аЯрЁБс>ўџ ўџџџўџџџ џџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџRoot EntryџџџџџџџџА[зњŽЧўџџџPageMakerџџџџџџџџџџџџДџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџўџџџ§џџџ§џџџ§џџџ§џџџ§џџџџџџџkџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџ !"#$%&'()*+,-./0123456789:;<=>?@ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ[\]^_`abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz{|}~€‚ƒ„…†‡ˆ‰Š‹ŒŽ‘’“”•–—˜™š›œžŸ ЁЂЃЄЅІЇЈЉЊЋЌ­ЎЏАБВГДЕЖЗИЙКЛМНОПРСТУФХЦЧШЩЪЫЬЭЮЯабвгдежзийклмнопрстуфхцчшщъыьэюя№ёђѓєѕіїјљњћќ§ўџ      !"#$%&'()*+,-./0123456789:;<=>?@ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ[\]^_`abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz{|}~€‚ƒ„…†‡ˆ‰Š‹ŒŽ‘’“”•–—˜™š›œžŸ ЁЂЃЄЅІЇЈЉЊЋЌ­ЎЏАБВГДЕЖЗИЙКЛМНОПРСТУФХЦЧШЩЪЫЬЭЮЯабвгдежзийклмнопрстуфхцчшщъыьэюя№ёђѓєѕіїјљњћќ§ўџ      !"#$%&'()*+,-./012345œџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџc=>?@ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ[\]^_`aэџџџџdefghiŠ§џџџlmnopqstuvwxyЛџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџRoot EntryџџџџџџџџАn•ЧўџџџPageMakerџџџџџџџџџџџџ dџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџ™"  ДЭ@А@`@А3Р@TџџР€јџџР€јџџ№РЂ“f5"€ЦMP2ьЮџџџџдœ"Lœ@S88 88 hL и [ kZ 4™&@а є} @а Pd Є0  @аР@ L/ ає & ^U N в& џџџџџџџџ§џџџ§џџџ§џџџџџџџўџџџџџџџ§џџџ§џџџ§џџџ§џџџ 6 !"#$%&'()*+,-./0123456789:;<=>?@ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ[\]^_`abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz{|}~€џџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџўџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџ      !"#$%&'()*+,-./012345œ789:bџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџ™#  ДЭ@`@`3Р@TџџР€јџџР€ј№РЂ“f5MP2ьЮдœLœ@ 88 88 hL и [ kZ 4™&@а є} @а Pd Є0  @аР@ L/ ає & ^U N в& &в4 ’  ( $о73 MSП  B@ & >  ;Ž G3Ld№ 26 kZ 3L № Ђ1 @а @  @ ќ  @} .­+@аЬVџ$Z)A:\LBIBLE05.TXTье‹уwњu‰‹у*u,&‰*‰*ье‹уwњu‰‹у*u-'ьеwњ‰*ье‹уwњu‰‹у*u(ьеwњ‰*ье‹уwњu‰‹у*u)лhuьеwњ‰*ье‹уwњu‰‹у*u*ьеwњ‰*ье‹уwњu‰‹у*u +D‹э|Хўьеwњ‰*3цье‹уwњu‰‹у*u,ьеwњ‰*ье‹уwњu‰‹у*u-‘_ьеwњ‰*ье‹уwњu‰‹у*u .ьеwњ‰*ье‹уwњu‰‹у*u /ыѕьeЛўьеwњ‰*ье‹уwњu‰‹у*u 0ьеwњ‰*ье‹уwњu‰‹у*u 1™юžзў‚ьеwњ‰*ье‹уwњu‰‹у*u 2ьеwњ‰*ье‹уwњu‰‹у*u3Јю'иўiьеwњ‰*ье‹уwњu‰‹у*u4ьеwњ‰*ье‹уwњu‰‹у*u5 Мgьеwњ‰*ье‹уwњu‰‹у*u6ьеwњ‰*ье‹уwњu‰‹у*u7Eшбkўьеwњ‰*ье‹уwњu‰‹у*u8ьеwњ‰*ье‹уwњu‰‹у*u 9ЭIc'ьеwњ‰*Ькье‹уwњu‰‹у*u:ьеwњ‰*ье‹уwњu‰‹у*u;ˆбјьеwњ‰*ье‹уwњu‰‹у*u<ьеwњ‰*ье‹уwњu‰‹у*u =њfьеwњ‰*aье‹уwњu‰‹у*u>ьеwњ‰*ье‹уwњu‰‹у*u?ˆєојЬ§ьеwњ‰*ье‹уwњu‰‹у*u@ьеwњ‰*ье‹уwњu‰‹у*uAыДe ьеwњ‰*ье‹уwњu‰‹у*uBьеwњ‰*ье‹уwњu‰‹у*uCбиЈьеwњ‰*ье‹уwњu‰‹у*uDьеwњ‰*ье‹уwњu‰‹у*u EytцїLўьеwњ‰*ье‹уwњu‰‹у*u!Fьеwњ‰*ье‹уwњu‰‹у*u"Gы&щezўьеwњ‰*ье‹уwњu‰‹у*u#ьеwњ‰*ье‹уwњu‰‹у*uYьеwњ‰*ье‹уwњu‰‹у*uZ џџ Рџџ €0џџ @AџџDocument Master€#ьеwњ‰*ье‹уwњu‰‹у*uDocument Master€$ьеwњ‰*ье‹уwњu‰‹у*uVWXYZ[џџџџ!џџр(xK–dћџЈdџџdџџxџџџџМGMMdBody textџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџ(xK–dћџЈdџџdџџdџџџџМGMMdCaptionџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџ№№џ(xK–dћџЈdџџdџџxџџџџМGMMdHanging indentџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџU(xK–dћџЈdџџdџџ,џџџџМGMMdHeadlineџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџU(xK–dћџЈdџџdџџДџџџџМGMMdSubhead 1џџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџU(xK–dћџЈdџџdџџxџџџџМGMMdSubhead 2џџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџL?8ш1-3624,26,28,30,32,34,36џџDefaultArial"  $џџTimes New Roman$џџNoneџџџџџџџџџRegistrationџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџPaperџџџџџџBlackџџџџџџRedџџџџџџџџџџџџџџGreenџџџџџџџџџџџџ‡7‡7Blueџџџџџџџџџџџџ||ЈDллллAdobe Compatibility CMSAdobe Compatibility CMSPageMaker 5.0 RGBDллллAdobe Compatibility CMS Adobe Compatibility CMSPageMaker 5.0 CMYK`С.PC" BTXT3№›Гье‹уwњџџџџџџОџџ3џџџџџџџџџџџџџџ'‰‹у*uџџџџџџџџџџˆ8џџџџџџdџџџџџџџџье‹уwњsџџџџџџџџџџ :џџџџџџdџџџџџџџџ–у*іџџџџџџšџџ`9џџџџџџџџџџџџџџье‹уwњВџџџџџџ›џџ09џџџџџџџџџџџџџџ‰Фу*ЎџџџџџџџџX8џџџџџџџџџџџџџџье‹уwњџџџџџџžџџ09џџџџџџџџџџџџџџ‰‹у*ЩџџџџџџŸџџ`9џџџџџџџџџџџџџџье‹уwњjџџџџџџ џџP7џџџџџџџџџџџџџџ ‰‹у*ЏџџџџџџЁџџ€7џџџџџџџџџџџџџџ ьестwњџџџџџџЂџџ;џџџџџџџџџџџџџџ Фу*uџџџџџџЄџџp8џџџџџџџџџџџџџџ ье‹уwњџџџџџџЅџџ`9џџџџџџџџџџџџџџ–у*џџџџџџІџџ :џџџџџџџџџџџџџџьеФуwњџџџџџџЇџџ #џџџџџџџџџџџџџџsЈтў)ёџџџџџџЈџџ@;џџџџџџџџџџџџџџье‹уwњ/џџџџџџЉџџP:џџџџџџџџџџџџџџ‰Фу*KџџџџџџЊџџ :џџџџџџџџџџџџџџьеруwњuџџџџџџЌџџА7џџџџџџџџџџџџџџ‰‹у*uџџџџџџ­џџ@8џџџџџџџџџџџџџџьеФуwњвѓџџџџџџЎџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџ‰‹у*џџџџџџЏџџ`9џџџџџџџџџџџџџџьеруwњuџџџџџџАџџp8џџџџџџџџџџџџџџ‰‹у*MџџџџџџБџџ@8џџџџџџџџџџџџџџьеруwњћџџџџџџВџџ€џџџџџџџџџџџџџџ‰ру*jџџџџџџГџџp8џџџџџџџџџџџџџџ§е{тˆњёџџџџџџДџџ@;џџџџџџџџџџџџџџ‰Фу*uџџџџџџЕџџ@8џџџџџџџџџџџџџџье‹уwњПџџџџџџЖџџ$џџџџџџџџџџџџџџ‰Фу*;џџџџџџЗџџ`9џџџџџџџџџџџџџџ ье‹уwњCџџџџџџИџџа/џџџџџџџџџџџџџџ!‰Фу*­џџџџџџЙџџ`9џџџџџџџџџџџџџџ"ье‹уwњчџџџџџџКџџ@8џџџџџџџџџџџџџџ#–у*GџџџџџџЛџџp8џџџџџџџџџџџџџџ$ье‹уwњ;џџџџџџМџџ09џџџџџџџџџџџџџџ%‰‹у*uџџџџџџНџџp8џџџџџџџџџџџџџџ&ѕC,‹$ъ8ˆ8џџKL-‹$ш: :џџ“H‹$`9`9џџš>F‹$':09џџ›F‹$ъ8X8џџ&H‹$:09џџžуB‹$>:`9џџŸМG‹$п7P7џџ UL ‹$$8€7џџЁ!O ‹$=;;џџЂ~H ‹$Б8p8џџЄ.I ‹$:`9џџЅЦH ‹$њ: :џџІЄ 5‹$@$ #џџЇОL‹$I;@;џџЈ"O‹$Є:P:џџЉF‹$‡: :џџЊƒF‹$•8А7џџЌP@‹$ъ8@8џџ­ы‹$џџЎ E‹$ƒ9`9џџЏгG‹$•8p8џџА!C‹$Т8@8џџБ\ ‹$$€џџВЃG‹$Š8p8џџГ}M‹$v;@;џџДC‹$Б8@8џџЕP .‹$4%$џџЖeI‹$w9`9џџЗV@‹$И0а/џџИ…E‹$щ9`9џџЙкC ‹$\8@8џџК­A!‹$Б8p8џџЛ.A"‹$А909џџМcB#‹$ъ8p8џџНУ9Y‹$33џџО<S8а3‹$C№ ‹$C№  ‹$C№ ‹$C№ Ю‹$c№ ‹$dC 7 ‹$-C№ <‹$2C№ б‹$=C№ U‹$9C№ t‹$$C№ Ј ‹$4C№ Т‹$EC№ Q‹$C№ њ‹$C№ ‹$c№ ‹$h3 7T"‹$k3№ ‹$‹$m#№ ‹$‹$o#№ ‹$‹$p#№ ‹$‹$n#№ ‹$‹$d#№ ‹$‹$t#№ ‹$‹$n#№ ‹$‹$r#№ ‹$‹$TC№ s‹$C№ ‹$C№ %‹$c№ ‹$e# 7T"‹$n#№ ‹$‹$q#№ ‹$‹$h#№ ‹$‹$k3№ ‹$‹$q#№ ‹$‹$C№ œ ‹$c№ ‹$e3 7T"‹$s#№ ‹$‹$n#№ ‹$‹$BC№ Н‹$c№ ‹$e# 7T"‹$r#№ ‹$‹$m#№ ‹$‹$r#№ ‹$‹$m#№ ‹$‹$p+№ ‹$‹$%C№ ^ ‹$c№ ‹$j3 7T"‹$s#№ ‹$‹$WC№ Л‹$C№ ‹$#C№ | ‹$j#№ ‹$‹$p3№ ‹$‹$i;№ ‹$‹$r#№ ‹$‹$s#№ ‹$‹$q3№ ‹$‹$g#№ ‹$‹$y#№ ‹$‹$/C№ Н‹$C b‹$C№ Ў‹$c№ ‹$e# 7T"‹$q#№ ‹$‹$n#№ ‹$‹$,C№ ё‹$m#№ ‹$‹$S№ F‹$c№ ‹$g# 7T"‹$l#№ ‹$‹$XC№ Е‹$c№ ‹$b3 7T"‹$u#№ ‹$‹$l#№ ‹$‹$p#№ ‹$‹$r#№ ‹$‹$GC№ я‹$C№ ‹$C№ Ь‹$c№ ‹$e# 7T"‹$p#№ ‹$‹$i3№ ‹$‹$o#№ ‹$‹$k3№ ‹$‹$k#№ ‹$‹$NC№ }‹$c№ ‹$_3 7T"‹$m#№ ‹$‹$r#№ ‹$‹$l#№ ‹$‹$f#№ ‹$‹$m+№ ‹$‹$8C№ “‹$c№ ‹$a3 7T"‹$q3№ ‹$‹$j#№ ‹$‹$i#№ ‹$‹$t#№ ‹$‹$>S№ Ф‹$C№ ‹$C№  ‹$c№ ‹$g3 7T"‹$m#№ ‹$‹$k#№ ‹$‹$i#№ ‹$‹$u#№ ‹$‹$k3№ ‹$‹$p3№ ‹$‹$=C№ и ‹$C№ ‹$ C№ “‹$c№ ‹$,C 7ˆ‹$c№ ‹$"C 7ц ‹$c№ ‹$`S 7–‹$c№ ‹$ZC 7т‹$c№ ‹$c# 7“!‹$c№ ‹$%C 7‹$C№ ‹$OS№  ‹$C№ ‹$ S№ ѕ ‹$CB№ ёЉ‹$B№ F‹$C Ш‹$?S РШ‹$C№ ‹$C№ ‹$C№ ‹$c№ ‹$h3 7T"‹$k#№ ‹$‹$t3№ ‹$‹$l#№ ‹$‹$p#№ ‹$‹$l#№ ‹$‹$UC№ ћ‹$c№ ‹$C 7‹$C№ ‹$c№ ‹$c3 7T"‹$j#№ ‹$‹$p#№ ‹$‹$p#№ ‹$‹$n3№ ‹$‹$n#№ ‹$‹$v3№ ‹$‹$f#№ ‹$‹$%C№ ‹$c№ ‹$C 7‹$$C№ " ‹$c№ ‹$l# 7T"‹$u#№ ‹$‹$t3№ ‹$‹$l#№ ‹$‹$gc№ б‹$c 9!‹$# p#‹$c№ ‹$C 7‹$C№ Э‹$c№ ‹$`3 7T"‹$m3№ ‹$‹$g#№ ‹$‹$k#№ ‹$‹$i#№ ‹$‹$m3№ ‹$‹$q#№ ‹$‹$eC№ ‹‹$C№ ‹$C№ R‹$c№ ‹$f# 7T"‹$m3№ ‹$‹$m#№ ‹$‹$p3№ ‹$‹$l3№ ‹$‹$q#№ ‹$‹$r#№ ‹$‹$j#№ ‹$‹$r#№ ‹$‹$s3№ ‹$‹$p#№ ‹$‹$p#№ ‹$‹$‚C№ О#‹$C№ ‹$C№ D‹$c№ ‹$g# 7T"‹$t#№ ‹$‹$k#№ ‹$‹$l#№ ‹$‹$s#№ ‹$‹$k#№ ‹$‹$l#№ ‹$‹$m#№ ‹$‹$n#№ ‹$‹$q#№ ‹$‹$p#№ ‹$‹$m#№ ‹$‹$(C№ е ‹$C№ ‹$C№ ћ‹$c№ ‹$d+ 7T"‹$s3№ ‹$‹$s3№ ‹$‹$j#№ ‹$‹$q3№ ‹$‹$q#№ ‹$‹$s#№ ‹$‹$o#№ ‹$‹$q#№ ‹$‹$u#№ ‹$‹$yS № Ю"‹$C№ ‹$0S№ У‹$c№ ‹$n3 7T"‹$f#№ ‹$‹$p#№ ‹$‹$p#№ ‹$‹$m3№ ‹$‹$8C № ˆ‹$C№ ‹$-C№ > ‹$c№ ‹$d# 7T"‹$t3№ ‹$‹$o#№ ‹$‹$r#№ ‹$‹$i#№ ‹$‹$k#№ ‹$‹$m#№ ‹$‹$RC№ С‹$C№ ‹$ C№ “‹$c№ ‹$C 7Ъ‹$c№ ‹$QC 7`‹$c№ ‹$US 7]‹$c№ ‹$bS 7§ ‹$c№ ‹$jS 7„!‹$C№ ‹$ƒC№ ‹$‹$C№ ‹$C№ и ‹$UC№ @‹$CC№ ъ‹$YS№ ђ‹$C№ ‹$C№ c‹$ C№ @ ‹$C№ ‹$ C№ Ш ‹$UC№ Ф‹$DB№ гх‹$B№ F‹$C ї‹$=SА‹$C№ ‹$C№ ‚‹$C№ ‹$l3№ ‹$‹$r3№ ‹$‹$o3№ ‹$‹$o#№ ‹$‹$p3№ ‹$‹$ŽC№ ‹$‹$C№ ‹$C№ Ы‹$c№ ‹$f# 7T"‹$r;№ ‹$‹$g#№ ‹$‹$e#№ ‹$‹$l#№ ‹$‹$m#№ ‹$‹$n#№ ‹$‹$<C№ G‹$c№ ‹$j# 7T"‹$p#№ ‹$‹$m#№ ‹$‹$q#№ ‹$‹$r#№ ‹$‹$C№ Я‹$c№ ‹$i# 7T"‹$n#№ ‹$‹$r3№ ‹$‹$q3№ ‹$‹$C№  ‹$c№ ‹$h; 7T"‹$m#№ ‹$‹$j#№ ‹$‹$q3№ ‹$‹$m#№ ‹$‹$n3№ ‹$‹$p#№ ‹$‹$r3№ ‹$‹$s3№ ‹$‹$o3№ ‹$‹$o#№ ‹$‹$.C№ Е‹$C№ ‹$ C№ Ш ‹$c№ ‹$b# 7T"‹$h#№ ‹$‹$jC№ s#‹$C№ ‹$C№ R‹$c№ ‹$DC 7Н‹$c№ ‹$:C 7I‹$c№ ‹$KC 7o‹$C№ ‹$c№ ‹$b# 7T"‹$r#№ ‹$‹$m3№ ‹$‹$[S№ Z‹$C№ ‹$C№ ‹$C ’‹$C№ М‹$c№ ‹$g# 7T"‹$o#№ ‹$‹$mC№ ’"‹$C№ ‹$ S№ П‹$*S№ L‹$c№ ‹$g# 7T"‹$o#№ ‹$‹$k#№ ‹$‹$p#№ ‹$‹$g3№ ‹$‹$t3№ ‹$‹$C№  ‹$c№ ‹$d# 7T"‹$q#№ ‹$‹$x#№ ‹$‹$s#№ ‹$‹$p#№ ‹$‹$m#№ ‹$‹$XC№ =‹$C№ ‹$S№ ‹$c№ ‹$g3 7T"‹$\C№ ;‹$C№ ‹$S№  ‹$c№ ‹$b# 7T"‹$n#№ ‹$‹$h#№ ‹$‹$C№ ы‹$C№ ‹$C№ ј‹$c№ ‹$i# 7T"‹$eC№ f!‹$c№ ‹$C 7‹$c№ ‹$d# 7T"‹$o#№ ‹$‹$XS№ L‹$C№ ‹$C№ c‹$c№ ‹$g# 7T"‹$m#№ ‹$‹$l#№ ‹$‹$p3№ ‹$‹$m3№ ‹$‹$m3№ ‹$‹$o3№ ‹$‹$*C№ ƒ‹$C№ ‹$C№ ј‹$c№ ‹$f# 7T"‹$h#№ ‹$‹$r#№ ‹$‹$l3№ ‹$‹$l#№ ‹$‹$r#№ ‹$‹$o#№ ‹$‹$o#№ ‹$‹$n#№ ‹$‹$o#№ ‹$‹$# е‹$q#№ ‹$‹$r#№ ‹$‹$0S№ K‹$C№ ‹$.C№ с‹$C№ ‹$m#№ ‹$‹$5C№ •‹$CC№ х‹$CА‹$3SА ‹$C№ ‹$5C№ ‹$C№ ‹$C№ 5‹$c№ ‹$l# 7T"‹$s#№ ‹$‹$n#№ ‹$‹$o#№ ‹$‹$p#№ ‹$‹$t#№ ‹$‹$q#№ ‹$‹$w#№ ‹$‹$FC №  ‹$C№ ‹$:C№ G‹$c№ ‹$j# 7T"‹$l#№ ‹$‹$n#№ ‹$‹$n#№ ‹$‹$w#№ ‹$‹$m3№ ‹$‹$q#№ ‹$‹$o#№ ‹$‹$h#№ ‹$‹$2C№ Н‹$C№ ‹$C№ љ‹$c№ ‹$e# 7T"‹$p3№ ‹$‹$o#№ ‹$‹$e3№ ‹$‹$u#№ ‹$‹$l#№ ‹$‹$m3№ ‹$‹$l#№ ‹$‹$k#№ ‹$‹$q3№ ‹$‹$q#№ ‹$‹$k#№ ‹$‹$5C№ m ‹$C№ ‹$*C№ j‹$c№ ‹$e# 7T"‹$m#№ ‹$‹$o3№ ‹$‹$u#№ ‹$‹$m#№ ‹$‹$5S№ x‹$C№ ‹$C№ ‹$C о‹$C№ 2 ‹$c№ ‹$^# 7T"‹$?S№ н‹$C№ ‹$4C№ …‹$c№ ‹$%c 7? ‹$c ‹$C Иƒ‹$C№ ‹$(C№ k ‹$c№ ‹$c# 7T"‹$l#№ ‹$‹$9C#№ ъ‹$c№ ‹$b# 7T"‹$i#№ ‹$‹$q#№ ‹$‹$h#№ ‹$‹$p#№ ‹$‹$DC№ j‹$C№ ‹$C№ Ъ‹$c№ ‹$f# 7T"‹$q3№ ‹$‹$j#№ ‹$‹$o#№ ‹$‹$u#№ ‹$‹$f#№ ‹$‹$s#№ ‹$‹$s#№ ‹$‹$%C № Г‹$C№ ‹$C№ њ‹$c№ ‹$h# 7T"‹$fC&№ ъ‹$c№ ‹$i# 7T"‹$k#№ ‹$‹$o#№ ‹$‹$fC№ Ђ!‹$c№ ‹$f# 7T"‹$o#№ ‹$‹$k3№ ‹$‹$o#№ ‹$‹$k#№ ‹$‹$7C № Z‹$C№ ‹$C№ o ‹$c№ ‹$m# 7T"‹$p3№ ‹$‹$k#№ ‹$‹$m#№ ‹$‹$m#№ ‹$‹$w#№ ‹$‹$j#№ ‹$‹$j#№ ‹$‹$p#№ ‹$‹$r#№ ‹$‹$i3№ ‹$‹$o#№ ‹$‹$q#№ ‹$‹$v#№ ‹$‹$*C№  ‹$C ‹$ C№ Я‹$c№ ‹$7C 7Ѓ‹$c№ ‹$MC 7#‹$c№ ‹$SC 7Љ‹$c№ ‹$WC 7/‹$c№ ‹$<C 7‚‹$c№ ‹$h# 7T"‹$c№ ‹$ C 7ю‹$c№ ‹$e# 7Ђ!‹$c№ ‹$C 7Б‹$1C№ K‹$C№ ‹$l#№ ‹$‹$C№ 6‹$BB№ ёЉ‹$CА‹$ISА-‹$HC№ а‹$c№ ‹$e# 7T"‹$i3№ ‹$‹$o#№ ‹$‹$s#№ ‹$‹$o#№ ‹$‹$o#№ ‹$‹$XC№ Х‹$c№ ‹$b# 7T"‹$n#№ ‹$‹$m3№ ‹$‹$OC№ ‹‹$C№ ‹$)C№ \ ‹$c№ ‹$c# 7T"‹$9C№ ‹$c№ ‹$k# 7T"‹$p#№ ‹$‹$h#№ ‹$‹$i#№ ‹$‹$C№ Г‹$c№ ‹$j3 7T"‹$h3№ ‹$‹$o3№ ‹$‹$q3№ ‹$‹$n#№ ‹$‹$r3№ ‹$‹$m#№ ‹$‹$sS№ T$‹$c№ ‹$g3 7T"‹$h#№ ‹$‹$i#№ ‹$‹$p#№ ‹$‹$7C№ f‹$c№ ‹$j3 7T"‹$d#№ ‹$‹$j#№ ‹$‹$j3№ ‹$‹$r#№ ‹$‹$j#№ ‹$‹$n#№ ‹$‹$ C № ‹$C Є‹$(C№ І‹$c№ ‹$h# 7T"‹$h3№ ‹$‹$u#№ ‹$‹$n#№ ‹$‹$o#№ ‹$‹$l+№ ‹$‹$<S$№ ž‹$C№ ‹$C№ U‹$c№ ‹$j+ 7T"‹$h#№ ‹$‹$u3№ ‹$‹$t#№ ‹$‹$m3№ ‹$‹$n#№ ‹$‹$s#№ ‹$‹$sC№ ы#‹$C№ ‹$,C№ Ф‹$c№ ‹$o# 7T"‹$q#№ ‹$‹$q#№ ‹$‹$n#№ ‹$‹$r#№ ‹$‹$z#№ ‹$‹$n3№ ‹$‹$$C№ ^ ‹$c№ ‹$k# 7T"‹$q#№ ‹$‹$q#№ ‹$‹$t#№ ‹$‹$h#№ ‹$‹$k#№ ‹$‹$qC№ (#‹$c№ ‹$l3 7T"‹$l#№ ‹$‹$k3№ ‹$‹$)C№  ‹$C№ ‹$9C№ h‹$c№ ‹$9C 7Р‹$c№ ‹$*C 7\ ‹$c№ ‹$%C 7є ‹$c№ ‹$2C 7‹$j#№ ‹$‹$o+№ ‹$‹$8C№ …‹$C№ ‹$ C№ “‹$c№ ‹$C 7Ћ ‹$c№ ‹$HC 7й‹$c№ ‹$DS 7€‹$c№ ‹$LC 7_‹$c№ ‹$g# 7T"‹$c№ ‹$C 7G‹$C№ ‹$C№ c‹$TC№ !‹$C№ ‹$k#№ ‹$‹$6C№ б‹$.B№  u‹$C -‹$OS Р‹$C№ ‘‹$C№ ‹$c№ ‹$l3 7T"‹$g#№ ‹$‹$s#№ ‹$‹$t3№ ‹$‹$n3№ ‹$‹$m#№ ‹$‹$q#№ ‹$‹$m#№ ‹$‹$WC№ T‹$C№ ‹$&C№ х ‹$c№ ‹$_# 7T"‹$o#№ ‹$‹$g#№ ‹$‹$o#№ ‹$‹$o#№ ‹$‹$q#№ ‹$‹$WC № B‹$C№ ‹$@C№ л‹$c№ ‹$/C 7‹$c№ ‹$:C 78‹$c№ ‹$OC 7O‹$c№ ‹$QS 7^‹$c№ ‹$b# 7f!‹$c№ ‹$#C 7)‹$C№ ‹$-C№ в‹$c№ ‹$h# 7T"‹$j#№ ‹$‹$o3№ ‹$‹$o#№ ‹$‹$n#№ ‹$‹$IC№ ‹$C№ ‹$.C№ ‹$c№ ‹$k# 7T"‹$h#№ ‹$‹$j3№ ‹$‹$p#№ ‹$‹$i#№ ‹$‹$m3№ ‹$‹$j#№ ‹$‹$q#№ ‹$‹$j#№ ‹$‹$p#№ ‹$‹$ƒ#№ ‹$‹$q#№ ‹$‹$j#№ ‹$‹$l3№ ‹$‹$j#№ ‹$‹$'C№ _ ‹$c№ ‹$j# 7T"‹$i3№ ‹$‹$m#№ ‹$‹$p#№ ‹$‹$n#№ ‹$‹$# A‹$k3№ ‹$‹$o#№ ‹$‹$u3№ ‹$‹$p#№ ‹$‹$s#№ ‹$‹$o#№ ‹$‹$t#№ ‹$‹$m#№ ‹$‹$q#№ ‹$‹$p#№ ‹$‹$SC№ (‹$C№ ‹$%C№ ‹ ‹$c№ ‹$e# 7T"‹$q#№ ‹$‹$l3№ ‹$‹$m3№ ‹$‹$q3№ ‹$‹$k#№ ‹$‹$o#№ ‹$‹$n3№ ‹$‹$n#№ ‹$‹$l#№ ‹$‹$q#№ ‹$‹$m3№ ‹$‹$iC№ №‹$C№ ‹$,C№ ‹$c№ ‹$(C 7З ‹$c№ ‹$;C 7Р‹$c№ ‹$4C 7б‹$c№ ‹$_C 7h‹$c№ ‹$VC 7N‹$c№ ‹$ZC 7˜‹$C№ ‹$/C№ ё‹$C№ ‹$n#№ ‹$‹$pC№ ‹$‹$DB№ гх‹$B№ F‹$RS Р€‹$C№ s‹$c№ ‹$g# 7T"‹$o#№ ‹$‹$p#№ ‹$‹$q#№ ‹$‹$n#№ ‹$‹$[C№ z‹$c№ ‹$a3 7T"‹$g#№ ‹$‹$r#№ ‹$‹$$C№ Њ ‹$C№ ‹$GC № T‹$c№ ‹$C 7‹$SC№ R‹$c№ ‹$h# 7T"‹$s#№ ‹$‹$q#№ ‹$‹$k#№ ‹$‹$# Ѕ‹$j#№ ‹$‹$l#№ ‹$‹$h#№ ‹$‹$f3№ ‹$‹$o#№ ‹$‹$YS№ Ъ‹$C№ ‹$3C№ Г‹$c№ ‹$g# 7T"‹$f#№ ‹$‹$p#№ ‹$‹$p#№ ‹$‹$m3№ ‹$‹$q#№ ‹$‹$5S№ €‹$C№ ‹$C№ ‹$c№ ‹$b# 7T"‹$j#№ ‹$‹$n#№ ‹$‹$t#№ ‹$‹$…#№ ‹$‹$s3№ ‹$‹$n#№ ‹$‹$g#№ ‹$‹$b+№ ‹$‹$n#№ ‹$‹$g#№ ‹$‹$n#№ ‹$‹$p#№ ‹$‹$j#№ ‹$‹$v3№ ‹$‹$q#№ ‹$‹$n#№ ‹$‹$s#№ ‹$‹$p#№ ‹$‹$m#№ ‹$‹$=C № H‹$C№ ‹$2C№ С‹$c№ ‹$k3 7T"‹$c№ ‹$NC 7ч‹$c№ ‹$i# 7T"‹$c№ ‹$=C 7F‹$c№ ‹$h# 7T"‹$n3№ ‹$‹$‡C№ њ#‹$C№ ‹$C№ &‹$c№ ‹$g3 7T"‹$m3№ ‹$‹$o#№ ‹$‹$p3№ ‹$‹$n3№ ‹$‹$n#№ ‹$‹$@S№ 8‹$c№ ‹$k# 7T"‹$s#№ ‹$‹$l#№ ‹$‹$o3№ ‹$‹$m3№ ‹$‹$gC№ ф‹$C к‹$C№ ‹$+C№ —‹$c№ ‹$g3 7T"‹$bC№ !‹$c№ ‹$g# 7T"‹$i3№ ‹$‹$m#№ ‹$‹$v#№ ‹$‹$=C№ Ђ‹$c№ ‹$g# 7T"‹$n#№ ‹$‹$EC№ q‹$c№ ‹$e# 7T"‹$x3№ ‹$‹$o3№ ‹$‹$r#№ ‹$‹$l#№ ‹$‹$l3№ ‹$‹$o#№ ‹$‹$p#№ ‹$‹$q#№ ‹$‹$4C № ђ ‹$C№ ‹$ C№ “‹$c№ ‹$:C 7В‹$c№ ‹$ES 7R‹$c№ ‹$SS 7Ћ‹$c№ ‹$gs 7*!‹$# p#‹$c№ ‹$S 7G‹$c№ ‹$QC 7Ч‹$c№ ‹$d3 7T"‹$c№ ‹$4C 7Е‹$c№ ‹$C 7‹$.C№ І‹$C№ ‹$k"№ В(#‹$e2№ šW!‹$CB№ ёЉ‹$B  ‹$B№ F‹$ES РТ‹$CC+№ Ъ‹$C№ ‹$c№ ‹$f# 7T"‹$p#№ ‹$‹$0C№ ‹$C№ ‹$(C№ ѓ ‹$c№ ‹$d# 7T"‹$u#№ ‹$‹$l#№ ‹$‹$o#№ ‹$‹$j#№ ‹$‹$y#№ ‹$‹$:C № ‹$C№ ‹$C№ n ‹$c№ ‹$j# 7T"‹$i#№ ‹$‹$i#№ ‹$‹$q#№ ‹$‹$j#№ ‹$‹$\C$№ Я‹$C№ ‹$C№  ‹$c№ ‹$b# 7T"‹$q#№ ‹$‹$pC#№ з‹$C№ ‹$C№ (‹$c№ ‹$j# 7T"‹$n3№ ‹$‹$l#№ ‹$‹$(C№ Ё‹$c№ ‹$c 7‹$%S n> ‹$(C№ ‹$c№ ‹$c 7‹$1S  n‡‹$:S№ ћ‹$c№ ‹$e# 7T"‹$n#№ ‹$‹$r#№ ‹$‹$m#№ ‹$‹$p#№ ‹$‹$ZC№ q‹$c№ ‹$j# 7T"‹$n;№ ‹$‹$k#№ ‹$‹$C№ Я‹$LC№ Л‹$@C№ ‚‹$CC№ r‹$IC№ ї‹$o#№ ‹$‹$OS№ n‹$qC№ О#‹$YC№ l‹$c№ ‹$c# 7T"‹$s#№ ‹$‹$t#№ ‹$‹$q#№ ‹$‹$p3№ ‹$‹$o#№ ‹$‹$#  ‹$l#№ ‹$‹$1C№ 1 ‹$C№ ‹$2S№ e‹$c№ ‹$]# 7T"‹$'C№ )‹$j#№ ‹$‹$1C№ ,‹$cC№ + ‹$`C№ ,‹$YS№ \‹$c№ ‹$>C 7 ‹$k#№ ‹$‹$m#№ ‹$‹$y#№ ‹$‹$_C№ ‹$c№ ‹$f# 7T"‹$n#№ ‹$‹$n#№ ‹$‹$u#№ ‹$‹$KC №  ‹$C№ ‹$ C№ H‹$c№ ‹$1C 7•‹$c№ ‹$OC 7‹$c№ ‹$e+ 7T"‹$C№ D‹$c№ ‹$ZC 7 ‹$c№ ‹$ZC 7—‹$c№ ‹$IC 7a‹$c№ ‹$:C 7W‹$c№ ‹$%C 7 ‹$c№ ‹$aC 7v ‹$C№ ‹$%C№ ‹ ‹$C№ ‹$o#№ ‹$‹$C№ ъ‹$DB№ гх‹$B№ F‹$9S РЋ‹$xCD№ ‹$c№ ‹$c м‹$C  ‹$l#№ ‹$‹$l#№ ‹$‹$r#№ ‹$‹$v#№ ‹$‹$jC№ •‹$C№ ‹$C№ o ‹$c№ ‹$g# 7T"‹$r#№ ‹$‹$k#№ ‹$‹$v3№ ‹$‹$v#№ ‹$‹$#C№ ж ‹$C№ ‹$2C№ †‹$c№ ‹$k# 7T"‹$t#№ ‹$‹$j#№ ‹$‹$q#№ ‹$‹$# T‹$n#№ ‹$‹$l#№ ‹$‹$x#№ ‹$‹$ C№ К ‹$c№ ‹$j# 7T"‹$q#№ ‹$‹$r#№ ‹$‹$s3№ ‹$‹$u#№ ‹$‹$p#№ ‹$‹$C№ ќ‹$c№ ‹$c# 7T"‹$u#№ ‹$‹$n#№ ‹$‹$u#№ ‹$‹$p#№ ‹$‹$l3№ ‹$‹$r#№ ‹$‹$x#№ ‹$‹$p#№ ‹$‹$o#№ ‹$‹$u#№ ‹$‹$ZC № (‹$C№ ‹$C№ ‹$c№ ‹$m# 7T"‹$f3№ ‹$‹$l#№ ‹$‹$‡C№ "‹$C№ ‹$S№ $ ‹$c№ ‹$g3 7T"‹$p#№ ‹$‹$n#№ ‹$‹$AS№ О‹$n#№ ‹$‹$#*№ ‹$‹$j#№ ‹$‹$h3№ ‹$‹$m3№ ‹$‹$C№ ћ‹$c№ ‹$c# 7T"‹$n#№ ‹$‹$m#№ ‹$‹$y#№ ‹$‹$s#№ ‹$‹${#№ ‹$‹$s3№ ‹$‹$r#№ ‹$‹$r#№ ‹$‹$q#№ ‹$‹$p3№ ‹$‹$?C(№ ­‹$C№ ‹$ C№ I‹$c№ ‹$e# 7T"‹$m#№ ‹$‹$vC № ‹$C№ к‹$c№ ‹$k# 7T"‹$s#№ ‹$‹$m3№ ‹$‹$# g‹$g#№ ‹$‹$q#№ ‹$‹$o3№ ‹$‹$p3№ ‹$‹$o#№ ‹$‹$q#№ ‹$‹$n#№ ‹$‹$qS № u!‹$C№ ‹$ C№ “‹$c№ ‹$CC 7‹$c№ ‹$-C 7Х ‹$c№ ‹$BC 7л‹$c№ ‹$GC 7‘‹$c№ ‹$>C 7ƒ‹$c№ ‹$h# 7ќ!‹$c№ ‹$C 7А‹$C№ ‹$%S№ m ‹$C№ ‹$l № T$‹$n № 8"‹$ @№ ю‹$BB№ ёЉ‹$B№ F‹$9S РЋ‹$C Р‹$UC№ ђ‹$C№ ‹$c№ ‹$h# 7T"‹$o#№ ‹$‹$r#№ ‹$‹$r#№ ‹$‹$h#№ ‹$‹$i3№ ‹$‹$v#№ ‹$‹$g#№ ‹$‹$gC № ‹$C№ ‹$#C№ › ‹$c№ ‹$j3 7T"‹$r#№ ‹$‹$q3№ ‹$‹$o3№ ‹$‹$k#№ ‹$‹$k#№ ‹$‹$l3№ ‹$‹$w#№ ‹$‹$i#№ ‹$‹$x3№ ‹$‹$n#№ ‹$‹$q3№ ‹$‹$o#№ ‹$‹$fC№ ^‹$C№ ‹$'C№ ™ ‹$c№ ‹$f# 7T"‹$n#№ ‹$‹$m3№ ‹$‹$# х‹$h#№ ‹$‹$t;№ ‹$‹$p#№ ‹$‹$p#№ ‹$‹$k#№ ‹$‹$pC№ ’"‹$c№ ‹$w#  7T"‹$l#№ ‹$‹$o3№ ‹$‹$q#№ ‹$‹$v#№ ‹$‹$w3№ ‹$‹$o3№ ‹$‹$s#№ ‹$‹$p#№ ‹$‹$q3№ ‹$‹$bS№ ;‹$C№ ‹$%C№  ‹$c№ ‹$m# 7T"‹$m3№ ‹$‹$s#№ ‹$‹$m#№ ‹$‹$u#№ ‹$‹$s#№ ‹$‹$m#№ ‹$‹$r#№ ‹$‹$s3№ ‹$‹$p#№ ‹$‹$ƒ3№ ‹$‹$+C№ ѓ ‹$h#№ ‹$‹$q#№ ‹$‹$w#№ ‹$‹$q#№ ‹$‹$m#№ ‹$‹$v#№ ‹$‹$t#№ ‹$‹$l#№ ‹$‹$RC № ч‹$C№ ‹$-C№ ,‹$c№ ‹$e# 7T"‹$n#№ ‹$‹$r3№ ‹$‹$t3№ ‹$‹$n+№ ‹$‹$w#№ ‹$‹$t3№ ‹$‹$m#№ ‹$‹$k3№ ‹$‹$q#№ ‹$‹$€3№ ‹$‹$n3№ ‹$‹$m#№ ‹$‹$’#!№ ‹$‹$o#№ ‹$‹$r3№ ‹$‹$C№ Р‹$m#№ ‹$‹$# Њ‹$s3№ ‹$‹$gC № ,‹$C№ ‹$ C№ “‹$c№ ‹$1C 7J‹$c№ ‹$QC 7!‹$c№ ‹$WC 7ф‹$c№ ‹$qS 7T"‹$C№ ‹$LS№ И‹$C№ ‹$q#№ ‹$‹$s#№ ‹$‹$DC№ л‹$BB№ ёЉ‹$B№ F‹$C ‹$iS Рћ"‹$ c № ‹$c 7‹$C nS‹$c№ ‹$e# 7T"‹$r3№ ‹$‹$n#№ ‹$‹$‚#№ ‹$‹$e#№ ‹$‹$k3№ ‹$‹$l#№ ‹$‹$k#№ ‹$‹$r#№ ‹$‹$r#№ ‹$‹$l#№ ‹$‹$q#№ ‹$‹$k#№ ‹$‹$p3№ ‹$‹$o3№ ‹$‹$l3№ ‹$‹$u3№ ‹$‹$]C№ Ž‹$C№ ‹$C№ М‹$c№ ‹$g3 7T"‹$s3№ ‹$‹$n#№ ‹$‹$l#№ ‹$‹$dC№ А"‹$C№ ‹$'C№ ђ ‹$c№ ‹$f# 7T"‹$e#№ ‹$‹$i#№ ‹$‹$k3№ ‹$‹$o#№ ‹$‹$f#№ ‹$‹$m3№ ‹$‹$k#№ ‹$‹$k#№ ‹$‹$VC№ ‹$C№ ‹$C№ &‹$c№ ‹$d# 7T"‹$j#№ ‹$‹$m#№ ‹$‹$e#№ ‹$‹$j3№ ‹$‹$n#№ ‹$‹$n#№ ‹$‹$n#№ ‹$‹$l#№ ‹$‹$iC№ ‹$C№ ‹$C№ ~ ‹$c№ ‹$g# 7T"‹$f3№ ‹$‹$m#№ ‹$‹$m#№ ‹$‹$o#№ ‹$‹$s#№ ‹$‹$pC№ ю ‹$C№ ‹$C #‹$&C№ l ‹$c№ ‹$e# 7T"‹$q#№ ‹$‹$i#№ ‹$‹$h#№ ‹$‹$n#№ ‹$‹$q#№ ‹$‹$u#№ ‹$‹$n3№ ‹$‹$p#№ ‹$‹$cC№ Щ‹$C№ ‹$C№ љ‹$c№ ‹$e# 7T"‹$l#№ ‹$‹$l#№ ‹$‹$l#№ ‹$‹$JC№ ‡‹$C№ ‹$ C№ “‹$c№ ‹$IS 7и‹$c№ ‹$cS 7ю ‹$c№ ‹$a# 7T"‹$>C№ А‹$c№ ‹$f# 7T"‹$XC№ {‹$c№ ‹$h# 7T"‹$!C№ 1 ‹$c№ ‹$]C 7h‹$C№ ‹$c№ ‹$h# 7T"‹$@C№ E‹$C№ ‹$ES№ Н‹$LC№ |‹$DB№ гх‹$B№ F‹$IS Ро‹$(C№ S‹$C№ ‹$&C№ ‰ ‹$k3№ ‹$‹$q#№ ‹$‹$i#№ ‹$‹$l#№ ‹$‹$u#№ ‹$‹$l#№ ‹$‹$k#№ ‹$‹$u#№ ‹$‹$e#№ ‹$‹$n3№ ‹$‹$f3№ ‹$‹$l#№ ‹$‹$hC№ Ђ!‹$C№ ‹$C№ ш‹$c№ ‹$d# 7T"‹$i+№ ‹$‹$s#№ ‹$‹$l#№ ‹$‹$# %‹$@C№ ќ‹$C№ ‹$!C№ › ‹$c№ ‹$g# 7T"‹$r#№ ‹$‹$s3№ ‹$‹$u3№ ‹$‹$i#№ ‹$‹$o3№ ‹$‹$n3№ ‹$‹$p#№ ‹$‹$q#№ ‹$‹$p#№ ‹$‹$t#№ ‹$‹$j#№ ‹$‹$TS№ d‹$C№ ‹$C№ Ы‹$c№ ‹$c# 7T"‹$q#№ ‹$‹$r#№ ‹$‹$p3№ ‹$‹$CC№ ˆ‹$C№ ‹$C№ a‹$c№ ‹$f# 7T"‹$p#№ ‹$‹$u#№ ‹$‹$x#№ ‹$‹$s#№ ‹$‹$l#№ ‹$‹$s#№ ‹$‹$h#№ ‹$‹$o#№ ‹$‹$o#№ ‹$‹$m#№ ‹$‹$l#№ ‹$‹$s#№ ‹$‹$r3№ ‹$‹$C№ e‹$C№ ‹$C№  ‹$c№ ‹$m# 7T"‹$n#№ ‹$‹$h#№ ‹$‹$o#№ ‹$‹$S№ Т‹$c№ ‹$c# 7T"‹$j#№ ‹$‹$XC№ n‹$C№ ‹$jS№ В ‹$c№ ‹$i# 7T"‹$JC№ Ы‹$j#№ ‹$‹$S№ ъ‹$n#№ ‹$‹$rC№ ‹$‹$DC№ ’‹$C№ ‹$C ‚‹$"C№ з ‹$c№ ‹$j3 7T"‹$i#№ ‹$‹$h#№ ‹$‹$p#№ ‹$‹$…#№ ‹$‹$o#№ ‹$‹$p3№ ‹$‹$f3№ ‹$‹$ S№ Р‹$C№ ‹$ C№ “‹$c№ ‹$C 7 ‹$c№ ‹$.C 7K‹$c№ ‹$0S 7‹$c№ ‹$gc 7g ‹$# p#‹$c№ ‹$C 76‹$C№ ‹$5C№ Є‹$C№ ‹$k3№ ‹$‹$y#№ ‹$‹$PS№ n‹$CB№ ёЉ‹$B Є‹$B№ F‹$RS Р9!‹$C№ ‹$c№ ‹$i3 7T"‹$JC№ 2‹$C№ *‹$c№ ‹$$C 7@ ‹$c№ ‹$'C 7Ч ‹$o#№ ‹$‹$m3№ ‹$‹$l3№ ‹$‹$e#№ ‹$‹$PC№ х‹$c№ ‹$k# 7T"‹$l#№ ‹$‹$p#№ ‹$‹$o#№ ‹$‹$>C№ Ѓ‹$C№ ‹$C№ ~ ‹$c№ ‹$k# 7T"‹$t3№ ‹$‹$o#№ ‹$‹$r3№ ‹$‹$r3№ ‹$‹$v3№ ‹$‹$C№ ш‹$c№ ‹$l3 7T"‹$p#№ ‹$‹$r#№ ‹$‹$o#№ ‹$‹$p3№ ‹$‹$BC$№ P ‹$C№ ‹$ C№ +‹$c№ ‹$d3 7T"‹$>S№ V‹$j3№ ‹$‹$i3№ ‹$‹$2C№ г‹$c№ ‹$g# 7T"‹$n3№ ‹$‹$i#№ ‹$‹$CC№  ‹$c№ ‹$g3 7T"‹$h#№ ‹$‹$k#№ ‹$‹$o3№ ‹$‹$p3№ ‹$‹$'C№  ‹$C№ ‹$C№ š ‹$c№ ‹$a# 7T"‹$l3№ ‹$‹$k3№ ‹$‹$p3№ ‹$‹$j3№ ‹$‹$r3№ ‹$‹$o#№ ‹$‹$lC № ‹$C ‹$C№ ‹$C№ Ў‹$c№ ‹$n# 7T"‹$r3№ ‹$‹$t3№ ‹$‹$JS№ Ы‹$c№ ‹$l# 7T"‹$o#№ ‹$‹$u3№ ‹$‹$`S№ Ћ‹$c№ ‹$C 7‹$)C№ Ф‹$c№ ‹$b# 7T"‹$j#№ ‹$‹$l#№ ‹$‹$m#№ ‹$‹$t#№ ‹$‹$k#№ ‹$‹$p#№ ‹$‹$n#№ ‹$‹$l#№ ‹$‹$k#№ ‹$‹$pC№ ƒ"‹$C№ ‹$ C№ “‹$c№ ‹$g+ 7T"‹$)C№ N ‹$c№ ‹$mC 7T"‹$c№ ‹$VC 7y‹$c№ ‹$k# 7G"‹$c№ ‹$(C 7 ‹$C№ ‹$4C№ v‹$C№ ‹$f#№ ‹$‹$n#№ ‹$‹$n#№ ‹$‹$C№ V‹$>B№ У‹$B№ F‹$OS Рѕ‹$'C№ O ‹$+C№ ™ ‹$C№ ‹$-C№ ‹$c№ ‹$l# 7T"‹$o#№ ‹$‹$p#№ ‹$‹$g#№ ‹$‹$q#№ ‹$‹$o#№ ‹$‹$j#№ ‹$‹$C№  ‹$c№ ‹$g# 7T"‹$r#№ ‹$‹$p#№ ‹$‹$p#№ ‹$‹$o3№ ‹$‹$ZC№ —‹$C№ ‹$c№ ‹$CS 7‹$c№ ‹$k# 7T"‹$h#№ ‹$‹$# 6‹$l#№ ‹$‹$n3№ ‹$‹$n#№ ‹$‹$ C№ *‹$C№ ‹$C№ Ъ‹$c№ ‹$s# 7T"‹$w#№ ‹$‹$p#№ ‹$‹$YC№ [‹$C№ ‹$ C№ ‹ ‹$c№ ‹$i# 7T"‹$t#№ ‹$‹$t3№ ‹$‹$r#№ ‹$‹$q#№ ‹$‹$l#№ ‹$‹$o3№ ‹$‹$m#№ ‹$‹$o#№ ‹$‹$n#№ ‹$‹$JS№ Ц‹$C№ ‹$C№ Њ ‹$c№ ‹$g# 7T"‹$i3№ ‹$‹$l3№ ‹$‹$n3№ ‹$‹$v3№ ‹$‹$u#№ ‹$‹$g#№ ‹$‹$s#№ ‹$‹$oC№ њ#‹$C№ ‹$C№ 3 ‹$c№ ‹$b# 7T"‹$j#№ ‹$‹$m#№ ‹$‹$o#№ ‹$‹$n#№ ‹$‹$l#№ ‹$‹$r#№ ‹$‹$t#№ ‹$‹$o#№ ‹$‹$s3№ ‹$‹$o3№ ‹$‹$m#№ ‹$‹$m#№ ‹$‹$PC№ з‹$c№ ‹$g# 7T"‹$p3№ ‹$‹$k#№ ‹$‹$n#№ ‹$‹$:C№ *‹$c№ ‹$j# 7T"‹$r#№ ‹$‹$u#№ ‹$‹$o#№ ‹$‹$r#№ ‹$‹$# q‹$_C№ \‹$C№ ‹$6C№ Я‹$c№ ‹$b# 7T"‹$p3№ ‹$‹$m#№ ‹$‹$t#№ ‹$‹$o3№ ‹$‹$q3№ ‹$‹$s#№ ‹$‹$p#№ ‹$‹$o3№ ‹$‹$j3№ ‹$‹$o#№ ‹$‹$DC № 6‹$C№ ‹$.C№ -‹$c№ ‹$j# 7T"‹$v3№ ‹$‹$v#№ ‹$‹$h#№ ‹$‹$l#№ ‹$‹$r#№ ‹$‹$n#№ ‹$‹$cC № Е‹$C№ ‹$ C№ “‹$c№ ‹$DC 7ы‹$c№ ‹$WC 7]‹$c№ ‹$IC 75‹$c№ ‹$j# 7T"‹$_C№ -‹$C№ ‹$=C№ ‹$C№ ‹$h#№ ‹$‹$q#№ ‹$‹$ C№ X‹$>B№ јœ‹$C Є‹$0C РS‹$c№ E‹$c Ѕ‹$c м‹$c  ‹$C J ‹$C№ ‹$C№ ш‹$c№ ‹$g3 7T"‹$m3№ ‹$‹$n#№ ‹$‹$n3№ ‹$‹$GC№ -‹$C№ ‹$C№ ч ‹$c№ ‹$b# 7T"‹$y#№ ‹$‹$q#№ ‹$‹$j#№ ‹$‹$s#№ ‹$‹$p#№ ‹$‹$m3№ ‹$‹$o#№ ‹$‹$=C№ ф ‹$C№ ‹$C№ c‹$c№ ‹$k3 7T"‹$m#№ ‹$‹$}3№ ‹$‹$n#№ ‹$‹$r3№ ‹$‹$p3№ ‹$‹$p#№ ‹$‹$n#№ ‹$‹$s#№ ‹$‹$q#№ ‹$‹$n#№ ‹$‹$s3№ ‹$‹$o3№ ‹$‹$r3№ ‹$‹$SS № _‹$ C № ‹$!C№ з ‹$c№ ‹$i# 7T"‹$k#№ ‹$‹$q#№ ‹$‹$m#№ ‹$‹$g#№ ‹$‹$rC№ ‹$‹$c№ ‹$l# 7T"‹$r#№ ‹$‹$o#№ ‹$‹$t#№ ‹$‹$z#№ ‹$‹$c№ ‹$b# 7T"‹$u#№ ‹$‹$s+№ ‹$‹$C№ ‹$C№ ‹$C№ '‹$c№ ‹$h# 7T"‹$s#№ ‹$‹$p#№ ‹$‹$p#№ ‹$‹$p#№ ‹$‹$# ‹$o#№ ‹$‹$HS№ я‹$C№ ‹$C№ œ ‹$c№ ‹$e# 7T"‹$l#№ ‹$‹$n#№ ‹$‹$q#№ ‹$‹$q#№ ‹$‹$l3№ ‹$‹$q#№ ‹$‹$n#№ ‹$‹$rC№ ;‹$C№ ‹$C№ ‹$c№ ‹$m# 7T"‹$l#№ ‹$‹$f#№ ‹$‹$o3№ ‹$‹$t#№ ‹$‹$u#№ ‹$‹$WC№ &‹$C№ ‹$C№ Л‹$c№ ‹$l# 7T"‹$q#№ ‹$‹$p#№ ‹$‹$u#№ ‹$‹$m#№ ‹$‹$p#№ ‹$‹$q#№ ‹$‹$CC№ š ‹$C№ ‹$ C№ “‹$c№ ‹$=C 7T‹$c№ ‹$(C 70 ‹$c№ ‹$VS 7‹$c№ ‹$RC 7™‹$c№ ‹$#C 7Й ‹$c№ ‹$c 7‹$`# n ‹$q#№ ‹$‹$ C№ Њ ‹$c№ ‹$c 7‹$`# n ‹$2C№ ‹$C№ ‹$)C№ L‹$C№ ‹$n#№ ‹$‹$p#№ ‹$‹$C№ 8‹$CB№ ёЉ‹$C ш‹$nS Рю ‹$C№ s‹$C№ ‹$c№ ‹$f# 7T"‹$s#№ ‹$‹$PC№ 2‹$c№ ‹$0S 7—‹$n#№ ‹$‹$"C№ Љ ‹$u#№ ‹$‹$kC № !‹$C№ ‹$$C№ ф ‹$c№ ‹$f# 7T"‹$p3№ ‹$‹$j#№ ‹$‹$?C№ š ‹$C№ ‹$C№  ‹$c№ ‹$e# 7T"‹$j#№ ‹$‹$k#№ ‹$‹$o#№ ‹$‹$cS№ ‹$C№ ‹$ C№ š ‹$c№ ‹$c# 7T"‹$f#№ ‹$‹$p3№ ‹$‹$j3№ ‹$‹$o3№ ‹$‹$p#№ ‹$‹$z#№ ‹$‹$j#№ ‹$‹$l#№ ‹$‹$m#№ ‹$‹$i#№ ‹$‹$k#№ ‹$‹$r3№ ‹$‹$rC№ I ‹$C№ ‹$$C№ Ч ‹$c№ ‹$d# 7T"‹$o3№ ‹$‹$o#№ ‹$‹$k#№ ‹$‹$l#№ ‹$‹$n#№ ‹$‹$o#№ ‹$‹$n#№ ‹$‹$3C№ 2 ‹$C№ ‹$&C№ { ‹$c№ ‹$f# 7T"‹$m#№ ‹$‹$n#№ ‹$‹$o3№ ‹$‹$p#№ ‹$‹$n#№ ‹$‹$g#№ ‹$‹$m3№ ‹$‹$# ‰‹$w3№ ‹$‹$g#№ ‹$‹$m#№ ‹$‹$~C№ ƒ"‹$C№ ‹$%C№ ] ‹$c№ ‹$g# 7T"‹$l3№ ‹$‹$n#№ ‹$‹$p3№ ‹$‹$q3№ ‹$‹$l#№ ‹$‹$n+№ ‹$‹$j3№ ‹$‹$n#№ ‹$‹$r#№ ‹$‹$h#№ ‹$‹$m#№ ‹$‹$j3№ ‹$‹$h#№ ‹$‹$%C№ ц ‹$c№ ‹$^# 7T"‹$l#№ ‹$‹$t#№ ‹$‹$p#№ ‹$‹$o#№ ‹$‹$UC№ Ё‹$C№ ‹$C№  ‹$c№ ‹$e3 7T"‹$o#№ ‹$‹$q3№ ‹$‹$s#№ ‹$‹$m3№ ‹$‹$k3№ ‹$‹$l+№ ‹$‹$j#№ ‹$‹$m#№ ‹$‹$j#№ ‹$‹$n#№ ‹$‹$ˆC"№ )"‹$C№ ‹$C№ Ё‹$l#№ ‹$‹$n3№ ‹$‹$m#№ ‹$‹$n#№ ‹$‹$i#№ ‹$‹$p#№ ‹$‹$t3№ ‹$‹$pC№ Џ#‹$C№ ћ‹$c№ ‹$VS 7Х‹$c№ ‹$MC 7‹$c№ ‹$SC 71‹$PC№ ‹‹$g#№ ‹$‹$l#№ ‹$‹$eS№ Ѓ ‹$C№ ‹$C ‹$TS Р #‹$LC№ Ж ‹$C№ ‹$c№ ‹$h# 7T"‹$s#№ ‹$‹$n#№ ‹$‹$p#№ ‹$‹$m#№ ‹$‹$q#№ ‹$‹$nS№ {‹$C№ ‹$C№ Ъ‹$c№ ‹$d3 7T"‹$s#№ ‹$‹$n#№ ‹$‹$r#№ ‹$‹$r#№ ‹$‹$z#№ ‹$‹$`C№ `‹$C№ ‹$#C№  ‹$c№ ‹$k# 7T"‹$o#№ ‹$‹$w#№ ‹$‹$p3№ ‹$‹$,S№ K‹$C№ ‹$#C№ | ‹$w#№ ‹$‹$j3№ ‹$‹$s3№ ‹$‹$i#№ ‹$‹$p3№ ‹$‹$t#№ ‹$‹$p3№ ‹$‹$C№ Ю"‹$C№ ‹$$C№ ! ‹$c№ ‹$f# 7T"‹$u#№ ‹$‹$k#№ ‹$‹$i#№ ‹$‹$r3№ ‹$‹$v#№ ‹$‹$o3№ ‹$‹$t#№ ‹$‹$s#№ ‹$‹$r#№ ‹$‹$t#№ ‹$‹$n#№ ‹$‹$o3№ ‹$‹$u#№ ‹$‹$~#№ ‹$‹$PC№ У‹$C№ ‹$C№ ‹$h#№ ‹$‹$u#№ ‹$‹$p#№ ‹$‹$n#№ ‹$‹$# A‹$r#№ ‹$‹$j#№ ‹$‹$m#№ ‹$‹$UC№  ‹$C№ ‹$C№ Q ‹$c№ ‹$a3 7T"‹$r3№ ‹$‹$r#№ ‹$‹$u3№ ‹$‹$v#№ ‹$‹$n#№ ‹$‹$m3№ ‹$‹$h#№ ‹$‹$NS№ o‹$C№ ‹$C№ й‹$c№ ‹$d# 7T"‹$q#№ ‹$‹$m+№ ‹$‹$w#№ ‹$‹$l#№ ‹$‹$o#№ ‹$‹$m#№ ‹$‹$q#№ ‹$‹$r3№ ‹$‹$p#№ ‹$‹$m3№ ‹$‹$;C№ “‹$C№ ‹$C№ ‹$c№ ‹$e# 7T"‹$m#№ ‹$‹$h#№ ‹$‹$m#№ ‹$‹$r#№ ‹$‹$n3№ ‹$‹$g#№ ‹$‹$v3№ ‹$‹$k#№ ‹$‹$m#№ ‹$‹$VC№ ѓ‹$C№ ‹$%C№ З ‹$s#№ ‹$‹$S№ О‹$k#№ ‹$‹$bC№ џ‹$u#№ ‹$‹$/C№ в‹$o#№ ‹$‹$HC№ К‹$o#№ ‹$‹$q#№ ‹$‹$TC№ Ц‹$w#№ ‹$‹$9C№ X‹$]S№ h‹$l#№ ‹$‹$;S№ 7‹$C№ ‹$C €‹$IS Р‘‹$C№ ‹$C№ ‹$c№ ‹$f3 7T"‹$o#№ ‹$‹$l#№ ‹$‹$k3№ ‹$‹$m#№ ‹$‹$_C№  ‹$C№ ‹$%C№ ! ‹$c№ ‹$e# 7T"‹$u#№ ‹$‹$l+№ ‹$‹$UC № m‹$C№ ‹$C№ a‹$c№ ‹$h+ 7T"‹$u3№ ‹$‹$s#№ ‹$‹$k#№ ‹$‹$i#№ ‹$‹$h#№ ‹$‹$r3№ ‹$‹$p3№ ‹$‹$m#№ ‹$‹$5C № т‹$C№ ‹$2C№ В‹$c№ ‹$a3 7T"‹$k3№ ‹$‹$p#№ ‹$‹$s3№ ‹$‹$k#№ ‹$‹$o#№ ‹$‹$e3№ ‹$‹$j#№ ‹$‹$i#№ ‹$‹$e#№ ‹$‹$`#№ ‹$‹$p#№ ‹$‹$m#№ ‹$‹$m#№ ‹$‹$n3№ ‹$‹$j#№ ‹$‹$l#№ ‹$‹$p#№ ‹$‹$C №  ‹$2C№ ”‹$c№ ‹$i# 7T"‹$m3№ ‹$‹$m#№ ‹$‹$g3№ ‹$‹$h+№ ‹$‹$q3№ ‹$‹$o3№ ‹$‹$m3№ ‹$‹$l#№ ‹$‹$m3№ ‹$‹$h#№ ‹$‹$# z‹$u#№ ‹$‹$s#№ ‹$‹$%C№  ‹$c№ ‹$_# 7T"‹$h#№ ‹$‹$n#№ ‹$‹$m#№ ‹$‹$e3№ ‹$‹$v3№ ‹$‹$"C№ $ ‹$C№ ‹$C№ Л‹$c№ ‹$k3 7T"‹$p#№ ‹$‹$k3№ ‹$‹$n#№ ‹$‹$h#№ ‹$‹$l#№ ‹$‹$v3№ ‹$‹$m#№ ‹$‹$s#№ ‹$‹$p#№ ‹$‹$r#№ ‹$‹$.C№ ‹$j3№ ‹$‹$n3№ ‹$‹$!C№ F‹$C№ ‹$S№ ‹ ‹$p3№ ‹$‹$l3№ ‹$‹$k#№ ‹$‹$r#№ ‹$‹$n#№ ‹$‹$i#№ ‹$‹$t#№ ‹$‹$m#№ ‹$‹$o#№ ‹$‹$l#№ ‹$‹$l#№ ‹$‹$n#№ ‹$‹$;S№ ’‹$DB№ гх‹$FR№ ;‹$@№ ‹$C№ ‹$@№ ‹$C№ ‹$@№ ‹$@№ ‹$@№ ‹$@№ ‹$@№ ‹$B№ F‹$B№ F‹$ жџџ шџџ ВРљџџ єџџ ђ@4џџ €SџџSTUDY ONE: Bible Truth about God- Part 1: God and Creation Reading : Genesis 1; 2:1-7 The Creation In the first chapter of the Bible, Genesis 1, you have just read about the seven days of creation. The chart below shows the work of each day: Day 1 Light shone; day and night came into being Day 2 The waters were divided; expanse of heaven appeared Day 3 Dry land appeared. Grasses, plants and trees grew Day 4 Sun, moon and stars appeared Day 5 Dish swam in the seas; birds flew in the air Day 6 Animals were created; and last of all, God made man and woman Day 7 God rested Notice how everything follows in the right order. For example, the plants and trees were not made until the third day, when the dry land was ready for them. Animals were made on the 6th day, when there would be food for them to eat. “And God saw everything he had made, and behold, it was very good.” All round us every day we see the excellency of God’s work. Men have invented some wonderful things , such as aeroplanes and medicines, but the skills needed to produce these are nothing compared with the skill and power which created the universe with such precision. Day follows night; season follows season, and we never doubt that they will continue to do so. Men’s work may go wrong, but God’s never does. Many of men’s works are ugly; but everything God makes is not only perfectly suited to its purpose: it is beautiful too. The smallest flower with its colour and form, and its ability to reproduce itself, is a miracle. So is the small bird with wings perfectly designed for flight, and able to find its way thousands of miles round the world to its winter home. “O Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth” (Psalm 8:1). Gods that are no gods