Lesson 2
Correspondence Course Introduction:
and
Correspondence Course BASIC TOPIC: GOD
- Before we begin - Let us look at a couple of facts that must stand as the standard of our spiritual thoughts.
The Bible tells us of many wondrous aspects about ourselves, our Creator, the creation we find ourselves in and about ourselves. The words that we read come from the mind of God, our Creator. He tells us of His love and His continuous striving to draw us back into His way. The Bible tells how we rebelled against Him and His plan of redemption, making it possible for our return.
The Bible tells us of God. The all-powerful, all knowing and always present heavenly Father. It tells us of His Son, Jesus the Christ, His only begotten Son. The one who God chose as our propitiation, that we might have hope of the life that He has always wanted for us.
The Bible tells of the Holy Spirit, the third divine personage of the Godhead. The spiritual force that works God's will. The Holy Spirit, as directed by God and His dear Son, has spoken to the chosen men of God. Causing them to have the inspired revelations and remembrance to communicate to us in written form the love will and purpose of God. Without the works of the Holy Spirit, we would not have the marvelous account of the will of God for us and we could not have the communicative ability to speak to God.
Even if we agree with such statements, let us at least document these faithful statements. - And if we are not quit sure of the validity of such comments, may we read carefully through the scriptures and Biblical questions below:
Is there design in nature? - Y/N
Ps 19:1 "To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David. The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork."
Ref. Ge 1:1-31
Does the universe tell of the glory of God? -Y/N
Ro 1:18-20 "18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,"
Ref. Ac 17:27-30; Ac 14:17
Was our world, the universe created? - Y/N
He 3:4 "For every house is built by someone, but He who built all things is God."
Ref. Col 1:17; Joh 17:5; 1Co 8:6; Ro 11:36
God created the heavens and the earth, and Jesus was there with Him - T/F:
Ge 1:1, 26, 31 "1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. ... 26 Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." ... 31 Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good. ..."
Joh 1:1, 10 "1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. ... 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him."
Ref. Eph 3:9; Joh 1:3; Joh 10:30; He 1:2
Maybe we ought to stop for an instant: - Possibly it would be wise to ask: "Do we believe in God?" maybe "Is there really a God?" or "Is God real?" One can give several answers. Some are only concerned with what God means to us; then there are no horizons to the endless possibilities of answers. Some on the other hand look to the Bible as the spiritual and righteous "right" guide; for them God is a living and awesome personality in their existence. Moreover, a loving but just heavenly Father who expects us to do His will. - This study approaches the question from the side that the world we live in and the universe around us were created and spoken into existence be a supreme being (GOD). Additionally, it will direct our (open-minded) thoughts toward an existence that will be destroyed with a great noise and will melt with fervent heat instead of being non-calculatedly blown into existence by the same. (2Pe 3:10-12)
- Are we still in agreement? Let us continue:
The Bible is the inspired word of God - T/F
2Ti 3:16, 17 "16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work."
Ref. 2Pe 1:20, 21; Lk 1:70; Ac 3:18; Ro 15:4
Is the Bible our only reliable source of truth? - Y/N
Joh 17:17 "Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth."
Ref. 1Pe 1:22
Did not Jesus promise that the Holy Spirit would guide the apostles into all truth? - T/F
Joh 16:13 "However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.
Ref. Joh 14:26; 1Jo 2:20, 27; 2Co 1:21, 22
The Holy Spirit guided the apostles in their writing as directed by God and Christ - T/F
Joh 16:13, 14 "13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. 14 "He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. 15 "All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you."
Ref. Joh 14:26; 1Jo 2:20, 27; 2Co 1:21, 22
Are we to live by the word of God today? - Y/N
Mt 4:4 "But He answered and said, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.'"
Ref. Ro 1:16; 1Co 1:18, 24; 2Ti 1:8; 1Pe 1:5
Must we properly understand His word (to have full knowledge of what He wants us to know)? - Y/N
2Ti 2:15 "Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."
Note: So then - to be approved of God we must correctly understand, use and obey the word of God.
Jesus wants us to be approved of God, and live according to His word and will? -T/F
Tit 2:12-14 "12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works."
Ref. Col 1:13-17
Those who love the truth will obey His Word and do His will -T/F
1Jo 2:3-6 "3 Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. 4 He who says, "I know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. 6 He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked."
Ref. Joh 14:21, 23; 1Jo 4:12, 13; Joh 15:4, 5; Joh 13:15-17; 1Pe 2:21; 1 Jo 2:10
Are you still here? - Lets see:
God had a plan for redeeming mankind - T/F
Ge 3:15 "And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel."
Ref. Eph 3:9; Joh 17:5
Within the old covenant God made a distinction between the Jews and the Gentiles - Y/N
Eph 2:11, 12 "11 Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh -- who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands -- 12 that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world."
Ref. Eph 2:13-21
God gave the children of Israel His "First" covenant and promised to bless them as long as they kept it - Y/N
Lev 26:14, 15, 33 "14 But if you do not obey Me, and do not observe all these commandments, 15 and if you despise My statutes, or if your soul abhors My judgments, so that you do not perform all My commandments, but break My covenant, ... 33 I will scatter you among the nations and draw out a sword after you; your land shall be desolate and your cities waste."
Ref. Deu 5:7-33
The promise to Abraham that he "shall be a father of many nations" includes us today - T/F
Ro 4:13, 14 "13 For the promise that he would be the heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. 14 For if those who are of the law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise made of no effect,"
Ref. Eph 2:11-21; Ge 17:4; Gal 3:29; Ac 10:34, 35; Col 1:13; Mt 7:21
God fulfilled this promise in the giving of a "New" covenant through Jesus - T/F
Eph 2:11-21 "11 Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh -- who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands -- 12 that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world."
Ref. 1Co 12:2; Col 1:21; Col 2:13; Ro 2:28, 29
God now commands all of mankind to repent - T/F
Ac 17:30, 31 "30 "Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, 31 "because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead."
God demands mankind everywhere to worship Him in a special way - T/F
Joh 4:24 "God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."
Ref. 2Co 3:17; 2Co 3:6; 1Co 15:45; Lk 4:8
God demands mankind everywhere to have faith in Him and that He is faithful - T/F
He 11:6 "But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him."
The word of God tells us that this spiritual faith comes from His word - T/F
Ro 10:17 "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."
If the will of God is told to us by the gospel, and the obedience to Gods will is necessary before entrance of His kingdom, then one must have to obey the gospel before being heir to the promises of God - T/F
Ro 1:16 "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek."
Ro 10:11-17 "11 For the Scripture says, "Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame." 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." 14 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!" 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed our report?" 17 So then faith [comes] by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."
Mt 7:21 "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven."
Ref. 1Co 1:18; 1Co 15:1-4
The word of God tells us, and the will of God is, that we be born again by the water and the Spirit - Y/N
Joh 3:3, 5 "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."
Ref. Mt 18:3; Gal 6:15; Ro 12:2
We have this commandment from Jesus, that we may be able to obey the will of God - Y/N
1Pe 3:21 "There is also an antitype which now saves us -- baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,"
Ref. Ro 6:3-5; Gal 3:27
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