STUDY SHEET December 2, 2018

Transcription

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2 Forgive and Forget Psalm 103:8-13 STUDY SHEET December 2, 2018 Longer passages are not quoted in the study sheet, but they can be read in the accompanying transcript. Past hurts and offenses can haunt us and make us. Is there an answer? Today, we re exploring what the says about forgetting and forgiving. When people count their blessings, the forgiveness of God always makes it to the top of the list. What Jesus did for us on the was deeply loving and gracious. We can be from sin because of the price that He paid. Scripture assures us of the Lord s death, burial, and resurrection from the dead. This gives us hope for forgiveness and hope for eternal life. What a blessing to have God s message of hope! Psalm 32:1-2 says, How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is! How blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit! Rather than our sins, God confronts us, calls us to repent, and forgives us. Forgiveness is not forgetting, but forgetting against. When God forgives us, He no longer our sins against us, so that we might be reconciled to Him (2 Corinthians 5:19-20). Men can t the past, but God can forget our past sins against us and no longer hold us. Psalm 85:2-3 says of God, You forgave the iniquity of your people and covered all their sins. You set aside all Your wrath and turned from your fierce anger. Justice is getting what we deserve, and God says sin deserves. Mercy is not getting what we do deserve, and God s mercy the sin. Grace is getting what we don t deserve, and God s grace gives us even when we deserved death. God offers humanity His forgiveness out of His abundant grace and mercy. He loved us in of our sins! Loving Him means leaving sin and living righteously. Our reading today comes from Psalm 103:8-13. This is a psalm of David where he counts his blessings. In the midst of it, he talks about God and his grace. The Lord Jesus taught us to, And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors (Matthew 6:12). Then He explained, For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses (verses 14-15). Learning to forgive is not simply a good thing; it will affect whether or not God forgives us. James 2:13 reminds us, judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment. The Lord Jesus taught, Be on your! If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. And if he sins against you seven times a day, and returns to you seven times, saying, I repent, forgive him (Luke 17:3-4). We re all imperfect; as we grow, we continue to struggle and fail. We hope people will be patient with us; we hope we can be patient with others. Peter asked the Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times? (Matthew 18:21). Jesus said to him, I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven (Matthew 18:22). Jesus isn t asking us to count to 490, but to May be reproduced in its entirety for purposes of classroom material or personal study. PO Box 371, Edmond, OK This study sheet is prepared by Jerry Campbell jerry@searchtv.org 1

3 counting altogether. We to forgive others because the Lord has forgiven us. Ephesians 4:31-32 says, Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you. People treat being offended in many different. Some want to take vengeance. It was popular to say some years ago, I don t get angry; I get. There are some religions that are surprised at Christianity s willingness to. For them, offenses mean that you must take. Such attitudes can easily evolve into ongoing that last for centuries with no end in sight. Romans 12:19-21 teaches, Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave for the wrath of God, for it is written, Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord. But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals on his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Other people deal with being offended by off the person who offended them. One lady said that when she was offended by someone, she just decided that person was from that day forward. When someone says, You are dead to me, I am thankful I know the Lord Jesus, who loved sinners in spite of their sins and was willing to forgive and build a relationship with us. When we ourselves and are penitent, God sets us free from sin by forgiving our sins. Forgiveness is an amazing and a magnificent, given to us at the cost of His Son, Jesus, who bore the punishment for sins that He did not commit. We must realize what sin does to us. The Lord Jesus said, Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the of sin (John 8:34). No matter how much sin gives, sin isn t a blessing. Jesus, however, promises, So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed (John 8:36). God sets us free from sin when we re united with Christ in. According to Romans 6:3-7, our old self was crucified with him, that our body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be to sin; for he who died is freed from sin. Forgiveness releases one from the that s incurred by sin. Sin makes us such debtors toward God that we can t Him. Romans 6:23 simply says, For the wages of sin is death, but the free of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Without freedom from the penalty of sin we will die spiritually and be forever. We cannot earn freedom from sin by our merits. Only the blood of Jesus can forgive us. First Peter 1:18-19 says, you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ. Our redemption and salvation were not cheap. Jesus didn t pay our way out of sin with money, but with His precious blood. He paid with his life. The Lord s compassion for us causes Him to forgive us and to release us from the debt of sin. Forgiveness releases us from in spite of what we deserve. Guilt means that we re accountable to God for our sins. Because we ve sinned, we become of ourselves. There s nothing in life than a guilty conscience. When sin our lives, we know that we stand condemned. We also condemn ourselves and despise ourselves. When a person 2

