Fellowship with Error: Encouragement, Support, Assistance, Justification, Acceptance

Fellowship is sharing or being part of an activity. Is it possible to be guilty of a wrong act even if we do not actually commit the act? What about encouragement or tempting others to sin? Is it wrong to support, assist, or cooperate with those who do evil acts? What if we defend, protect, or justify those who sin? What does the Bible say?

Sir Isaac Newton’s Model Solar System and God

How can we demonstrate the existence of God to those who doubt or disbelieve? Isaac Newton, one of the greatest scientists in history, used a model of the solar system to show that the Creator of the universe must exist.

Jesus as Creator and Preserver of the Universe

Only God could create the heavens and the earth, but the Bible says Jesus did it! What does this tell us about who Jesus is? What does His role as Creator tell about His power and wisdom? What authority does He possess? What is His relation to the Father and to us as creatures? Is He a created being or is He eternal?

Guarding Our Security, Faithfulness, Endurance, and Eternal Salvation

Is it possible for a child of God to fall away and cease being faithful? If so, what has God provided to help us avoid falling? What guidance and instruction are offered by the Bible and other Christians? What about the power of prayer? How does God, by His love and grace, help us overcome temptation and avoid sin?

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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?

Seeking the Lord: Finding God's Will for Life

Can people seek for God and find Him and His will for our lives? What about people in Africa and other places where the gospel is little known? What must we do to seek for God? What about the attitude of our hearts? Must we believe in God and study the Bible? How important is obedience?

“Let Your Light Shine…”: A Christian’s Influence

Jesus taught His disciples to set an example of good works so people would give glory to the Father in heaven. Everyone has influence. Our influence is shown by our works, not just our words. Evil conduct leads people to dishonor God, but good works lead people to glorify God. Is your light shining for God's glory?

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?

What Is Proper (Scriptural) Baptism?

Who should be baptized: how, why, and when? Should babies be baptized? Is baptism sprinkling. pouring, or immersion? What is the proper purpose of baptism? What conditions must one meet before being baptized? Is baptism necessary to receive forgiveness of sin? What commitment should one make for life after baptism?

Finding Fault with God vs. Trusting in God

Sometimes people allow questions about why God acts as He does to hinder them from believing in Him or serving Him. Must we answer every such question in order to serve God, or is the solution found in evidence for faith and trusting God to always know and do what is good?

Glory and Honor to the Lord Our God

Why does God deserve to receive glory and honor? How should we express honor for God? Should we honor God for His majesty, character, and works? Are we expressing proper honor by our worship and our lives?

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Introduction:

If someone asked why you should serve God, what reasons would you list?

It is possible to have improper reasons, but here are some good reasons:

* Salvation from sin

* Heaven and hell

* Spiritual blessings (peace, hope, guidance for life, etc.)

* Better life (moral uprightness, good family relations, etc.)

* Love of God

We want to discuss a reason that I fear our lists would often omit.

Why Is Bible History Important to You?

What claims do Bible writers make about the accuracy of their history? Did they write myths and legends or historical events? Did they record eyewitness testimony? How important is this history to our evidence for God, Jesus, and the Bible? Is Bible history essential to our understanding of our purpose in life and salvation from sin?

Consensus Thinking: Right / Wrong Based on Mainstream / Majority

People often determine what they believe in religion and morality based on the consensus, majority, or "mainstream" thinking, especially experts, scholars, or scientists. This occurs in government, media, education, denominations, etc. Is truth determined by polls and surveys or by the Bible?

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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How to Persuade Unbelievers: Evidence from Acts

When someone does not believe in the Bible, Jesus, or God, how can we convince them? Should we use archaeology, science, logic, secular history? Yes, but examples in the book of Acts emphasize creation, miracles, fulfilled prophecy, and the resurrection of Jesus.

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?

Emotions in Religion: What Standard Should Guide Us?

How much should we emphasize feelings in religion? Are emotions good or bad? Can we trust our feelings to tell us right from wrong or do we need a better standard in religion? Should our worship seek primarily to honor and praise God or to produce feelings that satisfy the people?

What Does It Mean to Forgive Others?

