Welcome to this course called: The People of Faith

You have been a good student. You have finished three courses in the Scripture study series which is called The People of God. These are the courses you have completed:
1. The Beginning of People
      This course was from the first book of the Taurat.
2. God's Covenant with People
      This course was from the second book of the Taurat, from the Zabur, and from the book of the Prophet Isaiah.
3. God Loves People
      This course was from the Injil.
Now you are ready for the last course in this series. This last course is called The People of Faith. There are five lessons in this course. Each lesson is taken from the New Testament of the Bible. These lessons will show you what the People of God believe and do.

We wish you great success in this last course! And we pray that God will bless you.

Before you do this lesson, read these verses from the Bible:

Acts 2:1-47 -- When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
5 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. 7 Utterly amazed, they asked: "Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? 8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language? 9 Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome 11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs-we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!" 12 Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, "What does this mean?"
13 Some, however, made fun of them and said, "They have had too much wine."
14 Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: "Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. 15 These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It's only nine in the morning! 16 No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
17 " 'In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. 18 Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. 19 I will show wonders in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. 20 The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord. 21 And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.'
22 "Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. 23 This man was handed over to you by God's set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. 24 But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him. 25 David said about him:
" 'I saw the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. 26 Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will live in hope, 27 because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay. 28 You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.'
29 "Brothers, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day. 30 But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne. 31 Seeing what was ahead, he spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to the grave, nor did his body see decay. 32 God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact. 33 Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. 34 For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said,
" 'The Lord said to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand 35 until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet." '
36 "Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ."
37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?"
38 Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call."
40 With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation." 41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.
42 They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

Acts 9:1-22 -- Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord's disciples. He went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. 3 As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?"
5 "Who are you, Lord?" Saul asked.
"I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting," he replied. 6 "Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do."
7 The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. 8 Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. 9 For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.
10 In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, "Ananias!"
"Yes, Lord," he answered.
11 The Lord told him, "Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. 12 In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight."
13 "Lord," Ananias answered, "I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem. 14 And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name."
15 But the Lord said to Ananias, "Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel. 16 I will show him how much he must suffer for my name."
17 Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit." 18 Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, 19 and after taking some food, he regained his strength.
Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus. 20 At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. 21 All those who heard him were astonished and asked, "Isn't he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? And hasn't he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?" 22 Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Christ.

Ephesians 4:4-6 -- There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when you were called— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

Now read the lesson and do the test at the end. The lesson explains what you have read in the Bible.

The Christian Church is the fellowship of people who have answered the call of God to accept the Messiah as their Saviour and Lord. The Church began ten days after Jesus the Messiah returned to heaven.

The Beginning of the Church (Acts 2:1-47)

After Jesus the Messiah rose from the dead, he told his disciples to be his witnesses, first in Jerusalem, then in Palestine and finally to the whole world (Acts 1:8). But first he told his disciples to wait in Jerusalem until the Holy Spirit came upon them (Acts 1:4-5).

After the Messiah returned to heaven, the disciples and others of Jesus' followers obeyed Jesus by staying in Jerusalem and waiting for the Holy Spirit. They were 120 people altogether.

While they waited, they prayed together. They waited for ten days until the Day of Pentecost had come. Pentecost was the feast day when the people of Israel thanked God for the first fruit of their crops.

The Bible shows us that the Holy Spirit came to the believers early on Pentecost morning. First there was a sound from heaven like a great wind. Then something like fire appeared on each of the 120 believers who were praying together. Immediately the believers began to praise God in languages which the Holy Spirit gave them. All of this showed that the Holy Spirit had come, just like Jesus the Messiah had promised.

Hundreds of people came to see and hear what was happening. At this time Jerusalem was a great city with people from many countries living there. Also many people had come to Jerusalem to worship during the Passover Feast and the Day of Pentecost.

When the people heard the believers, they were very surprised, because each person heard the believers telling the wonderful works of God in his own language! For example: Arabians heard the message in Arabic. Greeks heard the message in Greek. This was a sign that God calls people by his Spirit from every nation into the Church (Acts 2:1-13).

