BASIC BIBLE BELIEFS! God - Amazon AWS

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BASIC BIBLE BELIEFS! Taught at New Life in Christ Church: Reverend Dr. Stephen S. Lomax There are many great teachings in the Bible, but here are 10 of the most important, or fundamental beliefs of the Christian faith. Within each of these broad categories there are many other doctrines that could fill whole books and bookshelves. This is just a quick overview of what Christians believe. God Theology is the study of God. Greek word, Theos, meaning God and ology (the study of.) This includes who God is, in person and personality. This is an absolutely fundamental belief of Christianity. In monotheistic thought, God is conceived of as the supreme being, Creator, Deity, and principal object of faith. God is conceived as being omniscient (all-knowing), omnipotent (all-powerful), omnipresent (all-present) and as having an eternal and necessary existence. These attributes are used either in way of analogy or taken literally. God is most often held to be incorporeal (immaterial). In-corporeality and corporeality of God are related to conceptions of transcendence (being outside nature) and immanence (being in nature) of God, with positions of synthesis such as the "immanent transcendence". Some religions describe God without reference to gender, while others or their translations use sex-specific terminology. Judaism, for example, attributes only a grammatical gender to God, using terms such as "Him" or "Father" for convenience.[4] God has been conceived as either personal or impersonal. In theism, God is the creator and sustainer of the universe, while in deism, God is the creator, but not the sustainer, of the universe. In pantheism, God is the universe itself. In atheism, there is an absence of belief in God. In agnosticism, the existence of God is deemed unknown or unknowable. Agnostics deny Jesus because they believe God would not enter an unholy world. Also, God has been conceived as the source of all moral obligation, and the "greatest conceivable existent." In the pages of the Bible, it is clearly understood by all the writers that God exist. The Bible opens with the words, “God created the Heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1). Thus again, God is the Creator, Source and Origin; of all life (John 5:26, says, “6 For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have

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life in himself;). Nature personally testifies that there is a Creator; and all of us have within us a basic understanding of a higher power (Romans 1:18-21, says, 18 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19 since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.”

Romans 1: 28, 32, “28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; 29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: 32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.”

Another key fact about God; He is a Spirit. John 4:21-24, ““Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. 22 You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”). As spirit, God is invisible to our natural human eyes (Colossians 1:15; “The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in Him all things were created, things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities. All things were created through Him and for Him.” & 1 Timothy 1:17). He is nevertheless a living being, active in our lives and on the earth (Joshua 3:10; “And Joshua said, “By this you shall know that the living God is among you, and that He will without fail drive out from before you the Canaanites and the Hittites and the Hivites and the Perizzites and the Girgashites and the Amorites and the Jebusites: & Psalm 84:2). As spirit, God is infinite, unlimited by any dimensions of time or space. He Himself was not created, but He is the self-existent one and the power that created all other beings and the entire universe. He described Himself to Moses in this way: "God said to Moses, 'I AM WHO I AM.' And he said, 'Say this to the people of Israel: "I AM has sent me to you"'" (Exodus 3:14).

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God does not want to be worshiped through graven images or idols because He does not have a form as we know it (Exodus 20:4, 5). Though a spirit, He has personality as denoted by the names He has been given and the claims of Himself (Genesis 22:13, 14; Exodus 3:14; 15:26; 17:8-15; Judges 6:24; Psalm 23:1). Though existing in three persons (the Father, Son and Holy Spirit) He is one God (Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 44:6-8; 45:5; 1 Corinthians 8:4). God knows all (Job 11:7, 8; Psalm 139; 1 John 3:20). He is all powerful (Genesis 18:4; Job 42:2). He is present everywhere at the same time (Psalm 139; Jeremiah 23:23, 24). God is eternal and unchangeable (Psalm 102:24-27; Habakkuk 1:12; Revelation 1:18). He is holy (Isaiah 57:15; 1 Peter 1:15, 16). He is righteous and just, yet merciful and gracious (Psalm 103:8; 116:5; 147:17; Romans 5:8; Ephesians 2:4, 8; 1 John 1:9). And God is love (John 3:16; 1 John 3:16; 4:8-16).

It is wonderful to know that God communicates to us through His Word so that we

can know Him and His plan. Christ; Christology is the study of Christ. No Christ: No Christianity! No Christianity; No Christians. Christianity would not be what it is if there was no Christ, Messiah or God’s Son being born into human form. If God’s Son had not come, lived, died, and risen, he would not be our Savior and we would not be Christians. Christ: anointed, the Greek translation of the Hebrew word rendered "Messiah" (q.v.), the official title of our Lord, occurring five hundred and fourteen times in the New Testament. The word denotes that Jesus Christ was anointed or consecrated to his great redemptive work as Prophet, Priest, and King of his people. “He is Jesus the Christ” ( Acts 17:3 ; 18:5 ; Matthew 22:42, “2 Saying, What think ye of Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, The son of David. 43 He saith unto them, How then doth David in spirit call him Lord;) He is also the Anointed One. He is thus spoken of by ( Isaiah 61:1, “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; ), and by ( Daniel 9:24-26 ), who styles him "Messiah, the Prince."

