
BIBLE CYBER SCHOOL
Mission: The Bible Cyber School exists to proclaim the everlasting gospel of Christ—leading people to accept Jesus as their personal Saviour and nurturing them in preparation for His soon return.
Aims and Objectives: Bible Cyber School focuses on God's love and heralds the soon return of Christ—providing hope to broken people and guidance for daily living.
As the Bible Cyber School looks to the future, it will continue to focus on sharing the love of Christ with a hurting world, while using present tools and anticipating yet-to-be-developed technology.
Vision: "Equipping the World for Christ to Come"
GREETINGS TO YOU BIBLE STUDENT. TODAY WE ARE STUDYING DISCOVER BIBLE GUIDE 1
With the Title: We Can Believe in God and we are focusing on
Section 1: entitled THE DESIGN OF the human body demands the existence of a Designer.
In today’s lesson we will discover that God Made This World and the People In It.
Key Text: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” -Genesis 1:1
Probably every person has wondered many times – who made the world? Who made the people? Why am I here? Who is God? Where is He? What is going to happen to the world and the people in it? Why do people sin? How can we know what is right? We are going to study these questions and host of others in this Bible Course. In this first lesson we shall study, “Who made this world and the people in it?” And now as you start this lesson, can you bow your head in prayer and ask the Lord to make it clear to you?
- THE DESIGN OF the human body demands the existence of a Designer.
Have you ever pondered all that’s involved in the function of the human brain?
The brain is made up of around 100 billion nerve cells. Each cell is connected to another 10,000 cells. This means that, in total, we have around 1,000 trillion connections in our brains. These are ultimately responsible for who we are. Our brains control the decisions we make, the way we move, the way we feel. The functions of the brain keep the intricate organs of the body working in harmony and balance with each other. The human brain is truly remarkable! The four parts of the brain have different functions.
For example, the cerebrum is responsible for thoughts, such as reasoning, planning, emotions, problem-solving, and perceptions. The cerebellum works to maintain balance, muscle tone, and gait. The brain stem is especially important since it deals with blood pressure, respiration, and heart rate. Finally, the limbic system controls hunger, thirst, memory, fear, and emotions. These different processes must work together. That’s the way it is with the whole human body. Lungs and heart, nerves and muscles, all perform incredibly complicated tasks that depend on other incredibly complicated tasks, directed by your brain. No wonder the psalmist concluded that the human body speaks loud and clear of a wonderful Creator: “I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well” (Psalm 139:14).
We don’t have to go far to find the “works” of God. The evidence right in our own bodies points to an infinitely skillful Designer. Consider the chances of a stomach, brain, heart, lungs, arteries, veins, kidneys, ears, eyes, and teeth all developing together and beginning to function at the same moment in time. What is the most reasonable explanation for the design of the human body? “Then God said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness’ . . . . so God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them” (Genesis 1:26, 27). The first man and woman could not just have happened. The Bible affirms that God designed us in His image. He is the great Engineering Intelligence who designed us and brought us into being.
Let’s now focus on two thought Questions:
- The design of the human body is evidence of a Creator. (True or False)
- Human beings were created in the image of angels. (True or False)
Be blessed as you meditate on these truths.
GREETINGS TO YOU BIBLE STUDENT. TODAY WE ARE STUDYING DISCOVER BIBLE GUIDE 1
With the Title: We Can Believe in God and we are focusing on
Section 2: entitled Everything Made Has a Maker
EVIDENCE for God is not confined to the design of our bodies; it’s also spread across the heavens. Using NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope, astronomers can now precisely measure the distance of stars up to 10,000 light years away—10 times farther than previously possible. The Hubble Telescope, launched in 1990, is still sending back valuable data. During June and July of 2012, astronomers using Hubble discovered a tiny fifth moon, previously unknown, moving around the icy dwarf planet, Pluto. Look up into the starry night sky. There are millions of stars and galaxies—all moving at incomprehensible speeds, perfectly balanced, perfectly synchronized in space—orbits within orbits, proceeding on track and on time. Who orchestrates this marvelous dance? Is it all just occurring without design or direction?
The psalmist concluded that the stars speak of a glorious Maker. “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork. Day unto day utters speech, and night unto night reveals knowledge. There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard” (Psalm 19:1-3). What can we reasonably conclude by looking at the intricate design and vast size of the universe? “He [God] is before all things, and in Him all things consist” (Colossians 1:17). All creation boldly testifies: “God designed! God created!” From the perfect balance of proton and electron in the atom to the whirl of planets around the sun, we find evidence of a master plan, a Master Thinker, of God the Master Designer and the Infinite Creator.
When an anthropologist, digging in the sands of New Mexico, comes across an arrowhead that has been chiseled into shape, he immediately concludes that a Native American created the object. He will even attempt to assign a date to the arrowhead and determine the tribe to which it belonged. No anthropologist ever argues that arrowheads got there by chance. No one has attempted to explain that lightning or wind or water could have shaped these objects. It seems perfectly obvious to everyone that a human being made them. Yet when many scientists dig up fossils, evidence of living things from the past, they make a very different assumption. They don’t see the hand of a Creator; they assume these creatures must have been produced by the blind forces of nature, that they just naturally evolved.
The animal fossils we discover, even those buried deepest in the geologic layers, represent creatures infinitely more complex than any arrowhead. So why not draw the obvious conclusion? Someone had to create them! The Bible suggests a logical answer to the question of origins: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1). In these simple words, “In the beginning God,” we find the answer to the mystery of life. The first doctrine recorded in the Bible is that there is a God; in fact, this first verse in the Bible tells us of His mighty act of creation. Dr. Arthur Compton, Nobel Prize-winning physicist, commenting on this verse of Scripture, once said: “For myself, faith begins with a realization that a supreme intelligence brought the universe into being and created man. It is not difficult for me to have this faith, for it is incontrovertible that where there is a plan there is intelligence—an orderly, unfolding universe testifies to the truth of the most majestic statement ever uttered—‘In the beginning God.’”
GREETINGS TO YOU BIBLE STUDENT. TODAY WE ARE STUDYING DISCOVER BIBLE GUIDE 1
With the Title: We Can Believe in God and we are focusing on
Section: 3. Entitled God Comes Into Personal Relationships With People Part one
BEFORE PROCEEDING TO SECTION 3; LETS CONCLUDE SECTION 2: Many great scientific minds believe in God. The book Behind the Dim Unknown, edited by John Clover Monsma, contains 26 chapters, each chapter written by a scientific researcher who is both a specialist in his field and also a Christian. Each author emphasizes the same fundamental truth—God exists. In the words, “In the beginning God,” we find the foundation of all existence. The Bible does not attempt to prove God—it declares His existence. That God exists is proven by our own existence and also by the existence of the things we see around us. Every effect must have an adequate cause. There is design in this world, hence there must be a Designer. The things around us cry out that God designed, God created, God sustains. Only life—or its ultimate Source—produces life. The only plausible answer to the origin of the universe, this world, and human beings, according to the Bible—is God.
Thought questions:
- The Bible states that God created the heavens and the earth. (True or False)
- God Comes Into Personal Relationships With People: THE GOD WHO designed the starry heavens, who created the universe, comes into personal relationships with people. Deep in the mind and heart of every individual, God has revealed a knowledge of His existence. He is “the true Light which gives light to every man” (John 1:9). The Bible asserts that our Creator seeks personal relationships with us. Abraham “was called the friend of God” (James 2:23). “The Lord spoke to Moses . . . as a man speaks to his friend” (Exodus 33:11). And God will enter into a personal relationship with you and become your Friend. Jesus promised those who follow Him: “You are My friends” (John 15:14).
About 2,500 years ago, a group of Greek philosophers discussed the question, “What is the briefest possible definition of man?” Plato suggested: “Man is a two-legged animal.”
Another philosopher, however, exposed this definition’s limitations by fetching a rooster. He held it up and said, “Behold Plato’s man!” They pondered in silence a few moments until one of the thinkers exclaimed, “I have it! Man is a religious animal.” That’s it in a nutshell. Humanity is incurably religious. We alone feel a sense of need for a Higher Power. All of us, whether atheistic or devout, have wrestled with the idea of God. We’re distinguished from animals by our imagination and reason, and by our will to choose right or wrong. No animal ever builds an altar for worship. Yet everywhere you find men and women, you find them worshipping. Deep within every human heart is a desire to worship, a consciousness of God. God has placed within all of us a desire to come into companionship with Him. When we respond to our longing and find God, there is no longer a doubt about His existence and our need.
A Christian believes in God because he or she has met Him and has discovered that He satisfies the heart’s deepest needs. The God whom Christians have joyfully found to exist gives us a new perspective, new meaning, new motives, new purposes, and new joys.
God doesn’t promise a life free from trouble and conflict, but He does assure us that He will guide and sustain us if we come into a personal relationship with Him. And millions of Christians will testify that they would give up everything rather than go back to a life without God. This is the greatest wonder of all—that the Almighty God who designed all creatures and created and sustains the galaxies also desires a personal relationship with every man and woman, boy and girl. Be blessed as you meditate upon these truths
GREETINGS TO YOU BIBLE STUDENT. TODAY WE ARE STUDYING DISCOVER BIBLE GUIDE 1
With the Title: We Can Believe in God and we are focusing on
Section: 3. Entitled God Comes Into Personal Relationships With People Part two
David marveled at the thought that God desires a personal relationship with every man and woman, boy and girl and he wrote: “When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained, what is man that You are mindful of him?” (Psalm 8:3, 4). Our Creator is “mindful” of each one of us. He takes as personal an interest in you as if you were the only being He had created. He says:
“Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore, with lovingkindness I have drawn you” (Jeremiah 31:3).
Now, it’s only reasonable that a personal God would want to reveal Himself to His created beings just as a father desires that his children know him. And God reveals Himself to us in the Bible. (Guide 2 will give evidence that the Bible is a reliable Book given to us by the God who created us.)
Thought Questions: The Bible teaches that we as humans cannot be God’s friends, because He is divine and we are human. (True or False)
Let’s quickly proceed to Section 4 with the Title, What Kind of God Is He? IN THE BIBLE, God tells us who He is and what He is like. What pattern did God use for creating men and women? “So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them” (Genesis 1:27). We are made in God’s image. He created us to have a personal relationship with Him. Our abilities to reflect and feel, to remember and hope, to ponder and analyze—all are derived from Him. Since God has a personality, what is His dominant trait? “God is love” (1 John 4:8).
God relates to human beings out of His own heart of love. There is nothing He has done or ever will do that is not motivated by a selfless, sacrificial love.
Thought questions: God is love. (True or False)
In Section 5. we learn about how Jesus Reveals What God Is Like: WHICH FAMILY MEMBER gives us an idea of what God is like? “Have we not all one Father? Has not one God created us?” (Malachi 2:10). In the Bible, God repeatedly speaks of Himself as a Father. Some of the father images we see today are anything but desirable. There are neglectful dads, abusive dads, and dads who don’t seem to care. God is not like that. Rather, He is a caring, sensitive Father. He is the kind of Father who loves to spend time with His son or daughter, the kind of Father who makes life fun and enjoyable.
God, our loving Father, wanted to do more than reveal Himself through the words of Scripture. He knew that a person we live with is much more real to us than someone we only hear about or read about in a book. So He decided to enter our world as a real Person.
God came down to our level—He became like us—so He could teach us how to live and be happy, and how to have eternal life. It enabled us to see what God is really like
Be blessed as you meditate upon these truths
GREETINGS TO YOU BIBLE STUDENT. TODAY WE ARE STUDYING DISCOVER BIBLE GUIDE 1
With the Title: We Can Believe in God and we are focusing on
Section 5 part two: How Jesus Reveals What God Is Like.
Today’s lesson will answer the question; How did God visit the world as a Person?
“She [Mary] will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). “'Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,’ which is translated, ‘God with us’” (Matthew 1:23). God came down to our world in the Person of Jesus.
A small boy and his older brother were standing before a large portrait of their father who had died when the younger boy was a baby. “Tell me,” the younger brother said, “just what was Father like? The older boy attempted to tell his little brother something about their father. He described his strength. He said he was a good man, kind and handsome. He was friendly, and people liked to be with him. He was always gentle with Mother. He made people happy. The older boy attempted to tell his little brother something about their father. He described his strength. He said he was a good man, kind and handsome. He was friendly, and people liked to be with him. He was always gentle with Mother. He made people happy.
In spite of all the older brother could say, the small boy could not form a satisfying picture of his father. He wanted so much to know what his father was like. At last he interrupted his brother with the question, “Tell me one thing, Henry, was Father anything like you?” The older boy hesitated a moment, then said: “Well, friends of ours who knew Father best say that I’m the living image of him. And even Mother says the same.” With his heart all aglow, the small boy walked away, saying: “Now I know exactly what my dad was like. He was just like my brother, Henry.”
Jesus came to our world as God in human flesh. Jesus is “the Son of God” (Mark 15:39)—God made visible, the thought of God made audible. Jesus Himself said, “He who has seen Me has seen the Father” (John 14:9). So if you have seen Jesus, you have seen God Himself. Whenever you want to know what God is like, just look at Jesus as the Bible reveals Him. As you read the story of Jesus in the four Gospels, the first four books of the New Testament, you will discover a fascinating portrait of our Heavenly Father. Rough, self-sufficient fishermen dropped their nets to follow Jesus, and small children flocked to receive His blessing. He could comfort the most devastated sinners and disarm the most self-righteous hypocrites. He healed everything from blindness to leprosy with the quiet assurance of a doctor prescribing a couple of aspirin.
His two-word command: “Be still!” forced a violent storm to calm down like a disobedient child brought suddenly to his senses. In all His actions, Jesus demonstrated that God is love. He met human needs in a way no one had ever done before Him—or has since!
Jesus’ final glorious revelation of what God is like happened at the cross. That’s where He died for us. How do we benefit from Christ’s death? “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). Jesus died not only to give us a happier, fulfilled life now, but also to give us eternal life. Jesus is God’s “only begotten Son”—He is unique, one of a kind. He is the one and only Being who is both fully God and fully man.
For many ages, people wondered about, hoped for, and dreamed about God. Many thought to themselves, “If only God were like this!” or “If only God were like that!” But the beautiful, self-sacrificing life of Jesus and His death on the cross revealed God more clearly than ever. People found themselves looking into the very face of God, seeing Him as He really is: love—eternal and immortal love! You can discover God right now as Jesus reveals Him in the pages of the Bible. That discovery has led many people to decide: “I want a personal relationship with the One who created me and loves me.”
Thought questions: God loved the world so much that He gave His Son, Jesus, as our Saviour from sin (Trueor False)
Please consider accepting the invitation to have a relationship with Jesus
MY PRAYER: If you've never prayed before, that's okay. Here is a short prayer to get you started, if you want to read these words aloud to God or say them silently in your head to Him. You can also take this prayer and make it your own by paraphrasing or add your own words to it. Try to think of talking to God like you would talk to a friend, saying whatever is on your heart.
Father, thank You for creating this world for me to enjoy; thank You for creating me and loving me so much, that You are willing to guide my life. I ask You to meet my personal needs and to lead me as I read the Bible. I ask this in the name of Jesus, Amen.
MY DECISION: Take a moment to reflect on the following statements, placing a Yes or No in your inbox message: I would like to say “Thank You” to God for creating me and the wonderful world around me. Yes
I want to thank Him for His great love for me personally. Yes
If you answered yes to the above statements, you did well
Be blessed as you meditate upon these truths
Please take the quiz to complete this lesson
LESSON 1 QUIZ
GREETINGS TO YOU BIBLE STUDENT. TODAY WE ARE STUDYING DISCOVER BIBLE GUIDE 2 With the Title: We Can Believe the Bible and we are focusing on
Section 1: entitled How God Speaks to Us Through the Bible.
AFTER CREATING ADAM and Eve, the first man and woman on earth, God spoke to them face-to-face. But when God came to visit with Adam and Eve after they sinned, what did the couple do? “They [Adam and Eve] heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden” (Genesis 3:8). Sin interrupted face-to-face contact with God.
After sin came to our world, how did God communicate with people? “Surely the Lord God does nothing, unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets” (Amos 3:7). God has not left us in the dark concerning life and its meaning. Through His prophets—people God called to speak and write for Him—He has revealed His answers to life’s great questions.
Thought questions:
- Before sin came to our world, God spoke face-to-face with Adam and Eve. (True or False)
- After sin came into our world, God spoke to people through prophets. (True or False)
Let’s now proceed to Section 2: entitled Who Wrote the Bible? THE PROPHETS SHARED God’s messages by voice and pen while they lived, and when they died, their writings lived after them. These prophetic messages were then gathered together, under God’s leading, in the book we call the Bible.
But how reliable are these writings? From the Bible we read “No prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter 1:20, 21). The Holy Spirit revealed to the prophets the messages of Scripture. The writers of the Bible wrote not according to their own will or whim, but only as they were moved, or directed, by the Spirit of God. The Bible is God’s own Book! In the Bible, God tells us about Himself and reveals His purposes for the human race. The Bible is a book of history, of prophecy, and of promise, outlining God’s whole plan of salvation. It not only shows God’s view of the past, but also opens up the future, telling us how the problem of evil will finally be resolved and how peace will finally come to our world.
Is the entire Bible a message from God? “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16, 17). The Holy Bible affects human beings so profoundly because all of the Bible is “given by inspiration of God.” It’s more than a nice collection of moral principles; it’s more than a great book; it’s an inspired document, God’s Book. The prophets related what they saw and heard in human language, but their message came directly from God.
If you want to know what life is all about, honestly and prayerfully read the Holy Scriptures. You’ll find your attitude and outlook gradually changing. The more you study—and are thus exposed to the Spirit of God, the real author of the Bible— the more peace of mind you’ll experience. The same Holy Spirit—who inspired the prophets to write the Bible—will make the Bible’s teachings effective in transforming your life if you invite the Spirit to be present as you read it
Thought question: Only parts of the Bible are inspired by God. (True or False)
Be Blessed as you meditate upon these truths
GREETINGS TO YOU BIBLE STUDENT. TODAY WE ARE STUDYING DISCOVER BIBLE GUIDE 2 With the Title: We Can Believe the Bible and we are focusing on
Section 3: entitled The Unity of the Bible
THE BIBLE is actually a library of 66 books. The 39 books of the Old Testament were composed from about 1450 to 400 BC; the 27 books of the New Testament were written between ad 50 and 100. Moses, a prophet, began the first five books of the Bible sometime before 1400 BC. The Apostle John penned the last book of the Bible, Revelation, about AD 95. During the 1,500 years between the writing of the first and last books of the Bible, at least 38 other inspired writers made their contributions.
The various Bible writers lived at different times, some separated by hundreds of years. In many cases, they were complete strangers to one another. Some were businessmen or traders, others were shepherds, fishermen, soldiers, physicians, preachers, kings—human beings from all walks of life. They served under different governments and lived within contrasting cultures and systems of philosophy. But here is the wonder of it all: When the 66 books of the Bible with their 1,189 chapters made up of over 31,000 verses are brought together, we find perfect unity and harmony in the message they convey. As the great Bible scholar F. F. Bruce noted: “The Bible is not simply an anthology; there is a unity which binds the whole together.”
Suppose a man should knock at your door and, when invited in, places an oddly shaped piece of marble on your living room floor, then leaves without a word. Other visitors follow in succession until about 40 individuals have each deposited their numbered marble piece into place. When the last person has gone, you see with surprise that a beautiful statue stands before you. Then you learn that most of the “sculptors” have never met each other, since they come from places as diverse as South America, China, Russia, Africa, and other parts of the world. What would you have to conclude? You’d realize that someone had planned the statue and had sent to each person accurate specifications for his or her particular piece of marble.
The Bible as a whole communicates one coherent message— just like a perfect marble statue. One mind planned it all—the mind of God. Scripture’s remarkable unity gives evidence that it is not simply human literature but, indeed, the Word of God. Human beings wrote down the thoughts and words in the Bible as they were inspired by God Himself.
Key Points: The entire Bible a message from God. “The Bible is not simply an anthology; there is a unity which binds the whole together.” The Bible as a whole communicates one coherent message. We Can Believe the Bible.
Be blesses as you meditate upon these truths.
Greetings To You Bible Student. Today We Are Studying Discover Bible Guide 2;
Title: We Can Believe The Bible.
Section 4: Entitled Three Reasons You Can Trust The Bible.
- THE REMARKABLE PRESERVATION OF THE BIBLE. All of the early manuscripts of the Bible were copied by hand—long before there were printing presses. Scribes made copies of the original manuscripts and distributed them. Thousands of copies of these manuscripts or portions of them still survive. Hebrew manuscripts of the Old Testament that go back 150 to 200 years before Christ were found near the Dead Sea in 1947. It’s amazing that these 2,000-year-old scrolls contain exactly the same truths as we find in the Old Testament of Bibles printed today. This is powerful evidence of how reliably God’s Word has been transmitted to us.
The apostles first wrote much of the New Testament as letters they sent to Christian churches established after the death and resurrection of Christ (Colossians 4:16). More than 4,500 manuscripts of all or a part of the New Testament are on display in the great museums and libraries of Europe and America. Some of them date back to the 2nd century. By comparing these early manuscripts with today’s Bible, we can readily see that the New Testament has also remained essentially unchanged since it was first written. Remarkably enough, we are much more certain about the original text of the Bible than we are about the original text of Shakespeare’s plays.
Sir Frederic Kenyon, who for many years served as director of the British Museum, assures us: “The Christian can take the whole Bible in his hand and say without fear or hesitation that he holds in it the true Word of God, handed down without essential loss from generation to generation throughout the centuries” (Our Bible and the Ancient Manuscripts). Today, the Bible or portions of it have been translated into more than 2,800 languages and dialects. God’s Word remains the world’s bestseller; over 100 million Bibles are printed each year.
- THE REMARKABLE HISTORICAL ACCURACY OF THE BIBLE. At the time the United States was becoming a nation, many were sceptical about the accuracy of Scripture. They doubted the Bible record because they could not prove biblical events from the documents of secular history. Scripture spoke of battles, cities, and even entire civilizations that secular historians did not mention. Today, many archaeological discoveries have dramatically confirmed the accuracy of the biblical record. Historians have discovered clay tablets and stone monuments which have brought to light names, places, and events previously known only from the Bible.
For example, according to Genesis 11:31, Abraham and his family “went out . . . from Ur of the Chaldeans to go to the land of Canaan.” Because only the Bible spoke of Ur, certain scholars stated that no such city had ever existed. Then archaeologists uncovered a temple tower in southern Iraq with a cylinder at the base written in cuneiform that contained the name Ur. Later finds revealed Ur as the thriving metropolis of a highly developed civilization. That city’s identity had been forgotten and lost to later historians. Only the Bible preserved its name—until the shovel of the archaeologist confirmed its authenticity.
- THE ACCURATE FULFILLMENT OF BIBLE PREDICTIONS SHOWS THAT YOU CAN TRUST THE BIBLE. Our confidence in the Word of God can also be strengthened by a look at Bible prophecies. Scripture contains many remarkable predictions of future events that are now being fulfilled before our very eyes. You will discover that God revealed the entire future course of history in advance from 606 BC (before Christ) right down the centuries to our day. This prophecy also looks into the future and tells us what is coming in our world today.
Thought question: Bible history is not dependable and accurate. (True or False)
Key points: Bible history is dependable and accurate. We Can Trust The Bible because of its remarkable preservation; it’s remarkable historical accuracy; and the accurate fulfilment of bible predictions
Greetings To You Bible Student. Today We Are Studying Discover Bible Guide 2;
Title: We Can Believe The Bible.
Section 5: Entitled How to Understand the Bible
REMEMBER THAT the Bible is not some historical document that only scholars can understand. Some of the most exciting biblical insights have come from ordinary people with ordinary education, who simply responded to the Bible as a personal letter from Jesus. As you explore God’s Word, here are seven important principles to keep in mind:
- STUDY THE BIBLE WITH A PRAYERFUL HEART. If you approach Scripture with a heart and mind opened through prayer, the Word truly becomes a personal experience with Jesus. Remember to invite the Spirit in as your teacher when you open the Bible:
“When He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth . . . and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you” (John 16:13, 14).
- READ THE BIBLE DAILY. Paul commended the Berean Christians because “they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out” what was true (Acts 17:11). Daily Bible study is a key to power in our lives (Romans 1:16).
iii. STUDY THE BIBLE CAREFULLY. Paul told Timothy to study the Bible as “a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). Don’t just grab any stray text that seems to suit your opinions or inclinations. Look as carefully and as objectively as possible at what is being said in the passage. Reading the Bible is an encounter with the mind of God.
- STUDY THE BIBLE VERSE BY VERSE, CHAPTER BY CHAPTER, AND BOOK BY BOOK. As you read it, let the Bible speak for itself. Since the Bible is a message from Jesus, it is not just true; it is the test of all truth (Isaiah 8:20). So we should never let any “religious” belief or principle explain away any part of Scripture. Trying to make the Bible fit into a preconceived idea will only cause us to distort the Scriptures to our “own destruction” (2 Peter 3:16, KJV). Make sure you understand each statement of the Bible in the light of its context: who is being spoken to, what problem it refers to, what other statements surround it, etc. The key question is: What did the Bible writer intend to say? After grasping what a text means, we can apply it intelligently to our lives today.
- STUDY THE BIBLE BY SUBJECT. To really understand Bible truth, we must let the Bible be its own interpreter. How? By comparing Scripture with Scripture. Jesus used this method to demonstrate that He was the Messiah: “And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself” (Luke 24:27). By putting together all that the Bible has to say on a certain subject, we gain a balanced perspective; we can more accurately reflect on God’s point of view. For example, how do you find the secrets of successful prayer? First, gather together all the statements made by the prophets, Jesus, and the apostles, plus the prayer-related promises and principles they gave. Then prayerfully let the Bible explain itself. In this way, we can come to understand what God means, and not just what some person thinks or what some church asserts.
- STUDY THE BIBLE TO RECEIVE POWER TO LIVE FOR CHRIST. The Word of God is described in Hebrews 4:12 as a sharp, double-edged sword. It’s more than words on a page; it’s a living weapon that God uses to help you fight off the most persistent temptations.
vii. LISTEN AS GOD SPEAKS TO YOU THROUGH HIS WORD. If a person is to know the Bible truth about a certain subject or doctrine, then he or she must be willing to follow what it teaches. “If anyone wills to do His (God’s) will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority” (John 7:17).
viii. STUDY THE BIBLE TO RECEIVE POWER TO LIVE FOR CHRIST. The Word of God is described in Hebrews 4:12 as a sharp, double-edged sword. It’s more than words on a page; it’s a living weapon that God uses to help you fight off the most persistent temptations.
Thought questions:
- We should hold on to our beliefs even if they contradict the Bible. (True or False)
- God speaks to us through the Bible (True or False)
iii. By comparing all that the Bible has to say on a subject, we can gain a balanced view. (True or False)
Greetings to You Bible Student. Today We Are Studying Discover Bible Guide 2;
Title: We Can Believe the Bible.
Section 6: Entitled the Bible Can Change Your Life
WHAT IS THE EFFECT of the Bible in a person’s life? “The entrance of Your words gives light; it gives under- standing to the simple” (Psalm 119:130). Studying the Bible will strengthen the “understanding,” the intellect, as no other book. If you deeply examine the Bible and absorb its teachings into your life, it will give you the strength to overcome destructive habits, and enable you to develop completely—physically, mentally, morally, and spiritually.
The Bible speaks to the heart. It deals with the experiences of humanity—birth, love, marriage, parenthood, and death. Scripture heals the deepest wound in human nature—humanity’s fall into sin and the misery resulting from it. Rosaria was an atheist university professor who said, “I despised Christians. Then, somehow, I became one.” A Christian friend began talking to Rosaria openly and honestly about God. He didn’t pressure her; he simply was her friend. Rosaria recalls, “I started reading the Bible. I read the way a glutton devours [food].” Before long, another friend warned her, “Rosaria, this Bible reading is changing you.” “I continued reading the Bible,” Rosaria said, “all the while fighting the idea that it was inspired. But the Bible . . . overflowed into my world. . . . I fought with everything I had. I did not want this. . . . But God’s promises rolled in like sets of waves into my world. . . . Then, one ordinary day, I came to Jesus. Jesus triumphed!”
God’s Word is not a book of one race, one age, one nation, or one culture. Although written in the East, it also appeals to men and women in the West. It enters the apartment of the humble and the mention of the wealth children love its exciting stories. Its heroes inspire young people. The sick, the lonely, and the aged discover in it comfort and hope for a better life. Because God works through the Bible, it has great power. It even reaches hearts hardened against all human emotion, softening and filling them with love. We have seen the Bible change a former thief and opium smoker into a zealous preacher. We have seen the Bible turn a liar and a cheat into an honest and upright teacher. And we have seen it snatch people from the brink of suicide and give them a hopeful new beginning. The Bible awakens love among enemies. It makes the proud humble and the selfish generous. The Bible strengthens us in weakness, cheers us in uncertainty, and soothes us when we’re weary. It shows men and women how to live courageously and how to die without fear. God’s Book, the Bible, can change your life too! You’ll see that more and more clearly as you continue studying the Discover Guides.
For what reason was the Bible written for us? Jesus answers: “The Scriptures . . . testify of Me”(John 5:39). “These [things] are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name” (John 20:31).
The greatest reason we should become acquainted with the Holy Scriptures is that it is full of pictures that reveal Jesus Christ and assure us of eternal life. By looking at Christ throughout the Bible, we are changed and become more like Him (2 Corinthians 3:18). That is Scripture’s real purpose. This will become even clearer as you study Guides 3 through 6.
Begin now to discover the written Word, the living Word, as God uses it to make us more like Jesus.
MY PRAYER: If you've never prayed before, that's okay. Here is a short prayer to get you started, if you want to read these words aloud to God or say them silently in your head to Him. You can also take this prayer and make it your own by paraphrasing or add your own words to it. Try to think of talking to God like you would talk to a friend, saying whatever is on your heart. Dear Father in heaven: I thank You for the Bible. I ask You to help me understand Your Word and apply its truths to my life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
MY DECISION
Take a moment to reflect on the following statements, placing a check mark next to each statement you relate to.
I thank God for giving me the Bible.
I want to spend time with God’s Word and experience the changed life that comes from studying the Bible.
Be blessed as you meditate upon these truths
Please take the quiz to complete this lesson
LESSON 2 QUIZ
GREETINGS TO YOU BIBLE STUDENT. TODAY WE ARE STUDYING DISCOVER BIBLE GUIDE 3 With the Title: Does My Life Really Matter to God? and we are focusing on
Section 1: entitled 1. God Created a Perfect World.
Introduction: Some mornings, the world seems to be filled with sunshine, security, and joy. But other mornings, the world feels like a dark place of pain and unending misery. How can life be so beautiful at times and so hopeless at others? What does it all mean? What can you do when life appears to have no purpose and nothing seems fair? Does your life really matter to God? Does He have a plan?
- God Created a Perfect World: LET’S START WITH the fact that God is the Creator—the Architect and Designer of everything from supernovas to butterfly wings. How long did it take God to perform His mighty miracle of creation? “By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, and all the host of them by the breath of His mouth. . . . For He spoke, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast” (Psalm 33:6-9). God has only to speak, and the electrons, protons, and neutrons hurry off to obey His will. He is all-powerful and does not need long ages of time to accomplish His purposes. We limit His power if we say that God requires millions of years to bring about the evolution of the world or its creatures. He can take time if He chooses, or He can dispense with it altogether.
Thought question: i. At creation, God spoke and the heavens were made. (True or False)
- Six Days to Make Our World: HOW LONG DID GOD DECIDE He would take to make our world? “In six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore, the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it” (Exodus 20:11). The eternal, all-powerful Creator could have formed the world in a moment “by the breath of His mouth.” But He chose to take six days to do it. He didn’t need six days—six minutes would have been sufficient, or even six seconds. The first chapter in the Bible, Genesis 1, describes what God created on each day of creation week:
What crowning masterpiece of creation did God bring into existence on the sixth day? The Bible gives us an answer: “Then God said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over . . . all the earth’. . . . So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them” (Genesis 1:26, 27).
God decided to create individuals like Himself who could reason and feel and love. We are made in God’s “image.” This assurance from the Bible helps us understand ourselves and our worth in God’s eyes. “The Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being” (Genesis 2:7).
On the sixth day, the world was filled with plants and animals, and then God was ready to introduce His masterpiece of creation. The Almighty formed Adam’s body from the dust of the ground. So when God breathed “the breath of life” into his nostrils, man became “a living being”—that is, he came to life. God named the first man Adam, a word that simply means “man” (Genesis 2:19, 20). And to complete His act of creating people in His image, God made the first woman, called Eve, which means “living” (Genesis 2:18-25; 3:20). A loving Creator saw the need for human companionship. Fresh from God’s hand, Adam and Eve both reflected His image. God could have programmed them to love and praise Him on cue. But God wanted a real relationship. Animals make nice house pets, but they can’t carry on a meaningful conversation. Robots can perform useful tasks, but they can’t love. That’s why God made people. He made us in His image with the capacity to think and choose and love. Adam and Eve were the crown of God’s creation. They were His children, and therefore inexpressibly dear to Him.
Thought question: God created Adam and Eve on the sixth day of creation. (True or False)
Be blessed as you meditate upon these truths.
GREETINGS TO YOU BIBLE STUDENT. TODAY WE ARE STUDYING DISCOVER BIBLE GUIDE 3 With the Title: Does My Life Really Matter to God? and we are focusing on
Section 2: entitled Evil Comes to a Perfect World
WHEN GOD CREATED Adam and Eve, they had everything to make them happy. They enjoyed perfect physical and mental health, living in a beautiful garden home in a flawless world (Genesis 1:28-31). God promised them children, the ability to creatively think, and satisfaction in the work of their hands (Genesis 1:28; 2:15). They experienced face-to-face friendship with their Maker (Genesis 3:8). No trace of worry, fear, or sickness marred their perfect days. We can still, on occasion, catch an echo of that original Eden during moments when life seems indescribably precious. But what about the other side of life? How did the world change so drastically into a place of suffering and tragedy? The second and third chapters of Genesis tell the entire story of how sin entered our world. Read them at your leisure. Here is a brief summary of their contents:
Sometime after God established a perfect world, the devil came to the Garden of Eden to tempt Adam and Eve into disobeying their Creator. God limited the devil’s sphere of influence to one tree in the garden, the “tree of the knowledge of good and evil.” And He warned the first human couple to stay clear of this tree—that they should never eat its fruit, because that action would result in death. But one day, Eve wandered near the forbidden tree. The devil quickly launched into his sales pitch. He claimed God had lied to her and that if she ate the tree’s fruit, she wouldn’t die but would become wise like God Himself, knowing good and evil. Until then, Adam and Eve had known only good. Tragically, Eve, and then Adam, allowed the devil to con them, and they sampled the forbidden fruit—thus breaking their bond of trust and obedience with God. God planned for Adam and Eve to “rule” over our world as the stewards of His created works (Genesis 1:26). But because they broke faith with God and, by default, chose the devil as their new leader, the couple lost their jurisdiction. That was the first critical step that eventually led to a planet in rebellion against God. Today, the devil claims the world as his turf and tries his best to enslave its people.
Many times, we find ourselves doing something selfish or even cruel when we really want to do the opposite. Why? It’s because there is an evil force at work in our world. The invisible enemy, the devil, works to make people fail morally. Many of the senseless, vicious crimes we read about with dismay are the result of individuals who have consciously or unconsciously given themselves over to the control of this evil power. They find themselves doing things they could not have imagined before. As you read chapter 3 of Genesis, you will discover that sin caused Adam and Eve to hide from God in fear. Sin affected all of creation adversely (Romans 8:19-22). It was like throwing a wrench in a smoothly running machine. Thorns appeared along with the flowers. The soil suffered from drought, and labor became a burden. Disease began to strike at random. Jealousy, animosity, suspicion, and greed started multiplying human miseries. Most terrible of all, with sin came death!
Thought question:
- God told Adam and Eve that eating of the “tree of knowledge of good and evil” would make them wise. (True or False)
- Adam ate of the forbidden fruit and gave it to Eve. (True or False)
Be Blessed as you meditate upon these truths
GREETINGS TO YOU BIBLE STUDENT. TODAY WE ARE STUDYING DISCOVER BIBLE GUIDE 3 With the Title: Does My Life Really Matter to God? and we are focusing on
Section 3: entitled: Who Is This Devil Who Infected Our World With Sin?
THE NEW TESTAMENT mentions the devil, or Satan, nearly 100 times. The Bible clearly teaches that there is a real, personal devil. What insight does Jesus give us into the character of the devil? “He [the devil] was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it” (John 8:44).
According to Jesus, the devil is the originator of sin in the universe, the “father” of sin—and thus of murder and lying. Thomas Carlyle, the great English philosopher, once took Ralph Waldo Emerson through some of the worst streets of London’s East End. As they walked along, silently observing the wretchedness and evil around them, Carlyle finally asked, “Do you believe in the devil now?” We might extend such a walk to the hospitals, prisons, and cities of today’s world, or follow the TV cameras into battles that maim and kill innocent civilians, and then ask, “Do you believe in the devil now?”
Thought question: The devil is the originator of sin. (True or False)
- Did God Create the Devil? ACCORDING TO JESUS, where did the devil come from?
“I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven” (Luke 10:18). How does the Bible further describe the devil’s fall from heaven? “And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him” (Revelation 12:7-9).
Did God create the devil? No! Everything God makes is perfect. A good God would not create a devil. And yet the Bible states that the devil, along with the angels he had deceived, lost their place in heaven and came to our world where he carried out a successful coup, taking dominion of the world from Adam and Eve.
Where did the devil come from? How did he get into heaven in the first place?
“You were the anointed cherub who covers; I established you. . . . You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, till iniquity was found in you” (Ezekiel 28:14, 15).
According to this passage, God did not create the devil. He created a perfect angel, and this angel gradually turned himself into a devil. Satan was one of heaven’s leading angels, standing next to God’s throne. But then he sinned—“iniquity was found” in him. Expelled from heaven and posing as Adam and Eve’s friend, he became humanity’s deadliest enemy.
When you see cartoons portraying the devil with horns, a tail, and split hooves, remember this image is not from the Bible. In Scripture, we discover that God’s great enemy was once the most beautiful and wisest of the holy angels, a leading angel, standing next to God’s throne.
Thought Question:
- God created a wicked devil. (True or False)
GREETINGS TO YOU BIBLE STUDENT. TODAY WE ARE STUDYING DISCOVER BIBLE GUIDE 3 With the Title: Does My Life Really Matter to God? and we are focusing on
Section 5: entitled: Why Did the Devil Sin?
IF GOD CREATED THE DEVIL as a perfect angel, then how did this angel become a sinner? “How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, you who weakened the nations! For you have said in your heart: ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God. . . . I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High’” (Isaiah 14:12-14).
The being who became the devil was originally called Lucifer,meaning “day star” or “shining one.” Somehow, in this angel’s heart, vanity and ambition began to take the place of devotion. The seed of pride grew into an obsession to actually take God’s place. God had already given him a very high position in heaven as a leader of the angels. But he wanted even more. Growing more and more jealous of God, he sought to seize God’s throne.
Lucifer must have worked very hard to persuade other heavenly beings that he had a better plan. It is easy to imagine Satan arguing that God was holding something back from them— the same argument he used when tempting Eve in Genesis 3. He might have claimed that the divine law was too restrictive, and that God was an uncaring sovereign. He slandered the name of the One whose character defines what love is.
How was this conflict resolved? “Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty; you corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor; I cast you to the ground” (Ezekiel 28:17). When Lucifer’s heart became proud and lifted up, he chose to rebel. And God had to cast him out of heaven. Why? Because pride and selfishness, which are the sins that lie at the root of all sin, cannot exist in the presence of God. Lucifer twisted love for God into an unhealthy love of self. Jealousy changed the chief of angels into the devil, or Satan. And in order to preserve the peace and harmony of heaven, he and one-third of heaven’s angels, those who joined him in rebellion, had to be expelled (Revelation 12:4, 7-9).
- Who Is Responsible for Sin? WHY DIDN’T GOD CREATE beings incapable of sinning? If He had, there would be no problem of evil in our world. To answer that question, we must go back to why God created us in the first place. He wanted people who could have meaningful relationships. So God did something that only He would think of: “God created man in His own image” (Genesis 1:27). This means we are free and responsible. We can decide to love God or to turn our backs on Him.
What special ability did God give to people and angels that distinguishes them from animals? “Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve” (Joshua 24:15). God gave the people of Joshua’s day, as well as the angels and human beings of every generation, the capacity to make real choices. He challenges the beings He created in His image to choose to do right because their reasoning powers tell them that God’s way is best, and to turn from wrong because their reasoning powers warn against the results of disobedience and sin.
God longed to create individuals who could comprehend and appreciate His character, freely respond to Him in love, and be filled with love for others. God wanted to share His love so much that He was willing to take the enormous risk of creating angels and people with the power of choice. He knew it was possible that at some point, one of His created beings might choose not to serve Him. The devil was the first being in the universe to make that terrible choice. The tragedy of sin began with him (John 8:44; 1 John 3:8).
Be blessed as you meditate upon these truths
GREETINGS TO YOU BIBLE STUDENT. TODAY WE ARE STUDYING DISCOVER BIBLE GUIDE 3 With the Title: Does My Life Really Matter to God? and we are focusing on
Section 7: entitled: The Cross Makes the Destruction of Sin Possible Part one
BUT WHY DIDN’T the tragedy of sin stop with Lucifer? Why didn’t God destroy him before his “sin disease” could spread? It’s important to remember that Lucifer had challenged the fairness of God’s government. He had told lies about God. The idea of telling a lie had never entered the minds of the angels. Naturally, they didn’t grasp all that lay behind Lucifer’s deceptions. If God had destroyed Lucifer immediately, the angels would have begun to serve Him from fear rather than from love. This would have defeated His very purpose in creating beings with the power of choice in the first place. How did anyone really know God’s way was best? No one had dared to try an alternative. God gave Satan a chance to demonstrate his alternative system. That’s why he was given an opportunity to tempt Adam and Eve.
This planet has become a place where the character of Satan and the nature of his kingdom are contrasted with the character of God and the nature of His kingdom. Who is right? Whom can we ultimately trust? These are the issues that the great controversy between Christ and Satan must resolve. So deceptive was Lucifer that before all the universe could be fully convinced, the nature of his alternative system had to be fully exposed. It has taken time for everyone to really grasp how disastrous Satan’s alternative actually is. But eventually, everyone will see that “the wages of sin is death” and that “the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23). Every being in the universe will then agree with the declaration: “Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, O King of the saints! Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy. For all nations shall come and worship before You, for Your judgments have been manifested” (Revelation 15:3, 4).
How can we be certain that God will destroy sin forever? When sin first entered our world in the Garden of Eden, God had a plan to eliminate sin (Genesis 3:15). This act of the permanent removal of sin is described in these words: “The day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. . . . Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells” (2 Peter 3:10, 13). When God does finally say of sin, “It is done!” (Revelation 16:17), sin will truly be finished for all time (Nahum 1:9). It will never again infect the universe. Sin’s tragic results will stand out so clearly that disobedience to God will seem repugnant for all eternity.
Be blessed as you meditate upon these truths
GREETINGS TO YOU BIBLE STUDENT. TODAY WE ARE STUDYING DISCOVER BIBLE GUIDE 3 With the Title: Does My Life Really Matter to God? and we are focusing on
Section 7: entitled: The Cross Makes the Destruction of Sin Possible part two
What makes the final destruction of the devil and sin possible?
“Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself [Jesus Christ] likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage” (Hebrews 2:14, 15). At the cross, the angels and the unfallen worlds saw Satan for what he is—a deceiver, a liar, and a murderer. There he revealed his true character by compelling men to murder the innocent Son of God. The inhabitants of the entire universe saw how senseless and cruel sin really is. The cross fully unmasked Satan’s motives, and when God destroys the devil and those who persist in sin, all will acknowledge that God is just (Revelation 15:3).
Jesus’ death on the cross made the removal of sin from the universe a certainty, because it exposed Satan’s real intent before all created beings (John 12:31, 32). The cross also revealed Christ for what He is—the Savior of the world. At Golgotha, the power of love stood out in stark contrast against the love of power. It established beyond any question that it is self-sacrificing love that motivates God in all His dealings with Satan, sin, and sinful men and women. At the cross, Christ’s eloquent demonstration of God’s unconditional love overpowered the worst that men and Satan could do. The devil was decisively defeated. The battle had been about who should rule the world—Christ or Satan. But the cross settled it for all time. It must be Christ above all!
Have you discovered a relationship with the Savior who died to reveal His matchless, unchanging love? How do you feel about the One who came to our world as a human being and died in your place to save you from the results of sin? Will you bow your head right now and thank Jesus for His sacrifice, and then ask Him to lead in your life?
Thought question: At the cross, Jesus revealed God’s character of love. (True or False)
Decision & Prayer
MY PRAYER
If you've never prayed before, that's okay. Here is a short prayer to get you started, if you want to read these words aloud to God or say them silently in your head to Him. You can also take this prayer and make it your own by paraphrasing or add your own words to it.
Try to think of talking to God like you would talk to a friend, saying whatever is on your heart.
Dear Father in heaven, I thank You for Jesus’ victory over Satan in this world. Thank You for offering forgiveness so graciously from the cross. Please come into my life right now and fight for me against the evil in my own nature. Please take possession of my entire being. Help me to stay close to Jesus each day. I thank You for hearing my prayer. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
MY DECISION
Take a moment to reflect on the following statements, placing a check mark next to each statement you relate to.
I thank God for having a plan to destroy evil forever.
I choose to respond to God’s love by inviting Jesus, the Prince of Peace, to live in my life and guide me each day.
Be blessed as you meditate upon these truthsPlease take the quiz to complete this lesson
LESSON 3 QUIZ
GREETINGS TO YOU BIBLE STUDENT. TODAY WE ARE STUDYING DISCOVER BIBLE GUIDE 4 With the Title: God’s Plan for My Life
AFTER A MINISTER HAD SPOKEN on the subject, “Why I Believe in Jesus,” a well-dressed young man paid him a visit in his study and remarked, “Your talk tonight was interesting, but everything you said about Jesus Christ came out of your Bible. Tell me, if Jesus ever lived on this earth, why doesn’t history tell us about Him?” “That’s a fair question,” the minister answered as he turned and selected several books from his shelves. “But as a matter of fact, history does tell us about Jesus Christ.” “That I’d like to see for myself,” the young man responded.
“Well, here is Letter 97 in Book 10 of Letters of Pliny the Younger, written by a Roman proconsul in Bithynia, a province in old Asia Minor. Pliny wrote to the Roman Emperor Trajan, telling him about events in his province. See, here he is requesting counsel on how he should handle a new sect, the Christians. He tells of their rapid growth and of how they sing hymns composed to their leader, Christ. Pliny sent his letter around AD 110.
This letter by Pliny offers historical evidence of Christ, and of the spread of His faith in the days of His apostles.” Surprised, the young man said, “Tell me more!” As the minister thumbed through another book, he added, “Another historian, a contemporary of Pliny, was Tacitus. In his Annals (Book 15 in chapter 44) he tells of Nero’s hatred for, and persecution of, the Christians at the time of the burning of Rome. Tacitus explains that the term, “Christian,” comes from the name, “Christ.” He mentions that Jesus Christ, the founder of the Christian religion, had been put to death by Pontius Pilate, procurator of Judea during the reign of Emperor Tiberius. The details that Tacitus provides are an exact match for the events, names, and places given in the Bible.”
“Pastor, I never knew things like that were in secular history!” the visitor exclaimed.
“And while we’re talking,” the minister added, “I want you to notice that around AD 180, Celsus wrote a book attacking Christians, indicating that Christianity by that time had become a force to be reckoned with. “If you are still in doubt, remember that the four Gospels provide just as much history as these secular books.” This young man went away convinced that Jesus Christ was a real, historical figure. Both sacred and secular history agree that Jesus did live as a man on earth. But there’s much more we can know about Him.
Sources for the above historical materials and a more detailed history appear in the following books: i. Documents Of The Christian Church, selected and edited by Henry Bettenson (Oxford University Press, 2011); ii. A Source Book For Ancient Church History, by Joseph Cullen Ayer (Palala Press, 2015); iii. Origen: Contra Celsum, translated by Henry Chadwick (Cambridge University Press, 1980); iv. The New Testament Documents: Are They Reliable? 6th edition, revised, by F. F. Bruce (InterVarsity Press, 2002); and v. The Evidence For Jesus, by R. T. French (Hodder and Stoughton General Division, 2001). These books should be available through most religious bookstores, local libraries, or online.
Thought question: i. Jesus was an imaginary person invented by church historians. (True or False)
- Christ is Eternal WHAT DOES the Apostle John say about Jesus’ divinity? “In the beginning was the Word [Jesus Christ], and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. . . . And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:1-3, 14). According to the Bible, Jesus was not merely a good man, He is also fully God. Jesus, the Word, was with God in the beginning, and spoke all things into existence. What claim did Jesus Himself make concerning His divinity? “If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also. . . . He who has seen Me has seen the Father” (John 14:7, 9). “I and My Father are one” (John 10:30). If you want to know what God is like, just look at Jesus. The Father shares the same love and care for each person that Jesus demonstrated during His human life on earth. Jesus, the Word, is fully God, as is the Father. Jesus was with God “in the beginning.”God the Father and Jesus the Son have existed together from eternity. There was never a time when Jesus was not with the Father. “But to the Son He [God] says: ‘Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom’” (Hebrews 1:8) Thought question: i. Jesus was both God and man. (True or False); ii. God the Father and Jesus His Son have existed together from eternity. (True or False)
Be blessed as you meditate upon these truth
GREETINGS TO YOU BIBLE STUDENT. Today we are studying Discover Bible Guide 3 With the Title: God’s Plan for My Life and we are focusing on Section 2 Christ is the Heart of History and Prophecy
JESUS IS UNIQUE in that His biography was written before He was born! Old Testament prophecies present a clear outline of Christ’s life in advance. The New Testament is His life story told in fulfillment. We know the Old Testament was completed, at the very latest, 250 years before Christ’s birth, because the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Old Testament, began around that time. No wonder that in writing the Gospels of the New Testament (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John), Christ’s disciples were amazed at how accurately details in their Master’s life fulfilled Old Testament prophecies.
Anyone who carefully reads the Old Testament discovers that it continually mentions the coming Messiah. When Adam and Eve fell into sin, God immediately promised them that He would send someone to our world to defeat the devil (Genesis 3:15)
That person Scripture further reveals, would be the Messiah. The Hebrew word “Messiah” in the Old Testament, literally means “Anointed One,” and it corresponds to the Greek word “Christ” in the New Testament (John 1:41; 4:25). Jesus Christ is the Messiah. That’s a central promise of the New Testament. Living from 500 to 1,500 years before Christ’s birth, the Old Testament prophets made scores of very specific predictions about the life of the Messiah.
Their prophecies identify the city of Christ’s birth, His name, and His lifework. They disclose details of His trial and the events connected with His death. The prophecies show that when brought into court, He would offer no personal defense, and they actually predict some of the very words He would speak in His dying hours. Even the year, the day, and the hour of His death are foretold. Messianic prophecies also reveal that He would come to life again on the third day. At the very beginning of Christ’s earthly ministry, as people compared His life with Old Testament prophecies, what did they conclude? “We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph” (John 1:45).
At His first public appearance, our Savior appealed to prophecy to establish His identity. After quoting from an Old Testament passage, He declared: “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing” (Luke 4:21). Shortly after His resurrection, which words did Jesus use to remind two of His followers about the fulfillment of the prophecies that pointed forward to Him? “He said to them, ‘O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?’ And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the [Old Testament] Scriptures the things concerning Himself” (Luke 24:25-27).
Fulfilled prophecies give convincing evidence that Jesus is the promised Messiah.
Be blessed as you meditate upon these truths
GREETINGS TO YOU BIBLE STUDENT. Today we are studying Discover Bible Guide 4 With the Title: God’s Plan for My Life and we are focusing on Section 3 Christ’s Life Is a Fulfilment of Prophecy
Prophetic passages about Jesus from the Old Testament—and their fulfilment in the New Testament record of Christ’s life.
Prophecy |
OT |
NT |
HIS PLACE OF BIRTH |
“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah . . . out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be Ruler in Israel, whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting” (Micah 5:2). |
“Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea” (Matthew 2:1).
|
HIS VIRGIN BIRTH |
“Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14). |
“Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:20, 21). |
HIS LINEAGE FROM THE TRIBE OF JUDAH |
“The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh comes” (Genesis 49:10). |
“For it is evident that our Lord arose from Judah” (Hebrews 7:14). |
HIS REJECTION |
“He is despised and rejected by men” (Isaiah 53:3). |
“He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him” (John 1:11). |
HIS BETRAYAL |
“Even my own familiar friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted up his heel against me” (Psalm 41:9). |
“Jesus answered, ‘It is he [the betrayer of Jesus; see also John13:21] to whom I shall give a piece of bread when I have dipped it.’ And having dipped the bread, He gave it to Judas Iscariot” (John 13:26). |
HIS BETRAYAL PRICE |
“I said to them, ‘If it is agreeable to you, give me my wages; and if not, refrain.’ So they weighed out for my wages thirty pieces of silver” (Zechariah 11:12). |
“Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, ‘What are you willing to give me if I deliver Him to you?’ And they counted out to him thirty pieces of silver”(Matthew 26:14, 15). |
HIS DEATH ON A CROSS |
“They pierced My hands and My feet” (Psalm 22:16). |
“When they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him” (Luke 23:33). Psalm 22 and Isaiah 53 contain a graphic depiction of the Messiah’s persecution and death at the hands of those whom He came to save. |
HIS RESURRECTION FROM THE TOMB |
“For you will not leave my soul in Sheol [the grave], nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption” (Psalm 16:10). |
“He [David] . . . spoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ, that His soul was not left in Hades, nor did His flesh see corruption. This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses” (Acts 2:31, 32). |
Christ’s life story is a continuous fulfilment of Bible prophecy. One of the main reasons the followers of Jesus, many of whom were at first skeptical of His claims, came to believe so passionately was because they saw Old Testament prophecies fulfilled in every detail of His life. A disciple named Apollos, for example, “vigorously refuted the Jews publicly, showing from the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ” (Acts 18:28). The eyewitness testimonies of Peter, John, and Luke compel us to take Christ’s claim seriously when He says that He is God’s Son (2 Peter 1:16; John 20:30, 31; Luke 1:1-4) After looking at the evidence, we need to make a prayerful decision about who is going to be Lord in our lives. If you have not already done so, will you place your life in Jesus’ hands? Thought question: Bible prophecies concerning Jesus Christ have proved unreliable. (True or False) Jesus was born in Bethlehem by the Virgin Mary (True or False) Hundreds of years before it happened, prophets predicted that Jesus would die on the cross and be resurrected True/false |
GREETINGS TO YOU BIBLE STUDENT. Today we are studying Discover Bible Guide 4 With the Title: God’s Plan for My Life and we are focusing on Section 4. A God-Planned Life
JESUS LIVED A GOD-PLANNED life—one outlined hundreds of years before His birth.
That’s why He said: “I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things… I always do those things that please Him” (John 8:28, 29). Just as God planned the human life of Jesus before His birth, even so He has a plan for every one of us. He has a plan for you. He knows how you can fulfil your deepest desires and find an abundant life.
Sometimes we are reluctant to submit to God’s plan, because we are afraid He will lead us in ways we don’t want to follow. But if we will trust Him—letting Him guide in each decision we make—we’ll find that God’s plan is always the best plan. Looking back, we’ll be amazed at how God has always tried to guide us down the correct path, even if we didn’t see it at the time.
But how can you know God’s plan for your life? Here are four steps that will help you as you learn to follow God’s leading: ASK. According to James 1:5, if you ask God for wisdom, He will give it to you. In every situation, instead of trying to figure out things on your own, ask God for guidance. LIVE UP TO WHAT YOU KNOW IS RIGHT. God can’t lead you further if you aren’t following the light you already have. LISTEN. Study God’s Word, pray, and watch for the leading of the Holy Spirit. God will never lead you to go against the principles of His character or His Word. WAIT. Sometimes God gives you more than one good choice. Waiting on God before you act allows Him to lead you more fully and give you more of the wisdom He has promised. In addition to these four steps, there are three main avenues by which God speaks to us. If we pay close attention, He will show us His will:
STEP 1: THE BIBLE
How does the psalmist describe the Bible, life’s Guidebook? “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105).
What does Paul tell us we should learn from the life experiences of Bible characters? “Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come” (1 Corinthians 10:11).
