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CHRISTIAN TRAINING PROGRAMME
TUE, THURSDAY & SATURDAY : 4 WEEKS = 12 SESSIONS
1. HOW TO STUDY THE BIBLE
2. ADVANCED GUARD THE GOSPEL
A. CATHOLICISM
B. PROTESTANT MOVEMENT
C. PENTACOSTALISM
D. JEHOWAH’S WITNESSES
E. SABBATH KEEPERS
F. PROPHECIES ON JESUS &
EVIDENCES OF BIBLE BEING THE WORD OF GOD
How to have great Bible Studies
Here is a beautiful write up about the Bible!
THE BIBLE:
"This book contains - the mind of God, the state of man, the way of salvation, the doom of sinners and the happiness of believers. It's doctrines are whole, it's precepts are binding, it's histories are true ands its decisions immutable. Read it to be wise, believe it to be safe and practice it to be holy. It contains light to guide you, good to support you and comfort to cheer you. It is a travelers map, the pilgrims staff, the pilots compass, the soldiers sword, the Christians character. Here paradise is restored, heaven opened and the gates of hell disclosed. Christ is its grand subject, our good its design and the glory of God its end. It should rule the heart, fill the memory and guide the feet.
Read it slowly, frequently, powerfully. It is a mine of wealth, a paradise of glory and a river of pleasure. It is given you in life, will be opened at the judgment and remembered for ever. It involves the highest responsibility and rewards the highest (greatest) labour, and condemns all who trifle with its holy contents."
~ Anonymous
Why should we read the Bible?
Through the Bible, God’s heart is revealed to us. He is our father and what kind of life we will have without knowing our father?
Also God reveals his will for us through the Scriptures so that we can fulfil His will which is the very purpose of our lives.
1. God’s word is food for our soul
Matthew 4:4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’
We can’t live without the word of God! Word of God is the food for our soul! We must have it; digest it; get strengthened by it.
2. God’s word is a light for our path
Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.
So it takes us out of darkness of ignorance and darkness of sin and gives us the light of knowledge of God and truth, and gives us the guidance in our daily life.
3. God’s word is the weapon to fight temptations
Matthew 4:1-11
~ Jesus himself uses the Word to defend himself against temptation.
3. God’s word gives us knowledge of the turth.
Matthew 22:23-33 when people came with questions about marriage and resurrection, Jesus tells them “You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God.”
So if we do not know the scriptures well, we too can be misled or can end up in false beliefs and more dangerously can even teach wrong things to others.
So we must have a passion to KNOW the word and to understand it in the right meaning.
We must enjoy studying the Word of God.
Psalm 119:89-112 (the entire Psalm 119 is all about the Bible)
David's love for God's Word is so evident from this passage.
• The law was a delight to him.
• He meditated on it all day long.
• He knew that it gave him wisdom, insight and understanding.
• David set his heart on keeping God's decrees to the very end.
Acts 17:10-12 Bareans did not simply believe when Paul preached. They referred to the scriptures carefully and when they were convinced that his message is according to the Bible, they believed and accepted the message. This must be our approach also. As Jesus himself warned us of false teachers, we must be careful in accepting and following principles and doctrines in our lives
I believe that all of us understood the importance of the Bible!
Now we will go ahead and learn how to study the Bible!
Reading what you want a passage to say back into it is called “eisegesis” and is wrong! Determining the meaning of a passage is called “exegesis”.
“Exegesis” is a study of Scriptures to know what it meant to those to whom it was written at that time.
This should be followed by the consideration of the extent to which it applies today. This also has a name – “hermeneutics” (What does it mean to us here and now?)
I. Pray for the wisdom & guidance of the Holy Spirit :
Ps 119:18 Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.
2 Timothy 2.7 Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this.
Study book by book or a whole passage in context.
II. Get to know the background of the book like :
1. Who is the author, where was the author during the incidents mentioned in the book, what was the situation of the author,
2. Ask what the circumstances are and what is the nature of their previous relationship
3. When it was written, in which Biblical period(like after the judges, before or after the exile, after the death of Jesus etc. ),
4. To whom it was written, (like Book of Matthew was written to the people from Jewish background. Book of Titus was written to Titus not to a particular community or church etc )
5. What is the reason for writing that book?
6. The historical, cultural & political background of the incidents mentioned or addressed.
7. In what language it was written. Understand what type of literary style is used. Also understand the grammatical structure.
