Inspiring Bible Studies

Growing together as Christians

How You Can Experience God’s Love and Forgiveness - Part 3

by Dr. Bill Bright
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part 1 part 2

Part 3

Note
Remember, How You Can Experience God’s Love and Forgiveness is a Transferable Concept. You can master it by reading it six times; then pass it on to others as our Lord commands us in Matthew 28:20,

“Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you” (TLB).

The apostle Paul encourages us to do the same:

“The things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others” (2 Timothy 2:2).

Self-Study Guide

1. How do these verses describe a natural person?
   a. Romans 1:21–32
   b. Romans 8:5–8

2. How do these verses describe a spiritual Christian?
   a. Romans 15:1–3
   b. Galatians 5:22—6:2

3. How does 1 Corinthians 3:1–3 describe the worldly believer?

4. Which of these characterize your life: the “natural person,” the “spiritual man,” or the “worldly believer”? What would you like to change in your life? How will you do that? (See pages 14–17.)

5. In your own words, explain how Romans 7:14–19 relates to your life.

6. What does the great promise of Romans 8:1 mean to you?

7. Why does God care if there is sin in your life? (See pages 24,25.)

8. What does each of the following verses tell you about God’s view of sin?
   a. Ephesians 2:1
   b. Psalm 107:17
   c. Isaiah 59:2
   d. Habakkuk 1:13

9. What influence do pride and humility have in the Christian life? (See Proverbs 11:2; 15:33.)

10. What do these verses assure you regarding God’s cleansing from sin?
    a. Psalm 103:3,9–12
    b. Psalm 86:5
    c. 1 John 1:9

11. How does Hebrews 11:1 describe faith? How would you apply that verse in your life on a day-to-day basis?

12. What do the following verses tell you about exercising or increasing your faith?
    a. 1 Corinthians 2:1–5
    b. 2 Corinthians 4:13–18
    c. Galatians 5:6
    d. James 2:14–18,26

13. God’s Word says that your sins have already been forgiven. Why, then, do we confess sins? (See pages 25–29.)

14. If a person has confessed all known sin in his life and has claimed the forgiveness of God, but still has guilt feelings, what should he do? (See pages 31,32.)

15. Are there any unconfessed sins that are short-circuiting God’s power in your life? (Read Matthew 5:23,24.) Take a few moments to list on a piece of paper any sins that the Holy Spirit reveals to you. Write 1 John 1:9 across the list, claiming the verse by faith for your life. Then destroy the list and make restitution, if necessary.

16. Think of someone in your family or workplace who doesn’t know Christ. How could you influence them to believe in the vitality and excitement of living for Christ?

Group Discussion Questions

1. Is God’s forgiveness also possible through the other religions of the world?

2. The word “confess” means to “agree.” It means you are saying, “I agree with you that I did that wrong thing to you. I am guilty.” How much should you tell God and the person you have wronged when you agree about your sins?

3. To whom do you confess: the whole church, your neighbors, or only the person you sin against?

4. Suppose God brings to your mind that last year you stole or used some of your employer’s money and did not pay it back to him. So you confess this sin to God. Your employer is not a Christian and does not want you to talk to him about God. As far as you know, he does not know that you stole the money. What should you do? (See Mark 11:25; Matthew 5:23,24.)

5. Can you remember times in your life when you refused to repent and confess your sins after God had shown them to you? What happened in your life because of this? What happened in your public and family life?

6. Discuss what can happen if you do not confess your sins. Will you lose your salvation? Will you need to believe and receive Jesus Christ again as your Savior? (See John 10:27–29.)

7. What if you commit the same sin again? Do you need to confess every time? Why do you continue to do this evil, even after you have confessed? If you confess the same sin so many times, does this mean that you are not saved?

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