The Bible --- The Word of God

Dusty

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The Bible --- The Word of God

Copied and pasted from (The Open Bible - New American Standard) a section called "the Christian Life study Outlines and Notes". It reviews the foundamental doctrines of the Bible on fifteen topics, namely:
  1. The Bible - the Word of God
  2. God
  3. Jesus Christ The Son of God
  4. The Holy Spirit
  5. Sin
  6. Judgements
  7. Rewards
  8. The Church
  9. Prayer
  10. Faith
  11. The Abundant Life
  12. Repentance
  13. The New Birth
  14. God's Plan of Salvation
  15. How to Witness Effectively
I thought of sharing this with you to enhance our growth in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. It is suggested by the writer that this study is equal to an advanced college course in Systematic Theology. I am just copying the Studies in its Outline sequence for your reference.

I pray that our faith in Christ will grow stronger and confident after the studies.

Study Outline #1 - The Bible - The Word of God
It is so important for a young Christian to start right; therefore, the first lesson is designed to help establish your faith in the Bible, for it is the Word of God.


Keep in mind that the Bible is not a book of philosphy, although it is philosophical. Do not go to the Bible for a scientific treatise. However, there is no discrepancy between ascertained facts of science and the Bible. The Bible is not a book of history, but is found to be accurate whe recording history. The Bible was given to man from God, revealing Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and God the Son, the only Saviour (John 14: 6 - Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life, no one comes to the Father, but through Me.") He is the centre and the circumference. It is Christ from Genesis to Revelation (John 5: 39 - "You search the Scriptures, because you think that in them you have eternal life: and it is these that bear witness of Me.")
  • THE BIBLE CLAIMS TO BE THE INSPIRED WORD OF GOD (2 Timothy 3: 16/17 - "All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.")

  • "All Scripture is inspired by God." By "inspired" we mean that the Holy Spirit exerted His supernatural influence upon the writers of the Bible. Therefore the Scriptures are God inspired word for word. By this we mean that every word, in the original, is fully and equally inspried in all of its teachings. The Bible does not just contain the Word of God, it is the Word of God.
  • The writers of the Bible did not write by natural inspiration, or an act of the human will. "Men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God" - 2 Peter 1:21.) David said, "The Spirit of the Lord spoke by me, and His word was on my tongue" - 2 Samuel 23:2)
  • The Holy Spirit is the Author of the Bible.
  • Man is the instrument used by the Holy Spirit to write the Bible.
  • Results: The infallible Word of God. Therefore, the Bible is free from error and absolutely trustworthy. (Psalm 118:89 "Forever, O LORD, Thy word is settled in heaven"). (Matthew 24: 35 "Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words shall not pass away").
  • THE BIBLE IS A DIFFICULT BOOK (1 Corinthians 2: 14/16 - "But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no man. For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, THAT HE SHOULD INSTRUCT HIM? But, we have the mind of Christ.")

  • The Bible is a difficult book because it came from the infinite to the finite - from the unlimited, all powerful God, to limited man. Therefore, you cannot understand the Bible as you would understand the writings of Plato or Socrates. You can study the great philosophers with the natural mind, and by dilligent application, grasp their profound meanings. If the Bible could be understood by a nautral man, it would be a natual book, and could not be the Word of God. Since the Bible is from God, and therefore spiritual, before you can receive its teachings, you must be born of the Spirit (John 3:6) and filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18). Always approach the Bible praying that the Spirit will be your teacher and will guide you to a better understanding of His Holy Word, or it will remain a difficult, closed book. (John 16: 12-15).
  • THE BIBLE IS A BOOK OF ONENESS (2 Peter 1: 21 - "for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.")

  • The oneness or unity of the Bible is a miracle. It is a library of 66 books, written by over 35 different authors. In a period of approximately 1,500 years. Represneted in the authors is a cross section of humanity, educated and uneducated, including kings, fishermen, public officials, farmers, teachers, and physicians. Included in the subjects are religion, history, law, science, poetry, drama, biography, and prophecy. Yet its various parts are as harmoniously united as the parts that make up the human body.
  • For 35 authors, with such varied backgrounds, to write on so many subjects over a period of approximately 1,500 years in absolute harmony, is a mathematical impossibility. It could not happen! Then how do we account for the Bible? The only adequate explanation is "....men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God".
  • THE BIBLE CLAIMS SPECIAL POWER (Hebrews 4: 12 - "for the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.")

  • The Bible claims dividing power as the sword. The Bible will separate man from sin (Psalm 119 : 11), or sin will separate man from the Bible (Isaiah 59: 2).
  • The Bible claims refelcting power as a mirror (James 1: 22-25). In the Bible, we see ourselves as God sees us - as sinners (Romans 3: 23).
  • The Bible claims cleansing power as water (Ephesians 5: 26). David prayed that God would wash him from iniquity and cleanse him from sin (Psalms 51: 2).
  • The Bible claims reproductive power as seed (1 Peter 1: 23). We are children of God, because we have been born into the family of God by the imperishable seed of God. This is the new birth (John 3: 1-7).
  • The Bible claims nourishing power as food (1 Peter 2: 2). The Bible is spiritual food for the soul. No Christian can remain strong in the Lord and not study the Word of God.
  • THE BIBLE COMMANDS THE BELIEVER TO STUDY THE SCRIPTURES (2 Timothy 2: 15 - 26.)

