Pt. 27, Beliefs of the Biblical Christian, Pt.2

 
Beliefs of the Biblical Christian, Part 2 Pt. 27, The Biblical Story By Pastor Dan Kennedy © March 22, 2015 www.pastorkennedy.com Is “Biblical Doctrine” Important? What we believe affects the way we live. What does belief in a correct understanding of what the Bible teaches (Biblical Doctrine) have to do with the way we live? Why do we need to discuss church “doctrine” on Sunday mornings? Shouldn’t we be talking about something much more invigorating and helpful to our personal lives every day? At the close of a service some years ago, two women came in the church foyer and wanted to speak with me, as pastor. One was a Jehovah Witness (JW)…who was the self-proclaimed spokeswoman for the older silent, and somewhat confused woman who stood beside her. The older woman had, years before, been a member of the church, in whose foyer she was now standing, and her handler had brought her by to have her renounce her membership and any association with the non-JW church. I had never met either of the women. It was fairly clear that the older, quiet woman had never personally studied the Bible when she had attended non-J.W. churches, or she would not have been sucked into a cult that was now telling her – no, commanding her, what she had to believe. It was painfully evident that the silent woman (she did not say a word without prompting) had never assimilated the critical doctrines of the Scripture for herself…this, in turn, had allowed her to be spiritually deceived. Should she have known what the Bible taught? Should she have taken the time to read, study, listen and understand Biblical Church doctrine, years before? One of the reasons I have printed notes is so you can review aspects of Scripture, which may be unfamiliar to you. So you can ask questions, read more thoroughly, and dig deeper into God’s Word. Pastors and Biblical teachers are responsible to teach and encourage those in church to know what the Bible teaches. Everyone should clearly understand the primary doctrines taught in Bible believing churches. It is a travesty when we have the Scripture so available to us, but we do not take the time to know what it says! If there ever is a time of trial in our country we will wish we had. When we see the Lord Jesus Face to face, we will wish we had. Truth Doesn’t Change As in real life, truth doesn’t have to be forced and it doesn’t change its story all the time to keep up with public opinion – or to keep one from looking bad, or out of jail. It is what it is. Wrong is wrong and right is right. It is timeless and changeless. Theories do not have to be fabricated to support it and the many fluctuations of life, either good or bad, do not require it to be revaluated from time to time.   Real Truth Never has to be Forced When you study or teach the Doctrines of Scripture, you never have to “force” your belief on anyone, you simply share what the Scripture says…to the best of your ability. Conclusions are most often obvious to someone who is Born Again by God’s Holy Spirit, even when studying “controversial doctrines” that may be in Biblical tension. One doesn’t always have to agree, but the Bible itself can point to healthy conclusions, often on either side of even controversial tensions – that is why they are in “tension”. (2 Timothy 2:24-26) Cults and false religions, on the other hand, often study and teach what their overlords tell them the Bible teaches. They “study” the writing of those who “interpret” the Bible according to their own skewed interpretation – what they want the Bible to say about Jesus, or hell, etc. They often spend most of their time reviewing the non-Biblical texts of those who have had “visions” or “dreams” enhancing what they purport the Bible to teach. Those who understand Biblical Truths read and study the Bible for themselves, using comparable passages of Scripture to interpret Scripture, rather than from their, or someone else’s, own interpretation. Spiritual teachings involve spiritual dynamics, both Good and evil The world around us seems to be caught up with all sorts of unnatural curiosities about the supernatural – real and imagined. Forms of spiritism and witchcraft are topics of interest in a variety of our books, movies, and sitcoms that fill TV and movie screens and bookshelves around the world. There also seems to be an intense emphasis of the supernatural in children’s movies and cartoons, etc. Normally, Christians often do not want to delve very far into the supernatural, outside of a dynamic and growing relationship with God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, but we should be aware of the supernatural forces that surround our world in Satan’s kingdom of darkness, since he is the god of this world. We also have to be aware that every religion and every cult has a spiritual dynamic, or it would not be a “religion”. “Spiritual” is the essence of religion. These spiritual dynamics are very real and are a counterfeit to the Holy Spirit. Spiritually deceptive spirits give “spiritual” and emotional confirmation to spiritistic