---------- Course DC201: Jesus Our Savior ---------- This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners . . . 1 Timothy 1:15 Intro: This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners . . . (1 Tim. 1:15)! Great indeed is the truth that Jesus is our God and Savior (Titus 3:6)! However, in coming “into the world to save sinners,” He had to do so as the God-Man (i.e., being fully God and fully Man in One Person.) There is nothing more glorious or more mysterious than the mystery and the wonder of God becoming flesh! The Incarnation is not fiction, and it is not mere illusion as if God put on some kind of a “man-suit” for 33 ½ years. The Incarnation is plainly attested in Scripture, and is to be received as a matter of faith. The whole of our salvation hangs upon the truth of His Incarnation, Jesus even now being the Son of MAN at the right hand of God. To save us Jesus had to come as a Man (1 Tim. 2:5), sharing in our humanity (Heb. 2:14). As a true Man, He became our true Substitutionary Sacrifice to answer for our sin, and being fully God (thus, being Infinite) He is able to make atonement and propitiation which satisfies God’s righteousness which is infinitely opposed to sin—our sin! It is as the God-Man, fully God and fully Man, with both the uncompromised Divine Nature and the uncompromised human nature residing mysteriously in ONE PERSON, who is our Savior—our Lord and our God, Jesus Christ. I.) Jesus, Our Savior Jesus, our Savior is truly God: ---------- 13 looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works. Titus 2:13-14 To those who have obtained like precious faith with us by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ: 2 Peter 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:1 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God . . . Phil. 2:6 Full a much fuller presentation of Scriptural evidence which fully reveals And Thomas answered and said to Him, "My Lord and that Jesus is truly God Almighty, the my God!" John 20:28 reader is referred to the lecture notes Notes: __________ For in Him dwells all the for course DC101, The Doctrine of God. ________________ fullness of the Godhead ________________ bodily . . . Col. 2:9 14 ---------- The Incarnation, God became Man in Order to be Our Savior (God and Man in One Person): ---------- ---------- And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh. . . 1 Tim. 3:16 "Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel," which is translated, "God with us." Matt. 1:23 (also Isaiah 7:14) . . . of whom are the fathers and from whom, according to the flesh, Christ came, who is over all, the eternally blessed God. Amen. Rom. 9:5 ________________ ________________ ________________ ________________ ________________ ________________ ________________ ________________ ________________ ________________ Regarding Lesson DC201, unless otherwise noted: Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Page 1 of 7 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Phil. 2:6-8 14 Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. Heb .2:14-15 From this man's seed, according to the promise, God raised up for Israel a Savior—Jesus. . . Acts 13:23 Born of a Virgin, of the Seed of Abraham, the Seed of David, Jesus Genealogy being traced back to Adam: 18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. 19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. 20 But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21 And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins." 22 So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: 23 "Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel," which is translated, "God with us." 24 Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord Notes: _____________ commanded him and took to him his wife, 25 and did not know her ___________________ till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name ___________________ Jesus. Matt. 1:18-25 34 Then Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I do not ___________________ ___________________ know a man?" 35 And the angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will ___________________ overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born ___________________ will be called the Son of God. Luke 1:34-35 ___________________ 4 But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His ___________________ Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who ___________________ were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. ___________________ Gal. 4:4-5 ___________________ 42 Then she spoke out with a loud voice and said, "Blessed are you ___________________ among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 But why ___________________ is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to ___________________ me? Luke 1:42-43 ___________________ [The trace of the Genealogy of Jesus ending with] the son of Enos, the son ___________________ of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God. Luke 3:38 ___________________ The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the 2 ___________________ Son of Abraham: Abraham begot Isaac, Isaac begot Jacob . . . begot . . . begot . . . begot . . . And Jacob begot Joseph the husband of ___________________ Mary, of whom was born Jesus who is called Christ. (see Matt 1:1___________________ 16) [and] Now Jesus Himself began His ministry at about thirty years ___________________ of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph. . . Luke 3:23 ___________________ Page 2 of 7 And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel. Gen. 3:15 . . . concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh . . . Rom. 1:3 Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh, He would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne. . . Acts 2:30 Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, "And to seeds," as of many, but as of one, "And to your Seed," who is Christ. Gal 3:16 II.) Jesus, Our Sacrifice, Our High Priest Jesus is both our Substitutionary Sacrifice and our High Priest who appears before God on our behalf. He has offered Himself as the atoning Sacrifice, making propitiation by His Blood. This was shadowed in the Old Testament under the Levitical priesthood on the great Day of Atonement (Lev. 16:26-32)—animal blood being brought into the Holy of Holies in the tabernacle and sprinkled on the mercy seat. Although all this was a shadow of what Christ would do in reality, the High Priest alone could do this ministry, entering only once each year on the great Day of Atonement, and never without blood (Exod. 30:10, Heb. 9:7). This honor no one could take to himself, thus Aaron was called by God to be High Priest (Heb. 5:4). Now Aaron’s ministry (and of all the high priests which proceeded from his line [Levitical]) in offering the blood on the great Day of Atonement served as a type of which Jesus Himself is the Antitype/the Reality. Nor did Jesus take this great honor to Himself, but was likewise called of God to be the High Priest (Heb. 5:5-6)—however, called to be High Priest in the order of Melchizedek. Now Melchizedek himself was a type, however, one very different from the Levitical line of High Priest from Aaron. Under the Levitical line, there was a strict record kept of the genealogy regarding their father and mother in order that they would be able to show their right to the priesthood, as well as a record of their death (the end of their ministry as the High Priest). But Melchizedek was called to be High Priest of God without having any such a genealogy listing his father and mother in order to prove his right to the priesthood, as well as there never being kept a record of his death (i.e., the end of his ministry). Rather, He was called of God and served as a shadow of the true High Priest to come, revealing that the True High Priest would not come from the line of Levi. For it is after 1 the order of Melchizedek that Jesus is our High Priest. However, unlike Aaron’s ministry, Jesus offers His own precious Blood, the Blood of God (Acts 20:28). Jesus, having always existed (Heb. 13:8), has no genealogy (shadowed in Melchizedek) He being God from all eternity (Micah 5:2). And since He has been raised immortal, death shall never put an end to the ministry of His Priesthood (shadowed in Melchizedek having no record of his death). Thus, Jesus ever lives as our High Priest to make intercession for us before God, having offered the Infinite Blood of God—He is truly able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him! Notes: _______________________________________ _____________________________________________ _____________________________________________ _____________________________________________ _____________________________________________ _____________________________________________ _____________________________________________ _____________________________________________ Now this is the main point of the things we are saying: We have such a High Priest, who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, 2 a Minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle which the Lord erected, and not man. Hebrews 8:1-2 Page 3 of 7 Jesus, Our High Priest before God: Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus. . . Heb. 3:1 . . . who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of .the Majesty on high. . . Heb 1:3 But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God . . . For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified. Heb. 10:12-14 . . . where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek. Heb. 6:20 Hebrews Chapter 7 (selected): 1 But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. 12 Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. 13 For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, 14 how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? Hebrews 9:11-14 11 For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God . . . 3 without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, remains a priest continually. . . . 11 Therefore, if perfection were through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need was there that another priest should rise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be called according to the order of Aaron? 12 For the priesthood being changed, of necessity there is also a change of the law. 13 For He of whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe, from which no man has officiated at the altar. 14 For it is evident that our Lord arose from Judah, of which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood. 15 And it is yet far more evident if, in the likeness of Melchizedek, there arises another priest 16 who has come, not according to the law of a fleshly commandment, but according to the power of an endless life. 17 For He testifies: "You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek." . . . 20 And inasmuch as He was not made priest without an oath 21 (for they have become priests without an oath, but He with an oath by Him who said to Him: "The Lord has sworn And will not relent, 'You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek' "), 22 by so much more Jesus has become a surety of a better covenant. 23 Also there were many priests, because they were prevented by death from continuing. 24 But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. 25 Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. 26 For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the Notes: ____________________________________ heavens; 27 who does not need daily, as those __________________________________________ high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His __________________________________________ own sins and then for the people's, for this He __________________________________________ did once for all when He offered up Himself. __________________________________________ __________________________________________ __________________________________________ __________________________________________ Page 4 of 7 (Hebrews chapters 7 through 10 set this forth His being our High Priest powerfully.) Making Atonement and Propitiation Required that Jesus have a True Body: 5 Therefore, when He came into the world, He said: "Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, But a body You have prepared for Me. 6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You had no pleasure. 7 Then I said, 'Behold, I have come— In the volume of the book it is written of Me— To do Your will, O God.' " 8 Previously saying, "Sacrifice and offering, burnt offerings, and offerings for sin You did not desire, nor had pleasure in them" (which are offered according to the law), 9 then He said, "Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God." He takes away the first that He may establish the second. 10 By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. Heb. 10:5-10 “Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have.” Luke 24:39 24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, 26 to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. Rom. 3:24-26 III.) Jesus, Resurrection Hope, His Ascension and His Return to Judge When Jesus cleansed the temple the first time He was asked by His enemies for a sign to reveal His authority to do this. Jesus made the resurrection of His Body the sign of all that He said and did. Because of Jesus resurrection, we know that He has conquered sin and its full wages! Because of His ascension back to heaven, we know that He both came from God and has returned to Him as the Savior of all mankind, having settled all things that relate to man’s salvation! And He has promised to return to judge the living and the dead, for all judgment has been committed to the Son. He who believes that Jesus has risen from the dead, having ascended to the right hand of God awaiting that great Day of Judgment, believes that very sign which our Lord Himself gave, saying: “‘Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.’. . . But He was speaking of the temple of His body. Therefore, when He had risen from the dead, His disciples remembered that He had said this to them; and they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus had said” (John 2:19, 21-22). It is no wonder that Scripture declares: “. . .if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus AND BELIEVE IN YOUR HEART THAT GOD HAS RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD, you will be saved” (Rom. 10:9). For he who believes in the resurrection believes the whole of all that Jesus accomplished! Notes: ___________ _________________ _________________ _________________ _________________ _________________ _________________ _________________ _________________ _________________ _________________ _________________ _________________ His Resurrection assures that All has been Satisfied: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead . . . 1 Pet. 1:3 12 Now if Christ is preached that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. 14 And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty. 15 Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up—if in fact the dead do not rise. 16 For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. 17 And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! 18 Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable. 20 But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. 1 Cor. 15:12-22 Page 5 of 7 22 9 "Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know— 23 Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death; 24 whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it. Acts 2:22-24 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Rom. 10:8-10 Jesus has returned to God, the Son of MAN at the Right Hand of God: 50 30 And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them. 51 Now it came to pass, while He blessed them, that He was parted from them and carried up into heaven. Luke 24:50-51 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree. 31 Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. Acts 5:29-31 Notes: ______________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ "But now I go away to Him who sent Me, and none of you asks Me, 'Where are You going?' 6 But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. 7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. 8 And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 of sin, because they do not believe in Me; 10 of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; 11 of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. John 16:5-11 5 . . . who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him. 1 Peter 3:22 . . . looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Heb. 12:2 . . . and said, “Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!” Acts 7:56 Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. Acts 5:31 Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Rom. 8:34 Jesus Who Ascended will return to Judge the Living and the Dead: 9 Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. 10 And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, 11 who also said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven." Acts 1:9-11 Page 6 of 7 1 42 They will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. 1 Peter 4:5 22 Now as he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid. . . Acts 24:25 I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: 2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. 2 Tim. 4:1-2 And He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead. 43 To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins." Acts 10:42-43 For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son . . . 27 and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man. John 5:22 &27 IV.) Jesus Saves FROM Our Sin Salvation! How great the word—how great the Savior! They cried out on the day of the Triumphal Entry “Hosanna” which is a cry for salvation to come! But what does salvation save us from? Hell? The devil? Condemnation? Yes, but more. It saves us from the very reason that man is threatened with hell to begin with, the very reason that Satan and men have become lost. Jesus saves us from our sin! O how great is this salvation, for Jesus doesn’t just save us from the eternal consequences of sin, He saves us from sin itself. For we are not saved in our sin, but we are saved from our sin. Concerning salvation, John A. Broadus wrote: “Ye shall die in your sins, a most terrible doom. It were a very inadequate salvation merely to be delivered from positive punishment, and be left sinful. If we have right ideas of sin, we must greatly desire to be saved from our sins. And this Jesus came to accomplish.”1 And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins." Matt. 1:21 . . . who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works. Titus 2:14 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love… Col. 1:13 . . . who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father. . . Gal. 1:4 . . . when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high. . . Heb. 1:3 Notes: ________________________ ______________________________ ______________________________ ______________________________ ______________________________ ______________________________ ______________________________ ______________________________ ______________________________ ______________________________ ______________________________ ______________________________ ______________________________ ______________________________ 1 A. John Broadus, Favorite Sermons of John A. Broadus (New York: Harper & Brothers Publishers, 1959), 145. Page 7 of 7 ---------- Course DC203: Transcendence of God ---------- “To whom will you liken Me, and make Me equal and compare Me, that we should be alike?” Isaiah 46:5 Intro: God is incomprehensible. His greatness transcends human ability to think or imagine. Men are creatures, but He is the Uncreated God. He is what He was, is and always shall be—the eternal I Am, the never-changing God. To dwell upon the transcendence of God long is to soon discover that we are greatly limited by our creature abilities. He who is outside of creation, time, and change must reveal Himself to us—and He has in Christ. Jesus is “the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person” (Heb. 1:3). Truly, “no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him” (Matt. 11:27). There is great benefit in dwelling upon the incomprehensible God. Faith is deepened, His promises are trusted, and His concern and love for us move us to worship. God is Transcendent beyond Compare: ---------- I am the Lord, and there is no other; There is no God besides Me. Isaiah 45:5 3 You shall have no other gods before Me. 4 "You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. Exod. 20:3-4 “To whom will you liken Me, and make Me equal and compare Me, that we should be alike?” Isaiah 46:5 ---------- God is Immutable: "For I am the Lord, I do not change” Malachi 3:6 17 Thus God, determining to show more abundantly to the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath, 18 that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us. Hebrews 6:17-18 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Hebrews 13:8 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. James 1:17 This lesson has a twofold assignment: First: There is a written section entitled, Things True about God. It was written by Don Minkler, being most of the first chapter from “The Theology of the Cults Exposed and Refuted (Covering the Cults: Mormonism, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Unity),” used with permission. As you read, jot down any notes which may strike you as you dwell upon the incomprehensible God. ---------- ---------- Second: There is a message/lecture for this course. A. W. Tozer speaks upon the immutability of God. The CD or mp3 downloaded from the internet can be accessed through the resident faculty member/pastor. Write a half-to one-page report concerning how correct theology needs to see God as being truly transcendent. Let your instructor read it. Regarding Lesson DC203, unless otherwise noted: Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Page 1 of 8 Things True about God (Image Worship Exposed as False) Isaiah 45:5; Exodus 20:3-5; Isaiah 46:5 In the first of the Ten Commandments the Lord declared Whom we are alone to worship, for He alone is the True God, there is no other but Him. Concerning the Second of the Ten, it may appear to the casual observer that the command to make no “carved image or any likeness” is redundant. However, the Second Commandment is not redundant, but is vital in revealing how we are to worship Him Who alone is God. That is, the First Commandment primarily reveals WHOM we are to worship, and the Second Commandment primarily reveals HOW we are to worship Him – in spirit and in truth, without any image-making of our own. Certainly, any image of a god or of the True and Infinite Lord God from finite man’s own devising must of necessity be false! Mankind is only able to think, imagine and create in terms of creature-finiteness. To whom or what shall we liken the uncreated transcendent God? Idolatry is not just confined to creating an idol in the manner of the unsophisticated heathen nations, but it is an idolatrous heart that willfully imagines God to be contrary to how He has revealed Himself. A.W. Tozer well said, “. . . idolatry is at the bottom a libel on His character. The idolatrous heart assumes that God is other than He is—in itself a monstrous sin—and substitutes for the true God one made after its own likeness . . . A god begotten in the shadows of a fallen heart will quite naturally be no true likeness of the true God.”12 This sort of idolatry is always found in cults, for false religions invent their own image of who God is. However, let everyone who would be free from idolatry be diligent himself to not entertain any thoughts that are unworthy of God, for it is easy for us to slip into such. God is transcendent beyond our highest and best thoughts. Therefore, when one sets His heart to worship the One True God, let him come humbly, ready to adore and worship rather than to explain, supply or invent information, let him be diligent to receive what God is pleased to reveal of His Infinite Nature rather than become one “who darkens counsel by words without knowledge” (Job 38:2). After hearing from God, Job humbly and rightly replied, “Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me which I did not know” (Job 42:3). Job’s words serve well the one who undertakes the task of theology in its most restricted sense – the study of the Nature of God Himself, reminding us that we are finite creatures capable only of creature thoughts and expressions.2 Notes: _______________________________ _____________________________________ _____________________________________ _____________________________________ _____________________________________ _____________________________________ _____________________________________ 1 A.W. Tozer, Knowledge of the Holy (New York, NY: Harper and Row, 1961), 11. 2 Theology is often used in a general way to describe one’s doctrinal positions on various thoughts, all of which in some degree reflect his/her understanding of God. However, strictly speaking, theology is the study of God Himself. That very sober reality should cause every one who undertakes such a study to do so humbly, adoringly and worshipfully. Russell Byrum wrote, “Our idea of the nature and operations of God is of fundamental importance. It determines what is the nature of our religion and theology. . . . This study about the Nature of God is the study of theology in the more restricted and exact sense of the term.” Russell R. Byrum, Christian Theology (Anderson, IN: Gospel Trumpet Company, 1950), 179. A.W. Tozer, with piercing insight wrote, “The history of mankind will probably show that no people has ever risen above its religion, and man’s spiritual history will positively demonstrate that no religion has ever been greater than its idea of God (italics mine).” Tozer, Knowledge, 9. Page 2 of 8 A worthy and exalted view of God begins in the realization that He is higher than our best words, imagination and ability to appreciate. We must possess the unshakable realization that our creature limitations will certainly cause us to fail in our grasping after, speaking for, or in our comprehension of His exaltedness. The Need for Awe Before The Transcendent God When considering the Lord God Almighty, there is a little three letter word that is all too suspiciously (and shamefully) absent in today’s various religious environments (sadly that includes much of the “Christian” world). It’s a word, however, which is inseparably associated with the holiest and most useful of God’s creatures, whether we speak of men or of flaming seraphim above. It is the word AWE. There is nothing which would better cure the troubles affecting a weak Christianity like a fresh dose of awe before the exalted transcendent God. “God is transcendent!” – says every useful theology book in one manner or another, and rightly so. But what does it mean to say that God is transcendent? Just here we can point the direction the word will take us, but we cannot travel in that direction as far as our pointing indicates. For transcendent means beyond human comprehension and experience – beyond human words, thoughts, imagination, and ability to comprehend and appreciate! God is transcendent beyond creature vocabulary, thoughts and ability to comprehend. Allow me to multiply a few creature words and thoughts by way of pointing out how miserably we must fail in comprehending the transcendent God. By way of an example, we may hear one say: “We serve a big God” — but by doing so, we speak with unworthy thoughts of God! Perhaps the heart is right in the one who says that, but technically, the words are all wrong! He is transcendent beyond the unworthy creature word “big” — for big implies a comparison to something small. But God is infinite, being beyond comparison! One may speak by comparison only of created things, such as comparing a grape to a watermelon. Now, creature words and understanding may say that the grape is small and a watermelon is big, because we can do a little math and say that the watermelon is so many hundreds of times bigger than the grape. The “bigness” of the watermelon is grasped by the “smallness” of the grape for our starting point, and thus we may compare. But the word big will never accurately describe God’s transcendent exaltedness, for we have no starting point! There is nothing we can compare the uncreated, immutable Lord God to as a point of reference! “To whom will you liken Me, and make Me equal and compare Me, that we should be alike?” (Isa. 46:5). “Big” implies limits, and therefore is not a true transcendent word – but God is transcendent, beyond our mind’s ability to imagine! Again, big implies that with enough math we can obtain a size comparison — but God is transcendent! He cannot be measured! Thus, how sinful for us to make an image of God! Again, a right theology acknowledges that God is infinite. But infinite is a transcendent word itself, indicating what is beyond comprehension. Strictly speaking, it is quite unworthy to say of God that He is infinitely stronger (or greater, or wiser, etc.) than a lion, a man, or an archangel and so forth – for we have no business comparing God with any created thing as a frame of reference. Rather, God is infinite beyond all comparison. As Tozer said, “. . . in the universe there are really only two things, God and not God — that which is God and that which is not God.”3 Amen! There is either God, or that which God has made/created, whether one speaks about things in heaven or things on earth, whether 1 3 A.W. Tozer, Christ the Eternal Son (Harrisburg, PA: Christian Publications, Inc., 1982), 14-15. I am unable to trace out and give credit to all the ways in which I have been blessed through A.W. Tozer’s works, except to say that I am grateful to God for his writing and preaching, and I largely credit his works with opening up my mind to the transcendence of God. If anything of the fragrance of Tozer is detected, it is because I have spent much time in his garden. Page 3 of 8 we speak of visible created things or invisible created things, whether we speak about thrones, dominions, power, or anything imaginable – there is God or not God (Col. 1:16). And there is nothing that is “not God” to which He can be worthily compared. Likewise, the creature word “above” in relation to God is meaningless, unless we couple the word “above” with the meaning of transcendent so that it only points to what we cannot comprehend. For directionally, God is no more “above” us than He is to the “right” of us, or the “left” of us – or to the “front” or “back” of us, and the everlasting arms are no more above us than underneath us — “for in Him we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:28)! Notes: _______________________________ _____________________________________ _____________________________________ _____________________________________ _____________________________________ _____________________________________ _____________________________________ _____________________________________ _____________________________________ _____________________________________ Likewise, all additions to the creature words we may use to speak of God, such as the “quality” of God’s greatness, or the “degree” of His majesty — fail again. For these are creature words that speak of measurement,1but God is “beyond” measurement (yet I trip over my words again, for “beyond” is a creature word indicating distance, yet 4 God is everywhere at once). All words, thoughts and attempts to scientifically comprehend and express the Lord God Almighty must fail us! The best we can do is use these words, thoughts and ideas only by blending them with the sense of “transcendent” — which is a word that confesses we cannot comprehend its meaning, since it points us to where we admit no man’s understanding can go.4 Therefore, how sinful indeed whenever religious innovations of men have “changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image” (Rom. 1:23) – which is the idolatry behind every false religion. Awe becomes us well at the consideration of God, for even those attributes which Christians commonly think they have down, saying that God is omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent, are in themselves transcendent words – being beyond our comprehension! The usefulness to our creature minds to separate the “omni’s” into these three categories so that we can more readily appreciate and think upon them independently, only reveals our inability to fully comprehend the transcendent prefix word “omni” in relation to the Person of God. That God is omnipresent (everywhere at once) means that He must be omnipotent, else He could not be everywhere at once. And to have all power and be everywhere at once means He must be omniscient as well, for to be everywhere means He knows what is going on everywhere. The omni’s of the Divine Nature are not divided from one another but rather demand that they all work in unity. But for the sake of our human weaknesses, let us focus upon but one aspect of God’s transcendence, His omniscience. I am quite aware that the words I have used to describe “transcendence” are able to be picked apart as creature words themselves! Understand that I am aiming at stirring an adoring, worshipful and awe-inspired heart in the reader, rather than seeking to satisfy the scientific mind. Indeed, it is all that we can safely do when we consider theology in its most restrictive sense. But thank God that He allows us to use creature words, for we cannot help it, for creatures we are. Thank God that for our benefit He even condescends to reveal aspects of His incomparable exaltedness to us through the medium of creature words and thoughts. Russell Byrum pointed out, “. . . God is spirit . . . Those Scripture statements which seem to represent Him as having bodily parts, as eyes, ears, hands, are anthropomorphic and are mere adaptations in language to represent knowledge attained or actions executed such as a man accomplishes by the use of such organs. [And, in referring to various ways in which God had manifested Himself to some in the Old Testament (as a Man, the burning bush, the pillar of fire, etc.) Byrum continued] . . .These manifestations which are technically known as theophanies are, however, not indicative of the essential nature of God, but are only forms assumed for the occasions.” —Russell R. Byrum, Christian Theology (Anderson, IN: Gospel Trumpet Company, 1950), 184-185. Page 4 of 8 To say that God has all knowledge means that He knows more than just all actual knowledge (whether past, present or future). It means He knows all possible knowledge as well. That is, He knows what the world would be like today if Adam had remained holy and Eve alone had sinned. He knows what would have happened if Hitler had gotten saved, or what would have happened if you and I had made different choices. He is ALL KNOWING – and therefore He could say to Chorazin and Bethsaida, “. . . if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes” (Matt. 10:21). Furthermore, to consider His omniscience is to acknowledge that He is eternal and outside of time since He knows the future as plainly as He knows the past and present. It reveals as well that He is infinite, there being no limit to what may be known. Thus, if one had the ability to do so, he could no doubt show how everything men divide up concerning “attributes” could be used to reveal any other attribute that belongs to God alone. Tozer powerfully nailed this home, saying, “The harmony of His being is the result not of a perfect balance of parts but of the absence of parts. Between His attributes no contradiction can exist. He need not suspend one to exercise another, for in Him all His attributes are one. All of God does all that God does; He does not divide Himself to perform a work, but works in the total unity of His being.”5 To begin to get a glimpse of the Majestic Lord God is to get all the theological stuffing knocked out of us and say with Job, “I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, But now my eye sees You. Therefore I abhor myself, And repent in dust and ashes” (Job 42:5-6).61 Consider the larger quote, after Job’s inadequate theology had melted 5 away and he came to behold God in a transcendent manner: 2I know that You can do everything, And that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You. 3You asked, “Who is this who hides counsel without knowledge?” Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, Things too wonderful for me, which I did not know. 4Listen, please, and let me speak; You said, “I will question you, and you shall answer Me.” 5I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, But now my eye sees You. 6Therefore I abhor myself, And repent in dust and ashes. Job 42:2-6 Isaiah’s encounter with God in the temple and Saul’s encounter on the Damascus road reveal the same. What shall we say but, 33Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out! 34"For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has become His counselor?" 35"Or who has first given to Him And it shall be repaid to him?" 36For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen. Romans 11:32-36 God is infinite, He is eternal, He is selfsufficient – all things flow from Him and are held together by the Word of His power. He needs nothing from anyone, else He would not be the eternal I AM. Let us worship Him! But let us never make an “image” of Him. That is idolatry indeed – and this is what every cult and false religion has done, they have made an image. Tozer, Knowledge, 23. 