First Baptist
“What the Bible
Teaches”
(Nine Week
Introductory Discipleship Series)
Table of Contents
Session Title Page
One “What
the Bible Teaches About Itself”
2
Two “What
the Bible Teaches About the Trinity”
4
Three “What
the Bible Teaches About the Holy Spirit”
6
Four “What
the Bible Teaches About Mankind”
8
Five “What
the Bible Teaches About Salvation”
10
Six “What
the Bible Teaches About Ordinances”
12
Seven “What
the Bible Teaches About Church”
14
Eight “The
Nine “What
the Bible Teaches About the End of the Age”
19
Session
One: “What the Bible Teaches About
Itself”
1. Three words
are
A.
Revelation
B.
Inspiration
C.
Interpretation
2. First, Let’s
look at Revelation.[1]
How did God
choose to reveal Himself?
1st
through creation – Romans 1:19-22
2nd
through conscience – Romans 2:15
3rd
through Christ – John 14:8-9
4th
through the Bible – II Timothy 3:16
3. Next Comes
Inspiration.[2]
Six Theories
of inspiration are:
I Verbal, Plenary – (full inspiration)
Infallible,
inerrant – original autographs
O.T.
written in Hebrew
N.T. written
in Greek
II Dictation Theory
The writers
were merely stenographers.
III Concept Theory
God supplied
the concept but not the words.
IV Partial Theory
Part of the
Bible inspired (Salvation truth, etc.)
V Neo-Orthodox Theory
True only as realized
by the reader
VI Naturalistic Theory
An extreme
view of unbelief. Bible no different than any other work of literature.
4. Now we look
at Interpretation.[3],
[4]
The principles
that need to be followed in interpreting the Bible are:
A.
The
purpose of the Bible as a whole.
(Not a book of
science or history, as such)
B.
The
particular message of each book of the Bible.
C.
To
whom addressed?
D.
The
context (verses before and after a particular verse).
E.
Similar
teachings elsewhere in the Bible.
F.
Accurate
exegesis of the words of a particular text.
G.
Guard
against prejudice.
5. The Evidence
(or proof) that the Bible is inspired.
A. The evidence is twofold:
I Internal
II External
B. Internal Evidence
I Jesus declared it. (Matt. 5:17-18, Mark
II
Other
N.T. scriptures declare it.
Acts
17:11, Romans 10:17, Revelation 1:2, II Timothy 3:15-17, II Peter 3:15-16
III Old Testament Prophecy (Deuteronomy
18:21-22)
(No
other religious writing contains prophecy.)
C. External Evidence
I Manuscript Evidence
II Archaeology
Session
Two: “What the Bible Teaches About the
Trinity”
The
Persons of the Trinity, while having equal attributes, differ in certain
properties. Hence, the first Person of the Trinity is called the Father. The
second Person of the Trinity is called the Son and is sent forth by the Father.
The third Person of the Trinity is the Holy Spirit, who is sent forth by the
Father and the Son. The order is never reversed, that is, the Son never sends the
Father and the Holy Spirit never sends the Son. In the nature of the uniqueness
of the Godhead, there is no illustration or parallel in human experience. Thus,
the doctrine should be accepted by faith on the basis of scriptural revelation
even if it is beyond human comprehension.
1. The work of
the Trinity:
A.
The
Father – electing, loving, bestowing
B.
The
Son – suffering, redeeming, upholding
C.
The
Holy Spirit – regenerating, indwelling, baptizing, energizing and sanctifying
2. The concept
of the godhead (Trinity)[5]
Wrong Right
3. Doctrinal
Errors Concerning god
A.
Monotheism
– (Judaism – Islam)
B.
Polytheism
– Many gods (idol worship)
C.
Pantheism
– God is All (Eastern religions)
D.
Atheism
– No god exists (Humanism)
4. The New
Testament Sets
A.
A
Father who is God – Romans 1:7
B.
A
Son who is God – Hebrews 1:8
C.
A
Holy Spirit who is God – Acts 5:3-4
_________________________________________________________________________
The Father is all the fullness of the Godhead invisible.
The Son is all the fullness of the godhead visible.
The Holy Spirit
is all the fullness of the Godhead acting upon the person.
_________________________________________________________________________
5.
The BAptism of Jesus provides us a look at the
distinctions in the trinity
(Matthew
3:16-17)
6.
the BAptismal formula
(Matthew
28:19)
7.
