Lesson 1: THE BIBLE – OUR ONLY AUTHORITY
Standards are something that all of us use everyday. They can be defined as "models set up by law or general acceptance to be followed by everyone". The clock is a good example. Universal rulers ensure that we all have a common unit for determining lengths. Also, calibrated scales measure weights to make sure that we are all treated fairly when we buy things by the ounce or pound. Even traffic laws become standards to avoid the "every man for himself" approach to commuting. Without these and the many other standards that our government has established, there would be chaos. If such things avoid chaos in our everyday lives, then why is it not just as natural for us to have a common standard to avoid chaos in our religious lives? God has provided just such a standard. It is called the Bible.
The Bible has both internal and external evidences to show it is the inspired Word of God. First let's understand just what the word inspired means. It comes from the Greek work "theopneustos"
However, we would not want to make a claim for the writers that they did not make for themselves. None credit themselves with what they wrote. For example, Moses said "And God spoke all these words to me saying…" (Exodus 20:1-17) and Jeremiah said, "Now the word of the Lord came to me saying," (Jeremiah 1:4). Paul said, also, in 1 Corinthians 2:12-13 that they (the Apostles) had received their words from the Spirit of God and in Galatians 1:11-12, he said that he had received the Gospel by revelation from Jesus Christ. Finally, Peter wrote
"But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God" (2 Peter 1:20-21)
These are just some of the verses of the Bible that reveal the internal claims of inspiration.
Jesus quoted freely from the Old Testament during His lifetime without mentioning any concern about textual errors. The Old Testament was completed some 400 years before His birth – plenty of time for it to see serious corruption of the original manuscripts. In fact, originally written in Hebrew, it had already been translated into Greek (~270 BC). There are over 275 direct quotations from the Old Testament in the New Testament. Surely the Lord would not have remained silent if error had encroached upon the inspired pages.
Another evidence of inspiration is the fulfillment of the predictions contained in the prophecies of the Old Testament. Many of the Prophets did not even understand what they were predicting (1 Peter 1:10-12) and even though they lived at different times, their predictions were in perfect harmony. For instance, about 700 BC Micah foretold accurately the birthplace of Christ (Matthew 2:6); Jeremiah foretold in 606 BC the weeping of the mothers whose infants were killed by King Herod during the time around Jesus' birth (Matthew 2:8); and about 700 BC Isaiah (53) told precisely about the suffering that Jesus would undergo. There are many more specific predictions about New Testament events in the Old Testament that give testimony to the Bible’s inspiration.
The Bible, although not designed as a scientific textbook, has been shown to be in complete harmony with scientific discoveries. None have contradicted the Bible.
God being the creator of all things set up the authority structure. He granted to Christ All Authority (Matthew 17:5; 28:18) and Christ passed on certain authority on earth to the Apostles with the Holy Spirit to guide them (Matthew 18:18; John 16:13). The Apostles then wrote the words as breathed into them by the Holy Spirit for our learning (2 Thessalonians 3:14; 2 Timothy 4:1-2) and these words produce the faith in Jesus, The Christ (Romans 10:17).
The Bible provides the complete revelation of God. If complete, there is no need for additional revelations and no other sources of Spiritual guidance are required (2 Peter 1:3). In fact, it contains many warnings in this regard. Galatians 1:8-9 places a curse on anyone who preaches any other gospel and Revelation 22:18-19 tells us that God will take away our place in Heaven if we add or take away from His word, The Bible.
Should not The Bible then be our sole authority in religious matters and our standard for determining our relationship to God?
Lesson 2: GOD HAS SPOKEN
Here we introduce the coming of the Messiah as the central message of the Bible. In order to do this we have to try to build a panoramic view of the overall Bible story. We will only be able to examine a few key points of the story, but it should give a good foundation for further study and show the continuity that threads itself through the Bible.
There are four major facts that will be revealed concerning the Bible Story: (1) There is only one Bible story; (2) It unfolds the eternal purpose of God; (3) Every event plays a part in His purpose; and, (4) Christ is the central character in the story.
