Situation
The Situation of man, requiring salvation

When God created Adam, He created him as a perfect man. For a time, Adam lived in a perfect place called the Garden of Eden. There was no death, no sickness, and no problems. It was literally paradise on earth. However, in Genesis 3, when the serpent tempted Eve and she and her husband Adam ate of the fruit which God had commanded them not to eat, the Bible says that at that point, “sin entered into the world.” A result of that sin has been disastrous to the entire world and all of mankind. Death is a result of that sin.

The Bible teaches that sin has passed down from Adam to all of his offspring. Man is born with a sinful nature. This can be clearly seen when looking at children. You do not have to teach a child to lie, they do it naturally. You actually have to teach a child to go against his nature and to do good things. Romans 3:23 confirms this observation for us by telling us, “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” And again in Romans 5:12 we are told that death passed upon all men, “for that all have sinned.” All of mankind finds themselves in the same predicament as Adam. All of mankind is found to be guilty of having transgressed God’s laws.

Sentencing
The justice of God demands a Sentence for man’s sin

There are many attributes of God that are given to us in the Bible. He is true. He is eternal. He is good. He is love. He is holy. If only one of the attributes of God is focused on to the neglect of others, then the result will be a skewed image of the real God. If only His love and mercy are to be considered, then people we think that everybody goes to Heaven when they die. But when God’s holiness and justice are considered, then the idea of everybody going to Heaven becomes unrealistic. God is holy and simply cannot have fellowship with man as sinners.

God created man for His pleasure (Revelation 4:11), and He has the right to command things from men. However as already noted, man has failed to keep God’s laws. His justice requires that sin be paid for. His eternal hatred of wickedness does not allow for sin to go unpunished. When sin is considered to be an offense against an eternal God, the only punishment is an eternal punishment.

The Bible speaks of a place of torment – a place of burning fire. This Hell was created for the devil and his angels, but is said to be the final destination for sinners. Romans 6:23: “For the wages of sin is death.” Revelation 21:8: “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” God’s punishment for sin, of which all of mankind is guilty, is eternal death in the lake of fire.

Solution
God in His grace has given man a Solution

God’s justice demands the appropriate punishment for sin. Because of man’s sin, he deserves to spend eternity in Hell. Regardless of how much God in His love and His mercy would want to forgive man and let him into Heaven, His justice does not allow that. So, God established a plan, before He even created the world that would allow His justice to be met and at the same time provide a way for lost man to receive forgiveness of his sin and obtain eternal life.

Over time, man has tried to establish his own ways to get into Heaven. The most common way is by performing some type of good work. Many believe that if their good outweighs their bad, then God will let them get into Heaven. There are problems with this though. First of all, man is exceedingly sinful. So much so, that God says that even his righteousnesses are as filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6). That is, all of the apparently good things that a man does are not done for the pleasure of God, and therefore are truly not good. So, man does not do enough good, and the good that he does is not really good at all. The fact of the matter is that God is willing to judge man according to his own works, but every person that He judges in that manner will be found guilty and suffer the punishment.

But because God loved the world, He chose to not leave them in the situation that they find themselves. The most popular verse (at least reference) in the Bible is John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son…” God would have been just if He had just left us to our own sinful selves, but because He loved us, He made a way for us to be able to obtain salvation. The verse continues, “that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” We find that for a man to receive forgiveness of his sin, to be saved, he has to believe in what Jesus Christ, the Son of God, God manifest in the flesh, did for him on the cross of Calvary.

Jesus Christ was the substitute for the world. He took man’s sins on upon His own self. The Bible says that Jesus literally became sin for us. When man turns from his own sinful ways and puts his faith in Jesus Christ, then the Bible says God will grant Him forgiveness of sins and eternal life. The righteousness of Jesus Christ applied to a sinner’s account is the only way that God can be just and at the same time justify a guilty sinner (Romans 3:26).

The following is the first chapter of Andrew Murray’s book, With Christ in the School of Prayer

FIRST LESSON.
‘Lord, teach us to pray;’
Or, The Only Teacher .

‘And it came to pass, as He was praying in a certain place, that when He ceased, one of His disciples said to Him, Lord, teach us to pray.’—Luke xi. 1.

THE disciples had been with Christ, and seen Him pray. They had learnt to understand something of the connection between His wondrous life in public, and His secret life of prayer. They had learnt to believe in Him as a Master in the art of prayer—none could pray like Him. And so they came to Him with the request, ‘Lord, teach us to pray.’ And in after years they would have told us that there were few things more wonderful or blessed that He taught them than His lessons on prayer.

