Bible Study

Need a Bible? I read the KJV and the study is the same, but it might look squirely to beginners...Here go a link to an Amplified Bible:

http://www.freebies4u.net/Amplified_Bible.pdf

Old Testament Chapters:

Gen 2-116/ Ex. 118-209/ Lev. 210- 276/ Num/ Deut/Josh/Jud/Ruth/1Sam/2Sam/1Kings/2Kings/1Chron/2Chron/Ez/Neh/Esther/Job/Ps/Prov/Ecc/Song of Sol/Is/Jer/Lam/Ezek/Dan/Hosea/Joel/Amos/Ob/Jonah/Mic/Nahum/Hab/Zeph/Hagai/Zech/Mal

New Testament Chapters:

Dont forget yall a notebook and pen...
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ETERNAL LIFE

One of the most familiar passages of Scripture is John 3:16. It seems like everybody knows
that verse from a young age, yet I believe it has really been misunderstood and misapplied. John
3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth
in him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

Traditionally, this scripture has been used to teach that Jesus came and died for our
sins so that we wouldn’t perish. As true as this is, this verse is saying that the real purpose of
Jesus coming to this earth and dying for us was so that we could have everlasting life. It just so
happened that our sins were a barrier that stood between us and this everlasting life.
It is true that Jesus did die for our sins, and it is true that if we believe on Jesus, we will
not perish, but there is much more to the Gospel than that. The real message of the Gospel is
that God wants to give you everlasting life. Now let me explain that.

The night before His crucifixion, Jesus was praying, and He said, “This is life eternal, that
they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ” (John 17:3)
This says that everlasting life is knowing the Father, the only true God, and knowing Jesus
Christ, whom He has sent. That’s what everlasting life is. Many people think that everlasting life
is living forever. Well, every person lives forever. It’s a misconception to think that when a person
dies they cease to exist. The spirit and the soul go back to God. The body decays in the grave. The
truth is, every person who has ever lived on the face of the earth will continue to live in spirit form.
So, to say that eternal life is living forever is not the whole truth—everybody lives forever. This
verse makes it very clear that eternal life with God is not automatically given to everyone.
Some people would say, “Eternal life is living forever in heaven versus living forever
in hell.” But eternal life is just what Jesus said in John 17:3—to know God and Jesus Christ.
It’s more than an intellectual knowledge. This word “know” is used throughout Scripture to
describe the most intimate, personal relationship that you can have.

The real purpose of salvation is not living forever in heaven, as great as that will be. The
real purpose of salvation is to have intimacy—a personal relationship with the Lord God. There
are multitudes of people who have cried out to God for the forgiveness of their sins but have
never had intimacy with God as a goal.

By not explaining the real purpose of salvation, we are doing a disservice to the Gospel.
When we present salvation as something that deals with just spiritual things that will only
benefit us in the future, in eternity, we are not helping people. There are some people who are
living in such a literal hell right now on earth. Many are depressed, living in poverty, dealing
with strife, rejection, hurt, and failed marriages. People are just trying to survive day to day.
They are just trying to keep their heads above water. By making salvation something that deals
only with the future, many people put off that decision because they are too busy just trying to
survive today.

The truth is that Jesus not only came to affect our eternal destinies so that we can live
forever in heaven in blessing instead of the punishment and curse of hell, but Jesus also came to
deliver us from this present evil world (Gal. 1:4). Jesus came to give you intimacy and a personal
relationship with God the Father today.

Jesus came to bring you back into close, personal relationship with Him. Jesus loves you.
Jesus wants to know you personally. Jesus wants to give you a quality of life that is greater than
anything you could obtain through any other source.

Jesus put it this way in John 10:10: “The thief [speaking of Satan] cometh not, but for to
steal, and to kill and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it
more abundantly” (brackets mine). God wants to give you eternal life. God wants to give you
abundant life, and I believe that you need that today—that you want that. Christ died not only
to forgive your sins, but to bring you close to him. If you don’t know the Lord, you need to know
Him for that purpose. If you’ve already been born again, you need to go beyond just getting your sins forgiven and enter into everlasting life with the Father.

FACTS ABOUT ETERNAL LIFE
A. The purpose of the Gospel is eternal life (John 3:16).
B. Eternal life is knowing God (John 17:3).
C. Knowing God is an intimate relationship (1 Cor. 6:16-17).
D. Eternal life is available now (1 John 5:12).
E. God wants a personal relationship with you (Rev. 3:20).

LESSON 1 ETERNAL LIFE
1. Read John 3:16. What was the purpose of God sending
Jesus into the world?

2. The biblical usage of the word “know” means to have an
intimate, personal relationship with a person (Gen. 4:1).
Read John 17:3. What is eternal/everlasting life,
according to this verse?

3. Read 1 John 5:11-12. According to these verses, when
does eternal, or everlasting, life begin?

4. Read John 10:10. What kind of life did Jesus come to
give us?

5. Explain in your own words the attributes of an
abundant life.

6. Do you believe that God sent His Son Jesus into the
world to die for the sins of the world, thereby giving us
who believe eternal/everlasting life?

7. Is it clear to you that eternal/everlasting life is not
only a length of time (eternity) but a quality and
quantity of life?

DISCIPLESHIP QUESTIONS
SCRIPTURES
TO USE WITH
QUESTIONS

JOHN 3:16 – For God so
loved the world, that he gave
his only begotten Son, that
whosoever believeth in him
should not perish, but have
everlasting life.

GENESIS 4:1 – And Adam
knew Eve his wife; and she
conceived, and bare Cain, and
said, I have gotten a man from
the LORD.

JOHN 17:3 – And this is life
eternal [eternal life], that they
might know thee the only true
God, and Jesus Christ

1 JOHN 5:11-12 – And this
is the record, that God hath
given us eternal life, and this
life is in his Son. He that
hath the Son hath life; and he
that hath not the Son of God
hath not life.

JOHN 10:10 – The thief
cometh not, but for to steal,
and to kill, and to destroy: I
am come that they might have
life, and that they might have
it more abundantly.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Answer Key

ETERNAL LIFE

1. Read John 3:16. What was the purpose of God sending Jesus into the world?
To save the world, giving all who believe on Jesus everlasting life by removing sin’s penalty

2. The biblical usage of the word “know” means to have an intimate, personal relationship
with a person (Gen. 4:1). Read John 17:3. What is eternal/everlasting life, according to
this verse?
Eternal life is knowing God and Jesus Christ (not physically but intimately)

3. Read 1 John 5:11-12. According to these verses, when does eternal/everlasting life begin?
When we receive the Son (Jesus Christ) into our lives

4. Read John 10:10. What kind of life did Jesus come to give us?
Abundant life!

5. Explain in your own words the qualities or attributes of an abundant life.
Abundant life would be the opposite of what Jesus said the thief came to do

6. Do you believe that God sent His Son Jesus into the world to die for the sins of the
world, thereby giving us who believe eternal/everlasting life?
Yes

