Why EVERY True Bible Believer is a Saint, What does the Bible Say?

Middletown Bible Church ^ | 10/10/03 | Middletown Bible Church

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5A. WHAT HAPPENED TO ME THE MOMENT I WAS SAVED?

1B. I became a child of God (John 1:12; 1 John 3:1-2).

In 1 John 3:10 we learn that there are two groups of people: (1) children of

___________ and (2) children of _____________________ Read 1 John 3:12 and Genesis 4:1-8. Would you say that Cain was a child of God or a child of Satan? ______________________________

In John chapter 8 we read about the conversation between Jesus and the Pharisees (the religious leaders of the Jews). What did these men seek to do to Christ (verse 37)? ____________________________Who did these men think their Father was (verse 41)? _____________ If a person hates Christ, is God really his Father (verse 42)? _______ Who did Jesus say their father really was (verse 44)? ___________________ Did the Pharisees believe the words of truth that Christ spoke (verse 45)? ________ If a person does not hear and believe God’s Word, is he really a child of God (verse 47)? _______ Why didn’t the Pharisees hear and believe God’s Word (verse 47)? _______________________________________________ Were the Pharisees pleased with the things Christ was telling them (verse 59)? _________ Were they able to kill Christ? _______

According to Ephesians 2:1-3, did we become children of God by physical birth? ______ How can a person become a child of God (John 1:12)? _________________________________________________ (Note: the word "sons" in John 1:12 and 1 John 3:1-2 should be translated "children") Therefore, to become a child of God you must be born again (John 1:13 and John 3:1-7). When a person is saved he immediately becomes a member of God’s family. He then enjoys a relationship to God that he never had before and he is able to cry out, "ABBA, ___________________" (see Romans 8:15-16 and Galatians 4:6). The word "Abba" is a very familiar term which means "Father" and it reminds us of a young child who comes to his father and says, "Daddy" or "Papa" (addressing his father with some kind of endearing or familiar term).   Who else enjoyed this close relationship to God (Mark 14:36)? _________________

According to Ephesians 6:1 and Colossians 3:20, what is the one responsibility that children have to their parents? _______________________________ As children of God, what is our one responsibility to our Heavenly Father? ____________________________ Therefore, we should walk as _________________ children (see 1 Peter 1:14).

In Ephesians 5:1 we learn that we should be _________________________ (imitators) of God, as dear (beloved) _______________________. Children often follow the example of their parents. They look like their parents. Often they act like their parents and imitate them in many ways. As believers in Christ, we need to imitate our Heavenly Father which means we need to be like Him:

1. 1 Peter 1:15-16. Just as He is holy, so should we be ______________.
2. Luke 6:36. Just as He is merciful, so should we be _____________________.
3. Matthew 5:48. Just as He is perfect, so should we be _______________________.
4. Ephesians 4:32. Just as He is forgiving, so should we be ______________________.
5. 1 John 3:3. Just as He is pure, so should we be ____________________.

Read 1 Peter 2:2 and 2 Peter 3:18. What does God want His children to be doing? _______________________________________________________

2B. I was justified (Romans 3:24; 1 Corinthians 6:11).

In God’s eyes, how many righteous men are there (Romans 3:10)? ____________ Who is the only Righteous One (1 John 2:1 and 1 Peter 3:18)?_______________________________ With this in mind, who do you think is God’s righteous servant in Isaiah 53:11?  _______________________ Who suffered for unrighteous men and women (Isaiah 53:11 and 1 Peter 3:18)? ___________________________________

Read 1 Corinthians 6:9-11. In this passage, what two verses describe the way some of the Corinthians believers lived before they were saved? __________________________ What verse describes what God did for them the moment they were saved? _________ Not only were they washed and sanctified, but they were _____________________ in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of God. The word "justify" means "to declare or to consider righteous." According to Romans 4:5, what kind of people is God able to justify? ____________________  Is God able to justify a wicked publican or tax collector (Luke 18:13-14)?

___________ Is God able to justify UNRIGHTEOUS men and women (1 Corinthians 6:9-11)?

___________

In Romans 5:1 we learn that as justified believers we have P_______________  W_________  G________. That is, we are no longer God’s enemies! According to Romans 5:10, what were we before we were saved? ___________________________

Although we are not righteous in ourselves, when a person believes on the Lord Jesus Christ, God sees him as righteous IN CHRIST! We are righteous because we are IN God’s righteous Son! 1 Corinthians 1:30---"But of him are ye______ Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and ______________________  and sanctification and redemption." Because God sees us in His Son we are righteous! 2 Corinthians 5:21: "For  He (God) hath made Him (Christ) to be sin for _______, Who (Christ) knew no ________, that (in order that) we might be made the ____________________________ of God  I____    ________ ." God reckons (counts, considers) the righteousness of Christ as belonging to the believing sinner. Thus we read in Romans 4:3--- "Abraham ____________________________ God, and it was ______________________ unto him for __________________________________.   "What does the word "it" refer to in verse 3 (see verse 5)? __________________________________

Read Romans 5:9. If Christ had not died on the cross, do you think it would have been possible for you to be justified? ______ But because Christ did die for us (Romans 5:6-11), God is free to be gracious to us and to put on our account the very righteousness of Christ. We are no longer guilty, condemned sinners because we are now IN CHRIST:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Because God in His grace has justified me and declared me righteous, what kind of life should I now live? (read Titus 2:11-14 and circle the correct answer):

1. It doesn’t really matter how I live because God, sees me as righteous in Christ.

2. Now that God has declared me righteous I want to live a righteous life--living right, acting right, thinking right and speaking right!

3. Now that I am justified I should live the same way I lived before I was saved.

Match the following:

1._____This is what the natural man would say (compare 1 Cor. 2:14).	A.  "I will never forget what Christ has done for me on the cross and I want to live a righteous life day by day so that I might please the God who saved me."
2._____This is what the saved man would say	B. It really doesn't matter how a believer lives or acts because God has forgiven all his sins and has declared Him to be righteous in Christ."

1 John 2:29 says," If ye know that He (Christ) is righteous (read 1 John 2:1), ye know that everyone that does (practices) _______________________ is born of Him." Therefore, if a person is truly born-again, will he live a righteous or an unrighteous life?____________________________1 John 3:7 says, "Little children, let no one deceive you, the person who does (practices) ________________________________(right living, right thinking, right acting) is ________________________________(that is, he has truly been declared righteous) even as He (Jesus) is righteous."  God sees the believer just as righteous as His Son!  What about the person who does not do (practice) righteousness. Does he really belong to God (see 1 John 3:10)? ___________ According to these verses in 1 John, how can we tell if a person has truly been justified? (Circle the right answer, and there is only one correct answer):

1. It’s impossible to tell. Only God knows who has truly been declared righteous and we shouldn’t try to judge whether or not a person is really saved.
2. If a person tells you that he has been saved and justified, then he probably is telling you the truth (to determine if this is the right answer compare 1 John 2:4, 9).
3. If a person lives a righteous life and obeys God’s Word from day to day, then he is giving good evidence pointing to the fact that he has been justified.

