|
We believe in...
... The one true God who lives eternally in three persons, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Study One - Christianity is a monotheistic religion, ie a belief in one God, and whilst many religions have a plurality of deities, the Christian faith stands on the belief that there is just one God. We do not believe in three Gods, or even a three-headed God, as those who misunderstand the Trinity would suggest. As the Bible declares - 'Hear O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one' (Deuteronomy 6:4). The inclusion of the word 'true' indicates that there are also false gods. To many this may sound like an arrogant statement, but the Bible itself is where we draw our inspiration from. 'How long, O men, will you turn my glory into shame ? How long will you love delusions and seek false gods?' (Psalm 4:1-3). It is important that if we are to live in truth and light that we seek the true God.
... The one true God who lives eternally in three persons, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Study two - It may seem like an obvious statement, but God is alive! Many of the songs that we sing in church are based on that most basic of facts, with 'Alive, alive, alive forevermore, my Jesus is alive..' and 'God's not dead, no, he is alive...' just to mention two that immediately come to mind. It may sound bizarre, but a movement actually arose in the 1960's, stating that God had died. Ironically the man who propagated the rumour has now long gone, whilst God is still very much alive and well. And this is the knowledge that all who turn to the true God have - that they are not putting their trust in an idol of stone or wood or just some figment of their imagination. Rather, we are committing our lives to one who is as alive as can be.
... The one true God who lives eternally in three persons, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Study three - Have you ever wondered, what makes God, God, so to speak? In other words, what separates him from mortal man? There are certain characteristics, that although we never possess in the fullness as God does, nevertheless we can have them to some degree. Things such as love, justice, righteousness and so on can all be attributed to man. So are we just lesser versions of God? Thankfully, the answer to that is no. The Bible teaches that whilst there are some characteristics that God passes on to man, there are some that he does not. These are the qualities that separate him from us and they are known theologically as the incommunicable attributes. One of these is that God is eternal. God has neither a beginning or an end. That is virtually impossible for us to get our heads around, but that is the reality of God. He has always existed and always will exist. We are conditioned to think in terms of start and finish, our work day, a football match, television programme, even our lives have a birth and a death.But God is truly eternal. 'The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms' (Deuteronomy 33: 27)
... The one true God who lives eternally in three persons, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Study four - One of the most crucial of doctrines for the Christian is that of the Trinity. Other religions believe in 'God', whilst cults such as the Jehovah's Witnesses and the Mormon Church will go further than that and actually state a belief in Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Talk to a JW and let him know that you believe Jesus is the Son of God, and you may well be surprised to find that he agrees with you. However, beyond the terminology, it's what we understand by the words we use that separates us. And there is a massive gulf between the true church and the world of the cults. The true Christian believes in only one God (as we have already seen) but that he has revealed himself in three persons. So Jesus is more than the Son of God (which the JW believes), he is actually God the Son (which the JW does not believe). And likewise, the Holy Spirit is also co-equal in the God-head. The Trinity is not a belief in three Gods, or even a three-headed God as some misinformed critics like to promote. It is a concept that the fallen mind struggles to come to terms with, but once we start to take it on board then it makes sense, and we see that in the Bible God does reveal himself as Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
... The one true God who lives eternally in three persons, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Study five - As we have established, the Trinity reveals to us that God, although he is one, is three. The first person of the Trinity that we look at is the Father, and this is who most people associate with when they think of God. As a child I used to picture God as someone 'up there' and my image of God was very much in line with who the Bible reveals to us as the Father. Now of course, some people have a very negative experience of what fatherhood is, and we often have to look beyond our earthly encounters. And particularly when we consider the attributes of our heavenly Father, then we need particularly to take an objective view to what the Bible says. Consider the positive aspects of God the Father - the security that he brings, the love that he showers upon us, the devotion to each one of his children, the loyalty and dedication that he shows etc. And when we do, we can indeed join with the Psalmist and declare that 'God is awesome' (Psalm 68: 35)
... The one true God who lives eternally in three persons, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Study six - 'The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us' is how the Book of John (1: 14) introduces the birth of Jesus. Taking more of a theological line than the other Gospel accounts, which are narratives (but still contain doctrine of course), the wording of John enforces the basic Christian belief that Jesus Christ was God in the flesh. You often hear people say things like 'Jesus was a good man', 'He came to show us how to live', 'Jesus was a prophet'. And you have to agree with all of those statements, but if that's all that we think of Jesus then we are missing the mark and falling short of reality. Jesus was God in the flesh, and that becomes pivotal to our salvation when we consider the cross, because only the blood of God the Son can wash our sins away. If Jesus was not God, then at the very best he is a created being, sent to do the work of God himself who stayed in heaven and kept himself apart from mankind. And the blood of a created being can save no-one.
