5. Learning About God & Jesus Christ

1. God is shown to us in all the creative beauties we see around us. We see Him in the mountains, flowers, trees, water, wind, sun, moon, and stars, just to name a few. (Romans 1:20)

2. But, it is in the Bible where we find out what God's character is like.

3. What is the Bible? It is a collection of 66 books, beginning with Genesis, which tells us of the creation of heaven and earth, and ends with the book of Revelation.

4. Death was the penalty for sin because God is a God of Justice. Since God is a God of Justice, all mankind, who are children of Adam, had to die because of Adam's sin and thus die by heredity. (See Study No. 1 for a reminder.)

5. But, God is also a God of Love, and therefore gave man a ray of hope. He said to Adam and Eve that the woman's "seed" would one day destroy Satan. (Genesis 3:15)

6. So, God did provide a way for us to gain everlasting life through the "seed" of the woman, our Lord Jesus (who was that seed (Gal. 3:16). He left his home with God to become the seed in Mary's womb, thus becoming the "man, Christ Jesus." (1 Timothy 2:5) Later, he gave his life to release mankind from the penalty of death. We know that man has been given a chance to live forever because Jesus rose from the dead, and because he lives, mankind will come back to life again, after Jesus returns to establish His Kingdom. (Jn. 5:28-29)

7. Eternal life can be gained by believing this and obeying God, for Jesus being perfect satisfied God's Justice. Jesus gave his life to make up for Adam's sin, for Adam was created perfect. This means Jesus paid the ransom-price for all mankind. (1 Timothy 2:5-7)

8. So, when Jesus returns to reign on the earth, John 5:28-29 tell us that all those who are dead and in their graves will hear his voice and come alive once again. This is called the Resurrection.

9. There will be two resurrections. Those raised first will become the "Bride" of Christ (Rev. 20:6) with Jesus as their "Bridegroom". They are the ones who are now turning their lives over to God and remain faithful to him until they die.

10. Those not now choosing to know about God and Jesus will not be part of that Bride class. But, they will be raised from the dead also. 1 Corinthians 15:22 says, "As in Adam all die so in Christ shall ALL be made alive," and Acts 24:15 tells us that there will be a resurrection of both the just and the unjust.

11. We see God is indeed a God of Love and Mercy, and He will use the Bride of Christ to help those others, coming from the death condition, to learn of God and His righteous ways. Then, they too can live forever in a then-perfect earth, with perfect bodies, IF they accept Jesus. It is in Acts 3:19-24 where we read about that time when all things will be restored to perfection again (just as they were in the Garden of Eden).

12. So, as Revelation 21:1-4 states, God is going to make all things new again, and all pain, tears, sorrow, and EVEN death will be NO MORE!

13. Now that you have learned about God's love, will you not show Him you also love HIM? You can do this by turning your life over to Him now and saying you are sorry for your sins (for we are all born sinners) and accept Jesus as your Savior!

1. Do you really know who Jesus is? He is God's only Begotten Son (John 1:18 King James Version) and the only one ever begotten of God. (See also John 1:14).

2. Many people think Jesus is God but this is not true. The Bible tells us that Jesus was God's only begotten son; so if God begat Jesus, how could Jesus be God? (Prov. 8:24)

3. Jesus is like God in character. While God planned all things, He let Jesus create all things in heaven and earth. (Col. 1:15-17)

4. In 1 Corinthians 1:24, Jesus is called the "Wisdom" of God by the Apostle Paul.

5. John 1:1 tells us that Jesus was called the Logos or Word of God in the beginning. And in Proverbs 8:22-31, we find a little about His pre-human existence.

6. Since Adam lost eternal life for you and me, God sent the Logos to this world to become a man. He did that because He loves us so much and wanted us to have a chance to live forever (John 3:16).

7. How did Jesus become a man? God had the Logos become a human seed and put it into Mary's body or womb, so she could give birth to Jesus. (Luke 1:31-35 & Mat. 1:18-23)

8. Joseph was engaged to Mary at that time and was about to put her away, but an angel of the Lord told him that God's Holy Spirit had made Mary pregnant, so Joseph married her.

9. Since Jesus was born a perfect man, He later was able to become Adam's ransom-price. For Adam, too, was created perfect, so Jesus was able to take Adam's place, making up for Adam's sin.

10. But first we must learn a little more about Jesus. He was very obedient as a child and never sinned. At the age of 30, he was baptized in the river Jordan by John the Baptist. (Mat. 3:13-17). Then the Holy Spirit was given to him, just as it is to us when we are baptized. (Acts 2:38)

11. Now baptism for us shows we have accepted Jesus as our Savior and want to give up all sin and live like Christ wants us to. So though Jesus was without sin, He was baptized to show he wanted to do His Father's will.

12. So, with God's Holy Spirit and power working in him, Jesus for 3 1/2 years went everywhere preaching God's Kingdom, healing the sick, and even raising his good friend Lazarus from the dead. (Luke 8:1 & John 11:41-44)

13. He was also the greatest teacher the world had ever known. That was why his disciples called him "Master", which comes from a Greek word meaning "teacher". (Mat. 23:8)

14. The greatest thing Jesus taught them was that God is Love and how they and we must love one another. (John 13:34)

15. He also taught that he is the "Bread of Life," meaning he is our spiritual food. (John 6:48)

16. He tells us we must "eat" of his flesh and "drink" of his blood. This means we should learn about his sacrifice and appreciate it. We need to study the Bible, the Word of God, so that we can learn to be more like him. (John 6:54-56)

17. Jesus also taught that He is the "door" to life. That door was closed by God when Adam sinned. Through Jesus' death, we are once again in favor with God and will have eternal life if we believe in Jesus and the sacrifice he made on our behalf. (John 10:7)

18. If you want to enter that door, you must believe Jesus died for your sins and rose again. Then you must live the way he wants you to live (1 Cor.15:1-4).

19. John 18:37 tells us that Jesus was born to be King of this world. As King, he will restore (bring back) mankind to perfection and make the earth perfect.

20. But this won't take place until Jesus returns to earth to rule as King, as Acts 3:19-24 tells us.

21. In the meantime, God is calling one here and one there throughout the world to be Jesus' Bride to reign with him when he returns. Isn't that wonderful? (Jn. 3:29 & Rev.19:7)

22. Wouldn't YOU like to reign with Jesus Christ? Well, you can, if you answer God's call. In the study # 7, you will learn how to do this if you answer His call and follow him.

End of Study

Jesus’ Prayer

(John 17:1-26)

1 After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: "Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you.

2 For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him.

3 Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.

4 I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do.

5 And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.

6 "I have revealed you {Greek your name; also in verse 26} to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word.

7 Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you.

8 For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me.

9 I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours.

10 All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them.

11 I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name -- the name you gave me -- so that they may be one as we are one.

12 While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled.

13 "I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them.

14 I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world.

15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.

16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it.

17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.

18 As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.

19 For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.

20 "My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message,

21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.

22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one:

23 I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

24 "Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.

25 "Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me.

26 I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them." (NIV)

Agape Love

(1 Corinthians 13:1-13)

1 If I speak in the tongues {Or languages} of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.

2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.

3 If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.

5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.

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

7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 

9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part,

10 but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears.

11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me.

12 Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. (NIV)