4 knows he s living outside of the grace of God, he ll either his heart against God or seek to be back in God s favor. What are you doing? When guilt-ridden David, who sinned against God by committing adultery with Bathsheba and then killing her husband, Uriah, to cover it up he repented and cried out to God for forgiveness. He said, Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be ; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me to hear joy and gladness, Let the bones which You have broken rejoice. Hide Your from my sins And blot out all my iniquities (Psalm 51:7-9). He wanted something than a guilty conscience and a break with the grace of God. He wanted forgiveness. So he said, Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the of Your salvation And sustain me with a willing spirit (Psalm 51:10-12). Forgiveness gives us! It frees us from sin and from the effects of a guilty conscience. It also opens the to friendship and fellowship with God. We can come into His presence unashamed because of the of Jesus Christ. Don t confuse forgiveness with injustice, as when a guilty person punishment through lies or bribes. Forgiveness is a. The sin was real, but it no longer matters to God, because Jesus Christ paid the for our sins. He loves us and released us from our sins by His blood (Revelation 1:5). God punished Him for your sins and mine, setting us free and bringing us back to God. Forgiveness, unlike forgetting, creates the opportunity for a beginning. Second Corinthians 5:17 says, Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the has gone, the has come! Forgiveness means God has blotted out the old of sin. He now looks on us as if we had sinned. Our past no longer matters to God for we have to sin and have undergone a new birth. The old man of sin is dead, and we have of life. With the past buried by the love of God, God and man can now start a new relationship, brought about by the blood of Jesus Christ. This new birth allows us to start with God. In this new relationship in Christ, we think, act, and speak like a of God. Forgiveness through Christ brings reconciliation. We can become friends again! Second Corinthians 5:19 says, that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not men's sins against them. Reconciliation brings an evil, sinful world into friendship. Sin men from God so that God no longer hears our prayers. Forgiveness restores the relationship by the sin that caused the separation. With the sin gone, man can once again approach God through Christ. Forgiveness is than merely forgetting, for by forgiving us God demonstrates His love to us by sending Jesus to die for us. When Jesus died on the cross, we were powerless, ungodly, and according to Romans 5:6-8. But, God demonstrated His love in Christ anyway, because He wanted to us close and make friends with us. God has done everything possible to make a for you to live with Him eternally. I ve known some people who felt so guilty they couldn t God would forgive 3

5 them. Don t let the convince you of that. The devil knows that if you salvation is impossible you ll never come to God. First Peter 3:18 says, For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might us to God. God went to great lengths to give us and to open a door for us to be reconciled. God wants our heart and soul. If God could love you so much, even when you do not it, you can forgive the one who has hurt you. Forgiveness is not merely a blessing to the one forgiven; it also blesses the one who forgives. Micah 7:18 asks, Who is a God like You, who iniquity And passes over the rebellious act of the remnant of His possession? He does not retain His forever, Because He delights in unchanging love. God takes no in condemning the people He loves. He wants to forgive them, and He wants them to come to Him in repentance and. Read what the prophet and King David wrote in Psalm 103:8-13. Nor should we take delight in anger when people sin against us; we should fill our hearts with loving kindness toward other people. When people ask for forgiveness, let s be compassionate and loving. Let s open the for friendship and fellowship once again. Let s be sons of our Father in heaven. The Lord Jesus said, You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say to you, your enemies and for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His to rise on the evil and the good, and sends on the righteous and the unrighteous (Matthew 5:43-45). God calls His children to a higher standard, a nobler life. It s easy to get and to be hateful. James 1:20 says, the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God. We must learn to beyond anger, hatred, and vengeance. We must be willing to forgive others, and looking to God s in Christ will help us forgive others the way that He has forgiven us. God does not ignore or tolerate sin. Many people think that because something happened a long time ago God won t remember. Many people who live immoral lives think God s love means He should their behavior and tolerate their sin. God won t do that. Read Acts 17: God is loving and gracious, but do not imagine that He will ignore or your sin forever. He expects you to. He will forgive your sin when you and the Lord Jesus. God will judge us. He gave to us by raising Jesus from the dead. My question is, have you responded to His love? Are you reconciled to God, or are you carelessly continuing to live in sin? To be free from sin, you have to respond to God s offer of forgiveness. Believe with all your heart that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and confess Him. Turn from sinful ways and start honoring Christ by the way you live. That s repentance! Then you must be baptized into Christ for the forgiveness of your sins (Acts 2:38). When you re immersed in water, God washes away your sins (Acts 22:16). When you re baptized, God gives you newness of life, makes you His child, and adds you to His church. From that time forward you are united with Christ and free from sin. As a new Christian, you must stay faithful to the end. Don t quit the Lord, or go back into the world and lose your soul. Keep your faith, keep your soul! 4

