BI-226
In order to fully understand a passage of Scripture we must determine the following seven points.
For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
2 Peter 1:21
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.
2 Timothy 3:16
For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men but, as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.
1 Thessalonians 2:13
Every word of God is pure...
Proverbs 30:5
Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth: comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
1 Corinthians 2:13
We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts.
2 Peter 1:19
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
Psalm 119:105
But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.
John 20:31
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Romans 10:17
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
Romans 1:16
...but the word of God is not bound.
2 Timothy 2:9
So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
Isaiah 55:11
Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
Matthew 24:35
SUPPLEMENTARY READING
John 6:53 His Words are spirit; Ephesians 6:17 Sword of the Spirit; 2 Peter 1:20 Interpretation; 2 Timothy 3:15 Make wise; 1 John 2:14 Overcome by; Luke 24:44 Must be fulfilled; Psalm 119:165 Love Law; 1 John 2:15 Perfected; 2 Corinthians 4:2 Handle word right.
There is only one true and Living God, eternally existing in three persons, or manifestations. The Father (Jehovah), the Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Ghost (Spirit of Truth or Comforter). These three in one and one in three, mysteriously correspond to man's spirit, soul, and body, who was made in the image and likeness of the Divine Godhead.
God is the omnipresent and unchangeable Great Spirit, the Almighty Creator of Heaven, earth, and all things therein, unto Whom is rightfully due all our love, worship, praise, and service. He is infinitely perfect in love, holiness, wisdom, and every other virtue. Yes, He is good, faithful, just and merciful-a Miracle Worker, the same yesterday, today, and forever.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
For thus saith the Lord that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the Lord; and there is none else...look unto me and be saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.
Isaiah 45:18, 22
And Jesus answered him, the first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; the Lord our God is one Lord...And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he.
Mark 12:29, 32
My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?
Psalm 42:2
For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.
1 John 5:7
He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love...And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
1 John 4:8, 16
Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
1 Timothy 1:17
For I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.
Malachi 3:6
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
James 1:17
men may know that thou, whose name alone is Jehovah, are the most high over all the earth.
Psalm 83:18
God is Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
John 4:24
And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.
Luke 1:35
Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature.
Colossians 1:15
And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
1 Timothy 3:16
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
John 1:1
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
1 John 1:7
The book of generation of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the son of Abraham...And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.
Matthew 1:1, 16
Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and for ever.
Hebrews 13:8
And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
Ephesians 4:30
Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.
Matthew 12:31
But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
John 14:26
Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.
Acts 2:33
And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
Matthew 3:16, 17
And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness...
Genesis 1:26
O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the Lord our maker.
Psalm 95:6
Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come before him: worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.
1 Chronicles 16:29
By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.
Hebrews 13:15
From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the Lord's name is to be praised.
Psalm 113:3
SUPPLEMENTARY READING
The oneness (unity) of the Father and the Son: Hebrews 1:2, 3; John 14:8, 9; Isaiah 7:14; John 10:30; Philippians 2:6; Exodus 3:14; John 8:58.
The Father and the Son Distinct: Matthew 27:46; Revelation 5:7; John 5:22; John 5:30; Mark 13:32; James 1:13; Hebrews 4:15; John 11:41; Ephesians 1:17.
The Deity of Christ: Isaiah 9:6; Revelation 1:7, 8; Acts 20:28; Titus 2:13; 1 John 5:20; Worshiped: Matthew 4:10; John 20:28; Matthew 14:33.
Father Son relationship: john 5:18; 1 Corinthians 11:3; 1 Corinthians 15:24-28; Hebrews 12:2; John 14:28.
The Lord Jesus Christ is the only Begotten Son of God, the Messiah of Israel, and the only Savior of all mankind.
In the meridian of time he was conceived of the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary in Bethlehem, grew up as a "normal" Jewish boy in Nazareth, lived a holy and sinless life, was baptized of John (His second cousin and forerunner) in the Jordan River, began to preach and teach the Kingdom of God at the age of 30, healed the sick, wrought all manner of miracles, and blessed little children.
After about 31/2 years He was rejected by His own, scourged under Pilate with 39 stripes for our healing, and crucified upon the cross as a final sacrifice for our sins; wherein His precious shed blood provided an atonement for all who receive Him into their hearts as their own personal Savior.
He died, tasting death for every believer, was buried in a certain tomb, but rose from the dead on the 3rd day, as He fore-said! After his bodily resurrection He appeared some dozen times to His disciples; and finally ascended into Heaven before the sight of over 500 witnesses. He is now at the right hand of the Father as Mediator, Intercessor, High Priest, and Advocate in behalf of all His followers, from whence He shall soon return to execute the consummation of the Ages.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father) full of grace and truth.
John 1:14
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
John 3:16
He first findeth is own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ...Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.
John 1:41, 49
Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
Acts 4:12
I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.
John 8:24
And he came up to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.
Luke 4:16
For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
Hebrews 4:15
Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth.
1 Peter 2:22
And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungered.
Matthew 4:2
And when the men of that place had knowledge of him, they sent out into all that country round about, and brought unto him all that were diseased; And besought him that they might only touch the hem of his garment: and as many as touched were made perfectly whole.
Matthew 14:35, 36
When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick.
Matthew 8:16
And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.
Matthew 8:26
He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.
John 1:11, 12
But they cried out, Away with him, away with him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar.
John 19:15
Then Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged him.
John 19:1
Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
1 Peter 2:24
Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.
Acts 2:22-24
Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as a lamb without blemish and without spot.
1 Peter 1:18, 19
For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures.
1 Corinthians 15:3
And he brought fine linen, and took him down, and wrapped him in the linen, and laid him in a sepulchre which was hewn out of a rock, and rolled a stone unto the door of the sepulchre.