The Messiah is the same person as "the seed of the woman" ( Genesis 3:15 ), "the seed of Abraham" ( Genesis 22:18 ), the "Prophet like unto Moses" ( Deuteronomy 18:15 ), "the priest after the order of Melchizedek" ( Psalms 110:4 ), "the rod out of the stem of Jesse" ( Isaiah 11:1 Isaiah 11:10 ), the "Immanuel," the virgin's son

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( Isaiah 7:14 ), "the branch of Jehovah" ( Isaiah 4:2 ), and "the messenger of the covenant" ( Malachi 3:1 ). This is he "of whom Moses in the law and the prophets did write." The Old Testament Scripture is full of prophetic declarations regarding the Great Deliverer and the work he was to accomplish. Jesus the Christ is Jesus the Great Deliverer, the Anointed One, the Saviour of men. This name denotes that Jesus was divinely appointed, commissioned, and accredited as the Saviour of men ( Hebrews 5:4 ; Isaiah 11:2-4 ; 49:6 ; John 5:37 ; Acts 2:22 ).

To believe that "Jesus is the Christ" is to believe that he is the Anointed, the Messiah of the prophets and the Savior sent of God. He was, in all words, what he claimed to be. This is to believe the gospel, by the faith of which alone men can be brought unto God. That Jesus is the Christ is the testimony of God, and the faith of this constitutes a Christian ( 1 Corinthians 12:3 ; 1 John 5:1 ).

He was the promised redeemer (Genesis 3:15). Though Jesus was the Son of God (Matthew 8:29; John 1:18; 3:16; Romans 9:5; Hebrews 1:8), He was also born to human parents (Matthew 1:18; John 1:14; Romans 1:3; Galatians 4:4). Jesus had a physical body that grew and had normal physical needs (Matthew 4:2; Luke 2:40-50; 24:39; John 4:6; Hebrews 2:14). Jesus died on a cross as the substitute for the sins of mankind (1 Corinthians 15:1-3; Revelation 5:8-12). He rose bodily the third day after His death (Matthew 17:23; 28:5, 6; John 2:20-22). He ascended to Heaven to God (Acts 1:3-11; Ephesians 1:20, 21; Hebrews 1:3). Holy Spirit Pneumatology is the study, or doctrine, of the Holy Spirit. The Bible teaches that the Holy Spirit has all the attributes of personality and is not merely an impersonal force. In John chapters 14, 15, and 16, for example, Jesus spoke of the Holy Spirit as “He”. Jesus also referred to the Holy Spirit as the Comforter and Counselor (John 14:16 and 15:26). This title conveys the idea of advising, exhorting, comforting, strengthening, interceding, and encouraging.

In order to have relationship with the Holy Spirit we must understand the following three truths:

(1)The Holy Spirit is God. He is called God (Exodus 17:7; Psalm 95:7 comp. Hebrews 3:7,11). Jesus referred to the Holy Spirit as God (Matthew 12:28; But if I

cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto

you. Luke 11:20). Apostle Peter called the Holy Spirit God (Acts 5:3-4, “3 But Peter

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said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? 4 Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God).

Divine attributes are ascribed to Him: He is present everywhere – Omnipresent (Psalm 139:7-12) He knows everything – Omniscience (Psalm 139: 1-4, &1 Corinthians 2:9-10) He is all powerful – Omnipotent (Psalm 104:30) He is eternal (Hebrews 9:14, “How much more shall the blood of Christ, who

through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your

conscience from dead works to serve the living God?)

Creation is ascribed to Him (Genesis 1:2; Job 26:13; Psalm 104:30) He is worker of miracles (Matthew 12:28; 1 Corinthians 12:9, 11) Worship is required and ascribed to Him (Isaiah 6:3; Acts 28:25; Romans 9:1; Revelation 1:4; Matthew 28:19)

What does all of that mean? Many Christians treat Him as third in rank of importance, but every person of the Trinity is equally important. The Holy Spirit was here in the beginning (Genesis 1:2, “ And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the

face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.). When the human race continued in evil ways, the Lord cut man’s years because “His Spirit shall not strive with man forever” (Genesis 6:3). Meaning, God will not always wrestle with the question of looking out for man. The Lord turned against Israel because they grieved His Spirit (Israel 63:10). Jesus relied on the Holy Spirit in His life on earth from birth to resurrection. When Pharisees credited Jesus’ miracles to the devil, He revealed something shocking, that blaspheme against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, yet blaspheme against Him or the Father will be (Mark 3:28-30). That’s the value of the Holy Spirit. He is God. God is worthy to be worshipped, adored and exalted.