All through the ages, men have seen the wonders of nature; and instead of worshipping God who made these things, they have worshipped the things He made! Even God’s people, the Jews, have done this at times. Men have worshipped the sun, the moon and the stars; they have imagined there were spirits living in the water and the wind, in wood and in stone. This is an evil thing to do, and is condemned by God. Read what the apostle Paul says about this in Romans 1:20-23. Note especially verse 23: “they...changed the glory of the incorruptible (undying) God into an image made like to corruptible (dying) man, and to birds and four-footed beasts and creeping things.” Of course, when men prayed to these false gods, they never answered. How could they, when they were not really gods at all? Worship of false gods is an evil thing, and it has led to many evil practices; even such a horrible thing as burning children in a fire. Even the Jews, though they had been given God’s righteous laws, were guilty of worshipping idols. He had warned them about this. Read His warning in Deuteronomy 4:15-19. Now look at Ezekiel 14:1-5. Notice how God said of these idol-worshippers in verse 3, that they had ‘set up their idols in their heart’. We too can do this. If there is anything in our lives which we think is more important than God who made us, then that thing can become an idol in our heart. If we are to please God, we will have nothing to do with idols. And we will have nothing to do with those who worship idols. Paul speaks of this in 2 Corinthians 6:14, where he says: “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?” Read on to the end of the chapter. Then turn to 1 Thessalonians 1:9,10, which tells how the Thessalonians “...turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; and to wait for his son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus which delivered us from the wrath to come.” A world which men have spoilt Men are doing evil when they worship idols. And men do evil when they spoil the world which God has made. In the beginning our world was an even more beautiful place than it is today. Men have done much to spoil its beauty. They have cut down trees indiscriminately, making deserts where forests once grew. They have polluted the air with poisonous fumes, and polluted streams and rivers with poisonous waste from their factories. In these and many other ways, our world is being spoilt. But it is still God’s world, and He will not allow men to go on spoiling it for ever. In Acts 17:31 the apostle Paul says, “God hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world.” The day is coming when God will send Jesus back to reign on earth. His wise rule and righteous laws will restore the world to its first perfection. God has said, “As truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with my glory”. The Almighty God Psalm 90:2 says: “From everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.” This is something our minds cannot grasp. We know from our own experiences in life that all things have a beginning and an end; we are familiar with birth and death. But the Lord God always has been and always will be. We must have faith that this is so because, as the writer to the Hebrews says, “He that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” (Hebrews 11.6). We may look at the wonderful things of nature, and learn something of God’s power and wisdom - but we cannot find out from the world around us anything about God’s purpose in making the world, or what plans He has for its future. We cannot find out why He made men, nor how He wants them to live. Only through His Word can we find out these things. To know about God, we must come to the Bible. The Bible tells us that He is great and good; it tells us that He is working out a plan for the earth. Listen to the words in which He revealed Himself to Moses: “The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty” (Exodus 34:6,7). God is gracious and loving, but He is also righteous and just, and expects us to honour and obey Him. In the beginning... Many people believe that this wonderful world of ours came about by chance. They think some spark of life just happened, and from this beginning, over millions of years, there came the ordered and beautiful world we see today. So, they say, marvellous things, like eyes that see and ears that hear, just came about by chance. Not so many years ago most scientists believed the ‘theory of evolution’, as this idea is called. They said the world we live in today came about by gradual changes over millions of years. Today, however, many well-known and well-qualified scientists are coming back to the view that the evidence of design and order round us speaks of a Great Designer; it just cannot be the result of chance. The Bible says: “IN THE BEGINNING GOD CREATED THE HEAVEN AND THE EARTH.” It does not tell us how He did it, and if it did, we should not understand. We have to accept His word in faith. One thing is certain - we cannot believe the Bible teaching that God created all things, and at the same time believe that the world came about by chance. “By the word of the Lord were the heavens made, and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth” (Psalm 33:6). The early chapters of Genesis tell us the same message. We have to understand these early chapters of the Bible before we can understand the work of the Lord Jesus in overcoming sin and death, which we read about in the Gospels. We saw in Genesis 1 how God made the world, and created man and woman on the sixth day. Now read from Genesis 2:15 to Genesis 3:24. These verses tell a sad story. At first, everything was perfect in the Garden of Eden. Then Adam and Eve disobeyed God, and their disobedience brought sin and death into the world. In His love for men and women, many years later God gave His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus was able, by his perfect life and his death on the cross, to make a way for God to forgive sin. Jesus brought us a hope of life. You will read about this in your next lesson. We are part of God’s Creation “O come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord our maker” (Psalm 95:6). To be able to come before God to worship and praise Him is a great privilege. Jesus speaks of those who come to worship “in spirit and in truth”. He says, “The Father seeketh such to worship him” (John 4:23). God seeks men and women who will believe and obey Him, and rejoice in the world He has made. God wants people to allow Him to guide their lives. He is preparing such people for the time when they will be able to serve Him for ever in His Kingdom, when Jesus comes back to the earth. If we read His word, and honour and obey Him now, in that day we shall be among those who will say, “Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him. We will be glad and rejoice in his salvation” (Isaiah 25:9). Summary 1. This world was created by the Lord God. 2. He alone is to be worshipped. 3. All men’s theories of how the world began are false if they deny that God is the Creator. 4. We can only find out about God, and His purpose with the world, by reading the Bible. 5. The Bible will teach us how we can overcome sin and death through the Lord Jesus, and share in God’s Kingdom when Jesus comes back. Verses to read : Psalm 24; Psalm 102:25-28; Romans 1:18-23; Genesis 2:15-3:24 Learn by heart : Hebrews 11:3. _________________________________________________________________ Bible Truth about God - Part 2: The Truth About God and Jesus Reading : Isaiah 45 “Canst thou by searching find out God?” (Job 11:7). This question was asked thousands of years ago. The answer to the question is the same today as it was then - of course we cannot! We cannot know anything at all about the Great Maker of all things, apart from what He Himself tells us in His Word, the Bible. Yet we can have no hope of eternal life unless we know Him. The only way we can know about God is by reading His book, the Bible, which He has given us. God Himself has said: “My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8,9). God is One “Hear, 0 Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: and thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might” (Deuteronomy 6:4-5). Moses spoke these words to the Israelites in the wilderness. The message that ‘God is One’ is repeated again and again in Scripture. In Isaiah 45:5 we read: “I am the Lord, and there is none else, there is no God beside me.” More than a thousand years later, the apostle Paul tells us the same thing: “. . . there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 2:5), and again, in 1 Timothy 6:15-16 Paul speaks of God as: “. . . the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords; who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, or can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.” This holy God is a God of love If the Bible told us only of the power and holiness of God, we should certainly fear Him; but we might find it difficult to love Him. But God has shown us that He is also merciful and kind. The Psalmist tells us: “The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy ... Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him. For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust” (Psalm 103:8,13-14). It is in His mercy and His love that God has given the Lord Jesus to take away our sins. The Son of God From the beginning, God planned to send His Son to be our Saviour. There are many prophecies of Jesus in the Old Testament, such as the one in Isaiah 7:14, where we read: “Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” ‘Immanuel’ means, ‘God with us’, and God is here promising to send His own Son. Look at these other passages which show that Jesus is the Son of God: Galatians 4:4 “But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law.” Mark 1:11 “There came a voice from heaven, saying, ‘Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” (God said this at Jesus’ baptism.) John 20:31 “ . . . .that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.” Jesus did not pre-exist When birth takes place, a new life comes into being. The birth of Jesus Christ was no exception. Some people believe that the Lord Jesus Christ existed before he was born of Mary. There is a sense in which you could say that Jesus was there from the beginning, because God had planned right from the beginning to have a Son. Now, if God plans anything, we know with absolute certainty that it will come to pass. Jesus Christ is at the centre of God’s purpose, so when God told faithful people in the Old Testament about His purpose, He told them about Christ. In the same way the Bible speaks of “the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world” (Revelation 13:8). This does not mean that Jesus was slain before the creation of the world - that terrible event happened once, nearly 2000 years ago (see Hebrews 9:25-28), when Jesus was crucified. Because the death of Jesus is so central to the purpose of God, the Almighty speaks of it as an event so important that it affects all people in all times- Old Testament as well as since. So it has influenced everything ‘from the foundation of the world’. The Bible often uses language like this to describe the Lord Jesus, but it does not mean that he was personally alive before his birth. Christ was in the mind of God as someone He would bring into being at His appointed time. But it was not until Mary’s baby was born that the Lord Jesus became a living person. The nature of Jesus Because Jesus was born of a woman, he had a nature just like ours. In Hebrews 2:17 we read: “In all things it behoved (was suitable for) him to be made like unto his brethren.” During his life on earth Jesus was tempted in every way but he never sinned. Look at these passages, all taken from the book of Hebrews, that show that Jesus shared our human nature when he was living on the earth: Hebrews 4:15 “For we have not an High Priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” Hebrews 2:9 “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.” Hebrews 2:14 “Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he (Jesus) also himself likewise took part of the same.” Hebrews 5:7,8 “Who in the days of his flesh, when he (Jesus) had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered.” Of course, Jesus was only like this before his death and resurrection. After the resurrection he was given a glorious and powerful immortal nature. A wrong idea Many people have neglected the Bible teaching about God, and so they have come to believe in something which they call “the Trinity”. They tell us that God consists of three persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, all equal with each other. The word ‘Trinity’ and the phrase ‘God the Son’ do not occur in the Bible. We have already seen the plain Bible teaching that God is One, and that Jesus is His Son. In the same way that a good son is subject to his father, so Jesus is subject to God. He never claimed to be equal with God, but depended on his Father for all things. He said, “The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do” (John 5:1 9). It is true that Jesus once said: “I and my Father are one” (John 10.30). He meant that he and his Father were united in purpose and intention, and he prayed that in the same way his disciples would be one (John 17:21). “And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all” (1 Corinthians 15:28). This verse tells us that, even at the end of his 1,000 year reign on earth, Jesus will be subject to his Father, and God will be all in all. Where did belief in the Trinity come from? The early Christians did not believe in the Trinity. They believed what the Bible taught - that there is “. . . one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 2:5). Where did the false idea of the Trinity come from? It was not until over 300 years after Jesus was born that Christians began to believe in ‘the Trinity’. This idea was based, not on the Bible, but on the ideas of the Ancient Greeks, who knew nothing about the one true God. Gradually, the church took over the idea of ‘three persons in one God’, and denied the Bible truth that God is One. The true belief of the first Christians The ‘Apostles’ Creed’, which was composed about 100 years after Jesus went up into heaven, sets out the beliefs of the early Christians. In it we read: “I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ His only Son our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the virgin Mary . . .” This is the true teaching of the Bible (unlike some of the other Creeds). The Majesty and the power of God are beyond anything we can imagine. We simply cannot begin to understand how the Eternal God could have a son born of a young woman of flesh and blood. But God tells us that it was so, and we know His word is true. We must accept it in faith. If we are to please God, we must accept what He tells us without adding ideas of men-ideas which are not taught in the Bible. Summary 1 . There is only one God. 2. God is not ‘three-in-one’. The doctrine of the Trinity is not in the Bible. 3. Jesus Christ is the Son of God, born of the virgin Mary. He is not God the Son. 4. Jesus was a man; but because God was his Father, he was far, far greater than any other man. 5. The birth of Jesus was a miracle, for his mother was a virgin. His only Father was God, Almighty. If you want to read more about this subject, which is very important, study the booklet “God is one not Three”. Other passages to look up: Jesus’ existence as a person started at his birth - 1 Peter 1:20; Hebrews 9:26 Jesus was a man -Acts 2:22; Philippians 2:8; Hebrews 2:9,14-18 God is greater than Jesus- Ephesians 4:6; 1 Corinthians 11:3; John 14:28; John 10:29 Chapters to read: Deuteronomy 6; Matthew 1:18-25 Learn by heart: 1 Timothy 2:5: “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” _________________________________________________________________ STUDY TWO: Bible Truth about Jesus Christ - Part 1: HIS LIFE Reading: Luke 2 What a message the angel brought to the virgin Mary! But there was one thing that puzzled her. She was told that the baby, to be called “Jesus”, was to be the “Son of the Highest”. Mary asked the angel, “How shall this be?” The angel told her that God would use His power, the Holy Spirit, to bring about the conception of His Son. No man was to be involved. Jesus would be the Son of God Himself. Read the story of the birth of Jesus in Matthew chapters 1 and 2, and in Luke 2. You will find that there is no mention in these passages that Jesus existed in heaven before his birth. Such an idea would contradict the Bible account of his conception and birth. The baptism of Jesus The Bible tells us very little about Jesus as a child. It moves quickly on to his baptism by John the Baptist in the River Jordan. This baptism was not a sprinkling with water. It took place in the river, and afterwards they came out of the water (Mark 1:10). The heavens were opened, and God sent His Holy Spirit to Jesus. There was a voice from heaven which said, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17). By being baptized himself, Jesus showed us how important it is, and God added His approval. After his baptism, we read that Jesus went into the wilderness, where he was “tempted of the devil” (Matthew 4:1). Was it a supernatural literal physical devil that tempted Jesus, as some think? What really happened in the wilderness? Was there a superhuman being present? Let us have a careful look at two of the three temptations. There was no high mountain in the region where Jesus was, or indeed in any part of the world, from which you could see “all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time”. So Jesus could not have been taken to such a place. Besides this, the Bible says that the world is under God’s control, not the devil’s. For example, it says in Daniel 4:32: “The most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever He will.” So we need to think carefully about the meaning of this temptation. Now let us look at another of the temptations. Is it likely that the Lord Jesus would really follow a superhuman evil being out of the wilderness all the way up to Jerusalem and then climb to the pinnacle of the temple, only to say when he got there, “It is said, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God”? (Luke 4:12). Surely, if there were a literal devil, Jesus would have recognised him straight away, and would have had nothing to do with him. If we cannot understand these temptations as taking place in this literal matter, how are we to understand them? Jesus knew that he was God’s Son, and that he was to rule over all the kingdoms of the world. He would picture these kingdoms and their glory in his mind when he was in the wilderness. But Jesus also knew from the Old Testament that he had to die first, before he could rule the world. He could have thought that throwing himself down from the temple would be a good way to draw attention to himself, and to prove that he was God’s son. That would make his work of preaching easier. But that was not the way God wanted it to be. So we suggest that these temptations took place in the mind of Jesus while he was in the wilderness. The Holy Spirit had just been given to him at his baptism. He had great power, and it would be a big temptation to try out this power, even if it were only by making bread out of stones to satisfy his hunger. But Jesus knew that God’s power must be used properly. By talking of the devil the Scriptures are simply representing in a powerful way the force of human nature, the temptations that arise in all our minds to do evil. Jesus had these temptations just as we do, but he never gave in to them. What nature did Jesus have? Jesus’ father was God, but his mother Mary was a human being. Was Jesus divine, or was he a human being like us? Human nature - like us. We are born. We can be tempted and we sin. We die. God has always existed (Psalm 90:2). God cannot be tempted and He cannot sin. God cannot die. He is immortal Jesus had human nature 1. He has not always existed. His life started when he was born. 2. He was tempted. (But, unlike us, he did not sin.) 3. He died. (But, because he did not sin, God raised him from the dead.) Although he was the Son of God, and had the Holy Spirit, or power of God, he was still a man. The following references clearly show this: Hebrews 2: 9, 14 - 18; 1 Timothy 2: 5; Acts 2:22. We can see how Jesus had a divine Father and a human mother. We accept what the Bible says of him. The Bible also tells us of how exalted and glorious Jesus now is (read Philippians 2:9 - 11) and we must accept this too. The Ministry of Jesus After his baptism and temptation in the wilderness we read that Jesus travelled “throughout every city and village, preaching and showing the glad tidings of the Kingdom of God: and the twelve were with him” (Luke 8:1) Now let us think about his teaching, his miracles, the way he lived, and the way he faced death. His Teaching 1. Teaching about how we should live. Chapters 5, 6 and 7 of Matthew are full of wise teaching. These three chapters are known as the Sermon on the Mount. Notice the first thing Jesus said: “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3) Because Jesus spoke of the kingdom of Heaven, people think that the Kingdom is in heaven. But look at the fifth verse of this chapter: “Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth”. “Kingdom of heaven” means “heavenly Kingdom”. Look at the words of the Lord’s prayer, in Matthew 6:10, where Jesus tells his disciples to pray, “Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven”. The kingdom of Heaven will be on earth. Here are some of the other things Jesus taught in the Sermon on the Mount. He told the people that: they should love their enemies; they should not judge others; looking on a woman lustfully (with desire for sex) was as bad as committing adultery; they should let their light shine out (that is, to show their faith in their lives); when they gave, it should be done in secret; they should not worry about the things of this life, but trust God to provide for their needs; they should seek first God’s Kingdom. Jesus also warned them - and us! - in Matthew 7:13-23: that few would find the way that leads to life; many would be disappointed when they found they had no place in God’s Kingdom (even though they had done wonderful things in His Name). 2. Teaching by parable Matthew 13 is full of parables. You will notice that many of these are about the Kingdom. The parables in Luke 15 show us how much God wants us to give up the ungodly world, and find His truth. 