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Foundations of the Faith: Day 1

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Foundations of the Faith: Day 1
PART I: SALVATION


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What is Christianity really all about? How does the Bible apply to my life? Who is Jesus Christ? Through this 45-day email course, we'll answer these questions and much more. The Foundations of the Faith discipleship course delivers a new lesson and memory verse to your inbox every day. Each lesson is part of a topical section, covering topics that are essential to forming a Bible-centered worldview and deeper walk with ***. Let's start with salvation ...

I was sitting in her little house when 95-year-old Amelia told me how she came to accept Jesus as her Savior. Many years before she had stood at the doorway of a church in Latin America. She was afraid to enter, but listened intently as the preacher said, "Jesus is your Savior. He will save you from your sins. When you are in need, call on Jesus."

That day she walked back up the hill and when she entered her room she heard a rustle. Suddenly, before she could run, a large boa constrictor snake wrapped itself around her. She could see the large head in front of her face as it began to squeeze. She remembered the preacher's words and in desperation she cried out, "Jesus, save me! Jesus, save me!" The snake loosened its coils, fell from her and slithered out of the room.

Needless to say, that day Amelia not only thanked the Lord Jesus for saving her physically, but asked Him to save her spiritually as well.

The same Lord Jesus that saved Amelia can save you.

Definition of Salvation

One day a young man from a university said to me, "There are many roads to salvation and heaven. Sincerity is the key to reaching heaven. You may believe whatever you wish as long as you are sincere."

Was he right? Is being sincere enough? Or can a person be sincerely mistaken?

The Bible is very clear in saying that freedom from sin comes only through Jesus Christ. Revelation 1:5 says, "He [Jesus Christ] loves us, and by his death he has freed us from our sins."

Acts 4:12 states: "Salvation is to be found through him [Christ] alone; in all the world there is no one else whom *** has given who can save us."

So, in defining salvation we can say that it is pardon from sin, but we must add "through the death of Jesus Christ."

Who needs this salvation? Everyone has sinned and been sentenced to eternal death or separation from ***.

Ezekiel 18:4 says, "The person who sins is the one who will die." And in Romans 3:23 we read, "Everyone has sinned and is far away from ***'s saving presence." All mankind is in need of forgiveness of sin and pardon through Jesus Christ.

Memory Verse

But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of ***. - John 1:12

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. - 2 Corinthians 5:17


Foundations of the Faith: Day 2

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Foundations of the Faith: Day 2
SALVATION


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Initiation into Salvation

A few years after the resurrection of Jesus, the writer of Acts tells the story of a jailer who was very frightened because there had been an earthquake and he thought some of his prisoners were escaping. Two of them, Paul and Silas, were followers of Christ.

Paul and Silas quickly assured the jailer that no prisoners were getting away. Then the jailer, seeing that *** had worked a miracle, asked how he could be saved. The answer the believers gave him was very simple. It is found in Acts 16:31, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved." So the first step that must be taken to enter salvation is to believe in the Lord Jesus.

In what way must we believe? Again the Bible has the answer. It says that we must accept Him as our Lord and Savior, and depend on Him to take us to heaven.

"These have been written in order that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of ***, and that through your faith in him you may have life" (John 20:31).

When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior we must also turn from sin. We must repent and ask ***, for Jesus' sake, to forgive us and make us clean. If we ask Him to do this, we must also trust that He does forgive and cleanse us. Remember I John 1:9, "If we confess our sins to ***, he will keep his promise and do what is right: he will forgive us our sins and purify us from all our wrongdoing."

This acceptance of Jesus as Lord and Savior is done simply by talking to Him as you would to a friend. If you have never taken this step, just tell *** that you want to accept the forgiveness He offers.

Perhaps you could say in your own words something like:

"Dear Father, I recognize that I am a sinner.

I'm sorry for my sin and ask Your forgiveness. Cleanse me and keep me from all wrongdoing. I accept the sacrifice of Your Son, Jesus who died for me.

I take Him now as my Lord and Savior. Thank You. Amen."

Once you have sincerely prayed this, you can trust that your sins are forgiven! You can praise and thank *** that you belong to Him, that you are His child.

Memory Verses

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
- John 14:6

But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of ***.
- John 1:12


Foundations of the Faith: Day 3
SALVATION


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Results of Salvation

What happens to you when you accept salvation? A definite spiritual change, a transformation, takes place. Sometimes this is called a change of heart. Second Corinthians 7:10 says, "For the sadness that is used by God brings a change of heart that leads to salvation." Second Corinthians 5:17 tells us, "When anyone is joined to Christ, he is a new being; the old is gone, the new has come." This change can be seen in several ways. Sometimes a person's attitude toward life changes from sad to happy, or perhaps he now loves someone he couldn't love before.

There can also be physical transformations. Those who have been bound by habits such as alcoholism can be set free. The Lord is powerful to make any changes necessary in the person who now believes on Him.

To accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior also means to be born into the family of God. This is what Jesus meant when He said in John 3:3 that we should be "born again."

John 1:12-13 says, "Some, however, did receive him and believed in him; so he gave them the right to become God's children. They did not become God's children by natural means, that is, by being born as the children of a human father; God himself was their Father."

The Bible also speaks of adoption which brings out a similar relationship. By adoption we are received into God's family. God makes us His children, giving us all the rights of inheritance that belong to the sons of God.

"God's Spirit joins himself to our spirits to declare that we are God's children. Since we are his children, we will possess the blessings he keeps for his people, and we will also possess with Christ what God has kept for him; for if we share in Christ's suffering we will also share his glory" (Romans 8:16-17).

