The New Life

Table of Contents:
Introduction
Part 1 The Church of Jesus Christ
Part 2 Bringing in the Kingdom of God
Part 3 What all Christians Believe
1. The Bible Is The Source of Truth
2. What Christians Believe about God
3. What Christians believe about People and Satan
4. What Christians believe about Jesus
5. What Christians believe about repentance
6. What Christians believe about Faith
7. What Christians believe about Grace
8. What Christians believe about Water Baptism
9. What Christians believe about the Holy Spirit
10. What Christians believe about Temptation to Sin
11. What Christians believe about Generosity
12. What Christians believe about Worshipping God
13. What Christians believe about Prayer
14. What Christians believe about Heaven
15. What Christians believe about when Jesus returns
Answers to Questions

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 Introduction to the New Life
Being a new member of the family of God you have been given a New Life by Jesus
Christ. Your new life will not be the same as your life before. Many people become
confused when they hear Christians talk about new life they receive upon their salvation.
Jesus also talked about the new life to those who did not understand it in the Bible. In
John 3, Jesus explained the new life to a important religious leader who did not
understand the new life. Jesus explained the new life by saying:

"Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of
water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit." (John 3:5,6)

Jesus said that only those born of water and Spirit can enter the kingdom of God. Being
born of water, is the natural birth which all people go through. Everyone born naturally (all people)
have the right to choose their fate. Every person has the choice either to accept Jesus or not to
accept Jesus. A person who does not accept Jesus Christ as their Lord will suffer the
consequences of their choice. The consequence is eternal death and pain in the fire of hell.
Those who accept Jesus Christ through, by their own free will, receive a new life of the Spirit from
Jesus. This is a gift of grace from our Lord Jesus Christ to all people who accept him. The Bible
continues by saying:

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever
believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son
into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever
believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands
condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and
only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved
darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil
hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be
exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen
plainly that what he has done has been done through God" (John 3:16-21).

When a person accepts Jesus as their Lord, their eyes are opened and they see how
Jesus has loved the world and wants to save all the people of the world. Your new life given by
God give you clear eyes and understanding to be able to see the world as Jesus does.

The new life which is given by Jesus is not like your old life. Your old life was a life of sin,
evil, pride, personal effort and achievement, corruption, idol worship, fear of evil spirits and so on.
The New life is nothing like that. The new life of Jesus is a call to a holy life, but also your new life
will have new relationships. Developing a close relationship to God, your family, and other
Christian brothers and sisters are a very important change in your new life. The following lessons
will help you to understand the new life and the different relationships that will change, including
what Christians believe.

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 Part 1
The Church of Jesus Christ

The Church: Your New Family

You are not only called to believe in Jesus Christ, but to belong to His church. You are not
alone. One of the most important relationships you enter into as a new believer is the church. The
church of Jesus Christ is not made of wood, stone, grass, or bricks. Unlike other religions which
have a church building which is the center of their worship, Christians do not have such a place.
The church is not a location—some place you go. Christians sometimes have buildings, but these
buildings are not "holy" they are simply places to gather large amounts of people. In different
villages, some congregations meeting in peoples homes, some in rented buildings, some in
restaurants, some in movie theaters, some meet in forests, some under a mango tree. The
building or the place where Christians meet is not important, only the people who meet together
are important. The church is first and foremost people, we call this the congregations. But not just
any people, only people who have committed their lives to Jesus Christ.

Question 1: What is the Church of Jesus Christ made of?

a) bricks and cement
b) wood and nails
c) bamboo and grass
d) people, followers of Jesus

Faith in Jesus Christ makes you a Christian. By your water baptism, you have publicly
identified yourself before others as a redeemed follower of Jesus Christ. The church is made up of
believers who unashamedly identify themselves as a united group who follows Jesus. The New
Testament uses the word for “church” about 115 times. In all but four of these, the word for
“church” refers to a local group of people, such as the church at Jerusalem or the church in Corinth
or the church in Antioch. In this sense, the church is not invisible or mystical; rather, the church is
visible and made up of real people who follow Christ. In the original Greek language the word
“church” literally means, “the called out ones”. It is a plural noun which means that Christ calls us
not only to a relationship with Himself, but also to a local group of those who have committed
themselves to Him.

Question 2: In the original Greek language, what is the meaning of the word
"church"?

Pictures of the Church

Picture of a Body

Several pictures or images are used to identify believers with the church. One of these
images is that of the body. Here on earth, Christians are to be the hands, feet, and mouth of
Christ. To people around us, we speak and serve them as if Jesus Himself were here in person.
Ephesians 5:30 tells us that “we are members of His body.” First Corinthians 12:27 says, “Now
you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.” To other believers, we serve and
encourage each other in love. To people who are not believers yet, we serve them and tell them
about Jesus and His gift of salvation. As a part of the body of Christ, each of us has different
functions, abilities, and gifts to serve others (later we will talk about this more) just as the different
parts of our bodies have different functions.

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 To speak of us being a part of the body of Christ also shows how closely identified we are
with Jesus. How impossible it is to think of a head without a body! Jesus claims us as His very
own body parts! As our Head, He takes care of us just as we would take care of our own bodies,
making sure we are fed and healthy. “After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and
cares for it, just as Christ does the church—for we are members of His body.” (Ephesians 5:29-30)
And just as the Head directs the rest of the body, so Jesus directs His church to follow after His
will.

Question 3: The symbolism of the church being the body of Christ means that:
a) We have not role in the body of Christ.
b) We do not need other Christians, only ourselves.
c) We need others, and all have different roles.
d) There are many body's of Christ.

Picture of a Building

Another image of the church is that of a building. Jesus Christ alone is the foundation of
the building: “For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus
Christ” (1 Corinthians 3:11). When you became a believer in Jesus, you immediately became a
permanent part of God’s building that is built upon the foundation of Christ. In a sense, believers
are the construction materials of the church. The Bible calls us “living stones”: “As you come to
Him, the living Stone—rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to Him—you also, like
living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual
sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 2:4-5). You may only be one stone or
piece of wood, but when God puts all of the pieces together into the whole, a strong, beautiful
building is erected.

The building that is being constructed is a temple—a place where God lives in us through
the Holy Spirit. The new building or temple that is built is a holy group of people. The church is
holy or set apart for God because God’s Holy Spirit lives within. “Don’t you know that you
yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple,
God will destroy him; for God’s temple is sacred, and you are that temple” (1 Corinthians 3:16-17).

Just as it is a crime to destroy someone else’s home through fire or by stealing, so it is a

spiritual crime to destroy God’s home in the church through division, strife, gossip, pride,
selfishness, and the like. God is pleased and blessed when we work together with other
Christians to keep His home strong, unified, and protected. In a real sense, if we tear down the
church, we are tearing down ourselves, because we are God’s church.

Picture of a Family

Another image of the church is that of a family. Just as each one of us has a family he is a
part of, so each individual believer has a church family that he is a part of. Some of my family is
very close to me. I have a wife and three sons. I also have a mother, father, one sister, and one
brother. Some of my family is not as close. I also have many uncles, aunts, nieces, nephews, and
cousins who live far from me.

The Bible refers to the church as our family of faith and uses family relationships to explain
how close we are to each other and how lovingly we are to relate to each other: “Therefore, as we
have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of
believers” (Galatians 6:10). “Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were
your father. Treat younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, and younger women as
sisters, with absolute purity” (1 Timothy 5:1-2).

One of the reasons a qualification for pastors-elders is the ability to manage his household
well (1 Timothy 3:12) is because the church is so much like a family. If a man can manage his own

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personal family well as a Christian, then he can handle the larger church family well. If he cannot
take care of his smaller family, he will not be able to care well for the larger church family.

Another truth about families is that we are born into a family for the rest of our lives. We
may not like our family or get along with everyone in our family, but they are our family like it or
not. So it is with the church family. Once you are born again of the Spirit, you are born into a
spiritual family called the church. You cannot change families, and you will do well to honor the
church family through holy living and loving service.

Question 4: How do you become a member of God's family?

Other Various Pictures

Other pictures of the church in the Bible include the church as a flock (John 10), the
people of God (1 Peter 2:9), citizens of heaven (Philippians 3:20), saints or holy ones
(Ephesians 1:1), royal priesthood (1 Peter 3:5,9-10), and children of the light (Ephesians 5:8).
Each of these pictures of the church is positive—God has found many ways to tell us how much
He loves us in Christ!

Each one of these images focuses on two main ideas: 1) each individual is an important
part of the whole and 2) the whole is a unified group. YOU are an important part of God’s
family. No one else can take your place. Just like a body without a hand or a stomach is
incomplete, so the church is incomplete without you. And likewise, the church is one. A hand or
stomach doesn’t (and can’t) live apart from the body. So too, the church is an indivisible unit. All
the individual parts work together for the health of the whole body.

Follow the Leaders of Your Church

The church is like a body, a building, and a family. Just as a body has a shape, and a
building as a specific structure, and a family has a particular order, so does the church. Christ
calls and gifts certain men for leading His church, and with these you will also have a special
relationship.

Pastors-elders are men called and gifted by God for leading, caring, and teaching in the
church. They are responsible for the spiritual oversight of a local church. They have authority
from the Lord for teaching truth, encouraging others to mature in Christ, to defend the church from
error or division, to pray for others, and to lead godly lives. By following their leadership, you will
grow in your faith, serve cooperatively with others, and be protected from Satan’s schemes.

In Acts 20:28-31, the Apostle Paul speaks to the elders at the church in Ephesus and gives
them these instructions: “Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has
made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which He brought with His own blood. I
know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even
from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after
them. So be on your guard!”

For you as a new believer, you are called to follow the pastors-elders’ leadership. Hebrews
13:17 says, “Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men
who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would
be of no advantage for you.” First Thessalonians 5:12-13 agrees with this: “Now we ask you,
brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who
admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with
each other.”

