LES 1 - GOD

0064 - Afrikaans

Les I - GOD


Vraag 1. Wie is God?

Antwoord. God is die Skepper van hemel en aarde, en alles wat daerin is, insluitend die mens. Genesis 1 en 2.

Vraag 2. Watter vorm het God?

Antwoord. God is Gees. Johannes 4:24


Vraag 3. Wanneer het God begin?

Antwoord. Hy het geen begin. Hy was altyd daar en sal a. wees, "Van ewigheid tot ewigheid is U God." Psalms 90:2.

Vraag 4. Hoeveel Gode is daar?

Antwoord. Daar is een God. Efesiërs 4:6.

Vraag 5. Waar is God vandag?

Antwoord. Sy woning is in die hemel. Mattheus 6:9, maar Hy is ook alomteenwoordig _ beteken teenwoordig enige plek. Psalms 139:7,10.

Vraag 6. Hoe het God Homself aan Sy skepping openbaar?

Antwoord. As 'n Vader in die Aartsvaderlike dispensasie; as 'n Seurv. die Joodse; en as die Heilige Gees in die Christen.

Vraag 7. Wat was die "Aartvaderlike Dispensasie"?

Antwoord. Daardie tydperk van tyd begin van die skepping, Genesis 1, en end met die roeping van Abram, Genesis 12.



Vraag 8. Wat was die "Joodse Dispensasie"?

Antwoord. Daardie tydperk van tyd van die roeping van Abram, Genesis 12, tot Pinksterfees, A. D. 30, Hand. van die Apostels 2.

Vraag 9. Wat is die "Christen Dispensasie"?

Antwoord. Daardie tydperk van tyd van Pinksterfees, A.D. 30, Hand. 2, tot die tweede koms van Jesus Christus.

Vraag 10. By watter name was God se skepping bekend in die Aartvaderlike Dispensasie?

Antwoord. "Seuns van God" Genesis 6:2.

Vraag 11. By watter naam was God se gekiesde mense genoem in die Joodse Dispensasie?

Antwoord. Hebreërs. Genesis 40:15.

Vraag 12. By watter naam word hulle genoem in die Christen Dispensasie?

Antwoord. Christene. Hand. 11:26.

Vraag 13. Wat was die krisis gebeurtenis in elk van die drie dispensasies?

Antwoord. Eerste _ die val van die mens; tweedens _ die koms van Christus om die mens vry te koop; en derdens _ finale bevryding.

Vraag 14. Wat was God se doel in openbaring Homself aan Sy Skepping.

Antwoord. Eerste _ as 'n Vader om te sorg vir hulle; tweedens _ as n Seun om hulle te red; en derde _ as die Heilige Gees om hulle te lei.

Vraag 15. Wie is die Heilige Gees?

Antwoord. Die Heilige Gees word genoem die "Trooster". Johannes 15:26; 16:7. Ook 'n Gawe wat jy by die doop ontvang. Hand. 2:38.

Les II - DIE BYBEL

Vraag 1. Wat is die Swaard van die Gees?

Antwoord. Die woord van God. Efesiërs 6:17.

Vraag 2. Is dit belangrik vir jou om die Bybel te studeer? Antwoord. "Ja". II Timotheus 2:15.

Vraag 3. Hoeveel boeke is daar in die Bybel?

Antwoord. Ses en sestig.

Vraag 4. Hoeveel hoof afdeling is daar in die Boek? Antwoord. Twee.

Vraag 5. Wat word hulle genoem7

Antwoord. Die Ou Verbond of Ou Testament en ~f Nuwe Testament.

Vraag 6. Hoeveel afdelings in elk van die twee hoof sfdelings7 Antwoord. Vier. Hulle is: in die Ou Testament _ Wet, Gieskiedenis, Godsdiens, en Profesie; en in die Nuwe Testament _ Biografie, Geskiedenis, Apostles en Profesie.

Vraag 7. Wat vind ons in die Ou Testament?

Antwoord. Skepping (Genesis 1 en 3), Die Val van die mens (Genesis 2 en 3), die Roeping van Abram (Genesis 12), die Geskiedenis van die Hebreërse mense en die Profesies aangaande hulle, en die Hebeërse gesangboek.

Vraag 8. Wat vind jy in die Nuwe Tastamsnt?

