Christian Doctrine

1. Christian Doctrine Knowing what you believe and why

2. The Gospel Message • What is the gospel message? • What does it consist of?

3. In answering this question we must consider the following: • The Mystery of the Gospel • Ephesians 6:19-20 pray for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak. • This verse tells us that the mystery of the Gospel is what Paul preached where ever he went, and that he need courage and boldness to profess it.

4. 1 Corinthians 1:20-25(NKJV) Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. 22 For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; 23 but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks[a] foolishness, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men This verse tells us that the mystery of the Gospel consists of Christ crucified! Which is saying a lot!

5. However, Paul is not the only one who preached the Gospel – Jesus did also! • Mark 1:13-15 (NKJV)And He was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan, and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered to Him.14 Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom[a] of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and. the kingdom of God is at handRepent, and believe in the gospel.”

6. The mystery of the Gospel is the good news of the kingdom of God given to man through redemption in Christ Jesus. • The gospel consists the declaration of the kingdom of God (my kingdom is not of this world), its power (miracles), its principles (beatitudes), its righteousness (the theanthropos) as well as its inheritance through accepting the finished work of Christ (salvation)!

7. Christology The branch of Christian theology relating to the person, nature, and role of Christ. • What does Christianity espouse about the person of Christ? • That he was fully man: • John 1:14 “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” • Gnostics deny the reality of Christ’s body, because matter is evil and filthy, God could never associate with matter. • Christian Science – matter doesn’t exist, so pain doesn’t really exist. These are not true realities • He is God: Colossians 1:15-18 • Jehovah Witnesses teach that Jesus was not God, but rather God’s first creation. Jesus existed in prehumen form as God’s agent of creation and God’s chief spokesman (the Word), and took human form as the man Jesus by means of a virgin birth • John 1:1-51 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

8. He is the second person of the Godhead: John 10:30 “I and My Father are one.” • He died for the sins of humanity: Romans 5:7-9 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him • He was born of a virgin: • Luke 1:34-35 34 Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?”And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.

9. “For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve.”1 Corinthians 15:3-5 • He was without sin: 2 Corinthians 5:21 “For He made Him who knewnosinto besin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” • He rose from the dead: Romans 14:9 “For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living.” • He is seated at the right hand of the father:Ephesians 1:19-21 • At the name of Jesus every knee must bow: • Philippians 2:10-14that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.12Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.

10. Theology The study of the nature of God and religious belief concerning him. What Christianity teaches about God: • He exists as a trinity: • The term trinity does not exist in the Bible, however the concept is clearly indicated. Genesis 1:26 “Let us make man in our image…” • There are three, but the three are one: Deuteronomy6:4 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord.” • They testify of each other: 1 John 5:7-8 “For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.” • He is infinite: He cannot be limited in any way. He is limitless. • Jeremiah 32:27 “Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is there anythingtoohard for Me?

11. He is a spirit: John 4:24 “God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” • He is eternal: He is the creator of time and lives outside of it. He himself has no beginning or end. 1 Timothy 1:17  “Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise,[a] be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.” • He is transcendent: He is separate from his creation. He is not his creation. • Colossians 1:15-17 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. 17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. • He is omniscient: He knows all things. • Hebrews 4:13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things arenaked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account

12. . • He is not a female: All references to God is in the masculine although he can be nurturing and possess all virtues found in women. • He is called father in the Lord’s prayer. • Jesus referred to him as father. • He is omnipotent • He is omnibenevolent:1 John 4:8 He who does not love does not know God, for Godislove. • He is immanent: Deuteronomy 7:6 “For youare a holy people to the Lord your God; the Lord your God has chosenyou to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth.

13. Soteriology The theology or doctrine of salvation • Christianity professes the following: • The original sin of man: • Romans 5:19 “For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous.” • Mormons do not believe in original sin • Christian Science teaches sin, sickness and death do not exist, people only think they do • Mankind cannot save himself: • Matthew 19:23-26Man is in need of Redemption! Romans 7

14. So how does a person become saved? • Salvation cannot be earned • Ephesians 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the giftofGod, • One must respond to the call of salvation • Matthew 20:15-17 Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with my own things? Or is your eye evil because I am good?’ 16 So the last will be first, and the first last • Philippians 2:13 “for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.” • Romans 8:28-30 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. 29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. See also Acts 13:47-49

15. What does this passage imply? Romans 9:10-20  And not only this, but when Rebecca also had conceived by one man, even by our father Isaac 11 (for the children not yet being born, nor having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works but of Him who calls), 12 it was said to her, “The older shall serve the younger.” 13 As it is written, “Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated.”14 What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? Certainly not! 15 For He says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion.”16 So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy. 17 For the Scripture says to the Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth.” 18 Therefore He has mercy on whom He wills, and whom He wills He hardens.19 You will say to me then, “Why does He still find fault? For who has resisted His will?” 20 But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, “Why have you made me like this?” 21 Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor?