interpretations of Scripture (Satan quoted Scripture when tempting Jesus), or use of other “holy books”, underlying deceptive teaching – giving “an emotional feeling” of truth. This can only be “felt” through the presence of another spirit. Cultic teachers do not want their followers to solely read and follow the Bible…they always require their own literature as “supplement” or “superior revelation”, to the Bible. Soon the Bible becomes simply secondary “reference” material to “support” (at the cult’s selective choice) the damming doctrine of the deceptive cult. Each World Religion Has Its Own Doctrine What makes those who believe in Jesus Christ and the Bible different from the other world religions? Approximately 86% of the World has some form of Religious Faith • Christians 32 % • Muslim 23 % • Hindus 13 % • Buddhists 6 % • Other Religions 12 % • Non Religious 14 % Information on World Religions approximated from various sites, pie charts, and government resources on religions. All Religions have Their Own Religious Doctrine Since we are reviewing Christian Church Doctrine, we need to stop and realize that every religion has its own doctrine…its own understanding of religious truth, stemming from its founder’s teachings, and/or from their holy books. The followers of each religion understand their existence in this world based on what their religion teaches them and their daily life is most often built on their understanding of their given “doctrine”. • Buddhists believe that nothing is permanent (according to Gautama Buddha) and that their life’s purpose is to avoid suffering and gain merit and enlightenment through a continuing cycle of births, deaths and rebirths in reincarnation. This belief affects how they live their daily life. • Muslims will never know if they are good enough to go to their paradise after death. Some have no sure hope of eternal life except through martyrdom. These beliefs profoundly affect their life and actions. • Atheists have their own unwritten code of doctrine: “Believe in yourself (since there is no one else to believe in). Eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow we die.” “Doctrinal beliefs” whether written down or culturally accepted, by the religious or non-religious, are very powerful influences on each person’s daily life. Christ’s Return The Bible teaches Christians that Jesus Christ will return one day. Easter is celebrated based on Christ’s resurrection, and in like kind, those who believe in Jesus Christ will also be resurrected to have eternal life. The Bible teaches the believer in Christ to “be ready” and “be prepared” for Christ’s Coming! “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye at the last trump!” (1 Cor. 15:51-52) Other faiths have “end of days” beliefs as well. For example… the Doctrine of the “End of Days” teaching for many Muslims There are many millions of Muslims who believe in religious doctrine pointing to devastating “End of Days” beliefs: …“Research shows that 7% to 10% of Muslims worldwide do support violent jihad. That’s upwards of 150 million people. If it were a single country — the Islamic Republic of ‘Radicalstan’ — it would be the world’s 9th largest, just ahead of Russia (146 million).” from: https://flashtrafficblog.wordpress.com, written March 12, 2015 by Joel C. Rosenberg “According to a 2012 report by the Pew Research Center, ‘in most countries in the Middle East and North Africa, South Asia and Southeast Asia, more than half or more of Muslims believe they will live to see the return of the Mahdi [the Muslim Imam/prophet promised to come in the End of Days].’” (Muhammad ibn Hasan al-Mahdī (Arabic:محمد بن الحسن المهدي) is believed by Twelver Shī‘a Muslims to be the Mahdī, an ultimate savior of humankind and the final Imām of the Twelve Imams who will emerge with Isa (Jesus Christ) in order to fulfill their mission of bringing peace and justice to the world.) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muhammad_al-Mahdi • Egypt — 40% [some 33 million] of Muslims believe the return of the Mahdi is imminent. • Jordan — 41% [over 2 ½ million people] • Palestinians — 46% [over 5.3 million people] • Iraq — 72% [over 24 million people] [According to the Pew Research Center, as seen above, there are an estimated 65 million Middle Eastern Muslims who believe that they are living in the End of Days with the imminent return of their messiah – the Mahdi. There are more Muslims that believe in the return of the Mahdi than the combined populations of all of California and Texas! California population: 38.8 million Texas population: 26.09 million 64.89 million combined] This Muslim doctrine teaches that Jesus will come back to support the Mahdi and grow the Muslim faith “What’s more, the report found that an enormous number of Muslims believe that Jesus is coming back to earth [not as the world’s Messiah and King as Christian’s believe, but] to serve under the Mahdi. • Jordan — 29% of Muslims believe Jesus is coming back to earth [to serve under the Mahdi and promote the Muslim faith] • Egypt — 39% • Palestinians — 