8. The flow of every book.
9. Understand the OT background. E.g., Heb 4.12, Matt 27.46
Keep these things in mind when you read the entire book!
III. Read the whole passage in their CONTEXT ( not just a verse.)
It is important to read all passages in their CONTEXT.
Matthew 6:5-8
• NOTE: Jesus himself prayed outdoors frequently, therefore He is teaching against doing religious acts for show rather than the wickedness of praying outside.
Matt 18:20 “For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them."
Does that mean that only if two or more believers gather, Jesus will be present? No! See the context!
(eg Matthew 22:23-33~ When you don't know the Word, clever arguments could trap you.)
IV. Compare related passages
Harmonize whenever possible.
This is why it’s great to get a study or reference Bible or a commentary etc.
V. Get to identifiy the nugget(piece) of truth, Command or Principle
Ask, “Is there a command for us or just a principle we need to search out and apply?”
eg. .Hebrews 3:12-13 “ . . . ....encourage one another daily.” Is not a command, but a good principle which if we practice will keep us away from our hearts getting hardened by sin’s deceitfulness
Parables: How do you read them? The golden rule is that there is a nugget of truth in each parable or saying which must be found. You do not go beyond the nugget because the author (God and the human agent) never intended you to!
Here is an example from a parable. What is the nugget of truth in story of the Lost Coin? It is that God cares about sinners and so should we (see Luke 15:1-2 for the context). The fact the women had 10 coins, not 12, is not hidden support for the decimal system (why else did Jesus choose 12 apostles?!). It means nothing at all. It is just part of the story Jesus told to get his nugget of truth across. The theologian Augustine made a meal (wrongly, surely) out of the Good Samaritan story. Do you want to know the things Jesus wanted us to understand? The innkeeper is the church, the beating up is original sin, the Good Samaritan is Christ, the oil and wine is communion etc. Actually, Jesus meant nothing of the sort. He wanted an expert in the Law to grasp that you could not be fulfilling the Law if you showed prejudice to anyone. It takes work, but by meditating on these parables and reading the context you can generally figure out the nugget (2 Tim 2:7).
VI. Have a conviction to OBEY the Word.
Matthew 7:24-27
~ Putting God's Words into PRACTICE in your life is the laying of your spiritual foundations.
• Storms will come to every Christian and beat against their house.
• Taking the time and effort to build on the rock is well worth the investment.
John 8:31-32
~ TRUE disciples hold to the teachings of Christ.
James 1:22-25
~ God views it as very strange if we listen to Him but do not OBEY His words.
• We deceive ourselves if we think that listening is sufficient.
• Blessings are a natural result of putting God's Word into practice.
Isaiah 66:1-2
~ God esteems the man who is humble and TREMBLES AT HIS WORDS.
1 John 2:3-6
A B C D of Bible Study
A Ask questions about the passage
Like: who said this, to whom, why, what was the circumstance, what is the relationship between these characters, where, when etc
B Be convicted
Ask yourself what can I learn from it..Am I like this?
C Compare Similar Passages
Like Matthew 4 & Luke 4
D Dream how it was like
When we see something, it gets registered in our brain and mind and even touches our heart better than we read about it or hear about it..So imagine how the situation was and what incident it was etc.
For eg we just read the passage of crucifixion but it might not touch our heart, Dream how it was like then the whole incident comes alive and it touches our heart for ever.
Now we learnt how to have a great Bible Study.Let us apply it in our daily life and share about how it made the difference next week.
Assignment: 1.StudyPsalm 119 and meditate on it.
2.Teach this lesson to some other disciples
FEW PRACTICALS FOR GREAT Bible study
1. Raising a lot of questions while reading
2. Topical /character studies (pride, obedience, prophets, apostles, etc.)
3. Ask and apply the practical challenges based on your Bible study.
4. Get a journal for your Bible study (write all your insights in it)
5. Memorize the scriptures
6. Study the Bible (not just reading it) & reason out the scriptures.
7. Read also the historical background of the book as you study.
8. Try to read the complete book at a time.(like minor prophets, gospels, etc.)
9. Study at place (&time) where nothing / nobody will disturb.(phone calls, kids playing, TV /music systems )
10. Study for yourself (your character/weakness) rather than for others.
11. Always try to prepare a message out of your Bible.
12. Bible study is more about thought than reading. Invest a lot of time thinking rather than just reading,
13. Always know the History behind the scriptures (refer to a study Bible).
14. Have a discussion in a group on scriptures from your Bible study.
1. Read – Open the bible and read a passage, get the general idea of the incident or story
2. Understand – know what all the words mean, learn the facts, see the concepts.
3. Comprehend – Find the biblical principles, the timeless truth that God wants to communicate.
4. Apply – see myself in the story and how the biblical principles relate to my life, made the timeless truth timely, see what God wants me to do.