From the front to the back, only one story is told in the Bible. It is not a series of disjointed short stories, as some might believe, even though some 40 different writers wrote it over a 1500-year span. The story unfolds the eternal purpose of God, the coming of the Messiah or Christ and the establishment of His Church. This is clearly stated in Ephesians 3:10-11. As we look at some of the major events of the Bible story, we need to realize that each had a part in the step-by-step unfolding of that story. We will also see that Christ was the focus. An excellent synopsis of this story presented by the Apostle Paul is recorded in Acts 13:16-41. Let's look at some of the major aspects of this great story.
The Bible story begins in the Garden of Eden, where the first man, Adam, and the first woman, Eve, were placed as holy and blameless beings. Almost immediately they violated God's instructions and were driven from the garden, and thus, from God's presence. But just as immediately, God announced a plan that would provide the hope of recovery for fallen humanity. The recovery would come through the "seed" of woman, who would defeat the one who had deceived them. After demonstrating with the flood that He would not tolerate the kind of depravity that comes as the result of rejecting divine direction, God called a righteous man, Abraham, to set His plan in motion. He made three promises to Abraham, fulfilling each in order. A great nation would be built. Then this great nation would conquer and occupy
At first they lived with each man doing "what was right in his own eyes". This continually brought disastrous results and the children of
Both of the kingdoms continued to practice their spiritually corrupt ways, until finally God had them all taken into captivity by foreign nations. Only some of them returned from captivity. Among these were the descendants of
As a result of the advent of the promised seed, the gospel was preached, the Church was established, and salvation was offered to the whole world in fulfillment of the 3rd promise God had made to Abraham.
When Jesus died on the cross, the Old Testament had been fulfilled with its altars, animal blood sacrifices, and legalistic laws and put out of the way (Hebrews 10:1-10). It was for our learning (Romans 15:4) and pointed the way to that which was to come. In its stead, a new covenant or New Testament has been put into place by Jesus Christ and it is through this covenant that we learn how to have a correct relationship with God. A promise of grace has been offered to all that will turn to God for help. This period in which we now live is called the Christian Age.
Paul summed it up in Hebrews 1:1-2 when he said: "God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world".
Lesson 3: RIGHTLY DIVIDING THE WORD
We have seen the oneness of the Bible story with Christ as the central character. Now let's look at just how God communicated this message to mankind and prepared him for Christ, the Messiah. The Bible is an accumulation of a number of writings or books by approximately 40 different writers. As you remember from earlier discussion, these writers were inspired of God so that their writings were in perfect harmony. It was here that God documented His laws and His dealings with mankind. If we are to understand His will for us then we must study it and learn to "rightly divide" it (2 Timothy 2:15). The term "rightly divide" simply means to "cut straight". Let's look a little closer at the Bible and see if we can accomplish this.
God's documented word is contained in 66 volumes and these are further divided into 39 volumes of the Old Testament and 27 volumes of the New Testament. The Old Testament contains writings of Law, History, Poems, and Prophecy, while the New Testament writings are categorized as Gospel, History, Letters, and Prophecy. It is within these writings that one finds the story of God's plan for redeeming mankind. We learn in Genesis 1:1 that "In the beginning" it was God who created the heavens and the earth. In Genesis 1:26-27, He created man in His own image and gave him dominion over all He had previously created. But man disobeyed God's law when he ate of the forbidden tree, and sin entered the "holy and blameless" life of mankind, separating him from God (Genesis 3). Immediately, however, God announced a plan to redeem man. The "seed" of woman would come forth and crush the power of Satan (Genesis 3:15). In Genesis 12:1-6, God selected the family of Abraham through which to raise the redeemer. Abraham's descendants would be like the sands of the seashore and through them would all the nations of the earth be blessed. Exodus 20 depicts the organization of Abraham's descendants into a nation with a written law and a national religious order. God cared for and disciplined this nation for many years until He thought that they were ready for the Redeemer. "And in the fullness of time, God sent forth His Son, born of woman and under the law." (Galatians 4:4). Jesus said in Matthew 5:17 that He did not come to "abolish the law, but to fulfill it", and thus set in motion the final step of God's plan for man's redemption. Jesus also proclaimed in Mark 16:15 that God's plan would be open to all creation, and instructed His disciples to go and teach it. In Acts 2 we see the long awaited implementation of the plan, and for the first time since the garden of Eden man has the hope of salvation. The Apostle Peter focuses it in a few short words when he told those who had heard God's message and believed it to "Repent and be baptized everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins" (Acts 2:38). Those that obeyed Peter's inspired command were added to The Lord's Church.
