Are you seeking spiritual direction in your life? Do you need answers to serious spiritual questions such as: Does God really exist? What is the purpose and meaning of life? Where did the world come from? Can we receive eternal life after death? How can we be forgiven of our sins and receive the favor and blessings of God.
We urge you to consider this study about spiritual direction based on belief in Christian teaching found in the gospel of Jesus Christ.
People alone cannot provide this spiritual guidance.
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Many learned men do not even attempt to explain the meaning and purpose of life and other serious spiritual questions. If they do try, they cannot prove their views are right or wrong, and they often contradict one another.
Jeremiah 10:23 - The way of man is not in himself; It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps.
What man needs is a source of spiritual direction and guidance from someone who really knows the answers. [Isaiah 55:8,9]
Bible doctrine claims to answer the questions.
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Psalms 119:105 - Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.
John 17:17 - Your word is truth.
2 Timothy 3:16,17 - All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Bible teaching affirms that belief in the gospel of Jesus Christ and Christian teaching will give the spiritual guidance you need to show you the meaning and purpose of life.
The purpose of this study is to urge you to consider Bible teaching -- the gospel of Jesus Christ -- as the answer to your need for spirituality.
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Why should you spend your time and effort to understand Bible teaching?
Consider these reasons why belief in Bible doctrine is important to you:
The Bible Tells Your Origin.
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Most people wonder about the origin of the earth and mankind. But often they are confused because they have been told we evolved from "lower animals," which came from simpler organisms, all the way back to some original life form.
Evolution Cannot Answer Basic Questions.
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Where Did the First Life Come From?
Evolution requires that non-living matter produced the first life form by chance where there was no life before. But what we see around us is that life comes only from life. This is called the "Law of Biogenesis."
Where Did All the Different Kinds of Living Things Come From?
Evolution says that all life forms evolved from the first life. But human experience and the fossil record both confirm that living things reproduce "after their own kind." The offspring of a fish is another fish, not a snake, bird, or man. The "missing links" - fossils of organisms halfway between the kinds of plants or animals we have now - are all still missing!
Why Is Man So Unique From the Animals We Are Supposed to Have Evolved From?
Why do we appreciate beauty in art, music, and poetry? Why do we have a conscience and a sense of morals? Why do we possess rational thought so superior to animals?
The Bible Answers Simply that Life Was Created by God.
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Acts 17:24,25,28 - God made the world and everything in it. Life came from the living God.
Genesis 1:11,12,21-28 - The different kinds of life exist because God created them with the power to reproduce after their own kind (cf. Ex. 20:11; Heb. 4:4).
Genesis 1:26,27 - Man is different from the animals because we did not evolve from animals. We were made with unique characteristics that God possesses.
The Bible agrees with what we see around us. Surely it deserves your serious study.
The Bible Tells How Much God Cares for You.
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When people think no one cares, they may become discouraged or even think life is not worth living. Consider what the Bible says about God's care for us.
God Cares about Our Lives.
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Matthew 10:29-31 - God cares for even the least animal, so that He knows everything that happens to it. If so, think how much He must care about what happens to us. He knows even how many hairs you have.
Matthew 6:25-33 - God values us more than He does birds and flowers, yet He feeds and clothes them. Surely He will care for us, if we will serve Him.
God Is Willing To Help in Our Lives.
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James 1:17 - Every good and perfect gift is from the Father. Every blessing we receive shows that God cares about us.
Hebrews 13:5,6 - God will not fail nor forsake us. Men may fail, mistreat, or disappoint us. Not God. He always remains faithful to us, provided that we remain faithful to Him.
The Bible clearly affirms that God loves every human being (John 3:16). Surely you need to understand what the Bible says about God's care for you.
[Matt. 7:7-11; Psa. 23; Rom. 8:28; Phi. 4:6,7.]
The Bible Tells How You Can Become a Member of God's Family.
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Most people would think it a great honor to be a child of some important person in history. Consider then how great a blessing it would be if you were a child of God Himself.
The Church Is God's Family.
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1 Timothy 3:15 - The house (family) of God is the church. [Ephesians 2:19]
1 John 3:1,2 - God is willing to make us His children. This indicates His love for us.
Anyone Can Be a Member of This Family.
