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DOCTRINAL & APOLOGETICS REFERENCES

by Andrew R. Bernhardt

Introduction

What is the purpose of this document?

This document serves to collect various scripture references useful in explaining the reasons for the historic Christian faith to non-believers and new believers.

What is included in this document?

The first part contains scripture references pertaining to specific essential doctrines. It follows the order of the Beatty Community Church statement of faith. Each section begins with a quote from our statement of faith.

The rest of the document includes other scripture references on topics useful in the field of apologetics, such as faith and fulfilled prophecies.

Not all doctrinal areas are covered. Some may be added later on.

Scripture reference links are provided by Bible Gateway and will open in a separate window.

What are doctrines?

The word doctrine means something that is taught. It is related to the word doctor, which means one who is educated and qualified to teach. Doctrines are teachings that are considered true. Our statement of faith contains eleven statements that express the basic doctrines of Beatty Community Church. These statements describe what we believe about the Bible, God, man, and the church.

Why do we have a statement of faith?

Our statement of faith describes to others what we believe. They are the beliefs that our local church is based on. It is useful for church-seekers to know what we believe. We have no secret doctrines.

The Bible

The Bible: What It Is

What is the Bible?

There are two ways to answer this. From a human standpoint, the Bible is a collection of 66 different books, letters, or writings (scriptures) written over a period of about 1500 years. But the Bible is also God's word to man - He is the ultimate Author.

We believe that the Bible is the only authority upon which Christian doctrines are based.

What does the Bible contain?

The Bible is divided into two parts, the Old Testament, and the New Testament..

The Old Testament contains the Jewish scriptures under the old covenant. This includes:

The Law: The first five books of the Bible, containing the history of the Jewish people up to the end of the 40 years of wilderness wandering, and the Law which God gave Moses.

The Psalms or Writings: Includes poetic, philosophic, and historic books and the book of Daniel.

The Prophets: Includes books written by prophets, as well has the historical books of Joshua, Judges, 1 & 2 Samuel and 1 & 2 Kings.

The New Testament (or "new covenant") contains the writings of the first church leaders or witnesses of Jesus Christ. It can be divided into the following groups:

The Gospels: Four books containing accounts of the life and teachings of Jesus Christ from four different perspectives.

Acts of the Apostles: The history of the beginnings of the church.

Epistles: Instructional letters written to various churches and individuals by the apostles.

Revelation: A prophetic book about the end times, written by John, one of Jesus' disciples.

Who wrote the Bible?

The Bible was written by over 40 authors under the influence of the Holy Spirit. They came from various walks of life, including kings, a rabbi, a fisherman, a shepherd, and a tax collector.

How did we get the Bible?

The books of the Bible were written as separate books, but were recognized as inspired by God. After the fall of Jerusalem in 70 AD, the Jews recognized the need to officially declare a list of these books so that there would be no confusion later as to which books were inspired and which ones were not. In 90 AD, the Council of Jamnia came together for this purpose and `canonized' the books of the Old Testament. It is important to realize that these books were recognized as scripture before the council convened. For example, Jesus appealed to the books of the Old Testament as authoritative (Matthew 5:17-19, 15:1-8, John 10:35).

The New Testament was canonized for similar reasons in 393 AD at the Synod of Hippo.

What criteria was used to determine if a book was truly inspired by God? The exact criteria is unknown but the following principals (given on page 29 of the book "Evidence That Demands A Verdict") have been put forth by biblical scholars:

Is it authoritative?: Did it come from the hand of God? (Does this book come with a divine "thus saith the Lord"?)

Is it prophetic?: Was it written by a man of God? (Test of a prophet in Deuteronomy 18:18-22)

Is it authentic?: The early church fathers had a policy of "if in doubt, throw it out." Many books that seemed like scripture were not. They contained historical and doctrinal contradictions.

Is it dynamic?: Did it come with the life-transforming power of God?

Was it received, collected, read, and used?: Was it accepted by the people of God (the apostles)? (For example, Peter recognized Paul's writings as scripture in 2 Peter 3:16 and Paul Luke's gospel in 1 Timothy 5:18, quoting Luke 10:7)

The Bible: We Trust It

What do we mean by the Bible being "inspired" by God?

While we can know some things about God from creation (natural revelation) such as His power (Romans 1:20) and His goodness (Acts 14:17), we cannot know Him in more detail, nor can we determine His will for us unless He reveals Himself to us in a more direct way. This He has done through the scriptures. The Bible shows us what God is like, and what His will is for us.

The Bible was written by men who were under the influence of the Holy Spirit to write what God wanted them to write. (2 Peter 1:21,Hebrews 1:1, Galatians 1:11-12, Acts 1:16, 28:25, Ezra 1:1, 1 Thessalonians 2:13, 1 Corinthians 14:37, Jeremiah 30:2) Everything in the Bible is therefore God's word. This is called plenary verbal inspiration:

Plenary: Full; Complete

Verbal: Word for word

Inspiration: God breathed

Each word in the Bible was directed by God. We can see this in the details of the way the Bible is worded, such as in spelling (Matthew 5:18) and tenses of words (Galatians 3:16).

God reveals Himself through the Bible. By reading, studying, and meditating on scripture, anyone can learn what God desires him to know about God and His will for man.

Because the scriptures are inspired by a perfect and all-powerful God, they are themselves perfect as originally written. God ensured that the writers wrote exactly and only what He wanted them to write (inerrency), and because God is truthful, the scriptures do not promote false doctrine (infallibility).

How do we know that the Bible is inspired?

The Bible declares that all scripture is inspired by God (2 Timothy 3:16), but you can't use this verse to prove the inspiration of the Bible because it is a circular argument.

The evidence (not proof - faith is still required) that the Bible is truly inspired by God can be seen in other ways:

Fulfilled prophecy: The Bible contains many prophecies or descriptions of future events. If the Bible is a book of human origins, then we would expect at least some of these prophecies to fail. However, no prophecy of scripture has failed. Instead they are fulfilled in great detail.

Example #1 - Tyre (See "Evidence That Demands A Verdict" pages 274-280).

Example #2 - Jesus' first coming (See Messianic Prophecies)

Example #3 - Israel's dispersion & regathering (See The Return Of Israel)

Accurate description of reality.: The historical statements in the Bible, for example, are being shown true by many archeological discoveries. References to various cites and persons mentioned in the Bible that were once thought legendary or mythical have been discovered (such as Sodom and Pontus Pilate - "A Ready Defense" pages 98 & 111). The list of the founders of various nations given in Genesis 10 has been recognized as very accurate.The Bible also contains accurate descriptions of physical (i.e. Job 26:7, Ecclesiastes 1:5-7) and moral laws.

Changed lives: Millions of people have come to know God through the Bible and their changed lives have proven it. (John 17:17, Hebrews 4:12, 1 Peter 2:2)

How do we know that the Bible we have today hasn't been corrupted over time?

There are a very large number of ancient copies of the Bible and Bible portions. By comparing our Bible of today with the old copies we can see that the Bible has remained virtually the same. No doctrines have changed. The discovery of some Old Testament books among the Dead Sea Scrolls has further proved this. (A fragment of Matthew has recently been dated to 66 AD, which shows that the book was written shortly after the events.)

Also, we can see that the Bible still speaks truthfully according to the evidence for inspiration given previously (fulfilled prophecy, accurate description of reality, and changed lives).

Is the Bible the complete word of God? What about the scriptures of other religions?

The Bible contains the complete revelation of God for man. We are not to add to it or take away from it (Deuteronomy 4:2, 12:32, Proverbs 30:6, Revelation 22:19).

The scriptures of other religions are not the word of God because they contain errors and doctrines contrary to the teachings of the Bible. For example, the Mormon's Pearl Of Great Price teaches both polytheism and monotheism. Abraham 4:1 states that the gods created the heavens and the earth, but Moses 2:1 says that only Almighty God created these things. Islam's Quran says the Jesus is neither God nor Son of God ( Surah 4:1). God does not reveal Himself in contradictory ways.

General References About The Bible's Inspiration

The Bible is the sole authority upon which Christian doctrines are based. The 66 books which make up the canon of scripture are considered inspired by God. Man did not determine if each book was inspired, man only recognized that the books were already inspired.

The Bible claims to record the words of God, many times in the form of "God said" or "Yahweh said". (Genesis 1:3, Exodus 24:12, 31:18).

If the Bible is not inspired by God, then these claims are lies. However, the claims are verifiable by prediction-fulfillment means. (See Messianic Prophecies and The Return Of Israel).

A prophecy is simply a message that came from God, usually through a spokesman called a prophet. The type of prophecy that foretells the future has one main intention: to validate the claim that the message came from God. (Deuteronomy 18:18-22, Ezekiel 39:25-28, John 8:28).

The prophecies of scripture (predictive or not) come from God. They are not what man made up; not man's idea of what God would or should say but recordings of what God actually did say. (Jeremiah 26:15, Acts 28:25, 2 Peter 1:20-21, John 3:34, 11:51)

God directly instructed some men what to write (Exodus 34:27, Jeremiah 30:2, Revelation 21:5).

God even wrote directly (Exodus 24:12, 31:18).

The gospels record the words of Jesus who claimed to be God. Jesus also made predictions that were fulfilled, validating His claim (Matthew 12:40, 17:27, 24:1-2, Mark 11:1-2, 13:21-23) In the Matthew 24:1-2 passage, Jesus was referring to the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD. The Mark 13:21-23 prophecy is still being fulfilled today.

(Interestingly, while all the other prophets speak "So says Yahweh...", Jesus never does, but instead says "I say to you...")

The Gospels also record that God testified for Jesus and told us to listen to Him (Luke 3:21-22, 9:34-36).

We are not to add to or change God's words (Deuteronomy 4:2, 12:32, 18:20-22, 30:6, 22:18-19).

Jesus referred to Old Testament scripture as from God, and as more authoritative than tradition from men (Matthew 15:1-8). The problem is not with tradition, but with tradition that goes against God's command.

Jesus said that the scripture cannot be broken (John 10:35, Matthew 5:17-19).

Since the Bible is from God, we know what it says is true. Therefore, we can use it to test the teachings of others by (Acts 17:10-11).

The Gospel message was not made up by men but it came from Jesus Christ (Galatians 1:11-12).

God's word is the guide for spiritual growth (Psalms 119:9, 2 Timothy 3:16).

The stories of people's lives in scripture are examples for us. Why make the same mistakes twice? (1 Corinthians 10:11)

Since the Law came from God, it is trustworthy (Psalms 111:7)

Jesus' words won't pass away. They will always be relevant (Luke 21:33).

How do we recognize a false prophet? An example of a false prophet putting words in the Lord's mouth (Jeremiah 28:1-17).

The agnostic is only partially correct. We cannot know anything about God on our own. But we can know about God if He tells us about Himself. We can know God if He reveals Himself to us.

God's word brings us to faith in Jesus (John 20:31).

God's word gives wisdom leading to salvation (2 Timothy 3:15).

God's word gives us hope (Romans 15:4).

Jesus equates knowledge of scripture with knowledge of truth (Matthew 22:29, Mark 12:24)

Jesus fulfills prophetic scripture (Matthew 26:54, 26:56, Mark 14:49, 15:28, Luke 4:21, 24:27, John 13:18, 17:12, 19:28, 36-37, 20:9).