  • "Be diligent to present yourself approved to God" is a command.
  • As you study the Bible, ask yourself these questions:
    • Who is speaking: God, demon, angel, or man?
    • To whom is He speaking: to the nation Isreal, to the Gentiles, to the Church, to men in general, or to some individual man or being?
    • How can this Scripture be applied to my own life to make me a better Christian?
 
everything is from God.divine means the word of God.and not a person who is from God as we all are.
 
You left out get rich quick.:eek:
Just kidding- I think that topic is found under death to self.
 
Study Outline #2 - God

The Bible reveals God as the only infinite and Eternal Being, having no beginning and no ending. He is Creator and Sustainer of all things. He is the Supreme Personal Intelligence, and Righteous Ruler of His universe. He is life, and therefore, the only source of life. (John 5: 26 - "For just as the Father has life in Himself, even so He gave to the Son also to have life in Himself.")

Man is natural and cannot know God by wisdom. "Can you discover the depths of God?" (Job 11: 7). God is a person and can be known only by revelation. In the Old Testament He revealed Himself to and through His prophets. In the New Testament He reveals Himself through His Son Jesus Christ. (Hebrews 1: 1-3 - "GOD, afte He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.)


The EXISTENCE OF GOD (Hebrews 11: 5-6)
  • The Bible nowhere attempts to prove or argue the existence of God. "For he who comes to God must believe that He is." The existence of God is a fact taken for granted by the writers of both the Old and New Testaments. "In the beginning God" (Genesis 1: 1). The Bible opens by announcing the sublime fact of God and His existence. There are arguments for the existence of God; they are not conclusive, but are food for thought:
    • Universal belief in God comes from within man. It is innate in man, and comes from rational intuition.
    • The argument from "cause and effect." Everything that began owes its existence to a cause. We have a watch; we must have a watchmaker. We have a building; we must have a builder. We have a creation; then we must have a creator. This creation could not have come into existence without an intelligent, personal creator anymore than the alphabet could produce a book itself without an author.
    • The argument from anthropologu. Man's moral and intellectural nature argues for a moral and intellectual creator.
    • The Bible and the Christ that it reveals. His virgin birth, His sinless life, His vicarious death, and His bodily resurrection - all of this and much, much more - argue for the existence of God.
THE PERSONALITY OF GOD (Thessalonians 1: 9)
  • The Bible reveals God as personality. He is called "...... a living and true God" - One possessing self-consciousness and self-determination. His personality is shown in what He does, such as:
    • God loves. "God so loved the world" (John 3: 16)
    • God hates. "there are six things which the LORD hates" (Proverbs 6: 16)
    • God cares. "He cares for you" (1 Peter 5: 7)
    • God grieves. "He was grieved in His heart" (Genesis 6: 6)
Only a personality can hate, care, and grieve; therefore, God must be a living, eternal ,a dn personal being.


THE NATURE OF GOD (1 John 4: 8)
  • There are four definitions of God in the Bible. Since God cannot be defined, they are incomplete. However, they do throw light upon the nature of God. They are:
    • "God is love". This is the nature of God in His divine compassion.
    • "God is Light" (1 John 1: 5). This is the nature of God in His divine character; in Him there is no darkness.
    • "God is a consuming fire" (Hebrews 12: 29). This is the nature of God in His divine holiness.
    • "God is spirit" (John 4: 24). This is the nature of God in His divine essence.

The attributes of God reveal His nature. Do no think of His attributes as abstract, but as vital mediums through which His holy nature is unveiled - attributes ascribed to Him, such as:
  • Life is ascribed to God (John 5: 26)
  • All knowledge is ascribed to God (Psalms 147: 5)
  • All power is ascribed to God (Revelation 19: 6)
  • Filling the universe with His presence is ascribed to God (Psalms 139: 1 -10)
God is everywhere present, but He is not in everything. If God were in everything, man could not worship any object and he would not be worshipping God. God is a spirit being. "And those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."
THE GRACE OF GOD (Ephesians 2: 8 - 9)
  • Grace is the love and mercy of God in action. Mercy is negative, and love is positive; both together mean grace. To show mercy in love is grace. God showed mercy in love when He sent His Son to bear our sins in His own body on the cross (John 3: 16)
    • The grace of God saves forever (Romans 8: 38 - 39)
    • The grace of God is unconditional; that is, we are not saved on the condition that we "hold out unto the end" or that we "fail not" or that we "do our best." We are saved by the grace of God, apart from works.
    • The grace of god is sufficient (2 Corithians 12: 9)
    • The grace of God makes no discrimination (Revelation 22: 17)
    • The grace of God justifies (Romans 3: 23 - 24)
    • The grace of God makes every believer an heir (Titus 3: 7)
    • The grace of God teaches the believer how to live (Titus 2: 11 - 12)
The grace of God is nothing less than the unlimited love of God expressed in the gift of His Son, out Savior. It is the undeserved love of God toward sinners.