Being in the family of God is special. This is why you will hear Christians call each other "brother" or "sister." This is a way of saying, "We belong to the same family."

Can We Be Sure?

Can we be sure of our salvation? One day a young woman asked for prayer. She told me that when she accepted Christ as her Savior she had felt so wonderful, so full of joy. Now she didn't feel that way and wanted to know why she had "lost her salvation." We know that we are not saved by feeling, but by taking God at His Word.

If we have met the conditions that the Bible gives us for salvation, we must believe we are saved no matter what we feel. The Holy Spirit can speak this assurance to our hearts also. We can find reassurance from our brothers and sisters in Christ. too, like my friend did the day she came to me.

"We know that we have left death and come over into life: we know it because we love our brothers" (I John 3:14).

Perhaps you have heard Christians use the words justification and sanctification. What do these mean?

Justification is being free from sin, made righteous. It is a result of salvation. God forgives our sin, takes away all guilt, and says that we are now righteous--just as if we had never done anything wrong. Romans 5:1 tells us, "Now that we have been put right with God through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." Being put right with God is justification.

Sanctification means being made holy, that is, clean from sin and dedicated to God.

"May the God who gives us peace make you holy in every way and keep your whole being--spirit, soul, and body--free from every fault at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ" (I Thessalonians 5:23).

God wants all Christians to be sanctified, made holy. "God wants you to be holy and completely free from sexual immorality" (1 Thessalonians 4:3).

"Try to be at peace with everyone, and try to live a holy life, because no one will see the Lord without it" (Hebrews 12:14).

There is another point that should be touched upon while talking of the results of Jesus' death on the cross. This is divine healing. Divine healing was included in the benefits Jesus bought for us on Calvary.

Many people brought to Jesus had demons in them. Jesus drove out the evil spirits with a word and healed all who were sick. He did this to make come true what the prophet Isaiah had said, "He himself took our sickness and carried away our diseases" (Matthew 8:16-17).

"We are healed by the punishment he suffered, made whole by the blows he received" (Isaiah 53:5). Divine healing is the supernatural power of God bringing health to the human body.

James 5:14-15 tells us how we can claim this healing: "Is there anyone who is sick? He should send for the church elders, who will pray for him and rub olive oil on him in the name of the Lord. This prayer made in faith will heal the sick person; the Lord will restore him to health, and the sins he has committed will be forgiven."

Memory Verses

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
- Ephesians 2:8-9

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.
- Titus 2:11-14

Foundations of the Faith: Day 4
PART II: THE BIBLE


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The sailors were frightened. There had been a terrible storm and some of their friends had drowned. They were lost and many unanswered questions troubled them. Where were they going? How long would this trip last? Would they ever find their way home?

It was 1492, and the captain of these men, Christopher Columbus, could not answer their questions. He had taken them on an uncharted course across the Atlantic Ocean looking for India. Instead, he found an island in the Americas. There he and his sailors found fresh water and their lives were saved.

A similar story would not likely be repeated today. With accurate charts and maps to direct their course, ship captains need not lose their way.

Though still on land, many people feel as if they are lost on a storm-tossed ocean. They are asking themselves questions. Where am I going? Am I lost? Will I ever find the right way? God has heard our questions and He has already given us a Book to guide our lives.

Before searching for the answers, let's look together at the great Book. We will see how it was written and how it was given to us.

Origin of the Bible

The Holy Bible, made up of 66 books, is like a small library that God has given us. The first part of the Bible--the Old Testament--contains 39 books. The second part--the New Testament--contains 27 books.

Over a period of 1600 years, approximately 40 men were involved in writing these books. The Bible tells us that these men were holy men of God. They were kings and peasants, poets and merchants, military, and religious leaders. They were from different back grounds, different cities, and of different interests.

The books of the Bible cover many different subjects, like history, prophecy, and poetry. It has songs and wise sayings called proverbs. It contains stories to interest the young and the old. Yet it all fits together because it has one central theme--the relationship between God and man.

Memory Verses

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
- John 1:1

I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.
- Psalm 119:11

Foundations of the Faith: Day 5
THE BIBLE


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The Purpose of the Bible

Perhaps you noticed what may seem to be a contradiction in the first part of this lesson. It says that God gave us the Bible, but it also says that men wrote it. How can this be?

The 40 men who wrote the Bible were divinely inspired. This means that the Holy Spirit put in the authors' minds the thoughts that God wanted them to write. 2 Timothy 3:16 says, "All Scripture is inspired by God.” This verse also tells why the Bible was given for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and giving instruction.

God has given us instructions for right living because He desires our highest good. He knows that when we do not live according to His principles we hurt ourselves. Our minds, our bodies, and especially our spirits suffer. The best way to avoid hurting ourselves is to follow His Word closely. Through it we get to know Him personally; we understand that His ways are best for us.

Like a chart or a guide book, His Word was written for us to turn to for help and strength. How wonderful that we can have His personal instructions to us always at our side!

Memory Verses

Blessed are they whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the Lord. Blessed are they who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart.
- Psalm 119:1-2

Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God.
- Romans 3:19

Foundations of the Faith: Day 6
PART III: GOD


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I was a little child when my mother taught me how to enjoy storms. She would put her arms around me as we stood at the window of our house in Latin America. The wind would whip through the banana trees in our front yard. It was magnificent to see the tossing leaves, wet with rain, shining when the lightning flashed. The thunder sounded like drums telling the story of how the grass and flowers loved the refreshing rain.