God’s Word renews our minds and gives us insight (Romans 12:2; Psalm 119:99). Instead of just putting your finger on a random text, hoping for some guidance, try to absorb the mind of God by studying and meditating on many texts—the whole of God’s Word. A regular time for prayerful Bible study is best.
STEP 2: PROVIDENTIAL CIRCUMSTANCES
God also guides us by divinely-directed circumstances.
Psalm 23 depicts Him as the Good Shepherd.
A shepherd leads his sheep through lush valleys as well as through rocky ravines.
With Him by our side, we can benefit and learn from every experience.
STEP 3: DIRECT COMMUNICATION FROM GOD TO OUR HEARTS
God also guides us by speaking to our conscience through the ministry of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:10). Paul declares that the Spirit can enlighten “the eyes of your understanding” (Ephesians 1:18). Prayer enables us to talk directly with God. The more consistently we practice communicating with God, the more He is able to guide us.
He moulds both our inner impressions and our reasoning and judgment so we can see clearly the next step we need to take.
Thought Question: i. We can know God’s plan for our life by Bible study, divinely directed circumstances, and by God speaking directly to our hearts. (True or False)
Be blessed as you meditate upon these truths
GREETINGS TO YOU BIBLE STUDENT. Today we are studying Discover Bible Guide 4 With the Title: God’s Plan for My Life and we are focusing on Section 5. Understanding God’s Will
HOW CAN YOU BE SURE that you are living a God-directed life and not just following your own inclinations and impulses? The Bible cautions us about just such a trap:
“There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death” (Proverbs 16:25).
It’s easy to rationalize the problem areas of our lives. We make excuses for our behaviour even when we know it is not in harmony with God’s will. Some people tell themselves things like, “God understands my situation,” “God wants me to be happy,” or “What I’m doing isn’t really hurting anyone.” Our actions and feelings must harmonize with Bible teaching. God has a plan for each of us, but that plan will never involve disobedience to His Word.
It’s never safe to conclude that God is leading us if our actions are out of harmony with any of the three points discussed above—the Bible, providential circumstances, and God speaking to us through the Holy Spirit.
What is the final test for determining a right course of action? “To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them” (Isaiah 8:20). The Bible presents at least four tests that can be applied to those who claim to speak for God through prophecy, miracles, or other spiritual gifts. Isaiah 8:20 presents one of the tests and that is agreement with God’s word, the Bible. Others include. Fulfilment of their Prophecy—Jeremiah 28:9. Their fruits Matthew 7:20. and The Witness to Jesus—1 John 4:1, 2. While counterfeit prophets may pass one or two of these tests, a true prophet will pass them all. 1 John 4:1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.
- Submitting to God’s Plan: WHEN THE DEVIL CAME to tempt Jesus in the wilderness, he attacked Jesus on the issue of submission. The devil suggested, “If you will only forgo the painful sacrifices your Father has planned for you, I’ll give you the world in the palm of your hand—with fame, fortune, and a comfortable lifestyle.” Satan even quoted Scripture in an attempt to lead Jesus astray. But each time, Jesus fought him off with the words, “It is written” (Matthew 4:1-11). One powerful lesson we can learn from the life of Jesus is submission to the Father’s will. Even amid the terrible agony of Gethsemane, He cried out, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will” (Matthew26:39)
After three years of His ministry, living each day in harmony with the Father’s plan, Christ’s dying words were: “It is finished” (John 19:30). Jesus was really saying, “My God-planned life is now complete and fulfilled.” As you begin to hear God’s voice speaking clearly through His Word, providential circumstances, and through His direct leading in your life, you can learn to accept His guidance wholeheartedly. You too can discover the joy of a well-planned existence—a God-guided life
MY PRAYER: If you've never prayed before, that's okay. Here is a short prayer to get you started, if you want to read these words aloud to God or say them silently in your head to Him. You can also take this prayer and make it your own by paraphrasing or add your own words to it.Try to think of talking to God like you would talk to a friend, saying whatever is on your heart. Dear Father: Thank You for sending Jesus to this world to live and die for me.
I want You to guide my life just as You guided Jesus’ life while He was here on earth. I invite You to be the Lord of my heart and mind. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
MY DECISION: Take a moment to reflect on the following statements, placing a check mark next to each statement you relate to. I want to follow God’s plan for my life. I choose to let Jesus lead me and show me His will.
Be blessed as you meditate upon these truths
Please take the quiz to complete this lesson
LESSON 4 QUIZ
GREETINGS TO YOU BIBLE STUDENT. TODAY WE ARE STUDYING DISCOVER BIBLE GUIDE 5 With the Title: God’s Bridge to a Satisfying Life
THEY FOUND HIS SKELETON beside a makeshift shelter on a desolate island in the Mid-Atlantic. The anonymous seaman kept a journal that detailed his four-month ordeal. He’d been set ashore on Ascension Island by the Dutch fleet in 1725 for some unmentioned crime. Soon he was reduced to drinking the blood of turtles just to quench his raging thirst. The man’s physical suffering was intense, but an even greater pain stands out in his journal: his overwhelming guilt. He penned tormented entries such as: “What pangs do wretched mortals feel who leave the paths of righteousness, pleased to increase the numbers of the damned.” This seaman’s greatest isolation on that lonely island came from his sense of separation from God. That is what proved unbearable in the end.
Human beings have been struggling with that isolation of the heart ever since Adam and Eve “hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden” after eating the forbidden fruit (Genesis 3:8). The strange new emotions of shame, guilt, and fear compelled that first couple to run away when God came calling. Those feelings are unfortunately quite familiar to us now.
What is it that causes a separation between us and God? “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). Sin throws up barriers; it separates us from God. But this great gulf that isolates sinful human beings from a holy God is not His doing. God didn’t run away from Adam and Eve—they ran away from Him.
Thought question: Sin caused separation from God (True or False)
Having lost our connection with God through sin, we all experience a great heart hunger for the kind of security that only God can give. We often try to satisfy this hunger in temporary ways—a shopping binge at the mall or the mad race for a promotion at the office. Some turn to alcohol, drugs, online escapes, or sexual promiscuity. But all these yearnings and unfulfilled drives are merely symptoms of our loneliness for God. And there is no cure except experiencing His love in our life.
What is the only way to satisfy the hunger of the human heart?
“You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore” (Psalm 16:11). There is no cure for our condition except as we experience God’s love in our life. Real satisfaction will come only when that separation between us and God is bridged and we’re able to live in His presence.
- Bridging the Chasm of Sin and Death: GOD’S HEART ACHED on the day Adam and Eve turned their backs on Him. And He is still eager to restore the broken relationship (2 Peter 3:9). He isn’t content just to look sympathetically across the chasm of sin and death that separates us from Him. He has decided to build a bridge. How did God Himself become a bridge across the chasm caused by sin? “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Timothy 1:15). Jesus laid Himself down as a sacrifice for sin, paying the death penalty Himself. And He makes His life of perfect righteousness freely available to all who seek forgiveness at the cross. The cross of Christ bridges the gap between our restless yearnings and the peace and joy God can give. It connects the land of sin and wasted living with the country of unending life.
Why was Jesus willing to come to our world? “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved” (John 3:16, 17). By coming to our world—His life, death, and resurrection— Jesus made it possible to forgive and save sinners without trivializing sin. The bridge of Christ’s broken, bleeding body spans the chasm, enabling all who place their faith in Him as Savior and Lord to walk over into eternal life.
Thought Questions:
Jesus came to pay the death penalty for our sins, to bridge the gap between God and us, and to give us eternal life. (True or False) Be blessed as you meditate upon these truths
GREETINGS TO YOU BIBLE STUDENT. TODAY WE ARE STUDYING DISCOVER BIBLE GUIDE 5 With the Title: God’s Bridge to a Satisfying Life Section 3. Seven Essential Facts You Should Know About Jesus
THESE SEVEN FACTS about Jesus are not true of any other man who has ever lived.
- JESUS CAME FROM HEAVEN TO EARTH: How is Jesus identified? “His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6).
Though Jesus was born of a human mother (Matthew 1:22, 23), He is God—God in human flesh.
How long did Jesus claim to have existed? “Before Abraham was, I AM” (John 8:58).
Jesus notified the world: “I am the self-existing One; I have always existed and always will.”
Dwight L. Moody, the Billy Graham of the 19th century, once said of the incarnation of Jesus, “It would have been a great sacrifice for Jesus to come and be rocked in a silver cradle, be nursed by an angel, and be fed with a golden spoon. But the Creator of heaven and earth came and took man’s flesh, and was born in a stable of poor parents in the worst possible environment.”
What was the purpose of Jesus’ birth on this earth? An angel told Joseph at the time of Jesus’ birth: “She [Mary] will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). Jesus, the Creator of the universe (John 1:1-3, 14), was willing to come to our world to rescue us from sin and death. His very name is a promise that enables weak human beings to find true happiness and eternal life.
ILL. Nazi death camp: One day, in the Nazi death camp of Auschwitz, the commandant announced that 10 prisoners would die because a man had just escaped
When the last one heard his name called, he sobbed in agony: “My wife and my children!”
Suddenly an older prisoner pushed his way toward the front. It was Father Maximilian Kolbe, a saintly man who managed to share the love of God even amidst the horrors of Auschwitz. “Herr Kommandant,” Kolbe said, “please, sir, may I take his place?”
The dumbfounded SS officer ordered Kolbe to join the other nine on their way to Block 13. In its dark, smelly basement, they were to be starved to death. During the next several days, the men could hear prayers and songs of praise coming from Kolbe’s cell. Finally, he was killed with an injection of carbolic acid. Father Kolbe had lived a life of heroic virtue in the most trying circumstances. But he was willing to lay it down freely for a stranger in need.
Love like that is almost beyond human comprehension. But Jesus laid down His perfect, righteous life as a gift— for the most unworthy. Because of His death, “we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1).
Be blessed as you meditate upon these truth
GREETINGS TO YOU BIBLE STUDENT. TODAY WE ARE STUDYING DISCOVER BIBLE GUIDE 5 With the Title: God’s Bridge to a Satisfying Life Section 3. Seven Essential Facts You Should Know About Jesus part two
- JESUS ROSE FROM THE DEAD: Jesus’ death on the cross wasn’t the end of His remarkable story. We have a living Savior who is still very much at work in our world!
“If Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished” (1 Corinthians 15:17, 18). Muhammad and Buddha have presented to the world some great philosophical truths. They have inspired the lives of millions of people, but they have no supernatural power to give life since they still remain in their graves. Because Jesus rose from the tomb the third day after His death (Luke 23 and 24), what promise is He able to make to us?
“Because I live, you will live also” (John 14:19). Only Jesus has demonstrated, by coming out of the tomb, that He can overcome the grim spectre of death. Jesus is alive! The One who appeared after death and announced, “I am He who lives,” (Revelation 1:18) can now offer us life that is both abundant and eternal. He will live in our hearts if we invite Him in (Revelation 3:20).
Is the risen Christ present to meet our needs today? “I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20). Men and women all over the world are sharing stories of how Christ has delivered them from the worst addictions and the deepest emotional traumas. A chorus of testimonies point to the power of the risen Christ. One of our former students wrote these words of gratitude on one of his answer sheets: “I was an alcoholic. One day after leaving the bar, I saw a card in the gutter advertising your Bible course. I picked it up, filled it out, and received my first true knowledge of Christ. Shortly after taking the Bible course, I offered my heart to God and lost the taste for whiskey.” Jesus took possession of this man’s life and gave him the ability to overcome addiction. A new power had entered his life— one that proved stronger than his old desires. Because Christ is the risen Saviour, He can save all who come to Him for help.
- JESUS ASCENDED TO HEAVEN: After His resurrection, Jesus returned to the Father:
“When He [Jesus] had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight” (Acts 1:9). Just before His ascension, what promise did Jesus make to His followers? “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also” (John 14:1-3).
- JESUS MINISTERS AS HEAVENLY PRIEST
Jesus constantly seeks to prepare you for a place in heaven. He came to this planet, lived, died, rose from the dead, and ascended so that people everywhere could accept the gift of salvation (eternal life) and live forever with Him. The following words of Scripture clearly portray His goals for us: “In as much then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. . . . Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted” (Hebrews 2:14-18).
Jesus came into our world on a rescue mission
According to this passage, Jesus came into our world on a rescue mission to: Deliver people from the misery of sin. Reconcile men and women to God. Permanently remove the cause of sin, suffering, and death by destroying the devil. Jesus as our Priest, our Mediator, continually appears in the Father’s presence on our behalf. The same Jesus who blessed the children, rehabilitated the woman caught in adultery, and forgave the dying thief is working in heaven right now to minister to our needs. “He is able to aid those who are tempted.”
- JESUS WILL RETURN
Before returning to heaven, what promise did Jesus make?
“If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you maybe also” (John 14:3).
When Jesus returns, He will deliver us—once and for all— from the sin, sickness, tragedy, and death that plague this planet. He will welcome us into a new world of eternal happiness and eternal life—in the presence of God. Future Discover Guides will explore what will happen when Jesus returns.
Thought question:
- Jesus came to our world and lived a sinless life in our place (True or False)
- Jesus is coming soon; He now ministers every day as our High Priest to deliver us from being slaves to sin. (True or False)
- Jesus came to our world as God, who existed from eternity, to save us from our sins. (True or False)
"You got it right! It's almost impossible to really understand how a God of all creation, existing from eternity, would be willing to suffer and die for us.”
4. Jesus died for the sins of all the people of the world. (True or False)Be blessed as you meditate upon these truths
Please take the quiz to complete this lesson
LESSON 5 QUIZ
GREETINGS TO YOU BIBLE STUDENT. TODAY WE ARE STUDYING DISCOVER BIBLE GUIDE 6 With the Title: A Second Chance at Life Section 1: What It Means to Be Lost
COMMENTS LIKE THESE from our students really make our day: “One of the study guides mentions loneliness. I sure know what that feels like since I have burned my bridges with my family and friends. This is because of all the bad things I was involved in. I was encouraged by what you sent me. It always gives me a spark of hope to know that Jesus Christ is there next to me and walking with me in everything I do. Jesus truly is my Best Friend.”
“I’ve been a follower of Jesus for a while now. He has healed my broken heart, forgiven me of my sins, and is my Best Friend. I can’t wait to be with Him in heaven, spending eternity worshipping. Thank you for making the Word of God easier to understand.” These individuals have found the only way to a second chance at life—Jesus! They’ve made the all-important discovery that, while it is a terrible experience to be lost, it is a fantastic experience to find salvation. What is the only solution for someone trapped in sin?
“I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes” (Romans 1:16). The gospel is a saving power for sinful people who believe fully in Jesus and accept Him into their lives. The individuals who wrote the above comments accepted Christ by placing their trust in Him and giving Him their allegiance. The power of God and the power of the gospel transformed their lives, and they now enjoy an ever-growing friendship with Jesus.
- What It Means to Be Lost: JUST AS THERE ARE TWO kinds of life—spiritual and physical—so there are two kinds of death—spiritual and physical. It’s possible for a person to be physically alive—walking around town, doing business, having what some call a good time—and still be dead— that is, spiritually dead. “You . . . were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience” (Ephesians 2:1, 2).
Satan leads a spiritually dead person down a descending spiral of sin and disobedience. However, the wonderful truth of the gospel is that God loves “doomed” people. He loves them even while they are falling away from Him, dead in sin, and offers them a full and free deliverance from their predicament. “But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ . . . that . . . He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast” (Ephesians 2:4-9).
God loved us when there was nothing lovable about us. His grace created in us a spiritual resurrection to a new life in Christ. We can’t change ourselves, but God can.
He gives us a second chance at life.
Thought question:
- A person can be physically alive but spiritually dead in sin. (True or False)
GREETINGS TO YOU BIBLE STUDENT. TODAY WE ARE STUDYING DISCOVER BIBLE GUIDE 6 With the Title: A Second Chance at Life Section 2: From What Do We Need to Be Saved?
IN ORDER to grasp the salvation that Christ offers, it’s important to clearly understand our need..
- WE NEED TO BE SAVED FROM SIN: How many have sinned? “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Most of us do not live up to what we know is right. Sometimes we hurt each other emotionally. Sometimes we “forget” about a certain source of income at tax time. Sometimes we gossip, lie, or cheat on our spouse. “All have sinned,” and that’s the human condition.
How does the Bible define sin? “All unrighteousness is sin” (1 John 5:17). We need to be rescued from all kinds of unhealthy habits such as lying, abusive anger, lust, and bitterness, to name a few. The Bible defines wrongdoing (“unrighteousness”) as breaking God’s moral law that He summarized in the Ten Commandments found in Exodus 20. The Bible says, “Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness” (1 John 3:4). So we need to be saved from sin—violating God’s commandments.
- WE NEED TO BE SAVED FROM A BROKEN RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD: “The Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; nor His ear heavy, that it cannot hear. 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 59:1, 2). Unforgiven sin severs our relationship with God, the Life-giver. There can be no love relationship without faith and trust in God. That is why Jesus spoke of sin as unbelief (John 16:9). Christ came to restore trust in God, which Satan had undermined.
- WE NEED TO BE SAVED FROM ETERNAL DEATH, THE PENALTY FOR SIN: “Through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned” (Romans 5:12). “For the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23).
- WE NEED TO BE SAVED FROM A SINFUL, UNHAPPY LIFE IN A SINFUL WORLD: “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (John 10:10). For the sinner, life is a dead-end street because a life of sin leaves an empty, aching void in his or her existence. God’s plan is to rescue us from a world full of sin and its results—heartache, loneliness, war, sickness, evil, and death.
Thought question:
- We need to be saved from eternal death, which is the penalty for sin. (True or False)
GREETINGS TO YOU BIBLE STUDENT. TODAY WE ARE STUDYING DISCOVER BIBLE GUIDE 6 With the Title: A Second Chance at Life Section 3: Who Can Save Us?
- JESUS CAN DELIVER US FROM SIN: “You shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). A Hindu told a Christian friend, “I find many things in Hinduism not found in Christianity, but there is one thing Christianity has that Hinduism does not have—a Savior.” Christianity is the only world religion that offers people a Savior.
- JESUS CAN SAVE US FROM OUR BROKEN RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD: God uses some of the close personal connections we have with one another—friendship, family, and marriage—as illustrations of the relationship we can have with Him. To the church in the town of Ephesus, the Apostle Paul wrote: “At that time you were without Christ . . . having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ” (Ephesians 2:12, 13).
When we commit ourselves to Christ, a relationship begins, followed by a lifetime of serving Him. Jesus is the perfect Friend; He loves to bring out the best in us. “By the blood of Christ,” our past life of sin is erased, and day by day, He gives us His acceptance, His power over sin, and His perfect life. Our love for Him, in turn, produces in us a desire to live in a way that pleases Him. And how can we know what pleases our Savior? Jesus says: “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15). The Bible, God’s Word, tells us how to live for Him. And the Holy Spirit will help us understand the Bible and live in harmony with its teachings.
- JESUS CAN SAVE US FROM ETERNAL DEATH, THE PENALTY FOR SIN: “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).
We are spiritual lawbreakers, sentenced to die. The penalty for our sins is eternal death, but Jesus can save us from eternal death and give us eternal life. He loved us so much that He died for us in order to pay the penalty for our sins. “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). Because of His unfailing love, Jesus “died for us.” By accepting death in our place, He provided a pardon for each of us. He experienced the horrors of complete separation from God so we wouldn’t have to. Because He died for us and suffered the full results of sin, God can now forgive and accept sinners without trivializing sin.
- JESUS CAN SAVE US FROM A SINFUL, UNHAPPY LIFE: God not only provides forgiveness for our sins, but He also offers us healing and restoration. God promises to save us from our sins, not in our sins. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17).
We can’t save ourselves from sin or change our nature on our own, any more than a lion can decide to become a lamb (Romans 7:18). Sin is simply stronger than our willpower. However, Christ is able to cause us “to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man” (Ephesians 3:16). He works to replace our destructive habits with His righteous qualities—love, peace, joy, kindness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22, 23). Christ lives His life through us. He loves to take on the most hopeless cases.
Harold Hughes had given up hope of ever changing. He had tried desperately to stop drinking many times. He knew only too well that his battle with the bottle had put his wife and two daughters through 10 years of hell. And so he stepped into his bathtub one cold morning and pointed a shotgun muzzle into his mouth. Before pulling the trigger, he decided he’d better explain things to God. That prayer turned into a long, sobbing appeal for help. God came through. Harold Hughes made a commitment to Christ and found the spiritual strength to persevere. He quit drinking for good, became a loving, dependable husband and father, and went on to earn a seat in the U.S. Senate. Senator Hughes, who passed away in 1996, is remembered as one of the pioneering leaders in creating legislation for the treatment of alcohol and drug abuse. Today, the Senator Harold Hughes Memorial Award is given annually to someone in the field of alcohol and drug rehabilitation.
- JESUS CAN SAVE US FROM A SINFUL WORLD: The next four Discover Guides will provide a full explanation of how Jesus can rescue us from our sinful world. Thought question: Jesus saves us from our sins because we can overcome sin by our strong willpower. (True or False).
GREETINGS TO YOU BIBLE STUDENT. TODAY WE ARE STUDYING DISCOVER BIBLE GUIDE 6 With the Title: A Second Chance at Life Section 4: Finding Salvation and Growing as a Christian— Three Simple Steps
STEP 1: ASK CHRIST TO DEAL WITH THE SIN IN YOUR LIFE: What is our part in getting rid of our sinful life? “Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out” (Acts 3:19).
What leads a person to repent? “Do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?” (Romans 2:4). “I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance” (2 Corinthians 7:9). Repentance is simply being sorry for our sins and then turning away from them—making a break from old habits, practices, and attitudes. It’s not sorrow for fear of impending punishment; it’s a response to “the goodness of God” that led Jesus to die in our place for our sinfulness. We reject sin because it hurts God—and ultimately us.
What else is part of repentance? “He who covers his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy” (Proverbs 28:13). In addition to acknowledging and getting rid of the old life of sin, what else is necessary for the repentant sinner? “If the wicked restores the pledge, gives back what he has stolen, and walks in the statutes of life without committing iniquity, he shall surely live; he shall not die” (Ezekiel 33:15). Real repentance means not only turning away from sin, but, as far as possible, making past wrongs right.
What is God’s part in getting rid of our old life of sin? “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). “Him [Jesus Christ] God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins” (Acts 5:31). The ability to repent is really a gift to us from God (Acts 5:31). Only He can move us to genuine repentance. And when we do respond, a loving Savior forgives our sins. The Bible describes it as taking our sins and throwing them “into the depths of the sea,” (Micah 7:19) cleansing us from all unrighteousness. There is no sin so terrible that our Savior who died on the cross can’t forgive. A person who trusts in Jesus needs only to ask Him.
It’s a sobering fact that our sins helped drive those nails through Christ’s hands and feet. In a real sense, we helped crucify the Savior, but always remember that Jesus endured the cross “for the joy that was set before Him” (Hebrews 12:2). He willingly paid the ultimate price for our ultimate redemption. And He is more eager than we can imagine for us to accept His gift of forgiveness and reconciliation.
Word reached a young runaway that his mother was dying. The news filled him with remorse over their broken relationship. Hurrying home, he rushed into the room and threw himself on his mother’s bed. In a flood of tears, he begged her to forgive him. She drew him close and whispered, “Son, I would have forgiven you long ago if you’d only asked.”
If you have drifted away from God, or have not yet come to know Him, please think about how eager your Heavenly Father is to welcome you home. He demonstrated His forgiving love on a cross on the hill called Golgotha. More than anything, He wants for you to accept His offer of pardon and grace. He loves you. He died for you. He is always willing to forgive you. So respond to His gracious invitation to repent. Confess your sins. Believe that God forgives you, and He will. Don’t look to your emotions for reassurance. Trust in the clear promises of Scripture
GREETINGS TO YOU BIBLE STUDENT. TODAY WE ARE STUDYING DISCOVER BIBLE GUIDE 6 With the Title: A Second Chance at Life Section 4: Finding Salvation and Growing as a Christian— Three Simple Steps part two.
STEP 2: RECEIVE A NEW LIFE FROM JESUS: Your part in receiving a new life from Jesus is to believe that Jesus has really saved you. Accept without question the fact that He has forgiven and cleansed you, taken away your old life of sin, and given you an entirely new and changed life. “As many as received Him [Jesus], to them He gave the right [the power, authority, privilege] to become children of God, to those who believe in His name” (John 1:12).
As a child of God, you have “the right” to receive a new life from Jesus. As we have said, you can’t achieve it on your own—it’s a gift from your Heavenly Father. Jesus gives this absolute promise so that all of our insecurities and doubts will be removed. However, if you do struggle with doubt, remember the man who, in the middle of an overwhelming crisis, called out to Jesus: “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24). Focus whatever trust you can muster on God’s promises. It’s not how much faith you have that counts; it’s simply whether or not you exercise it.
What is God’s part in giving us a new life? “Unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3). According to Jesus, a repentant, believing sinner is actually born into a new life. The change is as dramatic as the birth of a baby, and it is a miracle that only God can perform. What inner change takes place in a person who acquires a new life from Jesus? “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh” (Ezekiel 36:26). Jesus transforms our heart— our feelings and behavior—and dwells “in you” (Colossians 1:27).
This new life is not just a nice, spiritual idea. It’s much more than positive thinking; it’s a hard, solid fact. The new birth is a resurrection from spiritual death to an entirely new existence (Ephesians 5:14). Harold Hughes is just one example of Christ’s ability to give people a wonderful second chance. How we receive a New Life from Christ: i. believe in Him and receive Him as Saviour and Lord.; ii. establish a relationship with Him (it is vital to set aside time for Bible reading and prayer; iii. allow Christ through the Holy Spirit to replace our bad habits with His good qualities.
STEP 3: LIVE FOR JESUS EVERY DAY: The Christian life involves a daily turning away from selfishness as we spend time with Jesus, our Friend. We grow in this new life by strengthening our relationship with Jesus. This means spending quality time with Him—building honest and open communication. God has given us five divine aids for spiritual growth: (1) Bible study, (2) prayer, (3) meditation on Scripture, (4) fellowship with other Christians, and (5) sharing our experience with others. (Discover Guides 14 to 20 give practical suggestions on how to live a satisfying Christian life.)
Living in Christ means we have God’s power in our life. Sometimes we may stumble, but if we do, we can claim Christ’s forgiveness and keep going. We’re headed in a direction toward Jesus, and we know that He remains a living presence in our hearts every step of the way (Hebrews 7:25; Jude 24). Jesus provides two things that are essential for healthy growth: a sense of security through His unconditional love, and the motivation to reach higher through His inspiring Word—the Bible.
Thought question:
- Our part in receiving salvation is to repent and turn to God for forgiveness. (True or False)
- God’s part in our receiving salvation is to give us the gift of repentance and forgiveness for our sins. (True or False)
iii.Our part in receiving a new life from God is to accept the fact that we can achieve this new life on our own. (True or False)
- God’s part in our receiving a new life is to perform the miracle of a new birth, give us a new heart, dwell in us, and transform our behavior. (True or False)
GREETINGS TO YOU BIBLE STUDENT. TODAY WE ARE STUDYING DISCOVER BIBLE GUIDE 6 With the Title: A Second Chance at Life Section 5: The Joy of the Second Chance
HAROLD HUGHES RECEIVED many honours during his distinguished career as a U.S. Senator, but the one that meant the most to him came shortly after his commitment to Christ. He was studying the Bible alone in his living room one evening when he felt a nudge at his elbow. He looked up and saw his two small daughters, standing quietly in their nightgowns. He stared at them for a moment; they had changed so much, and he had missed so much during his devastating battle with alcohol. Then Carol, the younger one, said, “Daddy, we’ve come to kiss you good night.” The father’s eyes blurred. It had been so long since the children had sought his embrace. Now their beautiful clear eyes held no fear. Daddy had come home at last.
Jesus Christ truly does give people a second chance. He takes on the most hopeless cases and creates new beginnings—“the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23). The Saviour longs for each one of us to come home at last. Have you accepted Christ’s loving invitation? Receiving God’s forgiveness and cleansing is as simple and profound as opening your arms for a child’s embrace. If you have not yet trusted in Christ as your personal Saviour, you can do so right now by praying this prayer: “Father, I am sorry for my life of sin. Thank You for sending Your Son to this world to die in my place. Please forgive my sins and come into my life. Help me to follow You and Your plan for my life as revealed in the Bible. I ask this in the name of Jesus, Amen.”
Decision & Prayer
MY PRAYER: If you've never prayed before, that's okay. Here is a short prayer to get you started, if you want to read these words aloud to God or say them silently in your head to Him. You can also take this prayer and make it your own by paraphrasing or add your own words to it.
Try to think of talking to God like you would talk to a friend, saying whatever is on your heart.
Father, I am sorry for my life of sin. Thank You for sending Your Son to this world to die in my place. Please forgive my sins and come into my life. Help me to follow You and Your plan for my life as revealed in the Bible. I ask this in the name of Jesus, Amen
MY DECISION: Take a moment to reflect on the following statements, placing a check mark next to each statement you relate to. I choose to accept Jesus as my Saviour. I ask Him to forgive my sins and to come into my life. I choose to follow the Bible and live for Jesus by His strength and power. I thank God for offering me a second chance at life.Be blessed as you meditate upon these truths
Please take the quiz to complete this lesson
LESSON 6 QUIZ
GREETINGS TO YOU BIBLE STUDENT. TODAY WE ARE STUDYING DISCOVER BIBLE GUIDE 7 With the Title: About Your Future Section 1. An Amazing Bible Prophecy
ABOUT 500 YEARS BEFORE the birth of Christ, God gave the world a startling glimpse into the future through the prophet Daniel. He presented an outline of world history, from Daniel’s time to our own day. This prophecy appears in the second chapter of Daniel. It actually originated in a dream God gave Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, more than 2,500 years ago. The dream deeply troubled this monarch—but he couldn’t remember its main elements when he woke up. After all of Babylon’s wise men failed to help the king recall his dream or interpret it, a young Hebrew exile named Daniel arrived on the scene, claiming that the God of heaven could reveal all mysteries.
Standing before the king, Daniel boldly declared: “You, O king, were watching; and behold, a great image! This great image, whose splendor was excellent, stood before you; and its form was awesome. This image’s head was of fine gold, its chest and arms of silver, its belly and thighs of bronze, its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of clay. You watched while a stone was cut out without hands, which struck the image on its feet of iron and clay, and broke them in pieces. Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold were crushed together, and became like chaff from the summer threshing floors; the wind carried them away so that no trace of them was found. And the stone that struck the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth” (Daniel 2:31-35). At first glance, this statue may seem to have little to do with finding hope in our day. Babylonian imagery is a long way removed from the natural disasters and terrorists haunting our world. However, as you read this prophecy, you will receive a “fly-over” view of thousands of years of history and see how this ancient dream affects your life today.
- The Prophecy Interpreted: AFTER TELLING a very impressed Nebuchadnezzar exactly what he’d seen in his dream, the prophet Daniel explained: “This is the dream. Now we will tell the interpretation of it before the king” (verse 36). “You, O king, are a king of kings. For the God of heaven has given you a kingdom, power, strength, and glory; and wherever the children of men dwell, or the beasts of the field and the birds of the heaven, He has given them into your hand, and has made you ruler over them all—you are this head of gold ” (verses 37, 38).Daniel was, in essence, telling the ruler of what was then the world’s greatest empire: “Nebuchadnezzar, your dream is a message from God. The statue’s golden head represents your kingdom.” The head of gold depicted ancient Babylon quite accurately; historians refer to the empire as “the golden kingdom of a golden age.” Wealthier and mightier than any empire that preceded it, Babylon proudly dominated the world until 539 BC.
THE CHEST AND ARMS OF SILVER: From a human perspective—and especially before Nebuchadnezzar’s proud gaze— Babylon looked like an empire that would last forever. But what does the prophecy say would happen next? “After you shall arise another kingdom inferior to yours” (verse 39). Just as God predicted, Nebuchadnezzar’s kingdom crumbled into ruins when Cyrus, the Persian general, overthrew the Babylonian Empire in 539 BC. So the next part of the statue—the silver chest and arms—represented Medo-Persia, the mighty empire that followed Babylon.
THE BELLY AND THIGHS OF BRONZE: What does this part of the great metal image represent? “Then another, a third kingdom of bronze, which shall rule over all the earth” (verse 39). The belly and thighs of bronze symbolize the kingdom of Greece, which overthrew the Persians at the Battle of Arbela in 331 BC. Alexander the Great conquered the Medes and the Persians, turning Greece into the world’s third great empire. Greece ruled from 331 to 168 BC
GREETINGS TO YOU BIBLE STUDENT. TODAY WE ARE STUDYING DISCOVER BIBLE GUIDE 7 With the Title: About Your Future Section 1. An Amazing Bible Prophecy part 2
THE LEGS OF IRON: “The fourth kingdom shall be as strong as iron, in as much as iron breaks in pieces and shatters everything; and like iron that crushes, that kingdom will break in pieces and crush all the others” (verse 40). After the death of Alexander, his empire weakened and split into rival factions until finally, in 168 BC, at the battle of Pydna, the “Iron Empire” of Rome crushed Greece. God used the iron legs of the great metal man to symbolize this fourth world empire. Caesar Augustus ruled the Roman Empire when Jesus was born about 2,000 years ago (Luke 2:1). Christ and His apostles lived during the period represented by the legs of iron.
Edward Gibbon, the 18th century historian, no doubt had Daniel’s prophecy in mind when he wrote: “The arms of the [Roman] republic, sometimes vanquished in battle, always victorious in war, advanced with rapid steps to the Euphrates, the Danube, the Rhine, and the Ocean; and the images of gold, or silver, or brass, that might serve to represent the nations and their kings, were successively broken by the iron monarchy of Rome.” —The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire (John D. Morris and Company), vol. 4, p. 89. Think for a moment about this prediction from a human point of view. How could Daniel, a Hebrew living in the time of Babylon, have any idea of the rise and fall of world empires hundreds of years in the future? We have a hard time figuring out what the weather is going to be like next week! And yet Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome followed each other exactly as predicted by the prophecy. Is God in control of the future? Can we have hope in His grand plan? Daniel 2 answers with a resounding Yes! But there’s even more.
THE FEET AND TOES OF IRON MIXED WITH CLAY: “Whereas you saw the feet and toes, partly of potter’s clay and partly of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; yet the strength of the iron shall be in it, just as you saw the iron mixed with ceramic clay. And as the toes of the feet were partly of iron and partly of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong and partly fragile” (verses 41, 42). The prophet predicted not a fifth world empire, but a division of the iron monarchy of Rome. Rome would fracture into 10 kingdoms, as symbolized by the feet and toes of the image. Did this actually happen? It certainly did. During the 4th and 5th centuries of the Christian era, invaders from the north delivered blow after blow against the decaying Roman Empire. 10 TOES represent 10 Major tribes in the Western Roman Empire; the Anglo-Saxons=England; Franks = France; Alamanni = Germany; Lombards = Italy; Ostrogoths = later destroyed; Visigoths = Spain; Burgundians = Switzerland; Vandals = North Africa Later destroyed; Suevi = Portugal; Heruli = Disappeared after a few centuries
Finally, 10 of these warring tribes took over most of the territory of Western Rome, and 10 independent nations established themselves within the boundaries of Western Europe. Thus the statue’s toes symbolize the modern nations of Europe today. The prophecy was literally fulfilled, and history again harmonizes with what God foretold. Seven of the 10 nations of divided Western Rome remain on the map of Europe today, even though for some, their original territory has changed.*
Thought question:
The statue’s chest and arms of silver represent the world empire of Medo-Persia. (True or False)
The statue’s thighs of bronze represent the world empire of Rome (True or False)
The statue’s feet, made of iron mixed with clay, represent the divided empire of Rome. (True or False)
The statue’s legs of iron represent the world empire of Rome. (True or False)
The statue’s head of gold represents the world empire of Assyria, ruled over by King Nabopolassar. (True or False)
GREETINGS TO YOU BIBLE STUDENT. TODAY WE ARE STUDYING DISCOVER BIBLE GUIDE 7 With the Title: About Your Future Section 2. Our Day in Bible Prophecy
DOES DANIEL’S PROPHECY predict that efforts would be made to unite the post-Roman Empire nations of Europe under one ruler?
“As you saw iron mixed with ceramic clay, they will mingle with the seed of men; but they will not adhere to one another, just as iron does not mix with clay”(verse 43).
Over and over, powerful men have tried to unite Europe, but they have fallen short of the goal every time. “They will not adhere to one another” is the verdict of prophecy. It declares that France, England, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Italy, and Switzerland will never reshape themselves into one great power and remain united.
Living as we do so many centuries later, it’s hard to grasp how dramatically Daniel’s prophecy identified a major break in history. Up until the collapse of Rome, the world had been dominated by empires, starting all the way back with Egypt and Assyria. However, after Rome, the world carved itself up into nation-states, and that pattern has persisted. Only the mind of God could have foreseen the grand sweep of history so accurately.
Truly, as Jesus said, “The Scripture cannot be broken” (John 10:35). He also declared:
“Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away” (Matthew 24:35).
Fourteen hundred years of history show that no human power, or combination of powers, has been able to break the force of these words of Bible prophecy: “They will mingle with the seed of men; but they will not adhere to one another.”
It’s not for a lack of trying, however. Several men of great military genius have done their best to unite Europe. Napoleon Bonaparte came nearer than any other man to reaching this goal. At the beginning of his military career he boasted, “In five years I shall be master of the world.” He stated his aims very clearly: “The conquest of Russia, Europe, the world.”
Napoleon’s troops appeared invincible for some time and swallowed up a great deal of real estate, but while marching to Moscow, the French forces became bogged down in an early winter and Russian troops decimated Napoleon’s men. Why did he fall short of his goal? Because God had said: “They will mingle with the seed of men; but they will not adhere to one another.”
Napoleon had by far the best army in Europe, but it was no match for the Word of God. As he fled from the battlefield of Waterloo, he is said to have cried out, “God Almighty is too much for me!”
Kaiser Wilhelm II (WWI) and Adolf Hitler (WWII) created the most powerful armed forces of their day, but each failed to unite Europe. Why? Because God’s Word was at stake: “They will not adhere to one other.”
Since the last World War, dictators who have succeeded in arming an entire people with fanatical zeal haven’t been able to revise Daniel’s prophecy.
World history since the Roman Empire confirms this fact: God holds the future in His hands, and God is ultimately in control.
That’s certainly enough to give us hope, peace of mind, and confidence in His plan for our lives.
- A Look Into the Future
ONLY ONE PART of Daniel’s prophecy remains unfulfilled. The dream ends with a stone striking the statue on its feet and smashing the statue into pieces.
That stone then fills the whole earth (Daniel 2:34, 35). What does this represent?
“In the days of these kings [the modern nations of Western Europe] the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and . . . it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever. . . . The dream is certain, and its interpretation is sure” (Daniel 2:44, 45).
“In the days of these kings” refers to the present day—to the modern nations of Western Europe. Today, our world stands on the threshold of the greatest event of all time!
Soon Jesus will descend from heaven to “set up a kingdom”—His everlasting kingdom of peace and righteousness.
The stone that smashes the statue and fills the whole earth “shall stand forever.”
Christ, the Rock of Ages and the King of Kings, will rule the world forever!
This grand prophecy predicts with unfailing accuracy the course of world history and fills us with a sure hope in the Second Coming of Jesus. Everything in this prophecy has been fulfilled except the final act. According to God’s timetable, we are now approaching the grand climax—the final events. Jesus Christ is about to end the long, bloody struggle of human history and establish His eternal kingdom of love and grace.
Thought question: The stone that strikes the statue on the feet and breaks it into pieces represents the soon coming of Christ to set up His kingdom. (True or False)
- God Is Guiding the Nations
WHEN GOD REVEALED this prophecy to Daniel, the Hebrew prophet immediately saw the guiding hand of God in the rise and fall of nations (Daniel 2:20-22).
God knows the past, and this Bible prophecy clearly shows that He knows the future as well.
Sometimes we may imagine that God is so occupied with His vast universe that our little planet doesn’t receive much attention—much less one individual life on it. But God has gone to great lengths to assure us that He is very much concerned with human history and each individual’s history. He’s given us a beacon light, just like those used by a ship coming into port:
“We have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star [Jesus] rises in your hearts” (2 Peter 1:19).
God uses Bible prophecy in the darkness of our world just like we use headlights on a car when we’re driving at night. The Bible shows us where we’re going.
It shows us what lies ahead. Bible prophecy shows us that history is heading toward a face-to-face encounter with Christ. You can prepare right now for history’s great climax. The same hand of God that guided Daniel as he condensed millennia of future history into a few paragraphs can guide you as you try to make sense out of your life today.
- The King’s Dream and You
YES, the world can be a pretty turbulent place. Terrorists can strike at random. Peace treaties can disintegrate in a moment and affect innocent lives. Governments still plot for domination. Nevertheless, listen to what God wants to do for you!
“The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and He delights in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; for the Lord upholds him with His hand” (Psalm 37:23, 24).
If God directs the movements of nations with such precision, surely He can guide each individual’s life.
“Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows” (Matthew 10:29-31).
God’s gift of faith can become the cure to all your worries. The hope He inspires can serve as an anchor for overcoming your fears.
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help
in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, even though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea. . . . The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge” (Psalm 46:1, 2, 7).
Erasmus, a 16th century scholar, related an incident during a sea voyage that stayed with him the rest of his life. His sailing vessel ran aground in a storm. As violent waves smashed against the ship and it began to splinter, even the sailors panicked. The passengers were near hysteria. Most shouted for help to their patron saint, sang hymns, or pleaded loudly in prayer.
Erasmus noted one passenger, however, whose demeanor was decidedly different. “Of all of us,” Erasmus wrote, “the one who remained most composed was a young woman who was holding
a baby whom she was nursing. She was the only one who did not shout, weep, or bargain with heaven. She did nothing but pray quietly to herself while clasping the baby tightly on her lap.”
This prayer, Erasmus realized, was just a continuation of her regular prayer life. She did not ask for any exceptional favors. She just entrusted herself to God.
As the ship began to sink, this young mother was placed on a plank, given a spar to use as an oar, and sent out into the waves. She had to hold her baby with one hand and attempt to row with the other. Few thought she would survive the pounding surf.
However, her faith and composure stabilized her in the midst of this tumult. The woman and her child were the first to reach shore.
Hope in a trustworthy God can make all the difference—even when the world seems to be disintegrating around us. We’re not out there on our own. A greater hand is guiding us and holding us up.
If you will come to Christ in full surrender, He will give you a faith that will see you through every storm. Discover the supernatural peace that Jesus promises:
“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you . . . Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27).
“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28)
Decision & Prayer
MY PRAYER
If you've never prayed before, that's okay. Here is a short prayer to get you started, if you want to read these words aloud to God or say them silently in your head to Him. You can also take this prayer and make it your own by paraphrasing or add your own words to it.
Try to think of talking to God like you would talk to a friend, saying whatever is on your heart.
Dear Father in heaven, I thank You today for Your loving interest in me personally. I thank You for telling me in advance about the future of the world, and for guiding our world and my life. Thank You for the certainty of Bible prophecy. Help me to accept it as Your true Word and believe it always. And above all, help me to open my heart right now to Jesus, the Prince of Peace. I ask this in the name of Jesus, Amen.
MY DECISION
Take a moment to reflect on the following statements, placing a check mark next to each statement you relate to.
I want to be a part of God’s eternal kingdom and live with Him forever.
I want to say thank you to God for revealing to me His guiding hand in world history and in my life.
Be blessed as you meditate upon these truths
Please take the quiz to complete this lesson
LESSON 7 QUIZ
GREETINGS TO YOU BIBLE STUDENT. TODAY WE ARE STUDYING DISCOVER BIBLE GUIDE 6 With the Title: A Second Chance at Life Section 1: What It Means to Be Lost
COMMENTS LIKE THESE from our students really make our day: “One of the study guides mentions loneliness. I sure know what that feels like since I have burned my bridges with my family and friends. This is because of all the bad things I was involved in. I was encouraged by what you sent me. It always gives me a spark of hope to know that Jesus Christ is there next to me and walking with me in everything I do. Jesus truly is my Best Friend.”
“I’ve been a follower of Jesus for a while now. He has healed my broken heart, forgiven me of my sins, and is my Best Friend. I can’t wait to be with Him in heaven, spending eternity worshipping. Thank you for making the Word of God easier to understand.” These individuals have found the only way to a second chance at life—Jesus! They’ve made the all-important discovery that, while it is a terrible experience to be lost, it is a fantastic experience to find salvation. What is the only solution for someone trapped in sin?
“I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes” (Romans 1:16). The gospel is a saving power for sinful people who believe fully in Jesus and accept Him into their lives. The individuals who wrote the above comments accepted Christ by placing their trust in Him and giving Him their allegiance. The power of God and the power of the gospel transformed their lives, and they now enjoy an ever-growing friendship with Jesus.
- What It Means to Be Lost: JUST AS THERE ARE TWO kinds of life—spiritual and physical—so there are two kinds of death—spiritual and physical. It’s possible for a person to be physically alive—walking around town, doing business, having what some call a good time—and still be dead— that is, spiritually dead. “You . . . were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience” (Ephesians 2:1, 2).
Satan leads a spiritually dead person down a descending spiral of sin and disobedience. However, the wonderful truth of the gospel is that God loves “doomed” people. He loves them even while they are falling away from Him, dead in sin, and offers them a full and free deliverance from their predicament. “But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ . . . that . . . He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast” (Ephesians 2:4-9).
God loved us when there was nothing lovable about us. His grace created in us a spiritual resurrection to a new life in Christ. We can’t change ourselves, but God can.
He gives us a second chance at life.
Thought question:
- A person can be physically alive but spiritually dead in sin. (True or False)
IN ORDER to grasp the salvation that Christ offers, it’s important to clearly understand our need..
- WE NEED TO BE SAVED FROM SIN: How many have sinned? “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Most of us do not live up to what we know is right. Sometimes we hurt each other emotionally. Sometimes we “forget” about a certain source of income at tax time. Sometimes we gossip, lie, or cheat on our spouse. “All have sinned,” and that’s the human condition.
How does the Bible define sin? “All unrighteousness is sin” (1 John 5:17). We need to be rescued from all kinds of unhealthy habits such as lying, abusive anger, lust, and bitterness, to name a few. The Bible defines wrongdoing (“unrighteousness”) as breaking God’s moral law that He summarized in the Ten Commandments found in Exodus 20. The Bible says, “Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness” (1 John 3:4). So we need to be saved from sin—violating God’s commandments.
- WE NEED TO BE SAVED FROM A BROKEN RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD: “The Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; nor His ear heavy, that it cannot hear. 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 59:1, 2). Unforgiven sin severs our relationship with God, the Life-giver. There can be no love relationship without faith and trust in God. That is why Jesus spoke of sin as unbelief (John 16:9). Christ came to restore trust in God, which Satan had undermined.
- WE NEED TO BE SAVED FROM ETERNAL DEATH, THE PENALTY FOR SIN: “Through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned” (Romans 5:12). “For the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23).
- WE NEED TO BE SAVED FROM A SINFUL, UNHAPPY LIFE IN A SINFUL WORLD: “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (John 10:10). For the sinner, life is a dead-end street because a life of sin leaves an empty, aching void in his or her existence. God’s plan is to rescue us from a world full of sin and its results—heartache, loneliness, war, sickness, evil, and death.
Thought question:
- We need to be saved from eternal death, which is the penalty for sin. (True or False)
- JESUS CAN DELIVER US FROM SIN: “You shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). A Hindu told a Christian friend, “I find many things in Hinduism not found in Christianity, but there is one thing Christianity has that Hinduism does not have—a Savior.” Christianity is the only world religion that offers people a Savior.
- JESUS CAN SAVE US FROM OUR BROKEN RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD: God uses some of the close personal connections we have with one another—friendship, family, and marriage—as illustrations of the relationship we can have with Him. To the church in the town of Ephesus, the Apostle Paul wrote: “At that time you were without Christ . . . having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ” (Ephesians 2:12, 13).
When we commit ourselves to Christ, a relationship begins, followed by a lifetime of serving Him. Jesus is the perfect Friend; He loves to bring out the best in us. “By the blood of Christ,” our past life of sin is erased, and day by day, He gives us His acceptance, His power over sin, and His perfect life. Our love for Him, in turn, produces in us a desire to live in a way that pleases Him. And how can we know what pleases our Savior? Jesus says: “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15). The Bible, God’s Word, tells us how to live for Him. And the Holy Spirit will help us understand the Bible and live in harmony with its teachings.
- JESUS CAN SAVE US FROM ETERNAL DEATH, THE PENALTY FOR SIN: “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).
We are spiritual lawbreakers, sentenced to die. The penalty for our sins is eternal death, but Jesus can save us from eternal death and give us eternal life. He loved us so much that He died for us in order to pay the penalty for our sins. “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). Because of His unfailing love, Jesus “died for us.” By accepting death in our place, He provided a pardon for each of us. He experienced the horrors of complete separation from God so we wouldn’t have to. Because He died for us and suffered the full results of sin, God can now forgive and accept sinners without trivializing sin.
- JESUS CAN SAVE US FROM A SINFUL, UNHAPPY LIFE: God not only provides forgiveness for our sins, but He also offers us healing and restoration. God promises to save us from our sins, not in our sins. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17).
We can’t save ourselves from sin or change our nature on our own, any more than a lion can decide to become a lamb (Romans 7:18). Sin is simply stronger than our willpower. However, Christ is able to cause us “to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man” (Ephesians 3:16). He works to replace our destructive habits with His righteous qualities—love, peace, joy, kindness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22, 23). Christ lives His life through us. He loves to take on the most hopeless cases.
Harold Hughes had given up hope of ever changing. He had tried desperately to stop drinking many times. He knew only too well that his battle with the bottle had put his wife and two daughters through 10 years of hell. And so he stepped into his bathtub one cold morning and pointed a shotgun muzzle into his mouth. Before pulling the trigger, he decided he’d better explain things to God. That prayer turned into a long, sobbing appeal for help. God came through. Harold Hughes made a commitment to Christ and found the spiritual strength to persevere. He quit drinking for good, became a loving, dependable husband and father, and went on to earn a seat in the U.S. Senate. Senator Hughes, who passed away in 1996, is remembered as one of the pioneering leaders in creating legislation for the treatment of alcohol and drug abuse. Today, the Senator Harold Hughes Memorial Award is given annually to someone in the field of alcohol and drug rehabilitation.
- JESUS CAN SAVE US FROM A SINFUL WORLD: The next four Discover Guides will provide a full explanation of how Jesus can rescue us from our sinful world. Thought question: Jesus saves us from our sins because we can overcome sin by our strong willpower. (True or False).
GREETINGS TO YOU BIBLE STUDENT. TODAY WE ARE STUDYING DISCOVER BIBLE GUIDE 6 With the Title: A Second Chance at Life Section 4: Finding Salvation and Growing as a Christian— Three Simple Steps
STEP 1: ASK CHRIST TO DEAL WITH THE SIN IN YOUR LIFE: What is our part in getting rid of our sinful life? “Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out” (Acts 3:19).
What leads a person to repent? “Do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?” (Romans 2:4). “I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance” (2 Corinthians 7:9). Repentance is simply being sorry for our sins and then turning away from them—making a break from old habits, practices, and attitudes. It’s not sorrow for fear of impending punishment; it’s a response to “the goodness of God” that led Jesus to die in our place for our sinfulness. We reject sin because it hurts God—and ultimately us.
What else is part of repentance? “He who covers his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy” (Proverbs 28:13). In addition to acknowledging and getting rid of the old life of sin, what else is necessary for the repentant sinner? “If the wicked restores the pledge, gives back what he has stolen, and walks in the statutes of life without committing iniquity, he shall surely live; he shall not die” (Ezekiel 33:15). Real repentance means not only turning away from sin, but, as far as possible, making past wrongs right.
What is God’s part in getting rid of our old life of sin? “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). “Him [Jesus Christ] God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins” (Acts 5:31). The ability to repent is really a gift to us from God (Acts 5:31). Only He can move us to genuine repentance. And when we do respond, a loving Savior forgives our sins. The Bible describes it as taking our sins and throwing them “into the depths of the sea,” (Micah 7:19) cleansing us from all unrighteousness. There is no sin so terrible that our Savior who died on the cross can’t forgive. A person who trusts in Jesus needs only to ask Him.
It’s a sobering fact that our sins helped drive those nails through Christ’s hands and feet. In a real sense, we helped crucify the Savior, but always remember that Jesus endured the cross “for the joy that was set before Him” (Hebrews 12:2). He willingly paid the ultimate price for our ultimate redemption. And He is more eager than we can imagine for us to accept His gift of forgiveness and reconciliation.
Word reached a young runaway that his mother was dying. The news filled him with remorse over their broken relationship. Hurrying home, he rushed into the room and threw himself on his mother’s bed. In a flood of tears, he begged her to forgive him. She drew him close and whispered, “Son, I would have forgiven you long ago if you’d only asked.”
If you have drifted away from God, or have not yet come to know Him, please think about how eager your Heavenly Father is to welcome you home. He demonstrated His forgiving love on a cross on the hill called Golgotha. More than anything, He wants for you to accept His offer of pardon and grace. He loves you. He died for you. He is always willing to forgive you. So respond to His gracious invitation to repent. Confess your sins. Believe that God forgives you, and He will. Don’t look to your emotions for reassurance. Trust in the clear promises of Scripture
GREETINGS TO YOU BIBLE STUDENT. TODAY WE ARE STUDYING DISCOVER BIBLE GUIDE 6 With the Title: A Second Chance at Life Section 4: Finding Salvation and Growing as a Christian— Three Simple Steps part two.
STEP 2: RECEIVE A NEW LIFE FROM JESUS: Your part in receiving a new life from Jesus is to believe that Jesus has really saved you. Accept without question the fact that He has forgiven and cleansed you, taken away your old life of sin, and given you an entirely new and changed life. “As many as received Him [Jesus], to them He gave the right [the power, authority, privilege] to become children of God, to those who believe in His name” (John 1:12).
As a child of God, you have “the right” to receive a new life from Jesus. As we have said, you can’t achieve it on your own—it’s a gift from your Heavenly Father. Jesus gives this absolute promise so that all of our insecurities and doubts will be removed. However, if you do struggle with doubt, remember the man who, in the middle of an overwhelming crisis, called out to Jesus: “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24). Focus whatever trust you can muster on God’s promises. It’s not how much faith you have that counts; it’s simply whether or not you exercise it.
What is God’s part in giving us a new life? “Unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3). According to Jesus, a repentant, believing sinner is actually born into a new life. The change is as dramatic as the birth of a baby, and it is a miracle that only God can perform. What inner change takes place in a person who acquires a new life from Jesus? “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh” (Ezekiel 36:26). Jesus transforms our heart— our feelings and behavior—and dwells “in you” (Colossians 1:27).
This new life is not just a nice, spiritual idea. It’s much more than positive thinking; it’s a hard, solid fact. The new birth is a resurrection from spiritual death to an entirely new existence (Ephesians 5:14). Harold Hughes is just one example of Christ’s ability to give people a wonderful second chance. How we receive a New Life from Christ: i. believe in Him and receive Him as Saviour and Lord.; ii. establish a relationship with Him (it is vital to set aside time for Bible reading and prayer; iii. allow Christ through the Holy Spirit to replace our bad habits with His good qualities.
STEP 3: LIVE FOR JESUS EVERY DAY: The Christian life involves a daily turning away from selfishness as we spend time with Jesus, our Friend. We grow in this new life by strengthening our relationship with Jesus. This means spending quality time with Him—building honest and open communication. God has given us five divine aids for spiritual growth: (1) Bible study, (2) prayer, (3) meditation on Scripture, (4) fellowship with other Christians, and (5) sharing our experience with others. (Discover Guides 14 to 20 give practical suggestions on how to live a satisfying Christian life.)
Living in Christ means we have God’s power in our life. Sometimes we may stumble, but if we do, we can claim Christ’s forgiveness and keep going. We’re headed in a direction toward Jesus, and we know that He remains a living presence in our hearts every step of the way (Hebrews 7:25; Jude 24). Jesus provides two things that are essential for healthy growth: a sense of security through His unconditional love, and the motivation to reach higher through His inspiring Word—the Bible.