Note:  It's true that only God can see the heart and only God is the ultimate Judge of who is saved and who is not, and yet Jesus also said, "By their fruits ye shall know them" (see Matthew 7:15-23).  If a person is truly saved, he should not only KNOW IT but he should also SHOW IT (see James 2:14-26).  Saved people do not always live as righteously as they should and they do still struggle with sin, but they do have a new life that is different from the life they once lived when they were unsaved (1 Corinthians 6:9-11).

Read 1 John 2:29 and 3:7,10 again. Do you desire to live a righteous life and obey God’s Word? If you don't have a desire for this, then how can you claim to be saved?   ("I'm saved but I have no desire to please the Lord and I don't care about obeying Him. I'll live my own life they way I want.")   Don’t be deceived! A righteous man is known by his righteous life!  He is so thankful for what Christ has done for him that it shows in his living!

In Romans 6:13 the believer is commanded to yield (to present) his bodily members as instruments of _________________________unto God. Therefore, should we be careful what our hands do?

_________ Is it a righteous thing to hold a cigarette?________ Should we be careful how we use our tongue (see Ephesians 4:29)? ________ Should we be careful what we let our eyes see (filthy books, magazines, many if not most television shows, movies, etc.)? ________ Read Romans 6:16-18. We were once the servants (slaves) of ________________________________(verse 17) but when we obey the Word of God we become the servants (slaves) of_________________________________(v.18). Would you rather be a slave of sin or a slave of righteousness?_________________________________________________________

In 1 Timothy 6:11 and 2 Timothy 2:22, what is the first thing that Paul tells Timothy to follow after?__________________________________ [Note: the word translated "follow after" means "to run after, to pursue, to chase" as a hunter would chase after his prey or as a runner would run to the finish line to receive a prize---see Philippians 3:14 where this word is translated "press". Are you earnestly and zealously running after the virtues listed in 1 Timothy 6:11 and 2 Timothy 2:22?]. Read 1 Peter 2:24. Because of what Christ did for us on the cross, how should we now live as believers?______________________________________________

Read 2 Timothy 3:16. Where can we go to find instruction for living a righteous life that is well-pleasing to Christ?________________________________ Read Matthew 5:10-12 and 1 Peter 3:14. As we live a righteous life, what kind of treatment should we expect to receive from others?___________________________________________________________________________________ Read John 15:18. When the righteous Christ came to this earth, did the world love Him?

______ Read John 15:19-21. If we belong to Christ will the world treat us the same way they treated Him? _________ According to 1 John 3:13, should we be surprised if the unsaved world does not love us? __________

Review question: The word "JUSTIFY" means _______________________________________________________    Note:  Justification does not mean that God MAKES a sinner righteous.  If this were true then we would never sin again.  A justified person is still a sinner (a sinner saved by grace).  God sees him perfectly righteous in Christ.  "Dressed in His righteousness alone, faultless to stand before the throne."

3B. I was redeemed (Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:14).

Did Paul write the Ephesian epistle (letter) to believers or to unbelievers (see Ephesians 1:1)?  _____________________________________What did these people have according to Ephesians 1:7? __________________________________(just one word is sufficient). Was the Colossian Epistle also written to believers (see Colossians 1:2)? ___________ In verse 14, what is the one word that describes what these people had? __________________________ According to these verses (Eph. 1:7 and Col. 1:14), if you are a believer in Christ, then what do you have? _________________________ True or False:  _____________ Every believer has been redeemed.  Read Romans 3:24. Our redemption is ______ Christ Jesus. Likewise we read in 1 Corinthians 1:30, "But of him are ye ____ Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and_______________________."  In Christ we have redemption! Those who are outside of Christ do not have ________________________________ .

The Redemption of Israel (Exodus 14)

As we study the nation Israel we will see a picture of redemption that will help us to better understand our redemption in Christ. In Genesis 15:12-14 God told Abram (Abraham) that his seed (descendants) would be slaves in a foreign nation for how many years? ____________ In verse 14, did the Lord promise to deliver the people from this bondage? _______ Read Exodus 1:8-14. Did God’s Word (Genesis 15:13) come to pass? _______ Which nation made slaves of the children of Israel? _________________ [Note: "the children of Israel" means all the descendants of Jacob whose name was changed to "Israel". See Genesis 32:27-28.] Did the children of Israel enjoy this slavery (Exodus 1:14)? ___________ Did the LORD know about their situation (Exodus 2:23-25)? ______ Did the LORD promise to redeem them and deliver them from their cruel slavery? (Exodus 6:6) __________Did the LORD keep this promise? ___________(You can read about God’s great work of redemption and deliverance in Exodus 14--the crossing of the Red Sea!).

Read the following verses and answer the questions.

1. Deuteronomy 7:8. Who redeemed the nation Israel? _______________________ Did this redemption involve a mighty act of God?  _______ Were the children of Israel delivered from the Egyptian slavery?

   ________.
    

2. Deuteronomy 9:26. Who is the Great Redeemer? ________________ Did Israel’s redemption require a mighty act of God? __________ Do you think the children of Israel could have redeemed themselves? _________.
    
3. Deuteronomy 13:5. Who is the Mighty Redeemer? _____________________ Were the children of Israel set free from bondage?_________
    
4. Deuteronomy 15:15. Who redeemed Israel? __________________________What was it that the children of Israel were never to forget? ______________________________________________________________________.
    
5. Deuteronomy 24:18. What were the two things that the children of Israel were to remember? 1)________________________________________________ 2)________________________________________________
    
6. 2 Samuel 7:23-24. Who redeemed the nation Israel? _________________ From what nation was Israel redeemed?  ____________________ In verse 23 we learn that God redeemed Israel because He wanted them to be "a people to _______________________." Israel was no longer under the ownership of the Egyptians. Who was their new owner?_____________________
    
7. 1 Chronicles 17:21-22. Who is the Mighty Redeemer? ____________________ What nation did He redeem? ____________________ From what nation was Israel delivered? ____________________ Because Israel was redeemed they now belonged to ________________. For how long would they belong to this Person (v.22)? _________________________
    
8. Micah 6:4. From what land did the LORD redeem Israel? _____________________________ Did He rescue them from slavery? ______________________

In studying these 8 passages we have learned the following facts about Israel’s redemption:

FACT NUMBER 1--Israel’s Redeemer was ________________________________ .

FACT NUMBER 2--Before the children of Israel were redeemed they were________________ in the land of Egypt.

FACT NUMBER 3--Israel’s redemption involved a mighty ____________of God.

FACT NUMBER 4--After the children of Israel were redeemed, they forever belonged to ___________.

We will now discover that these same four facts are true concerning the believer’s redemption in Christ. These four facts may be classified as follows: 1) THE GREAT REDEEMER;   2) THE TERRIBLE SLAVERY;  3) THE MIGHTY ACT;    4) THE NEW OWNER.

