A Foundation for Faith

 
Dr. Stanford E. Murrell

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Table of Content

 

 

Chapter                                                                                   Scripture

 

Chapter 1

The Most Unique Book in the World                                                  2 Timothy 3:16-17      

 

Chapter 2

The Book of the Burning Heart                                                          Acts 17:11            

 

v    Seven Great Things the Study of the Bible Will Do: Dr. Wilbur Smith

v    The Heart Burning Book: Dr. John R. Rice

v    What the Bible Says about Itself

 

Chapter 3

There is a God                                                                                    Hebrews 11:6      

 

Chapter 4

The Plight of Man and the Power of God                                          Romans 5:12

     

Chapter 5

The Church: A Most Glorious Institution                                          Acts 2:41-47

 

Chapter 6

Creation, A Many Splendor Thing                                                     Ephesians 3:8-12

 

Chapter 7

The Christian’s Secret of a Victorious Life                                       1 John 5:5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Foundation for Faith

 

Chapter 1

 

The Most Unique Book in the World

 

"All scripture is given by inspiration of God,

and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction,

for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect,

throughly furnished unto all good works."

~*~

2 Timothy 3:16-17

 

I.                The Observation of Others

 

·       George Washington

·       Abraham Lincoln

·       Dwight D. Eisenhower

 

II.              The Most Unique Book in the World

 

·       The Bible is unique in its endurance

·       The Bible is unique in its circulation

·       The Bible is unique in its survival

·       The Bible is unique in its honesty

·       The Bible is unique in where it can be found

·       The Bible is unique in its origin

 

III.            The Bible is Profitable in Specific Ways

 

·       The Word of God gives right doctrine

·       The Word of God is profitable to reproof

·       The Word of God is profitable for correction

·       The Word of God is profitable for instruction in righteousness

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Foundation for Faith

 

Chapter 1

 

The Most Unique Book in the World

 

"All Scripture is given by inspiration of

God, and is profitable for doctrine,

for reproof, for correction, for instruction

in righteousness; That the man of God may

be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works."

~*~

2 Timothy 3:16-17

 

Concerning the Bible, George Washington said, "It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible."

 

Abraham Lincoln once wrote, "I am profitably engaged in reading the Bible. Take all of this Book upon reason that you can, and the balance by faith, and you will live and die a better man."

 

Dwight D. Eisenhower observed that, "To read the Bible is to take a trip to a fair land where the Spirit is strengthened and faith renewed."

 

The Bible. Without question it is the most unique book on planet earth. Josh McDowell reminds us that the Bible is unique in its endurance. Here is a Book written over a period of 1500 years, by 60 generations. It was penned by 40 authors from every walk of life including kings, peasants, philosophers, fishermen, poets, statesmen and scholars. There was Moses, a political leader, who was trained in all the wisdom of Egypt. There was Peter, a fisherman. Amos was a herdsman. Joshua was a military general. Nehemiah was a cupbearer. There was Daniel, a Prime Minister. Luke, a doctor. Solomon, a king. Matthew, a tax collector and Paul, a rabbi. The Bible was written in different places. Moses wrote while living in the dessert. Jeremiah penned his writings in a dungeon. Daniel recorded his visions while in a palace. Paul wrote with passion as a prisoner. Luke recorded what he saw through the eyes of a physician while traveling. John never forget the visions he had on the Isle of Patmos and wrote what he saw. The Bible was written at different times. David wrote in times of war. Solomon wrote in times of peace. Isaiah wrote in times of despair and political chaos. The Bible was written on three continents: Asia. Africa. Europe. The Bible was written in three languages: There was Hebrew, the poetic language of the Old Testament. Aramaic was spoken some. And then there was koine Greek, the common language of the New Testament.

Besides being unique in its endurance, the Bible is also unique in its circulation. The Bible has been read by more people and published in more languages than any other Book on the face of the earth. There have been more copies produced of the Bible in its entirety and more portions and selections than any other book in history. As the Bible is unique in its endurance and circulation, so it is unique in its survival. Though it was originally written on material that perishes, having to be copied and recopied for hundreds of years before the invention of the printing press, the style and accuracy has been divinely preserved. Dr. John Montgomery says that, "to be skeptical of the resultant text of the New Testament books is to allow all of classical antiquity to slip into obscurity, for no documents of the ancient period are as well attested bibliographically as the New Testament."

 There is something else. The Bible is unique in its survival through persecution. Sidney Collett in his book, All About the Bible records a true incident concerning Voltaire, the noted French infidel who died in 1788. Voltaire had once boasted that in 100 years from his time Christianity would be swept from existence and passed into history. But what has happened? Voltaire has passed into history while the circulation of the Bible continues to increase in almost all parts of the world, carrying blessing whenever it goes. It is interesting to observe the Lord's sense of humor. Voltaire had boasted that in 100 years after his death Christianity would be extinct. Yet only 50 years after his death the Geneva Bible Society used Voltaire's printing press and house to produce stacks of Bible. There are many thrilling examples of how God has honored and preserved His Word. In AD 303, the Roman Emperor Diocletian issued an edict to destroy Christians and their sacred Book. The attempt was made and many suffered for the cause of Christ. Then Diocletian died and the Emperor Constantine began to rule. Constantine reversed the Edict of Diocletian and even commissioned Eusebius (c. 260-340), an important Church leader, to prepare 50 copies of the Scriptures at the expense of the government. Moved by the faithfulness of God to His Word, Rev. A.Z. Conrad wrote,

 

Century follows century - there it stands.

Empires rise and fall and are forgotten - there it stands.

Dynasty succeeds dynasty - there it stands.

Kings are crowned and uncrowned - there it stands.

Atheists rail against it - there it stands.

Agnostics smile cynically - there it stands.

Profane, prayerless punsters caricature it - there it stands.

Unbelief abandons its - there it stands.

Higher critics deny its claim to inspiration - there it stands.

The flames are kindled about it - there it stands.

The tooth of time gnaws but makes no dent in it - there it stands.

Infidels predict its abandonment - there it stands.

Modernism tries to explain it away - there it stands.

 

Dr. Lewis S. Chafer, founder and former President of Dallas Theological Seminary commented, "The Bible is not such a Book a man would write if he could, or could write if he would." Dr. Chafer realized how unique the Bible is when it deals with the sins of its characters. The Bible does not try to cover-up the lying of Abraham, the deceitfulness of Jacob, the murder of Moses, the adultery of David, the idolatry of Solomon, the denial of Peter, or the excessive anger of Paul. While the Bible never condones the sins of the saints, neither does it hide them. It is instructive to observe that the Bible is unique in another way. It is the first religious Book to be taken into outer space. During one of the early moon flights the astronauts read from Genesis 1:1. "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." There is still one more way the Bible is unique. It claims to be the inspired Word of God or more literally "God breathed." To conservative Christians this means something of great significance. First, and foremost it means that God has always found a way to communicate His message to men. Hebrews 1:1 says that God has spoken in many and various ways.

 

·       Sometimes God spoke by angels as He did to Abraham in Genesis 18 and to Lot in Genesis 19.

 

·       Sometimes God spoke in dreams as per Daniel 7:1 and Numbers 12:6.

 

·       Sometimes God used visions as He did with Isaiah and Ezekiel (Isa. 1:1; Ezek. 1:1).

 

·       Sometimes God spoke in an audible voice as young Samuel heard when just a child (1 Sam. 3).

 

·       Perhaps the most common method God used was the inner voice of the individual's conscience and communion with God. Over and again the phrase is used, "And the Word of the Lord came unto me saying..."

 

However, since it was possible for false prophets to arise and claim to speak on behalf of God, the Hebrew priests became responsible to question the prophet. If the word of the prophet did not come to pass, he was to be stoned for lying. God cannot lie and neither can His true prophets. In the Old Testament economy the Lord God would communicate His message by means of the Urim and Thummim (Ex. 28:30; Num. 27:21). Even the lot was designated as an acceptable means by which God indicated His will (Prov. 16:33). The challenge is to believe that God really did speak to men and so moved and inspired them to record accurately what was said or done. It is important to understand that inspiration claims God Himself to be the prime mover in this endeavor as per 2 Peter 1:21 which declares that, "No prophecy ever came by the impulse of man, but men moved by the Holy spirit spoke from God." It should be a moment of great concern when it is discovered that beliefs are held apart from any historical content. God moved and the prophet mouthed the eternal divine truths. God revealed and man recorded His Word. Even though the Bible was articulated and recorded by men, it is still God's Word since He moved or caused men to speak and to write. Norman Geisler and William Nix offer an excellent definition of inspiration. "Inspiration is that mysterious process by which the divine causality worked through the human prophets without destroying their individual personalities and styles, to produce divinely authoritative writings."

Since the Bible has its total origin in the mind and will of the eternal God it must be extremely important and it is. Our text says that the Bible is profitable in four ways. First, the Word of God gives right doctrine. Doctrine is simply what the Bible teaches about a certain subject. The Bible speaks about Creation. It teaches man about sin, salvation, heaven, hell, eternal life, the person of Christ and multitudes of other topics. Throughout the Scriptures there is a constant threefold theme: Man's ruin, God's redemption and the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit. What the Bible has to say on all these subjects is accurate and trustworthy for the information comes from the heart of God and can be used in time of need.

Second all Scripture is profitable or useful for reproof, which means to rebuke. Because man has a fallen nature he does many things that need reproof. While being rebuked is never pleasant, it is sometimes necessary. Sin must be arrested.

Third, all Scripture is profitable for correction. Correction is the positive side of being rebuked. Correction is God's saying in the Scriptures, "This is the way, walk ye in it." A Christian who takes the Scriptures seriously, receives the doctrines of grace with gladness, accepts justified correction, and seeks spiritual renewal will enjoy a specific result. Such a child of God will become perfect or mature in matters of the faith and will be thoroughly furnished unto all good works. We have a God breathed Book called the Bible. Its purpose is to prepare us to be powerful instruments in the hands of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of this, let us study the Scriptures with renewed intensity knowing that this is well pleasing to the Father.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Foundation for Faith

 

Chapter 2

 

The Book of the Burning Heart

 

”These were more noble than those in Thessalonica,

in that they received the word with all readiness of mind,

and searched the Scriptures daily, whether those things were so."

 

~*~

 

Acts 17:11

I.                Redeeming the Time

 

II.              Seven Great Things the Study of the Bible will do for Us

 

·       The Word of God will discover and convict of sin

·       The Word of God will cleanse the conscience

·       The Word of God will impart strength

·       The Word of God will provide instruction in righteousness

·       The Word of God will give victory over sin

·       The Word of God will make spiritual life fruitful

·       The Word of God will provide an incentive to pray

 

III.            Three Ways to Study the Bible

 

·       Study the Bible with an open mind and heart

·       Study the Bible in its entirety

·       Study the Bible daily

 

IV.            Three Spiritual Discoveries

 

·       Joy

·       Justification

·       Jesus

"A New World will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is . . . a book which is now speaking." A. W. Tozer (1897-1963)

 

"Come, Holy Ghost, for moved by thee

The prophets wrote and spoke;

Unlock the truth, thyself the key,

Unseal the sacred book."

