Question 1:
ARE JEWS GOING TO HEAVEN?
What about it then? Are we Jews better than the people who are not Jews? Not at all! I have already said that Jews and the people who are not Jews are all sinners.
The Holy Writings say, “There is not one person who is right with God. No, not even one! There is not one who understands. There is not one who tries to find God.�
Everyone has turned away from God. They have all done wrong. Not one of them does what is good. No, not even one! . . .
But now God has made another way to make men right with Himself. It is not by the Law. The Law and the early preachers tell about it.
Men become right with God by putting their trust in Jesus Christ. God will accept men if they come this way. All men are the same to God.
For all men have sinned and have missed the shininggreatness of God. Anyone can be made right with God by the free gift of His loving-favor.
It is Jesus Christ Who bought them with His blood and made them free from their sins. God gave Jesus Christ to the world.
Men’s sins can be forgiven through the blood of Christ when they put their trust in Him . . .
God makes anyone right with Himself who puts his trust in Jesus . . . this is what we have come to know. A man is made right with God by putting his trust in Christ.
It is not by his doing what the Law says. Is God the God of the Jews only? Is He not the God of the people who are not Jews also? He is for sure.
He is one God. He will make Jews and the people who are not Jews right with Himself if they put their trust in Christ.
(Romans 3:9-12, 21-26, 28-30 – New Life Version)
There is no difference between the Jews and the people who are not Jews. They are all the same to the Lord. And He is Lord over all of them.
He gives of His greatness to all who call on Him for help. For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved from the punishment of sin.
(Romans 10:12-13 – New Life Version)
Don’t be shocked by My words, but I tell you the truth.
Even you, an educated and respected man among your people, must be reborn by the Spirit to enter the kingdom of God. (John 3:6-7 – The Voice)
Jesus said, “I am the Way and the Truth and the Life. No one can go to the Father except by Me. (John14:6 – New Life Version)
THEOLOGICAL TRUTH: There is a distinction between the nation of Israel and individual Jews
THEOLOGICAL TRUTH: The Jews are God’s chosen people, but they still need to be saved
THEOLOGICAL TRUTH: All of us, Jews and non Jews, are sinful people
THEOLOGICAL TRUTH: There is a big difference between religion & relationship
THEOLOGICAL TRUTH: Jesus Christ is the only way to know God and go to heaven
For Jesus is the one referred to in the Scriptures, where it says, “The stone that you builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.
There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved. (Acts 4:11-12 – New Living Translation)
He came into the very world He created., but the world did not recognize Him. He came to His own people, but even they rejected Him.
But to all who believed Him and accepted Him, He gave the right to become the children of God. (John 1:10-12 – New Living Translation)
For the Jews, Jesus the Messiah has come as High Priest and through His once-for-all sacrifice for sin offers complete atonement to all people.
For there is “no distinction” between Jew and Gentile. Yes, the Jews are God’s chosen people,
and through them came the Jewish Messiah to bless all the nations of the earth.
And it is only through Jesus that Jews can find God’s complete atonement and forgiveness. (Lee Strobel)
Question 2:
HOW OLD DO YOU NEED TO BE TO GET MARRIED AND HOW LONG DO YOU NEED TO DATE BEFORE YOU GET ENGAGED?
The Lord God made woman from the bone which He had taken from the man. And He brought her to the man.
The man said, “This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh. She will be called Woman,
because she was taken out of Man.� For this reason a man will leave his father and his mother, and will be joined to his wife.
And they will become one flesh. The man and his wife were both without clothes and were not ashamed.
(Genesis 2:23-25 – New Life Version)
BIBLICAL: The Bible doesn’t say anything about being the right age, but a lot about being the right person
CULTURAL: The accepted marital age varies by culture – societal norms dictate what’s appropriate
PRACTICAL: As a couple, can you be financially independent?
EMOTIONAL: Age isn’t the most important issue, marriage is all about maturity.
