he greatest heritage the Creator God has given toparents is children. Having children is a privilege

most Native families long to experience. Many feel joyif their home is blessed with youngsters.

Key Thought. The Bible tells about the most specialchild of all time. Never has an infant changed the livesof more human beings than did the baby Jesus when Hewas born.

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JesusOur Creator and FriendT

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BIBLE ANSWERS1. Jesus was no ordinary baby; He is described bywhat name that distinguishes Him from every othername? Matthew 1:18, 23. “Now the birth of JesusChrist was as follows: . . . ‘Behold, the virgin shall bewith child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His nameImmanuel,’ which means, ‘_________ _____________.’” (All quotations from the Bible in these lessons are taken from the New

King James Version (NKJV) unless otherwise noted.)

NOTE: The name given to Jesus, “Immanuel,” means“God with us.” Jesus could have stayed in heaven, a per-fect place. But even though He was our Creator, Hechose to come to earth to live with us. While on earth,He faced the same problems, trials, and temptationsthat we go through.

2. Luke 19:10. “For the Son of Man has come to_________ and to __________ that which was lost.”

NOTE: Jesus came to earth because of our problemwith sin which prevents us from having eternal life.Everyone who ever lived on earth is a sinner (Romans3:23). Not one of us is perfect. The result of sinning isdeath (Romans 6:23). God has great love and sympathyfor you and me and has put together a plan to save usfrom sin’s penalty. This loving plan was for Jesus to

hile on earth, Jesus faced thesame problems, trials, andtemptations that we go through.

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come to earth, take on human form and nature, live asinless life, and die for our sins as our substitute. BecauseJesus is the Creator, His life is worth all of ours. Hecould justifiably die for all of us.

Sin is a terrible thing. Its penalty required Jesus togive His life in order to save us. What is sin? Sin is whenwe choose to deliberately go against what we know istrue and right (James 4:17).

A young boy was shopping. Quietly, he slipped somecandy into his pocket. He thought that no one noticed.However, the storekeeper saw him and called his father.

The father came quickly. He asked his son, “Whydid you steal the candy?” The boy answered, “The Devilmade me do it.” The father wisely replied, “The Deviltempted you, but you had to deliberately choose to takethe candy.” All of us at some time have chosen to dowhat we know isn’t right. All of us have sinned, sinbrings unhappiness and destruction in the end. Godwants us to know only happiness and fulfillment nowand throughout eternity.

Jesus didn’t have todie since He neversinned (Heb. 4:15). ButHe chose to die in ourplace so we can live eter-nally. The Bible usesthe word “our” severaltimes to describe what

Jesus’ death on the cross paid formankind’s sin. Because Jesus is theCreator, He could die for us all.

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Jesus did for us. Read Isaiah 53:5, and instead of usingthe word “our,” use the word “my.” “But He waswounded for my transgressions, He was bruised for myiniquities; The chastisement for my peace was uponHim, and by His stripes I am healed.” Jesus did all ofthis for you. You can personally claim this promise.

3. What does God give to those who believe in Jesus?John 3:16. “For God so loved the world that He gaveHis only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Himshould not perish but have _____________ _______.”

NOTE: John 3:16 is the best known and most lovedtext in the Bible. It gives the assurance that God wantsyou to live forever. You don’t have to die eternallybecause of your sins. You can have a life that never ends!You need only to sincerely accept the fact that Jesus diedfor you and forgives you when you ask Him to.

4. For what other reason did Jesus come to thisearth? John 13:15. “For I have given you an _______,that you should do as I have done to you.”

NOTE: Jesus also came down to earth and becamehuman like us, to provide us a way to escape the wagesof sin. By being one of us, He also gave us an exampleof how to live a victorious, fulfilled life.

G od will give us the power to becomehappy and victorious people.

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How did Jesus, as our example, “walk” or live? Heprayed daily to the heavenly Father for strength to live agood life. As a result He spent His life doing good forothers by teaching, preaching, and healing. He willingly

obeyed His Father’s com-mandments (John 15:10).When we understand allJesus has done for us, wewill want to follow Jesus’example, not in order tobe saved, but because Hehas saved us.

esus died so we can live forever.

5. How was Jesus able to live a perfect life as anexample for us? John 14:10, last part. “The Fatherwho dwells [lives] in Me does the________________.”

NOTE: Jesus understood the love of His Father in heav-en and wanted to always be close to Him. This connec-tion came as a result of praying constantly to His heav-enly Father to give Him strength, courage, and under-standing for the tasks He faced each day. And He keptHis will (or desires) in submission to His Father. Jesussaid, “I always do those things that please Him” (John8:29). This is Jesus’ great example to us. It is also ourprivilege today to stay close to God. He will give us thepower to be a happy, obedient people.

6. What marvelous gifts does God give to help us

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overcome sin? 2 Peter 1:3–4. “His _______________________ has given to us all things that pertain tolife and godliness . . . by which have been given to us____________ ___________ __________ __________________, that through these you may be partakersof the divine nature.” (See also Jude 24–25.)

NOTE: When we look at our weak-nesses, it seemsimpossible for us to overcome problems like alcoholism,drug abuse, a violent temper, or evil thoughts. It is impos-sible in our own strength. But God is God of the impos-sible. He promises to keep us from falling into sinfulpractices if we constantly stay close to Him in prayer,choosing to let Him help us (Jude 24).