The scriptures testify of Jesus (John 5:39, Acts 8:35, 18:28). The scriptures referred to here are the Old Testament as the New Testament was not yet written.

The New Testament is just as authoritative as the Old. For example, Peter classifies the writings of Paul as scripture (2 Peter 3:15-16).

Paul preached the word that God gave him. (Therefore, Paul was a prophet.) (1 Thessalonians 2:13, 1 Corinthians 14:37)

There are no hidden esoteric meanings in the Bible. For example, Paul wrote his letters plainly. Anybody can understand the Bible (2 Corinthians 1:13).

God's word is powerful and life giving (Hebrews 4:12, Matthew 4:4)

The Bible: Its Purpose

What is the Bible good for?

It says in 2 Timothy 3:16 that all scripture is good for:

Teaching: or doctrine. It is useful for understanding the things of God: What God is like, what He has done, what pleases and displeases Him (Psalms 119:130).

Conviction: or reproof. It is useful for pointing out areas in our life that displease God. (Hebrews 4:12)

Correction: It is useful for showing us how our relationship with God is to be restored (Proverbs 6:23).

Instruction in righteousness: It is useful for showing us how to live to please God. (Psalms 119:9,105, Romans 15:4, 1 Peter 2:2, John 17:17)

The Bible tells us about God and shows us that Jesus Christ is God in human form (John 20:31). It warns us (1 Corinthians 10:11), gives hope to man (Romans 15:4), and gives knowledge of eternal life (1 John 5:13)

We should spend time studying the Bible so that we can know God better and be better able to serve Him (Deuteronomy 17:19, Acts 17:11). Don't study to know about the Bible but to know God.

The Bible: Study Guidelines

Try to read and study without preconceived bias. Let the Bible speak for itself.

Useful items to have in your library:

More than one version of the Bible: When a passage is hard to understand, another translation may make the meaning clearer.

Concordance: Helps you find a verse when you know a word in the verse.

Bible Dictionary: Especially useful with "churchy" words such as `immutable', `sanctification', `propitiation', etc.)

Methods of Bible Study (outline from text by R. A. Torrey)

* Make up your mind to study the Bible every day.

* Make up your mind to STUDY the Bible. Ask yourself:

* What does this passage say?

* What does this passage mean?

* What does this passage mean for us? (May be multiple meanings)

* Study topically

* Be systematic

* Be thorough

* Be exact (note exact words, meanings of words, context, parallel passages)

* Write down the results of your study in an orderly way

* Study by book / chapters

* Read chapters (and even books) multiple times (like at least five times)

* Compare in different translations

* Study the Bible as God's word

* Study prayerfully.

* Memorize scripture

God: The Trinity

God: One And Only

How do we know there is a God?

While the believer already knows God is real, and has God's Holy Spirit as a witness, the non-believer also has evidence available to him as to God's existence and some aspects of His nature.

Isaiah 6:3 says that the whole earth is full of God's glory. Habakkuk 3:3 and Psalms 19:1-4 say the earth and heavens are full of His glory and praise. Acts 14:17 refers to God's goodness to all men. Romans 1:19-20 says that God has made his power and divinity (God-nature) known to all men through His creation. These passages refer to the evidence of God's existence from what He has created. (The only other possible meaning of these verses would have to do with human praise towards God, but I don't think that is the true meaning because obviously not everyone is praising God.)

We also know God exists and what He is like because He revealed Himself to us through the Bible (Romans 10:17).

How do we know there is only one God?

The Bible states in many places that there is only one God. The Hebrew "Shema" in Deuteronomy 6:4 says "Hear, Israel: Yahweh our God is one Yahweh." (The "Shema" is the Jewish confession of faith. The word means "hear" in Hebrew.)

The name "Yahweh", (sometimes also pronounced "Jehovah" or translated "the LORD") means "I AM" or "the self-existing One". It is singular, meaning there is only one self-existing being. (By self-existing, I mean that God always existed, was never created, and is not dependent on anyone or anything for his existence

A more direct statement as to the uniqueness of God is found in Isaiah 43:10 where God says "before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me." Other passages such as Isaiah 44:6-8 and 1 Corinthians 8:6 also say that there is no other God.

General References On Only One God

Trinity is the term that Christians have given to the concept of one God existing as three Persons. The word "trinity" is not found in the Bible, but the concept is. This topic shows where this doctrine came from and how we know that Jesus and the Holy Spirit are the same God.

The scriptures make it very clear that there was, is, and will be only one God.

The Hebrew Shema shows the unity of God (Deuteronomy 6:4). The name "Yahweh" means "the existing one" or "I AM". It is singular - not "We Are".

There is only one God. There is no other (Deuteronomy 4:35, 39, 32:39, 2 Samuel 7:22, 1 Kings 8:60, 2 Kings 19:15, Psalms 86:10, Isaiah 45:5-6,14,18,21-22, 49:9, Mark 12:29-32, 1 Corinthians 8:4,6, Ephesians 4:6, 1 Timothy 1:17, James 2:19)

There was never any other God before, nor will there ever be another God in the future (Isaiah 43:10, 44:6-8).

God is the First and Last (Revelation 1:4-8, 17, 2:8, 21:6-7, 22:12-16, Isaiah 48:12-16). In the Isaiah passage, the One who is the first and last, who laid the foundation of the earth, has been sent by Yahweh and the Holy Spirit. A clear reference to the Trinity in the Old Testament.

The only wise God (Romans 16:27).

There are many false gods mentioned in the Bible, but only one true God (John 17:3).

All other "gods" in the Bible are not real gods. They are called gods because men perceive them as such and worship them, but they have no divine attributes (Psalms 82:1-8). A real god cannot die. God is talking about those who were placed in positions of authority, like Moses, who was considered god to Pharaoh (Exodus 7:1-2). God did not talk directly to Pharaoh, but used Moses as His representative. As such, the way Pharaoh treated Moses was the way God was treated.

God: Three Persons

Trinity means...

There is only one God, but there are three equal and distinct Persons that make up God: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three persons are in complete unity. "Trinity" is the word we use to describe this. It means Tri-unity.

How do we know this describes God's nature?

While the Bible does not use the word "trinity", it speaks of three Persons as one God, each having the divine nature and character.

Although each Person in the Godhead is equal, each has a different relation to us (example: Matthew 20:22-23). God the Father loved us, Jesus Christ died for us, showing us God's mercy, and we receive life (a spiritual relationship with God) through the Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 13:14, Jude 1:20-21). The Father chose us for salvation, Jesus Christ made justification possible, and the Holy Spirit sanctifies us (1 Peter 1:2). When all three Persons are mentioned, the Father is sometimes referred to as just God because His position in the Godhead is the highest.

There is a heirarchy within the Trinity. Jesus said God the Father is greater than Him, and Holy Spirit was sent on Jesus' authority (John 14:26,28).

General Reference On Three Persons But One God

The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are not the same person, but they are the same God. How can three persons exist as one God? We can't comprehend this, because we exist as only one person in ourselves, but this is the nature of God.

God refers to Himself in the plural ("us") many times (Genesis 1:26, 3:22, 11:7, Isaiah 6:8, Hosea 12:4-5).

David referred to Yahweh and Lord as two separate persons (Psalms 110:1, Matthew 22:41-46, Revelation 22:16).

The one who laid the foundations of the earth, the I AM, is sent by Lord Yahweh and His Spirit (Isaiah 48:12-17).

The Trinity was present at Jesus' baptism. While the Holy Spirit descends onto Jesus in the form of a dove, the Father speaks from above and calls Jesus His Son, which means Jesus is of the same nature as the Father (Matthew 3:16-17).

The disciples were told to baptize in the name of the Trinity (Matthew 28:19).

Paul wrote a benediction in the name of the Trinity (2 Corinthians 13:14).

All Persons of the Trinity have a part in our salvation (1 Peter 1:2).

All Persons of the Trinity have a part in our Christian living (Jude 1:20-21).

All Persons of the Trinity have a part in building up the Church (1 Corinthians 12:4-6).

The Trinity teaches (Nehemiah 9:20, Job 32:8, Isaiah 54:13, Matthew 23:10, John 14:26, Galatians 1:12, 1 John 2:20,27).

Not the same Person playing different roles.

The Persons in the Trinity are distinct. It is not one Person playing different roles. Jesus is not the Father. The Holy Spirit is not Jesus. The following show this:

Jesus did not seek His own glory but that of the Father (John 8:50, Hebrews 5:5).

Jesus spoke not His own words, but the Father's (John 12:44-50, John 14:10).

Jesus did not know when He would return, but His Father did (Mark 13:32).

Jesus was forsaken of His Father on the cross (Matthew 27:46).

Jesus, the Lamb, approaches the throne of God (Daniel 7:13-14, Revelation 5:6-7).

Jesus sent the Holy Spirit from the Father (John 15:26).

Who created the world?

Each Person in the Trinity had a part in creation. God the Father had a part (Genesis 1:26, Nehemiah 9:6, Psalms 100:3, Psalms 102:25, Psalms 148:5, Proverbs 16:4, Isaiah 40:28, Acts 17:24). God's Son Jesus had a part (Isaiah 48:12-16, John 1:1-3, Acts 3:15, Hebrews 1:1-12, Colossians 1:15-17). The Holy Spirit had a part (Genesis 1:1-2, Job 26:13, 33:4). This shows that these three Persons are the same God.

Who raised Jesus?

Each Person in the Trinity had a part in Jesus' resurrection. God the Father had a part (Acts 2:24, 32, 3:15, 26, 4:10, 5:30, 10:40, 13:30, 33-34, 37, 17:31, Romans 4:24, 6:4, 10:9, 1 Corinthians 6:14, 15:15, 2 Corinthians 4:14, Galatians 1:1, Ephesians 1:20, Colossians 2:12, 1 Thessalonians 1:10, Hebrews 11:19, 1 Peter 1:21) Jesus had a part (John 2:19-21, 10:17-18). The Holy Spirit raised Jesus from the dead (Romans 8:11). This shows that these three Persons are the same God. (1 Peter 3:18 is also sometimes used to show the Holy Spirit raised Jesus, but it refers more to Jesus' body coming back to life.)

God: His Nature And Character

God has many attributes (qualities) that define who He is and what He is like. Some attributes describe his deity ("god-ness"), and some His character.

You will find that all of God's attributes are infinite, they are without limit. There is nothing lacking in any quality of God. God is perfect. God's attributes are infinite. There no limits to His power, understanding, etc. (1 Kings 8:27, Psalms 103:17).

God: The Nature Of His Deity

God is a Person, not a force (Exodus 3:14). God has a will (Exodus 6:6-8), understanding or wisdom (Exodus 3:7, Isaiah 1:18), emotions (1 Kings 11:9, Mark 1:11), and we can communicate with Him (1 Thessalonians 5:17). God is the living God (Jeremiah 10:10).

God: Omnipotent / Sovereign

Omnipotent means...

Omnipotent means all-powerful, almighty. Nothing is too difficult for God. God is not only most powerful, but is infinitely powerful. (Meaning, no matter how much power God uses, He still has just as much afterwards as he had before. God never tires. Isaiah 40:28)

How do we know God is omnipotent?

