C. Obey One Principle

Obey One Principle (C)

Isaiah 28:9-10

Mind

Who does the Lord think we are? Why does he speak to us like this? Are we little children, barely old enough to talk? He tells us everything over and over again, a line at a time, in very simple words! Is.28:9-10

God Kept It Simple

In order to win more people to Christ we must follow God’s method of keeping things simple. We must put the principle of simplicity deep within our minds.  We can do this by looking at: 1) The Ten Commandments 2) The Gospel 3) Unity in the Body of Christ.  

The Ten Commandments are a mirror that helps us see our imperfections.  How would it look if you were to climb up on the sink and rub our face on the mirror to remove the dirt?  Do we realize that when we use the law to judge others we end up breaking the law ourselves (James 4:11-12)!   We need to be changed but the law simply can’t change us…it can only show us that we need to change.  Did you know that no one has ever received the Holy Spirit by obeying the law (Gal 3:16-21). God’s law also was used to keep the gentiles from knowing the promises that God made to the people of Israel (Eph 2:12-18). 

The Gospel is the Good News and is what changes us.  Jesus’ death on the cross ended the whole system of Jewish law that excluded the Gentiles. When someone accepts the Good News they instantly become one of God’s children (John 8:34-35) and are part of the Body of  Christ.  They have been born from a seed that will not perish which is the Word of God (1 Peter 1:23). People need to know the promise we have in Christ in order to be saved (Acts 26:6; Heb 8:6-7).  We are changed from the inside by God’s Spirit (Titus 3:3-8). According to Jesus this is accomplished with child like faith and humility (Matt 18:1-5).

The unity in the church was centered on the common hope they shared as they waited for the New Heavens and New Earth God promised them (2 Peter 3:10). This message is what united the Church as they followed their Rison Savior.   Unfortunately some of these new converts became “members of churches” and not “disciples of Christ”.  This disrupted the unity of the early church.  These members began following Paul, Apollos and Peter not realizing Satan was using them to divide the  Body of Christ.(1 Cor 1:12-13).
 

The 10 Commandments

 (Exodus 20:1-17)

 

1) Do not worship any other gods besides God. 

2) Do not make idols of any kind.

3) Do not misuse the name of the Lord God. 

4) Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy.

5) Obey your father and mother.

6) Do not murder.

7) Do not commit adultery.

8) Do not steal.

9) Do not lie.

10) Do not covet.

Keeping the “Ten Commandments” in perspective

• Which one of the Ten Commandants is the most difficult to understand? 
• Is it more difficult to “understand” or “obey” the Ten Commandments?  
• How many of the Ten Commandments must you obey in order to receive the Holy Spirit?  
• What happens if you live your entire life and break just one of the Ten Commandments “one time? (Galatians 3:10-12) 
• Is it more important to love God or love your neighbor?  (Mark 12:28-31)
• What is the summary of the entire Old Testament? (Matthew 7:12)
• How can you fulfill all of God’s requirements? (Romans 13:8-10)

Romans 2:12-16

• The Law is written in our minds T/F   
• What is our conscience for? 

When we talk to someone about the Gospel of Jesus we should:

• Explain to them that we are perfect and have kept all Ten Commandments. (false) 
• Explain to them that God is a righteous judge.  
• Tell them a judge simply compares the Law with the actions of your life.   
• Explain to them that when someone breaks the law one time they are guilty; not innocent.
• Ask them how they personally benefit from the death of God’s Son.
• Ask them if someone can be punished twice with the death penalty.
• Ask if they might trust that Jesus took their punishment because God loves them.
• Explain that if they begin to obey the Ten Commandments God might save them.  (false)

 

 

Christ Is the End of the Law

What did Paul teach “believers” to do with the Law?

• Romans 4:13-15 Trade it in for a relationship with God and His promises. 
• Romans 7:1-6;   Understand the rule of Law as it applies to marriage.
• Galatians 3:15-18   Understand the promise came 430 years before the law.
• Galatians 4:21-31   Hagar and Ishmael symbolize the Law (not Islam).

Which of the previous passages teaches us that: (answer with A,B, C,D or None)

• the promise given to Abraham what not based on his obedience to the law? _______
• if you try obeying the Law you are saying your faith is useless? _______
• the only way to avoid breaking the law is to have no law to break? _______
• the law only applies to a person that is living? _______
• when you died with Christ you also died to the law? _______
• a woman is free from the law if her husband dies? _______
• no one can set aside an irrevocable agreement? _______
• the agreement made with Abraham could not be cancelled 430 years later? _______
• if we had to obey the law it would mean God would be breaking His promise? _______
• we who are in Christ are persecuted by those who want us to keep the law? ______
• we are to treat people who follow the law the way that Sarah treated Ishmael? _______
• the law still applies to the Christian? _____

How do we receive the Holy Spirit?

