Lesson 04
Maintaining the New Birth Experience
1. What is the end product of the new birth experience?
2 Corinthians 5:17: “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”
Romans 6:6, 11: “Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. . . . Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
[Further Study]
Ephesians 4:21-25 “If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.”
Colossians 3:10 “And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:”
2. How can we live this new life?
Romans 8:2, 4: “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. . . . That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”
1 Corinthians 10:13: “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is able, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” (Or that ye may be able to keep from yielding to it.)
[Further Study]
Philippians 1:6 “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:”
Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”
2 Peter 2:9 “The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:”
1 John 3:3-9 “And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him. Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.”
3. Who went before us to show us the way of living the new life of righteousness?
1 Peter 2:21: “For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example that ye should follow his steps.”
Matthew 16:24: “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.”
John 14:6: “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
[Further Study]
Hebrews 2:18 “For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour {run to the aid of} them that are tempted.”
4. Jesus gave us some examples of what we can do to enable the Holy Spirit to guide us in our new life of righteousness. What is one thing Jesus did?
Luke 6:12: “And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.”
5. What did Jesus’ disciples want Him to teach them?
Luke 11:1: “And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.”
6. What did Jesus say should be included in our prayers?
Luke 11:2-4: “And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth. Give us day by day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.”
[Further Study]
Matthew 6:9-13 “After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.”
7. Should we be persistent in prayer?
Ephesians 6:18: “Praying always with all prayer and supplication (to pray humbly and earnestly) in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.”
Matthew 7:7-8: “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: for everyone that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.”
[Further Study]
Luke 18:1-8: “And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me. And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith. And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?”
The subject of prayer is covered in greater detail in another study.
8. What is another example the Bible gives us?
Psalms 119:11: “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.”
9. Because Jesus studied the Scriptures and hid them in His heart, how did He meet temptation?
Matthew 4:3-4, 7, 10: “And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. . . . It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. . . . Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.”
10. What will the regular study of the Bible do for us?
John 17:17: “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.”
Sanctify means to be or make holy; to be free from sin.
2 Timothy 3:15: “And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”
11. How are we to study the Bible?
John 5:39: “Search the scriptures for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me (Jesus).”
Isaiah 28:9-10: “Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:”
As newborn babes in Christ, this is the way we must study to arrive at truth.
Psalms 1:2: “But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.”
[Further Study]
Joshua 1:8 “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.”
Jeremiah 29:13 “And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.”
12. The apostle Paul commended the Bereans for their study of the Scriptures. They searched to see if what Paul was preaching was true. How often did they study?
Acts 17:11: “These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.”
13. How important is it that we also study the Scriptures?
Matthew 24:4: “And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.”
2 Timothy 2:15: “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
[Further Study]
2 Thessalonians 2:9-12: “Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”
1 Timothy 4:1: “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;”
2 Peter 2:1: “But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.”
14. What is the only way to know if a teaching is true or false?
Isaiah 8:20: “To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.”
The word law refers to the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Bible) and the ten commandments are the very heart of the Pentateuch. The word testimony refers to the testimony of all the rest of the prophets. If a teaching does not agree with the whole Bible it is because there is no light (truth) in it.
15. How much of the Scriptures do we need for spiritual growth?
Deuteronomy 8:3: “. . . Man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord doth man live.”
Matthew 4:4 “But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.”
2 Timothy 3:16: “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:”
16. For what purpose were the Scriptures written?
Romans 15:4: “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.”
Psalms 19:7-8: “The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.”
17. If we have a desire for truth, what will God do?
Matthew 5:6: “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.”
18. Once the truth has been found and studied, must we obey it?
John 13:17: “If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.”
James 4:17: “Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.”
[Further Study]
John 9:41: “Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.”
19. Who is the TRUTH?
John 14:6: “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
20. Do we keep to ourselves the things we have studied and learned, or do we share with our friends?
Mark 5:19: “Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee.”
Acts 1:8: “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”
[Further Study]
Matthew 28:19-20: “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”
“You are just as dependent upon Christ, in order to live a holy life, as is the branch upon the parent stock for growth and fruitfulness. Apart from Him you have no life. You have no power to resist temptation or to grow in grace and holiness. Abiding in Him, you may flourish. Drawing your life from Him, you will not wither nor be fruitless. You will be like a tree planted by the rivers of water.
“Many have an idea that they must do some part of the work alone. They have trusted in Christ for the forgiveness of sin, but now they seek by their own efforts to live aright. But every such effort must fail. Jesus says, ‘Without me ye can do nothing.’ Our growth in grace, our joy, our usefulness,—all depend upon the union with Christ. It is by communion with Him, daily, hourly,—by abiding in Him,—that we are to grow in grace. He is not only the Author, but the Finisher of our faith. It is Christ first and last and always. He is to be with us, not only at the beginning and at the end of our course, but at every step of the way.” Steps to Christ, page 69.