Mothers Killing their Babies. Unemployment in th

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Good News Seminar

• The Bible Contains Good News for Modern Filipinos
• Bob Marshall Dick Ady

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Bad News

• US Heat Wave-summer 1995
• Medical Tragedies
• Mothers Killing their Babies
• Unemployment in the Philippines
• Health Problems Hunger
• Wars, Revolutions, Population Crisis
• Government Waste
• Abortion
• Ebola Virus
• Spiritual Tragedies

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The Good News

• "Gospel" (Greek "euangelion") Means "Good News."
• The Message about Jesus is Good News!
• Reconciliation with God.
• Joy, Joy, Joy!

4
God's Blessings

• Bad News Helps Us Appreciate Good News. Imagine
• A bullet misses your head.
• You are cured of cancer.
• A truck misses you on a bridge.
• Biblical Examples
• The woman with a back deformity "rejoiced at all
  the glorious things that were done by him
  Jesus" (Luke 1317).
• Paul was amazed and said, "the grace of our Lord
  overflowed for me" (1 Timothy 114).

5
We Can Be Rescued from Sin
God's Blessings

• Romans 3 23"All have sinned and fall short of
  the glory of God.
• Romans 326 " The wages of sin is death, but the
  gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our
  Lord.

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The Bible Pictures Sinas . . .

• Gangrene - (2 Timothy 217).
• Death - "You were dead through your trespasses
  and sins" (Ephesians 21-2a).
• Blindness - (John 939-41).
• Slavery - "You are slaves of the one whom you
  obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of
  obedience, which leads to righteousness" (Romans
  616).

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The Bible Pictures Sinas . . .

• Prostitution (Revelation 171-6)
• Heart-disease "For from within, out of the heart
  of man, come evil thoughts, fornication, theft,
  murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit,
  licentiousness, envy, slander, pride, foolishness
  (Mark 721-22).
• Defilement "Let us cleanse ourselves of every
  defilement of body and spirit, and make holiness
  perfect in the fear of God" (2 Corinthians 71).

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The Amazing Grace of God

• "Grace" is mentioned 150 times in the New
  Testament.
• Words are not adequate to describe it. Paul
  exhausts his vocabulary
• "Thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift"
• (2 Corinthians 915).

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Grace is Rich

• "God is rich in mercy" (Ephesians 24).
• "In Christ "God has blessed us with "every
  spiritual blessing according to the riches of his
  grace which he has lavished upon us"
• (Ephesians 13, 7-8).
• "To me ... this grace was given, to preach to the
  Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ"
  (Ephesians 38).

10
Graceis Rich

• God extends his grace to us in times of trouble.
  Paul had a thorn. God said to him, "My grace is
  sufficient for you" (2 Corinthians 128-10).
• Paul said that we are able to give liberally
  because we have confidence in "the surpassing
  grace of God"
• (2 Corinthians 98-14).

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The grace of God is even more amazing when we
consider where and what we were.

• "While we were still weak, at the right time
  Christ died for the ungodly. But God shows his
  love for us in that while we were yet sinners,
  Christ died for us (Romans 56,8).
• "While we were enemies, we were reconciled to God
  by the death of his Son" (Romans 510).
• "And you he made alive, when you were dead
  through the trespasses and sins in which you
  walked, following the course of this world,
  following the prince of the power of the air, the
  spirit that is now at work in the sons of
  disobedience" (Ephesians 21-2).
• "But God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great
  love with which he loved us, even when we were
  dead through our trespasses, made us alive
  together with Christ.
• (Ephesians 24-5).

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That is
GOOD NEWS!
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What Has God Done for Us?

• He has "blessed us in Christ with every spiritual
  blessing in the heavenly places (Ephesians 13).
• "In him we have redemption through his blood, the
  forgiveness of our trespasses" (Ephesians 17).
• "In his divine power, "God "has granted us
  everything pertaining to life and godliness" (2
  Peter 13).
• He is the source of comfort, hope, and
  consolation" John 141-6).
• He came that we might have life, and have it
  abundantly (John 1010). That is, life that is
  filled with value, purpose, and meaning.
• "Meaninglessness" is a serious problem in the
  modern world.

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It Is Possible to Have Everything and to End Up
with Nothing

• The story of Homer Langley Collyer.
• Paul's warning "As for the rich in this world,
  charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their
  hopes on uncertain riches, but on God who richly
  furnishes us with everything to enjoy (1 Timothy
  617).
• "They the rich are to do good, to be rich in
  good deeds, liberal and generous, thus laying up
  for themselves a good foundation for the future,
  so that they may take hold of life which is life
  indeed" (1 Timothy 618-19).

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End Up with Nothing

• Jesus' Parable of the Sower (Matthew 133-9
  18-23). Some people hear the Good News and
  receive it with joy, then fall away.
• The Story of the Pennsylvania Farmer He grew
  tired of watering his cattle from a slimy creek
  near Titusville, PA. Sold his farm for 833 and
  moved to Canada to work in the oil fields. Oil
  was discovered in Titusville. Within 10 years,
  the oil income in Titusville was 100,000,000. By
  1900, it reached 1,000,000,000. The farmer
  searched for something right under his feet.
• William Randolph Hearst searched for a valuable
  piece of art and found it in his own collection.
  He searched for something what was right under
  his nose.