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 The qualifications for pastors-elders can be found in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:6-9.
Some of you who are new in the faith will some day become important leaders. Therefore, it’s
important that you learn how to be a great follower and learn the basic steps of faith and
obedience now. The future of the church depends upon each person doing his or her part in
growing up and serving the Lord.

Question 5: As a new believer which human leaders should you obey?

a) Your mother-in-law
b) Your church leaders (pastors and elders)
c) All people who call themselves Christians
d) Only the people who have more power and money than you

Service and Spiritual Gifts

Perhaps you are wondering how you as a new believer can be of any benefit to the church.
One of the wonderful parts of becoming a Christian is that each believer receives at least one
special gift at salvation. 1 Peter 4:10 says, “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to
serve others.” These gifts are a part of the grace we receive in Christ.

Spiritual gifts are Spirit-given and Spirit-empowered abilities to serve in a particular way
that will benefit others in the church or share Christ with those outside of the church. Romans
12:6-8 tells us about spiritual gifts: “We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a
man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it
is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of
others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy,
let him do so cheerfully.” Other passages of Scripture that deal with spiritual gifts are 1
Corinthians 12:7-11, 28-31; Ephesians 4:12-13; and 1 Peter 4:10-11.

Just as each of our human body parts has a different function that benefits the whole body,
so each individual believer has a special gift to serve the church body. If one person doesn’t do
his or her part, the whole church suffers. If each person does his or her part, the whole church
benefits. We are all dependent on each other.

First Corinthians 12:12-21, 25-27 tells us how important each one of us is to the health of
the church body: “The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts
are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one
body—whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Now
the body is not made up of one part but of many. If the foot should say, ‘Because I am not a hand,
I do not belong to the body,’ it would not for that reason cease to be a part of the body. And if the
ear should say, ‘Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,’ it would not for that reason
cease to be part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing
be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has
arranged the parts in the body, everyone of them, just as He wanted them to be. If they were all
one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body. The eye cannot
say to the hand, ‘I don’t need you!’ And the head cannot say to the feet, ‘I don’t need you!’ . . .
There should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each
other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with
it. Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.”

In addition to your spiritual gifts, other factors determine where you will serve in the church
family and what you will actually be doing. Each person has a God-imparted desire or heart for a
certain group of people (for example, young people, new believers, or sick people) or a certain
area of ministry (for example, evangelism, worship, or teaching). In addition to one’s spiritual gift,
he has natural gifts that God gave at birth such as the ability to work with one’s hands or to
express one’s self creatively. Each of us also has a unique personality: for example, some work
well with people, some work well as leaders, some work well as followers, and some work well as
thinkers. In addition to each of these factors, each of us also has had unique life experiences.

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Some of our life experiences have been very difficult; others have been very encouraging and
positive—all of them can be used of God to serve others. Who can better comfort a grieving
person that one who has experienced grief? Who can better understand the struggles of
alcoholism or of living with an unbeliever than one who has overcome alcohol or lived with an
unbeliever?

When all these factors are working together, you will strongly serve the Lord. All of these
factors work together for you to discover where and how you should serve other people most
effectively. The overall way that God has made you will determine how you serve best. Just as
the stomach is best suited for digesting food, but is ill-suited to breath like lungs or pick up buckets
like hands, so we are to find our place in the body of Christ and sacrificially serve the whole body.
Only then will the whole body become healthy and pleasing to the Head (Christ), who desires each
part to work like He designed.

Question 6: As a Christian you have been given spiritual gifts from God. Why have
you been given then gifts and what are you to do with them?

Relationships with “One Another" in the Family

Just as it is important for a family to relate to each other well, much of the New Testament
is written about how we are now to relate to each other in a Christ-like way. Thirty-five
relationships with “one another” are commanded to us as believers that we are to carry out with
each other in the church.

 Love one another. John 13:34

 Depend on one another. Romans 12:5
 Be devoted to one another. Romans 12:10
 Wash each other’s feet. John 13:14
 Rejoice with one another. Romans 12:15; 1 Corinthians 12:26
 Weep with one another. Romans 12:15
 Live in harmony with one another. Romans 12:16
 Don’t judge one another. Romans 14:13
 Accept one another. Romans 12:7
 Admonish one another. Colossians 3:16
 Greet one another. Romans 16:16
 Wait for one another. 1 Corinthians 11:33
 Care for one another. 1 Corinthians 12:25
 Serve one another. Galatians 5:13; 1 Peter 4:10
 Be kind to one another. Ephesians 4:32
 Forgive one another. Ephesians 4:32; Colossians 3:13
 Be compassionate toward one another. Ephesians 4:32
 Encourage one another. 1 Thessalonians 5:11
 Submit to one another. Ephesians 5:21
 Bear with one another. Ephesians 4:2; Colossians 3:13
 Stimulate love in one another. Hebrews 10:24
 Offer hospitality to one another. 1 Peter 4:9
 Minister gifts to one another. 1 Peter 4:10
 Be humble toward one another. 1 Peter 5:5
 Don’t slander one another. James 4:11
 Don’t grumble against one another. James 5:9
 Confess your sins to one another. 1 Peter 5:16
 Pray for one another. James 5:16
 Fellowship with one another. 1 John 1:7
 Don’t be puffed up against one another. 1 Corinthians 4:6

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  Carry one another’s burdens. Galatians 6:2
 Honor one another. Romans 12:10
 Instruct one another. Romans 15:14
 Prefer one another. Romans 12:10
 Comfort one another. 2 Corinthians 1:4

These commands are given so that we will have the deepest and best possible
relationships with each other while we serve the Lord here on earth. May these verses about
relationships with “one another” be reflected in each relationship you have with other Christians!

You are not left alone. Jesus not only saved you, but He placed you in a spiritual family.
Live and love in this family. Pray and worship together with this family. Serve and witness
together through this family. Learn and grow together as a family. Finally, remember this:
whereas physical death separates us from our earthly family, our spiritual family will endure
through all time.

Life Application:
What new things have you learned about the body of Christ?

What role has God given you in the Body of Christ?

How can you be helpful to bringing about Unity in the Body of Christ?

What can you avoid which might be harmful to the body of Christ?

From the list of 35 ways to be in relationship with other church members, choose two and act on
them this week.

Express your appreciation to your church leaders this week.

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 Part 2
Bringing in the Kingdom of God
When Jesus was on the earth, he spent his time teaching about the Kingdom of God and
doing miracles to demonstrate his authority in the Kingdom. Jesus says, "And this gospel of the
kingdom will be preached in all the world to all nations, and then the end will come. " (Matthew
24:14) When Jesus preached the gospel of the kingdom, many religious people had a hard time
receiving it. The message he preached didn't fit their religious thinking. Jesus warned them not to
try to fit the new revelation into their old system.

“Then He [Jesus] spoke a parable to them; ‘No one puts a piece from a new garment on an
old one; otherwise the new makes a tear; and also the piece that was taken out of the new does
not match the old. And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; or else the new wine will burst the
wineskins and be spilled, and the wineskins will be ruined. But new wine must be put into new
wineskins, and both are preserved. And no one having drunk old wine immediately desires new,
for he says, 'The old is better:' " (Luke 5:36-39)

The new wine of the gospel of the kingdom will not fit the old system. Being a Christian will
completely transform your life. It is unlike any religion or any education that can be taught to you.
The Gospel of Jesus is the Gospel of the Kingdom. This Kingdom is not a kingdom of this world
with governments, politics, laws, elections and armies. The Gospel of the Kingdom is about Jesus
taking his proper and right place as the Lord of the earth and his holy people living in the Kingdom
of God. This Kingdom is the perfect Kingdom in which there is complete justice, love, peace,
kindness, holiness, trustworthiness, freedom, gentleness and every characteristic in line with the
perfect Kingdom of Jesus Christ whole is the Lord and absolute ruler. He created the whole world
and when the way of the gospel is complete and all people have had a chance to accept Jesus as
their only God.

As Jesus spent all of his time on earth teaching about the Kingdom of God this is clearly
the most important teaching in the Bible then we must examine it carefully because this is the
pattern by which God intends us to live our life. God tells us in Isaiah 55:8,9 that " For my
thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. "As the
heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than
your thoughts." Because we know that God intends us to live in His kingdom we must pray that
God will open our minds so that we can understand His ways and His thoughts.

The gospel of the kingdom becomes the system into which all other revelation and truth of
God will fit. The kingdom that Jesus preached is the major heading under which all other God-
given doctrine can be filed. We must have a new wineskin. If we try to patch in the gospel of the
kingdom, we may become frustrated and burst our old wineskin, spilling out the contents with a big
splatter.

Question 7: What are some of the characteristics of the Kingdom of God?

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A. The Definition of the Kingdom of God

There are many connotations attached to the word, "kingdom. Yet it is a very prominent
Bible word. Jesus used the Greek word "basileia" which is translated "kingdom" in English, over
one hundred times in the Gospels. The enemy would like for doubts and fears to enter our minds
when we hear the word, "kingdom", because he greatly fears the kingdom of God coming forth in
God's people.

Most of the teachings of Jesus were aimed at defining the kingdom (which is the
government of God). It explains how it works, and how to enter it. For us to fully grasp the
kingdom of God, we would need to digest all the teachings of Jesus and much of the rest of the
Bible. But, the Holy Spirit, speaking through Paul in Romans 14:17, gives us perhaps the most
clear, concise definition of the kingdom of God. “For the kingdom of God is not food and drink,
but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. “ (Romans 14:17)

1. The word translated "kingdom" in the New Testament is the Greek word "basileia."
"Basileia" means "foundation of power, realm, rule, or royalty.”
2. "King" means "ruler or sovereign". "Dom" is the root from which we get words like
"dominion, dominant, domain and dome". Thus the kingdom of God means the "sovereign
ruler/dominion walk of God, the rule/dom of God".
3. The kingdom of God is a realm or walk, a lifestyle, sovereignly ruled by the foundational
power of God, through which God's rule/dominion is established on earth. The kingdom
walk or lifestyle is produced by the appearing or manifesting of Jesus through the Holy
Spirit within God's people.