Antwoord. Die Evangelies of biografie van Christus, die stigting van die kerk (Hand. 2), die Geskiedenis van die kerk (Hand. van die Apostels), Briewe aan kerke en indiwudue, en Profesies aangaande die koninkryk.

Vraag 9. Onder watter Verbond lewe ons vandag?

Antwoord. Die Nuwe Verbond of die Nuwe Testament.

Vraag 10. Wat openbaar die Nuwe Testament aan ons7 Antwoord. Feite om te glo. Opdragte word gehoorsaam moet word; waarskuwings wat op gelet moet word; en Belofites wat geniet moet word.

Vraag 11. Wat moet ons met die Bybel doen?

Antwoord. Dit lees; dit studeer; dit onderdan; dit aangee.

Les I I I - SONDE

Vraag 1. Wat is sonde?

AntWoord. Sonde is 'n oortreding van die wet I Johannes 3:4; 5:17; Rorneine 14:23; Jakobus 4:17.

Vraag 2. Wanneer het sonde begin?

Antwoord. Die eerste sonde was gepleeg van Eden. Genesis 3:1_8.

Vraag 3. Wie het sonde gepleag?

Antwoord. Almal wat by die ouderdom van toeberekenheid is Rom. 3:10,23.

Vraag 4. Wat is die gevolge van sonde?

Antwoord. Dood en vervreemding van God. 1:21; Efesieërs

Vraag 5. Hoeveel soorte sonde is daar?

Antwoord. Daar is twee soorte sonde _ opsetlike en onopsetlike. I Johannes 1:10; 5:18.

Vraag 6. Hoe is ons bevry van sonde?

Antwoord. Deur die bloed van Jesus Christus. I Johannes 1:7

Vraag 7. Wie kan sonde vergewe?

Antwoord. Geen mense kan sonde vergewe nie. Christus alleen het die krag en dit is aan Hom gegee deur die Vader, Mattheüs 9:6, I Johannes 1:9.

Vraag 8. Wie oortuig ons van sonde?

Antwoord. Die Heilig Gees deur die Woord van God. Johannes 16:8_11.

Vraag 9. As ons sondig na ons 'n Christen geword het, wat moet ons doen om vergewe te word?

Antwoord. Eers moet ons ons sonde belei aan Christus en deur gebed, vra Sy vergifnis. Dan met die hulp van Sy krag moet ons strewe om nie meer te sondig nie. Hand. 8:22.

Vraag 10. Wat is die straf vir sonde?

Antwoord. Eerste, dood en tweedens, ewige veroordeling. Mattheüs 25; II Petrus 2:9; Openbaring 21:8.

Les IV - REDDING

Vraag 1. As "die loon van die Sonde is die dood.en genade gawe van God is die ewige lewe", hoe verkry ons die gawe?

Antwoord. Deur Jesus Christus onse Redder. Johannes 3:16; Romeine 6:23.

Vraag 2. Hoe is ons gered?

Antwoord. Ons is gered deur genade. Efesiërs 2:8

Vraag 3. Wat is dia betekenis van "genade"?

Antwoord. Guns. Die guns wat God aan ons verleen om ons die reg te gee om verlos te word.

Vraag 4. Hoeveel dele is daar in redding?

Antwoord. Daar is twee dele, God se deel en die mens se deel.

God se deel is volledig want Hy het in Christus die wêreld met Homself versoen (II Kor. 5:19). Die mens se deel word bepaal aan die aanneming van God en gehoorsaamheid aan die opdragte van die Here. Mark 16:16.

Vraag 5. Wat is die mens se deel in redding?

Antwoord. 'n Mens moet hoor of luister of ag gee aan God se Woord. Rom. 10:17.

Vraag 6. Wat kom deur gehoor?

Antwoord. Geloof.

Vraag 7. Is geloof noodsaaklik?

Antwoord. Ja. Hereërs 11:6.

Vraag 8. Wat is geloof?

Antwoord. Dit word genoem die "vaste vertroue op die dinge wat ons hoop, 'n bewys van die dinge wat ons nie sien nie." Heb. 11:1. Dit kan wees om in God te glo in alles wat Hy sê in Sy Boek oor al die onderwerpe wat daarin bespreek word.

Vraag 9. Wat moat ons glo om hierdie toestand van redding te verkry?