~*~

John Calvin (1509-1564)

A Foundation for Faith

 

Chapter 2

 

The Book of the Burning Heart

 

”These were more noble than those in Thessalonica,

in that they received the word with all readiness of mind,

and searched the Scriptures daily, whether those things were so."

 

~*~

 

Acts 17:1

 

When he was near death, Patrick Henry said, "Here is a Book, the Bible, worth more than all others that were ever printed; yet it is my misfortune never to have found time to read." Perhaps it is a little surprising to hear such an honest statement from one of America's greatest patriots but if the truth were known, Mr. Henry is not alone. If the record were revealed, as it shall be some day, many people in Christendom would have to confess that day after day goes by and the Word of God is neglected. There is time for work and play. There is time for television. But there is no time to read God's Word. That is what is thought and said. The reality is that there are 168 hours in a week for each person. No more and no less.

 

·       After working 40 hours on the job, 128 hours remain.

·       Allowing 56 hours for sleep leaves 72.

·       Counting at least 21 hours per week for meals reduces the balance to 51 hours.

 

All of these activities seem to be irreducibly necessary and so we concede the time.

 

·       Taking from that balance a minimum of 1 hour per day for Scripture reading and prayer, a person still has 44 hours a week for unanticipated and unprepared activities.

 

The conclusion is that a disciplined management of time and a proper system of priorities can make possible at least a minimal devotional life. There is plenty of time for the Bible and a devotional life. The Church must not fail to seriously read God's Word any longer. The effect of any neglect to read the Word of God faithfully has a direct relationship on a person's spiritual life and on the life of the Church. The negative results on one's personal life includes an increase in individual acts of sin. The Psalmist realized this would happen and said, "Thy Word have I hid in my heart that I may not sin against Thee" (Psalm 119:11). It is impossible to read the Scriptures and not be moved to want to be different and to want to be better. To read about Jesus is to want to be like Christ as He invites men and women and young people to follow Him. Are we following Christ today?

 

 

 

Second, to neglect the Bible is to risk faith growing cold and lifeless. The story is told that when Mark Twain married a young Christian girl he laughed at her faith. She grew more discrete and more silent. Then came a tragedy and Samuel Clements said, "Libby, I want you to pray. I want you to exercise your faith." And Libby looked at her husband and replied with bitterness, "What faith?"

Many a pastor has stood by the bedside of sick and dying people who say they once had faith. Once they went to Church. One they lifted their voices in praise to God. Once they prayed. Once they knew many passages of Scripture. Now they have no faith. Their name is still on a Church roll and they even call themselves a Christian. But the words "Christ like" on their lips have no integrity. James said, "Faith without works is dead." Those who read the Bible consistently are spoken of in Psalm 1 as being blessed. King David said, "Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night." There is a blessing for those who meditate upon the Law of the Lord and there is trouble for those who do not. When professing Christians are not well grounded in the Bible it affects their relationship to the Church. For one thing the faithful attendance to worship services becomes spasmodic. Religious zeal in holy duties decreases and prayer is neglected. Prayer is neglected in part because the promises of God's Word are no longer known or believed. Paul E. Billheimer has addressed this sensitive issue in his excellent book Destined for the Throne.

 "Why," he asks, "is the prayer activity of the Church so sadly neglected? What is the reason for the Church's prayerlessness? Many reasons could be suggested but perhaps the most basic one is lack of faith in the integrity of the Word of God. If the Church were fully convinced of the fulfillment of the promises such as: "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you" (Matt. 7:7), prayer would be the main business of her life. Unbelief in the integrity of the Word is the first great cause for prayerlessness."

There is unbelief despite the powerful promises of such passages as 1 John 5:14-15. "And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask anything according to his will, he heareth us; and if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him."

Here is a divine syllogism to be used in faith. God has promised to hear and answer all prayers that are according to His will. My prayer can be according to His will. Therefore, He can answered my prayer. A.W. Tozer is right when he observed that the prayer meeting is the Cinderella of the Church. The beautiful Lady of Grace is neglected while the ugly sisters of this world receives the time and affection due to God. Jesus wants His followers to pray. "Pray that ye enter not into temptation." Jesus encourages His disciples to pray. "Ask and it shall be given. Seek and ye shall find. Knock and the door shall be open." The Father waits for us to ask wonderful things of Him. "How much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask of Him?" F.B. Meyer exhorts the Church to remember to ask great things of God for,

"Thou art coming to a King;

Large petitions with thee bring;

For His grace and power are such,

None can ever ask too much."

The greatest tragedy of life is not unanswered prayer, but unoffered prayer. By reading the Bible we find not only precious promises but much more as Wilbur M. Smith reminds us.

 

Seven Great Things the Study of the Bible will do for Christians

~*~

Wilbur M. Smith

 

1.     The Word of God will discover and convict of sin and show individuals their need of a Saviour. In Christ there is a Divine Deliverer from the penalty of sin. Jesus said, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life" (John 5:24). Have you believed in Christ? Are you born again?

 

2.     The Word of God will cleanse from the pollution of sin. 2 Thes 2:13. "But we are bound to give thanks always to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth."

 

3.     The Word of God will impart strength.

 

·       Psalm 119:101. I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep thy word.

 

4.     The Word of God will instruct in what should be done.

 

·       Psalm 119:18. Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.

 

·       Psalm 119:33-34. Teach me, O LORD, the way of thy statutes; and I shall keep it unto the end. 34 Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart.

 

 5. The Word of God will provide a sword for victory over sin.

 

·       Hebrews 4:12. For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

 

 6. The Word of God will make the spiritual life fruitful.

 

·       Joshua 1:8. This book of the law shall not depart but of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then Thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

 

7. The Word of God will provide an incentive to pray illustrated in the life of Daniel. When Daniel discovered that his people were going back home from the Babylonian captivity after seventy years in exile he began to pray.

 

 

·       Daniel 9:1-4. In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of the seed of the Medes, which was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans; 2 In the first year of his reign I Daniel understood by books the number of the years, whereof the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem. 3 And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes:…And I prayed unto the LORD my God, and made my confession, and said, O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandments;

 

Because of these seven great truths Christians must study the Word of God in three ways.

First, the Scriptures are to be studied with an open mind and a readiness to hear what God has to say through His Word in a personal way. It is not enough to know Bible history, geography, doctrine and obscure facts. There comes a time when the soul must ask, "What does the Bible mean to me personally?"

Second, the Bible must be studied in its entirety. Some people are very selective about what they want to read and study. But every verse is God breathed and all Scripture is profitable. Every verse in the Bible is to be searched for it is the search which yields unexpected treasures.

Third, the Scriptures are to be studied daily. For good physical health people need to eat food daily and have a balanced diet. And for good spiritual health people need the Word of God daily. It is on a daily basis that God waits to fellowship with the saints. Jesus said, "The hour is coming and now is when the Father seeks such to worship Him in Spirit and truth." As the Father waits, let us go to Him through the wonderful Book called the Bible. Then we will be like the Bereans who searched the Scriptures. And we will be more noble, more honorable, more respected than others as we receive with readiness those things God wants us to know for we are not to read the Bible with skepticism. Sir Walter Scott wrote that, "Within this ample volume lies The mysteries of mysteries. Happiest they of human race To whom their God has given grace To read, to fear, to hope, to pray, To lift the latch, to force the way; But better had they ne'er been born That read to doubt, or read to scorn." One of the greatest decisions a soul can make is to determine to search the Scriptures daily. In the search many discoveries will be made.

First, joy will be discovered according to 1 John 1:4. "And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full."

 

"And when someday He calls me home

and I at last can look Upon His face,

I'll want to kneel and thank Him for His Book!

~*~

Alice Hansche Mortenson

 

Second, it will be discovered how the just shall live. It was as Martin Luther searched the Scriptures that he discovered the just shall live by faith (Rom. 1:17; Hab. 2:4). That simply truth unlocked the storehouse of spiritual treasures and the world was changed.

 

 

 

 

 

"Study it carefully,

Think of it prayerfully,

Till in thy heart its precepts dwell.

Slight not its history,

Ponder its mystery;

None can e'er prize it too fondly or well."

 

Third, and most important of all, the Lord Jesus Christ will be discovered in all of His splendor and glory. A great lady once wrote,

 

"The Word of God came unto me,

Sitting alone among the multitudes;

And my blind eyes were touched with light.

And there was laid upon my lips a flame of fire.

 

I laugh and shout for life is good,

Though my feet are set in silent ways.

 

In merry mood I leave the crowd

To walk in my garden.

 

Ever as I walk I gather fruits and flowers in my hands.

And with joyful heart I bless the sun

That kindles all the place with radiant life.

I run with playful winds that blow

the scent of rose and jasmine

in eddying whirls.

 

At last I come where tall lilies grow,

lifting their faces like white saints to God.

 

While the lilies pray, I kneel upon the ground;

I have strayed into the holy temple of the Lord."

 

Helen Keller would have been found in the company of the committed who were nobler than those in Thessalonica for the Scriptures were searched daily. May God grant us grace to become serious readers of our God breathed Book: the Bible.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

That Heart Burning Book

 

~*~

 

John R. Rice

 

Would that this Book, the Bible, was better known as the heart-burning Book.

 

·       Martin Luther permitted it to burn in his heart, and the shout still rings, "The just shall live by faith!"

 

 

·       It burned in the heart of John Bunyan, and life dripped from his pen to form the book called Pilgrim's Progress. Could a lesser book than this have burned the spirit of a John Wesley into a life ministry of trekking weary miles with the Gospel?

 

·       George Whitefield felt its fire, and the colonies were touched to the winning of fifty thousand souls.

 

·       Would Christ have been as well known in England had not Charles Spurgeon known its glow?

 

·       The Bible burned in the heart of David Livingstone, and that heart was buried in the depths of Africa.

 

·       "Give me Scotland or else I die!" was the cry of John Knox when the heavenly heart of the Book touched his heart.

 

Someone has said that the great American evangelist D.L. Moody took one continent with his left hand and another in his right and moved them both toward God. Such was the power of a shoe clerk who devoured the pages of our God Breathed Book: the Bible.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What the Bible Says about Itself

 

"Jesus loves me this I know,

for the Bible tells me so."

 

1.     The Bible claims to be the very Word of God. Certainly the prophets believed God spoke through them.

 

·       2 Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

 

·       Jeremiah 1:9 Then the LORD put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth.

