What ever happened to the Gospel that Jesus and His apostles preached? Where are the basic and essential components of it? What ever happened to the foundational, pillar doctrines of the historic Christian faith? What ever happened to Bible essential words/truths like:
Grace and Truth Bible School - Be blessed to get a deeper and richer understanding of divine truth as you study to show yourself approved unto the LORD (2 Timothy 2:15). Are you ready to know Him deeper and be equipped to make Him known more fruitfully? Each component of this course work inspires and endears the student to the LORD and to His Holy Word, building in him deeper knowledge, wisdom, understanding, and discernment.
1. The Person of Jesus Christ–though the Bible clearly and repeatedly reveals Christ as the living and eternal Word, the central Theme of all of Holy Scripture, He is seldom isolated as the Subject of messages, much less the Grand Subject of the Bible. (Jn 5:39, 46; Lk 24:27,32,44-45, etc.)
2. The Blood of Christ – No person can be saved without the cleansing blood of Jesus. There is no remission nor forgiveness of sins without Christ’s blood (Hebrews 9:22). The fullness of all blessings under the new covenant have come as a result of the blood of the Son of God (Matthew 26:28). The Bible is replete with the manifold blessings of His holy blood. New Bible versions remove the blood of Jesus in many places (example: Colossians 1:14). The modern church is moving more and more from blood to bloodless, from the blood to blood lite.
3. The Triune Nature of God–From the very beginning of His Word, God unveils to us that He is one God in three Persons, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost (Gen, 1:26; 1 Jn 5:7; Ephesians 1:4,7,13; Lk 3:21-22, etc.). In light of the false oneness teachings that abound, this is an ultra-important doctrine of Holy Scripture and to be taught with all authority and yet is seldom heard from many of our pulpits.
4. The Virgin Birth of Jesus Christ–to understand this vital doctrine is essential to a biblical view of God and salvation. In the divine economy and in respect to the redemption of mankind, Christ must needs be born of a virgin where no earthly father was involved. The eternal Word had to be uncontaminated by sin as He is in all eternity, past, present and future (Galatians 4:3-5). This is why it was essential He be born of a virgin (Matthew 1:23; Luke 1:27). The fall of man necessitated a perfect and sinless sacrifice in order to resolve such alienation sin had brought in the utter depravity of men (Ecclesiastes 7:20; Isa. 64:6; 59:2; Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 5:10-13; 5:12; Galatians 3:22)
5. Repent/repentance – eternal Hell awaits all who don’t! (Luke 13:3,5) “Repent” is literally the very first word that proceeded from the lips of both John the Baptist and Jesus in their ministries. (Matthew 3:2;4:17) A wise man of God has stated: “It is one thing to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ, it is another thing to preach the Gospel that Jesus preached.” Christ’s Gospel began with ”Repent” and He sent His Church forth “that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.” (Luke 24:47)
6. Faith–the repentant are saved by the grace of God through faith (Acts 20:21). This is God’s requirement to be saved. Saving faith will produce good fruit works (Romans 4-5; Ephesians 2:8-10; James 2)
7. The Law of God – converts the soul; brings men to Christ; made for sinners. (Ps 19:7; Galatians 3:24; 1Tim. 1:8-11) John Wesley stated: “Before I can preach love, mercy, and grace, I must first preach sin, Law and judgment.” Sinners can and will never know their need for the Savior and the precious nature of His unspeakable sacrifice if they are not first convicted by the holy Law of the One they have violated. “What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.” (Romans 7:7)
Holy/Holiness–sanctified; set apart. Holiness is a necessity – without which no person can enter Heaven. (Hebrews 12:14; Ephesians 5:25-27, etc.)
8. The Fear of God - by it men “depart from evil” and only by it are “riches, and honour, and life.” (Proverbs 16:6; 22:4). The LORD told us that His mercy is unending toward those who fear Him and that we are to look for the mercy of the LORD Jesus Christ unto eternal life (Psalms 103:11; Jude 21).
9. The Kingdom of God/Heaven–“Kingdom” is derived from the compounding of two words, King and domain. Where ever Christ the King has dominion, the kingdom of God has come. So, in effect the term “kingdom of Heaven” denotes that the Heaven’s King has dominion. Remember that Christ told us that “Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.” (Luke 17:21) Our Master instructed us that the kingdom of God is the inward state where Christ reigns as LORD and not something to be looked for eternally (Luke 17:20-25). The kingdom of Heaven/God, whether here on earth or in eternity, is where Christ reigns supreme. In men on earth it is an ongoing choice, but in Heaven, it is absolute. To enter into the absolute and immutable reign of Christ’s eternal habitation (in the kingdom of Heaven), one must voluntarily consent to His sitting upon the throne of his heart, possessing His affections, will and emotions.
10. The Church/Body of Christ–“Church” comes from the Greek word EKKLESSIA which refers to the “called-out ones.” Jesus promised “I will build my church.” (Matthew 16:18) Christ promised to build His called-out people by establishing those already in His kingdom and adding new ones. Yes, Christ’s Church is a building, but made out of the human living stones Christ has hand-picked and placed as He willed in order around His heavenly throne to worship and serve Him (1 Corinthians 12:27; 1 Pet. 2:5). “Ye are God’s building.” (1 Corinthians 3:9) No brick, mortar, sheetrock, church bell, paint, TV camera, etc. will enter into Heaven. We should pray that the LORD would open our understanding to reveal His body of believers–this is the whole reason for creation and where He delights.
Sign up for free email devotional HERE... The Moments with My Master email devotional is sent out 2-3 times weekly for the edification of the
todd tomasella
Comments are closed.