Galatians 3:1-5 – Oh, foolish Galatians! What magician has cast an evil spell on you? For you used to see the meaning of Jesus Christ’s death as clearly as though I had shown you a signboard with a picture of Christ dying on the cross.  Let me ask you this one question:  Did you receive the Holy Spirit by keeping the Law? Of course not, for the Holy Spirit came upon you only after you believed the message you heard about Christ.  Have you lost your senses?  After starting your Christian lives in the Spirit, why are you now trying to become perfect by your own human effort?  You have suffered so much for the Good News. Surely it was not in vain?  Are you now going to just throw it all away? I ask you again, does God give you the Holy Spirit and work miracles among you because you obey the Law of Moses?  Of course not! It is because you believe the message you heard about Christ.

• Paul focused his teaching on Jesus Christ. – T / F
• We receive the Holy Spirit by keeping the Law. – T / F
• You must add human effort (good works) to faith to be saved. – T / F
• You must keep the Law of Moses in order to receive salvation. – T / F
• Discussion: What happens after you believe the message about Christ? (1 John 3:4-10)

Simple Gospel

 

Acts 2:22-24 People of Israel listen! God publicly endorsed Jesus of Nazareth by doing wonderful miracles, wonders, and signs though him, as you well know.  But you followed God’s prearranged plan. With the help of the lawless Gentiles, you nailed Him to the cross and murdered Him.  However, God released Him from the horrors of death and raised him back to life again, for death could not keep Him in its grip.

• How did God endorse Jesus of Nazareth?
• Where is the Gospel in this passage? 
• Is there life after death? 
• Man followed God’s prearranged plan when they nailed Jesus to a cross? (Is 53, Ps 22)

Acts 4:13 – The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men who had no special training. They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus.

• The council was amazed at the many certificates of education Peter had acquired. – T / F
• The council was impressed with John who had received special training. – T / F
• Peter and John were bold as they spoke to others about Jesus. – T / F
• Peter should have waited for council’s approval to tell others about Jesus. – T / F
• The Gospel can be proclaimed by ordinary people. – T / F

1 Corinthians 2:1-3 Dear brothers and sisters, when I first came to you I didn’t use lofty words and brilliant ideas to tell you God’s message.  For, I decided to concentrate only on Jesus Christ and his death on the cross.  I came to you in weakness-timid and trembling.  And my message and my preaching were very plain.  I did not use wise and persuasive speeches, but the Holy Spirit was powerful among you. I did this so that you might trust in the power of God rather than human wisdom.

• We should use brilliant ideas to present the Gospel. – T / F
• It is important to teach  many different subjects in order to bring people to Christ. – T / F
• We should use human wisdom when trying to lead intelligent people to Christ. – T / F
• Paul wanted us to trust in the power of  the Gospel and not human wisdom.  T/F
• The Gospel according to Socialism is driven by greed for what you don’t have. (Luke 12:13-15)  T/F
•  The Gospel according to Capitalism is driven by selfishness (Luke 12:20).  T/F
• The Gospel is manifest in us when we don’t worry about our problems.  (Luke 12:21-26)

 

 

1 Corinthians 15:3-4 – I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me – that Christ died for our sins, just as Scripture said. He was buried, and He was raised from the dead on the third day, as the Scriptures said.

Determine which of the following demonstrates the most important thing that was passed on to Paul:

• Jesus was buried and raised from the dead.  T/F
• A believer needs to be baptized  (1 Cor. 1:17) T/F
• Don’t tell anyone about Jesus until you have completely stopped sinning. T/F
• People must stop smoking and drinking before God can be trusted.  T/F
• Even after salvation Satan tries to keep us from the freedom we have in Christ.  T/F

1 Corinthians 15:32-33 And what value is there in fighting wild beasts-those men of Ephesus-if there is no resurrection of the dead?  If there is no resurrection,  “Let’s feast and get drunk, for tomorrow we die!” Don’t be fooled by those who say such things, for “bad company corrupts good character.” Come to your senses and stop sinning. For to your shame I say that some of you don’t know God.

