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Lesson 13 – By What Standard Will We Be Judged?

May 27, 2024June 1, 2017 by Jana Wagner

Introduction: In our last lesson we learned that “we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ.” In this lesson we will discover the standard by which we are to be judged.

1. Can we earn salvation? Eph. 2:8-10 [The Further-study verses are Rom.6:23; Gal. 2:16; Titus 3:5-8.]

2. What experience must we have to receive this free gift? John 3:3 [Note: While the gift is free and cannot be earned, it is conditional upon our being born again. John 1:12, 13; 1 John 5:4]

3. To be born again means to receive the gift of Jesus’ divine nature (In the Scriptures, this nature is variously called life, power, seed, or spirit.) How can we receive this new nature? 2 Peter 1:3, 4 [Ps. 119:11]

4. Unless we are “eating” the Word of God, through Bible study and prayer, can we have Jesus’ life (or nature) abiding in us? John 6:53, 63 [Note: God gives us a new spiritual birth through Christ Jesus, but we must nourish that spiritual life with spiritual food, just as our physical life is kept alive with physical food. Are we as careful about spending time in Bible study and prayer as we are in eating physical food? Matt. 4:4; John 15:4-7]

5. When we are born again, what must happen to the sinful habits in our life? Rom. 6:4-6 [1 John 3:3-9]

6. What is sin? 1 John 3:4 [Note: If sin is breaking God’s law, and to be born again involves overcoming sin, then the truly born-again person who will pass the judgment must become a law-keeper. Rom. 4:15; 7:7]

7. How will God know that we have been born again? By what standard will He judge us on the day of judgment? James 2:10-12 [1 John 2:3-6]

8. Since we were born in sin, and love sin, how can we have the new birth experience of victory over sin? Rom. 8:2-6, 13 [Note: We were born with a weak and fallen nature. This is the hereditary “law of sin and death.” But when Jesus became the Son of Man, He conquered sin by combining human nature with His divine nature, thereby “condemning sin in the flesh.” He now offers us His divine nature “that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us” also. We are born again when we by faith surrender the soul to Christ to be filled with His Spirit, and, thus strengthened, begin to live a life of righteousness. John 8:34-36; I John 3:3-9; Titus 2:11-14]

9. How do we know that Jesus had no advantage over us so that we, too, can live victoriously over sin “just as” Jesus did (1 John 3:3)? Heb. 4:15, 16 [1 Cor. 10:13]

10. How could Jesus have been “tempted as we are”? Heb. 2:11, 14-18 [Ans: Because He was “made like His brethren.” He came with a “heredity” like ours “to share our . . . temptations, and to give us the example of a sinless life.” “As the Son of Man, He gave us an example of obedience; as the Son of God, He gives us power to obey.” “Jesus . . . exercised no powers, that men may not have through faith in Him. His perfect humanity is that which all His followers may possess.” “In Christ, God has provided means for subduing every sinful trait, and resisting every temptation, however strong.”–The Desire of Ages, pp. 49, 24, 664, 429. Heb. 5:8, 9; Matt. 1:21, 23; Rom. 1:3; Phil. 2:7 cf. Rom. 8:3]

11. When Jesus gives us a new beginning (new birth) by imparting to us His Spirit (or nature), what does He write on our hearts? Heb. 8:10 [Phil. 2:5; Rev. 14:1]

12.What motive should prompt us to keep God’s law? John 14:15 [2 Cor. 5:14; John 15:10; 2 Thess. 2:8-12 (especially note verse 10)]

13. Are God’s commandments burdensome to those who are truly born again? 1 John 5:3, 4 [Ps. 119:47, 77, 97, 174]

14. Why will many who think they are born again be disappointed on the day of judgment? Matt. 7:21-23 [Note: The Greek literally reads: “Depart . . . you who work LAWLESSNESS” (ergazomenoi ten anomian). 1 John 2:3-6, 28]

15. How does the Bible summarize the answer to our question, “By what standard will we be judged on the day of judgment”? Eccl. 12:13, 14 [Rom. 2:13; James 1:25]

16. Who will be admitted into heaven? Rev. 22:14 [Note: The KJV and NKJV based on the “textus receptus” manuscript, read: “Blessed are they who do His commandments, that they may have the right to . . . enter.” Rev. 14:12]

Commitment: Our salvation cost Jesus His life, but He offers salvation to us free if we will but surrender our sinful natures to Him, who has promised to “take away our sins” (1 John 3:5) and to write His law on our hearts. Thus it is that we will be judged according to God’s law, for our works show whether we have been born again (1 John 2:29). “Let no one deceive you” on this point (1 John 3:6, 7)! The new birth involves a total, growing change of character, habits, and thinking (2 Cor. 5:17). Do you want Jesus to give you this new-birth experience, beginning today?

STEP 2 (Lessons 11-20): Accepting Christ’s Final Message

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Lesson 12 – God’s Court of Justice

November 3, 2024June 1, 2017 by Jana Wagner

Introduction: In our last lesson we learned that Jesus is working (ministering) for us in the heavenly sanctuary. We might call this sanctuary Jesus’ and His Father’s office or court. The ministering angels are their staff. There are many types of work carried on in the sanctuary, but one of the most important is that of judgment. Sometimes we think of judgment in negative terms, but the purpose of this judgment is to declare us “not guilty”–if possible! In this lesson we shall study the work of the judgment as carried on in the heavenly sanctuary.