In the book Steps to Christ there is an excellent com-ment about what happens when we choose Jesus as ourLord and Savior and allow Him to help us: “The powerof choice God has given to men; it is theirs to exercise.You cannot change your heart, you cannot of yourselfgive to God its affections; but you can choose to serveHim. You can give Him your will; He will then work inyou to will and to do according to His good pleasure.Thus your whole nature will be brought under the con-trol of the Spirit of Christ; your affections will be cen-tered upon Him, your thoughts will be in harmony withHim” (page 47). These things will happen if we chooseto allow God to work in us.

in only brings unhappiness anddestruction in the end.S

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7. What can we do to receive the promise of eternallife and power to live the way Jesus did? Matthew7:7–11 (see also 1 John 5:14). Circle the correctanswer(s): (1) Ask. (2) Seek. (3) Knock. (4) All three.

NOTE: What wonderful promises Jesus makes to eachof us! All we have to do to receive them is to come toHim in confidence and submission to His will and askHim to help us. This promise, given to us by JesusHimself, is a promise that is guaranteed to be fulfilled.When we invite Jesus into our hearts, He will give usstrength to want to obey and keep His commandments.Jesus promised: “If you keep My commandments, youwill abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’scommandments and abide in His love” (John 15:10).

Closing Thought. Jesus left heaven and came to ourworld as a human to die for us on the cross as our Savior.The Bible is clear that if we believe in Him and acceptHim as our Savior, we have forgiveness, eternal life, andhope for the future (see 1 John 1:9; 5:11, 12). The Bibleis also clear that the more we get to know Jesus, the morewe will want to follow Him and do everything He asks

n our own strength,overcoming ourweaknesses is

impossible, but turningthem over to God releasesHis power in our lives.

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e cannot change our hearts, but the Creatorcan, if we allow Him to. God will give us thestrength and guidance to face the problems

that come to us each day.

us to do (see John 14:15). Jesus will give us strength andguidance to face the problems that come to us each day.The Bible tells us that Jesus will not only begin a goodwork in us, but He will also stay with us and finish it. Hewill not leave us. He will be our companion always(Philippians 1:6).

The question is: Have you chosen to accept Christ’sgift and His promise of eternal life and daily help withyour problems? Jesus longs for you to choose Him. Yourlife will never be the same again if you do.

Next Lesson: Who is the Comforter that God promised tosend us?

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Native NewDayP. O. Box 53055, Los Angeles, CA 90053-0055EDITORS: NATIVE MINISTRIES NORTHWEST EDITORIAL COMMITTEE;

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COPYRIGHT © NORTH AMERICAN MULTILINGUAL MINISTRIES

2A N S W E R S H E E T

Jesus: Our Creator and Friend

ead through the lesson, then fill in this Answer Sheet. You should referback to the lesson to find the correct answers. Referring to the lesson

helps fix the answers in your mind.

Place an X before each TRUE statement.

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1. The name “Immanuel,” given toJesus, means:

“archangel.”“God with us.”

2. Why did Jesus die?He died in our place for our sins so

we can live eternally.Because Satan was stronger than

Jesus while Jesus was on earth.

3. Your part in receiving eternal lifefrom God is to:

accept Jesus’ free gift of salvation.work for your salvation.

4. How did Jesus choose to teach usspiritual things?

By the example of the life He livedas a man.

By giving us the Bible.

5. What important principle ofChristian living did Jesus teach usby His example?

We must depend on God, like Jesusdid when He was on this earth, inorder to receive guidance and power inour lives.

We must all preach to crowds ofthousands like Jesus did.

6. What does God give us when weturn to Him for help in our strugglesin this world?

The promise that He will help us.The assurance that the Holy Spirit

will give us strength and power.

7. God will fulfill His promises to usif:

we read the entire Bible once ayear.

we accept His will for us andbelieve He will keep His promises to us.

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Answers to questions most often asked about Jesus, our Creator and Friend.

How could Jesus be “God” and a man at the same time?

• No human knows the complete answer to this question, but Scripture doesexplain that Jesus, who was “equal with God,” came “in the likeness of men” inorder to be our example and Savior (Philippians 2:6, 7). He relied on His heav-

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Native New Day Answer Sheet 2

enly Father to enable Him to perform miracles and live a sinless life (verses 8-11). Jesus was a perfect example to us of what we, too, can be with God’spower working in and through us.

What does the Bible mean when it says that Jesus is the “firstborn over all cre-ation”? (Colossians 1:15).

• The original Greek word “firstborn” (prototokos) means “pre-eminent One”—the One who has all the same privileges, authority, and abilities as His Father,just like the firstborn sons of families in Bible times.

TO RECEIVE ADDITIONAL LESSONS

1. Read each lesson, and fill in each Answer Sheet.

2. Additional Native New Day Bible Lessons willbe sent/given to you as we receive your filled-inAnswer Sheets.

3. If someone gave these lessons to you personal-ly then return to that person the filled-in AnswerSheet. If the lessons were mailed to you, then fol-low these instructions:

a. If your name and address do not appear in thebox to the left, please PRINT them clearly in thebox.

b. If you have had a change of address, pleasedraw a single line through your old address andwrite your new address below the box.

c. Send the Answer Sheets in the envelope thatis provided or use another envelope.

d. We will return your corrected Answer Sheetsand send additional lessons to you.

• If you have misplaced your return envelopeand do not know the address, write to NativeNew Day, Box 53055, Los Angeles, CA 90053.Your Answer Sheets will be forwarded to thelocal branch school.

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