The Redemption of the Believer (Ephesians 1:7)

1) The Great Redeemer

Who obtained eternal redemption for us (Hebrews 9:11-12)? _________________________ Who has redeemed us to God (Revelation 5:8—9)? _____________________ (Note: for the identity of "the Lamb" see 1 Peter 1:18-19).   Who has redeemed us from the curse of the law (Galatians 3:13)? ________________ Whom did God send forth to redeem us (Galatians 4: 4-5)? _______________________ Who is able to make us free (John 8:36)? _______________________________ Who gave Himself for us that He might redeem us from all iniquity (Titus 2:13-14)? ___________________________________________ THEREFORE, who is our GREAT REDEEMER? _______________________________________________

2) The Terrible Slavery

A true disciple of Christ must do what (John 8:31)?________________________________ What is it that makes a person free (John 8:32)? _____________________What is the truth 1) according to John 17:17?  _______________________________ 2) according to John 14:6? _________________________. In John 8:33, did the Jews think that they were slaves? ____________In verse 34 the Lord Jesus said that everyone who commits (does, practices) sin is the _____________________ (slave) of sin. Thus, these Jews who thought they were free were really slaves of ____________.Who is the only Person who can redeem us from the bondage of sin (verse 36)?____________________ According to Romans 6:17, before we were saved we were the_________________ (slaves) of _______________ .

In Galatians 3:13, what has Christ redeemed us from? ________________________________ The curse of the law is found in Galatians 3:10. Is it possible for a person who is a slave of sin to obey all things which are in the book of the law? ________  Is it possible for a person who is in the bondage of sin to keep the 10 commandments perfectly? _________ The holy demands of the law are as follows: "If you do all that the law says, then you will live! If you fail to obey all that the law says, then you will die!" Because we are slaves to sin it is impossible for us to keep the law perfectly and thus we are under the curse of death! And yet, we have a GREAT REDEEMER who took the curse of death upon Himself so that we might live (Galatians 3:13)!

3) The Mighty Act

Redemption requires a great and mighty act of God. This great work of God is described in 1 Peter 1:18-19. What were we redeemed with? ____________________________________________ In Ephesians 1:7 we learn that we have redemption through H______    B _______________.  In Revelation 5:9 we learn that Christ has redeemed us to God by His ____________________. The "blood" of Christ reminds us of the great sacrifice that took place on Calvary’s cross when the Lord Jesus died for the sins of the world (see John 1:29; 1 Timothy 2:6 and 1 John 2:2). We are redeemed from the slavery of sin because of the mighty work our Saviour accomplished on the cross! All of the animal sacrifices in the Old Testament were merely reminders that someday there would be the final and perfect sacrifice of the Lamb of God, our Lord Jesus Christ (read Hebrews 9:12-14 and 10:3-12). All of these animal sacrifices pointed to (and foreshadowed) the perfect sacrifice that would someday be made on Calvary’s cross. It was there that the mighty work of redemption took place as the Lord Jesus died for our sins! Christ paid for our redemption with His own precious blood.

4) The New Owner

In Revelation 5:9 we discover that Christ has redeemed us to _____________. Therefore we now belong to _________. In Titus 2:14 we learn that Christ has _______________________ us from all ________________________________ and has purified us unto _____________________, a peculiar people [Note: "peculiar people" should be translated "a people of His own."]   Read Romans 6:22. Now that we are redeemed, we have been made free from ____________ and we have become __________________ (slaves) to __________ . What a wonderful slavery! According to Hebrews 9:12, how long will our wonderful redemption last? _____________________ (compare 1 Chronicles 17:21-22--"forever").

Redeemed how I love to proclaim it!
Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb!
Redeemed through His infinite mercy!
His child, and forever I am!

I think of my blessed Redeemer,
I think of Him all the day long;
I sing, for I cannot be silent!
His love is the theme of my song!

                             --Fanny J. Crosby

The following chart will compare the redemption of Israel with the redemption of the believer in Christ:

ISRAEL	THE BELIEVER
1) The Great Redeemer
Israel was redeemed by the LORD!	The believer was redeemed by the LORD JESUS CHRIST!
2) The Terrible Slavery
Israel was redeemed from the slavery of Egypt.	The believer was redeemed from the slavery of sin.
3) The Mighty Act
Israel’s redemption involved a mighty act of God--the Red Sea miracle (Exodus 14).	The believer’s redemption involved a mighty act of God--the Cross (1 Peter 1:18-19).
4) The New Owner
Israel was redeemed so that they would forever belong to God (1 Chronicles 17:21-22)!	The believer was redeemed so that he would forever belong to God (1 Corinthians 6:20; Titus 2:14; Revelation 5:9; Hebrews 9:12)!

What does Redemption mean to ME?

1. I now belong to the Lord Jesus Christ! In 1 Corinthians 6:20 I discover that Christ owns me completely and totally because He _________________ me! Therefore, to whom does my money belong? ______________________________________ To whom do my possessions belong? (car, house, clothes, etc.)? ______________________________ To whom does my body belong? ____________________________ To whom does my time belong? ____________________________
    
2. Read 1 Corinthians 6:20. Because I am bought with a price (1 Peter 1:18-19) and because Christ has redeemed me unto Himself, what is my supreme duty? ____________________________________________________________________________
    
3. Because I am redeemed, I am now a love-slave of the Lord Jesus Christ! Read Jude 1. Jude calls himself the ________________ (slave) of ______________     ________________ (see also Philemon 1:1; Titus 1:1; James 1:1 and 2 Peter 1:1). When you were redeemed you were SET FREE but you also became A SLAVE!  And what a wonderful SLAVERY this is!  I was bought by blood and now I’m bound by love! No man is totally free. A person is either a slave of sin or a slave of Christ! What kind of a slave would you rather be?___________________________________________ According to Ephesians 6:5 and Colossians 3:22, what is the number one responsibility of slaves to their masters? ________________________________(compare also 1 Peter 2:18). Who is your Master and Lord?_________________________________ What then is your responsibility towards Him? ___________________________________
    
4. Read Romans 6:22. Because I am redeemed I am ____________ from ___________. The moment we were saved we were freed from the power of sin in our lives. No longer do we need to be slaves to sin. We are now free to serve Christ and to live lives that are holy! Does this mean that the Christian is sinless (read 1 John 1:8-10)? ___________
   
   Here is an illustration: Before we were saved we were all in the prison-house (jail) of sin. There was no way to escape. The prison doors were locked shut! We lived in continual and constant sin! It was impossible for us to please God (see Romans 8:7-8 and Hebrews 11:6)! The moment we were saved the prison doors flew open! We were set free! Joyfully we passed through the jail doors into liberty! We could now live a life pleasing to Christ, having our fruit unto __________________________ and the end everlasting life (Romans 6:22). However, the prison doors remain open and it’s possible for us to walk back into jail! How foolish it is to walk back into bondage, especially in light of all that Christ has done to set us free! And yet, when we yield our members as instruments of _________________________ to SIN (Romans 6:13) we find ourselves right back in jail! The doors are still open and yet we have chosen to remain in the bondage of sin. And yet, we soon learn to_________________ our sins (1 John 1:9) and go through the jail doors into freedom once again. The mature believer is the person who spends most of his time out of jail! Someday the Lord Jesus will come again, and at that time our redemption will be complete. At that time the jail doors will be closed, never to be opened again! We will be on the outside of the prison and it will be impossible for us to return again to bondage. Not only will we be free from the power of sin, but we will be free from the very presence of sin in our lives!

When our redemption is completed, then we will be truly SINLESS--it will be impossible for us to sin! Here are some verses that tell us about this final and complete redemption: Luke 21:28; Ephesians 1:14 and 4:30; Romans 8:23.

