With Jesus as my shepherd I have the promise of eternal life.
THE GOOD NEWS IN COLOR
Psalm 62:2 NKJV
“Truly my soul silently waits for God;
From Him comes my salvation.
He only is my rock and my salvation;
He is my defense;
I shall not be greatly moved.”
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Jesus is our rock and through Him we have salvation. We are going to look at nine different colors and discuss what each color represents, and how it relates to God or His plan for us.
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Yellow – represents creation.
God made the world, and all that is in the world, and the entire universe out of nothing. He spoke His Word, and everything came into existence. This is referred to as creation.
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Genesis 1:1 NKJV
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”
In the beginning the world was beautiful and perfect.
Genesis 1:31 NKJV
“Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good.”
God’s most special creation was man. He created man to share a special friendship (fellowship / intimacy) with Him. The first man and woman (Adam and Eve) shared a very special friendship with God.
Black – represents sin.
When sin entered the world, through Adam and Eve’s disobedience, it stood between them and God. Man could no longer enjoy the special friendship (intimacy) that he once had with God.
God still loved man, and desired for the intimacy He once had with man to be restored. God is a holy God and sin cannot come into His holy presence therefore sin separated man from God.
Romans 3:23 NKJV
“…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…”
Red – represents the blood of Jesus.
God knew that sin had to be punished and that someone who had never sinned would be needed to take the punishment. Jesus Christ was the only person that never sinned, therefore He was the only person that would be acceptable as a sacrifice. Jesus made a way to God by dying on the cross for our sins.
We have been saved, delivered, healed and set free through the blood of Jesus. We have been saved from the punishment of sin by Jesus’ blood. Jesus was punished for our sins. He took our place.
Romans 5:8-9 NKJV
“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him”
The blood that Jesus shed was for man’s sin. His precious blood provides atonement for our sins. Through His blood we can be restored into right fellowship with God. Because of His sacrifice we can once again experience the intimacy with God that He desires to have with us.
Jesus made a way for man to have a relationship with God again. The Bible describes Jesus as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.
John 1:29 NKJV
“The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”
The blood that Jesus shed on he cross washes away our sin.
White – represents forgiveness.
The Bible tells us that everyone has sinned. However, when we confess our sins to God and ask Him to forgive us, He will.
1 John 1:9 NKJV
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
When we ask for forgiveness we are made clean – our sins are forgiven and forgotten. We become a new creation. We are restored by Jesus to what God had originally created us to be. Everything about our lives change, because we are transformed into the likeness of Christ.
2 Corinthians 5:17 NKJV
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”
Just like a caterpillar changes into a butterfly, we too are changed when we accept Jesus as our Savior.
Blue – represents water baptism.
Water baptism is an important part of a believer’s life. As a believer we should follow Jesus’ example in water baptism.
Matthew 3:13-17 NKJV
“Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. And John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?” But Jesus answered and said to him, “Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed Him. When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
Those who accepted Jesus as Savior in the time of the New Testament were baptized in water to show that they were Jesus’ followers. Jesus established the command and the Church obeyed it. We, too, should obey it. When we are baptized we are obeying Jesus, and it is a milestone (memorial) in our life. It is a time that we can return to in our memories as a specific moment that we know we declared to others that Jesus is our Savior and Redeemer.
We are baptized to show others that we have accepted Jesus as our Savior and want to follow Him and live for Him. Water baptism is also an illustration of our dying to sin and being raised to new life in Christ Jesus.
Before Jesus left to go to heaven, He left instructions about baptism.
Matthew 28:18-20 NKJV
“And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Orange – represents baptism in the Holy Spirit.
John 16:5-11 NKJV
“But now I go away to Him who sent Me, and none of you asks Me, ‘Where are You going?’ But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they do not believe in Me; of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.”
After Jesus’ resurrection from the dead, He stayed on earth for 40 days, appearing to many different people, then He ascended into heaven. During this time Jesus told His followers that He would send them a Helper, the Holy Spirit, after He left.
