XI. What Methods Does GOD Use

To Provide Life And Salvation?

            “Once upon a time” all was harmonious in the Paradise of

GOD’S Creation.  Every living thing stood in the fullness of GOD’S intended purpose.  And the purpose for all life was simple: live to bless others!  And through that unselfish giving comes the receiving.  Herein lies the heart of GOD’S government, and thus, life’s security and happiness.  As long as angels and men focused their intelligence to study GOD’S eternal love and His desire to serve the life He created, aspiring to understand His purposes, GOD would remain forever praised and exalted as The Elite Minister of this love.

         When GOD created life He created a vast spectrum of creatures from the lowly worm to the loftiness of man.  He assigned to each a specific duty accompanied with feelings and emotions where their supreme happiness was to be found in fulfilling that specific duty—all under GOD’S etiquette of subservient love.  Through His wise allocation the balance of nature would be continuously tranquil.

            But then it happened! A rebellion against love began!  The very opposite of GOD’S government was introduced.  Rather than give to receive, the new government chose to take all and leave nothing.  This government is the government of sin.  And with the entrance of sin the tranquility GOD established for all life “In the beginning” was stolen and replaced with violence and death.  As a result, “the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now” (Rom.8:22).  Without GOD'S determination to undo Satan’s violence against life, all of GOD’S children would have been lost to the curse of sin.  But GOD’S resolve to save His children was achieved through the willing sacrifice of “His only begotten Son,” Jesus Christ.  This was the Apostle Paul’s primary focus in his ministry: “For I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.” I Cor.2:2.  In this study it will be seen that GOD has given to man all of the necessary provisions for his redemption (Jn.17:4). 

            GOD’S supreme method to reach the minds and hearts of His children is through the intellect.  The Bible defines our mental capacity as three faculties of comprehension; and each step in the growth of these faculties leads to a better understanding in life, and thus, provides a growing discernment to know the difference between the safe way vs. “the way, that leadeth to destruction” (Matt.7:13).  The Bible’s wisest man, Solomon defines these three faculties of comprehension as “knowledge,” “understanding,” and “wisdom.” Knowledge is facts. Understanding is the union of knowledge with our personal experience.  And wisdom is the ability given of GOD to communicate one's understanding with our fellow man.  Through these faculties man can appreciate GOD’S simple objective: to restore everlasting life in utopian tranquility: the holy perfection that was lost through the intrusion of sin.  And along with our restoration will be the open companionship of His Glorious Presence (Rev.22:1-6).  Therefore, the Scriptures teach that GOD desires His children to understand three basic facts:

1. Our justification to everlasting life is only through the sinless life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ whose merits as the “Everlasting Father” and “the last Adam” place Him as “the Saviour” of the human race (Isa.9:6; Jn.5:24; I Cor.15:45).

2. The refinement of our character and our resurrection from the grave to an eternal life with Jesus Christ is only through the power of the Holy Spirit residing within our heart (Rom.8:9-11).

3. The Christian's standard of godly living is through careful, prayerful reverence to GOD’S Ten Commandment Law through the Presence of the Holy Spirit (Jn.14:15; 8:58; Rom.8:7).

1. When did GOD put the plan of salvation into action?

Genesis 3:15  And I ______  ______  ___________  ______________  ______  _____  _____  _____________, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise His heel.

2.   Does GOD use nature to teach men of His salvation and sacrifice?

Psalm 19:1-4  The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. [v.3] There is no speech nor language, _________  _________  _________  ____  _____  _________. Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun. 

            The balance of nature is sustained through the sacrifice of life. All creatures, great and small exist within this framework; and thus, the perpetuation of life for all major species has continued to this day.  It is based on this commonality that the GOD of Heaven gave “his only begotten Son.” And the sacrifice of Jesus didn’t restore eternal life for mankind only, but the entire biosphere of the Earth. In effect, Jesus saved the entire world from the curse of sin and death.

Romans 1:20  For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen _________  _________________  ____  ______  _________  _______  ______  _______, even his eternal power and godhead; so that they are without excuse.

Matthew 6:25,26,30  Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body more than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?... [v.30] Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, _______  ____  _____  _______  _______  _________  _____, O ye of little faith? 

3.   How does our ability to reason contribute to our appreciation of salvation?

Proverbs 4:7-9  Wisdom is the principle thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting _____  __________________. Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou doest embrace her. She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee.

Isaiah 1:16-18  Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. [v.18] ________  ______  ______  ______  ____  ___________  ______________, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

Acts 14:11-17  And when the people saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men. And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker. Then the priest of Jupiter, which was before their city, brought oxen and garlands unto the gates, and would have done sacrifice with the people. Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out, [v.15] And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? _____  _______  ______  ______  _____  ________  ______________  _______  ______, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein: Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways. Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.

4. Can we be assured of GOD'S Presence of peace in our

     lives even when life is oppressive?

Isaiah 26:3  Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, _______  ______ ___  ________  ____  ________: because he trusteth in thee.

5. If I have sinned willfully or even ignorantly, how can I

    rest in GOD'S assurance that He accepts me and will

    cleanse me of all my sinning ways?

I John 1:9  If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to ____________  ____ our sins and to _____________  ____ from _____ unrighteousness.  

