Basic Bible Doctrine

I. The Appreciation of the Bible

We will be looking at the uniqueness of the Bible in general. The Bible is the greatest book ever written. Although its earliest portions date back over 3,300 years, it is still relevant and fresh. Its uniqueness is seen, in a general way, by the following.

A. Its Unequaled Translations

It has been translated into more languages and dialects than any other book in history–by far. In 1500, it had been printed in fourteen languages; today, all or parts have been translated in well over 2,000 languages.

B. Its Unequaled Circulation

Since 1804 over 6 billion Bibles have been issued by Bible societies alone. Every year more than 40 million copies of the complete Bible and New Testament are circulated.

C. Its Unequaled Preservation

Dating from the early second century there is in existence more than 13,000 manuscripts of either, all or part of the New Testament. In addition, thousands of Scripture references are quoted in the writings of the Church Fathers from 100 AD to 450 AD. The Scriptures have been preserved far beyond any other ancient documents. All of these things, in a general way, demonstrate that God is the originator of Scripture.

II. The Inspiration of the Bible

Inspiration, though it is related to it, is not revelation. Revelation refers to the fact that God disclosed and revealed His mind and will by objective truth in many different ways, through the prophets and apostles (Numbers 12:5-8; Hebrews 1:1-2). Inspiration refers to the fact that the Bible — all of Scripture, in all its parts and categories came into existence by God’s own initiative and direction. It asserts that God produced the Scripture. They came from God. Therefore, the Scriptures being the product of God’s own activity, are His inerrant Word. Put simply, inspiration means that the Scriptures ultimately come from God. It means that, not only the concepts and teaching of Scripture, but the very words of Scripture as well, are all the product of God’s own initiative, oversight, and activity. The same thing can be said of Scripture that is said of the physical universe in Psalm 33:6. Each came into existence by God’s creative power. Psalm 33:6 says, By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, and by the breath of His mouth all their host.

A. God Is The Author Of The Bible (2 Timothy 3:16).

2 Timothy says, “All Scripture is inspired by God.” The word inspiration means “God-breathed” (as translated in the NIV). This is the strongest possible language to emphasize that the Scriptures originate from God. He breathed them out. This is vivid language to emphasize, not that God actually breathed, but that the Scriptures came to be as a result of His plan, direction, creative effort, and activity (though He used men).

B. Men Were The Agents God Used To Write The Bible (2 Peter 1:20-21).

God used men to write Scripture. However, He used them in such a way that it did not interfere with the fact that the Bible is, in the end, in the fullest sense God’s Word.

It is evident in reading the Bible that the individual personalities and writing styles of the human authors were used by God in the writing of Scripture. Therefore, inspiration did not involve a mechanical dictation of any sort between God and man (1 Corinthians 2:13).

The writers were borne along so that they wrote exactly what God wanted to be written (2 Peter 1:20-21). God, while allowing the freedom of their own writing style and personalities, miraculously oversaw the process so that in the end they wrote exactly what He wanted written.

The final result is that while men are the intermediate agents, the Holy Spirit is the ultimate and original author of Scripture (Acts 1:16 4:25).

C. The Authority Of Scripture Is Final And Absolute.

It must be heard and practiced (James 1:22-24). Christ and the Apostles constantly appealed to it as their final authority. (Matthew 4:1-11, 24:42, 26:31; Acts 2:16, 25-24).

III. The Verification that the Bible is the Word of God

A. The Formation Of The Bible.

The Bible was written by forty different men over a period of 1,500 years. It was written in many diverse locations: Babylon, Rome, Ephesus, the Judean Desert, an isolated island in the Mediterranean, etc. Men from different cultures, classes, ages and professions, such as prophets, kings, court officials, shepherds, priests, fishermen, theologians, judges, a tax collector, a doctor and a farmer, were writers. Yet, in all of this, there is complete harmony and continuity, with unity around a central theme, the Lord Jesus Christ.

B. Fulfilled Prophecy.

The Bible has numerous prophecies of detailed events fulfilled to the letter. The overthrow of great cities (Tyre, Babylon, etc.), the rise and succession of world powers, the dispersion and persecution of the Jews, the ultimate restoration of the Jews to Palestine, the rise of great personalities (Cyrus, Alexander), and many details of Christ’s first coming are a few examples. The following are specific prophecies fulfilled by Christ at His First Coming.

C. Archaeology.

Archaeological discoveries have proven over and over the historical accuracy of the Bible. The following are a few examples. Inscriptions mentioning biblical events, such as the enrollment and census in Luke, rulers as Quirinius, Lysonias, Gallio, and nearly all Old Testament Gentile rulers have been found. Biblical places, such as Solomon’s stables and copper furnaces, a furnace and pit in Babylon, as well as most biblical cities and towns including Abraham’s home of Ur have been unearthed. In addition, the social customs of the times of the patriarchs, and writing in the time of Moses, have been verified. (See “Evidence That Demands a Verdict” for specifics.)

D. The Testimony Of Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ’s opinion of the Scriptures testifies of their inspiration:

E. Our Choice About Jesus Christ And The Scriptures.

We don’t have a real choice when it comes to Christ and the Scriptures. He clearly taught that the Scriptures, including its very words and its historical narratives, were from God. If we reject his view of Scripture, we are left with choices 2 or 3 below, which is impossible.

↑ Contents

I. The Priority of Reading and Studying the Bible.

Learning the Word of God is something every Christian can and must do. In fact, it is so important God has given us the Holy Spirit so that we can learn and understand His Word (1 Corinthians 2:10; 1 John 2:20, 27).

A. We Are To STUDY To Be Approved.

(2 Timothy 2:15). The believer is to be diligent so that he can handle the Word of God accurately and be approved of God. Diligence means we must be willing to put in the time and effort.

B. We Are To SEEK It As Treasure.

(Proverbs 2:4). The Bible must be sought as one would seek for silver and gold. It must be learned, realizing that within it are hidden treasures that will enable you to live in a way that glorifies Christ.

C. We Are To RECEIVE It With Receptive Hearts.

(Luke 8:15; James 1:21). The key to learning the Word of God is the heart. Our whole inner man must be open to receive the Word of God. We are to welcome it even if it hurts and convicts us, for it is able to “save our soul” and make us fruitful and prosperous. One way to receive the Word of God is to conserve it by taking notes as you hear the Word preached and taught.

D. We Are To Be Doers Of The Word.

If we are hearers only, we are deceiving ourselves (James 1:22). The extent to which we learn God’s Word and apply it will be the degree to which we grow (1 Peter 2:1-2). Jesus taught that one’s overall response to the Word is the mark of the true believer (the wise man) and the unbeliever (the foolish man–Matthew 7:24-28).

II. A Plan for Reading the Bible.

The Word of God is as important to the spiritual life as food is to the physical life. If we ate only once a week before long we would be dead. In the same way, if our only intake of the Word of God is on Sunday, we will die a slow, spiritual death.

A. The Practice Of Bible Reading.

Making Bible reading a part of your life is something that requires commitment. It must be seen not as something that you fit into your schedule, but as something around which your schedule revolves. The following things are helpful in establishing a meaningful reading time.

Read in spite of your feelings. Always be honest with God about your feelings. Expect to be blessed anyway. Remind yourself of the stakes involved. It is spirituality or superficiality; maturity or mediocrity.