46% • Iraq — 64% “Apocalyptic Islamic eschatology is a photographic negative of Biblical eschatology. The leaders of Iran and ISIS believe the way to hasten the coming of the messiah to kill as many people as possible. The followers of Jesus Christ, on the other hand, believe the way to hasten the coming of the messiah is to save as many people as possible. (Matthew 24:14)” from: https://flashtrafficblog.wordpress.com, written March 12, 2015 by Joel C. Rosenberg http://www.pewforum.org/2012/08/09/the-worlds-muslims-unity-and-diversity-3-articles-of-faith/ How important are the diverse religious doctrinal beliefs for 86% of the world’s population who have religious beliefs and for the 14% who believe no doctrine but their own? What we believe affects the way we live – no matter what religion we choose to follow! But, mere mental assent to the correct “facts” found in the Bible, does not automatically make us acceptable to God… nor does it effectively change our deceptive heart from a carnal lifestyle. Isaiah, the Old Testament prophet (in Isaiah 1:11–20) clearly pointed out the many in Israel who clamored to bring all the right sacrifices to God as required by the Law – but whose hearts were far from God. Israel, God’s Chosen People, were clearly aware of the “doctrinal facts” of their outward sacrificial system…but because of the carnality of their heart, their very acts of worship had become repulsive to God! Isaiah 1:11–20 11 “The multitude of your sacrifices— what are they to me?” says the Lord. “I have more than enough of burnt offerings, of rams and the fat of fattened animals; I have no pleasure in the blood of bulls and lambs and goats. 12 When you come to appear before me, who has asked this of you, this trampling of my courts? 13 Stop bringing meaningless offerings! Your incense is detestable to me. New Moons, Sabbaths and convocations— I cannot bear your evil assemblies. 14 Your New Moon festivals and your appointed feasts my soul hates. They have become a burden to me; I am weary of bearing them. 15 When you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide my eyes from you; even if you offer many prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are full of blood; 16 wash and make yourselves clean. Take your evil deeds out of my sight! Stop doing wrong, 17 learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow. God’s offer of Forgiveness to willing and obedient Children 18 “Come now, let us reason together,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool. 19 If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the best from the land; 20 but if you resist and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword.” For the mouth of the Lord has spoken. Doctrinal assent is healthy if it draws our heart to understand and follow the ways of God, not just the affirmation or demonstration of our intellectual understanding of God. Church Doctrinal Statement Last week we began looking at our church’s doctrinal statement: the basics of what we believe and teach. Many churches have similar statements. We began with the Scripture’s affirmation of the Truth of God founded on the Bible. 1. The Bible. We believe the Bible (God’s Holy Word) to be the Inspired, Infallible, and Authoritative Word of God. a. Inspired: 2 Peter 1:19–21 19 And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, 20 knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. 21 For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. 2 Timothy 3:16–17 16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. Revelation 1:1–2; 10-11 1 The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, 2 who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. 10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet 11 saying, “Write what you see in a book and send it to the seven churches, to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea.” b. Infallible: Psalm 119:89 89 Your word, O Lord, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens. Malachi 3:6 6 “For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed. Today we look at the next two points of our Biblical Church Doctrine. ¬ God, The Trinity: • God the Father, • God the Son, and • God the Holy Spirit, and ¬ The Deity of Jesus Christ. God The Trinity is a mystery, a Divine Mystery! Our Triune God in His Three Persons give logic and reason to philosophical “unity-in-diversity”, which examples are seen in united marriages, families, churches, businesses, and societies, as well as in all other diverse but unified elements – known and unknown, seen and unseen, throughout the universe. A Divine Mystery among Millions of Mysteries Around Us The Trinity is obviously a mystery, but in our universe, many mysteries abound! Many absolute essentials for our daily existence are utterly unexplainable – such as a beating heart muscle, oxygen, photosynthesis and atmospheric stratification around our privileged earth; a reasoning, rational mind, a delicate eco-system, a dazzling array of billions of galaxies each with billions of stars illuminating the vast expanses of the