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Relationships of the Believer


LESSON TWELVE - THE BELIEVERS' RELATIONSHIP TO THE WORLD

Lesson Goal: Our goal in this lesson is to better understand what Scripture says about the believer's relationship to the world in which he lives.

1. Read John 3:16,17--16 "For Allah so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For Allah did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

a. What is Allah's attitude towards sinful and rebellious mankind?

1) Anger 
2) Love 
3) Disinterest

b. Why did Allah send his son according to verse 17? 

c. What was NOT the reason for sending his son? 

2. Read Mark 16:15,16--15 He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the Injil to all creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.

a. Where are Isa's disciples to go and to whom are they to deliver Allah's word?

b. What will be the state of the one who believes and is baptized?

c. From this passage, what is our responsibility as believers to the world? 

3. Read 2 Corinthians 5:18-20--18 All this is from Allah, who reconciled us to himself through al-Masih and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that Allah was reconciling the world to himself in al-Masih, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore al-Masih's ambassadors, as though Allah were making his appeal through us. We implore you on al-Masih's behalf: Be reconciled to Allah.

a. Rather than counting men's sins against them, what was Allah doing for them through Isa al-Masih?

b. What responsibility has Allah given to us in that work? 

4. Read 1 John 2:15-16--15 Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For everything in the world--the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does--comes not from the Father but from the world.

a. What are the three things described here as being of the world?

1)

2)

3)

b. What is to be are attitude towards the world - we are not to do what? 

c. What is the final end of the world and its desires?

d. What is the final end of the one who does the will of Allah?

5. Read John 17:15,16--15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it.

NOTE: The entire seventeenth chapter of John is a prayer of Isa al-Masih to the Father on behalf of his disciples.

a. Even though we will be greatly tempted in the world, was it Isa's desire that believers be removed from the world?

b. Rather, what was Isa's request?

c. Why is it necessary that believers remain in the world? (Remember what you read in Mark 16:15,16) 

d. Also in this passage Isa prays that the believers might be kept from the evil one. What are the things in the world that Satan could use to harm the believer who is not careful? (Recall what you read in 1 John 2:15,16) 

6. a. Reflect on your own life. What things of the world (I John 2:15,16) are still present in your life that Satan can use for your own hurt? 

b. What should you be doing about the things mentioned in 'a' above? 

c. We have seen in Mark 16 and 2 Corinthians 5:19 that all believers have a very important responsibility. How are you fulfilling that responsibility in your own area and among those people with whom you have contact? 

 

TO MEMORIZE - 2 CORINTHIANS 5:19

19 that Allah was reconciling the world to himself in al-Masih, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.

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