And now still it comes to pass, as He is praying in a certain place, that disciples who see Him thus engaged feel the need of repeating the same request, ‘Lord, teach us to pray.’ As we grow in the Christian life, the thought and the faith of the Beloved Master in His never-failing intercession becomes ever more precious, and the hope of being Like Christ in His intercession gains an attractiveness before unknown. And as we see Him pray, and remember that there is none who can pray like Him, and none who can teach like Him, we feel the petition of the disciples, ‘Lord, teach us to pray,’ is just what we need. And as we think how all He is and has, how He Himself is our very own, how He is Himself our life, we feel assured that we have but to ask, and He will be delighted to take us up into closer fellowship with Himself, and teach us to pray even as He prays.

Come, my brothers! Shall we not go to the Blessed Master and ask Him to enrol our names too anew in that school which He always keeps open for those who long to continue their studies in the Divine art of prayer and intercession? Yes, let us this very day say to the Master, as they did of old, ‘Lord, teach us to pray.’ As we meditate, we shall find each word of the petition we bring to be full of meaning.

‘Lord, teach us to pray.’ Yes, to pray. This is what we need to be taught. Though in its beginnings prayer is so simple that the feeblest child can pray, yet it is at the same time the highest and holiest work to which man can rise. It is fellowship with the Unseen and Most Holy One. The powers of the eternal world have been placed at its disposal. It is the very essence of true religion, the channel of all blessings, the secret of power and life. Not only for ourselves, but for others, for the Church, for the world, it is to prayer that God has given the right to take hold of Him and His strength. It is on prayer that the promises wait for their fulfilment, the kingdom for its coming, the glory of God for its full revelation. And for this blessed work, how slothful and unfit we are. It is only the Spirit of God can enable us to do it aright. How speedily we are deceived into a resting in the form, while the power is wanting. Our early training, the teaching of the Church, the influence of habit, the stirring of the emotions—how easily these lead to prayer which has no spiritual power, and avails but little. True prayer, that takes hold of God’s strength, that availeth much, to which the gates of heaven are really opened wide—who would not cry, Oh for some one to teach me thus to pray?

Jesus has opened a school, in which He trains His redeemed ones, who specially desire it, to have power in prayer. Shall we not enter it with the petition, Lord! it is just this we need to be taught! O teach us to pray.

‘Lord, teach us to pray.’ Yes, us, Lord. We have read in They Word with what power Thy believing people of old used to pray, and what mighty wonders were done in answer to their prayers. And if this took place under the Old Covenant, in the time of preparation, how much more wilt Thou not now, in these days of fulfilment, give Thy people this sure sign of Thy presence in their midst. We have heard the promises given to Thine apostles of the power of prayer in Thy name, and have seen how gloriously they experienced their truth: we know for certain, they can become true to us too. We hear continually even in these days what glorious tokens of Thy power Thou dost still give to those who trust Thee fully. Lord! these all are men of like passions with ourselves; teach us to pray so too. The promises are for us, the powers and gifts of the heavenly world are for us. O teach us to pray so that we may receive abundantly. To us too Thou hast entrusted Thy work, on our prayer too the coming of Thy kingdom depends, in our prayer too Thou canst glorify Thy name; ‘Lord teach us to pray.’ Yes, us, Lord; we offer ourselves as learners; we would indeed be taught of Thee. ‘Lord, teach us to pray.’

‘Lord, teach us to pray.’ Yes, we feel the need now of being taught to pray. At first there is no work appears so simple; later on, none that is more difficult; and the confession is forced from us: We know not how to pray as we ought. It is true we have God’s Word, with its clear and sure promises; but sin has so darkened our mind, that we know not always how to apply the word. In spiritual things we do not always seek the most needful things, or fail in praying according to the law of the sanctuary. In temporal things we are still less able to avail ourselves of the wonderful liberty our Father has given us to ask what we need. And even when we know what to ask, how much there is still needed to make prayer acceptable. It must be to the glory of God, in full surrender to His will, in full assurance of faith, in the name of Jesus, and with a perseverance that, if need be, refuses to be denied. All this must be learned. It can only be learned in the school of much prayer, for practice makes perfect. Amid the painful consciousness of ignorance and unworthiness, in the struggle between believing and doubting, the heavenly art of effectual prayer is learnt. Because, even when we do not remember it, there is One, the Beginner and Finisher of faith and prayer, who watches over our praying, and sees to it that in all who trust Him for it their education in the school of prayer shall be carried on to perfection. Let but the deep undertone of all our prayer be the teachableness that comes from a sense of ignorance, and from faith in Him as a perfect teacher, and we may be sure we shall be taught, we shall learn to pray in power. Yes, we may depend upon it, He teaches to pray.

