Lesson #2 – Growth In Christ
A group of tourists visiting a picturesque village walked by an old man sitting beside a fence. In a rather patronizing way, one tourist asked, “Were any great men born in this village?” The old man replied “Nope, only babies.”
A simplistic question brought a profound answer. There are no instant heroes - whether in this world or in the kingdom of God. No great Christians have ever been born. Maturity takes time, effort, and the power of God in our lives. The question we must address is “How do followers of Christ grow in righteousness?”
In Godliness through Discipline, Jay Adams states: “There are only two kinds of life: the feeling motivated life of sin oriented toward self, and the commandment motivated life of holiness oriented toward godliness.”
There are several basic things that you need to understand in order to grow toward godliness.
I. You Must Understand Your new Position in Christ.
1. According to Eph. 2:1-3, what are five descriptions of your life before you became a Christian?
a. You were dead in trespasses and sins – v. 1
b. You were following the course of this world – v. 2a
c. You were following the prince of the power of the air – v.2b
d. You were following the passions of the flesh – v. 3a
e. You were a child of wrath – v. 3b
2. According to Eph. 2:4-6, what are three descriptions of your life now as a Believer?
a. We have been made alive by Christ – v. 5b
b. We have been raised with Christ – v. 6a
c. We have been made to sit with Christ in heavenly places – v. 6b
Teacher’s Note: The emphasis of these verses is that salvation radically changes a persons life – physically (following the course of this world and the passions of the flesh”) and non-physically (“dead in trespasses and sins and a child of wrath”).
3. How should we view ourselves as Christians?
II Cor. 2 Cor 5:17 He is a new creation Rom 6:11 We are dead to sin and alive to Christ
Romans chapter six teaches that we are no longer under the power of sin; nevertheless sinless perfection cannot be obtained in this life. The reason for this is that we still live in the “flesh” or “body” that has a sin nature (Rom. 6:12 – 7:25). While our inward nature has been changed (see 2 Cor. 5:17 and Rom. 6:11) and is dead to sin, our body is still alive to sin until it is changed at the resurrection (see 1 Cor. 15:42-44). Since the Believer still battles with sin, it is important that we understand the nature of temptation.
II. You Must Understand the Nature of Temptation.
1. Read the following passages and note the three sources of temptation.
a. James 1:13&14 Our own desires
b. 1 John 2:15&16 The lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life
c. 1 Peter 5:8; 2 Cor. 11:13 &14 Satan
2. Read Matt. 4:1-11. How did Jesus overcome temptation?
Unlike Adam and Even in the Garden of Eden, Jesus quoted scripture to Satan. Eve had a working knowledge of what God said, but actually added to what God said. Jesus simply quoted Bible verses, word for word.
Do we have the same resources for overcoming temptation? Absolutely!
3. Note four ways in which God’s Word is useful for overcoming sinful habits in 2 Tim. 3:16 & 17.
a. It is good for teaching (what is right)
b. It is good for reproof (what is wrong)
c. It is good for correction (how to get right)
d. It is good for training in righteousness (how to stay right)
4. What is God’s promise in 1 Cor. 10:13?
God will not allow you to experience a temptation that is greater than your ability to resist it with God’s help. By virtue of the fact that you are facing the temptation, you also know you can resist it.
III. You Must Understand God’s Purposes for the Believer in this Life.
While there are many purposes for the Believer – there are three primary ones, and even these overlap.
1. What is God’s purpose for the Believer in Rom. 8:28 & 29? To become conformed to the image of Christ
2. What is God’s purpose for the Believer in 2 Cor. 5:9? To live a life pleasing to God
3. What is God’s purpose for the Believer in 1 Cor. 10:31? To bring glory to God in all we do
It is important that we understand what God’s purposes are for us, otherwise our priorities in life will be wrong and we will misinterpret what God is attempting to accomplish in our lives. When we understand these things, what will our goal be according to Matt. 6:33?
To seek God and His kingdom first.
Lesson #3 – God’s Word
When a person becomes a child of God, he now has the Holy Spirit living within him. The Holy Spirit will enable that person to have the power to live the Christian life. Nevertheless,God’s Spirit does not act independent of God’s Word.
In order to overcome sinful habits, grow in godliness, and obtain guidance for everyday living, we must read and act upon God’s Word. Whenever God requires anything of His children, He provides instruction and power to meet those requirements through His Holy Word.
I. The Importance of God’s Word.
1. We must understand what the Bible is and what it can do in our lives.
a. Approximately thirty-nine men of God wrote the Scriptures under special inspiration over a period of 1500 years. According to 2 Tim. 3:16, Who specifically inspired these men? God
b. The word “inspired” means “God-breathed”. Although God used men as His instruments, who is the author of the Scriptures according to 2 Pet. 1:19-21? The Holy Spirit.
c. Read 2 Tim. 3:15-17. What is the most important thing the Scriptures teach us? (v15) They give us instruction leading to salvation. Because the Scriptures are God-breathed, they are profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness. What does God’s word enable us to do? (v17) Be equipped for every good work.
d. From the following verses, note the attitudes we should have toward the Word of God.
