Lesson Five- Doctrine

2 Timothy says:
…Thou hast known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works… I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.


The Importance of Sound Doctrine

One way that people dismiss the importance of doctrine is to say that it does not matter what a person believes, as long as that person does what is right. But a persons actions are greatly influenced by what they believe, so to say this is really quite erroneous. What a person believes directs their actions, and faith, without works is dead.

Paul writes in Titus 1 about the importance of a Christians doctrinal beliefs and actions saying: "Since an overseer is entrusted with God's work, he must be blameless -- not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain. Rather he must be hospitable; one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined. He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it"

Christians must hold firmly to the trustworthy message that was delivered unto the saint, and their lives are to show it. You cannot show it, if you do not know it.



DOCTRINES OF THE BIBLE


What do Christians believe about God?

Christians believe in God. Important aspects of God’s character are charity (love) and justness. They describe God as being perfect, holy, self existing, omnipotent, omniscient and light in whom is no darkness at all. They believe that God exists eternally in three distinct persons, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, each of whom possess all the attributes of being God and the characteristics of God's Holy personality and who exist to reveal God to mankind.

Christians believe that God is the creator and sustainer of all things and that He oversees and operates in human history, from the beginning to the end, in order to fulfill His redemptive plan for mankind and for all that he has made, that though dead in sin and trespasses, they can know of God's love for mankind, believe upon the one he sent, and thus be saved.

Christians believe that God offers forgiveness for sin and subsequently salvation to sinners by His grace through their faith in Him, and his fulfilled promise in His Son, Jesus who is the Christ, Messiah, the One he promised to send into the world and did send. They believe that Jesus, like God the Father, his true father, was holy, perfect, and unlike ordinary men; he was without sin. This came about as a miracle of God, a fulfillment of his promises, for Jesus was born from a woman, yet she was a virgin. Jesus was born as a baby like all men (and women) and that he grew to be a man the same as we.

1. Read Psalm 139
In your own words, write what the psalmist tells us about the ways that God is all-knowing and ever-present.

2. Read Acts:17:22-34.
From the reading, explain what Paul told the people about the true and living God.

3. Read 2 Peter 3:3-10.
Keep in mind that two important aspects of God are 1) He is Loving and 2) He is just.

From reading this passage, are you able to give reasons Christians believe that God is both loving and just.



JESUS

Christians believe Jesus is fully God and fully man.

They believe that Jesus Christ is the second person of the Trinity who was united forever with a true human nature by a miraculous conception and virgin birth.

Jesus lived a perfect life of obedience to God the Father and voluntarily died on the cross, as a substitute for all of mankind’s sin against God. In doing so, he accomplished salvation to all who trust in Him. After dying and being buried for three days, he rose bodily from the dead, was seen by many people, and ascended into heaven where he is seated at the right hand of God. He is the only mediator between God and man and he makes intercession to God on our behalf, until he comes again.

Christians believe that Jesus came the first time as a baby in a manger, but Christians believe in the second coming of Jesus too. They believe he will come again to earth, personally and visibly to complete the plan and purposes of God.

They also believe that he will rule and reign, create a new heavens and a new earth and life for the people of God will be with God forevermore as God originally intended it to be. Death and suffering will vanish and God will rule and reign eternally.

1. Read Col 1:15-25. What information is given that shows Jesus to be Divine?

2. Find a verse in the Bible that shows Jesus to be human.

3. What verses in the Bible show that Jesus died for sinners.

4. What verse tells us that Jesus is the only mediator between God and man? What does a mediator do?

5. What verse tells us that Jesus Christ will come again?




HOLY SPIRIT

Christians believe that the essential accompaniment of a genuine saving relationship with JESUS CHRIST is a life of holiness and obedience. This is obtained by submission to the HOLY SPIRIT, the third Person of the Trinity who convicts sinners of a need for a savior and leads them to Jesus Christ.

He in something separate from sinful man who, when a person believes upon Jesus, indwells each believer and administers gifts to believers for the edification of the entire Christian body.

The Holy Spirit, or Holy Ghost, guides believers in understanding and applying the scriptures to their daily lives, so we can grow and produce fruit.. love, joy, peace, patient, kindness, gentleness, self control.. thus being the people God has created us to be.

They believe this Holy Spirit of God exists among mankind, to draw men to God the father and to Jesus Christ his son.

1. Read Ephesians 1:9-14. What reasons do you see that God has given us his Holy spirit?

2. Read John 14:12-21. Name one thing the Holy Spirit does.

3. Read Galatians 5:16-26. What things does the Holy Spirit accomplish in our lives?



HEAVEN AND HELL

Christians believe that at death, the eternal destiny of a person is forever sealed.

Christians believe that there will be a resurrection of the body and a righteous justice pronounced upon every individual by God. Those who reject God, and the provision of God given to men through Jesus Christ will be eternally separated from Him in condemnation and believers will be received into eternal communion with God.

1. Read Revelation 7:9-17. This is a description of Heaven. Pick out and write down some things you know about heaven from reading this passage. See especially verse:15,16,and 17.

2. Read Luke 16:19:31. List two things you can know about hell from this passage.

3. Read John 14:1-11 Thomas asks Jesus, “How can we know the way?” What does Jesus answer?



THE BIBLE

Christians believe that the Bible is the basis of the Christian Faith. That these Holy Scriptures originated with God and was given to men through the prophets.

They believe that Scripture speaks with the authority of God, although it is influences in the vocabulary, and styles of it’s human author.

Christians believe the scriptures are the full and final authority in matters of faith an practice, and that they are unique as there are no other writings similarly inspired by God.

1. Read Matthew 24:25 and Isaiah 40:8. List the things these passages tell you about the Word of God.

2. Find a verse in the bible that begins: “and God said” or “thus saith the Lord”

3 Can you find any reasons that Christians give to claim that the bible is an “inspired” book?

4. Read Acts 17:10-15. How did the Bereans distinguish truth from error? What “scriptures” did they use?

5. Read I john 4-6. What are some ways to know if a teaching is true and from God?


Vocabulary
Look up the following words in a dictionary and write out the definition.
 inerrant  translate  scroll  version  illumination   commentary
 Septuagint  revelation  gospel  trinity  resurrection  salvation
 propitiation  atonement  apologetics  doctrine