Baptist Training Course Adult Quarterly Sins, Iniquities and Transgressions Quarterly Aim: Three words are used in the Bible frequently to show man his sins, his sinful ways and the consequences for sin, but there is forgiveness in Christ for all sins, iniquities and transgressions. Lesson 1, September 2, 2018 The Sin of Unbelief.... 3 Lesson 2, September 9, 2018 Adam s Sin... 8 Lesson 3, September 16, 2018 All Have Sinned...13 Lesson 4, September 23, 2018 The Saved Are Forgiven of the Sin of Unbelief...18 Lesson 5, September 30, 2018 The Saved Need Forgiveness of Sins...23 Lesson 6, October 7, 2018 Unpardonable Sin...28 Lesson 7, October 14, 2018 Sin unto Death...32 Lesson 8, October 21, 2018 Chastening Because of Sin...37 Lesson 9, October 28, 2018 Sin Hinders Spiritual Growth...42 Lesson 10, November 4, 2018 Sin Brings Consequences....47 Lesson 11, November 11, 2018 Sin and Sinners Judged....52 Lesson 12, November 18, 2018 Heaven Is Without Sin...57 Lesson 13, November 25, 2018 Christ Is Without Sin...61 Vol. 104, No. 4, Fall Quarter, 2018. Editor in Chief: Kyle W. Elkins, kyle.elkins@bogardstore.org Business Manager: Wayne Sewell, wayne.sewell@bogardstore.org 2018, Bogard Press, 4605 N. State Line Ave., Texarkana, TX 75503-2928 www.bogardpress.org; 1-800-264-2482
About the Writer David O. Johnson was born in Hot Springs, Arkansas, in 1953, and was saved at age 7 and baptized by Ethel MBC in Antlers, Oklahoma. Brother David surrendered to the gospel ministry in 1976 and was ordained by Trinity MBC, Camden, Arkansas. He received training at Louisiana Missionary Baptist Seminary of Minden, Louisiana, Missionary Baptist Seminary of Little Rock, Arkansas and Baylor University of Waco, Texas. He has served as pastor of churches in Arkansas, Louisiana, Texas and Oklahoma. He has served as moderator or treasurer of local associations in Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas and as moderator of the Baptist General Assembly of Oklahoma. He served on the Standing Missionary Committee and the Baptist Sunday School Committee of the ABA. He currently writes the Adult BTC quarterly and is the author of one book, What We Believe, and Why (published by Bogard Press). He is married to the former Dianne Bryant. They have three children (Rebekah, Wendy and Tim) and seven grandchildren (Blake, Bryant, Caedmon, Hannah, Brady, Jordan and Isaac). He may be contacted at daveoj53@gmail.com. 2
LESSON 1, September 2, 2018 The Sin of Unbelief APPLICATION To show a choice is made in receiving or rejecting Christ as one s Savior. SCRIPTURES TO READ Text: John 3:13-21. Related Scripture: Isaiah 1:18; Matthew 11:28-30; Mark 10:15; Luke 19:1-10; John 1:10-12; Acts 2:41. Devotional Reading: Life Is Filled with Choices, Matthew 19:16-22. Introduction This quarter s studies have the theme of, Sins, Iniquities and Transgressions. The world today does not really want to consider that their actions might be inappropriate or wrong. Right and wrong are considered outdated ideas which are only held by the extremists in religion. Everything is acceptable under the right circumstances. The problem with this philosophy is that it totally contradicts what the Bible teaches. The theme verse for this quarter comes from Job 13:23 and says, How many are mine iniquities and sins? make me to know my transgression and my sin. Iniquities, sins and transgressions offend God. What people should realize is that their actions come into the presence of God and He judges each thing they do. People should consider what God thinks about their behavior. This quarter s studies focus on the difference between right and wrong behavior. The first lesson deals with the matter of unbelief. This is the natural condition of all people. They come into the world without Christ and are condemned. Nicodemus was a religious leader of Israel. He was part of the council of those whose 3
responsibility was to teach and enforce the Law of Moses. They were considered by most people to be highly spiritual. Their primary problem was that they did not recognize their natural sinfulness. They felt that they were upright and acceptable in the eyes of God. Nicodemus was an honest man who realized there was something wrong inside. He did not know what it was. He had either heard the words of Jesus directly or had heard reports of what He preached. He wanted to know more about His message and came to Jesus to gain deeper understanding of what He meant in His messages. Nicodemus was in a state of unbelief and needed more than mere instruction. He needed a change of heart. This was what Jesus tried to teach this man who was a teacher of the Law. Their conversation will still teach people about the danger of unbelief. 1. Belief Illustrated (John 3:13, 14) When Nicodemus came to Jesus, he did so at night because he was afraid of what his peers might think. He recognized something special in this Man and wanted to understand Him better. He approached Jesus with the greatest of respect, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him (verse 2). Though he was not a follower of Jesus, Nicodemus knew He was something special. The Lord tried to draw this man to a deeper understanding. He wanted him to cease his unbelief and to draw near to God through faith. His early statements to the teacher had the purpose of changing his perspective. Nicodemus, like most people of every age, looked at life from a physical perspective. He could only understand the things he could see. Jesus wanted him to lift his eyes to something greater, something eternal. These thoughts were beyond the understanding of Nicodemus. At one point Jesus asked him, Art thou a master [teacher] of Israel, and knowest not these things? (verse 10). The time for deeper understanding had come. Nicodemus needed to grow up and become adult in his thinking. The Lord shifted His teaching to remind Nicodemus of things he already knew. He spoke of an event from the wilderness journey of the Israelites. The people murmured against God because they were tired of the monotonous provision of manna. God sent judgment upon them by way of poisonous snakes in the midst of the camp. When people were bitten, they died. They 4
