In Him Was Life

Lesson #6

As we read ahead we must stop at John 1:4 and consider some additional information about Jesus Christ. John has referred to him as the Word who existed in the beginning with God and who himself was God who created everything that was created. As the Son of God he took his place among men through a virgin birth. He was fully God and fully human. Now John identifies the source of life to be in him: “In him was life, and the life was the light of mankind.”

“In him was life” and since Jesus existed in the beginning with God before anything else existed but God, we know that life then existed before anything was created. Jesus, a living person, said, “I and the Father are one” (John 10:30) and have always existed. This means that God is a living person who has no beginning; who has always existed as a person. God, as an intelligent being, designed a universe and as the source of life infused that life into his creation and as an image of himself he created man. But mankind sinned and God’s creature was now flawed. Jesus, God’s Son, entered his creation in a body of flesh to reflect a true image of God and provide a way for sinful, broken people to be restored to a perfect holy and righteous state forever with God.

This life that is in him does provide physical life, but it is much more than that. Physical life is temporary, but the life that exists in him is eternal life, it is spiritual life. For us to live forever we must have this life. Jesus said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life” (John 5:25 ESV). To escape judgment for our sin we must come to Jesus and receive as a gift this spiritual life. Jesus came that we may have life and have it abundantly (John 10:10). “God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life” (1 John 5:11 – 12 ESV).

In John 1:4, John continues by telling us that this “life was the light of mankind.” Next time we will see why this is important.

Prayer

Lord, I knew absolutely the moment I believed and accepted the gift of life from you that it was real. Just as there is a clear difference between physical life and death, there is also a very clear difference between spiritual life and spiritual death. Once I received this gift of life, as I was born spiritually, I knew because my life changed and has been changing ever since. I long for that day when my work will be done here on earth and when I have finally been conformed into the image of Christ and will be able to stand face to face before you and see you as you really are. Lord, what an awesome thing it is to experience this living hope, especially when life gets ugly as it does for believers under persecution or those with a terminal illness or some other fiery trial.

NOTE: Sunday is a day of rest. I am going to honor that with no lessons on Sundays.

Observations

Lesson #5

 “¹ In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was fully God. ² The Word was with God in the beginning. ³ All things were created by him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created.” (John 1:1 – 3 NET).

One more lesson is needed before we leave these verses. In the beginning was Jesus, who John identified as the Word. He was in the beginning in Genesis 1:1 with God and by him was everything created. Jesus was not some created being because he existed as God before anything was created.

“The Word was fully God” and became flesh and lived among us and as he did he demonstrated his divine nature and confessed that he was one with the Father and able to forgive sin (Luke 5:21). The scribes and the Pharisees claimed he was speaking blasphemies and sought to have him killed.

The Word was God and was with God and came to dwell with us as a man as the image of God. As God he is one with the Father but yet he is distinct as the Son of God. Later we will add the Holy Spirit and then we will have three Persons, but one divine Essence.

This Jesus who John experienced as God in the flesh is the one who created all things. Here is the creator of the universe living among the disciple to die in our place for our sin so that we might have a relationship and peace with God. It is so important that we get our minds around this truth that Jesus is God, equal with the Father and the Holy Spirit because here lies the source of our salvation.

Prayer

Father, I am so thankful that in Jesus, the Son of God, all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and that through him all things are being reconciled to himself, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross (Colossians 1:19, 20). Thank you for restoring my relationship with you through Jesus and providing peace for a troubled heart. Thank you for the living hope I have of one day being conformed into the image of your Son.

The Word

Lesson #4

 “¹ In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was fully God. ² The Word was with God in the beginning. ³ All things were created by him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created.” (John 1:1 – 3 NET).

Why did John call Jesus “the Word”? Consider the following verses. “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life” (John 14:6a). “For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth” (John 18:37). “So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, ‘If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples’” (John 8:31). “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask . . .” (John 15:7).

Jesus said he was the truth and came to bear witness of the truth. The works he did was a witness of that truth. A true disciple abides in his word, but that disciple is to also abide in him. The words Jesus spoke and the life he lived provide us with knowledge of and an understanding of God. As you study the Gospel of John you find that Jesus and the Word are inseparable. They are the same and so John begins his gospel by calling Jesus the Word. This relationship is further enforced in Hebrews 1:1 – 2 where God tells us that he spoke to us by his Son. In Revelation 19:13 we read, “He [Jesus] is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God” (Revelation 19:13). Jesus is the “Word”, the eternal God who is the source of absolute truth.

Prayer

Father, how awesome it is to grow in relationship to Jesus Christ. The freedom one gains by learning about him and becoming more like him in relationship with him. As the source of truth your words to me are true. As the source of life you gave me life. As the source of light you removed my darkness. As the source of love you are overcoming anger and resentment in me, allowing me to love those who are unlovable. As God, my Lord, my savior and my redeemer, you provide meaning and purpose to my life. For this I give thanks.

His Infinite Majesty

Lesson #3

 “¹ In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was fully God. ² The Word was with God in the beginning. ³ All things were created by him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created.” (John 1:1 – 3 NET).

Opening the Gospel of John by identifying Jesus as God, provides the reader with a much clearer understanding of the actions and sayings of Jesus in his relationship to his Father. By knowing that Jesus is God helps us understand the plan of salvation Jesus was providing for us by his life on earth, his death on the cross in our place, and his resurrection from the dead.

John tells us who Jesus is up front and then as a firsthand witness tells us how Jesus lived to demonstrate who he was and what his mission was. As we read this gospel we are to remember that Jesus Christ was with God and that he was God and that he came and lived to lay down his life for us (John 15:13). If we miss up front who Jesus is, we will miss the eternal benefit to be gained from this book.

Prayer

Father, thank you for choosing me and giving to me an understanding of who Jesus is. Lord, thank you for dying for my sin and providing me with the gift of eternal life. Father, thank you for causing me to be born spiritually and making me part of your family. Only through the person of Jesus Christ does one have access to God. Father, thank you for providing me with that access.

The Word Became Flesh

Lesson #2

Let us begin at the beginning of the Gospel of John and consider the term “Word” that is found in the opening verse.

“¹ In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was fully God. ² The Word was with God in the beginning. ³ All things were created by him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created.” (John 1:1 – 3 NET).

To gain an understanding of the term “Word” we need to look at John 1:14, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth” (ESV). In this verse John tells us that the Word is Jesus the Son from the Father.” Since Jesus is the Word we see from verse 1 that he existed in the beginning with God and was fully God. John had three years to figure out who Jesus really was. He experienced him as fully human and gradually came to understand that he was also fully God. He was the Son of God. It is this Jesus who existed with God before anything was created because we see from verse 3 that “All things were created by him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created.” John states his understanding in these verses and then takes the remainder of the book to help us understand. 

