2. "Hidden things...counsels of the hearts" (1 Cor. 4:5)
4. "Do" (Col. 3:23-24) 5. "Do good" (Luke 6:35) 6. "Pray...in secret" (Matt. 6:6) C. The basis of reward:
1. Motive (Matt. 6:1) 2. "Hidden things...counsels of the hearts" (1 Cor. 4:5) 3. "In the name of a disciple" (Matt. 10:42) In summary, "For by grace you have been saved...not of works" (Eph. 2:8-9). "But if by grace, it is no longer out of works" (Rom. 11:6). The reward depends on whether or not we have worked for the Lord after being saved.
LESSON SIXTEEN JUSTIFICATION The meaning of justification is deeper than the meaning of forgiveness of sins. Forgiveness of sins means that even though we have sinned, God has forgiven our sins. Justification means that God not only forgives our sins, but also justifies us. Forgiveness of sins is like the general amnesty in ancient China, when all the criminals were pardoned. Justification is like a declaration of "not guilty" by the court and is more than just forgiveness. Everyone who believes in the Lord Jesus is justified by God. We should not only believe that each one of us has been justified by God, but we should also always have the boldness of justification to stand before God. Sometimes we may be weak and we may stumble, fail, or sin, yet we are still justified by God; our justification will not change because of our sins. After justification, we cannot be more justified through good works or less justified through evil works. Since justification is not obtained through works, it will not be lost through works. No matter what our condition is, we have the right to believe that every day we are justified by God through the Lord Jesus' merit. God accepts those who believe in Christ, just as He accepts Christ.
I. Believers are justified by the Lord of the heavens and the earth:
A. "It is God who justifies" (Rom. 8:33) II. Grace is the source of justification:
A. "By His grace" (Rom. 3:24) B. "By grace you have been saved" (Eph. 2:8) C. "Having been justified by His grace" (Titus 3:7) III. Justification is based upon the obedience of Christ:
A. "Through the obedience of the One" (Rom. 5:19)
B. "Becoming obedient even unto death" (Phil. 2:8) IV. The price of justification is the precious blood of Christ:
A. "In His blood" (Rom. 5:9) B. "Through His blood" (Eph. 1:7) V. Justification is gained by faith:
A. "Out of faith" (Rom. 5:1) B. "Through faith in Jesus Christ" (Gal. 2:16) C. "Everyone who believes" (Acts 13:39) VI. The proof of justification is the resurrection of Christ:
A. "Was raised for our justification" (Rom. 4:25) B. "Having been raised from the dead" (Rom. 6:6-9) C. "Raised us up together" (Eph. 2:6) VII. The result of justification is good works:
A. "Faith without its works is useless" (James 2:20-26) B. "Let your light shine before men" (Matt. 5:16) C. "Zealous of good works" (Titus 2:14) D. "Be careful to maintain respectable works" (Titus 3:8) E. "For good works...that we would walk in them" (Eph. 2:10)
LESSON SEVENTEEN SANCTIFICATION Many doctrines in the Bible have three aspects, including the doctrine of sanctification. The believer, upon receiving the blood of Jesus Christ to cover his sins, is sanctified positionally before God (Heb. 10:10). The believer, being sanctified by the work of the Holy Spirit, is experientially delivered from the evil and bondage of sin by the word of God daily (John 17:17-19). At the coming of Christ, the spirit, soul, and body of the believers will be wholly sanctified (1 Thes. 5:23). I. We are sanctified by God the Father:
A. "In God the Father" (Jude 1) B. "Without blemish" (Eph. 1:1-4) C. "You shall be holy" (1 Pet. 1:15-16) II. We are sanctified in Christ Jesus:
A. "In Christ Jesus" (1 Cor. 1:2, 30) B. "Are all of One" (Heb. 2:11) C. "For by one offering" (Heb. 10:10, 14)
III. We are sanctified in the Holy Spirit:
A. "In the Holy Spirit" (Rom. 15:16) B. "In the Spirit" (1 Cor. 6:11) C. "In sanctification of the Spirit" (2 Thes. 2:13) IV. We are sanctified through the blood of Jesus Christ:
A. "Through His own blood" (Heb. 13:12) B. "The blood of Christ" (Heb. 9:14) C. "The blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us" (1 John 1:7) V. We are sanctified by faith:
A. "By faith" (Acts 26:18) B. "Cleansing their hearts by faith" (Acts 15:9) C. "Has overcome the world—our faith" (1 John 5:4) VI. We are sanctified in the truth:
A. "In the truth" (John 17:17-19) B. "Through the word of God" (1 Tim. 4:5) C. "By your obedience to the truth" (1 Pet. 1:22) VII. The believers must be sanctified in everything:
A. "Sanctify you wholly, and may your spirit and soul and body" (1 Thes. 5:23) B. "But sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts" (1 Pet. 3:15) C. "Pursue...sanctification" (Heb. 12:14)
LESSON EIGHTEEN THE CHURCH In the Greek language, the word "church" is ekklesia. This word is very hard to translate, and "church" can hardly express the meaning of the word. Its original meaning is the called-out congregation or the called-out ones gathered together. Hence, "church" is the name given to those who are called out of the world by the grace of God to meet together. Therefore, those who are not called out of the world do not belong in the church.