Thought question:
- Our part in receiving salvation is to repent and turn to God for forgiveness. (True or False)
- God’s part in our receiving salvation is to give us the gift of repentance and forgiveness for our sins. (True or False)
iii.Our part in receiving a new life from God is to accept the fact that we can achieve this new life on our own. (True or False)
- God’s part in our receiving a new life is to perform the miracle of a new birth, give us a new heart, dwell in us, and transform our behavior. (True or False)
GREETINGS TO YOU BIBLE STUDENT. TODAY WE ARE STUDYING DISCOVER BIBLE GUIDE 6 With the Title: A Second Chance at Life Section 5: The Joy of the Second Chance
HAROLD HUGHES RECEIVED many honours during his distinguished career as a U.S. Senator, but the one that meant the most to him came shortly after his commitment to Christ. He was studying the Bible alone in his living room one evening when he felt a nudge at his elbow. He looked up and saw his two small daughters, standing quietly in their nightgowns. He stared at them for a moment; they had changed so much, and he had missed so much during his devastating battle with alcohol. Then Carol, the younger one, said, “Daddy, we’ve come to kiss you good night.” The father’s eyes blurred. It had been so long since the children had sought his embrace. Now their beautiful clear eyes held no fear. Daddy had come home at last.
Jesus Christ truly does give people a second chance. He takes on the most hopeless cases and creates new beginnings—“the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23). The Saviour longs for each one of us to come home at last. Have you accepted Christ’s loving invitation? Receiving God’s forgiveness and cleansing is as simple and profound as opening your arms for a child’s embrace. If you have not yet trusted in Christ as your personal Saviour, you can do so right now by praying this prayer: “Father, I am sorry for my life of sin. Thank You for sending Your Son to this world to die in my place. Please forgive my sins and come into my life. Help me to follow You and Your plan for my life as revealed in the Bible. I ask this in the name of Jesus, Amen.”
Decision & Prayer
MY PRAYER: If you've never prayed before, that's okay. Here is a short prayer to get you started, if you want to read these words aloud to God or say them silently in your head to Him. You can also take this prayer and make it your own by paraphrasing or add your own words to it.
Try to think of talking to God like you would talk to a friend, saying whatever is on your heart.
Father, I am sorry for my life of sin. Thank You for sending Your Son to this world to die in my place. Please forgive my sins and come into my life. Help me to follow You and Your plan for my life as revealed in the Bible. I ask this in the name of Jesus, Amen
MY DECISION: Take a moment to reflect on the following statements, placing a check mark next to each statement you relate to. I choose to accept Jesus as my Saviour. I ask Him to forgive my sins and to come into my life. I choose to follow the Bible and live for Jesus by His strength and power. I thank God for offering me a second chance at life.Be blessed as you meditate upon these truths
Please take the quiz to complete this lesson
LESSON 8 QUIZ
GREETINGS TO YOU BIBLE STUDENT. TODAY WE ARE STUDYING DISCOVER BIBLE GUIDE 9 With the Title: Your Home in Heaven Section 1: 1. Where Is Heaven?
WHEN MARCO POLO RETURNED to his hometown of Venice, Italy, after many years in Asia, his friends thought his long journeys had driven him mad. He told such incredible, unbelievable tales! He had traveled to a city full of silver and gold. He saw black stones that burned, but those who listened to his stories had never seen coal. He saw a cloth that refused to catch fire even when thrown into the flames, but the Venetians had never heard of asbestos. He talked of a round nut the size of a man’s head that—when cracked open—was white as milk, huge serpents that were 10 paces long with jaws wide enough to swallow a man, and a substance from the ground that actually set lamps alight—but the people he regaled with his stories had never seen coconuts, crocodiles, or crude oil. They just laughed at his tales.
later, when Marco Polo lay dying, a devout man at his bedside urged him to recant all the “tall tales” he’d told, but he refused: “It’s all true—every bit of it. In fact, I have not told half of what I saw.” The Bible writers who give us glimpses of heaven seem to echo Marco Polo’s sentiment. In vision, they looked on a place so brilliant, so fantastic, that they could describe only a fraction of what they saw. And we face a challenge similar to that of Marco Polo’s friends. We must try to imagine the “crocodiles and coconuts” we’ve not yet seen, because the glimpses we do get in the Bible show us that heaven is much more than sitting on clouds and playing harps.
- Where Is Heaven? IS HEAVEN a real place? “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also” (John 14:1-3). Jesus is preparing a very real place for us right now in a very real heaven. He is coming to our world a second time to take us to a custom-made mansion in a heavenly city that is glorious beyond our wildest dreams: the New Jerusalem.
After we’ve lived there for 1,000 years, Christ intends to bring this heavenly home down to planet Earth (there will be more about this topic in Guide 22). As the New Jerusalem descends, fire will purify the entire world, burning away all pollution and contamination. Our renewed planet will then become the permanent home of the saved.
How does John, who wrote Revelation, picture these events? “I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, ‘Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God’” (Revelation 21:1-3).
What was God’s original purpose when making our world? “Thus says the Lord, who created the heavens, who is God, who formed the earth and made it, who has established it, who did not create it in vain, who formed it to be inhabited” (Isaiah 45:18). When God finished our world, He looked down on a perfect planet teeming with life and observed with satisfaction that it was very good (Genesis 1:31). However, as time passed, people became more corrupt and the earth groaned under the increasing weight of wickedness. That state of degradation and decline has continued throughout history—all the way to our present day. Our world teeters on the brink of destruction. It needs the cleansing by fire that God has promised (2 Peter 3:10-13).
Who does Jesus promise will occupy the new earth after the old one is transformed by fire? “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth” (Matthew 5:5).
The Lord never allows His plans to fail. They may be hindered, but in the end, He will work out all things according to His great purpose. He will restore His perfect creation to its original beauty. Eden lost will become Eden restored, and the meek “shall inherit the earth.”
Thought Questions:
- Jesus is now preparing a place for us in a very real heaven. (True or False)
HEAVEN IS MUCH MORE than a place where heavenly beings sit on clouds and play harps. Heaven is a real place that will be inhabited by real people with strong spiritual lives and “glorious bodies.” “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself ” (Philippians 3:20, 21; see also 1 Corinthians 15:35-44).
When Jesus appeared to His disciples in His resurrected and glorified body, how did He describe it? “Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have” (Luke 24:39). Jesus had a real body; He even invited Thomas to touch Him (John 20:27). On this occasion, Jesus walked into a real house, talked to real people, and ate real food (Luke 24:43). We can be assured that our heavenly bodies will be as solid and real as Christ’s resurrected body.
Will we recognize our family and friends in heaven and be able to enjoy close relationships? “For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known” (1 Corinthians 13:12). In heaven, we will know our loved ones just as we are also known. We’ll understand and appreciate one another more deeply than we ever have in this present world. Jesus’ disciples recognized Him in His heavenly body, apparently because of His familiar features (Luke 24:36-43). Mary knew Him at the tomb because of the sound of His voice when He called her by name (John 20:14-16). The two disciples at Emmaus identified Him because of certain gestures—they recognized Him thanks to the familiar manner in which He blessed their food (Luke 24:13-34).
The redeemed are certain to experience thrilling “face-to-face” reunions in heaven. Imagine the joy of recognizing your spouse’s special smile, or the familiar call of a child you laid to rest long ago, or the familiar gestures of some beloved friend. All the barriers that sin puts up between people will have disappeared. We’ll have an eternity to deepen life’s most precious bonds and develop close friendships with the most fascinating personalities in the universe. In the new earth, these extraordinary relationships extend even to the animal kingdom: “The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them” (Isaiah 11:6).
Thought question:
- After His resurrection, Jesus’ followers recognized Him by His familiar features, His voice, and His mannerisms (True or False
IN ADDITION TO expanding our relationships in ways we could only dream of before, we’ll have plenty of activities to challenge us in heaven. How about designing your own dream house? “Behold, I create new heavens and a new earth. . . . I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in My people. . . .They shall build houses and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit. They shall not build and another inhabit; they shall not plant and another eat. . . . My elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands” (Isaiah 65:17-22).
Jesus is already preparing personalized homes for us in the Holy City, the New Jerusalem (John 14:1-3; Revelation 21).
These verses suggest that we’ll also design and construct other houses—perhaps beautiful country estates, landscaping them with heaven’s rich variety of plant life. But this is just the start. Isaiah simply described a busy new earth in terms of the chief occupations of his day—building and planting. Who knows what high-tech adventures await us in God’s perfectly advanced civilization? Our present scientific breakthroughs and space explorations will seem like child’s play when we begin exploring in our “Father’s house.”
Do you love the beauty of thundering waterfalls, quiet meadows, lush rainforests, and delicate blossoms? “The Lord will comfort Zion, He will comfort all her waste places; He will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the Lord; joy and gladness will be found in it, thanksgiving and the voice of melody” (Isaiah 51:3).
God will transform the earth into a pristine Garden of Eden. No more oil spills, smog, or drought—the lakes will remain crystal clear, the trees majestic, and the mountainsides unscarred. We’ll experience life as we never have experienced it before—in all its loveliness and beauty.
Still, some might imagine that life, even in a perfect environment, won’t continue to be stimulating after a while. In time, even the greatest vacation can grow tiring. What will keep us going throughout eternity, facing each new day with zest and enthusiasm? The problem is not that eternity might become boring; the problem is that our inadequate imaginations cannot fully picture what it will really be like to experience all that God intends for us to be and do. A prolific Christian author, Ellen White, wrote this about heaven:
“Every faculty will be developed, every capacity increased. The acquirement of knowledge will not weary the mind or exhaust the energies. There the grandest enterprises may be carried forward, the loftiest aspirations reached, the highest ambitions realized; and still there will arise new heights to surmount, new wonders to admire, new truths to comprehend, fresh objects to call forth the powers of mind and soul and body. All the treasures of the universe will be open to the study of God’s redeemed” (The Great Controversy, p. 677).
Thought Question: What will the saved people do in the new earth?( 2)
- Dream big. (True or False)
- Explore and discover new things. (True or False)
- Live on barren desserts. (True or False)
- Become bored eventually, because there will be nothing new to occupy their time. (True or False)
GREETINGS TO YOU BIBLE STUDENT. TODAY WE ARE STUDYING DISCOVER BIBLE GUIDE 9 With the Title: Your Home in Heaven Section 4: Will Evil Ever Threaten Heaven Again?
SPEAKING OF the New Jerusalem, the Apostle John wrote: “There shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life” (Revelation 21:27). The redeemed won’t have to fight impulses of anger, lying, stealing, murder, or abusive habits. They will be changed. When Jesus “is revealed, we shall be like Him” (1 John 3:2). Sin and selfishness will vanish forever.
Do you long for a place where there will be no more sickness, suffering, or sorrow?
“God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away” (Revelation 21:4). “The inhabitant will not say, ‘I am sick’” (Isaiah 33:24). God is going to completely eliminate sin and its terrible results; they will never appear again. Even the ultimate enemy— death—will vanish. In heaven’s land of eternal youth, the redeemed are “immortal” (1 Corinthians 15:53); no inhabitant will ever suffer the ravages of old age.
God both destroys the results of sin and ensures that it will never return (Nahum 1:9). Imagine what it will be like for those who have struggled with lifelong disabilities! “Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the dumb sing” (Isaiah 35:5, 6).
- What Is Heaven’s Greatest Thrill? IMAGINE SEEING the Lord of the Universe face-to-face. “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God” (Revelation 21:3).
“In Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore” (Psalm 16:11). God Almighty Himself promises to be our companion. What a joy to sit at His feet! Think what a musician would give to be able to spend a few moments with Beethoven or Mozart. Imagine how much a physicist would treasure a chat with Albert Einstein, or how much it would mean for a painter to talk with Michelangelo or Rembrandt.
However, the redeemed will have an infinitely greater privilege. They will converse with the Author of all music, science, and art— the greatest mind and deepest heart in the universe. God Himself will live with us! And this relationship will overflow into worship.
“‘From one Sabbath to another, all flesh shall come to worship before Me,’ says the Lord” (Isaiah 66:23). In the center of the heavenly city stands the great white throne of God. Encircled by an emerald rainbow, His face shines like a blazing sun. Below His feet, a glassy sea extends in all directions. On this crystal surface reflecting God’s glory, the redeemed gather to pour out their exultant praise. “And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with singing, with everlasting joy on their heads. They shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away” (Isaiah 35:10).
In the early days of aviation, three tribal chiefs who had spent their entire lives in the Sahara were flown to Paris and given a tour. A guide showed them the wonders of the Eiffel Tower and the Palace of Versailles. The tribesmen, however, seemed rather indifferent. They became acquainted with locomotives, automobiles, and telephones, but even these curiosities failed to break the composure of these proud warriors. Then the men travelled to the French Alps and witnessed a spectacle that left them speechless with awe: a waterfall thundering over the rocks. The tribesmen stood transfixed—they thought about how many times they’d marched for days to reach a well where they’d had to dig deep for a few cupfuls of muddy liquid! The guide tried to lead them to the next scenic spot, but they wouldn’t budge. The tribesmen insisted on waiting. “Waiting for what?” “The end.”
It was inconceivable to them that this torrent of life-giving water could just flow on and on forever. We will experience a similar sense of wonder when we stand on the sea of glass before God’s throne, because that’s when His love and holiness will really overwhelm us. By the time we get to heaven, perhaps with great effort we will have managed to scratch out a few minutes of virtue in the self-centered rush of our days on earth—but we will then be face-to-face with Someone whose goodness never misses a beat. His faithfulness, patience and compassion will just keep rolling on—undiluted and uncompromised. At that moment, we will lift our voices in wonder, like the heavenly beings who declare ceaselessly, “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!” (Revelation 4:8).
Thought Questions: What will heaven be like?( 3) No sin. (True or False)
- No sickness. (True or False)
- Only limited impurities. (True or False
- No suffering. (True or False)
GREETINGS TO YOU BIBLE STUDENT. TODAY WE ARE STUDYING DISCOVER BIBLE GUIDE 9 With the Title: Your Home in Heaven Section 6: You Must Be There!
JESUS WANTS YOU to be a part of that thrilling scene on the sea of glass. He doesn’t want your mansion in the New Jerusalem to be empty. He longs for that face-to-face meeting. That’s why He was willing to rescue you from sin at such a great cost:
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). You must personally take advantage of this gift. You must make a commitment to Christ as Lord and Savior. You need the pardon that is offered from the cross, because: “There shall by no means enter it [the New Jerusalem]anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie,but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life” (Revelation 21:27).
Jesus delivers us from sin. When you come to Him, His power in you enables you to live above the sin and impurity that is in the world. Jesus is your only hope of entering into His soon-coming kingdom. That kingdom can have its beginning right now in your heart. When Christ delivers you from sin, He creates a little heaven within your heart. He can help you deal with the worry, anger, lust, guilt, and any sin that plagues you. The hope of heaven isn’t an escape from life’s problems, but it helps create heaven on earth as God helps you deal with the problems you face.
Listen to how Peter describes the impact of a living faith: “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, receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls” (1 Peter 1:7-9).
Have you discovered the kind of abundant life Christ wants you to experience? Please don’t turn away from His gracious invitation. “The Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come!’ And let him who hears say, ‘Come!’ And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely” (Revelation 22:17). Jesus is with you now, speaking to your heart as you read these lines. He invites you to come to Him. Why not tell Him right now that you accept His gracious gift and want to spend eternity with Him? Tell Him that you love Him. If there is something between you and God—preventing you from accepting His free gift—ask Him to make you willing to remove it
Decision & Prayer
MY PRAYER: If you've never prayed before, that's okay. Here is a short prayer to get you started, if you want to read these words aloud to God or say them silently in your head to Him. You can also take this prayer and make it your own by paraphrasing or add your own words to it.
Try to think of talking to God like you would talk to a friend, saying whatever is on your heart.
Father, I come to Jesus just as I am—a sinner in need of His forgiving grace. I give my all to You. I choose to be Yours forever. Help me to live my life according to Your plan for my life. I ask this in the name of Jesus, Amen.
MY DECISION
Take a moment to reflect on the following statements, placing a check mark next to each statement you relate to.
I want to live forever with God in heaven. I accept Him as my Savior from sin.
I ask God to guide my life as I study the Bible and learn about His will for my life.
Be blessed as you meditate upon these truths
Please take the quiz to complete this lesson
LESSON 9 QUIZ
GREETINGS TO YOU BIBLE STUDENT. TODAY WE ARE STUDYING DISCOVER BIBLE GUIDE 10 With the Title: How Soon Will Jesus Return? Section 1: Signs That Christ Will Return in Our Day
When will Jesus return to this earth? It seems like we’ve waited so long, but Jesus doesn’t want us to lack hope as we wait for His coming. He answered the disciples’ questions, and in doing so He answers our questions as well. In Matthew 24 and Luke 21, Jesus gave several “signs,” or evidences, by which we can know when His coming is near. Other Bible prophecies help fill in the picture, detailing world conditions just before Jesus returns. Let’s look at the signs Jesus gave us to show when His coming is near.
- Signs That Christ Will Return in Our Day
THE SIGNS JESUS GAVE are being fulfilled before our very eyes; they indicate that His return to earth is almost here!
SIGN #1: SIGNS IN THE RELIGIOUS WORLD
“Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many” (Matthew 24:4, 5).
Jesus was telling the disciples that false prophets would arise, and that they would tell the Jewish people that their city and temple would not be destroyed, as He had predicted. This warning was also given to those of us living in the last days of earth’s history.
False, deceptive teachings abound today. Many claim to speak for Jesus, but we can’t always trust what they say. That is why we need to study the Bible for ourselves and understand the truth of God’s Word—as found in the Bible. In fact, Jesus warns us that we need to be doubly aware of deception down here at the end of earth’s history: “Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There!’ do not believe it. For false Christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. See, I have told you beforehand. Therefore if they say to you, ‘Look, He is in the desert!’ do not go out; or ‘Look, He is in the inner rooms!’ do not believe it” (Matthew 24:23-26).
Jesus explains very clearly that false teachers of the Scriptures will change His words and perform miracles to prove they are representatives of God. Some will even say, “Jesus has come and is speaking and performing miracles in town or in a retreat centre outside of the city.” When this happens, Jesus says that you should not listen to them. “It is not Me,” He warns, “because when I return to the earth, everyone will know it! In fact, My return to the earth will be like lightning flashing across the sky; everyone will see it” (see Matthew 24:27).
Over the years, numerous false prophets have arisen. In the 1960s, Charles Manson told his small group of followers that he was Christ. Jim Jones, in Georgetown, Guyana, convinced his followers that he spoke for Jesus and that they should drink a cyanide-laced flavoured drink. Hundreds died, as shown in graphic newspaper and television photos. There was also David Koresh. He and many of his followers tragically lost their lives in the destruction of their compound in Waco, Texas. In recent years, we’ve seen Apollo Quiboloy, founder and leader of the Philippines-based “Kingdom of Jesus Christ, The Name Above Every Name, Inc.” and Alan John (A. J.) Miller, leader of the Divine Truth movement headquartered in Australia. Quiboloy claims to be the “appointed Son of God.” He has an estimated 6 million followers worldwide. Miller is a former computer systems engineer who says that he is Jesus of Nazareth “through incarnation.” However, according to Scripture, when Jesus returns to this earth, He will come in the clouds of heaven and every eye will see Him (Revelation 1:7).
In addition to individuals pretending to be Jesus, false teachings can appear in other ways. Superstition, spiritualism, and the occult continue to flourish, although many have long predicted that reason and the scientific method would make belief in these things unbelievable, if not obsolete. In the 21st century, people still cling to their horoscopes and tarot cards. Educated, scientific, progressive human beings are as superstitious as ever. Spiritualism hasn’t shrivelled away; it’s advertising in broad daylight. Paganism is simply an alternative lifestyle. Witches and warlocks appear on talk shows. New Age practitioners and others are everywhere, selling magical crystals and channelling departed spirits. Counterfeit signs and wonders are booming. All this makes it even more clear that history is moving toward a climax. Just as Jesus predicted, we are living in the time of “the coming of the Son of Man” (Matthew 24:27).
How can we identify truth amid such confusion? God answers that question in these words: “To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them” (Isaiah 8:20). By studying God’s Word through these Discover Bible Guides, you are following the counsel of Jesus as you learn about Him.
Be Blessed
GREETINGS TO YOU BIBLE STUDENT. TODAY WE ARE STUDYING DISCOVER BIBLE GUIDE 10 With the Title: How Soon Will Jesus Return? Section 1 part two: SIGN #2: PEACE PLANS AND WAR PREPARATIONS Jesus said of the last days just before His coming: “You will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom” (Matthew 24:6, 7). Before the 20th century, war had never been waged on a truly worldwide scale; but in that century, nearly every significant nation on earth joined in two great global conflicts. A study conducted by Cornell University in the early 2000s, titled Deaths from Wars and Conflicts in the 20th Century, estimates that 231 million people died in these conflicts. It’s a number so big that it’s hard to comprehend!
Since World War II, we’ve lived with the knowledge that one push of a button could turn our world into a heap of radioactive rubble. No wonder the Bible speaks of God destroying “those who destroy the earth” (Revelation 11:18). We live in a strange world. Everyone agrees that we should give peace a chance, yet we keep engaging in armed conflicts Old hostilities flare into open conflict. Terrorism has placed the world on what appears to be a permanent war footing. The prophets Micah and Joel predicted that at the very time the nations are talking about their desire for peace (Micah 4:1-3), distrust for their neighbours compels them to prepare for war (Joel 3:9-13). Long ago, the Bible pictured this current state of perpetual warfare and declared that permanent peace will reign on earth only when Jesus returns
SIGN #3: WORLD CALAMITIES: How do natural disasters fit into last-day events?
“There will be great earthquakes in various places, and famines and pestilences; and there will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven. . . . When you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near” (Luke 21:11, 31). Skeptics say, “So what? There have always been famines and earthquakes.” That’s true, but is the situation getting better or worse? Is the physical earth becoming more liveable or wearing out? Isn’t it amazing to think that a world that has invented self-driving cars, rockets, space stations, and the Internet still can’t feed all of its people? Why do we still keep seeing those images of starving kids with distended bellies when so many countries grow more food than they consume?
Jesus knew that famines would persist and that selfish human nature, corrupt governments, and armed conflicts would grow worse toward the end of time. These factors are what have made recent famines so devastating. What about earthquakes? Data from the World Almanac illustrates a striking increase in earthquakes since the 18th century. It’s clear that earthquakes are claiming more and more lives as earthquake zones become more densely populated According to the U.S. Geological Survey, hundreds of thousands of people have died in earthquakes around the world since the year 2000. Just as Jesus predicted, earthquake activity is becoming more problematic as we get closer to His return.
SIGN #4: ECONOMIC AND CIVIL UNREST: The Bible predicts that the days just before Jesus returns will be marked by economic unrest and unbridled greed. “In the last days perilous times will come: for men will be . . . lovers of money” (2 Timothy 3:1, 2). The Bible does not condemn wealth. In fact, God’s blessings include material well-being as well as spiritual blessings; but the Bible does point out the dangers associated with wealth (Matthew 19:23). Money can easily turn our hearts from God. That’s why the Bible says, “The love of money is a root of all kinds of evil” (1 Timothy 6:10). That’s why Jesus urges us, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth. . . . but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven” (Matthew 6:19, 20). As long as money is gained honestly and used properly, wealth can be a great force for good. The problem arises when a person becomes greedy or relies on his riches rather than on God. Or a person exploits others in order to increase his or her own wealth.
That’s what the Bible says will be happening in the last days before Jesus comes. “Come now, you rich [people], weep and howl for your miseries that are coming upon you. . . . You have heaped up treasure in the last days” (James 5:1-3). Around the world today, we see economic unrest increasing as a few people amass huge amounts of wealth while everyone else struggles to stay afloat financially. This economic turmoil often leads to civil unrest and rising tensions between the “haves” and the “have-nots.” All this, the Bible tells us, is another sign that “the coming of the Lord is at hand” (James 5:8).
Be blessed as meditate upon these truths
GREETINGS TO YOU BIBLE STUDENT. TODAY WE ARE STUDYING DISCOVER BIBLE GUIDE 10 With the Title: How Soon Will Jesus Return? Section 1 part three: SIGN #5: ANGUISH! TERROR! PERPLEXITY! Almost 2,000 years ago, Jesus gave a prophetic description of contemporary life that sounds as if it could have been taken from the evening news: “There will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.
Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near” (Luke 21:25-28).
No more accurate description of today’s world could be penned than “men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth.”
A generation exists today that has grown up entirely in the shadow of stockpiled weapons capable of destroying the entire planet. Today’s apprehensions make yesterday’s seem pretty small. What if some terrorist acquires a nuclear warhead? Thankfully, Jesus gives us a basis for hope. The current crisis of global insecurity—“distress” and “perplexity”—only reinforces the truth that Christ’s coming really is drawing near.
People today often moan in frustration, “Look what the world has come to!” However, the student of Bible prophecy can exclaim with a hopeful voice, “Look WHO is coming to our world!” What specific signs did Jesus say would take place to usher in the last days before His coming? “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken” (Matthew 24:29).
Revelation describes the events like this: “There was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood. And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind” (Revelation 6:12, 13). These predictions were fulfilled in the late 18th and early 19th centuries—just when there was a renewed focus among Bible students around the world on the prophecies regarding the Second Coming of Jesus. One of the most deadly earthquakes ever recorded occurred on November 1, 1755, in Lisbon, Portugal. It destroyed 85 percent of the buildings in Lisbon and killed as much as 20 percent of the city’s population. Shockwaves from the earth- quake were felt throughout Europe.
On May 19, 1780, an unprecedented darkening of the daytime sky was observed across the north-eastern United States and portions of Canada. This darkness was so complete that people had to light candles at noon and chickens went to their roosts to sleep. That night, when the moon rose, contemporary accounts recorded that it “had the appearance of blood.” A few decades later, on November 13, 1833, “the stars of heaven fell” in one of the largest and most impressive meteor showers ever known. For a period of over nine hours, more than 100,000 meteors fell per hour. These events are part of Bible prophecy, indicating that the world has moved into the “time of the end,” the period of earth’s history that will usher in Jesus’ return.
GREETINGS TO YOU BIBLE STUDENT. TODAY WE ARE STUDYING DISCOVER BIBLE GUIDE 10 With the Title: How Soon Will Jesus Return? Section 1 part four: SIGN #5: ANGUISH! TERROR! PERPLEXITY! SIGN #6: MORAL DECAY Why does the moral fibre of society seem to be unravelling? “But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: for men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness, but denying its power. . . . evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived”(2 Timothy 3:1-5, 13).
Could anyone think of a more accurate description of our world? The stories and images that fill our social media feeds make this verse come to life on a daily basis. We see photos of people who have made careers out of arrogant materialism, stories of heart-breaking child abuse, live streams of the horrific results of terror attacks, and videos of people who try to make self-indulgence and deviant behaviour appear healthy and normal. Our obsession with uninhibited freedom has indeed brought “perilous times” in the last days. All these things form a gallery of pictures loudly proclaiming that Jesus’ coming is very near.
SIGN #7: THE GOSPEL TO ALL THE WORLD: Jesus predicted that just before His coming, the gospel would reach the whole world: “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come” (Matthew 24:14). We’ve had great Christian missionary movements throughout history, but the spread of the gospel in recent times is unprecedented. Doors that had been closed to the gospel are opening around the world.
The gospel message is flourishing as never before—even in areas of the world such as Asia, where, historically, the Christian faith has had a limited impact. It’s now possible, using current technology, to share a Christian message with almost every person in every nation on earth. We are living in the very day Jesus spoke of when He declared: “This gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world . . . and then the end will come.”
Thought Question
What signs did Jesus give to let people know when His coming and the end of the world are near? Select all that are true.( 4)
- People being fearful of what is happening in the world. (True or False)
- People suffering due to famines and earthquakes. (True or False)
- The world getting better and better and becoming a utopia. (True or False)
- People hoarding great wealth. (True or False)
- Almost no crimes being committed. (True or False)
- A search for peace during a time of wars and rumours of wars. (True or False)
GREETINGS TO YOU BIBLE STUDENT. TODAY WE ARE STUDYING DISCOVER BIBLE GUIDE 10 With the Title: How Soon Will Jesus Return? Section 2: How Soon Will Jesus Come?
OUR GENERATION HAS WITNESSED and is witnessing these great sign posts of prophecy fulfilled before our very eyes. After describing the events that were to characterize the time just preceding His Second Coming, Jesus concluded His remarks by saying: “Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place” (Matthew 24:34). The conclusion is obvious—these signposts of prophecy directly point to Jesus’ return to earth the second time. It won’t be long until Jesus will come to sweep away sin and suffering and establish His everlasting kingdom.
What did Jesus say about the exact time of His coming? “Of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only” (Matthew 24:36).
What important caution has Christ given to us? “Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect” (Matthew 24:44).
- Jesus, the World’s Only Hope: PEOPLE TODAY—leaders in all areas of society and government— are aware that our world is heading toward a crisis. Some are desperately looking for a way to prevent it, but all our technological advances, economic theories, and international organizations are overwhelmed by global problems. Voices of reason and goodwill are drowned out by the fierce shouts of ethnic rivalry, political factions, and sectarian zealots. Above all this clamour, however, Jesus declares, “I am the way!” (John 14:6); He promises, “I will come again” (John 14:3).
Christ is the last, best hope for our world, because only He can deal with the very thing that is destroying it—sin. Jesus died on Calvary to defeat sin and deliver everyone who responds to His offer of salvation. “He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil” (1 John 3:8). By sacrificing Himself, our Savior made a way to escape this crumbling world. Someday soon, He will cure all of the world’s ills and destroy sin. And He offers, right now, to erase the guilt of sin from your life. You don’t have to wait for the Second Coming to find release from guilt, anxiety, and destructive behaviour. Jesus is willing to give you His peace at this very moment.
Janice attended church one week on a sudden impulse. Her life hadn’t been going very well lately. She had been looking for peace and happiness in the wrong places. She felt she had hit rock bottom with nowhere to turn. That morning in church, Janice felt strangely moved as the preacher talked about Jesus—His love, and the salvation He offers. She saw that Jesus was the answer to the problems in her life. Later, while talking with the pastor, Janice poured out the story of her broken, bitter life. As she heard the story of a soon-coming Saviour, all the pieces began to fit into place. This made sense. Jesus was speaking to her heart, and she decided to respond.
She invited Jesus Christ to come into her life as her Saviour and Lord; she fastened her hope on His soon return, and Jesus transformed her life! This same Jesus graciously offers to do the same for you. He offers you salvation, complete pardon for your sins, and peace of mind. He is the answer to any problem you are facing in your life, and He is coming back to earth again soon to take you home with Him.
Decision & Prayer MY PRAYER
If you've never prayed before, that's okay. Here is a short prayer to get you started, if you want to read these words aloud to God or say them silently in your head to Him. You can also take this prayer and make it your own by paraphrasing or add your own words to it. Try to think of talking to God like you would talk to a friend, saying whatever is on your heart.
Dear Father in heaven, thank You for the hope that Jesus will come again very soon. The great longing of my heart is to live for You and to be ready to meet Jesus when He comes. I need Your guidance in my daily life. I pray this in the name of Jesus, Amen.
MY DECISION
Take a moment to reflect on the following statements, placing a check mark next to each statement you relate to.
I believe that Jesus is coming soon. I want to be ready every day to meet Him and to live with Him in heaven.
Please pray for me as I continue to study the Bible and God’s will for my life.
Be blessed as you meditate upon these truths
Please take the quiz to complete this lesson
LESSON 10 QUIZ
GREETINGS TO YOU BIBLE STUDENT. TODAY WE ARE STUDYING DISCOVER BIBLE GUIDE 11 With the Title: God’s Power in My Life; Section 1: Christ’s Representative in the World:
WHEN JUSTIN LEFT WORK for the day, he ran his car through a nearby car wash. He had worked hard to pay for his car, and Justin liked to keep it looking clean. He always wiped it down with a soft cloth after the wash. While he was doing this, he noticed—out of the corner of his eye—a dirty, ragged-looking man making his way toward him across the parking lot. “I hope he isn’t going to ask me for money,” Justin thought. He kept wiping his car and tried to avoid looking at the homeless man.
The man didn’t ask Justin for money, but he did sit down on the curb not far away and watched as Justin worked on his car. After a while, the man said, “That’s a really nice car.” The man’s clothes were rags, but Justin sensed an air of dignity. “Thanks,” Justin replied. The expected plea for money never came. As the silence between the two men lengthened, a little voice inside Justin kept whispering, “Ask him if he needs any help.” Justin resisted, feeling sure this would prompt the man to ask for a handout, but the inner voice continued to insist.
Finally, Justin said, “Do you need any help?” The man answered in three short words. “Don’t we all?” Profound words from an unexpected source. Those three simple words ring true for all of us. No matter how much we have, no matter how much we may have accomplished, we all need help. Life isn’t easy. Being the person we know we should be isn’t easy. We all need help. God has promised a special Source of help and guidance through the confusing, difficult issues we all face in life. God wants to fill your life with the Holy Spirit to guide you into a full, rich spiritual experience. Does life rush past at such a frantic pace that you often find yourself just coping instead of going somewhere? You’ll find the help you need if you let the Holy Spirit guide you.
- Christ’s Representative in the World: WHEN CHRIST WAS about to ascend into heaven, His disciples grew apprehensive at the thought of their Master’s parting, so Jesus promised them a priceless gift—a personal Counsellor and Guide: “Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. . . . When He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth. . . . He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you” (John 16:7, 13, 14). In the divine plan, Jesus needed to return to heaven as our Representative before God’s throne and “appear in the presence of God for us” (Hebrews 9:24). However, believers can, in a sense, have the best of both worlds. While our crucified Lord represents us in heaven, we also have—right here on earth—the Holy Spirit, Jesus’ direct Representative from heaven.
While He ministered within the confines of a human body, Christ couldn’t be present everywhere. However, the Holy Spirit has no such limitations. He can serve as a personal Guide in life to countless individuals in many places at the same time. Christ meets our needs through the Holy Spirit.
Thought Question:
- Jesus meets our needs through the Holy Spirit, who is His direct Representative on earth. (True or False)
MOST OF US can relate to God the Father if we imagine the most caring, nurturing parent we have ever known; and we can picture Jesus the Son, because He lived among us.
However, the Holy Spirit is harder to relate to and picture. We have no easy human comparisons. Nevertheless, the Bible does give us specific information about Him:
A PERSONALITY: Jesus referred to the Holy Spirit as a Person, a member of the Godhead, along with God the Father and God the Son: “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19). The Bible tells us that the Spirit has personal characteristics: a mind (Romans 8:27); wisdom (1 Corinthians 2:10); feelings of love toward us (Romans 15:30); feelings of grief when we sin (Ephesians 4:30); the ability to teach us (Nehemiah 9:20); and power to guide us (Acts 16:6, 7).
A CREATOR: The Holy Spirit participated with the Father and the Son in forming our world. “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. . . . And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters” (Genesis 1:1, 2, KJV).
Thought question:
- The Holy Spirit is a member of the Godhead. (True or False)
- The Activities of the Holy Spirit: 1. CHANGING THE HUMAN HEART. Scripture repeatedly describes the work of the Holy Spirit in very personal terms. It is evident that He knows individuals intimately and influences them at the deepest level. Talking with Nicodemus, Jesus emphasized the role of the Holy Spirit in changing the human heart:
“Jesus answered, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God’” (John 3:5). The Spirit of God once moved on the waters at creation; He now moves within us to re-create our lives. To be “born of . . . the Spirit” means that the Spirit gives us an entirely new beginning. It’s more than just a matter of modifying our behaviour; the Spirit changes us from the inside out, fulfilling the promise: “I will give you a new heart” (Ezekiel 36:26).
- MAKING US AWARE OF WRONGDOING AND GIVING US A DESIRE FOR HOLINESS: Who enables us to acknowledge our sins and take responsibility for them?
“When He [the Holy Spirit] has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment” (John 16:8). If it weren’t for the convicting power of the Spirit, we could easily drift along—oblivious to the destructive consequences of our sinful behaviour. The Spirit makes us more deeply aware of the truly good life that God has designed for His children. When a sinner turns to God, every step toward wholeness comes as a result of the influence of the Holy Spirit.
- GUIDING US IN OUR CHRISTIAN LIFE. The Holy Spirit sometimes makes His most important moves through quiet whispers: “Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, ‘This is the way, walk in it’” (Isaiah 30:21). God speaks to us directly through the “still small voice” of the Spirit (1 Kings 19:12), setting us back on course when we take a detour and fixing our eyes again on the ultimate goal. Jesus promised His disciples: “When He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth” (John 16:13). The Spirit is capable of communicating the most profound secrets of the universe. The same Spirit who guided Jesus’ disciples guides us “into all truth.” He opens our eyes to the spiritual values we so easily ignore.
Today, technology connects us with the entire world from our computers, televisions, phones and tablets—it’s all at your fingertips from just about anywhere. And this, perhaps, makes it a little easier to understand how the Holy Spirit can bring the heavenly presence of Jesus directly into our lives. He’s always close when we need Him most. Jesus promised, “He [the Holy Spirit] dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you” (John 14:17, 18)
GREETINGS TO YOU BIBLE STUDENT. TODAY WE ARE STUDYING DISCOVER BIBLE GUIDE 11 With the Title: God’s Power in My Life; Section 3 part 2: The Activities of the Holy Spirit:
- AIDING OUR PRAYER LIFE. The Holy Spirit also assists with the messages we send from earth to heaven: “Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. . . . according to the will of God” (Romans 8:26, 27).
The Spirit Himself is praying as we pray. When we are struggling to find the words, He is pleading eloquently. When we are so discouraged that we can only groan toward God, the Spirit amplifies our faint cry for help into a powerful prayer for intercession before the very throne of God.
- DEVELOPING CHRISTIAN QUALITIES AND CHARACTER. The Spirit can make your spiritually-barren life flourish like a fruitful tree: “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. . . . And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires”(Galatians 5:22-24).
These fruits define a healthy spiritual life. It’s not about rituals; it’s about living a life of genuine love, deep joy, and abiding peace. The fruit of the Spirit demonstrates that we are grafted into the true Vine—Jesus. “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5).
Jesus Christ can actually live His abundant life through us by the power of the Holy Spirit.
- PREPARING US AS WITNESSES. Jesus made this promise to those who have made a commitment to Him as Lord and Saviour: “You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me . . . to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8).
We may not have all the answers and we may not know all the right Bible texts, but the Spirit can give us a story to tell that moves hearts and minds. Before Pentecost, the apostles had trouble communicating with each other. But after the Spirit came, they proclaimed Christ with such power that they “turned the world upside down” (Acts 17:6).
Thought question:
- The Holy Spirit changes the human heart through a new birth experience. (True or False)
- The Holy Spirit keeps us in constant contact with Jesus. (True or False)
iii. The Holy Spirit assists us when we pray. (True or False)
- The Holy Spirit develops in us the fruits of the Spirit, such as love, kindness, and self-control. (True or False)
- The Gifts of the Spirit: SCRIPTURE MAKES A DISTINCTION between the fruit of the Holy Spirit given to every believer for victorious Christian living and the various gifts of the Spirit provided to individual believers for effective ministry. “‘When He [Christ] ascended on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men.’ . . . He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ” (Ephesians 4:8, 11-13).
Paul clearly states that all believers do not receive all the gifts. Different Christians receive different gifts, and some may be gifted in more obvious ways than others as the Spirit distributes “to each one individually as He wills” (1 Corinthians 12:11); but the Spirit equips each believer for his or her special role in God’s plans. Paul’s other list of spiritual gifts is found in 1 Corinthians 12. This list of gifts includes wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, prophecy, distinguishing between spirits, speaking in different languages, and the interpretation of languages (1 Corinthians 12:8-10). Some in the Corinthian church were teaching that the gift of tongues, or languages, was the most important gift of all.
Factions sprang up in the church as a result. The apostle devoted chapter 12 to making it clear that the Spirit seeks to bring unity and balance to the church through His gifts, and that one manifestation of the Spirit should never exclude or dominate the others. Which is more important—the gifts of the Spirit, or the fruit of the Spirit? Let Paul answer: “But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way” (1 Corinthians 12:31).
He goes on in 1 Corinthians 13 (the “Love Chapter”) to emphasize that the “more excellent way” is the way of love. Love is the first fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22). Our first concern should be to receive the fruit of the Spirit—especially love—and then let the Spirit distribute His gifts to us as “He wills” (1 Corinthians 12:11). God knows when and where to provide the gifts that will best bless His people and His church (Ephesians 4:11-15).
Thought questions:
- Gifts of the Spirit are given according to what the Christian chooses for his or her personal life. (True or False)
GREETINGS TO YOU BIBLE STUDENT. TODAY WE ARE STUDYING DISCOVER BIBLE GUIDE 11 With the Title: God’s Power in My Life; Section 5: The Early and the Latter Rain of the Holy Spirit
IN PALESTINE, where Jesus lived, there were two seasons of the year in which the rain fell abundantly. The early rains came in the latter part of October and early November (the Hebrew month of Heshwan). The second downpour came in the spring, during the latter part of March and the first part of April (the Hebrew month of Nisan). The October/November rains were called the early rain, and the March/April rains were called the latter rain. Early rain in autumn brought gentle showers that saturated the ground and watered the seeds, causing new shoots to sprout and grow from the soil. The latter rain caused the plants to ripen and prepared them for harvest. In the Bible, water (both the early and the latter rain) is used as a symbol of the coming of the Holy Spirit. The early rain represents one receiving the Holy Spirit into his or her life and growing in the Christian life. The latter rain of the Holy Spirit represents the completion of the work of God’s life-changing power in a Christian’s life.
THE EARLY RAIN OF THE SPIRIT: The Spirit falling at Pentecost was like the early rain of autumn. Pentecost watered the words sown by Jesus during His ministry, and the disciples caused many new buds of faith to spring up as they began to carry the gospel to all the world. This “early rain” of the Spirit provided vital nourishment for the Christian church in its infancy, watering a great many seeds. On the Day of Pentecost, the Spirit was poured out in unlimited measure, fulfilling Jesus’ earlier promise: “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me . . . to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8). The Spirit assumed the form of a dove at Christ’s baptism. At Pentecost, He appeared as “divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them” (Acts 2:3). On that occasion, the Spirit enabled the apostles to communicate the gospel clearly in many different languages (Acts 2:4-6).
THE LATTER RAIN OF THE SPIRIT: Centuries have now passed, and the story of salvation has spread over a large part of the earth. It’s now time for the “spring”—or “latter rain”—to ripen the grain, making it ready for harvest. Bible prophecy tells of a day coming when the Spirit of God will be poured out upon the church: “And it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions. And also on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days” (Joel 2:28, 29).
As history moves to a climax and the final signs appear before Christ’s Second Coming, God prepares every sincere believer for heaven through a great outpouring of His Spirit. Are you experiencing the former rain that is preparing the church for the latter rain of the Spirit? Are you living a Spirit-filled life today? As you are empowered by the Spirit, will you let God use you to communicate the news of His incredible love and soon return?
- Conditions for Receiving the Holy Spirit: AT PENTECOST, the Holy Spirit moved those who heard the gospel appeal to cry out, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” (Acts 2:37). “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. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call’” (Acts 2:38, 39).
Repentance—turning away from a sinful way of life and turning to Christ—is a condition for receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit. To be filled with the Spirit, we must first repent and commit our lives to Christ, which is symbolized by our baptism (Romans 2:4; Acts 3:19). Jesus stated this same truth in a slightly different way. He emphasized that a willingness to obey God is a condition for receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit. “If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—the Spirit of truth” (John 14:15-17).
The person who claims the gift of the Holy Spirit but continues to live a sinful life is only fooling himself. There is a “wicked spirit” which imitates some of the Spirit’s manifestations, leading some to conclude that this “gift of God” condones their immoral behaviour.
Thought Question:
- In order to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit in our lives, we must repent of our sins and commit our lives to Jesus Christ. (True or False
GREETINGS TO YOU BIBLE STUDENT. TODAY WE ARE STUDYING DISCOVER BIBLE GUIDE 11 With the Title: God’s Power in My Life; Section 7: The Spirit-Filled Life
THE HOLY SPIRIT makes the life of a Christian fulfilling and beautiful, because a Spirit-filled existence fulfils Christ’s ideal for us: “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (John 10:10). Before leaving the world, Jesus instructed His followers: “And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, ‘which,’ He said, ‘you have heard from Me; for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.’” (Acts 1:4, 5).
The word baptize means “to immerse.” Christians are to confess their faith in Christ by being immersed in—placed completely beneath—the waters of baptism. They are also to be immersed, or baptized, in the Holy Spirit. Jesus informed Nicodemus: “Unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God” (John 3:5). Over and over, Scripture indicates that the Christian is to be “filled with the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:4; 4:8, 31; 6:3, 5; 7:55; 9:17; 13:9, 52; 19:6). While describing the Spirit-filled Christian life, Paul offered this prayer for every believer, praying that God would: “Grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. . . . Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory” (Ephesians 3:16, 17, 20, 21).
The Spirit-filled life is the way to genuine freedom. With the Holy Spirit guiding us, we can do immeasurably more than we could before. We discover new desires and abilities. We are enabled to move forward confidently instead of just trying to cope with life’s problems. This Spirit-filled experience is renewed each day through prayer and Bible study. These are the principal tools the Spirit uses to help us grow, and we’ll explore these in more detail in Guides 14 and 15. Prayer keeps us in close contact with Christ, and the Word of God keeps us focused on His resources for a Spirit- filled life. This is how we begin to replace bad habits and attitudes with the healthy qualities represented by the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22, 23).
The Spirit-filled life is a gift for every believer. We can all have a successful Christian life as we follow God’s leading and continue to move forward. Romans 8 gives an exciting description of the Spirit-filled life. Read it when you can and note how many times Paul points to the “Spirit” as the power behind the Christian life. Bill’s life had been going downhill for some time. Over the course of three years, he had lost his job, family, and home due to an alcohol problem. Now he was living in a shelter and drinking away most of the money he’d picked up from odd jobs.
One snowy evening, just before Christmas, Bill stumbled from his favorite bar. On the sidewalk was a small group singing carols. Bill stopped and listened. Then a lady left the group and approached Bill. “God bless you, Sir!” she said. “God loves you very much.”
Bill just looked at her and then made his way unsteadily down the street. But those words kept ringing in his mind—God loves you very much. Over the next few weeks, the more Bill tried to put those words out of his mind, the more they refused to leave. He continued drinking, but it wasn’t the same. Now he felt guilty. Even in the bar, he heard those words—God loves you very much.
Finally, Bill couldn’t stand it any longer. He went to a church and asked the pastor, “What is going on? I’ve never felt like this before.” “The Holy Spirit is speaking to your heart,” the pastor told Bill. “He is drawing you to God. It’s true, you know. God does love you very much.” That was the beginning of a new life for Bill. And the Spirit-filled life can be your life as well. Each day, through prayer and Bible study, the Spirit will help you grow to be more like Jesus. Have you made the wonderful discovery of the Spirit-filled life? Are you experiencing His life-giving power? Why don’t you invite Him into your life right now?
Decision & Prayer
MY PRAYER
If you've never prayed before, that's okay. Here is a short prayer to get you started, if you want to read these words aloud to God or say them silently in your head to Him. You can also take this prayer and make it your own by paraphrasing or add your own words to it.
Try to think of talking to God like you would talk to a friend, saying whatever is on your heart.
Dear Father, I praise You today for the promised gift of the Holy Spirit. I ask Jesus to come and live in me through the Holy Spirit. Drive out my old habits and guide me with Your wisdom and power. Make my life a Spirit-empowered life. I ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.
MY DECISION
Take a moment to reflect on the following statements, placing a check mark next to each statement you relate to.
I want to invite the presence of Jesus into my life through the Holy Spirit and let Him guide me every day.
Be blessed as you meditate upon these truths
Please take the quiz to complete this lesson
LESSON 11 QUIZ
GREETINGS TO YOU BIBLE STUDENT. TODAY WE ARE STUDYING DISCOVER BIBLE GUIDE 12 With the Title: An Ever-Present Saviour; Section 1: Unlimited Access to Jesus:
NAPOLEON BONAPARTE (1769–1821), also known as Napoleon I, was a French military leader and emperor who conquered much of Europe in the early 19th century. One day, Napoleon was reviewing his troops, riding his ever-famous white horse. The horse became frightened and reared dangerously, jerking the reins from Napoleon’s hands. Momentarily endangering Napoleon’s life, the horse raced along a line of men standing at attention. One of the privates standing in the line threw down his musket and—leaping forward—caught the reins, bringing the horse to a standstill. The young man handed the reins to Napoleon, who responded by saying, “Thank you, Captain.”
The private, standing in his plain uniform of an infantryman, responded, “Of what regiment, sir?” “Of my guards,” replied the emperor. The young man left the line of soldiers and started off across the field in his old, muddy infantry uniform to join the officers on the hill at staff headquarters. With a bark of authority, one of the officers shouted, “What are you doing here?” He replied, “I am a captain of the guard.” In amazement, the officer responded, “Who says so?” The young soldier pointed to the emperor riding by and replied, “He said so.” It was not the uniform, the sword, or the medals, but the word of the emperor that made a private into a captain of the guard. It was all about the emperor; he made the difference.
- Unlimited Access to Jesus: YOU MAY LOOK at your life and feel like you don’t amount to much. Your sins and bad choices may make you feel as if you don’t have much to offer, but that is how most of us feel at times in this life. In fact, the Bible says, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). However, that is not the whole story. Romans 6:23 (KJV) states this promise: “But the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Did you notice the word gift? You see, it’s not about you; it’s about Him! The word of King Jesus—the Emperor of the Universe—makes all the difference. He promises that His gift to you is eternal life—eternal life in His presence. In fact, Jesus says that He “will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5). This means that Jesus is always there by your side—helping you and guiding you every step of the way. Through the Holy Spirit, Jesus is with every one of us 24 hours a day, seven days a week! He wants to cultivate a personal relationship with you.
What encouraging promise did Jesus give His followers just before He ascended to heaven following His resurrection? “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. . . . Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:18, 20).
While He was here on earth with us, Jesus gave some amazing all-inclusive invitations to those who gathered around Him. Those invitations are still open to us today. Jesus invites us to come to Him anytime, anywhere: “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). “The one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out” (John 6:37). Christ is no longer with us on earth; He is in heaven.
What is He doing there that makes it possible for Him to be with us “always”? “Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need”(Hebrews 4:14-16). Jesus is our “great High Priest,” our personal Representative in the sanctuary in heaven. Notice how He can identify with us. He was “in all points tempted just as we are,” able to “sympathize with our weaknesses,” and can “help in time of need.” As our High Priest in heaven, Jesus can usher us into the very presence of God. No wonder we’re urged to “come boldly to the throne of grace.”
The high priest was the top religious leader of the Israelites. His role was to oversee all of the religious services and ceremonies in the earthly sanctuary (the place of worship) of the Israelites.
As our High Priest in heaven, how closely is Jesus associated with His Father in the work of saving us from sin? “This Man [Jesus], after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God” (Hebrews 10:12). The living Christ—someone who understands us—sits at the right hand of God as our personal Representative. What qualifies Jesus to be our High Priest in heaven? “Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted” (Hebrews 2:17, 18). Jesus can be our Representative in heaven because He became a human being like us. He calls us His brothers and sisters. He was tempted like we are. Now, as our High Priest at the Father’s right hand, He knows what we’re going through. Above all, Jesus is qualified to be our Priest because, as the Lamb of God, He died for our sins. Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29). “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” (Isaiah 53:5). Jesus assumed responsibility for our sins and died in our place. This is the gospel—the good news—for all human beings everywhere and for all time.
Thought Question: 1. Through the Holy Spirit, Jesus is always with us, helping us and guiding us every moment of every day. (True or False). 2. Jesus died for only a chosen few chosen people (True or False).
GREETINGS TO YOU BIBLE STUDENT. TODAY WE ARE STUDYING DISCOVER BIBLE GUIDE 12 With the Title: An Ever-Present Saviour; Section 2: The Gospel in the Old Testament
AFTER THE ISRAELITES left Egypt, but before they reached the land of Canaan, God instructed Moses to build a portable tabernacle as a place of worship—a sanctuary that could be carried with them in their wilderness travels—to be set up and taken down as needed. God gave detailed instructions about its design and carefully explained how its services were to be carried out. This tabernacle was to be a copy of the temple in heaven (Hebrews 8:4, 5; 9:23, 24). That’s why God told Moses to build it “according to the pattern which was shown you” (Exodus 25:40). Nearly 500 years later, King Solomon’s great stone temple replaced this portable one, but it was built using the same plan. Not only was the sanctuary in the Old Testament to be a place of worship, but its main purpose was to teach the Israelites about God’s plan of salvation and the forgiveness of sin that was offered through Jesus, “the Lamb of God” (John 1:29).
All the sacrifices pointed ahead to the coming Messiah, the One who would pour out His lifeblood so that our sins could be forgiven. Everything that happened in the Hebrew temple was an object lesson, a way to help human beings visualize and experience God’s forgiving grace. These Old Testament ceremonies were object lessons that pointed to the New Testament Savior, Jesus Christ, who through His life and death ministers as our High Priest.
What additional purpose did God have in mind for requesting the Israelites to build a sanctuary? “Let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them” (Exodus 25:8). Sin had caused a tragic separation between human beings and their Creator. The sanctuary provided a way for God to once again have an ongoing relationship with us—to live among us. The wilderness sanctuary, and later the temple, became the centre of religious life and worship in Old Testament times. Every morning and evening, the people would gather around the sanctuary and establish contact with God through prayer (Luke 1:10), claiming God’s promise: “I will meet with you” (Exodus 30:6).
It surprises some people to learn that the Old Testament teaches the same gospel of salvation as the New Testament. The Old Testament symbolism of Israel’s sanctuary actually served as an object lesson of Jesus’ sacrificial death so that our sins may be forgiven. It also illustrated His role as our High Priest ministering on our behalf in the heavenly sanctuary. Rightly understood, the Old Testament sanctuary and its services reveal what Jesus is doing today in the temple in heaven, as well as what He is doing on earth through the Holy Spirit to enrich and guide each of us in our daily lives.
Thought questions:
- The Old Testament sanctuary/temple service taught people about the coming Messiah. (True or False)
- The Old Testament sanctuary/temple service taught the same gospel that the New Testament teaches. (True or False)
- The services conducted in the sanctuary/temple taught people about Christ’s death for our sins and His ministry as our High Priest. (True or False)
- Israel’s sanctuary/temple was not patterned after the sanctuary/temple in heaven. (True or False)
Be blessed as you meditate upon these truths
GREETINGS TO YOU BIBLE STUDENT. TODAY WE ARE STUDYING DISCOVER BIBLE GUIDE 12 With the Title: An Ever-Present Saviour; Section 3: Jesus’ Ministry for Us Is Revealed in the Sanctuary
SINCE THE EARTHLY sanctuary was patterned after the temple in heaven, it reflects the heavenly sanctuary where Christ now ministers. Exodus 25-40 describes the services and ceremonies of the wilderness sanctuary in great detail. Briefly, the sanctuary had two rooms—the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place. A courtyard surrounded the sanctuary. In the courtyard in front of the sanctuary, there stood a bronze altar on which the priests offered sacrifices. These sacrifices symbolized Jesus, who through His death on the cross became “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). When the repentant sinner came to the altar with his sacrifice and confessed his sins, he received forgiveness and cleansing. In a similar way, the sinner today obtains cleansing through the blood of Jesus, the Lamb of God.
If we come to Jesus, asking Him to forgive our sins, can we be certain that He will do so? “If we confess our sins, He [Jesus] is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). Occasionally, we hear of people who have forgiven someone who wronged them terribly—and we wonder how they could do so. On March 6, 2016, as Pastor Tim Remington mingled with church members outside his church in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, a troubled young man came up behind him and fired a .45-caliber handgun 12 times. According to an article in the Idaho Statesman, eight hollow-point bullets ripped through Remington’s back and shoulder. His right arm shattered. A lung collapsed. One bullet skipped upward, penetrating his skull and coming dangerously close to his brain.
Miraculously, Remington survived—following seven hours of initial surgery, nine days in the intensive care unit, and another nine days of further hospital recovery. Even more miraculously, he has forgiven his assailant, whom he sees as someone suffering from mental illness and paranoia. He is concerned that in prison, his would-be killer will receive treatment for his physical and mental problems—but won’t find Jesus Christ, who alone can turn his life around and give him peace.
If a human being such as Remington can forgive the one who has caused him and his family such suffering, can we doubt that our loving Saviour Jesus will keep His promise to “forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness”? Everything in the sanctuary and its services pointed forward to Jesus and His work as our Saviour. There were three items in the first room, the Holy Place:
- A seven-branched lampstand that burned continuously (Exodus 25:31-40; 27:20), representing Jesus as the never-failing “Light of the world” (John 8:12).
- A table of consecrated bread (Exodus 25:23-30), which symbolized Jesus, “the bread of life” (John 6:35), who satisfies our physical and spiritual hunger.
- A golden altar of incense (Exodus 30:1-8) that represented Jesus’ prayer ministry for us in the very presence of God (Revelation 8:3, 4).
