God’s special revelation of Himself to mankind

Basic truth: God has revealed truth about Himself specifically. The Bible is the only means of special revelation today.

Special revelation is that revelation of God that speaks directly to who He is, His will, and His ways. That revelation comes by way of the Lord Jesus Christ and His word: the Scriptures. This revelation is a potentially saving revelation of God. The Holy Spirit uses the word of God in the lives of some to effect the new birth. That’s why Paul said in Rom. 1:16, “I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation…” (from Worldviews: God Explains it All - Part II, by Dr. Paul J. Dean)

The means of special revelation

A. In the past, God revealed specific information about Himself in different ways (Hebrews 1:1)

[1] Dreams (Genesis 20:3, 6 and 31:10 13).

[2] Visions (Isaiah 1:1 and 6:1).

[3] Angels (Luke 2:8 14).

[4] Direct address (Exodus 3:4ff).

[5] Prophets (Habakkuk 2:2 3).

B. God's special revelation culminated with Christ.

[1] Christ is God's final revelation to man. Christ is superior to all other means of special revelation (Hebrews 1:1-2)

[2] The Old Testament pointed to Christ (Luke 24:27) There are numerous Old Testament prophecies about Christ:

His birth (Gen 3:15; Gal 4:4); his lineage (Gen 49:10; Luke 3:33); his place of birth (Micah 5:2; Luke 2:4-7); his Galilean ministry of compassion and judgment (Isa 9:1-2; Matt 4:14-16); that he was the prophet to come (Deut 18:15, 18-19; Acts 3:20, 22); that he would function as a priest (Psalm 110:4; Heb 5:5-6); his betrayal (Psalm 41:9; Luke 22:47-48); his being sold for thirty pieces of silver (Zech 11:11-12; Matt 26:15; 27:1-10); his violent death (Zech 12:10; John 20:27); his resurrection (Psalm 16:10; Luke 24:7; Acts 2:25-28); his exaltation to God’s right hand (Psalm 110:1; Acts 2:33-34), his eternal reign in fulfillment of Davidic promise (2 Sam 7:12-16; Psalm 110:1; Isa 55:3; Acts 2:33-34; 13:22-23, 32-34). (from “Christology: Jesus Christ” by Greg Herrick Th.M., Ph.D.)

Further study (Be like the Bereans! Acts 17:11)

[1] How the Bible Came From God to You, by David Weidlich

[2] The Old Testament in the New Testament (from Baker's Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology)

[3] Theology of Hebrews (from Baker's Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology)

[4] The names of Christ:

And He shall be called...Advocate (1 John 2:1); Lamb of God (John 1:29); The Resurrection and the Life (John 11:25); Shepherd and Bishop of Souls (1 Peter 2:25); Judge (Acts 10:42); Lord of Lords (1 Timothy 6:15); Man of Sorrows (Isaiah 53:3); Head of the Church (Ephesians 5:23); Master (Matthew 8:19); Faithful and True Witness (Revelation 3:14); Rock (1 Corinthians 10:4); High Priest (Hebrews 6:20); The Door (John 10:9); Living Water (John 4:10); Bread of Life (John 6:35); Rose of Sharon (Song of Solomon 2:1); Alpha and Omega (Revelation 22:13); True Vine (John 15:1); Messiah (Daniel 9:25); Teacher (John 3:2); Holy One (Mark 1:24) Mediator (1 Timothy 2:5); The Beloved (Ephesians 1:6); Branch (Isaiah 11:1); Carpenter (Mark 6:3); Good Shepherd (John 10:11); Light of the World (John 8:12); Image of the Invisible God (Colossians 1:15); The Word (John 1:1); Chief Cornerstone (Ephesians 2:20); Savior (John 4:42); Servant (Matthew 12:18); Author and Finisher of Our Faith (Hebrews 12:2); The Almighty (Revelation 1:8); Everlasting Father (Isaiah 9:6); Shiloh (Genesis 49:10); Lion of the Tribe of Judah (Revelation 5:5); I Am (John 8:58; King of Kings (1 Timothy 6:15); Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6); Bridegroom (Matthew 9:15); Only Begotten Son (John 3:16); Wonderful Counselor (Isaiah 9:6); Immanuel (Matthew 1:23); Son of Man (Matthew 20:28); Dayspring (Luke 1:78); The Amen (Revelation 3:14); King of the Jews (Mark 15:26); Prophet (Matthew 21:11); Redeemer (Job 19:25); Anchor (Hebrews 6:19); Bright Morning Star (Revelation 22:16) The Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6)

Sermons (Be like the Bereans! Acts 17:11)

[1] God Has Spoken, by Kenneth W. Burton

[2] Introduction to Hebrews, by Tad Wychopen

[3] For other available sermons, please surf to Sermon / Preaching resources. Sermons are also available from South McGehee Baptist Church, McGehee, Arizona; Central Baptist Church, Lowesville; First Baptist Church, Mountain View, Missouri; Swift Creek Baptist Church; Word of Life Baptist Church, Pottsville, Philadelphia; Palm Springs Baptist Church, California; South Woods Baptist Church; Grove Baptist Church, Ulster; Dudley Baptist Church, United Kingdom; Independent Fundamental Baptist Sermons, Fundamental Christian Radio Broadcasts, Off-Site Audio Page and The Christian Radio Tuner

Notes: (1) This blog uses RefTagger. Simply mouse over any verse reference and a popup box will appear with the KJV citation; (2) This ministry does not necessarily endorse or share all the views and opinions expressed in the materials, resources or links mentioned in these posts. Please always refer to the Articles of Faith and Biblical distinctives of Baptists when you study these materials. (3) This lesson is part of the projected 300 plus lessons. From time to time, the lessons will be updated, revised, combined, formatted, and edited to comply with the VOA Simplified English word list. Later on, these lessons will be categorized, numbered sequentially, and made available as PDF downloads.

God’s general revelation of Himself to mankind

When we try to imagine what God is like we must of necessity use that-which-is-not-God as the raw material for our minds to work on; hence whatever we visualize God to be, He is not, for we have constructed our image out of that which He has made and what He has made is not God.

If we insist upon trying to imagine Him, we end with an idol, made not with hands but with thoughts; and an idol of the mind is as offensive to God as an idol of the hand.

(“God Incomprehensible”, by A.W. Tozer, from his book “Knowledge of the Holy”)

Basic truth: God has revealed Himself generally to mankind through creation and conscience.

[1] God reveals Himself to mankind through creation.

Psalms 19:1-4

1. The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.
2. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.
3. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.
4. Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun.

Romans 1:18-20

18. For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
19. Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
20. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

[2] God has revealed Himself through man’s conscience.

Romans 2:14 15

14. For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: 15. Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;

The purposes of general revelation

Through general revelation, men understand that (1) God exists; (2) He is the Creator; and (3) He has established absolute and complete standards of right and wrong which must be obeyed (Romans 1:18-20, and 2:14-15).

General revelation renders men inexcusable before God. When men reject God, they are without excuse because He has clearly revealed Himself to all men (Romans 1:20).

The limits of general revelation

General revelation, however, cannot save. General revelation communicates enough truth about God to make men responsible to seek Him for salvation. However, it does not communicate the content of the Gospel (1 Corinthians 15). It communicates only enough truth to condemn men.

