Week 28 - Son of Man

Definition: For us and for our salvation, God the Son came down from heaven; He became incarnate by the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary, and was made human. He is one, however, not by His divinity being turned into flesh, but by God's taking humanity to Himself.

Scriptures: Daniel 7:13-14; Daniel 7:27; Matthew 26:64; 1 John 3:2

Study: One of the most historically important doctrines is that of the nature of God the Son. The church has, through the ages, confessed the perfect union of the divine and human natures of the one person Jesus the Christ. The creeds of Nicea, Chalcedon, and Athanasius are universally accepted by all believers and contain an authoritative summary of Christian doctrine. Through the incarnation, God became a man. This presents Christians with a profound promise... because Christ was made to be like us, we, too, shall be made to be like Him.

Questions to Ask: (these will help process the truth learned)

- What is the significance of God becoming a man?

- Did the Son become less God in becoming a man?

- Was Jesus a good man who became God?

Week 27 - Christ

Definition: Jesus, the Son of God, is called by the title of Christ. This title signifies His anointed, royal authority as King of all creation. He is the promised seed and is seated at the right of the Father in all glory, majesty, and power.

 Scriptures: Matthew 16:16; Romans 1:1-4; Luke 3:21-22

 Study: “Christ” is not Jesus’ last name. In fact, it is not a name at all. It is a royal title, derived from the Hebrew term Messiah. The word is closely tied to the kingly line of Israel through the house of David. Every time Jesus is called Christ, we should be reminded that He is a King with real authority. The title is also closely linked to image of God language in Genesis 1. Jesus the Christ is the physical embodiment of the Godhead to the world.

Questions to Ask: (these will help process the truth learned)

- What does the title of Christ imply?

- Why is it significant that Jesus is called Christ?

- Was Jesus always the Christ or was there a specific moment where He became the Christ?

Week 26 - Hell

Definition: Hell is a real place of eternal torment, created as a place of final judgment for the powers of evil. It is not located somewhere on earth today. At the end of the age, the dead shall be raised, the righteous to eternal life and the wicked to eternal torment.

Scriptures: Matthew 25:41-46; John 3:16-18; Revelation 21:8

Study: It should be said here that the primary aim of Christianity is not an escape from Hell. Christians do not fear Hell. It was not created for us and we shall not find ourselves there, so long as we hold fast in our allegiance to Christ, by the enablement of His grace. Our pursuit is not an escape from judgment, but a growing love for our rescuer. In the words of one great theologian, the Christian goal can be summed into one statement “Fall more and more in love with Jesus”

Questions to Ask: (these will help process the truth learned)

- What is the purpose of Hell?

- Was man meant for Hell?

- How long will Hell last?

- Is there any escape for one condemned to Hell?

Week 25 - Satan

Definition: Satan is the personification of spiritual evil. He is opposed to God and His purposes in the church and the world. Satan’s chief goal is to incite man to sin by presenting him with temptations and speaking lies to his heart. His power is great, but not supreme and he is ultimately subject to God.

Scriptures: 1 Peter 5:8; James 4:7; 1 John 3:8

Study: Biblical scholarship presents us with many questions about the person of Satan. Though in the Bible Satan is most often used as the name of the devil, it is also used as a title that signifies an “opposer” as when Jesus told Peter, “Get behind me, Satan.” Either way, this much is clear—Christians have a real and present enemy who seeks to tempt us to sin and distract us from our calling. We must oppose him with all our strength and trust the Holy Spirit to empower us in our weakness. Satan is a defeated enemy and we can and will obtain victory over him and all his schemes!

Questions to Ask: (these will help process the truth learned)

- Is the creature in Genesis 3 Satan?

- How does Satan oppose us?

- How much power does Satan have over our lives?

- How can we defeat Satan?

Week 24 - Son of God

Definition: We believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, begotten from the Father before all ages, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made; of the same essence as the Father.

