Lesson 36

Why is the work of the Holy Spirit so important for

us?

Since Christ died for all people, why don’t all people benefit from what he did?

John 3:16

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and

only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

The gospel message:

some believe

Since Christ died for all people, why don’t all people benefit from what he did?

Luke 14:15-24The gospel message:

some believe

Luke 14:15-24When one of those at the table with him heard this, he said to

Jesus, “Blessed is the man who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God.” Jesus replied: “A certain man was preparing

a great banquet and invited many guests. At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’ “But they all alike began

to make excuses. The first said, ‘I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.’ “Another said, ‘I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I’m on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.’ “Still another said, ‘I just got married, so I can’t come.’ “The servant came back and reported this to

his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and

the lame.’ ”‘Sir,’ the servant said, ‘what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.’ “Then the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the roads and country lanes and make them come in,

so that my house will be full. I tell you, not one of those men who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.’”

Since Christ died for all people, why don’t all people benefit from what he did?

Luke 14:15-24

some refuse to believe

The gospel message:

some believe

Key Point #1

Some people don’t receive the benefits of what Christ did for them because they refuse to believe in him.

Why doesn’t everyone just naturally believe in Jesus?

Ephesians 2:1

As for you, you were dead in

your transgressions

and sins…spiritually dead

Why doesn’t everyone just naturally believe in Jesus?

Acts 26:17-18I will rescue you from your own people and from the

Gentiles. I am sending you to them to open their eyes

and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God,

so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a

place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’

spiritually blind

Why doesn’t everyone just naturally believe in Jesus?

Romans 8:6-7

The mind of sinful man is death, but the

mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace;

the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so.

enemies of God

Key Point #2

No one can just naturally believe in Jesus because all

of us by nature are spiritually dead, blind, and

enemies of God.

How does our spiritual blindness keep us from believing?

Matthew 13:14

In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah:

‘You will be ever hearing but never

understanding; you will be ever seeing but

never perceiving.’ doesn’t understand the

gospel

How does our spiritual blindness keep us from believing?

1 Corinthians 1:18

For the message of the cross is

foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are

being saved it is the power of God. thinks the gospel

is foolishness

How does our spiritual blindness keep us from believing?

John 15:16

You did not choose me, but I chose you

and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last.

Then the Father will give you whatever

you ask in my name.

Key Point #3Our spiritual blindness makes it impossible for us, by our own

thinking or choosing, to believe in Jesus, because what he tells

us seems like foolishness.

How did we come to believe and so receive the benefits of what Jesus did for us?

1 Corinthians 12:3

Therefore I tell you that no one who is

speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no

one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the

Holy Spirit.

How did we come to believe and so receive the benefits of what Jesus did for us?

Romans 5:5

And hope does not disappoint us,

because God has poured out his love

into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he

has given us.only when God

sends the gift of the Holy Spirit into our hearts

Key Point #4It is only by the gracious

work of the Holy Spirit that we believe in Jesus and so

receive the benefits of what he did for us.

Some people claim that in order to be Christians, they had to make a “decision for Christ.” (That’s why Billy Graham titled his monthly

magazine Decision.) Give several reasons why it is not appropriate to

say that we made a decision for Christ.

Which of these three things do you consider the most important

and why: God created you; Christ redeemed you; or the

Holy Spirit brought you to faith?

Lesson 36

The Holy Spirit’s work is necessary because if he had not worked faith in me, I would have rejected Jesus

and all he did for me.

Vocabulary…

“faith”

Knowledge, acceptance, and trust in Jesus as

Savior