Forgiveness

He is Coming This blog is about Christianity and the Second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ

In discipleship sessions with Noura and her daughter Sabrina, we frequently talked about their family and friends. It became clear that each woman had encounters with family members that had resulted in bitterness and continued anger. When I suggested forgiveness, their reply was that this would be impossible. Noura would say. “I know that I should but you don’t know what the person did to me”. Sabrina would say, “I try but my sister-in-law continues to do the same things. I can’t keep forgiving her repeated misdeeds against me, can I”? It became increasingly clear that we needed to do some intense Bible study on this subject. This is the lesson that has needed to be repeated several times as new problems have occurred. Both women have made efforts to follow Jesus’ teachings regarding forgiveness.

By presenting the biblical concept of forgiveness we can, with the aid of the Holy Spirit, create a desire to follow Christ’s teachings regarding the forgiving of those who have harmed us in some way. Biblical examples of forgiveness demonstrate that even in very difficult circumstances, ordinary people can forgive.

Three lessons of forgiveness are provided. Occasionally it may be necessary to do further study on one point that seems to give difficulty. It will be important for the teacher to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit in deciding when to advance and when to stay longer with one point. The teacher should also help the new Christian understand that every Christian has a problem with forgiveness at some point in her life. Hopefully she will have the examples around her of Christians who have successfully forgiven others as well as those who are in the process of forgiving. She may also see some who are ignoring this teaching of Bible. Encourage her to pray for these individuals rather than judge them. She will also need to learn that forgiveness is a lifelong struggle for the Christian. This study provides the biblical teachings on forgiveness as well as the consequences of an unforgiving spirit. By studying both, the new Christian will be better able to choose for herself the ways that God would have her choose.

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Stories Jesus Told

He is Coming This blog is about Christianity and the Second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ

There are several points about the story of the Prodigal Son that would be significant for a Muslim. Inheritance is given when the father dies. Therefore, to ask for the inheritance is the same as wanting the father to die and is, therefore, a dishonorable act. When a child dishonors the family, this child is usually cast out of the family and treated as dead. A human father would refuse to receive again a child who had dishonored the family. Therefore, most Muslims would see the father’s action in this story as humiliating and degrading both for himself and for the family. To them the son has disgraced the family and should not be welcomed again into the family circle. The contrast between the actions of human father and the actions of our Heavenly Father has a powerful impact on the Muslim.

The new Christian would be aware of these cultural factors in her family background. Therefore, these stories of repentance and consequent rejoicing by God would be an important contrast to her own experience with her family and culture. She would have learned as a small child not to admit wrongdoing in order to avoid the disgrace that would come as a result of public admission of fault. Through the teachings of Jesus, she learns that God expects and rejoices when a different behavior is learned and practiced. These stories emphasize the importance of repentance.

The new Christian would also need to learn that God already knows her attitudes and actions. Through previous studies she would have learned that sin leads to a broken relationship with God. Repentance is necessary in order to restore the relationship. As she studies these stories, help her to understand that God truly wants the relationship with her and that rejoicing does occur when that happens.

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Repentance

He is Coming This blog is about Christianity and the Second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ

This lesson studies the lives of Saul and David. After reading the two stories, note the following similarities. Each was a king who was chosen by God and who knew the commandments of God. Each king had a personal relationship with God. Saul had received a specific order from God while David had the Ten Commandments to follow. Each king was disobedient. Each repented. Why was Saul’s repentance rejected while David’s was accepted? What was the difference? What type of repentance does God desire? Note that even though God accepted David’s repentance, God did not remove the consequences of David’s sin.

While studying this lesson, the Christian should be guided into thinking of various times that she might disobey God, repent and be forgiven, and yet the consequences remain. Some examples would include: gossip or slander, sexual sin, child abuse, substance abuse, lying, etc. Attitudes that result in actions such as envy or jealousy, anger, resentment, etc. should also explore. The Christian have a desire to apply this lesson to her own everyday life.

Repentance is essential to a relationship with God. In the Old Testament story of Saul, God removed His spirit when Saul refused to accept responsibility for his actions and repent.

David repented and asked that God not take His Spirit away. (Psalm 51:11) David would have been aware of what had happened to Saul. Jesus included confession and asking for forgiveness in His model prayer. (Matthew 6:12) He told parables that emphasized the need for repentance and the rejoicing that occurs in heaven when someone repents. Even though a Christian’s sins have been forgiven and she has assurance of salvation, 1 John 1:9 seems to indicate that God still expects ongoing repentance from each Christian.

Repentance restores the Christian to fellowship with God. Repentance does not remove the physical consequences of disobedience. David’s son died. The prodigal son’s inheritance was gone.

Through the use of case studies, the Christian begins to understand that God wants each person to accept responsibility for her actions and to repent. The case studies illustrate the consequences of disobedience. They also illustrate the desire of each person to have God’s Spirit within. God rejoices when one of His children repents. As a result of having studied these lessons, the Christian will recognize her disobedience and will confess it to God without offering excuses.

Some of the questions in these lesson assume that the Christian understands sin as being disobedient to God in thoughts, attitudes or actions. Sin should not be understood to be simply breaking one of a list of cultural rules.

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Identify Problems In The Christian Life

He is Coming This blog is about Christianity and the Second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ

This lesson is more abstract and may need some illustrations to help clarify for the readers the role of “light” in the Christian’s life. John 1:1-18 refers to Jesus as the Light. John 3:16-21 explains why those who sin love the darkness. These passages can also be studied as a part of this lesson if needed for further explanation. It might be helpful to use some practical illustrations from everyday living that show how dust and dirt are hidden in darkness but easily seen in the light. She can then compare this to the way that sin is hidden when not compared with Jesus.