Pray that the Holy Spirit will show you things about Himself and your spiritual life (Psalm 119:18).

B. Two Plans For Bible Reading.

You will read books several times the first year; the New Testament twice. By the third year you will have read the entire Bible.

1 John seven times - once daily. John twice - four chapters daily. Mark twice -four chapters daily. Galatians through Philemon - one book daily. Luke - four chapters daily. Acts - four chapters daily. Romans - four chapters daily. Read the New Testament twice - three chapters daily.

A Proverb every day for four months. Two other wisdom literature chapters daily: Job, Psalms, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon. Read repeatedly for one month the following: 1 John, 1 Thessalonians, Philippians, Ephesians, James, Romans 5-8, Colossians, John 14-17.

One New Testament chapter daily (until finished). Two Old Testament chapters daily. Five Old Testament chapters each Sunday.

Read three chapters in a day, to finish it in a year. Read it straight through like a story. Learn it’s history and see the unfolding plan of redemption.

Read each short book through daily for one month. Divide the longer books into sections and read each section daily for a month (John - three sections of seven chapters; Romans - four sections of four chapters, etc.). In 2½ years you will have read the entire New Testament thirty times.

C. Preserving The Word Of God.

Memorizing the Word of God

How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according to Your Word. … Your Word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against You. (Psalm 119:9, 11)

Jesus repulsed Satan by quoting the memorized Word three times. We must control our thought life by responding with the appropriate Word of God (Matthew 4:4, 7, 10).

How to do it: C Repeat it. C Explain it. C Put it into your own words. C Review it–silently and aloud. C Review with another person-test/ challenge each other. You can do it:

We all memorize telephone numbers, car licenses, lock combinations, jingles, etc. Do it when you go for a walk, take a rest, work around the house, or drive in the car.

III. Studying the Word of God.

Studying the Word of God is different than reading. Reading is faster and is not concerned as much with detail. Study is a deeper look. Study involves more thinking and recording.

A. Basic Bible Study Tools.

B. A Basic Procedure For Study.

There are really only three steps to studying no matter what depth or detail you may go to. Anyone can learn these steps and with practice become skilled at it. Each step asks and answers a basic question.

Interpretation is taking the thing found through observation and then determining the full meaning of the passage. Basic questions are also important to discovering the meaning. What is the author talking about? What is his subject? What does the author say about his subject? Why is he writing? What is his purpose?

Four basic sources are used in discovering the meaning of the passage.

Interpretation requires meditation, (thinking) and investigation. Do not be afraid to think and draw conclusions about what something means if you have done the above.

Application is the goal of Bible study. The Bible was given to affect our attitudes, values, activities, priorities, etc. Some Scriptures directly apply to us, others indirectly apply to us, others indirectly apply to us by principles. Questions are involved here also.

↑ Contents

I. The Confusion Over the Trinity

A. It Is Denied By The Cults.

The Trinity is denied by most cults. This is not surprising for the Trinity is not a truth that is reasonable to the natural mind (1 Corinthians 2:14). Men could never have conceived of the Trinity by their own reasoning. We can only know as much about the being of God as God sees fit to reveal (1 Corinthians 2:9-11). The Trinity of God’s Being was made known to us only by God’s own revelation in the Bible. To deny the Trinity is a mark of an antichrist and a cult, and it is a denial of God (John 5:23; 1 John 2:22-23).

B. It Is Distorted By Some Christians.

The Trinity is often distorted by Christians. For example; it is sometimes implied that there are three Gods so like-minded and like-natured that they are treated as one. Sometimes the Trinity is conceived as one God who wears different masks at different times. One thing we need to keep in mind is that illustrations of the Trinity from nature and experience will always fail at some point.

II. The Explanation of the Trinity

The solution to understanding the Trinity is to keep in mind that there are not three Gods who are one. Three does not equal one. God is one in a different way than He is three. God is singular in one sense and plural in another.

A. The Oneness Of God.

God is one in essence. The essence of God is the “stuff” or substance that God is made of. It is in this sense that there is only one God (Deuteronomy 6:4). God is spirit (John 4:24). Although spirit is nonmaterial, it is still a real substance. As a substance, it takes up space and can be present (Like oxygen takes up space in this room!). So God is spirit, yet there is only one spirit which is God. There are not three spirits. This is how Jesus and the Father are one [thing] (John 10:30).

God is also one in attributes. Attributes are the qualities of God’s nature. They are those qualities in God’s being that determine how God thinks, wills and feels. God’s being is Omniscient (Isaiah 40:13-14, 46:9-11), Omnipotent (Jeremiah 32:27; Revelation 1:8), Righteous (2 Timothy 4:8), Holy (1 Peter 1:16, 17), Good (Mark 10:17,18), Truth and Love (1 John 4:8). There is only one set of attributes. The Father, Son and Holy Spirit all possess and exercise the same attributes, which belong to the one essence.

B. The Threeness Of God.

God is three in person. A person in this sense is not a separate being, but an individualization - a conscious individual who is a center of thinking, of willing, of feeling. Scripture declares that there are three persons (three centers of thinking, feeling and willing) who are God. There is only one God, (that is, only one being of spirit and attributes) but possessing, at the same time, the entire spirit and attributes are three distinct persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

III. The Demonstration of the Trinity from Scripture

In the Old Testament there is the plural word used for God (Elohim). Plural pronouns are used for God as well (Genesis 1:26-27; Isaiah 6:8). It is in the New Testament that the teaching of the Trinity is fully developed.

A. Jesus Christ Is Declared And Demonstrated To Be God.

He is directly stated to be God in John 1:1, 20:28; Titus 2:13; Hebrews 1: 10-12. In addition to this, He does what only God can do. He knows all (John 1:47, 6:64; Revelation 2:23), is everywhere (Matthew 28:20), creates (John 1:3), forgives sin (Mark 2:1-12), is trusted as God (John 14:1-3), and is worshiped (John 9:35-38; Revelation 22:8,9).

B. The Holy Spirit Is God.

The Holy Spirit is directly stated to be God as well (Acts 5: 3-4; 2 Corinthians 3:17). In addition, He is eternal (Hebrews 9:14). He also does what only God can do. He knows all things (Romans 8:26). He created and gives life (Romans 8:2, 11).

CONCLUSION

The Bible insists there is one God (Deuteronomy 6:4). Yet it also plainly reveals three persons who are called God and do things only God can do. The conclusion is the Trinity. God is one in being and nature, yet three persons possess the being and nature at the same time.

↑ Contents

I. The Incarnation – the Birth of Jesus Christ

The incarnation is a term that refers to the fact that God became a human being. The eternal God came to earth in the form of human flesh. The incarnation took place at the birth of Jesus Christ.

A. Jesus Christ Existed Prior To His Birth.

Although he was born before Jesus, (Luke 1:24-26, 31) John the Baptist said that Jesus existed before him (John 1:15). Jesus Christ Himself said that He eternally existed (John 8:58; John 6:51). The apostles taught that Jesus Christ had no beginning but existed for all eternity past (John 1:1-2). The person of Jesus Christ did not begin at His birth. His human nature began to exist at his conception and birth, but as the Son of God He existed eternally without beginning. He is before all things and has rank over all things (this is the meaning of ‘firstborn’) because as creator, He eternally existed and made all things (Colossians 1:15-17; John 1:3).