Antwoord. Ons moet glo dat Jesus is die Christus, die Seun van die lewende God. Mattheus.l6:16_18; Hand. 8:37.

Vrsag 10. Wat is die volgende trap na geloof?

Antwoord. Besluit om om te draai, om onsself te bevry van sonde en om nie meer langer in die ou paaie te wandel nie; dit word genoem bekering. Dit meen verander van die paaie van sonde na die paaie van geregtigheid. Lukas 13:3; Hand. 2:38

Vraag 11. Wat moet ons daarna doen?

Antwoord. Bely onse geloof in Christus. Mattheüs 10:32; Romeine 10:9,10.

Vraag 12. Wat bely ons?

Antwoord. Ons, se geloof in Jesus Christus as die Seun van die lewende God en in hierdie Belydenis_herken ons Hom as Verlosser en Here. Matheus 16:16.

Vraag 13. Wat is die volgende trsp?

Antwoord. Ons moet gedoop word tot vergifnis van onse sonde, want ons word so beveel in God se Woord. Hand. 2:38; 10:48; 22:16; Rom. 6:3,4; Galasiërs 3:27.

Vraag 14. Wat word doop genoem in die Nuwe Testament?

Antwoord. Dit word genoem 'n dood, begrafnis en opwekking, Rom. 6:3,4; saamgegroei Rom. 6:5; 'n geboorte in Johannes 3:5 en in afwas in Hand. 22:16.

Vraag 15. Wat is Christen Doop dan?

Antwoord. Die begrafnis van 'n Goetvaardige gelowige in water deur die gesag van Jesus Christus, in die naam van die Vader en van die Seun en van die Heilige Gees tot vergewing van sonde. Matthëus 28:19.

Vraag 16. Wanneer hierdie vernasmste stappe van gehoorsaamheid voltooi is, by watter naam is ons bekend?

Antwoord. Christen. Hand. 11:26.

Les V - DIE KERK

Vraag 1. Wie is die lede van die Kerk?

Antwoord. Die gereddes., Hand. 2:47.

Vraag 2. Wat word die Kerk genoem?

Antwoord. Die Liggaam van Christus. Efesiërs 5:23; Kol. 1:18. Die Griekse woord "Ecclesia," beteken die uitgeroepdes, sal aandui dat die kerk die liggaam van gedoopte gelowiges is geroep uit die wêreld na 'n lewe van geregtigheid.

Vraag 3. Wanneer was die Kerk gestig?

Antwoord. Op die eerste Pinksterfees na die opstanding van Christus, A.D. 30. Hand. 2.

Vraag 4. Watter naam moet die Kerk dra?

Antwoord. Die Gemeente. Filippense 3:6. Die Gemeente van Christus. Rom. 16:16; Matt. 16:18; Gemeente van God. I Kor. 1:2.

Vraag 5. Wat moet die Gemeente doen?

Antwoord. Die wil van die Hoof, naamlik Christus. Kol. 1:18.

Vraag 6. Wat is die wil van Christus?

Antwoord. Dat almal gered moet wees en dat Sy dissipels een moet wees. Matt. 28:18_20; Johannes 17; II Pet. 3:9.

Vraag 7. Hoeveel Gemeentes moet daar wees?

Antwoord. Een want daar is net een Christus en Hy is die Hoof van die Gemeente wat Sy liggaam is, natuurlik dan moet daar net een Kerk wees. Efesiërs 4. Verdeeldheid is afgekeur in I Kor. 3.

Vraag 8. Wie se mag is die grootste in die Gemeente?

Antwoord. Christus s'n. Mattheüs 28:18.

Vraag 9. Is dit noodsaaklik vir die Gemeente om elke week bymekaar te kom?

Antwoord. Ja. Heb. 10:19_25.

Vraag 10. Waarom moet die Gemeente bymekaar kom? Antwoord. Om die Here Jesus en Sy gebooie te onthou, en om so te doen die voorbeeld te volg van die Nuwe Testament Gemeente wat "volhard het in die leer van die Apostels en in die gemeenskap, en in die breking van die brood en in die gebede." Hand. 2:42. Dit vorm wat ons noem aanbidding.

Vraag 11. Wat is die middelpunt van onse aanbidding? Antwoord. Die Heer se Tafel wat elke eerste dag van die week voor berei word. Hand. 20:7.