6 In view of God’s transcendence, I have not written this without fearfully wondering if in some “creature” way I have multiplied “words without knowledge.” However, in spite of creature limitations, I know my heart is at least on the right track, for I have been drawn to adoringly worship Him through doing so. It is hoped that the reader’s spirit has worshiped along with mine in the truth that He is exalted beyond man’s ability to comprehend. To speak about His transcendence is to say with Job, “Indeed these are the mere edges of His ways, and how small a whisper we hear of Him! But the thunder of His power who can understand?” (Job 26:14). Page 5 of 8 However, even when a member of a cult or false religion will not bow their pride before the inspired Word of God, this does not mean we cannot reason with them in a manner that exposes the folly of their images of God. For man already innately knows or can innately recognize that God is transcendent. Their images of God fail when compared to the transcendent God who has made manifest “His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse.” Their own honest judgment (if they would vocalize it) admits that our Rock is greater than their images, even as Deuteronomy 32:31 declares, “For their rock is not like our Rock, even our enemies themselves being judges.” Notice, even our enemies themselves being judges (“as even our enemies concede” N.I.V.)! To reveal what God has manifested of Himself is to expose the cults and false religions, have a bridge of reasoning with them, and open the door for sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Christ, The Express Image of The Invisible God or What Kind of God is The Transcendent God? Since the Divine Nature is transcendent (Isa. 46:5), since in Him we live and move and have our being – there being no place we can flee from His presence (Acts 17:28, Ps. 139:7-12), since all things are naked and open before Him to whom we must give an account (Heb. 4:13) — it is natural that men should inquire, “Is He a good God or an evil God?” All depends upon who He is, since He is omnipotent/omniscient/omnipresent. Thank God that we can have perfect peace in knowing that He is indeed good! For though God has revealed through creation some things about Himself which all men can innately recognize to be true about God (i.e., “His invisible attributes . . . eternal Power and Godhead”), creation does not reveal the complete revelation of Himself to the creature, but primarily reveals only His righteousness, wisdom and transcendence before men. 8 But 7 Notes: ______________________________ ____________________________________ ____________________________________ ____________________________________ ____________________________________ ____________________________________ ____________________________________ ____________________________________ His wonderful love, kindness, gentleness, desire for fellowship, grace and truth and the like, such revelation to men could not come through the things made, but could only be hinted at through creation. However, when it came time for Him to make known His full and complete revelation of Himself to His creation in language that the creature could understand, “The Word [Who was with God and was God] became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory” (John 1:14). God’s full and express revelation of Who He is without any compromise at all, and yet, being expressed in creature language/understanding/ words – was accomplished in the WORD becoming flesh, and dwelling among us! Thus, “. . . great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh” (1 Tim. 3:16). Worship Him!7 Man needed not only the first of the Ten Commandments (not to have any other gods before Him), man needed the Second Commandment as well (not to make any graven image or any likeness of God at all), for the image of God we would create would only be corrupted, would only be wrong, false, and a conception full of errors – idolatry! Man could never conceive the express image of God. But when the time was right, when it became time to reveal His express image of Himself to mankind (rather than another Old Testament partial and inadequate revelation of who He is) – GOD HIMSELF GAVE THE EXPRESS IMAGE OF HIMSELF IN THE PERSON OF JESUS CHRIST! Praise God! For God, Who alone Hannah Whitall Smith wrote, “Christ revealed God by what He was, by what He did, and by what He said. From the cradle to the grave, every moment of His life was a revelation of God. We must go to Him then for our knowledge of God, and we must refuse to believe anything concerning God that is not revealed to us in Christ. All other revelations are partial, and therefore not wholly true. Only in Christ do we see God as He is; for Christ is declared to be the “express image” of God.” Ibid., 22. Page 6 of 8 could give the image of Himself to man, has done so – He has given the express image of Himself in the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ. Seeing Him, we see God. Hear the Scripture at this point and let every worshiping heart humbly bow before Him who alone is worthy! 1God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, 2has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; 3who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high (Heb. 1:1-3 [italics mine]). 15He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. 17And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. 18And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence (Col. 1:1518 [italics mine]). No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him (John 1:18 [italics mine]). "If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him" (John 14:7 [italics mine]). He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, “Show us the Father?” (John 14:9 [italics mine]). I and My Father are one (John 10:30 [italics mine]). 27All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him. 28Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For My yoke is easy and My burden is light (Matt. 11:27-30 [italics mine]). 4. . . Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. 5For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bond-servants for Jesus' sake. 6For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ (2 Cor. 4:4-6 [italics mine]). Notice that last line – God has given us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ! Therefore, in answer to any question about how we shall have any rest of soul before the omnipresent / omniscient / omnipotent / transcendent God, we may respond with absolute confidence and joy — because He is exactly as Jesus is. Seeing Jesus, we see God. The Transcendent God is as lovely as Jesus. He cares about sinful men the way Jesus does. The way Jesus felt and dealt with sinful people (such as the woman caught in adultery) is how God feels and deals with sinful people. The way that Jesus cared about tax collectors, sinners, the broken and grieving, about children – as well as about hypocrites – is exactly how the Transcendent God feels, for Jesus is the express image of His Person. Anything we desire to know about the invisible God is revealed in Jesus, for He is “the image of the invisible God.” Therefore, why can the believer set his heart at rest before the Transcendent God? Because He is exactly what Jesus is — Jesus is this transcendent God manifested in human flesh! Concerning who is God, Tozer so beautifully said: Page 7 of 8 “Now someone who in spite of his past sins honestly wants to become reconciled to God may cautiously inquire, ‘If I come to God, how will He act toward me? What kind of disposition has He? What will I find Him to be like?’” The answer is that He will be found to be exactly like Jesus. “He that hath seen me,” said Jesus, “hath seen the Father.” Christ walked with men on earth that He might show them what God is like and make known the true nature of God to the race that had wrong ideas about Him. This is only one of the things He did while here in the flesh, but this He did with beautiful perfection.8 Notes: _______________________________ ____________________________________ ____________________________________ ____________________________________ ____________________________________ ____________________________________ Proceed to second part of the course: The Lecture on The Immutability of God, by A. W. Tozer. Write your half to one page report for your instructor to review. (Use and extra sheet of paper if needed.) 9 Notes: _________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ 8 Page 8 of 8 Tozer, Knowledge, 90. ---------- Course DC205: Sanctification ---------- ---------- ---------- Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thessalonians 5:23 Intro: A.W. Tozer wrote, “Show me an individual or a congregation committed to spiritual progress with the Lord, interested in what the Bible teaches about spiritual perfection and victory, and I will show you where there is strong and immediate defiance by the devil!”1 The preaching and exhortation concerning the Christian doctrine of sanctification certainly poses a great threat of terror to Satan’s work on earth. As Tozer pointed out, there is an immediate resistance from him when people are stirred up to leave the elementary things of Christ and go on to perfection. There is no mystery concerning why Satan opposes anyone getting serious about the doctrine of sanctification. To read the history of those who proclaimed and taught and pursued entire sanctification (e.g., Wesley, Whitefield and Finney) is to know that the results greatly shook the kingdom of darkness—souls being saved and believers entering the harvest field. In his opposition, Satan has used all his tricks in order to discredit the doctrine among Christians—and he has sadly had great success in his opposition to its proclamation. For there are many who speak disdainfully of both the doctrine and of those who believe it. Many water down the meaning of the word sanctification until it carries no meaning other than that of being set apart, and thus deny that there is any cleansing/purifying or power associated with it for the Christian. However, besides this manner of attack against the doctrine, it has suffered as well from some of its well-meaning friends. For some who to preach and teach upon the doctrine of entire sanctification have claimed too much for it! This practice has fueled the kneejerk reaction in others who deny that a believer can be entirely sanctified. As you approach the study of this, do so with prayer and a simple faith, one which only hungers to know “What saith the Scriptures?”—and remain determined that whatever the Spirit of God reveals to you from the Word of God, you will not harden your heart against it but proclaim, “It is written.” I.) Three Doctrines NOT to be Convoluted: Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thessalonians 5:23 Justification: Sinners can experience this here in this world, and in this world alone. It is to become saved, to believe on Jesus, to experience the remission of sins. A key word associated with one knowing justification is repentance. Sanctification: Believers can experience this here is this world. It concerns heart purity (a blameless heart), full consecration as a living sacrifice, and intimacy with God which results in power from on high. The Christian is not freed from temptation, nor from errors in judgment, nor from many of the consequence from the fall which plague life under the sun. But it is to be renewed in the image of the new man, conforming to Christ in the inner man. A key word associated with sanctification is consecration. Glorification: Only for believers, but not experienced in this world. It touches the truth that ---------- ---------- we will one day know absolute/faultless perfection, the removal of every consequences which has resulted from the fall of mankind into sin—even our lowly mortal bodies will be transformed and clothed with immortality, being conformed to Christ’s glorious body. A key phrase associated with glorification is the redemption of the body. 1 A. W. Tozer, I Talk Back to the Devil (Harrisburg, PA: Christian Publications Inc., 1972), 10. Regarding Lesson DC205, unless otherwise noted: Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Page 1 of 11 One of the troubles associated with proclaiming the Doctrine of Entire Sanctification (a name which will be used in this lesson to describe the reality of the doctrine) is the fact that it is known under various names. Some hear it expressed as the Deeper Life, Christian Perfection, the Second Blessing, the Second Work of Grace, and perhaps a few more (of all the titles listed here, Entire Sanctification is certainly akin to the phrase appearing in 1 Thessalonians 5:23 [i.e., “sanctify you completely”]). The fact that none of the above titles is precisely used in Scripture does not testify against the reality of the doctrine, for the same could be said about the Doctrine of the Trinity. Rather, the names used express the doctrine to which we refer in a brief manner. It is not the name but the reality of the doctrine which needs to be known. One may encounter these various titles, and some may attach or emphasis some point of distinction through the title they use, but they all describe the same basic teaching—namely, that there is a life of blameless-perfection, purity and power which a Christian can know now in this life; a spiritual encounter and reality beyond justification. Although known by different names, it is a teaching which has its adherence across typically rigid theological lines of distinction (e.g., Wesley and Whitefield, one an Arminian, the other a Calvinist). Basic Elements of the Doctrine: Scripture has not been written as a dictionary of biblical doctrines. Rather, the Church harmonizes the various aspects which Scripture sets forth in the formation of sound doctrine—for example, the doctrine of the Trinity is the harmonization of what Scripture has set forth in various manners. Likewise, the Doctrine of Entire Sanctification is the harmonization of what Scripture has set forth in various manners. Full Consecration of one’s life (abilities, strength, mental—all of one’s self [body, soul, and spirit]). Heart Purity, a cleansing from carnality (a morally blameless perfection rather than a faultless perfection). Victorious living over all evil in the full assurance of faith (the pursuit of holiness, experiencing power from on high for the inner and outer life). Love for God and mankind (after the likeness of our Lord). That these various elements are clearly held forth in Scripture as being knowable in this life by the believer (i.e., those who have been justified) harmonizes into the Doctrine of Entire Sanctification. II.) Biblical Basis for the Doctrine Revealing that Sanctification is Subsequent to Justification: 1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Romans 12:1-2 Notes: _________________________________________ _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ 17 It is clear that this “living sacrifice,” the presenting/ consecration of one’s body, is not spoken to unbelievers but to the saved, to “brethren” who have already experienced the mercies of God. This offering is to be “holy” (ἅγιος [Phonetic: hag'-ee-os]), a closely related word to “sanctify” (ἁγιάζω [Phonetic: hag-ee-ad'-zo]). This consecration of the total self (body, soul and spirit) results in one no longer being “conformed to this world” but “transformed by the renewing” of the mind, enabled to “prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” What a different spiritual standing this is from that which belonged to those in Corinth who, although they were saved, Paul said that he “could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal” for they were “behaving like mere men” (1 Cor. 3:1 &3). But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. 18 And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. 19 I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness. Rom. 6:17-19 Page 2 of 11 16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, [the apostles were already saved men, clean (John 13:10), their names were in heaven (Luke 10:20), not of the world (John 17:14), only saved/justified people can receive the Holy Spirit] because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. John 14:16-17 Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. 2 Cor. 7:1 Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God. Heb. 6:1 Notes: _________________ _______________________ _______________________ _______________________ _______________________ _______________________ _______________________ _______________________ _______________________ _______________________ _______________________ _______________________ _______________________ Experiencing Entire Sanctification: It is more important to believe in and experience the doctrine than to be able to explain it. Much stumbling and many troubles have come to the people who have tried to overstate what entire sanctification looks like. More important than defining it is to know victorious Christian living in the full assurance of faith. Both Justification and Sanctification are works of God entered through faith (it is not hard to see why some refer to sanctification as the second work of grace). In Justification there is a focus on “repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 20:21). That is, there is a repentance/a turning away from sin to God in faith that He will receive us. However, in Sanctification the focus is on consecration of self to God, presenting “your bodies a living sacrifice” (Rom. 12:1). There is a clear distinction between the two. One comes as a sinner who in faith towards Christ repents of his sin before God and becomes justified. The other comes as a believer (one justified by faith already) now offering himself (i.e., consecrating himself) to God in faith for holiness. However, although repentance is primarily associated with justification and consecration with sanctification, there is also an element of each in the other. III.) Experienced by those Saved Already: Associated with the doctrine of Entire Sanctification is the Baptism of the Holy Spirit—one being filled with the Holy Spirit. Just as regeneration and remission of sins are associated with justification (occurring at justification), so heart purity and being filled with the Holy Spirit are associated at the time of entire sanctification. In this life now: 23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it. 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 Only the saved can experience the fullness of the Spirit: the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. John 14:17 Page 3 of 11 Fullness of the Spirit received: 1 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. Acts 2:1-4 God purifies the heart, experienced by faith: 8 So God, who knows the heart, acknowledged them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He did to us, 9 and made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. Acts 15:7-9 All filthiness, whether of flesh or spirit cleansed: 1 Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. 2 Cor. 7:1 Sanctification makes one useful to the Master for service: Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work. 2 Tim. 2:21 The will of God for the believer, controlled by love rather than lust: 3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality; 4 that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, 5 not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God. 1 Thess. 4:2-5 Beyond a life of faith and repentance: 1 Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God. . . Heb. 6:1 Seeing God in this world in ways before unknown (beatitudes hold a promise for now and the future): Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Matt. 5:8 17 Notes: ____________ __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, 18 the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power 20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. Eph. 1:17-21 Page 4 of 11 A spiritual people/spiritual maturity/perfect man: 12 12 15 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— 16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love. Eph. 4:12-16 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. 13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. 14 But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. Hebrews 5:12-14 Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you. 16 Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind. Philippians 3:14-16 Love perfected in us/likeness to Jesus in this world/full assurance of faith/boldness: 14 17 19 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. Colossians 3:14 Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. 1 John 4:17-18 Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, 21 and having a High Priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Hebrews 10:19-22 Notes: __________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Page 5 of 11 IV.) Shadowed in the Old Testament: The Doctrine of Entire Sanctification, as with so many other New Testament Doctrines, is revealed in shadows and types in the Old Testament. The tabernacle had two altars, and two compartments. One was the brazen altar at which the sacrifice was slain and offered up. It was before the first veil into the holy place, along with the laver for washing. These testify to the entrance into the holy place (the first compartment of the tabernacle) was through the death of the sacrifice, the sinner was made clean, washed. Those who enter in to salvation do so through the death of Christ, being cleansed from their sins. In the holy place (the first compartment of the tabernacle) was the table with the show bread and the lampstand, and only priests could be there. In Christ we are made priests, we partake of the living bread of Christ, and we become in Him the light of the world. However, there was also the golden altar of incense, a second altar. Yet, although it was in the holy place, it was placed before the veil which led into the most holy place. As the first altar served as an entrance to the first compartment (the Holy Place), so the second altar served as the entrance into the second compartment (the Most Holy Place). The only access to the altar was for those who were already in the Holy Place (priest-symbolizing the saved). This second altar was closely identified with the first, both in regards to the coals and the blood applied. However, there was a very great difference. The first altar was of death, sin being dealt with – revealing justification. The second was not for consuming the dead sacrifice which proved the entrance into the Holy Place, but it was an altar from which the beautiful fragrance of incense was to be offered up to God which proved to be the entrance to the second compartment (the Most Holy Place) – revealing sanctification. Upon the second altar, we are to present ourselves not as a dead sacrifice but as a living sacrifice offered up to God (Rom 12:1-2). Read the text above from Hebrews 10:19-22 in which the brethren (i.e., the justified/saved ones) are told that we have boldness to enter into the Holiest (the second compartment) in the full assurance of faith. Consider afresh Hebrews 10:19-20 in which the brethren (i.e., the justified/saved ones) are told that we have boldness by the Blood of Jesus to enter into the “HOLIEST” (i.e., the second compartment)—that we can draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith: 19 Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, 21 and having a High Priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Hebrews 10:19-22 James 4:8, “Cleanse your hands, you sinners. . .” “. . . and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” Notes: __________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Page 6 of 11 Shadowed in Dagon’s Two Falls: (The Temple of Dagon becoming the Temple of God) The Ark of the Covenant is where the presence of God was said to dwell between the Cherubim. When the Ark was captured by the Philistines, they brought it into the temple of Dagon. However, in the darkness of the night, Dagon fell on his face before the presence of the Lord. This shadows well an unbeliever becoming saved, becoming the temple of the Holy Spirit. Self is dethroned, falling on one’s face and confessing that the Lord, He is God!—and becomes justified by faith. However, it does not take long before the Christian detects an enemy within the temple of his heart—the self-life which operates as a carnal man. Dagon’s friends tug and pull on the cables, and before long, Dagon is standing upright within the temple again. How many can relate to Paul’s words when he spoke about justification under the law in the Old Covenant: “O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?” (Rom. 7:24). How blessed and instructive is the second fall of Dagon. Then Dagon’s head and hands were broken off before God. How well this symbolizes entire sanctification! The head symbolizing the mind being given to God, and the hands one’s works—it is offering one’s self as a living sacrifice. And just as nature abhors a vacuum, so does the spiritual realm—as a man empties himself, the Holy Spirit fills him.2 Who can deliver us from such a body of death? Paul answered his own question: “I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (Rom. 7:25). Jacob life reveals this twofold cleansing: Jacob was a scoundrel, his name meaning “heal-catcher” (i.e., deceiver, one who trips up another). The bold manner of variety by which he lied to Isaac is astounding! He lied by deceiving Isaac with 4 of the 5 senses, taking advantage of his lack of sight—by touch (goat hair), by smell (clothes of Esau) by taste (offering doctored meat to taste like wild game) and hearing (repeating a most bold faced lie, even bringing God into it saying that “the LORD your God brought it to me” (see Gen. 27). But Jacob had two great encounters with God, one at Bethel and one at Penuel. The first at Bethel symbolizing Justification: There he had the dream of Notes: ___________ _________________ _________________ _________________ _________________ _________________ _________________ _________________ _________________ _________________ _________________ _________________ the latter set up between heaven and earth with the angels of God ascending and descending upon it. This symbolized Jesus, the only connection between heaven and earth (the only way to God being through Christ), the reason angels are concerned with man in this world. This symbol our Lord Himself explained saying, “And He said to him, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, hereafter you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man’” (John 1:51). Jacob’s response reveals the doctrine of Justification: 2 In the A.V. we read, “only the stump of Dagon was left to him” (1 Sam. 5:4). How expressive that is, only the stump is left. And so in entire sanctification, even offering all that we have, the stump remains. We still have imperfect bodies. We still error in judgment. We still put our foot in our mouth. And, we are not removed from temptation. We are not given impenetrable flesh or spirit which protects us from failure—i.e., we are not yet glorified. We do, however, come into contact with power from on high. Even Adam and Eve having no sinful nature were tempted and fell. So may we if we do not watch and pray. However, if one has entered sanctification, he will not defend a wrong attitude when he recognizes it, he will not continue on until he’s made his point and then repent—when wrong, even if he should (not must) stumble so as to sin, he will not remain a moment past the Spirit’s conviction. To do so is to risk what he could not bear to lose, but he flees to Jesus instantly. Praise God, even though the “stump” remains (consequences of living in a fallen world in a body that has been affect with physical death, and all the weaknesses associated with such), it will not remain forever. For one day all the consequences of the fall will be redeemed, even our lowly bodies being transformed like unto own His glorious one. It is now through the grace that is entire sanctification that we can have a blameless heart. And one day we shall stand before Him faultless and with great joy (Jude 24-25). Page 7 of 11 16 Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, "Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it." 17 And he was afraid and said, "How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven!" 18 Then Jacob rose early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put at his head, set it up as a pillar, and poured oil on top of it [well symbolizing becoming a living stone (1 Pet.2:4)]. 19 And he called the name of that place Bethel [house of God (1 Cor. 6:19)]; but the name of that city had been Luz previously. 20 Then Jacob made a vow, saying, "If God will be with me, and keep me in this way that I am going, and give me bread to eat and clothing to put on, 21 so that I come back to my father's house in peace, THEN THE LORD SHALL BE MY GOD [which takes place in Justification]. 22 And this stone which I have set as a pillar shall be God's house [1 Pet. 2:4, 1 Cor. 6:19], and of all that You give me I will surely give a tenth to You." Genesis 28:16-22 The second at Penuel symbolizing entire sanctification: There Jacob separated himself from all his worldly possessions and from all his family, sending all over the ford of Jabbok—and he wrestled alone with God. Great has been the agony of many in consecrating all of themselves to God. But Jacob, praise God, would not let go, declaring “I will not let You go unless You bless me!” (Gen. 32:26). (It is easy to understand why some would refer to it as the second blessing, the first blessing being that of receiving the birthright/firstborn status [Heb. 12:23].) That this was not just a physical but a spiritual wrestling with tears of anguish is plain from Hosea where of Jacob’s life we read: 3 He took his brother by the heel in the womb, and in his strength he struggled with God. 4 Yes, he struggled with the Angel and prevailed; he wept, and sought favor from Him. He found Him in Bethel” (Hosea 12:3-4). It is there that Jacob had his name changed (a name change speaks of a change in character) from Jacob (heal-catcher/deceiver) to Israel (prince with God)—shadowing sanctification. Of the Angel of the Lord (God/Jesus), Jacob spoke of, “The God who has fed me all my life long to this day, the Angel who has redeemed me from all evil” (Gen. 48:15-16— shadowing entire sanctification. 26 And He said, "Let Me go, for the day breaks." But he said, "I will not let You go unless You bless me!" 27 So He said to him, "What is your name?" He said, "Jacob [i.e., My name is deceiver/a carnal man]." 28 And He said, "Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel [Prince with God/a spiritual man]; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed." 29 Then Jacob asked, saying, "Tell me Your name, I pray." And He said, "Why is it that you ask about My name?" And He blessed him there. 30 And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: "For I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved." Genesis 32:26-30 Likewise Lot and Abraham shadow these: Lot a carnal believer, and Abraham revealing an entirely sanctified believer. Both men are referred to in the New Testament as being saved. Concerning Lot: “and delivered righteous Lot, who was oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked (for that righteous man, dwelling among them, tormented his righteous soul from day to day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds)” (2 Peter 2:7-8). Concerning Abraham: “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness” (Rom. 4:3). Yet, how different their spiritual standing. The lessons from their lives is deeply instructive. Consider: Page 8 of 11 Notes: __________________________________ ________________________________________ ________________________________________ ________________________________________ ________________________________________ ________________________________________ ________________________________________ ________________________________________ ________________________________________ ________________________________________ ________________________________________ ________________________________________ Lot reveals a carnal believer, justified but not entirely sanctified. Lot choose for himself the best the world could offer; what guided his decision was that which was best for business. “And Lot lifted his eyes and saw all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere (before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah) like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt as you go toward Zoar. Then Lot chose for himself all the plain of Jordan, and Lot journeyed east. . . and pitched his tent even as far as Sodom. But the men of Sodom were exceedingly wicked and sinful against the Lord” (Gen. 13:10-13 [selected]). Lot’s choices cost him dearly, even moving into the city of Sodom. There his family was raised, and there was the source of his being continually “oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked” which “tormented his righteous soul from day to day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds.” To live carnally as a believer is to live in needless oppression and torment of soul; that’s what results by living as close to the world as you can. He lost his wealth, he lost his wife, his daughters learned there in Sodom how to get one so drunk they wouldn’t know they had gone to bed with you. Lot lived in fear and uncertainty of the word the Lord had given him through the angel (being afraid to go to Zoar even though assured God would not overthrow it). If there was ever a picture of a saved man who (through not forsaking the one foundation of Christ, nevertheless lived as a worldly man) escaped as through fire but all his works were burned up, it is Lot. Abraham reveals a spiritual man. He would not take so much as a sandal strap from the king of Sodom “Now the king of Sodom said to Abram, ‘Give me the persons, and take the goods for yourself.’” But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have raised my hand to the Lord, God Most High, the Possessor of heaven and earth, that I will take nothing, from a thread to a sandal strap, and that I will not take anything that is yours, lest you should say, 'I have made Abram rich.’” (Gen. 14:21-23) The blessings associated with Abraham are of course great indeed. To Abraham the Lord said: “I AM your shield, your EXCEEDINGLY GREAT REWARD” (Gen. 15:1). The great reward of the entirely sanctified is to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Notes: _____________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ V.) The Testimony We Find in the New Testament: The Apostles had their names written in heaven (Luke 10:20), they were declared to be clean spiritually (John 13:10), and Jesus said of them that they were not of the world even as He was not of the world (John 17:14). However, there was something wonderful awaiting their spiritual lives in Christ: 1 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. Acts 2:1-4 Notes: _____________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ Page 9 of 11 The Samaritan believers Philip preached Christ to them and they “with one accord heeded the things spoken” and “there was great joy in that city” for “they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized” (see Acts 8)—salvation (justification) had come! However, they were later, under the ministry of Peter and John they entered entire sanctification: Notes: ______________ 14 Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that _____________________ Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and _____________________ John to them, 15 who, when they had come down, prayed for _____________________ them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. 16 For as yet He _____________________ had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in _____________________ the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then they laid hands on them, _____________________ and they received the Holy Spirit. Acts 8:14-17 _____________________ _____________________ The Apostle Paul’s experience. Paul speaks three times of his _____________________ conversion experience on the road to Damascus. But there was more _____________________ coming three days later. _____________________ 17 And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying _____________________ his hands on him he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who _____________________ appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you _____________________ may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit." _____________________ 18 Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, _____________________ and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was _____________________ baptized. Acts 9:17-18 _____________________ _____________________ Cornelius’ experience fits the pattern. His prayers are said to have _____________________ “been heard” by God, he is declared before Peter came to be “a devout _____________________ man and one who feared God with all his household” who is described _____________________ as “a just man, one who fears God” (see Acts 10). _____________________ 44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell _____________________ upon all those who heard the word. . . . 