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
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Friday, December 30, 2005
Sunday, December 18, 2005
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 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!
Sunday, December 11, 2005
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.
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.
Sunday, December 04, 2005
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 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
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