... The one true God who lives eternally in three persons, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Study seven - To complete the Trinity we look at the Holy Spirit. Some translations of the Bible (usually older ones) use Holy Ghost, but this can sometimes cause confusion, or at least not project a true picture in the minds of people, particularly those new to the Christian faith. The Holy Spirit is as much God as the Father and the Son, and we must never forget that fact. The first two without the third are incomplete. The Holy Spirit is an integral part of the Godhead. As we read the Bible we see the Holy Spirit at work from beginning to end. He was there at creation (Genesis 1:2) 'And the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters') and He will be there at the end of the ages (Revelation 22: 17) 'The Spirit and the bride say Come, whoever is thirsty let him come. And whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life'
... The love, grace and sovereignty of God in creating, sustaining, ruling, redeeming and judging the world. Study eight - The word 'love' has been much distorted by the world in which we live. It can mean anything from a sexual encounter to a warm fuzzy feeling that people experience in their emotions. Therefore it is good that we remind ourselves continually of the love that the Bible refers to, the agape love of God. God's love is not the shallow and inconsistent version that the world so often offers, but rather it is deep, trustworthy and above all is genuine in its expression. When God tells us that he loves us, there are no strings attached and he really means it. God's love is totally unconditional. The one verse in the Bible that truly sums up God's love is the famous Gospel verse of John 3: 16 -'For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever will believe in him will not perish but will have eternal life'
... The love, grace and sovereignty of God in creating, sustaining, ruling, redeeming and judging the world. Study nine - Most people say that they treat others in the way that they behave towards them. So if they meet someone friendly, they respond in the same way. And if they encounter an unfriendly person, then likewise, they act that way themselves. But just imagine if God treated us in the way that we deserve. In fact none of us would be able to even get close to him. Because he is a holy God who is totally and absolutely pure, our sins and wrongdoings ensure that we are well and truly separated from him. Of course, that's why Jesus died on the cross, so that we can be reconciled to the Father. And because of his grace he doesn't act towards us in the manner that we deserve. As Christians we can truly thank God for his grace. When we are faithless, he is faithful.
... The love, grace and sovereignty of God in creating, sustaining, ruling, redeeming and judging the world. Study ten - We often hear countries of the world described as sovereign nations. That means they can behave in an independent manner, make their own rules and laws and more or less act as they like. Unfortunately many do, but that is another issue. The Bible tells us repeatedly that God is sovereign, with 300 mentions from Genesis to Revelation. And whilst man very often abuses his sovereignty, God does not. He always behaves in a way that is always one of absolute justice and total fairness. And because of his sovereignty, the Lord does not need to compromise his ways. Man very often has to seek alliances that he wouldn't normally forge in order to maintain his grip on power. But God doesn't, and because of that we can have total confidence that he will always do the right thing.
... The love, grace and sovereignty of God in creating, sustaining, ruling, redeeming and judging the world. Study eleven - Many Christians are on the back foot as far as creation is concerned. Those who promote evolution often do so with an almost religious-like fervency, which of course is ironic. And when you combine that with the fact that many believers are blinded by science, it is hardly surprising that there is almost a siege-like mentality that is adopted. However, that should not be the case. In a short piece like this it is impossible to even scratch below the surface, but don't be fooled into thinking that evolution is a fact and the idea of a literal six day creation period is for the simple minded - because that is not the case. I believe in a literal interpretation of the creation account in Genesis, and my position is not merely a faith-based one, but rather one that has developed through study and logic. As it tells us in Genesis 1: 1 'In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth'.
