“Jesus Who ?”

A Course Of Study From

Blueprint For Revival Bible

Institutes International

©2013 Belleview, FL 34421 USA

BLUEPRINT FOR REVIVAL BIBLE INSTITUTE

BASIC BIBLE STUDY GUIDE

Dr. Ed J MacWilliams

 

 

COURSE: JESUS WHO ?

 

 

 

 

 

 

“WHO IS JESUS ?”

PART ONE:  We Need To Know Him Better

 

 

WHY IT IS IMPORTANT TO HAVE A MORE COMPLETE UNDERSTANDING OF JESUS.

 2 Timothy 1:13  Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

 

1. IT IS A NATURAL PROGRESSION FOR THE TRUE CHRISTIAN TO DESIRE MORE KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE PERSON WE LOVE,  BUT, DON’T ALL CHRISTIANS KNOW WHO JESUS IS ?  Yes, to varying degrees.  Our study is designed to upgrade our knowledge of Him, and bring us to realize to a greater degree the amazing characteristics of the Person we call Savior and Lord.  It is also designed for the teaching Pastor and Evangelist to help others grow in their knowledge of the Lord.

 

2.  IT IS THE DESIRE OF GOD TO BRING A GREATER REVELATION OF THE LORD.  Ephesians 1:17  That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him:

 

3. IT HELPS GRACE TO MULTIPLY.  GRACE AND PEACE IS MULTIPLIED BY INCREASING OUR KNOWLEDGE OF GOD.    2 Peter 1:2  Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,

 

4. IT IS AN ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT KNOWLEDGE FOR THE LAST DAYS.  THE ANTICHRIST WILL COME, ALLEGING THAT HE, NOT JESUS, IS THE TRUE MESSIAH.  THIS DOCTRINAL FALSEHOOD IS ALREADY BEGINNING, AND THE CHURCH NEEDS TO BE PREPARED THROUGH FACTS FROM THE BIBLE.  2 Thessalonians 2:3-4   “Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;   Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.”

 

 

WHO IS THE JESUS OF THE BIBLE ?

WHY EVEN ASK ?

In these Last Days, there will be a horrible attack upon the knowledge of Jesus (of the Bible) to make room for the new and more widely accepted view that someone else (the Antichrist) can meet the requirement more favorably.  In the evolution toward that false doctrine, many heretical ideas are being proposed.  For an example, someone was writing about the “non-violent Jesus.”  He spoke of Jesus as the helpless Lamb.  Of course, that is not true.  But, it is one of the false concepts being floated on today’s ocean of heresies.  Other newer doctrines allege that Jesus was homosexual, and still others claim that He was married to Mary Magdalene, and produced earthly children.  Still others claim that the Jesus of the Bible was a completely manufactured story created by the disciples so they could rule people through churches.

 

Many theories and some cults have been formed as a result of such non-Biblical information.   Most cults have completely different views of who Jesus is than what the Bible teaches and what Bible-believing Christians throughout history have known.  Some others have attempted to understand the Lord by studying only a limited number of Scriptures, leaving their views open to their own private interpretations and expectations.

 

 

From the beginning of this study, let me emphasize that there are many things which are known about the Lord, but there are countless other things that are unknown about Him.  For anyone to say that they have a full and total understanding of the Persona and Nature of the Lord Jesus would simply show how ignorant they are of Who He really is.

 

Anyone whose life began and ended would have a limited amount of information that could possibly be written about them.  The information would be gigantic, for certain, but even if every word they ever spoke and every deed that they ever did was written down, it could be done.  The following Scripture could be true only if Jesus had a pre-existence and lived forever, and was actually doing far more than His earthly ministry suggests.

 

John 21:25  And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.

 

 

JESUS CAN BE PERSONALLY KNOWN.

The Bible is clear that whether a Believer is new or mature, he can know the Lord Jesus.  1 John 2:13-14  I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known Him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father.  I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known Him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.

 

But, just as in physical life, a baby knows his father to a limited degree, and then as the child matures, he understands more about his father; in similar manner, the young Christian knows Jesus when he trusts Him as Savior and is born-again, but as he grows spiritually, he gets to know more and more about the Lord.

 

WHAT MUST BE BELIEVED ABOUT JESUS IN ORDER FOR A PERSON TO BE READY FOR SALVATION ?

(Salvation comes, not merely through an intellectual understanding of these facts, but by applying those facts to the heart which reaches out to God in faith).  What essential facts exist which a person coming to Christ should believe ?   Some of these things may not even be conscious thoughts when a person comes to Christ, but they are certainly issues which the mind and heart deals with prior to that time.

 

 

1. BELIEVE THAT HE WANTS OUR FAITH, AND BELIEVE THAT HE WILL REWARD IT.  

Hebrews 11:6  But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.

2. BELIEVE THAT HE WANTS US TO REPENT OF OUR SINS.

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

3. BELIEVE THAT HE IS THE SON OF GOD.

John 20:31  But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through His name.    1 John 5:5  Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?   Acts 8:37  And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

4.  BELIEVE THAT HE IS THE MESSIAH, “The Anointed One.”

1 John 5:1  Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth Him that begat loveth Him also that is begotten of Him.   The word “Christ” is the Greek word which means, “Messiah.”   What does “Messiah” mean ?  This sets Jesus apart from any others who claimed to be Deliverers.

 

FROM THESE SCRIPTURES, THE BIBLE INFORMS US THAT THERE ARE SOME THINGS ABOUT JESUS WHICH WE SHOULD KNOW AND ACT UPON.

 

 THE ROLE OF JESUS AS THE MESSIAH

MESSIAH= OLD TESTAMENT  

As described in:
Daniel 9:25 Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.

Strong’s #04899 חישׁמ mashiyach maw-shee’- akh
from 04886, Greek 3323 Μεσσιας; n m; {See TWOT on 1255 @@ “1255c”}
1) Anointed One
1a) the Messiah, Messianic prince
1b) the Everlasting King of Israel

MESSIAH= NEW TESTAMENT

Strong’s #5547 Χριστος Christos khris-tos’
from 5548; TDNT-9:493,1322; {See TDNT 850} adj
Christ =” anointed One,” “Messiah.”
1) Christ, the Messiah
2) The Anointed One

5. BELIEVE THAT HE WAS SENT FROM THE FATHER.

John 12:44  Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on Me, believeth not on Me, but on Him that sent Me.

 

 

WHAT WILL HELP ME UNDERSTAND THE SCRIPTURES WHICH DEAL WITH THE NATURE OF GOD ?

 

1. UNDERSTAND THAT THE ALMIGHTY HAS THREE PARTS TO HIMSELF, JUST AS WE ARE COMPOSED OF THREE PARTS (body, soul, and spirit).  WE ARE STILL ONE PERSON, AND GOD IS ONE PERSON, REGARDLESS OF THE NUMBER OF PARTS THAT EITHER WE OR GOD ARE MADE OF.

 

2. UNDERSTAND THAT MOST OF THE TIMES WHEN THE BIBLE USES THE WORD “GOD” IN THE NEW TESTMENT ESPECIALLY, IT REFERS TO THE FATHER (i.e., THE SOUL, THE DECISION-MAKING INTELLIGENCE) OF THE ALMIGHTY.   Ephesians 1:17  That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him:

 

3. UNDERSTAND THAT JESUS IS THE PHYSICAL MANIFESTATION OF THE ALMIGHTY, AND HE APPEARS IN THE OLD TESTAMENT AS WELL  AS THE NEW TESTAMENT.  HE IS KNOWN IN THE HEBREW LANGUAGE BY HIS NAME, JEHOVAH.  THE HEBREW WORD JEHOVAH HAS BEEN TRANSLATED TO THE ENGLISH WORD “LORD” (all capital letters) to avoid vain repetition or possible misuse of that Divine Name when Scriptures were read or studied.  An example of this being done is found in Genesis 2:4  These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens.

 

4. THE ALMIGHTY MUST HAVE A PHYSICAL PART TO HIMSELF (JEHOVAH, OR JESUS), BECAUSE WE ARE PARTLY PHYSICAL, AND WERE “CREATED IN HIS IMAGE.”

 

 

 

PART 2:  DO OTHER RELIGIONS BELIEVE IN JESUS ?

If you ask believers of other gods whether they believe in Jesus, you may be surprised to find many of them saying that they do.  However, when you provide them the Biblical description of Jesus, you will find that they quickly retreat to a position of, “I do not believe in THAT Jesus !”

 

Basically, it is impossible for post-Christian religions to ignore the historical fact that Jesus existed.  However, when the Biblical accounts of Jesus might interfere from the newer religion’s goals, or morality, they change their description of Jesus into someone who would embrace their religion’s way of thinking.

 

Even cults which claim that they are “Christian” often have a very different perspective of who Jesus really is.  In almost every case, their false ideas come from their founders and cult prophets who have accepted “another gospel,” (2 Corinthians 11:4, Galatians 1:6), drug-induced “wisdom,” supposed angelic appearances, or visions and dreams which formed their religion’s view of Jesus.  Obviously, they are not to be believed.

 

 

WHAT ISLAM BELIEVES ABOUT JESUS

Islam was formed around 600 years after the resurrection of our Lord, and long after much of the world became acquainted with the Jesus of the Bible. To counter the major inroads which true Christianity was making, Mohammed had to bring Jesus into the picture of his new religion. In Islam, Jesus is known as Isa and is one of God’s highest-ranked and most-beloved prophets, specifically sent to guide the Children of Israel.

***CONTRARY TO THIS ARE THE MANY PASSAGES WHICH SAY THAT JESUS WILL COME TO BRING SALVATION AND GUIDE THE GENTILES.

Isaiah 11:10 And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious.
Isaiah 42:1 Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.
Isaiah 42:6 I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles;
Isaiah 49:6 And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.

Unlike Christian writings, the Qur’an does not describe Jesus as the son of God, but as one of five major human messengers (out of many prophets) sent by God throughout history to guide mankind. It also states that Jesus’ message to mankind was originally very similar to that of the other Islamic prophets, from Adam to Muhammad, but that it was subsequently distorted by early Christians. Jesus is said to have lived a life of piety and generosity, and abstained from eating flesh of swine (or of any animals, according to some Muslim authors, even some who were not vegetarians themselves). In the Muslim tradition, Jesus did not drink alcohol.

Muslims also believe that Jesus received a Gospel from God, called the Injeel and corresponding to the Christian New Testament. However, Muslims hold that the New Testament has been changed over time (as they also believe of the Old Testament) and does not accurately represent God’s original message to mankind.

 

CONTRARY TO THIS IS EVIDENCE FROM ARCHEOLOGY THAT THE TRUE BIBLE HAS NOT CHANGED.

2 Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

IS GOD ABLE TO COMMUNICATE, OR NOT ? CAN HE PRESERVE HIS WORD, OR NOT ?

Jeremiah 32:27 Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?

However, the Qur’an and New Testament overlap in other aspects of Jesus’ life; both Muslims and orthodox Christians believe that Jesus was miraculously born without a human biological father by the will of God, and that his mother, Mary (Maryam in Arabic), is among the most saintly, pious, chaste and virtuous women ever. The Qur’an also specifies that Jesus was able to perform miracles—though only by the will of God—including being able to raise the dead, restore sight to the blind and cure lepers. One miracle attributed to Jesus in the Qur’an, but not in the New Testament, is his being able to speak at only a few days old, to defend his mother from accusations of adultery. The Qur’an also says that Jesus was a ‘word’ from God, since he was predicted to come in the Old Testament.

Most Muslims believe that he was neither killed nor crucified, but that God made it appear so to his enemies. The Qur’an narrates that God made it appear so that Jesus was crucified to his enemies but he was not, and lived. According to Islam, Jesus ascended bodily to heaven and is alive. Some Muslim scholars maintain that Jesus was indeed put up on the cross, but did not die on it; rather, he revived and then ascended bodily to heaven. Others say that it was actually Judas Iscariot who was mistakenly crucified by the Romans. Regardless, Muslims believe that Jesus is alive in heaven and will return to the world in the flesh to defeat the Antichrist, once the world has become filled with sin, deception and injustice, and then live out the rest of his natural life.

There are many cults that claim to be fully “Christian” and in line with what the Bible teaches about Jesus. Sadly, they miss the Biblical description by a wide margin. This is most often due to their depending upon non-Biblical sources as the authorities.

 

 

WHAT “JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES” BELIEVE ABOUT JESUS

JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES CLAIM that Jesus was a sinless man, but was completely distinct from God. Their New World Translation of the Bible always notes Jesus as “a god” (one of many) rather than accepting the actual Greek words which indicate that He was The God.

This is typical of the many changes which the Jehovah’s Witnesses make in their version of the Bible, called the New World Translation. The New World Translation is unique in one thing – it is the first intentional, systematic effort at producing a complete version of the Bible that is edited and revised for the specific purpose of agreeing with a group’s doctrine. The Jehovah’s Witnesses and the Watchtower Society realized that their beliefs contradicted Scripture. So, rather than conforming their beliefs to Scripture, they altered Scripture to agree with their beliefs. The “New World Bible Translation Committee” went through the Bible and changed any Scripture that did not agree with Jehovah’s Witness theology. This is clearly demonstrated by the fact that, as new editions of the New World Translation were published, additional changes were made to the biblical text. As biblical Christians continued to point out Scriptures that clearly argue for the deity of Christ (for example), the Watchtower Society would publish new editions of the New World Translation with those Scriptures changed. Here are some of the more prominent examples of intentional revisions.

The New World Translation renders the Greek term word staurós (“cross”) as “torture stake” because Jehovah’s Witnesses do not believe that Jesus was crucified on a cross. The New World Translation does not translate the Greek words sheol, hades, gehenna, and tartarus as “hell” because Jehovah’s Witnesses do not believe in hell. The NWT gives the translation “presence” instead of “coming” for the Greek word parousia because Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that Christ has already returned in the early 1900s. In Colossians 1:16, the NWT inserts the word “other” despite its being completely absent from the original Greek text. It does this to give the view that “all other things” were created by Christ, instead of what the text says, “all things were created by Christ.” This is to go along with their belief that Christ is a created being, which they believe because they deny that God has three parts.

Before His earthly ministry, they believe that He was created as Michael, the archangel, a spirit being. He only took on the role of the physical Messiah when He was baptized. His power is secondary to God, and they believe that He “…was and always will be beneath Jehovah.”

Statements such as that reveal their doctrine that Jesus is not Jehovah, and thus a created being.

The deity of Christ is the central point of the Scriptures. It clearly teaches that Christ is God. The teachings of the Jehovah’s Witness’ concerning Jesus Christ clearly contradict the teachings of the Bible. Passages such as Philippians 2:5-11 tell us that Jesus Christ, who existed as God, took the bodily form of a humble servant so that He could die on the cross in our place. “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:  That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord (kurios), to the glory of God the Father.”

 

This is what THEY believe:

Jehovah is the personal name of God, the Creator of the universe. The name appears 7,000 times in the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament). “Jehovah” is the English form of the Hebrew YHWH and means “He Causes to Become,” referring to God’s ability to take on whatever role he deems necessary to carry out his purposes. Jehovah first created his Son Jesus in heaven. Jesus then helped Jehovah to create the rest of the universe over billions of years–both the spiritual (angels) and the material (galaxies and planetary life). Jehovah the Father has always existed, but Jesus the Son had a beginning and is subordinate to God. Jesus is the Christ, or Messiah, who came to Earth, born fully human of a virgin, and died for mankind’s sins. He was resurrected back to heaven and now sits at Jehovah’s right hand. Holy Spirit is an impersonal force used by God.  Witnesses reject the Trinity doctrine (God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Ghost) as an unscriptural idea drawn from Babylonian and Platonic concepts. Because the Witnesses do not believe that Jesus is God, some theologians do not consider the Witnesses to be Christians.

 

The following are false arguments presented by the Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Notice how they ignore context and Biblical grammar when making their arguments.   (These are arguments and comments from Islamic writers, and therefore do not always show the proper respect for the Lord Jesus as evidenced by their failure to capitalize references to Him).

 

“Did Jesus say he was Almighty God or equal to Almighty God? No, he said quite the opposite. Review John 17:3, and John 20:17 for starters.

1. Common sense tells us that Jesus didn’t pray to himself, but he prayed to his heavenly father, almighty God Jehovah. This was the same Almighty God that all Israelites/Jews prayed to.
2. Common sense as well as Bible prophecy tells us that for Jesus to have truly died for our sins, he would have had to be lifeless or actually dead for a time (3 days) for this to be true. If he didn’t really die, then what sense do the scriptures make that speak of his dying for all mankind’s sins? So, if he indeed actually died, who resurrected him? It would have had to be Almighty God, the Father Jehovah.
3. In Matthew 6:9-13, Jesus instructed his disciples how to pray. He told them to pray to the Father – never did he indicate that we should pray to him or to his mother or anyone else. He did say, however, to pray to the Father in his name – because it is by means of him (Jesus) that corrupt humans have any approach to Almighty God.

4. If Jesus were Almighty God, why would he say he couldn’t do anything of his own accord? Read John 5:19, John 14:28 and John 10:36. In Matthew 4:10, Jesus quoted a scripture in Deuteronomy 6:13 which clearly indicates WHO is to be worshiped as Almighty God.

5. Why would Colossians 1:15-17 refer to Jesus Christ as the, “beginning of all creation” if he was the Almighty Creator?“

 

 

WHAT DO ATHEISTS BELIEVE ABOUT JESUS ?

There is no central organized place from which atheism sprouts….unless you could say, “Hell” is it. So, following are comments made by atheists concerning their believes. They seem to be very similar, with only a few exceptions.

The following is what atheists say about Jesus:

“I think he was an intelligent man with some wonderful ideas and an admirable character.”

“Not *everything* he said was good advice.”

“I believe that Jesus was a real person. He was a wise Rabbi and spiritual teacher and his teachings, along with those of Confucius and the Buddha are well worth following.
I do not believe the “Christ” part, Jesus was clearly not the “Messiah” the Jews were expecting and also always said that we were to worship ONLY the “Father”. I do not believe he was “divine”.”

“I do not think that Jesus was the son of a supernatural god. I think the requiring of blood sacrifice for forgiveness is not really forgiveness. Jesus sacrificing himself for us is barbaric/evil/insane when you consider that supposedly he/God required the blood sacrifice in the first place and would not issue forgiveness without.”

“I think Jesus was most likely was a religious leader in the ancient world who was given up by Hebrew priests because he threatened the status quo. They made it sound as if he was planning an uprising against the Roman State.”

“I believe he is most likely a fictional character. If there really was a person around whom these legends grew up, he probably bore almost no resemblance to the stories in the Bible.”

 

 

WHAT JUDAISM BELIEVES ABOUT JESUS

 

Judaism rejects the idea of Jesus being God, or a person of a Trinity, or a mediator to God.

 

Some forms of Judaism, such as Chabad, believe that God is made of two substances, best described as the heart or soul, and the Spirit.  They strongly object to any notion that God could reveal Himself physically.  This concept was formalized by Maimomedes, (also called “Rambam”), a significant Jewish sage.  Using his own logic, he was certain that God could not have a physical presence.  While many of Rambam’s theological points are valid, many appear to contradict the actual statements and teachings of the Tanach (sometimes spelled Tanakh).

 

Wikipedia states that:

Judaism also holds that Jesus is not the Messiah, arguing that he had not fulfilled the Messianic prophecies in the Tanakh nor embodied the personal qualifications of the Messiah. According to Jewish tradition, there were no more prophets after Malachi, who lived centuries before Jesus and delivered his prophesies about 420 BC/BCE.

 

Future doctrinal decisions were made, not by an interpretation of Scriptures, but by Rabbis and sages who made their own conclusions. Very often, modern arguments against Jesus come from Jewish theologians who argue from the emotional idea that Jesus is somehow responsible for all the troubles which Jews have suffered throughout history. Often, their arguments are filled with hatred and anger based upon that premise.

 

An example of this is found in the Jews for Judaism approach.  According to an article on their website, they conclude that Jesus was insane. They base this upon A New Testament account in Mark 3:20-21 (quoting from the New Testament, which they contend is fraudulent, anyway).   “And the multitude cometh together again, so that they could not so much as eat bread.  And when His friends heard of it, they went out to lay hold on Him: for they said, He is beside Himself.”  They also quote from Mark 3:33-35 where Jesus’ mother and brothers came to see Him and they claim that He was hostile toward their attempt to see Him.  Their conclusion:

“. . . There could be but one reason. His family, mother brothers, and sisters, believed him to be mentally ill and had not come simply to see him, but had come to seize him.”

http://www.jewsforjudaism.org/knowledge/does_mark_3_21_say_jesus_kinsmen_said_he_was_mentally_ill_/

 

In their vicious hatred of Jesus, this organization even lies on that website about the actual Scripture, perhaps hoping that no one would look the Scripture up and find how they had deliberately perverted the truth in order to promote their hatred.  They say that Jesus’ kinsmen (mother, brothers, sisters) came to take Him away because He was insane.  That is NOT what the Scripture says.

Did his friends think that Jesus had “gone off the deep end” ?  The Bible indicates that they did.  However, just because someone has an opinion of you does not make that opinion fact, as the Jews for Judaism site wants us to believe.  What if people were expected to believe every opinion which people had about each of us ?  We would contend that it does not make it true.  The same applies in this case.  The illogical, dishonest, and twisted contentions of Jews for Judaism regarding the life of Jesus reflect an emotional hatred that deadens their sense of reason.

If these haters of Jesus had only read the Scriptures honestly and completely, they would have found Jesus’ Mother and brethren in the Upper Room as dedicated Believers, waiting for the Holy Spirit to fill them.  Acts 1:13-14  “And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James.  These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brethren.”

Thankfully, the opinions which the Jews of Judaism organization holds are those held by a dwindling minority of Jews.  Many more Jews today openly discuss the value of faith in Jesus, and whether Jesus is the Messiah, or not.   This is something that would have been unheard of 25 years ago.

 

JUDAISM WHICH WAS NOT TRULY ANXIOUS FOR THE MESSIAH REJECTS JESUS.

In Judaism, the Talmud is a collection of writings of Jewish rabbis which contain their opinions on many different topics.  Though not considered as sacred as the Hebrew Bible (called the “Tanakh”) from which we get much of our Old Testament, the Talmud is the basis for Jewish law and behavior.

From Wikipedia:

The Talmud Bavli consists of documents compiled over the period of Late Antiquity (3rd to 5th centuries).^[10] During this time the most important of the Jewish centres in Mesopotamia, later known as Iraq, were Nehardea, Nisibis,Mahoza (just to the south of what is now Baghdad), Pumbeditha (near present-day Fallujah), and the Sura Academy.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talmud#Talmud_Bavli_.28Babylonian_Talmud.29

 

Also from Wikipedia:

 The Babylonian Talmud include stories of Yeshu יֵשׁוּ; the vast majority of contemporary historians disregard these as sources on the historical Jesus.^[21]Contemporary Talmud scholars view these as comments on the relationship between Judaism and Christians or other sectarians, rather than comments on the historical Jesus.^[22][23]

The Mishneh Torah, an authoritative work of Jewish law, states in Hilkhot Melakhim 11:10–12 that Jesus is a “stumbling block” who makes “the majority of the world err to serve a divinity besides God”.

Even Jesus the Nazarene who imagined that he would be Messiah and was killed by the court, was already prophesied by Daniel. So that it was said, “And the members of the outlaws of your nation would be carried to make a (prophetic) vision stand. And they stumbled.”^{[Dan. 11:14]} Because, is there a greater stumbling-block than this one? So that all of the prophets spoke that the Messiah redeems Israel, and saves them, and gathers their banished ones, and strengthens their commandments. And this one caused (nations) to destroy Israel by sword, and to scatter their remnant, and to humiliate them, and to exchange the Torah, and to make the majority of the world err to serve a divinity besides God. However, the thoughts of the Creator of the world — there is no force in a human to attain them because our ways are not God’s ways, and our thoughts not God’s thoughts. And all these things of Jesus the Nazarene, and of (Muhammad) the Ishmaelite who stood after him — there is no (purpose) but to straighten out the way for the King Messiah, and to restore all the world to serve God together. So that it is said, “Because then I will turn toward the nations (giving them) a clear lip, to call all of them in the name of God and to serve God (shoulder to shoulder as) one shoulder.”^[Zeph. 3:9] Look how all the world already becomes full of the things of the Messiah, and the things of the Torah, and the things of the commandments! And these things spread among the far islands and among the many nations uncircumcised of heart.^[24]

According to Conservative Judaism, Jews who believe Jesus is the Messiah have “crossed the line out of the Jewish community”.^[25] Reform Judaism, the modern progressive movement, states “For us in the Jewish community anyone who claims that Jesus is their savior is no longer a Jew and is an apostate“.^[26]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religious_perspectives_on_Jesus#Judaism

 

***Notations regarding the Jewish view of Jesus.  The Jewish people have long had battles with genuine faith.  God left the entire generation of Jews who left Egypt to die in the wilderness because they would not follow faith according to His Word (with the exception of Caleb and Joshua).  Instead, they followed their own teachers (rabbi’s) who led them astray.  This occurs many times throughout their history, and has resulted in their captivity and Diaspora [Diaspora = “the scattering of Jews throughout the world”] as well as many other judgments from God.  Today, many Jews are trapped in the traditions which have brought the anger of the Lord down upon them many times.

 

 

JEWS ANXIOUS FOR THE MESSIAH OFTEN LEAVE OPEN THE DOOR TO CONSIDERING THE CLAIMS OF JESUS.

Today, many Orthodox Jews are following in the paths of their fathers, and listening to rabbi’s and sages rather than the Word of God.  They have made up “principles” and concepts which go directly against what the Bible teaches.

 

However, there is a move among many younger Orthodox Jews today to cast aside their previous teachings, and to study the Scriptures on the basis of its own authority.  As a result, many are beginning to see the light which God reveals about Himself in the Word.

 Revelation 7:3  Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.

Revelation 7:4  And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.

 

 

 

WHAT MORMONS BELIEVE ABOUT JESUS

MORMONS.

The following excerpts are taken from an address to the Harvard Divinity School in March 2001 by Robert L. Millet, former dean of religious education at Brigham Young University. It is offered on Newsroom as a resource.
Latter-day Saints believe that the simplest reading of the New Testament text produces the simplest conclusion — that the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost are separate and distinct personages, that They are one in purpose. We feel that the sheer preponderance of references in the Bible would lead an uninformed reader to the understanding that God the Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost are separate beings. That is, one must look to the third- and fourth-century Christian church, not to the New Testament itself, to make a strong case for the Trinity.

What Do Mormons Believe About Christ?
· We believe Jesus is the Son of God, the Only Begotten Son in the flesh (John 3:16). We accept the prophetic declarations in the Old Testament that refer directly and powerfully to the coming of the Messiah, the Savior of all humankind. We believe that Jesus of Nazareth was and is the fulfillment of those prophecies.
· We believe the accounts of Jesus’ life and ministry recorded in Matthew, Mark, Luke and John in the New Testament to be historical and truthful. For us the Jesus of history is indeed the Christ of faith. While we do not believe the Bible to be inerrant, complete or the final word of God, we accept the essential details of the Gospels and more particularly the divine witness of those men who walked and talked with Him or were mentored by His chosen apostles.
· We believe that He was born of a virgin, Mary, in Bethlehem of Judea in what has come to be known as the meridian of time, the central point in salvation history. From His mother, Mary, Jesus inherited mortality, the capacity to feel the frustrations and ills of this world, including the capacity to die. We believe that Jesus was fully human in that He was subject to sickness, to pain and to temptation.
·
We believe Jesus is the Son of God the Father and as such inherited powers of godhood and divinity from His Father, including immortality, the capacity to live forever. While He walked the dusty road of Palestine as a man, He possessed the powers of a God and ministered as one having authority, including power over the elements and even power over life and death.

http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/what-mormons-believe-about-jesus-christ

 

In an interview of Former Mormon, Beth Johnston, of Idaho, says this about her former church’s views.

 “Mormons do not believe in the Trinity as we understand it. They believe that God and Jesus were separate physical people” who dwelled on the earth, Johnston said. God was Jesus’ father, and both men died.”

http://www.christianpost.com/news/what-do-mormons-believe-ex-mormon-speaks-out-part-two-58494/

In a look at comparing the beliefs of Mormonism to those of Biblical Christianity, this is what Sandra Tanner has found.

In order to understand the LDS doctrine regarding Lucifer one must also understand its doctrine of man. The LDS Church teaches that everyone, Jesus and Lucifer included, had a pre-mortal existence where we were born as spirit children of God and his wife. In the LDS teaching manual Gospel Principles we read:

“God is not only our ruler and creator; he is also our Heavenly Father. . . . Every person who was ever born on earth was our spirit brother or sister in heaven. The first spirit born to our heavenly parents was Jesus Christ (see D&C 93:21), so he is literally our elder brother (see Discourses of Brigham Young, p. 26). Because we are the spiritual children of our heavenly parents, we have inherited the potential to develop their divine qualities. (Gospel Principles, 1997, p. 11 [link])”

However, prior to this spirit birth each of us had eternally existed as an “intelligence.” Angels, devils, mortals and gods are regarded as the same species but in different stages of advancement or judgment. In one of Joseph Smith’s revelations we read, “Man was also in the beginning with God. Intelligence, or the light of truth, was not created or made, neither indeed can be” (Doctrine and Covenants 93:29). According to another of Smith’s revelations, God told Abraham:

“I dwell in the midst of them all . . . for I rule in the heavens above, and in the earth beneath, in all wisdom and prudence, over all the intelligences thine eyes have seen from the beginning; I came down in the beginning in the midst of all the intelligences thou hast seen.

Now the Lord had shown unto me, Abraham, the intelligences that were organized before the world was; and among all these there were many of the noble and great ones. (Abraham 3:21-22, Pearl of Great Price)”

According to LDS doctrine, the two oldest sons of God were Jesus and Lucifer. Lucifer convinced one-third of his brothers and sisters to join him in rebellion and were expelled from Heaven (see Gospel Principles, chapter 3 [link]). The other two-thirds became the humans born on our earth. This doctrine is mainly drawn from Joseph Smith’s revelations in the Book of Abraham and the Book of Moses in the Pearl of Great Price

. . .

This doctrine was further explained in the June 1986 LDS magazine Ensign. The question was asked “How can Jesus and Lucifer be spirit brothers when their characters and purposes are so utterly opposed?” Jess L. Christensen, Institute of Religion director at Utah State University, Logan, Utah, responded:

“On first hearing, the doctrine that Lucifer and our Lord, Jesus Christ, are brothers may seem surprising to some — especially to those unacquainted with latter-day revelations. But both the scriptures and the prophets affirm that Jesus Christ and Lucifer are indeed offspring of our Heavenly Father and, therefore, spirit brothers. Jesus Christ was with the Father from the beginning. Lucifer, too, was an angel who was in authority in the presence of God, a son of the morning. (See Isa. 14:12; D&C 76:25-27.) Both Jesus and Lucifer were strong leaders with great knowledge and influence. But as the Firstborn of the Father, Jesus was Lucifer’s older brother. (See Col. 1:15; D&C 93:21.)”

http://www.utlm.org/onlineresources/ldsteachingonlucifer.htm

 

 

WHAT CHRISTIAN SCIENCE BELIEVES ABOUT JESUS

Christian Scientists do believe that Jesus stands alone in His mission and purpose as the promised Messiah. Christian Science teaches that Jesus embodied the divinity of God but that He Himself was not Deity—in keeping with Jesus’ own words that He was not the Father, and that God, the Father, alone should be worshiped.

