Know What You Believe and What God Says about Man!

“The Bible gives us exclusive, reliable information not only about God but also about ourselves.  Ignoring this revelation, modern scientific opinion regards man to be a higher kind of animal, which has evolved to its present form over many years.  But the fact of man’s origin, nature, and destination cannot be known apart from what God has revealed in His Word.  Any opinion that is not grounded on and governed by this revelation will be conjectural and faulty.  As human beings, we should seek to learn what the Creator has revealed about mankind.  As saved people, we should accept this revelation as absolute truth and base our understanding on it.”     Floyd H. Barackman, Practical Christian Theology, pg 253. Kregel Publications.

This lesson then will deal with our Statement of Faith regarding “Man.”  How important it is that we think biblically about our origin, nature and destiny.  A wrong view of man could lead to a wrong view of our responsibility before a thrice Holy God.                   

Article III:  DECLARATION OF FAITH 

 Section D.  Man:

1.      His Creation.    Therefore because we believe that man came into being by the direct creation of God as recorded in Genesis 1 and 2 and not by evolution, we believe that the Genesis account of creation is neither allegory nor myth, but a literal, historical account of God’s creation of the universe in six literal days.*

1.       Where did man come from?  See Genesis 1:27 and 2:7.

2.      According to the Genesis account how long did it take God to create our earth and its inhabitants?  When was man created? (Gen. 1:5, 8, 13, 19, 23, 31, 2:2)

2.      His Fall. We believe that man was created in holiness and in the image of God, but by voluntary transgression fell from the sinless and happy state (Genesis 3).  In consequence all of mankind are now sinners not only by nature, but of choice, and are utterly void of the holiness required by the law of God, and are positively inclined to evil (Romans 5:19a; 3:23), and are therefore under just condemnation to eternal ruin without defense or excuse (Ephesians 2:13; Romans 1:32; 2:1-16; Galatians 3:10, 22; Ezekiel 18:20; Matthew 20:15). 

3.      What is unique about man’s creation as compared to the rest of creation? (Gen. 1:26, 27)

4.      What was man’s original moral condition? See Ecclesiastes 7:29 and Genesis 1:31. 

5.      What event caused man to fall from his sinless and happy state? (Genesis 3:1 -12)

6.      What are some of the consequences of Adam’s sin? 

·         Romans 5:12, 19

·         Ephesians 2:12, 13 

·         Galatians 3:22

7.      What just judgment is determined for sinners? 

·         Ezekiel 18:20

·         Revelation 20:11 – 15 

3.      His Regeneration.  We believe that regeneration or the new birth is that miracle wrought in the soul by the Holy Spirit, in which the Divine Nature is imparted unto man when he repents of sin and believes in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Thus he is made a new creation in Christ Jesus (II Corinthians 5:17; John 3:1 – 14). 

8.      “Divine Nature is imparted unto man when he repents of sin and believes …”, How would you define repentance?  See Matt. 21:28 – 32 and Acts 20:20 – 21.

9.      What are the facts of the Gospel of Jesus Christ?  See                      1 Corinthians 15:1 – 4.

10.  What is the change that takes place when one is regenerated?  See 2 Corinthians 5:15, 17, 18.  

4.      His Final End.  We believe in the bodily resurrection of the just and the unjust (John 5:28, 29; Revelation 20:6; 1 Corinthians 3:13 - 15); that heaven is the everlasting abode of the saved, a place of everlasting blessedness; that hell is the everlasting abode of the unsaved, a place of everlasting conscious punishment (John 3:16, 36; Matthew 25:41; Revelation 21:8; Luke 16:22 - 26). 

11.   Who will be included in the future resurrection? (John 5:28, 29)

12.   Who does not need to worry about the second death?               See Revelation 20:6, 11 – 15.

13.  Who will experience the second death?  How is it described? See Matthew 25:41, 46 and Revelations 21:8

14.  What assurance do born again believers have when facing physical death?  See John 11:25, 26 and 2 Corinthians 5:6 – 8.

In Conclusion:       Created in the image of God our human nature was marred by sin.  The eternal consequence of sin means separation from God forever.  But God so loved us that He made a way for us to have our sins forgiven.  If you repent of sin and believe that Jesus Christ died and arose again according to the scriptures, you will receive the gift of eternal life.  Have you placed your faith in Jesus Christ?  Do you know where you will spend eternity?  

* The portion highlighted in grey is added for the revision. 

