SUMMARY OF THE GOSPEL
as understood by
Christadelphians are a fundamentalist Christian denomination,
who believe in the full inspiration of the revealed Word of God contained in
the Holy Bible.
As
Christadelphians, we are often asked: "what do you Christadelphians
believe?" We should answer the question, in compliance with the
instructions found in I Peter 3:15:
"But
sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to
every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and
fear".
In order to
comply with I Peter 3:15, and answer the question completely, but as briefly as
possible, this SUMMARY OF THE GOSPEL, has been compiled.
Remember, this is a summary, or an outline, and in keeping with the definition
of an outline, it is not an exhaustive compilation of "The
Gospel". It includes a few scriptural references for the statements
made. More scriptural references can be furnished upon request.
This outline of
the Gospel is complete, and includes elements of the gospel, fit together with
other elements, to form the entire gospel. A mistake commonly made is to
consider one or two elements of the gospel to be the entire gospel.
The Gospel, as
believed by Christadelphians, is listed herein in an orderly, systematic
manner, with none of the beliefs contradicting any other belief. We
believe this is as it should be, as we believe the scripture that tells
us "God is not the author of confusion".
For God is not
the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints. (I Cor
14:33)
1.
God's WORD, found in
the Holy Bible, is the only source of information about our salvation.
Heb 11:6 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.
II Tim
3:15-17 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.
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.
John 5:39
Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are
they which testify of me.
Rom 1:16
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto
salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
2.
God, our Heavenly
Father, is the Creator and Sustainer of all things.
Acts
17:27,28 That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him,
and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: For in him we live,
and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For
we are also his offspring.
Gen 1:1 In
the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
Isa 42:5
Thus saith God the LORD, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out;
he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth
breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein:
Mat 5:16
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and
glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Mat 6:9
After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed
be thy name.
3.
Jesus Christ is the
Son of God, our Savior, our High Priest, our future Judge, and
King.
Mat 3:17
And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well
pleased.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only
begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have
everlasting life.
Heb 4:14,15 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is
passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our
profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the
feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are,
yet without sin.
Acts 10:42 And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to
testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick
and dead.
II Tim 4:8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of
righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day:
and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
Luke 1:30-35 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou
hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and
bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall
be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the
throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for
ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. Then said Mary unto the angel,
How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And the angel answered and said
unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest
shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of
thee shall be called the Son of God.
John 18:37 Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then?
Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for
this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth.
Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.
4.
The Holy Spirit is
God's Power.
Psa 104:30
Thou sendest forth thy spirit, they are created: and thou renewest the face of
the earth.
Gen 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.
Luke 1:35
And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee,
and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy
thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.
5.
The earth, and all
life on it was created by God.
A.
From the beginning,
God had a Plan and a Purpose for the earth. His Plan involved how He
would accomplish His Purpose, which is for the earth to be filled with His
Glory, and for obedient men and women to bear His nature, that of
Immortality.
Isa 45:18 For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God
himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created
it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there
is none else.
Num 14:21 But as truly as I live, all the earth
shall be filled with the glory of the LORD.
Isa 11:1-9 And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of
Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: And the spirit of the LORD
shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of
counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD; And
shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not
judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his
ears: But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity
for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his
mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked. And
righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of
his reins. The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie
down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together;
and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their
young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.
And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child
shall put his hand on the cockatrice’ den. They shall not hurt nor
destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge
of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.
Hab 2:14
For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as
the waters cover the sea.
B. God’s Plan was set in motion by
the creation of the earth, which was accomplished by His angels, powered with
the Holy Spirit. This creation took six days. At the end of the six
days of creation, all creation was declared to be “very good”. God rested
on the seventh day.
Gen 1:1-31
In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. 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. And God said, Let there be
light: and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good: and
God divided the light from the darkness. And God called the light Day,
and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the
first day. And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the
waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters. And God made the
firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from
the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so. And God called
the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day. And
God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place,
and let the dry land appear: and it was so. And God called the dry land
Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas: and God saw
that it was good. And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the
herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind,
whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so. And the
earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and
the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and
God saw that it was good. And the evening and the morning were the third
day. And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide
the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for
days, and years: And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to
give light upon the earth: and it was so. And God made two great lights; the
greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he
made the stars also. And God set them in the firmament of the heaven
to give light upon the earth, And to rule over the day and over the night, and
to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good. And
the evening and the morning were the fourth day. And God said, Let the waters
bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that
may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven. And God created great
whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth
abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw
that it was good. And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and
multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl multiply in the earth.
And the evening and the morning were the fifth day. And God said, Let the earth
bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and
beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so. And God made the beast of the
earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that
creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that it was good.
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. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God
created he him; male and female created he them. 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. And God said, Behold, I
have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all
the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding
seed; to you it shall be for meat. And to every beast of the earth, and
to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth,
wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat:
and it was so. And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it
was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.
Gen 2:1-3 Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all
the host of them. And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made;
and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. And God
blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested
from all his work which God created and made.
6.
God revealed His Plan
to the first man and woman, Adam and Eve, along with instructions they were to
follow. They were forbidden to eat of the "tree of knowledge of good
and evil". They were told that if they ate of it, they would DIE.
Gen
1:27-30 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created
he him; male and female created he them. 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. And God said, Behold,
I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all
the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding
seed; to you it shall be for meat. And to every beast of the earth,
and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth,
wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat:
and it was so.