Jesus said that nothing is impossible for God (Matthew 19:26, Luke 1:37), and that all things are possible with God (Matthew 19:26). The Bible also says that nothing is too hard for God in Jeremiah 32:17, 27.

God created the universe out of nothing by simply speaking it into existence (Genesis 1:1, Psalms 148:5, John 1:3, Romans 4:17, Hebrews 11:3), and His power continues to sustain the universe (Nehemiah 9;6, Acts 17:24-28, Colossians 1:17). God is the source for our strength (Psalms 68:35, Philippians 4:13).

Questions such as "Can God make a rock too heavy for Him to lift?" are not valid because the question tries to force a limitation (i.e. "too heavy to lift") on a limitless God.

There are things that God cannot do, but they have to do with His character, not His power. He will not violate His character. For example, God cannot lie (Titus 1:2, Hebrews 6:18).

Sovereign means...

Sovereign means God does whatever He wants. Nobody and nothing hinders Him.

How do we know God is sovereign?

God is sovereign. There is nothing that can prevent God's will from being accomplished. Whatever God sets out to do, is done (Psalms 115:3, 119:89-91, 135:6, Proverbs 16:9, Isaiah 43:13, 44:24-28, Daniel 2:21, 4:35).

What significance does God's omnipotence and sovereignty have for us?

Believers can find great comfort in this. What seems hopeless to us isn't to God. Whatever God sets out to do, He accomplishes. Nobody can stop Him.

God made certain promises to those who believe in Him. For example, He says He will never leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). Since no one can prevent God from fulfilling His will, Paul says "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?..." (Romans 8:31,35-39).

God is also the source of our strength. In our weakness, we are to trust in Him. (Isaiah 40:25-31)

Sometimes, God puts us in situations where we can see no way out, for the purpose of increasing our trust in Him. While we can't see any hope, it's easy for God.

God: Omnipresent

Omnipresent means...

This means "everywhere-present". God is everywhere. However, God is not "in" everything in the pagan sense (i.e. God is not all and all is not God).

How do we know God is omnipresent?

The Bible says there is nowhere in the universe, in heaven or earth, we can go to escape the presence of God (Psalms 139:7-12, Jeremiah 23:23-24). God is distinct from His creation - He existed before the universe and created it (Isaiah 40:26).

What significance does that have for us?

Because God is present everywhere, we can pray to Him and worship Him where we are. We can do His will wherever He leads us and He will be there with us. He will never leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5)

Omniscient and All-Wise

Omniscient means...

Omniscient means "all-knowing". God knows everything. God knows how everything works because He created it. God knows everything that happens because He is omnipresent. He knows everything that happened in the past and what will happen in the future (because He is outside of time - He sees the past, present, and future as if it were all the present to Him).

How do we know God is omniscient?

The Bible says God's understanding is infinite (Psalms 147:5) and that His knowledge is perfect (Job 37:16). He knows all about us (Psalms 139:1-4).

Wise means...

Wise means showing good discernment and judgment.

How do we know God is wise?

Romans 16:27 calls Him the "only wise God". His wisdom is much higher than ours (Isaiah 55:8-9, 1 Corinthians 1:25).

What significance does God's omniscience and wisdom have for us?

God knows what is best for us (more than we ourselves). God's working in our lives (and everywhere else) is based on His knowledge of the outcome (and vice versa - He has an outcome He desires and He works in our lives to accomplish it).

When we are in situations where we need wisdom, we can ask God, who is the source of wisdom for He offers it to us (Daniel 2:17-23, James 1:5)

We are not God's experiment where God is trying to gain some sort of additional knowledge. When God allows trials in our lives, God isn't hoping for the best outcome. He already knows what will happen. He knows what we can and can't handle (1 Corinthians 10:13). He allows things to happen for His own purposes.

Therefore, we should trust Him, who already knows our future.

Eternal / Self-existing

Eternal means...

"Eternal" means timeless (existing outside of time), without end. God is immortal. He is not subject to death. God is preexistent. He existed before creation.

How do we know God is eternal?

In Psalms 90:2, the writer says God exists "from eternity to eternity". God has always existed (Psalms 93:2) and He lives forever (Deuteronomy 32:40).

God is called the Alpha and Omega (Revelation 22:13), or the First and the Last, signifying God existed before anything and after everything is gone, will continue to exist (1 Timothy 6:16). (This is not to imply that we will not live forever with God. God said we will. Our life is hid in Him. But our source of life is from God. We are not self-existent)

Self-existent means...

"Self-existing" means never having had a beginning and not being dependent on anyone or anything for existence

How do we know God is self-existing?

God's name, Yahweh, or "I AM" (Exodus 3:13-14) includes the idea of eternal self-existence.

What significance do these attributes have for us?

God said that those who believe in Him would have eternal life with Him. Because of this promise, and because God is eternal, we can be assured of eternal life.

The Nature Of His Character

Holy / Perfect / Righteous / Just

Holy means...

"Holy" means "set apart". In referring to God, it means He is unique (there is no other god like God) and absolutely pure or good; there is no sin found in Him.

How do we know God is holy?

In Leviticus 11:44, God commands the Israelites to be holy because He is holy. Isaiah 40:25 says God is the Holy One. Psalms 22:3.

Perfect means...

"Perfect" means mature and complete. There is no quality lacking in God.

How do we know God is perfect?

In Matthew 5:48, Jesus says we are to be perfect just as God is perfect. (This means we are to be spiritually mature - not lacking in any spiritual quality.)

Righteous means...

"Righteous" means God is morally pure in His relation to others. (The Law is God's standard of righteousness.) He does not inflict evil on someone unjustly. He has not and cannot sin.

Just means...

"Just" means God fairly administers His law. He is equitable. Those who obey the Law are rewarded and those who disobey the Law are punished.

How do we know God is righteous and just?

Psalms 145:17 declares that God is righteous in all His ways. Isaiah 45:21 and Genesis 18:25 say God is just. God is righteous in His dealings with us even when we are not (Daniel 9:14).

What significance does that have for us?

Because we are now children of God, and we represent Him, we are to be like Him in holiness (1 Peter 1:15-16), perfectness (maturity) (James 1:4), and righteousness (1 Timothy 6:11).

Although we are to act justly in our relationships with others (Romans 13:7, Colossians 4:1), we are not to judge others (Matthew 7:1-2) - that is God's job (Deuteronomy 32:35, Psalms 103:6, Romans 12:19)

God: Loving / Good / Gracious / Merciful

Love means...

God's love (agape) is unconditional benevolence (favor) toward us. It is because of this love that God shows grace and mercy to us.

How do we know God is love?

1 John 4:8-9 tells us that God is love. It is part of His character. This means that God is the original and supreme example of love It was proven when He sent His only begotten Son to die on the cross for us.

How is God's justness reconciled with His love?

God is just as well as loving. His justice demands payment for our sin. But because of His love, He paid for our sins Himself, satisfying justice.

Good means...

While `good' refers to God's righteousness, it also refers to God's actively seeking the good of those who love Him, and even those who don't.

How do we know God is good?

God shows His goodness to all men (Matthew 7:11, Psalms 136:25, 145:9, Proverbs 29:13). Psalms 25:8-10 says God is good and upright, teaching men His ways. Jesus said that only one, God, is good (Matthew 19:17, Mark 10:18).

Gracious means...

Grace is God's unmerited favor. It is His beneficial working in our lives.

How do we know God is gracious?

God is gracious and slow to anger (Psalms 145:8). Our salvation is an act of God's grace (Ephesians 2:8, Titus 2:11), as is our sanctification (1 Corinthians 15:10)

Merciful means...

Merciful describes God's compassion to us. It includes God's forgiveness of our sins and His protection of us.

How do we know God is merciful?

God's mercy is seen in his dealings with the Hebrews from the time they left Egypt. Even though they failed to keep His covenant, He forgave them and supplied their needs (Deuteronomy 4:31). God's mercy is without limit (Psalms 103:17)

What significance does God's love, goodness, graciousness, and mercy have for us?

If it were not for God's love, then we would have no hope of salvation (John 3:16). But because of His unconditional love for us, there is nothing we can do to cause God to love us any more or less. We also know that God has our best interests at heart. There is nothing that can separate us from God's love (Romans 8:38-39).

Trustworthy / Truthful / Immutable

Trustworthy means...

Trustworthy means God keeps His promises. Another word for this is faithful.

How do we know God is trustworthy?

Deuteronomy 7:9 says that God keeps His covenants. Psalms 89:1 says God is faithful. Sometimes we see the fulfilling of God's promises. At other times it is by faith we believe He will (i.e. Abraham's faith).

Truthful means...

Truthful means God does not lie.

How do we know God is truthful?

Hebrews 6:18 and Titus 1:2 says that it is impossible for God to lie. John 3:33 says that God is true. Numbers 23:19 says He is immutable.

Immutable means...

Immutable or unchanging means God has always been and will always be the same. No aspect of His character or nature is subject to change. Even though this is more an aspect of His deity, its significance to us is seen also in His character.

How do we know God is immutable?

James 1:17 says that God does not change. (Malachi 3:6, Psalms 102:25-27)

What significance does God's trustworthiness, truthfulness, and immutability have for us?

The basis of our relationship with God is His promises to us. He promises never to leave us or abandon us and to give us eternal life (Psalms 37:28, 1 John 2:25). Because we know God keeps His promises, we can be assured of these things (Lamentations 3:21-24).

God does not change (Malachi 3:6), meaning He has always been and will always be like He is now. This applies not only to His divine nature, but to His character. When God makes a promise, He keeps it.

Creator And Sustainer Of All

How do we know God created everything?

The Bible says that everything that exists was created by God (Genesis 1:1). The earth and the universe were created by God (Isaiah 48:13, Colossians 1:16). God transcends creation - He is not a part of creation but above it.

How do we know God sustains everything? (What does this mean?)

God not only created everything, but He sustains everything (Job 12:10, Hebrews 1:3, Colossians 1:16-17, Acts 17:28, Daniel 5:23, Isaiah 45:18). God didn't just start the world and let it run down like a top. If God were to cease to exist, so would the universe. God is involved (immanence) in His creation (Isaiah 57:15)

What significance does that have for us?

Our life is in God's hands. He is in control of everything. We need not worry about what will happen to us when we trust in Him (Philippians 1:6). He knows our weaknesses.

Jesus: God The Son

How do we know Jesus is fully God?

John 1:1-14 says that the Word, Jesus, was God. Jesus made many claims to be God during His ministry years on earth. His claims were not that He was another god, but that He was the God (John 12:45, 8:56-59, 10:30-33). His claims were backed-up by His works (the signs He did), the Old Testament scriptures, and by God Himself (John 8:32-46).

Jesus is eternal (John 8:58), all-powerful (John 5:21, Colossians 1:15-16), everywhere-present (Matthew 18:20, 28:20), all-knowing (John 16:30), was sinless (2 Corinthians 5:21), and accepted worship (Matthew 28:17). The Bible also directly calls Jesus God (John 1:1, 12:45, 1 Timothy 3:16, Colossians 2:9, 2 Peter 1:1, Titus 2:13, Hebrews 1:6-9, 1 John 5:20, Revelation 1:8, 22:12-16, Romans 8:9, Philippians 2:5-7).

