"Into
His Marvelous Light"
(Bible
Study)
| When walking
out of a dark room into the sunshine, light can be blinding. As
our eyes become accustomed to the light, we can see more clearly
and enjoy the scenery that surrounds us.
Likewise, when we look
into the light of the scriptures, the brightness of truth can
sometimes hurt. However, as our spiritual eyesight becomes
adjusted we can enjoy "walking in the light".
This Bible study is
designed to allow us to "walk" into the marvelous light
of the Word of God. We will be journeying into the scriptures by
imagining we are back in the days of Jesus and the Apostles,
listening to them teach and preach the plan of salvation. In order
to do this, we will be careful to "rightly" divide the
word of the truth (2 Timothy 2:15) by concentrating on the
highlights of the three main divisions of the New Testament in
chronological order, including:
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| 1. THE
GOSPELS - covering the words and works of Jesus Christ
2. THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES
-covering the actions and preaching of the Apostles
3. THE EPISTLES - covering
the letters written by the Apostles to the churches they started
in the Book of Acts.
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| We believe the
scriptures are divinely inspired and, "of no private
interpretation" (2 Peter 1:20-21). Therefore, every
effort has been made to present the pure Word of God without
adding to, or taking away from its teachings (Deuteronomy 4:2,
Proverbs 30:5-6).
It is not our intention to
diminish any personal relationship you may have with our Lord.
Neither do we desire to convince you of our own personal ideas or
the creeds of any denomination. We simply desire to share the
truth as it is written. Only by claiming the Bible as our sole
authority can any of us be confident of our salvation, for it is
the Word of God and not the traditions of men that will judge us
all in the end.
Let us read 2 Timothy 3:15-16
as we begin our journey into the Word of God... And that from a
child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make
thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable
for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in
righteousness:
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- John 1:1-5 & 14 In
the beginning, the Word was God and became flesh. Jesus Christ
is the Living Word of God.
- John 1:11-13 If
we believe in Him and receive Him, Jesus gives us power to
become the sons of God by a supernatural birth. He spoke
further about this new birth one night to a ruler of the
Jews...
- John 3:1-8 The
Lord told Nicodemus that everyone who wanted to see or enter
into the Kingdom of God, must be born again of water and the
Spirit.
- John 3:16-21 Jesus
also told Nicodemus that whosoever believeth in Him should
have eternal life. Jesus mentioned two seemingly different
requirements for salvation. One is being born again. The other
is believing. yet, this is not a contradiction. The next
scripture explains how believing is related to experiencing
the birth of the Spirit...
- John 7:38-39 Here,
we discover that if we believe on Him (according to the Word),
we will receive the Spirit. We find that scriptural belief is
more than just a change in the way we think. It also results
in a scriptural experience.
- John 12:35-36 & 42-43
Today, just as in Jesus' day, many believe on Him. But,
they will not confess Him for fear of what others will do or
say.
- John 12:44 In
response to their fearfulness, Jesus warns that His Spirit
will judge us, so we must be careful not to reject it. Rather,
we should believe and obey it... no matter what others say...
- John 17:17-20 In
Jesus' prayer for his desciples, just before His crucifixion,
He said God's Word is truth. He also prayed for us; and for
all those who would believe on Him through the Apostles' word.
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To find out what the
Apostles' word was to be, let us read what Jesus told them to
proclaim. The setting of the following great commission scripture
in Luke 24:45-49 is just after the Lord's death, burial and
resurrection... and just before His ascension into heaven.
"Then opened he their understanding, that they might
understand the scriptures, And said unto them, Thus it is written,
and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead
the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be
preached in His name among all nations, beginning in Jerusalem.
And ye are witnesses of these things. And, behold, I send the
promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of
Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high."
DID THE APOSTLES PREACH THE
MESSAGE JESUS COMMANDED THEM TO PROCLAIM?
HOW WAS THE PROMISE OF THE
FATHER FULFILLED?
Let us continue our journey into
the Word of God by seeing what was preached and what happened at
Jerusalem...
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NOTICE: Acts
2:38 is the fulfillment of the birth requirements Jesus
mentioned in John 3:5 that were necessary to enter the
Kingdom of God.
- water birth baptism
in the name of Jesus Christ!
- filling of the Holy
Ghost!
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Now, let's look at some
more examples of people being born again of water and the Spirit
as the Word Jesus gave His apostles continued to be preached
throughout the Book of Acts...
