Faith: It s Inception, Maturation, & Perfection Intro: This study is meant to instruct and encourage us about the very foundation of our spiritual and physical existence...faith. The possession and nurture of faith in a person's life has daily and eternal significance. We intend to use the same format, as did the writer of Hebrews in gaining answers to the following questions: 1) What is faith/belief? 2) Is all faith the same? 3) Why is faith important to my life? 4) How can I obtain faith? 5) How can I know if I have God-approved faith? 6) How can I strengthen my faith? 7) What can weaken my faith? 8) What is the quality of my faith in service to God and man? In order to accomplish our goal we will investigate God's word in its instruction concerning faith in a person's life from its inception to its perfection. This is a maturation process in which it is absolutely necessary for us to be active participants. Please take the lessons personally. Faith is personal, as is our relationship with God. It is our sincere desire that each of us put our individual faith to the test of its authenticity as determined by the Holy Scriptures. 2 Cor. 13:5 Faith s Inception Lesson 1 Introduction to Faith Since faith/belief is so important it is interesting that the word "faith" in the Old Testament (KJV) occurs only twice (Deut. 32:20; Habakkuk 2:4). The verb form "to believe" appears less than 30 times. In contrast these terms occur much more in the New Testament, almost 300 times; however, the truth is that the Old Testament does not so much speak of doctrine by faith, but sets forth the characteristics of God, the life of servants of God, and their interaction to exemplify what faith really is. In doing so, it emphasizes the importance, even the necessity, of this faith / belief to establish and maintain fellowship with God.
Faith is the very foundation of man's hope to be a child of God irrelevant of the time period and/or law under which he lived. (Heb. 11:1) It is the basis upon which all actions and experiences of a person who is acceptable to God is founded. The writer of Hebrews speaks to Hebrew Christians about faith/or belief and uses many examples of Old Testament characters to illustrate our introductory lessons. Our primary text will be Hebrews 10:32-12:2; however Romans 4, Galatians 3, and James 2:14-26 are musts in order to fully understand what real faith entails. There will be other supplemental verses. Please read all of these and meditate on them. Throughout our first six lessons, please write down all of the words that describe real faith and the characteristics of it. In the 7th lesson we want to put all these thoughts together to define faith/belief as it is taught in God's word. Hebrews 10:32-39 The Hebrew Christians were being persecuted by other Jews who rejected Christ. They were being tempted to turn back to the old law as the prediction of worse persecution was coming upon them. Thus the writer determines by the Holy Spirit to remind them and teach them the importance of faith/belief and what saving faith is. 1) What had the Hebrew Christians experienced? 2) What reason is given that they had endured sufferings and accepted joyfully property loss? (vs. 31) 3) What steps were they to take in order to remain in fellowship with God? (vs. 32,35,36) 4) What was the incentive for them not to throw away confidence and to endure? 5) What quotation from Habakkuk 2:4 is quoted in vs. 38? a. How is the situation in the nation of Judah similar to that of the Hebrew Christians? Habakkuk I 2:4 b. How does the quotation "The just (righteous) shall live by faith" apply in both cases? 6) What inner quality allowed these people assurance that they had a better and eternal possession?
7) The "Hebrews" writer concludes that these people had choices in this reaction to trials. What were the choices and what were the final results of these choices? 8) Consider any similarities and/or differences in the problems of those in Habakkuk and Hebrews and the options presented to them with our lives today. Is the solution to their dilemma the same as to ours? Lesson 2 Saving Faith The author has concluded in his original thought to the Hebrew Christians that the answer to their dilemma was that "the just would live by faith." I believe he then begins an explanation of what God-approved faith involves. Not only does he give some descriptive sentences about it; but throughout most of the chapter illustrates its characteristics through examples. He wants them to know exactly what "type" of faith/belief to which he refers that will lead to the saving of one's soul. Whenever one reads about faith in God's word, just as with any subject, there must be an understanding of context to fully understand what is an accurate meaning. Belief, in particular, can mean simply an opinion or intellectual assent held in high standing; or it can be a comprehensive term including an intense inner quality of assurance producing a loyalty, trust, and fidelity toward the object of that passion. Read the following passage and determine if the belief or faith mentioned is that by which God counts a person to be righteous. James 2:19 Matt. 6:30, 8:26 James 2:17,26 James 2:23, Rom. 4:3 John 12:42-43 Matt. 8:10 1 Cor. 2:4-5 John 20:31 John 3:16 Heb. 11:6 These few scriptures clearly indicate that faith references can vary greatly in their meaning. Only the type belief toward saving of the soul is under consideration by the write in his definition of saving faith in Hebrews 11. Although pure belief is a necessary part of faith, saving faith involves much more substance and is based on strong conviction with reference to sound evidence. It demands "knowing" in whom or what one's faith is placed. The only "Being" qualified to be the object of such faith is God, the Father, the Son, and Holy Spirit. He is above all (in control), through all (by providence) and in all (omnipresent). We live in a God-created, God-controlled, God-sustained, and God-filled world. There is nothing in life so terrible and/or powerful that surpasses the Lord's ability to help His people.