... The love, grace and sovereignty of God in creating, sustaining, ruling, redeeming and judging the world. Study twelve - Working in Africa for a number of years, I have been involved in numerous projects in that time, such as orphanages, wells and small-scale farming initiatives. In many ways, raising the finance to launch the scheme is often the easy part. Birthing a project is one thing, but ensuring that it continues to run smoothly in the months and years afterwards is something else. In other words we have to make sure that we can sustain that which we have started. As far as our Christian faith is concerned, God didn't just save us and then leave us to our own devices. The Bible tells us that '...he who began a good work in you will carry it on until the day of Jesus Christ' (Philippians 1: 6). That's why we have that wonderful assurance that God is in control. He not only saves us, but he sustains us. We didn't save ourselves and we don't keep ourselves either. That is the work of the Sovereign Lord.
... The love, grace and sovereignty of God in creating, sustaining, ruling, redeeming and judging the world. Study thirteen - In the world of politics we often hear the term 'the ruling party' which indicates who has the grip on power at that time. However, no matter who we are referring to, the one thing that is common to all, is that a day will come when they will no longer be in control. Even African dictators who set themselves up for the long-term and suppress all opposition can only hang on in there so long before someone else comes along and deposes them. What a contrast all that is to the rule of God. His throne is an eternal one, he has always been in control and always will. No matter what man does or says, God is sovereign over all. And that's why we can put our trust and confidence in him, knowing that he is always going to be there, unmovable and unshakeable.
... The love, grace and sovereignty of God in creating, sustaining, ruling, redeeming and judging the world. Study fourteen - To redeem means to buy out. It was used during the time that the New Testament was written to describe how a slave could be purchased with a view to him gaining his freedom. In fact that image is perfect when we consider the cross of Calvary and the work that Christ accomplished upon it. Though we are lost in our sins and unable to do anything about it, the death of Christ means that in him we have a way out. Once we were ensnared in the slavery of sin with its heavy burden weighing down upon us, trapped with no light at the end of the tunnel. But because of Calvary, Jesus has paid the price so that we can be bought out. We are redeemed because of his blood.
... The love, grace and sovereignty of God in creating, sustaining, ruling, redeeming and judging the world. Study fifteen - Very often when we talk about judging it is in a negative context. We are usually referring to a person taking a judgemental attitude towards another. And of course, why it is usually wrong is because the making the comments isn't at all interested in the truth, but rather is looking for an opportunity to have a dig at someone else. But let's not forget that one day God will judge all men. And his verdict will be totally just and fair. He has no hidden agenda and certainly will not carry grudges into the courtroom. Instead we will be judged for what we did with the offer of salvation. Did we accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour or did we reject him? Only those who did the former will pass the test of God's standard.
... The love, grace and sovereignty of God in creating, sustaining, ruling, redeeming and judging the world. Study sixteen - People try to blank out death, judgment and eternity from their lives, but the Bible tells us that one day we will all stand before God. Although we may not want to really think about it, the fact is that we are talking about the inevitable not the probable. Of course, if you are a Christian, your sin has been dealt with by the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. But the true believer doesn't see that as an excuse to then go out and please themselves. True salvation is such that we will always desire to live for God and not for self. And even as born again believers, we still have to give an account of the way we live our lives.
... The divine inspiration and supreme authority of the Old and New Testament Scriptures, which are the written Word of God - fully trustworthy for faith and conduct. Study seventeen - This statement deals with the Bible and what we as Christians believe about it. Foundations are important and so the building block for what we believe is that the Bible is there as direct inspiration by God. That is in complete contrast to those who say that it is nothing more than a collection of writings by various human authors. Of course, people can argue about the authorship and whether it is God or man, but the reality is that once you become a Christian you know that the Bible is more than just another book. God speaks to us through its pages, and whenever we put its teachings into practice - even when they contradict human logic and reasoning - it works! When we read the pages of the Bible we are not reading the words of mere men; instead we are taking on board that which God himself ordained.