1. What court summons do we all have pending? 2 Cor. 5:10 [The Further-study verse is Rom. 14:10.]

2. There are three parts to a court case: (1) Investigation, (2) Sentencing, and (3) Execution of the sentence. When will the investigative part of the judgment be done–before or after Jesus comes? Rev. 22:12 [Ans: Jesus comes WITH the rewards to pronounce sentence, therefore the investigative part of the judgment must already have been done. Matt. 16:27]

3. Must we appear in person, or is there a record of our lives that will be reviewed? Rev. 20:12 [Mal. 3:16]

4. With whom does this investigation of people’s LIFE-RECORD begin? 1 Peter 4:17 [Ans: With the professed followers of God. Daniel 7:22 states: “The Ancient of Days came, and a judgment was made in favor of the saints of the Most High” (NKJV). The Beast had judged against the saints, but God judges for them. Actually, the words “in favor” are italicized in the NKJV, meaning they were supplied by the translators. The passage literally reads, “A judgment was made of the saints.” Dan. 7:21, 22; Matt. 22:11-14]

5. Though no longer permitted in the sanctuary courtroom, who is the prosecuting attorney who accuses God’s people? Rev. 12:9, 10 [Job 1:8-11]

6. Who is the defense attorney who serves as our advocate? 1 John 2:1 [Rom. 8:33, 34]

7. What will happen to the record of the sins of God’s people who were converted and who repented of their sins? Acts 3:19 [1 John 1:9]

8. There are various books of record in heaven. What is the name of the register that records the names of those who have accepted Jesus as their Savior and Advocate? Rev. 21:27 [Phil. 4:3; Rev. 13:8; 20:12; 22:19]

9. What will happen to those who were once “saved” and registered in this book of life, but who continue to cherish sin? Ex.32:31-33 [Rev. 3:5; Eze. 18:21-24; 33:11-16]

10. Will all who profess that Jesus is their Savior, and who claim to be saved, ultimately be saved? Matt. 7:21-23 [2 Thess. 2:9-12]

11. Will we be judged by our religious profession or by some other means? Eccl. 12:13, 14 [James 2:12]

12. Although we are saved by grace through faith alone and not by works, for it is by faith that our sins are forgiven and our lives are changed, by what will we be judged? Matt. 16:27 [Rev. 22:12]

13. How do our works reveal our faith? Matt. 7:16-20 [James 2:17]

14. When God showed Daniel the future of the earth (Lesson 7), He depicted the rise of Babylon, Persia, Greece, and Rome by four symbolic beasts; and then He used ten horns to depict the splintering of the Roman Empire into European fragments. What did Daniel see happening in the heavenly sanctuary, where God’s throne is, sometime after the division of Rome into the European nations? Dan. 7:9, 10 [Rev. 14:6, 7]

15. Jesus offers to be our advocate in this court of justice, but He does not plead everyone’s case. Jesus said He had never “known” (never represented or been the advocate of) those who called Him “Lord” in Matthew 7:21-23. How can we make sure that He will be our advocate and thus win our case, in the judgment? 1 John 2:1-6 [John 15:10; Prov. 28:9]

Commitment: The judgment in the heavenly sanctuary has eternal consequences for every one of us. Do you desire to have Jesus as your advocate in this judgment? Will you continue to learn from Him and to walk in the light that He is revealing to you so that you may have the assurance of eternal life in Him?

STEP 2 (Lessons 11-20): Accepting Christ’s Final Message

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Lesson 11 – The New Covenant Ministry of Jesus

May 27, 2024June 1, 2017 by Jana Wagner

Introduction: “Covenant” means promise or agreement. God’s covenant is His promise and plan to save us. It is His “plan of salvation.” The Bible speaks of two covenants-the old one, made at Sinai, and the new one, established at the cross. Let us compare the two.

1. From where does Jesus carry on His new-covenant ministry for us? Heb. 8:1, 2 [Ans. At the right hand of God in the heavenly sanctuary. The Further-study verses are Rev. 1:13; 4:5; 8:3, 4; 11:19.]

2. Where were the old-covenant services performed? Heb. 9:1-5 [Ans: In the earthly sanctuary. See figure on back. Ex. 25-27; 16:33, 34; Num. 17:10; Ex. 25:8, 9, 40]

3. What did Paul call the old-covenant sanctuary, with its earthly services? Heb. 9:24 [Ans: “Copies” of the true. Note: The old covenant is a picture of the new covenant. It is the plan of salvation illustrated. In some respects it is like a picture of a man’s wife. The man may show it to you and say, “This is my wife.” But is it really? No, it is only a picture! He may treasure the picture, but it cannot replace his wife. The Jewish nation hung on to the old-covenant “picture” but rejected the One to whom it pointed forward-Jesus and His ministry. We could also illustrate it with a blueprint of a house which is made before the house is built. Heb. 8:3-5]

4. When God illustrated His plan of salvation at Sinai, what covenant did the people make with Him? Ex. 19:8 [Note: When God gave the old covenant at Sinai, the people promised to keep it, and they intended to, but they could not do so in their own strength (Rom. 8:3). They should have asked God for help; then the Savior, to whom the old covenant pointed forward, would have come into their hearts and delivered them from the power of sin. Matt. 1:21; John 8:34-36; Ex. 25:8]