LES VI - DIE HEER SE NAGMAAL

Vraag 1. Wat is twee wette van Christis?

Antwoord. Christen Doop en die Heer se Nagmaal, somtyds genoem die Nagmaal Diens.

Vraag 2. Wat is die Here se Nagmaal?

Antwoord. 'n Tafel belaai met twee elemente, naamlik, ongesuurde brood en ongegisde sap van die druif; wat genoem die vrug van die wynstok. I Kor. 11:23_29.

Vraag 3. Wie het hierdie nagmaal ingestel?

Antwoord. Christis op die nag van Sy verraad. 1 Kor. 11:17_34; Mat. 26:26_30.

Vraag 4. Wat stel die twee elemente voor?

Antwoord. Die brood stel Sy gebroke liggaam en die vrug van die wynstok, Sy gestorte bloed voor.

Vraag 5. Hoe belangrik is hierdie Heer se Nagmaal?

Antwoord. Jesus sê in Johannes 6:52_59. Voorwaar, voorwaar Ek sê vir julle as julle nie die vlees van die Seun van die mens eet en Sy bloed drink nie, het julle geen lewe in julle self nie. Ons ewige lewe en opstanding hangaf aan ons eet en drink van die maal.

Vraag 6. Hoe dikwels moet ons deel neem aan hierdie? Antwoord. Ons moet deel neem elke keer die tafel berei word, menslik moontlik.

Vraag 7. Watter ander voordele is daar in die Nagmaal diens?

Antwoord. Ons herinner die Heer se dood tot Hy weer kom. I Kor. 11:26. Apart hiervan is daar ook die gemeenskap wat ons met mekaar het en die gemeenskap wat ons met God het.

Vraag 8. Wie word toegelaat om rondom die tafel te wees? Antwoord. Dit is Christus se tafel, ons kan ook nie nooi ook nie verhinder.

Vraag 9. Wat as ons op 'n onwaardige manier deelneem? Antwoord. Ons sal skuldig wees aan die dood van ons Here 1Kor. 11:27.

Vraag 10. Hoe kan ons weghou om in 'n onwaardige manier deel te neem?

Antwoord. Om ons self voor te berei, wat beteken om te doen wat Paulus voorstel in I Kor. 11:27_29 en deur 'n goeie Christen lewe te leef so naby as wat menslik moontiik is.

Les VII - BESTIERDERSKAP

Vraag 1. Wat bedoei ons met Bestierderskap?

Antwoord. Die lewe van ons lewe vir Christus wat bedoel dat alles wat ons is en het en hoop om te wees is Syne. Ons lewe vir en met Hom. Gal. 2:20.

Vraag 2. Hoe veel van ons tyd benodig die Here?

Antwoord. AI ons tyd behoort aan Hom, maar spesieklik met ons Hom die Here se Dag gee.

Vraag 3. Wat van ons talente?

Antwoord. Al ons talente is ook Syne en ons word verplig om dit te gebruik vir Sy glorie. Rom. 12:1,2; I Kor. 6:20; Kol. 3:17.

Vraag 4. Hoeveel van ons geld behoort aan Hom?

Antwoord. Ons is Sy bedienaars. Ons het geen geld van ons eie nie, Hy laat ons toe as bedienaars om die groter aandeel te gebruik wat ons gemaak het maar Hy verwag Sy deel. I Kor. 4:2; Mal. 3:10.

Vraag 5. Wat was die Joodse standard van gawe?

Antwoord. Tiendes en offergawes.

Vraag 6. Wat is die Christen standard?

Antwoord. Alles. Dit moet meer as die Jode wees, want God het alles gedoen vir ons.

Vraag 7. Vir watter doel moet ons onse tyd, talente, geld en onw lewe gebruik?

Antwoord: Om Christus te verheerlik, om onsself te red en om andere te red by die huis en buitelands. Rom. 12:1,2; I Kor. 6:19,20.

Vraag 8. Sal ons moet rekenskap gee vir ons bedienaarskap?

Antwoord. Mees ongetwyfeld. I Kor. 4:2.

Vraag 9. Wat sal gebeur as ons ontroubare bedienaars was?

Antwoord. Ons word geleer dat die ontroubare bedienaar sal verwerp word deur sy Heer. Lukas 16:1_13.

Vraag 10. Wat as ons troubare bedienaars is?