Read: steps to Know the Holy Spirit More

2. The Holy Spirit is a Person. What makes someone a person? Is it life? Trees have life but they are not people. Person is a being with personality. A person is a being with a soul. The soul is the mind, emotions and the will. We know God¬†has a soul. In whom My soul is well pleased. Matthew 12:18, God the Father was speaking about the Son during the baptism. Jesus has a soul. “My

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soul is distressed.‚ Matthew 26:38, Jesus spoke before His crucifixion. The Holy Spirit has a soul. We know He has a mind (Romans 8:27), a will (Acts 16:6) and emotions (Galatians 5:23; Ephesians 4:20).¬† What we should not refer to Him as: He is not a force, or a feeling, He is a real person. We can have a relationship with Him as with any other person.

3. The Holy Spirit is Here. John Bevere mentioned in one of his books that, “If Jesus could physically minister 14 hours a day, He would see 840 people for 60 seconds. It will take 1,190 days (3.26 years) to see 1 million people and 2,147,239 years to see 7 billion people.”

“Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. John 16:7

(Read that again), it is to YOUR ADVANTAGE that I go away. The reason; we will not have the access to the Holy Spirit, if Jesus does not depart. This is powerful! I believed in God who lives in heaven, but also I believe in God who lives in me.

What were you taught on the Holy Spirit growing up? Briefly recap! Though a Spirit, the Holy Spirit has personality like God the Father and the Son (John 14:16; 16:7, 8, 13-15). In many of the same passages, He is referred to as the Father and the Son (Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14). The Holy Spirit indwells believers (1 Corinthians 6:9) and convicts them of sin (John 16:8-11). By the Spirit we are born again (John 3:3-5), renewed (Titus 3:5) and sealed unto the day of redemption (Ephesians 1:13, 14; 4:30).

Bible: Bible, the English form of the Greek name Biblia, meaning "books." In the fifth century, the name was given to the entire collection of sacred books, even called, the "Library of Divine Revelation." The name Bible was adopted by John Wickliffe, and gradually came into use in our English language. Bible, the book where God’s thoughts are written down. If you want to know what God is thinking, read the Bible.

The Bible consists of sixty-six different books, composed by many different writers, under many different circumstances and in three different languages

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(Hebrew, Greek and Latin). Writers of almost every social rank (statesmen and peasants, kings, herdsmen, fishermen, priests, tax-gatherers, tentmakers; educated and uneducated, Jews and Gentiles). Most of them unknown to each other. They wrote at various periods during the space of about 1600 years. After all of that and yet, it is only one book dealing with only one subject in numberless aspects and relations; the subject of man's redemption.

It is divided into the Old Testament, containing thirty-nine books, and the New Testament, containing twenty-seven books. The names given to the Old in the writings of the New are "the scriptures" ( Matthew 21:42 ), "scripture" ( 2 Peter 1:20 ), "the holy scriptures" ( Romans 1:2 ), "the law" ( John 12:34 ), "the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms" ( Luke 24:44 ), "the law and the prophets" ( Matthew 5:17 ), "the old covenant" ( 2 Corinthians 3:14, But their minds were

blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the

reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ.” There is a break of 400 years between the Old Testament and the New called the Inter-biblical period. . (See APOCRYPHA .)

The Old Testament is divided into three parts:, 1. The Law (Torah), consisting of the Pentateuch, or five books of Moses. 2. The Prophets, consisting of (1) the former, namely, Joshua, Judges, the Books of Samuel, and the Books of Kings; (2) the latter, namely, the major prophets, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel, and the twelve minor prophets. 3. The Hagiographa, or holy writings, including the rest of the books. These were ranked in three divisions:, (1) The Psalms, Proverbs, and Job, distinguished by the Hebrew name, a word formed of the initial letters of these books, Emeth , meaning truth. (2) Canticles (Hymn or chants), Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, and Esther, called the five rolls, as being written for the synagogue use on five separate rolls. (3) Daniel, Ezra, Nehemiah, and 1 and 2Chronicles. Between the Old and the New Testament no addition was made to the revelation God had already given. The period of New Testament revelation, extending over a century, began with the appearance of John the Baptist.

The New Testament consists of (1) the historical books, viz., the Gospels, and the Acts of the Apostles; (2) the Epistles; and (3) the book of prophecy, the Revelation.

The division of the Bible into chapters and verses is of human invention and designed to facilitate a way to reference it. The ancient Jews divided the Old Testament into certain sections for use in the synagogue service. Then at a later period (in the ninth century A.D.), into verses.

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Our modern system of chapters for all the books of the Bible was introduced by Cardinal Hugo about the middle of the thirteenth century (he died 1263). The system of verses for the New Testament was introduced by Stephens in 1551 and generally adopted (although neither Tyndale's nor Coverdale's English translation of the Bible has verses).