16. Salvation • Salvation comes with following and confessingChrist: • To confess is to profess a position with intent to follow. It’s not merely making a statement. • Romans 10:8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart”[e] (that is, the word of faith which we preach): 9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.”[f]12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. 13 For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”[

17. The born-again experience is necessary to salvation: • John 3:3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?”5 Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” • Salvation is both instant and ongoing

18. What is the evidence of one being born again? • Galatians 5:24 “And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. • John 8:31 “Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.” • John 13:35 “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

19. Romans 8:14-16 14For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,

20. Types of Baptism • Baptism: to immerse • Ecclesiastical. a ceremonial immersion in water, or application of water, as an initiatory rite or sacrament of the Christian church.

21. Types of baptism1) Baptism of repentance Luke 3:32) Baptism into the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:13)3) Baptism in water Matt. 28:194) Baptism into the Holy Spirit (Joel. 2:28) and Acts 25) Baptism with fire Matt. 3:11-12

22. Role of the Holy Spirit • The Holy Spirit teaches the believers about the truth of the word of God. • The Holy Spirit enhances understanding, revelation and remembering the word of God. • He comforts and counsels the believers through out their Christian walk. • He gives Godly guidance and advice to the believer. • He helps the believer in their prayer life. • The Holy Spirit intercedes for the believer. • The Holy Spirit also comes to reveal and manifest the character of God in the lives of the believers. This happens as the believers continue to walk in the Spirit. The evidence of this is the manifestation of the fruit of the Spirit in the believers life. • The giving of spiritual gifts to believers is another vital purpose of the Holy Spirit. • He testifies of our relationship with God – that we are God's children. • He opens our spiritual eyes so we can see and perceive the purposes that God has for us.

23. The Purpose of Hell “Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels:” Matthew 25:41 • If God is love and all powerful why could he not figure out how to create a world without suffering? Why would he create a hell in which to torture people? • Where is hell? • How do you know it’s real ? • Who is going to hell?

24. Athens is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. • Classical Athens was a powerful city-state. A centre for the arts, learning and philosophy, home of Plato's Academy and Aristotle's Lyceum,[2][3] it is widely referred to as the cradle of Western civilization and the birthplace of democracy,[4][Modern Athens is central to economic, financial, industrial, political and cultural life in Greece. ATHENS

25. The Athenians – The Greeks

26. The Plague: • Historical writings like: Plato’s Law and The Art of Rhetoric explain a plague that come to Athens that was killing hundreds • They offered sacrifices to their gods to no avail • The priestess of that time informed the council that of all their gods…there is god that remains unappeased • Epidemas was asked to handle the task of finding out who this god was – he himself told them that this God must be greater than any god they know, and is unknown to them and cannot be carved out. The people could not understand how one can invoke a god who is unknown, has no name like Zeus and has no image. • So Epidemas convinces all to offer a sacrifice of sheep to the unknown God on altars and if he responds favorably by having the sheep lie down that are hungry they would acknowledge their state of ignorance …so on the altars they inscribed: agnostotheo..the unknown god

27. The Plaque continued • He did and they offered sheep at the altar…and plague stopped For a while the people began to acknowledge the unknown God but eventually returned the litany of their gods. • This encounter and gathering had occurred on Mars Hill of Athens • Acts 17 tells of an encounter that Paul has with “The Areopagus” the Mars Hill Society…a group of prominent Athenians who met on Mars Hill to discuss matters of history, philosophy, or religion. It was on that same hill, nearly six centuries earlier, that Epimenides once grappled with the problem of pestilence in Athens. • We read that Paul now to evangelize them… goes way back to their unknown God in an attempt to reveal to them who this one was.

28. A few men believed including Dionysius, a member of Areopagus (Acts 17:34)… history says that he later became a bishop for Athens • It was from the Greek society that we got the word Logos, introduced to us by John. The Greek philosopher Heraclitus first used the term Logos around 60 BC to designate the divine reason or plan that coordinates a changing universe. • Jews emphasized the term memra to denote the word of the Lord.

29. John put theme of the Greek logos and the Jewish memra together to represent Jesus Christ by saying: In the beginning was the Logos, and the Logos was with Theos, and the Logos was Theos….The Logos became flesh and dwelt among us. John 1: 1, 14 • So by so doing, John presented Christ as the fulfillment of what was practically understood and not something brand new.

30. The Canaanites 4000 years ago: Abraham was asked to leave his home and travel to a land he did not know – and Yahweh made a promise to him – including the promise: Genesis 12:3 “And all people of the Earth will be blessed through you.” This is the Abrahamic covenant as we know it …marked the beginning of the unknown God revealing himself… Abraham lands in Canaan which later God says to him…I will give this land to descendants. Genesis 15:19 Says that the land had many people groups including the Kenites, Kadmonites, Perizzites, Hittites, Rephaites, Amorites, etc. . Researchers say that in addition to these more than 30 other entire people groups spreading from Egypt to Chaldea are brought up with the first 36 chapters of Genesis alone.