 

2.     The Bible claims its authority to be from heaven. The authority of the Bible is intrinsic and inherent. In no sense is the authority of the Bible derived from human testimony.

 

·       Isaiah 1:2 Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the LORD hath spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me.

 

3.     The Bible claims that it contains no errors. It is inerrant. There are no mistakes in any of its parts.

 

·       Psalms 19:7 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.

 

·       Proverbs 30:5 Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.

 

·       Psalms 12:6 The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.

 

4.     The Bible says of itself that its words cannot be broken. It is infallible. It will not read anyone who reads it astray.

 

·       John 10:35 If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the Scripture cannot be broken;

 

·       Matthew 5:18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

 

5.     The Bible claims it can be comprehended. While some parts of the Bible are "hard to understand" (2 Peter 3:16) it is clear and can be understood by the ordinary Christians regardless of human intelligence or academic achievement. Even children can understand doctrinal truths for parents are commanded to teach the Scriptures to their children.

 

·       Deuteronomy 6:6-7 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: 7 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.

 

The simple man can understand the Bible and be made wise.

 

·       Psalms 19:7 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.

 

6.     The Bible declares it is necessary.

 

The Bible is necessary to make the soul wise unto salvation.

 

·       2 Timothy 3:15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

 

The Bible is necessary for sanctification.

 

·       John 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

 

The Bible is necessary for knowing the will of God.

 

·       2 Timothy 3:16-17 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

 

7.      The Bible claims to be the sufficient and final voice through Jesus Christ the Lord.

 

·       Hebrews 1:1-2 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

 

·       John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

 

8.     No one can reject the Bible and have a right relationship with the living Lord Jesus Christ.

 

·       John 8:30-31 As he [Jesus] spake these words, many believed on him. 31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed.

 

 

 

 

A Foundation for Faith

 

Chapter 3

 

There is a God

 

~*~

“But without faith it is impossible to please him:

for he that cometh to God must believe that he is,

and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."

 

Hebrews 11:6

 

 

I.                The Basis for Understanding God

 

II.              The Attributes of God

 

·       God is good                                   Psalm 33:5

·       God is omnipotent (all powerful)  Psalm 33:6

·       God is omnipresent (all present)   Psalm 33:13

·       God is omniscient              Psalm 33:14,15

·       God is spirit                                   John 4:24

·       God is love                                    1 John 4:8

·       God is merciful                              Psalm 89:1

·       God is wise                                    Proverbs 3:19

·       God is holy                                     Isaiah 6:1-3

·       God is immutable (unchanging)     Psalm 102:27

·       God exists as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

·       God is incomprehensible              Psalm 33:2,3

 

III.            The Purpose for Revealing the Divine Attributes

 

·       The attributes of God are designed to reveal the nature of God

·       The attributes of God are designed to bring conviction of sin and conformity to the Divine will

·       The attributes of God are revealed to comfort the heart

·       The attributes of God are revealed to cause the heart to love God

 

IV.            Conclusion

 

 

 

 

 

A Foundation for Faith

 

Chapter 3

 

There is a God

 

"But without faith it is impossible to please him:

for he that cometh to God must believe that he is,

and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."

 

 

Hebrews 11:6

 

~*~

 

"Rejoice in the LORD, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright. 2 Praise the LORD with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings. 3 Sing unto him a new song; play skillfully with a loud noise. 4 For the word of the LORD is right; and all his works are done in truth. 5 He loveth righteousness and judgment: the earth is full of the goodness of the LORD. 6 By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth. 7 He gathereth the waters of the sea together as an heap: he layeth up the depth in storehouses. 8 Let all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him. 9 For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast. 10 The LORD bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought: he maketh the devices of the people of none effect. 11 The counsel of the LORD standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations. 12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD: and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance. 13 The LORD looketh from heaven; he beholdeth all the sons of men. 14 From the place of his habitation he looketh upon all the inhabitants of the earth. 15 He fashioneth their hearts alike; he considereth all their works. 16 There is no king saved by the multitude of an host: a mighty man is not delivered by much strength. 17 An horse is a vain thing for safety: neither shall he deliver any by his great strength. 18 Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy; 19 To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine. 20 Our soul waiteth for the LORD: he is our help and our shield. 21 For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name. 22 Let thy mercy, O LORD, be upon us, according as we hope in thee."

~*~

Psalms 33:1-22

 

It has been said that if a person can believe the first four words of the Bible the rest of the Scriptures will prove no problem. Genesis 1:1 says "In the beginning God." There are individuals who say they do not believe in God. They are called "atheists" because they deny the very existence of the Divine. By denying the existence of God the heart of man may be puffed up with pride but he is made lower than the beasts of the field. "The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master's crib: but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider" (Isa. 1:3). The truth of the matter is that "A man can no more diminish God's glory by refusing to worship him than a lunatic can put out the sun by scribbling the word darkness on the walls of his cell" (C. S. Lewis, 1898-1963). If a person really believes there is no God he has to be the saddest of all souls. Johann Paul Friedrich Richter (1763-1825) commented "No one is so much alone in the universe as a denier of God. With an orphaned heart, which has lost the greatest of fathers, he stands mourning by the immeasurable corpse of the universe."

The story is told of an old man that lay ill in bed. By any objective standard he had lived a wicked life. He dared to say he did not even believe in God's existence. Over his bed he had written the words "God is nowhere." The old man was a foolish man. One day his little granddaughter came into the bedroom to see him. She was just learning to read so he asked her with a measure of mockery and evil intent to try to read what was written over his bed. Slowly the child began and read "God…is...now...here!"  In the providence of the Lord the Holy Spirit illuminated the darkened heart of the old man so that he realized that indeed "God…is…now…here!" The old man began to tremble in light of the sober truth that He was about to step into eternity and meet the God who is there. Conviction came to his soul and he was converted. Francis Bacon (1561-1626) observed "Atheism is rather in the lip than in the heart of man." An old adage in the military says there are no atheists in a foxhole.

            As there are professing atheists so there are agnostics. If the atheists denies the existence of God the agnostic politely dismisses God. Actually, there are few atheists or agnostics in the world. Plato (C. 428-348 BC) made the observation that "Few men are so obstinate in their atheism [or agnosticism] that a pressing danger will not compel them to the acknowledgment of a divine power. " And that is true. What is also true is that many people simply dismiss God from their life because they are not sure of His existence.          Of course the Bible never seeks to prove the existence of God. The Scriptures begins with the presupposition of God's existence. The reality of God is so self-evident the Scriptures simply state it is the fool who says in his heart there is no God (Psalm 14:1). A fool is merely a self sufficient individual.

Wanting to be free of God various theories have arisen. The ancient Greek theory of evolution makes a fool of every modern man who embraces the concept that the complexity of the universe is the product of Time + Space + Chance. The theory of evolution is not science but religious faith and yet multitudes accept the theory of evolution. Romans 1:20-23 explains why. "For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world 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 that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things."

            While there are many matters that are still mysterious and uncertain there is one sure foundational truth--God exists. The first principle of true religion is to affirm by faith "I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth." With such an affirmation of faith the soul is free to progress to certain truths about God. For example, in His Word God has declared that He is but One God and there are no others. Deuteronomy 6:4 "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD." The concept of there being only one God is a truth that is denied today. Idolatry and polytheism prevails throughout the world. In school our children are often taught how the ancient Vikings, Greeks and Romans, Anglo-Saxons and Germans believed in many gods such as Thor, Mars, Jupiter, Mercury, Venus and Diana. There were male gods and female goddesses. There were gods of nature, gods, of war and gods of love. The Bible rejects all gods including the deification of man which the Romans enjoyed doing and what the New Age movement advocates today. There is but One God of heaven and earth. All others are but figments of man's perverted and darkened imagination. The One true God is alive. He sees and hears and speaks. He is the living God. As God is One and there are no other gods before Him or after Him so He can be known. God cannot be known fully for He is too great and awesome for the finite mind of man. But God can be known according to the gracious principle of self-disclosure. Consider the words of Psalm 33.

 

·       The Lord God is good. Psalms 33:5 He [God] loveth righteousness and judgment: the earth is full of the goodness of the LORD.

 

"In the vast and the minute we see

The unambiguous footsteps of the God,

Who gives its lustre to an insect's wing

And wheels his throne upon the whirling worlds."

~*~

William Cowper

1731-1800

 

The Bible scholar J. B. Phillips (1906-1982) said, "If God is God, He is big and generous and magnificent." Little children of Christian parents learn to acknowledge the goodness of God in precious prayers and they say,

 

"God is great

God is good

And we thank Him for our food.

By His hand we all are fed,

Thank you Lord for this daily bread."

 

The earth is full of the goodness of the LORD.

 

·       God is omnipotent. The mighty omnipotent power of God is manifested in creation. Psalm 33:6 By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth. 7 He gathereth the waters of the sea together as an heap: he layeth up the depth in storehouses. The theory of evolution contends that billions of years ago matter exploded and the universe sprang into existence. The Bible declares that by the word of the Lord the heavens were made and by His decrees the stars began to pulsate and the planets appeared in their sphere of orbit. By faith and by reason Christians must embrace the biblical account of creation for it alone sets forth the omnipotence of God.

 

·       As God is omnipotent so He is omnipresent. Psalm 33:13 The LORD looketh from heaven; he beholdeth all the sons of men. Psalm 139:7-10 Whither shall I go from thy spirit? Or whither shall I flee from thy presence? 8 If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. 9 If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; 10 Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.

·       As God is omnipotent and omnipresent so He is omniscient. Psalms 33:14-15 From the place of his habitation he [God] looketh upon all the inhabitants of the earth. 15 He fashioneth their hearts alike; he considereth all their works. The knowledge of the Lord is comprehensive. He knows what will happen and He knows all the alternatives as to what could have happened. Matt 11:21 Woe unto thee, Chorazin! Woe unto thee, Bethsaida! For 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. God knows our thoughts and what we will think say and do before we act. Isa 66:18 For I know their works and their thoughts: There are other attributes we could notice about God.

 

·       God is a spirit. John 4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. There is a delightful story told of a little boy who was working hard on a drawing and his daddy asked him what he was doing. The reply came back, "Drawing a picture of God." His father said, "You can't do that, honey. Nobody knows what God looks like for God is spirit." But the little boy was undeterred and continued to draw. He looked at his picture with satisfaction and said very matter-of-factly, "They will in a few minutes."

 

·       God is love. 1 John 4:8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. Saint Augustine of Hippo (354-430) said, "God loves each of us as if there were only one of us." The love of God is superabundant for God gives to us,

 

“More sky than we can see,

More seas than we can sail,

More sun than we can bear to watch,

More stars than we can scale.

More breathe than we can breathe,

More yield than we can sow,

More grace than we can comprehend,

More love than we can know.”