6 Designed by God Psalm 139:13-16 STUDY SHEET December 13, 2015 Longer passages are not quoted in the study sheet, but they can be read in the accompanying transcript. Is this world designed by an intelligent and loving, or have we come into being by accident or chance? Is there of an intelligent designer, or did we evolve from non-living matter? Since the Bible is divine in origin, it teaches us the. We want nothing and nothing than the truth. We buy the truth and aren t willing to it. A person s of the beginning affects his whole outlook on life. We must all deal with questions such as: Who am I? Where did I come from? Does my life have a? Am I of any? What we believe about our will determine how we see ourselves and our place in life. If we consider ourselves merely as a complex, which evolved from a one-celled creature, we ll have a pretty uncertain view of life. But if we consider ourselves unique individuals made in the image of God with an destiny, then there is great reason and meaning to our existence. Charles Darwin taught that man over time from other species through the process of natural selection or what is better known as survival of the fittest. A biologist who followed Darwin s thinking said, man is the of a purposeless and natural process that did not have him in mind. The Bible, however, teaches in Genesis 1 that God the world and all of the creatures within it. Male and female, they were to reproduce after their own kind. God specifically says in verses 26 and 27 that He made man in His own and gave him dominion over all the earth. These views are very far apart and cannot both be. So, what we believe about how we came to makes a great difference in how we see ourselves. Our reading today comes from Psalm 139: Genesis 1:1 says: In the beginning God the heavens and the earth. The word created means to call into being something that previously existed. God simply and something came into existence. God created the and everything that s in it, every plant and every animal. Last, He created in His own image. The Bible says, By we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible (Hebrews 11:3). Believing God intelligently created the world and everything in it is not a leap of faith. It s built on all the order and purpose that s evident in the world. Proverbs 3:19 says: The LORD by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding He established the heavens. God purposefully the world and all His creatures with wisdom and understanding. The more we study this world and the human body, the more we realize the and the that God put into everything that He made. But those who faith in God suggest a different way to explain the existence of life. Some claim that life from non-living matter; but if we rule out God, then the origin of life is a. It s a great of faith to assume that life could come from non-living matter. They think there was a gradual development of complex molecules from the basic elements until they finally became molecules that could reproduce themselves and are assumed to be living. May be reproduced in its entirety for purposes of classroom material or personal study. PO Box 371, Edmond, OK This study sheet is prepared by Jerry Campbell jerry@searchtv.org 1

7 Evolutionists once spoke of the primordial soup that spawned life, but many now question that since they learned of how life really is. The basic building blocks of life are proteins that make up our DNA. The DNA provides the information or intelligence to reproduce the proteins which give us life. Each protein is quite complex. It doesn t just. Protein molecules are made up of a complicated of amino acids that are ordered by the various genes in our DNA. Sir Fred Hoyle, one of England s prominent scientists, that the chance of higher life-forms emerging accidentally from non-living matter is comparable to a tornado making a Boeing 747 jet out of a junkyard. Living cells use over 75 special kinds of proteins and RNA molecules to make protein following DNA s instruction. What we know about airplanes convinces us that their flight is the result of design. What scientists know about the way living cells make protein suggests just as clearly that life also is the of creative design. In 2004 prominent British philosopher and proponent of atheism, Professor Antony Flew, his atheism. Why? He said because the argument to intelligent design is enormously than it was when I first met it. It now seems to me that the findings of more than fifty years of DNA research have provided materials for a new and enormously powerful argument to. Flew had to admit he had to go where the evidence, and that s to believe in a Creator. Evolutionists once believed that man had vestigial organs, body parts that all or most of their original function. There were supposed to be such vestigial organs in humans. This list included such things as the tailbone and the appendix, even parts of the ear and eye. Now, that list is almost. Medical science discovered that these organs played essential and were not useless. What these organs teach us is that God had a special behind everything that He has made. Read Psalm 139: Evolution, according to Darwin, is in a continual state of, with gradual change happening over long periods of time. He believed the fossil record should be filled with of transitional forms from one species, or one kind of animal into another; these forms go from less complex to more complex. But paleontologists didn t these transitional forms. They found in the fossil record. There was no evidence of transformational intermediates documented fossil species Many people forget the number of hoaxes that evolutionists have posed to their theory. They put forth missing links between and men. They believed the fossil records would show how one of animal evolved into another, but none of the fossils ever showed a transitional link between one creature and another. Instead of gradual change as evolutionists expected, what they found were sudden appearances of species and the overlapping in time of species. One evolution scientist, S. M. Stanley, admits, Species that were once thought to have turned into others have been found to in time with these alleged descendants. In fact, the fossil record does not convincingly document a transition from one species to another. The first fossil hoax was Java Man found in Evolutionissts said they found a missing ; and what was the evidence? They found a skullcap, three teeth, and a femur or thigh-bone. They found the thigh-bone 50 feet from the skull a year later, and it didn t come from the same individual. The skull came from an ape, while the leg bone came from a human. Second, Neanderthal man was found in France in Neanderthal man was thought to be ignorant, ape-like, stooped and knuckle-dragging. But the evidence proved that Neanderthal man was just as 2

