| UNDERSTANDING THE BIBLE LESSON 1 INTRODUCTION TO THE BIBLE The Bible was written between the years of 1500 B.C. and 100 A.D. by holy men of God who were the "pen" of God. (II Peter 1:20-21) The Bible was written over a period of 1600 years by 40 different writers on 3 different continents. None of the writers worked together as they wrote, being separated by time or distance. Yet, the bible fits together as snugly as jigsaw puzzle. It is scientifically accurate and its prophecies have never failed to come to pass. The Bible is the Word of God. The Bible is divided into the Old Testament (written in Hebrew for the most part) and the New Testament (written in Greek for the most part). The words of God have been preserved for us today (Psalms 12:6-7). God's Word is precious to Him and he commands us not to change His word (Psa. 138:2; Deuteronomy 4:2; Proverbs 30:5-6; Revelation 22:18-19) The Word of God is powerful. When the Bible is preached, quoted, or read, God works in the hearts of the readers and hearers (Hebrews 4:12). The main theme of the Bible is that mankind needs a Saviour and that God Himself has becomes man's Saviour. God calls on each individual to admit his own guilt and accept Jesus Christ as God the Saviour. The Triune Godhead; One God In Three Persons Just as a person is a trichotomy (soul, body and spirit ), so God is One in three Persons. 1 x 1 x 1 = 1 (not 1 + 1 + 1 = 3 ) . A three piece suit is actually one suit in three parts. A triangle is one object with three different angles. One God; Deuteronomy 6:4 {"one God: "one " is the same Hebrew word as Gen. 2:24 where Adam and Eve become one flesh ( see also Gen. 11: 6 ; 34:16 } Isaiah 44: 24 ( He stretched out heavens alone ) Isa. 45 : 18, 21-23 ( God Himself is creator ; no Saviour besides him ) Isa. 43 : 10-12 { no other God formed before Him or after ; he is eternal ( Psa 90 :2; 93:2 ) } Isa. 48 : 12-13 ( the first and the last) Three Persons: Genesis 1 : 26 ( And God said, Let "us" make man in our image) I John 5 : 7 ( the Father, The word and the Holy ghost are one ) John 1 : 1-17, 29 ( the Word is Jesus the Lamb ) Rev. 19 : 11-16 ( Jesus is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords; Rev. 17 : 14) Jesus is God who left heaven and came to earth as a Child. He took on human flesh to be our Saviour. Isa. 9 : 6 ( " for unto us a child is born... and his name shall be called... The mighty God, The everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace." ) Isa. 7 : 14 { Immanuel : God with us ( Matthew 1 : 21 -23) } Micah 5 : 2 ( He who is from everlasting would be born in Bethlehem ) John 6 : 62 { what and if ye shall see the Son of Man ascend up where he was before (see also Daniel 3 : 19-25; Joshua 5 : 13-15; Exodus 3: 5, 14; John 8 : 58) } _______________________________________________________________________________________________ UNDERSTANDING THE BIBLE LESSON 2 Bible Fact: The "thee's and "thou's" and "ye's" that are in the Bible are there for the sake of accuracy. When one person is being addressed in the Bible, "thou" or "thee" is used. When more than one person is being addressed, "ye" is used. THE TRIUNE GODHEAD: ONE GOD IN THREE PERSONS (cont 'd ) Jesus Is Equal With God The Father John 20 : 26 - 29 Thomas said, "My Lord and my God" John 8 : 58 Jesus is the "I AM" (compare with Exodus 3 : 14) John 14 : 7 - 9 Jesus said , "He that hath seen me hath seen the Father" John 15 : 5 Jesus said, "for without me ye can do nothing." Acts 20 : 28 "feed the church of God which he hath purchased with his own blood" Colossians 2 : 9 "for in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily" I Timothy 3 : 16 "God was manifest in the flesh" Titus 1 : 3, 3 : -6 "God our Saviour,"... "Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour" ( with Hosea 13 : 4 and Acts 4 : 12: " neither is there salvation in any other" ) Hebrews 13 : 8 "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever" with Malachi 3 : 6 " I am the Lord, I change not" I Peter 2 : 22 Jesus was sinless ( see Hebrews 4 : 14-15 : Job 34 : 10 ) I John 1 : 5 God is light; Jesus is the Light of the world ( compare with John 1 : 9-14 and John 8 : 12 ) I John 3 : 16 "Hereby perceive we the love of God because He laid down his life for us" Revelation 1 : 17-18 "I am the first and the last: I am he that liveth, and was dead; and behold I am alive for evermore" ( compare with Isaiah 48 : 12-14) Rev. 1 : 