’s note several reasons why Jesus is the way to eternal life. He has prepared a place for us as He told His disciples the night before His crucifixion "for I go to prepare a place for you" - Jn 14:2. He will come and receive us to Himself as He told His disciples - Jn 14:2-3 "There are many rooms in my Father's house. I wouldn't tell you this, unless it was true. I am going there to prepare a place for each of you. After I have done this, I will come back and take you with me. Then we will be together." As Paul wrote of this wonderful event - 1 Th 4:15-17 "Our Lord Jesus told us that when he comes, we won't go up to meet him ahead of his followers who have already died. With a loud command and with the shout of the chief angel and a blast of God's trumpet, the Lord will return from heaven. Then those who had faith in Christ before they died will be raised to life. Next, all of us who are still alive will be taken up into the clouds together with them to meet the Lord in the sky. From that time on we will all be with the Lord forever."

He will judge as to who will enter life eternal as depicted in the final judgment scene - Mt 25:31 "When the Son of Man comes in his glory with all of his angels, he will sit on his royal throne.", 41 "Then the king will say to those on his left, "Get away from me! You are under God's curse. Go into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels!" Also described by Paul - 2 Co 5:10 "After all, Christ will judge each of us for the good or the bad that we do while living in these bodies."

Jesus is what makes eternal life wonderful together with God, who will dwell with men - Re 21:1-4 "I saw a new heaven and a new earth. The first heaven and the first earth had disappeared, and so had the sea. Then I saw New Jerusalem, that holy city, coming down from God in heaven. It was like a bride dressed in her wedding gown and ready to meet her husband. I heard a loud voice shout from the throne: God's home is now with his people. He will live with them, and they will be his own. Yes, God will make his home among his people. He will wipe all tears from their eyes, and there will be no more death, suffering, crying, or pain. These things of the past are gone forever." They shall be the "temple" - Re 21:22 "I did not see a temple there. The Lord God All-Powerful and the Lamb were its temple." Jesus will be the "light" - Re 21:23 "And the city did not need the sun or the moon. The glory of God was shining on it, and the Lamb was its light." They shall be a source of "the water of life" - Re 22:1-5 "The angel showed me a river that was crystal clear, and its waters gave life. The river came from the throne where God and the Lamb were seated. Then it flowed down the middle of the city's main street. On each side of the river are trees that grow a different kind of fruit each month of the year. The fruit gives life, and the leaves are used as medicine to heal the nations. God's curse will no longer be on the people of that city. He and the Lamb will be seated there on their thrones, and its people will worship God and will see him face to face. God's name will be written on the foreheads of the people. Never again will night appear, and no one who lives there will ever need a lamp or the sun. The Lord God will be their light, and they will rule forever."

Jesus makes eternal life what it is, which explains Paul’s aspirations - 2 Co 5:8 "We should be cheerful, because we would rather leave these bodies and be at home with the Lord."; Ph 1:23 "It is a hard choice to make. I want to die and be with Christ, because that would be much better." When we understand all this, would there be eternal life without Jesus? Not according to the Bible! Jesus is truly The Way to eternal life! Since Jesus is the way to eternal life, in our next continuing lesson we will consider what Jesus has to say about it...?

Jesus, The Way Out Of Religious Confusion - Part Two

Jesus, The Way
Jesus, The Way Out Of Religious Confusion - Part Two

Notice that those who gladly responded in faith, repentance and baptism were "added". To what and by whom were they "added"? We find the answer in verse 47: "And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved." The day of Pentecost was the beginning of the Lord's church (His "ekklesia"). This "called-out" assembly or group was created when the gospel was proclaimed and people responded to it.

At first, the church existed only in Jerusalem and then expanded through preaching of the gospel. As the gospel spread, and people responded to it, groups of these saved people in various
cities met together. Each group became known as a church in a local sense (in contrast to the church universal which is made up of all those saved throughout the world). For example, during Paul's first missionary journey, many such churches were established - Ac 14:21-23 "Paul and Barnabas preached the good news in Derbe and won some people to the Lord. Then they went back to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch in Pisidia. They encouraged the followers and begged them to remain faithful. They told them, "We have to suffer a lot before we can get into God's kingdom." Paul and Barnabas chose some leaders for each of the churches. Then they went without eating and prayed that the Lord would take good care of these leaders." By simply teaching the gospel of Christ, a local church was formed when those who obeyed the gospel joined together in their work and worship.

These local churches were then edified through the Apostle’s doctrine. Though united in Christ, these local churches were independent of any human association or federation of churches. Christ directed them through His inspired apostles, as they taught them how to worship and work together - Ac 2:42 "They spent their time learning from the apostles, and they were like family to each other. They also broke bread and prayed together." Sometimes this teaching by the apostles was done directly, other times by appointed emissaries - 1 Co 4:17 "That's why I sent Timothy to you. I love him like a son, and he is a faithful servant of the Lord. Timothy will tell you what I do to follow Christ and how it agrees with what I always teach about Christ in every church." Just as often, the teaching was done through the epistles or letters written by the apostles - 1 Co 14:37 "If you think of yourself as a prophet or a spiritual person, you will know that I am writing only what the Lord has commanded."; 1 Ti 3:14-15 "I hope to visit you soon. But I am writing these instructions, so that if I am delayed, you will know how everyone who belongs to God's family ought to behave. After all, the church of the living God is the strong foundation of truth."; 2 Th 2:14-15 "God used our preaching as his way of inviting you to share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. My friends, that's why you must remain faithful and follow closely what we taught you in person and by our letters."; 3:14 "Be on your guard against any followers who refuse to obey what we have written in this letter. Put them to shame by not having anything to do with them." When we read what the Bible says us about the Lord’s church, we learn that by responding to the gospel and paying close heed to the "apostles’ doctrine" (cf. Ac 2:42), people in the first century were able to be Christians only, without all the confusion prevalent today.

Is it possible for us to do this today? Yes! Here is how. First, the way out of religious confusion is to accept the call of the gospel. Remember, Christ calls us into His ekklesia (church) through the gospel. Therefore, we can begin by obeying the same instructions that Peter gave on the Day of Pentecost - Ac 2:38 "Peter said, "Turn back to God! Be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, so that your sins will be forgiven. Then you will be given the Holy Spirit." Repenting of our sins, and being baptized for the remission of our sins, we then receive the same blessings as did the 3000 on that day: salvation! By being saved in this manner, we know that the Lord truly adds us to His church just as He added them - Ac 2:47 "while praising God. Everyone liked them, and each day the Lord added to their group others who were being saved."