I. Who belongs in the church?
A. "All those who believed" (Acts 2:44) B. "Those who were being saved" (Acts 2:47) C. "Those who had believed" (Acts 4:32) D. "The church...apostles" (Acts 8:1) E. "The church...disciples" (Acts 11:26)
F. "Those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, the called saints" (1 Cor. 1:2) G. "The saints" (2 Cor. 1:1) H. "His Body" (Eph. 1:23) I. "His Body" (Col. 1:24) Both the tares and the wheat grow together in the world, but they do not co-exist in the church. According to the Bible, there are no other kinds of people in the church except the regenerated ones. Even the saved believers who commit sins should be removed (1 Cor. 5:5, 11-13).
II. Who establishes the church?
A. "I [the Lord]" (Matt. 16:18) B. "The Lord" (Acts 2:47) C. "Jesus Christ" (1 Cor. 3:11) D. "The Head, Christ" (Eph. 4:15) E. "Being built up [by God]" (1 Pet. 2:5) According to the verses mentioned above, man cannot establish the church. III. Can the church be divided into denominations?
A. "Be one" (John 17:11, 21-23) B. "Were together" (Acts 2:43-47) C. "Is Christ divided?" (1 Cor. 1:13) D. "One Body" (Eph. 4:4) E. "Factions, divisions, sects" (Gal. 5:20) IV. The meeting of the church:
A. Place: "One place" (1 Cor. 14:23) B. Name: "My name" (Matt. 18:20) C. Presiding One: "The...Spirit" (1 Cor. 12:11) D. Leading one: "Each one has" (1 Cor. 14:26) Sometimes there are exceptions, when some special teachers come to teach the Bible, such as in the case of Paul and Barnabas. E. Congregation: "The others discern" (1 Cor. 14:29) F. Principle: "Of peace...in order" (1 Cor. 14:33, 40) G. Women: "Be silent" (1 Cor. 14:34-36, only in meetings with men present) H. Goal: "Building up [those within]" (1 Cor. 14:26); "Convicted [those without]" (1 Cor. 14:24-25)
V. The work of the church:
A. Evangelizing (Matt. 28:19) B. Witnessing (Luke 24:47-48) C. Announcing the word (Acts 8:1, 4) D. Praying (Acts 12:5) E. Suffering (Rom. 8:17) F. Living to the Lord (2 Cor. 5:15) G. Glorifying God (Eph. 3:21) H. Making known to the enemies the wisdom of God (Eph. 3:10) I. Presented to Christ (Eph. 5:27) J. Satisfying Christ (Isa. 53:11) K. Awaiting the return of the Savior (1 Thes. 1:10; Phil. 3:20)
LESSON NINETEEN JUDGMENT Some think that when the last day comes there will only be a general judgment for all. They assume that whether they are Jews, Gentiles, believers, sinners, sheep, or goats, they will all come before God the Father to be set on the left or right. But there is no such doctrine in God's Word! The Bible records several judgments, not just one. The persons judged, the place and time of judgment, and the basis of judgment are all different in these judgments.
I. The sins of the believers have been judged:
A. Time: A.D. 33 B. Place: The cross (John 19:17-18) C. Basis: The death of Christ (Rom. 5:8; 1 Cor. 15:3) D. Result: The believers made righteous (1 Pet. 2:24; 2 Cor. 5:21) II. The work of the believers will be judged:
A. Time: 1 Cor. 4:5; Luke 14:14; 2 Tim. 4:8 B. Place: "In the air" (1 Thes. 4:16-17) C. Basis: "Each one's work" (1 Cor. 3:13) D. Result: "Reward" or "loss," but "he himself will be saved" (1 Cor. 3:14-15) III. The nations will be judged:
A. Time: "When the Son of Man comes" (Matt. 25:31-32) B. Place: "The valley of Jehoshaphat" (Joel 3:2, 12, 14) C. Basis: "My brothers" (Matt. 25:40)