Key Bible Themes Bible Study
December 14, 2022 - Present
Lesson 1 - Introduction - December 14, 2022
The goal of this series of Bible lessons is to explore the key themes of the Scriptures that explains God’s purpose and will for His people. A good working knowledge of the Scriptures will greatly influence the way we live our lives and practice our Christian faith. Additionally, it will help to answer our questions and clarify the intended meaning of the inspired writers.
Lesson 2 - Part 1 - The Bible - The Word of God - December 14, 2022
The Bible, from the Greek word, “biblos,” is a book that was written by more than 40 human authors, covering thousands of years, with amazing continuity. What makes the Bible so unique in its character is that it is indeed the Word of God, even though it was written by human authors. Both testaments (Old and New) claim to be God’s communication to humanity, the only divine revelation from the one true God.
There are two different approaches to arguing the Bible being the Word of God. First, there are those who believe that the Scripture is self-authenticating. 1) The Bible needs no other testimony of its authenticity. The Bible is true because it says it is true, and the Holy Spirit bears witness to this truth. No other arguments are necessary
A second approach believes that the claims of Scriptures have sufficient evidence to back them up. 2) The Bible testifies on its own behalf. Those who hold this view believe there is overwhelming evidence to convince anyone that the Bible is what it claims to be—the Word of God.
Many believe that that the issue of the Bible’s authenticity is something that should not be debated. The authority of the Bible must be believed because the Scriptures says so.
Lesson 2 - Part 2 - The Bible - The Inspired Word of God - December 21, 2022
Introduction
How can a human author, recording his own thoughts and knowledge, be guided to write exactly what God directs him to write? This is the question that is addressed in what is called the Doctrine of Inspiration. The inspiration of the Bible is defined as “God directing human authors, without destroying their own individuality, literary style, or personal interest.” The Doctrine of Inspiration presents some problems and challenges for human understanding because it deals with the supernatural
Lesson 2 - Part 3 - The Bible - Its Subject and Purpose - December 28, 2022
Introduction
From reading the Scriptures it is plain to see that Jesus Christ is the main subject of the entire Bible. From the testimony of Jesus Himself we find that the entire Bible is about Him. These are His words in John 5:39 to the Bible scholars of that time: “You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me.” Later in Verse 46 Jesus said, "For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me.” The books of the Old Testament were the only Scriptures they could search. Jesus made the bold claim that the entire Bible is about Him! The entire Old Testament (the only Scripture at the time) was looking forward to the coming of the Messiah. He would bring God’s kingdom to the earth. Everything in the Old Testament Scripture was pointing toward Him.
So, then what is the purpose of the Bible? If we have to speak of a single purpose of the Bible, it would be to reveal God to us. There are many things that we could never know about God unless He told them to us. The Bible is God’s self-revelation to humanity. The Bible also tells us who we are. It tells us of our sin and of God’s plan of salvation in Jesus Christ. Let’s look at these two questions concerning the Bible: A) Who is its subject, and B) what is its purpose?
Lesson 3 - Part 1 - God - The Trinity - January 4, 2023
Introduction
The one common belief among all cultures and civilizations is that the only explanation for our world, the human experience, is that there must be a divine being greater than man. Man Instinctively, man reaches out to a higher being to satisfy questions and issues greater than his own abilities and reasoning.
The Doctrine of the Trinity is foundational to the Christian faith. It is crucial for properly understanding what God is like, how He relates to us, and how we should relate to Him. But it also raises the difficult questions, how can God be both one and three? While we cannot fully understand everything about the Trinity, it is possible to come to a solid grasp of what it means for God to be three in one. The Doctrine of the Trinity means that there is one God Who eternally exists as three distinct Persons — the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Another way of looking at it is, God is one in essence and three in person. These are the three central truths about God:
(1) the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are distinct Persons,
(2) each Person is fully God, and
(3) there is only one God.
Lesson 3 - Part 2 - God - God the Father - January 11, 2023
Introduction
Throughout the Bible we find God portrayed as a Father. In the three Persons Who make up the Holy Trinity, (The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit) it is the First Person Who is designated as the Father. However, the Father alone is not the entire Trinity, just as the Son is not the Trinity, nor is the Holy Spirit the Trinity. The Trinity includes all three persons. While the Doctrine of the Trinity is presented in the Old Testament, the New Testament defines and reveals the full doctrine. The Father is presented as electing, loving and bestowing. The Son is presented as suffering, redeeming, and upholding the universe. The Holy Spirit is presented as regenerating, indwelling, baptizing, energizing, and sanctifying. Because of this permanent and irreversible order, the Father is properly designated as the First Person, without lessoning in any way the deity of either, the Second Person or the Third Person. Look what the Father does - He sends (1st John 4:14) and commissions (Isaiah 9:6) the Son, and the Son sends and commissions the Holy Spirit (John 15:26).
The subject of the Fatherhood of God is too vast to fully cover in this study. So, this lesson on God the Father will be limited to His Headship, His Maintenance, and His title as Abba Father.