5. Do – Design an action plan, obey God and put into practice now what he has taught me in His Word.
ADVANCED GUARD THE GOSPEL
This module of the MTP is for Training the disciples to defend the Gospel, understand the doctrines of other religions, denominations and sects and to learn how to present the Gospel to them.
We will deal with other religions like Hinduism & Islam. Also we will see how to deal with Atheists.
Denominations: Catholicism; Charismatism/Pentacostalism, Mormons, Seventh Day Adventists, Jehovah’s Witnesses…………
Apostasy
1 Timothy 4:1-3 : some will abandon faith; forbid people to marry and to abstain from certain food.
2 Timothy 4:1-4 “ for the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. …”
Acts 10:29-31 “after I leave savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them.”
1 Corinthians 1:10-13
Catholicism
Bible+Catechism
“Both Scripture and Tradition must be accepted and honoured with equal sentiments of devotion and reverence”
Catholic Claim Bible Truth
Bible cannot be understood by the average person John 8:31-32; Acts 17:11; Ephesians 3:3-5; 5:17; 1 Timothy 2:4
Bible + Traditions are needed to find salvation Matthew 15:7-9; John 16:13; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:21; 1 Corinthians 2:13
Bible is precise in its accuracy (John 10:35; Matthew 22:23-44; Gal 1:6-9;
2 John 9
Without understanding and responding to the Bible’s message, we can’t be saved. (Luke 6:46; John 8:31-32; Hebrews 2:9; 5:9; 1 Peter 1:22
Pope is the visible head of the Church. Jesus is the only head of the Church, and all Christians are the members of his spiritual body (Ephesians 1:22-23;
Col 1:18-24)
Pope is all intents and purposes to be worshipped by his subjects (bowing down, kissing ring, etc.) Paul refused to be worshipped (Acts 14:11-15) as did even an angel (Rev 22:8-9)
Peter was the first Pope There is no evidence that Peter was viewed in this way in the first century. This concept was not there for 300 years. Peter had less influence over the whole church than Paul had, for Paul was the apostle to the Gentiles, which was the larger group (Gal 2:7-9) Peter wrote 2 books while Paul wrote 13 including one to the Roman church.
Priesthood is based on the
apostolic succession. A succession of apostles is
impossible because of the qualifications in Acts 1:21,22
Only special clergymen are priests All Christians are priests 1 Peter 2:5-9
Saints are highly unusual spiritual people, usually canonized after their death All Christians are saints (Rom 1:7; 15:25-26)
Mary was perpetual virgin She had other children Mark 3:32; 6:3
She never committed any sins. She was a normal sinner like all humans. (Rom 3:23) At least once, she was very weak in faith towards Jesus and his mission. (Mark 3:2-21; 31-35)
Infant Baptism & Doctrine of Original sin Irenaeus in early 3rd century taught the concept of original sin; then Tertullian (16-220) developed the doctrine; later Cyprian made a connection with the need to baptize infants. But infant baptism was not generally practiced until the 5th Century.
Baptism is always connected with faith and Repentance. (Acts 2:38; Gal 3:26-27)
Indulgences: forgiveness of sins is sold at a price.
By God’s grace we are forgiven.
Ephesians 2:8-10
Purgatory (place in between heaven and hell) is a must to pay for sins. If we are in Christ there is no condemnation (Rom 8:1) our sins are continually cleansed (1 John 1:7-9) after death is judgment. (Hebr 9:27-28)
There is nothing as purgatory exists!
Transubstantiation: bread and wine becoming body & blood of Jesus.
John 6:53-60 This is much before Jesus established communion. This is about total acceptance of Jesus and his teachings into our hearts and lives.
Penance: a person’s sins can be forgiven only though the priest. Matthew 16:19; Matthew 18:18 These passages meant Holy Spirit would guide the apostles, as inspired men, to pass down the decisions that God had already determined in heaven. Authoritative discipline by the apostles…
Ascetism: Priests are not to get married.