B. Jesus Christ Has Two Natures.

Jesus Christ possesses a divine nature which He has as God, and He possesses a human nature which He took upon Himself at His birth, (Matthew 18; Luke 1:31, 35). He is one person, but He can act in either His human nature or in the realm of His divine nature. The two natures remain distinct. They are never confused. The union of two natures will last forever. Jesus Christ will always remain the God-Man.

Note: It was only in His human nature and the redemptive mission that He came to fulfill that the Father was greater than Christ (John 14:28). In His essential, divine being Christ is co-equal with the Father (John 14:9).

As a result of the incarnation, God is now able to relate to mankind in a way not possible before. He experienced the full scope of human temptation (although it was not possible for Jesus to sin - Hebrews 4:13). Why do you think it was not possible for Christ to sin?

He began life as a baby (Luke 2:5). He grew and developed (Luke 2:40, 52). He experienced normal human emotions, such as weeping (John 11:35). He became hungry and thirsty (John 19:28). He became weary and tired (John 4:6; Matthew 8:24). He felt the pain of physical suffering (Matthew 27:27-32). He experienced the anxiety of impending death (Hebrews 5:7; Luke 22:41-43).

II. His Redemption – the Death of Jesus Christ

The reason why God came to earth and took upon Himself a body of flesh was so that He could die. God is a spirit (John 4:24) and can’t die. By becoming man it was possible for Him to die. Jesus Christ came to the earth for the express purpose of dying for sinners (1 Timothy 1:15).

A. Jesus Christ’s Death Was The Payment For Sin.

Redemption is a payment of a ransom price that brings deliverance or release. Sin had incurred an infinite debt of guilt before a holy God. Therefore, Jesus Christ the God-man paid the price, (a ransom price, Matthew 20:28) to release sinners through His death on the cross. He has purchased a complete deliverance and freedom for those who believe (Ephesians 1:7; Romans 3:24).

Men are spiritually dead and unresponsive to their spiritual need (Ephesians 2:1). They are all sinners unable to merit acceptance with God on the basis of their own works (Romans 3:10-12, 21, 23). They are condemned and under the penalty of wrath and eternal death (Ephesians 2:3; Romans 6:23). Their need for redemption is infinite, completely beyond their own ability too accomplish.

Christ died as a substitute in the place of sinners (2 Corinthians 5:21). God saw His death as the payment for the guilt of unjust sinners. It was the just punished for the unjust (1 Peter 2:21-24, 3:18). He died as a substitute, who laid down His life for His sheep (John 10:15), and as One who gave Himself up for His church (Ephesians 5:25).

Christ’s death was also a propitiation (Hebrews 2:17). That is, it is a sacrifice that totally satisfied God’s holiness and righteous requirements for the violation of His law (Romans 3:25). It completely removed God’s wrath, such that those who believe are now in a position of favor before God (1 John 4:10-11). He put away the guilt and wrath of sin by the sacrifice of Himself (Hebrews 9:26; 10:10, 12).

B. Jesus Christ’s Death Must Be Appropriated Personally.

Jesus Christ has paid the full price for sin. However, personal reconciliation with God occurs only when a person, by a repentant faith, appropriates Jesus Christ’s death for themselves (2 Corinthians 5:19-20).

No man has to stay in a state of condemnation. God has made a sacrifice sufficient for the sins of all. He freely offers pardon and life to all.

Belief involves first of all a repentant attitude toward sin (Acts 20:21). The Holy Spirit’s conviction causes a person to see sin in its evil nature. Sin is against Christ’s rightful authority and will, as well as being a hard-hearted despising of His dying love (John 16:7-11).

True saving faith therefore involves an attitude of surrender to Christ’s Lordship (2 Corinthians 4:5). (This does not rule out further surrender as God reveals sin in our life, nor does this attitude of surrender refer to acts of obedience that follow.) Belief also means we renounce any dependence on our own efforts to merit acceptance with God, and put all reliance on His death and resurrection for us (Ephesians 2: 8-10). It is not a mere intellectual agreement to facts; it is a personal commitment that comes from the heart (Romans 10: 9-10).

What Must a Person Do to Be Saved?

↑ Contents

I. The Promises of the Word of God Are the Primary Basis of Assurance.

First of all, we can have assurance of salvation because of the promises of the Word of God. Salvation does not depend on our feelings. There are times in our lives when we just do not feel very saved, but this does not alter the fact that if you have accepted the Lord Jesus Christ, you are saved. Feelings can be very deceptive, but feelings never change facts. The fact is that the Word of God states that if a person has put his faith and complete trust in the Person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ, he/she is saved.

A. If We Believe In Jesus Christ, We Have Eternal Life (John 3:16; 6:47).

B. If We Believe In Jesus Christ, We Will Never Be Judged For Our Sins (John 5:24).

Believers will never stand before God for the judgment of their sins (John 3:18, 5:24; Romans 8:1). The judgment, for all their sins, fell upon Jesus Christ (Hebrews 9:26, 10:14). However, believers, though they will not be judged for their sins, will be judged for their works. This will determine if they are to receive a reward which will last for eternity (1 Corinthians 3:11-15; Romans 14:10-12). This is the same kind of judgment as we see in Olympic events where awards are given.

C. If We Believe In Jesus Christ, We Have the Son Of God, And If We Have The Son, We May Know That We Have Eternal Life (1 John 5:10-13).

The devil will tempt us to doubt we are saved. When we sin He will cause us to doubt that God could still accept us. To overcome this we must rely on the fact of the Word of God. The fact is that if we have placed our faith in Jesus Christ we have eternal life.

II. The Change in Our Life is the Secondary Basis If Assurance.

We can also have assurance of salvation because of the change that has taken place in our lives. Our attitudes, desires and lifestyle are all changed so that we know that we are saved. The primary basis for our assurance is the generosity and mercy of God, offered to us in His promises (Ephesians 2:4-5). Our own works, in and of themselves, could never form a final basis of our assurance. However, this doesn’t rule out the place of works. As Luther said, “Faith alone saves but the faith that saves is never alone.” Because of the work of regeneration (the New Birth) and God’s continual working in our lives, there will be growth in holiness (Hebrews 12:14). This new direction (not perfection) in our lives toward God and holiness is a secondary reason for assurance.

A. We Have A Spirit Of Obedience.

We also now obey Jesus Christ (1 John 2: 3-4). Before we were saved we did not care about obeying Christ. Now we want to keep His Word. We may sin and rebel at times, but overall there is an attitude of heart that obeys. This is the evidence of the heart of flesh given in the new birth that causes us to walk in His statutes (Ezekiel 36:25-27).

Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances (Ezekiel 36:25-27).

B. We Have A Desire For Righteousness.

Another change that takes place is in our desire for righteousness. Things that never bothered us before now bring guilt and conviction. We now want to do what is right. We love righteousness and grieve over sin (1 John 2:29, 3:8-10).

C. We Have A Love For Other Christians.

We also know that we are saved because of the love we have for other Christians. Before we were saved, we stayed away from believers. Now, however, God has put within us a need for fellowship with, and love for, other believers (1 John 2:9-11, 3:14-15).