~*~

Ralph W. Seager

Modified

 

·       God is merciful. Ps 89:1 I will sing of the mercies of the LORD for ever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations.

 

“When all thy mercies, O my God,

My rising soul surveys,

Transported with the view, I'm lost

In wonder, love, and praise.”

~*~

Joseph Addison

1672-1719

 

 

·       God is wise. Prov 3:19 The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens. On Christmas Day 1968, the three astronauts of Apollo 8 circled the dark side of the moon and headed for home. Suddenly, over the horizon of the moon rose the blue and white Earth garlanded by the glistening light of the sun against the black void of space. Those sophisticated men, trained in science and technology, did not utter Einstein's name. They did not even go to the poets, the novelist or the dramatists. Only one Book could capture the awe-inspiring thrill of this magnificent observation. Billions heard the voice from outer space as the astronaut read it: "In the beginning God"--the only concept worthy enough to describe that unspeakable awe, unutterable in any other way. "In the beginning God created"--the invasive, the inescapable sense of the infinite and the eternal.

 

·       God is holy. Isa 6:1-3 In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. 2 Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. 3 And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.

 

·       God is immutable. He does not change. Ps 102:27 But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end. Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. God will always be faithful to His character and thus to His promises one of which is "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee" (Heb. 13:5).

 

·       God exists as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The trinity is one of the greatest mysteries concerning God but it cannot be denied. The biblical revelation is that "God does not live in isolation-not in the solitude of a single person, but three persons in one essence" Louis Evely (1910-). People have tried to explain the Trinity in a variety of ways. St. Patrick of Ireland, when asked about the Trinity, plucked a shamrock from the ground and said, "Three in one, one in three, that is the Trinity."The Puritans spoke of the sun with its beams and heat giving forth light. The truth of the matter is that fallen man cannot fully and logically comprehend the concept of the Trinity and yet it remains a spiritual reality. Our faith declares,

 

v    The Father is God                   -           God is the Father

v    The Son is God                       -           God is the Son

v    The Holy Spirit is God            -           God is the Holy Spirit

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Timeless, spaceless, single, lonely,

Yet sublimely Three,

Thou art grandly, always, only

God is Unity!

Lone in grandeur, lone in glory,

Who shall tell thy wondrous story?

Awful Trinity!”

~*~

Frederick William Faber

1814-1863

 

 

·       God is incomprehensible. William Jennings Bryan (1860-1925) was a nominee for president three times on the Democratic ticket. He was also a devout Christian. When asked about God he had this to say. "I have observed the power of the watermelon seed. It has the power of drawing from the ground and through itself 200,000 times its weight. When you can tell me how it takes this material and out of it colors produces an outside surface beyond the imitation of art, and then forms inside of it a white rind and within that again a red heart, thickly inlaid with black seeds, each one of which in turn is capable of drawing through itself 200,000 times its weight-when you can explain to me the mystery of a watermelon, you can ask me to explain the mystery of God." Therefore, Ps 33:2-3 Praise the LORD with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings. 3 Sing unto him a new song; play skillfully with a loud noise (Psa. 33:2-3). God is to be praised because He too majestic to be comprehended.

 

The attributes of God are communicated for practical consideration.

 

·       The attributes of God are designed to reveal the nature of God. God is there and He is not silent.

 

·       The attributes of God are designed to bring conviction of sin and conformity to the Divine will. One day the Exodus Generation gathered beneath Mt. Sinai. There was fire and smoke on the mountain. God flashed forth His omnipotence and His omnipresence. The people were brought under conviction of sin and wanted to conform to the Divine will.

 

Ex 19:7-8 And Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before their faces all these words which the LORD commanded him. 8 And all the people answered together, and said, All that the LORD hath spoken we will do. And Moses returned the words of the people unto the LORD.

 

 

 

 

 

 

·       The attributes of God are revealed to comfort the heart.

 

Isa 59:1 Behold, the LORD's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear:

 

J. B. Phillips (1906-1982) said, "God is the great reality. His resources are available and endless. His promises are real and glorious, beyond our wildest dreams."

 

·       The attributes of God are revealed to cause the heart to love God. When she considered God Helen Keller (1880-1968) said, "God is the light in my darkness, the voice in my silence." She loved the Lord. To love God is commanded in Scripture. Moses exhorted the nation of Israel to love God, as did Joshua. Deut 11:1 Therefore thou shalt love the LORD thy God, and keep his charge, and his statutes, and his judgments, and his commandments, alway. Josh 23:11 Take good heed therefore unto yourselves, that ye love the LORD your God. Men should love God for the beauty of His essence, for the faithfulness of His care, for the tender mercies He shows each day, and for the gifts of salvation and eternal life He has provided through Jesus Christ His Son. The Puritan preacher Richard Baxter (1615-1691) said, "It is but right that our hearts should be on God, when the heart of God is so much on us." The sum of the doctrine of God is that He has provided a way that we might know Him and enjoy Him forever through faith in His Son Jesus Christ. There once was a boy who hardly spoke throughout his short life. He was considered to be very slow mentally and yet his heart was sensitive to spiritual matters. Just before he died he uttered the most amazing words which have been preserved. This is what he said.

 

"What can I see? What can I see?

I can see One and the One is Three.

Three in one and One in Three

And all the Three are all for me."

 

I trust that it will be your personally testimony that you will by faith seek after the Lord and believe in God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit for "without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is,and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Foundation for Faith

 

Chapter 4

 

The Plight of Man and the Power of God

 

"Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world,

and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men,

for that all have sinned."

~*~

Romans 5:12

 

The English poet Alexander Pope (1688-1744) once wrote, "The proper study of mankind is man." Without question the favorite study of mankind is man. History is the written record of what man has done. Law reflects what he does. Medicine reveals what man is according to science. Ethics reflect on what ought to be.        Many of the current best selling books in the nation concern some aspect of man whether it is an autobiography, a manual on relationships, or a self-improvement guide. Mankind is absolutely in love with itself. An objective view of man reveals some startling contradictions.

Man can be extremely cruel and brutal. The English poet Abraham Cowley (1618-1687) said, "Man is to man all kinds of beasts; a fawning dog, a roaring lion, a thieving fox, a robbing wolf, a dissembling crocodile, a treacherous decoy, and a rapacious vulture."

The willingness to use massive weapons of destruction upon men, women, and children at any given moment in the name of national interest reflects how brutal individuals can be. There is always a justification for the slaughter of others.

 

      Adolph Hitler said Germany needed more breathing room for an expanding population.

 

      The Japanese bombed Pear Harbor because they were running out of raw supplies.

 

      For twenty-two years Americans dropped bombs and napalm on countries in South East Asia in order to stop the spread of Communism. The result of this horror was over 50,000 names engraved on a black monument called The Wall in Washington, D.C.

 

      Sadam Hussein said that Kuwait was merely a lost providence he had a right to reclaim.

 

From under the rubble of mankind's civil war with itself individuals crawl out and stand upright because though man is of the Earth his thoughts still reach beyond the stars. Mean and petty his wants and desires; yet they serve a soul exalted with grand, glorious aims—with immortal longings--with thoughts which sweep the heavens, and wander through eternity. A pigmy standing on the outward crest of this small planet, his far-reaching spirit stretches outward to the infinite, and there alone finds rest. Thomas Carlyle (1795-1881)  The Bible explains this dual nature of man who can be at once so good and so bad. The Bible tells us what has happened to transform man from the image of God to act worse than the beasts of the field. "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned" (Rom. 5:12).

The one man referred to is Adam. The Book of Genesis tells the simple but tragic story. By a special act of creation God made man and he was very good. Though not confirmed in righteousness Adam was made in the image of God with will, emotion and intelligence.

To man was given the headship over all nature. "And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth" (Gen. 1:26).

To man was given the Garden of Eden which was a paradise. "And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the Garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it" (Gen. 2:15).

In the garden man was to provide names for every living creature. "And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof. 20 And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him" (Gen. 2:19-20).

            Not only was man to work he was to establish a home with love. "Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh" (Gen. 2:24). According to the divine will our children are to grow up, leave home, love their spouse, and become united in one essence.

Man was to reproduce himself and populate the earth. "And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth" (Gen. 1:28).

Man was to enjoy the fruits of his labor. "And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat" (Gen. 2:16).

With all of his goodness, abilities, position and privileges Adam arose from the red earth to stand as a Federal Representative of the human race. God looked at Adam and saw the totality of humanity the same way the world looks at the president of our country and sees embodied in him the will of the American people. The decision of the Leader of the Free World affects the future and behavior of every citizen he represents.

For an indeterminate period Adam enjoyed fellowship with the Lord. But then the time came for Adam to be confirmed in righteousness through a test of obedience. But something went wrong. The Bible says that Adam failed the test. He ate of a forbidden fruit.

Adam consciously decided not to obey God but to rebel against His Creator who had also been a Friend for in the cool of the evening the Lord had appeared to walk with Adam in the Garden. Why Adam ate of the forbidden fruit is beyond comprehension. The Bible calls it the mystery of sin. The word sin is a new word created after the Fall of man as is pain and suffering. The word sin means, "to miss the mark." Adam missed the mark of being confirmed in holiness. He plunged his soul into the abyss of death for it was decreed that the soul that sinned would die. In the moment he ate of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil Adam died spiritual. A part of his soulish essence ceased to function. There was a separation between himself and God.

It soon became apparent that something was wrong for suddenly no longer did Adam want to fellowship with God. When the Lord came to walk with Adam in the Garden Adam hid himself. And the voice of God called out, "Adam? Where are you?" It was a haunting inquiry full of great significance. Adam was hiding from God because he had fallen from an exalted state of grace to the lowest sphere of human existence--a life without God. But there was something else. Not only had Adam sinned but he doomed all of his posterity as well. Every son of Adam is now born with the nature of Adam after the fall. You and I were born in the sight of God physically alive but spiritually dead. The stench of death is ever present. The sin of Adam has become our sin by birth and then by personal choice. If the truth were told we have all sinned and come short of the glory of God. We have not keep God's commandments. We have not honored the teachings of Christ summarized in the Sermon on the Mount. We have sinned and we are guilty.

Some years ago Dr. Karl Menninger wrote a book entitled Whatever Became of Sin. Dr. Menninger tells the story of a man who stood on a street corner in Chicago. As people walked by the man pointed a finger at them and shouted, "Guilty!" That was all he said. Another person walked by and the man cried, "Guilty!" The street prophet told the truth. Every person is guilty before God for "there is none righteous no, not one" (Rom. 3:23).

