|
||||
|
Welcome To The Learner II
|
|
||||||
|
Chapter Three: The World's Condition
Today the Evangelist (God's messenger) is confronted with a very big issue, the condition of the world, more specifically the heart of mankind. This is problematic to say the least. We are at a crisis in our time that clearly models what we read in Genesis chapter six and the story of the flood. Sin has taken over as it did before the days of the flood. Wickedness has increased and every imagination of the thoughts of man’s heart is that of evil continually. Now for some they may say all my thoughts are not evil continually and to them I ask are your thoughts on God? The condition of the world is a lukewarm condition at best and the temperature gage is God's word. When we behold the world and examine it through the light of God's word then we see exactly how similar we are to those in the days of the flood and the similarities of the heart of man then and now are offensive and hurtful to God insomuch that he is now compelled to act. The question is what will happen next and what if anything can we do to prevent upcoming events? As Evangelists we need to have a burden for the condition of the world and a desire to make a difference. In this chapter we will study why we preach about sin.
“I've read the last page of the Bible. It's all going to turn out all right.”
Billy Graham
Read Romans 1:1- 2:6
1 Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God
2 which He promised before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures,
3 concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh,
4 and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.
5 Through Him we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for His name,
6 among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ;
7 To all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Desire to Visit Rome
8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.
9 For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of His Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers,
10 making request if, by some means, now at last I may find a way in the will of God to come to you.
11 For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, so that you may be established”
12 that is, that I may be encouraged together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.
13 Now I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that I often planned to come to you (but was hindered until now), that I might have some fruit among you also, just as among the other Gentiles.
14 I am a debtor both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to wise and to unwise.
15 So, as much as is in me, I am ready to preach the gospel to you who are in
Rome also. The Just Live by Faith!
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, The
just shall live by faith.
God's Wrath on Unrighteousness
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,
19 because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them.
Christ is a substitute for
everything, but nothing is
a substitute for Christ. --
Dr. H. A. Ironside
20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,
21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
22 Professing to be wise, they became fools,
23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man”and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.
24 Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves,
25 who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
26 For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women
exchanged the natural use for what is against nature.
27 Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.
28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting;
29 being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers,
30 backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
31 undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful;
32 who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.
Romans 2
God's Righteous Judgment
1 Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things.
2 But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things.
3 And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God?
4 Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?
5 But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God,
6 who will render to each one according to his deeds:
WE ARE NOT
"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his
friends." John 15:13
Even when we were in our sin, He made us alive to live with Him, Death we deserve, but life given, His plan of redemption! No greater love hath any man than this, that he lay down his life for His friend. No greater gift has ever been given, than the taking away of our sins. Jesus gave it all! His banner over us is
love! Jesus says, "As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love." In other words, now that you have received His love, pass it on, love someone today! It doesn't matter what you think their problem is, or if you think that they are too far gone to be loved, love them anyways! His love is permanent! As it is written, "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?" Nothing and No One! It is the greatest love that exist throughout all of history, While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us! This love is already given and it is permanent! Forever!
What questions do you have after reading this?
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Answer the following questions:
What was God's message through Paul to the Gentiles?
____________________________________________________________
Why does God punish sin?
____________________________________________________________
What was the sin that Paul talked about here?
____________________________________________________________
Do you find this in our world today?
____________________________________________________________
ASHAMED OF
Read Romans 3:1-20
1 What advantage then has the Jew, or what is the profit of circumcision?
2 Much in every way! Chiefly because to them were committed the oracles of God.
3 For what if some did not believe? Will their unbelief make the faithfulness of God without effect?
4 Certainly not! Indeed, let God be true but every man a liar. As it is written: That You may be justified in Your words, And may overcome when You are judged.
5 But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unjust who inflicts wrath? (I speak as a man.)
6 Certainly not! For then how will God judge the world?
7 For if the truth of God has increased through my lie to His glory, why am I also still judged as a sinner?
8 And why not say, Let us do evil that good may come?”as we are slanderously reported and as some affirm that we say. Their condemnation is just.
All Have Sinned
9 What then? Are we better than they? Not at all. For we have previously charged both Jews and Greeks that they are all under sin.
10 As it is written: There is none righteous, no, not one;
11 There is none who understands;There is none who seeks after God.
12 They have all turned aside;They have together become unprofitable;There is none who does good, no, not one.
13 Their throat is an open tomb;With their tongues they have practiced deceit; The poison of asps is under their lips;
14 Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.
15 Their feet are swift to shed blood;
16 Destruction and misery are in their ways;
17 And the way of peace they have not known.
18 There is no fear of God before their eyes.
19 Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.
20 Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
What questions do you have after this?
