Circuit Teaching International
- Teaching the Nations
| New Birth by Alan and Marion Turnbull | |
| Lesson 1. - You must be born again | Lesson 5. - He that is born of God....believes that Jesus is the Christ |
| Lesson 2. - The two seeds | Lesson 6. - He that is born of God....overcomes the world (1) |
| Lesson 3. - He that is born of God....practises righteousness | Lesson 7. - Overcoming the world (2) |
| Lesson 4. - He that is born of God....loves | Lesson 8. - He that is born of God...does not sin |
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Jesus said we must be born again. He said this to Nicodemus, a religious man, a Pharisee.
1. The Pharisees.
Read Matthew 23:1-3 and 13-14.
a) The Pharisees were religious men who believed in God and tried to obey His laws.
b) They tried very hard to be righteous: they fasted, they prayed, they gave to the poor and were very careful to give their tithes.
c) They were careful not to commit adultery, murder or steal, as the Law says.
d) They taught the Law to the people.
e) But they could not, by religion, change their own hearts, and Jesus called them "hypocrites" and said they were like "white-painted graves, full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness". (verse 27 of same chapter).
f) The Pharisees refused to accept Jesus, because He spoke the truth and the people followed Him.
g) So the Pharisees planned to kill Him.
2. The righteousness of the Pharisees.
Read Matthew 23:25-26.
a) The righteousness of the Pharisees was on the outside only.
b) If we discipline ourselves we can appear to be very righteous, but we cannot make clean our thoughts, or control our inward feelings.
c) Many people in churches today are trying to live like good Pharisees. They try to obey the ten commandments. But if they are honest, the must admit that they fail.
d) Some become hypocrites, just like an actor playing a part in a play. The real person is hidden behind a mask of religion.
e) A true Christian must have something better than that.
3. The Pharisees taught the Law.
Read Matthew 23:1-4.
a) The Law, which is the ten commandments and other laws, was given by God. It is good. (See Romans 7:9-12).
b) The reason why God gave the Law was to show how full of sin we humans are.
c) We cannot be saved by the Law. Try to obey it and see!
d) Paul, once a Pharisee, says that the Law killed him. (Romans 7:9). He thought he was good, until he tried to do the Law of God, then he found out his own heart: it was full of sin.
e) The Pharisees knew, by the law, that they were also sinners, but they tried to hide the fact, and refused to repent of their inward sin.
f) Many people today have this kind of religion. It cannot save. It is not Christian teaching.
1. Jesus taught a higher way.
Read Matthew 5:20 and John 13:15.
a) A Christian must live an even better life than the Pharisees.
b) He is set a higher example. He is to be like the Lord Jesus.
2. The righteousness of true Christians.
Read Matthew 5:21-22, 27-28, 31-32, 38-39 and 43-44.
a) Jesus says that it is not enough to keep from doing outward sins, because we are to be pure in heart.
b) However, we are not pure in heart. We have all sinned, and we all fall short of what God requires of us.
c) This teaching shows us that we need help. God's standard is too high.
d) There is help for those who agree that they need it. We have a Saviour. Hallelujah.
e) He has come to save us from our own sins. We can be changed on the inside.
f) We can be born again from above, and become a new kind of person.
3. No patching.
Read Luke 5:33-36 and 2 Corinthians 5:17.
a) Jesus has come. The Saviour is here.
b) Some people liked the new teaching, but they wanted the old religion as well.
c) They thought they could patch up their religion with a bit of Jesus' teaching.
| Illustration Billy was playing football with his friends. His trousers were old and they tore. So, he held his hand over the big hole, and ran to his mother. Mother took him to Uncle who was making a new pair of trousers, and Uncle found a piece to patch the hole. Billy ran back to his friends. Five minutes later, disaster! This time the trousers just fell apart. The new cloth was too strong for the old trousers. Uncle must make him a new pair. |
d) You cannot patch up your old life with a bit of Jesus' teaching.
e) You need a new life altogether. You must be born again.
1. Nicodemus was a Pharisee.
Read John 3:1-2.
a) He truly wanted to know the truth and to please God.
b) He was a teacher - he knew it all, but could not find the truth.
c) He saw Jesus, and saw something different. Here was a real man of God.
d) He came at night because he feared what the other Pharisees would say to him.
2. Nicodemus, you must be born again.
Read John 3:3.
a) If Nicodemus came to join your church you would probably welcome him.
b) He was a "good" man in the eyes of men, and he was looking for truth.
c) But he could not see or understand the kingdom of God. He did not have the Spirit of God to make these things real to him.
d) Jesus said he must be born again. So must we all.
3. Born of the Spirit.
Read John 3:4-8.
a) Nicodemus did not understand. He was puzzled. He thought Jesus was speaking about birth of the body.
b) Jesus explained. Nicodemus' body had already been born. Now he needed to be born of the Spirit. Unless we are born of the Spirit we are not yet alive to God. We are dead to the things of God.
| Illustration Jesus used this illustration: You cannot see the wind, but you know when it blows because you hear and see what the wind does. So also with the Holy Spirit. You cannot see Him, but when He comes, you know and other people can see the change in your life. |
4. From above.
Read again John 3:3.
a) These words were written first in the Greek language. They mean "born again" and "born from above". Two meanings, both true.
b) It is God who sends His Holy Spirit into our hearts. We are not to receive some earthly, unholy spirit. God, by His Spirit, has "begotten us again." Read 1 Peter 1:3.
c) We are born of God. Read John 1:13.
This means 1) that we come from Him as a son comes from his father.
2) that we are born of the nature of God.
| Memory verse John 3:3, "Jesus answered and said to him, 'Most surely I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.'" |
The Bible often uses the word "seed" when speaking about children begotten by a man, that is, his descendants, who bear his likeness.
1. Seeds.
Read Genesis 1:11-12.