Old Testament Evidence of the Trinity.[6]
(Genesis
1:26)
(Genesis
3:22)
(Genesis
11:7)
The
many indications in both Old and New Testaments that God exists or subsists as
a triune being have made the doctrine of the Trinity a central fact of all
Orthodox creeds from the early church until modern times. Any departure from
this is considered a departure from scriptural truth. Although the word
“Trinity” does not occur in the Bible, the facts of scriptural revelation
permit no other explanation.
Session
Three: “What the Bible Teaches About the
Holy Spirit”
1. The Holy
Spirit
Third
person of the Trinity
Attributes –
same as the Father and the Son
Work –
Regeneration
Work
– Indwelling
Work
– Baptizing
Work
– Sealing
Work
– Filling (control)
2. The Holy
spirit is a person.[7]
A.
He
teaches (1 John
B.
He
speaks (Galatians 4:6)
C.
He
intercedes (Romans
D.
He
leads (Romans
E.
He
appoints others (Acts 13:2)
F.
He
may be: lied to, insulted, grieved.
3. The Work
of the holy spirit.
A.
To
the lost – Conviction (John 16:8)
B.
To
the Saved – Regeneration
Once for all at conversion
Indwelling
Sealing
Baptizing
Filling (Control – as often as needed
4.
the instant work of the holy spirit
A.
Regeneration
– New Birth
Titus 3:5;
John 3:6
B.
Indwelling
– Energizing for service
John 14:17
C.
Sealing
– Security
Ephesians
1:13; II Corinthians 1:22
D.
Baptizing
– Identified with and into the Body of Christ.
5. The reoccuring
work of the holy Spirit
His Filling or Control
A.
The
filling (control) defined
(Ephesians
5:18)
B.
The
Conditions for the filling of the Holy Spirit
I
Grieve
not – Ephesians 4:30
II
Quench
not – I Thessalonians 5:19
III
Walk
in – Galatians 5:16
IV
Yield to – Romans 12:1-2
C.
The
result of the filling (Control) of the Holy Spirit.
I
Fruit
– Galatians 5:22-23
II
Service
– Ephesians 2:10
III
Doctrine
– John 16:12-15, I Corinthians 2:9-10
6.
doctrinal errors concerning the HOly spirit
A.
Subsequent
works of the Holy Spirit apart from salvation
(At a later
time) John 3:34, Ephesians 1:3
Such as: Sanctification
Baptism
of the Holy Ghost
Speaking in Tongues
B. Losing the Holy Spirit
To be lost
again, after being saved
7. Gifts of the
Holy Spirit
A. Permanent – I Corinthians 12:1, Romans
12:6-8
Evangelist,
Pastor/Teacher, Helps, Administration, Exhortation, Giving, Teaching, Showing
Mercy, Faith
B. Temporary – I Corinthians 13:8-11
Apostle,
Prophecy, Miracle Gifts, Healing, Tongues, Interpretation
Session Four: “What the Bible Teaches About Mankind”
1. The bible
reveals 3 categories of mankind
A.
The
Natural Man
B.
The
Carnal Man
C.
The
Spiritual Man
2. The Natural
Man
A.
Spiritually
dead – Ephesians 2:1
B.
Adamic
Nature – Romans 5:12-14
C.
Spiritually
Blinded – I Corinthians
D.
He
can be morally good or vile and wicked
3.
The CArnal man
A.
Spiritually
Alive – I Corinthians 3:1
B. Weak and willful – I Corinthians 3:3
The carnal man
being so little occupied with the true spiritual meat, yields to envy and
strife, which leads to division among the very believers.
4.
The Spiritual man
A.
Spiritually
empowered – Ephesians 5:18
B.
By
Faith, not by feelings – Hebrews 11:6
C.
Yielded
– Romans 12:1-2
5.
The Bible reveals man to be a tri-part being[8]
[9]
A.
Body
– World Consciousness
B.
Soul
– Self Consciousness
C.
Spirit
– God Consciousness – Hebrews 4:12
However,
man is born spiritually dead and must be regenerated by the Holy Spirit before
he is alive spiritually.
6.
The Two Headships of Mankind
1. 2.
Adam Christ
FAITH
Sinful Righteousness
Disobedience Obedience
Condemnation Justification
Death LIfe
(John 3:36)[10] (John
3:16)[11]
7.