5. What was the purpose of the laws of the earthly sanctuary? Gal. 3:24 [John 5:46, 47; Heb. 10:1]

6 . Everything in the old covenant-its people, its law, its sanctuary and services, its capital city, etc.-represented (or pictured) something in the new covenant established at the cross. Who did the HIGH PRIEST represent? Heb. 4:14-16 [1 Tim. 2:5; Heb. 2:17; 3:1]

7. Who did the PEOPLE of the old covenant, the literal children of Abraham, represent? Gal. 3:9, 29 [Rom. 2:28, 29; Gen. 17: 1-7; Eze. 34:30; Matt. 3:9; John 8:37-44]

8. What new-covenant capital city corresponds to the old-covenant CAPITAL? Gal. 4:24-26 [Note: Some people still look to old-covenant Jerusalem for the fulfillment of God’s promises. Like the Pharisees, they are clinging to the old-covenant “picture”; but that covenant was nailed to the cross. The old covenant was like Hagar. Hagar was intended to be the midwife to deliver the child of promise, but she was never intended to be the mother of that child. Thus the old covenant was perfect for leading God’s people to Christ and to the New Jerusalem, but it was never intended to take its place. John 8:34-36; Heb. 10:4; 11:8-10]

9. How did the old covenant SACRIFICES take away sins? Heb. 10:4, 5 [Ans: They didn’t. Those who trusted in these sacrifices alone, were lost. The sacrificial system was designed to develop and show one’s faith in the coming Messiah. Acts 4:12]

10. Who did the LAMB represent? John 1:29 [1 Cor. 5:7]

11. In the old covenant, what was one purpose of the ten-commandment LAW written on stone? Rom. 7:7-10 [James 1:23, 24; 2:10-12; Ex. 24:12; Deut. 4:13]

12. Besides providing forgiveness for breaking God’s law, why else did Jesus come to earth? Rom. 8:3, 4 [Ans: To give us power to keep God’s law. 1 John 3:4-6]

13. God’s law was written on STONE in the old-covenant “picture.” Where is it written in the new covenant? Heb. 10:16 [Eze. 11:19, 20; 2 Cor. 3:7-10, 18; 1 John 2:3-5]

Commitment: Some have wondered why, when the Ten Commandments were included in the old covenant, the New Testament says, “Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may . . . enter . . . the [New Jerusalem] city” (Rev. 22:14, NKJV). But the old covenant merely foreshadowed the new. In the new covenant the commandments are to be written on our hearts. Do you want Jesus to perform this new-covenant ministry in your life?

STEP 2 (Lessons 11-20): Accepting Christ’s Final Message

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Lesson 10 – Jesus Returns to Earth

June 23, 2024June 1, 2017 by Jana Wagner

Introduction: The second coming of Jesus was the great theme of the apostles. It is estimated that one in every 25 verses of the New Testament speaks of this event. But Satan has sought to confuse people so that they will not be ready to meet Him. Before Jesus’ first coming in Bethlehem, Satan was successful in confusing the Jewish people by causing them to misapply the prophecies of His second coming to His first coming. As a result, few were ready to receive Him. Now He is applying the prophecies of Jesus’ first coming-such as the 70th week in Daniel 9-to His second coming. And again it is working effectively to deceive! Let us see what the Bible says about Jesus’ second coming.

1. Before Jesus returned to heaven, what did He promise? John 14:13 [Note: Jesus promised that He would receive us to Himself WHEN He came again-NOT BEFORE, in some secret rapture, as some people are teaching today. The Further-study verses are Rev. 22:12-14; Heb. 9:28; 2 Tim. 4:8; 1 Peter 1:13; 5:4; 1 John 2:28; Ps. 50:3]

2. How will Jesus come? Acts 1:9-11 [Matt. 26:64; Mark 13:26; 14:62; Isa. 66:15; Ps. 104:3, 4]

3. Will there be counterfeits of Jesus’ second coming? Matt. 24:23-27 [ 2 Thess. 2:9, 10]

4. How can we know when the real Christ has come? Matt. 24:30, 31 [Ans: Everyone will see Him. There are many other identifying characteristics of Jesus’ second coming described in the questions and verses below. See if you can list them all. Rev. 1:7]

5. What work of judgment will Jesus do at His coming? Matt. 25:31-34, 41, 46 [Ans: He will separate the righteous from the wicked and execute judgment upon the inhabitants of the earth. (The chronology of these events will be further detailed in Lesson 20.) Matt. 16:27; Ps. 50:3, 4; Isa. 66:15-17]

6. What historical event did Jesus use to illustrate this separation? Matt. 24:36-41 [Note: In this separation, those who were taken were taken away in death by the flood (verse 39), and the others were left alive in the ark. So will it be at Jesus’ second coming. While people are doing common things, Jesus will come suddenly in judgment upon all. 2 Peter 3:3-7]

7. While we cannot know the hour, can we know when Jesus’ coming is near? 1 Thess. 5:1-6 [ Matt. 24:32, 33]

8. Will Christ’s coming be secret and silent, as a thief in the night? 2 Peter 3:10-12 [Ans. No, it will be a surprise as when a thief breaks in, but it will not be secret or silent-it will terrify the wicked as when a thief wreaks sudden carnage with great noise upon the household. Ps. 50:3; Isa. 66:15, 16]

9. See if you can answer these questions from the following passage: (1) At Jesus’ second coming, what will happen to the righteous who have previously died? (2) What will happen to the righteous who are still living? (3) Will His coming be silent? 1 Thess. 4:15-18 [ John 5:28, 29; 1 Cor. 15:51-55]

