Introducing Bible Basics
Marcus Heaster et al
Introduction and Method of Study
The aim of the Bible Basics Introductory Studies is to enable you to systematically study the Bible for yourself, by yourself. At the end of the Studies, you will have a clear view of the basic Gospel, which Jesus taught. He commanded His disciples to preach the Gospel to the entire world, and to baptise believers by immersion in water - into His death and resurrection. We hope that by the end of your studies you will be in a position to decide to believe the Gospel and be baptized. At this stage, of course, you are just beginning. Pray, as best you can, for God to open up His word to your understanding. Tell Him about all the issues in your life and try to see how He is guiding you, through His word, seeking to bring you closer to Him.
There are 12 Studies in this introductory course. After this, there are more detailed lessons in the Bible Basics course. All these things are quite free of charge; we will not ask you for money.
We do truly care for you and want to help you towards a place in God's eternal Kingdom here on the earth, when Jesus returns. We therefore pray for you, and look forward to receiving your answers to the lessons or your comments on them.
HOW TO DO THE COURSE
You will gain the maximum benefit from these Studies by going through them several times and looking up the recommended passages from the Bible.
At the end of each Study there are some multiple-choice questions. Referring again to the notes if you are uncertain of the answers. There is no point in rushing through the Studies and guessing the answers; sufficient information is given to enable you to answer all the questions correctly, which will serve as a good foundation for the more advanced Studies to follow.
When you are sure of your answers, submit them as indicated. Your answers will be forwarded to a personal tutor who will respond to you with comments on your answers.
You are welcome to add extra comments or to ask questions on any Biblical matters. We shall be pleased to correspond with you about these things.
Study 1 - The Bible
The Bible makes great claims. It clearly states that its author is God - the Creator of the universe. It claims to reveal God and His
purpose and it speaks with authority. If this claim cannot be upheld, then the Bible is the greatest and most cruel hoax which has ever deluded mankind. If the claims of the Bible can be supported, then we are in possession of the world's greatest treasure.
The Bible, as the true Word of God, contains the key to peace and happiness. It answers the most perplexing questions concerning the meaning and purpose of our existence and the final outcome of the struggle between right and wrong.
LET US LOOK MORE CLOSELY AT ITS CLAIMS
Paul, writing of the Old Testament, says, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God”' (2 Timothy 3 v 16). Every word of the original
manuscripts was written under direct Divine guidance. The Apostle Peter stressed the same fact, “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” or Holy Spirit - Revised Version (2 Peter 1 v 21).
These two apostles claim Divine authority for the writings of the Old Testament, recorded centuries before their own days. This Divine authority is responsible for the complete harmony of teaching revealed in the Bible. The writers were separated by time, education, occupation, experience and social position, yet their writings all combine to form one united Book.
WHY THE BIBLE WAS WRITTEN
The Bible tells us how the human race began and how God's plan of salvation will lead to the final victory of right over wrong and the
extermination of every trace of sin and evil. The chief purpose of the Bible is to make known to the condemned human race this way of salvation through Jesus Christ. The Old and New Testaments combine to present Jesus as the only Saviour of mankind.
“These signs 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 v 31). In the pages of the Bible we find all the teaching necessary for man's enlightenment, the Divine
definitions of right and wrong, and of man's duty to God and to his fellow-men (2 Timothy 3 v 15-17).
Finally, the Bible has been given to tell us, in broad outline, what the future holds, that we might be prepared for the coming of Christ
(2 Peter 1 v 19).
THE CONTENTS OF THE BIBLE
The Bible is a collection of books divided into two main sections. The books of the Old Testament were written before the time of Christ and the books of the New Testament after the time of Christ. There are 66 books altogether. You will find a list of them at the front of your Bible. They were written by about 40 different writers over a period of 1,500 years. They were written in a number of different countries - such as Israel, Egypt, Italy and Babylon.
All the books combine in one consistent theme - the theme of the working out of God's purpose with man from the very beginning, recorded in Genesis to the time when “The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever” (Revelation 11 v 15).
THE OLD TESTAMENT
The books of the Old Testament fall into four main sections:-
(a) THE BOOKS OF MOSES
The first book is called Genesis, which means the beginning. It tells us about God's dealings with the first men on the earth.
Then follow Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. They tell how God called Abraham, made a covenant with him and with his descendants, brought them out of Egypt and gave them the land now called Israel.
(b) THE HISTORICAL BOOKS
These, from the Book of Joshua to the Book of Esther, are a record of the history of the Israelites (or Jews) and of God's
dealings with them.
(c) THE POETIC BOOKS
The books of Job, the Psalms, the Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and the Song of Songs were written in Hebrew (the language of the
Israelites) in poetic form. They contain much important teaching about the ways of God and the feelings and duties of man.
(d) THE BOOKS OF THE PROPHETS
The word prophet means seer - one who has insight or visions, not only of future events, but also of God's requirements of man.
The long prophetic books of Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel are followed by a number of shorter ones.
THE NEW TESTAMENT
(a) THE GOSPEL RECORDS
These are four separate accounts of the life of Christ, written by Matthew, Mark, Luke and John; each is telling the gospel (the
good news) in his own way.
(b) THE BOOK CALLED “THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES”
This was written by Luke and tells what happened after Jesus Christ was risen from the dead. We are told how the first churches
were formed as the apostles carried the good news throughout the Roman Empire.
(c) THE LETTERS
These were written by some of the apostles to help the early believers in the small, scattered, young churches.
(d) THE BOOK OF REVELATION
This was the last message of Jesus, given in vision to the Apostle John.
JESUS CHRIST BELIEVED THE OLD TESTAMENT
Jesus Christ is the central figure of the Bible plan and when he was born the New Testament did not exist. The Scriptures which he used and studied were the Old Testament. Jesus believed these Scriptures, he based his teaching on them and accepted them as indisputable authority. Look at these passages: John 5 v 46-47; Luke 24 v 27; Luke 24 v 44-48; Matthew 22 v 29; Mark 7 v 6-13.
Jesus speaks of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, David and Solomon, and of many other people about whom we read in the Old Testament and bases his teaching on the fact that these people were real and that all of the Old Testament is the Word of God.
THE BIBLE CANNOT BE PROVED FALSE
All the developments of modern thought and technology have combined to establish that the Bible records are true. Many enemies of the Bible, including some very clever men, have tried to prove it wrong, but they have all failed. Since truth cannot contradict itself, we should naturally expect the Word of God to be in harmony with observable scientific knowledge.
A further evidence of the authority of the Bible is the way in which it has been preserved over the centuries. The Bible has triumphantly withstood every effort of man to overthrow it. It has been suppressed and withheld from the common people; whole editions of it have been burned and many books have been written in attempts to disprove it. No other book has been subjected to such continuous and determined opposition: the Bible still stands, immovable and unconquerable.
The great antiquity of the Bible, its preservation and influence upon the human race, are factors which cannot be ignored. The evidences of archaeological discoveries by such people as Rawlinson, Layard, Smith, Woolley and Kenyon, in Egypt, Nineveh, Assyria, Babylon, Ur, Syria, Lebanon and Israel are all striking confirmations of the truth of Bible history. Exhibits in museums all over the world clearly demonstrate this. The inscriptions of nations which fought against Israel confirm the Bible accounts both of events and of ancient customs and local habits. Present-day archaeology continues to add material supporting our reasons for believing the truth of the whole Bible.
Even the criticisms relating to the care taken by the Jewish copyists of the original writings are discounted with the discovery of
ancient manuscripts. The remarkable discovery in 1947 of the Dead Sea Scrolls has provided yet more valuable evidence of the accuracy of the Bible. These manuscripts are some of the earliest available, dating back to the second century B.C. Despite their age, the slight variations that do occur are only in respect of spelling and do not affect the doctrine, prophecy or historical facts.
So the work of the archaeologist confirms in a remarkable way the truth and reliability of the Bible and thus, indirectly, that it is the
production of Divine inspiration.
PROPHECY PROVES THE BIBLE TRUE
God himself has chosen prophecy as a great proof of His infinite superiority over all other beings (Isaiah 46 v 9-10; Isaiah 42 v 9).
The Bible speaks from time to time of events that would come to pass hundreds of years later. In Matthew 2 it is recorded that the wise men came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is he that is born King of the Jews?” When Herod asked the chief priests this question, they at once replied, “In Bethlehem of Judaea” because hundreds of years before it had been prophesied in one of the books of the Old Testament (Micah 5 v 2).
In addition to prophecies about Jesus Christ, there are many relating to ancient nations and, in particular, to the Jews. Many of the
ancient nations have disappeared from world affairs, but the Bible said that the Jews would survive. The Jewish people still survive
today in spite of many efforts to destroy them (Jeremiah 30 v 10-11). If the Bible had been of mere human production, at any time in
history such a declaration could have been found false. The Jews are still with us today with their own state, Israel, and its capital
city, Jerusalem, now in their complete control.
The Bible gives us the reasons for these facts. This is a powerful proof that the Bible is Divinely inspired and therefore infallible.
SUMMARY OF SOME OF THE REASONS FOR BELIEVING THE BIBLE TO BE INSPIRED
The unity of its message in spite of the number of writers who wrote over a great period of time.
Its miraculous preservation.