Antwoord. Matthes 25:14_30.

LES VIII - CHRISTENLIKE LEWE

Vraag 1. Is dit noodsaaklik vir ons om te groei as Christene?

Antwoord. Ja. II Petrus 1:5_11

.

Vraag 2. Noem die sewe genades wat ons die meeste as voorbeeld as Christene moet dien?

Antwoord. Deug; Kennis, Selfbeheersing, Lydsaamheid, Godsvrug, Broederliefde en Naaste Liefde.

Vraag 3. Wat sal ons help in ons Christen groei?

Antwoord. Gebed. Johannes 15:7.

Vraag 4. Wat is gebed?

Antwoord. Gesprek met God in die naam van Jesus Christus.

Vraag 5. Hoe dikwels moet ons bid?

Antwoord. Bid sonder ophou. I Thessalonicense 5:17.

Vraag 6. Waar vind ons die voorbeeldige gebed?

Antwoord. Mattheüs 6:9_12.

Vraag 7. Hoe moet ons bid?

Antwoord. In geloof, sonder om te twyfel. Jakobus 1:16. Asook, in ooreen stemming met God se wil en Sy belofte aan ons.

Vraag 8. Wat anders sal ons help om te groei?

Antwoord. Die studie van God se Woord want daarin vind ons Sy wil wat ons betref. II Tim. 2:15; 3:14_17.

Vraag 9. Wanneer, deur te studeer dan ken ons God's wil wat ons betref, wat moet ons doen?

Antwoord. Ons moet gehoorsaam en Sy wil doen tot die beste van ons vermoë. Jak. 1:22.

Vraag 10. Wat anders sal ons help in Christen groei?

Antwoord. Gereelde en getroue bywoning by die Kerk dienste. Heb. 10:25.

Vraag 11. Watter deel sal prediking speel in onse groei? Antwoord. Dit sal baie leer, want prediking is die aankondiging van God se wil soos geopenbaar in die Woord van God deur Christus.

Vraag 12. Wat dan word vereis van my as 'n Christen in groei?

Antwoord. Werk julle eie heil uit met vrees en bewing. Filippense 2:12.

Vraag 13. Hoe sal ek die meeste kry uit my Christenskap? Antwoord. Om dit uit te lewe elke dag in 'n poging om goed innemend te wees aan Hom en om dit te deel met andere oor die wêreld was beveel in Matt. 28:19,20; Kol. 3:17.

NEVER ALONE!

It is not my purpose to write on the subject of adultery and fornication. I will allow Paul to speak with God’s direction of these sins which were so very prevalent in beautiful, but very sinful, Corinth. In fact the beautiful temple in the heart of Corinth was dedicated to those very sins. That had been at the very heart of their city's religion before the Saints there gave their hearts to Christ.

I want, rather, to call our attention to a Christian emphasis from these very same words.

“Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid. What? Know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? For Two, saith he, shall be one flesh. But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. Flee fornication. Every sin tat a man doeth is without the body, but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price, therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” 1 Corinthians 6:15-20.

Paul has started with a fact that was common knowledge if not perhaps thought much about. “Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ?” The head and the body must be one to accomplish even the most simple deeds. Neither is able to accomplish anything without the other. This is common knowledge and accepted, and this is why Christ said of his church. I am the head. Without the head, we are nothing. Without Christ, there would be no church and all mankind would be lost eternally. Without Christ, even the most beautiful building means nothing. The most somber rituals mean nothing. Or even the most fervent prayers. Remember the prayers of the pagan priests and the simple prayer of Elijah. God sent fire to burn the sacrifice, then rain. The temple in Corinth was beautiful, but decadent.

But let us take this a step farther. Our limbs need guidance. Recently, my wife and I were taking our morning walk. As always, we were holding hands, and on this occasion, she happened to notice something at just the wrong moment. She tripped on a speed bump in the street, and we both tumbled in the very middle of the street. It caught me with one foot off the ground and there was no way I could hold her up. The result was that it is I who has the scrape, and the swollen knee and elbow. What happens to one of us happened to both of us. We are one in God’s sight.

When one of us is distracted from our attention to Christ, the fall is felt by all of us, and by Christ most of all. He gave his very life‘s blood on Calvary to save us. It hurts the head most of all when the body falters.

