- Faith
in the Promised One
- Ten Old Testament
Lessons to Introduce Jesus
-
Since the publication of the Discover Lessons in Tools
for Muslim Evangelism, they have been made into an Arabic
TV program that has been aired on satellite TV throughout the
Middle East, and also made available in video format for individuals
to use. English copies of the printed version of Discovery have
been distributed in many countries and excited reports have come
back to us from Albania to Afghanistan.
Now in this appendix we present a second set of lessons: Faith
in the Promised One. This course does not replace Discovery,
but it offers teachers another, more detailed option to use.
It was developed by one of Abdullahs students and is more
in-depth than the original Discovery Lessons. It takes longer
to go through it; a minimum of ten sittings, but you may decide
to increase the number of studies as some of them are quite lengthy.
This slow approach can be good for two reasons. Sometimes people
are not in a hurry and second, it is often helpful if people
spend more time in the Word of God before the truth exposes itself
to their hearts.
These lessons concentrate on the book of Genesis, as the patriarchal
section of the Bible was the original revelation to people living
in the Middle East. In addition, most of this material is basically
accepted in their paradigm of religion. So, the teacher who designed
these lessons prefers to spend more time there and let Christ
be revealed through this part of the Word of God.
As those who proclaim Christ, we need to continually pray
for discernment of the persons heart. The Spirit may move
at any time with a conviction of sin and a confession of Christ.
We simply need to head out on this road and see what happens.
- Study #1
- God, Man & Creation
Genesis 1:1-2:25
- Introduction
- God speaks to us through the writings of Moses in the Torah.
Genesis is the first book of this Torah and it is the story of
"beginnings." Today we will read about the beginning
of the creation as we humans see it.
These are the words of God given to Moses to write down. It
is not a book which details all the scientific facts, but it
is a story which explains God, man and creation. The Bible (Torah)
is the truth about the relationship between the Creator and the
created, between God and man. Science, however, agrees with everything
it says. And so does history and archeology.
Usually before we read this book, we pray that God will speak
to us. This is a spiritual book and so we ask for Gods
spirit to enlighten us. (Pray together.)
Verses 1-2 (Lets read together.)
- v.1 God always was and always will be. He is eternal, not
bound by time or space. He is not dependent on anything and created
everything. This is the "beginning" of the heaven and
the earth as we (mankind) know it.
- v. 2 Earth was -- Formless - Empty. But God does not leave
it this way. Man could not exist in the environment of v. 1.
So, God begins to prepare the heavens and earth for mankind.
He accomplishes this in an orderly way. God first gives form
to the heavens and earth (day 1-3). Then he fills the emptiness
of the heavens and earth (day 4-6).
- v. 2 Spirit of God "hovering" The Spirit of God
was present and obeyed God.
Verses 3-5 (Day 1 -- Read)
- v. 3 God creates light. Physical light is energy. But, God
is all-Powerful; He is light. The Bible says "God is light,
in Him is no darkness at all." (IJn1:5).
- How did God create light? He said, "Let there be light,"
and there was light. Light was there at his very mention of it
once. Everything is created in this way (look at vv. 3,6,9,14,20)
(Quran "kun fyekuun" seems weaker than "Lyekun
...fakaan.") His Word accomplishes-creates-completes everything.
His Word is creative power and it results in creation.
- v.5 God separates light and darkness, day and night. He orders
everything.
Verses 6-25 (Days 2-6 -- Read)
- Verses 6-8. This "expanse" separated the waters
below on the earth from the waters above in the sky (clouds).
God called this space "heaven."
Verses 9-13. The Third Day
- God names gives names to His creation ("day, night,
light, sky, land, seas....) He is sovereign over all things.
- "God saw that it was good." As we read, you will
see this repeated after he created something (v 4, 12, 18, 25,
31) All His works are originally good
- Everything that God made was originally good because He is
Good (Psalm 100:5)
- "According to its various kinds." Farmers tell
me that you cannot graft a citrus tree with a sweet branch (i.e.
apple branch into a grapefruit tree.) This is by Gods design.
- Notice from now on that it is the land which will produce
plants & trees. God put life into the land. The land has
been bringing forth vegetation ever since.
Verses 14-19 The Fourth Day
- These two great lights are to give light on the earth. For
whom? For mankind, humans. God made the heavens so that we could
exist on the earth. (critical numbers- distance of the earth
to the moon, temperatures, etc.) This galaxy has been functioning
"perfectly" ever since. "God saw that it was good"
- According to this, it is impossible for a believer in God
to worship the sun or moon or stars. These are signs of Gods
greatness. They also serve mankind. Gods word set them
in motion and they havent stopped since the beginning of
time.
Verses 20-23 The Fifth Day
- God fills the waters and the skies with living things.
- Again, according to its kind. He did not have a cell evolve
into a fish, then the fish into a frog, then the frog into a
lizard, then the lizard into a crocodile, then the crocodile
into a monkey, then the monkey into a human. No way.
- The theory of complete evolution is impossible.
- "God blessed them...." All blessings are from God;
He continues to bless His creation.
Verses 24-25
- God fills the land with living things as well.
- There is now a life cycle. Animals eat plants which are grown
by the suns energy from the land and the animals give fertilizer
to the land (example of grizzly eating salmon). So by Gods
word there is continuous life in the earth and heavens and seas.
Praise God!
Verses 26-31 (Go a bit slower through this.)
- Now the finale of His creation. The best for last. The pinnacle:
Man & Woman; Both are in the image of God.
- God loves mankind because God is Love.
- Example of preparing new apartment with everything needed,
then bringing the children.
- Man was made in Gods image. How can this be since God
does not have an appearance?
- Answer: God made man TO RULE. This implies:
- Man can think, make judgments,
- communicate (as God spoke to His creation, man can speak
to it as well)
- Create useful things
- Plan and Implement
- Man is also in relationship with God, a spiritual being (animals
arent)
- Man is in relationship with other humans (especially marriage)...
- Man is a moral being. Can discern right (Gods will)
from wrong (Satans will).
Verses 28-30
- God "blessed" them. God blessed his whole creation
but especially mankind. God is the source of all blessings. Only
He can bless humanity (Psalm 67)
- God made all things good and then blessed all things. He
is Good.
Verse 31
- Now the whole picture of creation is "Perfect."
With man in the picture, it is complete.
- God designed the earth for man to be on it and rule. The
creation is a small reflection of God - He is perfect.
- God is to be praised for His creation. Read Psalm 8
Verses 2:1-3 The Seventh Day.
- God "completed" his work of creation. He was not
tired.
- This was the first day for Adam and Eve (a vacation day!)
God is gracious.
- God blessed this day as a day of rest for us. As his children
we should rest one day each week.
- True "rest" is found in Christ. He said, "come
to me...and I will give you rest." Mt.11:28
Verses 2:4-7 ( Read)
- This is a focus on 6th day and the creation of man. It gives
more details of Gods work.
- There is close intimate contact by God ("God formed
...breathed into nostrils"). Of course, God does not have
a body. But, he loved man and so took great care in creating
him. There was contact-intimacy between the Creator and the Created
(man).
Verses 2:8-15
- Question: What kind of garden was it? Botanical. lots of
water, plants, trees. Beautiful to behold with abundant provision
for mankind.
- Question: Was the garden of Eden in heaven or on earth? According
to the text given as a map, the garden was on earth, to the East.
Possibly in the region of southern Iraq.
- Question: Why did God put man in the garden? To cultivate
it and keep it. That is, to work. So, work itself is also good
and noble for mankind. He designed mankind-us to accomplish something.
Each person has a God-given role and responsibility.
- Perhaps, man was to begin with Eden and then extend out to
turn the whole earth into a garden.
Verses 2:16-17
- This is the first negative command. It is the one restriction
("forbidden") for man. Although there were other positive
commands. (Be fruitful, multiply, rule over..., guard, tend...,
and eat)
- "You are free to eat from any.." God is gracious
and generous with mankind from the beginning. He permits much
freedom and was not overly restrictive or harsh. God is love.
- One restriction with one punishment for violation. God is
clear in His justice.
- Some ask: "Why did God command this if he knew Adam
would fail the test?"
- Answer: God knows all. Adam and Eve were given the freedom
to choose obedience. When they disobeyed they lost this freedom
and so they and we became slaves to sin and rebellion.
Verses 2:18-25 (optional for singles)
- Adam exercised his authority over the animals by naming them
- he was probably an expert veterinarian in addition to being
an expert botanist.
- He searched for a "suitable helper" but to no avail.
- God solved his problem of loneliness. He put Adam to sleep
and made a perfect woman for him. A wife is a gift from God to
a man.
- God made one wife for one man. Monogamous marriage is His
perfect design.
- The marriage was holy. There was a perfect relationship in
body and soul.
- They felt no shame... for their marriage or their bodies.
They lived in Gods presence.
- Summary
- Life in the Garden of Eden in Genesis 1-2 was "PERFECT."
Man was in a perfect state. His work was perfect. He had great
knowledge and loved his work. His marriage and home were perfect
(no problems, arguments, or sickness). He had a perfect relationship
with God living in His presence. His surroundings were perfect.
There was no sin, no pain, no disease or injury. Mankind enjoyed
the perfect universe God made and enjoyed God perfect presence.
It was a perfect life of enjoyment of the Creator. God was Holy
and created man to be holy = set apart for God. This means that
man was to be Gods perfect children. Enjoying their Creator
Father forever.
- Study #2
- The Origin of Sin
- Genesis 3
- Introduction
- Review last weeks lesson. We saw that God is all-powerful,
creating everything by His Word. He is all- Good and created
everything originally good. He is the One who Blesses and gave
man the perfect life in the perfect garden. God is a Father to
mankind and cares for them. The Scripture says, "God is
Love."
He is also Just, giving the perfect Law. He let man and wife
live before Him in a perfect condition, perfect environment,
the absence of problems such as what we have now, and particularly
his perfect relationship with God. Because He is Perfect (Holy),
He demands obedience.
