One Year

Discipleship Course
If you are a teacher, please feel free to make print copies of this material for your use. Digital copies are not permitted

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 Copyright 2010 by Way of Life Literature

ISBN 978-1-58318-118-8

Second edition November 2010

This material cannot be placed on Internet Web sites

Published by
Way of Life Literature
P.O. Box 610368, Port Huron, MI 48061
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Canada:
Bethel Baptist Church,
4212 Campbell St. N., London, ON. N6P 1A6
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Printed in Canada by
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 Ways These Lessons Can Be Used
As a course of study in Sunday Schools
As a textbook in Bible Institutes
As part of a Home Schooling curriculum
As study lessons in jails and prisons
As discipleship lessons for new Christians

Titles in This Series

Fundamental Lessons in the Old Testament
Fundamental Lessons in the Life of Christ
Fundamental Lessons in the Book of Acts
Fundamental Lessons in the Book of Proverbs
Fundamental Lessons in How to Study the Bible
Fundamental Lessons in Christian Living
Fundamental Lessons in the Doctrine of Apostasy
Fundamental Lessons in Biblical Separation

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 SUGGESTIONS FOR USING THIS MATERIAL FOR
SUNDAY SCHOOL, DISCIPLESHIP, OR IN A
PERSONAL SETTING
1. Suggestions for use in a Sunday School or other public setting

a. These lessons can be used for ages ranging from Middle School to Adult.

b. Each teacher should familiarize himself thoroughly with the material before it is taught. An
ill prepared Bible teacher is a disgrace to the service of Christ, weakens the ministry of the
church, and discourages the hearts of the students. When I was a kid growing up in a
Baptist church, my teachers would typically just read the Sunday School lesson. No
significant preparation. No heart involvement. No clue! It was doubtless a factor in why the
majority of the young people in that church left as soon as they could. The Bible is the
living eternal Word of God, and Bible classes should not be dull and boring. This reminds
us of the importance of choosing the right teachers in the first place. Pastor Ken Shaver of
Greater Cumberland Baptist Church in Hopkinsville, Kentucky, observes, “The objective is
not to teach a lesson but to teach the word of God. The lesson is just a tool to help the
teacher accomplish this.”

c. In addition to going over the review questions, the teacher should try to think of some other
questions that will help the students apply the lessons to their daily lives.

d. The memory verses should be used. They are carefully selected and are an important part of
the course. They can be quoted at the beginning or end of the class. Or the teacher can have
the students indicate by a show of hands if they have done the memory work and then pick
out some of the students to quote the verses, alternating students each week. Or one or
more faithful students can be assigned the task of hearing the verses quoted by the other
students.

e. Since the Bible Fundamentals lessons are not mere bare outlines and all of the points are
developed, it is a good idea for the teacher to make copies available to the students for
future reference. One objective of any Bible class is for the students to be able to teach the
material to someone else (Hebrews 5:12). The lessons are designed to help the child of God
teach God’s Word. Handing out copies of the lessons at the end of the class is also a good
idea if the teacher is unable to cover every point and deal with every reference in the class.
The students can be encouraged to go over the material later in private.

f. It is a good idea for pastors to meet with the teachers each week and go over the highlights
of the material. This way the teachers are all on the same page and understand the main
points to emphasize. Further, the pastor can answer any questions that the teachers might

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 have about the material. This is a good opportunity for the pastor to give instruction about
methods of teaching.

2. Suggestions for use as a personal study

The lessons are well developed so that they can be used effectively for private study.

a. The student needs to look up and read every verse. The Word of God is always more
important than any commentary about it.

b. The memory verses are a very important part of the course. We suggest that the student ask
someone to test his or her memorization work.

c. The review questions are also an important part of the course. Take the time to answer each
question.

3. Suggestions for use as a discipleship course.

This material can be used as a discipleship program in churches, whereby more mature church
members are taught how to teach others.

The program has the following objectives:

Discipleship. The first goal is to disciple every new church member.

Teaching Training. The third goal is to provide a forum for training new teachers and an
opportunity to develop spiritual gifts. The program provides opportunities for serious
ministry, including opportunities for the more mature young people. It takes some of the
teaching workload off of the leaders. And it helps disciple the disciplers. Few things
motivate learning like teaching.

Fellowship. The fourth goal is to help develop close relationships between church members.

The program is set up in the following manner:

The first step is to select some church members who have grown in Christ and proven
themselves faithful and that possess some basic ability to teach at a private level. These can
include older teens that meet the standards. The basic requirements are that they have a good
testimony, that they are faithful to church and submissive to the leaders, that they agree with the
church’s doctrine and practice, and that they have read the Bible through at least once.

After the potential teachers have had an opportunity to study the material on their own, the
church leaders set up some training sessions. They go through the course with the potential

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teachers, hitting the high points and providing teaching tips. During the training sessions, the
potential teachers get up one by one and present a portion of a lesson to the leaders and the other
trainees, after which they are critiqued.

When the teachers are deemed ready, they are prayerfully assigned a student, females being
assigned to a female teacher and males to a male teacher.

The next step is for the teachers to set up appointments with their students to meet privately with
them and go through the material. The leaders should try to attend some of the first lessons to
provide further training.

Another option is to appoint two-person teams for discipling. This is what we do in our
missionary church. A more mature and knowledgeable Christian is teamed with a younger or
newer Christian. Both team members participate in the teaching, but the older team member is
responsible to help develop the newer one. As the second members of the teams mature, they can
become the first members in new teams.

4. Suggestions for using the One Year Discipleship Course for evangelistic Bible studies.

Another way to use the One Year Discipleship Course is for evangelistic Bible studies.

Evangelistic home Bible studies can be an effective means for teaching the gospel in the careful,
systematic way that is necessary for bring sinners into a proper understanding of the gospel. The
first several lessons of the course -- Repentance, Faith, The Gospel, Baptism, and Eternal
Security -- can be used in this way.

Evangelistic Bible studies can be used as a follow-up for mass evangelistic campaigns (house
to house literature distribution, radio broadcasts, etc.). Include a brochure announcing a course
such as “Basic Christianity Bible Studies” or “Basic Bible Truths.” Instead of trying to get
people to pray a sinner’s prayer before they understand the gospel, focus instead on getting the
interested ones involved in a series of Bible studies where a relationship can be established and
they can be dealt with carefully. This is what the apostle Paul did. He preached the gospel to the
masses, then took the interested ones aside and instructed them more carefully in the things of
God (Acts 17:34; 18:5-11).

Evangelistic Bible studies can be used to reach out to specific neighborhoods. Bible studies can
be conducted in different neighborhoods by various men and women in the church and thus
greatly expand the congregation’s outreach. We are not talking about “cell groups.” The
evangelistic Bible studies have the goal of getting people saved and brought into the membership
of the church (and incorporated into the full life of the church, including the regular services).

Evangelistic Bible studies can be used to target specific groups of people. Basic Bible Studies
can be geared to specific groups, such as women, teenagers, foreigners, professionals,

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uneducated, deaf, etc. By offering Bible studies for a particular group, the church can focus on
their special needs in a way that cannot be done during regular church services or Sunday
School. For example, in American cities today there are large numbers of immigrants and visitors
and students from other countries and cultures. They often need special consideration when the
Gospel is communicated to them. Oftentimes they do not speak English well. It is not uncommon
for them to be completely ignorant of the gospel or even of the most basic facts of the Bible and
Christianity. The typical “Romans Road” gospel presentation will often be insufficient. They
need to be taught the very basics of biblical truth, such as creation, the fall of man, the character
of God, and the uniqueness of the Bible, before they can understand the gospel of Jesus Christ.
All of that can be taught out of Romans, of course, because Romans itself begins with creation
and the fall of man, but this is not what most people do when they present the “Romans Road.”
Many immigrants and foreign visitors will not be familiar with any of the terms of the gospel,
such as sin and repentance and grace and faith. Unless those terms are carefully explained, they
will “hear” the gospel, but they will not understand it. Too much of the soul-winning activity in
North America is simply too shallow and hurried. Missionaries who work in other parts of the
world understand this and develop ways of teaching the gospel effectively to their people, but too
often personal workers in North America approach foreigners without proper knowledge of how
they think and how to reach them. They try to reach them exactly as they would someone who
has grown up in the Bible-belt of the United States, and they wonder why it doesn’t work.
Involving select groups of people in Bible studies that are geared to their needs and that are led
by people who understand them can solve many of these problems.

Evangelistic Bible studies can be used in conjunction with evangelistic revival meetings. It is
said that only about 5% of people making professions at large (mass or city-wide) revivals go on
to become active church members. Of course, one would suppose the percentage to be higher in
local church revivals. Still, the percentage of those who don’t “stick” is appallingly high in all
types of evangelistic programs today. There are many reasons for this, one of the chief being that
scores of those making professions do not truly understand the gospel and are, therefore, not
fully committing themselves to Christ in biblical repentance and faith. It’s one thing to say, “Yea,
I’ll go along with that; it sounds good,” and quite another to be truly born again of the Spirit of
God. If most of those coming forward in revivals were strongly encouraged to commit
themselves to a multi-week Bible study and if godly, mature church members faithfully taught
the course, we can only imagine that the lasting fruit of our meetings would be ten-fold greater
than would otherwise be the case.

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 CONTENTS
Repentance ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------9
Faith (for salvation) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------13
The Gospel--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------16
Baptism -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------20
Eternal Security (3 lessons) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------23
Position and Practice --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------31
The Law and the New Testament Christian ------------------------------------------------------------34
Christian Growth and Victory (4 lessons) --------------------------------------------------------------38
Prayer--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------51
Faith (in Christian living)---------------------------------------------------------------------------------53
The Armor of God -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------56
The Church -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------61
The Bible (2 lessons) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------66
The Bible’s Proof (2 lessons) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------73
Daily Bible Study -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------81
Key Principles of Bible Interpretation (2 lessons) ----------------------------------------------------93
Foundational Bible Words (4 lessons) ------------------------------------------------------------------98
Knowing God’s Will -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------110
Making Wise Decisions (3) -----------------------------------------------------------------------------115
Christ’s Great Commission -----------------------------------------------------------------------------129
The Judgment Seat of Christ ---------------------------------------------------------------------------133
Separation - Moral ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------138
Tests of Entertainment -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------142
Separation - Doctrinal (2 lessons)----------------------------------------------------------------------144
Suffering in the Christian Life (2 lessons) ------------------------------------------------------------153
Fasting -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------160
Miracles ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------166
A Testing Mindset ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------169
Tongues Speaking (2 lessons) --------------------------------------------------------------------------175
The Rapture -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------183
How to Be Wise with Your Money (2 lessons)-------------------------------------------------------188
The Believer and Drinking------------------------------------------------------------------------------196
Abortion ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------202
Evolution --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------206
The Sabbath -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------209
Dressing for the Lord (2 lessons) ----------------------------------------------------------------------213

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 REPENTANCE
MEMORY VERSES: Luke 13:3; Acts 17:30; 20:21

In the first two lessons we will look at man’s part in salvation. There are two things to consider:
repentance and faith. Paul describes both of these in Acts 20:21, and he puts repentance first, so
this is where we will start.

Following are the answers to some important questions about repentance:

Is repentance necessary for salvation?

Repentance is commanded by God. It is mentioned 60 times in the New Testament. It was

preached by John the Baptist (Matthew 3:1-2), by Christ (Luke 13:3), by Peter (2 Peter 3:9), and
by Paul (Acts 17:30). Both repentance and faith are required for salvation, and the apostle Paul
preached both (Acts 20:21).

What are some false views of repentance?

Repentance is not reformation or changing one’s life. Salvation is not of human works; works
follow salvation as the product (Eph. 2:8-10). Reformation deals with one’s fellow man and with
things in this life, whereas repentance deals with God and with eternal things. We must be
careful not to give people the impression that they must change their lives and give up their sin in
order to be saved. The life-changing part of salvation is God’s part, not man’s.

Repentance is not doing penance. Many Catholic Bibles translate “repentance” as “do penance.”
This involves confession to a priest, contrition, absolution (forgiveness pronounced by the
priest), and satisfaction. Catholic penance is a works salvation which the Bible condemns.

Repentance is not mere remorse for wrong actions. The Bible tells us that men can be remorseful
about their actions without exercising genuine repentance unto salvation. This is described as the
“sorrow of the world” in 2 Corinthians 7:10. There are key examples of this in the Old and the
New Testaments. King Saul is the prime Old Testament example. He was sorry that he got caught
in various sinful acts, but he did not demonstrate repentance because his actions did not change
(1 Sam. 15:24; 24:17; 26:21). Judas is a New Testament example of a man who was remorseful
but did not repent toward God (Mat. 27:3-4).

Repentance is not merely believing in Christ. Some have defined repentance as the same as
believing. One well-known preacher defined it as “turning from unbelief to belief.” But if this
were true, the Bible preachers would not have preached repentance. We have seen that Paul
preached repentance toward God AND faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 20:21). Consider
Acts 26:20, where he demanded that the believers “do works meet for repentance.” This doesn’t

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mean that repentance is to do good works; it means that repentance is a dramatic change of mind
that leads to good works.

What is biblical repentance?

Repentance is admitting that I have sinned against God and being sorry for that (Acts 20:21).
Repentance is “toward God” because it is God that I have offended. He made man for Himself,
and He made man to obey His laws. But we have turned out backs on Him and broken His laws,
and He requires that we repent of this. Repentance is admitting that I am not good, that even my
supposed righteousness is as filthy rags before a thrice holy God (Isaiah 64:6).

Repentance means to turn around, to change directions (Acts 26:20). It is something that
happens in the heart and mind.

Repentance means to surrender to God’s rule (Isaiah 45:22-23). Repentance is to receive Christ
as Lord (Romans 10:9-13). To believe is to receive Jesus Christ as my only Saviour and to repent
is to receive Him as my only Lord. We see this throughout the New Testament. Those who
received Jesus in a saving manner called upon Him as Lord (Luke 23:42).

Repentance is not a change of life; it is a change of mind about God and sin that results in a
change of life. Many who “believe” or “pray the sinner’s prayer” have no intention to change.
They are not interested in being a disciple of Christ. They want a ticket to heaven that keeps
them out of hell, but they want to continue to live as they please. They want to believe in Jesus,
but they are not willing to obey Him. That is not biblical salvation. The sinner must be ready to
turn from his false gods, including self-worship, in order to worship and serve the true God.

What are some Bible examples of repentance?

The best way to understand repentance is to see examples of it in the Bible.

The Prodigal Son “came to himself” (Luke 15:17-20). This refers to conviction and spiritual
enlightenment by the Holy Spirit. He humbled himself, acknowledged his sin against God and
against his father, and turned around so that he was facing in a different direction. This is
repentance. The evidence of his repentance is that he returned home and made things right with
his father; he humbled himself and was willing to be a mere servant.

Zacchaeus repented and was converted so dramatically that he became an honest man who paid
back those he had cheated (Luke 19:8).

The Thessalonians “turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God” (1 Thess. 1:9).
That is biblical repentance. Notice that they didn’t turn from idols to God; they turned to God
from idols. The order is important. If a man turns to God, he has his back to his old gods and old
life. This is true repentance.

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Unless a person rejects his false gods and false religions and surrenders to Christ’s Lordship, he
cannot be saved.

The Bible warns that it is possible to profess Christ without possessing Christ. Consider the
following powerful Scriptures which describe many people even in Bible-believing churches:
Titus 1:16; 1 John 2:4

It is not enough to “believe in Jesus.” Even the devils believe (James 2:19). In fact, the devils
tremble, which is far more than the average “Christian” does!

The Bible says that many believed in Jesus but He did not commit Himself to them, because He
knew they weren’t believing in Him in the right way (John 2:23-25). They didn’t believe in Him
as Lord and Saviour; they believed in him as someone to provide their needs and protect them
from their earthly enemies (John 6:26). They believed in him as a great prophet but not as their
only God and only Saviour.

Jesus warned that many of those who claim to know Him are deceived (Matthew 7:22-23).

Repentance is the missing element in the lives of many professing Christians. The church
that I grew up in was a typical Southern Baptist congregation. Only a few of the young people
“stuck.” Most left church when they reached adolescence. As I look back, I can see that lack of
salvation was a major problem. My experience was typical. I made a profession of faith at about
age 11 during a summer Vacation Bible School, but it was void of spiritual reality. There was no
change in my life. There was no passion for Christ, no love for the Bible, no earnest seeking after
God’s will. My passion was pleasure and my God was self. As soon as I could, I quit church.
Why? I had never been born again, and that was the condition of most if not all of the members
of the youth department. I cannot remember even one young person in that church that was
serious about the things of God.

My best friends were worldly, and I recall an occasion when I was walking in an orange grove
with two church kids and another kid who didn’t attend church. He was our “ring leader.” We ran
around together and got into a lot of worldly mischief together, but for some reason we were
trying to get him to attend a special meeting at church. He turned around and exclaimed, “Why
should I? You don’t live any different than I do.” That stopped our mouths, because he was dead
right!

The thing that was missing was biblical repentance. I “believed” in Jesus, as the devils believe in
God, but it was not a saving faith because it was divorced from repentance.

Salvation is a personal relationship with Christ. Salvation is not a religion. It is not a matter of
believing things and doing things. It is a personal relationship with Jesus. The question that I
would ask each individual is this: Do you know Jesus personally as Lord and Saviour? Do you

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have a real relationship with Him? Do you walk and talk with Him? This is salvation! See John
17:3.

REVIEW QUESTIONS ON REPENTANCE

1. In what verse does Paul say that he preached both repentance and faith?
2. How many times is repentance mentioned in the New Testament?
3. What preachers in the New Testament preached repentance?
4. In what verse did Jesus say except you repent you will perish?
5. In what verse did Paul say that God now commands all men to repent?
6. In what verse did Peter say that God wants all men to come to repentance?
7. What are four false views of repentance?
8. What is the "sorrow of the world"?
9. How do we know that King Saul did not repent?
10. In what verse did Paul demand that believers "do works meet for repentance"?
11. Repentance is a ____________________ about God and sin that _____________________.
12. Repentance means to _______ around.
13. Repentance means to change _______________.
14. Repentance means to __________________ to God's rule.
15. Repentance is not a change of ___________; it is a change of __________.
16. What are three Bible examples of repentance?
17. The Thessalonians ___________ to God __________ idols.
18. The Bible warns that it is possible to ____________ Christ without _______________
Christ.
19. What verse says that those who say they know God but don't obey Him are liars?
20. What verse says even the devils believe in God?
21. Salvation is a _________________ _____________________ with Christ.

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 FAITH
MEMORY VERSES: John 3:16; 6:28-29; 14:6; Acts 16:30; Ephesians 2:8-9

In these first two lessons we are considering man’s part in salvation. There are two things:
repentance and faith. Having examined repentance in the first lesson, we will now examine faith.

Acts 20:21

As we saw in the first lesson, Paul preached repentance toward God and faith toward Jesus
Christ. The sinner must repent toward God, because it is God that he has offended by his self-
will and disobedience. The sinner must put his faith in Jesus, because He died for our sins.

Consider three important questions about saving faith:

What is saving faith?

It is important to understand that saving faith is not simply believing some historical fact with
one’s mind. For example, we believe that George Washington was the first president of the
United States and that Hitler ruled Germany in World War II and that Mahatma Gandhi lived in
India. But such beliefs do not change the lives of those who believe. Likewise, many people
believe that Jesus Christ lived long ago and that He did many wonderful things, but this belief
does not change their lives. Saving faith is different from this.

Saving faith is an undivided faith.

The Bible says that Jesus is the only Lord and Saviour. See John 14:6; Acts 4:12. To be saved I
must believe that Jesus Christ ALONE is Lord and Saviour, just as the Bible says. Some people
try to add Jesus to their other gods. They want to believe in Jesus while believing in other lords
as well. No one can be saved this way.

Saving faith is a trusting faith.

The word “believe” in the Bible means to trust, to depend upon, to commit oneself to. To be
saved a person must fully trust his soul and eternal destiny to the Lord Jesus. He must rely upon
Jesus and Jesus alone to forgive his sin and make him right with God and carry him to heaven.

Trusting Jesus is like trusting a boat to carry me across a lake. It is not enough to look at the boat
and to admire it. You must actually get into the boat and trust it to carry you safely to the other
side. Have you trusted Jesus to take away your sin? Some people say they believe in Jesus, but
they continue to go through their old religious rituals. This proves they are not truly trusting in

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Jesus. When we trust Jesus, we realize that we do not need any vain religious rituals for
salvation.

Saving faith is a convinced faith.

To be saved I must be fully convinced that Jesus is Lord and Saviour and that He will fulfill His
promises to me. True salvation is a know-so salvation. This is the kind of faith that Jesus’ early
disciples had. See Peter’s testimony in John 6:66-69. This is the testimony of a genuinely saved
person. We can be sure because of God’s promises (1 John 5:11-13). In contrast is the “faith” of
those who say they “hope” they will be saved, meaning they aren’t sure. I once met a Nepali who
said he had 99% faith in Jesus. That isn’t enough!

Saving faith is an unmixed faith.

Saving faith cannot be mixed with human works. See Ephesians 2:8-10. This is one of the most
important passages in the Bible. It teaches that a person must receive Christ’s salvation as a free
gift, not as a reward for good works. Then after we receive God’s free salvation, we serve Him
with a thankful heart. I do not serve God in order to be saved; I serve Him because I am already
saved. A gift is something that someone else purchases and then gives to me freely. Jesus is the
one who purchased our salvation with His death and the blood. Are you enjoying God’s free
salvation in Jesus Christ today, or are you still trying to earn your salvation?

Saving faith is a receiving faith.

Saving faith receives Jesus as Lord and Saviour. Saving faith doesn’t merely believe in Jesus as a
historical person; it calls out to Him and asks Him for salvation. See John 1:11-12 and Romans
10:13. Salvation is a personal relationship with Christ.

What is the place of works in the Christian life?

Does believing in Christ mean that I don’t have to do any works in the Christian life? What is the
place of works?

Again, we will look at Ephesians 2:8-10.

God wants us to live obedient, holy lives, but that comes after salvation. Good works are the
product of salvation, not the way of salvation. Good works are produced in the believer by the
Holy Spirit.

In the epistle of Ephesians, there are nearly 90 commandments that the believer is to obey. These
include being humble (Eph. 4:1), longsuffering (Eph. 4:1), putting away lying (Eph. 4:25),
putting away anger (Eph. 4:26), not stealing (Eph. 4:28), not speaking any corrupt thing (Eph.
4:29), being kind (Eph. 4:32), forgiving (Eph. 4:32), putting away fornication and uncleanness

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(Eph. 5:3), having no fellowship with the works of darkness (Eph. 5:11), redeeming the time
(Eph. 5:16), understanding God’s will (Eph. 5:17), not being drunk (Eph. 5:18), being filled with
the Holy Spirit (Eph. 5:18), wives submitting to their husbands (Eph. 5:22), husbands loving
their wives (Eph. 5:25), children obeying their parents (Eph. 6:1-3), fathers training their
children and not provoking them to wrath (Eph. 6:4), servants being obedient to their masters
(Eph. 6:5), and masters treating their servants justly (Eph. 6:9).

These are some of the works that God wants the believer to obey, but we cannot do these things
until first we are saved. We must be reconciled to God through Jesus, forgiven of our sins, and
indwelt with the Holy Spirit. Only then can we serve God acceptably.

Is salvation a religious process?

A popular heresy today is the teaching that salvation is a process, but the Bible says it is a
miraculous conversion experience. This was what Jesus taught. See Matthew 18:3 and John 3:3.

The new birth conversion is not a long process; it is a supernatural, life-changing event! And this
happens when the sinner repents of his sin and puts his faith in Jesus as his only Saviour.

This is what we see in the Bible. Those who were saved in the book of Acts were saved on the
very day they received Christ. This includes the Jews who believed on the Day of Pentecost
(Acts 2:41), the Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8:36-39), Cornelius and his household (Acts 10:44-48),
Lydia (Acts 16:14-15), and the Philippian jailer and his household (Acts 16:30-34).

REVIEW QUESTIONS ON FAITH

1. In what verse did Paul say that he preached both repentance and faith?
2. Does saving faith mean simply to believe some fact in the mind?
3. What are the five characteristics of saving faith?
4. In what verse does Jesus say that He is the way, the truth, and the life?
5. What verse says there is no other name under heaven whereby men might be saved?
6. How is trusting Jesus like trusting a boat to carry you across a lake?
7. In what verse did Peter say that he was sure that Jesus is the Son of God?
8. What verse says we can know that we have eternal life?
9. What verse says that those who receive Christ become sons of God?
10. What verse says, "Whosever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved"?
11. What passage says that we are saved by grace without works but we are saved unto good
works?
12. What verse says we must be converted?
13. What verse says we must be born again?
14. How long did it take people to be saved in the book of Acts?

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 THE GOSPEL
MEMORY VERSES: 1 Corinthians 15:1-8

Introduction

1. This is the gospel in a nutshell. Nowhere else in Scripture is the gospel summarized in this
brief manner. This is therefore a most important passage.

a. We need to know the right gospel, because it is the only way of salvation (1 Cor. 15:2).

b. We need to hold to the right gospel, because Paul warned that every false gospel is cursed
of God (Galatians 1:6-9).

c. We need to know the right gospel because Jesus commanded us to preach the gospel to
every creature (Mark 16:15).

2. Paul addressed this presentation of the gospel to believers (1 Cor. 15:1). This teaches us that
new believers need to learn the gospel properly so they can be grounded in its truths personally
and preach it to others. This also teaches us that older believers need to learn the gospel better
and better. We will never stop learning about the gospel.

Important Questions Answered about the Gospel

Every foundational truth about the gospel is covered in this important passage in 1 Corinthians
15.

What is the gospel?

There are three major parts to the gospel of Christ:

1. Christ died for our sins according to the Scripture (1 Cor. 15:3).

a. Notice who died: It was Christ. Jesus is the Christ promised in the Old Testament. The
name “Christ” is a Greek word that means “anointed one.” The Hebrew word
“Messiah” means the same thing (Psalm 2:2; 132:17). Jesus is the Anointed or Chosen
One. The prophets said that Messiah would come to earth the first time to be cut off or
die for man’s sins (Dan. 9:25-26), and He would come again to rule on the throne of
David and to establish the kingdom of God on earth (Isaiah 9:6-7).

b. Notice why Christ died: for our sins. Man is a sinner and has broken God’s law. All
have sinned and come short of the glory of God (Rom. 3:23), and the wages of sin is

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 death (Rom. 6:23). Christ paid that price for us, in our place. Salvation is an exchange.
Christ took our sin and we take His righteousness (2 Cor. 5:21). No person can be
saved unless he acknowledges that he is a sinner like the Bible says.

c. Notice that He died according to the Scriptures. This refers to the amazing prophecies
that described His death in great detail. These were written down hundreds of years
before Jesus was born. Following are just a few of these prophecies from Psalm 22:

The Scripture prophesied that Jesus would die by crucifixion (Psa. 22:14-16; Jn.
19:16-18). This is a perfect description of death by crucifixion, and when the
prophet David wrote it 1000 years before Christ, crucifixion was not yet
practiced! It began to be practiced in the days of the Roman Empire not long
before Jesus was born. To punish murderers and robbers, the Roman
government would nail their hands and feet to a wooden cross and leave them
there to die.

The Scripture prophesied that the soldiers would gamble for Jesus’ robe at the
foot of the cross (Psalm 22:18). The cruel soldiers did this while Jesus was
suffering (Mat. 27:35).

The Scripture prophesied the words that Jesus spoke from the cross (Psa. 22:1;
Mat. 27:46).

The Scripture prophesied that Jesus would thirst (Psa. 22:15; Jn. 19:28).

The Scripture prophesied that the people would mock Him (Psa. 22:6-8; Mat.
27:39, 41-43).

The Scripture prophesied that the people would sit and stare at Him (Psa. 22:17;
Mat. 27:36).

2. Christ was buried (1 Cor. 15:4).

a. His burial proved that He really died. He did not merely faint or merely appear to die
as some false teachers have claimed. The reason the soldiers did not break Jesus’ legs
is because He was already dead (Jn. 19:31-34).

b. He was in the grave for three days and nights (Mat. 12:40). For this reason we know
that it was not possible that Jesus was buried on Friday as many churches teach. We
know that Jesus rose from the dead early Sunday morning (Lk. 24:1) and if He was in
the grave for three days and three nights, He died either on Wednesday or Thursday.

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 c. His burial fulfilled prophecy. It was “according to the Scriptures.” The Bible
prophesied that Jesus would be buried in the tomb of a rich man (Isaiah 53:9). This
prophecy, written about 710 years before Jesus was born, was fulfilled when Jesus was
taken down off the cross by a wealthy disciple and buried in that disciple’s own tomb
(Mat. 27:57-60).

3. Christ rose again according to the Scripture (1 Cor. 15:4).

a. His resurrection was prophesied in Psalm 16:10. This was written about 1,000 years
before Jesus came.

b. His resurrection proved that He is the Son of God (Rom. 1:4). Jesus prophesied that He
would rise again the third day (Mat. 16:21), and if he had not done so He would have
been a false prophet and not the Son of God that He claimed to be.

Is there evidence that the gospel is true?

Paul gives two great evidences of the truth of the gospel:

1. The Old Testament prophecies prove that the gospel is true. He died and rose again “according
to the scriptures.” We have already looked at these.

2. The eye-witness testimonies prove that the gospel is true (1 Cor. 15:5-8). The Bible is not a
“blind faith.” It is faith based on “many infallible proofs” (Acts 1:3). Biblical faith has
“substance” and “evidence” (Hebrews 11:1).

a. The resurrected Christ was seen by more than 500 people on one occasion (1 Cor. 15:6).
When Paul wrote this epistle, most of these eyewitnesses were still alive. Paul was not
writing about things that had happened long ago.

b. This resurrection dramatically changed the lives of those who saw Him. Whereas before
Christ rose, the disciples were fearful and in hiding from the authorities (John 20:19), after
they saw the risen Christ they were bold and were willing to lay down their lives for their
faith.

c. The resurrection convinced Jesus’ own half brother James (1 Cor. 15:7). Compare John 7:5
where we see that Jesus’ brothers did not believe on Him before His crucifixion.

d. The resurrection convinced Paul and converted him from being Christ’s bitter enemy. From
an earthly perspective, Paul had absolutely nothing to gain by following Christ. He was
persecuted to the end of his life and lived a nomad existence without family or property.
The reason that he was willing to suffer these things was that he was convinced that Jesus
had risen from the dead thus proving that He is the Son of God.

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What does it mean to “believe in vain” (1 Cor. 15:2)?

Paul probably means that there are ways to believe that do not result in salvation. Consider some
of the ways that this is possible:

a. One can believe in vain by believing the wrong thing (Jn. 2:23-25). These Jews “believed”
on Jesus as a worldly provider who would feed and protect them instead of believing on
Jesus as their Lord and Saviour. See Jn. 6:14, 15, 26, 66. Likewise, many today believe on
Jesus in wrong ways. They come to Jesus and pray to Him so He will help them with their
problems or build up their self-esteem or make them wealthy or heal them or some other
thing rather than humbling themselves as sinners and trusting Him solely as their Saviour.

b. One can believe in vain by “believing” without repentance (Acts 20:21; 26:20). Many want
to “believe in Jesus” without surrendering their lives to Him, but it is impossible to be
saved without repentance. We see in James 2:19-20 that one can believe intellectually but
not surrenderingly so that one’s life is unchanged. The latter refers to repentance, which is a
change of mind that results in a change of life. The devils “believe in God” but not in a
saving sense. They know He exists but they do not submit to Him. Many “believe in Jesus”
merely in the sense that they believe He lived 2,000 years ago.

c. One can believe in vain by believing a false gospel or a false christ (2 Cor. 11:3-4). Many
believe in a different gospel or a different Jesus than that which is revealed in Scripture.
For example, they believe in a gospel of faith plus works or Jesus plus sacraments or a
Jesus that is not Almighty God in the flesh.

REVIEW QUESTIONS ON THE GOSPEL

1. In what book and chapter did Paul give the gospel in a nutshell?
2. What are three reasons why we need to know the gospel?
3. In what book and chapter did Paul warn about false gospels?
4. What are the three parts to the gospel?
5. What does the Bible means when it says that Christ died for our sins?
6. What does the Bible mean when it says that Christ died according to the Scriptures?
7. What are four prophecies about Jesus' death?
8. What great prophecy described Jesus' death by crucifixion?
9. How do we know that Jesus did not died on Friday?
10. What two things Jesus did demonstrate by rising from the dead?
11. What are two evidences that the gospel is true?
12. What are three ways that someone can believe in vain?

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 BAPTISM
MEMORY VERSES: Matthew 28:18-19; Acts 2:41; 8:36-37; Romans 6:3-4; 1 Corinthians
1:17

In this lesson we will answer six important questions about baptism.

What is the meaning of baptism?

1. Baptism is the first step of obedience after believing (Matthew 28:19-20). Jesus commanded
baptism, and the believer submits to it as a step of obedience.

2. Baptism is a picture of the gospel, which is the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ (1
Corinthians 15:3-4).

3. Baptism shows the believer’s identification with Christ. It is symbolic of the believer’s death
with Christ and of his resurrection to new life in Christ. See Romans 6:3-4.

4. Baptism is a public testimony before the world that I have believed in Christ and that I intend
to life a new life in Christ. It is an announcement of my discipleship to Christ. Each baptism in
the New Testament was an event that was witnessed by other people.

Does baptism make one a Christian?

A vast number of people believe that baptism makes one a Christian. Roman Catholics believe
that. Greek Orthodox believe that. Church of Christ believe that. Hindus and Buddhists and
Muslims typically believe that baptism makes one a Christian. But it does not. Personal faith in
Jesus Christ makes one a Christian. True Christianity is not a religion; it is a personal
relationship with Jesus. Baptism is only a picture and a testimony of one’s faith. Water does not
save us. Good works do not save us. Religious rituals do not save us. These things follow
salvation, but it is personal faith in Christ that saves us. Salvation is a free gift of God’s grace
(Ephesians 2:8-9), and if I could add even one work to it, this would mean it is no longer a free
gift.

What about Mark 16:15-16 and Acts 2:38?

The Church of Christ and some other false churches claim that baptism is a necessary part of
salvation, and two of their favorite proof texts are Mark 16:15-16 and Acts 2:38.

Consider Mark 16:15-16. Here we are taught that baptism is closely associated with believing,
but it is separated from salvation itself. The sinner is not damned because he doesn’t get
baptized; he is damned because he doesn’t believe. The wording is very precise and important.

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Baptism is an evidence that the person has truly believed. Those who claim to believe in Jesus
but refuse to be baptized are not true believers. Jesus said that those who love Him will obey
Him (John 14:23).

Consider Acts 2:38. The believer does not get baptized in order to be forgiven of his sins; he is
baptized because he has been forgiven of his sins. The expression “for the remission of sins”
could mean “in order for your sins to be forgiven” or “because your sins have been forgiven.” A
similar expression is used in the latter way in Luke 5:13-14. The leper was instructed to offer
himself to the priest “for thy cleansing,” meaning because he had already been cleansed by
Christ.

We know this is the meaning of Mark 16:15-16 and Acts 2:38 by comparing Scripture with
Scripture. The apostle Paul said that it is the gospel of Christ that saves (Romans 1:16), and he
taught that baptism is not the gospel (1 Corinthians 1:17; 15:1-4).

What is the mode of baptism?

It is sad that we even have to discuss the mode of baptism, because the Bible is so clear about it,
but we must discuss it because most professing Christians practice sprinkling and pouring.
Scriptural baptism, though, is immersion or burial in water. Following are five evidences for this:

1. This is the meaning of the word. The term baptize means to immerse or to dip.

2. This was the manner in which Jesus was baptized. He came “up out of the water” (Mark 1:10).

3. This is the example of the early Christians. In Acts 8:38-39 the preacher and the candidate
“went down both into the water” and “came up out of the water.” The only reason for this would
be to practice immersion. Otherwise, the preacher would merely have dipped up some water and
applied it without getting wet.

4. This is the only mode that fits the biblical meaning of the practice. Baptism is a picture of
burial and resurrection with Christ, and only immersion fits this symbolism. Sprinkling or
pouring does not. See Romans 6:4.

5. Immersion was the only mode of baptism in the churches for many centuries. Many ancient
baptistries testify to this. The most ancient baptistry in Rome, for example, is a large pool that
was obviously used for immersions. I have stood in this baptistry and it comes up to my waist.
The same is true for an ancient baptistry I have seen at a church in Ephesus.

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Who has the authority to baptize?

The New Testament church has the authority to baptize. It is the Lord’s chosen institution for this
age, and it is the house of God, the pillar and ground of the truth (1 Timothy 3:15). Every
baptism in the book of Acts was conducted by a preacher.

What follows baptism?

The thing that follows baptism is Christian service and holy living (Acts 2:41-42). The individual
that takes baptism is testifying that he has died to the old life and that he is going to follow Christ
as the Lord of his or her life. It is a very serious and solemn practice. The Christians in the first
church at Jerusalem “continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in
breaking of bread, and in prayers.”

REVIEW QUESTIONS ON BAPTISM

1. Baptism is the ________ step of ______________ after believing.

2. Baptism is an ______________ that the person has truly believed.
3. Baptism is a _______________ of the gospel.
4. Baptism signifies the believer's _________________ with Christ.
5. Baptist is a ____________ ______________ before the world.
6. Does baptism make a person a Christian?
7. The believer does not get baptized ______________________ of his sins; he is baptized
__________________ of his sins.
8. In what verse did Paul say that God called him not to baptize but to preach the gospel.
9. In 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 Paul summarized the gospel and he didn't say ___________ about
baptism.
10. The term baptize means __________.
11. How do we know that Jesus was immersed?
12. In what book and chapter did Philip baptize by going into the water and coming up out of the
water?
13. In what book and chapter is baptism likened to a burial?
14. What mode of baptism was practiced by all of the churches in the beginning?
15. What did the first Christians do after they were baptized?

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 THE ETERNAL SECURITY OF THE BELIEVER
Part 1

MEMORY VERSES: John 10:27-28; 1 Corinthians 1:8; Ephesians 1:3, 7; Philippians 1:6; 1
John 5:11-12; Hebrews 6:19; 9:12; 10:14

The Bible does not use the term “eternal security” to describe the believer’s position in Christ,
but it does use the terms “everlasting life (John 3:16) and “everlasting consolation” (2
Thessalonians 2:16). The Bible teaches that the child of God is eternally safe in Christ.

The doctrine of eternal security is very important for stability in the Christian life.

As we will see, eternal security is only promised to those who are born again. It does not refer to
hypocrites, nominal professors, or to those who are merely dabbling in the things of Christ.
Those who permanently fall away have never been born again.

1. Believers are secure because of what Jesus did for us.

Jesus died for the believer’s sin, all of it. His blood was the full price that God’s Law demanded;
it was perfectly sufficient. Those who believe that the believer can lose his salvation do not
understand what Jesus did. They do not understand the gospel properly.

See Ephesians 1:7. “Redemption” means to be bought with a price. Jesus bought us from the
slave market of sin and delivered us completely.

See Romans 3:24-25. “Justification” means declared righteous by God. The believer is not
righteous in himself, but he is declared righteous by the great Judge. The basis of this declaration
is the fact that Jesus paid the full price to take away the believer’s sin before God.

“Propitiation” refers to this price. It means to satisfy a debt by paying the full amount that is
owed. That is what Jesus did. The sinner has broken God’s Law and is incapable of making
proper restitution. Jesus paid the price of this debt in the sinner’s place. We owed a debt we could
not pay; He paid a debt He did not owe.

2. Believers are secure because of God’s promises.

The following are just a few of the ways that salvation is described in the New Testament. These
are promises that cannot be changed because they are given by a God who cannot lie and whose
declarations are immutable. While there are a few passages in the New Testament that might
appear on the surface to say that the believer can lose his salvation, there are hundreds that
plainly say he cannot!

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“shall never perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16) -- If God gives the believer everlasting
life and promises that he shall never perish, how could he “lose” his salvation? How can the
believer perish if God says he will not perish? God’s promise would fall to the ground if this
were to happen.

God shall “confirm you unto the end” (1 Corinthians 1:8) -- Promises like these guarantee the
believer’s salvation.

“blessed with all spiritual blessings” (Ephesians 1:3) -- If the believer already has been blessed
with all spiritual blessings in Christ, how could he come short of this and lose his salvation?
Notice that these blessings are “in Christ.” The believer’s salvation is wrapped up in Christ and
has absolutely nothing to do with his life and works.

“sealed with the Holy Spirit” (Ephesians 1:12-14) -- The sealing of the Holy Spirit is God’s
promise of eternal redemption.

The sealing of the Holy Spirit means ownership. When I believe on Jesus, I become
God’s possession. The Holy Spirit is the seal of this possession. This is like when a king
seals something with his personal stamp.

The sealing of the Holy Spirit is a promise. It is the down payment, the guarantee, of the
believer’s eternal salvation. It is like a man who gives a down payment for some land.
The down payment is his promise to pay the rest. It is also like a plane ticket. If someone
gives you a plane ticket to a certain place, you know that you can go to that place with the
ticket. The ticket is the guarantee. Likewise, Jesus paid for our trip to heaven, and the
Holy Spirit is His promise.

“seated in heavenly places” (Ephesians 2:5-6) -- The believer does not have to wait until he dies
to go to heaven; he is already seated in heaven with Christ in God’s eyes; this is his new position.
The believer’s salvation is all wrapped up in Christ. He has died with Him, risen with Him, and
lives with Him.

“made fit for heaven” (Colossians 1:12-13) -- Christ has done everything necessary to take the
believer to heaven; there is nothing left for the believer to do in this regard; our works do not fit
us for heaven or add one jot or tittle to what Christ has already done and provided.

“a strong consolation” (Hebrews 6:17-19) -- The terms used to describe salvation in this passage
are amazing. The word “immutable” means cannot be changed; when God makes a declaration
or promise, it is sure. The word “consolation” means comfort and encouragement; the believer’s
consolation is not weak and uncertain; it is “strong.” The term “hope” here does not refer to
something uncertain, as it does in this world. It does not mean, “I hope I will be saved,” but, “I
am sure I will be saved.” The believer’s hope is described as “an anchor of the soul, both sure
and stedfast.” The reason that all of this is true is that Christ paid the full sin debt.

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Conclusion

The knowledge of one’s eternal security in Christ is the believer’s “helmet” to protect him from
the devil’s fiery darts of doubt (1 Thessalonians 5:8).

REVIEW QUESTIONS ON ETERNAL SECURITY PART 1

1. What are two ways that the Bible describes the believer's position in Christ?
2. What did Jesus do for the believer?
3. What is the meaning of "redemption"?
4. What is the meaning of "justification"?
5. What is the meaning of "propitiation"?
6. What verse says God will confirm the believer unto the end?
7. What verse says the believer is blessed with all spiritual blessings in Christ?
8. What two things are meant by the "sealing of the Holy Spirit"?
9. What verse says the believer is seated in heavenly places in Christ?
10. What verse says the believer is made fit for heaven?
11. What does "immutable" mean?
12. What does "consolation" mean?
13. How do we know that the believer's hope is certain?
14. What is the believer's helmet?

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 THE ETERNAL SECURITY OF THE BELIEVER
Part 2
MEMORY VERSES: John 10:27-28; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Titus 1:16; 1 John 2:4

In this lesson we continue our study on the doctrine of eternal security by answering two more
important questions on this subject: First, does the doctrine of eternal security mean anyone who
professes Christ has eternal life? Second, does it cause people to live carelessly?

Does the doctrine of eternal security mean that anyone who professes Christ has eternal
life?

No, the promise of eternal security is only for those who have been saved, not for mere
professors. Salvation always changes a person’s life.

1. Salvation demands repentance (1 Thessalonians 1:9-10).

God requires repentance for salvation, and repentance means a dramatic change of mind
resulting in a change of life. It means to surrender to God. The person who has never surrendered
has never been saved. The believers at Thessalonica exemplify biblical repentance. They “turned
to God from idols, to serve the living and true God.”

2. Salvation requires the new birth, and the new birth changes a man’s life (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Jesus said, “Ye must be born again” (John 3:7), and the new birth is a great miracle that God
does to and for the believer. It is a dramatic transformation, and those who can continue to live as
they did before they professed Christ have never been born again.

3. Those who are saved hear Christ’s voice and follow Him (John 10:27-29).

In this passage, Jesus gives the definition of a true believer who has eternal life. Jesus’ sheep hear
His voice, meaning they respond to His Word, and they follow Christ, meaning they submit to
Him as disciples. The promise of verses 28-29 cannot be divorced from the evidence of verse 27.

4. Saving faith always produces holy works (Ephesians 2:8-10).

Ephesians 2:8-10 describes the proper relationship between faith and works. It is faith that saves
and works follow as the result. The works in the Christian life are God’s works in the believer,
thus there is no glory for man. To mix works together with faith for salvation is a false gospel
(Romans 11:6). But it is also true that holy works always follow saving faith. James describes the
Christian life from man’s perspective (James 2:14-17). If a man “says” he has faith and does not
have anything in his life to back it up, he does not having saving faith.

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5. The Bible says true believers keep God’s commandments and purify themselves (1 John 2:4;
3:2-3). In 1 John 3:2-3, God’s Word says that those who have eternal life are those who purify
themselves. The promise of verse 2 cannot be divorced from the evidence of verse 3.

6. The Bible warns about those who profess Christ but do not obey Him; they are false professors
(Titus 1:16).

If a person claims to have faith in Christ but his life does not reflect this, he is deceived. A
fruitless profession of faith cannot lay claim to God’s promises of eternal security. If an
individual professes Christ and then turns away, this is evidence that he never was saved.

Does the doctrine of eternal security cause people to live carelessly?

Those who do not believe in the doctrine of eternal security say that it causes people to live
carelessly. In fact, the opposite is true. I began my preaching career in a part of Tennessee where
Methodists had predominated for a couple of centuries. The doctrine of losing your salvation had
devastated that area. It was filled with people who had “tried to live the Christian life” and failed
and now lived like the devil.

1. The Bible teaches that the grace of God motivates believers to serve God with a thankful heart
(Romans 2:4; Ephesians 3:14-19). The more a believer understands the unfathomable love that
God has for him in Christ, the more he wants to please God. The Bible says, “We love him
because he first loved us” (1 John 4:19).

2. The true grace of God teaches people to live holy lives (Titus 2:11-14).

REVIEW QUESTIONS ON ETERNAL SECURITY PART 2

1. What are six reasons why we know that salvation always changes a person's life.
2. What verse says if any man is in Christ he is a new creature?
3. In what book and chapter did Jesus say that His sheep hear His voice and follow Him?
4. What passage says the believer is saved unto good works?
5. What verse says that if salvation is of grace it is not of works?
6. What verse describes those who profess Christ but deny him in their works?
7. What are two reasons why we know that the doctrine of eternal security does not cause people
to live carelessly?
8. What verse teaches that we love God because he first loved us?
9. In what book and chapter does Paul teach that the grace of God teaches us to live holy lives?

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 THE ETERNAL SECURITY OF THE BELIEVER
Part 3
MEMORY VERSES: Ephesians 4:30; Hebrews 12:8; 1 John 1:6; 2:1-2

In this lesson we complete our study on the doctrine of eternal security by answering one final
question.

If the disobedient believer does not lose his salvation, what does happen to him?

1. The sinning believer is out of fellowship with the Lord and his people (1 John 1:3-7).

John was writing to instruct believers in how to maintain fellowship with Christ (1 John 1:3). We
do this by walking in the light rather than in darkness. Walking in the light is walking in
obedience to God’s Word. Walking in darkness is walking in disobedience. Thus, the sinning
Christian is not in fellowship with Christ. He knows Christ as Lord and Saviour, but he is not
walking in fellowship with Christ. The relationship is not broken, but the fellowship is broken.
This is a serious loss. To live out of fellowship with Christ means I do not have His wisdom and
power and blessing. If I make major decisions while in such a condition, those decisions will
invariably be wrong and will take me farther out of God’s will.

2. The sinning believer grieves the Holy Spirit that lives in him (Ephesians 4:30).

To grieve the Holy Spirit means that His ministration in my life is hindered. He is the believer’s
comforter and strength and guide and teacher. When He is grieved, I lose His blessing; I do not
grow spiritually; I do not have spiritual power, enlightenment, and wisdom.

3. The sinning believer is helped by the Lord Jesus Christ (1 John 2:1-2).

When we sin, God does not abandon us; we have an Advocate, a Helper. The name “Jesus”
means Saviour, and He does not cease to be my Saviour when I sin. Jesus is there helping me,
interceding for me, caring for me, seeking to restore me, as He did for Peter when Peter denied
Him thrice in one night.

4. The sinning believer is chastened by the Father (Hebrews 12:5-11).

God does not let His children sin without consequence. He spanks us. There is even the sin unto
death if the believer refuses to repent (1 John 5:16-17). Some of the believers at Corinth sinned
this sin (1 Corinthians 11:27-30).

5. The sinning believer reaps corruption (Galatians 6:7-8).

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There is a price to be paid for sin in this present world. Just because are saved, does not mean
that we escape the law of sowing and reaping. Many believers have paid a terrible price, such as
losing their marriage over such things as adultery, anger, and worldliness; losing their kids’
hearts; and losing their ministries. Any sin can be forgiven by confession, but sin has
consequences. For example, I know many divorced believers who have confessed their sin but
the divorce is still a reality, with all of its ugly and hurtful lifelong ramifications.

6. The sinning believer loses irreplaceable opportunities for service and fruit (Ephesians
5:14-17).

The sinning Christian can be forgiven, but he cannot regain lost opportunities. When the
Israelites doubted God, they were forced to walk in the wilderness for 40 years even after they
repented (Deut. 1:37-45). Many believers have lost irreplaceable opportunities by making
important decisions when they were backslidden and out of God’s will, such as marrying the
wrong person and taking the wrong job. We can’t go back and start over in life, so we must live
very cautiously and make sure that we are in God’s will every step of the way.

7. The sinning believer will suffer loss at the judgment seat of Christ (1 Corinthians 3:11-15).

This is one of the clearest promises of eternal security in the New Testament. The sinning
Christian who displeases the Lord and whose earthly works are burned up will himself be saved.
His works will burn, but he will not burn. This is a wonderful truth, but for one’s earthly life to
be wasted on something other than God’s will, for Jesus to be sorely disappointed in me, to have
no rewards for His glory, to not hear, “Well done, thy good and faithful servant,” will be a very
tragic loss.

Eternal security and problem passages

See the article “Eternal Security” at the Way of Life web site for a look at the passages that are
used by those who deny the doctrine of eternal security. A more extensive list can be found in the
book Things Hard to Be Understood: A Handbook of Biblical Difficulties.

REVIEW QUESTIONS ON ETERNAL SECURITY PART 3

1. What are seven things that happen to the believer that sins?
2. What book and chapter says that we walk in the light by confessing our sin?
3. What verse warns against grieving the Holy Spirit?
4. What does it mean to grieve the Holy Spirit?
5. What happens when I grieve the Holy Spirit?
6. What book and chapter says God chastens His children?
7. What book and chapter warns about the sin unto death?
8. In which New Testament church did some of the members die for abusing the Lord's Supper?
9. What verse says that a man reaps whatsoever he sows?

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10. What happened to the Israelites when they doubted God?
11. What book and chapter describes the judgment seat of Christ?
12. What happens to the believer at the judgment seat of Christ if his works burn up?

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 POSITION AND PRACTICE
MEMORY VERSES: Ephesians 1:3; 5:8; Hebrews 12:6-8

Another essential thing in the Christian life is to understand the difference between position and
practice or relationship and fellowship. What we mean by this is that the believer has a new
position and relationship before God that is eternal and perfect and unchanging and that depends
entirely upon Christ, but the believer also has a practice in this present world that is less than
perfect and that depends on his obedience.

Multitudes of professing Christians have become discouraged or even shipwrecked from failure
to understand this truth. This almost happened to Harry Ironside, the famous Bible commentator.
He began his Christian life as a zealous member of the Salvation Army. Believing their doctrine
of a second blessing of sinless perfection, Harry set out to obtain this experience. He fasted and
prayed and sought God as earnestly as he knew how. Finally he went out into the woods,
determining to stay as long as necessary, and he experienced what he thought was the second
blessing. He returned to a Salvation Army meeting and stood up to testify that he “had found it.”
Soon, though, he realized that the “old man” was still present in his life, and he became so
discouraged that he had a breakdown and ended up in a hospital. He determined to forget about
the Christian life, since it “didn’t work,” but God sent two believers to instruct him properly in
biblical sanctification. He was then able to establish his Christian life on a proper foundation and
go on to be a very fruitful servant of Christ.

Relationship and Fellowship

The believer has been adopted into God’s family as a son because of Christ’s blood (Galatians
3:26), and this new relationship will never change. It is a gift that was purchased at great price.
God will never “kick” the believer out of His family. At the same time, in this present world
fellowship with God depends on whether or not I walk in the light. Walking in fellowship with
God is the subject of 1 John (1 John 1:5-7). If I walk in darkness I am out of fellowship, but this
does not change my relationship. God does not throw away His children; He spanks them to
bring them back into fellowship (Hebrews 12:6-10).

