As we look at the three words which express the theme for this quarter—pardoned, prepared, and powerful—we find a spiritual goal set before each of us. God’s part and our part in each of these words are closely intertwined. When we come to God in a spirit of consecration and surrender, He pardons our sins, prepares us for service by giving us the deeper spiritual experiences, and makes us powerful witnesses to the world. As we review the lessons we have studied this past quarter, let us not fail to give honor to God who has provided so much for us.
QUESTIONS
- How do the consequences of Adam’s disobedience extend to all mankind? See Romans 5:12. Given that knowledge, what is our hope? See 1 Corinthians 15:22
- What does the word redemption mean, as used in the Biblical sense?
- What is the difference between conviction and repentance, and why are both necessary?
- Salvation is a gift, and our redemption was purchased on Calvary by the Blood of Jesus. Still, action must be taken to receive this experience. Read Ephesians 2:8, 2 Corinthians 7:10, and 1 John 1:9, and then describe this action.
- Is the great work of sanctification immaterial? Is it left to the individual Christian as to whether he should seek for this second definite work of grace? Why or why not? See Genesis 17:1, Leviticus 11:44, and 1 Thessalonians 4:3.
- In reference to Acts 1:8, what does the Holy Ghost bring into our lives? Why is it important to put this into action?
- Jesus’ command, “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15) was basically limited to personal witnessing. Preaching to large groups was also a possibility, as the Apostle Peter did on the Day of Pentecost. What are some of the means of communication used effectively in spreading the Gospel today? How can each individual help in this endeavor?
- The Gospel in the early time of the Apostles had been preached only to the Jews, Samaritans who observed the Law of Moses, and converts to Judaism (known as proselytes), excluding the Gentiles. Peter, in preaching at Cornelius’ home, stated, “God is no respecter of persons” (Acts 10:34). What was the significance of this statement? What happened as Peter was preaching?
- We have often heard the quote, “Keep on keeping on.” Several Scriptures encourage us to do this in order to have complete victory. List some of the ways Satan would try to hinder our walk with the Lord. In addition, list some of the ways we can fight the enemy’s attack. See James 4:7, 1 Peter 1:13, Isaiah 26:3, James 1:12, and Galatians 6:9.
THEME THOUGHTS
Just what are the steps that lead to being a successful Christian soldier? In this quarter, we will study the basic principles on which we can establish our spiritual walk with Christ. We begin with a lesson on the Adamic nature, understanding that the starting point for each person must be a realization of why he needs a change of heart. The lesson on the Adamic nature is closely tied to the second lesson, which is about the remedy for sin—the Redeemer. In this lesson we will see that God provided a solution for the problem of sin, and will understand how it was made available to man. The next two lessons take up the necessary steps preliminary to receiving salvation—conviction and repentance—what they are and why they are necessary. The lesson on salvation is followed by lessons on the experiences of sanctification and the baptism of the Holy Ghost. Then we will consider how being equipped with these experiences gives us power to live a more victorious life and power to work for the Lord. Concluding lessons emphasize the importance of obtaining the whole armor of God, that we may effectively “fight the good fight” until the end.