‘Lord, teach us to pray.’ None can teach like Jesus, none but Jesus; therefore we call on Him, ‘LORD, teach us to pray.’ A pupil needs a teacher, who knows his work, who has the gift of teaching, who in patience and love will descend to the pupil’s needs. Blessed be God! Jesus is all this and much more. He knows what prayer is. It is Jesus, praying Himself, who teaches to pray. He knows what prayer is. He learned it amid the trials and tears of His earthly life. In heaven it is still His beloved work: His life there is prayer. Nothing delights Him more than to find those whom He can take with Him into the Father’s presence, whom He can clothe with power to pray down God’s blessing on those around them, whom He can train to be His fellow-workers in the intercession by which the kingdom is to be revealed on earth. He knows how to teach. Now by the urgency of felt need, then by the confidence with which joy inspires. Here by the teaching of the Word, there by the testimony of another believer who knows what it is to have prayer heard. By His Holy Spirit, He has access to our heart, and teaches us to pray by showing us the sin that hinders the prayer, or giving us the assurance that we please God. He teaches, by giving not only thoughts of what to ask or how to ask, but by breathing within us the very spirit of prayer, by living within us as the Great Intercessor. We may indeed and most joyfully say, ‘Who teacheth like Him?’ Jesus never taught His disciples how to preach, only how to pray. He did not speak much of what was needed to preach well, but much of praying well. To know how to speak to God is more than knowing how to speak to man. Not power with men, but power with God is the first thing. Jesus loves to teach us how to pray.

What think you, my beloved fellow-disciples! would it not be just what we need, to ask the Master for a month to give us a course of special lessons on the art of prayer? As we meditate on the words He spake on earth, let us yield ourselves to His teaching in the fullest confidence that, with such a teacher, we shall make progress. Let us take time not only to meditate, but to pray, to tarry at the foot of the throne, and be trained to the work of intercession. Let us do so in the assurance that amidst our stammerings and fears He is carrying on His work most beautifully. He will breathe His own life, which is all prayer, into us. As He makes us partakers of His righteousness and His life, He will of His intercession. too. As the members of His body, as a holy priesthood, we shall take part in His priestly work of pleading and prevailing with God for men. Yes, let us most joyfully say, ignorant and feeble though we be, ‘Lord, teach us to pray.’

‘LORD, TEACH US TO PRAY.’

Blessed Lord! who ever livest to pray, Thou canst teach me too to pray, me too to live ever to pray. In this Thou lovest to make me share Thy glory in heaven, that I should pray without ceasing, and ever stand as a priest in the presence of my God.

Lord Jesus! I ask Thee this day to enrol my name among those who confess that they know not how to pray as they ought, and specially ask Thee for a course of teaching in prayer. Lord! teach me to tarry with Thee in the school, and give Thee time to train me. May a deep sense of my ignorance, of the wonderful privilege and power of prayer, of the need of the Holy Spirit as the Spirit of prayer, lead me to cast away my thoughts of what I think I know, and make me kneel before Thee in true teachableness and poverty of spirit.

And fill me, Lord, with the confidence that with such a teacher as Thou art I shall learn to pray. In the assurance that I have as my teacher, Jesus who is ever praying to the Father, and by His prayer rules the destinies of His Church and the world, I will not be afraid. As much as I need to know of the mysteries of the prayer-world, Thou wilt unfold for me. And when I may not know, Thou wilt teach me to be strong in faith, giving glory to God.

Blessed Lord! Thou wilt not put to shame Thy scholar who trusts Thee, nor, by Thy grace, would he Thee either. Amen.