Acts 2:1-4 NKJV
“When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”
Being baptized with the Holy Spirit will fill you with power to live for God, to be a witness for Jesus and to draw closer to God. Being baptized with the Holy Spirit will make you a better you! Being baptized with the Holy Spirit is a wonderful gift that Jesus promised to you. As a Christian you should greatly desire to be baptized with the Holy Spirit. Next to salvation it is the most precious gift that you can receive from God. Just like salvation, you must believe that it is promised to you and you must ask for it.
Green – represents growing in Christ.
Every believer needs to grow spiritually.
2 Peter 3:18 NKJV
“but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”
Two things that will help you grow spiritually are reading the Bible (God’s letter to you) and praying (talking and listening to God.) We are not to study the Word of God just for the sake of acquiring more knowledge. We are to mature and be doers of the Word not just hearers. Growing (mature) in our faith is not an option. God does not want us to stay babies forever. Every aspect of our lives should experience growth.
God wants us to grow and bear fruit in His garden. The goodness or sweetness of our fruit will depend on how much time we spend with God – in prayer and in His Word.
John 15:1-6 NKJV
“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.
You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.
Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.”
As we draw closer to Jesus our lives will have certain fruit. This doesn’t mean that we will start sprouting fruit, but that the more time we spend getting to know Jesus, the stronger our spirit will become and the easier our fruit will be seen and like by other people. The Bible tells us that there are nine fruits of the Spirit.
Galatians 5:22-23 NKJV
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.”
Purple – represents the blessed hope.
Titus 2:11-14 NKJV
“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.”
The blessed hope is referred to as the rapture. It is when Jesus will return to take the true Christians home to heaven.
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 NKJV
“For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.”
The Bible tells us that Jesus is coming again. One day He will appear in the sky and a trumpet will sound and those who are true Christians will go to be with Him in heaven.
John 14:1-3 NKJV
“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.”
Jesus is in heaven right now preparing a home for us. He is also sitting at the right hand of the Father interceding, praying, for us.
Hebrews 10:12 NKJV
“But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God”
We should be ready at all times for Jesus to return because we do not know when He will come.
Matthew 24:44 NKJV
“Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”
Pink – represents resurrection.
One day both the saved and the lost will be resurrected. The saved to everlasting life with God and the lost to everlasting damnation.
Revelation 20:11-15 NKJV
“Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.”
In the end everything in the world will be beautiful and perfect again. God promised He would make a new heaven, a new Jerusalem, and a new earth.
2 Peter 3:10-13 NKJV
“But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.”
Revelation 21:1-2 NKJV
“Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.”
The new Jerusalem, will come down out of heaven and will shine with the glory of God. The city will be made of gold and will be decorated with precious jewels, and the streets will be made of pure gold, as transparent glass.
Revelation 21:18-21 NKJV
“The construction of its wall was of jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass. The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with all kinds of precious stones: the first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald, the fifth sardonyx, the sixth sardius, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst. The twelve gates were twelve pearls: each individual gate was of one pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.”
It will have a great wall with 12 gates made of pearls. The city will not need any light from the sun or moon because Jesus, the Lamb of God will be the light.
Revelation 21:22-23 NKJV
“But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light.”
Revelation 22:1-5 NKJV
“And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him. They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads. There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever.”
Down the middle of the city will flow the river of life, and on each side of it will grow trees of life. The throne of God will be in the city, and people will worship God forever. There is so much more about heaven that we don’t know, and it will be far better than we could ever imagine.
God’s ultimate plan for man:
Revelation 21:3-5 NKJV
“And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.”
Taking The First Step
Memory Verse: Luke 15:18-19
Life Application: When we spiritually fall we need to arise and go to the Father.
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Bible Text:
Luke 15:17
Isaiah 6:5
Esther 4:7-8
1 John 1:8-9
Romans 3:23
Romans 6:23
Luke 15:18-19
Esther 4:16
John 14:6
Romans 10:9
Acts 16:31
Luke 15:20-22
Esther 4:13
Matthew 27:50-51
Hebrews 10:19-20
1 John 1:9
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The first step to worshiping God is salvation. You cannot truly worship God with sin in your life because worship is a lifestyle that reverences a holy God. It is not just singing a song with your mouth – it comes from within you. Worship involves every part of you. We can follow the examples of the prodigal son, the sinful woman, and Esther to become a child of God. Like them we must:
1. Realize that we are in danger
2. Know who can save us
3.Go directly to the one that can save us
I. Realize That You Are In Danger
As the prodigal son was in the pig pen (the lowest point in his life) he realized that he had sinned against God and against his father.
