 |
|||
 |
|||
|
|||
|
|||
Week of August 5, 2001
TOTAL DEPRAVITY
The Missionary's Bugle Call
PERSONAL REFLECTION
Have you ever struggled with the issue of human goodness? Have you ever compared your own good deeds with those of your non-Christian friends and found that you did not measure up?
BIBLE STUDY
Total depravity does not mean that man is unable to exercise goodness or kindness in relation to his fellow man. It means that we are unable to do anything to effect or incline our relationship with God unto salvation. In other words we are unable to save our own souls or do anything to effect our own salvation. In man's original state he was already saved, so to speak. Adam already enjoyed a life of communion with God, no pain, suffering or disease. Adam and Eve were originally created to enjoy God forever in their sinless state. But sin entered into the world when Adam and Eve disobeyed God's law, which was to not eat the fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Once they broke the law, Adam and Eve were banished from God's presence and committed to a life of hard labor (Genesis 3:23).
Read the following scriptures and write down the key thought concerning "What is sin?"
1 John 3:4
Romans 2:12-14
James 2:10
Read Romans 3:9-10, 19-20, Ephesians 2:3 and answer the following questions.
Is there anyone, anywhere who is not considered "under the law?"
.
Therefore, is there anyone that is not sinful?
.
Will anyone ever be declared righteous by observing the law?
.
What is the purpose of the law?
.
Read Romans 2:5, 8; Ezekiel 22:31
What happens to those who reject God's truth?
.
Read Romans 3:21-24
What is God's provision for us to be made righteous apart from the law?
.
What must we do to receive the redemption that came through Christ?
.
PERSONAL APPLICATION
Even the kindest, nicest, most generous people in the world are unable to bridge the gap between themselves and God that was created by sin. God and God alone is able to restore man's relationship with Him that was broken by sin.
Consider for a moment your own attitude towards fallen humanity. What is your attitude toward those who are still under the curse of God's wrath because they have not heard the gospel of Jesus Christ and put their faith in Him?
.
Ask God how He wants you to respond to this week's lesson.
What kind of adjustments is He asking you to make in your belief, attitudes or actions based on the scriptures you studied in this lesson?
.
Spend some time in prayer about these things.
Week of August 12, 2001
UNCONDITIONAL ELECTION
PERSONAL REFLECTION
Do you remember when you were "saved." What was that like for you? What was your sense about what had happened to you? Did you feel that God saved you, i.e. opened the eyes of the blind, or do you feel that you somehow chose God? As John Calvin says "Ignorance of this great truth (predestination) detracts from God's glory and prevents true humility."
This week's lesson is meant to challenge your understanding about the doctrine of election to encourage humility and to magnify God's glory in our lives.
BIBLE STUDY
Read the following scriptures and write down the key thought about who is doing the choosing.
Genesis 12:2
Exodus 4:22
Deuteronomy 7:6
1 Samuel 16:8-12
John 11:43
Acts 9:15
Did God choose Abraham or did Abraham choose God?
Does a son choose his father or does a father choose/bring forth his son?
Did God choose Israel or did Israel choose God?
Did God choose David or did David choose God?
Can a dead man choose to be raised to life?
Read the following scriptures and write down the names of those who were not chosen by God.
Genesis 17:19-21
Genesis 25:23-26
1 Samuel 16:8-10
Malachi 1:2-3
John 17:12.
Read the following scriptures and write down the key thought about who God includes in His elect.
Isaiah 66:20
Psalm 86:9
2 Chronicles 6:32-33
Acts 10:35
Revelation 5:9
PERSONAL APPLICATION
God does not discriminate against people based on race, color, sex, language or even creed. Because God elects people unconditionally, we have a missionary mandate to ensure that no peoples are excluded from hearing the proclamation of the gospel.
What is your attitude about bringing the gospel to all nations, tongues and tribes?
.
How does God want you to respond to this week's study?
.
How is God calling you to participate in bringing the Gospel to all nations and people groups?
.
Take all these things to the Lord in prayer.
Week of August 19, 2001
THE ATONEMENT
PERSONAL REFLECTION
Have you ever owed someone a debt or has anyone ever owed you? What was your attitude about the outstanding debt, as both the debtor and debtee?
DEFINITION
Atonement is reparation offered or made in return for an injury inflicted. Biblically speaking atonement refers to satisfying the demand for God's justice by the substitution of a life for a life for the offense of man's sins against God Almighty. In the Old Testament God made a temporary provision for His people to atone for their sins through the substitutionary act of animal sacrifices. In the New Testament we see that God's wrath against His people is eternally satisfied through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God. (Lev. 17:10-11, 1 John 2:2, Hebrews 10:9-10)
BIBLE STUDY
This week's study will focus on the blessings that Christ purchased for the elect through His death on the cross.