Peter had left his wife. Colossians 2:20-23; 1 Timothy 4:1-5
Peter: 1 Corinthians 7:1-5(marital responsibility);
1 Corinthians 9:1-5(He took his wife with him in his journeys); 1 Peter 5:1 (Elder must be married)
Protestants
By 150 AD new trend of having priesthood was developed. It began with distinction between the clergy and the laity patterned after the Jewish priesthood. The bishop was like the high priest, the elders were like the regular priests, and the deacons were like the Levites.
Augustine known as the Father of Catholic church. His teaching paved the way for the adoption of a number of doctrines, including original sin, infant baptism, celibacy of the clergy, and the elevation of church traditions to the level of Scripture. Regarding the latter, he once stated: “I should not believe the Gospel unless I were moved to do so by the authority of the Catholic Church.”
Some events :
160 EASTER celebrated (Rome) 381
Christianity became official religion:
PAGANS and Paganism flood Church; church structure patterned after Roman Empire
180 Authority of TRADITION upheld.
200 INFANT BAPTISM tolerated.
232 First CHURCH BUILDING
200 to 300 PRIESTS ; Communion table becomes ALTAR; First MONKS
325 Council of Nicea
LOSS OF SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE
One Bishop per city; Roman Emperor over Bishops.
300 to 400 CANDLES; KISSING THE BISHOP’S HAND; Mystical view of the Lord’s supper
337 40-day LENT
350 Holy Days: Christmas, Pentecost, and Ascension Day.
382 Bishops of Rome claiming more and more power.
450 VESTMENTS for clergy.
476 Fall of Roman Empire plunges Catholic Church into Dark Ages.
606 BonifaceI II, first bishop of Rome Old Testament claim universal authority as POPE.
310 Christianity becomes legal 1000 INDULGENCES
1050 HAIL MARY
1054 Split between Roman Catholic & Eastern Orthodox.
1215 Transubstantiation affirmed.
1546 APOCRYPHA canonized as Scripture by Catholic Church.
1854 Doctrine of IMMACULATE CONCEPTION.
1870 INFALLIBILITY OF THE POPE
The Protestant Reaction: A cry for Reformation
Financial matters in the Catholic Church became in some ways more of an issue than the multitude of false doctrines being taught. Church offices were sold for a large sum of money, as were other favours. Prince Albert of Brandenburg paid Pope Leo X about $25,000 for a second office and then around $500,000 for a third! Indulgences (pardons for sins) were sold in a blatant manner. John Tetzel was the master salesman of indulgences in Germany who aroused the ire of Martin Luther, this igniting the zeal of the most significant figure in the Reformation era.
Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses to the door of his church in Wittenburg on Oct 31, 1517.
In this document, he stated his opposition to the sale of indulgences and offered to debate anyone who disagreed. Ultimately the Catholic Church issued a papal bull against Luther, which he publicly burned. He developed a movement, which first was called “Protestant” in 1526 because of its protests against the Catholic Church. Although he expressed no desire to start a church named after him, his movement became known as the “Lutheran Church” and soon spread from Germany into other countries. (“Church of Luther” was a direct violation of 1 Corinthians 1:10-13)
By the 1700s, Protestantism was divided into nearly 150 opposing groups.
Wrong doctrines.
1. Infant Baptism
Protestant groups like Methodists, Presbyterians, Anglicans and Episcopalians practice this. Col 2:12 makes it clear that baptism requires the personal faith of the one being baptized.
Protestants claim that their way of infant baptism is connected with circumcision in the Old Testament.
Circumcision was for the Jews, but baptism is for all nations. Matthew 2818-20
Circumcision was for Jews 8 days old, but baptism is for those old enough to believe and repent.
Circumcision was for males only but baptism is for males and females.
Circumcision placed the one circumcised under the obligation of the Law, but baptism frees us from the Law. (Galatians 3:24-29)
Circumcision bore no relationship to the cross, but baptism is into the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. (Romans 6:3-4)
Circumcision had no connection to forgiveness of sins, but patism is expressly for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38;22:16)
Circumcision was not connected to the reception of the Holy Spirit, but baptism is followed by our reception of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38).