Illustration
Show a few seeds from different trees.
a) A seed is a wonderful thing. In this small seed there is a big tree. It lies in my hand, but it has life and power to grow and crack the walls of this building. It can also reproduce many seeds like itself. God made it like that.
b) Here is another seed. This is the seed of a .... tree. Maybe this seed is thinking "I do not want to be a .... tree. I will change. I will be like this other seed, and grow like it." Can this seed change its nature? Can it change to another kind of tree? It cannot. It can only reproduce its own kind.
c) God has set an order of life in nature. There is an order of life in spiritual things too. He is the same God who has made everything.
d) We need to understand His ways.
2. The seed of Adam.
Read 1 Peter 1:23: Genesis 1:26 and 2:7.
a) When God made Adam, all of his family (including us) were in him.
b) Eve came out of Adam, and the children from them both.
c) Adam was created very differently to any other created thing, even angels. He was made in the image and likeness of the eternal God.
d) God breathed into Adam His own breath (or spirit). Adam had an eternal soul. He was very different to an animal. (See teacher's notes.)
e) But Adam disobeyed God and so sin and death entered into Adam and Eve and was passed on to all their children.
f) Each seed can only reproduce after its own kind. After his fall, Adam could only reproduce the nature of sin and death in his children.
g) This is what is meant by the "corruptible seed" in 1 Peter 1:23.
3. The corruptible seed.
Read Genesis 5:3 and Romans 5:12.
a) Adam's sin was not a small thing. He chose to disobey the word of God.
b) He brought death into his life and family.
c) He could only beget children after his own image (not after the image of God, as he had once been made).
d) His children have the physical likeness of their father, and they also have the corruption of his soul. That soul is still eternal, but lost without God as its life.
4. Adam died to God.
Read Genesis 3:2-8.
a) Adam was created to rule over all the earth, under God. He was to rule over himself. That is why God gave him an opportunity to disobey Him.
b) Adam did not rule. He gave up his authority to Satan, who is now the ruler of this world. (John 12:31 and Ephesians 2:2).
c) He felt guilty and tried to hide from God. So do his children. (verse 8 and John 3:20).
d) He knew guilt and shame (v.7). So do we.
e) Fellowship with God was broken. He was created to have fellowship with God, but now God had lost Adam.
f) We were created to have fellowship with God, but we continue to run from Him. He loves us but we do not want to know Him. We choose anything but God.
5. Adam's first child.
Read Genesis 4:1 and 8; Genesis 6:1, 5 & 6.
a) When Eve saw her first child, she said, "I have got a man from the Lord".
b) God had promised that her seed would bruise Satan's head (see Genesis 3:15). Perhaps this was the one who would deal with Satan?
c) No, he was not the one. He was a son of Adam. In fact, he murdered his own brother. How quickly sin grows when it is allowed.
d) The sad story continued, until soon God was sorry he had made man.
e) But that promise of God concerning the "seed of the woman" still remained, to be revealed thousands of years later. God had a plan to bring men and women back into fellowship with Himself.
f) Thank God, there is another "seed".
1. All flesh is like grass.
Read 1 Peter 1:23-25.
a) Our bodies must die because we are of the seed of Adam, the corruptible seed.
b) We may be clever, rich, or beautiful, but all our beauty, money and brains will fail one day.
| Illustration An intelligent young man had just passed his school exams. A wise man said to him, "Now, what will you do?" "Oh, sir, I will take higher examinations and I will pass them." "Good. Then what will you do?" "I will go to University." "Good. Then what will you do?" "I will get a good job with plenty of money." "Good. Then what will you do?" "I expect I will retire one day - with a good pension." "Good. Then what will you do?" "Well, I expect that one day I shall die." "Then what will you do?" |
c) Worldly ambition is empty. We need more than that.
2. Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God.
Read 1 Corinthians 15:50 and Ephesians 2:12.
a) Even if I pray and fast and give and try to make myself good through religion, I have no hope of entering the kingdom of God.
b) We are strangers to God, without hope and without God in this world.
c) This world will one day end and be replaced by the new heavens and the new earth. (2 Peter 3:10-13).
d) So, have we no hope? We do have hope, wonderful hope, in Jesus.
1. Another Seed.
Read (again) 1 Peter 1:23. John 1:14.
a) Who is this "incorruptible seed"?
b) He is Jesus, called the Word of God.
2. Not from Adam.
Read Genesis 3:15 and Luke 1:34-35, 37-38.
a) Mary was a virgin. God spoke to her and Jesus was conceived in her womb.
b) She heard God's word to her, and received that word. It was done. The life of the Son of God was in her womb.
c) With God nothing is impossible, Jesus is the seed that brings life.
d) Christ, the eternal Son, who was in the beginning with the Father, took on our flesh, and was born of Mary.
e) His Father is God, not Adam.
3. The second Adam (Christ).
Read 1 Corinthians 15:45-49.
a) In the eyes of God there are only two Adams.
b) God created the first Adam to fellowship with Himself, but he moved away from God.
c) Now God has another Adam.
d) The first Adam was made from the dust of the earth (verse 47).
e) The second Adam, Jesus, is from above. (See teacher's notes).
f) We bear the "image" of our father, the first Adam, but we can receive the heavenly "seed", the Lord Jesus, and be like Him!
g) This is the hope of the Christian.
