Believing and Belonging VI

VI PRAYER AND BIBLE STUDY

Psalm 119:9-16

We learned in our study of the Christian life that growth depends upon our seeking God’s wisdom through prayer and Bible study.

Prayer

To be a Christian without praying is like trying to live without breathing. Christ left to His Church no form of organization; but He left it with something far more important – an experience of power through prayer.

There are certain things that should accompany each approach to God in prayer. These are set forth in Isaiah’s vision of the glory of the Lord. The following combination Bible study will help you to understand what these things are.

A STUDY OF PRAYER

Isaiah 6:1-8

What aspects of prayer do we find in this story of the calling of the prophet Isaiah?

1. An experience of awe in the presence of God (vs. 1-4).

2. A sense of sin, and confession of that sin (v.5).

3. An experience of forgiveness (vs.6,7).

4. An experience of complete dedication of self in the service of God (v.8).

It is of tremendous value in your growth as a Christian if you will enter into the spiritual discipline of prayer. Find a quiet place where, physically at rest and as free as possible from the noise and distractions of the world round about you, you can take your Bible in your hand and experience prayer for yourself. Many Christians find it best to begin the day with personal devotions. Often, a devotional booklet will prove useful.

There are three elements in what is called the prayer of petition: the request itself, the answer, and the acceptance of the answer. The first two are sure, the last depends upon you. You should pray knowing that you will be heard and that the Father will answer; but you must also be prepared to accept His answer. In the Bible, the story is told of a man with a withered hand who had often prayed for healing. Jesus said to him, ‘“Stretch out your hand.” So he stretched it out and it was completely restored, just as sound as the other.’[1]Christians should pray with hands outstretched, as it were, with minds alert, and with hearts eager for the blessing that He is eager to give.

Bible Study

“The word of God, which is contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, is the only rule to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy Him” (Westminster Shorter Catechism). In addition, there are two other reasons why Christians should read their Bibles. The Westminster Shorter Catechism is also clear about these: “The Scriptures principally teach, what man is to believe concerning God, and what duty God requires of man.”

1. Christians should make time to read the Bible each day. There are many plans available to help with this. It is better not to try to read the Bible from beginning to end, but to follow a program. This type of devotional reading schedule is designed to help us to learn “what man is to believe concerning God.”

2. There are various ways in which Christians have sought to find, through the Bible, “what duty God requires of man.” Some have opened the Bible randomly, expecting to find guidance. A much better way is to read with the aid of a devotional aid or Bible study booklet, such as “The Upper Room” or “These Days.” Find a quiet place; begin in prayer, thanking God for the blessings of this life. You could use the Psalms to help you to adore God for who He is. Then, read the assigned Scripture text. Don’t read the commentary immediately; instead, ask what the passage means to you. Does a particular phrase stand out? Jot it down in a journal or notebook. Then, read the devotional guide. Add any insights you glean to our own. Then, close your Bible and think for a moment what it would mean that day for you to follow what you have read. Pray again, commending the coming hours to God, asking for His guidance, mentioning any who have asked for prayer, or whose names are on your heart.

“Thy will be done”[2]is a prayer often to be found on the lips of Christians; but with that prayer there must be the realization that, if His will is to be done, it must be done by every one of us in our homes or at school, at work or at play, on the streets of our busy cities or the quiet country roads. Christ’s followers must prepare themselves to accept the answer to their prayer. If you really want to do God’s will then you must take the trouble to discern it, through prayer and the study of God’s Word; and then you must seek the courage to live out what you have learned.

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[1] Matthew 12:13

[2] Matthew 6:10 (KJV)

Believing and Belonging V

V : THE CHRISTIAN LIFE

Ephesians 4:23-32

Jesus explained the entry point into the Christian life by telling Nicodemus, “You must be born again.”[1] This is “justification,” being made right with God. If you want to follow Jesus Christ you must begin as a child, depending entirely upon God as your Heavenly Father, on Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord, and upon the Holy Spirit as your Helper and Guide.

The Christian life is one of continual growth, which is called “sanctification” or growth in holiness. Just as growth is natural in a child, so a Christian must strive to grow in the knowledge and likeness of Christ. The Bible tells us that Jesus, when a boy, “grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men,”[2] and in the same way, you should strive to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”[3]

The path of Christian discipleship is not an easy one. It is not passive. “Do this and you will live,”[4] said Jesus to a man who was knowledgeable in the Jewish law. The trouble was not that the man didn’t know what to do, it was that he didn’t do what he knew to do.

What, then, is Christian living? There are certain things that you, as a Christian, will put at the top of your priorities.

1. You will endeavor to grow in knowledge and favor with both God and others. Realizing your own weakness, you will seek help through daily prayer and the study of the Scriptures, and through fellowship with other Christians.