On the other hand, man’s conscience is a fallible guide to what is right and wrong.

Mankind responds to general revelation by suppressing it (Romans 1:18).

What about those who have never heard the Gospel?

If a man, looking at nature, the stars, etc. does what is right and wrong according to his conscience, won’t he be saved?

[1] “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6).

[2] “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).

Definition of terms

[1] Revelation: in terms of divine revelation, it is God making himself known to the objects of that revelation, e.g., angels and people. The fact that God must make himself known in order for us to know him is necessary since we are finite and he is infinite, and we are sinful and he is holy. (from “Is the Bible the Only Revelation from God?”)

[2] General revelation: God making himself known in creation, providentially orchestrated history, and conscience (i.e., in conjunction with the moral law). Thus, it is general in the sense that it is equally available to all men and women, everywhere, all the time, and is less specific information about God than one acquires in special revelation. Special revelation refers to God making himself known through special acts (e.g., signs and miracles), appearances, Christ, and Scripture. (from “Is the Bible the Only Revelation from God?”)

[3] Mediate general revelation: God reveals Himself through the medium of creation.

[4] Immediate general revelation: God implants in all human beings an innate knowledge of Himself.

[5] Conscience: “the part of you that judges the morality of your own actions and makes you feel guilty about bad things that you have done or things you feel responsible for.” (from Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary )

Further study (Be like the Bereans! Acts 17:11)

[1] Is the Bible the Only Revelation from God? by Greg Herrick Th.M., Ph.D.

[2] The Revelation of Righteousness, by Allen Ross, Th.D., Ph.D.

[2] No Excuse for the Heathen (Romans 1:18-32), by Bob Deffinbaugh , Th.M.

Sermons/ illustrations (Be like the Bereans! Acts 17:11)

[1] Are You Ashamed?

[2] God’s Wrath Against Unrighteousness

[3] For other available sermons, please surf to Sermon / Preaching resources. Sermons are also available from South McGehee Baptist Church, McGehee, Arizona; Central Baptist Church, Lowesville; First Baptist Church, Mountain View, Missouri; Swift Creek Baptist Church; Word of Life Baptist Church, Pottsville, Philadelphia; Palm Springs Baptist Church, California; South Woods Baptist Church; Grove Baptist Church, Ulster; Dudley Baptist Church, United Kingdom; Independent Fundamental Baptist Sermons, Fundamental Christian Radio Broadcasts, Off-Site Audio Page and The Christian Radio Tuner

Notes: (1) This blog uses RefTagger. Simply mouse over any verse reference and a popup box will appear with the KJV citation; (2) This ministry does not necessarily endorse or share all the views and opinions expressed in the materials, resources or links mentioned in these posts. Please always refer to the Articles of Faith and Biblical distinctives of Baptists when you study these materials. (3) This lesson is part of the projected 300 plus lessons. From time to time, the lessons will be updated, revised, combined, formatted, and edited to comply with the VOA Simplified English word list. Later on, these lessons will be categorized, numbered sequentially, and made available as PDF downloads.

God’s holiness and His love

“Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I am the Lord your God.” (Leviticus 20: 7)

“Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.” (I Peter 1:16)

“He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.” (I John 4:8)

Basic truth: God is holy in love. He always does what is best for us.

God's holiness has two aspects: He is separate (or set apart) from His creation, and He is morally pure. I John 1:5 states, "This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all."

The qualities of God described as holy are His name (Leviticus 22:32), His ways or actions (Psalm 77:13), and His name and dwelling place (Isaiah 57:15).

Because God is holy, He cannot be tempted to do evil, nor does He tempt anyone to do evil (James 1:13).

Qualities of God’s love

God’s love for mankind is an expression of His will and choice: “I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him. ” (Hosea 14:4)

Because God is holy, His love cannot overlook sin. While I John 1: 8 says that God is love, His love is always marked by truth (Psalm 33:5), and justice (Ephesians 4:15).

God's love is sacrificial (John 3:16; 15:13; 1 John 4:9 10).

God's love is unconditional. Romans 5:8 states how God demonstrated His love for sinners by sending His Son to die for them.

God's love is unending (Jeremiah 31:3).

Consequences of God’s holiness for men

Because God is holy, we can see our sinfulness more clearly (Isaiah 6:1 5). We can be holy ourselves (1 Peter 1:15-16). We must fear, glorify, and worship God (Revelation 15:4).

Because of God’s holiness, we must sing to him (Psalm 30:4), exalt and worship Him (Psalm 99:9).

God expresses His love for believers by disciplining them (Hebrews 12:5 8).

The believer expresses his love for God by obeying Him (John 14:15).

We must love others (I John 4:8).

Further study / sermons (Be like the Bereans! Acts 17:11)

[1] From Knowledge of the Holy by A.W. Tozer: The Holiness of God, and The Love of God

[2] Sermons on 1 Peter 1:16 (a) Called To Be Saints, (b) Holy, Why?; and (c) “Live to be Holy”

[3] For other available sermons, please surf to Sermon / Preaching resources. Sermons are also available from South McGehee Baptist Church, McGehee, Arizona; Central Baptist Church, Lowesville; First Baptist Church, Mountain View, Missouri; Swift Creek Baptist Church; Word of Life Baptist Church, Pottsville, Philadelphia; Palm Springs Baptist Church, California; South Woods Baptist Church; Grove Baptist Church, Ulster; Dudley Baptist Church, United Kingdom; Independent Fundamental Baptist Sermons, Fundamental Christian Radio Broadcasts, Off-Site Audio Page and The Christian Radio Tuner

Notes: (1) This blog uses RefTagger. Simply mouse over any verse reference and a popup box will appear with the KJV citation; (2) This ministry does not necessarily endorse or share all the views and opinions expressed in the materials, resources or links mentioned in these posts. Please always refer to the Articles of Faith and Biblical distinctives of Baptists when you study these materials. (3) This lesson is part of the projected 300 plus lessons. From time to time, the lessons will be updated, revised, combined, formatted, and edited to comply with the VOA Simplified English word list. Later on, these lessons will be categorized, numbered sequentially, and made available as PDF downloads.

God’s holiness and His righteousness

Thus saith the Lord, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches:

But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the Lord which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the Lord. (Jeremiah 9:23-24)

“But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ, yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them as dung, that I may win Christ. And be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith”. (Philippians 3:7-9)

Basic truths

God’s righteousness is part of his character (Psalms 7:9; 116:5; 119:137).

God Himself is the standard of right and wrong (Deuteronomy 32:3 4)

God delights in the exercise of righteousness (Jeremiah 9:24).

The wicked have no interest in God’s righteousness (Psalms 69:27)

Righteousness requires the punishing of disobedience or failure to conform to the standard (Daniel 9:14) and the rewarding of obedience (Hebrews 6:10).