4. The seed has been sown.
Read Luke 8:11-15 ; John 12:24.
a) Remember, Jesus is the Word of God. He is the seed.
b) He Himself had to fall into the ground and die, be buried and rise again before He could expect a harvest.
c) If a farmer refuses to plant his seed and lose it, he can expect no harvest. If there is no seed there is no life.
d) The gospel is the power of God to salvation for all who believe (Romans 1:16) and that power is the risen life of our Lord Jesus.
e) Many hear the word of God, but do not receive and keep it.
f) But some do. They receive the seed, hold it in their hearts, and, like Adam's seed, it brings forth fruit.
g) That fruit is like the seed. The fruit is like Jesus. The incorruptible seed gives birth to everlasting life. A different kind of life to that from Adam.
| Memory verse 1 Peter 1:23, "Having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides for ever". |
| Teacher's notes See A. 2(d). Adam was not an animal 1. An animal has a body and life. When it dies its body goes to dust and the life dies. 2. God made Adam in the likeness and image of God. Now God is Spirit (John 4:24). He does not have a body. So, how was Adam like God? Adam was created a spiritual being. He has an eternal soul. 3. Adam, and all who came out of Adam, that is Eve and all their children, have a body. That body is made to live on this earth and so is like some of the animals. The children of Adam and Eve also have an eternal soul. When the body dies, the soul does not die. It returns to God to give account. 4. An animal cannot sin. It is an animal. It does what it does by nature. It is not responsible for its actions. 5. Men and women are responsible for what they do. They were made in the image of God. God breathed of Himself into Adam. There is something of God in us all (see John 1:9). We can choose the way that we live - to obey God or disobey Him. We will be judged by God. 6. God loved Adam, and He still loves Adam's children. Why? Because Adam was made to be loved by God and to love God and obey Him. God does not love animals or trees like this, even though He created them all. He did not come to die to save animals, but the children of Adam. See C.3 (e) Jesus is "from above". 1. Jesus started His life on earth as a man when He was born of Mary. 2. But He is the eternal Son of God, who, together with the Father and the Holy Spirit, created all things. (see Colossians 1:15-17). He was in the beginning with God. (John 1:1-3) 3. When He came to earth, He put off all His power and glory as the Son of God, and truly lived as one of us, yet without sin. (see Philippians 2:5-8 and Hebrews 2:14-18) |
John the Apostle wrote to Christians. He gives us five very clear "tests" by which we can see if we have been truly born again of God. We find them all in his first letter. The first one is in 1 John 2:29.
1. God is righteous.
Read Deut. 32:4, Numbers 23:19.
a) God is always straight in all His dealings.
b) He does not twist or turn. There is no crookedness in Him.
c) He is righteous and everything He does is righteous.
d) He does not lie, and He always does what He says He will do.
2. God judges with righteousness.
Read 2 Chronicles 19:7 and Psalm 96:13.
a) We may not get justice in this world, but we can rest in the fact that we will get justice from God.
b) There is no partiality with God. (Acts 10:34). He does not look at position, nationality, beauty or brains.
c) He cannot be "bought." Some people who refuse to repent think they can buy favour by giving to a church or charity. They are mistaken.
3. Righteousness is the foundation of His throne (His rule).
Read Psalm 89:14-15.
a) This world seems to be ruled by people who are not righteous. "Politics" can be corrupt. Men in power make mistakes, twist and turn about.
b) It is good to remember that God reigns over all. One day everyone will stand before God and give account of their actions.
1. There is none righteous.
Read Romans 3:10,11.
a) If we are honest, we must admit that this is true.
b) Separated from God, Adam's children walk in all kinds of unrighteousness.
c) Nations spend much money on police, security, law courts and prisons.
d) War is another problem: soldiers, guns, atomic bombs.
e) All these things disclose the hearts of men and women.
2. Filthy rags.
Read Isaiah 64:6.
| Illustration A young prince went into a poor village and saw there a young woman whom he wanted to marry. She agreed and put on her best clothes to go with him to meet his family. She felt very well dressed in her village. They journeyed to the home of the prince, and the women servants took her to be washed and dressed for the wedding. All the people there were so well-dressed, so happy and so clean. She took off her clothes, and they washed her and dressed her in beautiful things. She looked then at her old clothes lying on the ground, and she saw that they were just filthy rags. |
a) That is how our righteousness will look in the light of heaven.
b) Adam and Eve knew they were naked after they had disobeyed God, so they covered themselves with leaves.
c) We try to cover ourselves with our own righteousness, because we are ashamed to let people know our true heart, so we say and do things that appear good.
d) If we are religious, we "say prayers", even teach or preach, but inside we are not right at all.
e) Other people despise "churchgoers" and say that they are as good, in fact better, than most Christians. They are proud that they are not really bad sinners. They are covering themselves with "filthy rags".
3. "I never knew you".
Read Matthew 7:22-23.
a) These people were very religious. They even cast out demons and prophesied in the name of Jesus.
b) But they had never come to Jesus Himself to be washed from their sin and made clean. There was no personal relationship with Him.
c) Verse 23. Not what we say but what we do. They did not practise righteousness.
1. It is not just avoiding some sins.
Read Luke 18:9-14.
a) This religious man did not do certain sins, and "trusted in himself that he was righteous".
b) It is not good to measure ourselves by other people.
Read 2 Corinthians 10:12.
c) We must measure ourselves by the Lord Jesus. He said "Be perfect, as your Father in heaven is perfect". (Matthew 5:48). Remember He was speaking to those who followed Him, not to the world.
d) Our God is not hard, He just wants the best for His children. Through new birth He makes it possible for them to be like Him.
2. It is to be absolutely straight and honest in everything.
Read 1 John 3:7 and 10.
a) If a person says he is a child of God, but tells lies, cheats and steals, then something is wrong.
b) A true Christian is like his Father. God does not lie; He is never devious. Neither is someone who is born of God.
3. It works through love.
Read again 1 John 3:10.
a) All of God's character works through love.
b) True righteousness brings peace of mind, and love and trust among brothers.
c) We obtain it from God by faith. (Read also Romans 10:3 and 4).
1. Not my own righteousness.
Read Philippians 3:8-9.
a) Paul wrote these words. He had been a Pharisee, tried to make himself righteous and failed.
b) Now he had found "the righteousness which comes from God by faith."
2. God's plan for Christians.
Read Isaiah 61:1-3.
a) This scripture is about the Lord Jesus.
b) He brought good news and freedom for those who were struggling to find God.
c) See verse 3. A tree is strong. It cannot just be pushed over. God wants to make you a tree of righteousness. And He is the planter.
d) The Seed is waiting to be received. Believe Him. Receive Him. A seed starts small, but grows into something big and strong.