3. Teaching by prophecy Matthew 24 is a prophecy that Jesus gave because his disciples wanted to know when the temple in Jerusalem would be destroyed, as Jesus had said. (This happened in A.D. 70.) They also wanted to know what would be the sign of Jesus’ coming and of the end of the world. Much of Jesus teaching was about God’s coming Kingdom. The Miracles of Jesus 1. Miracles of healing: The Gospels are full of wonderful works of healing which Jesus did. He had pity on the people, and wanted to help them. His power was so great that he could even raise the dead. 2. Other miracles: Jesus turned water into wine, walked on the sea, fed thousands of people. He always used his power to help never just to impress people or “show off”. The miracles were signs of his power and authority, gave opportunity for teaching and showed his kindness and compassion. Jesus’ way of life The Son of God was born in a stable. Often he had nowhere to live. He said: “Foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head” (Luke 9:58). Just before his death, Jesus washed the feet of his disciples. This task was usually done by a servant. Although he was the Son of the great Creator of the whole world, Jesus did not live a life of luxury. He taught us to be humble and serve others. The Lord Jesus spent much time in prayer to his heavenly Father. Before he chose his twelve disciples he spent all night in prayer. He did not pray openly, to show people how good he was. He condemned the way the religious leaders did this. He condemned their hypocrisy, and told them so. He was never afraid to be unpopular! Preparation for death Once (Luke 9:27-36) Jesus took three of his disciples with him up a mountain. As he prayed there, he was “transfigured”, or changed. Moses and Elijah appeared with him, and they talked about Jesus’ coming death in Jerusalem. This vision of Jesus in glory was a picture of him in the kingdom, and it must have helped him to look forward to that kingdom, as he faced his coming death. He knew from Old Testament prophecies that he would die a cruel death. (Psalms 22 and 69, and Isaiah 53 are some of the prophecies of his death.) Jesus warned his disciples that he would have to suffer and die, but he told them too that he would rise from the dead (Luke 9:22). The religious leaders were always trying to catch him out, and Jesus knew they hated him. They tried to stone him twice, but “his hour was not yet come”. It was not yet time for him to die. But, “When the time was come that he should be received up, he steadfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem” (Luke 9:51). He was not afraid to die. He knew it was the only way he could help sinful men. But he could only help them in this way if he were sinless himself. He battled daily against sin - and won! He left us a wonderful example. And he told his disciples that they should follow him: “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23) Chapters to read: Matthew 5, 6 and 7; Luke 9 A verse to learn: Luke 1:32 “He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David.” _________________________________________________________________ Bible Truth about Jesus Christ - Part 2: HIS DEATH Reading: Mark 14 and 15 The problem of sin It is clear that sin is a terrible problem for man. It is a problem that even the most sincere man or woman has never been able to solve. It is not possible for man to conquer sin by his own efforts. The whole of the Bible is about how God has provided the answer to the sin of man. God gave His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ to be the sacrifice that was necessary to break the hold of sin on man. The Lord Jesus joined with his Father in this work. He offered a willing, obedient sacrifice of himself to overcome the power of sin over mankind and to make it possible for his disciples of all ages to do the same by following him. The sacrifice of the Lord Jesus makes it possible for both the Lord Jesus Christ and all his true followers to escape the consequences of the sentence of death inherited from Adam. And it also makes it possible for the followers of Jesus to have their sins forgiven. Jesus of course, although human, did not commit any sins. A prophecy of the sufferings of the Lord Jesus Christ We can read about the sufferings of the Lord in the Gospels. But we have a fuller picture if we read some of the prophecies as well. Turn to Psalm 22. This psalm helps us to understand how Jesus felt during the crucifixion: “But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, despised of the people. All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying, He trusted on the Lord that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him” (verses 6 - 8) Not only the pain, but also the shame of being crucified weighed heavily upon Jesus. Read this Psalm very carefully. Perhaps more than any other words in the Bible, these help us to appreciate what the Lord went through for us. Look again at verses 15 - 16: “My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death. For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.” How it came about The rulers of the Jews hated Jesus. When great crowds came to listen to him, and brought the sick to be healed, they were jealous and angry. They could not see that the miracles he did were a proof that he really was the Son of God. They were blinded by their jealousy and hate. They determined that Jesus must be killed. They accused him of blasphemy, which had to be punished by death according to the laws God had given them. Of course, it was a false accusation, but they did not worry about that! Israel at that time was ruled over by the Romans, and although the leaders of the Jews, the priests and Pharisees, condemned Jesus to death, they could not put him to death without the consent of the Roman Governor. The name of the Roman Governor at that time was Pontius Pilate. The Jews brought Jesus to Pilate and demanded that he should be crucified. Pilate knew very well that Jesus was innocent. He knew that the Jews wanted him killed because they envied him. But he was afraid that if he stood out against the Jews, they would report him to Caesar, and he might lose his position. So he weakly gave in. He handed Jesus over to be killed by crucifixion surely the most painful and agonising death ever invented - although he knew he was innocent. So the Romans were also to blame for what happened to the Lord Jesus. Why did Jesus have to suffer so much? As we think of Jesus hanging on the cross, and remember that he never did anything wrong, but always did those things that pleased God, we ask ourselves: “Why did this have to happen to Jesus?” One thing is certain: it was the only way by which men could be saved from sin. Jesus had prayed three times to his Father, “If it be possible, let this cup pass from me” (Matthew 26:39). (Though he was careful to add, “Nevertheless not my will, but Thine, be done” Luke 22:42.) If it had been possible, we can be sure that God would have spared His Son the agony. But it was the only way. Why did Jesus have to die? Adam sinned; so Adam died. Death was his punishment. We are told: “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). This is God’s law, and it cannot be broken. All men (except Jesus) die because of two reasons: 1. We all have Adam’s dying nature; 2. We all sin. Jesus died because of only one reason: 1. He had Adam’s dying nature; He did NOT sin. Jesus was tempted just as we are, and in some ways more than we are, yet he never sinned. In Hebrews 4:15 we read: Jesus was “in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” So Jesus had to die because he had human nature, but he did not deserve to die because he had not sinned. Because of this God was able to raise Jesus from the dead without breaking His own law that “the wages of sin is death”. After his resurrection God gave Jesus a new nature, a nature that was no longer dying because of Adam’s sin and also a nature that could no longer be tempted to sin. We can have our sins forgiven by being associated with the sacrifice of Jesus in baptism and confessing and repenting. When Jesus comes again we can also overcome death. The lessons of the cross The crucifixion of the Lord Jesus was a terrible event. It showed men at their worst as they took the perfect, generous and lovely Son of God and killed him brutally. The crucifixion showed how evil men really are and how they could never save themselves. We have to realise that we are sinners also, and desperately in need of salvation. We do well to think about the fact that only the Lord Jesus was an acceptable sacrifice. He was like a lamb without blemish; and God was willing to accept this perfect sacrifice as the offering for all those who believe in Jesus as “the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29) Another important lesson is this: the cross of Christ shows the extent of God’s love for us. Paul puts it like this: “He spared not his own Son, but delivered up for us all shall he not with him also freely give us all things?” (Romans 8:32) At one with God Man was separated from God by sin. The repair of that division is called in the Scriptures “Atonement”. If you look at the word you can see what it means: “At-one-ment” This is what the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus can do for us. It can make us ultimately “at one” with God; in perfect harmony and agreement. This is achieved by our escaping from Adam to Christ and having our sins forgiven. As David says in the Psalms: “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, while sin is covered. Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity” (Psalm 32:1, 2) What about our part? God has done all He can for us. He has given us Jesus as a sacrifice. Jesus gave his life for us. But unless we truly believe what God has done for us, the sacrifice of Jesus will not do us any good. What must we do? Some of the Jews asked the Apostle Peter this question and his answer is just as true for us today. Peter said to them: “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins” (Acts 2:38) Again, in the next chapter (Acts 3:19) the apostle says: “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out.” God’s grace and our faith So we come to the very heart of the gospel. In the fullness of His love, God has given Jesus as a sacrifice for sin. This free love of God is often spoken of in the New Testament as "His grace". So in Ephesians 1:6-8 we read of that grace: “wherein he (God) hath made us accepted in the beloved (Jesus Christ). In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence.” We can reject God’s grace and love. We can ignore it. But if we are wise, we will not do either of these things. It is such a wonderful offer of life and love. We shall want to be among those of whom Jesus speaks in Mark 16:16: “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved.” Baptism begins a new life. We are the children of Adam and, like Adam, we prefer our own ways to the ways of God. But Jesus, when he gave his life as a sacrifice for sin, made it possible for us to become the children of God and part of the family of Christ. Jesus said: “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23) We must be baptized according to his commandment. This means that, instead of walking in our sinful ways, we must die to sin (that is, make every effort to stop sinning), and walk with Christ in a new life, always preferring God’s way to our own. The Apostle Paul tells us: “They that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit” (Galatians 5: 24, 25) Summary: 1. All men deserve to die, because they are sinners. 2. God in His love for men has provided a way in which sin can be forgiven. 3. This way is through the death of His only Son Jesus, who lived a sinless life. 4. Although Jesus lived a sinless life, he shared our human nature which has to die. 5. God raised Jesus from the dead, because he was sinless. 6. If we admit that we are sinners and worthy of death, and come to God through Jesus, He will forgive our sins. 7. If we acknowledge our sins and are baptized, we may become the children of God, with a hope of eternal life. Chapters to read: 2 Corinthians 5; 1 Peter 1 A verse to learn: Romans 5:8 “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” _________________________________________________________________ Bible Truth about Jesus Christ - Part 3: THE RESURRECTION AND ASCENSION Reading: John 20 Sadly the women made their way to the place where they had seen the body of Jesus laid. They carried spices with them to anoint his body. They did not know how they were going to move the huge stone at the opening of the tomb, but they felt they had to go and anoint the body of their Lord. But when they reached the tomb... - the stone was rolled away! - the tomb was empty! - and angels were there! “Why seek ye the living among the dead?” the angels asked. “He is not here, but is risen” (Luke 24:5-6) The women returned and told the disciples that Jesus was alive, but no-one really believed them. Peter and John ran to the tomb to see for themselves. Certainly the tomb was empty and Jesus’ grave clothes were lying there. Mary Magdalene, one of the women, went back to the tomb, and there she wept. She thought someone had stolen the body of Jesus, although the angels had said he had risen from the dead. Jesus came and talked with her, but she thought he was the gardener (John 20:14 - 18). Then Jesus said, “Mary!” He spoke her name, and suddenly she knew it was Jesus. He was really there! He was alive! Did Jesus really rise from the dead? Many people do not believe the Bible account of how Jesus rose from the dead. Here are some of the reasons they give for not believing the resurrection. 1. They say: “Jesus did not die on the cross. It just looked as if he were dead. He recovered later in the cool of the tomb.” But - the Bible says plainly the Jesus did die on the cross (John 19:33). In Mark 15:42 - 45 we read how Pilate wanted to know if Jesus was really dead. He sent a Roman centurion to check, and the centurion reported that he was indeed dead. Centurions could be trusted to see whether a man was dead or alive. 2. They say: “His disciples stole the body.” But - this is not true. The chief priests and elders did not want people to know that the tomb was empty, and that Jesus was alive again. They paid the men who were guarding the tomb to say that the disciples had stolen the body. Read Matthew 28:11 - 15, and you will see how this lie started. Nothing in the Bible account suggests that the disciples stole the body. The disciples did not believe that Jesus was alive until they had actually seen him. After his death, they were frightened, unhappy and disbelieving. They were not in the mood to go tricking the Jewish leaders. Later, when they were sure that Jesus had risen, they were changed men. They risked their lives preaching about resurrection. Some even died for their faith. If they had really stolen the body, and played this trick, they would not have done such things. 3. They say: “He left his body behind, and came back a spirit.” But - Jesus rose as a body. He did not come back as a spirit. As we have already seen, many people actually saw Jesus. Thomas saw the holes in Jesus' hand and side; and Jesus told him to feel them (John 20:27). Jesus asked for food, and ate in the presence of his disciples (Luke 24:41 - 43). Jesus said to his disciples: “Handle me and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have” (Luke 24:39). 4. They say: “The disciples went to the wrong tomb.” But - the Bible tells us plainly, in Mark 16:6, that the women went to the tomb where the body had been, and angels spoke to them there. If Jesus really appeared to the disciples and showed them the holes in his hands, feet and side, then he must have come back from the dead, and the tomb where he lay must have been empty. And no doubt the Jewish leaders would have found the right tomb and shown he was still dead but they could not, because he was alive. It needs faith to accept that Jesus rose from the dead. Even the disciple Thomas did not believe it at first. He was not convinced until he saw Jesus for himself. Jesus said to him: “Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet believed” (John 20:29). Had the time for God’s Kingdom come? When at last the disciples realised that Jesus really was alive again, they hoped that he would set up God's Kingdom right away. For forty days the Lord was with them, teaching them about that Kingdom (Acts 1:3). They said to him: “Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the Kingdom unto Israel?” (Acts 1:6) Jesus answered: “It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power” (Acts 1:7) There was work to be done before the setting up of the Kingdom. The disciples had to go into the world, preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom. All this happened nearly 2000 years ago, but the work of preaching still goes on today. The ascension While Jesus was talking to his disciples about these things on the Mount of Olives, just outside Jerusalem, he was taken up from them into heaven. As they watched him go, two angels spoke to them. The words of the angels tell us plainly that Jesus will come back. Notice how definite this verse is. It does not just say, “Jesus will come again”. It says “This same Jesus” - and just in case there should be any doubt, it says “This same Jesus which is taken up from you into heaven”. They saw Jesus go up in bodily form (remember, he was not a spirit). It will be the same Jesus, and he will come again back in the same way as he went. It was a wonderful message of hope that the angels gave to the disciples. Jesus will come again, in bodily form, not this time to die, but to reign as King over the whole earth. Then he will restore the Kingdom to Israel (Acts 1:6). Jesus’ resurrection and our resurrection In 1 Corinthians 15, the apostle Paul talks about the resurrection of Jesus Christ. He says that if Christ has not been raised from the dead, then our faith is in vain, and our sins are not forgiven. Those who have died have perished without hope (1 Corinthians 15: 17 - 19). What a miserable picture! But, he says “But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.” (1 Corinthians 15:20 - 23) Christ is risen from the dead. He is the first: others will follow. Death came because of Adam. Resurrection from the dead can only come because of Jesus. Everyone dies, because everyone is “in Adam”. All those “in Christ” (belonging to Christ) will be made alive when he returns to this earth. This means that, if we die before Jesus returns, we too can be raised from the dead. But we will only be given a place in God’s kingdom on earth if we are “in Christ”. We can only belong to Christ if we are baptized into his death (see Galatians 3:27 - 29). How are the dead raised up, and with what body do they come? That was what people wanted to know in Paul's time (1 Corinthians 15:35). Just as Jesus had a body when he rose from the dead, so those who are raised from the dead when he comes back will have bodies, they will not be spirits. Jesus is alive today - he has been given a body which will never die. It is quite clear, as shown in 1 Corinthians 15, that those who are given everlasting life will have bodies which are changed. Our present bodies are subject to death, and we suffer pain, and become ill at times. Those who are given a place in God’s Kingdom will have new, undying bodies. They will be made immortal, as we read in 1 Corinthians 15:50 - 57. What a wonderful offer God has made to us! - We can have our sins forgiven through the Lord Jesus. - We can rise from the dead like he did. - We can be given immortal bodies. - We can have a place in his Kingdom on earth. No wonder the apostle Paul says: “Thanks be to God which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:57). It is a great message of salvation. Jesus told his disciples to preach the message to all men. We too should follow this example. Summary 1. Jesus rose from the dead. 2. He was not a spirit when he rose; he had a body of flesh and bones. 3. Jesus is alive today. He ascended into heaven, where he is now. 4. He will come back to this earth in the same way as he went into heaven. 5. If we belong to Christ, we can be raised from the dead and given immortal, undying bodies when the Lord returns. Chapters to read: Acts 1 Read also the accounts of the resurrection in Matthew 28 and Luke 24. A verse to learn: Acts 2:24 “Whom (Jesus) God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.” _____________________________________________ Bible Truth About God Part 3: GOD’S HOLY SPIRIT Reading: Mark 1 “And God said, Let there be light: and there was light” (Genesis 1:3). It sounds so easy. But think of the tremendous power and knowledge needed before light could be created. “In the beginning God created the heaven and earth” (Genesis 1:1). Think again, of all the work that has to be done in order to build a house. Think of all the planning and preparation; the need for men skilled in different trades, all working together. What a lot of thought and energy it takes! How much thought and energy, then, must it have taken to create the heaven and the earth? Where did the power come from for this great work? We are told in the Psalms: “By the word of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth, for he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast” (Psalm 33:6, 9) Genesis 1:2 shows us that God’s spirit was used in creation: “The Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.” Inspiration and the Spirit of God God’s power was also used to direct the minds of the men who wrote the Bible. This is known as “inspiration”. God used men to write His words. So we read in 2 Peter 1:21: “The prophecy came not in old time by the will of man; but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost”. Prophecy does not always mean telling the future. In the Bible it means speaking God’s words, whether about the past, present or future. At least 30 writers wrote the words of the Bible over about 1500 years. If God had not inspired the writing of the Bible then it would be a complete mixture of ideas and standards. Instead the Bible is consistent with great themes running all the way through. It never contradicts itself. Here are some of the things we are told about God’s Spirit: 1. God’s Spirit can create as in Genesis 1:2 2. God, by His Spirit, knows everything Psalm 139:2 - 12 3. God keeps the creation alive by His Spirit Psalm 104:29 - 30 and Job 26:13 4. God’s Spirit helped people to do His will Judges 6:34; 11:29; Galatians 5:16 5. The prophets knew what to say through God's Spirit. Micah 3:8; Zechariah 7:12; Nehemiah 9:30; 2 Peter 1:21 What is meant by the words “Holy Ghost”? The phrase “Holy Ghost” is sometimes found in the Bible. Holy means “set apart” or “separated” for a special purpose. Ghost means “spirit”. We usually use the words “Holy Spirit” because the use of the word ghost can easily be misunderstood today. So we refer to God’s great power as “The Holy Spirit”, as the Apostle Peter did in 2 Peter 1:21: “The prophecy came not in old time by the will of man, but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” In the Bible the Spirit of God, the Holy Spirit, is the Power of God; the power by which God carries out His purposes and plans. The Holy Spirit and the Lord Jesus Christ It was the Holy Spirit that brought about the birth of the Lord Jesus. So Mary was told by the angel: “Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost” (Matthew 1:18). At his baptism in the River Jordan, Jesus was given the Holy Spirit without measure (that is, without any limit). We read in John 3:34: “He whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.” All power was given to Jesus. To other men of Old and New Testament times, God has given a portion of His power, but no other man has ever been fit to possess such power as God gave to Jesus. Jesus was able to use this great power to work miracles and it helped his preaching. Look at these words from Isaiah 61:1,2: “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the LORD hath anointed me to preach to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives to comfort all that mourn.” Read the whole passage from your Bible. This is a picture of Jesus using God’s Spirit in his work. He did not use the Spirit to serve himself, but to help others. The disciples were promised the Holy Spirit Jesus promised his twelve disciples that they also would be given the Holy Spirit, after he had gone away from them into heaven. In John 14:25, 26 he says to them: “These things I have spoken unto you, being yet present with you. But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said to you.” After the Lord Jesus had left them the disciples would need help in their preaching and in setting up the early Church. God would also use His Holy Spirit to inspire them to write the New Testament. Note in the passage above that the Holy Sprit (or Comforter) would be there to teach them and to remind them of all that Jesus had said and done during his life on earth. The word “Comforter” means “one called alongside to help”. Jesus sometimes speaks of the Holy Spirit as if it were a person. But we have already seen quite clearly from the Bible that the Holy Spirit is the power of God. Why, then, does Jesus in some places speak of the Holy Spirit as if it were a person? Just turn to Psalm 65, and read verse 13, which says: “The pastures are clothed with flocks; the valleys also are covered over with corn; they shout for joy, they also sing.” Now, when we read this, it gives us a beautiful picture of the ripe corn standing high in the valley; but we do not think for one moment that the valley is really shouting and singing - that is just the Psalmist’s way of describing the picture. So, when Jesus speaks of the Holy Spirit as if it were a person doing this or that, he is just showing us what a very real thing this Spirit or power of God is. Another example of this sort of language is in Proverbs 3:13 - 19. Read these verses and you will see that the writer is talking about wisdom as if it were a beautiful and virtuous woman. This is a powerful and vivid way to explain that the true wisdom about God is not only right but also beautiful and complete. The Scriptures use similar language for the Spirit of God to indicate how total and complete is the power and activity of the Almighty God. The spirit came to the disciples We have seen that Jesus promised power to his disciples, before he went into heaven. He told them to stay in Jerusalem, and “wait for the promise of the Father” (Acts 1:4). He promised them that they should “be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence” (verse 5). In Acts 2 we read how, as they were waiting together, the Holy Spirit came with a sound “as of a rushing mighty wind”, shaking the house where they were gathered together. Tongues of fire were seen over each one of them; and this was a sign that the Holy Spirit had been given to them. From then on, they were able to work miracles, as Jesus had promise them. The spirit comes to us The special power needed for building up the first churches is no longer needed. (There is more about this in the next study paper.) Today, God speaks to us through His Word. We have seen that those who wrote the Bible did so by the power of the Holy Spirit. Furthermore, Jesus once said: “The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life” (John 6:63) When we read the Word of God we are in a sense receiving the Spirit of God. This can cause a wonderful change in our lives, helping us to grow more pleasing to God. Let us then, read the Word of God diligently and prayerfully, remembering the words of Peter: “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby” (1 Peter 2:2) What have we learnt about the Holy Spirit? 