17- 18 with 1 : 11 and 1 : 8 Jesus is the first and the last, the Alpha and Omega, and the Almighty Jesus Receives Glory because He Is God John 17 : 5 " And now, O Father, glorify me with the glory I had with thee before the world was" { compare with Isa. 42 : 8 (since God will not share his glory with another, Jesus could not be anyone but God ) } Philippians 2 : 10 "that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth...and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" ( compare with Isaiah 45 : 21- 23 where God says that every knee shall bow him; ( compare with Nehemiah 9 : 6 where all heaven worships the Creator; 9 compare with Exodus 34 : 14 where God commands us to worship only him; (compare with Revelation 14 : 6-7 where we are to worship him who made heaven and earth) Revelation 22:8-9 when John fell down to worship the angel, the angel told him to only worship God; in Acts 10 : 25-26, Cornelius was rebuked for falling down and worshiping peter, who said " stand up; I also am a man. " However Jesus rebuked no for worshipping Him (Matt 2 : 1; 8 : 2-3; 9 : 18; 14 : 33; 15 : 25; 18 : 26; 20 : 20; 28 : 9,17; Mark 5 : 6 Luke 24 : 52; _______________________________________________________________________________________________ UNDERSTANDING THE BIBLE LESSON 3 Bible Fact: “Jesus” means “Saviour;” Christ means “Messiah” (anointed/qualified/appointed) THE TRIUNE GODHEAD: ONE GOD IN THREE PERSONS (CONTINUED) Jesus Is The Creator Because He Is God John 1:1-3 “all things were made by him” Ephesians 3:9 “God, who created all things by Jesus Christ” (see Isa. 44:24 the Triune Godhead as Creator) Colossians 1:16-17 “and he is before all things and by him all things consist” Hebrews 1:1-2 “his son…by whom also he made the worlds” Jesus Is The King of Kings Because He Is God Psalms 24:10 “who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory.” Psalms 47:6,7 “For God is the King of all the earth” Revelation 19:16 Jesus is King of Kings and Lord of Lords (I Timothy 6:13-15) Jesus Is The Judge Because He Is God Psalms 2:11-12 the Psalmist David knew that God’s son was both LORD and Judge. John 5:22-23 “the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: that all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father.” Acts 10:42 “Him God raised up the third day, and…it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of the quick (living) and the dead” (with Psalms 96:13) Romans 14:9-12 Jesus is the Lord of the living and the dead; we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ because the scriptures say that every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess to God; “everyone of us shall give account of himself to God.” The one who died and rose again is Judge and God Revelation 2:18-23 the Son of God judges the works of men Rev. 19:11-16 Jesus will judge and make war {the Word of God is Jesus (John 1:1-17)} Rev. 20:12 the dead will be judged by God (see above—Acts 10:42) Rev. 22:12 Jesus will be the rewarder (compare with Jeremiah 32:17-19 where the judge and rewarder is the Mighty God) _______________________________________________________________________________________________ UNDERSTANDING THE BIBLE LESSON 4 Bible Fact: There are over 300 Old Testament prophecies concerning Jesus Christ. THE TRIUNE GODHEAD: ONE GOD IN THREE PERSONS (continued) Jesus Is Omnipotent (All-powerful) Because He Is God Revelation 1:8 Jesus is the Almighty (only God has all might) John 5:19 power to do the things of God Matthew 8:29-32 power over the devils and evil spirits Matthew 28:18 “all power is given to me in heaven and in earth” Luke 7:14-15 power over death (John 5:21) Hebrews 1:3 He upholds the universe (Colossians 1:16-17) Jesus Is Omniscient (All-Knowing) Because He Is God Matthew 9:4 Jesus knew the thoughts of men (Mark 2:6-8; Luke 6:8) John 2:24-25 Jesus knew all men and knew what was in man (only God has that attribute) John 14:29 Jesus knows what the future holds Revelation 2:18-23 I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts (compare with Jeremiah 17:10) Jesus Is Omni-Present (Present Everywhere) Because He Is God John 3:13 Jesus was in heaven and on the earth at the same time. (Only God has that attribute). Matthew 18:20 “where two or three are gathered….there am I in the midst of them.” Matthew 28:20 “I am with you alway even unto the end of the world” |
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