    

    

Satan, What the Bible has to say about this real enemy! Lesson 7

What in the world is Satan doing?  Are we fooling ourselves if we blame our problems on the devil?  Or are we being spiritually naïve if we don’t?  Does our Christian faith require us to believe in a real, unseen enemy whose aggressive strategy is to keep us from loving and trusting Christ? 

The Bible is so full of references to the devil that it is impossible to hold to the Christian faith without accepting the reality of Satan.  His existence is taught in seven Old Testament books: Genesis, Job,          1 Chronicles, Psalms, Isaiah, Ezekiel, and Zechariah.  And it is affirmed by every New Testament writer.  Jesus clearly believed in the personal existence of Satan (Matt. 4:1 – 11; 13:39; Luke 10:18; 11:18).  In fact, in 25 of the 29 passages that refer to Satan in the Gospels, Christ is speaking.  If such a basic biblical teaching as this were dismissed as outdated superstition, we would have grounds for questioning the Bible’s authority in everything it says.   So what do you believe about Satan?  Does your understanding of this evil person agree with what the Bible declares?                          

Article III:  DECLARATION OF FAITH 

 Section C.  Satan

1.      His Creation.   We believe in the personality of Satan; that he was created under the heavenly title of “Lucifer, the Son of the Morning” and given a place of glory over all other created beings (Isaiah 14:12; Ezekiel 28:12 -15).

1.      We have already considered in this series of lessons the idea of personhood being described as the ability to demonstrate intellect, emotion, and will.  Another aspect of personhood, which makes for personal beings, is indicated by features such as self-awareness and self determination.  What indications are given that Satan is a person in the following Scriptures?

·         Isaiah 14:12 – 14

·         2 Corinthians 11:3

·         Revelation 12:17, (see v. 9)

2.      Satan falls under the theological category of angels.  What can we conclude about his origin?  Was he created by God?  See Psalm 148:2, 5; Ezekiel 28:12 -15 and Colossians 1:16.  

2.      His Fall. We believe in his aspiration to be “like the Most High.” He manifested his rebellion toward His Creator, and for this was cast out of heaven with others who followed in his rebellion (Isaiah 14:12 – 15).

3.      While Ezekiel 28 speaks of the king of Tyre, there are certain indications in the passage that he was speaking beyond the king to Satan himself.  Note the phrases “the anointed cherub that covereth;” and “thou was upon the holy mountain of God”(28:14).  Where did Satan’s problem start?  (Ezek. 28:15, 17)

4.      How many blasphemous “I wills” do you find in Isaiah 14:12 -15?

5.      What was the Lord’s response? (14:15)

3.      His Purpose.  We believe that in his fall he became “Satan the adversary of God” and of every child of God.  He is the great deceiver and the accuser of the brethren (Rev. 12:9 – 10).  He is the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience, blinding their minds to the truth of the Gospel (2 Cor.4:3 – 4).  

6.       What words are used to describe Satan in Revelation 12:9 – 10? 

7.      How does Satan oppose believers? See Rev. 12:10 & 1 Peter 5:8.

8.      How does Satan work in the lives of unbelievers?

·         2 Corinthians 4:3, 4

·         Luke 8:12

·         Ephesians 2:2

4.      His Power.  We believe that Satan’s power is limited (his is not omnipotent as is God), but that it is increased by the innumerable host of demons who do his will and serve him.  Though he is not omnipresent or omniscient, yet through these wicked spirits he is in touch with the whole earth (Dan. 10:13; Zech. 3:1; Eph. 2:2; Acts 26:18; Col. 1:13). 

9.      What titles or actions indicate that Satan has power in the following Scriptures? 

·         Ephesians 6:11, 12

·         John 12:31

·         2 Corinthians 4:4

10.   How do we know that Satan’s power is limited? See Job 1:12 and Luke 22:31 – 32.

11.  What provision has God made for us out of Satan’s darkness?      See Acts 26:18 and Colossians 1:13.

5.      His Defeat.  We believe that through the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ a perfect judgment of Satan and his followers had been secured (John 12:31; 16:11; Col. 2:14, 15); opening the way to victory for the believer, and insuring the final judgment of Satanic hosts in the Lake of Fire (Jude 6).