The evidence of the discoveries of the archaeologist.
The fulfilment of Bible prophecies - (further examples will be given in later Studies).
CONDITIONS TO BE MET
If we are to understand the Bible, Jesus said we must become teachable as little children, Matthew 11 v 25. We must want to find out for ourselves the truth and wisdom of God's Word (Proverbs 2 v 3-6). We must believe that God will reward us in our search (Hebrews 11 v 6).We must be willing to bring our lives into harmony with God's commandments.
Jesus said, “If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them” (John 13 v 17) and, “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord,
shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 7 v 21). The Apostle Paul
wrote, “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2 v 12).
HOW SHALL WE STUDY THE BIBLE?
As with any course of study, regular, planned reading is the most helpful. To begin, follow the suggestions for study contained in this
Study. The Bible itself is its own best interpreter. Always consider passages in their context and compare Scripture with Scripture.
As you go through this course, you will see that every basic belief is supported by clear and positive Scripture. With this foundation
all apparently 'difficult' or ‘contradictory' verses can be explained or harmonized.
A concordance, marginal references or Bible commentaries can sometimes be helpful, but it must be remembered that the compilers of these were not guided by Divine inspiration. If their conclusions contradict the teaching of Scripture, they are in error (Isaiah 8 v 20).
The purpose of this course of Studies is to help you to understand the Bible for yourself, so that you may accept it as it is, the Word
of God, offering the hope of everlasting life to all who will hear and obey it.
PASSAGES FOR BIBLE READING
2Timothy 3; 2 Peter 1; Luke 24; Isaiah 8v20; Acts 28v23-31; Ephesians 4v21-32
STUDY 1: Questions
Write the correct answer to each question, and then submit them to us either by email to info@carelinks.net or by post to Carelinks, PO Box 152, Menai NSW 2234 AUSTRALIA
Occasionally a question may require more than one correct answer.
1. Who is the author of the Bible?
Paul
Moses
God
Daniel
2. What part of the Old Testament did Jesus use to begin explaining to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus about himself?
The writings of the prophets
The writings of Moses
The Psalms
The Proverbs
3. The Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered in:
1749
1794
1914
1947
4. Where did Micah prophesy that Jesus would be born?
Jerusalem
Bethel
Bethlehem
Babylon
5. The books of the Bible were written over a period of:
50 years
15 years
1,500 years
150 years
6. Jesus said, 'If ye know these things, happy are ye.'
'if ye tell others'
'if ye do them'
'if ye remember them'
'if ye are sure of them'
7. How many separate books does the Bible contain?
66
27
39
23
8. What was the sure "word" that Peter referred to in his second epistle?
of good conduct
of singing
of prophecy
of talking
9. In which city was Paul living at the time recorded in Acts 28 v 23-31?
Rome
Ephesus
Jerusalem
Alexandria
10. From where can we obtain a full understanding of God's plan and purpose with the earth?
The Dead Sea Scrolls
The Jewish Law
The writings of archaeologists
The Holy Bible
Study 2 - God
There are a number of arguments for the existence of God.
THE WATCH ARGUMENT
If we found an old watch on the ground, having never seen a watch before, we might pick it up and examine it. We might open the back and look at the complicated mechanism. We would notice how the tiny wheels worked against each other and turned the hands on the face.
We would know that such an intricate piece of mechanism must have been made. The watch must have been designed; it must have been planned. The watch could not have made itself. The parts could not have come together by accident. The fact that the watch exists is evidence that there must be a designer - there must be a watchmaker.
The universe is made up of millions of stars. The earth has a moon revolving round it. The sun and the planets are part of a marvellously intricate system of which every part is moving exactly along its appointed path. This is much more complicated than any watch. This did not happen by accident. There must be a designer. “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth his handiwork” (Psalm 19 v 1).
BIBLE EVIDENCE
One of the most powerful arguments for the existence of God is contained in the Bible. The Bible contains many prophecies about the rise and fall of kingdoms and nations; about individuals and about events. In many cases these prophecies were recorded hundreds of years in advance. This is something that man could not do. Only God, who controls all things, could have caused these prophecies to be written. Look at Isaiah 46 v 9-10.
Some of these prophecies will be dealt with in future studies The purpose of this Study is to explain what God has revealed about Himself in the Bible.
WHAT THE BIBLE TELLS US
God has revealed Himself as the Creator. “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth”' (Genesis 1 v 1). “I have made the earth, and created man upon it: I, even my hands, have stretched out the heavens, and all their host have I commanded” (Isaiah 45 v 12).
God has revealed Himself as eternal. He has always been and always will exist.
“Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God” (Psalm 90 v 2).
“Thy throne is established of old: thou art from everlasting” (Psalm 93 v 2).
There is only one God. Israel were reminded that the various gods the Egyptians worshipped had no power and were no more than man-made images.
“For all the gods of the people are idols: but the Lord made the heavens” (1 Chronicles 16 v 26). God is all powerful. He knows all that is going on and is present everywhere by the power of His spirit.
“Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off...and art acquainted with all my ways”' (Psalm 139 v
2-3).
David in this Psalm says that our minds are too small to understand the greatness of God (verse 6). But if we know that God sees and knows all things it can be a great comfort and a source of strength. “If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me” (Psalm 139 v 9-10).
The Bible tells us that God's ear is always open to hear the cry of His children and God has declared, too, 'I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee' (Hebrews 13 v 5; Joshua 1:5).
THE UNITY OF GOD
The Bible teaching that there is one God is important, particularly as there are many who do not believe this. It is the clear teaching of both Old Testament and New Testament. Look up these verses - Isaiah 45 v 5; 1 Corinthians 8 v 6 & Ephesians 4 v 6.
The apostle Paul wrote to Timothy, “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus”
Jesus himself emphasised the importance of this Bible doctrine when he said, “This is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent” (John 17 v 3).
THE DOCTRINE OF THE TRINITY
Few doctrines are more generally accepted by the Christian world than that concerning the Godhead, known as the doctrine of the Trinity. Roman Catholics, the Greek Church, and almost all denominations of Protestants, however they may differ upon some points, agree on this, and believe that 'the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Ghost is God, and yet there are not three Gods, but one God'. They further believe that all three are co-equal and co-eternal.
Is this a true doctrine? If so, while we may not understand it, must we accept it? How are we to know? Obviously only by what God has been pleased to reveal in His word. Therefore, to the Bible we go and soon discover that there is no support anywhere in its pages for this popular doctrine, but quite the reverse. The Scriptures always teach the unity of God, not the trinity. The following quotations clearly show this:-
"Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God is one Lord" (Deut. 6:4; Mark 12:29).
"I am the Lord, and there is none else, there is no God beside me" (Isa. 45:5).
"To us there is but ONE GOD, the Father, of whom are all things" (1 Cor. 8:6).
These are not by any means isolated passages, but examples of many more might be quoted, all teaching that God is one, not three. The last of the above passages is strikingly significant. Christ had appeared, had died, been raised from the dead and exalted to the Father's right hand, yet Paul says there is ONE GOD! And who is this? The triune God of orthodoxy - Father, Son and Holy Ghost? No! it is THE FATHER. He was the God whom Paul worshipped.
WAS JESUS GOD THE SON?
What, then, of Jesus Christ? Was he not 'God the Son'? In view of the frequent use of this expression today, it is remarkable that such a phrase is not to be found in the Bible. We read of the "Son of God", but not 'God the Son'. The natural inference is that the doctrine involved by that expression is not a scriptural one. The Athanasian Creed says of the Father and Son that they are co-equal and co-eternal. Passing over the remarkable conception that a Father and Son can be co-eternal, what does the Bible say concerning the co-equality? It speaks most plainly on the matter. Was Christ the equal of the Father when he was here 1900 years
ago? Let him answer for himself:-
"I can of mine own self do nothing" (John 5:30).
"My doctrine is not mine, but His that sent me" (John 7:16).
"My Father is greater than I" (John 14:28).
The very fact that he was sent by the Father (John 5:24,37) negates the theory of co-equality, whilst his want of knowledge concerning the time of his second coming is an additional evidence against the popular belief, for one cannot imagine the Second Person of the Trinity being ignorant of anything. Not only was there this absence of equality in the past, it is the same now. Ponder the words of Paul when he speaks of the "God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ" (2 Cor. 11:31), even as Jesus himself, after his resurrection, referred to the Father as "My God" (John 20:17). The further fact that "there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus" (1 Tim. 2:5), is another testimony to the same effect.
CHRIST'S FUTURE POSITION
This line of evidence can be carried further. We look forward to the time at the end of Christ's reign on earth of one thousand years. What do we see?
"Then cometh the end, when he (Christ) shall have delivered up the Kingdom to God, even the Father...He must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet...When all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto Him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all" (1 Cor. 15:24-28).
Thus in the past, the present, and the future, high as is the position assigned to Jesus Christ, the Father is supreme, and co-equality is never even suggested.
Who, then, is Jesus Christ? The Son of God, born of a virgin mother, as recorded in Matthew and Luke:-
"The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall over shadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God" (Luke 1:35).
Jesus lived as recorded in the Scriptures, was tempted, suffered, and died, but was raised from the dead by the Father, and exalted to the Father's right hand as High Priest and Mediator. There he will remain until the time when he shall return to the earth to establish the Kingdom of God.