Question 8: Which best describes the Kingdom of God?

a) Government, Armies, Political Parties, National Assemblies
b) Righteousness, Peace, Joy in the Holy Spirit
c) Holy war against all non-believers
d) A myth of a perfect place in the future, among the clouds

B. The Development of the Kingdom of God

B
When the character and nature of Christ is developed in the hearts of God's people, they
bring forth the holy people of Christ. God's love flowing in and through His holy people produces
obedience, and righteousness prevails. Righteousness always leads to peace and joy. The holy
people of Christ carries out her part as pictured in Proverbs 31:10-31, and the rule/dominion of
God is functioning in the world.

Question 9: How is the Kingdom of God developed in this world?

a) Through building more church buildings
b) Through correcting every Christians character until it matches the character of
Christ Jesus.

C. The Depths of the Kingdom of God

The secrets of how to rule our planet God's way are locked up in the revelation and
understanding of the kingdom of God. They are extremely potent and can indeed produce the
overcoming of any negative force in the world. There is nothing impossible to those who possess

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the understanding of the practical working of God's kingdom of this earth. This powerful
understanding could be very dangerous in the hands of impure men who would seek to use it to
establish their own kingdom, plan, or government. That is why God's kingdom ways will be
revealed only to the holy people of Christ. The kingdom of God begins with the purification of the
motives of our heart. Only a pure heart can hear and understand the secrets of God's kingdom.
This means a heart free from all other allegiances, a heart healed from all of the enemy's wounds,
a heart that not only intends to serve God only but also has the freedom to actually do it. It is a
heart that has no needs or desires apart from God. That's why Jesus saves the lost, heals the
brokenhearted, and proclaims liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who
are bound. God will give us ears to hear His kingdom truth to the level that we are made holy.

The Kingdom of God is about Jesus not only transforming the whole earth and putting it
under his control, but it is about Jesus transforming the lives of all people into lives which are holy
and seek after righteousness. The goal of the Christian no longer is for self-gain, self-glory, self-
salvation and personal prosperity, but a life which only seeks to do what God wants. It is a life
which completely obeys him. In the Bible it says that “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no
longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.” (Galatians 2:20)

As Jesus (appears) manifests His life in us, we walk in obedience to, and in harmony with
the universal laws of God. Aligning with God's ways produces the favor of God in our lives, and
overcoming in all areas of living becomes the way of the Christian life.

Question 10: How can a person know more of the Kingdom of God?
a) By studying a lot of books
b) By listening to important teachers and pastors
c) By living a holy life and seeking revelation directly from Jesus
d) By doing good deeds in the church

D. The Details of the Kingdom of God

C The kingdom of God was established on earth in Adam (the first man) in the beginning.
God created a perfect world in which there was complete holiness, love, acceptance, peace,
justice and eternal life. God, being the creator of this perfect world, was the sole king. Adam,
however, lost the dominion rights to Satan because he chose to listen to Satan and sin; the
kingdom of God was taken captive, and the kingdom of darkness was loosed on earth. The
kingdom of darkness is the world in which we live that is without Jesus. Satan convinced Adam
and Eve (the first man and woman) to believe they could be better than God and they chose to
disobey God and live a life of sin. Because they sinned they allowed Satan and the Kingdom of
Evil to take over the whole world that God created. The evil world is a world of corruption, pride,
greed, abuse, murder, death, lying and cheating. This is the world in which we live.

The kingdom of God remained in captivity until Jesus came to redeem it. Christ Jesus
came to earth to recapture the kingdom, to destroy the kingdom of Satan, and to re-establish the
kingdom of God from heaven on earth (Matthew 6:10). “Jesus answered, ‘My kingdom is not of
this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be
delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.’ Pilate therefore said to Him, ‘Are you
a king then?’ Jesus answered, ‘You say rightly that l am a king. For this cause I was born, and for
this cause I have come into the world."’ (John 18:36-37)

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 God is and always has been in complete authority of all things. In Matthew 28:18-20 just
before Jesus returned to heaven, he gave his authority to people. He chose to delegate the rule of
earth to people. God limited Himself to work with what people would do on earth. He truly gave
dominion and rule to people. People are free to make right or wrong decisions and will live or die
by them. Satan and his powers of darkness were present in the Garden of Eden, but were totally
powerless until people chose to disobey God and thereby release the power of Satan. Jesus'
power could easily destroy Satan and his evil spirits and punish them for eternity, however, in
order to establish his Kingdom God has chosen to use people, by their own free will.

The Cross became the devils’ demise. The devil was completely defeated, and the
kingdom, including humanity, was completely redeemed at the cross. In actual experience, Jesus
Christ is now establishing in the natural what is already established in the spiritual. People have
not been removed as ruler of the planet. Jesus became a man to redeem the kingdom. And then
He "became a life-giving Spirit" to now indwell believers, empowering people to live in obedience
and thereby establish His kingdom in the natural realm on earth. (1 Corinthians 15:45; 2
Corinthians 3:17).

One of the greatest lies that the kingdom of darkness has perpetrated is that the kingdom
of God is not available on earth today. Yet Jesus has taught us to pray, " Your kingdom come,
Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread." (Matthew 6:10)
Just as Jesus taught us to pray daily for our daily bread, He taught us to pray daily for the kingdom
of God to come on earth. Our daily bread is not just for the future sometime, but a very present-
day issue. Neither is the kingdom of God just for the future, but is indeed a very present-day issue.
Even 2000 years ago the Bible says that "From that time Jesus began to preach and to say,
"Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." (Matthew 4:17) Also the Bible says, "Jesus came
to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the
kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.’" (Mark 1:14,15)

Not only was Jesus talking about the spiritual kingdom of God, but also changing the
physical reality by bringing in the physical kingdom of God. The Bible also says, “Now Jesus went
about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing
all kinds of disease among the people. ... they brought to Him all sick people who were afflicted
with various diseases and torments and those who were demon-possessed, epileptics, and
paralytics; and He healed them.” (Matthew 4:23,24)

Jesus taught and preached the gospel (good news) of the kingdom of God and
demonstrated the authority of God's kingdom over the enemy kingdom of Satan by casting out the
demon spirits, destroying their work, and healing the people. Jesus proved that he has complete
authority and power over the Kingdom of Evil, including Satan and all the demons, by casting them
all out of people. Matthew 12:28 says "but if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the
kingdom of God has come upon you." And again in Matthew 9:35 it says, “And Jesus went about
all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and
healing every sickness and every disease among the people.”

Question 11: At what point did just take back all authority and power over the
kingdom of God from Satan (the devil)?

E. The Citizens of the Kingdom of God

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 As followers of Jesus Christ, you are citizens of the Kingdom of God! Therefore you have
the rights as a citizen of the Kingdom of God. All citizens of the kingdom of God have the right to
receive the gifts of their king.

Rights of the Kingdom:

Jesus is our king and our king has promised to do many things for his people:

 Salvation is a central promise of God (John 3:16; 1 John 2:25).

 Those who search for God will find him (John 6:37; Mathew 7:7-8).
 We can receive answer to prayer from God if we:
Pray in God's will (1 John 5:14-15).
Pray in faith (Mark 11:24).
Pray in repentance (James 5:16).
Pray in obedience (1 John 3:21-22).
Pray with right motives (James 4:3).
Pray with persistence (Luke 11:9).
Pray with a forgiving heart (Matthew 6:14-15).
 God also promises to help us in times of difficulty such as:
God promises to keep temptation from overpowering us (1 Corinthians 10:13).
God promises to forgive us when we confess our sins (1 John 1:9).
God promises to make up the losses we suffer for following Jesus (Luke 18:29-30).
God promises to provide for our needs (Philippians 4:19).
God promises to work all things for God (Romans 8:28).

As citizens of Heaven we can trust in the promises of God. God will never go against his
word, he will always take care of those who love him and are truly followers of His Son Jesus
Christ. Though we have great rights as people of the Kingdom of God, we also have great
responsibilities.

Responsibility of the Kingdom:

Citizens of the Kingdom also have certain responsibilities. Most importantly, all Christians are
called to holy living. The character of the citizens of Kingdom of God reflect on the King.
Whatever you do, say or even think, reflects on our king. We are called to have a holy life
which reflects the holiness of our king. That is why characteristics such as: Holiness, Love,
Joy, Peace, Patience, Gentleness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Meekness, Self-control,
Honesty, Trustworthy, Right Speech, Hardworking and striving for excellence are all
characters which are essential for the kingdom of God.

You also have the responsibility to tell more people about the Kingdom of God. In fact, the
Bible commands us five different times that we are to: share the good news of the Kingdom with
all people in the world. (See Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-18; Luke 24:46-49; John 20:21-23;
Acts 1:8) All Christians have a responsibility to holy living and to share the Kingdom of God with
others so that they too may receive a new life in Christ.

Personal Application:
The Bible says that those who seek after Jesus will find him. Do you want to seek after Jesus and
know more about the Kingdom of God?

To seek the Kingdom of God you need to have a pure heart, what are some areas in your life that
you would like to begin working on in order to have a pure heart and receive more revelation from
Jesus?

List some of the rights of citizens of the Kingdom of God and why they are important for you?

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What is your most important responsibility as a citizen of the Kingdom of God? How will that effect
your life today?