We are His contact with the world. Through us, he speaks to lost souls. He sends us where we are needed with the answers to that need. He sent Philip to a desert place to teach the Ethiopian. He did not permit Paul to go to North Galatia, but send him to Europe instead. He has put us where we are, and there is a reason. We are His hands, His feet, and His voice today. The Gospel is our message. He does not send us alone. We are his temple. The temple was God’s special place. The Holy Spirit is within us to give us guidance today. We are never alone. Brother J. R. Morse, a missionary now deceased, spent many lonely and months as a prisoner in a Japanese prison, during World War Two, but he was never abandoned nor forgotten. And he faithfully remembered his Lord the whole time with much prayer. We have the same need today, wherever we may find ourselves: the Word, prayer, singing in the heart, and remembering his sacrifice for our salvation.

THE HEARTBEAT OF IT ALL

My wife has a pacemaker which controls the beat of her heart. Her doctor suspected an irregular beat and sent her to a specialist to have her heart properly checked. A monitor was ordered and it had hardly started operating when the doctor checking it phoned in a panic for her to come straight to the hospital as her heart was stopping for seconds at a time alarmingly frequently. The first possible operating room available, they installed the pacemaker. It controls the rhythm, that is all. The heart does the work.

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.” Colossians 3:16-17. The word of Christ does the work.

MUSIC WAS A STRANGER IN MY CHILDHOOD HOME

One of my grandmothers had a radio and a canary. I remember the canary singing there, but we had nothing that sang unless you count the chicken chatter to be singing. We had no radio in our home. Music was a stranger. Even my godly mother, who was not well much of the time, sang only on Sunday mornings when we were in worship services. I suppose my inability to carry a tune may be partly because of that fact. I did, and still do, love the hymns I heard then. They speak from the heart as our scripture says they should, express “with grace in your hearts to the Lord.“ I rejoice that it says “in your hearts to the Lord.” That, I can do. Arising from the heart is a far different matter than from the lips. Tunefully expressing from the lips, unless it also comes from the heart, is useless.

TEACH AND ADMONISH WITH SONG

One can sooth, admonish, and teach musically, and this starts with a lullaby sung to the infant in the cradle and lasts until the last farewell hymn on behalf of the deceased. A lullaby comforts a fretful child, as a hymn comforts a bereaved adult. Hymns prepare us for prayer, urge us to live a godly life, stir us up to action, or teach us God’s will and word. Not all music does this. Some only arouses the emotions lasting about as long as a fragile soap bubble floating in the breeze.

DO ALL THINGS IN THE NAME OF JESIS CHRIST

The important thing is that all is to be done in the name of Jesus Christ, and to his glory. I have attended worship services where the dominate instrument was a set of drums in the hands of a frenetic drummer who seemed determined to, and did, give many a throbbing headache as soon as possible. I played a drum in a school band, myself but have yet to hear one that can carry the tune in worship. Having lived in Africa many years I have heard drums used otherwise. In fact an African language version of the Bible seldom lasts very long as it is probably far more often used as a drum, to convey the beat more than for reading. African hymns sound more like a chant than a hymn.

ESPECIALLY LET US GIVE THANKS TO GOD

What ever we do, let us do it in the name of Jesus Christ to give glory to him.

GRACE, A PRICELESS GIFT THAT CAN'T BE BOUGHT

Have you ever wondered what difference it would have made in your lifestyle had you been born into an extremely wealthy family? Well, be happy if you weren’t. Most such families have a long list of problems that can all be traced back to their wealth, and their love for it and not the Lord. In any case, all Christians are far better off and will inherit far more, after the temptation to let it go to their heads is long past.

Think about it, our adoptive Father is a Billionaire, many times over. In fact he not only owns the earth, but the entire universe and beyond! And you and I are adopted in his family and will become joint heirs with His Son Jesus Christ, who has already gone to prepare a place for us. He plans to share everything with us. Amazing!

Now, our thought for today is not about an inheritance. It is about the wonderful Grace of God that He has made this possible. We are saved by His grace.
What do you mean, “Saved by grace?”

In everyday terms grace can been defined as the “undeserved gift of God.”

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT ALL MANKIND NEEDS DESPERATELY.