8 as we are, and his stooped appearance was because of arthritis and rickets. Neanderthals are now recognized as skilled hunters, who believed in after-life, and even were skilled surgeons. Third, there s Piltdown Man who was found in 1912 in a village named Piltdown in England. It was no missing link; it was merely an human. The evidence came from a human skull and a jawbone of an orangutan. This deception lasted forty years before it was proven to be a hoax. Fourth, there is Nebraska Man who was found in 1992 in western Nebraska near Snake Brook. Some scientists said this was the missing until they discovered the fossil was only the single tooth of an extinct wild pig. Fifth, there is Lucy, this is the popular name given to a famous fossil skeleton found in 1974 in Ethiopia by American anthropologist Donald Johanson. To many, Lucy is regarded as a certain link between ape-like creatures and man and supposedly proves evolution. But Lucy was not human at all; she was a chimp-like animal, very from humans. Rather than look to fossils for imaginary missing links, perhaps we should look to the amazing that s right in front of us. This purposeful design all around us argues for an intelligent designer. That designer is. He s the only one with the unlimited power and wisdom to us. Revelation 4:11 says, Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created. Microbiologists tell us of the utter complexity of a single, living. Benjamin Miller and Ruth Goode said, The cell has been likened to a power plant, a furnace, a chemical laboratory. In its reproductive functions, it s been described as a factory complete with manager s office, files of blueprints and plans, intercommunication system, assembly line with foremen and workers. They said, None of these fanciful analogies does to the living cell. All of these manmade systems put together, however ingenious and efficient, could not reproduce the functioning of this single unit of that s too small to be seen with the unaided eye. My friend, Wayne Jackson, in his book, The Human Body Accident or Design?, asks, If the living cell is more ingenious than any man-made system, who made it? Are we to conclude it just? That s wholly illogical. The human body is an engineering. It s indeed fearfully and wonderfully made. We have trillions of cells in our bodies, and they re marvelously designed and show their. For instance, the human red-blood cells are saucer-shaped and fairly flat, permitting the transfer of oxygen and carbon dioxide throughout the body. Nerve cells, on the other hand, have long, thin extensions to transmit messages. Hebrews 3:4 says, For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God. These exceptionally complex cells didn t just! God designed and them for their functions. And only a God could make them! Charles Darwin in the Origin of Species said, If it could be demonstrated that any complex organ existed, which could not possibly have been formed by numerous, successive, slight modifications, my theory (that is, the theory of evolution) would absolutely break down. Then he added, But I can find such case. However, on page 167 of the Origin of Species, Darwin spoke of the eye and said, To suppose that the eye could have formed by natural selection, seems, I freely confess, in the highest degree possible. Even then, Darwin himself. He did not know in 1859 what we know today about the eye. You are watching me because God gave you and you are listening because God gave you. Bioengineer John Lenihan said, The eye is an exceptionally sensitive optical instrument 3

9 displaying many striking of design and performance; even the windscreen washers and wipers (that is, in your eye) have not been forgotten. Your eye can see moving images by the thousands as they. Your eye makes adjustments to the amount of, to distance, and to angle automatically. Every camera we own was patterned after the eye. Wayne Jackson argues, If the function of the camera demands that it was made, doesn t it stand to that the more complex human camera, the eye, must also have had a Maker? Likewise, the ear is a marvel. Using membranes like the eardrum, small bones, muscles that amplify the sound inside your ear, and 25,000 auditory receptors, the brain is able to receive these vibrations and interpret whether they come from thunder, or a voice, or from thousands of other tones that we hear. One authority says, Amazingly, the inner ear, although no bigger than a, contains as many circuits as the telephone system of a good-sized city. Can you believe that a city s telephone system could design or just happen by accident? Your ear is far more sophisticated than this microphone that I m wearing. Did this microphone just happen or did someone make it? You re watching me because God gave you a that can understand sights and sounds. How did material things by themselves ever consciousness? How did we ever become of ourselves and of other things around us? How did material things by themselves ever produce? Language demands the organization of and symbols that are understood by more than one mind. How did language from one person to another? You re listening and reasoning about what I am saying. How did you gain the to reason? Where did your of right and wrong come from? Surely you didn t get that from material things. The Bible says, For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse (Romans 1:20). Let s be for all God has done in giving us this marvelously designed world and life. Every bone, muscle, organ, and tissue that God made us in His image. The fossil record doesn t give us any missing links or intermediate forms showing the from one species to another. The body itself shows us an incredible of design. These facts make it reasonable to believe that we ve been created, not products of selection. It takes more faith to believe that non-living matter produced life than it does to believe in God. It takes far more faith to believe a reptile could gradually become a bird than it does to believe in. It takes far more faith to believe an eye or an ear were accidents of nature than to believe God designed them. This world contains everywhere the of an all-powerful and all-wise Designer, and that Designer is the one and only God. He is your God. He made you, gave you life, loves you, hears your prayers, and wants you to live with Him in for eternity. You can learn all about Him in the. He gave us this precious book to our most important questions of life. It s the book that will tell you where we came from, why we re here, and what will happen to us after we die. To enter into a spiritual relationship with the Lord, in Him with all your heart, turn away from sin and follow His Word, the name of Jesus as the Son of God, and out of love be into Christ. When you re immersed into Christ, you re baptized into His death. At that time the Lord will away your sins by His blood (Acts 22:16) and He will add you to His church. 4

