Many believe it doesn't matter what a person believes, as long as he is sincere. The Bible repeatedly exhorts brethren and elders to teach "sound doctrine" and the "truth." The Apostle Paul exhorts the young preacher Timothy, "the things that thou hast heard of me, the same commit thou to faithful men who may be able to teach others also" (11 Timothy 2:2). The Bible says "teach no other doctrine" nor listen to "fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than Godly edifying which is in faith: so do" (I Timothy 1:3-4). We are in the Lord's army, we are in a war with Satan and sin. The Bible says "endure hardness," (stand firm) as a good soldier of Christ (II Timothy 2:3). All good soldiers know the manual, so learn the rules of God's manual, the Bible and live by them.

"STUDY to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth" (II Timothy 2:15).

 

God wants us to live "holy lives" for God is holy (I Peter 1:16). The word holy means "untainted by sin, " " set aside for sacred use, " and "devoted to God. " The Bible says "prayer and giving of thanks" were made for all men that we might "lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty" (I Timothy 2:2). This is good and acceptable in God's sight, who wants all men to he saved and come to know the truth (I Timothy 2:3-5).

Instructions are given, both to men and women of God, in living holy lives and the roles of each in the home and in God's church. Men are to have a leadership role while the woman's role is one of subjection, placed upon her by God. Holy men are to "pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting" (I Timothy 2:8). The reason for woman's subjection was because in the beginning it was the woman, Eve, who was first deceived by Satan (I Timothy 2:14). Her adornment is thus:

"In like manner also, that women, adorn themselves in modest apparel with shamefacedness (shy, bashful or shrinking) and sobriety, not with braided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array, "

"But which becometh women professing godliness with good works."

"Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection "

"But I suffer (allow) not a woman to teach nor to usurp authority over the man; but to be in silence" (I Timothy 2:9-12).

 

Holy women of God - continue in "faith, charity, and holiness and sobriety" (calm and serious) (I Timothy 2:15). Her adornment is to be modest and not so much of an outward adorning as an inward adorning of goodness and inward beauty. She is not to assume an authoritative role over the man in the church or home. She may teach children and other women, as she wears the adornment of God's word in her own life, being "discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands that the word of God be not blasphemed" (Titus 2:3-5).

Many women lay aside their roles of subjection in the home, abandoning the raising of their children to others, doing their "own thing" or pursuing "other interests." Some have even ended their roles as mothers before birth in the abortion of the "unborn, " claiming the right of "choice." The Bible clearly defines human life and identity begins at "conception" for God saw David's "unformed substances (Psalms 139:13-17). Even in the womb, God has already begun his "Wondrous Work" of creation (see Isaiah 44:2 and Jeremiah 1:5 and Luke 1:41). Bishops or elders - Did you ever play "follow the leader"? Elders in the Lord's church are to be the leaders and shepherds to the flock of Christians, making decisions in the work of the church. If any man desires the office of a bishop (elder) he desires a good work. God has given requirements for a man to meet before he can become an elder (I Timothy 3:1-7). Deacons assist the Elders in the church and have requirements also (I Timothy 3:8-13). These are men whose lives already reflect holiness.

Members - are told to "Rebuke not an elder, but intreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren; the elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, with all purity. " Members are to care for widows and honor elders (I Timothy 5), submitting one to another (I Peter 5:2-5), children to parents (Ephesians 6:1-2), and servants to masters (Ephesians 6:5). In submission God wants us to do everything from the heart, and not just with "eyeservice, doing it heartily as unto the Lord" (Ephesians 6:6-7). To five a holy life we must be "God-minded" people; all the things we see, hear and think affect us ...

"Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. "

"As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance."

"But as he which hath called you is holy, so BE YE HOLY in all manner of conversation " (I Peter 1:13-15).

 

We are to "pass the time of our sojourning here in fear," remembering we are "redeemed by the precious blood of Christ." Our faith and hope must be in God as the Holy Spirit leads us through the word in our "new birth" in Christ (I Peter 1:15-25).

"Being BORN AGAIN, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth forever" (God's seed is holy).