7. Is it clear to you that eternal/everlasting life is not only a length of time (eternity) but a
quality and quantity of life?
Yes

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Salvation By Grace

SALVATION BY GRACE

Jesus many times used parables, stories which illustrated spiritual truths. Luke 18:9-14 begins,
“And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and
despised others.” Jesus was targeting a certain audience: those who trusted that they were righteous
and automatically despised and looked down on everyone else. He told this parable to these people
who trusted in the things they did. We would call them self-righteous, which is what Jesus was
speaking about when He said they looked down on everyone else saying, “I am better than you!”
In verse 10, Jesus says, “Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee,
and the other a publican.” We would say in modern language that they went to the church to
pray, and one was a Pharisee. A Pharisee was a very religious person. The word actually means
“separated one,” someone who was so religious that in a sense they would say, “Don’t defile me!
Don’t get too close to me. I’m not like other men! I am better than everyone else!” The other
man Jesus mentioned was a publican. Publicans were tax collectors and were known to be very
evil, sinful people who cheated and defrauded. They collected taxes by any means they could,
stuck a lot of the money in their pockets, and gave some of it to the Roman government, so they
were not looked upon favorably by their peers.

The story continues in verse 11, “The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God,
I thank thee, that I am not like other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this
publican.” I want you to notice that. Who was he praying to? He was actually praying to himself
even though he was saying “God” and using the right words. God was not acknowledging his
prayer, and we’ll see later why that was so. Notice that he prayed, “God, I thank You I am not like
other men.” This Pharisee, this religious man, said, “I am not like other men. I am not sinful. I
am not an extortioner, not unjust, not an adulterer, and I am not like this publican right here
who came to pray.” You see, he despised and looked down on others because he thought he was
better than them.

In verse 12, the Pharisee said, “I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.”
He was saying, “Notice what I do?” Do you know what it means to fast? It actually means
to go without food. He also gave money to the church. He was one of those people who say,
“Don’t bother me! I live a good life! I give to charity! I give money down at the church!”
Then we come to the tax collector in verse 13: “And the publican, standing afar off, would
not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to
me a sinner.” Notice his body language: “standing afar off.” He didn’t even go all the way into the
church. He was so ashamed of his life and the things that he had done that he stood afar off and
wouldn’t even look up, wouldn’t lift his eyes to heaven, but smote his breast.

When the Bible talks of smiting the breasts in the Old Testament, many times they also tore their garments,
which was a way of saying, “I am sorry, God, for what I have done!” It was a sign of repentance,
a contrite heart, and a broken spirit, which God would not despise. This tax collector, sinful
man that he was, cried out to God and prayed, “God be merciful to me, I am a sinner!”

Verse 14 says, “I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other:
for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.”
The publican went home justified, declared righteous before God, in right standing with God,
forgiven by God. Why was he forgiven? Why did he go to his home in right standing before God
and not the religious Pharisee? It was because the Pharisee exalted himself, saying “I am better
than other people! I am not sinful! I am not like other men,” while the tax collector knew he
had no standing before God, nothing he could offer Him. He was a sinful person.

The Bible says Jesus didn’t come to save righteous people but sinners, and we have all sinned and come short
of the glory of God. This tax collector humbled himself and found forgiveness and pardon.
We’re talking about salvation by grace. Grace is a wonderful word, and I am going to
give you an accepted definition of what it means, but grace means much more. In the Greek
language in which the New Testament was written, grace is the word charis. An accepted
definition of grace is this: the free, unmerited favor of God toward people who don’t deserve
it. This tax collector didn’t deserve anything from God, but he found God’s favor because he
humbled himself. There is another word in the Greek, charisma, which is charis with the suffix
-ma on the end. It means a specific manifestation or form of God’s grace, and this tax collector
found justification, right standing, before God as a gift.

Romans 5:17 says, “They which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness
shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.” God offers you and me right standing before Him as a
gift and, according to our passage, the tax collector found that gift of justification, that gift of
righteousness that only comes through Jesus Christ. The Bible says in John 1:17, “For the law
was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.” This grace is only offered to one
kind of person—those who humble themselves and know they have no standing before God,
who cry for God’s mercy. These people will find God’s mercy and pardon.

SALVATION BY GRACE

1. Read Luke 18:9. What is a parable?
2. Read Luke 18:9. To whom did Jesus direct this parable?
3. Read Luke 18:9 (the last part of the verse). People that
are self-righteous always reveal an attitude toward
others. According to Luke 18:9, what is that attitude? A. They like others. B. They despise others or look down on others. C. They love others.
4. Read Luke 18:10. Two people went to pray; in modern
language, where did they go to pray?
5. Read Luke 18:10. Who were these people?
6. Read Luke 18:11. What was the Pharisee’s prayer?
7. Read Luke 18:12. What does fasting mean?
8. Read Luke 18:12. What does it mean to give tithes?

DISCIPLESHIP QUESTIONS
SCRIPTURES
TO USE WITH
QUESTIONS

LUKE 18:9-12 – And he spake
this parable unto certain
which trusted in themselves
that they were righteous, and
despised others. Two men
went up into the temple to
pray; the one a Pharisee and
the other a publican. The
Pharisee stood and prayed thus
with himself, God, I thank thee,
that I am not as other men are,
extortioners, unjust, adulterers,
or even this publican. I
fast twice in the week, I give
tithes of all that I possess.

SALVATION BY GRACE

9. Read Luke 18:13. Where was the tax collector
standing? Why?
10. Read Luke 18:13. Why did the tax collector hang down
his head and not look up?
11. Read Luke 18:13. What was this tax collector’s prayer?
12. Read Luke 18:14. Which one of these men was declared
righteous before God when he went to his home?
13. Read Luke 18:14. Why was the tax collector declared
righteous and not the Pharisee?
14. Read Luke 18:14. Did God forgive this tax collector?
15. Read Romans 10:13. If you right now got down on
your knees and cried out to God from your heart
“God be merciful to me, a sinner,” would God treat
you the same way He treated the tax collector?

DISCIPLESHIP QUESTIONS
SCRIPTURES
TO USE WITH
QUESTIONS
LUKE 18:13-14 – And the
publican, standing afar off,
would not lift up so much as
his eyes unto heaven, but smote
upon his breast, saying, God be
merciful to me a sinner. I
tell you, this man went down
to his house justified rather
than the other: for every one
that exalteth himself shall be
abased; and he that humbleth
himself shall be exalted.

ROMANS 10:13 – For
whosoever shall call upon the
name of the Lord shall be saved.

1 JOHN 1:8-9 – If we say
that we have no sin, we deceive
ourselves, and the truth is not
in us. [9] If we confess our sins,
he is faithful and just to forgive
us our sins, and to cleanse us
from all unrighteousness.