12.  What is coming for Satan?  See John 12:31; 16:11; Jude 6; Matthew 25:41 and Revelation 20:10. 

In Conclusion:      Satan is doing all he can, within the limits of God’s permissive decree, to oppose saved people and to hinder the Lord’s work of building the church (Eph. 6:10 – 12).  It irks the Devil to see his former subjects serving the Lord Jesus and bearing witness to the gospel and its truth.  Untiringly, Satan seeks to stop this and to render their lives ineffective (1 Pet. 5:8 – 9).  But the Lord is faithful to protect His people from the evil one (2 Thess. 3:3; 1 Cor. 10:13).  So you can with confidence know that as you Submit to God and resist the devil,  he will flee from you (James 4:7).  

  

    

    

What Do You Believe About The Holy Spirit? Lesson 6

In our previous lessons we have already discussed the first and second persons of the Godhead – God the Father and God the Son.  We saw that God the Father, the One we call the first person of the trinity, is the originator of all things.  All the beauties of the created world came from Him through the Son, and He sustains His creation by His providential hand of love. 

We have also pointed out that as Christians we believe Jesus Christ is God.  He has the right to be recognized as a member of the Godhead. Failure to acknowledge the deity of Christ is failure to know God.  We cannot overemphasize the fact that the Lord Jesus is God.  And, as the second person of the Trinity, He deserves our worship. 

In this lesson we come to the third person of the Trinity – the Holy Spirit.  To know God, you must also know what the Scriptures teach about the Holy Spirit.  Does what you believe about the Holy Spirit agree with what the Scriptures declare?                       

Article III:  DECLARATION OF FAITH 

 Section B.  The True God: 3. The Holy Spirit:

a.      His Personality.   We believe that the Holy Spirit is a Divine Person, equal with the Father and the Son and is of the same nature (John 16:7).

1.      How do the following verses teach that the Holy Spirit is a person rather than an impersonal force?

·         1 Corinthians 2:10 – 11; Romans 8:27

·         Ephesians 4:30

·         Acts 5:3

·         John 16:7

b.      His Work in the World. We believe that in His relationship to the unbelieving world He restrains the evil one (2 Thess. 2:7), and that He convicts the lost of sin, of righteousness, and judgment; bearing witness to the truth of the Gospel as the Word is presented (John 16:8 – 11). 

2.      Read 2 Thessalonians 2:6 – 7.  The withholding force referred to in verse 6 is also referred to in verse 7.  When the restraining force is taken out of the way, what word is used to indicate that the force is in fact a person?

3.      By what means does the Spirit do His convicting work?  See Acts 1:8; 2:14, 32, 37 -41 and John 20:30 – 31.

4.      Who indwells the believer to give victory over the evil in the world?  See John 14:16 – 17 and 1 John 4:2 – 4. 

c.       His Work in Regeneration.  We believe that the Holy Spirit is the Agent in the New Birth.  That all believers are baptized by the Spirit into the body of Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 12:12-14), and that from the moment of conversion He indwells the child of God (1 Cor. 3:16).

5.       What does being baptized by the Holy Spirit do for a believer?     (1 Cor. 12:12 – 14)

6.      What is required to enter into the kingdom of God? John 3:5

7.      Who is indwelt by the Spirit of God?  See Romans 8:9 and                1 Cor. 3:16.

d.      His Work in the Christian.  We believe that He is the Divine Teacher who guides the believer into all truth (John 16:13).  That it is His power in the believer that gives victory over sin and Satan (Eph. 1:19 – 23).  That it is the privilege and responsibility of every Christian to be filled with the Holy Spirit and be thus empowered for the work to which he has been called (Eph. 5;17, 18).

8.      Read John 16:13.  How is the Spirit identified and what significant help does He give to the believer?

9.      How does a believer overcome the lust of the flesh?                     See Galatians 5:16 – 17.

10.  Why is being filled with the Spirit the responsibility of the believer?  See Ephesians 5:17 – 18. 

11.  What are some indicators that a believer is filled with the Spirit?  See Ephesians 5:19 – 21 and Galatians 5:22 – 25. 

e.      His Work in Sign Gifts.  We believe that the sign gifts of the Holy Spirit, such as speaking in tongues and the gift of healing, were temporary.  Speaking in tongues was never the common or necessary sign of the baptism or filling of the Holy Spirit.  Ultimately deliverance of the body from sickness or death awaits the consummation of our salvation in the resurrection, although God frequently chooses to answer the prayer of believers for physical healing (1 Cor. 1:22; 13:8; 14:21 – 22).