THE TRINITY OF GOD (Matthew 3: 16 -17)
  • By the Trinity of God we mean His tri-personal existence as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - three distinct persons in onThe Father is recognized as God (1 Peter 1: 2) and is all the fulness of the Godhead invisible (John 1: 18). The Son is recognised as God (Hebrews 1: 8) and is all the fulness of the Godhead manifested in the flesh (John 1: 14). The Holy Spirit is recognized as God (Acts 5: 3 - 4) and is all the fulness of the Godhead acting upon man, convicting him of sin (John 16: 7 - 11) and guiding the believer into all truth (John 16: 12 - 15). The doctrine of the Trinity is not explicit in the Old Testament, but is rather implied. "Then god said, Let Us make man...." (Genesis 1: 26) The doctrine of the Trinity is revealed in the New Testament. In the above Scripture (Matthew 3: 16 - 17_ we have Christ being baptized in the water, the Father speaking from heaven, and the Holy Spirit decending as a dove. We are to baptize in the "name (not names) of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit" (Matthew 28: 19).
    • Even creation implies the doctrine of the Trinity. In creation, we have space, matter, and time in one creation. In space, we have length, breadth, and height in one space. In matter, we have energy, motion, and phenomenon in one substance. In time, we have past, presnet, and future in one time. In man, we have body, soul, and spirit in one man (1 Thessalonians 5: 23)
    • In the Holy Trinity, we have Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in one God.
(End of Study Outline #2)

I pray that our faith in Christ will grow stronger and confident after the studies.

Nest topic "Jesus Christ The Son of God"
 
This is outline #3 - Jesus Christ The Son of God

Christianity differs from all religions, because it is more than a religion - it is the life of the Son of God made living in man. Christ is Christianity, and Christianity is Christ. He is the supreme subject of each book of the New Testament, and fulfills all the promises of God in the Old Testament, from His incarnation to His Second Coming as "Lord of lords and King of kings" (revelations 17: 14). He is the God-man Christ Jesus in glory, exalted above all creatures. Jesus said, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth" (Matthew 28: 18).


During His earthly ministry, He claimed to be God incarnate (in human flesh). He is all that He claimed to be, or He is less than the least (Revelations 1: 8). Before His claim can be denied, there are some things that must be accounted for:
  • His virgin birth;
  • His holy, sinless life;
  • His many miracles;
  • His vicarious death adn His bodily resurrection.
  1. THE DIETY OF JESUS CHRIST (John 1: 1)
The deity of Jesus Christ, or His God nature, is well established in the New Testament. Some of the facts are:
    • He is called God by the Apostle John (John 1: 1)
    • He is called God by the Apostle Thomas (John 20: 28)
    • He is called God by God the Father (Hebrews 1: 8)
    • He claimed to be God in that He was with the Father before creation (John 17: 5)
    • He claimed to be God in that He was above Abraham. "Abraham rejoiced to see My day...." (John 8: 51-59)
    • He received worship, and only God is to be worshiped (Acts 10: 25, 26)
    • He forgives sin (Mark 2: 5-11). Only God can forgive sin.
    • He is creator and maker of all things (Colossians 1: 16)
    • He is sustainer of all things (Hebrews 1: 3). Only God can control the universe.
    • He claimed to have "all authority....in heaven and on earth" (Matthew 28: 18). God has all authority.
    • He wlaked upon the blue waters of Galilee. The winds and the waves obeyed His command. He healed the sick and raised the dead. He gave sight to the blind and hearing to the deaf. He cast out demons and made the lame to walk. He turned water into wine, and fed five thousand with the lunch of a lad.
2. THE HUMANITY OF JESUS CHRIST (Romans 1: 3, 4)


The humanity of Jesus Christ is seen in His human parentage (Matthew 2: 11)
    • His developed as a normal human being (Luke 2: 52)
    • He was subject to all the sinless infirmities of the human nature:
      • He was hungry (Matthew 4: 2)
      • He was thirsty (John 19: 28)
      • He was weary (John 4: 6)
      • He wept (John 11: 35)
      • He was tempted (Hebrews 4: 15)
Jesus is man, and yet He is more than man. He is not God and man, but the God-man. He is God in human flesh. His
two natures are bound together in such a way that the two becomes one, having a single consciousness and will.


3. THE VIRGIN BIRTH OF JESUS CHRIST (Luke 1: 26 - 35)


The virgin birth of Jesus Christ is without paralell in human history. It was by the virgin birth that God became man, one perfect person but two natures: One nature being that of Almighty God, the other being that of man - man without sin (Hebrews 4: 15). The union of the two nautres became the God-man Christ Jesus.
    • The first hint of the virgin birth is found in Genesis 3: 15. The One to defeat Satan was to be born of the "seed" of the woman. This is a biological miracle; there is no "seed" of the woman. From this, we are to understand that One was to be born of a woman without a human father (Luke 1: 34, 35)
    • Isaiah prophesied that a "virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel (God is with us)" - (Isaiah 7: 14)
    • Again Isaiah prophesied saying, "a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us" (Isaiah 9: 6,7) This means that God gave His only begotten Son who was with Him from eternity, and the Child Jesus was born of a virgin. God gave His Son "to us".
    • According to prophecy, He was to be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5: 2). Joseph with Mary went up to Bethlehem to be taxed, and to fulfill prophecy (Luke 2: 1-7)
4. THE DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST (Philippians 2: 8)