Scriptures: John 1:1-5; Colossians 1:15-16; Hebrews 1:4-6

Study: The words of the Nicene Creed are still instructive to us today. Jesus is truly God and truly Lord. He is not merely an exalted human, nor is He adopted as a son. He has been God from the beginning, one with the Father. Although He is the begotten Son of God, we should not take this terminology to mean that there was a time when the Son was not. The term “begotten Son” describes the eternal relationship between the Father and the Son. The Father has always been a Father and the Son has always been a Son.

Questions to Ask: (these will help process the truth learned)

- Is Jesus fully God?

- When did the Son become God?

- Is there a difference between Jesus the Christ and God the Son?

- What does it mean that the Son is begotten?

Week 23 - Evil

Definition: Evil is the absence of good. Anything that does not conform to the character of God can be considered evil. There are supernatural entities in rebellion against God that are opposed to God’s mission in the world. However, because God is all powerful, these evil beings are restrained by God’s power in accordance with God’s purposes. 

Scriptures: Ephesians 6:12; Psalm 23:4; Proverbs 8:13

Study: Augustine of Hippo created a helpful defense for the origins of evil: “Evil has no positive nature; but the loss of good has received the name ’evil.’” Just as darkness is the result of an absence of light, evil results as an absence of good. Why does God allow evil to occur? A world that had never been touched by evil would be a good place, but it wouldn’t be the best place possible. The best of all worlds would be a place where evil facilitated the development of virtues that are only able to exist where evil flourishes for a time. Certainly individual tragedies are not good in and of themselves, though God is certainly capable of redeeming any tragedy. Rather, the greater good results from having a world in which there is moral freedom, and moral freedom makes moral tragedies like these possible.

Questions to Ask: (these will help process the truth learned)

- Is God the author of evil?

- Where does evil come from?

- How should Christians respond to evil?

Week 22 - Total Depravity

Definition: Total depravity means that man, left to his own devices, will ultimately choose the pleasure of sin over the pleasures of Christ. Thanks be to God! Through Christ Jesus we are given faith and freed from the bondage of our depravity.

Scriptures: Romans 7:14; Romans 14:23; Galatians 2:20

Study: One of the fundamental stories that our world tells us is the essential goodness and virtuosity of mankind. Man can achieve, dream, and do all sorts of good if only he attains self-actualization. The Bible tells a different story about humanity—its corruption. Man sees and takes that which his heart most desires. Because of sin man’s base desires are corrupted and thus his every word, thought, and deed is tainted. The cure is not self-actualization; rather it is self-denial. We are to put off our sinful self and take up the righteous life of Christ. Only in the life of Christ can man attain the good for which he was created.

Questions to Ask: (these will help process the truth learned)

- Are men today inherently good or inherently evil?

- Was man created good or evil?

- How will man be restored to his created state?

Week 21 - Original Sin

Original Sin

Definition: The doctrine of original sin can be summed up in one statement: We are not sinners because we sin, we sin because we are sinners. Original sin is a state of brokenness that enslaves all of humanity. We are freed from the power of sin only through the atoning death of Jesus on our behalf.

Scriptures: Romans 3:10-12; Romans 5:12; 1 Corinthians 15:21

Study: Sin is not just an action that we undertake but a state of existence that all of mankind is born into. At our very origin, we are sinful. There is something inside of us that is broken from birth. No one needs to teach a toddler to bite or kick and a child needs no instruction in disobedience. Left to their own, all people will sin. But thanks be to God through Christ Jesus our Lord! Although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit gives us life! Jesus was born without sin, the first of a new humanity who is free from sin. Through His life and death, we, too, can be freed from the bondage of sin and brought into new life.

Questions to Ask: (these will help process the truth learned)

- What does it mean that we sin because we are sinners?

- Who is a sinner?

- Is it possible to be anything other than a sinner?

Week 20 - Circumcision

Definition: God instituted a covenant of circumcision with His people in the Old Testament to signify them as a separate people from the surrounding nations. Under the New Covenant, the Spirit of God circumcises His people in heart rather than in the body. The ordinance of baptism functions as a sign of this work.