When studying the Bible (bibliopoly), Christians believe it to be inspired by God. This means, the Bible is breathed out from Him (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: 17 That the man of God may be

perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

2 Peter 1:21, says, “1 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man:

but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. We learn about God and understand HIM through the Scriptures (Matthew 16:17, “17 And

Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for

flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in

heaven.; 1 Corinthians 2: 14, “But the natural man receiveth not the things of

the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know

them, because they are spiritually discerned.). Man! Anthropology (the study of man) in a Christian perspective deals with the nature and origin of man; where man came from and why. Psalm 8: says, 4” What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? 5 For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour. 6 Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet: 7 All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field; 8 The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.”

First, all Christians believe that man was made by God in the God’s image and likeness (Genesis 1:26; 9:6; 1 Corinthians 11:7; Colossians 3:10; James 3:9, “Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men,

which are made after the similitude of God.). THE ORIGIN OF MAN!

A. Definition of Anthropology! 1. The word “anthropology” comes from two Greek

words, ánthrōpos, which has the general meaning for man or human being, and lógia, which infers study or science.

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2. In its most basic meaning, anthropology means the branch of science, which studies humankind.

B. Approaches to Anthropology!

1. Anthropology can be broken up into two approaches: the first being a secular approach, which observes man’s demographic origin, natural history, and social development.

2. The second approach is a theological approach, which uses the Bible as its textbook and deduces man’s origin, nature, and moral condition. It is this second approach that is pursued in this class.

C. Views Concerning Man’s Origin!

1. There are three major views about man’s origins. Each view is based on an interpretation (or theory) since NO human being was present at the time of creation. Roger Patterson states, Just as evolutionists weren’t there to see evolution happen over several billion years, neither were creationists there to see the events of the six days of creation. The difference is; the creationists have the Creator’s eyewitness account of the events of creation; while evolutionists created a story to explain origins without the supernatural.\

2. THERE ARE THREE MAJOR VIEWS concerning man’s origin;

Evolution, Theistic Evolution, and Creationism. a) Evolution

(1) Evolution is a theory based on naturalism and precludes any supernatural intervention by God.

(2) It is the major modern scientific theory that depends on time and chance. It is based on mutations and the “survival of the fittest.”

b) Theistic Evolution (1) Theistic Evolution is a theory based on naturalism

and limited (A SMALL INVOLVED) supernatural intervention by God.

(2) It attempts to bridge the gulf between Evolution and Creationism by means of divine sparks of life and divine jumps across species.

c) Creationism

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(1) Creationism is a theory based on biblical revelation and the sole supernatural creation of God.

(2) The Bible clearly states that God created man in His image from the dust of the ground (Gen 1:27; 2:7).

(3) Creation scientists recognize and accepts science as it supports biblical revelation.

3. BIBLICAL CONCLUSIONS ABOUT EVOLUTION:

a). Evolution is foolish: Psalm 14: 1 says, “The fool hath

said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt,

they have done abominable works, there is none that

doeth good. “(Ps 14:1, cp. Ro 3:10-12). b). Evolution is false: The Scriptures teach that God is the sole Creator (Ecc 12:1; Is 40:28-31 says, 28 Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. 29 He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. 30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: 31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” & 1Pe 4:19).

c). Evolution leads to false worship: When man denies the Creator, he turns to false worship (Ro 1:25-27, says, “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. 24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: 25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

d). Evolution is ignorant of true science: Creation should bring scientists to the understanding of the intelligent design of a Creator (Ro 1:20-21, says, “0 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:

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were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart

was darkened.”

e) Evolution is ignorant of man’s lofty origin: When man denies the Creator, he denies that he was created in the image of God (Ge 1:26-27).

f) Evolution is ignorant of truth: Those who know the Scriptures have more insight than their teachers (Ps 119:99).

g) Evolution is deceptively persuasive: The believer is not to wander from the truth of the Scriptures especially by pseudo science (1Ti 6:20, says, “ O Timothy, keep that

which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and

vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so

called.”

A. BIBLICAL CONCLUSIONS ABOUT CREATIONISM: 1. Creationism is based alone on the biblical record of God as sole

Creator. It is based on the literal interpretation of the Bible and not an allegorical interpretation. At least 17 times in Genesis, God is said to be the Creator as well as numerous times throughout the Bible (Ex 20:9-11; Ps 8; 104; Mt 19:4-6; Heb. 11:3).

2. God created everything that came into existence and He created it out of nothing (creatio ex nihilo - Lat. creation out of nothing, Ge 1:1says,”In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. 2 And the

earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the

deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. 3 And God

said, Let there be light: and there was light.” Heb 11:3; Jn 1:3; Col 1:16)

3. Faith in the word of God is required since God was the only witness. However, even those who embrace Evolution must supply faith (it can be debated that it takes more faith to believe in Evolution) since no one but God was there in the beginning.

4. Creationism is supported by true science and not every secular scientist supports Evolution, some support Intelligent Design.

5. The variety of views within the proponents of Creationism. They are:

a) The Literal 24-Hour Day Theory b) The Gap Theory c) The Day Age Theory

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6. The Literal 24 Hour Day Creation Theory! a) The word “day” in Genesis 1 and 2 usually refers to a

literal 24-hour day.