Prayer

Father, thank you for sending us your Son to live among us here on earth as the person known as Jesus, as a way of providing us with a greater revelation of yourself. Thank you Lord for your obedience in leaving your glory in heaven to come and live a perfect life among us sinful people and then to be nailed to the cross to die in our place to pay the penalty for our sin.

Introduction to the Gospel of John

Lesson #1

With this lesson we will begin a new series of lessons from the Gospel of John. We will first look at some high points of the gospel. It was written to help those who read or heard it being read believe who Jesus Christ is and gain eternal life as a result.

From John 15:6, “If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.” we learn of the importance of an abiding relationship with Jesus Christ. And in John 8:31, Jesus said, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples.”

The Gospel of John was “written so that [we] may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing [we] may have life in his name” (John 20:31). John wants to awaken faith in unbelievers and to sustain faith in believers and thus lead both in the direction of eternal life.

The Gospel of John is an eyewitness account of one who loved Jesus deeply and who lived with him for three years. John, also known as the disciple whom Jesus loved, wrote as a divinely inspired witness to the events of Jesus life and what they meant for our understanding. This inspiration is from the Holy Spirit “whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you” (John 14:26). John’s Gospel is therefore the inspired word of God.

Prayer

Father, I pray that this series of lessons from the Gospel of John would be used by the Holy Spirit as a witness of the Gospel to unbelievers and as an encouragement for believers to grow spiritually.

Guidance

Guidance

Guidance is the act of guiding or providing some form of direction. The one providing the guidance or direction then must of necessity possess certain qualities. One who guides another effectively would need to have intimate knowledge of the course or way and of all its difficulties or dangers. You may then go ahead to show the way and as you do you keep those that follow under control, or you may maneuver them in such a way that they stay on course. As we walk along the pathway of life consider the guidance provided by the Lord.

My Prayer

Lord, I am so thankful for the guidance you provide through the Holy Spirit; a guidance that will last until death; that will lead me along a level path to refreshing springs of water. Make me know your ways, O Lord. Teach me your path; the way in which I should walk. Lead me in your truth and teach me for you are the God of my salvation. Teach me to do your will so that with my life I will bring you joy. With my mind I plan my ways, but I ask that you will direct my steps, to guide my feet in the way of peace. Lord, direct my heart into your love and into the steadfastness of Christ. Guide me all the days of my life that I would be a delight to you. Thank you that you have ordained and established my steps.

Related Verses

“For God, our God, is our defender forever! He guides us” (Psalm 48:14 NET)!

“For you are my rock and my fortress; and for your name's sake you lead me and guide me” (Psalm 31:3 ESV).

“They will not be hungry or thirsty; the sun’s oppressive heat will not beat down on them, for one who has compassion on them will guide them; he will lead them to springs of water” (Isaiah 49:10 NET).

“Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the daylong” (Psalm 25:4 – 5 ESV).

“Teach me your way, O Lord, and lead me on a level path because of my enemies” (Psalm 27:11 ESV).

“Teach me to do your will, for you are my God! Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground” (Psalm 143:10 ESV)!

“My sheep listen to my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish; no one will snatch them from my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one can snatch them from my Father’s hand. The Father and I are one” (John 10:27 – 30 NET).

“A person plans his course, but the Lord directs his steps” (Proverbs 16:9 NET).

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me” (Psalm 23:1 – 4 ESV).

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding. Acknowledge him in all your ways, and he will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5 - 6 NET).

“But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and will cause you to remember everything I said to you” (John 14:26 NET).

Protection

Protection

To protect is to shield or cover something from some form of injury or damage. It is to guard or defend; to preserve in safety. The substance, thing or person doing the protection is called the protector. Consider God as our protector as you look at the verses below.

My Prayer

Lord, I know that my adversary, the devil, prowls around looking for an opportunity to devour me, but as long as I humble myself under your mighty hand, be of sober spirit, be on the alert, resist him and walk with you in faith, I know that I will have protection. And when temptation comes I know that you will not allow me to be tempted beyond what I am able to endure and that you will also provide a way of escape. Lord, you are my strength, my rock and my fortress in whom I trust. You are my deliverer and in you I take refuge. You are my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. Your faithfulness is a shield and a bulwark to me. You are my savior who saves me from violence. Rescue me, O Lord, from evil men. Preserve me from violent men. Keep me, O Lord, from the hands of the wicked. Lord, I call upon you who is worthy to be praised and I am saved from my enemies. Praise the Lord.

Related Verses

“The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble” (Psalm 9:9 ESV).

“For you are my rock and my fortress; and for your name's sake you lead me and guide me” (Psalm 31:3 ESV).

“I give them eternal life, and they will never perish; no one will snatch them from my hand” (John 10:28 NET).

“Protect me, O God, for I have taken shelter in you” (Psalm 16:1 NET).

“From this day forward I am he; no one can deliver from my power; I will act, and who can prevent it” (Isaiah 43:13 NET).

“He will shelter you with his wings; you will find safety under his wings. His faithfulness is like a shield or a protective wall” (Psalm 91:4 NET).

“He delivers me from my enemies; you snatch me away from those who attack me; you rescue me from violent men” (Psalm 18:48 NET).

“The Lord strengthens and protects me; I trust in him with all my heart. I am rescued and my heart is full of joy; I will sing to him in gratitude” (Psalm 28:7 NET).

“An evil person suffers much pain, but the Lord’s faithfulness overwhelms the one who trusts in him” (Psalm 32:10 NET).

“The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold” (Psalm 18:2 ESV).

“Our God is a God who delivers; the Lord, the sovereign Lord, can rescue from death” (Psalm 68:20 NET).

“I called to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and I was delivered from my enemies” (2 Samuel 22:4 NET).

“No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it” (1 Corinthians 10:13 ESV).

Correspondence

I received a note from my friend after sending him one of the lessons. It said, “Yes received and I can understand it well. Besides, I can read and learn from all these lessons you taught and I am trying to do some / practice praying as you teach, I have been deeply thinking of what I have learned from you these days. I have learned a lot about the religion, belief, the God, the relationship between us, those terms and definitions etc. I have calmed down a lot and feeling quiet so much as before, but I am still not sure if I am some kind of religious belief or a religious person now, as I still don't have time or chance to go to church every week or so as a real Christian, due to my current life DNS work. Do I need to go to church weekly or so? Do need to go through some process such as baptizing or other formal oath etc.?

I responded back to him.