1. The Holy Sprit is the power of God. 2. The Bible was written by the power of the Holy Spirit. 3. Jesus was born by the power of the Holy Spirit. 4. All God’s prophets had a measure of His Spirit, but to Jesus it was given without measure. 5. The special powers given by the Spirit in the first century were later withdrawn. 6. God now speaks to us in His Word, the Bible, which is inspired by the Holy Spirit. Chapters to read: Acts 10:34 - 43; John 14 Learn by heart: Mark 16: 15, 16 “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be condemned. _________________________________________________________________ Bible Truth About God Part 4: THE HOLY SPIRIT GIFTS Reading: Acts 8 Jesus promised his disciples that they would be given the Holy Spirit. He said to them: “These signs shall follow them that believe. In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover” (Mark 16:17, 18) The disciples had been promised that they would be given the Holy Spirit with special powers to help them in their work. They had been told not to leave Jerusalem, but to “wait for the promise of the Father” (Acts 1:4). So they waited as they had been told. We have already seen how one day (it was the day of Pentecost), when they were all together, a wonderful thing happened. The house where they were was shaken, and there was a sound “as of a rushing mighty wind”. “And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance” (Acts 2:4) Why were special gifts of the spirit given to the disciples? a) They proved that the message of the disciples was from God Jesus had been crucified; God had raised him from the dead. He had gone into heaven, leaving his little band of disciples to “Go into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15) It was a big task. Would people listen to them? Surely they would never believe the story of a man brought back to life after being dead three days. So the disciples were given the power to work miracles and speak in tongues as a sign that their message was from God. On that day of Pentecost, they went out immediately and preached to the Jews in languages which the Apostles had never learnt, and could not have spoken but for the power of God. No wonder it says of the people who heard them: “They were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galileans? And how hear we every man in our own tongue (language), wherein we were born?” (Acts 2:7, 8) There were people of many different nationalities there in Jerusalem on that day. They had come to keep the feast of Pentecost. b) The Spirit Gifts helped to guide the church As a result of the preaching on the day of Pentecost, about 3000 men and women joined the disciples, and became Christians (Acts 2:41). And so the Christian church had made a good start. But imagine the difficulties there would be. Such a big family of Christians would need someone to guide and teach them, and to give them advice about the arrangements they would have to make for worship. They could not learn from the New Testament, because it was not yet written. So the gifts of the Spirit were sent, not only to convince outsiders of the truth of the apostles’ message, but also to help and teach the early Christians, and to set the first churches in order. What were these gifts? We have already seen that the apostles could speak in languages which they had never learnt. They could also heal the sick. In 1 Corinthians 12:4-22 the apostle Paul shows how different members of the church possessed different gifts, and how each member was to work for the good of the others. Then in verses 28-29 he gives a list of the gifts: “And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.” God’s gifts cannot be brought The disciples immediately, having received the gift of the Holy Spirit, set about the work of preaching. A follower of Jesus, called Philip, went down to Samaria and began to teach the people there. Many who listened to him believed his words about Jesus and the coming Kingdom of God, and they were baptized. Among those baptized was a sorcerer named Simon. He was a wonder-worker who had deceived the people of Samaria for a long time by his clever tricks. When the apostles at Jerusalem heard about the new converts in Samaria, they sent Peter and John to help with the work. Now Peter and John, being apostles, were able to give to others the powers of the Holy Spirit by laying their hands on them. (This was something only the first apostles could do.) Simon, looking on, saw these men laying their hands on the new disciples, and passing on to them the Holy Spirit. He was amazed. He probably thought to himself: “What wealth and power I could have, if I could pass on this gift.” So he actually offered to buy the gift from Peter. This was a terrible thing to do! No wonder Peter said to him: “Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God. Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thy heart may be forgiven thee. For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity” (Acts 8:21-23). Then Simon was afraid, and asked Peter to pray for him. We are not told what happened after this. This account shows us the early disciples using the powers of the Holy Spirit when they preached to the people about Jesus and the Kingdom. Read Acts 8:15-25 and note the following points: 1. Verse 18 says that it was through the laying on of the Apostles’ hands that the Holy Spirit was given. 2. Simon did not receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit when he was baptized. 3. The Apostles Peter and John gave these newly baptized believers the Holy Spirit gifts after they had prayed and laid hands on them (this was a way of blessing). 4. Even after Simon had received the Holy Spirit in this way he could not pass it on to others. This is what he wanted so badly. This shows that it was only the Apostles who passed on the gifts of the Holy Spirit. When they died the gifts could no longer be passed on and would disappear with that generation of people. The end of the gifts We have already seen that in the days of the first Christians, there was no New Testament - it had not been written; and we have suggested that this is one reason why these gifts were so necessary. Today, we can read about the life of the Lord Jesus, and we can read the letters that the apostles wrote to the churches of their day. But they had no written record, so that apostles, prophets and teachers with special powers from God were a very necessary help to the first churches. When the writing of the New Testament was finished, there was no longer any need for this special help from God. All that Christians need to know is written down for them in the Bible. So the Spirit gifts were taken away. The apostle Paul said this would happen. In 1 Corinthians 13:8 we read: “Charity (love) never faileth: but whether there be prophecies (that is, the gift of prophesying), they shall fail (or be done away with); whether there be tongues (that is, the gift of being able to speak in tongues), they shall cease; whether there be knowledge (the gift of knowledge), it shall vanish away.” It would seem that the gifts were not suddenly taken away, at the exact time when the New Testament was finished: but that as time went on, those who possessed these gifts died, and they were not passed on to the Christians who followed them. Does anyone possess these gifts today? Some people do claim to have the gifts of the spirit. In particular, they claim to be able to speak in tongues and to heal the sick. How can we test those that claim to work miracles by Spirit of God? 1. We remind ourselves that the apostle Paul said in 1 Corinthians 13, that a time would come when the spirit gifts would cease. When did this time come, if not soon after the New Testament was completed? It cannot be with the coming of the Kingdom, because there will be more gifts than ever then. (The Holy Spirit gifts are, in fact, called “powers of the world to come” (Hebrews 6:5), and the early disciples had the “firstfruits” of these gifts which will be freely given in the Kingdom.) 2. We note that the Holy Spirit gifts were given to help the true church. The true church believes and preaches the Word of God. Most of those who claim to have these powers today - if not all -preach things not taught in the Word of God. We must, therefore, reject their claims. 3. We have to confess that we are not impressed by many of the so-called miracles. Many of the cures are soon seen to be no cures at all; and others of them can be explained scientifically. Hypnotists can often get the same results. None of them can raise the dead. God can, and still does, work through His Spirit today, but He does not allow people to use His Spirit. Those who believe all that is written in the Bible will not claim to have the Spirit gifts. They know that these gifts were to vanish away soon after the writings of the New Testament were complete. God is still working. We no longer have the power to work miracles and speak with tongues. God’s Holy Spirit is still at work as, for example, when God answers prayers; and God also still speaks to us through His Word. When we read the Bible, we are, in a very real sense, being taught by the spirit of God. If we want to please God, then, let us show that we appreciate all that He has done for us by reading His Word, and learning all we can from it. Summary 1. Holy Spirit gifts were given to the early Christians. 2. They were for three purposes: (a) To complete the New Testament; (b) To be a sign to unbelievers; (c) To help to build up the early church. 3. They were only given until the New Testament writings were finished; after this they were only to vanish away. 4. No-one since has been able to work miracles by the power of the Holy Spirit. 5. Those men who claim to work miracles today may possess some strange ability, just as hypnotists do, but it is not the power of the Holy Spirit. Chapters to read: 1 Corinthians 13 and 14 Learn by heart: 1 Corinthians 13: 8 “Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.” _________________________________________________________________ STUDY THREE: Bible Truth about Man, Death and Resurrection - Part 1. Reading: Genesis 2 and 3 The world is in a mess! Wars, famine, disease, death, crime, violence! God created a beautiful world. Man has spoilt it. Man’s sinful nature with his greed, selfishness, jealousy and disobedience have ruined society and this earth. Where did it all start going wrong? In the beginning God created the first man, Adam. He was formed from the dust of the ground, and we read that: “The Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul” (Genesis 2:7) God provided a beautiful garden for Adam to live in and then provided him with his wife, Eve. At this point, Adam and Eve had not shown whether they would obey God or not. They had not been tried. God gave them a simple command: “Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it; for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die” (Genesis 2: 16-17) Adam and Eve had a choice Either they could obey God or they could disobey Him and eat of the fruit of the forbidden tree. They had free will. God had not made “puppets” who had no choice as to whether they obeyed or not. God wanted men and women who would choose His way because they loved and respected Him. The serpent came along and lied to Adam and Eve. The serpent said they would not die if they ate the forbidden fruit, and that instead they would become like gods, knowing good and evil. Adam and Eve wanted to be more like the angels. They chose to eat of the fruit. They sinned and they disobeyed God. The Punishment God had said they would die if they disobeyed. So Adam and Eve were condemned to death and driven out of the Garden of Eden. Although they lived a long time after this, they became dying creatures, and just like you and me, they would become tired and sick, grow old, and finally die. What is death? Death was a punishment for sin. God had said: “Dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return” (Genesis 3: 19) So Adam’s body decayed when he died and returned to the dust from which it was made. Remember, God made Adam from the dust of the earth and then God breathed the breath of life into him before he became a “living soul”. DUST plus BREATH = A LIVING SOUL So when Adam died, LIVING SOUL minus BREATH = DEAD SOUL that is, the LIVING SOUL without BREATH became DUST. Adam’s death was no different from ours. We all sin, so we all die. “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned” (Romans 5: 12) Part of Adam did not go on living in heaven. Of course not! His death was God's punishment for sin, and death means the end of all the life processes. None of us will go to heaven when we die. There is no such thing as an “immortal soul”. The bible does not mention immortal souls. There is nothing that carries on living after a person dies. There is no “immortal” or “divine” spark in man. “Soul” means life, person, living creature Below is a list of some of the passages in the Bible where this word "soul" is used. (The passages are taken from the Authorised or King James Version. Other translations may vary but the meaning is still the same.) Look them up for yourself and see if you agree with the comments. Genesis 46: 15 Jacob’s (living) children are called “souls” in this verse. Genesis 46: 26 “All the souls” clearly means “all the people”. Leviticus 5: 2, 17 Souls can sin (in other words people can sin). Leviticus 17: 12 No soul was to eat blood - no person was to eat blood. Joshua 10: 28, 30, All the souls (people) were utterly destroyed.(Note 'souls' can be destroyed! vs.32, 35,37) Joshua 11: 11 They killed all the souls so there was none left that breathed. Ezekiel 18: 4, 20 “The soul that sinneth, it shall die.” Souls die! (This simply means that if we sin, we die.) Acts 27: 37 There were 276 souls in the ship. “Soul” here clearly means “people”. There are many more examples we could give to show that the word 'soul' means person or being. (In fact the word translated 'soul' is also used of animals; see Genesis 1: 21, 24; 2: 19; 9: 10. In these cases it is translated 'creature'.) This all supports what Ecclesiastes 3: 19-20 says: “For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no pre-eminence above a beast; for all is vanity. All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.” There is no difference in death between a man and an animal. An animal does not have a part which goes to heaven when it dies any more than a man does. Both have lifeless bodies when they stop breathing. “SOUL” means LIFE, PERSON, CREATURE or BEING Look at these passages which show us what happens when we die. (Look them up so you can read them in full.) Psalm 146: 4 “Man's breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth, in that very day his thoughts perish.” Ecclesiastes 9: 5 “the dead know not any thing” Psalm 6: 5 “In death there is no remembrance of thee: in the grave who shall give thee thanks?” Psalm 39: 13 “ O spare me, that I may recover strength, before I go hence, and be no more.” Psalm 115: 17 “The dead praise not the Lord, neither any that go down into silence.” These passages all show that dead people cannot think. When King Hezekiah was told that he was going to die he was devastated. He wanted to stay alive because he knew that there was nothing in death. He said: “For the grave cannot praise thee, death can not celebrate thee: they that go down into the pit cannot hope for thy truth” (Isaiah 38: 18) He also said, “The living, the living he shall praise thee” (Isaiah 38:19), knowing that if he was dead he could not praise God. What about King David? We are told that he did not go to heaven (Acts 2: 34) even though he is called a man after God’s own heart. All men are condemned to death because of sin. They do not live on in another form after death. If we do not understand this we will never appreciate the way in which the Lord Jesus suffered and died to set us free. If we had immortal souls there would have been no need for Jesus to die for us. But the Bible tells us we have no hope of life apart from Christ. Summary 1. God made Adam out of the dust of the ground. 2. He caused him to live, by breathing into his nostrils the breath of life. 3. God gave Adam a commandment. He told him that if he disobeyed this commandment, the punishment would be death. 4. Adam and Eve disobeyed God and broke His commandment. They became dying creatures. 5. All men are descended from Adam, and inherit his sinful nature. All men sin, and die. 6. The word “soul” means life or being, and usually refers to a person. 7. The phrase “immortal soul” is not found in the Bible. 8. Death is a punishment for sin. 9. Death is a state of unconsciousness. There is no part of us which goes on living when we die. A chapter to read: Ecclesiates 9 A good verse to memorise: Psalm 146: 4 “His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.” _________________________________________________________________ Bible Truth about Man, Death and Resurrection - Part 2. Reading: Ecclesiastes 3 After death - what? There are many different ideas about what happens when we die. Few people like to think that when they die, that will be the end of them. Here are some of the ideas men have: * some think they will re-appear as animals or other people (this is called reincarnation); * some think there is something in them which goes on living somewhere; * some believe that there is no hope at all of any kind of life after death; * others believe there will be a day of resurrection of the dead, followed by judgement, and eternal life for the faithful. What does the Bible say? As we have already seen, death is a punishment for sin. Death is a lifeless state without any thoughts or any consciousness at all. Death is a complete end to life and no part lives on. “The living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten. Also, their love and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished: neither have they any more a portion for ever in anything that is done under the sun.” (Ecclesiastes 9: 5, 6) Does this mean there is no hope for us? Is there no hope beyond the grave? The promises of resurrection and eternal life There would be no hope if God had not sent Jesus. Jesus himself said, “If ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins” (John 8: 24). But because of what Jesus did in his sinless life and in his death, we can have a hope of life after death. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved” (John 3: 16, 17) We can have our sins forgiven through Jesus. Jesus was described by John the Baptist as “the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1: 29). It is because of sin that we die. If our sins are completely forgiven then, just like Jesus, we cannot stay dead. Read John 6: 39, 40, 44. Notice that three times in these verses Jesus speaks of raising the dead “at the last day”; that is when he comes back to earth again. Note especially verse 40. “This is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.” John 5: 28, 29 also speaks of the resurrection of the dead. Jesus said: “Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.” The prophet Daniel also speaks of this, again showing that only some of those raised will be given everlasting life: “Many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt” (Daniel 12: 2). So there will be a judgement. 2 Timothy 4: 1 shows that those alive at the time when Jesus returns will also be involved in this judgement: “(Jesus) shall judge the quick (living) and the dead at his appearing and kingdom.” Those people who are judged worthy will be given a place in God’s kingdom on earth. To them, Jesus will say: “Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” (Matthew 25: 34) These faithful ones will be given eternal life: a life that is perfect and sinless; they will be like the angels, as we read in Luke 20: 35, 36: “They which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage, neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection.” The hope of the Christian is bodily resurrection from the dead and a place in God's Kingdom on this earth when Jesus returns. Do sinners go to hell? Is there really a terrible place called “hell” where wicked people go to be tormented after they are dead? We have already seen that when a man dies, his life ceases completely. He can no longer think or feel anything. So where, and what, is “hell”? The word “hell” is an old English word which means “a hidden or covered place”. It is the word used in the Bible for the hidden or covered place of the dead - the grave. HELL means THE GRAVE In the Old Testament the word for hell is 'sheol'. It is used in these passages: Psalm 49:15 The Psalmist says: “God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave” Psalm 55: 15 The Psalmist says: “Let death seize upon them, and let them go down quick into hell.” These are the same word in the original Hebrew language (sheol). In the New Testament the word is 'hades'. 