The Goal: Maturity

“let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity”Hebrews 6:1 Colossians 1:28 “We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man mature in Christ.” Basic Discipleship The goals & outcome of Discipleship: Habits of Godliness (7 C's) ` “…to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.” Ephesians 4:12-13 The Goal:Maturity

Basic Discipleship Class You are in the right place if you want to DISCOVER or know more about what it means to be a Christian. A Christian is a disciple of Jesus Christ. What is a disciple?

· Latin word “discipulus” = pupil (student) discere (to learn) · One who embraces and assists in spreading the teachings of another · An Active adherent · One of the original followers of Jesus   A Disciple is someone who actively follows, studies, learns, and obeys Jesus Matthew 28:19-20Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Jesus gives the same invitation to everyone as he did in Matthew 4:19:“Come, follow me.” Opening illustration: “Hey you guys, say this prayer after me”

The Gospel What is the Gospel?

The word "Gospel" eujaggelivw/ euaggelion { yoo-ang-ghel’-ee-on} literally means GOOD NEWS!

Mark 1:14-15 Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. "The time has come," he said. "The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!"

Good News: For God so loved the world that he gave his only son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 Jesus HOLY GOD MAN SIN

The Bad News is "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23 I’m a Good Person HOLY GOD SINFUL MAN I go to Church I give Money I “Keep the 10 commandments” “I believe there is a God”

"For the wages of Sin is death" Romans 6:23 SIN leads to Death Death leads to Judgment Judgment w/o Christ leads to Hell "What good is it if a man gains the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? Mark 8:36

Everyone will stand in judgment before God REV 20:11-15 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what he had done. 14 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. 15 If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

I’m a Good Person HOLY GOD I go to Church MAN I give Money I “Keep the 10 commandments” “I believe there is a God” Jesus asked the Pharisees in Mt 23:33 "How will you escape being condemned to Hell?"

Jesus HOLY GOD MAN SIN The Good News is Jesus Christ died for our sins to bring us to God. God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

Jesus Jesus Christ is the ONLY solution for SIN! Other religions and leaders have claimed to be God, but none of them have died for sins and been raised from the dead to PROVE IT - except Jesus Christ! Jesus said in John 14:6 "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Jesus HOLY GOD MAN SIN How do I RECEIVE Jesus into my life? How can I have a personal relationship with God? Acts 16:30 "What must I do to be saved?"

Life's Most Important Question: "What must I do to be saved?" ACTS 16:31-34 They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved--you and your household." ROMANS 10:9-13 That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. 11 As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame”... "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."

GOSPEL of Jesus Acts 20:21 I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus. Repentance: 52X in the NT, 20X in the OT Faith: 274X in the NT, 136X in the OT

What does it mean "to believe in Jesus?" • 4100. pisteuvwpisteáuoµ, pist-yoo´-o;from 4102; to have faith (in, upon, or with respect to, a person or thing), i.e. credit; by impl. to entrust (espec. one’s spiritual well-being to Christ):— believe (-r), commit (to trust), put in trust with. • 4101. pistikov"pistikoás, pis-tik-os´;from 4102; trustworthy, i.e. genuine (unadulterated):— spike-[nard]. • James Strong, New Strong’s dictionary of Hebrew and Greek words [computer file], electronic ed., Logos Library System, (Nashville: Thomas Nelson) 1997, c1996.

What does it mean "have faith in Jesus?" • 4102. pivsti"pistis, pis´-tis; from 3982; persuasion, i.e. credence; mor. conviction (of relig. truth, or the truthfulness of God or a relig. teacher), espec. reliance upon Christ for salvation; abstr. constancy in such profession; by extension, the system of religious (Gospel) truth itself:— assurance, belief, believe, faith, fidelity. • 3982. peivqwpeáithoµ, pi´-tho; a primary verb; to convince (by argument, true or false); by anal. to pacify or conciliate (by other fair means); refl. or pass. to assent (to evidence or authority), to rely (by inward certainty):— agree, assure, believe, have confidence, be (wax) confident, make friend, obey, persuade, trust, yield. • James Strong, New Strong’s dictionary of Hebrew and Greek words [computer file], electronic ed., Logos Library System, (Nashville: Thomas Nelson) 1997, c1996.

What does it mean "to REPENT?" • meta - change, transfigure, transform. • 3340. metanoevwmeátanoáeáoµ, met-an-oá-eh´-o;from 3326 and 3539;to think differently or afterwards, i.e. reconsider (mor. feel compunction):— repent. • 3341. metavnoiameátanoáia, met-an´-oy-ah;from 3340; (subj.) compunction (for guilt, incl. reformation); by impl. reversal (of [another’s] decision):— repentance. • James Strong, New Strong’s dictionary of Hebrew and Greek words [computer file], electronic ed., Logos Library System, (Nashville: Thomas Nelson) 1997, c1996.