Hebrews 8:11 “No longer will a man teach his neighbour, or a man his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to te greatest.” Under the old covenant, the people were born into the convenant and the taught about God. Under the new covenant, people must first be taught before they can be born (born again, the new birth).
Evangelical Adult Baptism:
People are saved at the point of faith anf then baptized at some later point. Baptizm is viewed as “an outward sign of an inward grace” or as a “domonstration to others of what has already occurred between a person and God.”
1 Peter 3:21
Pentecostalism
Origin:
Millennium laugh.
Note: We truly believe that God is capable of answering our prayers and doing miracles for ever!
OPTIONAL
As we understand that much, let us see some of the Characters or roles of the Holy Spirit.
In the Old Testament times the Holy Spirit was given only to few chosen men like Prophets!
Holy Spirit gave the message or prophesies to them and they communicated to the people on behalf of God! But Jesus promised that after he leaves this world, he would send the Holy Spirit for all!
1. He is the Counsellor
John 14:16,17 Jesus promised that after he leaves he would ask his father to send the Holy Spirit, whom he addresses as the ‘Counsellor’!
So who can be our counsellor forever? The Holy Spirit! He is always with us!
2. He is the Teacher
John 14:25,26 Jesus says the Holy Spirit is not only our counsellor but he also will teach us and remind us of the words of Jesus!
The best of overcoming any temptation and also to do what is right is to be reminded of the words of Jesus.
3. He Convicts us
John 16:5-11 Holy Spirit convicts us of sin, righteousness and judgment.
Story:
4. Helps us to pray
Romans 8:26,27
Pentecostals claim that some “chosen” or “anointed” ones possess the miraculous gifts like the Apostles to perform miracles by laying their hands etc.
Eg. …………………….
Miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit.
Reason for giving these gifts:
Hebrews 2:1-4 speaks clearly of the signs and wonders that were needed to confirm the word that was originally preached.
Remember how difficult it would have been for the Jews and Gentiles to believe the messages preached by someone when it was not yet written.
How the gifts were received?
Only Apostles got the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. They were able to perform miracles and also were able to pass these gifts on to other Christians as and when needed to build up the Church.
Detailed study of Acts 2.
In Acts 2, although 120 believers may have been present, only the apostles spoke in tongues which were actually languages or dialects (glossa and dialekto in Greek).
Vs. 1 “they” goes back to the nearest antecedent “the apostles” in 1:26;
Vs. 7 all of the speakers were said to be ‘Galileans’. All the Apostles were Galileans. This occasion was in Judea, quite a distance away. Certainly not all of the 120 would have been from Galilee.
Vs 14 specifically says that Peter stood up with “the eleven”.
The audience raised the question addressed to Peter and to the other ‘apostles’.
Vs 42 after baptism, those early disciples devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching.
Vs 43 tells that the onogoing wonders and miraculous signs wer done by the apostles.
Acts 2 also demonstrates that “tongues” were understandable languages, not simply some kind of ecstatic utterances. In vs.6, the audience heard them speaking in their own language. Vs.8 “own native language” (dialect).
Vs.11 they were declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues” (glossa- language)
Between Acts 2 and 6, all miracles were performed by apostles only. Then, in Acts 6:1-6, seven men were chose to help with the distribution of food to widows, after which apostles’ hands were laid on them vs.6. Immediately afterwards, Stephen, one of the 7, did miracles vs.8.
Acts 8: Philip one of the 7 reaches Samaria and does miracles. Simon the sorcerer gets baptized but only when the Apostles came and laid their hands on others he requested the Apostles to give him also the same ability and he offered money to them. That shows Philip was not able to pass on to others the same gifts he possessed.
How long the Gifts were to last?
If the miraculous gifts came only through the laying on of apostles’ hands, they would cease when the apostles and those on whom they laid hands died. Also, if the reason for the gifts were to reveal and confirm the message and messengers, then when the message was delivered in written form, the need would have been met.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 Scriptures would equip all disciples for every good work.
‘Scriptures’ included the letters written by Paul.
The written descriptions of the miracles do for us today what the actual miracles did for them in that day.
John 20:30-31 “Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”
John 20:27-29 “ blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
Rom 10:17; Ephesians 3:3-5
Rom 1:4 Jesus was confirmed to be God’s Son by the resurrection.