“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:” Romans 3:23,24. If all have sinned, and are condemned to die because of that, then all are helpless to save themselves. If they are to be saved, it has to be of God, for he wants all to be saved and has prepared a place for all, and the means of attaining that goal. The way has to be simple, and it is. Even a child can understand and obey the plan God has. The point is that we must do exactly what the Lord has asked, adding or leaving out nothing. It is his plan, not ours. Do we have enough faith to do exactly what he asks? Turn from our sins, confess him before men, and be obedient to him in the new birth of water and the Spirit.

PEOPLE DELIGHT TO GET SOMETHING VALUABLE COMPLETELY FREE.

If you don’t believe this, just flip your TV channel to a “games show” the next time you turn it on and watch a demonstration of pure unadulterated greed!

We need it, and God offers it, but not now. Not here.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.” John 3:16-19

This is God’s grace, not ours. He took the first step, laid out the plan, and started preparing a people to accept him and draw the world back to himself. Like all people, they were a rebellious people and seemed determined to plan and go their own ways. Remember the problems Moses had during the forty years wandering in the wilderness. The trip itself, even walking, could have been completed in a few months, had they been of one mind and obeyed God. He led them day and night with his light. Remember their complaint about the food. It would not have been boring, had they not taken so many years instead of months to complete the journey. It was not meant to be a permanent diet, and it stopped as soon as they obeyed the Lord.

STRANGELY, MOST PEOPLE REJECT THIS PRICELESS GIFT OF GOD.

There is no other way to be saved than through Jesus Christ. He pictured the church as being a body of which he was the head. Without a head we are nothing, and there is no life. A gathering that does not have Christ as its head is not his church and cannot save anyone. “No man cometh unto the Father but by me.” Yet, we see all about us, those who claim to be “Christian,” yet who do not accept that he is the Son of God. Two major gatherings claiming to be Christian, actually pale at the insistence that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God. Others have chosen human “heads” and make no pretense that they follow him. They will accept that he is a god, or a prophet but not the Son of God and the head of his church. One of those actually teaches that Christ and Satan are brothers, and that all men can aspire to become gods. But people mostly simply reject the whole concept of Christianity, and any need to be saved from anything.

WHY READ THE BIBLE?

“Continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them, and that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation though faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” 2 Timothy 3:14-17.

My wife and I have read the Bible through every year for a number of years now. We have chosen to read in a variety of translations. At the present time I am also reading a guide that takes three years to complete the entire volume and we read small portions each morning at the breakfast table along with comments. You are probably asking, “Why go to all that trouble?”

After all, the Bible is a very old , some would say “out of date,” book. It starts with the creation account! Some of it is written in Hebrew and Aramaic, and another part in Greek. What we read is a translation. One English language version dates from King James and was first published in 1611. That means it was published nearly four hundred years ago. “What makes it so different? Why is it still in print?” and, “Why do you use that old version in all your blogs and in your weekly publication?, “Search the Scriptures with Bob.”

Some would say, “Oh, It is because he is an old man, and I would not deny that is so, but there are far more important reasons. In that connection, like Timothy, I was taught at the knee of my Godly mother. Timothy had the advantage of a likewise Godly grandmother, and of course, he was also taught by the apostle Paul. But then I also learned through Paul who wrote, under the inspiration of God, most of the books of the New Testament portion of the Bible. And I too, learned from likewise Godly teachers in college and seminary.

Let us consider the “out of date“ question. A study of scripture, classical writings, or history reveals one solid fact. No matter what culture, what nationality, or what era of history. People are people, and it is a fact that “All have sinned and fallen short.” An inflated ego, greed, jealousy, murder is to be found in the very first family. The same is to be found throughout history. And, the same is still to be found lurking in every family even today. God destroyed most of life on earth once already by flood, and we are told that he will do so again, this time by fire, and starting over with a new-born people in a perfect place he is even now preparing. We call that place, Heaven. These new people are those who know and follow Christ Jesus. These are a people who recognize his sovereignty as an absolute king, “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost; teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you, and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.” Matthew 28:18-20. His people recognize his sovereignty and obey his commands. Those who do not obey him, are not of his kingdom. This is what Jesus told Nicodemus, “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” John 3:5.

The Bible is different because it is “God breathed” (inspired of God who directed and guided different writers to write, completely compatible documents, even though many of them never met the others, lived in different places, and wrote in different languages and historic times. It is the only book that reveals a loving God who loved his creation so much that he gave his only Son to save it, knowing that he would be killed.