Gen 2:15 And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the
garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.
7.
Adam and Eve disobeyed God, believing
the Serpent's Lie, "THOU SHALT NOT SURELY DIE".
Gen 2:16,17 And the LORD God
commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:
But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it:
for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
Gen 3:1-3 Now the serpent
was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he
said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the
garden? And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of
the trees of the garden: But of the fruit of the tree which is in the
midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye
touch it, lest ye die.
8.
Their disobedience
was discovered, and they were informed of the consequences of their
actions.
Gen 3:8-13
And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of
the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God
amongst the trees of the garden. And the LORD God called unto Adam, and
said unto him, Where art thou? And he said, I heard thy voice in the
garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself. And he
said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree,
whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat? And the man said, The
woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did
eat. And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou
hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.
A.
The Serpent was
cursed to be of the physical form he is today, and enmity, natural and spiritual,
was established between man and the serpent. A future victory of the Seed
of the Woman over the Seed of the Serpent was
promised.
Gen 3:14,
15 And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art
cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly
shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: And I will put
enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall
bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
B.
Women were to experience sorrow in
childbearing, and be in subjection to her
husband.
Gen 3:16 Unto the woman he
said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou
shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and
he shall rule over thee.
C.
The earth was
cursed. Thorns and thistles were to mar the former beauty of the
earth.
Gen 3:17,18 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; Thorns
also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of
the field;
D.
Man was to earn his
bread by the sweat of his brow. Adam was told "dust thou art, and to
dust thou shalt return". Adam and Eve were driven from the Garden of
Eden to deny them access to the Tree of Life.
Gen 3:19, 22-24 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread,
till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art,
and unto dust shalt thou return. And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is
become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his
hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever: Therefore
the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from
whence he was taken. So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the
garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep
the way of the tree of life.
9. The sentence, "dust
thou art, and to dust thou shalt return" resulted in Adam and Eve being
estranged from God, and their condition being changed from “very good” to
mortal. This mortal nature, along with the tendency to want to disobey
God, has been inherited by all the descendants of Adam and Eve ever
since.
Job 14:1-4
Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of
trouble. He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also
as a shadow, and continueth not. And dost thou open thine eyes upon such an
one, and bringest me into judgment with thee? Who can bring a clean thing
out of an unclean? not one.
Psa 51:5
Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
10. Thus, the entire human race is condemned
along with Adam and Eve. This condition is know as "Adamic
Condemnation", and unless removed, will cause a person to eventually die,
and remain in the grave forever.
Rom 5:12,
16-19 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: And not as it
was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was
by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto
justification. For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they
which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign
in life by one, Jesus Christ.) Therefore as by the offence of one judgment
came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the
free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as
by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall
many be made righteous.
Ecc
3:18-22 I said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God
might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are
beasts. For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even
one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have
all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is
vanity. All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.
Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast
that goeth downward to the earth? Wherefore I perceive that there
is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his own works; for
that is his portion: for who shall bring him to see what shall be after
him?
Rom 8:1,2 There
is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who
walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit
of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
11. God, in His mercy, provided Adam and Eve
with an immediate remedy, a promise of permanent salvation, and instructions on
proper worship.
A.
An immediate covering
for their nakedness (sin) with the skins of animals.
Gen 3:21
Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and
clothed them.
B.
Included in the
serpent’s curse, was the statement: “... I (God) will put enmity between thee
(the serpent) and the woman, and between thy (the serpent’s) seed and her
(the woman’s) seed; it (the woman’s seed) shall bruise thy (the serpent’s)
head, and thou (the serpent) shalt bruise his (the woman’s seed’s)
heel.” This promise is known as the “Edenic Covenant”, the first portion
of the “Everlasting Covenant”.
Gen
3:14,15 And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this,
thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field;
upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life:
And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her
seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
C.
Instructions on the
principle of "remission of sins" through "the shedding of
blood" as being the method of obtaining forgiveness from sins they commit.
12. God revealed His Plan and Purpose for the
earth to Adam and Eve, and they passed the information on to their
offspring. One of their sons, Abel, obeyed, offering as God had
instructed, but another son, Cain, offered "as he saw fit".
Abel's offering was accepted, Cain's was not. We learn from this that one
cannot "worship God in their own way" and please God.
Gen 4:1-11
And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have
gotten a man from the LORD. And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel
was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. And in
process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground
an offering unto the LORD. And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of
his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his
offering: But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was
very wroth, and his countenance fell. And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou
wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? If thou doest well, shalt thou not be
accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall
be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him. And Cain talked with
Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain
rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him. And the LORD said unto Cain,
Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my
brother’s keeper? And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother’s
blood crieth unto me from the ground. And now art thou cursed from
the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother’s blood from thy
hand;
13. God revealed His Plan and Purpose for the
earth to the “faithful few”, referred to in the scriptures as “the
remnant”. One such faithful was Abram, later to be called Abraham.
God chose Abraham to be the one person through whom His Plan would be
realized.
Gen
22:15-18 And the angel of the LORD called unto Abraham out of heaven the second
time, And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, for because thou hast
done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son: That in
blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the
stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and
thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; And in thy seed shall all the
nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.
Psa
89:34-37 My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of
my lips. Once have I sworn by my holiness that I will not lie unto David.
His seed shall endure for ever, and his throne as the sun before me. It shall
be established for ever as the moon, and as a faithful witness in
heaven. Selah.