Belief in Deity
God is incorporeal Spirit–creative Principle, supreme, omnipotent Father-Mother, omnipresent, omniscient–the only intelligence and all that actually exists. God is Mind, Spirit, Soul, Principle, Life, Truth, and Love. “God is All-in-all.”

Incarnations
We are all sons/daughters of God, though not at the level of understanding of Christ Jesus. Jesus was a divine Exemplar, and Christ is the divine idea of “sonship”–the Master. Jesus showed the way (the “wayshower”) for all to realize Truth, which is God.

 

 

 

WHAT SCIENTOLOGY BELIEVES ABOUT JESUS

Scientology believes that Jesus was a very wise man, of the same caliber as Moses. He understood that people needed to express love. So, He established a pattern for handing on the message of caring for others, called the Gospel.

“. . . these people (figures of major religions) handed on a torch of wisdom, of information, generation to generation. It was handed along geographical routes and one of those geographical routes was the Middle East. And one of the people who handed it on was a man named Moses. And again it was handed on to a man named Christ. And he handed it on and even the Arab nations benefited from this through their own prophet, Muhammad.

“And these men I consider great spiritual leaders, because they gave to Man, on down through the years, the hope that life could go on, that there was a spiritual side to existence, that the business of barter and gain was not all there was to life.”

 http://www.scientology.org/faq/scientology-beliefs/religious-figures-of-the-past.html

 

 

 

 

PART 3:   WHAT END TIMES PEOPLE

WILL BELIEVE ABOUT JESUS

 

***US Congressman Rob Portman last week decided to change his views on gay marriage.  He had long held that his convictions stood against homosexual marriage.  Now, he says that has changed because his son decided that he is gay and wants to marry another gay.  This reversal of standards was based on his son’s decision to be openly gay.  Today, few people stand on anything except their emotions.  They side with their family, even though they know they are wrong.

 

We need a solid standard, that no matter who violates God’s Word, family member, loved one, relative, or whoever–we will stand up for what is right regardless.  Many people in these Last Days claiming to be Christians, have accepted doctrines which are entirely non-Biblical on the basis that other family members are opposed to Scripture.   Rather than taking a stand upon the unchanging Word of God, they submit to pressures and influences from the world.

 

This is often true of a person’s concept of Jesus.

 

In order for the Antichrist to come on the world scene and convince people that he is the Messiah and God in flesh, there must be a radical change in the way most supposed Christians think of Jesus.

 

THE BIBLE DESCRIBES WHAT PEOPLE WILL THINK OF JESUS IN THE LAST DAYS.  THEY WILL SEE JESUS AS THEIR ENEMY.

The time for salvation is over, and they will cling to their excuses and lies. now, only judgment remains for most people on earth.

Isaiah 63:10 But they rebelled, and vexed his holy Spirit: therefore He was turned to be their enemy, and He fought against them.

Revelation 6:13 -17 And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.   And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains;  And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?

By the time the Sixth Seal Occurs, in the Tribulation, we understand that radical doctrinal changes have occurred, yet some Biblical truths remain.

 

***IMPORTANT–We believe that the True Church of Jesus Christ, the Bride, will have already been resurrected and brought into Heaven before this time.  Left behind will be many churches which carry on their activities as usual, with countless people drifting in their beliefs closer and closer to the doctrines of Antichrist.  

 

 

These are things people will believe about Jesus:

• They believe that Jesus brings wrath upon the people of the earth. (“Hide us from the face of Him…”)
• They believe that He is on the Throne of God. (“…Him that sitteth on the Throne…”).
• They believe that He is the Lamb of God. (“…wrath of the Lamb…”).
• They believe that the prophecies about His wrath coming to pass upon sinners is accurate.   (“…the day of His wrath…”).
• They believe His power cannot be resisted. (…”who shall be able to stand ?”).

***In other words, they see Him as modern theologians picture Satan. People are being conditioned to think that the true God would never hurt them, never judge them, never bring any condemnation on the world. Since the events require an explanation which is supernatural, they will find it easier to blame Jesus for the bad things happening. (When things go wrong, how many people already get angry at Jesus and blame Him ? Many). The stage is now set.

 

 

THE ANTICHRIST WILL ATTEMPT TO REPLACE BIBLICAL TEACHINGS ABOUT JESUS WITH A RELIGION THAT MAKES IT APPEAR THAT THE ANTICHRIST IS THE TRUE MESSIAH.

 

HE WILL USE THE DEDICATION OF THE TEMPLE IN JERUSALEM AND HIS OFFERING OF A PIG ON THE ALTAR AS EVIDENCE THAT HE IS THE TRUE GOD (SUPPOSEDLY “PROVEN” BY THE FACT THAT ONLY GOD COULD GET AWAY WITH SUCH A VIOLATION OF BIBLICAL LAW).

 

Daniel 11:31  And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate.

Daniel 12:11  And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days.

Mark 13:14  But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains:

 

THE ANTICHRIST WILL EXALT HIMSELF.

 2 Thessalonians 2:4  Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

Daniel 11:36-37  And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done.  Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god: for he shall magnify himself above all.

 

 

 

WHAT THIS TELLS US ABOUT THE NEW THEOLOGY IS THIS:

 

1. THE ANTICHRIST IS NOT SUBMISSIVE TO ANY HIGHER BEING […that he knows of.  of course, he is submissive to his father, Satan]  (doing his will).
2. HE WILL PUT DOWN ALL OTHER GODS (and, in particular, Jesus).
3. HE WILL BE VERY OUTSPOKEN AGAINST THE GOD OF GODS (so, will come against His Word, the Bible).
4. HE WILL REMOVE HIMSELF FROM THE GOD OF HIS FATHERS, AT LEAST IN HIS BEHAVIOR.  (“…neither shall he regard the God of his fathers…”).  [The term, “God of his fathers” is a common reference to Jewish ancestry.  In other words, the Antichrist will have a definite  Jewish lineage.  This is obvious to the Jewish people and religious leaders who would never allow a non-Jew to enter the Temple as a worshipper much less make an offering as the Antichrist attempts to do].
5. HE WILL MAGNIFY HIMSELF ABOVE ALL OTHERS.  (and this would require lowering the stature of Jesus in his doctrine).

 

Revelation 13:4-8  And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?  And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.  And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.  And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.  And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

 

 

THE ANTICHRIST WILL BE APPLAUDED BY MOST PEOPLE, WHO APPROVE OF HIS WORLDLY STANDARDS WHICH CONTRADICT GOD’S WAYS.

Revelation 13:8  And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

 

 

HE WILL CONDEMN THE MORALITY AND STANDARDS WHICH JESUS REAFFIRMED.

THUS HE MUST PICTURE JESUS AS A HATER, A BIGOT, A LIAR, A DECEIVER, A FRAUD, AN UNCARING AND UNLOVING PERSON.  HE WILL REJECT WHAT JESUS SAID.  A NEW FORM OF MORALITY WILL ACCOMPANY THE ANTICHRIST WHICH WAS NEVER ALLOWED BY JESUS.   This provides for strong measures against certain crimes, while being permissive and corrupting the commands of God as they relate to behavior.

Daniel 7:25  And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.

 

AT THE PRESENT TIME, MANKIND HAS MADE CERTAIN ACTS WHICH THE BIBLE CONDEMNS AS ACCEPTABLE AND EVEN DESIREABLE ?

• HOMOSEXUALITY.
• ABORTION.
• COVETING.
• DECEPTION FOR (what they consider to be) “A GOOD CAUSE.”
• FAILURE TO HONOR FATHER AND MOTHER.
• MURDER (of those who disagree with them).

 

GOD WILL SEND A DELUSION WHICH LEADS THE SINNERS OF THE WORLD TO BELIEVE THAT THE CHANGE ANTICHRIST BRINGS WILL BE BENEFICIAL.

CONSEQUENTLY, THEY APPRECIATE THE ANTICHRIST SO MUCH, THEY BELIEVE WHAT HE SAYS, AND THEY WORSHIP THE GROUND HE WALKS UPON.

2 Thessalonians 2:11-12  And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:  That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

 

This is exactly what occurred in Noah’s generation, when the world was destroyed by the flood from God’s judgment.

Genesis 6:12  And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.

 

 

WOULD GOD HIMSELF DELIBERATELY HELP THESE PEOPLE TO GO IN THE WRONG DIRECTION ? 

 

This seems inconceivable to many people.  How could a loving God cause greater delusion upon the people that He created ?  Yet, from Scripture we understand that God did this on several occasion.

 

THE EXAMPLE OF PHARAOH OF EGYPT.  When Pharaoh hardened his own heart against the will of God on several occasions when he had opportunity to decide to do right, God came along and helped him with that hardness.  It would appear that God will sometimes help a person in going away from Him once they have made the decision to do so.

 

PHARAOH HARDENED HIS OWN WILL AGAINST GOD TO BEGIN WITH, 

Exodus 8:15  But when Pharaoh saw that there was respite, he hardened his heart, and hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had said. 

Exodus 8:32  And Pharaoh hardened his heart at this time also, neither would he let the people go.

Exodus 9:34  And when Pharaoh saw that the rain and the hail and the thunders were ceased, he sinned yet more, and hardened his heart, he and his servants.

WHEN IT BECAME CLEAR THAT THIS WRONG DIRECTION IS THE PATH PHAROAH CHOSE, GOD ADDED TO HIS HARDNESS OF HEART. 

Exodus 10:1  And the LORD said unto Moses, Go in unto Pharaoh: for I have hardened his heart, and the heart of his servants, that I might shew these my signs before him:

 

 

THE EXAMPLE OF ISRAEL.

 

ISRAEL CHOSE TO HARDEN THEIR HEARTS AGAINST THE WORDS OF GOD. 

Jeremiah 7:26  Yet they hearkened not unto Me, nor inclined their ear, but hardened their neck: they did worse than their fathers.

Jeremiah 19:15  Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will bring upon this city and upon all her towns all the evil that I have pronounced against it, because they have hardened their necks, that they might not hear My words.

 

ONCE IT BECAME CLEAR THAT BY THEIR OWN WILL THEY WANTED TO BE BLIND AND HARDENED AGAINST GOD, GOD HARDENED THEM EVEN FURTHER.

John 12:40  He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.

 

 

 

PART 4:  THE BIBLE REVEALS THE

PHYSICAL MESSIAH AND CREATOR

 

 

WHY WOULD PEOPLE EVER ACCEPT THE WRITINGS OF MEN WHO WERE NOT PRESENT WHEN JESUS WALKED ON THE EARTH OVER THE TESTIMONIES OF EYEWITNESSES, SUCH AS THE APOSTLES IN SCRIPTURE ?  SHOULD WE VALUE THE OPINION OF MEN WHO SIN OVER THE DIVINELY PRESERVED WORD OF GOD ?   OF COURSE NOT.

 

TODAY, THERE ARE MANY “EXPERTS” WHO HAVE DECIDED TO JUDGE EVENTS WHICH OCCURED 2000 YEARS AGO, YET THEY CANNOT ACCURATELY RECONSTRUCT EVENTS WHICH TOOK PLACE 100 YEARS AGO.   MODERN TIMES PREACHERS, BOOK-WRITERS, SAGES, THEOLOGIANS, ARCHEOLOGISTS, AND EVEN RABBI’S HAVE NO MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE LIFE AND CLAIMS OF JESUS THAN WE DO.  BUT, OUR CLAIMS ARE BASED UPON THE ETERNAL GOD-BREATHED REVELATION OF JESUS–THE BIBLE.

 

 

IF WE ARE WISE, WE WILL BASE OUR BELIEF UPON SOMETHING OF SUBSTANCE–THE BIBLE. 

Hebrews 11:1  Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

 

RELIGION CAN BE FROM MEN OR FROM GOD.  

GOD IS NOT AGAINST TRUE RELIGION.  TODAY, MANY PROFESSING CHRISTIANS CLAIM THAT THEY HATE RELIGION.

James 1:26-27  If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.  Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

FACT:   GOD DOES NOT CONDEMN RELIGION.  HE CONDEMNS FALSE RELIGION.

 

FALSE VERSUS TRUE RELIGION: 

Man has made up stories about giants, dragons, monsters, and a host of other creatures for us to read about in literature.  But, while there might have been some substance to an initial report about these things, over many years, they have been changed and changed many times.  The descriptions of them today would not even be recognizable to the people who lived when some minor episode actually took place.  But, this is what man’s imagination does very effectively.  He makes up things and exaggerates to the best of his flawed intellect.  That is why it is such a blessing to have the testimony of eye-witnesses, and a book about Jesus which was written by the breath of Almighty God.  We know that those things are Truth and not flawed by man’s desire to exaggerate stories.

 

 

WELL-INTENDED, BUT FALSE RELIGION. 

Let us consider the concept which some people have that Jesus is one of three gods attributed to a Trinity.  They refer to Him as one of the “persons” of the God-head, giving a false impression that there are three individuals united in some way that compose a basic concept of God.  The Bible tells us that God is One Person.  There are not three gods.  Only One.  And, the descriptions of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are manifestations of the same One Almighty God, not three different people attached mysteriously to each other.   (See the graphic illustration of God and mankind having three parts). 

 

Perhaps one of the more difficult aspects of understanding this concept is the idea that God very often reveals one manifestation of Himself more than another in certain areas of Scripture.  For an example, He may emphasize His Spirit in one place, leading those who have not studied details to think that His Spirit is one God and there remains two others.

 

Another difficult thing for mere human beings to comprehend is how the same Person can relate to each part of Himself.  If we understood everything about God, we would certainly have jumped from human to Divine intelligence.   We can only hope to understand a small portion of the greatness of Almighty God.  He is obviously able to separate Himself into three clearly distinguishable parts.  We humans would have a difficult time doing that, although in some aspects, we do it without realizing it.

 

There are many writers with an axe to grind against the New Testament who have falsely assumed that all Christians believe in the three-god Trinity concept.  The very foundation of their argument is flawed, so the ideas which they build against the claims of Jesus are also flawed.

 

There is no mention of any “Trinity” with three separate gods in the Bible.  Not all Christians believe in this doctrine.  This term came into being through the Roman Catholic Church, and its efforts to instruct pagans who often had multiple gods.  It was assumed that was easier for them to understand a multi-god entity.  In the Bible, however, the ONE true God is referred to by many names, and the total being of God is referred to on several occasions as the “Godhead” not as multiple people.

 

 

1. THE WORD “GOD” IN THE NEW TESTAMENT IS USED MOST TIMES WHEN REFERRING TO THE FATHER, OR THE VERY SOUL OF THE ALMIGHTY.

  Ephesians 1:17  That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him:  

In this sample Scripture as well as most others, we see that the term “God” refers to the Father.

 

 

2. ON FEWER OCCASIONS, THE USE OF THE WORD “GOD” REFERS TO THE ENTIRE BEING OF THE ALMIGHTY.

 

 JESUS USED THE WORD “GOD” TO DESCRIBE THE FATHER, AND USES THE WORD “GOD” INTERCHANGEABLY WITH “THE FATHER.”. 

John 13:3  Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He was come from God, and went to God;

Here Jesus used the word “Father” with the word “God” interchangeably, or meaning the same thing.

 

JESUS MADE IT CLEAR THAT HE WAS THE PHYSICAL MANIFESTATION OF THE FATHER. 

John 14:6  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.

John 14:8-11  Philip saith unto Him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us.  Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known Me, Philip? he that hath seen Me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?  Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of Myself: but the Father that dwelleth in Me, He doeth the works.  Believe Me that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me: or else believe Me for the very works’ sake.

 

JESUS DECLARED THAT HE CAME OUT FROM GOD. 

John 16:27  For the Father Himself loveth you, because ye have loved Me, and have believed that I came out from God.

DOES THE BIBLE SAY THAT THIS WAS THE FATHER ?   YES !

1 John 4:14  And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.

 THE BIBLE MAKES IT CLEAR THAT THE TERM “GOD” REFERS TO THE FATHER.

1 Corinthians 8:6  But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by Him.

1 Corinthians 15:24  Then cometh the end, when He shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when He shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.

2 Corinthians 1:3  Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;

Galatians 1:1  Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead;)

Galatians 1:3  Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ,

 

JESUS IS NOTED AS BEING A REVELATION OF THE GODHEAD. 

  (“Godhead,” is actually  “being God in every way”)

Romans 1:20  For the invisible things of Him  [Jesus] from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:  

Colossians 2:9  For in Him  [Jesus]  dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

 

 

 

THE BIBLE SAYS THAT JESUS IS THE ONE WHO CREATED THE PHYSICAL WORLD  YET, THE BIBLE SAYS THAT GOD CREATED THE WORLD.

If Jesus is not God in physical form, Isn’t this a contradiction ?  Of course.  But, the contradiction dissolves when we understand that Jesus was God in physical flesh.

 

THE OLD TESTAMENT SAYS IT.  It describes God as the One Who created the heavens and the earth.

Isaiah 42:5  Thus saith God the LORD  [HEBREW=YAHWEH”] , He that created the heavens, and stretched them out; He that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; He that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein:

 

THE NEW TESTAMENT SAYS IT. 

Mark 10:6  But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female.  

Mark 13:19  For in those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the creation which God created unto this time, neither shall be.

 

 

THE BIBLE IDENTIFIES WHO THAT GOD IS.

Colossians 1:14-19  In whom we have redemption through His blood [obviously speaking of Jesus], even the forgiveness of sins:  Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:  For by Him  [context says that the word “Him” refers to Jesus]  were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him, and for Him:  And He is before all things, and by Him all things consist.  And He is the head of the body, the church: [again, this can only be speaking of Jesus]  Who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things He might have the preeminence.  For it pleased the Father that in Him should all fulness dwell;

So, according to this Scripture, Jesus was the One Who created the heavens and the earth, etc., and it clearly states in other passages that the Creator is God.  Therefore, since the Bible says that Jesus was the Creator, He is God.

 

THE OLD TESTAMENT PROVIDES POWERFUL EVIDENCE THAT JESUS CREATED PHYSICAL WORLDS.

Understanding the nature of God–that is, that He has  three parts within the same Person, helps to explain the Hebrew language use of “Elohim” [a plural word, translated “God”} in Genesis 1:26.  

Genesis 1:26  And God said, Let us make man in Our image, after Our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

 

It is significant that God revealed to us that He has more than one part by using a plural word to describe Himself.  He did not want it left to theologians, sages, and guru’s to come up with ideas about who He is.  He reveals Himself in His Own way.   Through the Word of God.

 

 

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IMPORTANT NOTE:  The word LORD in the Old Testament is almost always an English language translation of the Hebrew word, “JEHOVAH.”  The English translators used the word LORD instead of a literal translation because they were afraid that due to the numerous times JEHOVAH appears in the O.T., it would be “vain repetition” (Exodus 20:7, Matthew 6:7), of God’s Name to use it so many times.   Whether we agree with this logic, or not, it was the way it was done.  (The English translators used all capital letters to differentiate God’s Name from “lord,” which is a simple term of respect and authority).  This usage is exclusively in the Old Testament where the translation comes from the Hebrew, and does not apply to New Testament translations.

 

Now, we find that when it comes to physical appearances, creation of everything, and many other areas, that the word LORD appears.  We clearly understand from Scripture that it was Jesus who created and appeared physically to O.T. people.  Therefore, when the Name LORD is translated in the O.T., we understand that it refers to Jesus.  In other words, JEHOVAH is the Name by which He revealed Himself in the Old Testament Scriptures.

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THE PHYSICAL ATTRIBUTES OF MAN (MADE IN HIS IMAGE) REVEAL THAT GOD MUST HAVE A PHYSICAL ASPECT, AS WELL.

The plural use of the word Elohim in Genesis 1:26 speaks of making man in “Our likeness.”  We see this mentioned as a complete man, but having three parts, in the image of God. 

1 Thessalonians 5:23  And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

***Since man not only has a spiritual nature, but a physical nature, too; we understand that since man was made in God’s image, God Himself must have these attributes, as well.  Since we were created in His image, where else would the physical nature of man come from ?  There was no other Creator, and man was not capable to making Himself physical.

 

We see God making man physical because God Himself has a physical part.  WHEN HE CREATED ADAM, HE MADE ADAM WITH A PHYSICAL PART.

Genesis 2:7  And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

WHEN HE MADE EVE, HE MADE HER WITH A PHYSICAL PART.

Genesis 2:22  And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.

 

 

WHEN THE BIBLE SPEAKS OF “GOD” IN MOST CASES, IT IS REFERRING TO THE FATHER, NOT THE ENTIRE GODHEAD.

1 Corinthians 8:6  But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by Whom are all things, and we by Him.

 

 

IS JESUS IDENTIFIED AS PART OF GOD IN THE OLD TESTAMENT ?

Isaiah 9:6  For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

 

IS JESUS IDENTIFIED AS GOD IN THE NEW TESTAMENT ?

John 1:1-3  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  The same was in the beginning with God.  All things were made by Him; and without Him was not any thing made that was made.

John 1:14  And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

                     

 

DID JESUS CLAIM TO BE KNOWN BY OLD TESTAMENT REVELATIONS ?  

HE WAS KNOWN TO ABRAHAM AT THE TIME ISAAC WAS OFFERED. 

John  8:54-58  Jesus answered, If I honour Myself, My honour is nothing: it is My Father that honoureth Me; of whom ye say, that He is your God:  Yet ye have not known Him; but I know Him: and if I should say, I know Him not, I shall be a liar like unto you: but I know Him, and keep His saying.  Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.  Then said the Jews unto Him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast Thou seen Abraham?  Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.

 

DID JESUS CLAIM TO BE THE “I AM” OF THE OLD TESTAMENT ?

Exodus 3:14  And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and He said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.

 

 

IN THE OLD TESTAMENT, THE LORD (YAHWEH) CLAIMS TO BE FIRST AND LAST.

Isaiah 44:6  Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and His redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside Me there is no God.
Isaiah 48:12–13  Hearken unto Me, O Jacob and Israel, My called; I am he; I am the first, I also am the last. Mine hand also hath laid the foundation of the earth, and My right hand hath spanned the heavens: when I call unto them, they stand up together.

 

WHO CLAIMED TO BE THE FIRST AND LAST IN THE NEW TESTAMENT ? 

Jesus did.

Revelation 1:17– And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. And He laid His right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:
Revelation 2:8—  And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive;
Revelation 22:13—   I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.

 

 

 

PART 5: HOW CAN GOD BE ALMIGHTY,

YET COME TO EARTH AS JESUS ?

 

DAVID SAYS THAT THE LORD (YAHWEH) IS GOD ALONE.

Psalm 86:6  Give ear, O LORD, unto my prayer; and attend to the voice of my supplications.  In the day of my trouble I will call upon Thee: for Thou wilt answer me.  Among the gods there is none like unto Thee, O Lord; neither are there any works like unto Thy works.  All nations whom Thou hast made shall come and worship before Thee, O Lord; and shall glorify Thy name.  For Thou art great, and doest wondrous things: Thou art God alone.

 

 

JESUS–AS GOD IN FLESH–COULD ONLY HAVE BEEN “BORN” BY A MIRACLE OF THE ALMIGHTY.

The miracle of the Virgin birth presents a dilemma to many not familiar with Scriptures.  Others struggle with the simple logic that God is Almighty.  If you were to ask a group of people if it was possible for Almighty God to make Himself appear as a 300 mile high giant, they would have no problem acknowledging that God could do it.  If you were to ask the same people if God could make Himself appear as a 300 foot high giant, again, they would answer in the affirmative.

 

Then, asking a group of people if God could–with His unlimited power–make Himself five inches small, most would admit that God could do that.  Yet, when confronted with God making Himself so small that He entered the womb of a virgin, they sometimes halt with doubts.  The reality is that God is Almighty and can do anything, and by His Holy Spirit, He entered into the womb of a Virgin, named Mary.

Luke 1:35  And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

 

Among properly educated and faithful Christians throughout the history of the Church, there has never been doubt that there is only One God, and that He is composed of three parts, just as humans who were made in His Image are.  Since He is the Almighty, He is able to do far more with Himself than human beings.

 

 

GOD’S POWER IS SHOWN BY THE VERY PRESENCE OF JESUS WALKING ON EARTH PHYSICALLY.

We can expect capabilities within God to far exceed those in mankind.  For an example, He is able to separate various parts of Himself, and still function.  One example of this is when God the Father (the soul of the Almighty) separated from the Body, Jesus as He completed His payment for our sins on the Cross.

Mark 15:34  And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken me? 

The Father, incapable to receiving sin, had to depart from His physical presence because Jesus had to receive the sins of the world into His own body.

1 Peter 2:24  Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by Whose stripes ye were healed.

 

Another unique ability is seen when He sent His Holy Spirit into men.

Acts 4:31  And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.

Neither the physical portion nor the soul of the Almighty were brought into them…but His Spirit was.

 

These are a couple of the unique capabilities that show how much superior God is to any of us.  Some capabilities which critics mention to try and discredit the idea that God is One and that  “..in Him (Jesus) dwelt all the fullness of the Godhead bodily”–Colossians 2:9) is the fact that Jesus claims not to know certain things.

 

 

JESUS SHOWS HIS ABILITY TO REMEMBER OR FORGET….WHICH IS ONLY A DIVINE CHARACTERISTIC WHEN TAKEN IN THESE CONTEXTS.

On one hand, He understood what people were thinking without them saying a word.

Matthew 12:25  And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:

 

On the other hand, He claims not to know the time of His return.

Mark 13:32  But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.

This is simply a much more powerful ability which God has to put certain things out of His mind, while retaining what He chooses.

 

The Almighty can choose to forget things, and put them away from Himself.  For us, this is an incredible blessing !

Psalms 103:12  As far as the east is from the west, so far hath He removed our transgressions from us.

For a human being to totally eliminate something from their memory is difficult, but some people are–by their own choice–able to forget certain things which they choose to forget.  How much more capable is Almighty God to do this !

 

 

 

DOES GOD CLAIM TO BE KING OVER A PHYSICAL NATION, AS WELL AS SPIRITUAL LEADER OR KING ?    WHO IS THE KING OF THE JEWS ?   DOES THE BIBLE APPOINT THAT TITLE TO JESUS ?  

    –HE CONFIRMS THIS HIMSELF. 

Isaiah 44:6-8–  Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and His redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside Me there is no God.  And who, as I, shall call, and shall declare it, and set it in order for Me, since I appointed the ancient people? and the things that are coming, and shall come, let them shew unto them.  Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it? ye are even my witnesses. Is there a God beside Me? yea, there is no God; I know not any.

    –THE WISE MEN KNEW IT. 

Matthew 2:2-3— Saying, Where is He that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen His star in the east, and are come to worship Him.  When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

–PILATE UNDERSTOOD IT.

Luke 23:3–3  And Pilate asked Him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And He answered him and said, Thou sayest it.

(“Thou sayest it,”  literally means, “You have said it.”)

 

 

WHO IS THE ROCK OF ISRAEL IN THE O.T. ?  

The Rock of Israel is a term describing the physical appearance of God as He led from the front, and protected from behind, the Children of Israel out of Egypt and through the wilderness.  The people could see Him, as He manifested Himself physically as a cloud and as a pillar of fire.

Exodus 13:21  And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night:

 

 

WHO DOES THE O.T. SAY THIS WAS ?

Deuteronomy 32:4   He is the Rock, His work is perfect: for all His ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is He.

2 Samuel 22:32—   For who is God, save the LORD? and who is a rock, save our God?

Isaiah 17:10–Because thou hast forgotten the God of thy salvation, and hast not been mindful of the rock of thy strength, therefore shalt thou plant pleasant plants, and shalt set it with strange slips:

Obviously, the Old Testament considers that the “Rock” is God.

 

 

THE NEW TESTAMENT CONFIRMS THAT THE “ROCK IS JESUS.”

 1 Corinthians 10:4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.

 1 Peter 2:4-8   To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,  Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.  Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on Him shall not be confounded. Unto you therefore which believe He is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,  And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.

NOTE:  In the Old Testament, God is called the “Rock.”

The God of salvation is considered to be the “Rock.”

The New Testament helps us understand more clearly that Jesus was the fulfilment of that role, as the true Rock, and is therefore considered to be God.

  

DOES THE N.T. EVER SPEAK OF JESUS DIRECTLY AS GOD ?

 

THOMAS RECOGNIZED THAT JESUS WAS TRULY GOD IN FLESH AFTER HIS RESURRECTION.  WHEN SEEING JESUS AFTER HIS RESURRECTION, HE SAID, “My Lord and my God” —John 20:20.  Jesus does not correct him, obviously acknowledging that what he said was true.

 

THE SAVIOR IS CONSIDERED “GOD.”   Titus 2:13 encourages us to wait for the coming of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ (see also   2 Peter 1:1) .

 

THE “SON” IS CONSIDERED TO BE GOD.  In Hebrews 1:6  the Father declares of Jesus, “But unto the Son He saith, ’Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever; a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of Thy kingdom.’” The Father refers to Jesus as “O God” indicating that Jesus is indeed God.

 

THE APOSTLE PAUL CALLS JESUS OUR “GREAT GOD AND SAVIOR”–Titus 2:13, and even says that Jesus existed in the “form of God” prior to His incarnation 

 

GOD THE FATHER SAYS OF JESUS, “…Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever” —Hebrews 1:8. 

 

JESUS IS DIRECTLY CALLED THE CREATOR IN  John 1:3–3  All things were made by Him; and without Him was not any thing made that was made.  and Colossians 1:16-17— For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him, and for Him:  And He is before all things, and by Him all things consist.

 

HE SAYS OF HIMSELF THAT HE IS THE ALMIGHTY.    Revelation 1:8–  I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.

 

 

 

GOD REVEALED HIMSELF PHYSICALLY IN THE O.T.

Keeping in mind that only the physical part of God can be seen, we have several manifestations which ARE physical in the O.T.   These are often revealed by the use of the word, “LORD,” or “angel (messenger) of the LORD.”

 

ADAM, WALKING WITH THE LORD IN THE GARDEN.

Genesis 3:8 And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.

 

GOD ATE PHYSICAL FOOD WHEN VISITING ABRAHAM.

 Genesis 18:1-8  And the LORD appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre: and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day;  And he lift up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood by him: and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the ground,  And said, My Lord, if now I have found favour in Thy sight, pass not away, I pray Thee, from Thy servant:  Let a little water, I pray You, be fetched, and wash Your feet, and rest Yourselves under the tree:  And I will fetch a morsel of bread, and comfort Ye Your hearts; after that Ye shall pass on: for therefore are Ye come to Your servant. And they said, So do, as thou hast said.  And Abraham hastened into the tent unto Sarah, and said, Make ready quickly three measures of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes upon the hearth.  And Abraham ran unto the herd, and fetcht a calf tender and good, and gave it unto a young man; and he hasted to dress it.  And he took butter, and milk, and the calf which he had dressed, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree, and they did eat.

