Lesson 6 for

August 9, 2014
Jesus answered, Most assuredly, I say to you,
unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot
enter the kingdom of God. (John 3:5)
Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism
into death, that just as Christ was raised from the
dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also
should walk in newness of life. (Romans 6:4)
I will give you a new heart and put a
new spirit within you; I will take the
heart of stone out of your flesh and
give you a heart of flesh.
(Ezekiel 36:26)
Baptism is the external sign of our life change.
However, when we are born in the Spirit, the Spirit
transforms our heart and makes us new creatures.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things
have passed away; behold, all things have become new. (2 Corinthians 5:17)
To be born again involves beginning a
new life.
Although the work of the Spirit is
invisiblelike the wind is, his effects
in us are visible to those around us.
To be born again is not an instantaneous
action. A newborn baby must grow up
until he or she becomes an adult. We
must gradually grow up until we are made
perfect, to the measure of the stature of
the fullness of Christ. (Ephesians 4:13)
He awakens our
conscience.
He changes our
mind.
He subdues every
unholy desire.
He fills us with
the sweet peace
of heaven.
What does
the Spirit do
in us?
It is not a casual touch with Christ that is needed, but it is to abide with
Him. He called you to abide with Him. He does not propose to you a short-
lived blessedness that is realized occasionally through earnest seeking of the
Lord and passes away as you engage in the common duties of life. Your
abiding with Christ makes every necessary duty light, for He bears the
weight of every burden. He has prepared for you to abide with Him. This
means that you are to be conscious of an abiding Christ, that you are
continually with Christ, where your mind is encouraged and strengthened.
E.G.W. (In Heavenly Places, February 18)
Abide in Me, and I in you. As the
branch cannot bear fruit of itself,
unless it abides in the vine, neither
can you, unless you abide in Me.
(John 15:4)
Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will
find; knock, and it will be opened to you. (Matthew 7:7)
What two main things must we do to spiritually
grow up and abide in Christ?
If we want to abide
in Christ, we must
know His will and
live according to it.
We can only do so
by constantly
studying His Word.
We learn to empty
our self and to
totally depend on
Him through prayer.
Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it
will be opened to you. (Matthew 7:7)
According to Jesus, which conditions must our
prayers meet to be answered?
We need to believe that God can
answer us (Matthew 21:22)
An attitude of forgiveness toward
our neighbor is required
(Mark 11:25)
Our will should always be
subordinated to the Fathers will
(Matthew 6:10; Luke 22:42)
If the answer is delayed, we
should not be discouraged. On the
contrary, we must pray and not
lose. (Luke 18:1)
Then He said to them
all, If anyone desires
to come after Me, let
him deny himself, and
take up his cross daily,
and follow Me.
(Luke 9:23)
What does taking up our cross
mean?
E.G.W. (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 2, page 651;
The Faith I Live By, May 25)
To take up our cross means to deny
ourselves daily. Not just once in a
while but every day; not just a part of
us but our entire being.
All are now being tested and
proved. We have been baptized into
Christ, and if we will act our part by
separating from everything that
would drag us down and make us
what we ought not to be, there will
be given us strength to grow up into
Christ, who is our living head, and
we shall see the salvation of God.
E.G.W. (Counsels for the Church, cp. 42, pg. 236)