-- What then...? Follow the example of the early Christians. The early Christians continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine - Ac 2:42 "They spent their time learning from the apostles, and they were like family to each other. They also broke bread and prayed together." They joined no other religious organization, and neither should we! In Christ, we are automatically united with all others who are in Him! As members of the Lord's church, we should study carefully the New Testament description of the church that continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine. This description is found in the Book of Acts and in the Epistles which follow it. It is here that we will find instructions from the Lord's apostles on how:
To worship the Lord acceptably.
To be scripturally organized as local congregations.
To live and work together as Christians, spreading the gospel of Christ through.word and example.
Since the apostles were guided by the Holy Spirit, we may be sure their instructions were exactly what Jesus wanted them to be! If we duplicate the early churches by following the apostles' instructions, we will simply be "Christians", and we can be certain the Lord is pleased with us. As Jesus said to His apostles about those who would receive or reject their instructions:
"He who hears you hears Me, he who rejects you rejects Me, and he who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me." - Lk 10:16

Simply being a Christian, and duplicating a New Testament congregation is not as difficult as one might think. There are literally thousands of such congregations throughout the world. There is likely one in your area right now! (Feel free to contact me if you would like to try and locate the nearest one.). There is also the option of starting a congregation in your own home by following the example and teachings of Jesus, as revealed by His apostles, we can be led out of
the religious confusion that dominates the religious world today! Do you want to be simply a Christian, a member of the Lord's church we read about in the New Testament...? If so, then I plead with you to first render obedience to the gospel of Christ as proclaimed by Peter and all the apostles - read Ac 2:36-38. You have the assurance of God's Word that you will then be added by the Lord Himself to His church - read Ac 2:47. Then, you have the responsibility to learn and follow the apostles' doctrine as you serve the Lord Jesus in your life - read Ac 2:42. If you have not yet responded to the commands of the gospel as put forth by Peter in Ac 2:38, why not let the reaction of those who did on the Day of Pentecost describe your actions today:
"Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them." - Ac 2:41

Jesus, The Way Out Of Religious Confusion - Part One

Jesus, The Way
Jesus, The Way Out Of Religious Confusion - Part One

Many people who wish to follow Jesus are repelled by the multitude of denominations and
conflicting doctrines and practices taught by those professing to be Christians. Such distaste for denominational division is in keeping with the spirit of the New Testament. Jesus prayed fervently for unity - Jn 17:21 "I want all of them to be one with each other, just as I am one with you and you are one with me. I also want them to be one with us. Then the people of this world will believe that you sent me." Paul condemned religious division - 1 Co 1:10-13 "My dear friends, as a follower of our Lord Jesus Christ, I beg you to get along with each other. Don't take sides. Always try to agree in what you think. Several people from Chloe's family have already reported to me that you keep arguing with each other. They have said that some of you claim to follow me, while others claim to follow Apollos or Peter or Christ. Has Christ been divided up? Was I nailed to a cross for you? Were you baptized in my name?" While some denominational leaders like to justify their existence, we know that religious confusion does not come from God...! God is the author of peace, not confusion - 1 Co 14:33 "God wants everything to be done peacefully and in order." Religious strife is indicative of carnality, and a work of the flesh - 1 Co 3:3-4 "You are jealous and argue with each other. This proves that you are not spiritual and that you are acting like the people of this world. Some of you say that you follow me, and others claim to follow Apollos. Isn't that how ordinary people behave?"; Ga 5:19-21 "People's desires make them give in to immoral ways, filthy thoughts, and shameful deeds. They worship idols, practice witchcraft, hate others, and are hard to get along with. People become jealous, angry, and selfish. They not only argue and cause trouble, but they are envious. They get drunk, carry on at wild parties, and do other evil things as well. I told you before, and I am telling you again: No one who does these things will share in the blessings of God's kingdom." Even so, is it possible for people today to simply be Christians, and not a contributor to the denominational division of today? The answer is Yes! And Jesus shows us The Way Out Of Religious Confusion! Notice Jesus’ own example in the religious climate of His day.

In the example of Jesus, note the religious climate of His day. When Jesus came to this earth, the Israelites were living under God’s law given by Moses. In that law, God had not made any provision for the division of His people into religious sects or parties. Yet, by the time of Jesus, the Jews had formed several distinct religious parties:
Pharisees (somewhat conservative)
Sadducees (very liberal, the "modernists" of their day)
Essenes (radical isolationists)
Herodians, Zealots (political religionists)
It was assumed that all who were serious about religion would be associated with one of these groups.

However, Jesus maintained a nonsectarian relationship with God. To which of these groups did Jesus belong? He belonged to none of these groups! Instead, He maintained a "nonsectarian" relationship with God to the very end. As an Israelite, living at a time when the Law of Moses was still in effect, He was simply an "Israelite". In addition, He encouraged all to live by the Law while it was still in effect - cf. Mt 5:17-20 "Don't suppose that I came to do away with the Law and the Prophets. I did not come to do away with them, but to give them their full meaning. Heaven and earth may disappear. But I promise you that not even a period or comma will ever disappear from the Law. Everything written in it must happen. If you reject even the least important command in the Law and teach others to do the same, you will be the least important person in the kingdom of heaven. But if you obey and teach others its commands, you will have an important place in the kingdom. You must obey God's commands better than the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law obey them. If you don't, I promise you that you will never get into the kingdom of heaven." In other words, He encouraged all to simply be what the Law of Moses intended them to be (i.e., "Israelites").

This brings up to question of what would Jesus be today? Would He be a Baptist, or Catholic, or Presbyterian, or Methodist, etc.? If He was simply an Israelite then, would He not simply be a "Christian" today? That was certainly what His disciples came to be called - cf. Ac 11:26 "He found Saul and brought him to Antioch, where they met with the church for a whole year and taught many of its people. There in Antioch the Lord's followers were first called Christians."
The example Jesus has set for us is clear: just be what God originally intended under the Law which is in effect. Since in the New Testament (the "law of Christ", 1 Co 9:21 "And when I am with people who are not ruled by the Law, I forget about the Law to win them. Of course, I never really forget about the law of God. In fact, I am ruled by the law of Christ.") the disciples of Christ were called "Christians", so we should be! Not only should we be content with being "called" Christians, we should also be concerned with "just being Christians." Nothing more, nothing less! But how can we be sure that we are simply Christians, members of the church we read about in the New Testament?