 

ABRAHAM, AT THE OFFERING OF ISAAC.

Genesis 22:14  And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen.

 John 8:56  Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day: and he saw it, and was glad.

 

GOD, APPEARING TO MOSES IN THE TABERNACLE.

FACE TO FACE.

Exodus 33:11 And the LORD spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend. And he turned again into the camp: but his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, departed not out of the tabernacle.

Numbers 14:14 And they will tell it to the inhabitants of this land: for they have heard that Thou LORD art among this people, that Thou LORD art seen face to face, and that Thy cloud standeth over them, and that Thou goest before them, by day time in a pillar of a cloud, and in a pillar of fire by night.

Deuteronomy 5:4 The LORD talked with you face to face in the mount out of the midst of the fire,

Deuteronomy 34:10 And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face,

 

TO MOSES, AS THE GLORY PASSED BY, THE PHYSICAL HAND OF GOD WAS OVER MOSES’ EYES. 

Exodus 33:18-23  And he said, I beseech Thee, shew me Thy glory.  And He said, I will make all My goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy.  And He said, Thou canst not see My face: for there shall no man see Me, and live.  And the LORD said, Behold, there is a place by Me, and thou shalt stand upon a rock:  And it shall come to pass, while My glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a clift of the rock, and will cover thee with My hand while I pass by:  And I will take away Mine hand, and thou shalt see My back parts: but My face shall not be seen.

 

When this unique and amazing opportunity was granted to Moses, we see from the Bibliocal account the three distinct parts of God in one event.  The Glory (Shekinah) is present, cloaking the soul, the Father.  The Divine Hand is that of the Lord Jesus, protecting Moses’ eyes from the unmatchable holiness and glory of God.

 

GOD, PHYSICALLY WRESTLING WITH JACOB.

Genesis 32:24-30  And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.  And when He saw that He prevailed not against him, He touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob’s thigh was out of joint, as He wrestled with him.  And He said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let Thee go, except Thou bless me.  And He said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob.  And He said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.  And Jacob asked Him, and said, Tell me, I pray Thee, Thy name. And He said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after My name? And He blessed him there.  And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.

 

GOD PHYSICALLY APPEARED TO MANOAH TO ANNOUNCE THE COMING OF SAMSON. 

Judges 13:22  And Manoah said unto his wife, We shall surely die, because we have seen God.

 

 

 

 

PART 6:

JESUS – THE ONLY SAVIOR

 

 

WHAT JESUS DID ACTUALLY REVEALS WHO HE IS

 

THE CHALLENGE FROM JESUS.   

John 14:11 Believe Me that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me: or else believe Me for the very works’ sake.  

If a person refused to believe what Jesus said about Himself, Jesus offers the opportunity to understand Who He is by examining what He did and what He does.  Following are some acts which our Lord Jesus did that are recorded in Scripture.. 

 

HE FORGAVE SINS.  ONLY GOD CAN FORGIVE SINS.

JESUS DID THAT CONSTANTLY.

Luke 5:21  And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?

Luke 5:20  And when He saw their faith, He said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee.

Luke 5:23  Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk?

Luke 7:47  Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.

Luke 7:48  And He said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven.

 

Another Gospel account:

Mark 2:4-7  And when they could not come nigh unto Him for the press, they uncovered the roof where He was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay.  When Jesus saw their faith, He said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.  But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts,  Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God only?

 

HE IS THE ONLY ONE WHO COULD AND DID PAY FOR OUR SINS.

Romans 3:25  Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

1 John 2:2  And He is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

1 John 4:10  Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

 

HE ALONE CAN COME BEFORE THE ALMIGHTY AS OUR INTERCESSOR AND MEDIATOR.

1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;    

John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.

 

HE IS THE ONLY ONE  WHO CAN DEFEND YOU BEFORE THE FATHER.  

1 John 2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate {“DEFENSE ATTORNEY”}  with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

Hebrews 7:25 Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them.

 

HE IS THE HIGH PRIEST WHO IS ACTUALLY ABLE TO FORGIVE, NOT JUST COVER SIN.

MELCHISEDEK. 

Hebrews 7:22-27  By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament.  And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death:  But this man, because He continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.  Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them.  For such an high priest became us, Who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;  Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for His own sins, and then for the people’s: for this He did once, when He offered up Himself.

 

Hebrews 12:2  Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

 

HE RAISED THE DEAD.   GOD ALONE CAN RESTORE LIFE THAT HAD FULLY ENDED ON EARTH.

• LAZARUS OF BETHANY.   John 11:43  And when He thus had spoken, He cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.
• A WIDOW’S ONLY SON.  Luke 7:12-15  Now when He came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her.  And when the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not.  And He came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And He said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise.  And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And He delivered him to his mother.
•  A SYNAGOGUE LEADER’S DAUGHTER WHO DIED.  Luke 8:49-55  While he yet spake, there cometh one from the ruler of the synagogue’s house, saying to him, Thy daughter is dead; trouble not the Master.  But when Jesus heard it, He answered him, saying, Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole.  And when He came into the house, He suffered no man to go in, save Peter, and James, and John, and the father and the mother of the maiden.  And all wept, and bewailed her: but He said, Weep not; she is not dead, but sleepeth.  And they laughed Him to scorn, knowing that she was dead.  And He put them all out, and took her by the hand, and called, saying, Maid, arise.  And her spirit came again, and she arose straightway: and He commanded to give her meat.

 

HE GAVE COMMANDMENTS FOR LIFE.   ONLY GOD MAY GIVE COMMANDS AS THEY RELATE TO THE VERY LIFE OF PEOPLE.   

John 13:34  A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

John 15:12  This is My commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.

Acts 10:42  And He commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is He which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.

Acts 13:47  For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth.

HE OFFERED HIMSELF AS THE ANTICIPATED AND COMPLETE SACRIFICE NEEDED FOR SALVATION.

Jesus was the Lamb of God, Who took our place in punishment.  While a ram was caught in the thicket behind him, Abraham was very aware that only a “lamb” would be an acceptable sacrifice.  Isaac, too, noted this.

Genesis 22:7-8  And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?   And Abraham said, My son, God will provide Himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.

What Abraham saw, and rejoiced over, was NOT the ram caught in the thicket behind him, but what he saw when he lifted up his eyes and caught the vision of the future–the Lamb of God–God’s Only Son–being sacrificed for us.  Both he and Isaac were expecting a Lamb.  Abraham was blessed to see the true Lamb.

Genesis 22:14 And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen.

 

The requirement of a lamb sacrificed providing life for the Israelites in Egypt when the angel of death came is another reference to the role of Jesus.

Exodus 12:3  Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house:

 

JOHN THE BAPTIST DESCRIBED JESUS AS THE LAMB OF GOD.  

John 1:29  The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.  

John 1:36  And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!

 

HE REVEALED HIS SUPER-HUMAN CHARACTER THROUGHOUT HIS MINISTRY.  

As God in Flesh, He could have looked at sinful humanity, and decided to start all over again, destroying His creation once more.  Instead, He kept His creation, and redeemed it !

Revelation 5:9  And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for Thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;

 

HE ALONE WAS THE LIBERATOR FOR THOSE IN CHAINS OF SIN.  HE SET THOSE WHO WERE CAPTURED BY SIN FREE FROM THEIR BONDAGE.  NO ONE ELSE HAD DONE THIS, OR COULD DO IT.

Isaiah 61:1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;

 

• LEGION. Mark 5:15 And they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.
•  WOMAN CAUGHT IN ADULTERY.  John 8:11 She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.
•  WOMAN AT THE WELL.   John 4:28-29  The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men,  Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?

 

HE IS THE ONLY ONE WHOSE DEATH MEANT SOMETHING FOR ALL SINNERS.

HE DIED FOR US, DESPITE KNOWING WHAT KIND OF PEOPLE WE REALLY WERE. 

Romans 5:7-8  For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.  But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

 

Many people sorrow over their own loss. They cry when material things are taken away. They cry when they lose their health. They cry when they lose respect from someone. They cry when someone else is no longer there.

 

A Christian woman got news one day that her sister had cancer and wept for days. She couldn’t stand the thought of losing her sister. Yet, she did not even think about what her sister was going through until someone mentioned about the type of cancer she had. Why ? Her own feelings were most important to her. Jesus set aside His own feelings–feelings of hurt over the failure of the disciples to remain faithful, and feelings of incredible pain and suffering.

 

HE IS THE ONLY SAVIOR.

–HE IS THE ONLY SAVIOR.

Acts 4:12  Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

 John 14:6  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.

(The Greek definite article “the” appears.  This was specified by the Holy Spirit so that it is clearly not just “a way” or “one of several ways” but “the only” way.)

 

 

HE IS THE ONLY ROAD TO HEAVEN.

Matthew 7:13-14  Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:  Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

 

Many people think they can find their own way into Heaven.  But, the Bible states that they will never be let in.  They MUST receive forgiveness and new life from Christ Jesus first.  Their own ways cannot provide this.

Matthew 7:21-23  Not every one that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of My Father which is in heaven.  Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy name? and in Thy name have cast out devils? and in Thy name done many wonderful works?  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity.

 

 

HE IS THE ONLY ONE WHO KNEW ALL OF HISTORY BEFORE IT HAPPENED. ONLY GOD WOULD KNOW THAT.   The fact of Him knowing all things before they happen would demand that we realize He is God.

Olivet Discourse.  Prophecies about Peter, Pentecost, etc.

 

 

HE ALONE KNEW THAT JUDAS WOULD BETRAY HIM.  The disciples, who spent far more time with Judas had no clue. 

John 13:18-19  I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with Me hath lifted up his heel against Me. Now I tell you before it come, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I am He.

 

 

HE ALONE TOLD OF THE ROMAN DESTRUCTION OF JERUSALEM ALMOST 40 YEARS BEFORE IT HAPPENED.

Matthew 24:1-2  And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and His disciples came to Him for to shew Him the buildings of the temple.  And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.

 

 

HE ALONE TOLD OF THE END TIMES, OVER 2000 YEARS BEFORE THEY HAPPENED.

Matthew 24:3-5  And as He sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto Him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of Thy coming, and of the end of the world?   And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.  For many shall come in My name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

 

 

NO ONE BUT JESUS KNEW THESE THINGS, AND THEY REQUIRED DIVINE INTELLIGENCE TO KNOW THEM BEFORE THEY HAPPENED.

 

HE AROSE FROM THE DEAD, AS HE PREDICTED, PROVING HIS POWER OVER ALL THINGS.  He did not need a prophet or other person to help Him do this.  We also should note that He planned it to occur at a specific time which He previously announced.  What mere man could have done this ?  None. 

 

Acts 2:24 Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that He should be holden of it.

Acts 3:15 And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.

Acts 13:33 God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that He hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art My Son, this day have I begotten Thee.

Acts 17:31 Because He hath appointed a day, in the which He will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom He hath ordained; whereof He hath given assurance unto all men, in that He hath raised Him from the dead.

Romans 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

Ephesians 2:6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

Colossians 2:12 Buried with Him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with Him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised Him from the dead.

  

***NOTE:  in this section of the study, I have deliberately left off the many real and powerful miracles which Jesus did.  The reason is that the devil is a great imitator, and tries to do similar things.  To those without spiritual discernment it may actually appear that the devil (or, in the future, the false prophet) will do great miracles.   So, I left these off, and focused upon things which the devil would have a most difficult time trying to imitate and deceive regarding them. 

 Exodus 7:11-12  Then Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers: now the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments.  For they cast down every man his rod, and they became serpents: but Aaron’s rod swallowed up their rods.

 2 Timothy 3:8 Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.

 

These evil people even copied some of the larger plagues which God brought upon Egypt.

The spirits of antichrist and the False Prophet will do miracles…which will prove to some that the Antichrist is the true Messiah.  But, those who discern rightly will see the error of using those miracles as a basis for proving it.

 Revelation 13:14 And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.

 Revelation 16:14 For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.

 

 

“Jesus Who ?”

A Course Of Study From Blueprint For Revival Bible Institutes International

©2013 Belleview, FL 34421 USA

“The Adventure Of Faith:

Starting A New Church”

A Course Of Study From

Blueprint For Revival Bible

Institutes International

©2008 Belleview, FL 34421 USA

BLUEPRINT FOR REVIVAL BIBLE INSTITUTE

BASIC BIBLE STUDY GUIDE

Dr. Ed J MacWilliams

 

 

COURSE: The Adventure Of Faith: Starting A New Church

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE ADVENTURE OF FAITH:

Starting A New Church

 

 

Starting a new church can be an adventure in faith.  However, when it is done in a non-Biblical way, it can become one of the most discouraging efforts you will ever put forth.

 

 

BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU START.  IT MIGHT NOT BE A CHURCH !

Many well-intended people have launched out into towns, cities, and villages to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to start a new work for Him.  Some assumed that the gathering together of God’s newly born children would form a church.  To their horror, they later found that the gathering had developed into a vicious group of people who appointed themselves as judges of morality over the community.

 

So, what could new believers end up organizing ?  Even though what they had formed is called a church, it is far from the Biblical definition and purpose of a true church.  In some cases, they have come together and worked together as a social agency, feeding the poor, clothing those who have little clothing, and providing other services for those who need them.

 

There have been new Christians who gathered together to form a group that would appeal to their own pleasures.  They sing songs that make them feel good (rather than worship which praises God), pray for blessings to benefit them (rather than asking for things which they could use to bring people to Jesus), and set out to seek miracles to take them out of troubles (rather than asking the Lord to help them grow closer to Him through the miracles).  While elements of that may be found in true churches, when people get together for that primary purpose, they have left behind the true purpose of the church, and have become a selfish group of people seeking their own glory rather than a group of humble Believers seeking to glorify God.

 

Just because people gather together to worship does not mean that such a gathering is a church, either.  In recent times, religious groups using the name of Christ have come together with people whose god is not our God.  They have joined together in what they called “worship,” the singing of praises, the celebration of the existence of God, etc.  Yet, they could not be considered a church.  Why not ?  They did not have the structure, the purpose, and the authority by which a true local church comes into existence.

 

The creations of God – which are NOT born-again, nor have knowledge of salvation – they can praise God.  But, their proclamation of the glory of God does not make them a church, either.

 

Psalm 19: 1-3  “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth His handywork.  Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.  There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.”

 

Praise and worship services do not in themselves validate the existence of a church.  There are other criteria – which must be Biblical – that we use to determine if we are setting out to establish a true church that fulfills the will of God.

 

 

 

WHAT IS A CHURCH ?

 

There are precautions which a pastor must take in establishing a new work that would help prevent the new mission from becoming a failure.  He must first have in his own mind a clear Biblical understanding of what a true local church is.  If the Biblical teaching is not clear in his mind, it will be difficult for the church to get off to an effective start, and stay growing in the right direction.

 

Theories are plentiful.  In fact, it is relatively simple to attract a group of people interested in getting healed, getting rich, or becoming prosperous materially.  And, in many towns and cities, such gatherings are incorrectly called ‘churches.’  Many pastors, however, are satisfied to call such self-centered gatherings “churches” when they are not.

 

As faithful men and women of God, we must be dedicated to whatever God tells us in His Word.  Our understanding of what makes a local church must come from God’s Word.  Perhaps the most popular today is the view of Dr. C. I. Scofield, the man to whom many attribute the definition of the church as “…where two or three are gathered together in My Name…”

 

Let’s examine this argument briefly.  Matthew 18:20  “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”  Scofield wants to say it must be two or three people in order for the Lord to be present with them as a recognizable church.  There is nothing in the context of this Scripture to suggest that the Holy Spirit is even attempting to define the Church.  In fact, if you are alone, standing in the middle of a wilderness, where no one else can be seen for many miles, if you are saved, isn’t the Lord present with you then ?  If He is present with one Believer, is He not present with two…or three ?  Yes, of course, He is.   While one, two, or three Believers have the presence of the Lord Jesus with them in the Person of the Holy Spirit, that does not make that event a church.  The verse Scofield quotes was evidently stated by the Holy Spirit to show that in the presence of two or three Believers, more can be done for the Lord than otherwise.  THAT is what is shown in the context.

 

Others contend that a church must have an association with a formally organized church.  Still others argue that the church must contain people with certain offices through whom the Spirit of God can work.  And a few even believe that a body of Believers is only to be considered a church when it fulfills all the legal requirements of the state.

 

As with all issues of faith, the Bible must be the final authority.  There are a number of Scriptures which relate to Believers meeting together.  However, the Bible does not state in clear words that those meetings were those of a literal local church.  Even Dr. Scofield’s views cannot be supported by any specific words of the Bible.  Therefore, we have to make a judgment based upon the words which the Holy Spirit used to describe the local church, and the teachings of Jesus which relate to it.

 

 

DEFINITION OF THE GREEK WORD, ‘CHURCH’

This is the Greek Lexicon definition of the word which is translated “church.”

 

(Strong’s Concordance Number) 1577    ekklesia, ek-klay-see’-ah

from a compound of 1537 and a derivative of 2564; TDNT-3:501,394; n f

 

AV-church 115, assembly 3; 118

 

1) a gathering of citizens called out from their homes into some public place, an assembly

1a) an assembly of the people convened at the public place of the council for the purpose of deliberating

1b) the assembly of the Israelites

1c) any gathering or throng of men assembled by chance, tumultuously

1d) in a Christian sense

1d1) an assembly of Christians gathered for worship in a religious meeting

1d2) a company of Christians, or of those who, hoping for eternal salvation through Jesus Christ, observe their own religious rites, hold their own religious meetings, and manage their own affairs, according to regulations prescribed for the body for order’s sake

1d3) those who anywhere, in a city, village, constitute such a company and are united into one body

1d4) the whole body of Christians scattered throughout the earth

1d5) the assembly of faithful Christians already dead and received into heaven

 

 

THE BODY OF CHRIST (on Earth) IS THE CHURCH.

It is clear from the following Scripture, that the Body, the Church, has many members in it.

 

Ephesians 4: 11-16  “And He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;  For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:  Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:  That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;  But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into Him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:  From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.”

 

However, in that passage, the Lord is telling us about the Body of Christ, the Church, which is composed of EVERY Believer from every land from every time period.  This is NOT the local church which the Holy Spirit may use you to begin, but the entire Body of saved people worldwide.

 

Recognizing the local church is not always as easy as some people want to believe that it is.  If you were to find a human arm on the side of the road, would you say that you found the body ?  No.  You would have found part of the body.  If you traveled farther, and you found a body consisting of a connected head, chest, torso, legs, and one arm, you might say that you found a body.  Why ?  The more recognizable parts you find, the more you can relate it to the entire person.   In like manner, when you find a local church, the more functioning parts you find there, the more recognizable it becomes as the Bride of Christ.  When only a very small part is found, it is difficult for people to see the character of the entire body.   That does not mean that it is not a church, but it is not as easily recognizable.  It certainly, to some degree, represents the Body of Christ, thus the Bride.

 

The local church is that group of Believers who have come together to fulfill the commission which Jesus gave to the Church.  Numbers are unimportant so far as establishing the reality of a church.  The issue is whether the presence of those people fully represents The Body, the Bride of Christ.

 

 

THE CHURCH IS LIKE A NEW BABY

A beginning for a local church is very much like the birth of a child.  When it is conceived, not all the strengths, the personality, or the features of the child are known.  As the tiny human grows inside the womb, doctors can detect various parts of the child growing at various stages of development through a Sonogram machine image.  Each month, the child takes on new parts of development, and, as each mother knows, the child’s personality begins to develop, as well.  She can tell about that personality because she knows certain things that bother him and certain times of the day that he does not want to be interrupted.  The child will sometimes kick inside the womb of his mother as an expression of his likes and dislikes.

 

The new local church develops in a similar manner.  The offices of the church develop as the church grows.  The personality of the local church is seen only after many months of working together and growing through the nourishment of the Word of God.  So, just as an incompletely formed baby inside the womb is still a baby, a new church in the developmental stages is still a church, even if all the parts are not in place yet.

 

There are some basic analogies which Jesus used which can help us.  He frequently referred to new Christians as babies, and compared the new spiritual life of a Believer to the physical growth of a person.   So, perhaps we can find a stronger definition of the church in Holy Spirit’s analogy of the Church to “the Body of Christ.”

 

1 Corinthians 12:12-27   “For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.  For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.  For the body is not one member, but many.  If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?  And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?  If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?  But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased Him.  And if they were all one member, where were the body?  But now are they many members, yet but one body.  And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.  Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary:  And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.  For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked:  That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.  And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.   Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.”

 

From this Scripture we find that a person who is saved holds some place in the “Body,” the Church.  What is the presence of the Church on earth ?  EACH person who is truly saved is a part of that Body, and their presence on the earth is the local, earthly presence of the Body, the Church.  However, does an arm, or an eye, or a hair shaft make a complete representation of a body ?  Of course not ?  In order for a body to be recognized, it takes more than that.

 

********************************

SPIRITUALLY PRPEARING FOR WHAT IS AHEAD

1. NOT ALL OFFICES ARE REQUIRED AT THE BEGINNING OF A NEW CHURCH

Here are some thoughts to consider.  The local (Jerusalem) church existed BEFORE deacons were chosen.  At that time, the church had workers and pastors (who happened to be Apostles).  That appears to be the only official positions mentioned in the Bible.  So, we know that God recognized it as a church with those few positions.

 Acts 2:47  “Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.”

Acts 5:11  “And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.”

Deacons were not chosen until several years after the Church at Jerusalem was formed.   Note that Acts Chapter Six occurs as much as three years after Pentecost.  Acts 6:3.  “Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.”

 

Not all the offices of the Church were in operation at the time when the Holy Spirit first brought together that gathering of Believers, ‘the church,’ at Pentecost.  We may conclude that for Believers today, a young organizing group of Believers may well be a church, even though they do not have all the offices which a mature church will have.

 

2. PUTTING TOGETHER ALL THE CHARACTERISTICS OF A BIBLICAL LOCALCHURCH

A true local church of the Lord Jesus will have these characteristics.

–It will have the purposes established by Jesus.

–It will have His Word as its authority.

–It will have the organization which Jesus intended.

–It has His glory in mind in all that it does.

These four issues are vital to recognizing and establishing a true local church.

 

A. IT WILL HAVE THE PURPOSES ESTABLISHED BY JESUS.

Matthew 28: 19-20  “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:  Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”

 

This command from our Lord instructs us in the purposes of the Church.  First, they are to go out and reach the world with the Gospel, bringing people to know Jesus Christ as the only Savior and Lord.  Secondly, it shows us that the Church is called to teach what God expects to those who have responded to the Gospel.

 

To simplify this, we have two commands noted here.  The first is Evangelism.  The second is Edification.  These are the purposes of the Church.

 

There will be a focus on proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

A Church which is not doing the Divinely appointed purposes for the Church is not a church of Jesus Christ.  In some locations today, some churches have even made “surviving as a church” its’ purpose.

 

The church will not promote any other news.  It is not an agency of the community for community announcements, not is it a mouthpiece for the government.  It must never lower itself to be an instrument of sectarianism, promoting a denomination.  Instead, it must accurately preach and teach the Gospel of Jesus Christ as explained in the Bible.

 

There will be a serious effort to help Believers to grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ. 

The Church has a calling to fulfill a strong edification ministry.  Once the baby is born, it is shameful to let it lay in a bed without providing food for it.  As pastors of a new church, you have children—the new converts.  It is essential that they be fed spiritually from the Word of God.  This is a responsibility you have from the very start of your mission.  Each new convert must be nourished so they can grow in their knowledge of the Lord Jesus and His will for their lives.

 

1 Peter 2:2  “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:”

2 Peter 3:18  “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.”

2 Corinthians 12:19 “ Again, think ye that we excuse ourselves unto you? we speak before God in Christ: but we do all things, dearly beloved, for your edifying.”

Ephesians 4:12 “ For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:”

 

What distinguishes a true Biblical church from heretical cult meetings (that are still called “churches” by most people) ?  One of the vast differences between most churches and cults is that Biblical churches have a link to the traditional Biblical standards and teachings which have always been a part of the Body of Christ.   Cults are most often a mixture of traditional Christian values and “new  revelations.”  They accept some of the Christian fundamentals, but add their own recent doctrines which they often consider to be more important.

 

 

B. IT WILL HAVE GOD’S WORD, THE BIBLE, AS ITS AUTHORITY.

 

There is loud criticism among unbelievers about the local church.  They point to the false prophecies, the leaders who go astray, and the members of churches who do not reveal Christ in their actions.  Because of them, they say they cannot believe what the church teaches.   At the very least, what the Church is called to proclaim is made rather confusing to them.  The unbeliever condemns the church, and says it cannot be of God.  Even some within the church have made similar accusations.

 

However, the Church was established by Jesus Himself.  Jesus did nothing wrong, and in everything He did, the purity and holiness of His Person was revealed.  It was with His own Blood that the redeemed were purchased so that they might become an assembly of forgiven people, the Church.  Acts 20:28  “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which He hath purchased with His own blood.”

 

There is no church of Rome, nor any denomination, which created the power of Pentecost.  There was no entity of man which gave the Church instructions and guidance for operating.  No one but Almighty God has the right or authority to tell the Church what she must do.  His instructions are recorded in the Bible.

 

•   1). GOD THE FATHER APPOINTED JESUS TO BE HEAD OF THE CHURCH.  The local church is simply a part of that universal Body, so Jesus must be Head over all.  Ephesians 1:22  “And hath put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be the head over all things to the church,”

 

•   2). THE CHURCH IS TOLD TO BE IN SUBMISSION TO JESUS IN EVERYTHING.  That means that no part of the church is independent from the authority of Christ.   Ephesians 5:23-24  “For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and He is the saviour of the body.  Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.”

 

•   3). GOD GAVE COMMANDMENTS TO THE CHURCH.  1 Corinthians 14:37  “If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.”

 

•   4). THE CHURCH MUST PREACH THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST, AND NONE OTHER.  Galatians 1:9  “As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.”

 

•   5). GOD GAVE INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE CHURCH WHICH MUST BE FOLLOWED.  These instructions were written for the local church.  2 Thessalonians 3:14  “And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed.”

 

•   6). FAILURE TO FOLLOW THE COMMANDS OF GOD FOR THE CHURCH RESULT IN CHAOTIC CONDITIONS.  1 Timothy 6: 3-5  “If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;  He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,  Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.”

 

•   7). GOD ESTABLISHED THE STRUCTURE AND HIERARCHY FOR THE CHURCH.

1 Corinthians 12:28  “And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.”

 

It is clear from Scripture that each local church must abide by the teachings of God’s Word as the final authority in everything that the church does.

 

 

C. IT WILL HAVE THE STRUCTURE WHICH JESUS INTENDED.

Even though that early church structure may not be as mature as the ones in Corinth or Ephesus, whatever structure exists must be Biblical.  That means that there are no man-made offices of the church.  It also means that the church is striving to fulfill the Biblical offices as it grows.

 

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN MAN-MADE OFFICES AND BIBLICAL OFFICES

Within any church are positions which carry titles that we do not find in the Bible.  For an example, we do not see a Sunday School teacher, a Nursery worker, a church greeter, etc., mentioned by name.  However, many of these works are covered under the “gift of helps.”  The Sunday School teacher is helping the Pastor who is called to teach the church the Word of God.  The Nursery worker would fit into the same category.  A Church Greeter, a person who welcomes those who enter the church, could be considered a “Helper,” as well.

 

The dangerous situation which some churches have placed upon themselves is when they agree to create new positions which do not fulfill a Biblical roll.  Whether this role is called by a Biblical name, or not, if it does not comply with what the Bible says, it can lead to many problems in the long run.

 

For an example, the office of deacon is Biblical.  However, in some churches, deacons are given the authority to control all aspects of the church, including how long and what things the pastor is allowed to speak upon.  That type of authority for a deacon is not Biblical.  Therefore, even though that church may call these people “deacons,” they are NOT Biblical deacons.  They are positions which man has designed and defined.

 

In another situation, the church voted to create a board of “Presbyters.”  These men were given the authority over the entire church, and actually set down a schedule of what the pastor would be allowed to speak and when he would do it.  They assumed to take all authority within the church, and the pastor had to come to them for approval before he did anything in the name of the Lord.  This is a man-made position, as well.

 

A Board of Elders is commonplace in many churches.  In fact, it is Biblical for a church to recognize those who are spiritually mature and have a close relationship with the Lord by giving them a greater authority within the church than the less mature members.  However, in some churches, this position has been given to immature people, and even to those whose salvation is questionable.  As a result, the Elders became a body of dictators rather than a group of helpful spiritual leaders.  Since immature, or unsaved people having any authority in the church is not according to Scriptures, this position—no matter what the church called it—is not Biblical.

 

In some cultures, there is the position of Church Mother.  This position often is accompanied by several of the Church Mother’s friends who essentially do all the counseling and decision-making within the church.  This, too, is unbiblical.

 

Biblical offices in the Bible are also given definitions as to their authority within the local church.  It is that guidance which provides the young church a proper and effective way to become what God wants it to be.  Sadly, there are some churches where man-made positions became so powerful that the Biblical offices were eliminated.  Thus, that church would cease being a Biblical local church.

 

It is important that everyone in the new local church understands the Biblical roles to be fulfilled.  It is best to use the Biblical terms and not change them, since terms different from what your flock sees in the Bible can become confusing.

 

 

D. THE NEW CHURCH WILL BE DOING THE THINGS WHICH JESUS COMMANDED.

 

All gatherings which call themselves churches call Jesus “Lord.”  But, Jesus said, in Luke 6:46,  “And why call ye Me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?”  In other words, if Jesus is truly the Lord, the gathering will be obedient to His Word.

 

What if you found a building with a large sign outside that said, “Restaurant.”  What would you expect to find inside ?  If you walked in and found that it was manufacturing sunglasses but not serving food, it certainly should not be truly considered a restaurant.

 

If you walked several miles to exchange some currency to a building that said it was a bank, but you found that it only dispensed milk and soft drinks, you would make the observation that regardless of what the sign said, it was not truly a bank.

 

What if you walked into a building which advertised itself to be a church, but inside you heard music very similar to that which you might hear at a rock concert.  Then, as you take your seat, you hear various people stand up and tell how God gave them money, houses, cars, and riches.  The preacher begins to preach about how it is a shame to be poor.  He tells the people that they must have faith that God wants them all to have great riches.  As you look around, you see the pained face of a woman whose husband has committed adultery.  You see the drug addict you met downtown who is now looking for a better life.  You notice some young people who are carefully paying attention to the preacher, because they need direction for their lives.  But, what is being done in this building ?  Is it bringing people to repent of their sins, and to put their faith in God for His salvation through Jesus Christ ?  No.  And, such behavior in churches, although common, shows that the advertised name “church” is not true.  It fails in all aspects of what God planned for the church.