A necessary result is the personal submission to the object God; and thus it will alter in a definitive way how a person views and lives life on this earth. All of our aforementioned thoughts are expressed by the Hebrew writer by statements and/or through God-approved examples. Read Hebrews 11:1-3,6,13 1) What is the relationship between faith and hope (know what hope involves in this context)? 2) a) On what type of evidence is faith based? b) Do we use this same type evidence in other aspects of our lives? c) What is the most important factor in determining truth from such evidence? 3) How can one "understand" how the worlds were framed? Discuss how this relates to the world view of creation today. See Gen 1:1; Jn. 1: 1-3 4) What are the three characteristics of one who has faith that is pleasing to God? Heb. 11:6 5) What are the attitudes exhibited by one coming to God? 6) Who does God claim to be? Name at least 6 attributes of God. Ps. 66:3-7 Is. 40:9-31 Ps. 139 Job 12:4-25 7) What is involved in believing God is, and why is only He worthy of such faith? 8) Why can one be assured that God alone is qualified to be a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him? 9) In what or whom do men place their confidence many times? Be prepared to discuss the folly in such action. 10) What is the difference in belief in its "pure" state and faith that saves? Lesson 3 The Role of Faith
What role does saving faith play in one's life? Some of these have been mentioned; however, in this lesson we will explore the subject in more detail. How truly important is faith to you and me, not just in theory, but also in practice during our daily lives? What can application of faith and its development do for me? Please read the following scriptures and answer the appropriate questions. 1) What can make it impossible for you to be pleasing to God? Heb. 11:6 2) Why do you think this one quality is so important to God and that without it prevents one's being approved by God according to revelation through the Holy Spirit? 3) How can faith overcome the world in our own lives? I Jn. 5:4 4) Name 3 spiritual blessings to which we gain access through faith in Jesus Christ? Rom. 5:1-2 5) What role does faith have in obtaining everlasting life? Jn. 3:16,36 6) a) How did the men of old gain approval by God in becoming His people? Heb. 11:2,39 Gal. 3:6-7 Rom. 4:3 James 2:22-24 b) How do we gain approval by God in becoming His children today? Gal. 3:26 7) What is the significance in your life to be counted a "child of God"? Gal. 3:26-4:6 8) What role is played by faith in the armor of a child of God? Eph. 6:10-20; 1 Thess. 5:8 9) Name some ways faith allows us to live and view life differently than those without it. a. 2 Cor. 4:13-5:8 2 Kings 6:8-16 b. Heb. 11:3 Jn. 6:60-69 c. Heb. 10:35-36 James 1:57 10) Why is it to be expected that those in the world think differently and have a different view of life than those who are Christians?
Lesson 4 Attaining of Faith Since faith is absolutely necessary for our proper relationship with God, it is important that one investigates how we may obtain that saving faith initially and then enable it to mature into perfection. The only way anyone will place complete faith, assurance and fidelity to any other person or thing is to know enough to feel confident in the abilities, capabilities, consistency, and willingness of the object in which the trust is placed. In obtaining such information the person also must exhibit attitudes, which contribute to his receiving it so that the proper seed of faith is planted and begins its growth. This beginning and maturation process can have successes and failures over a period of time. It can at times be hindered and on other occasions be enhanced. It is up to us to enable it to grow even through some deterrents to reach its Goddesired results. 1) Why does a young child jump to their parent from a high position without hesitation? 2) Why can a person perform a work God asks him to do without hesitation? 3) a) How does Romans 1:18-21 show that God expects mankind to acknowledge Him as God and produce initial belief.? b) Does mankind have excuse to not acknowledge God from aforementioned source? 4) What declares the glory of God? Ps. 19:1-6 Ps. 8:1-3 Job 12:7-9 5) Gaining knowledge by hearing can produce faith. What must one hear? Rom. 10:17 6) What are some prerequisites for a person to possess in his heart to hear in such a way as to produce faith? a. Lk. 8:15 b. Mt. 18:14 James 1:21 c. Acts 17:11 d. Jer. 5: 1 2 Thess. 2:9-10
7) How does humility help one develop faith in God? a. I Cor. 1:20-21; 2:4-5 b. Jer. 10:23 c. Is. 55:8-9 8) What are some origins of faith as espoused by the wisdom of men? 9) a) If one picked up a Bible and began to read, what is the first verse in the Bible that he would read to challenge his thinking about God? Gen. 1:1 If one truly believes this verse where does he place his faith? b) This is the beginning information from the Holy Spirit to introduce faith to the reader. What other options concerning the creation are available to us? If one doubts this verse and accepts other options where does he place his faith? 10) If one is surely convicted by faith that Gen. 1:1 is true, is there any other event in God's word that he should doubt if he is consistent? Why? Lesson 5 Examples to Illustrate Saving Faith Over the first four lessons there have been statements and declarations to try to help define God approved faith and its ramifications. As does the writer of Hebrews, we will utilize the next two lessons to better understand faith through God approved examples. Cain and Abel Heb. 11:4, Gen. 4:1-16 1) Give similarities of Cain and Abel's worship. 2) Give differences of Cain and Abel's worship. 3) Give 3 conclusions about faith you can gain from this account. Enoch Heb. 11:5 1) What was the testimony about Enoch and why? Noah Heb. 11:7, Matt. 24:38-39, 2 Pet. 2:5
1) What motivated Noah to "understand" a flood was coming while others to whom he preached did not? 2) What did he become? Heb. 11:7 Why? Abraham Gen.12:1-3; 15:6; Rom. 4:3,9-25; Gal. 3:5-9, 26-29; James 2:19-26 Heb. 11:8-17 1) Consider the scriptures above and list at least 3 obstacles to Abraham's having faith in God's promises if he used human wisdom. 2) Is there ever any indication of Abraham asking God why he was asked to do anything that God commanded? What about us today? 3) Sarah's faith wavered at one time concerning the promise of a child. What did she do to try to help God's plan? Gen. 16:12 Make application of this action to people's lives today. 4) Why was Abraham's faith/belief accounted to him by God for righteousness? Rom.4:19-22 Heb. 11:17-19 James 2:22-24 5) Do we have opportunity to be children of Abraham and partakers of blessings promised to his seed? Gal. 3: How can this take place? Gal. 3:7, 26 What does this make us? Gal. 3:29-4:7 What is a common factor in God's attitude toward Abel, Enoch, Noah, and Abraham because of their faith? Heb. 11:4,5,7 Gal. 3:6 Js. 2:23 Is it accurate to say they are saved by faith? Lesson 6 Examples of Faith (continued) Jacob and Joseph Heb. 11:21,22; Gen. 48:3-4, 21; Gen. 50:24-26 1) What was the basis upon which Jacob assured Joseph that the people would return to the land of Canaan? 2) How is Joseph's faith shown by his statements in Gen. 50:24-26? 3) When did his bones leave Egypt and how long was it from his statement in Gen. 50; Ex. 13:19; Josh. 24:32? 4) What conclusion can one draw from these men's faith in relationship to time of fulfillment of God's promises?