1 Corinthians 13:8-10
This passage says plainly that prophecy, tongues and knowledge were going to cease. Further, they were only partial in their effects.vs.9. For example, a prophet could give only a partial message at any one time. (1 Corinthians 14:29-32) he could not sate all aspects of a subject, as we can today, through the use of a completed Word—the Old Testament and the New Testament.
In vs.10, the partial gifts were said to last until perfection came. So what was perfection? It is not Christ, for the Greek term is neuter in gender, whereas it would be masculine if it were referring to him. It is not love, because love is feminine in gender. Partial gifts mentioned here are all revelatory gifts. Then the perfection must have to do with revelation. The completed revelation (written Bible) would end the need for miraculous gifts.
Approximately by AD 100 last Apostle John died.
By AD 155 Bible was officially recognized or canonized (attest to or to confirm the word of God.)
In Phrygia : North Africa, Montanus, a priest of Cybele who became a Christian, in 156 had revelation of the Spirit and his teachings were above those of the Church, he spoke in ecstatic visions and urged their followers to fast and pray, so that they might share the personal revelations.
Montanus had 2 prophetesses. Maxima and Priscilla who could prophesy and had ecstatic utterances, falling down etc. (similar to idol worship)
By 190AD The church comes together and makes a definitive statement: “These things have ceased.” So Montanus is considered as a Heretic (False Techer)
Regulations:
Even when these gifts were available in a Church, certain regulations were set by Paul when he wrote to the Church in Corinth. 1 Corinthians 14:5,13, 27, 28.
One should speak in tongues only if there is another person present who can interpret (translate) it. If there is no one to interpret, he should not speak in tongues. Only two or three prophets should speak, one at a time. Is that what happens in churches that claim to have these gifts?
Case of Cornelius.
Acts 10, 11 the events here related to Cornelius and family mark the historical beginning of Gentile conversions. No one including the apostles believed that gentiles could be converted so far. God had to convince Peter on this regard by showing him a vision. Holy Spirit coming upon the gentiles before baptism convinced all that God has accepted the gentiles and that they can be converted.
In Acts 11, Peter addressed the Jewish Christians and fellow apostles in Jerusalem after this and explained all what happened.
Though they were very critical of his actions in the beginning, when they heard how God gave the Holy Spirit to the Gentile believers, (Acts 11:18) “….they had no further objections and praised God, saying “So then, God has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto life.”
Jehovah’s Witnesses
Founded by Charles Russell in the late 19th century, operating from the Watchtower Bible and Tract society in Brooklyn, New York.
They use only their own translation of the Bible. No blood transfusion, refuse to salute the flag or to serve in the military.
Their central heresy is in their message that Jesus was somehow the Saviour but that he was not fully God.
There is no Trinity composed of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. They teach the Spirit is not a person but only God’s active force, and that Jesus is a created being, a lesser ”god,” an archangel to be precise, but certainly not God.
HOLY SPIRIT
Most of the time we think of the Holy Spirit, we think of power!
Well He is powerful but he is not just some power. Holy Spirit is a person.
Electricity has power but is not a person; we can’t have a relationship with or talk to electricity. But we can have a personal relationship with Holy Spirit.
Holy Spirit is not a thing to call ‘it’ but a person to address ‘he/him’!
Holy Spirit is certainly a gift from God! Acts 2:38,39
Usually the gift is a ‘thing’! But not Holy Spirit!
We know about ‘Trinity’! God is one but there are three persons in God! God the Father, God the Son & God the Holy Spirit.
So Holy Spirit is the third person in God! (It is hard to accept because we usually compare everything with what we see in this world! Father and son are two individuals for us!)
Third doesn’t mean third in priority or power!
No worldly example can explain this clearly because God does not belong to this world and so his nature is different from everything in this world!
Think of an egg. What all are there in an egg? Shell, White & Yoke.
When we go to the shop do we tell please give me a shell, white and a yoke? No! we just say please give me an egg.
Like that when we say God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit is involved in it!
When we are eating the yellow of an egg, and if someone is asking what you are eating what do we say? Do we say I am eating the ‘yoke of an egg’ or just ‘egg’?
Like that Father is God; Son is God and Holy Spirit is also God!
So just as we can talk to God the Father, so can we speak to God the Son and God the Holy Spirit!
Matthew 12:31-32 Holy Spirit can be blasphemed against.
John 14:26 He is capable of teaching. (whom)
Acts 5:3 He can be lied to.