[Name], as I read the note you sent to me I was encouraged but at the same time I am concerned. I am encouraged by your growing spiritual awareness and a greater peace in your life, but I am concerned about your focus on rules or the things you think are important to do. You are becoming a religious person that is beginning to establish a list of things you think you need to do to be better and maybe more acceptable to God. There was a group of people in the Bible who came to Jesus and listed all the things they had done or were doing that they felt were good enough to allow them entrance into heaven. Let us read what they said to Jesus and how Jesus responded. Here is what was said in their conversation. ²¹ “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. ²² On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ ²³ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness’” (Matthew 7:21 – 23 ESV). Jesus refers to them as workers and not part of his family that he knows.

[Name], it is not about what we do that is most important, but about a relationship we have with him. True Christianity is about a relationship to God through the person of Jesus Christ and about what he does for us. When we come to the point of believing who Jesus really is and what his death on the cross and his resurrection accomplished for us and trust our life to him then he will establish a living relationship with us through the process of being born again. Being born again is the process of God the Father creating in our body of flesh a new spiritual body that will continue to live forever after we die physically. With that spiritual life comes our family relationship with God and all the benefits we receive by being a child of his. Think of the benefits your children have by you being their father; your love and care for them in spite of what they do. You spend time with them and direct their growth. Once we are a family member our heavenly Father trains us up as his children. It is a lifelong process, at times painful, but rewarding beyond understanding. When you practice praying, practice asking God to work within your heart to give you understanding in this. When you are at the point of being born spiritually you will know it as surely as your wife knew it was time to give birth to your son if she had a natural birth. You will know and that is what I am praying about for you and waiting to hear about from you. When you are ready and it happens your note to me will be like nothing you have ever written to me before. I pray for that day when you experience that and will with great excitement share with me your spiritual birth experience. When your son was born he didn’t do anything but allow the process to happen. You don’t control the birth experience either. You keep learning and praying and then one day God determines that it is time for birth. You will know that time and you will know how to respond in prayer to him. It is not about the work you do, but about the relationship that is being established with God through Jesus Christ through learning from the word and through prayer to God about his work in your heart. You are getting closer as you learn more about surrender to him and request for him to prepare your heart for that great spiritual event.

Prayerfulness

Prayerfulness

To be prayerful is to be given too much prayer. It is a frame of mind, which according to 1 Thessalonians 5:17, one prays without ceasing. It is a lifestyle of keeping alert, with an attitude of thanksgiving, to the needs around us and to the prompting of the Holy Spirit to always be ready to pray. Our prayer can be either mental or vocal and either private or public. It is our means of addressing God for the purpose of adoring Him, confessing our sins, making request for ourselves and others, dedicating ourselves to Him, giving of thanks and asking for His blessing for ourselves and others. Prayer is an expression of our dependence on and relationship to God.

My Prayer

Father, I thank you for the privilege of prayer that I am able to communicate with the holy and living God of the universe and know that I am being heard. Thank you that I can confess my sin to you and then be forgiven and cleansed of all unrighteousness; that I can express my heart with words of praise and adoration; that I can bow before you in humility and meekness and offer words of dedication; that I can offer up words of thanks for knowing you and for all you have done for me; that I can make request for needs and ask for your blessing for myself and others. Lord, strengthen and encourage me to be alert, ready to stand in the gap, clothed with your righteousness, to fervently pray for the needs at hand. What an awesome privilege to pray and know that great power is being released from the throne of grace to work in the lives of people to glory of God. Lord, here am I, use me.

Related Verses

“But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:44 ESV).

“Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matthew 26:41 ESV).

“The prayer of a righteous person has great effectiveness” (James 5:16b NET).

“And whatever you ask in prayer, if you believe, you will receive” (Matthew 21:22 NET).

“For the culmination of all things is near. So be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of prayer” (1 Peter 4:7 NET).

“If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you” (John 15:7 ESV).

” Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive it, so that your joy may be complete” (John 16:24 NET).

” But he must ask in faith without doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed around by the wind” (James 1:6 NET).

“And whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him” (1 John 3:22 ESV).

“And this is the confidence that we have before him: that whenever we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in regard to whatever we ask, then we know that we have the requests that we have asked from him” (1 John 5:14 – 15 NET).

Contentment

Contentment

Contentment is a disposition of the mind that allows one to be satisfied in any circumstance and as a result be free of envy and anxiety. Being satisfied holds the mind in peace, restraining complaint, opposition or further desire. It is a trait that can be acquired through a relationship with God because through His grace He will provide for all of our needs, such as food and covering. When godliness is accompanied by contentment it results in gaining much in life to the glory of God.

My Prayer

Father, thank you that your grace is sufficient, to meet all of my needs. Through this marvelous grace, help me learn to be content in whatever circumstance I find myself in. If it is a condition of weakness then I will experience your power being perfected in me. If I find myself with humble means, suffering need or going hungry, I know that you are there with me and will take care of me. If I live in prosperity help me learn the secret of being a joyful, generous giver. Help me never forget all that you have done for me. I am a sinner saved by your grace, washed by your blood, clothed with your righteousness, filled with your love and joy, illuminated by the light of your glory and comforted with your peace. Lord, how can I not be content even if all I have is simply food and covering? Lord, I know that I will find contentment only within you, not in the things of the world. Help me to never forget the great value of godliness and contentment working together, producing a life of peace and satisfaction.

Related Verses

“I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content in any circumstance. I have experienced times of need and times of abundance. In any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of contentment, whether I go satisfied or hungry, have plenty or nothing” (Philippians 4:11 – 12 NET).

“And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:8 ESV).

“But godliness with contentment is great gain . . . But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content” (1 Timothy 6:6, 8 ESV).

“Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you’” (Hebrews 13:5 ESV).

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble” (Matthew 6:25, 33, 34 ESV).

“But he said to me, “My grace is enough for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” So then, I will boast most gladly about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may reside in me. Therefore I am content with weaknesses, with insults, with troubles, with persecutions and difficulties for the sake of Christ, for whenever I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:9 – 10 NET).

Faithfulness

Faithfulness

Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass (1 Thessalonians 5:24). Faithfulness is a character quality of God. He can be trusted to do what He says. As a result we can approach Him with confidence knowing that He will certainly fulfill His promise for our blessing, as well as His threats against sin. Faithfulness also applies to man. In Revelation 2:10, we are told to be faithful until death, and if we are we will be given the crown of life. Thus, being faithful is being firm in our adherence to the truth. We are to be constant in the performance of our duties or services; exact in attending the commands of our Lord as a faithful servant. One who is faithful is one worthy of confidence and belief and is seen as being loyal and having steadfast determination.