Isa 51:1-8
Hearken to me, ye that follow after righteousness, ye that seek the LORD: look
unto the rock whence ye are hewn, and to the hole of the pit whence
ye are digged. Look unto Abraham your father, and unto Sarah that bare
you: for I called him alone, and blessed him, and increased him. For the LORD
shall comfort Zion: he will comfort all her waste places; and he will make her
wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the LORD; joy and
gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody. Hearken
unto me, my people; and give ear unto me, O my nation: for a law shall proceed
from me, and I will make my judgment to rest for a light of the people. My
righteousness is near; my salvation is gone forth, and mine arms shall
judge the people; the isles shall wait upon me, and on mine arm shall they
trust. Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath: for
the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a
garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner: but my salvation
shall be for ever, and my righteousness shall not be abolished. Hearken unto
me, ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law;
fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their revilings. For
the moth shall eat them up like a garment, and the worm shall eat them like
wool: but my righteousness shall be for ever, and my salvation from generation
to generation.
Hosea
13:14 I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from
death: O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction:
repentance shall be hid from mine eyes.
14. In revealing His Plan and Purpose to
Abraham, God made promises to him. Abraham also received
instructions on beginning the practice of circumcision. Promises made to
Abraham included:
A.
Abraham would become
the Father of many Nations.
Gen 12:2
And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy
name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:
Gen 13:16
And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number
the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered.
Gen 17:4
As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father
of many nations.
B.
Abraham would be a
blessing to all Nations.
Gen 12:3
And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in
thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
Gal 3:8And
the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith,
preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all
nations be blessed.
C. Abraham and his descendants
would inherit the land of promise (comprising the whole earth) for an everlasting
possession. This means they would, of necessity, receive Eternal Life.
Gen
13:14,15 And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him,
Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and
southward, and eastward, and westward: For all the land which thou seest, to
thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever.
Gen 17:8
And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou
art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I
will be their God.
D. Through Abraham's descendant, Jesus Christ, all
the earth is to be blessed.
Gen 22:18 And in thy seed
shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my
voice.
Acts 3:25 Ye are the
children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers,
saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be
blessed.
Gal 3:16 Now to Abraham and
his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as
of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.
15. These Promises made to Abraham are known
as the “Abrahamic Promises”, and along with the “Edenic Covenant” make up the
"Everlasting Covenant". God repeated some of the promises
made to Abraham to:
A.
Abraham's son, Isaac.
Gen 26:3-5
Sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee, and will bless thee; for unto
thee, and unto thy seed, I will give all these countries, and I will perform
the oath which I sware unto Abraham thy father; And I will make thy seed to
multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these
countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed;
Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my
statutes, and my laws.
B.
Isaac's Son, Jacob,
who was renamed Israel. The descendants of the 12 sons of Jacob (Israel)
are the 12 tribes making up the nation of Israel.
C.
David, King of
Israel. These promises made to David are known as "The Sure Mercies
of David".
II Sam 7:12-16 And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt
sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed
out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build an house
for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever. I will be
his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him
with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men: But my mercy
shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away
before thee. And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever
before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever.
16.
Throughout the
history of the Nation of Israel, prophets of God spoke and wrote of the Kingdom
that was to come in fulfillment of the "Everlasting Covenant".
This covenant is also referred to as the “Covenant made with the
Fathers”. These prophecies foretold:
A. A Messiah, or Deliverer. A
Savior for Abraham's Seed.
Dan 9:25,26 Know therefore and understand, that from the
going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the
Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks:
the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.
And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for
himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city
and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto
the end of the war desolations are determined.
Isa 59:20 And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that
turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the LORD.
Rom 11:26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written,
There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness
from Jacob:
B. A King to rule over the
Delivered Seed of Abraham.
Isa 51:3 For the LORD shall comfort Zion: he will comfort all her
waste places; and he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like
the garden of the LORD; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving,
and the voice of melody.
Amos 9:11,15 In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David
that is fallen, and close up the breaches thereof; and I will raise up his
ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old: And I will plant them upon
their land, and they shall no more be pulled up out of their land which I have
given them, saith the LORD thy God.
Luke 1:30-35 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou
hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and
bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall
be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the
throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for
ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. Then said Mary unto the angel,
How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And the angel answered and said
unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest
shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of
thee shall be called the Son of God.
C. A Kingdom, with a Capitol City,
and territorial boundaries.
D. Subjects of the Kingdom: Immortal
rulers made up of the faithful through the ages, and mortal subjects who submit
to the rule of that Kingdom.
John 17:3
And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and
Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
Rom 2:7 To
them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and
immortality, eternal life:
Mark
16:15,16And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel
to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he
that believeth not shall be damned.
17. After coming out of bondage in Egypt,
the Nation of Israel received The Law of Moses from God. This law covered
details of offering animal sacrifices to God, in the prescribed manner.
The purpose of the ordinances and sacrifices was to teach the Israelites about
the sacrifice of their expected Messiah. Their Messiah was the subject of
the “Everlasting Covenant”.
Lev chapters 1-10
Heb 9:1-7 Then verily the first covenant had also
ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary. For there was a
tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table,
and the shewbread; which is called the sanctuary. And after the second
veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all; Which had the golden
censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was
the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tables of
the covenant; And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat; of
which we cannot now speak particularly. Now when these things were thus
ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the
service of God. But into the second went the high priest alone
once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for
the errors of the people:
Heb 10:1-4 For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and
not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they
offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. For then
would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once
purged should have had no more conscience of sins. But in those sacrifices
there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. For it is
not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.