God’s righteousness is exhibited in:

• The heavens (Psalms 50:6; 97:6)
• His testimonies (Psalms 119:138,144)
• His commandments (Deuteronomy 4:8; Psalms 119:172)
• His judgments (Psalms 19:9; 119:7,62)
• His word (Psalms 119:123)
• His ways (Psalms 145:17)
• His acts (Judges 5:11; 1 Samuel 12:7)
• His government (Psalms 96:13; 98:9)
• The gospel (Psalms 85:10; Romans 3:25,26)
• The final judgment (Acts 17:31)
• The punishment of the wicked (Romans 2:5; 2 Thessalonians 1:6; Revelation 16:7; 19:2)

God’s righteousness is described as:

• Very high (Psalms 71:19)
• Abundant (Psalms 48:10)
• Beyond computation (Psalms 71:15)
• Everlasting Psalms (119:142)
• Enduring for ever (Psalms 111:3)
• The habitation of his throne (Psalms 97:2)

What we must pray for:

• To be led in righteousness (Psalms 5:8)
• To be quickened in righteousness (Psalms 119:40)
• To be delivered in righteousness (Psalms 31:1; 71:2)
• To be answered in righteousness (Psalms 143:1)
• To be judged according to righteousness (Psalms 35:24)
• For its continued manifestation righteousness (Psalms 36:10)

Further study (Be like the Bereans! Acts 17:11)

[1] Nave's Topical Bible: Righteousness; Self-righteousness

[2] Torrey's Topical Textbook: Righteousness; Righteousness Imputed; Righteousness of God; Self-righteousness

[3] Baker's Evangelical Dictionary: Righteousness

[4] Easton's Bible Dictionary: Righteousness

[5] JVI Prophecy Dictionary: Rewards of Righteousness

Sermons on Jeremiah 9:23-24 (Be like the Bereans! Acts 17:11)

[1] Preaching the Pastor’s Favorite Hymns: Be Thou My Vision

[2] Thrive Over Sin (1 of 4): Do Not Be Prideful

[3] For other available sermons, please surf to Sermon / Preaching resources. Sermons are also available from South McGehee Baptist Church, McGehee, Arizona; Central Baptist Church, Lowesville; First Baptist Church, Mountain View, Missouri; Swift Creek Baptist Church; Word of Life Baptist Church, Pottsville, Philadelphia; Palm Springs Baptist Church, California; South Woods Baptist Church; Grove Baptist Church, Ulster; Dudley Baptist Church, United Kingdom; Independent Fundamental Baptist Sermons, Fundamental Christian Radio Broadcasts, Off-Site Audio Page and The Christian Radio Tuner

Notes: (1) This blog uses RefTagger. Simply mouse over any verse reference and a popup box will appear with the KJV citation; (2) This ministry does not necessarily endorse or share all the views and opinions expressed in the materials, resources or links mentioned in these posts. Please always refer to the Articles of Faith and Biblical distinctives of Baptists when you study these materials. (3) This lesson is part of the projected 300 plus lessons. From time to time, the lessons will be updated, revised, combined, formatted, and edited to comply with the VOA Simplified English word list. Later on, these lessons will be categorized, numbered sequentially, and made available as PDF downloads.

The infinity of God

Psalm 32: 6 - 9

By the word of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth. He gathereth the waters of the sea together as an heap: he layeth up the depth in storehouses. Let all the earth fear the Lord: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him. For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast.

Jeremiah 32:17

Ah Lord God! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee:

Three basic facts about God’s infinity

1. God is omnipotent, or all-powerful. His power is unlimited over creation (Psalm 32: 6 - 9; Jeremiah 32:17), history (Proverbs 21:1 Revelation 17:17) and men’s lives (Job 38:41, 42:2).

2. God is omniscient, or all-knowing. His knowledge is unlimited (John 21:17 and 1 John 3:20; Hebrews 4:13) over the universe (Psalm 147:4 Hebrews 4:13), the details of life (Matthew 10:30), possible events (1 Sam 23:10-13, Matthew 11:21)

3. God is sovereign. His authority is unlimited over all things (Romans 8:28; 1 Chronicles 29:11-12; Ps 22:28, 103:19), and over human history (Proverbs 21:1 Revelation 17:17).

The omnipotence of God

God created the universe by His word (Psalm 33:6).

Since God is our Creator, He owns us (Psalm 89:11).

The created universe reveals God and leaves men without any excuse for rejecting God. (Romans 1:19-20).

His power shows that there is no god like Him (Deuteronomy 3:24).

His power makes it possible for Him to do what is impossible for men to do (Matthew 19:25 26).

God has displayed His power through acts in history that are recorded in the Bible so everyone can see His power and would fear Him (Joshua 4:23 24).

The powers of heaven (angelic beings) and the peoples of the earth (human beings) are under God's control (Daniel 4:35)

God's power keeps things together (Col 1:16-17).

The knowledge of God

There are no limits to His knowledge (Psalm 147:5).

God completely knows the wicked and the good (Proverbs 15:3).

God knows about all men and everything they do (Psalm 33:13 15).

Since God's knowledge of mankind is complete, we are accountable to Him (Hebrews 4:13).

The sovereignty of God

God’s plan determines history from beginning to end (Isaiah 46:9 11).

The will of God determines all details of history (Ephesians 1:11).

God controls events and circumstances like casting of the lot (Proverbs 16:33), the death of a sparrow (Matthew 10:29), the time and location of a man's existence (Acts 17:26), and tomorrow’s events (James 4:13 15).

God is never dependent on man (Romans 11:33 36).

God does whatever pleases Him (Isaiah 46:9 10 Ps 115:3; Daniel 4:35).

Whatever God does is always right (Romans 9:20).

Further study (Be like the Bereans! Acts 17:11)

[1] How can God be sovereign and man be free? Please read Knowledge Of The Holy, and The Pursuit of God, by A.W. Tozer

[2] Resources from Answers in Genesis

Why Does God’s Creation Include Death and Suffering?

Couldn’t God Have Used Evolution?

Could God Really Have Created Everything in Six Days?

Are There Really Different Races?

Did Jesus Say He Created in Six Literal Days?

Hasn’t Evolution Been Proven True?

For available sermons, please surf to Sermon / Preaching resources. Sermons are also available from South McGehee Baptist Church, McGehee, Arizona; Central Baptist Church, Lowesville; First Baptist Church, Mountain View, Missouri; Swift Creek Baptist Church; Word of Life Baptist Church, Pottsville, Philadelphia; Palm Springs Baptist Church, California; South Woods Baptist Church; Grove Baptist Church, Ulster; Dudley Baptist Church, United Kingdom; Independent Fundamental Baptist Sermons, Fundamental Christian Radio Broadcasts, Off-Site Audio Page and The Christian Radio Tuner

Notes: (1) This ministry does not necessarily endorse or share all the views and opinions expressed in the materials, resources or links mentioned in these posts. Please always refer to the Articles of Faith and Biblical distinctives of Baptists when you study these materials. (2) This lesson is part of the projected 300 plus lessons. From time to time, the lessons will be updated, revised, combined, formatted, and edited to comply with the VOA Simplified English word list. Later on, these lessons will be categorized, numbered sequentially, and made available as PDF downloads. (3) Photo source: ChristianPhotos.Net - Free High Resolution Photos for Christian Publications

The person we call God

Jeremiah 9:24 “But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I [am] the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these [things] I delight, saith the LORD.”

Three basic facts

1. God exists. The Bible never explains or tries to prove God’s existence. It merely states God’s existence as a fact.

2. God is a person. He displays all of the characteristics of personality (thinking, acting and feeling).

3. God is a Trinity. God is one, yet exists as three persons - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

God exists

Genesis chapter 1 is the account of Creation. In verse 1, God's existence is simply stated as a fact, without any explanation.