Relationship and fellowship can be illustrated by human relationships. I was born into my
father’s family and I am his son. Nothing has ever changed that. There were times when I was
disobedient and foolish and I displeased my father, and we did not have good fellowship together
during those times. My father still loved me and yearned for my fellowship, but I had to repent
and honor him before that could happen. The same is true in God’s family.

Position and Practice, Standing and Walk

Another way to describe this is position and practice or standing and walk. Consider the book of
Ephesians.

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The first three chapters describe the believer’s new position or standing in Christ, whereas the
last three chapters describe his practice or walk in this world.

The key phrase in chapters 1-3 is “in Christ” (Ephesians 1:1, 3, 10, 12, 20; 2:6, 10, 13; 3:6, 11).
In God’s eyes, the believer is in Christ. He is forgiven, justified (declared righteous), redeemed,
adopted, and given eternal life. The believer is “blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly
places in Christ” (Ephesians 1:3). This new position is not based on the believer’s works. It is
God’s free gift in Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9). The price was Christ’s own blood (Eph. 1:7).
Therefore, the new position is sure and unchanging.

In chapters 4-6 the subject changes to the believer’s practice in this present world. The key word
here is “walk” (Ephesians 4:1, 17; 5:2, 8, 15). This word describes Christian living. If the
believer doesn’t “walk” in obedience, he does not have right fellowship with the Lord. If he
walks in sin, he displeases the Lord and grieves the indwelling Spirit (Ephesians 4:30). But he
does not lose his position in Christ. That is settled and sure and eternal.

The two aspects of the Christian life are seen together in Ephesians 5:8. The believer is a child of
light “now.” It is a present possession and position that was purchased by Christ and received as
a free gift through faith. Since we are children of light, we should walk as children of light. In
other words, since we are saved and have eternal life and are children of God, we should live like
it.

Conclusion

1. If the believer does not understand these things, he can become very discouraged and confused
when he sins. Those who believe that a born again child of God can lose his salvation do not
understand this clear teaching of Scripture.

2. The fact that the believer’s position is not affected by his daily walk is no excuse to sin. We
have already seen in these studies the terrible price that believer must pay if he does not walk in
fellowship with his Lord. We have also seen that it is possible to be a professor of salvation
without being a possessor.

REVIEW QUESTIONS ON POSITION AND PRACTICE

1. What did Harry Ironside try to experience?

2. How did God help him to become grounded in the truth?
3. What verse says the believer becomes a child of God by faith in Jesus Christ?
4. What is the subject of 1 John?
5. What does God do His children when they sin?
6. How is relationship and fellowship illustrated by human families?
7. What is the theme of Ephesians 1-3?
8. What is the key phrase in those chapters?

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9. What was the price that was paid to place the believer "in Christ"?
10. What is the theme of Ephesians 4-6?
11. What does the Christian's "walk" refer to?
12. Since we ____ children of light, we should ______ as children of light.
13. True or false: Since the believer cannot lose his salvation, it does not matter how he lives.

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 THE LAW AND THE NEW TESTAMENT CHRISTIAN
MEMORY VERSES: Romans 3:19-24; 7:4; Galatians 3:10, 13, 24-26

There is a lot of confusion about the Law of Moses and what place it has in the Christian life,
and it is essential for every believer to settle this issue on a solid Scriptural footing.

The following major New Testament passages clarify the matter:

Romans 3:19-24

1. The Law of Moses or the Old Covenant was given to show men that God is holy and that they
are sinners (Romans 3:19). Men naturally think that they are righteous. They compare
themselves to human standards of righteousness and one with another rather than with God’s
perfect law. Men need to see that by God’s standards we are all sinners because we have broken
His laws.

Take the Ten Commandments, for example (Exodus 20:1-17). Men have broken all of these. We
have put other gods before the one true God (Ex. 20:3). We have made idols and worshipped
them (Ex. 20:4-5). We worship and serve ourselves more than God, thus making our own selves
into idols. We have taken the name of the Lord in vain (Ex. 20:7). We have broken the Sabbath
and treated all days the same, neglecting to set apart even one day for the worship of God (Ex.
20:8). We have dishonored and disobeyed our parents (Ex. 20:12). We have killed (Ex. 20:13).
We have committed adultery (Ex. 20:14). We have stolen (Ex. 20:15). We have lied (Ex. 20:16).
We have coveted (Ex. 20:17).

The law of Moses requires perfect obedience (Deuteronomy 27:26). To break one law is to break
all (James 2:10).

Jesus taught that God not only requires perfect external obedience to the Law, but internal
obedience as well. To hate my brother is the same, in God’s eyes, as murder (Matthew 5:21-22).
To lust after a woman is the same, in God’s eyes, as adultery (Matthew 5:27-28).

Thus it is obvious that we are all guilty of breaking the law and are sinners in God’s sight.

2. The Law of Moses cannot bring salvation (Romans 3:20).

The Old Testament cannot bring salvation because it requires perfect holiness, whereas man is a
fallen sinner and cannot live up to its requirements. Thus, the Law of God can only curse us. The
word “justified” means declared righteous by God. God cannot declare a sinner righteous on the
basis of the Law of Moses, because it requires perfect obedience.

3. Salvation is through faith in Jesus Christ (Romans 3:21-24).

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The way of salvation is not through the Law of Moses, but through Jesus. The Law demanded
that the sinner die, and Jesus died in our place (Romans 6:23). The Law demanded that blood be
shed, and Jesus shed His righteous blood in payment for our sins (Hebrews 9:22). Because of
what Jesus did on the cross, the believing sinner can receive the very righteousness of God
through faith (Rom. 3:21-22). The believer is justified freely. This means that salvation is a gift
of God that was purchased by Christ. We are redeemed by His blood. The word “propitiation”
means satisfaction of a debt, and that is what Jesus did for us. He paid a price He did not owe to
satisfy a debt we could not pay.

Romans 7:1-4

1. The Law is not the Christian’s rule in life (Romans 7:1-2). Christ is our new husband and
Lord, and He rules our lives through the New Covenant. Our rule in life is not the Law of Moses
but Christ as revealed in the New Testament Scriptures. Trying to serve God under the old Law is
like a woman who serves a husband only out of fear. She cooks and cleans house because she is
afraid not to. Serving God under the new Law is like a woman who serves a husband out of love.
She cooks and cleans house for her master, but not because she is afraid of what he will do to
her, but simply because he loves her and treats her so well and she, in turn, loves him.

2. The Law of Moses cannot condemn the believer (Romans 7:3). The believer is as dead to the
Law as a wife is to a deceased husband. The Lord Jesus Christ took our condemnation upon
Himself on the cross, and we are safe in Him from all fear of eternal judgment.

3. The Christian has a new power, which is the indwelling Holy Spirit (Romans 7:6; 8:1). The
believer serves Christ through the Spirit, not through his own strength. Compare Galatians 2:20.

2 Corinthians 3:5-18

This passage compares the Old Covenant with the New.

1. The Old Covenant was the Law of Moses (2 Corinthians 3:7, 13). It was “written and
engraven in stones.” That specifically refers to the Ten Commandments (Deut. 4:13; 5:6-22).

2. The Old Covenant was a ministration of death (2 Corinthians 3:7) and a ministration of
condemnation (2 Cor. 3:9). This is because it required perfect obedience from the heart, and we
being sinners are incapable of providing this level of obedience.

3. The Old Covenant has been done away in Christ (2 Cor. 3:11). It is not the believer’s rule of
life.

4. The believer has a new law (2 Corinthians 3:17-18). The fact that the believer is not under the
Law of Moses does not mean that we don’t have a law. In fact, we have a higher law. It is the law

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of Christ. We are conformed to His image (Romans 8:29). As we see Him in the Scriptures, we
are changed to His image.

Galatians 3:10-14, 24-26

1. The Law of Moses, or the Old Covenant, required perfect obedience in all things; men,
therefore, cannot be saved by it (Galatians 3:10-12). Because it requires perfect holiness, it can
only bring a curse upon a fallen sinner. We cannot live up to its holy requirements.

2. Christ took the punishment demanded by the Law (Galatians 5:13). He died in the sinner’s
place in order to provide us with eternal salvation.

3. The Law of Moses is our schoolmaster to lead us to Christ (Galatians 5:24). This is the major
purpose of the Law. It is designed by God to show the sinner his fallen and lost condition and to
lead him to put his faith in Christ.

4. The believer is not under the Law of Moses (Galatians 5:25). The believer’s law is not the Law
of Moses. The believer has a new law, which is the law of Christ. This means to be conformed to
His image. The believer’s new law is also called the law of the Spirit (Galatians 5:16-18). By
walking in the Spirit, which means obeying the Spirit and yielding to Him day by day, the
believer does not fulfill the law of the flesh.

Colossians 2:13-17

1. Christ took away the Old Covenant, or the Law of Moses (Colossians 2:14). He did this by
fulfilling its demands and paying the price that we owe for breaking it.

2. The believer does not follow the Old Covenant (Colossians 2:16-17). The Law contains types
and shadows that point to Christ, but the believer has Christ Himself.

REVIEW QUESTIONS ON THE LAW OF MOSES

1. What are the five major New Testament passages that we examine in this lesson? (book and
chapter only)
2. What is the purpose of the Law of Moses?
3. What verse says that to break one of God's laws is to break all of them?
4. In what book and chapter does Jesus say that to hate is the same as murder and to lust is the
same as adultery?
5. Why can't men achieve salvation through the Law of Moses?
6. What verse says that without shedding of blood is no remission of sin?
7. When the Bible says the believer is justified "freely," what does this mean?
8. What is the believer's rule in life?
9. Why can't the old Law condemn the believer?

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10. What is the power by which the believer serves God?
11. What was the Old Covenant?
12. What does Paul refer to when he writes of that which "was written and engraven in stones"?
13. Why is the Law of Moses a ministration of condemnation and death?
14. What is the believer's law?
15. What type of obedience does the old Law require?
16. The Law of Moses is our _______________ to lead us to Christ.
17. What is the major purpose of the Law of Moses?
18. What is the law of the Spirit?
19. How did Christ take away the Law of Moses?
20. The Law of Moses contains _______ and ___________ that point to Christ.

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 CHRISTIAN GROWTH AND VICTORY
Part 1

MEMORY VERSES: 2 Peter 1:5-9

Few issues in the Christian life are more important than this. Practically every new believer is
puzzled about why he still has a problem with indwelling sin and how can it be handled. That is
the question that we will answer in these lessons.

Introduction

1. When the believer comes to Christ, God regenerates him and gives him a holy nature, but the
old sin nature is still present. It is called the “old man.” This is why the New Testament
everywhere instructs believers to put away sin (e.g., 1 Peter 2:1). The ongoing presence of sin in
the Christian life is everywhere taken for granted in the New Testament Epistles. If sin were
somehow eradicated, the Epistles would not everywhere address the need to deal with it. If sin
could somehow be eradicated, the New Testament would explain how this could be
accomplished, and this experience would everywhere be offered as the solution to the sin
problem. But this is not what we find. There is a spiritual war that goes on in the believer’s life.
The flesh wars against the Spirit; the old man wars against the new man.

2. There is no one secret or key to spiritual victory in the Christian life. Many “keys” have been
proposed, such as the baptism of the Holy Spirit, a second blessing, and the crucified life. If there
were one such thing that would give the believer victory, every New Testament epistle would say
so. For example, when Paul wrote to Corinth to correct their sins, he would have spent the entire
epistle explaining the “key.” Instead, Paul dealt with many different things. The same is true in
the epistle of Ephesians. Chapter 4-6 is a treatise on the Christian life, and instead of one “secret”
Paul dealt with all sorts of things, such as putting off the old man and putting on the new
(4:22-24), not grieving the Holy Spirit (4:30), having no fellowship with evil (5:11), walking
circumspectly (5:15), redeeming the time (5:16), being filled with the Spirit (5:18), giving thanks
always to the Lord (5:20), wives submitting to their husbands and husbands loving their wives
(5:22-33), and putting on the whole armor of God (6:10-18).

3. Some of the things that we would ordinarily include in this section on Christian growth and
spiritual victory, such as prayer and the church, are dealt with in their own separate sections.

4. In 2 Peter 1:3-11 we see several important truths about Christian growth:

a. Christian growth flows from God’s abundant salvation (2 Pet. 1:3). At salvation the believer
has everything he needs to grow and be fruitful. All he has to do is use it.

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b. Christian growth is a process of adding to one’s faith (2 Pet. 1:5-7). When we are saved, we
only have one thing, and that is faith. The Christian life is adding every good thing to faith.

c. Christian growth is not instantaneous; it doesn’t come overnight. The believer doesn’t
suddenly have perfect virtue, perfect patience, perfect charity. Growth is a gradual thing.
You can’t see a baby grow on a daily basis. We must therefore have faith and patience. We
must keep on keeping on. This is one of the most important traits in the Christian life. It is
described as walking with Christ (Galatians 5:16; Ephesians 5:8; 1 John 1:7). This is a step
by step, day by day thing; the Christian life is not a leap or a flight, but a walk.

d. Christian growth requires “all diligence” (2 Pet. 1:5). The half-hearted Christian will not
grow. He will remain a babe and will continue to cause trouble in the church and do more
to hinder God’s work than to help it. Jesus said that He hates lukewarmness (Rev. 3:15-16).

e. Christian growth is an individual path and process (2 Pet. 1:5-7). We cannot measure
ourselves by one another; we have different handicaps, different spiritual and moral
baggage that we brought into the Christian life.

f. Christian growth is to live by the new law, which is Christ (2 Pet. 1:5-7). Verses 5-7
describe Christ. He is all of these things incarnate: virtue, knowledge, temperance,
patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and charity. The goal of the Christian life is to
reach the “measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ” (Eph. 4:13).

g. Christian growth requires patience (2 Pet. 1:6). This is one of the most important things in
the Christian life. Patience is essential for growth because it is a process, and there are
many trials and obstacles and enemies. You just have to keep on keeping on, keep on
walking with the Lord and trusting Him and praying and reading your Bible and going to
church and obeying Him.

h. Christian growth guarantees fruitfulness (2 Pet. 1:8). Every believer can have good fruit and
blessing in this present life if he is willing to be diligent in seeking to grow in Christ.

i. If the believer is not growing, he is going backwards (2 Pet. 1:9). It is like traveling up a
river against the flow of the current. As long as I keep paddling I can make progress, but as
soon as I stop paddling I start being carried back down the river. Likewise, the believer
cannot stand still spiritually. He cannot say, “I am satisfied with where I am, so I will just
stay at this place in my Christian life.” We must keep pressing on to higher ground, or we
will backslide.

j. Backsliding makes the believer nearsighted and forgetful (2 Pet. 1:9). He becomes filled
with the cares and lusts of this world so that he does not think about eternity. His eyes are
on man rather than on Christ. He forgets the important things and focuses on the
unimportant things. Backsliding is a sad and unfruitful condition.

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 k. Christian growth does not save, but it does prove one’s salvation (2 Pet. 1:10). Peter’s
challenge in 2 Peter 1:10 is the same as Paul’s challenge in 2 Timothy 2:19 and James’ in
James 2:17-18. Those who profess Christ but do not live for Him have no biblical basis to
say that they are saved.

l. Christian growth does not produce salvation; it produces rewards (2 Pet. 1:11). Peter is not
saying that by growing we will make it into heaven; he is saying that by growing and
serving Christ we will lay up treasures in heaven. Compare 1 Timothy 6:12.

REVIEW QUESTIONS ON CHRISTIAN GROWTH PART 1

1. What is another name for the old sinful nature?

2. If sin could somehow be eradicated, the New Testament would explain how this could be
_____________, and this ______________ would everywhere be offered as the
______________ to the sin problem.
3. In what book and chapter is the believer taught how to add to his faith?
4. What is one of the most important traits in the Christian life?
5. The Christian life is not a ______ or a __________, but a _________.
6. What will happen if the Christian is not diligent in seeking to grow?
7. What is the believer's new law?
8. If the believer is not growing, he is _______________________.
9. How is the Christian life like paddling up a river?
10. What does backsliding produce in the Christian's life?
11. Christian growth does not save, but it does ____________ one's salvation.
12. Christian growth does not produce _____________; it produces _______________.

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 CHRISTIAN GROWTH AND VICTORY
Part 2

MEMORY VERSES: John 15:4; Ephesians 4:22-24; Philippians 3:13-14; 1 John 1:9

The “keys” to Christian growth are found in the entire New Testament, but the following are
some of the major elements. In this lesson we will look at the first four: abiding in Christ, putting
off the old man and putting on the new, confessing sin, and pressing toward the mark.

ABIDING IN CHRIST ( John 15:1-10)

The true Christian life is not a religion. It is not merely a bunch of regulations and rituals; it is a
personal relationship with the resurrected Christ. Those who have spiritual victory are those who
know Him personally and walk in fellowship with Him day by day, serving Him and learning of
Him. This is “abiding in Christ.” If the believer forgets Christ and starts living his life apart from
conscious fellowship with Christ, he is in spiritual danger.

In John 15:1-10, Jesus emphasized that it is God’s will for the believer to bear fruit (verse 2),
more fruit (verse 2), and much fruit (verse 8). We should be growing, and the growth is the
product of abiding in Christ.

Jesus taught that the key to abiding in Him is obedience to His Word (John 15:7, 10). Abiding in
Christ is not mystical in the sense of the popular contemplative philosophy. It is not a feeling or a
sensual experience. It is not being “overcome by the Spirit,” speaking in tongues, falling on the
floor, laughing hysterically, being swayed by powerful music, entering into a meditative state
through contemplation, or being moved by candles and incense. It is simply walking in
fellowship with Christ by honoring and obeying His Word.

PUTTING OFF THE OLD MAN AND PUTTING ON THE NEW (Ephesians 4:22-24)

The Christian life is presented in this passage as a matter of growing. It is a process of putting off
the old man, which is the sinful nature that we inherited from Adam, and putting on the new
man, which is Christ. Paul explains how to do this in the succeeding verses. Putting off the old
man means to stop lying and to deal with anger and to stop stealing and to put away corrupt
speech and many other such things (Eph. 4:25-29). To put on the new man is to speak the truth
and to give to meet needs and to use edifying speech and other such things (Eph. 4:25-29).

These are high and holy standards that go much deeper and are farther reaching than the Law of
Moses ever went. To stop lying involves learning to be honest in every way and situation. There
are a thousand ways that the corrupt human heart, the old man, lies and dissimulates. To let NO
corrupt communication proceed out of the mouth, to put away ALL bitterness, wrath, anger,
clamour and evil speaking, is an amazingly high standard.
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CONFESSING SIN (1 John 1:5-10)

Again we see that the believer can and does sin, but to sin is to walk in the darkness rather than
in the light. When we sin, God has given us a way to restore fellowship with Him, and that is
confession. Confession of sin keeps me in the light and in fellowship with God. He is light and
holiness and He will not fellowship with sin and darkness. He will not walk in fellowship with
me in darkness. If I want to fellowship with Him, I must walk with Him in the light.

Confession of sin means to agree with God against my action. It is the opposite of making excuse
for my sin. Making excuse and blaming others is the way of Adam. Our first father blamed his
wife for the sin, while she blamed the serpent. We have a natural tendency to follow in these
unwise footsteps. We blame our nationality, our age (“I’m young” or “I’m old”), our sex, our
background, our circumstances, and many other things for our sin. For example, if I get angry
and bitter at my wife, that is a sin, but it is easy to make excuse and blame her or blame
something else, such as the fact that I am having a bad day or that she is unreasonable, instead of
admitting that I have done wrong in God’s eyes. Or if I lie, I can make excuses and say, “Well,
everyone lies sometimes.” Or if I disobey and dishonor my parents, I can make an excuse and
say that they are too demanding or they are hypocritical. On the other hand, I can admit to God
that I have sinned and agree with Him that it is evil. If I make excuse for my sin, I am walking in
darkness rather than light and I do not have fellowship with God.

God promises that He will forgive us and cleanse us if we confess our sins to Him. He is faithful
and just to forgive us because Christ died for our sins.

How many times will God forgive? He will forgive as often as we confess. Doesn’t He get tired
of us sinning and then confessing? No, we have His promise that He will forgive and cleanse
every time. Jesus taught that if someone sins against us we should forgive him 490 times
(Matthew 18:21-22). If we are expected to forgive that many times, how much more will God
forgive! Remember that God’s mercies are new every morning (Lamentations 3:23), so get up
and obtain fresh mercy (Hebrews 4:16) and move ahead!

Confession makes things right with God. It puts us in the light. It is the way of victory. It stops
the spiral of sin. When we sin, we must not get discouraged and faint; we must confess it
honestly and claim God’s promise of forgiveness and stand on our spiritual birthright (Ephesians
1:3).

PRESSING TOWARD THE MARK (Philippians 3:13-14)

After we confess our sin we need to put it behind and not fall into the temptation to dwell on it
and to fear that God hasn’t forgiven. To do that cripples the Christian’s life. The way to put sin
behind is to keep one’s eye on the goal of fulfilling God’s perfect will. Keep looking ahead, not
behind. When God convicts us of sin, He does so in order to lead us to confession and cleansing
and victory, but when the Devil accuses us he does so in order to discourage and devour us.

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REVIEW QUESTIONS ON CHRISTIAN GROWTH PART 2

1. The true Christian life is not a ___________; it is a _____________ ________________ with

Christ.
2. In what book and chapter did Jesus instruct the believer to bear fruit?
3. Jesus taught that the key to abiding in Him is what?
4. What is the "old man"?
5. How does the believer put off the old man?
6. What chapter and verse says that if we say we do not sin we are liars?
7. Confession of sin means to ___________________ against my action.
8. Confession of sin is the opposite of _____________ ______________ for my sin.
9. Who was the first man who blamed others for his sin?
10. How many times did Jesus tell Peter that he should forgive others?
11. What verse says God's mercies are new every morning?
12. What verse invites the believer to come to God's throne of grace to obtain mercy?
13. In what book and chapter did Paul say he was pressing ahead?

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 CHRISTIAN GROWTH AND VICTORY
Part 3

MEMORY VERSES: Matthew 13:22; 1 Corinthians 15:33; Ephesians 5:11; 1 Peter 2:1-2; 1
John 2:15-17

In the last lesson we looked at four important ways to grow spiritually and to have victory in
Christ: abiding in Christ, putting off the old man and putting on the new, confessing sin, and
pressing toward the mark.

In this lesson we will look at four more things: devouring the Word, protecting the Word,
separation from the world, and separation from false teachers.

DEVOURING THE WORD (1 Peter 2:1-2)

An essential thing for growing in Christ and for spiritual victory is the Bible. The Bible is God’s
living Word and it has the power to make us grow (Heb. 4:12; Acts 20:32). It is spiritual meat.
The believer must immerse Himself in it. It has been said, “A dusty Bible indicates a dirty heart,”
and, “The Bible will keep you from sin or sin will keep you from the Bible.” The Christian that
desires to have spiritual victory will make the Bible the Book of his life.

He must establish a habit of daily reading. He must also learn how to study it and interpret it.
(We deal with this in the course Fundamental Lessons in How to Study the Bible.)

He must attend a good church faithfully to hear the Bible taught and preached.

He must memorize the Bible and meditate on it throughout the day.

And he must base his decisions on its precepts.

Notice in 1 Peter 2:1-2 that as the believer receives the Word of God, he must also be laying
aside sin. If we try to take in the Word while holding onto our old sinful ways, we will not grow.

The first thing I suggest to new believers or those who are struggling in their Christian lives is to
get serious about reading and studying and memorizing the Bible. There are many ways this can
be done. If you haven’t been faithful in reading the Bible every day, commit yourself to this.
Establish a time and a place and keep that divine appointment without fail. If you have been
reading the Bible a chapter a day, commit yourself to tripling this or even more. You could add
the reading of Psalms and Proverbs to your daily reading program. You can read through the
Psalms in a month by reading five chapters a day and through Proverbs by reading one chapter a
day. You could read Psalms in the morning and Proverbs in the evening, or any other plan that
you decide on. A pastor recently told me that he is reading the Bible through in one month and
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that it has been one of the best things he has ever done. One couple told me that they spent a year
doing this, reading the Bible every month together, and it greatly enriched their lives. A youth
pastor told me that he is memorizing ten verses a day this year. Immersing oneself in the
Scripture is the best way to grow and to get through spiritual difficulties.

PROTECTING THE WORD (Matthew 13:22)

In the Parable of the Sower Jesus warned that the Word can be choked by the care of this world
and the deceitfulness of riches. Mark adds the “lusts of other things entering in” (Mark 4:19), and
Luke adds the “pleasures of this life” (Lk. 8:14).

Countless believers have unwisely failed to protect the Word in their hearts. They attend church
and hear God’s Word and even read the Bible regularly, but in their day to day lives they allow
the cares of life and the lusts of other things to dominate their hearts and thus choke out the effect
of God’s Word.

Consider the lusts of other things. The Lord showed me this as a new Christian, when I realized
that though I was studying the Bible diligently, it was not having the desired effect because I was
still feeding the old man through rock & roll and unwholesome movies.

Consider the care of this world. If a believer finds that the Word is being choked out of his life
because of the care of this world, he needs to sit down before God and examine his situation.
Sometimes there is no way to avoid a worrisome circumstance, but oftentimes the believer can
escape it if he is willing to put God and God’s will first. And one thing the believer can always
do is cast his care upon the Lord (1 Peter 5:7). When reading the Bible, it is wise to have paper
and pen at hand, and when some worry or concern comes to mind write it down and deal with it
later instead of allowing it to choke God’s Word.

Consider the deceitfulness of riches. Many believers have failed to grow and to do God’s will
because they allowed the “deceitfulness of riches” to choke God’s Word. Riches are deceitful
because they promise happiness and this is a lie. The richest people in the world are not the
happiest! Riches are deceitful, too, because they are uncertain. They often “take wings and fly
away” (Prov. 23:5). The solution to this problem is contentment (1 Timothy 6:6-10) and putting
God and His will and His business first (Matthew 6:33). He has promised to take care of me if I
put Him first.

SEPARATION FROM THE WORLD

Another thing that is necessary for spiritual growth and victory is to separate from evil. We
mentioned this earlier in the context of obedience, but it bears repeating.

The Bible warns that evil communications corrupt good manners (1 Cor. 15:33). This refers to
any sort of evil thing, whether it comes by way of literature or television or movies or the

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Internet or music or personal associates or friends or relatives. “Good manners” refers to the
good Christian life. Paul is saying that any kind of association with evil hurts the quality of one’s
Christian life.

We are instructed to have no fellowship with evil things (2 Cor. 6:14-18; Eph. 5:11). This is a
very high standard. If the believer does not cut off his fellowship with evil, he will not grow.

The Bible says that if the believer loves the world, he does not love God (1 John 2:15-17). The
world is defined as “the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life.” Therefore, the
believer must make many hard choices. He must choose whether to love the world or to love
God. This shows the error of the “Christian rock” philosophy. I cannot love the world’s wicked
pop culture and love Christ, too.

When I was a new Christian saved out of a hippie background, I had to make choices about
many things in my life. I had to separate from rock music and filthy movies and smoking and
drinking and many other things that I had enjoyed before I was saved. I did this because I wanted
to please the Lord who had saved me, and I wanted to grow and to find His will.

SEPARATION FROM FALSE TEACHERS

God instructs His people to mark and avoid those who teach things contrary to the Bible
(Romans 16:17-18).

Paul told Titus that he must stay away from heretics (Titus 3:9-11). This refers to false teachers
who refuse to submit to the truth. Paul warned that heretics ask foolish questions. This refers to
insincere questions that are asked with the objective of causing doubt about sound doctrine. For
example, the Jehovah’s Witnesses deny that Jesus is God. They ask questions to try to confuse
the brethren on this issue. Their questions are not sincere. They don’t want to hear a good Bible
answer. They simply want to confuse people and draw them into their false doctrines. The Bible
warns us to stay away from this type of thing, because if you don’t it will cause you to doubt the
truth and to be devoured by the devil.

To separate from false teachers means to stay away from their churches, their Bible studies, their
books, their television and radio programs, and their audio and video recordings.

REVIEW QUESTIONS ON CHRISTIAN GROWTH PART 3

1. According to 1 Peter 2:1-2, what are two things the believer must do to grow?
2. What are five things the believer must do to make the Bible the Book of his life?
3. According to the Parable of the Sower, what kind of things can choke the Word in the
believer's life?
4. What verse says the believer can cast his care upon God?
5. We can cast our care upon God, because he __________ for us.

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6. Why are riches deceitful?
7. Proverbs warns that riches can take __________ and ______ away.
8. What verse says that if I put God first He will take care of me?
9. What verse says evil communications corrupt good manners?
10. What does this mean?
11. What verse says to have no fellowship with the works of darkness?
12. What book and chapter says to come out from the evil and to be separate?
13. What passage warns the believer not to love the world?
14. How does this passage define the world?
15. What verse says to mark and avoid those who teach things contrary to the Bible?
16. What is a heretic?
17. What type of question is a foolish question?
18. What is an example of a foolish question?

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 CHRISTIAN GROWTH AND VICTORY
Part 4

MEMORY VERSES: Ephesians 5:18-19; Hebrews 12:1-2

In the last two lessons we looked at eight important ways to grow spiritually and to have victory
in Christ: abiding in Christ, putting off the old man and putting on the new, confessing sin,
pressing toward the mark, devouring the Word, protecting the Word, separation from the world,
and separation from false teachers.

In this lesson we will look at four final things: yielding to the Spirit, establishing godly habits,
keeping one’s eyes on Christ, and drawing nigh to Christ.

BEING FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT (Ephesians 5:18)

Spiritual victory in the Christian life is through surrender to and yielding to the indwelling Holy
Spirit.

1. Being filled with the Spirit means to be under the Spirit’s control. As a man is under the
control of wine when he is drunk, so the believer is under the Spirit’s control when he is filled
with the Spirit. It is only in this one sense that being filled with the Spirit is likened to being
drunk with wine. In truth, being filled with the Spirit is not likened to being drunk with wine; it
is contrasted to being drunk with wine. Some Charismatics teach that Spirit filling is to be drunk
with the Spirit, so that the individual falls down and laughs and acts like a drunk, but this is
ridiculous and unscriptural. When the disciples were filled with the Spirit on the day of
Pentecost, Peter plainly stated that they were not drunk (Acts 2:15). They were not stumbling
around and falling on the ground and laughing hysterically! No, to be Spirit filled simply means
to yield to God’s control in my life. It means to die to self-will and self-desire and to live for
Christ. It means to start each day by surrendering myself to the Lord for that day, and then as
choices come my way I choose to do God’s will rather than my own. When the believer does
this, God gives him spiritual strength and wisdom and guidance. This is walking in the Spirit and
being filled with the Spirit.

2. To be filled with the Spirit is not a one-time act or experience; it is a process. The verb in
Ephesians 5:18 is in the continuous tense. It is not a matter of achieving a state of perfection; it is
a matter of growing in the grace and knowledge of the Lord. The believer must not get
discouraged when he sins; he can be filled with the Spirit anew by confessing his sin and by
yielding to the Spirit’s leadership and control.

3. Observe that being filled with the Spirit is associated with singing spiritual songs (Eph. 5:19).
There is power in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. In Ephesians 5, Paul associated the singing
of spiritual songs with being filled with the Holy Spirit. Just as David’s songs calmed the
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troubled king (1 Samuel 16:23), spiritual songs can feed and encourage the believer’s “new
man.” It is a good practice to memorize hymns and spiritual songs so that they can be used when
trials come. A godly woman told me that she once went through a hard trial during which she
found it difficult to pray or read her Bible, but she kept singing a simple spiritual song over and
over and the Lord gave her the victory.

It is wise to build a library of good sacred music and listen to it as one has opportunity, on a
personal music player, in the car, and in the home. The late Pastor J.B. Buffington said,

“Worldly music produces a worldly environment and creates worldly attitudes. On the other hand,
you can program temperament and stability and peace and quietness in your home if you get
good sacred Christian music. You can play Bible stories in a room where a little baby is sleeping,
and you are programming Bible stories into his little mind. Kids don’t have to learn things formally;
you just put it there and they are like a blotter. They absorb it. Put soothing, Christ-honoring, soul-
stirring Christian music on and just let it play in your home, and you are programming something
of security and tranquility and peace into the children’s hearts” (“How to Lose a Child Before He Is
Five Years Old”).

We must warn against the carnal Christian music that is popular today. The Bible says we must
sing “spiritual songs.” This is the opposite of worldly songs. Spiritual music is the opposite of
music that feeds the flesh. It is the opposite of the world’s party music. We have already seen that
God forbids us to associate with the evil things of the world (1 John 2:15-16).

A list of “Suggested Sacred Music Recordings” can be found at the Way of Life Literature web
site.

4. Being filled with the Spirit is associated with giving thanks to God (Eph. 5:20). If I have a
critical, complaining attitude, I am not filled with the Spirit, because He is grieved by such things
(Eph. 4:30-31).

5. Being filled with the Spirit is associated with godly relationships (Eph. 5:21 - 6:9). To be filled
with the Spirit requires obeying Him, and He wants us to treat one another in a godly manner.
Spirit-filled wives submit to their husbands. Spirit-filled husbands love their wives. Spirit-filled
children obey and honor their parents. Spirit-filled fathers do not provoke their children to wrath.
Spirit-filled servants are obedient to their masters. Spirit-filled masters treat their servants justly.

ESTABLISHING GODLY HABITS (Luke 4:16)

Our lives are busy and it is essential to establish godly habits so that God is not crowded out. We
should establish a habit of daily Bible reading and intercessory prayer, a habit of faithful church
attendance, a habit of participating in organized evangelism, a habit of spending time with our
families, and many such things.

This does not mean that we only think of God and only serve God during special times in the day
and week. We are to pray without ceasing (1 Thess. 5:17), to always have a conscience void of

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offence toward God (Acts 24:16), to always abound in the work of the Lord (1 Cor. 15:58), to
give thanks always (Eph. 5:20), to be ready always to give a testimony for Christ (1 Pet. 3:15).

We must beware, too, lest our spiritual habits become mere routine, lest our “form becomes
formality.” We keep our spiritual habits fresh by staying in fellowship with Christ.

KEEPING ONE’S EYES ON CHRIST (Hebrews 12:1-2)

We must keep our eyes on Christ. He will never fail or offend. The believer stumbles when he
gets his eyes off of Christ and on to anything else, such as his own sin, the world, difficulties in
life, or other people. Those who have their eyes on Christ and are serving Him with an undivided
heart don’t stumble when they see other believers commit sins or otherwise do things that offend.
For example, when churches have troubles it soon becomes evident which of the members are
truly walking with Christ. They continue to walk with Him regardless of what happens. But
those who are looking at man and following man become discouraged and even quit when
someone or something offends them.

ABIDING IN CHRIST (Matthew 11:28-30)

We started with this point, and we will end with it, because the most important thing the believer
can do to grow spiritually and to have victory is to walk in fellowship with the Lord and to trust
Him at all times. The Christian life is a personal relationship with Christ, the eternal Son of God.
It is a matter of receiving Him and serving Him and learning of Him. This is the essence of true
Christianity and it is the way of spiritual growth and victory.

REVIEW QUESTIONS ON CHRISTIAN GROWTH PART 4

1. What does it mean to be filled with the Spirit?

2. What did Peter say when he was accused of being drunk on the Day of Pentecost?
3. To be filled with the Spirit is not a __________ act or experience; it is a ____________.
4. Why is filling with the Spirit associated with singing spiritual songs?
5. Spiritual songs are the opposite of ___________ songs.
6. Spiritual music is the opposite of music that ______________________.
7. How is being filled with the Spirit associated with giving thanks to God?
8. Why is it important to establish godly habits?
9. What are some godly habits that the Christian should establish in his life?
10. We must beware lest our ___________ becomes _______________.

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 PRAYER
MEMORY VERSES: Ephesians 6:18; Colossians 4:2; James 5:16; 1 John 3:20-22

Nothing in the Christian life is more important than prayer. There are more than 500 references
to prayer in Bible.

Prayer changes things, and nothing is changed without prayer: no one saved, no sermon blessed,
no marriage victorious, no child turn out right, no church stay in God’s will

We have to learn to pray (Luke 11:1).

Prayer is acknowledging our inability and casting ourselves upon God. It is obtaining mercy and
finding grace to help in time of need (Hebrews 4:16).

To be effective, prayer needs to have the following simple but essential elements:

1. Prayer must be worshipful (Luke 11:1-2)

This was emphasized Jesus in His “model prayer.” This does not mean that it is always necessary
to precede every prayer with a long period of worship, but the supplicant must always be aware
that he is approach the Eternal Creator, the Majesty on High. Prayer should not be a flippant,
half-hearted activity.

2. Prayer must be confessional (Psalm 66:18; 1 John 3:20-22)

We come to God through confession of our sins. By this means we obtain mercy and can pray
with a good conscience and our prayers can have free course with God.

3. Prayer must be earnest (James 5:16; Colossians 4:12). Hasty, half-hearted, distracted praying
is not very effective.

4. Prayer must be regular (Romans 1:9). The believer needs to establish a daily prayer time
during which he meets with the Lord and prays for himself and others. Intercessory prayer is
praying for others.

5. Prayer must be watchful (Ephesians 6:18). This refers to intercessory prayer. By prayer we
can watch over the spiritual lives of others.

6. Prayer must be persistent (Colossians 4:2; 1 Thessalonians 5:17). This is one of the most
important aspects of effectual prayer and is often emphasized in Scripture. Jesus taught two
parables to emphasize the importance of persistence in prayer: The unjust judge (Luke 18:1-5),
and the man who needed the loaves of bread (Luke 11:5-10).

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7. Prayer must flow from a sound husband-wife relationship (1 Peter 3:7). The husband that
does not treat his wife right after a godly fashion will not have power with God in prayer.

8. Prayer should be in association with others (Romans 15:30; 2 Corinthians 1:11; Colossians
4:3; 1 Thessalonians 5:25; 2 Thessalonians 3:1). Paul constantly asked other believers to pray for
him. If he saw the need for that, being an apostle and having seen the Lord face to face, how
much more do we need it! In her conversations with me about prayer, my grandmother
emphasized that having others pray with you about special needs is effectual.

9. Prayer should be combined with fasting at times (Matthew 6:17-18; 17:21).

In the context of Matthew 17:21, Jesus was referring to the case of a demon-possessed boy. He
said that the reason the disciples couldn’t cast out the demon was failure to fast. Prayer with
fasting is particularly useful in spiritual warfare against demonic strongholds.

My maternal grandmother, Julia Pollock, was the first person that ever talked to me about
fasting. Referring to Matthew 6:17-18, she told me that she had proven this promise several
times in her life. On one occasion her husband, who was a deacon in a Baptist church and who
had not taken a drink of liquor since before their marriage, got a job working on a roof with one
of his old drinking buddies. He eventually allowed himself to be talked into having “just one
drink.” The one drink turned into many and they got so rip-roaring drunk that they began singing
loudly and throwing tools off the roof. The police were called in and they were hauled off to jail.
Julia had to get Deacon Pollock out of the slammer! He was deeply remorseful and promised her
that he would never do it again, and he stood before the church and apologized profusely and
was forgiven by the congregation. She was deeply shocked by this event, though, and was afraid
that he might fall again, remembering that both her father and her husband’s father were
drunkards. So she determined to fast and pray until she was assured of his complete victory over
this evil. I don’t think she told me how long she fasted but it was many days. She would cook her
delicious meals and when it was time for breakfast, lunch, or supper Monroe would say to her,
“Come on, Julia, let’s eat a mouthful,” and she would reply, “Don’t worry about me, Monroe.”
Finally she had peace in her heart that God was going to give him the victory and she ended her
fast, and he never touched a drop of liquor again in his life. None of her boys ever drank, either.

REVIEW QUESTIONS ON PRAYER

1. What verse invites us to come boldly to God's throne?

2. What are nine essential elements of effective prayer?
3. Why should we approach God in prayer worshipfully?
4. What verse says, "If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me"?
5. What verse says that the husband's prayers can be hindered if he doesn't treat his wife right?
6. What verse says that prayer with fasting is necessary to overcome demonic strongholds?
7. In what passage did Jesus promise that those who fast in secret God will reward openly?

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 FAITH (CHRISTIAN LIVING)

MEMORY VERSES: James 1:22; 2:26; Hebrews 11:1, 3, 6

Hebrews 11 is one of those special passages that brings together all of the major teaching on one
subject in one place. Other examples of this are the love chapter in 1 Corinthians 13 and the
resurrection chapter in 1 Corinthians 15.

Following are eight major lessons on the subject of faith.

1. Faith is essential (Heb. 11:6).

The words “faith” and “believe” are mentioned 771 times in the Bible. The Christian life is
“from faith to faith” (Romans 1:17). Jesus often reproved His disciples for lack of faith (Mat.
6:30; 8:26; 14:31: 16:8).

2. Faith is based on God’s Word (Heb. 11:1).

Compare Romans 10:17.

Faith is simply believing God’s Word. This is the most important fact about faith. Consider Noah
(Heb. 11:7), Abraham (Heb. 11:8), and Sarah (Heb. 11:11).

Biblical faith is not blind; it has evidence and substance (Heb. 11:1) and that is God’s Word
itself, which is based upon “many infallible proofs” (Acts 1:3). This is in contrast to the “faith”
of this world, which is based upon nothing substantive.

Biblical faith does not come by miracles or by feelings or by mystical experiences. Abraham told
the rich man in hell that if men do not believe God’s Word, they will not believe even if one rose
from the dead before them (Luke 16:31).

That faith is based on God’s Word means that the Bible is essential for Christian living. If we
want our faith to grow, we must read and study the Bible (Rev. 1:3; 2 Tim. 2:15) and hear the
Bible (faithfulness to the preaching and teaching) and memorize the Bible (Psa. 119:11).

3. Faith steps out in obedience (Heb. 11:8).

See James 1:22. True faith is not something that is just in the mind and heart; it is something that
acts on God’s Word. James teaches us that faith without works is dead (James 2:26). It is not real
faith.

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Faith steps out to develop godly habits (e.g., church attendance, Heb. 10:25; Bible study, 2 Tim.
2:12; intercessory prayer, 1 Tim. 2:1-2).

Faith steps out when God calls. Jesus warned about putting off the call of God (Lk. 9:59-62).

4. Faith looks beyond this life (Heb. 11:10).

It looks at treasures laid up in heaven (Mat. 6:20). It looks at the judgment seat of Christ (2 Cor.
5:10).

This will keep me from being lazy, selfish, carnal, lukewarm. Young people need to do this. New
believers need to do this. Businessmen need to do this. Elderly believers need to do this. My
mom starting reading the Bible every day when she was in her 70s and has read it through twice
a year since then.

When the Bible commentator William Kelly’s nephew attended university, his Greek professor
learned that his uncle had taught him this language and offered him a position on the faculty of
Trinity College, a Roman Catholic institution. He was offered prestige and was told he “would
make a fortune.” His wise reply was “For which world?”

5. Faith is tested (Heb. 11:17).

Faith is always tested. It is tested to see if it is real and it is tested to purify it. We see this in the
lives of the Jews in the wilderness (Ex. 4:29-31; 5:4-23).

Faith is tested as soon as an individual believes in Christ (Mk. 4:18-19) and there is a process of
testing and strengthening throughout the Christian life (1 Pet. 5:10). Faith is tested each time a
new step of faith is taken, such as the decision to attend church faithfully or to read the Bible
every day or to give a portion of my income to the Lord regularly or to love my wife as Christ
loves the church. God wants to see if our faith is real or only superficial.

6. Faith gives us courage (Heb. 11:23).

Life is full of fears but faith in Christ overcomes every fear. We don’t have to fear any problem
or situation, because everything is in God’s hands (Rom. 8:28). We don’t have to fear for food
and clothing (Mat. 6:33; Heb. 13:5-6). We don’t have to fear for old age (Psa. 37:25).

7. Faith makes wise choices (Heb. 11:24-26).

Moses made a wise choice by faith, choosing to suffer affliction with God’s people for a short
season instead of living the life of ease as a son of Pharaoh. Faith can give us the same wisdom
to make major decisions, such as these: Whether to follow the crowd or to follow Christ.
Whether to be wholehearted for Christ or not (Rom. 12:1). Whether to separate from the world or

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not (Rom. 12:2). Whether to serve God or mammon (Mat. 6:24). Whether to be lazy or diligent
(Prov. 13:4). Whether to give to God’s work richly or to keep it for myself (2 Cor. 9:6).

8. Faith overcomes and also endures (Heb. 11:32-38).

Some receive faith to overcome life’s trials, while others receive faith to endure the trials. We can
have faith whether the fire is quenched or whether it burns us, whether the lion’s mouth is shut or
whether he eats us, whether the jail doors are opened or whether we die there. We must trust God
whether we are healed or not, whether the house sells or not, whether the bullet is stopped or not.

God gives faith according to His will; we must accept His will. This is why Jesus called
Scripture “the word of my patience” (Rev. 3:10).

Conclusion

Thank God for His grace and the privilege of exercising faith in this wicked generation. Do you
have saving faith in Christ? A faith that has changed your life (2 Cor. 5:17)?

Do you have an intimate relationship with the Bible so that your faith is growing?

Is your faith being tested? Just keep on keeping on!

What will be the story of my life in regard to faith? Every life is written in God’s books (Heb.
11:39-40).

REVIEW QUESTIONS ON FAITH FOR CHRISTIAN LIVING

1. What is the major chapter in the Bible on faith?

2. What verse says that without faith it is impossible to please God?
3. What verse says that faith is the evidence of things not seen?
4. What verse says there are many infallible proofs for biblical faith?
5. What was the rich man in hell told when he asked for Lazarus to be raised from the dead so
that his lost brothers would believe?
6. What must I do if I want my faith to grow?
7. What verse says "be ye doers of the word and not hearers only"?
8. What verse says "as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead"?
9. Why is faith tested?
10. What verse says that all things work together for good to those who love God?
11. What verse says, "I have never seen the righteous forsaken"?
12. What wise choice did Moses make?
13. What is enduring faith?

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 THE ARMOR OF GOD

MEMORY VERSES: Ephesians 6:10-20

Introduction

1. We are in a great battle against the world, the flesh, and the devil. We must not be surprised at
the constant warfare and the trouble. Soldiers don’t like war but it is their job. We are not yet in
heaven; we are in the enemy’s territory and we must keep fighting until the war is over.

2. We stand in God’s power; the believer’s armor is provided by God (“the armor of God,” Eph.
6:11). We don’t stand in our own power. We have the victory; we don’t have to be afraid of the
devil, but we have to stand against him and be on guard.

3. Though the armor is available, we must put it on and learn how to use it.

The loins girt about with truth (Eph. 6:14)

1. The loins must be protected in battle, because if you are wounded in the loins you cannot
continue to fight.

2. The protection is truth. This refers to truthfulness, honesty. God is a God of truth, and His
people must be truthful people. In contrast, the Cretians were liars (Titus 1:12-13). That was their
reputation! But this should never be true for the child of God.

3. Lying is of the devil (John 8:44) and it is of the old sinful nature (Eph. 4:22-25). Lying is of
darkness; it is of this world; we must put it off and put on the new man, which is Christ.

4. There are many reasons why people lie.

a. Lying is often caused by fear. It was fear that motivated Abraham to lie about his wife
when he was in Egypt (Gen. 12:11-13). Peter denied Jesus out of fear of man (Lk.
22:55-60). The Bible says the fear of man brings a snare (Prov. 29:25),

b. Lying is often caused by hatred (Prov. 26:28). People tell lies about others to hurt them.
This is why the devil told lies to Eve. This is the motive behind spreading false rumors. In
the 1980s the head of the Bible Society in Nepal sent out a letter to the churches claiming
that I had burned Bibles, but it was a complete lie. He did that because he wanted to force
me to stop preaching and to leave the country. Hindus tell lies about Christians to hurt the
cause of Christ. For example, some Hindus in Nepal say that Christians must be baptized
naked in cow’s blood!

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 c. Lying is caused by covetousness (Prov. 20:14; 21:6). People lie when they want to buy or
sell. They also lie to gain position and power, such as in politics.

d. Lying is caused by selfishness and pride. It’s often inconvenient in this world to speak the
truth. This is why Ananias and Sapphira lied in Acts 5. They had pretended to be more
spiritual than they were, and they lied in an attempt to hide their selfishness.

5. Lies destroy the believer’s spiritual armor and allow the devil to have an inroad into his life.

The breastplate of righteousness (Eph. 6:14)

1. The breastplate covers the heart and is a very important part of the soldier’s armor.

2. The protection is righteous living. This is described in Ephesians 4-6: putting away anger
(4:26), not stealing (4:28), working and giving to help others (4:28), pure speech (4:29-31; 5:4),
being kind and forgiving (4:32), putting away fornication and uncleanness (5:3), putting away
covetousness (5:3), having no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness (5:11), redeeming
the time (5:16), being a submissive wife (5:22), being a loving husband (5:25), being an obedient
child (6:1), being an engaged, compassionate, and wise father (6:4), being a diligent servant
(6:5-8), being a just master (6:9).

Feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace (Eph. 6:15)

1. The believer is to be moving forward into the enemy’s territory. We are not to be on the
defense, hiding behind the castle walls.

2. We move into the devil’s territory by proclaiming the gospel. This is the great light that moves
back the darkness. This is what Jesus commanded (Mark 16:15). Five times the commandment to
preach the gospel throughout the world is repeated in the New Testament (Matthew 28; Mark 16;
Luke 28; John 20; Acts 1).

3. Preaching the gospel requires preparation. The believer must learn how to preach the gospel to
different types of people. He must learn how to deal with sinners’ arguments. This reminds us
that each church is to be a training center to prepare soldiers for the warfare.

4. Those who are not busy getting out the gospel do not have protection from the devil, because
they are living in disobedience.

The shield of faith (Eph. 6:17)

1. It is a shield of faith.

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The devil attacks our faith with darts of unbelief. The darts are fiery, meaning they are cruel,
hurtful, strong, persistent. The devil attacks the believer’s faith in God. He attacks God’s
character, as he did with Eve. He wants to convince the believer that God doesn’t love him, that
God will cast him away, that God won’t forgive him, that God won’t answer his prayers, that
God isn’t faithful, that God’s promises aren’t true, that it is not possible to please God and live
the Christian life, that God is unreasonable, that He is a bully, that God just wants to give us
trouble. In his autobiography, John Bunyan, the author of Pilgrim’s Progress, described his
terrible battle with the devil’s darts of unbelief when he was a young Christian. The devil also
attacks God’s Word, just as he did with Eve in the Garden of Eden.

The devil attacks with fiery darts of temptation (1 Chron. 21:1; Acts 5:3).

The devil attacks with fiery darts of suspicion. He uses suspicion and slander to get us to think
badly toward other people, even toward our own loving relatives and closest friends and most
esteemed church leaders. We must remember that Satan is the “accuser of the brethren” (Rev.
12:10). The way of victory is to test suspicion with the truth. Don’t believe something without
evidence that it is true, whether that thing is your own thought or something you hear or read. We
also get victory over the devil’s fiery darts of suspicion by keeping our hearts tender and merciful
toward others (2 Cor. 2:10-11).

Faith only comes by God’s Word (Rom. 10:17). This is why the believer must have an intimate
relationship with the Bible, reading, studying, hearing, memorizing, meditating. The better you
know the Bible, the better you can fight the devil’s darts of unbelief. This is how Jesus overcame
the devil (Luke 4:1-12).

2. It is a powerful shield. The shield of faith can quench all of the devil’s fiery darts. It is
powerful because it stands on God’s infallible Word (Rom. 10:17).

3. The shield must be used. It must be “taken.” We are not supposed to be standing still and
hiding; we are to move out into the devil’s territory and do hand-to-hand combat with his
minions and win victories for Christ.

The helmet of salvation (Eph. 6:17)

1. The helmet is most important because it protects the head or the mind. Professional snipers are
trained to shoot for the head, because it is the most effective point of attack.

2. The helmet is the believer’s know-so salvation, and the devil’s fiercest attack is aimed at that
point. He wants to make us doubt our salvation. “God does not love you; you are not secure in
Christ; you are worthless; God might cast you away if you are not careful; God is tired of your
sinning.” The teaching that the born again believer can lose his salvation weakens the helmet. To
put on his helmet properly, the believer must understand his salvation. He must understand the
great price that was paid to assure that his salvation is full and free. He must understand that his

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salvation is a gift, that it is by God’s grace. He must understand what it means to be born again
and must be sure that he is. The better the believer understands grace, faith, gift, justification,
propitiation, redemption, reconciliation, hope, the stronger is his helmet. This is why we have
dealt with these things in this course.

The sword of the Spirit (Eph. 6:17)

The sword of the Spirit is God’s Word, the Bible.

1. The Sword is an offensive weapon. This again reminds us that we are to move forward against
the enemy rather than merely standing still and remaining in a defensive posture.

2. The Sword must be sharp. The Spirit of God gave a perfectly sharp sword in the Masoretic
Hebrew Old Testament and Received Greek New Testament. We must have the sharpest possible
translations in our various tongues. A weak translation of the Bible is a sword but it is dull and
not as powerful and effective as it should be. In the English language the sharpest Sword is the
King James Bible, which is translated from the right Hebrew and Greek texts and which is
translated literally and carefully and beautifully.