These changes take place with every believer. In fact, if these changes do not become evident in the believer’s life, it is safe to question their salvation. On the other hand, when we see these changes in our life, we can have assurance that we have been saved.

III. The Testimony of the Holy Spirit with Our Spirit.

Assurance of salvation also comes when the Holy Spirit testifies with our spirit that we are children of God (Romans 8:16). Our own spirit recognizes the promises of God’s Word and the change in our life, because of our relationship with God. The Holy Spirit then testifies in agreement with our spirit that we truly belong to God. He gives us assurance that we are God’s.

These are the three reasons why the believer can be assured of his salvation. Of the three, the most important are the promises of the Word of God. Sin can dull the inward assurance of the Holy Spirit, but nothing can change the fact of what is written in the Word of God. Assurance comes when we take God at His Word in spite of our feelings, and when we see a life direction in righteousness that desires to keep God’s Word.

↑ Contents

I. The Infinite Value of Christ’s Death

A. Jesus Christ’s Death Paid For All Sins: Past, Present And Future.

The main reason for the security of the Christian is the value and sufficiency of Jesus Christ’s death. According to Scripture, “we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all” (Hebrews 10:10). Now if Jesus Christ paid only for the sins we committed up to the point of our salvation then perhaps we could lose our salvation. However, His death was a payment for all our sins for all time. “He put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself” (Hebrews 9:26). Any sin the believer might commit has already been paid for and forgiven (Colossians 2:13-14).

B. Jesus Christ’s Death Satisfied God’s Holiness And Righteous Wrath Towards Our Sin.

Looked at from another way, we can say that Jesus Christ’s death was a propitiation (Romans 3:25). That is, it completely satisfied God’s holiness and offended righteousness. Some people think that a believer who sins loses his salvation because God is a holy God who will not tolerate sin. It is true God does not tolerate sin. However, God’s holiness is maintained when a believer sins, not by the loss of salvation, but because Jesus Christ’s death was a propitiation that satisfied God’s holiness. Therefore, since “He offered one sacrifice for sins for all time” (Hebrews 10:12). “He … put away sin” (Hebrews 9:26). God’s holiness is entirely satisfied. Therefore, Jesus’ death guarantees the believers salvation.

II. The Indestructibility of Christ’s Resurrected Life

A. Jesus Christ Intercedes For The Christian.

Jesus Christ will never condemn the believer. In fact, He intercedes for struggling and defeated Christians. His perfect atoning death is the basis of His intercession, and because of it He keeps and restores His people (Romans 8: 32-34). Because of Jesus Christ’s intercession, the believer will be saved completely and eternally (Hebrews 7:25).

B. Jesus Christ Is the Believers Advocate.

Intercession relates to our problems on earth, and how Christ protects, keeps and restores us. His work as advocate relates to our problem in heaven. Whenever we sin, Satan quickly accuses us before God in heaven. He accuses us of being unworthy and charges God with tolerating sin. However, Christ as our advocate comes to our defense (1 John 2: 1-2). He does not deny that we are unworthy, but He insists that we are forever God’s child because He has made propitiation for us. He has removed the wrath and judgement that we justly deserve (1 John 2:2).

III. The Immutability of God’s (Unchanging) Eternal Electing Love

God’s unchanging, unconditional love is the next reason the believer is eternally secure (Micah 7:18). God’s love for His people is demonstrated first of all by the fact that He personally and individually chose each believer to be saved before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4-5). Eternal election is a great proof of God’s love. In fact, Paul connects “Those who have been chosen by God’ with “being holy [set apart] and beloved”, Colossians 3:12. He chose us, not because He knew we would believe, since without Him giving us the gift of faith we would not have believed (John 6:44; Philippians 1:29). He chose us simply because of His infinite love and grace (Romans 9:11-12; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Timothy 1:9). In other words, though He knew of our sinfulness before our salvation; as well as the fact, that we would at times fall into sin after our salvation, He still chose us. God’s electing love, therefore, is one reason why nothing can separate us from His love in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:35, 39). It is why no charge can be brought against God’s elect (Romans 8:33).

In addition, God’s immutable love, is demonstrated by the fact that Christ died for our sins while we were sinners, ungodly and enemies (Romans 5: 6, 8, 10). In other words, God loved and saved us when we did nothing to deserve or merit it. He loved us at our worst. How can we now be rejected for demerit if we were not loved and accepted based on our own merit to start with? God’s unconditional love guarantees our place in His family. The love of God for His people is Paul’s theme as well in Romans eight. The concluding argument for the certainty of our final salvation is that, God, in Christ, has already done everything for us (Romans 8:31-34). Therefore nothing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:39).

IV. The Indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

The last reason for the security of the believer is the indwelling ministry of the Holy Spirit.

A. The Holy Spirit Indwells Us Forever.

That every believer has received the Holy Spirit and His presence within, is proof of our security. Jesus Himself said the Holy Spirit would abide forever (John 14:16). The Holy Spirit does not leave when we sin. He grieves when we sin (Ephesians 4:30), and He is quenched when we do not yield to God (1 Thessalonians 5:19), which shows that He never leaves. The permanent presence of the Holy Spirit in the believer is a pledge that we are eternally secure (2 Corinthians 5:5).

B. The Holy Spirit Sealed Us Until The Day Of Redemption.

A seal is a mark of ownership that signifies protection and security. We have been sealed by the Holy Spirit and are God’s possession under His care. The sealing guarantees the rest of our inheritance (Ephesians 1:14) in heaven, and remains with us until Christ comes on the day of redemption (Ephesians 4:30).

↑ Contents

I. The Great Change at Conversion for True Believers

The true believer will persevere because of two great changes that occur at salvation. They are basic realities true of all who are genuinely saved.

A. The Character And Nature Of Regeneration.

The first reason that all true Christians persevere is because of the radical nature of the new birth (1 John 3:9). This is the great change in the believers nature that always leads (in spite of constant battles with sin) to holiness (Hebrews 12:14). The believer’s nature has been washed and renewed (Titus 3:5), and created after the image of God in righteousness and holiness of the truth (Ephesians 4:24). The predominant (though not absolute) tendency is now to righteousness (1 John 2:29; 3:9). Therefore, true believers (although facing many battles with sin) grow in Christ-likeness (2 Corinthians 3:18). The mark of true believers is, as Jesus Himself said, they are freed from the power of sin. Its power has been broken in their lives (John 8:31-36). Sin will never again totally enslave a true believer.

B. The Continued Operation Of God’s Grace In A Believer’s Life.

The second reason that true believers persevere in their walks is because of God’s continued working in their lives. In salvation, God becomes the Christian’s father (Romans 8:15). Therefore, He promises to continuously work in them (Philippians 2:13) and to conform them to Christ. Paul says; we all are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory (2 Corinthians 3:18). Paul says all Christians are being transformed, not just some. In other words, God’s grace includes not only justification, but regeneration (the new birth) and sanctification as well. Paul states it this way in Romans 6:14: For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace. Paul states a reality. He did not say sin should not be master over the believer, but it shall not. In other words, the continued ongoing work of God’s grace in the lives of all Christians, assures that the genuine believer will grow in his sanctification such that sin will no longer dominate him. Paul makes it clear that God is continually working in us to both to will and to work for His good pleasure (Philippians 2:13). This ‘working’ includes the discipline of God (Hebrews 12:5-6), and the grieving of the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4:30). Therefore, the true believer, in spite of many battles and failings with sin, not only should, but will, grow in holiness and Christ-likeness.