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 Part 3
What all Christians Believe

1. The Bible Is The Source of Truth

The Holy Bible is God's special book and contains the Words of God. It is not like other
books, but is a supernatural Book. It was written by many different people, who wrote by the
inspiration of the Holy Spirit (see 2 Timothy 3:16 and 2 Peter 1:20-21).

The Bible is the world's best-seller. It consistently outsells any other book. The Bible has
been translated into more languages than any other book in the world. It was originally written in
three languages - Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek. The Bible you have has been translated by
dedicated people so that you can have God's words, thoughts and plans. The Bible is also one of
the oldest books in the world. The most ancient portions of the Bible date back almost 4,000
years. (1500 years before the birth of Buddha and 3000 years before the birth of Mohammed).

Even though the Bible is made up of 66 smaller books, it has only one central theme:
God's loving plan to save all people. At the front of the Bible you will find a list of the 66 books
that can be found in the Bible.

The Bible is divided into two sections:

I. The Old Testament and
II. The New Testament.

The Old Testament tells us about God's work with His people before the birth of Jesus.

The New Testament tells us about Jesus' birth, His life, His great ministry of healing and
forgiveness for sick and sinful people, His death on a cross, His being raised from the dead and
His ascension (going back to Heaven).

It also tells us about the continuation of His healing, forgiving ministry through those who saw Him
after His resurrection. Those who follow Jesus' teaching do many miraculous works just as He
said they would (see John 14:12).

The teaching of those who saw Him after He was raised from the dead is contained in the Epistles
(letters). These were written within the first fifty years after Jesus' resurrection. These make up
about half the New Testament.

"...the Holy Scriptures...are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ
Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in
righteousness" (2 Timothy 3:15,16). The Bible is the source of all truth for Christians. Everything
a Christian believes comes from the Bible and everything is tested by what the Bible says. The
Bible is the only book which comes directly from God as His revelation to people. The Bible also
says, "...The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life" (John 6:63).

Please Read the Following Verses:

The Word of God creates Psalm 33:6,9; Hebrews 11:3.
The Word of God cleans John 15:3.
The Word of God keeps us free from sin Psalm 119:9-11.
The Word of God is Light 2 Peter 1:19; also Psalm 119:105,130.
The Word of God is spiritual food Matthew 4:4 see also 1 Corinthians 3:1,2; 1 Peter 2:2;
Ephesians 4:12-15.
The Word of God is like a sword Ephesians 6:17; See also Hebrews 4:12.
The Word of God helps us to pray John 15:7.
The Word of God is strong in us Matthew 7:24-27.

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Question 12: What is the Source of Truth for Christians?

2. What Christians Believe about God

God is far too great for us to fully understand. He has no beginning and He has no end. There is
no place where His presence is unfelt. The Bible asks in Job 11:7 "Can you fathom the mysteries
of God? Can you probe the limits of the Almighty?" God lives in Heaven and He rules over the
whole earth. The Bible tells us: "This is what the Lord says: 'Heaven is my throne and the earth is
my footstool”. (Isaiah 66:1) "God reigns over the nations; God is seated on His holy throne" (Psalm
47:9) We will now learn special truths about God's unchanging character. Through these you will
understand more of what God is like. You will come to understand God and how He cares for you
personally.

WHAT IS GOD LIKE?

God is the Creator Of Everything Nehemiah 9:6; Psalm 139:13
God is All-Powerful Romans 9:19-21; 1 Chronicles 29:11; Ephesians 3:20
God knows all things Hebrews 4:13; 1 John 3:20
God is Holy 1 Samuel 2:2
God is a Spirit John 4:24
God is a person you can know James 4:8; Psalm 145:18
God is a loving father 1 John 3:1

The God you are now discovering in your new life as a Christian is not like the god's of this
world. The god's of this world are all god's made of human hands. When people fell into sin, it
was there pride that made them fall away from God. Satan himself wanted to be God. God is
perfect and without any sin, and demands holiness of his people as well. This being the case,
people decided it would be easier to make their own gods, which did not demand holiness and
was not hard to follow. They began to make idols from gold and silver to worship them. In time,
their gods got cheaper and cheaper and now they make them out of cement, plastic or wood and
often make them in big factories and sell them for less than $1.00. People rejected the only real
God, the creator of the whole world and all that is in it, and made their own gods. Now, they
continue to live in sin and worship cheap plastic and cement idols that were made by people. How
can the creator of the universe and all that is in it ever be made into any image. The Bible says,
"The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not
live in temples built by hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything,
because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else... 'For in him we live and
move and have our being.' As some of your poets have said, 'We are his offspring’” (Acts
17:24,25,28). See also Psalm 50:12

Your Relationship to God:

You are created by God Psalm 139:14-16
Owned by God 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
We are all Called to Worship God Revelation 4:11

Ask God to help you understand him. It is the desire of God to have a relationship with all
his people. God wants to be close to you and help guide you in this life. The more you grow in
your new life, the more you will understand about God and be drawn close to God. The Bible
says, "You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honour and power, for you created
all things, and by your will they were created and have their being" (Revelation 4:11).

Question 13: List a few of the Character qualities of God?

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Personal Application:
Since the character of God is holy, how important is it for you to live a holy life? How can you
begin to take steps today to be more holy and acceptable to God?

3. What Christians believe about People and Satan

God had a very real reason for creating people. He had a wonderful plan and purpose for
them. Because God is love, He desired to have beings of like-mind and like-heart with whom He
could share His life. . . all that He is and all that He is involved with. . . who would rule the heavens
and the earth with Him like sons. So He created people - in His own image. "Then God said, 'Let
us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds
of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the
ground.' So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and
female he created them" (Genesis 1:26,27).

Satan (Lucifer)
God created many wonderful things before He created the heavens and the earth. Among
them were the angels - spirit beings whose purpose is to fulfil God's will. Angels worship God and
serve Him continually (Revelation 5:11-14). However, when Lucifer, one of the great leading
angels, understood about God's plan to create man, he rebelled against God. He wanted to be
above God's Throne. He wanted the position and authority God had planned for all people. He
wanted to rule all creation from above God's Throne in Heaven.

When Lucifer rebelled, God cast him out of Heaven. At the same time, one third of the
angels joined in his rebellion and were cast out with Lucifer (Revelation 12:4) "How you have
fallen from heaven, O morning star (Lucifer), son of the dawn! You have been cast down to earth,
you who once laid low the nations! "You said in your heart, 'I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my
throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of the assembly, on the utmost
heights of the sacred mountain. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like
the Most High'" (Isaiah 14:12-14)

Lucifer was cast to the earth, where he is now known as 'Satan' or 'The Devil.' Separated
from the glory of the Creator God, he lost the beauty and light he had once had (Ezekiel 28:11-17)
and became evil and full of darkness.

The angels who fell with him also lost their glory and became evil spirits, in God's newly
created world. But Satan's evil ambition did not change and so he set about with another plan to
try and usurp (unlawfully take) God's Throne... he went after the man God had created.

Satan Tempts The First People

God gave His first man and woman (Adam and Eve) authority over all the earth, and told
them to keep it under His dominion. God planted two special trees in the garden where Adam and
Eve lived. God called them 'The Tree of Life' and 'The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil'
(see Genesis 2:9, 17)

The Tree of Life represented the Life and Authority of God Himself - so in eating its fruit,
Adam and Eve would be filled more and more with God's strength and love and glory, yet he would
live forever and could not die.

The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil represented Satan's life and authority, and as
long as Adam and Eve did not eat its fruit they were safe from the evil spirits which filled the earth.
The dominion of the whole creation would always be theirs if they obeyed their loving Creator God
(Hebrews 2:8). God had given Adam and Eve instructions not to eat from one tree. The Bible

17
says,"The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.
And the Lord God commanded the man, 'you are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you
must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely
die'" (Genesis 2:15-17).

However, Satan deceived Eve. He told her the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil
wasn't really bad - rather it would make them like gods. She believed the lie and ate the fruit of the
Tree. Adam, although he knew it was a lie, also ate of the tree (See 1 Timothy 2:14). "When the
woman saw that the fruit was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining
wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he
ate it" (Genesis 3:6)

The Result of Sin

Through that one act of sin, people lost the glory and image of God and the dominion over
the creation. Satan then took the throne vacated by Adam and Eve and exercised his dominion
over the earth, and death filled the world (Hebrews 2:14,15). The Bible explains that "...sin
entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men,
because (in Adam) all sinned..." (Romans 5:12). All the generations following Adam and Eve
have inherited their fallen nature. All have come under the power and dominion of Satan.

"As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when
you followed the ways of this world and the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at
work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the
cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by
nature objects of wrath" (Ephesians 2:1-3)

People's hearts, everywhere, are now filled with sin such as:
Idolatry Romans 1:21-23
Immorality Romans 1:24-27
All Kinds of Wickedness Romans 1:28-32

God's Plan to Restore People to Himself

God did not give up and lose hope in saving people because of his sin. No! Instead, He
put into action another great plan - the plan to save all people from Satan's power and to restore
him to His original plan of being His sons and sharing His Throne. God has always wanted to
have a close relationship with his creation. So, began to prepare the world for the coming of the
Saviour – Jesus.

Question 14: In what condition were people created; holy or sinful?

Question 15: What is the punishment for all sin?

Question 16: What is the condition of people's hearts now? What 3 Characteristics do
people have now?

Question 17: What is the only way for people to have a restored relationship to God?

4. What Christians believe about Jesus

Two thousand years ago God's very son appeared on the scene of history. He was born
into the world and grew up like any other boy, but he was different to anyone else. He was the

18
Son of God, living in the world, yet without sin. A virgin conceived by the Holy Spirit to bring Him
to birth. He was God, Himself, coming to the earth in human form. He was the "Son of God"
(Luke 1:26-35). The Bible says that "In the beginning was the Word (Jesus), and the Word was
with God, and the Word was God... the Word became flesh and lived for a while among us. We
have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace
and truth" (John 1:1,14).