The Human body
The Bodies of
the Saved are declared to be:
A.
B.
Earthen
Vessels – II Corinthians 4:7
C.
Under
Subjection – I Corinthians
D. Glorified – Philippians 3:20-21
(future)
Session
Five: “What the Bible Teaches About Salvation”
1. Before we
consider salvation proper, let’s look at the object of salvation – the lost.
A.
God’s
estimate of the Lost.
I
John
3:16-20
II
John
3:36
III
John
8:44
IV
Mark
7:21-23
V
I
Corinthians 2:14
VI
Romans
3:10-18
VII
Ephesians
2:2
VIII
Colossians
1:13
IX O.T. Jeremiah
17:9
Isaiah 64:6
These conditions demand a superhuman
power for their cure.
2. The Three
tenses of salvation.[12]
A.
Past
- Justification
B.
Present
- Sanctification
C.
Future
- Glorification
3.
Salvation Past
A.
Justification
– Regeneration.
B.
Saved
from the PENALTY and guilt of our sin. Genesis 2:17
C.
Our
Position – Ephesians 1:4
D.
Received
by Faith – Ephesians 2:8-9
4.
Salvation Present
A.
Sanctification
– John 17:17
B.
Saved
from the power of sin – Romans 8:2
C.
Our practice (walk) – I Corinthians 3 Galatians 5:22
5.
SAlvation Future
A.
Glorification
– I Peter 1:3-5
B.
Saved
from the PRESENCE of Sin. – Ephesians 5:27
6.
the one condition of salvation
A.
The word Believe is used about
150 times in the N.T.
Faith
Trust
Synonyms
and is NEVER related to any
human work or merit.
B.
Repentance
is included in the act of believing. It is a grace also. Acts
C.
Unscriptural
additions to salvation include:[13]
- The
Sacraments – Romanism
- Baptism –
- Works –
Cults and some main line denominations
- Universalism[14]
- Liberal
Theology – (Same as universalism).
Session
Six: “What the Bible Teaches About the
Ordinances”
1.
The Ordinances of the Church - Only TWO are universally
recognized.
A. Baptism –
- Administered
only once.
B. The Lord’s Supper – communion with
Christ.
-
“…As oft as ye do this…”
- administered
on a reoccurring basis.
C.
Foot
Washing – used by many groups but not Biblically commanded.
2. Baptism[15]
A
good definition of baptism is…”to be identified with.”
- Three types
of baptism are mentioned in the New Testament.
A.
Baptism
of Fire[16] –
(Suffering) - Matthew 20:22-23
B.
Baptism
of the Holy Spirit[17]-
Mark 1:8; John 1:33; I Corinthians
C. Baptism in water……….Matthew
Two Views: Supernatural
Symbolic
3.
Water BAptism
A. Who is to be baptized – N.T. Examples?
I Acts 8:35-39 (v. 37)
II
Acts
16:30-34 (v. 31) – To follow conversion.
B. Who is not to be baptized?
I Unregenerate
II
Infants
C.
What
method of baptism?
I Affusion – (Pouring or sprinkling)
- This method
is used by most mainline denominations and Roman Catholics.
II Immersion
-
This method is used by Baptists and is the universally accepted method used by
the first century church.
While
baptism is not essential for salvation, only immersion can give a proper
picture of what takes place in salvation, i.e. the death, burial and
resurrection of Christ and our identity with Him.
4.
The Lord’s supper[18]
A.
Instituted
on the night before the crucifixion of Christ.
B.
Symbolic
of the believer’s participation in the benefits of His death.
C. Who is to participate?
- Believers,
after self-examination – I Corinthians 11:28
D.
Doctrinal
Errors.
I Transubstantiation – (Roman Catholic)[19]
- Body and
Blood of Christ are actually in the elements.
II Consubstantiation – (Lutheran)[20]
- The
presence of the body of Christ is in both elements.
E. How often should the Lord’s Supper be
observed?
-
The scripture is silent on this subject, or at least not clearly given. In any
case, it should not be infrequent.
Session Seven: “What the Bible Teaches About the Church”
1. What the
Church is not!
A.
Not
a physical structure
B.
Not
a state or national church
C.
Not
a denomination
D.
Not
the
E.
Not
F.
Organization
2. What the Church
is:
A.
A
Body (Gk. Soma) – I Corinthians 12:12-14, Colossians 1:18
B.