Luke 15:17 NKJV
“But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!’ ”
He had to go through a lot of bad things and hard times before he would admit that he had sinned and that he was in danger.
The woman with the alabaster box knew that she was a sinful woman. She knew the law and the penalty of breaking the law. She had probably been standing among the crowd as Jesus spoke before. In His presence she truly realized that she was in danger spiritually. The Holy Spirit began to convict her of her sin and within (unseen to the eye) her heart began to change. She might have even had thoughts along the same line as Isaiah when He encountered the holy presence of God.
Isaiah 6:5 NKJV
“So I said:
‘Woe is me, for I am undone!
Because I am a man of unclean lips;
And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips;
For my eyes have seen the King,
The Lord of hosts.’ ”
Esther was made aware of the fact that the Jews lives were in danger. A plot had been made to kill them. It was a plot that, had it been effective, would have separated her from the king.
Esther 4:7-8 NKJV
“And Mordecai told him all that had happened to him, and the sum of money that Haman had promised to pay into the king’s treasuries to destroy the Jews. He also gave him a copy of the written decree for the destruction, which was given at Shushan, that he might show it to Esther and explain it to her, and that he might command her to go in to the king to make supplication to him and plead before him for her people.”
Every person born is in danger of separation from the King (God) because of sin, Every person has sinned, and every person has an enemy that would love to see them thrown in the lake of fire (away from God’s presence.) The first step to salvation is admitting that you have sinned. Once we take that first step, God is there like the prodigal son’s father with arms outstretched for you.
1 John 1:8-9 NKJV
“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and top cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
Romans 3:23 NKJV
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”
Romans 6:23 NKJV
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
II. Know Who Can Save You
The prodigal son knew who could save him. He knew that his father was in a position to help him.
Luke 15:18-19 NKJV
“I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me one of your hired servants.’ ”
The woman with the alabaster box knew who could save her. She had heard Jesus speak before and she knew the message of salvation and hope that He brought. She knew His repetition and that He welcomed everyone into the kingdom of God. Who knows, maybe she had even heard about the woman ‘caught’ in adultery or the woman at the well.
Esther knew who could save her and her people. She knew that the king held the power to save them.
Esther 4:16 NKJV
“Go gather all the Jews who are present in Shushan, and fast for me; neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will fast likewise. And so I will go to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish!”
We must know who can save us. Jesus is the only way we can be saved. It is only through His blood that our sins are washed away.
John 14:6 NKJV
“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”
Romans 10:9 NKJV
“that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”
Acts 16:31 NKJV
“So they said, ‘Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.”
III. Go To The Person That Can Save You
The prodigal son arose from his present lifestyle and went to His father.
Luke 15:20-22 NKJV
“And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven
and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet.”
The ‘sinful’ woman went to Jesus. The Holy Spirit had already began a transformation in her heart. Quiet possibly alone, at home, the woman experienced convection and true repentance. She had already had a ‘heart change’ before she went to the house to anoint Jesus’ feet. Because of her ‘new heart’ she wanted to let Jesus know how much she loved Him and what He meant to her (worship).
Esther went directly to the king to tell him about the plot to destroy the Jewish people. She did not send a message to him by someone else, she went personally to the king. Esther knew that her life would be put in danger by going to the king personally. At first Esther was not willing to do what she knew that she had to do. She did not want to go to the king. Then Esther realized that if she did not go to the king that she would be separated from his presence forever by death.
Esther 4:13 NKJV
“And Mordecai told them to answer Esther: ‘Do not think in your heart that you will escape in the king’s palace any more than all the other Jews. For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?’ ”
Many times we are like Esther – when the Holy Spirit tries to draw us to the king (God) for salvation, we think of excuses not to go. We are afraid of loosing our own life. But the truth is, if we don’t go to the king (God) for salvation we will be separated from His presence forever.
At Jesus’ death the veil in the temple was torn into (from the top to the bottom) by God.
Matthew 27:50-51 NKJV
“And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit.
Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split.”