God sent his only son into this world for only one purpose. That purpose was to save the
world from sin (death and the power of Satan) and bring people into fellowship with God again.
The Bible says that "For the Son of Man [Jesus: a common title for Jesus] came to seek and to
save what was lost" (Luke 19:10). See also Colossians 1:13. Jesus came into the world knowing
that people needed to have a solution for their sin. Jesus knew that his life would be the only
acceptable sacrifice for sin, since Jesus was perfect and without sin. While Jesus was on the
earth wicked men and religious leaders took the Lord Jesus and executed Him by nailing Him to a
wooden cross like a common criminal. Because he was all powerful, he could have saved
Himself, but He did not, for it was through His death on the Cross that God was going to save the
world. Jesus died for us! (Read Mark 15:16-39). "He himself bore our sins in his body on the
tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed"
(1 Peter 2:24). See also Isaiah 53:5,6. This also makes true that passage of scripture which says
that Jesus bought us back from Satan and paid the price for us with his own life (See Matthew
20:28).

Those who accept Jesus as their only God are given forgiveness of sins and receive
eternal life. "And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. "He
who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life" (1 John
5:11,12). See also John 3:16,17 and John 10:10.

Jesus came to show us what God is like:

Because Jesus is God, Jesus shows us the character of God through Jesus' life. "If you
really knew me (Jesus), you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and
have seen him... Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the
Father'? Don't you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say
to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. Believe
me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me..." (John 14:7-11). See also John
1:18.

God has allowed us to see many characteristics of God through the life of Jesus. Some of
them are as follows:
Jesus Showed Us God's Love 1 John 4:9,10; Romans 5:8
Jesus Showed Us God's Power by:
Healing the sick, the lame and the blind Matthew 4:24; John 9:1-7
Casting out evil spirits Mark 1:34; Mark 5:1-17
He performed miracles Mark 4:37-41; John 6:1-21
He raised the dead John 11:43-44
Jesus shared our sufferings in His life Hebrews 4:15; Matthew 8:17
Jesus died for us 1 Peter 2:24
Jesus rose from the dead for us Matthew 28; Ephesians 2:4-6; Romans 6:4
Jesus opened heaven for us Hebrews 10:19-33; John 14:1-3

Question 18: For what purpose did Jesus come into the world?

Question 19: For those who believe in and follow Jesus as their only God, what do they
receive?

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5. What Christians believe about repentance
Repentance is the first step we must take to receive the salvation that God offers to us in
the Lord Jesus Christ. We cannot be a holy person, until we repent, and continue to repent of sins
that we have committed. "'... God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.'
When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles,
'Brothers, what shall be do?' Peter replied, 'Repent and be baptised, every one of you, in the
name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven" (Acts 2:36-38). See also Acts 17:30.

What repentance is not. . .

To better understand what repentance is, it is helpful to understand what repentance is not.
First of all, repentance is not just feeling guilty. Anyone when caught doing something wrong will
feel guilty and ashamed. Just the mere feeling of guilt and shame is not repentance. Repentance
also is not just being sorry for what you have done. Other people confuse repentance with trying
to do good. Trying to do good things to overcome the sin you have done is also not repentance.
Other religious people think that to repent means that you need to do a religious ritual to cover
over or cleanse what sin you have done. That also is not repentance.

What then is repentance?

True repentance is being sorry for you sin toward God. Repentance involves being sorry
for what you have done, it also involves feeling sorry for the person you have offended, but most of
all sin is against God and repentance is being sorry toward God (Psalm 41:1-4). Repentance is
also being truthful about your sin, not trying to cover it up, and confessing it to God (Psalm 32:5; 1
John 1:9). The most important part of repentance is then turning away from your sin and not
continuing to do the same. Without a complete turn from the sin which was committed, there is not
real repentance (Proverbs 28:13). A repentant person will see his sin the way God sees sin. God
hates sin (Hebrews 1:9) and if you are truly repentant, you also will hate sin. Another very
important aspect of repentance which people often try to avoid is righting the wrong which has
been done. You must pay back what you have done to hurt others, if at all possible (See Luke
19:8 and Leviticus 6:1-7). True repentance will bring you into a right and close relationship with
God. Without genuine repentance you can never have a good relationship with God, because sin
is what block our relationship with God. Through repentance, God can forgive us of our sins.
Without repentance, you cannot be forgiven of the sin which you have.
True repentance involves:
Turning from your sin Zechariah 1:4; Galatians 5:19-21; Ephesians 5:5
Turning from the world 1 John 2:15; James 4:4
Turning from yourself 2 Corinthians 5:15; Luke 14:26
Turing from Satan Acts 26:18; Colossians 1:13
Turning to God Zechariah 1:3
Turning to righteous living Romans 6:13

Question 20: What is the first step of salvation?

Question 21: What are the six things that we must "turn" to or from to demonstrate true
repentance?

6. What Christians believe about Faith

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 We receive our salvation from Jesus in faith, not by any act which we can do. And in our
Christian life our faith grows the longer we have accepted Christ and grow in maturity. Faith has
always been the mark of a disciple of Jesus. The early disciples were known as BELIEVERS.
Jesus said: "Everything is possible for him who believes" (Mark 9:23).

Faith means total dependence on God. When Adam sinned, he stepped out of God-
dependence into in-dependence (which is unbelief). This is the reason God has placed such a
high priority on faith. Faith is the way we come back into relationship with God (God-dependence).
This dependence on God is called faith. Faith advances you beyond your five senses of seeing,
hearing, tasting, smelling and touching. Faith releases you from your limited capacities. By faith
you move from in-ability to His-ability. This is the walk of faith to which all of us are called - where
"nothing is impossible" (Matthew 17:20).

Faith is obedient action in response to what God has said. True faith is expressed in:
1) Obedience, and 2) Action, in response to: 3) Hearing God's word (voice). The Bible defines
faith as "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see" (Hebrews
11:1). Faith means having trust, assurance or confidence in another person or that person's
words. Having faith in God involves an exchange of self-trust for God-trust. We stop trusting in
ourselves and trust Him. We abandon reliance on our limited source of knowledge and start
receiving from His unlimited source.

The basis of having faith in God is in three important realities:

God cannot change Malachi 3:6; James 1:17.
God cannot fail 1 Chronicles 28:20
God He cannot lie Number 23:19; Titus 1:2

The principle of faith (Romans 3:27) is to operate in our lives continually, no matter what the
circumstances (see 2 Corinthians 5:7, James 1:5-6). It works in the following way: First of all God
gives us faith (Romans 1:17; Ephesians 2:8,9; Romans 12:3). The faith which is given to us
comes by hearing the words of Jesus in our life (Romans 10:17). Secondly, to receive faith from
God requires our obedience. For faith to operate in our situation, we must obey that word. Faith is
ACTIVE, not passive. Most of God's promises are conditional - He will do His part, if we do our
part. The Bible says that "...faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead" (James 2:17).
Through our obedience to the faith that God has given, you will no doubt be tested in your faith.
By testing our faith, we become stronger (1 Peter 1:6,7). Living in faith we cast ourselves on HIS
FAITHFULNESS. In our times of doubt and struggle, God is faithful and does not abandon us.
The Bible says, "He will never leave us nor forsake us" (Hebrews 13:5). Finally, the end result is
always victory on the part of the believer, bringing glory to God (see James 1:2-4,12; Genesis
21:1-3; Psalms 105:19-22; Acts 3:16; Hebrews 6:13-15; 1 John 5:4).

Question 22: Name two things which FAITH is for believers in Jesus?

7. What Christians believe about Grace

The most common understanding of the word "grace" is "God's unmerited favour" - in other
words, even though we were sinners, deserving of judgement, God looked upon us in love and
forgave us. Grace also means "God's enabling power." The Bible says, "May our Lord Jesus
Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement
and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word" (2
Thessalonians 2:16.17). Not only does His grace make us accepted into the family of God, but it
also provides the power we need to live the Christian life. Two Scriptures indicate the two aspects
of God's grace in every believer.

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 1. God's Unmerited Favour
"For it is by grace (God's unmerited favour) you have been saved, through faith - and this
not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast" (Ephesians
2:8,9).

2. God's Enabling Power

"In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance
with his pleasure and will - to the praise of his glorious grace (enabling power), which he has freely
given us in the one he loves" (Ephesians 1:4-6).

In salvation, not only is God's unmerited favour expressed (in that we receive forgiveness
and restored relationship with Him even though we don't deserve it), but so also is God's enabling
power - for it is only by HIS power that we can be transformed. It is through God's grace in our
lives that we can receive a NEW LIFE! "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation, the
old has gone, the new has come!" (2 Corinthians 5:17). This principle of grace continues
throughout our walk with God. In every area of our Christian lives, it is God's grace that causes us
to grow and be strong - God's enabling power given to us without any merit on our part. "...grow in
the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ..." (2 Peter 3:18). As we grow in our new life
with Jesus, we grow in the grace that He has given to us.

There are two very important promises which relate to the grace of God in our lives. The
first promises us that we can approach God (the throne of Grace) so that we may receive mercy
and grace in our time of need! (Hebrews 4:16). The second promise is that God is able to make
all grace work for us in everything we need and do (2 Corinthians 9:8).

Question 23: What are the two most common meanings of Grace?

Question 24: What are the two great promises which relate to faith?

8. What Christians believe about Water Baptism

Jesus commanded all those who believed in Him to be baptised in water. "Then Jesus
came to them and said, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. "Therefore,
go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and
of the Holy Spirit...'" (Matthew 28:18,19). See also Acts 2:38-41. To be "baptised" means to be
"totally immersed." When a person repents from his sin and believes Jesus died for him, before
many witnesses, he (or she) is to be taken to water, put right under it and brought up again.