People can enjoy or fear a storm, depending on what they have been taught about it. It is also important to know what kind of a storm it is--beneficial or destructive.

How can you understand a storm? What is the shape of the wind and rain and lightning? Can you put a storm in a bottle? Of course not. A storm is understood when we study its parts: for example, the cold air meeting the hot. We can study its effects--what it does to the land or the sea.

In a way, God can be compared to a storm. Some people fear Him and others love Him--depending on what they have been told and what they do about it.

You cannot see God, but you can study what He does. It it is the Bible that tells us all about God--about His qualities and how He deals with mankind. In this lesson we will look into the Bible and explore a few of the many things it has to say about God.

His Relationship to Us

The Bible says in John 4:24 that God is a Spirit. The dictionary says that a spirit is the vital principle that gives life. Since God is the Creator, this means that He is the supernatural force that gives life to all of His creation. Because He is a spirit, He cannot be seen unless He chooses to show Himself in some visible form.

He did show Himself through His Son. John 1:14 says, "The Word became a human being and, full of grace and truth, lived among us. We saw his glory, the glory which he received as the Father's only Son."

God has revealed Himself as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, three Persons which are called the Godhead or Trinity. The three are referred to in many places, one of which is Matthew 28:19: "Go, then, to all peoples everywhere and make them my disciples: baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit."

One good way to learn more about God is by studying His attributes or qualities. God is good, holy, just, all-powerful, all-knowing, and eternal. Let's look at a series of verses that mention these qualities and others as well.

Exodus 34:6 states, "I, the Lord, am a God who is full of compassion and pity, who is not easily angered and who shows great love and faithfulness."

Leviticus 11:44 says: "I am the Lord your God, and you must keep yourselves holy. because I am holy."

The fact that He is all-powerful can be seen in Daniel 4:35. It says. "No one can oppose his will or question what he does." God knows everything.

"There is nothing that can be hid from God; everything in all creation is exposed and lies open before his eyes. And it is to him that we must all give an account of ourselves" (Hebrews 4:13). Revelation 10:6 tells us that God is eternal. An angel "took a vow in the name of God, who lives forever and ever, who created heaven, earth, and the sea, and everything in them."

The few verses that we have read, verses that give a little description of God, help us to realize how great He is. He is powerful and He is strong--but He is also merciful and kind. And He wants to have a close relationship with us, His creation.

Memory Verses


For this is what the high and lofty One says--he who lives forever, whose name is holy: "I live in a high and holy place, but also with him who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite.
- Isaiah 57:15

For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.
- Romans 1:18-20

Foundations of the Faith: Day 7
GOD


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Our Relationship to God

In Matthew 22:37 Jesus said, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind."

There are various ways of showing God that we love Him. Our worship and praise can put our love into words said directly to Him. But we should also show our love.

"Now ... listen to what the Lord your God demands of you: Have reverence for the Lord and do all that he commands. Love him, serve him with all your heart, and obey all his laws" Deuteronomy 10:12 13).

"But whoever obeys his word is the one whose love for God has really been made perfect" (I John 2:5). If we want to show our love to God, we will follow the instructions He gives us in His Word.

Another way to show our love to God is by giving and sharing with others. I John 3:17-18 says, "If a rich person sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against his brother, how can he claim that he loves God? My children, our love should not be just words and talk; it must be true love, which shows itself in action."

The love that is obedient and sharing will be a satisfying and rewarding love. Jesus says in Luke 10:28 that if we love God above all else we "will live." Some people think that "real living" is wealth, power, and position. But these things in themselves will never satisfy because we were made in God's likeness and for His glory. Our spirits must be satisfied with the spiritual.

Real living is loving God. Jesus said, "Be concerned above everything else with the Kingdom of God and with what he requires of you, and he will provide you with all these other things" (Matthew 6:33).

Don't limit yourself to the less important things. Love God with all your heart.

MEMORY VERSE

My children, our love should not be just words and talk; it must be true love, which shows itself in action.
- I John 3:18

Foundations of the Faith: Day 8
GOD


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Who We Are

There is a children's story about a famous wood carver who one day carved the figure of a little boy. It was a beautiful carving and the man called it Pinocchio. He was proud of his work but there was no way the carving could love him in return.

What would have happened if the carver had put a little talking-machine inside the wooden boy? Maybe he could have made the little figure move and say, "I love you." Would that have satisfied the carver? Would he have been thrilled and said, "Now I know my carving loves me?" No, because that would not be an expression of love. It would be only a mechanical phrase with no real feeling.

The story says that somehow the wooden boy came alive. He had a mind of his own and when he would say, "I love you," it did thrill the carver. Why? Because the wooden boy wasn't forced to say it--he said it with love.

We know the story is just a fable, but it gives us a little picture of how God felt when He made man. He made him beautifully and, most important, with the power to make his own choices.

God made man, but not carved from a block of wood. How did He make him? What qualities did He put in man? In the last lesson we studied some of the qualities of God and our attitude toward Him. Now let's look at how God made man and the responsibility He gave him.

Man's Condition At Creation

God created a beautiful world with trees, flowers, and animals. The Bible says that God was pleased with what He saw. But it wasn't complete. There were no people to enjoy and share that beauty.

Genesis 1:26-27 tells us, "Then God said, 'And now we will make human beings; they will be like us and resemble us. They will have power over the fish, the birds, and all the animals, domestic and wild, large and small.' So God created human beings, making them like himself."

Man was different from the animals already created because he was made in God's likeness. He was a glorious creation, perfect in body, soul, and spirit. Further details of the story are given in Genesis 2 where it tells how God formed man out of the soil of the ground. Then He breathed life-giving breath into man's nostrils and the man began to live.

