First Baptist Church
Friday, March 29, 2024
Conquering Communities for Christ

Bible Study

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Bible Study
Wednesday 6 pm
Multipurpose Hall
 
Below for Bible study lessons
 

The 7 Divine Calls to the Christian from God

Pastor D.L. Richardson, Instructor

1.The Call to Salvation Rom. 8:29-30
 

Introduction: Salvation is God’s divine process of delivering man from sin. Through this process man is delivered from the penalty of sin, being delivered from the power of sin, and shall be delivered from the presence of sin through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This process is entirely an act of God’s grace on the basis of the redemption of His son, Jesus Christ (Eph. 2:8)

 

1. The Prescience of God (Romans 8:29)

"Whom he did foreknow" (Romans 8:29). If God is to be God, He will not only be omniscient (knows all things) but be prescient (knows all things before they happen). God knew beforehand who would be saved and made advance reservations for them in heaven.

A. God only chooses those whom He knows will choose Him (Matt. 22:14)

B. God gives a general call to salvation to all (Rev. 22:17)

C. God draws those whom He calls to Him John that will accept the call (6:44)

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2. The Predestination by God (Romans 8:29)

"He also did predestinate" (Romans 8:29). Predestination means that God determines how things will be before they happen.

A. “To be conformed to the image of his Son" (Romans 8:29). God designed that believers should be like Jesus. The emphasis here is not on predestination for heaven but on predestination for holiness. (1 Pet. 1:16)

B.  "That he [Jesus] might be the firstborn among many brethren." (Romans 8:29). The honor and glory of Jesus Christ is the major reason God choose us. (Col. 1:15-18)

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3. The Purity From God (Romans 8:30)

"Whom he did predestinate, them he also called" "Whom he called, them he also justified" (Romans 8:30). Justification is when God declares one righteous…

A. Salvation cleanses the sinner from his sins so God can declare him righteous.

B. Justification is the pardon from the quilt and penalty of sin (Ro. 6:23)

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4. The Praise From God (Romans 8:30) "Whom he justified, them he also glorified" (Romans 8:30).

The praise to those who have accepted the call to salvation is that the believer's glorification has already taken place in the plan and mind of God. God already sees him as being glorified; He already sees believers in His presence.
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2. The Call to Sanctification 1 Thessalonians 4:1-7 Part

Introduction: The sanctifying process of salvation is known as sanctification.

• It means "set apart, consecration, holiness, or dedication."

• Through this process the believer, through justification, is classified as a saint. He is set apart from serving sin to serving the Savior; he is set apart from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light; he is set apart from damnation to salvation; he is set apart from condemnation to justification.

• The sanctification of the believer is progressive. The Holy Spirit aids the believer in becoming more like Christ as he grows in godliness and grace through the meditation and modeling of the Word of God (John 17:17,19).

Three Stages of Sanctification

A. Positional Sanctification

• When you trusted the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, you were immediately set apart for God, permanently, once-and-for-all.

• 1 Corinthians 6:11—And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. "And such were some of you; but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God" (1 Corinthians 6:11).

·        First, the change from the Gospel. "Such were some of you." The Gospel changes a person's demeanor as well as his destiny.

·         Evidence of salvation is seen in a changed demeanor. Lack of change makes the claim of salvation suspect.

·        Second, the converting by the Gospel. "Ye are washed... ye are sanctified... ye are justified." These three words all apply to the same thing, namely, the converting work of the Gospel in salvation. The sinner is washed clean by the blood of the Lamb, he is set apart as God's own, and is justified before God.

• Hebrews 10:10—By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.   When Christ fulfilled God’s will at Calvary it provided us with a eternal position of holiness in Christ.

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B. Progressive Sanctification

• As the Christian yields to the Lord and attempts to be set apart for Him, the Holy Spirit empowers and helps him to grow in grace and make him more like Christ.

• 2 Peter 3:18—But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever. Amen.

·        Grow (to advance, or increase in.” We are to grow in grace through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.   The more you mature in your knowledge of Christ the better you will mature in your walk for Christ.

·        God uses His Word to grow us in His knowledge.

·        We grow in grace by reading God’s Word and letting it “dwell in us richly” (Colossians 3:16) and by praying.

·        These actions by themselves don't mature us, but God uses these spiritual disciplines to help us grow.

·        Therefore, maturing in our Christian life is not about what we do, but about what God does in us, by His grace. Grace is that attribute of God that enables us to break free of our sinful nature and live holy.

·        Grace is Holy Ghost empowerment to become more like Jesus. Therefore, to grow in grace means to increase in Christ-likeness through the unmerited power of God's Spirit.