But why has the word of God been divided into two segments? Are they both applicable to us today? What did God mean when He inspired Paul to write to Timothy, "…to handle accurately the word of truth" in 2 Timothy 2:15? Since the bible is only one story, and the story reveals the "eternal purpose of God" or His plan, then we need to handle it accurately to ensure that we understand its key message.
The Old Testament is a covenant between God and one nation of people – the Hebrews. This covenant was given to them and them alone (Exodus 20; Deuteronomy 5:1-5), and it contained His Law for them. Galatians 3:19 adds that it was given to point out sin in their lives and to restrain them until the "seed" or promise was fulfilled. Further, it was designed to be a schoolmaster or tutor (Galatians 3:23-24) to lead the Hebrews to the time when Christ would come (the promise fulfilled). It taught
It was necessary for the Old Covenant to be removed so that a new and perfect covenant could be enacted. "By the deeds of the Law shall no flesh be justified in His sight." (Romans 3:20). "For it was not possible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sin." (Hebrews 10:4). "For if the first covenant had been faultless, then there would have been no occasion for a second." (Hebrews 8:7). If the Old Testament has been taken out of the way, then why do we still study it today? 1 Corinthians 10:6 gives us the answer; "These things were a warning for us, not to desire evil as they did."
Where the Old Testament was for the Hebrews only, the New Testament was given to all people, both Jew and Gentile. Jesus Himself gave this command in Matthew 28:19 where He said, "Go and teach all nations…". It's in this new covenant that Jesus speaks of God's plan for us today. As you recall from earlier discussion, Jesus was given ALL authority both in heaven and on earth (Matthew 28:18), and Moses long ago said that God would raise up a prophet from among the Jews that they should listen to or suffer destruction (Acts 3:22-26). Under this new covenant, we have been freed from our sins by the blood of Christ (Revelation 1:5), and have received complete forgiveness of them (Hebrews 9:6-13). He entered once into the Most Holy Place for all. However, we will see later that God expects something of us if we are to come in contact with Christ's blood.
We live under the new covenant today – the laws and traditions in the old covenant/testament are not binding today. The old was a covenant of promises while the new is one of promises fulfilled. The Old Testament is still valid for our learning and warning not to fall victim to the things that
Lesson 4: THE STATE OF
In the beginning mankind was created in a state of "holiness and blamelessness". In Genesis 1:26 God said "… Let us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness…". The image of God was certainly one of holiness and blamelessness. The same is true of our physical birth according to Ezekiel 18:20. We are required to maintain that holiness if we are to stand acceptably before God in Judgment. Remember Peter's words "…but like the Holy One who called you, be Holy yourselves also in all your behavior, because it is written, 'You shall be Holy for I am Holy' " (1 Peter 1:15-16). Also, it was God's requirement "…before the foundation of the world…" (Ephesians 1:4-5). As long as man is holy and blameless, he can be in the immediate presence of God.
Almost immediately after creation, satan entered the picture just as he enters our lives when we reach the point of maturity where we can differentiate good and evil. Satan's ultimate aim is to bring about the physical and spiritual ruin of all humanity. Satan knew men and women could not live in God's presence if there was sin in their lives. So, when he was able to lead the first couple, Adam and Eve, into sin, he must have felt he had won a great victory. He knew the penalty for sin was physical and spiritual death. God warned Adam and Eve in the garden that they were not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 2:17); He stated, "in the day thou shall eat from it thou shall surely die". This is equivalent to saying, "in the day you sin, you will die". The resulting death is synonymous with separation from God; see Genesis 3:24, Isaiah 59:2, Ezekiel 18:20, Romans 6:23 and James 1:15. The separation expresses what the death really is. The literal definition of sin is "to miss the mark". When we disobey God, we miss the mark of "holiness and blamelessness" that God has set as the absolute divine requirement.