With life came responsibility. Man could make his own decisions. He could glorify God in his everyday living. Isaiah 43:7 gives us God's words, "They are my own people, and I created them to bring me glory."

The Bible says that in the cool of the evening God would walk and talk with man in the beautiful garden where they lived. God loved those first people, Adam and Eve, and wanted their perfect fellowship to continue forever. But He knew it could not be perfect if it were forced, if Adam and Eve had no choice but to fellowship with Him.

Because God has the freedom to choose and He made man like Himself, He gave man the freedom to decide whether that fellowship should continue as it had--unbroken and beautiful. Perhaps Adam and Eve wanted to keep it that way, but they wanted some other things too. One day they would come to a place of having to decide what they wanted most of all.

Memory Verses

Then God said, "And now we will make human beings; they will be like us and resemble us. They will have power over the fish, the birds, and all the animals, domestic and wild, large and small." So God created human beings, making them like himself.
- Genesis 1:26-27

Foundations of the Faith: Day 9
GOD


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Man's Condition Now

What a joy the heart of God must have felt having communion with His creation when He walked witih Adam and Even in the Garden of Eden. Then Adam and Eve chose to break that precious fellowship with God.

That is how man fell from his perfect state. He made the wrong choice and became sinful. Romans 5:19 says, "All people were made sinners as the result of the disobedience of one man."

The justice of God could not ignore sin. God cannot lie and go against His word. He had said that disobedience would cause man to become mortal. Adam and Eve had to leave that paradise garden of Eden and be separated from the presence of God.

Man's condition today is still sinful. Romans 3:23 says, "Everyone has sinned and is far away from God's saving presence." Man has never lost the ability to choose. Wrong choices still keep people away from God. We will be looking more closely at sin, how it seperates us from God and His plan, and how we can overcome sin through Jesus Christ.

Memory Verses

This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.
- Romans 3:22-24

Foundations of the Faith: Day 10
Part IV: SIN


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Let's imagine a friend has given you a palace full of beautiful things. It is yours to enjoy. The only request he makes is, "Please don't jump from the tower because you will die."

Then an enemy comes to your palace. He says, "Who told you not to jump? Go ahead. You'll feel wonderful! You will know how it feels to fly. You will be able to see your palace from a different view. Don't worry about what happens when you hit bottom; just think about all the new things you'll learn on the way down."

Would you run to the top of your tower and jump? Of course not. It would be stupid to trust your enemy and do as he says.

Adam and Eve had a similar experience. God put them in a beautiful garden and made them masters over everything. He gave them permission to eat of every tree but one. Along came the enemy, Satan, who told them to eat the fruit of the tree anyway--that it wouldn't hurt them. They trusted his word instead of God's. How foolish!

As we studied in the previous lesson, man was made perfect but through disobedience sin entered his life. How would we define sin? Did Adam bring it into the world? What is the punishment for sin? Is there any escape? The Bible verses in this lesson will give us the answers.

Definition of Sin

Sin is disobeying God's laws. It is saying to God, "I am more important than You. I don't take Your Word as my final authority."

Sin is rebellion.

"No one has a right to limit me," you might say. "I'll do what I please." The limits God has set for us were made for one reason--our highest good. For instance, God knows that bitterness and hate can cause severe headaches; a desire for revenge can cause ulcers. These attitudes hurt other people too. God showed His love for us by setting certain limits, or laws, as protection. For us to go outside these limits is to sin. 1 John 3:4 says, "Whoever sins is guilty of breaking God's law, because sin is a breaking of the law."

"Is it alright then to do anything that doesn't hurt me or others?" No, everything is lawful ONLY if it is inside the limits that God has set. We might think that something doesn't hurt us or others and be mistaken in our belief. For example, there were parents who thought they shouldn't obey God's law of correcting their children because that would frustrate or confuse them. Now a recent magazine article informs us, "It's time to discipline our children." Man's opinions change. For a while he thinks one thing won't hurt us and later he says it will. The only safe conduct for us is obedience to the laws that God has set, whether we understand the reason for them or not.

Memory Verses

Whoever sins is guilty of breaking God's law, because sin is a breaking of the law.
- 1 John 3:4

Foundations of the Faith: Day 11
SIN


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The Origin of Sin

Satan tempted man to sin, and man yielded to that temptation. 1 John 3:8 says. "Whoever continues to sin belongs to the Devil, because the Devil has sinned from the very beginning." It was Satan that brought sin into the world, but this does not free man from blame. Man is responsible too.

Adam did not have to yield to temptation from Satan. We know that temptations do not come from God. James 1:13-14 tells us, "If a person is tempted by such trials, he must not say, 'This temptation comes from God.' For God cannot be tempted by evil, and he himself tempts no one."

It is not sin to be tempted. Even Jesus was tempted by the devil. But it is sin to yield. How different the world would be if Adam had not yielded.

What happened to man when he sinned? God said that if he disobeyed he would die. He didn't die immediately as we know death, but he immediately became mortal. Death began to work in his body, soul, and spirit.

"Sin came into the world through one man, and his sin brought death with it. As a result, death has spread to the whole human race because everyone has sinned"(Romans 5:12).

Yes, all people are sinners. "Everyone has sinned and is far away from God's saving presence" (Romans 3:23).