According to Hebrews 11: 1-6, we can know that God exists by faith. Verse 3 states that what is seen is understood by faith.

God is a person

Genesis chapter 2 enumerates several things God did to show that He is a person: He worked, spoke, breathed, planted a garden, commanded, brought the woman to the man, rested, and brought the animals to the man.

John 4:24 states that God is a spirit. Some of the things that a spirit can do are: Matthew 10:20 (speaks); Mark 2:8 (knows); Luke 1:47 (rejoices); Romans 8:26 (helps and intercedes); Romans 8:27 (thinks and intercedes; Romans 15:30 (loves); and Philippians 2:1 (fellowships).

Proverbs 3:19,20 shows that God thinks: “The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens. By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew.”

Isaiah 46:11 shows that God acts: “Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it.”

God feels joy (Isaiah 62:5), sorrow (Gen. 6:6), compassion (Psalm 145:8) and hate (Psalm 5:5).

God is a Trinity

Deuteronomy 6:4-9 state that God is one. Verses 5 to 9 state our responsibilities: to love God completely, and teach His commandments to our children.

Exodus 20:1-6 state that God is one. This requires that He alone must be worshiped. Verse 5 says that worshiping other gods places us under God’s wrath, punishment or judgment.

In John 6:27 and 1 Peter 1:2, the Father is called God.

In John 1:1, Hebrews 1:8, and 1 John 5:20, the Son is called God.

In Acts 5:3 4, the Holy Spirit is called God.

In Matthew 3:16 17, all three (Father, Son and Spirit) are called God.

Further study (Be like the Bereans! Acts 17:11)

• Is There a God? (Six straight-forward reasons to conclude that God exists)
• What Is God Like?
• Who is God? (What is God really like? A one-page description...)
• Where is God? (Why God is not totally invisible and hidden)

For available sermons, please surf to Sermon / Preaching resources. Sermons are also available from South McGehee Baptist Church, McGehee, Arizona; Central Baptist Church, Lowesville; First Baptist Church, Mountain View, Missouri; Swift Creek Baptist Church; Word of Life Baptist Church, Pottsville, Philadelphia; Palm Springs Baptist Church, California; South Woods Baptist Church; Grove Baptist Church, Ulster; Dudley Baptist Church, United Kingdom; Independent Fundamental Baptist Sermons, Fundamental Christian Radio Broadcasts, Off-Site Audio Page and The Christian Radio Tuner

Notes: (1) This ministry does not necessarily endorse or share all the views and opinions expressed in the materials, resources or links mentioned in these posts. Please always refer to the Articles of Faith and Biblical distinctives of Baptists when you study these materials. (2) This lesson is part of the projected 300 plus lessons. From time to time, the lessons will be updated, revised, combined, formatted, and edited to comply with the VOA Simplified English word list. Later on, these lessons will be categorized, numbered sequentially, and made available as PDF downloads. (2) Photo source: ChristianPhotos.Net - Free High Resolution Photos for Christian Publications

The study of God

Notes: (1) I read “Knowing God” way back in 1973 when I was a freshman at the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City. Although both Packer (Anglican) and Spurgeon (Baptist) are renowned Calvinists, there are a lot of things they said that we can learn from without necessarily agreeing with their theology. Please read “Of the Freeness of Salvation” from the Articles of Faith; (2) Knowing God study guides: Section 1 Introduction & Chapters 1-6; Section 2 Chapters 7-17; Section 3 Chapters 18-22.

Knowing God, by J.I. Packer

“We are cruel to ourselves if we try to live in this world without knowing about the God whose world it is and who runs it. The world becomes a strange, mad, painful place and life in it a disappointing and unpleasant business, for those who do not know about God. Disregard the study of God, and you sentence yourself to stumble and blunder through life blindfold, as it were, with no sense of direction and no understanding of what surrounds you. This way you can waste your life and lose your soul."

On January 7th, 1855, Charles Haddon Spurgeon, minister of New Park Street Chapel, Southwark, London, England opened his morning sermon as follows:

It has been said by someone that “the proper study of mankind is man”. I will not oppose the idea, but I believe it is equally true that the proper study of God's elect is God; the proper study of a Christian is the Godhead. The highest science, the loftiest speculation, the mightiest philosophy, which can ever engage the attention of a child of God, is the name, the nature, the person, the work, the doings, and the existence of the great God whom he calls his Father.

There is something exceedingly improving to the mind in a contemplation of the Divinity. It is a subject so vast, that all our thoughts are lost in its immensity; so deep, that our pride is drowned in its infinity. Other subjects we can compass and grapple with; in them we feel a kind of self- content, and go our way with the thought, “Behold I am wise”. But when we come to this master-science, finding that our plumb-line cannot sound its depth, and that our eagle eye cannot see its height, we turn away with the thought that vain man would be wise, but he is like a wild ass's colt; and with solemn exclamation, “I am but of yesterday, and know nothing”. No subject of contemplation will tend more to humble the mind, than thoughts of God...

But while the subject humbles the mind, it also expands it. He who often thinks of God, will have a larger mind than the man who simply plods around this narrow globe... The most excellent study for expanding the soul, is the science of Christ, and Him crucified, and the know ledge of the Godhead in the glorious Trinity. Nothing will so enlarge the intellect, nothing so magnify the whole soul of man, as a devout, earnest, continued investigation of the great subject of the Deity.

And, whilst humbling and expanding, this subject is eminently consolatory. Oh, there is, in contemplating Christ, a balm for every wound; in musing on the Father, there is a quietus for every grief; and in the influence of the Holy Ghost, there is a balsam for every sore. Would you lose your sorrow? Would you drown your cares? Then go, plunge yourself in the Godhead's deepest sea; be lost in his immensity; and you shall come forth as from a couch of rest, refreshed and invigorated. I know nothing which can so comfort the soul; so calm the swelling billows of sorrow and grief; so speak peace to the winds of trial, as a devout musing upon the subject of the Godhead. It is to that subject that I invite you this morning...

What is Biblical repentance?

Of Repentance and Faith (Articles of Faith)

“We believe that Repentance and Faith are solemn obligations, and also inseparable graces, wrought in our souls by the quickening Spirit of God; thereby, being deeply convicted of guilt, danger and helplessness, and of the way of salvation by Christ, we turn to God with unfeigned contrition, confession and supplication for mercy; at the same time heartily receiving the Lord Jesus Christ and openly confessing Him as our only and all-sufficient Savior.”

Louis Berkhof, Systematic Theology

“True repentance never exists except in conjunction with faith, while, on the other hand, wherever there is true faith, there is also real repentance. . . . The two cannot be separated; they are simply complementary parts of the same process. ”

J. Goetzman, “Conversion” (in Colin Brown’s New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology 1986)

“The predominantly intellectual understanding of metanoia as a change of mind plays very little part in the NT. Rather the decision by the whole man to turn around is stressed. It is clear that we are concerned neither with a purely outward turning nor with a merely intellectual change of ideas.”

