God’s Message

Introduction

Having died to sin and having been buried with Christ through immersion, baptism, into Christ’s death you have been cleansed, made pure, by the blood of Christ, you are a new creation, a child of God in the Body of Christ.

You now need to grow in the knowledge of the Word of God and to live a godly life pleasing to Him. In your quest to grow read directly from the Bible proving what you read. Reading more than one translation or version may give you a clearer understanding and analyze words and meanings that are not familiar to you.

Do not blindly accept another’s opinion or some scholar’s interpretation. Verify everything against the Bible.

Contents

Page

Man’s Situation1

Salvation Comes Through Christ3

What Did Jesus Build? 6

Who Does God Put into Christ Church? 9

Choices 13

What Does It Mean To Be In Christ?17

How Did Christ Organize His Church?20

Randolph Dunn

The Bible Way Online Publisher

Permission is given to reproduce for non-commercial

purposes lessons in their entirety and without change.

thebiblewayonline.com

Revised June 30, 2016

Man’s Situation

Lesson 1

From whom has man been separated that he should desire to be reconciled? What is forgiveness and redemption? Why is it so important?

We do not know how long Adam and Eve lived in their perfect state but in Genesis chapters one and two we read that they made a decision to disobey God, or sin. This choice and action changed their relationship with God. God removed them from that perfect relationship and from Paradise, the Garden of Eden. They were separated from their loving father and creator. But God had a plan for bringing man back into that perfect relationship. He told the serpent, Satan the deceiver and father of lies, in Genesis 3:15: "And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel."

Later following Cain's unacceptable offering, God again warned of the consequences of man's rebellious actions: Genesis 4:7: "If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it." Cain did not listen to God's warning. He sinned even more by killing his brother Abel. So God caused him to be a wanderer or fugitive and removed him from His presence.

During the days of Noah we read "The LORD saw how great man's wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time" (Genesis 6:5). God totally removed all evil before him by destroying by the flood all people living upon the earth, except righteous Noah and his family of eight.

God revealed to Abraham his thoughts about Sodom and Gomorrah. Genesis 18:20-21 and 19:24-25 "And the LORD said, 'Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grave, I will go down now and see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry against it that has come to Me; and if not, I will know.' ... Then the LORD rained brimstone and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah, from the LORD out of the heavens. So He overthrew those cities, all the plain, all the inhabitants of the cities, and what grew on the ground.” God removed all evil from Sodom and Gomorrah.”

These events clearly show that God does not tolerate wickedness, disobedience or sin and will take action against those who practice such.

In Romans 3:23; 6:23 and 12:19-20, Paul states "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God ... For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord ... Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: 'It is mine to avenge; I will repay,' says the Lord."

James, addressing those IN Christ, tells us in chapter 1:12-15 stated: "Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. When tempted, no one should say, ‘God is tempting me.’ For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death." Knowing there are consequences for sin, you and I need to be forgiven, redeemed, reconciled and brought back into a righteous relationship with God. Those who are forgiven and reconciled are put into the Body of Christ, His Church.

Questions

  1. Why did God remove man from the Garden of Eden?
  1. Eden was only a temporary until Paradise was ready
  2. To protect them as Satan was roaming around outside
  3. They disobeyed God’s command
  4. Eden was overcome by water from the flood

2. Consequences for sin did not exist prior to Christ?

T. ___ F. ___

  1. God overlooked the grave sin of Sodom and Gomorrah?

T. ___ F. ___

  1. The wages, consequences, of sin is death?

T. ___ F-. ___

  1. What causes man to sin?
  1. ___ God tempts him
  2. ___ Evil desires
  3. ___ Yielding to evil desire

Salvation Comes Through Christ

Lesson 2

Daniel interpreting King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream of the statue of gold, silver, iron and clay, prophesied in Daniel 2:44: "And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which will never be destroyed.”

God proclaimed before Jesus’ birth that He would be called “the Son of the Most High”, and that He would “save His people from their sins.” (Luke 1:32 and Matthew 1:21)

“The next day John [John the Baptist (rd)] saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, ‘Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world’ ” (John 1:29-30)!

When Jesus was baptized, immersed, by John in the Jordan river, the heavens opened: “And the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove upon Him, and a voice came from heaven which said, ‘You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased’" (Luke 3:22).

For the next several years Jesus taught as one having authority confirming His message by miracles, signs and wonders such as causing the blind to see, the deaf to hear, the lame to walk and raising the dead to life again.

Christ is the foundation of the church. Ephesians 2:20: “having been built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone”; 1 Corinthians 3:11: “For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ” and 2 Timothy 2:19: “Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal, "The Lord knows those who are His."

“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9-10).

It was while Jesus and His disciples were in Caesarea, Philippi that Jesus asked “who do people say that I am”, and “who do you say that I am.” Peter stated, “You are the Christ, the Son of God” (Matthew 16:15). Jesus stated that upon the fact that He was the Son of God He would establish a group of people obedient to Him - My church.