Jesus' birth was miraculous. He was conceived of the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:35) and born of the virgin Mary, the wife of Joseph.

How do we know Jesus is fully man?

Jesus had a body of flesh (1 Timothy 3:16, Hebrews 2:14, 1 John 4:2, 2 John 1:7), was born of a woman (Galatians 4:4), ate (Matthew 9:11), hungered and thirsted (Luke 4:1-2), felt-pain (Matthew 15:34, Luke 22:44), was tempted (Luke 4:1-13, Hebrews 4:15), became weary (John 4:6), suffered (Luke 22:44) and died on a cross (Romans 5:6).

Notes on some of Jesus' names:

Jesus (Greek Iesous) is the Greek form of the Hebrew name Joshua, Yeshua, or Hoshea, which means "Help of Yahweh" or "Yahweh is salvation".

Christ (Greek Christos) is Greek for the Hebrew word Messiah, which means Anointed One. In Old Testament times, priests and kings were anointed as a sign of official appointment to office and as a symbol of God's power on them. Jesus is the Anointed One (Acts 10:38), the Messiah foretold in the Old Testament. This refers to His office as Prophet (Isaiah 61:1, Luke 4:16-21, 24:19), Priest (Hebrews 4:4), and King (Revelation 19:16).

Jesus is called the Son of God (Luke 22:70-71, Matthew 16:16-17). This means He is of the same nature as God. He is God.

Jesus is called Son of Man (John 5:26-27). This emphasizes His human nature.

Jesus is called Lord (Greek kurios) in John 13:13. While this word can refer to anyone of a higher rank, when applied to Jesus it refers to His deity. The common translation of the Old Testament in Jesus' day was the Greek Septuagint, which translated the name of God as Lord (Adonay). The writers of the New Testament clearly were referring to Jesus' deity when they called Him Lord (Deuteronomy 10:17, Revelation 17:14, John 20:28). In the earliest New Testament manuscripts, whenever Jesus' name or His title "Lord" was written, it was abbreviated (i.e. JS or LD), just like the name of God was in the Old Testament (YHWH). The writers did this to make it clear that they thought Jesus was God. These abbreviations are known in scholarly circles as "holy names".

General References Showing Jesus Is God

Some scriptural basis for the deity of Jesus are not so obvious without a study of both the Old and New Testaments. While most of these use cross-referencing of passages between the Old and New Testaments, some use only the Old Testament to show that Jesus is God.

King & Lord: Who is Lord of lords?

The Law says that God is the Lord of all. Jesus is Lord of all, so Jesus is God (Deuteronomy 10:14-17, Revelation 17:14, Acts 2:36, Revelation 19:11-16, Daniel 2:47).

King & Lord: Every knee shall bow and every tongue confess to who?

Everyone will worship Yahweh / Jesus (Isaiah 45:21-24, Philippians 2:10-11).

King & Lord: Who shall be king over all the earth?

Yahweh / Jesus will be king over all the earth (Zechariah 14:9, Daniel 7:13-14, Matthew 25:31-34, Revelation 11:15, 1 Timothy 1:17).

Here is a prophecy of a descendant of David who is called YAHWEH OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. Jesus is that descendant (Jeremiah 23:5-6, Isaiah 11:1-5, 1 Corinthians 1:30).

King & Lord: Who is the only Savior?

The Old Testament says that God is the only God and Savior, Every knee will bow to Him. In Him are righteousness and strength. Compare with what the New Testament says about Jesus. Yahweh / Jesus the only savior (Hosea 13:4, Isaiah 43:11, Hosea 1:7, Isaiah 45:15,21-22, John 4:42, Titus 2:13, Titus 3:4-6, 2 Peter 1:1).

King & Lord: In whom is our righteousness?

Our righteousness is in Yahweh / Jesus (Isaiah 45:24-25, 54:17, 1 Corinthians 1:30)

King & Lord: In what name is salvation?

Salvation is in the name of Yahweh / Jesus (Joel 2:32, Acts 4:10-12, 1 Corinthians 1:2, Titus 1:3,4).

The name Jesus (Jesu) is the Greek form of Joshua or "Yeshua" which means `Help of Yahweh' or `Yahweh is Savior'.

King & Lord: Who is above all?

Yahweh / Jesus above all (Psalms 97:9, Romans 9:5, Acts 10:36, John 3:31, 6:38, 8:23) In the John 3:31 verse, John the Baptist is speaking of Jesus.

Glory: Whose glory did Isaiah see?

Isaiah sees the glory of Jesus (Isaiah 6:1-5, John 12:41 "his" refers to Jesus - see verse 36.)

The glory of God and the glory of Jesus (Isaiah 42:8, 48:11, John 17:1,5, Matthew 16:27).

Glory: Who is the Lord of glory?

Yahweh / Jesus, the Lord of glory (Psalms 24:7-10, Mark 11:7-11, 1 Corinthians 2:8, James 2:1).

Glory: Who shall be our light in the end?

Yahweh / Jesus the Light (Isaiah 60:19-20, John 8:12, Revelation 21:23).

Holy / Righteous One: Who is the holy and righteous one?

Yahweh / Jesus the only holy and righteous one (1 Samuel 2:2, Acts 3:13-15).

Shepherd: Who is the Shepherd of the sheep?

Yahweh / Jesus, the Shepherd of the sheep, to come with reward (Isaiah 40:10-11, Revelation 22:12-13, 1 Peter 5:4, Psalms 23:1, 80:1, Ezekiel 34:23, John 10:11, Hebrews 13:20).

Birth Prophecies: The way is being prepared for whom?

John the Baptist prepared the way for Jesus. John said so himself. In the Old Testament, the prophecy shows John preparing the way for Yahweh God (Isaiah 40:3, Malachi 3:1, Matthew 3:3, Mark 1:2-3, Mark 1:7-8, Luke 3:4, John 1:29-34).

In the familiar prophecy of the naming of Jesus, Jesus is called Immanuel ("God With Us") (Isaiah 7:14, Genesis 3:15, Jeremiah 31:22, Matthew 1:23).

In this prophecy of Jesus' birth, Jesus is called God (Isaiah 9:6, Psalms 72:18).

Birth Prophecies: Who comes in the spirit to the temple?

Jesus comes in the Spirit to the temple (Malachi 3:1, Luke 2:27-32).

Redeemer / Savior: Who redeems God's people?

God Himself will redeem Israel from all of their sins and the Messiah will suffer and pay the price for our sins. So the Messiah is God (Isaiah 52:13-53:12, Psalms 22:1-31, Psalms 130:3-4,7-8, Acts 20:28, Revelation 5:9). When someone redeems another, he pays from what is his.

Truth and Life: Who is the truth and life?

Yahweh / Jesus, the Truth and the Life (Deuteronomy 30:20, Jeremiah 10:10, John 14:6, Colossians 3:4, 1 John 5:11-12, Revelation 3:7).

To Be Trusted In: Who is a Rock causing men to stumble and be offended?

The New Testament terminology that calls Jesus a Rock that causes men to stumble and an offence and a snare, is originally used in the Old Testament of God (Psalms 18:2, Isaiah 8:11-15, 1 Peter 2:4-8, Isaiah 44:6-8, 1 Corinthians 10:4, Ephesians 2:20).

To Be Trusted In: In whom are we to trust?

Those who call on God will not be ashamed (God will not let them down) (Isaiah 28:16, Isaiah 49:23, Jeremiah 17:5,7, Joel 2:27, John 3:36, Romans 10:9-13, 1 Peter 3:15).

Source Of Strength: Who gives us strength?

The Lord God and Jesus give strength to the weak (Isaiah 40:28-29, Philippians 4:13).

Sanctifies: Who makes us holy?

The Lord God and Jesus sanctify us (Jude 1, Hebrews 2:11).

Unchanging: Who never changes?

Yahweh / Jesus unchanging (Malachi 3:6, Psalms 102:27, James 1:17, Hebrews 1:12, Hebrews 13:8, Exodus 3:14, John 8:58). "I Am" signifies eternal timeless existence.

Inspiration: Who speaks through people?

Both God the Father and Jesus Christ speak through people (Hebrews 1:1, 2 Corinthians 13:3).

Indwelling

God the Father and Jesus Christ dwell in believers (Ephesians 2:22, Colossians 1:27).

Last Days: Who will stand on the earth in the last days and be seen by all men?

In Acts, after Jesus ascended back into heaven from the Mount of Olives, an angel appeared saying that Jesus would come back in the same way. The Old Testament states the same thing, saying that that person will be Yahweh God (Zechariah 14:3-5, Job 19:25-27, Acts 1:11, Matthew 25:31, Matthew 24:30, Mark 13:26, Luke 21:27, Zechariah 12:10, Revelation 1:7).

Last Days: Who shall judge our works?

God / Jesus to judge every work, good or evil (Ecclesiastes 12:14, 1 Corinthians 4:5, 2 Corinthians 5:10, 2 Timothy 4:1, Psalm 62:12, Matthew 16:27).

Last Days: Who shall judge the nations?

Yahweh / Jesus to judge the nations (Joel 3:12, John 5:27, Matthew 25:31-34).

General New Testament claims

What does the New Testament claim about Jesus' deity?

Tempting Jesus is tempting God (Luke 4:9-12, 1 Corinthians 10:9, Numbers 21:5-7).

John states that Jesus (the Word) is THE God (John 1:1-2,14).

Jesus is the visible form of God, manifested in the flesh (John 1:18, 12:45, 14:8-9, 1 Timothy 3:16).

Jesus is to be honored as God (John 5:23).

Thomas' confession (John 20:28).

What God/Jesus has done (Luke 8:38-39).

God's fullness is in Jesus. Every attribute of God is found in Jesus (Colossians 1:19, 2:9).

Jesus is equal with God (Philippians 2:5-7). That he emptied himself to become a man shows His preexistence.

Jesus, the Savior God (2 Peter 1:1, Titus 1:3, Titus 2:13).

Jesus, God's Son is called God (Hebrews 1:6,8-9).

Jesus is the true God (1 John 5:20).

God/Jesus is called First and Last, Alpha and Omega, the Almighty (Isaiah 41:4, 44:6, 48:12-16, Revelation 1:8,17, 2:8, 21:6-7, 22:12-16). In the Isaiah 48:12-16 passage, the One who is the first and last, who laid the foundation of the earth, has been sent by Yahweh and the Holy Spirit. A clear reference to Jesus in the Old Testament.

Jesus is God (John 4:13-14, Revelation 21:6-7, Ephesians 5:5, Romans 9:5).

God's Spirit and Jesus' Spirit are the same (Acts 16:6-7,10, Romans 8:9, 2 Corinthians 3:3, Ephesians 3:14-17, Philippians 1:19, 1 Peter 1:11).

God and Jesus are the Head (Ephesians 1:10, 4:15, Colossians 1:18, 2:10).

Jesus gives us the right to become God's children (John 1:12).

Eternal life comes from Jesus (John 10:28).

Jesus' own claims

What did Jesus claim about Himself? He claimed to be equal with God (John 10:30-33, 12:45, 16:15, 14:8-9, 5:16-24, 8:24,28,56-59, 18:5-8, Exodus 3:14, Isaiah 48:12,16)

In John 10:30-33, if the Jews misunderstood Jesus' claim, why didn't Jesus correct them? The truth is Jesus never corrected or rebuked someone for calling him God.