When people sin against us should we seek vengeance, hold a grudge, hurt them with words and threats? Or should we love them, pray for them, and seek their good? When and how do we forgive? Must they repent and confess their sin? Is forgiveness conditional or unconditional?

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.

Dangers of Marxism to Your Family and Your Country

 You need to understand the dangers Marxism poses to you, your family, and your country. Why are we experiencing riots, looting, and the Black Lives Matters movement? Who is behind this, and what role do Marxists and Communists play?

We have now completed our study about Marxism/Communism and its effects on our society. The fifth and final study discusses the ultimate goal of Marxism, how successful they are being, and what you and I can do about it.

These studies in this series are available as free videos at

www.gospelway.com/video/index.php

This material is also available as a free article on our website at

https://www.gospelway.com/religiousgroups/marxism.php

We have also recently printed it in book form available for sale here:

https://www.gospelway.com/sales/books.php

Bible Justice, Social Justice, or Perverted Justice?

What is justice and what is the proper standard: God's word or human desires? Should we judge people based on individual conduct or on race, wealth, influence, or family? What about Social Justice?

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Video Bible Study: 1 Timothy - 26

 Bible class discussion about false teachers based on 1 Timothy 6:3-5

Glacier National Park, False Prediction, and Bible Prophecy

A sign in Glacier National Park predicted that global warming would destroy the glaciers. In contrast, the Bible is proved to be true by accurate prophecy.

Increasing and Abounding in the Lord's Work

 

Like a tree grows every year, Christians should continually grow in God's service. We must abound and increase in faith, love, knowledge, teaching, and all good works of righteousness.

“He Ain’t Heavy: He’s My Brother”

 

The love that family members should have for one another should teach spiritual brothers to never harm one another but to appreciate, help, and encourage one another and to reconcile our differences.

Jesus Died Alone for You and Me

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When Jesus died for our sins, everyone forsook Him. His disciples deserted or denied Him. Even His Father forsook Him on the cross.

Lessons from a Star: Christians Should Shine

Like the stars in the sky, God created Christians to shine. The good works Christians do should bring glory to God.

Relationships between Races and Nationalities

Prejudice, unfair discrimination, conflict, hatred, riots, and alienation often exist between people of different races or nationalities. What about the Black Lives Matter movement? Is there a solution to racial strife and bigotry? Can we be united in Christ?

Why Did God Make Mosquitos?

If God is good and wise, why would He make mosquitos that cause discomfort and problems? This question helps us understand other concerns about suffering.

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.

The Gnostic Gospels and Bible Preservation and Canon

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Many people claim the Gnostic gospels teach true religious doctrine. Some even claim they belong in the Scriptures. They are often used to justify modern beliefs and practices. Has the Bible canon been properly identified and preserved?

The Challenge of Fatherhood and Absent Fathers

Families in our society are challenged by perverted and confused concepts of the role of fatherhood, including the problems of absent and negligent fathers. This causes many troubled children and much confusion about the nature of God as our Father. Please consider the Bible teaching.

God Is All-Powerful, Almighty, Omnipotent

The Bible affirms that God is the Almighty: all-powerful and omnipotent. Consider the power God has as Creator and Ruler of the Universe, the only God who can perform miracles, forgive sin, and give men eternal life.

“He Who Has Ears, Let Him Hear”

In Matthew 11:15 and other passages Jesus said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” What does it mean to hear the teachings of Jesus?

What should we learn from Jesus’ statement that those who have ears to hear, should hear?

How to Handle Persecution and Opposition

Introduction:

2 Timothy 3:12 – All who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. Every Christian sooner or later will endure persecution. This has been true throughout history.

Persecution may come from civil rulers, employers, fellow-workers, teachers or professors, neighbors, friends, relatives, family members, people of false religious faiths, or even other members of the church.

Divine Authority vs. Human Wisdom in Religion

In this study we seek to consider the most important area of authority: religion.

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"Authority" may be defined as the right to rule or command, the power to give instructions that others are expected to obey, the right to make and enforce law. So we are discussing how we determine in religion what commands and instructions we are expected to obey.

George Washington’s Farewell Speech

There is some controversy about George Washington’s personal religious beliefs. But there is no doubt that he had great respect for faith in God and for moral living.