47 "Can anyone forbid _____________________ water, that these should not be baptized who have received the _____________________ Holy Spirit just as we have?" 48 And he commanded them to be _____________________ baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay _____________________ a few days. (Acts 10:44, 47-48) _____________________ _____________________ The disciples in Acts 19, who like Apollos needed to be taught the way _____________________ more accurately. These were those gathered under John’s the Baptist’s _____________________ ministry. Paul asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you _____________________ believed?” (Acts 19:2), the question itself implies that _____________________ sanctification/being filled with the Holy Spirit comes at a later time than _____________________ our first believing. Paul instructs them, and after they are baptized in _____________________ the name of Jesus, we read: _____________________ 6 And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came _____________________ upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied. Acts _____________________ 19:6 _____________________ Page 10 of 11 And it is to the Hebrews who after so much time were still but babes, “partakers only of milk” who were “unskilled in the word of righteousness” to whom it is written: “Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God” Hebrews 6:1 (The reader is encouraged to read Hebrew Chapter 3-4 about entering into His rest) Final word: It is important to understand that sanctification never removes from us what is human, but sin’s dominance over humanity is removed. Just as a man’s fondness for strawberries before will remain afterwards, so also our human sense of justice, and the human quality of anger will remain after one is entirely sanctified—but these will no longer be given to sin’s control. He instead finds that there is power from above to be angry, and sin not. Sanctification calls us to live as the same people all the time, whether at church or at work or at recreation. In consecrating oneself as a living sacrifice, there is growth. However, there is also a crisis moment. That is, just as there was a crisis moment when a sinner became justified, yet he was growing closer to God before it, so in sanctification. Consecration of all of oneself is a great thing. People frequently yield to conviction to God in one area of their lives reluctantly after becoming tired of wrestling with guilt over keeping it back from Him. But in relinquishing control of something to God, it may be so that one might enjoy control over what he thinks he has left to him. But, that will last only until some other aspect of his control is challenged, and then also that too is surrendered to God—but again, with a desire to control what is left without guilt. But the crisis comes when one yields all of himself, holding no part back, wanting God to have control of everything even if it ruins him!—which it never does. The man becomes whole. There is growth after sanctification as there was before it, but it is as a man grows who has put away childish (or carnal) things. Attempts to put into words and definitions just what is entire sanctification has never satisfied me, including my own attempts. But more to be dreaded is the idea of abandoning the doctrine just because it is so incredibly hard to set forth in words. That it is plainly revealed in Scripture, and a known reality to countless faithful ones, is simply a fact. Let no one fail to experience the fact because he is not satisfied with the explanation of its reality. There is however, one illustration of sanctification which I heard from my pastor, Dr. Jack Hope (close to 30 years ago now) which has always remained with me. I will do my best from memory to share the facts. He told the congregation about this horse that he once had on a sheep ranch. The Notes: _________ horse was broken on two sides (an expression to be explained in a moment). The _______________ horse had come to share his mind. It knew which sheep he wanted to go after. It _______________ knew what pace to trot next to the sheep, the distance to allow for him to quickly dismount and grab it, and to circle back to his master for the next duty. Now a _______________ horse that is broken on both sides is a horse that can be mounted from the left or _______________ the right side. Most horses can only be mounted from the left side. To try to mount _______________ on the other side is to cause the horse to go around in circles or some sort of _______________ unwanted action. (He then leveled the boom.) Some Christians are only broken _______________ on one side! They can only do the Master’s will if He approaches them one certain _______________ way. But like a horse is a great blessing to its master which can be mounted on _______________ both sides, and a horse which learns its master’s mind so well that it can be lead to _______________ do what his master wants with but a gentle suggestion—so do those believers bless _______________ God who are broken on both sides—justified and sanctified. May the Lord use this _______________ lesson to the benefit of your souls, and to the blessing of the Master’s service. Page 11 of 11 Course DC207: Divine Healing 14 ---------- Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. James 5:14-15 ---------- The Reasonableness of Divine Healing ---------- Intro: The possibility of Divine Healing must be plainly evident to every reasonable person. God who created the world ex nihilo [Latin, out of nothing!] is certainly able to heal or repair His already existing creation. While standing in chains before King Agrippa, Paul asked, “Why should it be thought incredible by you that God raises the dead?” (Acts 26:8). Though the world mocks this, to the Christian, the resurrection of the dead is one of the elementary principles of Christ (i.e., a basic Christian doctrine [Heb. 6:1-2]). But how unreasonable it would be for one to believe in the doctrine of the resurrection of the dead while not believing in divine healing (divine healing also being listed as an elementary principle of Christ [i.e., “. . . laying on of hands. . .”]). Adapting Paul’s words to this unreasonableness— “Why should it be thought incredible to any Christian that God heals the sick?” Miracles, signs and divine healings did not pass away from the Church with the apostles—an explanation/excuse often heard to justify little faith. Clearly the Great Commission, given to the entire Church through whom Christ works (“to the end of the age” [Matt. 28:20]), includes the miraculous; including laying on of hands and the sick recovering (Mark 16:18). Furthermore, Church history definitely confirms that divine healing did not stop in the first century—and testimonies continue to abound from around the world to this very day. Furthermore, any discussion of divine healing and the miraculous is an interrelated topic to prayer itself. One would be required to first prove that God’s promises of prayer have ended with the death of the apostles who seeks to reason away the miraculous. May faith be stirred afresh in believers to rise above any surrounding Nazareth of unbelief. ------------------- The Need for Faith ---------- 43 8 When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you.” Matthew 9:2 ---------- Now a woman, having a flow of blood for twelve years, who had spent all her livelihood on physicians and could not be healed by any, 44 came from behind and touched the border of His garment. [For she said, "If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well." (Mark 5:28)] And immediately her flow of blood stopped. 45 And Jesus said, "Who touched Me?" When all denied it, Peter and those with him said, "Master, the multitudes throng and press You, and You say, 'Who touched Me?'" 46 But Jesus said, "Somebody touched Me, for I perceived power going out from Me." 47 Now when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling; and falling down before Him, she declared to Him in the presence of all the people the reason she had touched Him and how she was healed immediately. 48 And He said to her, "Daughter, be of good cheer; your faith has made you well. Go in peace." Luke 8:43-48 Notes: ___________ _________________ _________________ _________________ _________________ _________________ _________________ _________________ _________________ _________________ _________________ _________________ And in Lystra a certain man without strength in his feet was sitting, a cripple from his mother's womb, who had never walked. 9 This man heard Paul speaking. Paul, observing him intently and seeing that he had faith to be healed, 10 said with a loud voice, "Stand up straight on your feet!" And he leaped and walked. Acts 14:8-10 Regarding Lesson DC207, unless otherwise noted: Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Page 1 of 13 Ask, Seek, Knock 7 Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks [cf. Greek, asking] receives, and he who seeks [cf. Greek, seeking] finds, and to him who knocks [cf. Greek, knocking] it will be opened. Matthew 7:7-8 What great reason and encouragement regarding prevailing in prayer is given in these three words: ask, seek and knock (and their counterparts: receives, finds and opened). Taken in the order, these words give us a wealth of instruction concerning prevailing prayer. 1st, “Ask”: How incredible and wonderful that prevailing prayer should be revealed to us by the word ask. However, there are certainly different ways of asking, and not all the ways incline the one asked to grant a request (cf. James 4:3). However, praise the Lord, there is an asking which does arrest attention. Many years ago I heard an illustration concerning how children ask for things which reveals this (I know not whom to credit). Certainly every parent of young children understands the difference between a child asking for something that they really desire and asking for that which they really don’t care much whether they receive it or not. We see this difference with little children at Christmas time. Every commercial for a toy between cartoons a child may say: “I want that! Can I have that?” But such asking is not from a desire worthy of the parent’s consideration, for 15 minutes later they have forgotten about that toy and are “asking” for something else. The request was nothing but a momentary craving, a wish—but not a request born of any desire worthy to be taken seriously. The parent knows that Christmas will not be ruined for the child if that particular toy doesn’t show up under the tree. However, when they see their little girl day after day talk about how she so badly wants the baby alive Susy doll that really cries and wets — when that is all that the little girl talks about at dinner, before she sleeps, and when she rises ... when she looks longingly under the tree at the boxes and says: “Oh I hope one of them is baby alive Susy doll!”… all the other “requests” were not the longing of the child. But, she will be greatly disappointed and shed hot tears Christmas morning if baby alive Susy doll isn’t found under the tree. And you can be certain that as long as it’s in the parent’s ability to get that doll, they will not substitute it with a fish, a rock, a scorpion—nor even with a tea set. In like manner there is a lot of asking in prayer which doesn’t reflect the burdened desire of the soul of the one who prays—requests being raised which would never shed a tear over not seeing the prayer answered. Ask what you desire, but be certain it is true asking rather than the unworthy asking of a silly child. In many cases the failure in prayer is revealed right there. But if one says —“Yes! My heart breaks for this Page 2 of 13 [The Greek verbs, asks, seeks and knocks in v:8 are given as present-activeparticiples, as if to say: He who asks and keeps on asking, seeks and keeps on seeking, knocks and keeps on knocking.] request! My desire is true, it is good and it is right! I only desire what I am asking for the glory of the Lord, yet still the request is hindered!” Then consider: 2nd “Seek”: If the answer is delayed, let one seek — seek for any reason that the answer is not yet given. Is there perhaps some impure motive of which you were unaware? Is there perhaps something else that must be first surrendered, done, restored? Is there something which would make it unsafe for your spiritual life for God to grant the request now? The seeking purifies the asking lest we ask amiss in order to spend it on our selfish pleasures. Seeking prepares our soul to receive, causing the glory of God to become our great desire. Heavenly insight may be revealed through our seeking so that our prayer even begins to change in some manner. Perhaps the seeking is necessary for things to change which are outside of us. The believer and his request may become wonderfully altered in the seeking process. The secrets of the delay may not be known fully until Judgment Day—let God work in order for the way to be opened. The process of seeking not only purifies the asking, but faith is strengthened! Confidence in the request grows that it is pleasing and right before God as one seeks and keeps on seeking – even to the point of confidence so that we: 3rd “Knock!”: Knocking with great expectation! How precious it is to come to such a place where we can knock with confidence that our hearts and our requests are purified, our faith having become strengthened through the seeking process for the reception. For as seeking purifies the asking, knocking with confidence crowns the seeking. How blessed it is to come to the place in a person’s praying (as many can and have testified) that they begin to knock with confidence. When the request and the asker are enlightened through the seeking, and the burden of the request still remains, then one becomes emboldened to storm the gates of hell in faith—FOR HE WHO PROMISED CANNOT LIE. Surely, our Heavenly Father is honored through such praying. “For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.” How wonderful it is to have prayed through to the point where one knows he just has to keep on knocking like the man at his friend’s door at midnight (Luke 11:5-8). Who but God knows why things must take time?! — there may be reasons we never discover in this world. But prayer changes things and prevails—and that is why Satan fears the praying Christian and does what he can to discourage us from it. The Prayer of Faith 13 Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. James 5:13-16 What is THE PRAYER OF FAITH? This phrase is of great importance concerning divine healing. Some have insisted that the prayer of faith is a special gift sometimes given by God so that one is healed in response to it being offered— making the prayer of faith a gift specifically and sovereignly granted by God only when He so chooses to bestow it. Now truly, many believers (myself included) can testify of a time when God seemed to simply overwhelm them with faith for a certain thing—a faith that gripped them beyond human explanation. How grateful believers should be for such times, for such times are gifts indeed. However, this can hardly be the definition of “the prayer of faith” which the Holy Spirit speaks of in verse 15. If this were so, Jesus would never have expressed disappointment in His disciples for their little faith. Having considered “asking, seeking and knocking” (recalling in Greek that these verbs are given as present-active-participles [a continued in action]) reveals that faith grows by the one who so unceasingly prays. Clearly James has linked “the prayer of faith” in verse 15 with “The EFFECTIVE FERVENT PRAYER of a righteous man” in verse 16—the prayer which avails much. We are told of Epaphras’s “laboring fervently” in prayer (Col. 4:12). Certainly prayer is often a rest, but at other times it is a wrestling. Truly, “. . . God has dealt to each one a measure of faith” (Rom. 12:3), but we are all to exercise our faith—asking, seeking, and yes, the blessed knocking in assurance. Let the believer ponder anew how real the promises of prayer become to the one exercising the prayer of faith— whether it comes as a sudden gift, or through great and fervent labor (i.e., asking, seeking, knocking): The Promises of God and the Prayer of Faith from a Righteous Man 22 So Jesus answered and said to them, "Have faith in God. 23 For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. 24 Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them. 25 "And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you Notes: ____________ 26 your trespasses. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father __________________ in heaven forgive your trespasses." Mark 11:22-26 __________________ 13 And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father __________________ may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask anything in My name, I will __________________ do it. John 14:13-14 __________________ 7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what __________________ you desire, and it shall be done for you. 8 By this My Father is glorified, __________________ that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples. John 15:7-8 __________________ 20 So Jesus said to them, "Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I __________________ say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this __________________ mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing __________________ will be impossible for you. 21 However, this kind does not go out __________________ except by prayer and fasting." Matthew 17:20-21 __________________ 5 And the apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith." 6 So the Lord __________________ said, "If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry __________________ tree, 'Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,' and it __________________ would obey you. Luke 17:5-6 Page 3 of 13 Difficulties Concerning Prayer Great and varied are the questions concerning prayer. There is much we may not understand about prayer in this life. However, we are never to let what we do not understand hinder us from praying in faith concerning what we do understand. Clearly faith can be little or great, just as it can increase or decrease. We read that “. . . faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God” (Rom. 10:17). Perhaps in pondering the above Scriptures today you are experiencing a reviving of faith—remember it came through hearing the Word of God. “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly . . .” (Col. 3:6). Regarding delays . . . who but God knows why? Daniel’s prayer was hindered 21 days (Dan. 10:12-13). Some prayers have taken years—time is not the issue. And sometimes those who prayed died in faith, “not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off embraced them” (Heb. 11:13). It has been reported that George Muller prayed for a friend for decades, confident the man would be saved. He died without seeing him come to Christ, but even before the burial service could be held, his friend got saved. There are difficulties too deep for humanity to explain, this we know. And truly, God does sometimes say “no” to a request, but when He does, the praying soul is satisfied with the answer which God has given, just as Paul was with the answer he received (2 Cor. 12:9). But sadly, multiple times the fact that God sometimes says “no” has wrongly been used as an excuse for many to cease praying until they prevail or receive the peaceful grace of God that comes with His “no.” Let the believer ever humbly remember that it is true: “Yet you do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures” (James 4:2-3). God has not over-advertised His promises, men have under-believed them. Divine healing is not a promise that one shall never die, for “it is appointed for men to die once” (Heb. 9:27 [cf. 2 Kings 13:14]). Yet, let us take soberly the words of our Lord to—Ask, Seek and Knock. Various Obstacles to be Overcome Related to Prayer: Obstacle; The Nazareth of Unbelief around Us: Now He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief. Matthew 13:58 Let the Christian focus not upon the hindrance of many mighty works in Nazareth, but rather focus on the truth that SOME mighty works took place EVEN there in Nazareth. Obstacle; Not Truly Praying in Jesus’ Name: 13 . . . that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. John 15:16 22 And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask anything in My name, I will do it. John 14:13-14 Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you. 23 And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, what-ever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. 24 Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full. John 16:22-24 Page 4 of 13 To pray in Jesus name must never be thought of as simply adding the phrase, “In Jesus name, Amen.” Just adding the phrase will never make a prayer to be offered in His name. Rather, the one who would pray in the name of Jesus must be seeking to live and pray in the character (in the manner, and with the desires) with which Jesus Himself would pray. Someone has said: “To pray in Jesus name is to pray so that Jesus Himself can say ‘Amen!’ and sign His own name to the request.” To pray in His name is to be brought in tune with the Spirit of God interceding within us. It is to find and grasp by faith our true identity in Jesus so that we pray in His name. Notes: __________________________________ ________________________________________ ________________________________________ ________________________________________ ________________________________________ ________________________________________ ________________________________________ ________________________________________ 16 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. Colossians 3:17 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13 By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 17 But whoever has this world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? 18 My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in One of the solid convictions which Andrew truth. 19 And by this we know that we are Murray came to regard concerning prayer is: of the truth, and shall assure our hearts . . . that the Father waits to hear every prayer of faith, before Him. 20 For if our heart condemns to give us whatsoever we will, and whatsoever we us, God is greater than our heart, and ask in Jesus’ name. We have become so knows all things. 21 Beloved, if our heart accustomed to limit the wonderful love and the large does not condemn us, we have confidence promises of our God, that we cannot read the toward God. 22 And whatever we ask we simplest and clearest statements of our Lord without receive from Him, because we keep His the qualifying clauses by which we guard and commandments and do those things that expound them. If there is one thing I think the Church are pleasing in His sight. 1 John 3:16-22 needs to learn, it is that God means prayer to have an answer, and that it hath not entered into the heart of man to conceive what God will do for His child who gives himself to believe that his prayer will be heard. God hears prayer; this is a truth universally admitted, but of which very few understand the meaning, or experience the power. Andrew Murray, With Christ in the School of Prayer (New York, Chicago, Toronto: Fleming H. Revell Company, 1885), vii-viii. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. John 15:5 Notes: __________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Obstacle; Thinking that the Will of God is much too Narrow for a Person to Confidently Ask from God an Acceptable Request: 9 For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of His Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers, 10 making request if, by some means, now at last I may find a way in the will of God to come to you. Romans 1:9-10 Certainly the holy counsel in the Trinity needs not man’s directions or input in order to accomplish His holy will. But marvelous is the truth, that because of the Man Christ Jesus, the request and desires of mankind (who prays in the name of Jesus) are taken into consideration—and when God’s will can be accomplished through their desires, grants them! Worship Him! Notice that the will of God in regards to what takes place in this earth is not a small and narrow window which excludes most of our requests. Rather, it is large enough to allow God to often work through the desires/prayers/requests of men. Thus, Paul prayed that he might “find a way in the will of God” that his request could be granted. What reason there is to pray!—to ask, to seek and to knock. Page 5 of 13 Obstacle; Holding on to Known Sin: If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear. Psalms 66:18 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. James 5:16 8 One who turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination. Proverbs 28:9 Now we know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, He hears him. John 9:31 For what is the hope of the hypocrite, though he may gain much, If God takes away his life? 9 Will God hear his cry when trouble comes upon him? Job 27:8-9 Obstacle; A Double-Mindedness and being Self-Serving: 2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. James 1:2-8 3 Notes: ____________ __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ 1 Whoever shuts his ears to the cry of the poor will also cry himself and not be heard. Proverbs 21:13 Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? 2 You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. 4 Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 5 Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, "The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously"? 6 But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble." 7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up. James 4:1-10 13 Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And THE PRAYER OF FAITH will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. James 5:13-16 Page 6 of 13 In spite of what we may not know or fully understand, let us not refuse to boldly obey what we do understand: Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church let them pray over him anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord the prayer of faith will save the sick and the Lord will raise him up if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much Notes: ________________________ ______________________________ ______________________________ ______________________________ ______________________________ ______________________________ ______________________________ ______________________________ ______________________________ ______________________________ ______________________________ . . . let patience have its perfect work. . . In the Gospels we find that there were various levels of faith manifested among those who came to Christ. The centurion revealed great faith (Matt. 8:5-15 & Luke 7:1-10), so also the Canaanite woman (Matt. 15:21-28 & Mark 7:24-30). We are not surprised to see how mightily the Lord worked for them. However, how wonderful it is to know that Jesus works even with a struggling faith in order to encourage and enable it to grow. What marvelous comfort there is in the account of the man who cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24). To such a man Jesus said, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” It is wonderfully said of the Church of God in Thessalonica: We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, BECAUSE YOUR FAITH GROWS EXCEEDINGLY, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other” (2 Thess. 1:3). Truly, faith can exceedingly grow, and our love can truly abound. Praying without Losing Heart / Faith being found on the Earth 1 Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart, 2 saying: "There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man. 3 Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, 'Avenge me of my adversary.' 4 And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, 'Though I do not fear God nor regard man, 5 yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.'" 6 Then She brings her request to a judge We come to our Father who longs the Lord said, "Hear what the unjust who cares not if she lives or dies – But – to be near us 7 judge said. And shall God not avenge His We come to Him who is merciful own elect who cry out day and night to She comes to a man who is unjust 8 and gracious, longsuffering and – But – Him, though He bears long with them? I and uncaring abounding in love tell you that He will avenge them She with a pitiful hope speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of – But – We with promises in His name Man comes, will He really find faith on We come to Him who spared not She came to a man who only cared the earth?" Luke 18:1-8 – But – even His own Son for us but who for his own ease and comfort Notes: ________________________ ______________________________ ______________________________ ______________________________ ______________________________ ______________________________ ______________________________ ______________________________ ______________________________ ______________________________ freely gives all things as well She came as a stranger, uninvited before his presence – But – We have access to the Throne of Grace as His children, whose thoughts of us are more than the sands by the sea Her case was one he had no interest in helping – But – He tells us to cast our cares upon Him for He cares for us She came without an advocate to plead her case – But – We have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous When she prayed she provoked the judge to anger – But – We pray and melt the Father’s heart _________________________________________________________________ . . . He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart. . . Page 7 of 13 He Who Has an Ear, Let Him Hear What the Spirit is Saying 14 Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him. 1 John 5:14-15 This article contains many of the gems found in Andrew Murray’s classic book on prayer, With Christ in the School of Prayer. This public domain book has so many printings that the various quotes have been referenced by chapter rather than by page number. T here have been periods throughout Church history where revival took hold in a generation, and the wonderful promises of God were grasped anew by them. Yet (as someone [unknown] has said), “Every revival dies in the 2nd and 3rd generation”—meaning, the promises of God must be freshly grasped personally. Sadly, every generation tends to judge the promises of God by the experience of the believers in their own surrounding generation and area—seeking to interpret/ qualify the promises of God in a manner which will not embarrass that generation’s lack of faith. But we are to judge our faith by the promises of God, rather than judge the promises of God by a generation’s (or our own) lack of faith. Murray wrote: How speedily we are deceived into a resting in the form, while the power is wanting. Our early training, the teaching of the Church, the influence of habit, the stirring of the emotions—how easily these lead to prayer which has no spiritual power, and avails but little. (Chap. 1) Let the believer consider afresh that “without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is A REWARDER OF THOSE WHO DILIGENTLY SEEK HIM ” (Heb. 11:6). Murray wrote: every one that asketh, receiveth. This is the fixed eternal law of the kingdom: if you ask ... Page 8 of 13 and receive not, it must be because there is something amiss or wanting in the prayer. Hold on; let the Word and the Spirit teach you to pray aright, but do not let go the confidence He seeks to waken: Every one that asketh, receiveth. . . . It is far easier to the flesh to submit without the answer than to yield itself to be searched and purified by the Spirit, until it has learnt to pray the prayer of faith. . . . There may be cases in which the answer is a refusal, because the request is not according to God's Word, as when Moses asked to enter Canaan. But still, there was an answer: God did not leave His servant in uncertainty as to His will. . . . Every one that asketh, receiveth. Let us not make the feeble experiences of our unbelief the measure of what our faith may expect. (Chap. 5) Imagination is not able to begin to fathom the glory of prayer—do not sell it short just because little faith should abound in a generation. The fact that God (who needs nothing at all, whose plans and methods are always perfect) should be willing and able to arrange all manner of things (He even stopped the natural course of the heavens for Joshua’s prayer [Joshua 10:13]) in order to accommodate the request of His child who prays in Jesus name, is great and true!—Worship Him! We can be confident that the prayers of saved mankind can be heard because Man, in the Person of Jesus Christ, is within the counsel of the Godhead through our Lord’s Incarnation. We are in Jesus, He is our Head, we are now seated in the heavenlies in Christ—and God is still the rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. There may be delays to answers which we will not understand on this side of glory—for who but God knows all that has to take place in us, or in another, or in the circumstances, or even in nature (as in the case of Joshua’s prayer) before the answer should be given? But this we are plainly told: 7 "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened” (Matt. 7:7-8). Leonard Ravenhill said: One of these days some simple soul will pick up the Book of God, read it, and believe it. Then the rest of us will be embarrassed. We have adopted the convenient theory that the Bible is a Book to be explained, whereas first and foremost it is a Book to be believed (and after that to be obeyed). (Leonard Ravenhill, Why Revival Tarries [Minneapolis, MN: Bethany House Publishers, 1991], 69.) We have not only the Word of God but also the Spirit of God to strengthen our faith in all of our praying that we might ask according to the will of God. Truly, we do not always know what to pray, but that need not be a hindrance to receiving what only prayer can grant, for “the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God” (Rom. 8:26-27). Murray wrote: One often wishes for a thing without willing it. I wish to have a certain article, but I find the price too high; I resolve not to take it; I wish, but do not will to have it. The sluggard wishes to be rich, but does not will it. Many a one wishes to be saved, but perishes because he does not will it. The will rules the whole heart and life; if I really will to have anything that is within my reach, I do not rest till I have it. . . . Alas! how many prayers are wishes, sent up for a short time and then forgotten, or sent up year after year as matter of duty, while we rest content with the prayer without the answer. (Chap. 10) * * * * * Ere we can believe we must find out and know what God's will is; believing is the exercise of a soul surrendered and given up to the influence of the Word and the Spirit; but when once we do believe nothing shall be impossible. . . . In one aspect there must be faith before there can be prayer; in another the faith is the outcome and the growth of prayer. It is in the personal presence of the Saviour, in intercourse with Him, that faith rises to grasp what at first appeared too high. It is in prayer that we hold up our desire to the light of God's Holy Will, that our motives are tested, and proof given whether we ask indeed in the name of Jesus, and only for the glory of God. It is in prayer that we wait for the leading of the Spirit to show us whether we are asking the right thing and in the right spirit. It is in prayer that we become conscious of our want of faith, that we are led on to say to the Father that we do believe, and that we prove the reality of our faith by the confidence with which we persevere. It is in prayer that Jesus teaches and inspires faith. He that waits to pray, or loses heart in prayer, because he does not yet feel the faith needed to get the answer, will never learn to believe. He who begins to pray and ask will find the Spirit of faith is given nowhere so surely as at the foot of the Throne. (Chap. 11) God would not have made His promises so great and wide if He wasn’t able to do what He promised. He has held out to us the privilege and power of both living and praying in Jesus Name—and He has set before us His desire, “that men always ought to pray and not lose heart” (Luke 18:1). Let us not lose heart because of all the mysteries which may surround prayer and the spiritual realm into which prayer brings us. Prayer requires persevering. Concerning persevering in prayer, Murray wrote: Of all the mysteries of the prayer world, the need of persevering prayer is one of the greatest. . . . When, after persevering supplication, our prayer remains unanswered, it is often easiest for our slothful flesh, and it has all the appearance of pious submission, to think that we must now cease praying, because God may have His secret reason for withholding His answer to our request. It is by faith alone that the difficulty is overcome. When once faith has taken its stand upon God's word, and the Name of Jesus, and has yielded itself to the leading of the Spirit to seek God’s will and honour alone in its prayer, it need not be Page 9 of 13 discouraged by delay. It knows from Scripture that the power of believing prayer is simply irresistible; real faith can never be disappointed. . . . And so, even as Abraham through so many years ‘in hope believed against hope,' and then ‘through faith and patience inherited the promise,' it accounts that the long-suffering of the Lord is salvation, waiting and hasting unto the coming of its Lord to fulfill His promise. (Chap. 16) give us what we ask. If our prayer be according to God's word, and under the leading of the Spirit, let us not give way to these fears. Let us learn to give God time. God needs time with us. . . . There is nothing so heart-searching as the prayer of faith. It teaches you to discover and confess, and give up everything that hinders the coming of the blessing; everything there may be not in accordance with the Father's will. It leads to closer fellowship with Him who alone can teach to pray, to a more entire surrender to draw nigh under no covering but that of the blood, and the Spirit. It calls to a closer and more simple abiding in Christ alone. Christian! give God time. He will perfect that which concerns you. (Chap. 16) Faith will truly grow, but growth, even in the natural, requires time. No one expects in the natural realm to be a champion athlete without perseverance in the discipline his sport requires. No farmer expects a harvest to come about by wishful hoping. Let not time be the measure of the eternal realm. The aches and disciplines of the athlete, the perseverance of the One of the benefits of delay is that it causes us to farmer, and laboring fervently in prayer (like Epaphras carefully consider our life rather than just the words of [Col 4:3]) are not in vain. Temptations from our our prayer. To pray in Jesus name is not a matter of adding His name at the end of our adversary will be to let go prayers. Rather, it is to have of the promised power and Persevering Prayer Christ as our very life—to blessing through prayer, for . . . just as water, to exercise the irresistible be able to say with Paul, prayer is greater than he power it can have, must be gathered up and “For to me, to live is Christ” is. What defense does the (Philipp. 