universe …and the mystery of life itself, given by God! Can we comprehend the number and magnitude of these mystifying and unexplainable elements, which responsibly and imperceptibly integrate and regulate our normal daily life? We accept (and expect) the involvement of these mysteries without question! Is the extraordinary wonder of the Godhead Trinity, as revealed in the Bible, something to be avoided or disbelieved because total explanation of such mystery does not meet the full approval of a questioning mind? Read Scripture with a heart of understanding, a mind of inquiry and a spirit of awe, for Almighty God has revealed Himself and the dynamic mystery of His Person, through His Holy Word. Dr. Francis Schaeffer, a notable 20th Century Christian philosopher wrote: “Every once in a while in my discussions someone asks how I can believe in the Trinity. My answer is always the same. I would still be an agnostic if there were no Trinity because there would be no answers. Without the high order of personal unity and diversity as given in the Trinity, there are no answers…. Einstein taught that the whole material world may be reduced to electromagnetism and gravity. At the end of his life he was seeking a unity above these two, something that would unite electromagnetism and gravity, but he never found it. But what if he had found it? It would only be unity in diversity in relationship to the material world, and as such it would only be child’s play. Nothing would really have been settled because the needed unity and diversity in regard to personality would not have been touched. If he had been able to bring electromagnetism and gravity together, he would not have explained the need of personal unity and diversity. In contrast, let us think of the Nicene Creed – three Persons, one God. Rejoice that they chose the word “person.” Whether you realize it or not, that catapulted the Nicene Creed right into our century and its discussions: Three Persons in existence, loving each other, and in communication with each other, before all else was. If this were not so, we would have had a God who needed to create in order to love and communicate. In such a case, God would have needed the universe as much as the universe needed God. But God did not need to create…because we have a full and true Trinity. Let us notice again that this is not the best answer; it is the only answer. Nobody else, no philosophy, has ever given us an answer for unity and diversity. So when people ask whether we are embarrassed intellectually by the Trinity, I always switch it over into their own terminology – unity and diversity. Every philosophy has this problem and no philosophy has an answer. Christianity does have an answer in the existence of the Trinity. The only answer to what exists is that He, the Triune God, is there.” (from: He is There and He is not Silent, by Francis A. Schaeffer. 1972. Tyndale House Publishers, Wheaton, Ill. Selections from pages 14-17. ) Points 2 and 3 of our Church Doctrinal Statement 2. God. We believe there is one God, eternally existent in three persons – Father, Son and Holy Spirit. a. God the Father 1 Corinthians 8:6 6 yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live. John 1:12 12 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— John 10:30 30 I and the Father are one.” b. God the Son Revelation 1:8 8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.” Hebrews 1:1–13 1 In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. 3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. 4 So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs. 5 For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are my Son; today I have become your Father”? Or again, “I will be his Father, and he will be my Son”? 6 And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says, “Let all God’s angels worship him.” 7 In speaking of the angels he says, “He makes his angels winds, his servants flames of fire.” 8 But about the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever, and righteousness will be the scepter of your kingdom. 9 You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy.” 10 He also says, “In the beginning, O Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. 11 They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment. 12 You will roll them up like a robe; like a garment they will be changed. But you remain the same, and your years will never end.” 13 To which of the angels did God ever say, “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet”? John 5:21–26 21 For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it. 22 Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, 23 that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him. 24 “I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life. 25 I tell you the truth, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live. 26 For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son to have life in himself. c. God the Holy Spirit John 15:26 26 “When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me. John 14:16 