For a short while, man enjoyed this perfect life before the
Perfect Father God. Then something happened. How did mankind
go from that perfect life to what we live in today? There is
evil, corruption, pain, and death -- what happened? If once man
was perfectly related to God and today he is far from God --
what happened? The answer is given in the Holy Book as Moses
recorded it for us.
First, let us pray that God would enlighten our eyes to understand
His words.
Genesis 3:1-6: The Temptation (Read)
Question: Who was the serpent? It was an animal like other
beasts of the field which the Lord God had made. But, it was
the craftiest. But there is more to it than that. This serpent
could speak! The one who used the serpent and spoke through it
was Satan.
See Rev. 12:7-10 The Bible is One Complete Book given by God.
We are reading of the Beginning of time in Genesis. The last
book of the Bible gives a vision of the end of time through the
disciple John. This is what He saw from the Holy Spirit of God
for the end of time.... (Read)
There will be a war between Satan and Christ. And Satan, the
serpent of old, will be thrown down! So, the serpent in Genesis
3 is really Satan.
God wants us to know what he is like. God revealed Himself
to us. But, He also reveals to us who Satan is; it is helpful
to know what Satan did so that we can beware; he is the same.
Jesus said, "He is the Liar and the father of lies."
Question: What do we observe from the temptation to sin?
- "Did God really say . . . .?" Satan casts doubt
on Gods command.
- "...You shall not eat from any tree in the garden?"
Look at what God actually said in 2:16, "From any tree of
the garden you may eat freely..." Satan contradicts-diminishes
Gods grace-blessing.
- v.2 Eve adds, ". . . and you must not touch it . . .
." Satan confuses Eve. She exaggerates the restriction making
God seem hard, oppressive.
- ". . . lest you die" whereas Genesis 2:17 is certain
-- " . . . you will surely die."
- v.4 "You surely shall not die!" Satan outright
lies. He tries to make God out to be a liar too.
Genesis 2:16-17
- God promised death as a result of disobedience, and this
is what happened. We will see that there was:
- Eternal, Spiritual death -- separation from God forever (2
Thess. 1:8-9)
- Physical death -- separation from the land of the living.
(Inevitable though not immediate)
- Verse 6 What convinced Eve at the end to sin? Her own desires
(for taste, sight, and wisdom). This is the same today. See James
1:13-15.
- Both Adam and Eve were responsible. They both chose to disobey
God and listen to Satan. This was rebellion against their loving
Lord and Father.
Genesis 3:7-13 Effects of Sin (Read)
Sin always has consequences, even private sin. These consequences
are immediate.
- Shame v.7 In what way had their eyes been closed prior to
their sin? They didnt know what evil rebellion, disobeying
God, really was. They had not "experienced" evil. Now
they were imperfect and they were ashamed of one another, embarrassed,
impure. Separation from other people. True today; there is little
trust between people.
- Fear v. 10 Before this Adam did not feel fear. He had total
dominion over the plants and animals. Now he had surrendered
some of that dominion to Satan, and he felt fear. Are there things
that bring fear into your life?
- Guilt v. 7 Their eyes were opened. They suddenly knew they
had done wrong. Have you every experienced guilt? How did you
know you had done wrong? Guilt is a very hard thing to explain,
but everyone experiences it. Some people feel guilt easier than
others. Some are more sensitive to fear, or shame.
- 2) Spiritual Death v.8-9 These are the saddest two verses
in the Bible. Adam and Eve ran from God. This is Separation from
God. This is the same reality today: Man is far from God and
he continues to run from his Creator. Man wants to hide -- maintain
the distance. But the heart of God is yearning for man. Do you
see the love of God here? God came looking for man. God did everything
for them -- He blessed and prospered them. Now He wants to restore
them.
(Many will ask about God "walking." This is the
term that Moses chose to explain God to us so that we could understand
easily that God came to Adam and Eve, even though God does not
have a body or legs or feet or hands. Other prophets use similar
human terms to help us understand what God is like.) v. 11 God
is compassionate andKind
- Blame v. 12 Adams response: He blamed his wife, his
life partner, his lover. He put himself above her. As a result,
harmony was broken. Adam did not accept responsibility even though
he felt guilty. He justified himself. He did not want to confess
his sin.
- Rebellion He even blamed God: "you put her here!"
God gave woman to man out of love. Despite this, man turned Gods
gift to him into something wicked -- he even tried to use it
against God. Sin is rebellion against God. Adam chose to obey
the enemy.
Genesis 3:14-19 Eternal Punishment
In addition to the immediate consequences, there is also eternal
punishment. The punishment for sin is as God said = Death. Even
this one sin resulted in death. So slowly, mankind began to die.
First there were consequences of his sin. Eventually, he would
die in body.
Read verses 14-15
Satan had taken the form of a snake. This curse is on Satan
-- what will happen on earth against him. But, all creation was
affected by this curse. All animals in a way are cursed -- "above
all
"
- Satan is cursed v14 This is poetic language that means Satan
is now destined to lose. He will lose the race and be defeated.
The crawling of real snakes symbolizes this. He will be defeated
and cast down to Hell.
- A Savior is promised v 15 But with all the bad news of sin,
God shines a glimmer of hope. Hope is set in "him"
who will come.
- Who is the "seed of the woman?" Her offspring
- What will "HE" do? Crush the head of the Serpent...
- What does this mean? If someone is walking in the field and
steps on a snakes head, what happens? The head is crushed and
the snake dies!
- So, some descendant of Eve would defeat Satan and put him
to death.
- At the same time, the snake would strike his heel. This person
would be injured by the snake (but not a fatal blow).
- Who in history ever defeated Satan? Only One Christ
- HOW? - Jesus had authority over demons; they submitted to
Him. He cast out them out with a WORD.
- Jesus overcame Satans temptations; did not submit to
him. The Ultimate Defeat was When He died on the cross. He doomed
Satan to Death. Christ was wounded and died himself. But after
3 days He rose proving His power over Satans power of evil-death.
- This is the beginning of "The Promise" or "Covenant"
(Gods promise to reverse the fall and to save man). God
gave it to man the same day he committed the very first sin.
God is all-merciful! Read again Rev. 12:7-12 (authority-victory
of Christ vs. defeat of Satan)
- Punishment for Woman v16
- The womans special place of joy and dignity
(her home) became a source of pain and dread. Childbearing and
child-raising was now filled with pain and heartache for the
woman. This is because of her sin.
- And, her relationship with her husband (marriage) would not
be much better. It would be upset by a domineering husband. This
is harsh rule not kind leadership.
- Punishment for Man vv. 17-19 Read.
- Remember that man sinned with woman. Adam heard
everything.
- Mans work would hereafter always be hard and unfulfilling.
Originally, his work was holy and good (Gen. 2:15) Now, instead
of a source of joy (delight), fulfillment and perfect provision,
work becomes a source of toil, burden and fear. The ground was
cursed now for mankind.
- Physical Death v.19
- Physical death and injury, disease, pain and suffering
came into the world. All of this because of One Sin.
- (Some will ask, "If God knew that man would do this,
why didnt he stop them?" This is important to answer.
Answer: God knows all things because he created man. But, He
created man-woman to be His obedient children. What happens if
your children disobey you? Do you forget them? No, you punish
them and out of your love wait for them to turn back to you in
honor. When they disobeyed, they were still his children that
He loved but He had to punish them.)
- Gods Mercy Verses 20-21. God still loves man. Even
though man is sinful, God chose to still provide for him. Man
invented something to cover his shame. In place of mans
solution to sin = covering with fig leaves, God provides a better
covering for sinful man = leather garments. These undoubtedly
came from blood sacrifice! (We will see more later.)
- Eternal Death Verses 22-23 God fulfills His word. Mankind
must die because he sinned - disobeyed - God. God casts mankind
out of the garden and takes from him eternal life. Man is finally
cut off from God - His Creator.
- Summary
- We have seen that God is all-knowing, all-powerful, all-just.
He is also all-loving. all-merciful. He punished Adam and Eve
for their sin with eternal punishment. He also promises a Savior
to come.
- Sin, Fall, Curse, Death
- From these results of Adams one sin, we see that the
world would never be the same. Mankind now will experience problems
from his birth to his death. In the home, in the marriage, in
the society, between people, cultures and countries. These lead
to disease, sickness, war, crime and every other evil that mankind
knows. His fate-end will be physical death, followed by spiritual
death-separation from God. This sin separated mankind from God
forever. God is holy-pure; man is now unholy-impure-rebellious.
So, it is impossible for man to remain in Gods presence
for nothing unholy exists before Him. God is Just. God is also
Merciful....
The rest of the Bible (after Genesis 3) is the story of Gods
work of redemption and salvation. It is about the unfolding story
of rescue, restoration, healing, and reconciliation.
Question: Do you see these things around you? Do you see it
In your own life? Today you have seen where all the misery and
evil in the world come from and why life as we know it is like
it is.
Yes, this is a depressing study. But unless we understand
sin, the fall, the curse and death, we cannot begin to understand
Gods salvation in Christ.
- Study #3
- The Line of Faith
- Gen. 4-9
- Introduction
- We saw before that Adam and Eve were created in Gods
image. They lived a perfect life in Gods presence. But,
because they chose to rebel against God by disobeying-sinning,
they were cut off from His presence. All of life became a struggle
(results of sin). All the struggle would end in physical and
spiritual death. Because of Gods mercy, He promised that
a Savior would come from the woman (her seed) and crush the head
of Satan.
Today, we are going to look at the history of man, as recorded
in the Torah, from Adam to Noah. This is all still before God
sent His law to Moses. Could Eves children fulfill this
promise?
Genesis 4 Abels Faith
- vv 1-2 Eve recalls 3:15 the promise of her offspring. Perhaps
she thinks that the first son, Cain will be that savior. Lets
see what happens.
- vv 3-5 "The Lord looked with favor." Why? Abel
was right - both he and his offering. What was the "right
offering?" Perhaps God already showed them in the garden
when he made "coverings of skin" = animal sacrifice.
- Hebrew 11:1-4 (Read) Abel offered a better sacrifice BY FAITH.
He was a RIGHTEOUS MAN.