The death of Jesus Christ is mentioned more than 120 times in the New Testament; and is spoken of many times by the prophets in the Old Testament.
  • The death of Jesus Christ was vicarious (Matthews 20: 28). He was God's substitute for sinners (2 Corinthians 5:21). On the cross, Christ was made sin for the sinner. By faith in Him, the sinner is made righteous with the righteousness of God. The death of Jesus Christ was natural (John 19: 31-37). By a natural death, we mean that His spirit and soul were separated from His body. The death of Jesus Christ was unnatural (Romans 6: 23). By an unnatural death, we mean that since He was sinless, in that He "committed no sin" (1 Peter 2: 22) - had "no sin" (1 John 3: 5) - "knew no sin" (2 Corinthians 5: 21) - before He could die, He had to be "made sin on our behalf." Therefore, His death was unnatural. The death of Jesus Christ was preternatural (Revelations 13: 8). By this, we mean that the death of Jesus Christ was not a afterthought with God; it was the forethought of God.
    • The death of Jesus Christ was supernatural (John 10: 17, 18). Jesus said, "No one has taken it away from Me." Then He said, "I lay it down on My own initiative (supernaturally)." "I have authority to take it up again (supernaturally)." This He did on the cross, and three days and three nights later, He took life up again when He arose from the dead. Only God in the form of man could die a vicarious, natural, unnatural, preternatual, and supernatural death.
5. THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST (Matthew 28: 1-20)

Jesus said: "I am the resurrection and the life" (John 11:25). The resurrection of Jesus Christ was the doctrine of every disciple, the faith of every true believer, the courage of every martyr, the theme of every sermon, and the power of every evangelist.


Luke tells us that we have "many convincing proofs" of His resurrection (Acts 1: 3). Let us look at some of the "convincing proofs" according to eye witnesses:
    • After His resurrection He appeared first to mary Magdalene (John 20: 11- 18) He appeared to the women returning from the grave (Matthew 28: 5-10)Then He appeared to Peter (Luke 24: 34) To the Emmaus disciples (Luke 24: 13-31) <LI dir=ltr style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">To the apostles, Thomas not present (Luke 24: 36-43) Again to the apostles, Thomas present (John 20: 24-29) To the seven by the Sea of Tiberias (John 21: 1-23) To over five hundred brethren (1 Corinthians 15: 6) He was seen of James (1 Corinthians 15: 7) He was seen again by the eleven apostles (Matthew 28:6-20; also Acts 1: 3-12) He was seen of Stephen, the first martyr (Acts 7: 55)
    • He was seen of Paul on his way to Damascus (Acts 9: 3-6; also 1 Corinthians 15: 8
Many of these eye witnesses died martyrs' deaths because they preached the resurrection of Jesus Christ. They were glad to die for a living Christ. they had the "convincing proofs."

When Jesus was arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane, all of His disciples "left Him and fled" (Matthew 26: 56). From this time until after His resurrection, the disciples lived in fear. They did not believe that He would rise from the dead (John 20: 9). Had Jesus not come from the dead, the cross would have been the end of Christianity. After the death of Jesus, we see His disciples dejected, discouraged, and defeated. The death of Jesus meant but one thing to them: the end. How do we account for the great change that came into their lives three days and three nights later? The only logical explanation is they had the "convincing proofs" He had risen from the dea, and was alive forevermore. They saw Him, talked with Him, touched Him, and ate with Him.


Now look at some "convincing proofs" according to circumstantial evidence:
  • The change that came into the lives of the disciples after the resurrection - from fear to unlimited courage. They rejoiced in persecution (Acts 5: 40-42). They chose death, with faith in the resurrected Christ, rather than to deny that faith and be released (Hebrews 11: 35). The early church began to worship on the first day of the week, the day of the resurrection. It was not a law - it was spontaneous (Acts 20: 7). For almost two thousand years, the church has worshipped on the first day. For the Christian, every Sunday is Easter. The early christians went everywhere with the word of the resurrection (Acts 8: 1-4).The empty tomb - for it Jesus is not alive, what happened to His body? The Roman guards were paid to say, "His disciples came by night and stole Him away while we were alseep". First, the disciples lacked the courage. Had the disciples stolen His body, then how do you account for fact that they all suffered, and most of them died martyrs' death? In the fact of death, one of them would have revealed the hidden place of the "stolen body" to save his own life. Second, no one was ever arrested or tried for stealing the body of Jesus. It is evident that the governing officials did not believe the story of the guards. Third, the guards could have been put to death for sleeping while on watch. Fourth, if they were asleep, how could they have known that it was the disciples who "stole" the body? Fifth, had the enemies of Jesus moved the body, they could have produced it and brought a quick end to Christianity, and they would have!
    • The linen wrappings found in the empty tomb are proof of the resurrection (John 20: 1-10). Had friend or foe stolen the body, they would not have removed the linen wrapping; since He had been dead for three days and nights. When John saw the linen wrapping and recognized that they were folded the same as when they were wrapped about the body, he knew that a miracle had taken place. Jesus came out of the wrappings, and they collapsed without disturbing the folds. They were left in the mpty tomb as "convincing proof"; and when John saw and understood, he believed that Jesus had come from the dead.
6. THE ASCENSION AND SECOND COMING OF JESUS CHRIST (Acts 1: 9-11)
After forty days of instructing His disciples, the risen Christ ascended up on high and is seated at the right hand of the Father (Hebrews 10: 12). Two men brought the message of His second coming to the apostles. "This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way...." The message of the second coming of Jesus is so important, that it is mentioned over three hundred times in the New Testament.
    • He is coming to take His church to be with Him (1 Thessalonians 4: 16-17; also, John 14: 1-6).He is coming to judge the nations (Matthews 25: 31-46) He is coming to save Isreal (Romans 11: 25, 26) He is coming to sit upon the throne of David (Luke 1: 31-33, also Isaiah 9: 6, 7)
    • He is coming to bring righteous government to this earth (Hebrews 1: 8)
JESUS CHRIST IS COMING BACK TO THIS EARTH AGAIN. "COME, LORD JESUS" (Revelations 22: 20)

(Amen)
 
Amen .... Thanks Ramsey...
1 Timothy 3:16
And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
 
Could Ramsey have intended to say 2 Tim 3:16
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 2Ti 3:17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

 
no brother House :D :D 1 Timothy 3:16 :D!
It's to prove the Deity of Jesus the Christ :D!

ps: can someone please explain to me the meaning of "seen of angels" :$ ? =)
I'm thinking maybe it has to do with their witness of Him ? as in, they spoke about Him ?
 