Understanding what water baptism is all about is the key to a victorious and liberated
Christian life. Baptism is a symbol of the new life that God has given you. The act of going under
the water and rising up from it again is a picture demonstrating what has happened to the Christian
believer.

When we are baptised it is a sign of our old life dying and rising again with a new
life in Jesus Christ. All believers are to be baptised as a symbolic act to show that
Jesus has given them a new life. "Don't you know that all of us who were baptised
into Christ Jesus were baptised into his death? We were therefore buried with him
through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead
through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. If we have been united

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 with him in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection.
For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be
rendered powerless, that we should no longer be slaves to sin - because anyone
who has died has been freed from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that
we will also live with him. For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead,
he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. The death he died, he
died to sin once and for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. In the same way,
count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus" (Romans 6:3-11).

Baptism is an important public act which Christians do in response to obedience to Jesus

Christ. Baptism is not a ritual or have magic power, but it is a symbol of your new life beginning in
Christ. It is an outward (or public) demonstration of what God has done in your life and
transforming your life into the new life. The Bible requires that a person be baptised only once
when they accept Christ. Even if a person changes churches or denominations in the future, they
should never be baptised again because they were baptised once into the family of God, people
are never baptised into a specific church or denomination. A person should only be baptised who
demonstrates repentance in their life and clearly shows that they are a true follower of Christ and
are beginning to live the new life.

Question 25: According to Romans 6, when we are baptized and go under the water this
symbolizes what?

Question 26: Again, according to Romans 6, when we are baptized and come up out of the
water what does this symbolize?

9. What Christians believe about the Holy Spirit

After Jesus rose from the dead, He appeared to His disciples for 40 days. Then, when
they were all gathered together with Him on the top of a high hill, He was taken up into Heaven
before their eyes (read Acts 1:1-11). However, before He left, Jesus gave His believers a very
special and wonderful promise: "...I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counsellor to
be with you forever - the Spirit of truth... I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away.
Unless I go away, the Counsellor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you..." (John
14:16-18; 16:5-7). Jesus has not left us alone in the world. He has sent us the Holy Spirit.

The very first thing we must understand about the Holy Spirit is that He is indeed God.
God has chosen to express Himself to people as Father, as Son and as the Holy Spirit. These are
the expression of three distinct Persons (Personalities), yet the three are one. We only have one
God, but our God was revealed in different times in three different ways. It is very hard to
understand, but this is something which we must believe in faith that our God is one!

The Holy Spirit is God's gift to every believer. When a person believes in Jesus, and
receives the salvation He offers, the Holy Spirit comes to live in the believer, imparting spiritual life.
"Peter replied, 'Repent and be baptised, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ so that your
sins may be forgiven. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and
your children and for all who are far off - for all whom the Lord our God will call'" (Acts 2:38,39).
See also John 7:37-39.

The Holy Spirit comes to dwell within the believer to minister to him personally. Without
exception, every believer has the Holy Spirit of God living in their life. The Holy Spirit has certain
roles which he does in and for us. They are as follows:

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The Holy Spirit testifies of our relationship with God Romans 8:16; 1 John 3:24.
The Holy Spirit teaches John 14:26
The Holy Spirit guides us Romans 8:14
The Holy Spirit helps us live a life pleasing to God Galatians 5:16-25
The Holy Spirit helps us in prayer Romans 8:26
The Holy Spirit gives life to our bodies Romans 8:11

As well as giving the Holy Spirit to dwell in the believer, God also wants to fill and baptise
the believer with the Holy Spirit to empower him to serve and glorify God in the world. The is
many things that the Holy Spirit does for his people:

The Holy Spirit gives power and boldness to witness Acts 1:8; Acts 2:14-40
The Holy Spirit introduces the supernatural realm 1 Corinthians 12:4,8-10
The Holy Spirit testifies that Jesus is alive Acts 5:30-32; Acts 4:31-33
The Holy Spirit brings understanding of the Word of God 1 Cor. 2:9-10; John 16:13
The Holy Spirit fills our spirit with true worship to God Ephesians 5:18,19; John 4:24
The Holy Spirit glorifies Jesus John 16:13-15; John 15:26

While it is true that all believer have the Holy Spirit living inside of them, it is also very clear
that the Holy Spirit will not force himself on anyone. It is true that the Holy Spirit guides us, but if
we do not listen, we continue to wander without guidance. God wants His Holy Spirit, Who
indwells you because you are a believer in Jesus, to fill you to overflowing with power to serve Him
(Ephesians 5:18). The new life in Christ is about letting the Holy Spirit (God) take over control of
your life. The Holy Spirit will lead you away from sin, toward God's will for you life and help you in
every aspect of your life. Living the new life, is to be completely dedicated to listening and obeying
the Holy Spirit in your life.

The result of living a life under the control of the Holy Spirit, is the fruit of the Spirit. The
Bible tells us that some of the fruit of the spirit includes: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,
goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. These are just some of the characteristics of
a person who is filled with the Holy Spirit and living the new life in Christ.

The Bible also says that those who live the new life in the Spirit will be given gifts from the
Holy Spirit. You will find some of these gifts begin to show in your life. Some of the gifts which the
Holy Spirit will give you are as follows:

Prophecy: I Corinthians 12:10, 28; Ephesians 4:11-14; Romans 12:6; Luke

7:26; Acts 15:32
Pastor: Ephesians 4:11-14; I Timothy 3:1-7; John 10:1-18; I Peter 5:1-3
Teaching: I Corinthians 12:28; Ephesians 4:11-14; Romans 12:7; Acts 18:24-
28; Acts 20:20
Wisdom: I Corinthians 2:1-13; I Corinthians 12:8; Acts 6:3,10; James 1:5-6; II
Peter 3:15,16
Knowledge: I Corinthians 2:14; I Corinthians 12:8; Acts 5:1-11; Colossians 2:2-3;
II Cor. 11:6
Exhortation: Romans 12:8; Timothy 4:13; Hebrews 10:25; Acts 14:22
Discerning of Spirits: I Corinthians 12:10; Acts 5:1-11; Acts 16:16-18; I John 4:1-6;
Matthew 16:21-23
Giving: Romans 12:8; II Corinthians 8:1-7; II Corinthians 9:2-8; Mark 12:41-
44
Helps: I Corinthians 12:28; Romans 16:1-2; Acts 9:36; Luke 8:2-3; Mark
15:40-41
Mercy: Romans 12:8; Mark 9:41; Acts 16:33-34; Luke 10:33-35; Matthew
20:29-34; Matthew 25:34-40; Acts 11:28-30
Missionary: I Corinthians 9:19-23; Acts 8:4; Acts 13:2-3; Acts 22:21; Romans
10:15

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Evangelist: Ephesians 4:11-14; II Timothy 4:5; Acts 8:5-6; Acts 8:26-40; Acts
14:21; Acts 21:8
Hospitality: 1 Peter 4:9; Romans 12:9-13; Romans 16:23; Acts 16:14-15;
Hebrews 13:1-2
Faith: I Corinthians 12:9; Acts 11:22-24; Acts 27:21-25; Hebrews 11;
Romans 4:18-21
Leadership: I Timothy 5:17; Acts 7:10; Acts 15:7-11; Romans 12:8; Hebrews
13:17; Luke 9:51
Administration: I Corinthians 12:28; Acts 6:1-7; Acts 27:11; Luke 14:28-30; Titus 1:5
Miracles: I Corinthians 12:10, 28; Acts 9:36-42; Acts 19:11-20; Acts 20:7-12;
Romans 15:18-19; II Corinthians 12:12
Healing: I Corinthians 12:9,28; Acts 3:1-10; Acts 5:12-16; Acts 9:32-35; Acts
28:7-10
Tongues: I Corinthians 12:10, 28; I Corinthians 14:13-19; Acts 2:1-13; Acts
10:44-46; Acts 19:1-7; Mark 16:17
Interpretation of Tongues: I Corinthians 12:10, 30; I Corinthians 14:13; I Corinthians 14:26-28
Voluntary Poverty: I Corinthians 13:1-3; Acts 2:44-45; Acts 4:34-37; II Corinthians 6:10;
II Corinthians 8:9
Celibacy: I Corinthians 7:7-8; Matthew 19:10-12
Intercession: James 5:14-16; I Timothy 2:1-2; Colossians 1:9-12; Colossians 4:12-
13; Acts 12:12
Deliverance (Exorcism): Matthew 12:22-23; Luke 10:12-20; Acts 8:5-8; Acts 16:16-18
Service: II Timothy 1:16-18; Romans 12:7; Acts 6:1-7; Titus 3:14; Galatians
6:2, 10

Question 27: The Holy Spirit is a gift from God to whom?

Question 28: What are five of the many things that the Holy Spirit does for us?

Question 29: Does the Holy Spirit give every Christian a gift? What gift(s) has the Holy
Spirit given to you?

10. What Christians believe about Temptation to Sin

Through Christ's work on the Cross, the true Christian is delivered from the results of sin,
and from the power of sin (Romans 6:6-14). But he still lives in a physical body that is subject to
natural appetites and desires. Satan will use these to try and get a Christian to place greater
importance upon them than upon the promptings of the Holy Spirit within him (Romans 8:5-9).
See also James 1:14; Ephesians 2:3.

Satan usually attacks Christians through temptation. The ways in which Satan
usually tempts Christians to fall away from the new life and back into the old life of sin is through
tempting a believer to become absorbed into the world system:
a) to make the material blessings that the world offers a central desire;
b) to make the honour and recognition of this world an important goal; and
c) to make the comfort of being one with those of this world our basis for security.

The Bible says, "Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love
of the Father is not in him" (1 John 2:15). See also James 4:4; 1 Timothy 6:6-11.

