Come and See: an exploration of the God of the Bible and his message

Lesson 25: God’s Invitation - Part 2

This final session will help those who have accepted Yahweh’s invitation to put their faith in Jesus. It will also help others who have not yet put their faith in Christ to understand what the Christian life is supposed to be like. We explore eight practical characteristics of the Christian life that are helpful to know: (i) pray with thankfulness to God; (ii) study the Bible; (iii) be part of a local church; (iv) be baptised in water (once); (v) participate in Holy Communion; (vi) have spiritually focused relationships; (vii) grow by cooperating with the Holy Spirit; and (viii) invite others to a relationship with Yahweh. Also worth taking note is how the sanctification journey works and the role of suffering in the believer’s life. The goal is spiritual maturity and a close relationship with God. To follow the session, access the notes at https://comeandsee.online/s/Lesson-25-Gods-Invitation-Part-2.pdf For further study, please visit https://interlocked.online

Lesson 24: God’s Invitation - Part 1

In our journey through the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, we have attempted to get a good overview of the message of the Bible and to understand who the Creator-God is: what He is like, and what He is seeking from each person. We see that He is the God who made us, loves us and wants to have a personal and intimate relationship with every person. To understand what a close relationship looks like to God, We look at three instances in the Bible where God has close friendships with people. We also ask: how do helpless sinners get into a relationship with Him? The Bible explains that He has provided a way for helpless sinners to have their sin problem taken care of and to gain a righteousness that would allow them to enter into a relationship with Him. And this is through placing faith in the Saviour whom He sent, that is, to trust in Jesus Christ who came to be mankind’s sufficient substitute. Through faith in Christ, a person can have their sin problem taken care of and be reconciled to God. To follow the session, access the notes at https://comeandsee.online/s/Lesson-24-Gods-Invitation-Part-1.pdf

Lesson 23: How the World Ends - Part 3

After the second coming, Jesus judges and removes all mortal unbelievers from the earth. Then He ushers in the Kingdom of God. He is the King and from His capital in Jerusalem, He rules the world. He transforms this planet and significantly reduces the impact of the curse that came into the world because of the Fall. What is the rule of King Jesus like? The Bible describes real world peace, a renewed and thriving physical environment, every nation acknowledging and worshipping Christ and mortal mankind living long, health lives and exercising responsible dominion very well. The immortal believers with resurrection bodies are given charge of towns, cities and nations. The mortal believers who survived the Tribulation continue to marry and have children. And these mortal children are the ones who continue to have a sin nature and must therefore make a decision whether or not to trust in King Jesus, whom they can see and interact with. And the nation of Israel is completely loyal and obedient to their King. The Kingdom period lasts a thousand years and then King Jesus releases Satan, who has been bound up in the bottomless pit for the duration of the Kingdom. The devil hasn’t changed and he stirs up an innumerable army of mortals who were born in the Kingdom, but who have refused to put their trust in Christ. Instead, when given this chance, they now openly rebel. But God puts an immediate end to their rebellion. Then the current heaven and earth are destroyed and Jesus performs the the final judgment known as the Great White Throne. Rebellious people from all throughout mortal history are raise from the dead and brought before Jesus for judgment. They are guilty of rebellion and are cast away into the lake of fire for eternity. God also casts away death and the place of the dead into the lake of fire. Then God brings in the new heaven and earth and He stays on the new earth to enjoy intimate fellowship with immortal believers. This is the Eternal State. To follow the session, access the notes at https://comeandsee.online/s/Lesson-23-How-the-World-Ends-Part-3.pdf

Lesson 22: How the World Ends - Part 2

The church age does not go on indefinitely. Rather, it will end suddenly when Jesus removes all church-age believers in a single moment. Then, as prophesied in the Old Testament, Jesus will turn His attention back to unrepentant, national Israel. God had already talked about what it would take in the future to make the rebellious people of Israel repent and come to national faith in their Jewish Messiah. God will orchestrate a time of terrible punishment and suffering to get Israel’s attention. This is the seven-year period known as the “time of trouble for Jacob”, otherwise called the Tribulation. We go through a summary of the details that God provides about this future period, how there will be supernatural catastrophes, wars, hyperinflation, famine and a reshaping of the planet. God will permit Satan to raise a man known as the False Christ, or Antichrist, who will force the people of the world to submit to his one-world government and worship him. This False Christ will be assisted by another Satan-raised person known as the false prophet. But Jesus is the One directing the Tribulation and He will come to judge all the rebellious Jews, Gentiles, the Antichrist and the false prophet. It will be this catastrophic time that brings many Tribulation-age Jews and Gentiles to faith in Christ. To follow the session, access the notes at https://comeandsee.online/s/Lesson-22-How-the-World-Ends-Part-2.pdf

Lesson 21: How the World Ends - Part 1

Does the church age continue without end? What does the Bible tell us? Scripture tells us that the church age will not go on forever but will end suddenly, without warning, when Jesus comes in the air to call to Him all who belong to Him, that is, those who have put their faith in Him. On that future day, believers who are alive on the earth will be taken up to meet Jesus in the air. Then along with church-age believers who have already passed away, all church-age believers will be given new, immortal resurrection bodies. They will go to be with Jesus in heaven and there, they will receive a review of their lives. Jesus will reward each believer according to the works each has done during their time on earth as believers. These rewards are regarding the future roles and lives in the coming Kingdom of God. The Bible tells us the key criterion of evaluation is the motive or attitude behind every work done. Each believer will be rewarded and assigned their future roles and responsibilities in the coming Kingdom. To follow the session, access the notes at https://comeandsee.online/s/Lesson-21-How-the-World-Ends-Part-1.pdf