No Problem. Call me anything (within reason)

1 Tim 3:16 is indeed a great verse and looking at the context of your posting I understand why you posted that verse.
 
Study Outline #4 – HOLY SPIRIT

The Holy Spirit is God, and is equal to the Father and the son. Don’t ever speak of Him as “It” or refer to Him as “an influence.” He is God the Holy Spirit, and is set forth in the Bible as being distinct from the Father and the Son. In the Genesis account of creation, He is seen actively engaged in the work of creation, along with The Father and the Son. In the Old Testament, He came upon men to empower them for service; but, when they were disobedient, He departed from them.

When David sinned against the Lord, he prayed, “Do not take Thy Holy Spirit from me” (Ps. 51: 11). In the New Testament, after Pentecost, we see the Holy Spirit indwelling the believer, never to leave him, filling and empowering him for service. The study of the person and work of the Holy Spirit is of utmost importance. A scriptural understanding of God the Holy Spirit will make you a better Christian and servant of God.


THE DEITY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT (Acts 5: 3 & 4)

· In dealing with Ananias, Peter revealed the deity of the Holy Spirit when he said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy
Spirit....You have not lied to men, but to God.” In this Scripture it is very clear that the Holy Spirit is God, and He is co-equal, co-existent with the Father and the Son.

His deity is also set forth in that He possesses divine attributes:
o He is everywhere present in the universe (Ps. 139: 7 – 10)
o He has all power (Luke 1: 35)
o He has all knowledge (1 Corinthians 13: 14)
o He is eternal (Hebrews 9: 14)

His deity is revealed in that His name is coupled in equality with the name of the Father and the Son.
o In the baptism of the believer (Matthew 28: 19)
o In the apostolic benediction (2 Corinthians 13: 14)

His deity is seen in relation to the life and ministry of Jesus Christ.
o Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit (Luke 1: 35)
o He was anointed by the Holy Spirit for service (Acts 10: 38)
o He was led by the Holy Spirit (Matthew 4: 1)
o He was crucified in the power of the Holy Spirit (Hebrews 9: 14)
o He was raised from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit (Romans 8: 11)
o Jesus gave commandments to the apostles and the church through the Holy Spirit (Acts 1: 2)

If Jesus needed to depend solely upon the Holy Spirit during His life and ministry here on the earth, can we afford to do less?

THE EMBLEMS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT (Luke 3: 16)

· It is often difficult to impart truth by the use of words. Frequently they reveal only a half-truth, leaving the other half hidden. The writers of the Bible used certain emblems when unfolding the mysteries of the Holy Spirit, because they illustrate more about Him than volumes can contain. They are:

o Fire as an emblem (Luke 3: 16). Fire speaks of His consuming, purifying power in the life of the believer (Acts 2: 3, also Isaiah 6: 1 – 7)
o Wind as an emblem (John 3: 8). Wind speaks of His hidden depth in His mighty regenerating power.
o Water as an emblem (John 7: 37 – 39). Water speaks of His power to fill the believer to overflowing with spiritual life.
o Seal as an emblem (Ephesians 1: 13). Seal speaks of His ownership of the believer; it is a finished, eternal transaction.
o Oil as an emblem (Acts 10: 38). Oil speaks for His power to anoint for service.
o Dove as an emblem (Mark 1: 10). The dove speaks of His gentle, tender, peaceful nature. We may know “the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension” (Philippians 4: 7) only when fully surrendered to God.

SINS AGAINST THE HOLY SPIRIT (Matthew 12: 31 – 32)

· This is a solemn study, because the Holy Spirit is God and can be sinned against by both the believer and the unbeliever. May He help you search your heart as you consider:

o The sin of blaspheming the Holy Spirit (Matthew 12: 31 – 32). This sin is committed by unbelievers. It is often called the “unpardonable sin.” It has no forgiveness. It was committed by the enemies of Jesus when they accused Him of casting out demons by the power of Satan (Matthew 12: 24) when Jesus claimed to cast them out by the “Spirit of God” (Matthew 12: 28).
o The sin of resisting the Holy Spirit (Acts 7: 51). This sin is committed by the unbeliever when rejecting Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord.
o The sin of grieving the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4: 30 – 32). This sin is committed by believers. He is grieved by us unless He controls our lives to the glory of Jesus Christ.
o The sin of quenching the Holy Spirit (1 Thessalonians 5: 19). This sin is committed by Christians when known sin is allowed to go unconfessed (1 John1: 9, also Isaiah 59: 1 – 2).
o The sin of lying to the Holy Spirit (Acts 5: 1 – 11). The sin of Ananias and Sapphira was deception, born in jealousy. They tried to mock God (Galatians 6: 7). The Holy Spirit cannot be sinned against, because He is God.

THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT (John 16: 7 – 14)

· In instructing His disciples regarding the coming of the Holy Spirit, Jesus said, “.......for if I do not go away, the Helper shall not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. And He, when He comes, will.....”:

o Convict men of the sin of unbelief (John 16: 9)
o Convict men that Jesus is the righteousness of God (John 16: 10, also Romans 10: 3 – 4)
o Convict men that the power of Satan has been broken (John 16: 11)
o Regenerate the believer (John 3: 5, also Titus 3: 5)
o Indwell the believer (1 Corinthians 6: 19 – 20)
o Seal the believer (Ephesians 1: 13 – 14)
o Baptize the believer ((Acts 1: 5, also 1 Corinthians 12: 13)
o Infill the believer (Ephesians 5: 18)
o Empower the believer (Acts 1: 8)
o Lead the believer (Galatians 5: 16 – 18)
o Administer spiritual gifts to the believer (1 Corinthians 12: 1 to 11)

The Holy Spirit came on the day of Pentecost, to remain with the church until it is complete and presented to the Lord Jesus at His coming. Just as Jesus Christ finished the work He came to do in the flesh, so the Holy Spirit will finish work He came to do in the church.

THE FRUIT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT (Galatians 5: 22 – 23)

· “The fruit of the Spirit is love.” Only as we live in love can we fulfill the will of God in our lives. The believer must become love-inspired, love-mastered, and love-driven (2 Corinthians 5: 15). Without the fruit of the Spirit (love), we are just a religious noise (1 Corinthians 13: 1).

“The fruit of the Spirit is love,” and is manifested in joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control:
o Joy is love’s strength.
o Peace is love’s security.
o Patience is love’s endurance.
o Kindness is love’s conduct.
o Goodness is love’s character.
o Faithfulness is love’s confidence.
o Gentleness is love’s humility.
o Self-control is love’s victory.
“Against such things there is no law.”
A Holy Spirit-controlled man needs no law to cause him to live a righteous life. The secret of a Spirit-controlled life is found in dedication to God (Romans 12: 1 – 2). Put your all on the altar, and the Holy Spirit will fill your heart with the love of God (Romans 5: 5).

(End of Study Outline #4)
 
Study Outline #5 – SIN

In considering the question of sin, we are faced with two startling facts.

The first fact is that man makes so little of sin. To some, it is an illusion – a religious mirage – the invention of some fanatic. It is denied, joked about, and laughed at by man. Many who believe sin to be a fact, continue in it with little thought of its penalty.

The second fact is that God makes so much of sin. God said, “The person who sins will die” (Ezekiel 18:20). “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6: 23). All sins are an abomination to God (Proverbs 6: 16 – 19), and He hates those who do iniquity (Psalms 5: 5). Moses said, “......everyone who acts unjustly is an abomination to the LORD” (Deuteronomy 25: 16). Sin is an evil force. Its presence cannot be escaped in this life, but it can be overcome by the power of God.

THE ORIGINAL OF SIN (Jude 1: 6)

· The origin of sin is one of the mysteries of the Bible. “The secret things belong to the Lord our God (Deuteronomy 29: 29). Its origin is one of the “secret things” that will remain wrapped in obscurity. Sin was first noted in the heart of Satan. He was created a perfect being, “.....Until unrighteousness was found in you” (Ezekiel 28: 11 – 19). Satan fell from perfection when he exerted his will above the will of God. Five times he said, “I will” (Isaiah 14: 12 – 17). It was his will over God’s will – this is sin. It is believed that Satan, when first created, was ruler of this earth (Genesis 1: 1), and that he fell through self-will; and at his fall, the earth became “formless and void” (Genesis 1: 2). Isaiah tells us that God created the earth “and did not create it a waste place” (Isaiah 45: 18). He did not create it a chaos. The earth was a perfect creation in Genesis 1: 1. Something happened that caused a catastrophe and the earth became “formless and void” (Genesis 1: 2), but it was not created thus. It is believed that some of the angels, along with Satan, sinned by leaving their first estate. This does not provide that Satan was the originator of sin, but it does reveal sin in the heart of Satan before God created man.


WHAT IS SIN (1 John 3: 4)

· It is impossible to deny the existence of sin, when the whole world is in conflict between good and evil. If sin were not a fact, there would be no crime; we would not need jails or prisons. We would need no locks on our doors, or vaults for our valuables. To some, sin is being indiscrete; or it is a weakness of the flesh. To others, it is the absence from good. To the so-called scholar, sin is ignorance; and to the evolutionist, it is the nature of the beast. The latest theory is that sin is a disease to be treated by science, because man is not a sinner – he is only sick. To others, sin is a form of selfishness, but God declares that:
o Sin is lawlessness (1 John 3: 4)
o Sin is falling short of the glory of God (Romans 3: 23).
o Sin is revolting against God (Isaiah 1: 2)
o Sin is unbelief; that makes God a liar (1 John 5: 10)
o Sin is going your own way, planning your life according to your own will, without seeking the will of God (Isaiah 53: 6).
o All unrighteousness is sin (1 John 5: 17).

Sin is a folly to deceive you, a force to destroy you, and a fact to condemn you. Sin is a volitional act of disobedience against the revealed will of God.