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Matthew 12:47-50 - Whosoever does the will of the Father is Jesus' brother, sister, etc.
1 Peter 1:22,23 - We are born again (into God's family) by obeying the truth, the word of God.
Galatians 3:26,27 - To become children of God we must believe in Jesus enough to obey in baptism (cf. John 1:12; 3:3,5; Rom. 6:4).
How wonderful to be a child of the King of the Universe! Surely we ought to study the Bible to understand how to receive this great blessing.
The Bible Offers Worthwhile Goals for Your Life.
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Surely everyone wants to understand the real purpose for life. Why do you exist, anyway?
Many People Are Mistaken about the Purpose of Life.
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Some pursue riches and material possessions: a bigger house, newer car, nicer clothes and furniture.
Some pursue pleasure - entertainment, recreation, travel, etc. Life has no higher purpose than "fun, fun, fun." "Wine, women, and song." "Be a party animal." "Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die."
Some pursue education. They seek to accumulate knowledge and worldly wisdom.
There may be some wholesome activities in these areas, but is there really no higher goal in life? Surely the benefits are temporary and incomplete at best.
The average American has achieved these goals to a greater degree than most people in history, yet our society is filled with crime, suicide, mental illness, drug addiction, and unhappiness. Are these the signs of fulfillment? There must be something more.
The Bible Gives the Real Purpose of Life.
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Ecclesiastes 2:1-11; 12:13,14 - Solomon experienced the pinnacle of enjoyment in every aspect of life: wealth, pleasure, and wisdom. Did it satisfy? It was all "vanity and vexation of spirit" (2:11).
Then he learned the real purpose of life: "Fear God and keep His commands" (12:13).
Matthew 6:19-24,33 - The real goal of life is to work in God's kingdom and be right before Him. God created man for a purpose. Life is meaningless unless we fulfill that purpose.
Each of us can fulfill the purpose for which God created us, but first we must diligently study the Bible.
The Bible States that God Sent His Son to Die for You.
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Jesus Came to Seek and Save the Lost.
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Most people know they have done wrong. At times we all feel a strong sense of guilt.
Romans 3:23 - God is also concerned about the wrongs we do. In His eyes, we have all sinned (Rom. 3:23; 1 John 1:8,10). For our sins, we deserve to be punished (Rom. 6:23).
Luke 19:10 - God cares about us so much that He sent His own Son to earth to seek and save lost men.
Jesus Died in Our Place.
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Romans 5:6-9 - Sinful men deserved to be punished, but because He loves us, God sent His Son to suffer so we could escape punishment. Jesus paid this price for all men (1 Tim. 2:6; Heb. 2:9; John 3:16).
Every one of us needs our burden of guilt removed, but there is no way to accomplish that except through Jesus (Acts 4:12; John 14:6). And the Bible is the only book that can tell us how to receive God's forgiveness. Surely this book deserves our attention.
The Bible Tells What Happens to People after Death.
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People often wonder what comes after death. Will we be rewarded eternally, or is death the end of our existence? The Bible also answers these questions.
After Death Comes Judgment.
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Hebrews 9:27 - It is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment.
2 Corinthians 5:10 - For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ. [Acts 17:30,31]
Someday Jesus will return and all the dead will be raised (John 5:28,29; 1 Cor. 15:12-26). Then we will face the consequences of our lives.
Men Will Be Rewarded Eternally.
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Matthew 25:31-46 - As a result of the judgment, the wicked will go into everlasting punishment but the righteous into life eternal.
1 Peter 1:3,4 - Those who please God will receive an incorruptible, undefiled inheritance, reserved for us in heaven. To receive this reward we must be "begotten" as God's children.
How does one become a child of God? By faith, repentance, confession, and baptism (Gal. 3:26,27; Mark 16:15,16; Acts 2:38; Rom. 1:16; 10:17; 6:3,4). Then one must remain faithful to make his calling and election sure (2 Pet. 1:3-11).
Conclusion
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Surely these are questions that should concern every one of us. The Bible claims that it is the guidebook given by God to answer these questions.
The Bible is a book worthy of your study. We urge you to be like the Bereans and search the Scriptures daily with a ready mind (Acts 17:11).
(c) Copyright 1998, David E. Pratte
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