10. What will happen to the kingdoms of the world when Jesus comes? Dan. 2:44 [ Rev. 6:14-17; 16:19-21]

11. What will happen to the wicked at Jesus’ second coming? 2 Thess. 1:7-9 [ 2 Thess. 2:8; 2 Peter 2:9]

12. Will everyone who claims to be saved, be taken to heaven when Jesus comes? Matt. 7:21-23 [ 2 Thess. 2:11, 12]

13. What should we do to be ready for that day? Titus 2:11-14 [ Luke 21:34-36]

Commitment: Jesus’ second coming will be a sudden, all-encompassing surprise to the world, at which time all will be eternally separated-some for everlasting destruction and some for eternal life. Is the glorious appearing of Jesus your blessed hope? Do you want Jesus to redeem you from every lawless deed, and to write His law of love and righteousness in your heart, so that you will rejoice to see His face?

STEP 1 (Lessons 1-10): Believing in Christ, Our Savior and Coming King

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Lesson 9 – Our Redeemer, the Theme of Prophecy

May 27, 2024June 1, 2017 by Jana Wagner

Introduction: Multitudes today are losing faith in Jesus. How can we KNOW that He was the Savior of the world? We can know because of the Old Testament prophecies.

1. What did Jesus show was the theme of the Old Testament prophecies? Luke 24:25-27 [The Further-study verses are Luke 24:44; John 5:39]

2. In what city did the Old Testament say Jesus was to be born? Micah 5:2 [ Luke 2:1-7; Isa. 9:6]

3. Was there also a specific time when Jesus was to appear? Gal. 4:4

4. When was that time to be? Dan. 9:24, 25 [Ans: Sixty-nine weeks after the command to restore and build Jerusalem. Ezra 6:14; 7:7-11]

5. Sixty-nine weeks is 483 days. In symbolic prophecy, what does a day represent? Eze. 4:6 [ Num. 14:34]

According to Ezra 6:14, the threefold decree to restore and build Jerusalem was completed by the Persian king Artaxerxes. This decree went forth shortly after Ezra arrived in Jerusalem in the fifth Jewish month in the seventh year of Artaxerxes’ reign (Ezra 7:8, 9). Artaxerxes’ first year, counted as year “zero” by the Jews, was from the autumn of 465 B.C. to the autumn of 464 B.C. The fifth Jewish month of his seventh year was in 457 B.C. Therefore the Messiah should appear 483 years after 457 B.C., which was 27 A.D. (There is no year “0” between B.C. and A.D., so you must add a year when going from B.C. to A.D.) Twenty-seven A.D. was the 15th year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar.

6. Thus the 69 weeks ended in Tiberius Caesar’s 15th year. What happened that year? Luke 3:1-3, 21, 22.

7. The Hebrew word “Messiah” (“Christ” in Greek) means “anointed.” If Jesus was the Messiah, (1) HOW was He anointed, thereby becoming the Messiah; and (2) WHEN did that happen? Acts 10:37, 38 [Ans: He was anointed by the Holy Spirit at His baptism in 27 A.D., exactly according to prophecy! Luke 3:21, 22; 4:18; John 1:41]

8. Did Jesus recognize the fulfillment of this prophetic time? Mark 1:15 [Note: The Greek word here is “pleroo,” meaning “fulfilled,” or “completed,” as translated in the KJV, NKJV, and NASB. The time that had just been fulfilled was the 69 weeks. Matt. 4:17]

9. Although the Jewish people wanted a conqueror, what would happen to the Messiah sometime after 27 A.D.? Dan. 9:26a [Ans: He would be “cut off.” Isa. 53:8, 9]

10. Jesus’ baptism marked the end of the 69 weeks and the beginning of the 70th week of probationary time allotted to the Jewish nation. What would happen in the middle of this prophetic week? Dan. 9:27a [Ans: Jesus, who made the covenant, would put an end to animal sacrifices by Himself being “cut off ‘ and becoming our sacrifice on the cross. Isa. 53:8; Heb. 10:6, 9-14, 18; Matt. 23:38; 27:51]

11. Did Jesus understand the prophetic time period pointing forward to His being “cut off” and doing away with sacrifices? Luke 9:51 [ Matt. 26:18; John 7:6-8]

12. Since after Jesus’ death there were still 3 1/2 years of the final (70th) week for special ministry to the Jewish people, where did Jesus tell His disciples to begin their witness? Acts 1:8 [Note: Jesus confirmed the covenant of 490 years with the Jewish people (Rom. 15:8), first through His own ministry (Matt. 24:47), and then through His disciples. Luke 24:47]

13. When did the gospel begin to go to the Gentiles? Acts 7:59; 8:1, 4 [Note: In the stoning of Stephen, the Jewish nation once more rejected the covenant of mercy. Acts 10:9-17, 28, 29]

14. Was the Jewish nation still God’s chosen people after 34 A.D.? Rom. 2:28, 29 [ Jer. 18:9, 10; Deut. 28:45, 46, 63; Matt. 21:43; 1 Peter 2:9, 10]

15. Under the New Covenant, who are the true Israel? Gal. 3:26-29 [ Gen. 17:4-7; 1 Cor. 7:19; Gal. 3:7; 6:15, 16; Eph. 2:11-22]

Commitment: Jesus alone fulfills the prophecies of the Messiah. Through Him we can each become a part of God’s true people-spiritual Israel. Is it your desire to be a part of God’s true Israel today?