2. You will be faithful in attendance at worship, participating with joy.

3. You will do everything you can to make sure that you are present for the celebration of the Lord’s Supper.

4. You will be faithful in your everyday life, remembering that you are only a steward of the gifts God has given, and so you will be ready to share your time, talents and resources in His service.

5. You will be faithful to the church as your spiritual family, accepting responsibility for service on the basis of your gifts, as opportunity offers.

6. You will share your Christian experience with others, seeking always to relieve suffering, to help those in need, and to win others to Christ.

7. You will take an active interest in the extension of the Kingdom of God throughout the world.

“And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever,”[5] wrote the psalmist long ago. You never really know what a house is like until you live in it. And you never really know what Christ is like until you live in Him. The best way to test the Christian life is to try it. It’s not really a set of rules at all; it’s a relationship. And your profession of faith will be demonstrated, best of all, by the manner of your daily walk with Jesus Christ.

The Life to Come

No statement regarding the Christian life would be complete without a word regarding the life to come. Jesus spoke regularly about “eternal life,” meaning life after death. He seldom spoke about physical death, presumably because He regarded death not as an ending but as an incident on the Christian journey. We cannot see beyond death, but we can put our trust in One who has been there. “In my Father’s house are many rooms,” He said, “if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you.”[6] So, although we cannot know everything about life beyond the grave, we can know enough to have confidence in the promises of God. There are some things about which a Christian can be sure:

· Heaven is where Christ is.

· Death is a release from the bonds of pain and age.

· Broken relationships will be restored in heaven, when we meet those who have also trusted in Christ for salvation.

· There shall be no more tears in heaven except, perhaps, tears of joy, for we shall see our Savior face to face.

We shall follow Christ there, as here, and surely, as in His days on earth, He will go about “doing good.”[7]

Christians should not pretend to know the last details of what heaven will be like; but we should be confident in our hope in eternal life, which is the gift of God.

“Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror, then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.”[8]

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[1] John 3:7

[2] Luke 2:52

[3] II Peter 3:18

[4] Luke 10:28

[5] Psalm 23:6

[6] John 14:2

[7] Acts 10:38

[8] I Corinthians 13:12

Believing and Belonging IV

IV : SIN, CONFESSION AND SALVATION

I John 2:1-14

What is Sin?

“Sin is any want of conformity unto, or transgression of, the law of God.”

(Westminster Shorter Catechism)

There are no exceptions. Sin is anything that breaks the law of God, and a sinner, therefore, in the simplest and plainest words, is a lawbreaker. The Bible never lets us lose sight of sin and always emphasizes our own individual responsibility for what we do wrong. Its teaching is that we are all lawbreakers and that in word, thought, and deed, we daily break the holy law of God. To break the law of God is not merely to violate His commandments, but to fail to live up to the requirements of the law. John sums up the teaching of Scripture concerning this matter when he says, “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.”[1] The responsibility for our sins is ours because sin is a matter of the will. We all make our own choices – to keep or to break the law of God.

What is the Law of God?

To a young man who came to Him asking how he might gain eternal life, Jesus said, “If you want to enter life, obey the commandments.”[2] Later, when a lawyer asked, “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”[3] Every thought and all action can be tested by these words. Do you worship God half-heartedly? That is sin. Do you disobey His commandments? That is sin. Will the fulfillment of your desires make another unhappy? That is sin. Do you think of yourself before others? That is sin. Do you fail to do what you know is right? That is sin.

Confession

Just as surely as we are responsible for our sins, so surely it is impossible for us to turn from them in our own strength. And so we turn to God, our Heavenly Father, conscious of our need of Him. This is the first step toward salvation – a sincere acknowledgement of our need. With this turning to God in sorrow over our sin, which is called repentance, there must necessarily follow confession. John says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive…”[4]

Salvation

Even as the Bible warns against sin, it also offers a way of salvation from the penalty of sin. “For the wages of sin is death,” writes Paul, “but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”[5] “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved,”[6]is as true today as it was two thousand years ago.

When we say that you must believe in Jesus, we do not mean merely that you must believe that Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God, that He loves the world, and that He died for the sins of the world. What we mean is that you must be able to say that Christ died on the cross for you, that you are so sure of this that you put your whole trust in Him, believing that Christ alone is able to save you from the consequences of your sin. Believing in Jesus Christ is to be able to say with assurance, “I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”[7] Keep your hope fixed on Christ; He is the only way to be freed from the power and the penalty of sin.

It is always faith that saves. If you never put your foot on the bridge you will never cross the stream. If you never put your hand to the plow you will never reap a harvest. If you never put your faith in Jesus Christ you will never find salvation. Trust Him; put your hand in His; walk with Him. This is salvation.

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[1] I John 1:8

[2] Matthew 19:17

[3] Matthew 22:36-40

[4] I John 1:9

[5] Romans 6:23

[6] Acts 16:31

[7] Galatians 2:20