1:21)—it is for Christ accumulated, until the stream can come down in devil have to the one who to have another earthly refuses to lose heart and full force, there must often be a heaping up of temple to walk in, another just keeps praying anyways?! prayer, until God sees that the measure is full, pair of hands to work with, What shall he do if all his another heart and soul to and the answer comes. . . . just as the wicked efforts are only pray with. But to live at odds ploughman has to take his ten thousand steps, resisted by the believer but with how Christ would walk flee away at some point and sow his ten thousand seeds, each one a part and then seek to pray in His before the Lord shows up?! Name is to invite certain of the preparation for the final harvest, so there For to draw near to God is failure. Shall we speak ill is a need-be for oft-repeated persevering prayer, to have God draw near to us. of others and parade their all working out some desired blessing. It knows Be not surprised at the faults, even if it be only temptations to lose heart for certain that not a single believing prayer can within the privacy of our rather than to always pray— homes, and yet think that fail of its effect in heaven, but has its influence, for Satan will never succeed we can pray in His Name? Shall and is treasured up to work out an answer in due over the one who continues we harbor unforgiveness time to him who perseveres to the end. (Ch. 16) to pray without losing heart. towards others and then seek to pray in the Name of Murray wrote: Him who prayed, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do” (Luke 23:34)? “. . . the word Our great danger in this school of the ‘in my Name’ is its own safeguard. It is a spiritual power answer delayed, is the temptation to think which no one can use further than he obtains the that, after all, it may not be God's will to capacity for, by his living and acting in that Name” (Murray, Chap. 24). Page 10 of 13 Murray wrote: It has been said: There is nothing so heartsearching as believing prayer, or even the honest effort to pray in faith. O let us not turn the edge of that self-examination by the thought that God does not hear our prayer for reasons known to Himself alone. By no means. ‘Ye ask and receive not, because ye ask amiss.' Let that word of God search us. Let us ask whether our prayer be indeed the expression of a life wholly given over to the will of God and the love of man. . . . It is he who gives himself to let the love of God dwell in him, and in the practice of daily life to love as God loves, who will have the power to believe in the Love that hears his every prayer. (Chap. 14) Consider one who wishes to be a champion longdistance runner. He may make some good choices, such as lifting weights in order to build up his arms and legs. He may set for himself a rigid healthy diet of nutritious food. However, if time is never taken to condition his heart, lungs and muscles through running, all the good choices have availed him nothing towards his goal. Likewise, it is a good choice to read the Word of God. It is a good choice to have a healthy habit of hearing sound preaching. But unless one takes the time to pray, and works out and through all the agonies associated with praying, he will not arrive at a sound prayer life. Murray wrote: Where the child of God really lives and walks in the Spirit, where he is not content to remain carnal, but seeks to be spiritual, in everything a fit organ for the Divine Spirit to reveal the life of Christ and Christ Himself, there the never-ceasing intercession-life of the Blessed Son cannot but reveal and repeat itself in our experience. Because it is the Spirit of Christ who prays in us, our prayer must be heard; because it is we who pray in the Spirit, there is need of time, and patience, and continual renewing of the prayer, until every obstacle be conquered, and the harmony between God's Spirit and ours is perfect. (Chap. 13) How powerful and effective is the fervent prayer of a righteous man. Yet, how wonderful and kingdom-of-hellshattering it can be when two or three come together in His Name, stirred up in heart and mind, drawing from the faith of one another until they come to an agreement for a request which they lay before the Throne of their Father! All the agonies associated with the flesh through a life of prayer are worth it. Fasting can also become a great asset in prevailing prayer. We are to lay aside the sin which so easily besets, but also every weight of any kind which hinders prevailing prayer (cf. Heb. 12:1) Murray wrote: Prayer is the one hand with which we grasp the invisible; fasting, the other, with which we let loose and cast away the visible. In nothing is man more closely connected with the world of sense than in his need of food, and his enjoyment of it. . . . [T]he first thought suggested by Jesus' words in regard to fasting and prayer, is that it is only in a life of moderation and temperance and self-denial that there will be the heart or the strength to pray much. But then there is also its more literal meaning. Sorrow and anxiety cannot eat: joy celebrates its feasts with eating and drinking. There may come times of intense desire, when it is strongly felt how the body, with its appetites, lawful though they be, still hinder the spirit in its battle with the powers of darkness, and the need is felt of keeping it under. . . . [F]asting helps to express, to deepen, and to confirm the resolution that we are ready to sacrifice anything, to sacrifice ourselves, to attain what we seek for the kingdom of God. . . . And then follows a still wider application. Prayer is the reaching out after God and the unseen; fasting, the letting go of all that is of the seen and temporal. While ordinary Christians imagine that all that is not positively forbidden and sinful is lawful to them, and seek to retain as much as possible of this world, with its property, its literature, its enjoyments, the truly consecrated soul is as the soldier who carries only what he needs for the warfare. Page 11 of 13 . . . Without such voluntary separation, even from what is lawful, no one will attain power in prayer: this kind goeth not out but by fasting and prayer. (Chap. 31) Questions about prayer are best answered by actually praying rather than by reading books on prayer—as helpful as a good book may be. One may as well read a menu at a restaurant and say, “I’m full, I couldn’t read another bite” as to think that reading about prayer will make us a person of prayer. A prayer life takes time and discipline, there are no short-cuts. We may be very grateful to men like Andrew Murray who took the time to elaborate so meticulously upon the theme of prayer. However, it will do our spirits no lasting good just to read his helpful words about prayer if we do not give ourselves to develop a sound prayer-life. Yet, how grateful I trust the reader is for his labor. Let us hear one final lesson from Murray upon prayer before this article closes: One of the greatest hindrances to believing prayer is with many undoubtedly this: they know not if what they ask is according to the will of God. As long as they are in doubt on this point, they cannot have the boldness to ask in the assurance that they certainly shall receive. And they soon begin to think that, if once they have made known their requests, and receive no answer, it is best to leave it to God to do according to His good pleasure. The words of John, ‘If we ask anything according to His will, He heareth us,' as they understand them, make certainty as to answer to prayer impossible, because they cannot be sure of what really may be the will of God. They think of God's will as His hidden counsel— how should man be able to fathom what really may be the purpose of the all-wise God. This is the very opposite of what John aimed at in writing thus. He wished to rouse us to boldness, to confidence, to full assurance of faith in prayer. He says, ‘This is the boldness which we have toward Him,' that we can say: Father! Thou knowest and I know that I ask according to Thy will: I know Thou hearest me. ‘This is the boldness, that Page 12 of 13 if we ask anything according to His will, He heareth us.' On this account He adds at once: ‘If we know that He heareth us whatsoever we ask, we know,' through this faith, that we have,' that we now while we pray receive ‘the petition,’ the special things, ‘we have asked of Him.’ John supposes that when we pray, we first find out if our prayers are according to the will of God. They may be according to God's will, and yet not come at once, or without the persevering prayer of faith. It is to give us courage thus to persevere and to be strong in faith, that He tells us: This gives us boldness or confidence in prayer, if we ask anything according to His will, He heareth us. It is evident that if it be a matter of uncertainty to us whether our petitions be according to His will, we cannot have the comfort of what he says, ‘We know that we have the petitions which we have asked of Him.' But just this is the difficulty. More than one believer says: ‘I do not know if what I desire be according to the will of God. God's will is the purpose of His infinite wisdom: it is impossible for me to know whether He may not count something else better for me than what I desire, or may not have some reasons for withholding what I ask.' Everyone feels how with such thoughts the prayer of faith, of which Jesus said, ‘Whosoever shall believe that these things which he saith shall come to pass, he shall have whatsoever he saith,’ becomes an impossibility. There may be the prayer of submission, and of trust in God's wisdom; there cannot be the prayer of faith. The great mistake here is that God's children do not really believe that it is possible to know God's will. Or if they believe this, they do not take the time and trouble to find it out. What we need is to see clearly in what way it is that the Father leads His waiting, teachable child to know that his petition is according to His will. It is through God's holy word, taken up and kept in the heart, the life, the will; and through God's Holy Spirit, accepted in His indwelling and leading, that we shall learn to know that our petitions are according to His will. . . . It is not as a matter of logic that we can argue it out: God has said it; I must have it. Nor has every Christian the same gift or calling. While the general will revealed in the promise is the same for all, there is for each one a special different will according to God's purpose. And herein is the wisdom of the saints, to know this special will of God for each of us, according to the measure of grace given us, and so to ask in prayer just what God has prepared and made possible for each. It is to communicate this wisdom that the Holy Ghost dwells in us. The personal application of the general promises of the word to our special personal needs— it is for this that the leading of the Holy Spirit is given us. It is this union of the teaching of the word and Spirit that many do not understand, and so there is a twofold difficulty in knowing what God's will may be. Some seek the will of God in an inner feeling or conviction, and would have the Spirit lead them without the word. Others seek it in the word, without the living leading of the Holy Spirit. The two must be united: only in the word, only in the Spirit, but in these most surely, can we know the will of God, and learn to pray according to it. In the heart the word and Spirit must meet: it is only by indwelling that we can experience their teaching. The word must dwell, must abide in us: heart and life must day by day be under its influence. Not from without, but from within, comes the quickening of the word by the Spirit. It is only he who yields himself entirely in his whole life to the supremacy of the word and the will of God, who can expect in special cases to discern what that word and will permit him boldly to ask. (Chap. 29) 14 Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him. 1 John 5:14-15 Notes: _____________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ Page 13 of 13 ---------- Course DC209: Atonement ---------- . . . and without shedding of blood there is no remission. Hebrews 9:22 Intro: When one comes to the Doctrine of Atonement, it is fitting that he first removes, as it were, his sandals from his feet—for it is to tread upon holy ground. The Doctrine of Atonement reveals that God had to be propitiated in order for Him to deal favorably towards man as He desires—that there must first be atonement made for our sin. Through many types and shadow God educated the world to understand His righteous requirement that without the shedding of blood there can be no remission of sin. The many Old Testament animal sacrifices could not take away sin (Heb. 10:4), they could only point the worshipper to trust in God that He would one day provide a sacrifice which truly could atone for sins. A sacrifice which truly would make propitiation take place—which truly could result in the remission of our sins! The doctrine of Atonement sets forth the necessity of the Substitutionary Sacrifice of Jesus Christ. The world finds this offensive—the offense of the cross! For it testifies how hopelessly lost and unable we are to work ourselves back into God’s good graces. But there is no other way than through the shed Blood of Jesus Christ, and if there were, “then Christ died in vain” (Gal. 2:21). I.) Substitutionary Sacrifice Christ died for our sin: ---------- ---------- Matt 20:28 . . . the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many. 1 Pet. 2:24 . . . who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed. Notes: _________________ Gal. 3:13 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, _______________________ having become a curse for us (for it is written, "Cursed is _______________________ everyone who hangs on a tree"). _______________________ _______________________ Rom. 3:25 25 whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, _______________________ through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His _______________________ forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously _______________________ 26 committed, to demonstrate at the present time His _______________________ righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one _______________________ who has faith in Jesus. _______________________ Rom. 4:25 who was delivered up because of our offenses, and _______________________ was raised because of our justification. _______________________ _______________________ Heb. 9:28 so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. _______________________ To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, _______________________ apart from sin, for salvation. _______________________ 1 Pet. 3:18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, ---------- ---------- Regarding Lesson DC209, unless otherwise noted: Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Page 1 of 6 1 John 2:2 And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world. Lev. 17:11 for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul. II.) Sin Ruined, the Law of God’s Righteousness Requirements Fulfilled The Higher Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus prevailing over the law of sin and death: Mercy and truth have met together; Righteousness and peace have kissed. Psalms 85:10 Gal 2:21 I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain." Romans 8:1-4 1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 THAT THE RIGHTEOUS REQUIREMENTS OF THE LAW MIGHT BE FULFILLED IN US who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. III.) The Only True Atoning Sacrifice for the Remission of Sin His Sacrifice does not need to be repeated, it is infinitely able to save all who come to God through Him: Heb. 10:11-14 11 And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, 13 from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. 14 For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified. Dan. 9:24 Seventy weeks are determined For your people and for your holy city, To finish the transgression, To make an end of sins, To make reconciliation for iniquity, To bring in everlasting righteousness, To seal up vision and prophecy, And to anoint the Most Holy. Col 1:19-23. 19 For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, 20 and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross. 21 And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled 22 in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight-- 23 if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister. Page 2 of 6 Notes: _______________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ IV.) Only the God-Man Could Bring Reconciliation Those who reject the atonement reject the central theme; the very heart and soul of all the Bible. Man imagines that the gospel is too bloody to be true. They say foolish things like, “If God wanted to save people, why didn’t He just forgive them of their sins! Why did He have to send Jesus to the cross? I love my children and want to forgive them, and I don’t require that I am first propitiated before I forgive them.” But such do not understand the justice of God. God is more than just Father, He is Judge, the Moral Judge of the universe. And the judge of all the earth must do what is right, if He let sin go unpunished, the very realm of His kingdom would be ruined. It is not a question of God not loving man until He is first propitiated. God loved us before the foundation of the world—He is the One who set the whole plan of redemption in progress. Only He could make reconciliation happen, and at great anguish to Himself, but man could do nothing about the damning offense of sin—“In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins” (1 John 4:10). Consider the following example which helps somewhat to illustrate the matter of God needing to fulfill all righteousness as the Judge of all the earth who must do right, even while loving and desiring reconciliation. Years ago I came across a report on TV about the execution of a murderer. It was shared that one of those who was present to watch the execution was a family member (the father I believe) of the one this man had killed. Shortly before the execution took place, through the glass, the murderer asked this family member to forgive him. The man communicated that he did forgive him, and the execution proceeded. And we say correctly that the execution needed to proceed. Just because there was forgiveness in this man’s heart for him does not mean that the just requirement of the law had been satisfied. In Christ we have been granted forgiveness from the Father, and the law’s requirement was satisfied in Christ’s Substitutionary death for us. Now, the account of this man’s execution can only illustrate so much for us. For in attempting to relate it to our situation, God would be not only the offended family member, but the judge, the executioner of justice, and through Christ He is also the Victim who satisfies the righteous requirement of God’s law! O how great is the love of God in Christ towards us. Proverbs 28:5 reads: “Evil men do not understand justice, but those who seek the Lord understand all.” The only way salvation could come to us: Romans 5:6-11 6 For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His Notes: _________________ blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. 10 For if when ________________________ we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death ________________________ of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be 11 ________________________ saved by His life. And not only that, but we also rejoice in God ________________________ through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation. ________________________ 44 ________________________ Luke 24:44-49 Then He said to them, "These are the words ________________________ which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things ________________________ must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and 45 ________________________ the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me." And He opened ________________________ their understanding, that they might comprehend the 46 ________________________ Scriptures. Then He said to them, "Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the ________________________ dead the third day, 47 and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 And you are witnesses of these things. 49 Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high." Page 3 of 6 2 Cor. 5:18-21 18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. 20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. 21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. 1 Tim. 2:2-6. 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. V.) The Reconciliation Accomplished in Christ Shadowed in the Old Testament Examples from the Old Testament could be greatly multiplied. However, this point will be set forth in just two wellknown accounts. Combined these two accounts set forth an abundance of testimony to the work that Christ accomplished for our salvation. The Father’s anguished heart is revealed. The Son’s willingness to be offered up for us. The necessity for the Blood of Christ, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, and that we must personally trust in His atoning Blood. Jesus is our Passover Lamb, saved by His Blood: 5 Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year. You may take it from the sheep or from the “My father! . . . where is the Lamb?” goats. 6 Now you shall keep it until the fourteenth . . . “God will provide for Himself day of the same month. Then the whole assembly of the Lamb” Gen. 22:7-8 the congregation of Israel shall kill it at twilight. 7 And they shall take some of the blood and put it on the “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes two doorposts and on the lintel of the houses where away the sin of the world!” John 1:29 they eat it. 8 Then they shall eat the flesh on that night; roasted in fire, with unleavened bread and “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain with bitter herbs they shall eat it. . . . It is the LORD'S to receive power and riches and Passover. 12 For I will pass through the land of Egypt wisdom, and strength and honor and on that night, and will strike all the firstborn in the glory and blessing! Rev. 5:12 land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD. 13 Now the blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you; and the plague shall not be on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt. . . . 21 Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel and said to them, "Pick out and take lambs for yourselves according to your families, and kill the Passover lamb. 22 And you shall take a bunch of hyssop, dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and strike the lintel and the two doorposts with the blood that is in the basin. And none of you shall go out of the door of his house until morning. 23 For the Lord will pass through to strike the Egyptians; and when He sees the blood on the lintel and on the two doorposts, the Lord will pass over the door and not allow the destroyer to come into your houses to strike you. (Selected portions from Exodus Chapter 12.) Note: ______________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ Page 4 of 6 Abraham offering up Isaac, the LORD will Provide (i.e., provide the Sacrifice): 2 Then He said, "Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you." 3 So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son; and he split the wood for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place of which God had told him. 4 Then on the third day Abraham lifted his eyes and saw the place afar off. 5 And Abraham said to his young men, "Stay here with the donkey; the lad and I will go yonder and worship, and we will come back to you." 6 So Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife, and the two of them went together. 7 But Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, "My father!" And he said, "Here I am, my son." Then he said, "Look, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?" 8 And Abraham said, "My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering." So the two of them went together. 9 Then they came to the place of which God had told him. And Abraham built an altar there and placed the wood in order; and he bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, upon the wood. 10 And Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. 11 But the Angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, "Abraham, Abraham!" So he said, "Here I am." 12 And He said, "Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me." 13 Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by its horns. So Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son. 14 And Abraham called the name of the place, The-Lord-Will-Provide; as it is said to this day, "In the Mount of The Lord it shall be provided." Genesis 22:2-14 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16 Note: ______________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ VI.) The Precious Gift of the Blood of Atonement from the Substitutionary Sacrifice, the Mediator between God and Man 1 Pet. 1:18-19 18 knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. Page 5 of 6 Eph. 1:7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace. 1 Pet. 2:24 who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed. 2 Cor. 5:21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. 1 Pet. 3:18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit. Eph. 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her. Rev. 1:5 To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood. Rev. 5:9. You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation. Heb. 9:12 Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. Notes: _______ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ Page 6 of 6 Oh, What Love from God! “The atonement was designed by the love and holiness of God. Holiness and justice as attributes of God necessitated an atonement if reconciliation of God to man should occur. Yet it must be observed that nothing in justice moved God to provide an atonement. Justice could have allowed all men to perish in their sins . . .” — Harold J. Ockenga — 1 Tim. 2:5-6 5 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. Titus 2:14 who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works. Mark 10:45. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many. John 6:51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is M y flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world. John 10:15 As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. 2 Cor. 5:14-15 14 For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; 15 and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again. Gal. 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. Gal. 1:4 who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father “God’s wisdom is displayed in the cross, namely, the means of atonement whereby the demands of divine love and holiness were both met and displayed. Psalm 85:10 declares: “Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.” These attributes were able to meet on Calvary according to divine wisdom. Hence it is that Paul cries: “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!” —Harold J. Ockenga David J. Fant, editor, Foundations of the Faith (Fleming H. Revell Co., Westwood NJ: 1951) 54. ---------- Course DC211: Nature of God’s Church ---------- And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved. Acts 2:47 Intro: The Church is much greater than one first realizes—let us LOVE THE CHURCH. When the Christian begins to really examine the Church, he finds overwhelming reasons to truly love it. Everyone is aware that problems occur within churches, some even using it as an excuse for why they do not believe. Christians, however, may be tempted just to quickly dismiss all the problems in churches by saying that the problems are hypocrites in the churches plural (meaning local assemblies), but not with the One True Spiritual Church which is comprised of all of God’s saved ones. Now, there is some truth to be found somewhere in all those words, but it is not the whole story by any means. For even in the True Spiritual Body of Christ (i.e., those who are truly saved and thus are not hypocrites) there are weak and strong brethren, babes and mature ones in Christ, carnal and spiritual believers. There are some real problems and things lacking in the Church, even though the Church is precious and truly saved. The Church is truly filled with imperfect people, that’s not just a fact, it’s a fact which allows for us to be included in it. One may ask, “How can I be expected to love the Church then when it has so many problems?” The answer is found in how precious the Church is to Christ and the relationship the Church has to Him, and the relationship the Church has to everyone who is in Christ, including us if we are among the saved. As you go through this lesson, may the Holy Spirit move your heart to love and minister to the Church of God which He bought with His own Blood. ---------- I.) The Church is Precious and to be Greatly Loved ---------- The Church is precious, for Christ gave Himself for the Church: Eph. 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her. ---------- ---------- Eph 1:7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace. Notes: ___________________ 1 Pet. 1:18-19 18 knowing that you were not redeemed with _________________________ corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct _________________________ received by tradition from your fathers, 19 but with the precious _________________________ blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. _________________________ _________________________ 1 Pet. 2:24 who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the _________________________ tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for _________________________ righteousness--by whose stripes you were healed. _________________________ 2 Cor. 5:21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for _________________________ us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. _________________________ 1 Pet. 3:18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for _________________________ the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death _________________________ in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit. _________________________ _________________________ Rev. 1:5 To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in _________________________ His own blood. Regarding Lesson DC211, unless otherwise noted: Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Page 1 of 6 Rev. 5:9 You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation. Heb. 9:12 Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. 1 Tim. 2:5-6 5 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. Titus 2:14 who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works. Notes: ______________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ Mark 10:45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many. John 6:51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world. John 10:15 As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. 2 Cor. 5:14-15 14 For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; 15 and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again. Gal. 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. Gal. 1:4 who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father. II.) The Church Greatly Loved by the Lord How closely attached we are to the Lord Jesus! Think of it, Scripture (using the language of marriage and the account of Eve coming from Adam’s body [Adam exclaiming: “she is bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh]) says of the Church “For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones” (Eph. 5:30). How great is our relationship to Christ! For just as Eve partook of the life and nature of Adam, so the Church partakes of the same life and nature of Jesus (1 John 5:12, 2 Pet. 1:4). Husbands and wives share great love, they are willing to leave father and mother and become joined to one another. And the love the Church has towards Christ causes her to cleave to Him, to take His name upon her, and to go with Him wherever He may lead. Of this love from Christians back to their Lord, Albert Barnes wrote: So strong is it, that he is willing for it to forsake father, mother, and home; to leave his country, and to abandon his possessions; to go to distant lands and dwell among barbarians to make the Redeemer known; or to go to the cross or the stake from simple love to the Saviour. Account for it as people may, there has been manifested on earth nowhere else so strong an attachment as that which binds the Christian to the cross. It is stronger love than that which a man has for his own flesh and bones; for it makes him willing that his flesh should be consumed by fire, or his bones broken on the wheel rather than deny him. Can the infidel account for this strength of attachment on any other principle than that it has a divine origin?3 3 Albert Barnes, Barnes' Notes on the New Testament (Bible Explorer Software, Limited Edition, Version 4 [original printed publication 1832], 2004), Eph. 5:30. Page 2 of 6 The Church’s incredibly close relationship to Christ: Eph. 5:30 For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones. Eph. 5:25-27 25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, 26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, 27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. Eph.1:22-23 22 And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. Eph. 5:31-32 31 "For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh." 32 This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church. Rev. 19:7 Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready. Rev. 21:9 “Come, I will show you the woman, the Lamb's wife.” Notes: ________ _______________ _______________ _______________ _______________ _______________ _______________ _______________ _______________ _______________ _______________ _______________ _______________ _______________ _______________ _______________ _______________ Some Figures Used to Reveal the Church: Family: Eph. 3:14-15 14 For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named. . . Body (an abundance could be given): Eph. 1:22-23 22 And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. Bride: Rev. 19:7 Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready. Flock: John 10:16 And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd. House/Temple: 1 Peter 2:4-5 4 Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, 5 you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. An intimate fellowship with one another: Eph. 4:16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love. 1 Cor. 10:17 For we, though many, are one bread and one body; for we all partake of that one bread. Page 3 of 6 Eph. 3:19-21 19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, 21 to Him be glory in the church Notes: _____ by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. __________ 1 Pet. 1:22 22 Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the __________ Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart __________ 2 __________ 2 Thess. 