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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Work Hard, Work Smart, Work Together

Several times I have heard athletic coaches encourage their players by saying: "Play hard, play smart, play together." Consider how this concept, with modification, applies to the local church.

Ephesians 4:12,16 – The church was organized (verse 11) for the purpose of equipping members to accomplish works of service so the body can be edified (built up – verse 16). Like a good team, we must learn to work hard, work smart, and work together.

"Prove Yourself a Man": The Meaning of Manhood

In 1 Kings 2:2, David gave charge to his son Solomon who would serve as king after him. He said: "Be strong, therefore, and prove yourself a man." Consider some observations:

Pride Goes Before a Fall: Physical Beauty

Winston Churchill’s mother was extremely proud of her appearance and charm. For nearly ten years she was considered the most desirable lady in England. She once said, "I shall never get used to not being the most beautiful woman in the room." *

Consider some lessons we should learn about pride.

The Boy or the Cap: What Is Your Focus?

A man saw a child fall into a lake and jumped in and saved his life. Soon afterward a woman came and asked if he was the man who pulled her son out of the lake. He modestly said that he was. She responded, "Well, where is his cap?" – Winston Churchill

 

Consider some lessons we can learn.

God’s People: Special and Separate

God has always required His people to be distinctive, different, or separate from those around. But being different has always been a struggle for Gods people. We want to be like those around us, to imitate their practices and be accepted.

2 Corinthians 6:17,18 – Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.

The question we consider in this study is whether or not God’s people are maintaining our distinctiveness, or are there patterns and trends that indicate we are losing our distinctiveness?

Voting: Making Godly Choices

People who believe in Bible standards for the family, morality, and religious freedom often face challenging decisions in elections. On the one hand, we ought to prefer those who will encourage righteousness and discourage evil. Yet on the other hand, the available candidates are often less than ideal.

Some people wonder, if they vote for a candidate who holds some immoral view, are they having fellowship with evil (Ephesians 5:11; Romans 1:32). Or some may think that a candidate with a history of personal immorality cannot rule wisely (Proverbs 29:2; Luke 16:10).

These principles should be considered. But usually there is more than this to be considered.

Godly Sorrow, Worldly Sorrow, and True Repentance

2 Corinthians 7:10 – Godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.

In order to be forgiven of sins, one must first repent. In order to repent, one must first have godly sorrow. Some people do not repent because they are not really sorry. But there is another kind of sorrow – the sorrow of the world –that does not lead to repentance, but leads to death.

If godly sorrow is necessary in order to repent and receive salvation, but there is another kind of sorrow that leads to death, then surely we need to know the difference.

What is the difference between godly sorrow and worldly sorrow? How do we recognize when we or others have a proper sorrow for our sins?

Leave and Cleave: Independence of Married Children

Genesis 2:24 instructs a man to leave his father and mother and cleave (be joined) to his wife. When a young man and young woman marry, they form a new family unit separate from their parents' family.

Consider with me some lessons people need to learn about what it means to leave father and mother and cleave to one’s wife.

Every Part Doing His Share

Introduction:

Ephesians 4:16 – The body works effectively when every part does its share. This causes growth of the body, so it can edify itself in love.

Every Christian is responsible to do his best to accomplish the work of the local church and fulfill his individual responsibilities before God.

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In nearly every congregation, some members do most of the work while others do relatively little. Sometimes we become comfortable with allowing other people to do the work when we really should be helping.

From time to time events in a congregation remind us that each Christian must consider whether there are ways he/she can improve and accomplish more in the work of the congregation. We should always be willing to examine ourselves, but some events especially challenge us to consider our work.

The purpose of this study is to consider the work of this congregation and urge each of us to examine himself or herself to see if we can step up and do more.

Solving Conflict in Human Relationships

Everyone at times must deal with conflict and disagreements.

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An elderly couple celebrated many years of marriage. The man said, "I’m pleased to say that we’ve never had a fight." The wife responded, "Well, it helps to be old and forgetful!"

There is no such thing as a married couple that never has conflicts. But the same is true in many other relationships, including in the home, the church, on the job, etc. Unfortunately, most people lack the skill to discuss disagreements and resolve them. As a result, many people become seriously alienated but never resolve the cause of the problem.

