100 BIBLE LESSONS

These lessons were originally given at Manila, Philippines, in 1958 and 1959 by former missionary to
China, Alban Douglas. 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 53 – THE COMMANDS OF CHRIST

INTRODUCTION

The idea for this lesson came from the July, 1961, issue of the “Herald of His Coming.”
The paper lists 147 commandments, seven under each of the 21 headings. The Great
Commission Prayer League (No. 1) lists 173 commandments of Christ taken from the
Epistles and Revelation, whereas this lesson confines itself to the Gospels.

I. REPENTANCE

Repentance is twofold: turning from sin and turning unto God.

Matt. 4:17, “From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom
of heaven is at hand.”

Luke 13:24, “Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to
enter in, and shall not be able.”

Matt. 6:33, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness…”

II. BELIEF

We are to believe the Gospel; believe in Christ and in the Father.

Mark 1:15, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and
believe the gospel.” This was spoken by Jesus, not John.

John 14:1, “Ye believe in God, believe also in Me.” This is a definite command.

John 6:29, “This is the work of God, that ye believe on Him whom He hath sent.”

III. THE NEW BIRTH

The new birth is the mysterious operation of the Spirit that converts.

John 3:7, “Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.”

Luke 10:20, “Rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.”

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Matt. 12:33, “Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree
corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit.” Conversion is the only
solution.

IV. RECEIVING THE HOLY GHOST

Each Christian is to be Spirit indwelt and empowered.

John 20:22, “He breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:”

Luke 24:49, “Tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on
high.”

V. FOLLOWING JESUS

The believer has no choice but to follow Jesus implicitly.

John 12:26, “If any man serve Me, let him follow Me.”

Luke 9:23, “If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross
daily, and follow Me.”

John 21:22, “Follow thou Me.” Luke 5:27, Christ to Matthew, “Follow Me.”

VI. PRAYER

The Christian’s life is to be characterized by prayer.

Luke 21:36, “Watch ye therefore, and pray always.”

Luke 22:40, “Pray that ye enter not into temptation.”

Luke 10:2, “Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He would send forth
labourers into His harvest.”

Luke 6:28, “Pray for them which despitefully use you.”

VII. FAITH

The Saint of God is made great because he has faith in a great God.

Mark 11:22, “Have faith in God.” This is absolutely essential.

John 20:27, “Be not faithless, but believing.” Away with unbelief.

Matt. 14:27, “Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.”

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VIII. SEARCHING THE SCRIPTURES

This is a daily must in every believer’s life.

John 5:39, “Search the Scriptures.” – a plain command to every Christian.

John 15:20, “Remember the Word that I said unto you.” Read, study and remember.

IX. LETTING YOUR LIGHT SHINE

Each Christian must daily let his light shine brightly.

Matt. 5:16, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and
glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

John 15:16, “…ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain.”

Mark 5:19, “Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done
for thee.”

X. SUPREME LOVE TO GOD

Christians are to love and serve God completely.

Mark 12:30, “And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy
soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.”

Matt. 4:10, “Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve.”

XI. OUR DUTY TO MEN IN AUTHORITY

Christians are to love and obey them.

Mark 12:17, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's.”

XII. OUR DUTY TO OUR NEIGHBORS

Our neighbor is the man in need.

Matt. 19:19, “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.”

Luke 6:31, “And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.”

XIII. COVETOUSNESS

Our lives are to be heaven-centered and not earth-centered.

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Luke 12:15, “Take heed, and beware of covetousness”; This is stronger than advice.

Matt. 5:42, “Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn
not thou away.”

Matt. 6:19, “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth.”

XIV. HYPOCRISY

Beware of becoming a religious hypocrite.

Luke 12:1, “Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.”

Matt. 23:2,3, “…do not ye after their (Scribes’ and Pharisees’) works.”

XV. MEEKNESS

Let’s be like Christ in meekness, lowliness and humility.

Matt. 11:29, “Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in
heart”

Mark 10:44, “And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all.”

Luke 17:10, “…say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done …(only) …our duty…”

XVI. OUR LOVE TO THE BRETHREN

We are to love, forgive and forbear condemnation.

John 15:12, “…That ye love one another, as I have loved you” (fellow Christians).

Matt. 18:10, “Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones” (children)

Matt. 5:24, “…first be reconciled to thy brother.” Keep short accounts.

Luke 17:4, ‘And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day…thou shalt forgive.”

Luke 6:37, “Judge not…condemn not…forgive, and ye shall be forgiven.”

XVII. TO BE PERFECT

Jesus could set no lower standard for believers.

Matt. 5:48, “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.”

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Luke 6:36, “Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.”

XVIII. WISDOM

This is not human wisdom but the wisdom from God.

Matt. 10:16, “Be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.”

Matt. 7:6, “Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before
swine.” This requires wisdom to know when to speak.

XIX. PREACHING THE GOSPEL

Each believer is to preach the Gospel where he is.

Mark 16:15, “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”

Luke 24:47, “And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His
Name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.”

John 21:15, 16, 17, “…Feed My lambs…Feed My sheep…Feed my sheep…”

XX. THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST

We must be ready for this event momentarily.

Luke 12:40, “Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye
think not.” We are to be ready at any moment.

XXI. FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH

True glory is a glorious finish.

Matt. 24:13, “But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.”

CONCLUSION

John 14:23, “If a man love Me, he will keep My words.” This is the true motive. Use
these commands as an inventory to check your personal lives before God. Jesus gives
us these commands as a guide to follow.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. How many commandment did Jesus give in the Gospels? In the Epistles and
Revelation?

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2. What are the purposes of these commandments?

3. What three things does Jesus ask us believers to believe in?

4. List 5 ways in which we can follow Jesus.

5. From Matt. 5:16, what “good works” are we to show to the world?

6. How am I to love God?

7. Quote the “Golden Rule.”

8. Explain Luke 12:15, “A man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which
he possesseth.”

9. Why did Jesus tell us imperfect humans to be perfect in Matthew 5:48?

10. To whom are we to preach the Gospel?