10 Nothing you can do is more important than getting into a right relationship with the One who created you. We hope you ll do that today, and let us know about it. 5

11 We Can Believe Romans 1:19-22 STUDY SHEET December 16, 2018 Longer passages are not quoted in the study sheet, but they can be read in the accompanying transcript. Do you Jesus Christ is the Son of God? Today, we re going to see believing is rational and intelligent. Romans 10:17 says, So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the of Christ. The more I read the Word of God, the more I know it to be true and believe what it says. John 20:30-31 says, Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have in his name. I wish everyone were a Christian and believed in God. I wish everyone knew the love of Jesus and had life in his name. Some have suggested that faith operates in the realm where there is no evidence or reason to believe, that it s a in the dark. They even suggest that people who believe are irrational and blind to reality. Our culture has begun more and more to cultivate people who have believing in God or who are not willing to His teaching. Six percent of adults in America say they are atheists. According to Barna, Generation Z, born between 1999 and 2015, is the largest American generation yet. They number between 69 and 70 million children and teens. Sadly, teens 13 to 18 years old are twice as likely as other generations to say that they are atheist (that is 13% versus 6%). Barna reports 34% of Generation Z claim no affiliation with religion at all. Sadly, because of this, they don t know God or the truth about God. Today, we want to give rational, intelligent reasons to believe. Our reading today comes from Romans 1: Paul talks about some ungodly and unrighteous men who wanted to suppress the truth. He tells the reason why. Many of them, of course, became idolaters. We need God and we can believe in Him. It s not stupid, ridiculous, or naïve. Faith in God has been a leap in the dark. Our faith in God is rational and built upon reasonable. Faith in God is not some ancient that popped up out of someone s imagination. There are many religious myths in the world, but the Bible and the God of the Bible are not one of them. The leap in the dark, the myth made up by, is that there is no God or that we have evolved from lifeless matter. It takes far more leap in the dark to believe those things than it does to believe in God. There are only choices when it comes to this world and the existence of plants, animals, and humans. Either material things have existed and randomly formed themselves into life; or an all-knowing, all-powerful Divine Being us. This universe couldn t have existed forever, according to the Second Law of Thermodynamics, since it would have deteriorated long ago and left us with no usable energy. The laws of thermodynamics show the universe is running down. If the universe has always existed, the energy in this universe would already have disappeared. The hot sun and stars, the earth with its wealth of life, are complete May be reproduced in its entirety for purposes of classroom material or personal study. PO Box 371, Edmond, OK This study sheet is prepared by Jerry Campbell jerry@searchtv.org 1

12 evidence that the origin of the universe has occurred at a fixed point in time, and therefore the universe must have been created. Everything is an effect of some. Something cannot arise from. As a result, there is a world, and there must be some infinite behind it. Hebrews 3:4 says, For every house is built by, but He who built all things is God. It s only natural that we must agree with the words of the apostle Paul in Romans 1:20, For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. What we see in this world convinces us someone made it. We see the evidence of order, of design, of intelligence, of beauty, and of morals. We are alive in an amazing world. David wrote in Psalm 19:1, The heavens the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Hebrews 11:3 says, By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible. But this faith in God is no leap in the dark; it is on evidence. My friend, Jeff Miller, of Apologetics Press, wrote, Creation is demanded by the evidence. Although God can t be directly observed or experimented on you can t see, smell, taste, or touch or hear Him still, He can be known to by indirect evidence. In the same way a forensic scientist can draw conclusions about an event by examining the aftermath without actually having witnessed what happened we can know a Creator exists. The universe demonstrates order, purpose, and design; this implies that there be One who arranged this order, purpose, and design. Beauty, form, design, and purpose in all imply a creative mind, an intelligent architect. It suggests that the that brought the Universe into being is a super intelligent and all-powerful being. This design and purpose against the possibility that the universe just arose by mere chance or accident. There are numerous scientific that exist such as the Law of Biogenesis or the Laws of Thermodynamics. My friend, Dr. Jeff Miller, who holds a PhD in biomechanical engineering with an emphasis in Thermodynamics and Biothermal science and Biosystems, declares, there is absolutely no evidence from observational science that would indicate that a law could itself. On the contrary, all evidence indicates that a law is always, without exception, the of a law writer. So the observational evidence to a Universal Law Writer well beyond the capabilities of humans who have no such ability to write laws that govern the Cosmos. But notice: naturalism allows no Universal Law Writer, since such would be supernatural. Naturalism lacks evidence to that a law could write itself, so to believe in naturalism is irrational. It requires a faith to believe it and an unsupported rejection of God. Naturalism is the idea or belief that only natural (opposed to supernatural or spiritual) laws or forces could in this world. Naturalism has no for God. To believe all these natural laws caused themselves is a leap in the dark. There is no evidence a law so powerful and so consistent could invent itself. There must not only be an intelligent Being behind the laws that govern the whole universe, there must also be the ability to cause it and to sustain it! 2