Like our father Adam we have not honored the known will of God and our soul wants to run from Him and hide. And when we are caught and confronted we still want to hide the truth and so we begin to lie. The plight of man is desperate. And the wages of man's sin is death (Rom. 6:23). Because man has sinned against God he must die not only spiritually but also physically until the Lord says enough. There is no escaping physical death even if its reality is denied as the founder of Christian Science taught her followers. It is appointed unto men once to die and after that, the judgment (Heb. 9:27). Relentlessly does God state this fact that sin has entered into the world and with sin death, both spiritual and physical. Moreover the Moral Law of God summarized in the Ten Commandments also entered into human consciousness that the offenses of sin might abound.

Now a question comes. "Have you ever felt the burden of sin?" In the opening scene of the Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan, the main character is man called Christian. He is living in the City of Destruction. Christian has come upon a scroll which warns him to flee from the wrath to come. He is determined to leave the City of Destruction and seek for the salvation of his soul. Christian sets forth to find the way of salvation but on his back he carries a heavy burden called Sin. Today many people carry a heavy burden called sin. There is the burden of the imputed sin of Adam that they carry by birth. There is the burden of shame and guilt because of personal sin produced by willfully wrong choices. There is the added burden of the Law pressing down upon the soul. These burdens are real and they will sink the soul down into the fiery flames of eternal damnation. The controversy that God has with individuals is their effort, like Adam in the Garden of Eden, to minimize the evil they have done and are doing. God wants people to comprehend how desperate their situation is. It is only by the magnification of the awfulness of transgression that a heart can come to appreciate the grace of God that brings salvation. So we ask again, "Have you ever felt the burden of sin?"

If the answer is "Yes," then there is yet hope for God has good news for you. There is Someone who can take the burden of sin from your life and restore your soul to a state of righteousness in the sight of God. That Someone is Jesus Christ. It was at a place called Calvary that Christ bore the sins of the elect in His own body. Christ died a substitutionary death for others and now that great work of redemption can be applied to your heart and mine.

 

 

 

      Perhaps there is a young person who would like to live in harmony with mom and dad and God. The Bible commands children to honor their mother and father. This has not been done. Come to Christ. Do not perish.

 

      Perhaps there is someone who longs to be free of secret sin. Come to Christ.

 

      Perhaps there is someone who is burdened by the memory of a transgression. Come to Christ. Just as you are, come to Christ.

 

“I hear the Savior say,

‘Thy strength indeed is small,

Child of weakness watch and pray,

Find in Me thine all in all.’

 

Lord, now indeed I find

Thy pow’r and Thine alone,

Can change the leper’s spots

And melt the heart of stone.

For nothing good have I

 

Whereby Thy grace to claim;

I’ll wash my garments white

In the blood of Calv’ry’s Lamb.

And when, before the throne,

stand in Him complete,

‘Jesus died my soul to save,’

My lips shall still repeat.

 

Jesus paid it all,

All to Him I owe;

Sin had left a crimson stain,

He washed it white as snow.”

 

            The plight of man becomes the place for the power of God to be made manifest. Where sin has abounded mercy can much more abound so that there can the reign of God's sovereign grace in the heart. The reign of grace is manifested

 

      by renouncing sin in principle and in practice

      by loving what Christ loves

      by being a student of the Bible.

      by engaging in private and corporate prayer.

      by thinking often of the Savior. Salvation through Jesus Christ is the firm foundation on which the Christian faith is built.

 

 

 

“How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,

Is laid for your faith in His excellent Word!

What more can He say than to you He hath said,

To you who for refuge to Jesus have fled?”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Foundation for Faith

 

Chapter 4

 

The Plight of Man and the Power of God

 

 

"Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world,

and death by sin;

and so death passed upon all men,

for that all have sinned."

~*~

Romans 5:12

 

I.                The Proper Study of Mankind

 

II.              Before the Fall

 

      To man was given the headship over nature

      To man was given the headship of the home

      To man was given the fruits of his labor

 

III.            The Plight of Man

 

      Whatever Became of Sin?

      The burden of the Beast

 

IV.            The Power of God

 

 

"But where sin abounded,

grace did much more abound."

~*~

Romans 5:20

 

"I was never fit to say a word to a sinner,

except when I had a broken heart myself,

when I was subdued and melted into penitency,

and felt as though I had just received pardon to my own soul,

and when my heart was full of tenderness and pity. No anger, no anger."

 

Charles Haddon Spurgeon

 

~*~

 

 

A Foundation for Faith

 

Chapter 5

 

The Church: A Most Glorious Institution

 

“Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. 42And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. 43And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. 44And all that believed were together, and had all things common; 45And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. 46And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, 47Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.”

~*~

Acts 2:41-47

 

Glorious” is probably the last adjective many people would use to describe the Christian church at the beginning of the twenty-first century. The latest revelations of pedophiles associated with those who are suppose to be Christian spiritual leaders, the cover up of the same and the hush money totally over a billion dollars is grievous to behold. To this sex scandal the Church wrestles with other issues such as the ordination of women and the acceptance of homosexuals as congregational leaders. hen there is the problem of doctrinal error. Multitudes of ministers in leading denominations no longer believe in the deity of Christ, the virgin birth, the bodily resurrection, salvation by grace through faith alone, or the Second Advent. The justice of eternal punishment is questioned, while the love of God is proclaimed at the expense of His holiness and righteousness. To think of the “Church” as being a glorious institution would be to make a mockery of the word in the minds of many.     Nevertheless, despite its glaring faults and failures the Church is precious in the sight of God. In order to understand how this is possible it is important to realize that the Church is glorious because Jesus Christ loves it. The love of Christ for the Church is expressed in such passages as John 10:11. “I am the Good Shepherd: the Good Shepherd giveth His life for the Sheep.”  Ephesians 5:25ff teaches that Ephesians 5:25-27 “Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.”

In speaking of the Church a distinction must be made between the Church local and the Church universal. The Church local and visible is that outward expression best recognized by denominational distinctives, form and ceremony, structures and specific services, and programs and pageantry.  The Church universal and invisible refers to that mystical but real assembly of called out believers that transcends all outward forms to find ultimate expression in the hearts of men and women and young people. God does have a special people that He calls His own making all due allowance for denominational distinctives, doctrinal orientation, functional diversity and natural temperament. One day there will be no emotional, cultural, or doctrinal barriers. In heaven, as the universal Church is gathered the saints shall sing a new song to the Lamb of God. The Church shall sing the same song in perfect harmony.

            But until that perfect day arrives professing Christians must strive to maintain the essential glory that has been invested in the Church through the love of Christ. In Acts 2 there are nine characteristics that, when displayed, can make the Church visible the most glorious institution on earth. When initially displayed by the early Christians they turned the world upside down. Consider first that the early Church was a learning Church. The learning was not haphazard but was confined to the teachings of the apostles. The great temptation that arises in every generation is to set aside the teachings of the apostles in favor of a new point of view. In examining many current discussions on religious themes it becomes apparent that the new thinking does not derive from particular passages of Scripture but from a pre-suppositional thought or a personal experience. The clarion call for the Church is to be a people of one Book. Every opportunity needs to be taken to be a student of the Word while staying close to the apostle’s doctrine. It is said that the early Christians continued stedfastly in the apostle’s doctrine, which suggests three great principles.

 

·       The early disciples were confirmed in their faith. They believed the apostles had the truth and so the Church did not turn back to Judaism or to the pagan religions of Rome.

 

·       The early disciples recognized an authority other than themselves. There is a subtle form of pride at work in Christendom today and it begins with a series of questions of doubt. The question takes this form: “Which minister is right? Which Church is teaching the truth? How can anyone know what is truth?” Now the pride that is subtlety present is this. The unspoken assumption is that no one is right and that truth cannot be known. As a result the local Church is not held in esteem and the soul becomes an authority until itself. What ever this may be and however it may be justified it is not biblical. The early disciples recognized an authority other than themselves

 

·       The early disciples understood that persecution was certain but Jesus Christ was worth being identified with. Besides being a learning Church there was a sweet time of fellowship. There was the quality of togetherness that was cultivated. The attempts to cultivate togetherness should be participated in. The special dinners and programs are not meant to be for “others”. They are for all of us. A Church gathered ought to be the one place where people feel the most comfortable and the most secure. Lord Nelson, the British Admiral, explained one of his victories by saying, “I had the happiness to command a band of brothers.” The Church is a real Church only when it is a band of brothers and sisters (William Barclay). As important as doctrine is, equally important is Christian fellowship characterized by a heartfelt gentleness, kindness, and benevolence towards others. 

 

 

Third, it can be said that the early Church was a praying Church (Acts 2:42). Acts 2:42 “And they continued stedfastly in …prayers.” There is a popular phrase which says, “The family that prays together stays together.” Certainly that would be true of the Church family. A strong supported prayer meeting is indicative of a strong and vital fellowship.

 

The time of prayer was not forced upon the Church. The believers were not pressured into prayer. Rather, it was the natural impulse of hearts eager to receive instruction from the apostles. The saints were in love with one another and so were eager to ask great things of God so they could do great things for Him.

            There is a fourth observation. The early Church was a reverent Church. The Bible says that “fear came upon every soul” (Acts 2:43). There was awe towards God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ for the reality of the resurrection was crystallized in their hearts. Glory was given that God was made man. As man, Christ died for sinners. He was buried and on the third day a Dead Man lived again.

            Because Christ was alive wonderful and marvelous events could happen and the early Christians believed that thoroughly for there were signs and wonders. Acts 2:43 “And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.”

            There are those who argue that the days of miracles are over. Part of the rationale for this theological position is rooted in a negative reaction to the false claims of healings that are all too familiar. And yet there is a sense in which many signs and wonders could still be witnessed today if we only believed.

             The sixth characteristic recorded is that the early Church was a sharing people. Acts 2:44-45 “And all that believed were together, and had all things common; 45And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.” No one in the fellowship had to go without food, shelter, or clothing. There was a fundamental commitment to one another. The saints realized a spiritual truth: “Freely they had received, freely they would give.” It is more blessed to give than to received.

            The next characteristic of the early Church is that it was a worshipping Church. Acts 2:46 “And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple.” The early Christians went to the place of worship. They did not forget to visit God’s house. Christianity knows nothing of solitary religion. Because of the doctrinal teaching, the sweet fellowship, the prayers of the people, the reverence of the righteous, the selflessness of the saints, the worship of the Lord, there was a tremendous measure of joy (Acts 2:46). There was gladness. Personal joy is             rooted in righteousness. Joy is directly linked with the learning of Bible doctrine, the seeking of Christian fellowship, the engagement of prayer, the sharing of one’s resources and the wonder of worship.

             When a local Church is marked by these characteristics the world cannot but help to notices (Acts 2:47). There is a winsome attractiveness. Real Christianity is a lovely thing and the true Church is a glorious Church.  Tragically, in recent years the essential glory of the Church has been given away theologically to a nation on earth that rejects Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Because of the impact of Dispensational theology many Christians have been led to believe that national Israel holds the central part of God plan of the ages. The truth of the matter is that national Israel has played an important part in the plan of God but the Church is central.