My Prayer

O Lord, you are my God, I will exalt Thee and I will give thanks to Thy name, for you have worked wonders with perfect faithfulness, from plans formed long ago. Lord, I will sing of your loving-kindness forever and to others I will make known your faithfulness. Thank you for calling me into fellowship with your Son, Jesus Christ my Lord, and in Him I pray that I will be faithful in my walk with you. Help me in my unfaithfulness so that I will be constant in the performance of my duties and services as your servant. In my faithfulness you have strengthened and protected me; you have not allowed me to be tempted beyond what I was able to endure. Lord, as you entrust your word to me I pray that I will effectively teach others to walk with you in faith. Lord, because of my love for you, I pray that I will remain faithful and obedient to you until death.

Related Verses

“God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord” (1 Corinthians 1:9 ESV).

“I will sing of the steadfast love of the Lord, forever; with my mouth I will make known your faithfulness to all generations” (Psalm 89:1 ESV).

“O Lord, you are my God; I will exalt you; I will praise your name, for you have done wonderful things, plans formed of old, faithful and sure” (Isaiah 25:1 ESV).

“He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it” (1 Thessalonians 5:24 ESV).

“But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one” (2 Thessalonians 3:3 NET).

“I am grateful to the one who has strengthened me, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he considered me faithful in putting me into ministry” (1 Timothy 1:12 NET).

“And entrust what you heard me say in the presence of many others as witnesses to faithful people who will be competent to teach others as well” (2 Timothy 2:2 NET).

“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful” (Hebrews 10:23 ESV).

“Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life” (Revelation 2:10 b ESV).

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law” (Galatians 5:22 - 23 NET).

Understanding

Understanding

To understand is to have an adequate idea of something; to know or to perceive. It is having the same idea that another is communicating. I understand what the speaker is saying or what I am reading. To understand is to grasp the meaning of something. It gives me reason to believe. If I have understanding I have discernment, comprehension or interpretation of something. When I encounter something that is new I think about it and with my mind try to comprehend it so as to understand it. God has provided all that we need, to know and to understand Him. He has also made it clear so that we can understand that apart from Him we are just lost sinners. We are to incline our heart to understanding; an understanding that comes from the Lord.

My Prayer

O Lord my God, you are great and abundant in strength and infinite in understanding. Lord, as I seek you, open my mind to understand your word and make known to me the mystery of your will. Give me light and understanding by revealing your word to me and help me keep it with all my heart. Lord, I pray that I may learn your commandments and obey them; that I may know your testimonies and be encouraged by them; that I may live according to Thy word and find true meaning in life. Father, make my ear attentive to wisdom and incline my heart to understanding that I may meditate on Thy wonders and be awed and inspired by them. Lord, I know that my heart is deceitful and not to be trusted. May I trust in you with all my heart and lean not on my own understanding. Open my mind that I may understand you more deeply and completely.

Related Verses

“Our Lord is great and has awesome power; there is no limit to his wisdom” (Psalm 147:5 ESV).

“It is he who made the earth by his power, who established the world by his wisdom, and by his understanding stretched out the heavens” (Jeremiah 10:12 ESV).

“Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything” (2 Timothy 2:7 ESV).

“Make your ear attentive to wisdom, Incline your heart to understanding” (Proverbs 2:2 NASB).

“Then he opened their minds so they could understand the scriptures” (Luke 24:45 NET).

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it” (Jeremiah 17:9 ESV)?

“The wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way” (Proverbs 14:8a ESV).

“Evil people do not understand justice, but those who seek the Lord understand it all” (Proverbs 28:5 NET).

“You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “and my servant whom I have chosen, that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor shall there be any after me” (Isaiah 43:10 ESV).

“Your instructions are a doorway through which light shines. They give insight to the untrained” (Psalms 119:130 NET).

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5 NET).

Humility

Humility

When we stand before God Almighty and see how holy and righteous He is and review the glory of His works, we realize how insignificant we are in comparison. When we realize that we are nothing but a lost sinner apart from Him and accept it we enter the state of humility. Humility is that state or quality of being humble. It is freedom from pride or arrogance. It is that feeling that we have no merit in the sight of God. It is to honor others rather than self. Humility is a condition of the soul that prepares it for faith.

My Prayer

Lord, I come to you to learn from you, because you are gentle and humble in heart. Father, I find it is so easy for pride to enter into my heart. Please forgive me and teach me to be gentle and humble so that I can enjoy your grace. Lord, please cultivate within me the ability to show true humility to all, that I would regard others as more important than myself. Help me put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience so that I may touch the heart of someone for Christ Jesus today. O, Lord my God, I pray that I may do justice, love kindness and walk humbly with you. I pray that I will serve you with all humility and that I will humble myself under your mighty hand so that I might experience your grace at work in my life.

Related Verses

“But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6 ESV).

“In the same way, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. And all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. And God will exalt you in due time, if you humble yourselves under his mighty hand” (1 Peter 5:5 – 6 NET).

“Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted” (Matthew 23:12 ESV).

“Though the Lord is exalted, he takes note of the lowly, and recognizes the proud from far away” (Psalm 138:6 NET).

“He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8 ESV)?

“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth” (Matthew 5:5 ESV).

“Instead of being motivated by selfish ambition or vanity, each of you should, in humility, be moved to treat one another as more important than yourself. Each of you should be concerned not only about your own interests, but about the interests of others as well” (Philippians 2:3 – 4 NET).

“Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with a heart of mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another, if someone happens to have a complaint against anyone else. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also forgive others” (Colossians 3:12 – 13 NET).

“I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love” ( ESV).

Correspondence

My friend and I have exchanged a few notes that I would like to share. He wrote, “It is a pleasant thing to read all your teaching every day and trying practicing the praying.”

I wrote back, “[Name], I have included a link to a very good sermon about being like Jesus. See if you can open the link and if you have time to listen, great, or download for later. I have downloaded nearly 1300 sermons from three different sources to form a library that I can listen to at any time. I learn much this way because the sermons cover verse by verse of various books of the Bible. Link to sermon.”

My friend wrote back and said, “I can access this website. I am trying to put all the terms like love, purity, courage, kindness, responsible, etc. into our company bulletin, so that more people can read it and think about it!”

I wrote back, “[Name], thanks for your note about the use of my materials at work. Please don't mention the source of these materials and be careful about any mention of God. I don't want you getting into trouble with authorities. I probably should write to you about my experience with this and some of the dangers. The development of ethical materials is being done in other businesses and is resulting in business churches being formed. Moving ahead carefully is very important, but one of the worst things is for authorities to confront you someday and learn that a person from the west has been working with you. I must remain in the background for your protection.”

My friend wrote back and said, “Yes, received and understand what you worry, which is typical in China. But no worries for me as I am only managing it within the limited group of people but it also serves my wellness culture building initiatives on my own company only!”

