We just finish preliminary study #1. Everyone passed except Jennifer; she's still stuck on the Table of Contents. :) The content contained in preliminary study #1 is the most important part of this study; it's actually the most important thing you'll ever read, period. Nothing else matters, ultimately, unless you're a born-again, child of God. Furthermore, scripture states that in order for a person to understand God's Word, they must be saved (1 Cor 2: 10-14). Verse 14: "But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." To use a figure of speech, you can't go to second base, without touching first base. What we just covered in preliminary study #1 is "first base."
This week we'll move on to preliminary study #2, "What Does God Expect of Me?" Complete pgs 5-6. I pray you all have a great week. I look forward to reading your comments!
Love, Brad
3 comments:
The title of this section is "What Does God Expect of Me?" Question E on page 5 asks this in terms of, “what does the Lord want us to grow into?” The lesson points us to Ephesians 4:15, which says, “But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into Him in all things, which is the head, even Christ.” God’s purpose for our life is for us to be like Christ. We are to be “Christ-like”. We are not just supposed to get saved and be satisfied. God expects us to grow and mature and have a life-long pursuit to be like Christ in thought, word, and action. Paul speaks of this goal and process in 2 Timothy:
2 Timothy 3:14-17: “But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”
Paul says to Timothy (and us), to continue in what we have learned and what we know to be true, grow through the study of the scripture and from those who teach the scriptures, with the purpose of being perfect…Christ-like.
What does God want us to grow into? The answer is to grow into Christ. How do we do it? The answer is continued learning from scriptures and from those who teach the scriptures. This is a lesson for all Christians, regardless if you are “babe” in Christ (1Peter 2:2), or if you have been saved for decades. As long as God gives us breath, we are to strive always for Him.
Love you all. God willing, see you next week.
Brad
To be spiritually alive, means to be a new creature. 2Cor 5:17 "Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."
After being saved, we now have the capacity to change for the better only by God's power. God will grow us and change us from within if we will let Him have full control of our lives. 1 Peter 1:23, "Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever."
Ephesians 1:13 states "In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise." God has permanently placed His seal of owenership upon us.
I continually ask myself, "Am I living daily to glorify Him in all I do and say?
-Brooke
Being here at Jennifer's, it is highly unlikely that I will get to bible study. However, a recent experience is an example of how God would expect us not to put off apologizing and asking for forgiveness. About 7 years ago I said something to a lady I had worked with that surely embarrassed her. I would never have intentionally done that and it didn't dawn on me until several years later that most certainly that is what happened. I bought a card, reviewed in my mind what I would say and ask forgiveness. Procrastinating, the card is somewhere in the house, never mailed. I just learned that this lady passed away. What did God expects of me? How many times He put the thought in my mind to send that card! He does speak to us. We have to stop and listen and act--promptly. Now it is too late and I live with the guilt of not having said "I'm sorry".
Mom/Pat
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