A
Bride – Ephesians 5:31-32, II Corinthians 11:2 (Oriental Wedding)
C.
A
Building – Ephesians 2:19-22, I Peter 2:4-7
D.
A
Branch – John 15:15
The Church is
also seen as a Sheepfold and as a Priesthood.
3.
The
-
Taken from two Hebrew words “called out” and “assembly” and translated in the
Greek Old Testament (the Septuagint) by the word “Ekklesia”.
The first
appearance of the word “Ekklesia” in the New Testament is found in
Matthew 16:18 when Jesus said…”I will build my church.”
4.
The local/universal Church:[21]
A.
Local
– Acts 8:1
B.
Universal
– Ephesians 1:22-23
5.
The literal/symbolic church:
A.
Literal
– Acts
B.
Symbolic
‑ Colossians
6.
The work of the Church:[22]
A.
Edification
– Ephesians 4:11-12
I
Worship
II
Prayer
(corporate)
III
Study
IV
Train
V
Fellowship
VI
Give
B.
Evangelism
– Matthew 28:19-20
I
Live
as examples of the believer
II
Verbal
witness
III
Visitation
IV
Follow-up
– nurture
V
Ministries
of Outreach
VI
Missions
7.
the separation of church and state:[23]
A.
The
church – Free to worship without any intervention from the state.
B. The state – Not to establish any laws
regarding the free exercise of worship.[24]
- NOT freedom from
God, but freedom of worship.
8.
The organization of the church:
A.
Local
and Autonomous
Baptists do
not believe in a hierarchy, such as all mainline denominations and Roman
Catholics. Each congregation owns its own property and conducts its own
affairs.
B.
Church
Leaders
I
Pastor
(synonymous with Elder, Bishop)
II
Deacon
Session
Eight: “The Local Church and it’s
Government”
1. The Local
Assembly / Autonomous
A.
Pastor
B.
Deacon
C.
Committees
D.
Constitution
E.
Church
Covenant
F.
Various
Forms of Church Government
* for a
history of our local congregation log on to www.firstbaptistchurchclifton.org
2. Local
ASsociation[25]
A.
Director
of Missions
B.
C.
Annual
Meetings
3.
A.
President
B.
Missions
C.
Annual
Convention Meeting - November
4. Southern
Baptist Convention[27]
A.
Convention
President elected annually
B.
C.
Annual
Convention Meeting - June
Session
Nine: “What the Bible Teaches About the
End of the Age”
1. What is
Eschatology?[28]
2.
What is a MIllennium?
3.
Three BAsic views of Eschatology.
A.
Pre-millennialism
B.
Post-millennialism
C.
Amillennialism
4. What is “The
Rapture”?
5.
Three basic views on the rapture question:
A.
Pre-tribulational
B.
Mid-tribulational
C.
Post-tribulational
* (A new view) *
partial rapture
6.
The
effect of biblical interpretation on Eschatology.
7.
What
do Baptists believe?
A.
Historically
B. Contemporarily
-
Why
the change?
Bibliography
Bancroft, Emery H., Elemental Theology (Grand Rapids, MI, Zondervan, 1977)
Barnes, Albert, Barnes Notes “The Gospels” (
Calvin, John, Calvin’s Commentaries: Vol. XVII
(
Dockery, David, The Holman Guide to Interpreting the
Bible (
Elwell, Walter A., Evangelical Dictionary of Theology (Grand Rapids, MI, Baker Books, 1997)
Erickson, Millard, Introducing Christian Doctrine, 2nd
Edition (
Erickson, Millard, Whose Tampering with the Trinity
(
Evans, William, The Great Doctrines of the Bible (Chicago, IL, Moody Press, 1974)
Grudem, Wayne, Systematic Theology (Grand Rapids, MI, Zondervan, 1994)
Hodge, Charles, Systematic Theology (Phillipsburg, NJ, P & R Publishing, 1997)
MacArthur, John Jr., The Gospel According to Jesus (Grand Rapids, MI, Zondervan, 1994)
MacArthur, John Jr., The MacArthur New Testament Commentary: Matthew 24-28 (Winona, IN, BMH Books, 1989)
MacArthur, John, Charismatic Chaos (Grand Rapids, MI, Zondervan, 1992)
Stott, John R.W., Basic Christianity (Downer’s Grove, IL, Inter Varsity Press, 1971)
The
Warfield, Benjamin B., Revelation and Inspiration (