3. The Sword must be skillfully used. Can you imagine trying to go out against a trained sword
fighter if you don’t know how to use a sword? You would be cut to pieces. We must learn how to
use the Word of God skillfully (2 Tim. 2:15; Heb. 5:12-14). We must remember that the Sword
belongs to the Holy Spirit. It is the Spirit Who enables us to interpret the Scripture aright. If we
study the Bible in our own ability we will not interpret it correctly. We must study the Bible in
fellowship with the Spirit and trust Him to lead us.

Praying (Eph. 6:18-20)

Prayer is an important part of our spiritual armor; it is the covering protection.

1. We must pray always. This means to pray throughout the day.

2. We must pray in the Spirit. This means to be under the Spirit’s control, to follow His guidance,
to not grieve Him.
3. We must pray with watching and intercession for others. This is an important part of spiritual
protection for ourselves and for others.
4. We must pray perseveringly, without growing faint and quitting. This is one of the most
important principles of effective prayer.
5. We must pray with plain requests (Eph. 6:19). Intercessory prayer asks for specific things.

REVIEW QUESTIONS ON THE ARMOR OF GOD

1. Why is the armor called "the armor of God"?

2. What protects the believer's loins?

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3. What people are called liars in the Bible?
4. Who is the father of lies?
5. What are four reasons why people lie?
6. What verse says the fear of man brings a snare?
7. What verse says a lying tongue hates those who are afflicted by it?
8. What did God do to Ananias and Sapphira for lying?
9. What protects the believer's heart?
10. What are some of the ways of righteous living described in the epistle of Ephesians?
11. What are the believer's spiritual shoes?
12. How many times is the commandment to preach the gospel to all the world repeated in the
New Testament?
13. What is the believer's shield against the devil's fiery darts?
14. What are the devil's fiery darts?
15. Where does faith come from?
16. What were the two types of shields that the Roman soldiers used?
17. What is the believer's helmet?
18. How does the believer put on this helmet?
19. What is the Sword of the Spirit?
20. What verses instructs the believer to study to show himself approved to God, rightly dividing
the Word of truth?
21. How can we rightly interpret the Bible?
22. What are the five lessons about prayer in Ephesians 6:18-20?

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 THE CHURCH

MEMORY VERSES: Matthew 16:18; Acts 2:40-42; 1 Timothy 3:15; Hebrews 10:25

The Importance of the Church

1. Jesus established the church; it is His institution for this present age to carry out the Great
Commission (Matthew 16:18; 28:18-20).

2. The church is the house of God, the pillar and ground of the truth (1 Timothy 3:15). The truth
is what this dark world needs, and Jesus created the church to be the foundation of the truth and
to lift it up so the world can see it. It is the church’s job to guard the truth, to train God’s people
in it, and to proclaim it throughout the earth.

3. From Acts to Revelation, the church is a central theme. It is mentioned 110 times. In the book
of Acts we see the establishment of the first churches. Most of the New Testament is addressed to
specific churches, such as the church at Rome and the church at Corinth. The book of Revelation
is addressed to seven specific churches (Rev. 1:4). And even those epistles that are not addressed
to a specific church, have the church in view. For example, the book of Hebrews is addressed to
Jewish believers in general, but it contains some of the most powerful exhortations about church
life (Heb. 10:25; 13:7, 17). The same is true for James (e.g. James 5:14), Peter (1 Pet 5:1-4), and
for John’s epistles (3 John 9-11).

The example in Scripture is for Christians to be committed to the church and to be faithful to its
services and functions. This is God’s will. Every believer needs the church, and the church needs
every believer.

The Autonomy of the Church: The Church and the Churches

The Bible does not use the term church, singular, when addressing a group of churches in a
region. In such cases, it always the term churches, plural--the churches of Galatia (1 Cor. 16:1),
the churches of Macedonia (2 Cor. 8:1), the churches of Judea (Gal. 1:22), the churches of Asia
(Rev. 1:4). It is not Scriptural to speak of the church in Nepal or the church in America. This use
of the term “church” was devised by the Roman Catholic Church and was kept by the Protestants
when they left Rome.

The apostles established the church as an autonomous institution with its one Head, Christ. Each
church has its own leaders and its own business. This pattern began on Paul’s first missionary
journey (Acts 14:23).

The church that is called the house of God in 1 Timothy 3:15 is the church that has elders and
deacons (1 Timothy 3:1-14).

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We see this in Revelation 1:4, where each church was addressed individually. In Revelation
1:12-13 Jesus is standing in the midst of the churches, which are signified by the golden
candlesticks. In the Old Testament there was one candlestick in the Tabernacle, but in the New
Testament dispensation there are many candlesticks, as each church is a light. Each church is
“the pillar and ground of the truth” (1 Tim. 3:15).

Membership in the Church

The doctrine of church membership is found in the book of Acts, beginning with the first church.
In Acts 1:15 we see that the names of the members were kept. In Acts 2:41, those that were saved
on the day of Pentecost were “added unto them.” This means that they were added to those
already mentioned in verse 15. Those who were saved and baptized were added to the church.
That is church membership.

Membership is taught in the examples of Phebe of the church of Cenchrea (Romans 16:1) and
Onesimus and Epaphras of the church of Colosse (Col. 4:9, 12). Even when these brethren were
on missions to other places, they retained their identity with their home churches.

Four reasons why we need church membership

Church membership is a matter of practicality, like many other things in the assembly. If a
church does not have membership, how can it know who is in the church and who is out?

1. We need church membership because each church is a body and family.

Though there is the larger family of God, each church is also a family and has its own business.
In the New Testament each separate church is also a spiritual body with its own members. Paul
said to the church at Corinth, “And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or
one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it. Now ye are the body of Christ, and
members in particular” (1 Cor. 12:26-27). In this present world, the “body of Christ” has its
greatest practicality in the local church.

2. We need church membership to keep unity in truth.

The Bible requires that believers have one mind in doctrine and practice (1 Corinthians 1:10).
For this reason our church has a lengthy statement of faith and we require that every member
agree with it, whether he is joining by baptism or by letter from another church. Without
membership, we have no way to keep out false teachers and maintain our unity in truth as God
requires.

3. We need church membership for discipline (1 Corinthians 5:11-13).

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1 Corinthians 5 deals with church discipline, and in verse 12 we see that there are those who are
in the church and those who are without. How can a congregation know who is in and who is
out, who is under discipline and who is not, unless it has some form of membership? As we have
stated, it is a matter of practicality. Parents can’t discipline other people’s children, and the
church can’t discipline those who are not a part of its own family. Also verse 11 says those under
discipline cannot eat, which refers both to personal fellowship and to the Lord’s Supper. The
church has the obligation before God to exercise discipline over its members and those who are
under discipline cannot partake of Communion. Thus there must be a way for the church to know
who is a part of the family and who is outside.

4. We need church membership for authority.

Three times the New Testament refers to those who “rule over” us in the church (1 Thessalonians
5:12; Hebrews 13:7, 17).

According to these Scriptures, each believer is to be under the authority of church rulers. How
can the church leaders know who they are ruling if there is no membership? Do pastors have the
rule over anyone who visits the church? Of course not; there must be some sort of membership,
which involves a standard by which the church accepts members and a commitment on the part
of those seeking membership.

Through the years some believers have disagreed with me about church membership. They are
convinced the only membership they need is to be a part of Christ through salvation, and they
often have a bad attitude toward pastoral authority. I once asked a church hopper, “Who has the
rule over you?” He replied, “Christ.” I said, “But Hebrews 13:7 and 17 are not talking about
Christ Himself but about church leaders.” He had no answer.

There are places where there is no sound New Testament church, and in such situations the
believer has to do the best he can under God’s guidance, but this is the exception and not the
rule. If I found myself in such a situation, I would do everything possible either to start a good
church or to move to a place where I could be a faithful member of such a church. I also know
many believers who commute one hour and more to attend a good church. I even know one
couple who commute three hours (six hours round trip) because they have not been able to find a
good church closer to their home and they are not presently in a position to relocate.

Faithfulness to the Church

The following are some of the reasons why faithfulness to the church is important for every
believer:

1. The believer needs the teaching and preaching (Acts 2:42; Colossians 1:28). The church is the
divinely-ordained Bible Institute for training and discipling the believers. God gives ministry-
gifted men to the churches to build up the flock and protect it from error (Ephesians 4:12-15).

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2. The believer needs the fellowship with other Christians (Acts 2:42). Fellowship with
likeminded brethren who love the Lord is a necessary part of Christian growth and protection
from error.

3. The believer needs the Lord’s Supper (Acts 2:42). The “breaking of bread” refers to the Lord’s
Supper as well as to fellowship over meals. The Lord’s Supper is a church ordinance. In the New
Testament it is always a church function (1 Cor. 11:20-34). Some “radio pastors” such as J.
Vernon McGee conduct the Lord’s Supper for their radio congregations, but this is not Scriptural.
A radio program is not a church, and a preacher I listen to on radio or television or via the
Internet is not my pastor.

4. The believer needs the prayers (Acts 2:42). Prayer is one of the four essential spiritual
activities mentioned in connection with the first church. This refers to corporate prayer.

5. The believer needs the ministry of exhortation from the other brethren (Hebrews 10:24-25).
The church services are not something to attend to merely sit and watch, like a spectator sport.
Every believer should attend church prayerfully, asking God how he can be a help and a blessing
to the brethren. We are to provoke one another to good works and exhort one another in the Lord.

6. The believer needs spiritual protection (“and so much the more as you see the day
approaching,” Hebrews 10:25). The church is like a family; it is a place of nurture and protection
for the children of God. The Bible warns that there are many powerful spiritual enemies, and
these will grow stronger as the time of Christ’s return grows nearer. Those who are careless about
church attendance and who are not as committed as they should be, are in danger of being
devoured by the world, the flesh, and the devil (1 Peter 5:8).

7. The believer needs the ministry of discipline (1 Cor. 5). We have already mentioned church
discipline, but each believer needs to be accountable to church authority. The child doesn’t like
discipline, but he needs it, and the same is true for the Christian.

8. The believer needs to contribute his spiritual gifts and ministry (1 Corinthians 12:12-27; 1
Peter 4:10). The church is a body made up of many members who have different gifts and
ministries that God gives them. If a believer neglects the church and refuses to get involved as he
should, the church is weakened and God’s work in this needy world is not fully accomplished.
Every believer needs to ask, “What ministry can I get involved in? How can I serve the Lord in
the church? What is my part?” He should seek to grow stronger and gain more wisdom from
God’s Word so that he can find his place and ministry and calling.

9. The believer needs to contribute his tithes and offerings (Mal. 3:10). In the Mosaic
dispensation the tithes and offerings were brought into the Temple, but tithing was a practice that
began in ancient times before Moses. Abraham gave tithes to Melchizedek, God’s priest in that
day (Gen. 14:18-20). We believe tithing is a good starting point for New Testament believers. If
God’s people faithfully tithe, the needs of the church will be met. Tithing is a wise, equitable

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plan; those who have more give more. But we should not think that the tithe is all that we should
give to God. In fact, under the Law of Moses, the tithe was at least 20% of one’s income. The
Israelites were required to give 10% of all of their increase (Num. 18:24-28; Neh. 10:38), plus
they were required to bring offerings to the annual feasts (called the second or festival tithe).
They were also to give to the poor. The pattern in the first church was for the believers to bring
their offerings to the church and place them before the leaders (Acts 4:34-37). This particular
example did not involve the tithe, but it does show that the believers gave in and through the
church and that the offerings were under the oversight of their leaders.

REVIEW QUESTIONS ON THE CHURCH

1. What are three ways that we know the church is important?

2. What verse says the church is the pillar and ground of the truth?
3. What does this mean?
4. How many times is the church mentioned in the New Testament?
5. To whom is the book of Revelation addressed?
6. Why is it not right to speak of the church in America or the church of Nepal?
7. What church was Phebe a member of?
8. What are four reasons why we need church membership?
9. What verse says the church is to have one mind?
10. What book and chapter describes church discipline?
11. How does a church know who is under its discipline?
12. What three passages speak of those who "rule over" us in the church?
13. What are nine reasons why faithfulness to the church is important for every believer?
14. What verse says the believer must not forsake the assembly?

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 THE BIBLE
Part 1

MEMORY VERSES: Psalm 119:105; Luke 24:27; Romans 15:4

What is the Bible?

The Bible is the book that God has given to reveal Himself to mankind. It answers all of life’s
important questions, such as who is God? Where did man come from? What is the purpose of
life? Why is the world filled with suffering? Why does man die? What happens after death? How
can man get into right relationship with God? Who is Jesus? Why did he die? What will happen
in the future?

The Bible was written by about 40 different prophets that God chose, and they wrote the words
that God gave them (2 Peter 1:21). It was written over a period of about 1,600 years, from about
1500 B.C. to 90 A.D.

The word “bible” is from the Greek word biblios, which means a book. The Bible is one Book
that speaks with one voice, but it is divided into two major sections--the Old Testament and the
New Testament. Further, there are 66 individual books in the Bible: 39 in the Old Testament and
27 in the New. The books are divided into chapters and each chapter is divided into verses for
ease in locating passages. For example, John 3:16 refers to the book of John, chapter 3, verse 16.

“Testament” means covenant or agreement.

THE OLD TESTAMENT is God’s covenant with man through the Law of Moses. The Law was
given to prepare the way for the coming of Jesus by revealing God’s holiness and man’s
sinfulness (Romans 3:19-20).

The Old Testament was written primarily in the Hebrew language.

The Old Testament is divided into the following major sections:

The Law -- Genesis to Deuteronomy. This section is also called the Pentateuch (meaning “five
books”). It describes the creation of heaven and earth and man, the fall of man in the Garden of
Eden, the worldwide flood of Noah’s day, the Tower of Babel and the multiplication of the
languages, the call of Abraham and the beginning of the Jewish nation through Abraham’s sons,
Israel’s Egyptian bondage and exodus, and the giving of God’s Law (including the 10
Commandments).

The History -- Joshua to Esther. This section contains the history of Israel, the Jewish nation,
from the time of the conquering of the Promised Land to the Babylonian Captivity.
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The Poetic Books -- Job to the Song of Solomon. This section deals with the worship of God and
profound questions of life, such as the purpose of suffering and the seeming vanity of earthly
existence.

The Prophets -- Isaiah to Malachi. This section contains prophecies concerning Israel, mankind
as a whole, and Jesus Christ.

The NEW TESTAMENT is God’s covenant with man through the salvation purchased by Christ.
The New Testament contains the account of Christ’s miraculous birth, life, death, resurrection
and ascension to heaven, the teachings of Christ’s apostles, and prophecies of the future.

The New Testament was written in the Greek language.

The New Testament is divided into the following major sections:

The Gospels -- Matthew, Mark, Luke, John. The four Gospels give the birth, life, death,
resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ. They also contain prophecies of His second coming.

The Acts of the Apostles. The book of Acts contains the history of the establishment and spread
of the first churches.

Paul’s Epistles -- Romans to Philemon. These are letters written by the apostle Paul to instruct
various churches and individuals in Christian doctrine.

The General Epistles -- Hebrews to Jude. These are called the “general epistles” because they
were not written to churches but were written for Christians in general. They were written by
Paul, James, Peter, Jude, and John.

Prophecy -- Revelation. This book contains prophecies about the end of the age.

The relationship between the Old Testament and the New can be seen in the following
comparison:

Old Testament New Testament

Promise Fulfillment
Preparation Presentation
The Foundation The Building

REVIEW QUESTIONS ON THE BIBLE PART 1

1. What is the Bible?

2. What types of questions does the Bible answer?
3. The Bible was written by about how many prophets?

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4. The Bible was written over a period of about how many years?
5. The word "Bible" means what?
6. The Bible is divided into what two major sections?
7. The Bible has how many individual books?
8. What is a chapter?
9. What is a verse?
10. What does the word "testament" mean?
11. What was the purpose of the Old Testament?
12. In what language was the Old Testament written?
13. What are the four major sections of the Old Testament?
14. What is the content of the New Testament?
15. In what language was the New Testament written?
16. What are the five major sections of the New Testament?

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 THE BIBLE
Part 2

MEMORY VERSES: 1 Corinthians 10:11; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Timothy 3:16-17

The Divine Inspiration of the Bible

The Bible was written by prophets that were chosen of God. They wrote the words that God gave
them. This is called “divine inspiration.” Consider two major passages that teach this:

2 Timothy 3:13-17

This is the key passage on the inspiration of the Scriptures, and it teaches many important truths.

a. The Bible is set apart from all other books (2 Tim. 3:15). Here the Scriptures are called
“holy.” This means “set apart, different.” The Bible alone is God’s divine Word to mankind.

b. The Bible is from God (“given by inspiration of God,” 2 Tim. 3:16). This verse literally
says the Scriptures are God-breathed. Though written by men, the Bible was breathed out
by God. This is the Bible’s claim for itself. If it contains mistakes and myths, it would be
proven to be a lie. When discussing its own inspiration the Scripture does not focus on the
mechanics of inspiration but on the product. God spoke in many diverse ways (by dreams,
visions, angels, directly as on Mt. Sinai, etc.) but the result in all cases was that the writings
were divinely inspired.

c. The Bible is from God in its entirety (“all scripture,” 2 Tim. 3:16). All Scripture is said to
have come from God. The word for Scripture here, graphe, means “writing” or “book.”
This refers to “plenary inspiration,” which means full, complete, entire.

d. The Bible is from God in its smallest detail (2 Tim. 3:15). The word for Scripture here is
gramma, referring to a letter. Thus, even the smallest details of the Bible are from God.
This is called “verbal inspiration.”

e. The Bible is one book with an all-encompassing theme, which is salvation in Jesus Christ (2
Tim. 3:15). The Bible is not just a group of disconnected religious writings. It is a unified
Book planned by God to reveal Himself, the way of salvation, and His plan for the ages.
Each part of the Bible has an important place in the whole.

f. The Bible can protect believers from error (2 Tim. 3:13-15). If the Bible contains myths,
mistakes, and untrue claims concerning authorship, miracles, and prophecies, it would not
be absolutely authoritative and would not provide protection from false teachings!

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 g. The Bible is sufficient to make the Christian complete and mature (2 Tim. 3:17). An
imperfect, incomplete book could not produce perfection, and since the Bible is able to
make the man of God perfect it is obvious that nothing else is needed. The Scripture is thus
the sole authority for faith and practice in the individual believer’s life and in the church.

2 Peter 1:19-21

This is another major passage on the inspiration of the Bible.

a. The Scripture is a light shining in a dark place (2 Pet. 1:19). The dark place is the world.
Though containing some truth mixed with error, the world is pictured as dark because man
is not able to know spiritual truth without revelation from God. The Bible is that revelation
which is shining in the midst of the darkness.

b. The Bible is not a product of man’s will (2 Pet. 1:21). Other books are products of the will
of the human author, but not the Bible. God chose certain men and moved in them to
deliver His message. As the Holy Spirit moved, the chosen men spoke and wrote the words
of God.

c. This passage explains the method whereby the Bible was given. God used men, but He used
them in such a way that what they wrote was God’s Word. When the Bible touches on
inspiration and revelation, it focuses on God. We are told very little about the actual
mechanism. The method of inspiration is an unrevealed mystery. It was accomplished
mysteriously by the Holy Spirit. We are not supposed to worry about the method of
inspiration; we are supposed to believe God’s testimony that it happened and to exercise
faith in the finished product, the Bible. Modern scholars typically do just the opposite of
this. They focus on man’s part rather than upon God’s. This is because most modern
scholars do not operate by the principle of faith. They are operating by their own intellect
and human scholarship. No man can know the perfect Word of God in this manner, for
“without faith it is impossible to please him” (Hebrews 11:6).

d. The phrase “private interpretation” refers to the writers of the Bible (2 Pet. 1:20). In the
context, this refers to the giving of revelation rather than to the understanding of it. The
Bible writers did not interpret God’s revelation to mankind through their own thinking;
they were given God’s revelation by the Holy Spirit. They did not always even understand
what they were writing (1 Peter 1:10-12).

The Canonization of the Bible

The canon of the Bible refers to the authoritative list of the 66 books that comprise the Old and
New Testaments. The word canon means “a reed,” referring to a measuring stick. It describes the
process of testing something by a set rule or standard. The canonization of Scripture is something
that must be accepted by faith, because the historical record of exactly how it was accomplished

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does not exist. The God who gave the Scripture led His people in determining which books to
include.

The Old Testament was collected by the Jews. It was to the Jews that God assigned the task of
preserving the Hebrew Scripture (Romans 3:1-2). Even though they did not always obey the
Scripture, the Jews held it in reverence and believed that each jot and tittle was the inspired Word
of God. The Dead Sea Scrolls, which date to at least 100 years before Christ, contained the same
books of the Old Testament that we have in our Bibles today. Every one of the 39 books were
found in the Qumran caves except Esther, but we know that Esther was already included in the
Jewish Canon.

The New Testament was collected by the early churches. This process was led by the Spirit of
God. Jesus promised that the Spirit would guide the apostles into all truth (John 16:13; 1 John
2:20). The early churches received the inspired writings as the Word of God. See 1 Thessalonians
2:13.

Canonization was not the haphazard process that is described in most contemporary books on the
history of the Bible. Though its exact history is hidden behind the mists of time, we know by
faith that the Spirit of God guided the believers precisely in this matter. By the second century
we have evidence that the entire New Testament was commonly recognized as Scripture by the
believers. Even some modernistic textual critics have concluded that the New Testament in its
current 27-book canon existed in Greek no later than the middle of the 2nd century. (See David
Trobisch, The First Edition of the New Testament, Oxford/New York: Oxford University Press,
2000.) From the second century we have evidence that it was customary for each church to have
its own copy of the writings of the apostles that they might read and preach from them. Justin
Martyr, a preacher who lived then, wrote, “And on the day called Sunday there is a meeting in
one place of those who live in cities or the country, and the memoirs of the apostles or the
writings of the prophets are read as long as time permits. When the reader has finished, the
president in a discourse urges and invites us to the imitation of these noble things” (Justin
Martyr, Apology).

(For more on inspiration and canonization see Faith vs. the Modern Bible Versions, which is
available from Way of Life Literature.)

REVIEW QUESTIONS ON THE BIBLE PART 2

1. What does "divine inspiration" mean?

2. What verse teaches that all Scripture was given by inspiration from God?
3. What does "given by inspiration of God" mean?
4. What are four ways that God spoke His Word to men?
5. What is the meaning of "plenary inspiration"?
6. What is the meaning of "verbal inspiration"?
7. What is the major theme of the Bible?

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8. The Scripture is able to make the man of God __________, ___________ furnished unto ____
good works.
9. The Scripture is the _______ authority for faith and practice.
10. The Scripture is a _____________ shining in a _________ place.
11. 2 Peter 1:20 says the Scripture is not "of any private interpretation." What does this mean?
12. What does 2 Peter 1:21 mean when it says that the prophecy came not by the will of man?
13. What does the word "canon" refer to?
14. What passage says that God committed the Old Testament to the Jews?
15. In what verse did Jesus promise that the Holy Spirit would guide the apostles into all truth?
16. What verse says the church at Thessalonica received the epistle of Paul as the "word of
God"?

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 THE BIBLE’S PROOF
Part 1
MEMORY VERSES: Acts 1:3; 1 Corinthians 15:6; Hebrews 11:6

In the final analysis, a man must accept that the Bible is the Word of God by faith. See Hebrews
11:6.

At the same time, Bible faith is not a blind leap into the dark. It is confidence in the Record that
God has given (Romans 10:17). The writers of the Bible explain to us that they were not
delivering cunningly devised fables but an authoritative eyewitness record based on “many
infallible proofs” (Acts 1:3; 2 Peter 1:16).

Following are a few of the objective, time-proven reasons why we can have complete confidence
in the Bible:

1. Christ’s resurrection proves that the Bible is the Word of God.

Christ’s resurrection was witnessed by hundreds of people (1 Corinthians 15:5-7). Paul wrote this
only 20-30 years after the resurrection, and many eyewitnesses were still alive. Were they all
lying? On numerous occasions, the resurrected Christ was seen by many people at once, and on
one occasion He was seen by more than 500 people. Those who saw Him talked with him,
touched him, walked with him, and ate with him (Luke 24:36-43).

Before the resurrection, the apostles were hiding from the authorities (John 20:19). After they
saw the resurrected Christ with their own eyes, they became bold and fearless and were willing
to lay down their lives for the gospel.

Before Paul saw the resurrected Christ, he hated and persecuted Christians, but afterwards he
loved them and willingly suffered the loss of money and prestige and life for Jesus’ sake.

It took a powerful event to cause such changes.

2. The Bible’s unique construction proves that it is the Word of God.

The Bible was written by 40 different authors representing some 19 different occupations
(shepherd, soldier, farmer, fisherman, tax collector, medical doctor, king, etc.) who lived during a
period of some 1,600 years. That is approximately 50 generations. The first 39 books of the Bible
were written in the Hebrew language over a period of about 1,000 years. There was then a 400-
year gap when no Scriptures were written. After that, the last 27 books of the Bible were written
in the Greek language during a period covering roughly 50 years. The writers could not have
collaborated, because they did not live at the same time. Yet the product is one book that fits

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together perfectly and contains no contradictions or errors. There is nothing else like this in all of
man’s history. Some have claimed to have found mistakes in the Bible, but I have studied it for
37 years and each time I have considered a supposed error or contradiction, I have found that the
Bible is true and the critic is wrong. (See our book Things Hard to Be Understood: A Handbook
of Biblical Difficulties.)

3. The confidence and sincerity of the Bible’s authors prove that it is the Word of God.

The Bible testifies that “holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost” (2 Peter
1:21), and an examination of the lives of the Bible’s writers proves this testimony. These were
holy, serious men. They came from all walks of life. They were men of good reputation and
sound mind. They were not enriched by the prophecies they gave. Far from it; some were
impoverished and many were viciously persecuted and killed for the testimony they held. Moses,
the author of the first five books of the Bible, chose to live a life of terrific hardship in the
service of God as opposed to the millionaire’s life he could have lived as the adopted son of
Pharaoh. Many Bible writers made similar choices. Their motivation certainly was not
covetousness and worldly advantage. These were not perfect men, but they were holy men. They
all claimed that God had put His hand upon them to speak His Word. The lives they lived, and
the testimonies they held, and the deaths they died gave mighty evidence that they were telling
the truth.

4. Fulfilled prophecy proves the Bible is the Word of God.

The Bible contains a vast amount of prophecy, much of which has been fulfilled. The prophecies
are precise and detailed, and the fulfillment is exact.

Prophecies Pertaining to Jesus Christ

Jesus’ entire life was written down in the Bible hundreds of years before he was born. These
prophecies described his exact birthplace (Micah 5:2), virgin birth (Isaiah 7:14), sinless life
(Isaiah 53:9), miracles (Isa. 35:5), wonderful speech (Isaiah 50:4), rejection by the Jewish nation
(Isaiah 53:2), crucifixion (Psalm 22:16), burial in a rich man’s tomb (Isaiah 53:9), and
resurrection (Psalm 16).

Prophecies about Israel

The continued existence of Israel is one of history’s most amazing stories, and it was prophesied
in Scripture in great detail.

Israel’s history was prophesied by Moses and recorded in the book of Deuteronomy about 4,000
years ago. God warned that if Israel broke His law she would be “plucked from off the land” and
scattered “among all people, from the one end of the earth even unto the other” (Deuteronomy
28:63-64). There the Jews would “find no ease, neither shall the sole of thy foot have rest: but

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the Lord shall give thee there a trembling heart, and failing of eyes, and sorrow of mind: And thy
life shall hang in doubt before thee; and thou shalt fear day and night, and shalt have none
assurance of thy life” (Deuteronomy 28:65-66).

This is an accurate description of Israel’s history from the first century until now. Jerusalem was
destroyed in 70 A.D. by the Roman armies under the General Titus and in 135 A.D. Jerusalem
was plowed under on the order of Emperor Hadrian in response to the Jewish rebellion led by
Bar Kochbar. The Jewish people were scattered to the ends of the earth and found no rest. They
were hated by the Muslims and persecuted by the Greek Orthodox and the Roman Catholic
Churches for a thousand years. Hitler’s regime tried to destroy them. Giving preference to the
Arabs, England tried to keep them from returning to their land after World War II. They are the
object of hatred until this very day. Most of the world is opposed to Israel and the reporting in
secular publications about the Middle East crisis is typically slanted against her.

But Bible prophecy foretold that Israel would come back into her land and that she would remain
a nation even after all of this, and that is exactly what happened in 1948. Never before in the
history of the world has a race of people been scattered throughout the world and persecuted for
2,000 years and then come back together as a nation with their ancient language intact.

Bible prophecy describes the restoration of Israel in two parts. First, she would return to the land
in a position of unbelief. Then she would be converted. The amazing prophecy in Ezekiel 37
describes Israel’s restoration in these two stages. She is described as dry bones that are
resurrected in verses 4-6. Verses 11-14 say that this vision pertains to the restoration of Israel to
her land and to her repentance toward God. First the bones are given sinews and flesh, but there
is no life, and next God breathes upon the dead bones and they live (Ezek. 37:4-6).

The first part of the prophecy has been fulfilled. Israel has been back in her land as a nation since
1948, but she is there in unbelief and spiritual death. She continues to reject her Messiah. She has
no temple and sacrifice and no true Scriptural worship. But she is back in the land just as the
Bible prophesied. In 1800 there were only six thousand Jews in Palestine, but by 2000 there were
over five million (John Ecob, Amillennialism Weighed and Found Wanting, p. 44-45).

During the Great Tribulation, God will grant repentance unto Israel and will breathe spiritual life
into her and she will live.

The continued existence of Israel is a very great miracle and an irrefutable evidence of the divine
inspiration of the Bible.

REVIEW QUESTIONS ON THE BIBLE'S PROOF

1. What verse says that without faith it is impossible to please God?

2. What verse says that faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God?
3. What verse says that the Bible is based on many infallible proofs?

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4. In what verse did Peter say that the Bible does not contain cunningly devised fables?
5. What evidence do we have that Christ rose from the dead?
6. How do we know that Christ did not rise from the dead as a spirit?
7. How does the Bible's unique construction prove that it is the Word of God?
8. In what book of the Bible is the entire history of Israel given by prophecy?
9. In what year was the second Jewish temple destroyed by the Roman armies?
10. In what year did Israel become a nation again in modern times?
11. What prophecy describes the return of Israel in two parts?

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 THE BIBLE’S PROOF
Part 2
MEMORY VERSES: Hebrews 11:1; 2 Peter 1:16

In the previous lesson we looked at four evidences of the Bible’s divine inspiration. In this lesson
we will consider three more.

5. The Bible’s factualness proves that it is the Word of God.

Everything the Bible says is true and factual.

For example, the Bible says man is a sinner, and that is not difficult to confirm. Just look at the
world! When asked for his opinion on original sin, Samuel Johnson, the famous British
lexicographer, replied, “With respect to original sin, the inquiry is not necessary, for whatever is
the cause of human corruption, men are evidently and confessedly so corrupt, that all the laws of
heaven and earth are insufficient to restrain them from crimes.” David Berlinski, a Princeton-
educated “secular Jew,” says, “One need hardly be a Christian to appreciate the wisdom in these
remarks” (The Devil’s Delusion, p. 33).

The Bible is true not only in its statements about man, but also in its statements about everything.
Though the Bible is not a scientific manual, it is scientifically accurate, even from its earliest
pages, which were written nearly 4,000 years ago.

Following are some examples of the Bible’s scientific accuracy, beginning with statements from
the pages of Job, probably the oldest book in the Bible. The late Henry Morris, who had a Ph.D.
in geology, said:

“These references are modern in perspective, with never a hint of the mythical exaggerations and
errors characteristic of other ancient writings ... perhaps of even greater significance is the fact
that in a 4000-year-old book filled with numerous references to natural phenomena, there are no
scientific mistakes or fallacies” (The Remarkable Record of Job).

Job said the earth is hung upon nothing (Job 26:7). This is obvious to our modern generation, as
we have seen the actual pictures of the earth hanging in space, but to previous generations it was
not obvious and there were many commonly-held myths about the earth sitting on the back of
Atlas or a turtle or an elephant, etc.

Job said the air has weight (“the weight for the winds,” Job 28:25). It was not until the 17th
century that Galileo discovered that atmosphere has weight, and the modern science of
aerodynamics is based on this scientific fact. Further, the weight of air is important in the
function of the earth’s weather. “The ‘weight of the winds’ controls the worldwide air mass

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movements that transport the waters evaporated from the oceans inland over the
continents” (Morris, The Remarkable Record of Job).

Job described the springs of the sea (Job 38:16). Man had no way to know about the fresh-water
springs on the ocean floor by firsthand observation until recent times. Modern science has
discovered that there are thousands of underwater springs that add millions of metric tons of
water into the oceans each year.

Job understood that light has a way and that darkness has a place (Job 38:19). “That is, light is
not to be located in a certain place or situation. Neither does it simply appear, or disappear,
instantaneously. Light is traveling! It dwells in a ‘way,’ always on the way to someplace else.
Though usually traveling in waves, sometimes it seems to move as a stream of particles, but it is
always moving. When light stops, there is darkness. Thus, darkness is static, staying in place; but
light is dynamic, dwelling in a way” (Morris).

The Bible says that the light creates wind (Job 38:24), but it is only in recent times that modern
weather science has discovered that wind is created as the sun heats up the surface of the earth,
causing the hot air to rise and cooler air to fall, creating weather systems.

Job describes the amazing hydrological cycle (evaporation, atmospheric circulation,

condensation, precipitation, run-off) (Job 38:25-30). The process of evaporation and
condensation was not discovered until the 17th century and not well understood until the 20th.

The Bible says plants and animals reproduce after their kind (Genesis 1). This is in perfect
harmony with everything that can be observed and tested by modern science. There is great
variety within kinds, all sorts of different roses and trees and frogs and dogs, but there is no
reproduction between kinds, between roses and trees or frogs and dogs.

The Bible says the heavens cannot be measured and the stars are without number (Genesis
22:17; Jeremiah 31:37). Before the invention of the telescope, man could see only a few hundred
stars with the naked eye. Yet today we know that the stars are innumerable, just as the Bible says.
There are 300 billion stars in our Milky Way galaxy alone. In 1999, observations by NASA
astronomers, using the Hubble Space Telescope, suggested that there are 125 billion galaxies in
the universe. The most up-to-date star count was announced in July 2003 as 70 sextillion
observable stars (70,000,000,000,000,000,000,000). This was the conclusion of the world’s
largest galaxy study, the Two-Degree Field Galaxy Redshift Survey, which is considered 10
times more accurate than previous ones. The team of scientists did not physically count the stars.
Instead they used some of the world’s most powerful telescopes to count all of the galaxies in
one region of the universe and then to estimate how many stars each galaxy contained by
measuring its brightness. They then extrapolated these figures out to the whole universe visible
through telescopes. This massive figure, of course, probably covers only a tiny percentage of the
actual stars.

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The Bible says there are paths in the sea (Isaiah 43:16). Since the 19th century the ocean currents
or paths have been charted and ships travel these paths just as trucks travel on roads. Writing in
the mid-1800s, Matthew Fontaine Maury, Superintendent of the U.S. Navy’s Depot of Charts and
Instruments in Washington, D.C., observed, “There is a river in the ocean: in the severest
droughts it never fails, and in the mightiest floods it never overflows; its banks and its bottom are
of cold water, while its current is of warm; the Gulf of Mexico is its fountain, and its mouth is in
the Arctic Seas. It is the Gulf Stream” (Maury, The Physical Geography of the Sea, 6th ed., 1856,
p. 25). Since then, other sea paths have been discovered.

The Bible says the life is in the blood (Leviticus 17:11). This was written about 3,500 years ago,
but it was not understood scientifically until recent times. For centuries doctors used “blood
letting” as a healing method. George Washington, America’s first president, probably died
because of this bogus practice. Modern medicine has learned what the Bible has taught all along,
that the life of the flesh is in the blood. The amazing system of blood vessels and capillaries
carries the life-giving oxygen and other necessary elements to every part of the body. The blood
also forms a major part of the infection fighting and clotting systems, which are necessary for the
“life of the flesh.”

The Bible is not a book of science, but wherever the Bible touches on science it is accurate. This
proves its divine origin, because all other ancient books are filled with scientific errors. Even
science books just 100 years old are filled with errors.

6. The Bible’s candor proves that it is the Word of God.

When men write biographies of their heroes, they commonly omit or whitewash their faults; but
the Bible exhibits its divine quality by showing man as he is. Even the best of men in the Bible
are described with all their faults. We read of Adam’s rebellion, Noah’s drunkenness, David’s
adultery, Solomon’s apostasy, Jonah’s pity party, Peter’s disavowal of his Master, Paul and
Barnabas’ petty strife, and the disciples’ unbelief in the face of Christ’s resurrection. The Bible
was written by Jews, yet it candidly describes the faults of the Jewish people: their stubbornness
and unbelief that caused them to have to wander in the wilderness for 40 years; their idolatry
during the period of the judges; their rebellion that caused them to be rejected from the land and
scattered throughout the earth for two millennia; their rejection of the Messiah.

7. The Bible’s doctrine of salvation proves it is the Word of God.

The Bible is the only religious Scripture that teaches the doctrine of salvation by grace. Every
other one teaches salvation by works. Hinduism says salvation is through practicing dharma and
working out one’s karma. Islam says salvation is by surrender to Allah and obedience to his
commands. Buddhism says salvation is by reaching nirvana through life works and meditation
and asceticism. If you visit the Buddhist monastery at Boudha in Kathmandu any time of the day
you will find Buddhists walking clockwise, fingering their prayer beads and twirling their prayer
wheels. They do this because they are trying to work out their salvation.

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The Bible, on the other hand, says that salvation is God’s free gift to sinners. This gift was very
costly for the Giver. It was purchased with a great price, which was the atoning sacrifice of
God’s Son on the cross. But for the sinner it is free.

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of
works, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9).

The Bible says there is nothing that the sinner can offer God in order to atone for his sins. What
could we offer? Righteous works? The Bible says our righteousness is as filthy rags before God’s
great holiness (Isaiah 64:6). Money? What would the God of creation do with our pathetic
currency? A pure heart? The Bible says the heart is deceitful above all things and desperately
wicked (Jeremiah 17:9). How, then, could we purchase our own salvation?

“But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do
fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away” (Isaiah 64:6).

No, salvation is the free unmerited gift of a loving and deeply compassionate God. As the
Christian hymn says, “We owed a debt we could not pay; He paid a debt He did not owe.”

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him
should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

What a Book is the Bible!

REVIEW QUESTIONS ON THE BIBLE'S PROOF

1. What are some of the scientifically-accurate statements in the Bible?

2. What does the statement "the life of the flesh is in the blood" mean?
3. In what way does the Bible's candor prove that it is the Word of God?
4. In what way does the Bible's doctrine of salvation prove that it is the Word of God?

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 DAILY BIBLE STUDY
MEMORY VERSES: Joshua 1:8; Psalm 1:1-3; 119:9, 105; John 8:31-32; Acts 20:32;
Hebrews 4:12

It is important to develop godly habits in the Christian life. Jesus had “the custom” of attending
the synagogue services (Luke 4:16). It was His habit. Likewise the believer must have habits of
church attendance and daily Bible study.

The Word of God has the power to sanctify the believer and build him up in Christ. It imparts
conviction, enlightenment, spiritual strength, faith, wisdom, repentance.

Consider the following Scriptures: Joshua 1:8; Psalm 1:1-3; 119:9, 105; John 8:31-32; Acts
20:32; 2 Timothy 3:15-17; Hebrews 4:12; 1 Peter 2:2; 2 Peter 1:19.

To grow in Christ and find His perfect will, the believer must be transformed by the renewing of
the mind (Romans 12:1-2), and this is accomplished by the Word of God through the power of
the indwelling Holy Spirit.

Following are ten tips for daily Bible reading.

1. Establish a time.

If you do not develop a habit of daily Bible reading at a certain time each day, you will probably
only read it hit and miss. Decide what time would be best for your situation. At different periods
in my life I have had different times for my devotions, depending on the situation. Usually first
thing in the morning is best, before your mind becomes filled with the business of the day. But
other times of the day might work better for you. It is something to pray about. The important
thing is to establish a habit of daily Bible reading. If you carve out some time every day during
which you meet with the Lord and read and study His Word, you can grow in your knowledge of
the Bible and make progress in your Christian life, but you must establish this habit. I cannot
emphasize too strongly how essential this is.

2. Establish a place

A quiet, private place is necessary, if at all possible. I have seen Christians trying to study the
Bible in a room where other people are talking and a radio is playing, etc. That might be
necessary on some occasions, but as an ongoing practicer it is not wise and it is not honoring to
the Lord who deserves our undivided attention. The Bible is the very Word of God. Would it be
proper to invite God over for a visit and then have many other things going on at the same time
as He was talking to us?

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3. Have some basic study tools.

We recommend the following:

A Study Bible

At the very least, it is extremely helpful to have a study Bible with cross-references and a
concordance. Three helpful study Bibles are the Old Scofield Reference Bible, the Thompson
Chain Reference Bible, and the King James Study Bible. (For more information on this see
“Reference Bibles” at the Way of Life web site.)

A Concordance

In my estimation, the Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance is one of the most important Bible study
tools ever published. Not only is it exhaustive in its treatment of the words of the English Bible,
but it also links the English words to a helpful dictionary of the Hebrew and Greek terms
underlying the English.

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge was first published circa 1836. The original Treasury had
roughly 4,000 cross-references; the newer editions have about 570,000. The best commentary on
the Bible is the Bible itself, and herein is the value of the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. It
enables the Bible student to compare Scripture with Scripture.

The Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible & Christianity

More than three decades of research have gone into this one-of-a-kind reference tool. It is the
only Bible dictionary/encyclopedia that is written by a fundamental Baptist and based strictly
upon the King James Bible. Containing over 6,000 entries and 7,000 cross-references, it is a
complete dictionary of biblical terminology and also features many other areas of research not
typically covered in Bible reference books. The subjects include Bible versions, Denominations,
Cults, Christian Movements, Typology, the Church, Social Issues, Practical Christian Living,
Bible Prophecy, and Old English Terminology. The Way of Life Encyclopedia is exceedingly
practical, and the Christian will be helped and fortified in his faith. Many preachers have told us
that it is their favorite Bible study tool. Missionary author Jack Moorman says: “The
encyclopedia is excellent; the entries show a ‘distilled spirituality.’”

In the course “Fundamentals of How to Study the Bible,” available from Way of Life Literature,
we explain how to use these and other tools effectively.

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4. Have a notebook and pen.

It is important to write things down that the Lord teaches you. In the first year that I was saved, I
filled up several notebooks. For example, I designed one notebook for studying the topics of the
Bible by dividing it into several categories, such as salvation, sin, comfort, Christ’s deity, Satan,
hell, angels, and various other subjects that interested me at the time. As I found verses dealing
with those subjects I entered them under the proper category. I was reading the Bible through a
couple of times a year so I was able to gather together everything the Bible said on various topics
and do my own doctrinal studies.

5. Have a pencil for marking your Bible.

I recommend a pencil because you can erase it if you make a mistake and the pencil doesn’t
bleed through to the other side of the page. A mechanical pencil is ideal, because it doesn’t have
to be sharpened.

Use the margins of your Bible to add cross-references, word definitions, outlines, and brief
commentaries. By adding such things you are making your own study Bible. This is why a wide
margin Bible is useful.

Following are some suggestions for marking your Bible:

a. Underline judiciously. It is your Bible and you can do as you please, but let me
recommend that you not just underline anything and everything indiscriminately. If you do
that, your Bible will soon be a bewildering and almost indecipherable hodgepodge of
underlines and marks. It is better to use some careful thought in underlining. Let me make
some suggestions from Genesis 1:

Underline things that will help you see at a glance the divisions of a passage. In Genesis
1, I have underlined “the evening and the morning” because this phrase marks the days of
creation. (In Revelation 2-3 I have marked the names of the seven churches, thus I can
see at a glance the division of that section.)

Underline the most important things. In Genesis 1, I underlined verse 27.

Underline repeated thoughts. In Genesis 1, I marked things such as “God said” and “after
his kind.” (In Ecclesiastes I underlined every mention of “under the sun,” and in Ezekiel I
underlined “they shall know that I am the Lord.”)

b. Write notes in your Bible with caution. As with underlining, if you write down anything
and everything in your Bible, you will soon find that the notes are almost useless. When
writing things down that a preacher or teacher states, consider the source. Is that person a
diligent student whose sayings are probably going to be accurate? If not, be very cautious

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about writing it in your Bible. I have heard preachers and teachers say many things that
were not correct. Save the margins of your Bible for things that are special and that are
doubtless true and accurate. Other things can be written down in a notebook.

Things to Write in the Margin of Your Bible

Definitions of Words and Names. As you learn the definitions of difficult words and
doctrinal terms and the names of people and places, jot them down in the margin of your
Bible so you won’t forget them. I have written hundreds of definitions in my Bible. The
following are some examples:

Romans 2:23 -- sacrilege = profane

Romans 3:20 -- justified = declared righteous
Romans 3:24 -- redeem = bought with a price
Romans 3:25 -- propitiation = satisfaction of a debt

Cross References. No single cross-reference system is exhaustive. Not even the Treasury
of Scripture Knowledge has every possible cross-reference. You will find many new
cross-references to add to your Bible if you are diligent in study. For example, Matthew
6:23 should be cross-referenced to Proverbs 28:22, but it is not in any cross-reference
system I have seen. And Ephesians 1:3 “spiritual blessings in heavenly places” should be
cross-referenced with Colossians 3:1-3 and 1 Peter 1:4, but none of these are in the
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

Doctrinal and Teaching Outlines. I can preach many sermons right from the margins of
my Bible. I can also refute false teachings with the notes and outlines I have jotted there.
I recall an occasion when I was a young Christian and I unknowingly visited the home of
a Jehovah’s Witness woman who was zealous for her religion. After being invited into the
house, I found myself in the midst of a group of people who were there for a JW Bible
study. She took control of the situation and asked me if I believed Christians go to heaven
when they die, and I replied in the affirmative. She then asked me to show her and her
friends where the Bible specifically says that the believer goes to heaven or that he has a
home in heaven. I searched for a few minutes and couldn’t find a passage that said
exactly that and was thus put to shame before this false teacher. After that, I redoubled
my effort to be ready at all times to give an answer to the many heretics that are out there.
One way I have done this is to write relevant things in the margin of my Bible so that I
can find them quickly when the occasion presents itself.

In Exodus 20, I have noted the reasons why we know that the sabbath is not binding on
New Testament Christians.

In Proverbs 23, I have an outline on the danger of alcoholic beverages.

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At Matthew 16:18, I have noted why the rock refers to Christ and not Peter.

At Mark 1:23, I have jotted down some of the key errors in the modern versions.

At Mark 9, I wrote the various Bible descriptions of hell and the passages in which Christ
preached on hell.

At John 3:5, I have written the reasons why “born of water” does not refer to baptism.

At John 13, I have noted why I believe footwashing is not a church ordinance.

At Acts 2:38, I have annotated the reasons why we know this does not refer to baptismal
regeneration.

These are a few examples. I used to teach the Bible in a county jail, and I used these
notes almost every week when the prisoners would ask questions. If they asked a
question to which I did not know the answer, I would get it and put it in my Bible, so I
would have it the next time it came up.

Annotations such as weights and Measures. For example, in Exodus 25-27 I have noted
the modern dimensions and weights of the various articles in the tabernacle.

Brief Commentary on the Text. When you learn something that is helpful about a passage,
note it briefly in the margin. Every time you read that passage, the note will be there as a
reminder. For example, in Luke 16:8, I have jotted down a couple of thoughts about how
the children of this generation are wiser than the children of light. “How wiser? 1. In
preparing for the future. 2. In the use of money. Christ is using the temporal to illustrate
the eternal.” In Romans 3:31, I wrote, “Paul established the law for the purpose for which
it was given. Compare vv. 19-22.”

Divisions of a Passage. Some study Bibles do this for you, but I have enjoyed doing it
myself. For example, in Exodus 7-11, I have marked the 10 judgments on Egypt. In
Exodus 20, I marked each of the 10 commandments. In Leviticus 1-7 I marked the
various offerings.

Leading Thoughts and Important Repetitions. For example, in Paul’s Epistles I have
bracketed all of his prayers, beginning at Romans 1:8-10, and I have annotated the prayer
that precedes and follows. In the margin of Romans 1:8-10, I put Romans 15:5-6, for that
is Paul’s next prayer. In the margin of Romans 15:5-6, I put Romans 1:8-10, for that is the
preceding prayer, and Romans 15:3, for that is the next prayer. In Genesis I bracketed
every occasion in which God repeated his covenant to Abraham, beginning in Genesis 12.
I also added an asterisk so I can find each reference more easily.

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 c. Use color markings. Colored pencils, pens, or highlighters are an excellent way to mark
your Bible. Some try to use one marking system throughout their Bibles; but I have found
that it is easier and more effective to use different color markings for different parts of the
Bible. Following are some of the systems I have used in my own Bible:

In the Psalms I have used red to mark verses that mention everlasting and eternal, dark
blue for the second coming, orange for trusting God, green for blessings, purple for
trouble, yellow for praise, pink for prayer, and brown for the Word of God. I have circled
the verse numbers of the Messianic prophecies with blue. I have also bracketed
unfulfilled prophecy or future events in red.

In the prophetic portions of the Old Testament, I have used brown for verses pertaining to
the Day of the Lord, light blue for the Messianic passages, green for passages referring to
the remnant, orange for the New Covenant, dark blue for the regathering of Israel, yellow
for passages describing the millennial kingdom, and red for the second coming. I have
also bracketed unfulfilled prophecy or future events in red.

In Proverbs, I have used red to mark verses dealing with counsel and learning, yellow for
references to the tongue and speaking, green for correction, purple for anger and strife,
orange for immorality, brown for friendship, blue for child training. I have used a blue
circle around the verse number for verses about the home or family, a penciled circle for
those about the sluggard, a green circle for those about the government, a brown circle
for those dealing with the poor and poverty, and a purple circle for pride.

In the book of Acts, I have used red for the verses that teach salvation by faith, blue for
the verses about baptism, green for the verses about repentance, yellow for the names of
the places visited by Paul, and orange for the verses that speak of Christ’s resurrection. In
addition, I have marked the travels of Paul with brackets at the beginning and end of each
journey.

In Revelation, I have marked the names of the seven churches in blue, the seals in purple,
the trumpets in orange, the mentions of God’s wrath in red, and the vials in brown.

6. Have a reading plan.

It is important both to read the Bible (Deut. 17:18-19; Rev. 1:3) and to study the Bible (2 Tim.
2:15). Reading and studying are two different things. It is important, first, simply to READ the
Bible. There is probably no other one thing that can help a believer better understand the Bible
than simply reading it and reading it and reading it. My mother started reading the Bible through
twice a year when she was about 77 years old, and every time I have seen her since then she has
told me how that she has grown in her understanding. It is necessary, also, to STUDY the Bible.
This involves slowing down the pace, doing word studies, analyzing individual passages, doing

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topical studies, outlining books, using commentaries, etc. This is the point where we begin to use
Bible study tools.

SOME TIPS ON READING THE BIBLE:

a. Read it systematically. That means read it all of the way through. Why should the Bible be
read systematically? The Bible is not merely a series of writings; it is one Book; and to be
understood it needs to be read and studied as one Book. Each individual book of the Bible
complements the other books, and as the Bible is read systematically the pieces gradually
fit together.

I supposed I knew my Bible,

Reading piecemeal, hit or miss,
Now a bit of John or Matthew,
Now a snatch of Genesis,
Certain chapters of Isaiah,
Certain Psalms (the twenty-third)
Twelfth of Romans, First of Proverbs--
Yes, I thought I knew the Word!
But I found that thorough reading
Was a different thing to do,
And the way was unfamiliar
When I read the Bible through.
You who like to play at Bible,
Dip and dabble, here and there.
Just before you kneel aweary,
And yawn through a hurried prayer;
You who treat the Crown of Writings
As you treat no other book--
Just a paragraph disjointed,
Just a crude impatient look--
Try a worthier procedure
Try a broad and steady view;
You will kneel in very rapture
When you read the Bible through!
-- Amos R. Wells

b. I recommend reading from the Old Testament and the New Testament. You can do this by
reading from a portion of the Old and New Testaments each day, or by alternating between
the Old and the New on a regular basis, such as by reading an entire book or section of
books from the Old Testament (such as Genesis or the entire Pentateuch) followed by
reading a book or section from the New (such as Matthew or the entire Four Gospels). The

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following two plans follow this system (reading a portion from the Old and the New
Testaments each day) and take the student through the Bible in a year.

[Link]

[Link]

The 52-Week Bible Reading Plan is also a good one. By this method you will read the
Old Testament once and the New Testament twice in a year. It requires reading about 4
chapters per day.

Week Passage
1 Genesis 1-26
2 Genesis 27-50
3 Matthew
4 Mark
5 Exodus 1-21
6 Exodus 22-40
7 Luke
8 John
9 Leviticus
10 Acts
11 Numbers 1-18
12 Numbers 19-36
13 Romans, Galatians
14 1 and 2 Corinthians
15 Deuteronomy 1-17
16 Deuteronomy 17-34
17 Ephesians to Philemon
18 Hebrews to 2 Peter
19 Joshua
20 1 John to Revelation
21 Judges, Ruth
22 Job 1-31
23 Job 32-42, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon
24 1 Samuel
25 2 Samuel
26 Psalms 1-50
27 1 Kings
28 2 Kings
29 Psalms 51-100
30 1 Chronicles
31 2 Chronicles

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 32 Psalms 101-150
33 Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther
34 Proverbs
35 Matthew
36 Isaiah 1-35
37 Isaiah 36-66
38 Mark
39 Luke
40 Jeremiah 1-29
41 Jeremiah 30-52, Lamentations
42 John
43 Acts
44 Ezekiel 1-24
45 Ezekiel 25-48
46 Romans, Galatians
47 1 and 2 Corinthians
48 Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos
49 Ephesians to Philemon
50 Obadiah to Malachi
51 Hebrews to 2 Peter
52 1 John to Revelation

c. Bible reading can also be divided into two parts, such as morning and evening (Psalm
119:147-148), or morning and mid-day. Following are some suggestions:

(1) Read a portion of the Old Testament in the morning and a portion of the New
Testament in the evening.

(2) Read the Scriptures systematically in the morning, three or four chapters a day, and
then read more devotionally in the evening, allowing the Holy Spirit to lead to various
passages.

(3) Read systematically in the morning and then read in the Psalms and Proverbs at
evening.

d. You can also divide Bible devotional time into two parts: the first part for reading and the
next part for studying. It doesn’t take very long to read the three or four chapters a day
required to read the Bible through in a year. This can be followed by a time of study. We
have listed many suggested studies in the Sunday School course “Fundamentals of How to
Study the Bible.” Following are some suggestions of how to divide your time in this way:

(1) You can do your reading and studying at one sitting, dedicating an hour or so to this
important endeavor.

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 (2) You can divide reading and studying into two separate times during the day, reading
during one session and studying during the other.

(3) You can focus on reading during the first part of the year, while focusing on study the
rest of the year. For example, during the first part of the year you could read six chapters
a day and read the Bible through in six and a half months (the Bible contains 1,189
chapters). That would leave about half of the year for the study of the Bible.

e. If you are starting out your Bible reading career (whether as a new Christian or as an older
one), I suggest that you set out to read the Bible through in one year and that you read it in
conjunction with a simple Bible survey. One I recommend for this purpose is “Genesis to
Revelation Bible Course” by William Groom. (This was put together in 1921 and is out of
print, but you can download it in e-book format at the Way of Life web site.) This volume
has a brief study of each book of the Bible, and by reading it in conjunction with the Bible
the student can begin to gain a basic idea of the major teachings of each book and of how
the individual books fit into message of the whole Bible. As the student progresses in his
learning, I suggest that he use more thorough Bible surveys. We describe several of these in
the commentary section of the Sunday School course “Fundamentals of How to Study the
Bible.”

7. Start with prayer.

Ask God to open the eyes of your understanding. Don’t be presumptuous, assuming that you can
understand the Bible on your own. We must follow the example of the Psalmist who cried,
“Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law” (Psalms 119:18).
Proverbs says that we will find wisdom only when we cry out for understanding (Proverbs
2:1-5).

8. Keep your mind on your reading.

If you can’t concentrate on the Bible, your study time will not be very profitable. It is so easy for
the mind to wander, and we must do whatever is necessary to keep our thoughts on the
Scriptures, to hold the words of God in our hearts so that they bring forth good fruit. Not only do
we live in a weak, fleshly body (called the “body of this death” in Romans 7:24) that gets tired
and sick, and not only do we dwell in a world full of cares and troubles, but we have an
aggressive spiritual enemy that seeks to hinder our progress. His name is Satan, meaning the
adversary, the one who stands before us to resist us. Bible study is spiritual warfare, and we must
do everything necessary to win this war.

The Parable of the Sower teaches us that a man must make the effort to understand and apply the
Scriptures, or the truth will be stolen from his heart by the Devil (Matthew 13:19). We must
capture the truth by meditating on it and finding out its meaning.

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Following are some tips for concentrating on Bible reading.

a. Pray about it. If you find your mind frequently wandering during Bible study, lay the matter
before the Lord. Tell Him that you desire to grow in knowledge of Him and His Word,
explain your problem to Him, and beseech Him to help you concentrate.

b. If you are particularly worried about some matter, cast it upon the Lord (1 Pet. 5:7) and
trust Him to take care of it for you; then turn your full attention to His Word.

c. Remove things from your Bible study area that are distracting. I know a pastor who
removed all of the bright colored covers from the books in his office, because they
distracted him when he was trying to study the Bible.

d. Be careful about using a computer during Bible reading time. I use my computer to study
the Bible, because it is so efficient, but I do not use my computer when I have my daily
devotional time in the Scriptures. It is too easy to get distracted with other things.

e. Be careful about extraneous thoughts. When you are studying the Bible, it will often happen
that thoughts about other things will rush in and you will be tempted to leave the study of
the Bible and to rush off to take care of those things. For this reason, it is a good idea to
have pen and paper handy and to jot down such thoughts so that you can take care of them
later. This way, you can put them out of your mind for the time being and proceed with
your study. If you get in the habit of allowing yourself to rush off and take care of other
things, you will be crippled in your ability to study the Bible fruitfully.

f. Go back and read the passage again. When you find that your mind has wandered during the
reading of the Scripture, it is important to go back and read that passage again until you
understand what you are reading, even if it takes several readings. It is better to read one
verse with clear understanding than to read an entire chapter with the mind drifting to other
things.

g. Try not to read the Bible when you are tired. Sometimes this cannot be avoided, and it is
better to read the Bible when you are tired than not at all. But the wise Bible student will
arrange his schedule in such a way that he can study the Scriptures when his mind is fresh.

h. If you find your mind wandering, it might help to put the Bible reading first before you do
anything else in the day. I have found that if I start reading and studying other things first, it
is much more difficult to concentrate on the Bible later.

i. Sometimes it is helpful to read the Bible aloud if you find your mind wandering. This can
help you maintain your concentration.

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 j. A large print Bible can also help with concentration because it is easier to read and the pages
of the Bible are not as cluttered.

k. Be persistent. Don’t let the devil defeat you in your Bible reading. If you find yourself
unable to concentrate for a period, don’t quit. There are ups and downs in Bible study as
there are in other parts of life. The best tip for effective Bible study is to keep on keeping
on!

9. Try to get something practical each day from your Bible reading.

Don’t just read for head knowledge; read with the purpose of growing in your relationship with
Christ and in your daily walk with Him.

It is good to keep a Bible reading dairy. Write down the date, list the passage that you read, and
then jot down the practical thoughts that you got from that reading. Ask yourself, “What is God
saying to me from this passage today?”

10. Maintain a prayer diary.

Many believers combine their daily Bible reading with a time of intercessory prayer. This is
when you pray for others. It is described in 1 Timothy 2:1-2. It is helpful to keep a prayer diary,
listing the various things and people you pray for on a daily basis. Some suggestions are
husbands, wives, children, mothers, fathers, pastors, missionaries, unsaved relatives and
acquaintances, the sick, persecuted believers, and the government. Pray for specific things and
use the prayer diary to list God’s answers to your prayers.

REVIEW QUESTIONS ON DAILY BIBLE STUDY

1. In what passage did Jesus promise that those who continue in His Word will know the truth?
2. What passage of the Bible that those who meditate in God's Word day and night will be like a
tree planted by the river of waters?
3. What man in the Old Testament was told that if he meditated in God's Word day and night he
would have good success?
4. Why is it important to establish a habit of reading the Bible at a certain time every day?
5. What are the four study tools that we recommend?
6. It is important both to __________ the Bible and to __________ the Bible.
7. What are the five tips we give for reading the Bible?
8. What are five things you can do to keep your mind on Bible reading?

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FOUR KEY PRINCIPLES OF BIBLE INTERPRETATION
MEMORY VERSES: Deuteronomy 29:29; 1 Corinthians 2:13; 2 Timothy 2:15

A good understanding of the Bible is necessary for godly Christian living, and this requires at
least a basic knowledge of the principles of Bible interpretation. In this lesson we will look at
four of these.

1. Context is all important in defining words and interpreting passages.

The first and foremost rule of Bible interpretation is to define its meaning according to context.
Absolutely nothing is more important than this. It is therefore necessary to know what the
immediate passage, chapter, and book is about. The Bible is a self-interpreting Book if we allow
the context to rule. False teachers, on the other hand, twist verses out of their context and force
their pre-determined meanings upon them. For example, there are Korean false teachers in Nepal
who are aggressive in having home Bible studies with people, but they don’t let the people write
down the verses they use and they don’t let them look at the verses before and after the ones they
are discussing. That is a certain recipe for spiritual disaster!

Following are some examples of how to interpret the Bible according to context:

a. Consider the phrase “profane and vain babblings” in 2 Timothy 2:16. What does this mean?
The very first thing to do is to look at the context. There we learn that “profane and vain
babblings” are (1) those things that are contrary to sound doctrine (v. 15, 18), (2) those
things that produce confusion and bad fruit (v. 16), and (3) those things that are harmful to
the Christian life (v. 17).

b. Consider the phrase “foolish questions” in Titus 3:9. What is this? Again, the context
defines the phrase. Foolish questions are questions (1) that produce strife (v. 9), (2) that are
unprofitable (v. 9), and (3) that are used by false teachers (v. 10).

c. Consider the phrase “that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation” in 2
Peter 1:20. This has been interpreted in several ways, but the meaning is clearly given in
the next verse. It means that the human authors of the Bible did not produce the words that
they wrote, but that they wrote what they were given by the Holy Spirit.

d. Consider the word “perfect” in 2 Timothy 3:17. Does this mean sinlessly perfect? No, the
word is defined in the verse itself. It means “throughly furnished unto all good works.” It
refers to being perfect in the sense of fully equipped to do God’s will.

e. Consider the apparent contradiction between James 2:24 and Romans 3:24 and 4:5. This
apparent contradiction disappears when we consider the context. Paul, on one hand, was

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 addressing the subject of salvation, of how a lost man can be made right with God, and he
tells us that the sinner must trust exclusively in the grace of Jesus Christ for salvation. In
this sense, salvation is by grace alone without works. James, on the other hand, is
addressing the subject of Christian service, of how a saved man can please God in this life.
He tells us that saving faith is evidenced by works. There is no contradiction if one
considers the context of each statement. Paul is addressing the unsaved sinner’s
perspective. The sinner must trust Jesus Christ exclusively for salvation; he must reject his
own filthy works (Isaiah 64:6) and self-righteousness (Romans 9:30-33) and lean totally
upon the Lord Jesus Christ, trusting wholly in His perfect and complete redemption. James,
on the other hand, is addressing the Christian’s perspective. The Christian claims to have
faith in Jesus Christ. He is therefore to diligently serve God and to walk in His
commandments. Those who live in rebellion and who ignore the Word of God demonstrate
that they do not possess true saving faith; they show by their works that they are deceiving
themselves.

2. Scripture must be compared with Scripture.

Another important rule of Bible interpretation is to compare Scripture with Scripture (1 Cor.
2:13). That is why it is good to have a Bible with cross-references and to use the Treasury of
Scripture Knowledge, which has hundreds of thousands of cross-references.

a. Comparing Scripture with Scripture is essential for developing sound doctrine. If Scripture
is interpreted in an isolated fashion, the result will often be a wrong interpretation. False
teachers love to isolate verses. Arthur T. Pierson wisely warns: “No investigation of
Scripture, in its various parts and separate texts, however important, must impair the sense
of the supreme value of its united witness. There is not a form of evil doctrine or practice
that may not claim apparent sanction and support from isolated passages; but nothing
erroneous or vicious can ever find countenance from the Word of God when the whole
united testimony of Scripture is weighed against it. Partial examination will result in partial
views of truth which are necessarily imperfect; only careful comparison will show the
complete mind of God.”

For example, in 1 Corinthians 9:22 Paul says, “I am made all things to all men, that I might
by all means save some.” If this is isolated from the rest of Scripture one can assume that
Paul was willing to do anything to reach the lost, including adopt their lifestyle. This is a
doctrine that is popular among the “rock & roll Christian” crowd today. However, when
one compares Scripture with Scripture, we find that Paul did not mean this. For example,
in Galatians 5:13 Paul said, “For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not
liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.” Thus, Paul’s liberty was
not the liberty to serve the flesh in any way. For example, he would never have allowed
any of the Christian women ministering with him to dress immodestly in tight unisex
styles, as the Christian rock crowd does today. Paul also taught that believers are to
“abstain from all appearance of evil” (1 Thess. 5:22). That is the strictest form of

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 separation, and Paul would not have done anything contrary to this in his own life and
ministry. For instance, he would not have worn long hair, because the Bible says that is a
shame and thus would have the appearance of evil (1 Cor. 11:14). By thus comparing
Scripture with Scripture under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we are able to interpret the
Bible accurately and to know sound doctrine.

b. Not only does the meaning of a verse or passage become clear by comparing it with other
Scriptures, but Bible difficulties often melt away by this means.

Consider Luke 14:26, “If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and
wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my
disciple.” What does it mean to “hate” one’s own loved ones? This is explained in a
companion passage in Matthew 10:37, “He that loveth father or mother more than me is
not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.” It
means we must love Christ far more than anyone else and we must obey Him in all things.

3. Clear passages must interpret the less clear.

A third important principle of Bible interpretation is that clear passages must interpret the less
clear. False teachers disregard this principle by building their peculiar doctrines from difficult
and obscure passages and using such verses to overthrow the teaching of many clear verses.

For example, Seventh-day Adventists build their doctrine of “soul sleep” on a few verses in the
Old Testament. They point to Job 27:3, for example, which says that the breath is the spirit. They
then say that since the breath is the spirit, man does not have a spirit that can live after he dies.
Thus, when man dies, he is simply dead and non-existent until the resurrection. But when we
look at the clear teaching of other verses, we see that man is a three-part being (body, soul, and
spirit) and the spirit of man lives after he is dead. Compare 1 Thessalonians 5:23 and James 2:26.
The Seventh-day Adventists also use Ecclesiastes 9:5, which says the “dead know not any thing.”
They claim that this supports their doctrine that the dead merely sleep in the grave until the
resurrection, but they ignore the rest of the Bible which teaches that the dead are conscious. For
example, compare Luke 9:28-33; 1 Thessalonians 4:14; and Revelation 6:9-11.

4. The literal sense of Scripture must rule.

Dr. David Cooper said, “When the plain sense of Scripture makes common sense, seek no other
sense, but take every word at its primary literal meaning unless the facts of the immediate
context clearly indicate otherwise.”

Following are five reasons why we must use the literal method of interpretation:

a. God gave the Scripture to reveal truth to man, not to hide it or confuse it (Deut. 29:29). He
therefore used the normal rules of human language.

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 b. Jesus encouraged the literal method (Lk. 10:25-26). Jesus expected man to interpret the
Word of God in a literal fashion.

c. Men are accountable before God to read the Bible and understand it by the normal rules of
human language (2 Tim. 2:15).

d. If the literal sense is not followed, no one can be certain of the meaning. By the allegorical
method the mind of the interpreter becomes the authority. Consider Revelation 20:1-3. If
this passage does not mean that a literal angel binds a literal devil in a literal bottomless pit
for a literal thousand years, we have no way of knowing what it does mean. If it does not
mean what it says, it could mean anything that any interpreter says it means. Thus, the
teaching of the Bible is thrown into complete and permanent confusion by the allegorical
method.

e. The Bible’s prophecies have been fulfilled literally. Consider the prophecy of Christ’s first
coming in Psalm 22.

Psa. 22:1 – Jesus’ words on the cross (Mat. 27:46)

Psa. 22:6-8, 12-13 – The people reviled Jesus (Mat. 27:39-44)
Psa. 22:11 – There were none to help Him (Mk. 14:50; Heb. 1:3)
Psa. 22:14-16 – They crucified Him (Mat. 27:35)
Psa. 22:17a – They did not break his bones (Jn. 19:33)
Psa. 22:17b – They stared at Him (Mat. 27:36)
Psa. 22:18 – They gambled for his garments (Mat. 27:35; Jn. 19:24)

In contrast to the literal approach to Bible interpretation is the ALLEGORICAL METHOD. By

this method the prophecies are treated as non-literal. But the mind of the interpreter becomes the
authority and one can never be certain what the Bible means. The allegorical method of
interpretation is particularly applied to the prophetic portions of Scripture.

a. For example, the Geneva Bible note at Revelation 9:11 identifies “the angel of the
bottomless pit” as “Antichrist the Pope, king of hypocrites and Satan’s ambassador.” There
is no reason, though, to see the angel of the bottomless pit as anything other than a literal
fallen angel in a literal bottomless pit.

b. Harold Camping, founder of Family Christian Radio, came up with the following
allegorical interpretation of Revelation 11:7. He says the two witnesses represent the
church. The church has been in the great tribulation but has now been killed. Therefore, the
church is dead; God is through with churches and pastors and they have no more Scriptural
authority.

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 c. New Agers also interpret the Bible allegorically or “spiritually.” Levi Dowling, in The
Aquarian Gospel of Jesus the Christ, says that the man bearing a pitcher of water in Luke
22:10 signifies the coming of Age of Aquarius.

Of course, the Bible contains types and figures of speech, but even these must be interpreted by
the normal rules of language.

We deal with how to do this and many other such things in the Advanced Bible Studies Series
course “How to Study the Bible,” which is available from Way of Life Literature.

REVIEW QUESTIONS ON PRINCIPLES OF BIBLE INTERPRETATION

1. What are the four key principles of Bible interpretation?

2. How does the Bible become a self-interpreting book?
3. What is the method that false teachers use?
4. What Bible study tool has thousands of cross-references?
5. When the ____________ of Scripture makes common sense, seek ___________________.
6. What are the five reasons why we know that the Bible must be interpreted literally?
7. What verse says that the things God has revealed are for us but the secret things belong to the
Lord?
8. What is the allegorical method of Bible interpretation?

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 FOUNDATIONAL BIBLE WORDS
Part 1

As we have seen in these lessons, understanding the Bible is necessary for spiritual growth, but
in order to understand the Bible we must understand its words. The following are some of the
powerful doctrinal words that relate to salvation and Christian living.

GRACE

There are chiefly two ways that the term “grace” is used in the New Testament.

1. Saving Grace. This is the free, unmerited favor of God in Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9). See also
Romans 3:24-25; 4:4-8; Titus 3:4-7.

Salvation is free for the sinner because of the great price that was paid by Jesus Christ.

Salvation by grace means salvation is not by works. Salvation is by grace alone without works.
The common error made by those who preach a false gospel is to redefine grace by mixing it
with works and sacraments. Romans 11:6 says this is impossible. This is the error that is
addressed in the epistle of Galatians. The apostle Paul warned that by mixing faith and works,
law and grace, the Galatian legalizers had placed themselves under a divine curse (Galatians
1:6-9).

2. Serving Grace. This is the ability to serve God after we are saved (1 Cor. 3:10; Heb. 12:28).

God provides serving grace for every aspect of the Christian life.

• grace for exercising spiritual gifts and ministries (Rom. 12:6)

• grace for establishing churches (1 Cor. 3:10)
• grace to live a holy life (2 Cor. 1:12)
• grace to give (2 Cor. 8:1-2)
• grace to endure trials (2 Cor. 12:9)
• grace to minister the Word of God (Eph. 3:7-8)
• grace in time of need (Heb. 4:16)

The true Christian life is not a religion that the believer lives in his own strength; it is an intimate
personal relationship with the living God who works out His will in and through me. It is Christ
living in me (Galatians 2:20).

SIN

1. What is sin?
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 a. Sin is to break God’s Law (1 John 3:4; James 2:9-10). Any infraction of God’s Law is sin.

b. Sin is to come short of God’s glory (Romans 3:23). This means to fail to live up to God’s
perfect holiness. God created man in His own image, and His purpose was for man to be
holy and righteous in every way. Anything short of this is sin.

c. Sin is to follow one’s own way (Isaiah 53:6). This is the heart and essence of sin. It is doing
my will rather than God’s. It is going the way of the first lie, which was that we shall be our
own gods (Gen. 3:5).

2. What is the origin of sin?

a. Sin originated with Satan’s pride (Isa. 14:12-14).

b. Sin entered the human race through Adam’s disobedience (Rom. 5:12). Though Eve sinned
first, Adam was responsible before God as the head of the race. Every man inherits the
sinful nature from Adam.

3. What are some other Bible words for sin?

Evil (Gen. 2:9)

Wickedness (Gen. 6:5)
Iniquity (2 Pet. 2:16)
Rebellion (Prov. 17:11)
Unrighteous (1 Cor. 6:9)
Unholy (Lev. 10:10)
Ungodly (Rom. 5:6)
Works of darkness (Eph. 5:11)
Transgression (Rom. 4:15)
Trespass (Mat. 18:15
Offence (Rom. 4:25)

4. How many men have sinned?

All (Romans 3:23)

5. How does the Bible describe mankind’s sinful condition?

“only evil continually” (Gen. 6:5)

“shapen in iniquity” (Psa. 51:5)
“estranged from the womb” (Psa. 58:3)
“foolishness is bound in the heart” (Prov. 22:15)
“desperately wicked” (Jer. 17:9)
“righteousness is as filthy rags” (Isa. 64:6)
“there is none righteous, no, not one” (Rom. 3:10)

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6. What is the wages of sin?

Death (Romans 6:23)

REVIEW QUESTIONS ON FOUNDATIONAL BIBLE WORDS PART 1

1. What are the two ways that "grace" is used in the New Testament?
2. What are four major passages in the New Testament that teach salvation by grace alone?
3. What is the common error made by those who preach a false gospel?
4. What error is addressed in the epistle of Galatians?
5. What is serving grace?
6. What seven things does God give grace to do?
7. What is the first definition of sin?
8. What does it mean to "come short of the glory of God"?
9. What verse says that men have turned to their own way?
10. Where did sin originate?
11. How did sin enter the human race?
12. What are five other words for sin?
13. What verse says all have sinned?
14. What is the wages of sin?

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 FOUNDATIONAL BIBLE WORDS
Part 2
THE FLESH

“The flesh” is used in four ways in the New Testament

1. The bodies of men and animals (Lk. 24:39; 1 Cor. 15:39).

2. A general reference to mankind (Mat. 24:22; 1 Cor. 1:29).

3. The weakness of human nature (Mat. 26:41).

4. The fallen, sinful nature (Rom. 7:18; 8:12-13; Gal. 5:16-24; Col. 2:11). The flesh is also called
the old man (Eph. 4:22; Col. 3:9).

Lessons about the flesh in the Christian life (Galatians 5:16-24)

1. The flesh is still present after salvation. The Christian has two “natures”: the flesh and the
Spirit (Gal. 5:16).

2. The flesh is an enemy within (Gal. 5:17). God leaves the flesh within the Christian to teach us
to walk by faith not by sight.

3. The flesh is not eradicated in this life. There is no sinless perfection. Compare 1 John 1:8, 10.
In the New Testament epistles, an experience of “Spirit baptism” or “entire sanctification” is
never offered as the solution to the problem of sin. Consider 1 Peter 2:1-2. Peter is addressing the
problem of sin, but he does not say there is a possibility of sinless perfection of any type. Rather,
he instructs the believer to lay aside sin and to take in the Word of God as a process of growth.

4. The Christian can choose to walk either in the flesh or the Spirit (Gal. 5:16). It is a daily
choice.

5. There are two aspects of the flesh: position (Gal. 5:24) and practice (Gal. 5:25). We deal with
this in the lesson on position and practice.

How Is the flesh overcome?

1. The flesh is subdued by yielding to the indwelling Holy Spirit (Gal. 5:16).

2. The flesh is subdued by minding the things of the Spirit (Rom. 8:5).

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3. The flesh is subdued by not making provision for it (Rom. 13:14). Avoid places and types of
temptation.

4. The flesh is subdued by not sowing to it but by sowing to the Spirit (Gal. 6:8).

JUSTIFICATION

Justification means “to declare righteous” (Romans 3:24). Justification is God’s declaration that
those who trust Jesus Christ are perfectly righteous before Him.

Justification is a legal concept, as when a judge gives a verdict. God is the great Judge. It is His
Law we have broken. Before I am saved, God declares that I am a condemned sinner. After I
come to Christ, God declares that I am righteous because of what Christ did for me on Calvary.

Justification is to be brought into a new spiritual position before God (Romans 5:1-2). The
believer is no longer a part of the cursed household of Adam, but has entered the blessed
household of Christ.

According to Romans 3:24, justification is God’s free gift of grace through the great price paid
by Christ on Calvary.

REDEMPTION

Redemption means to be bought and released. It describes the act of buying a slave from the
market in order to give him freedom. There are three Greek words translated “redemption” which
together give a wonderful picture of our salvation in Christ:

AGORAZO means to purchase in a market. This word is used in a general sense in Matthew
13:44, 46 and elsewhere. In reference to salvation, agorazo is used in 1 Corinthians 6:20; 7:23;
Revelation 5:9, among other places. Agorazo pictures the Lord Jesus Christ paying the awful
price required by our vile sin. Jesus Christ came into the slave market of this fallen world and
paid the full price to redeem men by His blood and death.

EXAGORAZO means to buy out of the market. This is the word agorazo compounded with the
preposition ex, meaning out from. Jesus not only paid the purchase price, He completely removed
the believing sinner from the position of condemnation and from Satan’s dominion.

LUTROO means to loose, to set free. The emphasis of this word is that God gives to the believer
day-to-day victory over sin, Satan, and the world. We are purchased, brought out, and released to
a new life of spiritual freedom and victory in Christ. Lutroo is used in Titus 2:14 and elsewhere.

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ATONEMENT

Atonement means to cover over. The Hebrew word for atonement, kapar, is first used in the
Bible in Genesis 6:14, where Noah was instructed to cover the ark with pitch within and without.
This is the same Hebrew word translated “atone” in other passages. It is frequently used in
Exodus and Leviticus, referring to the animal sacrifices (e.g., Exodus 30:10). These did not
actually take away sins, but they symbolically pointed to Jesus who removed sin by His shed
blood (Hebrews 10:11-14). Kapar is also translated “mercy seat” (Exodus 40:20). The mercy
seat perfectly covered the ark containing the Ten Commandments, signifying that God’s grace
covers or satisfies the requirements of His Law.

The word “atonement” is used only once in the New Testament (Romans 5:11). It refers to the
work of Christ on the cross to satisfy our sin debt.

PROPITIATION

Propitiation means satisfaction or payment of a debt, the fulfillment of an obligation. It refers to

the price that was paid by Christ to satisfy the debt that the sinner owes for breaking God’s holy
law (Romans 3:24-25; 1 John 2:2). The sinner owes God a great debt because of the broken law,
a debt that he cannot possibly repay. Jesus Christ, in his death on the cross, paid the debt in full
for the believer. He propitiated the debt. The Greek word translated “propitiation” (Romans 3:25)
is also translated “mercy seat” (Hebrews 9:5). As the mercy seat perfectly covered the law
contained in the ark (Ex. 25:17, 21), Christ’s covered and satisfied the demands of God’s law.
The blood that was sprinkled on the mercy seat by the high priest signified the blood of Christ,
which is the price of propitiation (Leviticus 16:11-17).

REVIEW QUESTIONS ON FOUNDATIONAL BIBLE WORDS PART 2

1. What are four ways that "the flesh" is used in the New Testament?
2. What is another word for "the flesh"?
3. What two "natures" does the believer have?
4. What verse says that if we say we have no sin we deceive ourselves?
5. In what passage of the Bible is "sinless perfection" or "entire sanctification" described?
6. What are four ways to overcome the flesh?
7. What is the meaning of "justification"?
8. Justification is a _________ concept, as when a ________ gives a verdict.
9. Justification is to be brought into a new ______________ ____________ before God.
10. What verse says justification is a free gift of God's grace?
11. What is the meaning of "redemption"?
12. What is the meaning of "atonement"?
13. The Hebrew word "kapar," which is translated atone, is also translated what?
14. How does the mercy seat show the meaning of Christ's atonement?

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 FOUNDATIONAL BIBLE WORDS
Part 3
RECONCILIATION

To change from enmity to friendship; to restore a relationship (Matthew 5:24; 1 Corinthians

7:11). Through Christ’s sacrifice, believing sinners are reconciled with the holy God they have
offended by their disobedience (2 Corinthians 5:18-19). Before we believe, we are God’s
enemies; after we believe we are reconciled.

IMPUTE

To put on someone’s account; to reckon; to lay to one’s charge. Imputation is like putting money
into one’s bank account. This is what God does for those who trust Jesus Christ. Christ’s
righteousness is imputed to the Christian (Romans 4:6-9, 22-25).

ADOPTION

This New Testament word means placed into a family as a son. It refers to a rich man choosing
an orphan and making him a legal son and heir with the full privileges of such. This word is used
to describe salvation in Christ (Romans 8:15; Galatians 4:5; Ephesians 1:5).

Though believers are adopted sons of God already, we do not yet enjoy all the blessings of being
sons (1 John 3:1-2). Not until the resurrection will we enjoy our new bodies and the full riches of
the Father’s eternal kingdom. In this sense we look forward to the adoption as our hope (Romans
8:23).

REGENERATION

Regeneration means to be spiritually renewed. The term is used only two times in the New
Testament.

1. Sinners are regenerated when they trust Jesus Christ (Tit. 3:5). This refers to the new birth.

2. The nation Israel will be regenerated when Christ returns (Mat. 19:28).

HOLY, SANCTIFY

What is the meaning of “holy”?

The basic meaning of holy is to be set apart for God’s purposes (Lev. 20:26).

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The terms “holy,” “sanctify,” “consecrate,” and “saint” are translated from the same Hebrew and
Greek words in the Bible.

Things other than people are said to be holy: The ground (Ex. 3:5), the sabbath (Ex. 16:23),
Aaron’s garments (Ex. 28:2), the altar of the Tabernacle (Ex. 29:37). Therefore, to make holy
does not necessarily mean to purify or to make righteous. Aaron’s garments were not purified in
themselves or made sinless. They were simply set apart for God’s service. The holy ground
upon which Moses stood was not purified in the sense of removing sin when God’s presence
abode in the bush and Moses removed his shoes. The ground was set apart by God’s presence
and for His purposes.

Thus, the essence of the meaning of being holy is to be set apart for God. A holy person is a
person who has become God’s possession.

Holiness is also intimately connected with righteousness and moral purity (Jer. 31:23; Lk. 1:75;
Rom. 6:19; Eph. 4:24). Holiness is contrasted with uncleanness (Isa. 35:8; 1 Th. 4:7) and is
associated with cleansing from sin (2 Cor. 7:1; 1 Th. 4:3)

What are the two aspects of Christian holiness?

There are two aspects of holiness in the Christian’s life—positional and practical. There is eternal
holiness and temporal; perfect and gradual; absolute and progressive. The Christian is holy
because of his eternal position in Christ, and he is also becoming holy in a practical sense day-
by-day.

POSITIONAL HOLINESS is the believer being eternally set apart into God’s family. To be in
Christ is to be holy in this sense (Eph. 1:4; Heb. 3:1). In position before God, every true believer
is holy from the very day he is born again. This is because the born again person is placed into
Christ, and God no longer sees that person as a condemned sinner. God looks at the believer
through the blood of His Son. The Christian is not holy in this positional sense because he is
good in himself, but because God has declared him righteous on the basis of Christ’s atonement.
Every child of God is holy; every child of God is a saint, in this positional sense.

PRACTICAL HOLINESS is to be holy in daily living. Every believer is holy in Christ

positionally, and it is God’s will for him to be holy in practice also (1 Pet. 1:15-16).

The two aspects of holiness are seen in one verse in Colossians 3:12. This verse teaches that
since believers are holy and beloved in Christ positionally, they should live up to this position by
being holy in daily life. Since we are saints, we should live like saints. Every true Christian,
because of his trust in Christ’s blood, is perfect and holy before God—as holy as Jesus is—but
every Christian does not live a holy life on a daily basis. The Christian is to perfect holiness (2
Cor. 7:1). This describes a process of Christian growth.

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It is impossible to be holy in one’s daily life without first being made holy in Jesus Christ
positionally. Only after a person is born again will God accept his efforts of daily holiness.
Outside of Christ there is no true holiness. Only by His blood can a person be cleansed of sin and
made fit to serve God in righteousness and truth (Gal. 2:20; 6:14-16).

What is the association between holiness and the blood?

The Bible intimately associates holiness with the blood of Christ (Heb. 9:12, 20-25). The
typology of the Tabernacle emphasized this. It was by blood that the articles of the Tabernacle
were made holy before God (Ex. 30:10). It was by blood that the priests were consecrated (Lev.
14:14). It was by blood that the worshippers were purified (Lev. 4:15-18, 30, 34). It was by blood
that the high priest could enter into the presence of God in the Holy Place and make atonement
for the people (Lev. 16:14-20). The word “blood” is used 66 times in the book of Leviticus, the
book which set’s forth Israel’s worship of God and sacrificial cleansing. The book of Hebrews
uses the word “blood” 20 times, showing that it is the blood of Christ that was foreshadowed by
the Old Testament types.

REVIEW QUESTIONS ON FOUNDATIONAL BIBLE WORDS PART 3

1. What does "reconciliation" mean?

2. How are sinners reconciled to God?
3. Before we believe, we are what?
4. What does "impute" mean?
5. What does God impute to the Christian for Jesus' sake?
6. What does "adoption" mean?
7. Why does the Bible say that the believer looks forward to adoption as a hope?
8. What is "regeneration"?
9. Regeneration in the Christian life refers to what?
10. What is the basic meaning of "holy"?
11. What are three other terms that mean the same thing as "holy" and are translated from the
same Hebrew and Greek words?
12. What are three things other than people that are said to be holy in the O.T.?
13. What are the two aspects of Christian holiness?

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 FOUNDATIONAL BIBLE WORDS
Part 4
HOPE

In reference to the Christian life, the word “hope” means certain, sure, confident salvation in
Christ. Hope is called an “anchor both sure and stedfast” (Heb. 6:19), a “strong
consolation” (Heb. 6:18), an “everlasting consolation” (2 Thess. 2:16).

This, of course, is the very opposite of the way the word “hope” is used in everyday
conversation. Normally we use the word to express something that is uncertain. If someone says,
“I hope to go on vacation to the mountains next summer,” he is saying that he is not sure.
Salvation in Jesus Christ is exactly the opposite; the believer can be absolutely certain that he has
eternal life.

If the believer’s salvation is not uncertain, why is it called hope? Our salvation in Christ is called
a hope, not because it is uncertain, but because we do not yet enjoy the fulness of it (Romans
8:24-25).

GLORY

Glory is used in six ways in the Bible:

1. It refers to boasting (1 Cor. 1:29, 31; 3:21; 4:7; 5:6; 2 Cor. 5:12; Gal. 6:13).

2. It refers to praise (Lk. 2:14; 17:18; Acts 12:23; Eph. 1:6).

3. It refers to God’s character: to His holiness, exalted magnificence, and divine perfection (Jn.
1:14; Rom. 1:23).

4. It refers to the splendor and wealth of a king and his kingdom (Mat. 6:29; 19:28; 25:31; Jn.
12:41; 17:5, 22, 24; Rom. 9:23; Col. 3:4).

5. It refers to the brilliant light that surrounds the presence of God. See Ex. 16:10; 40:34, 35;
Lev. 9:6, 23; Num. 14:10; 1 Ki. 8:11; 2 Ch. 7:1-3; Eze. 10:4; Mk. 9:2-3 (this event is called
“glory” in 2 Pet. 1:17); 13:26; Lk. 2:9; Rev. 1:16; 21:11, 23.

6. It refers to beauty (Isa. 28:1; 63:1).

When the Bible says believers will be with Christ in glory, it refers to all of the above--the praise,
splendor, wealth, holiness, light, and beauty which are in Christ’s presence and kingdom.

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MYSTERY

1. The term mystery in common usage refers to something secret; something difficult to
understand; something mystical and out of the ordinary. The Bible does use the term this way in
certain instances (Eph. 5:32; Rev. 17:5).

2. Most references to mystery in the New Testament, though, refer to truths which God hid from
men in Old Testament times, but which He has revealed in the New. It speaks of New Testament
revelation. It particularly refers to church truth regarding Gentiles and Jews being brought into a
new spiritual body through Christ (Mat. 13:11; 1 Cor. 2:7-12; Rom. 11:25; 16:25-26; Eph. 1:9;
3:1-12; 6:19; Col. 1:25-27; 2:2; 4:3). The temple illustrates the meaning of “mystery.” In the Old
Testament, the thick curtain covered the presence of God, but now it is torn apart and the
formerly hidden things are revealed.

ELECTION

The term “elect” refers to at least four things in the Bible

1. Jesus Christ (1 Pet. 2:6).

2. Angels that did not fall with Satan (1 Tim. 5:21).

3. God’s election of the nation Israel (Rom. 9:9-13). Calling Abraham out of the world, then
choosing Isaac instead of Ishmael, and Jacob instead of Esau.

4. Those who receive salvation in Jesus Christ (Mat. 24:22, 24, 31; Lk. 18:7; Rom. 8:33; Col.
3:12; 1 Th. 1:4; 2 Tim. 2:10; Tit. 1:1; 1 Pet. 5:13; 2 Pet. 1:10). Election is also called
predestination and foreordained (Eph. 1:5, 11).

Some lessons about election for salvation

1. Election is based on God’s foreknowledge (1 Pet. 1:2). God has offered the gospel of salvation
to all men in this present age, and He knows who will believe and who will reject.

2. Election means that God planned man’s salvation before the creation (Eph. 1:5, 11). It means
God, by his foreknowledge, has predestinated the believer to a glorious future (1 Pet. 1:2-4;
Rom. 8:29-30). It refers not so much to who is predestinated, but to what we are predestinated to.

3. Election does not mean God “sovereignly” chooses who will be saved and who will not be. He
has revealed that He wants all men to be saved (1 Timothy 2:3-4; 2 Pet. 3:9). The “sovereign”
will of God is for all men to be saved! Those who are elect or saved are those who believe the
gospel (John 3:16).

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REVIEW QUESTIONS ON FOUNDATIONAL BIBLE WORDS PART 4

1. What does "hope" mean in reference to the Christian life?

2. What verse likens the believer's hope to an anchor?
3. What verse says the believer's hope is "sure and stedfast"?
4. What verse says the believer's hope is an "everlasting consolation"?
5. If the believer's hope is not uncertain, why is it called hope?
6. What are six ways that the word "glory" is used in the Bible?
7. The term "mystery" in the New Testament usually means what?
8. What are four things that the term "elect" refers to?
9. What are three lessons about election for salvation?

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 KNOWING GOD’S WILL
Romans 12
MEMORY VERSES: Romans 12:1-2

We see in Romans 12 that God has a great work in this world and He has called on His people to
participate. There is a perfect will of God for each believer. If you are saved, you are called to
service.

We see that the will of God must be proven. Salvation is a gift, but God’s will is a prize to be
sought.

Following salvation, there are five steps that are emphasized in Romans 12 for those who want to
know God’s will.

1. Knowing God’s will requires doing the will of God today (Romans 12:1-2).

The Bible speaks of the will of God as something that we do today, not something we hope to do
tomorrow. If the believer frets about the present or is lazy in the present and is only looking to
the future and hoping for a different circumstance, thinking that he will serve God when things
change, he will never do the will of God. We must leave the future in God’s hands and use the
opportunities of the present, no matter how difficult.

God is in control of the circumstances of our lives (Romans 8:28; 1 Cor. 7:17-24). To fret against
the circumstance is to fret against the will of God. This is the great sin that the Israelites
committed repeatedly in the wilderness (1 Cor. 10:10).

This is true for new Christians. The will of God starts right where you are by accepting the
circumstance in which you find yourself and doing everything that you know to do to grow
spiritually and to serve Christ. The first year after my conversion, I didn’t know what the Lord
wanted me to do as far as a particular ministry. I only knew that I needed to learn the Bible and
be faithful to church and start doing everything that the Bible taught me to do, so that is what I
did. I operated a printing press to make a living, but that was not my life. My life was seeking
and serving Christ and preparing myself for His will. In this way I was able to get the full benefit
from that opportunity and to build a good foundation for the time to come.

This is true for the unmarried. I had a friend at Bible College who spent a lot of time worrying
about finding a wife, so much so that he was hindered in his ability to concentrate on his studies.
If I am not married, I need to recognize that this is an advantage for the present, that I have more
time to devote to the Lord in this present circumstance, and I need to use that time and trust the
Lord about the future (1 Cor. 7:32-34). God is the Author of marriage, and He knows how to
bring the right partners together at the right time.

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This is true for the married. Regardless of whether your mate is saved or unsaved, it is God’s
will for you to remain married if at all possible and to serve Him in that circumstance (1 Cor.
7:12-17). The same is true about whether or not you have children. God is in control of
conception (Gen. 20:18; 29:31; 30:22). If you have children, don’t look on them as a distraction.
Dedicate yourself to raising them for the glory of God. If you don’t have children, don’t fret
about it. Use the opportunity to serve the Lord while you wait on Him to provide children in His
time and according to His will.

This is true for young people. Youth is both an advantage and a disadvantage. The young person
must dedicate himself to knowing and serving the Lord in his youth rather than waiting until
some later time. Too many young people waste their youth, throwing it away on vanity, foolishly
thinking that they will get serious about life when they get older. They thus throw away the
wonderful opportunity to use their youth to prepare themselves for the future.

2. Knowing God’s will requires surrender and dedication (Romans 12:1).

Presenting one’s body as a living sacrifice means to use my body and my life to serve Christ.

This is a free-will decision. God does not force us to be saved, and He does not force us to devote
our lives wholly to Him after salvation. He wants us to do this from a willing heart. Thus, there
are hard choices that must be made for those who want to know God’s will. I must choose to
dedicate myself to Christ rather than to the pursuit of selfish desires. I must deny the flesh and
pursue the Spirit. Most people devote their lives to money, pleasure, ease, comfort, security,
prestige, and such things. The child of God has the privilege of pursuing a higher calling.

This is a decision that is motivated by God’s love. We love God because He first loved us. We do
not pursue the will of God in order to be saved; we pursue it because we are saved and we want
to please the One who has saved us by His grace through the great price that was paid on
Calvary.

This is a reasonable decision. It is reasonable because knowing and serving God is the purpose
of life (Ecclesiastes 12:13). It is reasonable because life apart from God’s will is vanity. That is
the theme of the book of Ecclesiastes. If I use my life for anything other than God’s service, I am
throwing it away. It is also reasonable to dedicate my life to Christ because God’s will brings
great reward (Hebrews 11:24-27). A missionary who was later martyred once said, “A man is not
unwise to give up that which he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.”

This is a personal decision. Young people are often deeply concerned about what other young
people are thinking and doing. There is “peer pressure,” but if I want to know God’s will I must
move beyond that and focus my attention on pleasing God alone.

This is also a daily decision. Dedicating myself to the Lord’s will is not something that can be
done once; it must be done repeatedly. Many times a person will get fired up at a church meeting

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or a summer camp or a Bible conference, and he or she will surrender to the Lord’s will, but due
to the pressures of life and spiritual warfare this decision can fade away if it is not renewed daily.

3. Knowing God’s will requires separation (Romans 12:2).

At the very heart of knowing God’s will is the issue of separation from the evil things of the
world. It is not optional, because God is a holy God and this wicked world is in rebellion to Him.

The word “conformed” implies that we are weak and can be molded. The world is evangelistic. It
is not content to mind its own business. It seeks to conform the believer to its philosophy and
lifestyle. Rocker Courtney Love said that she has “a need to impose my worldview on the
culture” (Spin magazine, Oct. 1988, p. 100).

Separation is thus absolutely necessary to know God’s will. Consider the following important
verses: Ephesians 5:11; Titus 2:12; James 4:4; 1 John 2:15-17.

The world has poured into Christian homes and churches through the rock & roll pop culture, but
the believer that wants to know God’s perfect will must reject it and pursue holiness and
righteousness.

4. Knowing God’s will requires transformation (Romans 12:2).

Knowing God’s will requires not only dedication and separation; it also requires spiritual
transformation. This refers to Christian growth and it is the way of victory over the world. By
transformation the image of Christ can become fashioned in the believer so firmly that the world
cannot mold him into its own foolish and corrupt image.

Spiritual transformation comes by the renewing of the mind through God’s Word. We must learn
to think God’s thoughts and that is what transforms the life, and this comes through reading and
studying and meditating on God’s Word. See Psalm 119:9; John 8:31-32; 1 Peter 2:2. It has been
said that a dusty Bible indicates a dirty heart, and the Bible will keep you from sin or sin will
keep you from Bible.

Spiritual transformation comes by the power of the Holy Spirit. We must yield to Him, put Him
in the driver’s seat. This is what it means to “be filled with the Spirit.” See Galatians 5:16-17;
Ephesians 4:30; 5:18.

Further, spiritual transformation is a process. It doesn’t happen overnight. It takes time and
persistence and dedication. It requires building godly habits like Bible reading and private prayer
and church attendance, and then continuing in them.

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5. Knowing God’s will requires ministry (Romans 12:3-6).

To know God’s perfect will it is not enough to surrender to Christ and to separate from the world
and to read the Bible; we must also get busy serving the Lord. This refers to discipleship.

It is not a matter of waiting around for something to happen; it is a matter of getting busy doing
what I know that I should do at any given time, and as I do this, God leads me in His perfect will
step-by-step, day-by-day, week-by-week, year-by-year. As we read the Bible we must obey the
Bible, and as we do this we are walking in God’s will.

In Romans 12 we are reminded that there are two aspects to the ministry. There is a general
ministry (Romans 12:9-21) and a specific ministry (Romans 12:6-8). Every believer has a
particular gift and ministry, and we find that particular calling by getting busy in God’s general
calling, which involves walking in obedience and holiness. As the believer does the things that
he knows God wants him to do, such as obeying one’s parents and loving one’s wife and
honoring one’s husband and being faithful to church and sharing the gospel and separating from
evil things and tithing and praying, God leads him along and reveals His particular calling more
and more clearly.

We see in Romans 12 that knowing God’s will requires sober thinking (Romans 12:3). This
means I must understand my exact calling and not think too highly of myself. It involves humility.
I must not think that God has given me more than He has. For example, there is a two-foot-tall
man in Nepal. He is the world’s shortest man. The Bible says that God made him, and if he were
to put his faith in Christ and seek God’s will, he would find that he has a specific calling, but he
would have to accept his place. If he were to aspire to be a professional basketball player, he
would doubtless be sorely frustrated and disappointed! There are people who can’t sing well that
want to be singers, and people who aren’t good with children who want to work in children’s
ministries, and men who can’t preach who want to be preachers, and men who aren’t qualified to
be pastors who want to be pastors. I have seen many men who have not been content to be what
God called them to be; they want to be something else, and as a result they cause frustration in
their own lives and confusion in the church. To think soberly also means the believer should not
think too lowly of himself. Every believer has a special calling and an important place in the
Lord’s work in this present world. In the human body there are many members, and each
member is important to the overall function of the body. The same is true in the church.

We are also reminded in Romans 12 that the church is essential for knowing God’s will. Paul
mentions “the body” in verse 4. That is a reference to the church. It is the pillar and ground of the
truth and the house of God (1 Timothy 3:15). It is the God-ordained institution of training and
discipling. It is the place of spiritual protection. It is the headquarters for world evangelism. The
first foreign missionaries were sent out from a church (Acts 13:1-4).

Knowing God’s will is not complicated. It simply involves surrendering to God and starting
where you are and obeying God step by step. See Psalms 37:23.

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I have never met a person who regretted finding God’s perfect will, but I have met many that
have regretted missing God’s perfect will. Don’t be foolish and throw away the wonderful
opportunity that you have to surrender your life to God and to pursue His perfect will. Don’t
follow the crowd; follow Christ!

To make major decisions, such as about marriage and job and education, apart from God’s
perfect will is dangerous in the extreme.

REVIEW QUESTIONS ON KNOWING GOD'S WILL

1. What are the five things that are required to know God's will?
2. What verse says that all things work together for good to those who love God?
3. What sin did the Israelites commit repeatedly in the wilderness?
4. If a Christian is married to an unbeliever, should he or she leave the marriage?
5. Many young people do what with their youth?
6. What does it mean to present your body a living sacrifice?
7. Why is it reasonable to serve Christ?
8. What book and chapter describes Moses' decision to serve God?
9. In what way is the world evangelistic?
10. Other than Romans 12:2, what are four major passages that teach separation from the world?
11. In what way is separation a heart matter?
12. In what way is separation a matter of replacement?
13. How does spiritual transformation come?
14. What verse says that the young man cleanses his way by taking heed to God's Word?
15. What are the two aspects to the ministry?
16. How does the believer think soberly about his calling?
17. What institution sent out the first foreign missionaries?
18. How many people have you met that regretted surrendering to God's will?

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 MAKING WISE DECISIONS
Part 1
MEMORY VERSES: Proverbs 3:5-6; 28:26; Hebrews 11:6; 1 Peter 2:11

Many people have spoiled their Christian lives because of bad decisions made apart from God’s
will (e.g., wrong job, wrong friends, wrong marriage partner, mistakes in the pursuit of
education, mistakes made in moving to another place). And it is not only young people who
make unwise decisions; many older and even elderly people have committed this grave mistake.

Following are some foundational Bible principles for making wise decisions in God’s will:

1. Don’t trust your own understanding; trust in the Lord.

See Proverbs 3:5; 28:26; Jeremiah 17:9.

The individual that trusts his own understanding will make wrong decisions, because of the
fallen nature. We must seek God and trust Him explicitly. Even though the believer has a new
nature called the “new man,” the “old man” is still there and can still lead us astray.

We acknowledge God in all our ways through prayer. Instead of trusting in our own
understanding, we beseech the Lord for wisdom and guidance in every major decision. He has
promised to lead His people, but we must seek His guidance and not presume upon it. We must
“acknowledge him” in all of our ways. It is tempting to think, “Well, the Lord already knows that
I need His wisdom and help; surely He will automatically give it.” In fact, God has taught us in
His Word to pray specifically and earnestly about all matters. To fail to do so is a recipe for
making unwise decisions.

We acknowledge God in all our ways through consulting the Bible. If we want to make wise
decisions, we must be diligent Bible students, because it is through the Bible that we know God’s
mind (1 Corinthians 2:16), learn God’s will (Psalm 119:105), and obtain faith (Romans 10:17).
We must learn how to have an effective daily Bible study. We must be faithful to the preaching
and teaching ministry of a strong Bible-believing church. We must take every opportunity to
grow in our knowledge of God’s holy Word, so we can know His will and make wise decisions.

2. Walk in the light (1 John 1:5-10).

To walk in sin is to walk in darkness, and it hinders spiritual living and thinking (1 Peter 2:11).
The Bible warns that the backslider will be filled with his own ways rather than with the ways of
the Lord (Prov. 14:14).

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If a believer is disobedient or sassy to his parents, stubborn or critical or bitter toward authority,
not loving his wife, not showing honor to her husband, gossiping, lying, stealing, loving the evil
things of the world, his prayers are hindered and he will not have wisdom to make good
decisions.

To make important decisions in a backslidden spiritual state is a recipe for disaster. Many
believers who were far from the Lord in their hearts contracted a marriage or a job or pursued a
field of education or chosen a Bible College or developed a friendship that they later came to
regret deeply. Beware!

3. Delight in the Lord (Psalm 37:4).

The way to know God’s will is to put Him at the center of one’s affections. The will of God is
not found by those who approach the Christian life as a mere list of do’s and don’ts. It is found
by those who know Christ personally and delight in Him. When I do this, He puts the right
desires in my heart and then fulfills those desires. The worldly or nominal Christian, on the other
hand, is filled with desires that are contrary to God’s will and lives in frustration because they are
not fulfilled.

4. Do not make any decision that would cause you to disobey the Bible (John 8:31-32).

We have touched on this under every point, but by way of emphasis we will deal with it more
carefully in its own section.

Making wise decisions, very simply, is making decisions according to the Bible. Jesus described
it as to “continue in my Word.” Any decision that causes you to disobey the Bible is contrary to
God’s will. There are no exceptions.

This is what it means to live by faith. Living by faith is simply to believe God and obey His
Word. See Romans 10:17. It means to learn to make decisions based on the Bible rather than on
one’s feelings and human thinking and circumstances, and then to trust God to open the right
doors and provide the needs. It is that simple.