II. The Interconnected Nature of Salvation

The final perseverance of believers can be further understood by recognizing that God’s work in the believer is in three distinct yet inseparable aspects. All three of the following occur in all Christians (Romans 8:30).

A. Justification.

First there is justification. Justification refers to the fact that God declares (as a verdict) that believers are righteous before Him as a result of the imputation (or crediting) of Christ’s righteousness to their account (Romans 4:5-6). In other words, God remains just when He justifies believing sinners because His justice was satisfied by the death of Christ (Romans 3:25-26). Justification is based on their positional, legal union (not their living or vital union), with Christ through faith alone. It is a finished and final act; a settled status before God for time and all eternity (Romans 5:1; Luke 18:14).

B. Regeneration.

Connected with justification, and true in each and every believer, is regeneration, what we call the new birth. This is the radical renewing of the believer’s nature so that a new lifestyle inevitably emerges (Titus 3:5; 2 Corinthians 5:14-17). True believers have been so changed that they can no longer practice a life of sin (1 John 3:9-10).

C. Sanctification.

Next, because of the radical change of nature brought about by regeneration, true in each and every believer, is sanctification. This is the progressive growth of the believer in holiness. Because of the radical nature of regeneration and God’s ongoing work in their lives, sanctification always follows, though it varies from Christian to Christian (this is where rewards come in). The Bible envisions no true believers who do not grow in holiness in some regard. This is the teaching of Paul (Romans 6), John (1 John 2:28; 3:10) and James (James 2:14-24). This, of course, does not minimize battles with sin and periods of succumbing to sin (Romans 7:15-25). However, there is no believer who is habitually and indefinitely in sin with no evidence of true change (1 John 3:4-10). There is no permanently ‘carnal’ believer who never grows or learns obedience. The ‘carnal’ Christians of 1 Corinthians 3:1-3 were not said to be permanently rebellious, nor, in their case, had they rebelled to the point of leaving the church. They were jealous and filled with strife, but they hadn’t abandoned themselves indefinitely to a life of sin.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, it can be said that, while the security of the believer is a truth of Scripture to be contended for and taught, it must not be presented without also teaching the reality of the final perseverance of true saints. The God who justifies and secures is also the God who regenerates, and the God who regenerates is also the God who sanctifies. This is nothing more than a feeble attempt to restate Paul’s words in Romans 8:29-30: For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed (sanctified) to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified. In other words, there is an unbreakable chain in God’s operation of grace in the believer’s life.

↑ Contents

I. The Importance of the Local Church

The Scripture commands the believer to become an integral part of the church body (Hebrews 10:25). God’s commands are always for our good. We are not able to grow to full maturity in isolation from a local church fellowship. All of us are prone to wavering and we loose a primary source of stimulation (Hebrews 10:23-24). The local church meets certain needs and carries out specific functions that are vital to our spiritual health.

A. The Stimulation It Provides To Love And Good Works (Hebrews 10:23-25).

We need constant encouragement to continue to love one another and to do good works. It is easy to become lax and discouraged. However, when believers meet together and the Word of God is preached, believers are able to constantly encourage one another (sometimes just by example) to continue serving Christ. Believers who skip meeting together miss this valuable asset.

B. It Provides The Four Ingredients To Spiritual Health (Acts 2:42).

Luke mentions four vital functions of the church body. Teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread and prayer. To grow we must have consistent in-depth teaching, sharing with other believers in fellowship, the unity and oneness experienced through communion, and the encouragement and edification of group prayer.

C. The Guidance And Example Of Mature Leadership (Hebrews 13:7, 17).

All of us need spiritual supervision. God places shepherds over us to watch for our spiritual growth. Without the care and guidance of pastoral leadership, God will not be able to mature us as He desires. It is critical that we are in a local body to benefit from God’s appointed leaders.

D. The Equipping For Ministry (Ephesians 4:11-12).

Another important benefit of the local church is that it equips the believer for ministry. Through the ministry of pastor/ teachers and evangelists, as well as the opportunities given to serve, the believer grows to the point to where he/she is mature enough to serve in the body of Christ in the area God has designed.

II. Our Responsibilities to the Local Church.

Not only are there benefits that we receive from the local church, but we have responsibilities to the body. The church is not there simply for what we can get out of it. We are to have input into it as well.

III. Ministering Your Spiritual Gift in the Church

A. Definition.

A spiritual gift is an ability given by the Holy Spirit at salvation that enables the believer to serve effectively in the body. They are neither talents nor physical abilities, as are singing, piano playing, and writing, etc. They are enablements given to the believer when he becomes a member of the body of Christ.

B. The Explanation Of Spiritual Gifts.

1 Corinthians 12:7 says, to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. Every believer has been endowed by the Spirit with a special ability to minister to the body. See also Ephesians 4:7; 1 Corinthians 12:18; Romans 12: 3-4; 1 Peter 4:9-11.

Our function in the body was God’s choice not ours (1 Corinthians 12:18). In His wisdom He knows how to place gifts in the body as they are needed. Each gift is determined by God and is necessary for the total function of the church. There are no unnecessary and insignificant parts (1 Corinthians 12:20-23).

The purpose of our spiritual gift is that we minister to the body of Christ by the capacity God has designed (1 Peter 4: 9-10). They are not for our own edification and benefit (1 Corinthians 12:7, 14:12). Some may minister their spiritual gift when the church meets together; others when the church is scattered during the week. The important thing is that we remember that God has given each of us a spiritual gift to serve the body.

C. The Distinction In Spiritual Gifts.

There are two kinds of gifts which have been given to the body of Christ. There are permanent spiritual gifts which relate to the general function of the body. There were also temporary spiritual gifts which related to the apostolic ministry and to the initial foundation period of the church. Temporary gifts ceased with the completion of the New Testament and the end of the apostolic ministry.

The permanent gifts are spiritual gifts which began in the early church and still go on today. They do not cease. We could call them long-term gifts. They are given to members of the body today. You have one of these gifts.

Certain gifts were temporary, given to confirm and authenticate the apostles’ message and ministry. These were miraculous in nature, and were needed not only to confirm the apostolic ministry in general, but to confirm the apostles’ ministry of revealing and giving us the New Testament as the final and complete Word of God (Hebrews 2:3-4). Some gifts gave revelation, such as apostles, prophets, knowledge, and wisdom. Other gifts confirmed the revelation, such as tongues, healing, miracles, interpretation of tongues and discerning of spirits. With the completion of the revelation in the New Testament by the apostles, these gifts ceased (Hebrews 2:4; 1 Corinthians 13:10).

God has worked in the past with men as agents of signs and wonders, but it was always associated with the beginning of a new era of revelation such as Moses and Elijah and Elisha. The apostolic ministry which was responsible for the revelation that became the New Testament followed the same pattern (2 Corinthians 12:12).