Psalm 119:35 Delight Psalm 119:42 Trust Psalm 119:62 Thanksgiving Psalm 119:117 Respect, regard, focus Psalm 119:164 Praise Psalm 119:167 Love
2. We must understand the importance of obeying God’s word.
a. What will prove our love for Christ? (John 14:15, 21, & 23) Obedience b. Read John 15:4-10 and list three requirements that are necessary for bringing forth fruit.
#1. Abiding in the Vine – vv. 4 – 8
#2. Abiding in Jesus’ love – v. 9
#3. Obeying God’s commands – v. 10
c. According to Gal. 5:22 & 23 what is the “fruit” of the Spirit?
love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control,
d. What is commanded in James 1:22? To be a doer of the Word, and not a hearer only. e. When we show a willful desire for obedience, God enables us to obey. Read examples of this in Mark 3:1-5 and Luke 17:12-14.
II. How to Use God’s Word.
There are several ways we can develop a deeper understanding of God’s Word, and through the application of Scripture, develop lives that glorify and please God:
1. Listen to the Word of God as it is being taught.
a. Read Eph. 4:11-16. What obligation does God give pastor-teachers and evangelists today?
Equipping the saints and building up the body of Christ.
b. Timothy was a pastor in the early church. What instructions does Paul give to him in 2 Tim. 4:1 & 2?
To preach the Word of God, convince, rebuke, and exhort.
2. Reading and studying God’s word. a. By reading God’s Word we can obtain an over-all knowledge of the Bible. A few minutes each day reading and underlining can greatly aid in your knowledge of the Scriptures. You may want to make it you goal to read the Bible in a year. In order to do so you would have to read three chapters a day and five on Sunday.
b. After we have an understanding of the overview of the Bible we need to begin a more detailed study of God’s word. Note the content of the following verses: Heb. 5:12-14 Our understanding of God’s Word should progress from the “elementary teachings” to those that would characterize the knowledge of a teacher.
1 Pet. 2:2&3 Growing in our knowledge of God’s Word is a process that is similar to that of a child. He starts with milk, but as he matures, he moves on to other foods.
2 Tim. 2:15 God’s Word needs to be handled with precision.
c. We must study in order to “handle accurately” the Word of God. As we study, we should apply some basic principles of interpretation:
1.) Keep Scripture in its context. In the same way poetry is different from a newspaper article, Proverbs is different from Galatians. The Bible has several types of literature in it, which affects interpretation. The author’s purpose in writing is part of the context. These concepts will almost always throw much light upon its meaning.
2.) We must interpret the Bible as we would any other literature. This is known as “normal” interpretation. We do not try to read into, allegorize, spiritualize, or explain away what we read. Rather we take the words of Scripture at face value trusting God is communicating what He wants to communicate.
3.) Scripture interprets Scripture. The Bible does not contradict itself, therefore, an interpretation of a passage must agree with the teachings of the rest of the Word of God. When a passage is difficult to understand a basic rule is that obscure passages must give way to clear passages.
4) The Bible has only one meaning in one passage. A passage does not mean one thing to one person and another thing to someone else. The question is not,
“What does this passage mean to me?’ but “What did God intend for it to mean?” It is the purpose of Bible studies to discern this meaning.
3. Meditating on and applying God’s word.
We can meditate on the Scriptures by memorization (Psalm 119:9 & 11), by praying over what we have read, or carefully and quietly considering its impact. Whatever method we use the ultimate purpose is to apply God’s truth to our lives.
a. What does God promise if we delight in His commandments? Psalm 1:1-3
We will be fruitful and immovable
b. What four actions are mentioned in Psalm 119:15 & 16? 1. Meditation 2. Regarding (look, consider, pay attention) 3. Delight 4. Remember (not forget)
c. What is the commandment in Col. 3:16? To allow the Word of God to dwell in us richly.
d. What is the principle in James 1:22-25?
We need to be doers of the Word, not hearers only. If we do this, we will be blessed.
Meditation: Transforming God’s Word from head knowledge to heart knowledge by making concrete applications to bring about conformity to Jesus Christ.
Use this chart as a guide for Bible study, meditation, and application of the Word. Passage being Studied: James 1:22-25
1. What does the passage say? This is explanation.
2. What does the passage mean? This is interpretation.
3. What does the passage look like? This is illustration.
4. What does the passage mean to me? This is application.
As we study God’s Word we should do so in order to discover and apply truth to our lives for God’s glory. We should not go looking for an emotional lift, or some great experience that will immediately change our lives. The Word of God is not a magic wand that when read will erase all of our problems – rather, it is God’s instructions given to us to teach us how to live life. If we go to God’s Word for an “upper” or “zap,” we will grow weary of reading the Scriptures when these things don’t happen consistently. But when we go to the Word to learn how to live life God’s way, we are coming to a well that never runs dry.
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