Sin puts us under the power of satan, and thus in his kingdom. Listen to what the Scripture says:
Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly I say unto you everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin." (John 8:34)
Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves to obedience, you are slaves to the one you obey, either in sin resulting in death, or obedience resulting in righteousness. (Romans 6:16)
…promising them freedom while they themselves are slaves to corruption; for by what a man is overcome, by this he is enslaved. (2 Peter 2:19)
Sin makes us slaves. The penalty for sin is death. Because we are sinners (Romans 3:23), we are under the power of death. Notice in Hebrews 2:14-15 who has the power of death, "Since then the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render him powerless him who had the power of death, that is the devil; and might deliver those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all of their lives". The words "render powerless" in this passage means, "to make impotent". Satan as well as death still exists, but Christ came to make both satan and death impotent for all His disciples. We will all die physically as the result of Adam's sin in the garden. Paul wrote, "For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all shall be made alive" (1 Corinthians 15:22). However, we all die spiritually as a result of our own sins. Remember Ezekiel 18:20: "…the son shall not suffer the iniquities of the father…"?
The "seed" promised in the garden was to be the Christ, the Son of God. He came to earth to engage satan in conflict so that humanity could be delivered from sin and from satan's power. Let's look at the following scriptures:
- Matthew 1:21-23 — He will save the people from their sins
- John 1:29 — who takes away the sin of the world
- 1 Timothy 1:15 — to save sinners
- Hebrews 9:26 — to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself
- 1 John 1:7 — blood of Jesus… cleanses us from all sin.
Once sin has been removed, the way back to God is open – except for satan.
We saw earlier that sin subjects us to the power of satan. Thus, the way is blocked as long as that power is intact. In Matthew 4:1, "Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil". The only power that satan has over us is the power to tempt us. All have been tempted and fallen (Romans 3:23). Christ was tempted but did not fall. After his attempt, satan had no additional power to bring against Christ so "…he departed from Him…" (Luke 4:13). Jesus exercised His power over satan in many other instances. Other examples are Matthew 12:28-29 and Luke 11:22. While on earth, He proved to be superior to satan, thereby proving that He can fulfill every promise of delivery from satan.
Jesus also proved His superiority over satan in death. Satan still exists and so does physical death, but neither satan nor death could hold Jesus. The power that resurrected Jesus was the Spirit of God. In a promise made through the Apostle Paul, God said "But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit which indwells in you" (Romans 8:11). Now that sin and satan are no longer obstacles in the way back to God, reconciliation is possible.
Acceptance by God has always been through FAITH. This is an extremely important point. The writer of Hebrews said "Without faith it is impossible to please Him (God)" (Hebrews 1:6). But the faith that God requires is more than just acknowledging His existence; it is a faith expressed through obedience. We see this by numerous examples in Hebrews 11. Three of them are: (a) By faith Abel offered a better sacrifice, (b) By faith Noah prepared an ark, and (c) By faith Abraham went out. But, what about us? Sacrifices are no longer required. We have no need to build an ark. Abraham fulfilled God's purpose. So what are we to do? We need to get ourselves back to the state of "holy and blameless", as we were when we entered this world; we must be "born again".