The following hymn was written by Charles Wesley and well illustrates our redemption in Christ (being set free from the dungeon house of sin):

"Long my imprisoned spirit lay
fastbound in sin and nature’s night;
Thine eye diffused a quick’ning ray,
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;
My chains fell off, my heart was free!
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee!

Amazing love! How can it be
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me!"

4B.  I was separated or sanctified (1 Corinthians 1:2).

We shall now study 6 FACTS that will help us to understand what the Bible teaches concerning SEPARATION (or SANCTIFICATION):

FACT NUMBER 1--The Basis of Separation is Found in the Very Nature and Character of God Himself.

In Isaiah 6:3 the Seraphim used a word three times to describe what God is like. What is that word? __________________  Do you find a similar description in Revelation 4:8? _________ The word "holy" means "set apart, separated."  Thus we could translate Isaiah 6:3 in this way: "SEPARATED, SEPARATED, SEPARATED, is the LORD of hosts." In what way is God separated? We may answer this question in two ways:

1) God is totally and completely SEPARATED from all that is earthly or created.

Was God ever created (compare John 1:1)? _____  He made everything, but He Himself was not made (compare John 1:3). Did the LORD ever have a beginning (Psalm 90:2)?______ If all of creation were suddenly to disappear and be gone, would God still be God (compare Malachi 3:6)? ___________ In Isaiah 57:15 the LORD is described as the ____________________and _______________ ONE who inhabits _____________________ and whose Name is ____________. In Isaiah 6:1 we learn that Isaiah saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, ___________ and ________________    _____. Which is higher and greater, the Creator or the creation (the things which have been created)? _____________________ Read Romans 1:19-25. Should men worship and serve the Creator or the creature? ______________________________

[Stop and consider: DO YOU PRAY BEFORE YOU STUDY THESE NOTES, ASKING THE LORD TO BE YOUR TEACHER? DON’T LEAVE GOD OUT OF YOUR BIBLE STUDY!!!]

Read Exodus 20:3-5. Is it possible for us to make a carved image (statue) of anything in the sky, or on the earth, or in the ocean that would properly represent God?

_______ Is it true then that God is completely different and completely SEPARATE from all that is created? ___________

2) God is totally and completely SEPARATED from all that is unclean and impure. In other words, God is completely SEPARATED from all that is sinful.

When Isaiah saw the vision of God’s holiness (Isaiah 6:1-3), what did he realize about himself (Isaiah 6:5)? ________________________________________________  According to Psalm 24:3-4, who shall be able to stand in God’s HOLY place? ___________________________________________________________________
How much of the darkness of sin is in God (1 John 1:5)? ________________ Read Psalm 22:1 and Matthew 27:45-46. Why did God the Father forsake His beloved Son when He bore our sins in His own body on the cross (1 Peter 2:24)? When Christ was made sin for us (2 Corinthians 5:21) why did the Father separate Himself from His only begotten (unique) Son? The answer to these questions is found in Psalm 22:3---______________________________________________  What is it that separates us from such a HOLY God (Isaiah 59:2)? __________________________________________

Thus, God’s holiness means 1)  God is totally SEPARATED from all that is created;  2) God is totally SEPARATED from all that is sinful. Certainly it is impossible for us to be separated from all that is created. We can’t stop being creatures!! Only the CREATOR is absolutely separate from all of creation. So we will never be HOLY in this sense. By the grace of God, however, it is possible for the believer to be separated from all that is sinful. In fact, we are COMMANDED to be SEPARATED from all that is sinful! This COMMAND is found in 1 Peter 1:16: "BE YE _______________." According to this verse, why are we to be HOLY (set apart, separated)?______________________________________________ Does God want the believer to imitate His holiness (compare Ephesians 5:1)? ________ According to Leviticus 11:44-45, did Old Testament believers have this same commandment? ________ Thus, in studying the Biblical doctrine (teaching) of SEPARATION we must begin with GOD HIMSELF and we must ever keep before our minds the fact of HIS holiness and HIS separateness!!!!

HOLY!!! HOLY!!!! HOLY!!!!!

FACT NUMBER 2 – Each and Every Believer is Separated.

What has God not called us to (1 Thessalonians 4:7)?  _____________________________ What has He called us to? ____________________ The word "holiness" means "sanctification" (see 1 Thessalonians 4:3-4 where the same word is used twice) and "sanctification" means being set apart, being separated." Thus God has called us to be separated unto Himself!!

According to Romans 1:1, what was Paul called to be? _________________________ Was Paul indeed an Apostle (see 2 Corinthians 1:1 and Ephesians 1:1)? _______ According to Romans 1:7, what were the believers in Rome called to be? ________________ Therefore, do you think these believers were truly saints? ________ The word "saint" means "a holy person, a set apart person, a separated person."

Read 1 Corinthians 2:15-3:4. Were the Corinthian believers spiritual or carnal (fleshly)? ______________ We are amazed, then, to discover in 1 Corinthians 1:2 that these believers were called to be _________________!! Not only that, but this verse also tells us that they were ____________________ (set apart, separated) in _________________     ________________.   In 1 Corinthians 1:30 we find that  I____ Christ Jesus these believers not only had wisdom and righteousness and redemption, but they also had ________________________.  In 1 Corinthians 6:11 we learn that even though these Corinthian people were once terrible sinners (verses 9-11), they were now washed and ______________________ (separated, set apart) and justified (declared righteous)! Therefore, according to the way these Corinthian believers lived (1 Corinthians 3:1-4), they were __________________, but according to the way God saw them IN CHRIST (1 Corinthians 1:2) they were ________________________.

True or False: _______________ Every believer in the city of Corinth was living as a saint (living a life holy and separated unto God).

True or False:  _______________Every believer in the city of Corinth was a saint.

In Ephesians 1:1 and Philippians 1:1 the believers at Ephesus and Philippi were called _______________. If Paul were writing a letter to your church he would probably start his letter as follows: "Paul, to all the _____________________ (holy ones, set apart ones) who are in _______________________, __________________ be unto you and ____________________ from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." Read Colossians 1:1-2 and answer True or False:  _________________ Although the believers at Ephesus and Philippi were called saints, the believers at Colosse were not.

In Hebrews 3:1 the believers are described by what two words? ______________     __________________ In Colossians 3:12 we learn that three things are true of every believer. Every believer is (1) ______________
(chosen) of God (2) _________________________ 3) beloved (God loves us because we are in the Beloved One--see Ephesians 1:6 and Matthew 3:17). In 1 Peter 2:9 we discover four more things about believers. As believers we are (1) a ______________________ (elect) generation; (2) a royal _____________________ (every believer is a priest and we can offer to God the sacrifices described in Hebrews 13:15-16); (3) an ________________ nation; (4) a peculiar people (a people of His own--see Titus 2:14).

True or False:
_____________ Every believer is holy.
_____________ Every believer lives a holy life day by day (compare 2 Corinthians 7:1; Colossians 3:8-9).