 

There are many places which call themselves churches, and even place signs on their property that say, “church,” which are not truly churches.  What they do in those places does not meet the criteria which the Bible has established for a church. It is important for the man of God to know how to avoid starting an organization which at some point would be an embarrassment to the Lord Jesus, the Head of the Church.  There are things which are mandated by God for the Church to fulfill, and they cannot be overlooked or ignored when getting started, or at any phase of church development.

 

A church will produce the fruits, or actions, which God says must exist.

 

There will be ‘agape’ love.  Jesus said to unbelievers, in John 13:35,  “By this shall all men know that ye are My disciples, if ye have love one to another.”  It isn’t easy to love someone with a deep Christ-like love when you know their faults.  And, the more you get to know a person, the more you get to know their weaknesses, and sins, and it becomes more difficult to love them.  Yet, God’s people will actually express love one to another with a Godly love, agape love.

 

The fact that Jesus said that all men would know this reveals that this love cannot be merely good feelings about the other person.  It must be expressed so that people on the outside of the church are able to see that love expressed powerfully.

 

 

 

HOW DID THE EARLY CHURCH BEGIN NEW CHURCHES ?

 

THE CHURCH AT JERUSALEM.

For several years following Pentecost, the only local church was at Jerusalem.  It is clear that for the first couple years of the existence of the church, despite growing by many thousands each year, it was not following the plans of God in regard to world-wide evangelism.  In fact, the Bible records no evangelism outside of Jerusalem.  There was no effort to establish churches in other cities.  Instead, the new Christians (and the Apostles) were quite settled on the idea that if someone wanted knowledge of the truth, they knew where to find it—in Jerusalem.

 

It was only following the campaign of persecution against the Christians at Jerusalem, instigated by a young man by the name of Saul (later to be a new Believer who changed his name to Paul), that the Gospel started to be proclaimed in other parts of the earth.

 

Acts 8:1  “And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.”

 

 

 

THE NEXT PHASE OF CHURCH BUILDING.

 

Our Lord intended that all people of every nation should hear the Good News of Jesus Christ.  This was not an implied desire, but a strong command for the Church to fulfill.

 

If people are not willing to obey God simply because He commands it, the Lord has a way to providing “incentives and motivations” to do His will.  For an example, God had forewarned the Caananites and Hivites, to leave the land they took over after Jacob and his family moved to Israel.  They refused, and dug in more deeply, establishing cities, farms, and military forts.

 

Exodus 23:28  “And I will send hornets before thee, which shall drive out the Hivite, the Canaanite, and the Hittite, from before thee.”

 

So, the Lord “encouraged them” to make a decision to leave by sending huge amounts of hornets to afflict them.  This did not violate their ability to go against the will of God.  They could have stayed their and died from stings from the hornets. It was their choice to make.  If the stayed, they could die a painful death.  If they left, they could live.  What God sent was simply “an incentive and motivation” to move on, making room for the returning Children of Israel.

 

A similar situation was presented to the Church at Jerusalem, which was clearly instructed to carry the Gospel into all the world.

 

Acts 1:8  “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”

 

and

 

Matthew 28: 19-20  “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:  Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”

 

The Church could have decided to remain in Jerusalem and reap the results of disobedience, which would have been severe persecution for many of them.  In fact, many that did remain were executed or jailed.  However, for the most part, the church decided to go into all the world, as it was initially commanded.

 

Acts 8: 4-5   “Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.  Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.”

 

The Holy Spirit preserved for us the important factor of preaching the Gospel as being the first effort in a ‘new’ region.  It was because of the preaching that the next step, the working of miracles, was accomplished.  Philip did not come advertising that he would do magic tricks with signs and wonders.  His focus and message was to tell the people about Jesus Christ.

 

His preaching was simple.  Tell the people about Jesus.  Let them come under the conviction of the Holy Spirit, and respond in faith to the urging of the Lord.

 

Later, the Gospel was presented to only the Jews at Antioch.  Acts 11:19  “Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only.”

 

Once again, with an emphasis upon the Word of God, and we see people being saved.  Acts 11:20-21  “And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus.   And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord.”

 

Following their salvation experience, we find Barnabas getting these new converts anchored deeply into a dependence upon the Lord.  Acts 11:23  “Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord.”  This process of nourishing the new babes in Christ in the Word of God continued under the teachings of the Apostle Paul for about a year.  Acts 11:26  “And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.”  It was during this time period that the gathering of new converts became widely known in the community, and those disciples (literally – “learners”) were first called Christians in Antioch (Acts 11:26).  At some point during this time – and we are not informed in Scripture which specific time it was – the gathering became a true local church, fulfilling the requirements which Jesus established for the church.

 

We can see this same pattern of Evangelism, Teaching New Converts, Doing the Work of the Church repeated many times throughout the Book of Acts.  For another example,   Acts 8:5  “Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.”

This began another body of Believers, this time a new local church in Samaria.

 

 

 

 THE EXAMPLE OF PAUL

Paul did not go into a region with the goal of building churches.  Instead, his goal – as well as others obedient to the Faith – was to bring people to Jesus Christ, and that fact in itself would build churches.  When people are saved, they will gather together to worship, and this will lead to more evangelism, edification, worship, and service, all ingredients of a true local church.

 

Most typical of the Apostle Paul is the act of trying to reach the Jewish people first whenever he entered a new area.  Acts 9:20  “And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God.”

 

He would then break away from the synagogue, and begin instructing the new converts and seekers in another place.  Once they were anchored sufficiently, he would leave the new local church in the care of a trained, proven man of God.

 

We are told that the elder pastors were often given the duty of checking on the churches and making certain that they were still abiding in the Truth, and were fulfilling their God-given objectives.  Biblically, these men might be called “Bishops” since they were to ensure the spiritual vitality of many churches.   Acts 14:22  “Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God”.   Acts 15:41  “And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.”

 

The New Testament pattern is simple and effective.  Evangelism first.  Then anchor the new converts in the Lord Jesus.  Then, get them busy doing the Lord’s work.  It is constantly repeated throughout the New Testament.

 

 

 

WHAT GOES INTO A NEW CHURCH

The following discussion is about starting a church with new Christians and perhaps a few more mature ones. It is basically giving some uncomplicated ideas for you to use in making sure that the church is following the correct Biblical pattern toward spiritual maturity and usefulness to the Lord Jesus.

 

 

 

WHAT ARE THE BASIC INGREDIENTS NEEDED TO START A NEW CHURCH ?

 

There are extreme views on the concept of starting a church.  Some men will not move very far from their comfortable beds unless they have guarantees from a religious organization for significant financial support.  They claim that this is realistic and that the Lord would not want them putting their families and their own health in jeopardy of any kind.  It seems strange, then, that they read the following passages of Scripture, and do not understand the level of faith which Jesus expected from His followers.

 

Matthew 8: 19-22  “And a certain scribe came, and said unto Him, Master, I will follow Thee whithersoever Thou goest.  And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay His head.  And another of His disciples said unto Him, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.  But Jesus said unto him, Follow Me; and let the dead bury their dead.”

 

Luke 18: 29-30  “And He said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God’s sake,  Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting.”

 

Mark 6: 7-9  “And He called unto Him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and gave them power over unclean spirits;  And commanded them that they should take nothing for their journey, save a staff only; no scrip, no bread, no money in their purse:  But be shod with sandals; and not put on two coats.”

 

For others, true men and women of God, there is no issue other than to obey the Lord.  They know that He will supply their needs, as He promised (Philippians 4:19).  While they genuinely may be apprehensive with the lack of knowing how God will do this, they move ahead by the simple faith knowing that He will.

 

 

YOU NEED A VISION, THAT IS ‘A CALLING,  FROM THE LORD.

The Believer who aspires to establish a new church should understand that his desire must come from the Lord, or else it is not valid.  There have been people who have tried to please their elders, and thought that starting a church would help them gain acceptance or notice.  Some have attempted to start a new work because they could not see any other area of service where they would be accepted by their own local church. Still other started new churches because of some disagreement they had with their previous congregation or church leadership.  However, without a vision from the Lord, none of those reasons is justifiable in themselves.

 

YOU NEED A BURDEN THAT COMES FROM GOD.

People can get visions, or clear directions, from the Lord, but still not be moved in their hearts to accomplish the work.  Jonah had instructions from the Lord to go and preach in Nineveh.   His heart was not in it, however, and he sought to escape his responsibilities.  Whether you run from your duty, or put your whole being behind it, God wants us to obey.  Yet, the greatest work that is done is accomplished by those who allow the vision of the Lord to saturate their hearts and become a true “burden from the Lord.”

 

Although we refer to these activities as “starting a new church,” the most important effort is that of bringing people to know Jesus Christ as their own Savior and Lord.  The issue most vital is a commitment to soul-winning.  A person who goes out with the intent to create churches, and does not have soul-winning as his primary goal will not succeed in that which is important to the Lord.

 

 

YOU NEED A COMMITMENT TO THE SAVIOR TO FULFILL YOUR ASSIGNMENT.

 

This is a hard thing.  Starting a new work can be frustrating and difficult.  It is easy to stop at some point and cast aside the burden and the vision, assuming that some other task, easier to perform awaits us.  When we begin, we must be faithful to the end of our mission.  Revelation 2:26  “And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:”

 

 

YOU NEED HELPERS 

PRAYER PARTNERS.  Some people at your home church will pray for your work.  They should pray specifically that souls will come under the conviction of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God, and be led to repent of their sins and trust Jesus as Savior.

 

MINISTRY HELPERS.

A CORE TEACHER.  Once you have preached the Gospel, and people have come to the Lord Jesus by faith, you need to get them strong in the Lord.  This sometimes requires the help of another person who is knowledgeable in the Scriptures, and can share the truth with them, anchoring them in the Word of God.  While this is something that you could often do yourself, it is sometimes better that you spend the time following up others who are in the neighborhood while a different teacher takes the new converts under wing, and teaches them the basics of our faith.

 

The Core Teacher, whether yourself or someone else, should lay the foundation of Biblical faith for the new converts immediately after their salvation experience.  When this person is not the pastor, the pastor should choose someone he personally knows is called of God to teach, is knowledgeable about the Scriptures, and has a sincere love for souls.

 

 

A LOCAL ADVISOR.  This person would help you understand the community, the people, local customs, and perhaps even differences in the local dialect.  Many times an outsider coming into a new location will make mistakes which result in alienating people rather than helping them get closer to the Lord.  A Believer who is willing to share information about the community can be helpful in avoiding this.  This is not a position within the local church, but it is a blessing of “helps” to you, as pastor.  This individual has no authority within the church unless he or she reveals other gifts which conform to Biblical definitions.

 

Especially when you go into an area with which you are not familiar, it is difficult to be certain that a local advisor is completely honest, and will not exaggerate, or say things about people with a prejudice.  However, through the discernment of the Holy Spirit, you need someone who can give you a better understanding of the place and people to who you will be ministering in the days ahead.

 

 

DEACONS.  By definition, ‘a deacon’ is a person who helps, or assists.  According to the Scripture, the deacons were called to help in the material needs of the church.  When feasible, people who have the burden to help others materially should be authorized by you to assist the members of the church with their needs first.  Then, reach into the community to make an impact for Jesus by showing our love for the Lost.

 

OBSERVE who it is that reaches out to help others.  Do not be fooled by those who talk about helping.  There are many, who have sincere and good intentions who never get around to doing what the Lord wants them to do.  Only consider people with good testimonies who have been active in helping others, and do so out of a genuine compassion.

 

 

TEACHERS.  Some people have the ability to teach facts, but others have the ability to communicate.  The Communicators are the greatest teachers.

 

Let’s look at an example.  A mother tells her 10 year old son that he must help his little brother and sister to get ready for church.  She communicates very simply with both love and authority, and the son responds by getting his siblings prepared.

 

Another mother, who is strictly a teacher, (and not an effective communicator) sits her son down at a table, and begins to explain why a younger child needs help.  She tells her son the difference in learning capabilities which children of various ages have, and how he must carefully treat each of them as individual human beings. She spends time analyzing the differences between the two children, and how he must be careful not to hurt the feelings of the younger child by being too bossy.  Her son is totally bored, and anxious to leave the table.  Her conversation shut down his mind shortly after she started.  While she was attempting to teach him things that were true, she failed to communicate.  Some very few 10 year old boys might respond to an approach like hers, but most will be completely turned off by the detailed information she was giving.  Her teaching information would have been appropriate for an 18 year old child, not a 10 year old boy.

 

As leaders of the Flock of God, we must distinguish between the two, so we know to select the teacher who best communicates.  Most teachers can get Bible information together, develop a teaching plan, encourage the children to learn Scripture, and teach them great truths.  But, all of those things might be above or below the student’s ability to understand and put what is being taught into daily living.  You should look at how people communicate with others, particularly how they communicate with those of the age level for which you are seeking a teacher.

 

The communicator/teacher is one who understands what the student needs in order to be effective for the Lord.

 

OBSERVE HOW THEY INTERACT WITH PEOPLE OF THE SAME AGE YOU ARE CONSIDERING THEM TO TEACH.

• NOTICE IF THEY SPEAK TO THE STUDENT WITH CARE, CONCERN, OR LOVE, AND IN A GODLY MANNER.
• NOTICE IF THEY ACTUALLY COMMUNICATE EFFECTIVELY, OR IF THEY JUST WANT THE ATTENTION OF THE POTENTIAL STUDENTS ?
• NOTICE IF THEY ACCOMPLISH WHATEVER THEY SET OUT TO DO THROUGH THEIR COMMUNICATION.

 

By observing these traits, you will discover whether you are looking at merely a teacher, or you have a teacher who is a good communicator.

 

 

ELDERS

While the beginning of many churches will not see an elder, with the exception of the Pastor, some people within the church will grow exceptionally fast in their knowledge and commitment to the Lord, and will show evidence over a longer period of time that they are faithful and useful to the Savior.  These people will later become your elders.

 

Elders, like deacons, are not “made” by a vote of the church.  Any voting by the church on the matter of “Who are our Elders ?” or, “Who are our deacons ?” merely recognizes the work that these people are already doing.  The church should not have to vote on someone before those people begin helping others (as in the case of deacons).  Nor should those who are spiritually mature have to be voted in as “Elders” before they start counseling, guiding, and serving the Lord within the church.  If they see their calling to be from God, they will be obedient to Him whether there is recognition by the local church, or not.

 

While a vote by the church recognizes these people to be qualified, they prove their qualifications by serving the Lord even before the first vote is cast.  In some cases, specific types of ministry may be implemented only after a vote of the church recognizes who these people are; but, for the majority of cases, these people will already be doing the work.  Being a deacon or an elder is a calling of God, not a certificate from the church.

 

 

HANDLING THE MONEY.

Money is one of the most sensitive issues within the local church.  The misuse of money by a pastor will result in both shame upon the pastor and the church’s reputation within the community.

 

However, in starting a new church, it is difficult to place the responsibility of caring for the Lord’s money into the hands of people that you hardly know.  You have an important matter of prayer here.  Should you allow the people to elect a Treasurer, or should you handle the money yourself ?

 

Even if out of necessity, at the beginning of the church, you must handle the money, try to find honest and capable people to do it for you as quickly as possible.  The high road is for the pastor not to know who gives what amounts.  This frees him from being partial when he preaches.  Certainly a man of God will make every conscious effort to convey whatever God gives to him in a message to his flock.  However, the temptation to avoid mention or water down conviction which might apply to a major giver could be a sub-conscious decision.

 

Sometimes a preacher will not preach the whole truth because he fears that to offend a major contributor might result in a stoppage of his contributions, and thus jeopardize his work in that area.  This temptation is removed if someone else keeps the money and the pastor is unaware of who gives what amount.  The pastor must always put loyalty to the Lord ahead of anything else.

 

By allowing another person who is completely trustworthy to handle the money, the pastor not only avoids temptation to change his preaching, but he also avoids the potential for false accusations that he is handling the money in a dishonest manner.

 

 

BUSINESS MEETINGS

While democracy is a very popular concept in the political world, it is not endorsed by the Bible, and it certainly does not often work for the glory of God in the local church..  If you leave all the business of the church to be voted upon by the entire church, it will ruin your work.  God called various people to do certain things within the local church, and He gave them authority.  They did not have to have their activities approved by the congregation first.  God called them, and God gave the mission.

 

The Pastor is called to lead the flock.  The flock was never designed to lead the shepherd.

 

Consider what business is necessary with the local church.  Few things require the attention of the entire membership.  There are times when a pastor must set a goal before the church, and the church should vote upon whether or not to seek that goal.  But, the usual and normal expenses of the church should be paid without the entire church becoming burdened with an unnecessary meeting.

 

Many business meetings devolve into opportunities for certain people to be critical of someone in leadership.  At other times, these meetings result in an open split between brethren over issues that should not have even been brought up.

 

In one notable case, a church business meeting was called to discuss the church’s Fellowship Sunday.  As a part of the food being brought, one person suggested that instead of having beans, which had been brought in previous years, that the church should have peas, instead.  This split the church down the middle, and members took sides on an issue which could have been easily decided by the pastor without a business meeting.  He simply could have asked the congregation to bring both peas and beans to the fellowship.  Instead, this church, which wanted everything to be discussed and voted upon lost members and reputation in the community.  Similar things happen all the time.

 

Beware of efforts to involve the congregation in matters where they will be diverted from their Divinely appointed purpose to bring fruit – more souls – to the Lord.  Therefore, it is suggested that business meetings be limited to times when major issues that require the consent of the entire church would be discussed.

 

 

HOW TO GO ABOUT REACHING POTENTIAL MEMBERS FOR YOUR NEW CHURCH.

Evangelism is the key.  This is effort that goes into a community, presenting the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  In the Bible, Paul often went into a synagogue to teach and point people to the Scriptures that presented Jesus Christ as the Messiah.  In most communities this is impossible because there is no synagogue, and the preacher would not have been welcomed into it in the first place, so preachers must preach the Gospel in any way they can.

 

 

CRUSADES.

The most effective method for most communities is utilizing the open-air Gospel Meeting.  It is alternatively called, a crusade, evangelistic meeting, Gospel meeting, etc.  For the sake of common understanding, we will refer to this effort as “the crusade.”

 

It is highly advisable that this initial effort should not be attempted by one individual alone.  It is usually better to request the help of others to assist in this effort.

 

Have prayer-backing. 

Make sure that your sending church, or other cooperating churches know what mission the Lord has laid on your heart.  Ask them to pray about specific issues that would lead to the success of your mission.  Get a commitment from people that they will pray during a specific time for the Lord to bless.

 

Obtain a good location for the crusade to be held.

Make sure that if there are other Bible-believing pastors in the area, that they understand you have no intention of taking away from their churches or efforts.   In some cases, you may ask other churches to join with you in trying to reach people for the Lord.  This is not always possible, nor advisable, however.  Pray about whether it is something that the Lord wants done.

 

Prepare each meeting with prayerful, serious counselors. 

As a part of each evangelistic meeting, an invitation should be given to all who would give their lives to Jesus Christ by faith.  Counselors should be ready with pens and notepaper to record the name and address of every person who responds.  They must instruct each person, answering their questions about salvation.  If they have no questions, the counselor should still go through the Scriptures which tell why they needed to make the decision to receive Jesus as Savior, and then they should pray with the person, confirming that God is faithful to do what He said.  You should personally train any counselors, if there are to be any other than yourself.  You should know that they are truly born-again people who desire to see others come to the Savior.

 

Teach them to stay on target.  Some people will ask a lot of questions about the Bible that they will understand later.  The purpose of the invitation is to pull in the net and not discuss theology with those in it.  Your list of names and addresses should not be given to any churches in the area, or you will find that those with false doctrines or those who have failed in their commitment to the goals of the church will begin to steal away the seed of the Word.

 

Make certain that you have the capability to follow through with each new convert immediately that week.

 

 

The crusade location.

It should be near or in the midst of a highly populated area.  Don’t expect people to go out of their way by very much to hear you preach.  If you are planning on speaking to large numbers of people, you probably will need an amplification system.  If you don’t already have one, it will have to be rented.  It is best to check it out prior to the time of the crusades.  Many preachers have been frustrated and defeated on the first night of their crusade because the promises of some business to deliver a working sound system did not materialize.

 

 

Equipment.

If you are holding the crusade at night, you may need to have a lighting system.  If it is not automatically supplied with the rental of the location, you will have to rent one in addition to everything else.  Make sure that the lights are not focused in such a way that it hurts the eyes of the people attending.  There should be sufficient lighting to see the platform, and areas to enter the location.

 

In many cases, a platform will have to be built.  Be sure that it is stable, and at the right height.  Sometimes preachers have built platforms that are so high, they tend to make the people who attend feel like they are not a part of the event.  Also, the platform should not be located at the place where many people will be entering the crusade.

 

 

Advertise.

Order or make advertisements sufficiently in advance of the time you plan to have the meetings.  Your advertisements should typically be seen about two weeks before the crusade.

 

When possible, banners which are spread from one side of a busy street to another should be used.  Posters may be printed and placed in public areas where permitted by law.  They should be simple, and yet give all necessary information.  They should include the name of the event, the date(s), and the place where the crusade will be held.  If the advertisement is large enough, it may include the name of the preacher, but this is not necessary in most cases.  DO NOT advertise anything which is not completely truthful.  For an example, a poster that reads, “All will be healed,” can be deceptive.

 

The Spirit-filled American evangelist (preached during the mid 1800’s), Charles G. Finney, refused to allow advertising that stated “Revival.”  He insisted that true revival depended upon whether people would be in obedience to the Lord by faith, or not.  And he argued that since he did not know how each person would respond to the calling of the Lord, he would not be a party to false advertising.  God blessed this truthfulness, and even though most of his crusades were NOT advertised as “revivals,” the Lord blessed him, and most ended up being great revivals which are remembered to this day.

 

 

Present the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Present the Gospel personally to various people throughout the village, town, or city, prior to that meeting time.  This will allow you to get a better ‘feel’ for the community, and actually bring some people to the Lord.  If you are accompanied by other workers, have them go throughout the community, sharing the Gospel on a one-to-one basis, as well.

 

Where it is possible to obtain Gospel tracts and it is an advantage to use them, bring them along with you and distribute them as you walk through the area.

 

 

Provide Bible studies for the new converts.

When the crusade is held, and people come to receive Jesus as Savior and Lord, it is important to immediately begin a process of getting them rooted into the Word of God.  Counselors should not just take their names and addresses, but should pray with them, and show them from the Bible why their decision was life-changing.

 

They should immediately be enrolled in a free Bible study program which you organize.  Depending upon the local situation, it may be held in their homes or in another building where many can come at the same time.  Ask them if there are others in their family or even neighbors who would want to learn about the Bible.  (Often, family members want to receive the Lord after they find out that someone else in the family made that decision).

 

Set down a specific time for someone to come and hold the study (usually within the first week after a decision for Christ is made).  The Bible study should be extremely simple, covering the basics of salvation, and giving more information about the Lord Jesus and His plan for their lives.  It should go on for a period of at least 7 sessions, and preferably more than that.  Even though you may have finished the course with a new convert, DO NOT leave off some form of Bible study with him.  Make sure that EVERY WEEK, some form of Bible study is being provided.  This is truly important.  We would not consider quitting the feeding of our infants just because we had already fed them for a week previously.  These new converts are spiritual babies, and they need a steady and faithful supply of nourishment from the Bible.

 

When many converts have been instructed in the basic fundamentals of the Word, efforts should be made to bring them together at one location to worship the Lord as one.  So, a location must be chosen which would be convenient for all concerned.  At this point, you may chose musicians, song leaders, etc., to make the worship go more smoothly.

 

There are situations where a pastor can become discouraged when he sees that only a handful of people are interested in coming to the Bible studies.  An analysis of your work should follow.

 

1. Are the “new converts” truly saved ?  Most people who respond to an invitation to receive Jesus as Savior are not truly giving their heart’s faith at that time.  So, the next day, or the day after, they may not be interested in the things of God.  However, the true new-born babe will cry to food, just as a newborn human child will do.  So, ask yourself if these “new converts” have truly been converted.

 

Do not be discouraged when each of those who respond at an invitation fail to show signs of being saved.  In your follow-up, you will find that some of those who responded to the invitation had questions the next day, and it is then that they truly give their lives to the Lord.  However, some will continue on, thinking that they are saved, even though they have only given a portion of their faith to Jesus, while holding onto some traditional or self-exalting hope.  So long as they come under the sound of God’s Word, there is a very good opportunity for them to fall under conviction, repent, and get saved.

 

 

2. Is there opposition within their homes or neighborhoods which make it very difficult for them to come to a Bible study ?  If that may be a problem, you should be seeking the Lord’s wisdom on the matter.  Most certainly, you should enlist the prayerful support of other Christians outside the area.  There may be demonic influences at work, which would require binding or casting out, as well.

 

In some cases where a new convert is living in a home with people hostile to the Gospel, the pastor brought the Bible study to them, in their homes, and through the love and caring that was shown, the pastor was able to lead the rest of the family to Christ.

 

 

3. Is it time to renew evangelistic work ?   Effective evangelism takes longer in some places that in others.  While it should be an on-going effort by the new church, the pastor, while trying to establish the new church, may find it difficult to spend many weeks in evangelism-only efforts.

 

However, in more difficult communities, this may be necessary, and the Lord will provide the strength and support you need to continue on in this first-step toward the new church.

 

 

Direct the new converts to begin effective service and worship.

Instruct the new converts into the why’s, how’s, and purpose of worship.  Many people automatically assume that worship is designed to make them feel good.  They must be instructed from the Bible, that worship must be given to please the Lord primarily.

 

 

Organize the church.

At some point where the new converts have been brought together, know one another, and are growing spiritually, you will want to discuss with them about organizing into an official church.  In some countries an organized churched should have some outside affiliation to establish the fact that it is not just a solitary group making up its’ own doctrines and procedures.  Where this is a good thing to do, it is advisable to make sure, however, that you do not come under the control of some organization whose doctrines differ from yours, or an organization which desires to eventually drain God’s money from your local church and use it for their own unscriptural purposes.

 

The God-given purposes of the church should be clearly noted, and set before the congregation.  Their first act of business should be to decide upon a statement of Faith, clearly stating what they believe, and the Scriptures which confirm those things to be true.

 

 

The next thing is to agree upon how the new church will go about operating.

This is usually contained in a Church Charter, Church Covenant, or Church Constitution.  It is important for the congregation to consciously determine that the way they will operate is Biblical, and not according to traditions, or man’s laws.

 

 

“The Adventure Of Faith:  Starting A New Church”

A Course Of Study From Blueprint For Revival Bible Institutes International

©2008 Belleview, FL 34421 USA

“Organizing The Church”

A Course Of Study From

Blueprint For Revival Bible

Institutes International

©2008 Belleview, FL 34421 USA

BLUEPRINT FOR REVIVAL BIBLE INSTITUTE

BASIC BIBLE STUDY GUIDE

Dr. Ed J MacWilliams

  

COURSE: ORGANIZING THE CHURCH

 

 

ORGANIZING THE CHURCH

 

 

ORGANIZING A CHURCH THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN FUNCTIONING.

Many churches have already established rules and regulations by which they are governed.  When a new preacher comes to a church, he should become familiar with these things, even if he feels that they are contrary to Scripture.  Many times these rules and regulations are more cultural or traditional than written documents.

 

It is wise for a new preacher to help his congregation grow in their dependence on the Bible before changing these rules.  (A church that is close to the Lord will not have major problems changing anything which is against His will).  The exception is where the church has already decided that those rules are not what they want.  In such a case, the pastor should begin teaching them what the Word of God says about the operation of the church, so they can see that Jesus provided everything necessary for the effective working of His Church.

 

Moving a church from a dependence upon man-made traditions is not something which is accomplished after two or three sermons.  It is a long-term process of spiritual growth that brings the Believer into the correct dependence upon God’s Word.  A pastor called to such a church should fully expect resistance and sometimes very strong opposition to any change.

 

 

The unwritten rules.  When accepting a church which has been operating for a long time, but says they have no written rules, a new pastor should be aware of one simple fact.  There ARE rules in that church.  Most of the time, they may be simple guidelines such as, when anything goes wrong, Brother So-and-So will decide what to do.  You will have a very difficult time trying to help that church unless you uncover what those unwritten rules are.  Offending even the unwritten rules can undermine your effectiveness quickly and severely.

 

A suggestion is to quickly determine who actually is running the church.  You might assume that as the Pastor, you have been called to lead the church.  However, in many cases, there is already a ruling group or person, and you just haven’t discovered it, yet.  If you attempt to use your God-given authority, you may be surprised to find that others have already claimed to have that authority for themselves.

 

Theoretically, the church will likely say that the Lord runs it.  But, in reality, most of the time, there is a handful of people, sometimes even just one person, who actually makes decisions, and leads the others to take his or her side in most matters.

 

When you discover that there is no Church Constitution, no written guidelines, you should bring together those who have leadership roles in the church, and sit down with them and pray.  Ask them how things are operated.  Give them hypothetical situations, and ask them how they would have handled such situations in the past.  This will give you an idea of what some of the unwritten rules are, and who has made the decisions previously.

 

The next issue is to ask them what they expect from you.  This will usually tell you the rules under which they expect you to operate.  In many cases, they want to have most of the authority, and you are given a position as merely a hireling, called to preach and teach, but not to have much authority outside of actual service times.  You need to understand what they expect of you.  Of course, you are first of all obligated to the Lord.  No matter what the church has been doing in the past, and no matter how much you appreciate them calling you to serve at that church, it is God who called you to preach, and your first obligation is to be faithful to Him.  Do not confuse your appreciation to the church that allows you to serve there with your commitment to God which is above all.

 

 

 

The first issue a pastor should face is an issue of loyalty.  The powerful American evangelist of the 1800’s, Charles G. Finney, started off his lectures to his pastoral students at Oberlin College with a warning.  He told them that if they were not prepared to lose every material thing, every relationship with other people that they counted precious, and every bit of security in their position; and unless they were willing to be driven out of town and made a laughingstock before the world, they were not fit to become pastors.  Their commitment and loyalty must above all be to the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

Loyalty is something which you must sort out in your own heart and for your relationship with the Lord.  Is your highest calling and greatest loyalty to the Lord Jesus Who saved you ?  If He called you, and you remain loyal to His calling, the Church will never be able to make you compromise on the truth or do things that are against the Word of God.  If your loyalty is first of all to the Lord, you will be willing to risk being thrown out of your church and being discredited by your religious affiliation, if you are called to make the choice over where your highest loyalty exists.

 

Among many others in early Church leadership, Apostle Paul had to make such difficult decisions many times in his ministry.  One was dealing with the church of Galatia.  Galatians 1:10  “For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.”  Paul risked their financial support, their endorsements, and their approval by standing against the false doctrine which had taken over their church after he left them in the care of others.