Jesus began his ministry by preaching the "gospel of the kingdom" (Matthew 4:23). To those who made the decision to follow Him, Paul said, "For He delivered us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us into the kingdom of His beloved Son" (Colossians 1:13). We have the choice. We can remain in satan's dominion of darkness, or we can be transferred into His kingdom. This is the reconciliation we have talked about. When a leading Pharisee, Nicodemus, came to Jesus inquiring, Jesus told him "…unless one is born again, he cannot see the
Once in God's Kingdom, we must continue to serve Him or we can regress into the
Once we experience the physical death, our souls go to a place referred to in the Scriptures as Hades or Sheol. Luke 16:19-31 gives us a good picture of what can be expected there. Here we will await the final Judgment Day and our eternal destiny in Heaven or Gehenna fire. But, make no mistake, our state in eternity will be determined at physical death and as Luke tells us there is no crossing the great divide in Hades.
Lesson 5: MAN AND REDEMPTION
We have learned that to get into the
The two words "In Christ" are very important in our examination of how this new birth is accomplished. Let's look at three scriptures. In 2 Corinthians 5:17, Paul said, "Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold new things have come." Also, Romans 8:1-2, "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death." In Paul's second letter to Timothy, he says, "For this reason I endure all things for the sake of those who are chosen, that they may also obtain salvation which is in Christ Jesus and with it eternal glory." (2 Timothy 2:10). The first passage establishes that it is "In Christ" that we become a "new creation". This "new creation" or "new birth" is the same new birth that Jesus said was essential to entering the kingdom and becoming reconciled to God. In the second, we see that "In Christ" there is no condemnation and in the third, we see that salvation is "In Christ". Earlier we examined Ephesians 1:3-4, which "sums up the design of the Eternal Purpose of God". The important point in this scripture is that "In Christ" God blesses us "with every spiritual blessing". Realizing this and that the "new birth" is essential to our reconciliation to God, the next question can only be – How Do We Get Into Christ?
The very precise answer to that question is, WE ARE BAPTIZED INTO CHRIST JESUS. How do we know this to be true? There are only two passages of scripture that tell us how we get into Christ. Let's look at them. (Romans 6:3) "Or do you not know that all who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death." The way into Christ Jesus is clearly stated here – we are BAPTIZED INTO CHRIST JESUS. Look at the second passage. (Galatians 3:26-27) "For you are all sons of God through faith In Christ. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ." Again we see that the way INTO CHRIST is by being BAPTIZED INTO CHRIST. Both passages clearly state this. Therefore, if we want to be where we are a "new creation", where there is "no condemnation" and where we can "obtain salvation", we must be baptized. Although only two passages tell us how to get into Christ, these are not the only ones that express the importance of baptism.
Recall that we asked the question earlier about how we could express our faith today. Baptism is an act of faith that is commanded by God. It is an act of faith that not only puts us into Christ but also washes away our sin, providing us with salvation. Look at the following; (Acts 2:38) "And Peter said to them, 'repent and let each one of you BE BAPTIZED in the name of Jesus Christ for the FORGIVENESS OF YOUR SINS'…". (Acts 22:16) "And now why do you delay? Arise and BE BAPTIZED and WASH AWAY YOUR SINS calling on his name." (Mark 16:16) "He who has believed and HAS BEEN BAPTIZED shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned." (1 Peter 3:21) "And corresponding to that baptism now saves you – not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience – through the resurrection of Jesus Christ…". In order to understand verse 21, we need to know that the Apostle Peter had just referred to the salvation of Noah and his family by water. Then he goes on to say that "BAPTISM", which corresponds to this, now SAVES YOU. Believing in Christ and being baptized into Christ is an act of faith and is required by God. It is not a work about which we could boast. Paul makes clear in Ephesians that we are not saved by works, but rather "by grace through our faith" (Ephesians 2:8-9). Notice that "repentance" (Acts 11:18) and confession (Romans 10:10) are also commanded acts of obedience.
What kind of faith is expressed in the act of baptism? Let's refer again to the Romans 6. Paul explains the meaning of baptism in some detail:
"Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, in order that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, that our body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin; for he who has died is freed from sin. Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, is never to die again; death no longer is master over Him. For the death that He died, He died to sin, once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus."