... The divine inspiration and supreme authority of the Old and New Testament Scriptures, which are the written Word of God - fully trustworthy for faith and conduct. Study eighteen - We use the word authority in several ways, one of them is when we refer to someone who is an expert on a certain subject. We may say that a particular person is an authority on something, indicating that they are the ones who know what they are talking about. The Bible is more than just an authority though, it is the supreme authority, the highest source that we can look to. In the same way that in the US, the highest level of appeal is the Supreme Court, so the Bible is the ultimate that we look to. But whilst the Supreme Court may get their judgment wrong from time to time, the Scriptures are always right.
... The divine inspiration and supreme authority of the Old and New Testament Scriptures, which are the written Word of God - fully trustworthy for faith and conduct. Study nineteen - Even within some circles of genuine Christian people, there is an attitude that the Old Testament does not carry the same authority as the New. In some churches even, it is very rare to hear preaching from the first thirty nine books of the Bible, instead the bulk of what is said comes from the latter twenty seven. However, from the first word in Genesis to the last in Revelation, it is all God's Word and carries the same weight. In fact it is only when we give the Old Testament the place that it deserves, that we truly begin to understand the New. And it comes as a surprise to many to discover that the great truths of the Bible, such as justification by faith, are actually first encountered in Genesis.
... The divine inspiration and supreme authority of the Old and New Testament Scriptures, which are the written Word of God - fully trustworthy for faith and conduct. Study twenty - I can remember the days of black and white television; I can also recall when colour came onto the scene. Although what we saw was still the same image, suddenly it became alive and had more meaning. And in the same way, that's what the New Testament does with the Old. Jesus said that he hadn't come to abolish the law, but rather to fulful it. The New Testament does not replace the Old but is a fulfilment. That's why we need both, because one without the other would be incomplete and would not give a true picture. Instead of seeing them as two distinct books, look at them as an ongoing revelation of God to mankind.
... The divine inspiration and supreme authority of the Old and New Testament Scriptures, which are the written Word of God - fully trustworthy for faith and conduct. Study twenty one - Often when we are dealing with a serious matter, we ask if we can 'have it in writing'. The problem with something that is merely verbal is that we can forget what was said, get confused or even end up with the total opposite meaning to that which was intended. But when we have words before us there is a greater clarity. And that's why God has given us the Bible. We aren't left to our own devices to try to work out how he wants us to live or what he wants us to believe, but it's all there in black and white. The Bible is a unique collection of individual books, written by human authors but inspired by the Holy Spirit, that contains everything that we need to know in order to live a life that truly glorifies Christ.
... The divine inspiration and supreme authority of the Old and New Testament Scriptures, which are the written Word of God - fully trustworthy for faith and conduct. Study twenty two - Some people go through life always suspicious of others. Perhaps with reason, or perhaps not, but nevertheless that's how they feel. The problem though is that when you are always questioning the motives of others in your mind, you can never fully trust them, as you are always looking for something negative. And because of that we will never fully benefit from those that are genuine. One thing we can say about God's Word is that we can fully embrace it as the truth. There is no hidden ulterior motive, designed to trap us or catch us out. Everything that is in there - even the bits we don't like - are there ultimately for our benefit, so that we may become more like Christ. Even if we have been let down by people, disappointed by man and feel wary of totally letting go, as far as the Bible is concerned, it is God's Word and we can wholeheartedly take it on board. It will build us up, challenge us, strengthen us and do us nothing but good.
... The divine inspiration and supreme authority of the Old and New Testament Scriptures, which are the written Word of God - fully trustworthy for faith and conduct. Study twenty three - 'We don't need theology, we just need Jesus' is a thought that even if not verbally expressed, is certainly held by some people. Appealing to the fact that we are saved by faith in Christ and not because of a long list of doctrinal points, they say what really counts is that we know Jesus, and that's enough. Of course, that sounds in order, but the problem is that without a written source of authority to appeal to, which Jesus do we know? From Islam to the Jehovah's Witnesses, they all acknowledge Christ - but a very different one to the Jesus of the Bible. Therefore, the reality is that far from being a hindrance, theology is a necessity. How do we know what it means to be saved? How do we develop a blueprint for our churches? What will we answer to those who ask if Jesus is coming back again? Again and again we turn to the Bible for our replies. Without it we are left to our own devices, and we end up with lots of opinions. And whilst on peripheral issues there may be diversity, on the core value doctrines believers are united.