The second room, the Most Holy Place, contained only one item—the gold-covered Ark of the Covenant (Exodus 25:10-22). This was a gold-covered wooden chest with a lid of pure gold called the “Mercy Seat” (Exodus 25:17-21). Two golden angels sat on this Mercy Seat facing each other. God told Moses, “There I will meet with you, and I will speak with you from above the mercy seat” (Exodus 25:22). Here was the very presence of God in the sanctuary, and it symbolized His throne. The two tables of stone on which God wrote the Ten Commandments were kept in the Ark of the Covenant, below the seat. All this was to help the Israelites—and us—better understand God’s mercy toward sinners and the intercession of Christ on behalf of human beings who have broken God’s great moral law.
A curtain divided the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place. Thus, even the priests who entered the first room of the sanctuary were not able to see into the second room—which represented God’s throne—containing the Ark of the Covenant.
When Jesus died on the cross, what happened to this curtain? “Behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom” (Matthew 27:51). When Jesus died, the Most Holy Place of the temple was exposed to view. After His death, no curtain can come between a holy God and a sincere believer. Jesus, our Saviour and High Priest, ushers us into the very presence of God. “Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith” (Hebrews 10:19-22).
Today we have access to the throne room of heaven because Jesus is our High Priest at God’s right hand in the true sanctuary (Hebrews 8:1, 2). He is not there to shield us from the Father, but to enable us to come into God’s presence—into the Father’s heart of love. So “let us draw near.” Why? Because God welcomes us! As Jesus said, “I do not say to you that I shall pray the Father for you; for the Father Himself loves you” (John 16:26, 27).
Today, in the sanctuary in heaven, Jesus continues to carry out His same saving work for us that was foreshadowed in the Old Testament sanctuary so long ago.
Thought question:
- The sanctuary/temple services have symbolic meaning to Christians. (True or False)
GREETINGS TO YOU BIBLE STUDENT. TODAY WE ARE STUDYING DISCOVER BIBLE GUIDE 12 With the Title: An Ever-Present Saviour; Section 4: A Revelation of Christ Who Died to Save Us
JUST AS THE EARTHLY sanctuary served as a miniature reproduction of the heavenly temple where Jesus now ministers for us, the services carried on in the earthly sanctuary were also an example and shadow of what is in heaven (Hebrews 8:5, KJV). However, there is a striking difference: the ministry of Jesus in the heavenly sanctuary is superior to the earthly sanctuary (Hebrews 8:6). The priests who served in the earthly temple could not forgive sin; only Jesus through His sacrifice can forgive sin (Hebrews 9:26).
In the Old Testament sanctuary services, when an individual sinned, he would bring an unblemished animal as a sin offering, and “lay his hand on the head of the sin offering, and kill the sin offering at the place of the burnt offering” (Leviticus 4:29). Then the priest took the blood of the offering into the sanctuary and placed some of it on the Altar of Incense. This illustrated the truth that sin results in death and that the sinner can escape the death penalty only by having a substitute, the Lamb of God, die in his or her place. Christ’s sacrifice stands at the very heart of the sanctuary system.
- A Revelation of Christ Who Died to Save Us: FIRST, the animal to be sacrificed was required to be without blemish, because it represented Jesus Christ, who is “holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners” (Hebrews 7:26). SECOND, the guilt of the sinner was transferred to the guiltless animal by a confession of sin and the laying on of hands. This symbolized Christ taking on our guilt at Calvary; the sinless One became “sin for us” (2 Corinthians 5:21). THIRD, the sacrificial animal had to be killed and its blood spilled, because it pointed forward to the supreme penalty that Christ suffered on the cross. These sacrifices happened repeatedly in the Old Testament sanctuary, but they pointed forward to Christ’s one great saving act on the cross. Having died for our sins, He entered the holy places “with His own blood . . . once for all, having obtained eternal redemption” for us (Hebrews 9:12).
- Why the Blood? SOME PEOPLE have complained, “Christianity has too much blood in it.” Why is it that “without shedding of blood there is no remission” of sin (Hebrews 9:22)? Why is blood such an important symbol in the Bible? It may not seem like a very pleasant image at first, but the blood of Christ can speak eloquently to us.
- CHRIST’S BLOOD IS A SYMBOL OF LIFE. “For the life of the flesh is in the blood . . . it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul” (Leviticus 17:11). Christ’s life was as important as His death. Jesus lived a perfect life for your imperfect life. If it weren’t for His sinless life, the cross would serve no purpose; and had He not lived after He died, His death couldn’t save us. As Paul said: “If Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty” (1 Corinthians 15:14). When Jesus spilled His blood on the cross, He was pouring out His life for humanity; He was offering up His perfectly obedient life as a substitute for our failures.
- CHRIST’S BLOOD IS A SYMBOL OF HIS DEATH.: When He shed His blood on the cross, He was paying “the wages of sin”—death (Romans 6:23). He experienced the agony of complete separation from God the Father. God the Son (Jesus) took upon Himself the full results of sin to demonstrate how tragic wrongdoing really is. He could then forgive sinners without trivializing sin.
- CHRIST’S BLOOD IS A SYMBOL OF THE SUFFERING HEART OF GOD.: The cross reveals how much pain sin has brought to God. He is not a bloodthirsty deity demanding a sacrifice—He Himself was the sacrifice. When the Father and Son were torn apart at Calvary, the Father must have turned away in anguish as the Son died of a broken heart.
Christ’s blood represents the whole drama of the atonement, that amazing act which enabled God to “reconcile all things to Himself, by Him [Jesus], whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross” (Colossians 1:20).
Be Blessed as you meditate upon these truths
GREETINGS TO YOU BIBLE STUDENT. TODAY WE ARE STUDYING DISCOVER BIBLE GUIDE 12 With the Title: An Ever-Present Saviour; Section 6: A Revelation of Jesus Who Lives to Save Us
THE OLD TESTAMENT sacrifices represented the death of Christ as our sacrifice. The work of the priests represented His ministry as our High Priest in heaven. “For Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us” (Hebrews 9:24).
What is Jesus’ day-to-day work in the heavenly temple? “Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost [forever] those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them” (Hebrews 7:25). Some mistakenly assume that, as our Intercessor, Jesus is in heaven begging a reluctant God to forgive us. In fact, God joyfully accepts His Son’s sacrifice on our behalf. The Father and Son are working together to save us. As our High Priest in heaven, Christ also pleads with humanity to accept His sacrifice and promise for a better life now through a relationship with Him.
This relationship is strengthened through studying the Word of God and receiving spiritual power through prayer. Jesus laid down His life for every person who has ever lived in this world. And now, as our Intercessor, or Mediator, He offers us pardon for our sins.
He urges us to accept His salvation and mercy. However, Jesus can’t save us unless we accept His grace. Individually, we must make a personal decision to accept the sacrifice of Jesus and receive forgiveness and eternal life.
In 1830, George Wilson was convicted of robbing the U.S. mail in Pennsylvania and sentenced to be executed. However, influential friends convinced President Andrew Jackson to pardon him. Imagine everyone’s surprise when Wilson refused to accept the president’s pardon! However, that wasn’t the end of the matter. Wilson’s refusal raised a legal question: Is a pardon valid if the person pardoned refuses to accept it? This question eventually went to the U.S. Supreme Court, which ruled that a pardon “may then be rejected by the person to whom it is tendered [offered], and if it be rejected, we have discovered no power in a court to force it on him.”
Just as George Wilson made a choice, so every person must make a decision to accept the sacrifice of Jesus for our sins. Won’t you accept the pardon Jesus offers you? He lives in heaven today to save you from sin and keep you close to Him in a saving relationship. Won’t you accept Him fully as the Saviour and Master of your life?
Decision & Prayer
MY PRAYER
If you've never prayed before, that's okay. Here is a short prayer to get you started, if you want to read these words aloud to God or say them silently in your head to Him. You can also take this prayer and make it your own by paraphrasing or add your own words to it.
Try to think of talking to God like you would talk to a friend, saying whatever is on your heart.
Dear Heavenly Father, I’m so thankful that through Christ’s ministry in the heavenly sanctuary, You are constantly guiding my life. Thank You for saving me and for giving me a better life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
MY DECISION
Take a moment to reflect on the following statements, placing a check mark next to each statement you relate to.
I accept Jesus’ pardon for my sins. For my daily spiritual help I will come to Him as my representative in heaven, knowing He will give me just what I need.
Be blessed as you meditate upon these truths
Please take the quiz to complete this lesson
LESSON 12 QUIZ
GREETINGS TO YOU BIBLE STUDENT. TODAY WE ARE STUDYING Discover Bible Guide 13 entitled From Guilty Sinner to Forgiven Saint Section 1: 1. There Is a Judgment Day
Introduction: GREG CALLED his friend Wayne. “I need you to come to the county jail,” he said. “I’ve been arrested!” A few hours later, Greg, dressed in an orange jumpsuit with the words “County Jail” emblazoned across the back, sat at a glass window—an armed guard standing nearby. Wayne, sitting on the other side of the window, asked his friend, “What did you do?” It seems that Greg had committed a robbery 10 months earlier. In the meantime, he had accepted Jesus into his life as Lord and Saviour. As a Christian, Greg decided to confess his robbery and turn himself in to the police. He was immediately arrested and thrown in jail.
When Greg’s trial date arrived, Wayne attended court with him. The judge was very interested in Greg’s story, since people don’t usually turn themselves in to the police. Wayne vouched for his friend’s conversion and told the judge that he believed Greg deserved a second chance. The judge considered the evidence and the circumstances. He looked intently at Greg and finally said, “Young man, this is not your first offense.
Based on your record, I should sentence you to prison. However, I am going to let you serve six months on a work-release program and allow you to attend church services each week. If you violate this arrangement or break your parole, you will immediately be sent to prison. It is your choice, and for your sake I hope your word is good.”
Maybe you’ve heard pastors or friends talk about a coming judgment day. They might even compare it to standing before a judge to face your life’s record—just as Greg did. Or maybe you’ve read some verses in the Bible regarding the judgment and wondered what they mean. In this study guide, we are going to look at what God’s Word says about the judgment. We will learn why the judgment is wonderfully good news for those who have found security in Christ—just as Greg received good news from the judge regarding his sentencing.
- There Is a Judgment Day: THE BIBLE TELLS us there will be a day of judgment.
“He [God] has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man [Jesus] whom He has ordained” (Acts 17:31). The Bible clearly states that “we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:10). No one will be excused.
No one can escape the summons. Whether we like it or not, whether we profess to be a Christian or not, like Greg, we must all appear before the Judge. “Each of us shall give account of himself to God” (Romans 14:12).
The prophet Daniel saw a vision of the judgment in heaven. He said: “I watched till thrones were put in place, and the Ancient of Days was seated; His garment was white as snow, and the hair of His head was like pure wool. His throne was a fiery flame, its wheels a burning fire; a fiery stream issued and came forth from before Him. A thousand thousands ministered to Him; ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him. The court was seated, and the books were opened” (Daniel 7:9, 10).
Here Daniel pictures God the Father, the Ancient of Days, seated upon His eternal throne with countless angels standing before Him. Now notice what Daniel saw next. “I was watching in the night visions, and behold, One like the Son of Man, coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, and they brought Him near before Him” (Daniel 7:13). Here Jesus is pictured standing before the Ancient of Days, God the Father. The scene described in Daniel 7:9-13 is similar to a courtroom on earth. “If anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous” (1 John 2:1). Doesn’t it take a lot of the fear out of the judgment to know that our lawyer, the One who will stand up for us, is Jesus Christ, our Savior?
In Daniel’s vision, everyone seems present except the ones who are on trial—you and me. However, the Bible says the court was seated, and the books were opened. Evidently, these books contain a record of the life deeds and decisions of those of us on trial. “God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil” (Ecclesiastes 12:14; see also Malachi 3:16; Revelation 20:11-15). Of course, God does not need record books or even a database. He knows all about each one of us. He even knows the number of hairs on your head (Matthew 10:30). The record books are for the benefit of the universe, so there will be clear evidence regarding our life choices. It is a sobering thought, that “every idle word” that men speak will be taken into account “in the day of judgment” (Matthew 12:36, 37; Ecclesiastes 11:9).
Be Blessed as you meditate upon these truths
GREETINGS TO YOU BIBLE STUDENT. TODAY WE ARE STUDYING Discover Bible Guide 13 entitled From Guilty Sinner to Forgiven Saint Section 2: You Can Face the Judgment Unafraid
DANIEL’S DESCRIPTION of the judgment in heaven is awe-inspiring— and a little intimidating. If that were all that the Bible had to say about the judgment, it could easily discourage us. After all, who of us could withstand that kind of scrutiny? The Bible says that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” and that “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 3:23; 6:23). However, there is more to the story. In fact, there is great news! We’ve already seen that Jesus is our Advocate—our Lawyer— in the judgment, but He is also our Judge. “The Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son” (John 5:22).
Who will be our Witness in the judgment? “Grace to you and peace . . . from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness. . . . who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood” (Revelation 1:4, 5). Who takes our punishment—the sentence of death? “He [Jesus] 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. . . . And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:5, 6).
Think about it—Jesus is your Judge. Jesus is your Attorney. Jesus takes the witness stand on your behalf. And it gets even better. Jesus paid the penalty for your sins! That’s the good news of the gospel. With Jesus on our side, we don’t have to fear the judgment.
Christ’s substitutionary death on the cross enables Him to act as both a just Judge and a gracious Justifier. He can defend both His Father’s unchanging law and repentant sinners.
When the watching universe asks the question, “How can an impartial judge declare a guilty person not guilty?” Christ can answer by pointing to His perfect sinless life that He lived on your behalf, and the scars in His hands from His death on the cross. He has absorbed the just penalty of sin with His own body. “He [God the Father] made Him [Jesus Christ] who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:21).
Because of Jesus’ sinless life and death, our life of sin is exchanged—in a judicial sense—for His perfect life of righteousness. That is why God can forgive us and treat us as if we’d never sinned. He presents the record of Jesus’ sinless life as a replacement for the condemning record of our sinful life. This is exactly what we need in the judgment in order to stand before a holy God. What wonderful good news! We can face the judgment unafraid, secure in the grace and forgiveness of God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ.
Thought question:
- Christ’s death on the cross enables Him to declare a guilty but repentant person forgiven. (True or False)
- Christ’s death on the cross enables Him to exchange our life of sin for His life of righteousness. (True or False)
Be blessed as you meditate upon these truths
GREETINGS TO YOU BIBLE STUDENT. TODAY WE ARE STUDYING Discover Bible Guide 13 entitled From Guilty Sinner to Forgiven Saint Section 3. Christ Came on Time
WE HAVE SEEN that the Bible assures us that the judgment in heaven is a reality. We have seen that, covered with Jesus’ righteous life, we can face the judgment unafraid. Can we know anything further about this judgment? Does the Bible tell us when it will take place? Actually, there is a prophecy in the Bible that sheds light on when the judgment begins—the judgment scene that Daniel saw taking place in heaven (Daniel 7:9, 10, 13). In the next two sections, we will examine this prophecy in detail. What announcement did Jesus make as He began His public ministry following His baptism? “Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand’” (Mark 1:14, 15).
What did Jesus mean? What “time” was He talking about? Jesus was referring to a prophecy in Daniel that predicted exactly when the promised Messiah would appear. Here is Daniel’s prophecy: “Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the command to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince, there shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks” (Daniel 9:25). The Hebrew word Messiah means “the anointed one” (the corresponding Greek word is Christ). Jesus was anointed by the Holy Spirit at His baptism (Matthew 3:16, 17). He was the promised Messiah, the Prince. More than 500 years before Jesus’ birth, the prophecy predicted the exact year that He would appear as the Messiah and begin His saving ministry. The baptism and anointing of our Saviour happened right on time. Let’s look at some key points in this important prophecy given by Daniel and see just how it foretold when Jesus would appear as the Messiah and begin His ministry on earth.
- THE PROPHECY SAYS THAT THERE WOULD BE “SEVEN WEEKS AND SIXTY-TWO WEEKS” FROM THE COMMAND TO REBUILD JERUSALEM UNTIL THE MESSIAH WOULD COME. In symbolic Bible prophecy, each prophetic “day” equals one actual year (Ezekiel 4:6; Numbers 14:34), so 69 weeks of seven days each equals 483 days, or 483 literal years.
- THE PERSIAN KING, ARTAXERXES, ISSUED THE COMMAND TO REBUILD JERUSALEM IN 457 BC (EZRA 7:7-13, 21-26). Starting the 483 years in 457 BC brings us to AD 27. (Keep in mind there is not a year “zero” in calculating dates from BC to AD.) At this time, “Messiah the Prince” was to come. Luke recorded the date of Jesus’ baptism and anointing as the Messiah as “the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar” (Luke 3:1-3), which in our dating system is the year AD 27. Jesus came right on time!
- AT THE VERY TIME PREDICTED, IN AD 27, JESUS BEGAN HIS MINISTRY SAYING, “THE TIME IS FULFILLED, AND THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS AT HAND” (MARK 1:14, 15). The accurate fulfilment of this Bible prophecy is impressive confirmation that Jesus of Nazareth is indeed the Messiah—the God who came down to our world in human flesh. Daniel’s prophecy went on to give more details about the Messiah’s work and the judgment that would take place in heaven. “He [the Messiah] shall confirm a covenant with many for one week . . . ” (Daniel 9:27). One week (seven days) would equal seven actual years, applying the prophetic “year-day” principle. For seven years— from AD 27 to AD 34—Jesus would “confirm a covenant,” or promise, that God had made to humanity.* Shortly after Adam and Eve sinned, God made a covenant promise to them, stating that He would save the human race from sin through the death of Someone He would send (Genesis 3:15). Jesus’ death on the cross fulfilled that covenant promise. What was to happen in the middle of this “week”? “ . . . but in the middle of the week He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering” (Daniel 9:27). Jesus was crucified in AD 31, in the “middle of the week.” At the moment of Christ’s death, “the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom” (Matthew 27:51). The sacrifices and offerings of the temple were now fulfilled by the death of Jesus, the Lamb of God. Fulfilling prophecy down to the letter, Jesus brought “an end” to any further need for animal sacrifices (Daniel 9:27).
Since the time of Christ’s death, we have direct access to God through Jesus, the Lamb of God and our High Priest. *The significance of the date AD 34 and other details of the prophecy are presented in the Focus on Prophecy course.
Thought question:
- In symbolic Bible prophecy, each prophetic “day” equals one actual year. (True or False)
- Jesus’ baptism in AD 27 was not a fulfilment of prophecy. (True or False)
- In AD 31, Jesus was crucified as the Lamb of God, fulfilling the sacrifices and offerings of the temple service. (True or False)
Be blessed as you meditate upon these truths
GREETINGS TO YOU BIBLE STUDENT. TODAY WE ARE STUDYING DISCOVER BIBLE GUIDE 13 entitled From Guilty Sinner to Forgiven Saint; Section 4: The Assurance of Sins Forgiven
ACCORDING TO DANIEL’S prophecy, why did Jesus die? “[The] Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself” (Daniel 9:26). At his death on the cross, Jesus was “cut off, but not for Himself.” Jesus lived a perfect, sinless life. He died, not to pay a penalty for His own sins, but for your sins, my sins, and the sins of the entire world.
How can we know that God has forgiven all of our sins and accepted us? “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). “The blood of Jesus Christ . . . cleanses us from all sin”(1 John 1:7). In the judgment, God not only declares us forgiven, but He also declares us righteous—based on our acceptance of the gracious gift of His Son, Jesus Christ, as our Saviour.
According to a story in Real Simple magazine, on the morning of August 10, 2011, a drunk driver swerved into Nettie Gibson’s lane, crashing into her car head-on. A quick flash of silver— that’s all Nettie remembers now about the terrible accident. Her injuries were extensive, requiring 10 hours of emergency surgery. Convinced she was going to die, she dictated to a nurse a short goodbye letter to her 13-year-old son. Nettie didn’t die, but her life was never the same. She learned that the woman’s blood alcohol level at the time of the accident was well above the legal limit. “But who’s drunk at 8:15 in the morning and driving around?” Nettie demanded angrily. Because the driver only had minimal auto insurance, Nettie was saddled with huge medical bills. On top of all that, she lost her job. She became depressed. Then a year later, in court, Nettie attended the sentencing for the woman who had brought such hardship and suffering into her life.
“The woman looked so scared,” Nettie recalls. “I couldn’t imagine what was going through her head.” Afterward, she approached the woman’s attorney. “Please let your client know that I forgive her,” she said. Today, Nettie says, “I decided to choose forgiveness over hate.” God the Father and Jesus the Son have chosen to forgive you and me. “The blood of Jesus Christ . . . cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7).
- The Time for the Judgment to Begin: WE HAVE SEEN, the 70-week prophecy of Daniel 9:24-27 accurately predicted when Jesus would begin His public ministry and die on the cross. These 70 prophetic weeks, or 490 actual years, began in 457 BC and ended in AD 34. They are the opening portion of an even longer time prophecy shown to Daniel. According to him, what was the length of this longer prophecy, and which event would mark its end? “‘How long will the vision be?’ . . . And he said to me, ‘For two thousand three hundred days; then the sanctuary shall be cleansed’” (Daniel 8:13, 14). This prophecy reveals a time period of 2,300 prophetic days, at the end of which “the sanctuary shall be cleansed.”
What does this mean? Just as the 70 weeks (490 days) are 490 actual years, so the 2,300 prophetic days are 2,300 actual years (Ezekiel 4:6). Both time periods started in 457 BC when Artaxerxes issued the decree to “restore and rebuild Jerusalem” (Daniel 9:25).
Counting 2,300 years following 457 BC brings us to AD 1844 (remember, there is no year “zero” when crossing from BC to AD). In the Old Testament, the sanctuary was cleansed each year on the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16). This was a time of judgment for Israel and represented God’s final judgment day in heaven when “the court was seated, and the books were opened” (Daniel 7:10). What this prophecy is telling us is that God’s judgment in heaven began in 1844 at the close of the 2,300 years.
Be blessed as you meditate upon these truths
GREETINGS TO YOU BIBLE STUDENT. TODAY WE ARE STUDYING DISCOVER BIBLE GUIDE 13 entitled From Guilty Sinner to Forgiven Saint; Section 6: The Heavenly Sanctuary Cleansed—A Judgment
A CCORDING TO the prophecy, in 1844, at the end of the 2,300 years, “the sanctuary shall be cleansed.” God’s people have had no physical sanctuary on earth since AD 70, when the Romans destroyed the temple at Jerusalem. Therefore, the sanctuary to be cleansed, beginning in 1844, has to be the sanctuary in heaven, of which the earthly temple was only a copy.
What does the cleansing of the heavenly sanctuary mean? In the Old Testament, the sanctuary was symbolically cleansed each year on the Day of Atonement. This was a solemn day of judgment for the Hebrew people, because those who refused to confess their sins and seek forgiveness were “cut off from [God’s] people” (Leviticus 23:29). The Day of Atonement and the cleansing of the Old Testament sanctuary represented God’s judgment day, which began in 1844 and involves the cleansing of the sanctuary in heaven. What the High Priest did symbolically once each year on the Day of Atonement, Jesus does “once” for all time as our High Priest in the sanctuary in heaven (Hebrews 9:6-12).
On the great judgment day, He removes from the sanctuary the confessed sins of all who have accepted Him as Saviour. This is the work of judgment that began in 1844.
Thought Question:
- In 1844, Jesus began the work of cleansing the heavenly sanctuary, which is a work of judgment. (True or False)
- Facing Your Life Record in the Judgment: THE JUDGMENT NOW going on in heaven investigates the records of all the righteous—both living and dead—in order to validate in the minds of the onlooking universe who will be among the saved when Jesus comes.
In the judgment, what happens to the sins of those who have accepted Jesus as their Savior? God says: “I have blotted out, like a thick cloud, your transgressions, and like a cloud, your sins” (Isaiah 44:22).As our Judge, Jesus removes forever all of the sins of the righteous from their life record in heaven. He separates our sins from us “as far as the east is from the west” (Psalm 103:12). It is as if we had never sinned. No wonder we can face the judgment unafraid!
If you had the opportunity to alter your life record, what changes would you make?
The good news is that Christ does this more thoroughly than you ever could. When your name comes up in judgment, it will be an easy matter to face your life record—if you have accepted Christ as your Substitute, your Savior.
Are you ready for Jesus to come? Or is there something you’ve been hiding from Him? Do you have an open and honest relationship with the One who longs to be your Advocate? As we consider the judgment going on in heaven today, we don’t have to anxiously review our past for some sin that we may have forgotten to confess. We should be motivated to put everything on the table before God—no secrets, no games. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). Confessing our sins simply means facing them and agreeing with God that He is right when He convicts us of them. No excuses. Then we accept His forgiveness and acknowledge our need of His power and grace.
The book The Heart of Virtue tells a story of King Frederick William I. While visiting a prison, he listened to a number of pleas for pardon. The inmates tried to convince the king that judges, witnesses, or lawyers were responsible for their imprisonment. From cell to cell, the same story of wronged innocence continued. However, in one cell, the inmate had nothing to say. Surprised, the king joked, “I suppose you are innocent, too.” “No, your Majesty,” the man answered, “I am guilty and richly deserve all that I get.”
The king called out loudly, “Come and [release] this rascal quick, before he corrupts this fine lot of innocent people!” How do we prepare for the judgment? Simply by an honest confession of the truth. Simply by acknowledging that we richly deserve the penalty of death for our sins, yet Another has taken our place and given us a wonderful pardon.
What does God promise He will do if you give Him your life? “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you” (Ezekiel 36:26). Won’t you make a commitment to God right now that, whatever happens, you’ll keep your relationship with Christ authentic, honest, and sincere?
Thought question:
- We can face the judgment unafraid, because if we have accepted Jesus as our Savior, He has promised to blot out our sins and remove them from our life record. (True or False)
Decision & Prayer
MY PRAYER
If you've never prayed before, that's okay. Here is a short prayer to get you started, if you want to read these words aloud to God or say them silently in your head to Him.
You can also take this prayer and make it your own by paraphrasing or add your own words to it.
Try to think of talking to God like you would talk to a friend, saying whatever is on your heart.
Dear Father in heaven, thank You for the gift of Jesus who died, not for Himself, but for my sins.
Thank You for appointing Him as my Advocate, High Priest, and Judge. I accept His promise to deliver me from a sinful, empty way of life and prepare me for heaven. I ask this in the name of Jesus, Amen.
MY DECISION
Take a moment to reflect on the following statements, placing a check mark next to each statement you relate to.
I choose to surrender every sin to Jesus so that He can stand in my place in the judgment day.
I thank God for His sacrifice that He so graciously applies to my sinful life.
I ask for His power in my life so I can live for Him.
Be blessed as you meditate upon these truths
Please take the quiz to complete this lesson
LESSON 13 QUIZ
GREETINGS TO YOU BIBLE STUDENT. TODAY WE ARE STUDYING DISCOVER BIBLE GUIDE 14
with the Title: The Secret of Answered Prayer; Section 1: A Conversation With God
PASTORS FORDYCE DETAMORE and Gus Youngberg were missionaries in Borneo in the 1930s. On one occasion, they made a trip up the Tatau River to locate a new mission site. They came to an area that looked promising, but upon exploring it a little, they discovered bodies buried in trees. This was an indication of sacred ground, so they continued their journey. Arriving at a village, they found a typical family longhouse in a small clearing in the woods. A basket of human skulls hanging above the door was a tell-tale sign that these people were head hunters. Nevertheless, the locals welcomed the two pastors.
Upon entering the thatched house, they met the grandmother, who was the “witch doctor” for the village. They visited with the family and shared with them the story of Jesus and His love. Before leaving, the two pastors taught the family a simple prayer.
Several months later, when Detamore and Youngberg returned to this village, the people told them a story of a little girl who had become lost in the jungle. Knowing she would be surrounded by scorpions, highly poisonous snakes that dropped from trees, and wild animals, the villagers did not expect her to survive if she had to spend the night in the jungle. Search parties hunted for the little girl, but to no avail. Then the searchers remembered the prayer they had recently learned from the two missionaries. Deciding to put it to the test, the villagers prayed the simple prayer to the God of heaven.
In the early hours of the morning, the family heard the little girl outside the house, asking to be let inside. With tears of joy, they listened as the child told them that she, too, had prayed the missionaries’ prayer while lost in the jungle. When she finished praying, she said she saw a large man dressed in white and wearing a white tobi, or hard hat, like the missionaries wore. The man was very kind. He took her by the hand and led her through the jungle right to her own longhouse. The entire family—witch doctor and all—accepted the love of Jesus, because they had learned that the angels of the Lord surround those who trust and love Him. God does hear us when we pray—even the simplest sincere prayer.
- A Conversation With God: CAN WE BE sure God hears us when we pray?
“You will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:12, 13). What assurance did Jesus provide to us so we can know He will hear and answer our prayers?
“So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you” (Luke 11:9).
Prayer is a two-way conversation. Jesus promises: “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me” (Revelation 3:20). In prayer, you can talk to Jesus as you would talk with a friend while having a meal together. Tell Jesus everything that is on your heart; don’t try to make nice, formal speeches. Listen carefully and let God speak to you through the Bible, and follow His will for your life as it is revealed in Scripture.
Prayer can become a way of life for the Christian. The Bible says: “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you”(1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). How can we “pray without ceasing”? Do we have to stay on our knees all the time or constantly repeat phrases of adoration and petition? Of course not. The Bible recommends that we be so closely in touch with Jesus that we feel free to speak to Him anytime, anywhere. We can pray in a busy crowd, in the quiet of our bedroom, or while driving to school or work. Wherever we are or whatever we’re doing, we can always come to God in prayer. To “pray without ceasing” means to always keep our hearts open to communication with God. “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you” (James 4:8).
The closer you come to Jesus, the more you’re able to experience His presence. When you pray, don’t worry about saying the right words. Just talk honestly and openly. Talk about everything in your life, as you would to your best friend. Jesus left heaven and gave His life to become your personal Friend.
Thought question:
- Prayer is a two-way conversation with God. (True or False)
- Prayer also includes listening for God to answer. (True or False)
with the Title: The Secret of Answered Prayer; Section 2: How to Pray
WHEN WE ENGAGE in formal prayers in public or private, we may wish to follow the outline of the prayer Jesus gave in the Sermon on the Mount. He taught His disciples the Lord’s Prayer in response to their request, “Teach us to pray” (Luke 11:1). “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen” (Matthew 6:9-13).
This doesn’t mean that we must always use these exact words when we pray. The Lord’s Prayer is a model that includes all the essential elements of prayer:
We come to God as our Heavenly Father, asking that He direct our hearts with His will, just as His will prevails in all of heaven. We ask Him to supply our physical needs. We pray for forgiveness and for a forgiving attitude. We remember that God is the One who gives us the ability to resist sin. We praise Him for His love, glory, and power in our lives.
On another occasion, Jesus instructed His disciples to pray to the Father “in My name” (John 16:23)—that is, to pray in harmony with Jesus’ principles. That’s why Christians usually close their prayers with the words: “In Jesus’ name, Amen.” Amen is a Hebrew word that means “let it be so.” Sometimes Christians refer to the Lord’s Prayer as a model prayer. They often memorize it and repeat it in public. Although the Lord’s Prayer gives guidelines on what to pray for and how to formulate a prayer, our communication with God works best as a spontaneous outpouring of the heart.
A look at the various prayers of men and women in the Bible teaches us one basic lesson: pray about everything. God invites us to pray about critical matters: forgiveness for our sins (1 John 1:9), increased faith (Mark 9:24), the necessities of life (Matthew 6:11), and healing from suffering and disease (James 5:15). God assures us that we can bring all our needs and cares to Him in prayer. Nothing is too small to pray about. “Humble yourselves . . . casting all your care upon Him[God], for He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:6, 7).
Stephen and his friend Kyle were discussing Stephen’s swollen, inflamed toe, which he had hurt at work when a large rock he was moving rolled on top of his foot and injured his toe. As college students trying to pay their tuition and monthly food bill, Stephen and Kyle tried to avoid trips to the doctor. “I’ll wait a few days before I go to the doctor,” Stephen told his friend. “Maybe my toe will improve. I prayed and asked God to heal it. He knows my circumstances, so maybe it will be healed.”
“You prayed about your toe?” Kyle responded with a look of astonishment on his face. “Don’t you think that’s too insignificant to bother God about?”
“No,” Stephen answered. “I don’t think so. I talk to God about everything. He cares about every detail of my life. Nothing is too small or insignificant to take to God. If He knows the number of hairs on my head, I’m sure He cares about my toe!”
Our Saviour is interested in every detail of our lives. God delights in our prayers. His heart warms when our hearts reach out to Him in love and faith.
Thought question:
- We are to pray for the forgiveness of sin, for our physical needs, and for increased faith.. (True or False)
- We are not to pray about everything—just the big things that affect our lives. (True or False)
Be blessed as you meditate upon these truths
GREETINGS TO YOU BIBLE STUDENT. TODAY WE ARE STUDYING DISCOVER BIBLE GUIDE 14
with the Title: The Secret of Answered Prayer; Section 3: Private Prayer
FOR MOST OF US, there are some things we hesitate sharing even with our closest friends—things we keep hidden away in a corner of our minds—but we can unburden ourselves completely in private, one-on-one prayer with God. We can tell God anything and everything. It’s not that He needs information; the Almighty God knows our secret fears and hidden motives better than we do. We just need to open up our hearts to Him, understanding that He knows us intimately and loves us infinitely. Healing can begin only when Jesus can touch the wounds. We need to admit our problems and recognize our needs. Growth can come only when Jesus can reach our greatest weaknesses.
When we pray, Jesus our High Priest is near to help us in every time of need: “For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:15, 16).
Do you feel anxious, stressed out, or guilty? Lay it out before the Lord. Prayer brings you within the circle of Christ’s mercy and grace. He can then supply your every need.
Should you have a special place for private prayer? “When you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly” (Matthew 6:6). Although you can pray anytime, anywhere, you need a special time set aside each day for personal prayer. Daniel, a mighty man of God, prayed three times a day—morning, noon, and night (Daniel 6:10). Growing Christians have a set time and place to spend with God in Bible study and prayer. Make your daily appointment with God at the time when you feel most alert and can concentrate best
Thought question:
- When we pray, Jesus, our High Priest, is sympathetic toward us. (True or False)
- Public Prayer: JOINING WITH OTHERS in prayer creates a special bond and taps into God’s power in a special way. Jesus says: “For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them” (Matthew 18:20). Remember that the Lord’s Prayer takes less than a minute to repeat. Public prayers should be brief. Don’t turn them into speeches that make it seem like you’re talking to an audience rather than God. Don’t feel you have to speak in unnatural or theatrical tones; simple reverence and humility are much better ways to approach the Lord. One of the greatest things you can do as a family is to develop a prayer life together. Show your children that they can take their needs to God directly. They’ll get excited about God as they see Him responding to their prayers in the practical details of life. Make family worship a happy, relaxed time of sharing.
GREETINGS TO YOU BIBLE STUDENT. TODAY WE ARE STUDYING DISCOVER BIBLE GUIDE 14
with the Title: The Secret of Answered Prayer; Section 5: Seven Secrets of Answered Prayer
WHEN MOSES PRAYED, the Red Sea parted. When Elijah prayed, fire came down from heaven. When Daniel prayed, an angel shut the mouths of ravenous lions. The Bible presents us with many exciting accounts of answered prayer, and it recommends prayer as the way to tap into the mighty power of God. Consider Christ’s great promise: “If you ask anything in My name, I will do it” (John 14:14). Jesus “is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think” (Ephesians 3:20). God promises, “Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.” (Jeremiah 33:3). Yet some prayers seem to go unanswered. Why? Are there conditions attached to prayer? Here are seven principles that will help you pray more effectively.
- KEEP CLOSE TO CHRIST.: “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you”(John 15:7).
We should always ask in prayer that God’s will be done—not ours. When we make our relationship with God a priority and keep in touch with Him, we’ll be listening and looking for answers that otherwise might go undetected.
- KEEP TRUSTING GOD.: “Whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive” (Matthew 21:22). Faith means that we’re really trusting our Heavenly Father to supply our needs. If you’re troubled by a lack of faith, remember that our Savior performed a miracle for the man who pled for greater faith: “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24). Just concentrate on exercising the faith you do have; don’t worry about the faith you don’t have.
- SURRENDER CALMLY TO GOD’S WILL.: “This is the confidence that we have in Him [God], that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us”(1 John 5:14).
Remember that God wants to teach us, as well as give us things, through prayer. Therefore, sometimes He says, “No.” Sometimes He says, “Yes.” And sometimes He says, “Not now,” and turns us in another direction. Prayer is a means of becoming more and more in sync with God’s will for your life, so you need to remain sensitive to His responses and learn from them. Keeping track of your specific prayer requests and their results can be a great help.
As you pray, also remember that the Bible reveals God’s will to us (Psalm 119:105, 133) and the Holy Spirit helps us zero in on God’s will: “The Spirit . . . makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God” (Romans 8:27). Remember that our will would always coincide with God’s will if we could see life as He does.
- WAIT PATIENTLY ON GOD. “I waited patiently for the Lord; and He inclined to me, and heard my cry” (Psalm 40:1). The main point here is to keep your focus on God and His solutions. Don’t just send out a quick plea and then stare in horror at the problem, letting it overwhelm you. Don’t ask God for support one minute and then try to drown your troubles in frenzied pleasure-seeking the next. Wait patiently on the Lord. In today’s on-demand world, we desperately need that discipline.
- DON’T HOLD ON TO SIN.: “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear” (Psalm 66:18). Known sin short-circuits the power of God in our lives; it separates us from Him (Isaiah 59:1, 2). This doesn’t mean you have to be perfect in order for God to answer your prayers, but it does mean that if you want to have a close relationship with God, you can’t knowingly hang on to sin with one hand and reach out for divine help with the other. Sincere confession, repentance, and asking God for forgiveness will solve your sin problem. “You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures” (James 4:3).
If you’re not willing to allow God to free you from evil thoughts, words, and deeds, your prayers won’t be effective. God isn’t going to answer “Yes” to selfish or mean-spirited prayers. Therefore, as you pray, keep yourself open to God’s plan for your life as outlined in the Bible, and you will find peace, spiritual power, and a life-changing experience.
- FEEL THE NEED OF GOD.: God responds to those who ask for His presence and power in their lives. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled” (Matthew 5:6).
- PERSIST IN PRAYER.: Jesus illustrated the need to persist in our petitions by telling the story of a very stubborn widow who kept coming to a judge with her request. At last the judge said in exasperation: “‘Because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.’ Then the Lord said, ‘Hear what the unjust judge said. And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them?’” (Luke 18:5-7).
Don’t give up! Discuss all your needs, hopes, and dreams with God in prayer. Ask for particular blessings. Call for help in times of need. Keep seeking and listening until you learn something from God’s response. Prayer is a process of developing an ongoing relationship with God.
Thought question:
- We are to pray and then wait patiently for God to answer. (true or False)
Be blessed as you meditate upon these truths
GREETINGS TO YOU BIBLE STUDENT. TODAY WE ARE STUDYING DISCOVER BIBLE GUIDE 14
with the Title: The Secret of Answered Prayer; Section 6: Angels Minister to the Needs of Those Who Pray
WHEN WE PRAY, God sends angels to answer our prayers. “Are they [the angels] not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?”(Hebrews 1:14). The psalmist rejoiced that through the ministry of the angel of the Lord, his prayers were answered: “I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. . . . The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him, and delivers them”(Psalm 34:4, 7). After 40 days of temptation, in answer to Jesus’ prayer, “The devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him” (Matthew 4:11). When we pray, God sends angels to answer our prayers.
Scripture suggests that each Christian has an accompanying guardian angel. “Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 18:10). The Bible includes numerous promises and stories of angels ministering to those who pray (Exodus 23:20; Hebrews 13:2; Psalm 91:11, 12; Acts 12:5-11), and heavenly angels still walk the earth today in answer to prayer—just as they did in Bible times. Sometimes they assume human form—bringing comfort, rescue, and protection at precisely the right moment. A police officer arrives just when needed, and then vanishes. Attackers suddenly see people surrounding their intended victim, but the protectors are only visible to the attackers. A driver offers a ride home on a freezing night, and then disappears, leaving one-way tire tracks in the snow that stop at the door. Soldiers appear out of nowhere to release an abducted prisoner.
These are not urban legends, but credible accounts by real individuals who have experienced amazing answers to their prayers when God sent an angel to minister to them.
Such experiences still occur today. Kurt was eating supper with a group of pastors around a blazing fire pit on a jungle island in the China Sea. The pastors were talking about a witch doctor who had recently converted to Christianity.
The witch doctor had shared with them that at times he would hide outside a village, waiting to capture an unsuspecting person to offer as a human sacrifice to his gods. However, whenever he came to a Christian village, he always found it surrounded by sword-wielding tall men with bright shining faces, so the witch doctor would move on to another village.
The villagers didn’t know it, but God was answering their prayers to watch over them and guide their lives. God will do the same for you.
Prayer is one of the grandest experiences we can engage in as human beings, so begin building up your personal prayer experiences today
“The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:5-7).
Thought question: When we pray, God sends angels to answer our prayers. (True or False)
Decision & Prayer
MY PRAYER
If you've never prayed before, that's okay. Here is a short prayer to get you started, if you want to read these words aloud to God or say them silently in your head to Him. You can also take this prayer and make it your own by paraphrasing or add your own words to it.
Try to think of talking to God like you would talk to a friend, saying whatever is on your heart.
Father in heaven, I want to keep in constant communication with You through prayer. Please teach me how to pray more effectively. I ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.
MY DECISION
Take a moment to reflect on the following statements, placing a check mark next to each statement you relate to.
I will spend time in prayer each day, building and strengthening my relationship with God.
I want to understand God’s message as recorded in the Bible.Be blessed as you meditate upon these truths
Please take the quiz to complete this lesson
LESSON 14 QUIZ
GREETINGS TO YOU BIBLE STUDENT. TODAY WE ARE STUDYING Discover Bible Guide 15 Section 1. The Guidebook for the Christian Lifestyle
THE BIBLE was written as a guidebook for the Christian. It is full of stories of real people like you and me—people who experienced the same challenges we face every day. Getting to know these Bible characters—their joys and sorrows, their problems and opportunities, and their search for fulfilment— helps us mature as Christians. The psalmist David pictures our daily dependence on the Word of God by comparing it to what we would call a flashlight: “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105).
The illumination we get each day from the Bible enables us to take the next step forward; it’s how we make progress. It clearly explains the qualities we need most in our lives, and shares principles for spiritual growth. Above all, the Bible presents Jesus, the Light of the World, to us. Life makes sense only when Jesus is shining on it.
Thought question: The Bible is full of stories of real people like you and me. (True of False)
- Transforming Friendship: CHRIST WANTS THE BIBLE to be as real to you as a personal letter from a close friend. “I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you” (John 15:15). Jesus shared the most important truths in the universe, because He wants the very best for us. His Word brings us into God’s inner circle—those He confides in and personally instructs. “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace” (John 16:33). When you receive a letter, email or text message from a friend, it does you no good if you don’t read it. It’s the same with Jesus’ letters to you, found in the Bible. In order to experience the joy and spiritual growth He has in mind for you, you need to read the letters He has sent. Don’t leave this correspondence from heaven unopened and unread just because it is so familiar or has always been lying around. The very message of hope and comfort you need is waiting to be discovered somewhere in God’s Word.
Here is one typical testimony about the Bible’s impact: “I needed help, and I found it in Jesus. Every want was supplied, the hunger of my soul was satisfied; the Bible is to me the revelation of Christ. I believe in Jesus because He is to me a divine Saviour. I believe the Bible because I have found it to be the voice of God to my soul” (Ellen G. White, The Ministry of Healing, p. 461).
- The Bible Summarized in the Ten Commandments: TODAY WE HAVE the entire Bible as the Guidebook for a healthy Christian lifestyle, but before people had the Bible, God gave His people, Israel, the Ten Commandments as a summary of biblical guidelines for daily living.
A brief look at the Ten Commandments helps us understand why Jesus, the prophets who wrote the Bible, and many modern scholars have been led to affirm that the Ten Commandments are an indispensable basis for living according to God’s will.
The Ten Commandments naturally fall into two divisions. The first four define our relationship to God, and the last six define our relationship to other people. They are found in Exodus 20.
THE FIRST TWO COMMANDMENTS OUTLINE OUR RELATIONSHIP TO GOD AND WORSHIP.
- “You shall have no other gods before Me” (verse 3).
- “You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them” (verses 4, 5).
THE THIRD AND FOURTH COMMANDMENTS DEFINE OUR RELATIONSHIP TO GOD’S NAME AND HOLY DAY.
- “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain” (verse 7).
- “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God” (verses 8-10).
COMMANDMENTS FIVE AND SEVEN SAFEGUARD FAMILY BONDS.
- “Honor your father and your mother” (verse 12).
- “You shall not commit adultery” (verse 14).
COMMANDMENTS SIX, EIGHT, NINE, AND TEN PROTECT US IN SOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS.
- “You shall not murder” (verse 13).
- “You shall not steal” (verse 15).
- “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor” (verse 16).
- “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife . . . nor anything that is your neighbor’s” (verse 17).
The Ten Commandments are a concise summary of the Bible’s teachings regarding how we ought to live. They define our relationship with God as well as with other people. They are the guideposts of a Christian lifestyle.
Thought question:
- The Ten Commandments are a basis for right living.. (True or False)
- The first four commandments define our relationship to God.. (True or False)
Be blessed as you meditate upon these Truths
GREETINGS TO YOU BIBLE STUDENT. TODAY WE ARE STUDYING Discover Bible Guide 15 Section 4: What Jesus Said About the Ten Commandments
ONE DAY AS JESUS was teaching, an enthusiastic young man hurried up to Him and asked, “Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?” (Matthew 19:16). Christ could see that this man was wrestling with a money problem and advised him to get rid of his possessions and “keep the commandments” (verse 17). The young man tried to sidestep Christ’s diagnosis of his problem by asking Him, “Which ones?” Jesus then listed several of the Ten Commandments: those prohibiting murder, adultery, stealing, lying, and dishonouring parents (verses 18, 19). Then Jesus invited him to turn away from his riches and follow Him.
Finally, this “rich young ruler” turned and walked away sadly (verses 20-22). He wasn’t willing to take the prescription. He could agree with the Ten Commandments, but he wasn’t willing to obey the commandments that directed him to abandon his selfish way of life.
Thought question: i. Jesus advised the rich young ruler that the commandments were only for Old Testament times. (True or False)
- Guide to a Happy Life: THE TEN COMMANDMENTS show us the boundaries that enable healthy relationships to grow—with God and with each other. This is why God appeals so passionately through Isaiah: “Oh, that you had heeded My commandments! Then your peace would have been like a river, and your righteousness like the waves of the sea” (Isaiah 48:18). Jesus pointed to obedience as the way to real joy: “If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full” (John 15:10, 11).
The Bible presents the Ten Commandments as an unchangeable, indispensable, perfect guide to happy living. Human experience testifies to its enduring validity. Jesus and many others declared that the road to happiness is paved with loving obedience to God’s commandments, for they are God’s basic principles for living a happy life.
- The Ten Commandments Were an Indispensable Guide for People in the Old Testament: THE BOOK OF ECCLESIASTES is an account of Solomon’s search for happiness. He records how he tried to find happiness in the riches of the world. He built magnificent houses, and planted productive vineyards, beautiful gardens, and orchards of luscious fruit. He acquired servants. He found himself surrounded with every material thing a person could desire. But eventually, his bubble burst. He said: “Then I looked on all the works that my hands had done and on the labor in which I had toiled; and indeed all was vanity and grasping for the wind” (Ecclesiastes 2:11). Solomon then turned to searching for happiness in the pleasures of this world. Following one dead-end street after another, Solomon finally decided that he had made a mistake in seeing illusions as reality, and he declared: “Vanity of vanities . . . All is vanity” (Ecclesiastes 12:8).
Solomon had once known and followed the way of the Lord. As he compared his sinful, reckless pursuit of happiness with his early life of obedience to God, he came to this understanding: “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.” (Ecclesiastes 12:13, KJV). Solomon had tried to find a shortcut to happiness in the pleasures of sin. Toward the close of his life, he admitted his error and published his failures to the world in the hope that he could save others from the same mistake. He wrote: “He that keepeth the law, happy is he” (Proverbs 29:18, KJV). Be blessed as you meditate upon these truths.
GREETINGS TO YOU BIBLE STUDENT. TODAY WE ARE STUDYING Discover Bible Guide 15 Section 7: The Ten Commandments Were an Indispensable Guide for People in the New Testament
IN THE NEW TESTAMENT, Paul testified: “Therefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good” (Romans 7:12). James adds his weight to the testimony of Paul by stating: “For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all. For He who said, ‘Do not commit adultery,’ also said, ‘Do not murder.’ Now if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty”(James 2:10-12).
Charles Spurgeon, the great Baptist preacher of the 1800s, declared: “The law of God is divine law—holy, heavenly, perfect. . . . There is not a commandment too many; there is not one too few; but it is so incomparable that its perfection is proof of its divinity” (“The Curse Removed,” The Spurgeon Archive).
John Wesley, one of the founders of the Methodist Church, wrote this about the enduring nature of the law: “The moral law contained in the Ten Commandments . . . He [Christ] did not take away. . . . Every part of this law must remain in force upon all mankind and in all ages” (Sermons, vol. l, pp. 221, 222).
Billy Graham, one of the world’s most respected evangelists, in answer to a question published in the Kansas City Star regarding the Ten Commandments, responded, “Have you ever actually studied the Ten Commandments thoughtfully and carefully? (You can find them in Exodus 20 or Deuteronomy 5). If you do, you might be surprised how relevant and up-to-date they are, even if you don’t agree with some of them.”
Thought question: According to the New Testament, the commandments are out of date. (True or False)
- Power to Obey: THE BIBLE and the Ten Commandments are an unchangeable, perfect guide to happy living. Yet we humans find it so difficult to obey the commandments. Why? The Bible gives us an answer: “The carnal [sinful] mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be” (Romans 8:7). One lady expressed it like this: “I believe the Ten Commandments are binding; I know the Bible teaches that I should follow them. I believe that most of the great preachers accept them as being a guide to our conduct. I am certain that keeping them leads to happiness. And I have tried my very best to keep them, but I just can’t do it. I simply can’t keep them, and I’m beginning to believe that no one else can.” Because we are born with a sinful nature, we cannot—in our own strength—obey God’s holy, unchanging law. We can try, and millions have tried, but over and over again, we find ourselves falling and failing. There is only one path to obedience, and it is not by trying harder. The very fact that we cannot keep God’s holy law in our own strength tells us something important. It tells us that we are sinners in need of a Saviour.
Paul put it like this: “By the law is the knowledge of sin” (Romans 3:20). “The law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith” (Galatians 3:24). You see, Jesus is the Answer! Once the law teaches us that we are helpless without a Saviour, we can come to Jesus Christ and receive power from Him to obey His law.
Thought question:
- One purpose of the commandments is to point out sin and lead us to Jesus, who saves us from sin. (True or False)
Be blessed as you meditate upon these truths
GREETINGS TO YOU BIBLE STUDENT. TODAY WE ARE STUDYING Discover Bible Guide 15 Section 9: Loving Obedience to the Ten Commandments
JESUS TELLS US that obedience is the result of love: “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15). If we love God, we will obey the first four commandments, which define our relationship to God; and if we love people, we will obey the last six commandments, which define our relationship with others (Matthew 22:35-40).
The Apostle Paul agrees with the thought that love for God and our neighbours will result in being law-keepers rather than law-breakers: “He who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not bear false witness,’ ‘You shall not covet,’ and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’ Love does no harm to a neighbour; therefore love is the fulfilment of the law” (Romans 13:8-10).
The person who tramples on the Ten Commandments sins: “Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness” (1 John 3:4). Thank God we have a Savior who came to this world, died, and was resurrected—all so that we could live: “You know that He [Jesus] was manifested to take away our sins” (1 John 3:5). Our Savior forgives and removes our sinfulness: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). And He promises to give us His love so we, in turn, can love others: “The love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us” (Romans 5:5). We have no ability in ourselves to keep God’s law. In fact, our sinful minds reject God’s law (Romans 3:10), but the Holy Spirit has promised to pour out God’s love into our hearts (Romans 5:5). Love is the motivating power of the Christian life. Because we love God, we naturally want to obey Him. “Love is the fulfilment of the law” (Romans 13:10).
- God’s Grace and Obedience to the Law: SALVATION IS A GIFT. We cannot earn it. We can only accept it by faith. We receive justification (right standing with God) as a gift, solely through faith, because of God’s grace. “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast” (Ephesians 2:8, 9). We cannot keep the commandments by our own works—by trying. We cannot keep the commandments to be saved. However, when we come to Jesus and are saved, His love fills our hearts, and as a result of this divine grace and acceptance, our desire to follow and obey Christ intensifies. We begin to obey His commandments through the power of His love in our hearts. Christ’s love is “poured out in our hearts,” and we begin to love others with His love. “This is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome”(1 John 5:3).
According to John, “Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness” (1 John 3:4), but after suggesting that the Christian is no longer under the condemnation of the law because of Christ’s death for our sins on Calvary, Paul adds: “Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law”(Romans 3:31).
Paul stresses the futility of human effort and indicates that we are not under the law as a way of salvation, but “under grace,” then he asks: “Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not!” (Romans 6:15). “Faith without works is dead” (James 2:20), but a heart motivated by love produces a life of loving obedience (1 John 5:2). To love Christ is to obey His commandments: “He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me” (John 14:21).
Paul echoes Jesus’ teaching: “What the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit” (Romans 8:3, 4). Living in the Spirit’s power translates into a growing ability to fulfil the “righteous requirement of the law.”
Eric Liddell demonstrated that, even in the worst of circumstances, the believer who is plugged into God’s power can live a contented, obedient life. Liddell demonstrated grace in a time of stress and fear. His loving relationship with God enabled Him to meet “the righteous requirement of the law” through his close relationships with others in the internment camp. A loving relationship with the crucified and risen Saviour can produce that quality of life—when Christ’s love fills our hearts, it becomes our nature to obey His commandments. “The law [is] written in . . . [our] hearts” (Romans 2:15).
Have you discovered this secret for yourself? Jesus’ love for you caused Him to give His life for your sin. He offers to empower all your relationships with His love and “make you complete in every good work to do His will” (Hebrews 13:21). What is your response?
Thought questions: A person saved by grace through faith in Christ’s death and resurrection loves Christ and chooses to obey His law. (True or False)
Decision & Prayer
MY PRAYER
If you've never prayed before, that's okay. Here is a short prayer to get you started, if you want to read these words aloud to God or say them silently in your head to Him. You can also take this prayer and make it your own by paraphrasing or add your own words to it.
Try to think of talking to God like you would talk to a friend, saying whatever is on your heart.
Dear Father in heaven, thank You for the Bible, Your Guidebook for Christian living. Thank You for the power of the Holy Spirit and for Your love, which makes it possible to live for You and keep Your commandments. Please fill me daily with Your love. I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
MY DECISION
Take a moment to reflect on the following statements, placing a check mark next to each statement you relate to.
I choose, by God’s power and grace in my life, to obey all His commandments.
I love Jesus and want to live for Him. Please pray for me.
Be blessed as you meditate upon these truths
Please take the quiz to complete this lesson
LESSON 15 QUIZ
GREETINGS TO YOU BIBLE STUDENT. TODAY WE ARE STUDYING Discover Bible Guide 16
The Secret of Heavenly Rest; Section 1: 1. The Remedy for High-Tension Living
JUST A FEW decades ago, sociologists were predicting that we would shortly have more leisure time than we’d know what to do with. We laugh at the idea today, but testimony before a United States Senate subcommittee in 1967 maintained that people would soon be working just 22 hours a week! There were good reasons for those confident predictions. Computers were crunching through month-long tasks in fractions of a second. And robots had begun to handle many of the gruelling jobs of heavy industry. But today—with a world of knowledge and communication literally available at our fingertips 24/7—we’re more out of breath than ever. As a Manhattan architect put it: “Technology is increasing the heartbeat.”
Instead of reducing our workloads, we just try to do more with the time saved, and now the expectation is that our tasks will be completed immediately. A letter sent via “snail mail” used to take several days to cross the country; today our text message arrives on the other side of the world right after we hit “send.” Instant delivery has shaped our output expectations.
Unfortunately, it appears the 1967 Senate subcommittee was wrong. Statisticians tell us that leisure time is shrinking and second jobs and overtime hours are commonplace.
Priorities are upside down. Families are out of time and out of touch. How can we slow down enough to get in touch again?