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End Up with Nothing?
So Do We!
so do we!
So do we!
17
WORD PICTURES OF SALVATION
I. Reconciliation From to friends. a. Broken
relationships are painful b. The restoration of a
broken relationship with God is the essence of
Christianity. (1) The parable of the Lost Son.
(Luke 15 11-31). (2) Man was made for
fellowship with God, but because of sin, became
God's enemy. Paul says, "God shows his love for
us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died
for us" (Romans 58). "...while we were enemies,
we were reconciled to God by the death of his
Son" (Romans. 510). (3) The good news is
Enemies can become good friends.
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SalvationReconciliation
c. The Greek word for "reconciliation" is
"katallasso" which, in N.T. times, meant a change
of enmity into friendship. (1) This word was
used by Paul in five passages of scripture
(Romans 510-11 1115 2 Corinthians 518-20
Ephesians 214-17 Colossians 119-22). (2) In 2
Corinthians. 518-20, Paul says that God, through
Christ, reconciled us to himself...that is, in
Christ, God was reconciling the world to himself,
not counting their trespasses against them."
Then, (a) Paul explains how God reconciled us to
himself "For our sake, he God made him to be
sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might
become the righteousness of god (2 Corinthians.
521). God put our sins on Jesus.
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SalvationReconciliation
(b) By "sending his own son in the likeness of
sinful flesh, "God condemned sin in the flesh,
in order that the just requirement of the law
might be fulfilled in us" (Romans 83-4). (3)
This peace offering brought peace to heaven and
earth "Through Christ, God was happy to bring
all things back to himself again-things on earth
and things in heaven. God made peace by using
Christs blood (death) on the cross. At one
time, you were separated from God. You were
God's enemies in your minds, because of evil
things you did were against God. But now, Christ
has made you God's friends again. Christ ...
brings you before God as people who are holy,
with no wrong in you, and with nothing that God
can judge you guilty of. Christ will continue
to do this if you continue to believe in the
Good News" (Colossians 120-23a). ETR Version.
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SalvationReconciliation
(4) This peace offering even brought peace
between people and other people "The Jews and
the non-Jews were separated like there was a wall
between them. They hated each other. But,
Christ broke down that wall of hate by giving his
own body. ... through the cross, Christ ended
the hate between the two groups. And after
the two groups became one body, Christ wanted to
bring them both back to God. Christ did this
with his death on the cross." (Ephesians 214).
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SalvationReconciliation
Three points stand out in the passages (1) Reco
nciliation between God and man was brought about
by the death of Christ. (2) Man is reconciled
to God, not God to man. God didn't leave man.
Man, through his sin, left God. (3) Reconciliati
on was brought about by what God did, not by what
we did.
22
SalvationRedemption
Redemption Paying the price for release. a. In
ancient times, a "ransom" was the price paid to
secure the release of a slave or a prisoner of
war. b. This term is used by Jesus to describe
the purpose of his coming and his death "For the
Son of man also came not to be served, but to
serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many"
(Mark 1045). (1) Jesus gave his life in order
to set us free from bondage to sin and
Satan. (2) He died that we might live.
23
SalvationRedemption
c. Paul says to the Christians in Corinth, "He
God has delivered us from the dominion of
darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his
beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the
forgiveness of sins" (Colossians.
113-14) d. The writer of Hebrews says that
Christ "entered once for all into the Holy Place,
taking ... his own blood, thus securing an
eternal redemption" (Hebrews 912). e. We were
slaves of sin trapped in the Enemy's prison.
But, Christ paid the price that set us free from
Satan's dominion forever. That's Good News!
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SalvationJustification
3. Justification Pronounced, "Not guilty."
Acquittal. a. The term "justification" comes from
the language of law courts. b. Paul uses it to
describe what Christ has done for us. (1) "Since
all have sinned and fall short of the glory of
God, they are justified by his grace as a gift,
he justifies him who has faith in Jesus" (Romans
323, 24, 26). (2) In 1 Corinthians 69-10, Paul
describes people engaging in all kinds of sinful
activity. Then, he says, "And such were some of
you. But, you were washed, you were sanctified,
you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus
Christ..." (I Corinthians 611).
25
SalvationJustification
c. A modern illustration of justification. d. Jus
tification makes us right with God, saves us from
the past, gives us access to god in the present,
and secures our future. (1) Paul asks, "Who
will bring any charge future of 'egkaleo'
against those whom God has chosen? It is God who
justifies present. Who is he that condemns?
present and future Christ Jesus, who died, more
than that, who was raised to life is at the right
hand of God and is also interceding for us? Who
shall separate us from the love of Christ?"
(Romans 832-35). (2) The answer comes back,
nothing will be able to separate us from the love
of God in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 839).
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SalvationRescue
4. Salvation. a. In the secular realm, the word
"salvation" is used with reference to rescuing
someone or something from danger and/or
destruction. Example Edmund Hillary was saved
by his guide Tenzing Norgay. b. In the Bible,
"salvation" is used with reference to our
deliverance from spiritual death - eternal
separation from God. It is being saved from our
sins. (1) The angel of the Lord told Joseph
that Mary would bear a son, "and you shall call
his name Jesus, for he will save his people from
their sins" (Matthew 121). (2) Peter said,
"There is salvation in no one else, for here is
no other name under heaven given among men by
which we must be saved" (Acts 413). Saved from
spiritual death.
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SALVATION

• The good news is
• God has given us Salvation
• Safety,
• Victory,
• Deliverance, and
• Liberation
• through Jesus Christ
• our Lord.