1 Corinthians 15: 55 the apostle Paul says: “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?” Revelation 1:18 Jesus says: “I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.” 'Grave' and 'hell' in these passages are the same word in the Greek (hades). They mean the same thing. These show that in the Old and New Testaments “hell” could have been translated “grave”, so: HELL means THE GRAVE. Hell is therefore not a terrible place of torment for sinners after they have died. Jesus came back from hell. After Jesus had been raised from the dead and had ascended to heaven, Peter preached to the people who were gathered at Jerusalem for the feast of Pentecost. He told them that David the king had prophesied about Jesus being raised from the dead. This prophecy is found in Psalm 16, but Peter talks about it in Acts 2:27: “Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.” Peter says that David was prophesying about Jesus Christ (in verse 31): “He (David) seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.” Christ's soul (that is, Christ himself) was not left in hell (the grave) because God raised him on the third day. God's Holy One did not see corruption. In Revelation 1 Jesus speaks of his own resurrection, and then of his promise to raise his faithful followers. He says: “I am he that liveth and was dead: and behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death” (Revelation 1: 18) The followers of Jesus who have died are locked up in the grave - or hell. Jesus has the key. He has the power to unlock those gates when he returns and raise the dead from their graves. Hades Sometimes “hades” is thought of as a shadowy place where the spirits of the dead exist. We know this cannot be right, because the Bible tells us “the dead know not any thing” (Ecclesiastes 9: 15). They have no conscious existence. “Hades”, as we have seen, is simply the Greek word for grave. What about hell fire? Jesus speaks three times in Mark 9 of “a fire that never shall be quenched”. He says: “It is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched” (verse 43). Yet we know that the dead are unconscious and know nothing. What did Jesus mean? The word “hell” in the passage is Gehenna. It comes from the Hebrew Ghi-Hinnom. This was the name of the valley outside Jerusalem where long before kings of Israel had actually burned their children as a sacrifice to strange gods. (You can read about this in 2 Kings 23: 10) In the time of Jesus, this valley of Hinnom was where the bodies of dead animals and the town’s rubbish were burnt. The fire burned continuously. It was a place for complete destruction. So when Jesus used the word Gehenna, people would think of this place and realise that he was using it as a symbol of complete and utter destruction. Jesus was actually quoting part of Isaiah 66:24 where it clearly says that what is thrown in Gehenna for destruction is the "carcases" - "dead bodies" of the sinners, not living people to be tortured. He was not saying people would suffer punishment for ever. Summary 1. The Bible teaches that death is the end of all conscious life. 2. It gives no promise of going to heaven. 3. It does promise that Jesus will come back and raise the dead. 4. At that time, he will give eternal life to his faithful followers. 5. “Hell” is the grave; the place where the dead are buried. 6. 'Gehenna’ is a valley near Jerusalem where rubbish was burnt: it is used in the Bible to mean utter destruction. A chapter to read: John 11: 1-45 Good verses to memorise: 1 Corinthians 15: 22-23 “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.” _________________________________________________________________ Bible Truth about Man, Death and Resurrection - Part 3. THE RESURRECTION FROM THE DEAD Reading: 1 Corinthians 15 The word “resurrection” means coming back to life again It must have been the most wonderful event in the history of the world, when Jesus Christ came out of the grave after being dead for three days. When his disciples saw him, they just could not believe their eyes. They thought they were seeing a spirit, but Jesus said to them: “Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have. And when he had thus spoken, he showed them his hands and his feet. And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said to them, Have ye here any meat? And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb. And he took it, and did eat before them” (Luke 24: 39-43) At last, they were convinced that he was really alive again. God had brought him back from death, and given him eternal life. We read of Jesus saying: “Behold, I am alive for evermore” (Revelation 1:18) Jesus will raise his followers Jesus taught his disciples that they, too, would be raised from the dead. Look again at the verse we have just quoted. Jesus went on to say: “I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell (or, the grave) and of death” (Revelation 1:18) Now, if you have the key to a door, it means you are able to open the door. Jesus has the keys to the grave. This is a way of saying that he has power to open the graves, and set free those who are buried there. This power has been given to him by God. Read John’s gospel, chapter 5, verses 20-29. Notice particularly verse 21, which says: “For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the son quickeneth whom he will.” To quicken is to bring to life; and God has given Jesus the power to bring men and women back to life again. Abraham was promised resurrection As we will learn in Session 4, God made great promises to Abraham. They included: “all the land thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever” (Genesis 13:15). Yet we know that Abraham died without this promise being fulfilled. Abraham must be raised form the dead so that God can fulfil His promise. The Lord Jesus used this very argument to prove the resurrection of the dead. You can read this in Matthew 22:31-32. Again, Jesus told the Jews of his day that they would see Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the Kingdom of God, and they themselves cast out (Luke 13:28). A hope shared by all faithful men Men of God throughout the ages have died looking forward to the day when they would be raised to life again. Paul tells us of some of these men, that they “died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off” (Hebrews 11:13) Further on, he speaks again of these men who “received not promise: God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect” (Hebrews 11:39-40) We see from this verse that the gift of eternal life is going to be given to all true worshippers of God at the same time. The early Christians too looked forward to this time. When one of their number died, they spoke of him as having “fallen asleep”, because just as men wake up after sleeping, so the disciples would be awakened from the sleep of death. In the 15th chapter of 1 Corinthians, which you have read, Paul speaks of over 500 disciples who saw Jesus after his resurrection: “Some are fallen asleep” (verse 6) This hope of resurrection and eternal life has been shared by true followers of Jesus from that day to this. The friends of Jesus understood that Jesus could raise the dead Jesus had three friends, Lazarus and his sisters Martha and Mary, who lived in Bethany, a little village near Jerusalem. One day, Lazarus fell ill. His sisters sent for Jesus, but by the time he arrived, Lazarus was dead. When Martha saw Jesus, she said to him: “Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.” Jesus said to her: “Thy brother shall rise again.” Now notice Martha’s answer very carefully. She said: “I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” Martha knew there was to be a day of resurrection in the future. Jesus said to her: “I am the resurrection, and the life.” Then, to show all who were there that he had power to raise the dead, Jesus called Lazarus out of the grave. And Lazarus came out - alive! Unlike Jesus, Lazarus was not given eternal life. He would died again but, as Martha said, he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day. This is what Jesus taught his friends, and they understood and believed him. You can read this story in John 11. Something better than life today Life is full of problems for us all. Most of us know what it feels like to be ill; we get anxious about many things. Death can take those we love at any time. We know, too, that old age must come in time, with all its aches and pains. Do we really want to live for ever in this imperfect world? The life which Jesus promises to his followers when he comes back is something quite different from our life today with all its cares. In the beautiful words of Revelation 7:16, 17 we are told of those who will be given that life, that: “They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; Neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.” They will no longer have bodies which corrupt, but they will share the spirit-life of God Himself. In Mark 12:25 Jesus says: “For when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as the angels which are in heaven.” Those who are given eternal life by Jesus when he comes back will enjoy perfect health and unlimited energy, free from all the troubles of today. When will the resurrection take place? Nearly 2000 years have passed since Jesus was raised from the dead. When is he going to raise those who have” died in faith”? The apostle Paul answers this question for us. He says in 1 Corinthians 15:22, 23: “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.” We have seen already that Jesus Christ is coming back to set up the Kingdom of God and reign over the whole earth. When he comes to do this, he will raise the dead. Then those who have been faithful will be given eternal life, and will enjoy the great privilege of helping Jesus to rule the world. We read in Revelation 5: 9, 10 the words of a song that they will sing in that day: “thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; and hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.” Some will be alive when Jesus comes back What of those who are still alive when Jesus comes back? In 1 Thessalonians 4: 14-17 Paul tells us a little more about this. He says: Notice the words “caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air”. You might think that he is speaking of going to heaven. But look again. Paul does not speak of meeting the Lord in heaven, but meeting him in the air. So after the resurrection of the dead and the gathering together of those disciples who are alive at the Coming of Jesus, all those who are accepted will be miraculously taken to serve the Lord Jesus in his work of ruling the earth. The important thing for all the followers of Jesus is that in that day they will be “for ever with the Lord”; that is in his Kingdom on the earth. You cannot have it both ways Many people, probably most people who believe in life after death, believe that men and women go to heaven when they die. The dead body is laid in the grave. But, they say, man has a “spirit” or “soul” that goes on living when the body is dead. When a man dies, this spirit goes to heaven to be with God. The Bible, on the other hand, says plainly that Jesus will come back to earth and raise the dead. Now, both ideas cannot be right. To speak of the soul which has been with God in heaven coming back to join the body and be brought to judgement is nonsense. The Bible says nothing about any man going to heaven. It does say that disciples will lie in the grave, knowing nothing until the Lord raises them from the dead at his coming. When Christ comes All who have heard the Gospel will be brought before the Lord Jesus Christ. The dead will be raised, and the living will be gathered together. Before he gives some of them eternal life, there must be a judgement. Read again 1 Corinthians 15: 51-58. Here the apostle speaks of the time when the faithful Christians will be given that great gift of eternal life - or, as he calls it here, immortality. As we look forward to that time, the apostle Paul tells us to be “steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord”. Summary 1. God has given Jesus power to raise the dead. 2. He will do this when he comes back again to the earth to set up his Kingdom. 3. At the same time, he will gather those “in Christ” who are living when he returns. 4. To those who have been faithful he will give eternal life and they will live and reign with him on the earth. Chapters to read: 1 Thessalonians 4; Hebrews 11; John 11; Matthew 22:23-33 Good verses to memorise: John 5: 28, 29 “Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; They that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.” _________________________________________________________________ STUDY FOUR: Bible Truth about the Promises of God: Part 1.God’s Promises to Abraham Reading: Genesis 13 About 2000 years before Jesus was born, there lived a man named Abram, who is spoken of in the Bible as the friend of God (Isaiah 41:8). He lived in the town of Ur, which was in the land we now call Iraq, about 800 miles to the east of the land of Israel. The people of Ur knew nothing of the true God. They worshipped many false gods, chief of which was the moon. The ruins of a temple built to the moon-god have been found there. A message from God One day Abram received a message from Almighty God. We can read this message in Genesis 12:1: “Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred. and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee.” He was told to leave his own land, and his own people, and travel to a country that God would show him. I wonder how we should feel if we received such a message? (And of course travelling was far more difficult and far more dangerous in those days.) When He told Abram to do this, God also told him: “And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: and I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed” (verses 2,3). Abram believed the promises that God had made, and he obeyed Him. The writer to the Hebrews tells us that Abraham “went out not knowing whither he went” (Hebrews 11:8). At length he reached the land of Israel with his wife, Sarah, and his nephew. Lot. Now read Genesis 13 again. You will see how Lot chose the best of the land and Abram was left to find pastures for his flocks and herds in the more barren parts of the country. But God was with Abram, and enlarged upon the promises He had made to him in Ur: “All the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever. And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth” (Genesis 13:15-16). A wonderful promise Did you notice that this time God promised Abram, later called Abraham. the land for ever? To possess the land for ever, Abraham would have to live for ever, so God was really promising him everlasting life. The land he was promised was the land he saw - the land we now call Israel. Besides this, God promised it to Abraham’s seed, or son. At that time Abraham and Sarah had no children. God promised him a ‘seed’, or son, who should share the land with him. He also promised that Abraham’s descendants should become a great nation. God makes a covenant with Abraham Turn to Genesis chapter 15, and here you will find that God again repeats and adds to His promises to Abraham. Time had gone by and Abraham was getting old. The promised son had not been given. But once more God assured him that he should have a son, and that his descendants should be as great in number as the stars in the sky. In verse 6 we read: “He (Abraham) believed in the Lord; and He counted it to him for righteousness.” Abraham, like us, was not free from sin; but he trusted in God and, because of this, God was pleased with him. This time we are told that God made a covenant with Abraham - that is a very solemn promise that can never be altered. You will read how this covenant was made in Genesis 15:8-18. In the time of Abraham, a covenant was made by slaying an animal. Then the dead animal was divided, and the two people who were making the covenant walked between the pieces. In this case, the glory of God passed between the pieces, so that Abraham would know that the covenant was sure. The promised child Abraham was 100 years old, and his wife 90, when at last God fulfilled one of His promises and gave them a son, whom they called Isaac. In Genesis 22 you will find a wonderful example of Abraham’s trust in God. Read the first 14 verses. God told Abraham to offer up his only son, Isaac, as a sacrifice. And yet God had promised that through Isaac Abraham’s descendants should become a great nation. What did Abraham do? He knew that God would keep His promises, and so the writer tells us in Hebrews 11:17-19: “By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises (Abraham) offered up his only begotten son, of whom it was said ‘That in Isaac shall thy seed be called’: accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.” Abraham was prepared even to offer up his beloved son, knowing that God would restore him to life. No wonder God was pleased with his trust and obedience. Read in Genesis 22:15-18 the promises which God again made to him. A greater seed than Isaac These things happened nearly 4,000 years ago, and at first they do not seem to matter very much to us. But Abraham had a son who was greater than Isaac. The first verse of the New Testament (Matthew 1:1 ) speaks of: “Jesus Christ the son of David, the son of Abraham.” Jesus, too, was the promised son of Abraham. Paul tells us this in Galatians 3:16: “Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.” So the promises made to Abraham - that he would live for ever in the land of Israel and be a blessing to all nations, were also promises made to the Lord Jesus Christ. When he comes again to rule from Jerusalem, we shall see these promises fulfilled. We, too, may share the promises If we believe in Jesus, and do what he asks us, we too may share these promises. For if we belong to Christ, we too are Abraham’s seed. We read in the last verse of Galatians 3: “And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” Then we, too, may share the promises. We may have eternal life, and help Jesus Christ in the great work of bringing happiness to the earth. We can become “Abraham’s seed” (children) by believing and being baptized into Jesus Christ. This is exactly what Paul says in Galatians 3:27-29: “For as many of you as have been baptised into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ’s then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” You will remember that one of the promises was, “And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed” (Genesis 22: 18). This promise will be fulfilled when Jesus returns to set up the Kingdom of God. What of Abraham? But, you may be thinking, “What of Abraham? He never received the promises, and he is dead”. That is true. But God’s promises cannot fail. When Jesus comes again, he will raise Abraham and Isaac from the dead - and many others besides - and they will live for ever upon this earth, enjoying those blessings which God promised them so long ago. Notice that God did not promise Abraham a place in a Kingdom up in heaven, but he was promised the land he saw and lived in. Summary 1. Abraham was called by God to leave Ur and go to an unknown country. 2. This country was the land of Israel, and God promised that Abraham should possess it for ever. 3. He also promised that Abraham should have a son; that his descendants should become a great nation, and that his son would be a blessing to all nations. 4. Abraham had a son, Isaac, born miraculously when his parents were very old. Jesus Christ is also a son, or descendant, of Abraham (and he, too, was born miraculously - of a virgin). 5. If we belong to Christ (through belief and baptism), we are counted as children of Abraham, and may share the promises made to him. 6. These promises will be fulfilled when Jesus comes back, and sets up the Kingdom of God. All this about the seed of Abraham is somewhat difficult to understand the first time. But it is very important. Why not read this section through once again - now! Chapters to read: Hebrews 11 (notice particularly verses 39-40) Learn by heart: Galatians 3:27-29. See also Genesis 15:18; 17:6-8: 22:16-18 _________________________________________________________________ STUDY FOUR: Part 2: God’s promises to David Reading : 2 Samuel 7 The shepherd boy who became king You have probably heard of David the shepherd boy, who killed Goliath the giant with a single stone from a sling. David lived about a thousand years before the birth of Jesus Christ. He was born in the same place as Jesus - a little town near Jerusalem, called Bethlehem, and he was the youngest son of a shepherd called Jesse. When David was quite young, God sent His prophet Samuel to anoint him to be king over Israel. But at that time, King Saul - the first King of Israel - was reigning. Saul became very jealous of David, and on several occasions tried to kill him, and David became a refugee. Saul was not a good king; he was disobedient to God, and the time came when he was killed in battle with the Philistines. The way was open for David to become king. After many trials and adventures, he built a palace in Jerusalem, and there he lived and reigned. When David thought about the way in which God had blessed him, and then thought about the Ark of God which was still kept in a tent, he wanted to build a fine Temple at Jerusalem in which the Ark could be kept. (The Ark was a special chest containing the Ten Commandments, and having a cover known as the Mercy Seat, upon which God’s glory shone.) David told Nathan, the prophet of God, what he wanted to do. Nathan told David to go ahead; but that night God spoke to Nathan, giving him a special message for David. God’s message to David Turn again to 2 Samuel chapter 7. The most important part of God’s message to David is in verses 12-16. Here God promises David a son (again we get that Jewish word, ‘seed’, which means a son, or descendant). He says of this promised son: “He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever” (verse 13). This was to happen after David’s death, for it was to be “when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers” (verse 12). More about the Son of David Now David had a son called Solomon, who reigned after him, in Jerusalem. The promises to David were partly fulfilled in Solomon, but the complete fulfillment had to wait for the coming of the Lord Jesus. Solomon was made king while David was still alive. And, of course, he did not reign for ever. This promised son was to be a very special person, for God says of him: “I will be his father, and he shall be my son” (2 Samuel 7:14). Turn to the first chapter of Luke. Here we read of an angel coming to a young woman one of King David’s descendants-and telling her that she would have a son. This son was to be born, not through an earthly father, as all other children are, but through the power of God; for the young woman, whose name was Mary, was told: “The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God” (Luke 1:35). The angel also told Mary: “He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: and he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end” (Luke 1:32-33). Now we can see how the promise which God made to David was fulfilled when Jesus Christ was born. 1. God was his Father. 