The purpose of this study is to learn what the Bible says about how to resolve conflict in our relationships with others.

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Be Ready: The Importance of Preparation

Introduction:

God believes in the importance of good preparation.

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Proverbs 30:24,25 – God praised ants for their wisdom, because they provide food in the summer and so are prepared for winter. Preparation is a sign of wisdom.

God Himself prepared for many of His works.

Psalms 9:7 – He prepares judgment for the wicked.

Psalms 31:19 – He prepares goodness for His people.

Isaiah 40:3; Luke 1:17 – He sent John the Baptist to prepare for the coming of Jesus.

Bitterness, Resentment, and Self-Pity

Many of us tend to brood bitterly in self-pity about real or imagined mistreatment or failures of people around us. This has often been a problem for me, and I am sure for others too.

Consider some Biblical principles about this subject.

Why Do We Have Mass Shootings?

Every society has had evil people, but today we have people who seek to murder as many of their fellow citizens as they can. This did not exist in our society 50 to 60 years ago. So why do we have it today? There may be many factors, but consider the connection to other changes in our society in the last 50 to 60 years:

A New Man: The Gospel of Change

I once read the following statement (paraphrased): "Jesus never left anyone the same. Of everyone who ever met Him, He demanded change" (Christian Counselors Manual, page 247). Think of all the people whom Jesus demanded to change: the apostles, Nicodemus, the rich young ruler, the Samaritan woman, the woman taken in adultery, the scribes and Pharisees, Saul of Tarsus. Some heeded His call for change and some did not, but He required them all to change.

Change is a fundamental concept of the gospel of Christ.

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The gospel repeatedly emphasizes that those who are in Christ must be new and different.

2 Corinthians 5:17 - If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

Romans 6:4 - 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.

The purpose of this lesson is to consider the gospel teaching that requires us to be new and different people.

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Lessons from Snow

An article about "Snowflake Bentley" included the following:

"Wilson (Willie) Bentley (1865-1931) was born on a farm in Jericho, Vermont, ... [an area with] an average annual snowfall of over 120 inches."

"At age 15 he began drawing snowflakes while looking at them through his microscope – no easy task, because most of them melted before he could complete a drawing. At age 16 he learned about a camera that could be used with a microscope. His parents saved the money--and when Willie was 17 they bought him the camera. It took him over a year of failures before he finally achieved his goal – a photograph of a snowflake, the first one ever taken." (Acts and Facts, 12/2011)

Bentley eventually made thousands of such pictures for universities and science magazines.

"At age 66 Bentley published a large ... book of his photographs titled Snow Crystals ... Less than two weeks after his book was published, he walked six miles home in a snowstorm, caught pneumonia, and died two weeks later."

So, with incredible irony, this man who devoted most of his life to the study of snow, ultimately died from walking in a snowstorm!

Consider some lessons we can learn from snow.

Have the Nails Pierced Your Hands?

Galatians 2:20 - A Christian is a person who has been crucified.

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Nearly all Bible believers know that Jesus was crucified for us. But some seem to think this means we do not have to be crucified. They want to receive the benefit of Jesus' death, but don't seem to realize that we too must die.

The purpose of this study is to learn what it means to be crucified with Christ and why it is important.

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Basic Principles of Counseling

At times all of us need advice, and we all give advice.

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We may seek advice regarding a medical condition, how to follow a certain recipe, or whether or not to buy a certain product. And most of us have offered advice to others in such matters.

But all of us also at times face spiritual problems or hardships for which we need advice. Yet sometimes we are hesitant to ask or to give advice regarding spiritual needs.

The purpose of this study is to consider Bible principles regarding giving and receiving counsel regarding spiritual problems.

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Involvement and Participation in Bible Teaching

We remember ten percent of what we read, twenty percent of what we hear, but thirty percent of what we see.

But of what we see and hear, we remember fifty percent. We remember seventy percent of what we say, and ninety percent of what we say if we also do what we are talking about. (I have forgotten the source of the chart, but have seen this kind of thing several times.)

For example, after Bible class ends, would you be more likely to remember a comment or question you made, or would you remember as well the same question or comment if someone else made it?

The purpose of this lesson is to consider the importance of personal participation and involvement in Bible teaching.