I John 2:1,2  My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And ____  ______  ______  ______,  _____  ________  ____  ________________ with the Father, __________  __________ the righteous:  And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

         The temptations we all face will never cease until Satan’s presence is removed from our lives.  Because of this, Jesus desires our union with Him through the Power of the Holy Spirit to gain our victory over sin.  He calls for our cooperation with Him to resist temptation, because Satan’s purpose is to destroy us and those we love.  We all have areas where we are strong and unflinching.  But we also have those areas that need spiritual reinforcement, to strengthen those areas of our character that are weak.  The saying is very true: “a chain is only as strong as its weakest link.”  But even in these vulnerable areas of our lives we can rest “in Christ” to bring victory as the apostle James stated: “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting [or lacking] nothing.” Ja.1:2-4.

6. When unbelief takes hold in my life, what can I do?

 Mark 9:23,24  Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, _____  __________  _____  _______________  ____  ______  _______  _______________.  [v.24] And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, ________, ___  _____________; ________  _______  _____  __________________.

James 1:5  If any of you lack wisdom, let him ______  _____  ______, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

7. Can I overcome my weaknesses in my own strength?

John 15:5  I am the vine, ye are the branches: He. that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: _____  _____________  ____  ____  ______  ____  ___________.

Psalm 138:8  _____  _______  _____  ____________ that which concerneth _____: Thy mercy, 0 LORD, endureth forever:  ____________  ______ the works of Thine own hands.

8. Does the Holy Spirit remove my free choice?

Psalm 119:30  ____  _______  ___________ the way of truth: Thy judgments _______  ____  _______  ___________  _____.

            The greatest gift next to life is the liberty to choose one’s destiny.  And although the abuse of that gift has caused untold misery GOD promises that after all is said and done, neither angels nor men will ever again cross into the realm of self-serving greed as it is written: “affliction shall not rise up the second time.” Na.1:9.

9. Does GOD measure my victories as my own even though

     they are drawn from me by His Presence in me?

Ezekiel 14:14  Though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they should deliver but their own souls ____  _______  ___________________, saith the LORD God.

Revelation 2:7  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; ____  ______  ________  ____________________ will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

         When Adam and Eve made their decision to eat the forbidden fruit in defiance of GOD’S command, “Thou shalt not eat of it,” they lost the ability to be entrusted with the care of life.  From that moment forward they lost the glory of GOD’S holy purpose for their lives.  So GOD graciously placed in their hearts the desire to live righteously and have contempt for the ways of evil (Gen.3:15).  It is in concert with this desire that the Holy Spirit works on the hearts of men.  And through faith that GOD’S “free gift” of salvation will restore all that has been lost through sin we can find refuge in Him from the many struggles we face in our lives.  

It is only because of GOD’S protection that man has been spared from Satan’s power who would bring in-a-heartbeat the assault of criminals, disease, and disaster into the lives of every man, woman and child.  GOD’S protecting hand is verified in the book of Job: “Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? Thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.” Job 1:9,10.  By living under the protection of GOD’S Ten Commandment Law all the blessings of heaven become available to the believer, and they will witness firsthand GOD’S Power to “rebuke the devourer” (Mal.3:11) and thus fortify their resolve to resist temptation. 

In summation, the restoration of godliness in man is to be drawn from us by a power beyond our natural strength.  In our fallen condition we are incapable of love for GOD or obeying His Law without His Presence.  So we give Him permission to live out His love and His purpose for us—within us.  This is why King David prayed, “Take not thy Holy Spirit from me…uphold me with thy free Spirit.” Ps.51:11,12.  Through man’s companionship with the Spirit of GOD the fruits of this union give “faith, hope, and charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity [Greek word: agape (the love born-of-heaven)]” (I Cor.13:13).  It is the holiness of GOD'S subservient love [agape] that led Him to save us, as it is written: “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end” (Jer.29:11).  He gave to us the ability to choose life over death, to discern the harmful ways of life, and to encourage the lives of those around us to embrace Jesus Christ and His good news of salvation.  To this end, the prophets through the ages were unanimous in their cry, “Repent!”—Separate from the sins that destroy the soul.

10. What assurances does GOD give for the Resurrection?

John 6:40  And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and ___  ______  ________  _____  ____  ____  _____  ______  _____.

II Kings 13:20,21  And Elisha died, and they buried him. And the bands of the Moabites invaded the land at the coming of the year. [v.21] And it came to pass, as they were burying a man, that, behold, they spied a band of men; and they cast the man into the sepulchre of Elisha: and when the man was let down, and touched the bones of Elisha, ____  __________, and _______  ____  ____  _____  _______.

Matthew 9:18,19,23-26  While he spake these things unto them behold, there came a certain ruler, and worshipped him, saying, My daughter is even now dead: but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live. And Jesus arose, and followed him, and so did his disciples… [v.23] And when Jesus came into the ruler’s house, and saw the minstrels and the people making a noise. He said unto them, Give place, for the maid is not dead but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn. [v.25] But when the people were put forth, he went in, and took her by the hand, _____  _____  _______  ________. And the fame hereof went abroad into all that land.

John 11:41-44  Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me. And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. [v.44] _____  ____  ______  _____  ______  ______  _______, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.

Acts 9:36,37,40,41  Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did. And it came to pass in those days, that she was sick, and died: whom when they had washed, they laid her in an upper chamber… [v.40] But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise. _____  _____  ________  _____  ______: and when she saw Peter, she sat up. And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up, and when he had called the saints and widows, presented her alive.

Philippians 3:10  That I may know him, _____  _____  _________  ____  _____  _________________.