(1) The Hebrew word for “day” is yom and while it can refer to long periods of time (Ge 2:4; Job 20:28; Ps 20:1), the context of Genesis suggests that it is a literal 24 hour day.

(2) When yom is used with numerals, it always refers to a literal 24 hour day (Ge 1:5, says, “5 And God

called the light Day, and the darkness he called

Night. And the evening and the morning were the

first day.) 8, 13, 19, 23, 31). (3) In this context, the phrase, “…there was evening

and there was morning,” refers to a literal 24 hour time period as it usually does in the Pentateuch (cp. Ex 18:13; 27:21; Nu 9:21; De 16:4).

(4) The seven-day pattern for man given by God is taken from God’s seven-day creation week (Ex 20:9, “ Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy

work:11; 31:15-17). (5) When God calls the light “day” and the darkness

“night” in Ge 1:5, it is consistent with the literal 24-hour day. Not only does God accomplish this on the first day, but it agrees with the usage of day found in Ge 1:18 in speaking of the greater and lesser lights (sun and moon).

b) The creation chronology makes sense with a literal

24-hour view. (1) In Ge 1:11-13, God created the vegetation and the

plants on the third day but the sun was not created until the fourth day. If the days were geological ages, no plant life would have survived without the sun. For that matter, nothing on earth would have survived during those geological ages without the sun. (Some bugs chew up our lawns and plants, others are gross-looking enough to give a fella the willies, and still more have an ingenious ability to get into places 

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where we don't want them, such as bathrooms, bedrooms and kitchens. But humans need insects in order to live, and so do plants and animals.) 

(2) Also in Ge 1:11-13, God created the fruit trees on day three before creating marine life on day five. This is in direct opposition to Evolution’s timetable, which has marine life before the fruit trees.

(3) God created insects (“creeping things”) on the sixth day after the plants (Ge 1:24). According to Evolution, plants would not have survived without insects.

(4) Finally, God created the birds on the same day as fish (fifth day - Ge 1:20), but according to Evolution, birds followed reptiles.

II. THE NATURE OF MAN!

A. The Image of God! 1. At Creation (Ge 1:26-27, says, “ 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. 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them).

a) In Ge 1:26, it is apparent that man’s creation was accomplished by a divine Creator. In fact, we see evidence that the entire Trinity was involved with man’s creation. Note the use of the first person plural in the expressions, “Let Us,” “Our image,” and “Our likeness.” The evolution of man is refuted by the fact that man alone was created in the image of God, being the pinnacle of God’s creation. b) The passage states that man was made in God’s “image.” The Hebrew word for image is tselem and means a representation or likeness sometimes in a concrete sense. (1) Adam’s offspring was in his own image (Ge 5:3, says” This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him; 2 Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created. 3 And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, and after his image; and called his name Seth.”

(2) Man was not to commit murder because man was created in God’s image (Ge 9:6).

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(3) Deified idols were also called “images” (Nu 33:52; 2Ch 23:17) and their worship was prohibited (De 4:15-19). (4) Likeness (demuth), is a synonym of “image” (tselem) and means resemblance or similitude (Ge 1:26 cp. 27 cp Ge 5:1) and sometimes in an abstract sense. c) Together, these words were the author’s description of the complex idea of man created in the image of God. In order to understand the phrase “image of God” certain deductions can be made from the Scriptures that fit within the range of these words. (1) “The “image of God” does not mean that man was created to look like God because God is a spirit (Jn 4:24). However, man is in the image of God in the sense that he was created as God’s representative to rule and exercise dominion over all the earth and its creatures (Ge 1:26; Ps 8:4-8). (2) The image of God included intellect and rational ability such as to exercise dominion and carry out responsibilities (Ge 2:15, 19-20). This is evident with respect to man’s ability to understand and interpret God’s revelation from His Word (2Ti 2:15; 2Ti 3:16-17). (3) It included a spiritual dimension in which man could worship and have fellowship with the Creator (Ge 2:7; 3:8-9; Ps 95:6; Ecc 12:1; Ro 1:25). This is especially true when man becomes spiritually alive in Christ through the Holy Spirit (1Co 2:9-16; Ep 2:5). (4) It included God’s communicable attributes and a moral conscience to distinguish and choose between good and evil (Ge 2:16-17; Ge 3:1, 6, 10). (5) In summary, God created man in His own image to be a spiritual, moral, intellectual, volitional, and emotional representative of Himself.

2. A New Creation! a) The question can be asked, “When man sinned, did he destroy the image of God?” The answer is that man did not destroy the image of God when he sinned but he marred it. b) Sin has affected every part of man as a spiritual, moral, intellectual, volitional, and emotional being, and thus explains the term, “total depravity.” c) However, when a person becomes a believer he is a new creature in Christ and God begins to renew in him the “image of God” (Col 3:10). d) In fact, God’s goal of sanctification in the life of every believer is to conform him to the image of Christ (Ro 8:28-29). (1) God uses all things and every situation to accomplish this. (2) God has predestined all things to accomplish this.

