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1 Corinthians
Lesson 15, Part 2
Copyright 1999. John Creamer. All rights reserved.
Part 1 of this lesson included Scripture admonishing us to always be
prepared to share with everyone who asks the basis for our faith in God.
This lesson is a sequel to Lesson 1 explaining further the facts on which
our faith in God through Jesus Christ is founded, the decision brought
about by these facts, and the consequences of that decision.
Questions: What do you think the general public in America today thinks about heaven
and hell? For those people in the general public who think there may be a heaven,
how do you suppose they believe a person gains entrance? Scripture: (Matthew 13:24-30 NIV) Jesus told them another parable: "The
kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. {25}
But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among
the wheat, and went away. {26} When the wheat sprouted and formed heads,
then the weeds also appeared. {27} "The owner's servants came to
him and said, 'Sir, didn't you sow good seed in your field? Where then
did the weeds come from?' {28} "'An enemy did this,' he replied.
"The servants asked him, 'Do you want us to go and pull them up?'
{29} "'No,' he answered, 'because while you are pulling the weeds,
you may root up the wheat with them. {30} Let both grow together until
the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the
weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and
bring it into my barn.'" In this parable that Jesus told to explain heaven, how many different
kinds of plants does the man have growing in his field (v.26)? What did his servants ask him in verse 28? Why did he say he did not want them to pull up the weeds (v.29)? What did he say he would instruct the harvesters to do to the weeds at
harvest time (v.30)? (Matthew 13:37-43 NIV) He answered, "The
one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. {38} The field is the world,
and the good seed stands for the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the
sons of the evil one, {39} and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The
harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels. {40} "As
the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end
of the age. {41} The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will
weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil.
{42} They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be
weeping and gnashing of teeth. {43} Then the righteous will shine like
the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear. Now Jesus explained the parable. Verse 37…Who is the one who sowed
the good seed? Verse 38…Who does the good seed represent? Who are the weeds? Verse 39…Who sowed the weeds? When is the harvest? Who are the harvesters? Verses 40-42…What happens to the weeds? What does that represent? Verse 43…What will happen to the righteous (good seed)? Therefore, according to this parable, how many alternatives are there
in eternity? So!!! Is this a ‘hellfire and brimstone’
lesson? Yep!!! (Luke 16:19-31 NIV) "There was a rich man
who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day.
{20} At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores {21}
and longing to eat what fell from the rich man's table. Even the dogs
came and licked his sores. {22} "The time came when the beggar died
and the angels carried him to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and
was buried. {23} In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw
Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. {24} So he called to him,
'Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his
finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.'
{25} "But Abraham replied, 'Son, remember that in your lifetime you
received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now
he is comforted here and you are in agony. {26} And besides all this,
between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want
to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to
us.' {27} "He answered, 'Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to
my father's house, {28} for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so
that they will not also come to this place of torment.' {29} "Abraham
replied, 'They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.'
{30} "'No, father Abraham,' he said, 'but if someone from the dead
goes to them, they will repent.' {31} "He said to him, 'If they do
not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even
if someone rises from the dead.'" Verse 22…What happened to Lazarus when he died? Verses 22-23…Where did the rich man end up after he was buried? Although we don’t know anything about the life of the rich man
or Lazarus that determined their final destiny, the fact that Jesus called
Lazarus’ name specifically as opposed to rich man/poor man suggests
that his audience knew the people he was talking about…as well as
their lifestyles and beliefs. According to this parable, how many alternatives are there for eternity? How is hell described in verse 23? Some people believe their eternal destiny can change after death and
that people should pray for the salvation of the dead. According to verse
26, is this possible? According to verse 31, where does a person find the information to make
the right decision? What do we call that today? (The Bible. Everything
we need to know about access to heaven is in Scripture.) (2 Peter 3:3-10 NIV) First of all, you must understand that in the
last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires.
{4} They will say, "Where is this 'coming' he promised? Ever since
our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of
creation." {5} But they deliberately forget that long ago by God's
word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by
water. {6} By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and
destroyed. {7} By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved
for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly
men. {8} But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord
a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. {9}
The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness.
He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to
come to repentance. {10} But the day of the Lord will come like a thief.
The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed
by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. According to verse 3, how will some people respond to Scripture’s
account of ‘the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men’? When is this supposed to happen? Could it already be happening? According to verse 9, what is God’s wish? How much ‘advance warning’ does verse 10 say there will be? What causes a person to be a ‘weed’ instead
of wheat, Lazarus instead of the rich man, believer rather than scoffer? (Luke 15:11-32 NIV) Jesus continued: "There
was a man who had two sons. {12} The younger one said to his father, 'Father,
give me my share of the estate.' So he divided his property between them.