From these words of Paul we are able to see that baptism is the representation of the burial of the sinful person we have been and the birth of the new person that will now live for Christ. By being baptized we are expressing the desire to put the old self into a grave, representing the death of that self. Then there is the coming forth from the grave, representing the birth of the new person in Christ. Baptism puts us in contact with the death of Christ and His blood since, in death, Christ shed his blood. It is the blood of Christ that cleanses us from our sins (1 John 1:7). Baptism is the culminating act of faith that initiates a relationship with God as "holy and blameless" people and that provides reconciliation. From that point forward, we live for God.
Earlier we looked at 2 Corinthians 5:18 and later at verse 17. Now let's include verse 19 so we can get the whole picture. "Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ, and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation."
The choice is really ours. We may chose to remain separated from God, or we may choose to be reconciled to God. If we choose to be reconciled to God, we must follow the directions of God precisely and be baptized for the forgiveness of sins. The sobering reality is that the decision must be made before death occurs. Once death occurs, our destiny is sealed forever. We then enter eternity with God or away from God. The choice is truly ours.
Lesson 6: GOING ON TO PERFECTION
We now know that, by the grace of God, it is possible to stand before Him acceptably as "holy and blameless" people. We also know that this calls for a decision and it must be a personal decision on the part of every individual. No one has the right to make that decision for you! No one will be responsible for the decision you make but you. If you have just made your decision for Christ, or you are contemplating making such a decision, there are some additional important Biblical truths to examine.
We learned previously that sin destroys the "holy and blameless" state required by God and places us under the power of satan. However, Jesus came to remove sin and subdue the power of satan and open the way back to God, the journey back being a journey of faith. An initial declaration of that faith is repentance and baptism. One cannot enter the
"Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. For which one of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost, to see if he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation, and is not able to finish, all who observe it begin to ridicule him, saying, 'This man began to build and was not able to finish.' Or what king, when he sets out to meet another king in battle, will not first sit down and take counsel whether he is strong enough with ten thousand men to encounter the one coming against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is still far away, he sends a delegation and asks terms of peace. So therefore, no one of you can be My disciple who does not give up all his own possessions."
Jesus' straightforward statement here is that one should count the cost before making a decision for discipleship, because there certainly is a cost.
God expects us to be "holy". He will accept nothing less than this. When we are baptized, we are to "walk in newness of life" (Romans 6:4). In the same context, we read "…and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God." This newness of life is a "holy" or "sanctified" (set apart) life. So what is required of a Christian? A Christian is to maintain a position of "holiness" or "sanctification" – set apart from ungodliness – and develop to full spiritual maturity. This growth is essential. This becomes very clear if we read 2 Peter 1:5-11:
"Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge; and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness; and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins. Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble; for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you."
We noticed in an earlier discussion that it was possible to regress from the
Developing this maturity will not go unchallenged. Satan is still alive and will seek to hinder us daily. Notice what Paul writes to the Galatians: "For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please" (5:17). Those that walk after the flesh are called the enemies of Christ in Philippians 3:18. The "works of the flesh" are detailed in Galatians 5:19-21:
"Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you just as I have forewarned you that those who practice such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God."
Yielding to these challenges will result in indifference to Christ and His body, the Church, make us careless in worshiping with the family of God, and lacking in our teaching and giving. Paul makes clear the price we pay for submission to these "works of the flesh".
On the positive side, we are not alone in our spiritual growth. We have God, Christ and our fellow Christians on our side encouraging and helping us. God does not want us to fail and he offers everything we need to make us successful. "And my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ" (Philippians 4:19). Also, in Hebrews 13:6, He says He is our helper and in 1 Corinthians 10:13, "No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, that you may be able to endure it." We also have Christ to intercede on our behalf as we strive toward maturity (Hebrews 7:25) and we gain strength by leaning on Him (2 Corinthians 12:9). Our brothers and sisters in Christ are a major source of strength as we bear one another’s burdens (Galatians 6:1) and pray for each other.
Is there a cost for being a disciple of Jesus Christ? Most definitely! Is it worth it? Maybe Revelation 21:1-4 helps us answer that question:
"And I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He shall dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be among them, and He shall wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there shall no longer be any death; there shall no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away."
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