Soon the disciple Peter stood up and began to preach: He carefully showed the people that Jesus had completed what the prophets had told about the Messiah. He explained that Jesus is indeed the Messiah who gave his life so people could be saved from their sins. Peter finished preaching by calling out, "All the people of Israel, then, are to know for sure that this Jesus, whom you crucified, is the one that God has made Lord and Messiah" (Acts 2:36).

When the people heard this, they realized that what Peter said was true and asked him and the other disciples, "What shall we do, brothers?" (Acts 2:37).

Peter answered, "Each one of you must turn away from his sins and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, so that your sins will be forgiven; and you will receive God's gift, the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:38).

That day about 3,000 people believed and were baptised! That was the beginning of the Church.

Customs of the Church

The disciples baptised everyone who repented of his sins and believed in the Messiah. Baptism has always been a Christian custom which has deep meaning.

The people of the Church in Jerusalem listened to the teachings of the disciples every day. The believers worshipped God with joy. As they worshipped, they shared bread and a cup of drink with each other. This was communion.

The believers shared their possession with each other because they loved one another. The Bible says: "All the believers continued together in close fellowship and shared their belongings with one another. They would sell their property and possessions, and distribute the money among all, according to what each one needed" (Acts 2:44-45).

The people of Jerusalem could see that God was with the Church because the disciples healed people and did many other signs. The Bible says: "Many miracles and wonders were done through the apostles, and everyone was filled with awe*" (Acts 2:43).

The Story of Saul (Acts 9:1-22)

Soon trouble came to the believers. Saul was a Jewish religious leader in Jerusalem, and he hated the Church. He thought that all Christian believers were turning people away from God. For this reason Saul tried to kill the Christian believers. He put many of them in prison.

Because of this persecution, many believers left Jerusalem. They went to other cities and countries. Later some of them went to Africa, Europe, and far east into Asia. Wherever the believers went, they told people about Jesus the Messiah. Soon new churches were beginning in all the countries around Palestine. One of these new churches was in the city of Damascus in Syria.

Saul decided to go to Damascus to persecute the Christian believers in that city. On the way to Damascus, a bright light shone out of heaven. Saul fell to the ground in fear. Then a voice called, "Saul! Saul! Why do you persecute me?" (Acts 9:4).

Saul answered, "Who are you, Lord?" (Acts 9:5).

The voice said, "I am Jesus, whom you persecute" (Acts 9:5).

When Saul got up from the ground, he could not see. The light had made him blind. The men who were with him guided him into Damascus.

When Saul got to Damascus, God sent one of the Christian believers named Ananias to him. Ananias prayed for him, and then Saul could see again. Then Saul was baptised as a sign that he was a believer in Jesus the Messiah. Later Ananias brought Saul to the Church in Damascus. This Church accepted him.

The Church on Earth

The Church has always been a growing fellowship of believers. Today this wonderful fellowship is found in nearly every country on earth.

The things which God did when he first began to call people into the Church are important. They are signs from God which help us understand what the Church really is.

Here is a list of nine truths which these signs from God show us about the Church.

1. The Church is a believing fellowship. The Church is all the people who have heard and obeyed God by believing in Jesus the Messiah.
Once Jesus asked his disciples, "Who do you say I am?"
The disciple Peter answered, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God." Jesus replied, "Good for you, Simon son of John! For this truth did not come to you from any human being, but it was given to you directly by my Father in heaven" (Matthew 16:16, 17).
This shows that it was God who called Peter to believe in Jesus the Messiah. God calls people everywhere to believe in Jesus the Messiah. The Church is made up of the people who have obeyed God's call to receive Jesus the Messiah.

