KEPT BY GOD'S POWER - LESSON 10

by Jon Quinn

INSTRUCTIONS

We have come to the final lesson in our Study Guides. Please read the lesson and look up the passages of scripture given as you read through. Then answer the questions. Thank you for completing the series! We hope that you have had a rewarding study.

Peace of mind is extremely important to a person's well-being. Polls conducted have always rated "peace of mind" at the top of the list of things necessary for happiness. And yet this "inner peace" seems so elusive today.

Also, nobody wants to live with a false sense of security. The ideal is peace of mind brought forth by genuine security. This is exactly what Jesus offers to His disciples. We are going to consider various questions concerning security in Christ that have been debated for centuries. "How secure is salvation and upon what is this security based?" "Can a child of God ever forfeit His salvation and be lost?"

HOPE IN CHRIST

Christianity is based upon a message of hope in the place of despair, faith rather than doubt and purpose rather than emptiness. There is no reason to live life or face eternity without hope. To do so leads to cynicism. Paul reminded the Christians at Ephesus of how they had been before: "...having no hope and without God in the world."

(Ephesians 2:12) That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:

(1 Thessalonians 4:13) But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.

Apart from faith the "eat, drink and be merry" philosophy makes tragic sense. But there is something better

(1 Corinthians 15:32) If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for to morrow we die.

(1 Corinthians 15:57-58) But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

God has offered to give dignity and purpose to our lives and peace to our souls. Let us flee to Him for strong encouragement

(Hebrews 6:17-20) Wherein God, willing more abundantly to show unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath: 18 That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: 19 Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; 20 Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

The peace which God offers does not depend upon outward circumstances. This peace may be enjoyed in a mansion or in a dungeon and is conditioned upon "hearing His voice"

(John 10:27-29) My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.

We are only protected by the power of God through our faith

(1 Peter 1:3-5) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

It is entirely possible for a Christian to leave His Lord and thereby leave the security which He gives

(John 6:66-68) From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. 67 Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? 68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.

Other passages in the Bible which show that security is based upon remaining in Christ are abundant

(John 15:4-6) Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. 6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.

We learn that there is no condemnation to those who live in Christ

(Romans 8:13) For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

(Romans 8:37-39) Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Abiding in Christ means keeping His commandments

(1 John 2:4-6) He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. 6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

ENDURANCE

God requires our loyalty. There is no acceptable reason to deny our faith. There is no loss or sacrifice so great that we ought to feel that our Lord will excuse our disloyalty to Him, whether the loss of possessions, money, friends, status or even the good will of our family.

The Lord has much to say about enduring faith. He tells us that we must be willing to "endure to the end" even if our own brother rise up against us

(Matthew 10:21-22) And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death. 22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.

Jesus told us to abide in His word

(John 8:31-32) Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; 32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

Our perseverance will bring us to our goal of eternal life

(Romans 2:6-8) Who will render to every man according to his deeds: 7 To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: 8 But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,

Christians at Corinth were urged to "hold fast to the word"

(1 Corinthians 15:1-2) Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.

and we are told that "in due we will reap if we do not grow weary"

(Galatians 6:9) And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

Only if we endure will we reign with Him

(2 Timothy 2:12) If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:

We are God's house and partakers of Christ if we "hold fast our confidence" until the end

(Hebrews 3:6) But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.

(Hebrews 3:14) For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;

God tells us that we need endurance so that when we have done His will we may receive what has been promised

(Hebrews 10:26) For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,

The crown of life belongs them that are "faithful unto death"

(Revelation 2:10) Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

WARNINGS AGAINST FALLING

God considers these matters so important to our wellbeing that He has given repeated warnings that it is possible to fall from grace. It would certainly be wise to heed these warnings as we seek to avoid the consequences of apostasy.

In the parable of the sower Jesus illustrated the possibility of being saved from sin and then returning to sin and being lost. Note especially the seed that fell on the rocky soil

(Luke 8:4-15) And when much people were gathered together, and were come to him out of every city, he spake by a parable: 5 A sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it. 6 And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture. 7 And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it. 8 And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold. And when he had said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. 9 And his disciples asked him, saying, What might this parable be? 10 And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand. 11 Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. 12 Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. 13 They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away. 14 And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection. 15 But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.

The disciple is warned to take heed "lest he fall"

(1 Corinthians 10:12) Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.

In fact, some disciples at Galatia were "severed from Christ" and had "fallen from grace"

(Galatians 5:4) Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.

God also predicted that in later times some would "fall away from the faith" and therefore urged us to exercise care

(1 Timothy 5:8) But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.

(Hebrews 3:12) Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.

We are warned that spiritual death awaits those who "stray from the truth" if they do not turn back again

(James 5:19-20) Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; 20 Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.

Yes, one can have his named erased from the book of life

(Revelation 3:5) He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

SECURITY AND PEACE

God offers security and the peace which it brings by His grace. We receive and maintain it by our own continued faith. This is our confidence and hope. Our God will not allow us to be tempted beyond our ability to bear, but He will allow us to be tempted and to choose our own way. He will not forsake us. We must not forsake Him

(1 Corinthians 10:13) There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

(Hebrews 13:5-6) Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. 6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

Yes, we can know that we are right with God. This knowledge does not come from intuition or feeling; feelings do not always lead to truth. We can know by that which God has caused to be written

(1 John 5:11-13) And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. 13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

The peace of God is not flimsy like that of the world

(John 14:27) Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

It passes understanding in that it comforts and encourages the disciple in good times and bad

(Philippians 4:7) And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

It rules the heart and fills the man or woman of faith with gratitude

(Colossians 3:15) And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

CONCLUSION

The faithful Christian knows that nothing will defeat him as long as he abides in Christ. He is secure in that knowledge and his peace is based upon it. God is always faithful.

(Romans 8:1) There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

(Romans 8:31) What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

QUESTIONS FOR LESSON TEN

1. HOPE IN CHRIST

A. If there is no resurrection, what should we be doing and why (I CORINTHIANS 15:32)?

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B. What three things will happen "in the twinkling of an eye" at the last moment of time (I CORINTHIANS 15:52)? _________________________________________

C. What six things does Jesus say about His sheep (JOHN 10:27-28)?

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D. If one does not heed the voice of Christ, is he one of His sheep? __________________

E. Do the promises of "eternal life" and "shall never perish" apply to those who cease to follow Jesus? ___________________

2. ENDURANCE

A. The disciple who endures to what point will be saved (MATTHEW 10:22)?

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B. One is saved by the gospel if he does what (I CORINTHIANS 15:1,2)?

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C. If we endure what will happen? If we deny Jesus what will happen (II TIMOTHY 2:12)?

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3. WARNINGS AGAINST FALLING

A. Why is the Christian warned to "take heed" (I CORINTHIANS 10:12)?

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B. What two things happened to some of the unfaithful disciples who were seeking to be justified by the law of Moses (GALATIANS 5:4)? ____________________________________

C. What does Jesus say we must do in order that our names in the book of life not be erased or blotted out (REVELATION 3:5)? __________________________________

4. SECURITY AND PEACE

A. What does God promise concerning temptation (I CORINTHIANS 10:13)?

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B. What do the scriptures ("things written") allow us to know (I JOHN 5:13)?

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C. What guards the hearts and minds of the faithful disciple (PHILIPPIANS 4:7)?

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You can make any additional comments or ask questions here:

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After answering the above questions, please E-Mail them to: jcripps@yancey.main.nc.us. We will then grade and return them (via E-Mail) to you. You have now completed the Ten Lesson Bible Course. We wish God's continued blessings on you in the study and application of His Word.