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| Phillip
preaching to the Samaritans in Acts 8 |
| NOTICE: Some people say
when they experienced joy; or when they believed in Jesus, or when
they were baptized, they were automatically filled with the Holy
Ghost. But what does the Word say?
Acts 8:5-8
Acts 8:12
- Were they baptized in His name?
- Did they believe in Jesus
Christ?
Acts 8:14-17
- Did they receive the Holy Ghost
as a separate and distinct experience?
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| Peter
preaching to the Gentiles in Acts 10 |
| NOTICE: Some people say
being religious is enough, or that the Spirit-baptism evidenced by
tongues was only for the day of Pentecost. If the Bible says this
is true, then it is true. But the Word shows us through Cornelius'
experience that this is not true... then it is not....
Acts 10:1-2
- Was Cornelius a religious man?
Acts 10:5-6
- Did God have more for him to
do?
Acts 10:44-46
- Did they receive the Holy Ghost
and speak in tongues after the day of Pentecost?
Acts 10:47-48
- Did they still have to be
baptized in Jesus' name?
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| Paul
preaching to John's disciples in Acts 19 |
| NOTICE: Many people who
are believers have not even heard about the Holy Ghost that is
promised to them. Also, some people say it is not necessary to be
baptized or re-baptize (if you were baptized by John the Baptist,
would you think it would be necessary to be re-baptized using a
different baptismal formula?) Others say it does not matter what
is spoken when you are baptized. If the Bible indicates it does
not matter, then it does not matter...but, what if the Bible shows
us it DOES matter?
Acts 19:1-2
- They were believers, but had
they heard of or received the Holy Ghost?
Acts 19:3-5
- Did those baptized by John the
Baptist have to be rebaptized in Jesus' name?
Acts 19:6
- Was receiving the Holy Ghost
accompanied by the initial evidence of speaking in other
tongues?
We have found that the
Apostles preached the following message:
...the life of Christ and His death, burial and resurrection
...repentance toward God and belief in Jesus Christ baptism in
water by immersion in Jesus' name
...receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost (which was accompanied
by the initial evidence of speaking with other tongues)
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| Now, let us
read what the Apostles had to say about the message of salvation
they proclaimed in the Book of Acts. We can do this by reading the
epistles (letters) they wrote to their converts.
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| Supplemental
Study Scriptures
As we read the Epistles, we will notice how strongly the Apostles
felt about the gospel (good news) of salvation. This is not
because they were being judgmental, it is because they knew the
Word Jesus had given them to proclaim was going to judge all men. |
What did Peter say?
"Ye have purified
your souls in obeying the truth.. being born again.. by the
word of God.. and this is the word which by gospel is preached
unto you." (I Peter 1:22-25)
Peter asked a question:
"...What shall the
end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?" (I
Peter 4:17-18)
(1) Matthew 7:13-24
NOTE: God's warning
regarding false prophets and the importance of being a doer
and not just a hearer of the Word.
(2) Matthew 16:15-19
NOTE: Peter was given
the "keys of the kingdom" because of his revelation
of who Jesus Christ was.
Paul Gave the answer:
"The Lord Jesus
shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In
flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and
the obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be
punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the
Lord, and from the glory of his power." (2
Thessalonians 1:7-9)
What did Paul say?
"I marvel that ye
are so soon removed from him that called you into grace of
Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another, but there be
some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other
gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let
him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any
man preach any other..."
(3) Other "Great
Commission" scriptures":
NOTE: In Matthew
28:18-20 the word "name" is singular in this
command to baptize. The Apostles obeyed this command when they
bapitzed only in the name of Jesus, and did not use the titles
mentioned here. (see Acts 4:12)
Mark 16:15-18. The importance of water baptism and the
signs following believers.
(4) Matthew 16:15-19
NOTE: Peter, who was
given the "keys of the kingdom", uses them to open
the "kingdom door" by preaching the original
apostolic message of salvation for the first time.
(5) Acts 8:35-39
NOTE: Philip must have
mentioned baptism when he preached Jesus to the Eunuch,
because the Eunuch asked to be baptized in water. The Greek
root word for baptize is "bapto", which literally
means to cover wholly with fluid, to dip. (see also Romans
6:3-4).
(6) Acts 10:34-43
NOTE: Peter preached the
life and lordship of Jesus Christ as well as His death, burial
and resurrection.
(7) I Peter 3:20-21
NOTE: According to Peter
baptism is an essential part of the plan of salvation.
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