Discipleship Lesson 1: God, Sin, & Salvation

We begin with a recap of the basics.

Creation – In the beginning God created everything, including mankind (Genesis 1:27). He made us for fellowship, and He walked with Adam and Eve in a perfect world. He wants fellowship with us, the way He originally created things.

Fall – But then mankind fell from grace. The serpent tempted Eve and she disobeyed God’s command not to eat of the Tree of Knowledge. She gave the fruit to her husband Adam, who also ate, and their eyes were opened. They felt shame and tried to hide from God (Genesis 3:8).

Redemption – God made a way to redeem His creation, though. His Son Jesus came to earth and lived a sinless life (2 Corinthians 5:21). His death on the cross paid the penalty for our sin (Colossians 1:20).

Restoration – To be restored we must put our faith in Jesus. We admit we are sinners (Romans 3:23), acknowledge that Jesus died for us, and ask Him to forgive us. Our faith in Him restores our relationship with God (Ephesians 2:8-9).

Sanctification – From the moment we are saved we begin trying to live a life that is pleasing to God. This process is called sanctification (Romans 6:22). That means the act of making something holy or set apart (1 Peter 1:15)

God

Though the term “Trinity” is not in the Bible, the idea is. We see God revealed to us in three different ways – God the Father, God the Son (Jesus, sometimes called the Word), and God the Holy Spirit. Each one is a separate Person and fully God, yet they are One. The concept can be hard to understand, especially when you are new in your faith.

Verses that support the idea of the Trinity

• Genesis 1:26 – Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”
• Matthew 28:19 – Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
• John 1:1-5 – In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
• John 10:30 – “I and the Father are one.”
• 1 John 5:7 – For there are three that testify.

The Father – The first Person in the Trinity, understood as the Creator. He is Father to all mankind and is viewed as loving and compassionate, though He does not tolerate sin or disobedience. He is the Father and Jesus is the Son.

The Son – The second Person in the Trinity. Jesus is the incarnation of God the Son, or God in human form. He was fully God and fully human simultaneously and He lived a perfect life while on earth.

The Holy Spirit – The third Person in the Trinity and the least understood or talked about. The Spirit guides and empowers us. He dwells within us and brings about understanding. It is the Spirit that convicts us of wrongdoing.

Sin

Sin is a violation of God’s law or standards. It can be an act of disobedience or a failure to do what is right. Sin disrupts the relationship we have with God (Colossians 1:21). Nothing unholy can be with God, and sin makes us unholy.

Thanks to the disobedience of Adam and Eve in the Garden, we are all born with a sinful nature (Romans 5:12). None of us can be perfect and sin free (Romans 3:23). Even after we are saved, we remain sinful beings.

Eternity

Eternity is a term often associated with our salvation. It refers to both God’s everlasting nature as well as to our future after death. God has no beginning or end. He is eternal and beyond time. Our minds cannot comprehend eternity because they are finite. But God exists beyond time. We will have eternal life, too. The question is where we will spend eternity. As believers we are given eternal life with God (heaven). Non-Believers will experience eternal punishment (hell).

Salvation

Salvation comes from the Latin term salvatio which means safe from harm. When you hear it in reference to Christians, it refers to the act of being saved from the consequences of sin. As sinners we are unholy and separated from God. We are not worthy of being in His holy Presence because we are unclean and unrighteous. But He doesn’t want any to perish (2 Peter 3:9) and wants all to be saved and made right, so He provided a way for that to happen. He sent His Son to be the sacrifice for our sins.

Jesus came to earth, lived a perfect life that was free of sin, and then was crucified on the cross (2 Corinthians 5:21).  Through this death, our sins have been paid for. The price for sin is death, which is why in the Old Testament the Israelites had to make sacrifices at the Temple. Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sin (Hebrews 9:22). Jesus’s blood was shed on the cross and He became the final, ultimate sacrifice necessary to forgive sin.

Our faith in Jesus and our acceptance of His sacrifice in our place when we were the ones who deserved to die, saves us from the punishment of eternal separation from God. Through our faith in Him we are saved.

But His death was not the end. He rose from the dead, conquering sin and death once and for all. He is now in Heaven with the Father and will one day return.

Every believer needs to go through a few steps to be saved. Here’s a more detailed breakdown:

1. Recognize our need for salvation: Acknowledge that we are all sinners and need a Savior.
2. Believe in Jesus: Accept Jesus is the Son of God and that He died in our place to forgive sins and then rose from the dead
3. Repent: Turn away from sin and turn to God for forgiveness.
4. Confess: Publicly declare faith in Jesus as your Lord and Savior.

Salvation Prayer Example

If you have never prayed a prayer like the following, now is the time to do so and be saved. There is no “right” way to pray for salvation, but you will find numerous examples to guide you. Here is a basic prayer you can pray or use with others to help them pray:

God, I know that I am a sinner and need Your forgiveness. I believe that Jesus died for my sins and rose again. Please forgive me and be the Lord of my life. Amen

The Holy Spirit

Once you are saved, you will receive the Holy Spirit. You might not feel any different, or you might notice you have more peace. It varies from person to person.

Regardless of how you feel, once you have accepted Christ, you are a new creation.  You are indwelt with the Holy Spirit. When Jesus was baptized the Spirit descended upon Him like a dove (Matthew 3:16).  In the book of Acts, Jesus tells the Apostles not to leave Jerusalem until they had received the gift the Father promised, the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:4-5).

We all receive the Holy Spirit in our lives and it is He that guides us. The Spirit convicts us of sin in our lives (often in the form of feeling guilt).  He also helps us to understand the Word of God and helps us to discern truth.  We also receive Spiritual gifts through the Holy Spirit. The Spirit comforts us in times of sadness and need, teaches and leads us to God’s truth, and helps us to live a life the glorifies God.

Study Questions

1. Where did sin originate and how? Why are we considered unholy?
2. Do you think God loves us? Why do you feel this way? Cite Scripture if you can.
3. What are the steps required for salvation?

Think About It

Have you accepted Christ as YOUR Lord and Savior? If not, today is the day you should. Look back at the prayer in this lesson and say it yourself. No one needs to guide you through it. You can say it on your own.

Discipleship Program Index | Lesson 2

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