'Sin and Salvation
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follewagenBASIC CONCEPTS SIN AND SALVATION
Learner Guide
Copyright Word In Truth, 2012 All Rights Reserved All rights reserved. No part of this book or its accompanying materials may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, except as may be expressly permitted by the applicable copyright statutes or in writing by the Publisher. Unauthorised use without the prior written consent of Word in Truth is prohibited. All scripture quotation from e-Sword Copyright 2000-2011, Rick Meyers, All Rights Reserved Worldwide
Learner Guide
Sin & Salvation
This manual was compiled by:
Frederick Ollewagen
Director of Curriculum Development
Dr George C van Diggelen First Published: January 2012
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SIN AND SALVATION TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER 1 THE NATURE OF SIN .................................................................... 1 CHAPTER 2 THE ORIGIN OF SIN ...................................................................... 5 Identity Theft ....................................................................................................... 9 CHAPTER 3 THE FALL OF MAN ...................................................................... 13 What is our response? ..................................................................................... 16 CHAPTER 4 WHAT IS SIN? .............................................................................. 21 Based on scripture, what is sin?..................................................................... 21 Sin Is Universal ................................................................................................. 22 The Penalty of Sin ............................................................................................ 24 Gods Response to Sin - Grace! ...................................................................... 24 Summary of Sin ................................................................................................ 25 CHAPTER 5 THE BASIS OF SIN ...................................................................... 27 The Soul (Psuche) and Its Functions .......................................................... 28 CHAPTER 6 THE TEMPLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT .......................................... 31 CHAPTER 7 SALVATION ................................................................................. 37 The need for salvation ..................................................................................... 37 God is not blood thirsty, but he is Righteous ................................................ 40 Jesus came to do what man, Adam, could not do......................................... 42 Process of Salvation ........................................................................................ 43 Summary of Salvation ...................................................................................... 45 PORTFOLIO ASSESSMENT ............................................................................. 47 SUMMARY ......................................................................................................... 47 CONCLUSION ................................................................................................... 48
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Sin & Salvation
Title SAQA No Level Credit Field Sub-field
Sin and Salvation
5 6 Field 07 human and Social Studies Religious and Ethical Foundations of Society
Purpose of the Unit Standard
This Unit Standard will be useful to people who are engaged in the caring and pastoral ministry of the church on a basic level.
People Credited With This Unit Standard Are Able To:
Demonstrate understanding of the theology sin in historical and current contexts Demonstrate understanding of pastoral care as a ministry in the church Engage in pastoral care in relation to personal salvation Describe and apply the principles of forgiveness with regards to Salvation
Learning Assumption
The credit value is based on the assumption that learners can: NQF 2 Maths Literacy NQF 2 English Communication US 117877 Perform One-to-One on the job training
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Outcomes and Unit Standards
Specific Outcome 1: Understand the key Christian Doctrine of Sin AC1: AC2: AC3: Compare the Old Testament & New Testament terminology with regards to the meaning and extent of sin Understand and critique God's original plan for mankind and his current fallen state Divide between Spirit, Soul and Body
Specific Outcome 2: Understand the key Christian Doctrine of Salvation AC1: AC2: Understand the need for salvation Understand the righteous requirements of salvation
In this module you will learn to:
Understand the nature and origin of sin Differentiate between Spirit, Soul and Body Explain the fall of man, the outcome and the consequences Identify the aspects, history, origin and influence of sin on mankind Establish a working definition of sin The value of a clear conscience The need for salvation The righteous requirements of salvation The performance of all elements is to a standard that allows for further learning in this area
Assessment Approach
Accreditation Process The relevant Education and Training Quality Authority (ETQA) must accredit providers before they can offer programs of education and training assessed against unit standards.
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Moderation Process Moderation of assessment will be overseen by the relevant ETQA according to the moderation guidelines in the relevant qualification and the agreed ETQA procedures.
Critical Cross-field Outcomes Collect, analyse, organise, and critically evaluate information. Demonstrate an understanding of the word as a set of related systems Contribute to his/her full personal development and the social and spiritual development of the society at large by being aware of the importance of reflecting on and exploring a variety of strategies to learn more effectively, exploring education and career opportunities.