It helps to see what the Bible tells us about the Lord’s church. Jesus promised to build His church - Mt 16:18 "So I will call you Peter, which means "a rock." On this rock I will build my church, and death itself will not have any power over it." The word "church" comes from the Greek word ekklesia, which means "a called-out group, an assembly, a congregation". Jesus was promising to create His own group of people who have been "called" to come to Him. How does this "calling" take place? According to Paul, we are "called" by the gospel - 2 Th 2:14 "God used our preaching as his way of inviting (calling) you to share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ." On the first Pentecost after the ascension of Christ, we see by preaching the gospel Peter
"called out" those who were willing to express their faith in Jesus - Ac 2:38-41 "Peter said, "Turn back to God! Be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, so that your sins will be forgiven. Then you will be given the Holy Spirit. This promise is for you and your children. It is for everyone our Lord God will choose, no matter where they live." Peter told them many other things as well. Then he said, "I beg you to save yourselves from what will happen to all these evil people." On that day about three thousand believed his message and were baptized." 47 "while praising God. Everyone liked them, and each day the Lord added to their group others who were being saved." Notice that those who gladly responded in faith, repentance and baptism were "added". To what and by whom were they "added"? We find the answer in verse 47: "And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved." The day of Pentecost was the beginning of the Lord's church (His "ekklesia"). This "called-out" assembly or group was created when the gospel was proclaimed and people responded to it. (To be continued in Part Two)

Jesus, The Way To God

Jesus, The Way
Jesus, The Way To God

In the last lesson, we saw that by His death on the cross, Jesus made possible the forgiveness of our sins. When our sins are forgiven, we are no longer the objects of God’s anger - Ro 5:9 "But there is more! Now that God has accepted us because Christ sacrificed his life's blood, we will also be kept safe from God's anger.". As wonderful as being justified by the blood of Jesus may be, we need more than this...we need the kind of close friendship that existed between God and Adam before the "Fall". But if a close relationship is to exist between God and ourselves, we must understand God and feel comfortable in approaching Him.
When we contemplate the difference between God and man, we can see that this is not easy. Let’s look at some of those differences. When we consider the nature of God as revealed in the Bible and nature, we see:
One with unlimited power, unlimited wisdom, unlimited holiness
One who is the creator of all things, the sustainer of all things, the knower of all things
One who is eternal, immortal, and invisible
Indeed, this Supreme Being fills the entire universe with His presence - Jer 23:23-24 "I am everywhere-- both near and far, in heaven and on earth. There are no secret places where you can hide from me."

On the other hand, man is mortal, finite in knowledge and understanding. The created one, sustained by God who supplies all his needs - Ac 17:24-28 "This God made the world and everything in it. He is Lord of heaven and earth, and he doesn't live in temples built by human hands. He doesn't need help from anyone. He gives life, breath, and everything else to all people. From one person God made all nations who live on earth, and he decided when and where every nation would be. God has done all this, so that we will look for him and reach out and find him. He isn't far from any of us, and he gives us the power to live, to move, and to be who we are. "We are his children," just as some of your poets have said."

The difference between God and man is so great, it ought to overwhelm man with awe. Note the reflections of David as expressed in Psalms - cf. Psa 139:1-12 "You have looked deep into my heart, LORD, and you know all about me. You know when I am resting or when I am working, and from heaven you discover my thoughts. You notice everything I do and everywhere I go. Before I even speak a word, you know what I will say, and with your powerful arm you protect me from every side. I can't understand all of this! Such wonderful knowledge is far above me. Where could I go to escape from your Spirit or from your sight? If I were to climb up to the highest heavens, you would be there. If I were to dig down to the world of the dead you would also be there. Suppose I had wings like the dawning day and flew across the ocean. Even then your powerful arm would guide and protect me. Or suppose I said, "I'll hide in the dark until night comes to cover me over." But you see in the dark because daylight and dark are all the same to you." In the Bible, whenever man came even close to approaching God in His Glory, it was terrifying! When God first spoke to Moses, he was afraid - Exo 3:6 "I am the God who was worshiped by your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob." Moses was afraid to look at God, and so he hid his face." The Israelites at Mount Sinai were terrified - Exo 20:18-21 "The people trembled with fear when they heard the thunder and the trumpet and saw the lightning and the smoke coming from the mountain. They stood a long way off and said to Moses, "If you speak to us, we will listen. But don't let God speak to us, or we will die!" "Don't be afraid!" Moses replied. "God has come only to test you, so that by obeying him you won't sin." But when Moses went near the thick cloud where God was, the people stayed a long way off."
How then can man hope to comprehend God and approach Him in a close relationship during this life? This difficulty was experienced and expressed by Job - Job 9:32-33 "God isn't a mere human like me. I can't put him on trial. Who could possibly judge between the two of us?"
[But what may have been true in Job’s day (that there is no "daysman", or "mediator") is no longer true today! Jesus is the means by which man can comprehend God and also approach Him in such a way as to enjoy a loving relationship with Him!
Let’s see how Jesus is the way to God by helping us comprehend God. In coming to this earth, Jesus declared or manifested God to us - Jn 1:18 "No one has ever seen God. The only Son, who is truly God and is closest to the Father, has shown us what God is like." How was Jesus able to "declare" (manifest) God? For one thing, He came to this earth from God, and is the only one who has truly seen Him - Jn 6:46 "The only one who has seen the Father is the one who has come from him. No one else has ever seen the Father." But also, He is God Himself! - Jn 1:1-2 "In the beginning was the one who is called the Word. The Word was with God and was truly God. From the very beginning the Word was with God." Who is this "Word" that was with God and was God? The One who came in the flesh! - cf. Jn 1:14 "The Word became a human being and lived here with us. We saw his true glory, the glory of the only Son of the Father. From him all the kindness and all the truth of God have come down to us." The "Word" was Jesus!
Therefore, it is in seeing Jesus that we are able to comprehend the Father. Just as Jesus told His disciples - Jn 14:7 "If you had known me, you would have known the Father. But from now on, you do know him, and you have seen him."’ In similar fashion, the apostles of Jesus proclaimed that He was the complete manifestation of God - Co 2:9 "God lives fully in Christ."; He 1:1-3 "Long ago in many ways and at many times God's prophets spoke his message to our ancestors. But now at last, God sent his Son to bring his message to us. God created the universe by his Son, and everything will someday belong to the Son. God's Son has all the brightness of God's own glory and is like him in every way. By his own mighty word, he holds the universe together. After the Son had washed away our sins, he sat down at the right side of the glorious God in heaven." Yes, it is in Jesus that God is revealed in terms that mortal, finite man can comprehend and personally relate to. Therefore, as we study the gospels, we see Jesus and His attributes (power, wisdom, holiness, love, mercy, divine wrath). As we see Jesus, we see God and His attributes!