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THE HOLY SPIRIT
29
THE HOLY SPIRIT
1. Is a person, a member of the
Godhead. a. Personal pronouns are used with
reference to him. Example "He will teach
you all things" (John 1426). b. He is eternal.
(Hebrews 914). c. He is everywhere. (Psalm
1397-12). d. He knows everything. (1
Corinthians 210-11). e. He has emotions. "Do
not grieve the Holy Spirit of God"
(Ephesians 430).
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THE HOLY SPIRIT
2. What he did a. He took part in the creation
(Genesis 12). b. He inspired men to write
the Bible (2 Timothy 316-17 2 Pet.
120-21). c. He inspired men and women to
speak for God as prophets and prophetesses
(Acts 1310-11 219). d. He gave some the
power to work miracles. (1 Corinthians
124-11). Temporary (1 Corinthians 138-10).
31
GOOD NEWS ABOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT
1. Pentecost 2 Commands, 2 Promises a. Comman
ds "Repent" and "Be baptized. b. Promises
"Forgiveness of sins" and "the gift of the Holy
Spirit." (Acts 238-39). c. These promises
are universal. d. These gifts are made possible
at great cost - by the death of Christ.
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ABOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT. . .helps us become like
Jesus.
2. The Holy Spirit helps us become like
Jesus. a. "God decided that those his people
would be like his Son (Jesus). Then, Jesus
would be the firstborn of many brothers and
sisters. God planned for those people to be
like his Son" (Romans 829-30). ETR b. An
impossible assignment - unless we get help from
God. We have a Helper!
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ABOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT. . .helps us become like
Jesus.
c. Jesus referred to the Holy Spirit as "the
Helper" (Greek, "parakletos) Meaning One who
stands beside another as an advocate, counselor,
comforter, exhorter, and helper). (See John
1415-17 1425-26 167-11, 12-15).
34
ABOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT. . .dwells in us
d. Paul says that the Holy Spirit "dwells in us.
" (1) "But, you are not in the flesh, you are
in the spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God
dwells in you. Any one who does not have the
spirit of Christ does not belong to him" (Romans
89). The Spirit lives in Christians. (2) "Do
you not know that you are God's temple and that
God's Spirit dwells in you" (1 Corinthians
316).
35
ABOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT"dwells in leads us "
(3). "Do you not know that your body is the
temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you
have from God?" (1 Corinthians 619). e. The
Spirit leads us and walks beside us. (1)"Walk
by the Spirit, and do not gratify the desires
of the flesh. ... But, if you are led by the
Spirit, you are not under the law" (Galatians
516,18). (2) "If we live by the Spirit, let
us also walk by the Spirit" (Galatians
525).
36
ABOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT "dwells in leads us "
f. The Spirit bears spiritual fruit in our lives
"But, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy,
peace, patience, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, gentleness, self-control"
(Galatians 522-23). Paul adds, "God's love
has been poured into our hearts through the Holy
Spirit which has been given to us" (Romans
55).
37
ABOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT "dwells in us "
g. The Spirit is helping us become like Jesus
Christ, that is, like God. (1) Jesus Christ "is
the image likeness of the invisible God"
(Colossians 115). "He reflects the glory of God
and bears the very stamp of his nature" (Hebrews
13). (2) "And we all, ... beholding the glory
of the Lord, are being changed into his likeness
from one degree of glory to another for this
comes from the Lord who is the Spirit" (2
Corinthians 318). (3) The Holy Spirit is a
person ... a divine being who lives and works
within us, changing us into the likeness of God.
38
ABOUT THE HOLY SPIRITsupplements us
3. The Spirit help us but does not override our
personality. a. He supplements us but does not
replace us. b. He penetrates our life, lives
in our heart, and influences us at the deepest
level, but he doesn't overpower us. (1) He
functions in us like power steering functions
in a car. (2) He is not coercive. He helps
us.
39
ABOUT THE HOLY SPIRITFree
4. When we are baptized into Christ, we arise to
"walk in newness of life" (Romans 64). a. Our
old sinful self is "crucified with him so that
the sinful body might be destroyed, and we might
no longer be enslaved to sin" (Romans
66). b. We are "made free from sin's control"
(Romans 67). ETR c. But, being baptized does
not deliver us from all contact with sin. It
plunges us into a conflict with sin. d. A
life-and-death struggle.
40
ABOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT
e. Paul's three imperatives (1) "Don't let sin
control you" (Romans 612). ETR (2) "Do not
yield your members to sin as instruments of
wickedness". (Romans 613a). A military term. It
is translated "weapons" in 2 Corinthians 104
where Paul describes the war that we are fighting
against the forces of evil "For the weapons of
our warfare are not worldly. (3) "But, yield
yourselves ... to God ... and your members to God
as instruments of righteousness" (Romans 613b).
We must cooperate.
41
ABOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT
But how? How can we conquer sin?
42
ABOUT THE HOLY SPIRITPOWER
5. We can't conquer sin by our own
power. a. Everyone who has tried to do so has
failed. b. Paul said, "I do not understand my