I thought this correspondence might give you some insight into what I am doing with my friend.

Self-Control

Self-Control

Self-control is the control of oneself; to keep in check or under restraint. When we are tempted by something we are able to turn away and not be overtaken by it. We are to take steps, like watching and praying, that will help us overcome temptation and not yield to its control. We have the responsibility to control what we look at, listen to, think about, and say. Many details could be listed of things that we should have control of in our life, but the bottom line is that we are to control ourselves in such a way that we maximize the benefits of the life God gave us to live. We are to live in a way that is pleasing to Him.

My Prayer

Father, I pray that you will develop within me the desire and the strength to live as one who is in Christ; to consider myself dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed and to pursue the qualities of moral excellence, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, kindness and love. Lord, help me walk in faith with a walk that is disciplined, having on the breastplate of faith and love and the helmet of the hope of salvation; a walk that is determined with my mind prepared for action, a spirit that is sober and with a hope that is completely focused on the grace that I will receive at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Lord, I pray that I may live my life in such a way that the peace of Christ will rule in my heart and that the word of Christ will richly dwell within me. Lord, the life I live will be a reflection of the choices I make. Through your Spirit help me make the right choices so that my life will reflect you and bring honor and glory to you.

Related Verses

There are many verses we could list here that relate to self-control. Some of these would include 1 Corinthians 10:13 (overcoming temptation), Matthew 26:41 (Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation.), 2 Peter 1:5 – 8 ( The qualities of moral excellence, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and Christian love are to be ours and be increasing.), Galatians 5:22 – 23 (The fruit of the Spirit is to be evident in us which is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control), 1 Timothy 4:7 (We are to discipline ourselves for the purpose of godliness.), Psalm 19:21 (We are responsible for proper words and thoughts.), and Romans 13:14 (Put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.).

But the passage that stands out is Colossians 3:1 – 17 where Paul explains the concept of putting on the new person. “Therefore, if you have been raised with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Keep thinking about things above, not things on the earth, for you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:1 – 3 NET). We are to consider the members of our earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry (verse 5). Paul continues and tells us to put aside anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from our mouth and not to lie to one another (verses 8 – 9). We are to put on the new self with its heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience and are to bear with one another and forgive each other. And beyond all these things we are to put on love, let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts, and let the word of Christ richly dwell within us (from verses 12 – 16). In Christ, self-control takes on a whole new dimension. It is a whole new life that is to be lived and enjoyed with and in Him

Responsibility

Responsibility

Responsibility is the quality or state of being responsible, accountable or answerable. If called upon one must be able to answer for their acts or decisions and be able to choose between what is right and wrong. One must be reliable or trustworthy and able to fulfill any obligation that they may have. We are the workmanship of God, created in Christ Jesus for good works and given the responsibility to complete them during our life on earth. God chose us and appointed us to go forth and produce much fruit to His Glory. He has given us the word of truth and as workman we are expected to accurately handle it. We are responsible to invest wisely the talents and gifts given to us by Him.

My Prayer

Father, I pray that I will be found responsible for the talents that you entrusted to me and that I will be diligent to present myself to you as a workman who can accurately handle the word of truth and use it to accomplish your work. Lord, I pray that I will be careful in how I walk; that I will make the most of my time; that I will be careful to engage in good deeds looking out for the interest of others; that I will not neglect the spiritual gifts given to me; that I will not allow the root of bitterness to develop within me; that I will properly control what my mind dwells on; that I will love my neighbor as myself. Father, I pray that in Christ Jesus I will be found to be a righteous person that will take time to pray effectively so that Christ can accomplish much through me for His glory.

Related Verses

“Make every effort to present yourself before God as a proven worker who does not need to be ashamed, teaching the message of truth accurately” (2 Timothy 2:15 NET).

“For we are his workmanship, having been created in Christ Jesus for good works that God prepared beforehand so we may do them” (Ephesians 2:10 NET).

“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that remains” (John 15:16a NET).

We have been given the responsibility to walk in a manner of the calling with which you have been called (Ephesians 4:1), to walk as children of light (Ephesians 4:8), to walk with integrity (Psalm 15:2), to walk in the light of the Lord (Isaiah 2:5), to walk humbly with God (Micah 6:8), to walk in newness of life (Romans 6:4), to walk by faith not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7), and to love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:39).

“See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God, that no one be like a bitter root springing up and causing trouble, and through him many become defiled” (Hebrews 12:15 NET).

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of respect, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if something is excellent or praiseworthy, think about these things” (Philippians 4:8 NET).

“The one who had received the five talents came and brought five more, saying, ‘Sir, you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.’ His master answered, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave! You have been faithful in a few things. I will put you in charge of many things. Enter into the joy of your master’” (Matthew 25:20 - 21 NET).

Compassion

Compassion

Compassion is a sympathetic feeling that is excited by the distress or misfortunes of another and is expressed as mercy and seen as loving-kindness. A person may be in a state of suffering and need, and while they may be unworthy or ill-deserving of help, love is expressed through a kindness given to lessen the suffering and meet the need. We were suffering and dying because of our sin and the Lord who is gracious and compassionate, abounding in loving-kindness, being rich in mercy sent His only Son to die on the cross so that we might live. To those who are willing to accept his great kindness, under his conditions, He extends grace in the form of eternal life. Just as God felt compassion for us He instructs us to develop a heart of compassion and respond to the needs of those around us.

My Prayer

Father, I thank you and praise you that you are a God that is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abundant in loving-kindness and truth. Thank you for your feeling of compassion and your hand of mercy when you saw me in my need, distressed and downcast. I was poor and in need and because of your great love for me you saved me. You were gracious and compassionate toward me and you chose me and sent me out into the world to produce much fruit for your glory. Father, strengthen me to be obedient and to serve you from my heart. Create in me a clean and compassionate heart; one that is kind, gentle, humble, patient, tender and easily moved by the distresses, sufferings, wants and infirmities of others. A heart that is able to suffer and experience sorrow, because of the distresses or misfortunes of another; a heart of true loving-kindness.

Related Verses

“For he says to Moses, ‘I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion’” (Romans 9:15 ESV).

“Remember your compassionate and faithful deeds, O Lord, for you have always acted in this manner” (Psalm 25:6 NET).

“He will take pity on the poor and needy; the lives of the needy he will save” (Psalm 72:13 NET).

“As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him” (Psalm 103:13 ESV).

“He does amazing things that will be remembered; the Lord is merciful and compassionate” (Psalm 111:4 NET).

“The Lord is merciful and compassionate; he is patient and demonstrates great loyal love” (Psalm 145:8 NET).

“Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience” (Colossians 3:12 ESV).