Ephesians 1:18-23 states “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age, but also in the one to come. And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fulness of Him who fills all in all.”

Jesus told Peter that His church was still in the future. Matthew 16:18: "And I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades[abode of the souls of dead (rd)] shall not overpower it.”

However, Mark quotes Jesus in Mark 9:1 stating: “Truly I say to you, there are some of those who are standing here who shall not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power.”

“And when the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent, rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance.” Acts 2:1-4 (fulfilling Mark’s statement of “come with power”).

“Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ — this Jesus whom you crucified. Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, ‘Brethren, what shall we do?’” … “So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and there were added that day about three thousand souls. And they were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” … “And day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved” (Acts 2:36-37; 41-42; 46-47).

These people realizing their sinful condition put their trust in Christ by calling upon God to forgive by being immersed in water (baptism) into Christ’s death after which God added them to his disciples thus establishing or building His ekklesia, His body of forgiven people, His church.

Questions

  1. At the baptism of Jesus what did the voice from Heaven say
  2. _____ Behold the Lamb of God who takes away sin
  3. _____ Now He shall be called the Son of God
  4. _____ You are my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased
  1. Who is the foundation of the Church
  2. _____ Peter
  3. _____ Christ
  4. _____ Apostles
  5. _____ Pope
  1. Christ established His church prior to His crucifixion

True _____ False _____

  1. God made Jesus of Nazareth Lord and Christ

True _____ False _____

  1. What did the 3.,000 do after receiving Christ’s message of reconciliation from Peter and the apostles
  2. _____ Nothing as they were saved when they believed their message
  3. _____ Took a lamb to the temple to be sacrificed as a sin offering
  4. _____ Were baptized, immersed
  5. _____ Continued in the apostles teaching
  6. _____ b and c
  7. _____ c and d

What Did Jesus Build?

Lesson 3

The word church, ekklesia, means those called out for some purpose. Those called out from a sinful life into a holy and righteous life through obedience to Christ are the church Christ established. They strive to live a life following Christ, the righteous one - who had no sin, because without holiness no one will see the Lord. (Hebrews 12:14)

Jesus asked his disciples "'But what about you?' he asked 'Who do you say I am?' Simon Peter answered, 'You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.' Jesus replied, 'Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock [the foundation that Jesus is the Christ (rd)] I will build my church, and the gates of Hades [the temporary residence of souls of the dead rd)] will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven' " (Matthew 16:15-19).

He was more specific about the time His Kingdom would come for "he said to them, 'I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God come with power'" (Mark 9:1). Therefore, we see Christ would be establishing his church during the lifetime of some of his hearers.

Following Jesus' ascension to heaven the apostles returned to Jerusalem as he had commanded them. Many Jews were gathered in Jerusalem, because it was Pentecost. The great sound of rushing wind brought them to the assembled apostles. Peter and the other apostles seized the opportunity to remind them of what they and their religious leaders had done, stating, "'Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.' When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, 'Brothers, what shall we do?' Peter replied, 'Repent [1] and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off-for all whom the Lord our God will call'" (Acts 2:36-39).

A short time later Luke records "The apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers used to meet together, assembled, in Solomon's Colonnade. No one else dared join them, even though they were highly regarded by the people. Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number" (Acts 5:12-15). "So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith" (Acts 6:7).

But things changed,the Jewish leaders who had rejected Jesus and miraclesby crucifying Him now turned against His people, that body of obedient disciples referred to as His Church. "... On that day a great persecution broke out against the church at Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria" (Acts 8:1). "But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off men and women and put them in prison" (Acts 8:3).Only people can be persecuted not inanimate objects such as buildings.

The persecution was against the church. Therefore, the church was already in existence prior to this persecution. This persecution resulted in even greater growth as "Those who had been scattered [the Christian body as a preacher was not mentioned (rd)] preached the word wherever they went." (Acts 8:4)

Paul, previously known as Saul, was now preaching the Gospel in Antioch. "While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, 'Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.' So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off" (Acts 13:2-3).

"From Paphos, Paul and his companions sailed to Perga in Pamphylia"(Acts 13:13a). "On the next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord. When the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and talked abusively against what Paul was saying. Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly: 'We had to speak the word of God to you first. Since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles. For this is what the Lord has commanded us: 'I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth'” [from Isaiah 49:6]. When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and honored the word of the Lord" (Acts 13:44-48a).

"At Iconium Paul and Barnabas went as usual into the Jewish synagogue. There they spoke so effectively that a great number of Jews and Gentiles believed" (Acts 14:1). On this and several other trips they preached in many cities, Lystra, Debre, Lycaonia, Corinth, Ephesus, Athens, Phillipi and eventually Rome, the Imperial city, where "For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. Boldly and without hindrance he preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ" (Acts 28:30-31). Everywhere he went he preached Jesus death and resurrection, the Gospel - the good news. It is this Gospel that Paul said "I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile" (Romans 1:16).