3. Jesus Christ brings the righteousness of God into us.
Read Romans 3:21-11 and 1:16-17.
a) Peter preached, "Repent, believe in the Lord Jesus, and you shall receive the Holy Spirit."
b) When Jesus comes, by the Spirit of God, I am born of God from above, and the nature of my new Father becomes my nature.
c) All my struggling to be "good" is over. Jesus is the righteousness of God in me. I live His life by faith in Him.
| Memory verse 1 John 2:29 "If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who practises righteousness is born of Him." |
This is the second "test" by which we can know that we are born of God. We find it in
1 John 4:7.
1. God is love.
Read 1 John 4:7 and 8.
a) In the beginning was God; Father, Son and Holy Spirit. They live together in perfect love. Love holds together the Trinity.
b) At no time is this love changed or broken. It cannot be. God is love.
2. Man was created to be loved and to love.
Read Genesis 1:26 and 3:8,9.
a) God does not love an animal as He loves the children of Adam. Why?
b) Because God made Adam like Himself, capable of loving and of being loved as God loves. God breathed of Himself into Adam.
c) God made all things for this purpose - to have a man, then a people, that He could love.
d) Adam and Eve listened to Satan and so sin and death entered into them. They were "lost" to God. God called "Adam, where are you?" It was the cry of God's heart. It is still the cry of God's heart for Adam's children.
e) You were made to be the object of God's love, and to love Him. Do you satisfy His heart?
3. How much does God love us?
Read John 3:16.
a) The "world" here does not mean mountains and seas, but men and women made for God but who are now lost to Him.
b) It cost God the blood of His Son to buy you back from the power of Satan, but He felt it was worth it. That is how He loves you.
4. For the joy that was set before Him.
Read Hebrews 12:2.
| Illustration There was a chief who had a beautiful daughter. Many men wanted to marry her, but the chief said: "There is a very troublesome lion which is attacking our people. The man who kills this lion shall have my daughter." The men were afraid. This lion was clever and had killed many people. But one young man loved that girl so much that he was willing to risk death to get her as his wife, so he went after the lion. No other person went. He succeeded, and won his bride. |
a) This is how it was with Jesus and us. The cross was terrible, but He went for the joy of bringing us back to His Father.
b) God thinks we are worth the death of His beloved Son. That is how He loves.
1) He loved first.
Read Romans 5:8 and 10; Col. 1:21.
a) It is easy to love someone who loves you, but difficult to love someone who hates you.
b) God loved us even when we were still running away from Him and sinning against Him.
c) I was an enemy of God, but He loved me, died for me and made me His child.
2. Jesus loved His friends.
Read John 13:1; 15:13 and Luke 22:15.
a) Jesus had to go to the cross alone, but here we see that He needed to be with His own at this difficult time.
b) The Son of God, who with the Father created all things, needed the fellowship of these men.
c) We say, "How human He was!" but it is not like that. Humans can be hard and unloving. God cannot be hard and unloving.
d) Jesus even washed the feet of Judas. He truly loved him, even though Judas chose to go away from Him.
1. We are commanded to love God with all our being.
Read Matthew 22:35-38.
a) In fact this is the first and greatest commandment, and we know we have failed.
b) We need help to love like this, and God has sent help.
2. Love for God comes by the Holy Spirit.
Read Romans 5:5.
a) We cannot love by trying.
b) When the Holy Spirit comes and we are born from above, the love of God is poured out in our hearts. Even the ability to love is a gift from God.
3. What is this love like?
Read 1 Corinthians 13:4-7.
Beloved, let us love.
1. Loving our brothers and sisters in the Lord.
Read 1 John 2:9-11.
| Illustration A man (Peter) thinks that a brother in the church (Joseph) has wronged him. Perhaps Peter's wife likes Joseph, or perhaps Joseph has said untrue things against Peter. When Joseph comes into the meeting, Peter "curls up" inside. He does not hear the word of God, he cannot sing praises to God, and he cannot pray. He is no longer happy and free, because Joseph is sitting near and he hates him. |
a) The Bible is very clear. Hate towards a brother blinds our eyes towards God. We walk in darkness.
b) Read 1 John 1:6,7.
Many of us walk in darkness because we hate a brother or sister.
c) There is a way out of the darkness. Let your hatred go. Do not hold on to it. Confess it to God and let the light of Jesus come in again. Pray for that brother. Maybe he will repent - God is his judge anyway.
d) All our work for God is useless if we cannot love our brother. We walk in darkness.
3. Life or death.
Read 1 John 3:14-15.
a) Remember, God looks on the heart. Jesus said that out of the heart comes murder, adultery, and theft (Matt. 15:19).
b) The blood of Jesus can cleanse the heart, and the Holy Spirit comes to bring God's love in the place of hate and darkness and death.
4. Forgiveness.
Read Matthew 18:21-22 (The teacher should also read verses 23-35 and tell the story, if necessary).
a) Some people say "I cannot forgive". They mean "I will not forgive," and they make it difficult for God to bless them.
b) Some say they have forgiven, but they have not forgiven from the heart. They still hold unforgiveness there.
c) Allow God to cleanse you from hate, and receive the Spirit of love into your heart. It is not difficult to do that, and God will come to the forgiving heart.
5. Fellowship.
Read Ephesians 4:1-6.
a) The church is not an organisation made up of separate people who have decided to meet together. No, each member is "born from above" and takes his or her place in the body, which works by love. (See also Ephesians 4:15-16).
b) We are all born from the same Father, have the same Spirit, and worship the same Lord Jesus.
c) Jesus prayed for us all that we might be one, just as the Father and Jesus and the Spirit are one. They are one in love. We are one in love.
d) That is why we do love the brethren and are happy when we are together.