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(3) God’s ultimate goal is for every believer to be in the likeness of Christ, who Himself is not only God, but the perfect “image of the invisible God” (Col 1:15; Ep 4:24).

B. LOOK AT THE Immaterial Aspect of Man! 1. The discussion between Dichotomy (“cut in two parts”, i.e. body and soul) and Trichotomy (“cut in three parts”, i.e. body, soul, and spirit) becomes an interesting study filled with arguments and Scriptures on both sides. I Thess. 5: 23, says, “And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Yet, Plato’s teaching differentiated between the material and immaterial parts of man and differed from Biblical Dichotomy. Plato said, the body is the prison of the soul, which was an uncreated and immortal form in heaven. 3. Aristotle developed Plato’s twofold division into a threefold division consisting of body, soul (animal soul or breathing aspect), and rational soul (intellectual aspect), differing from Biblical Trichotomy.

4. Biblical Dichotomy! a) Definition: Man is made up essentially of two elements, which are the body and soul (synonymous with the spirit).

b) Arguments: (1) The terms “soul” and “spirit” are interchangeable in the Scriptures (Jn 12:27 cp. Jn 13:21; Mt 11:29 cp. 2Co 2:13). (2) The body and the soul/spirit make up the unity of the “living soul” (nephesh - life or soul) in life and in death (Ge 2:7; Mt 10:28).

c) Problems: (1) There are passages which separate the soul and spirit (He 4:12). (2) Death is defined by a separation of man’s body from his spirit (Ja 2:26). 6. Explanation of Soul and Spirit! a) At times, soul is interchangeable with spirit, but quite often it is used in reference to man’s whole person. In other words, when speaking of the fact that man is material and immaterial, the term soul is used. b) When man’s immaterial aspect is in view, the term spirit is often used. Since Paul deals primarily with the “inner man,” the term spirit is used predominantly in Paul’s writings. However, ultimately man is not described as a spirit (immaterial aspect), but as a living soul (whole person).

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c) Furthermore, man is multi-faceted and is described with other aspects such as, heart, conscience, mind, and will.

III. THE FALL OF MAN! A. The Views on the Fall of Man! 1. Not everyone holds to the view that Adam was a historical figure who sinned and plunged the entire human race into sin and judgment. 2. The Liberal View believes that the fall was a legend and there was no truth or factual basis for the account of Gen 3. 3. The Neo-Orthodox View believes that the fall was an allegory, not factual, but a lesson on sin from Gen 3. 4. The Orthodox View has always held to a literal and historical account of Gen 3. a) Jesus held to the literal and historical account of Genesis (Mt 19:4-5). b) The Scriptures affirm the account of the fall of man as a fact (1Co 15:21-22). c) If Adam’s fall was a myth then Christ’s death could also be a myth (Ro 5:12-21).

B. The Test of the Fall of Man! 1. Why was there a need for a test for Adam and Eve? The reason God gave Adam a moral test was that obedience could only be true obedience with the possibility of disobedience. 2. Though Adam and Eve were given several responsibilities (exercise dominion - Ge 1:26; be fruitful and multiply - Ge 1:28; cultivate the ground - Ge 2:5, 15), they failed by disobeying God’s one prohibition, which was not to eat from the “tree of knowledge of good and evil” (Ge 2:9, 16-17). 3. The nature of sin was revealed because Adam and Eve ate from the one prohibited tree in the midst of a paradise permissible trees. 4. Adam and Eve were created innocent an upright in a perfect environment. Therefore, their sin stemmed from a simple choice to disobey (Ecc 7:29).

C. The Tempter of the Fall of Man! 1. The originator of sin was Satan, who rebelled against God and was cast out of heaven (Is 14:12-14; Eze 28:16-19). 2. Satan took upon himself the disguise of a serpent because a serpent would have been familiar to Eve and would not have caused suspicion (Ge 3:1). Eve was not surprised that the serpent spoke to her. 3. It was a real serpent because both Satan and the serpent were cursed (Ge 3:14; Ge 3:15).