{13} "Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had,
set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild
living. {14} After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine
in that whole country, and he began to be in need. {15} So he went and
hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields
to feed pigs. {16} He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the
pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. {17} "When he came
to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired men have food to
spare, and here I am starving to death! {18} I will set out and go back
to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and
against you. {19} I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me
like one of your hired men.' {20} So he got up and went to his father.
"But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was
filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around
him and kissed him. {21} "The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned
against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your
son.' {22} "But the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the
best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his
feet. {23} Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and
celebrate. {24} For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was
lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate. {25} "Meanwhile,
the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard
music and dancing. {26} So he called one of the servants and asked him
what was going on. {27} 'Your brother has come,' he replied, 'and your
father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.'
{28} "The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his
father went out and pleaded with him. {29} But he answered his father,
'Look! All these years I've been slaving for you and never disobeyed your
orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with
my friends. {30} But when this son of yours who has squandered your property
with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!' {31}
"'My son,' the father said, 'you are always with me, and everything
I have is yours. {32} But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this
brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.'" Jesus told this parable to illustrate the deterioration between man and
God. According to these verses, which came first—the separation or
the evil deeds? (Separation. The evil deeds were subsequent to and a consequence
of the son’s alienation from his father.) What did the son say to himself in verse 18 and to his father in verse
21 that he had done? (“I have sinned against heaven and against you.”) In that light, the specific things the son did while he was away from
his father were the effect, not the cause of his estrangement. Yet, when
the son returned, he knew he needed to acknowledge his estrangement as
well as his deeds as sin to end the alienation from his father. Who do you think the older brother in verses 25-32 represents? According to Scripture, which people are guilty
of ‘wandering away’? (Isaiah 53:6 NIV) We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us
has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of
us all. According to this verse, how many have wandered away? (Psalms 53:1-3 NIV) For the director of music. According to mahalath.
A maskil of David. The fool says in his heart, "There is no God."
They are corrupt, and their ways are vile; there is no one who does good.
{2} God looks down from heaven on the sons of men to see if there are
any who understand, any who seek God. {3} Everyone has turned away, they
have together become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even
one. According to verse 3, how many are ‘innocent? (Proverbs 20:9 NIV) Who can say, "I have kept my heart pure;
I am clean and without sin"? How many does this verse suggest are without sin? (Romans 3:23 NIV) for all have sinned and fall short of the glory
of God, How many? Where did this tendency that all have to ‘wander
off’ come from, and what provisions did God make to ‘get us
back’? (Romans 5:12-21 NLT) When Adam sinned, sin entered the entire human
race. Adam's sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone
sinned. {13} Yes, people sinned even before the law was given. And though
there was no law to break, since it had not yet been given, {14} they
all died anyway--even though they did not disobey an explicit commandment
of God, as Adam did. What a contrast between Adam and Christ, who was
yet to come! {15} And what a difference between our sin and God's generous
gift of forgiveness. For this one man, Adam, brought death to many through
his sin. But this other man, Jesus Christ, brought forgiveness to many
through God's bountiful gift. {16} And the result of God's gracious gift
is very different from the result of that one man's sin. For Adam's sin
led to condemnation, but we have the free gift of being accepted by God,
even though we are guilty of many sins. {17} The sin of this one man,
Adam, caused death to rule over us, but all who receive God's wonderful,
gracious gift of righteousness will live in triumph over sin and death
through this one man, Jesus Christ. {18} Yes, Adam's one sin brought condemnation
upon everyone, but Christ's one act of righteousness makes all people
right in God's sight and gives them life. {19} Because one person disobeyed
God, many people became sinners. But because one other person obeyed God,
many people will be made right in God's sight. {20} God's law was given
so that all people could see how sinful they were. But as people sinned
more and more, God's wonderful kindness became more abundant. {21} So
just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God's
wonderful kindness rules instead, giving us right standing with God and
resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Verse 12…When did sin enter the human race? What did it bring? Verse 15…What solution did God offer? Verse 21…What is the outcome of God’s gift through Jesus Christ? (Romans 6:23 NLT) For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift
of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord. What is the price of our ‘wandering’ from God? What provision did God make? (Isaiah 52:13-15 NIV) See, my servant will act wisely; he will be
raised and lifted up and highly exalted. {14} Just as there were many
who were appalled at him—his appearance was so disfigured beyond
that of any man and his form marred beyond human likeness—{15} so
will he sprinkle many nations, and kings will shut their mouths because
of him. For what they were not told, they will see, and what they have
not heard, they will understand. (Isaiah 53 NIV) Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm
of the LORD been revealed? {2} He grew up before him like a tender shoot,
and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract
us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. {3} He
was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with
suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and
we esteemed him not. {4} Surely he took up our infirmities and carried
our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and
afflicted. {5} But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed
for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him,
and by his wounds we are healed. {6} We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the
iniquity of us all. {7} He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not
open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep
before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. {8} By oppression
and judgment he was taken away. And who can speak of his descendants?
