Dec 22 2008
Bible Study Week 30 - Becoming Like Christ in Your Purpose
Purpose of This Bible Study Lesson
This lesson will help you to understand that the process of becoming like Christ is by knowing your purpose as a child of God and fulfilling that purpose. Just like Christ was born for a specific purpose and he accomplished it at the cross, you have also been born to fulfill a specific task and purpose, and your duty is to discover it and fulfill it with God’s help.
Learning Goals
This lesson will guide the participants to:-
- Learn that they have a unique and specific purpose in life to accomplish
- Discover that they can fulfill that purpose with the help of the Holy Spirit
- Discover the role that righteousness plays in fulfilling this purpose
Introduction
Last week we learned that a disordered mind is an ungodly mind which leads to ungodly desires. Your spiritual growth will take place when you begin to water the garden of your mind with God’s righteousness as Matt 6:33Matt 6:33
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
33 But seek ye first his kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
say “But seek ye first His kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Many Christians are so concerned with earthly desires that they completely fail to seek the things that matter; the things of the kingdom of God and His righteousness. Righteousness is an English word which when translated means “right-standing” i.e. to be upright with God. Righteousness is the key to unlocking your purpose and fulfilling your task here on earth.
Begin Today’s Lesson by Reading: Acts 9:1-22Acts 9:1-22
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
9
1 But Saul, yet breathing threatening and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,
2 and asked of him letters to Damascus unto the synagogues, that if he found any that were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.
3 And as he journeyed, it came to pass that he drew nigh unto Damascus: and suddenly there shone round about him a light out of heaven:
4 and he fell upon the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And he [said], I am Jesus whom thou persecutest:
6 but rise, and enter into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.
7 And the men that journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing the voice, but beholding no man.
8 And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw nothing; and they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus.
9 And he was three days without sight, and did neither eat nor drink.
10 Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and the Lord said unto him in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I [am here], Lord.
11 And the Lord [said] unto him, Arise, and go to the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for one named Saul, a man of Tarsus: for behold, he prayeth;
12 and he hath seen a man named Ananias coming in, and laying his hands on him, that he might receive his sight.
13 But Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard from many of this man, how much evil he did to thy saints at Jerusalem:
14 and here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call upon thy name.
15 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles and kings, and the children of Israel:
16 for I will show him how many things he must suffer for my name's sake.
17 And Ananias departed, and entered into the house; and laying his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, [even] Jesus, who appeared unto thee in the way which thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mayest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Spirit.
18 And straightway there fell from his eyes as it were scales, and he received his sight; and he arose and was baptized;
19 and he took food and was strengthened. And he was certain days with the disciples that were at Damascus.
20 And straightway in the synagogues he proclaimed Jesus, that he is the Son of God.
21 And all that heard him were amazed, and said, Is not this he that in Jerusalem made havoc of them that called on this name? and he had come hither for this intent, that he might bring them bound before the chief priests.
22 But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews that dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is the Christ.
and Eph 2:1-10Eph 2:1-10
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
2
1 And you [did he make alive,] when ye were dead through your trepasses and sins,
2 wherein ye once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the powers of the air, of the spirit that now worketh in the sons of disobedience;
3 among whom we also all once lived in the lust of our flesh, doing the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest:--
4 but God, being rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
5 even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ ,
6 and raised us up with him, and made us to sit with him in the heavenly [places], in Christ Jesus:
7 that in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus:
8 for by grace have ye been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, [it is] the gift of God;
9 not of works, that no man should glory.
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God afore prepared that we should walk in them.
Prepared For a Purpose
Jesus told His disciples, “I am the vine, you are the branches, he who abides in Me, and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5John 15:5
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same beareth much fruit: for apart from me ye can do nothing.
). Abiding in, remaining in, holding fast, continuing in Christ is foundational to becoming a man or woman of purpose.
In Isaiah 64:6Isaiah 64:6
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
6 For we are all become as one that is unclean, and all our righteousnesses are as a polluted garment: and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.
, our righteousness is compared to “filthy rags” and therefore if left on our own we cannot discover God’s purpose because of our sinful nature; we therefore have a great necessity to abide in Christ who is “the Lord our righteousness” (Jer 23:6Jer 23:6
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
6 In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely; and this is his name whereby he shall be called: Jehovah our righteousness.
), why. . .? “For we live, move, and exist because of him. . .” (Acts: 17:28).
In the above passage, we see how Paul existed before he met with Christ and how his purpose and task was distorted until he met Christ. Before meeting Christ, Saul (became Paul) only existed to fulfill his own evil and devilish desires, but when he was changed his purpose in life was made known to him and he began a life-long journey of fulfilling that task by the help of the Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ talking to Ananias about Paul said “. . . he is a chosen instrument of mine. . .” (Acts 9:15Acts 9:15
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
15 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles and kings, and the children of Israel:
).
Having been made right with God through Christ and being filled with the Holy Spirit (vs.17.), Saul began his ministry, not of persecuting Christians but persuading people to become Christians; what a great transformation that took place in this man called Saul to the glory of God! And It was only after Saul discovered God’s purpose him that life became meaningful to him; this is the same with us, as we will only have a meaningful life as Christians when we discover God’s purpose for us and fulfill it.
A long time ago, God prepared us for “good works” through Christ (Eph 2:10Eph 2:10
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God afore prepared that we should walk in them.
), and our task today is to discover those works and fulfill them, by abiding in Christ “Our Righteousness”.
Bible Study Questions For Discussion - Week 30
- What are the eight virtues that come from above according to James 3:17James 3:17
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without variance, without hypocrisy. ? Please list them
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. - Why do you think it is important for you today to pursue the mind of Christ? Please explain
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. - Why do you think most people experience conflict within them in regards to their desires? Please explain
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. - How can you describe the word “desire’? How can we overcome ungodly desires?
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. - What kind of desires should we have as Christians today?
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. - Do you think it is possible for us to have godly desires today as Christians living in the 21st century? Please explain.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. - What is the evidence of a godly life according to Gal 5:22-23Gal 5:22-23
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 meekness, self-control; against such there is no law. ? Please explain
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. - In your own words please explain briefly why you think some Christians are still bound by the works of flesh listed in Gal 5:19-21Gal 5:19-21
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are [these]: fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousies, wraths, factions, divisions, parties, 21 envyings, drunkenness, revellings, and such like; of which I forewarn you, even as I did forewarn you, that they who practise such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. . Please explain
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
Memorize 2:10e 2:10
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God afore prepared that we should walk in them.
” For we are his masterpiece, created in Christ Jesus for good works that God prepared long ago to be our way of life”.
Prayer
Pray that God will help you to discover your purpose and that He will also help you to fulfill it through Christ Jesus, who has become your righteousness.
Tags: Bible study guide, Bible verses, Christ, christ-like, life, purpose
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