Consider some examples of this and how it relates to making wise decisions in God’s will:

The Bible says do not associate with evil or with idolatry (1 Corinthians 15:33; Romans 12:2; 2
Corinthians 6:14-18; Ephesians 5:11), so living by faith means I will not associate with such
things. Thus, it is not God’s will for His people to attend worldly parties, to attend a pagan
school, to get a job at a place that would require participation in wickedness (such as selling
liquor or wearing immodest clothing or showing wicked movies or playing wicked music or
sensual dancing), to participate in pagan religious rituals, to participate in worldly music or
fashions, etc. I recall a teenager at one church who got a job working in a movie theater. He was
concerned about the unwholesome films and was thinking about quitting, but he was advised not

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to quit by the church’s worldly youth pastor! The result was severe backsliding. I recall another
man who had a job at a restaurant-bar and was responsible to supervise worldly parties that
included drinking and dancing. He did not grow very much spiritually or learn how to make wise
decisions in his life until he quit that job.

The Bible says do not neglect the church (Hebrews 10:25). It is the house of God (1 Timothy
3:15). Thus, it is wrong to make any decision that would cause you to forsake the assembly, such
as moving to a place where there is no good church or taking a job that would keep you out of
the services. I recall a young man in our church that was saved out of a druggie lifestyle. He
showed promise and was growing in the Lord, and then his father asked him to return to his
village. In spite of our counsel against it, he went, and from that point he backslid in his
Christian life. We have seen this happen many times.

In fact, one of the chief reasons why people quit church is that they disobey God and get a job
that keeps them out of the services and they then backslide. Consider the following two
warnings:

“We lose about 20% of the young sometime after the seventh grade, and generally we lose them
because they get jobs that make them work on Sundays. Once they get those jobs, it becomes
easy for them to justify staying out of services and they generally do.”

“We have noticed that many who leave get the idea that if God gives them a job that requires
them to work during services, then it is O.K. to miss services. If God gives them a job that
requires wearing immodest clothes then it must be O.K. to wear immodest clothes. If God gives
them a job that plays rock-n-roll music on the PA then that is O.K. They think they are strong
enough to take that and keep coming to church unaffected. Usually though, within six months of
getting the job they are missing 50% or more of the services and within a year, they are out of the
services completely. As the Singles Director, I have stressed the fact that God has His perfect job
for us and Satan has his perfect job for us. However, most of the kids won’t wait upon God to
provide that perfect job.”

If a person lives by faith, he will not take a job that causes him to disobey God’s Word by
neglecting church.

The Bible says do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers (2 Corinthians 6:14).
Therefore, it is never God’s will for a believer to marry an unbeliever or to go into business with
an unbeliever, or any such thing. I recall a man who was one of the first converts in a new
church. He did well and grew, but eventually he went into business with an unbeliever and
because of his partner’s crooked ways he ended up in jail and his testimony was corrupted.

The Bible says do not associate with false doctrine (Romans 16:17; 2 John 10-11). This means
that it is not God’s will for a believer to attend a Bible study or a church where false doctrine is
taught or to read books by or listen to sermons by false teachers or to develop a close relationship
with someone who holds to false doctrine. I recall two young men who were in our church that
showed much promise and seemed to be growing in the Lord, but they started attending a Bible
study led by a false teacher and ended up leaving our church.

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Making wise decisions simply means the child of God will not do anything contrary to God’s
Word.

If we disobey the Bible, we cannot expect God’s blessing. What many Christians do is to make
their own plans and then ask God to bless them, but that is backwards. We must first make
certain that our plans are in accordance with God’s will, then we can reasonably ask for and
expect God’s blessing.

REVIEW QUESTIONS ON MAKING WISE DECISIONS PART 1

1. What are the five things we discuss in this lesson?

2. What verse says that the person that trusts in his own heart is a fool?
3. Why is it foolish to trust one's own heart?
4. What verse says the heart is deceitful and wicked?
5. What does the Bible mean when it says to acknowledge God in all your ways?
6. What book and chapter describes walking in the light?
7. Why is it necessary to walk in the light in order to make wise decisions?
8. What verse warns that fleshly lusts war against the soul?
9. What verse says that if I delight in the Lord He will give me the desires of my heart?
10. What verse says that faith comes by hearing God's Word?
11. How can we know that it is not God's will for the believer to "attend worldly parties, to
attend a pagan school, to get a job at a place that would require participation in wickedness (such
as selling liquor or wearing immodest clothing or showing wicked movies or playing wicked
music or dancing), to participate in pagan religious rituals, to participate in worldly music or
fashions"?
12. What verse instructs believers not to neglect the assembly?
13. What verse says the church is the house of God?
14. What often happens to believers who disobey the Bible and neglect the assembly?
15. What are some examples of how a believer can be unequally yoked with unbelievers?
16. How do we know that it is not God's will for a believer to attend a Bible study or a church or
a conference where false doctrine is taught?

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 MAKING WISE DECISIONS
Part 2
MEMORY VERSES: Proverbs 12:15; 24:6; 29:25

In the previous lesson we looked at four important Bible principles in making wise decisions: 1.
Don’t trust your own understanding; trust in the Lord and pray much for wisdom. 2. Walk in the
light. 3. Delight in the Lord. 4. Do not make any decision that would cause you to disobey the
Bible.

In this lesson we will consider another principle on this subject.

5. Seek good counsel (Proverbs 12:15; 19:20).

One of the important parts of making wise decisions in God’s will is to seek godly counsel. It is
mentioned 13 times in Proverbs, the book of practical wisdom. Before making a major decision--
such as marriage, education, a job, or a move--a person should seek godly counsel. But it just as
important to know where to get the right counsel and how to weigh it.

The classic case in Scripture of someone who listened to unwise counsel is Solomon’s son
Rehoboam (1 Kings 12:1-16). Soon after he ascended the throne, he was confronted by his
subjects who beseeched him to treat them compassionately. In making his decision, he first
consulted the old men that had counseled his father, and they wisely advised him to heed the
people’s request. He then consulted his own peers, and they advised him to treat the people as he
wished and to ignore their feelings. He followed this foolish advice and lost the majority of his
kingdom. This doesn’t mean that young people always give bad counsel, while older people
always give good counsel. A younger person that walks with the Lord and knows God’s Word
will give better counsel than an older person who lacks these things. In 1 Kings 13 we have the
sad case of a man of God who got out of God’s will by listening to a backslidden, lying older
prophet.

Seek counsel from wise people (“by wise counsel,” Prov. 24:6).

Wise counselors know God’s Word. When seeking counsel in a biblical fashion, we don’t need
human opinions; we need biblically-informed wisdom. We are not seeking a word from man, but
a word from God. Thus, we need to seek counsel from believers who have studied the Bible
diligently. Wise counselors are spiritually mature and biblically knowledgeable.

Wise counselors are doctrinally sound and likeminded. Many people in fundamentalist homes
have made bad decisions by seeking counsel from New Evangelicals or Charismatics or
Calvinists or even liberals and Roman Catholics or others who are not likeminded theologically.
We think of the sad case of Norma McCorvey, who was the plaintiff in the Roe v. Wade case that

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legalized abortion in America. She rejected abortion and was baptized by an “evangelical”
minister, but later joined the Roman Catholic Church through close associations with Catholic
priests in the Right to Life movement.

Wise counselors have made good decisions in their own lives and have good character and
stability (“confidence in an unfaithful man,” Prov. 25:19). People who are lazy, don’t pay their
bills, lie, cheat, are unstable, etc., will not give wise counsel. Young people must especially keep
this in mind. God tells the young person to honor his parents, but if the parents are not people of
good character they are not wise counselors. An “unfaithful man” can also refer to someone that
is mentally and spiritually unstable. My father fell into that category, because of the mental
damage he sustained fighting in the Pacific Islands during World War II. He was never right after
that and had to be institutionalized from time to time. He knew the Lord, but was unable to take
any kind of pressure or make important decisions and his thinking wasn’t right. As a result my
mom and us children had to learn to go on without his blessing at times. For example, he
couldn’t keep a job, so Mom had to go back to work in order to support the family. There was no
choice, but he was fiercely opposed to it. He couldn’t work and had no possibility of an income,
but he didn’t want her to work. Mom finally went ahead and the Lord blessed and she was able
to get back on at the phone company where she had worked before their marriage, and Dad
gradually got used to the idea. Ordinarily this would be rebellion on the part of a wife, but not in
that case. After I was saved at age 23, I wanted to go to Bible College and train for the ministry.
Dad was opposed to it. The Lord led me to start writing Christian books. Dad was opposed to it.
He wanted me to stay there in my home town and just work somewhere. I am so glad that I
followed the Lord rather than my confused, wounded Dad. Such decisions to go against parental
counsel must never be made lightly, but sometimes they are necessary.

Wise counselors are found in good Bible-believing churches. The first place to find such counsel
is my own church, assuming I am in a good Bible-believing church. The church is the pillar and
ground of the truth (1 Tim. 3:15). God has given pastors and teachers for the purpose of training
and protecting His people (Eph. 4:11-12), and they should always be at the top of the list when it
comes to spiritual counsel.

Wise counselors have wisdom pertaining to your particular situation. If you need advice about
automotive repair, don’t go to an accountant. Likewise, if you need counsel pertaining to
preaching, go to a preacher, or if you need counsel about married life, go to someone who is
successfully married, or if you need counsel about a missionary calling, go to an experienced
missionary. Charles Spurgeon told how that he was discouraged from preaching by a godly
woman. The fact is that a woman does not understand such things, no matter how godly she is.
He said, “I remember well how earnestly I was dissuaded from preaching by as godly a Christian
matron as ever breathed; the value of her opinion I endeavoured to estimate with candour and
patience--but it was outweighed by the judgment of persons of wider experience” (C.H.
Spurgeon, Lectures to My Students).

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Wise counselors are willing to speak the truth (Prov. 27:6). If we only seek counsel from those
who will tell us what we want to hear, or who will only speak non-offensive things and pamper
us and tiptoe around difficult issues, we are wasting our time. We need to seek out counselors
who will speak the truth no matter what it entails. When a child of God only seeks counsel from
those who tell him what he wants to hear, he proves that he is not serious about God’s will. What
we need are counselors like the prophet Micaiah who spoke the truth even when it resulted in
suffering (1 Kings 22:27). For this reason, the wicked king Ahab complained said, “I hate him;
for he doth not prophesy good concerning me, but evil” (1 Kings 22:8). Micaiah was exactly the
counselor that Ahab needed, but he was too foolish to discern this.

Seek counsel from more than one person (“multitude of counselors,” Prov. 11:14; 24:6).

This is repeated twice in the Proverbs by way of emphasis. One way that God confirms His will
is by the agreement of godly counselors. If a young person is seeking wisdom about marriage,
for example, and he or she approaches his parents and his pastor and teachers and other mature
spiritual authority figures, there should be agreement.

Again, the best place to find the “multitude of counsellors” is a God-fearing, Bible-believing
church. What Charles Spurgeon said of a Bible College is even truer of a godly church: “Meeting
as you do in class, in prayer-meeting, in conversation, and in various religious engagements, you
gauge each other; and a wise man will be slow to set aside the verdict of the house” (C.H.
Spurgeon, Lectures to My Students).

This does not mean that I should never decide against something unless the authority figures in
my life are agreed, because men can be wrong; but it does mean that I should only make such a
decision if I have a clear Bible support for it and absolute confidence that it is God’s will.

To obtain counsel from a variety of people protects the believer from becoming a slave to the
will of one person. This is the mistake that was made in the 1970s by the Pentecostal
Shepherding Movement. They taught that each believer should submit to a “shepherd” who was
someone appointed by the church. No decision was to be made without consulting this
“shepherd.” The result was widespread abuse. Pastors and teachers and disciplers are important
helpers, but the believer is to have only one Master, which is Christ.

I must warn that “a multitude of counselors” can result in confusion if those counselors are not
godly, biblically wise, and doctrinally likeminded!

Seek counsel from near people (Prov. 27:10).

Many times people seek counsel from those who are far off rather than those who are near, and
though this is not always wrong, it is often done for the wrong reason. A lot of strangers have
written to me through the years to ask my opinion about situations in their family or church, and
I have always thought this to be strange, since I know nothing about them and have no way of

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knowing the full picture. People sometimes want to seek counsel from those afar off for the very
reason that they don’t know them and their situation, but it is for this very reason that we should
usually seek counsel from those who are near.

For a young person, the first line of counsel should be his or her own parents, particularly if they
are believers (Eph. 6:1-3). The next line of counsel would be one’s church leaders. God gives
leaders to the churches to watch over His people and to help them, like a shepherd with sheep.
Godly church leaders “watch for your souls” (Hebrews 13:17). They think about the church
members and pray for them and desire the best for each of them, and God gives them particular
wisdom.

In our church we urge the young people who are thinking about marriage to talk with their
parents and then to discuss the matter with their church leaders. If a boy is interested in a certain
girl, we urge him not to pursue the matter until he has talked it over with the leaders. They know
things that the young people don’t know, and they can give good advice about whether it is wise
to pursue a certain relationship. Invariably, those who have ignored this procedure have made a
mess of things!

Seek counsel from caring people.

It is wise to seek counsel from those who not only know you but who care about you and are
interested in your spiritual welfare. A young person, for example, will get better counsel from a
spiritual leader who is praying for him rather than from someone else who is not interested in his
spiritual well-being and who is uninvolved in his life in this way.

Seek counsel earnestly (Proverbs 20:5).

One pastor observed: “Not every counselor will be quick to give counsel. The person seeking the
counsel has the responsibility of sincerely and purposefully drawing out the counsel from the
wise person. Most people who are considered wise will not hastily pass out counsel.”

Seek counsel in fellowship with God and in the light of His Word.

It is idolatry to put one’s trust in man rather than God (Jer. 17:5-8) or to submit to a man blindly
as if he were God. God gives human authorities and teachers to help us, and they are very
important. But ultimately our confidence must be in God and we must get wisdom directly from
Him. The Bill Gothard “chain of authority” approach is to obey the authority no matter what, but
the Bible doesn’t support that. Jesus said that if we love even mother or father more than Him we
are not worthy to be His disciples (Mat. 10:37). Obviously, then, there is a time when we must go
against what our authority figures demand. And when is that? It is when they are leading us
contrary to God’s will as supported by His Word. The apostles taught that we must obey God
rather than man (Acts 5:29). One of the first converts in our church in Nepal was a teenage girl.
Her Hindu parents and her older sisters forbade her to attend church, but she put Christ first and

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obeyed God’s Word and attended every chance she got. As a result, her entire family has been
saved. We must honor early authorities, but Christ must be our first and only Master. As we
noted earlier, the bottom line is that we must be Bereans and test everything by God’s Word
(Acts 17:11).

Let us hasten to emphasize that we must not test counsel by our personal opinions, by the
thinking of society, by our peers, by the pop culture, by human psychology, or by any other thing
other than God’s Word.

REVIEW QUESTIONS ON MAKING WISE DECISIONS PART 2

1. What is a verse in Proverbs that teaches us to seek wise counsel?

2. When seeking counsel, we don't need __________ _______________.
3. What book and chapter says God has given pastors and teachers to the churches to build up
and protect the flock?
4. What is the first place to find wise counsel?
5. What mistake did Solomon's son make?
6. What is an example in the Old Testament of an old man who gave bad counsel?
7. Why was it wise for Charles Spurgeon not to follow the counsel of the woman who told him
not to preach?
8. One way that God confirms His will is by the ______________ of godly counselors?
9. Where is the best place to find "a multitude of counselors"?
10. Why should we seek counsel from those who are near rather those who are far away?
11. Where should a young person turn first for wise counsel?
12. What book and chapter warns that it is wrong to put one's trust in man?
13. What verse says we ought to obey God rather than man?

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 MAKING WISE DECISIONS
Part 3
MEMORY VERSES: Psalm 27:14; Proverbs 29:25; Luke 9:59-60; Acts 5:29; 1 Corinthians
14:33

In the previous lessons we looked at five important Bible principles in making wise decisions: 1.
Don’t trust your own understanding; trust in the Lord and pray much for wisdom. 2. Walk in the
light. 3. Delight in the Lord. 4. Do not make any decision that would cause you to disobey the
Bible. 5. Seek good counsel.

In this lesson we will consider four final principles on this subject:

6. Do not fear man (Proverbs 29:25).

Jesus warned that we must love Him even more than our dearest relatives. See Luke 14:26. What
did Jesus mean when He demanded that we “hate” our nearest and dearest loved ones? We
understand this by comparing Scripture with Scripture. Consider a companion passage in
Matthew 10:37. When Jesus said we must hate our father, mother, wife, children, brethren, and
sisters, he was saying that we must love Him far more than we love others. The Lord requires
that we put Him absolutely first in our affections and that we live to please Him above all else.
Family relationships are important and God’s Word instructs us to care for our loved ones (1
Timothy 5:8; Colossians 3:18-21). At the same time, the call and work of God takes precedence
over any human relationship.

If a person wants to make wise decisions in God’s will he must fear and serve God more than
man. If it comes to a choice of obeying and pleasing his friends or relatives and obeying and
pleasing God, he must choose God. It is a great sin to fear relatives and friends more than God.

Many unbelievers commit this sin and end up in hell because of it (“the fearful,” Revelation
21:8). Many who are in hell would say they are there because they were afraid of what other
people thought.

Many believers have committed this sin, as well. Down through the centuries many have made
unwise decisions because of family ties. There are powerful forces at work here. Some have
married unbelievers or attended a liberal Bible College or Seminary or pursued a certain career
because of their families. Some have said no to the call of God because of resistance by family
members. I am reminded of the man who led me to Christ. When God called him to preach, his
wife gave him an ultimatum that she would leave him if he did not stop preaching. He pleaded
with her to stay, but he refused to stop preaching. Eventually she did leave him and took their
young son with her. The man was brokenhearted, but he refused to stop obeying God’s command

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to preach the Word of God. Many, faced with such a choice, have turned their backs on God’s
call.

Young people often commit the sin of fearing man. They know that God is calling them to a life
of holiness and service, but they don’t want to stand out in the crowd so they draw back from
doing God’s will. I had to face this as a new Christian, when I knew that God wanted me to cut
my long hair but I was hesitant to do so, knowing that I would no longer look “cool.” Many
Christian girls refuse to dress in a modest and feminine manner because they fear man more than
God. This is very foolish. Jesus warned that if we are ashamed of Him in this present world, He
will be ashamed of us in the next (Mark 8:38).

7. Honor authorities

Another important principle in making wise decisions is to honor God-given authority. The Bible
makes much of this. See Romans 13:1; 1 Corinthians 11:3; Ephesians 5:22; 6:1-3; 1 Timothy
5:17; Titus 3:1; Hebrews 13:17; 1 Peter 2:13-15, 18.

I have seen many believers make unwise decisions that took them out of God’s will when they
failed to honor and obey the authorities that God put over them.

Many young people have committed this error by not honoring their parents, and by this means
they have entered unwise marriages, developed unwise friendships, attended the wrong schools,
joined the wrong church, moved to the wrong place, and made many other unwise decisions that
could have been avoided had they simply honored their parents.

The same error has been committed by wives who have disobeyed and dishonored their
husbands. Our mother Eve is the classic example of this!

The same error has been committed by church members who have disobeyed and dishonored
their leaders. If you get angry and bitter at your leaders, you will not make good decisions. It is
not wrong to question them, but it is wrong to have a bad attitude toward them. I have seen many
people leave good churches and backslide because they got bitter at the church leaders and
refused to repent. We must remember that church leaders are just men, and they are far from
perfect. That is not an excuse; it is a fact! Church leaders are not above God’s Word, and if they
sin they should be disciplined after a biblical fashion (1 Timothy 5:19-20), but the leaders should
always be given the benefit of the doubt. There is a time to leave a church, when it is not
committed to God’s Word, but we must be careful to leave in the right way, with the right
attitude, and we should always move to a stronger church, not a weaker one.

Authorities must be tested by God’s Word. We don’t give blind obedience to authority figures,
because we live in a fallen world, and the highest authority is God. Every authority must
therefore be tested by God’s Word. Compare Acts 5:29; 17:11. Moses rejected Pharaoh’s
authority to follow a higher authority, which was God!

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Authorities should be given the benefit of the doubt. Most of the time when people disagree with
authority figures, they don’t do so on the basis of clear Scripture but on the basis of their own
feelings and opinions. If I don’t think an authority figure is right, I must ask myself this question:
Do I have clear Scripture showing me that this leader is wrong and that my thinking in this
matter is right? In light of the many commandments in Scripture to obey those who have the rule
over us, it is dangerous to reject authority figures on the basis of anything other than Scripture
rightly divided.

8. Look to the future (Hebrews 11:24-27).

Moses made a major decision sometime in his youth “when he was come to years.” He was the
adopted son of Pharaoh, who was the wealthiest and most powerful king of his day. Moses could
have chosen to cast his lot with the wealthy and powerful, with the pleasure seekers, but instead
he cast his lot with the despised, enslaved Jews. He made this wise decision by looking at the
future through God’s Word. He looked ahead to the next life and saw that if he followed Christ
he would have trouble in this world and riches in Christ’s eternal kingdom, but if he followed
Pharaoh he would have “the pleasures of sin for a season” and then an eternity of regret.

Every Christian young person needs to follow Moses’ wise example. He needs to ask himself, “If
I make this decision what will happen down the road? What are its eternal consequences? If I
marry this person; if I take that job; if I pursue that particular education; if I go to that country; if
I go to that party; if I develop that friendship; if I buy that television; if I listen to that music; if I
am careless about what I see on the Internet; if I let my heart become captured with the love of
the world?

Unbelievers can’t see the future because they walk in darkness and do not believe the Bible.
They base their decisions entirely upon what they see with their eyes. They only take into
account such things as money, pleasure, and prestige.

The believer has a light the unbeliever does not have, and he can make wise decisions based on
the eternal Word of God.

The believer particularly needs to look at the judgment seat of Christ and make his decisions
based on what he will hear on that solemn occasion (1 Corinthians 3:11-15).

9. Don’t make decisions when tired or discouraged (Job 3:1-2; 17:11).

When we are tired and discouraged and going through a heavy trial, this is not a good time to
make major decisions or to change decisions that have already been made. Consider Job. He did
not curse God during his trial, but he did doubt God and sometimes lost his faith in future
comfort and blessing. He temporarily lost his way spiritually and emotionally. It has been said,
“Do not doubt in the dark that which God has shown you in the light,” and I have often found
this to be wise counsel. Many people have made foolish decisions, even changing their doctrine,

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during times of discouragement. James Robinson, who was once a bold Baptist preacher,
adopted heretical doctrine in such a condition when he allowed a Charismatic to lay hands on
him and “cast out devils.” It is best to wait until the light is shining again and one’s thinking is
clear.

10. Wait on God (Psalm 27:14).

When endeavoring to make a wise decision in God’s will, it is very important to avoid haste.
When we are hasty, it is easy to make the wrong decision. We must wait until we are certain that
we know the mind of the Lord, and then He will take care of us.

Joshua and Israel were hasty when they agreed to an alliance with the men of Gibeon; they
trusted their eyes and did not seek God’s face in the matter (Joshua 9:14-15).

There are two biblical principles that we need to heed when waiting for the Lord: the principle of
abiding peace and the principle of no confusion. We find these two principles in 1 Corinthians
14:33. When there is a lack of peace and when there is confusion, we must be cautious and not
rush forward in that particular decision.

The wisdom that is from God is always peaceable (James 3:17). God gives peace always by all
means (2 Thessalonians 3:16).

When I am seeking God’s will, I look for this peace. If I have a certain inclination to do
something, I want to see if there is growing peace or growing doubt. If something is of God, the
peace will grow and the faith will increase, but if it is not His will there will be confusion and
doubt and a lack of peace.

God’s will is worth waiting for! Many decisions have consequences that last throughout one’s
lifetime, and if an individual gets those decisions wrong, he will not only live to regret it but he
will have to bear the consequences until he dies. Marriage is one of these decisions, of course,
but there are many others.

REVIEW QUESTIONS ON MAKING WISE DECISIONS PART 3

1. What are the four things we discuss in this lesson?

2. What verse says the fear of man brings a snare?
3. In what passage did Jesus say that we are not worthy of Him if we do not hate father, mother,
wife, children, brethren, sisters?
4. What does this mean?
5. What verse says "the fearful" will be in the lake of fire?
6. In what verse did Jesus warn if we are ashamed of Him and His Words in this present world
He will be ashamed of us in the next?
7. What does baptism picture?

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8. What verse says that every soul should be subject to the higher powers?
9. What verse says to give the church leaders double honor?
10. In what verse did Peter say that we must obey God rather than man?
11. What verse commends the Bereans for searching the Scriptures and testing everything by the
Scriptures?
12. Leaders should always be given the ____________________________________.
13. How did Moses "see him who is invisible"?
14. What verse says to wait on the Lord and He will strengthen your heart?
15. Why is it important to avoid haste when making a decision?
16. What mistake did Joshua and Israel make in regard to the men of Gibeon?
17. What verse says God is not the author of confusion but of peace?
18. If there is lack of peace about a decision, what should the believer do?
19. If there is confusion about a decision, what should the believer do?
20. What verse says the wisdom from God is always peaceable?
21. What verse says God gives peace always by all means?

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 CHRIST’S GREAT COMMISSION
MEMORY VERSES: Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15; Acts 1:8

The Great Commission is a name for the work of world evangelism that Christ preached after He
rose from the dead. It is called Great because it is repeated five times in the New Testament
(Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15; Luke 24:44-48; John 20:21; Acts 1:8). Repetition in the Bible
has two very important purposes. First, repetition is for emphasis. By repeating this command so
many times, God is saying it is important. Second, repetition is for instruction. Each mention of
the Great Commission adds more instruction. We will examine four of the passages:

MATTHEW 28:18-20

1. We see the authority for the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18). Jesus has all authority, and
when we preach the gospel we do so in His authority. Thus, we have the authority to go to any
nation and to speak to any person in His name. Many people have the idea that “religion” is a
private matter, but Jesus has made it our business to proclaim the gospel. The Bible says that
every born again person is an ambassador for Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17-20). We go in His name
and authority.

2. We also see the work that is involved in doing the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20).

First, we are to preach the gospel. The teaching that is mentioned here refers to preaching the
gospel, as we will see in Mark 16. Every church should send out gospel-preaching missionaries
and should also support missionaries.

Second, we are to baptize those who believe. Baptism is not an option but a command. It is the
first step of obedience for those who trust Christ as Saviour.

Third, we are to make disciples of those who believe. The work is not finished when someone is
saved and baptized. In fact, that is only the beginning. We are to teach them to observe ALL
things that Christ has commanded. We find these commandments in the New Testament
Scriptures. This grounds believers in the faith and protects them from false teaching. This
passage refutes the popular error that says that only some doctrines are “essential” while the rest
are “non-essential” and should not be emphasized lest they cause unnecessary division. Jesus
said we are to teach God’s people to observe and respect every part of His Word!

This work requires a church. In the book of Acts we see that it is the churches that fulfill the
Great Commission. Paul and Barnabas were sent out by the church at Antioch and they, in turn,
started many churches across Europe (Acts 13-14). To fulfill the Great Commission, every
church must be a serious Bible training institution. The Great Commission is a BIG work.

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3. We also see the promise associated with the Great Commission (Matthew 28:20). We do the
work, but the power is Christ’s. He is with us. This is a special promise for a missionary-minded
Christian and a missionary church.

MARK 16:15-16

1. The gospel is to be preached to every person, not only to every nation. This is a big job and it
is the main task of every church. It means that every believer is needed to get the job done.

This tells us that God loves every soul and wants to save every soul, which is in contrast to the
Calvinistic doctrine of “sovereign election.”

This also reminds us that there is no other way of salvation except through faith in Christ. If
there were another way of salvation, God would not require us to preach the gospel to every
person at such a high cost.

2. Baptism is for believers, not for infants. The requirement for baptism is faith, which means
that infants are not proper candidates. Infant baptism was a heresy that was devised after the
completion of the New Testament and the death of the apostles.

3. Baptism follows salvation as the testimony and evidence thereof. It is not lack of baptism that
condemns the soul to hell, but lack of faith. It is “he that believeth not” that is condemned. Paul
taught that it is the gospel that saves (Romans 1:16), but baptism is not the gospel (1 Corinthians
1:17; 15:1-4).

LUKE 24:44-48

1. It was necessary for Jesus to suffer, because there is no other way for sinners to be saved
(Luke 24:46). Christianity is not what I do for God but what God has done for me in Christ.

2. Repentance is part of the Great Commission (Luke 24:47). There is no remission of sins
without repentance, which means to turn from false gods and to surrender to God’s authority.

3. Each believer is responsible to participate in this work (Luke 24:48).

ACTS 1:8

1. This work is the church’s chief business. This is what we see in the book of Acts. The first
churches didn’t adopt grand schemes to try to solve the socio-political problems of the Roman
Empire. They preached the gospel and discipled believers and established new churches.

2. We can do nothing without the Holy Spirit. We must walk in fellowship with Him and seek
His power. This is what prayer is about. It is acknowledging our need of Him and seeking His

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help. The Holy Spirit came upon the early believers at Pentecost, and since then He seals each
believer as soon as he trusts Christ (Eph. 1:12-14).

3. Our job is to lift up Jesus Christ. We are to be witnesses of Him. When we talk to people about
the things of God, we should talk about Christ rather than the church or “Christianity.”

4. The Great Commission starts at home and extends throughout the world at the same time. This
can be accomplished through the churches, as they seek to win their own communities to Christ
and as they support missionaries in other places.

How can the individual believer fulfill the Great Commission?

1. By surrender. This is where the Great Commission begins: “Here am I, Lord, send me. What
do you want me to do, Lord?” See Isaiah 6:8; Romans 12:1.

2. By fellowship with Christ. If we don’t walk with the Lord, we will have no wisdom and power
and guidance. We will have no interest in doing His will.

3. By learning. We can’t be well used by God if we are ignorant of His Word. We must learn the
Bible so that we can answer people’s questions. We must learn how to witness effectively, how to
pray, etc.

4. By faithfulness. The heart of missions is churches, and strong churches require dedicated,
faithful members.

5. By prayer. This is the source of wisdom and power for the Great Commission. God’s people
must be prayer warriors, praying for their own church, for other churches, for missionaries, for
unsaved relatives, for unsaved friends, for those who are hearing the gospel through tracts and
personal witness. Prayer changes things. How many things are being changed by my prayers?

6. By giving. The Lord’s Great Commission is a large, expensive work. Am I giving to Christ’s
work in such a manner that proves my love for Him and that is furthering the gospel to the ends
of the earth?

7. By going. Every born again child of God is an ambassador for Christ and should be busy
talking to people about the Lord, giving out tracts, and being faithful to church visitation
programs.

8. By child training (Prov. 22:6). Children are arrows in the quivers of wise Christian parents to
be trained for the service of Christ (Psa. 127:4-5). Christian parents need to raise their children so
that they know that the most important thing in this life is Christ and His business. What example
do the children see in the parents? Parents can’t call their children to be missionaries, because
that is a special call of God, but they can train them to be missionary-minded.

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9. By separation from the world. Worldliness destroys spiritual vision and power (1 Peter 2:11).

It is a great privilege to bear the name of the eternal Son of God in this present wicked world.
Time is short and we must use the opportunity that God has given us while the opportunity
remains.

REVIEW QUESTIONS ON CHRIST'S GREAT COMMISSION

1. What is the Great Commission?

2. What are the five passages that describe the Great Commission? (books and chapters only)
3. Why do Christians have the right to preach the gospel throughout the world?
4. What passage says every believer is an ambassador for Christ?
5. What are the three things involved in doing the Great Commission?
6. What is Jesus' promise to those who fulfill the Great Commission?
7. The gospel is to be preached to every __________, not only to every __________.
8. How does Mark 16:15-16 teach that baptism is not for infants?
9. Why was it necessary for Jesus to suffer?
10. In what verse did Jesus command His people to preach repentance and remission of sins?
11. What passage says that the believer is sealed with the Holy Spirit when he trusts in Christ?
12. What are nine ways that the believer can fulfill the Great Commission?
13. How many of these things are you doing personally?

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 THE JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST
1 Corinthians 3:10-15
MEMORY VERSES: 1 Corinthians 3:10-15

This passage contains the most extensive teaching on the believer’s judgment in the entire Bible,
and since every believer will stand at this judgment we should be keenly interested in this
passage.

Who will appear before the judgment seat of Christ?

1. It is not for the unsaved but for believers (1 Cor. 3:11-12). It is for those that have built their
lives upon the Lord Jesus Christ.

2. The judgment of the unsaved is described in Revelation 20:11-15. This is the Great White
Throne judgment, which is for those whose names are not written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.
These will be judged by their own works without the benefit of a Saviour and will therefore be
condemned to eternal suffering in the lake of fire.

What is the fire that will be displayed at the judgment seat of Christ (1 Cor. 3:13)?

1. We believe that this fire refers to the Scriptures.

First of all, Scripture is likened to fire (Jeremiah 23:29). And Scripture is said to be the judge
(Psalm 96:13: John 12:48). Scripture contains the mind of Christ by which we will be judged (1
Corinthians 2:16). Further, Scripture is complete; therefore the believer needs nothing else and
could not be judged by anything else (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

The Bible will judge what we do in this world (1 Corinthians 3:13 “every man’s work”). It will
judge what we say (Matthew 12:36 “every word”). It will judge how we spend our time
(Matthew 12:36 “every idle”). It will judge what we believe (2 Timothy 2:15).

Therefore, in order to prepare for the judgment seat of Christ we need to read the Bible in this
present life and obey it; we need to study it, memorize it, hear it preached, and sit regularly and
faithfully under its teaching.

2. We believe, further, that the fire refers to Christ Himself. See Revelation 2:18-19. Jesus’ eyes
are described as a flame of fire, because He knows everything about us. It is not my pastor who
will judge me or my church or my denomination or my parents or my spouse or my friends; it is
Christ Himself who will judge the believer. This shows where our priorities should be. We must
not live to please ourselves or other people, but Christ. We must not put our confidence in
anything other than Christ.

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What is the purpose of the judgment seat of Christ?

1. The judgment seat of Christ does not pertain to salvation but to service (1 Cor. 3:8, 10, 13, 15).
Salvation is a gift, not a reward (Ephesians 2:8-9). Fourteen times it is called a gift, and a gift is
the very opposite of a reward. A gift is something that is purchased by someone else and is given
to me freely. If I pay anything whatsoever for it or work to earn it even in the slightest sense, it is
no longer a gift. Christ purchased the believer’s eternal salvation by himself (Hebrews 1:3) by
the great price of His own blood. There is nothing the believer can add to this. After I am saved
by God’s grace, I am to serve the Lord who saved me (Ephesians 2:8-10), and the judgment seat
of Christ will examine this service. It is like a son who works for his father in his father’s farm or
business. If the son is a slacker, he is still a son and is still loved by his father, but he will not be
rewarded as he would have been had he been diligent and faithful and sincere in the father’s
service. 1 Corinthians 3:15 is one of the clearest verses in the New Testament on the subject of
eternal security. If the carnal believer who loses all at the judgment seat of Christ “shall be
saved,” how could it be possible to lose one’s salvation?

2. The judgment seat of Christ is not for punishment but for rewards or loss of rewards. The
believer’s punishment fell upon Christ! The judgment seat of Christ is like an athlete competing
for the Olympics. If he loses the race, he loses the crown that he could have earned.

What will be judged at the judgment seat of Christ (1 Cor. 3:12)?

This verse describes two kinds of Christian lives, and each will receive its own reward:

1. One kind of Christian life is likened to “gold, silver, and precious stones.”

This refers to that which is eternal, to that which has eternal value. For example, that eternal city,
the New Jerusalem, is made of pure gold (Rev. 21:18). It also refers to that which is associated
with God. For example, the ark and the mercy seat in the Tabernacle, which signified Deity, were
made of gold (Ex. 25:10-11).

“Gold, silver, and precious stones” Christian living refers to things such as walking in fellowship
with Christ day-by-day, walking in the Spirit and not the flesh, maintaining a fruitful prayer life,
delighting in Christ’s Word, loving Christ’s church, being zealous in Christ’s work, separating
from the wicked things of the world and refusing to conform my life to its standards, separating
from false teaching, being a godly husband or wife, raising children to serve the Lord, and
winning souls to Christ. All of these things are gold, silver, and precious stones before the Lord
and will be richly rewarded.

2. Another kind of Christian life is likened to “wood, hay, and stubble.”

This refers to that which is associated with man and this world, things that do not last and have
no value before God. Note that structures made of wood or even hay can be very large and

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impressive in this world, but when they are tested by fire they go up in flames and nothing is left.
Many Christian ministries are made of wood and hay and are large and appear very impressive to
men but when those ministries are tested at the judgment seat of Christ by the absolute standard
of God’s holy Word there will be great sorrow and loss.

“Wood, hay, and stubble” Christian living refers to things such as walking in carnality and
indulging in sinful pleasures instead of walking in the Spirit, wasting time on vanities and
forgetting that life is short and that only that which is done for Christ will last, talking about
nothing, wasting an inordinate amount of time on such things as professional sports and video
games and romance novels, spending money foolishly and not according to God’s will, loving
the world and patterning one’s life after it, remaining infantile in one’s Bible knowledge instead
of growing strong in the Scripture and learning to rightly divide it, hoarding one’s spiritual gifts
instead of using them, neglecting the house of God, teaching things that are contrary to the Word
of God, and neglecting one’s responsibilities as a husband or wife or father or mother.

What is the reward at the judgment seat of Christ?

Compare Matthew 25:21-23.

A CROWN. This is a position of authority and service under Christ (Revelation 2:26-27).

TREASURES. See Matthew 6:19-21; 1 Timothy 6:19. We don’t know exactly what these
treasures will consist of, but the Lord Jesus has promised that treasures await those who serve
Him in this world, and we can be sure that His eternal treasures will make even the most
priceless objects and most desirable pleasures of this present world to appear as the cheapest
junk!

A WORD OF COMMENDATION. See Matthew 25:21. Surely, the greatest reward for the
believer is to receive the Lord’s commendation. The loss of this will be like that which Peter
experienced the night Jesus was taken to trial. After Peter had denied Jesus he had to endure the
look of disappointment and grief on the face of his Saviour and it was this that broke his heart
(Luke 22:61-62).

Why does the Bible teach about the judgment seat of Christ?

1. It motivates the believer to be spiritual (1 Cor. 3:1-3). Paul’s teaching on the judgment seat of
Christ was given in the context of warning the church at Corinth about its carnality and
challenging it to be godly.

2. It also motivates the believer to be busy and faithful (1 Cor. 3:9-10). When we recall that we
must stand at the judgment seat of Christ and give an account for our lives, we are motivated to
use our time wisely and fruitfully in His service.

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What about grace at the judgment seat of Christ?

See 1 Corinthians 4:5.

After the conclusion of the judgment described in 1 Corinthians 3, after the fire has been applied
to the earthly lives and ministries of the believers, after some will have lost everything and will
have been saved though as by fire, after every man doubtless will have lost much by way of the
rewards he could have earned -- every man will still have praise of God! How can this be?

1. There will be praise because of the security of salvation (1 Peter 1:4; 3:9; Psalm 34:22b).
Though a disobedient saint will suffer loss, the fact remains that he will be saved and will enjoy
the eternal sonship and inheritance that was purchased by Christ. It is only because of God’s
grace in Christ that the believer will stand before his Saviour rather than before the Great White
Throne of Revelation 20.

2. There will be praise because of the greatness of God’s mercy (Psalm 103:8-14; Jude 24). The
Bible says that where sin abounded grace did much more abound (Romans 5:20). God delights in
mercy and blessing. Jesus said that even a cup of cold water given in the name of a disciple will
be rewarded (Matthew 10:42). The believer will receive so much more and lose so much less
than he deserves that he will rejoice at God’s mercy. David committed the awful crimes of
adultery and murder, yet in the New Testament this is not mentioned and he is upheld as a hero
of the faith. Abraham lied and doubted God at one point (Genesis 17:17), and Sarah laughed and
doubted God’s promise (Genesis 18:12-15). Both sinned in the matter of Hagar. But when we
come to Hebrews 11 we see none of that. We only see their steadfastness in faith and their
spiritual victories. There is no mention of their temporary stumbling.

3. There will also be praise because of the effectiveness of God’s discipline in the lives of His
children (Hebrews 12:5-10; John 15:1-16). In that day we will see how that God worked in our
earthly lives to prune and chastise and shape us, and we will rejoice at what God did.

REVIEW QUESTIONS ON THE JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST

1. Who will be judged at the judgment seat of Christ?

2. In what book and chapter is the Great White Throne judgment of unbelievers found?
3. What is the fire mentioned in 1 Corinthians 3:13?
4. How can we prepare for the judgment seat of Christ?
5. In Revelation 2:18-19 why are Jesus' eyes described as a flame of fire?
6. The judgment seat of Christ does not pertain to ____________ but to _____________.
7. How many times is salvation called a gift in the New Testament?
8. How is the judgment seat of Christ like a son who works for his father?
9. How does 1 Corinthians 3:15 teach the doctrine of eternal security?
10. The judgment seat of Christ is not for ______________ but for _________ or loss of
_________.

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11. What is the "gold, silver, and precious stones" mentioned in 1 Corinthians 3:12?
12. What are some examples of "gold, silver, and precious stones" Christian living?
13. What is the "wood, hay, and stubble"?
14. What are some examples of "wood, hay, and stubble" Christian living?
15. What are three kinds of rewards that will be given at the judgment seat of Christ?
16. In what two ways should the judgment seat of Christ motivate the Christian?
17. How is it possible that every believer will have praise of God at the judgment seat of Christ?

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 SEPARATION - MORAL
MEMORY VERSES: MEMORY VERSES: 1 Thessalonians 5:22; James 1:27; 1 Peter 1:14-15

What Is the World? (1 John 2:15-17)

The “world” does not refer to the things that God made (trees, birds, rivers, kindness). It also
does not refer to innocent manmade things. There are many things that man has made and many
aspects of human culture that are contrary to God’s Law. The believer is free to enjoy all such
things.

The “world” that we are not to love refers to the evil things associated with man’s fallen heart (1
Jn. 2:16). Observe that these things can be summarized as evil lusts and pride.

We can apply the two previous points to all areas of life. Take dancing, for example, there are
forms of folk dancing that are innocent and that do not involve throwing one’s body around
sexually and are not dedicated to the philosophy of hedonism after the fashion of modern dance.
The first type of dancing is not wrong, but the latter is forbidden. Consider music. There is music
that is innocent and that can be enjoyed by the child of God even though it was created by
unbelievers, such as John Williams’ Liberty Fanfare or Aaron Copeland’s Rodeo, while there is
music that is dedicated to sensuality and hedonism, such as the vast majority of modern pop
music. Everything must be measured by God’s Word as to whether it falls into the category of
sinful lusts and pride.

The “world” also refers to the world system created by fallen men in rebellion to Almighty God
and His Law (“if any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him,” 1 John 2:15). The
world is in open rebellion to God, and each person must make his choice: the world or God (1
John 5:19). The world system began in the days of Cain, when Cain went out from the presence
of God and built the first city and civilization (Gen. 4:16-22). It was a glorious civilization full of
entertainment and enterprise, but it was a civilization that had rejected God’s Law and was bent
on living without God. The world system was further developed in the days of Nimrod and the
building of the Tower of Babel. God had instructed mankind to fill the earth, but instead they
congregated in the region of Babel and built a society based on rebellion to God’s laws, human
pride, and idolatrous religion. This has remained the essence of the world system to this day. The
devil is called “the god of this world” because he is the head of the world system (2 Cor. 4:4).

How Should the Believer Relate to the World?

We would emphasize that biblical separation from the world does not mean isolation from the
world. The early churches described in the book of Acts didn’t flee away to mountain caves and
live isolated from society. They lived in the villages and cities and sent about their lives and let
their lights shine in a dark world both by gospel preaching and holy living. Biblical separation is

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not monasticism. It is also not Amishism. The believer will be different if he lives according to
God’s Word. He doesn’t need to dress weird as far as adopting a uniform, live communally, and
lock himself into a time warp.

We would also emphasize that biblical separation is not self-righteousness. The believer must
never forget that he is not better than the unbeliever and that he was not saved because he is
special. All men are sinners, and Jesus came because God loves the whole world (John 3:16).
The believer has no righteousness except that which he has received as a gift of God’s grace. We
must not “look down our noses” at the world. The apostle Paul knew this and called himself “the
chief of sinners” (1 Tim. 1:15).

1. Love not the world (1 John 2:15). Here we see that believer is not to allow the world to
capture his heart and affections and passion. A good test is to ask oneself, what is it that really
gets me excited in life? What am I passionate about? If the answer pertains to anything that is
characterized by the lust of the flesh, the lusts of the eyes, and the pride of life, then I stand
condemned by God’s Word.

2. Be not conformed to the world (Romans 12:2). To be conformed means to be pressed into a
mold, to be fashioned according to a likeness. The world is very aggressive and evangelistic and
enticing. It wants to shape our lives by its standards, its fashions, its forms of entertainment, its
principles, its philosophies. The child of God must take his stand against this in every area of his
life. We must remember that the world does not love us and the world has no wisdom. To follow
the ways of the world is very foolish. God loves us and God is wisdom, and His ways are right
and good and eternal.

3. Be not a friend of the world (James 4:4). Again, the Bible refers to our affections. To be a
friend is to have positive, friendly feelings toward someone, to appreciate their company. James
uses very powerful words. To befriend the world is commit spiritual adultery. God is a jealous
God. This one verse exposes the error of the emerging church and its “cultural liberalism.” The
sermons and writings of emergents are filled with positive references to the evil things of the
world, such as R-rated movies and drinking and filthy rock bands. Note the following excerpt
from the book Hipster Christianity: “Hipsters are ... mavens of cool music. ... They gravitate
toward HBO, Showtime, FX, or Comedy Central ... Music is everything to hipsters, so of course
they love going to concerts. ... Christian hipsters love breaking the taboos ... piercings, dressing a
little goth, getting lots of tattoos, carrying flasks, and smoking cloves. ... Mark Driscoll liberally
embraces the sorts of vices--drinking, dancing, R-rated movies, and UFC fights--that old-school
Christians ardently avoid.” If this is not what it means to be a friend of the world, I don’t know
what the term could mean.

How Strict Should Our Separation Be?

The common idea is that there should be some basic separation from the world, but we shouldn’t
be very strict and “legalistic” about it. Consider the following Scriptures:

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Ephesians 5:11; 1 Thessalonians 5:22; James 1:27; 1 Peter 1:14-15.

Is There a Positive Side to Separation?

Consider 2 Timothy 2:22, which teaches that separation is not just a “negative” issue.

1. Separation is a matter of spiritual and moral protection. Timothy was told to “flee also
youthful lusts.” That is the image of running from some great danger. God does not want to take
pleasurable things away from His people. He is the Author of every good gift (James 1:17).
When He made Adam and Eve, He put them in the loveliest Garden one could imagine. He
designed it to provide every wonderful and pleasurable thing. God is not some cruel person who
wants to harass people with meaningless laws. God is the most compassionate, giving Person in
existence. His command to separate from the evil things of the world is designed to protect us
from spiritual and moral destruction. It is designed to keep us out of the devil’s cruel clutches.

2. Separation is an association matter. Timothy was to pursue holiness “with them that call on
the Lord out of a pure heart.” This reminds us that one’s associations have a great influence on
one’s life. 1 Corinthians 15:33 warns that “evil communications corrupt good manners.” If you
run with the wrong crowd, you will not live a godly life. A good apple will always be corrupted
if placed in a barrel of rotten ones.

3. Separation is a heart matter. Paul mentioned “a pure heart.” If the heart is right, the believer
will respond positively to the Lord’s command to separate from evil. Before I was saved, I grew
my hair long as a flag of rebellion and pride. I refused to cut it for love or money, but after I was
saved I cut it when I was challenged by an elderly woman that long hair was not befitting a
young man who claims to be a follower of Christ. I cut it because my heart was right with God
and I wanted to do His will instead of my own, and I did not want to offend people.

4. Separation is a replacement matter. Timothy was instructed not only to flee from sinful things
but also to “follow” godly things. It is not enough to give up sensual music and worldly fashions
and friends that hinder one’s spiritual walk; the child of God must add godly friends and sacred
music and edifying literature and wholesome activities and get busy in the service of Christ.

Some Final Points

1. Is separation legalism?

No, Titus 2:11-15 plainly states that the true grace of God leads men to strict, holy, separated
Christian living.

2. Is separation selfish?

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No, separation is wisdom (1 Peter 5:7). To avoid the lusts of the flesh, the lusts of the eyes, and
the pride of life is the way of protection from the devil and is the way to avoid becoming a slave
to sin.

3. Is separation unchristlike?

No, Christ was holy and separated from sin at all times (Heb. 7:26). He was a friend of sinners,
but He was never a friend of sin. The emerging church describes Jesus almost as a happy-go-
lucky party guy, but He was not. He warned about judgment and preached about hell even in
private situations, and that is a sure-fire way to end a party! When the woman was caught in the
act of adultery and brought to Him, He forgave her by His marvelous grace but he also instructed
her to “sin no more.” That is a very strict standard and would put a damper on any worldly party!

4. Why is separation so unpopular?

It is unpopular because we live in the time prophesied in 2 Timothy 4:3-4, when professing
Christians will create a new type of Christianity that allows them to live according to their own
lusts.

REVIEW QUESTIONS ON SEPARATION - MORAL

1. When John warns us not to love "the world," what are two things that this does not mean?
2. What are some of the innocent things that man has made that the believer can enjoy?
3. What are some of the innocent things in society or culture that the believer can enjoy?
4. What are some things in society that fall into the category of evil lusts and pride?
5. When did the world system begin?
6. What was wrong with Cain's city?
7. What was wrong with Nimrod's society?
8. In what verse is the devil called "the god of this world"?
9. Why do we know that monasticism and communalism are wrong?
10. In what verse did Paul call himself "the chief of sinners"?
11. What does it mean to love the world?
12. What does it mean to be conformed to the world?
13. Why is the believer required not to be a friend of the world?
14. According to Ephesians 5:11, how much fellowship is the believer to have with the unfruitful
works of darkness?
15. What are some examples of the unfruitful works of darkness?
16. According to 1 Thessalonians 5:22, the believer is to abstain from what?
17. According to James 1:27, the believer is to keep himself how separated from the world?
18. What are the four positive things about separation that are described in 2 Timothy 2:22?
19. What book and chapter says that the grace of God teaches us to deny ungodliness?
20. Why is separation wisdom?
21. What prophecy warns that the time will come when men will heap to themselves teachers
after their own lusts?

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 TESTS OF ENTERTAINMENT
MEMORY VERSES: Psalm 101:3; Romans 6:16; 1 Corinthians 10:21, 31; Philippians 4:8; 1
John 5:21

Parents and teachers need to instruct young people in the biblical principles that apply to
entertainment. God made man to enjoy His creation. He “giveth us richly all things to enjoy” (1
Tim. 6:17). But the creation is fallen and there are many spiritual dangers (1 Pet. 5:8). Even in
activities that are not in themselves contrary to the Bible, some things are not profitable (1 Cor.
6:12). Thus, we need to learn how to test things by God’s Word so that we can walk in wisdom
rather than folly.

It is not enough to tell young people what not to do and give them a list of do’s and don’ts. We
must carefully and patiently teach them the Word of God in a practical manner so that they learn
how to apply its lessons to daily living.

Following are some biblical principles for testing entertainment in the Christian life and family.
On each point ask the following question: What are some forms of entertainment that fail this
test?

Can you do it to the glory of God? (1 Corinthians 10:31).

Is it of the world? (1 John 2:15-16).

Does it involve looking at wicked things? (Psalms 101:3).

Does it further the gospel and the work of Christ? (1 Corinthians 10:28, 32-33).

Does it cause others to stumble? (Romans 14:13-16, 21).

Does it cause you to think on wholesome things? (Philippians 4:8).

Is it idolatrous? (1 John 5:21).

Does it involve fornication? (1 Corinthians 6:18).

Is it of the devil? (1 Corinthians 10:21).

Does it promote the philosophy of the ungodly? (Colossians 2:8).

Does it involve anything that is opposed to the true knowledge of God? (2 Corinthians 10:5).

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Can you do this activity by faith without doubting? (Romans 14:23).

Is this activity a wise use of my time? (Ephesians 5:15-16).

Does this activity have the potential to enslave me? (Romans 6:16-18).

REVIEW QUESTIONS ON TESTS OF ENTERTAINMENT

What are some forms of entertainment that fail the tests of these biblical principles?

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 SEPARATION - DOCTRINAL
Part 1
MEMORY VERSES: 2 Timothy 2:16-18

Separation is a despised and even hated doctrine today because it goes against the prevailing
philosophy of unity.

Separation is what once distinguished Independent Baptists from Southern Baptists, but this is
changing rapidly as many Independent Baptists are either rejecting separation outright or are
letting it slip away by neglect.

Though widely rejected and hated, separation is a necessary practice, because it is the means of
spiritual protection.

In my own Christian life, I learned separation in three stages: First, as a brand new Christian I
was taught the importance of testing everything by God’s Word and being cautious about false
teaching. The man that led me to Christ taught me verses such as 1 Thessalonians 5:21. He took
me into a bookstore and warned me that I had to exercise great care when choosing Christian
books, because many of them would lead me astray. Second, I learned separation at an
Independent Baptist Bible College. There I learned something about the danger of cults and
contemporary movements such as Roman Catholicism, Theological Liberalism, Charismaticism,
New Evangelicalism, and Christian Rock. Third, I learned the necessity of separation as a young
missionary at a practical level in my dealings with the Nepal Christian Fellowship. This was an
ecumenical-charismatic fellowship, and I was convinced that I could help them and perhaps even
change them by accepting their invitations to preach and teach in various forums. Instead, the
result was trouble and confusion through doctrinal conflict. I learned that it is scriptural and wise
to separate from heretics and compromisers and to seek to help them from without rather than
from within.