31. In Canaan 2 cities Sodom and Gomorrah were steeped in utter decadence, and many other cities were quickly following. • He also passed through Salem.. which means peace. This name would later bring rise to the very meaningful Hebrew greeting Shalom, and become part of the name of their holy city Jerusalem. Which means “the foundation of peace.” • However we find that Salem had a king…Gen 14:18-24

32. The Canaanites continued • Melchizedek: Melchi = king, zadok = righteousness. So among of the Canaanites we have a king of righteousness… who were notorious for idolatry, child sacrifice, legalized homosexuality, and temple prostitution. • We see Genesis 14:1-16 That Abraham meets him at the valley of Shaveh (the valley of the king)and paid tithes to him. • The king brought out bread and wine…which are signs of communion of the New Covenant

33. He calls his god the god most high….Abraham did not balk at him using that name but recognized that they served the same God.. • The author of Hebrews states that the Canaanite Melchizedek priest hood must be considered superior to the Hebrew people’s own Levitical priesthood on the ground that Levi paid a tenth also while in Abraham’s loins. Hebrews 7:4-10 • Psalms 110:4 prophetically states that Christ is a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.

34. The Incas

35. Pachucuti ruled as king od South America’s ancient civilization from AD 14380-01471…according to authorities on Andean antiquities, he was the wone who brought this empire to the “golden” age. ..(Egyptologists acclaim Akhenaten of (1379-1361 BC) as a rare genius for attempting though unsuccessfully replace all of Egypt's gods with the one sun god…but Pachacuti had more revelation and insight.) • Among his accomplishments he constructed long lines of fortresses: protecting them from invading tribes of the Amazon basin. One of these is the famous Machu Picchu. • It was built on a soaring mountain ridge, and could not be seen from lower elevations..This was the final refuge for many of the Incan upper class when invaded by the Spain conquistadores • Machu Pichu was later discovered the English missionary…Thomas Paine in 1906. • The Incas primary deity is Inti – the sun. However, a Spanish priest named Cristobel de Molina collected a number of Inca hymns and writings and found that the king Pachacuti –later began to question his god’s credentials. • Writing stated that he pointed out that: “how luminary always follows a set path, performs definite tasks, keeps certain hours as does a laborer” …he does nothing original. “He stated that the solar radiance can be dimmed by any cloud.” • He realized he wasn’t worshipping the true god. • Theologians Philip Aisworth Means state that: the king found that they had departed from worshiping Viracocha – which means Lord, the omnipotent Creater of all things. • The worship of other Inti gods were recent departures from a purer belief system. • The following were his conclusions about Inti which he presented to the Council of Coriancha - • Inti cannot be universal if while giving light to some, he withholds from others • He cannot be perfect if he never remain at ease, resting • He cannot be all powerful (omnipotent) if the smallest cloud can cover him • The council decided that revealing this truth would bring break confusion so they would reserve this worship among themselves and the upper class. • Agreed prayer was to be directed to Viracocha with the deepest awe and humility. • The lower class was kept in spiritual darkness, and with the Spanish invasion this truth died in infancy.

36. The Santal The Santal are a group of people living in Calcutta India • In 1867, a bearded Norwegian missionary name Lars Skresfrud and his colleague Hans Borreson found 2.5 million of these people in Calcutta • Began to proclaim the gospel…and people were electrified and excited that what this stranger is saying is true: • The story: Long story short…their ancestors worshipped Thakur Jiu – the Genuine God, who created the first man, Harm and the first woman , Ayo ad placed the far west of India…I HihiriPipiri. • The evil one deceived them and afterwards they felt great shame.

37. The Santal They later had children who became corrupted. Thakur Jiu called them to return to him but would not listen. When man refused Thakur Jiu hid a holy pair in cave on Mount Harata and flooded the earth. Then the people from that pair migrated all over. At one time, a segment of them called the “proto-Santal) migrated eastward from forest to forest and became lost. They lost faith in Thakur Jiu and began to call on the gods of the mountains with which they were surrounded. “The spirits of the mountains have blocked our path…let us bind ourselves to an oath so that they will let us pass.” This is where the famous deity Maran Buru came to be the false god among these people. Under bondage to their oath the Santals practice spiritism, sorcery, and even sun worship. The Santal sage explained to the missionary, in the beginning we did not have gods. We obey Thakur Jiu only. The missionary found no disqualifying barnacles of error to attach Yahweh to the name Thakur Jiu, and gave them the full gospel. The missionaries experienced great success with thousands of conversions and baptisms. They were averaging 80 baptisms per day. During this time Skrefsrud translated the Bible into the Santal language. God has not left himself without a witness even without the preaching of the gospel: Acts 14:16-17, Romans 1:19-20, 2:14-15 John 1:5 The light shines in darkness and the darkness has not overpowered it. …verse 9…the true light that gives light to every man”