Basic Christian Teachings - Lesson 5

A Washing Which Cleanses

Lee Meyer, Campus Pastor

Introduction | Lesson 1 | Lesson 2 | Lesson 3 | Lesson 4 | Lesson 5 | Lesson 6 | Lesson 7 | Lesson 8 | Lesson 9 | Lesson 10

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1. How can we know there is a God?
2. Who is the one true God?
3. What is God like?
4. How did God make the world?
5. How did man fall away from God?
6. How did God plan to win man back again?
7. How does God care for us today?
8. What do we owe God for all His kindness?
9. What does it mean to believe in God?
10. Points to ponder

1. How can we know there is a God?

Psalm 19:1 The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands.

Romans 1:19-20 What can be known about God is clear to them, because God has made it clear to them. For since the creation of the world, they have seen the unseen things of God. From the things He made, they can tell that He has everlasting power and is God. Therefore, they have no excuse.

Romans 2:15 They (Gentiles) show that what the law requires is written on their hearts, to which their own conscience also bears witness; and their conflicting thoughts will accuse or perhaps excuse them.

Psalm 14:1 Fools say in their hearts, "There is no God." They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds; there is no one who does good.

Unknown: An atheist does not find God for the same reason a thief does not find a policeman.

Nature is dynamic proof that there is a God. The conscience, placed in every human by God, also declares that God is real. Most major religions, from Satan worshipers to the Hindu, are convinced that God is a living reality. Those who deny the overwhelming evidence are agnostics (unsure), atheists (sure he doesn't exist), and a large quantity of philosophers and rationalists. They will point out that there has never been a proof for God's existence, and they are correct. Throughout time, philosophers have refuted every substantial proof of God's existence. Other than "So?" my answer to that would be that philosophers throughout time have refuted every substantial proof that humans exist, too. But Paul has the best answer to that subject in his letter to the Colossians "See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ." The Bible didn't spend much time proving God exists since the concept was unimaginable to those God chose as His people. The veracity of a proof for God's existence is moot - He is in the same way that Mt. Everest is and Elvis Presley isn't. For those who demand proof, might I just point out the difference between scientific and legal proof. Scientific proof concerns arriving at truth through experimentation. This we cannot do. Legal proof, though, arrives at truth through the evidence of witnesses and only seeks to establish proof capable of withstanding reasonable doubt. This is, finally, the best proof of God's existence: the difference He has made in the lives of billions of witnesses.

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2. Who is the one true God?

Matthew 3: 16, 17 As soon as Jesus was baptized, He came out of the water, and immediately the heavens were opened, and He saw the Spirit of God coming down as a dove and landing on Him. And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love and in whom I delight."

Matthew 28: 19 Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

Deuteronomy 6: 4 Hear, O Israel The Lord our God, the Lord is one.

Genesis 1: 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him, male and female he created them.

There is only one God, but three distinct and separate Persons. This is the Trinity. God the Father made us, the God the Son redeemed us, and God the Holy Spirit brings us to saving faith in Christ. This true God cares for us more than anyone else in the world. The Trinity is one of the great mysteries of the church, for how can three be one? One classic explanation would be that my father is both a son, a father and a grandfather one man, three separate roles. Another is if you take a dropper of water and drip three drops on the same spot, you'll have one drop three drops, one drop. Yet another is water itself in its "natural" state, water is in streams, rivers and faucets; in a colder state (like Alaska) water is ice; and in a very hot state (like a nuclear reactor) water is steam - three different forms of one element. My personal favorite explanation of the Triune God is the university metaphor God the Father is the Professor Emeritus (he was there at the founding of the university, and is still revered by both students and teachers); God the Son is a Professor on Sabbatical (he worked very hard for a short period of time, so now they've given him time off, but he'll be back soon); and God the Holy Spirit is the Teaching Professor (the one who's actually involved with the students now). However you break it down, God is one in three persons, blessed Trinity.

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3. What is God like?

John 4: 24 God is a spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.

John 1:18 No one has ever seen God.

Jeremiah 31: 3 The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying, "I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness.

Psalm 90: 1, 2 Lord, You have been our dwelling place throughout all generations. Before the mountains were born, You brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting You are God.

Malachi 3: 6 I the Lord do not change.

Matthew 19: 26 With God all things are possible.

Jeremiah 23: 24 Who can hide in secret places so that I cannot see them? says the Lord. Do I not fill heaven and earth? says the Lord.

Psalm 139: 1-4 O Lord, You have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; You perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; You are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue, You know it completely, O Lord.

Isaiah 6: 3 Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty.

Deuteronomy 32: 4 He is the Rock, His works are perfect, and all His ways are just.