2 TIMOTHY 2:15-26

The foundation of separation (2 Tim. 2:15)

First, the foundation of separation is a strong knowledge of the Bible. Without this, the Christian
cannot know truth from error. This means that every believer should be a diligent Bible student.
It is important to establish a habit of daily Bible study. This also means that every church should
be a Bible school to train God’s people in the Scriptures and to prepare them to deal effectively
with false teaching.

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Second, the foundation of separation is a testing mindset. To rightly divide the Word of God
implies that we constantly distinguish between truth and error. See Psalm 119:128; Proverbs
14:15; Acts 17:11; 1 Thessalonians 5:21.

The Method of Separation (2 Tim. 2:16, 17)

Plainly identify those who err (2 Tim. 2:17)

Paul didn’t warn in generalities; in 1 and 2 Timothy alone, he named the names of false teachers
and compromisers 10 times (1 Tim. 1:20; 2 Tim. 1:15; 2:17; 3:8; 4:10, 14).

This important practice is often missing in churches today, even in those that still hold the name
“fundamentalist.” Churches need to distribute information and warning publications like O
Timothy magazine and Friday Church News Notes to keep the people informed and forewarned.
Churches should conduct study courses such as Defense of the Faith. Churches should also
operate their own bookstores to provide sound literature to the people. Churches that are standing
firm in the old paths often do all three of these things.

Separate from those who err (“shun,” 2 Tim. 2:16) (“avoid” Rom. 16:17, “from such turn away”
2 Tim. 3:5)

Avoid their churches and meetings. If you know that a church is teaching error, stay away from
it. If you know that a preacher teaches error, don’t go to his meeting. Many have attended things
such as a Promise Keepers conference or a Charismatic Bible Study or a Christian rock concert
and have been converted to error because of disobedience to God’s command of separation.

Avoid their books, Internet sites, television and radio broadcasts, mp3 sermons. Failure to do this
is a major reason why Calvinism and New Evangelicalism are flooding into Independent Baptist
churches. A few years ago a pastor in Michigan told me that his weakest, most doctrinally
unstable church members are those who listen the most to Christian radio. This is because the
programming even on “evangelical” stations is typically filled with heretics and compromisers.
So are the shelves of Christian bookstores. The reports “Dangers in Christian Bookstores” and
“Dangers on Christian Radio,” which are available at the Way of Life Literature web site, list
many authors and syndicated radio personalities that should be avoided. (These include Billy and
Franklin Graham, Rick Warren, Chuck Colson, Chuck Swindoll, Jim Cymbala, Philip Yancey,
John Maxwell, Max Lucado, Elisabeth Elliot, Jerry Bridges, Jack Hayford, Bill Hybels, James
Dobson, Robert Schuller, Ken Blanchard, Richard Foster, Dallas Willard, Robert Webber, John
Michael Talbot, C.S. Lewis, Norman Vincent Peale, Bruce Wilkinson, Rob Bell, Brennan
Manning, Tony Campolo, Donald Miller, Erwin McManus, and Brian McLaren.)

Avoid their schools. Another way that such things as New Evangelicalism and Modern Textual
Criticism are entering fundamental Baptist churches is through the pursuit of degrees at New
Evangelical schools such as Dallas Theological Seminary.

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The reason for separation (2 Tim. 2:16b, 17)

This is a very important point to understand.

a. We need to practice separation so as not to be corrupted by error (“canker”). A good apple does
not raise the level of health when put into a barrel with bad apples! Compare 1 Corinthians
15:33.

Consider the example of New Evangelicalism. In the 1950s mainstream evangelical leaders such
as Billy Graham rejected separation. Harold Lindsell, who was one of the early leaders of the
New Evangelical movement, testified that “WITHIN A DECADE OR SO
NEOEVANGELICALISM . . . WAS BEING ASSAULTED FROM WITHIN BY INCREASING
SKEPTICISM WITH REGARD TO BIBLICAL INFALLIBILITY OR INERRANCY” (Lindsell,
The Bible in the Balance, 1979).

Consider the example of Jack van Impe. He was a fundamentalist in the 1970s but changed in
early 1980s. In 1984 he published Heart Disease in Christ’s Body, in which he denounced
separatism and promoted the ecumenical philosophy. He said, “God comes into the heart of
Catholics, and Lutherans, and Baptists, and Pentecostals, and with God in us, we can fellowship
with one another.” By the 1990s van Impe was praising the pope. He published a video entitled
Startling Revelations: Pope John Paul II in which he exalted the pope as a hero of the Christian
faith! This is how spiritually blind he had become in a short time.

Consider the example of James Robison. He was a bold Southern Baptist preacher in the 1970s,
preaching against liberalism and worldliness. But in 1980 he became a Charismatic and claimed
to have been freed of “negativism.” By 1987, when he spoke at a large ecumenical charismatic
conference in New Orleans, he was praising the pope! I was there with press credentials and
heard him say, “I tell you what, one of the finest representatives of morality in this earth right
now is the pope. People who know [about] it really believe he is a born again man.”

b. We need to practice separation so as not to cause others to stumble (1 Corinthians 8:9-13).

Billy Graham’s philosophy is to preach anywhere he is invited, but he has given a bad example
by preaching in Roman Catholic and liberal Protestant churches. In Poland he preached in the
Catholic churches and even stood outside of the main Mary shrine, the Black Madonna, and
greeted pilgrims. I have a copy of Decision magazine which published a photo of this event.
Graham’s actions of preaching in Catholic churches sent the message that he accepts the Roman
Catholic Church and that it is acceptable to be a part of it. What a terribly wrong message! Only
the Lord knows how many millions of people have been encouraged to stay in heretical churches
because of the refusal of Billy Graham, Franklin Graham, Luis Palau, and countless other
ecumenical preachers to obey the Bible and separate from false teachers.

c. We need to practice separation so as to obey God!

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Christians have many excuses for not separating, but it is never right to do wrong to do right!
My wife has been invited to preach in churches and to men in villages on the mission field, but
she has always refused, because God forbids her to do so (1 Timothy 2:12). She could easily say,
“But the men don’t want to do it and someone needs to preach.” But it is never right to do wrong
in order to do right!

REVIEW QUESTIONS ON SEPARATION PART 1

1. What is the foundation for separation?

2. What are four verses that teach the believer to have a testing mindset?
3. What two things constitute the method of separation?
4. How many times did Paul name the names of false teachers and compromisers in his epistles
to Timothy?
5. What are three ways that the Bible describes the manner of separation?
6. Why should the believer refuse to attend a church or Bible study or conference where false
doctrine is taught?
7. Why must believers be careful about what Christian radio programs they listen to and what
books they read?
8. What are three reasons why we should practice separation?
9. What did Jack van Impe denounce in 1984?
10. What message do ecumenical preachers send when they preach in heretical churches?

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 SEPARATION
Part 2
MEMORY VERSES: Romans 16:17; 1 Corinthians 15:33; 2 Timothy 3:5

In the previous lesson we examined the foundation for separation, the method of separation, and
the reason for separation. In this lesson we will look at the basis of separation, the initiative of
separation, the attitude of separation, and the fruitfulness of separation.

The basis of separation (2 Tim. 2:18)

First, I can’t answer every question about exactly where to draw the line in separation or exactly
when to leave a church or fellowship, etc., when it is going astray. There are some clear
guidelines and principles given in Scripture, and beyond that each believer and each preacher
must follow the Holy Spirit’s guidance (2 Timothy 2:7; 1 John 2:20, 27).

Second, the biblical basis of separation is much narrower than commonly believed and taught.

The standard evangelical philosophy is summarized by the statement, “In essentials unity; in
non-essentials liberty; in all things charity.” Promise Keepers has this philosophy. Speakers at
their events are required to avoid many “divisive” topics, such as “eternal security, the gifts of
the Spirit, baptism, pre-tribulation or post-tribulation prophecy, sacraments or
ordinances” (Promise Keepers Ambassador booklet).

Influential evangelical leader Chuck Swindoll holds this philosophy. He wrote, “There was a
time in my life when I had a position that life was so rigid I would fight for every jot and tittle. I
mean, I couldn’t list enough things that I’d die for. The older I get, the shorter that list
gets” (Grace Awakening, p. 189).

Observe that Swindoll uses the bait and switch method to confuse the issue of separation. At first
he talks about fighting for “every jot and tittle” but then he switches to “things that I’d die for.” I
wouldn’t want to die for the truth of 1 Corinthians 11 about hair length on men and women and
their relative authority in this present world, but since it is part of God’s infallible Word, I do feel
obligated to preach it and even fight for it if it is under attack.

Many Independent Baptists are adopting this philosophy. In Thinking Outside the Box, influential
IB pastor Charles Keen wrote, “I’m a slow learner, but I finally realized that not all truth is of
equal value. ... Let’s decide who the enemies of the cross are and divide from them. Then let’s
decide who the friends of grace are and tolerate them” (p. 81).

We reject this popular philosophy on the authority of the following Scriptures:

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The examples of separation in Scripture cover doctrines that fall into the category of “non-
essential” today. Consider 2 Timothy 2:18. The error that was taught by Hymenaeus and Philetus
was “the resurrection is past already.” They didn’t deny the resurrection; they spiritualized it.
This is similar to what is taught today in the allegorical approach to prophecy and in replacement
theology which claims that the Church has inherited Israel’s promises and covenants. The
interpretation of prophecy is widely believed to be a matter of liberty and not something that we
should separate over, but Paul presented a different philosophy of separation.

Christ taught us to teach the believers to observe ALL things (Mat. 28:20). This means that the
churches should respect everything in the New Testament, not just the “cardinal” or “essential”
things.

Paul preached the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:26-27). Paul made this statement in his final
message to the elders at the church at Ephesus. He was giving them an example to follow.

True Christian unity requires oneness of mind (1 Cor. 1:10). This is a very narrow basis of unity.
True Christian unity is not “unity in diversity.” This passage describes the unity that can be
attained in the local church where doctrinal unity is enforced. It is impossible to obey this
command while at the same time participating in any sort of ecumenical program, whether it be
ecumenical evangelism such as a Franklin Graham or Luis Palau crusade, or evangelical
ecumenism such as a Promise Keepers conference, or liberal ecumenism such as the World
Council of Churches, or fundamentalist ecumenism such as Independent Baptist Friends
International.

Timothy was instructed to keep the apostolic doctrine “without spot” (1 Tim. 6:13-14). A spot is
a small thing! The doctrine that Paul taught in this epistle falls largely into the category labeled
“secondary” today. These include church polity and the role of women in the church.

There is no hint anywhere in the Bible that it is proper to treat some Scripture as “secondary”
for the sake of unity. The popular doctrine has no Bible basis; it is a matter of pragmatism.

Thus, I am convinced that we must draw the line of separation at a much stricter point than is
commonly believed. For example, I was invited to preach at a fundamentalist Presbyterian
College a few years ago. In spite of the fact that I hold a great many things in common with these
brethren, including a defense of the Greek Received Text and the King James Bible and a
fundamentalist stance, I had to decline because the two issues on which we disagree -- infant
baptism and Sovereign Grace Calvinist theology -- are significant.

As a new Christian in the early 1970s I was helped immensely by the pamphlet “A Limited
Message or a Limited Fellowship” by David Nettleton. It was published by the General
Association of Regular Baptists back in the day when they took a good stand for separation,
before they capitulated to New Evangelicalism. Nettleton described how that he was invited as a
young preacher to participate in interdenominational youth meetings. When he was told by the

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leaders that there were things he should not preach on, because they would cause division in an
interdenominational context, he realized that he had to make a choice. Either he had to limit his
message or he had to limit his fellowship. If he chose to preach the whole counsel of God like
Paul did (Acts 20:26-27), then his fellowship and opportunity for ministry would be severely
limited in this hour of end-time apostasy and compromise.

As for where to draw the line, it is better to err on the side of being too strict in separation than
not strict enough. Being loose on separation is a slippery slope of compromise that has resulted
in spiritual downfall for many believers.

And we must think about the next generation. If an older preacher loosens up on separation, it
might not affect his ministry dramatically in his lifetime, but what about the next generation?
Where will his children and grandchildren be and where will they go? It has often been observed
that what parents do in moderation, the children do in excess.

The initiative of separation (2 Tim. 2:20, 21)

The initiative of separation is to be taken by the believer. If, for example, I find that a church or
association or organization has become committed to error, I should take the initiative to leave
rather than wait to be kicked out.

The attitude of separation (2 Tim. 2:24)

We must always guard the spirit while fighting for the faith, and make sure that we don’t “get the
devil in us while we are getting the devil out of others”! It is always wrong to be proud or
hateful. Years ago, Evangelist Mel Rutter gave me this good advice: “Son, be as strong as a rock
in your position and as sweet as honey from the rock in your disposition.”

The fruitfulness of separation (2 Tim. 2:25-26)

We are to reach out to those who need help, but we do it from a separated position. I have seen
many people come out of Roman Catholic, New Evangelical, Charismatic, Seventh-day
Adventist, and other types of heretical and compromised churches, but I have not done this by
preaching in and affiliating with such churches. I have done it through proclaiming the truth by
the printed page, by private conversations, and by preaching in sound churches and other forums
and inviting outsiders to attend.

Conclusion

1. Separation is a matter of spiritual protection. The rejection of separation is a slippery slope (1

Cor. 15:33). The Bible College from which I graduated in the 1970s, Tennessee Temple, was
weak on separation then and grew steadily weaker in the 1980s and 1990s. It is no surprise that

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by the 21st century they were hosting Christian rock concerts and had joined the Southern
Baptist Convention.

2. The rejection of separation begins softly and quietly. It is something that is difficult to put
one’s finger on, something not easy to identify. And those who are at the outset of rejecting
separatism are offended when someone challenges them that this might be happening. The
rejection of separation begins with a mere change in mood toward a more positive emphasis, a
greater tolerance of error. It is a gradual loss of militant zeal in the defense of the faith. The first
step in the rejection of separation can be identified not so much by what a preacher or a church
or a Bible College does or says as by what it fails to do and neglects to say.

The following questions can help identify whether or not an institution is giving up on
separation: Does it ever host a conference on separation? Does it invite strong separatist
preachers to blow the trumpet against compromise in a plain way? Does it publicly and clearly
identify itself with separatists? Does it recommend literature on separation to its members? Or is
separation something that was once preached, talked about, and practiced but now, for the most
part, is left out of the agenda? Is the institution affiliating with those who use Contemporary
Christian Music and contemporary Southern Gospel (which is no different in character from
CCM) and perhaps moving toward adopting this music itself? If so, this is a loud warning,
because CCM is not just music; it is a philosophy of Christianity that is diametrically opposed to
separatism and CCM and a separatist stance cannot and will not live in harmony for long.

3. If error is not stopped early, it cannot be stopped at all. This is why I warn Independent
Baptists that are getting soft on separation.

4. We must educate ourselves, our churches, and our families. The N.T. epistles deal constantly
with error, and this is our pattern for the ministry. Yet, many Bible-believing churches rarely, if
ever, warn plainly about false doctrine and compromise, and they do not appreciate or make use
of ministries that do warn of these things.

5. We must not fear being in the minority. Truth has always been in the minority. The Lord Jesus
warned, “When the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8). He
likened the church age to leaven hidden in a loaf “until the whole was leavened” (Matt. 13:33).
This refers to the spread of apostasy. At the end of the church age, there will be few true
churches and many false ones.

6. Separation is important, but it is not an end in itself. I have preached in some separated
churches that are dead. The essence of the Christian life is not separation but a lively relationship
with the living Christ. And the Lord’s Great Commission is not separation; separation is merely
the wall of protection that allows us to fulfill the Great Commission effectively. Many separatist
churches desperately need spiritual revival.

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REVIEW QUESTIONS ON SEPARATION PART 2

1. What verse says the believer has an anointing from God to teach him?
2. What are the six reasons why we reject the popular philosophy, "In essentials unity; in non-
essentials liberty; in all things charity"?
3. What was the heresy taught by Hymenaeus and Philetus?
4. In Matthew 28:20, how many things did Jesus command us to observe?
5. In what book and chapter did Paul say that he taught the whole counsel of God?
6. In what passage did Paul instruct Timothy to keep the truth without spot?
7. Why does a preacher have to make a choice between a limited message or a limited
fellowship?
8. Does the Bible allow a preacher to limit his message?
9. Who should take the initiative of separation?
10. What kind of attitude should we have in separation?
11. Can we separate and still help people and be fruitful?
12. What verse says evil communications corrupt good manners?
13. How does the rejection of separation begin?
14. If error is not stopped _________, it cannot be stopped ___________.
15. Will the truth be in the majority in the last days?

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 SUFFERING IN THE CHRISTIAN LIFE
Part 1
MEMORY VERSES: Job 5:7; Romans 8:18-19; Hebrews 12:7-8; James 1:2-8

The believer should not be puzzled at suffering, because the Bible plainly states that it is a
necessary part of the Christian life. The Bible even tells us why we suffer.

Suffering comes in many forms: sickness and physical pain, mental depression and darkness,
things breaking and wearing out, lack, loss, dashed hopes and disappointment, slander and other
types of mistreatment by people.

God is in control of the believer’s life as a potter sitting at a potter’s wheel or as a farmer pruning
his vine or as a jeweler purifying his precious metals (Romans 8:28). He knows the beginning
from the end and He has the wisdom and power to accomplish His purposes in our lives.

The believer suffers because he lives in a cursed world (Job 5:7; Romans 8:18-23)

This important passage reminds us that though we are saved we still live in a world that is under
God’s curse and we are therefore subject to its troubles. We are sinners in a sinful world. Paul
describes this present life as “the bondage of corruption,” “groaning,” “travailing,” and “pain.”
This harkens back to Genesis 3:16-19, where God cursed the ground because of Adam’s sin. As a
result, we have to contend with weeds, mud, sand, pests, rust, breakage, deterioration, weary toil,
and pain. God also judged the woman with a far-reaching consequence. “I will greatly multiply
thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be
to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee” (Gen. 3:16).

Consider something as simple as a toothache. A toothache is often caused by eating too many
sweets so that our teeth rot. That is simply the fulfillment of “whatsoever a man soweth, that
shall he also reap” (Gal. 6:7), and the fact that we live in a dying body that is subject to decay. It
won’t happen in Glory! Life is filled with such sufferings. We are not wise to complain against
God or question God about such things. He shows us far more mercy than we deserve, to say the
least.

Murphy’s Law is a humorous expression of the reality of living in a sin-cursed world: “Whatever
can go wrong will go wrong.”

We won’t be free of this condition until Christ comes and we receive “the redemption of our
body” (verse 23). This refers to the bodily resurrection. It is only then that the condition of
“sorrow and sighing” will be replaced with that of “joy and gladness” (Isaiah 35:10).

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The believer suffers because of sin and God’s chastisement (Hebrews 12:1-13)

The believer suffers because God chastens His children for their sin (Heb. 12:1). David suffered
greatly for his sin; his illegitimate child died and his sons rebelled against him (2 Sam.
12:10-12). God forgives sin when it is confessed, but it still has consequences. I had five teeth
knocked out at a pool hall right after I graduated from high school. I was rebelling against the
Lord, and was beginning to suffer the consequences. After I was saved at age 23, I didn’t get my
teeth back. In the church at Corinth, some of the believers were sick and some died because of
their abuse of the Lord’s Supper (1 Cor. 11:29-30). One way God chastens sin is through the
authorities He has placed in this world (1 Peter 4:15). When God’s people break the law, they are
not immune from punishment. In fact, God usually sees to it that they are the first to be caught!

a. God’s discipline of sin is an act of His love (Heb. 12:6).

b. God’s discipline of sin is for the purpose of edification (Heb. 12:10). God is a good Father
and He corrects his children. (Are you a good father?)

c. God’s discipline of sin is an evidence of salvation (Heb. 12:7-8). Some say that if eternal
security is true then the believer can live as he pleases, but those who live as they please
prove that they have not been born again.

d. God’s discipline of sin is not pleasant (Heb. 12:11). It can be hindered. There are many
ways that we can hinder the Lord’s discipline in our lives. We can despise it (Heb. 12:5),
faint under it (Heb. 12:5), refuse it (Heb. 12:7), stop serving (“hands that hang down,” Heb.
12:12), stop praying (“feeble knees,” Heb. 12:12), and turn out of the way (Heb. 12:13).

e. My part is to confess my sin before God (Psa. 38:1-4, 18). This is the opposite of hiding my
sin or excusing it or blaming others.

The believer suffers in order to try his faith (James 1:2-8)

a. A major purpose for suffering is to try our faith. God rates faith very highly; without faith it
is impossible to please Him (Heb. 11:6). The Christian life is all about faith; it is “from
faith to faith” (Romans 1:17). After Adam and Eve sinned against God and rejected His
absolute rule over them, God hid himself from mankind and required that we believe His
Word.

b. Faith is always tested. Testing comes after someone professes faith in Christ. Jesus spoke of
the seed sown among “stony places,” which springs up quickly but then dies because of
“tribulation” (Mat. 13:20-21). Testing also comes after we make new decisions such as the
decision to be faithful to church or to establish a daily Bible reading time or to begin tithing
or to join an organized evangelistic outreach. I recall a converted Hindu who determined
not to marry a Hindu because he did not want to be unequally yoked. His faith was gravely

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 tested when his father and older brother put pressure upon him. They pleaded, threatened,
begged, and even offered him a large sum of money.

c. There are “divers temptations” (verse 2). Troubles come in a great variety of forms. This is
not talking about the devil’s temptations by which he tries to get us to sin. This is referring
rather to troubles that are sent by God or allowed by Him to test our faith.

d. We “fall into” troubles (verse 2). They often come when least expected.

e. Our part is to be patient and let God accomplish his will. Patience comes through faith (2
Thess. 1:4). And both come through God’s Word (Romans 10:17; 15:4).

f. There is a danger of being doubleminded (vv. 6-8). This refers to doubting, quitting,
becoming spiritually unstable.

g. God doesn’t require perfect faith at every moment; He simply requires that we overcome
our doubts and keep on serving Him. Abraham and Sarah are exalted in the New Testament
as heroes of faith (Heb. 11:11, 17), but both of them laughed at God’s promise at one point
in their lives (Gen. 17:17; 18:12). They overcame their doubt and went on to gain a place in
God’s Hall of Faith. The same is true for David when he was chased by Saul and Job when
he was tormented by the devil.

The believer suffers in order to produce spiritual growth (Romans 5:1-5)

a. Tribulation is part of the normal Christian life (Rom. 5:3). The Greek word translated
“tribulation” (thlipsis) means to press in upon. It refers to every type of suffering. It is
elsewhere translated “affliction” (Mk. 13:19), “anguish” (Jn. 16:21), “persecution” (Acts
11:19), “trouble” (1 Cor. 7:28), and “burdened” (2 Cor. 8:13).

b. Our part is to keep a right attitude. “Glory” means to have confidence in something (1 Cor.
1:31; 3:21; 4:7). The Greek word “kauchaomai” is also translated “boast” (Rom. 2:17, 23).
The believer must keep his confidence in God no matter what trouble comes his way.

c. Tribulation, if rightly endured in faith, gives experience in Christian living that enables the
believer to be a blessing to others.

d. Tribulation, if rightly endured in faith, produces increasing confidence in God (Rom. 5:4-5,
“hope”).

e. Tribulation, if rightly endured in faith, produces spiritual growth (Rom. 5:3-5). Gold
requires fire for refining. This is one reason why the older saint should be honored.

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REVIEW QUESTIONS ON SUFFERING IN THE CHRISTIAN LIFE PART 1

1. What are some forms that suffering takes in the Christian life?
2. What are the four reasons for suffering covered in this lesson?
3. When did the world become cursed?
4. When will the curse be lifted?
5. Why does God discipline His children?
6. How did David suffer because of his sin with Bathsheba?
7. What happened to the members of the church at Corinth who abused the Lord's Supper?
8. How is discipline an evidence of salvation?
9. What are six ways that the believer can hinder the Lord's discipline in his life?
10. What verse says that it is impossible to please God without faith?
11. Faith is always ____________.
12. What does it mean to be "doubleminded"?
13. Since Abraham and Sarah laughed at God's promise, why are they listed in Hebrews 11 as
heroes of the faith?
14. What does "tribulation" refer to in Romans 5:3?
15. What does Paul mean when he says we must "glory in tribulation"?

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 SUFFERING IN THE CHRISTIAN LIFE
Part 2
MEMORY VERSES: 2 Corinthians 1:8-9; 2 Corinthians 12:7-10; 2 Timothy 3:12;

In the previous lesson we looked at four reasons for Christian suffering: (1) we live in a cursed
world, (2) God’s chastisement of sin, (3) the trying of faith, and (4) spiritual growth. In this
lesson we will look at five more reasons for suffering.

The believer suffers so he can learn to help others (2 Corinthians 1:3-4)

Another reason why we suffer is so that we can help others through the lessons we learn from
difficult experiences. We can comfort others because we have experienced God’s grace and
comfort. Every trial I have faced in the 37 years of my Christian life has helped me encourage
others.

The believer suffers so he will not trust in himself (2 Corinthians 1:8-9)

Through suffering God empties us of self-confidence and forces us to trust in Him. Every person
greatly used of God must go through this process. Joseph had to suffer for 13 years before he
was exalted to a position of leadership over Egypt. Moses had to suffer for 40 years on the
backside of the desert before he was ready to lead Israel. David had to suffer for six years fleeing
from Saul. The suffering and waiting was a process of spiritual purification.

The believer suffers to humble him (2 Corinthians 12:7-10)

Pride is an attribute of the old fallen flesh (Mark 7:21-22). Even the most foolish, ignorant man
can be proud, and the more successful a man becomes the more he must battle pride. Charles
Spurgeon said that his greatest battle was with pride. God sends suffering to His people with the
design to humble us. Only the Lord Himself knows how many things are sent into our lives, how
many situations He devises, to keep us from being proud.

Paul teaches us how to respond to suffering. First, we should pray that God remove it if it is His
will. Three times Paul asked God to remove the thorn in the flesh. Second, we must submit to
God and accept His will. Paul did not make demands of God; He asked for help. This is the
biblical way to pray. This is how the Lord Jesus Himself prayed (Lk. 22:42). When God showed
Paul that it was not His will to remove the suffering, Paul did not fret and did not continue to beg
God to remove the trouble; he simply submitted. He understood the spiritual principle, “when I
am weak, then am I strong.”

Some Pentecostals who believe that healing is guaranteed have argued that Paul’s infirmity was
not a sickness, but the Greek word translated “infirmity” in 2 Corinthians 12:9 (astheneia) is
elsewhere translated “sickness” (Mat. 8:17; Jn. 11:4) and “disease” (Acts 28:9).

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The believer suffers because of persecution (2 Timothy 3:12)

The believer will suffer persecution because of his faith in Christ. We live in the enemy’s
territory, an enemy that hates God and hates those who believe in God. In some ways, we suffer
more after we are saved than before! This is because we have new enemies that we didn’t have
before: the world, the flesh, and the devil. These were our friends before we were saved. Now
they are our enemies. The apostle Paul was bitterly persecuted by his fellow Jews and by the
idolaters to whom he preached Christ. When I was converted at age 23, I began to be persecuted
by my old friends, by my unbelieving co-workers on the job, and by unbelieving relatives. We
should not be surprised at this.

We will especially suffer persecution when we obey Christ and preach the gospel to the unsaved.
When the light shines, those who hate the light will rail against it!

The believer suffers because of the devil’s attacks (Job 2:3-6)

Like Job of old, the believer also suffers at the hand of the devil. He is our enemy, and his
objective is to discourage and destroy us (1 Pet. 5:8).

We must remember that Satan can only do what he is allowed to do, just as in Job’s situation, but
we must not get upset at God for allowing the trouble. Satan intends the trouble for our
destruction, but God allows it for our benefit and for His glory. Job didn’t understand this, and he
got angry and confused, but we have greater light and we must not be so foolish as to believe the
devil’s lies about God’s character.

It is also important that the believer not give any place to the devil. We give place to the devil
through unconfessed sin (Ephesians 4:22-30). We also give place through association with
idolatry (1 Cor. 10:20-21; 2 Cor. 6:14-17). When I was a new Christian I destroyed books and
music and other things that were associated with the devil, because I didn’t want any connection
with the “god of this world.”

The believer suffers to accomplish God’s purposes (John 9:1-3)

Fanny Crosby was blind from birth, and her life and songs have been a blessing and challenge to
countless people. In her youth she wrote:

O what a happy soul am I!

Although I cannot see
I am resolved that in this world
Contented I will be.

How many blessings I enjoy,

That other people don’t.
To weep and sigh because I’m blind,
I cannot, and I won’t.

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Conclusion

1. Suffering is a necessary part of the Christian life, but our suffering is only for a short time. It is
“for a season” (1 Pet. 1:6). Our affliction is but “for a moment” in comparison to the “eternal
weight of glory” that will follow (2 Cor. 4:17).

2. Many times we will not know the reason for our troubles; we have to trust God. Job is the
prime example of this. The word “why” appears 15 times in Psalms (Psa. 10:1; 22:1; 42:9; 43:2;
44:23; 74:1, 11; 88:14).

3. God often has multiple purposes in suffering. A sickness or a certain difficult situation, for
example, could be for the purpose of teaching patience and humility, purifying from worldliness,
drawing the heart closer to God, increasing faith, and teaching lessons that the sufferer can use to
help others.

4. We go through seasons of suffering (1 Peter 5:10). It is like the cycles of plant life. The tea
plants, for example, are grown in the mountains where we live in South Asia. Those plants go
through amazing cycles. They spread and bear leaves and those leaves are cut off, and from time
to time the plants are pruned severely so that you would think that they are dead, but they aren’t.
They are going through a necessary stage in the production of quality tea. The Christian life is
like that. We go through periods when it seems that the spiritual life is almost dead and we
wonder what is happening and where God is. But those periods aren’t permanent. God, the Great
Farmer, is pruning us and preparing us for more fruit (John 15). Our part is to remain faithful
through it all, to keep our faith in Him. This process doesn’t happen overnight. In fact, it can take
years and even decades for God to work various things into our lives.

5. If you don’t know Christ, you have trouble in this world and even worse trouble forever.

REVIEW QUESTIONS ON SUFFERING IN THE CHRISTIAN LIFE PART 2

1. What are the five reasons for suffering listed in this lesson?
2. How many years did Joseph have to suffer as a slave and prisoner?
3. Charles Spurgeon said that his greatest battle was with __________.
4. How does God help His people stay humble?
5. What did Paul do when God sent him the thorn in the flesh?
6. The Greek word translated "infirmity" in 2 Corinthians 12:9 is elsewhere translated what?
7. What verse says that all who will live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution?
8. Why did Job suffer?
9. What verse says to be sober and vigilant because of the devil?
10. What are two ways that we can give place to the devil in our lives?
11. What verse says after we suffer awhile, the Lord establishes, strengthens, and settles us?

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 FASTING
MEMORY VERSES: Matthew 6:16-18; 17:21

Biblical fasting is abstinence from food and perhaps other legitimate pleasures in order to
concentrate on a definite spiritual problem or need. It is done in conjunction with confession of
sin and prayer.

Warnings about Fasting

1. Biblical fasting is not for show (Matthew 6:16-18). God hates hypocritical religion, which is
man’s attempt to appear holy before other men without possessing true holiness before God. In
this passage, Christ rebukes the kind of fasting that is done for the sake of appearing spiritual
before men. He is not making light of the practice of fasting itself when done properly. In fact,
He takes for granted that His followers will fast. He did not say “IF thou fastest,” but rather,
“WHEN thou fastest.” And He made a wonderful and definite promise that those who practice
biblical fasting will be rewarded openly by God the Father.

2. Biblical fasting is not an empty religious ritual (Luke 18:12). This is the statement of a
Pharisee who was practicing religion in an attempt to justify himself before God. He observed a
regular period of fasting. Nowhere, though, does the Bible require such a practice. Fasting is not
a ritual observed once a week, or once a month, or prior to the Lord’s Supper, etc. Fasting, rather,
is something that is practiced when a special need arises and when the Holy Spirit leads.

3. Biblical fasting is not for physical health. Though various sorts of fastings may or may not
promote better health, this is never the purpose given in the Bible for fasting. Many popular
Christian books emphasize the importance of fasting for physical benefit, but this is not biblical
fasting. We cannot say that fasting is or is not good for the health, and we cannot say it either is
wrong or right to fast for health. We are saying, simply, that the Bible does not speak of fasting in
light of health.

4. Biblical fasting is not an empty ascetic practice (Colossians 2:20-23). Some false teachers in
Paul’s day were practicing fasting because they believed it made them holy. They taught that
salvation and sanctification were attained by following a list of rules (“touch not, taste not,
handle not”). The Roman Catholic monastic system adopted this error. The monastics locked
themselves away from society and beat themselves and starved themselves and refused to bathe
or to change their clothes and many such things with the goal of “climbing the ladder” to heaven
and drawing nigh to God. But this is a false gospel. Salvation is a free gift of God’s grace, and
sanctification and spiritual victory is not through asceticism but through obedience to the simple
New Testament faith by the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Fasting is an important part of
the Christian life and ministry, but we must be careful that we do not think that spirituality comes

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through punishing the body and observing various rituals and dietary laws. True spirituality is
being in a right relationship with and fellowship with Jesus Christ.

5. Fasting does not necessarily guarantee that one’s prayers will be answered. In 2 Samuel 12 we
have the record of how David fasted and prayed for God to preserve the life of the child which
had been conceived through his adulterous relationship with Bathsheba. God did not honor
David’s fast in that particular case. This reminds us that fasting, while an important practice in
spiritual warfare, is not a guarantee that we will get what we are desiring from God. Earnest
prayer with fasting does often result in the answer one is seeking, but it is no guarantee. God is
always sovereign in answering prayer, and we must always submit to His will.

6. Fasting is not a matter of law but of liberty. It is a personal matter. Fasting is important and
useful in Christian life and service, but it is not something that can be commanded and it is not
something by which we are to judge the spiritual condition of others.

The Importance of Fasting

The importance of fasting is seen in the number of positive references in the Old and New
Testaments. There are over 30 positive examples, commands, and instructions in Scripture about
fasting.

Judges 20:26--Israel fasted for victory in war

1 Sam. 1:6-7--Hannah fasted for a son
1 Sam. 7:6--Israel fasted in repentance
1 Sam. 31:13--Men of Jabeshgilead fasted in mourning for Saul
2 Sam. 1:12--David and his men fasted in mourning for Saul, Jonathan, and the fallen of Israel
2 Sam. 12--David fasted for mercy upon his child
1 Kings 21:27--Ahab fasted for mercy
2 Chron. 20:3--Jehoshaphat and Israel fasted for help and protection
Ezra 8:21-23--Ezra and the Jews fasted for help and protection
Nehemiah 1:4--Nehemiah fasted in mourning and for help
Nehemiah 9:1-2--Israel fasted in mourning and repentance
Esther 4:16--Esther and friends fasted for victory
Esther 9:3--Fasting is mentioned as having had a role in the victory
Psalm 35:13-14--Fasting in prayer and mourning
Psalm 69: 10-11--Fasting in prayer and mourning
Isaiah 58:6-8--The fast which pleases God
Jeremiah 36:9--Israel fasted for mercy
Joel 1:14; 2:12, 15--God commanded fasting and repentance
Jonah 3:5--The Ninevites fasted in repentance for mercy
Daniel 9:3--Daniel fasted for wisdom
Matthew 4:2--Jesus fasted when tempted in the wilderness
Matthew 6:17-18--Jesus promised that the Father would bless fasting

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Matthew 9:14-15--Jesus said his disciples would fast
Matthew 17:21--Fasting is necessary for overcoming some demonic strongholds
Mark 9:29--Fasting is necessary for overcoming demonic powers
Luke 2:37--Fasting was part of Anna’s service to God
Acts 13:2--Fasting was part of the ministry of the workers at Antioch
Acts 13:3--Ordination was accompanied by fasting
Acts 14:23--Ordination was accompanied by fasting
1 Corinthians 7:5--Fasting and prayer is the only proper reason for abstinence from the marital
relationship
2 Corinthians 6:5--Fasting was one way Paul approved himself as a minister of Jesus Christ
2 Corinthians 11:27--Paul fasted often

These examples and instructions regarding fasting cannot be taken lightly. We are told that the
examples of Scripture are as important as are its commands--1 Corinthians 10:11; Romans 15:4.
The Lord Jesus Christ is our Pattern (1 Peter 1:21), and His fasting during the temptation in the
wilderness is our example, just as His prayers during the temptations in the garden are our
examples. Also we are told that the Apostle Paul is to be imitated (Philippians 3:17; 4:9), and
Paul put before us the example of frequent fasting (2 Cor. 11:27).

The Chief Purpose of Fasting

The Lord Jesus said that fasting is an essential part of spiritual warfare, and those who war
against satanic strongholds know this to be a fact (Matthew 17:18-21)! There are indeed demonic
strongholds that can be conquered by NOTHING but prayer AND fasting.

What Are Some Other Occasions When We Should Fast?

In addition to fasting to overcome demonic strongholds, following are some other occasions that
call for fasting.

1. Fast when sorely tempted (Matthew 4:2).

2. Fast when wisdom is earnestly desired (Daniel 9:3).

3. Fast when God’s help and protection are needed (Ezra 8:21-23; 2 Chronicles 20:3; Jeremiah
36:9).

4. Fast when victory is desired in seemingly impossible situations (Esther 4:10-17; 9:31; Neh.
1:4).

5. Fast during times of special repentance, confession, and revival (Joel 1:14; 2:12; 2:15; Neh.
9:1-2).

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6. Fast when new ministries are launched and when men go forth to proclaim God’s Word and
battle spiritual enemies (Acts 13:2-3; 14:23).

7. Fast when involved in spiritual ministry (2 Corinthians 6:5; 11:27).

An Encouraging Promise about Fasting (Matthew 6:17-18)

The Lord Jesus Christ made a definite promise about fasting. When one fasts in the proper
manner for the proper reason -- “the Father which seeth in secret SHALL reward thee openly.”
This is one of the most wonderful promises in the Bible and cannot be dismissed lightly. God
would not make such a promise if He did not consider fasting important. Christ never
discouraged proper fasting. He condemned and corrected false practices, but never did He
discourage Scriptural fasting. In fact, He took for granted that His followers would fast.

Why Does God Require fasting?

We can’t answer this question fully, perhaps, but we do know that fasting demonstrates the
earnestness and desire of the heart (Hebrews 11:6).

God sees the hearts of men, but the Bible says He requires open evidence of the heart’s desire--
Joel 2:12. “Therefore also now, saith the Lord, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with
fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning.”

This is seen in Abraham’s offering of Isaac. God knew that Abraham would obey and give up the
beloved son, but He required Abraham to go through with the act, up to the very point of driving
the knife into Isaac’s heart. Only then did God say, “For now I know that thou fearest God,
seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me” (Gen. 22:12).

Fasting can be seen as one way of evidencing the earnestness and sincerity of our hearts toward
God in matters of prayer. We can say that such things as fasting are not necessary since God
knows our hearts, but examples such as the one about Abraham and his son show that God does
require evidence of our faith and earnestness.

How Long Is a Biblical Fast?

The Bible sets no specific time length for fasting. Daniel fasted 21 days. Esther and Mordecai
fasted 3 days and nights. The Lord Jesus fasted 40 days in the wilderness. But frequently the
Bible simply does not say how long people fasted. We are not told, for example, how long Ezra
fasted before making the journey to Jerusalem (Ezra 8:21-23).

Fasting is a matter of individual freedom under the direction of the Holy Spirit. It can be one
meal or many meals, according to the need of the hour and the direction of God. Romans 14

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speaks of this sort of thing and says, “Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind” (Rom.
14:5).

What Is a Biblical Fast?

A biblical fast has the following basic elements:

1. Abstinence from food and normal physical pleasures (Matthew 4:1-2; 1 Corinthians 7:5).

2. Prayer (Matthew 17:21). Biblical fasting is always associated with an increased attention to
prayer and communion with God. Fasting divorced from prayer is not biblical fasting.

3. Confession of sins (Daniel 9:3-6; see entire chapter). Biblical examples of fasting are often
connected with periods of special repentance and confession of sins.

4. Separation from the evil things of the world and drawing nigh to God (James 4:4-10). The
context of this passage is resisting the devil. It is talking about spiritual warfare, which is the
main purpose of fasting. To defeat the devil, the believer must cleanse himself of evil and draw
nigh to God.

There are no rigid guidelines for fasting in the Bible. In Daniel’s fast of 21 days, we are told that
he ate “no pleasant bread, nor flesh, nor wine” (Dan. 10:3). Apparently, Daniel did eat
something, but he abstained from pleasant foods.

Since God has not given specific instructions about fasting, it is to be a private matter between an
individual and the Lord. A nursing mother, for example, would be unwise to go entirely without
food for any significant length of time, because not only is she dependent upon that food, but her
infant is also. People with health problems such as diabetes must be careful about fasting. God
has promised, “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide
thee with mine eye” (Psa. 32:8). This promise applies to fasting. God will guide me as to when to
fast, and how long, and from what I should abstain.

I would also emphasize that though there are no rigid guidelines for fasting, a biblical fast should
have a serious element to it to be effective. Fasting from supper to breakfast is not a serious fast.
Skipping one meal is not a serious fast. I recall a young pastor who told me that he went on a
milkshake fast and for two days lived on milkshakes. That is not a serious biblical fast! It is the
exact opposite of Daniel’s fast. Whereas he ate no pleasant bread, a milkshake fast, in a sense, is
eating nothing but pleasant bread! In my estimation, nothing less than a full day of fasting should
even begin to be called a biblical fast.

REVIEW QUESTIONS ON FASTING

1. What is biblical fasting?

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2. What are six warnings that we give about fasting?
3. Why did the Pharisees fast?
4. How much does the Bible say about fasting for health?
5. What was the false gospel of the heretics that Paul warned about in Colossians 2:20-23?
6. Does fasting guarantee that one's prayers will be answered?
7. How many examples and instructions about fasting are in the Bible?
8. How much did Paul fast?
9. What is the chief purpose of fasting?
10. What are seven other occasions when we should fast?
11. In what passage did Jesus give an encouraging promise about fasting?
12. How long is a biblical fast?
13. What are the four elements of a biblical fast?

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 MIRACLES
MEMORY VERSES: Matthew 12:39; 24:24; John 20:31-32; Romans 8:22-25; 2 Corinthians
12:12

There is a lot of confusion today about the place of miracles in the Christian life and ministry. Is
divine healing for today? Are there apostles and prophets today? We have dealt with these and
many other issues extensively in the book The Pentecostal-Charismatic Movements, available
from Way of Life Literature. We advise each student to read this book carefully.

In this present lesson we will consider some of the foundational teachings of Scripture that can
help us understand these issues.

1. The miracles of Christ and the miracles of the apostles had a special, temporary purpose and
are not models for the entire church age.

a. The miracles of Jesus were signs to prove that He was the Messiah (John 5:26; 10:25,
37-38; 14:11; 15:24; 20:30-31). These Scriptures leave no doubt as to the purpose of
Christ’s miracles. Even the apostles could not do all of the amazing things that Jesus did
(i.e., quieting storms and feeding the multitudes), and had they done so the sign nature of
Christ’s miracles would have been rendered ineffective.

What about John 14:12? This cannot mean that believers through the centuries would be
able to do greater sign miracles than Jesus. That would be impossible. What could be
greater than feeding multitudes, walking on the water, and raising the dead? Jesus did not
say that the disciples would do greater miracles; He said they would do greater works.
Though the word “works” is sometimes used to describe Jesus’ miracles, it is not limited to
that. Whereas Jesus ministered only in Palestine and saw relatively few souls saved under
His direct ministry, His disciples have ministered throughout the world and have seen
multitudes of souls saved. Whereas Jesus wrote no books, the apostles completed the
canon of Scripture. God’s people have enjoyed the power to live holy lives in the face of a
godless generation, to withstand the most searing persecution, and to preach the gospel to
the ends of the earth. God’s people have continued to experience miracles and have done
great works, but they have not done the Messianic sign miracles.

b. The apostles did miracles to prove that they were apostles (Mark 3:14-15; 2 Corinthians
12:12). If we examine the book of Acts carefully, we will see that the miracles were done
by the apostles. Examples can be found in Acts 2:43; 4:33; 5:12. The only exceptions were
a few men closely associated with the apostles and upon whom the apostles had laid hands.
The vast majority of believers in the early churches could not do the sign miracles. When
Tabitha was sick, the believers at Joppa could not heal her, and when she died, they could
not raise her from the dead. They had to call Peter, the apostle (Acts 9:36-41). If such

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 miracles could be done indiscriminately by Christians in general, the sign of the apostle
would be rendered ineffective. If I tell a stranger that is meeting me at the airport that I will
be wearing a red hat when I come off of the plane, the red hat is the sign of recognition; but
if other people on my flight disembark wearing red hats the sign is destroyed. There was no
general miracle-working experience among the first churches. They were special signs for a
special time.

2. God does not always heal, but He often does heal in answer to prayer.

a. The New Testament gives the following three examples that conclusively prove that God
does not always heal the believer’s sicknesses.

(1) The case of Timothy (1 Timothy 5:23). Timothy was sick frequently and the apostle
Paul instructed him to use a little wine for his stomach’s sake and his often infirmities.
God did not heal Timothy supernaturally from his sickness nor did he instruct Timothy
to curse his illnesses or to exercise “the word of faith” over them.

(2) The case of Trophimus (2 Timothy 4:20). Paul had to leave Trophimus behind in
Miletum sick. He was not supernaturally healed.

(3) The case of Paul (2 Corinthians 12:7-10). Three times Paul asked God to take away
this problem, but the Bible says God refused to do so. Paul was told that this infirmity
was something God wanted him to bear for his spiritual well-being. Upon learning this,
Paul bowed to God’s will and wisely said: “Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in
reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am
weak, then am I strong” (2 Cor. 12:10). This is a perfect example for Christians today.
We should pray for healing and release from trials and difficulties, but when God does
not heal, we must bow to His will and accept that sickness or trial as something from
the divine hand. This is not lack of faith; it is submission to the sovereignty of Almighty
God. Some Pentecostals have argued that Paul’s infirmity was not a sickness, but the
Greek word translated “infirmity” in 2 Corinthians 12:9 (astheneia) is elsewhere
translated “sickness” (Mat. 8:17; Jn. 11:4) and “disease” (Acts 28:9).

b. God heals today after the pattern of James 5:13-15. This passage describes a private healing
situation rather than a public healing meeting and it says nothing about someone who has
“the gift of healing.” It refers simply to the elders of the church who anoint the sick person
and pray over him.

c. Romans 8:22-25 reminds us that we will not receive our glorified state until Christ returns.
Until then we are subject to the trouble, suffering, and death of this sin-cursed world, and
that includes sickness.

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3. Jesus warned against seeking miracles (Matthew 12:38-39). This passage is a loud rebuke of
the modern Pentecostal-Charismatic movements.

4. The Bible warns about false signs and wonders at the end of the church age (Matthew 24:24).
Jesus warned that one of the characteristics of the end of the age would be “great signs and
wonders” performed by false prophets. Therefore, it is obvious that just because someone is
doing miracles does not mean that they are of God. They might be of the devil! The only way
that we can tell the difference is by testing the teaching by the Bible. We must “prove all
things” (1 Thessalonians 5:21). We must be like the Bereans who “searched the scriptures daily,
whether those things were so” (Acts 17:11). Only in this way can we protect ourselves from the
wiles of the devil.

REVIEW QUESTIONS ON MIRACLES

1. What are four foundational Bible teachings about miracles?

2. What was the purpose of Jesus' miracles?
3. What did Jesus mean when He said that believers would do greater works than He did?
4. What was the purpose of the apostolic miracles?
5. In what verse did Paul mention the "signs of an apostle"?
6. If such miracles could be done indiscriminately by Christians in general, the sign of the
apostle would be rendered ________________.
7. What are three cases in the New Testament that prove that God does not always heal the
believer's sickness?
8. In what book and chapter does the New Testament explain how to anoint and pray for the
sick?
9. What did Jesus say about those who seek signs?
10. How can the believer be protected from the devil's deception?

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 A TESTING MINDSET
MEMORY VERSES: Psalm 119:128; Proverbs 14:15; Acts 17:11; 2 Corinthians 10:5;
Colossians 2:8; 1 Thessalonians 5:21; 1 Peter 5:8

One thing that a Christian must develop if he wants to have spiritual victory is a testing mindset.
This means that he must learn to test everything by the Bible to see if it is right or wrong, true or
false.

I thank the Lord that the man who led me to Christ taught me this so that I started out my
Christian life with a testing mindset. It has protected me from many spiritual pitfalls. Traveling
together from south Florida to Mexico, we stopped at a Christian bookstore somewhere on the
Gulf Coast. I think it was Mobile, Alabama. He bought me a King James Bible, and then he
pointed to all of the books that were for sale and said, “You must be very careful and test
everything by God’s Word. You can’t trust man; you can’t trust the “big names.” The Bible warns
that there will be many false teachers.” It was with this wise counsel that I began my Christian
life.

The testing mindset is despised today among most professing Christians, even “evangelicals.” I
recall the first ecumenical conference I attended with press credentials. It was in New Orleans in
1987 and there were tens of thousands of attendees representing 40 different denominations.
Roman Catholics formed a large presence. There was even a Roman Catholic mass each
morning. One day I was talking with an Episcopalian lay leader and he gave me his testimony of
salvation which sounded Scriptural. I then said something to the effect, “If you believe the Bible
and know the Lord, how can you be comfortable in the midst of this heretical stew?” He replied,
“You need to relax more; you are too afraid of being deceived.”

That is dangerous and very foolish advice in light of the warnings that follow.

Matthew 7:15-17

1. Jesus warned that false prophets will deceive men. We should not be surprised that there are so
many false churches today. We must expect that there will be false prophets and we must be
careful so we will not be deceived by them.

2. Jesus said that the false prophets will appear as true prophets outwardly and by this means
they deceive the unwary. They have Bibles; they talk about Jesus and salvation and good living.
They have churches and teach doctrine.

3. False teachers are known by their fruit (vv. 16-20).

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 a. The fruit of false teachers is not works; in verses 22-23 Jesus says that false teachers will do
“many wonderful works.”

b. The sure fruit of a false teacher is his false doctrine (Acts 20:30; Rom. 16:17; Gal. 1:6-7; 1
Tim. 1:3; 2 Pet. 2:1; 1 John 4:1-2). Consider Mother Teresa. She did many good works in
caring for the poor and sick in the neediest parts of the world, but she didn’t know Christ
and trusted in a false gospel and taught heresies. The 2007 book Mother Teresa: Come Be
My Light contains statements made by the nun to her Catholic confessors and superiors
over a period of more than 66 years. She continually referred to her spiritual condition as
“my darkness” and to Jesus as “the Absent One.” In March 1953 she wrote, “... there is
such terrible darkness within me, as if everything was dead. It has been like this more or
less from the time I started ‘the work.’” At the suggestion of one confessor she wrote the
following to Jesus: “I call, I cling, I want -- and there is no One to answer -- no One on
Whom I can cling -- no, No One. -- Alone ... Where is my Faith -- even deep down right in
there is nothing, but emptiness & darkness. ... When I try to raise my thoughts to heaven --
there is such convicting emptiness that those very thoughts return like sharp knives & hurt
my very soul. -- I am told God loves me -- and yet the reality of darkness & coldness &
emptiness is so great that nothing touches my soul.” In 1962 she wrote: “If I ever become a
Saint -- I will surely be one of ‘darkness.’” In 1984 we interviewed Sister Ann of the
Missionaries of Charity, which is Mother Teresa’s organization. Ann was working with
elderly people in Nepal, and she said that they do not try to convert dying Hindus to Christ
but simply instruct them to pray to their gods.

Matthew 24:4-5, 11, 24

1. Jesus warned again that there will be false prophets and they will multiply at the end of the
church age. The closer we draw to His return the more spiritual deception we can expect to
encounter, and we are seeing that in our day. Most churches are not true to the Bible. False
teachers abound.

2. Observe that the deception of the end times will be so effective that “insomuch that, if it were
possible, they shall deceive the very elect.” That is powerful deception. How diligent and
cautious we must be!

3. It is the believer’s responsibility to protect himself and his loved ones by being cautious and
having a testing mindset.

4. Jesus warned that false teachers will deceive through “signs and wonders.” This brings to
mind the Pentecostal-Charismatic movement, which has a great emphasis on miracles. In light of
Jesus’ warning, we know that just because a preacher’s ministry is accompanied by alleged
miracles does not mean it is of God. Every ministry must be tested by the Bible, and by the Bible
alone.