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever— 1 Corinthians 6:19 19 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own... The Deity of Jesus Christ Because the mystery of The Trinity is so profound, churches, which follow the teaching of Scripture often include in their doctrinal statement, as we do, a separate point on Christ’s deity. Jesus Christ was not just a good man, an excellent teacher, or a prophet sent by God, as some religions claim; Jesus Christ, the Messiah, came in the flesh, and was not only fully human (though without sin), but also fully God. Jesus Christ is God the Son, the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His being, who sustains all things by His powerful word. (Heb. 1:3) 3. The Deity of Jesus Christ. We believe in the Deity (Divine and Human Nature) of the Lord Jesus Christ. Hebrews 1:1-13 (see above); John 1:1 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:14 14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. Conclusion Today we have taken a brief look at the concept of doctrinal beliefs which are inherent in all faiths – all religions throughout the world. Principles of faith are critical to our understanding of why we are on this earth, why we have meaning and if we are accountable to a Supreme Being. One of my intentions was to make you aware of how important it is for us to understand and have a working knowledge of Scriptural doctrine. There are additional Scripture study materials available about the Trinity and other Biblical doctrines online at: http://www.pastorkennedy.com/Doctrine/Doctrine_-_Site.html • The Source of what we believe and what we believe from that Source affects the way we live during our sojourn here on this planet. • The Truth of what we believe will affect what happens to us when we die. • We should all be encouraged to know what we believe and why we believe it! “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15 ~~~ Our Eternal Redemption Only Comes Through Jesus Christ "I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him. Luke 12:4,5 All of us have broken God’s laws and deserve a Holy God’s judgment – “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23 • We don’t have to become “good” before God saves us: “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Roman 5:8 • Sin’s wages bring death, God’s gift brings eternal life: “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23 • We must Believe in Jesus Christ and Confess Him as Lord: “If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.” Romans 10:9,10 PRAYER for Salvation: “Dear Heavenly Father, I know that I have sinned against You. There have been thoughts in my mind and actions of my life, which reveal my sin against You. I deserve punishment, not forgiveness! But, I acknowledge that You sent Your Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the Cross for my sins. I believe that Jesus Christ died for me, that He was buried and that He rose again on the third day – to show that He is God the Son, all-powerful over sin and death. Heavenly Father, I now, by faith, ask your forgiveness for my sin because of the blood of Jesus. I repent of my sins, and invite Jesus Christ to come into my life as my Savior. I ask that Jesus’ precious blood, that He shed on the cross, to cleanse my guilt and sin before Your Holy Presence. I choose Jesus Christ to be my Savior and confess Him to be my Lord. By Your Grace, I receive your free gift of eternal life and ask that Your Holy Spirit transform me to be Your Child and fill me with His Presence. Thank You, Heavenly Father, for Your Mercy and Salvation, which gives me this opportunity to be born again into Your Heavenly Family! In Jesus’ Name, AMEN!” 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God… John 1:12 http://www.pastorkennedy.comhttps://flashtrafficblog.wordpress.comhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arabichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twelvershttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahdihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imamah_http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Twelve_Imamshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesus_in_Islamhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muhammad_al-Mahdihttp://www.pewforum.org/2012/08/09/the-worlds-muslims-unity-and-diversity-3-articles-of-faith/https://flashtrafficblog.wordpress.comhttp://www.pewforum.org/2012/08/09/the-worlds-muslims-unity-and-diversity-3-articles-of-faith/http://www.pewforum.org/2012/08/09/the-worlds-muslims-unity-and-diversity-3-articles-of-faith/http://www.pastorkennedy.com/Doctrine/Doctrine_-_Site.htmlhttp://www.pastorkennedy.com/Doctrine/Doctrine_-_Site.htmlhttp://www.pastorkennedy.com/Doctrine/Doctrine_-_Site.htmlshapeimage_1_link_0shapeimage_1_link_1shapeimage_1_link_2shapeimage_1_link_3shapeimage_1_link_4shapeimage_1_link_5shapeimage_1_link_6shapeimage_1_link_7shapeimage_1_link_8shapeimage_1_link_9shapeimage_1_link_10shapeimage_1_link_11shapeimage_1_link_12shapeimage_1_link_13shapeimage_1_link_14shapeimage_1_link_15