Exodus 34: 6, 7 The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for the thousandth generation, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin; yet by no means clearing the guilty, but visiting the iniquity of the parents upon the children and the children's children, to the third and the fourth generation.

I John 4: 8 God is love.

Isaiah 46: 8, 9 Remember this, fix it in mind, take it to heart. . . I am God and there is none like Me.

Pixies: If man is five, then the devil is six; and if the devil is six then God is seven.

God is a spirit and has entity. He is invisible to our sight. He is eternal. Yet this great God lives with us in time and space, and yet he exists outside of time and space as well (that's how He knows what's going to happen). He is always the same forever. This is amazing and comforting. God is all-powerful. He can do whatever is possible. God is watching you, a warning to the unfaithful and a comfort to believers. God knows all things. My life is fully known to Him. He is holy, absolute pure, without sin. Nothing unclean can come before him. I dare come to him cleansed of my sins through Jesus. God is just, his mercy balancing his discipline. He is compassionate, gracious and forgiving. He has patience with those who sin against him. He shows his mercy by not giving us what we deserve and his grace by giving us what we don't deserve. He gives his forgiveness for all who ask through Jesus' name. Finally, God is love. He loved everyone so much that He gave His only Son to be their Savior. Please know, if nothing else, that God loves you!

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4. How did God make the world?

Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

Genesis 1:3 And God said, "Let there be. . . and there was."

Exodus 20: 11 In six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them.

Genesis 2: 7 And the Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living being.

Genesis 1:26, 27 Then God said, "Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the wild animals of the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth." So God created humankind in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.

Genesis 1:31 God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.

John 1:1-2 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.

In the beginning, there was no one but God (meaning the Trinity - Jesus and the Spirit were present with the Father). He created the world out of nothing by his Almighty Word. He was the source of everything. Genesis 1 and 2 is a record of what happened. Everything was created perfect and given power to continue that way. The crown of God's creation was humankind, created in his own image spiritually speaking. He gave us full authority and rule over the earth, another indication of his love for - and trust in - us.

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5. How did man fall away from God?

Genesis 2: 16, 17 And the Lord God commanded the man, "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die."

Genesis 3: 1-7, 9, 10 Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God really say, 'You must not eat fruit from any tree in the garden'?" The woman said to the serpent, "We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, 'You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die." "You will not surely die," the serpent said to the woman. "For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." When the woman saw that the fruit of tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves . . . The Lord God called to the man, "Where are you?" He answered, "I heard You in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid."

God tested humankind's love and loyalty by commanding them not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. But Adam and Eve disobeyed God. What was their sin? The first sin was distrust, lust for power and knowledge, which led to disobedience and rebellion. The horrifying truth is that every sin we commit is a rebellion against a loving God and brings punishment a guilty conscience, condemnation, and death as God promised. God is not mocked - he does not speak idly.

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6. How did God plan to win man back again?

Genesis 3: 15 I will put enmity between you (the serpent) and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; He will crush your head and you will strike his heel. John 3: 16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

God provided a way for us to escape the penalty of sin. He promised us a Savior (the woman's Seed) who would pay the penalty for our sins and would crush Satan. Through his sacrifice on the cross Christ delivered everyone from Satan's strangle-hold. We know that God cares about us. His love for us was demonstrated by his death on the cross. When we truly believe in him, we will not die but will live with Him eternally. This is God's most amazing and wonderful promise to us.

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7. How does God care for us today?

Job 33: 4 The Spirit of God has made me; the breath of the Almighty gives me life. Matthew 10: 29-31 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. And even the hairs of your head are all counted. So do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows.

I John 3:1, 2 How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know Him. Dear friends, now we are children of God.

Romans 8: 32 He who did not withhold his own Son, but gave him up for all of us, will he not with him also give us everything else?

God demonstrates His great love for us today, too. He cares for us daily and gives us what we need. His greatest acts of love for us are these - he forgives us all our sins for Jesus' sake, calls us His very own (called us his own children, and heirs to the kingdom of God) and will continue to do this in the future ("I will be with you always, even unto the ends of the earth.")

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8. What do we owe God for all His kindness?

Genesis 32: 10 I am unworthy of all the kindness and faithfulness You have shown your servant.

Psalm 118: 1 Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever.

I Corinthians 10: 31 Whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

Galatians 6: 10 So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us work for the good of all, and especially for those of the family of faith.

Romans 12: 1-2 I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God - what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Ephesians 2: 8-10 Yes, by his grace you are saved through faith. It was not your own doing; it is God's gift. It is not the result of anything you have done; and so no one may boast. For he has made us what we are, creating us in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

I John 3: 16-18 We know love by this, that he laid down his life for us - and we ought to lay down our lives for one another. How does God's love abide in anyone who has the world's goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help? Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action.

