Explore new horizons of a living faith
These pages are designed to aid study or investigation for Christian discipleship through individual Bible study, Cell groups, Home groups, or meeting one to one. The questions could be used alone allowing each person to use their own Bible.
If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. 2 Cor 5:17
Blog Site
Derek’s Blog which comes out weekly to fortnightly is at -
Go to the new more user friendly version - beingrecreated.org
Introduction
The Lord assures us that He will ‘never leave you nor forsake you.’ It is one thing to be told that God loves and that He freely forgives, but how do we know for sure that we have been received by Him? How do we know that He will not give up on us? Many are concerned not about God’s willingness, but our own failure. The strength of God’s promise is bigger than our faithfulness!
Bible Zone
- Shepherd will not lose sheep - Jesus and God commit that no sheep will be lost.
- Child of God forever - Having become a child of God there is no going back.
- Clear Promise - God’s commitment is clear and absolute.
- Jesus comes to all who invite - If we open the door of our heart Jesus will enter.
- Personal Perspective - My personal struggles after becoming a Christian.
Our first text was stated by Jesus in John 10. Here the picture is of Jesus, a shepherd looking after us, His sheep.
- Why is Jesus so sure the sheep are safe?
- How dependent is Jesus on the sheep’s behaviour for their safety?
- Who are the sheep? (V27)
- How does this declaration of Jesus make you feel?
John 10:27-30 27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me,29 for my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else. No one can snatch them from the Father's hand.30 The Father and I are one."
Our relationship with God our Father when we become adopted children.
- Who is given the right to become a child of God?
- What part does a person have and what part does God have in this?
- How confident are you that your Father is willing to keep you?
John 1:11-13 11 He came to his own people, and even they rejected him.12 But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.13 They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.
Teaching focusing on the certainty of life for those who have received Jesus..
- Who is it that gives eternal life?
- What is the basis of having eternal life?
- Why was the statement written?
1 John 5:11-13 11 And this is what God has testified: He has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have God's Son does not have life.
13 I have written this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know you have eternal life.
Our last text is taken from the end of the Bible - Revelation 3:20 This text, written to those who believe in Jesus, shows Jesus’ generosity to enter our hearts.
- What does Jesus promise in this text?
- What are the conditions to the promise?
- Who does Jesus exclude?
Revelation 3:20 20 "Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.’
The early stages of a relationship can be insecure times. The Bible speaks to this condition. God’s guarantee is cast iron, it is based on a condition that we are right with God.
This issue of assurance is something I struggled with when I first turned to Christ. This is my story -
How I struggled with this issue, but eventually found an assured peace with God.
Page appears in Bible Explorer titled -
ASSURANCE OF SALVATION