“When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were bewildered and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd” (Matthew 9:36 NET).

“Finally, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, affectionate, compassionate, and humble” (1 Peter 3:8 NET).

Courage

Courage

Courage is a quality that enables one to keep going in the face of danger or opposition. It is the ability to set aside fear and move forward with firmness. A person of courage is seen as being courageous or brave and is willing to take a risk to accomplish something considered to be worthy. We can be strong and courageous because the Lord our God is with us wherever we go and in Him we have hope. He is our strength.

My Prayer

Lord, I confess that there are times when I am afraid or dismayed, times when I don’t feel adequate or capable of doing something that you have asked me to do. Lord, forgive me for my lack of faith in your provision, because you have promised me that your grace will be sufficient for me, for when I am weak and I humble myself before you, your power will be perfected within me. Lord, according to the riches of your glory strengthen me with power through your spirit in the inner man and perfect your love in me so that fear will be cast aside and replaced with courage. And when my heart is anxious may I not fret or be dismayed but wait patiently and hope in you. Lord, you have commanded me to be strong and courageous, not in my abilities but in your provision and promises. Thank you for your promise that you will not fail or forsake me, that you will be with me wherever I go to strengthen me and to uphold me with your righteous right hand.

Related Verses

“It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed” (Deuteronomy 31:8 ESV).

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9 ESV).

“Don’t be afraid, for I am with you! Don’t be frightened, for I am your God! I strengthen you—yes, I help you—yes, I uphold you with my saving right hand” (Isaiah 41:10 NET)!

“Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord” (Psalm 27:14 ESV)!

“Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the Lord” (Psalm 31:24 ESV)!

“I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In the world you have trouble and suffering, but take courage—I have conquered the world” (John 16:33 NET).

“I can do all things through him who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13 ESV).

“I pray that according to the wealth of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inner person” (Ephesians 3:16 NET).

“There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears punishment has not been perfected in love” (1 John 4:18 NET).

“But he said to me, “My grace is enough for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” So then, I will boast most gladly about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may reside in me” (2 Corinthians 12:9 NET).

Purity

Purity

Purity is a condition of being free from anything that is considered foreign. It is a state of being clean, such as a clean heart in which there is no guilt. It is a condition of being undefiled in which one is holy and innocent. It is freedom from improper thoughts, motives or words used. It is freedom from defects. Consider God. He is holy and righteous in the purest sense. He is light and in Him there is no darkness at all, no variation of light or shifting shadow. His light is pure light. Being created in His image, can he not expect the same of us? He tells us to be holy as he is holy and to hunger and thirst for righteousness. We are to walk as children of light and keep our light pure and bright by turning away from sin. This condition is possible for us only if we are spiritually alive in Christ.

My Prayer

Holy and righteous art Thou O Lord, holy and righteous art Thou. Praise to Thy name and glory to you. Holy and righteous art Thou. I will sing for joy in the Lord, I will explode in praise from deep within my soul; because you have clothed me with garments of salvation and have wrapped me with a robe of righteousness. Thank you for being faithful and righteous to forgive me of my sin and to cleanse me from all unrighteousness. Lord, as I walk along the pathway of life I pray that I will be able keep my hands clean, my heart pure, and my thoughts on that which is worthy. Lord, strengthen me to live a life of purity to your glory, creating in me a heart that is clean and pure and a spirit that is steadfast so that I may instruct others in love that is from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. Thank you for allowing me to enjoy the light of your glory. I pray that your light in me would so shine that the world would see my good works and give glory and thanks to you my heavenly Father.

Related Verses

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” (Matthew 5:8 ESV).

“But the aim of our instruction is love that comes from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith” (1 Timothy 1:5 NET).

“He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully” (Psalm 24:4 ESV).

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of respect, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if something is excellent or praiseworthy, think about these things” (Philippians 4:8 NET).

“So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart” (2 Timothy 2:22 ESV).

“Create for me a pure heart, O God! Renew a resolute spirit within me” (Psalm 51:10 NET)!

“This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5 ESV).

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change” (James 1:17 ESV).

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9 ESV).

Correspondence

After sending my friend the lesson titled, “Justice” he wrote back the following note.

All received and Thanks!

I have been trying to follow the sentence you provided to do the praying. Do I need to speak it out loudly or just say it silently to myself and to Him, when I am praying? I did see how we should pray, except for that you and some other western people pray before the lunch. Is it the same prayer?

I wrote back the following.

[Name], it doesn't matter how you pray, just that you believe you are sincerely having a conversation with God who is a person like God's Son, Jesus and/or Lord, or God the Father, or God the Spirit. You see God is three persons but one God. Jesus taught us to pray, "Our Father". I often start with, "Father, I . . .” or, "Lord, I . . ." Most of the time I pray silently or with a whisper because I am by myself. It doesn't matter if you stand up, sit down, kneel, or lay down. The important thing is to really know and experience that God is our Father, our Lord, our King, and one whose Son died for you and me and he loves us more than we can realize. Thanking God for our meals is a matter of choice. We thank him for whatever he has provided for us that we want to recognize. What are you thankful for that he has provided you with that you didn't have before or didn't know it came from him? As you get to know God through knowing his Son, you will come to understand his love and the kindness of his grace and your heart will fill with thanks and humility before him.  Study my prayers and see if you understand the feeling I must have toward God as I pray. The verses I show after each prayer are common verses that teach important things. Let us see how a few more of these lessons go and how they affect your walk with him. Steve

Mercy

Mercy

Real love includes both mercy and justice. By inflicting his Son on the cross for our sin, God was then able to extend mercy toward us. Jesus received on the cross what we deserved so that God could extend mercy to us. Out of this mercy flows his grace, from which we receive his many blessings and benefits. Consider the statement from James 2:13, “Mercy triumphs over judgment.” Judgment condemns and restricts life, but mercy grants freedom and allows one to experience a fuller life. The words we speak may be words of life or of death to the one who hears them. Mercy is like those words of life.

My Prayer

Father, thank you for your infinite love for me, that you were willing to sacrifice your only Son for me. Lord Jesus, thank you for your willingness to leave behind the glory you had with the Father in heaven and go to the cross and become sin in my place, allowing mercy to be shown to me. Father, thank you for raising Jesus Christ from the dead, and then by your great mercy giving me a new birth through his resurrection. Where I was once dead in my sin, you have now made me alive with Christ. It was because of your great kindness and love that I was saved, not because of righteous things I had done, but because of your mercy. Lord, I pray that by your strength I will act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with you. That I will be able to show mercy to others as you have to me. Father, I pray that I will be a child of yours who is filled with wisdom that comes from heaven, a wisdom that is pure, peace loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Lord, thank you for eternal life that you have given to me; a life that is so rich and yet it is completely free.