18. When the time came, in God's Plan, God
sent forth His Son, Jesus, born of a woman, the Virgin Mary, made under the Law
of Moses.
Gal 4:4 But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth
his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
Luke
1:30,31 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour
with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son,
and shalt call his name JESUS.
19. At the age of eight days, Jesus was
circumcised, as the Law of Moses required of all males born in Israel.
Also, as the Law of Moses required of all mothers giving birth, his mother,
Mary, underwent the rites of purification.
Lev 12:1-4
And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel,
saying, If a woman have conceived seed, and born a man child: then she shall be
unclean seven days; according to the days of the separation for her infirmity shall
she be unclean. And in the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be
circumcised. And she shall then continue in the blood of her purifying three
and thirty days; she shall touch no hallowed thing, nor come into the
sanctuary, until the days of her purifying be fulfilled.
Luke
2:21,22 And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the
child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was
conceived in the womb. And when the days of her purification according to the
law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him
to the Lord;
20. Jesus' public life began at the age of
thirty years, when he was baptized by John the Baptist. Jesus' baptism
was required in order to "fulfill all righteousness".
Mat
3:13-15 Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of
him. But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and
comest thou to me? And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so
now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.
Luke 3:23
And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was
supposed) the son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli,
21. After Jesus' baptism, the Holy
Spirit, came upon him, and he was publicly acknowledged as "God's
Son", and that God was well pleased with his actions.
Mat
3:16,17 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water:
and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God
descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven,
saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
Psa 2:7 I
will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son;
this day have I begotten thee.
22. Jesus' ministry lasted for about 3.5
years. He selected his twelve disciples, and preached "The Gospel of
the Kingdom" throughout the region of Judea.
Mat
4:17,23 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the
kingdom of heaven is at hand. And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in
their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all
manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.
Mark 1:14
Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the
gospel of the kingdom of God,
Luke
6:13-16 And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of
them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles; Simon, (whom he also named
Peter,) and Andrew his brother, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew, Matthew
and Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon called Zelotes, And
Judas the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot, which also was the
traitor.
John 2:11
This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth
his glory; and his disciples believed on him.
John 6:14
Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of
a truth that prophet that should come into the world.
John 21:25
And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should
be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain
the books that should be written. Amen.
23. Jesus was betrayed by Judas, accused of
Blasphemy by the Jewish leaders, and put to death by crucifixion.
Mat
26:14-16 Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief
priests, And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver
him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver. And
from that time he sought opportunity to betray him.
Mat
26:45-49 Then cometh he to his disciples, and saith unto them, Sleep on now,
and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is
betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going: behold, he is at
hand that doth betray me. And while he yet spake, lo, Judas, one of the twelve,
came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests
and elders of the people. Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying,
Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast. And forthwith he came
to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him.
Mat
26:63-65 But Jesus held his peace. And the high priest answered and said unto
him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the
Christ, the Son of God. Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I
say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand
of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven. Then the high priest rent his
clothes, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of
witnesses? behold, now ye have heard his blasphemy.
John
19:15-18 But they cried out, Away with him, away with him,
crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief
priests answered, We have no king but Caesar. Then delivered he him therefore
unto them to be crucified. And they took Jesus, and led him away. And he
bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull,
which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha: Where they crucified him, and two other
with him, on either side one, and Jesus in the midst.
24. Jesus death by crucifixion was the fulfillment of the
"Edenic Covenant" portion of the “Everlasting Covenant”, as foretold
by the Law of Moses, and fulfilling the principle of remission of sins through
shedding of blood. Jesus was the" Lamb of God, slain from the
foundation of the world". Jesus rejection and crucifixion was in
accordance with God’s Plan, and not in opposition to it.
Mat 5:17 Think not that I am
come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to
fulfill.
Heb 10:1-10 For the
law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of
the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year
continually make the comers thereunto perfect. For then would they not have
ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had
no more conscience of sins. But in those sacrifices there is a
remembrance again made of sins every year. For it is not possible
that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. Wherefore when he
cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but
a body hast thou prepared me: In burnt offerings and sacrifices
for sin thou hast had no pleasure. Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of
the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God. Above when he said,
Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou
wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the
law; Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first,
that he may establish the second. By the which will we are sanctified through
the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
John 1:29 The next day John
seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh
away the sin of the world.
Rev 13:18 Here is wisdom.
Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the
number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and
six.
Gal 3:21-25 Is the law then
against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given
which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.
But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of
Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. But before faith came, we
were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be
revealed. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto
Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we
are no longer under a schoolmaster.
Gen 3:15 And I will put
enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall
bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
Rom 15:8 Now I say that
Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to
confirm the promises made unto the fathers:
25. Jesus was buried, and three days later,
rose from the dead.
Mark
15:43-47 Joseph of Arimathaea, an honourable counsellor, which also waited for
the kingdom of God, came, and went in boldly unto Pilate, and craved the body
of Jesus. And Pilate marvelled if he were already dead: and calling unto him
the centurion, he asked him whether he had been any while dead. And when he
knew it of the centurion, he gave the body to Joseph. And he bought fine
linen, and took him down, and wrapped him in the linen, and laid him in a
sepulchre which was hewn out of a rock, and rolled a stone unto the door of the
sepulchre. And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses beheld where
he was laid.