Acts 7:51 He can be resisted.
Acts 13:2 he spoke directions for evangelism.
Romans 8:14 promises that he leads the children of God.
2 Corinthians 13:14 He is a “fellow” a person.
Ephesians 4:30 He can be grieved.
1 Timothy 4:1 “Spirit clearly says” He says!
Hebrews 10:15 He testifies.
So Spirit is not a ‘thing’ but a ‘person’.
NATURE OF JESUS
Isaiah 9:6-7 Isaiah prophesies about Jesus as “Mighty God, Everlasting Father & Prince of Peace.”
Jehovah’s witnesses argue that here Jesus is mentioned as ‘Mighty God’ and not ‘Almighty God’ but the same term is used in Isaiah 10:20-21 “In that day the remnant of Israel, the survivors of the house of Jacob, will no longer rely on him who struck them down
but will truly rely on the LORD, the Holy One of Israel. 21 A remnant will return, a remnant of Jacob will return to the Mighty God”
Micah 5:2 says the ruler who would come from Bethlehem was one “whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” “goings forth are from long ago, from the days of eternity.” That means Jesus is God because who else can be there from the beginning?
Jeremiah 23:5-6 The righteous Branch from David’s lineage is called specifically “the LORD (Jehovah) our righteousness.” “This is the name by which he will be called: the LORD Our Righteousness.” Here the word LORD used is YAHWEH in Hebrew. So Jesus is called YAHWEH.
Isaiah 45:18-23 vs. 23f “Before me every knee will bow; by me every tongue will swear.”
Why because he is the only God. Now Philippians 2:10-11 says about the event of Judgment “that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” If Jesus is not the Deity, how can all kneel down and worship him?
Joel 2:32 “And every one who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved..”
Romans 10:9-11 shows that calling on the name of Jehovah is equal to confessing Christ and calling on him.
Isaiah 40:3-5 talks about John the Baptist preparing the way for Jesus: “In the desert, prepare the way for the LORD (Jehovah); make straight I the wilderness a highway for our God.” This shows Jesus is Jehovah and God. Matthew 3:1-12 John’s ministry.
Was to prepare the way for Jesus.
Isaiah 42:5 Jehovah created all things.
John 1:1-3 & Colossians 1:15-16 says the same thing about Jesus.
Isaiah 45:5 “I am the LORD, and there is no other, apart from me there is no God.
Isa 45:15 15 Truly you are a God who hides himself, O God and Savior of Israel.
Titus 2:13 “…..while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ…”
2 Peter 1:1 “…To those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours: ..”
Peter and Paul gives the same title ‘God and Saviour’ to Jesus..
1 John 5:201... And we are in him who is true-even in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.
Exodus 3:14 “I am what I am” (Jehovah) John 8:58 Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!”
Deuteronomy 33:27 God is eternal Rev 1:8; Rev 22:13-16 Jesus “I am the Alpha and the Omega…”
Accusation of Jews: John 5:18 “Equal with God”
John 10:33 “Claim to be God”
Reception of worship by Jesus
Matthew 4:10 Jesus himself said “Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only” Matthew 8:2 Leper worships Jesus.
Matthew 9:18 ruler knelt & worships.
Matthew 14:33 Apostles worships.
Matthew 15:25 Canaanite woman.
Hebrews 1:6 Angels worships Jesus.
NATURE OF MAN
Jehovah’s witnesses teach that a person has no conscious existence after death. But the Bible is very clear that man has a soul.
Matthew 10:28 Jesus says about a man’s soul and body. Also see Rev 6:9-10
Luke 23:46 Jesus said on the cross “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.”
Matthew 22:23-32 Jesus says that Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were yet alive though their bodies had decayed.
SABBATH KEEPERS
The Seventh Day Adventists: Influence of the Baptist Preacher William Miller. Date setting: through intense study of prophecy, he came to conclusion that Jesus would return in 1843. Once the year came and went, he recalculated and found the date to be 1844. lot of people got influenced by him. The one who united the group and became its leader was Ellen G. White. She added the 7th day emphasis. She had a supposed vision from God in which he showed her that the 4th commandment was to be exalted above the rest of the Ten Commandments. This vision occurred in 1847, and by 1860 the “Seventh –Day Adventist” had been officially adopted, although the first General Conference of the group did not meet until 1863.
Another Sabbath-keeping group is Worldwide Church of God.
The Adventists make a separation between the ceremonial laws and the moral laws (or 10 commandments.)
They call the former legislation “Law of Moses” and the latter, the “Law of God”.
Of course there is a difference between ceremonial laws and moral laws. But this difference does not mean that the Sabbath law is binding today. Moral laws come out of the nature of God himself, and are to a major extent, self-evident. In the absence of a written law, Cain still knew that the world’s first murder was wrong (Gen 4:9). Other laws come from the voice of God in revelation and are not self-evident. In another way, some things are in the Bible because they are true (the moral laws), while other things are true simply because they are in the Bible. Moral laws were true form the beginning, whether or not they were written down by God in a revelation.
The Sabbath law, unlike the other nine commandments in the Decalogue, was not one of these true-for-all-time principles. There is a principle behind the Sabbath law, which demand s that we should not be workaholics and that we set time aside each week to pay special honour to God. But his principle would certainly don’t have an obvious logical day of observance in connection with it. The specific day would have to be a matter of revelation from God. The day of the Old Testament was the seventh day of the week and the day of the New Testament is the first day of the week.
The principles contained in the moral commandments in the Old Testament are all restated in some form in the New Testament. (Matthew 5)
The relationship between the two covenants, between the Law and Gospel can be understood from the allegory in Galatians 4:21-31
Hagar old covenant (Thrown out)
Ishmael Born in the ordinary way.
Sarah New covenant (free woman)
Isaac Born of Promise.
Hagar Mount Sinai the law (including 10 commandments)
Galatians 3:26-4:11
Law was good and needed until Jesus came!
Those who are baptized disciples are sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
When the heir is a child, he is not different from being a slave. (4:2) He subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father.
Till the time set by the Father God, the time of Jesus, Jews (or anyone who put his faith in God) were under the guardianship of the law (slavery). But when we are in Christ we are sons who are co-heirs with Jesus. No more under the guardianship of the law (free).
Vs. 4 “but when the time had fully come, God sent his son, born of a woman, born under law to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons.
Vs.9 “…how is that you are turning back to those weak and miserable principles? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again? You are observing special days and months and seasons and years! I far for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you.
Galatians 5:4 “You who are trying to be justified by law have been alienated from grace.”
Romans 7:1-6 Gives an allegory of marriage. Vs.2 “by law a married woman is bound to her husband as long as he is alive, but if her husband ides, she is released from the law of marriage.” Vs.4 “So my brothers, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit to God.” Now what is this law he is talking about? Is it only the law except 10 commandments? Let us see vs 7 “…if the law had not said, “Do not covet.”” “Do not covet” is part of Ten Commandments.
The entire 2 Corinthians 3 talks about the two covenants. Vs7-11 talks clearly says that the old covenant “written on stone” was passing away paving the way for the new covenant.
1 Kings 8:9 & 21 says the 10 commandments are included in the covenant.
Hebrews 8:7-13 says the first covenant was obsolete and that will disappear when the new covenant comes in place.
7th Day Adventists claim that the “Law of Moses” (ceremonial law) was the law done away with by Christ, while the “Law of God” (Ten Commandments) was for all time.
Ezra 7:6 say that God had given the “Law of Moses.
2 Chronicles 34:14 say that the “Law of God” was given by Moses.
2 Chronicles 31:3 the burnt offerings and Holy Days (including Sabbath) are said to be part of the “Law of the Lord”.
Mark 7:10 says that the command to honour father and mother (on of the Ten) was given by Moses.
Luke 2:22-23 uses the terms “Law of Moses” and “Law of the Lord” interchangeably.
One of the most striking and direct scriptures is Colossians 2:14-17 which says “….therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.”
No religious book can be compared to the Bible. There are certain good values or principles in every book but no book has prophesies like that are there in the Bible.
2 Peter 1:20-21 “Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.”
The most amazing thing about these prophesies in the Bible is that the accuracy of fulfilment of the prophecies about the centre figure of the Bible – the Messiah, the Saviour—Jesus Christ. Amazingly such prophecies are appearing in most part of the Bible, prophesied by many prophets who never met each other because they lived centuries apart in different places. Yet their prophecies were accurately fulfilled in the lifetime (approximately 33 years) of Jesus. Let us study some of them.
MESSIANIC PROPHECIES AND THEIR FULFILMENTS (CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER)
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