Cains Sin
- v. 5 "The Lord did not look with favor on Cain and his
offering." If Abel acted out of faith, Cain didnt.
He chose to offer what he wanted (instead of Gods required
offering.) His heart was hard. There is more rebellion here.
- v. 6-7 Cain is angry. He is being tempted to sin. After Adam
and Eves sin all mankind is subject to temptation.
- There is enmity between the first two brothers.
- v. 8-9 Cain decides to murder. He tries to hide his sin but
cannot. (Like mom and dad).
- Sin is now a part of human life.
Cains punishment vs 10-17
- God puts him under a curse. This in addition to the general
curse on the land (3:17).
- Cain is driven further out of Gods presence. Further
separation from God and people.
- At the same time, Gods mercy and love are shown in
the protection that He gives Cain by a special mark. (Remember
Gods mercy in the covering of skin.)
All humankind descended from Adam and Eve and are sinful and
under the curse of Death. All are in need of the Promised "Seed"
=Savior.
But, humanity starts to divide into two lines:
- Those who believe in Gods Promise (The Line of Faith)
- Those who reject Gods Promise (The Line of Unbelief)
Or, The Line of the Serpent & The Line of the Woman. There
is enmity between the two.
The Unbelieving Line of Cain (Read 4:17-24)
- Cains line is traced only until Lamech. Cains
line is not focus of Torah.
- Lamech was a murderer as his forefather. The whole line seems
to be unbelieving (bad).
The Believing Line of Seth (Read 4:25-26).
- Eve saw that Cain was not the offspring to fulfill 3:15.
Abel was the good son; now he was dead. So, she seems to think
that now Seth would take Abels place as the promised seed-savior.
- In Seths time, "men began to call on the name
of the Lord." So, Seths line (offspring) is The Line
of Faith.
Read 5:1-22
- The Torah and Prophets and Psalms all focus-trace the line
of faith.
- Years of their lives are recorded because each day is important.
- Enoch vv. 21-24 2xs "walked with God" . See
Heb. 11:5-6. Only other man who did not die physically was Elijah!
(2 Kings 2) Sign of Righteousness. All other prophets-men died
("and he died"). Scripture teaches that if someone
is perfectly righteous (never sinned) then he will never die.
- Noah vv 28-32. "He will comfort us in the labor and
painful toil of our hands caused by the ground the Lord cursed."
His faith brought "comfort" to his family. They were
saved from death because Noah believed and obeyed.
- ? Was he the "promised seed" of 3:15???? Lets
see what happened.....
THE FLOOD
Mans Sin Read 6:1-13
- Big Wickedness! "Sons of God" = Line of Faith married
"Daughters of Men" = Line of Unbelief.
- (This is most likely interpretation. Though we arent
given details, they seem to have had Gods requirements
of marriage, etc. and were willfully breaching them. Again, mans
rebellion is seen both in the good line and bad)
- Complete Sinfulness - "every...only evil all the time"
- "The Lord was grieved, and his heart filled with pain"
This describes the intimate relationship between God and man.
God is the Loving Father (see previous comment about human attributes
describing God.)
- This wickedness of man was unacceptable to God because God
is Holy. He created man and the earth to exist in His goodness
and righteousness not violence and wickedness.
Noahs Faith-Righteousness (Read 6:8-10 and 22)
- "completely righteous..." = a man of faith in the
line of faith
- "...in his generations..." = well, he was a good
man compared to everyone else
- God chose Noah and his family as servants to build the ark.
He saved them.
- Noah did everything just as God commanded...down to each
nail.
Clean and Unclean (Read 7:1-5)
- God saved Noahs family. He saved a pair of each animal.
God wanted the family of faith and animals to continue living
on earth.
- The "clean" were for sacrifice. We see this when
Noah gets out of the ark. God is making provision for Noah and
his family to sacrifice (worship).
Narrate or Read 7:6-8:14
God Saved Mankind (Read 8:15-19)
- This is a new start. A new beginning for mankind. All the
wicked people were destroyed and Noah and his family could build
a people of faith. Right???
Noah worshipped God (8:20-22)
- Here is animal sacrifice! God is pleased with this faith,
worship, and obedience.
- Now we can understand:
- the garments of skin God made was from animal sacrifice (Gen.
3:21). So, God "covered" the sinfulness of man with
bloody skins.
- the animal sacrifice of Abel was in obedience to God (Gen.
4:4); "By faith, Abel offered God a better sacrifice."
(Heb. 11:4)
- Here Noah obeys and worships God with a burnt animal sacrifice.
Therefore, Blood sacrifice was required for those who worshipped
God from the beginning!
GOD MAKES COVENANT WITH NOAH-MANKIND
(Because of the "covenant" God made with Adam, Noah,
Abram and Moses, we call this book "The Old Covenant".
Jesus came and made a "New Covenant." God is the author
of His covenant not man.)
Mans Responsibility (9:1-7)
Like the charge to Adam. This is a new start for all mankind.
God will bless mankind again. 1) Be fruitful and increase; 2)
Eat animals and plants; 3) Dont murder. God forbids murder
because man is in the image of God. Therefore, mans life-blood
is valuable. God will enforce this.
Promise of Covenant (9:8-11)
Never again will all life be cut off by a flood
Sign of Covenant (9:12-17)
Rainbow.
Sin in Noahs Tent (Read 9:18-29)
- Remember, Noah was a man of faith. God chose to save only
him and sons.
- But, sinful mankind went into the ark. And, sinful mankind
came out.
- Whatever the specific act (probably sexual from phraseology)
Ham sinned against his own father. The flood did not wash sin
of man away.
- Canaan, Hams son, is cursed - his descendants would
be enslaved by others.
(Important: Canaans descendant settled by the sea. This
land was then called "Canaan" and held many different
peoples. The "Philistines" show up as descendants of
Ham as well in 10:14. They settled in the land which later became
known by their name. But, other peoples settled in "Philistine"
as well. We cannot reliably equate this OT people with the modern
"Palestinians" who dwell in the same land. At least
partial fulfillment of this curse took place under Joshua.)
What Have We Learned So Far?
(Again, the NT explains-completes the OT as one book.)
I. All the sons of Adam sinned as he did and died.
Romans 5:12-14 (Read) . Even before the Law (of Moses) or
any religion, all men sinned. And because of their sin, all men
died. This is true of us today regardless of our religion. We
are all sons of Adam= sinners.
II. Though all men sinned and died, there are those who
also walked by faith (obedience to Gods commands).
Hebrews 11:1-7 (Read) This is the Good Line, or Line of Faith,
or Line of the Woman (Gen.3:15) Adam, Abel, Seth, Enoch, Noah,
and Sam.
- FAITH = V. 1
- Faith is still the only way to please God! =V.6 (As we learn
what He promised, we must believe it to please Him and be acceptable
to Him. If we dont, it is rejecting Him - rebellion).
- Noah was heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.
He and the others in the "Line of Faith" believed
in the promised savior of Gen. 3:15, who would bring righteousness,
justification, deliverance from evil, Satan, sin, punishment.
Their faith in Gods Word made them acceptable to God.
Though all of these men were forbears of that One, none of them
was that One.
All these men (and women) had faith in the Promised Savior
(Messiah)
We are called to believe in Him as well.
- Blood sacrifice of clean animals pleased God.
Those of faith offered to God blood sacrifices of clean animals.
The blood of animals must spill out on the ground as an acceptable
offering to God. This blood offered in obedience to God, made
man acceptable (pleasing) to God. (Mans blood was precious
because man was made in the image of God. Whoever murdered a
man would be put to death.)
- Study #4
- THE RIGHTEOUS WRATH & JUDGMENT
OF GOD
- Romans 1-3, Revelations
-
Why this study is important:
- Judgment is a critical part of the gospel (Rom. 1:16)
- Most Muslims dont realize their utter depravity before
God.
- Introduction
- In the story that Moses wrote by the Spirits inspiration,
we have seen that all mankind from Adam to Noah died (except
for Enoch). There was a good line of men (who had faith) in each
generation. They put their hope in the One whom God promised
would defeat Satan, sin and death. But, even these men and women
of faith lived outside of the garden and they all died (except
for Enoch). Their death proved that they were all sons of Adam
and Eve = they all sinned in disobedience and rebellion against
God.
As we said, the whole of Scripture is one book. The ancient
story Moses wrote is connected with that which the apostles of
Jesus wrote. The Injil (New Covenant) explains the Torah for
us. The Injil also explains the truth for all of mankind.
If these things were true for the first generations of mankind,
what about us? Are we any different? We will look today at the
message from God to Paul about all mankind. His message is found
in the letter he wrote to the believers in Rome not many years
after Jesus died.
GOD IS ANGRY AT THE WICKEDNESS OF MAN. (Romans 1:18-20)
JUST AS IN THE DAYS OF NOAH, SO HE IS NOW. GOD IS RIGHTEOUS
BUT MANKIND IS SINFUL (Gen.8:21"The Lord said in his heart,
Never again will I curse the ground because of man BECAUSE
every inclination of mans heart is evil from his youth..."
) God is angry with mans rebellion; He is as angry with
mans wickedness as He was in the days of Noah. But, he
would not destroy the earth and man again by water. Man has not
improved since then.
IS GOD RIGHT (Justified) TO BE ANGRY? Or, IS HE RIGHTEOUS?
YES, 2 part answer:
- God revealed His eternal power (Rom.1:20) and divine nature
to all men since the creation of the world through what has been
made. Even today He reveals Himself to every person through the
wonderful creation. The balance and enormity of our solar system
is an example. All men know that there is a God and that He is
eternally powerful!
- Perhaps read Psalm 8 or 148 Men suppress the truth
(of God) by their wickedness. (1:18) In what way? (Rom. 1:21-23)
Man does not glorify God or give him thanks.
-
their thinking became foolish and
-
their foolish hearts were darkened. Then man instead
glorified images of created things (even himself).
- Psalm 14:1-3 "...all have turned aside..." = we
are all "fools"
- Psalm 143:1-2 "... no one living is righteous before
you..." even David
- Isaiah 59:1-15 "...our sins testify against us...rebellion
against the Lord"
How does God reveal His wrath NOW?