13 The Bible describes the power of the Lord Jesus in Colossians 1:16-17, For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. We see consistency in nature, because God holds all things together. You might say, To believe in God, one must have evidence for an intelligent and rational being. I ask you, How did you get your intelligence and reasoning ability? Where did you get your mind? You know scientists can explain many things, but they cannot explain how people have consciousness and the ability to. There s no explanation for how unconscious matter by itself gave rise to consciousness and the ability to. Rationalism doesn t come from nonliving matter. That idea is a leap in the dark! Only a conscious Being could another conscious being. Someone says, We must have empirical evidence that God! We can only believe what we can with our five physical senses. The people had empirical evidence in the first century. They saw, heard, and touched Jesus Christ, the Son of God. The apostle John was an eyewitness of Jesus Christ. Read what he wrote about Jesus in 1 John 1:1-4. Jesus could say, For the works that the Father has given me to accomplish, the very works that I am doing, bear witness about me that the Father has sent me (John 5:36). What about his works? Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews, said, Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these that you do unless God is with him (John 3:2). When Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the council and said, What are we to do? For this man performs many signs. If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation (John 11:47-48). Someone says, Oh, those are just! Are you sure? The apostle Peter, an eyewitness, said in 2 Peter 1:16, For we did not follow cleverly devised when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. The apostles proclaimed Jesus to hundreds of thousands on the Day of Pentecost. They said, Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with (many) mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men (Acts 2:22-23). What these men said was well by all. They said, This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses (Acts 2:32). Peter cited passages from Joel and from the Psalms to show the things God predicted came to pass! Paul said more than 500 people saw Jesus after his resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:6). These apostles spent their lives preaching these things. Are you saying these men lied about Jesus? Persecuted, beaten, jailed, and sentenced to death, all of these eyewitnesses who knew the truth, maintained these things were so. Would you devote your life to something you knew was a lie? Jesus His suffering, His death, and His resurrection. Matthew 20:18-19 records His Words, Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem; and the Son of Man will be delivered to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn Him to, and will hand Him over to the 3

14 Gentiles to mock and scourge and crucify Him, and on the third day He will be up. He predicted it, but they didn t understand at first. Jesus had to convince them. Read what the Pharisees asked Pilate, after Jesus died in Matthew 27: Women came to the tomb on the first day of the week and they found it. The angel asked, Why do you seek the living One among the dead? He is not here, but He has. Remember how He spoke to you while He was still in Galilee (Luke 24:5-6). The apostles, at first, didn t believe the women and later on they began to believe. Then some apostles came to the tomb and found the 3,000 to 4,000-pound stone taken away. Pilate ordered the tomb to be secured by a guard of soldiers and then sealed the stone with his own authority. Who caused the earthquake? Who sent the angels? Who broke the seal? Who moved the stone? Who frightened the guards? They found the tomb empty. Peter and John found Jesus grave clothes left folded in the tomb. John 20:5-7 tells what happened, And stooping to look in, he (John) saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. Who would a body and leave the grave clothes, especially if there were strong guards present? People have come up with theories to the empty tomb and the faith of the disciples, but these theories to deal with the evidence presented by the eyewitnesses. We can believe their testimony! We have four accounts of the, detailing the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. These things were not done in a (Acts 26:26). Hundreds of witnesses saw Jesus after His resurrection. Men have examined Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John for centuries and found them historically witnesses. They meet the tests of honesty and integrity. They were in a position to whether these things really happened. No one has found a reason to call them liars or impostors. They had no motive for preaching the resurrection except that it was the. The apostles and preachers of the first century didn t become because of their testimony. In fact, history records their numerous persecutions by the Romans, their opposition from the Jews, and their difficult lives caused by Jesus Christ. Their love, their faith, their hope of eternal life, and their zeal for the truth kept them preaching Jesus Christ against all. You can believe in God! You can believe in Jesus Christ! You can believe in His death, His burial, and His resurrection! These are not just stories; they are historical accounts of what really happened! If you re struggling to believe, why not read the four accounts (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) for yourself? Faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the of Christ (Romans 10:17). If you believe in Jesus Christ, then act on your faith! You need a living faith! Turn from your sins and follow Jesus Christ; that s repentance! It shows you take God seriously. Confess Jesus Christ as the Son of God; and tell everyone that He is your Lord. Out of love, be baptized into Christ for the forgiveness of your sins (Acts 2:38). God will wash away your sins and add you to His church. Heaven awaits those who love, who believe, and who obey. 4