The penalty for sin today is the same penalty that was given to Adam and Eve--death. Romans 5:12 expresses it this way: "Death has spread to the whole human race." In Romans 6:23 we read, "For sin pays its wage--death." No, the sinner doesn't physically die the moment he commits sin. Sometimes it even looks as though he prospers. But death is working there nevertheless, and eventually he will not only die physically but spiritually also. Spiritual death means eternal separation from God. That is why Christ's sacrifice and salvation through him can cover our sins and give us eternal life.

Memory Verses

You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
- Romans 5: 6-8



Foundations of the Faith: Day 12
SIN


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The Solution For Sin

Do you remember the story that I told you at the beginning of this lesson? The person who jumps from the palace tower will surely die. But what if a friend was near and stretched out a strong net just below the window? If the one who jumped caught the net, his life could be saved.

God has given us a way to escape the punishment of sin which is spiritual death and everlasting separation from Him. The way is through accepting Jesus Christ as our Savior. In another lesson, we learned the verses that tell us how to reach out and be saved. For now, it would be good to memorize two verses that show us how to escape the punishment of sin.

Memory Verses

God has shown us how much he loves us--it was while we were still sinners that Christ died for us!
- Romans 5:8

If we confess our sins to God, he will keep his promise and do what is right: he will forgive us our sins and purify us from all our wrongdoing.
- 1 John 1:9


Foundations of the Faith: Day 13
PART V: JESUS


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"Yes, of course I believe in Jesus Christ," said my new friend. "He was a great prophet, a man sent from God who gave us many teachings that we should follow."

"That's wonderful," I replied. "But it's not enough. You must not only believe that He was a great prophet, but that He is God. You must know Him as divine, as a Savior."

This was difficult for my friend to accept. He had learned some things about Jesus but had never established communion with Him through reading His Word or through prayer. It was hard for him to believe that all men are sinners (as we studied in a perivous section), or that there is an escape from sin.

He asked me many questions that day. Who is Jesus? How can He be human and divine at the same time? If He died, why do Christians say He is living? What is He doing now?

The best answers that I could find were in the Bible, the Word of God. In this lesson we will look at those same questions and find the answers that my friend wanted to know.

His Person

Jesus Christ is the visible manifestation of God to man. He chose to become like men so that we would be able to understand Him better and learn His plan of salvation for us. This choosing to become like a man meant that Jesus would have two natures in One Person, both human and divine. Romans 1:3-4 says, "It is about his Son, our Lord Jesus Christ: as to his humanity, he was born a descendant of David; as to his divine holiness, he was shown with great power to be the Son of God by being raised from death. To have a human nature, Jesus was born of a virgin named Mary."

Luke 1:30-33 says, "The angel said to her, 'Don't be afraid, Mary; God has been gracious to you. You will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High God. The Lord God will make him a king, as his ancestor David was, and he will be the king of the descendants of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end!'"

John 1:14 says, "The Word became a human being and, full of grace and truth, lived among us. We saw his glory, the glory which he received as the Father's only Son."

Who is this Father mentioned in John 1:14? God is the Father of Jesus.

2 Peter 1:17 tells us, "He was given honor and glory by God the Father, when the voice came to him from the Supreme Glory, saying, 'This is my own dear Son, with whom I am well pleased!'"

The name "Jesus Christ" also tells us of His divinity. When the angel said that the baby's name would be Jesus, it was for a very special reason. Jesus means Savior. Matthew 1:21 says, "She will have a son, and you will name him Jesus-because he will save his people from their sins."

The name Christ has a special meaning too. It means "the anointed one" or "the Messiah." Many years ago when a man was chosen to be king, oil was poured over his head as part of the ceremony. This pouring on of oil was called "anointing." To call the Lord "Christ" or "the anointed one" meant that He was royalty. Messiah was the name the Jews gave to the king and deliverer for whom they waited. Simon Peter recognized Him as king and said, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God" (Matthew 16:16).

Memory Verses

He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God--children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.
- 1 John 1:10-13

Foundations of the Faith: Day 14
JESUS


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His Purpose

Jesus came into the world to save man from sin. Luke 19:10 says, "The Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost." There was only one way He could save us---by giving His life. "The Son of man ... did not come to be served, but to serve and to give his life to redeem many people" (Mark 10:45).

Redeem means to set free, rescue, save, or deliver. This is a wonderful promise to all mankind. But why did Jesus have to die to redeem us? If we remember the story of Adam and Eve, we will recall that God had told them that sin is followed by death. God cannot go against His own judgment against sin. If there is sin, someone has to die. So Jesus Christ came to die in the sinner's place. No one else could do it because He was the only one who could conquer death.

Yet it was not easy--even for our Lord. He, Who had been sitting on His throne with angels to carry out every command, Who created heavens and earth and man, became a servant. He permitted His creation to hurt Him, despise Him, and crucify Him on the cross of Calvary that they might be saved. In I Peter 1:18-19 we read, "You know what was paid to set you free ... It was not something that can be destroyed, such as silver or gold; it was the costly sacrifice of Christ, who was like a lamb without defect or flaw."

Are all men now saved since Jesus died for them? No, God never took away the privilege of choice. Each man still has to make his own decision. He has to accept Jesus as his personal Savior. Jesus said to His followers, "Go throughout the whole world and preach the gospel to all mankind. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned" (Mark 16:15-16).

"For God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not die but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to be its judge, but to be its savior. Whoever believes in the Son is not judged; but whoever does not believe has already been judged, because he has not believed in God's only Son" (John 3:16-18).

Memory Verses

For God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not die but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to be its judge, but to be its savior. Whoever believes in the Son is not judged; but whoever does not believe has already been judged, because he has not believed in God's only Son .
- John 3:16-18

Foundations of the Faith: Day 15
JESUS


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His Resurrection

Jesus died for us. There would have been no hope of salvation for man, however, if he had remained in the grave.