The word "he" after "I am" in 8:24, 8:28, 18:5 and 18:8 does not appear in the Greek, showing this to be the same type of claim as in verses 56-58. This is in reference to the Exodus and Isaiah passages where God declares His name to Moses, `I AM THAT I AM', which is the meaning of Yahweh. As in John 8:58, there is an indistinction between the present and the past, indicating timeless (eternal) existence.

Jesus claimed to be the Messiah (John 4:25-26).

He also claimed to be the only way to God (John 14:6).

Claims to be able to send prophets and God's Spirit (Matthew 23:34, John 20:22). Prophets are only sent by God. (2 Peter 1:20-21, John 15:26, 16:7).

Jesus called Himself the Bread of Life (John 6:35,48,51), the Light of the world (John 8:12, 9:5, 12:46), not of this world (John 6:38, 8:23, 8:42), the Gate of the sheep (John 10:7,9), the Good Shepherd (John 10:11,14), the Son of God (John 10:36-37), the Resurrection and the Life (John 11:25), Lord (John 13:13), the Way, Truth, and Life (John 14:6), the Vine (John 15:1-5), King (John 18:37), and the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end (Revelation 1:8, 17, 21:6, 22:13-16).

Jesus is sinless

The following references show that unlike us, Jesus did not sin.

Jesus was righteous (Isaiah 53:9,11).

Jesus was innocent (Matthew 27:3-4).

Jesus was spotless (1 Peter 1:19, Hebrews 7:26, 9:14).

Jesus was sinless (Luke 23:41, John 8:42,46, 2 Corinthians 5:21, 1 Peter 2:22, 1 John 3:5, Hebrews 4:15).

Jesus was and is to be worshipped

The scriptures say that only God is to be worshipped. Jesus even said so Himself (Exodus 34:14, Matthew 4:10, Luke 4:8).

Righteous men and angels refused to be worshiped (Revelation 19:10, Acts 14:11-15).

If Jesus knew this, why did He allow others to worship Him? (Matthew 2:2, 11, 9:18, 14:33, 15:25, 20:20, 28:9, 17-19, Mark 3:11, 5:6, Luke 5:8, 24:52, John 9:38).

It can only be if Jesus is God. The Bible also says everyone will worship Him in the future (Nehemiah 9:6, Philippians 2:10-11, Hebrews 1:6, Psalms 148:2, Revelation 5:11-14).

Jesus wants us to honor Him in the same way as the Father (John 5:23).

Jesus was prayed to (Acts 1:21,24, 7:59).

Jesus is omnipotent (all powerful)

Omnipotence means all-powerful. This is an attribute that only God has. Jesus is God because He is omnipotent (1 Samuel 2:6, Matthew 8:3, 8:16, 10:1, 12:13, 12:28-29, 28:18, Luke 5:17, John 5:21, 10:17-18, 28, 11:25, 17:1-2, 1 Corinthians 1:24, Philippians 3:20-21, Colossians 1:15-19, 1 Timothy 6:13-16, Hebrews 1:2-3, Revelation 1:8, 22:12-16). (The word "power", in some translations in Matthew 28:18, refers to Jesus' authority.)

The miracles of Jesus are signs of His omnipotence (John 2:1-11, 6:5-15, 19-21, 11:38-44, Luke 7:18-23, Psalms 146:5-8, Isaiah 29:18-19, 10:20-21, Matthew 8:23-27, Mark 4:35-5:1, Psalms 107:23-32, 89:8-9, Matthew 9:25, Luke 7:14-15, Mark 5:11-15, Luke 4:38-41, John 5:19, Matthew 21:19, John 5:36, 10:25, 38, 20:30-31). References such as Luke 7:18-23, show divine attributes (i.e. creator, source of life, sovereignty, etc) which would be a sign to those who knew the scriptures.)

Jesus is omnipresent (present everywhere)

Omnipresent means everywhere-present. God is everywhere (not to be confused with God is everything). Jesus is God because He is omnipresent (Matthew 18:20, 28:17-20, Ephesians 1:20-23, Jeremiah 23:24).

Jesus is omniscient (all knowing)

Omniscient means all-knowing. Jesus is God because He is all-knowing (Matthew 16:21, 24:25, John 12:33, 13:1, Matthew 26:46, Luke 22:10-13, John 1:43-50, 2:24-25, 2 Chronicles 6:30, John 4:16-19,29, 6:64-66, 16:30, 21:17, Acts 1:21,24, Colossians 2:2-3, Revelation 2:18, 23, Matthew 11:27, Luke 6:8, 11:17).

Jesus is preexistent (eternal)

Preexistence means existing before anything was created; eternal. Jesus is preexistent (Isaiah 9:6, Micah 5:2, Job 19:25, John 1:1,15,29-30, 8:56-58, 17:5, 17:24, Philippians 2:5-7, Colossians 1:13-17, Hebrews 1:2-3, 1 John 1:1-2, Revelation 1:4-8, 17, 2:8, 22:12-16, 1 Peter 1:11).

Jesus did not originate through the human line of Adam but came from heaven (John 3:13,31, 6:62, 17:5, 1 Corinthians 15:47).

Since Jesus is the physical form of God, and no one has seen God except the Son, those appearances of God in physical form in the Old Testament are the pre-incarnate Jesus (John 1:18).

Theophanies (Old Testament appearances of Jesus)

Theophanies are pre-incarnate appearances of Jesus Christ in the Old Testament.

No one can see God and live (Exodus 33:20, 1 Timothy 6:16).

Therefore, the appearances of God in the Old Testament must be of Jesus. A theophany often takes the form of the Angel of Yahweh (Galatians 4:14).

Abraham's three visitors (Genesis 18:1-19:2). Abraham saw what appear to be three men. Two were angels (vs. 19:1), the other was Yahweh. While Lot calls the two angels "lords", Abraham ignores them and speaks only to God, calling him "Lord".

Appeared to Hagar (Genesis 16:7-13).

Appears to Jacob (Genesis 28:12-14, 32:24-30).

Moses sees the back of God (Exodus 33:18-23, Numbers 12:4-8).

Moses, Aaron, and 72 others see God (Exodus 24:9-11).

Joshua worships (Joshua 5:14).

Gideon's Angel (Judges 6:21-23).

Appears to Manoah and his wife (Judges 13:18-22, Isaiah 9:6, Psalms 72:18).

Isaiah's vision (Isaiah 6:1-5, John 12:41). In the John verse, "his" refers to Jesus - see verse 36.

In the fiery furnace (Daniel 3:25).

In Malachi, in a prophecy of Jesus, He is called the messenger or Angel of the Covenant (Malachi 3:1). In the Hebrew, the word translated "angel" is the same word as "messenger".

Jesus forgives sins

Only the person offended can forgive. Sins are against God. Jesus can forgive sin because He is God (Jeremiah 31:34, Acts 5:31, Matthew 9:2-8, Mark 2:5-12, Luke 7:47-50, Colossians 3:13).

His Death And Resurrection

His death & resurrection was prophesied

God's "Holy One" not to decay in the grave (Psalms 16:10, Acts 2:23-32).

The Messiah to have a grave with the wicked, but will prolong his days afterwards (Isaiah 53:9-12).

The Anointed One (Messiah) to be "cut off". If the Messiah is to reign forever, then He must be resurrected (Daniel 9:26).

Jesus foretells his own death and resurrection (Matthew 16:21, 20:19, 26:32, Mark 9:9, John 2:19).

His death was necessary

The following passages show that sin separates us from God and results in death (Psalms 66:18, Proverbs 11:19, Isaiah 59:2, Ezekiel 18:4, Romans 5:12, 6:23, James 1:15).

Jesus died to pay the penalty for our sin. His death was a guilt offering. He died in our place (Isaiah 53:5,8,10-12).

While we were helpless, He died to save us from God's wrath (Romans 5:6-9).

He died so that we might be redeemed (bought back) (Revelation 5:9).

He died and rose so that He would be the Lord of both the dead and the living (Romans 14:9).

He died so that we should live for Him (2 Corinthians 5:15).

He died so that we could be reconciled to God (Colossians 1:21-22).

The fact of His death

Jesus' death was on a cross, not a `torture stake' (John 20:25). Plural nails indicates arms were separated.

The death of Jesus (Matthew 27:50, Mark 15:37, Luke 23:46, John 19:30).

Jesus' death was real, not a swoon (John 19:33-34).

Jesus was heavily wrapped in linen with spices (John 19:39-40).

His resurrection was necessary

He died and rose so that He would be the Lord of both the dead and the living (Romans 14:9).

The resurrection is key to our salvation and eternal life (1 Corinthians 15:12-23, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14, Psalms 16:10, John 14:19).

Jesus rose so that He would be an everlasting high priest (Hebrews 7:22-25, Psalms 110:4).

Jesus Christ is to reign forever (John 12:34, Daniel 7:13-14, Luke 1:33, Hebrews 1:8, Revelation 11:15).

Because Jesus rose, we who trust in Him will also rise (John 11:25, 14:19).

The fact of His resurrection

Jesus' resurrection was physical - bodily (Matthew 28:6, Mark 16:6, Luke 24:6, 39).

If Jesus' body was not raised, then where did it go? It wasn't in the tomb (Luke 24:1-3, John 20:1-9).

Jesus was seen by over five hundred people at one time after the resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:5-8, Acts 1:3).

Messianic Prophecies

The Messiah's lineage

Messiah (Hebrew) = Christ (Greek) = Anointed One (English)

The first messianic prophecy occurs in the garden of Eden just after the fall. God refers to the seed (singular) of the woman that will crush the head of the serpent (Genesis 3:15, Matthew 1:18-25, Luke 1:26-38).

God promises Abraham that all nations of the earth will be blessed through him (Genesis 22:18, Matthew 1:1, Luke 3:34, Galatians 3:7,14-29)

God promises that this blessing will come through Isaac, the son of Abraham (Genesis 17:19,21, 21:12, Matthew 1:2, Luke 3:34).

God promises that this blessing will come through Jacob (Israel), the son of Isaac (Genesis 28:12-14, Matthew 1:2, Luke 3:34).

Balaam's prophecy of the Star from Jacob (Numbers 24:17, Revelation 22:16).

When Jacob blesses his sons, he says that the rulers of Israel will come through Judah (Genesis 49:8, Revelation 5:5).

Isaiah prophesied that the Messiah will come from the line of Jesse, David's father, and will be called a Branch (Isaiah 11:1-5, Matthew 1:6)

God promises David that Israel's rulers will come through his son, Solomon (2 Samuel 7:12-16, Matthew 1:6).

Jeconiah's line, descended from Solomon, will be cut off. The Messiah cannot come through Jeconiah. The Messiah comes from the root ("stump") in Isaiah (Jeremiah 22:28-30, Isaiah 11:1-5). Because the line of the kings is cut off, Jesus human lineage comes out of the main stem of Jesse, from the roots. It is not a continuation of an existing `twig'.

The Messiah's birth

The Messiah is to be born of a virgin, of a woman with whom a man has not had sexual relations. If "virgin" meant just a young woman, what would make this unusual enough to call it a sign? (Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 1:18-25, Luke 1:26-38).