J. Behm, “Metanoia” in Gerhard Kittel’s Theological Dictionary of the New Testament (1967)

“It demands radical conversion, a transformation of nature, a definitive turning from evil, a resolute turning to God in total obedience (Mk. 1:15; Mt. 4:17; 18:3) . . . . This conversion is once-for-all. There can be no going back, only advance in responsible movement along the way now taken. It affects the whole man, first and basically the centre of personal life, then logically his conduct at all times and in all situations, his thoughts, words and acts (Mt. 12:33ff. par.; 23:26; Mk. 7:15 par.). The whole proclamation of Jesus ... is a proclamation of unconditional turning to God, of unconditional turning from all that is against God, not merely that which is downright evil, but that which in a given case makes total turning to God impossible.”

Thayer’s Greek lexicon

“Metanoia is the change of mind of those who have begun to abhor their errors and misdeeds, and have determined to enter upon a better course of life, so that it embraces both a recognition of sin and sorrow for it and hearty amendment, the tokens and effects of which are good works.”

The Orthodox Creed, Baptist, 1679

“Unfeigned repentance is an inward and true sorrow of heart for sin, with sincere confession of the same to God, especially that we have offended so gracious a God and so loving a Father, together with a settled purpose of heart and a careful endeavor to leave all our sins, and to live a more holy and sanctified life according to all God’s commands.”

Philadelphia Confession of Faith, Baptist, 1742

“This saving repentance is an evangelical grace, whereby a person, being by the Holy Spirit made sensible of the manifold evils of his sin, doth, by faith in Christ, humble himself for it with godly sorrow, detestation of it, and self-abhorrency; praying for pardon and strength of grace, with a purpose and endeavor by supplies of the Spirit to walk before God unto all well-pleasing in all things.”

Abstract of Principles, Southern Baptist Seminary, Louisville, Kentucky, 1859

“Repentance is an evangelical grace, wherein a person being, by the Holy Spirit, made sensible of the manifold evil of his sin, humbleth himself for it, with godly sorrow, detestation of it, and self-abhorrence, with a purpose and endeavor to walk before God so as to please Him in all things.”

Horatio Hackett, Commentary on Acts, American Baptist Publication Society, 1882

“Repentance and the firstfruits of repentance [baptism and other steps of discipleship mentioned in Acts 2:38-42] were generally inseparable. The former could not be genuine without manifesting itself in the latter. And in the circumstances of that day a willingness to be baptized was no slight evidence of a new heart.”

B.H. Carroll, Repentance and Remission of Sins, 1889

“The preacher who leaves out repentance commits as grave a sin as the one who leaves out faith. I mean he must preach repentance just as often, and with as much emphasis, and to as many people as he preaches faith. To omit repentance, to ignore it, to depreciate it, is rebellion and treason. Mark its relative importance: You may make a mistake about baptism and be saved, for baptism is not essential to salvation. You may be a Christian and not comprehend fully the high-priesthood of Jesus Christ (Heb. 5 :11), but ‘Except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish.’ So said the Master Himself. Repentance is a preparatory work. For thus saith the Lord: ‘Break up your fallow ground and sow not among thorns.’ I submit before God, who will judge the quick and the dead, that to preach faith without repentance is to sow among thorns. No harvest can be gathered from an unplowed field. The fallow ground needs to be broken up. The most striking instance on record of repentance as a preparatory work was the ministry of John the Baptist. He was sent ‘to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.’ He did it by preaching repentance, and Mark says his preaching was ‘the beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.’ Here is the true starting point. Whoever starts this side of repentance makes a false beginning which vitiates his whole Christian profession. When true repentance was preached and emphasized, there were not so many nominal professors of religion. To leave out or minimize repentance, no matter what sort of a faith you preach, is to prepare a generation of professors who are such in name only. I give it as my deliberate conviction, founded on twenty-five years of ministerial observation, that the Christian profession of today owes its lack of vital godliness, its want of practical piety, its absence from the prayer meeting, its miserable semblance of missionary life, very largely to the fact that old-fashioned repentance is so little preached. You can’t put a big house on a little foundation. And no small part of such preaching comes from a class of modern evangelists who desiring more for their own glory to count a great number of converts than to lay deep foundations, reduce the conditions of salvation by one-half and make the other half but some intellectual trick of the mind rather than a radical spiritual change of the heart. Like Simon Magus, they believe indeed, but ‘their heart not being right in the sight of God, they have no part nor lot in this matter. They are yet in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity.’ Such converts know but little and care less about a system of doctrine. They are prayerless, lifeless, and to all steady church work reprobate.”

Baptist Faith and Message, Southern Baptist Convention, 1925

“We believe that repentance and faith are sacred duties, and also inseparable graces, wrought in our souls by the regenerating Spirit of God; whereby being deeply convinced of our guilt, danger, and helplessness, and of the way of salvation by Christ, we turn to God with unfeigned contrition, confession, and supplication for mercy; at the same time heartily receiving the Lord Jesus Christ as our Prophet, Priest and King and relying on him alone as the only and all-sufficient Saviour.”

Baptist Faith and Message, Southern Baptist Convention, 1963

“Repentance and faith are inseparable experiences of grace. Repentance is a genuine turning from sin toward God. Faith is the acceptance of Jesus Christ and commitment of the entire personality to Him as Lord and Savior.”

J. Frank Norris, What Do Fundamental Baptists Believe, an address delivered at the annual meeting of the American Baptist Association at First Baptist Church, Fort Worth, Texas, 1935

“The proper evidence [of the new birth] appears in the holy fruits of repentance and faith and newness of life. … There was a time when the ministers never preached without giving a call for repentance. But it is out of date now. Oh, for a voice of a John the Baptist, ‘Repent ye, Repent ye, Repent ye, Repent ye!’ Jesus said, ‘Except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish.’ Paul preached repentance toward God and faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ. We believe that Repentance and Faith are solemn obligations, and also inseparable graces, wrought in our souls by the quickening Spirit of God; thereby, being deeply convicted of our guilt, danger and helplessness, and of the way of salvation by Christ, we turn to God with unfeigned contrition, confession and supplication for mercy; at the same time heartily receiving the Lord Jesus Christ and openly confessing Him as our only and all-sufficient Saviour.”

John R. Rice, What Must I Do to Be Saved?, 1940

“To repent literally means to have a change of mind or spirit toward God and toward sin. It means to turn from your sins, earnestly, with all your heart, and trust in Jesus Christ to save you. You can see, then, how the man who believes in Christ repents and the man who repents believes in Christ. The jailer repented when he turned from sin to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.”

G. Beauchamp Vick, The Biblical Faith of Baptists, Vol. II, Regular Baptist Press, 1966

“The very moment that soul that is dead, cut off, alienated from the very life of God, sees himself as a hopeless, helpless, Hell-deserving, and Hell-bound sinner; when that soul sees that Jesus Christ is the only Way, the only hope, and when he looks away from self; when he REPENTS OF HIS SIN and looks to the finished work of the crucified, buried and risen Lord for salvation -- that very moment, instantaneously, the Spirit of God operates.”

Dr. H. A. Ironside (Bible teacher, preacher, pastor, and author in the late 19th- and early 20th centuries)

“The doctrine of repentance is missing note in many otherwise orthodox and fundamentally sound circles today.

“Shallow preaching that does not grapple with the terrible fact of man's sinfulness and guilt, calling on 'all men everywhere to repent,' results in shallow conversions; and so we have myriads of glib-tongued professors today who give no evidence of regeneration whatever. Prating of salvation by grace, they manifest no grace in their lives. Loudly declaring they are justified by faith alone, they fail to remember that 'faith without works is dead'; and that justification by works before men is not to be ignored as though it were in contradiction to justification by faith before God.”