But Jesus also provides the way to God by helping us approach God. This we touched upon in our previous lesson. How that by offering Himself as a propitiation for our sins Jesus has made it possible for a sinful man to approach God who is supremely holy and just. Jesus helps us to approach God in yet another way, as our High Priest in heaven. Though Jesus was truly God (as stated by John and Paul), by becoming man He fully understands our difficulties - He 4:14-15 "We have a great high priest, who has gone into heaven, and he is Jesus the Son of God. That is why we must hold on to what we have said about him. Jesus understands every weakness of ours, because he was tempted in every way that we are. But he did not sin!" With such a wonderful high priest, One who is both God and has been man, Jesus makes it possible for us to approach God with great confidence - He 4:16 "So whenever we are in need, we should come bravely before the throne of our merciful God. There we will be treated with undeserved kindness, and we will find help." Yes, through Jesus we can both comprehend God and approach God, making it possible to have a close relationship with our Heavenly Father, enjoying all the blessings such a relationship provides!

To better appreciate the beauty of this relationship available with God through Jesus, let's briefly notice some terms used in the New Testament to describe this relationship. First, there are terms which proclaim a special relationship with our Heavenly Father, for example, we are called the "children" of God - Ga 3:26 "All of you are God's children because of your faith in Christ Jesus."; 4:6-7 "Now that we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts. And his Spirit tells us that God is our Father. You are no longer slaves. You are God's children, and you will be given what he has promised." Also, we are called the "house" (family) of God - 1 Ti 3:15 "so that if I am delayed, you will know how everyone who belongs to God's family ought to behave. After all, the church of the living God is the strong foundation of truth."
Second, there are also terms which proclaim a special relationship with a Holy, Supreme Being. One describes us as a special dwelling place of God: the "temple" of God - 2 Co 6:16 "Do idols belong in the temple of God? We are the temple of the living God, as God himself says, "I will live with these people and walk among them. I will be their God, and they will be my people."
Another speaks of our role in service to God: a "royal priesthood" - 1 Pe 2:5 "And now you are living stones that are being used to build a spiritual house. You are also a group of holy priests, and with the help of Jesus Christ you will offer sacrifices that please God.", 9 "But you are God's chosen and special people. You are a group of royal priests and a holy nation. God has brought you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Now you must tell all the wonderful things that he has done."

Other terms might be considered, but these suffice to show that it is possible for those who were
once lost in sin to enjoy a new, personal, intimate and fulfilling relationship with the Majestic God in heaven! And what a wonderful relationship it is! One that offers promises that overwhelm you; for example, this one where God promises: "I will never leave you nor forsake you." (He 13:5). But let us be clear in our understanding. Jesus is the "The Way", the only way to God - Jn 14:6 "I am the way, the truth, and the life!" Jesus answered. "Without me, no one can go to the Father." Only those in Jesus have the assurance of enjoying this wonderful relationship with God! How can we be sure that we are in Jesus, and as such the children of God? By taking to heart and life the truth of God’s Word...! By becoming the children of God through faith and baptism - Ga 3:26-27 By remaining the children of God by abiding faithfully in the teachings of Christ - 2 Jn 9

Have you become a child of God by receiving Christ in faith and baptism? If not, why not today?
If you have, are you maintaining your relationship with both the Father and the Son by abiding in the doctrine of Christ? If not, why not be restored to God today (through repentance and prayer)? Only in so doing can you let Jesus be your way to God! Please contact me personally if you are ready to become a child of God. jnlnewsted@nts-online.net

Jesus, The Way To Forgiveness - Part Two

Jesus, The Way
Jesus, The Way To Forgiveness - Part Two

In our last lesson we defined what sin is and that it separates mankind from God. We made note of God’s supreme holiness and how serious the problem of sin is. In this lesson we are going to look at how Jesus makes The Way possible for God to forgive us and how we can be reconciled to God. Please note that not all religious groups teach the way to receive forgiveness of our sins the way the Bible presents it. This is due to religious teachings that came from the Reformation and are still being taught today. Let us look at what the Bible teaches and only what the Bible teaches.

JESUS, THE WAY TO FORGIVENESS OF SINS
God has provided the way by offering Jesus as a "propitiation" for our sins:
"In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins." (1 John 4:10)
The word "propitiation" originally referred to an act or sacrifice that a man offered designed to appease a god. As used in the Bible, it refers to that which God has done (not man). In other words, what man cannot do for himself, God has done! He has offered His Son Jesus on the cross as a means to appease His justice. Such was foretold by Isaiah nearly 700 years earlier:
"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." (Isaiah 53:5-6)
"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 labor 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." (Isaiah 53:10-12)
Notice that by the act of Christ’s suffering the punishment due us for our own sins, we are forgiven of them. As Paul would later write:
"In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace." (Ephesians 1:7)
Through Christ’s death on the cross, we can come back to God, having been forgiven of our sins! In this way, God is able to:
w Preserve His holiness when we are in His presence (for our sins have been forgiven by the blood of Christ)
w Maintain His justice (for our sins have been properly punished by the death of Christ)
w All the while demonstrating His love, grace and mercy!
And so, Jesus is The Way to forgiveness of sins, for He has been made a "propitiation" for our sins! But how does one receive the wonderful blessing of having Jesus as the propitiation for our sins?

RECEIVING JESUS AS THE WAY TO FORGIVENESS
After His death for our sins, and following His glorious resurrection from the dead, Jesus charged His apostles with the commission to spread the good news:
And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned." (Mark 16:15-16)
We read in the book of Acts of how the apostles carried out this Great Commission. In chapter two, just ten days after Jesus ascended into heaven, we find Peter proclaiming the gospel for the first time. After presenting evidence that Jesus has truly risen from the dead and ascended to the right hand of God, Peter comes to climax of his sermon:
"Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ." (Acts 2:36)
Yes, this same Jesus they had crucified only fifty days earlier was the actual Lord and Messiah they had been looking for. Evidently many people believed what Peter said, for we read next:
Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" (Acts 2:37)
"What shall we do?", they cried. What can anyone do, who has realized that they are sinners in need of salvation? What Peter told them is what we should tell anyone today:
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 gift of the Holy Spirit." (Acts 2:38)
Peter told these people who evidently believed (as evidenced by their question in verse 37) that they needed to repent and be baptized. In similar fashion, when Saul of Tarsus (later known as the apostle Paul) had seen Jesus on the road to Damascus, and had been praying and fasting for three days afterward, he was told by Ananias whom the Lord had sent to him:
"And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord." (Acts 22:16)
Just as Jesus commanded in Mark 16:16, when someone wanted to be saved through the blood of Jesus Christ, in the New Testament they were told to be baptized for the remission (forgiveness) of their sins upon their believing in Jesus and repenting of their sins. Faith (which includes confessing Jesus as Lord, Romans 10:9-10), repentance and baptism were the conditions by which one could receive Jesus and enjoy the blessings of forgiveness of sins!
Receive Jesus in baptism? Yes, so the apostle stated in his letter to the Galatians:
"For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ." (Galatians 3:27)
Note: "as many of you" (no more and no less) "as have been baptized into Christ" (as Jesus,
Peter, etc., commanded) "have put on Christ" (have received Jesus and all the blessings He offers). Thus, in obedience to the Lord in faith, repentance and baptism we can take advantage of the wonderful grace of God, Who offered Jesus for our sins!