Moses Heb. 11:23-29 1) What type of immediate future was Moses choosing when he refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter? What was he giving up? 2) What prompted Moses to make the aforementioned decision? Heb. 11:25-27 3) Do we have similar decisions to make in our own lives? How can we make proper decisions? Give examples to illustrate your answer. 4) Read Exodus 14 in relation to Hebrews 11:29. a) Who was in control of the situation? Ex. 14:1-4 b) Why did Moses "stand still" when those around him began to doubt? Ex. 14:13-14 David Heb. 11:32; 1 Sam. 17 1) What seemed to be David's greatest concern about his confrontation with Goliath? I Sam. 17:26 2) Name at least 3 events/situations that David could have allowed to discourage him? 3) What had David experienced in his life that gave him complete confidence in God? 4) In face to face confrontation with Goliath relate David's words and actions that indicate his confidence in the outcome of the fight. Heb. 11:32-12:3 1) What did the people mentioned in verses 33-38 and those previously mentioned obtain through their faith? What did they not receive? vs. 39 Name some of the people in the Old Testament to whom these descriptions apply. 2) What is the conclusion of the writer in giving the solution to the temptation of "shrinking back" from service to God? Heb. 11:40-12:3 Lesson 7 What About My Faith?
In our first six lessons we have briefly examined some basic tenets of faith as revealed in the scriptures; and, we have studied the lives of several men and women who by their attitudes and actions exemplify true faith. This is the type of faith that saves us. "The just shall live by faith." Habakkuk 2:3-4; Hebrews 10:38 "And Abraham believed God and it was accounted to him for righteousness." Gen. 15:6 James 2:23 Although belief in its pure form is necessary to develop a faith that saves, it is only a part of it. Use our previous studies along with the teaching of the scriptures and write out a definition of faith that saves the soul. Please do not use the dictionary definition. I want us to develop a practical definition from our study of God's word. Faith - Since this faith is absolutely necessary to please God, what about my faith? Is it "real" faith? How does my faith "stand" in relation to our definition from the inspired scriptures? Beginnings of Faith's Journey Gen. 1:1; John 1:1-5; John 14:1,6-7 If one truly believes the aforementioned verses concerning God the Father and the Son and places his fidelity and loyalty toward God/Christ, what will he question about anything the Lord commands? Does it matter to such a person if he understands the command or if the command places difficulties in its fulfillment? How much of the scripture does one need to know to establish saving faith to become a child of God? Maturation of Faith The reality of our spiritual lives is that at different times and in certain situations the strength of our faith will fluctuate. There are times of trials in everyone's life to test our faith. One may at times exhibit great faith, or little faith, or may even fall into disbelief. There are some who will not endure and will give up the good fight; however, the proper and intended reaction to those is to provide growth in the maturation process of individual faith. To maintain consistency is a great sign of progress in this area.