Lesson 3 - Part 3a - God - God the Son - January 18, 2023
Introduction
Concerning the triune nature of God, John wrote in his epistle: “For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one”(1st John 1:7). While God the Father is most notably revealed in the Old Testament, God the Son (the second person of the Trinity) is most prominently revealed in the Gospels. The study of God the Son is formally called Christology. This doctrine is one of the most important doctrines of the Bible, mainly because it is this doctrine which distinguishes the true believers from cults. 2nd John 9-11 warns us: “Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds.” Many people and religions deny the deity of Christ. In order to fully understand the Doctrine of God the Son we need to let the Bible answer these four questions:
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Who He is?
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What has He done?
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What will He do?
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What is He doing?
Lesson 3 - Part 3b - God - God the Son - January 25, 2023
Introduction
Having looked at Part 3a, the Person and the Deeds of God the Son, “Who He Is,” and “What He has Done,” we complete this Christological study by examining “What He Will Do” and “What He is Doing.”
Lesson 3 - Part 4a & 4b- God - God the Holy Spirit - February 8 & 15, 2023
Introduction
Pneumatology refers to the biblical Doctrine of the Holy Spirit. The term is taken from the Greek word, “pneuma” meaning “wind’’ “breath,” or “spirit,” and the Latin word “logia” meaning “study.” Generally, this includes such topics as the personality of the Spirit, His deity, and the works of the Spirit throughout the Scriptures.
We believe that the Holy Spirit is co-equal with God the Father and God the Son and is of the same essence. Yet, He is also distinct from them. Scripture describes the Holy Spirit in personal terms, not as an impersonal force. Notice that it says that He teaches, guides, comforts and intercedes (John 14:26; Romans 8:14). He possesses emotions, intellect and will (Ephesians 4:30; 1st Corinthians 12:11). The Holy Spirit spoke to Philip and gave counsel to the church at Jerusalem (Acts 8:29). He was sinned against and lied to (Acts 5:3-4).
The Scriptures also attest to the deity of the Holy Spirit. He is spoken of as God and is identified with the title of Jehovah (Acts 5:4). Therefore, the Christian who is indwelt by the Spirit is indwelt by God (Ephesians 2:22). The Holy Spirit possesses the attributes of deity, such as omniscience, omnipresence, omnipotence and being eternal (1st Corinthians 2:10-11). He does works only God can do, such as creating, regenerating and sanctifying. He is equally associated with the other members of the Trinity (Genesis 1:2; 2nd Thessalonians 2:13).
The work of the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament differed somewhat from His work in the New Testament. In Old Testament times, the possession of the Holy Spirit by the believer was not permanent in every case. The Spirit had a ministry of restraining sin and in the creation of the world.
The Holy Spirit today plays a major role in the application of salvation to the individual. It is the Spirit Who brings conviction to the unbeliever and causes him to see the truth of the Gospel. Those who respond to this conviction and place their faith in Jesus Christ receive eternal life and a new nature. The Holy Spirit unites the believer with Christ and places him in the body of Christ, which is the church (1st Corinthians 12:13). He also unites the believer with Christ in His death, enabling him to live victoriously over sin. The Holy Spirit controls the believer who yields to God and submits himself to God's Word (Romans 12:1-2). When these conditions are met, the believer lives in the power of the Spirit and produces the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:16).
Lesson 4 - Part 1 - Man - His Creation & Nature - February 26, 2023
Introduction
Many have have tried to answer the question of the origin of man with many conflicting and uncertain information. Apart from the Scriptures, theories such as “Evolution” and “Natural Selection” will continue to come up short. Only in the Scripture can one expect to find a complete and accurate account of man’s origin. However, the doctrine of man is clearly taught in the Scriptures (Genesis 1-2; 2:25; John 1:3; Colossians 1:16; Hebrews 11:3). The first Chapter of Genesis alone, repeatedly refers to God as Creator. Throughout the Bible more than fifty references of this title is used.
Lesson 5 - Angels - March 8, 2023
Introduction
The Bible informs us that long before the creation of man, God created an countless company of beings described as angels. Like men, they are capable of great intelligence and moral responsibility. The word “angel” means “messenger,” and while referring to a special class of being, the term sometimes refers to others who are messengers – namely pastors who were called “the angels of the seven churches in Asia” (Revelation 2-3). Also, the term “Angel of Jehovah” is used in the appearances of Christ in the Old Testament; this is called a Christophany (Genesis 16:7-9; 21:17-19;22;11). Christology, the study of Christ, the second person of the Godhead, teaches that Christ existed and appeared in the Old Testament, before His birth into the world in the New Testament Scriptures.
Lesson 6 - Part 1 - Satan - March 15, 2023
Introduction
We know that Satan was already created as the highest being above all the moral creatures of God. But there is an immeasurable gulf of difference and abilities that separate Satan and the Godhead. Satan was created by God, Who is self-existent, always was and always will be. Satan is fallen and doomed, God is forever holy and supreme in His eternal rulership.
This study of Satan is significant because every believer must know his enemy. We must understand the following:
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His Personality and Power
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His Work and Destiny
Lesson 6 - Part 2 - Satan - March 22, 2023
Introduction