Lesson 1 – How God Gives Eternal Life

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1. WHAT SHOULD BE THE MOST IMPORTANT CONCERN IN OUR LIVES?

Mark 8:36 — What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?

It should be our greatest concern that we do not lose our own soul.

2. WHY SHOULD WE BE CONCERNED ABOUT THIS?

Matthew 25:34 — Then the King will say to those on his right, “Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.”

Matthew 25:41 — Then he will say to those on his left, “Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.”

We should be concerned because some will spend eternity in heaven, and some in hell.

3. CAN WE EARN A PLACE IN HEAVEN?

Romans 3:23 — For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

Romans 6:23 — For the wages of sin is death.

It is certain that we do not deserve to go to heaven.

4. WHY DON’T WE DESERVE TO GO TO HEAVEN?

Matthew 22:37,39 — Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind…Love your neighbor as yourself.

Matthew 15:19 — For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.

Galatians 3:10 — Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.

We have earned God’s punishment for we have failed to obey his Law of perfect love.

5. HOW DID GOD SAVE US FROM THE PUNISHMENT WE HAVE EARNED?

John 3:16 — 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.

In spite of our sin, God loved us and sent his Son to be our Savior.

2 Corinthians 5:21 — God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

I Peter 2:24 — He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree.

God made Jesus guilty of our sins, and punished him in our place. When Jesus died on the cross, he was suffering for us.

2 Timothy 1:10 — Our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.

Jesus removed our punishment and won for us the gift of eternal life.

6. WHO RECEIVES THE SALVATION THAT JESUS WON FOR US?

John 3:16 — 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.

2 Timothy 4:18 — The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom.

All have salvation who believe that Jesus has paid for their sins and has given them eternal life.

7. CAN WE BE SURE THAT WE HAVE ETERNAL LIFE?

Romans 3:24 — We are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

Romans 6:23 — The gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

We can be sure that we have eternal life because it is God’s free gift through Jesus Christ.

SUMMARY: God wanted us to be perfect. He wanted us to obey his laws exactly. But instead we sinned, and God hates sin. He had to punish us, and everyone else, with eternal death and damnation. But God still loved his disobedient children. And for that reason alone he sent us a Savior. That Savior was his own Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus took our guilt upon himself and endured God’s punishment for our sins. Now God no longer must punish us for our sins. He now gives eternal life to all who believe that Jesus has saved them.

QUICKIE QUIZ (T or F)

  1. ___ Our health should be our greatest concern in life.
  2. ___ God would never send anyone to hell.
  3. ___ If we obey God’s laws, we don’t have to fear God’s punishment.
  4. ___ No one is able to live according to God’s law.
  5. ___ God is not angry with us if we do our best.
  6. ___ God saved sinners through Jesus Christ.
  7. ___ God made Jesus guilty of our sins.
  8. ___ God forgives us because Jesus died in our place.
  9. ___ God does not punish us because he punished Jesus instead.
  10. ___ Those who learn about Jesus will have eternal life.

WHERE DOES THE BIBLE SAY

  1. that there is a heaven and a hell?

    Matthew 25:34 — Then the King will say to those on his right, “Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.”Matthew 25:41 — Then he will say to those on his left, “Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.”

  2. that we should love others as much as we love ourselves?

    Matthew 22:39 — Love your neighbor as yourself.

  3. that no man is perfect?

    Romans 3:23 — For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

  4. that Jesus suffered for our sins?

    I Peter 2:24 — He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree.

  5. that God gives eternal life to those who believe in Jesus?

    John 3:16 — 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.

For more information you can watch this lesson presented as a Bible study HERE.  Please click HERE to find the complete series of Bible studies.

Next Lesson – #2 How We Became Guilty And Damned