GOSPEL of Jesus Introduction BELIEF MIND EMOTIONS TRUST WILL COMMITMENT REPENTANCE FAITH Reception/Redemption Justification Regeneration Sanctification Glorification

GOSPEL of Jesus MIND Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth. 2 Timothy 2:25 EMOTIONS REPENTANCE Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. 2 Corinthians7:10 WILL First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and to the Gentiles also, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds. Acts 26:20

GOSPEL of Jesus BELIEF 1 Peter 1:21 Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God. (James 2:19) TRUST John 12:36 Put your trust in the light while you have it, so that you may become sons of light." FAITH John 14:1 Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. COMMITMENT 2 Corinthians5:15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. (1 Peter 1:13-16)

Justification Regeneration GOSPEL of Jesus RECEIVE REPENTANCE FAITH Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God-- 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.John 1:12-13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession-- to the praise of his glory. Ephesians 1:13-14

GOSPEL of Jesus Regeneration Titus 3:5 He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior • To be RESTORED • Born Again (John 3:3) • Inner Change: slave to the Spirit instead of Sin (Romans 6:6-18) • Spiritual Transformation: dog to child of God (Rev 22:15, 1 John 3:1, Romans 8:15) • Change of Mission: From Self to Savior (1 Cor 15:58) REPENTANCE FAITH

GOSPEL of Jesus “declared righteous” Justification The judicial act of God that declares the sinner “not-guilty” of sin. We are thereby released from its penalty and restored to righteousness • Jesus paid the punishment of our sin (Romans 5:8-9) • Jesus gives us his righteousness (Romans 5:19) • Jesus remains to intercede for us (Hebrews 7:25) REPENTANCE FAITH [We] are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. Romans 3:24

Introduction Reception/Redemption Justification Regeneration GOSPEL of Jesus Sanctification “Set Apart” The lifelong PROCESS of becoming like Jesus To be made holy, perfect, and set apart from the world REPENTANCE FAITH 1 Cor 3:18,2 Pet 3:18, 2 Cor 3:18, Phil 2:12-13, Gal 5, 2 Pet 1:3, Col 2:6 1 John 2:4-6 The man who says, "I know him," but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But if anyone obeys his word, God's love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: 6Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.

Reception/Redemption Justification Regeneration GOSPEL of Jesus Introduction FAITH REPENTANCE Sanctification Glorification Future Sinlessness in Heaven To be with the Lord and FULLY made perfect Completely free from the presence & power of Sin Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. 1 John 3:2

GOSPEL of Jesus Introduction BELIEF MIND EMOTIONS TRUST WILL COMMITMENT REPENTANCE FAITH Reception/Redemption Justification Regeneration Sanctification Glorification

Who & What saves you? The blood of Jesus 1 John 1:7 “the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.” Hebrews 9:22 “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.” How do I receive the blood of Jesus? Confession of sin (repentance) and faith Romans 10:9 That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 1 Timothy 6:12 Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. Acts 19:18, John 12:42, 2 Timothy 2:19 What is the proof of my conversion? A changed life - obedience & righteousnes (right living) 2 Corinthians 9:13 Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else.

Do you know for sure that you are going to heaven? Don’t Be Left Behind! Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.“ He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.“ He said to me: "It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life. 7 He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son. 8 But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars--their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death." Revelation 21:1-8

Jesus HOLY GOD MAN The ABC's of the GOSPEL: A: ADMIT you are a sinner and need God Romans 3:23 B: BELIEVE that Christ died, was raised, and is coming again 1 Cor 15:3-4 C: Confess your sins, repent, and COMMIT your life to Christ – to live for Him instead of yourself Acts 26:20

JN 5:24 "I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.” Jesus HOLY GOD MAN

Jesus HOLY GOD MAN Who I am in Christ: • 1. I am FORGIVEN of ALL my sins • Heb 10:12-14 2. I am INDWELT by the Holy Spirit Gal 2:20, Heb 13:5, Rev 3:20 3. I am ADOPTED as a Son/Daughter of God Jn 1:12 4. I am a NEW CREATION in Christ 2 Cor 5:17, Eph 2:4-5 • 5. I have ETERNAL LIFE Jn 17:3, 1 Jn 5:11

Where are you right now in relationship to Jesus Christ? 1. Are you sure you are forgiven? Heb 10:12-14 2. Are you sure the Holy Spirit lives within you? Gal 2:20, Heb 13:5, Rev 3:20 3. Are you sure you are a child of God? Jn 1:12 4. Are you sure that you are a NEW CREATION? 2 Cor 5:17, Eph 2:4-5 • 5. Are you sure that if you were to die today, that you would go to heaven? John 17:3, 1 John 5:11 Are you a follower of Jesus Christ who has made a confession of repentance and faith?

The Goal: Maturity