There is a difference between miracles and the miraculous gifts. We should pray for and expect the miraculous, for God still works miracles. The ability to accomplish it, however, does not reside in any individual as it did with the apostolic ministry (2 Corinthians 12:12). This is evidenced not only in Scripture but by the fact that no ministry can rightly claim to, nor has actually duplicated, the miracles of the apostles.

↑ Contents

I. The Holy Spirit is a Person.

The Holy Spirit is God, the third person of the Trinity. The Holy Spirit is not an “it”. He is referred to by Jesus with personal pronouns (John 14:16). He has emotions for He can be grieved (Ephesians 4:30). He has a mind since He knows all things (1 Corinthians 2:11). The Holy Spirit is a divine person who Jesus said would be a comforter and a helper in exactly the same way as He (John 14:16, 26).

II. The Holy Spirit’s Convicting Work Upon the Unsaved.

A. The Need For The Convicting Work.

The unsaved are naturally resistant and antagonistic to Jesus Christ (Romans 8:7-8). They are blind to God’s grace in the gospel and they do not seek God (Romans 3:11). The only reason a person ever seeks God is the convicting work of the Holy Spirit within. Men left alone would never accept Christ (John 6:44).

B. The Nature Of The Convicting Work.

The Holy Spirit convicts men about three specific things so that they eventually turn to Christ for salvation (John 16:7-11).

The apex and height of their sin and rebellion is evidenced in the ultimate rebellion of refusing to turn to Christ.

The Holy Spirit’s conviction doesn’t always lead to salvation. Some are convicted without being converted. To bring a person to complete salvation, God must further intervene with regeneration. Apart from regeneration no one will receive Christ. The heart which loves darkness won’t permit it (John 3:19-20). In the case of the elect, the Holy Spirit’s conviction is always efficacious (effective), for God intervenes and they are born again (Ephesians 2:4-5; 1 Peter 1:3).

III. The Holy Spirit’s Ministry to the Believer.

The promise of the Holy Spirit is the great overall blessing of the believer. All the believers’ experience and joy in Christ comes through the Spirit. Those without the Spirit are unsaved (Galatians 3:14). There are five key ministries that the Holy Spirit does for the believer. Four are true of every believer when he is first saved. The other, Spirit- filling, is experienced as believers yield to the Spirit on a daily basis.

A. The Regeneration.

The Holy Spirit causes us to be born again, so that we turn and believe in Christ (John 3:3). He gives God’s life to us, so that we are totally new. When He regenerates us, He gives us eternal life within as a permanent possession (Ephesians 2:4-5; John 3:3-6; John 5:11-12). He makes us spiritually alive. Not only does He impart life, but He renews and reconstructs our nature. As sin once reached and affected every part of our nature, so regeneration reaches and changes us in every part (Titus 3:5). We are now dominantly (though not perfectly) righteous. Our nature is now pervasively (though not absolutely) renewed, so that righteousness is its dominant tendency (Ephesians 4:24; Hebrews 8:10).

B. The Baptism (1 Corinthians 12:13; Acts 1:5, 11:15-17).

The Spirit’s Baptism is the term that describes the overall work of the Spirit in the believer’s life. It means “immerse” or the plunge. It is, to use Peter’s words, the pouring forth of the Holy Spirit into every believer’s life at salvation by the resurrected Christ (Acts 2:33; Titus 3:6). Therefore, the Spirit’s baptism also involves His work of uniting us to Jesus Christ and placing us into the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:13), as well as all of His other works, such as indwelling (Acts 11:15-17) and sealing.

C. The Indwelling.

The Holy Spirit comes to abide in the believer at the moment of salvation (John 14:16). He indwells the believer forever; He will never leave (John 14:16; Ephesians 4:30). In fact, the mark of a true Christian is the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:9, 5:5; Ephesians 1:13; Jude 19).

D. The Sealing (Ephesians 1:13).

Every believer is also sealed by the Holy Spirit. A seal signifies possession and security. The Holy Spirit seals us and it is a pledge of our final security. The Holy Spirit is Himself the seal.

E. The Spirit-Filling (Ephesians 5:18; Acts 4:31)

Spirit-filling is the ministry of the Holy Spirit in which He empowers, controls, and takes over the believer, producing Christ-likeness in him, as well as power for ministry and service. Without Spirit-filling, the believer does not enjoy victory or growth, nor is he empowered with boldness and power for effective ministry. Spirit-filling is not always true of every believer all the time, but only when he is yielding in obedience, while praying and trusting in God’s Word on a moment by moment basis. There are also repeated fillings for power in ministry, as seen by Acts 4:31.

IV. Summary of the Spirit’s Ministries

A. Convicting Ministry.

Toward people in their unsaved state.

B. Regeneration, Indwelling, Sealing And Baptism.

To all believers at the time of their salvation.

C. Filling.

True of believers when they are yielding to and obeying the Word of God, or when they depend on the Spirit’s power for ministry.

↑ Contents

I. The Flesh: the Enemy Within

A. The Explanation Of The Flesh.

The believer has been renewed by the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5), but he still has the capacity (though not a dominant one) within his nature to sin. This capacity to sin is referred to as the flesh. Sometimes the flesh is called simply “sin” (Romans 6:2), or indwelling sin (Romans 7:17). Although it is not a Biblical term (and often gives the wrong impression), it is sometimes called the old nature or the sin nature. Whatever it is called, it refers to the fact that the believer still has within his nature a remnant of sin which can cause him to live and act apart from God (Romans 7:23).

B. The Evidence Of The Flesh.

James says that we cannot blame God when we are tempted (James 1:13). It is our own flesh that is the source of the strong temptations from within (James 1:14). These strong lusts carry away and entice, and if not stopped will eventually lead to sin (James 1:15). Paul also mentions the strong lusts of the flesh that wage war against the Spirit (Galatians 5:17). The flesh produces strong impulses that tempt us to sin against God and others (Romans 7:14-25).

Note: It is important to realize that temptation is not sin in itself. Paul did not say that we would not have these lusts, but only that we would not carry them out if we live by the Spirit (Galatians 5:17). Remember temptation is not sin, but if we feed it, it will surely lead to sin (James 1:15).

In Galatians 5: 19-21 Paul gives a list of the types of things the flesh will produce. These are the areas in which the flesh will tempt us, and lead us to sin if not overcome by yielding to God’s Spirit. There are sexual temptations, such as immorality and impurity. There are temptations in the religious area such as idolatry and sorcery, and there are temptations in personal relationships, such as enmities, strife, jealousy, and outbursts or anger, etc.

The believer can get victory over the flesh only by the power of Holy Spirit. First, the believer must recognize his own inability and weakness. No matter how hard a person tries, he cannot get victory over these temptations on his own (Romans 8:13). The believer must yield and depend moment by moment on the Spirit, while he lets the Word of Christ dwell in him (Galatians 5:16-17; Colossians 3:16). Lastly the believer must in Paul’s words put to death the deeds of the body (Romans 8:13). It is not enough to passively depend. There must be an active resistance to sin while depending on the Spirit’s power. There must be, to use an old term, a mortification of sin where we ourselves are diligent and discipline ourselves in godliness (1 Timothy 4:7b-8).