15 Come to Jesus Matthew 11:28-30 STUDY SHEET December 23, 2018 Longer passages are not quoted in the study sheet, but they can be read in the accompanying transcript. Many people are thinking about Jesus coming into the. Today, we re thinking about what it to come to Jesus. We want the Lord s way and more or less. No one is as wise as our Lord. No one loves us as much as He loves us. No one else has the words of eternal life. No one else could save us from sin. We need what the Lord brings to us, and we need to come to Him. This time of year many think of Jesus Christ coming into the world. He came as a, born in Bethlehem of Judea, in fulfillment of the prophecy found in Micah 5:2, But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days. He came in fulfillment of the prophecy of Isaiah 7:14 that He would be born of a. Joseph kept Mary a virgin until she gave birth to Jesus. An angel of the Lord said, Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their (Matthew 1:20-21). When Jesus was born, they would call His name Immanuel, which translated means God us (Matthew 1:23). No one knows the day when Jesus was born; God didn t see fit to reveal it. But the Bible tells us much about Jesus came into the world and how He has called us to come to Him. That is important! Our reading is from Matthew 11: Jesus is speaking to people, many of whom have felt oppressed by all the law keeping that was among the Jewish religion at that time. He offers them something. I love what Jesus can do for us to make our lives as Christians. If we ask, Why did Jesus come into the world, there are several answers. We know that He came to save His people from their sins. Salvation is not trivial. Jesus suffered and died for our sins. Jesus said, For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost (Luke 19:10). He wanted to reach people by searching for them and preaching good news to them. Read Mark 1: John 3:17 reminds us, For God did not his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be through him. The apostle Paul recognized what the Lord had done for him. He said, The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost (1 Timothy 1:15). Peter observed, For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but May be reproduced in its entirety for purposes of classroom material or personal study. PO Box 371, Edmond, OK This study sheet is prepared by Jerry Campbell jerry@searchtv.org 1

16 made alive in the spirit (1 Peter 3:18). Our salvation came at a great, and Jesus coming into the world was for a reason. Isaiah 53:5-6 says, But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD has on him the iniquity of us all. Verse 11 of chapter 53 continues, Out of the anguish of his soul He (speaking of God) shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall their iniquities. Jesus was born to, born to be sacrificed for our sins and bear the punishment for our iniquities. The Lord Jesus also came to us the truth. In John 18:37, Pilate asked Jesus, So you are a king? and Jesus answered, You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world to bear witness to the. Everyone who is of the truth to my voice. Jesus came to be the standard of all spiritual truth. We know what right and wrong is because of His life and His teaching. The Lord Jesus came working so we would realize that He genuinely is the Son of God. The four books, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, reveal His life and His. His miracles were not done in a corner, but thousands them. His miracles were indisputable, so that even His enemies had to admit that they were. Therefore the chief priests and the Pharisees convened a council, and were saying, What are we doing? For this man is performing many signs. If we let Him go on like this, all men will believe in Him (John 11:47-48). The apostle John wrote, Now Jesus did many other in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name (John 20:30-31). The Lord Jesus wants us to believe and He calls us to Him! Why should we follow Him? Jesus said, I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one to the Father except through me (John 14:6). If you to be saved, go to the One who can save you, who died so that your sins could be forgiven! Jesus has an heart for every person and He s waiting for you! The Bible says, On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink (John 7:37). Christianity is a faith open to whosoever will. If you come to Him in, humbly, and penitently, He will not refuse you. The apostle John wrote, The Spirit and the Bride say, Come. And let the one who hears say, Come. And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price (Revelation 22:17). The Christian life is not impossible; you can God. The Lord Jesus said, Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you. Take my yoke upon you, 2

17 and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light (Matthew 11:28-30). Christianity is possible because the Lord us and bears our burdens with us. Jesus promised, I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is to snatch them out of the Father s hand (John 10:28-29). This gives us! Sadly, some people leave on their own; nobody can snatch you out of the Father s hand. You make up your own mind to leave. You may be asking did He call us to follow Him? When we come to the Lord Jesus, we come on His, not ours. To come to Jesus, we must ourselves and take up our crosses. The Lord Jesus said, If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself? For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels (Luke 9:23-26). God doesn t want you to be lost in sin; instead He wants you to your heart and life. Second Peter 3:9 says, The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. The hope we have is in Christ. When we come to Him, we come penitent and humble. God will only accept us on His terms. We can t ourselves into the kingdom of God. When you come to Christ, come to serve. Christianity has a faith to be believed, a love to be pursued, and a life to be lived! Christian service builds the character and gives purpose and meaning to our lives. Christian service teaches us to live for something bigger than ourselves. Read what the Lord Jesus said to a group of ambitious disciples in Matthew 20: We must learn to serve others and to in kindness. We must do more than about our faith; we must live it. James asked, What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, Go in peace, be warmed and filled, without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead (James 2:14-17). We serve a risen Savior, who is Lord of our lives. What He says, we believe; where He sends, we will go; what He commands, we will gladly do; and what He forbids, we will not touch. We do this because we love Him. First Corinthians 15:58 says, Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in. We re happy to help others. Galatians 6:10 says, So then, while we have opportunity, let us do to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith. The Lord calls us to live lives. First Peter 1:14-16 says, As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, (that is, when you were pagans) 3