... The divine inspiration and supreme authority of the Old and New Testament Scriptures, which are the written Word of God - fully trustworthy for faith and conduct. Study twenty four - The Bible is not just our guideline for what we believe but also for how we live our lives. Good solid Biblical theology isn't about a head full of knowledge. Instead it is putting that information into practice which then affects our everyday life. And that's the good news about the teachings of the Bible - they work when applied. As we start to mould our conduct around the principles found in Scripture, we see that we begin to move into a life that is ordered and is at peace with itself. Don't fall for the lie that the Bible is an old-fashioned irrelevant book that has no bearing whatsoever on modern living. In fact the opposite is true - as far as being relevant is concerned, the Bible could have been written this morning. That's how up-to-date it is.
... The dignity of all people, made male and female in God's image to love, be holy and care for creation, yet corrupted by sin, which incurs divine wrath and judgement. Study twenty five - Many people suffer from a low self-esteem, and even some Christians fall into that category of mind set. Sometimes it can be a distorted understanding of who we are in God, as we think that it is wrong to have dignity and value in regards to how we see ourselves. But the reality is that unless we see ourselves as the Lord does, then we will never be able to minister effectively to others. If we want to communicate that people are special to God, then we have to believe it for ourselves first, otherwise we will never convince our listeners. Dignity is not about being proud and arrogant. It isn't about thinking we are better than anyone else. Instead it is about that gentle but resolute assurance in our hearts that we are truly loved by God - not for what we can do but for who we are.
... The dignity of all people, made male and female in God's image to love, be holy and care for creation, yet corrupted by sin, which incurs divine wrath and judgement. Study twenty six - In creation God has set order, including the clear distinction between man and woman. Many of us live in societies whereby we have witnessed liberal values slowly influencing the way that people think. One example of this has been how, instead of the God-given structure of the Biblical family that starts with man and woman, we have presented to us the alternative family of man and man or woman and woman. And with the introduction of adoption for homosexuals and lesbians, they can now also become families in the literal sense of the word. But this liberal experiment is doomed to failure, just like every other aspect of anti-Biblical encroachment we have witnessed in recent years. Not that Christians should be homophobic, we certainly should not go down the road of despising individual people. Whether people are homosexual or heterosexual, if they are lost in sin they need the guiding light of the Gospel before them, not condemnation and judgement. But God's pattern is that of male and female, and that is non-negotiable.
... The dignity of all people, made male and female in God's image to love, be holy and care for creation, yet corrupted by sin, which incurs divine wrath and judgement. Study twenty seven - In the beginning when God made man, the Bible tells us that he created us in his image. Because God is spirit (Jesus took on the physical form of man during the incarnation) it is not a physical image that is being referred to but rather the inner, the ability to reason, the sense of eternity that lies within us, the knowledge of right and wrong etc. This is what separates us from the animal kingdom. When God created the animals, the Bible tells us that he spoke the word and they came into being. But when he created man, he fashioned him with his own hand and breathed his life into his creation. Animals do not have that same life. We live in an age whereby many try to dull the very clear distinction that exists between man and animal. This is seen in the teachings of evolution where man is no different to the mammals that are around us today, the only difference really is that we have evolved further than they have. The Bible teaches that man alone has been made 'in God's image'
... The dignity of all people, made male and female in God's image to love, be holy and care for creation, yet corrupted by sin, which incurs divine wrath and judgement. Study twenty eight - To love from a biblical perspective means to desire the best for another person. This is why a man can love a man and a woman can love a woman. Very often, to the carnal mind, that will produce sniggers, because love is associated with sexual feelings. But love for the Christian is deeper than that. It means we want others to experience everything that God has planned for them. The greatest love of all is wanting people to come to salvation in Christ and that should motivate every believer. Then once an individual is saved, love means that we then desire that the person would grow in the knowledge and call of the Lord upon their life.
|