own actions. For I do not do what I want, but
I do the very thing I hate" (Romans
715). c. Paul uses personal pronouns 32 times
in Romans 7. d. Finally, Paul cries out,
"Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me
from this body of death?" (v.24).
43
ABOUT THE HOLY SPIRITPOWER
6. Paul answers his own question a. "Who will
deliver me?" God will, "through Jesus Christ
our Lord" (Romans 725). Victory is
ours! b. "There is therefore now no
condemnation for those who are in Christ
Jesus ... who walk according to the Spirit"
(Romans 81, 4b).
44
ABOUT THE HOLY SPIRITPOWER
c. We have victory in Christ because the Spirit
of God is living in us and helping us 24 hours a
day. (1) The "Spirit" is mentioned 17 times in
Romans 8. What does he do? (2) He helps us
conquer sin "If by the Spirit you put to death
the deeds of the body, you will live" (Romans
813).
45
ABOUT THE HOLY SPIRITPOWER
(3) He give us inner strength. He strengthens
us "with might through his Spirit in the inner
man" (Ephesians 316). Ben Alexander. (4) He
leads us "For all who are led by the Spirit of
God are sons of God" (Romans 814). (5) He
bears witness with our spirit "that we are the
children of God" (Romans 816). (See Galatians
46).
46
ABOUT THE HOLY SPIRITPOWER
(6) He "helps us in our weakness" (Romans
826). (a) "We do not know how to pray as we
ought, (b) "but, the Spirit himself intercedes
for us with sighs too deep for words" (Romans
826b). (c) "The Spirit intercedes for the
saints" (Romans 827)
47
ABOUT THE HOLY SPIRITPOWER FOR GOOD
7. Consequently (because the Spirit is helping
us) a. "We know that in everything God works
for good with those who love him, who are called
according to his purpose" (Romans 828). My
Golden Text. b. Nothing and no one can separate
us from the love of God in Christ. (See Romans
835-39).
48
ABOUT THE HOLY SPIRITGODS PEOPLE
8. The Holy Spirit marks us as God's people and
guarantees our inheritance. a. God "puts the
Spirit in our hearts to be a guarantee - a proof
that he will give us what he promised" (2
Corinthians 122). b. We were "sealed with the
Holy Spirit which is the guarantee of our
inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to
the praise of his glory" (Ephesians 113-14).
49
THE GOOD NEWS ABOUT FORGIVENESS
1. There is no sin in today's world that God will
not forgive. a. Only one unforgivable sin is
mentioned in the Bible (Matthew 1122-23).
Blasphemy against the H.S. b. Aside from
this exceptional sin, we can bring any sin to
God for forgiveness.
50
ABOUT FORGIVENESSForgiven
c. Paul told the Corinthian Christians that some
of them had been "immoral," "idolaters,"
"adulterers," "sexual perverts," "thieves,"
"greedy," "drunkards," "revilers," and "robbers."
(1 Corinthians 69-10). Yet, all of them had
been forgiven. d.On Pentecost Sunday, Peter
offered forgiveness to those who had killed Jesus.
51
ABOUT FORGIVENESSForgiven
e. The book of Acts shows people from every kind
of background being forgiven. (1) Samaritan
(Acts 8). (2) Ethiopian eunuch (Acts
8). (3) Saul of Tarsus (Acts 9). (4) A Roman
soldier, Cornelius (Acts 10) . (5) A
Philippian jailer (Acts 16).
52
ABOUT FORGIVENESSForgiven
2. God's grace is larger than our capacity to
sin.
53
ABOUT FORGIVENESSForgiven
a. There are 9 words for sin in the N.T.
54
ABOUT FORGIVENESSForgiven
b. But the are also many words that suggest
forgiveness. (1) Rescue (Matthew
121). (2) Cleansing (Acts 2216). (3) Not
putting sin on our account (Romans 48) An
accounting term. "Blessed is the man against
whom the Lord will not reckon his
sin." (4) Release, like releasing a slave
(Romans 622) "You have been set free from
sin." (5) Drawing a veil over our sins
"Blessed are those whose...sins are covered"
(Romans 47). (6) Wiping out our sins
"Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins
may be blotted out" (Acts 319).
55
THE GOOD NEWS ABOUT FORGIVENESSWe are Forgiven
(7) Forgetting our sins forever (a) Isaiah
4325 "I am He who blots out your transgressions
and I will not remember your sins. (b) Jeremi
ah 3134 "I will remember their sin no more."
Our sins. (c) See Psalm 10311-12.
56
THE GOOD NEWS ABOUT DEATH
1. Philip of Macedon. 2. Reminders of death
funerals, cemeteries 3. Many people avoid the
subject. Freud.
57
ABOUT DEATH
4. The Bible does not evade it. a. Job calls
death "the king of terrors" (Job 1814) b. One
reason Jesus came to earth was that, through his
own death, "he might destroy him who has the
power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver
all those who through fear of death were subject
to lifelong bondage" (Hebrews 214-15). c. Paul
said to the Thessalonians, "Brothers, we do not
want you to be ignorant about those who fall
asleep (in death), or grieve like the rest of
men, who have no hope" (1 Thessalonians 413).
58
ABOUT DEATHgloom
5. Quotations from non-believers a. Theognis,
the Greek poet who lived in the 6th century B.C.
"It is best of all things for the children of men
not to be born, nor to see the rays of keen
sunlight but if born to pass as soon as may be
the gates of Hades (death), and to lie beneath a
vesture of much earth" (Elegies,
425). b. Euripides, the Greek playwright of the
5th century B.C. "It is better that we should
call our friends together to lament over the
newly born, that he has come to such a world of
sorrows" (Oresphontes).
59
ABOUT DEATHgloom
c. Bertrand Russell, a brilliant 20th century
philosopher in England, was as hopeless as the
ancient Greeks "The life of Man is a long march
through the night, surrounded by invisible foes,
tortured by weariness and pain." d. Madame Curie
of France wrote in her diary, upon the death of
