100 BIBLE LESSONS

Give these lessons to people you visit, youth groups, hospital patients, church visitors and new members.
Use them in Sunday School, bus ministry, jail services, nursing homes, Christian schools, small
discussion groups and many other places. God’s Word will answer your questions and help solve your
problems.

LESSON 34 – A FALSE PROFESSION

Johnny was visiting the local church one day when the preacher began saying, “I
know someone here needs to be saved!” Everyone began to look around. Johnny was
getting uncomfortable and unconsciously moving about in his seat. As the preacher
continued to preach, again he said, “I know that someone here needs to be saved!”
Finally a well-meaning friend pointed to Johnny, and said, “That must be you!” Johnny
was helped down the aisle to the minister. Brief words were spoken, and Johnny was
asked to repeat a prayer. Johnny said the sinner’s prayer, but his life never changed.

Have you ever met anyone like that? They said everything the preacher told them to
say, but their lives were not changed. On the other hand, Sally said the sinner’s prayer,
and Sally’s life was transformed. There was a turning around, a change of mind, a
change of heart in Sally.

What was the difference? Johnny went through a form and said the right things,
but Sally dealt with a person (Jesus Christ). She turned from sin to Him in repentance
and childlike faith.

How do you know that you are saved? What were you saved from? Salvation is
when Christ saved you from the penalty and power of sin through His redeeming
blood. “And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is
pure” (1 Jn. 3:3, NASV).

When a person comes in repentant faith to Jesus Christ and His shed blood for the
forgiveness of sins, God places a new nature within that person. That doesn’t mean he
is perfect, but it does mean there are new desires for God and His ways.

If I took a pig and put him in a bathtub, cleaned him up, painted his hooves, put a
bow on his head, and sprinkled a little perfume on him, he sure would look pretty. But
what would happen if I let him out of my house? He would go to the mud hole and
wallow in the mud. Why? Because he has the nature of a pig.

If I had a lamb and it fell in a mud hole, it would struggle to get out. Why? Because it
is not the nature of a lamb to wallow in the mud. Because of the new nature that has
been placed within the believer, he may fall into sin, but he will not want to continue
there. Why? Because he now has the nature of the Lamb of God.

What kind of faith in Christ do you have? Is it Johnny’s faith, which came from his

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head (also referred to as demons’ faith or dead faith – Jas. 2:19-20) or Sally’s faith,
which was from the heart (Rom. 10:10)?

Have you had a change of heart? Have you truly repented? Repentance is a gift
that God grants to people who want to come to Him to be saved. It is a new attitude, a
change of mind, a change of heart THAT RESULTS in one turning from sin to God and,
ultimately, to His ways.

In Matthew 3:8, John the Baptist said, “Bring forth fruit that is consistent with repentance
[let your lives prove your change of heart]” (Amplified Bible). The Apostle Paul said
in his preaching to the Gentiles “that they should repent and turn to God, performing
deeds appropriate to repentance” (Acts 26:20, NASV). From these scriptures, we can
see that “repentance” is “a change of heart, a change of mind” and that good works
are the FRUIT (or evidence) of that changed heart.

Have you had a change of heart toward God? Have you turned from the kingdom
of darkness to the kingdom of God’s dear Son? Have you trusted Jesus Christ and His
shed blood for the forgiveness of your sins? Jesus Christ’s command to the Apostle
Paul was to open people’s eyes, so that they may TURN FROM darkness TO light,
FROM the power of Satan UNTO God, so that they may receive the forgiveness of their
sins (Acts 26:18). Has this happened to you?

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Repentance is a change of mind, a change of heart that results in turning to God,

1. Both Johnny and Sally said a prayer to God. What was the difference?

2. Read 1 John 3:3. “And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even
as He is pure.” Everyone that has experienced true repentance does what?

3. Read Acts 20:21. “Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance
toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.” In repentance, to whom are we
turning?

4. Read Acts 26:18. “To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and
from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and
inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.” In repentance, from
what are we turning?

5. Read 1 Thessalonians 1:9. “For they themselves shew of us what manner of

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true God.” The repentant Thessalonian believers turned to _________ from
__________ to_________ the living and true God.

6. Read Acts 8:22. “Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps
the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.” Simon the sorcerer was asked to
repent from what? And do what?

7. Read Luke 13:1-5. “There were present at that season some that told him of the
Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. [2] And Jesus
answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the
Galilaeans, because they suffered such things? [3] I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent,
ye shall all likewise perish. [4] Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam
fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in
Jerusalem? [5] I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” If
people refuse to repent, what will happen to them?

8. Read Luke 16:19-30. In verse 30, what should this rich man have done that would
have kept him from hell?

“There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine
linen, and fared sumptuously every day: [20] And there was a certain beggar named
Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, [21] And desiring to fed with the
crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his
sores. [22] And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels
into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; [23] And in hell he lift
up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
[24] And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus,
that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in
this flame. [25] But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst
thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art
tormented. [26] And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so
that they which would pass from hence to you can not; neither can they pass to us, that
would come from thence. [27] Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou
wouldest send him to my father’s house: [28] For I have five brethren; that he may
testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. [29] Abraham saith
unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. [30] And he said,
Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.”

9. Read 2 Peter 3:9. “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count
slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all
should come to repentance.” How many people does God desire to repent?

10. Read Acts 17:30. “And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now
commandethall men every where to repent.” How many people does God command to
repent?

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11. Read Hebrews 3:15. “While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not
your hearts, as in the provocation.” If you hear God’s call today, what are you not to do?

12. Read Acts 8:22. “Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps
the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.” Simon the sorcerer was asked to
repent from what? And do what?