cried out for God to help them and He provided the means by which they could be cured of the snakebites. Moses was to make a bronze snake and lift it high on a pole. When people were bitten and looked to the bronze snake, they were trusting God to send the cure, and He did. Jesus drew a spiritual lesson from that event. The serpent lifted on the pole pointed forward to His hanging on the cross as the sacrifice for sin. If people trusted in the provision of God for the forgiveness of sin, the sacrifice of Christ was sufficient for the need. Their faith in Christ and His sacrifice would give them the needed forgiveness for sin and would grant them eternal life. This illustration was familiar to Nicodemus. This was part of the Law and was well-known. Nicodemus needed to take the story he knew so well and apply it to his life. The mere knowledge of what God had done was not sufficient. It needed personal application. This application of the gospel is always the need of sinful humanity. 2. Belief Explained (John 3:14-17) The matter of faith was important to the Lord. He wanted Nicodemus to grasp the significance of what the Old Testament said. There was more to that understanding than just knowing the stories. He needed to look at those events realizing that they were given for a purpose. They were to draw people to God. Faith is important. Jesus took the Old Testament event of the brazen serpent and used it to illustrate what He would do in going to the cross. This was still a future event for Nicodemus. Since it had not happened, it might be difficult to grasp. Yet, the Lord spoke with such authority, it had to be considered as something that was sure to happen. Maybe Nicodemus did not understand exactly what it meant for Jesus to be lifted up (verse 14). The Lord wanted this teacher to think deeper thoughts and to grasp what it meant to trust in someone other than self. The Lord s focus was on eternity. Nicodemus had his eyes turned toward the present moment. He had witnessed the miraculous power of this man and understood He was something special. Now, he needed to step beyond merely being fascinated by His works. Nicodemus needed to recognize who He really was. Jesus said that the Son of man (verse 14) would be lifted up. This phrase was known to refer to Israel s Messiah. Jesus 5
declared the Messiah would become the sacrifice for sin and would provide the only way for people to obtain eternal life. That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life (verse 15). This was His primary purpose in coming to earth. Jesus also said, For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost (Luke 19:10). The means, by which salvation was provided, was for Him to be lifted up on the cross as the sacrifice for sin. People must recognize the sufficiency of His sacrifice. No other person could pay the price for sin. People must come to Jesus in repentance and faith in order to gain the forgiveness of sin and the gift of eternal life. His purpose was clearly stated. Jesus told Nicodemus, For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved (John 3:17). The Pharisees thought of God as condemning the world. They were very negative and thought God loved to judge. Instead, Jesus declared God s love was extended to humanity so that He would not have to condemn them. God s purpose was to send the Son so that the world might have the opportunity to be saved. This truth was reinforced by Peter when he wrote that the Lord is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). Jesus wants all people to come to Him in faith. 3. Belief Rejected (John 3:18-21) As the Lord continued His conversation with Nicodemus, He offered a contrast of the choices people could make. They could have faith in the Savior or they could reject Him. Belief and unbelief were the only two choices that people have. Someone might say that he is not rejecting the Lord, just delaying his decision. Such a delay is still an immediate rejection of the offer of eternal life. When people trust in Jesus, they are not condemned (verse 18) judged as guilty and worthy of punishment. Those who are saved are no longer judged as guilty and are pardoned from their sin. However, those who reject the gift of eternal life, those who remain in unbelief, are already in the state of guiltiness and will be sentenced to eternity apart from God. They have chosen hell over Heaven. Why would anyone be so foolish as to choose hell over Heaven? The Lord s evaluation of the natural condition of humanity is, men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds 6
were evil (verse 19). People are born as sinners and it is their nature to sin. Nothing people do can remove the stain of sin. Since it is their nature, it is what they will continue to do. Since the time of Adam, people have continued in this state. Paul wrote about the natural sinfulness of humanity and explained its roots. Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned (Romans 5:12). Adam s choice to rebel against God in eating the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil cast the human race into a state of sin. Everyone born of Adam has a sin nature, and he cannot change who he is. Instead, he must repent of his sin and turn to Jesus in faith to have forgiveness and to obtain eternal life. The choice can be made to see the Light and come to Him. This is the wise choice. People without Christ are condemned. Those who come to Him in repentance and faith have eternal life. They will never perish because they have Christ in their hearts. Conclusion Belief and unbelief are mutually exclusive ideas. Is Jesus the Son of God who came to earth to save sinners? This is the final choice, the final question. Rejecting the offered gift of eternal life is foolish and will result in an eternity separated from God. Rejecting salvation brings condemnation. Who would ever choose to spend eternity in hell? Yet, that is exactly what unbelief brings. Do not be foolish. Come to Jesus now. 7