God’s Word: Loving the Father’s Voice (5-12)
The Bible
Luke 24:32 - They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?”
Speaks directly to us
Defines truth and sin
Shows us our need for salvation
Shows God’s willingness to save
Reveals Jesus Christ as Savior
Brings a clear message of hell, heaven, life to come, and daily life
The Purpose
Revelation of God
Reveals Jesus Christ
Living example of God
John 8:37,38; John 14:9
Central Theme
Old Testament
Coming Christ
Luke 24:27
New Testament
Christ Revealed
Ephesians 1:22,23
Unity
Continuing thread of redemption
66 books
40 men
1500 year span
One author
Divine Inspiration
2 Timothy 3:16,17
All scripture is infallible and inerrant (incapable of error)
Effectual and Eternal
James 1:21; 1 Peter 1:24,25; Isaiah 40:6
Sure
Eyewitness accounts
Walked with Jesus, Talked with Jesus, Touched Jesus
Alive
John 1:1
John 1:14
Heb. 4:12
The Godhead: Discovering the Ultimate Relationship (21-26)
Three in One
First relationship in existence
Colossians 2:9
Great mystery to scholars
Characteristics of the Trinity
Worthy of all worship, adoration, and confidence
Made in His image
Genesis 1:26
Equal in power and glory
Distinctly different operations
Father calls
Son redeems
Spirit sanctify
John 14:10
Both the Father and Son operate through the Holy Spirit
Old Testament passages
Creation of the World
Elohim, first name used for God is plural in form - Gen. 1:1
Creation of Man - Gen. 1:26
Expulsion from the Garden - Gen. 3:22
Confusion of Babel - Gen. 11:7
New Testament passages
Baptism of Jesus - Matt. 3:16
Teaching of Jesus - Matt. 4:1
Great Commission - Matt. 28:19
Apostolic Benediction - 2 Cor. 13:14
Additional Scriptures
The Father is God
John 6:44-46; Rom. 1:7; 1 Peter 1:2
The Son is God
Isa. 9:6; John 1:1; John 20:28; 1 Tim. 3:16; Titus 2:13; Heb. 1:8
The Holy Spirit is God
Acts 5:3,4; Heb. 9:14
Salvation
Repentance and Forgiveness: Finding the Key to Enter the House (27-32)
Baptism in Water: Identifying with Christ (39-44)
Provision
Salvation is God’s idea – His gracious initiation towards man, to restore broken relationship and restore us to the state we were in the Garden with Him.
Salvation includes being saved from sin, healed from sickness and delivered from the power of the devil. The Greek word Sozo reflects this (saved, healed, delivered)
Salvation goes well beyond just getting to heaven – God creates a new nature inside of us, made in His image, when He saves us and comes to live in us. As we grow, we learn to live from this new nature.
We receive the gift of salvation through repentance and receiving God’s forgiveness. We make a public declaration through baptism.
Repentance, Forgiveness & Faith
Repent in NT literally means “change how you think”. OT equivalent is “to turn from”
Always associated with faith: “Repent and believe”
Repentance is a gift by God’s grace alone
Repentance is voluntary turning from sin
Repentance is a vital element in the life of the disciple
Repentance requires a change of heart
True repentance brings change
Repentance is between God and Man
Repentance brings a change in confession
How repentance is shown
Fruit - Matt. 3:8
Godly Sorrow for sin - 2 Cor. 7:9-11
Confession of sin - Ps. 32:1-5
Forsaking of sin - Prov. 28:13
Hatred of sin - Ps. 97:10
Restitution where possible - Luke 19:8
B. New Creation
Old Self Has Passed Away
2 Cor. 5:17
New Self Created in likeness of God
Eph. 4:24
Removal of Heart of Stone (hard heart)
Ezekiel 11:19, 20
New Self Lives by Faith
Gal. 2:20
New Self Is Washed and Reborn
Titus 3:5
C. Baptism in Water
Jesus was baptized
Symbolic Meaning
Who, How, When, Where
All who believe
Baptismal accounts
Acts 9:18; Acts 16:15; Acts 16:29-33; Acts 18:8; Acts 10:44-48
Necessary Elements: Repentance, Faith, Confession
An act of obedience, not means of salvation
Only the blood can cleanse sin