            Dispensational theology maintains that the Church is a Great Parenthesis in the Divine economy but the truth is that national Israel holds that position, not the Church. Consider the essential Glory of the Church and the parenthetical place of Israel in the plan of God.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Essential Glory of the Church and

the Parenthetical Place of Israel

in the Plan of God

 

 

  1. The temporary place of Israel in the plan of God in human history is reflected in the following observations. A large part of human history had already taken place when God called Abraham from Ur of the Chaldeans. Before there was a nation of Israel souls were being saved by faith in Christ as He was revealed.

 

v    A righteous coat provided by God covered Adam and Eve. “Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them” (Gen. 3:21).

 

v    Hebrews 11:4 declares that “By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous”.

 

v    In Hebrews 11:5 we read that “By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.”

 

v    What was true of Adam and Eve, Abel and Enoch was true of Noah. Hebrews 11:7 reveals that “By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.”

 

If there are no gaps in the genealogical tables of the early chapters of Genesis then we know that from the creation to the flood was 1656 years. Many more years elapsed from the time of Noah to Abraham. During that period souls were being saved. God was calling out a people for Himself.

 

v    The Covenant promises made to Abraham and his descendents were always conditional. There was to be gospel obedience in all matters.

 

·       Genesis 22:18 And [Abraham] in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.

 

·       Deut 28:58-66 If thou wilt not observe to do all the words of this law that are written in this book, that thou mayest fear this glorious and fearful name, THE LORD THY GOD; 59 Then the LORD will make thy plagues wonderful, and the plagues of thy seed, even great plagues, and of long continuance, and sore sicknesses, and of long continuance. 60 Moreover he will bring upon thee all the diseases of Egypt, which thou wast afraid of; and they shall cleave unto thee. 61 Also every sickness, and every plague, which is not written in the book of this law, them will the LORD bring upon thee, until thou be destroyed. 62 And ye shall be left few in number, whereas ye were as the stars of heaven for multitude; because thou wouldest not obey the voice of the LORD thy God. 63 And it shall come to pass, that as the LORD rejoiced over you to do you good, and to multiply you; so the LORD will rejoice over you to destroy you, and to bring you to nought; and ye shall be plucked from off the land whither thou goest to possess it. 64 And the LORD shall scatter thee among all people, from the one end of the earth even unto the other; and there thou shalt serve other gods, which neither thou nor thy fathers have known, even wood and stone. 65 And among these nations shalt thou find no ease, neither shall the sole of thy foot have rest: but the LORD shall give thee there a trembling heart, and failing of eyes, and sorrow of mind:

 

  • The fact that in AD 70 God set Israel aside and has been working through the Gentiles to advance His kingdom illustrates the limited place Israel has had in the plan of God. Speaking to the nation of Israel Jesus told them plainly that their gospel privileges would be taken and given to another nation. Matt 21:43 “Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.“ The Church is that nation. 1 Peter 2:9 “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation.”

 

1.     A transfer was made from national Israel to spiritual Israel, which has always included the Gentiles. This shift and emphasis is reflected in the following passages.

 

  • Romans 9: 6-7 Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: 7 Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.

 

  • Galatians 3:7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.

 

  • James 1:1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.

 

2.     A simple time line illustrates the abiding existence of the Church from the Garden of Eden to the Second Advent.

 

The Church as the called out assembly is found

in all the ages while Israel has played an important

but limited role in the overall plan of God

 

                                                      C H U R C H

      _______________________________________________________________________>                                                               

½_Creation *_Fall *_Noah * Abraham * Moses * Cross * AD 70 * Present to Second Advent

 

 

 

3.     The Bible teaches plainly that Christ loved the Church and gave Himself for her.

 

  • Ephesians 5:25-27 Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

 

4.     God is neither a physical racist nor a nationalist. The only nation the Lord plans to exalt is the Church for of her citizens it has been promised, “The meek shall inherit the earth” (Psalm 37:11; Matt. 5:5).

 

5.     The only people who reign in the New Testament are the saints.

 

  • 2 Tim 2:12 If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:

 

  • Rev 20:4-6 4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. 5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

 

6.     The only people in the New Testament who sit in judgment over Israel, the world and even the angels is the Church.

 

  • Matt 19:27-28 Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore? 28And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

 

  • 1 Cor 6:2-3 Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? And if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? 3Know ye not that we shall judge angels? How much more things that pertain to this life?

 

7.     Spiritual glory belongs to the Church and not to any nation or race that hates Christ and rejects Him as Lord and Savior.

 

8.     God reveals the glory of the Church in her election.

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • Eph 1:1-6 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus: 2 Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: 4According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: 5Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

 

9.     The glory of the Church is revealed in the great cost that was paid to purchase her.

 

  • 1 Peter 1:18-19 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

 

10.  The glory of the Church is revealed in the adoption of her members as children of God and the spiritual blessing that are accrued to include the kingdom of God (Luke 12:32), a new heaven and a new earth (2 Peter 3:13) and a vision of God (Matt. 5:8).

 

11.  The glory of the Church is revealed in the position it has been raised to of high royalty. The Church alone has the pre-eminence in the plan of God.

 

12.  The essential glory of the Church may be seen in the wonderful purpose and central place she possesses in the Plan of God

 

13.  The essential glory of the Church is revealed in the honor of her leadership, the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

  • Eph 1:22 And [God the Father] hath put all things under his [Christ’s’] feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, (cf. Col. 1:15-19).

 

14.  The essential glory of the Church is revealed in the fact that she enjoys the personal and powerful ministry of the Holy Spirit (Eph. 1:13,14; 3:16,17; Rom. 8:9-16).

 

15.  The glory of the Church is seen in her quest for true holiness.

 

16.  The essential glory of the Church may be reflected and revealed in her nearness and access to God.

 

17.   The essential glory of the Church may be revealed in her spiritual knowledge of all the mysteries of the gospel (Eph. 1:9; 3:2-5).

 

  • Eph 1:9 Eph 1:9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: (cf. Eph 3:2-5).

The Essential Glory of the Church and

the Parenthetical Place of Israel

in the Plan of God

 

Handout

 

1.     The temporary place of Israel in the plan of God in human history is reflected in the following observations.

 

  • A large part of human history had already taken place when God called Abraham from Ur of the Chaldeas. Many souls were saved prior to the establishment of the nation of Israel (Gen. 3:21; Heb. 11:4; 11:5; 11:7).

 

  • The Covenant promises made to Abraham and his descendents were always conditional. There was to be gospel obedience in all matters (Gen. 22:18; Deut 28:58-66).

 

  • The fact that in AD 70 God set Israel aside and has been working through the Gentiles to advance His kingdom illustrates the limited place Israel has had in the plan of God (Matt 21:43; 1 Pet. 2:9).

 

2.     A transfer was made from national Israel to spiritual Israel, which has always included the Gentiles (Rom. 9: 6-7; Gal. 3:7; James 1:1).

 

3.     A simple time line illustrates the abiding existence of the Church from the Garden of Eden to the Second Advent.

 

The Church as the called out assembly is found

in all the ages while Israel has played an important

but limited role in the overall plan of God

 

_Creation *_Fall *_Noah * Abraham * Moses * Cross * AD 70 * Present to Second Advent

 

4.     The Bible teaches plainly that Christ loved the Church and gave Himself for her (Eph. 5:25-27).

 

5.     God is neither a physical racist nor a nationalist. The only nation the Lord plans to exalt is the Church for of her citizens it has been promised, “The meek shall inherit the earth” (Psalm 37:11; Matt. 5:5).

 

6.     The only people who reign in the New Testament are the saints (2 Tim 2:12; Rev 20:4-6).

 

7.     The only people in the New Testament who sit in judgment over Israel, the world and even the angels is the Church (Matt 19:27-28; 1 Cor 6:2-3).

 

8.     Spiritual glory belongs to the Church and not to any nation or race that hates Christ and rejects Him as Lord and Savior.

 

9.     God reveals the glory of the Church in her election (Eph 1:1-6).

 

10.  The glory of the Church is revealed in the great cost that was paid to purchase her (1 Pet. 1:18-19).

 

11.  The glory of the Church is revealed in the adoption of her members as children of God and the spiritual blessing that are accrued to include the kingdom of God (Luke 12:32), a new heaven and a new earth (2 Peter 3:13) and a vision of God (Matt. 5:8).

 

12.  The glory of the Church is revealed in the position it has been raised to of high royalty. The Church alone has the pre-eminence in the plan of God.

 

13.  The essential glory of the Church may be seen in the wonderful purpose and central place she possesses in the Plan of God

 

14.  The essential glory of the Church is revealed in the honor of her leadership, the Lord Jesus Christ (Eph 1:22; Col. 1:15-19).

 

15.  The essential glory of the Church is revealed in the fact that she enjoys the personal and powerful ministry of the Holy Spirit (Eph. 1:13,14; 3:16,17; Rom. 8:9-16).

 

16.  The glory of the Church is seen in her quest for true holiness.

 

17.  The essential glory of the Church may be reflected and revealed in her nearness and access to God.

 

18.  The essential glory of the Church may be revealed in her spiritual knowledge of all the mysteries of the gospel (Eph. 1:9; 3:2-5).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Foundation for Faith

 

Chapter 6

 

Creation, A Many Splendor Thing

 

“Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; 9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: 10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, 11 According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: 12 In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.”

 

Ephesians 3:8-12

 

~*~

 

It is a foundational doctrine of the Christian faith that Jesus Christ is not only Lord and Savior but also the Creator of all things. Jesus is not a created being as the Mormons teach and the Jehovah Witnesses advocate. Rather, Christ is the Creator-God of the universe. Colossians 1:15 teaches that Christ is “the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature.” Matthew Henry notes that it was “Not as man was Jesus made in the image of God (Gen 1:27), in his natural faculties and dominion over the creatures: no, He is the express image of His person (Heb 1:3). He is so the image of God as the son is the image of his father and has a natural likeness to him. So it is that he who has seen Christ has seen the Father. The glory of Jesus was the glory of the only begotten of the Father (John 1:14; 14:9).Christ is the first-born of every creature. This does not mean that Jesus is Himself a creature for the Greek phrase is prototokos pases ktiseos. This phrase signifies that Christ is the first begetter in the sense that He is the producer of all things, “For by him were all things created, which are in heaven and earth, visible and invisible.” 