Mt. 6:20; Mt. 15:28; Lk. 8:22-25; Lk. 8:48; Lk. 17:1-5; Lk. 22:31-34; Js. 1:2-4; Heb. 3:12; 1 Pet. 1:3-7; 1 Thess. 3:9-10 1) How do we know that faith by Jesus' own apostles had "ups & downs"? 2) Did Peter's faith fail him or save him during the ordeal of Christ's trial? Lk. 22 Explain. 3) Show from scripture that one can fall into unbelief after becoming a believer? 4) What is the proper reaction to trials that test our faith and what is the desired result? James 1 & I Peter 1 5) Can our faith become "perfect" without trials? 6) Can one have saving faith without it being mature? 7) What are some ways that the Hebrew brethren were told to help them remain strong and hold fast? Heb. 10:22-25 8) What did Christ tell his listeners to do so that daily anxieties could not weaken their faith? Mt. 6:30-33 9) On the negative side of questions 7 & 8, what are some attitudes and actions one can exhibit to allow their faith to erode? Where do I stand? Where do you stand? Is my faith maturing or eroding? This is an evaluation that can only be made for sure by God or myself 10) What can we examine about ourselves to determine accurately the authenticity of our faith? James 2:18 The remainder of our lessons deal with specific duties we have toward God and man. Let us honestly examine and evaluate our own faith in each of these areas of our personal lives. 2 Cor. 13:5
Faith s Maturation Lesson 8: Self Christianity is primarily an individual's religion. The determination of our salvation lies in our personal response to God's grace. Someday, each one of us will be required to bow before the Lord and give an account of ourselves (Rom 14:11-12). It is crucial for the child of God to grow into the proper view of self. 1. Self Service It is the nature of man to wish to please himself. An infant doesn't care how tired his parents are in the middle of the night. He knows only that he's hungry and wants to be fed. As children grow, they learn to consider others. They begin to desire the good opinion of their parents, family, and friends. They learn that certain behaviors are expected of them to achieve and maintain others" approval. As children mature, they realize that they are not the center of the universe. Likewise, spiritual infants do not recognize any imperative but their own needs and desires. Worldly people, whether through ignorance or arrogance, cannot conceive the notion that their wants are not paramount (1 Cor. 2:14). Even those claiming spirituality will often balk when God's word conflicts with their notion of acceptable behavior. They serve God as they see fit, which is not serving God at all. An infant Christian has, by his very acceptance and submission to God's will, come to appreciate that there is One more important than himself. The call to follow Christ involves a denial of self (Mt. 16:24-25). Confessing Christ as his Savior and Lord indicates his recognition of His claim on him (1 Cor. 7:23). Submitting to baptism demonstrates his willingness to put to death the old man and begin living a new life in submission to God (Rom. 6:3-4, 11-13). Even then, he must continually struggle to do the things of God rather than the things of the flesh (Rom. 7:22-23). As he grows in his faith and knowledge, he recognizes that his very life is not his own but belongs to His Master for the price that He paid (Gal 2:20). Another goal for the maturing Christian's view of himself involves how he views others. Paul urges Christians to consider their brethren's needs over their own and thus demonstrate that they have the mind of Christ, who placed the needs of the world over His own. This is not the way of worldly, or spiritually immature people!
The world teaches that to get ahead means looking after your own interests. Jesus taught that the greatest in the kingdom of heaven would be those who served! (Mt. 23:11) 2. Self Worth How one prioritizes the will of God, the needs of others, and his own desires depends on his concept of self worth. There are two traps that the immature Christian can fall into regarding his sense of worth: too much and too little. The Pharisee who went to pray in Jesus' parable (Lk. 18:10-14) was confident that his righteousness exceeded that of the publican but Jesus stated that his faith was misplaced. It is easy to fall into the trap of becoming smug in the knowledge that one is saved when many others are not. Mature Christians recognize that this is not due to any worth on their part, but are humbled to know that they are saved without deserving it (by grace, Eph. 2:8-9). Furthermore, realizing how little they deserve salvation should spur them on to greater efforts on behalf of their Lord just as it did Paul (1 Cor. 15:9-10). Immature Christians can also feel their worth to be too little, especially when they find themselves constantly battling, and losing, to temptation. Even Paul exclaimed over his frustration at falling short of God's ideal (Rom 7:23-24). Satan will use this frustration to discourage them, perhaps even to the point of giving up. Mature Christians come to understand that God does not expect perfection, but devotion. David was called a man after God's own heart even though an adulterer and murderer. It was his devotion to God that earned him that title, not his perfection of service. God loved His children enough to give His Son even while they were still in sins (Rom. 5:8). He obviously assigns great worth to a Christian's soul and is willing to forgive his failings when he repents (1 Jn. 1:9). 3. Self Control Christianity's essence is a lifelong effort to become more like Christ. Remember, it s to be Christ who lives in the Christian, not himself. This is not a natural or easily accomplished operation. In order to bring oneself in compliance with Christ's example, one must exercise discipline and control over self. Self-control is one of the fruits of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23). Self-control requires examination. Paul instructed the Corinthians to test themselves to see if they were faithful (2 Cor. 13:5). These examinations must be honest. One must not fool himself into thinking he has no faults (1 Jn. 1:8). Also, one must be sure to test himself against the proper standard (1 Cor. 10:12). The Pharisee of Luke 18 made the mistake of thinking that the standard with which to compare himself was the publican He left the temple unjustified. 'The only accept-