Memory verse
1 John 4:7, "Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God."
| Teacher's notes Fellowship with one another. Read 1 John 1:7. 1. God has called us into fellowship with all those who love Him. 2. It is not enough to be one with God, we are also one with others in Him, even those from other denominations who really love our Lord. John 17:20-21. 3. If we break that oneness by refusing to love, forgive or accept a brother or sister (unless he is a rebel living in deliberate sin) then we put ourselves out of the light of God. 4. One of Satan's most successful tricks is to cause problems between brothers and sisters in the church. Refuse Satan: love the brethren. Forgiveness. See Matthew 18:21-22, (also verses 23-35) and Mark 11:26. |
This is another "test" of new birth (1 John 5:1). Perhaps you will think that we do not need to teach it because we all know it. But we must understand the meaning of this statement. Our faith stands on this fact.
"You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
Read Matthew 16:13-18.
1. This statement of faith is the bedrock of Christianity. It is refused by all other religions.
2. Many religions include some of the teachings of Jesus. They revere Him as a good man and a good teacher. But when you declare that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, they will oppose you strongly.
3. Christians are invited to take part in "multi-faith" programmes, where people of different religions meet together. They will say that there are many ways to God.
4. But they do not honour Christ as the one sent from God. These people deny that He is the only way to God.
5. Satan knows that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, but he and the deceiving spirits in these other "faiths" try to keep Jesus from His place.
6. He is Christ, and those who are born of God know Him to be Christ to them. What does this name, Christ, really mean?
1. The Anointed One - Christ.
Read Psalm 2:1-4.
a) Christ means the Anointed One in Greek. Messiah is the same word in Hebrew. Anointed One, Christ, Messiah. It is the same word in different languages.
b) Psalm 2 is a wonderful song about God and His Anointed One.
c) The rulers of this world set themselves against God and His Christ (Anointed). They plan to break free, but God just laughs at all their raging and plans. (verses 3 and 4).
d) They must give honour to the Son, or perish. (verses 11 and 12).
e) Messiah (Christ) reigns over all. He is waiting until all His enemies become His footstool. (See Hebrews 10:13).
2. Many prophets foretold His coming.
Read Daniel 9:25-26.
a) The Jews had been expecting Christ for 400 years. They knew He was coming to save His people.
b) The prophets told that He would be despised and rejected by men. (The teacher should study Isaiah 53).
c) A foreign army, the Romans, conquered the Jews. They lost their independence and had to pay taxes to Caesar in Rome.
d) The Jews expected that Christ would come as a great political leader to set them free from the Romans.
3. Christ arrived.
Read Luke 2:10-12.
a) He came so quietly. No-one knew but Mary and Joseph.
b) God did not inform the wicked rulers or the religious leaders.
c) But angels announced His coming to a few shepherds in the fields.
d) He was the eternal Son of God, but became man to do His work.
e) He lived with His mother and her husband until the time came for His anointing and revealing to Israel.
1. Anointing.
Read 1 Samuel 16:13.
a) The people of Israel knew all about anointing. Here, Samuel was told by God to take oil and pour it on the head of David.
b) The oil is a picture of the Holy Spirit, whom God gave to David to enable him to do the work of being king over Israel.
c) The high priest was anointed. His anointing set him aside for the work of God.
d) The people knew that when God sent His Anointed (Christ), He would come to save His people and reign over them.
2. Jesus was anointed.
Read Mark 1:10-11.
a) God the Holy Spirit came on God the Son, approved by God the Father. These things we cannot fully understand. We can only believe and worship.
b) There was no oil. This was the reality, not the picture.
c) Now Jesus was directed by the Holy Spirit. (He had already emptied Himself of His own power as the Son of God - see Philippians 2:6-7).
3. He announced Himself in His own town.
Read Luke 4:16-21.
a) Jesus comes to His home town and is asked to read the Scriptures in the synagogue.
b) He reads the well-known passage from Isaiah 61:1-2, then tells the people that today they see the fulfilment of that prophecy.
c) He was claiming to be the Anointed One, Christ. His own people tried to kill Him (verse 29). If He was just a religious teacher, they would have been proud of Him, but they would not believe that He was the Christ.
4. Some followed Him, not many.
Read John 1:40-41, John 4:25-26, 29.
a) The rulers and religious leaders were expecting a political Christ, and they did not want this Man who challenged their own sinful hearts.
b) Jesus preached repentance and a new kind of life. They did not want to leave their sin. They wanted a leader who would give them what they wanted.
c) But a few men and women did follow Him and believed in Him.
1. The crowds left Him.
Read John 6:66-69.
a) Crowds of people came to be healed and to hear His preaching.
b) They wanted to make Him king after He fed them with bread and fish.
c) But they did not come to Him, they did not want to change their way of life to follow Him, and soon they lost interest.
2. The leaders had Him crucified.
Read John 15:18, Luke 23:35.
a) The prophets had said that all this would happen.
b) Those who refuse to receive Him as the Christ, crucify Him. Even today.
c) We like a little bit of religion, but we do not come to Him, and we turn our backs on His claims.
3. Jesus of Nazareth.
Read Luke 24:13-21 and 25-26.
a) These two people had followed Jesus. They had thought that He might be the Christ.
b) But now, Jesus had been crucified. They were disappointed. They called him "Jesus of Nazareth" - just a man, not the Christ.
c) Jesus explained the Scriptures to them and they now saw that Jesus really was the Christ who had power to save His people.
d) Many people love to hear about Jesus the Healer, Teacher, the Good Man. But it was Christ Jesus who was raised from the dead.
e) Do you know Him as the Christ, risen from the dead, and powerful today to lift you up with Himself? He is the risen Lord. Is He your Lord today?
4. Evil spirits and Christ.
Read Luke 4:41.
a) Yes, evil spirits know about the Christ. Demons believe in God, and tremble. (James 2:19).
b) But they do not put their trust in Him. They cannot. They cannot be saved.
c) Jesus did not want the testimony of demons, and He silenced them.