HOW SIN ENTERED INTO THE WORLD (Romans 5: 12)

· .........through one man sin entered into the world (Romans 5: 12). The fall of man is found in Genesis 3: 1 – 24). When Adam sinned, his seed became perishable (1 Peter 1: 23). Therefore, we are sinners, because we are born in sin (Psalms 51: 5). You do not have to teach children to be bad, but you do have to teach them to be good. You do not have to teach them to lie, but you do have to teach them to tell the truth. “So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men (Romans 5: 18). According to the Word of God, all men are judged sinners, all are condemned already (John 3: 18). “All have sinned” (Romans 3: 23). Sin entered the world through our first parents in the Garden of Eden, and “all have sinned” because all are sinners.

Man sins by choice, because he is a sinner by nature. Therefore, the dominion sin has over you is according to the delight you have in it.

THE RESULT OF SIN (Ephesians 2: 1)

· “...............the wages of sin is death.” As a result of man’s sin, there are three deaths. Keep in mind that death does not annihilate; it only separates. In the Garden of Eden, it separated man from God spiritually; this is spiritual death. In natural death, it separates the spirit and the soul from the body; this is physical death. In final death, it separates man from the mercy of God forever; this is eternal death.

o The wages of sin is spiritual death. Just as sin separated man from God spiritually and drove him from the presence of God out of the Garden, so sin will separate you from God (Isaiah 59: 1 – 2). The only way back to God is to confess your sins to Him (1 John 1: 9) and forsake your sins (Isaiah 55: 7), that you may be restored to fellowship with God.
o The wages of sin is physical death. Physical death is the result of sin. Death had no claim on man until man sinned. Now all die, because all are in sin. Death is universal, and since we have a universal effect, we must have a universal cause, and that cause is universal sin. All men die – the good and the bad – the young and the old – and man will continue to die until death is destroyed by the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15: 26) and is swallowed up in victory (1 Corinthians 15: 54 – 57).
o The wages of sin is eternal death. “The person who sins will die” (Ezekiel 18: 20). This is eternal separation from the love of God (Revelations 20: 14). Once the soul passes beyond the portals of Hades he is lost and lost forever. He will continue to exist, but without hope. He is damned and damned to all eternity. Eternal death is eternal separation from God (Luke 16: 19 – 31).

GOD’S REMEDY FOR SIN (2 Corinthians 5: 21)

· Man, not willing to accept God’s remedy for his ruin, strives to bring about his own salvation by human means.

o He strives for self-righteousness, when he needs to be made the “righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5: 21, also Isaiah 64: 6).
o He strives to reform, when he needs to be regenerated (Titus 3: 5).
o He strives to turn over a new leaf, when he needs a new life (John 10: 10).
o He strives to be justified by the Law when he needs to be justified by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (Galatians 2: 16).
o He strives to clean up the old man, when he needs to be made a new man in Christ (Ephesians 4: 24).
o He strives to be saved by good works, when he needs salvation by the grace of God (Ephesians 2: 8 – 9).

The only remedy for the ruin of man is the Son of God, being made sin for us on the cross. The only way to receive this remedy is by faith in Him as personal Saviour (John 20: 30 – 31).

(End of Study Outline #5)
 
Thanks Angel.... I will as there are still more in the series. It is great for studying. and I have put them in a folder as there is so much to read and absorb.There are ten more in the series ... the next is judgement.
 
Study Outline #6 – JUDGMENTS

In the Scriptures, we are instructed in how we should be “handling accurately the word of truth” – “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately “the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2: 15). This is the most essential when studying the judgments. Do not endeavour to make all the judgments conform to the theory of one “general judgment.” The “general judgment” theory is the invention of religion, and is not taught in the Word of God. There are five separate judgments revealed in the Bible, and they differ as to time, place, and purpose. Yet, they all have one thing in common: the Lord Jesus Christ is the Judge (John 5: 22 “For not even the Father judges anyone, but He has given all judgments to the Son.”)

Everyone – from Adam to the last man to be born on this earth – will stand before the Lord Jesus Christ to be judged.

In the first judgment, the sins of the believers have already been judged in Christ on the cross.

In the second judgment, the believer is to judge self, or be judged by the Lord Jesus Christ and disciplined.

In the third judgment, all believers must appear at the “judgement seat of Christ” where their works are to be judged.

In the fourth judgment, all nations are to be judged at the Second Coming of Christ.

In the fifth judgment, the wicked dead are to be judged at the great white throne.

THE JUDGMENT OF THE BELIEVER’S SINS
“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.” (John 5: 24)

· In the above verse, our Lord tells us that the believer “does not come into judgment.” Our sins were judged in Christ on Calvary and every believer “has passed out of death into life.” This is present salvation. Christ paid for our sins. He was judged in the believer’s stead. The believer will not come into judgment because:

o Jesus Christ paid the penalty, and on the grounds of His substitutional death, the believer is separated from his sins forever (Psalms 103: 12).
o The sins of the believer have been wiped out and God has promised that He “will not remember your sins”. (Isaiah 43: 25)
o Our Lord suffered for our sins, “the just for the unjust, “that we might be saved and never come into judgment as sinners (1 Peter 3: 18).
o The believer will never be condemned with the world, because Christ was condemned in His place. “He made Him.....to be sin on our behalf (2 Corinthians 5: 21). Christ was made a curse for us on the cross, and on our behalf redeemed us from the curse of the Law (Galatians 3: 13). “He has been manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself” (Hebrews 9: 26). The believer will not come into judgment because his sins have been purified (Hebrews 1: 3).