 

The usual sources of pressure upon a Pastor to be more loyal to them than to the Lord are pressures from denomination headquarters, a committee or board at the church (such as Board of Deacons, or Board of Elders), wealthy people within the church, or sometimes, even the pastor’s own relatives.

 

A great temptation which the devil throws at pastors is that of financial loss if the pastor chooses to put God first, and not to compromise what he knows is right.  Once again, we can see through the Biblical account of Paul the Apostle that those temptations can be overcome, and God will bless the person with an even greater ministry when they put their loyalty to Jesus first.

 

Consider the Apostle Paul’s options immediately after he got saved.  Saul (later changed to Paul) was a Pharisee.  He was employed by the Pharisees to hunt down Believers and persecute them.  He was loyal to the religious rulers for a number of reasons.  Let’s look at what we know for certain first.

 

Paul was employed by people who didn’t want to hear about Jesus, and they didn’t want others to hear, either.  But, obviously, Paul had agreed to follow their desires.  It was either a written or verbal contract with the Jews.  When he got saved, he was still under contract with them, and the disciples, knowing this, were afraid of him.  Acts 9:26  “And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple.”   They fully understood that even some Believers might compromise their faith in order to fulfill a contract, or agreement.

 

I have known pastors who found out that their churches or denominations were wrong about certain Biblical issues.  But they were afraid to be disobedient to those who provided them some funds, and followed the unscriptural views of someone else because they insisted that God would want them to honor their previous commitments.  Their loyalty was more toward man’s organization than toward God.

The other dilemma which some pastors bring up is that they have families, and if they are thrown out of their church, they would no longer have an income (they theorize), and therefore would fail God in providing for their families.  They often anticipate that they will not be able to provide for their family if they remove themselves from a wrongly made commitment to an organization.

 

The Apostle Paul also faced family pressures.  The following details are not specifically laid out in Scripture, but are only implied.  (Therefore, you are not to take them to be as absolute as Scriptures which are more clear).  We know the power that the Apostle Paul had.  Many theologians suggest that he was a member of the Sanhedrin, the religious ruling body of Jews in Israel.  The fact that he was the authority at the stoning of Stephen indicates an official position with the ruling Sanhedrin, since no other Jewish agency had the authority to prescribe a death sentence.  (“…and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul.”  Acts 7:58).  However, it is written law of the Sanhedrin that a member must be married.  Therefore, if Paul was indeed a member of the Sanhedrin, Paul was a married man at one time.

 

We know that after his conversion to Christ, he stated that he no longer was married.

1 Corinthians 7:8  “I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I.”  We do not have any record of what happened to his wife, if he was, indeed, married earlier.  But, we can say with some assurance that whoever he married must have been very influential.  The Sanhedrin was a tight, close organization, and did not welcome “foreign” Jews into their ruling body.  The Bible tells us that Paul was NOT a native is Israel, but was from Tarsus.  Acts 21:39  “But Paul said, I am a man which am a Jew of Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city: and, I beseech thee, suffer me to speak unto the people.”

 

For Saul to have been received into the ruling Sanhedrin, he would need very powerful “connections.”  In other words, if he married a daughter of one of the leaders of the Sanhedrin, it would explain how he rose to such authority at such a young age, and was able to overcome the stigma of being “an outsider” from Tarsus.

 

Now, let us visit Paul immediately after his conversion on the Damascus Road.  Not only is his financial security jeopardized, but he must also deal with his own family, who must have been among the top rulers among the Jews.  How sympathetic would Saul’s wife be to Saul’s new found faith in the Messiah Jesus ?  Evidently, Saul spent long periods of time away from his wife tracking down the Christians.  He and his wife were probably not extremely close in their marriage if such a separation was the usual occurrence in their marriage, and it seems to have been.

 

So, would there have been some pressure or absolute rejection coming from his wife at the idea of Paul turning to Jesus as the Messiah ?

Paul could have rationalized the entire thing away, as some pastors do.  He could have considered that he would always be a Jew, and that in order to keep a good income continuing, he could simply go through the motions of trying to find Christians, but then secretly find ways to get them released.  He could have hidden his experience with Jesus and his enlightenment about the Scriptures from his employers so he could keep his job until something else came along.

 

Some pastors might compromise and suggest that they should fulfill their contract, or agreement with their employer, knowing that such an agreement would place their loyalty to the church or denomination above the loyalty they should have for God.  Keep in mind that there is no obligation that you make which God recognizes that says you should continue to do wrong.

 

For an example, suppose that a pastor was foolishly naive one night, and agreed to allow an unrepentant harlot to stay in his home with himself and his wife.  Perhaps he had hoped that his kindness would bring her to Christ.  The next day, he might easily understand that such an agreement would cause his testimony to be hurt, and the name of Christ to be shamed.  Some pastors would justify keeping her in the house on the basis that he had made an agreement with her, and that if he failed to fulfill that agreement, he would be breaking his word, thereby failing God.  All such reasoning is false.

 

Those are considerations which are actually “temptations” to do wrong.  And, we see from the Biblical account, that although tempted in many ways, Paul’s loss of financial support, loss of family (his wife), and his failure to keep the contract with the Sanhedrin and Pharisees, did not keep him from putting loyalty to Christ first.

 

Although it might have been that many of his family members disowned him, and counted him as dead, Paul was still in contact with other members of his family, and at least one was sympathetic toward Paul’s ministry, as we see in this Scripture.  Acts 23:16  “And when Paul’s sister’s son heard of their lying in wait, he went and entered into the castle, and told Paul.”  The reality is that it is improbable that ANY of his family would have been saved if it was not for the fact that Paul took a stand for the Lord Jesus, and put loyalty to Him above loyalty to others.   Are there rewards for loyalty to Christ ?  Of course.   If Paul wasn’t known as a Godly man, living for Jesus, I doubt that his nephew would have been sent to help him.   At least one person was influenced for the Lord !

 

So, not only does love, reason, and the principle of faithfulness teach us that we should always put our commitment to God first, but the Bible gives examples which are strong and compelling.

 

 

Courage and patience to make the right changes.  Sometimes moving too quickly to make change will be misunderstood by your congregation.  They are familiar with the way things have been done, and efforts to take things down a different path usually make people feel insecure and often attacked.  If you move too quickly, your acceptance as a member of their fellowship will be thrown aside, and they will sometimes interpret your efforts as those of an outsider trying to push some foreign concept upon their church.

 

Seek wisdom from the Lord to know how quickly changes should be made.  Many times things in the past history of a church were done incorrectly because there was a lack of teaching, or incorrect teaching.  This opens the door for you to deal with any issues of procedure from the pulpit.

 

 

Essential teachings must come first.  One thing is essential for Biblical change, and that is that your congregation must believe and commit to the idea that the Bible is the absolute authority for them personally, and for the church as a whole.  Without this, they are merely a religious organization without a true anointing from God.  Once they are committed to this fact, you can begin dealing—from the Bible—on issues which need to be corrected.

One example of how NOT to deal with changes comes from a pastor in the US state of Georgia.  He was called to pastor a church where the deacons had absolute authority.  They told the pastor what he could preach, and how long he could preach it.  They ran everything in the church.  The pastor decided that for his first few messages, he would ignore the authority of the deacons and teach about the Biblical role of deacons, something which the church did not follow.  He taught them very well from the Bible, and made all his points clear and accurate.  However, he was fired shortly after his third message.  He had failed to FIRST get the church established on the foundation that the Bible was the absolute authority.  So, he was sent away with the words, “This is the way we have always done things.”  If he had been wiser and more patient, he would likely have accomplished a good work for the Lord there.

 

 

Involve your people in the changes with love and understanding.  Although some congregations have been following incorrect teachings for a long time, the Holy Spirit is able to change their thinking from the inside.  Philippians 2:13  “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.”  One thing they should be able to do is to pray.  You should ask them to pray fervently for you to make the choices which God directs.  Through this they become involved in the process.

 

As their new pastor, it is your responsibility to guide them into the Truth of God’s Word.  Your calling is a gift from God.  Ephesians 4:11  “And He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;”  The term “Pastors and Teachers” is one office.  A pastor is supposed to be a teacher.  If he cannot teach when he preaches, he is merely a bag of hot air.  Thus, a major part of your work is to instruct your congregation in the Word of God.

 

While we will not use this course to detail a recommended pastoral program, it is important to recognize a couple factors in your early teaching to a young church.  First of all, they must constantly be reminded about the importance and value of God’s Word.  Secondly, they must see a practical value to it.  Thirdly, you must not tire of repeating these teachings, perhaps explaining them, or “wrapping them” differently on occasion, but presenting the same truths over and over again until you are certain that your people are standing solidly on the Word of God.

 

Once they have accepted that the Bible is the authority for all matters of faith and practice, they will have accepted a fundamental truth enabling them to move ahead into Biblical changes.  They are then ready to participate in the changes, and take joy in the fact that they are obeying God rather than man’s concepts.

 

One thing which encourages Believers to become more yielded to the Holy Spirit is for a pastor to point out their individual gifts to them.  When you look at some people, those gifts will be very visible.  But, for others, it might even appear outwardly that they have no gifts at all.  Regardless, the pastor should seek to encourage his flock to know the gift, or gifts, by which they can serve the Lord.

 

You will find that service gifts will quickly be known.  The man who is constantly trying to help others, and aiding those with less than himself may be a good candidate for a deacon later on.  A woman who spends time teaching her own children well may be a good potential Sunday School teacher.  The person who follows you around, looking for ways to assist you in everyday activities may have the gift of helps, and could be expressing a God-given gift already.  Once this is made known to the people, they usually tend to depend more heavily upon the Lord to help them express the gift even more.

 

 

ORGANIZING A CHURCH THAT IS NEW

 

1. START THE NEW CHURCH WITH PASTOR-LED BIBLE STUDIES.

Churches take shape as they grow.  At the very beginning, with fewer people, the organizational needs of the new church are not very great.  They do not require the presence of all the offices and callings mentioned in the Bible.  Pastors that try to make a small church fit the profile and organization of a larger church are asking for more problems than they will be able to handle.

 

Each new church has unique people.  They have unique problems to overcome, and they require a plan specifically designed by the Holy Spirit to achieve all that God wants them to do.  But, at the very first, they need to grow in their knowledge of the Lord, and know what His will is for them.

 

In the early organization of the church, the pastor should make the decisions regarding who will fulfill which positions.  There are good reasons for this.

 

1). The Pastor is called to lead the church as the God-ordained shepherd, and your leadership should be expressed from the start.  If you attempt to develop the church on a “volunteer-only,” or a completely democratic basis, you will find that people who are completely unqualified to do a particular job will volunteer, and end up bringing disgrace, or at the least, not doing the job for the Lord as He wanted it done.  You should use this opportunity to get to know your people and to establish the fact that you not only now, but in the future, must rely upon the Lord to guide you in your decisions regarding the church.

 

One of the very important things you will do as you start a new church is to disciple your people.  Get to know each one personally, especially in regard to the following issues:

• How dedicated are they to the Lord ?  Can they be swayed by relatives or friends to abandon their present path of commitment to the Lord ?
• What interests do they have which can be used by the Holy Spirit to assist in the work of the church ?  Look for their past training, their natural abilities, and their willingness to learn new things.  Remember, you will be the primary instrument that the Holy Spirit will be teaching them through.
• What type of leadership abilities do they possess ?  Are they leaders, or have influence only in their immediate family ?  Or, do they exercise leadership beyond that ?
• What type of Bible knowledge do they have ?  Potential Sunday School teachers need to grow in their knowledge of the Lord before starting to teach.  Often, in a new church, the pastor must gather everyone into one class, and teach them himself until he is certain that some are ready to begin teaching on their own.

 

One technique for training new and inexperienced Sunday School teachers is for all of them to gather together for an hour or more each week under the teaching ministry of the pastor.  They will all learn the same Bible story which will be taught the following Sunday.  In these classes, the pastor will give each teacher ideas for communicating the truth of the lesson on a level which their group of students would understand.  This should be a more open class, permitting discussion and the presentation of various ideas on how to get the Truth across to each age level.

 

 

2). Most new churches begin with more new converts than with mature, strong Christians.  This means that the spiritual perception and understanding is likely to be lacking for most of the new members.  To give them the impression that they are fully capable to determining how they ought to serve can be risky.  Some may have the discernment to know, but for most, this knowledge is something that only comes through growth, and that takes time.

 

 

A word of caution.  When you have several new Christians ready to become involved in a new work for the Lord with you, but you also have one or more older Christians, don’t make the assumption that simply because someone has been saved for a long time that they are spiritually ready to accept God’s plan and do it responsibly.  Many pastors of new churches have been discouraged and even defeated by putting more confidence in an older Christian than he or she deserved.  Approach the delegation of authority and the assignment of various tasks very prayerfully.

 

 

3). If you are truly called to be a pastor, you should have God-given gifts of discerning.  These will enable you to determine who is more qualified to do specific tasks and carry out certain Biblical offices.  Through observation, prayer, and sometimes fasting, it will become obvious who the Lord wants in various positions.

 

 

Don’t be too quick to give everyone an official position, or to try and create a Board of Elders when you have only new converts.  The Bible warned about appointing people who are too young in the Lord to be able to handle certain responsibilities maturely.  In 1 Timothy 3:6-8, we are told that there are specific requirements which must be met—not only for a higher office, such as a bishop—but also for that of deacon, as well.

 

6  Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.

7  Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

8  Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;

 

 

2. DEVELOP OUTREACH MINISTRIES.

WHO SHOULD BE INVOLVED.   Once your people have a strong confidence in the Word of God, and have a strong foundation in the Truth, you can begin to use some of the obviously called-of-God people in an official capacity.  (They should be using their God-given gifts of ministry already as a part of their daily walk with the Lord without having to be told or authorized by the church).   It is important that anyone involved in any official position within the Church must have a good testimony, and must not be active in any openly known sinful practice.  The testimony of the Lord, and the establishment of the testimony of the new church depends upon a clean testimony of the individuals who are involved in ministry.

 

This may sound like an obvious precaution, but it needs to be mentioned, anyway.  Some new pastors, desiring to see their new work develop very quickly will take shortcuts, by-passing the testimony issue, and will put unqualified people into positions because they feel they have no one else to do the work, and they want it done immediately.  They forget the promise of the Word in Philippians 4:19,  “But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”  If we truly NEED a person to do a work at a particular time, God will supply that person.  Don’t move ahead of God, and try to fill a position with someone whose bad testimony will result in undoing all the work you have already put into the mission.

 

Some new pastors have given positions to people because the person was rich, was well-known in the community, or had a position of influence in the town.  We must remember that it is the Holy Spirit Who ministers effectively, and if any person is not an effective vessel which the Holy Spirit can use, he holds the potential of doing harm to the work of God.  In His wisdom, God has made the salvation experience equal to all people.  All of us are born again as little babes in Christ.  The rich man, the man of political power, the educated man, the poor man, are all given birth by the Spirit of God, and all begin the Christian life as little babies.  There is no advantage to anyone because of their previous worldly status.  Romans 2: 11-12  “For there is no respect of persons with God.  For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;”   Therefore, it is wrong for a pastor to promote anyone to a position within a church because of their position in the world.

There is obviously a difference between “doing something for the Lord,” and “official positions.”  Your people should be encouraged from the very first Bible study to be doing something for the Lord.  This will allow you to see who works out of a love for the Lord and requires no pushing, and which ones sit back and do nothing because they are not yielded to the Spirit.  But, “doing something for the Lord” is immediate and everyone should be involved.  However, having a position of ministry requires various safeguards and conditions.

Make sure that the criteria you use for selecting people for outreach ministries are Biblical.  Those people must be of “good report,” they must have shown evidence of a truly changed life, and they should already be doing things for the Lord without you having to tell them every detail.  The love for the Lord that inspires people to serve God can be seen in the love they will express in trying to help others.

 

By encouraging people to listen to the Lord, and follow His concern for souls, you will find that the Christians who are serious about their relationship with the Lord will be using their God-given gifts without anyone’s approval or sanction.  For an example, a new Christian man may find himself burdened to help another Christian who has need of food, or help to repair his home.  The man who is following the Lord will reach out and help the brother in need.  This heart-concern very often reveals someone who is called to be later recognized as a deacon.  Anther example is a woman who has recently been saved.  She has several children, and she encourages them to bring the neighborhood children to their house, and she teaches them some Bible stories which she herself had recently learned.  This desire to share the Word of God with children could be evidence that she has a God-given gift to teach children.

 

It is important to see that Christians who are submissive to the Holy Spirit will use their gifts without the church giving official approval to them.  This was the case when the early church had to select deacons.  They wanted to choose men who were already being faithful to God, and had an established testimony of good works already.  Acts 6:3  “Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.”

 

 

A. SOUL-WINNING MINISTRIES.  (EVANGELISM).

• JOB-RELATED BIBLE STUDIES.  Some members, or friends of members, may desire to have a Bible study held in their place of work.  It may be a hospital, a military base, a police station, a firehouse, or a place of business.  The Bible studies may be taught by the pastor or anyone in the church who is strongly anchored in the Truth.

• HOUSE TO HOUSE EVANGELISM.  Teams of two may go from house to house, telling people about the Lord Jesus, and the new church.  Their own personal testimonies should be given so that those they visit cannot push away their efforts as merely “church visits.”  Teach your people what they should say, and how they should visit.  Most importantly, they should know how to lead a person to Christ when they visit.
• PERSONAL WITNESSING.  Teach your people to share their own testimonies of how the Lord has saved them, and what He has done for them.  Even if a Christian has little Bible knowledge, he knows one thing.  He knows how he got saved.  The youngest babe in Christ is able to share with someone else how they came to know the forgiveness and new life in Jesus Christ.  You should emphasize to your people that if they knew how THEY got saved, they also know how to tell someone else how to get saved.  Everyone who is truly saved gets there by the same obedience of faith.
• ENCOURAGE them to invite their families, their neighbors, and the friends they work with to the new church.  Have special evangelistic-style services where guests are recognized and led to Christ.
• CRUSADES.  A new pastor, trying to organize a new church, you can often receive help from local Bible Institutes or churches outside the area.  Crusades can bring the attention of many people who otherwise might not even know anything about the Lord’s work in that area.
• GOSPEL TRACT EVANGELISM.  When Gospel tracts are available, they can be used effectively in public areas, markets, streets, and even door to door.   Gospel tracts can be designed and made at a low cost for evangelistic work to a specific group of people.
• OTHER MINISTRIES.  Visiting people in prisons, holding Bible studies in homes nearby, having Children’s Bible Clubs in homes, holding special youth activities (including Bible studies) at public parks, etc., are just some of the wonderful ways to reach the community for Christ.

 

 

B. HELPING & TEACHING MINISTRIES.   (EDIFICATION).

• SUNDAY SCHOOL OR BIBLE STUDY MINISTRIES.  A teacher should have a proven love for students the age level they will be teaching.  He or she must be familiar with the material that needs to be taught, and be capable of communicating in a manner which the students can easily understand.

 Obviously, any teacher—of any age students—should have a very real and close relationship with the Lord.  They are, actually, pastors of a congregation (their students).  They must be able to lead.

 

• DEACONS, FOR HELPING OTHERS.

The role of deacons has been distorted by some denominations.  The Biblical account of the first deacons tells us that they were chosen to do the material work to help the widows in the church.  These are people chosen, not to rule in the church, and not to rule over the pastor, but to serve the material needs within the church under the guidance and direction of the Pastor.

 

Acts 6: 1-4  And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.  Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.  Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.  But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

 

The Apostles established a principle regarding deacons, that they must be people with established (and good) testimonies (i.e., “honest report”).  That requires that they should have been saved long enough to have a testimony (report) among the lost.  Acts 6:3  “Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.”  On the basis of experience in many churches, it is recommended that no one be ordained as a deacon unless they have been saved for least one year, preferably longer.

 

Important.  A person can be doing the work of a deacon—if they feel called to do it—without receiving the official position or title from the church for a period of time.  Often, it is good for a pastor to observe if someone really does a work for the Lord Jesus because he knows he is called to do it, or just because he was given a title by the church.  If a Christian will not do what he is called to do without an official title or recognition by the Church, he is probably not called of God to do it.  He obviously is doing something because of recognition rather than a heart commitment.  Therefore, a delay in ordaining people to be deacons or elders can be a valuable tool in discerning who is truly called of God, and who is not.

 

You must always insure that at all stages of church development, both purposes of the Church, (Evangelism, and Edification), will be operating.  However, the Church must grow in her relationship with Christ in order for these purposes to be carried out effectively.  This requires that the church grow in knowledge of God and His Word.  This is beneficial in so many ways.

 

Obviously, this steadily increasing knowledge of God is something that He wants for His people.  2 Corinthians 2:14  “Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of His knowledge by us in every place.”

 

You must guard the testimony of the Lord.  His testimony is seen, not only through you, but through your people.  If you allow people with a poor testimony to have positions in the new church, it will destroy the reputation of the church even before it has a chance to begin working properly.

 

The light of the Lord was designed to shine in our hearts, and give knowledge of the glory of God !  2 Corinthians 4:6  “For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”

 

 

YOU MUST TEACH YOUR PEOPLE THE TRUE ESSENCE OF WORSHIP.

Worship is not merely done with the voice.  Nor is it limited to submission of our thoughts and our presence.

 

Worship comes from the spirit.  (The spirit of man is where his emotions are).  Our services must reveal to God that our emotions, as well as our knowledge, are submissive to Him.

John 4:23-24  “But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship Him.  God is a Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth.”

 

While emotions are definitely involved, true worship requires obedience of every sort.  The new Christian, from the first meeting of the church, should understand that the giving of an offering is part of worship.  Those who say they have nothing should be taught to go and find something, just as Jesus told Peter to find the coin in a fish’s mouth.  They should be taught the Biblical principle that God wants 10% back of all that they have (tithing).  It may not be popular, but if you lovingly and accurately present this truth from the Bible, you will find out who in your little flock is willing to accept what God says, and who will rebel.

 

 

 

ENCOURAGE YOUR PEOPLE TO GATHER REWARDS FROM GOD, NOT FROM MEN.

Many pastors believe that by openly rewarding their people each time they do something good for the Lord, that they are helping them to grow.  This is generally not true.  To the contrary, when you train a person to expect rewards now, they will not be focusing on their later rewards in Heaven.

 

It is a good thing to privately encourage them when they use their abilities and gifts which God gave them.  But, such acknowledgement should be privately done.  If they become accustomed to having all their activities publicly acknowledged, they will find it very easy to do things more for the attention of others than for the pleasing of God.

 Matthew 6:2-4  “Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.  But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:  That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.”

Matthew 6: 19-21  “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:  But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:  For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”

Matthew 23:5  “But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,”

 

While the immediate result of public praise will most often be that more work will be accomplished, it is almost always damaging to the Lord’s work in the long term.  Are your people doing things so they will receive praise, appreciation from men, and acknowledgment ?  The works of the Church should be those works which God works through us.  This working of the Holy Spirit is hindered when a person is more submissive to his own desire for earthly recognition than he is to simply please the Lord.

 

 

WARN YOUR FLOCK OF DANGERS.

This is the duty of a shepherd.  It is required by the Owner of the sheep that the shepherd protects them from harm.  The responsibilities of the pastor in this regard are huge.

 

Warn against the dangers of loving material things.

1 John 2: 15-16  “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. “

Matthew 6:24  “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”

 

Beware of human weakness when it comes to material possessions.  The Prosperity Gospel is a deadly and self-exalting movement which has taken control of many churches where pastors assumed that it could not do so.  While it claims it does not take away from the Gospel of Jesus Christ, it clearly established another god, another desire, another goal in life.  This is a second master, and the Lord will not be a part of it.  If you allow this doctrine to enter your church, you will grieve the work of the Holy Spirit away.

 

Warn against any other entity which would place itself as the highest priority in the lives of your sheep.  In some cultures, parents have come to idolize their children, giving them anything they desire.  In others, wives or husbands have been made lesser gods.  In other cultures a certain type of employment or social status has become an idol which the sheep desire more than the blessed fellowship with the Lord.

 

We have the example of the faith which Moses exercised when he rejected the status, power, and wealth of Pharaoh in order to follow the Living God.  Hebrews 11: 24-26  “By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter;  Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;  Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.”

 

Although the sheep will not prosper spiritually when they are constantly warned of danger, from time to time a loving pastor will find it necessary to clearly warn of dangerous movements, dangerous people, and dangerous ideas.  It is a responsibility which the Bible makes obvious in both Old and New Testaments.

 

Ezekiel, as well as pastors today, are made watchmen who must warn the sheep of dangers.   Ezekiel 33:8-9  “When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.  Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it; if he do not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.”

 

Paul did not fail to warn of dangers which would be in the future for the Church at Ephesus.  Acts 20:31  “Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.”

 

Paul made certain that the Church at Corinth was warned of dangers which come from failing to follow God’s Word.  1 Corinthians 4:14  “I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you.”

 

Paul notes that overseers (pastors) had admonished the Church at Thessalonica.

1 Thessalonians 5:12  “And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;”

 

Warnings should be given to those who do not follow the rules of God.  1 Thessalonians 5:14  “Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.”

 

The pastor will rebuke in a loving, caring manner those who sin.  1 Timothy 5:20  “Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.”    2 Timothy 4:2  “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.”   Titus 1:13  “This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;”   Titus 2:15  “These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.”

 

 

FELLOWSHIP AND AFFILIATIONS.

While keeping a door open for witnessing and restoration to those who hold false beliefs, the pastor should not be fellowshipping with those whose fundamental doctrines are contrary to what the Bible teaches.  Of course, there will be minor disagreements which everyone has with another person.  They should not be the cause of splits and schisms.  However, when a church, a pastor, or an organization does not agree to the foundation stones of our faith, they are not to be fellowshipped with.

 

 

What should we consider to be fellowship ?   The Greek word which is translated “fellowship” in the following verse of Scripture literally means, “(Strong’s #4790, sugkoinoneo, or soong-koy-no-neh’-o)   “…to become a partaker together with others, or to have fellowship with a thing.”

 

Ephesians 5:11  And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.

 

Some people have tried to wrest their own version of this from the Biblical word.  They make it appear that even speaking to those who disagree on fundamental points is sin.  The sin is actually becoming a partaker with them, not just communicating with them.

 

However, partaking with them does include being a participant in their activities, their meetings, and supporting their organization.  That is strictly forbidden by God.

 

What are these fundamental beliefs which are the criteria for breaking fellowship ?  The following is the list which takes into account those parts of our faith upon which all other are built upon.

 

• God is one Person, manifesting Himself in three ways.  (The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit).
• God breathed the Bible Himself, and it is not the work of men.  In the original languages, it is infallible and pure.
• Our faith must be built upon God’s Word alone, and not man’s viewpoints.
• Jesus was born of the Virgin Mary, came to the earth for the purpose of being the Lamb of God.  He was sinless, and shed His Blood on the Cross for our sins.
• Salvation is through faith in Jesus Christ, in His payment for our sins, and not by any works that we have done or could do.
• Salvation includes the forgiveness of our sins, eternal life, the giving by God of His Holy Spirit to the Believer, and many other promises contained in God’s Word.
• The life of the Christian should be guided by the Word of God and the direction of the Holy Spirit.  The Christian is instructed to live a Godly, Christ-centered life.

 

If an individual, organization, or church does not hold these essential Biblical truths, it is clear that we should not fellowship, or participate, with them.  However, that does not mean that we should cease praying for them, or working to bring them to the Truth.  The absence of fellowship simply means that we will not participate in the activities, associate our good name with them, support them, or provide encouragement for their unbiblical ideas and works.

 

A simple example of this was the fact that Jesus spoke with the Pharisees.  He answered many of their questions.  However, He never participated in any function which promoted the Pharisees, nor would He lend His Name to their false teachings.  He exposed their false doctrines and their hypocritical ways, warning the people not to follow them.  He did, however, keep an open channel of communication with them, trying to teach them the right ways.

 

Leaders in the Church are required to warn those who are not following the Biblical paths.  1 Thessalonians 5:14  “Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.”

 

Just as the prophets of the Old Testament were made watchmen, so too are the pastors of the Church era.  Ezekiel 33:7  “So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at My mouth, and warn them from Me.”

 

 

 

The Apostle Paul set the example, by warning the church at Ephesus of the dangers coming from wolves that were ready to pounce upon the sheep as soon as he left.  Acts 20:31  “Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.”

 

 

KEEP FEEDING THE FLOCK OF GOD.

Your work is primarily that of a pastor-teacher.  Teaching will involve a large portion of your work.  This spiritual feeding of the sheep is required to keep them healthy, growing, and useful to the Lord.  Without proper nourishment, they will be subject to worldly diseases and things which make them so unattractive, that the Lost will not be interested in their invitation to know Jesus.

 

Philippians 1:9  And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment;

 

1 Peter 5:2  Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;

 

Matthew 28:20  Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

 

 

LEADERSHIP IN THE CHURCH SHOULD BE PRAYING THAT GOD WILL GIVE HIS PEOPLE KNOWLEDGE.  PAUL SETS THE EXAMPLE OF DOING THIS.

Ephesians 1:17  That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him:

 

 

 

 

REVIEW OF A MAJOR INSTRUCTION ABOUT THE CHURCH: EPHESIANS 4:11-16.

 

 GOD GAVE THE PREACHERS, ETC. TO THE CHURCH.

Pastors and teachers are not people who are chosen by men.  They should never be positions filled by those who simply like the role and status of a pastor-teacher.  They are to be God-called men, given to the Church; and then, if they have yielded themselves to the Spirit of God, they are recognized by the Church to be God-given Pastors-Teachers.

 

Official Ordination is not the calling of a man to become a preacher, but the response of the Church.  It is the people of God recognizing that the man has already been called by God to do this work.  It is an official recognition of what God has already done.  Ordination does not make a man a pastor, or preacher any more than giving a pig a high school diploma would make the pig smart.

In the Bible we find a principle that God does the calling, and the Church merely recognizes what God has done.  It applies not only to pastors, but other offices, as well.  Ephesians 4: 11  “And He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;”

 

 

THE PURPOSE OF THEIR WORK IS:

Ephesians 4:12  “For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:”

 Maturing the Believer is a duty of the pastor.  Through the teaching of God’s Word and his prayers for the working of the Holy Spirit in their lives, the flock of God should constantly be growing in their spiritual lives.

 

 

THE GOAL WITHIN THE CHURCH IS:

Ephesians 4:13  “Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:”

 

The unity of faith and the growing knowledge of the Lord Jesus is an important factor in determining the worth of a church.  If a pastor seeks to develop His people’s personal walk with the Lord, he must teach them more and more about Him.  That is difficult unless the pastor himself has a close and growing relationship with Jesus.

 

GOD’S WORK THROUGH THEM WILL RESULT IN:

Ephesians 4:14-16  “That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;  But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:  From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.”

 

The God-called man will evaluate his success, not by values and standards of the world, but by the goals which God established.  Those goals are clear.  The church will mature spiritually, and the people will be able to withstand attacks of false doctrines, deceptions, and seductions to sin.  If a pastor’s flock cannot withstand those things, they have not been fed or taught well.  That is criteria God uses to judge a church.  Amazingly, most denominations and pastors have adopted a non-Biblical standard by which they judge a pastor’s success.  It is based upon how much money he brings in every week, what his weekly attendance is, and how large a building he was able to build.  None of those things are even suggested in God’s standard.