II. Satan: the Enemy from Without

Satan is the enemy from without. He is the enemy of God who originally, was the most beautiful and powerful of all God’s creation (Ezekiel 28:12-15). He did not lose his beauty or his wisdom when he fell. Today, his wisdom and beauty are weapons that he uses to deceive (2 Corinthians 11:14). He is obsessed with taking allegiance away from God and for that reason, he constantly tempts the believer.

A. Explanation Of Satan’s Temptations: His Area Of Temptation.

Satan’s temptations are different than the flesh. He tempts the believer primarily in the area of attitudes and outlook. He tries to disrupt the believer’s thought life (2 Corinthians 2:11). He seeks to get the believer to have unscriptural thoughts about God. His main objective is not necessarily to get the believer to be as sinful as he can be, but simply to get him to live independently of God. This is what he did with Eve (Genesis 3:1-6). It was also his approach with Christ (Matthew 4:1-11).

B. Examples Of Satan’s Temptations.

The Bible mentions a number of temptations that come from Satan. Learning these will help us to recognize Satan’s attempts to hinder our Christian life.

Satan’s primary temptation, around which all others center, is independence. He will do anything he can to get the believer to live his life independent of God; even to the point of turning away from God. This can be clearly seen in his tactics with Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:1-6). He does not want the believer going to God for strength or comfort, neither does he want him to go to the Word for God’s direction or insight.

To do this he will tempt us to doubt God goodness (Genesis 3:6-8). He will also tempt to get us into; discouragement (1 Thessalonians 2:18), pride (1 Timothy 3:6), fear (2 Timothy 1:7), lying (Ephesians 4:25), stealing (Ephesians 4:28), cutting and harsh words (Ephesians 4:29), slander and gossip (1 Timothy 5:13), laziness and busy-bodyness (1 Timothy 5:13) an unforgiving spirit (2 Corinthians 2:10-11). All of these are designed either to take the believer away from God or to keep him away.

C. Overcoming Satan.

The only resource the believer has with which to resist Satan is the Word of God. The believer has to evaluate his thought life, and replace evil, satanic thoughts with what the Word of God says; it is the Sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:17). This often begins with a sincere repentance and a turning away from evil, either in thought or deed. In James’ words, we are to cleanse our hands and purify out hearts (James 4:8). Then the Word of God must be believed and trusted. It was with a complete reliance on Scripture that Jesus Christ Himself defeated Satan (Matthew 4:1-11).

III. The World System: the Enemy Without

The world is all the man-made religions, governments, institutions, values, philosophies and organizations that make up societies and cultures, that the believer must live in the midst of (John 17:14-16). Satan is the originator and ruler of the age. He is called the god of this age (2 Corinthians 4:4).

The world is not evil in and of itself. What makes it evil is that it leaves out God and Christ. Satan designed the world to appeal to man’s sin nature (1 John 2:15-16).

↑ Contents

I. Difference Between Position and Condition.

The Bible makes a clear distinction between the believer’s position, that is, his standing before God in Christ, and his spiritual condition.

A. Our Position: Our Standing Before God.

Our position is not something we experience. It is a fact, something true about us that we do not become aware of until we learn it from God’s Word. It is based upon the fact of our identification and union with Jesus Christ (Romans 6:3-6). Our union is how God sees us because we are legally joined to Christ. What He is, we now are (Galatians 3:26-27). It is something God has accomplished for us. It is not something we did ourselves (1 Corinthians 1:30; Ephesians 2:10). Our position is perfect and complete. Positionally, we are absolutely and exactly all that we can ever be in our standing and acceptance before God. Because His righteousness is imputed to us, we are justified and fully accepted (Romans 4:4-6, 5:1, 18; Hebrews 10:14; Colossians 2:10). Finally, our position is unchanging and eternal. Nothing can ever be added or taken away from our standing before God (Colossians 2:10; 2 Corinthians 1:21-22).

B. Our Condition: Our Experience and Daily Walk.

Our spiritual condition is our daily experience. It varies from day to day. It is the process of becoming in practice what we are in position (Ephesians 4:1). It is a progressive transformation into Christ-likeness (Romans 8:29; 2 Corinthians 3:17-18). It is our responsibility and not God’s, that we grow and mature, although God provides the power. Our spiritual condition is not yet perfect, but progresses and grows. In fact, we will not reach the goal until we see Christ (Philippians 3:12-15; 1 John 3:1-2). Finally, our spiritual condition is always changing as we grow in Christ. It is always becoming more and more what we already are in Christ.

II. The Demand of Our Position: a Walk Worthy of Our Calling

Throughout the New Testament the believer’s position in Christ is appealed to as the strongest motive for the Christian Life. Our high calling demands a holy life. It demands what Paul calls, a worthy walk (Romans 12:1; Ephesians 4:1; Colossians 1:10; 1 Thessalonians 2:12; Philippians 1:27). It demands a life that is consistent with who we are, a life of humility and patience that seeks to keep the unity of the Spirit (Ephesians 4:1-3). It is a life no longer lived like the Gentiles (Ephesians 4:17), but one guided by principles consistent with the fact we are a new man in Christ (Ephesians 4:24). It is a life style that imitates God by walking in love (Ephesians 5:1-2), being forgiving and kindhearted (Ephesians 4:32). It is a walk in light that displays that we already, in fact, are children of light (Ephesians 5:8). It is also a walk in wisdom, filled with the power of the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:17-18).

A. Abiding In Christ.

Looked at from another way, a worthy walk is a life of abiding in Christ. Jesus compared our walk with God to a branch abiding in a vine (John 15:5). We are already in the vine (John 15:2, see 14:20). It is because of this fact that we are to abide so that we can draw from Christ’s life (John 15:4).

To abide in Christ we must obey Christ’s commandments (I John 3:24). We must receive God’s Word and make it the guiding force of our lives (John 15: 7). It is only when we abide in Christ that we will be fruitful (John 15: 4-5), and the Father is glorified by our lives (John 15:8).

III. The Description of Our Position

Our position in Christ is perfect. We have absolute righteousness in our standing before God, because we have been clothed with the merits and righteousness of Christ (Galatians 3:26-27). However, in our daily experience we fall far short. It is God’s plan for our Christian life that in every area we bring our experience into line with our standing in Christ. God wants us to become what we are. In one column are the great positional truths that describe what we are in Christ. In the other column is the corresponding practice. For every statement of what we are there is a correlating command to act like it.

↑ Contents

I. The Explanation of Spirit-Filling: What is It?

There are at least four things we can learn about Spirit-filling from the central passage (Ephesians 5:18).

A. It Is Crucial.

The imperative mood is used which indicates that it is a command. Since it is commanded it stresses the crucial role Spirit-filling plays in living the Christian life. Spirit-filling in not an option. If we are not Spirit-filled, we are in the flesh and cannot please God. The alternatives are a Spirit-filled life, or a life of sin and defeat.

B. It Is Conditional.

The verb is passive which means we must allow ourselves to be filled. The Holy Spirit will not fill us unless we meet certain conditions. We must make adjustments and meet basic requirements if we are to be Spirit-filled.

C. It Is Continuous.

The verb is a present tense which means that Spirit-filling is to occur continuously. It is not a one time crisis experience. Spirit- filling is to occur repeatedly as we live our daily lives.