SALVATION BY GRACE

1. Read Luke 18:9. What is a parable?
A biblical parable is a story that illustrates spiritual truth

2. Read Luke 18:9. To whom did Jesus direct this parable?
To those who trusted in themselves that they were righteous; that is, they were
self-righteous

3. Read Luke 18:9 (the last part of the verse). People that are self-righteous always reveal
an attitude toward others. According to Luke 18:9, what is that attitude?
B. They despise other or look down on others

4. Read Luke 18:10. Two people went to pray; in modern language, where did they go to pray?
To the church

5. Read Luke 18:10. Who were these people?
A Pharisee and a publican/tax collector

6. Read Luke 18:11. What was the Pharisee’s prayer?
God, I thank you I am not like other men (I’m not a sinner). I’m not a swindler, unjust,
an adulterer, or even like this tax collector

7. Read Luke 18:12. What does fasting mean?
To go without food

8. Read Luke 18:12. What does it mean to give tithes?
To give a tenth of one’s income

9. Read Luke 18:13. Where was the tax collector standing?
Afar off

Why?
He was ashamed to go into the church (or temple) because he was such a terrible sinner,
so he stayed outside

10. Read Luke 18:13. Why did the tax collector hang down his head and not look up?
He was ashamed

Have you ever done something wrong and would not look a person in the face?
11. Read Luke 18:13. What was this tax collector’s prayer?
God be merciful to me—I am a sinner!

12. Read Luke 18:14. Which one of these men was declared righteous before God when he
went to his home?
The tax collector

SALVATION BY GRACE

13. Read Luke 18:14. Why was the tax collector declared righteous and not the Pharisee?
Because he humbled himself before God. The Pharisee was full of pride; he didn’t think
he needed a Savior

14. Read Luke 18:14. Did God forgive this tax collector?
Yes

15. Read Romans 10:13. If you right now got down on your knees and cried out to God
from your heart “God be merciful to me, a sinner,” would God treat you the same way
He treated the tax collector?
Yes, He would. He would forgive me and cleanse me from all unrighteousness
See 1 John 1:8-9.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

RIGHTEOUSNESS BY GRACE

Today we are going to look at the subject of righteousness by grace. Romans 3:21-23
says, “But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law
and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon
all them that believe: for there is no difference [distinction]: For all have sinned, and come [fall]
short of the glory of God."

Notice that this scripture says, “But now the righteousness of God without the law is
manifested.” I once asked a man, “What do you think you have to do in order to go to heaven?”
He responded that he should keep the Ten Commandments, be faithful to his wife, live a moral
life, plus a number of other things. I said, “Do you know what you have to do in order to go to
heaven, to be in God’s presence or in His kingdom? You would have to have a righteousness
that equals God’s righteousness.” He said, “I beg your pardon? There is no one who can have
a righteousness that equals God’s. Only one man had such righteousness, and that was Jesus
Christ!” I said, “You have the point! That is exactly right! None of us in our own selves have ever
kept the Law or commandments perfectly, outwardly or inwardly, but we need a righteousness
that equals God’s in order to be acceptable before Him.”

That is exactly what is said in verses 21-22, “But now the righteousness of God
without the law is manifested…even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus
Christ unto all and upon all them that believe.” The kind of righteousness that God offers
you and me is a righteousness that is “through faith in Jesus Christ,” and it’s unto all and
upon all who believe. There are two kinds of righteousness—the righteousness of man
and the righteousness of God. The righteousness of man is a person’s very best behavior
and the good works they do, but that can’t make you acceptable before God. You need a
righteousness that equals God’s, and He is offering it to you—the righteousness of God that
is without the law.

In the Greek, there is no indefinite article, which means that this text is really saying
God is offering His own righteousness without Law. A righteousness that is according to Law
is a righteousness of doing, earning, and achieving in order to be accepted before God. All
the world religions today think you have to do, earn, and achieve in order for God to accept
you. The word “Gospel” means “good news,” and the good news of the Gospel is that God is
offering His very own righteousness and acceptance to all who will believe in what Jesus Christ
provided—His death on the cross for our sins, imputing to us the righteousness that equals the
Law. This is the righteousness of God that is apart from the Law, without us doing, earning, and
achieving; and it comes through faith in Jesus Christ.

Notice in verse 22 that it is the righteousness of God that is through faith in Jesus Christ
unto all and upon all. Why is God offering His righteousness to everyone? “For there is no
difference [no distinction]: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (brackets
mine). You have sinned, I have sinned, and we all come short of God’s standard or perfection.
Because of our sin, the greatest thing we need is acceptance, right relationship, and right
standing with God…and God has offered this not through the works of the Law but through
faith in Jesus Christ. The righteousness of God doesn’t come by your working, your trying, your
earning, or your attempts to achieve; it comes through faith, dependence, and reliance upon the
Lord Jesus Christ.

How was Abraham (the Jewish forefather) saved? The Bible says he believed God—
believed the promise God gave him—and then righteousness was imputed to his account. The
fact that Abraham was declared righteous before God through his faith was not just for him
alone. We read in Romans 3:21-22 that a man is declared righteous through his faith in Jesus
Christ. The Bible says that because of the payment Christ made on the cross when He shed His
blood for our sin, righteousness (right standing) will be imputed to any person’s account who
simply believes upon Christ.

Romans 5:17 says, “For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more that
which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus
Christ” (emphasis mine). God is offering you a gift of righteousness, a gift of right standing
before Him. A gift does cost something but not to the person who receives it. If you gave me a
gift and asked me to pay for it, it wouldn’t be a gift, but it did cost you something. God made
righteousness available to you and me as a gift, and this gift of righteousness, acquittal, and
right standing before God comes through faith in Jesus Christ.

RIGHTEOUSNESS BY GRACE

1. Read Titus 3:5. Is the righteousness that we need a
righteousness that we can produce?
2. Read 2 Corinthians 5:21. What kind of righteousness
do we need?
3. Read Romans 3:22. How do we receive this righteousness?
4. Read Philippians 3:9. What is the righteousness of
the Law?
5. Read Galatians 2:21. How could we frustrate God’s grace?
6. Read Romans 5:17. The righteousness of God is
received as what?

DISCIPLESHIP QUESTIONS
SCRIPTURES
TO USE WITH
QUESTIONS
TITUS 3:5 – Not by works
of righteousness which we
have done, but according to
his mercy he saved us, by the
washing of regeneration, and
renewing of the Holy Ghost.
2 CORINTHIANS 5:21 –
For he hath made him to be
sin for us, who knew no sin;
that we might be made the
righteousness of God in him.
ROMANS 3:22 – Even the
righteousness of God which is
by faith of Jesus Christ unto all
and upon all them that believe:
for there is no difference.
PHILIPPIANS 3:9 – And be
found in him, not having mine
own righteousness, which is
of the law, but that which is
through the faith of Christ, the
righteousness which is of God
by faith.
GALATIANS 2:21 – I do not
frustrate the grace of God: for if
righteousness come by the law,
then Christ is dead in vain.
ROMANS 5:17 – For if
by one man’s offence death
reigned by one; much more
that which receive abundance
of grace and of the gift of
righteousness shall reign in life
by one, Jesus Christ.