During this lesson, help the new Christian to learn to compare her own thoughts, attitudes and actions to Christ. As she prayerfully reads and meditates on the Scriptures, God will show here where she needs to confess, repent and grow as a Christian. She needs to understand that as an individual, God will deal with her differently from others. However, God will always expect obedience. Failure to obey God is sin. Try to help the new Christian to understand that her growth will be a lifelong process.

As the new Christian has studied this lesson, her definition of sin has hopefully grown from that of doing certain forbidden things to include anything that is obedience to God. Eventually she will need to understand that she has a sin nature that makes her want to disobey and put self first. This sin nature is in constant battle with the new nature that she has in Christ. This sin nature is in constant battle with the new nature that she has in Christ. Romans 7:16-25 explains this concept. However, this lesson would probably be better left for a mature Christian.

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Jesus Anointed By A Sinful Woman

He is Coming This blog is about Christianity and the Second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ

Many aspects of this story are similar to present day Islamic culture. A practicing Muslim like the Pharisee won’t touch anyone or anything unclean. To do so renders him unclean and he must undergo a ritual of purification before being able to pray. Women in many Islamic countries and cultures keep their hair hidden from all men except those in the immediate family. The rules of hospitality are strict and are designed to honor the guest. To ignore these rules shows disrespect and a lack of honor.

            This story shows us what is required for salvation:

1.      Approach Jesus with an attitude of repentance for sin.

2.      Have faith that Jesus can and will forgive those sins.

The Pharisees considered sin to be an action. This lesson teaches that sins involve attitudes as well as actions. Hopefully, she will come to understand that sin is disobedience of God’s word whether in actions or attitudes.

Try to help the new Christian recognize the difference in the attitudes of Simon and Jesus towards the woman. He was condemning her and saw her as unworthy and a nuisance. Jesus was loving, kind and accepted her as she was. He recognized her value as a person. He did not condemn her but helped her to find salvation.

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What Is Sin?

He is Coming This blog is about Christianity and the Second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ

As we read the New Testament, we find that belief in Jesus as the Son of God results in Salvation. We also learn that the early Christians needed further teaching on how to live like a Christlike life. Many Muslim converts come to Jesus as Paul did in Acts 9 and, like Paul, they need an Ananias and a Barnabas to help them grow in their faith and in their relationship with God. Others come to Jesus through a belief in His power to save them from evil spirits and that through Him they can have eternal life. Few seem to come with an understanding of themselves as sinners needing forgiveness.

Jesus and the early Church taught that sin is a continuing problem for the Christian. Sin interferes with Christian growth. It also hinders the Christian testimony. The Christian who does not recognize the sin in her life does not confess it and, therefore, does not have the vital, growing relationship with God is stunted, and her Christian life is empty. Because of unconfessed sin, she lacks the vital, direct communication with God that enables her to bear fruit in her life.

Confession of sin and repentance are closely related. The Christian growth should occur in all aspects of a Christian’s life. The Christian will be able to define sin as disobedience to God. Disobedience may occur by an action or failure to act or by an attitude. The Christian will describe her as having a sin nature. She will able to explain the importance of confession of sin to her growth into a mature Christian and to her Christian testimony.

These passages review the origins of sin and its consequences. Help the new Christian to discover that on each occasion God gave instructions and then allowed the individual free choice regarding obedience. God came and saw what was happening and then punished the individuals involved. The sinner did not escape punishment. The desire to disobey came from within the individual and each person bore responsibility for his attitudes and actions.

Depending of the individual involved, it may be necessary to add some of the Old Testament stories that describe sin and its consequences. For example a comparison between Joseph and Potiphar’s wife and David and Bathsheba may help the new Christian to understand that obedience is a choice. The number of stories read and discussed would depend on the ability of the new Christian to grasp the concept of the sin nature of mankind.

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The New Testament Teachings About Fasting

He is Coming This blog is about Christianity and the Second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ

The teachings of Jesus touch on the form of manner of fasting as well as the appropriate time. Without giving the details of how fast was done, the book of Acts gives several examples of fasting and praying by the early church members. The teacher’s goal is to help the new believer to discover for herself when and how to fast accordance with the teachings of Jesus.

Summary: According to Bible, fasting can be done for several different reasons. All have the same common factor of drawing closer to God. There are no guidelines given in the Bible as to how often, how long, when or in what circumstances a person should fast. Jesus did give specific instructions regarding the behavior of the person during a fast. There is evidence that the New Testament church fasted to seek divine guidance for certain task. Fasting for the Christian, therefore, would be a personal decision done for a specific purpose and time should follow the guidelines given by Jesus.

Biblical fasting is always combined with meditation and prayer. Fasting is an appropriate spiritual exercise when used in combination with meditation and prayer for the purpose of focusing the individual’s total attention on God and His will. It should not become a ritual or a ceremony or be seen as way of forcing God to take certain actions which would turn fasting into a form of magic. The challenge for the former Muslim who has experienced the Ramadan fast as a cultural/religious event will be to find an appropriate Christian way to participate with her family and friends in a cultural event. To fast or not to fast is a personal decision based on the individual’s current desired relationship with God.

While most of Jesus’ teachings seems to indicate that fasting a personal and private experience, examples of large group fasting are found in the New Testament. This would seem to indicate that fasting to show solidarity with the poor or a day of fasting and prayer for a group of people are also appropriate. Church leaders may call a period of fasting and prayer for a specific purpose but it would always be the individual’s personal decision to participate or not to participate.

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