her husband "Your coffin was closed and I could
see you no more... We saw you go down into that
deep, big hole... Everything, everything,
everything!" e. Such writings reflect pessimism
and gloom.
60
ABOUT DEATHhope
6. Quotations form believers a. Psalm 11615
"Precious in the sight of the Lord is he death of
his saints." b. Paul "For me to live is Christ,
and to die is gain" (Philippians 121). "My
desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that
is far better" (Philippians 123). c. Peter "By
his great mercy we have been born to a living
hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ
from the dead" (1 Peter 13).
61
ABOUT DEATHhope
d. Catacomb inscriptions (1) "Gordian, the
courier from Gaul, strangled for the faith.
Rests in peace. (2) "Alexander is not dead,
but lives above the stars."
62
ABOUT DEATHhope
e. The 1st century world was amazed at the joy
and optimism of Christians in the face of death.
63
ABOUT DEATHhope
7. The death of death a. "...It is appointed for
men to die once, and after that the judgment"
(Hebrews 927). But, death is not final. b. As
Jesus was raised from death, so all people who
have died will be raised from death when he
comes "For the trumpet will sound, and the dead
will be raised imperishable" (1 Corinthians
1552b). c. Then it can be said, "Death is
swallowed up in Victory" (1 Corinthians 1554b).
64
ABOUT DEATHdeath of death
8. The second death. a. The Bible speaks of the
"second death" (Revelations 211 206,
14). b. We have no choice about the first death.
All must die. c. But, we can avoid the second
death.
65
ABOUT DEATHdeath of death
d. The second death is spiritual...eternal
separation from God "They shall suffer the
punishment of eternal destruction and exclusion
from the presence of the Lord and from the glory
of his might" (2 Thessalonians 19). e. If, in
this life, we reject Jesus Christ, we will die
eternally.
66
THE GOOD NEWS ABOUT DEATH
f. But, the good news is we don't have to
experience the second death. Christ is
offering us eternal life.
67
THE GOOD NEWS ABOUT HEAVEN
1. The NT's word-pictures about heaven are
attempts to describe things we have never
seen a. "...No eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor
the heart of man conceived what God has prepared
for those who love him" (1 Corinthians
29). b. Now, God has revealed some of these
things "to us through the Spirit" (1
Corinthians 210a). c. Some are powerful images
with strong emotional impact.
68
ABOUT HEAVEN word-pictures
2. Jesus said, "Let not your hearts be troubled
believe in God, believe also in me. In my
Father's house are many rooms if it were not so,
would I have told you that I go to prepare a
place for you? And, when I go to prepare a place
for you, I will come again and will take you to
myself, that where I am you may be also" (John
141-4). Notice a. Jesus is going to prepare a
place for us. b. He is coming back to get
us. c. There are plenty of rooms in his Father's
house.
69
ABOUT HEAVENa place
d. In heaven, we will be with God and his Son,
Jesus, and will have loving fellowship with them
forever. e. There, our deepest needs and
longings will be satisfied. f. It is a tragedy
that people cut themselves off from God by trying
cheap substitutes drugs, sex, booze.
70
ABOUT HEAVENa city
3. A beautiful city. a. During his life, Abraham
lived in tents, but he "looked forward to the
city which has foundations, whose builder and
maker is God" (Hebrews 1110). b. Christians
also seek the heavenly city. "For here we have
no lasting city, but we seek the city which is to
come" (Hebrews 1314). c. John describes heaven
as "the holy city, new Jerusalem" with streets of
pure gold, gates of pearl, and walls adorned with
precious jewels (Revelations 211-21).
71
ABOUT HEAVENa city
d. But, the most compelling descriptions of life
in the heavenly city is this God "himself will
be with them he will wipe away every tear from
their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither
shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain any
more, for the former things have passed away.
There shall no more be anything accursed, but the
throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and
his servants shall worship him and they shall
see his face, and his name shall be on their
foreheads. And, night shall be no more they
need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God
will be their light, and they shall reign forever
and ever" (Revelations 213-4223-5).
72
THE GOOD NEWS ABOUT HEAVEN
e. The Good News is God has made it
possible for us (you and me)
to go there.
possible for us
to go there
73
BAPTISM
1. Baptism is important. a. Baptism is mentioned
or referred to more than 100 times in the
N.T. b. Jesus walked more than 100 kilometers to
be baptized (Matthew 313).
74
BAPTISM immersion
2. Baptism is an immersion in water. a. The Greek
verb "baptizo" (baptize) means "to dip, plunge,
or submerge. b. John baptized people at Aenon
"because there was much water there" (John
323). c. When Philip baptized the Ethiopian
official, "they both went down into the water"
and then "they came up out of the water" (Acts
838-39). d. Paul calls baptism a burial.
75
BAPTISM Paul immersion
(1) He says, "When we were baptized, we were
buried with Christ and shared his death. We were
buried with Christ so that we could be raised up
and live a new life" (Romans 64)
ETR. (2) Again, Paul say, "When you were
baptized, your old self died and you were buried
with Christ" (Colossians 212).
76
BAPTISM Paul immersion
e. Historical records indicate that the early
church baptized people by immersing them in
water. (1) Tertullian of Carthage (about A.D.