It was Jesus who made the highest angel in heaven, as well as man upon earth. “All things were made by him, and without him was not any thing made which was made” (John 1:3).  Christ is the eternal wisdom of the Father, and the world was made in wisdom. Christ is the eternal Word, and the world was made by the word of God. Christ is the arm of the Lord, and the world was made by that arm. All things are created by Jesus Christ and for Him.Being created by Him, they were created for Him.Being made by His power, they were made according to his pleasure and for his praise. It was the Lord Jesus Christ who said, “Let there be light” and in obedience to the divine voice of His Omnipotence and Omniscience there was light (Gen. 1:3). It was the Lord Jesus Christ said “Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters” and that which was without form began to move and take shape. It was the Lord Jesus Christ who spoke again and said, “Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together unto one place, and let dry land appear: and it was so.” For six days Christ spoke and created the entire universe. When He was through there was light, and air and clouds. Dry land appeared and then vegetation. The sun, moon, and stars burst forth. Sea creatures swarmed in the waters and birds filled the air. Awesome land animals appeared including the great dinosaurs and then came man, the crowning act of creation. “When [the Lord God] conceived the world, that was poetry; He formed it, and that was sculpture; He colored it, and that was painting; He peopled it with living beings, and that was the grand, divine, eternal drama” (Emma Stebbins,  1816-1876). How glorious the early earth must have been for after each day of creation God said that is was all, “Very good.” Those Christian Scientist who believe in the Genesis account of creation and who have studied the fossil record tell us some interesting possibilities about the original creation.

            First, it is argued that the earth is not very old. There are many valid scientific reasons to believe that the earth is not millions of years old as the evolutionary theory suggests but may be of recent origin, which the Genesis account of creation supports.

Second, it is postulated that the landmass on the earth was not divided as it is today but constituted one large body of dry land. Individuals could circle the globe without getting wet and so could the various animals including the “terrible lizards“ and the large mastodons.

            In addition there was a water vapor canopy that encased the earth making a wonderful greenhouse affect and allowing longevity of life by protecting the body from the harmful rays of the sun. Later, when God judged the earth this water canopy over the globe would break open and help to destroy the world in a catastrophic flood. The biblical narrative of this event begins in Genesis 6.

            Unfortunately, most people do not appreciate the splendor and glory of the original creation today for a terrible lie has been substituted for the truth. The lie is called evolution. Evolution is fallen man’s attempt to dismiss God so that he does not have to honor God or worship Him. Romans 1:22-23 explains that men, “Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four footed beasts, and creeping things.”

 The stubborn heart of man longs to be independent of God and so knowledge of Him and His creation is suppressed in favor of a foolish theory called evolution. Compton’s Interactive Encyclopedia, which is available on many computers as a standard program when purchased, has an article on the origin of life. The writer notes The way in which life first formed may always remain a mystery, but the following explanation is likely. In the 1980s scientists discovered fossil remains of microorganisms resembling blue-green algae in rocks that were about 3 billion years old. Since Earth is thought to be about 4.5 billion years old, the first living things probably evolved within a billion years of Earth's formation. In the 1920s Alexander Oparin, a Soviet biochemist, pointed out that the atmosphere of the primitive Earth was probably very different from today's. A so-called reducing atmosphere--one with much more hydrogen than oxygen--probably existed then. It also probably contained methane, other hydrocarbons, water vapor, and ammonia. Oparin suggested that the organic compounds in the first organisms could have been formed by the action of sunlight and the heat from volcanoes or lightning on the reducing atmosphere of the primitive Earth. Oparin's theory can be supported by the fact that all living things are alike in some respects. For example, they all consist of cells that must have protein enzymes to catalyze, or speed up, the biochemical reactions of life. Enzymes consist of about 20 kinds of amino acids, nitrogen-containing organic molecules found in the proteins of all organisms. Also, all cells transmit hereditary traits through nucleic acids.

 

 

 

 

In 1953 Stanley Miller, then a young graduate student at the University of Chicago, passed an electric spark through an experimental atmosphere containing the chemicals suggested by Oparin. A mixture of organic chemicals resulted, including several of the vital amino acids. Since Miller's pioneering work, other scientists have produced many naturally occurring amino acids and nucleic acid components in the laboratory under pre-biological conditions. Radio astronomers have discovered related molecules in dust clouds far from our solar system. Scientists think that simple pre-biological organic chemicals concentrated in lakes and tidal pools, forming a rich pre-biological "soup." Influenced by ultraviolet light and mild heating, the simple molecules then condensed into more complex ones resembling proteins and nucleic acids. This might have taken place on the surface of minerals or in oily droplets floating in the pre-biological ”soup.” The best response to all of this lies in a little story about a scientist who went to God one day and said to Him, “God, you are no longer important. We now know how life began and we can create life. In fact, I will challenge you a test of creation.”  And the Lord said, “I accept your challenge. You go first.” So the scientist reached down into the dirt and scoped up a handful of dust to begin work. And God said, “Wait just a minute. That is my dirt. You must get your own.”

In dealing with the theory of evolution (and it is only a theory which by definition means an unproven assumption) the most frustrating part is that the evil system affirms what it denies and then denies what it affirms. Evolutionist dismisses a special creation and the spontaneous generation of life from the hand of God and then insists that life came into existence about 3.5 billion years ago from nothing. There was no living God to create. There was only dead matter. And yet from nothing came life. Non-life begat life. Evolutionist mock and deny a spontaneous creation by a living God but then they teach a spontaneous generation of life forms from dead matter. Moreover, to move their evolutionary process forward they speak of mirco-mutations. When it is pointed out there is no evidence in the fossil record of a process of gradual transition of a species from one entity to another there and that most mutations are harmful to a species they change their story and talk about macro-mutations or sudden and dramatic changes in a species. All of this non-sensical verbiage means just one thing. Evolution is a philosophical concept that cannot be support by the known scientific data. It is in reality a religion demanding faith. It is not science.

The story is told of a person who went to see the famous German mathematician Athanasius Kircher. Kircher had placed in his study a beautiful globe of the world in a corner so that his visitors could not help but seeing it. This one was no exception. Very soon the visitor asked the expected question, “Where did you get that beautiful globe? Who made it?” “No one,” replied Kircher. “It just happened.” The visitor was surprised at the answer and just stared in anger at such a trivial response. “Well,” said the famous mathematician, “You are angry if someone suggests this little globe just happened, and yet how can you think such a thing of this great and beautiful world?” One reason why so many people are willing to accept the concept of the death of God and the theory of evolution is because individuals have been taught to view themselves as insignificance. It came about this way.

There was an Italian man named Galileo (1564-1642) who made popular the theories of a Polish astronomer named Nicolaus Copernicus (1473-1543). At that time in history the minds of men quivered with a new thought. For centuries it had been taught that the Earth was the center of the universe and man was the center of the Earth. Then came Copernicus who advanced the hypothesis that the Earth and other planets orbited around the sun. The sun, not the earth, was the center of the solar system. In 1609 Galileo secured a primitive telescope and confirmed what he had long suspected—the theories of Copernicus were correct. Since the days of Galileo the immensity of the university has been explored with a surprising result. Its very size has caused many to wonder how man could ever have been so proud as to think he is anything significant in the cosmic order. Followed to a logical conclusion the evolutionist and the atheist contend that they are more humble than the Christian for they do not exalt man.

The proper biblical response of the Church is to remember that the Bible teaches us not to think more highly of ourselves than we ought (Rom. 12:3). There is a sense of humility that should come upon the Christian who considers the diversity and immensity of the universe. The Psalmist said, “When I consider the heavens, which Thou has made, the moon and stars, the work of Thy fingers, what is man…?” In Job 38 the Lord had to remind a very good man from the land of Uz of his proper place. Job, the Lord asked, “Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding. 5 Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? Or who hath stretched the line upon it? 6 Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? Or who laid the corner stone thereof; 7 When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy? 8 Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it brake forth, as if it had issued out of the womb?

9 When I made the cloud the garment thereof, and thick darkness a swaddlingband for it, 10 And brake up for it my decreed place, and set bars and doors, 11 And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further: and here shall thy proud waves be stayed? 12 Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days; and caused the dayspring to know his place; 13 That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, that the wicked might be shaken out of it?”

Men should stand in awe of God but no one should not stand in awe of the animals or the alleged evolutionary process for the Bible also reveals that man has the supreme place of honor in the universe. Not fallen man of course. Not man as he now is. Not man marred by shame and sin. Not man in revolt against God. Not man in his utter moral and spiritual darkness but redeemed man, clothed with the righteousness of Christ as the called out people of God. In the Epistle to the Ephesians Paul teaches how God has entrusted to him grace to preach the unsearchable riches of Christ. The proper humility of Paul is evident as he refers to himself as “less than the least of the apostles.” Paul never forgot that he once persecuted the Church. Paul remembered the terror he instilled in people. His name as Saul of Tarsus once caused brave men to tremble, women to weep, and children to scream. Saul of Tarsus cared nothing about putting individuals into prison and tearing up homes. If his religious zeal caused death and financial sufferings, so much the better for then the name of Christ would be exterminated all the faster.

As a sinner Saul of Tarsus had no equal but then the sinner became a saint for one day, on the road to Damascus, the eyes of this fallen man were enlightened and he was gloriously transformed. As a minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ, St. Paul had a work to do. He wanted to proclaim the gospel of redeeming grace but beyond that Paul wanted to make other see or understand that the gospel message was dynamic when it operated in the heart.

Once the gospel was hid in God. Now the Creator proves Himself to be the Sovereign Disposer of the destiny of man. Now God wants Jews and Gentiles to be saved. Now God wants even the principalities and power [or angels] in heavenly places to know by the Church His manifold wisdom. Over the centuries theologians have debated which angels God had decided to reveal His wisdom too, the Holy Angles confirmed in righteousness or the Fallen Angels confirmed in evil. The answer may be both but here is the greater truth: the angles are in the Church and to them, through the Church, God reveals His wisdom. What a wisdom it is that is so full of paradoxes. Consider that God in Christ produced spiritual life by means of physical death, and eternal glory by means of the shame of the Cross. God in Christ produced saving power by means of the weakness of His sufferings.

And there is more for Ephesians 3:11 declares that all of this is according to the eternal purpose. The Apostle Paul sees in the establishment of the Church nothing less than the fulfillment of God’s eternal purpose. The Church is not some sort of theological or practical parenthesis in the plan of God. The Church is the culmination of the plan of God revealing His manifold wisdom. And now, because of Christ, man has access with confidence to God the Father. Several questions arise? “Are you part of the Church?” “Do the angels care what you do?” “Have you heard the gospel of redeeming grace and having heard it do you see with understanding the purpose of creation which is to manifest the wisdom of God?” If the answer is, “No,” then call upon the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved. The creation of the world,        the creation of the angels, the creation of man, and the creation of the Church are many splendid things demonstrating the infinite diversity and sparkling beauty of God’s wisdom. Come to Christ. Amen.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Foundation for Faith

 

Chapter 7

 

The Christian’s Secret of a Victorious Life

 

1 John 5:4

~*~

“For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world:

and this is the victory that overcometh the world,

even our faith.”