able standard of faith is God"s word; the very thing which instilled that faith in the first place (Gal 1:1, Jn. 12:48). Of all the things listed in Romans 8:38-39 that cannot separate Christians from the love of God, the one thing that is conspicuously absent is self. God will never forsake His children (Heb. 13:5), but will not prevent them from forsaking Him. The only thing that keeps a Christian saved is his willingness and diligence in submitting himself to his Master (I Tim. 4:16). Questions 1. List some ways in which an immature faith can affect how one considers the needs of others. 2. What factors can help a young Christian mature in considering his desires versus God's will? 3. What are some characteristics of a congregation of Christians mature in their faith regarding self? Immature Christians? 4. Give some New Testament examples of Christians mature in their faith regarding self. Immature Christians? Lesson 9: Knowledge Scripture states that man was created in God s own image (Gen. 1:27). Man is the only creature of which this is said. Animals' behavior is governed by their instinct. Man's behavior is governed by his knowledge. It's what a man senses, learns, and understands that enables him to choose a course of action. The ability to know and understand God's will is what makes a man capable of becoming suitable for fellowship with Him 1. God Values Knowledge In Hannah's prayer, she recognizes that Jehovah is a God of knowledge (1 Sa. 2:3 God offered the young king Solomon his choice of blessings as he began his reign over Israel. Solomon chose to be blessed in wisdom and knowledge so as to better serve God and His people. This so pleased God that He not only granted wisdom, but riches and honors beyond that of any other king who's ever lived (2 Chr. 1:7-9). God has always desired His people to understand Him, love Him, and obey Him because of what they know of Him. The prophet Hosea lamented over Israel's destruction for the rejection of the knowledge of God (Hos. 4:6). God declares that
He desires understanding rather than empty service (Hos. 6:6). In order to be pleasing to God, Christians must pursue a proper knowledge of Him. It is through the knowledge of the Savior that men escape the defilement of the world (2 Pe. 2:20). This is God's desire for all men (1 Tim 2:3-4). 2. Proper Knowledge The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of wisdom and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding... Proverbs 9:10. As the Creator, God is the beginning of all things. It follows that if a man wants to understand all things (or at least as much as a mere mortal can) he must begin with the proper attitude to God. Holding God in reverence as the Almighty will lead one to seek enlightenment from Him. What better source can there be? As God questioned Job from the whirlwind (Job chap. 37 & 38) He revealed His knowledge of things that mankind can never know. God has chosen to share His knowledge through His written word. Paul declares that the Scriptures are inspired of God, profitable for teaching, reproof, correction, training in righteousness and sufficient to adequately equip God's children for every good work (2 Tim. 3:16,17). The holy Scriptures include the teachings of His prophets and Son (Heb. 1:1-2), as well as the writings of His apostles (1 Cor. 14:37). No other source of knowledge is required or desired by God for man to determine his proper service to the Lord. The Pharisees had elevated their traditions above the law of God and were condemned for it by Jesus (Mt. 15:2-7). It is tempting, especially for young Christians, to accept the practices of older, more experienced members without the study required to arrive at one"s own conclusions. This is not the faith that Paul prescribes in Romans 14:22. Christians" faith must be based on their own knowledge of God's word, not the practices or traditions of their fellow Christians. There are other types of knowledge of which Christians must be aware. Practical knowledge includes those things required for daily life in a physical world. Employable skills, reading, writing, balancing a checkbook, driving a car, cooking meals, and a host of other secular lessons are honorable in God's sight. Paul had been trained as a tentmaker (Ac. 18:2-3) and had been taught the rights of his Roman citizenship (Ac. 16:37). Luke had learned the skills of a physician (Col. 4:14). Paul commanded the Thessalonians to work with their hands to provide for their living (2 Th. 3:1012). Christians must have enough practical knowledge to live, but must not allow these things to become their lives. In Mt. 6:31-33, Jesus teaches the people to seek first the things of the kingdom (spiritual knowledge) rather than focus on the practicalities of providing food or clothing. As a Christian matures in his faith, understanding more of God's concern and care of him, it becomes easier for him to devote his efforts toward learning the deeper truths of His word rather than how to beat the stock market.
God's wisdom is often in direct opposition to man's wisdom (I Cor. 1:18). Worldly men attempt to discredit the validity of Scripture in an effort to deny God's absolute sovereignty over their lives, and thus their accountability to Him. The so called theory of evolution (accepted as fact by a large portion of the world) is an excellent example of man's wisdom being used to excuse mankind from any obligation to the Creator. Even many among those who profess to acknowledge God and His word have "'better"' ideas of how to serve Him and teach their own opinions. Their service is worthless in God s sight (Mt. 15:9). 3. Growing in Knowledge Christians" faith in God is based upon their knowledge of Him as revealed by His word (Rom. 10:17). In order for one's faith to grow stronger, his knowledge of Scripture must grow deeper. This is not an option! Scripture commands Christians to grow in the knowledge of the truth (Col. 1:9-10; 2 Pe. 3:18; Heb. 6:1) and walk in a manner worthy of that knowledge. In Eph. 4:13-14, Paul identifies the end result of maturing in the knowledge of Christ to be sureness of conviction and a resistance to the deceit of false doctrines. Peter commands Christians to be ready to give answers to those who question their hope (1 Pe. 3:15) and to speak as the very utterances of God (1 Pe. 4:11). One cannot explain or defend the truth if his understanding is limited. Diligent study of the Scriptures is required to defend his soul, teach the lost, and come to a greater appreciation and love for his heavenly Father. What an opportunity the Scriptures presents to those who accept them! As His children, Christians are privileged to have the Creator reveal Himself to them through His Son, who is the exact image of God (Heb. 1:3), and His Spirit who reveals the very thoughts of God (1 Cor. 2:11-13). Not to mention the salvation of their souls (Rom. 1:16)! Questions 1. How can Christians use their knowledge of Scriptures to walk in a manner pleasing to God? Is the Bible a step by step guide to godly living? 2. How can congregational traditions damage the development of young Christians? 3. Can a Christian hold to a belief that he cannot defend from Scripture and be pleasing to God? 4. Give some examples of the deeper truths of God's word. How should a faithful Christian approach them?