Charles Haddon Spurgeon

“Another proof of the conquest of a soul for Christ will be found in a real change of life. If the man does not live differently from what he did before, both at home and abroad, his repentance needs to be repented of, and his conversion is a fiction. Not only action and language, but spirit and temper must be changed. . . . Abiding under the power of any known sin is a mark of our being the servants of sin, for "his servants ye are to whom ye obey." Idle are the boasts of a man who harbors within himself the love of any transgression. He may feel what he likes, and believe what he likes, he is still in the gall of bitterness and the bonds of iniquity while a single sin rules his heart and life. True regeneration implants a hatred of all evil; and where one sin is delighted in, the evidence is fatal to a sound hope. ...”

A. W. Pink, 1937

“The terms of Christ's salvation are erroneously stated by the present-day evangelist. With very rare exceptions he tells his hearers that salvation is by grace and is received as a free gift; that Christ has done everything for the sinner, and nothing remains except for him to "believe"—to trust in the infinite merits of his blood. And so widely does this conception now prevail in "orthodox" circles, so frequently has it been dinned in their ears, so deeply has it taken root in their minds, that for one to now challenge it and denounce it as being so inadequate and one-sided as to be deceptive and erroneous, is for him to instantly court the stigma of being a heretic, and to be charged with dishonoring the finished work of Christ by inculcating salvation by works. . . . Salvation is by grace, by grace alone. . . . Nevertheless, Divine grace is not exercised at the expense of holiness, for it never compromises with sin. It is also true that salvation is a free gift, but an empty hand must receive it, and not a hand which still tightly grasps the world. ... A heart that is steeled in rebellion cannot savingly believe; it must first be broken. . . . Those preachers who tell sinners they may be saved without forsaking their idols, without repenting, without surrendering to the Lordship of Christ, are as erroneous and dangerous as others who insist that salvation is by works and that heaven must be earned by our own efforts.

“Divine grace is not bestowed with the object of freeing men from their obligations but rather with that of supplying them with a powerful motive for more readily and gratefully discharging those obligations. To make God's favor a ground of exemption from the performance of duty comes perilously near to turning His grace into lasciviousness.“”

D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (Welsh Protestant Christian minister who was hugely influential in the reformed wing of the British evangelical movement in the 20th century)

“Repentance means that you realize that you are a guilty, vile sinner in the presence of God, that you deserve the wrath and punishment of God, that you are hell-bound. It means that you begin to realize that this thing called sin is in you, that you long to get rid of it, and that you turn your back on it in every shape and form. You renounce the world whatever the cost, the world in its mind and outlook as well as its practice, and you deny yourself, and take up the cross and go after Christ. Your nearest and dearest, and the whole world, may call you a fool, or say you have religious mania. You may have to suffer financially, but it makes no difference. That is repentance.”

Augsburg Confession of 1530

“Moreover, ours teach that it is necessary to do good works; not that we may trust that we deserve grace by them, but because it is the will of God that we should do them. By faith alone is apprehended remission of sins and grace. And because the Holy Spirit is received by faith, our hearts are now renewed, and so put on new affections, so that they are able to bring forth good works.”

Belgic Confession of 1561

“We believe that this true faith, being wrought in man by the hearing of the Word of God and the operation of the Holy Ghost, doth regenerate and make him a new man, causing him to live a new life, and freeing him from the bondage of sin. Therefore it is so far from being true, that this justifying faith makes men remiss in a pious and holy life, that on the contrary without it they would never do any thing out of love to God, but only out of self-love or fear of damnation. Therefore it is impossible that this holy faith can be unfruitful in man.”

The Westminster Confession of Faith (1647)

“They who are effectually called and regenerated, having a new heart ,sJ and a new spirit created in them, are further sanctified, really and H personally, through the virtue of Christ's death and resurrection, by His Word and Spirit dwelling in them; the dominion of the whole body of sin is destroyed, and the several lusts thereof are more and more weakened and mortified, and they are more and more quickened and Strengthened, in all saving graces, to the practice of true holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord. . . . Although the remaining corruption, for a time may much prevail, yet, through the continual supply of strength from the sanctifying Spirit of Christ, the regenerate part doth overcome; and so the saints grow in grace, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.”

William Guthrie, 1658

“A godly man may argue thus. Whosoever receive Christ are justly reputed the children of God—"But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God" (John 1:12); but I have received Christ in all the ways which the word there can import: for I am pleased with the device of salvation by Christ, I agree to the terms, I welcome the offer of Christ in all His offices, as a King to rule over me, a Priest to offer sacrifice and intercede for me, a Prophet to teach me; I lay out my heart for Him and towards Him, resting on Him as I am able. What else can be meant by the word RECEIVING? . . .

“The second great mark of a gracious state, and true saving interest in Jesus Christ, is the new creature—"If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature." (2 Cor. 5:17). ... In all who do warrantably pretend to Christ, this new creature must be; . . . This new creature is called the "new man" (Col. 3:10), which points out the extent of it. It is not simply a new tongue or new hand, but a new man. There is a principle of new life and motion put in the man, which is the new heart; which new principle of life sendest for the acts of life, or of "conformity to the image" of him who created it,so that the party is renewed in some measure of every way (Col. 3:10.)”

Joseph Alleine, 1672

“Conversion then, lies in the thorough change both of the heart and life. ... If ever you would be savingly converted, you must despair of doing it in your own strength. It is a resurrection from the dead (Eph ii 1), a new creation (Gal vi 15; Eph ii 10), a work of absolute omnipotence (Eph i 19). Are not these out of the reach of human power? If you have no more than you had by your first birth, a good nature, a meek and chaste temper etc., you are a stranger to true conversion. This is a supernatural work.”

Puritan Thomas Vincent's explanation of The Westminster Shorter Catechism (1674)

Q. 7. How is Jesus Christ to be received by faith?

A. Jesus Christ is to be received by faith as he is offered to us in the gospel.

Q. 8. How is Jesus Christ offered to us in the gospel?

A. Jesus Christ is offered to us in the gospel, as priest, prophet, and king; and so we must receive him, if we would be saved by him.

Q. 9. When doth the soul rest upon him for salvation?

A. The soul doth rest upon Christ for salvation when, being convinced of its lost condition by reason of sin, and its own inability, together with all creatures' insufficiency, to recover it out of this estate, and having a discovery and persuasion of Christ's ability and willingness to save, it doth let go all hold on the creatures, and renounce its own righteousness, and so lay hold on Christ, rely upon him, and put confidence in him, and in him alone, for salvation.

Q. What is repentance unto life?

A. Repentance unto life is a saving grace, whereby a sinner, out ot a true sense of his sin, and apprehension of the mercy of God in Christ, doth, with grief and hatred of his sin, turn from it unto God, with full purpose of, and endeavour after, new obedience.

0.3. Wherein doth repentance unto life consist?

A. Repentance unto life doth chiefly consist in two things—1. In turning from sin, and forsaking it. "Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions: so iniquity shall not be your ruin."—Ezek. xviii. 30. "He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whose confesseth and forsaketh them shall find mercy."—Prov. xxviii. 13. 2. In turning unto God. "Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return to the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon."—Isa. Iv. 7.