2. He was to reign for ever. The King of the Jews Jesus was born to be a King. The wise men, when they came to worship him, asked: “Where is he that is born King of the Jews?” (Matthew 2:2). When Jesus was arrested and taken before Pilate to be tried, Pilate said to him: “Art thou the King of the Jews?” Jesus answered: “Thou sayest it” (Mark 15:2). That is the Jewish way of saying, “Yes, I certainly am”. As we have already seen, Jesus will come back to this earth to be King of the Jews, and to reign on David’s throne. A world-wide kingdom Jesus is not only to be the King of the Jews when he comes back. He is to reign over the whole earth. God says of him: “It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth” (Isaiah 49:6). (‘Gentiles’ means people who are not Jews.) What about David? Although David realized that this promise was not to be fulfilled for a very long time, he was full of thankfulness to God, and we can read his prayer of thanks in 2 Samuel 7:18-29. God had said: “Thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee (that is, in your presence)” (2 Samuel 7:16). (Note: ‘.House’ can mean a building - the temple was called the house of God - but it can also mean family and descendants. This is what it means in the promises to David.) So David knew that when at last his great Son (the Lord Jesus) reigned in Jerusalem, he himself would be raised from the dead, so that he might share the joys of the kingdom. David often thought about this solemn promise - or covenant - that God had made with him, and he speaks about it in the Psalms. For instance, in Psalm 89:2-4, we read: “For I have said, Mercy shall be built up for ever: thy faithfulness shalt thou establish in the very heavens. I have made a covenant with my chosen, I have sworn unto David my servant, thy seed will I establish for ever, and build up thy throne to all generations.” God’s Promises to David 2 Samuel Chapter 7, verse 12: “When thy days be fulfilled and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom.” Notes: When David’s life was over and he was dead, God would raise one of his descendants, and God would set up his kingdom. verse 13: “He shall build an house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom for ever.” Note: The descendant would build God a house. (Solomon built God a house. Jesus Christ is building God a house (see Ephesians 2:19-22.) God would make his throne sure for ever. (Solomon did not reign ‘for ever’, nor did the Kingdom of Israel last ‘for ever’. Jesus will reign ‘for ever’.) verse 14: “I will be his father and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him ... Notes: God would be the father of this descendant of David, and he would be God’s Son. (Jesus is God’s Son.) Jesus did not commit sin, so God did not have to punish him. verse 16: “And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever.” Notes: David’s house and kingdom will be set up and David will be there. (This will happen when Jesus returns and David will be raised from the dead and be in that kingdom.) Jesus will at that time be reigning from David’s throne (that is, from Jerusalem). His reign will be ‘for ever’. Something to look forward to Paul tells us in Hebrews 11:39-40: “And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.” Now Abraham, and David, and many other faithful men, died knowing that in the day of Jesus Christ’s coming they would be raised again and “made perfect” -given eternal life with all who belong to Jesus. But as the passage shows, eternal life will not be just for these faithful men. It can be for us also. A key verse We have seen that Jesus Christ is both the seed of Abraham and the seed of David. The very first verse of the New Testament begins: “The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.” So we are only able to understand the New Testament, if we have read and understood the Old Testament. Summary 1. God promised David a son. 2. This son was to be Jesus, the Son of God. 3. He was to reign on David’s throne for ever. 4. When he comes to reign, all God’s faithful servants will be given eternal life, and will share his Kingdom on earth. Chapters to read: 1 Samuel 17; 1 Chronicles 17 Learn by heart: 1 Chronicles 17:11, “And it shall come to pass, when thy days be expired that thou must go to be with thy fathers, that I will raise up thy seed after thee, which shall be of thy sons; and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build me an house, and I will stablish his throne for ever.” _________________________________________________________________ STUDY FIVE: Bible Truth about Sin and Satan - Part 1: SATAN, DEVIL AND DEMONS There are two Greek words that are translated “devil” in our English King James Version Bibles, and as they mean different things, we really need to know what each word means. They are: daimon - which means “evil spirit” diabolos - which means “slanderer” The word daimon, is used in the Greek when we are told that Jesus “cast out devils”. Jesus cured every kind of illness from which men suffer. He gave sight to the blind; he restored hearing to the deaf; he made the lame walk. He also cured many people suffering from mental illnesses, and complaints like epilepsy. In those days, when an illness was hard to understand, people would say that the sufferer was “possessed by a demon”. When Jesus healed such people, he was said to “cast out the demon”. Read carefully Matthew 8: 16-17. It tells us that Jesus said that Isaiah had prophesied about this when he said: “the people brought unto him many that were possessed with devils (demons): and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick.” Jesus said that Isaiah had prophesied about this when he said: “Himself took our infirmities and bare our sicknesses” (Isaiah 53: 4) This shows us that “devil or demon possession” is the same as “infirmities” or illnesses. Idols that were “demons” In other places in the Bible where the word daimon is used, it often refers to the worshipping of idols. Turn to Psalm 106. This Psalm tells of all the wrong that Israel did, and how, in spite of it all, God continued to bless them. Read verses 36-38, where the Psalmist says of all Israelites: “They served their idols: which were a snare unto them. Yea, they sacrificed their sons and their daughters unto devils.” The word “devils” here is the Old Testament equivalent to daimon, or demon. In verse 37 the accusation is repeated, but this time we are told that 'their children were sacrificed to idols’. Clearly, then, the “devils” mentioned here were the idols of the nations surrounding Israel. There is a similar use of the word in the New Testament, in 1Corinthians 10: 20. Paul tells the Corinthians that the Gentiles “sacrifice to devils, and not to God”. If you look back to verse 19, you will see that these “demons” were really idols. The Christians worshipped the one true God; all other gods were idols, here called “demons”; lifeless objects which people worship in vain. Note: the word which means “evil spirit” (daimon) is usually translated devils in the Authorised Version and should not be confused with devil. Other versions often have demons instead of devils. Satan Satan in the Old Testament means “adversary” or “one who opposes”, and the word Hebrew word “satan” is translated “adversary in many verses, as in 1 Kings 11. 1 Kings 11: 14 says “And the Lord stirred up an adversary unto Solomon, Hadad the Edomite.” and verse 23 says “And God stirred him up another adversary, Rezon the son of Eliadad” and verse 25 says “He was an adversary to Israel all the days of Solomon.” Solomon started off well as a king and loved God, but then he became caught up in idol worship, so God sent him adversaries. This word “adversary” in 1 Kings 11 is exactly the same word as is elsewhere translated “satan”. Hadad and Rezon brought trouble for Solomon and Israel, and “opposed” them because Solomon and Israel were sinning. They were “satans” to Solomon and Israel. A satan is not always an evil adversary. In Numbers 22: 22 we are told of a prophet called Balaam, who was going on a journey which God did not want him to make. The record says, “God’s anger was kindled because he went: and the angel of the Lord stood in the way for an adversary against him”. The word for “adversary” here too is the Old Testament word “satan”; so here we have a faithful angel of God, doing God’s will, called a “satan”. Clearly the word cannot mean an evil being. A “satan” is an adversary, one who is in opposition. He may be good or bad. Satan means one who opposes When Peter tried to turn Jesus aside from the way in which God had said he must go, he became an adversary, and Jesus said to him: “Get thee behind me, Satan” (Matthew 16: 23). Because he was trying to turn Jesus from God’s way, Peter became a “satan”. He was opposing Jesus. So satan in the New Testament also means adversary. Man’s greatest adversary is his own sinful self and so the word “satan” can be used for this. This can be seen by comparing Acts 5 verses 3 and 4: Verse 3: “But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost” Verse 4: “Why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? Thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.” It was Ananias’ own sinful thoughts. “Satan” is used in verse 3 to represent Ananias’ sinful nature, which was opposing the things of God. Who was Lucifer? Isaiah 14: 12-16 is often quoted by people who believe in a supernatural evil being: “How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground which did weaken the nations” Quite clearly, if you read the whole chapter you will see that Lucifer is the king of Babylon (see especially verse 4). It was a prophecy that the king of Babylon would fall from power. In the same way Ezekiel 28: 14-16 is sometimes thought to refer to a supernatural evil being: “Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God - thou wast perfect all thy days, till iniquity was found in thee.” It is clear that this passage refers to the king of Tyrus (Tyre), as verse 12 shows, and is nothing to do with a supernatural being. What happened in the Garden of Eden? When God called Adam out of hiding and asked him if he had eaten of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, Adam answered: “The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.” Adam was really trying to say that God was to blame for giving him the woman, and the woman was to blame for giving him the fruit. But it was his own fault. Then God asked the woman what she had done, and she said: “The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat” - in other words, she put the blame on the serpent; it was the serpent’s fault. Adam and Eve were anxious to blame someone else, rather than to take the blame for their own wrong actions. We are all like that. We do not like being held responsible for our own wrong thoughts and actions. Perhaps that is why many people believe that there is a super-human being called “the devil” who entices men and women to sin. God allowed the serpent to speak, just as He allowed Balaam’s ass to speak (Numbers 22: 28). God allowed Adam and Eve to be tested and they failed. The serpent did not make them eat the fruit, it just provided the test. Adam and Eve decided for themselves that they would eat of the fruit. Summary 1. The devils cast out by Jesus were illnesses thought to be caused by evil spirits which took possession of people with certain diseases. 2. The word for devils or demons is different from the word for devil (which will be considered in Part 2). 3. Satan’ means adversary - someone who opposes. The adversary can be good or evil. 4. Humans find it easy to blame other people for their mistakes, which explains the persistence in the belief of a supernatural devil. Chapters to read: Matthew 16: 21-28; Numbers 22 Good verses to memorise: Matthew 8: 16-17 “When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities and bare our sicknesses.” _____________________________________________________________ The Bible Truth about Sin and Satan - Part 2: THE DEVIL AND SIN Reading: Hebrews 2:9-18 The Bible certainly speaks of a devil. Who or what is the devil? (Greek: diabolos) Let us see if we can find out from the Bible. In 1 John 3:8 we are told why God sent Jesus: “For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.” Jesus came to destroy the “works of the devil”. In Hebrews 2:14 we are told that Jesus also came to destroy the devil, as well as his works: Hebrews 2: 14 “Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is the devil.” Meaning: Believers (people) are made of flesh and blood (human nature) and Jesus himself also in the same way had flesh and blood (human nature) so that through his death he would destroy the power of death (which is sin) (or the devil). This verse says that Jesus was born as a human being; and this was so that he could destroy the devil, by dying on the cross. If the devil were a powerful superhuman being, how could Jesus by his death destroy it? This cannot be the true meaning of “the devil”. Notice Hebrews 2:14 says the power of death is the devil and we know that it is sin that leads to death. The devil which Jesus destroyed was really the power of sin which was in him, as it is in all human beings. (Remember, he inherited our nature from his mother, Mary.) This is what Hebrews 9:26 tells us: “he (Jesus) appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.” JESUS OVERCAME THE DEVIL means JESUS PUT AWAY - OR OVERCAME - SIN Jesus lived a perfect life. He was “in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15). We are tempted, and we sin. Jesus was tempted, but he never sinned, he never gave way to temptation. He was able to overcome sin in this way because he was the Son of God. He fought against sin all his life, and finally on the cross he destroyed it completely, by destroying the very nature that could be tempted. Because of this, God raised him from the dead, and gave him a “glorious body”, free from all temptation to sin, and immortal. What then is the devil? Sin and the devil are the same thing. All that the Bible says about the devil, it says about sin. The devil is the enemy of God .....so is sin The devil is the tempter of man .....so is sin The devil is deceitful .....so is sin The devil causes death (Hebrews 2:14) .....so does sin The devil was destroyed by Christ’s death .....so was sin From these comparisons we can see that the devil and sin are the same thing. So where does sin come from? The Bible has the answer to that question, too. It comes from our own hearts. Jesus once said: “From within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: all these evil things come from within, and defile the man” (Mark 7:21-23). These evil things are not only in the hearts of bad men. Even the best of men have evil thoughts in their hearts. The apostle Paul, good man that he was, found it hard to do good and easy to do wrong. He says in Romans 7:18 that in his flesh dwelt no good thing. James gives us the same message. It is in ourselves, and not from some outside power, that we have the temptation to sin. He says: “Every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death “ (James 1 :14,15). Even though this passage from James is talking about temptation, it does not mention a devil here. Every man is tempted by his own evil thoughts. THE DEVIL IS THE SINFUL FORCE WITHIN HUMAN NATURE. The devil that tempted Jesus The tempter of Jesus could not have been an immortal devil. The world belongs to God. He controls it, and no super-human being could have offered Jesus “all the kingdoms of the world”. Moreover, Jesus would hardly have followed such a being, knowing him to be evil, to Jerusalem or anywhere else! As we saw, the “devil” of the temptation was the evil thought that came into the mind of Jesus - a desire to go his own way, instead of God’s way, and so avoid the pain and suffering of crucifixion. Why “the devil”? Why is it that the Bible so often uses the word “devil” instead of just saying “sin”? And why does it speak of this devil as if it were describing someone with tremendous power? It is surely so that we can understand just how powerful and deceitful sin is. We have to understand this before we can appreciate fully how much we all need to be saved from sin. When we realise our need, we can begin to appreciate what the Lord did for us in overcoming sin. One all-powerful Creator God is supreme. Could He possibly be challenged by an evil being - a devil or a satan? We know He could not. But the idea of a great power opposed to God has been held by nations through the ages. The ancient Persians believed in two great powers, corresponding to God and the devil. The first was supposed to be the creator of light and goodness, and the second of darkness and evil. In answer to this wrong belief, God sent a message through the prophet Isaiah, saying: “I am the Lord, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known Me: that they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside Me. I am the Lord, and there is none else. I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the Lord do all these things” (Isaiah 45:5-7) (The word “evil’ here must not be confused with “sin”. It means trouble, such as God brings on sinners who disobey His will.) There is one great power in the universe, ordering all things. This is the one great Creator, who upholds all things by the word of His power. The only opposition to God is from sin in the hearts and lives of men and women. Sin - A Serious Problem “The Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God. They are all gone aside, they are altogether become filthy; there is none that doeth good, no, not one” (Psalm 14:2, 3). That is how the Psalmist puts it. Paul in Romans 3:23 is telling us the same truth when he says, “All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” Those words are not very pleasant reading. None of us likes to be told, “You are wrong!” When we have done wrong, we try to make excuses, to blame someone else. We do not like to face the fact that our nature is evil. But until we do realise this, we cannot begin to understand how much God has done for us in sending Jesus Christ, nor can we respond to His love. Most people never stop to think about how God intended them to live their lives. The few who do try to do right soon find they have a terrible problem. The heart of man, Jeremiah tells us, is “deceitful above all things and desperately wicked” (Jeremiah 17:9). Anyone sincerely trying to live a good life will be sad about this. Paul expresses perfectly how we feel in his Letter to the Romans: “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not; but the evil which I would not, that I do” (Romans 7:18,19) We cannot help ourselves - so what are we to do? Once we have recognised sin in ourselves, we must turn away from it. Repentance means just that - turning round and going the opposite way. That is something we cannot do without God's help and the teaching of His Word. Through the death of Jesus, we can come to God and find forgiveness and have a hope of life. Repentance begins when we realise how sinful and evil all men are; and - this is vital - when we recognise this sin and evil in ourselves. When we repent in this way, we become disciples of the Lord Jesus, following him and going his way. Jesus lived a perfect life, and to be his disciples means striving with all our being to turn away from sin, and trying to live as he did. “What shall we say then - Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?” (Romans 6:1, 2). We cannot continue in our own way. Further on in Romans 6: 12, 13 the apostle Paul says: “Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield (give) ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.” Will we always have to fight against sin? One thing is certain, we shall not win the battle in this life. We shall never come to a time when we can say, “The fight against sin is over, and I have won”. If it were not for the forgiveness of God in Christ, which is there for us every day of our lives, we would find the struggle impossible. But one day the struggle will be over! When Jesus returns to the earth to set up God’s Kingdom, those who have been faithful disciples will be changed - they will be made equal to the angels. They will be made immortal, as you have learned in Lessons 19, 25 and 27. But that is not all. They will be changed morally; sin will no longer have any power over them. They just will not want to do wrong things or think wrong thoughts. The struggle will be over and sin will be banished for ever from the disciple's mind. We read about this in 1 Corinthians 15:51-57. Summary 1. “Devil” is the Bible word for the sinful force of human nature. 2. Jesus overcame sin in himself. It is therefore said that he “destroyed the devil”. 3. Sin is evil and unacceptable to God, and all (except Jesus) sin. 4. We have to repent. This means being truly sorry for our sins, and admitting that we are wrong. 5. We must repent and trust that God will forgive us, even when we sin after becoming disciples. Chapters to read: James 1: 12-27; Romans 6; Romans 7: 14-25 Good verses to memorise: James 1: 14,15 “But every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” ____________________________________________________________ STUDY SIX: Bible truth About the Kingdom of God Reading: Isaiah 35 Peace on earth - when? When Jesus was born. the angels sang for joy. The words of their song are written in Luke 2:14: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” Yet from that day to this. there has never been any real and lasting peace on earth. And there never will be, until Jesus comes back to the earth to set up the Kingdom of God. The Old Testament tells us a lot about that Kingdom, and gives us many pictures of the time of peace and prosperity that it will bring. The extent of the Kingdom Look at Psalm 72. In this Psalm we are given a picture in words of the time when God’s Kingdom is established on earth. But, for the moment, notice particularly verse 8: “He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth.” This tells us that the Kingdom set up by Jesus, centred in Israel, is going to extend over the whole earth. We find the same thing in Psalm 2:8, where God speaks to Jesus, saying: “Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen (nations) for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.” (When the Bible was first written in English, about 400 years ago, the word “heathen” meant exactly what our word “nation” means today.) Let us look up one more verse. Turn to the 14th chapter of Zechariah, and read verse 9: “And the LORD shall be King over all the earth: in that day shall there be one Lord, and his name one.” The rule of Christ Jesus Christ will rule from Jerusalem, his capital city, which he once called “the city of the great King” (Matthew 5:35). His law will go out through all the earth, as we read in Isaiah 2. Read verses 1-4, and note particularly: “Out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.” An ideal kingdom Suppose you were asked to say what conditions you would like to live under in an ideal world. One of the first things you would ask for would be security; freedom from fear, and peace to enjoy the fruits of your labour. In fact, you would probably have a picture in your mind something like the one the prophet Micah gives us: “And he (that is, Jesus Christ) shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off, and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make them afraid: for the mouth of the LORD of Hosts hath spoken it” (Micah 4:3,4). But before there can be peace, there must be a real effort on the part of men to walk in the ways of God. So long as men continue to go their own way, there will be trouble. So one of the first works of the Lord Jesus will be to teach all nations the ways of God. But, you may say, there are some who simply would not listen! That is true, and those who do not obey will be punished, as we read in Isaiah 11:4: “With the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked” for, remember, when Jesus comes back, he will be all-powerful. Who will be in the Kingdom? 