- "God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts...."(v.24-5)
Because of mans rebellion, He gave them over to a depraved
heart. God lets mankind follow the sinful desires of his heart.
The heart leads man to worship and serve created things (even
himself). Man desires things that degrade his own body.
- "Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts
(bodies)..."(v26-7) The next step in Gods wrath is
that he lets men pervert their bodies. Their own rebellion leads
them to abuse themselves and others. The evil that man desires,
he does and this leads to further evil and depravity.
- "Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile
to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved
mind, to do what ought not to be done." (v28-32)
- Gods wrath let mankind go so far that he cannot even
think correctly and is filled with all kinds of evil deeds. Man
continues to do these things and approves of them for others.
At this point, man is no longer ashamed but wants others to be
caught in sin.
(This could be seen as a progression. But, all of it is sin.
As with Adam and Eve, rebellion against God begins in the heart.
They turned from belief (and trust) in God and His Word to the
lies of Satan. God let them listen and then follow him. All is
rebellion shown in wrong acts, disobedience. Gods wrath
in this life is that He lets us go so that we might realize our
error and, by His grace, turn back to Him.)
To Whom is Gods Wrath Being Revealed? TO ALL MANKIND
- To those who judge others (2:1-4) Remember that Adam was
the first to blame another. Because those who judge others do
the same things, they will be judged by God some day. Now, he
is patient and kind waiting for sinners to repent.
- To those who dont repent completely (2:5-11) As mankind
refuses to turn from his sin, he is refusing the kindness of
God. Thereby, he is heaping up for himself judgment. This will
take place on the day of Gods wrath. God will punish all
sinners and reward all righteous (persistent=100%)
- To all who sin (2: 12-16) Whether apart from the Law or under
it all mankind will be judged in regard to sin.
What about the good, religious people like the men of faith?
They all sinned and died as a result (being punished eternally).
(Rom. 5:12-14)
Arent we in a better position? Those of us who are "religious?"
NO WAY!!!
Read 3:9-20 "There is no one righteous, not even one...."
"Therefore, no one will be declared righteous in his
sight by observing the Law..."
So, all mankind (past, present and future) is now under judgment
(regardless of religion, nationality, etc.) And, no one will
be declared righteous by observing the Law (being religious).
But, God does not just punish mankind in this life; there will
be a final judgment.
How will God reveal His wrath? Eternal Judgment!!!
(The "day of Gods wrath" when God will judge
mens secrets Rom. 2: 5 and 16)
II Thessalonians 1:5-10 "(God) will punish those who
do not know God AND do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.
They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out
from the presence of the Lord..."
- Those who have rejected the knowledge of God (turning away
from the promise of God-gospel of Christ) will face EVERLASTING
DESTRUCTION
- All those who have believed the Word of God (turning toward
the gospel of Christ) will be spared and find EVERLASTING LIFE=
Jesus Message-Promise
- II Peter 3:1-13 The first destruction (in Noahs day)
was by water. Now the earth with its ungodly (unbelieving) men
is reserved for the second destruction by FIRE! But, the Lord
is patient NOW wanting men to repent and believe in His promise
in Christ.
- Revelation 20:11-15 ---- 2 sets of books.
1) "the books" = record of all mens deeds;
basis for judgment!
2) "the book of life"="Lambs (Christs)
Book of Life" (Rev21:21-27)
Basis for Salvation! Entrance into Eternal Paradise with God!
Names written in Lambs book of Life will not perish!
Everyone else who does not believe in the Lamb (Christ) will.
Revelation 21:6-8 "The Alpha and Omega" is Christ who
alone will save believing mankind from the second (eternal) fiery
death.
- Conclusion
- All of mankind everywhere since the days of Adam have been
under sin rebelling against God and following their own desires.
All have sinned and all are under the current punishment of Gods
wrath. Because men continue to sin in rebellion, God continues
to "give them over" to greater depravity. But this
is not all, all will stand before God at the Judgment Day. There,
no one will be declared righteous by observing the Law. Man cannot
save himself from Gods wrath neither from eternal destruction.
God is Righteous. He completes His Word. He judges sin-evil.
He is also Merciful to those who believe and obey (as Abel, Seth,
Enoch and Noah). As these men of old, we can be saved only by
Faith in Gods Promised Savior (the seed of the woman =
Jesus). He alone will save us from Gods eternal righteous
wrath. This is only for those who believe (and follow) Christ.
There is no other way to be saved! There is no excuse for unbelief
in Christ!
(Some may ask, "What about those who have never heard
about Christ?" Answer: 1) God is completely just. He will
judge according to truth and justice. It is not our standard
or sense of fairness that will determine his judgment. 2) Most
Muslims have heard about Christ; you are now hearing more of
him. )
- Study #5
- Gods Covenant with Abraham
- Gen. 12, 15, 17 & 22
-
-
- Introduction
- From the beginning we saw how all mankind sinned and rebelled
against God. God told Noah (Gen. 8:21), "Never again will
I curse the ground because of man, even though every inclination
of his heart is evil from childhood." Even Noah and his
sons sinned.
At the same time, the story God gave us traces the lives of
many men of faith- those who believed in Gods promises.
The story doesnt trace the others. After the flood, mankind
is still awaiting a savior who will crush the head of the serpent
(Satan) and win complete victory for these men of faith. Now
we come to the story of Abraham, the father of all who believe.
Is he the one who will deliver mankind?
Abrams origin (Genesis 11:10-32) He was descended from
Shem. His fathers were from Ur of the Chaldaeans (region of the
Garden of Eden it is said). His wife, Sara, was barren. They
traveled from Ur to Harran where Terah (Abs father) died.
Why did they leave?
- Gods call to Abram (Read Genesis 12:1)
- "Leave and go to the land I will show you." Abram
left his fatherland because he obeyed Gods command. This
obedience showed his faith. He believed the promises and so obeyed
God.
- Gods Promises to Abram (Read Genesis 12:2-3)
- What were Gods promises?
- "I will make you into a great nation"
- "I will bless you."
- "I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing."
- "I will bless those who bless you, and will curse those
who curse you."
- "(I will ) bless all peoples on earth through you."
- Abrams Faith (Genesis 12: 4-9)
- Abram was a wanderer in the land God showed him. The promise
of possession was for Abrams "offspring." He
believed and obeyed God even though he was 75 years old.
So Abram began his long journey. Wherever Abram settled, he
built an altar. There he sacrificed an offering and called on
the name of the Lord. He is a believer like Abel, Seth, Enoch,
Noah and Sam before him.
- GOD CUTS THE COVENANT - Genesis 15 (Read)
- vv. 1-3 Abram is concerned since he is now about 80 years
old. The custom was that a designated servant would be the heir
if a man had no children; Abram chose Eliezar his servant.
vv.4-7 The word of the Lord came to Abram.
- The heir - "seed" would come from his own body.
- His offspring "seed" would be too numerous to
count.
- His offspring would take possession of that land.
v. 6 "Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to
him as righteousness." Abrams faith in the word of
the Lord made him righteous in Gods sight.
"Made righteous" means without fault, holy, pure,
clean, acceptable to God. Though Abram was a man made from the
earth and sinful like Adam his forefather, he was considered
as sinless-righteous before the Holy God by faith.
v. 8 So, Abram heard the words of the Lord and believed his
promises. But, he now asks for a seal of this covenant. The Holy
God allowed this man to speak with him because of faith.
( It was common in those days to seal agreements-covenants
by both parties swearing by the blood of animals. They would
slaughter the animals then walk between the halves of animals.
This meant that if either party violated his part of the agreement
that his blood would be on his own head; his punishment would
be as that which fell on the animals. Abram probably was familiar
with this custom)
- Gods Seal of His covenant to Abram.
- vv. 9-11 God calls for Abram to cut several animals in half
and lay on the ground (Abram knew what to do according to the
customs of the day).
vv. 12-16 God gives details of how his promise will be achieved.
He foretold of the 400 enslavement of the Sons of Israel in Egypt.
But then they would be delivered. God is proclaiming the covenant
while Abram is asleep.
Question: So, what part did Abram play in setting the terms
of the covenant? Answer: NO PART! The covenant of blessing was
all Gods will and plan.
vv. 17-21 Now Gods presence (symbolized by the firepot
and torch) pass between the pieces of slaughtered animals. Abram
is still asleep. (Again by custom, both parties would pass between
the pieces.) God alone is sealing the covenant. Question: What
part then would Abram play in fulfilling the terms of the covenant?
Answer: FAITH ALONE!
Therefore, God made-cut the covenant. He would fulfill the
covenant by His power. Abram had simply to believe that He would
do it. Abram did believe and God credited this to him as righteousness.
GOD GIVES ABRAM A SIGN OF THE COVENANT IN HIS BODY - Genesis
17
vv1-8
- Now Abram is 99 years old.
- God changes Abrams name from Abram="father"
to Abraham="father of many."
- God promises that Abraham would be the father of many nations
and kings.
- The covenant would be between GOD and Abraham and his descendants.
- He would be the God of Abrahams offspring in the land
of Canaan.
vv9-14
- From now on, Abraham and all his descendants must be circumcised.
- This would be the "sign of the covenant between me and
you" v.11.
- If any male was not circumcised he himself would be "cut
off."
- The sign of the covenant was given by God in Abrams
body before the promised son was born. Gods Word is True.
vv15-22
- God reveals that the heir will be from Abs body and
from Sarahs.
- Abraham had a son, Ishmael, by his maidservant Hagar 13 years
before (when he was 86 years old). Though this son would be greatly
blessed, he would not be the heir of Abrahams estate or
the covenant promises to Abraham.
- God would give Abraham and Sarah a son who would become the
father of many nations. And, he would be the ancestor of the
Promised One who would defeat Satan and bring the people of faith
to Gods eternal salvation.
vv23-27
- Abraham again believed God and obeyed circumcising all the
males in his household. Ishmael was 13 years old and the second
to be circumcised under this covenant God made with Abraham.
Ishmael went on to become the father of great nations and many
of his descendants walked in the faith of Abraham in the East.