2. The Church has many local fellowships which are part of the whole world-wide fellowship. Whenever the believers at a certain place meet together for worship, they are a local church. When many believers come together for worship, that is a large local church. When a few meet, they are a small church.
But the believers around the world are part of the world-wide Church. All the local churches belong to the world-wide Church. The Bible says that people "... from every tribe, language, nation and race..." (Revelation 5:9) belong to the world-wide Church.

3. The Church is a special unity. Although there are many different Christian groups, the world-wide Church is a special kind of unity. The Bible says: "There is one body (Church) and one Spirit, just as there is one hope to which God has called you. There is one Lord, one faith; one baptism; there is one God and Father of all mankind who is Lord of all, works through all, and is in all" (Ephesians 4:4-6).

4. The Church is a fellowship which worships. The Bible says that when the Church began, the Christians "spent their time in learning from the apostles, taking part in the fellowship, and sharing in the fellowship meals and the prayers" (Acts 2:42).

5. The Church is a witnessing fellowship. Jesus said: "But when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, you will be filled with power, and you will be witnesses for me in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth" (Acts 1:8). The Church is to tell people throughout the world the good news that the Messiah from God has come.

6. The Church is a sharing and a serving fellowship. Jesus said: "My commandment is this: love one another, just as I love you" (John 15:12). At another place the Bible says: "... we should do good to everyone, and especially to those who belong to our family in the faith" (Galatians 6:10). We know that as soon as the Church began, the believers began to share their possessions with those who were in need.

7. The Church is an obedient fellowship. The Bible says: "... the Church submits itself to (obeys) Christ..." (Ephesians 5:24).

8. The Church is a suffering fellowship. Jesus said: "But I chose you from this world, and you do not belong to it; that is why the world hates you" (John 15:19).

9. The Church is a victorious fellowship. Jesus said: "... I will build my Church, and not even death will ever be able to overcome it" (Matthew 16:18). Sometimes the world recognizes the true love of God because of the suffering service of the Church. For this reason even persecution cannot defeat the Church.

Remember: You can see the Church whenever people meet together for worship in the name of Jesus the Messiah. The Messiah himself is always present in the Church through the Holy Spirit. Jesus said: "For where two or three come together in my name, I am there with them" (Matthew 18:20).

Here is a difficult word in this lesson.
awe            -           fear

Learn this verse. It gives an important idea in the lesson.
Ephesians 4:4-6: "There is one body and one Spirit, just as there is one hope to which God has called you. There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism; there is one God and Father of all mankind, who is Lord of all, works through all, and is in all."

NOTICE
Now turn to the question papers in the back of the book and write answers for lesson one. Do the same for each of the other lessons after you have studied them.

Test 1: The People of Faith

Here is the test for Lesson 1. Write the letter of the correct answer on the line on the right side of the page.
1) When the Messiah returned to heaven, his disciples
            a)   went back to their homes in Galilee.
            b)   immediately began to witness about Jesus.
            c)   stayed in Jerusalem and waited for the Holy Spirit to come.                        ___
2) On the day of Pentecost
            a)   Jesus the Messiah returned to heaven.
            b )   Jesus the Messiah was crucified.
            c )   the Holy Spirit came upon Jesus' disciples.                                                ___
3) How many people believed and were baptised on the day of Pentecost?
            a)   about 3,000
            b)   about 1,000
            c)   about 5,000                                                                                                  ___
4) Saul persecuted many
            a)   Romans.
            b)   Christians.
            c)   Jewish leaders.                                                                                           ___
5) On the road to Damascus
            a)   Saul heard the voice of Jesus the Messiah.
            b)   Saul met Ananias.
            c)   Saul was baptised by Ananias.                                                                  ___
Write "True" or "False" after each of the following sentences.
6)   All believers are part of the world-wide Church.     ______
7)   The Holy Spirit gives the Church power to witness.     ______
8)   The Church is a sharing fellowship.      ______
9)   God does not let the Church suffer.       ______
10) The Church can be defeated.       ______

Write your name and address in the box above. Then return this test page and all the others in this book to: