BASIC BIBLICAL WORLD VIEW
An Introductory Study of the
Basic Concepts of the Christian Religion
by Paul Redin
February 1992
Revised August 2000
Copyright 1992, 2000 Paul Redin
All rights reserved.
CONTENTS
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FOREWORD
The central figure of the Christian religion is a young man named Jesus of Nazareth who lived in the small middle-eastern country of Palestine about 2000 years ago. Jesus was a Jewish rabbi who traveled from town to town teaching people about God and healing their physical ailments. This type of traveling ministry was not in itself unusual; in fact, it was quite common in those days. But the people who saw and heard Jesus soon realized that he was no ordinary itinerant teacher.
The Jewish people expected their rabbis to teach them about God; they did not expect a rabbi to claim to be God. But that is precisely what Jesus claimed. He claimed that he was the promised and long-awaited Messiah sent from God to be the Savior of the world. If true, this claim meant that Jesus was divine, that he was in fact God in human form, the one and only Son of God. If not true, this claim meant that Jesus was a charlatan and a blasphemer showing great contempt and lack of reverence for God by making empty, egotistical boasts about himself and doing pseudo-miracles by the power of suggestion.
Among the thousands of people who heard Jesus teach, many believed his claim to be God and found great comfort, joy and hope in following his teachings. This group became his disciples who faithfully supported him and worked diligently to share his teachings with as many other people as possible. Others who heard him teach, however, did not believe him and took great offense at his teachings. This second group vigorously opposed him and worked diligently to have him put to death in order to end his influence and silence his disciples. Both of these groups were successful, but the success of the second group was only temporary. A few days after Jesus' death and burial, his tomb, though carefully guarded, was found to be empty. And during the next several weeks, it became abundantly clear to hundreds of people who actually saw and heard him that Jesus was no longer dead, but was alive. From that time on, Jesus' resurrection from the dead has been the key evidence that he was -- and is -- the Christ, the divine Son of God.
The reaction of people today to Jesus and his teachings is much the same as that of the people who heard him 2000 years ago: some believe and some do not believe. Which position will you take? Hopefully the information presented in this study will cause you to believe in Jesus and follow his teachings. To borrow the words of one of Jesus' disciples, a fisherman named John, who wrote a short book about Jesus' life: "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."
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INTRODUCTION
Purpose and Scope
The Christian religion is based on the Bible. Therefore, if you want to learn about Christianity, you must learn about the Bible. To help you get started, this brief, systematic study presents the basic concepts that make up the biblical world view, that overall philosophy of life and conception of the world held by the Bible writers. This study does not attempt to prove the truth of these concepts or to discuss in detail their religious, philosophical, ethical, and practical implications. For that kind of in-depth information, you must turn to comprehensive book-length presentations such as those listed in the Bibliography.
The Bible Text
The Bible is a collection of 66 separate but related documents, often called books, written by many people over a period of about 1500 years. Several different literary forms are represented: history, law, poetry, prophecy, and epistles (letters). These documents are grouped into two sections. The first section contains 39 books and is called the Old Testament. The Old Testament is written in the Hebrew language and is the Holy Scriptures of the Jewish religion. The second section contains 27 books written in Greek and is called the New Testament. The Christian religion considers both the Old and the New Testaments to be Holy Scriptures given by God.
The oldest Bible documents in existence today are handwritten manuscripts. For the Old Testament, these manuscripts date from the third century B.C. (before Christ) and are copies of documents originally written during the period 1400 to 350 B.C. They record events that occurred from the beginning of time to 450 B.C. The Greek manuscripts for the New Testament date from the second century A.D. (Anno Domini, Latin, "in the year of the Lord") and are copies of documents originally written during the period A.D. 45 to 100. They record events that occurred from 5 B.C. to A.D. 70. Even though the autographs -- the original documents written or dictated by the authors -- are lost, textual scholars are convinced that the text of the Bible available today is essentially the text as originally written. Detailed information about the Bile text and its translation can be found in the books listed in the Bibliography.
Reading the Bible
Everyone is encouraged to read and study the Bible. If you have never read the Bible, you should begin reading in the New Testament with the book called "Luke"; then read "Acts." These two books -- both written by the same person, a first-century physician named Luke -- relate the history of Christianity from the birth of Jesus to the imprisonment of Christianity's premier missionary, the Apostle Paul, a period of about 75 years. The remaining New testament books should then be read in order from "Romans" through "Revelation," finishing with "Matthew," "Mark," and "John." To help you get oriented, Appendix A of this study contains a brief bibliographical summary of each New Testament book.
The Old Testament documents should be read in the order they are printed in the Bible. The Old Testament is much longer than the New Testament and supplies the background for New Testament events. To help you understand how the Old and New Testaments are related chronologically, Appendix B of this study contains a brief outline of Bible history.
Study Format
This study begins with a brief discussion of the presuppositions on which the biblical world view is based. This biblical world view is then presented as a series of topics or concepts, namely: God, Creation, Humans, Evil, Jesus, Salvation, Ultimate Goal, Revelation, The Bible, and The Christian Life. Each concept is presented in the form of a summary statement followed by an assortment of quoted Bible texts supporting that statement.[1] Notes following the Bible texts are provided for emphasis and clarification.
The supporting Bible texts are intended to be illustrative, not exhaustive, and are necessarily quoted without their context in order to keep this study as brief as possible. Each quotation is followed by a citation that gives the name of the document being quoted and the chapter and verse location of the quotation within that document. For example, "Genesis 1:1" indicates that the quotation is from chapter 1, verse 1, of the Bible document named Genesis. A lower-case letter following a verse designation indicates that only part of that verse is quoted. Additional supporting Bible texts are referenced within parenthesis following many of the citations. A proper name enclosed in square brackets within a quoted text replaces a pronoun.
Because the Bible was not written in the form of an encyclopedia or a textbook, its basic concepts are not presented systematically as they are in this study. However, in spite of a remarkable diversity in author, literature type, length, cultural background, date of writing, and reason for writing, all the Bible documents reflect the same unified world view.
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[1] All Bible quotations in this study are from The Holy Bible, New International Version, copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by New York International Bible Society, and published by The Zondervan Corporation, Grand Rapids, Michigan.
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PRESUPPOSITIONS
In general, a world view is an organized and unified set of beliefs that allows people to understand and give meaning to the things they experience in their lives. Therefore every world view is based on some set of observations and propositions that are consistent with experience and assumed to be true. These assumptions are called presuppositions and are different for different world views. The presuppositions held by the Bible writers based on the world they experienced may be stated as follows:
1. God exists; he is really there.
2. Creation exists as a spiritual and a physical reality distinct from God and in which people participate.
3. God reveals himself to people.
These presuppositions are foundational to the biblical world view and set it apart from three other commonly held world views. These alternative world views are
1. naturalism (often called atheism or humanism: "There is no God; nature is all there is");
2. monism (or pantheism: "All is one; 'God' is everything"); and
3. deism (related to agnosticism: "God is the unknowable clockmaker who started the universe but no longer interferes").
In contrast to these alternative world views, the biblical world view is based on the belief that the ultimate fact of the universe is a personal God who reveals himself as the Creator of all that exists. In other words,
WE ARE REALLY HERE AND WE ARE NOT ALONE.
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GOD
Summary Statement
There is one God who is always and everywhere present (immanent), yet separate from his creation (transcendent). He is a personal, spiritual being, infinite, yet real, eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (a trinity). Although God is compassionate and loving, he is first of all a holy, righteous being to be worshipped as King of kings and Lord of lords, Sovereign over all.
Supporting Bible Texts
One God: Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. (Deuteronomy 6:4-5; also Isaiah 43:10; 44:6; 45:21b; 1 Corinthians 8:4-6)
Immanent: Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. (Psalm 139:7-8; also Psalm 139:1-16; Jeremiah 23:23-24)
Transcendent: "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." (Isaiah 55:8-9; also Romans 11:33-36)
Spirit: "God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth." (John 4:24; also John 6:46)
Eternal: Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God. (Psalm 90:2; also 1 Timothy 1:17; Revelation 1:8)
Trinity: As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased." (Matthew 3:16-17; also Matthew 28:18-20)
Compassionate: The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. (Psalm 103:8; also Psalm 103:1-22)
Holy: The LORD said to Moses, "Speak to the entire assembly of Israel and say to them: 'Be holy because I, the LORD your God, am holy.'" (Leviticus 19:1-2; also Leviticus 20:7; 1 Peter 1:15)
Righteous: For the LORD is righteous, he loves justice; upright men will see his face. (Psalm 11:7; also Psalm 119:137-138; 145:17; Isaiah 5:16; Matthew 6:33; 2 Timothy 4:8)
Sovereign: God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen. (1 Timothy 6:15b-16; also Psalm 103:19; Isaiah 45:22-25; 46:9-10)
Notes
God-Centered Religion.- The Christian religion is God-centered, not man-centered. This means that the first priority for Christians is to please God, not themselves. Christianity is not a religion of personal fulfillment or self-actualization. God exists and acts primarily for his own benefit, not for the benefit of men and women. However, because God is a God of love, most of his actions are motivated by mercy and grace and are, therefore, of great benefit to people. Christians do indeed find meaning and fulfillment in their religion, but they find it in God, not themselves. The single most important thing Christians do is worship God; he expects to be the primary focus of their lives in everything they do all the time.
God's Authority.- As sovereign ruler, God sets the agenda for all creation. He is the final authority over all things at all times. Moral standards (ethics) apply universally because they are based on the holy and loving character of God. This means that people can not arbitrarily decide what is right and what is wrong. God's standard of judgment is the ultimate standard to which all other beings submit, either willingly or unwillingly.
God's Righteousness.- God's standard of judgment is his own personal righteousness, the primary defining characteristic of his being and nature. Because God is righteous, he must of necessity require all other beings to be righteous. Thus the repeated emphasis throughout the Bible that God's laws and commandments must be obeyed. (See, for example, Genesis 2:16-17; Exodus 19:5-6; Deuteronomy 6:1-9; 11:1; Psalm 119:1-4; Matthew 22:34-40; John 14:15; 1 John 2:3-4) If they are not obeyed, God will pass judgment because judgment and righteousness cannot be separated.[1]
God's Fatherhood.- Even though God is not a sexual being, he is referred to throughout the Bible by the masculine pronouns he, him, and his.[2] In the New Testament, Jesus repeatedly called God "my Father,"[3] addressed God personally in prayer as "Father,"[4] and invited his followers to address God as "Our Father."[5] Thus God is personally the father of Jesus and of Jesus' followers, called Christians. God is the "father" of all other beings only in the sense that he is their Creator.
The Names of God
"God" is the Anglo-Saxon word for "good" and implies one who is suitable, favorable, fitting, genuine, honorable, satisfying, morally sound, etc.
"Lord" is an English word meaning a person with great authority, the master, the one who has the right and power to determine the outcome and disposition of things, the owner and governor, the sovereign. etc.
"Adonai" is the Hebrew equivalent of "Lord" and is pronounced by Jewish readers as a substitute name wherever the personal name of God is written in the Old Testament.
"YHWH" (or "Yahweh" or "Jehovah," a personal noun) is the personal name of God and represents "He who is," the divine Self-existing One, the "I AM."[6] In this study, the name "YHWH" is denoted by the word "LORD" in capital letters.
"El" (or "Elohim," a common noun) is a generic Hebrew name for God or gods and means mighty, majesty, etc.
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[1] Psalm 9:7-8; 33:5; 89:14; 96:13b
[2] Genesis 1:27; Deuteronomy 5:22; Psalm 23:1-3; Luke 1:46-55
[3] Matthew 7:21; Luke 10:22; John 20:17
[4] John 17:1
[5] Matthew 6:9
[6] Exodus 3:13-15
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CREATION
Summary Statement
Everything that exists other than God was created by God freely and ex nihilo (Latin, "out of nothing"). Visible, physical creation consists of good, particular (individual and unique) items: humans, animals, plants, minerals, planets, and stars. Invisible, spiritual creation includes angels, demons, heaven, and hell. All creation is distinct from God, finite, and dependent on him for its continued existence.
Supporting Bible Texts
Created: "You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being." (Revelation 4:11; also Isaiah 45:12,18-19; 66:1-2a)
Ex nihilo: By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible. (Hebrews 11:3)
Visible and invisible: [Jesus] is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. (Colossians 1:15-17)
Good: In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.... And God saw that it was good.... God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. (Genesis 1:1,25d,31a; also 1 Timothy 4:4-5)
Distinct: "The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else.... Therefore since we are God's offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone -- an image made by man's design and skill." (Acts 17:24-25,29)
Dependent: The LORD does whatever pleases him, in the heavens and on the earth, in the seas and all their depths. He makes clouds rise from the ends of the earth; he sends lightning with the rain and brings out the wind from his storehouses. (Psalm 135:6-7; also Isaiah 42:5-7; Amos 4:13)
Notes
Natural Laws.- Creation, commonly called "nature," is "contingent" or "open." This means that God was free to create whatever he wanted and that without his continual action to sustain it, creation in its current form would cease to exist. To learn how creation operates, people have to study it by observation and experimentation. The results of repeated studies by many people over long periods of time indicate that creation operates in certain ways and not in other ways. Therefore, certain "laws of nature" or "natural laws" (the "law" of gravity, for example) have been formulated as human descriptions of how creation is perceived to operate. Such laws do not prescribe or cause anything; they simply describe natural events and are always subject to modification based on the results of new observations. For Christians, natural events are God's normal mode of activity in sustaining the universe. Supernatural events represent a different mode of God's activity and cannot be described by natural laws. These non-natural events are sometime called miracles.
Order and Design.- People observe a certain degree of order and design in creation. This fact does not prove that God exists, but does confirm the Christian's belief in God. Because order and design imply purpose, Christians believe that the existence of order and design demonstrates not only God's existence, but also his use of creation to fulfill his purposes.
Stewardship.- While people are a part of God's creation, they are also "above" creation in the sense that they can observe, experience, and, to a limited degree, manipulate it. They were given this ability because one of God's intended roles for them is that they be stewards of creation, that they "rule" over creation to use and enjoy it and to maintain and enhance its beauty and productiveness.[1] The proper performance of this stewardship assignment requires careful thought, wise decisions, and hard work motivated by an unselfish resolve to serve God and each other. To be good stewards of God's creation is not an easy job and people have not done it very well.
History.- Because time had a beginning[2] and each moment in time happens only once, history is linear (non-cyclical and irreversible) and is a meaning-filled sequence or flow of events leading to the fulfillment of God's purposes.
Ex nihilo and ex deo.- Creation is ex nihilo, "out of nothing," and not ex deo, "out of God." Creation exhibits God's character but is not an emanation or externalization of his essence. Creation helps people comprehend God but does not provide them with a personal relationship with him.
For since the creation of the world
God's invisible qualities --
his eternal power and divine nature --
have been clearly seen,
being understood from what has been made,
so that men are without excuse.[3]
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[1] Genesis 1:26-30; 2:15; 9:1-3
[2] Genesis 1:1; Titus 1:2
[3] Romans 1:20
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HUMANS
Summary Statement
As created in the image of God, humans are personal, rational, moral beings with imagination and social consciousness. Each human being is a unique individual accountable to God and to other humans. Although of great value and intended to find meaning and fulfillment by living in personal fellowship with God, all humans are fallen and sinful, alienated from God, and in desperate need of forgiveness and reconciliation with God in order to avoid eternal punishment for their sin.
Supporting Bible Texts
Image: Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground." So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.... And the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. (Genesis 1:26-27; 2:7)
Accountable: For we will all stand before God's judgment seat. It is written: "'As surely as I live,' says the Lord, 'every knee will bow before me; every tongue will confess to God.'" So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God. (Romans 14:10b-12; also Genesis 9:4-6; Romans 2:5-10; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Hebrews 4:13)
Fellowship: From one man [God] made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. (Acts 17:26-27; also Genesis 12:1-3; Matthew 23:37)
Fallen: And the LORD God commanded the man, "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die." ... "You will not surely die," the serpent said to the woman. "For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. And the LORD God said, "The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever." So the LORD God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken. (Genesis 2:16-17; 3:4-6,22-23; also Romans 5:12-14)
Sinful: All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away. (Isaiah 64:6; also Romans 1:18-32; 3:9-18)
Alienated: Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. (Colossians 1:21; also Ephesians 2:1-3)
Punishment: [Jesus] will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the majesty of his power on the day he comes to be glorified in his holy people and to be marveled at among all those who have believed. (2 Thessalonians 1:8-10a)
Notes
Body and Soul.- A human being is a living, self-conscious person with a physical body and an immaterial, spiritual soul. Each individual human being exhibits a unique set of personal properties (such as appearance and temperament) that are characteristics of that person's body and soul in various degrees and combinations. The body is temporary and ceases to function at death. The soul, however, continues to exist after bodily death and maintains its unique identity indefinitely. Even though the soul at some future time will be united with an imperishable, "spiritual" body,[1] there is no indication in the Bible that the soul is ever united with more than one physical body.
"Knowing Good and Evil".- The phrase "knowing good and evil"[2] refers to the ability to exercise moral judgment. Because Adam and Eve were created morally innocent, they were dependent on God for moral instruction. When, in defiance of God's explicit command,[3] Adam and Eve chose to know the difference between good and evil for themselves rather than to depend on God for that knowledge, they became morally self-sufficient, able to exercise moral judgment without God's help. For that act of disobedience and rebellion -- called "the original sin" or "the fall" -- Adam and Eve forfeited their original opportunity to achieve eternal life and were banished from God's loving presence in the Garden of Eden.[4]
Fallen and Sinful.- Though created by God and always subject to his rule and the laws that govern his creation, all human beings are "fallen" -- unable by their own efforts to have a personal, loving relationship with God -- and "sinful" -- fail to live according to his standards of moral righteousness. Because they do not have the natural ability to relate personally with God, human beings are self-dominated rather than God-dominated; their natural inclination is away from God, not toward him. Because they fail to hear and do God's will and to obey his commands, humans are in bondage to sin[5] and are guilty of personally offending God and his righteous nature. If left uncorrected and unforgiven, their fallen and sinful condition will cause humans to be condemned to eternal death, a painful and unbearable experience of God's wrath forever.[6] The Bible nowhere indicates that humans will eventually be annihilated. Instead it says that they will live forever subject either to God's mercy or to God's wrath.[7] Therefore, physical death is the gateway either to eternal life or to eternal death.
Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life,
but whoever rejects the Son will not see life,
for God's wrath remains on him.[8]
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[1] 1 Corinthians 15:42-44
[2] Genesis 3:5,22
[3] Genesis 2:15-17; 3:11
[4] Genesis 3:21-24
[5] Romans 3:9-18; Titus 3:3
[6] Matthew 13:40-42
[7] Matthew 25:34,41,46; Revelation 20:10-15
[8] John 3:36
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EVIL
Summary Statement
Moral evil is real; its source is Satan, a wicked, personal, spiritual being set against God's will and God's people. Satan's goal is to be in control, to draw people away from God and to himself. His chief weapon is deceit; his chief prize is the human heart. While God may direct or overrule evil to serve his own purposes, people must combat evil in all forms.
Supporting Bible Texts
Satan: One day the angels came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came with them. The LORD said to Satan, "Where have you come from?" Satan answered the LORD, "From roaming through the earth and going back and forth in it." (Job 1:6-7; also Isaiah 14:11-15; Luke 10:17-20)
Source: Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. He who does what is right is righteous, just as [God] is righteous. He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work. (1 John 3:7-8)
Control: Again, the devil took [Jesus] to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. "All this I will give you," he said, "if you will bow down and worship me." (Matthew 4:8-9; also Matthew 4:1-11; 12:22-28)
Deceit: For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. (2 Corinthians 11:13-14; also Genesis 3:1-5; John 8:42-47)
Heart: [Jesus] went on: "What comes out of a man is what makes him 'unclean.' For from within, out of men's hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and make a man 'unclean.'" (Mark 7:20-23)
Direct: "I form the light and create darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster; I, the LORD, do all these things." (Isaiah 45:7; also Judges 2:10-15; Lamentations 3:31-33,37-39; Acts 2:22-24; 4:27-28)
Overrule: But Joseph said to them, "Don't be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives." (Genesis 50:19-20; also Genesis 37:12-36; 45:1-15; 50:15-26)
Resist: Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith. (1 Peter 5:8-9a; also Psalm 119:101; Proverbs 8:13a; Amos 5:14-15; James 4:7; 1 Peter 3:10-12)
Notes
The Problem of Evil.- Without a doubt, the existence of evil and suffering is the main stumbling block in the path of many people who are asked to accept the existence of a "good" God. If God is sovereign over all, is he not then sovereign over evil and, therefore, responsible for all the trouble evil causes? The answer is that the Bible does not answer this question directly. At certain times and in certain circumstances, God directs and uses evil to accomplish his own purposes[1], but he never calls evil good[2] or ceases to do battle against Satan.[3] Evil is bad; God is good; God is sovereign. Up to this time, he has revealed no further explanation.
Social Evil.- Sin, not social structure, is the cause of social evil.[4] Evil people create and fuel evil systems.[5] The heart and the tongue, not the environment, cause the trouble.[6] Changed hearts lead to changed societies.[7]
The Names of Satan
"Satan" is a Hebrew word that means enemy or adversary and is used to refer to the spiritual being who is chief of the evil spirits.[8]
"Beelzebub, the prince of demons" refers to Satan as the being in control of all other evil spirits.[9]
"The devil" (diabolos, Greek, "slanderer") is the name most commonly used in the Bible to refer to Satan.[10]
"Lucifer" (Latin, "light-bringing"; Hebrew, "bright star") is used to refer to the pride and splendor of Satan before he was cast out of heaven by God.[11]
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[1] Isaiah 45:7; 54:16; Acts 4:27-28
[2] Isaiah 5:20
[3] Genesis 3:14-15; Job 1:6 - 2:10; Matthew 4:1-11; Ephesians 6:10-18; Revelation 12:7-9
[4] Amos 5:11-13
[5] James 5:1-6
[6] Jeremiah 17:9; James 3:3-12
[7] Romans 12:9-21
[8] Matthew 12:26
[9] Matthew 12:24
[10] 1 Peter 5:8
[11] Isaiah 14:11-15
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JESUS
Summary Statement
Jesus of Nazareth is the unique, one-time incarnation of God, always fully divine even when fully human. While human, he took the role of servant by which he demonstrated how people are to live in relationship to God. Although subjected to the same temptations to sin as any other human being, Jesus lived a sinless human life, fully obedient to God the Father. He also demonstrated his divine authority over creation and evil, both physical and spiritual.
Supporting Bible Texts
Incarnation: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.... The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:1-2,14)
Christ: "But what about you?" [Jesus] asked. "Who do you say I am?" Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." (Matthew 16:15-16)
Divine: For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form. (Colossians 2:9; also Colossians 1:15-20)
Human: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. (Philippians 2:6-7; also Hebrews 2:14)
Servant: "The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." (Matthew 20:28; also Matthew 20:20-28)
Example: "For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me." ... "I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you." (John 6:38; 13:15; also Luke 14:1-14; John 13:1-17; Titus 2:11-14)
Temptation: Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil.... Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him. (Matthew 4:1,11; also Luke 4:1-13)
Sinless: For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are -- yet was without sin. (Hebrews 4:15; also 1 Peter 2:22)
Authority: "Be quiet!" said Jesus sternly [to the evil spirit]. "Come out of him!" The evil spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek.... A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, "If you are willing, you can make me clean." Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing," he said. "Be clean!" Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cured.... [Jesus] got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet! Be still!" Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. (Mark 1:25-26,40-42; 4:39; also Mark 5:21-43)
Notes
Jesus' Humanity.- Jesus was most likely an average looking Jewish man, strong and weather-beaten from much walking out-of-doors. He was probably, by trade, a carpenter with a good grasp of practical things.[1] He did not hide his emotions: he wept[2] and got angry[3], was compassionate[4] and sorrowful.[5] He got hungry[6] and ate[7], got tired[8] and slept.[9] He could debate with the best minds[10], even as a child[11]; but he was also at home among the common people, so much so that he was accused of being "a friend of sinners."[12] If he were here as a human being today, he would probably spend most of his time in hospitals, jails, half-way houses, shelters for the homeless, inner-city soup kitchens, along the beaches, and at parties.[13] He would probably not spend very much time in government offices, at political rallies, in corporation board rooms, on TV talk shows, on religious TV programs, or in most churches.[14]
The Names of Jesus
"Jesus" is a Greek form of the common Hebrew name "Joshua," which means "salvation of Yahweh (or Jehovah)"[15] (See "The Names of God" above)
"The Christ" (Greek) and "the Messiah" (Hebrew) both mean "the Anointed One" and refer to the person promised by God as the great deliverer from oppression.[16] Note that "Christ" is a title, not a surname. According to our family naming conventions today, Jesus might be called "Josephson" after Mary's husband Joseph, or perhaps "Davidson" after King David.[17] But because Jesus had no earthly father, he is called Jesus of Nazareth.[18]
"The King of the Jews" refers to the Jewish hope that an anointed king, the "Son of David," would arrive from God to be the leader of an earthly kingdom free from Roman control.[19]
"The Word" (Logos, Greek, "reason manifested by speech") describes Jesus as the revelation of God to humans, God "speaking" to people.[20]
"Son of Man," the name Jesus used to refer to himself, designates him as representative of the human race.[21]
"Son of God" (or "God the Son") indicates a unique personal relationship with God the Father, eternally existing, of divine nature, yet subordinate.[22]
"I AM" is the self-given name of God.[23] Jesus applied this name to himself several times to indicate his unity with God the Father.[24] (See "The Names of God" above)
________
[1] Matthew 13:55; Mark 6:3
[2] John 11:33-35
[3] Mark 3:5
[4] Luke 13:34
[5] Mark 14:34
[6] Luke 4:2b
[7] Matthew 9:10
[8] John 4:6
[9] Mark 4:38
[10] Matthew 22:46
[11] Luke 2:46-47
[12] Matthew 11:18-19; Luke 7:36-39
[13] Matthew 25:34-36; Mark 2:15-17; John 2:1-2
[14] Matthew 9:10-13
[15] Matthew 1:21
[16] Luke 2:11; John 1:41; 4:25-26
[17] Luke 2:4
[18] John 1:45; 18:7; Acts 2:22
[19] Matthew 27:11
[20] John 1:1-2
[21] John 3:13-15
[22] John 3:16-18; 5:24-27
[23] Exodus 3:13-15
[24] John 8:24,28,58; 18:4-9
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SALVATION
Summary Statement
Salvation from sin and its punishment of eternal death is provided by God through the sacrificial death and subsequent resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Savior. Because it includes forgiveness of sins and reconciliation with God, the announcement of salvation is called the gospel or "good news." Salvation is offered and implemented by the initiative and grace of God. Humans cannot earn salvation; they must receive it by faith.
Supporting Bible Texts
Salvation: For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.... Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation. (Colossians 1:13-14,21-22; also Romans 3:19-26; 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10; Titus 3:3-8)
Savior: [Mary] will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins. (Matthew 1:21)
Death and resurrection: [Jesus] said, "The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life." ... When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified him, along with the criminals -- one on his right, the other on his left.... "Why do you look for the living among the dead? [Jesus] is not here; he has risen!" (Luke 9:22; 23:33; 24:5b-6a; also Luke 23:13 - 24:12; Romans 4:25)
Sacrifice: God presented [Jesus] as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. (Romans 3:25a; also 1 John 2:2)
Substitute: God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians 5:21; also Isaiah 53; Romans 5:6-8; 1 Peter 2:24)
Forgiveness: "Therefore, my brothers, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. Through him everyone who believes is justified from everything you could not be justified from by the law of Moses." (Acts 13:38-39)
Gospel: I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. (Romans 1:16; also 1 Corinthians 15:1-11)
Offer: For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16; also John 3:1-21; 5:24; 6:35-40; Romans 6:23; 1 John 5:11-12)
Faith: For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith -- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God -- not by works, so that no one can boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9; also Acts 16:29-34; 20:21; Romans 1:17; Ephesians 2:1-10; Hebrews 11:6)
Notes
The Death of Christ.- The penalty of death as punishment for sin was established by God when Adam and Eve were covered with animal skins and banished from the Garden of Eden because they had disobeyed God's command.[1] All humans since that time have been subject to the same penalty of death.[2] However, to avoid killing the entire human race, God arranged for animal sacrifices to serve as substitute "deaths of atonement"[3] until a completely satisfying or "perfect" human sacrifice could be made. This perfect sacrifice had to be a human who was not himself a sinner and therefore did not have to die for his own sins. As God the Son, Jesus met that requirement.[4] When Jesus died, he died as a substitute sacrifice to atone for all the sins -- past, present, and future -- of God's people everywhere.[5] Jesus' death was the final sacrifice[6] because it removed the cause of human alienation from God.[7]
Faith.- Faith is a necessary work God must do in people in order to save them. Faith is not an attitude or a decision that has merit in the eyes of God; people do not earn salvation by generating faith. Nor is faith "blind obedience" or a desperate, irrational "leap-in-the-dark" decision. Rather, faith begins when God, by working through normal human sense experiences -- primarily seeing (reading) and hearing -- causes a person's mind to be convinced that certain facts are true and therefore can be believed and acted upon with confidence. This God-caused "belief-leading-to-action" based on trust in God-revealed truth is what the Bible writers mean by the word faith.
How to Become a Christian.- Knowing about biblical concepts will not make you a Christian. To become a Christian, you must personally commit yourself to a relationship with God. This new relationship will affect all areas of your life, private and public.
Becoming a Christian is much like getting married. Each of these relationships starts with an inward change of heart and mind towards another person, either God or our prospective spouse. Our pervious desire to live separately is replaced by a new desire to live together with the other person. This change of heart is called either repentance or falling in love, and is followed by a private act of commitment to the other person based on trust in that person's promise to unite with us. This act of commitment is called either believing or getting engaged. Each relationship is finalized or sealed at a public ceremony where we declare before witnesses that we are committing our lives to another person to form a lifelong relationship. This ceremony is called either a confirmation (which usually includes a baptism) or a wedding. In summary, both becoming a Christian and getting married start with an inward change of heart and mind followed by a private commitment to another person followed by a public declaration of that commitment.
If you confess with your mouth,
"Jesus is Lord,"
and believe in your heart
that God raised him from the dead,
you will be saved.
For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified,
and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.[8]
To be saved is to be free from God's wrath and condemnation,[9] to experience deliverance from the bondage of sin,[10] and to have "the hope of eternal life."[11]
________
[1] Genesis 3:21-24
[2] Genesis 6:5-7; Numbers 14:26-35; Ezekiel 18:20; Romans 6:23
[3] Leviticus 16:11-17
[4] Matthew 3:16-17; 17:5; 1 Peter 2:22
[5] John 10:14-16; Romans 3:25; Hebrews 2:17; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 John 2:2; 4:10
[6] Hebrews 7:23-28
[7] Colossians 1:21-22; 2:13-14
[8] Romans 10:9-10
[9] Romans 5:9; 8:1
[10] Romans 8:2; Revelation 1:5b-6
[11] Titus 3:7
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ULTIMATE GOAL
Summary Statement
God's ultimate goal is to receive all glory, honor, and satisfaction forever. God the Father will have his holy "people," a large family of mature children, co-heirs with Christ. God the Son will have his "body" of many brothers and sisters and will be pre-eminent over all things. God the Holy Spirit will have his "temple," a living spiritual house. All non-human creation will be liberated to function according to God's original intention. The problems of rebellion, evil, and suffering will be permanently resolved.
Supporting Bible Texts
Glory: "Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!" (Revelation 7:12)
People: But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God. (1 Peter 2:9-10a; also Titus 2:11-14)
Co-heirs: The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs -- heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ. (Romans 8:16-17a; also Galatians 3:29; Ephesians 3:6)
Body: And [Christ] is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. (Colossians 1:18; also Galatians 3:29; Ephesians 1:22-23)
Pre-eminent: For [God] chose us in [Christ] before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.... And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment -- to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ. (Ephesians 1:4,9-10; also 1 Corinthians 15:1-28; Ephesians 1:3-23; Philippians 2:5-11; Revelation 5:6-14)
Temple: Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you? (1 Corinthians 3:16; also 1 Corinthians 6:19-20; 2 Corinthians 6:14 - 7:1; 1 Peter 2:5)
Liberated creation: The creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God. (Romans 8:21)
The End: Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." (Revelation 21:1-4; also Revelation 7:14-17; 21:1-27)
Notes
Thomas said to [Jesus],
"Lord, we don't know where you are going,
so how can we know the way?"
Jesus answered,
"I am the way and the truth and the life.
No one comes to the Father except through me."[1]
"The Way".- Jesus claimed to be the only way -- the exclusive path -- to God. The apostles made similar claims about him.[2] Many people cannot accept this claim because it sounds contrary to the modern attitude of tolerance and open-mindedness. However, because Christianity is based on historical data that cannot be ignored, the Christian faith cannot be totally subjective and does not allow people freedom to construct whatever kind of religious system they choose. They must either accept or reject Jesus' claims and then live with the consequences of their choice. The irony in this situation is that Jesus was very tolerant of those who came to him seeking forgiveness. The only people he excluded were those who refused to come to him because of their pride and unbelief.
"The Truth".- Jesus claimed to be the truth as well as to speak the truth.[3] He revealed that truth is not limited to words and principles, but is, in its fullest expression, a divine person -- himself. Therefore, to know truth, a human person must enter into a personal relationship with Jesus, listen to him, understand him, and submit to him.[4] Who he is and what he does and why he does it may not make total sense, but do make some sense. Complete understanding of God and his creation is beyond, but not contrary to, rational thought. Human reason, while able to grasp at least partial truth, is not the source of, path to, or final judge of, ultimate truth. God the Father is the source of ultimate and absolute truth that he communicates to people through Jesus the Son by the Holy Spirit.[5] Philosophically, truth is that which corresponds to reality. Biblically, truth is that which is steadfast, firm, reliable, unchanging, and does not deceive.[6]
"The Life".- Jesus had much to say about life. He claimed to have life[7], to give life[8], and to sustain life.[9] The life he offered was to be abundant (full)[10] and eternal[11], a spiritual life[12] in opposition to spiritual death.[13] This life is the possession of those who believe him and receive him.[14] Thus, Christianity offers a living Savior and salvation by the grace of God. All other religions offer a dead prophet and salvation by human effort and works.
________
[1] John 14:5-6
[2] Acts 4:12; 1 Timothy 2:5-6
[3] Matthew 5:18
[4] John 7:16-18
[5] John 16:12-15
[6] Psalm 119:151-152,160
[7] John 5:26
[8] John 5:21
[9] John 6:35
[10] John 10:10
[11] John 10:28
[12] John 6:63
[13] John 5:24
[14] John 1:12; 20:31
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REVELATION
Summary Statement
God has revealed himself by speaking to people. This revelation is not a human achievement or discovery, nor is it a dawning of insight or a bright idea. Rather, it is God telling people about himself, about themselves, and about the context of creation within which he and they work out a personal relationship. The fullest expression of this revelation is the person, words, and works of Jesus of Nazareth, who was God the Son in human form.
Supporting Bible Texts
Abraham (Abram): After this, the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: "Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward." (Genesis 15:1; also Genesis 15:1-21; 17:1-22)
Moses: God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: 'I AM has sent me to you.'" God also said to Moses, "Say to the Israelites, 'The LORD, the God of your fathers -- the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob -- has sent me to you.' This is my name forever, the name by which I am to be remembered from generation to generation." (Exodus 3:14-15; also Exodus 19; Numbers 12:6-8; Amos 3:7; 4:13)
Gentiles: "I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me; I was found by those who did not seek me. To a nation that did not call on my name, I said, 'Here am I, here am I.'" (Isaiah 65:1; also Romans 10:19-20)
Creation: When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. (Psalm 8:3-5; also Psalm 24:1-6)
God the Son: In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. (Hebrews 1:1-3a; also Luke 1:35; 1 John 1:1-2)
Jesus: "All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him." (Matthew 11:27; also Luke 2:25-32; John 1:18; 14:5-11; 17:6-8)
Paul (Saul): As [Saul] neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" "Who are you, Lord?" Saul asked. "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting," he replied. "Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do." (Acts 9:3-6; also Acts 13:9)
Notes
God's Revelation in History.- God has revealed himself in history by speaking to people[1], by entering into relationships with people[2], and by other actions that involved unique events.[3] The central historical event recorded in the Bible is called the incarnation, where God entered history in the form of a human -- the man, Jesus.[4] The Christian faith rests on the conviction of the truth of the incarnation and the truth of subsequent related historical events including the death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus.[5] These events do not prove or compel belief in the theological interpretations of Christianity, but if these events did not happen, Christian faith is groundless.[6] No historical event reveals God or his purposes unless he talks to people about that event.[7] God's actions confirm and fulfill his words, but without the words people can only guess at the significance of the events.
The next direct intervention by God in human history will be the return or "second coming" of Jesus Christ to earth.[8] His first appearance on earth, the incarnation, was as a human teacher and suffering Savior.[9] His second appearance will be as Lord and conquering King.[10] The promise of his coming gives Christians confident hope and serves as a motive for holy behavior.[11] Exactly how he will appear and the precise sequence and schedule of related events is a subject of much discussion among Christians.[12] However, all agree that Jesus will come again.
________
[1] For example, Abraham, Genesis 12:1-9
[2] For example, Jacob, Genesis 35:l-15
[3] For example, allowing the Israelites to cross the Red Sea on dry land, Exodus 14:21-22
[4] Luke 1:26-38; 2:4-7
[5] Luke 23:44 - 24:12; Acts 1:1-11
[6] 1 Corinthians 15:1-19
[7] Revelation 22:6
[8] John 14:14; Acts l:9-11
[9] Matthew 1:20-21
[10] Philippians 3:20-21; Revelation 19:11-16
[11] Titus 2.11-14; 2 Peter 3:11-14
[12] 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
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THE BIBLE
Summary Statement
The Bible is the "word of God," a true, adequate, and authoritative verbal message from God in written form. This message is practical, effective (active), and eternal. Even though the Bible writers expressed themselves in the vocabulary and values of their culture, God still speaks to people today through the Bible because he and his "word" are not bound by time or by cultural distinctives. The culmination of the Bible message is the revelation of the previously unknown mystery of the gospel of Christ.
Supporting Bible Texts
True: "Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth." (John 17:17)
Authority: They were amazed at his teaching, because his message had authority. (Luke 4:32; also Matthew 28:18-20; 1 Thessalonians 4:2; Titus 2:15)
Verbal: So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter. (2 Thessalonians 2:15; also Exodus 31:18; 32:15-16,19; 2 Peter 3:1-2)
Practical: All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17; also Exodus 24:1-12; Psalm 119:11,105; Matthew 4:1-11)
Active: For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12)
Eternal: Your word, O LORD, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens. (Psalm 119:89; also Matthew 5:17-20; Luke 24:44-49; Hebrews 13:8; Revelation 1:8; 4:8b; 22:18-19)
Life: [Jesus said,] "The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life." ... Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life." (John 6:63,68)
Gospel: I [Paul] want you to know, brothers, that the gospel I preached is not something that man made up. I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ. (Galatians 1:11-12)
Mystery: In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to men in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God's holy apostles and prophets. This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 3:4-6)
Notes
"The Word of God".- The Old Testament writers, especially the prophets, did not hesitate to claim that what they were saying was what God was saying. For example, the phrases "the word of the LORD," "the LORD says," "declares the LORD, and other similar expressions occur more than 400 times in the prophecy of Jeremiah alone.[1] The New Testament writers made similar claims.[2] And Jesus repeatedly claimed that his teaching was not his own but was from his Father.[3]
Standards.- As the "word of God," the Bible carries the full weight of God's authority and is the final standard of judgment on those topics it covers. The Bible's authority stands above all other moral, legal, and political authority. Even though their primary allegiance is to God, Christians submit to duly constituted political authority where that authority is not in conflict with the Bible.[4]
Imagery, Parables, and Hidden Wisdom.- Because humans are time/space limited while God is not, spiritual truths -- things ultimately beyond comprehension by the human mind -- are often portrayed in the Bible by imagery and parables (stories). But though the Bible contains many stories, a great deal of figurative language, and many statements difficult to understand, it does not contain a "hidden wisdom" available only to an inner circle. The Bible is not written in code. There are no secret documents held back from public view. Anyone can read and learn the basic biblical concepts. In fact, that is what Christians want people to do. Christianity is not esoteric; it is not a secret society. The "mystery" of God has been revealed. This mystery is not a "higher knowledge" or an "awareness of the true divine self." Rather, it is a knowledge of who God is, what he has done, and where people stand relative to him. Those who cannot "see" this revealed mystery are hindered only by their unwillingness to "look" or the limited availability of information to "look at."
________
[1] For other Old Testament examples, see Exodus 20:1; Isaiah 6:8; Ezekiel 1:3; Malachi 1:1
[2] Luke 3:2; 5:1; Acts 4:31; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; Titus 1:1-3; 2 Peter 3:2; Revelation 1:1-3
[3] John 7:16-17; 14:23-24; 17:8a
[4] Romans 13:1-7; 1 Peter 2:13-17
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THE CHRISTIAN LIFE
Summary Statement
The priorities of thought and behavior that characterize the normal Christian life are motivated by close, personal loving relationships with God and with other people. Because Christians no longer belong to themselves, but belong to Christ, they are responsible to live lives that above all please God. Such lives are characterized by prayer, Bible reading, personal moral righteousness, public worship, and service to other people. The ruling principle is to be dead to self and alive to God.
Supporting Bible Texts
Priorities: Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." (Matthew 22:37-40; quoted from Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18)
Behavior: Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us. (1 Peter 2:11-12)
Love: Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. (Colossians 3:12-14)
Belong to Christ: 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. (Romans 7:4)
Please God: For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way. (Colossians 1:9-10a)
Service: Jesus called [his disciples] together and said, "You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." (Mark 10:42-45)
Dead to self: Then [Jesus] said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it." (Luke 9:23-24)
Alive to God: In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. (Romans 6:11)
Notes
Practical Christian Living.- The New Testament documents, especially the letters, abound with practical instruction for all types and classes of people on how to live the Christian life. These instructions include both general principles and detailed directions. Here are some examples arranged by topic.
Prayer: Matthew 7:7-8; John 14:13-14; 1 John 5:14-15
Love: 1 Corinthians 13; 1 John 4:7-21
Sexual morality: 1 Corinthians 6:12-20; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8
Holiness: 2 Corinthians 6:14 - 7:1; 1 Thessalonians 3:11-13; 1 Peter 1:15-17
Good deeds: Ephesians 2:10; James 2:14-26
Suffering: 2 Corinthians 1:3-11; 1 Peter 2:18-21, 5:8-11
Some longer sections that deal with more than one topic are Romans 6 - 8, Ephesians 4 - 6, Colossians 3:1 - 4:6, all of Titus, and all of 1 Peter.
The truths that Jesus taught while he was here on earth as a human are the foundation for these instructions. (For an example of his teaching, see his "Sermon on the Mount" in Matthew 5 - 7.) The understanding and empowerment to actually do the right thing is from the Holy Spirit.[1] The motive for correct behavior is to do what pleases God.[2]
Sometimes Christians try to please God by using the Old Testament law (for example, the Ten Commandments) as a pattern for life. Even though this seems like a good thing to do, it will not work, not because there is anything wrong with God's law, but because Christians on their own cannot fulfill the law.[3] Only Jesus Christ can perfectly fulfill the law.[4] Therefore, because of Christ's obedience, a Christian's righteousness is not dependent upon keeping the law, but upon faith in Christ.[5]
Based on Jesus' death and resurrection, Christians are considered to be "dead to sin and alive to God."[6] However, because the sinful nature does not automatically disappear when a person becomes a Christian, the Christian life is experienced as a conflict between good and evil.[7] Self-denial and suffering are hallmarks of the normal Christian life.[8] A Christian is not protected from pain, poor health, loss of money or loss of friends and loved ones. God does not provide arbitrary power or advantage over other people. He does, however, provide forgiveness, restoration, and hope.
For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men.
It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions,
and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age,
while we wait for the blessed hope --
the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ,
who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness
and to purify for himself a people that are his very own,
eager to do what is good.[9]
________
[1] John 16:12-15; 1 Corinthians 2:12; Ephesians l:17
[2] 2 Corinthians 5:9; 1 Thessalonians 4:1
[3] Romans 3:20
[4] Matthew 5:17
[5] Romans 10:4; Galatians 2:15-21; 3:21-25
[6] Romans 6:11
[7] Romans 6 - 8
[8] 1 Peter 4:12-19
[9] Titus 2:11-14
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APPENDIX A - SUMMARY OF NEW TESTAMENT DOCUMENTS
This appendix summarizes the 27 New Testament documents or books in the order they are printed in most Bibles. Each summary includes the author, literature type, most probable date of writing, a short purpose statement, and a key verse that succinctly expresses the purpose or content of the document. All dates are A.D. Where the date of writing is uncertain, a range of dates is given.
Matthew. Author, the apostle Matthew; literature type, history; date written, 75. Purpose: To convince the Jews that Jesus was the Messiah, the anointed (kingly) Son of God. Key verse: Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." (16:16)
Mark. Author, Mark, the apostle Peter's assistant; literature type, history; date written, 50. Purpose: To show that Jesus was a servant of God and mankind. Key verse: "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." (10:45)
Luke. Author, Luke, a first-century physician; literature type, history; date written, 58-63. Purpose: To show that Jesus was the Savior of mankind. Key verse: "For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost." (19:10)
John. Author, the apostle John; literature type, history; date written, 90-100. Purpose: To show that Jesus was the divine Son of God, the way to eternal life. Key verse: 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. (20.31)
Acts. Author, Luke; literature type, history; date written, 63. Purpose: To show how God the Holy Spirit used the apostles and other disciples to spread Christianity throughout the Roman empire. Key verse: "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." (1:8)
Romans. Author, the apostle Paul; literature type, letter; date written, 56-58. Purpose: To make a comprehensive statement of Christian doctrine to the Christians in Rome. Key verse: For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith." (1:17)
1 Corinthians. Author, Paul; literature type, letter; date written, 54-55. Purpose: To convey both doctrinal and practical instruction to struggling Christians in the church in Corinth. Key verse: But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way. (14:40)
2 Corinthians. Author, Paul; literature type, letter; date written, 55-56. Purpose: To defend the author's motives, labors, and authority as an apostle. Key verse: For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. (4:5)
Galatians. Author, Paul; literature type, letter; date written, 55-56. Purpose: To show that salvation is by faith in Christ alone, not by following the law. Key verse: "We who are Jews by birth and not 'Gentile sinners' know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ." (2:15-16a)
Ephesians. Author, Paul; literature type, letter; date written, 61-62. Purpose: To emphasize the Christian's position "in Christ" and the practical implications thereof. Key verse: For [God] chose us in [Christ] before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. (1:4)
Philippians. Author, Paul; literature type, letter; date written, 61-62. Purpose: To urge Christian's to live humble, consistent lives. Key verse: Continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. (2:12b-13)
Colossians. Author, Paul; literature type, letter; date written, 62-63. Purpose: To help Christians understand and avoid a false Jewish-Gnostic philosophy. Key verse: That they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. (2:2b-3)
1 Thessalonians. Author, Paul; literature type, letter; date written, 51-52. Purpose: To reminisce and to encourage Christians to lead holy lives while waiting for Jesus to return. Key verse: May [the Lord Jesus] strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones. (3:13)
2 Thessalonians. Author, Paul; literature type, letter; date written, 51-52. Purpose: To correct a misunderstanding about when Jesus will return and how Christians are to behave while waiting. Key verse: So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter. (2:15)
1 Timothy. Author, Paul; literature type, letter; date written, 64. Purpose: To give Timothy instructions on how Christians and their leaders are to behave. Key verse: But you, man of God, flee from all this [evil], and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. (6:11)
2 Timothy. Author, Paul; literature type, letter; date written, 64. Purpose: To encourage and instruct Timothy. Key verse: Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage -- with great patience and careful instruction. (4:2)
Titus. Author, Paul; literature type, letter; date written, 64. Purpose: To give Titus practical advice on how Christians and their leaders are to behave. Key verse: [The grace of God] teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age. (2:12)
Philemon. Author, Paul; literature type, letter; date written, 62. Purpose: To urge Philemon to welcome back his runaway slave Onesimus. Key verse: So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. (17)
Hebrews. Author unknown; literature type, letter, date written, 68. Purpose: To show the superiority of Jesus as God, man, and high priestly mediator over angels, Moses, and all Judaism. Key verse: Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. (4:14)
James. Author, James, a brother of Jesus; literature type, letter; date written, 45. Purpose: To show that true faith is demonstrated by good works (deeds). Key verse: As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead. (2:26)
1 Peter. Author, the apostle Peter; literature type, letter; date written, 64. Purpose: To give Christians practical instruction on how to live holy lives. Key verse: As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do. (1:14-15)
2 Peter. Author, Peter; literature type, letter; date written, 66. Purpose: To encourage and instruct Christians faced with false teachers and evil conditions. Key verse: So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to [a new heaven and a new earth], make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. (3:14)
1 John. Author, the apostle John; literature type, letter; date written, 85-90. Purpose: To emphasize the reality and implications of fellowship with God the Father. Key verse: Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. (4:11)
2 John. Author, John; literature type, letter; date written, 96. Purpose: To urge Christians to walk in truth, obedience, and love. Key verse: And this is love: that we walk in obedience to [the Father's] commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love. (6)
3 John. Author, John; literature type, letter, date written, 97. Purpose: To commend those who walk in the truth and to warn against false teachers. Key verse: I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. (4)
Jude. Author, Jude, (perhaps) a brother of Jesus; literature type, letter; date written, 90-125. Purpose: To warn against false teachers. Key verse: They are godless men, who change the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord. (4b)
Revelation. Author, John; literature type, prophecy; date written, 96. Purpose: To reveal (unveil) God's plan for the future of his people and others on earth and in heaven. Key verse: Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing: "To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!" (5:13)
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APPENDIX B - OUTLINE OF BIBLE HISTORY
Old Testament.- Bible history begins "In the beginning" when "God created the heavens and the earth" (Genesis 1:1). The story immediately focuses on the first humans, Adam and Eve, and their failure to obey God during a very specific test. This failure, often called "the original sin," had immediate and extensive bad repercussions that have lasted to the present time. The main theme throughout the rest of Bible history is what God did and will do to overcome the effects of this sin of rebellion.
From Adam and Eve, the story quickly proceeds through Noah and the flood and the dispersion of the nations to take up in detail the call of Abraham, Abraham's son Isaac, and Isaac's son Jacob (later named Israel). God's call and Abraham's response mark the beginning of the history of the Jewish people and their troubled stay in the land of Canaan, the land promised to Abraham and his descendants, now called Palestine. Jacob (Israel) with his 12 sons and their families migrate from Canaan to Egypt where their descendants become enslaved by the Egyptian rulers. After 400 years of captivity in Egypt, the Israelites are rescued under the leadership of Moses. The story of this rescue includes many spectacular events that are remembered and celebrated by Jew and Christian alike: the burning bush, the plagues, the Passover, the exodus including the crossing of the Red Sea, the giving of the Ten Commandments, and the 40-year trip through the wilderness back to the Promised Land.
The Bible story then records years of warfare and intrigue before the Jewish nation is firmly re-established in Canaan under King David. After David's son Solomon dies, the nation is split into two kingdoms, each ruled by a succession of mostly bad kings. Eventually the Jews in both kingdoms are conquered by invading armies and taken into exile in Assyria and Babylon. Years later a small group of Jews return from exile to rebuild Jerusalem and the temple. These Jews and their descendants are then subjected to various levels of interference and dominion by a succession of kingdoms: Persian, Greek, Egyptian, Syrian, and, finally, Roman.
New Testament.- While Palestine is occupied by the Romans, Jesus is born, grows up, selects a group of disciples, preaches publicly for three years, is accused of blasphemy by the Jewish rulers, and is executed by the Roman government. Then, to everyone's amazement, Jesus is raised from the dead and taken into heaven. After Jesus' ascension into heaven, the Christian church is established and immediately begins to spread throughout the Roman empire. The Bible record ends with the Jewish nation facing defeat by the Roman armies and the Christian church facing persecution as it continues to expand both numerically and geographically.
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BIBLIOGRAPHY
Comprehensive Presentations of the Biblical World View
Cassels, Louis. Christian Primer. New York: Doubleday, 1964.
Chapman, Colin G. The Case for Christianity. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1981.
Lewis, C. S. Mere Christianity. New York: Macmillan, 1952.
Sire, James W. The Universe Next Door. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1976.
Stott, John R. Basic Christianity. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1958.
Information on the Bible Text
Bruce, F. F. The New Testament Documents: Are They Reliable? Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1973.
Dowley, Tim, et al, Ed. The History of Christianity. Tring, Herts, England: Lion, 1977.
Packer, James I., et al, Ed. The Bible Almanac. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1980.
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