RIGHTEOUSNESS BY GRACE

1. Read Titus 3:5. Is the righteousness that we need a righteousness that we can produce?
No

2. Read 2 Corinthians 5:21. What kind of righteousness do we need?
The righteousness of God (that comes through Christ)

3. Read Romans 3:22. How do we receive this righteousness?
Through faith in Jesus Christ

4. Read Philippians 3:9. What is the righteousness of the Law?
A righteousness belonging to me—a works righteousness that I can produce

5. Read Galatians 2:21. How could we frustrate God’s grace?
We could frustrate God’s grace by trying to be saved by our own good works instead of
trusting Christ and His death for us for our salvation

6. Read Romans 5:17. The righteousness of God is received as what?
A gift
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD

One of the most important things about relationship is to understand the person with whom
you’re going to have relationship, and that also applies to God. You need to understand the basic
nature and character of God in order to have a healthy relationship with Him. Misunderstanding
His character and nature is one of the reasons many people don’t have a positive relationship with
Him. This is exactly what happened in the Garden of Eden when Adam and Eve were tempted
by the serpent. They entered into temptation, ultimately disobeyed God, and plunged the whole
human race into sin.

Their lack of understanding God’s nature was actually a part of the temptation.
The story in Genesis 3:1-5 is familiar to most people: “Now the serpent was more subtil than
any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said,
Ye shall not eat of every tree in the garden? And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the
fruit of the trees of the garden: But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath
said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye
shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened,
and ye shall be as gods [God], knowing good and evil."

There is a subtle statement by Satan here that God is really not a good God… that He was
trying to withhold something from Adam and Eve…that He didn’t want them to reach their full
potential…that He didn’t want them to be like Himself…and that the reason He made the rule
about not eating of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil was to hinder or hurt them. In a
sense, Satan came against the very nature and character of God when he maligned Him by saying
God did not want the best for them. The same thing is exactly what’s happening to people today.
Satan tells them, “If you follow God and don’t experiment with all these things that are contrary to
His Word, you’ll never experience true happiness. Life will be boring…dead.” The sad fact is that
people experience after the fact that the drugs, alcohol, sex, rebellion, indulgence of self, success
in jobs, and all the other things they tried didn’t satisfy them. By the time they realize it, they’ve
already destroyed their lives, their families, and their health.

The truth is that God is a good God, and His will for us is only good. But Satan uses the
same temptations on us today that came against Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, basically
implying that God is not a good God. Those who have only a little understanding of the Bible could
get that impression because there are instances in the Word where He treated people in harsh,
cruel ways. In Numbers 15:32-36, a man picked up sticks on the Sabbath Day and was stoned
to death for failing to observe the Sabbath. That sounds harsh, but there was a purpose behind

RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD
such punishments, though it’s not obvious to most people in a casual reading of Scripture. Careful
study reveals that Old Testament Law was given to make the sin that we’ve committed become
exceedingly sinful, as Paul says in Romans 7:13. The purpose was that people didn’t realize how
deadly their transgressions were and that they were an offense against God. They made the mistake
of comparing among themselves and measuring their actions by what other people were doing.
If someone committed a sin and wasn’t struck dead, they thought sin must not be so bad,
and they lowered their standards. They had lost the true perspective on what right and wrong was.
God had to bring mankind back to a plumb line, a proper standard of what right living was, so
they would reject the devil and his temptations and recognize what the end result of wrong choices
would be. Then when He did that, He had to enforce the Law He gave.

God did not give the Old Testament commandments for the purpose of saying, “Until
you do all these things, I can’t accept you or love you.” That is not His nature or character. Rather,
He gave them to make our sense of right and wrong more acute and to bring us back to the fact
that we need a Savior. The problem has been that people thought God was demanding perfection
before He could love them, which led to the attitude many have that His love for them is directly
proportional to their performance. They feel that until they try to do everything exactly right, they
will not be accepted by God, and that is not the message of the Bible.

God’s heart is to reconcile mankind to Himself not to judge them…not to impute their
sins…not to hold their sins against them. That’s the heart of God for people in the Bible and also
His heart for you today. You need to understand His real heart, that “God is love” (1 John 4:8). He
seeks to take away your sins and anything that would separate you from Him. He’s already done
it through Jesus, and He’s offering you relationship today, not based on your performance but on
your faith and acceptance of Jesus bearing your sins. You can have relationship with God today
regardless of the failures in your life. All He asks is that you put your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

LESSON 4 RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD
1. Read Genesis 3:1. What question did Satan ask Eve?
2. Read Genesis 2:17 and 3:3. What word or words did
Eve add to what God actually said to Adam?
3. Read Genesis 3:6. Once Satan was able to instill doubt
into Eve’s mind regarding the Word of God, what did
she do in this verse?
4. Read Genesis 3:9-10. After Adam and Eve sinned,
did God still communicate and pursue a
relationship with them?

DISCIPLESHIP QUESTIONS
SCRIPTURES
TO USE WITH
QUESTIONS
GENESIS 3:1 – Now the
serpent was more subtil than
any beast of the field which
the LORD God had made. And
he said unto the woman, Yea,
hath God said, Ye shall not eat
of every tree of the garden?
GENESIS 2:17 – But of the
tree of the knowledge of good
and evil, thou shalt not eat of it:
for in the day that thou eatest
thereof thou shalt surely die.
GENESIS 3:3 – But of the
fruit of the tree which is in the
midst of the garden, God hath
said, Ye shall not eat of it,
neither shall ye touch it, lest
ye die.

GENESIS 3:6 – And when the
woman saw that the tree was
good for food, and that it was
pleasant to the eyes, and a tree
to be desired to make one wise,
she took of the fruit thereof,
and did eat, and gave also
unto her husband with her;
and he did eat.

GENESIS 3:9-10 – And the
LORD God called unto Adam,
and said unto him, Where
art thou? [10] And he said, I
heard thy voice in the garden,
and I was afraid, because I
was naked; and I hid myself.

RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD

5. Read Genesis 3:22-24. Why did God drive Adam and
Eve from the Garden?
6. Can you see that this was an act of mercy by God
rather than a punishment?
7. Read Romans 5:17. How do we attain God’s
abundance of grace and gift of righteousness? A. Buy it B. Earn it C. Receive it
8. Read Romans 6:23. What do we really deserve if we sin?
9. By grace, what does God give us instead?
10. Read Romans 10:3. If we try to establish our own
righteousness before God, what do we fail to do?