I leave with you the fact that Jesus is The Way to forgiveness; indeed, the only way, for no other way has been offered by God by which we can be reconciled to Him. As Jesus said:
"I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." (John 14:6)

And no other way devised by man solves the dilemma between man’s sin and the holiness and justice of God! Have you accepted Jesus in the way He commanded and His apostles taught? Have you trusted in Him for salvation (faith), made the decision to turn from your sins (repentance), and been immersed for the forgiveness of your sins (baptism)? If not, why not? Let Jesus be your way to forgiveness today! If you are ready to make this decision and need any assistance of any kind please contact me at jnlnewsted@nts-online.net

This material is from ExecutableOutlines.com, a web site containing sermon outlines and Bible studies by Mark A. Copeland. Visit the web site to browse or download additional material for church or personal use. The outlines were developed in the course of my ministry as a preacher of the gospel. Feel free to use them as they are, or adapt them to suit your own personal style. To God be the glory!
Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2002

God Bless,
Jim Newsted
Shamrock, Tx
The town that turns green for a week every year
Join my Bible Study Group at internet-bible-studies-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
or http://groups.yahoo.com/group/internet-bible-studies/join
Even though you can't see the air, It doesn't stop you from breathing
Even though you can't see God, It doesn't stop you from believing
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jesus, The Way To Forgiveness - Part One

Jesus, The Way
Jesus, The Way To Forgiveness - Part One

We have seen that Jesus is The Way to a better life, even here on earth. But much more importantly, Jesus is the way to forgiveness for our sins! To understand why we need forgiveness and how Jesus provides the way to forgiveness is the purpose of this lesson. It is important, then, that we begin by properly defining sin...

THE DEFINITION OF "SIN"
Many people have the wrong conception of sin. They think it is nothing more than a violation of human relationships; that an action is sinful only if it is frowned upon by society, violates their own conscience, or is harmful to someone else. Such a misconception of sin leads people to a misconception of how the problem of sin can be corrected. For example, some believe that correcting sin involves nothing more than making things right with other people. With this misconception, they think they are forgiven of all past actions if they simply change their behavior.

But what is the Biblical definition of sin? The Bible actually defines three different types of sin. First, there is the direct violation of God’s Law. The apostle John describes sin in this way:
"Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness." (1 John 3:4)
For example, where God’s law tells us not to steal, we sin when we steal something. This is commonly referred to as the sin of commission (where we commit something that displeases God). Another kind of sin is found in James’ epistle:
"Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin." (James 4:17)
This is the sin of omission, where you fail (omit) to do that which you know to do. For example, when I know Jesus tells me to love my enemies, I sin when I do not display love towards them. The apostle Paul mentions yet another kind of sin:
"But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin." (Romans 14:23)
For lack of better words, this is the sin of violating your conscience. In this case, the thing you are doing may be right in and of itself, but if you cannot do it with a clear conscience, you are sinning! The example found in Romans 14 pertained to someone who because of earlier religious training before becoming a Christian had difficulty eating meat without a guilty conscience. Paul would have the brother whose faith is weak to abstain from eating meats, and even calls upon brethren who are strong in faith to be careful not to put any enticements in the brother's way which might wound his conscience.

So we see that sin is more than simply a violation of human relationships (though it often involves that); sin is a serious matter that involves God and His Will! How serious is sin? By considering the consequences of sin as described in the Bible, we begin to appreciate its terrible nature. As Paul wrote in the book of Romans:
"For the wages of sin is death..." (Romans 6:23)
This "death: of which he speaks is ultimately described as the "second death" which involves eternal torment for those who die in their sins:
"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." (Revelation 21:8)
Why is sin considered so bad that unforgiven sinners must experience such torment?

To understand why, we must appreciate... THE NATURE OF GOD AND THE PROBLEM OF SIN
God's nature is such that it is very difficult for a sinner to be acceptable before Him. First, God is
supremely holy. His holiness makes any "truce" with sin impossible. The Psalmist understood this aspect of God’s nature:
"For You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness, Nor shall evil dwell with You. The boastful shall not stand in Your sight; You hate all workers of iniquity. You shall destroy those who speak falsehood; The LORD abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man." (Psalms 5:4-6)
Because God’s holiness cannot tolerate sin, sin serves to separate man from God:
"But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear." (Isaiah 59:2)
Not only is God supremely holy, He is also supremely just. His justice demands that sin be punished accordingly. As examples of the strict justice of God, notice what happened to the sons of Aaron when all they did was offer in sacrifice something God had not commanded:
Then Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it, put incense on it, and offered profane fire before the LORD, which He had not commanded them. So fire went out from the LORD and devoured them, and they died before the LORD. And Moses said to Aaron, "This is what the LORD spoke, saying: ‘By those who come near Me I must be regarded as holy; And before all the people I must be glorified.’" So Aaron held his peace. (Leviticus 10:1-3) Even Moses and Aaron, the servants God used to lead the children of Israel, had to learn the hard way that sin must be justly dealt with. When they struck the rock instead of speaking to it as God commanded, they lost the right to enter into the promised land of Canaan:
Then the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, "Because you did not believe Me, to hallow Me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them." (Numbers 20:12)

And since we have already seen that the ultimate penalty for sin is eternal torment, all this tells us two things:
w How holy God must be!
w How terrible sin must be!
As we begin to realize these things, we should see that man is in a terrible predicament. For you see, the Bible has judged that all of mankind is guilty of sin:
"...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," (Romans 3:23)
And the very nature of God (holy and just) demands separation of sinners from God and punishment for our sins!
Can man do anything to help himself? There are no "works" that a person can do to make himself innocent of the guilt of his or her sins. For example, a man who commits murder is not made innocent of that crime by living the rest of his life by the law! Yet many people think that they save themselves by balancing their good deeds against their sins. But sin of any kind is so repulsive to God’s holiness that His justice requires punishment. Look again at the sins referred to earlier:
"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." (Revelation 21:8)
Whether the sin is fear, lack of faith, lying, or murder, the "second death" is reserved for those who are guilty.