 

The Pastor-Teacher will not be truly successful in God’s eyes unless he abides by the standards and procedures established by God.  There are many books, manuals, and instructions taught regarding the setting up of churches.  However, pastors will one day give an accounting for his efforts, and if they do not comply with the Word of God, those efforts will have been in vain and will be burned up.

 

 

THE ROLE OF PASTOR-TEACHER IN ORGANIZING THE CHURCH

The Biblical office of Pastor-teacher has the responsibility for teaching the congregation what God says.  So, he should be God’s messenger to bring the teachings of God’s Word to the congregation.

 

 

BEWARE OF ORGANIZING TOO MUCH TOO QUICKLY.

Many pastors have destroyed the spiritual growth of their churches by trying to set up a big organization in a small church.  A small church does not require 12 deacons or 7 elders.  In fact, it was the Church at Jerusalem, with an estimated 33,000 members, that had those officers.

 

 

MAKE CERTAIN THAT THE PERSON FOR THE OFFICE IS SPIRITUALLY QUALIFIED.

It is better to have no deacons than to have a deacon who is not doing what God wants.  A deacon should be doing the work of a deacon even before the Church officially recognizes him as such.

 

Some new churches, composed of all new converts, have tried to elect people to the office of Elder.  However, the very word “elder” tells us that this office can be filled only by a person who is mature in Christ.  The reality is that many new churches will have to be led by the Pastor, who will do the work of deacon and elder, because there is no one qualified to do it at the beginning.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Organizing The Church”

A Course Of Study From Blueprint For Revival Bible Institutes International

©2008 Belleview, FL 34421 USA

“FUNDAMENTALS OF THE FAITH”

A Course Of Study From

Blueprint For Revival Bible

Institutes International

©2008 Belleview, FL 34421 USA

 

 

BLUEPRINT FOR REVIVAL BIBLE INSTITUTE

BASIC BIBLE STUDY GUIDE

Dr. Ed J MacWilliams

  

COURSE: FUNDAMENTALS OF THE FAITH:

The Basics

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KNOW WHO GOD IS.

 Who Is God?

God is One Person, revealing Himself through three different manifestations.  Father, Son and the Holy Spirit.   These manifestations have commonly been referred to as the Trinity.  God is not three separate persons, as some have suggested, but One Person only.

All three parts of God have always existed.  In Genesis 1: 26-27, it says,

“And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.  So God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them.”

There are some important facts to understand about this verse.

1. First of all, God ordained that this book of the Bible, as well as the entire Old Testament, should be written in the Hebrew language.

2. The word which is translated as “God,” is the Hebrew word, “Elohim”. This is a plural word, implying that God had more than one part to Himself.  You should also note the word “us” when God said, “Let us make…”

3.  When Elohim made man, He made him in God’s own image.  Consider this:  If man had only one part, this verse is saying that God would be like that.  If man had two parts, this verse is saying that God would be like that.  If man had ten parts, this verse is saying that God would be like that, because man was made in His image and likeness.  So, how many parts does man have ?  That will tell us the number of parts of God.

We are actually told in Scripture how many parts man has:

1 Thessalonians 5:23  “And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

This verse clearly states that the whole man has three parts: a body, soul, and spirit.  God, therefore, has those parts, because man was created in His image.

The Father is the Soul part of God.

The Holy Spirit is the Spirit part of God.

Jesus is the Body part of God.

 

JESUS AS “THE ONLY-BEGOTTEN OF THE FATHER” REFERS TO GOD’S  PHYSICAL BEING.

“The Only-begotten” is a term used in the Bible to describe the manifestation of God physically.  Although His Spirit dwells within Believers, there is only One true physical manifestation of God Himself.  Therefore a very unique phrase, “only-begotten,” is used to describe this revelation of Himself.

John 1:14  “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”

John 1:18  “No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, He hath declared Him.”

John 3:16  “For God so loved the world, that he gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

John 3:18  “He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”

1 John 4:9  “In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.”

The words “only-begotten” come from the Greek word, “monogenes” (Strongs Concordance # 3439).  It literally means, “unique, exclusive, one of a kind.”  Although we all become the children of God by faith in Jesus Christ, Jesus was the only true complete manifestation of the Godhead.

 

EACH OF US HAVE ONLY ONE BODY.

THE ONLY-BEGOTTEN SON OF GOD  (JESUS)  IS THAT ONE BODY WHICH IS A PHYSICAL MANIFESTATION OF GOD.

 

Colossians 2:9  “For in Him [Jesus] dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.”    The word ‘Godhead’ is unique.  It means ‘the complete Person, composed of several parts.’

John 14:10  “Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me….?”     Jesus claimed to embody the Father as well as other Scriptures which showed that in Him was the Spirit of God, as well.  With the appearance of Jesus on Earth, we have the revelation of God in as much as mortal man can see at this time.

 

When Philip questioned how he might know God the Father, Jesus gave this reply:

John 14:9  “Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known Me, Philip? he that hath seen Me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?”

 When Thomas was confronted with the resurrected Christ, he openly acknowledged Him as both Lord and God.

John 20:28  “And Thomas answered and said unto Him, My Lord and my God.”

 

THE SPIRIT OF GOD REVEALS THE MOST PRECIOUS ATTITUDES AND EMOTIONS OF THE ALMIGHTY GOD.

The Spirit of God cannot be seen.  He manifests Himself through physical objects, however, just to show mankind what He is doing.  When Jesus was baptized, the Spirit of God revealed Himself in the form of a dove.

Matthew 3:16  “And Jesus, when He was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon Him:”

When the Disciples were gathered in the Upper Room on the day of Pentecost, the Spirit of God revealed Himself as a rushing wind, and in the form of cloven tongues of fire.

Acts 2: 2-4  “And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.  And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.   And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”

In most occasions where the Holy Spirit is working, He cannot be seen with the human eye.  His works, however, are made obvious through the people who yield themselves to Him.

Jesus explained to the disciples that the Holy Spirit which was with them at the time would later be in them.  This wonderful event occurred on the day of Pentecost when the Spirit of God filled all who were Believers in the Upper Room.

John 14:17  “Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him: but ye know Him; for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.”

In today’s world, the Holy Spirit comes to dwell with every Believer from the time they are saved.

 

In the Old Testament times, the relationship between God’s Holy Spirit and Believers was different than it was in the New Testament.

1. Not all Believers in Old Testament times had the Holy Spirit.

2. Not all Believers living during Old Testament times had the Holy Spirit inside them.  Some experienced what the Bible said where, the Holy Spirit “came upon him.”

3. During Old Testament times the Holy Spirit did not promise to stay inside them, or upon them throughout their lives.  King Saul is a good example of that.  God took His Spirit away from him because he disobeyed the command of God.  King David, when he had sinned, after seeing what happened to King Saul, pleaded with God, “…take not thy Holy Spirit from me.”  (Psalm 51:11).

 

WHAT DOES THE HOLY SPRIIT DO ?

These are several of the many important things He does.

The Spirit of God bears witness of Jesus.

John 15:26  “But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, He shall testify of Me:”

The Spirit of God teaches us.

 John 16:13  “Howbeit when He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth: for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak: and He will shew you things to come.”

 
1 John 2:27  “But the anointing which ye have received of Him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in Him.

This does not mean that Believers should not listen to Godly teaching.  But, it does mean that Godly teachings come through men and are of the Spirit of God.  The words and teachings must not be of men…that is, not of men’s ideas and men’s wisdom, but instead they should be from the Spirit of God.

God has called men to be His instruments to teach and encourage the Church.  Just as He used the Apostles in this way, He also uses people today to speak through them.

The Holy Spirit seals us.

Ephesians 1:13  “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,”

Ephesians 4:30  “And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.” 

He makes it impossible for the devil to snatch us fro the hands of the Lord.

The sealing by the Holy Spirit is very similar—although on a spiritual level—to what people do when they seal up a can of beans.  It is designed to keep the product inside, and not allow anyone else to get it except the person who purchases the can of beans.

John 10:29  “My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.”

The Holy Spirit Empowers us.  He gives us the strength we need to accomplish God’s purpose through us.

Romans 15:13  “Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.”

The Spirit of God comforts us.  Many times in a Believer’s life, they have people around them, even loving, caring people, but people who do not understand the full need for comfort that we have.  The precious Holy Spirit of God is the presence of the Lord to comfort us.

John 14:16  “And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you for ever;”  

 John 14:26  “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.”

 

GOD IS OUR CREATOR, AND RULER OF THE UNIVERSE.

Genesis 1:1  “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.”

The entire universe was created by God.  He alone has the power to make something out of absolutely nothing.  Before He created things, there was nothing.

It was the physical part of God, Jesus, Who created the physical universe.

Colossians 1:16  “For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him, and for Him:”

Genesis 1:21  “And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good.”

Genesis 1:27  “So God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them.”

Ephesians 3:9  “And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, Who created all things by Jesus Christ:”

 

GOD IS A COMPASSIONATE, CARING KING.

John 3:16  “For God so loved the world, that He gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

Ephesians 5:25  “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for it;”

Psalms 146:8  “The LORD openeth the eyes of the blind: the LORD raiseth them that are bowed down: the LORD loveth the righteous:”

John 14:21  “He that hath My commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth Me: and he that loveth Me shall be loved of My Father, and I will love him, and will manifest Myself to him.”

 

GOD WANTS TO BE KNOWN BY THOSE HE MADE IN HIS IMAGE.

A. PEOPLE THINK GOD IS NON-JUDGMENTAL.  “HE WON’T HURT US.  HE LOVES US TOO MUCH,” THEY SAY.

**There is a false teaching today that says that love doesn’t punish.  Yet we know that if a parent loves their child, they will punish the child in order to teach the child the proper and safe way of behavior.  God is the perfect Parent.  If we fail to listen to His Word and His instruction, He will punish, or chasten, us so that we will do the right and safe thing.

The disobedience by Adam, the first man of God’s creation, changed his entire life.

Genesis 3:23  “Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken.”   God forgave Adam for his sin, but God also left him with a lesson which he never would be able to forget.

B. THERE WERE THINGS WHICH JESUS DID THAT SHOWED HE STOOD UP FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS.  GOD ALWAYS SHOWS HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS THROUGH THE THINGS THAT HE DOES.

Mark 11:15  “And they come to Jerusalem: and Jesus went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves;”

C. GOD DEALS WITH EACH PERSONAL INDIVIDUALLY.  Sometimes, God will allow the devil to have his way if we disobey God’s will.

1 Samuel 16:14  “But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him.”

GOD IS GREATER THAN WHAT WE ARE ABLE TO IMAGINE.

A. THE PRESENCE OF GOD REVEALS A POWERFUL EVIDENCE OF HIS GREATNESS.  His presence is able to melt the hardest heart, and make the weakest person strong.  No psychiatrist or doctor can do that.  No medication can.  He is able to do what doctors cannot do.  He is able to make something from nothing.  His very presence exposes people to powerful evidences of His nature.

Exodus 9:28  “Intreat the LORD (for it is enough) that there be no more mighty thunderings and hail; and I will let you go, and ye shall stay no longer.”

People come under conviction.  People are comforted.  People are made to think about their future and about sins in their lives.

B. GOD’S COMMUNICATION WITH MAN REVEALS HIS GREATNESS.

His Voice is full of majesty.  Voices in this world are filled with deceit and corruption.

Psalms 29:4  “The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is full of majesty.”

Job 37:5  “God thundereth marvellously with His voice; great things doeth He, which we cannot comprehend.”

C. JUST OBSERVING WHAT GOD DOES WITH HIS CREATION SHOWS HIS GREATNESS.  He defies the wisdom of men.   His works are beyond our ability to fully understand.

Psalms 105:5  “Remember His marvellous works that He hath done; His wonders, and the judgments of His mouth;”

Isaiah 55:9  “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.”

They are beyond the intelligence of man.

Ezekiel 1:19-20  “And when the living creatures went, the wheels went by them: and when the living creatures were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up. Whithersoever the spirit was to go, they went, thither was their spirit to go; and the wheels were lifted up over against them: for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels.”

GOD IS HOLY AND HAS EVERY RIGHT TO DEMAND THINGS FROM US.

A. HIS JUDGMENTS ARE ALL RIGHTEOUS.  They are holy.  He will end ministries if people don’t repent and separate themselves from sin.  He warns the Church, in

Revelation 2:20  “Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.”

The Church was required by God to follow His standards, and not compromise with the world.

B. GETTING SAVED IS NOT OPTIONAL.  IT IS A COMMAND.

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

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

Isaiah 2:21  “To go into the clefts of the rocks, and into the tops of the ragged rocks, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of His majesty, when He ariseth to shake terribly the earth.”

 

The Names of God

Revealed in the Old Testament

In The Old Testament, a tradition was established which gave a name to each child which revealed the character of the child.  Sometimes the name was given as a result of something related to the birth of the child, as in the case of Jacob.

Genesis 25:26  “And after that came his brother out, and his hand took hold on Esau’s heel; and his name was called Jacob: and Isaac was threescore years old when she bare them.”

The name “Jacob” literally means, “sneaky thief,” and relates to the fact that while being born, he tried to pull his brother back and steal his position as ‘first-born.’

Hebrew names generally had actual meanings which described at least one of the individual’s characteristics.  This is also true as the Bible reveals the character of God.  He is shown to have many names, each describing an attribute of Himself.

 

EL:  God (“mighty, strong, prominent”) used 250 times in the OT See Gen. 7:1, 28:3, 35:11; Nu. 23:22; Josh. 3:10; 2 Sam. 22:31, 32; Neh. 1:5, 9:32; Isa. 9:6; Ezek. 10:5. Elohim is the more common plural form of El.

ELOHIM:  God (a plural noun, more than two, used with singular verbs); Elohim occurs 2,570 times in the OT, 32 times in Gen. 1. God as Creator, Preserver, Transcendent, Mighty and Strong. Eccl., Dan. Jonah use Elohim almost exclusively. See Gen. 17:7, 6:18, 9:15, 50:24; I Kings 8:23; Jer. 31:33; Isa. 40:1.

EL SHADDAI:    God Almighty or “God All Sufficient.” 48 times in the OT, 31 times in Job. First used in Gen. 17:1, 2. (Gen. 31:29, 49:24, 25; Prov. 3:27; Micah 2:1; Isa. 60:15, 16, 66:10-13; Ruth 1:20, 21) In Rev. 16:7, “Lord God the Almighty.” The Septuagint (which is the early Greek language translation of the Old Testament) uses the Greek word, “ikanos,” meaning “all-sufficient” or “self-sufficient.” The idols of the heathen are called “sheddim.”

ADONAI:  Sometimes translated as “Lord” in our English Bibles  (All lower case letters except for the Capital ‘L’ in English translations).   (Adonai is plural, the sing. is “adon”). It is translated as “Master” or “Lord,” 300 times in the OT, but is always plural when referring to God.   When it appears as a singular noun the reference is to a human lord. Used 215 times to refer to men. First use of Adonai, Gen. 15:2. (Ex. 4:10; Judges 6:15; 2 Sam. 7:18-20; Ps. 8, 114:7, 135:5, 141:8, 109:21-28). Heavy use in Isaiah (Adonai Jehovah). 200 times by Ezekiel. Ten times in Dan. 9.

JEHOVAH:  LORD in our English Bibles (all capitals). Yahweh is the covenant name of God. Occurs 6823 times in the OT First use Gen. 2:4 (Jehovah Elohim=LORD God)). From the verb “to be”, havah, similar to chavah (to live), “The Self-Existent One,” “I AM WHO I AM” or ‘I WILL BE WHO I WILL BE” as revealed to Moses at the burning bush, Ex.3. The name of God, too sacred to be uttered, abbreviated ( . . . . ) or written “YHWH” without vowel points. (Dan. 9:14; Ps. 11:7; Lev. 19:2; Hab. 1:12). Note Deut. 6:4, 5 known to Jews as the Sh’ma uses both Jehovah and Elohim to indicate one God with a plurality of persons.

JEHOVAH-JIREH:   “The Lord will Provide.” Gen. 22:14. From “jireh” (“to see” or “to provide,” or to “foresee” as a prophet.) God always provides for our needs adequately when the times come.

JEHOVAH-RAPHE:      “The Lord Who Heals” Ex. 15:22-26. From “rophe” (“to heal”); implies spiritual, emotional as well as physical healing. (Jer. 30:17, 3:22; Isa. 61:1) God heals the body, soul, and spirit; all levels of man’s being.

JEHOVAH-NISSI:     “The Lord Our Banner.” Ex. 17:15. God on the battlefield, from word which means “to glisten,” “to lift up,” See Psalm 4:6.

JEHOVAH-M’KADDESH:      “The Lord Who Sanctifies” Lev. 20:8. “To make whole, set apart for holiness.”

JEHOVAH-SHALOM:     “The Lord Our Peace” Judges 6:24. “Shalom” translated “peace” 170 times means “whole,” “finished,” “fulfilled,” “perfected.” Related to “well, and “welfare.” Deut. 27:6; Dan. 5:26; I Kings 9:25 8:61; Gen. 15:16; Ex. 21:34, 22:5, 6; Lev. 7:11-21.

SHEPHERD:  Psa. 23, 79:13, 95:7, 80:1, 100:3; Gen. 49:24; Isa. 40:11.  God is the Great Shepherd of the sheep.  He leads His people to blessings and righteousness.

JUDGE:  Psa. 7:8, 96:13.  God will judge the world and all mankind.  The most notable time will be the White Throne judgment mentioned in Revelation, Chapter 19:11, etc.

JEHOVAH ELOHIM:     “LORD God” Gen. 2:4; Judges 5:3; Isa. 17:6; Zeph. 2:9; Psa. 59:5, etc.

JEHOVAH-TSIDKENU      “The Lord Our Righteousness” Jer. 23:5, 6, 33:16. From “tsidek” (straight, stiff, balanced – as on scales – full weight, justice, right, righteous, declared innocent.) God our Righteousness.

JEHOVAH-ROHI:     “The Lord Our Shepherd” Psa. 23, from “ro’eh” (to pasture).

JEHOVAH-SHAMMAH:        “The Lord is There” (Ezek. 48:35).

JEHOVAH-SABAOTH:      “The Lord of Hosts” The commander of the angelic host and the armies of God. Isa. 1:24; Psa. 46:7, 11; 2 Kings 3:9-12; Jer. 11:20 (NT: Rom. 9:29; James 5:4, Rev. 19: 11-16).

EL ELYON:       ‘Most High” (from “to go up”) Deut. 26:19, 32:8; Psa. 18:13; Gen. 14:18; Nu. 24:16; Psa. 78:35, 7:17, 18:13, 97:9, 56:2, 78:56, 18:13; Dan. 7:25, 27; Isa. 14:14.

ABHIR:  ‘Mighty One’, (“to be strong”) Gen. 49:24; Deut. 10:17; Psa. 132:2, 5; Isa. 1:24, 49:26, 60:1.

BRANCH:  (tsemach), The Branch: Zech. 3:8, 6:12; Isa. 4:2; Jer. 23:5, 33:15.

KADOSH:  “Holy One” Psa. 71:22; Isa. 40:25, 43:3, 48:17. Isaiah uses the expression “the Holy One of Israel” 29 times.

SHAPHAT:  “Judge” Gen. 18:25

EL ROI:       “God of Seeing” Hagar in Gen. 16:13. The God Who opens our eyes.

KANNA:  “Jealous” (zealous). Ex. 20:5, 34:14; Deut. 5:9; Isa. 9:7; Zech. 1:14, 8:2.

PALET:  “Deliverer” Psa. 18:2.

YESHUA:  (Yeshua) “Savior” (“he will save”). Isa. 43:3. Jesus is the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew “Joshua.” The latter is a contraction of Je-Hoshua. (The NT Greek word “Christ”, the anointed one, is equivalent to the Hebrew “Moschiah,” or Messiah).

GAOL:  “Redeemer” (One who buys back by paying a price). Job 19:25; For example, the antitype corresponding to Boaz the Kinsman-Redeemer in the Book of Ruth.

MAGEN:  “Shield” Psa. 3:3, 18:30.

STONE:  Gen. 49:24

EYALUTH:  “Strength” Psa. 22:19.

TSADDIQ:  “Righteous One” Psa. 7:9.

EL-OLAM:       “Everlasting God” (God of everlasting time) Gen. 21:33; Psa. 90:1-3, 93:2; Isa. 26:4.

EL-BERITH:      “God of the Covenant” Used of Baal in Judges 9:46. Probably used originally to refer to the God of Israel.

EL-GIBHOR:      “Mighty God” (Isa. 9:6)

ZUR:  “Our Rock” Deut. 32:18; Isa. 30:29.

Malachi calls Messiah “The Sun of Righteousness” (Malachi 4:2).

Isaiah calls Messiah “Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God (El Gibhor), Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isa. 9:6).

‘Attiq Yomin (Aramaic): “Ancient of Days,” Dan. 7:9, 13, 22.

MELEKH:  “King” Psa. 5:2, 29:10, 44:4, 47:6-8, 48:2, 68:24, 74:12, 95:3, 97:1, 99:4, 146:10; Isa. 5:1, 5, 41:21, 43:15, 44:6; 52:7, 52:10.

“The Angel of the Lord: ” Gen. 16:7ff, 21:17, 22:11, 15ff, 18:1-19:1, 24:7, 40, 31:11-13, 32:24-30; Ex. 3:6, 13:21, Ezek. 1:10-13. Seen in the Theophanies, or pre-incarnate appearances of the Son of God in the Old Testament (See I Cor. 10:3 New Testament.)

FATHER:  2 Sam. 7:14-15; Psa. 68:5; Isa. 63:16, 64:8; Mal. 1:6.

THE FIRST AND LAST: Isa. 44:6, 48:12.

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New Testament Scriptures, (Greek):

KURIOS: (kurios) “Lord” Found some 600 times in the NT.
DESPOTES: (despotes) “Lord” 5 times: Lu. 2:29; Acts 4:24; 2 Pet. 2:1; Jude 4; Rev. 6:10.

THEOS: (yeos) “God” (equivalent to the Hebrew Elohim), 1,000 times in the NT. In the NT all the persons of the trinity are called “God” at one time or another.

I AM: Jesus upset his generation especially when He said, “Before Abraham was, I AM,” John 8:58. Note also his claim to be Jehovah in such phrases as “I AM the Light of the world,” “the bread of life,” living water,” “the Resurrection and the Life,” “the Way, Truth and the Life” in John’s Gospel. From the Hebrew OT verb “to be” signifying a Living, Intelligent, Personal Being.

THEOTES: “Godhead” Col. 2:9; Rom. 1:20.

HUPSISTOS: “Highest” Mt. 21:9.

SOTER: (soter) “Savior” Luke 1:4 7.

WORD: (logos) John 1:1

ALMIGHTY: (pantokrator) 2 Cor. 6:18, Revelation, 9t, e.g. 19:6.

JESUS: Derived from the Hebrew “Joshua” (Y’shua) or “Je-Hoshua” meaning JEHOVAH IS SALVATION.

 

 

 

The Trinity

Notes on the word, “Trinity”

In the doctrine of many Christian denominations, the word “Trinity” occurs.  This word is not in the Bible and was an attempt by early theologians to describe the nature of God.  To the early Christians, God was not a Trinity, as supposed by many cults today.  Instead, He was seen as One God who manifested Himself in three different ways.  This is the correct and most Biblical view.

However, to some people, the word “Trinity” means that God is actually three closely-linked but separate people.  Although those who hold this view claim to be Christians, this is a form of polytheism and is not justified by what the Bible teaches.

 

THE PHYSICAL PART OF GOD APPEARS THROUGHOUT THE OLD TESTAMENT

Even before Jesus was born to the Virgin Mary and walked among men for around 33 years, He was found in the Old Testament, as well.

THE PHYSICAL PART OF GOD WALKED IN THE GARDEN OF EDEN, BEFORE ADAM SINNED.

Genesis 3:8  “And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.”

MOSES HAD JESUS’ HAND PLACED OVER HIS EYES TO PROTECT HIM FROM THE GLORY OF THE FATHER.

Exodus 33: 19-23  “And He said, I will make all My goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy.  And He said, Thou canst not see My face: for there shall no man see Me, and live.  And the LORD said, Behold, there is a place by Me, and thou shalt stand upon a rock:  And it shall come to pass, while My glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a clift of the rock, and will cover thee with My hand while I pass by.  And I will take away Mine hand, and thou shalt see My back parts: but My face shall not be seen.”

ABRAHAM FED JESUS AND TWO ANGELS.

Genesis 18: 1-4  “And the LORD appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre: and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day;  And he lift up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood by him: and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the ground,  And said, My Lord, if now I have found favour in Thy sight, pass not away, I pray Thee, from Thy servant:  Let a little water, I pray You, be fetched, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree:”

Genesis 18: 8  “And he took butter, and milk, and the calf which he had dressed, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree, and they did eat.”

ABRAHAM SPOKE WITH JESUS ABOUT JUDGMENT ON SODOM AND GOMORRAH.

Genesis 18:20-22  “And the LORD said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous;    I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know.   And the men turned their faces from thence, and went toward Sodom: but Abraham stood yet before the LORD.”

JACOB WRESTLED WITH THE PHYSICAL PART OF GOD.

Genesis 32:24-25  “And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a Man with him until the breaking of the day.  And when He saw that he prevailed not against him, He touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob’s thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him.”

Genesis 32:30  “And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.”

Jesus made it clearer to those who believed, what the nature of the Almighty God was like.  In the following Scriptures, He helps us to understand the One true God better.

Matthew 11:27  “All things are delivered unto Me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal Him.”

John 14: 6-7  “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.   If ye had known Me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know Him, and have seen Him.”

John 14: 8-11  “Philip saith unto Him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us.  Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known Me, Philip? he that hath seen Me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?  Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of Myself: but the Father that dwelleth in Me, He doeth the works.  Believe Me that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me: or else believe Me for the very works’ sake.”

 

Because of Christ’s revelation of the Father, we know what the word, “Godhead,” means.

Romans 1:20  “For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:”  

Colossians 2:9  “For in Him” [that is, ‘in Jesus’] “dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.”

 

Some people object to the idea that Jesus is actually God in Flesh, even though the Bible says so.  They insist that because He prayed to the Father on several occasions, that this “proves” He was not God, but merely an anointed messenger, or a great prophet.  This is one of the arguments which Islam uses against Jesus.

Let us consider these Biblical passages which they use to argue against Jesus being God in flesh.

 

WHEN JESUS PRAYED IN GETHSEMENE.

Luke 22:42  “Saying, Father, if Thou be willing, remove this cup from Me: nevertheless not My will, but Thine, be done.”

When a person speaks out loud, it is not unusual.  In fact, most people have spoken out loud, talking to themselves.  It is not an insane person who “talks to himself,” but the typical human being who wants his inner soul to hear what he is considering.  The fact that Jesus prayed does not mean that He was speaking with a far-off person completely unrelated to Himself.  In fact, His prayers were to the Father, that the Bible says, was within Him.

Mark 15:34  “And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?” 

When God the Father abandoned the Body of Jesus on the Cross, there was a separation of parts.  But, it was necessary for this to occur, since God the Father cannot stand the presence of sin, and when Jesus hung on the Cross, at the end of His time there, He took upon Himself the sins of the entire world.  This resulted in His statement, “…why hast Thou forsaken Me ?”

 

 Some Scriptures Revealing the Nature of Jesus

Revelation 1:7-8 Jesus was the Almighty.
Genesis 17:1 And the Almighty was God.

John 8:58 Jesus was the “I Am”
Exodus 3:14 and the “I Am” was God

Acts 3:14 Jesus was the “HOLY ONE”
Isaiah 43:15 and the “HOLY ONE” was God

John 8:24 Jesus is the “I Am He”
Isaiah 43:10 and the “I Am He” was God

Revelation 22:13 Jesus is the “First and the Last”
Isaiah 44:6 and the “First and the Last” was God

I Corinthians 10:4 Jesus was “The Rock”
Psalm 18:31 and “The Rock” was God

II Corinthians 11:2 Jesus was the “One HUSBAND”
Jeremiah 31:32 and the “One HUSBAND” was God

Matthew 23:8 Jesus was the “ONE MASTER”
Malachi 1:6 and the “ONE MASTER” was God

John 10:16 Jesus was the “ONE SHEPHERD”
Isaiah 40:11 and the “ONE SHEPHERD” was God

Acts 4:12 Jesus was the “ONE SAVIOR”
Isaiah 45:21 and the “ONE SAVIOR” was God

Luke 1:68 Jesus was the “ONE REDEEMER”
Isaiah 41:14 and the “ONE REDEEMER” was God

Revelation 19:16 Jesus was “LORD OF LORDS
1 Timothy 6:14 Jesus was “LORD OF LORDS
Deuteronomy 10:17 and the “LORD OF LORDS” was God

Philippians 2:10 Every knee must bow to Jesus
Isaiah 45:23 Every knee must bow to God

John 1: 3-10 Jesus was the “ONE CREATOR”
Isaiah 44:24 Jesus was the “ONE CREATOR”
Genesis 1:1 and the “ONE CREATOR” was God

John 1:49 Jesus was “KING OF ISRAEL”
Isaiah 44:6 and the “KING OF ISRAEL” was God

Deuteronomy 4:35 The Lord He is God, there is NONE else beside him

Deuteronomy 4:39 there is None Else

Deuteronomy 6:4 the Lord our God is ONE Lord

Deuteronomy 32:39 “I even I, am He and THERE IS NO GOD WITH ME”

1 Kings 8:60 The LORD is God – There is None Else

2 Kings 19:15 You ALONE are the only true God

Psalm 86:10 You are God, YOU ALONE

Isaiah 42:8  I am Jehovah, and to no one else shall I give My own glory

Isaiah 43:10,11  Before Me there was no God formed
NEITHER SHALL THERE BE AFTER ME. I, EVEN I AM THE LORD:
AND BESIDE ME THERE IS NO SAVIOR.

Isaiah 44:6 I AM THE FIRST, AND THE LAST: AND BESIDE ME THERE IS NO GOD

Isaiah 45:5 I am the Lord, and there is NONE ELSE, THERE IS NO GOD BESIDE ME

Isaiah 45:6 There is NONE beside Me. I am the Lord and there is NONE else.

Isaiah 45:15  You are a God, the God of Israel, a Savior.

Isaiah 45:22  Turn to me and be saved. For I am God, and there is no one else.

Isaiah 48:11 I will not give my glory unto another.
Isaiah 45:5

Isaiah 48:12 I am He, I am the First, I also am the Last. Revelation 1:8

Hosea 13:4 I am Jehovah your God, there was no God except Me, and there was no savior but I.