DISCIPLESHIP QUESTIONS
SCRIPTURES
TO USE WITH
QUESTIONS
GENESIS 3:22-24 – And
the LORD God said, Behold,
the man is become as one of
us, to know good and evil:
and now, lest he put forth his
hand, and take also of the tree
of life, and eat, and live for
ever: [23] Therefore the LORD
God sent him forth from the
garden of Eden, to till the
ground from whence he was
taken. [24] So he drove out
the man; and he placed at
the east of the garden of Eden
Cherubims, and a flaming
sword which turned every
way, to keep the way of the
tree of life.
ROMANS 5:17 – For if
by one man’s offence death
reigned by one; much more
they which receive abundance
of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by
one, Jesus Christ.
ROMANS 6:23 – For the
wages of sin is death; but
the gift of God is eternal life
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
ROMANS 10:3 – For they
being ignorant of God’s
righteousness, and going
about to establish their own
righteousness, have not
submitted themselves unto the
righteousness of God.

RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD

11. Read 1 John 1:9 and Romans 4:3. What does God
promise to do with ALL our sins and iniquities
against Him if we would only believe?
12. What does this tell you about the character of God?
DISCIPLESHIP QUESTIONS
SCRIPTURES
TO USE WITH
QUESTIONS
1 JOHN 1:9 – If we
confess our sins, he is
faithful and just to forgive
us our sins, and to cleanse
us from all unrighteousness.
ROMANS 4:3 – For
what saith the scripture?
Abraham believed God,
and it was counted unto
him for righteousness.

RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD

1. Read Genesis 3:1. What question did Satan ask Eve?
“Hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree in the garden?”

2. Read Genesis 2:17 and Genesis 3:3. What word or words did Eve add to what God
actually said to Adam?
That they shouldn’t touch it

3. Read Genesis 3:6. Once Satan was able to instill doubt into Eve’s mind regarding the
Word of God, what did she do in this verse?
Took and ate of the Tree

4. Read Genesis 3:9-10. After Adam and Eve sinned, did God still communicate and
pursue a relationship with them?
Yes

5. Read Genesis 3:22-24. Why did God drive Adam and Eve from the Garden?
So they wouldn’t eat from the tree of life and live forever in a sinful state

6. Can you see that this was an act of mercy by God rather than a punishment?
Yes

7. Read Romans 5:17. How do we attain God’s abundance of grace and gift of
righteousness?
C. Receive it

8. Read Romans 6:23. What do we really deserve if we sin?
Death

9. By grace, what does God give us instead?
Eternal life in Jesus

10. Read Romans 10:3. If we try to establish our own righteousness before God, what do we
fail to do?
Submit to Jesus as our righteousness

11. Read 1 John 1:9 and Romans 4:3. What does God promise to do with ALL our sins and
iniquities against Him if we would only believe?
Remove them, forget them, and forgive them

12. What does this tell you about the character of God?
That He is merciful and loving

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

THE NATURE OF GOD

To have a positive relationship with the Lord, we must know His nature and His real
character. Is He angry because of our sin, or is He a merciful God who wants to give us His life
and blessing, independent of our performance? The Scriptures actually give us two different
views of God, not that He has ever changed or done anything differently. There was a period of
time that in the terminology used in the Bible, God “held men’s sins against them.”

This can be compared to raising children. When they’re very young, it isn’t possible to
reason with them, to tell them why they should act properly or why they shouldn’t be selfish and
take toys away from their brothers or sisters. They have to be told the rules and, if they break them,
be disciplined. The rules have to be enforced even though they don’t know about God and the
devil, or that they’re giving place to the devil when they are selfish. They may not understand the
concepts, but they can understand that if they repeat the action, they will be punished.

In a sense, that’s what the Lord did in the Old Testament. Before people were born
again, they didn’t have the spiritual perception we have under the New Covenant, so He had to
give laws and enforce them with punishment, sometimes even death, to deter them from sin.
Because Satan was destroying people through sin, there had to be restraints placed on sin, and
they had to be enforced. Although this left the false impression that God didn’t really love us
because of our sin, that is not what the Word of God teaches. Romans 5:13 says, “Until the law
sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed where there is no law.” “Until the law” means until
the days of Moses when God gave the Ten Commandments and other ceremonial laws that
applied to the Jewish nation. Up until that time, sin was in the world but wasn’t imputed. The
word “impute” is a bookkeeping term; e.g., you go to the store to buy something and say, “Put it
on my tab.” When it is put on your tab, it is recorded and charged against your account, and the
purchase is imputed to you. If they failed to impute it, that means it wasn’t recorded and held
against you.

This verse is saying that until the time the Ten Commandments came, sin was not being
held against people. That’s an amazing statement. Look at Genesis 3 and 4. Most people have
the concept that when Adam and Eve sinned against God, because He was holy and man was
now sinful, He could have nothing to do with sinful mankind. They think God drove man out
of the Garden to remove him from His presence because a Holy God couldn’t have anything to
do with unholy man. They further think that until you clean up your act through right actions,
God once again cannot have any relationship with you. That is contrary to the message Jesus
brought. Romans 5:8 says God commended His love toward you, and while you were yet a
sinner, Christ died for you; so the New Testament teaches that God extended His love to you
while you were living in sin, not after you have cleaned up your act.

One of the great truths of the Gospel that will change your life is to understand that God loves you just like you are.
He loves you so much that if you receive His love, you won’t want to stay as you are. You will
change, but you’ll change as a byproduct of God’s love not in order to get His love.
In Genesis 4 you can see that God was still fellowshipping with man, still talking with
Adam and Eve even after they sinned. He talked with Cain and Abel, and when they came to
offer sacrifices to Him, He spoke to them in an audible voice. By their reaction, we can see
that they were accustomed to hearing His voice, and it didn’t scare them. When Cain killed
his brother Abel and became the first murderer on the earth, God’s audible voice came from
heaven: “Where is your brother Abel?” Cain lied to God, seemingly without compunction. That
can happen only if a person is so used to hearing the voice of God that they take it for granted
and have no fear of it. All this says is that God was still fellowshipping with mankind and had
not broken fellowship, as is commonly believed. He was not imputing man’s sins to him. Does
that mean that He condoned their sins or that they were not wrong? No, that’s the reason He
eventually gave the Law. God had to give the Law to bring man back to a proper standard.

God had to show man that he needs a Savior and that he has to humble himself and receive
forgiveness as a gift. Sadly, religion has manipulated and controlled these things to teach that
the Law was given so you can keep it and thereby earn God’s forgiveness and acceptance. No!
The purpose of Old Testament Law was to magnify your sin to such a degree that you would
despair of ever saving yourself and say, “God, if this is your standard of holiness, I can’t do it.
Forgive me, have mercy on me.” The overall nature of God has always been love.

THE NATURE OF GOD

1. Read Romans 5:13. What does the word “impute” mean?
2. Read Romans 7:7. What was the purpose of the Law?
3. Read Galatians 3:24. According to this verse, what was
the purpose of the Law?
DISCIPLESHIP QUESTIONS
SCRIPTURES
TO USE WITH
QUESTIONS
ROMANS 5:13 – For until
the law sin was in the world:
but sin is not imputed when
there is no law.
ROMANS 7:7 – What shall
we say then? Is the law sin?
God forbid. Nay, I had not
known sin, but by the law: for
I had not known lust, except
the law had said, Thou shalt
not covet.
GALATIANS 3:24 –
Wherefore the law was our
schoolmaster to bring us
unto Christ, that we might be
justified by faith.

