“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.
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.”