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As a diligent student of the Bible, you will want to make sure the Bible really says what this study says.  Always remember to test all things with God's word - as the Bereans did.  They "received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily, to see whether these things were so" (Acts 17:11). 

First, read the study all the way through, without looking up the Scriptures.   Then read the study again, this time looking up the Scriptures.  Highlight or mark each verse you look up so you can easily find it later.

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The message the Apostle Paul gave would be the same message others gave about the saving of souls. His words would have started out the same as John the Baptist’s, Jesus Christ’s or the apostles’. "Repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand" (Matt. 3:2; 4:17; 10:7) - right now!  He was saying, if Jesus Christ has given you ears to hear the message, and eyes to see the truth, you should repent this instant (Matt. 13:13)!  You must "turn around" or live another way.   That’s what repent means (Matt. 13:15).  He was explaining that when you keep Jesus Christ’s commands, He will heal your eyes and open your ears (2 Cor. 3:16).  He will show Himself to you (John 14:21).

It is utterly amazing how many people are trying to understand the Bible without obeying it (2 Tim. 3:7)!  How many times did Jesus Christ tell us to keep His words (Matt. 5:19; 7:24; Luke 8:21), do His words (Luke 10:28,37; 11:28), keep His sayings (John 12:47; 8:51; 13:15), keep His works (John 14:12; Matt. 7:21), keep His commandments (John 15:10; 1 Cor. 7:19), and walk in His commandments (1 John 2:17; 2 John 6)?

Today, people lie, steal and commit adultery.  They love their friends and hate their enemies.  They attend church, holding to a form of religion but not possessing the power that results from living a godly life (2 Tim. 3:1-7).  They are continually learning about something but never able to come to the knowledge of the truth (2 Tim. 3:7).

This truth they are seeking is the truth about desiring to live godly in Jesus Christ (2 Tim. 3:12).  It is the knowledge of how to repent, how to keep God’s Ways and how to do God’s Will daily on earth as it is done in heaven (Matt. 6:10).  It is how to overcome and how to put to death the deeds of the flesh by living to the Spirit daily (Rom. 8:13; Gal. 5:16, 24).

Paul overcame his fleshly nature by keeping the deeds of Christ (Rev. 2:26).  His message of overcoming with Jesus Christ’s Spirit in us is seldom heard today.   How many completed believers are there today who are zealous for good deeds or good works (Titus 2:14)?

Jesus was glorifying the Father by good works (Matt. 5:16).  He also said we will do greater works than He did because we will live longer than He lived (John 14:12).   We are to leave this world a better place than when we came into it.  We accomplish this by living like Jesus Christ and serving others in need.  This was Paul’s message.

(Feel free to give copies of this study to others who want to know God’s truth.   You will be doing God’s Will when you show and tell others how to live this special Way.)      

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