Lesson 9

5. The Scripture is Sufficient to Prepare the Believer for life. [review]

a. There is a principle of Obedience:

b. The will of God is made up of: the commands and principles which God has revealed in the Bible to teach us how we ought to think and live.

c. Four crucial characteristics of God's moral will that are important for us to understand.

1. The moral will of God is fully revealed in the Bible.

2. The moral will of God is the expression of the character of God. Rom 7:12; 12:2

a. Because of this, it produces that same character in the life of the one who obeys it and leads to fullness of life. Ps 19:7-11.

b. Specific areas where Christ is our example in character:

- we are to be conformed to the image of Christ. Rom 8:29

1. holiness - 1 Pet 1:15-16; Heb 12:10

2. righteousness - 1 Jn 3:7;

3. purity - 1 Jn 3:3;

4. love - Eph 5:1-2;

5. forgiveness - Col. 3:13;

6. compassion - Lk 6:36;

7. endurance - Heb 12:2-4;

8. humility and obedience - Phil 2:3-8

9. kindness - Lk 6:35;

10. generosity in giving - 2 Cor 8:1-9

3. The moral will of God touches every aspect and moment of life.

a. God's moral will encompasses more than overt behavior.

b. He is concerned not only with what we do, but He cares also about what we think, as well as the motivation for what we do.

c. In other words, God's moral will prescribes the believer's goals and attitudes, as well as his actions.

d. Furthermore, the moral will of God is to shape our perspective of reality which serves as the context in which our decisions are made.

e. Goals by nature are more general than behavioral commands.

Our goals as Christian's should reflect God's stated purposes for us in our lives after salvation, phase 2.

(1) Primary goal = to glorify Him in all things. 2 Cor 5:9; 1 Cor 10:31

(2) Toward this end some intermediate goals and objectives should be established:

(a) to fulfill God - given responsibilities. 1 Pet 4:10-11

(b) to minister to others; building up one another. Rom 14:19

(c) to reach maturity. Eph 4:13

(d) to do good works and produce spiritual fruit DGP. Eph 2:10; Col. 1:10; Jn 15:8; Titus 3:8

(e) to evangelize the lost - 2 Pet 3:9; 2 Cor 5:19-20; 1 Cor 10:31-11:1