1. We need Him.
Read again Luke 4:18.
a) Are you poor in Spirit? That means, Do you know that you have no strength to lift up yourself? Christ has come to lift you up.
b) Are you a captive to sinful habits? He will set you free.
c) Are you blind to the things of God? Christ has come to open your eyes.
d) Are you oppressed (trodden under the feet of Satan)? Christ Jesus has defeated Satan on the cross, and gives you freedom from Satan's power.
e) All this is the work of the Christ.
2. How does He do these things for me?
By resurrection from the dead.
Read Ephesians 2:4-7.
a) Christ is risen, and that is not the end of the story.
b) He raises us from our dead condition, and makes us to sit in heavenly places in Christ, now.
3. The "world" still refuses God's Christ.
Read John 15:18-19.
a) They acknowledge Jesus, the nice healer.
b) But they show by the things that they do that they refuse the One anointed by God to be Lord over all.
c) This world refuses to worship Jesus as the Christ of God.
4. This knowledge comes by revelation.
Read Matthew 16:13-17.
a) As we follow the Lord Jesus and obey Him, God will show these things to us.
b) Understanding comes from the Holy Spirit.
c) That is why whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God. (1 John 5:1 again).
| Memory verse 1 Peter 1:3, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead." |
| Teacher's notes See D1. The crowds left Him. 1. Many people will follow you if they see healings and miracles. They followed Jesus for these things. 2. When He provided them with food (because He loved them) they wanted to make Him king - a political leader. 3. But Jesus knows the hearts of men and women, and if we are wise, so do we. (See John 2:23-25). 4. Do not look to people. They will disappoint you. 5. Jesus calls people to Himself. If they do not want Him, He will not offer them anything else. (See Matthew 13:10-12). The crowds had seen and heard Him, but He revealed more truth only to those who came to Himself. 6. Preach Jesus, not politics, promises, or even miracles. Some may leave your church. Let them go. Jesus did. The anointing. 1. It was Aaron, the High Priest, who was anointed. This was a picture of Jesus, our great High Priest who was to come. 2. Read Psalm 133. This is a song about unity. In three verses God shows us the secret. 3. The anointing is on the head of the church, our Lord Jesus. We are His body. As we remain in Christ we are covered by His anointing, together. 4. John writes about the anointing in his letter (1 John 2:20 and 27), and confirms this. |
This is another "test" we can use to see if we are truly born of God.
Read 1 John 5:4.
1. Satan is the ruler of this world.
Read John 12:31.
a) The Bible says that Satan is the ruler of this world, and we can see that this is the case.
b) We see injustice. The poor are pushed down while wicked men get rich. People fight for a high position, and fight again to keep their position.
c) Money is more important than people. Some even kill to get it.
d) There is no kindness or mercy in "the world", that system of commerce and government which holds power today.
| Illustration 1 An honest man applied for a job as manager of a big company. He was refused, not because he could not do the job well, but because the company did not want an honest man in that position. They chose a man who could lie and trick people. This is a true story. You will know others. Illustration 2 A young woman was the secretary of a government officer, but she lost her job because she would not sleep with the man. |
2. How did Satan become the ruler of this world?
Read Genesis 1:27-28.
a) God made Adam to rule over the earth and himself (He was given the chance to disobey God in the matter of the tree.)
b) Adam disobeyed God, so sin entered into the world. Satan now rules in Adam's children. (Teacher see Romans 5:12 and Ephesians 2:2-3).
c) Satan could offer to Jesus all the kingdoms of this world. They were his to offer, but Jesus would not bow down to Satan.
3. This world is passing away.
Read 1 Peter 1:24 and James 1:9-11.
a) Nothing that this world gives can remain.
b) A man comes to old age. Where is his strength, wisdom, wealth? He is soon forgotten.
c) God has a kingdom which is eternal and real, but "unless a man be born again," he cannot see this kingdom.
d) Satan knows that his power will soon be gone, together with the kingdoms of this world. He knows he has no future, but spends his time deceiving men and women.
1. The world hates a true Christian.
Read John 15:18-29.
a) The rulers of this world refused Jesus. They hated Him and put Him to death.
b) Jesus said that the world will hate His followers.
c) Jesus did not pray for "the world" (see John 17:9) but He prays for us.
Note: God loved the world. That means He loves the men and women in it and calls them to come to Himself. Those who choose to stay with the world, will perish with it.
2. We must live in this world.
Read John 17:14-18.
a) Some people try to escape the temptations of this world by living far from wicked people. This is not God's way with us.
b) Jesus is able to keep us clean and holy while we live among unclean and unholy people.
c) How can He do that? He gives us His word to keep us straight (verse 14).
d) He even sends us into the world to preach the gospel, but we are no longer part of the world.
3. We are called out.
Read 1 Corinthians 1:9 and 1 Peter 2:9.
a) God is calling a people out of this world who will love and obey Him.
b) Christians are in this world, but not part of it.
c) We are to live peaceably and obey the laws of our country, but our hearts and our loyalty are to God.
d) When Jesus came, He came as King with a kingdom, and He calls men and women to leave Satan's kingdom and come into the kingdom of God.
e) His kingdom is not of this world (John 18:36) but the kingdom of God is here among us in those who love Him. (Hebrews 12:28).
1. Demas.
Read 2 Timothy 4:10.
a) Demas was a man who responded to the gospel and followed God together with Paul. He is mentioned as one of Paul's helpers.
b) But now, he had turned away from Paul and from God, because he loved this present world.
c) Satan will try to pull us away by offering us the good things of this world, and he often succeeds in wooing away men and women who should not have been deceived by him.
2. How does the world tempt us?
Read 1 John 2:15-17.
a) By the lust of the flesh (verse 16). There is nothing wrong with a healthy appetite for good food and to enjoy loving our wife/husband, but these appetites become lusts if we allow them to rule us. Then we are just like the world. (Sometimes we need to get out of a difficult situation. See 2 Tim. 2:22.)
b) The lust of the eyes. Things we can see seem very important. We want what our neighbour has. Be careful, God wants to give you something better. All these things will vanish away. The things of God will last for ever.
c) The pride of life. Do you have an ambition to rise high in this world? Do you push your children to "get on" on this world? Does your position make you look down on other people? Jesus made Himself of no reputation (Philippians 2:9), therefore God highly exalted Him. Leave your position to God, and do not fight for one here.