2 Corinthians 7:1—Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

1. The Promises (2 Corinthians 7:1)

"Having therefore these promises" (2 Corinthians 7:1). Two important promises were made at the end of the previous chapter that should motivate us toward holiness.

• The promise of favor. "I will receive you" (2 Corinthians 6:17). Favor from God is greater than any favor from mankind. Holy living brings favor from God.

• The promise of fellowship. "Will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters" (2 Corinthians 6:18). This does not speak of salvation but the blessing of a warm compassionate fellowship with God in which He is portrayed as a kind father. This is a great promise for separation from evil.

2. The Purifying (2 Corinthians 7:1)

·        "Let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God" (2 Corinthians 7:1). The promises which came from separation also obligate to more holiness. God is interested in holy living.

• The action of purifying. "Cleanse ourselves from all filthiness." The believer is to clean up his life. Today, it seems that many believers are instead trying to compromise and lower the standards and necessity of holy living.

The area of purifying. "The flesh and spirit." Not only is our walk to be holy but so are our thoughts and motives. Both our manners and our meditations are involved. Both the outward actions and inward actions are to be cleansed. Our thoughts, words, and deeds all need purifying.

• The abundance of purifying. "Perfecting holiness." The word "perfecting" involves completeness. This means the believer will have much cleansing to do. The believer is to endeavor to be as holy as possible. The believer must not stop at partial purifying.

The attitude in purifying. "In the fear of God." "This is the motive which is to to determine our endeavors to purify ourselves. It is not regard to the good of others, nor our own happiness, but reverence for God. We are to be holy, because he is holy [I Peter 1:16]" (Hodge).

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C. Perpetual Sanctification

• Someday we will be perfectly set apart unto the Lord and His service. We will be without sin and failure.

• 1 John 3:2—Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

• Ephesians 5:27—That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

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3.The Call to Service Eph. 2:10, Phil. 2:12, 13

Introduction: God saved us to serve Him. Every Believer has a divine calling on their life to serve.

 

vEphesians 2:10 (NKJV)

vIntroduction: As a servant:SERVICE, SERVING, SERVANTHOOD

10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

A. Before we can do any good work for the Lord, He has to do His good work in us. By God's grace, made effective through our faith, we become His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works. God has ordained that we then live lives of good works, works done in His power and for His glory.

·        (John 15:1, 5) "I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman... I am the vine, ye are the branches" Christ portrays Himself as the vine, His followers are portrayed as the branches, and the owner of the vine (vineyard) is portrayed as God the Father.

·         (John 15:5) "He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit" The result of abiding is "fruit."

·        What is "fruit?" It is the grace of attitude and actions. Galatians 5:22, 23 tells us that some of this fruit involved love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and self-control (temperance). Hebrews 12:11 speaks of the fruit of righteousness which is good behavior. If a saint wants to live as a Christian ought to live, he will need to abide in Christ. He will need to spend time in supplication and study.

First, the inward fruit. "Love, joy, peace" (Galatians 5:22). These are three inward attitudes that only the Gospel can bring to a man.

·        "Love" is agape (Greek) love, Divine love, not love found in human nature. It excels all love. "Joy" is the result of holiness. Sin causes sadness not joy

·        "Peace" speaks of peace with God through salvation, and the peace of God from salvation. The world cannot give this peace. Only Jesus can (John 14:27)

Second, the outward fruit.

·         "Gentleness, goodness... meekness, temperance" (Galatians 5:22, 23). These four actions towards others are actions resulting from the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. These actions cannot be reproduced in the flesh, for they are contrary to the flesh.

·        "Gentleness" is sometimes spoken of as kindness. It is conduct that is thoughtful and considerate of others.

·        "Goodness" is goodness and righteousness according to God's standard not man's standard. "Meekness" is not weakness. It involves humility, deference.

·        "Temperance" is self-control. It is evident in the control of one's temper and appetites.

Third, upward fruit.

 "Faith" is belief in God. It is belief in God's Word. It is an attitude that involves respect and reverence for God.

B. The same power that created us in Christ Jesus empowers us to do the good works for which He has redeemed us. The verifiers of true salvation are righteous attitudes and righteous acts.  

·        "Good works" are a result of salvation not a reason for salvation. We are saved to live a holy life.

·        When a person’s life is not holy in conduct it may be and indication that the person may not even be saved. 

C. Christ gives a basic description of a person who makes a false profession (Matt. 7:21-23)

·        First, the lack of sincerity. "Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven”. Their profession of faith has never gotten to their hearts. There is nothing wrong with calling Christ "Lord." In fact it is the right thing to do. But words are not enough, if the heart is not in it.