26. After his resurrection, Jesus spent 40
days with his disciples, and then ascended to Heaven, to be at God's right
hand. Jesus is now in Heaven, functioning as High Priest over the
Household of Faith.
Acts 1:9
And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a
cloud received him out of their sight.
Col 3:1 If
ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ
sitteth on the right hand of God.
Heb
4:14,15 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the
heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we
have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our
infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without
sin.
I Tim 2:5
For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man
Christ Jesus;
Heb 8:1
Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an
high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the
heavens;
27. As with the time of the birth of Jesus,
when the "appointed time" in God's Plan comes, Jesus will return to
the earth.
Acts 1:11
Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this
same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like
manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.
Acts
3:19-21 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted
out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; And
he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: Whom the heaven
must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath
spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.
Heb 9:28
So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look
for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
Mat
24:30,31 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then
shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man
coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he shall send
his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his
elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
28. Seven days after Jesus' ascension to
Heaven, on the Day of Pentecost, the Christian Dispensation began with the
outpouring of the gifts and powers of the Holy Spirit on the followers of
Jesus.
Acts
2:1-47 And when the day of Pentecost was
fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came
a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house
where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of
fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy
Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them
utterance. And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every
nation under heaven. Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came
together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own
language. And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another,
Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? And how hear we every man in
our own tongue, wherein we were born? Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and
the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and
Asia, Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene,
and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, Cretes and Arabians, we do hear
them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God. And they were all amazed,
and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this? Others
mocking said, These men are full of new wine. But Peter, standing up with the
eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye
that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words: For
these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of
the day. But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; And it shall
come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all
flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men
shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: And on my servants and
on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall
prophesy: And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth
beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke: The sun shall be turned into
darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord
come: And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name
of the Lord shall be saved. Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of
Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs,
which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: Him,
being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have
taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: Whom God hath raised up,
having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be
holden of it. For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always
before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved:
Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh
shall rest in hope: Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt
thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. Thou hast made known to me the
ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance. Men and
brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both
dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. Therefore
being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of
the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit
on his throne; He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that
his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. This Jesus
hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. Therefore being by the right hand
of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy
Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear. For David is not
ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my Lord,
Sit thou on my right hand, Until I make thy foes thy footstool. Therefore let
all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus,
whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. Now when they heard this,
they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the
apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them,
Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the
remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the
promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even
as many as the Lord our God shall call. And with many other words did he
testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. Then
they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were
added unto them about three thousand souls. And they continued
stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread,
and in prayers. And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were
done by the apostles. And all that believed were together, and had all things
common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men,
as every man had need. And 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, Praising God, and having favour with all the
people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
29. Since the Day of Pentecost, the
required methods of worshipping God are different from the methods during the
dispensation of the Law of Moses. The sacrifices we are required to offer
are not animal sacrifices, but are our "reasonable service" to
God. (Rom 12:1). We perform this "reasonable service"
after we have complied with God's requirements to begin that service. (Rom
2:11). These requirements are:
A.
A person must become
aware of their condemned, lost condition, their need for Salvation.
Acts 2:37
Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said
unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall
we do?
Eph 2:12
That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of
Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and
without God in the world:
C.
A person must HEAR,
BELIEVE, and UNDERSTAND the “Everlasting Covenant”, the Gospel of the Kingdom
of GOD, and realize that only through this Covenant and Gospel is salvation
offered.
Acts 8:12
But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of
God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
Rev 1:3
Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this
prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is
at hand.
Rom 1:16
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto
salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
D.
A person must OBEY the commandments of
the Gospel: REPENT and be BAPTIZED.
Acts 8:12 But when they
believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the
name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
Rom 6:3-18 Know ye not, that
so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his
death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like
as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we
also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in
the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his
resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that
the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we
believe that we shall also live with him: Knowing that Christ being raised from
the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. For in that he
died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.
Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto
God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal
body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your
members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves
unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as
instruments of righteousness unto God. For sin shall not have dominion
over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. What then? shall we
sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. Know ye
not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to
whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from
the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made
free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.
Gal 3:26-29 For ye are all
the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been
baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there
is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one
in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and
heirs according to the promise.
E. After baptism, run with
patience, the race that is set before us.
Heb 5:8,9
Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;
And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them
that obey him;
Acts 2:42
And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in
breaking of bread, and in prayers.
Gal 6:7,8
Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he
also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption;
but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
Heb 12:1
Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of
witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily
beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
II Pet
3:15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation;
even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him
hath written unto you;
II Tim
4:7,8 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept
the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which
the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only,
but unto all them also that love his appearing.
30. Baptism represents a spiritual
"death, burial, and resurrection", in which we are baptized into
Christ's death, burial and resurrection. (Rom 6:3-5, Col
2:12). This baptism is an immersion in water. (Acts
8:35-39). When baptized into Christ, a person is then "in Christ",
covenanted under the “Everlasting Covenant”, and heirs to the promises made to
Abraham that are to be fulfilled by Christ.
Gal 3:16,
26-29 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to
seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. For ye are
all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have
been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek,
there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are
all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s
seed, and heirs according to the promise.
31. When we are baptized into Christ, we are a "new
creature", (II Cor 5:17), no longer under “Adamic Condemnation, “,
but have received “Justification” from it through Christ. (Rom
8:1,2) As a new creature, we begin our "race" for eternal life.