STEP 1 (Lessons 1-10): Believing in Christ, Our Savior and Coming King

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Lesson 8 – What Will the Next Life Be Like?

May 27, 2024June 1, 2017 by Jana Wagner

Introduction: Many people picture heaven as an imaginary cloud carrying imaginary spirits who are listening with imaginary ears to imaginary music from imaginary harps-and then we wonder why some people are not excited about going there! Today we will see what heaven is really like.

1. Where did the human race come from? Gen. 1:26-28 [The Further-study verse is Ps. 8:4, 5]

2. What kind of world did God create for our happiness-a real, tangible world; or a make believe, invisible world? Gen. 1:1, 11, 20, 24 [Note: Our streams today are from the very waters God created; our trees are from the seeds of the trees He made. Rev. 4: 11]

3. What did God think of His creation? Gen. 1:31 [James 1:17, 18]

4. God made the human family to enjoy this world forever if they would be loyal and trustworthy. But, since Satan had already rebelled in heaven, what provision for free choice did God give our first parents? Gen. 2:8, 9, 15-17 [Note: Some understand this to mean that as soon as Adam and Eve sinned, they would come under the sentence of death. The KJV margin says: “dying thou shalt die.” On the other hand, if God had not implemented the plan of salvation immediately, Adam and Even would have died at once. Rom. 6:23]

5. Our first parents failed, and what was the result? Rom. 5:12 [Gen. 3:6]

6. God created a perfect world for human beings to enjoy eternally, but through sin they lost that inheritance. Who provided them a second chance to obtain that eternal inheritance again? 1 Peter 1:3, 4, 18, 19 [Isa. 53:46]

7. What kind of life has Jesus promised to give back to us? John 10:10 [Note: Jesus promised a MORE abundant life (one of reality such as He created for us to enjoy in Eden, and which He said was “very good”), not a LESS abundant life. This not only applies to life in heaven, but to our present life as well. Right now God promises to give us peace, joy, and meaning to life. John 14:1-3; Isa. 45:18; Mark 10:29, 30]

8. How long will this “more abundant” life last? John 10:27, 28 [John 3:16]

9. We have seen that God made man a tangible being to enjoy things, and God said it was “very good” (Gen. 1:31). What will the next life be like? Isa. 65:17, 21, 22, 25 [Rev. 21:4; 22:1,3]

10. Since “it is appointed for men to die,” and to lay to rest these tangible bodies (Heb. 9:27), how will we become “real” people again? 1 Thess. 4:15-18 [John 5:28, 29; 6:39, 40; 11:24]

11. How do we know that we will be resurrected to a new life? Who went through the portals of the tomb and was resurrected as an assurance to us that we will be resurrected too? 1 Cor. 15:20, 23 [Col. 1:18; Rev. 1:5; Phil. 3:10, 11; 1 Cor. 15:12, 19]

12. Since we will be resurrected as Jesus was, what was He like after His resurrection? Luke 24:33, 43 [Matt. 26:29; I Cor. 15:17, 23; Phil. 3:20, 21]

13. Will we know each other after our resurrection? 1 Cor. 13:12 [Note: The soldiers recognized Jesus after His resurrection. When Mary first met Him after that event, her eyes were too tear filled to see, but she recognized His voice. Jesus hid His identity from the two men on the road to Emmaus so He could teach them truth, but they recognized His mannerisms when He blessed the food. The disciples and all others recognized Him when they saw Him. He was the “same Jesus” (Acts 1:11)! We, too, will be the same people when we are resurrected, and we will be recognized by our friends. Luke 24:30, 32; John 20: 16, 19, 29; Isa. 66:22]

14. It took Jesus’ death to provide this abundant, real, eternal life. What does it take on our part to receive this treasure? Matt. 13:44 [ Matt. 16:24, 26]

Commitment: God made us real human beings, to enjoy a real creation. Jesus came to restore this abundant life to us; but the parable in Matthew 13:44 says it takes all to buy the field. The field containing the treasure represents the Holy Scriptures, within which are hidden the treasures of the gospel-Jesus Christ and eternal life. The Bible teaches that it takes all to become a follower of Jesus, but this treasure is worth far more than everything we have. Will you make an entire surrender of your life to Jesus today that you may obtain this treasure?

STEP 1 (Lessons 1-10): Believing in Christ, Our Savior and Coming King

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Lesson 7 – Getting Started With Prophecy

May 27, 2024June 1, 2017 by Jana Wagner

Introduction: “Blessed is he who reads . . . this prophecy” (Rev. 1:3). This lesson begins our study of prophecy.