Related Verses

“But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved” (Ephesians 2:4 – 5 ESV).

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Peter 1:3 ESV).

“But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love for mankind appeared, he saved us not by works of righteousness that we have done but on the basis of his mercy, through the washing of the new birth and the renewing of the Holy Spirit” (Titus 3:4 – 5 NET).

“Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with fullest confidence, that we may receive mercy for our failures and grace to help in the hour of need” (Hebrews 4:16 Phillips).

“He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8 ESV)?

“And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you” (Matthew 18:33 ESV)?

“And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation” (Luke 1:50 ESV).

“The wisdom that comes from God is first utterly pure, then peace-loving, gentle, approachable, full of tolerant thoughts and kindly actions, with no breath of favoritism or hint of hypocrisy” (James 3:17 Phillips).

“Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful” (Luke 6:36 NET).

Justice

[Name], now that we have finished walking the Romans Road, I have been thinking about what to do next. Since English is your second language and some Christian words may not be meaningful to you I thought I would work on a series based around various words. I thought I would select a word, develop its meaning in the context of its usage, and show how I might use that word in a personal prayer.

Justice

Sin comes in many forms and every member of the human race is guilty (Romans 3:23, 1 John 1:8) and according to the law of God is worthy of death, because the law informs us that the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23). Since God is righteous He must administer justice and so as a result every member of the human race is born spiritually dead and will eventually die physically. God’s justice seems severe, leaving the impression that God is harsh. But God is love and as a result He is merciful, gracious, forgiving and long-suffering. How do we reconcile these two characteristics of God? On the one hand, God’s justice requires that there be payment of the penalty for sin. But on the other hand, God’s love desires man to be restored to fellowship with him. With God, justice is a loving justice and love is a just love and only as God could do, He brought love and justice together at the cross. Because of His great love for us, He sent His only Son to die on the cross to satisfy the requirement of justice. Love and justice embraced on the cross, providing a way for us to return to God.

My Prayer

Lord God, you are infinitely righteous and just, both in your nature and in all your proceedings with your creatures, but you are also a God of infinite love. Since we have all fallen short of the standard you set for us, we all deserve to die, but because of your great love and desire to have fellowship with us, you sent your Son to die in our place. Lord Jesus, thank you for being my sacrifice; for giving your life that I might live. Lord, I pray that I will be upright and sincere in my actions and dealings with others. Help me to love justice and to act justly, to love kindness and to walk humbly with you. And thank you for demonstrating for us how justice and love work together. I pray that my life will reflect that to those around me.

Related Verses

“Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; steadfast love and faithfulness go before you” (Psalms 89:14 ESV).

“The Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity,   just and upright is he” (Deuteronomy 32:4 ESV).

“He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8 ESV)?

“Thus says the Lord: ‘Keep justice, and do righteousness, for soon my salvation will come, and my righteousness be revealed’” (Isaiah 56:1 ESV).

“Sin pays its servants: the wage is death. But God gives to those who serve him: his free gift is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23 Phillips).

“For this is the way God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16 NET).

“But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8 ESV).

“Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God” (Romans 5:9 ESV).

Correspondence

After sending my friend the lesson titled, “Results of Salvation” he wrote back the following note.

I have received all lessons these days, salvation and spiritual life, the relationship between us and Him and His son. I am feeling much clear and self-contented than I was weeks ago. I will keep on reading and thinking and will raise questions when I cannot understand thoroughly.

I then responded with the following note.

[Name], thanks for your note. I find it very encouraging. In Psalms 16:11 we read, "You make known to me the path of life." There is a difference between knowing something and knowing it. We can only come to know God's ways in that deeper sense when we are fully open to His teaching and guiding. As we work together with God you will continue to grow in understanding. Steve 

Results of Salvation

The fifth and last question we need to ask along the Romans Road is, “Once we receive salvation what can we expect the results to be?” We find our answer at Romans 5:1.

“Therefore, since we have been declared righteous by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (NET). In a previous lesson we learned that our sin condemns us to eternal death. That verdict, if understood, should create stress and fear in our heart. But since Jesus died in our place, by coming to him, we obtain peace with God.

Another verse that helps show the results of our salvation is found at Romans 8:1, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (ESV). As sinners we were condemned to eternal spiritual death, but now that our guilt has been removed and our sin replaced with the righteousness of Jesus Christ, we are set free to enjoy peace with God.

If we read further down in Romans 8 we find two more helpful verses on this topic. They are, “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38 – 39 ESV). Here we have a wonderful promise that nothing can now separate us from the love of God. We may not always feel that love, but even in the midst of horrible trials he makes the promise that he will pour his love into our hearts (Romans 5:3 – 5).

Since I enjoy telling a story with a picture, I will try doing so with the above material.

Separated from Jesus Christ we are guilty of sin, condemned to death to experience the wrath of God forever. But being in Christ we are declared to be righteous, given the free gift of eternal life, to enjoy blessing from God for an eternity.

How Do We Receive This Needed Salvation

The fourth question we need to ask along the Romans Road is, “How do we receive this needed salvation?” We find our answer at Romans 10:9 – 10, 13.

“If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. . . For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved”” (ESV). These verses contain three words we will use to develop the following diagram.

I believe a word of caution is needed here. I have watched many people who are subjected to pressure by a person’s witness or brought to an emotional state of mind to where they raise their hands or walk down the aisle to pray the sinner’s prayer or accept Jesus Christ into their hearts before God had properly prepared them. Our saying a prayer or even confessing with our mouth can be done without the heart being ready. Unfortunately these people go away thinking they are Christians, but they are not. These may very well make up the multitude Jesus was talking about in Matthew 7:22 – 23, “On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness’” (ESV). Over time these people realize that not much has changed in their lives and they begin to fall away from their walk with the Lord. These do not validate their salvation because they do not endure to the end.

I pray that this lesson helps you understand that spiritual life takes place in the heart and it affects the understanding of the mind. Spiritual life is a brand new life created by God. It is not a change of life we make with decisions of the mind apart from a new heart.

Correspondence

After sending my friend the lesson titled, “How God provides salvation” he sent the following note back to me.

I am much understood of the relationship between Him, Christ and me. It is something in my mind or spiritual world, instead of the actual world explained by the nature of science.  My scenario is that I still focus on too much of the physical world in which I experienced real world people, things happened around myself, learning I owned, so that I can NOT be into a state of silence, peace, quietness, to trust and believe Him, to achieve spiritual satisfaction I have ever experienced.

I have been trying to pray, and deeply thinking about them every day and now I feel that I am getting less annoyed day by day!