(Heb 12:1). Our behavior during the race for eternal life will
determine the success, or failure of the race, and whether or not we obtain
eternal life. (Rom 2:5-10). During our race for eternal life, God
requires us to:
A. Continue to study in order to:
1. Increase our knowledge,
understanding and appreciation of God's Plan and Purpose for the
earth.
I Tim 2:15
Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith
and charity and holiness with sobriety.
I Tim
3:16,17 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was
manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto
the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
I Thes
5:21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
John 5:39
Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are
they which testify of me.
Acts 17:11
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.
2.
Increase our faith by
study of fulfilled prophecy.
John 14:29
And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass,
ye might believe.
3.
Be aware of the signs
of the times from study of prophecy.
Mat 16:1-3
The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he
would shew them a sign from heaven. He answered and said unto them, When
it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red. And
in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and
lowring. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye
not discern the signs of the times?
4.
Grow from “babes who
feed on the milk of the word” to “full grown that consume meat of the
word”.
I Pet 2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word,
that ye may grow thereby:
Heb
5:12-14 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one
teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and
are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one
that useth milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness: for he is a
babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even
those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and
evil.
B.
Attend and take an
active part in the regularly scheduled meetings of the local
congregation.
Heb
10:24,25 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good
works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of
some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye
see the day approaching.
C.
Partake of the
memorial bread and wine in memory of Jesus’ death when we assemble together on
the first day of the week (Sunday).
John
6:53-58 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye
eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.
Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will
raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is
drink indeed. He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me,
and I in him. As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so
he that eateth me, even he shall live by me. This is that bread which came down
from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of
this bread shall live for ever.
Mat
26:26-28 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and
brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this
is my body. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to
them, saying, Drink ye all of it; For this is my blood of the new testament,
which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
I Cor
11:23-29 For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you,
That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:
And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is
my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the
same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup
is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in
remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do
shew the Lord’s death till he come. Wherefore whosoever shall eat this
bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of
the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him
eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and
drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning
the Lord’s body.
D.
Encourage each other
in the congregation to "hold fast the faith once delivered unto the
Saints".
Jude 3, 20
Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation,
it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should
earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. But
ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the
Holy Ghost,
E. Not conform to the World,
abstain from all appearance of evil.
Rom 12:2
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.
I Thes
5:22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.
John 17:15
I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou
shouldest keep them from the evil.
32. During our race for eternal life, we are
to do our best to be obedient to God's will, with the ability that God has
given to us.
Micah 6:8
He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require
of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?
Phil 2:1-3
If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love,
if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, Fulfil ye my joy,
that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one
mind. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in
lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
Col 3:16
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and
admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with
grace in your hearts to the Lord.
Rom 12:3
For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not
to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think
soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
33. We realize that our actions will
often fall short of what is required of us. At those times, we can obtain
forgiveness for our shortcomings, and weaknesses, through Jesus, our High
Priest. To obtain such forgiveness, we must ask in the proper manner,
with true repentance.
Heb
2:17,18 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his
brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining
to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that he
himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are
tempted.
Heb
4:14-16 For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our
confidence stedfast unto the end; While it is said, To day if ye will hear his
voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation. For some, when they had
heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses.
Heb 5:8,9
For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of
another day. There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.
I John 1:9
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins,
and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
34. If a person "in Christ" dies, that person is
considered to be "asleep in Jesus", awaiting the resurrection at the
return of Jesus.
I Thes 4:13-18 But I would
not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that
ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus
died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with
him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and
remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are
asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with
the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ
shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up
together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we
ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
Rom 6:1-5 What shall we say
then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall
we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Know ye not, that so
many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was
raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk
in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his
death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
35. At the return of Christ, the following
events will take place:
A.
Those who "sleep
in Jesus" will be resurrected.
I Thes
4:14-16 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also
which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the
word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of
the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself
shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and
with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
John 5:28
Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the
graves shall hear his voice,
B. Those alive, "in
Christ", will be gathered from throughout the world.
I Thes
4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with
them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with
the Lord.
Mat
24:30,31 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then
shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man
coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he shall send
his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his
elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
Mat 24,
40-42 Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other
left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken,
and the other left. Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth
come.
C. Those resurrected, and those
gathered, will be assembled before the Judgment Seat of Christ to be
judged according to their deeds.
II Cor
5:10 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.
Rom 2:5,6
But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath
against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; Who
will render to every man according to his deeds:
D. Those judged righteous will be
rewarded with Immortality, Eternal Life in Christ's
Kingdom.
Rom 2:7,10
To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and
immortality, eternal life: But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that
worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile:
I Cor
15:50-57 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the
kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I shew
you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a
moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall
sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For
this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on
immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this
mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying
that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy
sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is
sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God,
which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
II Tim
4:7,8 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept
the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which
the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only,
but unto all them also that love his appearing.
E.
Those judged
unrighteous will be punished with the “second death”, "everlasting
punishment of destruction from the presence of the
Lord".
Rom 2:8,9
But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey
unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, Tribulation and anguish, upon every
soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;
II Thes
1:8,9 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey
not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting
destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;
Psa
37:9,10 For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they
shall inherit the earth. For yet a little while, and the wicked shall
not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall
not be.
F. Christ will establish his
Kingdom, with Jerusalem as the Capitol city.