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The Passover and the Language of Memorials

Understanding the Lord’s Supper properly requires us to recognize that much of the language used is not meant to be taken literally. This happens often in certain kinds of Bible teaching, especially in memorials such as the Lord’s Supper.

In order to help us understand the nature of the language, let us consider the Old Testament memorial feast which itself was a symbol of the Lord’s Supper.

"Only If You Dig"

God and I raised a flower bed. He really did the most.

We used His soil, His air, His rain, His life, and His sun.

My part seemed so trivial that I said, "Lord, you take those bulbs and make them grow right there in the box out in the garage. You don't need me, Lord. You can do it by yourself."

"Oh, no," He said. "I will do my part, but you must do your part also. You'll have to dig the bed, bury the bulbs, and pull the weeds."

Lessons from Sergius Paulus

Now when they had gone through the island to Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew whose name was Bar-Jesus, who was with the Proconsul, Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man. This man called for Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God. But Elymas the sorcerer (for so his name is translated) withstood them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith. Then Saul, who also is called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him and said, "O full of all deceit and all fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease perverting the straight ways of the Lord? And now, indeed, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you shall be blind, not seeing the sun for a time." And immediately a dark mist fell on him, and he went around seeking someone to lead him by the hand. Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had been done, being astonished at the teaching of the Lord. – Acts 13:6-12

Historical Accuracy of the Account

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 

Notice the following evidence that demonstrates the historical accuracy of this account:

What Kind of Church Is This?

Suppose a man in the emergency room of a hospital is overheard to say: "You don’t sell tires, change oil, or wash cars? What kind of hospital is this?" Or, "What you mean you don’t have trapeze artists, or lion tamers? What kind of hospital is this?"

Most of us would immediately realize his mistake. Doctors and nurses are skilled and trained to help people with health issues, but repairing automobiles and operating a circus are not the purposes of a hospital. And any hospital that would involve itself in those activities would be neglecting the real purpose for which they exist. If you want someone to repair your car or entertain you, you must go elsewhere.

Few people would make this kind of mistake regarding a hospital, but I once read an article that illustrated that people frequently make this mistake regarding the church. For example, consider the people who think:

The Lord's Table

The Bible uses different terms to describe practices and institutions that God has ordained. These different terms are intended to help us understand and appreciate God's will regarding these activities. Specifically, we can gain a deeper understanding of the Lord's Supper by considering the terms the Bible uses to refer to it. Let us consider one such expression.

1 Corinthians 10:19-22 - What am I saying then? That an idol is anything, or what is offered to idols is anything? Rather, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice they sacrifice to demons and not to God, and I do not want you to have fellowship with demons. You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the Lord's table and of the table of demons. Or do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than He?

This passage refers to the Lord's Supper as the "Lord's table." Consider lessons we can learn.

Counting the Cost

I have a book by Paul Johnson about the history of the American people. It describes the development of the United States and discusses at length the role of religion in our history. One point he emphasizes is the tension throughout our history between the importance of religion and spirituality on the one hand and the urge for possessions and materialism on the other hand.

At one point he describes the occupations, material success, and living arrangements of Americans in the 1700’s, including a description of their homes. Page 100 includes the following about what was to be the most magnificent home built during the 1700’s:

"The greatest early 18th-century house in America was Rosewell, erected by Mann Page ... in 1726 on the York river. Page had this superb house built using designs ... published in London ... Page overspent, his grand house was unfinished when he died in 1730, and his debts exceeded the value of all his property ... Rosewell ... was burned down in 1916."

Why We Need Forgiveness

Sometimes we fail to see our need for items that would really benefit us if we had them. If we obtain them, we may come to treasure what we earlier thought was unimportant.

On the other hand, we sometimes lose our appreciation for an item after we obtain it. Even if it performs as we had hoped, after a while "the new wears off." It becomes commonplace, and we begin to take it for granted.

In this study we will consider a gift that all of us need, though we may not realize our need. Or we may possess this gift but fail to appreciate it. Either way, our study should help us to appreciate this gift more fully. This gift is the forgiveness of sins.

Jesus Possesses the Unique Characteristics of God.

