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15) God is Sovereign Over Man
Bible
Facts:
Proverbs
16:9,33 - Man's mind plans his way, but God
directs his steps. The lot may be cast,
but its every decision is from the Lord.
Proverbs
19:21
- Many are
man's plans, but it is the Lord's counsel that stands.
Proverbs
21:30
- There is no
wisdom, understanding, or counsel against the Lord.
Daniel
4:17,25,32
- God is sovereign over mankind.
James 4:13-16 -
Every plan should always be prefaced with
"If the Lord wills…"
Themes
These Bible Verses Teach:
God is
sovereign over you and all your plans.
Do you believe this?
Yes!
Think
About It:
Even when you make your plans, God is still
absolutely sovereign over those plans
and He even directs them! All your plans are subject
to God's will!
16) The Depravity of Man
Bible
Facts:
Isaiah 64:6 - All
your 'righteous' deeds are like a filthy
garment.
Jeremiah 17:9 - The heart is deceitful and desperately
wicked.
Romans
3:10-18 - There are
none righteous, none that understand, none that seek God. No one does good,
none fear God.
Romans 8:6-8 - The mind is hostile to God and is not able
to subject itself to God's law. You
cannot please God (in and of yourself).
Ephesians 2:1,5a -
You were dead in sin / transgression.
Theme
These Bible Verses Teach:
You were dead in your sin
and trespasses, having no righteousness of your own. Do you believe
this?
Yes!
Think
About It:
Depravity means
a person is not right with God on their own and they can never please Him
in and of themselves, because they don't have it in them to do
so. (You must be made right with God - by God!)
Further
Study:
Isaiah 53:6
17) Man's
Life Is a Mere Breath
Bible
Facts:
Job 7:7 -
Your life is but a breath.
Job 25:6 - Man is referred here to a maggot, a worm
(a metaphor, but an apt one).
Romans 12:3 -
You are not to think more highly of yourself than you ought, but to think
with a right estimation.
James
4:14
- Your life is
but a vapor ('mist' NIV).
1
Peter
1:24
- All flesh is like grass which withers, and whose flower falls
off.
Theme
These Bible Verses Teach:
All
people's life (here on earth) is a mere breath, transient.
Do you believe this?
Yes!
Think
About It:
While you are made in God's image,
you are not to be viewed (especially by yourself) above what God
intends.
18) Necessity of the New Birth
Bible
Facts:
John 3:3,5 -
You must be born again, born of the Spirit,
to see and enter God's kingdom.
1
Corinthians
2:14
- The natural man cannot understand God's things, because they
must be spiritually
appraised / understood.
Theme
These Bible Verses Teach:
You must be born again, born spiritually, to even see
or enter the kingdom of God
or understand spiritual things.
Do you believe this?
Yes!
Think
About It:
Without the new birth God gives, you cannot
even see God's kingdom or understand His ways.
19) Salvation is Not Attained By Man's Works, or
Man's Will
Bible
Facts:
Matthew 19:25-26 - With men, salvation is impossible.
John
1:13
- You were not
born (again) of your own will.
Romans
9:16
- [Salvation]
does not depend on your will or your own effort.
Ephesians 2:8-9 -
You were not saved as a result of your
works.
2 Timothy 1:9 -
You are not saved by your own works.
Titus 3:5 -
You were not saved by your own righteous
deeds.
Theme
These Bible Verses Teach:
Salvation is not attained by your works, or your will
in any way, shape, or form,
but is God's gift to you.
Do you believe this?
Yes!
Think
About It:
God's Word emphatically declares that
salvation is not a work of man. How
then can there be even an iota of work by you that saves
or keeps you? There isn't.
Further
Study:
John 3:27;
Romans 4:4-5; Galatians 2:16
20) Faith is Given You as a Gift of God
Bible
Facts:
Mark 11:22
- You are to
have faith in God.
Ephesians 2:8 - Faith is not from
yourself. It is the gift
of God.
Philippians
1:29
- It has been granted to you to believe.
Theme
These Bible Verses Teach:
Faith is given to you; it is a gift of God. Do
you believe this? Yes!
Biblical definition: 4102 pistis -
persuasion (the noun - faith) (Ephesians 2:8) 4100 pisteuo - to
have faith (the verb - believe)
(Philippians
1:29)
Think
About It:
You do not and
cannot conjure up faith on your
own. God must give it to you to
exercise. God also tells you that it is not the size of your faith
(that's been given to you)
that is important - but Who your faith is in - Him!!
21) Eternal Life is a Present Gift
Bible
Facts:
John 3:36
- He who
believes in the Son (Jesus) has eternal life.
John 5:24
- He who hears
and believes God has eternal life.
John
6:47
- He who
believes has eternal life.
1
John
5:11-13
- God has given eternal life in His Son. He who has the Son
has life. Those who believe can know they have eternal life.
Theme
These Bible Verses Teach:
Eternal life is a gift that is present here
and now on
earth. Do you believe this? Yes!
Biblical definition: 'has /have' 2192 echo - to
have,
to hold (possession), to hold on
Spiros
Zodhiates in The Complete Word Study NT says the word
'has' in John 6:47 is pin (Present Indicative Active)
which asserts something which is occurring while the
speaker is making the statement (pg 869).
Think
About It:
Jesus Himself says the believer
has eternal
life (presently).
22) God Predestines / Appoints Those Whom He Wants
to His Wrath
Bible
Facts:
Proverbs 16:4 - The Lord has made everything, even the
wicked for the day of evil.
Romans
9:18
- God hardens
whom He desires.
Romans 9:22
- God has
vessels of wrath prepared for destruction.
Theme
These Bible Verses Teach:
God predestines unbelievers to His wrath.
Do you believe this?
Yes!
Think
About It:
Mankind is
already destined for God's wrath because of his
own sin. However, God, in His great
kindness, predestines to eternal life some of those who rightly
deserve damnation. He leaves many others rightly deserving damnation to it.
Since God
says these things are so, there
is no argument that can be raised up against it.
Further
Study:
Exodus
9:12, 10:1, 14:4,17;
Deuteronomy
2:30
23) There is No Fault With God
Bible
Facts:
Romans 9:14
- There is no
injustice with God!
Romans 9:19-20a - Some say,
"Why does He still find fault? Who resists His will?"
But the Bible says who are we to answer
back to God?
Theme
These Bible Verses Teach:
God is completely blameless
and just. (And remember, He is also love.) There can be no fault
or blame found with Him for His perfect decisions. Do you
believe this? Yes!
Think
About It:
The charge is frequently brought against God
that He has blame for
predestining some people to wrath. But His Word says the wages
of sin is death. People earn that themselves. He is showing His great
power (and justice) by punishing sin and allowing many to suffer the fate they have earned. Who is
man to answer back to God?
(Romans 9:22)
God
also shows His great mercy by saving some from that awful
fate earned, with the salvation provided through Jesus Christ.
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to 'Secure In Him' Bible Study Directions
Secure In Him © 2003 by
John and Kim Namestnik www.givengrace.com
Permission is granted to copy and distribute this
curriculum - if it's kept intact and not changed in any
way, if it's given without charge, and if this
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