1. First, there will be the rulers. These will be the men and women who have been disciples followers of Jesus, from all ages, who have now been given eternal life by Jesus at his coming. They will be kings and priests, helping Jesus to rule the world. They will be immortal people (that is, people who will not die again). “And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; and hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth” (Revelation 5:9,10) 2. There will also be Jews who have accepted Jesus as their king. Jerusalem will become the capital city for the whole world. All nations will look to it, because God’s law will be based there. “At that time they shall call Jerusalem the throne of the LORD; and all the nations shall be gathered unto it, to the name of the LORD, to Jerusalem: neither shall they walk any more after the imagination of their evil heart” (Jeremiah 3:17) Christ will be among them, and they will be greatly blessed, although they will still be mortal (that is, still able to die). 3. When Christ comes, God’s judgements will be severe, and many people will perish. But those who are left alive, throughout the world will, under the rule of Jesus, learn to do that which is pleasing to God -as it tells us in Isaiah 26:9: “When thy judgements are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.” Prosperity for all With such perfect conditions as there will be then, there will be prosperity on every hand. Psalm 72:16 says: “There shall be an handful of corn in the earth upon the top of the mountains; the fruit thereof shall shake like Lebanon.” Mountain-tops are usually bare If there is corn upon the top of the mountains, we can imagine how abundant it will be in the valleys. As we read in Psalm 67:6: “Then shall the earth yield her increase, and God, even our own God, shall bless us.” Even the deserts will be green in those days. Read the beautiful verses again in Isaiah 35:1,2 which tell us how -”The desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose. It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing.” Healing of mind and body With these blessings will come also the blessing of greater health and strength. When Jesus lived on earth nearly 2000 years ago, he brought health to many who were sick, by using the power that God had given him. In the Kingdom of God, this power will be seen again. Read on in Isaiah 35 to verse 6: “Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing.” We can well imagine, too, that the mortal people will live longer than they do today. The prophet Zechariah tells us that this will be so. He says: “There shall yet old men and old women dwell in the streets of Jerusalem, and every man with his staff in his hand for very age. And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in the streets thereof” (Zechariah 8:4,5). These verses speak of Jerusalem, but, as we have seen, the blessings of the Kingdom will extend over all the earth. The sure word of God Perhaps you are thinking, ‘All this sounds very nice, but it is surely too good to be true’. If the promises which we have read about depended on men, then we certainly could put no trust in them. Even the best men may not be able to do what they promise, because of human weakness. But these promises come from God, and we may put all our trust in them. Read Isaiah 55:6-11, and notice particularly verse 11: “So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth; it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” So we may look forward with joy to that time when there shall be “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace” (Luke 2: 14). Even greater perfection The Kingdom age will last for a thousand years. We speak of this time as ‘the Millennium’ - ‘Millennium’ is just another way of saying ‘a thousand years’. It will be a wonderful time, but it will not be perfect. The ordinary men and women living in the Kingdom will still have human nature, which finds it so easy to sin. They will still grow old and die. We are even told that some of the nations will rebel against the rule of the Lord Jesus at the end of the thousand years. He will, of course, completely overcome them. At that time those who have been faithful in the Kingdom age will be given the gift of eternal life. Those who have died will be raised for judgement by Jesus. Then, the whole earth will be filled with the glory of God, and He -the great Creator - will be “all in all” (1 Corinthians 15:28). Summary 1. When Jesus comes back, he will become King of the World. 2. His capital city will be Jerusalem. 3. All over the world there will be peace and prosperity, health and happiness. 4. In his world-wide Kingdom, everybody will learn to obey God’s commandments. 5. In the Kingdom there will be - (a) immortal people, who followed Jesus and obeyed God in their lives. Being immortal they will no longer suffer pain or have to battle against sin. They will help Jesus to rule and care for the world and its peoples in the Kingdom of God. (b) mortal people who have survived the dangers and terrors of the judgements of God on an evil world. They will learn to serve and worship God. Chapters to read: Psalm 72; Micah 4:1-7 Learn by heart: Psalm 22:27,28: “All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the Lord: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee. For the kingdom is the Lord’s: and he is the governor among the nations.” _________________________________________________________________ STUDY SEVEN: The Bible Truth about Baptism and the New Life - Part 1.: BAPTISM Reading: John 3 After he had risen from the grave, and just before he went up into heaven, the Lord Jesus said to his apostles: “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned” (Mark 16: 15-16) Two things are very clear from these words. 1. Before anyone can believe and be baptized, he must know the gospel that Jesus taught, and understand the good news of the Kingdom of God. 2. No one can please himself about baptism - it is not something that we can do if we feel like it. It is essential. Unless a man believes and is baptized, he is condemned to death and has no hope of a future life. Repentance comes before baptism When a person hears the Gospel and understands it, it changes their thinking. They begin to turn from their own way to God’s way, they see a need for a fresh start in life. Baptism is the way God has chosen for us to make a new start. When we turn to Him and obey His commandment to be baptized, our sins are forgiven and we are able to start a new life. Jesus gave us an example Jesus never did anything wrong. He did not need to be baptized so that his sins might be forgiven, because he never sinned. Matthew 3: 13-17 tells how Jesus came down to the River Jordan, and was baptized in the river by his cousin John. John knew Jesus had never sinned and said he was unworthy to baptize him. This was true, but Jesus said, “Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness” (Matthew 3: 15) In being baptized, Jesus set us an example to follow. What do we mean by Baptism? Matthew says that Jesus was baptized in Jordan, and afterwards he “went up straightway out of the water”? The Greeks used the word “baptize” when they were dying cloth. The cloth was “baptized” or immersed completely in the water. No part of the cloth could be left out of the liquid, or the dying would be patchy. In the same way, when the Bible speaks of baptism, it means complete immersion in water. There is a beautiful meaning to this act of being buried in the water and then rising again, as we shall see later. “Christening” babies by sprinkling them with water is not taught in the Bible. We are taught quite clearly that belief must come before baptism. How can a baby believe, before it is old enough to understand? “Repent and be baptized” As we have already seen, this was the message of John the Baptist. The Gospel calls men to change their thoughts and their ways, and to turn back to God. This is what the Bible means by “repentance”. Peter gave the same message to the Jews on the day of Pentecost. They had gone the wrong way; they had not recognised that Jesus of Nazareth was the Son of God, whom He had sent to them. They had been responsible for his death. When they realised what they had done, they said to the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” You can read the answer of Peter in Acts 2: 38 “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins.” The baptism of the apostle Paul The apostle Paul is a good example of the way in which repentance leads to baptism. Paul had been going the wrong way. He had been persecuting the followers of Jesus; he did not believe that Jesus was really the Son of God. As he was travelling to Damascus to persecute the Christians there, the Lord appeared to him and spoke to him. When Paul saw Jesus, he had to think again. He realised at last who Jesus really was. When he saw how wrong he had been, he was ready to give the rest of his life to following Jesus. Jesus sent a disciple named Ananias to him, and Ananias helped him to regain his sight, and told him to be baptized (see Acts 9: 17-18). So when Paul believed the truth about Jesus, he was sorry for his past ways, and started a new life by being baptized. There are many accounts in the Acts of the Apostles of men who believed, turned to God’s way and were baptized. The story of the Ethiopian eunuch Read this in Acts 8: 26-40. The eunuch was an important official. He had been to Jerusalem to worship God. As he travelled back home, he was reading from Isaiah 53, which tells of the suffering and death of the Messiah. He did not understand when he read: “He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth: in his humiliation his judgment was taken away, and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth” (Acts 8: 32-33) Suddenly he was joined by a disciple called Philip, whom God had sent to help him. Philip asked him if he understood what he was reading, and the eunuch answered, “How can I, except some man should guide me?” So Philip explained the passage to him, and preached to him about Jesus. Soon they came to water, and the eunuch said: “See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?” Notice the reply carefully. Philip said: “If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest.” Then they both went down into the water (so it could not have been a matter of sprinkling). Then Philip baptized the eunuch. After this, we are told that when they were come up out of the water Philip was taken away and the Ethiopian went on his way rejoicing. He had found the way of life. The story of the Roman centurion Acts 10 tells us about Cornelius the centurion. He was a “devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway”. You might think there was nothing more he could do. But there was something else to be done. God sent an angel to Cornelius, and the angel told him to send for the apostle Peter. The angel said, “He shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do”. Now Peter, being a Jew, would never have gone into the house of a Gentile. But God had spoken to him in a vision, and told him to go with the men sent by Cornelius. Up to this time, only Jews had been called by the gospel. When Peter arrived at Cornelius’ house, he found the centurion waiting for him with his family and friends. He welcomed Peter, and told him about the angel who had visited him. “Now therefore,” he said, “are we all here present before God to hear all things that are commanded thee of God” (verse 33). Peter told the people there about Jesus; his life and death and resurrection. Before he had finished speaking, the special gift of the Holy Spirit which had been given to Jewish converts fell on those who were listening. This was very unusual. Normally the Holy Spirit was only given to baptized believers. No one could doubt then that God had accepted them. So the necessary step was taken. Peter said: “Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord” (verses 47-48) The lesson is plain - even good living, God-fearing men and women can only become a member of Christ’s ecclesia by being baptized. The message is: - people must first hear the gospel message; - they must believe it with all their heart; - they must repent of their past sins; - they must turn from their own way to God’s way; - they must then be baptized; - then they begin a new life in Christ. When we understand that the Lord suffered and died for our sake, we shall say as the Jews did on the day of Pentecost, “What shall we do?” The answer is the same today: “Repent, and be baptized”. The meaning of baptism The Lord Jesus was crucified. His dead body was laid in a tomb. Three days later, God brought him to life again. What is the true meaning of baptism? As the body of Jesus was buried in the tomb, so in baptism our body is buried in water. We are “buried with him”. In this way, we confess that we are worthy to die because of our sins. Being buried in water is, in a figure, dying with Christ. And as he came out of the grave, so we come out of the water. This is a new birth, and a new life begins. Being born again A Jew named Nicodemus once came to Jesus at night to ask him about his teaching (John 3). Jesus said to him, “Ye must be born again”. Nicodemus thought that was impossible - and, of course, it is if you take the words of Jesus without understanding his meaning. But Jesus was speaking about the new birth that takes place at baptism. He said to Nicodemus: “Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God” (John 3: 5) Remember the words we started with - “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.” All men and women are sinners, and sin brings death. Death is an end of life, and there is nothing to look forward to. There is no hope -unless we are born again by being baptized. The new life Deciding to be baptized is the most important decision any person can ever make. It is not a decision to be taken lightly. Before baptism we must understand and believe the true teaching of the Bible. After baptism we have to fight against our desire to sin, and try to obey God’s commandments and serve Him. We can only do this if we read His Word. We will have to stop doing things which we know will displease God. This will mean spending less time with people who have no concern for God, even though they may once have been friends, because they may lead us away from God. It will be a daily struggle, but it will bring rich rewards. Jesus once said, “Everyone that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life” (Matthew 19: 29) Summary 1. God has commanded us to be baptized. 2. Baptism is a complete burial in water. 3. In a figure, we die with Christ and rise out of the water to a new life. 4. When we are baptized, we begin a new life “in Christ” (see Romans 6: 3, 4) Chapters to read: Read again the stories in Acts 8, 9 and 10, and Romans 6. Good verses to memorise: Romans 6:3, 4 “Know ye not that so many of us were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism unto death: that like Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the father, even so we also would walk in newness of life.” The Bible Truth about Baptism and the New Life -Part 2: WALKING IN NEWNESS OF LIFE Reading: Romans 6 A new beginning When we are baptized, we begin a new life. We are “buried with him (Christ) by baptism into death” when we are immersed in the water at our baptism. The life we have lived up to that time comes to an end -it is a thing of the past. Then, as “Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father”, we too have to walk in newness of life (Romans 6:4). Such a change is only possible through the grace of God. Being children of our Father in heaven, we can come to Him through Jesus. We shall fail often as we try to please Him, but when we ask for forgiveness, He will hear us for Jesus’ sake. “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4: 16) Feeding on God’s Word A baby needs food, and makes this need known in no uncertain way. Food is essential for growth. And those who are born to a new life by baptism can only grow in Christ if the new life is fed and nourished by God’s Word. So the apostle Peter says: “As new born babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby” (1 Peter 2: 2) God has given us the Bible for our guidebook. It will help us to live as He would have us live, and grow up into that “new man” in Christ. We read in 2 Timothy 3: 16, 17: “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works” Looking forward to the Kingdom The apostle Peter tells us that God is “not willing that any should perish” (2 Peter 3: 9), and John 3: 16 we read that God sent Jesus, His only begotten Son, so that “whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life”. God wants to give us eternal life in His Kingdom. And so He is preparing us now for that life. He wants us to be there, and He will help us in every possible way. He has given Jesus to help us, and through Jesus we can come to Him in prayer. Help from Jesus and his Father Jesus once said to his disciples “Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom” (Luke 12: 32) Jesus once offered a wonderful prayer to God for those who believe in him. You can read it in John 17. Notice the words of verse 24: “Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory which thou hast given me” Jesus also wants us to be in his Kingdom. So he will help us on the way. We will never be left to struggle alone. Jesus is not only the Saviour through whom our sins are forgiven; he is also our guide through life. He will share our life, with all its ups and downs and joys and sorrows, and help to fit us to live in God’s Kingdom. So the apostle Peter, who knew Jesus so well when he was on earth, says: “Casting all your care upon him, for he careth for you” (1 Pet. 5: 7) Belonging to a worldwide family “As many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3: 27, 28) It does not matter who you are, or where you are; if you have become a Christadelphian by being baptized into Christ, all other Christadelphians are your brothers and sisters. (Remembering the name “Christadelphian” means “brethren in Christ”.) It is a great joy to belong to such a family, who are to be found throughout the world. Jesus said to his disciples before his death - and he still says it to us today: “This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you” (John 15: 12) He loved us so much, that he suffered death for us. He laid down his life for us, so, says the apostle John, “we ought to lay down our lives for our brethren” (1 John 3: 16). We know how we should behave to each other but, in practice, it is very hard. Our old self takes a long time to die! Some of us are quick-tempered; some are moody and easily irritated - all of us have our faults. These are things we have to fight against, as we try to show to our brothers and sisters in Christ the love that Jesus has shown to us. There is a picture of that love in 1 Corinthians 13. “Charity” is an old-fashioned word for “love”. Below are verses 4-7 of the chapter from the Revised Standard Version. “Love is patient and kind: love is not jealous or boastful: it is not arrogant or rude. Love does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrong, but rejoices in the right. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” Loving our neighbour A lawyer once came to Jesus, and asked him which was the greatest commandment. Jesus said to him: “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself” (Matthew 22: 37-39) Read the story Jesus told about a good neighbour in Luke 10: 30-37. If anyone is in need, we are to help him. We are not to stop and think whether we like him or not, or whether he really deserves our help. The greatest thing we can do for others is to pass on to them the good news of the kingdom of God, which we ourselves have come to believe. As God has invited us to keep His ways and to share the joys of His kingdom, so we should want to invite others to share these things. Praying and worshipping When we are baptized into Christ, we become God’s children, and we can come to Him in prayer, to worship Him and to ask for His help in our lives. Yet we must never forget how great God is. His glory and His majesty are beyond our understanding. We read in Isaiah 57: 15: “For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones” James tells that God “resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble” (James 4: 6). Even the Lord Jesus, God’s Son, spoke of himself as being “meek, and lowly in heart” (Matthew 11: 29) So when we come to God in prayer, we need to remember the words of the apostle who says we should “serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear” (Hebrews 11: 28). If we come in this spirit, He will certainly hear us. “Blessed are the meek” In this world we are constantly told to fight for our rights. Those who stand up for themselves are admired. The great question in everyone’s mind is, “What can I get out of life?” This is not the way of the Christian. Paul says to the saints at Philippi: “In lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves” (Philippians 2: 3). That is a hard thing to do: we all like to think we are a little better than the next man! But we are told, “By love serve one another” (Galatians 5: 13), and in this, as in all things, Jesus is our example. Not long before his death, when he was sharing a last meal with his disciples, “(Jesus) laid aside his garments: and took a towel, and girded himself. After that, he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded” (John 13: 4, 5) The washing of feet was a slave’s work. Yet that is what Jesus did, and afterwards he said, “I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you” (John 13: 15). He served his disciples with love and lowliness, and we must serve each other. Then we shall be the kind of people that God wants in His kingdom. “Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth” (Matthew 5:5) Remembering Jesus We set out, when we are baptized, on the straight and narrow way that leads to God’s Kingdom. But we are still very human, and we can easily forget how much Jesus did for us when he died on the cross. Jesus knew how easily his disciples would forget; so he told them to do something to remind them. Turn to the Gospel of Luke, and read chapter 22: 14-20. This happened at that last meal we have just spoken about, when Jesus washed his disciples’ feet. See how the bread and the wine were to remind his disciples of how Jesus gave his life for them. He said to them, “This do in remembrance of me”. Now read 1 Corinthians 11: 23-28. The early Christians met on the first day of each week to remember Jesus in the way he had commanded them. True disciples of the Lord Jesus will meet together, as the first disciples did (and usually Sunday is the most convenient day for such meetings), to break bread and to drink wine, remembering how Jesus’ body was given and his blood was shed for them. As we grow up in Christ, remembering Jesus in this way will become more and more important to us, helping us to realise that he is with us all the time. Walking in newness of life means: - reading God’s Word every day: “The entrance of thy words giveth light: it giveth understanding to the simple” (Psalm 119: 130) - praying