Certain characteristics are unique to God. No one but God - surely no created being - can possess them. Our purpose is to consider whether or not Jesus possesses these qualities. If He possesses the character which only Deity can possess, then this confirms that He possesses Deity. To claim He possesses these qualities when He is not Deity would be blasphemy.

Note that some passages make general claims which necessarily imply that Jesus possesses the qualities of Deity. He possesses all the fullness of Deity (Colossians 2:9). He is the very image of the Father (Hebrews 1:3), and had the form of God (Philippians 2:6). He also wears the unique names of God. It follows that He must possess the characteristics of God.

Let us consider these qualities individually to see whether or not the Bible affirms that Jesus did possess them. Remember that, if Jesus ever possessed these qualities, then He has always possessed them and always will possess them (Hebrews 13:8). Deity cannot cease to be Deity and cannot lose the characteristics of Deity.

Astronauts and Faith in God and the Bible

Astronauts demonstrate that, contrary to common belief, many people trained in science still believe in God and the Bible.

Moral Decline and the Faith of Abraham

Hebrews 11:17 – By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, of whom it was said, "In Isaac your seed shall be called," concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense.

Several Scriptures discuss the faith of Abraham and especially his faith in being willing to sacrifice his son Isaac. Hebrews 11 says his faith was so great he believed God could raise Isaac from the dead. Consider some lessons we can learn:

Does the Thief on the Cross Prove Baptism is Not Essential?

Luke 23:39-43 - Jesus was crucified between two criminals (thieves). As the three of them were suspended, one thief ridiculed Jesus, but the other defended Him. Jesus promised this one would be in Paradise that day.

This saying of Jesus has become a center of controversy. Many believe Jesus saves people on the basis of "faith alone," so baptism is not essential to receive forgiveness of sins. When the subject is discussed, people commonly bring up the thief as someone who was saved without baptism. They conclude that if Jesus would save this man without baptism, He would also save us without baptism.

Let us consider further. What does this case teach us about the terms of forgiveness under the gospel?

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. 

The Duration of Spiritual Gifts

Note: This is the conclusion of a series of studies about miracles, tongues, Holy Spirit baptism, healings, and spiritual gifts. To see the whole series, go to our Bible Instruction website at www.gospelway.com/instruct

Introduction:

Previous articles showed that the purposes of spiritual gifts pertained to the work of revealing and confirming God's will for man. And that work was completed during the lifetime of the original apostles.

Our purpose now will be to consider whether, when this work was completed, the gifts were to continue or did God cause them to cease?

Some people believe that miracles and direct revelation still occur today. Is this correct, or have the gifts ceased?

To Whom Do the Teachings of the New Testament Apply?

Introduction:

Sometimes people wonder whether all people are universally accountable to obey the teachings of the gospel, the New Testament, or is it only for members of the church? Are people free from the laws of God simply because they have never chosen to submit to those laws, or will God still hold them accountable in the Judgment for the fact they did not obey the Bible?

Are You "In Christ"?

Introduction:

John 15:1-6 -- To bear good fruit for the Lord and to avoid being cast off, we must abide in Christ. Surely this makes it essential for all who want eternal life to be "in Christ."

Many Scriptures talk about Christians being "in Christ." The purpose of this study is to examine those passages.

What does it mean to be in Christ? Why should a person want to be in Christ? How does a person come into Christ and abide in Him?

The Authority of Scriptural Reasoning

Introduction:

   Most Bible believers admit that God teaches directly by means of direct commands and direct statements. We sometimes say: "Commands constitute binding authority"; so, people are expected to obey, and those who do not obey in error.

   

    [Examples: Acts 10:48; Matthew 22:37-39; 1 Corinthians 11:23-25; 14:37; John 14:15,21-24; 15:14; 1 John 2:3,4; 5:3; Matthew 28:18-20]

   

    But besides direct, explicit statements, the Bible also teaches by indirect methods. These methods include examples and "necessary inferences" (or "logical conclusions"). Some people say we are obligated to follow only commands. They deny that example and necessary inference are valid, binding ways to determine God's will. They may even say that using such methods constitutes a man-made creed or a human tradition. (Some even have a name for this view. They call it a "new hermeneutic.")

   

    The purpose of this study is to examine whether or not "necessary inference" constitutes a Scriptural method to learn God's will.