For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression
of my people he was stricken. {9} He was assigned a grave with the wicked,
and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was
any deceit in his mouth. {10} Yet it was the Lord's will to crush him
and cause him to suffer, and though the LORD makes his life a guilt offering,
he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the LORD
will prosper in his hand. {11} After the suffering of his soul, he will
see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous
servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities. {12} Therefore
I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils
with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered
with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession
for the transgressors. This is a prophecy of what Jesus would come to do—seven hundred
years before his birth. According to verse 5, why would he be ‘pierced’,
‘crushed’, ‘punished’ and ‘wounded’? Once again, how many of us brought this on Jesus Christ? Does anyone have a footnote for verse 11? (or by knowledge of him) How
will he justify many? (As many come to know him, they will accept his
payment for their iniquities.) (Luke 19:10 NIV) For the Son of Man came to
seek and to save what was lost." What did Jesus say he came to do? (John 3:17 NIV) For God did not send his Son
into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. What did Jesus say God did not send him to do? (Romans 5:6-8 NIV) You see, at just the right time, when we were still
powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. {7} Very rarely will anyone die
for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare
to die. {8} But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we
were still sinners, Christ died for us. What did we do to merit Jesus dying for us? (1 Timothy 1:15-16 NIV) Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves
full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners--of
whom I am the worst. Why did Jesus come into the world? What are We to do? (Romans 3:22-24 NIV) This righteousness from God comes through faith
in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, {23} for all
have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, {24} and are justified
freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. Verse 22…To whom is God’s righteousness given? (All who believe
in Jesus Christ.) (1 Timothy 1:16 NIV) But for that very reason I was shown mercy so
that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited
patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive
eternal life. How did Paul say he received God’s mercy, patience and eternal life? (1 Peter 2:21-25 NIV) To this you were called, because Christ suffered
for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.
{22} "He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth."
{23} When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when
he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him
who judges justly. {24} He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree,
so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds
you have been healed. {25} For you were like sheep going astray, but now
you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. According to verse 25, what do we straying sheep need to do? (Return
to the shepherd.) (John 3:18-21 NIV) Whoever believes in him is
not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because
he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. {19} This is
the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead
of light because their deeds were evil. {20} Everyone who does evil hates
the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will
be exposed. {21} But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light,
so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through
God." Verse 18…Who is not condemned? Who is? Verses 19-20…Why do some refuse to believe—and come ‘into
the light’? (John 1:11-14 NIV) He came to that which was his own, but his own
did not receive him. {12} 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. {14} The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among
us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from
the Father, full of grace and truth. Verse 12…What does he do for those who receive him? (Romans 10:8-17 NIV) But what does it say? "The word is near
you; it is in your mouth and in your heart," that is, the word of
faith we are proclaiming: {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. {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." {12} For there is no difference between Jew
and Gentile--the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call
on him, {13} for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will
be saved." {14} How, then, can they call on the one they have not
believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not
heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? {15} And
how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How
beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!" {16} But not
all the Israelites accepted the good news. For Isaiah says, "Lord,
who has believed our message?" {17} Consequently, faith comes from
hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ. Verse 9…What two things are we to do? Verse 10…What does ‘believing in our heart that God raised
him from the dead’ do? (Justifies us with God.) What does ‘confessing with our mouth “Jesus is Lord”’
do? (Completes our salvation.) Verse 14…What prevents people from ‘calling on the name of
the Lord’? (Lack of belief.) What causes lack of belief? (Never heard
this message.) What causes them not to hear? (No one told them.) What
causes the situation in which there is no one to tell them? (No one sent
the messengers.) In other words: People will hear and believe if someone
will tell them about Jesus Christ. It is our job to make sure this is
done. Eternal Life… (John 3:16 NIV) "For God so loved the world
that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall
not perish but have eternal life. What did Jesus say would happen to those who believed in him? (John 17:2-3 NIV) For you granted him authority
over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have
given him. {3} Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only
true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. How did Jesus define eternal life in verse 3? BOTTOM LINE: For the wages of sin is death,
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