- Gods Promise is Fulfilled - Genesis 21:1-7
- God fulfilled His promise to Ibrahim (now 100 years old).
It was Gods power, not Abrahams, that accomplished
this. Sarah laughed for joy and the boy was named Isaac="he
laughs."
-
- GOD PROVIDED THE SACRIFICE - Genesis 22
- vv1-2
- God "tested" Abrahams faith. Mt Moriah is
modern day mount of Al-Aqsa. The test: to take his only son-heir
(through whom the Promised One would come) and sacrifice him.
Wouldnt this end the line of the Promised One??? But, Abraham
trusted Gods Word and Power.
- vv3-12
- Abraham passed the test. The angel of the Lord said, "Now
I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from
me your son, your only son." (v 12)
vv13-14
- "The Lord Will Provide" Just as Abraham had told
his son Isaac, God provided a ram for the sacrifice. "On
the mountain of the Lord it will be provided."
- The Lord provided the perfect sacrifice for Abraham.
- Abrahams son was saved because of this substitutionary
sacrifice. The rams blood was shed in place of Isaacs.
- This points forward to the Great Sacrifice which God himself
would provide on the same mount!
- The blood of that sacrifice would be enough to take the place
of all people of faith. That is how all the nations would be
blessed.
- This points ahead in time to Jesus who was the "son
of Abraham" (Mt. 1:1) who was offered on the same mount
for the all nations.
- vv15-19
- Because of Abrahams faith shown in complete obedience
to the Lord, God swears by himself that He will surely Bless
Abraham and his offspring.
SO, ABRAHAM WAS "RIGHTEOUS" BEFORE GOD BECAUSE OF
HIS FAITH. ABRAHAMS SEED RECEIVED THE PROMISED BLESSINGS
OF GODS COVENANT BY FAITH. GOD WOULD BRING HIS PROMISES
TO ALL MANKIND THROUGH THIS "SEED. THIS "SEED"
CAME THROUGH ISAAC AND WAS JESUS CHRIST WHO BLESSES ALL NATIONS.
JESUS WAS THE SON OF ABRAHAM AND THE SACRIFICE GOD PROVIDED ON
THE SAME MOUNTAIN.
- Study #6
- The Faith of Abraham
We saw that the Word of God declares
that no son of Adam, whether under the Law of Moses or not, is
righteous (pure and acceptable to God). We saw that all men are
under Gods wrath because of their rebellion in sin -- turning
from the knowledge of God.
"Therefore no one will be declared righteous in His sight
by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious
of sin." Romans 3:20
Man cannot regain Gods favor or eternal life with Him
through his own works under the Law (of Moses or any other law).
But like Abraham, man is only made righteous by faith in Gods
Promised One - Jesus. And like Abraham, faith must be evidenced
by obedience.
ROMANS 3:21-26 (Read)
- v.21
- "Righteousness from God = not from man... "to which
the Law and the Prophets testify." = God revealed how He
would make man righteous This righteousness is revealed in the
stories and prophecies of the Old Testament .
-
- v22
- "This righteousness from God comes through faith in
Jesus Christ to all who believe."
- Jesus is the "seed" of the woman God promised would
"crush the head of the serpent (Satan)"
- Jesus would bring righteousness to the line of faith,
- Jesus is the "Seed" of Abraham God promised would
bless all the nations.
- v23
- "There is no difference. For all have sinned and fall
short of the glory of God."
- Everyone, including prophets sinned and are unrighteous because
of it. All are cast out of Gods presence, because all have
sinned.
- All die because each mans sin put him to death under
Gods justice since Adam.
- v24
- "...and are justified freely by his grace, through the
redemption that came by Christ Jesus."
- Now, by Gods grace, Jesus takes away this death penalty.
- This is the only way to be "justified", "
made righteous" before God!
How does Jesus make believers righteous and justify them so
that their sin is not held against them? Answer: God provided
the sacrifice!
- v25
- "God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement..."
- As the ram that God provided by which Abrahams son
was spared (redeemed), Jesus is the Supreme Sacrifice that God
provided to take away all our sins.
"...through faith in his blood."
- The only way to be made righteous and justified before God,
is the same way that the prophets were justified and that is
by faith in Gods covenant. They believed in the promises
of the Seed and offered blood sacrifices. That Seed is Jesus
and He became the Sacrifice!
So, we must have faith in Jesus in order to be justified by
His Sacrifice!
- Believe the covenant God made through the blood of Jesus.
- vv25-6
- " He did this to demonstrate His justice..."
- Jesus was the Perfect Eternal Sacrifice who alone took Gods
full punishment for mans sin!
"because in His forenbearance he had left the sins committed
beforehand unpunished..."
- God will punish each mans sins at the final judgment;
He left the sins of those who lived before Christ unpunished
until Christ came to take the death penalty.
"...he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present
time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have
faith in Jesus."
- God will justify all those who have faith in Jesus the Promised
One
WHAT DID ABRAHAM DISCOVER ABOUT THIS? Romans 4
- vv1-3
- Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.
- Abraham did not receive the promises by his own works. Before
he had any children (his work) God gave him the promises. He
believed the promises (his faith).
- vv 4-8
- This righteousness that God gave was a gift; it could not
be earned (like a wage) by man. God does the work of justifying.
Man need only believe and trust God to fulfill His promises.
This gift of righteousness and forgiveness is blessing from God.
- God loves mankind and does everything to save him.
- vv9-12
- "Is this blessedness only for the circumcised, or also
for the uncircumcised?"
- Is it only for Muslims, Jews and circumcised Christians???
- Abraham received the promise and believed it before he was
circumcised.
- So, he is the father of all uncircumcised who believe (regardless
of religion, nationality, etc.)
- And, he is the father of all who are circumcised and "walk
in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before
he was circumcised."
- Abrahams faith in Gods Promised One is the same
as our faith in Christ.
- This righteousness by faith is for all nations.
- vv13-15
- Abrahams offspring received the promise and became
heir of righteousness through faith. The promise cannot be realized
through the law because the law brings wrath (it condemns only).
-
- vv 16-17
- "The promise comes by faith so that it may be by grace
and guaranteed to all Abrahams offspring" All who
believe like Abraham in the promise given to Abraham are guaranteed
this gift of grace (righteousness, forgiveness, and restoration
to God) "He is the father of us all." Those who believe
in the promises of God in Christ are the offspring of Abraham.
They are made righteous like him through faith.
So, we who believe in the Promised One of Abrahams seed
will receive the Promised blessings of righteousness and justification
from God (even though we are outside of the Jewish law).
- vv18-25
- Abrahams faith in Gods promises was real even
though his body was "as good as dead" . We are called
to have the same faith in Gods promises in Jesus. He is
our hope as he was Abrahams hope of justification and righteousness
before God.
- Believe that He was delivered over to death (on a cross)
for our sins
- Believe that He was raised to life for our justification.
- Believe that we are made alive by the gift of Christs
righteousness and thereby are blessed by Gods promise.
- Believe that in Jesus we will be raised to live eternally
with God for His glory.
Gods promise is that we are made righteous by the sacrifice
of atonement Jesus made for us. This is the covenant God wants
us to believe and live in. God will adopt all who believe in
the sacrifice of atonement of Jesus as His children!
This promise to Abraham was fulfilled by Gods power.
By this same power Jesus was raised from the dead. And by this
same power, we who believe are made righteous and will live eternally
in Gods presence.
- Study #7
- The Passover
(Note: The story of Abraham taught us that those with faith
in Gods promises fulfilled in Christ are "blood heirs"
of these promises. The story of Moses and the Passover shows
how God will free believing mankind from the slavery to sin and
death. A legal pardon. Though the rest of Genesis is worth going
over together, perhaps you could become familiar with these highlights
and narrate the story. It is worth the effort to polish the story
for it is through the story that God introduced His Messiah.
The telling of the story from Abraham to Moses could be separated
from the study on the Passover.)
- Introduction
- Abraham was a man of faith and obedience. As God foretold
Abraham (Gen. 15:5), his offspring would be more numerous than
the stars in the skies. Through his "seed" all the
nations on earth would be blessed. This promise would come about
through his seed-son, Isaac, born to Sarah. It was not Isaac
himself who would bless the whole world but he was the next in
the line of faith through which the Messiah would come. The one
man who would bless the whole world (and crush the head of Satan)
was Jesus Christ. He was the "son-seed of Abraham"
(Mt. 1:1). Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as
righteousness. Isaac was born and became the heir of the promises
that God gave to Ibrahim.
Isaac was the heir of the promise given to his father-- he
was next in the line of faith. The "seed" and Promised
One would come through him. Abraham was very wealthy and when
he was a very old man he sent his chief servant to Haran where
he had left his brother Nahor. The servant went and found Rebekah,
who was the grandchild of Nahor. She came back with the servant
and married Isaac. They had 2 sons - twins.
The firstborn was Esau; the second was Jacob who was crafty.
He was called Jacob because when he was born he was clutching
his brothers "heel". He tricked his brother out
of the birthright (inheritance-blessing) When Esau returned from
the fields very hungry Jacob would only feed him if he gave up
the blessing of the firstborn. Jacob later deceived his father
Isaac in his old age. His father wanted to bless the firstborn
and so asked for a meal of wild meat.
When Esau left to hunt, Jacob disguised himself and took a
meal of lamb (with his mothers help.) Isaac had weak eyesight
and was deceived by the hair on Jacobs neck. Isaac thus
blessed Jacob instead of Esau. Thus, he received Isaacs
material inheritance and spiritual inheritance = blessing-promise.
Jacob fled from his familys tent to Haran because he feared
Esaus revenge.
There he went to a well and met shepherds who knew Laban (Nahors
grandson and Rebekahs brother); Labans daughter also
came with his sheep. Isaac rolled the heavy stone from the well
so she could water her sheep. He went back with her to Labans
tent. Laban was also crafty and had Jacob work for 7 years in
order to marry Rachel. But, on the wedding night he gave her
sister Leah to him instead. Jacob worked another seven years
and married Rachel too.