Message 1:

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 Message 2: 

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“The LORD, The LORD God” God started off describing Himself to Moses with His proper name. The use of LORD in the King James Bible is the translation of the Hebrew Tetragrammaton YHVH. The four letters in the Hebrew are transliterated to Jehovah at times in the King James Bible, but primarily it is simply translated LORD. The meaning of this name in Hebrew comes from the root word hayah which means to exist or to be. God uses this name with Moses to tell the children of Israel that I AM is Who sent Moses to them. Before that, He was only known by His name God Almighty (Exodus 6:3). This name, Jehovah, speaks of God’s eternal presence. He always has existed.

“Merciful and gracious” After God identifies Himself with His proper name, He goes on to proclaim the two most wonderful proclamations of Himself towards mankind. He is merciful and gracious. Mercy is when God does not give man what he deserves. The first occurrence of the word is found in Genesis 19:16 where it says the Lord was merciful to Lot and his family and pulled them out of Sodom before its destruction. Grace, on the other side, is when God gives to man that which he does not deserve. God’s mercy saves a man from the penalty of sin. God’s grace first provides mercy but it does not stop there. It goes on to add so much more benefit for the saved man. In His grace He allows man to be able to obtain an eternal inheritance in Heaven. God is merciful and gracious.

“Longsuffering” God has proven Himself to be longsuffering towards man. Towards the saved man, God is longsuffering in that He does not take away his salvation when the believer sins. Towards the lost man, God is longsuffering every moment of that man’s life by not ending his life with him still in his sin. God would be just to punish man and kill him the first time he ever sinned against God, but God in His longsuffering is not willing for man to perish, but rather that he should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9; Romans 2:4). When an unforgiven sinner stands before God on judgment day, His longsuffering will be one of the greatest reasons that man will have nothing to say against God. He will look back on his life, and see God’s longsuffering throughout it, and he will have nothing to say in his defense.

“Abundant in goodness and truth” What God created, He looked at, and it was good. All that God does is good. There is no unrighteousness or sin in him (Psalm 92:15, 1 John 3:5). God cannot lie (Titus 1:2). When these two characteristics are put together, the conclusion is that God is holy, that He is separate from all of the rest of creation. All the rest of mankind is not good, and full of lies and deceit. God is abundant in goodness and truth.

“Keeping mercy for thousands” God is merciful, but here He demonstrates that His mercy is not only reserved for a few certain people. This is in line with what is said in Romans 5:19 where it says that by the obedience of Christ, many were made righteous.

“Forgiving Iniquity and transgression and sin” The abundance in goodness of God necessitates that sin be removed from His fellowship. Because God is holy, man’s sins have separated him from God (Isaiah 59:2). This attribute of God, that He is forgiving of man’s iniquities, goes along with His merciful and graciousness. It is because of man’s sins that he is in need of a Savior. God had no obligation to do anything to redeem man and reconcile him back to God. However, because of His mercy and grace, God made provision for man’s redemption through Jesus Christ.

“Who will by no means clear the guilty” God’s attributes must all be taken together as a whole when considering Who He is. If only His love and grace are considered, His justice will be overlooked. Some would get the idea that because God is love, He would never punish anyone for eternity. However, when we realize the abundance of goodness and truth of God, we realize that His justice demands satisfaction. God is willing to forgive, but at the same time He will be no means clear the guilty. The dilemma that man faced was the fact that he is guilty of sin. However, God in His grace and mercy sent His Son to die in man’s stead, the just for the unjust (1 Peter 3:18), so that God would be able to meet the demands of His justice at the same time allowing man to be justified (Romans 3:26).

“Visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children” God’s righteousness and holiness are once again brought to light in God’s proclamation of Himself. This visiting of the iniquity does not mean that God is going to judge the children eternally based on the actions of the fathers. God is declaring that if nothing is done about sin, it will permeate through the children, and the children will follow in their fathers’ footsteps. It is also saying that physical consequences will come upon the children as a result of the sins of the fathers. In Leviticus, the Bible instructs that the people were to confess their sins, and the sins of their fathers, and then God would remember them (Leviticus 26:39-42).

Application: The application of the doctrine of God the Father is much greater than could ever be written. It permeates every area in the saved and unsaved man’s life. Attitudes and actions alike are affected when it comes to God.

Because God is holy, Christians are to be holy. Because God is omnipresent, believers can rest knowing that He is with them, but at the same time it causes them to be pure since He is watching. Because God is loving and merciful, man has a hope for salvation, but at the same time because He is righteous and just, man should know that only through His way is there forgiveness of sins. The list goes on and on. “For of him, and through him, and to him are all things: to whom be glory forever. Amen.” (Romans 11:36).