THE LOVE OF GOD
If there is one attribute of the Almighty which shows that His character is different from the gods which have been invented by men, it is the love that He shows.
Think of the love that a parent shows to his children. God shows all that love - and more - to us.
“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 v 16).
The work of the Lord Jesus Christ forms the subject of another Study. Man's need of salvation is also dealt with fully later. But the purpose that God has with the earth and with man needs to be outlined here.
It is the clear teaching of the Bible that God intends in the future to change the world, to remove the evils which at present afflict it.
GOD'S PLAN FOR THE EARTH
Very early in the history of Israel, God declared, “As truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord” (Numbers 14 v 21).
The earth is certainly not filled with the glory of God now. But it will be. This is God's purpose.
The Apostle Paul spoke to the people of Athens and told them that one day the world would be ruled in righteousness by a king appointed by God and that this was guaranteed by His raising the one appointed from the dead.
The world is certainly not ruled in righteousness now. But it will be. When this time comes it will be called the Kingdom of God and Jesus will be the king. God's purpose with the earth is dealt with more fully in the next Study. One of the sure ways in which God has shown His love for man is that He has made known His purpose in the Bible. His love is also shown in the provision of His own son as the centre of that purpose.
THE SPIRIT
A Study about God would not be complete without mentioning two words which are associated with the Almighty and His work. The word 'spirit' is often used in the Bible to mean the power of God, universally present. “Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?” (Psalm 139 v 7). “Uphold me with thy free spirit” (Psalm 51 v 12).
HOLY SPIRIT
The word 'holy' means special, set apart, sacred, consecrated. When we read of the Holy Spirit, the Bible is speaking of the Power of God when used for a particular, special purpose. The Authorised Version of the Bible sometimes has the word for spirit translated as 'Ghost' but the Revised Version used the word Spirit and if we look at some of the places where the words appear the meaning will be clear.
When Mary, the mother of Jesus, was told that she was to have a son who was to be called Jesus, she was told that the Holy Ghost (Holy Spirit) would come upon her and Luke emphasizes the meaning by repeating “the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee” (Luke 1 v 35). Look at the verse. The angel is explaining that the birth of Jesus would be a miracle brought about by God's special power operating upon Mary. Because of this, Jesus would be the Son of God.
WRITING THE BIBLE
We have already looked at a verse in the second letter of Peter which says that “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 Spirit” ('Holy Ghost' in the Authorised Version). It was God's special power that caused the prophets to speak and the writers of the scriptures to set down God's Word. They were moved by the power of God.
The word 'spirit' is often a translation of a word in Hebrew (in the Old Testament) or a word in Greek (in the New Testament) that means breath. So when the Spirit of God moved a man, it could be said that “God breathed into him”. This meaning behind the word makes some of the passages which speak of the power of God particularly beautiful. This, too, is the reason that Paul, writing to Timothy, says the scriptures are God-breathed – “all scripture is given by INSPIRATION of God” (2 Timothy 3 v 16).
The power of the Holy Spirit was given to Jesus as the New Testament says. The apostles later were also given this power that enabled them to perform miracles. The last verse in Mark 16 v 20 tells us that the purpose of this was to enable the apostles to confirm the words that they spoke.
Paul speaks of the way in which the gifts of the Holy Spirit were used in the first century. The greatest attribute above all gifts which we should try to cultivate is love. (Read 1 Corinthians 12 v 28-31 then 1 Corinthians 13 v 1-13)
God has shown His love for us in many ways. We can best show our love for Him by trying to live our lives in a way that pleases Him.
SUMMARY OF SOME IMPORTANT POINTS
There is one God.
He is the Creator. He is immortal - from everlasting to everlasting.
God sees and knows all things.
God is righteous. God is loving.
God has revealed His purpose in the Bible.
The power of God is described as His Spirit.
The scriptures were written by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Jesus was born as a result of the action of the Holy Spirit upon Mary.
It is important to our salvation that we should understand the nature of God.
PASSAGES FOR BIBLE READING
Genesis 1; Isaiah 45; Acts 17 (Notice what those at Berea did); Psalm 139; 1 Timothy 6.
STUDY 2: Questions
Write the correct answer to each question, and then submit them to us either by email to info@carelinks.net or by post to Carelinks, PO Box 152, Menai NSW 2234 AUSTRALI
1. How was the universe formed?
By chance
By the Power of God
By evolution
2. The true God is:
The God of the Bible
An Egyptian idol
We do not know
The image of Baal
3. Which of the following are evidence that God exists?
National hymns
Bible prophecies
Traditional Legends
4. In Psalm 139 v 6 the writer says:
"Such knowledge is too wonderful for me"
"God sees and knows all things"
"God is all powerful"
"Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising"
5. The Bible teaches that:-
God is a Trinity
God is a Unity
God is many gods in one
There is no God
6. By giving His son (John 3 v 16) God showed:-
His hope
His love
His faith
His justice
7. What does God intend to do with this earth?
Destroy it
Leave it as it is
Fill it with His glory
8. What is the Spirit of God?
The power of God
The love of God
The freewill of God
The offering of God's son
9. By what means did God cause the Bible to be written?
His majesty
His Holy Spirit
His truth
His graciousness
10. In Acts 17 v 11 we read that those at Berea:-
Sang praise to God
Searched the scriptures daily
Stirred up the people
Set the city in an uproar
Study 3 - God's Plan and Purpose
The love of God has been stressed in the previous Study - His love for the world in giving His only begotten Son. This love which God shows and which we are asked to show in return must not be confused with sentiment or 'softness'.
The Bible emphasizes the righteousness of God and His justice. It was the absolute justice of God as well as His love for man that was the reason that Jesus rose from the dead. Because Jesus did no wrong it was not possible that he should remain dead (Acts 2 v 24). It would not have been right for Jesus to remain in the grave. God raised him from the dead.
In the same way, it is not right that the world should continue to be a place where wickedness flourishes and where so much that is wrong takes place. The Book of Proverbs tells us, “A false balance is abomination to the Lord” (Proverbs 11 v 1).
Look at these verses:-
“God is angry with the wicked every day” (Psalm 7 v 11).
‘“The Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Thessalonians 1 v 7-8).
This is the side of God's character that is often overlooked. The righteousness of God will not allow wickedness to continue. God is not going to permit the world to be ruled by men who may not set right standards. It is God's purpose that one day the world will be ruled in righteousness by the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 17 v 31). When he is King, many of the problems that man faces today will be solved. This wonderful time is called the Kingdom of God.
Jesus taught his disciples to pray for the Kingdom to come so that God’s will would be done on earth even as the angels now obey Him in heaven (Matthew 6 v 10.)
PROPHECIES OF THINGS TO COME
We find in the Bible the most confident assertions about the future; not just one, nor a mere half-dozen, but scores of prophecies. We find prophecies concerning individuals, concerning powerful nations and weak nations, some of which had, at that time, no existence. There are long-term and short-term prophecies; prophecies of things to come, the like of which had never happened before; of extraordinary experiences which nations would have, experiences without parallel and contrary to all natural expectation. We find all this in the Bible. We discover that without a single exception none of the prophecies has been falsified. What are we to make of this? Could unaided men perform such a feat? They could not. There can be only one conclusion: the men who wrote the Bible received direction from on high.
"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 Spirit" (2 Peter 1:21).
Do not underestimate the force of Bible prophecy. Peter, in the chapter just quoted, speaks of it as the "more sure word of prophecy" and compares it to a light shining in a dark place (v19). This is a very apt comparison. We look around the world and it seems all confusion, with no apparent meaning or purpose. History seems just a haphazard sequence of events, with no obvious aim, apart from the fleeting ambitions of the men who pass across the world's stage. But a study of the Bible alters all this and demonstrates beyond all doubt that human affairs are under control and are moving forward to a totally unexpected climax - unexpected, that is, by all but the few.
"The Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will" (Dan. 4:32). These words were addressed to Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon. He was no fairy-tale figure, but a powerful monarch in the ancient world. In recent times his city, Babylon, has been excavated and proved to have been in reality the immense city of which the Bible speaks. The hundreds of thousands of bricks that have been dug up all bear the name of the proud monarch who ruled the world of his day. Indeed, Nebuchadnezzar might well lay claim to be the first monarch of the world. He it was to whom it was said, "The Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men". But he was told far more than just that.
AN AMAZING VISION
One night, as Nebuchadnezzar lay on his couch, the king wondered what would be the fate of his vast empire after he himself had passed from the scene. 'On whom will my mantle fall? Will the mantle be torn in pieces by jealous rivals?' Such questions must normally go unanswered, for no man can tell what the future holds, but Nebuchadnezzar was given the answer by God. We can read it in the 2nd chapter of the book of Daniel. Please read it through, it is one of the most remarkable chapters in the whole of the
Bible.
We are told of a dream in which the answer that he sought was given to Nebuchadnezzar in symbolic form.
It may be asked why Almighty God troubled to satisfy the questioning of a pagan king; why he chose to do so by way of a dream, and why the visionary message was clothed in symbols which the king could not understand, nor even remember on waking.