Joel 2:27 I am your God, and None Else

Zechariah 14:9 In that day shall there be ONE LORD AND HIS NAME ONE

Philippians 2:11 That Jesus Christ is Lord, to the Glory of God the Father

Matthew 23:9 For one is your Father, the heavenly One

Mark 12:29 Jehovah our God is one Jehovah

 

 

KNOW WHAT HIS PURPOSES ARE.

The purposes of God are established in Scripture.  They are important issues which must not be left to man’s imagination or speculation.  If we fail to understand the purposes of God, our entire lives can be spent trying to accomplish the wrong things.

When the LORD God created the Heavens and the Earth, He did it perfectly.  Everything was good.  There was not one mistake or flaw found in this new world He made.  Perfection was His intent, and it was accomplished.  Everything He made worked together in harmony with everything else He made.  There was a unity and holiness in His plan.

The Bible tells us that,

“…God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called He Seas: and God saw that it was good.”  Genesis 1:10.

If God has initially intended for there to be even some minor thing wrong with His new world, He could have brought it about, but instead, His goal was perfection.

 

TO BRING ALL GOOD THINGS TOGETHER INTO ONE GLORIOUS UNION, UNDER HIMSELF.

Ephesians 1: 9-10   “Having made known unto us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He hath purposed in Himself:   That in the dispensation of the fulness of times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in Him:”

 

It would not take much to realize that since this was God’s intention, that He will do what is necessary to bring this to pass once again.  God will not be defeated in His purposes.  Christians are encouraged to look forward to that day.

2 Peter 3:13  “Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.”

 

BRING SINNERS TO REPENTANCE.

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.”

 1 Timothy 2: 3-4  “For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;  Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.”

 

TO RECONCILE REPENTANT SINNERS TO HIMSELF.

Ephesians 2:16  “And that He might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:”

Colossians 1:20  “And, having made peace through the blood of His cross, by Him to reconcile all things unto Himself; by Him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.”

 

TO MAKE KNOWN THE MYSTERY OF FELLOWSHIP WITH HIMSELF.

Ephesians 3: 9-11  “And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, Who created all things by Jesus Christ:  To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,  According to the eternal purpose which He purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:”

 

TO USE HIS BRIDE, THE CHURCH, IN REACHING SINNERS.

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

Acts 1:8  “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto Me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”

Acts 20:24  “But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God”.

Matthew 4:19  “And He saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”

 

1. CREATED TO DO WHAT ?  **There are many animals of which we know little purpose for them.  Why did God create armadillo’s ?  Why flies ?  Why mosquitoes ?  Yet, the Bible tells us everything has a purpose, even if the creature isn’t conscious of what their purpose is.  So, how does the mosquito end up doing God’s will ?  Just by being itself.  But, with man, it’s different.  Ever since Adam sinned, man isn’t the way God created him.  He can’t think right, and his purposes seem to have been twisted.  So, God gave mankind the answers simply and clearly in His Word, the Bible.

 

A. NOT TO ADOPT THE WORLD’S VIEWS.   It’s interesting to hear people talk about a check the government is supposed to send to everyone to help the economy.  Where do you think the government, that is in debt over it’s head is going to get the money ?  They are going to print more of it.  Which makes the money you have worth even less.  The world’s thinking is crazy.

Luke 12:19-21  “And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.  But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?  So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”

 

B. WE WERE CREATED TO REFLECT GOD, NOT OUR OWN SELVES.

  Ephesians 4:24  “And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.”

 

C. CREATED TO DO GOOD WORKS.   WHAT ARE THESE GOOD WORKS ?

Ephesians 2:10  “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

 

 

2. GOD’S PURPOSE WILL NOT BE UNDONE.

A. WHATEVER GOD PLANS, IT WILL BE DONE.

Isaiah 14:26-27  “This is the purpose that is purposed upon the whole earth: and this is the hand that is stretched out upon all the nations.  For the LORD of hosts hath purposed, and who shall disannul it? and His hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it back?”

 

B. HE CREATED MAN TO REFLECT HIS OWN GLORY.  IF THE JEWISH PEOPLE REFUSED HIM, HE WOULD GO TO THE GENTILES.

Jeremiah 16:19-20  “O LORD, my strength, and my fortress, and my refuge in the day of affliction, the Gentiles shall come unto Thee from the ends of the earth, and shall say, Surely our fathers have inherited lies, vanity, and things wherein there is no profit.  Shall a man make gods unto himself, and they are no gods?”

 

C. LETTING THE LIGHT OF CHRIST SHINE IN US.

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

 

3. THE FUTURE OF GOD’S PLAN SHOULD MAKE US SUBMIT TO HIM IN FAITH.

A. GOD WILL CREATE A NEW HEAVENS AND A NEW EARTH.

Isaiah 65:17  “For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.”

 

B. GOD WILL CREATE A CLEAN HEART IN THOSE THAT SEEK HIS HOLINESS.

Psalms 51:10  “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.”

 

 

KNOW WHY WE NEED TO BE SAVED

The whole concept of “being saved” has been under attack in recent years.  Many people now contend that a loving God will forgive everyone and bring everyone into Heaven, regardless of their faith or what they have done in their lives.  They suggest that God will push aside all things that we have done against Him and each other, and will freely give us all a pardon, even if we didn’t ask.

Actually, the term, “saved,” goes back to the Old Testament, where it dealt with deliverance from one’s enemies.

Psalms 18:3  “I will call upon the LORD, Who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.”

Taking this principle on a personal level, we find that being saved also applies to enemies other than armies of men who seek to kill us.  Through the power of Christ, we are saved from the power of the devil, from a fate so bad that words cannot properly describe it, and from death itself.

The other value of “being saved,” is that we are saved from the anger of Almighty God, Who will judge all men.

Romans 5:9  “Much more then, being now justified by His blood” [that is, the Blood of Jesus], “we shall be saved from wrath through Him.” [that is, through Jesus]

 

BECAUSE EVERY HUMAN BEING HAS INHERITED A SINFUL NATURE FROM ADAM TO THE PRESENT TIME.

Romans 5:12  “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:”

The weakness to sin is carried genetically.  These tiny parts of DNA found in the human body are the character of the person.  They not only describe the physical attributes, but the mental ones, as well.  They were basically unknown until about 50 years ago, but since the invention of more powerful microscopes, DNA has become another confirmation of what God said in the Bible thousands of years before.

DNA molecules carry the characteristics—the strengths and weaknesses of the individual, and their composition that is inherited from the parents.  The Bible tells us that the weakness toward certain sins of the great-great-grandparents are carried to the children.

Numbers 14:18  “The LORD is longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation.”

For an example, it has been proven through DNA research conducted at the University of Florida,  Gainesville, and confirmed at other research facilities around the world that the weakness toward alcoholism is carried to three and four generations by DNA.  That does not mean that all children who are born to alcoholics will become alcoholics themselves, but it does mean that the weakness toward that sin will be especially present in them.  The sin comes from a personal choice to disobey God.  No one is forced to sin, either by others, or by DNA, or by the devil himself.  It is always a choice of the unregenerate heart.

 

WE NEED TO BE SAVED BECAUSE ADAM SINNED.

Romans 5: 17-19  “For if by one man’s offence” *[Adam’s sin]  “death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by One, Jesus Christ.)  Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of One the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.  For as by one man’s disobedience” *[Adam’s sin]  “many were made sinners, so by the obedience of One” *[Jesus, Who never sinned] “shall many be made righteous.”

*Clarifying notation.

 

BECAUSE YOU PERSONALLY CHOSE TO SIN.  GOD has commanded all those He created as humans to obey Him.  When we do not obey, it is considered sin.   It places the responsibility for sinning clearly upon each of us.  We have the choice, to sin, or not.  When we choose to sin, the result is death.

Romans 6:12  “Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.”

Romans 6:16  “Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?”

 

BECAUSE THERE IS NO HOPE WITHOUT A PAYMENT IN BLOOD.

The Bible is clear to tell us that God established a procedure, a law, for covering sin.  It cannot be done by any of man’s ideas, such as Adam and Eve tried when they use fig leaves.  Sin can be covered only through the shedding of innocent blood.

When Adam and Eve sinned, God provided a covering for them.  He gave them coats of skins.

Genesis 3:21  “Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.”

But, in order for Him to make coats of skins, God first had to shed the blood of those animals in order to take their skins.

We find that this principle was understood by Adam’s sons, Cain and Abel.  Abel provided the sin offering required by God, for it was an offering that shed the blood of an animal.

Genesis 4:4  “And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering:”

God was NOT pleased with the offering which Cain gave (vegetables), that did not shed blood.  This principle in clarified elsewhere in Scripture, as well.

Hebrews 9:22  “And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.”

 

BECAUSE YOU DON’T WANT TO PAY FOR YOUR SINS YOURSELF.  The shedding of animal blood was only a temporary solution until the final judgment was completed.  At the judgment, man would have been found guilty of sin, and he would have to pay the consequences, death.

Romans 6:23  “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Hebrews 10:4  “For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.”  All that the blood of animals could did in ancient times was to COVER sins, as a temporary means of protection from the wrath of God, but they could not provide forgiveness.

Sooner or later, every man would have to give an account of himself before God, and be found condemned because of sin.  Hell is a place of torment, and all those in Hell will one day be transferred to an even more terrible place of torment, called the Lake of Fire.

Matthew 10:28  “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear Him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”

Psalms 9:17  “The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.” 

Matthew 23:33  “Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?”

Mark 9:43  “And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: “ 

Matthew 25:41  “Then shall He say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from Me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:”

 Revelation 20:14  “And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.”

Revelation 20:15  “And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”

 

Although that sounds hopeless, the God Who created us and loves us made a way for us to have real and eternal forgiveness.

John 3:16  “For God so loved the world, that He gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

Every person having an earthly mother and father is in need of salvation.  There are no exceptions.  Because we have chosen to sin against God, His judgment against us is righteous and fair.  It is only through faith in Jesus Christ that the payment which God provided for sin can be applied to our lives.

 

 

BECAUSE JESUS IS THE ONLY ANSWER.

From the very beginning of mankind, Jesus was the only true answer that gave forgiveness.  Before the Cross, where Jesus shed His Blood for us, saved people looked ahead believing that God would provide a perfect Lamb for the sacrifice that would wash away our sins.  After the Cross, saved people looked back in faith to the time when Jesus walked on the face of the earth and went to the Cross, trusting in Jesus, the true Lamb of God.  Both Old Testament people and New Testament people were saved by faith in the Lamb of God.

The Holy Spirit taught through the Apostles, in

Acts 4:12  “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”

Jesus said of Himself, in

John 14:6  “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.”

 

 

 

KNOW HOW WE ARE SAVED

We are not saved by trying to be good.  Even if we lived our lives without sin, except for one thing, we would be condemned to an eternity in Hell.  The Bible says, in Romans 6:23a,  “For the wages of sin is death…”  That Scripture does NOT say, “The wages of many sins….”  Instead it says “The wages of sin…”—singular, meaning, the wages of only one sin !

Some people picture Judgment Day before God as a time when God will weigh out our lives, and see if our good deeds outweigh our bad deeds.  They falsely reason that if our good deeds are more than our bad deeds, God will let us into Heaven.  The Bible strongly contradicts this.

This is how God looks at our “good deeds” before we come to know Jesus Christ as our Savior.

Psalms 14:3  “They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.”

Ecclesiastes 7:20  “For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.”   

Isaiah 64:6  “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.”

 

The fact is, God will not count anything we have done in our past that might appear to us or other humans as “good,” until we first come to Christ in repentance and faith.  Jesus pointed out God’s rule for accomplishing good things.

John 15:5  “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without Me ye can do nothing.”

 God established laws which govern how our sins would be covered or forgiven.  The Bible clearly states that the shedding of innocent blood is necessary for that covering.

 Hebrews 9:22  “And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.”

The Bible points to Jesus as God’s chosen Lamb, the innocent, sinless sacrifice that was needed for our sins.  John the Baptist made his disciples aware that Jesus was God’s sacrificial Lamb.

John 1:29  “The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.”

Jesus, God’s sacrificial Lamb, gave Himself for OUR sins.

Ephesians 5:2  “And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given Himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.”

Jesus, God’s sacrifice, paid for our sins.

Hebrews 9:26  “For then must He often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath He appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.”

We are made clean through the Blood which Jesus, God’s sacrifical Lamb, shed for us.

Revelation 7:14“And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.”

Revelation 7:17  “For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.”

Revelation 12:11  “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.”

 

 

KNOW WHAT THAT SALVATION REQUIRES OF US

 

We are required to live in the new way.

Romans 6:4  “Therefore we are buried with Him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.”

We are required to serve Him.

Daniel 7:14  “And there was given Him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve Him: His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.”

1 Thessalonians 1:9  “For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God;”

Hebrews 9:14  “How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?”

The Apostles understood that they were servants of the Lord.

Titus 1:1  “Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness;”

James 1:1  “James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.”

Early Christians understood that they were supposed to be servants of the Lord.

Colossians  4:12  “Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.”   We are all supposed to be the servants of the Lord Jesus.

We cannot serve God and at the same time serve the gods or idols which we had before.

Matthew 6:24  “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”

 

 

KNOW WHAT YOUR PURPOSES ARE.

The Bible tells us that we were created for one purpose.  It is not to please ourselves.  It is not to please others.  It is to please God.

Revelation 4:11  “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created.”

Some people have argued that if we please God first, we cannot be pleasing to others.  This is a false idea.  By seeking to please God, a Believer will end up with greater power from God to bless others.  If a wife wants to please her husband, she must first please God so she will have the greater blessing of love from God which will come through her and it will bless her husband.    

Ephesians 5:22  “Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.”

If he wishes to please his employer, he must consciously seek to please God in what he is doing.  It is then that God will bless, and his employer will be more pleased than at other times.

Colossians 3:23  “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;”   

Ephesians 6:6  “Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;” 

Colossians 3:22  “Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God:” 

 

 

KNOW HOW HE COMMUNICATES WITH US

God loves us and desires to fellowship with us.

1 John 1:7  “But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.”

Obviously, if we do not do those things which are considered “light” we will not have that precious fellowship.   A major part of that communication is in fellowship, but it can also contain other purposes of communication.  It may include conviction over sin, Godly instruction, rebuke, and other things which are completely instigated by God Himself.

The way in which God speaks generally is confined to two major ways.  (There are others which we will discuss later, however).

 

He speaks to us through His written Word, the Bible.  In the Greek language, this is known as the “Logos”.  All the basic principles and information that we need to grow in our relationship with God are included within the Bible.  It shows us the way we are supposed to live.

Psalms 119:105  “NUN. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”

He speaks to us through His spoken Word, which comes by the Holy Spirit.  In the Greek language, this is known as the “Rhema”.   The Holy Spirit takes God’s Word and applies it personally to our daily walk with the Lord.

For an example, the Logos, or the WRITTEN WORD OF GOD said, in

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

No one person can reach the entire world.  But, each person has a part to play in God’s plan.  It is the Holy Spirit that takes the INSTRUCTION, OR COMMAND of God, and applies to us individually.  When the Disciples wanted to reach the world, they wanted God to show them who was to do what, and who was to go where.  The Rhema, the Holy Spirit, said,

Acts 13:2  “As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate Me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.”

The more we listen to the Lord, the more we will be able to recognize the Voice of the Holy Spirit.  Every Believer has already heard Him speaking, however.  He is the One Who convicted us of our sins.  He told us that we needed to be saved.

We heard His Voice, perhaps through a preacher or a friend that was trying to lead us to Christ.  But, we most certainly heard Him when He continued pleading with us to get saved, long after any physical voice stopped.   His Voice is often a quiet Voice, and requires that we seek to hear Him with all diligence.

1 Kings 19: 12-13  “And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.   And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?”

 It is a common error, and a dangerous one, to think that every voice we hear is from God.  In fact, evil spirits can also speak to people, tempting them to do evil.  It is important, then, to recognize that whenever we hear from God, His voice (Rhema) will never contradict His written Word (Logos, the Bible).  The Spirit of God will never oppose what is written, and will confirm God’s written word, and will apply it to the Believer’s life in a way that will bring honor and glory to the Lord Jesus.

There are some churches that have been caught up into false doctrines and failed prophecies because they could not distinguish between the voice of God and the voice of other spirits.  A true Believer in Jesus Christ will grow in his understanding and recognition of the voice of the Spirit.

God can speak to us through other methods of His choosing.  He may choose to speak to us through history.  Jesus used a then-current event, the collapse of the tower of Siloam, to teach the people who were around Him.

Luke 13:4  “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?”

Jesus also used the past history of Sodom and Gomorrah as a teaching tool.

Matthew 10:15  “Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.”

Even if Jesus had not spoken those words to the people around Him, the events which happened in Sodom were an historic lesson of what God will do to an unrepentant, sinful society.

God can also use other things, as well.  He has used animals, as in the case of Balaam’s donkey.    He has used a great fish to teach Jonah not to rebel, but have faith.  He used a fish to bring a coin to Peter so he might pay his taxes.  God is able to use whatever is at His hand to teach and communicate with us.

In each of these methods of communication, God speaks things which verify and NEVER contradict His Word.

 

 

SUMMARY

 

These are a few of the basic doctrines and beliefs which will help you establish your relationship with God more securely.  As you grow in the Christ, you will learn many more wonderful and exciting truths about the God Who loves us so much that He sent His Only-Begotten Son, Jesus to die on the Cross for us.  These things are given so that our hearts and minds might be changed, and our lives will become more like the Lord Jesus.

There will always be things which we do not understand, so don’t be discouraged if you don’t comprehend everything at once.  As you grow in Christ, the Spirit of God will guide you into all Truth, and your understanding will be enlarged.  But, God expects you to accomplish things with the truths He teaches you.  They must not remain as dead facts.  Instead, they must be used to change your life, and they must be shared with others.

 

John 15:8  “Herein is My Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be My disciples.”

 

“Fundamentals Of The Faith”

A Course Of Study From Blueprint For Revival Bible Institutes International

©2008 Belleview, FL 34421 USA

“Our Biblical Faith”

A Course Of Study From

Blueprint For Revival Bible

Institutes International

©2008 Belleview, FL 34421 USA

BLUEPRINT FOR REVIVAL BIBLE INSTITUTE

BASIC BIBLE STUDY GUIDE

Dr. Ed J MacWilliams

  

COURSE: BIBLE DOCTRINE: 

Part Two: Basic Bible Doctrine

 

Doctrine:Something taught as the principles or creed of a religion, faith, etc.; belief, dogma.

There are many individual doctrines in the Bible, but this course is designed to present the basic, most urgent doctrines which need to be communicated to our congregations and the community. We have not labored to make this a complete and thorough examination of the basic doctrines, but simply to present the facts so that the student may use them as a beginning of further studies. They are presented in a manner that should assist the pastor to help his church congregation to establish a Biblical Statement of Faith.

 

By no means do we suggest that other things taught in the Bible are unimportant. In fact, those other doctrines must be understood on the basis of these essential doctrines.

 

For an example, Jesus taught that the disciples could not understand the other parables unless they first understood the Parable of the Sower. He implied that all other parables related in some way to the heart of the Lord in bringing people to His salvation, and helping them to grow up in Him so they could produce more fruit for the glory of God. Mark 4:3-13.

 Mark 4:13 “And He said unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables?”

In the same way, unless we understand these certain basic doctrines, we cannot comprehend the other teachings of the Bible as fully as God wouldwant us to.

 

 

OUR FAITH

 

What we believe is what makes us what we are, and what we shall become. The Christian’s faith is essential to being a true Christian. A person is not born from the womb as a Christian, nor does he become a Christian by joining a religious organization, or by doing some religious act (such as joining the church, communion, or baptism). A Christian, unlike those in most other religions, becomes one by an act of personal faith in Jesus Christ. This cannot be accomplished by someone else on his or her behalf. It is a personal and unique experience between the Believer and Jesus Christ.

 

There is a set of beliefs which bring a person to the point where he or she is ready to repent of sin. It is a specific set of beliefs which brings the person to respond to the call of the Lord from the heart with faith. These beliefs come to us from God, and are contained in the Bible.

 

Biblical Faith is MORE than a belief system. It is also the practical and outward exercise of God’s Word that dwells in our hearts. Biblical faith is where the Word of God lives through us in everyday living experiences.

James 2:18-20 “Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

Our faith, which is solely based upon God’s Word, the Bible, is alive, and practical for everyday use. There is no other book ever written which has the power to reach the spirit and soul of men as the Bible can do. Not only can it reach them with Good News, but it also can help them to discern those things that are right or wrong.

*(The word “quick” in the following Scripture literally means, “alive”).

Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

 

 

All these beliefs come to us from God’s Living Word, the Bible.

 

1. FAITH EMBARRASSES THE ENEMIES OF GOD.

A. IT DEFIES PHYSICAL LAWS. HEB. 11:29

—IT DOES MIRACLES. HEB. 11:30

—IT CONVINCES THE HEARTS OF OTHERS.

HEB. 11:31

B. IT BREAKS AWAY FROM THE “NORMAL” WAYS.

* GIVES US COURAGE TO DO WILL OF GOD.

HEB. 11:24,27

2. FAITH EXPRESSES ITSELF OUTWARDLY.

—UNLIKELY ACTIONS. HEB. 11:8

—STANDS UP, THOUGH SURROUNDED BY EVIL.

HEB. 11:8

3. FAITH MOVES US TO RECEIVE GOD’S BLESSINGS.

* ENOCH TRANSLATED. WHY ? FAITH. HEB. 11:5

 

 

 

OUR FAITH IN JESUS

 

THE ESSENTIAL DOCTRINES: WHO IS HE ?

HE IS THE ONLY-BEGOTTEN SON OF GOD.

This doctrine insists that Jesus was unique, and was a direct manifestation of God. The Greek word that was translated to “only-begotten” is ‘monogenes,’ which means, “unique, single of its kind, only one.” Jesus was the unique, one-of-a-kind expression of God toward us.

John 1:18  “No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, He hath declared Him.”

John 1:14   “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”

John 3:16  “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

John 3:18  “He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.“

1 John 4:9  “In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.“

THE WORD OF GOD CLEARLY STATES IT.  John 20:31  “But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through His name.“

THE EARLY CHURCH BELIEVED IT.   Acts 9:20  “And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God.“   2 Corinthians 1:19   “For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, even by me and Silvanus and Timotheus, was not yea and nay, but in Him was yea.“    Hebrews 4:14   “Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.“  1 John 5:5  “Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?“   1 John 5:10  “He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made Him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of His Son.“

The Bible uses a term, “the only-begotten Son” because Jesus was the unique and only physical manifestation of God. We find Him appearing in the Old Testament and especially the New Testament. God the Father, Who is spiritual in nature, manifested Himself in Flesh. John 1:14   “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.“

HE IS VIRGIN-BORN. (Thus, He was conceived by other than a human man). Isaiah 7:14  “Therefore the Lord Himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call His name Immanuel.“

Matthew 1:23  “Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call His name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.“

If Joseph was the actual father of Jesus (which he was not, obviously), Jesus would have inherited a sin nature. Furthermore, He could not have been the fulfilment of Messianic prophecy, since He was to be both the Son and the Almighty God.   Isaiah 9:6  “For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.“      *Note that even Scriptures conclude that He is the Son, while at the same time being “the mighty God,” and “the Everlasting Father.” This is a unique role which He alone fulfills.

If Joseph was His father, we could not have salvation, for a sinful man could not redeem us, nor would He be capable to fulfilling those prophecies made about Him.

HE IS GOD IN FLESH. When Philip desired Jesus to show the Father to him, Jesus made it clear that they had seen as much of the Father as they could see already by seeing Jesus Himself.   John 14: 8-9  “Philip saith unto Him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known Me, Philip? he that hath seen Me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?“

Other Scriptures clearly state that it is the glory of the Father and the fulness of God Himself dwelling within that physical Body Who was revealed as Jesus.   John 1:14  “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.“   Colossians 1:19  “For it pleased the Father that in Him should all fulness dwell;“   Colossians 2:9  “For in Him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.“

To understand the nature of God, we must see how God reveals Himself from the very beginning of the Bible. God is a triune Being. (He is One God, but He has three basic parts: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit). We are told that He made mankind in His image. In fact, the Bible speaks of a plural Person stating this.   Genesis 1:26  “And God said, Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.“

Just as God has three parts, He made man with three corresponding parts, too. So, man has a soul, a spirit, and a body.  1 Thessalonians 5:23  “And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. ”   Jesus was that physical, fleshly part of God, but was just as much a part of God as your own physical body is a part of you.

HE IS THE KING OF KINGS.   1 Timothy 6:15  “Which in His times He shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;”

Revelation 17:14  “These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for He is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with Him are called, and chosen, and faithful.”

Revelation 19:16  “And He hath on His vesture and on His thigh a name written,”

HE IS KNOWN BY VARIOUS OLD TESTAMENT IDENTITY NAMES. Isaiah 9:6  “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”

In the English King James Version of the Bible, the men who translated from the Hebrew to English refused to repeatedly print the Hebrew Name, Jehovah, for fear of using God’s Name in vain. Instead, where that name appears in the Hebrew, it most often is printed as LORD (capital letters only). You will find that Jehovah is the physical manifestation of God revealed in the Old Testament (thus, Jesus).

There are several places where this physical manifestation of God is noted. The first is the physical manifestation of God which walked with Adam in the Garden.  Genesis 3:8  “And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.”

Later, He appears to Noah. Genesis 7:1  “And the LORD said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before Me in this generation.”   It took a physical Being (the LORD) to shut the door of the ark when they were safely inside. Genesis 7:16   “And they that went in, went in male and female of all flesh, as God had commanded him: and the LORD shut him in.“

Abraham not only spoke with the LORD, but actually prepared food, and fed Him physical food (along with the two angels who were present with Him). Genesis 18: 1-8  “And the LORD appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre: and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day; And he lift up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood by him: and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the ground,  And said, My Lord, if now I have found favour in Thy sight, pass not away, I pray thee, from Thy servant: Let a little water, I pray you, be fetched, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree:  And I will fetch a morsel of bread, and comfort ye your hearts; after that ye shall pass on: for therefore are ye come to your servant. And they said, So do, as thou hast said.  And Abraham hastened into the tent unto Sarah, and said, Make ready quickly three measures of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes upon the hearth.  And Abraham ran unto the herd, and fetcht a calf tender and good, and gave it unto a young man; and he hasted to dress it. And he took butter, and milk, and the calf which he had dressed, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree, and they did eat.“

**Note that they ate physical food. A spirit cannot do this. Later, in the same Chapter, the LORD speaks with Abraham about the birth of Isaac, and the two discuss the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.

What Jacob initially thought was an angel that he wrestled with, he soon came to realize wasn’t just an angel, but the LORD Himself. Genesis 32:30  “And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.”  These are a few of the Old Testament references which speak of the physical manifestation of God, or Jesus.

Jesus was not a created being, but actually was involved in the Creation, and manifested Himself to certain people of faith throughout time. Colossians 1: 14-16  “In Whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins: Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him, and for Him:“

Jesus planned before the foundation of the world to be the Sacrificial Lamb of God. 1 Peter 1:20  “Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,“

HE IS SINLESS AND WITHOUT FAULT

Hebrews 4:15  “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” 1 John 3:5   “And ye know that He was manifested to take away our sins; and in Him is no sin.“

2 Corinthians 5:21   “For He hath made Him to be sin for us, Who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.“

1 Peter 2:22  “Who did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth:“

HE IS THE ONLY WAY OF SALVATION. THERE IS NO SALVATION WITHOUT JESUS.

Acts 4:12   “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”   John 14:6  “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.”  The word “the” in the above Scripture is a definite article in the Greek language, indicating exclusivity. In other words, “…I am the only way, the only truth,” etc.).

HE IS OUR MEDIATOR AND INTERCESSOR BEFORE THE FATHER.

1 Timothy 2:5  “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;”

Hebrews 9:15   “And for this cause He is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.”

Hebrews 12:24   “And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.”

Hebrews 7:25 “Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them.”

 

 

HOW MUCH DO WE UNDERSTAND ABOUT HIS DIVINE CHARACTER ?

 

1. WHAT DID HE WEAR ? JOHN 19:23

2. WHAT DID HE EAT ? JOHN 21:12-14, LUKE 14:14-20,

MATT. 26:17, LUKE 24:41-43.

3. WHAT DID HE LOOK LIKE ? MARK 14:44. (Judas could not describe Him as being different, and because He looked like so many others, Judas had to identify Him by kissing Him).

4. WHAT WAS HIS GREAT DESIRE ? LUKE 19:8-10

5. WHAT WAS HIS APPROACH TO LIVING ?

A. HOUSING: HAD IT IN JOHN 1:37-39,

DIDN’T HAVE IT IN MATT. 8:19-20

B. TRANSPORATION: HE WALKED. @ 72 MILES FROM

NAZARETH TO JERUSALEM.

*(WHAT IS THE LONGEST DISTANCE YOU EVER WALKED ?)

C. PHYSICAL FITNESS. NOT A MEMBER OF ANY

HEALTH CLUB, NOR DID HE PARTICIPATE IN ANY PHYSICAL

EXERCISE TECHNIQUES OR MEDITATION TECHNIQUES ADVOCATED

BY SEVERAL RELIGIONS.

D. HANDLING BUSINESS: DELEGATED AUTHORITY.

JOHN 12:6, MATT. 26:19, MARK 13:34

6. TECHNIQUE HE USED IN TEACHING:

JESUS MOST OFTEN USED THE “TEACH-EXPERIENCE-ANALYZE”

TECHNIQUE. He would teach, then put His disciples under a life-experience

test, after which, He would explain to them where they fell short of His

expectations.

7. WHAT EMOTIONS DID HE EXPRESS ?

A. WOULD SING. MARK 14:24-26

B. WEPT (AT UNBELIEF): LUKE 19:41-44, JOHN 11:35

C. COULD BE LOUD: JOHN 11:43, MATT 27:46

D. COULD BE SILENT: MATT. 27:11-14

E. HAD SENSE OF HUMOR. PLAYED ON WORDS.

MATT. 16:18. (He used the Greek word for ‘Peter’ that literally meant,

“pebble,” or, “little stone,” while using the Greek word for gigantic rock when

referring to Himself.

F. HE COULD REVEAL ANGER.

–AT UNBELIEF Mark 3:5 And when He had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, He saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it out: and his hand was restored whole as the other.

–AT DISBEDIENCE. John 2:15 And when He had made a scourge of small cords, He drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers’ money, and overthrew the tables;

–AT JUDGMENT TIME. Revelation 11: 17-18 Saying, We give Thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because Thou hast taken to Thee Thy great power, and hast reigned. And the nations were angry, and Thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that Thou shouldest give reward unto Thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear Thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.

 

OUR FAITH SHOULD BE CLEARLY STATED AND KNOWN

 

THE LOCAL CHURCH SHOULD HAVE AN ESTABLISHED STATEMENT OF WHAT THEY BELIEVE

 

1 Peter 3:15  “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:”

This is known as the CREED or STATEMENT OF FAITH. It should include the essential elements of what your church believes is taught in the Bible. The Pastor should guide the church into an understanding of everything contained within this document, and ask the church to vote their approval and agreement to the document.