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D. The Temptation of the Fall of Man! 1. Satan begins his deceptive plan to cause man to sin by addressing Eve. Perhaps he went to Eve first since the commandment was not given to her specifically. On the other hand, perhaps she was more susceptible to deception than Adam was (1Ti 2:14). Or, it is quite possible that Eve was the best avenue in order to bring about Adam’s fall (Ge 3:6). 2. Satan’s first approach to deceive Eve was to question God’s Word, “has God said” (Ge 3:1). This remains Satan’s proven method even to this day. 3. Satan’s second approach to deceive Eve was to question God’s character. Satan implied that God was not truthful (“You surely will not die!”, Ge 3:4) and that He was withholding good (“For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil”, Ge 3:5). 4. Satan tempted Eve from three aspects (Cp. 1Jn 2:16): a) Lust of the Flesh (“good for food” - Gen 3:6a) b) Lust of the Eyes (“delight to the eyes” - Gen 3:6b) c) Pride of Life (“make one wise” - Gen 3:6c) 5. Eve was the first human to sin, but Adam, as mankind’s representative, sinned and brought sin and death upon all mankind (Ro 5:12). E. The Penalty of the Fall of Man! 1. On Mankind (Ge 3:7-19): “And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;” a) Just as God had warned, man experienced death because he sinned (Ge 2:17; 3:3). b) Man began to experience gradual physical death (Ge 5:5). c) Man immediately experienced spiritual death in which, he died spiritually (Ep 2:1), lost fellowship with God (Ge 3:7-8), and incurred God’s penalty for sin (Ge 3:15-19). d) Man also experienced the guilt of sin and self-justification (Ge 3:8-13). 2. On the Serpent (Ge 3:14) a) The serpent was cursed with the degradation of becoming the lowest species (Ge 3:14a). Snakes now carry a bad and evil connotation. b) As a consequence of having the lowest status, the serpent would crawl on its belly (Ge 3:14b, evidently originally its posture was erect) and he would eat the dust from which man was created. 3. On Satan (Ge 3:15)

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a) Speaking to Satan, God pronounced an enmity that would always exist between Satan and the woman’s seed (Christ). Satan’s battle plan has always been “Anti-God” and “Anti-Christ.” Satan also hates all those who belong to Christ (Jn 8:44; Jn 15:18-19 cp. Ep 2:2). b) In this enmity, Satan will bruise Christ’s “heel” by way of crucifixion. However, Christ will crush Satan’s “head” by ultimately defeating and destroying him (Heb 2:14; 1Jn 3:8). 4. One Eve (Ge 3:16) a) The woman, who was instrumental in influencing man’s spiritual death, would experience pain when bringing forth physical life. b) At the same time, the Scriptures say that her “desire will be for her husband.” This phrase has several interpretations. (1) The first is that “desire” (teshuqah) refers to “sexual desire” (cp. Sol 7:10) for her husband even though she has pain during childbirth. (2) The second is that “desire” refers to a longing for her husband’s headship and rule. (a) The same word is used in Ge 4:7 and lends support to this interpretation. (b) New Testament exhortations imply that women will struggle with submission to their husbands (Ep 5:22-24, 28; Co 3:18; 1Pe 3:1). (c) New Testament exhortations also imply that men will struggle with being domineering over their wives (“he will rule (mashal - have dominion, Ge 4:7 - “master”) over you”). 5. On Adam (Ge 3:17-19) a) Included in Adam’s punishment, the very ground man was to cultivate, was cursed (Ro 8:20-22). b) Man would have to endure “toil” and “sweat” in order to bring an increase upon the ground, now filled with “thorns and thistles.” c) Man’s life would be filled with hard labor until he dies and returns to the dust from which he came. d) In addition, man was expelled from the Garden, which was both a geographic and spiritual symbol of broken fellowship with God.

F. The Ramifications of the Fall of Man! 1. Sin breaks fellowship with God (1Jn 1:9). 2. Contrary to Satan’s lie, sin always includes a penalty (Ro 6:23). 3. Sin always has far-reaching consequences. 4. Christ is the only solution to fallen man, both in atonement (He 2:17) and temptation (He 2:18).

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Though created by God (Genesis 1, 2) man did not always obey God (Genesis 3). We call this THE FALL of man. Because of Adam and Eve’s (or man’s fall), sin was introduced into the world. And the result being man became a finite, physical, life creature (Romans 5:12, 12 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: 13 (For until the law sin, was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. 14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come. 15 But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.”

LIFE EXPECTANCY: Genesis 6:3 ESV, “Then the LORD said, “My Spirit shall not abide in man forever, for he is flesh: his days shall be 120 years.” Psalm 90:10 ESV , “ The years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty; yet their span is but toil and trouble; they are soon gone, and we fly away.

KJV, “The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason

of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labor and sorrow;

for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.

Salvation The study of salvation is called Soteriology. This Christian teaching has many different aspects. These include the purpose of salvation, the method of salvation and the means of salvation; just to name a few. The purpose of salvation can be summed up by declaring first that men and women are sinners by what Adam and Eve did in the Garden of Eden. Because of their disobedience, Salvation is needed by all humans. It is achieved through regeneration, justification, sanctification and glorification. (1) Regeneration is to be made new in Christ (John 3:5; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 2:1-10; Titus 3:5). (2) Justification is where we are made right and just before God through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ (Deuteronomy 25:1; Romans 4:2-8; 8:1). (3) We are sanctified (made holy or set apart) through salvation (1 Corinthians 6:11; Hebrews 10:10, 14). (4) Ultimately we will be glorified in Heaven as a result of our salvation (1 Thessalonians 3:12-13, “And the Lord make

you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men,

even as we do toward you:13 To the end he may stablish your hearts

unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our

Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.” I John 3:2, says, “ Beloved, now are we

the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know

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that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he