___________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Answer the following questions:
Will God judge the world and what will he be addresing?
____________________________________________________________
Is God including everyone when he addresses sin?
____________________________________________________________
Is there anyone that is righteous?
____________________________________________________________
THE GOSPEL OF JESUS
Read Revelation 3:1-22
1 And to the angel of the church in Sardis write, These things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead.
2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to
die, for I have not found your works perfect before God.
3 Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you.
4 You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy.
5 He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before MyFather and before His angels.
6 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
The Faithful Church
7 And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write, These things says He who is holy, He who is true, He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens:
8 I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name.
9 Indeed I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie” indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you.
10 Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.
11 Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.
12 He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name.
13 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
The Lukewarm Church
14 And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God:
15 I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot.
16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.
17 Because you say, I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing” and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked”
18 I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.
19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.
20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.
21 To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.
22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
What questions do you have after reading this?
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
Answer the following questions:
What is God examining about faith in this chapter?
___________________________________________________________
What does he say to the Laodicea Church?
___________________________________________________________
Which Church would you compare the present condition of the world
to?
___________________________________________________________
Why is it important to examine our condition?
___________________________________________________________
“The highest form of worship is the worship of
unselfish Christian service. The greatest form of
praise is the sound of consecrated feet seeking
out the lost and helpless.” Billy Graham
IT IS THE POWER
Read Mathew 22:1-28
1 And Jesus answered and spoke to them again by parables and said:
2 The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for
his son,
3 and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding; and they were not willing to come.
4 Again, he sent out other servants, saying, Tell those who are invited, See, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and fatted cattle are killed, and all things are ready. Come to the wedding.
5 But they made light of it and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his business.
6 And the rest seized his servants, treated them spitefully, and killed them.
7 But when the king heard about it, he was furious. And he sent out his armies, destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.
8 Then he said to his servants, The wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy.
9 Therefore go into the highways, and as many as you find, invite to the wedding.
10 So those servants went out into the highways and gathered together all
whom they found, both bad and good. And the wedding hall was filled with
guests.
11 But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there who
did not have on a wedding garment.
12 So he said to him, Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding
garment? And he was speechless.
13 Then the king said to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
14 For many are called, but few are chosen. The Pharisees: Is It Lawful to Pay Taxes to Caesar?
15 Then the Pharisees went and plotted how they might entangle Him in His talk.
16 And they sent to Him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Teacher, we know that You are true, and teach the way of God in truth; nor do You care about anyone, for You do not regard the person of men.
17 Tell us, therefore, what do You think? Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?
18 But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why do you test Me, you hypocrites?
19 Show Me the tax money. So they brought Him a denarius.
20 And He said to them, Whose image and inscription is this?
21 They said to Him, Caesar's And He said to them, Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.
22 When they had heard these words, they marveled, and left Him and went their way.
The Sadducees: What About the Resurrection?
23 The same day the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Him and asked Him,
24 saying: Teacher, Moses said that if a man dies, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife and raise up offspring for his brother.
25 Now there were with us seven brothers. The first died after he had married, and having no offspring, left his wife to his brother.
26 Likewise the second also, and the third, even to the seventh.
27 Last of all the woman died also.
28 Therefore, in the resurrection, whose wife of the seven will she be? For they all had her.
What questions do you have after reading this?
___________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Answer the following questions:
Why is it important to watch the signs of the times?
___________________________________________________________
What are some of the signs and signals that Jesus tells us here?
___________________________________________________________
How many of these signs are present today?
___________________________________________________________
What is our hope for the future?
___________________________________________________________
How can someone get that hope?
___________________________________________________________
OF GOD UNTO SALVATION
Read Romans 10:5-18
5 For Moses writes about the righteousness which is of the law, The man who does those things shall live by them.
6 But the righteousness of faith speaks in this way, Do not say in your heart, Who will ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above)
7 or, Who will descend into the abyss? (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).
8 But what does it say? The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart (that is, the word of faith which we preach):
9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
11 For the Scripture says, Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.
12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him.
13 For whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved. Israel Rejects the Gospel
14 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?
15 And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: How beautiful
are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of
good things!
16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, LORD, who has believed our report?
17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
18. But I say, have they not heard? verily, verily their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.
What questions did you have after reading this?
___________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Why do people need to be saved?
____________________________________________________________
Can we say who is saved and who is not and why?
____________________________________________________________
Does God answer everyone that calls upon his name?
____________________________________________________________
Describe in a paragraph how you will lead someone to the Lord Jesus
to be saved!
Describe how you would explain why a person needs Jesus.
CHAPTER FOUR : JESUS CAME TO THE EARTH