Scriptures: Colossians 2:11-12; Genesis 17:10-11; Romans 2:28-29

 Study: New Testament authors take the sign of circumcision as a sign of the believer’s separation from both the world and the flesh. Paul tells us that we have been separated from our flesh by a divine circumcision of the heart that leads us to walk in a new pattern of living. Not only that, but just as circumcision marked the Jewish people as separate from other nations, so, too, does the work of Christ make us separate from the world around us. We live by a different standard and follow different customs.

Questions to Ask: (these will help process the truth learned)

- What did circumcision represent when it was initially given?

- What does circumcision represent for believers today?

- What is the “circumcision of the heart?”

- Can you belong to Christ without the circumcision of the heart taking place?

Week 19 - Covenant

Definition: A covenant is an everlasting relationship between two individuals as a result of an agreement. Both parties to a covenant are bound to fulfill their obligations, receiving blessings for fulfillment, and curses for abandonment. God has made a covenant with His people, promising them His presence, His kingdom, and His King. His people are in turn bound to be faithful to Him alone as their God and King, giving Him their full allegiance.

Scriptures: 2 Samuel 7:9-16; Exodus 34:6-7; Isaiah 53:4-7

Study: Ancient Near East covenants required two parties to submit themselves to its terms at the pain of death. The very ceremony gives the exact impression of the covenant’s seriousness—animals would be cut in half and the two parties would walk between them, saying, in essence, “so let it be done to me if I should fail my obligation.” However, when God makes His covenant, He alone walks through the path. In doing this, God promises not only to uphold His end of the bargain bringing blessing to His people, but also to incur their punishment when they fail. Christ’s death is described as that of a sacrificial animal. He has died on our behalf to absorb our penalty for breaking covenant. God’s people now live in the blessings of His covenant and do not fear its curses.

Questions to Ask: (these will help process the truth learned)

- What are the blessings of God’s covenant?

- How does knowing that Christ has borne your penalty for unfaithfulness affect your relationship to the Father?

- What does it mean to give the Lord your full allegiance?

Week 18 - Marriage

Definition: Marriage is a covenant instituted by God that binds one man to one woman. It is marked by covenantal love and faithfulness and meant to last a lifetime.

Scriptures: Genesis 2:23-25; Matthew 19:4-9; Ephesians 5:22-33

Study: Marriage, at its most basic, is a God-ordained arrangement. It is crucial that we understand marriage cannot be defined by any cultural standard, social contract, sexual practice, or governmental proclamation. The way marriage works is simply not up for debate. Marriage is also, fundamentally, a bond between sinners. Thus, we are not surprised when the Biblical ideal of marriage is tarnished by sin. As surely as there are no perfect people, there are no perfect marriages. Marriage is a covenant, not a contract, and it is built on covenant faithfulness rather than momentary feeling. The failure of one party does not invalidate the marriage; rather it invites an opportunity for grace and a return to faithfulness. If a marriage is to end, it will happen only with the death or covenantal violation of a spouse. In dealing with mans alone-ness, God created the institution of marriage so that men and women could share intimate companionship–a companionship that to some degree mirrors the kind of companionship that God desires to have with His people. Through marriage, God teaches us much about the true nature of love and commitment.

Questions to Ask: (these will help process the truth learned)

- What is the fundamental building block of a marriage?

- What does covenantal faithfulness mean?

- If I no longer love my spouse must I still be married to them?

- Is there ever grounds for divorce?

Week 17 - Miracles

Miracles

Definition: A miracle is a noteworthy kind of God’s activity in which He arouses people’s awe and wonder and bears witness to Himself.

Scriptures: John 14:12; Matthew 17:20; Acts 4:30

 Study: It can be difficult to distinguish exactly what constitutes a miracle. All of creation is upheld by the act of God and thus the very fact that we exist and breathe could be considered a miracle in one sense- and it is. However, it would be reductionism to call everything that happens a miracle- we would quickly lose any sense of the word’s meaning. We ought to reserve this definition for times when God works in history in ways that are so extraordinary and unique that to excuse an event for mere chance or common providence would be to ignore God’s working. That is not to say all miracles must be spectacular. There are certainly all sorts of miracles that go unnoticed because we fail to recognize God’s hand in our lives to protect and provide f or us.