As we learned earlier, the word "holy" means "set apart, separated." To illustrate this meaning, let’s consider the Bible, which is often called "The HOLY BIBLE." In Romans 1:2 the Bible (especially the Old Testament) is called "the __________     _________________________." To say that our Bible is "holy" does not mean that it never sins! A book can’t sin (not even a dirty book)! Only people can sin! Our Bible is HOLY because it is "set apart" from all other books! It is the only God-breathed Book (2 Tim. 3:16)! Thus the Bible is unique and different from any other book! Now, let’s apply this meaning to the believer in Christ. God says that every believer is holy (Hebrews 3:1; Colossians 3:12) and therefore every believer is "set apart" and has been made different. God has separated each and every believer! Circle all of the following statements that are true (if it is false, don’t circle!):

a) Every believer is holy.

b) Every believer is set apart.

c) Every believer is sanctified.

d) Every believer is separated.

e) Every believer has been made different (in Christ).

f) Every believer lives a saintly life.

g) Every believer lives a holy life.

FACT NUMBER 3 – Each and every believer, because he is separated, is responsible to live a separated life.

This means that God expects saints to live like saints! Because we have been separated unto God we are to live separated lives!!!

In Ephesians 4:1 we find these words: "I (Paul) therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye ____________ worthy of the vocation to which ye are ____________________." The word "vocation" means "calling." Thus the Lord wants us to ___________ worthy of the calling to which we have been _________________.

As believers in Christ we have a great calling! When God saved us He separated us and called us UNTO HIMSELF!! According to 1 Corinthians 1:9, what have we been called unto? ___________________________________________________________ The Bible describes this wonderful calling in 3 ways. As believers in Christ we have a H _____________ (Philippians 3:14), H_______________________________ (Hebrews 3:1) and H__________ (2 Timothy 1:9) calling! According to 1 Thessalonians 4:7, what has God called us unto? ______________________________ Does God want us to walk worthy of our holy calling (Eph. 4:1)? ____________

The word "worthy" (Ephesians 4:1) comes from another word which means "to weigh." In Bible times scales were used for weighing. The standard weight was put on one side and the product to be measured (grain, fruit, etc.) was put on the other side. When the scales were even and balanced, then everyone would know that the proper amount had been measured out! Thus the word "worthy" carried the idea of being balanced and equal!

Study the illustration at the bottom of the page. Is the standard weight of 5 pounds balanced with the amount of salt that is on the scale? __________ Is the amount of salt "worthy" of the 5-pound weight? ________ For the scales to be balanced and equal, how many more pounds of salt must you add to make the salt worthy of the weight? ________ (You could have answered that question when you were in the second grade!)

Consider again Ephesians 4:1. To "walk worthy" means that our walk (our life) should be balanced and equal with our calling! What kind of calling do we have (2 Timothy 1:9)? _______________ Therefore, our holy calling should be balanced by what kind of a life? _____________________ Let’s illustrate this truth:

Balanced!

True or False: ______________ All believers are holy. Thus the believer should live a ____________ life. True or False: ______________ All believers are separated. Thus the believer should live a life that is ____________________ True or False: ___________ All believers are set apart. Thus the believer should live a life that is ______    ________________. Were the Ephesian believers called saints (Eph. 1:1)? _______ Because they were saints, were they to walk as saints (Eph. 5:3)? ________ Were all the believers in Rome saints (Rom. 1:7)? ______ Did God expect them to live lives that were saintly (Rom. 16:2)? __________ Does the Lord expect aged Christian women to live saintly lives (Titus 2:3)? _____________

True or False: ____________ I know that I am a saint and that God has called me to Himself with a holy calling, and by His grace I want to live a holy and separated life so that others might know that I belong to the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me!

The great problem comes when we disobey Ephesians 4:1 and we don’t walk worthy of our holy calling. Even though we are saints (as God sees us in Christ), we often don’t walk like saints as we live day by day. This can also be illustrated:

As you compare these last two illustrations, you will notice that our calling never changes! Who is the One who has called us (1 Corinthians 1:9)? _________ Does He ever change (Malachi 3:6)?___________

Find one word in 1 Thessalonians 4:3 that describes what God’s will for your life is: _______________________________  We have already learned that this word means (circle the correct answer):

1. Being without sin (sinless).

2. Being declared righteous (justified).

3. Being set apart and separated unto the Lord.

4. Being God’s child forever.

Which of the above 3 answers are true of the believer in Christ right now (give the 3 correct letters): ______    ______     ______   Which answer will only be true on the day of our final redemption (Ephesians 1:14 and 4:30)? _________  "The will of God" in 1 Thessalonians 4:3 means "that which God desires and wants for every believer." In 1 Peter 1:15-16 what one word describes the kind of a life that God wants and desires for us? ___________ True or False:  _______________ God does not expect us to live a holy life day by day because He knows that we could never do it.

According to 2 Timothy 2:19, if a person claims to be a Christian, what should he do? _________________________________________ Does the Lord know which people truly belong to Him? ______ In verse 21 we learn that the Christian is to be a vessel unto honor, ______________________________ (set apart) and meet (fit) for the __________________ use. Who is your Master and Absolute Owner? _________________________ When you set your table for dinner, do you use dirty dishes or clean? ____________________ Do you think that the Master can use us for His glory if we are vessels that are unclean and impure and unholy? ________ Therefore, according to 2 Corinthians 7:1 we should ___________________ ourselves from ________ filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting _______________________ in the fear of God (fearing to do anything that will not please Him). We can then yield (present) our members servants (slaves) to righteousness (right living, right thinking, right speaking, right acting) unto ______________________________ (Romans 6:19) and we can have our fruit unto _________________________ (Romans 6:22). Also we can follow after (run after, pursue, chase after--see page 32) peace and _________________________ (Hebrews 12:14).
                    True or False:

a. __________ Every believer has a holy calling.
b. __________ Every believer has a holy walk.
c. __________ God demands that our WALK be as holy as our CALLING (Eph. 4:1).

FACT NUMBER 4 – Biblical Separation is twofold: (1) Separation from and (2) Separation unto.

Separation From	Scripture Passage	Separation Unto
and have  ____________________ you ____________ other people,	Leviticus 20:26	And ye shall be __________     ___________me: for I the LORD am _____________
which ________________ you __________    _________    _______ the land of Egypt	Leviticus 25:38	that ye should be _______________. I am the LORD _____________ God, to _____________ you the land of Canaan, and to be _____________    ________
___________ Egypt, ___________ the nations and their ________ ?	2 Samuel 7:23-24	And what one nation in the earth is like thy people, even like Israel, whom God went to redeem for a people _______     _______________ , and to make him a name, and to do for you great things and terrible, for thy land, before thy people which thou redeemedst _____    ________   For thou hast confirmed  _____    ______________ thy people,  Israel to be a people   ________ thee _________________: and thou, LORD, art become ____________    _________.
He ______________ me ______ also ________    ____ an horrible ______, _______   ____ the miry clay,	Psalm 40:2	and set my feet _______    ___    ___________, and _____________________ my goings.
.... but is passed _______________ death	John 5:24	___________ life.
Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be _____________ indeed ________     ________,	Romans 6:11	but _____________     ________ _________ through Jesus Christ our Lord.
But now being made free _________    _______	Romans 6:22	and become servants ____    ________, ye have your fruit ______     ____________________.
Wherefore come out _________    ___________     ____________, and be ye ___________________, saith the Lord, and ______________     _______ the unclean thing;	2 Corinthians 6:17-18	and I will _______________ you, and will be a _____________ unto you, and ye shall be _____ sons and daughters, saith the _________   _____________________.
... let us ________________ ourselves ___________ all ________________ of the flesh and spirit,	2 Corinthians 7:1	perfecting ____________________ in the fear of God.
Who hath ______________ us _______ the power of ____________________	Colossians 1:13	and hath translated us _____________ the kingdom of his dear ___________.
________ idols	1 Thess. 1:9	... and how ye turned _____     ________ to  _____________ the living and true _________.
... that he might redeem us __________    ______ ___________________,	Titus 2:14	and purify _________ ______________ a peculiar people, zealous of __________     ________.
... that we, being ________ _________    ____________,	1 Peter 2:24	should live _________    _________________________.
... Unto him that loved us, and washed us _______     ________    _________, in his own blood,	Revelation 1:5-6	And hath made us kings and priests _______    __________.