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5. Jesus warned about false christs, and the world abounds with them today. The Christ of the
Roman Catholic Church is a consecrated wafer and a weak man in strong Mary’s arms. The
Christ of Jehovah’s Witnesses and Unitarians is not God. The Christ of the Mormons is a brother
to Satan. The Christ of the New Age gained mystical wisdom in India. The Christ of the Da Vinci
Code is a married man. The Christ of Liberation Theology is a freedom fighter. The Christ of the
Jesus Seminar brand is a confused man that didn’t know what he was doing. The Christ of
Christian rockers is a party dude. The Christ of the emerging church is an environmentalist. The
Christ of Islam didn’t die on the cross.

John 8:31-32

1. The only way to know the truth and to be set free from sin and error is to continue in Jesus’
Word. Notice that He didn’t say “words” plural but “word” singular. This refers to the
inscripturated Word, the Bible. The Word of God has been written under divine inspiration,
canonized, and preserved for us in the Bible. Therefore, if we want to know the truth, we need to
read it, study it, memorize it, meditate on it, obey it, and test everything by it.

2. This is the only way, and it is also a sure way. Jesus gives His solemn promise that if we
continue in His Word we WILL know the truth. This is one of the promises that motivated me to
study the Bible diligently as a young Christian and to persist over the past 37 years. I want to
know the truth, and Christ has given me His promise. Many voices within Christianity claim that
we cannot be certain of what doctrine is correct, so we should just get along, but Jesus gave His
promise that we can know. Compare John 7:17.

Acts 17:11

1. The Jews at Berea are commended for testing everything carefully by the Scriptures. This isn’t
popular in modern Christianity but it is called “noble” in God’s Word.

2. Notice that they searched the Scripture daily. Before you can test anything by God’s Word you
must first study it.

1 Thessalonians 5:21

1. We are admonished to prove all things. This is a far-reaching obligation. We should test
everything in our lives by God’s holy Word, not only Christian teaching and “church” things but
also job, friends, fashion, entertainment, marriage, child training methods, music, and all other
things.

2. We are also admonished to hold fast that which is good, which refers to those things that are in
accordance with and approved by God’s Word.

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2 Corinthians 10:5

1. God wants the believer to bring every thought into captivity to the truth. What a far-reaching
command!

2. We do this by filling our minds with God’s Word and letting it measure every thought that
enters our hearts.

3. The human imagination is a great spiritual battleground and must be guarded jealously. The
modern entertainment industry aims its heavy guns at man’s imagination. Satanic-led
entertainment creators want to corrupt the imagination through sensuality and turn it from the
living God through the creation of vain worlds. There is particular danger for believers in the
genres of science fiction and horror.

2 Corinthians 11:3-4

1. There is great spiritual danger for Christians (2 Cor. 11:3-4). Paul was afraid for the Corinthian
believers because they were not careful about doctrine.

2. The devil complicates doctrine (“corrupted from the simplicity,” 2 Cor. 11:3). Examples of this
are theological modernism, Calvinistic Reformed theology, and emerging church doctrine. The
truth of God’s Word is exceedingly deep, but it also has a basic simplicity that is comprehensible
to ordinary people (Luke 10:21).

3. Paul warned of false christs, false gospels, and false spirits. The believer must be careful not to
believe someone just because he talks about Christ or the gospel or the Spirit. Everything must
be carefully tested by God’s Word.

4. We see in verse 4 that the teaching of the apostles is the standard for the truth (“whom we have
not preached”). We have the teaching of the apostles in the New Testament Scriptures. This is the
“faith once delivered to the saints” (Jude 3) by which we are to measure teaching and practice.

5. The devil is clever and must be resisted with much wisdom and zeal (2 Cor. 11:3).

6. Broadmindedness in doctrinal matters is evidence of carnality, not spirituality. Because the

Corinthians were carnal (1 Cor. 3:1-2), Paul knew they might “well bear with” the false teachers
(v. 4). This does not mean they would necessarily follow the false teaching but they would put up
with it; they would not resist it properly. Being able to “see both sides” is not a mark of
spirituality. There is only one side to the truth! The way of truth is narrow (Mat. 7:14).

7. False teachers imitate true teachers (2 Cor. 11:13-15). They don’t invent new things; they
pervert the old things. They have churches and Bibles and preach Jesus. The closer something is
to the truth, the more difficult it is to discern its error.

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Colossians 2:8

1. Again we are exhorted to beware of false teachers. We must have a testing mindset.

2. Notice that false teachers desire to “spoil.” The idea is to rob. False teachers want to rob
believers of their absolute confidence in the truth of God’s Word and in the grace of Christ and to
replace this with human tradition and philosophy.

3. The way to defeat these false teachers is to hold fast to the Bible as the divinely-inspired Word
of God and as the sole authority for faith and practice (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

Revelation 2:2, 6

1. The church at Ephesus was commended for testing false teachers and for rejecting them. Jesus
was pleased with this. It is something that every individual believer and every church should
emulate.

2. Observe that the church felt very strongly about this matter. They labeled the false teachers
“liars” and hated their deeds.

Proverbs 14:15

The book of Proverbs contrasts the wise with the foolish. In this proverb, the foolish person is
said to be gullible and easily deceived because he doesn’t carefully test everything by God’s
Word. The word “simple” here does not refer to simple-minded; it refers to gullible. The
“simple” reads Christian books and hears sermons and attends conferences and takes everything
in without testing it.

Psalms 119:128

1. The Psalmist gives the example of loving God’s Word and hating everything that is false. That
is a testing mindset. The Bible is the absolute standard for truth, and by comparing everything in
life with this Standard we can be protected from error.

2. We see that the believer should be passionate about the truth. The Psalmist was not neutral or
half-hearted in this matter. He held God’s Word in great esteem and hated every false way.

REVIEW QUESTIONS ON A TESTING MINDSET

1. In what book and chapter did Jesus warn the people to beware of false prophets?
2. Why are false teachers able to deceive so many?
3. Can false teachers do good works?
4. What is the fruit of a false teacher?

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5. In Matthew 24 Jesus warned that false teachers will deceive by ______ ____ ________.
6. What are some false christs today?
7. Where can we find the word of Jesus today?
8. In what passage did Jesus promise that those who continue in His Word will know the truth?
9. Why were the Jews at Berea commended?
10. What verse says to prove all things?
11. How many of our thoughts should be brought into captivity to Christ?
12. How can we do this?
13. Why was Paul fearful about the believers at Corinth?
14. Who corrupts the simplicity that is in Christ?
15. Paul warned the Corinthians about false _________, false __________, and false
___________.
16. Why is broadmindedness not a good trait in doctrinal matters?
17. False teachers don't invent _______ things; they pervert the _______ things.
18. How can we defeat the false teachers who teach philosophy and tradition?
19. Did Jesus rebuke the church of Ephesus for exposing false teachers?
20. Is it right to hate false teaching?

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 TONGUES SPEAKING
Part 1
MEMORY VERSES: Acts 2:4-6; 1 Corinthians 12:30; 13:8; 14:20-22, 27, 33, 34, 37, 40

The biblical gift of tongues is a major emphasis of the Pentecostal-Charismatic movements, but
the Bible teaches that this was a temporary practice limited to the first churches. Following are
seven important lessons on the doctrine of tongues:

1. Biblical tongues were real earthly languages (Acts 2:4-11).

A foundational fact about biblical tongues is that they were real languages, not some sort of
unintelligible mutterings. The law of first mention is an important rule of Bible interpretation,
and the first time we see the exercise of tongues in the New Testament is in Acts 2:6-11. Here we
see that the gift of tongues was the miraculous ability to speak in a language that one had never
learned. At least 14 or 15 different languages are mentioned here. These were normal earthly
languages spoken by men in that day, and the Jewish disciples were able to speak in these
languages even though they had never learned them. There is no reason to believe that the gift of
tongues mentioned in 1 Corinthians 12-14 is different from that mentioned in the book of Acts.
In both places the tongues consisted of speaking in earthly languages that one had never learned.
The same Greek word “glossa” is used for both. This word refers to the tongue itself (Mk. 7:33)
or to a language spoken by the tongue.

2. Biblical tongues were a sovereignly-given miraculous gift (Acts 2:4; 1 Corinthians 12:7-11)

This is a foundational truth about tongues and it teaches us that tongues speaking cannot be
worked up or learned, which contradicts the standard practice among Pentecostals and
Charismatics today. For example, Dennis Bennett said: “Open your mouth and begin to speak.
Don’t speak English, or any other language you know, for God can’t guide you to speak in
tongues if you are speaking in a language known to you. ... Just like a child learning to talk for
the first time, open your mouth and speak out the first syllables and expressions that come to
your lips” (The Holy Spirit and You, pp. 76, 77).

There is absolutely nothing like this in the New Testament. The disciples were not trying to
speak in tongues on the day of Pentecost. They had not attended a class in tongues speaking.
Nowhere in the New Testament are we given instructions about how to speak in tongues. If you
can learn how to do something, it would not be a miracle!

3. The gift of tongues was accompanied by the equally miraculous gift of the interpretation
of tongues (1 Cor. 14:27-28).

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When we come to the Pentecostal-Charismatic movements, though, the “interpretation of
tongues” is a very strange thing, because there is little semblance between the “tongues” and the
“interpretation.” I have oftentimes heard tongues messages composed of three or four words
(e.g., shalalama, shalabama, shalanoona, shalalama, shalabama, shalanoona) interpreted as a
detailed spiritual message. Former Pentecostal Fernand Legrand of France describes the
Pentecostal “interpretation dilemma” -- “IN ALL THE CASES OF INTERPRETATION THAT I
HAVE CHECKED PERSONALLY WITH THE GREATEST CARE AND WITH AN OPEN
MIND, I HAVE DISCOVERED NOTHING OTHER THAN HUMAN FABRICATION AND
DELIBERATE TRICKERY”

Legrand devised a test. He recorded a Scottish man saying the Lord’s Prayer and asked some
Charismatics to interpret, but “the ‘Lord’s Prayer’ in English transformed itself into a message of
encouragement in French!” (Legrand, All about Speaking in Tongues, pp. 47-51).

Legrand devised another challenge, but no Pentecostal or Charismatic has agreed to submit to it.
“Prepare a meeting where one of you will speak in tongues and three others will make a recorded
interpretation in isolation. The interpretations that ought to say more or less the same thing will
then be compared. ... HERE IN WRITING I STAND BY THIS YET UNANSWERED
PROPOSITION AS A CHALLENGE TO ANY CHARISMATIC TONGUES-SPEAKING
COMMUNITY” (All about Speaking in Tongues, p. 52).

4. Biblical tongues were a sign to unbelieving Israel regarding the founding of the church
and they ceased when this purpose was completed (1 Corinthians 14:20-22).

Another foundational truth about biblical tongues is that they were chiefly a sign to Israel that
God was extending the gospel to all nations. The Corinthians were abusing the spiritual gifts and
were particularly enamored with tongues. As spiritual infants (1 Cor. 3:1), they were “showing
off” to one another. Paul tells them to stop being children and to be men, by understanding the
true purpose of tongues. It was a fulfillment of the prophecy in Isaiah 28:11-12 that was directed
to the Jews.

The miraculous tongues were a sign to the unbelieving Jews that God was speaking to all nations
of men and calling them into one new spiritual body composed of both Jews and Gentiles. “This
people” in Isaiah 28:11 refers to the Jewish nation to whom the prophet Isaiah was speaking.

Each time we see the gift of tongues exercised in the book of Acts Jews were present (Acts
2:6-11; 10:46; 19:6). On the day of Pentecost and in Acts 19 it was the Jews themselves that
spoke in tongues. Fernand Legrand makes the following important observation:

“It is worth noting that wherever the sign appears, it is always in the presence of JEWS, and
where we do not find Jews, as in Athens or in Malta, neither do we find the sign. ... It is in the very
nature of the sign that we find the nature of their unbelief. ... The sign denounced or corrected
their lack of faith concerning the salvation of those who spoke languages that were foreign to their
own, that is, the Gentiles. .... But this was precisely what the Jews did not want to believe. In fact,

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 they were ‘contrary to all men: forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved’ (1
Thess. 2:15-16). ... The idea of now being made one with foreigners was more than the first-
century Jews could stand. The thought alone was enough to fire up their Hebrew atavism. Yet
that was the first thing they had to understand and finally admit. So God gave them the best sign
possible to make them understand what they could not or would not believe; HE
MIRACULOUSLY MADE JEWS SPEAK IN THE LANGUAGES OF FOREIGNERS. IN SO
DOING, GOD PUT JEWISH PRAISE INTO THESE PAGAN TONGUES. ...

“A simple but attentive reading of the Bible reveals the scenario of fierce Jewish opposition
towards everything that was not specifically Jewish. We see Jonah who hates the men of
Nineveh to the point of disobeying God. ... In his frustration he goes as far as asking for his own
death. If Nineveh lives, may Jonah die! ... This spirit of opposition and unbelief will only be
reinforced over the centuries. The Jews belong to Yahveh and Yahveh to them, in a closed circle
of bigotry; everyone else is cursed. ...

“Daring to suggest that people with a tongue different from their own could benefit from the
goodness of God, was to risk one’s life. They led Jesus to the top of a hill to throw Him off
because He had just said: ‘many widows were in Israel in the days of Elias, when the heaven was
shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout all the land; but unto
none of them was Elias sent, save unto Sarepta, a city of Sidon, unto a woman that was a
widow.’ Jesus added to their immense rage: ‘And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Eliseus
the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, saving Naaman the Syrian’ (Luke 4:25-27). This
was, in their eyes, more than enough to deserve death. ...

“What a narrative in Acts 22! The prisoner Paul stands on the steps of the fortress. He motions to
the crowd with one hand and asks to speak. As he begins in Hebrew, silence falls upon the
crowd. ... But at the very instant that he starts, ‘And he said unto me, Depart: for I will send thee
far hence unto the Gentiles,’ the sentence freezes in mid-air. They listened as far as that word
Gentiles (or nations); and threw dust into the air, shouting, ‘Away with such a fellow from the
earth: for it is not fit that he should live.’ What made them explode like that? Simply the idea that
God could also be the God of every man and every tongue.

“It is now easier to understand why speaking in tongues is the sign of this great truth and that for
‘this people’ it was the means of access to it. ...

“They alone had to be convinced to abandon this particular unbelief and to consider no longer
impure the people and the languages that God considered pure, languages pure enough to be
spoken by His Holy Spirit. ... This sign in foreign languages, like the triple vision of Peter, taught
them that salvation was for ‘whosoever,’ for ‘all flesh,’ for ‘every tongue.’ ...

“But WHO in today’s Church composed of peoples, tribes, nations and languages, WHO still
needs to be convinced by a repeated sign that the Spirit of God is poured out on all peoples,
nations, tribes and languages?” (Legrand, All about Speaking in Tongues, pp. 24-27, 33).

It is impossible to have a correct doctrine of tongues without understanding that it was a sign to
the nation Israel of the new thing that God was doing, which was extending the gospel to all men
and bringing both Jews and Gentiles into a new spiritual body.

This clear biblical doctrine about tongues single-handedly refutes all modern tongues speaking.
When Charles Parham’s Bible School students began speaking in “tongues” in Kansas in 1901 or
when “tongues” broke out at the Azusa Street Mission in Los Angeles in 1906, what Jews were
present? Had Jews been present, in what way could the tongues speaking have been a sign that
God was extending the gospel to all nations and creating a new body through the Gospel? That
sign had already been given 1,900 years earlier. In what way was that sign not entirely fulfilled

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in the first century? These are the hard questions that every Pentecostal and Charismatic must
answer. If someone would reply that the Jews still need the sign of tongues, we would ask,
“Why, then, have the Pentecostal-Charismatic movements almost entirely ignored this aspect of
tongues?” Parham in Topeka and Seymour in Los Angeles did not seek for tongues as a sign to
Israel but as a sign of the “baptism of the Holy Spirit.” The same is true for the Assemblies of
God and the Church of God of Prophecy and the Foursquare Pentecostal Churches and all the
rest.

“Someone, after reading my book, said to me, ‘For you it all boils down to being a sign.’ Of course
it does! Take a sign-post for instance; you may discourse at length on its height, its shape, the
colour, the phosphorescence and size of its letters, but however accurate your remarks may be, it
is impossible to get around the fact that its sole and ultimate purpose is to be a sign-post. And so
is it with speaking in tongues. However you may look at it, the Holy Spirit said it was a SIGN for
incredulous Israel. In this matter as in others, it can be seen that the rules of the game are not
being followed” (Fernand Legrand, All about Speaking in Tongues, p. 67).

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 TONGUES SPEAKING
Part 2
In the previous study we looked at four foundational truths about the gift of tongues. (1) Biblical
tongues were real earthly languages. (2) Biblical tongues were miraculously given. (3) Biblical
tongues were accompanied by the miraculous gift of interpretation. (4) Biblical tongues were a
sign to unbelieving Israel.

In this study we will consider three further foundational truths about tongues:

5. Biblical tongues were bound by apostolic direction (1 Corinthians 14).

Paul said, “Forbid not to speak in tongues,” but he also gave many restrictions on how tongues
could be used. I have never seen the practice of “tongues” in modern times restrained by the
apostolic rules.

a. Tongues are to be spoken only by course, one by one (“If any man speak in an unknown
tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course...” 1 Cor. 14:27). In
most of the Pentecostal-Charismatic meetings I have attended, the “tongues” were spoken
by many people at once.

b. Tongues must be interpreted (“and let one interpret” 1 Cor. 14:27). Rarely are the tongues
messages interpreted in modern Pentecostalism, and when they are it is often obvious that
the “interpretation” is something different than the “tongue.”

c. There is to be no confusion (“For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all
churches of the saints” 1 Cor. 14:33). Every time I have been in a Pentecostal-Charismatic
service where “the Spirit was moving” I have thought to myself, “This is confusing.”
Disorder reigns. The “tongues” cannot be understood. Things happen that make no sense
and that are not found in the Bible. But we are told that God is not the author of confusion,
and that covers a lot of territory.

d. Women are not allowed to speak in tongues (“Let your women keep silence in the churches:
for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience,
as also saith the law” 1 Cor. 14:34). Paul refers to the Law of Moses, which also said the
woman is under the man’s authority (Gen. 3:16; Num. 30:3-13). Women have been at the
forefront of “tongues” speaking since the inception of Pentecostalism. A woman was the
first to speak in tongues at Parham’s Bible School in Topeka, Kansas. A woman was the
first to speak in tongues at Seymour’s Azusa Street Mission. A reporter with the Los
Angeles Times who visited the Mission on April 17, 1906, observed, “The old exhorter
[Seymour] urged the ‘sisters’ to let the ‘tongues come forth’ and the women gave
themselves over to a riot of religious fervor.”

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 e. Everything is to be decent (“Let all things be done decently” 1 Cor. 14:40). The Greek word
translated decent is “euschemonos,” which is also translated “honestly” (Rom. 13:13; 1
Thes. 4:12). It carries the idea of moral decency and sincerity and integrity, of adorning the
gospel of Jesus Christ and the church of Jesus Christ in such a manner that no reproach is
brought upon it by our actions. When we think about the deception and fraud that is so
prevalent in the Pentecostal-Charismatic movement and when we think about the many
times that women are allegedly overcome by the Spirit and fall in an indecent manner and
have to be covered, it is obvious that all things are not done decently.

f. Everything is to be orderly (“Let all things be done decently and in order” 1 Cor. 14:40).
The God of creation is the God of order. George Gardiner was a Pentecostal for many
years, and he said that his journey out of Pentecostalism “began with nagging questions
about the gulf between Charismatic practices and Scriptural statements--a very wide
gulf!” (Gardiner, The Corinthian Catastrophe, p. 8). He determined to study the book of
Acts. “I reread the book of Acts, slowly and carefully, praying as I did, ‘Lord, let me see
what it says, and only what the Word says. Give me grace to accept it if I have been wrong
and grace to apologize if I have been unduly critical. The journey through Acts was an eye
opener! The actions and experiences of the early churches were far removed from the
actions and ‘experiences’ of the modern movement. In some ways they were completely
opposite!” (The Corinthian Catastrophe). I discovered the same thing as a young Christian.
One thing that convinced me that Pentecostalism is not scriptural was that their “tongues”
were not practiced in a biblical manner. I have attended Pentecostal and Charismatic
meetings dozens of times in various parts of the world and I have never witnessed tongues
operated scripturally.

6. The Pentecostal-Charismatic method of “speaking in tongues” is unscriptural and

dangerous.

If we were to agree that there is such a thing today as “tongues speaking” or a “private prayer
language” and that it would help us to live better Christian lives and if we were to accept the
Pentecostal-Charismatic’s challenge to “try it,” the next question is, “How do I begin to speak in
this ‘tongue’ or ‘prayer language’?” The following is a typical reply:

Step Number One. The first step, we are told, is to stop analyzing things and to open up to new
experiences. A chapter in the book These Wonderful Gifts by Michael Harper is entitled “Letting
Go and Letting God,” in which the believer is instructed to stop analyzing experiences so
carefully and strictly, to stop “setting up alarm systems” and “squatting nervously behind
protective walls.” He says the believer should step out from behind his “walls and infallible
systems” and just open up to God. That is a necessary but unscriptural and exceedingly
dangerous step toward receiving the Charismatic experiences. The Bible warns the believer to be
sober and vigilant at all times (1 Peter 5:8). This means we are to be in control of our minds so as

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not to allow any harmful foreign influence. This is the exact opposite of “letting go” and ceasing
to test things.

Step Number Two. Having stopped analyzing with Scripture, the standard method of
experiencing the “gift of tongues” or a “private prayer language” is to open one’s mouth and to
start speaking words but not words that one understands and allegedly “God will take control.”

This is so grossly unscriptural and nonsensical it would seem unnecessary to refute it. There is
absolutely nothing like this in the New Testament. To ignore the Bible and to seek something that
the Bible never says to seek, in ways the Bible does not support, and to open oneself uncritically
to religious experiences like this, puts one in danger of receiving “another spirit” (2 Cor. 11:4).
The Bible warns Christians that there are deceiving spirits that attempt to influence Christians
and that can appear as angels of light and ministers of God (2 Cor. 11:13-15; Mat. 24:24). Paul
warned the Corinthians that they were in danger of receiving false spirits because of their carnal,
tolerant, undiscerning condition (2 Cor. 11:3-4). The true Christian cannot be possessed by evil
spirits, but he can certainly be influenced by them.

The Bible plainly teaches that tongues speaking was a divine miracle and that it was sovereignly
given. “But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as
he will” (1 Cor. 12:11). The disciples did not seek to speak in tongues on the day of Pentecost nor
did they take a class on “letting go and letting God.” There is no evidence, in fact, that they even
expected to speak in tongues. In every instance in which Christians spoke in tongues in the book
of Acts the tongues were sovereignly given. In no instance were the recipients trying to speak in
tongues.

7. Biblical tongues were not spoken by all Christians even in the first century (1 Corinthians
12:7-10, 28-30).

Paul asks, “Do all speak with tongues?” The question is rhetorical and the answer is no.

A simple survey of the book of Acts proves conclusively that not all believers in the early
churches spoke in tongues. Even on the day of Pentecost, while the disciples that were in the
upper room spoke in tongues (Acts 2:4), those that were saved that day through Peter’s preaching
did not speak in tongues (Acts 2:40-42). The Jews that believed in Acts 4:4 and 6:7 did not speak
in tongues. The Ethiopian Eunuch that was saved in Acts 8:35-39 did not speak in tongues. The
first people who were saved at Antioch in Acts 11:20-21 did not speak in tongues. Lydia and her
household who were saved in Acts 16:13-15 and the Philippian jailer and his family who were
saved in Acts 16:30-33 did not speak in tongues. Those who were saved in Thessalonica and
Berea and Athens in Acts 17:4, 12, 34 did not speak in tongues. Crispus and others who were
saved at Corinth in Acts 18:8 did not speak in tongues. Those who believed in Ephesus in Acts
19:17-19 did not speak in tongues.

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There is no emphasis whatsoever on tongues speaking in the New Testament. It was exercised
only three times in all the book of Acts and the vast majority of the believers did not use it. To
create the sort of emphasis upon tongues speaking that one finds in the Pentecostal-Charismatic
movement one must read many things into the Bible that are not there, and this is not the way
that honest brethren use the Scriptures.

(For a much more extensive study on tongues speaking, see The Pentecostal-Charismatic
Movements, available from Way of Life Literature. In this book we deal with the so-called
“private prayer language,” the baptism of the Holy Spirit, the filling of the Holy Spirit, the
baptism of fire, tongues as a sign to believers, the interpretation of tongues, tongues speaking in
the Roman Catholic Church and in the cults, and many other things.)

REVIEW QUESTIONS ON TONGUES SPEAKING

1. What are the seven foundational Bible truths about tongues?

2. Biblical tongues were real ____________.
3. What does the Greek word "glossa" mean?
4. What passage in the New Testament explains how we can learn to speak in tongues?
5. What challenge did former Pentecostal Fernand Legrand devise to prove whether Charismatics
can interpret tongues?
6. Biblical tongues were a sign to ________________.
7. In 1 Corinthians 14:20-22, Paul is quoting what Old Testament prophecy?
8. Each time tongues were exercised in the book of Acts ________ were present.
9. The fact that tongues were a sign to the Jews refutes all modern tongues speaking. How is
this?
10. What are the six rules for tongues speaking in 1 Corinthians 14?
11. What are the two steps for speaking in Pentecostal tongues?
12. In what book and chapter did Paul say that all Christians spoke in tongues in his day?
13. Did the 3,000 who were saved on the Day of Pentecost speak in tongues?
14. Did the Ethiopian Eunuch or the Philippian jailer speak in tongues?
15. How many times is tongues speaking mentioned in the book of Acts?

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 THE RAPTURE
MEMORY VERSES: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

Though the word “rapture” does not appear in the Bible, it is a term that describes the catching
away of the saints in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. The term “caught up” in 1 Thessalonians 4:17 is
elsewhere translated “pluck” (Jn. 10:28). It is used to describe the Spirit of God snatching away
Philip after the conversion of the Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8:39). This is exactly what Christ will
do to the New Testament believers before the onset of the Daniel’s Seventieth Week.

Lessons on 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

1. At the Rapture two things will transpire: the dead in Christ will be resurrected (1 Thess.
5:14-16) and the living saints will be translated and caught up (1 Thess. 5:17). The translation of
the living saints is described in 1 Corinthians 15 as the corruptible and mortal body being
instantly changed to an incorruptible and immortal one (verses 52-53). According to 1
Thessalonians the dead in Christ are with Him in heaven; they are not sleeping in the grave as
some cults teach.

2. The Rapture is the believer’s hope (1 Thess. 5:13). It is what we are looking forward to. We
are not looking for the Antichrist or for the Great Tribulation!

3. The Rapture is certain. It is as sure as Christ’s resurrection (1 Thess. 5:14). It is the word of the
Lord (1 Thess. 5:15).

4. The Rapture is a comfort (1 Thess. 5:18). If the Rapture did not occur until the end of the
Great Tribulation, it certainly could not produce solace.

The Biblical Evidence for the Pre-Tribulational Rapture

Among those who believe in a literal Rapture of church-age saints, there are three general
positions. These pertain to the timing of the Rapture in relation to the Great Tribulation. The
three views are Pre-tribulational, which says the church-age saints will be raptured before the
Great Tribulation; Mid-tribulational (also called Pre-wrath Rapture), which says the church-age
saints will go through the first half of Daniel’s 70th Week; Post-tribulational, which says the
church-age saints will go through the entire Tribulation period.

For the following reasons we are convinced the Bible teaches a Pre-tribulational Rapture. In this
study, we are using the term “church” in a general, institutional sense:

1. Church-age believers are promised salvation from wrath (1 Thess. 1:9-10; 5:1-9; Rom. 5:9;
Rev. 3:10).

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The Great Tribulation is expressly called the day of God’s wrath. Today the Lord is withholding
His anger; He is seated upon a throne of grace, but the day approaches when He will take the seat
of judgment. Then “the day of his wrath” will be upon all the world (Psa. 110:5; Isa. 13:6-13;
Rev. 6:16-17). It is true that in every century Bible-believing churches have been subjected to
persecution, but this is different from the Great Tribulation. The persecutions of the saints are
caused by the wrath of wicked men and the devil, whereas the seven-year Tribulation is a period
especially pertaining to God’s wrath (Rev. 6:16-17; 14:10). Some feel that the church will not be
saved out of the time of wrath, but will be saved through it. This cannot be true, since the Bible
clearly reveals that those who are on earth during the Great Tribulation will not be delivered
from wrath but will be overcome (Rev. 13:7). The Scriptures that promise church-age believers
deliverance from wrath must refer to salvation out from the very presence of the wrath.
Concerning the Great Tribulation, we are told that “as a snare shall it come on all them that
dwell on the face of the whole earth” (Lk. 21:35). Therefore, church-age believers must either be
physically removed from the earth, or they will be involved in the day of wrath. God promises,
“... I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try
them that dwell upon the earth” (Rev. 3:10). This verse does not say that God will keep the
church-age saints through the temptation but from it.

2. The Holy Spirit will be removed before the Tribulation (2 Thess. 2:1-8).

In other passages of the Bible, the Holy Spirit is said to be the restrainer of sin (Gen. 6:3; Isa.
59:19). The Holy Spirit came into the world in His present dispensation at Pentecost (Acts 2), to
empower the church for the Great Commission (Acts 1:8). He will remove the church-age
believers before the time of God’s great wrath. This does not mean the Holy Spirit will not be
present in the world at that time. He is God and is omnipresent. It means that He will not be
present in the same sense that He is in this age.

3. The Rapture is said to be imminent, meaning it could happen any time.

Christ taught this (Matthew 24:42, 44; 25:13; Mark 13:33). Paul taught it (Phil. 4:5; Titus
2:12-13). James taught it (Jam. 5:8-9). And Peter taught it (1 Pet. 4:7). The early Christians were
living in expectation of Christ’s return (1 Thess. 1:9-10). The apostle Paul instructed the
believers at Thessalonica that they did not need to heed signs and times, because the New
Testament believer has been promised redemption from the “day of darkness” that shall
overcome the whole world (1 Thess. 5:1-9). The church is not waiting for the appearing of the
Antichrist, but for the redemption of the Son of God.

4. The church is a mystery that was not revealed in the Old Testament (Eph. 3:1-11).

The New Testament church has no part in the chronology of events foretold by the Old
Testament prophets. They clearly foretold the first coming of Christ, His miraculous birth, life,
death, resurrection, and ascension. The same prophets described Christ’s Second Coming in
glory, preceded by a time of unprecedented worldwide tribulation, and followed by the

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establishment of the glorious Messianic kingdom. But these prophets did not see the present
church age--“which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now
revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit” (Eph. 3:5).

Between the first and second coming, there is a time gap that was not seen by the Old Testament
prophets. This gap is the church age. The prophets did not see that Israel would be set aside
temporarily while God called out from among all nations a special spiritual body of people. After
He has accomplished this purpose and the fullness of the Gentiles is come in, God will restart
Israel’s prophetic clock and fulfill all Old Testament prophecies in relation to His ancient chosen
nation. “... blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come
in” (Rom. 11:25).

Daniel’s Seventieth Week described in Daniel 9 and the Great Tribulation pertain to Israel, not to
church-age believers. This present mystery period will end with the removal of the church-age
believers from the earth; and the Lord will then take up His plan for the nation Israel as He
fulfills the Old Testament prophecies of the time of Jacob’s trouble, the coming of Messiah in
glory, the regathering of the remnant, and the establishment of the Messianic kingdom.

5. The book of Revelation shows that the church is not on earth during the Tribulation.

The church is not seen on earth after Revelation chapter 3.

The witness for God in the earth during the Tribulation is Israel, not the church (Rev. 7).

The ministry of the two Witnesses of Revelation 11 identifies them with national Israel and with
Old Testament prophecies of the “day of the Lord.” The two Witnesses minister from Jerusalem,
Israel’s capital. The churches have no such capital, her hope being heavenly, not earthly (Col.
3:1-4; Phil. 3:17-21). The two Witnesses are clothed in sackcloth, typical of Old Testament
Israel, not New Testament believers. Nowhere are the churches seen in sackcloth. They are told,
rather, to “rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice” (Phil. 4:4). The church-age
believer’s judgment is forever past, and he is to keep his mind centered in the heavenlies where,
in position, he is seated eternally victorious with Christ (Eph. 2:5-10). Revelation 11:4 identifies
the two Witnesses with Old Testament prophecy. Zechariah 4:3, 11, 14 is a prophecy of Israel,
not the church. Further, the two Witnesses call down judgment upon their enemies in Revelation
10:5-6. Jesus rebuked His disciples for desiring to do just this and instructed the church-age
believer to pray for the well-being of his enemies, not for their destruction (Lk. 9:54-56; Rom.
12:14, 17-21).

The devil persecutes Israel, not the church, during the Tribulation (Rev. 12). There can be no
doubt that the woman in this chapter is national Israel. Verse 5 shows the woman bringing forth
Christ; it is obvious that Jesus was brought forth by Israel, not by the church (Isa. 9:6-7; Rom.
9:5). Also, the symbols of Revelation 12:1-2 recall familiar Old Testament typology of Israel.
She is referred to as a woman (Isa. 54:5-7). The sun and moon and the 12 stars of Revelation

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12:2 remind us of Joseph’s dream of Israel (Gen. 37:9). The words of Revelation 12:2 are almost
an exact quote from Micah 5:3, again referencing Israel’s delivery of the Messiah. These
symbols are not used in the New Testament of the churches.

For these and other reasons, we are convinced that the Rapture of the New Testament saints will
occur before the onset of Daniel’s Seventieth Week. The Rapture is the next event on God’s
prophetic calendar.

The Importance of the Pre-tribulational Rapture

The doctrine of the pre-tribulational Rapture is not a peripheral one. As we have seen, Christ,
Paul, James, and Peter taught that the return of Christ is imminent and is to be expected at any
time (Mat. 24:44; Phil. 4:5; Jam. 5:8-9; 1 Pet. 4:7). The early Christians lived in expectation of
Christ’s return (1 Thessalonians 1:9-10).

The doctrine of a pre-tribulational Rapture is a great motivator for purifying the Christian life.

1. It encourages the believer in trials and persecutions (1 Thessalonians 4:17-18).

2. It keeps the church’s focus on the Great Commission (Mat. 28:18-20; Mk 16:15; Lk. 24:44-48;
Acts 1:8). It teaches us that preaching the gospel, winning people to Christ, and establishing
churches as the pillar and ground of the truth is the most urgent matter. D.L. Moody had it right
when he said: “I look upon this world as a wrecked vessel. God has given me a lifeboat and said
to me, ‘Moody, save all you can.’”

3. It motivates us to be busy in the Lord’s work (1 Cor. 15:58).

4. It motivates us to live obedient lives (1 Jn. 3:1-3; 1 Th. 5:4-7).

5. It motivates us to separate from evil (Tit. 2:13-14).

6. It keeps believers on the outlook for heresy and apostasy (2 Timothy 4:3-4; 1 John 2:24-28).

REVIEW QUESTIONS ON THE RAPTURE

1. What does the word "Rapture" refer to?

2. What two things will happen at the Rapture?
3. Where are the dead believers?
4. How certain is the Rapture?
5. Why is the Rapture a comfort to believers?
6. What are the three views of the Rapture?
7. What are the five reasons why we believe that the Rapture will occur before the Tribulation?
8. The Great Tribulation is called the day of God's ___________.

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9. What does the word "imminent" mean?
10. What four preachers in the New Testament taught that the coming of the Lord is imminent?
11. When did the early Christians expect the Lord to return?
12. Is the church waiting for the appearance of the Antichrist?
13. What does the term "mystery" in the New Testament mean?
14. Did the Old Testament prophets describe the church age?
15. How do we know that Revelation describes Israel rather than the church?
16. How do we know that the Witnesses of Revelation 11 are Jews?
17. How do we know that the Woman in Revelation 12 is Israel?
18. What are the six ways that the doctrine of an imminent Rapture purifies the Christian life?

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 HOW TO BE WISE WITH YOUR MONEY
Part 1 The Tithe
MEMORY VERSES: Proverbs 3:9-10; Malachi 3:10; Luke 6:38; 2 Corinthians 9:6-7

The Bible says a lot about money; many of Jesus’ sermons were on this subject; He taught that
man’s heart is bound up with his treasure.

Practice tithing (Mal. 3:8-11).

Tithing, which refers to giving at least 10% of one’s income to God, is a way to honor God and
to support His great work in this needy world. God has promised to bless it, and multitudes of
believers have learned that they are better off living on 90% of their income (or 80%, etc.) than
100%.

a. Tithing was practiced before the giving of the Law of Moses. Abraham was the first man
who tithed (Genesis 14:18-20). He did not tithe out of obligation to the Law; he tithed to
honor God through God’s representative king/priest Melchizedek. Jacob continued the
practice of tithing (Genesis 28:20-22). We see, then, that tithing is not something that
originated with the Law. It was a principle that has been understood by God’s people from
the beginning.

b. Tithing was practiced under the Law. Under the Law of Moses, there was actually a double
tithe. The Israelites were required to give 10% of all of their increase (Num. 18:24-28; Neh.
10:38), plus they were required to bring offerings to the annual feasts (called the second or
festival tithe) (Deut. 14:22-25). They were also to give to the poor (Ex 23:11; Lev. 19:10;
23:22).

Malachi 3:8-12

(1) God says that those who keep the tithe are robbing Him. This is because under the Law
of Moses God commanded the tithe and it belonged to Him. Whether or not one
considers the exact tithe an obligation on the New Testament believer, it is sure that the
believer does have many financial obligations in the church and to fail to fulfill them is
to rob God.

(2) God promises to bless those who tithe. The believer can get by in life far better by
giving tithes and offerings and living on what is left than he can by not giving to God
and trying to live on 100% of his income. This is because it is better to live with God’s
blessing on my life than to live without it. Thousands of believers have learned that
God does indeed bless those who tithe. When God says He will rebuke the devourer, it
means that He will not allow things to happen to us that can rob us of our money. This

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 does not mean that those who tithe will never have trouble, that their roof will never
leak or their equipment will never break down or their children will never get sick. It
means that many things that would otherwise happen will be stopped because of God’s
blessing.

(3) The tithe should be brought into the storehouse. In the Old Testament, the storehouse
was the temple in Jerusalem. Today the church is the house of God (1 Timothy 3:15). In
the first church, the people brought their gifts and laid them at the feet of the leaders
(Acts 4:34-35). That is the example for us today. The church has much more work than
the Old Testament temple had. The church has been commanded to preach the gospel to
the ends of the earth (Matthew 28:18-20). This is a very expensive endeavor, and the
expenses are to be borne by God’s people. The preachers of the gospel are to be
supported by the churches (1 Corinthians 9:14; Titus 3:13-14; 3 John 5-8).

Proverbs 3:9-10

(1) Parents are to teach their children how to tithe. Consider verse 1, where we see that
this chapter contains the instruction of a father to his son. Parents can’t teach their
children to tithe unless they have first learned to tithe themselves. When the parent
teaches a child to tithe, he first gives him a small amount of money to put into the
offering each week. When the child starts earning his own money, no matter how small,
the parent teaches him to give 10% to God. When tithing becomes a habit from
childhood it is easy to continue in adulthood.

(2) The tithe should be given from “all thine increase.” This means that whenever we earn
or receive money we should give a tithe unto the Lord from it.

(3) God promises to bless those who tithe. This promise is repeated in Scripture because
God wants to emphasize that it is certain. We can trust God’s Word!

c. Some New Testament passages on giving

Luke 6:38

Here Jesus stated a wonderful promise about giving. He is not talking about tithing in
particular, but about giving in general. God loves a cheerful giver. It is something that He
takes note of and abundantly blesses.

1 Corinthians 16:1-2

In this passage we see that the believers in the first churches took up collections when they
assembled on the first day of the week. This particular offering was a special offering that
Paul was collecting for the Christians in Jerusalem that were suffering because of famine

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 (Romans 15:26). Even in this case Paul taught them to give “as God hath prospered.” This
means the giving was to be proportionate. That is the same principle as the tithe. Those
who earn more give more.

2 Corinthians 9:6-7

This passage refers again to the special offering that Paul was collecting for the believers at
Jerusalem.

We see that such offerings are free-will, meaning that each believer makes his own
decision about how much to give (2 Cor. 9:7).

Paul promises that God will bless their giving.

d. Tithing must be done by faith

The only way to practice tithing effectively is to practice it by faith. We must believe God’s
promises even during times of difficulties. And we must remember that God tests faith to
see if it is real and to make it grow stronger (James 1:2-4). Many times if a Christian
decides to begin tithing, he will have some financial problem to test his decision.

John R. Rice told about an evangelist named Kuykendahl in Texas in the early 20th
century. He had a circuit riding ministry and his offerings were very small, so much so that
his large family had a difficult time. One year a wealthy businessman visited the area to
share his testimony in several churches, and evangelist Kuykendahl was his host,
transporting him from meeting to meeting in his buggy. Among other things, the
businessman challenged the people to tithe. As they were traveling along one day, the
businessman asked the evangelist if he believed in tithing.

He replied, “Yes, I would love to tithe, but I am very poor and must take care of my large
family.”

The businessman responded, “I will make you an offer. If you will tithe for an entire year, I
will guarantee you. If at any time during the year you find that you can’t meet your
obligations and don’t know where to turn, just contact me and I will send you the
necessary money. I am a wealthy man, and I am a man of my word.”

Kuykendahl enthusiastically replied, “I will gladly take you up on this offer.”

The evangelist kept his word and tithed faithfully, but he never had to contact the
businessman. At the end of the 12 months, the evangelist was meditating on what had
happened. God had richly blessed him that year and had met every need. People gave him
more than ever, and the family experienced many special blessings. As he contemplated

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 these things, his heart was suddenly smitten, when he realized that he had trusted the word
of a businessman but he had not been willing to trust the Word of the Living God, who had
made even greater promises!

e. What if I do not believe that tithing is a law for New Testament believers?

(1) Remember that tithing pre-dated the Law of Moses. It was not because he was under
the Law that Abraham tithed; he tithed because he wanted to honor God and support
God’s work as represented by Melchizedek. This is a good example for New Testament
believers, because we are children of Abraham by faith (Romans 4:16-17).

(2) The Old Testament was given for our example (Rom. 15:4; 1 Cor. 10:11). Paul used the
Mosaic system of giving as authority for his teaching that New Testament believers are
obligated to support preachers (1 Cor. 9:8-14).

(3) It is the express will of Christ that His people be giving people (Luke 6:38). Many
people I have met who “do not believe in tithing” are stingy. They do not bear their
rightful load in the church. Stinginess and tightfistedness should never characterize the
child of God. Even if you do not believe that the tithe is a matter of law, you should be
ashamed to keep more than 90% of your income for yourself in light of the great needs
of God’s work in this present world. I hasten to add that not all people who do not
consider the tithe a matter of law today are stingy. In fact, I know some who give 30%,
40%, even 50% of their income to the Lord.

(4) The believer has many financial obligations. The Great Commission is an obligation.
We are commanded to carry the gospel to every person in every nation (Mk. 16:18;
Acts 1:8). This is called Christ’s “Great Commission” because it is repeated five times
in the New Testament, thus emphasizing its importance. The worldwide preaching of
the gospel is intimately associated with Christ’s death in that Christ’s suffering for
man’s sin is ineffective if the gospel is not proclaimed (Luke 24:46-47). World missions
is a very expensive enterprise. Every believer is obligated to do what he can to further
this work, and this includes preaching the gospel himself, praying, and giving.
Supporting preachers and missionaries is an obligation (1 Cor. 9:14; Phil. 4:15-17; Titus
3:13-14; 3 John 5-8). The church is also an obligation. It is the house of God and the
pillar and ground of the truth in this age (1 Tim. 3:15). It is the headquarters for world
evangelism (Acts 14:1-4). Thus, every believer has an obligation to support the work of
the church financially so it can fulfill its God-given function in this needy world.

REVIEW QUESTIONS ON TITHING

1. What does tithing mean?

2. Tithing is a way to ________ God and to ________ His great work.
3. When did the practice of tithing begin?

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4. How much giving did the Law of Moses require?
5. Why did God call the Jews robbers in Malachi 3?
6. What did God promise to do for those who tithed?
7. What is the house of God today?
8. What passage instructs parents to teach their children to tithe?
9. In what verse did Jesus promise, "Give, and it shall be given unto you"?
10. Paul instructed the Christians at Corinth to bring their offerings on what day?
11. What verse says, "He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth
bountifully shall reap also bountifully"?
12. Why was Evangelist Kuykendahl ashamed of himself?

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 HOW TO BE WISE WITH YOUR MONEY
Part 2
MEMORY VERSES: Proverbs 6:9-11; 11:15; 23:20-21; Ephesians 4:28; Hebrews 13:5-6

1. Put God first and trust Him to supply your needs (Mat. 6:31-33).

If the believer puts God first, everything will work out right, but if he puts himself first,
everything will be a mess!

a. Putting God first means to obey God. It means that God’s business comes before my
business; God’s pleasure comes before my pleasure. The believer should seek God first in
the matter of the church. As a young Christian I made a decision that I would not take a job
that required me to forsake the assembly (Heb. 10:25). The believer should seek God first
in the matter of money, giving the first portion of his income to God. The believer should
seek God first in the matter of the Bible, setting apart the first part of the day for Bible
study and devotion and taking advantage of every opportunity to learn God’s Word better.
The believer should also seek God first in the matter of his decisions, such as job and
friendships and marriage.

b. Putting God first means to trust God. It means believing God’s promises and not doubting
Him. I must obey Him and then trust Him to take care of me and to work things out.

c. Putting God first means being patient and waiting on the Lord (Psa. 27:14; Prov. 20:22).
God requires patience; it is a major spiritual law. In God’s will, things are not going to
happen overnight.

2. Work hard (Proverbs 6:6-11).

The book of Proverbs is the book of practical wisdom, and it oftentimes warns about being a
sluggard. God blesses hard work, and He hates laziness. He tells us to learn from the ant.
Consider some lessons from the ant:

a. The ant works without oversight, and the believer should emulate this by serving Christ
faithfully day in and day out regardless of whether or not someone is watching or urging
him along.
b. The ant works while there is opportunity and doesn’t wait for a “better time.” Likewise, the
believer should work “while it is day” and not put it off for later.
c. The ant works in coordination with others. Each ant does his part, and likewise each
believer has a particular ministry within the body.
d. The ant works even though it is small and seemingly insignificant in the great scheme of
things.

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3. Be honest (Ephesians 4:28).

God is holy and just and He hates dishonesty. But we are sinners and we live in a sinful world,
and in many ways we are tempted to be dishonest--to cheat, to steal, to misrepresent, to work
with a slack hand, to cut corners, and to otherwise be unjust in our dealings. We must resist these
temptations and be honest as ambassadors of Christ in this dark world. God blesses honesty.

4. Learn to give and help others (Ephesians 4:28; Luke 6:38; Romans 12:13; 1 Timothy
6:17-20).

The believer must have a ready heart to give as opposed to being stingy and self-centered.

5. Don’t hang around worldly people (Proverbs 23:20-21).

The Prodigal Son learned the hard way that worldly friends are not true friends. They don’t love
you; they love what you have. And those who hang around foolish people do not learn how to be
wise and typically end up wasting their income.

6. Be careful about borrowing (Proverbs 6:1-5).

This is a warning against unwise borrowing and unwise contracts.

If you see that you have made a mistake, try to find a way to get out of it (e.g., a marriage
engagement, a business partnership, job, education). If the obligation has been finalized, you are
responsible to fulfill the contract, but it is wise to do everything possible to get out of it if at all
possible, such as working a second job to pay off an unwise debt, etc.

It is best not to borrow (Prov. 11:15). It is especially unwise to borrow on poor terms. A friend in
South Asia recently told me that he went to a bank to inquire about a loan. They were going to
charge him 20% interest plus he had to deposit 20% of the borrowed amount into the bank and
pay interest on that, too! Many people in this same part of the world borrow from private lenders
who charge 30% interest plus many types of fees and penalties. That is robbery, and the one who
agrees to such a thing is foolish.

You should not do business with strangers (Prov. 11:15).

The borrower becomes a servant (Prov. 22:7). The obligation is a solemn contract before man
and God.

Don’t borrow unless you are certain you can pay it back. Consider the prophet in 2 Kings 4:1.

7. Get good counsel (Prov. 19:20; 24:6).

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Don’t make major financial decisions on your own; get counsel from wise people such as pastors
and parents. If you are a young person, don’t get counsel from your peers; go to those who are
older and wiser. And don’t get counsel from those who don’t know how to use money wisely!

8. Don’t yoke together with unbelievers in financial matters (2 Corinthians 6:14).

This includes relatives. If a new believer finds himself entangled in this way, he should do
whatever he can to disentangle himself from such yokes as quickly as possible, so that he will be
free to serve Christ.

9. Be content with what you have (Hebrews 13:5-6).

It is not wrong to work hard in order to have more, and it is not wrong to save and to ask God for
an increase, but it is not wise to spend money until you have it.

REVIEW QUESTIONS ON HOW TO BE WISE WITH YOUR MONEY

1. In what verse did Jesus say, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all
these things shall be added unto you"?
2. What does it mean to put God first?
3. What can we learn from the ant?
4. What does God think of dishonesty?
5. What verse instructs us to distribute to the necessity of the saints?
6. Why is it unwise to hang around worldly party people?
7. What did the Prodigal Son learn about worldly friends?
8. The Bible says the ______________ is servant to the _______________.
9. What happened to the prophet in 2 Kings 4 who borrowed money?
10. What verse says "by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war"?
11. What verse says not to be unequally yoked together with unbelievers?
12. According to Hebrews 13:5-6, why should the believer be content with what he has?

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 THE BELIEVER AND DRINKING
MEMORY VERSES: Proverbs 20:1; 23:19-21; 29-31; 1 Corinthians 10:32-33; 1
Thessalonians 5:22

Introduction

1. Most professing Christians believe that drinking is acceptable “in moderation.” This is true
generally for Roman Catholics, Orthodox, Lutherans, and for a growing number of Emerging
Church Evangelicals. For example, the book Listening to the Beliefs of Emerging Churches: Five
Perspectives contains probably a dozen references to the joys of drinking. The contributors are
Karen Ward, Mark Driscoll, John Burke, Dan Kimball, and Doug Pagitt. They meet in bars and
taverns for theological discussions, and they exchange beer-making techniques.

2. The word wine in the Bible is a generic term; sometimes it means grape juice; sometimes it
means alcoholic wine.

The following verses prove that the word “wine” can mean fresh grape juice: Deuteronomy
11:14; 2 Chronicles 31:5; Nehemiah 13:15; Proverbs 3:10; Isaiah 65:8. Non-alcoholic wine is
sometimes called “the fruit of the vine” (Matthew 26:29).

The late Dr. Bruce Lackey said, “The context will always show when ‘wine’ refers to alcoholic
beverages. In such cases, God discusses the bad effects of it and warns against it. An example
would be Genesis 9, which describes Noah’s experience after the Flood. Verse 21, ‘and he drank
of the wine, and was drunken,’ clearly refers to alcoholic beverage.”

Alcoholic wine is not a natural product; it is man-made. Grape juice will ferment and turn
alcoholic naturally, but it will quickly become vinegar. It will not remain in an alcoholic state.
The book Bible Wines and the Laws of Fermentation describes the requirements for making
alcoholic wine.

Thus, when Jesus turned water into “wine” (John 2:1-11) and when the apostle Paul counseled
Timothy to drink a little wine for his stomach’s sake (1 Timothy 5:23), this does not necessarily
refer to alcoholic wine. (For more on this see “Did Jesus Make Alcoholic Wine?” at the Way of
Life web site.)

For the following reasons we believe that the Bible teaches that the New Testament
Christian should abstain totally from alcoholic drinks:

1. The Bible warns that wine is a mocker and deceives men (Proverbs 20:1).

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To say that alcoholic beverages can be consumed in moderation sounds reasonable, but very few
drunks have ever set out to become drunks. It is an irrefutable fact that a man that does not drink
at all will never get drunk and will certainly never become a drunk.

As Bruce Lackey said, “How is alcoholic wine deceptive? In the very way that people are
advocating today, by saying that drinking a little bit will not hurt. Everyone admits that drinking
too much is bad. Even the liquor companies tell us not to drink and drive, but they insist that a
small amount is all right. However, that is the very thing that is deceptive. Who knows how little
to drink? Experts tell us that each person is different. It takes an ounce to affect one, while more
is necessary for another. The same person will react to alcohol differently in different situations,
depending on the amount of food he has had, among other things. So the idea that ‘a little bit
won’t hurt’ is deceptive, and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise!”

I doubt Noah planned to get drunk and to cause so much trouble for his grandson, trouble that
has abiding consequences to this day -- but wine is a mocker.

My maternal grandfather came from a long line of drunks, and before my grandmother married
him she made him promise that he would never touch a drop of liquor, and that is a promise that
he made. But one day he and another carpenter were working on a house and the other fellow
talked my grandfather into having just a sip “to cool the tongue.” They both got roaring drunk
and ended up in jail, and my granddad was a deacon in a Baptist church! He was deeply
repentant and was restored and never drank another drop as far as anyone knows, but it was a
powerful reminder that wine is a mocker.