Questions to Ask: (these will help process the truth learned)

- Have you ever witnessed a miracle?

- What are some of your favorite miracles in scripture?

- Are there miracles in your life that have gone unnoticed?

- How can you cultivate a better awareness of God working in your life?

Week 16 - Image of God

Definition: Humans resemble God in that they have personality, morality, and spirituality; further they represent God as His agent to the rest of creation, ruling and reigning on His behalf. Although sin has marred the image of God in everyone except Christ, the image is not destroyed.

Scriptures: Genesis 1:26-28; Genesis 2:7; Colossians 1:15-18

Study: The idea of the Image of God has a rich, ancient history. The phrase is used in Ancient Near East writings to describe kings, who act as human representatives of various gods to their people. The Biblical authors, in using this phrase, create an incredibly powerful picture of who the true God created humans to be–His representatives to the earth. Scripture teaches that ALL men and women of ALL ages are created in God’s image, not just select and empowered individuals. Although sin has marred the image of God in mankind, Christ came as the very image of the invisible God to restore that image to humanity.

Questions to Ask: (these will help process the truth learned)

- How essential is it to believe that every human life bears God’s image?

- How does knowing that you bear God’s image affect your connection to Him?

- How does knowing that you bear God’s image affect your connection to other humans? The rest of creation?

Week 15 - The Law

Definition: The Law is a set of rules and principles presenting Christians with a picture of God’s righteousness. We look into the Law to see our own imperfections and realize our need for Christ and His work.

Scriptures: James 1:23-25 ; Matthew 5:17; Romans 3:31

Study: The Law is a picture of righteousness, not a path to righteousness. We do not follow the Law in order to make ourselves righteous, but having come to Christ, we then follow the Law as a way of honoring Christ and becoming more like Him. Christians cannot rely on the Law for their righteousness, but neither can they ignore the Law.

Questions to Ask: (these will help process the truth learned)

- How do we become righteous?

- What is the purpose of the Law?

- What is a believer’s relationship to the Law?

Week 14 - Prophecy

Definition: Prophecy is speaking on behalf of God to a person or into a situation. Biblical prophets were unique to their time and place and spoke with the authority of scripture, calling out sin and proclaiming God’s will. God still uses people to prophesy, but these individuals do not speak with scripture’s authority and their words must be carefully evaluated against scripture.

Scriptures: 1 Corinthians 14:1-3; 1 Corinthians 14:29-33; 1 Thessalonians 5:19-21

Study: We should not confuse the New Testament gift of “prophecy” with the Old Testament office of “Prophet.” An Old Testament Prophet spoke the very words of God without error or omission, whereas someone exercising the gift of prophecy speaks under the influence of God in a manner that conforms to Biblical guidelines and teaching. Paul encourages all believers to seek to speak in this way— influenced by the Spirit for the building up of the body.

Questions to Ask: (these will help process the truth learned)

- What are the differences between an Old Testament Prophet and someone prophesying today?

- What does it mean to prophesy today? Can a modern “prophet” ever speak in the same way an Old Testament Prophet did?

- How do you prophesy?

Week 13 - Illumination

Illumination  

Definition:  Illumination is a work of the Spirit in which He opens our eyes to the truth of scripture and causes it to penetrate our hearts, convicting us of sin and instructing us in righteousness. The work of illumination enables us to believe and apply the truth of scripture to our lives. 

Scriptures:  2 Corinthians 3:14-18; Psalm 119:18; Luke 24:30-32 

Study:  Although the way we “do church” has changed significantly over the past two thousand years, if you were  to compare the teachings of the early church to that of the church today, you would find little difference in the message. It is incredible that for all this time the church has remained consistent in its teaching. This is a result of the Holy Spirit guiding the church through illumination. 