The following observations may be made in answer, and will serve to introduce the details of the prophecy and its fulfilment:-
The importance of Nebuchadnezzar in the purpose of God lay not so much in the greatness of his empire as in the fact that his dominions included the land of Israel, and that the people of Israel were taken as captives to Babylon for 70 years. God's land - God's people - were subject to Nebuchadnezzar's rule.
The method used to give the information also brought to the forefront the man Daniel, a Jew, the only man who could explain the dream. This underlined the fact that the "God who revealeth secrets" is the God especially of Israel. A vital aspect of God's plan was thus brought home.
The symbolic style adopted is a most effective way of conveying a great deal of information in a very compressed form. The modern political cartoon is an apt example of the same thing. But the cartoon illuminates events of past and present. Nebuchadnezzar's vision threw a flood of light on the future.
THE VISION'S MEANING
In his dream the king saw what he himself would probably have described as a 'god'. It was the image of a man composed of various metals. An artist's impression of the scene is as follows - golden head, silver breast and arms, bronze belly and thighs, iron legs, feet part iron and part clay. This metallic statue stood erect - until some unseen power directed a stone at its feet. The image crashed, its remains were ground to powder and blown away by the wind, while the stone that had done the damage
"became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth" (Dan. 2:35).
What did all this mean? The clear words of Daniel placed the meaning beyond doubt. The image stood for the kingdoms of men in the ages that were to follow. The nations of the known world were at that time subject to the king of Babylon, who was represented by the golden head. "Thou art this head of gold" (verse 38). Following this there was to be a second, "silver", empire, then a third and a fourth. The fourth kingdom was to be "strong as iron"; but after the strength was to come weakness:-
"Whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potters' clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided..., And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken...they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay" (Dan. 2:41-43).
The question that must now be answered is, how do the facts of history compare with this prophecy? The correspondence is perfect - so much so that some have tried to say that the second chapter of Daniel was written after the events it describes This is sufficient testimony to the accuracy of the prophecy, but is plainly impossible, for the prophecy is still being fulfilled! Copies of the book of Daniel have been found amongst the second century BC Dead Sea Scrolls.
AN OUTLINE OF WORLD HISTORY
Four great empires followed each other. Consult any history book covering the period and you will find described how Babylon fell to the Medes and Persians, a joint empire in which first the Medes and then the Persians took precedence. Their supremacy was ended by Alexander the Great, who founded the Greek Empire. This, in turn, yielded to a stronger power: Rome was unquestionably the strongest and most durable of the four empires.
For centuries Rome held sway. The world had never known anything to compare with the mighty "strong-as-iron" Roman Empire. What power on earth could ever break it or conquer it? No single power could. Rome was not to be superseded. There was not to be another great empire in the line of Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece and Rome.
First the empire was split in two: Eastern Rome, ruled from Constantinople, and Western Rome, ruled from Rome itself. (It will be
remembered that the image Nebuchadnezzar saw had two iron legs.) Later, both halves gave way by degrees to hostile forces from without and decaying processes within, and over the vast area once ruled by Rome a number of independent kingdoms emerged, some strong, some weak. This has been the state of affairs ever since. THERE HAS BEEN NO FIFTH UNDISPUTED
EMPIRE IN SUCCESSION TO THE FOUR WE HAVE NAMED, WHOSE DOMINIONS INCLUDED THE LAND OF ISRAEL. Many attempts have been made, but all have failed: Philip 11 of Spain, Napoleon 1, Kaiser Wilhelm 11, Hitler...Today we see
the countries of Europe trying to weld themselves together into a united whole. What a task it is proving! (But Europe does not include Israel.) True were the prophet's words: "They shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay".
Who could have foreseen all this as long as two and a half thousand years ago? Who could have asserted so confidently that there would be four empires, not three, or five, or six? Who, in a few bold strokes, could have delineated the outstanding features of their history, and its sequel with such uncanny accuracy? Could any man? From all that we know of human forecasts, we must answer, No. We note that Daniel disclaimed all credit for his message:-
"The great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure" (Dan. 2:45).
Men and women of all times since who have studied this prophecy have found here solid grounds for confidence in God and His Word. It is a confidence which you, who read these words, certainly should share.
PART OF THE PROPHECY STILL FUTURE
Moreover, the steady, accurate fulfilment of Daniel's words lead us to look with renewed interest at the last stage of the prophecy. What shall we make of that little stone which fell with shattering effect on the feet of the image, grinding it to powder, and then becoming a great world-filling mountain?
If the image represented the kingdom of men, obviously the stone stands for some power external to human rule, which is to establish itself as a world power upon the ruins of human governments. These it will "break in pieces and consume". This is the explanation Daniel gave:-
"And in the days of these kings (i.e. the divided state of the nations) shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people...it shall stand for ever" (Dan. 2:44).
This is one of many promises in the Bible that God has not forsaken the earth. He has devised a plan - the Master Plan - for human salvation, and that plan centres in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. Thoughtful readers will readily be able to identify the stone "cut out of the mountain without hands" with the one who was born the Saviour of mankind, 'cut out', as it were, of the mountain of humanity, not by human hands, but by the power of God, in the miracle of his birth. Jesus, in fact, spoke of his role as the stone - "the stone which the builders rejected", and he went on, "...whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder" (Matt. 21:42-44).
All the signs indicate that soon the stone will fall with devastating effect on an unsuspecting world. Will you escape the coming destruction?
Will you share in the benefits of the Kingdom of God, which Jesus is coming to set up on the earth?
Jesus alone has power to save.
But before we leave the prophecy of Daniel, let us note that the teaching of the dream of Nebuchadnezzar was elaborated in a vision seen by Daniel himself as recorded in chapter 7 of the book which bears his name. The symbolism is changed and extended in detail using the figures of four beasts to represent the four great empires portrayed in the dream of Nebuchadnezzar. The equivalent of the reference to the Kingdom of God in Daniel 2:44 is given in the words of Daniel 7:27 as follows:-
"And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him".
THE KINGDOM OF GOD
But let not any of our readers think that the only Old Testament prophecies about the coming Kingdom of God are those in the two chapters in the book of Daniel to which we have referred. To illustrate this point we can turn to the book of the prophet Isaiah where details of the coming Kingdom of God are given in plain language i.e. without symbology. Because of all the many references in the book of this prophet, Isaiah has been referred to as the prophet of the Kingdom. We commend the following
quotations to the attention of our readers:-
"And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more" (Isaiah 2:2-4).
"Behold, the Lord God will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him: behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him" (Isaiah 40:10).
Equally important also are the references to the conditions of salvation. From these we select one from Isaiah (66:2):-
"To this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word".
DANIEL'S EXPLANATION
This explanation is not the invention of the publishers of this series of Studies. READ Daniel 2. Daniel said:-
“Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure” (Daniel 2 v 45).
GOD’S KINGDOM
Just as Medo-Persia followed Babylon; just as Rome followed Greece; just as certainly as there has been no fifth universal Empire, so the last part of the prophecy will also be fulfilled.
“In the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed...but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever” (Daniel 2 v 44).
The little stone destroyed the image which represented human rule through the centuries and it grew into a great mountain which filled the earth. The little stone represented the Kingdom of God.
Daniel concluded the prophecy by saying, “the dream is certain and the interpretation thereof sure”.
This is only one of many prophecies which give us confidence that God's purpose with the earth will be fulfilled.
THE TEACHING OF THE OLD TESTAMENT AND THE NEW TESTAMENT
Find in your Bible these two passages that you looked at in the last Study Numbers 14 v 21 and Acts 17 v 31.
When the Kingdom of God is established, there will be divine justice in the way the kingdom is ruled. There will be no oppression and no persecution.
“He shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears: but with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth.” (Isaiah 11 v 3-5).
Then the words of Numbers 14 v 21 will be fulfilled just as the angels sang at the birth of Jesus. When Jesus is king over all the earth, there will be “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men” (Luke 2 v 14).
The last book of the Bible describes the state of affairs which will exist when God's purpose is fulfilled:
''And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God”.
“And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away” (Revelation 21 v 3-4).
A REAL KINGDOM
Peter was the spokesman for the other disciples when he asked Jesus a question, “We have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?” (Matthew 19 v 27).
The reply of Jesus is important. He emphasized that the kingdom he taught was a real kingdom in which his disciples would share:-
“Ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters ... shall inherit everlasting life” (Matthew 19 v 28-29).
JESUS WILL COME AGAIN
In order to establish a real kingdom on the earth, Jesus will come again. When he ascended to heaven at the end of his ministry, angels told the disciples:-
“This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven” (Acts 1:11)
The return of Jesus to bring about the last stages of God's purpose with the earth is dealt with more fully in later Studies. The teaching of many of the parables of Jesus shows that it is at his return that the righteous will be rewarded. It is, therefore, very important that we are ready for his coming.
SUMMARY
The Bible emphasizes the righteousness and justice of God as well as his love.
God does not intend to allow the world to continue in its present state.
God will interfere in world affairs and divine rule will be established with Jesus as King.
The outline of world events given in Daniel 2 gives us confidence that the final stages of God's plan will certainly come to pass.
When Jesus returns to rule over the Kingdom of God, his followers will be rewarded with places in his kingdom, but they need to be ready for his coming.