Alcohol has the ability to deceive and corrupt. One can never know if he will control it or it will
control him. The instruction in Proverbs 20:1 tells me that the wise man leaves it entirely alone.

The following is a wise statement from John G. Paton: Missionary to the New Hebrides, 1891:

“From observation, at an early age I became convinced that mere Temperance Societies were a
failure, and that Total Abstinence, by the grace of God, was the only sure preventive as well as
remedy. What was temperance in one man was drunkenness in another; and all the drunkards
came, not from those who practised total abstinence, but from those who practised or tried to
practise temperance. I had seen temperance men drinking wine in the presence of others who
drank to excess, and never could see how they felt themselves clear of blame; and I had known
Ministers and others, once strong temperance advocates, fall through this so-called moderation,
and become drunkards. Therefore it has all my life appeared to me beyond dispute, in reference
to intoxicants of every kind, that the only rational temperance is Total Abstinence from them as
beverages, and the use of them exclusively as drugs, and then only with extreme caution, as they
are deceptive and deleterious poisons of the most debasing and demoralizing kind.”

Even emerging church people admit that the Bible forbids drunkenness, but can they guarantee
that they and their drinking buddies will never get even a “little” drunk? Can they guarantee that
they will not tempt someone to become an alcoholic? No, they cannot, because “wine is a
mocker.”

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2. Alcoholic drink should be avoided because it is associated with many evils and dangers
(Proverbs 23:19-23, 29-35).

This passage begins with the father urging his son to hearken to his parents and to buy the truth
and sell it not (Prov. 23:22-23). The father exhorts his son to “buy the truth” by bending his
whole heart and strength and life to it and to “sell it not” for any of the Devil’s shallow, deceptive
enticements. This is what will protect the person from the enticement of worldly activities and
places that promote “social drinking,” such as dance parties, bars, nightclubs, and taverns.

The winebibber has poverty (Prov. 23:19-21). Proverbs counsels the young man to avoid the
company of winebibbers and gluttons, because they are associated with poverty. It is certain that
they produce spiritual poverty, and they often produce financial poverty as well.

The winebibber has woe, sorrow, contentions (Prov. 23:29). Many of the woes in society are
caused by drinking. Examples are broken marriages, lost friendships, fall from social standing,
loss of finances, car and air crashes, disease, crime, stabbings, shootings, child delinquency,
teenage pregnancy, bankruptcy, and suicide. One of my great uncles was a wealthy man who
owned two bars and was a heavy drinker, and one day he drove up to a funeral home in his
Cadillac, put a gun to his head, and killed himself.

The winebibber has babbling (Prov. 23:29). The drunk speaks nonsense and foolishness.

The winebibber has wounds without cause (Prov. 23:29). The drunkard can’t remember where he
was or what he did and he doesn’t know how he got his wounds. He doesn’t remember the fight
or the crash or the fall. My wife’s father crashed his car one night in Alaska when he missed a
sharp turn after he had gone over a bridge. He was found staggering along the road and didn’t
even know what had happened.

The winebibber has redness of eyes (Prov. 23:29). He is affected in his body. His eyes are
affected; his kidneys are affected; his liver is affected; his brain is affected.

The winebibber’s eyes behold strange women (Prov. 23:33). This is a description of the
immorality that is intimately associated with drinking. The winebibber’s moral inhibitions are
weakened and he is attracted to loose women. It has been said that “wine is the oil of the fire of
lust.”

The winebibber’s heart utters perverse things (Prov. 23:33), such as cursing and bitterness and
blasphemy and filthy jokes.

The winebibber is careless and foolishly fearless (Prov. 23:34). He would lie down and sleep
while floating in the midst of the sea or while lying on the top of the mast of a sailing ship far
above the deck. The main mast of a large ship could be 200 feet high. The drunkard drives cars
and flies airplanes when he is intoxicated; he staggers along on a busy highway; he enters rowdy
bars he would otherwise avoid; he challenges fierce men to a fight. In July 2010 a drunk
Australian broke into a wildlife park and tried to ride a 15-foot saltwater crocodile, miraculously
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surviving with only a leg bite. The winebibber is careless in spending money. He is careless in
morals. He is careless in running with the wrong crowd. He is careless in throwing away
priceless relationships and precious friendships.

The winebibber doesn’t feel pain (“They have stricken me, shalt thou say, and I was not sick;
they have beaten me, and I felt it not,” Prov. 23:35). The drunkard is oblivious to the pain caused
by his drunken folly until he wakes up from his stupor.

The winebibber is strangely enslaved (“when shall I awake? I will seek it yet again,” Prov.
23:35). Before one drunken episode is barely finished he wants to seek it yet again. Even when
drink has ruined his health and destroyed his marriage and thrown away his career, he usually
does not quit. “It is like a deep ditch and a narrow pit, which it is almost impossible to get out of;
and therefore it is wisdom to keep far from the brink of it. Take heed of making any approaches
towards this sin, because it is so hard to make a retreat from it, conscience, which should head
the retreat, being debauched by it, and divine grace forfeited” (Matthew Henry).

3. The Bible commands the believer not to give offense in anything (1 Corinthians 10:32-33).

I quit smoking a few months after I was saved and it was not because I thought it was inherently
wrong or because I was concerned about my health; it was because I knew that it could offend
others. I wanted my testimony to be pure of offence so that God would use me and I would have
eternal fruit. I didn’t want to be witnessing to someone and have them possibly ignore me or be
distracted because they saw a pack of cigarettes in my pocket.

If that is true for smoking, and it is, then it is even truer for drinking alcoholic beverages. It is a
fact that many unbelievers think that a believer should not drink. They have higher standards for
Christians than some Christians have for themselves. Consider Utah, where even Mormons
believe it is wrong to drink alcoholic beverages! How would Mormons look upon non-Mormon
Christians who drink?

Even the possibility that someone would be offended because of his drinking should be sufficient
for the believer to put it out of his life, and that possibility is very great in modern society. Paul
was willing to stop eating meat entirely in this present world if he thought someone would be
offended and his testimony hurt (1 Cor. 8:13), and eating meat is a perfectly legitimate activity.
How much more should a believer be willing to give up alcoholic beverages, which are highly
questionable at best and have the potential in themselves to cause harm (which meat does not)!

4. The Bible commands the believer to abstain from all appearance of evil (1 Thessalonians
5:22).

That is a far-reaching exhortation. Alcoholic beverages are a great evil and curse in modern
society. Consider the automobile wrecks, the ruined health and early graves, the adulteries, the
lewdness, the divorces, the neglected children, the abused wives, the waste of money, the

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gambling, the blasphemy, the pure foolishness. Look at the beer and liquor ads, how they
invariably flaunt sensuality and irresponsibility.

According to an April 2010 report, vodka consumption in Russia is an epidemic. The average
Russian drinks from 15 to 18 liters of hard liquor annually, which reduces the average life
expectancy by a decade. For Russian men, the life expectancy is just 61.8 years. In January 2005
the Royal College of Physicians in England warned that Britain is suffering from an epidemic of
alcohol-related problems that is fueling violence and illness throughout the country (The
Telegraph, Jan. 3, 2005). The same epidemic is raging throughout the world.

If anything has the appearance of evil today, it is alcoholic beverages, and the Bible does not
suggest that we abstain from all appearance of evil; it commands us to do so!

5. There is a dramatic difference between the alcoholic content of wine today and that of
Bible times. Alcoholic Bible wine was typically weak. It was more like the two percent beer that
we were allowed to drink in Army boot camp.

“Many wine-drinking Christians today mistakenly assume that what the New Testament meant by
wine is identical to wine used today. This, however, is false. In fact, today’s wine is by biblical
definition strong drink, and hence is forbidden in the Bible. ... Even ancient pagans did not drink
what some Christians drink today” (Norman Geisler, Focus in Missions, Sept. 1986).

“To consume the amount of alcohol that is in two martinis today, by drinking wine containing three
parts water to one part wine (the biblical ratio) a person would have to drink over twenty-two
glasses” (Robert Stein, Ibid.).

Conclusion

1. We do not believe that Jesus drank or made alcoholic wine. First of all, priests and kings were
forbidden to drink alcoholic beverages (Lev. 10:9; Prov. 31:4-5), and Jesus is both Priest and
King. Second, the Bible warns that alcoholic wine is a mocker (Prov. 20:1), and Jesus did not
come to mock people. Third, the result of the miracle of the wine shows that Christ did not make
alcoholic wine (John 2:11). By this miracle Christ showed forth His glory as the holy Messiah
and caused the disciples to believe in Him. This would not have been the case had He provided
alcoholic wine that would have made drunken people drunker!

2. While it is true that the Israelites were allowed to drink strong drink on occasions (Deut.
14:26), this does not mean that it is God’s will for His people to do so today. The New Testament
believer has a higher standard of living. The Law of Moses made provision for polygamy, for
example, but the New Testament nowhere makes such a provision.

3. There is no need for a Christian to drink alcoholic beverages. It adds nothing of value to his
life.

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4. We live in a world filled with danger (1 Peter 5:8). We have great spiritual enemies: the world,
the flesh, and the devil. It is wise to avoid anything that would produce spiritual weakness and
put us in harm’s way.

5. We live an hour of great apostasy (2 Timothy 4:3-4). The reason the emerging church loves to
drink is that they boast of liberty and live according to their own lusts in fulfillment of Paul’s
prophecy. It is foolish to follow their example.

REVIEW QUESTIONS ON THE BELIEVER AND DRINKING

1. The word wine in the Bible is a ___________ term.

2. What are two verses that prove that the word "wine" can mean fresh grape juice?
3. How can we tell whether wine means grape juice or alcoholic wine?
4. What are five reasons why we believe that the New Testament Christian should practice total
abstinence?
5. What verse warns that wine is a mocker and deceiver?
6. If a man never drinks will he become a drunkard?
7. How are alcoholic beverages deceptive?
8. What chapter of Proverbs describes all of the evils associated with drinking?
9. What does the Bible means when it warns us not to give offence to others?
10. What verse instructs the believer to abstain from all appearance of evil?
11. What is the difference between wine in Bible times and alcoholic wine in modern times?
12. What are three reasons why we believe that Jesus did not make alcoholic wine?
13. What passage warns that apostate Christians will live according to their own lusts?

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 ABORTION
Introduction

Abortion is legal in 54 countries today. It has been legal in America since the infamous Roe vs.
Wade Supreme Court decision in 1973. Worldwide, roughly 46 million babies are destroyed in
the womb each year. About one in five pregnancies end in abortion. The overwhelming majority
of abortions are done as a means of birth control and convenience.

God’s people are obligated to honor God’s Law more than man’s. Though abortion is legal, that
does not mean that it is right in God’s eyes (Acts 5:29).

By 21 days the baby’s heart begins to beat and the blood flows through its body. At 45 days the
tiny baby’s brain waves can be detected. By 8 to 9 weeks the eyelids have begun forming and
hair appears. By 9 or 10 weeks it sucks its thumb, jumps, frowns, swallows, and moves its
tongue. By 12 or 13 weeks the baby has fingernails and its own unique fingerprints; all arteries
are present, vocal chords are complete; the baby can cry and recoils from pain. At 14 weeks the
mother begins to feel the baby moving inside of her. At 15 weeks the baby has fully-formed taste
buds. At 16 weeks, it has eyebrows and eyelashes, and it can grasp with its hands, kick, and even
somersault. At 20 weeks the baby can hear and recognize its’s mother’s voice.

The most common types of abortion are the following:

Suction Aspiration. This is the most common method during the first trimester of pregnancy.
The tiny infant is literally sucked out of the womb by a powerful pump with a suction force
nearly 30 times that of a home vacuum cleaner. The procedure tears the baby’s body into pieces.

Dilation an Curettage (D&C). This method is used up to 18 weeks of gestation. The abortionist
uses a currette, a steel knife, to cut the baby into pieces so they can be removed.

Partial Birth (D&X). Used for “advanced pregnancies,” the baby is partially removed from the
womb so that about half of its little body is exposed with its legs hanging outside the woman’s
body. The abortionist then plunges scissors into the baby’s head at the nape of the neck and
spreads them open to kill the child. It’s brain is then removed by suction before the lifeless body
is removed entirely.

Salt Poisoning. This is used after 16 weeks. The abortionist injects a strong salt solution directly
into the amniotic sac (the fluid surrounding the baby). As the baby breathes and swallows the
solution, it is poisoned. It takes over an hour to kill the baby, with it struggling and convulsing
during this time. Infants aborted in this manner are called “Candy Apple Babies,” because the
corrosive effect of the salt exposes the raw, red, glazed-looking subcutaneous layer of skin and
its head thus looks like a candy apple.

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Prostaglandin Chemical Abortion. Drugs delivered through injection or suppository produces a
violent labor and deliver of the child. Sometimes the baby is born alive, but it is too small to
survive.

RU-486. This drug taken in pill form produces an abortion by not allowing the newly-implanted
baby access to an essential hormonal nutrient. Ru-486 is used after the mother misses her period,
at which stage the baby is at least two to three weeks old. This is old enough to have a beating
heart.

The Bible forbids the abortion of an unborn child. Consider the following truths:

1. The Bible says that man is created in God’s image (Gen. 1:26). Man is not the product of
blind naturalistic evolution and he is not an animal that can be killed for convenience.

The doctrine of evolution has been a moving force behind the abortion industry, because it
teaches that man is only an animal. In fact, the evolutionary doctrine of “recapitulation” claims
that the embryo is not fully human until late in its growth stage.

This theory was popularized by Ernst Haeckel, Charles Darwin’s most prominent supporter in
Germany. Haeckel taught that “ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny.” Ontogeny is the growth in the
womb, and phylogeny is evolutionary development. The unborn child supposedly goes through a
series of evolutionary stages from single cell to fish to amphibian to reptile to mammal to ape to
human. Thus, the fetus only becomes human in its later stages. Haeckel produced drawings that
showed that the human embryo is the same as that of animals such as a fish, a pig, and a monkey,
but the drawings were fake. Haeckel mislabeled embryos; he changed the size of embryos; he
deleted parts; he added parts; he changed parts. For example, he took a drawing of a monkey
embryo and removed its arms, legs, navel, heart, and yolksac to make it look like a fish embryo.
He then labeled it “Embryo of a Gibbon in the fish-stage.” Haeckel’s theory has been totally
disproved, but his drawings are still used in textbooks today. Haeckel’s myth has encouraged the
modern abortion industry. In 1957, child psychologist Benjamin Spock wrote, “Each child as he
develops is retracing the whole history of mankind, physically and spiritually, step by step. A
baby starts off in the womb as a single tiny cell, just the way the first living thing appeared in the
ocean. Weeks later, as he lies in the amniotic fluid of the womb, he has gills like a fish...” (Baby
and Child Care, p. 223). In 1990, Carl Sagan and his wife argued that abortion is ethical on the
grounds that the fetus is not fully human until the sixth month. Taking Haeckel’s recapitulation
theory as fact, they claimed that the embryo begins as “a kind of parasite” and changes into
something like a fish with “gill arches” and then becomes “reptilian” and finally “mammalian.”
By the end of the second month, the fetus “is still not quite human” (“The Question of Abortion:
A Search for the Answers,” Parade, April 22, 1990).

2. God forbids man to shed innocent blood. Twenty times the Bible forbids the shedding of
“innocent blood” (e.g., Deut. 19:10-13; 2 Kings 21:16). This refers to killing a person without a
just cause (1 Sam. 19:5). To put a murderer to death, for example, is a just cause, but to kill an

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innocent person is unjust. God hates those who shed innocent blood (Prov. 6:16-17). What
person is more innocent than an unborn child?

3. Modern science calls the unborn a “fetus,” but it is called a “child” in the Bible (Gen.
25:22). The child that dies before it is born is called an “infant” (Job 3:16). Therefore, to kill a
“fetus” is to kill an infant child. The Bible says that children are distinct individuals even when
they are in the womb. This was true of Esau and Jacob (Gen. 25:23). Jeremiah was called to be a
prophet while he was still in the womb (Jer. 1:5), and John the Baptist was filled with the Spirit
and responded to Christ while in the womb (Luke 1:15, 41-44).

4. The Law of Moses demanded punishment if an unborn baby was harmed (Ex. 21:22-23).
The injury or death of an unborn child was treated as a serious crime.

5. The Bible says that God is in control of conception (Genesis 20:18; 29:31; 30:22). The
Bible says children are the heritage of the Lord (Psalm 127:3). The child in the womb does not
belong to the mother; it belongs to God.

6. The Bible says God forms the child in the womb (Psalm 139:13-16).

a. God possessed or fashioned David’s reins (Psa. 139:13).

(1) The word “reins” refers to the immaterial part of man, his heart, soul, and spirit. The
term “reins” is closely associated with the “heart” and refers especially to man’s will,
the seat of his desires, affections, and passions. See Psalm 16:7; 26:2; 73:21; Proverbs
23:16; Isaiah 11:5; Jeremiah 11:20; 17:10; 20:12; Revelation 2:23.

(2) This is God’s realm. Man doesn’t know enough about this to interfere. If an egg is
fertilized for scientific research and the new life begins to grow and then is cut off, this
means that a life made in God’s image has been extinguished. According to Psalm 139
it appears that the reins are already present in that newly conceived person even though
its body has not yet formed. The Psalms teach us that man’s reins are possessed of God.
They are formed by Him and owned by Him and return to Him at death (Ecc. 12:7). Let
man beware!

b. God fashioned David’s body (Psa. 139:13-16). Here David thinks about the amazing
complexity of his body and states that God is the author and should be praised for His
works. “I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy
works; and that my soul knoweth right well” (Psa. 139:14). No other evidence for the
existence of an almighty, all-wise Creator is needed than the fact of man’s miraculous
makeup.

(1) David was curiously wrought and fashioned in continuance (Psa. 139:15, 16). This is a
wonderful description of how the infant grows in the womb, beginning with the

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 microscopic fertilized egg. The statement that David was made “in the lowest parts of
the earth” does not refer to places under the earth but to the womb itself. It is a poetic
description of the womb as a dark, inaccessible place where man’s eye does not
penetrate. The Hebrew word translated “curiously wrought” (raqam) means “to
variegate color, i.e. embroider; by implication, to fabricate” (Strong). It is elsewhere
translated “needlework” (Ex. 26:36) and “embroiderer” (Ex. 38:23). Barnes comments:
“It refers to the act of ‘weaving in’ various threads--as now in weaving carpets. The
reference here is to the various and complicated tissues of the human frame--the
tendons, nerves, veins, arteries, muscles, ‘as if’ they had been woven, or as they appear
to be curiously interweaved. No work of tapestry can be compared with this; no art of
man could ‘weave’ together such a variety of most tender and delicate fibres and tissues
as those which go to make up the human frame, even if they were made ready to his
hand: and who but God could ‘make’ them? The comparison is a most beautiful one;
and it will be admired the more man understands the structure of his own
frame” (Barnes). Alan Gillen, M.D., says, “The body is woven together just like a
tapestry. For example, look at the interwoven complexity of a single skeletal muscle. ...
Under the microscope, the amazing interwoven design manifests itself” (Body by
Design, 2001, p. 8).

(2) A description of David’s body was written in God’s book before he was formed (Psa.
139:16). This amazing divine book of human blueprints apparently exists in heaven.

c. In light of this Bible teaching, abortion is certainly murder. That child does not belong to
the mother; it belongs to the Creator. A woman is not free to do with her body as she
pleases because she is a created being and is accountable to God, and further, that infant in
her womb is a separate body and a separate individual.

7. Idolaters killed their sons and daughters, and this was something that God hated (Psalm
106:38).

REVIEW QUESTIONS ON ABORTION

1. What is the shedding of innocent blood?

2. What passage says that God hates those who shed innocent blood?
3. What does the Bible call an unborn "fetus"?
4. Who is in control of conception?
5. Who forms man's soul?
6. In what Psalm did David describe how God fashioned him in the womb?
7. What did idolaters do to their children in Old Testament times?

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 EVOLUTION
The doctrine of Darwinian evolution is taught throughout the world today. It proposes that life
originated spontaneously from inanimate matter and that all living things evolved from an
original single-celled creature.

The point of this lesson is that a Bible believer must reject evolution because the Bible and
evolution are diametrically opposed.

Some professing Christians try to hold to evolution and the Bible at the same time by interpreting
the early chapters of Genesis as poetical or allegorical. But this is an impossible position, as we
will see in our first point:

1. The early chapters of Genesis are literal history.

a. The first 11 chapters of Genesis are written as literal history, not as poetry. “There are 64
geographical terms, 88 personal names, 48 generic names and at least 21 identifiable
cultural items (such as gold, bdellium, onyx, brass, iron, gopher wood, bitumen, mortar
brick, stone, harp, pipe, cities, towers) in those opening chapters. The significance of this
list may be seen by comparing it, for example, with ‘the paucity of references in the Koran.
The single tenth chapter of Genesis has five times more geographical data of importance
than the whole of the Koran.’ Every one of these items presents us with the possibility of
establishing the reliability of our author. The content runs head on into a description of the
real world rather than recounting events belonging to another world or level of
reality” (Walter Kaiser, Jr., “The Literary Form of Genesis 1-11,” New Perspectives on the
Old Testament, ed. by J. Barton Payne, 1970, p. 59).

b. Genesis is cited as history by Jesus. In Luke 17:26-32, for example, Jesus mentions Noah,
the Ark, the Flood, Lot, the destruction of Sodom by fire, and Lot’s wife. Elsewhere Jesus
mentions the Creation (Mk. 13:19), Adam and Eve (Mat. 19:4-6; Mk. 10:6-7), Cain and
Abel (Mat. 23:35; Lk. 11:50-51), and Abraham (John 8:39-40). Christ always treats
Genesis as history.

c. Genesis 1-11 is cited as history by seven of the eight New Testament writers (all but James);
altogether the first eleven chapters of Genesis are quoted from or referred to 100 times.
Genesis is always treated as history in the New Testament.

d. Genesis 1-3 forms the historical foundation of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

(1) Jesus’ genealogy is traced from Adam (Luke 3:23-38).

(2) Adam is compared to Christ (Romans 5:12-19; 1 Cor. 15:45). It is obvious that the
apostle Paul considered Adam an historical figure and Genesis as literal history.

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 (3) The gospel is required because of the Fall of the human race in Adam (Romans 5:12).
If the Fall is not real, the gospel is meaningless.

2. The teaching of Genesis cannot be reconciled with the teaching of evolution.

a. Genesis says God created the world and everything in it in six days as opposed to millions
or billions of years. The days of creation in Genesis 1 were regular 24-hour days, days with
an evening and a morning (Gen. 1:5, 8, 13, 19, 23, 31). This is repeated in Exodus
20:10-11.

b. Genesis says everything was made to reproduce after its kind. The statement “after their
kind” is found nine times in Genesis chapter one (Gen. 1:11, 12, 21, 24, 25). This is
precisely what we observe in the world. Dogs reproduce dogs, spiders reproduce spiders,
birds reproduce birds, and peanuts reproduce peanuts. Animals can interbreed and “evolve”
within kinds (e.g., various kinds of dogs can be interbred to produce different kinds of
dogs), but a dog cannot interbreed with a cat. This is what the Bible teaches and this is
what we can observe everywhere in nature, but evolution denies that everything always
reproduces after its own kind. It teaches that the fish evolved into the amphibian, and the
amphibian into the reptile, and the reptile into the bird, etc.

c. Genesis says the first man was created directly by God and was not the product of gradual
evolution from the ape kingdom. The Bible says Adam was the first man (1 Cor. 15:45).
And Eve is the mother of all men (Gen. 3:20).

d. Genesis says man is made in God’s image and is different from the animals (Gen. 1:27).
Evolution says man is an evolved animal.

e. Genesis says the world was created perfect, then fell under sin and has been deteriorating
ever since. This is consistent with everything we can observe. Everything is proceeding
from order to disorder. Everything is deteriorating, running down. This is exactly what the
Second Law of Thermodynamics describes, as even secular evolutionists admit. Isaac
Asimov was an evolutionist, but his definition of the Second Law of Thermodynamics, as
follows, actually refutes evolution and proves the Bible: “The universe is constantly getting
more disorderly! Viewed that way, we can see the Second Law all about us. How difficult
to maintain houses, and machinery, and our own bodies in perfect working order; how easy
to let them deteriorate. In fact, all we have to do is nothing, and everything deteriorates,
collapses, breaks down, wears out, all by itself and that is what the Second Law is all
about” (Asimov, “In the Game of Energy and Thermodynamics You Can’t Break Even,”
Smithsonian Institute Journal, June 1970, p. 10). How contrary this is to the theory of
evolution, which says that things have gradually evolved from non-life to life, from chaos
to order.

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 f. Genesis says everything was designed to fulfill God’s purposes. Wherever we look in nature,
from the microscopic to the astronomic, we see design, which is contrary to the theory of
evolution that says the world is the product of blind naturalistic processes. Study the cell,
the eye, the ear, the leaf, the flying wing, the atom, light, sound, water--everywhere you
find purpose and design. Michael Denton observes, “It is the sheer universality of
perfection, the fact that everywhere we look, to whatever depth we look, we find an
elegance and ingenuity of an absolutely transcending quality, which so mitigates against the
idea of chance” (Evolution: A Theory in Crisis, 1983, p. 342). Even a “simple” microscopic
one-celled bacterium (R. Coli) contains DNA information units equivalent to 100 million
pages of the Encyclopedia Britannica, and all of that information works together in perfect
harmony and is self-replicating! Purpose and design is what one would expect if God
created the world as the Genesis record says He did, but if evolution were true, we would
find chaos and haphazardness.

g. Genesis indicates that the earth’s history is only about 6,000 years old, whereas evolution
claims that it is billions of years.

h. Genesis says man had the ability to use language from the beginning, so that he might
communicate with God. But according to evolution, language evolved from animal grunts
and squeals. It is important to understand that even modern archaeology says that writing
began about 6,000 years ago, which fits the Bible’s record exactly (Joseph Naveh, Origins
of the Alphabets: Introduction to Archaeology, Jerusalem: The Jerusalem Publishing
House, p. 6).

i. Genesis says man had the ability to create an intelligent civilization from the very
beginning. Adam’s children raised cattle, created musical instruments, and worked in brass
and iron (Gen. 4:20-22). Evolution, on the other hand, claims that man’s civilization began
with a “stone age” in which “cave men” lived like animals.

REVIEW QUESTIONS ON EVOLUTION

1. What are four reasons why we know that the early chapters of Genesis are literal history?
2. Name eight people in Genesis that are mentioned by Jesus.
3. How many times are the first 11 chapters of Genesis quoted and referred to in the New
Testament?
4. In what three ways is Genesis 1-3 the historical foundation of the Gospel?
5. What are nine ways that the teaching of Genesis is different from the teaching of evolution?
6. How does the Second Law of Thermodynamics disprove evolution?
7. According to modern archaeology, when did writing begin?
8. How does the Bible refute the evolutionary teaching of a stone age?

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 THE SABBATH
MEMORY VERSES: Exodus 31:12-13; Nehemiah 9:13-14; Colossians 2:16

The Sabbath is God’s sign to Israel and was first given to her when she was in the
wilderness

Seventh-day Adventists teach that men kept the sabbath from the days of Adam, but this is
contrary to the Bible’s own record. While it is true that the sabbath originated at end of the six
days of creation (Gen. 2:1-3), that was God’s rest, not man’s. There is no record in Genesis that
God gave the sabbath to man. The saints in Genesis built altars, prayed, offered sacrifices, and
tithed; but the Scripture is silent in regard to sabbath keeping.

Nehemiah 9:13-14 plainly states that the sabbath was first given to Israel in the wilderness.

If Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob had kept the sabbath, their children would have been familiar with
the practice; but Nehemiah tells us that this was not the case.

Exodus 31:12-13 plainly states that the sabbath was a special sign between God and Israel. If
mankind in general had been given the sabbath following creation, it could not have been a sign
for Israel. The fact is that the sabbath belongs to the nation Israel and not to any other people.

It is also important to note that the sabbath will be an eternal possession of Israel (Ex 31:16).
This sign will never be annulled or transferred to another people. This explains why the prophets
foretell that Israel will keep the sabbath even after the kingdom of Christ is established on earth
(Isa. 66:23). It also explains why Jesus Christ mentioned the sabbath in His prophecies of the
Tribulation (Mat. 24:20). Jews still keep the sabbath today and there are restrictions in the land
of Israel. El Al Airline does not fly on the sabbath, for example.

The Sabbath and the New Testament Believer

In their writings to the churches, the Apostles only mentioned the sabbath three times:

1. The sabbath is a symbol of salvation rest in Christ (Heb. 4). Just as the Jews did not work on
the sabbath, even so the believer is saved by God’s grace without works.

2. The New Testament believer is not bound to keep the sabbath (Col. 2:16). When Paul speaks
of “sabbath days,” plural, he is referring to all of the rest days that God gave Israel, including
those associated with the feasts. For example, Pentecost always fell on the first day of the week,
but it was a special sabbath wherein no work was done (Lev. 23:16-21). Seventh-day Adventists
and other sabbath keepers claim that Colossians 2:16 does not refer to the regular weekly
sabbath, but there is no evidence that this is the case.

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3. The New Testament believer has liberty in the matter of holy days (Rom. 14:4-6).

Those who claim that the sabbath is binding upon the Christian, are teaching contrary to
apostolic doctrine.

“The sabbath relates to the old creation and was given expressly to Israel; the Lord’s Day relates
to the new creation and belongs especially to the church. The sabbath speaks of law as six days
of labor which are followed by rest, but the Lord’s day speaks of grace, for we begin the week
with rest that is followed by works” (Wiersbe’s Old Testament Outlines).

Why, then, did Jesus keep the sabbath? He kept the sabbath for the same reason He kept all the
other Mosaic laws. (He also observed the feasts.) Jesus did these things because He was born a
Jew, born under the law, that He might fulfill it and redeem His people from its penalty and
bondage (Gal. 4:4; Rom. 9:5).

Bible evidence that the early Christians worshipped on Sunday

1. Jesus rose from the dead on the first day (Mk. 16:9).

2. Jesus first appeared to his disciples on the first day (Mk. 16:9).

3. Jesus repeatedly met with the disciples at different places on the first day after the resurrection
(Mk. 16:9-11; Mt 28:8-10; Lk. 24:34; Mk. 16:12-13; Jn. 20:19-23).

4. Jesus blessed the disciples on the first day (Jn. 20:19).

5. Jesus imparted to the disciples the gift of the Holy Spirit on the first day (Jn. 20:22).

6. On the first day Jesus commissioned the disciples to preach the gospel to all the world (Jn.
20:21; with Mk. 16:9-15).

7. On the first day Jesus ascended to Heaven, was seated at the right hand of the Father and was
made Head of all (Jn. 20:17; Eph. 1:20).

8. On the first day many of the dead saints arose from the grave (Mt. 27:52-53).

9. The first day became the day of joy and rejoicing to the disciples (Jn. 20:20; Lk. 24:41).

10. On the first day the gospel of the risen Christ was first preached (Lk. 24:34).

11. On the first day Jesus explained the Scriptures to the disciples (Lk. 24:27, 45).

12. On the first day the purchase of our redemption was completed (Rom. 4:25).

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13. On the first day the Holy Spirit descended (Acts 2:1). Pentecost was on the 50th day after the
sabbath following the wave offering (Lev. 23:15-16). Thus Pentecost was always on a Sunday.

14. The Christians met to worship on the first day (Acts 20:6-7; 1 Cor. 16:2) (D.M. Canright,
Seventh-day Adventism Renounced).

Since those days, the vast majority of Christians have always met to worship on the Lord’s day.
They do this in honor of the resurrection of their Savior. Christ was in the tomb during the
sabbath, and rose as the firstborn from the dead on the first day. The sabbath signifies the last day
of the old creation (Gen. 2:2). Sunday is the first day of the new creation.

Historical evidence that the early Christians worshipped on Sunday

The Epistle of Barnabas (about A.D. 100) -- “Wherefore, also we keep the eighth day with
joyfulness, the day also on which Jesus rose again from the dead.”

The Epistle of Ignatius (about A.D. 107) -- “Be not deceived with strange doctrines, nor with old
fables, which are unprofitable. For if we still live according to the Jewish Law, we acknowledge
that we have not received grace ... If, therefore, those who were brought up in the ancient order
of things have come to the possession of a new hope, no longer observing the Sabbath, but living
in the observance of the Lord’s Day, on which also our life has sprung up again by Him and by
His death.”

Justin Martyr (about A.D. 140) -- “And on the day called Sunday all who live in cities or in the
country gather together in one place, and the memoirs of the apostles or the writings of the
prophets are read. ... But Sunday is the day on which we all hold a common assembly, because it
is the First day of the week on which God ... made the world; and Jesus Christ our Savior on the
same day rose from the dead.”

Bardesanes, Edessa (A.D. 180) -- “On one day the first of the week, we assemble ourselves
together.”

Clement of Alexandria (A.D. 194) -- “He, in fulfillment of the precept, according to the gospel,
keeps the Lord’s Day ... glorifying the Lord’s resurrection in himself.”

Tertullian (A.D. 200) -- “We solemnize the day after Saturday in contradiction to those who call
this day their sabbath.”

Irenaeus (about A.D. 155-202) -- “The Mystery of the Lord’s Resurrection may not be celebrated
on any other day than the Lord’s Day, and on this alone should we observe the breaking off of
the Paschal Feast.”

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Cyprian (A.D. 250) -- “The eighth day, that is, the first day after the sabbath, and the Lord’s
Day.”

Anatolius (A.D. 270) -- “Our regard for the Lord’s resurrection which took place on the Lord’s
Day will lead us to celebrate it.”

Peter, Bishop of Alexandria (A.D. 306) -- “But the Lord’s Day we celebrate as a day of joy,
because on it, he rose again.”

REVIEW QUESTIONS ON THE SABBATH

1. When was the sabbath first given to men?

2. Why does Genesis 2 mention the sabbath if it was not given to men at that time?
3. What passage says the sabbath is a sign between God and Israel?
4. Why does the Bible talk about the keeping of the sabbath in the kingdom?
5. According to Hebrews 4, the sabbath is symbolic of what?
6. Why does Colossians 2:16 refer to a plurality of sabbaths?
7. What evidence is there that Colossians 2:16 does not refer to the regular weekly sabbath?
8. What are five Bible evidences that the early Christians met on Sunday?
9. What are three early historical references to Sunday worship?

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 DRESSING FOR THE LORD
Part 1
MEMORY VERSES: Deuteronomy 22:5; 1 Timothy 2:9; 1 Corinthians 11:14-15

Dress is very important, first, because it both reflects and affects the heart. Second, dress is
important because clothing is a language. It is a “social message,” a fashion “statement.” The
knowledge of this is the engine that drives the fashion industry, and the child of God needs to
understand it, as well. I need to ask myself what message is my clothing broadcasting?
Wikipedia defines fashion as “a prevailing mode of expression.” It acknowledges that “every
article of clothing carries a cultural and social meaning” and observes that “humans must know
the code in order to recognize the message transmitted.”

Abercrombie & Fitch, the clothing company that markets “edgy” clothing featuring loose
sexuality, is said to be “best known for its REBELLIOUS ATTITUDE” (“Flip-Flops, Torn Jeans,
and Control,” Business Week, May 30, 2005). Thus, even the world recognizes the message of
Abercrombie & Fitch clothing. They don’t merely sell clothing; they sell an attitude.

Therefore, clothing styles are not innocent. Each style preaches a message, and God’s people
must beware of sending the wrong message with their clothing.

We must understand that the clothing industry cares nothing about submitting to God’s Word.

God’s people do not need a list of certain fashions to wear or not to wear. What we need are clear
biblical principles whereby we can judge clothing styles. Fashions constantly change, but the
principles of God’s Word do not.

A SUMMARY OF THE BIBLE’S PRINCIPLES ON THE CHRISTIAN’S DRESS

1. The Christian’s clothing is to be modest (1 Timothy 2:9).

Modesty is described in the New Testament by the words “chaste,” “sober,” “discreet,” and
“shamefaced.” This would forbid anything that shows the woman off in a lascivious or indecent
manner.

First, modest attire covers the body properly and does not expose the parts of the body that have
particular sexual appeal. Isaiah 47:2 says that for a woman to bare her leg and to show the thigh
is nakedness. Thus, immodest clothing would include short skirts, shorts, slit skirts, low blouses,
short blouses that bare the midriff, deep V-necked dresses, backless dresses, halter tops, and any
modern swimsuit. Immodest clothing would also include any style that uses flimsy material that
can be seen through.

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Second, modest attire does not sensually accent the body. Tight, clinging attire is as immodest as
skimpy attire because the woman’s figure is emphasized and accented, and man’s attention is
directed to that which is forbidden outside of marriage.

Third, modest attire is not extravagant. When the apostle deals with modest attire in 1 Timothy
2:9, he mentions “broided hair, gold, pearls, and costly array.” The goal of this world’s godless
fashion industry is to create a haughty, ostentatious, worldly-wise look, as well as a sexual look.
The godly woman will reject such fashions and clothe herself and her daughters in “modest
apparel.”

The immodest clothing industry understands these things very well and strives to dress women
seductively rather than modestly.

2. The Christian’s clothing is to be sexually distinctive (Gen. 1:27; Deut. 22:5; 1 Cor.
11:14-15).

The woman’s dress is to be distinctively feminine and the man’s, distinctively masculine.

The modern unisex movement is in rebellion against Almighty God and His Word, and the
Christian should have nothing whatsoever to do with any fashion associated with it. The
androgynous unisex image is not innocent. It was created by rock musicians who intended to
overthrow tradition. Female pants were created as a unisex fashion statement and play a central
role in the modern unisex movement.

Hair styles are also statements. Long hair on men and short hair on women are not merely
harmless fashions, but are statements of rebellion against God’s created order (1 Corinthians
11:14-15). One of the rock songs of the 1960s called upon young men to grow their hair long and
“let your freak flag show.” David Lee Roth of Van Halen testified: “[My long hair] is a flag. It’s
Tarzan. I’ll always be anti-establishment” (John Makujina, Measuring the Music, p. 73).

Objections Answered:

Objection No. 1: Deuteronomy 22:5 is part of the Law of Moses that has been done away in
Christ.

Answer: While we know that the Law of Moses is not the Christian’s Law, it does contain
lessons for Christian living. In 1 Corinthians 10 Paul recounts many things from the Law and
concludes, “Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our
admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come” (1 Cor. 10:11). Deuteronomy 22:5
contains a moral principle that is written for our admonition. The principle is that there is to be a
clear distinction between how men and women dress.

Paul emphasized this in 1 Corinthians 14:34 when he said, “Let your women keep silence in the
churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under

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obedience, as also saith the law.” Thus, according to Paul, the Law of Moses does speak directly
to Christian living in the matter of the created difference between male and female.

Objection No. 2: If we follow Deuteronomy 22:5 today we must also follow Deuteronomy
22:9-11, which says we should not sow different kinds of seeds in a garden or wear
garments of mixed fibers.

Answer: Though we do not obey these commandments in the material realm today, we still must
follow the abiding moral principle that they teach in the spiritual realm. By giving these
commands, God was teaching Israel the principle of separation. Such laws were designed to
teach them to “put difference between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean” (Lev.
10:10). Deuteronomy 22:9-11, then, reminds the New Testament Christian that he is to separate
from everything that is evil and wrong before the Lord (Mat. 6:24; 2 Cor. 6:14-17; 1 John
2:15-16, etc.).

Commentators of past centuries, who were not prejudiced one way or the other by the debate on
modern fashions, held that the teaching of Deuteronomy 22:5 is applicable to the Christian life.

The footnotes in the Geneva Bible (1560) said: “The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth
unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman’s garment: for all that do so are abomination
unto the LORD thy God. For that alters the order of nature, and shows that you despise God.”

Matthew Poole (1624-1679) said: “Now this is forbidden, partly for decency sake, that men
might not confound, nor seem to confound, those sexes which God hath distinguished, that all
appearance of evil might be avoided, such change of garments carrying a manifest umbrage or
sign of softness and effeminacy in the man, of arrogance and impudency in the woman, of
lightness and petulancy in both; and partly to cut off all suspicions and occasions of evil, which
this practice opens a wide door unto.”

Matthew Henry (1662-1714) said: “The distinction of sexes by the apparel is to be kept up, for
the preservation of our own and our neighbour’s chastity, De. 22:5. Nature itself teaches that a
difference be made between them in their hair (1 Cor. 11:14), and by the same rule in their
clothes, which therefore ought not to be confounded, either in ordinary wear or occasionally.”

John Gill (1697-1771) said: “The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man … It
being very unseemly and impudent, and contrary to the modesty of her sex. … neither shall a
man put on a woman’s garment; which would betray effeminacy and softness unbecoming
men ... since in nature a difference of sexes is made, it is proper and necessary that this should be
known by difference of dress, or otherwise many evils might follow; and this precept is
agreeable to the law and light of nature…”

Adam Clarke (1762-1832) said: “It is, however, a very good general precept understood literally,
and applies particularly to those countries where the dress alone distinguishes between the male
and the female. The close-shaved gentleman may at any time appear like a woman in the female

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dress, and the woman appear as a man in the male’s attire. Were this to be tolerated in society, it
would produce the greatest confusion.”

Albert Barnes (1789-1870) wrote: “The distinction between the sexes is natural and divinely
established, and cannot be neglected without indecorum and consequent danger to purity
(compare 1 Cor. 11:3-15).”

Jamieson, Fausset, Brown (1864) said: “They were properly forbidden; for the adoption of the
habiliments of the one sex by the other is an outrage on decency, obliterates the distinctions of
nature by fostering softness and effeminacy in the man, impudence and boldness in the woman
as well as levity and hypocrisy in both; and, in short, it opens the door to an influx of so many
evils that all who wear the dress of another sex are pronounced ‘an abomination unto the Lord.’”

Perhaps you have observed that many of these older commentators cross-referenced the principle
of Deuteronomy 22:5 with that of 1 Corinthians 11:14-15 where Paul teaches that the woman and
the man are to maintain a difference in appearance.

Paul says the distinction in appearance should be maintained because of the created order and the
different roles that the man and the woman were designed to fill (1 Cor. 11:7-9).

God made man and woman for different roles on earth (Gen. 1:27).

Thus, both the Old and the New Testaments teach that it is God’s will for the man and the
woman to dress distinctively. One woman made the following important observation:

“People seem to be playing ‘pick-n-choose’ with Old Testament verses. They want the twenty-third
Psalm, the hundredth Psalm, and all the OT verses that won’t affect their lifestyle, but then they try
to explain away any OT verse that would have any effect on how they live. Well, 2 Timothy 3:16
says, ‘ALL SCRIPTURE is given by inspiration of God, and IS PROFITABLE for doctrine, for
reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” ([Link]
[Link]).

Why would the godly woman want to be identified with a fashion that is so intimately associated
with a movement and philosophy that is in rebellion against God’s created order?

Many men of God have observed that the popularizing of pants-wearing by women in the past 40
years has gone hand-in-hand with a shocking decline in female modesty. One pastor wrote:

“I believe it leads to a breakdown of the sexes, causes immorality and contributes to

homosexuality. Pants cause a woman to act masculine. Women today do not know how to sit like a
lady or to act modestly because of their pants. They no longer bend at the knees, but they bend at
the waist, exposing their chest in even a modest garment. They do not sit with their knees together
and the ankles crossed.”

Another wrote:

“Are we godlier today than our grandparent’s generation? I think not! They were scandalized by
women who wore pants and swimsuits and mini-skirts. Today, those things are commonly accepted
among believers and even in churches.”

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Another man said:

“I am 68 years old and have been married to a wonderful, modest lady for 49 years. I am appalled
at how so many women dress even in church. My mother is 88 years old and worked in the cotton
fields alongside my father back when we did it all by hand. I’ve never seen my mother or either of
my grandmothers in pants or shorts and they all worked in the fields. Thank God for the example
they were to me. By the way, they all washed their clothes by hand and I never saw any women’s
undergarments hanging out on the clothes line for all that passed by to look at. This proves that
their modesty went far deeper than what they put on their bodies. It was in their hearts.”

While we can’t turn the clock back to a bygone era, God’s people can hold to the old Bible paths
and reject the dictates and mores of this shallow, lascivious, and rebellious age.

Objection No. 3: When it comes to short hair on men and long hair on women, how long is
long and how short is short?

The first answer to this is that the length should not be questionable within the particular societal
context. Hair length has varied in various societies and in various times, but if a man’s hair is
considered long according to the context in which he finds himself, then it is not short enough.
And if a woman’s hair is considered short, then it is not long enough.

The second answer is that the believer’s hair length should not be offensive to others (Rom.
14:19, 21). As a young Christian I cut my long hair so that it was much shorter than it was before
my conversion. But one night when I was on visitation, my hair was criticized by an elderly
woman who felt that it was too long for a “man of God.” Instead of getting upset and standing on
my “rights,” I humbled myself and got it cut the next day. Men and women both should be
sensitive to this principle. There are many woman today in Bible-believing churches who have
very short hair. This is true for younger women, but it seems to be even more the custom of
elderly women. I know many men and women of God who are offended by this and believe it is
wrong, and these women should take heed to this warning and avoid offense. Biblically, this is
far more important than “convenience” and “fashion” and “my rights.”

REVIEW QUESTIONS ON DRESSING PART 1

1. What are two reasons why dress is important?

2. What Bible chapter discusses hair length on men and women?
3. Why was the unisex image created?
4. Abercrombie & Fitch markets a "------------- -------------"
5. What are the seven principles of dress that we cover in these lessons?
6. What are other New Testament words for "modesty"?
7. What are three requirements for modest apparal?
8. What verse says the things in the Law of Moses are our examples?
9. What is the abiding moral principle of Deuteronomy 22:5?
10. What is the abiding moral principle of Deuteronomy 22:9-11?
11. Name four Bible commentators who applied Deuteronomy 22:5 to the Christian life?
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 DRESSING FOR THE LORD
Part 2
MEMORY VERSES: Romans 14:21; 1 Thessalonians 5:22; Titus 2:2-5; 14

In the previous study, we looked at two Scriptural principles for dress: The Christian’s clothing is
to be modest, and the Christian’s clothing is to be sexually distinctive. Here we will consider five
more principles:

3. The Christian’s clothing is to be identified with holiness and godliness and not to be
identified with anything that is evil (1 Thess. 5:22; Eph. 5:11).

If a clothing style is identified with rebellion against God’s laws, with anarchy, with sexual
freedom, with blasphemy, with idolatry, with moral decadence, or with any other evil it should
not be worn by a Christian. This would prohibit fashions, for example, that have come out of the
world of punk and rap, such as long hair on men, tight jeans on women, torn jeans, low-slung
baggy pants, and such. This would also prohibit tattoos with their identification with rebellion
and self-expression (the “me” generation) and paganism.

4. The Christian’s clothing is to be characterized by separation from the world (Rom. 12:2;
2 Cor. 6:14-17; Titus 2:12-13; James 4:4; 1 John 2:15-16).

The Christian’s clothing is not to be conformed to anything in the world that is associated with
the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. Examples of fashions that are
worldly are indecent female dress styles that flaunt her sexuality and ostentatious fashions that
cry, “Look at me.”

5. The Christian’s clothing is to mark him or her as peculiar unto the Lord, which refers to
one who has been redeemed from all iniquity and who is zealous for good works (Titus
2:14).

God’s people are to be separate, peculiar, different, set apart. We must bear His stamp. We must
stand out from the crowd because we are walking by heaven’s light. We must not fly the world’s
flag. When God’s people are no longer peculiar before the world they have compromised the
Word of God. We must fear God more than man. We must be more concerned about pleasing
God than society. We must not draw back from bearing Christ’s reproach in this wicked world.
He said, “Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and
sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of
his Father with the holy angels” (Mk. 8:38). Paul said that if we deny Christ, he also will deny us
(2 Tim. 2:12).

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6. The Christian’s clothing should not cause others to stumble (Romans 14:21).

The Bible says that I am my brother’s keeper. Any clothing style that would cause others to lust
or that would be a poor example for others to follow or would otherwise cause offense should be
avoided. We would mention in particular SLIT SKIRTS AND SLIT DRESSES. One purpose for
this fashion is to tease men. Even if the slit is below the knee the effect is very sensual. We once
asked a group of young Bible college men if they were tempted sexually by slit skirts, and every
one of them admitted that they are. This should speak volumes to Christian women and young
ladies to avoid this immodest fashion.

Many women seem to think that the issue of modesty is basically the man’s problem and that if
he would keep his eyes to himself that would be the end of the matter. The fact is that both the
man and the woman have a grave responsibility.

Christian men most definitely should keep their eyes in check and say, with Job, “I made a
covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid?” (Job 31:1).

This is not to say, though, that Christian women can dress as they please because they have no
responsibility in the matter. If she knows that men are seriously tempted in the matter of sexual
lust and if she knows that certain types of dress can cause more problems for men than others,
why would a godly girl or woman not want to do everything she can not to cause a potential for
stumbling?

As Richard Baxter wrote in the seventeenth century,

“Though it be their [men] sin and vanity that is the cause, it is nevertheless your sin to be the
unnecessary occasion: for you must consider that you live among diseased souls! And you must
not lay a stumbling-block in their way, nor blow up the fire of their lust, nor make your ornaments
their snares; but you must walk among sinful persons, as you would do with a candle among straw
or gunpowder; or else you may see the flame which you would not foresee, when it is too late to
quench it” (Richard Baxter, 1615-91).

David was a man after God’s own heart, the sweet Psalmist of Israel, a man who had determined
not to set any wicked thing before his eyes; yet look at what happened to him after seeing a
woman innocently (apparently) bathing on her roof. Why was she bathing in a place where
someone could see her?

Most women don’t understand how powerful the visual element is to the man in the realm of sex
and sensuality.

One man wrote to say:

“I do believe most women just do not know how men think. Period. I BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A
WHOLE SEGMENT, GROUP, CLASS OF WOMEN, WHO, IF THEY REALLY UNDERSTOOD
MEN, WOULD CHANGE THEIR DRESS CODE, BECAUSE THEY DO WANT TO PLEASE

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 GOD. ... They just need to understand it’s not just a list of do’s and don’ts set forth to force them in
to ‘frumpiness,’ but a desire of godly men to gain their cooperation in helping them NOT lust, and to
not be stumbling blocks, because they just want to please God.”

Another man wrote,

“THE BIBLICAL ISSUE OF MODESTY IS BEST UNDERSTOOD BY AN UNDERSTANDING OF

DEFRAUDING. No one should take any action whereby he causes desires to be raised in another
that cannot be righteously satisfied. ... That our society drenches every inch of media in sexually
explicit advertising is a source of much temptation, sadness and concern for this man. Facing that
sort of issue with Christian sisters in a church setting is most grievous. I believe the phrase ‘long,
loose and lots of it’ should be the motto of Christian women’s apparel.”

7. The older Christians should be an example for the younger (Titus 2:2-5).

Older women might be able to wear certain clothing styles without causing men to lust, but they
need to be examples to girls and to the younger women.

In conclusion we quote the following statement by the late Bruce Lackey about the importance
of the heart.

Dress is a matter of the heart. You might get somebody straightened out on the matter of the
clothes they ought to wear and they still be just as lost as they were before you met them. Before I
talk to anybody about clothes or anything else, the first thing I want to know is what about the
heart? Have you been saved? Acts 15:9. Has your heart been purified by faith? Romans 10:9.
Have you believed in your heart that God raised Christ from the dead? The first thing I want to
know is about the heart and salvation. If you haven’t been saved, it’s not going to help your soul
one way or the other to change your clothes. You first have to come to Christ.

If you are saved, it is still a matter of the heart. If I were talking to a Christian about this, the first
thing I would want to talk to him about would be the heart. Is your heart right with God? If your
heart’s not right with God, you are going to resent every argument and resent anybody even
bringing up this discussion.

The Bible talks about the heart. Hebrews 10:22, ‘Let us draw near with a true heart in full
assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed
with pure water.’

God is talking to Christian people there. And in verses 24 and 25, ‘And let us consider one another
to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the
manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day
approaching.’

Dressing properly is a matter of the heart (Bruce Lackey, “Bible Guidelines for Clothing”).

The book Dressing for the Lord goes into this subject in great detail. This is available from Way
of Life Literature.

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REVIEW QUESTIONS ON DRESSING PART 2

1. What is a biblical principle that prohibits believers from wearing tattoos?

2. What are some ostentatious fashions that cry, “Look at me”?
3. What does it mean to be “peculiar unto the Lord”?
4. Why must the believer stand out from the crowd?
5. In what verse did Jesus warn, “Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words
in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed...”?
6. In what verse did Paul say that if we deny Christ, he also will deny us?
7. What is the purpose of slit dresses?
8. Job said, “I made a -------------- with mine eyes...”
9. Why does the woman have an obligation to dress modestly?
10. Did Bathsheba have any responsibility in David’s downfall?
11. Most women don’t understand how powerful the -------- element is to the man.
12. The biblical issue of modesty is best understood by an understanding of ------------.
13. Why should older women dress modestly even if they are no longer sexually alluring?
14. Dress is a matter of the -------.

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