Today you are to go directly to God (in prayer) to receive salvation, through the shed blood of Jesus Christ. There is no man, church or religion that has the power (or authority) to save you. You can’t send word by someone else that you want salvation. Salvation is a personal thing. You must go directly to the King (God) yourself.
Hebrews 10:19-20 NKJV
“Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus”
1 John 1:9 NKJV
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
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Review
1. What is the first step to worshiping God?
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2. Worship is a lifestyle. What does that mean?
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3. As the prodigal son was at the _____________ ____________ in his life he realized that he had sinned against God and against his father.
4. Sometimes people have to go through a lot of bad things and hard times before they will admit that they had sinned and that they need God. Why is this?
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5.Who convicts us of sin?
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6. Esther was made aware of the fact that the Jews lives were in danger. What might have happened to her if the plot had been effective?
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7. Every person born is in danger of separation from the King (God) because of _______.
8. Who has sinned?
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9. The first step to salvation is ____________________that you have sinned.
10. How is God like the prodigal son’s father?
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11. The prodigal son ….
* admitted that he had _____________ against his father and against God.
* knew who could ___________ him.
* knew that his ________________ was in a position to help him.
12. Jesus is the only way we can be saved. How is this truth accepted in our world today?
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13. In John 14:6, what did Jesus say?
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14. Esther did not send a _________________ to the king by someone else, she went personally to the king himself.
15. What are some excesses that people give for not accepting Jesus as their Savior?
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16. At Jesus’ death the veil in the temple was torn into (from the top to the bottom) by God. What does this mean for us today?
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17. There is no __________, church or _______________ that has the power (or authority) to save you.
18. What wonderful promise are we given in 1 John 1:9 ?
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Born Into God’s Family
Bible Text:
John 1:12
2 Corinthians 5:17
John 3:3
John 19:38-42
Romans 3:23
John 3:16-17
John 1:12
Romans 12:2
Matthew 12:33-37
Ephesians 5:3-5
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Made New
When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior we become a new creation. We are restored by Jesus to what God had originally created us to be. Everything about our lives change, because we are transformed into the likeness of Christ.
2 Corinthians 5:17 NKJV
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”
Just like a caterpillar changes into a butterfly, we too are changed when we accepted Jesus as our Savior. God transforms a person from being a sinner who does not know God and who does wrong into a person who loves God and wants to do right. Instead of doing and living the way we what to, we live to be like Jesus. Our desire is to please Him. Instead of looking at people, things and the world through our eyes we see everything through the eyes of Jesus. Everything about us becomes new!
Born Again
Late one night one of the religious leaders named Nicodemus went to speak to Jesus. Nicodemus recognized Jesus as a teacher sent from God. As Jesus was explaining the Scriptures with him, He said something Nicodemus did not understand. Jesus told Nicodemus that no one can see the kingdom of God unless they have been born again. Nicodemus did not understand what Jesus was talking about. How could a person be born again?”, he wondered. People today still ask that same question.
John 3:3 NKJV
“Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.’ ”
Nicodemus had never heard about “being born again.” Jesus explained to Nicodemus that you must be spiritually born again. He had a hard time fully understanding that it isn’t enough just to know God. Jesus told him that he had to begin a new life by being “born again.” Jesus continued to explain to Nicodemus who He was and what was going to happen to Him and why. Nicodemus listened very carefully to Jesus as He spoke. After the things that Jesus spoke about came true (after Jesus’ crucifixion) Nicodemus helped prepare the body of Jesus for burial.
John 19:38-42 NKJV
“After this, Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly, for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus; and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took the body of Jesus. And Nicodemus, who at first came to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds.
Then they took the body of Jesus, and bound it in strips of linen with spices, as the custom of the Jews is to bury.
Now in the place where He was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. So there they laid Jesus, because of the Jews’ Preparation Day, for the tomb was nearby.”
Nicodemus had believed the things that Jesus told him and he was born again! Like Nicodemus we must believe in Jesus in order to be born again.
New Life In Christ
In the beginning God made everything and it was good. God would come down from heaven and walk with Adam and Eve in the evening. Man enjoyed a very intimate (close) relationship with God. Everything was perfect until sin entered into the picture. Because of the sin man could no longer enjoy the intimate relationship with God. God is a holy God and sin cannot come into His presence. Sin had separated man from God and it brought spiritual death into the world.