PASSAGES FOR BIBLE READING
Isaiah 11; Isaiah 35; Matthew 19 & 25; Daniel 2.
STUDY 3: questions
Write the correct answer to each question, and then submit them to us either by email to info@carelinks.net or by post to Carelinks, PO Box 152, Menai NSW 2234 AUSTRALIA
1. God so loved the world that He ...
Sent the seasons
Gave His only begotten son
Provided the Angels
Gave the Law
2. Which was the second world empire represented in King Nebuchadnezzar's dream?
Babylon
Greece
Rome
Medo-Persia
3. What did Nebuchadnezzar see strike the statue in his dream?
An idol
A stone
A hand
A sword
4. What did the angels sing about the conditions on the earth when Jesus is king?
Everybody will do as they please
Everybody will be kind to each other
No one will need to work
There will be peace on earth
5. Who is to rule the world in righteousness?
The son of God
The apostle Paul
The apostle Peter
The prophet Elijah
6. In the second chapter of Daniel we read, "In the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom and it shall stand...
for 6000 years
for a lifetime
for ever
for 100000 years
7. Jesus promised his disciples that they would
have wealth and prosperity
sit on thrones to judge the tribes of Israel
have success and happiness
8. Does the Bible tell us that God intends the world to continue in its present state?
Yes
No
I do not know
The Bible does not say
9. Where is Jesus at the present time?
On the earth
In heaven
In the grave
In the land of Israel
10 . Paul told the people of Athens (Acts 17) that God had given a guarantee that the world would be ruled in righteousness by the man that God had chosen. What was that guarantee?
The birth of Jesus
The crucifixion of Jesus
The resurrection of Jesus
Study 4 - Death
A disaster is invariably headline news. Sudden and violent death arouses curiosity; but the subject of 'death' itself is not news nor, strangely enough, does it generate much interest. Yet, in the time that it has taken you to read the previous two sentences, it is estimated that 25-30 people have died (that is, over 6,250 people an hour or 150,000 a day). One day you will be one of them! The chances are not that you will be involved in one of the disasters, which account for relatively few deaths, but that on one otherwise ordinary day your daily routine will cease and the world will carry on without you. This is why a study of the subject of death is of prime importance.
Thoughts of death give rise to the questions, 'What am I?' 'What happens to me when I die?' 'How do I fit in with God's purpose in creation?'
Basically there are three possible attitudes to death:-
Ignore it
Take the view that it is not really what it seems to be. Face its stark reality and look for a way of escape.
Let us look more closely at these three attitudes.
1. IGNORE DEATH
This is the attitude of a growing section of those who are influenced by Western culture. The goals of materialism, the philosophy which predominates in Western society, are centred in science. The scientific approach to the problems of life deals with these things which can be measured. Speculations such as 'What happens after death?' do not lend themselves to the scientific method and therefore they are largely ignored.
Many people, dazzled by the bewildering array of marvels which science has produced, dismiss all thoughts of death from their minds as much as possible.
2.THE VIEW THAT DEATH IS NOT REALLY WHAT IT SEEMS TO BE
This is the age-old view taken by the vast majority of the world's religions. Death, it is said, is not the end of life but the gateway to
eternity. At the root of the great variety of forms which this belief takes is the idea that man has an 'immortal soul'; that there is something in man which cannot die, but which at death is released from the body and lives on in another form.
But these ideas cannot be proved from experience nor from the religious books of the world which, apart from the Bible (2 Timothy 3 v 16), are only the speculations of minds groping in the dark. The experiments in telepathy and extra-sensory perception may prove that there is more to man than science has yet discovered, but they do not prove that 'something' lives on when the body dies. Man needs a reliable revelation from God, his Creator, on the subject of death.
The Bible is the only book which provides this. It demands that man must
3. FACE THE STARK REALITY OF DEATH AND LOOK FOR A WAY OF ESCAPE.
NOWHERE IN THE BIBLE CAN BE FOUND THE IDEA THAT MAN HAS AN IMMORTAL SOUL WHICH LIVES ON AFTER DEATH.
This may come as a shock to those who hold orthodox Christian beliefs. But the Bible says,
“For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not anything.”
“There is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest” (Ecclesiastes 9 v 5, 10).
This fact may not be very comforting to contemplate, but it should be a cause for humility and should provoke a realization of man's urgent need for a way of escape.
SALVATION COMMENCES WITH HUMILITY
God has declared, “To this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembles at my word” (Isaiah 66 v 2).
The description “poor” means that the man recognizes that he has nothing of value while he is mortal. The word “contrite” means humble.
Man is naturally a proud creature. The idea of having an immortal soul appeals to his inborn pride. But if we want the whole truth, we do well to cast aside all preconceived ideas, however flattering, and to consider carefully what God has revealed about man's natural condition.
THE NATURE OF MAN
The Bible goes to the very root of this vital subject. It tells how, in the beginning of human existence, death came about. The record of the first human beings, Adam and Eve, is no myth! Consider the deep significance of the facts recorded in the opening chapter of the Bible.
“The Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul” (Genesis 2 v 7).
Adam's body was made from the elements which form the basis of all matter. These elements were shaped by the all-powerful Creator into the marvellous complexity of the human body, with all its delicate and interrelated organs. In principle the same marvel occurs today in the development of a baby in the womb.
Adam's body of dust was given life from God who “breathed into his nostrils the breath of life” and what otherwise would have been a lifeless body “became a living soul”.
THE SOUL
Life is a mysterious, indefinable, but readily recognizable quality imparted to dead matter. There is no evidence to suggest that life can exist independently of the body. The Bible reveals and experience shows the 'body' and 'life' are interdependent and together constitute a “living soul” or 'creature'.
The word 'soul' is widely applied in the Bible both to man and to the animal creation. It is translated, 'mind', 'beast', 'man', 'creature', but it is never connected in any way with the idea of immortality.
A LIVING SOUL
The statement in Genesis 2 v 7: "And man became a living soul", means that man became a living creature along with all the other creatures God had created.
See Ecclesiastes 3 vs. 19-20: "For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no pre-eminence above a beast: for all is vanity. All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again."
The word "soul" means "creature". The soul is the man. The soul cannot live on separately from man or animal. The verses quoted show that man is entirely dependent upon God for his life. If God withdraws the breath, or spirit, of life from a man, he becomes a dead creature. It is essential to understand this, as many Christians hold the view that man has an immortal soul that lives on after death. This is not taught in the Bible. This was, in fact, the serpent's lie in the garden of Eden. He said to Eve, "Ye shall not surely die" - a direct contradiction of what God had said to Adam and Eve. Ecclesiastes 12 v 7 proves man's dependence upon God for his existence: "Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it." It does not prove that man goes to heaven when he dies. See John 3 v 13 and note in particular the words, "And no man hath ascended up to heaven." Man dies because of sin: "...the soul that sinneth, it shall die." And in Romans 3 v 23 we read, "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." Therefore it follows that all die and become unconscious until the resurrection. 1 Corinthians
chapter 15 deals with the hope of the resurrection in some detail.
MAN - A CREATURE TO GIVE GOD PLEASURE
The purpose of man's creation was, as with that of all creation, to give God pleasure. “Thou has created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created” (Revelation 4 v 11).
Unlike the animal creation, man was given free will to obey or to disobey, so that he could exercise a certain degree of choice over his behaviour. We can appreciate how much more pleasure man could give God by using his free will to please God and not himself. It is a pleasure which, on a lower scale, parents gain from children who voluntarily obey and respect them.
MAN'S FAILURE
To test man's response to the use of his free will, God gave a simple test to Adam and Eve. They were told:
“Of every tree ... thou mayest freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that
thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die” (Genesis 2 v 16-17).
Man failed and so brought upon himself the sentence of death. Adam and Eve were tempted by the serpent's suggestion that they would be as gods, knowing good and evil, and because the fruit looked tempting and good to eat. In this way their pride and lust overcame them. These two characteristics have formed the basis of human behaviour ever since. Note carefully the words of the serpent tempting Eve, “Ye shall not surely die” (Genesis 3 v 4).
This was a lie, a denial of God's word, the lie which has formed the basis of man-made religions ever since.
MAN'S CONDEMNATION
Adam and Eve were subjected to the just condemnation of God. The words of the sentence pronounced upon them are significant for they give us the basic definition of death.
“Dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return” (Genesis 3 v 19).
That is, when a man dies he ceases to exist and decomposes into the elements of which he was made. “His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish” (Psalm 146 v 4).
Death is a punishment for disobedience. After God had pronounced this sentence, He set a guard to prevent man from eating of the tree of life, “lest he ... live for ever” (Genesis 3 v 22).
SIN
Death is a punishment for sin. “The soul that sinneth, it shall die” (Ezekiel 18 v 4).
There is a simple logic in this statement. SIN BRINGS DEATH. It is therefore of the utmost importance to find out what 'sin' is if we are to find a way to escape eternal death.
Sin is the disbelief of God's Word and disobedience to His will. Its effects are universal.
“All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3 v 23).
Adam and Eve have passed on this fatal tendency to all their descendants. This flaw in man constitutes 'human nature' or what the Bible calls 'the flesh', or 'the carnal mind'.
It can take many aspects, “The works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulation’s, wrath, strife, sedition’s, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like” (Galatians 5 v 19-21).