- The Remedy for High-Tension Living: JESUS UNDERSTANDS the problems of families under stress, and He wants us to grasp this fact first of all: spiritual rest is part of the quality of life. “Come to Me, all you who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:28, 29). The Bible suggests we experience this kind of rest in two ways: coming to Christ on a daily basis as well as on a weekly basis.
Be blessed as you meditate upon these truths
GREETINGS TO YOU BIBLE STUDENT. TODAY WE ARE STUDYING Discover Bible Guide 16
The Secret of Heavenly Rest; Section 2: A Daily Link With Jesus
JESUS SHOULD have run out of time all the time. Crowds constantly clamoured for His attention. In a brief period of three-and-a-half years, He had to carry out a spiritual revolution that would change life on planet Earth forever. He was also constantly dodging the Pharisees’ spies and plots. Yet Christ communicated a peaceful demeanour to everyone around Him. How? He invested time each day into communing with His Heavenly Father. He depended on His Father continually for the resources to meet life’s challenges. “As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me” (John 6:57).
Our Savior depended on the Father. If we are to live the serene, steady life that Jesus did, we must “feed” ourselves daily— allow His Word (the Bible) and His Spirit to fill us and shape us. The best way to counter the forces burning us out as individuals and tearing us apart as families is to invest high-quality time with Christ. He tells us: “Abide in Me, and I in you. . . . Without Me you can do nothing” (John 15:4, 5).
One of the greatest needs of our time is for people to tap into the spiritual resources available through forming a day-by-day relationship with Jesus. This is accomplished through daily prayer and Bible study. One very important point that needs to be emphasized about our relationship with Christ is what was accomplished for us on the cross. True rest and real security can exist only because of the great accomplishment Jesus referred to when He cried out as He was dying: “It is finished!” (John 19:30). In other words, His work of redemption was completed. “But now, once at the end of the ages, He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself” (Hebrews 9:26). “We have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. . . . By one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified” (Hebrews 10:10, 14).
When Jesus died, He paid the penalty of our sins. The devil can no longer hold our sins against us, because our Substitute made full provision at Calvary for forgiveness. Since Jesus “has perfected forever those who are being sanctified,” Satan can no longer hold our failures and inadequacies against us. That’s why it is said that the believer who has confessed his or her sins can rest in the finished work of Christ. We’re accepted by God. Guilt is the force that drives most compulsive behaviour. Guilt lies behind much of the frantic pace of our lives today. However, Jesus solved the guilt problem once and for all at the cross. Jesus’ cry, “It is finished!” sealed His promise of “I will give you rest” as an established fact. Christ completed the work of redeeming us at Calvary (Titus 2:14), then rested in the tomb over the Sabbath, and rose from the grave Sunday morning as the Victor over sin and death. The Christian can have no greater assurance than to rest in the finished work of Christ. “Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith. . . . Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works” (Hebrews 10:22-24).
Because “He who promised is faithful,” we can enter into the salvation rest Jesus has promised. The stability, peace, and rest we experience in Jesus every day is a result not of anything we do, but of what He did on our behalf. Jesus lived a perfect life to cover our imperfect lives, and then paid the penalty for our sins by dying on the cross. We can rest in Christ because our salvation is assured. That assurance creates a response of loving obedience. And it motivates us to spend time with Christ each day, studying His Word and communicating with Him through prayer. Spending time with Jesus helps us turn a stressed-out lifestyle into a peaceful and purposeful life. Be blessed as meditate upon these truths.
GREETINGS TO YOU BIBLE STUDENT. TODAY WE ARE STUDYING Discover Bible Guide 16
The Secret of Heavenly Rest; Section 3: A Weekly Link With Jesus
AFTER CHRIST created the world in six days (Colossians 1:16, 17), He provided Sabbath rest, which is a wonderful weekly opportunity for us to cultivate our connection with Him. “God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good. So the evening and the morning were the sixth day. Thus the heavens and the earth, and all the host of them, were finished. And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made” (Genesis 1:31—2:3).
As their Creator, Jesus “rested” on the first Sabbath with Adam and Eve. He “blessed” that day and “sanctified” it, or made it holy. God established a seven-day weekly cycle—not for His own benefit, but for Adam and Eve and for us today. Because He cared so much for the two people He had made, He planned that every seventh day throughout their lives should be dedicated to seeking His presence. Each Sabbath, as He called it, was to be for them a day of both physical rest and spiritual refreshment.
The entrance of sin into our world only made the need for Sabbath rest more necessary. The same Savior who promised Adam and Eve “rest” also gave the law to Moses on Mount Sinai (1 Corinthians 10:1-4) approximately 2,000 years later. Jesus chose to place the Sabbath rest commandment at the very heart of the Ten Commandments. The fourth commandment reads: “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it” (Exodus 20:8-11).
God established the seventh-day Sabbath as a day to “remember” the Lord who “made the heavens and the earth.” Sabbath rest each week links us with the Creator who blessed this day and set it apart. When Jesus lived on earth, He took advantage of every opportunity to sustain His union with the Father. He benefitted from Sabbath rest by worshipping on the Sabbath, as Luke tells us: “He [Jesus] came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day” (Luke 4:16).
If the divine-human Jesus needed to rest in His Father’s presence on the Sabbath day, we human beings certainly need it more. When Jesus swept aside the legal restrictions the Jews had placed on the Sabbath (Matthew 12:1-13), He pointed out that God had made it to benefit people: “He said to them, ‘The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. Therefore the Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath’” (Mark 2:27, 28).
Jesus highlighted the importance of the Sabbath even in His death. He died on Friday, the preparation day, as the Sabbath drew near (Luke 23:54). At that very moment He declared, “It is finished!” (John 19:30), that is, His work of coming to this world and dying as the Substitute for the human race was complete. The great work of redemption had been accomplished. Then, as if to celebrate His finished mission, Jesus rested in the tomb over the Sabbath. Just as Christ completed His work of creation on the sixth day and then rested on the seventh day, so through dying on the cross He completed His redemptive work on the sixth day, and then rested on the seventh.
On Sunday morning, Jesus came out from the tomb a victorious Savior (Luke 24:1-7). He had already asked His followers to observe the Sabbath after His resurrection.
Speaking of the destruction of Jerusalem, which took place nearly 40 years after His death, He told them: “Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath” (Matthew 24:20). Our Saviour wanted His disciples and their converts to continue the practices He had taught them. He wanted them to experience both salvation rest and Sabbath rest. They did not disappoint Him. The disciples continued to observe the Sabbath after Christ’s death (see Luke 23:54-56; Acts 13:14; 16:13; 17:2; 18:1-4).
The beloved Apostle John kept up his weekly link with Christ on the Sabbath day. In his later years, he wrote, “I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day” (Revelation 1:10). According to Jesus, “the Lord’s Day” is the Sabbath: “For the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath” (Matthew 12:8). On the Sabbath, we celebrate the Lord’s two greatest accomplishments on our behalf: creating us and saving us. This Sabbath experience will continue in the new earth: “‘As the new heavens and the new earth which I will make shall remain before Me,’ says the Lord. . . . ‘From one Sabbath to another, all flesh shall come to worship before Me’” (Isaiah 66:22, 23).
God originally established the Sabbath as a memorial of creation, so it’s fitting that His last-day message should call men and women back to worshipping their Creator through obeying His commandments (Revelation 14:7, 12). This message from the last book in the Bible includes observing the Sabbath commandment as a memorial to the Creator.
Thought question:
- The Sabbath was first established by God at Creation when He rested on the Sabbath, blessed that day, and made it holy. (True or False)
- It was Jesus’ custom to worship on the Sabbath. (True or False)
- After His death, Jesus rested in the tomb on the Sabbath. (True or false)
- The Apostle John worshipped (“was in the Spirit”) on the Lord’s Day, which, according to Jesus, is the seventh-day Sabbath. (True or False)
Be blessed as you meditate upon these truths
GREETINGS TO YOU BIBLE STUDENT. TODAY WE ARE STUDYING Discover Bible Guide 16
The Secret of Heavenly Rest; Section 4: The Benefits of Sabbath Rest
GOD GIVES those who delight in the Sabbath a great promise: “If you turn away your foot from the Sabbath, from doing your pleasure on My holy day, and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy day of the Lord honourable, and shall honour Him, not doing your own ways, nor finding your own pleasure, nor speaking your own words, then you shall delight yourself in the Lord; and I will cause you to ride on the high hills of the earth, and feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father” (Isaiah 58:13, 14).
This passage suggests the Sabbath is a doorway through which we can experience the best things in life. People today are exhausting themselves in the rush to “have it all.” Individuals are burning out, and families are falling apart under the strain. Lately, many sociologists have been pointing out how work has become all-important in our modern culture. Some have even called it our “god.” Work dominates our existence until there is little time for us and our families. The Sabbath is God’s answer to this problem. It lets us step back and fulfil our human need for rest—physical, mental, and spiritual. Sabbath rest protects us from overwork and the alienation from friends and family that is so prevalent today. God offers us a holy day of rest each week. Let’s look at some of the specific benefits of Sabbath rest:
- THE SABBATH IS A MEMORIAL OF CREATION, AND BY KEEPING IT HOLY, WE ERECT A MEMORIAL TO OUR CREATOR. Its sacred hours offer a wonderful opportunity to get in touch with God through the world He created. When was the last time you or your family took time to really soak in the quiet beauty of a forest path or a rocky stream? It’s harder to really hear or see nature these days; there’s so much drowning out its peaceful sounds and sights. The Sabbath gives us a space in which to catch glimpses of God again in the midst of the wonders He has made for us.
- ON THE SABBATH, WE EXPERIENCE THE JOY OF WORSHIP AND FELLOWSHIP WITH OTHER CHRISTIANS. The Sabbath points us heavenward. We desperately need this weekly perspective adjustment, and we need to look up together. There’s a benefit from praising God with others as a group of worshippers, and that benefit simply doesn’t come any other way. We need to express our faith publicly and socially, as well as in the privacy of our hearts. The Sabbath gives us that special time of coming together as a church body to recharge our spiritual batteries. Isaiah understood the joy of Sabbath worship: “Blessed is the man who does this, and the son of man who lays hold on it; who keeps from defiling the Sabbath. . . . And holds fast My covenant—even them I will bring to My holy mountain, and make them joyful in My house of prayer. . . . For My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations” (Isaiah 56:2, 6, 7).
- THE SABBATH PROVIDES OCCASIONS TO PERFORM THOUGHTFUL ACTS OF KINDNESS. Has a neighbour been sick during the week when you had no time to visit? When a friend needed a sympathetic ear after her husband’s death, did the pressure of daily living deprive her of your loving attention? Our natural inclination is to keep postponing these things. The Sabbath provides an opportunity to meet these needs. As Jesus advised, “It is lawful to do good on the Sabbath” (Matthew 12:12).
- THE SABBATH IS A DAY TO STRENGTHEN FAMILY TIES. When Christ commanded, “In it [the Sabbath] you shall do no work”(Exodus 20:10), He couldn’t have given a better prescription to stressed-out dads and moms. The Sabbath is a giant STOP sign for families. Stop rushing past each other; stop letting the most urgent things crowd out the most important things. The Sabbath is one day when we can replace entertainment with interaction, pressure with prayer, labour with laughter, and busy schedules with quiet reflection. Sabbath rest provides the entire family with an opportunity to spend personal time with God.
- THE SABBATH IS A TIME WHEN JESUS COMES ESPECIALLY NEAR. Every relationship needs quality time, and our relationship with Christ is no exception. Devoting a whole day to Christ each week is a great way to keep our friendship with Him fresh and exciting. The Sabbath gives us extra time for Bible study and prayer—extra time to simply be alone with Christ in a quiet place and listen. Jesus “blessed the seventh day and sanctified it” with the promise of His presence (Genesis 2:3). You can understand why it is important to observe Saturday, the seventh day of the week, as the Sabbath, because it is the day Christ set apart at creation to communicate with us in a special way. When Jesus created the Sabbath, it almost seems that He had our generation in mind. It’s exactly what we need in our stress-filled, media-saturated environment: a day that is truly a break—a complete break from the normal routine of life. It’s a day to worship God, spend time in His creation, and concentrate on relationships instead of things. The Sabbath is a breath of fresh air in today’s smoggy, nonstop freeway of life.
Thought question:
- Keeping the Sabbath is an opportunity to experience the enjoyment of worship and fellowship with others.. (True or False)
Be blessed as you meditate upon these truths
GREETINGS TO YOU BIBLE STUDENT. TODAY WE ARE STUDYING Discover Bible Guide 16
The Secret of Heavenly Rest; Section 5. A Foretaste of Heavenly Rest
WE CAN SUMMARIZE the benefits of connecting with Jesus through a daily and a weekly encounter in one word—rest. The word Sabbath comes from a Hebrew word that means “rest,” so it’s not surprising that Scripture calls the seventh day “a Sabbath of . . . rest” (Leviticus 23:3). It serves as a foretaste of the perfect rest we’ll experience in heaven.
“He [God] has spoken in a certain place of the seventh day in this way: ‘And God rested on the seventh day from all His works.’ . . . There remains therefore a [Sabbath] rest for the people of God. For he who has entered His [God’s] rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His. Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest” (Hebrews 4:4, 9-11).
Experiencing Sabbath rest gives us a weekly hint of the joy we will experience in the eternal rest of heaven. This rest isn’t just inactivity; it refers to the sense of security, peace, and well-being that lie at the root of the truly abundant life. This kind of spiritual rest can be appreciated only through experience, and the testimony of those who have experienced salvation rest and Sabbath rest is universal: If you enter into the rest of Jesus through a daily and weekly connection with Him, you will discover the greatest joy in life.
Our Lord Himself gave us the Sabbath at creation it was not given to the Jews but to the entire human race 2,000 years before there was a Jewish people. Jesus “blessed” and “sanctified” the Sabbath. It is a special day set aside by God for renewing our spiritual life. It is part of His Ten Commandment law. God said, “Remember the Sabbath day,” but most of the world has forgotten.
Would you like to thank Jesus for His gift of rest? Would you like to tell Him you desire to keep His Sabbath each week? Would you like to say, “Yes, Lord! I want to find delight in the day You have established”? Why not make that commitment right now
Decision & Prayer
MY PRAYER: If you've never prayed before, that's okay. Here is a short prayer to get you started, if you want to read these words aloud to God or say them silently in your head to Him. You can also take this prayer and make it your own by paraphrasing or add your own words to it.
Try to think of talking to God like you would talk to a friend, saying whatever is on your heart.
Dear Heavenly Father, I thank You for the promise of salvation rest each day to meet the challenges of life and for the promise of Sabbath rest each week to cement my relationship with You. I thank You for the promise of power from above to change my heart. Help me to always welcome the opportunity of experiencing the rest that You provide. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
MY DECISION: Take a moment to reflect on the following statements, placing a check mark next to each statement you relate to.
I accept God’s invitation to find rest in Jesus. I want to experience the heavenly rest Jesus has promised by keeping His seventh-day Sabbath holy each week.
Please pray for me as I continue to study this topic on the Sabbath.
Be blessed as you meditate upon these truths
Please take the quiz to complete this lesson
LESSON 16 QUIZ
GREETINGS TO YOU BIBLE STUDENT. TODAY WE ARE STUDYING Discover Bible Guide 17 with the title:The Secret of Growth Through Sharing, Section 11. Jesus Challenges Us to Grow by Sharing
LARRY WAS ENJOYING pleasant conversation, Japanese tea, and rice crackers at Mr. Komori’s house when the other guests began taking out their Bibles. They all looked at him expectantly. “Could you please give us our study now?” Mr. Komori asked politely. Larry almost choked on his tea. He’d thought this was just a social get-together. He hadn’t known the group was expecting him to lead out in a study of the Bible. And now he couldn’t think of a thing to say.
Larry had actually taught many Bible classes at the Christian English-language school in Japan where he worked, however, those lessons had all been planned well in advance. But to just talk about God spontaneously? That was different! Larry had heard all the Bible stories since childhood, but they meant very little to him on a personal level. He had been doing things he knew were wrong in God’s eyes, so he kept his distance. How could he talk to others about a God he himself didn’t really know?
Now, sitting on the sofa, surrounded by expectant people, Larry’s charade was about to collapse. In that moment of fear, a Bible verse flashed into his mind—something about the Holy Spirit giving us words to say when we are brought before people to give witness (Luke 12:11, 12). He uttered a desperate prayer for help and latched on to the most familiar story he could think of— the Prodigal Son. As Larry described how much God loves even those who wander away from Him, he found himself speaking straight from the heart. His words were sinking in among the others and within himself. For the first time in his life, Larry realized how much God loved him. That night, Larry knelt by his bed and committed his life to a God who had finally become real. Sharing God’s love had made it much more than just a familiar abstraction.
- Jesus Challenges Us to Grow by Sharing: WHEN JESUS WAS about to return to heaven, He commissioned the disciples to be His personal representatives: “You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me . . . to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8). The disciples had spent three-and-a-half years listening to Christ’s words and observing His actions, including His death and resurrection. “This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses” (Acts 2:32). When Christ’s followers gave their hearts unreservedly to Him at Pentecost, the risen Christ transformed their lives through the power of the Holy Spirit. They became witnesses not only to Christ’s bodily resurrection and ascension, but also to His resurrection power, which had changed their lives.
As Christians, we are also witnesses to the resurrection of Jesus, because we have experienced His renewing power in our own lives. “God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that . . . He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:4-7). We have been made alive with Christ, so we can demonstrate the riches of His grace. Jesus asks His followers to take the good news of what He can do in a human life to all the world, and He promises to go with us as we share. “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them . . . [and] teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19, 20).
It is a privilege to share the power of the gospel. H. M. S. Richards, the Voice of Prophecy’s founder, once wrote: “I have seen the change in the hearts of people who have heard the gospel of Christ. I have travelled in lands where the name of God and of Christ was never known until His church took the gospel there. I have seen these people changed from filth to cleanliness, from disease to health, from constant fear of evil spirits to joy in Christian living. I have seen the change in the status of womanhood. I have seen true Christian homes emerge from pagan darkness. In every land that I have visited I have seen lives changed. I know that ‘the gospel of Christ . . . is the power of God to salvation’ (Romans 1:16). I know that when the church proclaims the gospel message, changes take place in human hearts and in human homes, and they are visible in the lives of those who respond to its appeal.”
We all have a part to play in this exciting work. God has given us weak human beings a special role, because sharing is a vital part of our growth. In order for faith to remain healthy, it must be expressed. Talking about God helps make Him real for us, too. The act of expressing our faith helps us experience it more fully. Witnessing helps us grow. Besides sharing the good news about Jesus verbally with people, section 2 will present some other ways we can witness.
Thought question:
- Christians who share their faith in Christ with others often grow spiritually.. (True or False)
Be blessed as you meditate upon these Truths
GREETINGS TO YOU BIBLE STUDENT. TODAY WE ARE STUDYING Discover Bible Guide 17 with the title: The Secret of Growth Through Sharing, Section 2. We Share Christ by the Way We Live
A YOUNG MAN who had grown up in an abusive home once observed: “I looked at my parents, who by their example gave me a distorted image of God. I never had the example of someone truly loving me.” People around us desperately need someone who will give them a healthy picture of God. They need someone who will demonstrate godly qualities. Our most powerful sermon is often the way we live. Before a person cares how much you know, they must know how much you care. Peter urges us: “[Live] honorabl[y] among the Gentiles [non-Christians], that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation. . . . For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps” (1 Peter 2:12, 21).
Since Christ “suffered” for us at Calvary, we have an example of sacrificial love very close at hand. That love, reproduced in us as loving acts to others, can become a powerful force drawing unbelievers into the arms of Christ.
Thought question:
- One of the most powerful ways to share Christ is to give people a picture of God by the godly life we live as Christians. (True or False)
- We Share Christ Because of the Way We Think: IT OFTEN SEEMS so easy for us to fall prey to the temptations of the world, the flesh, and the devil. Jesus was “in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15). Why did He succeed where so many fail? When the devil ambushed Jesus in the wilderness with his appeals to appetite, pride, and presumption, Jesus fought back successfully by quoting from Scripture (Matthew 4:4, 7, 10). Christ was prepared ahead of time, because He had filled His mind with Bible truths. That’s where the battle is won or lost—in our minds. Many times, we think of resisting temptation only after it has already saturated our thoughts and all but overwhelmed us. We’ll lose most of those battles, but we can be successful if we attack habits at their point of origin—in our thought patterns. “For as [a person] thinks in his heart, so is he”(Proverbs 23:7).
Growing Christians think in spiritual terms. They concentrate on the good qualities they are trying to develop rather than on the bad things they’re trying to avoid “Rejoice in the Lord always. . . . [and] in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. . . . These do, and the God of peace will be with you” (Philippians 4:4, 6-9). What we feed our minds makes all the difference. Garbage in, garbage out. God’s Word in, God’s life out.
Thought question:
- We can best overcome temptation by filling our minds with Scripture. (True or False)
AS A REPRESENTATIVE of Christ, the Christian will be modest even in how he or she looks, avoiding all kinds of extremes. God says of the Christian: “Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel—rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God. For in this manner, in former times . . . [those] who trusted in God also adorned themselves” (1 Peter 3:3-5). “Adorn [yourself] in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing, but, which is proper for [those] professing godliness, with good works” (1 Timothy 2:9, 10). Simplicity in dress and adornment has always marked genuine Christ-likeness. Simple, balanced good taste goes a long way. Ideally, others should be attracted to you not by the statement you make about fashion, but by the statement your life makes about Jesus. “Blessed are the meek [humble], for they shall inherit the earth” (Matthew 5:5).
Thought question:
- A Christian can share Christ by wearing simple, modest clothes. (True or False)
- We Share Christ by the Way We Act: THE HISTORIAN EDWARD GIBBON tells us that when Galerius sacked the camp of the Persians, a beautiful leather bag filled with pearls fell into the hands of a looting soldier. This man carefully preserved the useful bag, but threw away the precious pearls. People who cling to whatever superficial thrills the world can offer—while discarding Jesus, the Pearl of Great Price, and the eternal kingdom which He offers—are in even worse shape than the looting soldier. It’s not just a fortune that can slip through our fingers, but eternal salvation. So Scripture warns us: “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever” (1 John 2:15-17).
Satan works hard to gold-plate the most destructive sins and make the worst habits appear attractive. You would think that sin has the world’s greatest public relations agency behind it. Why are prostitutes, alcoholics, and those suffering from drug use or online pornography addiction often made to appear intensely happy, beautiful, and satisfied with life? We seldom see the suffering families, the lost jobs, and the homelessness caused by an abusive lifestyle. Where are the images of the abused, scarred, and discouraged humans who walk the streets at night? If it really “doesn’t get any better than this,” then what are they trying to get from their abusive habits?
The most destructive pleasures seem to have acquired the loudest voices and the most graphic images these days. We can’t simply buy whatever the world is selling. Christ asks us to be discriminating, and “wise as serpents and harmless as doves” (Matthew 10:16). We also have to be careful of associations that compromise our Christian principles:
“Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?” (2 Corinthians 6:14). Of course, this text does not mean that we are to have nothing to do with those who are not Christians Jesus wants us to keep reaching out to our non-Christian friends. Personal relationships are the primary means through which we share our faith. But we must be careful that our friends and those we associate with are not dragging us back into old habits. If you feel you need to hide your faith in certain situations or relationships, then something is wrong. What we take in through our senses and invite into our lives—even the entertainment we choose—does have an impact on our spiritual life. We need to be conscious of what we’re feeding our minds. “I will set nothing wicked before my eyes” (Psalm 101:3).
More and more of the entertainment around us seems bent toward the graphically violent and the sexually explicit. We live in an X-rated, on-demand world, but there is still an enormous amount of excellent material out there that remains almost untouched. There is plenty in art, literature and music that explores profound truths and touches our deepest emotions. If we remain in a vacuum, the worst will flood in to fill it. This is especially true of our children. But if we feed our souls on the best, the worst won’t be able to drag us down to its level. Holding to higher standards in the things we let into our homes and minds won’t narrow our lives. We’ll be greatly broadened if we focus on all that is true, noble, and praiseworthy. “You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore” (Psalm 16:11).
Thought question:
- The things we see and do as Christians have no effect on our experience with Christ. (True or False)
Be blessed as you meditate upon these truths
GREETINGS TO YOU BIBLE STUDENT. TODAY WE ARE STUDYING Discover Bible Guide 17 with the title: The Secret of Growth Through Sharing, Section 6: We Share Christ by the Way We Give
A PASTOR WAS about to baptize a new believer in Christ when he noticed the man still had his wallet in his pocket. “Did you forget to leave your wallet in the dressing room?” he asked. “No,” the man replied, smiling, “my wallet and I will be baptized together!”
This man had caught the true spirit of Christianity—giving to help others. Christians grow by giving, and that is why Jesus said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). Jesus tells us to invest in the bank of heaven. “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven. . . . For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also”(Matthew 6:19-21). Some people work a lifetime to accumulate a fortune—only to see it disappear in a plummeting stock market or a business failure. But what we give to advance God’s kingdom retains eternal value.
How much of what we own really belongs to God? “The earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness, the world and those who dwell therein. For He has founded it”(Psalm 24:1, 2).
“‘The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine,’ says the Lord of hosts” (Haggai 2:8). We belong to God both because He created us and because He rescued us from our sins with His blood.
“Do you not know that . . . you are not your own? For you were bought at a price” (1 Corinthians 6:19, 20).
How much of our possessions did God give us? “He [God] gives to all life, breath, and all things” (Acts 17:25). “Remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth” (Deuteronomy 8:18). The crucified and risen Lord invites us to share with Him in extending the gospel to others. How much does He ask us to give to support that divine mission? “Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, ‘In what way have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings. . . . Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and try Me now in this . . . [see] if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it” (Malachi 3:8, 10). The tithe is a tenth of our “increase” (Genesis 28:22; Deuteronomy 14:22). For the farmer or business owner, the increase is income after deducting business expenses. For the employee, it is the total wage.
The principle of tithing is a moral principle, because it involves character. By failing to tithe, we “rob” God. It is vitally important for us to be honest in returning our tithe to God—just as it’s important for us to pay taxes to the government, and keep up with our mortgage or car payments. When Jesus came to live among us, He found the Pharisees counting and tithing even tiny garden seeds. Although He did not approve of their legalistic religion, He gave approval to tithing: “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone” (Matthew 23:23).
The tithe belongs to God and is to be used exclusively for supporting Christ’s ministry and finishing His work on earth so He can return. “The Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel” (1 Corinthians 9:14). “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come” (Matthew 24:14).
Be blessed as you meditate upon these Truths
GREETINGS TO YOU BIBLE STUDENT. TODAY WE ARE STUDYING Discover Bible Guide 17 with the title: The Secret of Growth Through Sharing, Section 6: We Share Christ by the Way We Give
How much should we give in “offerings”? “Prepare your generous gift beforehand . . . as a matter of generosity and not as a grudging obligation. . . . He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:5-7). Offerings are a matter of individual decision. They are used for financing the spread of the gospel in addition to the tithe, which is used exclusively to support the gospel ministry.
God’s plan for systematic giving aids both the spread of the gospel and our own Christian growth. Jesus promises you: “Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom” (Luke 6:38).
Believers have proven over and over that you can’t out-give God. Pastor H. M. S. Richards once related this experience: “A lifelong gambler attended my meetings in Los Angeles, and I shall never forget the time I talked with him alone in the rear of the auditorium. He took a roll of bills from his pocket—$500— and gave them all to me, saying, ‘This is my first tithe.’
“The man was not well, and he had done nothing but gamble for 30 or 40 years, so I asked, ‘How are you going to live? “He replied, ‘I have only five or six dollars left, but this other belongs to God.’ “Then I asked, ‘What will you do?’ “‘I don’t know,’ he answered, ‘but I know that I must pay my tithe to God, and He will take care of me.’ “And God certainly did. The man’s repentance was sincere. He went all the way in his consecration and was happy in his Christian life. And God provided for him until the day of his death.”
God does not promise that all faithful believers will become rich, but we have the assurance that our Maker will supply life’s necessities. Christ gave everything for us. Let’s give our hearts completely to Him now. Discover the joy of sharing Christ with others and of growing in His wonderful grace.
Thought question:
- Jesus invites us to share with Him in extending the gospel to others through our tithes and offerings, which support His work on earth. (True or False)
MY PRAYER: If you've never prayed before, that's okay. Here is a short prayer to get you started, if you want to read these words aloud to God or say them silently in your head to Him. You can also take this prayer and make it your own by paraphrasing or add your own words to it.
Try to think of talking to God like you would talk to a friend, saying whatever is on your heart.
Dear Father, thank You for Your grace and Your love, which enable me to grow. Help me share You in the way I live, give, and act. May I always let Jesus live His perfect life in me. In the name of Jesus, Amen.
MY DECISION: Take a moment to reflect on the following statements, placing a check mark next to each statement you relate to.
I choose to share Jesus with others through my words and actions. I want to grow spiritually by being a witness for Him.
Please pray for me as I continue to study the Bible and determine God’s plan for my life.
Be blessed as you meditate upon these truths
Please take the quiz to complete this lesson
LESSON 17 QUIZ
GREETINGS TO YOU BIBLE STUDENT. TODAY WE ARE STUDYING Discover Bible Guide 18 with the title: The Secret of a Healthy Lifestyle.
Introduction: WHAT IF you could add 10 years to your life? Would you be interested? A long, healthy life is no accident. Genetics play a role, but it also depends on good health habits. Experts tell us that if you adopt some simple lifestyle principles, you may live up to a decade longer! The November 2005 issue of National Geographic magazine featured the Loma Linda University Health Study of 34,000 California-based Seventh-day Adventists. This research project, funded by the U.S. National Institutes of Health, was designed to see if the Adventists’ health-oriented lifestyle affected their life expectancy and their risk of major illnesses such as heart disease and cancer.
After following these research subjects for 10 years, the study’s results were impressive. It found significantly lower rates of lung cancer, breast cancer, colorectal cancer, and coronary heart disease among the Adventists. And what about their life expectancy? The National Geographic article summarized the findings this way: “The average Adventist lived four to 10 years longer than the average Californian. That makes the Adventists one of the nation’s most convincing cultures of longevity” (“Longevity: The Secrets of Long Life,” National Geographic, November 2005).
In this guide, we will take a look at eight simple health principles that can help you live a healthier, longer, and more productive life. Modern thinking about health has come to understand something that the Bible stated long ago—human beings are more than just a physical body. The physical, mental, social, and spiritual parts of a person are interrelated and inseparable. In other words, what affects the mind affects the body. Our spiritual condition has an impact on our physical condition, and vice versa. What affects one aspect of our being also touches all the others. We are a whole person.
Thousands of years ago, God’s Word pointed out this vital connection, which has only recently been accepted into medical theory: “A merry heart does good, like medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones” (Proverbs 17:22). According to the Apostle John, how closely related are the mind and body to our spiritual well-being? “Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers” (3 John 2).
The Word of God can save your life in more ways than one. It can serve as a fountain of health as well as a fountain of eternal life. So in this guide, we’ll look at several essential health principles. Since physical and mental health go hand-in-hand with our spiritual well-being, Paul makes the following strong appeal to the Christian: “Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31).
The gospel includes physical as well as spiritual restoration. The Creator wants us to “be in health” (3 John 2). He knows that a healthful lifestyle can help us be vibrant Christians. How can we build up and maintain good health? Here are some principles to follow if you really want to live longer, healthier, and happier.
Thought question:
- Physical health and our spiritual well-being go hand-in-hand. (True or False)
PURE, fresh air is essential to good health. During the day and while sleeping at night, proper ventilation in your home and workplace ensures that your blood will always distribute enough oxygen to every part of the body. The kind of air you breathe is obviously important. Be careful that you’re not subjecting yourself to fumes, gases, or airborne bacteria from some hidden source. Taking deep breaths during an early morning walk is a great way to oxygenate your body—as long as you can walk where the air is clean.
Smoking not only pollutes the air, but it is also one of today’s big killers.
Scientific research has established a causal relationship between tobacco and lung cancer, emphysema, heart disease, and other ills. The body’s addiction to the nicotine in cigarettes makes smoking one of the hardest habits to break. Currently, an estimated 6 million people die each year worldwide from tobacco-related diseases, including second-hand smoke. This number is expected to rise to 8 million by 2030. “Take advantage of fresh, clean air. Use it wisely, and you will experience a new level of energy. . . . Breathe deeply, using your abdominal muscles. This will increase your energy and efficiency. You will feel years younger” (“8 Secrets to Better Health,” Signs of the Times Special Issue, 2012).
- Sunlight: SUNLIGHT—in the right amounts—provides numerous physical benefits. According to the World Health Organization, five to 15 minutes of direct sunlight on your arms, hands, and face two or three times a week is enough to boost your vitamin D levels and obtain positive effects. You cannot have total health if you don’t get enough sunlight. Here are just a few of its benefits:
SUNLIGHT KILLS GERMS AND BUILDS THE IMMUNE SYSTEM. It increases the number of white blood cells in your blood, along with their effectiveness.
SUNLIGHT CALMS THE NERVES AND ELEVATES MOOD. It boosts the production of endorphins and serotonin in your brain.
SUNLIGHT AIDS DIGESTION. It stimulates your appetite and improves your digestion, elimination, and metabolism.
SUNLIGHT HELPS TO LOWER CHOLESTEROL NATURALLY.
SUNLIGHT INCREASES RELAXATION AND REDUCES STRESS. Sunlight is one of the greatest sleep inducers, especially when you combine it with any form of physical exercise.
A word of caution, however. For all its health benefits, sunlight can also be harmful. Too much exposure to the sun has been linked to an increased risk of skin cancer and can cause sunburn, damage to the eyes and skin, and acceleration of the aging process.
Moderation is the key. If you’re going to be outside, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommends wearing sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher, even on cloudy days, with reapplication every two hours.
GREETINGS TO YOU BIBLE STUDENT. TODAY WE ARE STUDYING Discover Bible Guide 18 with the title: The Secret of a Healthy Lifestyle; Section 3. Rest:
FOR MOST OF US, life is busy and full of stress. This takes its toll on our bodies, and we’ve grown accustomed to look for a quick fix—a pill that will block the pain or relieve the symptoms, enabling us to maintain our fast-paced existence.
However, the body must have rest in order to repair itself. Often, the symptoms we’re trying so hard to get rid of are really the body’s efforts to fight disease, and the medications we take can only assist the body as it tries to restore itself. Fever, congestion, and fatigue are all evidence that the body is working hard to cure you. So let your body do its work. Take time to rest!
Rest is nature’s best remedy for the abuse our minds and bodies are subjected to during the day. We must have time for recreation and rest to relieve the tensions of work and family responsibilities. When we don’t get enough rest, we often experience anxiety, depression, and irritability. This can lead to illness, which will force us to take the rest that the body was craving all along. There’s simply no substitute for a good night’s sleep. No kind of medication or stimulation can make up for a lack of sleep. An article in Sleep Health, the journal of the National Sleep Foundation, recommends seven to nine hours of sleep nightly for adults (“National Sleep Foundation’s Sleep Time Duration Recommendations,” Sleep Health, March 2015).
Adequate rest is another one of God’s natural keys to good health. Recharging our spiritual batteries on a daily basis is also important for physical health. A Christian’s daily time of meditation, Bible study, and prayer will help heal the body as well as the soul.
God knew that we would also need a regular break from our work cycle. That’s why, at creation, He built into His original plan a weekly day of rest—the seventh-day Sabbath.
“Thus the heavens and the earth, and all the host of them, were finished. And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made” (Genesis 2:1-3).
On this day, God invites us to share with Him the blessings of rest—restoring and rejuvenating ourselves physically, spiritually, and mentally. This day of rest is so important that God included it in the Ten Commandments: “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labour and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work” (Exodus 20:8-10).
Thought question:
- The body must have rest in order to repair itself. (True or False)
GREETINGS TO YOU BIBLE STUDENT. TODAY WE ARE STUDYING Discover Bible Guide 18 with the title: The Secret of a Healthy Lifestyle; Section 4: Exercise
THE ARTICLE “8 Secrets to Better Health” in Signs of the Times had this to say about exercise: “God designed humans to be physically active. We can enjoy greater health and longer life through regular, systematic exercise. Studies show that inactivity increases the rate of degenerative diseases and conditions such as heart disease, cancer, osteoporosis, anxiety, and depression.”
Here are just a handful of the benefits of regular physical exercise, which:
HELPS LOWER BLOOD PRESSURE
INCREASES BONE DENSITY
HELPS WITH WEIGHT LOSS
STRENGTHENS THE IMMUNE SYSTEM
IMPROVES CIRCULATION
INCREASES STRENGTH AND ENDURANCE
According to the article: “Physical activity improves the overall quality of life. It has been demonstrated that, in addition to physical benefits, exercise improves short-term memory, comprehension, and mental reaction time.”
If you aren’t exercising regularly, make a plan to start doing so. Begin slowly and gradually increase as you gain endurance. It may be wise to consult your physician before starting. High blood pressure and cholesterol can sometimes prove harmful when starting an exercise program, even if they don’t manifest symptoms. Of course, exercise is critically important if you have either of these conditions, and you will reap the benefits as—with your doctor’s help—you ease into your new routine.
Your goal should be to engage in any type of aerobic exercise or recreation that is comparable to walking one mile in 15 minutes. Try to do this four or more times each week.
- Water: SINCE WATER IS ESSENTIAL to every cell in the body, we should drink plenty of it. It is nature’s solvent—the one perfect medium for cleansing both inside and out. Your body is about 70 percent water by weight and needs about two-and-a-half quarts of water per day to perform all its functions properly. You get water from the foods you eat and from the liquids you drink. Good health is dependent on drinking adequate amounts of water. Drinking plenty of water helps to promote wellness by keeping your systems hydrated, in addition to assisting nature in resisting disease.
Water has existed since the beginning of creation and is an important factor in keeping our bodies running smoothly. To maintain health, our bodies need at least eight eight-ounce glasses of water daily. It is best to avoid drinking water with meals so that the digestive juices in the stomach will not be diluted, delaying the emptying of the stomach.
Regular bathing or showering is absolutely essential for good health. The skin, the largest organ of the body, releases some of the body’s chemical waste products through its pores. Water is nature’s cleanser to remove these impurities.
Be blessed as you meditate upon these truths
GREETINGS TO YOU BIBLE STUDENT. TODAY WE ARE STUDYING Discover Bible Guide 18 with the title: The Secret of a Healthy Lifestyle; Section 6: Proper Diet
AT CREATION, God instructed Adam and Eve to eat a diet of nuts, grains, and fruits (Genesis 1:29). After Adam and Eve sinned, vegetables were added to their diet (Genesis 3:18). After the flood, the Creator added “clean” flesh foods to the diet (Genesis 7:2, 3; 9:1-6). Because people on a vegetarian diet are healthier and live longer, many experts in nutrition and health urge us to consider returning to humanity’s original diet of nuts, grains, and fruits with vegetables added. The flesh of animals contains both saturated fat and cholesterol, which can increase the risk of high blood pressure, stroke, heart disease, cancer, obesity, diabetes, and other diseases. Today, many physicians and nutritionists advise those who do eat meat to consume only lean, well-cooked meat, and to do so sparingly. Here are seven golden rules for good nutrition:
- EAT A PLANT-BASED DIET. You don’t need to worry about getting adequate protein if you eat a wide variety of fruits, nuts, grains, and vegetables.
- REDUCE FAT AND CHOLESTEROL CONSUMPTION. The easiest way to do this is to cut down on your consumption of meats, fried foods, unhealthy spreads, and dairy products.
- EAT LESS SUGAR. Large amounts of sugar are lurking in many breakfast cereals, soft drinks, refined desserts, and even ketchups and salad dressings! The best way to avoid consuming massive amounts of sugar is to cut down on the number of prepared foods in your diet and eat foods in as natural a state as possible.
- USE LESS SALT.
- EAT MORE FRUITS, VEGETABLES, AND WHOLE GRAINS. By eating a wide variety of these natural or “whole” foods, you will not only receive enough nutrients, but you will also get the needed fibre and bran to keep your digestive system healthy.
- EAT A SUBSTANTIAL BREAKFAST. Recent research reveals that people who eat a good breakfast have better health, live longer, and are more mentally alert than those who do not.
- AVOID EATING BETWEEN MEALS. Although “grazing” throughout the day has become popular and widespread, some of the most knowledgeable authorities suggest that our digestive systems do best if we allow at least five hours between meals.
Those who choose to eat meat as a part of their diet should eat only the meats that the Bible indicates are “clean,” or fit for humans to eat. When God gave people permission to eat meat after the flood (Genesis 7:2, 3; 9:1-6), He specifically indicated which animals were clean and could be eaten, and which animals were unclean.
In Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14, you will find the lists of birds, animals, and fish God pronounced unfit for food. According to these chapters, clean fish must have both fins and scales.
Scavenger birds are prohibited. Clean animals must have a divided (split) hoof and also chew the cud, like a cow. One example of an unclean animal is the pig.
“The swine is unclean for you, because it has cloven hooves, yet does not chew the cud; you shall not eat their flesh or touch their dead carcasses”(Deuteronomy 14:8).
Scientific research substantiates that God is indeed right in His warning against eating unclean meats. The health concerns are valid. Not only do some animals carry diseases, but the harmful effects of saturated fat from all sources—including meat—on the human body are well-documented. God wants you to live a happy, healthy, and productive life. Why? Because He cares about you. Thought question:
- God does not want us to enjoy good health and is not concerned about what we eat. (True or False)
- At Creation, people were given a diet of nuts, grains, and fruits. (True or false)
- God does not forbid eating unclean animals because their use is not harmful. (True or False)
WHAT WARNINGS DOES the Bible give about alcoholic beverages? “Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has contentions? Who has complaints? Who has wounds without cause? Who has redness of eyes? Those who linger long at the wine” (Proverbs 23:29, 30).
“Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God” (1 Corinthians 6:10).
Alcohol is a known brain and intestinal toxin. Recently-released data indicates that there is no completely safe level when it comes to drinking alcohol. In April 2011, the British Medical Journal reported on a growing body of research by the European Prospective Investigation Into Cancer and Nutrition, which has found that even occasional social drinking increases the risk of cancer and death from all causes. Whether we realize it or not, even moderate alcohol consumption, to some degree, impairs reason, conscience, and judgment. In addition, alcohol affects:
THE IMMUNE SYSTEM. It decreases the ability of the white blood cells to fight disease.
THE ENDOCRINE SYSTEM. Only two or three alcoholic drinks per day increase the risk of miscarriages, stillbirths, and premature births.
THE CIRCULATORY SYSTEM. The use of alcohol increases the risk of coronary heart disease, raises the risk for hypogly- cemia, and elevates blood fats and blood pressure, thus increasing hypertension.
THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM. Alcohol irritates the stomach and can cause gastric bleeding.
Alcohol abuse is the third highest cause of death in the United States, killing about 88,000 people per year. Alcohol kills more American teenagers (4,700 yearly) than all illegal drugs combined. Drunk driving costs amount to $132 billion annually in the United States. As you can see, the effects are negatively life-changing for many people.
Thought question:
- The use of alcoholic beverage is harmful to the immune, endocrine, circulatory, and digestive systems. (True or False)
GREETINGS TO YOU BIBLE STUDENT. TODAY WE ARE STUDYING Discover Bible Guide 18 with the title: The Secret of a Healthy Lifestyle; Section 8: Trust in Divine Power
THESE SEVEN PRINCIPLES outline the elements of a healthful lifestyle, but they are incomplete without an eighth vital principle—trust in divine power. A person haunted by fear or guilt will find it hard to benefit fully from the health practices we’ve just described. But a person enjoying a positive faith in God will find that everything works together for abundant living. Remember our ultimate source of well-being:
“Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: who forgives all your iniquities, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from destruction, who crowns you with loving kindness and tender mercies” (Psalm 103:2-4).
According to a report published in 2016, a 10-year study of more than 75,000 middle-aged women found that those who attended church once a week had a 26 percent lower risk of dying during that time period than women who never attended church.
Even those who attended church less frequently had a somewhat lower risk of death.
Researchers cautioned against making too much of the findings, but the study does indicate a link between church attendance and longevity. Earlier studies have reported similar findings for men, and have suggested that churchgoers have a reduced incidence of heart attack, hardening of the arteries, high blood pressure, and other diseases
Health is more than just the absence of disease. It results from the harmonious development of the physical, mental, social, and spiritual parts of our nature. Trust in divine power is the keystone for a truly healthy and happy life. Applying the Bible’s perspective to our lives does make a difference—in all kinds of practical ways; it offers convincing evidence that Christianity is the most practical, reasonable religion in all the world. It changes people—their thinking and their actions—and creates a new lifestyle. Because of the close relationship between the mind, body, and spiritual life, Christians who live by the Word of God will want to follow the principles of a healthful lifestyle as they prepare for Jesus’ Second Coming (John 10:10; 1 John 3:1-3).Christ not only wants us to be ready to meet Him when He returns, but He also wants to improve the quality of our present lives. We can cooperate with Him in doing that by following His basic health principles. Jesus promises to deliver us from every destructive habit through His “power that works in us” (Ephesians 3:20).
If you need help in overcoming a body-destroying habit such as using tobacco or alcohol, here is a prayer for you: Dear Father in heaven, I want to live as Jesus lived, a life in holiness and purity. Thank You for Your promise of the power to overcome and for eternal life. By Your strength and grace help me surrender every harmful thing in my life. Please give me strength to have the willpower to overcome my bad habits, so I can truly live for You. I ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Thought question:
- Christ is interested in improving our present quality of life and for us to be ready to meet Him when He comes. (True or False)
Decision & Prayer: MY PRAYER: If you've never prayed before, that's okay. Here is a short prayer to get you started, if you want to read these words aloud to God or say them silently in your head to Him. You can also take this prayer and make it your own by paraphrasing or add your own words to it.
Try to think of talking to God like you would talk to a friend, saying whatever is on your heart. Dear Father in heaven, I want to live as Jesus lived, a life in holiness and purity. Thank You for Your promise of the power to overcome and for eternal life. By Your strength and grace help me surrender every harmful thing in my life. Please give me strength to have the willpower to overcome my bad habits, so I can truly live for You. I ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.
MY DECISION: Take a moment to reflect on the following statements, placing a check mark next to each statement you relate to. I want to be ready to meet Jesus when He comes. To this end, I choose to stop my harmful habits and follow the simple health principles He has given in His Word.
Be blessed as you meditate upon these truths
Be blessed as you meditate upon these truths
Please take the quiz to complete this lesson
LESSON 18 QUIZ
GREETINGS TO YOU BIBLE STUDENT. TODAY WE ARE STUDYING Discover Bible Guide 19
Title: Entering the Christian Life; Section 1. What Is the Meaning of Baptism?
A testimony is shared about a prisoner who was a Bible correspondence school student. Because the student had a deep desire to study the Bible, he was visited regularly by the facilitator. About six months after the initial visit, the student-prisoner asked to be baptized and join the church. The wardens and other prisoners gathered to witness one of the most moving baptisms ever conducted. Shortly after this, the man was released from jail even though he still had considerable time to serve. The explanation for this was that his life had changed so drastically and he was such a witness for his Saviour and his religion, that he could no longer be thought of as a prisoner, nor be treated as such.”
Like this inmate, do you wish there were some way to be washed clean of your sins and start all over again? Well, that is exactly what God promises to do for you if you come to Him and ask Him to forgive you and make you clean. He has promised: “‘Come now, and let us reason together,’ says the Lord, ‘though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool’” (Isaiah 1:18). “If we confess our sins, He [Jesus] is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).
Baptism doesn’t wash away our sins; only the blood of Jesus can do that. Baptism doesn’t save us; only Jesus can save. Baptism doesn’t change our hearts, but it is a symbol, a sign, that all these things have already taken place in our lives. It’s a way of publicly indicating that we have accepted Jesus as our Saviour and intend to follow Him completely. It’s also something that Jesus considers very, very important.
- What Is the Meaning of Baptism? THE BIBLE clearly explains the importance and meaning of baptism. In a conversation with Nicodemus, Jesus declared: “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3). Nicodemus didn’t grasp what Christ meant. After all, how can a person be “born again”? So Jesus explained: “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God” (John 3:5). “Born of the Spirit” signifies entering a new life, undergoing a change of mind and heart. Since entering the kingdom of God involves a completely new kind of existence, not just an old life patched up, it is called the new birth. Water baptism is the outward symbolic portrayal of the inward change. The prisoner in the story above was baptized as a recognition of his commitment to Christ, and as a symbol of the transformation the Holy Spirit had begun in his character.
Thought question:
- Being born of the Spirit is an inner change of mind and heart. (True or False)
Be blessed as you meditate upon these truths
GREETINGS TO YOU BIBLE STUDENT. TODAY WE ARE STUDYING Discover Bible Guide 19
Title: Entering the Christian Life; Section 2: Why Should I Be Baptized?
OUR SALVATION REVOLVES around three of Christ’s great acts: “Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures . . . He was buried . . . [and] He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3, 4). Christ made salvation possible through His death, burial, and resurrection. He died for our sins, was buried, and then rose from the grave to give us a new life of righteousness. “Do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:3, 4).
The act of being baptized shows that, in a way, we can actually participate in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. Baptism means that we have died with Christ, buried the old life of sin with Christ, and are rising to live “a new life” in Christ. We can benefit from those saving acts just as if we’d been there on Mount Calvary and at the Garden Tomb. Christ’s death and resurrection become our death and resurrection. That’s true, first of all, in terms of our relationship with God. When God looks at us, Christ’s blood covers our sins, His perfect life covers our inadequacy.
Second, it’s true in terms of our experience. God can make us dead to sin—as if we’d been crucified. And He can make us alive to the things of the Spirit—as if we’d been resurrected from spiritual death. This is called being “in Christ.” The physical act of baptism graphically represents the steps of conversion.
First, we’re lowered into the water—we’re immersed completely—just as people who have died are lowered into the grave and covered. This indicates that we have died with Christ and have buried our old lifestyle. Baptism is a funeral of sorts—a formal farewell to an existence in which sin dominated. Then, we’re lifted up out of the water by the one baptizing— just like a person being resurrected from the grave. This shows that we’re a new creation, completely given over to the new life God has waiting for us. Only immersion can accurately illustrate the true meaning of baptism—death, burial, and rebirth. “Baptism” by sprinkling doesn’t adequately symbolize the new birth. What does it really mean to die with Christ? “Knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin” (Romans 6:6).
Baptism represents outwardly what a person must do inside: surrender everything to Christ, and lay it all out on the table. If we keep anything a secret, if we hold anything back from God, then we’ll likely remain “slaves of sin” in some way. When we surrender fully to Christ, our sinful desires are rendered powerless. “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me” (Galatians 2:20).
When I identify with Christ’s crucifixion through baptism, I invite divine power into my life, thus “Christ lives in me.”
As you consider putting your life—your will—fully into Christ’s hands, first look at Christ dying on the cross. Don’t look at the sin that’s threatening you; don’t look at your past record; look to Jesus. If you look carefully and prayerfully, you’ll be inspired.
When you accept Jesus into your life, because of His death and resurrection and through His power, you’ll see more and more of His good qualities replacing your old habits:
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:17, 18). Baptism is the first formal step in this process. Through it, we express our desire to lock arms with Jesus and live a new and better life “in Christ.” Jesus does in us and through us what we could never do for ourselves. We arise from the water “a new creation,” and He gives us the power to live a new kind of life.
“There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death” (Romans 8:1, 2).
Thought question:
- By being baptized, we demonstrate our faith in Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection for our sins. (True or False)
- Being buried under the water at baptism symbolizes our dying to sin with Christ and Christ burying our old life of sin. (True or False)
- Coming up out of the water at baptism symbolizes rising to a new life in Jesus. (True or False)
- Baptism by sprinkling accurately illustrates the true meaning of baptism—death, burial, and rebirth. (True or False). Be blessed as you meditate upon these truths
GREETINGS TO YOU BIBLE STUDENT. TODAY WE ARE STUDYING Discover Bible Guide 19
Title: Entering the Christian Life; Section 3: Why Was Jesus Baptized?
REMEMBER THAT BAPTISM not only symbolizes dying to an old life of sin, but it also portrays the washing away of our sins by the blood of Jesus. At Pentecost, Peter told those who were seeking release from guilt: “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins” (Acts 2:38).
This brings up a question. Jesus never committed a single sin (2 Corinthians 5:21). Why, then, did He permit Himself to be baptized? “Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. And John tried to prevent Him, saying, ‘I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?’ But Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.’ Then he allowed Him.
When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased’” (Matthew 3:13-17).
Jesus was sinless. He didn’t need to repent of any wrongdoing or have any guilt washed away. Christ was baptized for another reason: “To fulfill all righteousness.” By allowing John to immerse Him in the waters of the Jordan River, Jesus set a positive example for us. He identified Himself fully with weak, sinful human beings; He was willing to take all the steps they needed to take. Christ the Savior never asks His followers to go anywhere He hasn’t been. He’s always leading—never pushing—so when believers are immersed in the waters of baptism, they are following in the steps of the Master.
Through Christ’s death and resurrection, He gives us His righteousness. “He [God] made Him [Jesus] who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:21). Transformed in God’s eyes from sinners into saints, we grow into that righteousness which is already our gift, and thus we live a new life in Christ. Through Christ’s birth and baptism, He took His first step of inviting humanity into His life. The Savior’s death and resurrection were His final, climactic steps.
Be blessed as you meditate upon these truths
GREETINGS TO YOU BIBLE STUDENT. TODAY WE ARE STUDYING Discover Bible Guide 19
Title: Entering the Christian Life; Section 4: Why Should I Be Immersed? ALL THE EVIDENCE suggests that Christ was immersed at His baptism; He was not sprinkled with water, nor was water simply poured over His head. One reason John baptized Jesus in the Jordan River was “because there was much water there” (John 3:23).
When Jesus came to John for baptism, He went down into the water, and “when He had been baptized [immersed], Jesus came up immediately from the water” (Matthew 3:16).
When we understand the true meaning of baptism, we have little difficulty recognizing the authentic form of baptism. The very word baptize comes from the Greek word baptizo and means “to dip or immerse (put under).”
During John Wesley’s visit to America in 1737, a church jury of 44 men tried him on the strange charge of “refusing to baptize Mr. Parker’s child, otherwise than by dipping.” (The record of the trial appears in the court proceedings of the state of Georgia.) It’s evident that the father of Methodism baptized his converts by immersion. The history of the early church clearly indicates that baptism meant immersion. Statements in the books of the Ante-Nicene Fathers (vol. III, p. 94 and vol. VII, p. 379) show that the church immersed baptismal candidates in the 2nd and 3rd centuries.
Baptistries for immersing converts appear in many of the churches that were built between the 4th and 14th centuries in Europe and Asia. The reformer John Calvin stated: “It is evident that the word baptize means to immerse, and that this was the form used by the primitive [ancient] Church” (John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, p. 573).
Dean Stanley, one of the most scholarly writers of the Church of England, declared in the book Christian Institutions (p. 17): “For the first 13 centuries, the almost universal practice of baptism was that of which we read in the New Testament, and which is the very meaning of the word ‘baptize’—that those who were baptized were plunged, submerged, immersed into the water.”
Baptistries throughout Europe testify to the truthfulness of these statements—including the cathedral in Pisa, Italy, and the Lateran Baptistry in Rome. The cathedral in Fréjus, France, has a well-preserved baptistry that was built and used in the 5th century. The ruins of a 2nd century church at Ephesus in Asia Minor also contains a baptistry for immersing candidates. It was not until the Council of Ravenna early in the 14th century that the Catholic Church accepted sprinkling as equally valid with immersion.
In questions of church practice, we are not to follow what any man teaches, but we are to follow the example of Christ and the apostles as closely as possible (Colossians 2:8).
What about the baptism of infants? Many sincere Christians cherish the tradition of infant baptism; it has become a way in which they dedicate their children to Christ. Giving our children to God at the very beginning of their lives is certainly commendable, but there are biblically acceptable ways in which we can dedicate our children to Christ.
Baptism, however, serves a very specific function in the New Testament. The Bible makes it clear that a person must be taught the way of salvation before baptism (Matthew 24:14; 28:19), believe in Jesus before being baptized (Acts 8:36, 37), and repent of sin and be forgiven before being baptized (Acts 2:38). A baby is incapable of believing, repentance, and confession, all of which must precede baptism.
The Bible doesn’t give specific information about children who die before they are mature enough to choose Christ as their personal Savior and be baptized, but we do know that children will be saved in the kingdom (Isaiah 11:6). We can certainly entrust their future to the loving Saviour who said: “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven”(Matthew 19:14).