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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.

Hatred, Hate Speech, and Hate Crimes

How many times have you heard people say things like the following?

"Hate has no place in our society."

"We need to learn to love, not hate."

When people speak out against some practice, they are accused of being full of hate or using hate speech or a hate crime.

People often act and speak as though love is always good and hate always bad.

Astrology, Horoscopes, Signs of the Zodiac, and the Bible

Introduction:

Astrology is becoming increasingly popular.

In my youth, people almost never took the Occult, witchcraft, or astrology seriously. People considered them a joke or at most an oddity. Today all aspects of the occult are increasingly taken seriously. Evidence of this increasing popularity include:

* In the 1950's only 100-200 newspapers carried horoscope columns. Today, thousands of full-time professional astrologers cast horoscopes, most newspapers carry horoscopes, and millions of people read them with varying degrees of seriousness.

* In the 1970's the rock musical "Hair" popularized the hit song announcing "the dawning of the Age of Aquarius," one of the signs of the Zodiac.

* The popular New Age Movement promotes and justifies astrology along with many other aspects of the Occult.

* TV ads promote astrology, psychics, and the Occult generally. Movies and TV programs discuss it, promote it, and present it as a serious phenomenon.

* Many recent book fads, such as the Harry Potter books, deeply involve many aspects of the Occult. A search of occult books on Amazon.com yields a list of nearly 800 titles in the children's section alone! The point is not that all of these are harmful - many actually oppose the Occult. But the sheer number shows the popularity of the subject.

The fact is that many people, especially young people, are fascinated by all aspects of the Occult. You and your friends, your children and their friends, will all have contact with Occult influences, including astrology. You need to know what the Bible says.

The purpose of this study is to examine what the Bible says about astrology.

Religious Emotionalism

Introduction:

Human emotions play important roles in our lives. This is natural and may be quite wholesome. But we all realize that sometimes emotions cloud people's thinking, so they do things they should not. Emotions can be confusing, uncertain, even dangerous.

The purpose of this study is to consider the role emotions have in religion and to consider some ways that emotions cloud people's thinking in religion.

The Effects of Same-Sex Marriage

Numerous countries and states have granted the privilege of marriage to people of the same sex. Others are considering doing so.

This has followed after years of progressive moral decline: no-fault divorce, legalized abortion, trial marriages and the sexual revolution, and the gay rights movement. Granting marital status to homosexuals is one of the greatest downward leaps in this long progression.

The purpose of this study is to consider what view decent moral people ought to take, not just about homosexuality in general, but specifically about homosexual marriage. What effects will result if homosexuals are granted the right to marry?

What about people who do not practice homosexuality? How can this affect us?

Consider the following areas of concern:

What Must We Believe?

Introduction:

Many Scriptures teach that we are saved by faith.

But does it follow, just because a person claims to have "faith," that he will be saved? Is it possible to have a faith that does not save?

[Hebrews 10:39; 11:1,4-8,17,30; Romans 1:16; 4:19-21; 5:1,2; 10:9,10,13-17; Galatians 5:6; 2 Corinthians 5:7; James 2:14-26; John 1:12; 3:15-18; 8:24; 20:30,31; Mark 16:15,16]

There are different kinds of faith.

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Many people think they are saved because they "believe," with little restrictions on what they believe. This is especially confusing with those who claim we are saved by "faith alone."

* Some think its enough to "believe in god": some concept of a Supreme Being or some "force" that operates the universe.

* Others claim Hindus and Buddhists will be saved because they "believe in god": many gods, worshiped by images, etc.

* Others claim Jews and Muslims will be saved because "they believe in the same God you do."

* Many liberal, modernists don't believe in Jesus' miracles or Deity or resurrection, yet claim they "believe in Jesus": He existed and was a great teacher, maybe even a prophet.

* Many denominationalists disbelieve much of what Jesus taught yet think they will be saved because they believe Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, who died to save them from their sins.

The purpose of this study is to consider what the Bible says we must believe to be saved.

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.

The Claims of Scripture

Introduction:

Years ago I heard a public discussion between a gospel preacher and a denominational preacher in which the denominational preacher claimed he could write letters like those in the New Testament. He was not claiming to be directly guided by the Holy Spirit to write divine commandments. He meant that, because of his spiritual maturity and wisdom, he could be "inspired" to write helpful spiritual lessons like poets are "inspired" to write poetry.