200) wrote, "Baptism itself is a bodily act,
because we are immersed in water" (On Baptism,
7). (2) Ambrose of Milan (A.D. 340) said, "You
were asked, 'Do you believe in God Almighty?'
You said, 'I believe' and thus you were
immersed. That is, you were buried" (On the
Sacraments III.i.1.2). (3) John Chrysostom, Basil
the Great, and other church leaders also describe
baptism as a burial in water.
77
BAPTISMvariations
(4) The first known case of sprinkling for
baptism is that of Novation about A.D. 251.
Novation was apparently about to die of a
threatening disease, so he was sprinkled in bed.
Later, when he recovered, he was criticized for
not having been baptized properly. (5) The first
official statement favoring the practice of
pouring water on the head was made in A.D. 753.
Pope Stephen II was asked if, in a case of
necessity due to illness, it was lawful to
baptize by pouring water on the head. He
replied, "If such a baptism were performed, in
such a case of necessity, in the name of the holy
trinity, it should be held valid."
78
BAPTISMvariations
(6) In the year 1311, a council in Ravenna, Italy
(attended by 214 bishops) declared that
sprinkling and pouring are as good as
immersion. (7) These departures from the N.T.
came so slowly that nobody seemed to notice.
79
BAPTISMbiblical characteristics
3. Baptism is for penitent believers. a. Teaching
comes before baptism. Jesus said to his
apostles, "Go and make disciples (learners) of
all nations, baptizing them in the name of the
Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and
teaching them to obey everything I have commanded
you" (Matthew 2819-20). b. Faith comes before
baptism. Jesus said, "Whoever believes and is
baptized will be saved" (Mark 1616). c. Repentan
ce comes before baptism. Peter said, "Repent and
be baptized, every one of you..." (Acts 238).
80
BAPTISMhistory
d. There is no evidence that babies were baptized
in New Testament times. Baptism was for
penitent believers.
81
BAPTISMhistory
e. Historical records indicate that baptism was
for people old enough to believe and turn away
from sin, not for infants. (1) Justin Martyr
(about A.D. 150) wrote "As many as are
persuaded and believe that the things taught and
said by us are true, and promise to live
accordingly, these are taught to fast, pray, and
ask God for the forgiveness of past sins, while
we pray and fast with them. Then, they are led
by us to where there is water, and ... they are
born again" (Apology I.61).
82
BAPTISMhistory
(2) Clement of Alexander (about A.D. 200), said,
"We who have repented of our sins, renounced our
faults, and are purified by baptism run back to
the eternal light, as children to their father"
(Instructor I.vi.32.1). (3) All church leaders
until the late 2nd century taught that infants
are innocent and sinless.
83
BAPTISMhistory
(4) The practice of baptizing infants (by
immersion) evidently began late in the 2nd
century. (5) Tertullian (about A.D. 200) argued
against baptizing infants and small children (On
Baptism 18). (6) Origin (about A.D. 250) argued
in favor of infant immersion on the ground that
infants are born tainted by sin (Homily of
Leviticus VIII3). (7) In A.D. 418, the Council
of Carthage ruled in favor of infant baptism.
84
BAPTISMhistory
f. Jesus taught that little children are
innocent. "Let little children come to me. Don't
stop them, because the kingdom of heaven belongs
to people who are like these children" (Matthew
1914). g. Paul said he was spiritually alive
(innocent) as a child. Then sin came into his
life, and he died (Romans 79-10). h. Infants
were not baptized in the early church because
baptism is for the forgiveness of sins.
85
BAPTISMbiblical purpose
4. Baptism is for the forgiveness of sins. a. On
the Day of Pentecost, Peter said, "Repent and be
baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus
Christ for the forgiveness of your sins" (Acts
238). b. Ananias said to Saul, "And now what
are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and
wash your sins away, calling on his name" (Acts
2216).
86
BAPTISMbiblical plea
c. And that is the question I leave with you this
evening. (1) If you are old enough to
understand the Good News, (2) to believe in
Jesus Christ as the Son of God, (3) and to
turn away from sin in repentance, (4) Jesus is
calling you, inviting you to come and be his
follower today. Be baptized for the forgiveness
of your sins.
question
inviting you
87
WHAT MAKES THE BIBLE DIFFERENT?
1. The Bible is unique in it's claims a. Eternal
"The word of our God will stand forever"
(Isaiah 408). b. Inspired - God breathed - "All
scripture is inspired by God" (2 Timothy
316). c. Truth "Thy word is truth" (John
1717).
88
THE BIBLEunique
2. The Bible is unique in the way it was
written. a. Over a time-span of 1,500
years. b. By 40 human writers who came from
diverse backgrounds (1) Samuel was a
judge (2) Amos, a sheep breeder (3) Ezra, a
priest (4) Nehemiah, a statesman (5) David,
a poet and King (6) Matthew, a tax
collector (7) Luke, a physician (8) Peter,
James and John were fishermen, and (9)
Paul was a tentmaker (10) Some were educated,
and others were uneducated. Yet, their writings
form one united book, the Bible.
89
THE BIBLEunique
3. The Bible is unique in its preservation. a. Me
n have tried to ban it and destroy it, but
without success. b. Voltaire in
France. c. Enver Hoxha in Albania. d. Today
- the world's best seller.
90
THE BIBLEunique
4. It is unique in accurately predicting the
future. a. Isaiah 1319-22 - Babylon b. Ezekiel
263-5 - Tyre 5. It is unique in its historical
accuracy. a. Historians have challenged the