·         Second, the lack of submission. "But he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven" (Matthew 7:21). The evidence of salvation is in submission to God.

·        Paul concludes this paragraph by adding: that we should walk in them. Though good works are a divine preparation, they are also a human responsibility.

 
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Purpose Driven Life Review (Luke 10:25-37)

A. Four Steps To Serving The Needs Of People The Way Jesus Would

1Start seeing the needs of people around me.

• Kindness always begins in the eyes. You have to see the need first. You can’t care until you are aware.

·        What are some distractions that keep us from focusing on the needs of others?

·        What does it mean to you to “deny self for others” or “forget yourself”?

·        What can you do today to shift your focus toward helping that person? Mothers who work on Sunday (kids to church), Sick, Bereavement, Tough times.

2Sympathize with people’s pain.

• It’s not enough just to see others’ needs; I must feel their emotions, too. Luke 10:33 says when the Samaritan saw the wounded man, he had pity on him.

·        A hard heart will not help others

·        Meaning “to feel passion with someone” or “to enter sympathetically into one’s sorrow and pain.”

·        Quality of showing kindness or favor, of being gracious, or of having pity or mercy.

·        Be a good listener, be empathetic (shoes), be an advocate for the downtrodden

3Seize the moment and meet the need.

• Once we see the need and can sympathize with their pain, the next step is to seize the moment and meet the need. (Don’t wait, delay, or procrastinate. Do what you can at that moment). 

• In Luke 10:34 the Samaritan man takes action. Love is not so much something you feel, as it is something you do.

·        It’s important to remember that love is primarily an action word in the Bible, not an emotion. Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 13.

·         “Love is patient,

·         love is kind.

·        It does not envy,

·         it does not boast,

·        it is not proud. 

·        It is not rude,

·        it is not self-seeking,

·        it is not easily angered,

·        it keeps no record of wrongs.

·        Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.

·         It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails” .

• Read Proverbs 3:27, 28 Proverbs 3:27-28 (NKJV)

27 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, When it is in the power of your hand to do so.

28 Do not say to your neighbor, "Go, and come back, And tomorrow I will give it," When you have it with you.

4Spend whatever it takes.

• Serving has a cost. There is always a cost to kindness. It usually requires a sacrifice of time, energy, money, or reputation.

• Read Verses 34 and 35. The Samaritan took the man to a motel, nursed him through the night, provided for his care, and then paid the bill. What did he gain? Nothing.

 
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4. The Call To Separation 2 Cor. 6:14-18
2 Corinthians 6:14-18 (NKJV)

14 Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?

15 And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever?

16 And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people."

17 Therefore "Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you."

18 "I will be a Father to you, And you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the LORD Almighty."

1. The Command for Separation (2 Corinthians 6:14,17)

Separation from the world is a command not a choice, an order and not an option for the Christian life.

• The command involving connections. "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers" (2 Corinthians 6:14).

·        The words "unequally yoked together" is translated to be yoked unequally, (to yoke differently, refers to placing two animals of different species under the same yoke (e.g., an ox and a donkey which would lead to disastrous consequences) particularly in marriage. Believers are not to marry unbelievers.

What if a Believer is married to an unbeliever: 1 Corinthians 7:12-14: “…If any brother has a wife who is not a believer and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her. And if a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him. For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband…”

A Christian wife is obligated to have a submissive heart, even toward her unbelieving husband (1 Peter 3:1).

·        Believers are not to associate in activities with unbelievers that will be harmful to their Christian witness. The ungodly influence of evil people, places, and practices can corrupt your witness.

Activities that may be harmful to your Christian witness:

1.   Meditative exercises: Yoga focuses on harmony between mind and body. Yoga derives its philosophy from an Indian metaphysical belief (merge-mind-body).

2.   Entertainment: Concerts (live music increases your life span-9), Movies, Sporting event (violence (football, boxing, flight).

3.   Risk taking activities: Casinos, Stock market, High risk investments

4.   Parties: Special Birthday celebrations, anniversaries, retirement, Political watch parties,

 

Principle 1: Christian liberty must never be flaunted. “Whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God” (Rom. 14:20-22, NIV).  

20 Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed are pure, but it is evil for the man who eats with offense.

21 It is good neither to eat meat nor drink wine nor do anything by which your brother stumbles or is offended or is made weak.

22 Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves.

Principle 2: Christian liberty ought never to be used in such a way that you become a stumbling block to another Christian (Rom. 14:13).  13 Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother's way.