The King James version is written in English as the readers understood it in 1611. The language has changed, not the message. A living language always changes, thus there are numerous different English translations, never mind all the other languages of the earth today.

I use the King James version, because it was the Bible of choice when I was young and being taught at home. The scriptures I memorized were from that translation, and today it is the only really acceptable translation that one can use without the inconvenience of gaining a copyright permission every time it is quoted. My generation is comfortable with it.

What ever version you choose; Read your Bible! It is the power of God unto salvation. And “Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Romans 10:17.

IF ANY WOULD NOT WORK

A very popular television program recently dealt with physically mature men who refused to work and care for their own children. They either allowed their companions to support them and their children or moved into the home of the children’s grandparents and regarded the house as if it were a free furnished apartment with full service and board laid on. Those demands were being tolerated for the sake of the little children. In these two featured cases, it seems that there was no money for essentials, but plenty for a computer, electronic games to amuse themselves, and the phone and web to chat with others.

We think of these as isolated events, but they are as old as time itself. Paul in writing to the church in Thessalonica dealt with and answered it. We have all been acquainted with such situations, sometimes in the church, the extended family, or among acquaintances. Not all who claim to be Christians, produce the fruit of the Spirit, but in many such cases they take advantage of anyone who can be manipulated to tolerate the situation.

Paul said: “If any would not work, neither shall he eat. For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies. Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread. But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing. And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed.” 2 Thessalonians 2:10-14. What he has said is that no man has the right to be a parasite: if he is well, he has the responsibility to work.

Scripture is very strict in the matter of how one treats his his wife, his children and his parents and the elderly.

JESUS’ LIVING PARABLES, UNTIL HE COMES

Jesus filled his teachings with parables. A parable is a “word picture” that adds light to the understanding of an important lesson. The parable itself might be a simple thing. For example, he spoke of the word of God as being like seed scattered on the earth. The seed was good seed, but it falls on different kinds of soil, rocky, hardened paths, shallow soil, or good soil. It represents the scriptures being taught to mankind. Some have hardened their hearts, others have filled their lives with worldly things; only a few eagerly listen and apply what they hear to themselves. A parable has only one proper meaning. One runs into problems when he tries to change and adapt a parable to other than the author's intended illustration.

The same thing is true when men change the two living ordinances that Jesus left for us to be observed until he comes for his own. They both illustrate the lesson of the Gospel; Paul tells us this when he writes, “Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures: and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:” 1 Corinthians 15:3. The Gospel, or "good news" is, (1) Our Lord died for our sins, (2) he was buried in the tomb, and, (3) he arose again. To change these three facts in sequence or in any other way not only ruins the illustration, but it also makes one guilty of disobeying his commands.

CHRIST LEFT US TWO ORDINANCES TO BE FOLLOWED UNTIL HE RETURNS.

Both present the "good news" of the Gospel.

The FIRST is how one becomes a Christian, a follower of Christ. Scripture says, we “put on Christ.” To make certain we understood his commandment, “Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:” Matthew 28:19. To confirm his right to command this, he prefaced the command with, “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.” Matthew 28:18. He had set an example by being baptized himself by the hand of John the Baptist. “And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Matthew 3:16-17.

The word itself, “baptize” means "to wash." In this case, it was in the river Jordon. Philip baptized the Ethiopian 1n “water” Acts 8:35-39. Clearly, the Ethiopian repented of his sin, (turned his back to his former way of life; died to sin), and asked to be baptized. Just as you bury a deceased person, the believer is buried in water, representing that burial, receives the gift of the Holy Spirit, and is born again, (lifted from the water), never to die to sin again. What we call death is only our departure from our physical body, the Christian lives on for eternity with God. The illustration is repeated every time we witness a baptismal service. The Gospel is being illustrated, the death, the burial, and the resurrection.

The SECOND is repeated weekly and this will continue until he returns for His bride, the church. There, he will observe it with all the family. “And when they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; for this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins, but say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it with you in my Father’s kingdom.” Matthew 26:26-28. This too, represents His death for our sins, our being a part of the body, partaking of the bread and the vine, and looking forward to eternity when we will partake it with him.

The wonderful good news is shown in action; his death, burial and resurrection. We may forget what we only hear, but we will remember what we hear and do regularly.