Q. 15. What is that turning from sin which is part of true repentance?

A. The turning from sin which is a part of true repentance, doth consist in two things—1. In a turning from all gross sins, in regard of our course and conversation. 2. In a turning from all other sins, in regard of our hearts and affections.

Q. 16. Do such as truly repent of sin never return again unto the practice of the same sins which they have repented of?

A. 1. Such as have truly repented of sin do never return unto the practice of it, so as to live in a course of sin, as they did before; and where any, after repentance, do return unto a course of sin, it is an evident sign that their repentance was not of the right kind. 2. Some have truly repented of their sins, although they may be overtaken and surprised by temptations, so as to fall into the commission of the same sins which they have repented of, yet they do not lie in them, but get up again, and with bitter grief bewail them, and return again unto the Lord.

Thomas Manton, 1693

“Works are an evidence of true faith. Graces are not dead, useless habits; they will have some effects and operations when they are weakest and in their infancy. . . . This is the evidence by which we must judge, and this is the evidence by which Christ will judge. . . . Works are not a ground of confidence, but an evidence; not the foundations of faith, but the encouragements of assurance. Comfort may be increased by the sight of good works, but it is not built upon them; they are seeds of hope, not props of confidence; sweet evidences of election, not causes; happy presages and beginnings of glory; in short, they can manifest an interest, but not merit it.”

Thomas Goodwin (Puritan)

“Where mourning for offending God is wanting, there is no sign of any good will yet wrought in the heart to God, nor of love to him, without which God will never accept a man. ...

Else there is no hope of amendment. God will not pardon till he sees hopes of amendment. Now, until a man confess his sin, and that with bitterness, it is a sign he loves it. Job xx. 12-14. Whilst he hides it, spares it, and forsakes it not, it is sweet in his mouth; and therefore till he confess it, and mourn for it, it is a sign it is not bitter to him, and so he will not forsake it. A man will never leave sin till he find bitterness in it; and, if so, then he will be in bitterness for it, Zech. xii. 10; and "godly sorrow works repentance," 2 Cor. vii. 10.”

Matthew Henry

“We are too apt to rest in a bare profession of faith, and to think that this will save us; it is a cheap and easy religion to say, "We believe the articles of the Christian faith;" but it is a great delusion to imagine that this is enough to bring us to heaven. Those who argue thus wrong God, and put a cheat upon their own souls; a mock-faith is as hateful as mock-charity, and both show a heart dead to all real godliness. You may as soon take pleasure in a dead body, void of soul, or sense, or action, as God take pleasure in a dead faith, where there are no works. . . . Those works which evidence true faith must be works of self-denial, and such as God himself commands. . . . The most plausible profession of faith, without works, is dead. . . . We must not think that either, without the other, will justify and save us. This is the grace of God wherein we stand, and we should stand to it.”

George Whitefield, the great preacher and defender of the faith in Britain and colonial America

“Had a conference after sermon with one, who I fear with some others, maintained antinomian principles. From such, may all that know them turn away; for though, (to use the words of our Church Article) good works, which are the fruits of faith, cannot put away our sins, or endure the severity of God's judgment (that is, cannot justify us), yet they follow after justification, and do spring out necessarily of a true and lively faith, insomuch that by them a lively faith may be as evidently known as a tree discerned by the fruit.”

Jonathan Edwards, the finest preacher and clearest theological thinker of the 1700s

“That religion which God requires, and will accept, does not consist in weak, dull, and lifeless wishes, raising us but a little above a state of indifference. God, in his word, greatly insists upon it, that we be in good earnest, fervent in spirit, and our hearts vigorously engaged in religion. . . .

“Those who thus insist on persons' living by faith, when they have no experience, and are in very bad frames, are also very absurd in their notions of faith. What they mean by faith is, believing that they are in a good estate. Hence they count it a dreadful sin for them to doubt of their state, whatever frames they are in, and whatever wicked things they do, because it is the great and heinous sin of unbelief; and he is the best man, and puts most honour upon God, that maintains his hope of his good estate the most confidently and immovably, when he has the least light or experience; that is to say, when he is in the worst frame and way; because forsooth, that it is a sign that he is strong in faith giving glory to God, and against hope believes in hope. But from what Bible do they learn this notion of faith, that it is a man's confidently believing that he is in a good estate? If this be faith, the Pharisees had faith in an eminent degree; some of whom Christ teaches, committed the unpardonable sin against the Holy Ghost. . . .

“... It may be from unbelief, or because they have so little faith, that they have so little evidence of their good estate. If they have more experience of the actings of faith, and so more experience of the exercise of grace, they would have clearer evidence that their state was good; and so their doubts would be removed. . . .

“... It is not God's design that men should obtain assurance in any other way than by mortifying corruption, increasing in grace, and obtaining the lively exercises of it. And although self-examination be a duty of great use and importance, and by no means to be neglected; yet it is not the principal means, by which the saints do get satisfaction of their good estate. Assurance is not to be obtained so much by self-examination, as by action. The apostle Paul sought assurance chiefly this way, even by forgetting the things that were behind, and reaching forth unto those things that were before, pressing towards the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus; if by any means he might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. And it was by this means chiefly that he obtained assurance, 1 Cor. ix. 26. "I therefore so run, as not uncertainly." He obtained assurance of winning the prize more by running than considering. . . . Giving all diligence to grow in grace, by adding to faith, virtue, etc., is the direction that the apostle Peter gives us, for making our calling and election sure, and having an entrance ministered to us abundantly into Christ's everlasting kingdom. Without this, our eyes will be dim, and we shall be as men in the dark; we cannot plainly see either the forgiveness of our sins past, our heavenly inheritance that is future, and far off, 2 Pet. i. 5-11.”

John Gill, British Baptist minister (1767)

“The foundation of sanctification is laid in regeneration; as it is a holy principle, it is first formed in that; the new creature, or new man, is created in righteousness and true holiness; and it appears in effectual vocation, which is an holy calling; and is to be seen in conversion, which is a turning of men from their iniquities: and that holiness which is begun in regeneration, and is manifest in effectual calling and conversion, is carried on in sanctification, which is a gradual and progressive work, and issues and is finished in glorification.

“In subjection to him, as King of saints; they not only receive him as their Prophet, to teach and instruct them, and embrace his doctrines; and as their Priest, by whose sacrifice their sins are expiated; but as their King, to whose laws and ordinances they cheerfully submit; esteeming his precepts, concerning all things, to be right, none of his commandments grievous; but from a principle of love to him, keep and observe them.”

A. W. Tozer

[Years ago] no one would ever dare to rise in a meeting and say, "I am a Christian" if he had not surrendered his whole being to God and had taken Jesus Christ as his Lord as well as his Saviour, and had brought himself under obedience to the will of the Lord. It was only then that he could say, "I am saved!"

Today, we let them say they are saved no matter how imperfect and incomplete the transaction, with the proviso that the deeper Christian life can be tacked on at some time in the future.

Can it be that we really think that we do not owe Jesus Christ our obedience?
We have owed Him our obedience ever since the second we cried out to Him for salvation, and if we do not give Him that obedience, I have reason to wonder if we are really converted!

I see things and I hear of things that Christian people are doing, and as I watch them operate within the profession of Christianity I do raise the question of whether they have been truly converted.