The Messiah will come from Bethlehem (Micah 5:2, Luke 2:1-7, Matthew 2:1-6).

The Messiah will be preceded by a messenger (Isaiah 40:3, Malachi 3:1, Matthew 3:11-12, Mark 1:1-8, Luke 1:17, 1:76). The messenger was John the Baptist.

The Messiah's nature

This passage refers to the Son of God (Proverbs 30:4, Matthew 3:13-17, 17:1-5, Mark 1:9-11, Luke 3:21-22).

Daniel prophecies the worship of a future ruler of Israel. The ruler to be God (Daniel 7:13-14, Matthew 24:30, Micah 4:7, Zechariah 14:9).

The Branch is called Yahweh (Jeremiah 23:5-6, Isaiah 11:1-5, 1 Corinthians 1:30).

Moses' prophecy of a Prophet from God (Deuteronomy 18:18, 34:10, John 8:26, 28, 12:50, 14:10). God spoke the words in Deuteronomy 18:18 to Moses. But what other prophet in Israel was like Moses?

David refers to two Lords (Psalms 110:1, Luke 22:69, Acts 7:55).

The Messiah will be a priest in the order of Melchizedek (not of the line of Levi) (Psalms 110:1-4, Hebrews 5:1-10, 7:1-8:13).

The Messiah's (Anointed One) body will not decay in the grave (Psalms 16:10).

God's Son will rule the earth (Psalms 2:1-12).

God will stand on the earth and will be seen by the world (Job 19:25-27, Zechariah 14:4, Isaiah 52:8, Acts 1:11).

The Messiah is pre-existent - was never created (Micah 5:2).

The Messiah's purpose

The Messiah will die (be cut off) for others (Daniel 9:24-26, Matthew 16:21, 27:50, Mark 8:31, 15:37, Luke 18:31-33, 23:46, John 12:23-36, 19:30)

The Messiah will suffer and pay the price for our sins (Isaiah 52:13-53:12, Psalms 22:1-31).

A new covenant will be made with Israel, unlike the old one (Jeremiah 31:31-34).

God Himself will redeem Israel from all of their sins (Psalms 130:3-4, 130:7-8).

The Messiah to bring back Judah and Israel and bring salvation to the world (Isaiah 49:1-13, John 1:1-9, 8:12, Isaiah 50:4-10, John 1:1-9, John 8:12). `Israel' in Isaiah 49:3 refers to a person who represents Israel. It does not refer to the nation of Israel because the person Yahweh is talking to is going to restore Israel - verse 6. `Nation' - singular - in verse 7 refers to Judah/Israel which still despises Jesus the Messiah. The next chapter shows the Messiah being despised...

General Messianic Prophecy References

The land of Galilee to be honored. (Jesus lived and ministered in Galilee.) (Isaiah 9:1-7, Genesis 22:18, Matthew 2:22-23, Luke 2:39).

God was pierced (Zechariah 12:10, John 19:34-37).

Joshua the son of Josedech was symbolic of the Branch. (Joshua - Yeshua - is the Hebrew name from which the Greek name Jesus is derived from.) The Branch to be a ruler-priest (Zechariah 3:8, 6:11-13).

The price that God was valued at (Zechariah 11:12-13, Matthew 26:15, Matthew 27:3-10).

The Messiah comes riding on a colt (Zechariah 9:9-10, Matthew 21:1-11, Mark 11:1-11, Luke 19:28-40, John 12:12-16).

The bones of the Messiah will not be broken (Psalms 34:19-20, John 19:33-36).

He was called out of Egypt (Hosea 11:1, Matthew 2:13-15).

The Holy Spirit Is God

How do we know the Holy Spirit is God?

The Holy Spirit is equated with God in Acts 5:3-4, 28:25, 1 Corinthians 6:19, 3:16-17, and 2 Corinthians 3:17-18. He shares in the divine nature (Psalms 139:7-8, 1 Corinthians 2:10). The Holy Spirit of God is also Jesus' Holy Spirit (Romans 8:9) which shows the unity of the Three-In-One. The Holy Spirit is not a force, but a Person (1 Corinthians 12:11, Romans 8:17, Acts 28:25, Ephesians 4:30).

What relation does the Holy Spirit have towards man?

The Holy Spirit convicts men of sin (John 16:7-8), regenerates (John 3:5, Titus 3:5) and indwells us (Ezekiel 36:26-27, Romans 8:9, 1 Corinthians 6:19) teaches (John 14:26), commissions (Acts 13:4), commands (Acts 8:29), loves (Romans 15:30), comforts (helps) (John 14:26, 15:26), guides (John 16:13), and intercedes (Romans 8:26-27). The Holy Spirit gives each of us gifts for building up the church so that we can glorify God (Galatians 5:22-23, John 15:8).

More references on The Holy Spirit: Relationship To Us

The Holy Spirit is a Person

The Spirit of God is mentioned in scripture not as an impersonal force but as a Person.

In this passage, Isaiah makes a distinction between the Lord God and His Spirit (Isaiah 48:16).

The Holy Spirit speaks (Acts 13:2, 21:11, 28:25).

The Holy Spirit can be grieved (Isaiah 63:10, Ephesians 4:30).

The Holy Spirit can be lied to because He is God (Acts 5:3-4).

The conception of Jesus was by the Holy Spirit. Only another person can make a woman pregnant (Matthew 1:18,20)

Jesus refers to the Holy Spirit as a person (John 14:16-17, 15:26).

General References On The Holy Spirit

Our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit. This shows that the Holy Spirit is God (1 Corinthians 6:19, 3:16-17).

The Holy Spirit reveals the truth about Jesus. The Holy Spirit is God (1 Corinthians 12:3).

Paul says that the Lord is the Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 3:17-18).

Paul also says that the Holy Spirit is of Jesus (Romans 8:9, Galatians 4:6, Philippians 1:19)

The Holy Spirit is omnipresent (Psalms 139:7-8).

The Holy Spirit is omniscient (1 Corinthians 2:10, John 2:10, 1 John 2:20,27)

The Holy Spirit is eternal (Hebrews 9:14).

The Holy Spirit is omnipotent (Job 26:13, Luke 1:35-37)

The Holy Spirit is sovereign (1 Corinthians 12:11).

His Relationship To Us

All believers have the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:9).

The Holy Spirit lives in the hearts of believers (Galatians 4:6).

We know that we live in Jesus and He in us by the testimony of the Holy Spirit (1 John 4:13, 3:24, Romans 8:16).

The Holy Spirit instructs us (Nehemiah 9:20, Luke 12:12, John 14:26, 1 Corinthians 2:13, 1 John 2:20-27)

The Holy Spirit guides us. We should follow His leading (Acts 13:4, Romans 8:14, 1 Corinthians 2:14)

The Holy Spirit enables us to live godly lives (Ezekiel 36:26-27, 2 Corinthians 3:18, Galatians 5:22, Ephesians 3:16, 2 Thessalonians 2:13, Titus 3:5, 1 Peter 1:2, 1 John 3:24).

The Holy Spirit convicts of sin (John 16:7-8).

The Holy Spirit comforts believers (John 14:17, 26, 15:26).

The Holy Spirit gives gifts to build up the body (church) (1 Corinthians 12:7-11).

The Holy Spirit gives us freedom (Romans 8;2, 2 Corinthians 3:17).

The Holy Spirit is a deposit that guarantees what God has promised will come, because God giving His Spirit to us is a sign of the Lord's return (Joel 2:28, 2 Corinthians 1:22, 5:5, Ephesians 1:13, 1 John 3:24).

The Holy Spirit empowered people before Pentecost (Matthew 10:19-20, John 20:22).

Man And Salvation

Man: Created In God's Image

How do we know man was created directly by God?

The account in Genesis 2:7 says God created man in His own image. The story of creation is not figurative but actually happened. Jesus considered this account as literally true (Mark 10:5-6). Man did not evolve.

Of all that God created, what makes man unique?

Man was created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26-27, 9:6). He was created to be like God. Man has a three-part nature: body, soul, and spirit. Man can have a personal relationship with God. The wording in Genesis 2:7 indicates that man was created in a different manner than everything else. God spoke everything else into existence, but man He personally formed out of the "dust" of the earth and breathed life into him.

What is the significance that man was created in God's image?

Man is not just another form of animal life - not even the highest form of animal life. While there are physical similarities, man is unique in that he was created with a soul, created in the image of God.

In what condition did God create man?

Man was created physically and morally good (Genesis 1:31, Ecclesiastes 7:29). Man was in fellowship with God.

Man's Fallen Nature

What is sin?

Sin is "missing the mark", not meeting God's standard of righteousness. It is choosing not to follow God's will (Isaiah 53:6). It is declaring (by words or deeds) independence from God.

Why do we sin?

We sin because Adam sinned in disobeying God (1 Corinthians 15:22), and we inherited our sin nature (instinct?) from him (Romans 5:12).

Who sins?

Everyone has a sin nature and this nature causes us to sin (Romans 3:23, Psalms 53:2-3, Ecclesiastes 7:20). This is because we are all descended from Adam. No man has never sinned.

What are the results of man's sin?

There are physical effects of sin. Since Adam sinned, the earth has been under a curse (Genesis 3:16-17). But the most significant effect of sin is that it separates us from God (Habakkuk 1:13). It breaks our relationship with God. This is spiritual death (Ephesians 2:1). It happened to Adam on the day that he disobeyed God (Genesis 2:16-17).

Does man have the capacity to become righteous before God?

We have no capacity to reform ourselves, or to make ourselves righteous in God's eyes. Our righteousness is not even close to God's righteousness (Isaiah 64:6) Even if we could live a sinless life from now on, we couldn't do anything about past sins or our sin nature. From a human perspective, our situation is hopeless (Job 14:4, Romans 7:18)

God's Solution

What does salvation mean?

Salvation means rescue (Psalms 71:2, 144:10). It is someone's intervention on the behalf of another to save them from a hopeless situation.

Why do we need to be saved?

Everyone is born a sinner and is therefore born spiritually dead (separated from God). Sin requires a perfect sacrifice as payment to restore man to God. Animal sacrifices are not capable of removing sin (Hebrews 10:4), and because man is not perfect (morally or physically), man's death is insufficient to meet the demand. Because of this, left to himself, man is doomed to spend eternity in hell. Since man cannot become righteous in God's eyes, man's situation is hopeless without God's intervention.

Why can't we save ourselves?

We cannot pay the penalty for our sin because it requires a perfect sacrifice (Exodus 12:5, 1 Peter 1:19) and we are not perfect. We cannot keep the law, therefore works of the law cannot save us (Romans 8:3).

On what is our salvation based?

Salvation is based entirely on God's grace on those who trust Him for their salvation (Ephesians 2:8-9). Works have no part in salvation (justification). This trust is believing that Jesus died in our place and His death alone is sufficient to restore us to a right relationship with God. (Jesus died for all - Acts 17:30, 1 Timothy 2:6, 1 John 2:2) It is not faith itself that saves us but God's grace through faith. If God did not choose to show grace to us, then all the faith in the world would not save us.

There is no other basis for salvation, for if there was some other way, there would have been no need for Jesus to die.