5. Does Scripture reveal everything that a Christian needs to know? Wants to know? Lesson 10: Worship Worship is a vital part of the life of a faithful Christian. Worship is defined as reverence paid to a worthy object; honor, respect, especially to the divine. As men learn of God and come to know Him as the mighty, loving, merciful, righteous, and pure Being that He is, it follows that they should be moved to submit to Him, obey Him, and worship Him. Ascribe unto Jehovah the glory due unto His name; worship Jehovah in holy array. (Psalm 29:2). 1. The Worship Instinct All people devote themselves to something. There are those who can tell you every statistic of their favorite baseball teams for the last twenty years. Others can give you detailed analysis of how an automobile functions. Music fans camp out in freezing temperatures for the chance at tickets to their favorite band's concert. Although men don't often think of it so, these are all forms of worship. Unfortunately, many people's devotion is misdirected. 2. Proper Worship The Object There are many things that deserve one's devotion. Spouse, children, friends, the brethren, even pets or sports teams can be loved and honored. Nothing, however, deserves more devotion than the One who created all things. God's first commandment to the children of Israel was to have no other gods before Him (Ex. 20:2-3). Worship, whether one thinks of it that way or not, directed towards anything or anyone but God, is idolatry. Jesus stated that man is commanded to worship and serve God only (Mt. 4:4). Men worship those things that impress or please them. Christians must cultivate their knowledge and appreciation of God, increasing their pleasure in Him. Only then will their worship become sincere and pleasing to God. The Scope A common misconception among the spiritually immature is that worshipping God involves only the public worship service (assembly). While the public assembly of the saints is indeed part of worshipping God, it is only a part. Worship is a way of life. The child of God recognizes that he no longer owns himself but was bought
with a price (Jesus) and therefore lives to glorify God (1 Cor. 6:19-20). Paul urged the Roman Christians to present their bodies as living sacrifices, that being their spiritual service of worship (Rom. 12:1). The Basis God requires those who worship Him to do so in spirit and in truth (Jn. 4:24). Worshipping in truth means to follow His dictates, not man's Jesus declared worship according to the doctrines of men to be worthless (Mt. 15:89). How irrational the one who wants to worship (revere, honor, respect) God, and then disregards His revealed will! Worshipping in spirit involves having the proper attitude toward God. To be pleasing to God, His children must do the right things (truth), but also for the right reasons. The Pharisees did many works of the law, but did so to impress themselves and other men. God was not impressed. In fact, Jesus instructed His apostles that their righteousness must be of better quality than this or they would never enter heaven (Mt. 5:20, 6:1). A Christian who serves God to please his family, brethren, or to keep the elders off his back, is not serving God at all. 3. The Worship Service While the worship service is not the total sum of worshipping God, it is an important part of a Christian's life. The writer of Hebrews advises his readers to not forsake assembling together and the encouragement available by doing so (Heb. 10:24-25). The worship service is an opportunity to express one's honor of God, remember the sacrifice of the Savior, increase in the knowledge of Scripture, and draw strength from the encouragement of the brethren. In the book of Revelation, the image of the saved in heaven is that of a great multitude gathered around God's throne praising and worshipping Him (Rev 7:9,19:1, 6). Christians desire to go to heaven. The worship service is the nearest thing to it on earth. It should never be viewed as a burden. Christians don't have to go to church, they get to go to church! Questions 1. What is a modern example of worship that is in spirit, but not in truth? In truth, but not in spirit? 2. List the things required to worship God? 3. What parts of the worship service edify its members? 4. What is the attraction of public worship?
Lesson 11: Prayer Simply put, prayer is speaking to God. To believers, however, prayer is not a simple thing, but one of the greatest blessings of being a child of God. It is an opportunity to stand before the throne of God (Heb. 4:16) and speak to Him, knowing that He is always interested and pleased to hear from them (of how many of one's fellow men can this be said?). Furthermore, God's children know that He loves them as their Father and is anxious to grant them the things that they need. (Mt. 7:7-11). Men will often wait for hours, even paying exorbitant sums, for the opportunity to merely see celebrities such as movie stars, athletes, royalty, or political figures. How much greater a privilege to be able to speak to the Almighty Creator any time one wishes! 1. The Need for Prayer Christians are called to offer their lives in service to God (Rom 12:1). However, they are constantly beset by distractions, trials, temptations, and hardships both material and spiritual that seek to interfere with their devotion to their Father. Prayer is given as a defense against these distractions. Jesus taught His disciples to pray often for strength and courage to face what was coming (Lk. 18:1, 21:36). Jesus Himself sought strength and comfort in prayer. He prayed as He began His ministry with the baptism by John (Lk. 3:31). He spent the night before selecting His apostles in prayer (Lk. 6:12). He prayed fervently for strength to endure the cross in Gethsemane (Lk. 22:41-44). Jesus' apostles took to heart His teachings on prayer. Luke describes the newly born church as being steadfast in prayer (Ac. 2:42). After being arrested for preaching Jesus, Peter & John returned to the brethren to report all that had happened. The church's response was to offer prayer to the Lord for boldness in the face of the threats from the Jews (Ac. 4:23-31). Prayers were made for Peter when imprisoned by Herod (Ac. 12:5). Paul wrote to the Roman church to be devoted in prayer (Rom. 12:12). He requested that the church in Ephesus pray always in the Spirit on his and the saints" behalf (Eph. 6:18). He commanded the Thessalonians and Colossians to pray always (Col. 4:2, 1 Thess. 5:17). He advised the Philippian church that the cure for anxiety was to make their requests known to God (Phil. 4:6). Early Christians faced seeming insurmountable obstacles (Jews, Romans, false teachers) to their growing faith, but knew well where to find the strength to overcome them. God assigns such importance to His children's prayers that He has assigned the Holy Spirit to help them in their efforts to pray for the things that they need (Rom. 8:26-27). Exactly how the Spirit fulfills His role is difficult to imagine, but the fact that He does is comforting nevertheless.