is.). Church: God has established two institutions in this world. One of them is the church and the other is the family. Both involve family concepts; the family of man and the family of God. The study of the doctrine of the church is called Ecclesiology. This word comes from the Greek word that means “to call out from.” It could be said, the church is a congregation (or body of baptized) believers called out from the world. Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection established the church (Ephesians 5:25-27 says. “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27 That 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.”). The first church was in Jerusalem. Other congregations were established in various places, such as Judea and Samaria (Acts 1, 2; & Rev.1, “the seven churches

which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and

unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.). Throughout the book of Acts, there is a spreading of the Gospel and a constant establishment of churches. On a broad scale the church is the body of Christ made up of Christians; not just followers (1 Corinthians 15:9; Galatians 1:2, 13). It is called the organism church. Also, there is the concept of a local church assembly (called the organizational church, like New Life in Christ, etc.) where believers meet on a regular basis (Philippians 4:15; And you Philippians yourselves know that fin the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, gno church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only.” Colossians 4:16, Greet the brothers in Laodicea, as well as Nympha and the church that meets at her house. After this letter has been read among you, make sure that it is also read in the church of the Laodiceans, and that you in turn read the letter from Laodicea). The purpose of the church is to save mankind from the sin and worship God and bring glory to Him on the earth (Ephesians 1:4-6). It is to evangelize the world (Matthew 28:19, 20; Acts 2; Ephesians 3;8) and help people to grow into mature Christians (Ephesians 4:11-15). Shunning the attendance of church leads to false doctrine (Hebrews 10:25-28). He’s coming back looking for his church. Eph. 5: 27, says, “o sanctify her, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, 27and to present her to Himself as a glorious church, without spot or wrinkle or any such blemish, but holy and blameless.”

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Angels: Angels are beings created by God (Colossians 1:16) and are not the spirits of dead saints or simply glorified believers (Hebrews 12:22, 23). They are ministers of God (Psalm 104:4; Hebrews 1:14). Angels have great might and power (Psalm 103:20; 2 Peter 2:11). Their is a hierarchy of angels (1 Thessalonians 4:16; 1 Peter 3:22; Jude 9). There are some angels who have abandoned God (2 Peter 2:4; Jude 6). Satan is one of these fallen angels and is at war with God and His angelic host (Daniel 10: 12, 13; Jude 8, 9). He is called the prince of the power of the air (Ephesians 2:2), the god of this world (2 Corinthians 4:4), the wicked one (Matthew 13:19), the tempter (Matthew 4:3). He is an adversary to the Christian (1 Peter 5:8). His final judgment is to be cast into the lake of fire (Matthew 25:41; Revelation 20:10). In the Apocrypha Chapter 20 of the Book of Enoch mentions seven holy angels who watch, that often are considered the seven arch-angels: Michael, Raphael, Gabriel, Uriel, Saraqael, Raguel, and Remiel. The Life of Adam and Eve lists the archangels as well: Michael, Gabriel, Uriel, Raphael and Joel, etc.. Future: Eschatology: is the study of the last things. While there is some controversy among Christians over the exact order of events, (The Rapture-Tribulation, or Tribulation-Rapture, etc.) the general idea of things to come is that Christ will return to rapture the church and resurrect the dead believers (1 Corinthians 15; 1 Thess. 4: 13, and 2 Thessalonians; Titus 2:13; 2 Peter 3:12). There will be judgment for the unsaved (Psalm 96:13; Acts 17:31; Hebrews 9:27). While the saved will be judged (1 Corinthians 3: 10-15, “According to the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building on it. But each man must be careful how he builds on it. 11For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work. 14If any man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. 15If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.; 2 Corinthians 5:10, 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.), there will also be a time of reward for them (1 Corinthians 4:5).

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Prayer: Though this is not a strictly Christian belief, prayer is vital to a Christian. So important that the Bible says that neglecting prayer grieves the Lord (1 Samuel 12:23; Isaiah 43:21, 22; 64:6,7). Prayer is the way God has ordained for us to communicate with Him (Matthew 7:7-11; Luke 11:13). It is so important the founders of the church sought help in the ministry so that they could dedicate their time to prayer (Acts 6:4). Throughout the Bible prayer can be seen to take many forms. Moses talked with God in prayer more like a dialogue between two friends. In Joshua and Judges the Israelites often cried out to God. Samuel, and many other prophets prayed more in a manner of intercession (on behalf of others). David considered himself able to go to God in prayer on his own behalf instead of needing someone to pray for him. The book of Psalms is full of a crying out to God on a continual and consistent basis. We can pray to God (Acts 12:5), to Christ (Acts 7:59) and to the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:15, 16). The normal pattern in prayer is that we pray to God through the Holy Spirit with the authority of Christ (John 14:14; Jude 20). There is no required position in prayer prescribed in the Bible. We can pray standing up (John 17:1), kneeling (Luke 22:41), prostrate (Matthew 26:39) or in bed (Psalm 63:6).

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