Brethren, I believe it is the result of faulty teaching to begin with. They thought of the Lord as a hospital and Jesus as chief of staff to fix up poor sinners that had gotten into trouble!

"Fix me up, Lord," they have insisted, "so that I can go my own way!"
That is bad teaching, brethren.

Lester Roloff, Repent or Perish

“Repentance is a godly sorrow for sin. Repentance is a forsaking of sin. Real repentance is putting your trust in Jesus Christ so you will not live like that anymore. Repentance is permanent. It is a lifelong and an eternity-long experience. You will never love the devil again once you repent. You will never flirt with the devil as the habit of your life again once you get saved. You will never be happy living in sin; it will never satisfy; and the husks of the world will never fill your longing and hungering in your soul. Repentance is something a lot bigger than a lot of people think. It is absolutely essential if you go to heaven.”

John A. Broadus, An American Commentary on the New Testament, Matthew, 1886

“To repent, then, as a religious term of the New Testament, is to change the mind, thought, purpose, as regards sin and the service of God--a change naturally accompanied by deep sorrow for past sin, and naturally leading to a change of the outward life.”

Bruce Lackey, Repentance Is More Than a Change of Mind, 1989

“The Greek words [for repentance] mean ‘a change of mind which results in a change of action.’ When that refers to man, there is a sorrow for sin involved. This definition is substantiated both by the scholarship of Trench and Thayer, as well as by the New Testament usage”

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What was the Star of Bethlehem?

What was the Star of Bethlehem? Currently making waves abroad and here in the Philippines are the website and DVD entitled “The Star of Bethlehem” by Frederick A. Larson, a litigation lawyer and professor at Texas A&M University. Essentially, Larson says that the star of Bethlehem was “the planet Jupiter crowning the star Regulus in a rare triple conjunction and then rendezvousing with the planet Venus.”

There are several reasons, however, why Larson's theory is wrong:

(1) Contrary to Larson's view, the vast majority of Biblical scholars and archeologists date Herod's death at 4 BC, based on the writings of Jewish historian Flavius Josephus. Larson's theory therefore has a significant problem since Herod would be dead by the time the Magi arrive.

(2) Larson's theory about the Star of Bethlehem emphasizes Jupiter's retrograde motion. Some astronomers have also emphasized this retrograde motion but have come up with different explanations and conclusions.

(3) Larson's theory is based on a gross misinterpretation of Revelation 12.

Read the complete article

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RefTagger is an amazing, free new web tool that instantly makes all the Bible references on your website or blog come alive. Bare references turn into hyperlinks to the full text of the passage at Bible.Logos.com, making it easy for your readers to access the text of Scripture with just a click.

Even better, RefTagger brings the text right to your readers by generating a tooltip window that pops up instantly when they hover over the reference. For example, try hovering your mouse over this verse [John 3:16] or the verses in the next paragraph and see what happens next.

RefTagger supports all of the Bible book names and their standard abbreviations. It will recognize and tag books with only one chapter whether you cite them with or without the chapter number (e.g., Jude 9 or Jude 1:9). To avoid false hits, RefTagger will not tag whole books like Luke or whole chapters of Scripture like John 10 unless you wrap them in the Bibleref markup (see below for instructions). It also handles multiple verses in a row (e.g., John 3:16-18, 22; 4:2-4), portions of verses (e.g., Ps. 1:1a; 1 Cor. 15:28c), and verses through the use of the f or ff abbreviations (e.g., Gen 3:15f; Job 2:1ff), and recognizes many other common abbreviations and formats (e.g., Lk 2:1; cf. 4:4; Gal 3:3; cf. vv. 8-10; Eph 3:1 and 4:2). Whether you use a hyphen (-) or an en dash (–), RefTagger will correctly recognize and tag your Bible references (e.g., Rom 5:1-10; Eph 2:8–9).

The Guide Network of Internet Evangelism Day, and Digital Japan

The Global Use of Internet and Digital Evangelism (Guide) Network is an networking resource, linked with “Internet Evangelism Day” and “Web Evangelism Guide”, Internet Evangelism Coalition, Global Christian Internet Alliance, Lausanne, and visionSynergy. Its purpose is enhancing global spread of the Gospel in multiple languages via the Internet and mobile digital devices, by networking with practitioners to share resources and information, encourage Kingdom collaboration, and help the body of Christ to embrace and engage in internet/mobile evangelism ”

The vision: Networking together for web and mobile evangelism

A special emphasis is assisting in the emergence of internet/mobile evangelism in more countries and languages beyond English, including the non-western world. There will soon be the ‘second billion’ web users outside the West, and even more have mobile phones right now. So our interest also includes the development of viral video clips and cartoons that can be used with mobile phones or online. We also wish to see increased convergence, synergy and collaboration between different electronic media, for instance DVDs and radio ministry, with the Web/mobile devices.

We also wish to help the cross-cultural missions community in developing digital evangelism and discipleship integrated with their ministries on the ground.

How the Guide network can help you

[1] Link you with others

Are you wishing to do web evangelism in a particular language? Are you planning a mobile phone initiative? Perhaps you are looking for training? We can probably link you with others working in the same area. With our involvement in the cross-cultural missions community as well as the new media, we do have a unique web of relationships to draw on. Or you may be a mission agency, just wondering whether to move into web or mobile ministry. Are you the editor of a Christian publication who wishes to interview people regarding web and mobile evangelism? Whatever your needs or questions, please write.

[2] Free articles for editors

A wide range of freely re-usable articles is offered to Christian print and web editors, and bloggers, like about web evangelism, MP3 interviews and talks, freely available for podcasting and broadcasting, and other articles which are seeker/skeptic-friendly for non-Christians, and features on broader evangelism issues for Christians.

Reaching Japan for Christ through the Internet

Digital Japan aims to link together anyone interested in any form of digital outreach to Japan including any combination of outreach websites, blogs, church sites, social networking, chat rooms, mobile phone evangelism, Bluetooth broadcasting, video clips, Manga comics, cartooning, teaching English online, podcasting, audio, gaming and anything else digital. It is is a private discussion group not listed in YahooGroups directory. Messages are only viewable by members, and are not spidered by search engines. Anyone with an interest in Japan is warmly invited to join.

Please share news, ideas, questions, and encourage others to join this group. Please link to the Digital Japan Network page from appropriate webpages and blogs. Digital Japan is linked with the Guide Network and Internet Evangelism Day's Japan resource page.

Join using the normal YahooGroup procedure (you will need to mention in a few words why you wish to join.)

How to create a blog for your church or ministry

A blog is a free, easy to use form of a website, capable of posting pictures and text. As of May 2008, according to Technorati (a popular blog search engine) there were more than 112.8 million blogs. You can use a blog for posting pictures and articles of your church events, announcements, etc. Through a blog, you can keep your sending church and supporting groups and individuals informed about what’s happening to your ministry.

How serious can blogging be? According to a Christianity Today article by Ted Olsen, Mark D. Roberts, one of the most prominent "pastor bloggers," announced that he was leaving his pulpit at Irvine, California, Presbyterian Church to become senior director at the Laity Lodge retreat in Texas and concentrate on his blogging. "My blog now becomes a part of my primary work," Roberts told his congregation.

To learn more about how to create a blog for your church or ministry, please view the YouTube video below.
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