Many religions have built shrines at the tombs of their leaders. Inside are the revered bones of their dead. But the tomb of Jesus is empty because of the miracle that took place three days after His crucifixion. Jesus rose from the dead and was seen many times after His resurrection.

"That he was buried and that he was raised to life three days later, as written in the Scriptures; that he appeared to Peter and then to all 12 apostles. Then he appeared to more than 500 of his followers at once, most of whom are still alive, although some have died. Then he appeared to James, and afterward to all the apostles" (I Corinthians 15:4-7).

Jesus' resurrection is one evidence that points to his being the Son of God. Romans 1:4 says, "He (Jesus Christ) was shown with great power to be the Son of God by being raised from death."

After he showed Himself to many people and spoke words of encouragement to them, he ascended into heaven. This, also, was no secret because he ascended while His disciples were watching.

"Then he led them out of the city as far as Bethany, where he raised his hands and blessed them. As he was blessing them, he departed from them and was taken up into heaven"(Luke 24:50-51).

What is Jesus doing now? When He ascended He took Hhs rightful place at the right hand of His Father. He talks to His Father about our needs. Let's look at three verses that tell what He is doing now.

"We have such a High Priest, who sits at the right of the throne of the Divine Majesty in heaven" (Hebrews 8:1).

"If anyone does sin, we have someone who pleads with the Father on our behalf--Jesus Christ, the righteous one" (I John 2:1).

"And so he is able, now and always, to save those who come to God through him, because he lives forever to plead with God for them" (Hebrews 7:25).

How wonderful that the costly price has been paid for our redemption! After dying on the cross, rising from the grave, and ascending to be with His Father, He does not forget us. He is interested in us every day and wants to help us whenever we will allow Him to do so.

Memory Verses

If anyone does sin, we have someone who pleads with the Father on our behalf--Jesus Christ, the righteous one.
- I John 2:1

And so he is able, now and always, to save those who come to God through him, because he lives forever to plead with God for them.
- Hebrews 7:25

We have such a High Priest, who sits at the right of the throne of the Divine Majesty in heaven.
- Hebrews 8:1

Foundations of the Faith: Day 16
PART VI: HOLY SPIRIT


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The disciples knew that Jesus was going away. He had told them so. At first it didn't sound like good news and their hearts were troubled. They loved Jesus; they had walked three years with Jesus. How could they live without Him?

Jesus read their hearts, and He assured them that it was best for them that He return to His Father in heaven. His Father would send the Holy Spirit (part of the Trinity), and they would never be left alone.

God's Spirit wouldn't be felt in just one country, or minister to just one race of people--but over the whole earth. On the Day of Pentecost Peter spoke to the crowd representing at least 15 different language groups. Acts 2:16-17 tells us what he said: "This is what the prophet Joel spoke about: This is what I will do in the last days. God says: I will pour out my Spirit on everyone."

In Section 1 we studied about salvation. Did you know that we are brought to salvation through the work of the Holy Spirit? Let's study about the Holy Spirit and His work in us.

The Person Of The Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is God. He is the third Person in the Godhead, called the Holy Trinity. Like the Father and the Son, He also has other names. Some are the Holy Ghost, the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Truth, the Comforter. Matthew 28:19 mentions all three Persons. "Go, then, to all peoples everywhere and make them my disciples: baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit."

The Holy Spirit is like God the Father. He is eternal, all-powerful, all-knowing, and everywhere. He works together with the Father and the Son and was with them at Creation. Let's look at some verses that tell us about the Holy Spirit.

"Through the eternal Spirit he offered himself as a perfect sacrifice to God" (Hebrews 9:14).

"The Spirit searches everything, even the hidden depths of God's purposes" (1 Corinthians 2:10).

"God's spirit made me and gave me life" (Job 33:4).

The Holy Spirit moved on prophets and priests in Old Testament times. He helped men and women to serve God. Of Joseph who was sold as a slave into Egypt it was said, "We will never find a better man than Joseph, a man who has God's spirit in him" (Genesis 41:38).

Memory Verses

Through the eternal Spirit he offered himself as a perfect sacrifice to God.
- Hebrews 9:14

The Spirit searches everything, even the hidden depths of God's purposes.
- 1 Corinthians 2:10

God's spirit made me and gave me life
- Job 33:4

Foundations of the Faith: Day 17
HOLY SPIRIT


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The Work Of The Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit plays an essential part in our salvation. He shows us how wrong our sins are and helps us accept Jesus as our Savior. He changes our lives.

"And when he comes [the Holy Spirit], he will prove to the people of the world that they are wrong about sin and about what is right and about God's judgment"(John 16:8).

"'I am telling you the truth,' replied Jesus, 'that no one can enter the Kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. A person is born physically of human parents, but he is born spiritually of the Spirit'" (John 3:5-6).

The Holy Spirit dwells in every believer. He enters the heart when conversion takes place. "To show you that you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who cries out, 'Father, my Father'" (Galatians 4:6). Romans 8:9 says further, "Whoever does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to Him." If we belong to the family of God, His Spirit dwells within us.

"For the Spirit that God has given you does not make you slaves and cause you to be afraid; instead, the Spirit makes you God's children, and by the Spirit's power we cry out to God, 'Father! my Father!'" (Romans 8:15-16).

We have talked about the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, and we may also have the infilling of the Holy Spirit which occurs after conversion. It is sometimes called the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. Not every believer is baptized in the Holy Spirit, but it is an experience God wants all His children to have. "He [Jesus] has been raised to the right side of God, his Father, and has received from him the Holy Spirit, as he had promised. What you now see and hear is his gift that he has poured out on us" (Acts 2:33).