18 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your, since it is written, You shall be holy, for I am holy. Peter continues, Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and God on the day of visitation (1 Peter 2:11-12). In Christ, we are God s people, and we re called to the story of Jesus to everyone. First Peter 2:9-10 says, But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. Christians, like Jesus, are called to be about the Father s business of people from darkness to light, from sin to salvation. We want everyone to become God s people. Christ calls us to be like Him, to do what is right even if we for it. This is a gracious thing in the sight of God. Read 1 Peter 2: Though Jesus was shamefully treated, He didn t revile those who trash-talked Him or threaten those who caused Him to suffer. Jesus put Himself in the hands of the Father, who judges righteously, or justly. Jesus personally bore our sins so that we could to sin and for righteousness. He wanted us to live higher, nobler lives filled with love and service. He healed our sin-sick souls so that we could be new creatures! You might have said at some time, Oh, Jesus doesn t want me. I m no good. I m just an old sinner. He couldn t possibly want me ; but Jesus about everyone. He cares about you, your family, your health, your well-being, and your soul. He is the atoning sacrifice for every person, every person in the whole world. He is indeed a friend to, even if you think of yourself as a sinner. Christ loves every man, every woman, every boy, and every girl. Paul wrote, It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to sinners, among whom I am foremost of all. Yet for this reason I found, so that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life (1 Timothy 1:15-16). No matter what your life has been in the past, God still loves you and wants you to come to Him! In the next chapter Paul wrote, This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men (everybody) to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:3-4). Jesus will save you, if you will come to Him. How do you do that? Place your in Him as the Christ, the Son of the living God, of your sins, Jesus as the Christ, and be into Him. When you re baptized into Jesus Christ, God unites you with Him in His death, burial, and resurrection (Romans 6:3-7 and Colossians 2:12-13). If you love Him, come to Him and obey Him. Repent and be baptized, immersed in water, for the forgiveness of your sins. You will never regret doing the right thing. Do it today! 4

19 We Need God Psalm 103 STUDY SHEET December 30, 2018 Longer passages are not quoted in the study sheet, but they can be read in the accompanying transcript. In a world of do we really need God? Today, we re going to explore our need for God and how nothing else can take His place. The Bible opens the to the heart and the will of God. God Himself in Scripture. By reading His Word we can His character and His power. We can see His wisdom and His love. From the beginning, God has had a for redeeming humanity from all the ugliness of sin. Jesus said, I came that they might have and have it abundantly (John 10:10). The more we know and draw close to God, the more abundant our lives will become. I once heard a man scoff about in Christ and claim he had everything he needed. He thought belief in God was merely a for women and children. He felt one couldn t be much of a if he had to go to church and listen to the Bible all the time. He said things in this life were going pretty. He had a good job, a fine family, and a happy life. He could live contented God. He didn t need God. Do you need God? If there is one thing I know, it s this: I God. I need His love, His grace, His help, His forgiveness, and His wisdom. I can t live without God. In him we live and move and have our (Acts 17:28). We have food, water, air, and life because God them to us. We need God more than we know! We also need God. We need His comfort when we, His wisdom when we re perplexed, His assurance when we re in, His forgiveness when we sin, and His eternal life when ours is finished. Scoffing at God today may seem cool, but one day no one will be scoffing. Our reading today is a psalm of David, Psalm 103. The Lord is looking for people who will after Him and His ways. Many people live as if they would live forever and never have to give an to God. Hanani, the seer or prophet, told King Asa, For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong to those whose heart is blameless toward him (2 Chronicles 16:9). Many people live their lives never calling upon God, never seeking His will, and never needing Him. Is it any that they do not have a meaningful relationship with God? God is looking to draw to you, but he can t if you won t let Him. Many Americans believe in rugged individualism, not needing anything or anyone, pulling oneself up by one s own bootstraps. Even some American Christians can fall into the of feeling self-sufficient. We must realize that our beliefs don t always match reality. Luke-warm Laodicea that they were self-sufficient. The Lord Jesus said to Laodicea, I know your : you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either May be reproduced in its entirety for purposes of classroom material or personal study. PO Box 371, Edmond, OK This study sheet is prepared by Jerry Campbell jerry@searchtv.org 1