12.  What was the purpose of tongues and who was it for?  See 1 Corinthians 14:21 – 22; 1:22.

13.  Read 1 Corinthians 13:8.  What did Paul indicate would happen to the gift of tongues?  

14.  What is more important than speaking in tongues? See 1 Cor. 14:19, 23 – 25.

In Conclusion:   Does the Holy Spirit dwell within you? He does if you know Christ.  And it’s your responsibility to live in such a way as to honor and please Him.  Surrender to the Lord and invite the Holy Spirit to control your life.  You will experience the joys of being filled with the Holy Spirit.   

  

    

    

Know What You Believe About God the Father and The Son Lesson 5

The Lord Jesus had just finished praying when one of His disciples requested, “Lord, teach us to pray” (Luke 11:1).  Christ then said to His followers, “After this manner therefore pray ye:  Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name.  Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:9, 10).   

     Please notice that the beautiful prayer taught by Christ to His disciples begins with the words, “Our Father, which art in heaven.” As we continue our study on the triune nature of God we will consider the relationship of the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit.  This lesson will primarily deal with the nature and work of the Father and the Son.                        

Article III:  DECLARATION OF FAITH 

 Section B.  The True God: 1. The Father:

We believe that He is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (Eph. 1:3), and the Father of all who come to God through Christ (John 1:12).  We rejoice that He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of men; that He hears and answers prayer: and that He so loved the World that HE gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16).   

1.      Who alone has the right to call God “Father”?  See John 1:12 and Romans 8:14 – 17.  Compare with John 8:44 – 45. 

2.      How does God concern Himself with the affairs of men?  See Matthew 5:44 – 45 and Matthew 6:25 – 33. 

3.      Our statement of faith says “He hears and answers prayer”.  Read Matthew 6:9 – 13.  What did Jesus tell us to ask of the Father? 

4.      What are two reasons that the Father might withhold answers to our prayers?  See Psalm 66:18 and James 4:3. 

5.      God the Father was the originator, the fountainhead of grace and salvation.  Why did He send His son into the world?  (John 3:16)

2. The Son:  a. His place in Scripture.  We believe that the whole of scripture centers about the Lord Jesus Christ, and points to His suffering and the glory that should follow (Luke 24:27, 44). 

6.      How does Luke 24:27, 44 demonstrate that Jesus Christ is the primary focus of the Scriptures? 

7.      What is one of the primary purposes of the Scriptures?                 See 2 Timothy 3:15.

8.      When Paul declared the gospel of salvation in 1 Corinthians 15:1- 4, what authority did he site to back his facts? 

2. The Son: b. His Incarnation.  We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, became man without ceasing to be God; being supernaturally conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary (Genesis 3:15; Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18 – 25; Luke 1:35) 

9.      How do the following passages support the truth that the father-son relationship between Christ and God is an eternal relationship?

·         Isaiah 7:14; 9:6

·         Hebrews 1:2

10.  What is unique about Jesus Christ’s birth? (Matt. 1:18 – 25; Luke 1:14) 

2. The Son: c. His Passion. We believe that He was without sin in His own life (1 Peter 2:22), but that He was made to be sin for us upon the Cross of Calvary where He suffered all the wrath of God against sin as a vicarious, substitutionary sacrifice (1 Peter 2:24).  His burial declares the complete putting away and removal of our sin (Romans 6:6), and His literal, bodily resurrection assures our justification and manifests His complete victory over sin, death and Satan (1 Corinthians 15:1-8).

11.  Why is it important that Jesus be without sin in His own life?  See 1 Peter 2:22 – 24 & Isaiah 53:4, 5.

12.   How has the believer’s relationship with sin changed because of Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection?  See Romans 6:4 – 7.

2. The Son: d. His Ascension. We believe that the risen Lord Jesus ascended into heaven, and is now exalted at the right hand of God, where as our great High Priest, we have in Him an advocate with the Father, who ever liveth to make intercession for His own (1 Jn. 2:1 – 3).

13.  What is the Lord Jesus, as our High Priest, doing for us in heaven? See Hebrews 7:25.

Praise God for His so great salvation!  “God the Father is the originator,  the One who brings forth.  He is the fountainhead of grace and salvation.  John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son…”  God the Son is the executor, the One who brings to pass that which originated from the Father.  He is the One who came to obey the will of the Father, and to pay the penalty for man’s sin.  And God the Holy Spirit is the applicator, the One who through the work of regeneration and sanctification makes operative that which originated from the Father and was executed by the Son.” – Richard W. De Haan, How To Know God, Radio Bible Class 1981.

Have you received God’s gift of eternal life?  Trust the Lord Jesus Christ as your Saviour from sin today.