From these two sisters and their maidservants he fathered
12 sons and 1 daughter. His flocks increased more than Labans
(tell story of trickery). He fled from there toward Palestine.
Before crossing the Zarka River (Jabbok) he divided his entourage
into two groups for fear that if Esau killed the first the second
would escape. He divided the second into 3 groups each with hundreds
of sheep and cattle as a gift for Esau. During the night a "man"
was sent and wrestled with Jacob. Jacob called the place Peniel
because he saw God face to face.
About daybreak, the "man" wanted to depart but Jacob
demanded to be blessed. God changed Jacobs name to "Israel"
because he "struggled" with both God and man. So, Jacob-Israel
was the grandson of Ibrahim. He was the "heir" of the
covenant promises to Ibrahim. Jacob by faith was the one through
whom the "seed" - the Messiah would come. Jacobs
eleven sons became the fathers of 11 tribes. His son Joseph had
2 sons and they became the fathers of 2 more tribes. There were
13 tribes of the "sons of Israel"; one tribe, Levi,
were priests to God and did not receive any land.
While Joseph was young, his father Jacob-Israel loved him
more than his brothers. His brothers were jealous and so they
threw him in a well, tore his fancy cloak and sold Joseph to
Ishmaelite-Arab traders; they lied to their father that he had
been eaten by wolves. The traders took him to Egypt and sold
him to Potipher, the captain of the guard of Pharaoh. This mans
wife falsely accused Joseph of "consorting" with her.
Joseph was thrown in prison but the Lord was with him. (Tell
story of cupbearer and baker). After he was released, his father,
Israel, sent his brothers to Egypt to buy grain due to a widespread
famine. Joseph tricked them forcing them to bring his father
and younger brother. So, Jacob-Israel went down and settled in
the land of Goshen in the north of Egypt that Pharaoh gave to
them and grew into a large nation.
As the Lord had promised Abraham, the nation of his descendants
was enslaved and mistreated by subsequent pharaohs. After 400
years of this oppression, just as God told Abraham (in Gen. 15:12-14),
he chose a young man to deliver them. This man, Moses, was raised
by the daughter of pharaoh (Tell story of slaying of Israelite
children and Moses in a basket.)
Hebrews 11:24-27 says: "By faith Moses, when he had grown
up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaohs daughter.
He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather
than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time." He
fled to Midian (the Arab peninsula) after he killed an Egyptian
who was beating an Israelite.
There, he tended the flocks of Jethro (Shueib) and married
his daughter. After 40 years in Midian, he went up on Mount Horeb
in the desert. God spoke to him there through a burning bush.
God is able to speak through anything. God spoke to Abraham and
Moses. He speaks to those of faith today. God called Moses to
return to Egypt and lead the sons of Israel (by now 2 million
people) out of slavery. So, Moses obeyed God. He went back with
his brother Aaron who spoke for him.
- The Plague of the Firstborn- PASSOVER
- Moses and Aaron obeyed God and did just as He told them;
Aaron threw down his staff and it became a snake. Yet, Pharaoh
would not listen to them. So the Lord sent plagues on Egypt.
Before each plague, he instructed Moses and Aaron to tell pharaoh
to "Let my people go, so that they may worship me."
Pharaohs heart was hardened each time so that the Lord
sent another then another plague. There were blood, frogs, gnats,
flies, death of cattle. Pharaohs heart was unyielding so
God sent more plagues: boils, hail, locusts, darkness. Still,
Pharaoh was unwilling to let them go.
If any household believed Gods word and obeyed, then
this plague would "pass over" their household. (Read
Exodus 12:1-13, 21-28)
- Each household must sacrifice with no leftovers (enough for
the very poor)
- The blood from the sacrifice must be smeared on the top and
sides of the doorframes
- The Lord would come to strike down the firstborn
- If the Lord saw the sign of the blood he would not permit
the "destroyer" to enter that house and strike down
the firstborn.
BLOOD = SIGN OF FAITH
- IMPORTANT: "God did this to bring judgment on all the
gods of Egypt" (12:12)
- Loud wailing in Egypt.
So, the Lord SAVED the tribes of Israel from death by blood
sacrifice! It was on this night that he FREED them from the hands
of their oppressors.
More than this, after the people fled, Pharoah sent his armies
after them. The Israelites were against the Red Sea. God told
Moses to raise his staff. He obeyed and the Red Sea parted with
a strong east wind. ALL the people crossed on dry land. When
Pharaohs armies followed the waters closed over them and
they drowned. God led Moses and the people to the same mountain
where God had spoken to Moses from the burning bush.
The Passover (plague of the firstborn) was given by God to
point forward to the Great Sacrifice He would send to be a Passover
Lamb for us forever. The feast God gave Moses was repeated year
after year (for 1400 years) until Jesus Christ came.
Lessons:
- The Lord keeps His promises. What he said to Abraham 400
years before (Gen.15) he now did. (His great promise of the Messiah
was fulfilled 2000 years after Abraham.)
- The blood was shed from Israels faith and obedience.
- The blood "protected" the household from the evil
of the destroyer.
- God displayed His wrath against all the gods of Egypt.
- JESUS IS THE PASSOVER LAMB
- These accounts were written for our instruction. God chose
Abraham, Isaac and Jacob to reveal the Promised One to the nations
of men. Abrahams descendants through his grandson Jacob
were brought out from enslavement under Pharaoh on the this night
of Passover. The Passover feast continued to be celebrated by
the sons of Israel until Jesus came.
Read Matthew 26:17-30
- Jesus and his followers kept the feast of the Passover
- It was during this last Passover Feast that Jesus prophesied
his own death by Judas betrayal.
- Jesus would die on a Roman cross, hung as a criminal. His
blood would be shed by Gods will.
- vv. 27-29 The New Covenant is by Jesus blood.
The blood of the lamb in Moses day provided temporary
protection-redemption from death. The blood of Jesus the Passover
Lamb of God will protect-redeem His followers from eternal death
and punishment. By this blood his disciples (those who believed
and followed Him) were guaranteed life again in the Fathers
Kingdom (Paradise).
Read Matthew 26:31-35
- Jesus prophesied his own resurrection and Peters sin.
Read Matthew 26:47-56
- Jesus could have resisted arrest by the authority of God
and His angels.
- But, Jesus gave over himself (yielded himself to) death at
the hands of wicked (unbelieving) men. Jesus has power and authority
over men and angels but willingly and obediently did not use
it.
- Again, his death fulfilled the Scriptures (reread Isaiah
53:7-10)
- Jesus came to fulfill all of the promises to mankind from
God. Since God fulfills His word, Jesus himself did die on the
cross.
So, God again foretold to Moses and all the people of the
sons of Israel that He would send the Promised One to free them
from the power of sin and death. He would be the Passover Lamb,
sacrificed once and for all to redeem souls from eternal death
and give them eternal life with God. Jesus was sacrificed as
the Great Sacrifice during the Passover Feast. This Great Sacrifice
was enough to turn away Gods wrath and complete the eternal
punishment of those who believe in Him.
-
- Study #8
- THE ATONEMENT
As we saw last time, the stories in
the Torah about the sons of Israel are for our instruction and
benefit. So on the night of the Passover, God SAVED the tribes
of Israel from death by blood sacrifice! It was on this night
that he FREED them from the hands of their oppressors. It was
on this night that God announced the Great Sacrifice of Jesus
that would once and for all time free rebellious sinful man who
believed in Him.
More than this, after the people fled, Pharaoh sent his armies
after them. The Israelites were against the Red Sea. God told
Moses to raise his staff - the same shepherds staff that
he had when God spoke to him on Mt. Horeb and commanded him to
lead the people - the one that became a snake, etc. He obeyed
and the Red Sea parted with a strong east wind. ALL the people
crossed on dry land. When Pharaohs armies followed, the
waters closed over them and they drowned. (This probably happened
at the Red Sea in southern Sinai). God led Moses and the people
back to the same mountain where God had spoken to Moses from
the burning bush.
God had given Moses a sign (Ex. 3:12) that it was God himself
who was sending Moses to Pharoah to free his people: "....you
will worship God on this mountain." This "sign"
was fulfilled under the leadership of Jethro, Moses Midianite-Arab
father-in-law.
Moses Midianite father-in-law worships. (Read Exodus
18:1-12)
- Jethro praised God for the deliverance of Israel. This Arab
was a man of faith.
- He fulfilled the "sign" that God gave Moses in
Ex. 3:12 that Moses would lead the people out of Egypt and come
back to worship God on "this mountain."
- He sacrificed many animals to God. Again, the men of faith
sacrificed animals and offered burnt offerings to God before
so-called "religion."
- Note that God was worshipped by people of faith other than
the sons of Israel. His promises were to be for all nations.
- THE DAY OF ATONEMENT
- On this same mountain, the Lord gave Moses THE LAW. He told
him who could be priests - Aaron and his sons. And He gave them
other laws.
- But, Aarons sons disobeyed the rules for priests and
were consumed by fire from the Lord (Read Leviticus 10:1-3)
- Then God allowed the high priest to approach him once a year
(Lev.16:1-2)
- The Most Holy Place is where God would appear over the atonement
cover
(Explain the ark, its contents and the atonement cover in
the Most Holy Place - see Heb. 9:4-5 )
(SKETCH A PICTURE OF TEMPLE, ALTAR AND ANIMALS - bull, 2 male
goats, 2 rams)
1) THE SIN OFFERING FOR AARON AND HIS HOUSEHOLD - THE BULL
3) THE SCAPEGOAT - THE LIVING GOAT
- Finally, the scapegoat would "bear" the sins and
carry them away to be forgotten. (Lev. 16:20-22) -- Aaron would
literally place his hands and lean on the sheep, placing the
"weight of sin" on its head.
- This was to be a lasting ordinance (16:34) So, the sacrifices
were repeated as sins increased year after year.
4) THE BURNT OFFERING - THE RAM
- Aaron would offer this burnt offering for himself and the
people (vv24-25)
Why is Blood Necessary to Make Atonement?
We have seen men of faith from Adam to Moses sacrificing animals
to the Lord. Now with the Aaron and the priesthood, God gave
specific instructions for the way this was to be done. The blood
spilled out of these animals before the Lord. The sacrifice must
be made on the altar and the blood could not be consumed by people.