Thought question:
- Jesus was baptized by sprinkling (True or False)
Be blessed as you meditate upon these truths
GREETINGS TO YOU BIBLE STUDENT. TODAY WE ARE STUDYING Discover Bible Guide 19
Title: Entering the Christian Life; Section 5: The Importance of Baptism
HOW IMPORTANT IS IT for believers to be immersed? Jesus admonished Nicodemus, “Unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God” (John 3:5).
According to Jesus, being “born of water and the Spirit” is essential for those who wish to enter heaven. Jesus gives only one exception. In some cases, it is physically impossible to be immersed. The thief on the cross was born of the Spirit, even though it was impossible for him to leave the cross and be immersed in water as a sign of his change of heart. Jesus promised that he would be with Him in the kingdom (Luke 23:42, 43). For the thief, being “born of water and the Spirit” represents the cleansing blood of Jesus, which at that very moment was being spilled to cleanse the thief from his sins.
Jesus Himself said: “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:16). By dying in our place at Calvary, Jesus made a public demonstration of His love for us. We need to respond with a public demonstration of our own—an unashamed confession of our commitment to Christ through baptism. In baptism, we confess our faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and testify of our death to sin and of our purpose to walk in His newness of life. Have you entered into a new life in Christ? Have you been baptized? If not, why not prepare for baptism in the near future?
Thought question:
- According to Jesus, being born of water and of the Holy Spirit is not essential for those who enter heaven. (True or False)
- Baptism Is Only the Beginning: THE RITE OF BAPTISM, like the wedding ceremony, was meant to be the formal confirmation and pledge of a wonderful and growing relationship. With that said, while the ceremony of baptism can have a powerful effect on our Christian experience, we need to be careful not to imagine that it renders us permanently incapable of sinning. Our surrender doesn’t automatically last a lifetime. When a child is born, a celebration is in order. However, after the day of birth is over and the excitement subsides, the baby requires daily feeding, bathing, and concern for his or her welfare. It’s much the same with baptism. Paul said of his experience, “I die daily” (1 Corinthians 15:31). By daily turning from selfishness, we become more and more responsive to Christ. In order to grow consistently, we need to give ourselves to Christ every day—a daily reception of new life through prayer and Bible study.
What instructions did Jesus give concerning those who are baptized? “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19, 20). Jesus pointed out the importance of teaching those baptized “to obey all things” that He has commanded. Baptism represents our commitment to a Christian lifestyle. It is to be the beginning of a growing relationship with Christ. Peter admonishes us to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18).
We are able to grow as Christians because “His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue” (2 Peter 1:3). Read the entire first chapter of 2 Peter for more helpful counsel on how to grow as a Christian. Be blessed as you meditate upon these truths
GREETINGS TO YOU BIBLE STUDENT. TODAY WE ARE STUDYING Discover Bible Guide 19
Title: Entering the Christian Life; Section 7: A Cause for Rejoicing
PHILIP, a layman in the early Christian church, was once guided by the Holy Spirit to go and talk with a eunuch from Ethiopia. Philip discovered the eunuch riding in a chariot and reading a prophecy about Christ, the Messiah, in the book of Isaiah. When the eunuch asked Philip who the prophet was talking about, Philip “preached Jesus to him” (Acts 8:35). Philip and the eunuch “went down into the water, and he baptized him.” Then the eunuch “went on his way rejoicing” (Acts 8:36-39). What caused the eunuch’s rejoicing? It was the excitement of making a commitment to Christ. Philip “buried” him in the water as a symbol of the funeral of his old life of sin. Philip lifted the eunuch “up out of the water” as a sign that the Ethiopian had been born into a new life with Christ. There is great joy in baptism because we are giving our lives to a great Savior.
Baptism is cause for rejoicing, because “he who believes and is baptized will be saved” (Mark 16:16). When we are baptized, we’re on an upward path leading us to eternal joy with God. Baptism also celebrates a present happiness with Christ. Jesus promises the priceless gift of the Holy Spirit to those who are baptized (Acts 2:38), which includes the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22, 23). Having Jesus living inside us by His Holy Spirit provides a profound sense of security and certainty. “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God” (Romans 8:16).
By faith, you can hear your Heavenly Father addressing you just as He did Jesus in Matthew 3:17: “This is my beloved son [or daughter], in whom I am well pleased.” This secure relationship with God brings us many benefits, but it doesn’t guarantee a problem-free life. In fact, the enemy often tries to throw the most difficulties at those who have just made a commitment to Christ. However, life with Christ does give us a valuable perspective in the rough times. When we’re in God’s hands, we can know that He will use everything that happens to us, good and bad, to teach us and help us to grow (Romans 8:28).
With shining eyes, Jennifer looked around at her family and friends as they stood to witness her baptism. She felt so happy, so peaceful, so clean! She thought of all the steps that had led to this day. She remembered the discouragement that had so often filled her life before she learned of Jesus and His love. She remembered how thrilled she had been to know that Jesus would forgive her sins if she asked Him to do so. She remembered praying for Jesus to come into her life and asking Him to be her Saviour. She thought about her daily walk with Him—sometimes failing and falling, but always getting up again and asking Jesus to help her do better.
Today was the beginning of a brand-new life for Jennifer. She loved Jesus so much, and today her baptism would be a public acknowledgement of her love—a formal commitment to Him. Jennifer felt herself being placed under the water and then being lifted out again. It felt as if a great weight had slid off of her along with the water. Her old life had been buried in the water, and her new life with Jesus had begun. What a wonderful feeling!
Jesus paid the greatest price to become your Saviour. What a privilege it is to publicly give Him your love and allegiance. If you haven’t yet done so, why not surrender your life to Him right now?
Decision & Prayer
MY PRAYER: If you've never prayed before, that's okay. Here is a short prayer to get you started, if you want to read these words aloud to God or say them silently in your head to Him. You can also take this prayer and make it your own by paraphrasing or add your own words to it.
Try to think of talking to God like you would talk to a friend, saying whatever is on your heart.
Dear Father in heaven, I thank You that Jesus died for my sins, was buried, and was resurrected—the eternal Life-Giver. As I surrender my life to You by dying to self, come into my life. Please pour out Your Holy Spirit into my life as You did in the life of Jesus. Fill my life with the peace and joy that come from following You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
MY DECISION: Take a moment to reflect on the following statements, placing a check mark next to each statement you relate to. I want to follow Jesus completely and accept His invitation to publicly show my commitment by being baptized.Be blessed as you meditate upon these truths
Please take the quiz to complete this lesson
LESSON 19 QUIZ
GREETINGS TO YOU BIBLE STUDENT. TODAY WE ARE STUDYING Discover Bible Guide 20 with the Title: The Secret of Growth Through Fellowship,
Introduction: BEFORE FREEDOM to practice Christianity came to Romania, a man from the Netherlands known as Brother Andrew smuggled a load of Bibles in his Volkswagen Beetle across the Romanian border and past communist guards. He checked into a hotel and began praying that God would lead him to the right Christian groups—the ones who could best use his copies of the Scriptures.
That weekend, Andrew walked up to the Hotel Clerk and asked where he might find a church. The clerk looked at him a little strangely and answered, “We don’t have many of those, you know. Besides, you wouldn’t understand the language.”
“Don’t you know?” Andrew replied. “Christians speak a kind of universal language.”
“Oh, what’s that?”
“It’s called agape.”
The clerk had never heard of it, but Andrew assured him, “It’s the most beautiful language in the world.”
Andrew was able to locate several church groups in the area and managed to arrange a meeting with the president and secretary of one of them. Unfortunately, although both Andrew and these men knew several European languages, they found they had none in common. So there they sat, staring at each other across the room. Andrew had travelled hundreds of dangerous miles with his precious cargo, but there seemed to be no way of telling whether these men were genuine Christian brothers or government informants.
Finally, he spotted a Romanian Bible on a desk in the office. Andrew reached into his pocket and pulled out a Dutch Bible. He turned to 1 Corinthians 16:20 and held out his Bible, pointing to the name of the book, which they could recognize. Instantly, their faces lit up. They quickly found the same chapter and verse in their Romanian Bibles and read: “All the brethren greet you. Greet one another with a holy kiss.”
The men beamed back at Andrew. Then one of them looked through his Bible and found Proverbs 25:25. Andrew found the verse in his Dutch Bible and read: “As cold water to a weary soul, so is good news from a far country.” These men spent half an hour conversing and sharing— just through the words of Scripture. They were so happy in this fellowship—one that crossed all cultural boundaries—that they laughed until tears came to their eyes.
Andrew knew he had found his brothers. When he showed them his cache of Bibles, the Romanians were overwhelmed and embraced him again and again.
That evening at the hotel, the clerk approached Andrew and remarked, “Say, I looked up agape in the dictionary. There’s no language by that name. That’s just a Greek word for ‘love.’” Andrew replied, “That’s it. I was speaking it all afternoon.”
Have you discovered that beautiful language? In this guide, you’ll learn about how God can bring all of us into His great circle of love
GREETINGS TO YOU BIBLE STUDENT. TODAY WE ARE STUDYING Discover Bible Guide 20 with the Title: The Secret of Growth Through Fellowship, Section 1: The Church Was Created for Fellowship
JESUS ESTABLISHED the church in order to meet the basic human requirement of nurture and support. We all have needs, and that’s what the church is all about. It’s not a place where we come to show off our “good works” like some fancy new hat. It’s a place where we come to help each other. The early church became a fellowship of believers committed to each other. A description of it reads: “They continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. . . . And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved” (Acts 2:42, 47).
Scripture reveals a dynamic early church that called men and women into a fellowship with God as well as with each other: “That which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. And these things we write to you that your joy may be full” (1 John 1:3, 4).
The church is a community of hearts, bonded through contact with Jesus and one another, experiencing joy to the fullest. The Bible clearly says that we are to “serve one another” (Galatians 5:13), forgive as we are forgiven (Ephesians 4:32), and “bear one another’s burdens” (Galatians 6:2). Christians become part of an extended family. They become brothers and sisters in Christ.
The broader the unity of similar belief, the stronger the ties among Christians. A Seventh-day Adventist youth serving his country as a soldier discovered the value of such ties. He said, “Wherever I went in a foreign country, I had friends, even though I really knew no one. I would look up those at our mission stations, and I found that our shared beliefs and hopes tied our hearts together. It wasn’t a casual thing; we trusted each other and found a real warmth of fellowship. I was treated like a member of the family in homes where we could speak only a few words to each other.”
The members of the churches established by Jesus’ apostles were bound together by their similar beliefs, love of God, and desire to serve Him and share His grace with the world. This close bond of fellowship was one of the reasons why this seemingly powerless and persecuted minority turned the world upside down (Acts 17:6).
Thought question:
- Scripture reveals a dynamic early Christian church that called people into fellowship with God as well as other Christians. (True or False)
Be blessed as you meditate upon these truths
GREETINGS TO YOU BIBLE STUDENT. TODAY WE ARE STUDYING Discover Bible Guide 20 with the Title: The Secret of Growth Through Fellowship, Section 2: The Church Christ Established
DOES CHRIST HAVE a church, or is the whole idea of a religious organization just a human invention? Jesus answers: “On this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades [hell] shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18). Jesus is the anchoring Rock, the Cornerstone, of His church. What group formed a part of the foundation? “[It was] built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone” (Ephesians 2:20).
What did the Lord accomplish when the gospel was preached? “The Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved” (Acts 2:47). When Jesus established the church, He promised that “the gates of Hades [hell] shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18), and the Christian church still endures. It has had extremely powerful enemies—from Roman emperors to communist dictators—but the blood of martyrs has only caused it to grow stronger. When one Christian was burned at the stake or tossed to the lions, several others sprang up to take his or her place.
The church has often been driven into hiding, but it emerges from the deserts and caves somehow stronger than ever. Sceptics have done their best to reason the Christian church away and have often predicted it would disappear with other “superstitions.” However, Christian truth competes more eloquently than ever in a scientific, secular age.
One of the church’s greatest challenges came soon after its acceptance as the official religion of the Roman Empire. The church became more and more prosperous, and corruption spread.
It seemed spiritually dead in the Dark Ages, but the Lord always preserved a core group of courageous and faithful believers who, even in the most bleak and difficult times, shone as bright as stars on a moonless night. The word church literally means “the called-out ones.” God creates His special people from those He has summoned out of the world.
Paul compares Christ’s relationship with His church to a husband’s tender, protective relationship with his wife: “For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church” (Ephesians 5:23).
The church is a family, with each member establishing relationships with the other members of the family and contributing to their well-being. “Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God” (Ephesians 2:19). Paul also represents the church as a living body, with Christ Himself as its head. “He [Jesus Christ] is the head of the body, the church” (Colossians 1:18).
How do we become a member of Christ’s body, the church? “For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body” (1 Corinthians 12:13). When we are baptized, we testify to our faith in Jesus and become members of His “body,” the church. The book of Revelation pictures churches as golden lampstands (Revelation 1:20).
What is Jesus’ relationship to these lampstands? “I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man” (Revelation 1:12, 13).
John saw the risen Christ walking among His churches, showing His care over them and His presence with them through the years. Christ has never forsaken His people, and He never will.
Thought question:
- The Christian church was founded by Jesus Christ, the Rock. (True or False)
- The Bible compares the church to a living body. (True or False)
GREETINGS TO YOU BIBLE STUDENT. TODAY WE ARE STUDYING Discover Bible Guide 20 with the Title: The Secret of Growth Through Fellowship, Section 3: A Church With Purpose
SOMEONE ONCE SAID that a Christian who doesn’t attend church is like a baseball player who doesn’t belong to a team, a soldier who isn’t part of the army, or a honeybee without a hive. Yet recent polls indicate that less than half of all Americans claim to attend church regularly, and the real number is less than half of that. A lot of people today have bought into the idea that religion is a strictly private matter and that being part of a church isn’t important to their spiritual well-being. However, we need the support of other Christians to keep our faith alive and productive. Individuals need the church, because fellowship helps us grow. The church also plays three other important roles:
- THE CHURCH GUARDS THE TRUTH. “The church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth” (1 Timothy 3:15). The church upholds and defends God’s truth before the world. It’s easy for individuals, following their own varied points of view, to go off on all kinds of doctrinal detours. It’s simply not realistic to believe that truth is whatever you find in your heart. Truth is what God says is true. We need the collective wisdom of other believers to help us focus on the essential truths of Scripture.
- THE CHURCH IS AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT GOD’S GRACE CAN DO FOR SINNERS. “You are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His [God’s] own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvellous light” (1 Peter 2:9). The changes that Christ makes in the lives of believers attest to the incredible God who calls us “into His marvellous light.” The church is built on Jesus, the epitome of “the mystery of godliness” (1 Timothy 3:16). Its strength rests on Christ’s presence in the heart of the Christian.
- GOD’S PEOPLE ARE HIS WITNESSES TO A NEEDY WORLD. Just before He returned to heaven, Jesus promised His disciples: “You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8). It’s a great privilege for the church to take the message of God’s tremendous love worldwide. We have a great responsibility as Christians to represent God to the people in our lives.
Thought question:
- One of the reasons Jesus Christ established the church is that the support of other Christians helps us keep our faith alive and productive. (True or False)
Be blessed as you meditate upon these truths
GREETINGS TO YOU BIBLE STUDENT. TODAY WE ARE STUDYING Discover Bible Guide 20 with the Title: The Secret of Growth Through Fellowship, Section 4: Organized for Strength
THE CHURCH THAT CHRIST established, the New Testament Christian church, had a definite organization. It had leaders—the apostles, elders, and deacons (Acts 8:14; 14:23; 15:2; 1 Timothy 3:1-13). When individuals accepted Jesus and were baptized, they became part of this “church,” a defined, organized group (Acts 2:41-47).
The church exists for mutual encouragement: “Let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day [of Christ’s coming] approaching” (Hebrews 10:24, 25). This, in a nutshell, is what a healthy church group does. Its members build each other up in the faith, and encourage one another.
God organized His church to strengthen His people as they perform acts of service for the world. The fact is, we can do far more when we are united together as God’s people than we can as isolated individuals. Take just one example: The Seventh-day Adventist Church. We are engaged in extensive medical work around the world—from inner-city health vans to clinics on remote islands of the South Pacific.
Our educational institutions—from Loma Linda University, a pioneer in heart transplants, to tiny mission schools scattered throughout the African interior—have brought millions of young people to a knowledge of a better life in Christ. We are on the front lines of famine and disaster relief. Local churches worldwide help clothe and feed the poor and homeless at thousands of Adventist Community Services centres. And even more importantly, groups of Seventh-day Adventist Christians are sharing the message of salvation through a soon-coming Saviour in nearly every country on earth.
Could religion, operating through private, individual efforts, have accomplished all this? Of course not. Only an organized group of dedicated Christians could have this kind of worldwide impact. Christ and the apostles emphasized the need for individual believers to work together. “The eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I have no need of you’; nor again the head to the feet, ‘I have no need of you.’ No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. . . . The members should have the same care for one another. . . . Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually”(1 Corinthians 12:21-27). All parts of the body are not exactly alike, yet every part is important, and all must work together in harmony. An eye separated from the body can’t see. A hand cut off has no value. Whether we are an eye, a hand, or only a finger, we can’t be truly effective for Christ if we are trying to work totally on our own. Belonging to a church and being united with the other members of the body strengthens us as Christians.
Thought question:
- God established the church with a definite organization so the members can encourage one another, worship together, and witness to the entire world. (True or False)
Be blessed as meditate upon these truths
GREETINGS TO YOU BIBLE STUDENT. TODAY WE ARE STUDYING Discover Bible Guide 20 with the Title: The Secret of Growth Through Fellowship, Section 5: The Joy of Worship
DEEP IN OUR HEARTS lies a longing to worship God, but that need can wither away unless given expression. There are a number of ways in which we can worship God, and we are urged to give voice to our deepest admiration: “Give unto the Lord the glory due to His name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness!” (Psalm 29:2). “My soul longs, yes, even faints for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God”(Psalm 84:2).
How did the psalmist feel when he thought about going to the place of worship?
“I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go into the house of the Lord’” (Psalm 122:1).
What part does music play in public worship? “Serve the Lord with gladness; come before His presence with singing” (Psalm 100:2). “Praise God in His sanctuary. . . . Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet; praise Him with the lute and harp! . . . Praise Him with stringed instruments and flutes! . . . Let everything that has breath praise the Lord” (Psalm 150:1-6).
The Bible tells us that offerings are an appropriate part of divine worship. “Give to the Lord the glory due His name; bring an offering, and come into His courts. Oh, worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness” (Psalm 96:8, 9).
Prayer is also a vital aspect of public worship. “Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord our Maker” (Psalm 95:6).
Bible study and preaching are central to New Testament worship. Beginning with Peter’s sermon on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2), the book of Acts reveals the fundamental role the Word of God played in the services and faith-sharing activities of the early church. From the time of the Protestant reformers to our day, every great religious revival has been based on biblical preaching. Why? “The word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12).
One of the positive benefits of regular church attendance is that we learn more of God’s truth as we hear His Word being preached and discussed. “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God” (Romans 10:17).
- What’s Right With the Church: SOME PEOPLE SAY they don’t attend church because it is full of imperfect people. It’s certainly true that there are imperfect people in the church. The church is not a display case for the righteous; it’s a hospital for sinners.
In one of His parables, Jesus reminded us that weeds grow among the wheat (Matthew 13:24-30). Someone has suggested that the church should be called the Society of the Forgiven and the Forgiving.
When we read the New Testament, we discover that the early church had critical problems; and the church today often has serious defects. Sometimes we come to church expecting to be fed with the Word of God, only to go away hungry. Sometimes pastors let us down or fellow church members don’t practice what they preach. Some churches have grown unfriendly and unwelcoming. It’s not always easy to look past these failures and see Christ’s original intent for His church. Sometimes we feel like just walking away from the problems, but remember, no matter what faults a church may have, Jesus Christ remains the great Cornerstone (Ephesians 2:20). Let’s focus on Him and His love. The Bible advises us to keep “looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2). He will never fail us, and His church will never cease to be a place of worship where sinners can find God. Jacob said of the place where he found God: “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it. . . . How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven!” (Genesis 28:16, 17).
Christ is both the Foundation and Head of the church, and its Savior and Lord. Despite its faults, the church belongs to Him. Those who come inside and focus on Christ will see His glory and the power of salvation. They will have the joy of the Lord and the joy of shared fellowship with believers. “Christ . . . loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish” (Ephesians 5:25-27).
The church is so important to Jesus that He “gave Himself for her” when He died for each of us individually and the church collectively. Therefore, church membership should be important to you. What about your relationship to the church? Are you a member of Christ’s body?
Be blessed as you meditate upon these truths
GREETINGS TO YOU BIBLE STUDENT. TODAY WE ARE STUDYING Discover Bible Guide 20 with the Title: The Secret of Growth Through Fellowship, Section 7: Finding a Church
HOW MANY TRUE faiths does Jesus have in the world? “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism” (Ephesians 4:4, 5). Since Christ has only “one faith,” how can we know which one it is? Jesus gives us the key: “If anyone wills to do His [God’s] will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority” (John 7:17).
When we make a commitment to do God’s will, He will help us see whether the teachings of a church are from God, or just human tradition. The key ingredient when finding a church is examining its respect for and allegiance to the Word of God.
Genuine fellowship is built around Scripture, not just around a charismatic leader or great institution. Before choosing a church to join, it is important to understand several subjects that we will discuss in upcoming Discover Guides. The guides that follow will give some guiding principles for making the right choice when selecting a church. Guide 26 will deal specifically with this subject. Continue making discoveries in these guides. As you walk in the light as God reveals truths to you from the Scriptures, He will make His will for you very plain. A growing Christian is a person who opens his or her heart and mind to accept the truth as God reveals it from His Word.
Thought question:
- Jesus established many true faiths—there is not one true faith. (True or False)
- God’s true church will follow Scripture. (True or False)
Decision & Prayer
MY PRAYER: If you've never prayed before, that's okay. Here is a short prayer to get you started, if you want to read these words aloud to God or say them silently in your head to Him. You can also take this prayer and make it your own by paraphrasing or add your own words to it.
Try to think of talking to God like you would talk to a friend, saying whatever is on your heart.
Dear Father in heaven, I will always be grateful that I received the good news about Jesus. Right now, I want to become a part of the great movement of believers who are proclaiming Your love. Make me an effective witness in and through Your church. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
MY DECISION: Take a moment to reflect on the following statements, placing a check mark next to each statement you relate to.
I want to be a part of God’s true church and experience the joy and fellowship of worshipping Him with my Christian brothers and sisters.
Be blessed as you meditate upon these truths
Please take the quiz to complete this lesson
LESSON 20 QUIZ
GREETINGS TO YOU BIBLE STUDENT. TODAY WE ARE STUDYING Discover Bible Guide 21 with title
Can the Majority Be Wrong? Section 1. A Puzzling Question
IN GUIDE 16, we discovered that experiencing Sabbath rest is an important antidote to today’s stressful living. Since God understands our every need, He established each seventh day for our physical rest and spiritual refreshment. Genesis 2:1-3, states that, after creating our world in six days, God rested on the seventh day, blessed it, and sanctified it (made it holy).
When God gave the Ten Commandments, He placed the commandment to observe the seventh-day Sabbath at the heart of His law (Exodus 20:8-11). According to this commandment, the Sabbath is a memorial of God’s creative power. It’s a day to pause and think about the beauties and wonders of His created works, a day to relax and come close to our Creator.
During Jesus’ human life on earth, He too kept the Sabbath (Luke 4:16) and endorsed it as a day that benefits Christians (Mark 2:27, 28). Several texts in the book of Acts make it clear that Christ’s disciples worshipped on the Sabbath after His resurrection (Acts 13:14; 16:13; 17:2; 18:1-4, 11).
Thought question:
- The Sabbath is a memorial of God’s creative power—a day on which we can come close to our Creator as we consider the beauties and wonders of everything that He has made. (True or False)
- A Puzzling Question: THIS BRINGS US to a subject that many people find perplexing. The Christian world has for some time observed two different days. On one hand, most Christians sincerely observe Sunday, the first day of the week, which they believe to be a memorial of Christ’s resurrection. On the other hand, a large group of Christians, equally sincere, believe that the Bible recognizes only the seventh day as the Sabbath and nowhere affirms the sanctity of Sunday.
Does it really make any difference which day we observe as the Sabbath? As sincere people who want to know the truth, we must always ask ourselves: “What matters to Jesus? What does Jesus want me to do?”
After all, we want the assurance of following Bible truth and obeying God’s instruction when He says, “This is the way, walk in it” (Isaiah 30:21).
In coming to a decision about God’s day of worship, several important questions need to be answered: Who changed the Sabbath from Saturday, the seventh day of the week, to Sunday, the first day of the week? Did the Bible authorize such a change? If so, did God, Christ, or perhaps the apostles make the change?
GREETINGS TO YOU BIBLE STUDENT. TODAY WE ARE STUDYING Discover Bible Guide 21 with title
Can the Majority Be Wrong? Section 2: Did God Change the Day?
IS THERE ANY pronouncement from God that changes the Sabbath from the seventh to the first day of the week? Most Christians accept the Ten Commandments, given by God at Sinai, as a valid guide to live by. Moses reminded Israel: “These words the Lord spoke to all your assembly, in the mountain from the midst of the fire, the cloud, and the thick darkness, with a loud voice; and He added no more. And He wrote them on two tablets of stone and gave them to me” (Deuteronomy 5:22).
The Ten Commandments are the only message God has ever personally written out for the human race. They are so important that He wrote them on stone with His own finger (Exodus 31:18). In the fourth commandment, God instructs us: “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labour and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work. . . . For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it” (Exodus 20:8-11).
When God created our world, He set apart the seventh day as the “Sabbath of the Lord” by three divine acts (Genesis 2:1-3). God: i. Rested on the seventh day from all His work. ii. Blessed the seventh day. Iii. Sanctified it.
Again at Sinai, when He gave the Ten Commandments, God reiterated these same truths. He also made it clear that no human being should revise or edit the instruction from His holy lips. “You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you” (Deuteronomy 4:2). God Himself pledges not to alter His commands: “My covenant I will not break, nor alter the word that has gone out of My lips” (Psalm 89:34). The Bible is clear that God did not change the Sabbath from the seventh to the first day of the week.
Thought question:
- When God gave the Ten Commandments at Sinai, in the fourth commandment, He stated that we should observe the seventh day (Saturday) as the Sabbath as a weekly day of rest and worship. (True or False)
Be blessed as you meditate upon these truths
GREETINGS TO YOU BIBLE STUDENT. TODAY WE ARE STUDYING Discover Bible Guide 21 with title
Can the Majority Be Wrong? Section 3: Did Jesus Change the Sabbath?
ACCORDING TO JESUS, the Ten Commandments and all the moral principles in the Old Testament Scriptures are not subject to change; they are to continue to guide His followers: “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfil. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:17-19).
Jesus faithfully honoured and observed the Sabbath. He is our example in Sabbath-keeping. “He [Jesus] came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day” (Luke 4:16). Looking to the future, Jesus wanted His disciples to continue experiencing the joys of true Sabbath-keeping. He instructed them to pray that, during the siege, they would not have to flee from Jerusalem on the Sabbath. “Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath” (Matthew 24:20). Jesus was speaking of the destruction of Jerusalem—an event that took place in ad 70, nearly 40 years after His resurrection. Jesus did not change the Sabbath commandment, nor any of the other commandments. In fact, He instructed the rich young ruler to obey the Ten Commandments (Matthew 19:16-22). It is clear from Jesus’ teaching and example that we still need the Sabbath for rest, relaxation, and spending time with God.
Thought question:
- While He was on earth, Jesus, our Example, faithfully honoured the seventh-day Sabbath by worshipping in the synagogue on that day. (True or False)
Be blessed as you meditate upon these truths
- Did the Apostles Change the Sabbath?
JAMES, the first leader of the early Christian church, wrote concerning the Ten Commandments:
“For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all. For He who said, ‘Do not commit adultery,’ also said, ‘Do not murder.’ Now if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law” (James 2:10, 11).
Luke, a physician and evangelist in the early church, reports:
“On the Sabbath day we went out of the city to the riverside, where prayer was customarily made; and we sat down and spoke to the women who met there” (Acts 16:13).
Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles, who wrote much of the New Testament, affirms:
“For He [God] has spoken in a certain place of the seventh day in this way: ‘And God rested on the seventh day from all His works’ [see Genesis 2:2]. . . . There remains therefore a [Sabbath] rest for the people of God” (Hebrews 4:4, 9).
The New Testament book of Acts mentions 84 different Sabbaths observed by the apostles, all of them more than 14 years after the resurrection of Jesus.
ACTS 13:14, 42, 44 2 Sabbaths at Antioch
ACTS 16:12, 13 1 Sabbath at Philippi
ACTS 17:1, 2 3 Sabbaths at Thessalonica
ACTS 18:1, 4, 11 78 Sabbaths at Corinth
A TOTAL OF 84 SABBATHS CELEBRATED BY CHRIST’S FOLLOWER
John, the last of the 12 apostles to die, wrote five books of the Bible—one gospel, three epistles (letters), and the prophetic book of Revelation. He died about ad 100, approximately 70 years after the resurrection of Jesus. Nowhere in all of his writings does he speak of a change of the Sabbath from the seventh to the first day of the week. In fact, John himself kept the Sabbath.
He wrote: “I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day” (Revelation 1:10).
According to Jesus, the Lord’s Day is the Sabbath:
“The Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath” (Matthew 12:8).
A search of the scriptural evidence reveals that the apostles made no attempt to change God’s day of rest from the seventh to the first day of the week. The New Testament mentions the first day of the week only eight times. In none of these instances is the first day of the week spoken of as a holy day, nor is it even hinted that we should observe it as a day of worship.
A careful examination of the eight texts referring to the first day of the week clarifies what occurred during these Sunday events:
- The women came to Jesus’ tomb on the first day of the week (Matthew 28:1).
- “When the Sabbath was past,” the women brought spices to anoint Jesus’ body “very early in the morning, on the first day of the week” (Mark 16:1, 2).
- Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene “early on the first day of the week” (Mark 16:9).
- After resting on the Sabbath “according to the commandment” (Luke 23:56), the women came to Jesus’ tomb early “on the first day of the week” (Luke 24:1).
- Mary Magdalene went to the grave of Jesus and found the tomb empty “on the first day of the week” (John 20:1).
- The disciples gathered together “for fear of the Jews” (not for worship) on the first day of the week (John 20:19).
- Paul asked church members to take account of their funds “on the first day of the week,” and “lay something aside” for the poor at Jerusalem (1 Corinthians 16:1, 2). The passage does not mention any religious meeting.
- In Acts 20:7 Luke speaks of the disciples coming “together to break bread” and of Paul preaching “on the first day of the week” at an impromptu farewell meeting. Elsewhere, Luke describes the early Christians as coming together “daily” to fellowship, break bread, praise God, and pray (Acts 2:41-47).
None of these verses suggest that the apostles intended to stop observing the seventh-day Sabbath and begin worshipping on Sunday. There is clearly no New Testament evidence for a change of the Sabbath from Saturday, the seventh day of the week, to Sunday, the first day of the week. The change came after the days of Jesus and the apostles, so we must turn to history to see when and how this change came about.
Thought question: The change from worshipping on Saturday, the seventh-day Sabbath, to Sunday, the first day of the week, was made by one of the apostles. (True or False)
GREETINGS TO YOU BIBLE STUDENT. TODAY WE ARE STUDYING Discover Bible Guide 21 with title
Can the Majority Be Wrong? Section 5: Where Did Worship on Sunday Come From?
THE APOSTLES WARNED that some Christians would drift away from the doctrines of New Testament Christianity. Paul said: “I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves” (Acts 20:29, 30).
And that is exactly what happened. Credible historians clearly record how Christians began to stray from apostolic purity. Traditions and doctrines that Paul, Peter, and the other founders of the Christian church had never endorsed gradually crept into the church.
“From simple beginnings the church developed a distinct priesthood and an elaborate service. In this way Christianity and the higher forms of paganism tended to come nearer and nearer to each other as time went on. . . . They tended to merge into one another like two streams which had been following converging courses” (James Harvey Robinson, An Introduction to the History of Western Europe, p. 31).
The change from Sabbath observance to Sunday observance took place after the New Testament was completed and all the apostles had died. History records that Christians eventually shifted from worshipping and resting on the seventh day to the first day of the week. “A history of the problem shows that in some places, it was really only after some centuries that the Sabbath rest really was entirely abolished, and by that time the practice of observing a bodily rest on the Sunday had taken its place” (Vincent J. Kelly, Forbidden Sunday and Feast-Day Occupations, p. 15). Of course, believers didn’t stop observing the seventh-day Sabbath on a given weekend and then suddenly begin keeping Sunday as the Lord’s Day. The earliest authentic instance of Sunday observance by Christians occurred in Italy, in the middle of the 2nd century after Christ. For a long time after that, many Christians observed both days, while still others kept the seventh-day Sabbath only.
On March 7, ad 321, Constantine the Great issued the first civil Sunday law, compelling all the people in the Roman Empire, except farmers, to rest on Sunday. This, with five other civil laws decreed by Constantine concerning Sunday, set the legal precedent for all civil Sunday legislation from that time to the present. In the 4th century, the Council of Laodicea urged Christians to honor Sunday by abstaining from work on that day if at all possible, and prohibited them from abstaining from work on the Sabbath.
History shows that Sunday worship and observance is a man-made tradition. The Bible gives no authority for doing away with the seventh-day Sabbath of the fourth commandment. In the Old Testament, the prophet Daniel predicted that during the Christian era, a deceptive power would attempt to change God’s law. The Focus on Prophecy course—which you can request from us and study after you finish the Discover course, presents a detailed explanation of that prophecy
GREETINGS TO YOU BIBLE STUDENT. TODAY WE ARE STUDYING Discover Bible Guide 21 with title
Can the Majority Be Wrong? Section 6: Who Made the Change?
WHO OFFICIALLY MOVED the Sabbath from the seventh day to the first day of the week? The Catholic Church claims to have done so. In an attempt to save the crumbling Roman Empire, well-meaning church leaders compromised and attempted to change the day of worship from Saturday to Sunday. A catechism of the Roman Catholic Church reads:
“Q. Which is the Sabbath day?
“A. Saturday is the Sabbath day.
“Q. Why do we observe Sunday instead of Saturday?
“A. We observe Sunday instead of Saturday because the Catholic Church . . . transferred the solemnity from Saturday to Sunday” (Peter Geiermann, The Convert’s Catechism of Catholic Doctrine, p. 50).
The Catholic Mirror of September 23, 1893, reported:
“The Catholic Church for over one thousand years before the existence of a Protestant, by virtue of her divine mission, changed the day from Saturday to Sunday.”
Here are two additional statements by Roman Catholic leaders:
“You may read the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, and you will not find a single line authorizing the sanctification of Sunday. The Scriptures enforce the religious observance of Saturday, a day which we never sanctify” (James Cardinal Gibbons, The Faith of Our Fathers, p. 89).
“The holy day, the Sabbath, was changed from Saturday to Sunday. . . . not from any directions noted in the Scriptures, but from the Church’s sense of its own power. . . . People who think that the Scriptures should be the sole authority, should logically become 7th Day Adventists, and keep Saturday holy” (Saint Catherine Catholic Church Sentinel, May 21, 1995).
Nothing could be plainer. The Catholic Church readily announces that human church leaders made the change.
- What Do Some Protestants Say?
OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS OUTLINING the beliefs of several Protestant denominations agree that the Bible provides no authority for Sunday observance.
Early Lutheran church leaders wrote in The Augsburg Confession (1530):
“They [Roman Catholics] allege the Sabbath changed into Sunday, the Lord’s Day, contrary to the Decalogue [the Ten Commandments] . . . neither is there any example more boasted of than the changing of the Sabbath day. Great, say they, is the power and authority of the church, since it dispensed with one of the ten commandments.”
Methodist theologians Amos Binney and Daniel Steele observed:
“It is true there is no positive command for infant baptism. . . . nor is there any for keeping holy the first day of the week” (Binney’s Theological Compend, pp. 180, 181).
Nicholas Summer bell, a Christian church historian, wrote:
“The Roman Church . . . reversed the fourth commandment by doing away with the Sabbath of God’s Word, and instituting Sunday as a holy day” (A True History of the Christian and the Christian Church, pp. 417, 418).
A leading Protestant church historian wrote: “The festival of Sunday, like all other festivals, was always only a human ordinance, and it was far from the intentions of the apostles to establish a divine command in this respect, far from them, and from the early apostolic church, to transfer the laws of the Sabbath to Sunday. Perhaps at the end of the second century a false application of this kind had begun to take place; for men appear by that time to have considered labouring on Sunday as a sin” (Augustus Neander, The History of the Christian Religion and Church During the Three First Centuries, p. 337).
Be blessed as you meditate upon these truths
GREETINGS TO YOU BIBLE STUDENT. TODAY WE ARE STUDYING Discover Bible Guide 21 with title
Can the Majority Be Wrong? Section 8: What Is the Real Issue?
THIS BRINGS US face to face with the question: Why do so many Christians observe Sunday without Bible authority? Even more importantly: Which day shall I keep? Shall I follow those who say, “I don’t think it makes any difference which day I observe as long as I keep one day in seven”? Or shall I observe the day Jesus, our Creator (Colossians 1:15-17), established when He created our world (Genesis 2:1-3)—the day God pointed out in the Ten Commandments when He said, “The seventh day is the Sabbath” (Exodus 20:10)?
We are dealing here with more than just an outward observance—it is a matter of which day is biblically correct. The essential issue is one of obedience to Jesus. It involves our fundamental allegiance: Whom shall I obey? When it comes to the day I keep holy, shall I obey Christ, the Son of God, or human tradition?
God is not arbitrary. At creation and in His Ten Commandments, He had a reason for asking us to observe the seventh day of the week as the Sabbath (Genesis 2:1-3; Exodus 20:8-11). Jesus “rested” on the Sabbath and established it as a memorial to His creative power. Our Creator set aside the Sabbath as a “holy” day, a time for us and our families to come closer to Him for strength and refreshment.
Some believers say, “I keep every day holy.” Of course we should worship God in our hearts every day of the week, but the fact is, God made the seventh day of the week “holy.” On the Sabbath, He comes near to us in a unique way; He blessed the day with His special presence and asks us to devote the whole day to Him.
Evidence shows there is no support for Sunday observance in the Bible. The issues are plain. Which day we worship on doesmake a difference. The choice is clear: the teachings of men or the commands of God? The words of men or the Word of God. A human substitute or a divine command?
God is calling His people back to obedience. He invites them to keep the Sabbath as a symbol of loyalty and love to Him. Jesus promises fullness of joy to those who love Him enough to obey His commands:
“As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full” (John 15:9-11).
Christ longs for us to experience the fulfilment that a truly surrendered life brings. He also wants us to experience the joy of Sabbath rest. He wants us to trust Him enough to obey Him in all things. If you answer God’s call and obey all of His commandments, you will experience the promise of Jesus that His joy will be in you, and your joy will be full (John 15:11). That joy will transform your life.
GREETINGS TO YOU BIBLE STUDENT. TODAY WE ARE STUDYING Discover Bible Guide 21 with title
Can the Majority Be Wrong? Section 5: Conclusion
Have you discovered the beauty of Sabbath rest?
When people obey God and begin to keep the Sabbath, some face work or family difficulties. Remember that Jesus can and will give you grace and power to solve these problems. The way may not be easy, but Jesus will give you sustaining power and a richer Christian life. He will fulfil His promises. His unseen presence will be with you, and your joy will be full.
Thought question: Christians should keep every day holy, so it doesn’t really matter which day we keep as the Sabbath as long as we love Jesus. (True or False)
Jesus promises fullness of joy to those who love Him enough to obey His commandments. (true or False)
God invites us to keep the seventh-day Sabbath as a symbol of our loyalty and love for Him. (True or False)
Decision & Prayer
MY PRAYER: If you've never prayed before, that's okay. Here is a short prayer to get you started, if you want to read these words aloud to God or say them silently in your head to Him. You can also take this prayer and make it your own by paraphrasing or add your own words to it.
Try to think of talking to God like you would talk to a friend, saying whatever is on your heart.
Our Father in heaven, thank You for the promise of eternal life. Thank You for Your Word, which guides my life as a Christian. Thank You for revealing to me the truth about the Sabbath. Help me to always be honest with You and with my own heart. Help me to stand on Your side. In all the problems that I may face, please send Jesus to be by my side and help me live always for Him. In His wonderful name, Amen.
Decision & Prayer
MY DECISION: Take a moment to reflect on the following statements, placing a check mark next to each statement you relate to.
I love Jesus and want to follow Him in everything He asks me to do. I want to obey all His commandments and keep His seventh-day Sabbath holy.
Pray for me as I continue to study the subject of the Sabbath. I want God to guide me as I continue to study.
Be blessed as you meditate upon these truths
Please take the quiz to complete this lesson
LESSON 21 QUIZ
GREETINGS TO YOU BIBLE STUDENT. TODAY WE ARE STUDYING Discover Bible Guide 22 with the title: Is God Fair? Section 1: The One Thousand Years Unveiled
PICK UP a newspaper in any city on any day, or read the news online, and you’ll find headlines such as these:
“SIX-YEAR-OLD ACCIDENTALLY SHOT BY GANG MEMBER”
“HUNDREDS HOMELESS AFTER HEAVY FLOODING”
“POLICE RECOVER BODY OF MISSING TEENAGER”
“POLITICAL UNREST THWARTS FAMINE RELIEF EFFORTS”
The tragedies go on and on—inexplicable and heartrending. We long for an answer—a permanent answer. Where is God in this world of meaningless suffering and death?
The Bible assures us that God is fair and just:
“He [God] loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the goodness of the Lord” (Psalm 33:5).
However, if that is true, then why is there so much suffering? Is God ever going to make things right? And if so, how?
Revelation 20 shows us how and when God will bring sin and suffering to a complete end. And when He does, every being in the universe will testify that God is loving and just.
- The One Thousand Years Unveiled: REVELATION 20 ZEROES in on a thousand-year period that follows the Second Coming of Christ. The events surrounding this millennium mark the final act in the conflict between Christ and Satan, which has been going on since sin entered the universe.
This cosmic drama began in heaven when Lucifer became jealous of Christ, started a war in heaven, was expelled and fled to our world. The drama continued on earth in the Garden of Eden, then down through the centuries until it reached its first climax when the devil compelled human beings to crucify Christ. (You may wish to review this sad story in Guide 3.)
The drama will reach its final climax at the close of the thousand-year period, when our sinful world is cleansed and placed under Christ’s control.
Revelation 20 shows us that two resurrections will mark the beginning and ending of this thousand-year period. Who will be raised from the dead in the first resurrection at the beginning of the thousand years?
“Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years” (Revelation 20:6).
Those who come to life in the first resurrection are “blessed and holy.” They have accepted Jesus as their Saviour. Since they “reign” with Christ during the thousand years, the “first resurrection” obviously occurs at the beginning of this time period.
Who will be raised in the second resurrection at the close of the thousand years?
“The rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished” (Revelation 20:5).
If the “blessed and holy” are raised at the beginning of the thousand years then the rest of the dead” can refer only to the wicked dead. Their resurrection takes place when the thousand years are “finished.”
So the one-thousand-year period is marked off by two resurrections: the resurrection of the righteous at its beginning, and the resurrection of the wicked at its close.
Thought question: The righteous are resurrected at the beginning of the thousand years. (True or false) The wicked are resurrected at the beginning of the thousand years. (True of False)
GREETINGS TO YOU BIBLE STUDENT. TODAY WE ARE STUDYING Discover Bible Guide 22 with the title: Is God Fair? Section 2: Resurrected at Christ’s Coming
THE BIBLE TELLS us that this first resurrection, that of the righteous, takes place at the Second Coming of Christ. “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout. . . . And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17).
When Jesus comes to this earth again, He raises “the dead in Christ” and takes them to heaven, along with the righteous who are alive (John 14:1-3). At that time, all the righteous become immortal—no longer subject to disease, old age, or death (1 Corinthians 15:51-57).
What happens to the wicked people who are still alive when Jesus comes? Because they still cling to sin and haven’t accepted Christ, they can’t exist in God’s presence; therefore, they are destroyed “by the brightness” at the return of Christ (Luke 17:29, 30; 2 Thessalonians 2:7, 8). (You may wish to review in Guide 8 the events surrounding Jesus’ return.)
Thought question:
- At the Second Coming of Jesus, the wicked living are killed by the brightness of His coming. (True or False)
- The thousand years begin with the first resurrection at the coming of Jesus Christ. (True or False)
- At the Second Coming of Christ, the “dead in Christ” are raised first. After that, the righteous living will be caught up with them to meet the Lord in the air. (True or False)
- Satan Chained to the Earth for One Thousand Years: WHEN THE THOUSAND-YEAR period begins, all the righteous have gone to heaven and all the wicked are dead. What will happen in this world during the thousand years? “Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished. But after these things he must be released for a little while” (Revelation 20:1-3).
At Jesus’ coming, Satan is bound and will remain in chains during the thousand years. Where is Satan imprisoned? In the “bottomless pit.” The Greek word used here is abyssos—from which we get the English word abyss. It’s the same word that appears in Genesis 1:2 of the Septuagint (the Greek version of the Old Testament, which was translated from Hebrew in pre-Christian times) to describe the earth in its undeveloped state before the days of creation began. It seems clear, then, that our earth is the “bottomless pit,” or abyss, where God imprisons Satan. Scripture describes Satan as bound by “a great chain.” Is this a literal chain? No, the context clearly indicates that it is symbolic— sort of a chain of circumstances. The phrase brings to mind an expression we use when we can’t do someone a favor: “I’d like to help you, but my hands are tied.”
Satan would very much like to continue deceiving and oppressing individuals during the thousand years, but his hands are bound by a chain of circumstances. He can find no righteous people to tempt during this period, because they are all in heaven. And he can’t find any wicked to lead, because they are all dead— asleep in the dust of the earth. Satan simply wanders across the desolate, ruined earth without any people under his control. Under these circumstances, he can “deceive the nations no more till the thousand years [are] finished” (Revelation 20:3). Here we find Satan in the last act of his age-long struggle against God. His evil character remains unchanged. He and his angels are confined to our empty world. Unable to deceive or tempt anyone, Satan roams an empty world, forced to ponder all the heartache and tragedy he has caused throughout the centuries.
Thought question:
- Satan will not have anyone to tempt during the thousand years because the righteous are in heaven and the wicked are dead. (True or False) Be blessed as you meditate upon these truths
GREETINGS TO YOU BIBLE STUDENT. TODAY WE ARE STUDYING Discover Bible Guide 22 with the title: Is God Fair? Section 4: The Righteous Judge the Wicked
THE THOUSAND-YEAR PERIOD is also a time of judgment. As you’ll recall, the judgment consists of four main stages: The pre-Advent judgment of the righteous before Christ’s Second Coming. The reward of the righteous at the Second Coming. The judging of the wicked during the thousand years. The “reward” of Satan and the wicked at the end of that period.
You may wish to review Guide 13, which deals with stages one and two of the judgment: the investigation and the reward of the righteous. We will now look at stages three and four: the investigation and the “reward” of the wicked. We’ve already seen that the righteous dead come up from their graves at the Second Coming of Christ. Along with the righteous who have never died, they then leave this earth and are taken to heaven to be with Jesus and the holy angels. Those redeemed by Christ find their home in heaven during the thousand years.
What will the righteous be doing in heaven during this thousand-year period? “Do you not know that the saints [the saved] will judge the world? . . . Do you not know that we shall judge angels?” (1 Corinthians 6:2, 3). “I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God. . . . And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years” (Revelation 20:4).
During the thousand years, the righteous will review the cases of wicked human beings and fallen angels, including their leader, Satan. How fitting for the martyrs, overcomers, and battle-scarred adherents of the gospel to examine and understand God’s judgment of the wicked! God has graciously given redeemed human beings the chance to evaluate His dealings with the wicked. We know what it’s like to struggle in a sinful world; we’ve rubbed shoulders with these people day after day. We may have a lot of questions, such as: “Why isn’t my neighbor here? He seemed like such a good person.” Or “Why didn’t my aunt make it?” All of our questions will be answered in this phase of the judgment. When we go over the records and judge the dead “according to their works, by the things which were written in the books” (Revelation 20:12), we will see for ourselves that in all His dealings with human beings, God has been just and fair with everyone.
- Satan Unchained at the End of One Thousand Years: AT THE CLOSE of the thousand years, the curtain lifts on the final act in the judgment drama. “I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband” (Revelation 21:2). This wonderful city, whose streets of gold and pearly gates have echoed with our exultant shouts of praise, has been our home for a thousand years. Now the Holy City—with Christ and all the people He’s redeemed inside—descends from heaven to our world.
What happens to the wicked then? “The rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished” (Revelation 20:5). The “rest of the dead” must refer to the wicked dead, because the righteous dead came to life in the first resurrection at the beginning of the thousand years. So it is the wicked who are resurrected in the second resurrection at the close of the thousand years.
What does Satan do at the close of the thousand years? “When the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations . . . to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea. They went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city” (Revelation 20:7-9). When the righteous descend to earth in the Holy City and the wicked are resurrected, “Satan will be released.” He again has the wicked to lead and the righteous as his target. Not wasting a moment, he immediately begins to organize the wicked into a vast army. To Satan, this seems like a perfect opportunity. The Holy City is not fortified; its inhabitants are not armed. Deciding to take it by force and plunder its riches, Satan convinces his followers that, because they outnumber the righteous, victory is certain.
Satan can plot strategy with military geniuses from all periods of earth’s history. Generals who have conquered empires can organize his armies. Scientists can try to create new weapons of mass destruction.
This second resurrection reveals a sad reality: in death, the characters of the wicked have experienced no change. They come from the grave with the same ambitions and selfish desires. Finally, Satan gives the command to march against the city. The vast multitude moves with military precision to claim this glittering metropolis as their capital. Satan and the wicked lay siege to the New Jerusalem; this is their last chance to sabotage Jesus’ plan to rescue humanity forever from the curse of sin. However, as they take up positions around the New Jerusalem, a horrible truth begins to sink into their hearts: “We’re on the outside! We’re outside in the dark!” The wicked catch a glimpse of the real horror of being lost— lost forever.
Thought Question: At the end of the thousand years, the New Jerusalem descends to this earth. (True or False)
GREETINGS TO YOU BIBLE STUDENT. TODAY WE ARE STUDYING Discover Bible Guide 22 with the title: Is God Fair? Section 6: The Final Judgment Scene
HERE, for the first and last time, the entirety of the human race meets together face-to-face. Jesus is the leader of the redeemed children of God who are inside the city, and Satan heads the throngs of the wicked who are just outside the walls. At this critical moment, God carries out the final stage of judgment, and the wicked receive their day in court. “Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it. . . . And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works” (Revelation 20:11-13).
As the wicked stand before the throne of justice, their lives open before them. From the records contained in heaven, Jesus, the righteous Judge, formally unfolds the full story of His dealings with fallen men, women, and angels. The entire universe looks on with intense interest. Standing before the throne of God, Jesus gives everyone a comprehensive view of His redemptive work. He reveals that He indeed came to seek and to save the lost. He entered our world in human flesh, lived a sinless life amid our struggles and temptations, made the ultimate sacrifice on the cross, and served as our Priest in heaven.
Finally, when Christ sorrowfully steps forward and passes sentence on those who’ve persisted to the end in rejecting His grace, every being in the universe will acknowledge the justice and necessity of this final act of divine judgment “We shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written: ‘As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to God’” (Romans 14:10, 11). “He [Jesus] humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:8-11).
Ever since sin began, the devil has been slandering God’s character, accusing Him of being unfair. But now all the questions are answered, all the perplexities resolved. At the end, not even Satan himself, the great accuser, will have a word to say in his own defense. Now every being in the universe acknowledges that even in judgment—especially in judgment—Jesus, the Lamb of God, is worthy of our love and worship.
The whole plan and purpose of God is now fully revealed, and God’s character stands vindicated. “All nations shall come and worship before You, for Your judgments have been manifested” (Revelation 15:4). “And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying: ‘Blessing and honor and glory and power be to Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever!’” (Revelation 5:13). And it’s not just the saved. The evil angels and Satan himself will confess that Satan’s way has been wrong and that God’s ways are just and true. All see that evil and selfishness have led only to unhappiness and discontent—that such a life is not worth continuing.
GREETINGS TO YOU BIBLE STUDENT. TODAY WE ARE STUDYING Discover Bible Guide 22 with the title: Is God Fair? Section 7: Sin Meets Its Final End
EVEN THOUGH Satan and the vast throng of wicked people admit that God’s way is right, their hearts have not changed—their characters remain evil—and after judgment is pronounced, the wicked accept their tragic fate: “They went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them. The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone. . . . Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire” (Revelation 20:9, 10, 14, 15).
In the final judgment, the fires of the eternal God will destroy sin and those who stubbornly cling to it. Satan and all the lost perish in this “second death”—an eternal death from which there is no awakening. Their course of rebellion has left the wicked unfit for real happiness, and they are destroyed with the devil and his angels. The heavenly fire completely cleanses the earth of the ravages of sin; God has a clean universe at last, never again to be scarred by evil. The epic struggle between good and evil, between Christ and Satan, is finally over, and Christ reigns.
Where do you plan to be on that day? Have you decided to be with Christ inside the city—saved forever? Or will you be outside the city without Christ—lost forever? No matter what life has brought to you, if you place your life in the hands of Jesus now, you can be inside the city with Christ and the redeemed.
If you have not done so, give your heart to Jesus now, and He will surround you with His love and forgiveness. This is your opportunity. This is your day of salvation.
- The Earth Cleansed and Made New
FROM THE ASHES of this final, cleansing fire, God will create a new world:
“I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. . . . I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God. . . . And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, ‘Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.’ . . . ‘Behold, I make all things new’” (Revelation 21:1-5).
Restored to its original beauty, the earth becomes the home of redeemed humanity through endless ages. Freed from selfishness, sickness, and suffering, we have a whole universe to explore, wonderful relationships to develop, and an eternity in which to sit at Jesus’ feet to listen, learn, and love. (For a full description of that new world, you may wish to read Guide 9 again.)
The curtain falls on the ancient drama of sin and rises to the glory of a new world of limitless possibilities. Of Jesus, the Ruler of that coming world, we read:
“And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end” (Isaiah 9:6, 7).
You can live forever with that Wonderful Counsellor and Everlasting Father. You can stand inside the New Jerusalem on that day when all of humanity confronts each other face-to-face.
If you have placed your life in the hands of Jesus, you need never experience the unspeakable horror of those on the outside of the city who realize they are lost forever. By giving your trust to Christ as Savior, you can be assured that, when the record of your life appears in the judgment, Jesus will say, “I died for that person; the record of My perfect life belongs to My beloved one!”
Decision & Prayer
MY PRAYER
If you've never prayed before, that's okay. Here is a short prayer to get you started, if you want to read these words aloud to God or say them silently in your head to Him. You can also take this prayer and make it your own by paraphrasing or add your own words to it.
Try to think of talking to God like you would talk to a friend, saying whatever is on your heart.
Dear Father, how thankful I am that You are not only fair, but loving and merciful as well! How thankful I am for Jesus and all that He has done and is doing for me every day. How thankful I am that He died to save me so that I can be inside the Holy City and be saved forever! Yes, Father, I plan to be there inside that city. Keep me faithful, I pray. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
MY DECISION
Take a moment to reflect on the following statements, placing a check mark next to each statement you relate to.
I choose to be with Jesus for eternity in the earth made new. Thank You, Jesus, for Your promise that I can have a home with You.
Be blessed as you meditate upon these truths
Please take the quiz to complete this lesson
LESSON 22 QUIZ
GREETINGS TO YOU BIBLE STUDENT. TODAY WE ARE STUDYING Discover Bible Guide 23 with the title: What and Where Is Hell? Section 1. Jesus’ Final Heartbreak
IN 2000, Clayton Lockett was convicted of the brutal murder of Stephanie Neiman, whom Lockett shot twice before burying her alive. On April 29, 2014, the state of Oklahoma executed Lockett by lethal injection. Lockett’s crime and execution would have been similar to others except for the fact that Oklahoma was using a new, untested drug for the execution. The result was a prolonged execution process before Lockett died.
The incident prompted worldwide attention to the death penalty. Many argued that no matter what Lockett had done, he did not deserve to die a protracted, painful death.
Even those who favour the death penalty agree that it should be carried out as swiftly and humanely as possible. No matter how depraved or revolting the crime, no one suggests we should torture the guilty person. No one advocates burning convicted criminals over a fire designed to keep them alive as long as possible in order to bring about maximum agony.
Yet many sincere Christians believe that our Heavenly Father will do worse than that. The wicked, they say, must be tortured in order to pay for their sins—burned alive in hell, where their agonies continue forever! Is that true? What does happen to the wicked in hell? And how does their final fate fit in with God’s love and justice? Let’s look for biblical answers in this Discover Guide.