These are the natural consequences of the way of life upon which Adam and Eve embarked six thousand years ago. Obstinate disregard for God's way has brought the world to its present troubled state.
THE ONLY HOPE
In Study 2 some of God's characteristics were examined. Some of man's have now been briefly considered. The obvious and startling contrast is expressed by God in these words:
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55 v 8-9).
It is clear then not only why man dies but why he must die. God is just and His justice cannot permit sinners to live for ever. But two of God's many attributes are His mercy and His forgiveness.
“There is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared” (Psalm 130 v 4).
There is a vital need for God's forgiveness, because man cannot stop sinning. “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves” (1 John 1 v 8).
The Bible describes in detail God's way - the only way to be set free from the vice-like grip of sin and death. The Way, in a phrase, is 'through faith'. The faith which God requires is a very special quality. It is defined as “the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11 v 1).
Faith is not blind credulity or belief in the absurd. It is complete trust in God and the firm belief that He really means to carry out what He has promised, even if its fulfilment appears to be an impossibility. Our faith then has to be demonstrated by obedience to God's commands. The eleventh chapter of the Letter to the Hebrews describes many practical examples of faith. Foremost among these is the faith shown by Abraham. “He believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness” (Genesis 15 v 6).
His faith was then shown by his obedience to God.
Read James 2 v 17-26.
Thus faith and obedience can, in God's mercy, secure the forgiveness of our sins and, in consequence, death also can be overcome. THIS IS THE ONLY HOPE MAN HAS OF ATTAINING IMMORTALITY. Eternal life is, in truth, a gift.
“The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6 v 23).
The way in which this has been made possible by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ is dealt with in a later Study. Eternal life is to be given at a future time when there will be a resurrection of the dead. “Many of them that sleep (that is, who are dead) in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life” (Daniel 12 v 2).
Then those who are worthy of this precious gift will be changed into immortal beings. The resurrection of the dead may sound incredible but it is one of those things which God requires us to believe. We know that all things are possible with God.
The resurrection will occur when Jesus Christ returns to the earth. “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven...and the dead in Christ shall rise first” (1 Thessalonians 4 v 16).
Some of the signs which tell us that these momentous events are very near will be explained in Study 9. We need to be ready for that day.
SUMMARY
Death is the end of life, not the gateway to eternity.
Salvation begins with humility.
Death is caused by sin.
Sin is disbelief of God's Word and disobedience to His will.
Man cannot stop sinning.
Man can obtain forgiveness by belief in God's Word and obedience to His will.
Faith is belief of God's Word and is shown by obedience to it.
Eternal life is the gift of God, to be given to His faithful children.
Eternal life will be given at the resurrection, when Jesus Christ
returns to the earth; this is man's only hope of obtaining immortality.
PASSAGES FOR BIBLE READING
Genesis 2 and 3; Psalms 49 and 146; Ecclesiastes 9; Romans 5 and 6; 1
Corinthians 15.
STUDY 4: questionsWrite the correct answer to each question, and then submit them to us either by email to info@carelinks.net or by post to Carelinks, PO Box 152, Menai NSW 2234 AUSTRALIA
1. Which of the following statements are true?
Death comes as a result of sin
All men sin
Eternal life is a gift from God
Good men do not die
2. Which verse in the Bible shows that death is complete unconsciousness?
Proverbs 9 v 5
Ezekiel 9 v 5
Ecclesiastes 9 v 5
Esther 9 v 5
3. What human quality does God require of a person who is seeking salvation?
Pride
Wealth
Humilty
Happiness
4. The Bible teaches that God formed man from
another kind of creature
the dust of the ground
the water
he did not form him
5. What is a "living soul"?
a living creature
an eye
a part of the body which lives for ever
an immortal being
6. Why was man created?
To look after the animals
To cultivate the ground
To give God pleasure
To please himself
7. What was the punishment for the disobedience of Adam and Eve?
They were condemned to die
they were beaten
God completely rejected them
They were stoned
8. What is sin?
The carnal mind
Death
Transgression of God's Law
Human nature
9. Faith is...
belief of the impossible
knowledge of God's plans
trust in the unknown
the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen
10.The Bible teaches
there is no hope
a resurrection from the dead
a life beyond the grave for all
immortality in heaven for the righteous
Study 5 - The Promises of God
Study 4 outlined, from the Bible, why man dies, the nature of death and the only hope of salvation from an eternal grave. In Study 5, by considering some of God's promises, we shall gain a greater understanding of the development of the scriptural revelation concerning that salvation.
A PROMISE OF DELIVERANCE
In the beginning, after the disobedience of Adam and Eve, in the curses that God pronounced in consequence of man's sin, a short but wonderful promise provided a ray of hope. It comes in a verse that is not easy to understand:
“The Lord God said unto the serpent ... I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel” (Genesis 3 v 14-15).
A full explanation of this promise is outside the scope of this Study and will be dealt with in ‘Bible Basics’, but, as we gain a greater knowledge of God's plan of salvation, it is clear that here there is the first promise that sin would ultimately be overcome by one of Eve's descendants. Sin would be dealt a mortal blow but the descendant who did this would only be wounded temporarily (in figurative language - a wound in the head and a wound in the heel). It is a promise of the coming Saviour, and the Bible leaves no room for doubt that this Saviour is Jesus Christ to whom all the promises of God point.
GOD'S PROMISE IN EDEN
The serpent, because of the part it had played in Adam and Eve's transgression of God's law, became the symbol for sin. Jesus used the same term for his enemies, addressing the Pharisees with the words, "Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers." The bruising in the head, a fatal wound to a serpent, promises the utter destruction of sin and death. The seed of the woman is the destroyer, and in carrying out this work receives a bruise in the heel, a wound from which there can be recovery.
A careful reading of the Bible will show that this parable of the seed of the woman speaks of the life, death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, in which he gained the victory over sin and death and has paved the way to everlasting life for all who believe in him.
A clue to the identity of the seed of the woman is given in the words, "Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel."
This was quoted in the message of the angel to Joseph telling him that his espoused wife Mary was to "bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus; for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet", and then follows the quotation from Isaiah 7. The Apostle Paul comments, "When the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law."
By Jesus' triumph over sin and death, the serpent (sin) was bruised in the head, i.e. utterly destroyed, as far as Christ was concerned; in the process he received, by his death on the cross and his short stay in the tomb, a bruise in the heel, as the prophet Isaiah had foretold, "He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities." The first stage of God's plan of redemption was thus completed. But Christ was only the firstfruits. There is to be the harvest in two further stages which will accomplish the abolition of sin and death completely.
The second stage will be completed when Christ returns to reward his friends - who will be those who have done whatsoever he has commanded them. These he will raise from the dead, and will bestow on them eternal life, to be enjoyed on the earth as rulers with Christ over the nations who submit to him at his coming, this stage lasting a thousand years.
The third and final stage will be at the end of the thousand years, when there will be a final judgment and sin and death will be completely destroyed. "Christ must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death." As unbelief brought death, so belief in the Gospel and obedience in baptism and continuance in well doing can bring everlasting life.
THE UNFOLDING PLAN OF GOD
NOAH
As the descendants of Adam and Eve increased, the tendency to sin, which they had inherited from their wayward parents, began to show itself. Genesis chapter 6 records: “God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually” (Gen. 6 v 5).
Such was the state of mankind that “It repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart” (Genesis 6 v 6).
Noah was the only man with whom God was pleased (see Genesis 6 v 8-9). God determined to make a fresh start with His creation and to use Noah in this purpose. “And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth” (Genesis 6 v 13).
THE FLOOD
God chose to flood the earth so that all air-breathing creatures, including man, would be drowned. The Genesis record of the Flood is considered by many to be a mythical story. But if we examine it carefully we shall find that there is much scientific evidence to support the truth of the Bible record. The Bible uses the account of the Flood to teach powerful moral lessons. The life of Noah stands out as a shining example of faith in contrast with the unbelief of his age.
GOD'S PROMISE
The Almighty at this time declared that He would never again destroy the earth with a flood. God has a purpose with the earth and God promised that for all time the seasons would follow in their turn and that day and night would succeed each other without interruption in this way again. Look at Genesis 8 v 21-22.
FEW ARE SAVED
A further lesson taught by this record is the Bible truth that it is only relatively few who are prepared to believe God and consequently few who will be saved. This principle, so vividly displayed in the account of the Flood (1 Peter 3 v 20), applies also to the far greater salvation from eternal death. Jesus Christ said:
“Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is easy, that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard, that leads to life, and those who find it are few” (Matthew 7 v 13-14 Revised Standard Version).
This, and many other Bible examples and statements, casts doubts upon world religions which claim the adherence of millions of 'believers'. The Bible teaches that salvation from eternal death is a highly individual matter, and that few have been, and are, prepared to accept the challenging requirements which God demands - the hard, narrow way of faith.
ABRAHAM
Abraham is an outstanding example of a man who was prepared to accept and successfully endure many rigorous tests because of his faith in God's word.
