Ray E. Baughman - Abundant Life

1959 by THE MOODY BIBLE INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO

Copyright renewed 1987 by RAY E. BAUGHMAN

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.

Cover Design: Ragont Design

ISBN: 978-0-8024-0047-5

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INTRODUCTION

In John 10:10 Jesus said: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. But most people have turned from Christ and rejected the gift of eternal life which He has offered. Just as sad is the fact that most people, who have received Him as Saviour and passed from death to life, are not living the abundant life and never have experienced it. The Bible describes this condition as being babes in Christ (I Corinthians 3:1).

This Bible study course has been written

1. To introduce those to Christ who do not know Him as their Saviour.
2. To help Christians grow spiritually and possess this happy, joyful abundant life that Christ promised.
3. To help them in turn to share this life with others who have not had the privilege of meeting the Person, the Lord Jesus Christ.

INSTRUCTIONS

Work the lessons in order. Each lesson is based upon what has been discussed in the previous lessons. The lessons are divided into three main parts: the lesson text, the questions, and the memory work plus a suggested Bible-reading program.

Read through the lesson text at least once before starting on the questions.

First read the question, then look up the reference in your Bible. Most of the questions will be: true or false; yes or no; completion, requiring one or two words; multiple-choice in which the correct answer must be selected from several suggested answers; and matching questions in which a group of references and a group of answers will have to be properly matched. Start a loose-leaf notebook.

Write the answer in your notebook. Using the same procedure, go through all the questions and write your answers.

Start on the memory verses the same day you start on the lesson. Make your memory cards and go over the verses each day. This will not take long but it is very important. Many feel this is the most profitable part of the course. The secret of memorizing is review, review, review!

This study course has not only been designed for personal study, but also for the individual soul winner or local church in its follow-up program through the use of individual counselors or big brothers. This course can be used as a very effective contact with members of the Armed Forces or students who are away at school.

CONTENTS

LESSON

LESSON 1

Meet a very special Person, and become personally acquainted with Him. We know of the President of the United States, but very few of us have ever personally met him. We believe that he exists, and we know a lot of facts about him, but we do not actually know him.

Most people have heard of Jesus Christ. They know and believe certain facts about HimHis birth, His teachings, His death and resurrection, but they never have met Him in a personal way so He could become their Saviour and Lord.

AN EXAMPLE

Many people look to Jesus as the perfect example after which to pattern their lives. His life was perfect, without flaw, above reproach and unmarred by sin. Even the judge who condemned Him to death said, I find no fault in him (John 19:4). But every honest person must admit that even though the pattern is perfect he is unable to follow it. You must come to know Him as more than a good example.

A TEACHER OR PROPHET

While Jesus was on earth, great crowds came to hear Him speak and teach. The rich, the poor, the highly educated and the common people all recognized that Jesus was a great Teacher, that He was come from God (John 3:2). His cleverest enemies failed to trap Him with their questions. But Jesus told the ruler of the Jews in John 3:115 that he needed to know more about Him than the fact that He was a great Teacher or a Prophet.

A KING

The Sunday before Jesus died great crowds of people wanted to make Him their king. They were looking for someone to remove them from under the hand of Rome and restore their independence. But before they could know Him as King they needed to meet Him in a different way, as their Redeemer.

A MARTYR OR A HERO

Everyone admires a hero, or a person who is martyred for a good cause, but Christs death was not just a horrible mistake or an accident. It was for this purpose that Christ came into the worldto die. It was planned before the world began (Acts 2:23; I Peter 1:20). Jesus could have called twelve legions of angels to help Him (Matthew 26:53). You must understand that Jesus is more than just a martyr.

AS SAVIOUR

Before you can meet Christ as your Saviour, you must understand four things.

Man was originally created for the glory of God (Isaiah 43:7). But this original purpose was interrupted by sin, and man became very evil and unprofitable (Romans 3:1012). Now the sentence of death is over all men for all have sinned (Romans 3:23); for the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23) ; and the sentence is already upon us (John 3:18). So

1. You need to be saved.
2. You cannot save yourself; salvation is a free gift (Ephesians 2:8, 9; Titus 3:5; Romans 6:23).
3. Christ has purchased salvation for you. Christ has paid the penalty as your Substitute: Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree (I Peter 2:24); Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us (Galatians 3:13; Isaiah 53:6).
4. You must believe and receive Jesus as your Saviour.

This is the way in which you must know Him. Jesus said: Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him (Revelation 3:20) ; But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name (John 1:12).