Bible Basics for the New Believer

But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ... 2 Peter 3:18

2 Peter 3:18 KJV 1900

18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

Bible Basics For The New Believer

INTRODUCTION

Throughout history, God has given every individual a chance to accept His eternal plan of salvation.

Sadly, many people have rejected it and so will suffer forever.

Thus, accepting Jesus Christ as your own personal Saviour is the most significant decision you could ever make during your lifetime. Instead of being destined for hell, you will now spend eternity with the Lord Jesus Christ.

No longer living life in vain, now you have a reason to live life with eternal results.

The emptiness inside has been filled by Him. The devil also knows of your new life in Jesus Christ.

His desire for you to reject God’s salvation is no longer in effect.

However, he will now exert every effort to keep you from growing close to God and fulfilling God’s plan for your life.

This discipleship message is designed to help those who are beginning a new life in Jesus Christ as well as enhance those who desire more for Him.

It will help you understand what your relationship to God is, how to communicate with Him, how to apply basic Bible principles to your life, and how your life can be an influential witness and testimony of God’s grace.

Whether you just got saved or have been a Christian for years, understanding these basic Bible truths will help establish a solid foundation in your life whereby you can learn to enjoy a victorious life in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Our sincere prayer for you is that these lessons might help you grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

. II Peter 3:18

2 Peter 3:18 KJV 1900

18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

LESSON #1 –

SALVATION

“What Happened When I Got Saved, and What is My New Relationship to God?”

Your decision to trust Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour is the greatest decision you could ever make.

However, it is very unlikely that you understand the true significance of what has happened in your life.

The purpose of this lesson is to explain briefly what took place and how your decision has affected your basic relationship to God.

I. There are only two spiritual families in the world.

A. The Devil’s Family

1. John 8:44 speaks of a group of people who are of their father the devil. – See John 8:38

John 8:44 KJV 1900

44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

John 8:38 KJV 1900

38 I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father.

2. You enter this family by birth through your physical father, who is ultimately a descendant of Adam.

Genesis 5:3 shows that the descendants of Adam are born in Adam’s image and likeness, which is that of a fallen sinner.

Genesis 5:3 KJV 1900

3 And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, after his image; and called his name Seth:

3. You inherited your sin nature from your father Adam.

Romans 5:12 states, “Wherefore, as by one man (Adam) sin entered into the world, and death by sin, and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.”

Romans 5:12 KJV 1900

12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

4. Romans 5:12 also states that as a result of your sin you were sentenced to die.

Romans 5:12 KJV 1900

12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

a. Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death...”

Romans 6:23 KJV 1900

23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

b. I Corinthians 15:22 “For as in Adam all die...”

1 Corinthians 15:22 KJV 1900

22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

B. God’s Family

1. John 1:12-13 says, “But as many as received him (that is your decision to trust Jesus Christ as your Saviour), to them gave he power to become the sons of God (your entrance into God’s family), even to them that believe on his name: which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man (it is not a physical birth) but of God (it is a spiritual birth).”

John 1:12–13 KJV 1900

12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

2. You also enter God’s family by birth, but it is a spiritual birth by your Heavenly Father.

John 3:3 states, “...Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

John 3:3 KJV 1900

3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

3. This new birth puts you into God’s family in exactly the same way your physical birth puts you into your father’s family. You are now a son of God by birth.

4. As a result of your new birth, you have inherited God’s divine nature, and you now have eternal life.

a. John 6:47 “He that believeth on me hath (present tense) everlasting life.”

John 6:47 KJV 1900

47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.

b. John 3:36 “He that believeth on the Son hath (present tense) everlasting life....”

John 3:36 KJV 1900

36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

c. I John 5:12 “He that hath the Son hath (present tense) life...”

1 John 5:12 KJV 1900

12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

II. Being in God’s family separates you from the devil’s family.

A. Your body is now the temple of the Holy Ghost. God’s Holy Spirit lives inside you. I Corinthians 6:19-20

1 Corinthians 6:19–20 KJV 1900

19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

B. II Corinthians 6:14-18 commands the believer to maintain a difference between himself and the unsaved.

2 Corinthians 6:14–18 KJV 1900

14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? 16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, 18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

C. The new life is perfectly summarized for you in II Corinthians 5 :17-18, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ...”

2 Corinthians 5:17–18 KJV 1900

17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;

III. Your Heavenly Father cares for you as your earthly father would. He loves, protects, provides, guides and teaches, helps, encourages, disciplines, feeds, and has a plan for you.

