Gospel

Three Tenses of Salvation Next, let’s consider a fundamental doctrine in the word of God, which has as its foundation the grace of God.  We’ve already seen that God’s plan of salvation is offered to mankind on the basis of grace.  Let’s rightly divide the word of truth by considering three different aspects of this salvation found in the Bible. First, let’s understand that the term “salvation” means to rescue or to deliver and the context determines what the nature of the salvation is. In the Old Testament, “salvation” almost always refers to some sort of physical salvation from various enemies, circumstances, and even death.  In the New Testament, “salvation” sometimes is referring to physical deliverance but normally it is used in a spiritual sense. Second, you need to realize that spiritual salvation is spoken of in three tenses or phases in the Bible.  We have a tendency as believers to think only of salvation which occurred at a point in time in our...

Look out for these Terms and Definitions mostly used in the teaching: Grace – God’s unmerited or undeserved favour and kindness toward unworthy mankind. Justification – The judicial declaration in which a holy God declares righteous the unworthy but believing sinner on the basis of Christ’s sacrificial work on the sinner’s behalf. Sanctification – The process by which a believer in Christ, through the Word of God and the power of the Holy Spirit, is progressively set apart unto God as a vessel for His service. Glorification – The yet future state of all believers in which they will be made like Christ, with glorified bodies and without sin in the very presence of God in heaven. Introduction During this first study, we want to explain why the teaching of the grace of God is so important. Let me ask you a few questions regarding God’s grace: ·       Do you understand God’s grace in salvation? ·       Do yo...

GOSPEL The gospel message is central to Christianity and it is of utmost importance to know, use, teach, and defend the clear gospel of the grace of God. And so we will spend the rest of our time explaining the gospel message. A roadmap serves several purposes. It shows you where you want to go (your destination) and it shows you how to get there. When you die it is safe to assume that you will want to spend eternity in heaven with God. This is the desired destination. The gospel roadmap shows you how to get there. The basic meaning of the word “gospel” is “good news”. It is a message from God to man revealing how God has acted on behalf of humanity making it possible for every person to spend eternity with Him in heaven. This message starts out with some bad news but then ends with some truly significant good news. The roadmap lays out this information in a logical and easy to follow format. The Gospel – Four Parts The Gospel message can be laid out in four parts. It has a...

Partakers “If, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God” (1 Pet. 2:20). Affliction and suffering are the lot of all men, the privilege of all believers. Our sufferings bring forth need, and our need brings forth His comfort and consolation. Blessed need! “As ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation” (2 Cor. 1:7). Blessed promise! “If you aspire to be a son of consolation; if you would partake of the priestly gift of sympathy; if you would pour something beyond commonplace consolation into a tempted heart; if you would pass through the intercourse of daily life with the delicate tact that never inflicts pain; you must be content to pay the price of a costly education-like Him, you must suffer.” Blessing out of suffering “There are blessings which we cannot obtain if we cannot accept and endure suffering. There are joys that can come to us only through sorrow. There are revealings of divine truth wh...

Abide In Abundance “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in Me” (John 15:4). Quality Of The Fruit The quality of the fruit of the branch depends upon the quality of the life of the vine. Neither quality nor quantity is the product of the branch, for the branch merely receives what is produced by the vine . “To walk with God in hallowed fellowship is not only the secret of joy and growth, it is the condition of all acceptable service, of all real usefulness. The value of what we do depends very much upon what we are. And what we are depends upon where we abide. The mightiest power for usefulness is the quiet influence of a life that abides habitually in the secret place of the Most High. Such an one dwells in the source of all life, of all purity, of all fruitfulness.” -E.H.H. “It is just a matter of taking a position that is already yours. The enemy has filled the minds of many ...

More on Josiah Humbling Himself before the Lord Thus says the LORD God of Israel: "Concerning the words which you have heard — because your heart was tender, and you humbled yourself before God when you heard His words against this place and against its inhabitants, and you humbled yourself before Me, and you tore your clothes and wept before Me, I also have heard you, " says the LORD... "your eyes shall not see all the calamity which I will bring on this place and its inhabitants." (2 Chronicles 34:26-27) King Josiah was a godly ruler, who purged the land of idolatrous activities. When the neglected word of God was discovered in the temple, he responded humbly as he heard it read. "Now it happened, when the king heard the words of the Law, that he tore his clothes." He thereby escaped the judgment that was deserved by the rebellious people. Also, this appropriate wrath was postponed until after his reign. These blessings of grace were related to J...