Freedom from God's Wrath:
Galatians 3:13 - Christ redeemed us from what?
Ephesians 1:7 - Through Christ we have what?
Romans 8:1 - In Christ there is no what?
Cleansing from the Power and Penalty of Sin:
Hebrews 10:10 - Christ has made us what?
Isaiah 1:18 - Through Christ our sins are made what?
Ephesians 1:4 - Through Christ we become what?
Heirs of the Abrahamic Covenant:
Genesis 12:2-3 - what are the blessings of Abraham?
Galatians 3:14 - Christ redeemed us for what reason?
Galatians 3:29 - Those in Christ are what?
Freed from the Power of Sin:
Galatians 3:23 - Before Christ we were what?
Galatians 3:25 - Through faith in Christ we are no longer what?
Romans 6:23 - Through Christ we received what?
Recipients of the Rights of Sonship:
Galatians 4: 4-5 - Christ redeemed us to receive what?
John 1:12 - Through Christ we are given the right to what?
Ephesians 1:3 - What has God blessed us with through Christ?
Ephesians 1:5 - What did God predestine us for through Christ?
The elect owed a debt to God that we could not pay. Instead, Christ paid that debt for us. The best we can do is receive the riches of God's blessings with a thankful heart and dedicate our lives to Him, not out of the guilt of having an outstanding debt, but out of thanksgiving and joy that the debt we owed is no longer being demanded of us. We, who are in Christ, have been fully pardoned!
Read the following verses from John 17 and answer the questions about who Christ atoned for?
Who is Christ referring to in verse 6?
Who is Christ referring to in verse 20?
Read verse 6 again and also verse 24. Who does Christ say gave Him those He is praying for?
PERSONAL APPLICATION
The scriptures teach us that Christ did not simply die on the cross to give us a choice to be saved, but Christ died on the cross to effectively purchase His bride (Revelation 21:2-3) with the dowry of His blood. Revelation 5:9 "and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation." That is a missionary doctrine.
In your own words, describe what Christ's atoning sacrifice means to you personally.
.
How were you challenged in your thinking about missions by this week's study?
.
What adjustment is God asking you to make to your beliefs, attitudes, or actions?
.
Take these things to God in prayer.
Week of August 26, 2001
THE PERSEVERANCE OF THE SAINTS
Our final study for the month of August will address one of the greatest and most comforting promises in the whole Bible, the promise of God to preserve His Saints (the elect).
PERSONAL REFLECTION
Have you ever had a friend that stuck with you though thick and thin, bad times and good times? Have you ever had a friend that really knew you? A friend to whom you revealed all those deep dark secrets that you swore you would never tell anyone.
BIBLE STUDY
Read Jeremiah 32:40 and Ezekiel 36:24-26 and answer the following questions.
How long is the promise or covenant that God makes with His people?
What is the reason God's people fear Him?
According to Ezekiel 36:24-25, what else does God do for His people?
According to Ezekiel 36:26 how does God accomplish this work in His people?
Read John 10:27-29 and answer the following questions.
Who is responsible for the safety of the sheep?
Will any of the sheep perish?
Is it possible for anyone to steal any of the Shepherd's sheep away?
Who gave the sheep to the Shepherd for care taking?
The sheep that Christ is referring to are not only the Jewish believers but also the gentile believers (verse 16) that will be brought into the fold through the preaching of the gospel.
Read Romans 8:35-39
Write down all the different things which Paul says cannot separate us from the love of Christ.
Can anything separate us from the love of Christ?
Read Hosea 2:19-20, 3:1
For how long will God betroth Himself to His people?
How does the Lord encourage Hosea to love His adulterous wife?
Who is the faithful one, God or the Israelites?
PERSONAL APPLICATION
The writer of Hebrews quotes the Old Testament when He writes, God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." According to God's word, any one who is in Christ has the complete assurance that nothing can undo what God has already done. It is God who saves and God alone. Not only that, but unless God saves completely He really has not saved at all. John Calvin said "Redemption would be incomplete if it did not lead us to the final goal of safety." Jesus did not die to simply offer you an option to go to heaven, Christ died to give you the assurance of salvation and to guide you safely into your eternal home.
Write down in your own words what it means to you that God will be with you always, that He will guide you safely to your eternal home?
.
How has this week's study impacted your relationship with God?
.
How has this study impacted your thoughts about missions?
.
How does God want you to respond to this study?
.
Take these things to God in prayer.
.| Home |
Copyright © 2001 Alan and Jean LeStourgeon
