Christian Fundamentals
INTRODUCTION & SYNOPSIS
"Christian Fundamentals" is a collection of Bible studies written with a twofold purpose. First and foremost it is intended to assist you in development and strengthening the Spiritual Foundations by which to base and live out your Christian faith. Secondly, since the Bible teaches us that faith comes by hearing (or reading) God's Word, this collection of Bible studies is also intended to assist you in the study of His Word.
It begins by showing that the Bible is not only a unique and factual piece of literature but is in in fact the Word of Almightly God. After these facts are established, the remainder of "Christian Fundamentals" provides the Biblical basis for the elementary principles or foundations that are associated with faith in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Consequently, this collection of studies is partitioned into the following parts:
1. The Bible
2. Jesus Christ
3. The New Birth
4. Christian Life
5. The Church
6. The Last Days
Part I - THE BIBLE
Since our Christian faith comes from hearing God's Word and since all the teachings and studies in this compilation are based upon the Bible, it is imperative for us to understand and appreciate its authority. In other words, before we base our beliefs and faith upon the teachings contained within the Bible, it is of utmost importance for us to be sure that the Bible is truly the Word of God. To do this we will first examine the uniqueness of the Bible and then address its authenticity, review how it came into being and finally find that the true author of the Bible is God Almighty. After we have determined that the Bible is the Word of God, we will address the question, "Why should we read the Bible?"
To accomplish the above, Part I of "Christian Fundamentals"is organized into the following four studies:
The uniqueness of the Bible is revealed by noting that even though it was written by forty authors over an approximate 1530 year time span, it contains a single coherent theme that reveals God’s redemptive plan for man. It is further shown that the Bible has been read by more people, published in more languages and has more manuscript evidence that any other historical piece of literature.
Study 2 - The Bible's Authenticity
The authenticity of the Bible is demonstrated by examining its trustworthiness from three viewpoints: (1) historical - Biblical places, events and peoples are shown to be historical facts, (2) scientific - fundamental scientific principles are shown to bear witness to the Bible’s testimony that God created the universe, the earth and all of its inhabitants and (3) prophetic - examples of the Bible’s prophetic accuracy are presented.
Study 3 - The Bible ... The Word of God
The table of contents of the Bible is presented along with brief narratives on the historical development of both the New and Old Testaments. This study closes by examining representative books of each major section of the Bible to show that its true author is God Himself.
The Bible is shown to be truth, life and the way to salvation. In reading it, one is led to Jesus Christ, who is the Truth, the Life and our Savior. Thus, the reader is shown that there is a great eternal value in reading it.
Part II - JESUS CHRIST
In Part I of "Christian Fundamentals" we found that the Bible is the Word of God. We also found that by prayerfully and sincerely reading the Bible, God the Father leads us to His only begotten Son, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We also learned that when we place our faith and trust in Jesus Christ we are saved from the penalty of our sins and receive power to overcome them. Specifically, it is only by faith in Jesus Christ that our sins are forgiven and our eternal destiny is no longer the Lake of Fire but is now to be spent with Him in His Kingdom.
Since this is the case, it is imperative for us to know exactly who Jesus Christ is and what He did to save us from our sins. The reason this is so important is that we must be sure we are not deceived into believing and trusting a Jesus who is not the Jesus of the Bible. For if our faith is not in the Jesus of the Bible our sins will not be forgiven and we will not enter into the Kingdom of God.
To find out who Jesus Christ really is and what He did for us, Part II of "Christian Fundamentals"is organized into the following four studies.
Study 5 - Jesus Christ ... Our Lord, Our God
After examining why we. Need to be saved from our sins, selected Old Testament Messianic prophecies and New Testament Scriptures are utilized to reveal the divinity of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Study 6 – The Atonement - For Forgiveness of Sins
The Old Testament sacrificial system is reviewed and shown to be a foreshadowing to teach us that the death, by crucifixion, of our Lord Jesus Christ was in reality a sacrificial offering of His body and blood for the forgiveness of our sins.
Study 7 - Our Redemption - Freed From The Bondage of Satan And Sin
Israel's exodus from Egypt is used as an analogy to teach us that not only did Jesus Christ offer His body and blood as a sacrifice for the forgiveness of our sins, but they were also the purchase price to redeem us from the bondage of Satan and sin and return us to God the Father.
By utilizing Webster's definition of a friend and the Bible, it is shown that in addition to being the Majestic Lord of all, the King of kings, Jesus Christ is also our friend.
Part III - THE NEW BIRTH
In Part I we found that the Bible is the Word of God and by reading it we are brought to Jesus Christ. In Part II we learned that Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, took on human flesh and came to earth to save us from our sins. As we studied the various doctrines contained in Part II, we discovered that unless a person is born again, they can not see or enter into the Kingdom of God.
Since the new birth is vitally important to our eternal destiny, this portion of “Christian Fundamentals” is devoted to the study of its occurrence and its effect. To accomplish this, Part III is organized into the following six studies:
Study 9 - Born Again … Indwelt By The Holy Spirit
Excerpts from Israel’s exodus are used to illustrate the necessity for the new birth. The benefits and critical elements necessary for a person’s “new birth” are identified and explained.
Study 10 - Water Baptism … Raised To New Life
Various water baptisms of the New Testament are identified and discussed. Using the passage of Noah through the catastrophic flood and Israel's passing through the Red Sea, the purpose and benefit of the new believer's baptism is explained.
Study 11 - Baptism of The Holy Spirit - Power To Serve
Jesus’ promise of the Holy Spirit baptism along with various New Testament examples of its fulfillment are identified and discussed. This foundation is used to highlight some of the functions of the Holy Spirit and the various ways His, the Holy Spirit’s, baptism occurs.