LEGAL: No matter what age, you must follow the laws of the place in which you live
Question 3:
HOW CAN I KNOW GOD’S WILL FOR MY LIFE?
God’s wisdom is so deep, God’s power so immense, who could take him on and come out in one piece? . . . We’ll never comprehend all the great things he does;
his miracle-surprises can’t be counted. Somehow, though he moves right in front of me, I don’t see him; quietly but surely he’s active, and I miss it. (Job 9:10-12 – The Message)
The longer I live, the more I believe one of the most profound subjects in the Christians life is the will of God.
The deeper we dig into it, the more we realize how little we know.
When we stop and think deeply about the way He leads us along,
we must conclude that it is one of the most mysterious subjects of our spiritual lives. Let’s face it:
Much of His plan simply does not make sense . . . not to us. So much of understanding this is a matter of the will –
not God’s will but our will. I certainly know in my heart I do not always want to do His will – even when I know it! (Chuck Swindoll)
FACT 1: God wants every Christian to know His will for their life.
So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
(Ephesians 5:17 – New American Standard Bible)
FACT 2: God always wants the very best for us!
Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.
Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
(Romans 12:2 – New Living Translation)
For I know the plans I have for you," says the LORD. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.
(Jeremiah 29:11 – New Living Translation)
FACT 3: Discovering the will of God is an ongoing process not a one time event
I am sure that the good work God began in you will continue until he completes it . . .
(Philippians 1:6 – Easy To Read Version)
FACT 4: It is not enough to discover God’s will, we must be willing to do it!
Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God. Let Your good Spirit lead me on a straight path.
(Psalm 143:10 – New Life Version)
How I love to do your will, my God! I keep your teaching in my heart.
(Psalm 40:8 – Good News Bible)
FACT 5: When we discover God’s will and commit to do it, God empowers us to carry it out
May the God of peace provide you with every good thing you need in order to do his will, and may he, through Jesus Christ, do in us what pleases Him. (Hebrews 13:20-21 – Good News Bible)
FACT 6: God reveals His will to us in five specific ways:
Your word is like a lamp that guides my steps, a light that shows the path I should take.
(Psalm 119:105 – Easy To Read Version)
If you don’t have all the wisdom needed for this journey, then all you have to do is ask God for it; and God will grant all that you need. (James 1:5 – The Voice)
I pray that the God who gives hope will fill you with much joy and peace as you trust in him. Then you will have more and more hope,
and it will flow out of you by the power of the Holy Spirit.
(Romans 15:13 – Easy To Read Version)
If you don’t ask for advice, your plans will fail. With many advisors, they will succeed.
(Proverbs 15:22 – Easy To Read Version)
People do their best making plans for their lives, but the Eternal guides each step. (Proverbs 16:9 – The Voice)
Scripture
Prayer
Confirmation of the Holy Spirit
Counsel of wise Christians
Circumstances
God’s will for your life begins with a friendship.
God is far more interested in having you establish a relationship with him than he is interested in having you follow a set of rules.
First and foremost, God wants you to get to know him, like he already knows you. Once this relationship is established, everything else -
career, family, goals, recreation, ambitions, finances, health, and friendships - will begin to fall into place. (Chuck Swindoll)
Let’s Pray
Bonus Question 1:
IS THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT A SEPARATE EVENT FROM WATER BAPTISM?
We have all been baptized into the one body by the same Holy Spirit. We have all received the one Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12:13 – New Life Version)
But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you.
(And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them do not belong to him at all.)
(Romans 8:9 – New Living Translation)
We have all been baptized into the one body by the same Holy Spirit. We have all received the one Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12:13 – New Life Version)
We have all been baptized into the one body by the same Holy Spirit. We have all received the one Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12:13 – New Life Version)
And when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago.
The Spirit is God’s guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people.
(Ephesians 1:13-14 – New Living Translation)
WATER BAPTISM An outward symbol of an inward commitment
SPIRIT BAPTISM A one time experience that happens at the moment of salvation – Jesus comes to live in your heart by the Holy Spirit and He will never leave you!