1. Who alone truly knows the future? Isa. 46:9, 10 [The Further-study verse is John 14:29]

2. Has God revealed the future? Amos 3:7 [2 Peter 1:19-21]

3. Which prophecies did Jesus mention by name, saying we should understand them? Matt. 24:15 [Rev. 10:1, 2]

4. For what time period was the book of Daniel especially written? Dan. 12:4 [Note: Daniel and Revelation are both about the last days; but Daniel was written first and Revelation builds on its prophecies. In order to understand the two books we must start with Daniel and with Daniel’s first prophecy. Each succeeding prophecy is built upon the ones before. Dan. 8:17; 12:9]

5. What circumstances led up to Daniel’s first prophecy? Dan. 2:1-3 [Dan. 2:1-23, 29]

6. Who explained the dream, and what period of earth’s history did it picture? Dan. 2:27, 28 [Dan. 2:19]

7. What was the dream? Dan. 2:31-35 [Acts 17:26]

8. There are two vital principles we must understand to interpret correctly Daniel and Revelation:
(1) These prophecies are given in symbols; and
(2) The symbols are interpreted by the Bible itself.
In this first prophecy, God makes it easy by giving the interpretation immediately. What did the head of gold represent? Dan. 2:36-38 [Note: Nebuchadnezzar represented Babylon. “King” and “kingdom” often mean the same in prophecy (Dan. 2:39; 7:17, 23). Hos. 12:10; Isa. 14:4]

9. What did the silver, bronze and iron represent? Dan. 2:39, 40 [Note: The three kingdoms that followed Babylon were Persia (or Media-Persia), Greece and Rome respectively. Dan. 5:28; 8:20, 21]

10. To see how prophecy builds on itself, note how these same four kingdoms are described again, in greater detail, in the next major prophecy of Daniel. What symbols did God use this time? Dan. 7:2-7, 17

11. What would happen to Rome, the fourth kingdom? Dan. 7:23, 24a [Note: As predicted, only three world powers followed Babylon. Rome was never succeeded, but from 351 to 476 A.D. it was divided up into the following divisions by warring factions within: AngloSaxons (England), Franks (France), Suevi (Portugal), Visigoths (Spain), Alamani (Germany), Burgundians, Lombards, Ostrogoths, Heruls, and Vandals.]

12. How is this breakup of Rome into modern Europe described in Daniel 2? Will Europe ever be reunited? Dan. 2:41-43 [Dan. 2:21]

13. What will happen in the days of divided Europe? Dan. 2:44 [Matt 21:44]

14. How does Revelation describe this event? Rev. 11:15-18 [Rev. 6:14-17]

Commitment: Babylon, Persia, Greece, and pagan Rome have all passed away–we are now living in the tiptoes of the image, just before the new kingdom is set up! When God’s kingdom comes, with what group of people, as described in our last text, do you want to be found?

STEP 1 (Lessons 1-10): Believing in Christ Our Savior and Coming King

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Lesson 6 – Christ Cleanses the Temple

May 31, 2024June 1, 2017 by Jana Wagner

Introduction: In our last lesson we learned that Jesus has power to forgive and cleanse us. In this lesson we will learn about one aspect of our lives that Jesus wants to cleanse.

1. Why did God ask the Israelites to build Him a sanctuary? Ex. 25:8 [Note: God’s real throne is in the sanctuary in heaven, but He manifested His presence in the earthly sanctuary (and temple) so that His people might realize His nearness. The Further-study verses are Ps. 11:4; Heb. 8:1, 2; and 2 Chron. 6:18, 12; 7:1.]

2. What was one of the first things Jesus did after beginning His earthly ministry? John 2:14-17 [Ans. He cleansed the temple.]

3. At the end of Jesus’ ministry He again cleansed the temple. But because the religious leaders and people refused to keep the temple spiritually clean, God deserted it and it was soon destroyed. Although that temple no longer exists, does God still have a sacred dwelling place on earth? 1 Cor. 6:19, 20 [John 14:23]

4. In the New Testament, the Christian church and the Christian himself are called temples, because God desired to dwell within both. What will God do if we defile or destroy His temple? 1 Cor. 3:16, 17 [John 2:19, 21]

5. What is one way that Daniel believed his body-temple could be defiled? Dan. 1:8, 12 [1 Cor. 9:25, 27]

6. What was the original diet God created for human beings? Gen. 1:29 [Gen. 9:3, 4; 7:2]

7. Man’s original diet for the first 1656 years was of fruits, grains, nuts, and vegetables; and the average lifespan was 912 years! When vegetation was destroyed by the flood, God gave permission for the people to eat animal flesh. He had made provision for this by bringing extra of the “clean” animals into the ark. Why did God prohibit the Israelites from eating “unclean” animals? Deut. 14:2. What are some of these “unclean” creatures? Deut. 14:3-20 [1 Peter 2:9; and Lev. 11:1-47]

8. Some people, by misapplying Scripture, have suggested that these health laws from our Creator were only for the Jews (though Gentile bodies are really no different!). Paul’s counsels on health were to the Gentiles (e. g., 1 Cor. 6:10, 19, 20; 10:31). How, and when, will God judge those who rebel against Him by defying His health laws? Isa. 66:15-17 [Rev. 21:27].

9. Besides eating “unclean” meat, what is another way we can defile the body? Prov. 23:29-33 [Note: In Bible times, wine meant grape juice–either fermented or fresh. Here it says, “Do not look on the wine when” it turns “red” and “swirls . . . smoothly.” In other words, do not drink grape juice (or any other juice) after it has fermented. 1 Cor. 6:9-11; and Prov. 20:1]

10. Although cigarettes were not yet “invented” in Bible times, does not tobacco defile the body? [Note: Deut. 29:18 warns against a “poisonous herb”–KJV margin.]

11. How does Paul summarize the way we are to treat our body-temples? 1 Cor. 10:31 [1 Thess. 5:23]

12. What has God promised people who obey Him? Ex. 15:26 [Note: Though at times we may have infirmities which God does not choose to heal (see 2 Cor. 12:7-9), yet by following God’s counsels we will have better health, and nothing will happen to us but what is for our best good; and ultimately we will be perfectly healed when Jesus restores His kingdom! 3 John 1:2]

Commitment: Today Jesus is asking us to respect our body-temples so that we may have clearer minds and better health, and may be able to render Him more faithful service. Will you ask Him to give you power over everything that tends to defile the body?

