GUIDE TO BIBLE UNDERSTANDING
 
 Guide to Bible Understanding                                  Lesson 1
   
                          THE HOPE OF HUMANITY

 These lessons were written to aid you in your spiritual growth. They
are only guides to help you use your Bible. For maximum use of these
studies and greater understanding of the scripture, we recommend that
you look up the suggested Bible passages in more than one translation.
 
For those who may be new to studying the Bible, remember the following
when you want to find a reference such as John 3:16 in the Bible: You
can find the page on which the book of John starts in the front of the
Bible in the list of contents. The number 3 before the colon (:) is
the chapter you need to look for in the book of John. The number 16
after the colon (:) is the verse number 16 in the third chapter. If
it says something like John 3:1-16 it is a reference to several verses.

 1) In Genesis 1:26-27, in whose image are we created? ____________

 2) Name three things that God expects of us as His special creation.
(see Micah 6:6-8) 
                 a)________________________________________________

                 b)________________________________________________

                 c)________________________________________________
 
 3) In what two ways were we crowned by God our Creator? (Psalm 8:4-5)

                 With _______________ and _________________________

 4) What is described as our entire and conclusive duty to God? (read
Ecclesiastes 12:13-14)

   ___________ God and __________ His _____________________________

 5) What are some of the Scriptural definitions of sin? Match the
following statements with their references:
   
   a) falling short of God's standard        ( )   Romans 14:23
   b) disobeying God's law and will          ( )   Romans 3:23
   c) anything that appears to be wrong      ( )   1 John 3:4 
   
 6) How many people have fallen short of God's standard for them by
their sin? (Romans 3:23)
                         _______________
 
 7) What result can we expect from our sin? (Ezekiel 18:20)

                         _____________________________________________

 8) In Revelation 20:14-15 the second or eternal death is described.
Which people can expect this happening to them?

  Those whose ___________ are not written in the ________ of _________

 9) Who was sent as part of God's plan for taking away our sin? (see
John 1:29)
                         The _____________ of _________________

 10) In your own words describe how the Lord Jesus is able to take away
our sins. (see 1 Peter 2:21-25)
    
    ______________________________________________________________

    ______________________________________________________________

 11) The penalty of sin is separation from God which is eternal death.
Did Jesus ever experience the awesome feeling of separation from God?
(read Matthew 27:46) ( ) Yes   ( ) No  If you answer yes, then, when?

    ______________________________________________________________

 12) What reason did Jesus give for doing this in our place? (see John
15:12-14).
     Jesus said that the greatest _____________ is shown when a person 
     
     ______________ down his _________ for his ______________________.

 13) Was it necessary for Jesus to die for our sins for us to receive
forgiveness of our sins? (Read Hebrews 9:22)
                                               ( ) Yes    ( ) No

 14) Is there any other way to be reconciled to God? (see John 14:6 and
Acts 4:12)
                                               ( ) Yes    ( ) No

 15) How then are our sins forgiven?  (Ephesians 2:8-9)

     For by His __________________ we are __________________ through

     ________________ in Jesus Christ which is not of ______________

     because it is the _________________ of _________________.

 16) What must we ourselves do about our sins? (1 John 1:9)

     _______________________________________________________________

 17) When we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, whose children
do we become? (Read John 1:12)
                              ______________________________________

 18) What change takes place in our lives as a result of our acceptance
of Christ as Lord and Savior? (see 2 Corinthians 5:17)

     _______________________________________________________________  
     
     _______________________________________________________________

 19) In Galatians 2:20, what does it say will happen to our old nature
with its selfish desires and whose new life do we begin to live?
     
     Our old nature is _________________ with _________________ and we

     no longer  _______________ ourselves because ___________ lives in
     us instead.
 
 20) When we have accepted Christ, who does God send into our life to
seal us and assure us of His promise eternal life? (Ephesians 1:13-14)
     
     _______________________________________________________________
 
 21) In 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, how are our bodies described?
     
     They are the ______________ of the ____________________ because

     God has  __________________ us with a _______________ therefore

     we should give _______________ to ____________ with our bodies.

 22) What are some of the ways we can know that Jesus Christ through
the Holy Spirit lives in us?
              (a) 1 John 2:3 _______________________________________

              (b) 1 John 3:14 ______________________________________

              (c) 1 John 3:24 ______________________________________
 
 23) What assurance can we take from these things that are written in
the Bible concerning eternal life? (see 1 John 5:13)

    I have _______________ these things that you might _____________

    in the ________ of _________ and that you may _____________ that
    
    you have _____________ ______________.

 24) What assurance do we have that God will give us eternal life? (see
Hebrews 6:17-19)
                It is _______________ for _________ to tell a _____.

 25) When we have become Christians is there anything that can separate 
us from the Love of God in Christ Jesus? (see Romans 8:38-39)
                                               
                                               ( ) Yes   ( ) No

 26) Do you believe the following statements?
    
    (see Genesis 1:26-27; Psalm 8:3-9; Micah 6:8; Matthew 5:44-48;
1 John 1:3; John 1:12)

 Mankind was created in the image of God and is therefore the noblest
work of creation. Human beings have moral responsibility and are created
to enjoy both divine and human fellowship as children of God.
    
    (see 1 John 3:4-5; Romans 3:23-25; Isaiah 59:2; 1 John 1:8-10;
Romans 5:6-8; 6:23; Hebrews 10:10-14; 1 Peter 1:3; John 3:16-18, 36;
Ephesians 2:8-9; John 14:6; Matthew 25:41-46; Romans 5:10)
 
 Sin is disobedience to God and failure to live according to His will.
Because of sin all people have separated themselves from God. Because we
are sinners, we are in need of a Savior. Salvation from sin and death is
the gift of God by redeeming love accomplished by Christ's death and
resurrection, and is received only by repentance and faith in Him. All
who repent of sin and receive Christ as Savior will not be punished at
the final judgment but enjoy eternal life.

 ( ) Yes, I do believe these things and have accepted Jesus Christ as my

own personal Savior and Lord. signed:___________________________________