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lesson 5

 

PERIL OF UNBELIEF

 

  I. TEXTUAL THOUGHTS:

                1.  Ezekiel 18:20-32 - Our situation at death determines our relationship to God eternally.

                2.  Colossians 1:19-23 - We are reconciled to God in Jesus if we continue in the faith.

                3.  Romans 11:20-21 - Israel an example of the effect of unbelief.

                4.  1 John 2:15-17 - We do not love God if we love the world

                5.  Colossians 3:5-6 - Covetousness is idolatry

 

 II.  MAIN THEME: Hebrews 3:12-19 - Belief and obedience are always connected; without obedience there is no saving faith, and without faith there is no obedience.  We must hold fast to Jesus, the source of our hope of entering eternal rest.

                1.  Guard against departing from God - verse 12;

                                a.  Keep our hearts from unbelief - Luke 6:45; Eph 6:5-6; 1 Tim 1:5

                                b.  Rely on God’s grace for building our faith - Heb 10:22; 13:9; Eph 1:3-6; Titus 3:4-8.

                                c.  Exhort each other daily, aware of the deceitfulness of sin - verse 13; 1 Cor 9:27; Jude

                                                 20-23; 2 Tim 4:2; Titus 2:15

                2.  We are partakers of Christ if we are steadfast - verse 14

                                a.  The crown of life is promised to those who are faithful till death - Rev 2:10; 1Cor 15:1-4, 58;

                                b.  The wicked who repent shall live, and the righteous who turn to sin will die - Ezek 18:20-32

                                c.  Israel was cut off because of unbelief - Romans 11:20-21; Heb 3:16-19

                3.  These things are written for our example - verse 19

                                a.  All saw the miracles, and shared the same deliverance - 1 Cor 10:1-4

                                b.  God destroyed those who rebelled - 1 Cor 10:5-10

                                c.  If we continue to trust God, we will be saved - 1 Cor 10:12-13; Col 1:19-23

                                d.  Therefore do not put your trust in other gods - 1 Cor 10:14; 1 John 2:15-17; Col 3:5-6

                4.  Disobedience and unbelief are always connected - Verses 18-19

                                a.  Without faith, it is impossible to please God - Heb 11:6

                                b.  King Saul is an example of disobedience and unbelief - 1 Sam 15:18-23

 

 IV.  PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

                1.  Faith and obedience are always connected, therefore we should not claim to be saved by faith only - James

                      1:19-27; 2:14-26; 4:13-17; 2 Thes 1:2-10; Heb 4:2.

                2.  Failing to continue our trust in God may lead to eternal destruction - Hebrews 10:19-31; Rev 20:12-15

                3.  Encourage one another every day, because:

                                a.  Time will end - Heb 3:13; 2 Pet 3:10

                                b.  Sin is deceitful - Heb 3:13; 1 John 2:15-16; James 1:13-15

                                c.  We have life in Jesus Christ - Heb 3:14; John 8:31-32; 10:10, 27-29

                4.  Build and strengthen faith by study of the great stories of faith in the Bible - 1 Cor 10:1; Genesis 6:5-7, 22;

                      13:12-18; 22:1,9,10

                5.  Saving faith always leads to obedience, and disobedience is always evidence of lack of faith - Matt 6:19-24;

                      Heb 3:18-19; Phil 3:8-11, 17-21

                6.  We need to warn and encourage each other daily, reminding of the reward of faith and the peril of unbelief -

                      Heb 3:13; 4:11; 10:19-31; Col 1:19-23; 2 Peter 2:10-22

 

  V.  MEMORY VERSES:  HEBREWS 3:12-13

 

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