Ephesians 4: 32 - 5: 2 Be kind to one another and tenderhearted, forgiving one another as God in Christ has forgiven you. Therefore imitate God as his dear children, and live in love just as Christ also loved us and gave himself for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Mark 16: 15-16 Then he told them, "Go everywhere in the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation. He who believes and is baptized will be saved, but he who does not believe will be damned."

This may just be the answer to the meaning of life. Many live their whole lives without ever asking the question, "Why am I here?" Those that do end up with a variety of answers, ranging from "To serve myself" to "To serve others" to "To protect and serve" to "To eat drink and be merry." God created us for a purpose and that is to do good works. Why? So that he'll like us better? So that we'll get into heaven? Of course not. Our love for our brother and sister come not because they are good enough to deserve it or because they need it - we love them because God first loved us. All the actions a Christian does is a response to what God has done for us. Being proud of doing good works poisons that deed. Doing good works is your job, and you should no more praise yourself for that than for voting, or taking out the garbage on the right day. Others may praise you for the work you do, and your response could be "I'm just doing what God made me to do."

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9. What does it mean to believe in God?

James 2: 19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that - and shudder.

John 17: 3 This is everlasting life - to know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ.

Matthew 7: 21 Not everyone who says to me 'Lord, Lord' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who continues to do the will of my Father who is in heaven.

John 3: 36 The person who believes in the Son has everlasting life, but the one who rejects the Son will not see life; instead, the wrath of God remains on him.

Galatians 5: 6 The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.

Isaiah 1: 22 Surely God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid, for the Lord God is my strength, and my might; he has become my salvation.

There is a difference between believing in God (faith) and believing that there is a God. Belief is knowing someone could ride across Niagara Falls on a unicycle with a passenger; faith is being that passenger. To believe God means to know Him and the Son whom He sent; it does not only mean to believe in Him intellectually (which Satan does) but to accept in your heart God's Son as Savior from all sin; and it means to trust in God completely for salvation, for strength, for life. Again, belief in God implies that you will live according to his tenets - you have faith, great. Prove it. How? Love.

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Let's Pray

Dear Father God, it is sometimes hard to understand you. I understand that you created the entire world, including me. I understand that you are disappointed when I rebel and sin against you. I understand that you love me, if not my actions. As I begin my study of you, your Son, your Spirit and your Word, let "Wow!" be on my lips as often as "Why?" In your Son's name we pray, Amen.

Points to Ponder

1. Atheists believe there is no God. Why will their claim be unacceptable to God? What evidence outside of religion has been most convincing to you that there must be a creator?

2. A family of three just moved in next door. The father is like God the Father, the son is like Jesus Christ and the mother is like the Holy Spirit? How would they reflect their oneness? How would they reflect their individuality? What would you do if they mowed their lawn 7 o'clock Saturday mornings?

3. When you think of God, do you first think of his justice and righteousness or his mercy and love? How could the God who sent into the world his only son for our salvation (John 3: 16) also order King Saul to completely annihilate the Amalikites (I Samuel 15: 2-3)?

4. What part of creation is the clearest example to you that a superior and magnificent intelligence was responsible rather than chance?

5. Give examples of good and bad decisions made by humans in their dominion over nature.

6. The acquisition of knowledge is considered the goal of education, and we spend a good deal of time and energy attaining it. Satan appealed to this desire, and the result was the first sin. Can the acquisition of knowledge ever be bad? How would Adam and Eve have acquired knowledge without Satan's help?

7. Think of something you did that God would not want you to do. Did you get away with it? Really?

8. Should you tell non-Christian friends or acquaintances that Jesus is the only way to save themselves? Is there more than one way to attain salvation?

9. How does a Child of God react to everyday problems differently than a man or woman of the world?

10. List how you and others respond positively to God's love. How might you respond differently as your love for God grows?

11. Billy Graham speaks about making a "decision for Jesus," but in actuality, you make a daily decision for or against Jesus manipulation vs. honesty, helpful vs. hurtful conversation, Count Chocula vs. Just Right. The decision you make for Jesus is not whether or not you decide to accept his plan for salvation, no more than you make a decision whether to pop your knee when a hammer hits it; the decision you make is whether or not you will to trust Him enough to let your life be affected by the knowledge of your salvation. What practical steps can you make now that might help you show your commitment to Jesus? Pray about these things.

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Introduction | Lesson 1 | Lesson 2 | Lesson 3 | Lesson 4 | Lesson 5 | Lesson 6 | Lesson 7 | Lesson 8 | Lesson 9 | Lesson 10