Do you think that your sins are few and therefore not worthy of such punishment? Even if you
commit just one sin, the nature of sin in the sight of a holy God is such that you are as guilty as one who broke every law:
"For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all." (James 2:10)
Since we are all sinners (Romans 3:23), it appears that we are all doomed to suffer God’s justice! Is there any way that God can be both holy and just and yet allow sinful man to be "reconciled" to Him? Yes, there is, and Jesus is The Way! We will examine how Jesus makes The Way possible in our next lesson.

God Bless,
Jim Newsted
Shamrock, Tx

Jesus, The Way To A Better Life - Part Two

Jesus, The Way
Jesus, The Way To A Better Life - Part Two

In our last lesson we looked at the cause of so much unhappiness in this world. We also seen that Jesus leads the way to true happiness and peace by teaching us to seek new goals in life. And finally, Jesus leads the way to true happiness by giving us what we do not expect!

In addition to material things, Jesus provides a form of pure pleasure or happiness:
"These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full." (John 15:11)
What kind of joy is Jesus talking about? A joy that is "unspeakable", unable to describe adequately with words, as Peter tells those Christians who were experiencing terrible persecution:
"whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory," (1 Peter 1:8)
And what about fame? Yes, if we will but follow Jesus and seek to lay up our treasure in heaven by following Him and His words, we will one day experience "fame" that is "out of this world"! Consider these passages which describes what lies ahead for the true disciples of Jesus Christ:
"When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory." (Colossians 3:4)
"When He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe, because our testimony among you was believed. Therefore we also pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith with power, that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus
Christ." (2 Thessalonians 1:10-12)
"To which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ." (2 Thessalonians 2:14)
We can look forward to sharing in the wonderful glory (fame) that Jesus Himself will have when He comes again! How much "better" could life get?

The world sets before us goals which many people cannot achieve, and even if achieved, often do not satisfy. As one of the richest men who ever lived once wrote:
"He who loves silver will not be satisfied with silver; Nor he who loves abundance, with increase. This also is vanity." (Ecclesiastes 5:10)
But Jesus places before us goals which can be achieved, and that do satisfy:
All can store up treasure in heaven
All can live for Jesus
And if there is any doubt that doing this brings lasting happiness and a much better life even now, just look at any individual you may know who is truly following Jesus. Outwardly they may be suffering persecution, social ostracism, or physical illnesses; but even then they still have that joy that is full, that peace which is unspeakable.

If you are not happy, if you are not at peace in your heart, if you are looking for a better life, why not let Jesus be "The Way" for you? Let Him take care of your problem of sin, which is the true cause of unhappiness in life! Let Him be your guide in giving you new direction in this life! Let Him be your key to "the good life"! In the following lessons we will explain how or you may contact me personally at:
jnlnewsted@nts-online.net

As Jesus Himself said:
"I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." (John 10:10)

This material is from ExecutableOutlines.com, a web site containing sermon outlines and Bible studies by Mark A. Copeland. Visit the web site to browse or download additional material for church or personal use. The outlines were developed in the course of my ministry as a preacher of the gospel. Feel free to use them as they are, or adapt them to suit your own personal style. To God be the glory!

Jesus, The Way To A Better Life - Part One

Jesus, The Way
Jesus, The Way To A Better Life - Part One
In the preceding lesson, we introduced the theme of this study as being "Jesus, The Way". In this lesson, we shall concentrate our attention on the subject "Jesus, The Way To A Better Life". The popular goal of our generation is "the good life"" This dream is not new. It has been the desire of every age and every walk of life -- of teachers and philosophers, of kings and common men. But to the truly good life, as to every good thing, Jesus is the way!

To see how this is true, consider first of all that...JESUS CORRECTS OUR MISCONCEPTIONS
Most people think of "the good life" in terms of material prosperity, pleasure, and popularity. Why do people think this? Nearly everyone would agree that two words sum up what "the good life" is all about: happiness and peace. Many suppose that material prosperity, pleasure and popularity will bring us these two things. But even a cursory observation reveals that most wealthy, high-living, famous people are extremely unhappy and lacking inner peace. Jesus, the way to true happiness and peace, corrects the misconception that such things as those mentioned above bring us happiness. He teaches that there is more to life than material possessions:
And He said to them, "Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses." (Luke 12:15)
In addition, He offers a peace which things of the world cannot give, and a joy which is complete and full:
"Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." (John 14:27)
These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full." (John 15:11) What the world cannot give, Jesus can. How does He do it?

JESUS LEADS THE WAY TO A BETTER LIFE
First, by identifying and rooting out the real problem. What is the cause of so much unhappiness in this world? What deprives so many of inner peace? Is it not things like immorality, thefts, murder? Is it not things like coveting, deceit, envy and pride? Such things destroy families, friendships, and property. What then is the cause of these things? Jesus declared that the source of all these things to be the sinful hearts of men:
"For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within and defile a man." (Mark 7:21-23)
James, the Lord's half-brother in the flesh, concurred with this diagnosis:
"Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask." (James 4:1-2)
It is one to thing to identify the problem; what has Jesus done to provide a solution? The apostle Paul explains in his letter to Titus:
"For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another. But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, 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, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life." (Titus 3:3-7)
Out of kindness, love, mercy and grace, God through Jesus Christ has saved us and made us righteous in His sight! This took place when we experienced the "washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit" (a reference to the act of baptism, in which one who believes in Jesus is truly born again of water and Spirit! - Jn 3:5). In other words, Jesus removes the problem of unhappiness and lack of inner peace by first removing the cause: Sin! But there is more...

Secondly, Jesus leads the way to true happiness and peace by teaching us to seek new goals in life. He warns us of the folly of seeking after riches:
"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal;" (Matthew 6:19)
Riches are perishable, and open to theft; therefore, He teaches us to put our treasure in heaven:
"but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal." (Matthew 6:20)
But how does one go about laying up treasure in heaven? It involves living for Jesus, even under the most adverse conditions:
"Blessed are you when men hate you, And when they exclude you, And revile you, and cast out your name as evil, For the Son of Man's sake. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy! For indeed your reward is great in heaven, For in like manner their fathers did to the prophets." (Luke 6:22-23)
Of course, living for Jesus means to follow His teachings; for example:
"But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil." (Luke 6:35)
Yes, our reward will be great, and even now we can have great happiness knowing that it can never be stolen, nor will it perish, for it is reserved for us in heaven!
Finally, Jesus leads the way to true happiness by giving us what we do not expect! Once we learn not to make material things, pleasure, and fame our goals in life, but to instead make following Jesus and His teachings our goal, He then provides us an unexpected portion of these very things!
For example, He promises the provision of those material things we need, if we will but put God first...
"Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you." (Matthew 6:31-33)
Then Peter began to say to Him, "See, we have left all and followed You." So Jesus answered and said, "Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel’s, who shall not receive a hundred fold now in this time; houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions; and in the age to come, eternal life." (Mark 10:28-30)

In part two of this lesson we will look at how Jesus provides a form of pure pleasure or happiness for us in addition to material things. There will also be included some questions to stimulate your thinking.