The blood of the sacrifice was very significant. Why? (Read
Lev. 17:10-12) "The life of the creature is in its blood,
and I (the Lord) have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves
on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for ones
life."
Review sin and sacrifice.
- Sin caused man to be cut off from God and die.
- All men sin and therefore all will die as punishment. Death
is both physical and eternal punishment - separation from God.
- Good works done under the Law or outside of it will not save.
- The only way that sins are atoned for is by the proper blood
sacrifice to God. A living animal must give its life so that
the sinner can go on living. The death of the animal of sacrifice
represents the death that the sinner deserves.
- This day of atonement was repeated once each year. It pointed
to the Great Sacrifice of Atonement which God would provide.
JESUS THE MESSIAH WAS THE GREAT SACRIFICE
Read Matthew 26:57-67
- The high priest (now Caiaphas) and the Sanhedrin brought
Jesus to a religious trial.
- They tried to falsely accuse him.
- True charge (vv 63-64) was that Jesus was the Christ the
Son of God. He confessed and did not resist their accusation,
or abuse or punishment.
- He came to give his life as the great sacrifice of atonement
for our sins.
- The Jews "decided" to put Jesus to death (Mt. 27:1-2)
and handed him to Pilate the Roman.
Matthew 27:11-26
- The Roman governor did not find any solid charge but let
the people decide.
- The people cried, "Crucify Him!"
Matthew 27:27-31
- The Roman soldiers treated Jesus as a criminal, beating,
mocking, spitting, torturing...
Matthew 27:32-44
- The people were as sinful and rebellious against God as all
mankind has always been. Just as Adam and Eve rejected the knowledge
of God and broke His command so now the people Roman and Jew
alike rejected the Promised One God sent to be the Atoning Sacrifice.
- We are just like these people. We did the same thing. We
are sinners.
Matthew 27:45-66
- Jesus took the very wrath of His Father God. The wrath of
punishment - eternal death - that sinful man deserves to suffer.
Jesus, the Son of God, was cut off - completely separated from
God the Father.
- We cannot say that someone else was crucified instead of
Jesus. Because:
- The Jews made sure, according to their law, that the criminal
was punished.
- The Romans carried out the crucifixion and were experts at
punishment.
- All the people witnessed this in a public place.
- Disciples and women who knew Jesus well, including his mother,
were watching everything.
- The identified corpse was placed in a sealed tomb under Roman
guard.
The Sacrifice of Jesus Atoned for believing man:
- The curtain (which separated the Holy Place from the Most
Holy Place in the temple from the ) was torn in two.
- You see, since the days of Moses and Aaron, only the High
Priest could enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of the sacrifice.
But this pointed ahead to the Great Day of Atonement when Jesus
was sacrificed, according to the will of God, by the hands of
sinful men. His blood tore the curtain open so that now all believers
could approach God.
- The ground itself shook so that rocks split and tombs broke
open. "The bodies of many holy people who had died were
raised to life." There were many witnesses who saw these
people.
- Jesus is the resurrection. Jesus alone can raise the dead,
by the power of God.
So, the death of Jesus, the Son of God did take place to fulfill
the prophesies and scriptures. The Promised One was crucified
by the hands of sinful men and he died. He was "crushed"
as God told Adam and Eve he would be. But only his heal was crushed
- because He rose from the dead.
Read Matthew 28:1-10
- Jesus rose on the third day as He said.
- The women and then the disciples, over 500 people, say him
and confirmed the event.
- By his resurrection Jesus crushed the power of Satan - of
death, evil and sin. He, the Promised One, is the only One who
can atone for sinful man and redeem him to God. His blood makes
sinful man righteous and acceptable to the Holy God.
No longer is animal blood sacrifice required; the old system
of sacrifice pointed ahead to the death of Jesus on the cross.
Though He was the strong "servant of God," he would
quietly go to be crucified. For those who believe in God, the
blood of the Messiah is sufficient to cleanse them from all their
sins forever. Abraham, Moses and all the men of faith were looking
forward to this Great Sacrifice from God. We look back on this
and praise God that He defeated sin, death and Satan once and
for all by sending His Son to be this Sacrifice of Atonement.
After the sons of Israel settled in the land that God promised
Abraham, God let Davids son build a temple. It was like
the tent of meeting but larger and of stone. The letter to the
Hebrews in the New Testament explains the significance of worship
in this temple under the "Old Covenant."
Read Hebrews 9:1 - 10:18
- vv 1-5
- The Temple held many things that would remind the worshippers
of Gods deliverance of the sons of Israel from Egypt and
His presence with them on their way to the land He promised to
Abraham.
-
- vv 6-7
- The Day of Atonement only the High Priest could enter the
Most Holy Place by the blood of the lamb of atonement.
-
- v 8
- The Holy Spirit (of God) was in control of this worship.
It meant that the greater worship had not yet come
- .
- vv9-10
- Gifts-Sacrifices-Offerings were and are External Only. They
cannot clear the conscience of the worshipper. They were repeated
every year to point to the Great Sacrifice once and for all.
This is true for sons of Israel and all people.
-
- vv 11-14
- Christ entered the "greater and more perfect tabernacle"
(heaven) by his own blood. Just as the worshippers in Moses
day were sprinkled by blood of bulls and goats to make them clean,
the blood of Christ can completely cleanse the consciences of
the worshippers so that they can serve the living God! True inner
spiritual cleansing once and for all.
-
- v 14
- He cleanses 1) eternally 2) so that we may serve.
** True worship of God is only possible by the acceptance
of the Great
Sacrifice that He provided for mankind. The blood of Jesus
will cleanse the
worshippers (conscience=heart, entire being) from sin and
filth making
him-her acceptable to God. All other worship is deficient
to accomplish this.
- v 15
- The promised eternal inheritance is the promise of blessing
God made known to Adam, Noah, Abraham and his descendants. It
is freedom from slavery to sin, evil, darkness, and death. The
"New Covenant" is brought through the promised seed,
Christ.
-
- vv 16-22 (Read)
- The shedding of blood puts the will-covenant into effect.
This is how it was with Abraham (Gen. 15); this was also the
way the covenant under Moses worked.
-
- vv23-25
- Jesus entered heaven before God himself.
-
- vv 26-28
- Christs "once for all" sacrifice completely
does away with sin and brings salvation. Those who are waiting
for him will be saved eternally.
Read Hebrews 10:1-8
- Study # 9
- Jesus the Savior and Ruler
Introduction (Review )
- God is holy and created everything
"good." He created a wonderful universe for man to
rule who was made in his own image.
- Man rebelled against God, disobeying his command. Thus, mankind
faced punishment and died physically and spiritually being separated
from God.
- Since Adam, all mankind has sinned and rebelled.
- Therefore, the Just God is revealing His wrath by letting
mankind go further into sin eventually to fiery hell.
- Since the beginning, however, God foretold to mankind His
Messiah who would come from the "line of the woman"
and defeat Satan to free those who believe in Him.
- The Old Testament is the story of those who believed Gods
promises and waited for His salvation in this Messiah. (Adam,
Abel, Seth, Enoch, Noah, Shem, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob (Israel),
Joseph, Moses...)
Last time we saw that this Messiah would be presented as the
Great Sacrifice of Atonement-- taking away all sin and guilt
from those who believe and making peace with the Holy God so
that they once again could live before His presence in righteousness.
Atonement = sacrifice, blood, and substitution
There is no other way for man to be made righteous and restored
to God except through the Messiah.
The animal sacrifices in the Old Testament among the sons
of Israel were temporary. They were merely a picture or symbol
of something better -- the coming Messiah who would be the ultimate
sacrifice (sacrifice, blood, substitution). He had been prophesied
centuries before.
So who is Jesus? He is not a theological invention. He was
a real person who came to earth. He lived among us. He was from
heaven. He is Eternal. He is the Messiah. He is the fulfillment
of all the prophecies. He was not just a mere human or even simply
a great prophet. The whole Bible, points to or turns on the one
person of Christ.
Just as the men of old believed the promises of His coming
and salvation, we are called to believe in Him. He came to save
men from all the tribes of men and make their peace with God,
opening a way for them to once again enter paradise and live
without shame in Gods presence. He alone would defeat Satan
and free men from the sin that would kill them making them clean,
holy, righteous and acceptable to God.
JESUS IS THE SAVIOR
Isaiah 53 The prophet Isaiah prophesied about the coming of
the Messiah about 700 years before He came. (Read slowly) Go
back over it and preach these points:
- v.2 = the Messiah would look like a normal man (average family
not royalty)
- v.3 = He suffered at the hands of sinful men; nobody helped
him.
- v.4a = He healed countless people; he preached hope to the
poor and helpless.
- v.4b = At Gods will, men beat him, mocked and hung
him on a cross to die.
- v.5a = A soldier pierced his side; though innocent, he shed
his blood to atone for our transgressions. He was "crushed"
just as God promised that his heel would be (Gen 3:15)
- v.5b = the punishment he bore brought us peace with God.
Instead of now being under Gods wrath and subject to punishment
by death, Jesus would take this wrath and punishment thus making
peace for us!
- v.6 = We had rebelled against God and were subject to his
wrath. Messiah made peace by taking Gods wrath on himself.
Just as the priest "leaned" on the second goat (scapegoat)
confessing the sins of the people. Our sins were laid on Him.
Being "on his head" they would be removed far away
from us and forgotten.
- v. 7 = Jesus was falsely accused, tried and then led away
to be crucified. He did not object. As a matter of fact, he "submitted"
himself to this death because it was Gods will. Jesus gave
himself over to death - no one took his life from him. He was
the sin offering (lamb of atonement).
- v.8 = Because He, the Innocent One, took our sins, God subjected
Him to full judgment = being cut off from the land of the living.
He had no (human) descendants. Moreover, he was "cut off"
from His Father.