Mark 15:46
And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.
1 Corinthians 15:4
Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.
Mark 16:9
After that, he was seen of James; than of all the apostles.
1 Corinthians 15:7
After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto the present, but some are fallen asleep.
1 Corinthians 15:6
And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.
Acts 4:33
And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel of every creature.
Mark 16:15
But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.
Acts 1:8, 9
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
John 14:3
Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
Hebrews 4:14
My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.
1 John 2:1
For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.
1 Timothy 2:5
For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
Matthew 24:27
And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
Luke 21:27
SUPPLEMENTARY READING
John 4:42 Savior; Matthew 1:18-25 Birth; Matthew 2:1-23 Childhood; Luke 3:21-23 Baptism; Luke 4:18-20 Identity claim; Luke 4:28-32 Persecution; Luke 7:11-16 Raise the dead; Luke 5:4-7 Miracle catch; Mark 10_13-16 Blessed children; Isaiah 53:3-11 Sufferings foretold; Romans 5:6 Died; Matthew 27:62-66 Tomb sealed and watched; Luke 24:15, 36 and 1 Corinthians 15:5 Appearances; Luke 24:46-53 Great Commission and Ascension; Acts 1:1-11 Ascension and promise of the Spirit.
Man was originally created in a state of innocence, but by his own transgression fell from that state, bringing upon the whole world total moral depravity. Consequently all men are degenerate sinners by nature; and because of their own sins are exposed to the righteous wrath of God, and subject to eternal punishment. Thus man is in desperate need of salvation as provided by the redemptive work of Christ.
God has made man a free moral agent, to choose between good and evil for himself; and has offered salvation on the terms of "whosoever will" meet the conditions o f repentance from all sin, turning unto God in humble confession, and exercising active faith and trust in and on the Lord Jesus Christ as personal Savior.
Thus man is forgiven, justified, and pardoned by God's grace and mercy extended through the merits of Christ. He also thus appropriates the "born-again" experience, and is passed from spiritual death unto spiritual life, which is regeneration by the Holy Ghost. He is changed into a new creature (baby) in Christ, and is adopted into the great family of God as a son (or daughter) of God, and an heir of eternal happiness in the Kingdom of God.
We will joyfully know when we are truly saved, for he that believeth hath the witness and assurance in himself. However, we must faithfully endure unto the end in obedience to God in order to be finally admitted into His presence. Restitution should be made where possible, as the Lord leads.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
THE FALL; SIN: INHERENT AND PERSONAL:
Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.
Romans 5:12
For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
1 Corinthians 15:22
All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
Isaiah 53:6
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.
Romans 3:23
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
1 John 1:8
THE CONDEMNATION OF SIN:
And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgement.
Hebrews 9:27
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Romans 6:23
And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
Matthew 10:28
SAVED BY GRACE AND MERCY:
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Ephesians 2:8, 9
That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
Titus 3:7
by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.
Titus 3:5
SALVATION IN CHRIST:
This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
1 Timothy 1:15
...him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.
John 6:37
But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.
John 1:12
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Romans 10:9, 10
He that hath the son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.
1 John 5:12
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
2 Corinthians 5:17
REPENTANCE AND CONFESSION:
...repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
Acts 20:21
And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men everywhere to repent.
Acts 17:30
Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Acts 2:38
The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
2 Peter 3:9
I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
Luke 13:3
Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
Isaiah 55:7
He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.
Proverbs 28:13
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1 John 1:9
FAITH AND BELIEVE:
...repentance from dead works and faith toward God.
Hebrews 6:1
And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
Acts 16:31
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
John 5:24
Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 5:1
He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
Mark 16:16
NEW BIRTH BY THE WORD AND THE SPIRIT:
Jesus answered and said unto him. Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God...Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
John 3:3, 5
That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word.
Ephesians 5:26
Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
James 1:18
Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
1 Peter 1:23
CHOOSE NOW:
And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were in the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.
Joshua 24:15
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
John 3:16
How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him.
Hebrews 2:3
For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
2 Corinthians 6:2
WE KNOW NOW:
Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
1 John 3:2
We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren...
1 John 3:14
But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
1 John 2:5
SECURITY:
Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
1 Peter 1:5
For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know in whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.
2 Timothy 1:12
Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy.
Jude 24
CHILDREN AND HEIRS:
According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestined us unto the adoption of children of Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will.
Ephesians 1:4, 5
And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
Romans 8:17
PERSECUTION:
And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended [backslide].
Mark 4:17
Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.
1 John 3:13
And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
Mark 13:13
IF WE CONTINUE ON:
If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister.
Colossians 1:23
But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto then end.
Hebrews 3:6
For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
Romans 8:13
Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shall be cut off.
Romans 11:22
And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the Lord searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever.
1 Chronicles 28:9
...The Lord is with you, while ye be with him; and if ye seek him, he will be found of you; but if ye forsake him, he will forsake you.
2 Chronicles 15:2
SUPPLEMENTARY READING
Genesis 1:26-31 Man created innocent; Genesis 3:1-19 Fall of man; Romans 5:14-18 Death in Adam, Life in Christ; Ecclesiastes 7:20-29, Romans 3:10 No man righteous; John 3:18, 36 Condemned; Hebrews 10:28-30 Punishment; 1 Corinthians 1:18 The Cross; 1 Peter 1:8, 9 Believe in Christ; Romans 10:13 Call, Matthew 7:13, 14 Two roads; Mark 8:36, 37 Worth of a soul; Isaiah 1:18 Sins made white; 1 John 5:13-19 Believers have life; Galatians 4:7 A son; John 15:18, 19 Hated by the world.