Principle 3: Christian liberty requires giving up your freedom for your brother: (Rom. 15:1-3)  1 We then who are strong ought to bear with the scru-ples (morality doubt) of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 2 Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification. 3 For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, "The reproaches of those who reproached You fell on Me."   .

·        1 Corinthians 15:33—Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. Bad companions can corrupt your character. (The danger of wrongdoers influencing you to d wrong).

·        Solomon's character and choices were corrupted by carnal wives. (1 Kings 11:4). 1 Kings 11:4 (NKJV) 1 Kings 11:3 (NKJV) 3 And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines; and his wives turned away his heart. For it was so, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned his heart after other gods; and his heart was not loyal to the LORD his God, as was the heart of his father David.

·        Samson's taste for Philistine women led to his demise and destruction. They brought out the worst in Samson. His last woman, Delilah, plotted to find the secret of his strength to satisfy her lust for silver. She succeeded, and Samson was bound, blinded, mocked, imprisoned, and destroyed. Judges 16:20-21.

20 And she said, "The Philistines are upon you, Samson!" So he awoke from his sleep, and said, "I will go out as before, at other times, and shake myself free!" But he did not know that the LORD had departed from him.

21 Then the Philistines took him and put out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza. They bound him with bronze fetters, and he became a grinder in the prison.

2. The command involving curiosity. "Touch not the unclean things" (2 Cor. 6:17). "Touch not" says to stay as far away from evil as you can. Do not even touch it.

·        Satan would snare us with a touch; for once you touch, you often keep going until you embrace.

·        Touching may seem so innocent.

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3. The Cause for Separation (2 Corinthians 6:14-16)

• No communion. "What fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?" (2 Corinthians 6:14). Opposites do not have good fellowship because they have little in common, and here they also oppose each other. Believers differ from unbelievers in fellowship. "What fellowship does righteousness have with unrighteousness?" The word "unrighteousness" (means lawlessness. Unbelievers have not and do not obey God. They live and do as they wish, not as God says. They reject God and what God says and go about doing their own thing. They rebel against God and His commandments, living lawless and unrighteous lives.

Light is the symbol or picture of believers.

⇒ Believers are said to become "children of light" through belief in the Light, Jesus Christ Himself (John 12:36).

⇒ Believers have been transferred from the dominion of darkness into the Kingdom of Christ, the inheritance of light (Col. 1:13).

⇒ Before they come to Christ, believers are not only in darkness but are an embodiment of darkness. But when they come to Christ, believers are placed in the Light and become an embodiment of the Light itself (Ephes. 5:8).

⇒ Believers are the light of the world (Matthew 5:14-16).

⇒ Believers are to set their light on a candlestick—to make their light conspicuous (Matthew 5:15).

⇒ Evil-doers shun the light (John 3:20f).

⇒ The creation of light is a picture of the expulsion of spiritual darkness (Genesis 1:2f).

Darkness is the symbol or picture of unbelievers.

The point is striking: the nature of believers and unbelievers differs as radically as light differs from darkness.

⇒ As children of light, believers know the light of God, live by the light of God, and are blessed by the light of God.

⇒ As children of darkness, unbelievers know the darkness of this world, live by the darkness of the world, and receive only the blessings of the world's darkness (temporary pleasure and possessions, and the hopelessness of death and judgment).

No concord. "What concord hath Christ with Belial?... and what agreement hath the temple of God with idols." (2 Corinthians 6:15,16).

These questions especially attack the mixing of true and false religions. It tells the fundamentalists to stay away from the ecumenical crowd. Why join with those with whom you will have no agreement in the most important areas of life? The apostates have no concord with fundamentalists.

• No congruity. "What part hath he that believeth with an infidel" (2 Corinthians 6:15). Faith and unbelief are not part of the same product. They are made out of different material.

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4. The Compensations of Separation (2 Corinthians 6:17,18)

Separation from the things of the world has some blessed compensations.

• Favor from God. "I will receive you" (2 Corinthians 6:17). The word translated "receive" means "to receive into favor or communion". Favor from God is the greatest favor of all.

• Fellowship with God. "Will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty" (2 Corinthians 6:18). This is not speaking of salvation. We do not obtain salvation by separation from the world. But separation does indeed promote our fellowship with God so that we sense the presence of God as a loving and compassionate Father.

 
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5.The call to sonship1 John 3:1
 
6.The call to subjection Rom. 13:4-5
 

7.The call to suffering John 16:33; Acts 14:22; Phil. 1:29; 3:10; 1 Thess. 3:3; 1 Pet. 2:21