II Sam
7:12-17 And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers,
I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I
will establish his kingdom. He shall build an house for my name, and I will
stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever. I will be his father, and he shall
be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and
with the stripes of the children of men: But my mercy shall not depart away from
him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee. And thine
house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne
shall be established for ever. According to all these words, and according to
all this vision, so did Nathan speak unto David.
Zech 1:17
Cry yet, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; My cities through prosperity
shall yet be spread abroad; and the LORD shall yet comfort Zion, and shall yet
choose Jerusalem.
G. The rule of Christ will begin in
Israel, and spread to include all the earth.
Dan 2:44
And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which
shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but
it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for
ever.
Dan 7:27
And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole
heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose
kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and
obey him.
Rev 11:15
And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying,
The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of
his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.
36. Christ will be accepted by the nation of Israel as their
long expected Messiah, Savior, and King.
Zech 12:10 And I will pour
upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of
grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced,
and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son,
and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his
firstborn.
Zech 8:22 Yea, many people
and strong nations shall come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem, and to
pray before the LORD.
37. Christ will then announce that he is not
only the “king of the Jews”, but also “king of all the earth”, and demand the
nations submit to his rule. This is the first proclamation of the Gospel
of the Kingdom.
Rev 14:6,7
And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting
gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and
kindred, and tongue, and people, Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give
glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made
heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.
38. Christ’s rule will be resisted by
many. Some of those resisting will think Christ to be the “Antichrist”
they look for. Those nations who resist will be subdued by Christ and his
immortalized Saints. The survivors will be taught and ruled by Christ and
the Saints. This rule will last for 1000 years.
Zech 14:1-21 Behold, the
day of the LORD cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee.
For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall
be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city
shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut
off from the city. Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those
nations, as when he fought in the day of battle. And his feet shall stand in
that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the
east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east
and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of
the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south.
And ye shall flee to the valley of the mountains; for the valley of the
mountains shall reach unto Azal: yea, ye shall flee, like as ye fled from
before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah: and the LORD my God
shall come, and all the saints with thee. And it shall come to
pass in that day, that the light shall not be clear, nor dark:
But it shall be one day which shall be known to the LORD, not day, nor night:
but it shall come to pass, that at evening time it shall be light.
And it shall be in that day, that living waters shall go out from
Jerusalem; half of them toward the former sea, and half of them toward the
hinder sea: in summer and in winter shall it be. And the LORD shall be
king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one.
All the land shall be turned as a plain from Geba to Rimmon south of Jerusalem:
and it shall be lifted up, and inhabited in her place, from Benjamin’s gate
unto the place of the first gate, unto the corner gate, and from the
tower of Hananeel unto the king’s winepresses. And men shall
dwell in it, and there shall be no more utter destruction; but Jerusalem shall
be safely inhabited. And this shall be the plague wherewith the LORD will
smite all the people that have fought against Jerusalem; Their flesh shall
consume away while they stand upon their feet, and their eyes shall consume
away in their holes, and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth. And it
shall come to pass in that day, that a great tumult from the LORD shall
be among them; and they shall lay hold every one on the hand of his neighbour,
and his hand shall rise up against the hand of his neighbour. And Judah also
shall fight at Jerusalem; and the wealth of all the heathen round about shall
be gathered together, gold, and silver, and apparel, in great
abundance. And so shall be the plague of the horse, of the mule, of
the camel, and of the ass, and of all the beasts that shall be in these tents,
as this plague. And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left
of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year
to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles.
And it shall be, that whoso will not come up of all the families
of the earth unto Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, even upon
them shall be no rain. And if the family of Egypt go not up, and come not, that
have no rain; there shall be the plague, wherewith the LORD will
smite the heathen that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles. This
shall be the punishment of Egypt, and the punishment of all nations that come
not up to keep the feast of tabernacles. In that day shall there be upon
the bells of the horses, HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD; and the pots in the LORD’S
house shall be like the bowls before the altar. Yea, every pot in
Jerusalem and in Judah shall be holiness unto the LORD of hosts: and all they
that sacrifice shall come and take of them, and seethe therein: and in that day
there shall be no more the Canaanite in the house of the LORD of hosts.
Isa
66:22-24 For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall
remain before me, saith the LORD, so shall your seed and your name remain. And
it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one
sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the
LORD. And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcases of the men that
have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their
fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh.
Rev 20:4
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.
39. During the 1000 years reign of Christ and his Saints,
conditions for mankind, and the earth will gradually improve, effectively
reversing the curse placed on the earth as a result of Adam's disobedience.
The earth will be restored to the condition of "very
good".
Isa 9:6,7 For unto us a
child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his
shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God,
The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his
government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David,
and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with
justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will
perform this.
Isa 2:2-4 And it shall come
to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD’S house shall be
established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills;
and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say,
Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God
of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for
out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they
shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks:
nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any
more.
Isa 11:1-9 And there shall
come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his
roots: And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and
understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of
the fear of the LORD; And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of
the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove
after the hearing of his ears: But with righteousness shall he judge the poor,
and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth
with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the
wicked. And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and
faithfulness the girdle of his reins. The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb,
and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion
and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and
the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion
shall eat straw like the ox. And the sucking child shall play on the hole of
the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice’ den.
They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be
full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.
40. After the 1000 years reign of Christ
and his Saints, all enemies of Christ will have been destroyed, the last enemy
is DEATH. The earth will then be "filled with the Glory of the
LORD", as God intended. Christ will then deliver up the kingdom to
God and God will be "All and In All".
I Cor
15:24-26 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the
kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all
authority and power. For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his
feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.