1. This is the victory.
Read again: 1 John 5:4-5 and 1 Corinthians 15:57.
a) Faith is the victory. But what is faith? Faith is not something you carry in your pocket when you go to church. Faith is something you do because you believe in something or someone.
b) I can have faith in this world, believing that the world will give me everything I want. I can look for position, wealth and power, but this world will fail me.
c) Or, I can have faith in the Lord Jesus to save me and give me eternal life, and He will also give me all I need in this world. (Matthew 6:33).
d) It is faith in Jesus Christ that gives us the victory over Satan and this world. Because He overcame, we overcome.
Memory verse
1 John 5:4, "Whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world - our faith."
| Teacher's notes The world in our church? 1. Rich or poor people. See James 2:1-8. We must not value people as the world values people. God is not impressed by riches. Every soul has the price of the blood of His Son, no more and no less. 2. Wise or simple people. See 1 Corinthians 1:26-29. God has chosen the foolish and despised of this world. Often he chooses a simple, uneducated person to bring the word of God to His people. We must not despise what God has chosen. |
We saw from last lesson that Christians are in the world but do not belong to it. Let us continue...
1. Who is the enemy?
Read Ephesians 6:12; Ephesians 2:1-2.
a) We do not fight against people, but against the spiritual powers that rule these people.
b) At one time we also were ruled by Satan and his evil spirits, but we have been set free from Satan's power, and been joined to the Lord Jesus.
2. What are our weapons?
Read 2 Corinthians 10:3-4.
a) We do not fight with guns or knives. Remember spirits are the enemy and they laugh at such things.
b) We do not fight with politics. Some Christians have tried to do so, but these are the ways of the world, not of God, and the enemy laughs again.
c) Our weapons are truth, righteousness, faith, the word of God, and prayer. (Teacher see Ephesians 6:14-18). When Christians pray, Satan and his armies tremble. He will stop you praying if he can.
3. We do not even need to fight, we STAND.
Read Colossians 2:15 and Ephesians 6:13-14.
a) This battle has already been won. On the cross, Jesus "disarmed principalities and powers, made a public spectacle of them and triumphed over them." What a victory!
b) They know they have been defeated, but they still deceive people into believing that they have power over them.
c) We are to stand - that is all. Satan cannot get to a Christian who arms himself with truth, righteousness, faith and the word of God. And when we pray, he gets out.
4. He that is in you is greater.
Read 1 John 4:1-4.
a) Very clever lying spirits are in the world, and even false prophets. How can we know or stand against these?
b) Here is the word of God: "He that is in you is greater than he that is in the world."
| Illustration A young man received Jesus in a town in Cameroon. When he returned to his village, his mother did not like it when he talked about Jesus, so she tricked him. She took him to see a "healer" who was a great sorcerer. While they waited with other people to see him, the sorcerer sent a message from his room, "Take that boy away! What is in him is too strong for me." You see, the Spirit of God was in that boy and the devils were afraid. They know they are defeated. |
c) When you are born of the Spirit of God, you know. Maybe you cannot reply to clever arguments, but you know the spirit, whether it is of God or not.
1. Adam and Eve failed to overcome.
Read Genesis 3:6.
a) They saw the tree was good for food - this is the lust of the flesh. (Remember last lesson?)
b) They saw that it was pleasant to the eyes - this is the lust of the eyes.
c) It was desirable to make them wise - this is the pride of life.
d) Adam was not deceived (1 Tim. 2:14), he opened the door to Satan.
2. Jesus overcame.
Read John 6:33; Matthew 4:1-10.
a) Jesus was hungry but He refused to use His power to satisfy His body. (He was not caught by the lust of the flesh).
b) He refused to do a spectacular miracle to make people believe in Him. (He refused to put on a show for the eyes of this world).
c) Satan offered Jesus the kingdoms of this world. He would have power to make them believe and follow Him - without going to the cross. Political power under Satan - the pride of life. Jesus refused it and went the way His Father wanted.
d) He went on to completely defeat Satan on the cross. He was obedient to His Father. Read Philippians 2:8-10. Hallelujah! Jesus overcame!
1. Can a Christian be an enemy of God?
Read James 4:1-5.
a) These words were written to Christians, but it seems that they were having big problems.
b) They were trying to please themselves with the pleasures of this world, and so received nothing from God. (verses 2 and 3).
c) God was jealous. They were like an unfaithful wife, who went after other men but called herself by her husband's name.
d) They made themselves enemies of the God who loved them. He could not bless them.
e) Remember, we are to be friendly to people, but not to the world system that rules so many.
2. The god of this world.
Read 2 Corinthians 4:3-4.
a) How does Satan, the god of this world, blind people's eyes? Easily. He just tempts them with the good things of this world - a good job, power, riches, promotion, nice things, harlots.
b) He is like a fisherman who uses bait to catch the fish. The fish goes for the bait, and is caught.
c) How can these people be saved? They need prayer. (See Matthew 19:23-26).
3. Advice for Christians who have failed to overcome.
Read James 4:7-8.
a) If we have been caught in the trap of pleasing this world, then we must come to God and repent of it.
b) Let us not be "double-minded" but set our hearts on the things of God and turn our backs on the attractions of this world. (verse 8).
c) There will be those who laugh now, but it is God who gives real joy and pleasures that last for ever. (verse 9).
d) He will lift us up. (verse 10). We will begin to be overcomers.