More references on Faith

What are we saved from?

We are saved from the penalty of sin (Romans 8:1), are being saved from the power of sin (Philippians 1:6) and will be saved from the presence of sin (Romans 13:11). The penalty of sin is death (separation from God) (Deuteronomy 24:16), and eternal conscious torment in hell (2 Thessalonians 1:8-9, Luke 16:24) Sin separates us from God.

What are we saved to?

We are saved to an eternal relationship (i.e. adoption as sons - John 1:12) with God that starts the moment we are saved (eternal life) and continues in heaven after our physical body dies. God adopts us as His children (Romans 8:15, Ephesians 1:5). The benefits of salvation include the indwelling of the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:9), peace with God (John 14:27, Romans 5:1), acceptance by God (Ephesians 1:6), access to God (Ephesians 2:18, 3:12), victory over sin / the world (1 John 4:4), and fellowship with God (1 John 1:3).

What part does each Person in the Trinity play in our salvation?

1 Peter 1:2 says God the Father choose us (election) to be saved, Jesus died for us in our place and intercedes for us, and the Holy Spirit sanctifies us (makes us holy).

It was the Father's will to save us. Before the world was created, God the Father chose to adopt us (Ephesians 1:3-5), and Jesus obeyed the Father's will (Luke 22:41-42) to accomplish the Father's will.

Our salvation is secured by Jesus' birth, life, death, resurrection, ascension, and advocacy:

1. Because Jesus was conceived of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 1:18-20), He did not inherit the sin nature common to man.

2. Jesus lived a perfect, sinless life; the life we could not live (2 Corinthians 5:21, 1 Peter 2:22). He fulfilled the law for us (Matthew 5:17).

3. Jesus died in our place, suffering our punishment for us on a cross (Isaiah 53:5, 2 Corinthians 5:21, 1 Peter 2:24, 3:18). Because He lived a perfect life, His sacrifice was perfect (Hebrews 10:14,18). We are justified (declared righteous) because of His death. Our sins are remitted because He shed His blood for them (Leviticus 17:11, Matthew 26:28).

4. Jesus' resurrection gives us hope. It is the assurance that Jesus is who He said He was, because God raised Him from the dead (Acts 3:15, Romans 1:4). If Jesus was only a man, He lied. God would not have honored His claims and He wouldn't have been able to raise Himself. Jesus' resurrection is essential to the truth of the gospel (1 Corinthians 15:12-19).

5. Jesus ascended to heaven, so that the Holy Spirit could be sent to us (John 16:7).

6. Jesus is now in heaven at the right hand of God the Father, acting as our advocate, our high priest (Romans 8:34, Hebrews 4:14, 7:25, 9:24, 1 John 2:1). He is preparing a place for us (John 14:3)

More references on Jesus' Death & Resurrection

The Holy Spirit also has a part in our salvation. He convicts us of sin (John 16:7-8), and regenerates us (John 3:5, Titus 3:5). The Holy Spirit sanctifies us (makes us holy) (Ezekiel 36:26-27, Romans 8:1-14, 15:16, Galatians 5:22-23). Sanctification is a process that continues until we die.

How can we be assured of our salvation? Can it be lost?

Salvation is a three-step process: justification, sanctification, and glorification, which happens after we die. Once we are justified, the process will carry on to completion, for it is God who accomplishes it (Philippians 1:6).

Salvation cannot be lost. There are several reasons that we can't lose our salvation:

1. Because works have no part in gaining salvation, they have no part in keeping it (Ephesians 2:8-9).

2. If you are saved, you already have eternal life (John 3:36, 1 John 5:11-13). If you could lose it, then it's not eternal.

3. You are saved because God chose you (Ephesians 1:4, 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14, John 6:44). God doesn't choose in error. He chose you, knowing every sin you would ever commit against Him. This choosing was to adopt you as His own child. There is no "unadoption" concept in the Bible (John 8:35-36).

4. You are saved by God's grace. God is keeping you saved (1 Peter 1:5, Jude 24). No one can snatch you from Jesus, including yourself (John 10:28-29).

5. The Holy Spirit is given as a guarantee of eternal life (Romans 8:16, 2 Corinthians 1:22, Ephesians 1:13, 1 John 2:27, 3:24, 1 John 4:13). The Holy Spirit is an internal witness and He also produces fruit in our lives.

6. Christ's work on the cross was finished - complete (Hebrews 10:12-14, John 19:30).

7. We have been identified with Jesus in His death (Romans 6:5-11). When He died, it is as if we died. Because He took our sin on himself, and took our condemnation by dying on the cross for our sin, our sin has already been paid for. We cannot be judged for the same sin because there is no double-jeopardy with God.

Doubts may arise, but if we are truly saved, doubts will not cause us to lose our salvation (2 Timothy 2:13, 1 John 3:19-20). Abraham is a good example of this. God made promises to Him, he was justified by faith (Genesis 15:6), had some lapses of faith later (Genesis 16:1-2, 17:17-18), but God still kept His promises to Him. We are justified not by our faith, but by God's grace through faith. If you have doubts, address them so you can be sure (2 Peter 1:10). Even the greatest Christians have doubts at times. Doubts will not cause you to lose salvation, for your faith is not in your faith, but in Jesus Christ.

"I can't remember the date I accepted Christ..." - No problem. Just because you forget your own birthday doesn't mean you were never born.

While spiritual fruit is an assurance (evidence) of salvation, lack of fruit does not necessarily mean one is not saved. There are lots of mulberry trees in Beatty, but they don't produce fruit like they should. Does that mean they are not really mulberry trees? No. They are real mulberry trees because they have the nature of a mulberry tree.

Fruit takes time to grow. The Holy Spirit produces fruit in us, but it doesn't happen all at once.

Will everyone be saved?

Matthew 7:13-14 says that many go the wide way to destruction and few go the narrow way to life. Jesus made exclusive claims to being the only way to the Father (John 14:6). Those who do not come to God through Him will not be saved (Mark 16:16).

General References On Sin And Temptation

What it is, and its origins

Sin is willfully disobeying God. It is doing what displeases Him. Temptation is what urges us to sin. Temptation does not separate us from God. Sin does.

God created man perfect, without a sin nature, but with freedom to choose to obey or disobey God (Genesis 2:16-17).

Adam's choice to disobey is what gave us our sin nature (Genesis 3:6, Romans 5:12).

Who sins?

Everybody sins. It's part of our nature (1 Kings 8:46).

We are sinful from birth (Psalms 51:5).

Nobody does good (by God's standard of "good") (Psalms 53:3, Ecclesiastes 7:20).

Compared to God's good, our "good" is like dirty rags (Isaiah 64:6).

All of us tend to not follow God but our own desires (Isaiah 53:6).

All have sinned (Romans 3:23).

Everybody is under sin. If one person was able to live a sinless life, that capacity would be in all of us, but nobody can live a sinless life, therefore God sent Jesus to die for us (Galatians 3:22).

Saying we never sin just makes us liars (1 John 1:8).

What are the results of sin?

Sin always separates us from God. This is spiritual death. It happened in the garden of Eden the same day that Adam disobeyed God (Genesis 2:16-17, 3:23-24).

The following passages show that sin separates us from God and results in death (Psalms 66:18, Proverbs 11:19, Isaiah 59:2, Ezekiel 18:4, Romans 5:12, 6:23, James 1:15).

Sin also hardens our heart which drives us farther from God. It prevents us from seeking God. That is why God takes the initiative in seeking us out (Hebrews 3:13).

Where do temptations come from?

Temptations come from three places:

The world: (the world view from sinful humanity as a whole) (1 John 2:15-17).

Our hearts: (our sinful desires) (Matthew 15:19, 1 Timothy 6:9, James 1:14-15, 4:1).

Satan: (our adversary) (Luke 22:31-32).

God may test us, but God does not tempt us to sin. Temptations try to weaken us, but testings are to strengthen us (James 1:13).

How should we respond to temptation?

Just because as believers we are saved and our sins are forgiven doesn't mean we can keep on sinning. We are commanded not to sin (John 5:14, 8:1-11, Romans 6:1-2, 1 Corinthians 15:34).

Jesus when tempted, countered with appropriate scripture. Here's a good reason to memorize scripture (Matthew 4:1-11).

Counter temptation with prayer. When Jesus taught His disciples how to pray, He included asking God to not lead us into temptation (i.e. to lead us away from situations where we might be tempted) (Matthew 6:13).

When Satan attacks, resist him. Don't give in (James 4:7).

General References On Salvation

God's love

The Bible tells us that the God who created the whole universe loves each and every one of us (John 3:16).

God did not create us on a whim; He created us for a purpose. That was to be with Him and to have a relationship with Him. This is spiritual life (John 10:10).

Man's sin

Man has a sin nature. This sin nature is found in everyone and causes everyone to sin (Romans 3:23).

Sin is choosing not to follow God's way. Every one of us has sinned and as a result, has become separated from God, for God is perfect and cannot look on sin. This separation from God is spiritual death (Habakkuk 1:13, Romans 6:23, Genesis 2:16-17). Adam was expelled from the garden on the same day that he ate the fruit, but he physically died over 900 years later. This shows that `death' refers more to separation from God, not physical death.

Everyone has sinned. No one is righteous in God's eyes (Job 4:17, Job 9:2, 14:4, 15:14, 25:4, Psalms 51:5, 53:2-3, 130:3, Ecclesiastes 7:20, Isaiah 53:6, 64:6, Romans 3:9,19-20,23, 7:18, Galatians 3:22, Ephesians 2:1, 1 John 1:8,10).

Unless a solution is found to man's sin problem, he will be lost and will spend eternity in hell.

God's solution

Man cannot reconcile himself to God because of his sin nature. Only God can do that.

Our sin nature has made us enemies to God. But God still loves us and does not want us to be lost (1 Timothy 2:3-4).

Because of His love for man, God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to earth to die in our place (Romans 5:8). This is the assurance of God's love toward us. Jesus died for us while we were still in sin.

After Jesus died, He rose from the dead, which verified the claims He made about Himself (1 Corinthians 15:3-6). When Paul wrote this, most of the people who saw Jesus after He was raised were still living, so the story could easily be verified.

Jesus is the only means of reconciliation with God (John 14:6).

What must we do?

Jesus is the only way to God; He is the mediator between God and us (1 Timothy 2:5-6).

God's solution is a gift. We must accept this gift and not try our own way (i.e. good works). Going our own way is what gave us our sin nature in the first place (Ephesians 2:8-9).

We accept this by believing that Jesus' death in our place is totally sufficient to reconcile us with God (Galatians 2:16,21, John 6:28-29).

If we refuse God's solution, there is no other (Hebrews 2:3, John 3:36). Anyone who trusts Jesus Christ for salvation has eternal life; not just in the future but now.

By accepting God's Son, God gives us eternal life with Him (1 John 5:11-13). Salvation is a knowable fact. There is no need to be in doubt as to your eternal security.

Is water baptism necessary for salvation?

Baptism was commanded by Christ in the "Great Commission" (Matthew 28:19-20).

Although it is commanded, baptism is not necessary for salvation. The thief who died on a cross next to Jesus believed in Jesus and didn't need to be baptized (Luke 23:39-43). The thief who trusted in Jesus did not have any opportunity to be baptized.