2. How to Pray There can be no question that prayers are effective. An angel appeared to Jesus in Gethsemane to comfort and strengthen Him in response to His prayer. The building in which the church prayed for boldness was shaken as they were filled with the Spirit and began proclaiming Jesus boldly. Peter was released from Herod s prison by an angel (Ac. 12). In spite of all the forces that attempted to stamp out the church in its infancy, two thousand years later, the faith still survives. There are, however, conditions placed upon God's attending to one's prayer. He must be righteous, an obedient servant of the Lord (1 Pe. 3:12, Ja. 5:16). As faithful children who are striving to please Him, Christians' requests must be in compliance with His will (Ja. 4:3, 1 Jn. 3:22). As Jesus taught, the Father wants His children to be faithful and is willing to help them in their efforts to do so. Likewise, He is deaf to those who wish to do their own will. Prayers must be made with faith in the One of whom requests are made (Ja. 1:6-7). The Almighty is able to grant more than any request His children can conceive (Eph. 3:20). It behooves Christians to take advantage of such abundant aid that is so eagerly given. Prayers must be in offered in sincerity. The praying Christian is speaking to his God, communicating his needs, concerns, praise, and gratitude. The words don't matter. Prayer is not intended to impress others. Jesus condemned the Pharisees for this very thinking (Mt. 6:5). The purest prayer, is the one where a man is simply speaking what s in his heart to a heavenly Father he knows is listening. That's impressive enough by itself without the need of flowery language or dramatic vocalizations Prayers must be offered in Jesus' name (Jn. 16:24, Col. 3:17). It is only through Jesus' sacrifice that we are able to approach the throne of the Father at all (Rom. 5:1-2, Heb. 4:14-16). It is fitting that our petitions to God be by the authority of the Savior" s name. It should be noted that while God has promised to hear the righteous prayers of the faithful (1 Jn. 5:14), He does not always grant their requests. His will is supreme and He is free to choose when and how to bless His children. In no way, should this discourage the Christian who earnestly prays for a result that is in keeping with God's will but does not come to pass. As his Father's child, he must trust that God knows best and is working for his good. Paul was not upset that the Lord chose not to remove the thorn in his flesh, but gloried in his weakness, for that was the will of God (2 Cor. 12:7-10). 3. What to Pray
God loves His children, wants to help them, and has the power to do so. As their loving Father, He desires them to turn to Him in all things, good and bad alike (Ja. 5:13). Material needs - the Father knows that His children have need of material things (Mt. 6:31-32). When teaching His disciples to pray, Jesus included a petition for their daily bread (Mt. 6:11). Physical health - James says to pray for the sick that they may be well (Ja. 5:14-15). Spiritual needs - the Father desires His children to grow into their faith to be like His firstborn Son (Epeh. 4:15). He will help them to grow into wisdom (Ja. 1:5), boldness in preaching the gospel (Eph. 6:19-20), peace of heart (Phil. 4:7), love for their fellow men and strength to hold fast to Christ (Eph. 3:14-19), and any other blessings needed to serve Him more faithfully. Forgiveness - knowing His children are weak, the Father stands ready to forgive them their sins when they ask (Ja. 5:15, 1 Jn. 1:9, Ac. 8:22). He wishes also for his faithful children to pray for forgiveness of their brethren who have fallen into error (Ja. 5:16, Ac. 8:24). Thanksgiving - God has so richly blessed His children He deserves all the praise and gratitude they can lavish on Him. Like any parent, God desires His children to appreciate Him for all He does for them (2 Cor. 4:15). 4. When to Pray Quite simply, a Christian should pray to God when he feels the need to talk to Him. There are no formally established times that prayers must be offered, but a man can not help but benefit from frequent communication with His heavenly Father. A man who speaks often with his God will feel closer to Him, more aware of Him in his life. The Father has never desired to be a distant or aloof God. Rather He is always near, and wishes His children to be aware of it (Ps. 145:18-19, Jer. 23:23, Ac. 17:24-27). It is often said among the brethren, rightly so, that the first sign of a wavering faith is a lack of prayer. When one loses his sense of connection to his Father, and his Savior, it becomes easier to turn away to his own desires. Prayer must be constant part of a Christian's daily life if he wishes to grow into a faith that will save his soul. God is willing to hear and responds to His children's requests, but the requests must be made, in obedience, in humility, in sincerity, and with love. Questions
1. Who benefits from prayer? (There is more than one answer here.) 2. How should a Christian's prayer change as he grows into his faith? Why? 3. What are some of the ways that prayer and a growing faith are linked? 4. What does it reveal about your faith if you do not feel the need to pray? Lesson 12: Sin & Temptation Sin, or more accurately, the struggle against sin is a central facet of a Christian's life. All men of an age at which they understand the consequences of their actions are enslaved by sin (Rom. 3:10,23, Jn. 8:34). On their own, men are unable to escape the bondage of sin (Rom. 5:6, 7:18). In His mercy, God saw fit to send His Son to die for man's sin, so that His blood can cleanse them from sin (1 Jn. 1:7). From the moment one accepts the gospel and chooses to devote himself to his Savior's service, he must strive to strengthen himself against sin. 1. What is sin? Simply put, sin is disregarding God's law (I Jn. 3:4). God commands His children to seek His righteousness (Mt. 6:33, Ac. 10:35). Ignoring His will and practicing unrighteousness is sin (I Jn. 5:17). Paul calls all actions that are not based in faith sin (Rom. 14:21-22). Young Christians often focus on the sins that violate God's law. James, however, further defines sin as NOT doing the things one knows he should (Ja. 4:17). A man who sins, whether by doing things he shouldn't, or not doing things he should, elevates his desires over God's. It is important for the mature Christian to understand what constitutes sin. It is more important to understand the seriousness of sin. Sin kills the soul (Eze 18:4, Rom. 6:23). Man was created in God"s image, having a soul, but sin destroys the very thing that makes man the world's crowning creation. Sin separates a man from God (Is. 59:2), just as Adam and Eve were cast out Eden for their disobedience (Gen. 3:22-24). Sin will prevent a man from following Jesus to heaven to dwell in the presence of God (Jn. 8:21-23; 2 Thess. 