- v.9 = Jesus was completely innocent (no deceit, violence,
sin...) Therefore, His blood was the only pure blood that could
atone for all people of faith. Our sin caused him to die with
the wicked (criminals)
- v.10= This was all Gods will = Plan. The Lord makes
his life a guilt offering (like the ram God provided for Abrahams
sacrifice)
- 10b = His offspring are those who believe in Him. They are
made his children. Though he was "cut off" from natural
lines, he has a spiritual progeny (those who believe) who will
live forever. Because He was Gods son, His blood was the
only eternal blood! Pure and eternal blood spilt for our complete
and eternal atonement!!!!
- 11 b = "by knowledge of Him" Only by believing
in Him can man be justified. John 5:24 = faith demonstrated by
listening-obeying His word will save.
- 12 = God raised Jesus from the dead and gave him great authority
over His kingdom. Jesus is Lord of the Kingdom of Heaven for
eternity.
JESUS IS THE RULER
Daniel 7:13-14
Jesus was given sovereign authority and power by God over
all nations and peoples. He will rule them forever in Gods
kingdom.
This is what he repeated at his trial (Matthew 26:64). His
word is the truth. He never lied or deceived men so we must believe
his word. He rose from the dead as he said and he will rule heaven
as God said.
The things He did on earth pointed to his sovereign authority.
He defeated Satan and his evil spirits. He ruled nature by speaking
a word (to the wind and waves for instance). He ruled over death
by speaking a word to many dead bodies that rose back to life.
At his death many dead believers rose again. He promises to raise
all those who believe and obey him.
At the end times, He will judge the living and the dead. Jesus
has authority over the Kingdom of God.
Read Psalm 2
- The kings of the earth are at enmity with the Anointed One
- Messiah
For the most part, mankind rejects Jesus as Lord and King.
But he is not elected. He is Ruler by decree of God.
- God has established His Son the King
- Jesus will rule with an iron scepter
- The only way to avoid His wrath is to "kiss the Son"
This means believing in Jesus as the Lord and submitting to
Him-giving Him l loyalty. The believer who follows Jesus will
obey his words
John 5:24-27
- Jesus words are the words of God. The believer who follows
His words has "eternal life"- the promised life in
Gods presence. The believer is made righteous and acceptable
to dwell with God forever.
- Jesus is the Judge. When he returns the second time. He will
completely save the believers and completely judge the unbelievers
in Him. They will be thrown into the eternal lake of burning
fire.
Romans 10:9-10
- "Jesus is Lord" This confession is the truth. The
one who says it must submit to His Lordship.
- "God raised Him from the dead" This faith is the
only faith that will save. The one who believes this will be
saved. The one who does not believe this will not be saved.
So, the Promised One came to save mankind from their sins.
He is the Atoning Sacrifice and the One who can save. He calls
for us to turn to him (repent) and believe in Him. This is shown
by following His every Word. He is the Savior of the believers
who rescues them from eternal death.
And, He is the Ruler of the Kingdom of Heaven. Only by following
Him can we be saved and rescued from hell, sin, evil, and death.
- Study#10
- Nine Names of Jesus
- John 1
We have seen that Jesus is the Promised
One sent from God. He spoke the words of God and was the Atoning
Sacrifice from God. He is the Savior and the Lord. He is to be
obeyed and followed by those who believe. Only by Him can man
escape Gods wrath and live in His presence eternally.
(Note to teacher: John 1 is very thick theologically. Try
to simplify and state clearly what the text states about Jesus.
John 1:1-5 Read
Question: So, who is Jesus?
Answer #1 JESUS IS THE WORD OF GOD
Word = the very thoughts of God communicated to man; all the
Truth that mankind knows (includes all logic, all knowledge,
all wisdom) Jesus is the message-promised savior from God
THE WORD IS ETERNAL
From the beginning (even before the beginning and thus without
beginning; from eternity past and future; JESUS is the Alpha
and the Omega.
THE WORD WAS WITH GOD
THE WORD WAS GOD -- Gods Word cannot be separated from
Him; the Word He gave is His and an expression of Him. (Poetry
expresses the poet). Jesus is God. The Bible teaches there is
only one God not three. Though difficult to understand, it is
true.(illustration needed)
GOD CREATES BY HIS WORD (Jesus). When God spoke, His Word
created life. The whole creation was made through Him.
Answer #2 JESUS IS LIFE
What kind of life? Remember that sinful mankind was judged
to death eternal. Jesus defeated Satan and his power. He destroyed
death and gives eternal life. He is life forever with God. Those
who believe in Him will live forever in Gods Kingdom.
Answer #3 JESUS IS LIGHT
Without the light of Christ, man is without hope and continues
to live in darkness, removed from God. The light-Jesus from God
gives hope of eternal life, forgiveness of sins (righteousness).
His light defeated darkness.
From these 5 verses only, can you see that Jesus is much more
than a prophet or merely a man? Was He a created being? What
is his origin (where is he from)? Who is He? (The Eternal Creative
Word of God, The Life of God, The Light of God)
Verses 6-9 Explain John historically. He was the last in the
long line of the prophets who foretold of the coming of the Messiah.
He was Jesus cousin born just 6 months before him by an
angelic promise to Zachariah in the temple. (he was the "seal"
of the prophets).
If there is time, read Luke 1:5-17 and point out:
- Verse 15 -- He was great in the sight of the Lord.
- Verse 15 -- He was filled with the Holy Spirit.
- Verse 16 -- He turned people back to the Lord.
- Verse 17 -- He went before the Lord.
- Verse 17 -- He made ready a people prepared for the Lord.
Question: What is the purpose of Johns ministry?
To witness concerning the Light by telling people that Gods
light (Savior, Messiah) was coming into the world. But that wasnt
enough. He called people to turn back to God by repenting, seeking
His forgiveness, believing in God and His Word. (Witness or testimony
is very important to John and Muslims. John the Baptist was a
very sound witness. He was the last prophet and great in Gods
sight.)
Verses 10-13 (Read)
Question: What are your observations?
Verse 10 -- The whole world was made through Him but the world
still did not know him. That the creation and mankind was made
through Him but did not recognize Him is one of the saddest realities.
Verse 11-- The sons of Israel -- those who held the promises
and the writings of the prophets, to whom He came (he was a Jew
from the line of Abraham and David) did not receive him.
Verse 12 -- Just as in days of old, most of mankind did not
receive or believe Gods promises. But, there were some
who did - Men of Faith. These received the Messiah-Promised One.
Receive - believe. Thats what God wants you to do.
- The Jews did not receive him, do you???
- All humans are children of Adam but not all are children
of God by faith.
Verse 14 (Read)
Answer #4: JESUS IS THE WORD BECAME FLESH
(Explain stages)
- He was in heaven (He was with God and God) before He became
man.
- He came to earth for a period of time (human lifetime), took
on a body and dwelt among men. Why? To show us what God is like.
- If we want to know the grace and truth of God, we must listen
to the Messiah. ( This is a mystery. God is Capable of anything.
If He can speak to Moses through a burning bush and Abraham through
a deep sleep and smoking firepot, He can send His Word to become
a human body.)
- He displayed the glory ( light of righteousness-same that
appeared to Moses) of God.
- He died as the only perfect sacrifice for sins of all men.
- He rose from the dead by the power of God.
- He ascended back to heaven (Acts 1).
(There are many references in the Quran to Jesus being
the Word of God. They are extractions from the Biblical truth
which precedes and supercedes them.)
Verses 15-18 (Read)
John testifies that Jesus was "before" Him - eternal
Especially verse 17 -- Moses brought the Law from God
-- Jesus brought grace and truth (complete forgiveness)
Answer #6 JESUS IS THE SAVIOR
The law cannot save but Jesus can -- He is the Savior. If
we want to know the grace and truth of God, we need to look to
Jesus ALONE.
Answer #7: JESUS IS GODS SON (also in verse 34)
Verses 19-34 JOHNS TESTIMONY (Read)
Answer #8: JESUS IS THE LORD (verse 23 and 27 and 30)
John proclaimed and worshipped him even though Jesus was born
after John Verse 28 Bethany is probably the Jordanian "magtas"
site.
Answer #9: JESUS IS THE LAMB OF GOD
The prophet John confessed about Jesus:
- That He was the Lord
- That He was the Lamb of God - the Great Atoning Sacrifice
- who would take away the sins of the world
Question: In verse 34, what does the phrase "Son of God"
mean?
- Not that God physically gave birth to a son
- Not that God adopted a human as a son
- He was born by virgin birth, conceived by the Holy Spirit
(Luke 1:30-35)
- This is a special title for this special divine Savior from
heaven.
Conclusion #9: Jesus is Lord
- John 9:35-38 -- First explain the story from Jn.9:1-34 (Jesus
Heals a Man Born
- Blind and The Pharisees Investigate the Healing). Read!
- Worthy of worship (because He was not merely man but also
God).
- John 1:30 -- John worshipped him (because even though He
was younger,
- John knew and acknowledged He was greater).
- Wise men worshipped him. He was worthy of obedience ("Lord")
Go over these 9 names-truths of Jesus, recall the promises
(of Gen. 3:15, Gen, 12:1-3, Is. 53...)
When we receive Christ, we are taking him as
the Promised Savior And, just as important, as the Promised
Lord. This means that we are willing to obey him and follow him
the rest of our lives. This means we dont act as we think
but rather as He taught and as He commanded us. Examples? Moral
things, love, honesty, being right with others, eternal life,
the kingdom of God.
From the beginning, there has been a line of men of faith
who have waited for the Promised One to come. When He came, those
who were waiting for him believed. They became the children of
God by grace and will be restored to presence of God. Jesus will
be their Savior and Ruler forever. Since God has sent Jesus to
be the Lord of those who believe and save them from everlasting
destruction, I urge you to turn to Him. Repent from sin and believe
in Him. Listen to Him, follow Him and submit to His will. He
is the Son of God who will come some day to Judge all people.
Amen
(Note to the teacher: You have revealed Christ through His
Word. You have done your best to present Christ from the OT and
NT scriptures. If the hearer stays with you to this point, he
is probably quite thirsty for the Living Water of Christ. Pray
and watch carefully to discern what his heart response is. Look
for repentance and faith as you move on to the next step.)
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