3. Friends of Jesus.
Read John 15:18.
a) This world did not give honour to Jesus. He was despised and rejected.
b) If you are a true follower of Him, you too will be despised and rejected by those who reject Jesus. Are you willing for this, or will you be a Christian in name only?
c) Jesus did not look for honour from men. (See John 5:41 and 44). If we keep trying to please other people, we shall find ourselves far from God.
Read Revelation 12:10-11.
1. By the blood of the Lamb.
a) The Lamb is the name showing the meekness of the Lord Jesus as He went to the cross. His blood is His life poured out.
b) It is this same life in those born of Him that overcomes. "Not by might, nor by power but by My Spirit, says the Lord." (Zachariah 4:6).
c) In this world, Paul says, "we are like lambs led to the slaughter", but we are "more than conquerors". Read Romans 8:36-37.
2. By the word of their testimony.
a) We can live a good life and still be accepted by the world. But if we testify that it is Jesus who keeps us clean, then people will not like it.
b) This is not just a "testimony" as to how we got saved, or how God answered prayer, but to testify that Jesus is my Lord in everything. That is the word that people do not want to hear.
3. They loved not their lives to the death.
a) Not many Christians are called on to die for the Lord Jesus, but some are.
b) You can be sure that God will not call on you to give your life for Him until you have already given everything else to Him.
c) Paul said that he died daily. (1 Corinthians 15:31). He meant that he lived dead to this world but alive to God. (Romans 6:11).
Read Revelation 2:7 and Revelation 21:7. (The teacher should also read: Revelation 2:11, 17,26; 3:5, 12, 21).
How do I overcome the world?
1. Be born from above by the Spirit of God. (1 John 5:4 again).
2. Have faith in Him to give you the victory. Amen!
| Memory verse John 15:18-19, "If the world hates you, you know that it hated me before you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of this world, but I chose you out of this world, therefore the world hates you." |
This is the last of the five "tests" in 1 John. Does the Bible really say that he that is born of God does not sin? It does. This is a difficult scripture, but let us see what John is saying here.
1. The practice of sin.
Read 1 John 3:9 and 10.
a) John is not saying that a believer never sins. That is obviously not true. (1 John 1:8).
b) He is saying that the life of God in me cannot sin. But, because that life is in my body, we know that it is possible for me to sin.
c) However, if a person says he is a Christian, and continues to practise sin, that is, he habitually sins, then something is wrong. We must doubt that the person is born of God.
| Illustration A group of men who called themselves Christian leaders asked a man of God to come and teach them. They did not know much about the Christian faith. As they were taught, they realised that a Christian was expected not to get drunk every Saturday evening and not to go along with a prostitute. They were not pleased. They said, "Your religion is too hard. We will go back to our old religion. Then we can do these things." |
d) A person who makes a habit of sin is not born of God.
2. Unintended sin.
Read 1 John 1:9.
a) Under the laws of Moses (the Old Covenant) there was no sacrifice for deliberate, intended sin. If a person sinned wilfully, then he must take his punishment, usually death.
b) But we are in the flesh, and sometimes we fail. We are unloving, or get angry and shout at people, or allow bad thoughts to take over our mind. We are truly sorry. Our fellowship with God is broken.
c) Take heart. Come immediately to God and confess your failure. You need not always confess to men, just to God. He will forgive and cleanse you again.
d) It is the blood of Jesus that makes me clean and keeps me clean.
e) My sin was like an accident, something unusual, not a habit.
| Illustration When a child is learning to walk, he often falls, but he does not stay down. He gets up again and again, and keeps going. Soon he is walking with few falls. So it is with a Christian. |
f) If you must come week after week for years, repenting of the same sin, then something is wrong. Maybe you have not left that sin behind. You need to come to Jesus and receive the victory over it.
3. He keeps himself.
Read 1 John 5:18.
a) Temptation will certainly come to us, but we can resist it. When we are born of God we can keep ourselves.
b) Satan cannot touch us. Satan can tempt us and he can try to make us fear him. He "goes about like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour". But he is a lion whose teeth and claws have been removed.
c) We are to resist him. Read 1 Peter 5:8-9.
d) We run to our great Shepherd, the Lord Jesus, "who is able to keep us from falling and to present us faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy". (See Jude 24).
1. The seed of God.
Read again: 1 John 3:9.
a) God does not beget faulty, sinful children.
b) The "seed" of God is holy, clean and pure.
c) When God comes to live in me by His Spirit, He puts His seed in me. (Teacher's note: This seed is sometimes called the Lord Jesus or the Spirit of God, or the Spirit of Jesus. He is God in us. Galatians 3:16.)
d) God Himself comes to live in me. God cannot sin, and God lives in me.
2. Earthen pots.
Read 2 Corinthians 4:7.
a) Paul gives us this picture. I am just like a pot made of earth, but now that God has come to live in me, I have a treasure inside!
b) The treasure is perfect: I need to be changed from day to day to be like Him. Old habits do not die easily, but they must die, and be replaced by the new life.
3. The seed must grow.
Read Ephesians 4:13-15.
a) God comes to us as a seed. We are not changed instantly overnight!
b) The seed must grow. We must allow it to grow.
c) Our "flesh", that is our body with its earthly appetites, pride, etc., must stand back and allow the life in us to grow - to perfection.
d) We cannot, by our own efforts, make ourselves clean and holy, but the life in us which cannot sin will change us to be like Him.
4. I am not yet perfect.
Read Philippians 3:12.
No, but, like that child learning to walk, we make it our aim to be like Him.
The evidence that a person is born of God.
1. He lives righteously.
2. He loves God and his brothers and sisters.
3. He has faith in Jesus as the One anointed by God to set him free.
4. He overcomes the world - he has victory over sin and Satan.
5. He does not make a habit of sin.
a) We can see that all these things are practical - not just words or "religion".
b) We are not to look at other people, but in our own hearts to find out if we are truly born of God.
c) If we are not, then we can be. Jesus said that God will give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him. Ask and you will receive. God does not lie. Luke 11:13.
| Memory verse 1 John 3:7 and 9, "Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practises righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him, and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God." |