THE NATURE OF GOD

4. Read John 8:1-11. How did Jesus deal with the woman
caught in adultery?
DISCIPLESHIP QUESTIONS
SCRIPTURES
TO USE WITH
QUESTIONS
JOHN 8:1-11 – Jesus went
unto the mount of Olives. [2]
And early in the morning he
came again into the temple,
and all the people came unto
him; and he sat down, and
taught them. [3] And the
scribes and Pharisees brought
unto him a woman taken in
adultery; and when they had
set her in the midst, [4] They
say unto him, Master, this
woman was taken in adultery,
in the very act. [5] Now Moses
in the law commanded us,
that such should be stoned:
but what sayest thou? [6] This
they said, tempting him, that
they might have to accuse him.
But Jesus stooped down, and
with his finger wrote on the
ground, as though he heard
them not. [7] So when they
continued asking him, he lifted
up himself, and said unto
them, He that is without sin
among you, let him first cast
a stone at her. [8] And again
he stooped down, and wrote
on the ground. [9] And they
which heard it, being convicted
by their own conscience, went
out one by one, beginning at
the eldest, even unto the last:
and Jesus was left alone, and
the woman standing in the
midst. [10] When Jesus had
lifted up himself, and saw none
but the woman, he said unto
her, Woman, where are those
thine accusers? hath no man
condemned thee? [11] She said,
No man, Lord. And Jesus said
unto her, Neither do I condemn
thee: go, and sin no more.

THE NATURE OF GOD

5. Did Jesus’ words and actions reflect the true nature of
God? See John 3:34.
6. Read 1 John 4:8. According to this verse, what is the
true nature of God?
7. Read Romans 5:6. God’s love was directed toward us
when we were what?
8. Read Romans 5:8. God loved us while we were what?
9. Read Romans 5:10. God loved us while we were what?
10. If you asked Jesus Christ to forgive you and be your
Savior and Lord, trusting Jesus’ sacrifice as payment
for your sin, would God show you His true nature of
mercy and grace?

DISCIPLESHIP QUESTIONS
SCRIPTURES
TO USE WITH
QUESTIONS
JOHN 3:34 – For he whom
God hath sent speaketh the
words of God: for God giveth not
the Spirit by measure unto him.
1 JOHN 4:8 – He that loveth
not knoweth not God; for God
is love.
ROMANS 5:6 – For when we
were yet without strength, in due
time Christ died for the ungodly.
ROMANS 5:8 – But God
commendeth his love toward
us, in that, while we were yet
sinners, Christ died for us.
ROMANS 5:10 – For if, when
we were enemies, we were
reconciled to God by the death
of his Son, much more, being
reconciled, we shall be saved by
his life.

THE NATURE OF GOD

1. Read Romans 5:13. What does the word “impute” mean?
To charge to one’s account

2. Read Romans 7:7. What was the purpose of the Law?
To make sin known

3. Read Galatians 3:24. According to this verse, what was the purpose of the Law?
To show mankind their need of the Savior, Jesus Christ

4. Read John 8:1-11. How did Jesus deal with the woman caught in adultery?
In mercy and grace

5. Did Jesus’ words and actions reflect the true nature of God? See John 3:34.
Yes

6. Read 1 John 4:8. According to this verse, what is the true nature of God?
Love

7. Read Romans 5:6. God’s love was directed toward us when we were what?
Without strength; i.e., helpless and ungodly

8. Read Romans 5:8. God loved us while we were what?
Sinners

9. Read Romans 5:10. God loved us while we were what?
Enemies

10. If you asked Jesus Christ to forgive you and be your Savior and Lord, trusting Jesus’
sacrifice as payment for your sin, would God show you His true nature of mercy and grace?
Yes

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

REPENTANCE

Some people have a misunderstanding of what repentance is. Repentance is not
perfection but a change in direction. We’re going to talk about the parable of the prodigal son,
or the lost son. Jesus is telling a story that perfectly illustrates what it means for an individual to
repent. In Luke 15:11-12 Jesus said, “And he said, A certain man had two sons: And the younger
of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided
unto them his living.”

The younger son wanted his inheritance before his father died, which is quite unusual,
but his father granted the request and gave his sons their inheritance. Verse 13 says, “And not
many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and
there wasted his substance with riotous living.” The younger son took all of his wealth, his part
of the inheritance, went into a distant country, and wasted it in riotous living. One translation
says, “partying and spending the money on prostitutes.”

Verses 14-15 read, “And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land
[The land became destitute and people were starving]; and he began to be in want. And he
went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine”
(brackets mine). He got a job working for a man in that country and was sent to feed the pigs.
Verse 16 says, “And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks of that the swine did eat:
and no man gave unto him.” He was so hungry, at the point of starvation, and he said “Just give
me the pig’s food—anything,” but no one gave him anything. He had squandered all of his
inheritance. Verse 17 continues, “And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants
of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!” One translation says,
“when he came to his senses.” In other words, his father’s servants had more than enough food,
and he was dying from hunger.

He made a decision—he repented. Repentance is a change of mind, a change of heart
that causes a person to turn around and move in a new direction. In verses 18-19, he said, “I will
arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before
thee, And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.” “Just
make me a slave, father. I’ve sinned against you, squandered your living, and sinned against
God. Just make me a slave.” Then he rose and went to his father. Repentance is more than just a
change of attitude, a change of mind, and a change of heart; it leads a person to act on what they
believe, to turn around (or return) and go in a new direction. We’ve all turned away from God,
our Father, and from heaven, our home. The Bible says in Isaiah 53:6 that “all we like sheep have
gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way,” but God in His mercy took our sins and
laid them on Jesus.

The story continues in verses 20-24. “And he arose, and came to his father.” One night I
was telling this story to a man who had never heard it before, and he just knew that when the
son returned, his father would say, “Son, look what you’ve done. You’ve wasted all my wealth,
all I accumulated in my life. Be one of my slaves.” Most earthly fathers would probably be very
angry and have an attitude like that, but notice the attitude of this father: “But when he was yet
a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion [love came out of his heart for his son],
and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned
against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. But the father said
to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes
on his feet: And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: For this my
son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry."
They began to have a party.

I once told this to a man who said, “I see what Jesus is saying. If I’ll just turn to the
heavenly Father for mercy and say ‘Father, I’ve sinned against you, and I’m not worthy to be
your son,’ He’ll accept me.” Our heavenly Father will have compassion, and He won’t make you
a slave. He’ll restore you to full sonship with Him. God is waiting. Have you turned away? Why
don’t you turn to God, your Father, and to heaven, your home, today?