Study 12 – Position Of The Believer - A Citizen of Heaven
Various Scriptures of the New Testament are used to highlight the fact that as a result of the new birth God has changed the position of the Christian from being spiritually dead, without hope and doomed to the lake of fire to being spiritually alive, filled with the Holy Spirit and having citizenship in the Kingdom of God.
Study 13 - Peace With and From God
The Old Testament peace or fellowship offering, pertinent Messianic prophecies and selected New Testament Scriptures are used to explain that in Jesus Christ, the Christian has peace. This peace is not from the world but is the peace that is with God and from God.
Study 14 - How Do I Know I Am A Born Again Christian?
The New Testament is explored to illustrate that the Holy Spirit bears witness to our spirit that we are children of God when: (1) we believe that Jesus Christ is Lord, (2) we believe that Jesus Christ and only Jesus Christ is our Savior and (3) we allow the Holy Spirit to produce His fruits in our life.
Part IV - THE CHRISTIAN LIFE
Once we are born again, our Lord Jesus Christ calls us to walk in a manner worthy of that call. To see this, let us read an excerpt from Paul’s letter to the church in Ephesus,
Ephesians 4:1
"[1] As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received."
Thus, this portion of, “Christian Fundamentals” has been written to provide the born again believer some insights into the type of life our Lord Jesus Christ has called us to live. To accomplish this, Part IV of this collection is partitioned into the following four studies:
Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians, recorded in Ephesians 1:15-23, is used to identify the tremendous spiritual power God has made available to the Christian. Examples are given to show how by faith in God and His Word, this power is to be used by the born again believer to live a life pleasing to God.
To help the Christian better understand prayer, the Lord’s Prayer is explored and each key element is examined.
Study 17 - Mercy Not Sacrifice
After establishing the fact that one of the key characteristics of the born again Christian is to be their love for God and for others, cautionary examples are reviewed to show how the Christian’s attitude in helping others may in reality be acts of obligation and sacrifice rather than works of love and mercy.
Study 18 - Praise and Thanksgiving
Beginning with the Old Testament and throughout the New Testament we find that the child of God is to praise Him in all circumstances. To help those who are going through difficult times, some universal reasons for praising God are identified.
Part V - THE CHURCH
In the previous portion of this collection, that is Part IV, we examined and explored several facets of the Christian life. Specifically, we reviewed the subjects of: (1) the walk of faith, (2) prayer, (3) the attitude of mercy versus sacrifice and (4) the Christian's devotion to God through praise and thanksgiving.
In addition to the above aspects of the Christian life, there yet remains to be addressed the subject of the church. Because of its importance, Part V of "Christian Fundamentals" is devoted to providing some insights and observations about the church that our Lord Jesus Christ came to establish and nourish.
To accomplish this, Part V - The Church is partitioned into the following studies:
The Scriptures are examined to reveal that the church, composed of the born again believers, is the fulfillment of the Old Testament foreshadowing of the Temple and the roles of those who ministered in it.
Study 20 - Purpose And Operation Of The Church
The Old Testament account of Job is examined to show that the purpose of the church, that is the body of Christ, is to bear witness of God's Wisdom and Glory. New Testament Scriptures are used to show that each and every born again believer is an important member of the body of Christ and are to participate in its operation.
The New Testament is explored to show that Jesus Christ is the Head of the church. Scriptures are examined to show that it is the Lord Jesus Christ who appoints leaders within His church. These leaders are to care and feed, that is shepherd, the body of Christ.
Study 22 - Tithing and Christian Giving
The origin and purpose of the tithe, offering and temple tax is provided via the Old Testament Scriptures. With this background, the New Testament is examined to show that these Mosaic laws were shadows of what was to come. Specifically, the children of God are guided by the Holy Spirit and no longer under the Mosaic law. In other words their charitable deeds are to be performed cheerfully and motivated by the love of God and the Holy Spirit Who is living within them; not by trying to comply with laws or traditions.
The Passover meal prior to Israel's exodus from Egypt and the manna, that is the bread that God miraculously fed the people during their escape through the desert, are used as examples to show that Jesus Christ is the true Passover Lamb and Heavenly Bread. The New Testament is also examined to show that for the members of the body of Christ, the Lord's supper is a spiritually significant time and must be entered into in a worthy manner.
Part VI - THE LAST DAYS
In the first study we found that the Bible is written about a single unfolding account of God's redemption of man. the Bible begins with the book of Genesis where it explains to us that man, because of his sin, lost paradise. The Bible ends with the book of Revelation. It is here that we see and read the ultimate purpose of Christ's redeeming sacrifice on the cross, that is to purchase and give eternal life (the paradise that man lost in Genesis) to all those who belong to Him. The time when Jesus comes to bring those who are His to the paradise and execute judgment upon those who have rejected Him is called, "The Last Days."
To explore in a bit more depth on what is going to happen during these last days, this last part is partitioned as follows:
Study 24 - Sign of the Times - Part I - The Arrival of Jesus
To set the foundation for part II, Study 25, the reason for the failure of the Pharisees and Sadducees to recognize their visitation by Jesus Christ is explored.
Study 25 - Signs of the Times - Part II - Jesus' Second Coming
The first portion of this study briefly reviews some of the many prophecies that foretell of mJesus' return to earth. To help us be prepared and ready for Jesus' second coming some of the several prophecies or signs that will characterize the last days that will precede this momentous event are examined.
Study 26 - Resurrection to Eternal Life
The New Testament is explored to show the outcome of the born again believer's faith is eternal life with our Lord Jesus Christ. The resurrection of the born again believers for eternal life is explored to see what it will be like and where they will spend eternity.