Bible, but archaeology has vindicated
it. b. For example, Belshazzar (Daniel 5) Vs.
Nabonidus.
91
THE BIBLEunique
6. Unique in its scientific accuracy. a. Isaiah
speaks of "the circle of the earth" (Isaiah
4022). b. David writes of "the paths of the
seas" (Psalm 88). c. Job says that God
"stretches out the north over the void, and hangs
the earth upon nothing" (Job 267).
92
THE BIBLEunique
7. The Bible is unique in its effect upon
people. a. No other book has so profoundly
influenced the culture and history of the
world. b. No other book has changed so many
lives, building character and producing hope, joy
and purpose.
93
WHY WE BELIEVE THE BIBLE
1. The Old Testament writers said they were
speaking the Word of God. "Thus says the Lord,"
or something similar, is found more than 2,000
times in the O.T. 2. Jesus Christ regarded the
Scriptures as the Word of God (Matthew 518 John
1035). 3. The apostles regarded the Scriptures
as the inspired Word of God (2 Timothy 316 2
Peter 121). 4. Fulfilled prophecy demonstrates
that the Bible is the Word of God.
94
WE BELIEVE THE BIBLE
5. Archaeology confirms the accuracy of the
Scriptures. 6. Human experience proves the Bible
is the inspired Word of God. a. Its promises
are fulfilled b. It works in human experience.
95
WE BELIEVE THE BIBLE
PSALMS 197-11 1. The Word of God is a. Perfect
- without error, complete b. Trustworthy -
reliable, doesn't mislead. c. Right - straight,
not crooked d. Radiant - gives light,
illuminating e. Pure, enduring forever - not
corrupt f. Sure and altogether
righteous g. More precious than gold -
valuable h. Sweeter than honey.
96
THE BIBLEbenefits
2. Benefits received from God's
Word a. Reviving the soul - from sin,
trouble b. Making wise he simple c. Giving joy
to the heart - happiness d. Giving light to the
eyes. e. By them is your servant warned in
keeping them there is great reward.
97
SOMEONE IS COMING
1. He will be a male descendant of Eve God said
to the serpent (Satan), "I will put enmity
between you and the woman, and between your seed
and her seed he shall bruise crush your head,
and you shall bruise his heal" (Genesis
315). 2. He will be a descendant of Abraham
God said to Abraham, "through your offspring, all
nations on earth will be blessed" (Genesis
2218). 3. He will be a descendant of Isaac
God said to Isaac, "Through your offspring, all
nations on earth will be blessed" (Genesis 264).
98
SOMEONE
4. He will be a descendant of Jacob "All
peoples on earth will be blessed through you and
your offspring" (Genesis 2814). 5. A
descendant of Judah. "Men from Judah's family
will be kings. The sign that his family rules
will not leave his family before the real king
comes" (Genesis 4910) ETR.
99
SOMEONE
6. He will be a prophet like Moses. God said to
Moses, "I will raise up for them a prophet like
you from among their brothers I will put my
words in his mouth, and he will tell them
everything I command him" (Deuteronomy
1818). 7. A descendant of Jesse. "A shoot will
come up from the stump of Jesse from his roots a
Branch will bear fruit. The Spirit of the Lord
will rest on him" (Isaiah 111-2) 8. He is the
source (root) of Jesse. "In that day the root of
Jesse will stand as a banner for the people"
(Isaiah 1110).
100
SOMEONE is Coming
Branch/shoot
Jesse Root
101
SOMEONE
9. A descendant of David who will sit on David's
throne. Nathan said to David, "Your house and
your kingdom will endure forever before me your
throne will be established forever" (2 Samuel
716). 10. Born of a virgin, and called
"Immanuel," meaning "God with us". "Therefore,
the Lord himself will give you a sign The
virgin will be with child and will give birth to
a son, and will call him Immanuel" (Isaiah 714).
102
SOMEONE is Coming
THE LORD (God)
MY LORD (Jesus)
DAVID
103
SOMEONE is Coming
11. He will be born in Bethlehem. "But you,
Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among
the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me
one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins
are from of old, from ancient times" (Micah
52). 12. He will be David's Lord. David said,
"The Lord said to my Lord 'Sit at my right hand
until I make your enemies a footstool for your
feet" (Psalm 1101).
104
SOMEONE is Coming
13. He will reign on David's throne forever. "For
to us a child is born, to us a son is given. ...
And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty
God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. ... He
will rule on David's throne and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it with justice and
righteousness from that time on and forever"
(Isaiah 96-7). 14. He will enter Jerusalem as a
king, riding on a donkey. "Rejoice greatly, O
Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to
you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and
riding on a donkey" (Zechariah 99).
105
SOMEONE is Coming
15. He will be betrayed by a friend. "Even my
close friend, whom I trusted, he who shared my
bread, has lifted up his heel against me" (Psalm
419). 16. He will be betrayed for 30 pieces of
silver. "So they paid me thirty pieces of silver"
(Zechariah 1112).
106
SOMEONE is Coming
17. He will die for the sins of others. "He was
pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed
for our iniquities the punishment that brought
us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we were
healed. ... The Lord has laid on him the iniquity
of us all" (Isaiah 535-6). 18. He will die by
crucifixion. "They have pierced my hands and my
feet" (Psalm 2216).
107
SOMEONE is Coming
19. He will be offered gall and vinegar. "They
put gall in my food and gave me vinegar for my