Paul was sent by Jesus to bring the gospel message to the gentiles, but he wasn't sent to baptize. If baptism is necessary, didn't Jesus forget something? (1 Corinthians 1:14-17). Paul was not present when Jesus gave the `great commission'.

Baptism follows salvation. It is only after believing that someone should be baptized (Acts 2:41, 18:8).

In this reference, the believers had received the Holy Spirit and were speaking in tongues before being baptized (Acts 10:44-48).

Other references

Jesus' open invitation (John 10:7-11).

The door is open, but it won't be forever (Luke 13:23-30).

We receive a new birth; from spiritual death to spiritual life (John 3:1-8).

We become children of God by believing in the name of God's Son (John 1:12).

If we sin, we don't lose our salvation. It is based on Jesus' faithfulness, not ours (2 Timothy 2:13).

We are saved to do good works. We don't do good works to become saved (Ephesians 2:10). `Created in Christ Jesus' refers to salvation.

All believers have the Holy Spirit who guarantees our salvation (Romans 8:9, 2 Corinthians 1:22).

Our sins are blotted out by God, not us (Isaiah 43:25, 44:22, 45:22).

Eternally secure because we are sons (John 8:35-36).

Examples of salvation (in general) by faith in God (Genesis 15:6, Daniel 6:23).

The End Times

Jesus' Second Coming

What do we mean by "personal" return?

Jesus' return will be physical and visible (Job 19:25-26, Matthew 24:30, Revelation 1:7), in the same way He ascended to heaven (Acts 1:9-11). It will not be an invisible "spiritual" return as some cults teach, as Jesus has never left us spiritually.

What do we mean by "imminent" return?

Jesus' second coming can happen at any time. He will come unexpectedly - like a thief in the night (Matthew 24:37-39, 1 Thessalonians 5:2,3, 2 Peter 3:10-12) He will come instantly (Matthew 24:27).

When will this happen?

No one knows when it will happen except God the Father (Matthew 24:36).

Why is Jesus coming back?

He is coming back for us (John 14:2-3). Jesus will come back to set up His earthly kingdom (Daniel 7:14) and to judge the nations (Matthew 25:31-32).

Why is this our hope?

Jesus will bring our reward with Him when He comes (Matthew 16:27, 1 Peter 5:4, Revelation 22:12).

When He appears, we will be like Him (Philippians 3:21, Colossians 3:4, 1 John 3:2).

The Resurrection

What is the resurrection?

The restoral of life to our dead bodies.

Jesus is called the "first fruits" of the resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:10, 23) because He was the first to be truly resurrected, never to die again. (Those who were resurrected before (i.e. Matthew 27:52-53) died again.) His resurrection was bodily (Matthew 28:9, John 20:25-28, Luke 24:41-43). It was also unique in that He raise Himself (John 10:17-18).

There are actually two resurrections mentioned in Revelation 20:4-6.

Who will be resurrected?

All will be resurrected, both the saved and unsaved (Daniel 12:2, John 5:28-29, Acts 24:15, Revelation 20:13).

What is the significance of Jesus' resurrection?

His resurrection is the basis of hope for our resurrection (John 11:25, 14:19, Romans 8:11, 1 Corinthians 15:20-22, 1 Thessalonians 4:14, 1 Peter 1:3).

What is the rapture?

Not everyone will die. Some will immediately be given glorified bodies (1 Corinthians 15:51-55, Philippians 3:21)

The Judgements

What happens after the resurrection?

Jesus will judge the nations, separating "the sheep from the goats" (Matthew 25:32, Acts 17:31). He will judge all people, both saved (living) and unsaved (dead) (Romans 14:10, 2 Timothy 4:1). Unbelievers will be judged according to their works (Revelation 20:13), which will not be sufficient to gain their salvation. Those who are not written in the book of life will be cast into hell (Revelation 20:11-15) where they will be in eternal conscious torment (Matthew 25:46, Revelation 14:10-11).

Believers will also be judged (2 Corinthians 5:10), but for rewards based on what we have done for Christ (1 Corinthians 3:11-15). This is the bema seat judgment Some of the rewards are crowns (1 Corinthians 9:25, 1 Thessalonians 2:19, 2 Timothy 4:8, James 1:12, 1 Peter 5:4). All believers will live eternally with God in heaven.

How should this affect our lives?

Knowing that we will be judged, we need to take thought to how we live (Mark 13:32-33). Believers cannot not lose salvation, but rewards can be lost.

The Church

General References On The Church

What is the church?

The church consists of all who have been saved by faith in Jesus Christ.

What is the purpose of the church?

The church is to glorify God (Ephesians 3:21), edify believers (Ephesians 4:11-12), and evangelize the world (Matthew 28:19-20).

The church is called the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:27), which signifies that Christ is manifested through us to each other and to the world (Ephesians 5:30). Jesus Christ is the head of the church (Ephesians 5:23, Colossians 1:18). Like a physical body, the members are to work together, each member caring for and building up the others under the direction of the head (Romans 12:5, Ephesians 4:13).

The church is also called a living temple (Ephesians 2:21), Christ being the foundation (1 Corinthians 3:11) and cornerstone (Ephesians 2:20) and each believer being a "living stone" (1 Peter 2:5). Just like everything in the Old Testament temple was holy, so we are to live holy lives.

The church is also called the bride of Christ (2 Corinthians 11:2, Revelation 19:7).

How is the church organized?

Because the head of the church is Christ, no man should have final authority as to the leading and teachings of the church (1 Corinthians 3:11). The leading of the church must be biblically-based.

An elder is a spiritual leader in the church, in charge of the spiritual direction of the church (1 Timothy 5:17). Elders are sometimes called bishops or overseers in the Bible. The qualifications for an elder are listed in 1 Timothy 3:2-6 and Titus 1:7.

The pastor is the head elder in the church. The word pastor means shepherd, which implies that his tasks are similar to a real shepherd.

"The tasks of a Near Eastern shepherd were: to watch for enemies trying to attack the sheep, to defend the sheep from attackers, to heal the wounded and sick sheep, to find and save lost or trapped sheep, to love them, sharing their lives and so earning their trust." ( Thayer's Greek Lexicon)

During World War II, a shepherd was a pilot who guided another pilot whose plane was partially disabled back to the base or carrier by flying alongside him to maintain visual contact." (from Online Bible lexicon)

A deacon handles the logistics of the church, such as caring for the poor, handling church business, etc. (Acts 6:1-4). Deacons are sometimes called ministers or servants.

The office of apostle ended when the last of the original apostles died. This is because one of the qualification of an apostle is to be an eyewitness not only of Jesus during the 40 day period between His resurrection and His ascension to heaven (Acts 1:21-26, John 15:27) but also of His life on earth before He died. An apostle is means one who is sent. Paul's apostleship was unusual because he saw Jesus later (1 Corinthians 9:1, 15:8) Unlike elders and deacons, there are no instructions on how to become an apostle.

The church does not have priests. All believers are priests and have direct access to God so the church doesn't need a separate office of priest (1 Peter 2:5,9).

Each believer has been given a gift by the Holy Spirit. These gifts are not to be used for personal profit but to build up the church (1 Corinthians 12:7, 14:12, 1 Peter 4:10).

Baptism

What is baptism?

Basically, to baptize means to immerse in water. Water baptism is a ceremonial washing. Greeks used the word for dyeing cloth.

What is its purpose or meaning?

Water baptism symbolizes union and identification with Christ . It is a public testimony symbolizing our dying to self and sin and living for Christ (Romans 6:3-6). It is not a 'sacrament' as there is no sacrament concept in the Bible.

John the Baptist baptized to repentance, meaning it symbolized the repentance on the part of the one being baptized (Matthew 3:11). But this is insufficient to save. One must come to faith in Jesus Christ (Acts 19:1-5, Romans 8:9).

According to James Montgomery Boice, when the word baptism is used in the Bible, it more often refers to the thing it symbolizes (our union with Christ and the permanent change that results) than the immersion (1 Corinthians 12:13). A text from a Greek poet and physician named Nicander, who lived about 200 years before Christ, contains a recipe for making pickles. He says to make a pickle, you first dip the vegetable in boiling water, then you baptize the vegetable in a solution. The dipping is temporary. The baptizing produces a permanent change. (Bible Study Magazine, James Montgomery Boice, May 1989, quoted in Online Bible Greek Lexicon, Strong's #907)

The word baptized in Mark 16:16 refers to our union with Christ. Intellectual acknowledgement is not enough. We must be united with Christ, which produces a permanent change, like the vegetable to the pickle. See John 1:33

(Even if Mark 16:16 refers to water baptism, the verse does not mention a lack of baptism will condemn someone.)

Who should be baptized?

All believers should be baptized (Matthew 28:19). Water baptism is not a requirement for salvation (Luke 23:39-43, 1 Corinthians 1:14-17), but it is commanded nonetheless.

The New Testament tells us through many examples that baptism should immediately follow faith (Acts 2:41, 18:8, 10:44-48). It is not for infants. Acts 17:31-34 is used to show baptism of infants, but no infants are mentioned. Instead, it says that the whole household believed (vs. 34), so it couldn't include infants.

The Lord's Supper

What is communion?

Communion, or the Lord's Supper, was instituted by Jesus. It symbolizes His punishment and death for us.

What is its purpose or meaning?

Communion is a way of remembering what it cost Jesus to save us (1 Corinthians 10:16, 11:23-26).

The bread symbolizes His body broken for us (Matthew 26:26) - the punishment we deserved.

The wine (juice) symbolizes His blood shed (Matthew 26:27-28) which was required to be forgiven of sin.

When we eat the Lord's Supper, we show that we recognize this symbolism and that have claimed Jesus' death as a substitute for our own.

Some denominations consider baptism and communion as `sacraments', or means of divine grace. The problem with this view is that it ties a work to grace, and the Bible does not mention water baptism as a means of grace.

Who should have communion?

Only believers in a right standing with God and who recognize the meaning of communion should share in communion (1 Corinthians 11:27-30).

How often should we have communion?

There is no scriptural direction as to when or how often to have communion, as long as it is done regularly. Occurrences in the early church were daily (Acts 2:46) and weekly (Acts 20:7). Since communion has its roots in the Passover, some churches have it yearly. The average, according to a recent poll, is quarterly. We have it on the first Sunday of each month.

Faith

What is faith?

Faith is more than just believing something is true. It is placing your trust in that something to the point where it affects your actions. It affects your world-view and therefore how you live. Everybody has faith in something.

Faith is not wishful thinking. It is not convincing yourself that something is true just because you want it to be true. Faith is not blind.

Faith in God is more than just believing that God exists, that He did certain things, or that He made certain promises to us. It is relying on God to fulfill those promises.

As an example of faith, God told Abram (Abraham) that He would make a great nation out of him and Abram acted on those promises (Genesis 12:1-4, 12:7, 13:14-18). God did not give any proof that he would keep his promise, but Abram trusted God anyway.

God told Abraham that a son would be born to him through which he would become a great nation and Abraham believed (Genesis 15:1-6, 17:15-19).

After Abraham's son Isaac was born, God told him to sacrifice him. Abraham still had faith in God's previous promises as shown by verses 5 and 8. He still o