• Why was Paul willing to fight the men of Ephesus?
• Why does Paul tell us to come to our senses and stop sinning?
• What is the “gospel” for those that don’t believe in life after death?

2 Corinthians 11:3-5 – But I fear that somehow you will be led away from your pure and simple devotion to Christ, just as Eve was deceived by the serpent.

• Our devotion to Christ is to be very complicated and highly organized. – T / F
• Our devotion to Christ is to be very simple and pure. – T / F
• Paul lived with the fear that others might complicate the true gospel.  T/F

(Read Colossians 1:15-22)  This is the work resume that God uses describing Jesus.  Try comparing your resume with His.  If you have not trusted Christ with your life ….do it today!

• My work resume is much more impressive than Jesus and I will still trust in my good works for salvation.  T/F
• Jesus’ resume makes mine look like a piece of trash.  I trust His more than I trust mine. T/F
• Do you realize that the Gospel forces us to make one of these two choices?
• (Philippians 3:3-9)

 

Unity in the Body of Christ

 

Matthew 12:35-37 – A good person produces good words from a good heart, and an evil person produces evil words from an evil heart.  And I tell you this that you must give and account on judgment day of every idle word you speak.  The words you say now reflect your fate then.  Either you will be justified by them or you will be condemned.

• Your life will be judged in the future by the same words you judge others with now. T/F
• How can you make sure that God will show mercy to you on your judgment day?
• Read Matthew 6:37-38 to see if you answered correctly…

Ephesians 4:2-6  Be humble and gentle, Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love.  Always keep yourselves united in the Holy Spirit, and bind yourselves together with peace. We are all one body, we have the one Spirit, and we have all been called to the same future. There is only one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and there is only one God and one Father, who is over us all and in us all and living through us all. 

• There are three gods. – T / F
• We worship the power of several distinct spirits. – T / F
• There are many different ways to heaven. – T / F
• There are two baptisms required for salvation. (Luke 3:16) – T / F
• We should strive for unity by pointing out each other’s faults. – T / F
• We need to be patient and gentle with each other. – T / F
• We honor the Lord when we gossip about another’s past sins–the same ones Jesus forgave!-T / F (Hebrews 10:15-17 Romans 4:7-8)

Who would you rather follow- Paul, Peter or Apollos?

1 Corinthians 1:10-13 Now, dear brothers and sisters, I appeal to you by the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ to stop arguing among yourselves.  Let there be real harmony so there won’t be divisions in the church,  I plead with you to be of one mind, united in thought and purpose. For some members of Cloe’s household have told me about your arguments, dear friends. Some of you are saying, “I am a follower of Paul, Others are saying, “I follow Apollos, or “I follow Peter” or “I follow only Christ.” Can Christ be divided into pieces? Was I Paul crucified for you? Were any of you baptized in the name of Paul?

• Paul wanted them to stop fighting amongst themselves. A/F
• Paul wanted the church to be of one mind, united in thought and purpose. A/F
• Paul wanted to have the largest following and spoke evil of other Christian leaders. A/F
• Christ cannot be divided into pieces. A/F

 

1 Corinthians 3:1-9a Dear brothers and sisters, when I was with you I couldn’t talk to you as I would to mature Christians.  I had to talk as though you belonged to this world or as though you were infants in the Christian life.  I had to feed you with milk and not with solid food, because you couldn’t handle anything stronger. And you still aren’t ready, for you are still controlled by your own sinful desires.  You are jealous of one another and quarrel with each other. Doesn’t that prove you are controlled by your own desires?  You are acting like people who don’t belong to the Lord. When one of you says. “I am a follower of Paul,” and another says, “I prefer Apollos,” aren’t  you acting like those who are not Christians?”  Who is Apollos, and who is Paul, that we should be the cause of such quarrels? Why, we’re only servants. Through us God caused you to believe.  Each of us did the work the Lord gave us.  My job was to plant the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God, not we, who made it grow.  The ones who do the planting and watering aren’t important but God is important because he is the one who makes the seed grow.   The one who plants and the one who waters work as a team with the same purpose.  Yet they will be rewarded individually, according to their own hard work.  We work together as partners who belong to God. 