Notes: There are some texts which, when taken out of context, could be “twisted to our own destruction” (2 Peter 3:16). Jesus said that “Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth” (Matt. 15:11). But Jesus was not talking about food. He was not contradicting Scripture. The Pharisees He was addressing were not questioning food at all, but their human tradition of ritual washing before eating (verses 2, 20). Peter certainly did not understand Jesus to be changing the health laws, for years later he was given a vision of “all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air. And a voice came to him, ‘Rise, Peter; kill and eat.’ But Peter said, ‘Not so, Lord! For I have never eaten anything common or unclean'” (Acts 10:12-14). Perhaps there were lizards, cats, tigers, vultures, snakes, dogs-we probably would have asked to be excused too! But the vision was symbolic. Peter knew that. After the vision he “wondered within himself what the vision meant” (verse 17). And then he was “shown” that he “should not call any man common or unclean” (verse 28). The Jews called the Gentiles unclean dogs, but the time had come to take the gospel to these Gentiles. Read the whole account in Acts 10:9-11:18. Romans 14:2 says that “He who is weak eats only vegetables.” Meat was offered to idols, and those who were weak in the faith still superstitiously avoided food offered to idols. See 1 Cor. 8:4-11.

STEP 1 (Lessons 1-10): Believing in Christ Our Savior and Coming King

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Lesson 5 – The New Birth

May 27, 2024June 1, 2017 by Jana Wagner

Introduction: As we observed in our last lesson, God sent His Son to save us “from our sins” that “whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (Matt. 1:21; John 3:16). Through faith in Jesus we receive (1) repentance for sin, (2) forgiveness for sin, and (3) power to overcome sin. This work of grace is the beginning of a “new life,” which is called the “new birth” or “conversion.” In this lesson we will see how this new birth takes place in our lives.

1. How many of us are naturally good? Rom. 3:10, 23 [The Further-study verses are John 8:34; and Ecc. 7:20; and Isa. 64:6]

2. Therefore, what is “most assuredly” necessary if we are going to receive the free gift of eternal life? John 3:3, 5, 6 [Matt. 18:3]

3. Can we change ourselves? Jer. 13:23 [Rom. 7:18-24]

STEPS TO CONVERSION

4. The Bible points out three steps to conversion. What is the first step? Acts 3:19 [Ans: We must repent of our sins. 2 Peter 3:9; Acts 2:38; 5:31; Rom. 2:4; Ps. 34:18]

5. Repentance means to be so sorry for our sins that we do not want to repeat them. Only God can give us that sorrow for sin, for we, by nature, love sin. What will true repentance lead us to do with our past, sinful way of life? Rom. 6:6, 16 [Ans: By God’s help we will crucify the sinful habits we once cherished. True repentance also will cause us to make restitution for our wrongs (such as paying back stolen goods) where we can. Num. 5:7; Eze. 33:15; Luke 19:8, 9; Rom. 8:13]

6. After repentance, what is the second step? 1 John 1:9 [Ans: We must confess our sins to God, asking for forgiveness. After confessing our sins, we are not to keep on dwelling upon them, but to have faith that God has forgiven them. There also may be people from whom we should ask forgiveness. Prov. 28:13; Ps. 32:5; 51:1-10; Lev. 5:5; 26:40-42; Mark 1:5; James 5:16; Neh. 1:6-11; Rom. 5:1]

7. Thirdly, after repentance and forgiveness, how are we then to live? Rom. 6:4 [Ans: We are to live a new life, a righteous life, through the power of the Holy Spirit. Eph. 2:1-10; 1 John 2:6; 3:3]

8. What will happen if we repent of our sins but do not replace our evil deeds with good deeds? Luke 11:24-26 [Note: We must preoccupy the mind with good if we would not have it filled with evil. Eph. 2:1-10; 1 John 2:6; 3:3]

NEW LIFE THROUGH JESUS

9. The end product of conversion is a new life of righteousness. How can we live this new life? Rom. 8:2-4 [Note: God has power to help even the worst sinner overcome his sins. 1 John 3:3-9; and Heb. 10:16; and Eze. 36:25-28; and 1 Cor. 10:13; and Phil. 4:13; and John 8:34-36; and Heb. 7:25]

10. Who showed us the way to live this new life of righteousness? John 14:6 [Heb. 2:10, 11, 16-18; and 1 Peter 2:21; and Matt. 16:24]

11. In demonstrating a righteous life, Jesus showed us three things we can do to enable the Holy Spirit to give us this new life. What is one thing Jesus did, and taught us to do, to live the victorious Christian life? Luke 21:34-36 [Luke 6:12; Matt. 26:41]

12. A second thing Jesus did was to study the Bible and to resist temptation by quoting Scripture. What will regular Bible study do for us? 2 Peter 1:3, 4 [Note: When we study the Bible daily, the Holy Spirit fills us with holy thoughts and gives us strength to resist temptation. When Jesus was tempted, He quoted Scripture that He had memorized. If we will fill our minds with texts of the Bible and Christian songs, our minds will not be so easily affected by sin. Then, when we are tempted, if we will quote Scripture and pray for strength, we will obtain victory. Matt. 4:3, 4, 7, 10; Ps. 119:11; John 6:53-57, 63; John 17:17]