D. It Is Control And Power.

To be filled with the Spirit does not have anything to do with receiving the Spirit. The believer already has the Holy Spirit within (Ephesians 1:13, 4:30). To be Spirit-filled is to be controlled, or empowered by Him. It is both contrasted and compared to being drunk with wine. In a similar way that wine controls a person so can the Holy Spirit control and empower the Christian. Spirit-filling is being empowered by the Holy Spirit to both overcome temptation and sin and to do the good (Ephesians 3:16). Another aspect of the Spirit’s filling doesn’t concern moral empowerment as described in Ephesians 5:18, but is a power for ministry and service. This is the Spirit’s filling given to serve and advance Christ’s work in the world (Acts 4:31; Luke 24:47-49).

II. Experiencing Spirit-Filling: How Does It Work?

There are some basic conditions that the believer must meet in order to be Spirit-filled. Those conditions involve both negative and positive requirements. First, we will look at the negative and then the positive.

A. The Negative Requirements: We Must Not Disobey And Resist The Spirit.

We grieve the Holy Spirit when we sin in disregard of the Word of God. When we know what the Word of God says in any area and we either refuse to do something (James 4:17) or we insist on doing something, then we sin. Sin is determined not by what we think is right, but what God has revealed in His Word. We grieve the Holy Spirit through disobedience. Even things such as slander, gossip, resentment and an unforgiving spirit grieve the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4:30-32).

We quench the Holy Spirit when we refuse to submit to God’s will in our life. When we have an unthankful spirit and resist God’s dealing, we quench the Holy Spirit. Attitudes such as these are sin, and it puts the Holy Spirit out of commission in our life as far as His Power is concerned. The Holy Spirit will not fill believers who sin against God’s Word in any way.

B. The Positive Requirement: We Must Walk By The Spirit; Obedience And Dependence.

In Galatians 5:16, Paul says if we walk by the Spirit we will not carry out the desires of the flesh. What does it mean to walk by the Spirit? To walk by the Spirit is to live our life on a moment by moment basis by means of the power of the Holy Spirit.

In every trial, temptation or circumstance it is consciously reminding ourselves of our own deficiency and our need for the Holy Spirit’s power.

The way we show our dependence on the Holy Spirit is by unceasing prayer. To pray unceasingly means to pray at every urge and sense of need. Just like an unceasing cough, when we cough at every irritation. Walking by the Spirit is going to God in every temptation or situation, small or large, when we know we will fail without the Spirit’s power.

Walking by the Spirit is also obeying the Word of God and giving it the central place in our lives. We must allow the Word of Christ to be the authority for all that we do and say if we are going to walk by the Spirit. Willing obedience to Christ’s Word and walking by the Spirit go hand in hand. In other words, disobedience or a disregard for God’s Word make walking by the Spirit impossible.

We are to actively deal with temptation and sin, all by dependence on the Spirit or, as Paul says, by the spirit. Passively depending on the Spirit isn’t enough. We must, as Paul says, put to death the deeds of the body. God expects our active participation in dealing with sin in our lives. The old term was “mortification”, which aptly describes the believer’s work in aggressively killing sin. As John Owen said, we must be killers of sin or it will kill us.

C. The Positive Requirement: We Must Pray And Ask For Power In Ministry And Service.

The apostles asked God for boldness and they were filled with the Spirit (Acts 4:31). The Spirit’s filling for power in ministry is something that must be earnestly sought. His power comes upon believers and enables ministry to be effective (Acts 13:9).

III. The Evidence of Spirit-Filling: What Are Its Effects.

There are a number of clear evidences of the Spirit-filled life. Here are just a few. First is the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). The fruit of the Spirit is the change that takes place in our character towards Christ- likeness. There will be love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Another evidence of Spirit-filling is a change in attitudes. We will have a thankful heart and a submissive spirit (Ephesians 5:19-21). The Holy Spirit will also teach us the Word of God. The Bible will slowly open up to us. We will have a hunger for the Word and the Holy Spirit will illuminate it to us (1 John 2:20, 27).

↑ Contents

I. The Mandate to Witness: Why We Should Witness.

The believer is to witness because it is commanded by Jesus Christ and was modeled as a normal Christian responsibility by the apostles and the early church.

A. We Are Commanded To Make Disciples (Matthew 28:19).

Jesus specifically commanded His followers to make disciples of all nations. To make a disciple, someone must first lead that person to Christ as Savior. Jesus expects us to lead people to Himself and then teach them to observe all His commandments (Matthew 28:19-20). The apostles and the early church obeyed Christ’s command and spread the word to their generation (Acts 3:12-19, 4:10, 5:29-32, 8:4-6).

B. We Are To Give A Reason For The Hope Within Us (1 Peter 3:15).

Believers are to live model lives in the midst of unbelievers to the point that they become aware of the fact that we are Christians, and ask us the reason for our hope in Christ. When they do, we are to witness about Christ, telling the reason for our hope.

II. The Message We Witness: What We Witness

A. The Gospel Of Salvation (1 Corinthians 15:1-4).

We are witnesses of the gospel, or good news of salvation through Jesus Christ. In 1 Corinthians, Paul tells us that we are saved by believing the gospel. The gospel is the fact that Jesus Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried and that He was raised on the third day and was seen by many witnesses.

The gospel indicates many things that most people do not know.

Believing involves repenting of sin, renouncing our own good works as the basis of our acceptance with God, and relying totally on Christ’s work in our behalf (Acts 20:21).

B. The New Life In Christ.

Witnessing is also telling of the difference Jesus Christ has made in our life since we have experienced God’s love and forgiveness. Paul was told, you will be a witness of Him to all men of what you have seen and heard” (Acts 22:15). Peter says we are to proclaim God’s excellencies, or attributes (notice he mentions His mercy in verse 10), to those around us (1 Peter 2:9). Christ’s desire is for us to tell others what He has done for us since we have been saved. Witnessing is telling others what Christ has done for us in our lives, how He loves us and showed mercy to us. It is not necessary to have a great Bible knowledge. It is simply sharing His glorious person and work, and the changes He has made in our lives.

III. The Method of Our Witness: How to Witness.

How should we witness to others about Jesus Christ? There are two ways, both necessary and interrelated.

A. Witness By Our Life.

Our life is to be a witness and testimony of the life-changing power of Jesus Christ. Christ Himself said that if we love one another the world will know that we are His disciples (John 13:34-35). He also said that by our unity with each other the world would be convinced that Jesus Christ was sent from God (John 17:21). Our lives should be as shining lights (Philippians 2:15). If our lives do not back it up, our words mean nothing.

B. Witness With Our Lips.

The other way to witness is with our lips. Our life cannot lead someone to Christ alone. We must eventually open our mouth and tell them about Christ. The best context in which someone will allow us to tell them about Christ is if they have come to know and trust us as a friend. Making a person your friend is the most effective way to gain opportunity to show your faith.

Effective natural witnessing is the result of the following:

Living a life that demonstrates the life changing power of Jesus Christ.

Faithful praying that God will work in specific individuals.

Becoming friends with people based on the things you have in common so they see you as more than a “religious person”.

Taking advantage of the opportunities God gives.

Trusting God’s Spirit and God’s Word to work in their hearts as you share non-threateningly your relationship to Jesus Christ. It is God’s work to open their minds and hearts, we are only to tell them (2 Corinthians 4:3-6).

↑ Contents