• When you compare one leader to another it is proof you are a baby Christian.
• T / F
• Immature Christians are still controlled by their own sinful desires. – T / F
• It is possible for a Christian to act like someone who is of this world. – T / F
• Christians do not belong to this world. – T / F
• Jealousy is a result of immaturity. – T / F
• It is far more important to plant seeds than to water them. – T / F
• God needs our help to make the seeds grow. – T / F
• We should work as a team to plant and water the seeds. – T / F
• Even though it proves you are an immature Christian, God doesn’t mind when we           compare leaders.- T / F

1 Corinthians 4:5-7 – So be careful not to jump to conclusions before the Lord returns as to whether or not someone is faithful.  When the Lord comes, he will bring our deepest secrets to light and will reveal our private motives. And then God will give to everyone whatever praise is due.  Dear brothers and sisters, I have used Apollos and myself to illustrate what I’ve been saying.  If you pay attention to the Scriptures, you won’t brag about one of your leaders at the expense of another.  What makes you better than anyone else? What do you have that God has not given you?  And if all you have is from God, why boast as though you have accomplished something on your own?

• Don’t jump to conclusions about someone’s faithfulness. T/F
• Our private motives will be exposed when the Lord returns. T/F
• Satan wants us to compare church leaders so he can to divide the church. T/F
• The human race is foolish beyond comprehension.  We have ruined our world & need         repentance and redemption.  T/F
• On our judgment day we will tell God what we did and then God will compare that with why we did it (not only what we did but also why we did it).  T/F

2 Corinthians 10:12 Oh, don’t worry; I wouldn’t dare say that I am as wonderful as these other men who tell you how important they are! But they are only comparing themselves with themselves. What foolishness.

• Some people don’t mind bragging to others about how wonderful they are. T/F
• We should compare ourselves to Jesus. T/F
• It is foolish to compare people to each other. T/F
• Paul sometimes used sarcasm to make a point! T/F

Galatians 6:4-5 – Be sure to do what you should, for then you will enjoy the personal satisfaction of having done your work well, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else, for we are each responsible for our own conduct.

If we simply obey God:

• We will enjoy personal satisfaction for the work God wants us to do. T/F
• If we do our own work we won’t compare ourselves to anyone else. T/F
• We will each be responsible for our own conduct.  T/F  (Romans 14:10-13)

Simple Instructions

Romans 12:1-2 – And so dear Christian friends, I plead with you to give your bodies to God. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice-the kind he will accept. When you think of all he has done for you, is this too much to ask? Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.  Then you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect his will really is.

• We need to give our bodies to God. – T / F
• Jesus accomplished everything for us. – T / F
• We shouldn’t copy the customs of this world. – T / F
• Maturing in Christ, we will learn to think differently. – T / F
• We should find out what God wants “someone else” to do. – T / F

Simple Test from the book of Colossians

• People see the freedom I have in Christ and also my passion for Him (2:13-15)
• People stay away from me because I force them to follow my rules (2:16-23)                                            
• People think that I am on my way to hell because I live like a non-believer (3:5-10)   
• I will forgive and accept people because Jesus did the same for me.  (3:12-15)

Which of the previous passages  should  describe us as Christians?

 

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 – Love is patent and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. Love is not irritable, and it keeps no record of when it has been wronged.  It is never glad about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.

Read this passage once then read it a second time using your name everywhere you see the word love.  

1 Corinthians 13:1-3   Are we making any of these mistakes in our group?

• If I could speak any language in heaven or on earth but didn’t love others, I would only be making meaningless noise like a loud gong or a clanging cymbal.
• If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I knew all the mysteries of the future and knew everything about everything, but didn’t love others, what good would I be?
• And if I had the gift of faith so that I could speak to a mountain and make it move, without love I would be no good to anybody.
• If I gave everything to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would be of no value whatsoever.

Summary

If we understand that God is a righteous judge that demands perfection then we will also understand from reading the Ten Commandments that we are not perfect.  We will certainly be judged if we try to get to heaven by obeying the Ten Commandments.  When we realize that God will punish us for even one sin then we should be honest with God and ask for His forgiveness.  He has promised to save all those who have placed their trust in the Lord Jesus Christ and repented of their sins.  When we ask God to forgive our sins we should understand that it is only by grace that we are saved, not by our good works. We pray that you have learned about the freedom you have in Christ and will share this with others.  By His death on the Cross Jesus took the punishment we deserved.  It is by believing in our hearts that God raised Jesus from the dead that conquers our fear of death and also makes us right with God.  The Church is to be united in faith, hope and love.  We can only do this by forgiving others just as Christ has forgiven us.  We can love God with all our minds by remembering to obey this one principle:  Keep it Simple (Is 28:9-10).