Questions to Ask:  (these will help process the truth learned)

- Is it possible to understand the teaching of scripture without the work of illumination? 

- How does illumination happen? 

- How should this truth shape your personal Bible reading?

Week 12 - Infallibility

Infallibility

Definition: Infallibility means that Scripture, because it is wholly and verbally God-given, is without error or fault in all its teaching, including what it states about God’s acts in creation, about the events of world history, about its own literary origins under God, and in its witness to God’s saving grace in individual lives.

Scriptures: Numbers 23:19; 2 Timothy 3:16; 1 Peter 1:24

Study: Believers can be fully confident in the authority of the Bible as a Divine document able to train us up in all things that pertain to life and godliness. However, we should note that truthfulness does not always imply precision. The Bible was written to an ancient, pre-scientific culture and so we should not be surprised when it uses ordinary rather than technical language. Furthermore, when accounts of events differ throughout scripture, we remember that these are not errors or contradictions, but rather complimentary, deliberate uses of setting and plot devices used by astute authors to communicate rich truths about God’s character and work in the world.

Questions to Ask: (these will help process the truth learned)

- What do we make of apparent disagreements between congruent narratives?

- Why does the Bible not use incredibly precise descriptions of events and individuals?

- Can we trust the Bible to give the whole story of any event?

Week 11 - Inspiration

Definition: Inspiration is the work of the Holy Spirit in guiding the creation and assembly of the Bible. God spoke through human authors in their cultural and literary context, while preserving their writings from error or omission in teaching. All of scripture is authoritative and God-breathed, both in word and thought.

Scriptures: Hebrews 4:12-13; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 3:15-16

Study: When Paul describes the scriptures, He uses the word “God-breathed.” The implied idea is a powerful one— the very same breath by which God animated mankind is breathed into the words of your Bible. Thus the author of Hebrews can say scripture is not mere words on a page, but a living, active, force breathing life into all who will receive its truth. When we read scripture it reads us right back, judging our thoughts, attitudes, and emotions and shining light into our darkness.

Questions to Ask: (these will help process the truth learned)

- Who is the main character of scripture?

- What is the purpose of scripture?

- How should we respond

Week 10 - Trinity

Definition: We worship one God in trinity and the trinity in unity, neither blending their persons nor dividing their essence. For the person of the Father is a distinct person, the person of the Son is another, and that of the Holy Spirit still another. But the divinity of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is one, their glory equal, their majesty co-eternal.

Scriptures: Mark 1:10-11; Deuteronomy 6:4; 2 Corinthians 13:14

Study: The words of the Athanasian creed remind us that the core of the Christian faith is Trinitarian theology. While it may be difficult to dissect and understand, it is a hill worth dying on! One practical application of Trinitarian theology is the reminder that just as God has always existed in eternal fellowship with Himself, humans, as beings created in the image of God, are created for a communal fellowship with one another.

Questions to Ask: (these will help process the truth learned)

- How does a Trinitarian view of God differ from other religions that worship one God?

- How does this doctrine help explain that God’s love existed before creation?

- How can relationships in your life better reflect the divine community?

Week 9 - Love

Definition: Scripture teaches that God is love. The truest and most full expression of love is found in the person and character of God. Love is best displayed in the sacrificial death of Christ to bear the wrath of God toward sin and secure salvation for the people of God.

Scriptures:   1 John 4:9-11; John 3:16

Study: “We know what true love is because Jesus gave His life for us. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another” (1 John 4:10-11, paraphrased). The apostle’s command is striking! Who can love another in this way—that he should lay down his life? And yet, this is the call of Christ. If we are to be at all like God, we will perpetually lay our lives down for one another. The truest refrain of a Christian is that of John the Baptist, echoing over every man—“He must become greater, and I must become less.”

Questions to Ask: (these will help process the truth learned)

- What does it mean to truly love someone?

- How do you lay your life down for someone whose life Isn’t in immediate mortal danger?

- What are three ways you can improve in “laying your life down” for someone this week?