There are some verses that speak only of separation from and there are other verses that speak only of separation unto. Look up the following passages, read them carefully, and if the verse is speaking of separation from, write "from."  If the verse is speaking of separation unto, write "unto."

__________ Psalm 107:2	_____________ 2 Cor. 5:15	___________ 2 Thess. 2:13-14
__________ Matthew 1:21	_____________ 2 Cor. 5:18	___________ 1 Pet. 1:3-4
__________ Luke 1:16	_____________ Gal. 1:4	___________ 1 Pet. 2:25
__________ Acts 2:40	_____________ Eph. 2:10	___________ 1 Pet. 5:10
__________ Acts 3:26	_____________ Col. 1:20	___________ 2 Pet. 1:3
__________ Romans 1:1	_____________ 1 Thess. 1:10	___________ 2 Pet. 1:9
__________ 1 Cor. 1:9	_____________ 1 Thess. 2:12	___________ Rev. 5:9
__________ 1 Cor. 1:30

FACT NUMBER 5 – God has put a DIFFERENCE between the saved and the unsaved and God demands that this DIFFERENCE be very clear and very well defined. Therefore the believer MUST live a separated life!

As we study God’s Word we soon learn that there is a great difference between those that are saved and those that are lost. Look up the following verses, read them carefully and match the proper letter with the proper number:

UNSAVED	SCRIPTURE VERSES		SAVED
1) ______ death	A.	Luke15:24	life
2) ______ death unto death	B.	John 3:16	life unto life
3) ______ darkness	C.	John 3:18	light
4) ______ night	D.	John 5:24	day
5) ______ lost	E.	John 8:12	found
6) ______ unrighteousness	F.	1 Cor. 1:18	righteousness
7) ______ infidel	G.	2 Cor. 2:16	believer
8) ______ condemnation	H.	2 Cor. 6:14	no condemnation
9) ______ perish	I.	2 Cor. 6:15	eternal life
10) ______ perish	J.	1 Thess. 5:5	saved
11) ______ children of devil	K.	1 John 3:10	children of God

In Leviticus 20:22-23 we learn that God wanted the children of Israel to follow:

a. the other nations
b. the Egyptians
c. His Word
d. their own desires

T-F _________________ Deuteronomy 18:9-14: God wanted the children of Israel to enter into the promised land (Palestine) so that they could learn the customs of the heathen nations and imitate their ways.

Does God put a DIFFERENCE between the unclean and the clean (Leviticus 10:10; 11:47)? _______ Read carefully John 13:2 and John 13:10-11. Were all of the 12 disciples clean? ______ What was the name of the unclean disciple? ______________  Was there a great difference (in God’s eyes) between him and the other eleven? ___________

In Ephesians 2:11-13 Paul reminds the Ephesian believers of the time when they were unsaved: "remember that ye, being in time past (before you were saved) _________________in the flesh" (v.11). Before you were saved, were you without Christ (Eph. 2:12)? __________ Were you without any real hope? _____ Were you without God? ______________

According to Ephesians 4:17, should we live the way unsaved people live? _____ Should we live the way we used to live when we were unsaved? ________ Is Ephesians 4:17-19 a good description of what you were like when you were unsaved? __________ When a person comes to know the truth that is in Christ will he want to live the same way he used to live when he was unsaved (Eph. 4:20-21)? _______ Does God want us to imitate the sons of disobedience (Eph. 5:6-7)? ________ Because. we are no longer in darkness (see John 8:12; Colossians 1:13; 1 Peter 2:9; and 1 Thessalonians 5:5-8), how are we to walk (read Eph. 5:8)? _________________________________________________________

What should we put off (Col. 3:9; Eph. 4:22)? ________________________________ What should we put on (Eph. 4:24; Col. 3:10)? ______________________________ Because we are in Christ what are we (2 Corinthians 5:17)? ________________________________________________ Therefore, should we continue to live a life of sin? ___________

We learn from 1 Thessalonians 4:5 that the Gentiles do not know _________. Does the believer know God (John 17:3; 1 John 5:20)? ___________ Should the believer live the same way as those who do not know God? ________ If a person truly knows the living God, will that make a difference in the way he lives and acts and walks? _______

Is Titus 3:3 a good description of your life before you were saved? ________ Has Christ made a DIFFERENCE (Titus 3:4-7)? ________ What should the believer be careful to maintain each and every day? (Titus 3:8) ________________________________ We learn in Titus 3:14 that God does not want the believer to be _______________________.

Should we be living our lives according to the former lusts and desires that we had when we were unsaved (1 Peter 1:14)? _______ Who now works in us to give us the desire to please Christ (Phil. 2:13)? __________ Has God completely removed our old sinful desires or do we still have them (read Romans 7:15-25)? ______________________________ And yet, because we are saved we also have the desire to do the _________ of God (1 Pet. 4:2). Why did Christ come into the world (Hebrews 10:7)? _____________________________________________________________
The Lord Jesus had a great hunger and desire to do what (John 4:34)?

_____________________________________________________

What prayer did our Lord Jesus pray that is a good prayer for us to pray (Luke 22:42)? ___________________________________________________
According to 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, God’s will for our life includes three things:

1. (v.16) ____________________________________________________________

2. (v.17) ____________________________________________________________

3. (v.l8) _____________________________________________________________

If we are truly saved, will our unsaved friends and loved ones be able to see a difference in our lives (1 Pet. 4:3-4)? __________ Will they think it strange and unusual when we don’t do some of the things we used to do?

_________

True-False _________________ I thank the Lord that He has saved me and made me a new creature in Christ and now by God’s grace I want to live differently, doing God’s will so that men and women and boys and girls might see my changed life and trust in the Lord Jesus so that they too might have this so-great salvation! (read Psalm 40:1-3)

FACT NUMBER 6 – The believer is to be separated not isolated.

Read John 15:18 and in your own words, explain why the world hates the believer: ___________________________________________________________________
The world does not love the believer (see John 15:19) because the believer is not ____ the world and Christ has chosen the believer ______     _____ the world.