Introduction to Jesus, The Way - Part Two

Jesus, The Way
Introducing Jesus As The Way - Part Two

In the previous lesson we introduced Jesus as the way to a better life and the way to forgiveness of sin. But to be truly happy, we need more than just the forgiveness of sins; we need to be restored to the close union with God which we lost by our sins.

In this also, Jesus is our answer, for He is...THE WAY TO GOD
Many religions, claiming to be Christian, are almost totally silent about the new relationship Jesus provides with God, the Father. About all they seem to talk about is "Jesus, Jesus, etc." or "Holy Spirit, Holy Spirit, etc." Could this indicate a lack of real understanding of Jesus’ purpose?
Jesus came to this world to reconcile man back to God the Father. As Paul told the Corinthians: "Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. (2 Corinthians 5:18-20)

As we have already noted, Jesus claimed to be the only way to the Father: 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)
Why emphasize this point? Because one does not truly experience what it means to have "eternal life" without having an intimate relationship with the Father, as well as with the Son. And this is exactly what Jesus has to offer us! As He mentioned in His prayer before His trial and crucifixion: Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: "Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You, as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him. And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent." (John 17:1-3) Yes, that "eternal life" Jesus offers to us includes "knowing" the Father as well as the Son! The way to a better life, the way to forgiveness of sins, the way to God...what wonderful blessings!

But there is more. Jesus is also...THE WAY OUT OF RELIGIOUS CONFUSION
Consider the plight of many who wish to follow Jesus. They are confused and even repelled by the multitude of different churches and conflicting doctrines being offered by those who profess to be His church. But one does not have to be a part of this confusion! Jesus Himself certainly does not approve it. He taught us that: "Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand." (Matthew 12:25)
Before His betrayal and arrest, we find Jesus praying fervently... "I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all 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. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me." (John 17:20-23)

How can we even begin to hope to have this unity of which Jesus spoke? It helps to remember that Jesus promised to build His church: "And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it." (Matthew 16:18)
Despite the efforts of man and Satan to destroy it, or otherwise change it, they shall not prevail! Even today, when someone obeys the words of Jesus Christ, they are added by the Lord Himself to His church: "...praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved." (Acts 2:47)

In His church, we can enjoy the unity of which Paul wrote to the Ephesians... "There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. (Ephesians 4:4-6) But finding His church and enjoying this unity is experienced only as we follow Jesus as the way out of religious confusion.

Finally, let me point out that Jesus is...THE WAY TO ETERNAL LIFE
Death is inevitable (unless Jesus returns first), and as the author of the epistle to the Hebrews wrote, it is followed by judgment: "And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment," (Hebrews 9:27)

In this way, death becomes the door, either to eternal life or to eternal condemnation. In His description of the Judgment scene, Jesus outlines only two alternatives... "And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life." (Matthew 25:46)
To die in Jesus is to die in the way to life eternal! As the apostle John wrote in the book of Revelation: Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, "Write: ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’ " "Yes," says the Spirit, "that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them." (Revelation 14:13)

Yet another wonderful blessing in following Jesus as "The Way", is to find that He is the way to eternal life! I hope that I have sparked your interest in wanting to learn more about Jesus as "The Way". As I mentioned at the outset of this study, the other lessons will elaborate upon these great blessings provided only through Jesus. My purpose in this series is twofold...
w For those who are Christians, to increase their appreciation of Jesus as their Lord and Savior, so they will want to serve Him with greater zeal;
w For those who are not Christians, to encourage them to let Jesus be their way to everything that is truly good, both in this life and in the life to come!

This material is from ExecutableOutlines.com, a web site containing sermon outlines and Bible studies by Mark A. Copeland. Visit the web site to browse or download additional material for church or personal use. The outlines were developed in the course of my ministry as a preacher of the gospel. Feel free to use them as they are, or adapt them to suit your own personal style. To God be the glory!
Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2002

Introduction to Jesus, The Way - Part One

Jesus, The Way
Introducing Jesus As The Way - Part One

Note: This study is based upon an excellent Bible correspondence course program
entitled "Jesus, The Way", by Sewell Hall. I have slightly altered the order and
expanded the content.

As we begin this series of studies, I would like to start by having you ask yourself several questions:
Do you have problems?
Are you confused in things pertaining to life itself?
Do you feel lost, with a sense of despair?

If you do, don’t feel like you are alone. About the time of Abraham, a person who was experiencing a great deal of suffering said:
"Man who is born of woman is of few days and full of trouble. He comes forth like a flower and fades away; He flees like a shadow and does not continue." (Job 14:1-2)
These words, spoken nearly four thousands years ago, express the sentiments of millions today. Now, however, there is a way out: Jesus Christ! As He Himself said:
"I am the way, the truth, and the life..." (John 14:6)
Yes, to everything that is truly good, both in this life and the one to come, Jesus Christ is the way!
In this study, I want to introduce several areas in which Jesus is truly "The Way". Succeeding lessons will expand upon these themes, but in this lesson I simply wish to whet your appetite.

For example, Jesus is...THE WAY TO A BETTER LIFE
On one occasion, Jesus stated His purpose in coming to this earth:
"...I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." (John 10:10) This "abundant life" Jesus offers is more than simply life in the "hereafter". Though He does not promise wealth or luxury, He does assure us of:
A loving Father in Heaven, who cares for His children. As Jesus taught in His "Sermon on the
Mount":
"Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you." (Matthew 6:31-33)
A more than sufficient provision for those who are willing to follow Him as "The Way". As we read on another occasion:
So Jesus answered and said, "Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel’s, who shall not receive a hundred fold now in this time; houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions; and in the age to come, eternal life." (Mark 10:29-30)
Therefore, it is not surprising to find that the happiest people in the world are those who have most completely committed themselves to following Jesus as "The Way". As the apostle Paul wrote, even though he was under house arrest at the time:
"Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." (Philippians 4:11-13)
And when the apostle Peter wrote to Christians undergoing extreme forms of persecution, he could honestly say:
"In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory," (1 Peter 1:6-8)

Jesus is also...THE WAY TO FORGIVENESS OF SINS
He is the only solution to a very serious problem. The most serious threat to our well-being that we face: Sin! This is because everyone of us is guilty of sin:
"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," (Romans 3:23)
And sin is not without its consequences! Often physical, but always spiritual! Unless the problem of sin is resolved, the ultimate consequence is eternity in hell!
But through Jesus Christ, God has made provision for the forgiveness of our sins! Out of love, God offered Jesus as the "propitiation" for our sins:
"In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins." (1 John 4:9-10)
Through His blood shed on the cross, Jesus provides forgiveness for our sins:
"In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace. (Ephesians 1:7)
After His sacrificial death for us, Jesus explained how those lost in sin could be saved; it involves repentance on our part.
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." (Luke 24:47-48)
It also involves faith and baptism.
"He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned." (Mk 16:16)

This lesson will be continued in Part Two in which we will note that Jesus is the way to God and the way out of religious confusion.