ARCHAEOLOGY BRINGS THE BIBLE TO LIFE
Abraham lived about 2,000 BC in an ancient city called Ur, which was situated near the head of the Persian Gulf. The site of Ur has been excavated by archaeologists in recent times. Their discoveries show that the city was part of a highly advanced civilisation capable of building large houses, palaces and temples and of producing exquisite works of art. Archaeology aids the study of the Bible by giving us a vivid picture of bygone ages. It certainly aids the appreciation of the greatness of Abraham's faith, because God commanded him: “Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will
shew thee” (Genesis 12 v 1).
From the archaeological evidence we know that God was asking Abraham to leave behind a life of comparative ease and security to face the dangers of the unknown, in which God alone would be his guide. Abraham, unlike Adam and Eve, believed and obeyed.
“By faith Abraham, when he was called ... obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went” (Hebrews 11 v 8).
THE PROMISES TO ABRAHAM
Abraham's faith was founded upon promises of blessing which accompanied God's command. He realised that when God, the All-powerful and All-wise Creator, makes promises, then they are certain to be fulfilled. God said to him:
“I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: and I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed” (Genesis 12 v 2-3).
Throughout Abraham's long life these promises were repeated many times, and each time something was added to the original promise. For the purpose of this Study we will consider the most significant aspects of the promises under the following headings:-
Abraham's descendants to possess the land of Canaan. Abraham's descendants to become a great nation. Through one of Abraham's descendants all nations to be blessed
1. ABRAHAM’S DESCENDANTS TO POSSESS THE LAND OF CANAAN
The land to which God eventually led Abraham was called Canaan in ancient times. It is an area which at the present day roughly coincides with the modern states of Lebanon, Israel, Syria and Jordan at the eastern end of the Mediterranean Sea (see Genesis 15 v 18). When Abraham reached Canaan God said to him, “Unto thy seed will I give this land” (Genesis 12 v 7).
The promise was repeated later, “For all the land which thou seest, (Canaan) to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever” (Genesis 13 v 15).
Note particularly the addition of the words “to thee” and “for ever.” If it were not for these two important factors, we might understand the promise as referring to the conquest and possession of Canaan by the Israelites in ancient times as recorded in the book of Joshua. This was, however, only a partial fulfilment because, first, the promise was to Abraham, as well as his descendants, and, secondly, possession was to be enjoyed for ever.
On the first point, the Bible reveals that while in Canaan, Abraham was like a Bedouin of modern times and that when his wife died he had to buy a piece of land in which to bury her. Finally he died, not having received the promised inheritance of the land (Acts 7 v 2-5).
On the second point, it is clear that neither Abraham, or his descendants, the nation of Israel, who have spent a great part of their national existence exiled from Canaan, have obtained possession of it for ever.
THE RESURRECTION PROVIDES THE ANSWER
Clearly then, the complete fulfilment of this promise must still be future. It requires no lesser event than the resurrection of Abraham and of his true descendants, whom the Bible defines as those who are like Abraham in showing faith and obedience to God's commands. After the resurrection they, as immortal beings, will take possession of Canaan for ever (Matthew 8 v 11).
These facts will become clearer as the other promises are considered.
2. ABRAHAM’S DESCENDANTS TO BECOME A GREAT NATION
This promise is found throughout the record of Abraham's life, and has, to a large extent, been fulfilled as the Bible shows (Genesis 12 v 2; Genesis 13 v 16; Genesis 15 v 5; Genesis 22 v 17).
The Book of Genesis records that Abraham's son Isaac and his grandson Jacob (whose name was changed to Israel) became the original ancestors of the nation of Israel. They lived in Canaan until Jacob, in the time of famine, took his family into Egypt. The book of Exodus tells how Jacob's descendants increased into a nation of more than two million and became enslaved by the Egyptians. About 1,500 BC God sent Moses to free them and lead them to Canaan. The book of Joshua, Moses' successor, tells how the twelve tribes of Israel conquered Canaan. Later books of the Bible describe how Israel developed until, about 1,000 BC it became a great and prosperous kingdom, during the reigns of David and Solomon.
THE NEW TESTAMENT EXPLAINS THE PROMISE
The Bible shows that after the death of Solomon, Israel declined and was eventually exiled from Canaan because the people were, generally speaking, faithless and disobedient to God (Deuteronomy 28 v 15-68). It is in the New Testament that we find a wonderful exposition of the promise to Abraham. In the letter to the Romans the apostle Paul makes it clear that “they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children” (Romans 9 v 6-7).
This introduces an important principle briefly referred to in the consideration of the first promise. The great nation which was to be descended from Abraham was not to be composed of faithless natural descendants but of those who showed a similar faith to Abraham. In each generation they have been few, but when they are raised from the dead, when Jesus returns to the earth, they will be gathered together into one great nation. Then Abraham will see his immortal descendants, praising God for their salvation, forming “a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindred’s, and people, and tongues” (Revelation 7 v 9). Thus the promise will be fulfilled in a far more wonderful way than it was in the past.
3. THROUGH ONE OF ABRAHAM’S DESCENDANTS ALL NATIONS TO BE BLESSED
However, mankind has not yet received the greatest of all blessings with which this promise is concerned - the deliverance from the universal curse of sin and death. The Bible reveals that there is a time coming when, “All the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord” (Numbers 14 v 21).
There is little room for God's glory while man fills the earth with violence and oppression and while sin and death remain. A great change is obviously necessary to bring about this wonderful time of blessing, which we read of in many Bible prophecies (Psalm 72; Isaiah 32). However great the change, its realisation is certain! This is the message of the gospel (good news) which is taught throughout the Bible. Few realise that the promise made to Abraham 2,000 years before Christ, is the foundation of the gospel!
“And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen (nations) through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed” (Galatians 3 v 8).
JESUS CHRIST - ABRAHAM'S DESCENDANT
The central figure of the gospel and therefore of the promises to Abraham is Jesus Christ. He is pre-eminently the descendant of Abraham. The New Testament opens with these words, “The book of the generation of Jesus Christ...the son of Abraham” (Matthew 1 v 1).
It goes on with a genealogy which traces Jesus' descent from Abraham and this theme is found throughout the New Testament. Paul points out in his letter to the Galatians that one particular descendant is referred to in the promise and that this one is Jesus: “Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ” (Galatians 3 v 16).
Jesus is revealed as more than just a natural son of Abraham; in the same letter it is stated that “they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham” (Galatians 3 v 7).
When we remember the Bible definition of faith as belief and obedience to God (the very opposite of sin), it is clear that Jesus was the greatest of all Abraham's many sons. He alone of all the human race could truly say to his adversaries without fear of contradiction, “Can any of you prove me guilty of sin?” (John 8 v 46 NIV). The supreme message of the New Testament is that Jesus by his faith overcame sin and thus “abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel”
(2 Timothy 1 v 10).
THE GOSPEL PREACHED TO ALL NATIONS
In Old Testament times the message of salvation (the gospel) was the privileged possession of the nation of Israel, but they failed to respond to the demands of faithful obedience to God. Then Jesus came and sent his apostles to preach the gospel of salvation to every nation (Mark 16 v 15).
Many see this as the fulfilment of God's promise that all nations should be blessed in Jesus Christ, Abraham's descendant. It was, however, only a step, although a great one, in God's unfolding plan to fill the earth with His glory. Jesus knew that relatively few would accept this wonderful message, because it involves entering the narrow gateway of faith; and now, 2,000 years later, the preaching of the gospel has not brought about the blessing of all nations.
THE KINGDOM OF GOD ON EARTH
Nevertheless this glorious time is coming! Jesus Christ will return to the earth to raise all who are responsible, including those who have “put on Christ” and who therefore have become heirs of the promises to Abraham (Galatians 3 v 27-29).
At that time the blessing of Abraham will come upon all nations through his descendant Jesus Christ (Gal. 3 v 14). Jesus will be king over all the earth and the Kingdom of God will be established, ushering in a time of blessing such as the world has never seen. For this all Christians are taught to pray to God: “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6 v 10).
SUMMARY
A promise of ultimate deliverance from sin and death was made immediately after Adam and Eve's fall.
God's plan of salvation is revealed in the promises He made to the faithful.
The record of the Flood demonstrates that few will be saved.
The findings of archaeology confirm the accuracy of the Bible.
God made great promises to Abraham because of his faith.
None of these promises has been completely fulfilled.
The promises point to Jesus Christ, who overcame sin and death.
Jesus Christ can save from eternal death all those who, like Abraham, believe and obey God.
The promises will be fulfilled when Jesus returns to the earth to establish the Kingdom of God.
The Kingdom of God will bring a time of blessing to the earth, which will then be filled with God's glory.
PASSAGES FOR BIBLE READING
Genesis 6, 12, 13, 15, 17, 22; Deuteronomy 28; Psalm 72; Isaiah 32 John 8; Acts 7; Romans 4; Galatians 3; Hebrews 11.
