7. Answering God’s Call

1. In one of our studies, "Who is Jesus Christ?", you learned how God sent His son, Jesus, to become a man and what Jesus did on earth while being a man. You also learned how he finally gave his life to "open the door" to everlasting life.

2. In this study, you are going to learn that because Jesus gave his life -- you too can gain everlasting life.

3. You see, God is now calling those who will live with Jesus forever if they are faithful until death. See Revelation 2:10.

4. If you'd like to reign with Christ when He returns to earth to become the world's King of Kings, you can do so by answering God's call. God is now calling you or you wouldn't be interested in taking this Bible course!

5. Do you want to answer His call? Then in prayer tell God, "Yes, I want to follow your son, Jesus"; for no one can come to be a follower of Jesus unless God draws you to Jesus. John 6:44 says, "No one can come to me (Jesus) except the Father which has sent me draws him."

6. So what should you do to become a follower of Jesus? First, you must believe that Jesus died on the cross and rose again to become your Redeemer. John 6:47-48 says, "Truly, truly, I say unto you, he who believes has eternal life. I (Jesus) am the bread of life."

7. Next, you must REPENT (be sorry) for your sins. Tell God how you, are a sinner and ask His forgiveness. He will then forgive you, for 1 John 1:9 says, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

8. Next, you must be CONVERTED. This means you should stop doing anything you know God doesn't want you to do, such as lying, cheating, or if married, having sexual relations with anyone other than your mate (which is called adultery).

9. Things we do that are wrong in God's sight are called "the lust of the flesh". In 1 John 2:16 we are told, "For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world."

10. What is meant by that text? It is committing sin if we even desire to have sexual relations with a person out of marriage (commit adultery), covet our neighbor's goods (jealously wanting what our neighbors have), or if we want to be important in things of this world instead of in God's eyes as a humble servant of His.

11. If you are a child and are disobedient to your parents, teachers, or higher authorities (such as those who enforce the laws of the land), then you are doing your own will and not God's. This means His Holy Spirit cannot work in you. (1 Thes. 5:19)

12. If we want to overcome these things, we must answer God's call and show Him we are willing to serve Him and let Him work in us by being submissive to His will and desires. Then, and only then, can His Holy Spirit work in us.

1. Why should you be baptized? It is an outward sign to others that you now want to serve God by turning your life over to Him.

2. How can you be baptized? Ask someone you know who is serving God to baptize you. It should be someone who has already been baptized such as a leader of your church (if you are in a church that believes in the Bible).

3. First, he'll ask you if you have accepted Christ as your Savior, knowing you need forgiveness through His shed blood for your sins. Then he should say, "I then baptize you into Christ in the name of Jesus" (using your own name, of course).

4. How is a baptism performed? By having the one doing the baptizing hold one hand under your upper back, take your folded hands into his, and dip you backwards under the water, thus immersing you. He will then lift you up out of the water again.

5. Being dipped under the water is a symbol (picture) of you being buried to your old ways of sin and coming up out of the water pictures your true desire to live a new life with and for God and Jesus. It also pictures the promise of a future resurrection with Christ, for in dying to sin, it is like being united with Jesus in His death, and so we shall also be united with Him in His resurrection (see Romans 6:5).

1. So are you ready to answer God's call and willing to give up your sinful ways now so that you can gain eternal life with Jesus?

2. Does this mean once accepting and trying to follow Jesus, you will never sin again? Of course not! For all who are truly sons of God’s, will sin from time to time, but not willingly.

3. In 1 John 1:10 we read, "If we say we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us." But 1 John 2:1 says that we would not sin willingly.

4. What does that verse go on to say? That if we do sin (not meaning to), then we have an advocate or one who speaks for us to the Father. (Read John 2:1 NIV)

5. And who is our Advocate? It is Jesus Christ, who died and rose again so that we might be brought back into harmony with God. Jesus is the one who paid the price for our sins, giving himself as a ransom for all, which allows him to be our advocate.

6. So now we pray that you may be willing to answer God's call so that you will become a part of His family and later be able to reign with Christ. (Luke 5:32)