1:9). Ultimately, sin will result in the everlasting punishment of those who practice it (Mt. 13:41-42). This punishment will be so severe, that Jesus states that it must be avoided at all costs, even if it means maiming oneself to accomplish it (Mk. 9:43-48). Even angels are not spared when they sin (2 Pe. 2:4). 2. The dangers of sin
The world treats sin lightly, but the Christian must not do so. Everything rides on the Christian's resisting sin. Sin is dangerously addictive. Sin acts to harden a man's heart against obedience to God (Heb. 3:12-19). Once begun, sin will continue to progress from bad to worse (2 Tim 3:13). This is demonstrated in Peter's denial of Christ at His trial (Mt. 26:69-75). Peter first denies knowing Jesus (v.70), then proceeds to deny it with an oath (v. 72), and finally with cursing and swearing (v. 74). This is the same man who only hours before had assured Jesus that he was ready to die with him (Mt. 26:35). Left to grow, sin will eventually consume one to such an extent that he has no sense of shame (Phil. 3:18-19, 1 Tim. 4:2). The choice to disregard God (sin) is especially harmful to those who have accepted the gospel. At some point in their lives, they recognized that Jesus sacrificed His life to save them from sin. By knowing this and choosing to sin anyway, they treat His blood as unholy and insult Him. When one reaches the point where he is cannot be moved by the sacrifice of Christ, there is no longer any hope for his salvation (Heb. 10:26-31). 3. Temptation Sin has its beginning in temptation. If sin is the choice to disregard God" s will, temptation is the persuasion to make that choice. From where does this persuasion come? James describes the source of temptation as being one's own desires. Sin is pleasurable, and there is often a powerful attraction (Heb. 11:25). When a man's desires lead him away from God (temptation) and he gives into them (conception) sin is born and the soul dies (Ja. 1:14-15). Temptation is not sin (Jesus was tempted), yielding to it is. It is important to realize that it is one's own desires that lead him away, not God (Ja. 1:13). God does allow His children to be tempted in order to prove their faith, but also limits the temptation to that which one can bear if he so chooses (I Cor. 10:13). While God is not an external source of temptation for Christians, Satan is very much so. Satan is the enemy of God, and seeks to hinder His plan to save men's souls (Mt. 13:24-28, 37-40, Lk. 8:5-14). He attempted to corrupt Jesus in the wilderness (Mt. 4:111), he demanded the opportunity to attack Peter's faith (Lk. 22:31), and is described by Peter as Christians' adversary and a roaring lion seeking prey (1 Pe. 5:8). Christians should not be surprised that they are tempted to sin after obeying the gospel. In fact, those who are saved receive more attention from Satan than those who resist the gospel. The world already belongs to Satan, why should he pay special attention to those he already owns? Instead, he concentrates his efforts on God"s children who have escaped his bondage. Satan cannot stand to see men
faithful to God (Job 1, 2). If Jesus was not spared temptation, neither should be those who follow him. 4. Dealing with temptation and sin While temptation is inevitable for God's children, sin is not. Temptation can be successfully resisted (I Cor. 10:13). James writes that Satan will flee from Christians when resisted (Ja. 4:7), and Paul instructed the Ephesians to put on the armor of God that they might resist the snares of the devil (Eph. 6:11). Knowledge of God's word defended Jesus from Satan's tempting (Mt. 4:4,7,10). Diligent study of Scripture will train one to be able to discern between good and evil (Heb. 5:14). In teaching his disciples to pray, Jesus told them to ask to not be lead into temptation (Mt. 6:13). Prayer is an effective deterrent to temptation. When all else fails, run! Removing oneself from temptation as Joseph did with Potiphar's wife (Gen. 39:12) can prevent one from succumbing to it. Paul advised Timothy to flee from youthful lusts (2 Tim. 2:22). Too often, immature Christians believe that their faith is strong enough to allow circumstances that tempt them to sin when, in reality, they are exposing their weakness to an enemy that has had centuries of practice in bringing the faithful to sin (1 Cor. 10:12). Even with all the helps that God provides to resist temptation, Christians often succumb and find themselves in sin (Rom. 7:14-25). Seeing that sin will progress if left uncorrected, it is critical that Christians learn to deal properly with their sin. They must not deny their failure, but acknowledge it, confess it, and repent of it. God has promised to forgive all who repent and sin" s progress is stopped dead in its tracks (1 Jn. 1:8-10). Not only will he forgive their sins, He has promised to forget them entirely (Heb. 8:12). God stands ready to erase the sins His children commit if only they confess them and repent of them. It is only man's stubbornness to admit sin that can leave it festering to the point that he becomes unable to receive salvation. Sometimes brethren will sin against each other as well as against God. A Christian who has sinned against his brother must make it a priority to make things right with him (Mt. 5:23-24). Likewise, if one has been sinned against, he must be willing to forgive those who repent, just as he wants God to forgive his failures (Mt. 18:21-35). Questions 1. Does sin always spring from evil motives? 2. What is the determining factor of sinful behavior? What makes a sin sinful?