 

"... the word of the Lord endureth forever, and this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you." (1 Peter 1:23-25).

 

The word of God started a "new birth" in the Christian and continues to give birth to "new ways of doing things" and "new thoughts" that go along with God's thinking. It's a continuous thing throughout our lives. We start out as "newborn babes" and we grow. Our diet changes, we no longer like the taste of "malice, guile, hypocrisies, envyings, and evil speakings" (see works of flesh, Galatians 5:19-21). We develop a new taste for the things of God. It's the "milk of the word" of God we desire. We eat wholesome words of God and a steady diet of it produces holiness (I Peter 2:1-2) (see Ephesians 4:12-13).

We are a "peculiar people;" we march to a different drummer. God's people are a "chosen generation," a "royal priesthood," our calling is beyond this world (I Peter 2:9). It takes an "abstaining from fleshly lusts" which war against the soul. Holiness is submission to God's will and God wills that we "honor all men, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king" (I Peter 2:17). If we suffer wrongfully, "take it patiently" (I Peter 2:19-21). Our ministry to the world is one of love and we have to learn to love the "unlovely" just as our heavenly Father, is kind to the unthankful. Love (not hate) draws people into the kingdom, the church (I Peter 4:13-16).

"For even hereunto were ye called because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps " (I Peter 2:20-21).

A good woman by her example and subjection may often lead an "unbelieving husband" to the Lord, as they see her pure behavior. Her adorning should be an "ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God a great price." "Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him Lord," whose daughters we are if we do the same (I Peter 3:1-6).

"Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honor unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your PRAYERS BE NOT HINDERED " (I Peter 3:1-7).

Husbands and wives can live so badly before God as to hinder their own prayers. We are to be honest and willing to make changes any time that our lives do not conform to God's win. Be "compassionate and love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous, not rendering evil for evil" (I Peter 3:8-9). We can be happy no other way, for God win never help us to do wrong. We must hate evil and do good, seeking peace to be helped and blessed by God (I Peter 3:10-11).

"The eyes of the Lord are over the righteous and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil" (I Peter 3:12).

Christian graces - are to be added to our lives. God has given us all we need to know about "life and Godliness" in his word. We are given many "great and precious promises; that we might be partakers of the divine nature" (II Peter 1:3-4) escaping the corruption in the world. God will help us add to our faith: virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and charity (II Peter 1:5-7).

"For if these things BE IN YOU, and abound (grow) if they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor UNFRUITFUL in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ" (II Peter 1:8).

1. "________________ to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of ________________." (II Timothy 2:15) - for a good soldier of Christ should know the manual or book of God.

2. The Bible says that "_______________ and giving of _________________ were made for all men that we might "lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty" (I Timothy 2:2).

3. Christian women are to "adorn themselves in ____________________ apparel, with shamefacedness (shy) and not "costly array" (apparel) but with good ___________________" (I Timothy 2:9-10).

4. In Christ's church God wants the women not "to____________________, nor usurp _______________ over the man, but to be in silence" (I Timothy 2:11-12).

5. Each congregation of God's church will rule itself under their autonomous eldership being "overseen" by godly men called elders and assisted by godly men called deacons. From our lesson, where in the Bible are the qualifications for this office? Elders ___________________, Deacons __________________.

6. Does God want us as Christians to care for our elderly parents? _____________ (I Timothy 5:4).

7. God wants our service to him to be from our hearts and not just with "____________," doing it "_________" as unto the Lord" (Ephesians 6:6-7).

8. As our God is holy, we should also "be holy, in all manner of _____________ (I Peter 1:15).

9. We are born into God's family, the church, through his seed, which is the _______________ of _____________, taking root in our hearts (I Peter 1:23-25).

10. God assures us his word will "abide _________________" (I Peter 1:23-25).

NAME__________________________ LESSON RECEIVED____________________

ADDRESS_______________________ LESSON RETURNED____________________

________________________________ GRADED BY____________ GRADE________

I will promptly grade your answers and mail you the results.

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I will promptly grade them and mail you the other lessons.

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