STUDY 5: questions
Write the correct answer to each question, and then submit them to us either by email to info@carelinks.net or by post to Carelinks, PO Box 152, Menai NSW 2234 AUSTRALIA
1. What was the name of the man with whom God was well pleased as recorded in Genesis 6 v 9?
Adam
Noah
Enoch
Abel
2. How did God destroy the wicked people in the account contained in Genesis chapters 6 to 8?
Earthquake
Famine
Flooding
Disease
3. How many people were saved in the disaster of Genesis chapters 6 to 8?
8
18
88
80
4. How were the faithful people protected in the disaster of Genesis chapters 6 to 8?
They lived in an ark
God hid them
They lived on a high mountain
God took them away
5. Where did Abraham live before God spoke to him?
Babylon
Bethel
Sodom
Ur
6. To which land did God lead Abraham?
Egypt
Canaan
Edom
Salem
7. Was the gospel message preached to Abraham?
Yes
No
Probably
We do not know
8. When will Abraham receive the final fulfilment of God's promise to him?
He already has received it
We do not know
When Jesus returns to the earth to establish God's kingdom
Abraham died so he will not receive the fulfilment of the promise
9. Who was the greatest of Abraham's descendants?
Judas
Jacob
Joseph
Jesus
10. Which three of the following did God promise to Abraham?
His descendants would possess the land of Canaan
He would live for ever in heaven
His descendants would become a great nation
He would have great riches immediately
Through one of his descendants all nations would be blessed
All his descendants would be faithful to God
His descendants would always remember the faith of Abraham.
Study 6 - The Lord Jesus Christ
This Study will consider the Lord Jesus Christ - the centre of the purpose of God.
“Thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1 v 21). ‘Christ’ is really a title and means ‘anointed’, therefore specially chosen. Jesus was THE CHRIST just as John was spoken of as THE BAPTIST.
GOD'S PURPOSE IN THE BEGINNING
In the last Study it was shown that God planned in the very beginning, in Eden, to provide a Saviour - one who would overcome the power of sin. The Study showed that the one who would bring such blessing upon the human race would be in the line of Abraham. Mary recognised that her son was the one promised and in her Song of Rejoicing she sang,
“My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour... He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy; as he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever” (Luke 1 v 46-47, 54-55).
OTHER PROMISES
The prophet Daniel spoke of the time when the Messiah would appear. The prophet Micah wrote of the place of his birth. Matthew records the visit of the wise men to Herod. Notice how many times Matthew records that events happen in fulfilment of the words of the Old Testament prophets (Matthew 1 v 22; Matthew 2 v 5 & 15).
It was God's purpose from the beginning to send Jesus and, when the right time came, God's purpose was put into effect. John wrote, “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 v 14).
WHY DID JESUS COME?
A well-known verse quoted before in these Studies says, “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 v 16). Jesus was given to the world by God in a very real sense. The angel Gabriel had appeared to Mary to tell her she was to have a son. Mary asked how this was possible as she was a virgin. The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit 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 v 35). This, too, had been the subject of prophecy as Matthew records (Matthew 1 v 22-23).
SACRIFICE
You may know that in Old Testament times, animals were sacrificed as a continual reminder of the consequence of sin and of a way of deliverance. The man who offered, recognised that death was the result of sin, and sometimes he had to associate himself with the death of the animal as a sign that he recognised this principle (Leviticus 1 v 3-4). Paul wrote, “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6 v 23).
In the Letter to the Hebrews, three points about sacrifices are made very clearly:
1. The sacrifices in Old Testament times provided a reminder of the principle that sin brings death - a principle established in the beginning (Hebrews 10 v 3).
2. As the animals had done no wrong, they only represented the teaching, “For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect” (Hebrews 10 v 1).
3. The sacrifice of animals could never take away sin. “For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins” (Hebrews 10 v 4).
The Bible makes it clear that what the sacrifice of animals could never do, Jesus was able to by giving his life as a perfect sacrifice: “But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God” (Hebrews 10 v 12).
A NEW BEGINNING
The Bible shows that as Adam brought sin and, therefore, death into the world by his disobedience, so Jesus by his perfect life, “brought life and immortality to light” (2 Timothy 1 v 10).
Because Jesus lived a perfect life, when he died it was “not possible” that he should remain dead (Acts 2 v 24). God raised him from the dead.
The contrast between the effect of Adam's disobedience and the effect of the obedience of Jesus is referred to many times: “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.” “For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made
righteous.” “That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 5 v 12, 19, 21).
As we follow the pattern set by Adam, so we can be related to the pattern set by Jesus. We can be related to the life he came to bring: “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive” (1 Corinthians 15 v 22).
FAITH NEEDED
Study 4 explained that man naturally is mortal and dies and that faith is needed to relate him to the life that God has offered. That Study pointed out that this has only been made possible by the work of Jesus:
“The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6 v 23).
So the salvation that God offers is conditional, “God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish ...” (John 3 v 16).This is why the Son of God was called Jesus: “He shall save his people from their sins”
THE WORK OF JESUS NOW
After his resurrection Jesus ascended to heaven. At his ascension, two angels declared he would return again:
“This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven” (Acts 1 v 11).
Peter said that Jesus would remain in heaven until the “restitution of all things” (Acts 3 v 19-21).
Jesus will return to fulfil the rest of God's purpose in him. Meanwhile, he is a mediator - one who is in between God and man. He is described as a High Priest who can intercede for us to the Almighty:
“There is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 2 v 5).
The Letter to the Hebrews explains that because Jesus lived his life on earth and was made in every way “like unto his brethren” (Hebrews 2 v 17) he can understand how we feel and can be sympathetic to our needs:
“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. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4 v 15-16).
SUMMARY
Jesus was born by the action of the Holy Spirit upon the virgin Mary. He was, therefore, the Son of God.
The name 'Jesus' means 'Saviour', and it was the purpose of God from the beginning to provide a way of escape from the natural consequences of man's sin.
The wages of sin is death. The sacrifice of animals provided a regular reminder of this principle, but could never “take away sins”.
Jesus provided the perfect sacrifice.
Jesus is now in heaven where he is able to be a merciful High Priest because he understands from his own experiences.
God has promised to send Jesus Christ back to the earth to complete His purpose in him when he comes to be King.
PASSAGES FOR BIBLE READING
Matthew 1 v 18-25; Luke 1 v 26-38; Luke 2; Matthew 2; John 1 v 1-14; Romans 5
STUDY 6: questions
Write the correct answer to each question, and then submit them to us either by email to info@carelinks.net or by post to Carelinks, PO Box 152, Menai NSW 2234 AUSTRALIA
1. The Name 'Jesus Christ' means
Saviour
Anointed
Saviour Anointed
Anointed Saviour
2. Who was the mother of Jesus?
Elizabeth
Mary
Martha
Ruth
3. Who was the real father of Jesus?
Joseph
David
Abraham
God
4. In Micah 5: 2 the birthplace of Jesus is given as
Nazareth
Bethlehem Ephratah
Bethlehem Judah
Galilee
5. Animal sacrifices in Old Testament times.
were a reminder that sin brings death
were to appease an angry God
were the result of superstition
were to provide salvation
6. Why was Jesus sent 2,000 years ago?
To save the Jews
To be the perfect sacrifice for sin
To feed the poor
To establish the kingdom
7. Where is Jesus now?
In the grave
In heaven
On this earth
We do not know
8. Will Jesus Christ come back to the earth?
Yes
No
We do not know
Possibly
9. What does Jesus do now?
He controls our lives
He acts as high priest before God
He controls the governments
We do not know
10. What is the gift of God through Jesus Christ?
Prosperity
Eternal life in the future
Long life now
Peace and quiet now
Study 7 - The Promises of God
God promised Abraham that in him and his seed (descendant) all families of the earth would be blessed. Study 5 showed that the one descendant who would bring blessing to the earth was Jesus. This is the subject of clear teaching in the New Testament (Galatians 3 v 16).
Abraham is used as an example of faith, and we are told that if we want to show our faith we must live our lives as Abraham did, trusting God and being obedient to His will.
The nation of Israel, who descended from Abraham, were slaves in Egypt. They were led out of Egypt by Moses after ten terrible plagues had forced the Egyptians to recognize that there was a God in heaven who was in control of world affairs. The Book of Exodus (the name means 'departure') tells us about these events.
At last the nation of Israel settled in the land of Canaan where Abraham had lived. Their first king was Saul, and the second was David, who wrote many of the Psalms.
THE PROMISE TO DAVID
In the Psalms David says that God had made a special promise to him. “The Lord hath sworn in truth unto David; he will not turn from it; Of the fruit of thy body will I set upon thy throne” (Psalm 132 v 11).
David, when his kingdom was established and the nation was at peace, wanted to build a temple, or a house of worship, for God. The prophet Nathan was sent to David to tell him that although God did not want him to build a house, God would establish David's royal house, and one in his royal line would rule over his kingdom for ever.
“And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever. And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever” (2 Samuel 7 v 12-13 & 16.).
There are three important points in these verses:-
1. The promise did not refer to Solomon, David's son, because God said that the “throne of his kingdom” would be established for ever. Although Solomon was noted for his riches and for his wisdom, he certainly did not reign for ever. In verse 14 Nathan the prophet tells David that God would be the father of this great king who would come in his line. “I will be his father, and he shall be my son” (2 Samuel 7 v 14).
2. The king would rule on David's throne (2 Samuel 7 v 12).
3. God declares that He will bring it to pass (2 Samuel 7 v 12).
THE TEACHING OF THE PROPHETS
The same points are emphasized throughout the Bible. Read the following passage from the book of the prophet Isaiah which is often quoted at Christmas time and see the same three points.
“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the gov