13. Thirdly, after receiving spiritual strength through prayer and Bible study, Jesus mentally and consciously resisted Satan and his temptations, and chose to do right (see Isa. 7:14, 15 and Luke 4:8). What should we do when tempted? James 4:7, 8 [Eph. 6:12, 13]

14. These three things–Prayer, Bible study, and exercising our will in refusing to sin and choosing to do good with the spiritual strength we have thus received–are the secrets for victorious Christian living. We must combine divine power with human effort. But we must do this every day, even moment by moment! How can we have a growing Christian experience? Col. 2:6 [Luke 9:23; and 1 Cor. 15:31; and 1 Thess. 5:17; and Rev. 2:4]

15. When we have been truly born again, what will happen to us? 2 Cor. 5:17 [Phil. 1:6]

Commitment: Is it your desire to be born again into a spiritual life of righteousness, with Jesus as your example? Will you spend time with Jesus every day in prayer and Bible study, and with the strength you thus receive from God choose to resist sin and to follow the Lord Jesus Christ?

STEP 1 (Lessons 1-10): Believing in Christ Our Savior and Coming King

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Lesson 4 – Jesus, Our Friend

May 27, 2024June 1, 2017 by Jana Wagner

Introduction: All our lessons are about Jesus and His truth, but this is a special lesson on who Jesus is and what He wants to do for us. Because of Satan’s rebellion, and because Jesus loved us too much to leave us under Satan’s control, Jesus left heaven and came to this earth to redeem all who want to be saved.

JESUS’ DIVINITY AND PREEXISTENCE

1. Shortly after Jesus was conceived within Mary, an angel explained His birth to Joseph and said He would be called Immanuel. What does Immanuel mean? Matt. 1:21-23 [The Further-study verses are Col. 2:9; Isa. 9:6; Rev. 22:13]

2. Where was Jesus before the world was formed? John 17:4, 5 [John 8:58]

3. What work did Jesus do in the beginning? John 1:1-3 [Ans: He created all things. Col. 1:16, 17]

4. What does Paul call Christ? 1 Cor. 10:4 [Ans: The Rock. 2 Sam. 23:3; and Deut. 32:4; Ps. 18:2; 31:3; 42:9; 62:2, 6]

WHY JESUS CAME TO EARTH

5. Why are all human beings, including ourselves, doomed? Rom. 5:12 [Rom. 3:23; 6:23]

6. Life is only in God, and only by remaining in harmony with God can life continue. Through sin, the inhabitants of this world have placed themselves out of harmony with God and have received the death penalty. What has Jesus done to pay the penalty for our sins? Isa. 53:4-6 [John 1:29]

7. What did Jesus have to do to take our place (i. e., become our substitute) and pay for our sins? Phil. 2:5-8 [John 1:14; and 1 Tim. 3:16; and Heb. 2:14]

8. Can we receive forgiveness by keeping God’s law? Rom. 3:20 [Gal. 2:16]

9. If keeping the law will not save us, how can we be saved from our sins? Acts 16:30, 31 [Note: Belief in Jesus involves more than a mere acknowledgement of His existance, for “even the demons believe” that (James 2:19). Saving belief means accepting Jesus as “the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6), and as our personal Lord and Savior. Matt. 1:21]

10. When we accept Jesus as our Savior, what does God do with our “sins that were previously committed”? Rom. 3:24, 25 [Note: When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, He becomes our substitute and we are free from condemnation. From that point on, Christ will begin to mold and fashion us after His own likeness. Eph. 2:8]

11. In order for us to be forgiven, a change must take place in our attitudes. We must be sorry for our sins. How can we become sorry (repentant) for our sins so that we can receive the merits of Christ’s death in our behalf? Acts 5:30, 31 [Ans: We cannot make ourselves sorry for our sins. We must come to Jesus just as we are, and He will give us both repentance and forgiveness. Rom. 2:4; and 2 Cor. 7:10; and Luke 24:47]

12. Besides giving us repentance and forgiveness for the sins we have committed, what else does Jesus promise to do for us? 1 John 1:9 [Ans: To cleanse us. Eze. 36:25-29]

13. How does God cleanse us from sin, transforming our characters? Rom. 8:1-4, 13-14 [Ans: By giving us the same Spirit (that is, the same divine power) that kept Jesus from sin. 2 Cor. 5:21; Matt. 1:21; John 8:34-36]

14. After Jesus came down to live and die in our behalf, where did He go and what is He doing for us today? Heb. 4:14-16 [Ans: He went back to heaven to become our “High Priest” that He might help those who are weak and tempted and who call upon Him for help. Heb. 7:25; 2:17, 18; 6:19, 20]

15. What motive prompted God to give us this wonderful friend and Savior, Jesus, who can save us from sin and give us eternal life? John 3:16 [Acts 4:12; and John 15:13; and John 1:12; and 1 John 3:1-3]

Commitment: If you believe in Jesus as your Savior, He will give you repentance and forgiveness, and He will help you in every time of need. God loves you, and He wants you to live with Him forever. That is why He gave His only Son to die in your place. That is why Jesus is still ministering for you in heaven as your High Priest. Will you accept Him as your Lord and Savior today? Will you ask Jesus to come into your life and make you His child?

STEP I (Lessons 1-10): Believing in Christ, Our Savior and Coming King

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