"Peter said unto them, 'Each one of you must turn away from his sins and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, so that your sins will be forgiven; and you will receive God's gift, the Holy Spirit'" (Acts 2:38).

"The Holy Spirit is our Comforter, our Helper. He teaches, gives us love and fellowship, and guides us into truth. He has fruit for us, like joy, peace, patience, humility and self-control (Galatians 5:22) and spiritual gifts with which to minister unto the Lord and to our fellow man" (I Corinthians 12:4-7).

Memory Verses

Peter said unto them, "Each one of you must turn away from his sins and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, so that your sins will be forgiven; and you will receive God's gift, the Holy Spirit".
- 1 Acts 2:38

Foundations of the Faith: Day 18
PART VII: THE CHURCH


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There are beautiful buildings and cathedrals, humble adobe missions and huts that have on them the name "Church." They have steeples and crosses, bells and towers that have their own way of announcing to passers-by, "This is a church." These man-made structures are churches in one sense of the word, but the church spoken of in the New Testament is something more.

The church in its larger sense is made up of all believers. It is called the Body of Christ. God dwells among these believers by His Spirit. We have studied about the Holy Spirit and some of His function, but one of the functions we did not mention is that He unites the church. Ephesians 4:3 says. "Do your best to preserve the unity which the Spirit gives by means of the peace that binds you together."

In this lesson we will study what the church is, what it should be doing, and what is going to happen to it. Again, it is the Bible that will give us the right answers.

Its Names

When you hear the words body, building, bride, family, do they suggest something in common? All relate to people and in biblical language these words refer to a specific group of people--those who make up God's family.

The church is compared to a body of which Christ is the head. Colossians 1:18 says, "He is the head of his body, the church: he is the source of the body's life."

" God put all things under Christ's feet and gave him to the church as supreme Lord over all things. The church is Christ's body, the completion of him who himself completes all things everywhere" (Ephesians 1:22-23).

"All of you are Christ's body, and each one a part of it" (1Corinthians 12:27). The Bible also likens the church to a building, a temple dedicated to the Lord.

"You, too, are built upon the foundation laid by the apostles and prophets, the cornerstone being Christ Jesus himself. He is the one who holds the whole building together and makes it grow into a sacred temple dedicated to the Lord. In union with him you too are being built together with all the others into a place where God lives through His Spirit" (Ephesians 2:20-22).

Another name given to the church is the bride of Christ. The Bible calls Jesus the Lamb and states that the church is the bride that will be married to Him. Revelation 21:9 says, "Come, and I will show you the Bride, the wife of the Lamb."

"For the time has come for the wedding of the Lamb, and his bride has prepared herself for it" (Revelation 19:7). Christ is compared to the husband and the church to the wife in Ephesians 5:25. "Husbands, love your wives just as Christ loved the church and gave his life for it."

As you read the Bible you will find other comparisons. The important thing to remember is that the church is made up of all those who are truly born-again followers of Christ. It's a growing group, "praising God, and enjoying the good will of all the people. And every day the Lord added to their group those who were being saved" (Acts 2:47).

Memory Verses

You, too, are built upon the foundation laid by the apostles and prophets, the cornerstone being Christ Jesus himself. He is the one who holds the whole building together and makes it grow into a sacred temple dedicated to the Lord. In union with him you too are being built together with all the others into a place where God lives through His Spirit.
- Ephesians 2:20-22

Foundations of the Faith: Day 19
THE CHURCH


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Its Ordinances

Now that we know who the church is, it is important to understand its ordinances. An ordinance is a rule made by an authority. The ordinances of the church are water baptism and communion, which we also call the Lord's Supper.

Jesus Himself instituted these two ordinances. His final command to all his disciples was, "Go, then, to all peoples everywhere and make them my disciples: baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit" (Matthew 28:19).

Water baptism has a special significance: "For when you were baptized, you were buried with Christ, and in baptism you were also raised with Christ through your faith in the active power of God, who raised him from death" (Colossians 2:12).

As a believer you will want to be water baptized as a testimony of your new life in Christ. You will also want to take part in communion.

Communion, the Lord's Supper, or the Last Supper, was the last meeting Jesus had with the 12 disciples before he was arrested by the Roman soldiers. We take communion to commemorate Jesus' death. "This means that every time you eat and drink from this cup you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes" (I Corinthians 11:26).

For I received from the Lord the teaching that I had passed on to you: that the Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took the bread, gave thanks to God, broke it, and said, "This is my body, which is for you. Do this in memory of me." In the same way, after the supper he took the cup and said, "This is God's new covenant, sealed with my blood. Whenever you drink it, do so in memory of me" (1 Corinthians 11:23-25).

MEMORY VERSE

For when you were baptized, you were buried with Christ, and in baptism you were also raised with Christ through your faith in the active power of God, who raised him from death.
- Colossians 2:12

Foundations of the Faith: Day 20
THE CHURCH


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Its Mission

The mission of the church is to preach the gospel to all mankind. Jesus Himself gave this commission before He went back to His Father.

"Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and said to them, 'This is what is written: the Messiah must suffer and must rise from death three days later, and in his name the message about repentance and the forgiveness of sins must be preached to all nations, beginning in Jerusalem'" (Luke 24:45-47).

Its Future

Christ loved the church and gave His life for it. For what purpose?