Thank you so much for all these lessons

I then wrote a longer note back titled, “What Is Next”. Very soon my friend wrote back the following.

You have tried all your best and I have been changing but slower than you and I expected. The lessons and teaching so far work well for me, and I may need some accumulation and an icebreaker. I am just at cross road, the magic moment, where I need to have a push. I do need the spiritual belief and satisfaction in my mind, but it will take a while.  

The reason why I mentioned evolution, is that I have been confusing myself now and then with what I learned and was taught in the past 50 years in China, something deeply rooted in my brain, and it is time to make a change now.

You are right that I need to start from the basic, the basic concept of spiritual world and God, from which I can build the foundation a bit by a bit till I am very clear and calm in mind. I am to spend more time in learning from the websites you suggested.

The conversation is now back to me and I sit here prayerfully thinking what to write next.

[Name], I respect your honesty and willingness to continue reading what I write in hopes that one of the lessons might be the icebreaker or the one that turns the light on in your thinking. I send this brief note to you and then I will write the next Romans Road lesson, which I will send to you tomorrow.

What Is Next

After receiving my lesson titled, “Why Do We Need Salvation”, my friend sent back a note to me, which I responded to under the title, “What Is Man”. My friend responded back with a note, which makes our conversation even more difficult. In his note he said:

I have been trying to ask Him to reveal that He exists and help me with my spiritual work, but I could not get this so far.

I have been taught and educated in my background with Darwin's evolution of mankind, which was deeply rooted in my thinking. Thus I am very confusing myself if I do believe that Man is created by Him or evolved from billions of years of natural development.  But for spiritual world, I do believe that God helps and created a lot into our spiritual body.

Since I was not sure how to respond to this new piece of information I decided to send him another lesson on the Romans Road to think about titled, “How God Provides Salvation”. As I thought about my response I went and got my hair cut and continued my conversation with her about her spiritual life. She is different than my friend because she is totally convinced that reincarnation is the correct way where my friend is in a state of confusion. One thing that is becoming very clear to me is that unless God is at work spiritually in the person’s heart, no words of mine will have any meaning or make any difference. I need to pray to prepare the soil and I need to sow the seeds of the word, but if God has not chosen this person to be a vessel of honor then there will not be spiritual progress. I continue to pray and write, patiently waiting for a glimmer of hope, but I confess I am not sure how to continue. I eventually decided on the following.

[Name], I am not sure what to say now as I can’t find a good point to build from. It is also clear that what I am sharing of a spiritual nature is not understood. Unless God gives you the “spiritual software” needed for understanding there will not be progress. Unless there is a sincere desire to ask God for what you lack, nothing new is going to happen. I will share two simple points for now.

The problem with evolution is you cannot obtain a more complex form of life without the input of some help from outside. You should understand that from your work in the factory. Given billions of years the products you produce will not produce themselves. You can’t get man from animal through advances do to evolution. You need intelligent design and creative power to produce the marvel of man. Evolution is progress from the simple to the more complex. You are getting more from less. But if you go to the beginning, you must start with nothing. You just can’t get something from nothing without some intelligent creator producing it. Evolution was created by men who do not want a God in the picture that they might be responsible to.

Secondly, I would like you to check the following link. If you can open it, as time permits, I would like you to begin to read the gospel of John. This might help you gain some understanding. The link is:

Link to John

How God Provides Salvation

The third question we need to ask along the Romans Road is, “How does God Provide salvation?” We find our answer at Romans 5:8 using the link below. Check out my diagram for this.

In Romans 5 we read, “(For rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person perhaps someone might possibly dare to die.) But God demonstrates his own love for us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, because we have now been declared righteous by his blood, we will be saved through him from God’s wrath” (Romans 5:7 – 9 NET).

Because of our sin, without intervention, we are destined to spend an eternity experiencing the horrors of spiritual death. But because of God’s love for us he was willing to provide a way for us to obtain spiritual life and live forever with God. This provision was provided by Christ dying for us while we were still sinners. The price paid for our salvation, for this opportunity for eternal life, was the blood of Jesus, the perfect sacrifice, on the cross. It is through him that we are saved from the wrath of God.

When we live only in the flesh we are drawn to live out the words in the left list. Living in the flesh we are spiritually dead. We are dead in our sin and will upon physical death experience the wrath of God forever. But by the blood of Jesus Christ our salvation has been purchased and if we are willing to humble ourselves and come to him, salvation is ours as a gift. Being born spiritually we are then alive in Christ and will experience his love forever. While living on earth we will have a living hope for our future and will be drawn to live out the words on the right.

God does provide salvation as a free gift through the blood of his Son for those who desire it and come to him to receive it.

What Is Man

Very shortly after sending my friend the lesson on “Why Do We Need Salvation” he send me the following note.

Yes, received and thanks!

I still could not understand the diagram attached. I don't understand the meaning of death and eternal life. If you are dead, everything is gone and why still have external life?

His note makes the picture much clearer. Unless God begins a spiritual work in his heart no amount of writing on my part will ever produce spiritual life or even spiritual understanding. As long as my friend is willing to read what I write I must pray and continue to write to him. Following is my response to him.

[Name], I really appreciate you note in response to the lesson on the question, “Why do we need salvation?” I think we need to go back to the beginning again and look at what God created when he created mankind. We have to understand the nature of the first person God created. In fact we must start with the fact that there is a living God who created everything that exist. The amazing complexity of the universe and its contents is impossible without an intelligent designer and creator. Man is so wonderfully made that medical science still does not understand all there is about him. This creator God is eternal and is spiritual. He created us in his image and gave us a physical body to allow us to exist in the physical world. That first man was both a physical and spiritual being that had the ability to live forever.

God’s initial plan for humans was for them to have a loving, obedient relationship with him and partner with him in managing the environment in which man was placed. God did not create a robot designed to love and serve him, but to freely choose to love and serve him. Man chose to turn from God and live life as he wanted. As a result the spiritual part of man died and the horrible results darkened his soul and produced the horrible evil and suffering we experience today. In my diagram the little stick person standing on the left side is spiritually dead but physically alive for a few years. God could have left us in that condition with no hope beyond this physical life, which is what you believe according to your note to me. But because of God’s love he provided a way, through his Son, for us to again obtain spiritual life and live forever with him after physical death. In the diagram Jesus Christ is shown as the bridge from the life you are living now to one that becomes spiritually alive. I know that spiritual life is real because of the change that took place in my life when I was born spiritually as a teen. Since that spiritual birth I have grown spiritually and understand things about spiritual life that are still hidden from you. If you sincerely, humbly ask God to begin a spiritual work in you he will. Then these things I write about will begin to make some sense. 

[Name], think really hard about this and please write back your thoughts.