IV. You did not lose your physical nature at the time of your spiritual birth.

A. That is obvious; you are still alive!

B. You now have two natures.

1. Old Nature - physical, sinful, in Adam’s image.

2. New Nature - spiritual, perfect, in God’s image.

C. Both natures are present constantly. The one that will control you is the one you feed the most.

1. Colossians 3:5-10 2. II Corinthians 4:14-18 V. Common Questions.

Colossians 3:5–10 KJV 1900

5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: 6 For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: 7 In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them. 8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. 9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; 10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

2 Corinthians 4:14–18 KJV 1900

14 Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you. 15 For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God. 16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. 17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; 18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

A. Will I sin after I am saved? Yes, you still have your old nature. Romans 7:25

Romans 7:25 KJV 1900

25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

B. How does my sin affect my relationship with my Father?

God does not kick you out of His family when you sin He disciplines you as a son. Hebrews 12:5-11

Hebrews 12:5–11 KJV 1900

5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: 6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. 7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? 8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. 9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? 10 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. 11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

C. What should I do when I sin? Confess it and trust that the blood of Jesus Christ will cleanse you from all unrighteousness.

Then do all that you can to avoid giving in to that temptation when it comes again. I John 1:6-10; Proverbs 28:13

1 John 1:6–10 KJV 1900

6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

Proverbs 28:13 KJV 1900

13 He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: But whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.

ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS ABOUT SALVATION.

LESSON # 1

1. Who are the spiritual fathers mentioned in John 8:38?

John 8:38 KJV 1900

38 I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father.

Give a scripture reference to support both your answers.

A.

B.

2. How does an individual enter into the devil’s family?

3. How does an individual enter into God’s family?

4. Why are people sentenced to die after their physical or first birth?

5. List three verses that promise you eternal life. A.

B.

C.

6. List two reasons why a Christian in God’s family is different than a non-Christian in the devil’s family.

A.

B.

7. Your new relationship with God can be seen through the earthly father & child relationship.

Using these 9 references to show that relationship, list 10 things God does for you as His child.

A. I Peter 5:7

1 Peter 5:7 KJV 1900

7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

B. Deuteronomy 32:37-39

Deuteronomy 32:37–39 KJV 1900

37 And he shall say, Where are their gods, Their rock in whom they trusted, 38 Which did eat the fat of their sacrifices, And drank the wine of their drink offerings? Let them rise up and help you, And be your protection. 39 See now that I, even I, am he, And there is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: Neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand.

C. Philippians 4:19

Philippians 4:19 KJV 1900

19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

D. John 14:26

John 14:26 KJV 1900

26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

E. Psalm 46:1

Psalm 46:1 KJV 1900

1 God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.

F. Philippians 4:13

Philippians 4:13 KJV 1900

13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

G. Hebrews 12:5-11

Hebrews 12:5–11 KJV 1900

5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: 6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. 7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? 8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. 9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? 10 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. 11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

H. Psalm 28:9 I. Romans 8:28-29

Psalm 28:9 KJV 1900

9 Save thy people, And bless thine inheritance: Feed them also, and lift them up for ever.

Romans 8:28–29 KJV 1900

28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. 29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

8. Briefly explain the two natures you now possess.

A.

B.

9. What would be the reason for one nature to overpower the other nature?

10. When a Christian chooses to continue in a particular sin, what can he expect from God?

11. According to I John 1:9 when we confess our sins to God, then He will ______________ us and _____________us from all unrighteousness.

1 John 1:9 KJV 1900

9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

12. Briefly explain the primary purpose of this lesson.

Key Memory Verses:

Memorize at LEAST ONE of these verses Romans 5:12; John 3:3; I John 1:9

Romans 5:12 KJV 1900

12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

John 3:3 KJV 1900

3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

1 John 1:9 KJV 1900

9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

NOTE:

Can you see that some churches wrongly teach that:

1. All mankind is part of one large family of God.

2. All mankind must earn their way to heaven.

3. All mankind can get to heaven through anyway they choose.

4. If there is such a thing as sin, it must be confessed to another man or a church leader.

Write any questions you may have concerning the subjects in this lesson Study To Show Thyself Approved II Timothy 2:15

2 Timothy 2:15 KJV 1900

15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Take time to read any and all Scripture passages in each lesson.

The doctrine that you are learning is Bible based and taken straight from the Bible ... GOD’S Holy Word.