Romans 3:23 NKJV
“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”
Everyone has sinned and that means that we have been separated from God and are spiritually dead. We must experience new life in Jesus if we want a relationship with God – we must be born again. God loved us so much that He sent His Son, Jesus to pay our penalty for our sins. As Jesus hung on the cross, God laid on Jesus the sins of the whole world upon Him – all our sins were put on the sinless Son of God. Jesus suffered much on the cross then He died. Jesus took our punishment for our sins upon Him and the blood that He shed made a way for us to be forgiven.
John 3:16-17 NKJV
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.”
Each one of us must be born again (to have our sins forgiven). We must experience the new birth that we receive when we admit that we have sinned and ask Jesus to forgive us. When we experience this new birth we become part of the family of God – we are born into His family.
John 1:12 NKJV
“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.”
The first thing that we must do is admit that we have sinned against a holy God. Then we must be willing to turn from our sin and believe that only Jesus can forgive us of our sins. When we admit that we have sinned, believe that Jesus can forgive us of our sins and confess our sins to Him, God will forgive us and we will experience a new birth. We are not the same – we are changed by the power of God.
Transformed By The Word
God’s Word shows us how we really are and how we should be. We must allow the Word of God to transform us into the image of Christ. When we look at ourselves through the mirror of God’s Word and submit ourselves to the work of the Holy Spirit, we are gloriously transformed more and more into Christ’s image.
Romans 12:2 NKJV
“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”
Christians must not allow the world to set their standards or morals. They are to be transformed by the renewing of their minds. All Christians are called to lives of holiness. It is a commandment from God – not a suggestion. Holy living shows our true identity. After a person accepts Jesus as their Lord and Savior they are no longer of this world – they belong to God. Each person will stand before God and give an account for the way that they lived. For the things that they did, didn’t do.
Fellowship With Christ
Just as fruit is produced on the branches of a healthy tree or vine, so spiritual fruit comes from the life of a believer in close daily fellowship with Jesus. If we desire to have good fruit in our lives we must remain in Christ.
Matthew 12:33-37 NKJV
“Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit. Brood of vipers! How can you , being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. A good man out of the good treasures of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasures brings forth evil things. But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment, and by your words you will be condemned.’ ”
Ephesians 5:3-5 NKJV
“But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving thanks. For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.”
The goodness of our fruit depends on how spiritually healthy and strong we are. The Holy Spirit who lives inside of the believer desires to produce good fruit in us and through us, however we must submit to Him in order for this to take place.
Memory Verse
John 1:12 NKJV
“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.”
Life Application
When I receive salvation I become a child of God.
Review
1. When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior we become a __________ ______________.
2. At salvation we are transformed into the likeness of Christ. What does that mean?
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3. “Therefore, if anyone is in ____________, he is a new creation; old things have _____________ ________ ; behold, all things have become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17 NKJV
4.Late one night one of the religious leaders went to speak to Jesus. What was his name?
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5.Jesus told Nicodemus that no one can see the kingdom of God unless they have been born again. What does born again mean?
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6. After Jesus’ crucifixion, what did Nicodemus do?
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7. In the beginning man enjoyed a very intimate (close) relationship with God. What happened to change that?
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8. Sin __________________ man from God and it brings spiritual death.
9. What must we experience if we want a relationship with God?
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10. On the cross, Jesus…
* paid our ______________ for our sins.
* suffered much then He __________.
* took our ____________________ for our sins upon Him.
* shed His ______________ to make a way for us to be forgiven.
11. At salvation a person is born into ________ family
12. We must admit that we have sinned against a holy God. What does that mean?
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13. God’s __________ shows us how we really are and how we should be.
14. Christians must not allow the world to set their standards or morals. What does that mean to you personally?
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15. Are all Christians called to live a life of holiness?
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16. Each person will stand before God and give an ________________ for the way that they lived.
17. The Holy Spirit who lives inside of the believer desires to produce good fruit in them. What does “good fruit” mean?
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The Not So Secret Mission
Matthew 28:19-20 NKJV
“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
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