LEARNING TO PLEASE GOD

LESSON ONE -- STUDY YOUR BIBLE

 

     The greatest privilege on earth is that of being a Christian. A true Christian is Christ-like in life. You can be just a Christian. There is no true happiness apart from God. God is the cause and source of all true happiness. Sin separates souls from God and brings man the worst unhappiness of all. (Isaiah 59:2) Sin causes a person to be empty, lonely and filled with guilt. The pay for sin is always misery. "The way of the unfaithful (transgressor) is hard." (Proverbs 13:15) There is an emptiness within each of us which can only be filled by God. "My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?" (Psalms 42:2.) The tragedy of all tragedies is to live and die without God. (Ephesians 2:12)

 

     Our Bible study reveals the true God to us. The Bible reveals a God who loves man and wants us saved. The love of God is seen in the gift of His Son on the cross. (John 3:16) God also showed His love for us in providing us with the Bible that we might know His will. God's love is likewise seen in His giving us the privilege of being a citizen in His kingdom, the church. Those who know God have true happiness in this life and heaven in the world to come. "And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.” (1 John 5:11-12) A wonderful truth has been learned when one understands God's love and desire for our good and happiness. "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8)

 

     Our Bible study reveals that true happiness is spiritual, not material. True happiness comes from giving God and His kingdom proper place in our lives. (Matthew 6:33) Material things do not bring lasting satisfaction. The more one gets the more one wants. "Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses." (Luke 12:15) True riches and true happiness never comes to the one who "...lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God." (Luke 12:21) The love of money or material things always leads to evil and not good. (1 Timothy 6:10)

 

     Our Bible study reveals that true peace comes only from God. Those who have Jesus have a peace which the world did not give and the world cannot take away. "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." (John 14:27) This gives real reason to rejoice. "Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!" (Philippians 4:4) Let us all learn that the key to real joy is for God to rule my life.

 

     Our Bible study is necessary for faith. Those who would know God must study the Bible. "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (Romans 10:17) The first step toward knowing God is Bible study.  God had His message written so we could read, believe and obey. "But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name." (John 20:31)       My desire to study the Bible shows my desire to know God. This desire to know God must be strong. "As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby." (1 Peter 2:2) My Bible study enables me to know and serve God.

 

     The key to real joy is for God to rule my life. To become a Christian: Hear the gospel of Christ (Romans 10:17), believe in Jesus as the Christ (John 8:24), repent of sins (Acts 17:30-31), confess faith in Jesus (Acts 8:37) and be baptized to wash away sins. (Acts 22:16) At Bible baptism God adds an honest soul to the Lord's church. A Christian must then be faithful until death. (Revelation 2:10) Are you a faithful Christian? If not, please become a Christian and live faithfully the Christian life.

 

Searching for truth:

 

1. _______ is the cause and source of all true happiness.

 

2. I am empty and lonely until I find __________ ______________.

 

3. No joy is ___________ or _________________ apart from God.

 

4. _________________ God brings true happiness here and hereafter.

 

5. The key to real joy is for God to __________ ____ ________.