In John 17:6-19 the Lord Jesus was praying for His disciples (His apostles). Why did the world hate these men (verse 14)? ______________________________________________________ Was the Lord Jesus of the world (verse 14)? _______. True-False ________: The Lord Jesus prayed and asked His Heavenly Father to remove His disciples from the world (verse 15). What did He pray (verse 15)? ___________________________________________________________ [Note: the word "evil" should be translated "evil one." The "evil one" is Satan.]  Were the disciples of the world (verse 16)? _____ Was Christ of the world (verse 16)? _________ Did the Father send Christ into the world (verse 18)? ________ Did Christ send the disciples into the world (verse 18)? _______

True-False:
__________ The disciples were in the world (John 17:11).
__________ The disciples were of the world (John 17:16).
__________ Everyone who is in the world is of the world.

As sons (children) of God we live ____     _____      _____________ of a crooked and perverse nation and we are to shine as lights _____    ________      ________________ (Philippians 2:15).

 True-False:

_______	Philippians 2:15-16 teaches us that to be holy the believer must become a monk and hide away in some monastery.
_______	To be holy we must live in a hole and become a hermit!
_______	To be holy (in our daily living) we must live a separated and righteous life in the MIDST of a world that is wicked and that hates Christ.

Is this world our home (1 Peter 2:11; Hebrews 11:13)? _________ Where is our true home (Philippians 3:20; compare John 14:1-3)? ________________________ When the Lord Jesus walked upon this earth, did He have any place that He could call His home (Luke 9:58)? ______

Today, whom does God have to represent Him on the earth (2 Cor. 5:20; Acts 1:8)? ___________________ As we represent Christ in the world we must be very careful to keep ourselves ___________________ from the world (James 1:27) and to not be __________________ to this world (Romans 12:2) and to ___________ not the world (1 John 2:15), because the person who is a friend of the world is the _______________ of God (James 4:4). What is it that will surely pass away (1 John 2:17)? _________________________________ What will remain forever (1 John 2:17)? __________________________________________ Does the world love to think about God and His Word? ______ Does the world take time to consider God when they make their decisions and when they make their plans? _____  Does the world enjoy spending time in prayer? _____  Does the world love to talk about Christ? ______  Is the world thankful for what took place on Calvary (1 Cor. 1:18)? ______  Are you thankful that you are no longer of the world? __________

Did the Lord Jesus ever eat and associate with sinners and with wicked men (Luke 5:30-31; 15:1-2; 19:2,5)? ________ Did Jesus ever allow sinners to touch Him (Luke 7:37-39)? _______ Was Jesus crucified with evil men (Luke 23:33)? ________ (Note: Not only was He crucified with evil men, He was crucified for evil men--see 1 Peter 3:18). Read carefully Luke 5:30-32 and in your own words answer the question that the Pharisees asked in verse 30. Why did Christ eat with wicked tax collectors and sinners? __________________________________________________________________________________

Was the Lord Jesus separate from sinners (Hebrews 7:26)?  ________ Can a person be with sinners and at the same time be separate from sinners? ___________ True-False: _____________ To live a separated life it is necessary to stay away from everyone who is unsaved. True-False: _____________ It is sinful to be with sinners. T-F: ____________ It is sinful to follow the advice of sinners and to stand in their way and to sit in their seat (Psalm 1:1). Even though we should live godly lives before those who are unsaved, our close friends and companions should be those who__________________ the LORD and who ____________(obey) His precepts (His Word)---see Psalm 119:63.

What is God’s desire and will for the unsaved (1 Timothy 2:3-4)? _____________________________________________________ Should this be our desire also (compare Ephesians 5:1)? ___________ Should we pray for the unsaved (1 Timothy 2:1; compare Romans 10:1)? ________

The believer in Christ has certain responsibilities towards all men as he represents Christ in the world:

1. He is to be a _____________ before all men (Acts 1:8).
2. He is to be an _______________________________ for Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20).
3. He is to _______________ the ___________________ to all men (Mark 16:15).
4. He is to  _____________________ (make disciples of) all nations (Matthew 28:19).
5. He is to shine as a ___________________ before all men (Philippians 2:15; compare Matthew 5:16).
6. He is to do _____________ to all men (Galatians 6:10; 1 Thessalonians 5:15).
7. He is to walk in _____________________ towards all men (Colossians 4:5; compare 1 Corinthians 9:19-23; 10:32).
8. He is to walk _____________________ before all men (1 Thess. 4:12; compare Romans 12:17).
9. He is to _____________ for all men (1 Timothy 2:1).
10. He is to live ____________________ with all men (Romans 12:18; Hebrews 12:14).
11. He is to _______________________ all men (1 Peter 2:17--"to honor" means to give the proper respect. Compare Titus 3:2 where we are told not to speak lightly of any man).
12. He is to have a good ________________ (witness, testimony) before all men (1 Timothy 3:7; 3 John 12).

WE HAVE NOW FINISHED OUR STUDY ON SALVATION! You should now have a greater appreciation of our _______     _______________ SALVATION (Hebrews 2:3). ____________ be unto God for His _________________________     _________!!! (2 Corinthians 9:15)

---

Back to NEW BELIEVERS
Back to SUNDAY SCHOOL MATERIALS & HELPFUL BIBLE STUDIES

 

[RaceBannon]

This previous page is a section of a Bible Study on Salvation, and contains a great Biblical Truth concerning just who is a Saint in the light of God's Word, and how one becomes a Saint.

[RaceBannon]

For those who missed it, start with fact#2

[Conservative til I die]

My goodness, is this what Bible-only fundamentalist Christianity has come to?? Quizzes and exams on who said what to whom when and where?

[dangus]

The principle objection I have with this is that it differentiates "believers" and "nonbelievers" in such a way as to create an absolute binary system; and one is either "saved" or "Not saved."

While this is the ultimate conditiopn at the end of time, it is not our current condition. A "saint" is fully "sanctified." A fully sanctified person does not sin. Christians do sin, even after becoming Christian. This was less so among the disciples who had fantastically strong faith as a result of witnessing the resurrection. But even they did sin by insisting on circumcision when they knew better.

Those who witnessed the miracles of the disciples did sin, too... The epistles are full of rebukes for their sinfulness, and yet the epistles count their readers among the "saved." When we become Christian, God doesn't merely forgive our *past* sins, through Jesus, he promises to continue to forgive our sins. With every decision to follow him, with every sinful impulse we reject, with every experience that we learn to love from, and with every suffering we accept in His name, we are further sanctified.

Those who complete this journey while alive are called "Saints." Whether through the process of death, or at the moment of death (as many mainstream Protestants believe) or after death (as in the Catholic belief of purgatory), many more acheieve sanctity.

[dangus]

O be fair... this isn't an exam... it's a "led exploration." Although it is led with a very, very short chain. The person is directed exactly to the verses which make the author's point, and is then supposed to feel like he "found" the answers. It's a pedagogical tactic which feels more "open" then simply directly stating the "answers." It tends to be fairly effective with people who have:
1. Placed their trust in the bible, but
2. Have become wary of people who merely quote scrcipture,
3. Know very little of the bible, and
4. Have had very little education since their childhood, or have come to distrust the education they have received.

[RaceBannon]

Well, it aint a test, but a Bible Study!

It makes you look up the answer so you learn what the Bible actually says on something.

Try it! Takes a while, but you will certainly learn something.

[RaceBannon]

You left out something:

If you actually do the study, you would see what was actually taught, and what you read and came to a conclusion of, would be from the Bible, and the Bible alone, backed up by the Bible alone.