to God and praising Him at all times: “Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God” (Philippians 4: 6) - loving our brethren and sisters: “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and everyone that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God” (1 John 4: 7) - being considerate to other people, and helping them whenever we can: “Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them” (Matthew 7: 12) - not taking part in the ungodly activities of the world: “Come ye out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and I will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty” (2 Corinthians 6: 17, 18) - above all else, loving God with all our being: “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might” (Deuteronomy 6: 5) Chapters to read: 1 Corinthians 13; Luke 10: 30-37, Luke 22: 14-20; 1 Corinthians 11: 23-28 A good verse to memorize: 2 Corinthians 5: 17 “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold all things are become new.” STUDY EIGHT: Who are the Christadelphians? Reading : John 15 The intention of these Bible studies is to direct your attention to the Scriptures. However, you may wonder who the Christadelphians are, so we will tell you a little about ourselves. The Christadelphians are a world-wide community of men and women who read the whole of the Bible and accept it as the inspired Word of God. They believe in the Old and New Testament promises concerning the Lord Jesus Christ and the future of the world. They are waiting for the return of Jesus from heaven to set up God’s kingdom on the earth. The name Christadelphian comes from two Greek words which mean Brethren in Christ. Where do Christadelphians live? There are Christadelphians in over 120 countries. They are to be found in Britain and many parts of Europe; in more than a dozen countries in Africa; in the Far East from India to Indonesia; in Australasia and the Pacific Islands; in North and South America from Canada down to Argentina, and in the islands of the Caribbean. The community includes men and women of many colours and cultures. What do they believe? Christadelphians base their faith on the things which were believed and taught by Jesus and his disciples nearly 2000 years ago. The true message of Christianity has not changed. Unfortunately, throughout the centuries many “Christian” churches have left the truth and have turned to doctrines which had their origins in pagan beliefs. On the other hand, there have always been small groups who have held to the true faith, For instance, in Europe over 400 years ago there were many people who learned the true gospel by reading the Bible for themselves when it was printed in their own language. These men and women called themselves “Brethren in Christ”. Sadly, many of them were cruelly treated or put to death for their faith. Many had to leave their homes, but they took the Gospel all over Europe and across the seas. It was not long, however, before the truth again became mixed with false teaching. (There is a lesson here - the truth is only preserved when men read and study God’s Word for themselves.) How did the Christadelphian community begin? In 1832 an English doctor named John Thomas, who had been a church preacher, took ship bound for New York because his father wanted to settle in America. The ship ran aground in a violent storm and Dr. Thomas thought he was going to die. He realised that he knew very little about the future, and he vowed that if he got to land he would not rest until he had found the truth about life after death. Well, he did reach New York, and he was as good as his word. He spent the next 15 years studying the Bible very carefully and examining the claims of many “Christian” sects. When he was sure that he fully understood the things written in the Old and New Testaments concerning Jesus Christ and the coming kingdom of God on earth he arranged to be baptized, by full immersion. He continued to do much public preaching in America and Britain and produced religious magazines and books. Among those who believed the same teachings and joined John Thomas in his work was a Scotsman named Robert Roberts. He helped to organise the growing number of followers into ecclesias. “Ecclesia” is a Bible word which means “an assembly of people who have been called”. Christadelphians prefer to use this word, rather than “ church” -which sometimes conveys the idea of a building rather than a special group of people. At first the name may sound a little strange The name Christadelphian was first used in 1864 when the believers asked the American Government for exemption from military activity at the time of the American Civil War. Needing a name to identify the members as a separate community, John Thomas remembered the “Brethren in Christ” 300 years before, and so he used the name ‘Christadelphian’, which is the Greek form of that title. These 19th Century Christadelphians were great travellers and they preached in many parts of the world, so that by the end of the century there were groups of believers in many lands. How do Christadelphians organise themselves? There are various committees for organising missionary work and for looking after the sick, the old, and the lonely, and we have offices in a few countries for publishing magazines and books. But we have no paid ministers and no central organisation. Financial needs are met by voluntary offerings from the members. We have no priests. But you may ask: if there is no central body to link all the members together, how do Christadelphians organise themselves? The answer is that our common faith and our common practices provide the essential link which binds the members together. Each local group is self-contained and appoints its own “elders”, usually by voting once a year. Those who are appointed serve the ecclesia in various duties such as secretary, treasurer, steward or as chairmen of meetings. They are not paid for their work. They are not “priests”, because we believe that Jesus, now in heaven, is the only Priest to whom baptized members of his Church can confess their sins in prayer. Christadelphians do not build enormous, elaborate church buildings. Of course, there are some places where ecclesias are able to own their own hall or room for meeting and preaching. Elsewhere they meet in rented schoolrooms, community halls or in houses. The same beliefs Christadelphians, in whatever part of the world they live, have read and studied their Bibles and have come to the same essential beliefs. For over 100 years we have had a Statement of Faith (a summary of Bible doctrines) which every member accepts as the basis of fellowship with other members. Before anyone is baptized and becomes a Christadelphian he (or she) must satisfy himself that he understands the important teachings of the Bible and that he is in full agreement with our Bible-based beliefs and practices. This is what binds Christadelphians together. “One body...one Lord, one faith, one baptism” (Ephesians 4:4-5) This makes it possible for Christadelphians, wherever they live, to share a happy and rewarding fellowship with each other. The kind of people we try to be. We all need God’s help So we believe it is very important to pray. One thing we try to do every day is to read the Bible. That is as important as having regular food. Once a week we meet to eat a little piece of bread and drink a sip of wine in memory of the death of the Lord Jesus Christ. You will find that Christadelphians are very happy people because they have a sure and practical faith. But we are very serious about the way we live. Because Jesus is coming back very soon we wish to be ready for his coming. That means leading clean and honest lives. It means avoiding heavy drinking, gambling and other evil habits. Christadelphians are law-abiding citizens of their country. They try to do all the good they can, but they do not take part in politics, nor do they fight or take people to court. It means having only one wife, and not having sex before or outside marriage. We want to share right beliefs, hope and joy with you Christadelphians sincerely believe that their faith represents the true Gospel as found in the whole of the Bible. We hope that you, too, will enjoy discovering The Truth. It not only satisfies because it is right; it also brings hope, joy and love to your life. May God bless you in your seeking. Some important Bible teachings are here. Verses to read : Psalm 119:130; Matthew 28:19-20; John 17:3. Learn by heart : John 15:13-14 “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.” IMPORTANT BIBLE TEACHINGS * The Bible is the only true message from God. * There is only One God, the Creator, who is in control of world affairs. * Jesus Christ is the Son of God, born of Mary. He was a sinless man. He died on the cross to save those who believe in him. He was raised from the grave and is now in heaven. * Jesus will soon return from heaven. He will establish the Kingdom of God on the earth. He will rule as King and his capital will be Jerusalem in the land of Israel. * The Jews are God’s witnesses to His purpose, even though many of them do not realise it. God made promises to Abraham and David which will be fulfilled when Jesus comes back. * Death is the punishment for sin and all men are sinners. The only hope of life after death is bodily resurrection from the grave at the return of Jesus. * There will be a judgement. Those who are faithful followers of Jesus will be given everlasting life and they will help him to solve the problems of the world and bring peace and blessing to all nations. * We must believe the Gospel, repent from our sins and be baptized. If we keep trying hard to obey God’s commands, and pray for forgiveness when we fail, then we shall be saved. * The Bible prophecies about past and present world events have all come true. The signs show that the return of Jesus Christ to the earth is very near. That is why you should study your Bible now. _________________________________________________________________ The Christadelphians, G.P.O. Box 159, Hyderabad, 500 001, A.P., India )Рlџџ Q€џџ г€œџџ ~€Кџџ ;йџџ Œ@јџџ џџ п@.џџ џ@Mџџ 6@hџџ ё€€џџ ё€џџ “€Йџџ f@Нџџ ЂРйџџ љ€јџџ €џџ жР3џџ жРQџџ BРoџџ Љ@џџ Љџџ Ÿ@Цџџ 'уџџ i@ўџџ*dџџџџМGMMd‚џџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMd‰dџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMd#dџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMd­dџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMdŒdџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMdхdџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMd<dџџџџМGMMd dџџџџМGMMdšdџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMd?dџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMdSdџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMd xџџџџМGMMdўdџџџџМGMMd dџџџџМGMMd’dџџџџМGMMd dџџџџМGMMd1dџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMdOdџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMdВdџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMdPdџџџџМGMMd dџџџџМGMMdоdџџџџМGMMd+dџџџџМGMMd`dџџџџМGMMd*dџџџџМGMMdQdџџџџМGMMd dџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMdїdџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMd"dџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMdЉdџџџџМGMMd+nџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMdбdџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMd dџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMdРdџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMdEdџџџџМGMMd4dџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMd“dџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMdШdџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMdNdџџџџМGMMd3dџџџџМGMMdИdџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMd'dџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMd]dџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMdдdџџџџМGMMd!nџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMdQdџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMdбdџџџџМGMMd7dџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMdVdџџџџМGMMd&dџџџџМGMMdtdџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMd›dџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMd›dџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMdщdџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMd=dџџџџМGMMd dџџџџМGMMd^dџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMd!dџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMdВdџџџџМGMMd!nџџџџМGMMd(dџџџџМGMMdгdџџџџМGMMd'dџџџџМGMMdД dџџџџМGMMd%dџџџџМGMMdЯdџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMd€dџџџџМGMMd*dџџџџМGMMdДdџџџџМGMMd-dџџџџМGMMdмdџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMdwdџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMdUdџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMdОdџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMdxџџџџМGMMdxџџџџМGMMd§dџџџџМGMMd$dџџџџМGMMdпdџџџџМGMMd<dџџџџМGMMd™dџџџџМGMMd)dџџџџМGMMdmdџџџџМGMMd*dџџџџМGMMdn dџџџџМGMMd!dџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMd,dџџџџМGMMd­dџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMdxџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMd>dџџџџМGMMd dџџџџМGMMd?dџџџџМGMMd9dџџџџМGMMd0dџџџџМGMMdХdџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMdрdџџџџМGMMd1dџџџџМGMMdУdџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMdcdџџџџМGMMd)dџџџџМGMMdєdџџџџМGMMd dџџџџМGMMd;dџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMdExџџџџМGMMdKdџџџџМGMMd%dџџџџМGMMdжdџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMdydџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMd, dџџџџМGMMd.dџџџџМGMMdўdџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMdБdџџџџМGMMd9xџџџџМGMMdxdџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMd,dџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMdldџџџџМGMMd.dџџџџМGMMd dџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMdЬdџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMdѕdџџџџМGMMd dџџџџМGMMdJdџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMdХdџџџџМGMMd dџџџџМGMMdЛdџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMd9xџџџџМGMMd'dџџџџМGMMd dџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMd$dџџџџМGMMdГdџџџџМGMMd!dџџџџМGMMdюdџџџџМGMMd*dџџџџМGMMd„dџџџџМGMMd dџџџџМGMMdOdџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMd;dџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMdQdџџџџМGMMd;dџџџџМGMMdxџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMdйdџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMd"dџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMd.dџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMdўdџџџџМGMMd%dџџџџМGMMd>dџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMdјdџџџџМGMMd dџџџџМGMMdЄdџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMd4dџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMd‚dџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMdxџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMdDdџџџџМGMMd"dџџџџМGMMd„dџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMdўdџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMdџdџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMd1dџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMdОdџџџџМGMMd!dџџџџМGMMdЯdџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMd†dџџџџМGMMd dџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMd$dџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMdhdџџџџМGMMd6dџџџџМGMMdxџџџџМGMMd dџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMd;dџџџџМGMMd dџџџџМGMMdmdџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMdddџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMdVdџџџџМGMMd(dџџџџМGMMdЌdџџџџМGMMd dџџџџМGMMdьdџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMd#dџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMdwdџџџџМGMMd.dџџџџМGMMdxџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMd]dџџџџМGMMd-dџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMdЖdџџџџМGMMd dџџџџМGMMdЅdџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMdрdџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMde dџџџџМGMMd6dџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMd+dџџџџМGMMdrdџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMdГdџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMd,dџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMd/xџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMdќdџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMdДdџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMd…dџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMd7dџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMdщdџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMdхdџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMdєdџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMd[dџџџџМGMMd dџџџџМGMMdНdџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMd!dџџџџМGMMd xџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMd9dџџџџМGMMd xџџџџМGMMdўdџџџџМGMMd$dџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMd!dџџџџМGMMdœdџџџџМGMMd#dџџџџМGMMd0dџџџџМGMMd#dџџџџМGMMd‰dџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMd8dџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMd|dџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMdњdџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMd?dџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMd!dџџџџМGMMd9dџџџџМGMMdxџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMd(dџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMd dџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMd!dџџџџМGMMd dџџџџМGMMd%dџџџџМGMMd–dџџџџМGMMd dџџџџМGMMdљdџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMd\dџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMdсdџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMdЌdџџџџМGMMd#dџџџџМGMMd–dџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMdLdџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMd+xџџџџМGMMd­dџџџџМGMMd!dџџџџМGMMdЁdџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMd-dџџџџМGMMdœdџџџџМGMMd-dџџџџМGMMdSdџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMd№dџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMdъdџџџџМGMMddџџџџМGMMdњdџџџџМGMMdРџџ“Р1џџќ%џџџџ(xK–dћџЈdџџdџџDџџџџ(xK–dћџЈdџџdџџŒ&џџџџ(xK–dћџЈdџџdџџEџџџџ(xK–dћџЈdџџdџџќOџџџџ(xK–dћџЈdџџdџџBџџџџ(xK–dћџЈdџџdџџы"џџџџ(xK–dћџЈdџџdџџ.џџџџ(xK–dћџЈdџџdџџЬ!џџџџ(xK–dћџЈdџџdџџEџџџџ(xK–dћџЈdџџdџџђ'џџџџ(xK–dћџЈdџџdџџџџџџ(xK–dћџЈdџџdџџ2џџџџ(xK–dћџЈdџџdџџEџџџџ(xK–dћџЈdџџdџџЪ#џџџџ(xK–dћџЈdџџdџџхџџџџ(xK–dћџЈdџџdџџCџџџџ(xK–dћџЈdџџdџџђ'џџџџ(xK–dћџЈdџџdџџCџџџџ(xK–dћџЈdџџdџџИ џџџџ(xK–dћџЈdџџdџџEџџџџ(xK–dћџЈdџџdџџ"џџџџ(xK–dћџЈdџџdџџDџџџџ(xK–dћџЈdџџdџџXџџџџ(xK–dћџЈdџџdџџ?џџџџ(xK–dћџЈdџџdџџ )џџџџ(xK–dћџЈdџџdџџ>џџџџ(xK–dћџЈdџџdџџx$џџџџ(xK–dћџЈdџџdџџCџџџџ(xK–dћџЈdџџdџџЫyџџџџ(xK–dћџЈdџџdџџŠџџџџ(xK–dћџЈdџџdџџџџџџ(xK–dћџЈdџџdџџџџџџ(xK–dћџЈdџџdџџџџџџ(xK–dћџЈdџџdџџџџџџ(xK–dћџЈdџџdџџџџџџ(xK–dћџЈdџџdџџџџџџ(xK–dћџЈdџџdџџџџџџ(xK–dћџЈdџџdџџџџџџ(xK–dћџЈdџџdџџџџџџ(xK–dћџЈdџџdџџџџџџ(xK–dћџЈdџџdџџ €њцJІMЕ-Ђ@џџРSџџ/Tџџ/XџџРџџџџ@Xџџ-@`џџ-1€bџџ1џџ*џџ*Рbџџ(џџ(џџ%џџ%€cџџ0џџ0.@@iџџ.џџџџ$€@Љџџ$РЉџџџџџџЋџџџџ@Ќџџџџ€ЎџџџџРАџџџџГџџџџ@Еџџџџ€ЗџџџџРЙџџџџМџџџџ@Оџџџџ€РџџџџРТџџџџХџџџџ@Чџџџџ€ЩџџџџРЫџџџџЮџџџџ@аџџ$€вџџ€lџџ Рџџ Cџџ )@Cџџ @Pџџ ЬVџ$љVџ$Њ™[,’џџџџџџ3 Јџџџџџџџџџџџџџџ %~бпу п‚.у ќЂ:О]ЦADISPLAYDISPLAYNone``@@nџџџџМGMMdџџџџ(xK–dћџЈdџџdџџууууContents^tIndex ,^>;^>^=.^>€, C:\Program Files\Adobe\PageMaker 7.0\RSRC\USENGLSHxA7799ddшье‹уwњџџWingdings 3џџNew Gulimџџ@New GulimџџKingsoft Phonetic PlainџџшBasemicџџBasemic SymbolџџBasemic TimesџџMap SymbolsџџMT ExtraџџшZWAdobeFџџшLucida Sans"џџо"џџCordia NewGulimChe1џџ@GulimChe1џџDotum"џџ@Dotum"џџDotumChe1џџ@DotumChe1џџBatangџџ@BatangџџBatangChe1џџ@BatangChe1џџGungsuhџџ@GungsuhџџGungsuhChe1џџ@GungsuhChe1џџMingLiU1џџ@MingLiU1џџPMingLiUџџ@PMingLiUџџAngsanaUPCоџџAngsana NewџџBrowalliaUPCо"џџBrowallia New"џџCordiaUPCо"џџCordia New"џџDilleniaUPCоџџEucrosiaUPCоџџFreesiaUPCо"џџIrisUPCо"џџJasmineUPCоџџKodchiangUPCоџџLilyUPCо"џџAharoniБџџDavidБџџDavid TransparentБџџшFrankRuehlБџџLevenim MTБџџMiriamБџџMiriam TransparentБџџMiriam FixedБ1џџFixed Miriam TransparentБ1џџNarkisimБџџRodБ1џџRod TransparentБ1џџTraditional ArabicВџџArabic TransparentВџџAndalusВџџSimplified ArabicВџџSimplified Arabic FixedВ1џџMS Gothic1џџ@MS Gothic1џџMS PGothic"џџ@MS PGothic"џџMS UI Gothic"џџ@MS UI Gothic"џџЗНе§ЪцЬх†џџ@ЗНе§ЪцЬх†џџЗНе§вІЬх†џџ@ЗНе§вІЬх†џџЛЊЮФВЪдЦ†џџш@ЛЊЮФВЪдЦ†џџшЛЊЮФЗТЫЮ†џџш@ЛЊЮФЗТЫЮ†џџшЛЊЮФчњчъ†џџш@ЛЊЮФчњчъ†џџшЛЊЮФПЌЬх†џџш@ЛЊЮФПЌЬх†џџшЛЊЮФСЅЪщ†џџш@ЛЊЮФСЅЪщ†џџшЛЊЮФЫЮЬх†џџш@ЛЊЮФЫЮЬх†џџшЛЊЮФЯИКк†џџш@ЛЊЮФЯИКк†џџшЛЊЮФааПЌ†џџш@ЛЊЮФааПЌ†џџшЛЊЮФаТЮК†џџш@ЛЊЮФаТЮК†џџшЛЊЮФжаЫЮ†џџш@ЛЊЮФжаЫЮ†џџшСЅЪщ†1џџ@СЅЪщ†1џџЫЮЬх-ЗНе§ГЌДѓзжЗћМЏ†Aџџ@ЫЮЬх-ЗНе§ГЌДѓзжЗћМЏ†AџџгздВ†1џџ@гздВ†1џџArial Narrow"џџArial"  !џџTimes New Roman!џџSystem†"џџ@System†"џџTerminal†1џџ@Terminal†1џџFixedsys†1џџ@Fixedsys†1џџSmall Fonts"џџMS SerifџџWST_CzecQџџ WST_EnglQџџ WST_FrenQџџ WST_GermQџџ WST_ItalQџџ WST_SpanQџџ WST_SwedQџџ Courier1џџ MS Sans Serif"џџ MS Dialog"џџMS Dialog Light"џџMS SystemEx"џџ Photoshop Smallџџ Photoshop Largeџџ ADMUI3Lgџџ ADMUI3Smџџ Aldus Palette Font"џџAdobeSmџџ MarlettџџArial CEю"џџArial CYRЬ"џџArial GreekЁ"џџArial TURЂ"џџArial BalticК"џџCourier New1џџCourier New CEю1џџCourier New CYRЬ1џџCourier New GreekЁ1џџCourier New TURЂ1џџCourier New BalticК1џџLucida Console1џџLucida Sans Unicode"џџTimes New Roman CEюџџTimes New Roman CYRЬџџTimes New Roman GreekЁџџTimes New Roman TURЂџџTimes New Roman BalticКџџWingdingsџџSymbolџџVerdana"џџArial Black"џџComic Sans MSBџџImpact"џџGeorgiaџџFranklin Gothic Medium"џџPalatino LinotypeџџTahoma"џџTrebuchet MS"џџWebdingsџџEstrangelo EdessaBџџGautamiџџLathaџџMangalџџMV BoliџџRaaviџџShrutiџџTungaџџSylfaenџџЫЮЬх†џџ@ЫЮЬх†џџаТЫЮЬх†1џџ@аТЫЮЬх†1џџКкЬх†џџ@КкЬх†џџПЌЬх_GB2312†1џџ@ПЌЬх_GB2312†1џџЗТЫЮ_GB2312†1џџ@ЗТЫЮ_GB2312†1џџMicrosoft Sans Serif"џџMS Mincho1џџ@MS Mincho1џџMS PMinchoџџ@MS PMinchoџџGulim"џџ@Gulim"џџUР‡џџU€hџџ@`џџNoneџџџџџџџџџRegistrationџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџPaperџџџџџџBlackџџџџџџRedџџџџџџџџџџџџџџGreenџџџџџџџџџџџџ‡7‡7Blueџџџџџџџџџџџџ||Document Master€#ьеwњ‰*ье‹уwњu‰‹у*uDocument Master€$ьеwњ‰*u‰‹у*u№№№№№№ dМяш№bј Єп№ ..--__ќџ џџ%q?юбўьеwњ‰*џџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџ‹ŒŽ‘’“”•–—˜™š›п<џџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџМНОР§џџџСТУФХЦЧШЩЪЫЬЭЮЯабвгдџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџрстуфўџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџюя№ёђѓєrџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџ&в4 ’  ( $о73 MSП  B@ & >  ;Ž G3Ld№ 26 kZ 3L № Ђ1 @а @  @ ќ  @} .­+@аЬVџ$Z)A:\LBIBLE05.TXTЬVџ$љVџ$Њ™[,’џџџџџџ3 Јџџџџџџџџџџџџџџ %~бпу п‚.у ќЂ:О]ЦADISPLAYDISPLAYNone``@@nџџџџМGMMdџџџџ(xK–dћџЈdџџdџџууууContents^tIndex ,^>;^>^=.^>€, C:\Program Files\Adobe\PageMaker 7.0\RSRC\USENGLSHxA7799ddшье‹уwњu‰‹у*u№№№№№№ dМяш№bј Єп№ ..--__ќџ џџ%q?юбўьеwњ‰*ье‹уwњu‰‹у*u#ьеwњ‰*ье‹уwњu‰‹у*uYzлж,ўэ§ьеwњ‰*ье‹уwњu‰‹у*uZ Рџџ Рџџ €0џџ €Вџџье‹уwњџџџџџџОџџ3џџџџџџџџџџџџџџ'@Р Р@A€РS@TX@€b@РbР€cР@i@РЉ@Ћ@@T @`@€h@Р‡@Ї@@ЇР­Б@@Б@€В€Х@@Х@Ш@@мРэ@@э@€юР @ј@€ј €€@Z@VYNone``@@nџџџџМGMMdџџџџ(xK–dћџЈdџџdџџууууContents^tIndex ,^>;^>^=.^>€, C:\Program Files\Adobe\PageMaker 7.0\RSRC\UKENGLSHxA7799ddшье‹уwњu‰‹у*u№№№№№№ dМяш№bј Єп№ ..--__ќџ3 Јџџџџџџџџџџџџџџ %~бпу п‚.у ќЂ:О]ЦADISPLAYDISPLAYNone``@@nџџџџМGMMdџџџџ(xK–dћџЈdџџdџџууууContents^tIndex ,^>;^>^=.^>€, C:\Program Files\Adobe\PageMaker 7.0\RSRC\UKENGLSHxA7799ddшье‹уwњu‰‹у*u№№№№№№ dМяш№bј Єп№ ..--__ќџ џџ@ёџџРSџџ/­џџ/XџџРџџџџ@Xџџ-@`џџ-1Бџџ1џџ*џџ*Їџџ(џџ(џџ%џџ%@Їџџ0џџ0.@@Бџџ.џџџџ$€@Љџџ$РЉџџџџџџЋџџџџ@Ќџџџџ€ЎџџџџРАџџџџГџџџџ@Еџџџџ€ЗџџџџРЙџџџџМџџџџ@Оџџџџ€РџџџџРТџџџџХџџџџ@Чџџџџ€ЩџџџџРЫџџџџЮџџџџ@аџџArial Unicode MS†"џџ@Arial Unicode MS†"џџBook AntiquaџџBookman Old StyleџџCenturyџџCentury Gothic"џџGaramondџџHaettenschweiler"џџMS OutlookџџMonotype CorsivaBџџWingdings 2