REPENTANCE

1. Define repentance.
2. Read Luke 13:1-5. What must one do in order not
to perish?
3. Read 2 Peter 3:9. What is God’s desire for all people?

DISCIPLESHIP QUESTIONS
SCRIPTURES
TO USE WITH
QUESTIONS
LUKE 13:1-5 – There were
present at that season some
that told him of the Galilaeans,
whose blood Pilate had mingled
with their sacrifices. [2] And
Jesus answering said unto
them, Suppose ye that these
Galilaeans were sinners above
all the Galilaeans, because they
suffered such things? [3] I tell
you, Nay: but, except ye repent,
ye shall all likewise perish. [4]
Or those eighteen, upon whom
the tower in Siloam fell, and
slew them, think ye that they
were sinners above all men that
dwelt in Jerusalem? [5] I tell
you, Nay: but, except ye repent,
ye shall all likewise perish.
2 PETER 3:9 – The Lord is not
slack concerning his promise,
as some men count slackness;
but is longsuffering to us-ward,
not willing that any should
perish, but that all should
come to repentance.

SCRIPTURES TO USE
WITH QUESTIONS
LUKE 16:19-31 – There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen,
and fared sumptuously every day: [20] And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which
was laid at his gate, full of sores, [21] And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the
rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. [22] And it came to pass, that the
beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and
was buried; [23] And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, [24] And he cried and said,
Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger
in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. [25] But Abraham said, Son,
remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things:
but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. [26] And beside all this, between us and you
there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can
they pass to us, that would come from thence. [27] Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father,
that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house. [28] For I have five brethren; that he may
testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. [29] Abraham saith unto him,
They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. [30] And he said, Nay, father Abraham:
but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. [31] And he said unto him, If they
hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.

4. Read Luke 16:19-31. In Luke 16:28, why did the rich man want someone to come back
from the dead and speak to his brothers?
5. Read Luke 16:30. What must these brothers do in order to avoid this place of torment (hell)?

SCRIPTURES TO USE
WITH QUESTIONS
LUKE 16:19-31 – There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen,
and fared sumptuously every day: [20] And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which
was laid at his gate, full of sores, [21] And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the
rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. [22] And it came to pass, that the
beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and
was buried; [23] And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, [24] And he cried and said,
Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger
in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. [25] But Abraham said, Son,
remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things:
but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. [26] And beside all this, between us and you
there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can
they pass to us, that would come from thence. [27] Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father,
that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house. [28] For I have five brethren; that he may
testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. [29] Abraham saith unto him,
They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. [30] And he said, Nay, father Abraham:
but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. [31] And he said unto him, If they
hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.

6. Read Acts 26:18. Although it doesn’t specifically say,
this verse is talking about repentance. What will
happen to those who repent?
7. Read Acts 26:20. In the last part of this verse, three
things are stated that the Gentiles should do. What are
these three things?
8. Read Matthew 7:21-23. What did Jesus say these
people practiced instead of the will of God?
9. What does this show you about the importance of
true repentance versus lip service toward God?
10. Read Isaiah 55:7. What must the wicked do?
11. What two things must the unrighteous do?
12. What will God do for the person who does those
things stated above?

DISCIPLESHIP QUESTIONS
SCRIPTURES
TO USE WITH
QUESTIONS
ACTS 26:18 – To open their
eyes, and to turn them from
darkness to light, and from the
power of Satan unto God, that
they may receive forgiveness of
sins, and inheritance among
them which are sanctified by
faith that is in me.
ACTS 26:20 – But shewed
first unto them of Damascus,
and at Jerusalem, and
throughout all the coasts
of Judaea, and then to the
Gentiles, that they should
repent and turn to God, and
do works meet for repentance.
MATTHEW 7:21-23 – Not
every one that saith unto me,
Lord, Lord, shall enter into the
kingdom of heaven; but he that
doeth the will of my Father
which is in heaven. [22]
Many will say to me in that
day, Lord, Lord, have we not
prophesied in thy name? and in
thy name have cast out devils?
and in thy name done many
wonderful works? [23] And
then will I profess unto them,
I never knew you: depart from
me, ye that work iniquity.
ISAIAH 55:7 – Let the wicked
forsake his way, and the
unrighteous man his thoughts:
and let him return unto the
LORD, and he will have mercy
upon him; and to our God, for
he will abundantly pardon.

13. Read Luke 15:7. What is heaven’s reaction to one
sinner who repents?
14. Read Acts 3:19. If you repent and are converted, what
will happen to your sins?

DISCIPLESHIP QUESTIONS
SCRIPTURES
TO USE WITH
QUESTIONS
LUKE 15:7 – I say unto you,
that likewise joy shall be in
heaven over one sinner that
repenteth, more than over
ninety and nine just persons,
which need no repentance.
ACTS 3:19 – Repent ye
therefore, and be converted,
that your sins may be blotted
out, when the times of
refreshing shall come from the
presence of the Lord.

1. Define repentance.
A. It is an “about face” to a new commitment
B. It is a change of mind
C. A change of heart that results in one turning to God, from one’s old ways to
God’s ways
D. A change of direction, not perfection
E. To make a decision that changes the total direction of one’s life
F. Turning from old ways and totally committing to God and His ways
G. Turning to a Person, to God through Jesus Christ
2. Read Luke 13:1-5. What must one do in order not to perish?
Repent
3. Read 2 Peter 3:9. What is God’s desire for all people?
That all come to repentance
4. Read Luke 16:19-31. In Luke 16:28, why did the rich man want someone to come back
from the dead and speak to his brothers?
So that they could avoid coming to this place of torment
5. Read Luke 16:30. What must these brothers do in order to avoid this place of torment (hell)?
They must repent
6. Read Acts 26:18. Although it doesn’t specifically say, this verse is talking about
repentance. What will happen to those who repent?
A. Eyes will be opened
B. Turn from darkness to light
C. Turn from power of Satan to God
D. Receive forgiveness of sins
E. Receive inheritance
7. Read Acts 26:20. In the last part of this verse, three things are stated that the Gentiles
should do. What are these three things?
A. Repent
B. Turn to God
C. Prove their repentance by their deeds
8. Read Matthew 7:21-23. What did Jesus say these people practiced instead of the will
of God?
Iniquity or lawlessness
9. What does this show you about the importance of true repentance versus lip service
toward God?
Salvation is from the heart, not lip service

10. Read Isaiah 55:7. What must the wicked do?
Forsake their way

11. What two things must the unrighteous do?
Forsake their thoughts and return to the Lord

12. What will God do for the person who does those things stated above?
Have mercy and pardon abundantly

13. Read Luke 15:7. What is heaven’s reaction to one sinner who repents?
There is rejoicing in heaven

14. Read Acts 3:19. If you repent and are converted, what will happen to your sins?
My sins will be blotted out
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

COMMITMENT

Luke 14:25-26 – And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said
unto them, If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and
children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.
“And there went great multitudes with Jesus, and He turned, and said unto them” (Luke
14:25). At this time in Jesus’ ministry, there were multitudes of people who followed Jesus. The
English language doesn’t bring this out, but in the Greek language, this is an imperfect tense.
This means that at this time, the great multitudes began to repeatedly and continuously follow
Jesus. Perhaps it was because of His miracles or because He fed them, we don’t know the exact
reason, but great multitudes were following Him. It was at this time that Jesus turned and
deliberately said something which appears to have caused many people to turn and follow Him
no more.