1:3 We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you __________ in our prayers, 3 remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, __________ and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father __________ III.) Believers Edifying the Body in Love We are to endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is a wonderful unity that exists between all believers—the Holy Spirit is in them all. That oneness is heaven made, not man made. It is a unity of the Spirit, and therefore could never be a mere alliance for the sake of peace. Grave and heretical errors have occurred when people mistake compromise with, and toleration of evil in an attempt to mistakenly keep the unity of the Spirit. The unity of the Spirit is in holiness. The unity of the Spirit is not something we create, it already exists. We are to endeavor to keep it, to experience it. When we endeavor to be like Christ, when we endeavor to obey His commands, when we endeavor to love the Body of Christ, to build it up in love, etc.—then we are experiencing the unity of the Spirit. Edifying the Body of Christ in Love: Eph. 4:1-6 1 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, 2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, 3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. Eph. 4:11-16 11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head--Christ-Notes: __________ 16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every ________________ joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does ________________ its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love. ________________ ________________ Col 1:24 24 I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh ________________ what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which ________________ is the church ________________ Rom. 12:9-13 9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to ________________ what is good. 10 Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, ________________ in honor giving preference to one another; 11 not lagging in diligence, ________________ fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; 12 rejoicing in hope, patient in ________________ tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; 13 distributing to the needs ________________ of the saints, given to hospitality. Page 4 of 6 Through loving each other in the Church we are making Jesus known in the world: John 13:34-35 34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." John 17:23 I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me. Phil. 1:27-29 27 Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel, 28 and not in any way terrified by your adversaries, which is to them a proof of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that from God. 29 For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake 2 Cor. 2:14-17 14 Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. 15 For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. 16 To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life. And who is sufficient for these things? 17 For we are not, as so many, peddling the word of God; but as of sincerity, but as from God, we speak in the sight of God in Christ. Notes: ______________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ IV.) Membership into the One True Church is through Salvation Alone And the Lord added to the Church daily those who were being saved. Acts 2:47 Acts 2:47 And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved. 1 Cor. 1:2 To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours: 1 Cor. 10:32-33 Give no offense, either to the Jews or to the Greeks or to the church of God, 33 just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved. Notes: ______________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ Page 5 of 6 1 Cor. 11:16 But if anyone seems to be contentious, we have no such custom, nor do the churches of God. 1 Thess. 1:1 Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thess. 2:14 For you, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God which are in Judea in Christ Jesus. For you also suffered the same things from your own countrymen, just as they did from the Judeans Notes: ________ 1 Cor. 11:22 What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise ______________ the church of God and shame those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? ______________ Shall I praise you in this? I do not praise you. ______________ ______________ 2 Cor. 1:1 To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in ______________ Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who in every place call on the name of ______________ Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours: ______________ Gal. 1:13 For you have heard of my former conduct in Judaism, how I persecuted ______________ the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it. ______________ ______________ 1 Tim. 3:5, 15 for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God? . . . but if I am delayed, I write so that you may ______________ know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church ______________ of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. ______________ ______________ Heb. 12:23 to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered ______________ in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect . . . Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: "The Lord knows those who are His," and, "Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity." 2 Timothy 2:19 Page 6 of 6 ---------- Course DC213: Heaven and Hell ---------- And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life. Matthew 25:46 Intro: There is an end to all this time of probation under the sun to get right with God: “We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain. For He says: ‘In an acceptable time I have heard you, and in the day of salvation I have helped you.’ Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Cor. 6:1-2). There is no purgatory, there is no offer of grace in hell, and there is no amount of long suffering for a sinner in torment which could eventually purge him from his sin. In this Gospel period mankind is earnestly entreated to be reconciled to God through Jesus Christ. For although the coming Day of the Lord’s return will mark the beginning of untold eternal joys and glories for a vast multitude gathered around the Throne (God be praised for His grace!), it will also be the Day that ushers in eternal woe and suffering for a vast multitude of others. Not because they could not be saved, for sufficient atonement was truly provided for the needs of all of Adam’s fallen race. Rather, it will be because they were not willing. I.) A Final Divide Will Come on the Last Day 31 ---------- "When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. 32 All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. 33 And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. . . . 46 And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life." Matthew 25:31-33, 46 ---------- ---------- ---------- John 5:29 28 Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice 29 and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation. Notes: _______________ Dan. 12:2-3 2 And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth ______________________ shall awake, Some to everlasting life, Some to shame and ______________________ everlasting contempt. 3 Those who are wise shall shine Like the ______________________ brightness of the firmament, and those who turn many to ______________________ righteousness Like the stars forever and ever. ______________________ 2 Thess. 1:9:6-10 6 since it is a righteous thing with God to repay ______________________ with tribulation those who trouble you, 7 and to give you who are ______________________ troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven ______________________ with His mighty angels, 8 in flaming fire taking vengeance on those ______________________ who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel ______________________ of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 These shall be punished with everlasting ______________________ destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of ______________________ His power, 10 when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His ______________________ saints and to be admired among all those who have believed, ______________________ because our testimony among you was believed. Regarding Lesson DC213, unless otherwise noted: Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Page 1 of 12 Rom. 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. John 3:36 He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him. Luke 16:25-26 25 But Abraham said, “Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented. 26 And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.” Notes: ____________ __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ II.) Damnation in Hell / Salvation in Heaven Mark 9:44-48 43 If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed, rather than having two hands, to go to hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched-- 44 where 'Their worm does not die, And the fire is not quenched.' 45 And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame, rather than having two feet, to be cast into hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched-46 where 'Their worm does not die, And the fire is not quenched.' 47 And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire-- 48 where 'Their worm does not die, And the fire is not quenched.' Luke 16:23-24 23 And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 24 Then he cried and said, “Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.” Matt. 13:43 Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear! Dan. 12:3 Those who are wise shall shine Like the brightness of the firmament, And those who turn many to righteousness Like the stars forever and ever. John 14:3 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. John 17:24 Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. Matt. 25:34 Then the King will say to those on His right hand, 'Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: Matt. 25:41 Then He will also say to those on the left hand, 'Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels. Heb. 9:28 so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation. Rev. 21:8 But the cowardly, unbelieving and sinners, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death. 1 John 3:2 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. Page 2 of 12 Rev. 14:10-11 10 he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. 11 And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name. Rev. 20:10, 15 10 The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where also the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. . . . 15 And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire. Matt. 13:41-42 41 The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, 42 and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. 1 Thess. 4:16-17 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 1 Peter 1:4-5 4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Rev. 7:17 for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to fountains of the waters of life. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Rev. 21:4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away. Notes: ___________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ III.) Various Degrees of Reward in Heaven Certainly there will be various rewards that the saved experience in heaven. This is not to teach that there are different levels of heaven. There is but one final destiny for the saved and but one final destiny for the lost. But there are certainly various degrees of rewards for the saved just as there are various degrees of suffering for the lost. Concerning reward, some will be saved with little reward, and some will have great rewards. It is grievous to think of one being saved yet having little further reward when he could have laid up treasure in heaven. That is, one may have a saved soul (because he remained on the one foundation of Christ) and yet built on that foundation so poorly that he has nearly a lost life—i.e., much (perhaps even all) of his works being burned up. There is no greater illustration of this than that of Lot. That he is clearly declared to be righteous, being one who was truly oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked, even tormented his righteous soul day after day, yet, he chose to both dwell in Sodom and raise his family there—illustrating well those who let financial decisions dictate more how they will live in this world than spiritual concerns (see Gen. 13:10-13, 19:1-38, 2 Pet. 2:7-8). And thus, all of his life’s works were burned up though he himself was saved. Let us labor in the Lord because we love Him, and let us humbly bow our heads in gratitude to God that in doing so we lay up treasures in heaven. Salvation is by grace. But rewards are associated with our works. The reward of our works is not in proportion to the gifts which we have received, but according to our personal faithfulness associated with what God has committed to us. For one with more gifts than another may actually receive less reward than that of a faithful one with less gifts—just as the widow who put in her last two mites put in more than all the rest. Consider: Page 3 of 12 Matt. 16:27 For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works. 1 Cor. 3:8 Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor. 1 Cor. 3:11-15 11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each one's work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is. 14 If anyone's work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. Rev. 22:12 And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. 2 John1:8 Look to yourselves, that we do not lose those things we worked for, but that we may receive a full reward. 16 1 Cor. 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. Rev. 14:13 Then I heard a voice from heaven saying, "Write: 'Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.' " "Yes," says the Spirit, "that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them." Heb. 10:34 for you had compassion on me in my chains, and joyfully accepted the plundering of your goods, knowing that you have a better and an enduring possession for yourselves in heaven. 35 Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. Heb. 10:34-35 Matt. 5:12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Luke 6:22-23 22 Blessed are you when men hate you, And when they exclude you, And revile you, and cast out your name as evil, For the Son of Man's sake. 23 Rejoice in that day and leap for joy! For indeed your reward is great in heaven, For in like manner their fathers did to the prophets. Luke 12:33-34 33 Sell what you have and give alms; provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matt. 6:1-2 Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. 2 Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. Then came the first, saying, “Master, your mina has earned ten minas.” 17 And he said to him, “Well done, good servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.” 18 And the second came, saying, “Master, your mina has earned five minas.” 19 Likewise he said to him, 'You also be over five cities.” Luke 19:16-19 Page 4 of 12 Notes: ____________ __________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ Matt. 19:21 Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” (cf. Luke 18:22) Luke 6:35 But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. Col. 3:23-24 23 And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ. Heb. 11:25-26 25 choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, 26 esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward. Heb. 11:6 6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Heb. 6:10 For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister. Rev. 11:18 The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come, And the time of the dead, that they should be judged, And that You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints, And those who fear Your name, small and great, And should destroy those who destroy the earth. 1 Pet. 1:4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you Matt. 10:41-42 41 He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward. And he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward. 42 And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward. Heb. 10:35 Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. Notes: ________ ______________ ______________ ______________ ______________ ______________ ______________ ______________ ______________ ______________ ______________ IV.) Degrees of Suffering in Hell1 It is also certain that, whereas hell will be torment for all, there will be varying degrees of suffering in hell. Clearly, not all of hell’s inhabitants will suffer the same intensity. This truth is revealed in several ways: And that servant who knew his master's will, and did not prepare himself or do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more. Luke 12:47-48 1 This section from: Don Minkler, In Defense and Promotion of the Traditional Doctrine of Hell (Mt. Sterling, KY: Reformation Publishers, 2017), 75-78. This book is the textbook used for the course DC307 Doctrine of Hell. Those interested in a much more thorough work on the doctrine of hell are encouraged to pick up a copy. You can contact School of the Called Seminary (541) 714-3626 to order one, or it can be purchased through Amazon. The cost is $20.00 for this 500 page book—purposely priced to be affordable. If price is a problem, contact the Seminary and a copy will be sent to you for whatever you can afford, even free. Page 5 of 12 Thus, Scripture speaks of those who will receive the greater condemnation, condemnation which is equal to their privilege and opportunity to rightly respond: Notes: __________ Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows' ________________ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. Therefore you will receive ________________ greater condemnation. Matthew 23:14 ________________ But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are ________________ treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who "will render to each one according to ________________ his deeds" Romans 2:5-6 ________________ But I say to you that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in ________________ the day of judgment than for you. Matthew 11:24 ________________ My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we ________________ shall receive a stricter judgment. James 3:1 Clearly the amount of suffering is proportional to the amount of spiritual light one had and yet rejected. Notes: ______________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin. James 4:17 I was alive once without the law, but when the commandment came, sin revived and I died. Romans 7:9 Jesus said to them, "If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, 'We see.' Therefore your sin remains. John 9:41 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. John 15:22 Therefore the one who delivered Me to you has the greater sin. John 19:11 Such Scriptures reveal that advantage, opportunity and knowledge are all taken into account when sin is accounted for. Thus, judgment will be meted out to the degree that justice demands the offender suffer. Ignorance, of course, can be no excuse when one remains willfully ignorant of the truth, for if one seeks he will find. From nature alone then one is without excuse. . . . having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart. Ephesians 4:18 For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God. Romans 10:3 If anyone wants to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority. John 7:17 Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind. Philippians 3:16 Page 6 of 12 Notes: ___________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ More could be brought forth to reveal that the judgment is just, according to each one’s ability and opportunity from a consideration of Romans 2:1-16 and Romans 14 (as well as other passages).2 No one will be able to hide from the truth of this on that great Day. Truly, even if God did no more than reveal himself from nature, man is without excuse. But every soul knows He has given so much more in the hope that “. . . they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us. . .” (Acts 17:27). Paul revealed: 18For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness [that is, they suppress, resist, hold out against and ignore the truth that they do understand rather than submit to that – which would have of course led to more truth if they would have responded to what they did understand – even to Him who is the Truth!], 19 because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, 21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Romans 1:18-21 V.) Both Heaven and Hell are Literal Places Scripture certainly presents hell as a literal place even as it presents heaven as a literal place. Concerning heaven our Lord said, “In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also” (John 14:2-3). That a place is prepared is clear, and that our Lord’s risen body was received in heaven testifies to an actual place, for a body inhabits/occupies its place. Likewise, not only are we told that hell was prepared for the devil and his angels (Matt. 25:41), but we are told that bodies (after the resurrection of the dead) will be received there (Matt. 5:29-30; 10:28; 18:9) – a clear testimony to a literal place. Even hell in its embryonic stage of Hades for the spirits of the damned is referred to as a “place of torment” (Luke 16:28). How much more that final place into which hell in its embryonic form is swallowed up in the final form of Gehenna (called the lake of fire, the second death), which receives more than just the spirits of the damned, receiving also their resurrected bodies (Rev. 20:14). Hell, a literal place: Notes: ___________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ Matt. 25:41 Then He will also say to those on the left hand, 'Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels 2 Peter 2:4-11 4 For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment; 5 and did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah, one of eight people, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly; 6 and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them to destruction, making them an example to those who afterward would live ungodly; 7 and delivered righteous Lot, who was oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked 8 (for that righteous man, dwelling among them, tormented his righteous soul from day to day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds)— 9 then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment, 10 and especially those who walk according to the flesh in the lust of uncleanness and despise authority. They are presumptuous, self-willed. They are not afraid to speak evil of dignitaries, 11 whereas angels, who are greater in power and might, do not bring a reviling accusation against them before the Lord. 2 The subject of justice in hell is considered in Chapter 7 [my book mentioned in the footnote above this one]. Page 7 of 12 Jude 7 . . . the vengeance of eternal fire. . . Mark 9:44 . . . the fire is not quenched. Matt. 25:46 And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life. Daniel 12:2 . . . shame and everlasting Mark 3:29 . . . of Matt. 25:46 contempt . . . eternal condemnation. . . . . . everlasting Notes: ___________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ punishment. . . Heaven, a literal place: John 14:1-3 1 Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. Acts 7:55-56 55 But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, 56 and said, “Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!” Mark 16:19 So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. Acts 3:21 whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began. John 17:24 Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. 1 Thess. 4:13-18 13 But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. 15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words. VI.) Our Heavenly home is not of this world: Heaven exists apart from and up from the earth: John 14:2-3 2 In My Father's house are many mansions [μοναὶ (literally, dwellings)]; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. Matt. 25:34 Then the King will say to those on His right hand, 'Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: Page 8 of 12 Notes: _____________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ Col. 1:5 because of the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel . . . Heb. 13:1 For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come. Heb. 11:9-10 9 By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; 10 for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God. Heb. 11:16 But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them. Heb. 10:34 for you had compassion on me in my chains, and joyfully accepted the plundering of your goods, knowing that you have a better and an enduring possession for yourselves in heaven. 1 Pet. 1:4-5 4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Luke 6:22-23 22 Blessed are you when men hate you, And when they exclude you, and revile you, and cast out your name as evil, For the Son of Man's sake. 23 Rejoice in that day and leap for joy! For indeed your reward is great in heaven, for in like manner their fathers did to the prophets. Luke 16:9 9 And I say to you, make friends for yourselves by unrighteous mammon, that when you fail, they may receive you into an everlasting home. This world is not heaven, this world will be burned up and will pass away: 2 Pet. 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. Rev. 20:11 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. Matt. 24:35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away. Ps. 102:25-26 25 Of old You laid the foundation of the earth, And the heavens are the work of Your hands. 26 They will perish, but You will endure; Yes, they will all grow old like a garment; Like a cloak You will change them, And they will be changed. Matt. 5:18 For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. 1 Pet. 4:7 But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. 2 Cor. 4:18 while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal. Notes: _________________ ______________________ ______________________ ______________________ ______________________ ______________________ ______________________ ______________________ ______________________ ______________________ ______________________ ______________________ Page 9 of 12 2 Cor. 5:1 1 For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. Matt 25:34 Then the King will say to those on His right hand, 'Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: The earth is one of the things we see. What does Paul say of the things which are seen? Ans. “The things which are seen are temporal [lasting for a time only—transitory]; but the things which are not seen are eternal.” 2 Cor. 4:18.—H. M. Riggle Samuel L. Speck and H. M. Riggle, Bible Readings (Prestonsburg, PA: Reformation Publishers [reprint, 1902], 2007), 249. Heaven is up from the earth already: Mark 16:9 So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. Luke 24:51 Now it came to pass, while He blessed them, that He was parted from them and carried up into heaven. John 3:13 No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven. John 6:62 What then if you should see the Son of Man ascend where He was before? Acts 1:9-11 9 Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. 10 And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, 11 who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.” Eph. 4:8-10 8 Therefore He says: "When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, And gave gifts to men." 9 (Now this, "He ascended"--what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth? 10 He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.) 1 Thess. 4:16-17 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words. 1 Tim. 3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Preached among the Gentiles, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory. Notes: __________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Page 10 of 12 VII.) Heaven is called or represented under various figures: New Heavens and the New Earth, the home of righteousness: Matt. 5:5 Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth. 2 Pet. 3:10-13 10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. 11 Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, 12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? 13 Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. Rev. 20:11 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. Rev. 21:1 Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. A Heavenly country: Heb. 11:16 But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. A city: Heb. 13:14 For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come. Heb. 11: 16 Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them. Rev. 22:14-15 Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city. 15 But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie. The Father’s House: Notes: ____________ __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ John 14:2 In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. Notes: _____________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. John 14:1-3 1 Page 11 of 12 VIII.) Conclusion: 5 11 32 But recall the former days in For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is which, after you were laid, which is Jesus Christ. illuminated, you endured a 12 Now if anyone builds on this great struggle with sufferings: 33 partly while you were made foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, a spectacle both by 13 straw, each one's work will reproaches and tribulations, become clear; for the Day will and partly while you became declare it, because it will be companions of those who revealed by fire; and the fire were so treated; 34 for you will test each one's work, of had compassion on me in my what sort it is. 14 If anyone's chains, and joyfully accepted NOTES: ____________________________________________________________________________ work which he has built on it the plundering of your goods, ____________________________________________________________________________________ endures, he will receive a knowing that you have a ____________________________________________________________________________________ reward. 15 If anyone's work is better and an enduring ____________________________________________________________________________________ burned, he will suffer loss; but possession for yourselves in ____________________________________________________________________________________ he himself will be saved, yet heaven. 35 Therefore do not ____________________________________________________________________________________ so as through fire. 1 cast away your confidence, ____________________________________________________________________________________ Corinthians 3:11-15 which has great reward. 36 For ____________________________________________________________________________________ you have need of endurance, ____________________________________________________________________________________ so that after you have done ____________________________________________________________________________________ the will of God, you may ____________________________________________________________________________________ receive the promise: 37 "For ____________________________________________________________________________________ yet a little while, And He who ____________________________________________________________________________________ is coming will come and will ____________________________________________________________________________________ not tarry. 38 Now the just shall ____________________________________________________________________________________ live by faith; But if anyone ____________________________________________________________________________________ draws back, My soul has no ____________________________________________________________________________________ pleasure in him." 39 But we are ____________________________________________________________________________________ not of those who draw back to ____________________________________________________________________________________ perdition, but of those who ____________________________________________________________________________________ believe to the saving of the ____________________________________________________________________________________ soul. Hebrews 10:32-39 ____________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, 6 who "will render to each one according to his deeds" Romans 2:5-6 “The Bible nowhere employs any stronger words to assert the endless existence of God himself and all that pertains to his eternal kingdom, life, and glory, of the never-ending felicities of the righteous in heaven, than it employs in declaring the never-ending punishment of the wicked in hell, who reject the infinite love and mercy of God, and close this probationary state in rebellion against his throne. Forever – aiona.” —H. M. Riggle, from a compiled and edited work by Russell R. Byrum, Scripture Readings and Sermon Outlines (Anderson, IN: Gospel Trumpet Company, 1922), 71. Page 12 of 12 Course DC215 The Great Commission ---------- ---------- 18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen. Matthew 28:18-20 Assignment: After listening to the CD/mp3 recorded lecture (obtained through your instructor), write a half to one page report expressing both the corporate aspect of the Great Commission (i.e., that which requires cooperating with other believers) and the personal aspect of the Great Commission. Allow your Instructor to read it. Consider and discuss where you believe your gifts and passion are in regards to the Great Commission. ---------- Notes: _____________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ---------- ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ---------- ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ---------- Regarding Lesson DC215, unless otherwise noted: Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Page 1 of 1 ---------- Course DC217 Personal Evangelism ---------- . . . that the sharing of your faith may become effective by the acknowledgment of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus. Philemon 1:6 Intro: Evangelism is a subject which must be rescued from several misconceptions—perhaps none more popular than that of wrongly equating “evangelism” and “being a good witness” as if they were identical expressions. Truly the expressions are related to one another, but they are not absolutely one and the same thing—at least not after the manner in which most define what it means to be a “good witness.” Being a “good witness” encompasses the whole of our Christian life. It includes (but is not limited to) how we work, how we recreate, how we spend our money, how we treat our family members, and even how we treat our household pets. However, “evangelism” concerns the express declaration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. These more precise definitions reveal a distinction, although not a total separation from one another. For “evangelism” apart from a “good witness” would only hurt the Name of the LORD before men. Likewise, as one’s understanding increases, evangelism should become inseparable from one’s Christian witness. Paul’s prayerful desire expressed in Philemon 1:6 testifies to more than just living out your Christian faith, it includes the effective “sharing of your faith.” 4 ---------- I thank my God, making mention of you always in my prayers, 5 hearing of your love and faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints, 6 that the sharing of your faith may become effective by the acknowledgment of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus. 7 For we have great joy and consolation in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed by you, brother. Philemon 1:4-71 ---------- Proceeding the Effective Sharing of our Faith must be a Love for Christ and a Love toward Christians: 4 I thank my God, making mention of you always in my prayers, 5 hearing of your love and faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints . . . Effective Sharing of One’s Faith is provided in Christ: 1 “Our first responsibility is not the evangelization of the world, but to be spiritually worthy to proclaim. It would be a tragedy to propagate a defective form of Christianity.” —A.W. Tozer 6 that the sharing of your faith may become effective by the acknowledgment of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus. Philemon 1:5-7 Notes___________________________________ 34 A new commandment I give to you, THAT YOU LOVE ONE ________________________________________ ANOTHER; as I have loved you, that you also love one 35 ________________________________________ another. By this ALL WILL KNOW that you are My ________________________________________ disciples, if you have LOVE FOR ONE ANOTHER. John 13:34-35 ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ 1 ---------- ---------- The word rendered “sharing” is the Greek word κοινωνία (Phon., coy-know-knee-ah), a word used in Scripture to express “liberal sharing” (e.g. 2 Cor. 9:13). However it is also a word used for “fellowship” in the Bible. Translations vary here at Philemon 1:6, some translating it as communication/sharing and others as fellowship. Whereas both English words make sense in the sentence (as well as the fact that the Holy Spirit can certainly communicate both thoughts by the use of the one word κοινωνία), the thought of sharing the faith certainly fits in well with what follows, that it “may become effective.” And certainly, the idea of the effective communication of the faith is set forth elsewhere in Scripture—Paul himself asking for prayer that he would boldly share the faith as he ought (cf. Eph. 6:19), and in Iconium we read that “they so spoke [spoke so effectively NIV]” that many believed. May we see our place in the Great Commission to take the Gospel to every creature, praying for the effectual sharing of the faith through us by the power of the Holy Spirit. Regarding Lesson DC217, unless otherwise noted: Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Page 1 of 22 We are Under the Great Commission — We Have the Gospel which the World Needs: “This generation of Christians is responsible for this generation of souls on earth.” —Keith Green— Matthew 28:18-20 18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen. Luke 14:22-23 22 And the servant said, 'Master, it is done as you commanded, and still there is room.' 23 Then the master said to the servant, 'Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. Luke 10:2 Then He said to them, "The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest. John 4:35 Do you not say, “There are still four months and then comes the harvest”? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest! 2 Corinthians 5:19 . . . and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Notes: ___________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ Our Witness before the World—It Matters How we Live: Matt. 5:13-16 13 "You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. 14 You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. Col. 4:5-6 5 Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. 6 Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one. Notes: ____________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ Page 2 of 22 Matt 10:16 16 "Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. 2 Cor. 2:14-17 14 Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. 15 For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. 16 To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life. And who is sufficient for these things? 17 For we are not, as so many, peddling the word of God; but as of sincerity, but as from God, we speak in the sight of God in Christ. Titus 2:1-10 1 But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine: 2 that the older men be sober, reverent, temperate, sound in faith, in love, in patience; 3 the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things— 4 that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, 5 to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed. 6 Likewise exhort the young men to be sober-minded, 7 in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility, 8 sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you. 9 Exhort bondservants to be obedient to their own masters, to be well pleasing in all things, not answering back, 10 not pilfering, but showing all good fidelity, that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things. Living so that the World Recognizes Us as Christians Grants (and can even Earn) Opportunities to Speak: 1 Peter 3:13-17 13 And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good? 14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you are blessed. "And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled." 15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; 16 having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed. 17 For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. 1 Peter 3:1 1 Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives John 13:34-35 34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another. Gal. 6:10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith. James 2:14-17 14 What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, "Depart in peace, be warmed and filled," but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? 17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. Matt. 25:37-40 37 Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? 38 When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? 39 Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?' 40 And the King will answer and say to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.' Notes: ____________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ Page 3 of 22 1 Thess. 4:9-12 9 But concerning brotherly love you have no need that I should write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another; 10 and indeed you do so toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren, that you increase more and more; 11 that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you, 12 that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing. Our Lord Died to Save Souls—Great is their Value — Worthy is the Cost to Reach them: Prov. 11:30 . . . he who wins souls is wise. Dan. 12:3 Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament, and those who turn many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever. Matt 16:26 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? 1 Corinthians 9:19-23 19 For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more; 20 and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might win those who are under the law; 21 to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law; 22 to the weak I became as Notes: ____________ weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. 23 Now this I do for the gospel's __________________ sake, that I may be partaker of it with you. __________________ __________________ John 4:36 And he who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for __________________ eternal life, that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice __________________ together. __________________ __________________ 19 1 Thess. 2:19-20 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? __________________ Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His __________________ coming? 20 For you are our glory and joy. __________________ 1 Peter 2:11-13 11 Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, __________________ abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, 12 having your __________________ conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak __________________ against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they __________________ observe, glorify God in the day of visitation. __________________ __________________ James 5:20 . . . let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error __________________ of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins. 2 Cor. 5:9-11 9 Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. 11 Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences. Page 4 of 22 Evangelizing Requires the Presence and Power of God (Becoming in League with God in His Pursuit of Souls): Acts 1:8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. John 15:26-27 26 "But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me. 27 And you also will bear witness, because you have been with Me from the beginning. Rev. 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely. 2 Cor. 6:1-3 1 We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain. 2 For He says: "In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you." Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation. 3 We give no offense in anything, that our ministry may not be blamed. Rom. 10:13-15 13 For "whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved." 14 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!" 2 Cor. 5:20 20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. Matt. 4:19 Then He said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men." Notes: _______________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ The Gospel and Evangelizing 1 Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, 2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. 6 After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. 7 After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. 8 Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time. 9 For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. 11 Therefore, whether it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.1 Corinthians 15:1-11 Page 5 of 22 At the start of this lesson it was pointed out that there is a distinction between evangelism and one’s witness—showing that, although they are not absolutely identical terms, they are certainly related to one another. In fact, they are so closely related that we may harmlessly enough interchange the terms—so long as we understand that there is an actual and an expressible difference between them. Again, our witness touches all of our Christian lives—i.e., who we are and what we do because we are Christians. But evangelism speaks of expressly giving forth the Gospel message, the good news, of what God has accomplished for us through Christ in order that we might be saved. Evangelism, in a more precise sense, speaks of communicating the truth that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, proclaiming how His death, burial and resurrection opened the way for all who believe in Him to be saved. The goal of evangelizing is that men should believe in Jesus, as Paul and Silas said to the Philippian jailer who asked them, “‘Sirs, what must I do to be saved?’ So they said, ‘Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.’” (Acts 16:29-31). However, before one can believe on the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation, one must sense his need for salvation. For one may hear a very sound Gospel presentation which sets forth the truths contained in the above passage from 1 Corinthians 15, and yet still not sense his true need for salvation. In contrast, the Philippian jailer truly sensed his desperate spiritual need, and thus the cure (“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved”) became wonderful news to him as “they spoke the word of the Lord to 1.) him and to all who were in his house” (Acts 16:32). But two-minute Gospel presentations have often been employed in an attempt which seeks to get people quickly over the goal line through saying a prayer before they really understand what hit them. However, Jesus did not give the “living water” from the well of salvation of which He spoke when the woman at the well asked for it, saying “Sir, give me this water. . .” (John 4:15), for she did not yet understand either the salvation of which He spoke nor who He is who offers this salvation—as well as not yet sensing her own desperate need for salvation (things that became clear to her in time as He spoke with her). To this woman Jesus said, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, 'Give Me a drink,' you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water" (John 4:10). In like manner, to evangelize we must set forth the gift of God (salvation) and the giver of the gift (Jesus Christ). Her encounter that day with the Master revealed both the Gift and the Giver of the Gift. There could be no rushing her over the goal line, she needed to understand these truths, as well as sensing her great spiritual need to receive salvation from Him. Let our efforts in evangelism strive to set forth both the Gift and the Giver of the Gift, rather than rushing to push one over the goal line before they understand and sense their spiritual need. The following sections set forth truths which assist people in understanding why, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be saved” is such good news—truths which reveal the greatness of the gift and the Giver of the gift, He who is able to meet our desperate need for salvation. Consider: .The Character and Nature of. .God (He is Absolutely Holy) : . Revelation 4:8 And they do not rest day or night, saying: "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!" 1 Timothy 6:15-16 . . . the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power. Amen. 1 John 1:5-6 5 This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. God, being absolutely holy and righteous, Psalms 5:4 For You are not a God who takes pleasure can have no fellowship with sin and in wickedness, nor shall evil dwell with You. unrighteousness (2 Cor. 6:15). This truth 1 Samuel 2:2 No one is holy like the Lord, for there is is inseparably related to the need of the none besides You, nor is there any rock like our God. plan of salvation—i.e., the Gospel. Page 6 of 22 2.) .The Character and Nature of Mankind (Born with. .a Sinful Nature/Children of Wrath by Nature) : Related to the truth that God is holy is the truth that we (although originally created for fellowship with God) became sinful—requiring reconciliation (the Gospel plan of salvation). Ecclesiastes 7:29 Truly, this only I have found: That God made man upright, but they have sought out many schemes. Gen 6:5-6 5 Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6 And the LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. Romans 5:12 & 19a 12 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned . . . 19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners . . . Romans 3:23 . . . for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God . . . Notes: ______________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ Isaiah 6:5 So I said: "Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, The Lord of hosts." Romans 3:10-12 10 As it is written: "There is none righteous, no, not one; 11 There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God. 12 They have all turned aside; They have together become unprofitable; There is none who does good, no, not one." Isaiah 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. Ephesians 2:3 . . . among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. Psalms 51:5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me. The Problem of Sin (Sin Separates Us from God, Even though He Desires to Save Us) 3.) . : Most people will not argue the fact that they have sinned, but many do not think that their sin is serious enough to keep them out of fellowship with God—nor that it fits them for hell. However, there is nothing as awful as sin. Sin is infinitely offensive to the righteousness of God. The Gospel of salvation reveals the only way that sinful man can become reconciled. 1 John 1:6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. James 2:10 For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all. Isaiah 59:2 But your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear. Psalms 66:18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, The Lord will not hear. Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Proverbs 14:12 There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death. Page 7 of 22 1 Corinthians 6:8-10 9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, 10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. Notes: _________________ Amos 3:3 Can two walk together, unless they are agreed? _______________________ _______________________ Isaiah 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, _______________________ every one, to his own way; And the Lord has laid on Him the _______________________ iniquity of us all. _______________________ 21 _______________________ Psalm 50:21-22 These things you have done, and I kept _______________________ silent; You thought that I was altogether like you; But I will 22 rebuke you, And set them in order before your eyes. "Now _______________________ consider this, you who forget God, Lest I tear you in pieces, And _______________________ there be none to deliver: _______________________ _______________________ Revelation 20:15 And anyone not found written in the Book of _______________________ Life was cast into the lake of fire. The Solution to Mankind’s Sin (the Plan of Salvation): 4.) The wonderful plan of salvation—God has made a way for sinners to be reconciled to Himself through the God-Man, our Lord Jesus Christ! Being fully God He is Infinite, and being truly Man He is able to be our true Substitutionary Sacrifice at the cross to put away sin—removing all that separates mankind from God. Fully God and Fully Man in One Person, only our Lord Jesus Christ could and has provided salvation—worship Him! Romans 8:1-4 1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. Isaiah 53:5-6, 10-11 5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. . . . 10 Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him; He has Notes: __________________ put Him to grief. When You make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, And the pleasure of the Lord ________________________ shall prosper in His hand. 11 He shall see the labor of His soul, and be ________________________ satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many, ________________________ For He shall bear their iniquities. ________________________ ________________________ Hebrews 2:14-15 14 Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of ________________________ flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through ________________________ death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the ________________________ devil, 15 and release those who through fear of death were all their ________________________ lifetime subject to bondage. Page 8 of 22 Hebrew 9:14 . . . how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? Colossians 2:13-15 13 And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, 14 having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. 15 Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it. Romans 3:24-26 24. . . Christ Jesus, 25 whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, 26 to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. 2 Corinthians 5:19-21 19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. 20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. 21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. Galatians 3:13 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree"). . . Romans 5:7-8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Titus 3:4-7 4 But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, 5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. The reader has here a list (though certainly not an exhaustive one) of Scriptures which testify to the work of Christ on the cross for our salvation. By dwelling on a few of these which are listed here the reader will discover many wonderful truths which the lost need to hear. . . . But: How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!" 14 Romans 10:14-15 Notes: ________________________ ______________________________ ______________________________ ______________________________ ______________________________ ______________________________ ______________________________ ______________________________ ______________________________ ______________________________ ______________________________ ______________________________ ______________________________ ______________________________ ______________________________ ______________________________ ______________________________ ______________________________ _ Page 9 of 22 Ephesians 1:7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace 1 Timothy 2:3-6 3 . . . God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time Isaiah 53:6 & 10-11 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. . . . 10 Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief. When You make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, And the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand. 11 He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many, For He shall bear their iniquities. John 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. Romans 8:31-34 31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? 33 Who shall bring a charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. How We Partake of Salvation 5.) (What Must We Do to be Saved?): Faith Manifested in: Repentance, Confession, Forsaking Sin Acts 20:21 21 testifying to Jews, and also to Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. Luke 13:3 I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. Proverbs 28:13 He who covers his sins will not prosper, But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy. Psalms 51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart—These, O God, You will not despise. 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Page 10 of 22 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. John 3:16-17 16 The Gospel calls people to believe in Jesus— indeed, he who believes in Jesus is saved! But, what does it mean to believe in Him? It is certainly more than just believing that the Gospel is factually true—even demons believe that (James 2:19). Consider what the following Scriptures reveal concerning salvation and one genuinely believing in Jesus: Notes: ___________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ Acts 3:19-21 19 Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, 20 and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before, 21 whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began. Faith Manifested in: Humble Receiving Repentance speaks not only of sorrow over past sins but it is a pledge concerning future conduct. Likewise, to confess sin is to agree with how God views it, and to therefore to forsake it. James 1:21-2221 Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. 22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. John 1:12-13 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: 13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. Notes: __________________________ ________________________________ ________________________________ ________________________________ ________________________________ ________________________________ 2 Corinthians 6:1-2 1 We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain. 2 For He says: "In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you." Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation. John 3:33 He who has received His testimony has certified that God is true. Faith Manifested in: Genuinely Trusting Him and an Unashamed Confession of Him Romans 10:9-13 9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, "Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame." 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. 13 For "whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved." Matthew 10:32 Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. Ephesians 2:8-9 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. John 6:37 All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out. Acts 10:43 To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins. Acts 2:21And it shall come to pass That whoever calls on the name of the Lord Shall be saved . . . . (and) Acts 4:12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. Notes: __________________ ________________________ ________________________ ________________________ ________________________ ________________________ ________________________ ________________________ ________________________ ________________________ ________________________ ________________________ ________________________ ________________________ Page 11 of 22 Overcoming the Fear of Objections Raised: Paralyzing many is the fear that they shall be asked a question from an unbeliever which they cannot answer. Thoughts of, “What if I cannot answer their questions? Perhaps I shall cause them to forever reject the faith and they shall end up in hell—and all from my poor lack of knowledge!” But brothers and sisters, can you not hear the hiss of the serpent behind such a thought? More than this, can you not hear the fear in your enemy in his whispering this thought to your heart? For Satan has reason to fear that you shall step out in obedience to the Great Commission—fearing that you shall discover the truth that (in spite of your limitations and weaknesses) Jesus shall be with you, even to the end of the age. Concerning difficult questions, the believer should understand that the fear they may create in one doesn’t square with reality. First, multiple Christians have testified (and to this I add my own testimony) that they could hardly believe the things that came out of their mouth at such times! Like the loaves and fishes blessed by Jesus, the Lord often multiplies through the believer the bread of life which they have to share when they step out in faith. Yet, beyond this, even if it should happen that there should be a question or arguments which you cannot answer, such will not negate the effectiveness of what you have shared with them. Recall the man who had received his sight after being born blind. He could not answer the objections from the educated religious leaders who sought to prove that it was a mistake to become a follower of Christ. Consider that this man’s answer reveals that he was more ignorant about Christ than you are right now, and yet how effectively he testified for Jesus through simply sticking to what he did know and understand, saying: “Whether He is a sinner or not I do not know. One thing I know: that People are neither won nor lost to Christ on the basis of how well some difficult question or argument was answered by us — people are won to Christ by a demonstration of the Spirit and of power. Page 12 of 22 though I was blind, now I see” (John 9:25). Furthermore, as ignorant as he was, he sensed the weakness of these highly educated objectors, even that they were internally wrestling with who Jesus was—and he confounded them with simple logic, saying: “Why, this is a marvelous thing, that you do not know where He is from; yet He has opened my eyes! Now we know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, He hears him. Since the world began it has been unheard of that anyone opened the eyes of one who was born blind. If this Man were not from God, He could do nothing” (John 9:30-33). There is not adequate space nor is there any necessity in a lesson like this to try and address all the possible objections which someone may raise. However, regardless of what may be raised, when dealing with objectors I would encourage the believer to keep these three things in mind: Don’t throw pearls to swine (Matt. 7:6, Acts 13:46). Be not quarrelsome but gentle, correcting in humility those in opposition (2 Tim. 2:23-26). 3.) Plainly and unashamedly, set forth that Jesus is the only way to God (John 14:6, Gal. 2:21; 3:21). If He were not the only way (if there were any other way for people to be saved) then God let Jesus die in vain—a thought that most will realize is a horrible thing to charge God with. Yet, if one insists that they are good enough as they are, gently let them know they are calling God a liar, charging Him with needlessly letting Jesus die on the cross. Notes: ___________________________________ Believe that God delights to use you, and that His grace is _________________________________________ sufficient for you, His strength _________________________________________ made perfect in weakness. ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. 2 For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. 3 I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. 4 And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. 1 Corinthians 2:1-5 1 saved, and needless annoyance to unbelievers. I’m including methods of sharing the faith which have much to commend them concerning the presentation of Gospel Truth which they contain. However, they ultimately become ineffective . . . that the sharing of your faith may because they largely amount to a “one-size-fits-all” become effective by the acknowledgeapproach. Such methods basically give a blitz ment of every good thing which is in you presentation of the Gospel which resembles the in Christ Jesus. Philemon 1:6 two-minute offense of a football team—i.e., designed to get the unbeliever over the goal line in two minutes or less. Again, it is not that they do The original design of course DC217 not contain a well thought out presentation of the was that this article be read before Gospel, but rather that such preprogrammed the lecture for the course is heard. scripts cannot be equated with the effective sharing of the faith. For example (and I share this as kindly as I can), one method is entitled “The Way of the fter many years of being a Christian who has Master.” It is not that the method is void of Gospel been exposed to various methods of “How to truth, there even being much to commend in it, but do evangelism” ministries, I am convinced that that its presentation is unworthy of the title—a title there are no short cuts to Paul’s prayerful desire which promotes a false understanding about what “. . . that the sharing of your faith may become constitutes the effective sharing of the faith. For effective” (Philem. 1:6). This, however, has not the Master dealt with people where they were. He stopped many well-meaning Christians from indeed used the law with the rich young ruler (the rushing to the latest “foolproof method” of sharing approach of the “Way of the Master” program the faith—and disappointing results have followed greatly reflected in that encounter). However, the after the initial novelty of the approach has faded. Master dealt very differently with the woman at However, I am also convinced that there is nothing the well, and with Nicodemus, and with the woman involved in the effective sharing of our faith that caught in adultery—for they were at a very cannot be experienced by every believer. Effective different place when they encountered Jesus. The evangelism begins with love for Jesus and love for true Way of the Master was to others (the first and second greatest minister by the Holy Spirit to people commandments), rather than a And on some have where they were at in order that they foolproof method of sharing the compassion, making might become partakers of the Gospel. There are simply no shortcuts a distinction; but Gospel of salvation. The Holy Spirit to effective evangelism. others save with moved Jude to write, “22 And on Dismal is the trail of fear, pulling them some have compassion, making a evangelism-gimmicks which have out of the fire, hating even the garment distinction; 23 but others save with been proposed by well-meaning defiled by the flesh. fear, pulling them out of the fire, Christians—i.e., poll taking, Jude 1:21-23 hating even the garment defiled by questionnaires and so forth. For all the flesh” (Jude 1:21-23). One simply the initial excitement these may cannot expect to truly imitate the Master’s way generate, such attempts only bring discourageunless he/she ministers with a sensitivity to the ment to those believers who try them, as well as Holy Spirit’s leading. providing a distasteful reputation for evangelism Sadly (I have witnessed this), a problem with the outside world. Sadly, some proposed with any predeveloped method of evangelism is methods even border on being dishonest. that they may serve to puff up those who trust in This is true even concerning some less them. Some, resting in the method, become nearly questionable methods which have been promoted oblivious (if not callous) to those with whom they by truly well-meaning believers—yet, which share, being more concerned with the execution of likewise have brought both discouragement to the Redeeming the Time/Making the Most of Every Opportunity in Evangelism A Page 13 of 22 their two-minute offense rather than with the soul the Gospel) in league with the Holy Spirit—being whose eternal welfare is dreadfully unsettled. sensitive to His leading, including who to speak Likewise, such methods are designed to primarily with, what to say, and when to either stop for a work on “cold sales”—that is, people whom they time or to press on to the invitation to come to do not know and who they Christ. There is simply no "The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, quite likely will never meet shortcut (no gimmick, no Because He has anointed Me again. How can this be the method, no memorized To preach the gospel to the poor; effective sharing of one’s presentation) which can He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, faith? The ground of manufacture the effective To proclaim liberty to the captives evangelism is to be related sharing of the faith. And recovery of sight to the blind, to the genuine presence of Evangelism cannot be To set at liberty those who are oppressed; Christ in our life, not by the reduced down to a formula To proclaim the acceptable year fact that the person we or an argument-proof of the Lord." Luke 4:18-19 speak to knows nothing approach that works on one about us. and all. This is the hidden Please do not misunderstand me when I problem with all such methods of Gospel say that gimmicks and methods are not the presentation, as useful as they may truly be in effective sharing of the faith of which Paul spoke. helping to equip and embolden one for the true For I am not saying that such presentations serve effective sharing of their faith. no usefulness in helping one to become familiar However, there is an opposite danger in pointing with how to begin to share the Gospel. However, out the problems associated with those who would a dependence upon them will never lead to reduce the effective sharing of the faith down to a effective evangelism. This is true even when the methodology. Namely, that it encourages those salvation of a soul may have resulted after one who do nothing at all to wrongly congratulate has given such a method of Gospel presentation. themselves that they never use such gimmicks! I But rather than giving undue credit to the would never wish to be quoted as if I were in methodology used, understand that the effective support for those who do nothing at all in the realm sharing of the faith was the result of other of evangelism except to brag that they never use contributing factors— gimmicks! For how is the effective sharing of one’s But you shall receive factors such as the fact faith accomplished in doing nothing at all? power when the that the person sharing Christian, you must be convinced that the Holy Spirit has come the Gospel (whether Spirit of God is able to lead you to the effective upon you; and you through fear or even sharing of your faith. Do not hide behind the truth shall be witnesses to panic) cast themselves that some are especially gifted in sharing the faith Me in Jerusalem, upon the Holy Spirit; as a reason by which you excuse yourself. The line and in all Judea and had a heart of genuine from the children’s song, “This little light of mine, Samaria, and to the love and concern for the I’m gonna let it shine” has much to teach us. To be end of the earth. individual’s soul with in Christ’s Body (the Church) is to have light; Acts 1:8 whom they spoke; as indeed, Christ in us makes us the light of the world well as including the ripeness of the soul to whom (Matt. 5:14-16). Taking the illustration of light, the Holy Spirit brought them. Yet (if one fresh consider that all lights have been designed with a from such success seeks to duplicate the results purpose, whether we speak of a lighthouse’s lamp through trusting in the method of Gospel or that of a small bedroom nightlight, and all the presentation they used rather than on the Spirit of various lights in-between these. The million candle God using and leading them), it becomes a sure power of a lighthouse way to discover that the effective sharing of your lamp is able to safely faith cannot be reduced down to any formula of guide to port great Gospel presentation. ocean liners filled with Real evangelism is sharing the Gospel (the thousands of people. good news—yes, communicating the elements of And a nightlight’s lamp Page 14 of 22 is designed to allow one awakening from pitch blackness to safely navigate around the room while his eyes warm up enough to benefit from the bathroom’s still brighter light—and ultimately the eyes are warmed up to the point where one is even ready to walk in the light of the sun at full noon. However, consider how awful it would be for one to be awakened from sleep to the candle power of a lighthouse. One being awakened by such would only hate and curse the light, closing their eyes to it all the tighter! In a like manner Christian, if you are indeed a Christian, you For God has have light—and every light not given us a has its purpose. You have spirit of fear, but been gifted and designed for of power and of a purpose—do not deny it. love and of a Pray to be lead to the sound mind. effective sharing of your 2 Timothy 1:7 faith—neither hiding the light He has given you under a bushel, nor thinking more highly of yourself than you ought, but rather with sober judgment (Matt. 5:15-16 & Rom. 12:3). Evangelism, sharing the Gospel, the effective sharing of our faith, does not go against our enlightened commonsense. We are not called to uncomfortably (i.e., annoyingly) trap someone and then let loose on them our two-minute preprogrammed Gospel presentation irrespective of the person’s genuine willingness to hear it through. We would not appreciate such behavior towards ourselves. Such an action cannot be walking “in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time” (Col. 4:5). Let us then focus for a moment on what it means to wisely redeem the time. 15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, 16 redeeming the time [making the most out of every opportunity (NIV)], because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. Ephesians 5:15-17 To redeem the time is to use the time (the occasions/the encounters we have) wisely—or as the NIV renders it, to make “the most out of every opportunity.” Dwell upon this simple truth—to make the most out of every opportunity. For clearly, opportunity speaks of limits. An opportunity by definition means an occasion which allows for something to be accomplished or take place. If we as believers come to grasp this simple truth as it relates to evangelism, it will not only be encouraging and liberating to us, it will result in unbelievers becoming comfortable around us (willing to listen to us) and open to what we share in an opportunity. Thus, consider three easy to understand and implement points concerning effectively sharing the faith: 1.) In short, when sharing the faith, use only opportunities. This is the starting principle. Or we may state this first point this way: Never try to make (force) more out of an opportunity than an opportunity allows. Most evangelism techniques fail (i.e., becoming a discouragement to believers and a needless annoyance to unbelievers) on this very ground: they try to make more out of the opportunity than what is there – or – they seek to force their presentation where no opportunity presents itself at all. Again, by definition, an opportunity implies a time frame which allows for something. Yet, just as trying to put too much air in a balloon ruins the balloon, so trying to force more in an opportunity ruins the opportunity. In truth, we simply cannot do better in an opportunity than to make the most out of what it allows. As someone has graphically pointed out, “People do not drink living water from a fire hydrant!” The water in the fire hydrant contains that which all life needs, but coming out with such force makes ingesting it extremely problematic. So it often is with a gospel presentation which goes from beginning to end in two-minutes. More information may be set forth than an opportunity truly allows to be received. One of the elements of effectively sharing our faith is revealing that God is near them though they may not perceive so that they Him, and that He truly should seek the loves them. This will be Lord, in the hope communicated to them in that they might part by the presence of God grope for Him being in us—which results and find Him, in a demonstration of love though He is not for them. Thus, consider far from each both a ridiculous example one of us and a sound example in Acts 17:28 regards to using what an ... ... Page 15 of 22 opportunity allows, starting with the ridiculous. Imagine the foolishness of someone starting to “evangelize” a bride two minutes before she’s about to walk down the aisle, beginning their two minute presentation by asking her, “Are you ready to die?”