Num 14:21
But as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the
glory of the LORD.
41. The Bible does not teach, therefore
we reject the following commonly held beliefs:
A. The doctrine of the
Trinity. The belief that God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are God the
Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, that they are all three co-equal,
co-eternal. We also reject the belief that all three are one.
Deut 6:4
Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:
Mark 12:29
And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O
Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:
I Cor 8:6
But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all
things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all
things, and we by him.
Eph 4:6
One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you
all.
John 17:3
And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and
Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
B.
A person has an
"immortal soul" that will continue to live on, after the person's
body dies, that such “immortal soul” continues to live on as
follows:
I Cor
15:47 The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is
the Lord from heaven.
Ecc
3:18-21 I said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God
might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are
beasts. For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even
one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have
all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is
vanity. All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.
Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast
that goeth downward to the earth?
Ecc 9:10
Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is
no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou
goest.
Isa 40:6
The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass,
and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field:
1.
A good person's soul
goes to Heaven (God's dwelling place). The scriptures never promise
Heaven to anyone, at death, or after judgment.
Mat 5:5
Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
Psa 37:9,
11, 22, 29 For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD,
they shall inherit the earth. But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall
delight themselves in the abundance of peace. For such as be blessed of
him shall inherit the earth; and they that be cursed of him shall be cut
off. The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever.
Psa 115:16
The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD’S: but the earth hath
he given to the children of men.
2. A wicked person's soul goes to a
"burning hell" for punishment. The scriptures never promise
eternal punishing to anyone, at death, or after judgment.
Gen 37:35 And all his sons
and all his daughters rose up to comfort him; but he refused to be comforted;
and he said, For I will go down into the grave unto my son mourning. Thus his
father wept for him.
Job 14:13 O that thou
wouldest hide me in the grave, that thou wouldest keep me secret, until thy
wrath be past, that thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me!
Psa 49:14 Like sheep they
are laid in the grave; death shall feed on them; and the upright shall have
dominion over them in the morning; and their beauty shall consume in the grave
from their dwelling.
Ecc 9:10 Whatsoever thy hand
findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor
device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.
Isa 66:22-24 For as the new
heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the
LORD, so shall your seed and your name remain. And it shall come to pass, that
from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh
come to worship before me, saith the LORD. And they shall go forth, and
look upon the carcases of the men that have transgressed against me: for their
worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an
abhorring unto all flesh.
II Thes 1:7-9 And to you who
are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven
with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not
God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be
punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from
the glory of his power;
C.
The "Devil" and
"Satan", found referred to in the Bible, is a person or fallen angel.
I Tim 3:11 Even so must
their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.
Titus 2:3 The aged women
likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false
accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;
D.
Gifts of Power of the
Holy Spirit are available to us today, as they were during the first century
when the events recorded in the New Testament were being done.
I Cor
12:27-31 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. And God hath
set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers,
after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of
tongues. Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all
teachers? are all workers of miracles? Have all the gifts of
healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret? But covet earnestly the
best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.
I Cor
13:8,13 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they
shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there
be knowledge, it shall vanish away. And now abideth faith, hope, charity,
these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
E. The body of Christ (His Ecclesia) is the
“spiritual” kingdom preached by Jesus and the apostles, and foretold by the
prophets.
II Sam 7:12-16 And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt
sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed
out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build an house
for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever. I will be
his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him
with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men: But my mercy
shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away
before thee. And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever
before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever.
Luke
1:30-33 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour
with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son,
and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son
of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father
David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom
there shall be no end.
Eze
37:15-28 (pay particular attention to vs 25, “wherein your fathers have
dwelt”. No such “spiritual kingdom” existed in those
days. It refers to a physical kingdom, not a spiritual one.)
The word of the LORD came again unto me, saying, Moreover, thou son of man,
take thee one stick, and write upon it, For Judah, and for the children of
Israel his companions: then take another stick, and write upon it, For Joseph,
the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel his companions:
And join them one to another into one stick; and they shall become one in thine
hand. And when the children of thy people shall speak unto thee, saying, Wilt
thou not shew us what thou meanest by these? Say unto them, Thus saith
the Lord GOD; Behold, I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the
hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel his fellows, and will put them with
him, even with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and they
shall be one in mine hand. And the sticks whereon thou writest shall be in
thine hand before their eyes. And say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD;
Behold, I will take the children of Israel from among the heathen, whither they
be gone, and will gather them on every side, and bring them into their own
land: And I will make them one nation in the land upon the mountains of Israel;
and one king shall be king to them all: and they shall be no more two nations,
neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms any more at all: Neither shall
they defile themselves any more with their idols, nor with their detestable
things, nor with any of their transgressions: but I will save them out of all
their dwellingplaces, wherein they have sinned, and will cleanse them: so shall
they be my people, and I will be their God. And David my servant shall be
king over them; and they all shall have one shepherd: they shall also walk in
my judgments, and observe my statutes, and do them. And they shall dwell in the
land that I have given unto Jacob my servant, wherein your fathers have dwelt;
and they shall dwell therein, even they, and their children, and their
children’s children for ever: and my servant David shall be their prince
for ever. Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them; it shall be an
everlasting covenant with them: and I will place them, and multiply them, and
will set my sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore. My tabernacle also
shall be with them: yea, I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And
the heathen shall know that I the LORD do sanctify Israel, when my sanctuary
shall be in the midst of them for evermore.