“If any man come to Me [that means wants to go with me, wants to accompany me,
wants to follow me, this is the requirement], and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and
children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple” (Luke
14:26, brackets mine). As I looked at that scripture, I thought, Lord, you can’t mean that. What
does that word “hate” mean? It probably means to love less or something like that. As I began to
study, however, I discovered that the word literally means “hate.”
Jesus used the strongest possible word to emphasize a point. He said unless you hate
your father, your mother, your sister, your brother, even your own life, you can’t be His disciple.
I want to ask you something: What is the closest relationship you will ever have on this earth? It’s
your mother and father or your spouse and children. What happens if your wife turns against
you and divorces you, or your mother and father die? Who will stick with you then? It will be
your brothers and your sisters. Jesus said, unless you hate them, you can’t be His disciple. What
is He saying?

Jesus is talking about the closest relationships we will ever have. He is asking for a
commitment from you, a commitment in which He is preeminent. He wants to be number one
in your life. He is going to compare His relationship with you to the closest relationships you
have on earth. “Hate” is a metaphor, a word of comparison, and Jesus is saying, “My relationship
with you is so important that I want it to be above all earthly things.” There is one person you
love more than your wife, your children, your mother, your father, or your sisters and brothers.

Do you know who that is? It’s not God . . . it’s you. You love yourself more than you love your
closest relationships.
Why do marriages break up? Why do people divorce? Because they love themselves more
than they love their spouse. “You’re not doing it like I want you to, so I’m getting rid of you.”
Jesus said there is one relationship I want to be number one above—it’s your own selfish
life. This is true discipleship. He is not talking about a no-cost discipleship. He’s asking us to
follow Him. He’s asking to be number one in our lives.

1. Read Luke 9:57-62. What does this passage teach
about the level of commitment toward following Christ?
2. Read Luke 8:13-14. Why do some people seem to fall
away, or turn away, from the Christian faith?

DISCIPLESHIP QUESTIONS
SCRIPTURES
TO USE WITH
QUESTIONS
LUKE 9:57-62 – And it came
to pass, that, as they went in
the way, a certain man said
unto him, Lord, I will follow
thee whithersoever thou goest.
[58] And Jesus said unto him,
Foxes have holes, and birds
of the air have nests; but the
Son of man hath not where to
lay his head. [59] And he said
unto another, Follow me. But
he said, Lord, suffer me first
to go and bury my father. [60]
Jesus said unto him, Let the
dead bury their dead: but go
thou and preach the kingdom
of God. [61] And another also
said, Lord, I will follow thee;
but let me first go bid them
farewell, which are at home at
my house. [62] And Jesus said
unto him, No man, having
put his hand to the plough,
and looking back, is fit for the
kingdom of God.
LUKE 8:13-14 – They on the
rock are they, which, when
they hear, receive the word
with joy; and these have no
root, which for a while believe,
and in time of temptation fall
away. [14] And that which
fell among thorns are they,
which, when they have heard,
go forth, and are choked with
cares and riches and pleasures
of this life, and bring no fruit
to perfection.

3. Read Ezekiel 16:8. God uses the illustration of
marriage to describe a relationship with His people.
Whose possession does one become in this relationship?
4. Read 1 Corinthians 6:19. Who do you belong to?
5. Read 1 Corinthians 6:20. Who does your body and
your spirit belong to?
6. Read James 4:4. Can you commit spiritual adultery
against God?
7. What would constitute spiritual adultery in God’s
eyes? See Romans 1:25.

DISCIPLESHIP QUESTIONS
SCRIPTURES
TO USE WITH
QUESTIONS
EZEKIEL 16:8 – Now when
I passed by thee, and looked
upon thee, behold, thy time
was the time of love; and I
spread my skirt over thee, and
covered thy nakedness: yea, I
sware unto thee, and entered
into a covenant with thee,
saith the Lord GOD, and thou
becamest mine.
1 CORINTHIANS 6:19-20 –
What? know ye not that your
body is the temple of the Holy
Ghost which is in you, which
ye have of God, and ye are
not your own? [20] For ye are
bought with a price: therefore
glorify God in your body, and
in your spirit, which are God’s.
JAMES 4:4 – Ye adulterers
and adulteresses, know ye not
that the friendship of the world
is enmity with God? whosoever
therefore will be a friend of the
world is the enemy of God.
ROMANS 1:25 – Who
changed the truth of God into
a lie, and worshipped and
served the creature more than
the Creator, who is blessed for
ever. Amen.

8. Read John 2:23-25. What can we learn about
commitment and faith from these verses?
9. Read Luke 14:28-30. Have you counted the cost to
follow Jesus? Do you want to follow Him?

DISCIPLESHIP QUESTIONS
SCRIPTURES
TO USE WITH
QUESTIONS
JOHN 2:23-25 – Now
when he was in Jerusalem at
the passover, in the feast day,
many believed in his name,
when they saw the miracles
which he did. [24] But Jesus
did not commit himself unto
them, because he knew all
men, [25] And needed not that
any should testify of man: for
he knew what was in man.
LUKE 14:28-30 – For which
of you, intending to build
a tower, sitteth not down
first, and counteth the cost,
whether he have sufficient to
finish it? [29] Lest haply, after
he hath laid the foundation,
and is not able to finish it, all
that behold it begin to mock
him, [30] Saying, This man
began to build, and was not
able to finish.

1. Read Luke 9:57-62. What does this passage teach about the level of commitment toward
following Christ?
Absolute surrender

2. Read Luke 8:13-14. Why do some people seem to fall away, or turn away, from the
Christian faith?
They have never put down a root system in the Word of God. The cares, riches, and
pleasures of this life take them away

3. Read Ezekiel 16:8. God uses the illustration of marriage to describe a relationship with
His people. Whose possession does one become in this relationship?
God’s

4. Read 1 Corinthians 6:19. Who do you belong to?
God

5. Read 1 Corinthians 6:20. Who does your body and your spirit belong to?
God

6. Read James 4:4. Can you commit spiritual adultery against God?
Yes

7. What would constitute spiritual adultery in God’s eyes?
A heart that is turned away from Him to idols (things that you have made more
important that God)
See Romans 1:25.

8. Read John 2:23-25. What can we learn about commitment and faith from these verses?
That Jesus wants all of our hearts (a total commitment)

9. Read Luke 14:28-30. Have you counted the cost to follow Jesus?
Do you want to follow Him?