- Jesus’ Final Heartbreak: FOR APPROXIMATELY 6,000 years, God has been pleading with men and women to turn toward Him and be rescued from sin. The prophet Ezekiel conveys a typical appeal: “‘As I live,’ says the Lord God, ‘I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live’” (Ezekiel 33:11).
Jesus continued the same appeal during His ministry on earth: “Come to Me, all you who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). When Jesus cried out on the cross, in Luke 23:34, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do,” He laid bare His aching heart. Then He added, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Matthew 27:46). Soon afterward, Jesus yielded up His life. Some physicians believe He died of a broken heart (John 19:30, 34). The cross revealed how much God wants to rescue fallen humanity. However, even with this powerful demonstration of divine love, many individuals will still not turn to Jesus, and those who persist in holding on to sin will eventually be destroyed by fire.
That will be a heart breaking time for Jesus as He sees the fire consuming the ones He died to save. “The Lord is . . . longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). Jesus wants everyone to be saved and escape the destruction awaiting this sin-polluted earth. “The day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. . . . Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells” (2 Peter 3:10, 13). As long as sin rules in this world, it will continue to multiply human misery, so sin has to be completely destroyed. If people refuse to let go of their sins, they will be consumed with them in “the lake of fire” (Revelation 20:15).
Christ’s final heartbreak comes when He must finally cleanse the universe of evil, put an end to sin, and destroy those who hold on to their sin—those for whom He died and longs to save.
Thought question: Destroying sinners whom He longs to save will be a heart breaking time for Jesus. (True or False)
For thousands of years, Jesus has appealed through the Bible for sinners to accept Him and be saved. (True or True)
CONTRARY TO SOME popular conceptions, God doesn’t have a fire burning now in some place termed “hell” where sinners go at death. Hell happens when this earth is turned into a lake of fire (2 Peter 3:10-13).
The wicked don’t somehow plummet into hell at the moment of death. God waits to carry out His sentence until the day of final judgment at the end of the thousand years (Revelation 20:9-15).
GREETINGS TO YOU BIBLE STUDENT. TODAY WE ARE STUDYING Discover Bible Guide 23 with the title: What and Where Is Hell? Section 2: Where and When Will Hell Burn?
“The Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment” (2 Peter 2:9). He also subjects our planet to the purifying fire. “The heavens and earth . . . are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men” (2 Peter 3:7). God never planned for any human being to end his or her life in the fires of hell. But when people refuse to break the hold Satan has on them as they cling to their sins, they must finally receive the consequences of their choices. “Then He [God] will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels’” (Matthew 25:41).
According to Jesus, when will hell burn? “The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels. Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age [the King James Version uses the word ‘world’ in place of ‘age’ here]. The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, and will cast them into the furnace of fire” (Matthew 13:39-42). The tares—evildoers—aren’t burned until the end of the world. Before this sentence is carried out, the whole universe must be assured that God has been fair in His dealings with every human being.
In the great controversy going on between Christ and Satan, Satan has been attempting to prove to the universe that the way of sin is the better way. Jesus has been demonstrating that the way of obedience is the key to a more satisfying life. This demonstration will culminate in the judgment of Satan, his angels, and the wicked “at the end of this age [world].” At the close of the thousand years, after the angels have opened the records to reveal the part that each person has played in this great drama, God will throw Satan, death, and everyone whose name is “not found written in the Book of Life . . . into the lake of fire” (Revelation 20:15).
According to the next verse, Revelation 21:1, after God uses fire to cleanse the earth from sin, He will create “a new heaven and a new earth.”
Thought question:
- Hell will burn on this earth in the end time when God purifies the earth. (True or False)
- There is a real, literal hell today—a place where sinners go when they die to be punished for their sins. (True or False)
Be blessed as you meditate upon these truths
GREETINGS TO YOU BIBLE STUDENT. TODAY WE ARE STUDYING Discover Bible Guide 23 with the title: What and Where Is Hell? Section 3: How Long Will Hell Burn?
MANY BELIEVERS have assumed that the fires of hell last forever, resulting in eternal torment. Take, for example, the picture of hell once painted by Jonathan Edwards, an 18th-century preacher, in a sermon entitled, “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”:
Natural men are held in the hand of God over the pit of hell; they have deserved the fiery pit, and are already sentenced to it; and God is dreadfully provoked, his anger is as great towards them as to those that are actually suffering the executions of the fierceness of his wrath in hell . . . . ‘Tis everlasting wrath. It would be dreadful to suffer this fierceness and wrath of Almighty God one moment; but you must suffer it to all eternity: there will be no end to this exquisite horrible misery.”
Few believers today take comfort in this gruesome depiction of a wrathful God, but many still accept the idea of an eternal hell because they’ve been told it’s what the Bible teaches. Let’s look carefully at some texts that describe God’s treatment of sin and sinners.
“When the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels . . . those who do not obey the gospel. . . . shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power”(2 Thessalonians 1:7-9).
Please note that “everlasting destruction” is not the same as “everlasting torment.” It simply means a destruction that lasts forever—an eternal death. The effect of everlasting destruction is everlasting death, not unending torment. Look at what Jesus Himself said about hell: “Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10:28).
According to Jesus, both soul and body are killed— destroyed—in hell. In the Sermon on the Mount, when Jesus talked about the fate of humanity at the end of the age, He spoke of the narrow gate “which leads to life” and the broad road “that leads to destruction” (Matthew 7:13, 14). The contrast is between “life” and “destruction” (non-life)— not eternal torment. In the most well-known text in the Bible, John 3:16, Jesus explains that God “gave His only begotten Son” that those who believe might “not perish but have everlasting life.” Again, two fates are contrasted: perishing or eternal life.
From these passages of Scripture, we must conclude that hell results in the death of the wicked. That is, in fact, what clear statements throughout Scripture tell us. “The wicked shall be cut off ” (Psalm 37:28); they “will utterly perish” (2 Peter 2:12); “into smoke they shall vanish away” (Psalm 37:20); they “shall be utterly destroyed from among the people” (Acts 3:23). The Apostle Paul said of those who had become enemies of Christ that their “end is destruction” (Philippians 3:19).
The purpose of the final punishment, the lake of fire, is to rid the universe of sin, not to preserve sin forever. It is extremely hard to imagine that the Christ who wept over the fate of stubborn Jerusalem and forgave those who put Him to death would be able to spend eternity watching the agonies of the damned. The Bible assures us that hell definitely has an end: “Behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, and all the proud, yes, all who do wickedly will be stubble. And the day which is coming shall burn them up. . . . They shall be ashes under the soles of your feet” (Malachi 4:1, 3).
The wicked will not burn throughout eternity. The fire will reduce them to ashes, resulting in eternal separation from God. “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23), not eternal life in hellfire. At the end of the thousand years, every sinner—inspired by the devil—makes one last determined effort to defeat God and capture the New Jerusalem (Revelation 20:7-10). It is then that God rains down fire from the skies and eliminates Satan, sin, and those who persist in holding on to their sins. “Fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them” (Revelation 20:9).
The point is that this is utter, complete destruction. According to Jesus, this fire is “unquenchable” (Matthew 3:12). No fire department will be able to put it out until it has done its work of complete destruction. However, “unquenchable” does not mean “unending.” God promises that a new purified earth will emerge out of this cleansing fire as the home of the saved: “For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former shall not be remembered or come to mind. . . . I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in My people; the voice of weeping shall no longer be heard in her, nor the voice of crying” (Isaiah 65:17-19). What a day that will be! Every cause for heartache will have vanished. God will erase the wounds of sin from every heart and “the former [things] shall not be remembered or come to mind.” Our happiness will be complete, and Jesus’ heart will again expand with joy over His people.
Thought question:
- God’s purpose in having a hell is to completely blot out sin and evil from the universe. (True or False)
- Hellfire will burn for eternity; it will never go out. (True or false)
- Hell will burn until the devil, his angels, and the wicked are burned to ashes. (True or false)
Be blessed as you meditate upon these truths
GREETINGS TO YOU BIBLE STUDENT. TODAY WE ARE STUDYING Discover Bible Guide 23 with the title: What and Where Is Hell? Section 4: “Forever” in Scripture
NOW LET’S TURN to several texts which, to some, seem to suggest an eternally burning hell. Many believers find the idea of endless torment abhorrent, but they see no way around it because of the way certain texts have been interpreted. One verse that troubles people is Matthew 25:41, where Jesus speaks of “the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels.”
Does the word everlasting suggest that hell is forever? Well, just a few verses later, in Matthew 25:46, Jesus refers to this fire as “everlasting punishment.” The punishment and its effect are indeed “everlasting”—they result in everlasting death or destruction (2 Thessalonians 1:9). Let’s examine the same phrase—“everlasting fire” or “eternal fire”—in other Bible passages. Jude 7 presents Sodom and Gomorrah “as an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.” Obviously, those cities aren’t still burning, but the fire was eternal in the sense that it resulted in permanent destruction. Peter clearly points out that God turned “the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, [and] condemned them to destruction, making them an example to those who afterward would live ungodly” (2 Peter 2:6).
The ungodly residents of Sodom and Gomorrah are not still in agony over in the Holy Land. The cities and their inhabitants were reduced to ashes long ago. Yet the fire that burned them is “eternal” in its consequences—permanent destruction. Remember the distinction: “eternal” punishment is not the same as “eternal” punishing. Because the book of Revelation uses such vivid, symbolic language, some of its passages have been misunderstood. For example, Revelation 14:11 says of the lost: “The smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever.” This certainly sounds like endless suffering. But again, let’s let Scripture interpret Scripture.
The prophet Isaiah used the same language in speaking of God’s judgment against wicked Edom. He said, “Its land shall become burning pitch. It shall not be quenched night or day; its smoke shall ascend forever” (Isaiah 34:9, 10). Yet the land of Edom is not still burning today. The fire went out a long time ago. God was using descriptive language to emphasize the thorough, complete, and utter destruction involved in this judgment.
Exodus 21:6 speaks of piercing a servant’s ear as a sign that he was to serve his master “forever.” In this case, “forever” would be as long as the servant’s life would last.
Jonah, who spent three days and three nights in the belly of a whale (Matthew 12:40), reported that he was there “forever” (Jonah 2:6). No doubt, three days in the slimy darkness probably did seem like forever!
So we must be careful when it comes to understanding how and when Scripture uses symbolic, poetic language. The smoke ascending forever from the lake of fire is a vivid way of expressing eternal destruction. Revelation 21:8 tells us plainly that the lake which burns with fire and brimstone “is the second death.” Hell has an ending. The wicked are consumed. They die and never live again.
Be blessed as you meditate upon these truths
GREETINGS TO YOU BIBLE STUDENT. TODAY WE ARE STUDYING Discover Bible Guide 23 with the title: What and Where Is Hell? Section 5. Why Must There Be a Hell at All?
IN THE BEGINNING, God created a perfect world, but sin came in and brought disaster, decay, and death. If you returned home one evening and found your house ransacked and wrecked, would you leave it that way forever? Of course not. You would sweep out the dirt and trash, clean the place from top to bottom, and throw away furniture ruined beyond repair. God will do the same. He will take care of the wreckage and pollution of sin once and for all, creating a new earth in its place.
However, God faces a serious problem, because sin not only wrecked the physical world—it also infected people. Sin damaged our relationship with Him and each other. Humanity continues to be plagued by child abuse, terrorism, pornography, and a thousand other cancers of the soul. God must someday destroy sin, because sin is destroying people.
God’s dilemma was this: how to eliminate the deadly virus of sin from the world and yet not destroy all the people infected by it. His solution was to take on the virus in His own body, so He allowed the cancer of sin to destroy Him at the cross. As a result:
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness”(1 John 1:9).
God offers His solution to the sin problem freely to everyone, but the sad fact is that some won’t take the cure. Some insist on clinging to the disease of sin and thus remain infected by it. And God will not force people to choose His way of eternal life. Those who reject His solution will finally be consumed by the disease. The real reason for hell is this:
“When I called, you did not answer; when I spoke, you did not hear, but did evil before My eyes, and chose that in which I do not delight” (Isaiah 65:12).
Cut off from Jesus, the Source of Life, by their own choices, the wicked will discover that the only alternative is eternal death.
- What Will It Cost to Be Lost? NO WONDER Bible writers urgently press upon us the eternal weight of our choices and the claims of Christ. “We . . . plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain. For He says: ‘In an acceptable time I have heard you, and in the day of salvation I have helped you.’ Behold . . . now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:1, 2). “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved” (John 3:17). There is no greater tragedy than someone wasting the priceless sacrifice of Jesus by choosing to be lost. Jesus said: “I say to you that . . . there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance” (Luke 15:7) The alternatives facing us are starkly clear: eternal destruction—an eternity excluded from the presence of God—or an eternal friendship with Christ that fulfils our deepest longings. Which do you choose for yourself? Why not discover your destiny in Christ today?
Decision & Prayer
MY PRAYER
If you've never prayed before, that's okay. Here is a short prayer to get you started, if you want to read these words aloud to God or say them silently in your head to Him. You can also take this prayer and make it your own by paraphrasing or add your own words to it.
Try to think of talking to God like you would talk to a friend, saying whatever is on your heart.
Dear Father of mercy, love, and justice, help me—right now—to place myself on the side of salvation and everlasting life, and not on the side of eternal death. Please forgive my sins and help me to be obedient to Your Word and to all Your commandments. I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
MY DECISION
Take a moment to reflect on the following statements, placing a check mark next to each statement you relate to.
I have previously accepted Jesus as my Saviour from sin and choose to reaffirm my decision. I want to live with Him forever and experience His unending love.
I have never accepted Jesus as my Saviour from sin and choose to accept Him today. I want to live with Him forever and experience His unending love.
Be blessed as you meditate upon these truths
Please take the quiz to complete this lesson
LESSON 23 QUIZ
GREETINGS TO YOU BIBLE STUDENT. TODAY WE ARE STUDYING Discover Bible Guide 24
With the title: When a Person Dies . . . What Then? Section 1: 1. Facing Death Unafraid
WAYNE STOOD beside the bed of his brother, Dale. Dale’s lungs and heart had been failing and had weakened to the point where he didn’t have much time left. Dale opened his eyes and said, “I’m dying, aren’t I? I don’t want to die, but it will be OK. I have Jesus.”
Death is the common enemy of people everywhere. We not only fear dying ourselves, but we also rebel at the thought of someone we love dying. When facing death, the question is always there: “What does it mean to die? When a person dies . . . what then?”
What are the answers to the hard questions about death? Are we born only to die? Is death the end of the story? Or is there life after death? What is the experience of those in the grave? Can we help them? Can we talk with them? Will we ever see our dead loved ones again? Where are the dead right now?
Conflicting voices clamour to give us answers. Psychic mediums teach that the spirits who speak to them are dead beings who have evolved to a higher state. Hinduism teaches reincarnation, which involves a whole series of lifetimes in which we work off our bad karma and keep progressing to a greater degree of perfection.
Buddhists believe in the god within us, enlightening us and moving us into a higher state. Atheists deny all hope of a future life and declare that death is the eternal end of everything. Many Christians believe that the dead are not really dead—that they go to heaven, hell, or some intermediate place of conscious existence.
In a matter so important, so universal, so packed with emotion, where can we learn the truth about what happens when we die? The answer is: the Bible. In God’s Word, He who knows all about life and death will instruct us with comforting messages of hope.
- Facing Death Unafraid: WHEN A FRIEND or loved one dies, we feel grief and pain. An emptiness sweeps over us as we face the reality of death. Jesus understands. He cried when His friend Lazarus died (John 11:34–36). But fortunately, part of Christ’s mission on earth was to “destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage” (Hebrews 2:14, 15).
In the Bible, Jesus clearly answers all our questions about death, resurrection, and a future life. To understand the truth about death, let’s begin by looking at how our Creator gave us life in the beginning.
- How God Made Us: “The Lord God formed man [adam, Hebrew] of the dust of the ground [adamah, Hebrew]” (Genesis 2:7). The Creator could have made the first man from some celestial or supernatural substance, but He didn’t. He fashioned Adam from “the dust of the ground.” After God had combined the desired elements of earth to form Adam’s brain, bones, and body, His creative power gave life to the inert form. It took something more to transform that perfect body into a living soul—and that something more was “the breath of life.”
“The Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being [soul]” (Genesis 2:7).
As God breathed into Adam, life began to flow from God through the complex network of Adam’s nervous system. His muscles expanded and contracted, and his heart and lungs moved in rhythm. The combination of the body and “the breath of life” made man “a living being,” “a living soul” (KJV).
Note that the Bible does not say Adam received a soul—rather it says that man “became a living soul.”
So we might write the human equation like this:
DUST OF GROUND + BREATH OF LIFE = A LIVING SOUL OR
LIFELESS BODY + BREATH FROM GOD = A LIVING BEING
Each of us has a body, intelligence, memory, a reasoning mind, a conscience, and a will. We have one personality and one character. Therefore, we’re one whole entity, not two or more distinct parts thrown together. Just as long as we continue to breathe, we will be a living human being, a living soul.
Thought question: The soul is the dust of the ground plus the breath of life. (True or false)
Be blessed as you meditate upon these truths
GREETINGS TO YOU BIBLE STUDENT. TODAY WE ARE STUDYING Discover Bible Guide 24
With the title: When a Person Dies . . . What Then? Section 3: What Happens When a Person Dies?
AT DEATH, the reverse of the creative process described in Genesis 2:7 takes place:
“Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit [breath of life] will return to God who gave it” (Ecclesiastes 12:7).
The Bible often uses the Hebrew words for “breath” and “spirit” interchangeably. When a person dies, his or her body becomes “dust,” and the “spirit” or “breath of life” returns to God, its source. But what happens to the soul?
“‘As I live,’ says the Lord God. . . . ‘all souls are Mine . . . the soul who sins shall die’” (Ezekiel 18:3, 4).
The soul dies! It is not currently immortal—it can perish. The previous two verses show that the equation derived from Genesis 2:7, when God made us, reverses itself at death: (Think of “-” as the word “without.”)
DUST OF GROUND - BREATH OF LIFE = A DEAD SOUL OR
LIFELESS BODY - BREATH FROM GOD = A DEAD BEING
Death is the cessation of life—spirit, soul, and body. The body disintegrates to dust, and the breath—or spirit—goes back to God. We are living beings in life—a living soul, but in death we are only a corpse—a dead soul. When God takes back the breath of life He gave to us, our soul dies.
But thank God, the story doesn’t end here. With Christ, there is hope. But before entering into a discussion about that hope, let’s first examine the question:
Thought question: The “spirit” that returns to God at death is the breath of life. (True or False)
At death, a person’s breath of life returns to God. (True or False)
- How Much Does a Dead Person Know? AFTER DEATH, the brain disintegrates; it can’t know, comprehend, or remember anything.
“In death there is no remembrance of You [God]; in the grave who will give You thanks?” (Psalm 6:5).
All human emotions cease at death.
“Their love, their hatred, and their envy have now perished; nevermore will they have a share in anything done under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 9:6).
The dead are not aware of anything that takes place. They have absolutely no contact with the living:
“For the living know that they will die; but the dead know nothing, and they have no more reward, for the memory of them is forgotten. . . . Live joyfully. . . . for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going” (Ecclesiastes 9:5, 9, 10).
Death is like a dreamless sleep—in fact, 54 times, the Bible calls death a “sleep.” The psalmist said, “I sleep the sleep of death” (Psalm 13:3). Jesus also taught that death is like a sleep. He said to His disciples:
“‘Our friend Lazarus sleeps, but I go that I may wake him up.’ Then His disciples said, ‘Lord, if he sleeps he will get well.’ However, Jesus spoke of his death, but they thought that He was speaking about taking rest in sleep. Then Jesus said to them plainly, ‘Lazarus is dead’” (John 11:11-14).
Lazarus was in the early stages of decay, having been dead for four days before Jesus arrived. However, when the Son of God came to the tomb, He proved that it is as easy for God to raise the dead as it is for us to awaken a sleeping friend.
It’s a great comfort to know that our deceased loved ones are “asleep,” resting peacefully in Jesus, unaware of anything happening on earth. God’s way is the best way.
Suppose, as many Christians believe, a godly mother goes to heaven at death. In heaven, she looks down on earth and sees her son. She watches as he becomes an alcoholic or drug addict. Or she sees him suffering from cancer or severely crippled in an accident. How happy would this mother be in heaven? Salvation in a circumstance like that might offer more eternal pain than joy. Thank God that death is actually like a sound, tranquil sleep!
Thought question: At death, a person’s body goes to heaven. (True or False)
A dead person is not conscious. Jesus compared death to sleep. (True or False)
GREETINGS TO YOU BIBLE STUDENT. TODAY WE ARE STUDYING Discover Bible Guide 24
With the title: When a Person Dies . . . What Then? Section 5: Does God Forget Those Who Sleep in Death?
THE SLEEP OF DEATH is not the end of the story. At the tomb of His friend Lazarus, Jesus said to Martha: “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live” (John 11:25). Those who die in Christ sleep in the grave—but they still have a bright future beyond it. Our infinitely skillful Creator preserves the complete picture of every individual He has made. The One who counts every hair on our heads and holds us in the palm of His hand will not forget.
Job had confidence in God’s unerring memory. He expressed the hope of living again:
“If a man dies, shall he live again? All the days of my hard service I will wait, till my change comes. You shall call, and I will answer You; You shall desire the work of Your hands” (Job 14:14, 15).
A renewal is coming for those who rest in the grave. God will never lose track of a single one of His children. We may die and return to the dust, but the record of our individuality remains clear in the mind of God. Our “life is hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:3), and He will raise us from death as surely and completely as He did Lazarus.
“When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory” (Colossians 3:4).
The righteous dead will awaken from their sleep when Jesus comes. The Apostle Paul wrote:
“I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. . . . For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words” (1 Thessalonians 4:13, 16-18).
On resurrection day, death will seem like a brief rest. The dead are not aware of time passing. Those who have accepted Christ as their Saviour will be awakened from sleep by His wonderful voice coming down to earth.
The hope of resurrection has a companion: the hope of a heavenly home (John 14:1-3), “the hope which is laid up for you in heaven” (Colossians 1:5). The Bible is full of advertisements for that perfect home. Its inhabitants cheerfully “keep the commandments of God” and remain faithful to Jesus (Revelation 12:17; 14:12).
God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain” (Revelation 21:4).
Those who love God don’t have to fear death. Beyond it lies an eternity of a real, physical, joyful, fulfilling life with God. Jesus holds “the keys of . . . Death” (Revelation 1:18). Without Christ, death would be a one-way street ending in oblivion, the abyss that lies at the end of the road of sin. But Christ can unlock the grave. With Christ, there is hope—a bright, radiant hope.
Thought question:
Jesus is the resurrection and the life for all who believe. (True or False)
Be blessed as you meditate upon these truths
GREETINGS TO YOU BIBLE STUDENT. TODAY WE ARE STUDYING Discover Bible Guide 24
With the title: When a Person Dies . . . What Then? Section 6: Are We Immortal Now?
THE BIBLE NEVER once describes the soul as immortal—that is, not subject to death. In the beginning, Adam’s heritage as a created son of God was not death but eternal life. Had Adam remained obedient to the will of God, he would never have died. But when Adam and Eve sinned, they forfeited their right to life and became subject to death. Their sin infected the entire human race (Romans 5:12). Since “the soul who sins shall die” (Ezekiel 18:4), all people are now mortal—subject to death.
The Hebrew and Greek words for soul, spirit, and breath occur in the Bible 1,700 times, and not once is the human soul, spirit, or breath referred to as currently being immortal. Nor is there any hint in the Bible that humans have any conscious existence apart from the body.
Scripture makes it clear that people in this life are mortal—subject to death—but when Jesus returns, our nature will undergo a radical change.
“Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed—in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on in corruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible has put on in corruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: ‘Death is swallowed up in victory’” (1 Corinthians 15:51-54).
As human beings, we are not currently immortal, but by faith in Jesus, we can now claim the promise of immortality. The Christian’s assurance is that he or she will gain immortality when Jesus returns.
The certainty of the promise of immortality was demonstrated when Jesus burst open His tomb.
“Our Saviour Jesus Christ . . . has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel” (2 Timothy 1:10).
The teaching that we are now immortal lies behind the belief in an eternally burning hell. Both the immortality of the soul and an eternally burning hell are ideas derived from Satan’s lie to Eve in Eden, when he promised, “You will not surely die” (Genesis 3:4).
God’s perspective on human destiny is clear: eternal death for those who reject Christ and cling to their sins, or eternal life—immortality—as a gift when Jesus comes for those who have accepted Him as Saviour.
- Facing the Death of a Loved One
THE FEARS we naturally struggle with in the face of death become especially acute when a loved one dies. The loneliness and sense of loss can be overwhelming, and we all have to go through a grieving process.
Some feel the separation from a loved one so keenly that they try to make contact with their dead loved ones. They can fall under the influence of psychic mediums who claim they can communicate with the dead.
However, the Bible specifically warns us against trying to ease the pain of death in this way:
“When they say to you, ‘Seek those who are mediums and wizards, who whisper and mutter,’ should not a people seek their God? Should they seek the dead on behalf of the living?” (Isaiah 8:19).
The real solution to the anguish caused by separation from
a loved one is the comfort that only Christ can give. After all, it’s Christ, not some psychic, who holds our loved one in the palm of His hand. It’s Christ the Creator who safeguards the blueprint for that individual.
Spending time communicating with Christ is the healthiest way to go through the grieving process. Slowly, His perspective sinks into our minds and His promises shine on our gloomy thoughts.
Remember that your loved one is asleep, and a night’s sleep seems like just a few moments to the sleeper. The next conscious moment that will come to those who sleep in Christ will be the Second Coming!
Your loved ones who rest in Jesus will rise in the “resurrection of life” (John 5:29) when Jesus returns once more. On that glorious day, loved ones and friends who are believers will all be caught up together to meet Christ in the air.
God is planning some wonderful reunions. Children will be returned to their ecstatic parents. Husbands and wives will once again feel each other’s embrace.
All of life’s cruel separations will be swallowed up in a crescendo of reunions rising into the sky. Truly, “Death is swallowed up in victory” (1 Corinthians 15:54).
Thought question:
The Bible warns us against being deceived by psychic mediums who claim they can communicate with our dead loved ones. (True or False)
GREETINGS TO YOU BIBLE STUDENT. TODAY WE ARE STUDYING Discover Bible Guide 24
With the title: When a Person Dies . . . What Then? Section 8: Facing Death Unafraid
THERE’S NO DOUBT about it: death is an enemy, and it robs us of almost everything. But the one thing it can’t take from us is Christ, and Christ can put everything back together again. Death will not always reign in this world. The devil, the wicked, death, and the grave will perish in “the lake of fire. This is the second death” (Revelation 20:14).
In the meantime, here are four simple suggestions for facing death unafraid:
Live a life of hopeful trust in Christ, and you will be prepared for death at any moment.
Through the power of the Holy Spirit, be obedient to Christ’s commandments, and you will be prepared for a second life in which you will never die.
Think of death as a short sleep from which Jesus’ voice will awaken you at the Second Coming.
Cherish the assurance Jesus gives us of a heavenly home with Him for all eternity.
Bible truth releases a person from the fear of death, because it reveals Jesus, the One whom even death could not conquer. When Jesus comes into our lives, He floods our hearts with peace: “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you. . . . Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27). Jesus also makes it possible for us to cope with the tragedy of losing a loved one. Jesus walked through “the valley of the shadow of death” (Psalm 23:4), so He knows about the dark nights we experience. He died and rose from the grave to give us an unshakable hope. “In as much then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself [Jesus Christ] likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage” (Hebrews 2:14, 15).
Dr. James Young Simpson, the great pioneer in the field of anesthesia, experienced a terrible loss when his eldest child died. He grieved deeply as any parent would, but then he found his way to hope. On his beloved child’s grave, he erected a small obelisk pointing like a spire toward the heavens. On it, he carved these three words: “Nevertheless I live” (Galatians 2:20, KJV), pointing to the promise of life that we have in Jesus Christ. That says it all.Personal tragedy may seem to blot out the sky sometimes—nevertheless, Jesus lives! Our hearts may be breaking—nevertheless, Jesus lives!
In Christ, we have hope of life after death. He is “the resurrection and the life” (John 11:25), and He promises, “Because I live, you will live also” (John 14:19).
When Christ comes again, He will give us immortality. We will never again live under the shadow of death, for we have eternal life. Have you discovered this great hope that you can cherish in your darkest moments? If you have never accepted Jesus as your Saviour, will you do so now?
Decision & Prayer
MY PRAYER: If you've never prayed before, that's okay. Here is a short prayer to get you started, if you want to read these words aloud to God or say them silently in your head to Him. You can also take this prayer and make it your own by paraphrasing or add your own words to it.
Try to think of talking to God like you would talk to a friend, saying whatever is on your heart.
Heavenly Father, I long for the day when Jesus will return to this earth and my loved ones will be resurrected and I can be reunited with them. Help me to trust You completely and to believe the Bible. Continue to guide my life as I study Your Word. I ask this in the name of Jesus, Amen.
MY DECISION: Take a moment to reflect on the following statements, placing a check mark next to each statement you relate to.
I want to thank Jesus for the knowledge that death is a sleep. I accept His promise of a resurrection to eternal life for all those who trust and follow Him.
I want to accept Jesus as my personal Saviour and spend eternity with Him and my loved ones.Be blessed as you meditate upon these truths
Please take the quiz to complete this lesson
LESSON 24 QUIZ
GREETINGS TO YOU BIBLE STUDENT. TODAY WE ARE STUDYING Discover Bible Guide 25 with the title: Can I Find God’s Church Today? Section 1: The Church Established by Jesus
ACCORDING TO the World Christian Encylopedia, there are currently 19 major world religions, which are further subdivided into 270 large groups and innumerable smaller ones. Christianity alone is made up of some 34,000 separate groupings and denominations. Many of these world religions have widely differing theological views.
Jesus prayed that all of us might be one (John 17:21)—united in love, harmony, and in our worship of God. Yet religious strife seems to be everywhere in our world today—from doctrinal disputes to religious persecution, riots, and even murders and mass killings carried out in the name of religion.
In 2014, a Pew Research Center study reported that the number of countries worldwide with high levels of religious hostilities had reached a six-year high in 2012.
How can religious beliefs differ so widely? Is there any hope of bridging the chasms that separate us into so many different religions?
It’s no wonder that people these days are reluctant to believe anyone who proclaims one truth—one faith—and calls for complete commitment. At the same time, however, people are looking for something they can hold on to with certainty—a truth to believe in completely.
Some people tell us that truth is an individual matter and they urge us to follow “the God who is in your heart.” However, it isn’t very reassuring to just make up the truth as you go along. When you’re facing difficult times, you need something more solid than that.
So does God have a church today? Does He have a special message for our day that gives us a solid place to stand? Yes, fortunately, God has prepared a special message for us in these times. Jesus has a special message for our day—our generation—which gives us a place to stand. We find it described in the Bible in the prophetic books of Daniel and Revelation.
- The Church Established by Jesus: THE LIFE AND TEACHINGS of Jesus established unity of belief and close fellowship in the newly formed apostolic church. Apostolic Christians knew who they were and lived out their faith confidently. They formed a close relationship with the risen Christ. Paul pictured that close bond as a marriage relationship:
“I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ” (2 Corinthians 11:2). According to Paul, the church is a pure woman, the bride of Christ—a fitting symbol of Christ’s beloved church.
In the Old Testament, the same metaphor is used to describe Israel, God’s chosen people. God said to Israel, “I remember . . . the love of your betrothal” (Jeremiah 2:2), and “I am married to you” (Jeremiah 3:14). The New Testament speaks of Israel as “the church in the wilderness” (Acts 7:38, KJV).
In the book of Revelation, John also speaks symbolically of the church as a woman:
“A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a garland [crown] of twelve stars” (Revelation 12:1).
Here is the meaning of these symbols:
- THE WOMAN IS “CLOTHED WITH THE SUN.” This suggests a church shining like the noonday sun—clothed with Christ’s glorious presence. Jesus, “the light of the world” (John 8:12), shines through the members of His church, and they in turn also become “the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14).
- THE WOMAN HAS “THE MOON UNDER HER FEET.” Just as the moon reflects the light from the sun, in this verse, the moon represents the message (light) of the gospel symbolically seen (reflected) in the sacrifices and ceremonies of God’s people in the Old Testament.
The moon being “under her feet” suggests that the Old Testament sacrifices were fulfilled in Christ’s life, ministry, death, and resurrection.
- THE WOMAN HAS “ON HER HEAD A GARLAND [CROWN] OF TWELVE STARS.” Because Revelation 12 is about the church and Jesus, the stars here fittingly represent the 12 apostles—men of noble character whose testimony about Jesus shines brilliantly to this very day. In these verses, John is describing the Christian church of the New Testament that Jesus established.
The sun, moon, and stars—used to describe the characteristics of this woman—emphasize the light-giving ministry of the Christian church and its primary role of sharing the Good News of the gospel.
Thought question: In Revelation 12, the woman clothed with the sun represents Babylon. (True or False)
GREETINGS TO YOU BIBLE STUDENT. TODAY WE ARE STUDYING Discover Bible Guide 25 with the title: Can I Find God’s Church Today? Section 2: The Drama of Satan’s Defeat
THE APPEARANCE of the woman sets the stage for a great drama: “Then being with child, she cried out in labour and in pain to give birth. And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great, fiery red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads. . . . And the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to give birth, to devour her Child as soon as it was born. She bore a male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her Child was caught up to God and His throne. Then the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that they should feed her there one thousand two hundred and sixty days” (Revelation 12:2-6).
Three key figures participate in this drama:
- THE WOMAN, already identified as God’s church in the previous section (2 Corinthians 11:2).
- THE MALE CHILD born to this woman, who is “caught up to God and His throne” and will someday “rule all nations.” Jesus Christ is the only child ever born in this world who has been taken up to God’s throne and will someday rule all nations (Matthew 1, 2).
- THE DRAGON, representing the devil, or Satan (Revelation 12:9).
“War broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him” (Revelation 12:7-9).
The picture becomes clear once we understand the symbols. When the devil and his angels lost their place in heaven, they were “cast to the earth.” When Jesus was born here nearly 2,000 years ago, the devil tried to kill Jesus (the male Child) as soon as He was born (Matthew 2:13-15). Satan failed, and after the resurrection (“caught up to God and His throne”), Jesus returned to heaven (Acts 1:9-11). Satan then set out to annihilate the Christian church that Christ established. But Satan has failed to destroy Christ and His church. John saw glimpses of this great conflict between Christ and Satan raging on this earth. As the battle reached a climax at Christ’s crucifixion, John heard a voice shout from heaven: “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down” (Revelation 12:10; see also John 12:31).
Jesus won a deciding victory over Satan at the cross. At the cross, Jesus guaranteed the certainty of the plan of salvation. God provided to all men and women—through the Holy Spirit—the power to resist Satan’s temptations. The promise of heaven (“the kingdom of our God”) and eternal life was made secure. And Jesus was confirmed as our High Priest and King. The announcement “now salvation . . . [has] come” interests not only John but the entire universe: “Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time” (Revelation 12:12). All of heaven celebrated Jesus’ victory. Christ destroyed any claim Satan may have once had to a place in heaven. Satan was defeated and lost his claim to our world forever. In step with Christ, the Christian church marched forward in triumph.
Thought question: ; The great conflict between Christ and Satan ended at Christ’s birth.. (True or False) The Child the woman gives birth to is Jesus Christ.. (True or false) The dragon who attempts to destroy the Child at His birth represents religious leaders.. (True or False)
GREETINGS TO YOU BIBLE STUDENT. TODAY WE ARE STUDYING Discover Bible Guide 25 with the title: Can I Find God’s Church Today? Section 3: The Christian Church in Conflict With Satan
CHRIST’S DEATH on the cross gave the Christian church the power to defeat Satan.
“And they [the Christian church] overcame him [Satan] by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death” (Revelation 12:11).
Through the Holy Spirit, Christ is now able to give His power to us as members of His church. Just as Jesus decisively triumphed over Satan at the cross, He now continues to triumph over Satan through His church.
Three characteristics mark the triumphant church during the passing centuries of the Christian era:
- “THEY OVERCAME HIM [SATAN] BY THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB.” Jesus went back to heaven after His resurrection (was “caught up to God and His throne”) and began His ministry in the heavenly sanctuary, which we studied in Guide 12. It is the shed blood of Jesus that clears the record of our sins and gives us eternal life (1 John 1:7). The life-giving blood of a risen Savior also gives us power to live the Christian life day by day (1 Peter 1:18-20). (For a full explanation of the meaning of Christ’s blood, see Guide 11.)
- “THEY DID NOT LOVE THEIR LIVES TO THE DEATH.” The blood of the Lamb made Christians willing to die for Christ’s cause; they did not “love their lives to the death.” The impact of the cross enabled the Christian martyrs to retain a sense of mission in the face of adversity. God had suffered greatly, so they were willing to suffer.
Even children made the ultimate sacrifice. A story is told of a Christian mother who was thrown to the lions in a Roman arena because she gave her ultimate allegiance to Christ and not to the state
Her young daughter had to look on the cruel scene. But instead of shrinking back in horror, she felt a fervent devotion welling up inside. As the lions attacked her mother, she stood up and cried, “I too am a Christian.” Roman officials arrested her on the spot and hurled her to the hungry beasts.
Tertullian, a church leader in the 2nd century, said of Christians: “The working of such love puts a brand upon us, for ‘See,’ say the heathen, ‘how they love one another, and are ready to lay down their lives for each other.’”
Christians who kept biblical truth in the face of death are an inspiring example. Here’s an account of the ordeal of certain believers who insisted on practicing baptism by immersion as taught in Scripture:
In 1160 a company of Paulicians (Baptists) entered Oxford. Henry II ordered them to be branded on the forehead with hot irons, publicly whipped them through the streets of the city, to have their garments cut short at the girdles, and be turned into the open country. The villages were not to afford them any shelter or food, and they perished a lingering death from cold and hunger” (James M. Moore, Earlier and Later Nonconformity in Oxford, p. 12)
GREETINGS TO YOU BIBLE STUDENT. TODAY WE ARE STUDYING Discover Bible Guide 25 with the title: Can I Find God’s Church Today? Section 3: The Church Established by Jesus part two
- “THEY OVERCAME HIM [SATAN] . . . BY THE WORD OF THEIR TESTIMONY.” The “word of their testimony” is not only their words, but the testimony—the example—of their lives, their living witness to the power of Jesus and His gospel. During the darkest hours of the Christian era, a whole army of Christians—from the early church fathers to the Protestant reformers—overcame the worst the devil could hurl at them, simply by the dynamic witness of their lives.
Since Satan failed to destroy the Son of God when He lived on earth in the flesh, he now seeks to destroy Christ’s church. The church receives both encouragement and warning: “Now when the dragon saw that he had been cast to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male Child. But the woman [God’s church] was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent. So the serpent spewed water out of his mouth like a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away by the flood. But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the flood which the dragon had spewed out of his mouth” (Revelation 12:13-16).
Just as predicted, during the Dark Ages of the Christian era (beginning around ad 500 and lasting more than a thousand years), Satan sent “a flood” of persecution to sweep away the church. This is spiritual warfare. Satan wants to destroy Christ’s influence by wiping out His church, and he uses every trick his evil genius can devise. The dragon represents Satan primarily. But remember that in his role as the dragon, Satan uses human institutions to attack God’s people. He used a Roman king, Herod, in an attempt to murder the Christ child as soon as He was born. He worked through Christ’s jealous religious rivals to stalk and harass the Savior, and finally secure His execution on the cross. But Satan’s apparent victory turned into Christ’s greatest triumph. Furious over his defeat at the cross, Satan turned his wrath against the church that Jesus established.
During the decades after Christ’s crucifixion, thousands met their death in arenas, city squares, dungeons, and desert hideaways. But after the death of the apostles, a gradual change crept into the church. During the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th centuries, many in the church began to modify—and sometimes even reject—the truths Christ and His apostles had taught. Some apostate leaders even began to persecute Christians who insisted on the purity of New Testament beliefs.
Some scholars have estimated that at least 50 million faithful Christians died during this time of persecution, though the number may have been much higher. In an unsuccessful attempt to drown out the church and completely destroy it, the devil sent “a flood” of persecution and false doctrine to carry away the church and attempt to eliminate it. “But the earth helped the woman . . . and swallowed up the flood” of persecution and false doctrine. How did this happen?
During these medieval persecutions, the true church withdrew from the apostate leadership and took refuge in “the wilderness.” Fortunately, God’s church—His faithful people—had, according
to Revelation 12:6, “a place prepared by God, that they should feed her there one thousand two hundred and sixty days.”
This prediction was fulfilled during the 1,260 years of persecution from ad 538 to 1798 (remember that a day stands for a year in symbolic Bible prophecy; see Ezekiel 4:6).
During these dark centuries, faithful Bible-believing Christians found refuge wherever they could—for example, in the Waldensian valleys of western Italy and eastern France, and in the Celtic church of the British Isles. Men such as Patrick of Ireland, Columba of Iona, and Aidan of Lindisfarne preached the divine Word of God in secret centers of learning, where they trained young men to share the pure gospel in a time of ignorance, superstition, and intolerance. (For more details about the wilderness church and its 1,260 years of trouble and controversy, be sure to enroll in the free Focus on Prophecy course— which focuses on the books of Daniel and Revelation—when you complete the Discover series.)
Thought question: The Christian church is able to overcome Satan through Christ’s cleansing blood. (True or False)
GREETINGS TO YOU BIBLE STUDENT. TODAY WE ARE STUDYING Discover Bible Guide 25 with the title: Can I Find God’s Church Today? Section 4: God’s Church in Our Day
AS MIGHT be expected, the dragon is still angry with God’s people. The great unseen war continues. In fact, Satan will make his greatest attack on the church just before Jesus comes. Note the last act in the drama at the conclusion of the prophecy:
“And the dragon [the devil] was enraged with the woman [God’s church], and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ” (Revelation 12:17).
This prophecy focuses on our day. Satan is enraged; he wages war on “the rest of her offspring” or “the remnant of her seed” (KJV). This refers to Christians living in the last days of earth’s history—our day. The word remnant means “the remainder,” the last of something. In this case, it refers to God’s remaining faithful Christians in the last days. Notice that the final Christian church has certain identifying marks: they “keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.”
- THESE LAST-DAY BELIEVERS “HAVE THE TESTIMONY OF JESUS.” Clinging faithfully to the pure doctrines of the Word of God, they testify for Jesus through dynamic Christian living. They have discovered that the great truths of the Bible awaken love and devotion to Christ. They are a caring people, and want to share with others the joys of living in Christ.
- THESE LAST-DAY CHRISTIANS ARE A PEOPLE OF PROPHECY. Receiving “the testimony of Jesus Christ” enabled John to write the book of Revelation (Revelation 1:1-3). The final group of believers, God’s remnant people, receives a similar gift: direct testimonies from God through an earthly messenger. John defines “the testimony of Jesus” as “the spirit of prophecy” (Revelation 19:10). The gift of prophecy focuses their eyes on God’s revelation of their mission and final destiny
- THESE LAST-DAY CHRISTIANS ARE ALSO IDENTIFIED AS THOSE “WHO KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS OF GOD.” They not only defend the integrity of the Ten Commandments, but they also obey them. “The love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit” (Romans 5:5). God’s love produces joyful obedience (Romans 13:8-10).
The apostolic church demonstrated a loyalty to the commandments of God, and these last-day Christians take the same stand by following the example of Christ and the early church in obeying the commandments of God. This greatly provokes our enemy, the dragon. The devil wages war with “the rest of ” the woman’s “offspring,” because they bear witness to a great truth: genuine love for God produces obedient disciples. As Jesus instructed us:
“If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15).
Have you discovered this in your own life? The lives of these last-day Christians show us that, in Christ, it’s possible to love God with all our hearts and love our fellow human beings as ourselves. These qualities—love for God and love for others—sum up God’s Ten Commandments (Matthew 22:35-40).
The fourth of those commandments asks us to observe Saturday, the seventh day of the week, as the Sabbath. Since love for Jesus is seen in following all 10 of the commandments in their hearts, these last-day Christians are Sabbath-keepers. The devil has tried in various ways to chip the fourth of the Ten Commandments out of the tables of stone on which God wrote them, but he hasn’t been able to remove it from the hearts of faithful believers.
God does have a last-day movement that leads men and women back to obedience to His commandments—one that calls His people back to allegiance to Him. The Sabbath is the symbol that God is both Creator and Lord of this world and of each of our lives. And the Sabbath is at the heart of God’s final appeal to His people in Revelation chapters 12-14.
All the resources of heaven are arrayed behind the last-day Christians described in these chapters. They may seem weak and insignificant in the world, but their prayers call an army of heavenly angels to their side; a living Savior is their constant companion; and the Holy Spirit works to strengthen them with power in their lives (Ephesians 3:16). The promise is sure. They will overcome Satan “by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony” (Revelation 12:11).
Let’s review in outline format the Bible picture of the true church, the remnant people of God:
They keep the commandments of God, including the Bible Sabbath—the seventh day.
They are a prophetic people, teaching Bible prophecy. The prophetic gift is a sign of God’s guidance in God’s last-day movement.
They have the faith of Jesus and are not confused by human tradition. They accept the whole Bible—both the Old and New Testaments.
They remain steadfast to God’s Word no matter what others might think.
They give a special message of warning, calling people to come out of religious confusion and accept the Bible as their rule of faith and practice.
They give the message of the judgment hour, which, according to Bible prophecy, began in 1844.
They are a mission-minded church, carrying the everlasting gospel to every nation—the Good News of Jesus’ saving grace and of His return to gather His people into His everlasting kingdom.
Do you want to be one of these last-day Christians who “keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus”? Why not make that decision just now?
Thought question: God’s true church in these last days of earth’s history has the gift of prophecy. (True or False)
God’s true church, through a love for Him, follows all the commandments of God, including observing the seventh-day Sabbath. (True or False)
Decision & Prayer
MY PRAYER: If you've never prayed before, that's okay. Here is a short prayer to get you started, if you want to read these words aloud to God or say them silently in your head to Him. You can also take this prayer and make it your own by paraphrasing or add your own words to it.
Try to think of talking to God like you would talk to a friend, saying whatever is on your heart.
Dear Father, how thankful I am for the clear message Scripture gives us about how we can be part of God’s last-day people. I surrender my life to Jesus, and I desire to keep His commandments and faithfully follow Him. Keep me close to Jesus and meet my daily needs. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
MY DECISION: Take a moment to reflect on the following statements, placing a check mark next to each statement you relate to.
I want to be a part of God’s true church—His remnant people—in these last days. By His grace, I want to follow Jesus in all things.
Please pray for me as I consider the Bible messages I have been studying.
Be blessed as you meditate upon these truths
Please take the quiz to complete this lesson
LESSON 25 QUIZ
GREETINGS TO YOU BIBLE STUDENT. TODAY WE ARE STUDYING Discover Bible Guide 26 with the Title: Does God Have a Special Message for Our Day? Section 1: Which Religion Saves?
WAYNE’S JOB was painting the outside of the retirement center where he worked. His supervisor said, “I don’t care if you spray or brush the siding, as long as the job looks professional and is completed by August. There is more than one way to accomplish a task. I just want it done.” Wayne’s grandpa used to tell him much the same thing, saying, “All roads lead to Rome.”
Maybe you have heard someone using that same phrase, “All roads lead to Rome,” meaning that there is more than one way to accomplish a task or reach a goal. That may be true when it comes to painting or some other job, but the question for you and me is this: Is there more than one “truth” of Scripture? Do all religious approaches lead to truth? For example, does the Bible have more than one teaching regarding what happens to a person when he or she dies? Or the method of baptism—sprinkling, immersion, or pouring? Or which day is the Sabbath day? This list could go on and on.
It can be confusing to a person searching for biblical truth. Where do you begin your search? Which church or group should you choose? Christianity, the predominant religion in America, is made up of numerous denominations, such as Protestants and Catholics—in addition to subdivisions such as evangelicals, fundamentalists, Congregationalists, etc.
In all this maze, how can someone who is searching discover truth? There is one way to find truth. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6).
If we want to know the truth as it is in Jesus, if we want to cut through all the confusion of competing religious claims today, we need to go to the Bible. Let’s discover together what God says in His Word.
- Which Religion Saves? RAMON UMASHANKAR was born a Brahmin. However as a teenager, Ramon began to wonder if he could really find God through the various idols worshipped in Hindu temples. Later, Ramon moved to the United States and began examining the Bible and the claims of Christ. He had always respected Jesus for His humility, but now Ramon heard that this Jesus claimed to be the unique Son of God. He noticed that many Christians seemed to have a peace that he had not found in his years of meditation.
Then Ramon saw a film on the life of Christ. For the first time he realized that Jesus had experienced suffering and fear as a human being. Prior to this, Ramon had thought Jesus somehow used His supernatural powers to escape the pain of crucifixion. He wondered, “How did this Jesus go through such an ordeal—for sinful men?”
As Ramon continued to think about Christ’s death, he was overwhelmed by His demonstration of love. He decided to turn his life over to Jesus, the Saviour. In comparison with Christ’s sacrificial love, Ramon later said, “Everything else just fell to pieces.”
This young Brahmin discovered the central truth of Christianity: Jesus is the Saviour of the world. He is the Way— the only Way—of salvation.
“Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).
The Bible clearly teaches that we are lost in sin and thus subject to sin’s penalty: death (Romans 6:23). All have sinned (Romans 3:23), so all face death. All of us need to be rescued from sin’s condemnation. Jesus is the One—the only One—who can provide that rescue (1 Corinthians 15:2-4).
We are not saved by a religion, nor are we saved by a church. We are saved by Jesus Christ, and Jesus Christ alone.
“Everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day” (John 6:40). However, God does have a church, made up of people who follow Him as Lord and Savior of their lives.
The Apostle Peter said to Jesus: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16). Jesus responded to this confession of faith by saying: “On this rock I will build My church” (verse 18).
Belief in Jesus Christ is the foundation of genuine religion, the “rock” on which the true church is built. Just as there is only “one God, the Father” and “one Lord Jesus Christ” our Saviour
(1 Corinthians 8:6), so there is only one true religion:
“One Lord, one faith, one baptism” (Ephesians 4:5).
“There will be one flock and one shepherd” (John 10:16).
Christianity teaches the truth as revealed in the Word of God. Jesus said, “You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me” (John 5:39). Jesus, praying to the Father before His death on the cross, said, “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth” (John 17:17).
The true church will teach the Word of God—the Bible only— as its rule of faith and practice, and it will be guided into all truth by the Holy Spirit, Christ’s representative in the church.
Thought question: There are three true faiths in the world. (True or False)
YES, God does have a special message for last-day Christians. This message is to be shared with the world and will reach its climax with the second coming of Jesus.
This threefold message appears in Revelation 14:6-16. According to verses 14-16, after these three messages have been spread throughout the world, Jesus will come to “harvest” the saved
GREETINGS TO YOU BIBLE STUDENT. TODAY WE ARE STUDYING Discover Bible Guide 26 with the Title: Does God Have a Special Message for Our Day? Section 2: Does God Have a Special Message for Our Day?
“Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and on the cloud sat One like the Son of Man, having on His head a golden crown, and in His hand a sharp sickle. And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to Him who sat on the cloud, ‘Thrust in Your sickle and reap, for the time has come for You to reap, for the harvest of the earth is ripe.’ So He who sat on the cloud thrust in His sickle on the earth, and the earth was reaped” (Revelation 14:14-16). Though Scripture symbolically portrays these messages as being proclaimed by three angels, it is actually God’s people— His last-day church—who deliver them to the world. Let’s take a careful look at each of the three divine messages.
THE FIRST ANGEL’S MESSAGE: “Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth—to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people—saying with a loud voice, ‘Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water’” (Revelation 14:6, 7). God’s people do not proclaim a new gospel to the world—they share the gospel message of salvation which has never changed. That is why it is called “the everlasting gospel.” Even though God may have a special message in the last days, we must always be careful never to de-emphasize or distort the “everlasting gospel” of Jesus Christ.
THE FIRST ANGEL’S MESSAGE: It is the same message of salvation that people in Old Testament times accepted by faith (Hebrews 3:16-19; 4:2; 11:1-40); the same teaching that Jesus Himself proclaimed; the same gospel the disciples preached to conquer the world for Christ; the same gospel that has thundered down through the centuries of the Christian era. And God’s people preach it around the world today.
The first angel proclaims this same simple, saving gospel message but puts it in a new setting—a worldwide one—focused on people who are living in the last days just before Jesus returns. This last-day message calls on people to “fear [reverence] God and give glory to Him [reflect His character].”
THE FIRST ANGEL’S MESSAGE: Those who are part of God’s church in the days before His Second Coming will demonstrate God’s character of love to the world—not only by their words but also by their lives of dynamic witness. They offer a thrilling revelation of what God can do through human beings filled with the Spirit of Christ (John 15:8).
When were these Three Angels’ Messages to be proclaimed throughout the world? When the hour of God’s “judgment has come.” In Guide 13, we learned that Jesus began the work of His pre-Advent judgment in 1844, the year when Jesus inspired people all over the world to begin preaching the messages of Revelation 14.
This message calls for us to “worship Him who made heaven and earth” (Revelation 14:7). God asks us to “remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy” because “in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth” (Exodus 20:8, 11). In 1844, when Darwin was propounding the theory of evolution, God was calling people back to worship Him as the Creator.
At the very time evolution tried to threaten the authority of the Bible, God’s people discovered the seventh-day Sabbath of God’s Word and began to keep it in honour of the Creator of heaven and earth. The seventh-day Sabbath is an integral part of the First Angel’s Message.
Be blessed
GREETINGS TO YOU BIBLE STUDENT. TODAY WE ARE STUDYING Discover Bible Guide 26 with the Title: Does God Have a Special Message for Our Day? Section 2: Does God Have a Special Message for Our Day? Part two
THE SECOND ANGEL’S MESSAGE: “Another angel followed, saying, ‘Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she has made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication’” (Revelation 14:8). Following the confusion of languages at the Tower of Babel, the name “Babylon” became connected with the Hebrew word balal, “to confound.” In Bible prophecy, Babylon is a vivid symbol of religious confusion—which is seen when professed Christians do not teach according to the Bible. So therefore, “Babylon” refers to Christians or churches that have teachings and doctrines that are not based in God’s Word, the Scriptures.
The second of God’s messages strongly opposes a religion of compromise. Revelation 17 depicts spiritual Babylon—apostate Christianity—as an immoral woman (verses 1-5). She stands in contrast to the pure woman of Revelation 12 who represents the true Christian church. The second angel warns, “Babylon is fallen.” The woman who represents Babylon is a fallen woman who “has made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.” The “wine” represents false teachings that do not follow the Bible. The “fornication” represents the Christian church forming beliefs and philosophies based on human ideas and traditions rather than on God’s Word.
It attempts to force these false teachings upon others through an alliance of the secular government and the church.
The message of the second angel calls God’s people to belong only to a church whose teachings and beliefs are founded on the Word of God and to resist the false teachings of an apostate Christianity that obscure the truths of the Bible.
God calls people to “come out” of Babylon (Revelation 18:4) and into wholehearted devotion to Christ. He wants a people who serve as examples of the power of obedient faith—genuine disciples who depend on Christ and follow His teachings in the Scriptures. He asks us to “keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus” (Revelation 14:12).
Many today are choosing a form of “lite” Christianity, saying, in effect: “Just give me a few greeting card sayings and send me on my way. Don’t cramp my style with any of those non-negotiable commandments from Mt. Sinai.”
Babylon falls because she chooses to compromise God’s Word and to reject certain truths of the Bible. During the first few centuries after Jesus’ resurrection, the Church introduced certain theological teachings that led to protests from clergy and members and gave birth to the Protestant Reformation. Even in our modern day, some Christians have chosen to depart from the great Bible truths of the Reformation. If we choose not to followall of the teachings of the Bible, we are part of Babylon. Those who “come out” of Babylon will reject unbiblical teachings and worship God as He is revealed in His Word
GREETINGS TO YOU BIBLE STUDENT. TODAY WE ARE STUDYING Discover Bible Guide 26 with the Title: Does God Have a Special Message for Our Day? Section 2: Does God Have a Special Message for Our Day? Part three
THE THIRD ANGEL’S MESSAGE “A third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, ‘If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. . . . They have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.’ Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus” (Revelation 14:9-12).