[RaceBannon]

Umm, you make a great error.

Go back up and do the section titled FACT #2

[nmh]

Race these folks don't bother to read the Bible so they wouldn't know and don't want to know what's in it.

[knarf]

" ... and one is either "saved" or "Not saved."

That is what scripture teaches.

The goal God has for all of mankind is to be saved .. John 3:16 ... whosoever should not perish but have everlasting life .. and .. 1 Peter 3:9 ... all should come to repentence.

It's not difficult, when we try to have the mind of Christ, that things are black and white, at least in intent.

[dangus]

>>>>" ... and one is either "saved" or "Not saved."

>>That is what scripture teaches.

You took me out of context! This is what I said:

>>>>While this is the ultimate condition at the end of time, it is not our current condition.

Next time read the whole passage before you go on the attack.

[dangus]

Would you care to state explicitly what my error was instead of playing games?

[dangus]

>>You left out something:

>>If you actually do the study, you would see what was actually taught, and what you read and came to a conclusion of, would be from the Bible, and the Bible alone, backed up by the Bible alone.

O My Gosh! Biblically-based teachings! How novel! Why, Gee, I never saw somebody quote the scripture in a bible study before!!!

</sarcasm>

Yeah, precisely... you get a preliminary sentence to make you think in terms of an issue, then you read a selected passage. Naturally, you come to a given conclusion which was suggested by the passage.

Suppose I were to say:

What is it which causes one to be saved? James 2:14-17 says it is: __________________________________

The person who did that excercise would have a 100% biblical answer that would not exactly lead him to the protestant doctrine of sola fidelis.

[knarf]

"While this is the ultimate condition at the end of time, it is not our current condition."

I did read your entire reply ... I'm saved now and later on is only the continuation of my salvation.

[RaceBannon]

"The person who did that excercise would have a 100% biblical answer that would not exactly lead him to the protestant doctrine of sola fidelis. "

Since this passage has nothing to do with Salvation, you would be correct. It has to do with showing fruit of Salvation, not how to get salvation.




(James 2:14 KJV) What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?

(James 2:15 KJV) If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,

(James 2:16 KJV) And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?

(James 2:17 KJV) Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

[RaceBannon]

I am not playing games, that was a rude comment.

While this is the ultimate conditiopn at the end of time, it is not our current condition. A "saint" is fully "sanctified." A fully sanctified person does not sin. Christians do sin, even after becoming Christian.

Here is your first error.

The Bible clearly states that all, true believers are SAINTS, even those who are in sin. Sainthood is a state of the believer on Earth and Heaven, while sinlessness is only a state of justification concerning Salvation while on Earth; those being in Christ being seen as sinless. A believer can still sin and ruin their fellowship with God in this flesh, hence;

(1 John 2:1 KJV) My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
(1 John 2:2 KJV) And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
(1 John 2:3 KJV) And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
(1 John 2:4 KJV) He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
(1 John 2:5 KJV) But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
(1 John 2:6 KJV) He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

Those who witnessed the miracles of the disciples did sin, too... The epistles are full of rebukes for their sinfulness, and yet the epistles count their readers among the "saved." When we become Christian, God doesn't merely forgive our *past* sins, through Jesus, he promises to continue to forgive our sins. With every decision to follow him, with every sinful impulse we reject, with every experience that we learn to love from, and with every suffering we accept in His name, we are further sanctified.

You cannot be further sanctified more than a person is when they get saved. Either they have received the full forgiveness of sin from Christ, or they didnt get it at all. That is another error.

Your comments on believers in the NT still sinning, that is only proving my point. If they still sinned, and were called Saints in the Bible, then Saints can still sin on this Earth.

Those who complete this journey while alive are called "Saints." Whether through the process of death, or at the moment of death (as many mainstream Protestants believe) or after death (as in the Catholic belief of purgatory), many more acheieve sanctity.

Wroong. Either the death of Jesus Christ paid the penalty for our sins, and God saw us as sinless completely through the shed blood of Christ on the cross, or Jesus died in vain.

There is not one thing you can do to increase your sanctification in God's eye except believe on the one He has sent.

Those are a few of your errors. I suggest you do the study, it will be a blessing for you if you actually want to larn about it.

[RaceBannon]

if this is a led exploration, then do it, and use Scripture to show where the errors are

[dangus]

"The Bible clearly states that all, true believers are SAINTS,"

I agree with this, but as I said, there are many who believe, but whose faith is immature and weak.

"Sainthood is a state of the believer on Earth and Heaven, while sinlessness is only a state of justification concerning Salvation while on Earth; those being in Christ being seen as sinless."

You are conflating sanctification with justification. They do have distinct meanings.

" You cannot be further sanctified more than a person is when they get saved. Either they have received the full forgiveness of sin from Christ, or they didnt get it at all. That is another error. "

Says you... This is another false binarism.

" Your comments on believers in the NT still sinning, that is only proving my point. If they still sinned, and were called Saints in the Bible, then Saints can still sin on this Earth."

Actually, I see no-where in the bible (using the NT concept of saints) where the saints were still sinning when they are called saints.

"Wroong. Either the death of Jesus Christ paid the penalty for our sins, and God saw us as sinless completely through the shed blood of Christ on the cross, or Jesus died in vain."

No, the apostles all died. They all suffered. It is because of sin that they died, since suffering and death are a consequence of original sin. The eternal consequence of sin, destruction, is lifted, but we still all summer the temporal consequence of original sin: concupiscence, our present sufferings and our temporal death.

If I kill my wife, and find Christ, I can be saved. I will have eternal life. Thus, the eternal consequence of my sins are remitted. I am still without my wife, and will likely go to prison. The temporal consequences of my actions remain. Many mainstream protestants hold that the temporal consequences of my sin are over by the instant after I die. But there are still consequences. That does not mean Christ died in vain.

>> Those are a few of your errors. I suggest you do the study, it will be a blessing for you if you actually want to larn about it.

1. I did the study before I commented on it.
2. The single most irritating trait which I find so common among certain types of Protestants is the presumption that anyone who disagrees with them is simply ignorant of the most basic beliefs.

[dangus]

>>if this is a led exploration, then do it, and use Scripture to show where the errors are

If you read what I was responding to, you will see that what I offered was a (reasonably unappreciated) defense. In post #5, I pointed out the pedagogical techniques of the teaching without asserting that any part of it was incorrect. There is not a scriptural teaching to point out the limitations of a very modern instructive technique.

However, the technique does use isolated chunks of scripture arranged in the author's structure. While I malign these authors specifically, this technique is very open to abuse; the devil himself quotes scripture as the basis for his arguments.

[dangus]

>>Since this passage has nothing to do with Salvation,

This passage has nothing to do with salvation? Outrageous! The very topic is salvation! James asks, "Can his faith save him?" And his answer: No, if faith is not accompanied by works, it is dead. That is, it has no life within it. "Even so, faith, if it has not works, being alone, is dead."

How can this be? One has to look beyond that context to realize that if one's faith is *correct,* works will follow faith. (If I have faith that Woody Allen is God, works will not follow.)

Don't feel bad. The book of James threw Martin Luther so badly that he declared it non-canonical, and had it stripped out of his bible. (I bet that scene isn't in the movie!)