The Christian’s Hope: Its Object, Source, and Blessings

What is hope? Should we hope for enjoying life on earth, a millennium of Jesus' earthly reign, reincarnation, or eternal life in heaven? Should our hope be based on human ability, material possessions, and pleasures or on the promises of God? How do we obtain the hope offered in the gospel

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Eternal Life: Understanding It and Obtaining It

The Bible says Jesus can offer us eternal life, but what is the nature of eternal life? What is the source of life and how can we obtain it? Can other religions or religious leaders provide eternal life? Must we meet conditions to receive it? Do you know Jesus and how to have eternal life?

Victory in Jesus: You Can Conquer Sin, Death

We are involved in a great spiritual battle with the forces of evil. Jesus won this battle, and we can conquer through Him. He was victorious over sin, temptation, evil, and even death. We can win these same victories through the weapons He supplies. Don't you want to be on His side and win the victory?

Rejoice in the Lord: The Christian's Joy

The Christian's joy is not based on physical circumstances or human relationships. We can rejoice even as we suffer in these physical ways. Our joy is based on spiritual circumstances: forgiveness of sins, our fellowship with God, and the blessings of serving Him and the hope of eternal life.

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The Significance of Jesus' Resurrection

The Fact Jesus Arose Gives Evidence for Faith and Hope for Salvation and Eternal Destinies.

Why is the resurrection of Jesus fundamentally important to the Christian faith? What evidence does it give us about Christ as Lord, Son of God, Deity, and Savior from sin? What can we learn about our own resurrection from the dead, judgment, and eternal destiny? What does it teach about forgiveness of sins, the conditions of salvation, and the life of Christians? Why is Jesus resurrection important to you?

Ready for Judgment Day: Preparation or Procrastination

Jesus' parable of the Ten Virgins teaches the need for preparing and staying ready for His return. We should not procrastinate obedience but should prepare completely. We will be judged and rewarded individually for how we lived our lives.

Revelation and God’s Eternal Purpose

People sometimes see the Bible as simply a group of miscellaneous stories and religious teachings. The intent of this study is to show that the Scriptures actually reveal a plan and purpose determined by God from eternity and developed throughout history.

What Sin Has Done for You

Things in life are not always as advertised. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Have you ever bought a product only to be really disappointed in it? Karen and I once bought a used freezer. When we first examined it, it felt cold inside. But it was sitting in a garage in the wintertime. The man said it worked; but when we got it home, it did not work at all.

Commercials can make a product sound so good you are supposed to think you can’t live without it. But many of the products advertised are not good for you at all. Often the reality is entirely different from what is advertised.

Likewise, sin puts on a good front, but the reality is much different.

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The Significance of Jesus' Resurrection

The resurrection was one of the most commonly mentioned themes in the preaching of the apostles.

It was preached as a major proof for Jesus' claims. But it was also used to teach many other important lessons.

If the resurrection was so important in the preaching of inspired men in the first century, surely it should be just as important in our preaching today.

The purpose of this study is to consider the significance of Jesus' resurrection. 

What Is the Meaning of Life?

Introduction:

What is the meaning of life? Without doubt, this is one of the most challenging, and yet one of the most fundamental, questions the mind can consider.

People throughout history have pondered the purpose of life. Philosophers spin theories. Poets write songs. Young people drop out of society to "find out what it's all about." Older people may remain within the "establishment," but they still wonder.

Obviously life is real. No one can deny that the world exists and people exist. You live, eat, sleep, breathe, and move. But do you understand why you exist?

Please consider with me the challenging question of life. What is it really all about? To answer this question, we will look at three specific questions.

Humanism and the Bible

Introduction:

Few people were aware of, or concerned about, the Humanist philosophy until recently. As it has become more influential, it has become better known. Yet still few people really understand it or realize the depth of its influence on society.

The purposes of this study are to acquaint people with the major doctrines of Humanism, to demonstrate the influence it is having in our society, and to compare its teachings to those of the Bible.

Premillennialism and Jesus' Second Coming

(Note: This study is part of a series of studies relating to the premillennial view of the kingdom. Frequently this study will refer to other of the studies in the series. To understand the whole picture, and especially to see the other articles that we refer to from time to time, please go to www.gospelway.com/instruct and see the section about Man and His Future.)

Introduction:

Premillennialism is dangerous for many reasons. My main objections are that it (perhaps unintentionally) belittles the authority of Christ, the death of Christ, and the significance of the church and the gospel, while at the same time exalting materialistic goals, Jewish nationalism (respect of persons), and Mosaic practices. These problems affect our present service to God. [For details about these points, see the link above for our other articles on premillennialism.]

Yet premillennialism also contradicts clear gospel teachings about the second coming of Jesus. The purpose of this lesson is to examine these contradictions.

Does Jesus' Kingdom Now Exist?

Premillennialism claims that the kingdom of Jesus Christ does not yet exist. The premillennial view is that Jesus came to earth to establish His kingdom but could not because the Jews rejected Him. So they say, when He comes again, the Messiah must establish and rule 1000 years on the throne of David over an earthly, civil kingdom. Does the kingdom now exist or will Jesus reign for a thousand years on earth (the millennium) when He returns?

Judgment Day

Introduction:

Romans 2:16 refers to "the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ."

Many passages teach there will be a day when Jesus comes again, and all who have ever lived will stand before Him to give account for their lives. The Judge on that day will be Jesus Himself, and He will reward each person according to how he has lived his life.

[See Matthew 25:31-46; John 12:48; Acts 1:9-11; 10:42; 17:30,31; Romans 2:4-11; 14:10-12; 2 Corinthians 5:10; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 2 Thessalonians 1:5-9; 2 Timothy 4:1; Hebrews 9:27; 10:26-31; Revelation 20:11-15; Ecclesiastes 12:13,14.]

The purpose of this lesson is to study the judgment day as revealed in Romans 2.

Jesus' Second Coming: Fact and Fiction

2 Peter 3:10 - "The day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night."

Many fictions exist about the second coming of Jesus.

People who don't claim to be Christians hold many fictions about Jesus' return.

Many doubt that Jesus will return at all or that He will punish people for sin.

People who do claim to be Christians also hold many fictions about Jesus' return.

Speculations abound regarding when He will come and what will happen when He comes. Many of these fictions are popularized by people who hold various premillennial theories.

The purpose of this study is to examine fictions about that day and compare them to the facts of the Scriptures.