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 Since the fall of Adam and Eve, all people have been controlled by their desires and the
power of Satan through sin. Jesus, however, has gained the victor for us. Jesus was tempted in
everything, exactly as we are, "yet was without sin" (Hebrews 4:15).

Faith that claims Christ's work and releases the Christian from the power and dominion that
sin had over him (Romans 8:9). He is now free to choose to walk in obedience to God (Romans
6:8-14) "For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God
did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man... in order that the righteous requirements
of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature (flesh) but
according to the Spirit" (Romans 8:3,4).

Based on the foundation of this great victory won for us by Christ, the Christian can now
defeat any attack from the enemy. Jesus also promises us in the Bible that "No temptation has
seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted
beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you
can stand up under it." (1 Corinthians 10:13).

Question 30: Is temptation sin?

Question 31: Can satan overpower you can force you so sin?

Question 32: Memorize 1 Corinthians 10:13 and write it for memory here.

11. What Christians believe about Generosity

We have already learned that God created the world and everything in it, including all
people. Therefore we know that God is the owner of everything. The Bible says, "The earth is the
Lord's, and everything in it; the world, and all who live in it (Psalm 24:1). See also Psalm 89:11;
Job 41:11; 1 Chronicles 29:10-14. We are not owners, but stewards. All ownership is with God.
Every single created thing, living or not, ultimately belongs to Him - including everything material or
immaterial that we may personally have in this life: possessions, careers, and families.
He has given us all these things for us to enjoy (1 Timothy 6:17); and when we realise that they
still belong to God, we can rest in the assurance that God also has ultimate responsibility for them.

A steward manages and takes care of that which belongs to someone else. God owns
everything; but as stewards, we manage and take care of it for Him. We have an obligation to be
faithful in this stewardship. The Lord holds us accountable for the special responsibility of
managing and taking care of the things He has given us (read Matthew 25:14-30). When we
understand this Owner-steward relationship that we enjoy with God's property, then it becomes
easy to give.

Before God, stewardship covers every single thing that belongs to us:
a) Our life Acts 17:25; 1 Corinthians 6:19; Galatians 2:20; Job 33:4
b) Our time Psalm 90:12; Ephesians 5:15,16; Colossians 4:5
c) Our talents and abilities 1 Peter 4:10; 1 Corinthians 12:4-7,11
d) Our possessions Matthew 6:19-21; Colossians 3:1,2
e) Our finances 1 Timothy 6:6-10; 17-19p; Matthew 6:24
f) The message of the gospel 1 Corinthians 4:1; 9:16-17; 1 Timothy 6:20

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 Even so, many Christians still struggle to give (tithe) no matter how much they may want
to. But the action that releases a believer into the full blessings of good stewardship is
SURRENDER - the unreserved submission of one's entire life, possessions and plans to God's will
and purpose. It is only when we give OURSELVES that we learn what it means to give some of
the possessions (or money) God has given us.

In the first church, 2000 years ago "All the believers were together and had everything in common.
Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as they had need...” and continues "No
one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had" (Acts
2:44,45 and 4:32). This basic attitude of the early Christians laid the foundation for every
expression of giving that was to come later. As the number of Christians multiplied, different
methods of giving appeared.

What does the church support though the giving of the congregation:

1. The Church Supported the Needy Acts 6:1-3

2. Churches Gave Sacrificially To One Another 2 Corinthians 8:2,3
3. The Church Supported Travelling Ministries Acts 18:3; 2 Thessalonians 3:7-9;
Philippians 4:18.
4. Christians Worked To Be Able To Give Ephesians 4:28
5. Giving Was The Proof Of Their Love 2 Cor. 8:14,24; 1 John 3:17-18

In 1 Corinthians 10:11, we are told to learn from Israel's example. We are to apply the
principles given them by God. At the same time we are to avoid the mistakes Israel (and the
leaders) made in the wilderness. In the area of giving, we find some excellent guidelines that can
help us in our giving: God expects us to begin our giving with a percentage of our income.
"'Bring the whole tithe (10% or one-tenth) into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house.
Test me in this,' says the Lord Almighty, 'and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven
and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it'" (Malachi 3:10). Beyond
giving a percentage of our income to the work of God, we also need to give back to God when the
situation arises (2 Chronicles 31:11,12).

Also God asks that we give the first fruits to God. When we have a new harvest, or our
orchards are bearing fruit, we are to give the first and best fruits to God. All the fruits come as a
result of God care for us, so it is only fitting that we give back the first fruits to God. God promises
to bless us even more if we are faithful to give Him the first fruits. "Honour the Lord with your
wealth, with the first-fruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your
vats will brim over with new wine" (Proverbs 3:9,10).

Question 33: As Christians we are responsible to take care of things for God. What six
things has God entrusted us to care for?

Question 34: What do Christians support when they give through their congregations?

12. What Christians believe about Worshipping God

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 Praise is an expression of admiration and appreciation. When we praise someone, we tell
them how wonderful we think they are, or how great their accomplishments are. It is the same
with the Lord. Praise has to do with acknowledging God's character and power.
"Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, and
in your name I will lift up my hands" (Psalm 63:3,4).

All Christians are to praise and worship God. That is the reason we were created. We
praise God because of who he is, the king of all the earth (Psalm 47:6,7). We also praise God
because of what he has done for us (Psalm 103:1-5).

Whereas praise is an expression of admiration and appreciation, worship is an expression

of love and adoration. It is possible to admire someone and appreciate what they do without being
in love with them. In the same way, worship has to do with our love of the Lord. It can be
expressed only with the giving of our whole heart and life to Him. "To love him will all your heart,
with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbour as yourself, is
more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices" (Mark 12:33).

The religious rituals and ceremonies of Israel in the Old Testament became detestable to
the Lord because their heart was far from Him (Isaiah 1:10-15; 29:13). Today also, God is only
interested in genuine and sincere worship that comes from the heart. "Yet a time is coming, and
has now come, when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are
the kind of worshippers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshippers must worship in
SPIRIT and TRUTH" (John 4:23,24). Read also verses 4-26.

Worshipping in Spirit means that only true worship takes place when the believer who has
a new life responds to the leading of God's Holy Spirit, expresses love and adoration to God. This
can take the form of spoken words, a love-song to the Lord, or silent adoration. True worship
requires the action of the Holy Spirit on our spirit. So, only those who have been "born again of
the Spirit" through faith in Jesus Christ can truly worship God (John 3:5-8).

To worship God in truth is to worship Him as the Bible says we should. Worship requires a sincere
heart and a holy life. In the Bible before worship there was sacrifice, cleansing, anointing and
clothing before worship (Exodus 30:17-38). Only a believer living a holy life can worship the Lord
God Jesus Christ.

How do we express our praise and worship to God. God expects us to praise and worship him
with all our being (with all our emotions, body, strength and mind). In the Bible worship is done in
many different ways including singing, shouting, praying, serving. There are many ways in which
worship is done. Some ways mentioned in the Bible are the following:

1. With The Mouth: Singing (Psalm 9:2,11); Praising (Psalm 103:1); Shouting (Psalm 47:1).
2. With The Hands: Lifting (Psalm 63:4); Clapping (Psalm 47:1); Instruments (Psalm 150).
3. With The Body: Standing (Psalm 134:1); Bowing (Psalm 95:6); Dancing/Jumping (Psalm
30:11).

Question 35: Check below in which ways you can worship god:

 Singing
 Praising
 Shouting
 Lifting the hands
 Clapping hands
 Playing Instruments
 Standing
 Bowing
 Dancing/ Jumping

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  Sleeping

13. What Christians believe about Prayer

Prayer is the most important activity in which we grow in our new life in Christ. Prayer
allows to spend time seeking the will of God, listening to God, speaking to God and seeking
understanding and direction in our life. Prayer is how we communicate with God and God
communicates to us. The Bible says, "He will call upon me, and I will answer him....and show him
my salvation" (Psalm 91:15,16). The time we spend with the Lord in prayer can release the most
dynamic power this world has ever known.

The Bible describes many different operations of prayer, but in this lesson we are going to
look at prayer as an individual first. Our prayer as the Body of Christ together can only be as
strong as our personal time with the Lord.

The Bible says, "when you pray, go into your most private room, and closing the door, pray
to your Father who is secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you in the open"
(Matthew 6:6). We have been invited into intimate prayer by none other than the Lord Himself.
This kind of "secret" prayer presupposes and ensures:
The Right Motive (Matthew 6:5)
A Right Relationship With God As Father (Luke 11:11-13).
A Real Trust In The Lord (Psalm 55:16,17)
A Dispensing of False Fronts (Mark 7:6,7)

The Bible says that we should pray for ourselves because we are weak and we need God
to help us. Without God we will fall into sin. "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into
temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak" (Matthew 26:41). The Bible also says that
we are to pray for more workers to share the gospel of Jesus Christ. Jesus said specifically, "He
told them, 'The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore,
to send out workers into his harvest field'" (Luke 10:2). The Bible also commands us to pray for
those in authority over us, whether they be the elders of our congregation, or government leaders.
The Bible says, "I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be
made for everyone - for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives
in all godliness and holiness" (1 Timothy 2:1,2). Beyond praying for those in authority over us, the
Bible also says that we must pray for our enemies. Jesus says, "Bless those who curse you, pray
for those who mistreat you" (Luke 6:28).