THE THIRD ANGEL’S MESSAGE: The Third Angel’s Message demands a decision. It divides the entire world into two groups. On one side stand apostate Christians who worship “the beast and his image” and receive “his mark on his forehead or on his hand.” On the other side stand those who reject the authority of the beast; these are the saints “who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.” Note the contrast between the two opposing groups. Those who receive the “mark of the beast” follow convenient, man-made ideas and practices. They are professed Christians who choose not to follow the Bible and the Bible alone. God’s faithful Christians, called “saints” in these verses, have as their distinguishing traits: patience, obedience to God’s commandments, and the faith of Jesus.
The deciding factor is worship. Will you worship God as described in Exodus 20:8-11 on His Sabbath? Or worship the beast and its proclaimed day of worship? Our advanced Focus on Prophecy Bible course presents an in-depth study of the identity of Babylon and also of the beast, his image, and his mark. In this guide we can examine only briefly the vital importance of this third message.
In summary, the first angel proclaims the everlasting gospel and calls for the restoration of the true worship of God as Creator, because the judgment hour has arrived.
The second angel warns against all humanly-originated forms of worship and beliefs that are not based completely on God’s Word.
Finally, the third angel proclaims God’s solemn warning against worshiping the beast and his image. Two groups emerge—those who choose to follow God’s Word completely and those who choose to mix biblical teachings with human traditions.
Thought question:
- According to this message in Revelation 14:6–16, in these last days, God’s church will call people out of religious confusion to be genuine disciples who depend on Christ and follow His teachings in the Bible. (True or False)
- God has a special message for our day—the Three Angels’ Messages—found in Revelation 14:6–16.. (True or False)
- According to this message in Revelation 14:6–16, in these last days, God’s church will proclaim the gospel message to the world.. (True or False)
GREETINGS TO YOU BIBLE STUDENT. TODAY WE ARE STUDYING Discover Bible Guide 26 with the Title: Does God Have a Special Message for Our Day? Section 3: Christ’s Last-Day Church
HAVE YOU EVER admired a strong, stable Christian—marvelled at his or her devotion, patience, and faith, and longed for a similar spiritual experience? God gave His special message for our day in Revelation 14 because it can produce just such an experience. As discussed in Guide 25, Revelation 12:17 identifies last-day Christians as those “who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.” Revelation 14:12 describes this same group as saints who “keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.”
Let’s summarize the characteristics of last-day Christians.
- THEY “HAVE THE TESTIMONY OF JESUS CHRIST” (REVELATION 12:17). Even when Satan vents His anger against them, they remain faithful to Jesus. Before Jesus ascended to heaven after His resurrection, He promised the gift of the Holy Spirit. He also promised to live continually in the hearts of Christians through faith.
Our Saviour wants His light, love, and power to shine out to the world in a special way through God’s last-day church. Their faith is not of their own making; it’s a gift from God (Ephesians 2:8). They see Christ more and more clearly in His true character, and by grace, through faith, they become living monuments to the power of an indwelling Christ.
Furthermore, Revelation 19:10 identifies the “testimony of Jesus” as the “spirit of prophecy.” God, through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, will provide special messages to His last-day Christians. The last-day church is a church of prophecy and will possess the prophetic gift.
- THEY “KEEP . . . THE FAITH OF JESUS” (REVELATION 14:12). Last-day Christians need to trust God as Jesus trusted His Father. The faith that Jesus had, the faith that He taught, the faith that He lived, must now fill their hearts. Believers in the last days not only have the truth, they “keep” the truth—they follow it.
To them, religion is life, belief is connected with practice, and faith is coupled with obedience. Each one lives out “the faith of Jesus” in his or her life. Theirs is an experience of obedient living through faith.
They have discovered the truth that 18th-century author Samuel Johnson observed: “He who hopes to find peace by trusting God must obey Him.”
- THEY “KEEP THE FAITH OF JESUS,” BECAUSE THEY HAVE DISCOVERED THAT THE GREAT TEACHINGS OF THE BIBLE, WHEN APPLIED TO DAILY LIVING, PRODUCE A DYNAMIC CHRISTIAN LIFE. They have found that these great Bible truths awaken a love and devotion to Christ who satisfies every need and longing of the human heart.
- THEY “KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS OF GOD”—THE TEN COMMANDMENTS, THE MORAL LAW OF GOD. Because they love God with all their hearts, they want above all else to obey God’s every command. They show their love to God and other people by following all the commandments of God, including the fourth commandment that directs us to worship our Creator by honouring Saturday, the seventh-day Sabbath.
- THEY SHARE THE MESSAGE OF “THE EVERLASTING GOSPEL” THROUGHOUT THE WORLD (REVELATION 14:6). The gospel declares that sin separates people from God, but that Jesus died for our sins so that we can experience a saving relationship with Him.
Since 1844, when the pre-Advent judgment began in heaven, Christ’s last-day church has been calling people everywhere to come out of religious confusion and form a relationship with Jesus based solely on Bible truth.
- THEY ARE DRIVEN BY A SENSE OF URGENCY, “FOR THE HARVEST OF THE EARTH IS RIPE” (REVELATION 14:15). The long night of sin and spiritual darkness is almost over; the end of the world is near, and millions still haven’t found Christ. This accounts for their acute sense of urgency that Jesus is coming soon!
- THEY ARE CONSUMED BY THEIR GOD-GIVEN MISSION. They don’t want to keep their wonderful relationship with Christ to themselves. Because “Babylon is fallen,” they plead with those still living in religious confusion, “Come out of her, my people” (Revelation 18:4). They have a healthy, fruitful fellowship that unites them to Christ, and they long to share this experience with everyone living in a decaying world. Their life of joy leads them to join the apostle John in extending this invitation to you:
“That which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His son Jesus Christ. And these things we write to you that your joy may be full” (1 John 1:3, 4).
Through His Spirit and His church, Jesus invites you also to come and surrender everything to Him:
“The Spirit and the bride [the church] say, ‘Come!’ And let him who hears say, ‘Come!’ And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely” (Revelation 22:17).
Thought
According to this message in Revelation 14:6–16, in these last days, God’s church will . . . ( 4)
. . . call people out of religious confusion to be genuine disciples who depend on Christ and follow His teachings in the Bible.
. . . proclaim the gospel message to the world.
. . . be a church that, through their love for God, obeys His commandments--including the fourth commandment that requires keeping the seventh day Sabbath.
. . . be diligent in their God-given mission to share a saving relationship with Christ with everyone in the whole world
GREETINGS TO YOU BIBLE STUDENT. TODAY WE ARE STUDYING Discover Bible Guide 26 with the Title: Does God Have a Special Message for Our Day? Section 4: The Two Harvests
THE THREE ANGELS’ Messages culminate when Jesus returns to earth to harvest the saved of all time (Revelation 14:14-16) and take them to heaven (John 14:1-3). He forever abolishes sin, sickness, misery, and death. The saints begin glorious new lives with Him, each day more exciting than the last, throughout eternity (Revelation 21:1-4).
Jesus will also “harvest” the wicked at His coming.
“Then another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle. And another angel . . . cried with a loud cry to him who had the sharp sickle, saying, ‘Thrust in your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth, for her grapes are fully ripe.’ So the angel thrust his sickle into the earth and gathered the vine of the earth, and threw it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. And the winepress was trampled outside the city, and blood came out of the winepress” (Revelation 14:17-20).
This will be a tragic time of final destruction. It’s an especially sorrowful event for Christ, because He must destroy those who refuse to be saved. Jesus “is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). Unfortunately some still turn away from Him.
Now is the time to decide. Now is the time to discover the day of salvation.
“We then, as workers together with Him [God] alsoplead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain. For He says: ‘In an acceptable time I have heard you, and in the day of salvation I have helped you.’ Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:1, 2).
The issue is clearly set. On the one side, Jesus stands with outstretched nail-pierced hands, urging you to take your stand with the saints “who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus” (Revelation 14:12).
On the other side are the voices of mere human beings, urging that obedience to the entire Bible and to all the commandments of God is not important.
The crowd in Pilate’s judgment hall once faced a strikingly similar issue. On one hand was Jesus, the Son of God. On the other hand was Barabbas, a criminal in the Roman justice system. In a commanding voice, Pilate asked, “Which of the two shall I release to you?” The crowd shouted, “Barabbas!” Pilate responded, “What then shall I do with Jesus?” With one voice the crowd proclaimed, “Let Him be crucified!” And so Jesus, the innocent One, was crucified, and Barabbas, the guilty one, went free (see Matthew 27:20-26).
Which side do you choose today? Do you choose to follow man-made ideas and teachings that are contrary to the commandments of God and contrary to the everlasting gospel of Jesus? Or do you want to “keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus”?
Remember, He is the One who promises to send His Holy Spirit to solve your every perplexity, heal your every heartache, and satisfy your every longing. His love will never fail you.
Decision & Prayer
MY PRAYER: If you've never prayed before, that's okay. Here is a short prayer to get you started, if you want to read these words aloud to God or say them silently in your head to Him. You can also take this prayer and make it your own by paraphrasing or add your own words to it.
Try to think of talking to God like you would talk to a friend, saying whatever is on your heart.
Dear Heavenly Father: I choose to follow You daily in my life. I choose to follow Your will as revealed in the Bible. Please help me through the power of the Holy Spirit to be obedient to Your will for my life. Please meet my every need as I plan to live with You in heaven. I ask this in the name of Jesus, Amen.
MY DECISION: Take a moment to reflect on the following statements, placing a check mark next to each statement you relate to.
I want to be among God’s faithful remnant people in these last days. I choose to follow Him and be obedient to all His commandments.
Please pray for me as I continue to study God’s Word and consider His will for my life.
CONGRATULATIONS!
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Sakubona Mfundi weBhayibhili. Lamuhlanje sikusifundo 1
UJimu wabuza omunye umuntu owayengakholwa kuNkulunkulu ukuthi wayeseke walwisana lomcabango wokuthi kambe uNkulunkulu ukhona na? “ K a k h u l u ” w a p h e n d u l a l o owayengakholwa kuNkulunkulu. Impendulo le yammangalisa kakhulu u Jimu. Owayengakholwa ukuthi kuloNkulunkulu, waqhubeka wathi, Iminyaka eminengi eyadlulayo ngesikhathi sithola izibulo lethu ngaphosa ngokholwa kuNkulunkulu. N g i k h a n g e l a l o l o s a n e , k o d w a lungumuntu opheleleyo, ludlalisa iminwe yalo, lamehlo alo evuleka, okwezinyanga ezithile ngaphosa n g a k h o l w a k u N k u l u n k u l u . Ngikhangela lolosane ngaphosa ngakholwa ukuthi uNkulunkulu ukhona.
- KONKE OKUHLELEKILEYO KULOMHLELI
Ukubunjwa komzimba womuntu kuveza ukuthi ukhona owawudalayo. Abezesayensi basitshela ukuthi
ingqondo yomuntu iyagcina njalo ikhumbule izinto ezizinkulungwane, iyahlanganisa izehlakalo ezitshiyeneyo,
iyalungisa izinhlupho, iyabeka okuhle, iyazizwisisa yona ngokwayo, njalo ifuna ukuthuthukisa umuntu ngokupheleleyo. Amagetsi asungulwa engqondweni aqondisa ukusebenza komzimba wonke. Imitshina yama khompuyutha layo isebenza ngamagetsi kodwa kwathatha ingqondo yomuntu ukuthi icabange ngekhompuyutha, ukuthi iyenze lokuthi iyitshele ukuthi yenzeni. Kakumangalisi ukuthi owaloba Amahubo wathi umzimba womuntu
ukhuluma ngokucacileyo ngoMdali omangalisayo: Ngiyakubonga, ngoba wena uyesabeka; imisebenzi yakho
iyamangalisa. Wena uyangazi kuhle. IsiHlabelelo 139:14.
Akudingeki ukuthi siyekhatshana ukuze sibone imisebenzi kaNkulunkulu. Ubuciko bokubunjwa kwengqondo yomuntu lezinye izitho zemizimba yethu kuyimisebenzi kaNkulunkulu, njal kukhomba kumdali olobuciko obukhulu kakhulu. Kuyikho impompi eyenziwe ngumuntu engaqathaniswa lenhliziyo yomuntu. Kazikho incingo zemitshina yamakhompuyutha ezingafaniswa lokusebenza komzimba womuntu. Kakulamabona kude (itelevizhini) engasebenza kuhle njengelizwi lomuntu, lendlebe lamehlo. Kakulamitshina eletha umoya oqondayo loba okhudumalayo ongalinganiswa lomsebenzi owenziwa ngamakhala ethu, lamaphaphu lesikhumba somzimba. Ubuciko umzimba womuntu oda;we ngabo uveza ukuthi ukhona owawuhlelao, njalo lowo nguNkulunkulu.
Umzimba womuntu ubunjwe ngezitho ezinengi ezehlukeneyo - zonke zisebenzelana, zonke zihlelwe kuhle kakhulu. Amaphaphu lenhliziyo, imisipha lemithambo, konke kwenza imisebenzi enzima okweyeme kweminye njalo imisebenzi enzima. Akucabange ngokuthi kungaphongukwenzeka nje ukuthi isisu, ingqondo, inhliziyo, izibindi, imithambo empompa igazi elibhodisa umzimba wonke, izinso, indlebe, amehlo lamazinyo konke kubumbeke kuhle njalo kukhulu kuhle, njalo kuqalise ukusebenza kuhle njalo kanye kanye, ngasikhathi sinye. Ukubunjwa komzimba womuntu kungachasiswa ngani? UNkulunkulu wasesithi: Asenze abantu -ngomfanekiso wethu, basifuze, babuse phezu kwezinhlanzi zolwandle, laphezu kwezinyoni zaphezulu, lezifuyo,
lenyamazana zonke zemhlabeni, lakho konke okuhuquzela emhlabeni. U Nkulunkulu wasemdala umuntu ngomfanekiso wakhe, wamdala ngomfanekiso kaNkulunkulu, owesilisa lowesifazana. U Genesisi 1:26 lo 27.
Owesilisa lowesifazana bakuqala babengezake baphongukutshaya umazivelela nje. I Bhayibhili iyaqinisa ukuthi uNkulunkulu wasidala ngomfanekiso wakhe. Waqala wacabanga ngathi, wasesidala.
- KONKE OKWENZIWAYO KULOMENZI
Kodwa ubufakazi bukaNkulunkulu kabuveli ekubunjweni kwemizimba yethu kuphela; bendlelwe futhi esibhakabhakeni. Khangela esibhakabhakeni. Umthala ngamabhiliyoni amalanga anjengelanga lethu. Zinengi kakhulu izinkanyezi. Akumangalisi ukuthi umlobi waMahubo wathi izinkanyezi ziyakhuluma ngoMdali
omangalisayo: Amazulu ayakhuluma ngobukhulu bukaNkulunkulu, lomkhathi utshumayela
umsebenzi wezandla zakhe. - IsiHlabelelo 19:1-3.
Singaphetha ngokuthini singakhangela indlela indalo eyenziwe ngayo Kanye lobukhulu bayo? Ekuqaleni uNkulunkulu wadala izulu lomhlaba. - u Genesis 1:1.
Yona ingaphambi kwakho konke, lezinto zonke zimi ngayo. - KwabaseKolose 1:17. Indalo yonke iyafakaza ngoNkulunkulu uMhleli oMkhulu kanye loMdali onguSomandla. Ngamazwi acacileyo, ekuqaleni uNkulunkulu, sithola impendulo embuzweni omkhulu wempilo. Ukhona uNkulunkulu owadala izinto zonke. Abezesayensi abanengi abakhulu khathesi bayakholwa kuNkulunkulu. Udokotela Arthur Compton, owaphiwa umvuzo weNobel Prize, ekhuluma ngale indinyana yeBhayibhili wathi: Kini, ukukholwa kuqala ngokunanzelela ukuthi ukhona omkhulu olengqondo ekhaliphileyo owadala indalo yonke kanye labantu. Kakunzima kimi ukuthi ngikukholwe lokhu, ngoba kusobala ukuthi lapho okulecebo khona, ukhona ongcwele okhaliphileyo. Indalo ehlelekileyo, esegcekeni ifakaza iqiniso lomutsho omkhulu osewake wakhulunywa owokuthi Ekuqaleni uNkulunkulu. I Bhayibhili kalizami ukuletha ubufakazi bokuthi kuloNkulunkulu - limemezela ukuthi
ukhona.
U dokotela uArthur Conkling, owezesayensi omkhulu, wabhala wathi: Ukuthi impilo yazivelela nje njengengozi, kungafaniswa lokuthi ugwalo oluyingcazamazwi lwazivelela nje esitolo esitshengisa izingwalo.
Siyakwazi ukuthi abantu abangeke benze lutho bengasebenzisi izinto ezikhona. Singakha izinto, senze izinto ezintsha, sihlanganise izinto, kodwa kasikaze dale ixoxo, ngitsho lelincinyane, loba iluba, ngitsho lelingalihle kangako. Izinto ezisizungelezileyo ziyamemeza zisithi uNkulunkulu wahlela, wadala njalo uyalondoloza. Impendulo eyiyo yodwa eqotho ngesisusa sendalo, umhlaba lo, Kanye labantu- nguNkulunkulu.
- UNKULUNKULU ULOBUDLELWANO LABANTU
U Nkulunkulu owadala isibhakabhaka esilenkanyezi, owadala indalo yonke, udinga ukuba lobudlelwano lathi. Wayelobudlelwano loMose; NgaleyondlelaiNkosi yayikhuluma kuMose ikhangelane laye, njengomuntu ekhuluma lomngane wakhe. (u Eksodusi 33:11). Lawe uNkulunkulu ufuna ukuba lobudlelwano lawe ukuze abenguMngane wakho. U Jesu wathembisa abamlandelayo: Lingabangane bami ( UJohane 15:14). Sonke sesike salwisana lomcabango ngoNkulunkulu, ngoba ngemvelo abantu bangabakhonzi. Akukho inyamazana eseyake yakha i- a;ithare ukuze ikhonze. Ikanti kodwa lapho ofica khona abesilisa labesifazane, bayabe bekhonza. Ekujuleni Phakathi kwenhliziyo yomuntu ngamunye, ngemvelo, kulesilokozane sokukhonza, ukwazi ngoNkulunkulu, isiloyiso sokuba ngumngane kaNkulunkulu. Nxa sigcwalisa isiloyiso sethu njalo simthole, akusekho ukuthandabuza ngobukhona bukaNkulunkulu lendingeko yethu.
Ngeminyaka yabo 1990 abanengi eRussia ababengakholwa ukuthi uNkulunkulu ukhona boguquka njalo bakhonza uNkulunkulu. Isikhwicafundo esasifundisa e- Univesithi yeSt. Petersburg satsho inkulumo eveza okwakhulunywa ngabanengi ababengakholwa mandulo ukuthi uNkulunkulu ukhona, ababehlala eSoviet Union: Sengichwayisisile ngomutsho wempilo, ngisebenzisa ulwazi lwesayinsi, kodwa angitholanga lutho engingalwethemba. Abezesayensi engibaziyo labo umoya wabo udubekile ngoba kulesikhexe ezinhliziyweni zabo. Nxa ngangibona ubukhulu bendalo ngesikhathi ngifuna ngezomkhathi, lokukhathazeka komoya wami, ngakunanzelela ukuthi impilo imele ibe lomutsho. Kwathi ngilapho ngisamukela iBhayibhili owangipha lona, njalo ngiqala ukulibala, isikhala esasisenhliziyweni yami savaleka. Sengifumane ukuthi iBhayibhili yilo lodwa elingumthombo ongathenjwa ngumphefumulo wami. Sengamkele uJesu njengoMsindisi wami njalo sengithole
ukuthula kweqiniso enhliziyweni yami lokusuthiseka empilweni yami. Umkrestu ukholwa kuNkulunkulu ngoba esehlangane laye njalo wafumana ukuthi usuthisa iziloyiso zenhliziyo ezizikileyo. U Nkulunkulu osefumanwe ngamaKristu ngentokozo ukuthi ukhona, usinika umbono omutsha, lomutsho omutsha ngempilo,
iziloyiso ezintsha, lentokozo entsha.
U Nkulunkulu akathembisi impilo engelanhlupho lobunzima, kodwa uyasithembisa ukuthi uzasithungamela njalo asilondoloze nxa sisiba lobudlelwano mangqamu laYe. Izinkulungwane zamaKristu ziyafakaza ukuthi zingadela konke kulokuthi zibuyele emuva kumpilo engelaye uNkulunkulu. Lesi yisimanga esikhulu kulezimanga zonke-ukuthi uNkulunkulu onguSomandla owacebayo, wadala, njalo olondoloza indalo yonke, uloyisa ukuba lobudlelwano lowesilisa wonke, lowesifazane wonke, lomfana wonke, lenkazana yonke. U Davida kwammangalisa lokhu, aze alobe athi: Lapho ngikhangela amazulu akho, umsebenzi umkhumbule wena, lendodana yomuntu ukuba uyinanze na? - Isihlabelelo 8:3 lo 4.
UMdali wethu uyasinaka sonke ngamunye wethu. Uyakunaka wena sengazathi unguwe wedwa umuntu amdalayo. Ngakho sikholwa kuNkulunkulu ngenxa :(1) Yobuciko asidala ngabo (2) Yesilokozane sokuba lobudlelwano laye asifaka phakathi kwethu, esingasiniki ukuthula size sikuthole kuphela kuYe. (3) yokuthi nxa
singamdinga simthole, uNkulunkulu uyagcwalisa indingeko zonke leziloyiso zonkengokugcweleyo!.
- UNGUNKULUNKULU ONJANI? KunguNkulunkulu ophilayo kuphela ongafuna ukuziveza kuzidalwa zakhe ezingabantu -njengomuntu ongubaba efuna ukuthi abantwabakhe bamazi. Njalo eBhayibhilini uNkulunkulu uyasitshela ukuthi ungubani lokuthi unjani. U Nkulunkulu umuntu wesilisa lowesifazana wamdala wafana lani? U Nkulunkulu wasemdala umuntu ngomfanekiso wakhe; wamdala ngomfanekiso kaNkulunkulu, owesilisa lowesifazana. - uGenesisi 1:27.
Njengoba senziwe ngomfanekiso kaNkulunkulu, ukwanelisa kwethu ukuveza lokuzwa, ukukhumbula lokwethemba, ukucabanga lokuhlaziya- konke kuvela kuye uNkulunkulu. Yikuphi okumqoka esimilweni sikaNkulunkulu? U Nkulunkulu uluthando 1 Johane 4:8. Ubudlelwano bukaNkulunkulu labantu beyame kunhliziyo yakhe yothando. Akulalutho osewake walwenza, lwazalwenza, engafuqwanga luthando oluzidelayo
njalo olungazifuneli okwalo.
- INDLELA UJESU AVEZA NGAYO UNKULUNKULU: Ebhayibhilini uNkulunkulu ukhuluma ephindaphinda ukuthi yena ungubaba. Kasilaye ubaba munye thina sonke na? - uMalaki 2:10. Okunye okwenziwa ngabanye obaba balamuhla akulunganga. Kulabobaba abanganakakeli abantwana, labobaba abahlukuluza abantwana babo. U Nkulunkulu akanjalo. UnguBaba osinalalelayo njalo osizwelayo. Unjengobaba othanda ukudlala labantwabakhe, ubaba othanda ukuthokozisa abantwabakhe ngokutshela izindaba nxa sebesiyalala. U Nkulunkulu, uBaba wethu osithandayo wayefuna ukuveza ngokungaphezu kwalokho aziveze ngakho eBhayibhilini. Wayesazi ukuthi umuntu esiphila laye uzwisiseka ngcono kulomuntu esizwa ngaye kuphela loba esifunda ngaye ogwalweni. Ngakho weza emhlabeni engumuntu uqobo- enguJesu. Yona (indinyana, uJesu) ifuze uNkulunkulu ongelakubonwa, kwabaseKolose 1:15. Ngakho, nxa ubone uJesu ubone u?Baba. Wehla wea kubanga lethu- waba njengathi ukuzbe asifundise ukuthi siphile njani ukuze sithokoze, ukuze sibone ukuthi uNkulunkulu unjani. U Jesu unguNkulunkulu enziwe wabonakala. Yena wakhuluma
wathi, Lowo obone mina ubone uBaba ( uJohane 14:9).
Nxa ufunda indaba kaJEsu kubaVangeli bobane, ingwalo zakuqala ezine benhlanzi ababeyizidlwngudlwangu batshiya omambule babo balandela uKristu, labantwana abancinyane bamgijimela ukuze ababusise. Wayeduduza isoni esidangele kakhulu njalo athobise umzenzisi ozibona engcwele. Welapha yonke imikhuhlane kugoqela ubuphofu lamalephero. Konke akwenzayo uJesu, waveza ukuthi uNkulunkulu uluthando! Wagcwalisa inswelo zabantu ngendlela eyayingakaze yenziwe ngumuntu-njalo engasoze abekhona!
Isiphetho esiyinkazimulo uJesu aveza ngaso uNkulunkulu kwakusesiphambanweni. Ngoba uNkulunkulu wawuthanda umhlaba kangaka, waze wanikela ngendodana yakhe eyiyo yodwa ukuba ilowo lalowo okholwa kiyo angabhubhi, kodwa abe lokuphila okungapheliyo.- uJohane 3:16.
U Jesu kafikanga kuphela ukuze asinike impilo yokuthokoza khathesi, kodwa ukuze njalo asinike impilo engapheliyo. Okweminyaka eminengi abantu bamangala, njalo bathemba, baphupha ngoNkulunkulu. Babona akudalayo esibhakabhakeni lasebuhleni bendalo. Kwathi esiphambanweni, uJesu waphendula umbuzo
weminyaka eminengi, njalo abantu bazifica sebekhangele ubuso bukaNkulunkulu uqobo, bembona enjengoba enjalo- eluthando, uthando olungapheliyo, olungalasiphetho!. Ukumazi lokhu kuzakwenza wenze isinqumo: Baba, ngiyakuthanda!
Imibuzo
Funda isigaba 1 kulesisifundo, ube usufaka uX ebhokisini elidondane lomutsho oliqiniso: Ukubunjwa komzimba womuntu kuyibufakazi bokuthi kuloMdali.
Umzimba womuntu wavela enyamazaneni eyayiguquka okweminyaka ezinkulungwane
Ukubunjwa komzimba womuntu kukhomba kuMenzi olobuciko
Phendula imibuzo elandelayo ngokugombolozela uQ kumitsho eliqiniso loM kuleyo engamanga
- Q M Izinkanyezi zadalwa nguNkulunkulu.
Q M Indalo yabakhona ngemva kokudukuba okwabayingozi>
Q M UNkulunkulu owahlela njalo wadala indalo
Q M Abanengi abakhulu bezesayensi bayakholwa kuNkulinkulu.
- Q M UNkulunkulu uyabalobudlelwano lathi.
- Q M UNkulunkulu wadala abantu ngomfanekiso wakhe.
Q M Isiqu esimqoka sikaNkulunkulu luthando.
- Q M UNkulunkulu uyanaka njalo ulozwelo.
Q M UNkulunkulu weza emhlabeni engumuntu.
Q M UJesu wayengumuntu kuphela, engayisuye uNkulunkulu
Q M UJesu wayenguNkulunkulu ebonwa ngamehlo.
Q M U esu wafa ukuze sibelempilo engapheliyo
UMBUZO
Isifundo lesi sikucendile na ukuthiuzwisise njalo okholwe kuNkulunkulu?
GREETINGS TO YOU BIBLE STUDENT. TODAY WE ARE STUDYING DISCOVER BIBLE GUIDE 1
With the Title: We Can Believe in God and we are focusing on
Section 1: entitled THE DESIGN OF the human body demands the existence of a Designer.
In today’s lesson we will discover that God Made This World and the People In It.
Key Text: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” -Genesis 1:1
Probably every person has wondered many times – who made the world? Who made the people? Why am I here? Who is God? Where is He? What is going to happen to the world and the people in it? Why do people sin? How can we know what is right? We are going to study these questions and host of others in this Bible Course. In this first lesson we shall study, “Who made this world and the people in it?” And now as you start this lesson, can you bow your head in prayer and ask the Lord to make it clear to you?
- THE DESIGN OF the human body demands the existence of a Designer.
Have you ever pondered all that’s involved in the function of the human brain?
The brain is made up of around 100 billion nerve cells. Each cell is connected to another 10,000 cells. This means that, in total, we have around 1,000 trillion connections in our brains. These are ultimately responsible for who we are. Our brains control the decisions we make, the way we move, the way we feel. The functions of the brain keep the intricate organs of the body working in harmony and balance with each other. The human brain is truly remarkable! The four parts of the brain have different functions.
For example, the cerebrum is responsible for thoughts, such as reasoning, planning, emotions, problem-solving, and perceptions. The cerebellum works to maintain balance, muscle tone, and gait. The brain stem is especially important since it deals with blood pressure, respiration, and heart rate. Finally, the limbic system controls hunger, thirst, memory, fear, and emotions. These different processes must work together. That’s the way it is with the whole human body. Lungs and heart, nerves and muscles, all perform incredibly complicated tasks that depend on other incredibly complicated tasks, directed by your brain. No wonder the psalmist concluded that the human body speaks loud and clear of a wonderful Creator: “I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well” (Psalm 139:14).
We don’t have to go far to find the “works” of God. The evidence right in our own bodies points to an infinitely skillful Designer. Consider the chances of a stomach, brain, heart, lungs, arteries, veins, kidneys, ears, eyes, and teeth all developing together and beginning to function at the same moment in time. What is the most reasonable explanation for the design of the human body? “Then God said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness’ . . . . so God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them” (Genesis 1:26, 27). The first man and woman could not just have happened. The Bible affirms that God designed us in His image. He is the great Engineering Intelligence who designed us and brought us into being.
Let’s now focus on two thought Questions:
- The design of the human body is evidence of a Creator. (True or False)
- Human beings were created in the image of angels. (True or False)
Be blessed as you meditate on these truths.
GREETINGS TO YOU BIBLE STUDENT. TODAY WE ARE STUDYING DISCOVER BIBLE GUIDE 1
With the Title: We Can Believe in God and we are focusing on
Section 2: entitled Everything Made Has a Maker
EVIDENCE for God is not confined to the design of our bodies; it’s also spread across the heavens. Using NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope, astronomers can now precisely measure the distance of stars up to 10,000 light years away—10 times farther than previously possible. The Hubble Telescope, launched in 1990, is still sending back valuable data. During June and July of 2012, astronomers using Hubble discovered a tiny fifth moon, previously unknown, moving around the icy dwarf planet, Pluto. Look up into the starry night sky. There are millions of stars and galaxies—all moving at incomprehensible speeds, perfectly balanced, perfectly synchronized in space—orbits within orbits, proceeding on track and on time. Who orchestrates this marvelous dance? Is it all just occurring without design or direction?
The psalmist concluded that the stars speak of a glorious Maker. “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork. Day unto day utters speech, and night unto night reveals knowledge. There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard” (Psalm 19:1-3). What can we reasonably conclude by looking at the intricate design and vast size of the universe? “He [God] is before all things, and in Him all things consist” (Colossians 1:17). All creation boldly testifies: “God designed! God created!” From the perfect balance of proton and electron in the atom to the whirl of planets around the sun, we find evidence of a master plan, a Master Thinker, of God the Master Designer and the Infinite Creator.
When an anthropologist, digging in the sands of New Mexico, comes across an arrowhead that has been chiseled into shape, he immediately concludes that a Native American created the object. He will even attempt to assign a date to the arrowhead and determine the tribe to which it belonged. No anthropologist ever argues that arrowheads got there by chance. No one has attempted to explain that lightning or wind or water could have shaped these objects. It seems perfectly obvious to everyone that a human being made them. Yet when many scientists dig up fossils, evidence of living things from the past, they make a very different assumption. They don’t see the hand of a Creator; they assume these creatures must have been produced by the blind forces of nature, that they just naturally evolved.
The animal fossils we discover, even those buried deepest in the geologic layers, represent creatures infinitely more complex than any arrowhead. So why not draw the obvious conclusion? Someone had to create them! The Bible suggests a logical answer to the question of origins: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1). In these simple words, “In the beginning God,” we find the answer to the mystery of life. The first doctrine recorded in the Bible is that there is a God; in fact, this first verse in the Bible tells us of His mighty act of creation. Dr. Arthur Compton, Nobel Prize-winning physicist, commenting on this verse of Scripture, once said: “For myself, faith begins with a realization that a supreme intelligence brought the universe into being and created man. It is not difficult for me to have this faith, for it is incontrovertible that where there is a plan there is intelligence—an orderly, unfolding universe testifies to the truth of the most majestic statement ever uttered—‘In the beginning God.’”
GREETINGS TO YOU BIBLE STUDENT. TODAY WE ARE STUDYING DISCOVER BIBLE GUIDE 1
With the Title: We Can Believe in God and we are focusing on
Section: 3. Entitled God Comes Into Personal Relationships With People Part one
BEFORE PROCEEDING TO SECTION 3; LETS CONCLUDE SECTION 2: Many great scientific minds believe in God. The book Behind the Dim Unknown, edited by John Clover Monsma, contains 26 chapters, each chapter written by a scientific researcher who is both a specialist in his field and also a Christian. Each author emphasizes the same fundamental truth—God exists. In the words, “In the beginning God,” we find the foundation of all existence. The Bible does not attempt to prove God—it declares His existence. That God exists is proven by our own existence and also by the existence of the things we see around us. Every effect must have an adequate cause. There is design in this world, hence there must be a Designer. The things around us cry out that God designed, God created, God sustains. Only life—or its ultimate Source—produces life. The only plausible answer to the origin of the universe, this world, and human beings, according to the Bible—is God.
Thought questions:
- The Bible states that God created the heavens and the earth. (True or False)
- God Comes Into Personal Relationships With People: THE GOD WHO designed the starry heavens, who created the universe, comes into personal relationships with people. Deep in the mind and heart of every individual, God has revealed a knowledge of His existence. He is “the true Light which gives light to every man” (John 1:9). The Bible asserts that our Creator seeks personal relationships with us. Abraham “was called the friend of God” (James 2:23). “The Lord spoke to Moses . . . as a man speaks to his friend” (Exodus 33:11). And God will enter into a personal relationship with you and become your Friend. Jesus promised those who follow Him: “You are My friends” (John 15:14).
About 2,500 years ago, a group of Greek philosophers discussed the question, “What is the briefest possible definition of man?” Plato suggested: “Man is a two-legged animal.”
Another philosopher, however, exposed this definition’s limitations by fetching a rooster. He held it up and said, “Behold Plato’s man!” They pondered in silence a few moments until one of the thinkers exclaimed, “I have it! Man is a religious animal.” That’s it in a nutshell. Humanity is incurably religious. We alone feel a sense of need for a Higher Power. All of us, whether atheistic or devout, have wrestled with the idea of God. We’re distinguished from animals by our imagination and reason, and by our will to choose right or wrong. No animal ever builds an altar for worship. Yet everywhere you find men and women, you find them worshipping. Deep within every human heart is a desire to worship, a consciousness of God. God has placed within all of us a desire to come into companionship with Him. When we respond to our longing and find God, there is no longer a doubt about His existence and our need.
A Christian believes in God because he or she has met Him and has discovered that He satisfies the heart’s deepest needs. The God whom Christians have joyfully found to exist gives us a new perspective, new meaning, new motives, new purposes, and new joys.
God doesn’t promise a life free from trouble and conflict, but He does assure us that He will guide and sustain us if we come into a personal relationship with Him. And millions of Christians will testify that they would give up everything rather than go back to a life without God. This is the greatest wonder of all—that the Almighty God who designed all creatures and created and sustains the galaxies also desires a personal relationship with every man and woman, boy and girl. Be blessed as you meditate upon these truths
GREETINGS TO YOU BIBLE STUDENT. TODAY WE ARE STUDYING DISCOVER BIBLE GUIDE 1
With the Title: We Can Believe in God and we are focusing on
Section: 3. Entitled God Comes Into Personal Relationships With People Part two
David marveled at the thought that God desires a personal relationship with every man and woman, boy and girl and he wrote: “When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained, what is man that You are mindful of him?” (Psalm 8:3, 4). Our Creator is “mindful” of each one of us. He takes as personal an interest in you as if you were the only being He had created. He says:
“Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore, with lovingkindness I have drawn you” (Jeremiah 31:3).
Now, it’s only reasonable that a personal God would want to reveal Himself to His created beings just as a father desires that his children know him. And God reveals Himself to us in the Bible. (Guide 2 will give evidence that the Bible is a reliable Book given to us by the God who created us.)
Thought Questions: The Bible teaches that we as humans cannot be God’s friends, because He is divine and we are human. (True or False)
Let’s quickly proceed to Section 4 with the Title, What Kind of God Is He? IN THE BIBLE, God tells us who He is and what He is like. What pattern did God use for creating men and women? “So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them” (Genesis 1:27). We are made in God’s image. He created us to have a personal relationship with Him. Our abilities to reflect and feel, to remember and hope, to ponder and analyze—all are derived from Him. Since God has a personality, what is His dominant trait? “God is love” (1 John 4:8).
God relates to human beings out of His own heart of love. There is nothing He has done or ever will do that is not motivated by a selfless, sacrificial love.
Thought questions: God is love. (True or False)
In Section 5. we learn about how Jesus Reveals What God Is Like: WHICH FAMILY MEMBER gives us an idea of what God is like? “Have we not all one Father? Has not one God created us?” (Malachi 2:10). In the Bible, God repeatedly speaks of Himself as a Father. Some of the father images we see today are anything but desirable. There are neglectful dads, abusive dads, and dads who don’t seem to care. God is not like that. Rather, He is a caring, sensitive Father. He is the kind of Father who loves to spend time with His son or daughter, the kind of Father who makes life fun and enjoyable.
God, our loving Father, wanted to do more than reveal Himself through the words of Scripture. He knew that a person we live with is much more real to us than someone we only hear about or read about in a book. So He decided to enter our world as a real Person.
God came down to our level—He became like us—so He could teach us how to live and be happy, and how to have eternal life. It enabled us to see what God is really like.
Be blessed as you meditate upon these truths
GREETINGS TO YOU BIBLE STUDENT. TODAY WE ARE STUDYING DISCOVER BIBLE GUIDE 1
With the Title: We Can Believe in God and we are focusing on
Section 5 part two: How Jesus Reveals What God Is Like.
Today’s lesson will answer the question; How did God visit the world as a Person?
“She [Mary] will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). “'Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,’ which is translated, ‘God with us’” (Matthew 1:23). God came down to our world in the Person of Jesus.
A small boy and his older brother were standing before a large portrait of their father who had died when the younger boy was a baby. “Tell me,” the younger brother said, “just what was Father like? The older boy attempted to tell his little brother something about their father. He described his strength. He said he was a good man, kind and handsome. He was friendly, and people liked to be with him. He was always gentle with Mother. He made people happy. The older boy attempted to tell his little brother something about their father. He described his strength. He said he was a good man, kind and handsome. He was friendly, and people liked to be with him. He was always gentle with Mother. He made people happy.
In spite of all the older brother could say, the small boy could not form a satisfying picture of his father. He wanted so much to know what his father was like. At last he interrupted his brother with the question, “Tell me one thing, Henry, was Father anything like you?” The older boy hesitated a moment, then said: “Well, friends of ours who knew Father best say that I’m the living image of him. And even Mother says the same.” With his heart all aglow, the small boy walked away, saying: “Now I know exactly what my dad was like. He was just like my brother, Henry.”
Jesus came to our world as God in human flesh. Jesus is “the Son of God” (Mark 15:39)—God made visible, the thought of God made audible. Jesus Himself said, “He who has seen Me has seen the Father” (John 14:9). So if you have seen Jesus, you have seen God Himself. Whenever you want to know what God is like, just look at Jesus as the Bible reveals Him. As you read the story of Jesus in the four Gospels, the first four books of the New Testament, you will discover a fascinating portrait of our Heavenly Father. Rough, self-sufficient fishermen dropped their nets to follow Jesus, and small children flocked to receive His blessing. He could comfort the most devastated sinners and disarm the most self-righteous hypocrites. He healed everything from blindness to leprosy with the quiet assurance of a doctor prescribing a couple of aspirin.
His two-word command: “Be still!” forced a violent storm to calm down like a disobedient child brought suddenly to his senses. In all His actions, Jesus demonstrated that God is love. He met human needs in a way no one had ever done before Him—or has since!
Jesus’ final glorious revelation of what God is like happened at the cross. That’s where He died for us. How do we benefit from Christ’s death? “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). Jesus died not only to give us a happier, fulfilled life now, but also to give us eternal life. Jesus is God’s “only begotten Son”—He is unique, one of a kind. He is the one and only Being who is both fully God and fully man.
For many ages, people wondered about, hoped for, and dreamed about God. Many thought to themselves, “If only God were like this!” or “If only God were like that!” But the beautiful, self-sacrificing life of Jesus and His death on the cross revealed God more clearly than ever. People found themselves looking into the very face of God, seeing Him as He really is: love—eternal and immortal love! You can discover God right now as Jesus reveals Him in the pages of the Bible. That discovery has led many people to decide: “I want a personal relationship with the One who created me and loves me.”
Thought questions: God loved the world so much that He gave His Son, Jesus, as our Saviour from sin (Trueor False)
Please consider accepting the invitation to have a relationship with Jesus
MY PRAYER: If you've never prayed before, that's okay. Here is a short prayer to get you started, if you want to read these words aloud to God or say them silently in your head to Him. You can also take this prayer and make it your own by paraphrasing or add your own words to it. Try to think of talking to God like you would talk to a friend, saying whatever is on your heart.
Father, thank You for creating this world for me to enjoy; thank You for creating me and loving me so much, that You are willing to guide my life. I ask You to meet my personal needs and to lead me as I read the Bible. I ask this in the name of Jesus, Amen.
MY DECISION: Take a moment to reflect on the following statements, placing a Yes or No in your inbox message: I would like to say “Thank You” to God for creating me and the wonderful world around me. Yes
I want to thank Him for His great love for me personally. Yes
If you answered yes to the above statements, you did well
Be blessed as you meditate upon these truths
Lesson 12
GREETINGS TO YOU BIBLE STUDENT. TODAY WE ARE STUDYING DISCOVER BIBLE GUIDE 1
With the Title: We Can Believe in God and we are focusing on
Section 1: entitled THE DESIGN OF the human body demands the existence of a Designer.
In today’s lesson we will discover that God Made This World and the People In It.
Key Text: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” -Genesis 1:1
Probably every person has wondered many times – who made the world? Who made the people? Why am I here? Who is God? Where is He? What is going to happen to the world and the people in it? Why do people sin? How can we know what is right? We are going to study these questions and host of others in this Bible Course. In this first lesson we shall study, “Who made this world and the people in it?” And now as you start this lesson, can you bow your head in prayer and ask the Lord to make it clear to you?
- THE DESIGN OF the human body demands the existence of a Designer.
Have you ever pondered all that’s involved in the function of the human brain?
The brain is made up of around 100 billion nerve cells. Each cell is connected to another 10,000 cells. This means that, in total, we have around 1,000 trillion connections in our brains. These are ultimately responsible for who we are. Our brains control the decisions we make, the way we move, the way we feel. The functions of the brain keep the intricate organs of the body working in harmony and balance with each other. The human brain is truly remarkable! The four parts of the brain have different functions.
For example, the cerebrum is responsible for thoughts, such as reasoning, planning, emotions, problem-solving, and perceptions. The cerebellum works to maintain balance, muscle tone, and gait. The brain stem is especially important since it deals with blood pressure, respiration, and heart rate. Finally, the limbic system controls hunger, thirst, memory, fear, and emotions. These different processes must work together. That’s the way it is with the whole human body. Lungs and heart, nerves and muscles, all perform incredibly complicated tasks that depend on other incredibly complicated tasks, directed by your brain. No wonder the psalmist concluded that the human body speaks loud and clear of a wonderful Creator: “I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well” (Psalm 139:14).
We don’t have to go far to find the “works” of God. The evidence right in our own bodies points to an infinitely skillful Designer. Consider the chances of a stomach, brain, heart, lungs, arteries, veins, kidneys, ears, eyes, and teeth all developing together and beginning to function at the same moment in time. What is the most reasonable explanation for the design of the human body? “Then God said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness’ . . . . so God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them” (Genesis 1:26, 27). The first man and woman could not just have happened. The Bible affirms that God designed us in His image. He is the great Engineering Intelligence who designed us and brought us into being.
Let’s now focus on two thought Questions:
- The design of the human body is evidence of a Creator. (True or False)
- Human beings were created in the image of angels. (True or False)
Be blessed as you meditate on these truths.
GREETINGS TO YOU BIBLE STUDENT. TODAY WE ARE STUDYING DISCOVER BIBLE GUIDE 1
With the Title: We Can Believe in God and we are focusing on
Section 2: entitled Everything Made Has a Maker
EVIDENCE for God is not confined to the design of our bodies; it’s also spread across the heavens. Using NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope, astronomers can now precisely measure the distance of stars up to 10,000 light years away—10 times farther than previously possible. The Hubble Telescope, launched in 1990, is still sending back valuable data. During June and July of 2012, astronomers using Hubble discovered a tiny fifth moon, previously unknown, moving around the icy dwarf planet, Pluto. Look up into the starry night sky. There are millions of stars and galaxies—all moving at incomprehensible speeds, perfectly balanced, perfectly synchronized in space—orbits within orbits, proceeding on track and on time. Who orchestrates this marvelous dance? Is it all just occurring without design or direction?
The psalmist concluded that the stars speak of a glorious Maker. “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork. Day unto day utters speech, and night unto night reveals knowledge. There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard” (Psalm 19:1-3). What can we reasonably conclude by looking at the intricate design and vast size of the universe? “He [God] is before all things, and in Him all things consist” (Colossians 1:17). All creation boldly testifies: “God designed! God created!” From the perfect balance of proton and electron in the atom to the whirl of planets around the sun, we find evidence of a master plan, a Master Thinker, of God the Master Designer and the Infinite Creator.
When an anthropologist, digging in the sands of New Mexico, comes across an arrowhead that has been chiseled into shape, he immediately concludes that a Native American created the object. He will even attempt to assign a date to the arrowhead and determine the tribe to which it belonged. No anthropologist ever argues that arrowheads got there by chance. No one has attempted to explain that lightning or wind or water could have shaped these objects. It seems perfectly obvious to everyone that a human being made them. Yet when many scientists dig up fossils, evidence of living things from the past, they make a very different assumption. They don’t see the hand of a Creator; they assume these creatures must have been produced by the blind forces of nature, that they just naturally evolved.
The animal fossils we discover, even those buried deepest in the geologic layers, represent creatures infinitely more complex than any arrowhead. So why not draw the obvious conclusion? Someone had to create them! The Bible suggests a logical answer to the question of origins: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1). In these simple words, “In the beginning God,” we find the answer to the mystery of life. The first doctrine recorded in the Bible is that there is a God; in fact, this first verse in the Bible tells us of His mighty act of creation. Dr. Arthur Compton, Nobel Prize-winning physicist, commenting on this verse of Scripture, once said: “For myself, faith begins with a realization that a supreme intelligence brought the universe into being and created man. It is not difficult for me to have this faith, for it is incontrovertible that where there is a plan there is intelligence—an orderly, unfolding universe testifies to the truth of the most majestic statement ever uttered—‘In the beginning God.’”
GREETINGS TO YOU BIBLE STUDENT. TODAY WE ARE STUDYING DISCOVER BIBLE GUIDE 1
With the Title: We Can Believe in God and we are focusing on
Section: 3. Entitled God Comes Into Personal Relationships With People Part one
BEFORE PROCEEDING TO SECTION 3; LETS CONCLUDE SECTION 2: Many great scientific minds believe in God. The book Behind the Dim Unknown, edited by John Clover Monsma, contains 26 chapters, each chapter written by a scientific researcher who is both a specialist in his field and also a Christian. Each author emphasizes the same fundamental truth—God exists. In the words, “In the beginning God,” we find the foundation of all existence. The Bible does not attempt to prove God—it declares His existence. That God exists is proven by our own existence and also by the existence of the things we see around us. Every effect must have an adequate cause. There is design in this world, hence there must be a Designer. The things around us cry out that God designed, God created, God sustains. Only life—or its ultimate Source—produces life. The only plausible answer to the origin of the universe, this world, and human beings, according to the Bible—is God.
Thought questions:
- The Bible states that God created the heavens and the earth. (True or False)
- God Comes Into Personal Relationships With People: THE GOD WHO designed the starry heavens, who created the universe, comes into personal relationships with people. Deep in the mind and heart of every individual, God has revealed a knowledge of His existence. He is “the true Light which gives light to every man” (John 1:9). The Bible asserts that our Creator seeks personal relationships with us. Abraham “was called the friend of God” (James 2:23). “The Lord spoke to Moses . . . as a man speaks to his friend” (Exodus 33:11). And God will enter into a personal relationship with you and become your Friend. Jesus promised those who follow Him: “You are My friends” (John 15:14).
About 2,500 years ago, a group of Greek philosophers discussed the question, “What is the briefest possible definition of man?” Plato suggested: “Man is a two-legged animal.”
Another philosopher, however, exposed this definition’s limitations by fetching a rooster. He held it up and said, “Behold Plato’s man!” They pondered in silence a few moments until one of the thinkers exclaimed, “I have it! Man is a religious animal.” That’s it in a nutshell. Humanity is incurably religious. We alone feel a sense of need for a Higher Power. All of us, whether atheistic or devout, have wrestled with the idea of God. We’re distinguished from animals by our imagination and reason, and by our will to choose right or wrong. No animal ever builds an altar for worship. Yet everywhere you find men and women, you find them worshipping. Deep within every human heart is a desire to worship, a consciousness of God. God has placed within all of us a desire to come into companionship with Him. When we respond to our longing and find God, there is no longer a doubt about His existence and our need.
A Christian believes in God because he or she has met Him and has discovered that He satisfies the heart’s deepest needs. The God whom Christians have joyfully found to exist gives us a new perspective, new meaning, new motives, new purposes, and new joys.
God doesn’t promise a life free from trouble and conflict, but He does assure us that He will guide and sustain us if we come into a personal relationship with Him. And millions of Christians will testify that they would give up everything rather than go back to a life without God. This is the greatest wonder of all—that the Almighty God who designed all creatures and created and sustains the galaxies also desires a personal relationship with every man and woman, boy and girl. Be blessed as you meditate upon these truths
GREETINGS TO YOU BIBLE STUDENT. TODAY WE ARE STUDYING DISCOVER BIBLE GUIDE 1
With the Title: We Can Believe in God and we are focusing on
Section: 3. Entitled God Comes Into Personal Relationships With People Part two
David marveled at the thought that God desires a personal relationship with every man and woman, boy and girl and he wrote: “When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained, what is man that You are mindful of him?” (Psalm 8:3, 4). Our Creator is “mindful” of each one of us. He takes as personal an interest in you as if you were the only being He had created. He says:
“Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore, with lovingkindness I have drawn you” (Jeremiah 31:3).
Now, it’s only reasonable that a personal God would want to reveal Himself to His created beings just as a father desires that his children know him. And God reveals Himself to us in the Bible. (Guide 2 will give evidence that the Bible is a reliable Book given to us by the God who created us.)
Thought Questions: The Bible teaches that we as humans cannot be God’s friends, because He is divine and we are human. (True or False)
Let’s quickly proceed to Section 4 with the Title, What Kind of God Is He? IN THE BIBLE, God tells us who He is and what He is like. What pattern did God use for creating men and women? “So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them” (Genesis 1:27). We are made in God’s image. He created us to have a personal relationship with Him. Our abilities to reflect and feel, to remember and hope, to ponder and analyze—all are derived from Him. Since God has a personality, what is His dominant trait? “God is love” (1 John 4:8).
God relates to human beings out of His own heart of love. There is nothing He has done or ever will do that is not motivated by a selfless, sacrificial love.
Thought questions: God is love. (True or False)
In Section 5. we learn about how Jesus Reveals What God Is Like: WHICH FAMILY MEMBER gives us an idea of what God is like? “Have we not all one Father? Has not one God created us?” (Malachi 2:10). In the Bible, God repeatedly speaks of Himself as a Father. Some of the father images we see today are anything but desirable. There are neglectful dads, abusive dads, and dads who don’t seem to care. God is not like that. Rather, He is a caring, sensitive Father. He is the kind of Father who loves to spend time with His son or daughter, the kind of Father who makes life fun and enjoyable.
God, our loving Father, wanted to do more than reveal Himself through the words of Scripture. He knew that a person we live with is much more real to us than someone we only hear about or read about in a book. So He decided to enter our world as a real Person.
God came down to our level—He became like us—so He could teach us how to live and be happy, and how to have eternal life. It enabled us to see what God is really like.
Be blessed as you meditate upon these truths
GREETINGS TO YOU BIBLE STUDENT. TODAY WE ARE STUDYING DISCOVER BIBLE GUIDE 1
With the Title: We Can Believe in God and we are focusing on
Section 5 part two: How Jesus Reveals What God Is Like.
Today’s lesson will answer the question; How did God visit the world as a Person?
“She [Mary] will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). “'Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,’ which is translated, ‘God with us’” (Matthew 1:23). God came down to our world in the Person of Jesus.
A small boy and his older brother were standing before a large portrait of their father who had died when the younger boy was a baby. “Tell me,” the younger brother said, “just what was Father like? The older boy attempted to tell his little brother something about their father. He described his strength. He said he was a good man, kind and handsome. He was friendly, and people liked to be with him. He was always gentle with Mother. He made people happy. The older boy attempted to tell his little brother something about their father. He described his strength. He said he was a good man, kind and handsome. He was friendly, and people liked to be with him. He was always gentle with Mother. He made people happy.
In spite of all the older brother could say, the small boy could not form a satisfying picture of his father. He wanted so much to know what his father was like. At last he interrupted his brother with the question, “Tell me one thing, Henry, was Father anything like you?” The older boy hesitated a moment, then said: “Well, friends of ours who knew Father best say that I’m the living image of him. And even Mother says the same.” With his heart all aglow, the small boy walked away, saying: “Now I know exactly what my dad was like. He was just like my brother, Henry.”
Jesus came to our world as God in human flesh. Jesus is “the Son of God” (Mark 15:39)—God made visible, the thought of God made audible. Jesus Himself said, “He who has seen Me has seen the Father” (John 14:9). So if you have seen Jesus, you have seen God Himself. Whenever you want to know what God is like, just look at Jesus as the Bible reveals Him. As you read the story of Jesus in the four Gospels, the first four books of the New Testament, you will discover a fascinating portrait of our Heavenly Father. Rough, self-sufficient fishermen dropped their nets to follow Jesus, and small children flocked to receive His blessing. He could comfort the most devastated sinners and disarm the most self-righteous hypocrites. He healed everything from blindness to leprosy with the quiet assurance of a doctor prescribing a couple of aspirin.
His two-word command: “Be still!” forced a violent storm to calm down like a disobedient child brought suddenly to his senses. In all His actions, Jesus demonstrated that God is love. He met human needs in a way no one had ever done before Him—or has since!
Jesus’ final glorious revelation of what God is like happened at the cross. That’s where He died for us. How do we benefit from Christ’s death? “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). Jesus died not only to give us a happier, fulfilled life now, but also to give us eternal life. Jesus is God’s “only begotten Son”—He is unique, one of a kind. He is the one and only Being who is both fully God and fully man.
For many ages, people wondered about, hoped for, and dreamed about God. Many thought to themselves, “If only God were like this!” or “If only God were like that!” But the beautiful, self-sacrificing life of Jesus and His death on the cross revealed God more clearly than ever. People found themselves looking into the very face of God, seeing Him as He really is: love—eternal and immortal love! You can discover God right now as Jesus reveals Him in the pages of the Bible. That discovery has led many people to decide: “I want a personal relationship with the One who created me and loves me.”
Thought questions: God loved the world so much that He gave His Son, Jesus, as our Saviour from sin (Trueor False)
Please consider accepting the invitation to have a relationship with Jesus
MY PRAYER: If you've never prayed before, that's okay. Here is a short prayer to get you started, if you want to read these words aloud to God or say them silently in your head to Him. You can also take this prayer and make it your own by paraphrasing or add your own words to it. Try to think of talking to God like you would talk to a friend, saying whatever is on your heart.
Father, thank You for creating this world for me to enjoy; thank You for creating me and loving me so much, that You are willing to guide my life. I ask You to meet my personal needs and to lead me as I read the Bible. I ask this in the name of Jesus, Amen.
MY DECISION: Take a moment to reflect on the following statements, placing a Yes or No in your inbox message: I would like to say “Thank You” to God for creating me and the wonderful world around me. Yes
I want to thank Him for His great love for me personally. Yes
If you answered yes to the above statements, you did well
Be blessed as you meditate upon these truths
Be blessed as you meditate upon these truths
Please take the quiz to complete this lesson
LESSON 12 QUIZ