This illustrates the view that many people today take of Scripture.

Authority of the Teaching of the Apostles

Introduction:

Many people think the teachings presented by apostles or prophets, especially Paul, are somehow less authoritative than what Jesus Himself personally spoke.

* A "philosophy major," when I quoted Acts 2:38, said that was just Peter expressing his opinion.

* A feminist said I based all my beliefs on the teaching of "that old reprobate, the apostle Paul."

* A Muslim leader (El Dareer) in debate claimed that Paul's teaching differed from that of Jesus. Other people have claimed that Paul's teaching disagreed with that of Peter.

* A defender of homosexuality said that "Jesus said nothing about gays" - meaning that He personally said nothing, so we can disregard clear teachings in the epistles regarding homosexuality.

* Others have said that the apostles, especially Paul, did not show as good an attitude as Jesus in teaching: they expressed less love and tolerance but were more condemning of other people's views.

* For these reasons, some follow only the "Red Letters" as being necessary to salvation.

To such people, what Jesus said may be worth considering, but other teaching in the New Testament is optional. They feel free to reject the teaching of some apostle or prophet, especially Paul, if they don't like it.

The purpose of this study is to consider the teachings of the apostles and prophets, especially Paul, and compare their authority to that of Jesus' teachings.

Raising Godly Children - Motivation

Parents would prefer that their children simply obey them without chastisement. But in practice this does not always happen. Often the child's will conflicts with that of the parent. Then, if the child is to learn respect for authority and do what we believe to be best for him, we must still get them to obey us. How can we lead a child to obey when he would rather not?

The answer is that parents must motivate the child to obey. Whatever reasons they have for not obeying, we must give them stronger reasons to obey! This is done by rewards and punishments. When the child obeys, we make him glad by giving him a pleasant experience. When he disobeys, we make him sorry by giving an unpleasant experience. He eventually learns it is to his advantage to obey. 

What Is the Church?

Introduction:

In Matthew 16:18 Jesus promised He would build His church. All serious Bible students agree that He did build His church in the first century. At that time, there was only one church belonging to Jesus and all saved people were in that one church. You can read about that church on nearly every page of your New Testament.

The purpose of this study is to consider what the church is.

Abortion and the Bible

Introduction:

In all the wars fought by the USA, a total of over 1.2 million soldiers have died. This study is about the people who have died in a different war: the war on the unborn. Since the United States Supreme Court ruled in 1973 that unborn babies could legally be killed, between 1 and 1.5 million unborn babies have been legally killed in this country every year. The yellow pages of any phone book list several nearby clinics where women can "terminate a pregnancy."

But no human legislature and no human court has final authority over what is morally right or wrong. Nazi law and Communist law allowed the killing of millions of adults. Was that moral? God is the final authority in determining what is morally right or wrong, regardless of what any man may say (Isa. 55:8,9; Luke 16:15; 1 Cor. 1:18-25). We must obey God rather than men (Acts 5:29).

The purpose of this study is to consider exactly what the Bible teaches about abortion. The Bible is the perfect standard of right and wrong (2 Tim. 3:16,17; 1 Cor. 14:37; John 12:48). Too much has been said about abortion without adequately considering the Bible teaching.

How Can You Be Sure Jesus Has Forgiven Your Sins?

To receive eternal life according to the gospel of Christ, a person must be forgiven of sins by Jesus' blood (Ephesians 1:7; Matthew 26:28; 1 Peter 2:24). But many people are unsure about whether or not they have been forgiven. Others may think that they have been forgiven, but would be surprised to learn that Jesus does not agree.

Matthew 7:21-23 -- Many people, who believe in the Lord, will expect Jesus to accept them at the judgment. Instead He will reject them because they have not done the will of the Father.

Acts 23:1; 26:9 -- Saul was a Jew who opposed Jesus in all good conscience, doing what he sincerely believed he should do. Yet he was the chief of sinners (1 Timothy 1:12-15). Clearly he had been misled.

What about you and me? Is it possible we have been misled like these people? Surely this matter deserves your careful investigation.