ENGLISH BIBLE STUDY 3

                : GOD AND HIS ACTS

TOPIC:   God’s Nature: The Judge And Healer 

TEXTS:    Exod. 34:5-7; II Chron. 7:12-22.

AIMS: To

1. identify the nature of God asJudge,
2. find out why and when He judges, and
3. discover how we can avoid His judgment and receive healing when we sin.

INTRODUCTION: Many people in the house of God focus almost exclusively on God’s traits of mercy, gentleness, kindness, love and care,but He is revealed as One who does not spare the rodwhen He has to use it in discipline. He may heal us later if we repent, as we shall find out in this study. God judges even His faithful servants when they sin (Deut 32:48 – 51).

STUDY GUIDE

1. a. Identify and discuss the attributes (traits) of God as revealed to Moses inExod.34:5-7.

b. What more can we learn about God from Deut 32:48-52; Heb 10:31; 12:29?                

1. a. Read I Kings 11:1-13: Could Solomon have avoided his sins and the punishments that followed them? (Discuss.) See verses 9-13; I Kings 25:8-11.

b. If we behave like Solomon, what will happen to us?Rom. 2:5-11; Heb 12:4 - 8

1. a. What does God expect when He judges us? II Chron. 7:14; Prov. 3:11; Heb. 12:4 – 8; I John 1:8-9
2. Why must we repent and return to Him?Job 5:18;  Hosea 6:1

CONCLUSION: God is certainly a loving, merciful and compassionate Father,but He punishes sin in any one. Solomon could really have avoided the judgment of God;instead of deliberately walking into it which many of us are doing today. Thank God for the way of escape through genuine REPENTANCE. Seek and walk in it!

FOOD FOR THOUGHT:  If you have wandered away like Solomon,retrace your steps immediately!

MEMORY VERSE: ‘…God does not leave the guilty unpunished…’ (Exod. 34:7b).