"He did this to dedicate the church to God by his word, after making it clean by washing it in water, in order to present the church to himself in all its beauty--pure and faultless, without spot or wrinkle or any other imperfection" (Ephesians 5:26-27).

The church will be praising God both in heaven and on earth where they will reign with Christ.

"You have made them a kingdom of priests to serve our God, and they shall rule on earth ... And I heard every creature in heaven, on earth, in the world below, and in the sea--all living beings in the universe--and they were singing: 'To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb, be praise and honor, glory and might, forever and ever!'" (Revelation 5:10, 13).

Memory Verses

This is what is written: the Messiah must suffer and must rise from death three days later, and in his name the message about repentance and the forgiveness of sins must be preached to all nations, beginning in Jerusalem.
- Luke 24:45-47


Foundations of the Faith: Day 21
PART VIII: THE SPIRIT WORLD


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"The spirit who is in you is more powerful than the spirit in those who belong to the world" (1 John 4:4).

Marina was a teenager when she became a spiritist medium. When I met her, she was 25 and already bound by Satan and evil spirits. The first three weeks of those months that several other believers and I lived with Marina and her husband were a time of terrible spiritual battle.

Every evening we laid hands on Marina, praying for her deliverance. The evil spirits tried to kill her and also to harm us, but they couldn't. We resisted the Satanic forces and pleaded the protection of the blood of Jesus. Slowly the evil spirits left. The power of God was greater and soon Marina was completely free! She could tell everyone, "Greater is God that is in me, than Satan or any evil spirit in the world!"

Marina became a member of God's family, part of the church that we have just studied about. Only God controlled her and only the Holy Spirit lived in her.

Perhaps you. too, have seen the power of Satan working. But you don't have to be afraid. The power of God is greater! In this lesson we will learn about the forces of the spirit world and the protection that we as believers have in Christ.

Satan And Evil Spirits

Satan is a wicked angel who was cast out of heaven because he wanted to exalt himself above God. Isaiah 14:14-15 says, "You said you would climb to the tops of the clouds and be like the Almighty. But instead, you have been brought down to the deepest part of the world of the dead."

The bad angels who followed him met a like fate: "God did not spare the angels who sinned, but threw them into hell" (2 Peter 2:4). Jesus said, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven" (Luke 10:18). Satan (sometimes called Lucifer or the devil) tries to turn men and women away from serving the living God. First Peter 5:8 warns us, "Be alert, be on watch! Your enemy, the Devil, roams around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour."

Evil spirits work with Satan to hurt and destroy people. Matthew 8:28-34 tells of two men who were driven insane because they were possessed by evil spirits or demons. But the power of God has always been greater than the power of the devil. Jesus showed that power by casting the demons out of the men.

"When evening came. People brought to Jesus many who had demons in them. Jesus drove out the evil spirits with a word and healed all who were sick. He did this to make come true what the prophet Isaiah had said, 'He himself took our sickness and carried away our diseases'" (Matthew 8:16-17).

When Christ comes to set up His kingdom on earth, Satan will be cast into hell.

"Then the Devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of fire and sulphur, where the beast and the false prophet had already been thrown; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever" (Revelation 20:10).

When you are faced by temptations from Satan or are in danger because of evil spirits, you can stand against him. James 4:7 says, "Resist the Devil, and he will run away from you."

One way to resist the devil is to say it out loud. You could say something like this: "I resist the devil. He has no power over me because I am a child of God. I am covered and protected by the blood of Jesus that has overcome Satan and all his evil angels."

"Our brothers won the victory over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the truth which they proclaimed" (Revelation 12:11).

As we will study in the next section, God sends His angels to be of service to you. You have nothing to fear if you are a child of God!

MEMORY VERSE

Our brothers won the victory over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the truth which they proclaimed.
- Revelation 12:11


Foundations of the Faith: Day 22
THE SPIRIT WORLD


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Angels

"What are angels, then? They are spirits who serve God and are sent by him to help those who are to receive salvation" (Hebrews 1:14).

Have you heard about guardian angels? They are real. The Bible says, "His angel guards those who have reverence for the Lord and rescues them from danger" (Psalm 34:7).

Angels have many functions, the first of which is to serve God, their Creator. Angels worship God at all times. Nehemiah 9:6 states, "The heavenly powers bow down and worship you." They do not act on their own, but are under Christ's authority. First Peter 3:22 tells us that Jesus "has gone to heaven and is at the right side of God, ruling over all angels and heavenly authorities and powers."

Angels participated in the giving of the old law (Galatians 3:19) and later sang over the Judean hills, announcing the birth of Jesus (Luke 2:13-14). We have all heard their song, singing their words over every glad Christmas.

They ministered to Jesus while He was here on earth. Luke 4:11 tells us that after His temptation in the wilderness, angels helped Him. When Jesus prayed in agony in the Garden of Gethsemane, an angel came to strengthen Him.

The Bible tells us that angels minister to us as well. Though they aren't often seen, they watch over us--keeping us, and protecting us from danger. We have no way of knowing the accidents and other kinds of trouble that we have been spared because of their ministry in our behalf.

Yet we know they have been sent to help us because the Bible says so. Examples also are given to encourage us to believe. When Daniel was kept in the lions' den, he testified to the king, "God sent his angel to shut the mouths of the lions so that they would not hurt me" (Daniel 6:22).

1 Kings 19:5 tells us that an angel brought food to the prophet Elijah when he was so tired he thought he would die. And an angel freed the apostle Peter from prison when he was being persecuted for the gospel's sake (Acts 12:7).

Whether angels are seen or whether they are invisible, we know they are sent to minister to us. How comforting to know they are ready