 

 

            Within the heart of every concerned Christian is a longing to live a victorious life over abiding sin in the soul. Prior to salvation the effects of sin were not important except as they produced personal unhappiness. But the concept of offending God was not an issue. After salvation the soul becomes more sensitive to spiritual matters for the Holy Spirit begins the process of sanctification with the objective of conforming the heart of the believer into the image of Christ. The Christian begins to want to be different and desires to please the Lord. The victorious life is longed for. What is the victorious life?

            The victorious life a life that produces spiritual fruit, to use a biblical imagery. Jesus said, “Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples” (John 15:8). The defeated life produces no spiritual fruit.

            The victorious life is a life of power. Jesus promised His disciples, “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you, and ye shall be witnesses unto me” (Acts 1:8). The defeated life has no power to pray, no power to witness, no power to weep over sin or the salvation of other souls.

            The victorious life is a life that exerts a positive influence over others. Of the early Christians it was said they turned the world upside down (Acts 17:6). The early Church made an impact upon its culture because there was a commitment to the gospel of Jesus Christ. People looked at Christians and realized they were deal with a new dynamic force. It is a simple truth that what we do and where we go advertises what we are and affects others.

            The victorious life is a life that is no longer dominated by the flesh.

The word “flesh” is used in the Scriptures in a variety. Sometimes the word is used literally to mean the body. Sometimes the word is used metaphorically to refer to the dark deeds of the soul, which are manifested through the body or through the “flesh.” Galatians 5:19 explains. “Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” The victorious life is a life that is no longer dominated by these dark passions of the soul.

 

 

 

 

The victorious life is a life not molded by the world but by the principles of the Word of God. Writing to the Church of Rome the apostle Paul pleaded with the Christians to be different than those around them. “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” The thoughts of Christians are to be molded or shaped by God. This is not easy because of the effects of sin, the weakness of the flesh, and the appealing nature of temptation. There is a beautiful side to evil or Adam would never have eaten of the forbidden fruit, Abraham would never have listened to Sarah, and David would never have continued to gaze upon Bathsheba. The beautiful side of evil is disguised in an aura of sophistication, intimate knowledge and personal experience. In the midst of the pseudo glamour that covers the yawning mouth of hell the shocking words of the Bible comes to shatter the shallow laughter and the mindless chatter. “Ye adulterers and adulterousess, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.”  The Word of God recognizes a life and death struggle with eternal repercussions between the Christian and the non-Christian. In his recent State of the Union message President George Bush spoke of an Axis of Evil. Spiritually there is an Axis of Evil consisting of the world, the flesh, and the Devil. This unholy tri-unity has united to make war on the soul of every person born.

The Christian recognizes its enemy and wonders how to survive. It is not easy but John tells the saint the way of hope and salvation. “Whosoever is born of God,” he says, “overcometh the world; and this is the victory that over cometh the world, even our faith” (1 John 5:4).    Many who read the words of this text feel a flash of frustration. It sounds so simple and yet the experiences of life indicate there is nothing simple about a faith victory. There are countless souls who succumb to an area of weakness time after time. There are individuals who cannot love though they know they should. There are Christian men and women who struggle with impure thoughts and unbridled desires. Others are secretly covetous or willful, petty or mean spirited.

It is a living hell to want to be different but have no hope of being able to change based upon past efforts and lost struggles. Nevertheless, God has spoken and so Christians must listen to what He has to say. Then, in matchless grace God the Holy Spirit might come and give understanding and strength to apply what is learned.   Notice first there is in this verse a divine promise. “And this is the victory that over cometh the world, even our faith” God, who cannot lie, has said that any person who is truly born again will overcome the world. Therefore, Christian, take hope. Do not give up. Time will pass and you shall yet prevail. There will be the victory yet. God’s promises are not empty though at times they are difficult to claim.

            Observe second, from the text, there is a personal “whosoever”. “For whatsoever [or whosoever] is born of God overcometh the world.” You can put your own name in that verse if you please and say it out loud.

            Abel did. Abel put his name into the place of divine promise and overcame the world. We read that “By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh” (Heb. 11:4).

 

 

 

 

            Abel overcame the world, as did Enoch. In Genesis 5 the Bible tells us that Enoch walked with God. Enoch walked with God in a day and age when others did not for the earth was filled with sexual immorality and violence during his lifetime. The Lord honored the faith of Enoch and translated him so that he did not see death. Enoch overcame the world.

            The story of Enoch was told to others. One person who heard and believed was a man named Noah. God came to Noah and told him to prepare for a great judgment. Noah believed God. Moved by holy fear rooted in a righteousness faith Noah prepared an ark that would save his life and seven others (Heb. 11:7).

The Flood that began in November (Gen. 7:11) in the six hundredth year of Noah's life did not abate until judgment was complete. For forty days and forty nights the winds howled, the rain fell, and the waters of the deep churned. There was universal death by downing as souls were crushed, the earth was cleansed, and the principle was established that it is a terrible thing to fall into the hands of the living God (2 Pet. 3:3-7). Finally, the rain ended and the waters began to subside. After three hundred and seventy one days, Noah opened the door of the Ark and looked upon a new creation. He had overcome the world.Noah and his sons and their wives began to repopulate the earth. The centuries passed and many souls came into existence including a man named Abram who lived in Ur (modern Iraq). In matchless grace Abram heard the voice of God speak to him one day. When the conversation ended Abram had a new name and a new purpose in life. He would leave his family and friends and go to a new land. Initially, he did not know where he was going but he believed that God was there. And so Abraham sojourned until he reached the land of promise, a land flowing with milk and honey. There are many more stories recorded in Faith’s Hall of Fame in Hebrew’s 11. Each person is presented to encourage the Church to be among those who overcome the world or be listed in a Hall of Shame.

There is a third truth to be observed in 1 John 5:4 which is that faith is the means of victory. But what is faith? It is not easy to define.

 

·       Faith is the person stepping out into the unknown, obeying God's

      commands.

 

·       Faith is looking beyond the darkness of earth to the brightness of heaven.

 

·       Faith is the daring of the soul to go farther than it can see.

·       Faith is to believe what we do not see—the reward of faith is to see what

we believe.

 

Faith is the sum of all that a Christian believes to be true. Faith believes God. Faith is not believing what God can do. Faith believes what God will do because He has committed Himself to a specific course of action through His words. God has spoken.

In the area of salvation God has spoken. Here is a divine promise. “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:31). Another promise is given in John 1:12. As many as believe in Christ will be given power to become the sons of God.

In the area of sanctification God has spoken. “For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication” (1 Thess. 4:3).

In the area of the security of the believer God has spoken. Jesus said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Heb. 13:5). By faith the Christian can sing,

 

“But I know Whom I have believed in,

and am persuaded that He is able,

to keep that which I have committed

unto Him against that day.”

 

The apostle Paul understood the doctrine of divine faithfulness and wrote in Philippians 1:6 “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.”

 

            In the area of service God has spoken. The will of God is for Christians to “do all things without murmurings and disputings (Phil. 2:14). When Christians do not argue over who gets to do what in the service of the Savior it is pleasing to the Lord.

            The Lord honors those who love Him and have faith. Faith will accomplish great things.

First, faith will bring stability to life when unexpected pressures arrive. When adversity comes faith will cling to God. Several years ago (1989) I spoke to a man who was in a car wreck. He hurt his back and could no longer work. Despite the crisis of the moment the man testified that he had grown closer to God.

Second, faith will bring stability during times of personal slander. Professing Christians can be cruel to one another without apology. A well known quip says “The Christian army is the only army that shoots its wounded.” Sooner or later most Christians will know the scourge of a slanderous tongue. Hebrews 11:36 speaks of those who had to endure “trails of cruel mocking and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment.” If lies and falsehood were told about Christ, well, the disciple is not above the master.

The story is told of a British soldier who was caught one night creeping through the woods. He was taken before his commanding officer and charged with holding secret communications with the enemy. The soldier’s only defense and plea was that he had gone into the woods alone in order to pray.

“Have you been in the habit of spending hours in private prayer?”

the officer growled.

“Yes sir,”

replied the solider.

“Then down on your knees and pray now,”

roared the commander.

“You never need it as much as now.”

Expecting a court martial execution the soldier did go down on his knees and began to pour out his soul in prayer. There was a holy eloquence that came to his lips inspired by the power and presence of the Holy Spirit. When the young soldier finished the officer surprised him by saying,

“You are free to go. I believe your story. If you hadn’t drilled often, you could not do so well at review.”

 Christians who abide in prayer will know something about divine deliverance from those who speak against them. Isaiah 54:17 promises that “No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.”

      There is another great outworking of faith. Faith will stir the soul to seek wisdom. By faith wisdom is given in order to overcome the world. James 1:5-6 “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.” People of faith can have a quiet confidence as to what the will of the Lord is—but prayer must be made.

       When the Lord’s will is known it does not matter who is on the opposing side, the will of the Lord must be done. When Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego knew the will of the Lord concerning their diet in a heathen land they stood firm in the faith. Though they were thrown into a fiery furnace they were not alone. There was a fourth Man in the fire with them, even the Lord Jesus Christ.

 Faith is exciting. Faith is brave. Faith pleases God. Faith is sensitive to the plight of others.

 

“Others, Lord, yes others,

Let this my motto be;

Help me to live for others,

That I may live like Thee.”

 

When the Christian thinks of others faith moves to witness believing that God will give souls for the labor. The promise is given that all who labor shall reap if they faint not (Gal. 6:9).

Faith stirs the heart to believe the Word of God. The Bible says that “Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God” (Rom. 10:17). Anyone who wants to increase their faith must increase their exposure to the Word of God.

A poet and an artist were once examining a painting which represented the healing of the two blind men of Jericho. The artist asked, “What seems to you the most remarkable thing in the painting?” The poet replied, “Everything in the painting is excellently given—the form of Christ, the grouping of the individuals, the expressions in the faces of the leading characters.”

The artist seemed to find the most significant touch elsewhere. Pointing to the steps of a house in the corner of the picture, he asked,

“Do you see that discarded cane lying there?”

“Yes, but what does that signify?”

“On these steps the blind man sat with a cane in his hand; but when he heard Christ coming, so sure was he that Jesus could heal him, the blind man left his cane and ran to the Lord—as if he could already see.” That is true faith. It is characteristic of a Christian to have faith in God. It is a foundation for faith.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Foundation for Faith

 

Chapter 7

 

The Christian’s Secret of a Victorious Life

 

1 John 5:4

~*~

“For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world:

and this is the victory that overcometh the world,

even our faith.”

 

 

What is the Victorious Life?

·                            A life that produces spiritual fruit

·                            A life of power

·                            A life that exerts a positive influence over others

·                            A life that is not dominated by the flesh

·                            A life not molded by the world but by the principles of the Word of God