STUDY – 1 PRIDE, SELFISHNESS AND COVETOUSNESSA- GOO`S ESTIMATE OF PRIDE
1- How does the Lord regard pride?
“Six things doth the Lord hate…a proud look,” etc. Proverbs 6:16-19.
2- What is God’s attitude toward the proud?
“God resisteth the proud.” James 4:6 – see Psalms 40:4; 101:5; 138:6; 1 Timothy 6:4.
B- WHAT PRIDE IS
3- Why should we not indulge in pride?
“An high look, and a proud heart. …is sin.” Proverbs 21:4.
4- What is to be one of the sins of the last days?
“Men shall be…proud” 2 Timothy 3:2.
C- THE RESULTS OF PRIDE
5- Of what is pride a forerunner?
“Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.” Proverbs 16:18 – see Proverbs 29:23.
6- What was the cause of Satan`s downfall?
“Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty.” Ezekiel 28:17.
7- What is to be the fate of the proud?
“All the proud…shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up.” Malachi 4:1.
D- THE COMMANDMENTS AND SELFISHNESS
8- What great commandment excludes selfishness?
“ Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” Matthew 22:39.
9-What sin is forbidden by the tenth commandment?
“Thou shalt not cover.” Exodus 20:17.
10- How are we admonished with regard to selfishness?
“Let no man seek his own.” 1 Corinthians 10:24. “Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.” Philippians 2:4. “Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.” 1 Corinthians 10:33. “Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification.” Romans 15:2.
E- SELF-SEEKING YESTERDAY AND TODAY
11-How prevalent is the sin of serf-seeking?
“For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ’s. Philippians 2:21.
12- What sins are to characterize the last days?
“Men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous.” 2 Timothy 3:2.
F- THE CURE FOR SELFISHNESS
13- What does charity not do?
“Charity…seeketh not her own.” 1 Corinthians 13:4,5.
14- What example of unselfishness did Christ leave us?
“For your sakes he became poor.” 2 Corinthians 8:9. “Even Christ pleased not himself.” Romans 15:3 – see 1 John 3:17.
G- THE NATURE OF COVETOUSNESS
15- What warning did Christ give concerning covetousness?
“And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.” Luke 12:15.
16- What do these sins bring upon mankind?
“For which thing’s sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience.” Luke 12:16.
17- What double service did Christ say is impossible?
“Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” Luke 16:13.
H- BIBLE EXAMPLES OF THE COVETOUS
18- What showed this principle to have been strong in the rich man who already had abundance?
“And he said. This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much good laid up for many wear; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.” Luke 12:18, 19.
19- What did God say to him?
“But God said unto him thou fool, this right thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided” Luke 12:20.
20- What application of this parable did the Saviour make?
“So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” Luke 12:21.
21- Of what sin were the Pharisees guilty?
“And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things and they derided him.” Luke 16:14.
22- What reply did Christ make?
“And he said unto them Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts, for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.” Luke 16:15.
23- What did this sin lead Achan to do?
“When I say among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold…I covete the, and took them.” Joshua 7:21.
24- What did covetousness lead Judas to do?
“And Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went unto the chief priest, to betray him unto them. And when they heard it they were glad, and promised to give him money. And he sought how he might conveniently betray him.” Mark 14:10, 11.
25- How does the Lord regard the covetous?
“For the wicked boasteh of his heart’s desire, and blessetth the covetous, whom the Lord abhorreth.” Psalm 10:3.
STUDY – 2 UNBELIEF AND DOUBT
A- GOD`S ATTITUDE TOWARD UNBELIEF
1- What warning is given in the Bible concerning unbelief?
“Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing form the living God.” Hebrews 3:12.
B- EXAMPLES OF, AND LESSONS FROM, UNBELIEF
2- What king of report did the ten spies bring back concerning the Promised Land?
“They brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched.” Numbers 13:32.
3- What did Caleb say of the ability of Israel to take it?
“Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it. Numbers 13:30.
4- What did the ten spies say?
“But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we.” Numbers 13:31.
5- Why did many fail to enter into God`s rest anciently?
“And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not? So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.” Hebrews 3:18, 19.
6- What lesson should we learn from their course?
“Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.” Hebrews 4:1
Note: God does not change. Is He was grieved at the unbelief of the Israelites, and refused them admittance to Canaan in consequence. He cannot permit us to enter the heavenly rest as long as we indulge in unbelief.
7-What should all labor to do?
“Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.” Hebrews 4:11.
8- When told of the disciples`failure to heal an afflicted son, what did Christ say of that generation?
“He answereth him, and saith, O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I suffer you? Bring him unto me.” Mark 9:19.
9- What did Christ say to Thomas because he did not believe the testimony of his brethren concerning His resurrection?
“Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side; and be not faithless, but believing.” John 20:27.
C- FAITH AND JUSTIFICATION
10- Without fait, what is impossible?
“Without faith it is impossible to please him.” Hebrews 11:6.
11- How only can we be justified?
“Being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Romans 5:1.
12- By what do the just live?
“Now the just shall live by faith.” Hebrews 10:38.
D- FAITH, REGHTEOUSNESS, AND VICTORY
13- Why did not Israel attain to the standard of righteousness?
“But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith.” Romans 9:31,32.
14- When God made a promise to Abraham that seemed impossible of fulfillment, how did the patriarch receive it?
“He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong unto him for righteousness.” Romans 4:20.
15- For what was Abraham’s faith counted?
“For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was conted unto him for righteousness.” Romans 4:3.
16- When troubled with doubts, how should we pray?
“Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.” Mark 9:24.
17- What is promised those who believe when they pray?
“Therefore I say unto you. What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.” Mark 11:24
18- After speaking of the numerous examples of faith presented in Hebrews 11, what does Paul exhort us to do?
“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.” Hebrews 12:1.
Note: The “every weight” here spoken of includes those traits of character and habits of life that retard or hinder our running successfully the Christian race. These are to be laid aside. But there is one thing referred to here that is more than a weight; it is a sin, and one that easily besets us all – the sin of unbelief. To be unbelieving, therefore, is sinful.
STUDY – 3 JUDGING AND CRITICIZING
A- THE NOTE OF WARNING
1- What warning does Christ give concerning judging?
Judge not, that ye be not judged.” Mathew 7:1.
2- What is Satan called in the Scriptures?
“The accuser of our brethren…which accused them before our God day and night.” Revelation 12:10.
Note: then when we judge, accuse and condemn one another, we are doing the work of Satan.
3- If we bite and devour one another, what many we expect?
“But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that we be not consumed one of another.” Galatians 5:15.
4- Of what are those generally guilty who judge others?
“Therefore thou art inexcusable. O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.” Romans 2:1.
5- What instruction does James give regarding judging?
“Speak not evil one of another, brethren he that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law and judgeth the law: but is thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.” James 4:11 – Titus 3:2.
6- Why is it safer not to judge and condemn others?
“Judge not, and ye shall not be judged condemn not, and ye shall not be condemn.” Luke 6:37. “For with what judgment we judge, ye shall be judged and with what and with what measure we mete, it shall be measured to you again.” Matthew 7:2 – see Psalm 18:25, 26.
B- DIFFICULTY IN JUDGING CORRECTLY
7- Wherein do man’s judging and God’s judging differ?
“For the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7. “Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knouweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.” Luke 16:15.
8- How does Christ tell us to judge?
“Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.” John 7:24.
C- A SAFE WAY FOR MAN
9- Before attempting to judge, criticize, or correct others, what should we first do?
“And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother`eye, but considerest not the bearn that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye: and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye: and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote our of thy brother’s eye.” Matthew 7:3-5.
10- What did Christ say He did not come to do?
“If any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but so save the world.” “For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” John 12:47; 3:17.
11- How, by whom, and in what spirit should those having committed faults be dealt with?
“Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.” Galatians 6:1.
12- What exhortation, therefore, does the apostle give?
“Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumbling block or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way.” Romans 14:13.
D- TRUSTING MATTERS TO GOD
13- To whom are all to give account?
“So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.” Romans 14:12.
14- Instead of railing on His enemies, what did Christ do?
“Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously.” 1 Peter 2:23.
15- To what time are we exhorted to defer judgment?
“Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts” 1 Corinthians 4:5.
STUDY – 4 GOSSIPING AND BACKBITING
A- THE TONGUE AND THE HEART
1- What does the ninth commandment forbid?
“Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.” Exodus 20:16.
Note: The evident object of this commandment is to guard the rights, interest, and reputation of our neighbor, by guarding our conversation, and confining our words to that which is strictly true.
2- How did Christ teach the importance of guarding our speech?
“But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.” Matthew 12:36, 37.
3- To whom are our words all known?
“For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O Lord, thou knowest it altogether.” Psalm 139:4.
B- TAMING THE TONGUE
4- Can man, unrenewed by grace, control his tongue?
“For every king of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: but the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.” James 3:7,8.
4- As a guard against the misuse of the power of speech, therefore, for what should we pray?
“Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.” Psalm 141:3.
5- What vow did David take against offenses of the tongue?
“I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me.” Psalm 39:1.
6- What is a sure cure for backbiting?
“Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” Matthew 22:39. “Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them.” Matthew 7:12. “Speak evil of no man.” Titus 3:2 – James 4:11.
7- What are those words like which are fitly spoken?
“A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.” Proverbs 25:11.
STUDY – 5 HYPOCRISY AND DISSIMULATION
A- THE PHARISSES AND HYPOCRISY
1- Of what sin were the Pharisees guilty?
“Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.” Luke 12:1.
Note: Hypocrisy is a feigning to be what one is not; dissimulation; a concealment of one’s real character or motives; especially, the assuming of a false appearance of virtue or religion.”
2- How did the Pharisees show themselves to be hypocrites?
“Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying. This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.” Matthew 5:7,8.
3- How did they make void one of God’s commandments?
“For God commanded, saying. Honour thy father and mother. …But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, it is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; and honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandments of God of none effect by your tradition.” Matthew 5:4-6.
4- How did Christ say hypocrites pray?
“And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.” Matthew 6:5.
B- THE HYPOCRIETE´S FATE AND LOVE´S WAY
5- What will become of the hypocrite’s hope?
“So are the paths of all that forget God; and the hypocrite’s hope shall perish.” Job 8:13.
6- What is to be the fate of that servant who, while professing to love the Lord, shows by his actions that he is worldly, and is not looking nor longing for His coming?
“The Lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, and shall cut him asunder, and point him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Matthew 24:50, 51. “The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites.” Isaiah 33:14.
7- How pure should be our love?
“Let love be without dissimulation.” Romans 12:9.
8- What is characteristic of heavenly wisdom?
“The wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentile, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.” James 3:17.
STUDY – 6 THE JUST RECOMPENSE
A- GOD´S JUST WAY
1- How has God recompensed men in the past?
“For if the word spoken by angels was steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward; how shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation?” Hebrews 2:2, 3.
2- How are all to be rewarded in the judgment?
“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.” 2 Corinthians 5:10. “Who will render to every man according to his deeds: …for there is no respect of person with God.” Romans 2:6-11. “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” Galatians 6:7.
3- What will be the reward of the wrongdoer?
“For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption.” Galatians 6:8. “Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil.” Romans 2:9.
4- What will be the recompense of the righteous?
“But he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.” Galatians 6:8. “But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good.” Romans 2:10.
B- GOD USES MAN´S MEASURING STICK
5- What general rule of recompense is laid down in the Bible?
“Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, il shall be measured to you again.” Matthew 7:1, 2. “With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful; with an upright; with the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself froward.” Psalm 18:25, 26.
6- In view of this, what are we warned not to do?
“Recompense to no man evil for evil.” Romans 12:17. “Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing but contrariwise blessing.” 1 Peter 3:9.
7- What is said of those who render evil for good?
“Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.” Proverbs 17:13.
C- JUSTICE AND FINAL AWARDS
8- What principle of justice should govern us in our dealings?
“Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it.” Proverbs 3:27.
9- Where are all to be recompensed?
“Behold, the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth: much more the wicked and to do it.” Proverbs 11:31.
10- In meting out the final awards, what may we be sure God will do?
“Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?” Genesis 18:25. “Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne: mercy and truth shall go before thy face.” Psalm 89:14.
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