THE JUDGMENT OF THE BELIEVER’S SELF
“But if we judged ourselves rightly, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are disciplined by the Lord in order that we may not be condemned along with the world.” (1 Corinthians 11: 31 – 32)

· The judgment of the believer’s self is more than judging things in the believer’s life. When the believer judges self, the good and the bad in his life come into light; and he will confess the bad (1 John 1: 9) and forsake it (Isaiah 55: 7). However, it is not enough just to be judged sin in the believer, he must judge self.
o To judge self is to practice self-abnegation, for when the believer sees self as God sees him, he will renounce self. It is replacing the self-life with the Christ-life (Colossians 3:4). Christ is the believer’s life.
o To judge self is to deny self. This is more than self-denial. Self-denial is denying one’s self of the gratifications of the flesh. If we practice self-denial only, it is treating the symptom and not the cause. But when we deny self, we are attacking the cause, for in self (that is, in the flesh) “nothing good dwells” (Romans 7: 18). To deny self is to take up our cross and follow Christ (Mark 8: 34 – 38).
o To judge self is to lose the self-life, and find the Christ-life (Galatians 2: 20)
o To judge self is to no longer be self-conscious, but become Christ-conscious (Matthew 28: 20).
o To judge self is to no longer be self-controlled, but to become Christ-controlled (Acts 9: 6).
o To judge self is to no longer practice self-esteem, but to esteem others better than self (Philippians 2: 3). To judge self is to become selfless.


THE JUDGMENT OF THE BELIEVER’S WORKS
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. (2 Corinthians 5: 10)

· The believer’s works will be judged at the “judgment seat of Christ,” which is referred to many times in the Bible. A careful reading of 2 Corinthians 5: 10 with the context reveals that only believers will appear at the “judgment seat of Christ.” Their works will be judged, not their sins, for we have already seen that all sins of the believers were judged in Christ on Calvary, and “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8: 1).

o This judgment will take place “in the air,” following the first resurrection. “The dead in Christ shall rise first” (1 Thessalonians 4: 14-18). There will be a thousand years between the resurrection of the saved and the unsaved (Revelation 20: 4-5), and there will be a thousand years between the “judgment seat of Christ” where only saved will appear and the “great white throne judgment” where only unsaved will appear.
o At the judgment seat of Christ, the believer will give an account of himself to God. Therefore, we should look to our own works, and not judge the works of others (Romans 14: 10-13).
o It is most humbling thought to know that someday the believer will face all of his works – “good or bad.” Some will be ashamed (1 John 2: 28) and “suffer loss” – not the loss of salvation, but the loss of rewards (1 Corinthians 3: 11-15). So whatever you do, do it to the glory of God (Colossians 3: 17).

THE JUDGMENT OF THE NATIONS (Read Matthew 25: 31-46)

· This judgment is not the judgment of the great white throne (Revelation 20: 11-15). A careful comparison of the two judgments will establish the following facts:

o The judgment of the Nations will take place “when the Son of Man comes in His glory.....then He will sit on His glorious throne.” The great white throne is never called “The Throne of His glory” (Revelation 20: 11-15).
o At this judgment, He will judge the living nations (Joel 3: 11-16). At the white throne judgment, He will judge the wicked dead.
o At this judgment, there will be no resurrection of the dead. At the great white throne all the wicked dead are raised: “The sea gave up the dead which were in it, and the death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them.....” (Revelation 20:13).
o At this judgment, the judge is God “the King” judging the living nations in His earthly kingdom. At the great white throne, the judge is God, judging only the wicked dead.
o At this judgment, there are no books opened. At the great white throne, the “books were opened.”
o At this judgment, there are three classes judged: “sheep” – the saved (Revelation 7: 9-17); “goats” – the unsaved (2 Thessalonians 1: 7-10); “tribes” – the elect of Israel (Revelation 7: 1-8) and also (Romans 11: 25-28). At the great white throne, there is only one class: ‘the dead”.
o At this judgment, the King gives the kingdom to those who have eternal life. At the great white throne, there are no saved and no kingdom; they are all “thrown into the lake of fire.”

THE JUDGMENT OF THE WICKED (Read Revelation 20: 11-15)

· The great white throne judgment will follow the thousand year reign of Christ. This is the final judgment, and only the wicked dead are to be judged. According to Revelation 20: 5, the believers were resurrected a thousand years before this judgment, and their works were judged at the “judgment seat of Christ” (2 Corinthians 5: 10).

o At this judgment, the wicked dead will seek a hiding place from the face of the Lord Jesus Christ, the judge. But there is no hiding place.
o At this judgment, the “dead, the great and the small” will stand before God. But the greatness of the great will be of no value. “THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD, THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE” (Romans 3: 12).
o At this judgment, the “book of life” will be opened. Why the “book of life” if there is no saved at this judgment? The wicked will be shown that God in His mercy provided space for them in the “book of life,” so that they are without excuse (Romans 1: 18-20).
o At this judgment, the dead will be judged “according to their deeds.” God is a just God; and since there are degrees of punishment in hell, some will be punished more than others (Luke 12: 42, 48).
o At this judgment, there will be no acquittal, no higher court to which the lost may appeal. It is lost, and lost forever; it is damned to all eternity, and that without hope. There is a Hades (Luke 16: 19-31), and in Hades, there is no hope, no sympathy, no love, even the love of God does not extend beyond the portals of Hades.


(End of Study Outline #6)
 
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