. Clearly this would be no opportunity for such. And, if one were to try to do so (force it) regardless, then it would not only make that Christian look bad, but it would make neither the Gospel nor the God of the Gospel attractive to them—seeing what manner of uncaring people it apparently produces. However, changing the scene, understand that it may Behold, I send you out as sheep in the be a very appropriate time midst of wolves. (opportunity) for a true Therefore be wise Christian friend to say with a as serpents and kind smile, “Hey Mary, would harmless as doves. Matthew 10:16 you mind if I said a very short prayer right now?”—and upon receiving permission pray: “O Lord God, thank You for designing marriage. This is such a beautiful occasion for Mary and John. Please help her and John to be able to be calm enough in the midst of all the excitement to truly enjoy and remember this special moment in their life. In Jesus name, Amen.” Now that would be seizing an opportunity to reveal the truth that God is near, that He is concerned about her life—a truth backed up by a demonstration of love and care from Christ being in the Christian’s life. Yet, someone will protest, “That is not evangelizing!” However, although nothing was shared about Jesus dying for our sins and raising up from the dead as the victor over everything that separates one from God if 5 Walk in wisdom they will believe in Him, it toward those who did reveal that God cares are outside, about her, a fact evident in redeeming the time. 6 Let your speech this Christian friend who always be with brought to light a bit more grace, seasoned with the reality of God being in salt, that you may the life of the believer. know how you ought Furthermore, that and that to answer each one. alone is all that particular Colossians 4:5-6 opportunity allowed to be communicated—which is still a valid element necessary to true evangelism. Furthermore, such a proper use of the opportunity should naturally lead to still another opportunity—one where much more can and should be shared. Perhaps Mary will have a crisis in her life which causes her to think about God. Page 16 of 22 Mary will certainly know to whom she can safely approach—having a friend who is different than all her other friends, one who loves her and cares about her and unashamedly brings God near in every situation. No one can be expected to care what we know until they know that we care—and care in a manner that no one else can duplicate, the very presence of God being brought near, Christ being in us. Someone may be thinking, “That may work well concerning someone who knows you real well, but what about reaching a ‘cold-sale?’” First I would remind people that the Gospel is not confined to “cold-sales.” It is true that you may be in an encounter with a person you have never met. The occasion may allow you to share much—even going the distance, so to speak. But still, one must not do more than the opportunity allows. Let the believer seek to become sensitive to the Holy Spirit revealing what an opportunity allows for—and make the most of it. Perhaps we may be used to truly preparing the ground for another encounter—setting clearly before them only one element necessary to the reception of the Gospel, such as proving that they are lost and need a Savior. Do not give Once I was sharing on the what is holy to holiness of God with the dogs; nor someone I worked with cast your pearls when he stated in before swine, somewhat of a mocking lest they trample and humorous manner, them under their that if what I said was true, feet, and turn then no one could ever be and tear you saved. I felt impressed in pieces. from the tone he used to let Matthew 7:6 him stew in that for a time and said something to the affect that, “Yep, the Bible says none is righteous, not one. Absolutely no one is able to save himself.” And then I went about my way until a little later that same day when I believed a better opportunity was afforded to me to pick up where I had left off, and shared with him what the Holy Lord God had done in sending Jesus because of the problem of sin— something his manner of speech testified to me earlier that he was not ready to hear, for we are not to throw pearls to swine. The point is, we must be sensitive to the Holy Spirit to reveal to us just what an opportunity does allow for, rather than have a polished evangelism formula/presentation may be the sower, you may be the waterer, or you which we must run through as if it will fit one and may be the harvester of the one the Spirit leads to all encounters. Let us instead trust the Holy Spirit you. Yes, sometimes you may be all three—but to lead someone else (if not ourselves later) to again, ask what the opportunity is. Do your part in build upon what was faithfully the harvest and pray for laborers 24 And a servant of the Lord must shared through us in accordance to do what is not your not quarrel but be gentle to all, opportunity—trusting the Holy with what the opportunity able to teach, patient, 25 in Spirit, the Lord of the Harvest. allowed. Be not persuaded by humility correcting those who are Not everyone we meet is ready to the lie that their salvation or in opposition, if God perhaps will repent and receive Christ, but damnation depends upon our grant them repentance, so that everyone is on a journey through preprogrammed manner of they may know the truth, 26 and life. When fishing, every fisherGospel presentation running its that they may come to their senses man knows he doesn’t have to full course. We need sensitivity and escape the snare of the devil, reel the fish in immediately. The to the Spirit’s leading concerning having been taken captive by him experienced fisherman knows to just what an opportunity truly to do his will. 2 Timothy 2:24-26 let the fish be intrigued with the allows for, and then to faithfully seek to make the most of it. bait. To jerk the hook too soon This requires a firm belief that the Father may miss snagging the fish. He knows as well when is drawing people to Jesus, that the Holy Spirit is the opportunity comes, he is to set the hook in bringing the needed conviction, and that God is deep. He knows how to reel in a bit, and then let warming their hearts before we ever get there. the fish at times run out the line—until it tires out. You have light, shine it. Worry not that you cannot To reel the fish in too quickly before the fish is bring in an oceanliner full of people, you lead one ready to surrender is to risk the line breaking and safely to the light of the Son through your lit life. the fish getting away. Sometimes he waits the fish You do not have to be able to answer all their out, for he is confident that the hook is deeply set questions, but you do need to be one who studies within. May we become wise fishers of men. to show himself approved unto God. There may be The heart of all evangelism is prayer at a brighter light ahead for them to whom the Holy every stage—before we encounter souls, after the Spirit will lead them, someone who can answer the encounter with souls, and even DURING THE questions they raised that you could not answer. ENCOUNTER WITH SOULS. A complete dependence But the light you shined will have warmed them up upon the Holy Spirit is the need. For God alone is to desire more light—you reveal that even if you able to bless the little which we They do don’t know just how to answer them, yet you know have to give, add it to what not need that Christ is true. We need no slick presentation, others have given, and multiply to go nor do we need to know how to answer all their it to meet any need associated away. You questions. Go shine Christian. with evangelizing the lost. Let us give them It is a great misconception that we need to refuse then to be paralyzed by something give someone the whole ball of wax, calling them fears that we are not able to give to eat. to a decision, otherwise we have no part in them everything they need, for People are neither won nor lost to Christ on the basis of how well some difficult question or argument was answered by us — people are won to Christ by a demonstration of the Spirit and of power. evangelizing. For we may be lead to communicate only one aspect relevant to the reception of the Gospel—and the Holy Spirit may use another to reveal the next. Listen not to the lie that, “This is their only chance! Unless I do it perfectly they will be damned!” You can neither save nor damn anyone. Seek to be led by the Holy Spirit. You Matt.14:16 such fears will keep us from giving them what we can and must give them. Recall the account of Jesus feeding the 5,000 men. The need of the crowd was truly greater than the disciples’ abilities to meet. Yet Jesus said to them, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat” (Matt. 14:16). Jesus asked His disciples what it was that they had, not what they didn’t have, saying, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see” (Mark 6:38), telling them to “Bring them Page 17 of 22 here to Me” (Matt. 14:17). The hopeless question arose, “Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?” (John 6:5). However, Jesus “knew what He would do” (John 6:6), and always does. Concerning the littleness of the loaves and fishes which they brought to Him, “He blessed and broke them, and gave them to the disciples to set before the multitude” (Luke 9:16). The result was not only that all received enough through the hands of His disciples, but that there was more than enough. This becomes a fitting example for us concerning evangelism. We may fear that since we cannot give someone all that they may need (i.e., answer every possible question which they may raise) then we are unable to do anything. But just as the disciples were Therefore told to give them whoever confesses “something to eat” Me before men, him rather than give them all that they needed, so I will also confess we are to give from before My Father what we understand, who is in heaven. bringing that to Jesus Matthew 10:32 without worrying about what we cannot give them—for our Lord alone can bless and multiply it for the need. Furthermore, the miracle of God blessing through what the disciples distributed continues to occur today— Praise the Lord! Multitudes of Christians testify that when they began to share with someone they could hardly believe how God multiplied what they had to share—declaring with joy, “I could hardly believe the wonderful things that were coming out of my own mouth!” Fear of objections and questions being raised which we cannot answer need not hinder evangelism. Recall that the man who received his sight heard that which he could not satisfactorily answer, but he amazed all who heard him with the certainty of what he did know: “One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see” (John 9:25). Likewise, the woman at the well knew but very little, but by her word many came to believe (cf. John 4:39-42). There can be no acceptable excuse for a Christian to not seek to have the sharing of their faith become effective. Christian, it is time to shine your light in faith that the Holy Spirit will use you. Consider then another element associated with the effective sharing of one’s faith, that of: Page 18 of 22 2.) Being the same person everywhere— i.e., living among the world as one who is truly unashamed of Christ. Such living will bring Christ near to people. Ponder the following two Scriptures anew: For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. Romans 1:16 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear. . . 1 Peter 3:15 Certainly the Christian agrees on the surface with the thought that we are to be the same person everywhere, it being a repulsive idea that we should live with a secular and sacred separation (e.g., one manner of person at church and another manner of person at work or school). However, being the same person everywhere is a deeper issue than most realize. Consider how many opportuneities are lost or ignored through one failing to be the same person outside of church that they are before their Christian friends and family at church. To illustrate this, consider that if someone were to say to you at church, “Wow, I was in a near accident on my way to church just now, I came really close to dying!” At such a time, wouldn’t it be easy for you to say, “Praise the Lord that you’re alright! I’m thankful God was watching over your For I am life.” Now in the same not ashamed of way, be unashamed to the gospel of praise and bring up God Christ, for it is at the work place. That the power of is, if someone at work God to salvation should tell you that they for everyone almost died in a car wreck who believes . . . today, speak the way you Romans 1:16 would at church and tell them, “Praise the Lord that you are okay! I’m glad the Lord kept you safe.” For in doing so, you have just brought God up before them unashamedly, expressing not only genuine care for them but revealing your unashamed commitment to God. Again, if someone at church came up to you and poured out I know that there are some jobs, like a some heavy problem that they are having in their school teacher, where it may be forbidden to pray family, would you not at the very least tell them out loud with a student—but even then, in order that you’ll be praying for them—as well as checking to be the same person everywhere, can you not let back with them later to see how things are going? them know that you’ll be praying for them? Can Furthermore, if time and circumstances allowed, you not check back with them and ask them how would you not ask them if you things are going? And do you 31 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, could pray with them right not think that such living will or whatever you do, do all to the glory then, and placing a hand upon open up still more of God. a shoulder say a short prayer opportunities to share with 32 Give no offense, either to the Jews for them? Now I realize that them? Yes! AMEN! To be the or to the Greeks or to the church of this might sound crazy to one same person everywhere is God, who has never done this, but I not only profitable for making 33 just as I also please all men in all have often done so with nonthe most of every things, not seeking my own profit, but Christians (people who I have opportunity, but it lends itself the profit of many, that they may be worked with at secular jobs to creating even new saved. 1 Corinthians 10:31-33 and wherever I am), even with opportunities—besides being total strangers, praying for them. I have often liberating and truly joyous for one to be the same asked one privately at such times, “Would you person everywhere (i.e., a sold out believer who is mind if I said a prayer for you right now?” I have unashamed of Christ in any and all situations and found that nearly 100% of people not only say yes encounters). (I’ve never had anyone show offense at my asking), It is true that some countries make it but that after I have prayed a short prayer for illegal to be a Christian, not giving them the them, they are deeply appreciative. freedom I’m speaking of to be the same person Consider how truly living the same way we everywhere. However, even in those countries are everywhere would provide multiple Christians are under the great commission. Shall opportunities to speak to others about Christ. we not then seize the opportunity of our religious Living in such a manner before them (i.e., truly freedom which our country still affords? being the same person you are everywhere) will let [Note: While I was at a restaurant and in the them know who they can go to when life throws very act of finishing up editing this section, I them a curve. They will know who they can asked a worker how things were going. She approach when they have a troubling or spiritual said “Peachy” and then after a moment told question—including their own need for salvation. me that actually her father had died last In short, opportunities will not just be seized by night. I expressed my sadness at hearing this, and seeing that she had a moment, being the same person everywhere, they will asked her if I could pray with her. She said actually increase! And when such an encounter yes, and I prayed for God to comfort her. comes, be one who has already sanctified the Lord Tears flowed from her and she expressed her God in your heart that you may be able to share gratitude—God was brought nearer to her. with gentleness and respect the reason for your May the Lord complete what was started.] own hope in Christ—a hope that you want them to also experience. Christian, the real presence of Christ is in In a like manner, I have brought up things your life. Being the same person everywhere gives that Scripture says at work that fit in well with the opportunity for people to become aware of Jesus’ conversation, a Proverb here, an example there, real presence in your life. Be even as I would around my Christian friends. It is sensitive to the Holy Spirit in “Follow Me, not beyond you Christian to be the same person order that you might make and I will make everywhere, and in doing so you will bring an the most of every you become awareness of God to others, as well as revealing opportunity. Let us bring fishers of men.” the relevance of the Word of God to everyday Jesus near to people through Mark 1:17 life—and beyond. our actual living. For living as Page 19 of 22 one truly unashamed of Christ brings Him near to their awareness. This is truly a liberating and exciting truth for the Christian to discover. And such living brings us to consider yet another liberating element to the effective sharing of our faith, consider: prayed, “O Lord, if this woman sits next to me on the bus, then I will know that you want me to share with her.” When the bus came it was empty, every one of us could have claimed 5 or more seats for himself, so it was truly unlikely that this woman would choose to sit next to me. I was the first one on and set in a seat near the driver. When this 3.) Believing (truly believing) that God is woman got on, although the bus was quite empty, warming and preparing people’s hearts she sat down right next to me. At that moment I before we ever have an encounter with was seized with boldness and confidence that this them—and from that truth, seek to be a was from God and turned to her and said (my part of what He is doing in their lives, opening words): “You want to get saved, don’t boldly stepping out as He leads in the you.” She instantly said yes, and the rest of the trip encounter. I shared the faith with her This again speaks of and prayed with her. Several “This is the word of the Lord recognizing that we are to pastors rejoiced on the bus to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might make the most out of an with us. It turned out she nor by power, but by My opportunity, rather than worked near my hotel at an Spirit,’ Says the Lord of hosts.” trying to force our own ideas all-night restaurant. I had a of evangelism. For we do not little more time to share with Zechariah 4:6 want to either miss or her as well as to find out a interfere with what the Spirit is doing through pastor in the area who could continue to follow up forcing our well-rehearsed “two minute Gospel with her when I flew back home. By the grace of presentation.” We simply must be in tune with the God I have had many opportunities to share the Holy Spirit’s leading, being bold and unashamed to faith with people, but that is the only time I opened step out and do whatever the occasion demands with “You want to get saved, don’t you.” However, (cf. 1 Sam. 10:7). I had become in tune with what the Spirit was I share an unusual and wonderful doing in this young girl’s life at that moment. experience (such an encounter has not been my I would not be mistaken here on this point. typical experience when I have shared the faith Let us study to show ourselves approved unto God. with people—but it illustrates that we must be bold Let us seek to study in order to effectively to be a part of what God is doing in their lives). I communicate the Gospel to people. But let us was at a bus stop at around midnight with a small imitate the true way of the 8 And when He group of ministers from all over the United States Master by being sensitive after a Christian conference had let out—being to the Holy Spirit’s preparhas come, He will convict the world some 2,000 miles away from my hometown. There ation in the person’s life of sin, and of was a young black girl there who was curious about before we ever arrive on righteousness, where we all had just come from (we were carrying the scene, and then seek to and of judgment: materials from the conference). Outside of her, I be a part of what He is 9 of sin, because believe everyone else there was a minister. She doing. they do not kept asking questions of the group, and I began to Again, an opporbelieve in Me; wonder if she were hungering for salvation. tunity may only allow us to 10 of righteousness, However, the lighthearted talk and joking within be the one who shakes because I go to My the group of ministers did not seem to provide a someone up—pointing out Father and you see good opportunity to share the faith, especially with Me no more; that they are lost without 11 of judgment, the bus coming at any minute to pick us all up—but God. A sensitivity to the because the ruler I could not totally shake that the Holy Spirit might Holy Spirit may cause us to of this world be creating an opportunity for me or someone else refuse to give them more if is judged. to share with her. In an honest desire to be their response reveals to John 16:8-11 sensitive to the Spirit and not force my own way, I us that it would be Page 20 of 22 throwing pearls before swine at that time to say I am never called to reap a soul”—using being a anything more (cf. Acts 13:45-46). Let us be careful “sower” as an excuse for never giving the invitation to be in tune with the Holy Spirit’s work in their which calls one to a decision. For consider that it lives of convicting them of sin—trusting that was a great reaper of souls, the apostle Paul, who someone else will come along (or perhaps we referred to himself as a sower (“I planted”). Let us ourselves at another occasion) to honestly labor that we might And the Spirit and the bride give them the glorious truth that share not only a portion of truth say, "Come!" And let him if they will believe in the Lord related to the Gospel, but to who hears say, "Come!" And Jesus Christ they will be saved. share in the inviting call of the I believe I can trace the Spirit of God to “Come!”—for the let him who thirsts come. following quote (though I do not Spirit and the Bride say “Come!” Whoever desires, let him claim it is a word-for-word quote) (Rev. 21:17). Do not, therefore, take the water of life freely. to something I read from William say as an excuse that reaping the Revelation 22:17 MacDonald many years ago: “It is harvest is for someone else later useless to tell unconvicted sinners to believe on (i.e., do not say it is “still four months and then Jesus, for the message is only for those who know comes the harvest”), but be ready for the Spirit to they are lost and desire to be made right with lead you to a soul who is already white unto God.” Before the good news that one only needs harvest—i.e., do not fail to be a reaper on the to believe on the Lord Jesus to be saved, one must occasion by excusing yourself as only being a sense his genuine state and desperate need of sower. salvation—and then desire to be made right with Thus: Avoid not only the temptation of God more than anything else. The place where the thinking that, “Unless I give them the whole ball of Spirit is working in their lives is the place we want wax (so to speak), I have no part in evangelizing”— to be found laboring. Consider afresh how these as well as avoiding the temptation that it is always Scriptures testify to this truth: for someone else to give the invitation to come to Christ. As one who is consecrated to God, seek to 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God honestly discern what the Holy Spirit is doing in the gave the increase. 7 So then neither he person’s life, and then be bold to be in sync with who plants is anything, nor he who His leading, doing what the opportunity allows waters, but God who gives the increase. for—making the most of the opportunity. Be 8 Now he who plants and he who waters obedient to the Holy Spirit as the occasion are one, and each one will receive his own demands, being God-and sinner-conscious rather reward according to his own labor. than self-conscious. To labor in such a manner will 1 Corinthians 3:6-8 cause us not only to be in the harvest field 35 Do you not say, “There are still four ourselves, but to pray for laborers who can do what months and then comes the harvest”? we cannot do to enter it as well. For though it is Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and true that not everyone is ready for the sickle, it is look at the fields, for they are already also true that not everyone can safely wait another white for harvest! 36 And he who reaps four months. The rich young ruler was not ready receives wages, and gathers fruit for to “say the prayer” just because he asked what he eternal life, that both he who sows and he must do in order to inherit eternal life (Mark who reaps may rejoice together. 37 For in 10:17). Likewise, the 37 Then He said to His this the saying is true: “One sows and Philippian jailer who disciples, "The harvest another reaps.” 38 I sent you to reap that was about a half a truly is plentiful, but the for which you have not labored; others second from hell laborers are few. have labored, and you have entered into (ready to fall upon 38 Therefore pray the Lord their labors. John 4:35-38 his own sword) could of the harvest to send out not safely wait laborers into His harvest." However, I would caution anyone from another four months Matthew 9:37-38 making the mistake of simply saying (according to (Acts 16:27-30). a popular use of the term “sower”), “I am a sower, Page 21 of 22 Conclusion: This little article is unable to constitute a course on the effective sharing of your faith. In fact (even though this is a lengthy article), only a small portion of what the writer set out to convey has been set forth in print. However, though this article does not contain all that one needs to know, it is hoped that this article will be able to serve as an arrow that points the Christian in the general direction which one needs to be traveling. This article has briefly set forth these three points, listed here again in conclusion: 1.) In short, when sharing the faith, use only opportunities. This is the starting principle. Or we may state this first point this way: Never try to make (force) more out of an opportunity than an opportunity allows. 3.) Believing (truly believing) that God is warming and preparing people’s hearts before we ever have an encounter with them—and from that truth, seek to be a part of what He is doing in their lives, boldly stepping out as He leads in the encounter. There is certainly more to say and experience concerning the effective sharing of our faith. For though this article has stressed making the most of every opportunity which we encounter, yet, we should press on to learn how to live in a manner that actually creates opportunities as well. May the Lord bless the reader through the truth that has been shared as he studies to show himself as one approved unto God. 2.) Being the same person everywhere— i.e., living among the world as one who is truly unashamed of Christ. Such living will bring Christ near to people—as well as creating potential follow-up opportunities. Figure 1 and 2 of this two-part illustration are explained on the recorded lecture for this course. Notes: _______________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ Page 22 of 22 There is no compensation for a lack of love for Jesus. The very desire to reach souls begins with a love for Jesus—a love which causes us to draw near to Him. And, in the process, what burns in the heart of Christ burns in the believer’s heart as well. A. T. Pierson said: There is a secret fellowship with God where we get this heavenly fire kindled within, and it makes personal work for souls easy, natural, a relief, and a rest. To linger in God's presence until we see souls, as through His eyes, makes us long over them with a tireless longing. This passion for souls is probably the highest product of spiritual communion with God. It absorbs us, and even our own salvation is forgotten in that passionate yearning which made Moses ready to have his name blotted out of God’s book for Israel’s sake, or Paul willing to be anathema for the sake of his brethren. It seems to me that such passion is the highest form of unselfish love, and the nearest approximation to the divine motive that impelled the Lord Jesus Christ to empty Himself of His original glory and majesty, and assume “the form of a servant” enduring even the cross. No man can kindle in himself that celestial fire; it must come from the live coal from the altar above.1 Notes: _________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ 1 A. T. Pierson, quoted by: Wesley Duewel, Ablaze for God (Grand Rapids, MI: Francis Asbury Press, 1989), 111-112. Worksheet Page, DC217 ---------- Course DC219: Judgment Day For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. 2 Corinthians 5:10 ---------- Intro: One of the most sober things any person can do is to ponder the reality that he will have to give an account of his life before God on Judgment Day—answering for “the things done in the body . . . whether good or bad.” No one likes the idea of just an IRS audit, even if one is an honest man. The thought of having one’s tax records spread out before a government official demands that we approach such an audit soberly. Yet, though an IRS audit is only a mere possibility, standing before the Judgment seat of Christ is an absolute and much greater certainty. To give sober thought to the subject is to thank God for providing Jesus to be our Savior. It also provides motivation to pursue holiness in the fear of God. Not only is certainty of Judgment Day fully established in Scripture, it also accords with sound reason, agreeing with man’s internal sense of justice. I.) The Reasonableness of Judgement Day A final Judgment Day is reasonable in light of the injustice which prevails in the world: ---------- ---------- Acts 24:25 Now as he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and answered, "Go away for now; when I have a convenient time I will call for you." Eccl. 8:14 There is a vanity which occurs on earth, that there are just men to whom it happens according to the work of the wicked; again, there are wicked men to whom it happens according to the work of the righteous. I said that this also is vanity. Eccl. 3:16-17 Moreover I saw under the sun: In the place of judgment, wickedness was there; and in the place of righteousness, iniquity was there. I said in my heart, "God shall judge the righteous and the wicked, for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work." The righteous understand the need for justice, wicked men often deceive themselves that God will take no note of their deeds: ---------- ---------- Prov. 28:5 Evil men do not understand justice, but those who seek the Lord understand all. Ps. 10:5-11 5 His ways are always prospering; Your judgments are far above, out of his sight; as for all his enemies, he sneers at them. 6 He has said in his heart, "I shall not be moved; I shall never be in adversity." 7 His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and oppression; under his tongue is trouble and iniquity. 8 He sits in the lurking places of the villages; in the secret places he murders the innocent; his eyes are secretly fixed on the helpless. 9 He lies in wait secretly, as a lion in his den; he lies in wait to catch the poor; he catches the poor when he draws him into his net. 10 So he crouches, he lies low, that the helpless may fall by his strength. 11 He has said in his heart, "God has forgotten; He hides His face; He will never see." Notes: _________________ ________________________ ________________________ ________________________ ________________________ ________________________ ________________________ ________________________ ________________________ ________________________ Regarding Lesson DC219, unless otherwise noted: Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Page 1 of 6 Zeph. 1:12 "And it shall come to pass at that time that I will search Jerusalem with lamps, and punish the men who are settled in complacency, who say in their heart, 'The Lord will not do good, nor will He do evil.'” Notes: _________ _______________ _______________ _______________ _______________ _______________ _______________ _______________ _______________ _______________ _______________ _______________ _______________ _______________ _______________ Ps. 94:1-11 1 O Lord God, to whom vengeance belongs— O God, to whom vengeance belongs, shine forth! 2 Rise up, O Judge of the earth; render punishment to the proud. 3 Lord, how long will the wicked, how long will the wicked triumph? 4 They utter speech, and speak insolent things; all the workers of iniquity boast in themselves. 5 They break in pieces Your people, O Lord, and afflict Your heritage. 6 They slay the widow and the stranger, and murder the fatherless. 7 Yet they say, "The Lord does not see, nor does the God of Jacob understand." 8 Understand, you senseless among the people; and you fools, when will you be wise? 9 He who planted the ear, shall He not hear? He who formed the eye, shall He not see? 10 He who instructs the nations, shall He not correct, He who teaches man knowledge? 11 The Lord knows the thoughts of man, that they are futile. Ezek. 8:12 12 Then He said to me, "Son of man, have you seen what the elders of the house of Israel do in the dark, every man in the room of his idols? For they say, 'The Lord does not see us, the Lord has forsaken the land.'" To reason rightly in one’s heart is to know the reasonableness of a Day of final Judgment: Eccl. 3:16-17 16 Moreover I saw under the sun: In the place of judgment, wickedness was there; and in the place of righteousness, iniquity was there. 17 I said in my heart, "God shall judge the righteous and the wicked, for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work." Eccl. 12:14 For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil. 2 Pet. 2:9 ...the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations Notes: ________ and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment, ______________ ______________ Gen. 18:25Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right? ______________ ______________ II.) God has Promised a Day of Judgment ______________ ______________ Christ is the Judge: ______________ ______________ 2 Cor. 