The Bible gives many examples of people who prayed (1 Chronicles 4:10). Many of the
heroes of faith can be observed to have had regular times of the day set aside specifically for
prayer, often three set periods a day - at morning, noon and evening. "As for me, I will call upon
God; and the Lord shall save me. Evening, and morning and noon, will I pray and cry aloud: and
he shall hear my voice" (Psalm 55:16,17). See also Daniel 6:10. The best example of a daily
pattern of regular, whole-hearted prayer - prayer that avoided meaningless religious ritual - can be
found in the Lord Jesus Himself:
1. Early In the Morning (Mark 1:35)
2. All Night (Luke 6:12)
3. Before Each Meal (Mark 6:41)

Many young Christians who are not yet mature think that prayer is only for making request
of God. In fact, the more mature you are in Christ, the less you will think about what you want, but
you will seek what God wants for you. The Bible first tells us that we should pray for ourselves
and our needs, but more importantly that God will guide us and lead us according to His will for our
lives. One example of this is found in 1 Chronicles 4:10 which says, "Jabez cried out to the God of
Israel, 'Oh that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me and keep
me from harm so that I will be free from pain.' And God granted his request" (1 Chronicles 4:10).

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The Bible also teaches us that we are to pray for others (James 5:16). Also we must pray for the
ministry of the Body of Christ and for the workers of the Gospel (2 Thessalonians 3:1). The Bible
also tells us that we need to intercede for those who have problems. The Bible says, "Is there any
one of you in trouble? He should pray...is any one of you sick? He should call for the elders of the
church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in
faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up...pray for each other so that you may
be healed..." (James 5:14-16). Also we need to pray for fellow believers who have falling into sin
and stopped living in the new life (1 John 5:16).

Question 36: What is prayer?

14. What Christians believe about Heaven

Since we are just people, it is hard for us to image heaven. The Bible says, "...God is in heaven
and you are on earth... Therefore stand in awe of God" (Ecclesiastes 5:2,7). The Bible is very
clear that Heaven is where God lives (Job 22:12; Deuteronomy 26:15). As this is where God is,
this is where the throne of God is (Psalm 103:19). The whole of heaven is filled with the glory of
God. The Bible says that "As I looked, thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took his
seat. His clothing was as white as snow, the hair of his head was white like wool, his throne was
flaming with fire, and its wheels were all ablaze. A river of fire was flowing, coming out from before
him..." (Daniel 7:9,10). See also Acts 7:55. Not only does God live in heaven, but heaven is the
future home of all true believers of Jesus Christ who have lived the holy and righteous live that
God has commanded (2 Corinthians 5:1; Revelation 7:9,10).

Heaven is a place far beyond anything we can possibly conceive (1 Corinthians 2:9;
13:12). Heaven is like a place of holiness, full of glory and without end. But though the Bible
doesn't describe all the details of what Heaven is like, it does give us some clues as to its nature.
It is:
1. A Place Of Great Glory (Matthew 13:43).
2. A Place Of Continual Worship (Revelation 19:1-6).
3. A Place That Will Never End (eternal) (2 Peter 1:11; 1 Peter 1:4).
4. A Place with No Evil (Revelation 21:27; Ephesians 5:5).

The Book of Revelation describes the New Jerusalem, coming out of Heaven, as a place without:
a. Night (Revelation 22:5)
b. Curse (Revelation 22:3)
c. Pain (Revelation 21:4)
d. Crying, sorrow (Revelation 21:4)
e. Death (Revelation 21:4)

This is because the nature of Heaven is a product of the nature of God. Since Heaven is
the full manifestation of His presence, what God is like, Heaven is like a place of holiness, full of
glory and without end.

Jesus Himself, before returning to Heaven, made a very special promise to every believer:
"Do not let your hearts by troubled. Trust in God, trust also in me. In my Father's house are many
rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if
I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be
where I am" (John 14:1-3). See also John 17:24.

Question 37: What are four characteristics of Heaven?

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Question 38: Who will be in heaven for eternity?

15. What Christians believe about when Jesus returns

The greatest hope of all true believer is the return of Christ to the world. Every time we take the
Lord's Supper in church we celebrate the coming return of Jesus Christ. "Whenever you eat this
bread and drink this cup, you have proclaimed the Lord's death UNTIL HE COMES" (1 Corinthians
11:26). The Second Coming of the Lord Jesus to the earth is one of the most important subjects
for the Christian. The writers of the New Testament discussed it more than 300 times, and the
language used was almost always imperative. The first thing we need to know about the Second
Coming is that it is CERTAIN! Jesus said he was going to return to the earth (Matthew 24:30;
John 14:2-3). The angels in heaven said that Jesus was going to return (Acts 1:10,11). The first
followers of Jesus 2000 years ago encouraged each other by talking about the return of Jesus (1
Thessalonians 4:16-18; Revelation 1:7). The Holy Spirit of God living in the lives of all believers
also gives testimony that Jesus will return (2 Corinthians 5:5). We have many promises from the
Bible that Jesus will indeed return.

When Jesus returns he will return unexpectedly (1 Thessalonians 5:1-11), coming like
lightening (Matthew 24:27) and will come in the same incredible way that he left the world 2000
years ago (Acts 1:10-11). When Jesus returns he will come in great power and glory (Luke 21:27)
and all people will see him return. He will not come in secret, but he will come so that everyone in
the earth can see Him come (Revelation 1:7).

The Bible says that no one can ever know (not even the angels) when Jesus will return to
earth. But we do that what will happen when Jesus come back. All of God's people (the true
believers) will enter their full glory (Philippians 3:20,21). The dead (believers) will be raised again
and come into the presence of God (2 Corinthians 4:14). Those believer who are alive and have
not died, will instantly be in the presence of God and will not die (Matthew 24:31). Also all that
God has created will be freed form bondage and the power of the enemy will be destroyed. Every
enemy of God will also be destroyed (Romans 8:19-21; 1 Corinthians 15:24,25). At that time
Satan will be bound and cast into hell (Revelation 20:1,2). All people will be judged for their sins (2
Thessalonians 1:6-9). Jesus will then establish the eternal kingdom with will never be destroyed
(Daniel 2:44).

Question 39: Do we know for sure that Jesus will return in the future?

Question 40: When will Jesus return?

Personal Application:
Do you understand everything which you have just studied on what Christians believe? If not, take
time to read them again and again so that you do understand them, or ask your pastors or church
elders for help. These are all basic things in which all Christians believe.

Did you read all the verse references that were given in this section. If not, read all the verse
references and ask the Holy Spirit to give you clarity in understanding what all Christians believe.

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 Answers to Questions

1) d) people, followers of Jesus

2) In the original Greek language the word “church” literally means, “the called out ones”.

3) c) We need others, and all have different roles.

4) By being born of the Spirit (or becoming a new believer in Jesus) we become part of the family
of God.

5) b) Your church leaders (pastors and elders)

6) You have been given these gifts to serve others.

7) The characteristics of the Kingdom of God are justice, love, peace, kindness, holiness,
trustworthiness, freedom, gentleness and every characteristic in line with the perfect Kingdom of
Jesus Christ whole is the Lord and absolute ruler.

8) b) Righteousness, Peace, Joy in the Holy Spirit. (Romans 14:17)

9) The Kingdom of God is developed through correcting every Christians character until it matches
the character of Christ Jesus.

10) c) By living a holy life and seeking revelation directly from Jesus.

11) When Jesus died on the cross and rose again, he took back the power over the kingdom of
God from Satan (the devil).

12) The Bible is the source of Truth for Christians.

13) Some of the Characteristics of God are: God is the Creator Of Everything; God is All-
Powerful; God knows all things; God is Holy; God is a Spirit; God is a person you can know; God
is a loving father.

14) Holy

15) Death is the punishment for all sin

16) The three characteristics of people's heart how are: Idolatry, Immorality, and All Kinds of
Wickedness.

17) Asking forgiveness of your sins is the only way to be restored in fellowship with God.

18) That purpose was to save the world from sin (death and the power of Satan) and bring people
into fellowship with God again. The Bible says that "For the Son of Man [Jesus: a common title
for Jesus] came to seek and to save what was lost" (Luke 19:10).

19) Those who accept Jesus as their only God are given forgiveness of sins and receive eternal
life. "And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. "He who
has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life" (1 John 5:11,12).

20) Repentance is the first step of salvation.

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21) True repentance involves: Turning from your sin; Turning from the world; Turning from
yourself; Turing from Satan; Turning to God; Turning to righteous living.

22) Faith means total dependence on God; also Faith is obedient action in response to what God
has said.

23) Grace means: God's unmerited favour and God's enabling power.

24) The first promises us that we can approach God (the throne of Grace) so that we may receive
mercy and grace in our time of need! (Hebrews 4:16). The second promise is that God is able to
make all grace work for us in everything we need and do (2 Corinthians 9:8).

25) Going under the water in baptism symbolizes dying to our old nature of sin.

26) Coming up out of the water in baptism symbolizes being resurrected with Jesus and receiving
forgiveness of sins.

27) The Holy Spirit is a gift from God to all believers in Jesus.

28) The Holy Spirit testifies of our relationship with God; The Holy Spirit teaches; The Holy Spirit
guides us; The Holy Spirit helps us live a life pleasing to God; The Holy Spirit helps us in prayer;
The Holy Spirit gives life to our bodies.

29) Yes, the Holy Spirit gives gifts to all Christians. (From the list select which gifts that you think
the Holy Spirit has given to you.)

30) Temptation is not sin.

31) Satan cannot overpower any Christian and force them to sin.

32) "No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not
let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a
way out so that you can stand up under it." (1 Corinthians 10:13).

33) We are to take care of: Our life, Our time, Our talents and abilities, Our possessions, Our
finances, The message of the gospel.

34) By giving money through the congregation, the church supported the needy; gave sacrificially
to one another, supported traveling ministries, worked to be able to give and proved their love
through giving.

35) In every way except the last one "sleeping" can a person worship God.

36) Prayer is how we communicate with God and God communicates to us.

37) Four characteristics of heaven are: it is a place of glory, it is a place of continual worship, it is
a place that will never end (an eternal place), it is a place with no evil.

38) Only true believers in Jesus will be in heaven.

39) Yes, we know for sure from the Bible that Jesus promises to return.

40) No one knows when exactly Jesus will return.

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