In this lesson, we will study the things the Bible discusses as being praised. Each person should know what things to think on that are praiseworthy. To inform each listener the amount of things to think about that are praiseworthy so that we may praise!
Why does God forgive? God forgives because each person has eternal value worth more than the whole world (Matthew 16:26) and He wants them to be saved. God so valued each person that he offered His only begotten Son as sacrifice.
In Exodus 20, the second commandment prohibits idolatry. Idolatry 1) Is a reality, 2) Replaces God, 3) Takes many forms. Each person should know this commandment.
How does God forgive? God forgives generously. One of the greatest statements in the Bible concerning God’s forgiveness occurs in Psalm 103:10-14. "He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him. For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust."
Love is kind, and kindness comes from God and His Spirit because God is love, and the Bible reveals 1) God is Kind, 2) How to be Kind, and 3) People who were Kind. Each person should be able to understand more about kindness in the Bible and what it means to be kind.
Who does God forgive? God forgives all men potentially and the penitent actually. As indicated by the future tense, Jesus spoke about potential forgiveness in Mark 3:28 “All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme.” Actual forgiveness, however, comes when an individual repents and turns to God in obedience (Mark 4:12).
This lesson examines three attitudes which one can have toward Jesus. Each person would accept the Jesus as Christ-both his humanity and divinity. I hope to focus attention on Jesus and His identity as God and man.
The perfect standard for behavior is God, and the gospel exhorts all to be perfect as God is perfect. This entails that one imitate God as much as is possible. “Be ye therefore imitators of God, as beloved children” (Ephesians 5:1 ASV). We would do well to imitate God when it comes to forgiveness. Second Peter 3:9 says that God “not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.”
The bottom line is that if we want to be pleasing to God, we can be pleasing to God! Why would one NOT want to please God? The only reason I can think of is so that he can please himself instead of God, and, this is what many choose to do. Remember Matthew 7:23? “And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’”
In this lesson we will study what the Bible has to say about the book of life. 1) What is this book? 2) Who does the writing? 3) Who are written in it? 4) Who are not written in it? Each hearer should desire to have their name in the book of life and to do what it takes to keep it there. To motivate the hearer to secure their salvation in Christ.
To be God’s people today, we must, as Paul said, undergo circumcision of the heart. Colossians 2:11-12 says, “In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.” When one is baptized, a person is forgiven of sin and his heart is circumcised.
We worship on Sunday because 1) The Sabbath was not intended for Christians, and 2) Christ is the end of the Law, and 3) Sunday is the day the apostles worshiped. Each would understand why Christians worship on the first day of the week.
God’s word teaches us how to partake of the Lord’s supper (1 Corinthians 11:23-29). When we follow this teaching by faith, we will please God. What does this entail?
The apostle Paul wrote, “Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences” (2 Corinthians 5:9-11).
We must approach God by faith. Hebrews 11:6 says, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” How can we get faith? Romans 10:17 says, “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” There’s the key! We must study and learn the word of God. It is when we know God’s word that we can apply it to our lives and be well pleasing to Him.
This lesson will answer the question, "Will all children be saved?" by noting that 1) children are persons made in God's image, 2) Children have no understanding of right and wrong at birth, 3) Children mature to responsibility. Each person should understand the variable nature of childhood growth and development as related to accountability to God.
What does “pleasing God” mean? Hebrews 11:5 uses the same Greek word that the Septuagint (Greek Old Testament) uses in Genesis 5:24. It is the Greek word εὐαρεστέω (euaresteo). It is a compound word from εὖ (eu) meaning good or well, and ἀρεστός (arestos) meaning agreeable or pleasing. When these two words join, they have the idea of “well pleasing” or “fully acceptable” or “entirely satisfying.”
For those who fear Him, the Lord will deliver them from 1) Fears, 2) Want, 3) Life, 4) Cries, 5) Troubles, 6) Afflictions. Each person will fear the Lord to receive His blessings. I want to instill a sense of trust in God when trials come our way.
Simply attaching God’s name to an activity does not make it holy. We cannot make something holy simply be declaring it such. Only God holds that prerogative. We must avoid turning worship into a circus, common spectacle, or entertainment forum. We should take care that we do not so treat God’s holy things! Remember Nadab and Abihu? They were lax with God’s holy things and they paid the price.
Love is longsuffering because it is 1) A Quality of God, 2) Key to Relationships, 3) Curtails Selfishness. Each should be able to understand how being longsuffering will help us to love God and one another.