The following is an example of a Statement of Faith.

 

We, the Members of ___________________________Church, hereby agree and verify that the following Statement presents an accurate and truthful view of what we believe the Bible teaches.

1. THAT THE BIBLE, CONSISTING OF SIXTY-SIX BOOKS OF THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS, IN THE ORIGINALS, IS THE INERRANT AND COMPLETE WORD OF GOD, AND IS OUR FINAL AUTHORITY IN MATTERS OF FAITH AND PRACTICE. 2 TIMOTHY 3:16-17, 2 PETER 1:20-21, JUDE 1:3

This statement establishes the source of authority for the Church. It clearly makes the Bible as the source for all issues within the Church. If any difficulties later arise within the church, they will be required to go back to the Bible to settle any differences or questions rather than depend upon human courts or man’s opinions. It also makes the Bible the authority which outweighs visions, dreams, sincere feelings, etc., which may contradict the teachings of the Bible.

The Bible is given by the breath of God, and simply written down my men. It is not mankind’s concepts or noble ideals. It is the Word of God, and is profitable in all areas of life. Almighty God has preserved His Word throughout all generations. 2 Timothy 3:16  All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: (The word “inspiration” literally means, “breath,” so that this verse is saying that “…all Scripture is given by the breath of God…”)

Unlike all other books, God’s Word existed before the world was created. John 1:1   In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. God’s Word is recorded in Heaven.  Psalms 119:89 “LAMED. For ever, O LORD, Thy Word is settled in heaven.”

Even though many kings and rulers have attempted to outlaw, and even destroy the Bible from the face of the Earth, God has preserved it. Today, while some people still attempt to change God’s Word through paraphrases and false translations, we still have the Greek and Hebrew documents which allow us to see what is accurate and what is not.

2. THAT THERE IS ONE GOD, ETERNALLY EXISTING AND MANIFESTING HIMSELF AS THE FATHER, THE SON, AND THE HOLY SPIRIT. DEUTERONOMY 6:4, MATTHEW 28:19, LUKE 3:21,22.

This statement separates the Church from any other religious group or entity. God is One Person. He manifests Himself in three distinct ways, known as the Father, the Son (Jesus), and the Holy Spirit.

3. THAT THE LORD JESUS CHRIST IS THE ONLY BEGOTTEN SON OF GOD, WAS CONCEIVED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT, BORN OF THE VIRGIN MARY, AND IS FULLY GOD AND FULLY MAN. LUKE 1:30-35, JOHN 1:18, JOHN 3:16, PHILIPPIANS 2:5-11.

The Divinity of Jesus is encapsulated in this statement. If Jesus had a human father He would not be truly God in Flesh. It is essential to the truth of His Divine nature, that He was conceived by the Holy Spirit, and that His earthly mother was a Virgin.

4. THAT MAN WAS CREATED IN THE IMAGE OF GOD, THAT HE SINNED, AND THEREBY INCURRED NOT ONLY PHYSICAL DEATH, BUT ALSO SPIRITUAL DEATH; AND THAT, AS A CONSEQUENCE, ALL MANKIND IS DECLARED BY GOD TO BE TOTALLY DEPRAVED, HAVING INHERITED A SINFUL NATURE AND HAVING BECOME SINNERS IN THOUGHT, WORD, AND DEED. GENESIS 1:26-27, 2:16-17, ROM. 3:10-23, 6:23, 7:18, 11:32, GALATIANS 3:22

The reality that every human being needs forgiveness because each person has sinned is clearly stated in this paragraph. Without an understanding that we all are sinners, there would be no universal need for redemption, nor for Jesus to have suffered and died as the sacrificial Lamb of God for us.

Human beings, wicked sinners that we are through even one sin, begin sinning as infants. Even a baby who has no ability to speak a standard language like English, French, or German, will use what cries it has to deceive parents. A child who is not in need of emergency help will often scream as if it is, simply to gain the attention of a parent. Psalms 58:3 “The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies.”

It is not a life of what the world calls “criminal behavior” that condemns a person to Hell. It is the result of even one sin. When Adam and Eve suffered the consequences of their rebellion, how many sins did they commit ? Only one. Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

5. THAT THE LORD JESUS CHRIST DIED AS THE SUBSTITUTIONARY AND COMPLETE SACRIFICE FOR THE SINS OF THE WHOLE WORLD, AND THAT ONLY THOSE WHO BELIEVE IN HIM ARE SAVED, AND THIS ON THE GROUND OF HIS SHED BLOOD AND GRACE. ROM. 3:24-28, ROM.5:8-10, I TIM. 2:5-6, I JOHN 2:1-2.

This decree insists that the payment of Jesus’ Blood on the Cross was sufficient to pay for the sins of all who would receive Him by faith. It states that the only way a person can obtain forgiveness is through faith in Jesus Christ. This eliminates the idea that anyone can work hard enough, or live good enough to be saved on their own merits.

6. THAT THE LORD JESUS CHRIST LITERALLY WALKED ON THE FACE OF THIS EARTH, THAT HE WAS CRUCIFIED AND AROSE FROM THE DEAD IN THE SAME BODY, THOUGH GLORIFIED, IN WHICH HE WAS CRUCIFIED; THAT HE ASCENDED INTO HEAVEN, AND IS NOW EXALTED AT THE RIGHT HAND OF THE FATHER AS HEAD OF THE CHURCH. JOHN 20:1-29, ACTS 1:9-11, EPH. 1:20-23, HEB. 1:3

The physical coming of the Lord Jesus is essential in establishing the fact that He rules over all parts of human existence: spirit, soul, and body. Several Scriptures affirm not only the physical appearances of the Lord Jesus prior to His birth, but also His physical Second Coming. This is such a crucial doctrine that God says those who do not accept the past, present and future physical existence of the Lord Jesus is anti-christ. 1 John 4:3 “And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.” 2 John 1:7 “For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.” (The Greek word which is translated, “is come…” literally means, “has come, is now, and will come…”)

7. THAT THE LORD JESUS CHRIST WILL COME AGAIN PERSONALLY AND BODILY. HE WILL COME IN THE AIR TO RECEIVE THE CHURCH (HIS BRIDE) TO HIMSELF IN HEAVEN. THERE WILL BE A LITERAL FULFILLMENT OF THE HORRIBLE SEVEN YEAR TRIBULATION FORETOLD BY THE PROPHETS OF GOD. AT THE CLOSE OF THAT TRIBULATION, CHRIST WILL RETURN VISIBLY TO THE EARTH WITH HIS SAINTS TO INAUGURATE HIS MILLENIAL KINGDOM. ACTS 1:11. I THES. 4:13-18, I COR. 15:51-58, 2 PETER 3:1-13, REV. 19:11-16, 20:1-6.

The future physical return of the Lord is verified in several Scriptures, also. Among them is this promise. Zechariah 14:4 “And His feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south.”

8. THAT THE LORD JESUS CHRIST ORDAINED TWO ORDINANCES TO BE OBSERVED BY HIS FOLLOWERS: BAPTISM, AND THE LORD’S SUPPER. THAT BAPTISM IS AN ACT OF OBEDIENCE, WHICH DOES NOT OF ITSELF SAVE ANYONE; AND THAT THE LORD’S SUPPER IS A MEMORIAL SERVICE DESIGNED TO BRING THE BELIEVER INTO DEEPER FELLOWSHIP WITH CHRIST, AND DOES NOT SAVE. I COR. 11:23-34, ACTS 2:38, ROM. 6:3-10.

Some sects within what is called “the Christian Church” believe that there are more ordinances than these. However, in the Bible, we are taught by the Lord to only observe these two. Obviously, there are many things which our Lord told us to do, and these are contained in Scripture. However, it takes a specific command for the entire church to continually do something as a rite, or ritual which makes an action an ordinance. These two things meet those criteria.

9. THAT THE LORD JESUS CHRIST COMPLETELY AND ETERNALLY SAVES AND SECURES EACH INDIVIDUAL WHO PLACES HIS TRUST IN JESUS CHRIST. NO MORTAL, NOR ANYONE, INCLUDING SATAN HIMSELF, CAN TAKE A BELIEVER’S SALVATION AWAY FROM HIM ONCE IT HAS BEEN GIVEN TO HIM BY GOD. JOHN 10:27-28, I PET. 1:5, ROM. 8:35-39

Within this statement is the assurance of our salvation. It acknowledges the only means to our salvation—through faith in Jesus Christ—and it notes our confidence in His ability to save eternally.

10. THAT THE GREAT COMMISSION WAS GIVEN TO THE CHURCH ALONG WITH VARIOUS MINISTRIES AND GIFTS. THAT IT BECOMES THE DUTY OF EVERY BELIEVER TO USE THE GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT AND THEIR GOD-GIVEN TALENTS TO ACCOMPLISH THIS GREAT COMMISSION. THAT ‘THE GREAT COMMISSION’ IS THE PERSONAL DUTY, OBLIGATION, AND PURPOSE FOR EVERY BELIEVER IN THIS LIFE. JOHN 15:1-16, MATT. 28:18-20, ROM. 10:9-11, I COR. 12:1-31, EPHESIANS 4:7-17, MARK 13:34.

So far as the work of the Church is concerned, the Bible has clearly stated what the work of the Church should be. We live in a world where the devil will attempt to distract the Church from her Divinely appointed mission, and she must always base her actions and activities on the unchanging Word of God. The Church has a two-fold mission. She must preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ to bring the lost to salvation in Christ, and secondly, she must build the Christian up in our never-changing faith.

A Statement of Faith is NOT designed to put into writing EVERYTHING that a Church believes, but it is valuable in that it established the basic essential code of beliefs for a local Christian church.

How a church conducts its’ business, and the organization of the local church should be explained in another document, called The Church Constitution.

 

“Our Biblical Faith”

A Course Of Study From Blueprint For Revival Bible Institutes International

©2008 Belleview, FL 34421 USA

“Our Authority: The Bible”

A Course Of Study From

Blueprint For Revival Bible

Institutes International

©2008 Belleview, FL 34421 USA

BLUEPRINT FOR REVIVAL BIBLE INSTITUTE

BASIC BIBLE STUDY GUIDE

Dr. Ed J MacWilliams

 

 

COURSE: BIBLE DOCTRINE: 

Part One: The Bible

You are encouraged to study this Guide in detail, discuss the contents with your class and your instructor.  Review each section separately, and refer to every Scripture which is noted.  You should also add other Scriptures which your discussion or study will produce.

 

Some people, claiming to have “an education,” contend that the Bible is not truly the Word of God.  As is often the case, these “educated” people have limited their learning to only one source of education—that which comes from a sinful, Christ-denying world.  This intellectual dishonesty is clearly seen when a person of average understanding begins looking at the wealth of information about the Bible.  This is information available to everyone, but the Bible-denier is a person who has closed his eyes and heart to studying it.

 The Christian knows that the Bible is truly the God-breathed Word of the Lord and that it is essential to our understanding of God, salvation, the purpose of life, and so many other vital issues.  If the Bible was simply the best ideas and wisdom which men compiled from their own intellect, the Bible would not be not sufficient to be our authority in the Church and in our individual lives.

This is a crucial doctrine, which separates those who simply call themselves Christians from those who truly follow the will of God and are Christians in fact.

 

WE DEPEND UPON THE BIBLE FOR:

1. Information about the past, so we can know what to believe.

2. Information about the future so we can know what to do, and how to prepare.

3. Information about God, and how to please Him.

4. Information about ourselves, so we know our weaknesses and flaws, and commit ourselves to the Lord more completely.

5. Information that will motivate us to live for the Lord Jesus.

    (2 Cor. 5:8-11, 2 Peter 3: 10-14)

 

“NOW FAITH IS THE SUBSTANCE OF THINGS HOPED FOR, THE EVIDENCE OF THINGS NOT SEEN.” —HEB. 11:1   The Bible helps to provide that “substance” which makes our faith.  Without the Bible, we would have only the leadings of men, which, as we know, can fall very short of the intentions of God.

 

These are the basic categories of evidence that the Bible is truly written by God.

1. MATHEMATIC EVIDENCE

2. PROPHETIC EVIDENCE

3. HISTORIC EVIDENCE

4. INTERNAL EVIDENCE

 

1. CONSIDER THE MATHEMATICAL EVIDENCE

There are clear facts that provide evidence that the Bible is truly the “God-written Book.”

The Bible was written in primarily two languages.  The Old Testament was written in Hebrew, and the New Testament was written in Greek.  However, Both Testaments had a small amount of the Aramaic language; and the Old Testament was written over such a long period of time that several major language changes occurred in Hebrew during that time.  Nevertheless, God preserved His Word, and made it available to everyone throughout the world.

 

The Bible was written over a period of more than . . .

 1500 years, through

44 authors, with

44 different personalities, with

44 varied educational and cultural backgrounds,

from 30 different generations,

    writing this material in

6 different languages or dialects, and wrote

from 12 different countries, in

44 different sets of circumstances….

 

 

…yet, the writings which they put down became one unified Book, the Bible.  From Genesis to Revelation, we have a Book which came from God, and is given to us as a way by which we can come closer to Him and learn to do His will.

 

WHAT ARE THE CHANCES THAT human writers would never contradict one another, nor depart from the central theme of a book ?  Yet, when the Bible was compiled, they did not disagree in even the smallest detail with events which occurred.  In fact, they often complemented one another’s information by what they were told to put down in writing by God.  It is the fact that God gave the words which makes the difference between a humanly written book, and the Book written by God.

 

Here’s Some More Evidence:

Let’s conduct an experiment.  We will hypothetically take 44 people from around the world who can read and write.  We will bring them to the fine hotel, and isolate them each in a separate room.  They cannot communicate with one another, nor have any intermediate contact by way of phone or any other communication.

We will leave them with some paper and a pen, and instruct each one to write about God.

However, they must also predict the future (prophecy), and describe events as they are occurring today in their manuscripts (history).

What do you think the chances are that these 44 people…

(1). will agree on their descriptions and analysis of God,

(2). will give accurate information about current events,

(3). and will give precise, accurate details about what will occur one hundred years from now ?

 

The fact is, these 44 men would write amazingly different descriptions of God, and what He has done.  They will describe historical events from their own prejudices and viewpoints, so that they would contradict the writings of the others.  And, they would all attempt to tell the future, but would fail miserably.  But, keep in mind that we are giving these 44 people a better mathematical chance of accomplishing the assignment than existed for the actual penmen of the Bible.

It is humanly impossible to write anything even similar to the Bible without a sole Writer who was able to live throughout the entire time being spoken about, and Who also was able to see into the future, and know what would happen yin the future.

Because there was such a Writer (God), Who gave His Word (by the Holy Spirit) to men (the prophets and Apostles), we have our Bible today.  And, despite the efforts of many men to destroy the Bible, God has preserved it for all eternity.  It is nothing less than a miraculous Book.

 

2. CONSIDER THE PROPHETIC EVIDENCE

A powerful evidence that the Bible is truly from God is that it contains things which only God could foresee.  It would be impossible for man, even the smartest of men, to predict what the Bible does and expect each and every prophecy (hundreds of them are in the Bible) to come true.

It is important to remember that every prophecy of the Bible which is waiting to be fulfilled shall be fulfilled in the exact specific details which the Bible says would it occur.  Even the BEST of man’s prophecies contain SOME errors.  The Bible’s prophecies have contained NO errors or failures whatever.

Examples of Non-Messianic Prophecies

• The Progression of Human Government (Daniel 2:37-42). Daniel foretold the governments in order of Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome.  No other prognosticators could come close to the accuracy which the Bible had in foretelling what would occur.
• The Birth and Rule of Cyrus, King of Persia (Isaiah 44:28-45:1). Since Isaiah lived between about 740 and 690 BC (2 Kings 25-21) and Cyrus did not make his proclamation for Israel to return from exile until about 536 (Ezra 1), there would have been no human way for him to know what Cyrus would be named or what Cyrus would do.   With hundreds of years between the prophecy and its’ fulfillment, it would have been impossible for man to know what would occur, and especially that his name would be called Cyrus.
• Israel Would Be Returned to The Promised Land Again.  (Isaiah 11:11-12). The first time was under Nehemiah and Ezra, prior to the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD. The second time was in March, 1948. No other culture in history has been restored, after such a long time frame and the continual attempts to destroy the Jewish people.
• The Sealing Shut of the Golden Gate (Ezekiel 44:2-3). The Golden Gate is the eastern gate of Jerusalem, through which Christ made his triumphal entry on Palm Sunday before the crucifixion (Matthew 21). Ezekiel predicted its closing and in 1543 Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent closed the gate and walled it up, not knowing he was fulfilling prophecy. It remains sealed to this day exactly as the Bible predicted, waiting to be re-opened when the Lord Jesus Christ returns.
• The Destruction of Tyre (Ezekiel 26:3-14). The prophecy was partly fulfilled when Nebuchadnezzar destroyed the city and left it in ruins. Most of the citizens then fled to the remaining part of the town, located on the island which adjoined the mainland city of Tyre.  However, when Alexander the Great later attacked the seemingly impregnable Island of Tyre by taking the stones, dust, and timber from the ruined mainland city to build a causeway to the remaining part on the Island, resulting in such erosion, that the island itself was swallowed up by the Sea, thus completing the prophecy.  It is now underwater, and cannot be rebuilt, thus proving the prophecy to be true.
• The Rejuvenation of the Desert in Israel.   (Ezekiel 36:33-35). Since before the turn of the twentieth century, Israel has been irrigated and Israel’s agriculture is flourishing.  Today, Israel is the world’s third largest exported of certain kinds of citrus fruits.
• Destruction of Jerusalem, especially the Temple. (Mark 13:1-2). Fulfilled literally when the Romans completely destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple buildings in 70 AD.

 

The Old Testament Prophesied that Jesus Would Be The Messiah. 

(Consider the clear logic of this argument).

 

If over 300 O.T. prophecies are true, Jesus is the Savior, and Messiah….

If He is the Savior and Messiah, then His Word cannot lie, and He is also God in Flesh (Isaiah 9:6,7)….

If He was God in Flesh, He could not lie in later writings (Heb. 6:18)….

If He could not lie, He was truthful when He said His Word was truth.  (John 17:17)

Therefore, we can depend upon what He tells us in His Word.

 

The evidence is solid and strong.  Either people will ignore all the evidence, or they must accept the fact that the Bible is God-given, and not the work of man.

 

How Did Jesus Confirm the Bible to be God’s Word ?

He quoted from almost every book of the Old Testament, as if those quotes were authoritative.

He used O.T. prophecies in His own preaching, especially in the Olivet Discourse (Mark 13, Matt. 24, etc.)

 

Here’s Some More Prophetic Evidence:

There are over 300 O.T. prophecies concerning the Messiah, all of which were fulfilled by Jesus Christ.

Peter Stoner (from Science Speaks Ministries) says that if you took just 8 of these prophecies, the odds of a person coincidentally fulfilling all eight of these would be one in 10 to the 17th power.  That is essentially mathematically an impossible thing to occur.

 

Let’s look at another experiment to see how impossible it would be for someone—other than the real Messiah—to fulfill these prophecies:

Consider this imaginary test.  Cover the entire state of Texas with silver coins to a depth of two feet.  Mark just one of these silver coins before you do.   Chose one person to assist this effort.  Blindfold him.  Then, tell him to find that same marked silver coin that is located somewhere in the state of Texas.  He must do it on the first try, and with a blindfold on.

That is the mathematical possibility of having all the prophecies of the Bible being predicted by a mere man.  It is simply an impossible feat.

What are the chances of him succeeding in getting the marked silver coin on the first try ?  About the same chances that Jesus is NOT the Messiah !  Bible prophecy therefore reveals the true Savior, and much, much more.

 

Examples of Messianic Prophecies

MAJOR PROPHETIC EVIDENCE

SIGNIFICANT JUDGMENTS

The Flood: Prophesied by Noah, Confirmed by Geological Science—II Peter 2:5

Jude 14-16 (Enoch 1:2-9, a non-canonical book)

Last Days Judgment:: Tribulation—Matthew 24:21

Tyre: Prophesied Destruction Confirmed by Modern Archeology

Ninevah: Nahum’s Prophecies of Its’ Destruction.

Daniel’s Prophecies regarding downfall of Babylonian Empire.

Daniel’s Prophecies of the Image with Ten Toes.

Resurrections of the Roman Empire. Dan. 2:36-45, Rev. 17

Letters to Church-Ages: Fit historic descriptions.  Rev. 2-3

Character Changes for the Last Days:  II Timothy 3:1-9

Return of the Jews To Israel In Last Days:  Ezekiel 37:1-14, 38:16, Jeremiah 32:37

Abrahamic Covenant–Gen. 12:1-3—Proven to be true over time.

Davidic Covenant–II Sam. 7:8-9 (I Chron. 17:7-15)—Includes establishment of everlasting kingdom.  (Future, but we can see it developing)

God will give His Son the Nations for Inheritance—Psalm 1

                (Future, but we can see the failure of man to govern himself will lead

                  to the government under Jesus).

Messiah will reign over all the earth—Psalm 72  (Future)

Judgment on the Earth: The Tribulation—Matthew 24:21, Revelation 6:16.

 

 

MORE EXAMPLES OF SPECIFIC PROPHECIES IN THE BIBLE:

 

THE DESTRUCTION OF TYRE  (Accomplished in stages, with exact fulfillment of Bible prophecy for each stage of destruction).

1. Nebuchadnezzar will destroy main Tyre.  Ezek. 26:8

Nebuchadnezzar sieged city for 13 years (583-573 BC).  In 538 BC, Tyre surrendered to him, but first moved entire city to island directly offshore.  Nebuchadnezzar leveled the mainland city.

2. MANY nations will come against Tyre.  Ezek. 26:3

After the Battle of Issus (333 BC), Alexander the Great demanded the surrender of the island.  When Tyre refused, he built causeway 200 feet wide out of the debris from the old mainland city to the island.  In 332 BC, he destroyed the city.  It was later rebuilt.

—Antigonus (314 BC) destroyed the rebuilt city.  It was built again.

—Ptolomy of Philadelphia destroyed the rebuilt city.  It was built again.

—Moslems destroyed it again in 690 AD.

 

 

PRESENT CONDITIONS OF TYRE SHOW THE BIBLE IS TRUE:

3. Will be made as top of a rock.  Ezek. 26:4

(As a result of Alexander scraping the old city to the rock base it was built upon in order to get material for the causeway).

4. Fishermen to spread nets over her.  Ezek. 26:5

(As result of erosion resulting from Alexander’s causeway).

5. Her debris thrown into water.  Ezek. 26:12

(Done by Alexander’s armies making causeway).

6. Never to be rebuilt.  Ezek. 26:14

(It is under water, home only to fish).

7. Never to be “found” again.  Ezek. 26:21

(Only columns and stone arches remain.  City is gone).

 

 

MORE PROPHETIC EVIDENCE:

SAMARIA: REBEL CITY OF TEN TRIBES.

*(Samaria was known as a city where Jews and half-Jews lived.  Under the Mosaic Law, Jews were forbidden to marry outside their own people.  However, in Samaria, many Jews inter-married with the people of other nations and religions, thus bringing about the anger of God). 

HOSEA 13  (748-690 B.C.)    MICAH 1 (738-690 B.C.)

 

 

1. SAMARIA WOULD FALL VIOLENTLY (HOSEA 10:7-15)

–IT WAS TAKEN IN 722 B.C. BY SARGON

–IT WAS TAKEN IN 331 B.C. BY ALEXANDER THE GREAT

–IT WAS TAKEN IN 120 B.C. BY JOHN HYRCANUS

2. WOULD BECOME AS A HEAP IN THE FIELD (MICAH. 1:6)

3. VINEYARDS WILL BE PLANTED THERE.  (MICAH. 1:6)

4. STONES TO BE POURED DOWN INTO THE VALLEY (MICAH 1:6)

5. FOUNDATIONS “DISCOVERED.”  (MICAH 1:6)

THIS HAS BEEN VERIFIED BY SECULAR ACCOUNTS FROM

THE 1600’S TO THE PRESENT

————————————

CHANCES OF ALL 5 POINTS COMING TRUE:

1 IN 4 CHANCES FOR ITS’ TOTAL DESTRUCTION

1 IN 5 FOR LYING IN FIELDS RATHER THAN BEING REBUILT

1 IN 100 FOR IT BECOMING A GARDEN SPOT

1 IN 10 FOR STONES BEING ROLLED INTO VALLEY

1 IN 2 CHANCE OF FOUNDATION STONES BEING REMOVED.

= 1 IN 40,000 CHANCE OF THIS PROPHECY COMING TO PASS, OR 1 IN 4 X 10⁴

(In other words, it would be a virtual impossibility for this prophecy to have come true.  Man would certainly not venture to prophesy such a thing since it was so unlikely.  Only the God Who knew what would happen could make such an accurate prediction of Samaria’s fate).

 

 

3. HISTORIC EVIDENCE THAT THE BIBLE IS GOD’S WORD.

Men have tried to disprove the Bible by stating that the people, places, and events mentioned in the Bible are lies.  However, within the last 50 years, amazing discoveries have been made which reveal the following people, places, or things that were used by Bible-deniers in their arguments against God’s Word.  As always, the Bible has been proven to be true each time !

 

DAVID’S REIGN. RECENT ARCHEOLOGICAL DISCOVERIES VALIDATE

          THE BIBLICAL CLAIMS.

HOME OF BALAAM:  ARCHEOLOGY HAS FOUND THE HOUSE WHERE HE

          TAUGHT OTHERS TO BE FALSE PROPHETS, AS WELL.

THE SIGNET RING/FINGERPRINT OF BARUCH, THE SECRETARY

          OF JEREMIAH.

ASAHIAH’S SIGNET

GOLD MINES OF OPHIR

SODOM & GOMORRAH—BURNT CITIES.

 

GEOLOGICAL EVIDENCE:

–THE FLOOD

–POSITIONS OF SKELETAL REMAINS

–GEOLOGICAL FEATURES: STRATA, SILT LAYERS

–DISCOVERY OF NOAH’S ARK ON MT. ARARAT

 

 

4. INTERNAL EVIDENCE

(This is evidence provided by what the Bible says about itself).

 

It claims to be the Word of God.

“Thus saith the LORD…” – 281 Times

“Thus saith the Lord…” – 134 Times

“God said…” – 46 Times

“The LORD spake…” – 143 Times

 

The Bible claims to “carried along” by God, not man.

2 Peter 1:20,21

“moved”=Greek word is fero=meaning, ”carried along”

 

The Bible claims to the breath of God.

2 Tim. 3:16

“inspiration”=from the GREEK word, theopneustos,  which is a combination of two Greek words, “theos” (meaning, ‘God’), and “pneus” (meaning, ‘breath’).  Thus, that Scripture says that all Scripture is by the “Breath of God.”

 

Also see Gen. 1:3,6, and Psalm 33:6

(God’s breath and Word are used interchangeably).

 

  

EVIDENCE FROM THE CONTENT:  A THEME OF THE BIBLE IS THAT MAN NEEDS SALVATION AND CANNOT GET IT WITHOUT GOD.

This is an unpopular idea.  Man likes to think highly of himself, and look at his accomplishments, not his failures.  Despite this theme, the Bible has been the biggest selling book and the most widely used religious material in the world.  It is a contradiction to what makes a book and a religion popular.  Therefore, there must be something greater behind it than merely man’s ideas.

 

 

THE BIBLE TELLS US THAT WE NEED TO REPENT OF OUR SINS.

THIS IS AN UNPOPULAR CONCEPT.  MAN WANTS TO BE PROUD OF HIMSELF.

MAN DOESN’T WANT TO BE DEPENDENT UPON A HIGHER AUTHORITY.

MAN DOESN’T LIKE THE IDEA THAT HE MUST DO SOMETHING TO GET FORGIVEN.

 

 

THE BIBLE TELLS US THAT WE NEED TO GET RIGHT WITH GOD.

An ESSENTIAL element in this process is REPENTANCE:

LUKE 24:46-47, HEB. 6:1-2

 

Note the following outline where extremely unpopular concepts regarding man’s own character are revealed by God. 

 

1. IT IS NOT WITHIN MAN TO “NATURALLY REPENT.”

  ROM. 3:10-20

—HE WILL MAKE EXCUSES.

—HE WILL ATTEMPT TO JUSTIFY HIS ACTIONS.

—HE WILL DENY DOING THE SIN.

2. IT IS THE ACT OF GOD THAT BRINGS REPENTANCE.

  A. GOD’S GIFT.  ACTS 11:18, ROMANS 2:4, II TIM. 2:25

  B. IT ISN’T WITHIN MAN NATURALLY.  HEB. 12:16,17

  C. GOD WANTS EVERYONE TO EXPERIENCE. IT.  II PET. 3:9

3. MAN MUST RESPOND TO GOD’S GIFT.

  A. THROUGH RIGHT KIND OF SORROW OVER SIN.

       II COR. 7:9-10

  B. THROUGH DIRECTING THAT SORROW BY ASKING

       FORGIVENESS.  MATT. 27:3  (JUDAS LEFT OUT PART).

  C. THROUGH A CHANGE IN ACTIONS.  MATT. 21:28-32

4. ONE PERSON’S UNWILLINGNESS TO REPENT AFFECTS HIS SOCIETY.

  *MATT. 11:20-21, REV. 9:20-21, 16:9, 16:11

 

Man’s desire to look good to himself and before others would naturally turn him away from the message of the Bible.  Yet, the fact that the Bible is sought after by those looking for the Truth, reveals a super-natural force (The Holy Spirit) behind the Word of God.

 

 

IMPORTANT

The evidence which we have examined is true and compelling.  A person might think that such overwhelming evidence would convince any logical person immediately that the Bible is the Word of Almighty God, and must be believed.  However, few people receive the evidence in a logical manner.

 

We must remember that because of sin, every part of us, including the ability to reason has decayed.  Therefore the lost person often is unable to understand or logically process the truth, as those who have been born-again can do.  In our efforts to reach those who do not know Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord, we must be faithful in our prayers, because without the working of the Holy Spirit in their lives, they will remain blinded to the Truth, no matter how logical it is.

Luke 8:10  And He said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.

 

John 6:44  No man can come to Me, except the Father which hath sent Me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

 

The Truth is given to those who are willing to receive it.  The more they receive, the more God will give them.  We cannot expect lost people to understand the details of such an amazing work which God has done to provide us with salvation through Jesus Christ.  However, we ourselves are made stronger and are blessed by the truths which His Word reveals to us.

 

For most people, a completely logical argument concerning the evidence of Scripture will fall upon deaf ears and a stony heart.  They must first be prepared by the working of God’s Holy Spirit within them.  Pray and get others to pray for their hearts to be ready to receive the truth, and repent of their sins, receiving Jesus by faith.

 

“Our Authority: The Bible”

A Course Of Study From Blueprint For Revival Bible Institutes International

©2008 Belleview, FL 34421 USA