thirst" (Psalm 6921). 20. They will cast lots
for his clothing. "They divide my garments among
them and cast lots for my clothing" (Psalm
2218). 21. His bones will not be broken. "He
protects all his bones, not one of them will be
broken" (Psalm 3420).
108
SOMEONE is Coming
22. He will be buried with the wicked and the
rich. "For he was cut off from the land of the
living for the transgression of my people he was
stricken. He was assigned a grave with the
wicked, and with the rich in his death" (Isaiah
538-9). 23. He will be raised from death before
his body decays. "You will not abandon me in the
grave, nor will you let your holy one see decay.
(Psalm 1610).
109
SOMEONE is Coming
24. He will ascend to the Ancient of Days and be
given dominion over an everlasting kingdom.
"Behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one
like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of
Days and was presented before him. And to him
was given dominion and glory and kingdom that all
peoples, nations, and languages should serve him
his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which
shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that
shall not be destroyed" (Daniel 713-14).
110
SUMMARYA King is coming.
He will be . . . 1. A male descendant of
Eve. 2. A descendant of Abraham. 3. A descendant
of Isaac. 4. A descendant of Jacob. 5. A
descendant of Judah. 6. A prophet like
Moses. 7. A descendant of Jesse. 8. The source of
Jesse. 9. A descendant of David. 10. The Lord of
David. 11. Born of a virgin.
111
SUMMARYA King is coming.
12. Born in Bethlehem. 13. Reign on David's
throne forever. 14. Enter Jerusalem on a
donkey. 15. Be betrayed by a friend. 16. For 30
pieces of silver. 17. Die for the sins of
others. 18. Die by crucifixion. 19. Be offered
ball and vinegar. 20. People will cast lots for
his clothing. 21. His bones will not be
broken. 22. He will make his grave with the
wicked and with the rich. 23. He will be raised
from death. 24. He will ascend into heaven to
rule over an everlasting kingdom.
112
THE BIBLE IS OUR AUTHORITY
1. All authority ultimately rests in God. a. As
the Creator of the universe, God has the right to
command his creation, because he owns
it. (1) If you own a piece of property, buy
some lumber, and build a house on it, whose house
is it? (2) If you buy some writing paper and a
pen and write a poem, whose poem is it?
113
THE BIBLE IS OUR AUTHORITY
b. God says, "Every beast of the forest is mine,
the cattle on a thousand hills. I know all the
birds of the air, and all that moves in the field
is mine" (Psalm 5010-11). c. David prayed,
"Everything in heaven and earth belong to you,
God. You made the world and everything in it"
(Psalm 8911). ETR
114
THE BIBLE IS OUR AUTHORITY
d. God spoke with authority in Old Testament
times. (1) Moses said to the Israelites, "You
shall be careful to do, therefore, as the Lord
you God has commanded you you shall not turn
aside to the right hand or to the left"
(Deuteronomy 532). (See 42). (2) God said,
"Everything that I command you, you shall be
careful to do you shall not add to it or take
from it" (Deuteronomy 1832). (3) When Nadab
and Abihu disobeyed God by offering strange fire
on the alter, God sent fire from heaven and
consumed them. (Leviticus 101-2).
115
THE BIBLE IS OUR AUTHORITY
2. In New Testament times, God transferred all
his authority to his Son, Jesus Christ. a. Jesus
said, "All authority in heaven and earth has been
given to me" (Matthew 2818). b. The writer of
Hebrews said, "In the past, God spoke to our
forefathers through the prophets at many times
and in various ways, but in these last days he
has spoken to us by his Son ..." (Hebrews 11-2).
116
THE BIBLE IS OUR AUTHORITY
c. The entire book of Hebrews is designed to
convince us that Jesus is the person through
whom God speaks today. (See your
manual.) d. Jesus, himself, claimed to speak
with the authority of God "For I have not spoken
on my own authority the Father sent me has
himself given me commandment what to say and what
to speak" (John 1249).
117
THE BIBLE IS OUR AUTHORITY
e. And Jesus demonstrated the authority of God in
his actions. (1) He cast out demons. (Mark
121-28). (2) He healed people of incurable
diseases. (Mark 140-42). (3) He brought dead
people back to life "Lazarus come forth."
(John 11). (4) He even stilled a storm on the
Sea of Galilee. "Peace be still" (Mark
439). (5) And he forgave sins (Mark 25).
118
THE BIBLE IS OUR AUTHORITY
3. Jesus appointed twelve apostles, empowered
them to perform miracles, and commissioned them
to be his witnesses and representatives. a. The
apostles and a few other inspired men wrote the
New Testament as they were moved by the Holy
Spirit. b. Jesus said to his apostles, "The Holy
Spirit will teach you all things and will
remind you of everything I have said to you"
(John 1426). "When the Spirit of truth comes,
he will guide you into all the truth" (John
1613). c. So, the writing of the apostles in
the New Testament are the words of God.
119
THE BIBLE IS OUR AUTHORITY
d. The apostles Paul said, "Even if we, or an
angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel
contrary to that which we preached to you, let
him be accursed" (Galatians 18). e. The apostle
John warned at the end of the New Testament, "I
warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy
of this book if any one adds to them, God will
add to him the plagues described in this book,
and if any one takes away from the words of the
book of this prophecy, God will take away his
share in the tree of life and in the holy city,
which are described in this book" (Revelations
2218-19).