That You May Believe - 13

"THAT YOU MAY BELIEVE"
They Did Not Believe In Him Part Two

We continue our lesson on why many did not believe in Jesus and why many today reject Him. We will look at two additional problems that people have for not believing in Jesus, a hardened and prejudice heart and intellectual pride.

There is also the problem of the hardened and prejudiced heart. Many were blinded by prejudice. The Pharisees were hardened by their traditions, making them blind to the miracle Jesus performed - Jn 9:13-16 "The day when Jesus made the mud and healed the man was a Sabbath. So the people took the man to the Pharisees. They asked him how he was able to see, and he answered, "Jesus made some mud and smeared it on my eyes. Then after I washed it off, I could see." Some of the Pharisees said, "This man Jesus doesn't come from God. If he did, he would not break the law of the Sabbath." Others asked, "How could someone who is a sinner work such a miracle?" Since the Pharisees could not agree among themselves," They were so hardened by their prejudices they were willing to kill Jesus despite His signs - Jn 11: 46-47 "Others went to the Pharisees and told what Jesus had done. Then the chief priests and the Pharisees called the council together and said, "What should we do? This man is working a lot of miracles." , 53 "From that day on, the council started making plans to put Jesus to death." They even were willing to kill Lazarus - Jn 12:9-11 "A lot of people came when they heard that Jesus was there. They also wanted to see Lazarus, because Jesus had raised him from death. So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus. He was the reason that many of the Jewish people were turning from them and putting their faith in Jesus."

Many are hardened by their prejudice today. Their prejudice for their traditions, creeds, denominations, etc. Their prejudice for their beliefs (e.g., evolution, humanism) which justify their lifestyles. Making them unwilling to study the Bible, to see whether their cherished beliefs are true. Yet Jesus warned about the dangers of hard hearts and blind eyes - Mt 13:15 "All of them have stubborn minds! Their ears are stopped up, and their eyes are covered. They cannot see or hear or understand. If they could, they would turn to me, and I would heal them.""
Perhaps contributing to such prejudice and hardening of the heart is another reason why many did not believe because of intellectual pride. Some were afraid of being thought of as foolish. A tactic used to persuade the soldiers not to believe - cf. Jn 7:45-48 "When the temple police returned to the chief priests and Pharisees, they were asked, "Why didn't you bring Jesus here?" They answered, "No one has ever spoken like that man!" The Pharisees said to them, "Have you also been fooled? Not one of the chief priests or the Pharisees has faith in him." Thus an appeal was made to the "wisdom" of the rulers.

Many today are hindered by intellectual pride. They don't want to be thought foolish by their professors in school. They are impressed by the many "wise" and "mighty" people who do not believe in Jesus, especially the elite media or the secular left. -- Yet God has purposely chosen foolish things to save man, to confound the arrogant and proud "scholars" of the world - 1 Co 1:18-21 "The message about the cross doesn't make any sense to lost people. But for those of us who are being saved, it is God's power at work. As God says in the Scriptures, "I will destroy the wisdom of all who claim to be wise. I will confuse those who think they know so much." What happened to those wise people? What happened to those experts in the Scriptures? What happened to the ones who think they have all the answers? Didn't God show that the wisdom of this world is foolish? God was wise and decided not to let the people of this world use their wisdom to learn about him. Instead, God chose to save only those who believe the foolish message we preach.", 26-31 "My dear friends, remember what you were when God chose you. The people of this world didn't think that many of you were wise. Only a few of you were in places of power, and not many of you came from important families. But God chose the foolish things of this world to put the wise to shame. He chose the weak things of this world to put the powerful to shame. What the world thinks is worthless, useless, and nothing at all is what God has used to destroy what the world considers important. God did all this to keep anyone from bragging to him. You are God's children. He sent Christ Jesus to save us and to make us wise, acceptable, and holy. So if you want to brag, do what the Scriptures say and brag about the Lord."

Many of the same people who reject Jesus out of intellectual pride are often guilty of rejecting Him for a reason that many people do, ignorance! They were ignorant of the facts, leading to wrong conclusions - Jn 7:40-43 "When the crowd heard Jesus say this, some of them said, "He must be the Prophet!" Others said, "He is the Messiah!" Others even said, "Can the Messiah come from Galilee? The Scriptures say that the Messiah will come from the family of King David. Doesn't this mean that he will be born in David's hometown of Bethlehem?" The people started taking sides against each other because of Jesus." They thought Jesus was born in Nazareth, not Bethlehem. There are many today rejecting Christ out of ignorance. They have not read the New Testament. They have not consider evidences for the resurrection of Jesus Christ. They have listened to what religious leaders have taught or what a creed or doctrinal book has taught them. They have rejected misconceptions or caricatures of Jesus Christ and His church -- Unlike the noble Bereans, they make little effort to get all the facts - Ac 17:11 "The people in Berea were much nicer than those in Thessalonica, and they gladly accepted the message. Day after day they studied the Scriptures to see if these things were true."

Do you believe in Jesus? If not, why not? Could it be a lack of spiritual perception? Could it be out of fear or moral cowardice? Could it be a misplaced love? Could it be a prejudiced or hardened heart? Could it be out of intellectual pride? Could it be simply out of ignorance? Don't you want to believe in Jesus? Remember what He offers you Fellowship with God ("No one comes to the Father except through Me.") Salvation from sin ("If you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins."). Guidance throughout life ("He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness."). Spiritual sustenance ("He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst."). The abundant life ("I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly."). Immortality ("I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.") Let the Word of God, in particular the Gospel of John, give you the evidence necessary to believe in Jesus, that you might have life through His name! So then faith [comes] by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. - Ro 10:17 And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; 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. - Jn 20:30-31

God Bless,
Jim Newsted
Shamrock, Tx
The town that turns green for a week every year

Join my Bible Study Group at internet-bible-studies-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
or http://groups.yahoo.com/group/internet-bible-studies/join
Even though you can't see the air, It doesn't stop you from breathing
Even though you can't see God, It doesn't stop you from believing
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