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he ______________ has done, whether good or bad. ______________ ______________ Rom. 14:9-12 9 For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again, that ______________ He might be Lord of both the dead and the living. 10 But why do you judge ______________ your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall ______________ all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. 11 For it is written: "As I live, ______________ says the Lord, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess ______________ to God." 12 So then each of us shall give account of himself to God. Page 2 of 6 John 5:22-23 22 For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son, 23 that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him. Acts 10:42 And He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead. Acts 17:31 because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead. 1 Cor. 4:2-5 2 Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful. 3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by a human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. 4 For I know nothing against myself, yet I am not justified by this; but He who judges me is the Lord. 5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one's praise will come from God. Notes: ________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ III.) The When of Judgment Day On the Last Day: Clearly Scripture tells us that the Day of the Lord’s second coming, the Day of the resurrection of all the dead, and the Day of Judgment, all take place on the same day, revealed in Scripture as the last day. Just as certain as there was a first day for mankind (being the 6th day of creation) so there will be a last day. 2 Tim. 4:1 I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: John 12:48 He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him— the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day. Notes: ______________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ John 6:45 Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. John 11:24 Martha said to Him, "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day. Jude 1:14-15 14 Now Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men also, saying, "Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints, 15 to execute judgment on all, to convict all who are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him." 1 Cor. 15:26 The last enemy that will be destroyed is death. 1 Cor. 4:5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one's praise will come from God. Page 3 of 6 2 Peter 3:4-10 4 and saying, "Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation." 5 For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, 6 by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. 7 But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. 8 But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. The Great Extent of who will be there has already been addressed by the fact that “we must ALL appear before the judgment seat of Christ.” However, the following two passages give a very great visual of the extent of the ALL. That all the dead are raised at the same time (#1) and that those who are judged before the throne of God includes both saved (whose names were written in the lambs Book of Life) and those who were not ( #2), gives the staggering truth of just how great this last day is—this Day of Judgment. For it includes Adam and the race from him—i.e., EVERYONE. John 5:28-29 28 Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice 29 and come forth--those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation. Rev. 20:11-15 11 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. 14 Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire. Notes: _______________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ God’s righteousness demands that sin be dealt with. It will either be dealt with at the cross (Rom. 3:23-26), or when He returns for judgment (2 Thess. 1:6-10): Rom. 3:23-26 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, 26 to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. 2 Thess. 1:6-10 6 since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you, 7and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, 8 in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, 10 when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe, because our testimony among you was believed. Page 4 of 6 IV.) The Extent of Judgment Great is the extent of the Judgment on that Day, all things coming to light: Notes: __________ _________________ _________________ _________________ _________________ _________________ _________________ _________________ _________________ _________________ _________________ _________________ _________________ _________________ Matt 10:26Therefore do not fear them. For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known. Luke 12:2-3 2 For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be known. 3 Therefore whatever you have spoken in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have spoken in the ear in inner rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops. 1 Cor. 4:5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one's praise will come from God. Heb. 4:11-13 11 Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience. 12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account. Eccl 12:13-14 13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man's all. 14 For God will bring every work into judgment, Including every secret thing, Whether good or evil. Rom. 2:16 in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel. Heb. 6:10 For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister. Matt. 12:36-37 36 But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. 37 For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned. Absolute judgment requires that every detail comes out. Only then can all the extenuating circumstances for everyone, both in justifying and condemning one in the day that the secrets of men’s hearts are revealed, manifest the justness and goodness of our God. Yet, if all things are uncovered and revealed on that Day, then this includes even those things which we are ashamed of in our past life of sin—thus, even sins which have been forgiven must come to light. This thought proves to be a great distress to believers when they first hear it. One may ask, “Why should they be made manifest on that Day if they have been forgiven? How can they come to light when He will remember them no more?” These two questions need to be both answered and reconciled. Let us deal with the second question first. Truly we are given many wonderful and precious promises about sin being forgiven so that we never need worry about it again. We rejoice that Micah 7:19 declares that He will “cast all our sins into the depths of the sea.” We rejoice that Isaiah 43:25 declares “I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; and I will not remember your sins.” And how comforting and precious is Hebrews 8:12 “For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” These are wonderful truths indeed from which we rightly rejoice and draw comfort from them. Together they unite to declare that our past sins will never be remembered against us for our harm, nor will God hold them over our heads and look at us suspiciously, nor will retribution for them ever be inflicted upon us—the God of heaven has pardoned us from our sins through the atonement and propitiation made by Jesus Christ. But we read too much into these promises if we interpret them in a manner which makes them make void the declaration that all things will be made manifest in that Day. Page 5 of 6 One may ask, “For what purpose are they revealed in that Day if they can do us no harm? Why is it necessary that they be revealed?” There is, however, a very necessary and sound reason for all things to be manifested in that Day, for no one lives in a vacuum. Our sins which we have committed against others may be greatly related to the sins they themselves committed. If only our sins were hidden from the record, even though they greatly contributed to the actions of another, much of the necessary extenuating circumstance in order to justly weigh the level of guilt and responsibility for the sin of another would be left out of the judgment. This would not be a just/fair manner of judgment in either a human court nor before the throne of God. It is most reasonable that everything should come out in the final judgment. Furthermore, the goodness of God towards us in His forgiving us from our sins would be greatly hidden if such things remained covered. Let our hearts rest in this: There will be nothing revealed in our past life in sin that will be used against us. For every forgiven sin that comes to light in that Day there will be, as it were, a blessed asterisk next to it with a footnote declaring: THIS CHILD IS CLEAR FROM THIS SIN—IT HAS BEEN FORGIVEN—COVERED BY THE BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST—CAST AWAY FROM REMEBRANCE, NEVER TO BE HELD AGAINST THIS HOLY CHILD! In such moments I can well imagine a chorus of angels singing glory to God in the highest, O how He loves them! Every Christian on that day will be so moved that they will not be able to keep a crown upon their heads but will gladly cast them before the throne while bowing in humble adoration and saying, “It is all of Your grace that we are here, all glory goes to You O God!” Amen. It may be answered, It is apparently and absolutely necessary, for the full display of the glory of God; for the clear and perfect manifestation of his wisdom, justice, power, and mercy, towards the heirs of salvation; that all the circumstances of their life should be placed in open view, together with all their tempers, and all the desires, thoughts, and intents of their hearts: Otherwise, how would it appear out of what a depth of sin and misery the grace of God had delivered them? And, indeed, if the whole lives of all the children of men were not manifestly discovered, the whole amazing contexture of divine providence could not be manifested; nor should we yet be able, in a thousand instances, “to justify the ways of God to man.” Unless our Lord’s words were fulfilled in their utmost sense, without any restriction or limitation, — “There is nothing covered that shall not be revealed, or hid that shall not be known;” Matt. X, 26; abundance of God’s dispensations under the sun would still appear without their reasons. And then only when God hath brought to light all the hidden things of darkness, whosoever were the actors therein, will it be seen that wise and good were all his ways; that he saw through the thick cloud, and governed all things by the wise counsel of his own will; that nothing was left to chance or the caprice of men, but God disposed all strongly and sweetly, and wrought all into one connected chain of justice, mercy, and truth. —John Wesley, The Works of the Rev. John Wesley, Vol. 1 (3rd American edition), (New York: The Methodist Book Concern, 1895), 130. Notes:____________________________________________ _________________________________________________ _________________________________________________ _________________________________________________ _________________________________________________ _________________________________________________ _________________________________________________ _________________________________________________ _________________________________________________ _________________________________________________ _________________________________________________ _________________________________________________ _________________________________________________ Page 6 of 6 Had all men a deep sense of this, how effectually would it secure the interests of society! For what more forcible motive can be conceived to the practice of genuine morality, to a steady pursuit of solid virtue, and a uniform walking in justice, mercy, and truth? What could strengthen our hands in all that is good, and deter us from all evil, like a strong conviction of this, “The Judge standeth at the door;” and we are shortly to stand before him? – John Wesley, Ibid., 126. ---------- Course CV221: Creation Revealed ---------- Assignment: Receive CD/mp3 lectures for this course. Creation and Evolution Hebrews 11:3 By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible. Evolution: The hypothesis that life began from nonliving matter, and through a process of mutations and natural selection over vast amounts of time, more complex living organisms are in descent from simpler single cell beginnings THEORY OF MACRO-EVOLUTIONARY CHANGE ---------- Notes: _____________________ ___________________________ ___________________________ ___________________________ ___________________________ ---------- ___________________________ ___________________________ ___________________________ ___________________________ ___________________________ ___________________________ ___________________________ ___________________________ Evolution is an unproven hypothesis which has as one of its core beliefs the falsified theory of “Spontaneous Generation.” There are but two choices for the start of life: The Theory of Spontaneous Generation: Belief that life arises from nonliving matter. The Law of Biogenesis: Life comes only from life. ---------- Science has discovered the Law of Biogenesis through observable, ---------- repeatable and demonstrable science, and it remains the testable and unbroken law of science. For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse. . . Romans 1:18-20 18 The Suppression (resistance) of the truth: “Evolution is a theory universally accepted, not because it can be proved to be true, but because the only alternative, ‘special creation,’ is clearly impossible.”* D. M. S. Watson *Editor’s additional 2020 note (original lecture and notes, 2010): Although this quote by Watson is well-known, I have found it appearing in slightly different forms—yet the essence remains unchanged. I have been unsuccessful in my attempts to find a digitized copy of the original article. Bert Thompson, PhD. in an work published by Apologetic Press quotes Watson as follows: "evolution itself is accepted by zoologists, not because it has been observed to occur or can be proven by logically coherent evidence to be true, but because the only alternative, special creation, is incredible” (Watson, D.M.S., "Adaptation," Nature, 123:233, August 10, 1929). -Bert Thompson, Evolution as a Threat to the Christian Home (Montgomery, AL: Apologetics Press, Inc.,n.d.) 8. Regarding Lesson DC221, unless otherwise noted: Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Page 1 of 9 God Created Each Kind According to its Kind, Whose Seed is in Itself In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1:1 11 Then God said, "Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb that yields seed, and the fruit tree that yields fruit according to its kind, whose seed is in itself, on the earth"; and it was so. 12 And the earth brought forth grass, the herb that yields seed according to its kind, and the tree that yields fruit, whose seed is in itself according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. Genesis 1:11-12 Notes: _________________ _______________________ _______________________ _______________________ _______________________ _______________________ _______________________ _______________________ _______________________ _______________________ _______________________ _______________________ _______________________ _______________________ _______________________ 21 So God created great sea creatures and every living thing that moves, with which the waters abounded, according to their kind, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. 22 And God blessed them, saying, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth." 23 So the evening and the morning were the fifth day. 24 Then God said, "Let the earth bring forth the living creature according to its kind: cattle and creeping thing and beast of the earth, each according to its kind"; and it was so. 25 And God made the beast of the earth according to its kind, cattle according to its kind, and everything that creeps on the earth according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. 26 Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." 27 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Genesis 1:21-27 A Basic principle in creation: “...according to its kind, whose seed is in itself...” This is a principle that science continually observes, and is in perfect agreement with the Law of Biogenesis. This is observed not only in nature around us, but is the testimony of the fossil record. “...no one has ever been able to trace one single species to another. Darwin admitted that no species had ever been traced to another, but he thought his hypothesis should be accepted even though the “missing links” had not been found. If there is such a thing as evolution, it is not just one link – the link between man and lower forms of life – that is missing, but all the millions of links between millions of species. ... an infinite number of links between each two species; or a million times a million links in all, every one of which is missing.” William Jennings Bryan, quoted from “Impact,” March 1991, a reprint of his original article. “...this process of extermination has acted on an enormous scale, so must the number of intermediate varieties, which have formerly existed, be truly enormous. Why then is not every geological formation and every stratum full of such intermediate links? Geology assuredly does not reveal any such finelygraduated organic chain; and this, perhaps, is the most obvious and serious objection which can be urged against this theory.” — Charles Darwin (Selected and Edited by Philip Appleman), Darwin [The Origin of Species] (New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 1979) 104. Page 2 of 9 Notes: _________________________________________ _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ “The fossil record cannot be regarded as other than a HOSTILE witness against evolution; the earliest known fossils of each class and order are not half-developed but have all the essential characteristics of their class and order.” Douglas Dewar, appearing in “Why We Believe In Creation,” p.312, cited from Winkie Pratney in “Creation or Evolution? (Part III the Fossil Record)” Last Days Ministries ???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? ???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? No! Only ???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? Ape-Man ???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? Ape-Man ???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? Fossils? ???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? Drawings! ???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? The Evidence?: Piltdown Man: “The lower jaw was that of a juvenile female orangutan. The place where the jaw would articulate with the skull had been broken off to hide the fact that it did not fit the skull. The teeth of the mandible were filed down to match the teeth of the upper jaw, and the canine tooth had been filed down to make it look heavily worn. ... there were elements about it that were quite obvious. The file marks on the orangutan teeth of the lower jaw were clearly visible. The molars were misaligned and filed at two different angles. The canine tooth had been filed down so far that the pulp cavity had been exposed and then plugged.” —Marvin L. Lubenow, Bones of Contention (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 1992), 42-43. Hesperopithecus/Nebraska Man: “Hellman and Gregory argued over whether the tooth was more ape-like or human. Professor Wilder published a book claiming that Nebraska Man, Hesperopithecus, was half way between Java Man and Neanderthal Man. Elliott Smith wrote a short article on Mr. and Mrs. Hesperopithecus, including a reconstruction of what they looked like. In all the discovery created quite a sensation for a period of four-and-one-half years ... Hesperopithecus, it turned out, was a peccary – a wild pig!” —Josh McDowell & Don Stewart, Reasons Skeptics Should Consider Christianity (Tyndale, 1986), 194-195. So likewise the demise of the “smoking-gun” evidence for : Zinjanthropus, Rampithecus, Rodesian Man, Java Man, Peking Man, Lucy... indeed for more detailed information and a list of fossil failure troubles, there is an excellent resource book out by Marvin Lubenow, “Bones of Contention.” Page 3 of 9 Neanderthal Man: “Boule also decided that this man could not extend his legs fully, but walked with a bent-knee gait. He made the foot only slightly arched, resting on its outer edge, with toes pointing in. Hence the man would have walked like an ape, pigeon-toed. Boule formed a wide separation between the big toe and other toes, making the big toe like an opposable thumb - such as monkeys and apes have. Under these conditions, if Neanderthal Man walked at all, he would have looked like a shuffling hunchback. His center of gravity was located so far forward of his center of support that he probably would have fallen flat on his face. . . . We wish we could say that Boule was rather unsophisticated and that he made sincere mistakes. That would be the kinder explanation. However, he was world renowned for his abilities. It is difficult to escape the conclusion that his errors were deliberate.” —Marvin L. Lubenow, Bones of Contention (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 1992), 37-38. Summed up well! So far as science knows, only one human species has ever existed on the earth, and that is Homo sapiens. All the alleged connecting links between men and apes are found, on careful examination, to be illusory. When not wholly ambiguous in view of their inadequate preservation and fragmentary character, they are (as regards both mind and body) distinctly human, like the Neanderthal man, or they are purely simian, like the Pithecanthropus, or they are heterogeneous combinations of human and simian bones . . . In spite of tireless searching, no traces of a bestial, irrational man have been discovered. —George Barry O’Toole, Ph.D., S.T.D., The Case Against Evolution (New York: MacMillan Company, 1926), 342. "A great legend has grown up to plague both paleontologists and anthropologists. It is that one of these wondrous men can take a tooth or a small and broken piece of bone, gaze at it, and pass his hand over his forehead once or twice, and then take a sheet of paper and draw a picture of what the whole animal looked like ... If this were quite true, the anthropologists would make the F.B.I. look like a troop of Boy Scouts." —W. Howells, Harvard, Mankind So Far, p. 138 Page 4 of 9 Notes: _____________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________ Though he may blush a little and say it with muffled or bated breath, when push comes to shove and you corner them, the evolutionist is forced to admit that he believes in Spontaneous Generation. Confront the evolutionist with the plain fact that his favorite theory is outside of what science reveals; that the fossil record is against the theory; and that there is no smoking gun evidence for his hypothesis but only bits and pieces and oddities strewn together with much hype – and he will be forced to result to theorizing that there must be an exception to the law of biogenesis which we just haven’t found yet – or resort to theorizing that there may have been a time in the distant past when the laws of science didn’t work – or resort to speaking about gaps in the fossil record, or to theories of why there are gaps; and all manner of theories to cover theories. But suggest to him that it is not the law of biogenesis that needs to be done away with - that it is not the fossil record that is wrong - that it is not unreasonable to accept every kind “according to its kind, whose seed is in itself,” but that the true problem is his unscientific theory – and you’ll probably hear a response which declares that the idea of creation is clearly impossible! Mutations Do Not Provide New Raw Genetic Information Mutations have long been the hope of the evolutionist’s theory of upward and more complex kinds of animals from simpler beginnings. However, DNA and mutation studies reveal that this cherished hope has proven to be hopeless. No one has ever demonstrated macroevolutionary changes on a molecular level, yet many people readily speculate evolutionary links between bacteria, plants, animals and man. Are the gross structures not made up of individual cells with complex molecules? If macroevolution is unlikely on a molecular level, how can the whole be changed? Endless DNA sequence comparisons do not explain evolutionary development. Furthermore, the changes (mutations) observed on a molecular level, such as DNA, are predominantly disruptive, and always with loss of, not gain in, information and complexity. Notes: ___________________________________ _________________________________________ _________________________________________ _________________________________________ _________________________________________ _________________________________________ _________________________________________ _________________________________________ _________________________________________ _________________________________________ Whoever thinks macroevolution can be made by mutations that lose information is like the merchant who lost a little money on every sale but thought he could make it up on volume. — Dr. Lee Spetner — —John K. G. Kramer, PhD (Biochemistry) — John K. G. Kramer, In Six Days (Chapter 3, online book), answersingenesis.org, January 1, 2001 — Lee Spetner, Not by Chance! Shattering the Modern Theory of Evolution, The Judaica Press, Inc., Brooklyn, NY, p. 160, 1997. Cited by John K. G. Kramer, Ibid. The Genesis Flood 2 Peter 3:3-7 3 knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, 4 and saying, "Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation." 5 For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, 6 by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. 7 But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. Notes: ___________________________________ _________________________________________ _________________________________________ _________________________________________ _________________________________________ _________________________________________ _________________________________________ _________________________________________ _________________________________________ _________________________________________ _________________________________________ _________________________________________ _________________________________________ _________________________________________ _________________________________________ _________________________________________ Page 5 of 9 Mount Saint Helens, 1997 (17 years after the 1980 eruption) Experiment: The releasing of water buried in the various soil layers. Tank before the water buried in it was released. Various views of the tank after the water was released. Before After It is not hard to understand that a worldwide flood of water would change the world forever. However helpful such an experiment as this may be in assisting that understanding, it is not able to do any more than to show us how unimaginably great the worldwide flood was – where water fell not just from above, but: “...on that day all the fountains of the great deep were broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened. And the rain was on the earth forty days and forty nights.” Genesis 7:11-12 It is no wonder that Peter said: “... by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water.” Page 6 of 9 “The little ‘Grand Canyon of the Toutle River’ is a one-fortieth scale model of the real Grand Canyon. The small creeks which flow through the head waters of the Toutle River today might seem, by present appearances, to have carved these canyons very slowly over a long time period, except for the fact that the erosion was observed to have occurred rapidly! Geologists should learn that ...the long-time scale they have been trained to assign to land form development would lead to obvious error on Mount St. Helens...” —Dr. Steve Austin, “Impact, No. 157 Mount St. Helens and Catastrophism,” July 1986 Death through Adam’s Sin, but Eternal Life through Jesus Christ Romans 5:12-21 12 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned— 13 (For until the law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law. 14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned according to the likeness of the transgression of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come. 15 But the free gift is not like the offense. For if by the one man's offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many. 16 And the gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned. For the judgment which came from one offense resulted in condemnation, but the free gift which came from many offenses resulted in justification. 17 For if by the one man's offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.) 18 Therefore, as through one man's offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man's righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. 19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man's obedience many will be made righteous. 20 Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, 21 so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. 21 For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. 1 Corinthians 15:20-22 Notes: ________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth . . . Acts 17:26 And Adam called his wife's name Eve, because she was the mother of all living. Genesis 3:20 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. 28 Then God blessed them, and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth." Genesis 1:27-28 27 4 And He answered and said to them, "Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning 'made them male and female,' 5 and said, 'For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh'? 6 So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate." Matthew 19:4-6 Page 7 of 9 Why do many Christians, even those who would not dare to call themselves theistic evolutionists, not accept that the days of Genesis are literal 24-hour earth-rotating days? The answer is: Solely to be able to accept the evolutionists’ dates of millions of years. Thus, accepting the dates which evolutionists assign to rock formations, they try to make Genesis fit in some way with what evolutionists tell us rather than looking to Scripture. Yet, the systems used to calculate dates are not just theoretical, but they produce clearly false dates. There are embarrassing examples which prove the incredible dates they come up with are false (i.e., such as the dome which formed over Mount Saint Helens after its 1980 eruption being radio-metrically dated to be as high as 2.8 million years ago!). If you are interested in finding out just how unreliable such dates are from evolutionists, it is recommended that you go to answersingenesis.org for some excellent articles archived on the practice. Also, I would recommend Marvin Lubenow’s book, Bones of Contention. “Outside of Genesis [chapter] 1, yom is used with a number 410 times, and each time it means an ordinary day. Why would Genesis be the exception?” . . . . “If the plants made on Day 3 were separated by millions of years from the birds and nectar bats (created Day 5), and insects (created Day 6) necessary for their pollination, then such plants could not have survived. This problem would be especially acute for species with complex symbiotic relationships (each depending on the other; e.g., the yucca plant and the associated moth.” 1 Ken Ham, Six Days or Millions of Years (Petersburg, KY: Answers in Genesis, 2012), 8 and 33. Six Literal Days of Creation: 1.) The same expression for all the other genealogies given in Genesis [ תֹודֵ לֹוּתHeb. Transliteration: tôlēdôt, Phon. pronunciation: to-led-aw' (Strongs # 8435)] which all accept as literal is also said of the Genesis account of the creation days. 2.) A number is given with the word yom/day for each of the 6 days of creation - proving a literal 24 hour day rotation day is meant – as we see throughout Scripture. 3.) The phrase evening and morning, a phrase that distinctly declares a literal earth day rotation, is also specifically applied to each of the 6 days of creation. 1 Ken Ham adds this footnote, saying: “Some say that Hosea 6:2 is an exception to this because of the figurative language. However, the Hebrew idiomatic expression used, ‘After two days ... in the third day,’ meaning ‘in a short time,’ makes sense only if ‘day’ is understood in its normal sense.” A good point, for the expression held hope to Israel in the Old Testament as a promise that their time of restoration would not be delayed forever, the saying of 2 days and the 3rd revealed hope to them. However, I believe even more to the point of literal days being referred to in Hosea 6:2, is that it is a prophecy of Christ’s resurrection and the victory it brings us! For the cure of Israel (all those of true Israel – Galatians 3:7) is in Jesus Christ’s resurrection – so that as He said: “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up” John 2:19 (see also Matthew 26:61, 27:40 & 63, Mark 10:34). Thus, when Paul said in I Corinthians 15:3-4, “...that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures...” - it may be asked: If Paul is quoting a reference to the Old Testament Scripture, where in the Old Testament does it say anything about rising the third day except in Hosea 6:2? Furthermore, Hosea 6:2 says that “He will raise us up” – this reveals the beautiful New Testament doctrine that our identity is in Christ, “For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection. . . . Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him” (Romans 6:5&8). If Paul’s reference to “Scripture” refers to something in the Old Testament, this would make the full meaning of the 3 days in Hosea literal days indeed! Yet, it is also possible that Paul was referring to New Testament Scripture—for it is clear from I Timothy 5:18 that Paul referred to Luke 10:7 as “Scripture” (which shows that the writings of New Testament Scripture were recognized by many as truly Scripture even in the days of the apostles - see also II Peter 3:16). Yet, however one considers it, Hosea 6:2 teaches nothing at all to justify the day-age theory of theistic evolutionists – and (even if only taken as an idiomatic figure) it is best seen in referencing 3 literal days for a comparison to the truth that there was reason for hope for them—idiomatic in the way we say: “The early bird gets the worm,” in which we mean that as literal birds that are out early have the best chance of finding a worm for breakfast, so those who rise early and work hard eat well. Yet how much more plain if we understand it (as I believe) it to be fulfilled in the highest sense of our Lord’s death, burial, and resurrection where by all who believe in Him are raised up with Him victorious! Amen! (P.S. I know it’s a long note, but I just couldn’t resist.) Page 8 of 9 There Is No Way To Reconcile The Account of Creation With Evolution Comparison from Ken Ham: Biblical Account of Creation Evolutionary/long age speculation Earth before sun and stars Earth covered in water initially Oceans first, then dry land Life first created on land Plants created before the sun Land animals created after birds Whales before land animals Stars and sun before earth Earth a molten blob initially Dry land, then the oceans Life started in the oceans Plants came long after the sun Land animals existed before birds Land animals before whales Ken Ham, Six Days or Millions of Years (Petersburg, KY: Answers in Genesis, 2012), 36. Christian, concerning our stand on Genesis 1, there is more at stake than we realize. Consider the following quote from Richard G. Bozarth, which appeared in American Atheist 20, Sept 1979, in “The Meaning of Evolution”: “Christianity has fought, still fights, and will continue to fight science to the desperate end over evolution, because evolution destroys utterly and finally the very reason Jesus’ earthly life was supposedly made necessary. Destroy Adam and Eve and the original sin, and in the rubble you will find the sorry remains of the Son of God. If Jesus was not the redeemer who died for our sins, and this is what evolution means, then Christianity is nothing.” —Richard G. Bozarth, cited from Impact, No. 191 (From CRI), “Death Before Sin?” “Indeed, let God be true but every man a liar.” Romans 3:4 Done for the Illustrated London News by Amedee Forestier Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him. 6 Do not add to His words, Lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar. Proverbs 30:5-6 By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible. Hebrews 11:3 Page 9 of 9 ---------- ---------- Course CV223: Sexuality, Pure and Impure Receive CD/mp3 lecture for this course. Assignment: Write a half to one page report expressing the wisdom of God in the biblical design of sex only for marriage. Allow your instructor to read it. ---------- Notes: _________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ ---------- _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ ---------- _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ ---------- Page 1 of 1