Embedded knowledge Performance of all elements is to be carried out in accordance with organisation standards and procedures, unless otherwise stated. Organisation standards and procedures may cover: quality assurance, documentation, security, communication, health and safety, and personal behaviour Performance of all elements complies with the laws of South Africa, especially with regard to copyright, privacy, health and safety, and consumer rights. All activities must comply with any policies, procedures and requirements of the organisations involved the ethical codes of relevant professional bodies and any relevant legislative and / or regulatory requirements
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CHAPTER 1 THE NATURE OF SIN
Research Document:
RA Torrey - The Fundamentals 3.pdf
Definition
1
Scripture never speaks about sin as good in the making, as a physical disease, a mental sickness, a weakness, and least of all as a figment of the imagination, but always as the free act of an intelligent, moral and responsible being, asserting himself against the will of his Maker, the supreme Ruler of the universe. The Bible takes for granted that every person will learn, either from the law written on his own heart (Romans 1:15); or from the revelation given by God to mankind, first to the Hebrew Church in the Old Testament Scriptures, and afterwards to the Christian Church and through it to the whole world in the New Testament Gospels and Epistles. So, sin is usually described in the Scriptures in terms that indicate with perfect clearness its relation to the Divine will or law, and leaves no uncertainty as to its essential character.
2
Theodore Parker once said: I seldom use the word sin. The Christian doctrine of sin is the devils own. I hate it utterly. His view of sin shaped his views as to the person of Christ, atonement, and salvation. In fact, the sin question is back of ones theology, soteriology, sociology, evangelism, and ethics. One cannot hold a Scriptural view of God and the plan of salvation without having a Scriptural idea of sin. One cannot proclaim a true theory of society unless he sees the heinousness of sin and its relation to all social ills and disorders. No man can be a successful New Testament evangelist publishing the Gospel as the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth, unless he has an adequate conception of the enormity of sin. Nor can a man hold a consistent theory of ethics or live up to the highest standard of morality, unless he is gripped with a keen sense of sins seductive nature.
THE FUNDAMENTALS - A TESTIMONY TO THE TRUTH, Volume 3, Chapter 1, Edited by R.A. Torrey, AC Dixon and Others
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THE FUNDAMENTALS - A TESTIMONY TO THE TRUTH, Volume 3, Chapter 2, Edited by R.A. Torrey, AC Dixon and Others
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Old Testament In the Old Testament (Exodus 34:7; Psalm 32:1&2) three words are used to supply a full definition of sin. (1) Iniquity H5771 (avon) From H5753; perversity, that is, (moral) evil: - fault, iniquity, mischief, punishment (of iniquity), sin. H5753 (aw-vaw') A primitive root; to crook, literally or figuratively: - do amiss, bow down, make crooked, commit iniquity, pervert, (do) perverse (-ly), trouble, X turn, do wickedly, do wrong.
(2) Transgression H6588 (pehshah) From H6586; a revolt (national, moral or religious): - rebellion, sin, transgression, trespassive H6586 - paw-shah' A primitive root (rather identical with H6585 through the idea of expansion); to break away (from just authority), that is, trespass, apostatize, quarrel: - offend, rebel, revolt, transgress (-ion, -or).
(3) Sin H2403 (chataah or chatha) From H2398; an offence (sometimes habitual sinfulness), and its penalty, occasion, sacrifice, or expiation; also (concretely) an offender: - punishment (of sin), purifying (-fication for sin), sin (-ner, offering). H2398 A primitive root; properly to miss; hence (figuratively and generally) to sin; by inference to forfeit, lack, expiate, repent, (causatively) lead astray, condemn: - bear the blame, cleanse, commit [sin], by fault, harm he hath done, loss, miss, (make) offend (-er), offer for sin, purge, purify (self), make reconciliation, (cause, make) sin (-ful, -ness), trespassive
New Testament The words employed in the New Testament to designate sin are not different in meaning: (1) Iniquity G458 (anomia) From G459; illegality, that is, violation of law or (generally) wickedness: - iniquity, X transgress (-ion of) the law, unrighteousness.
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G459 (anomos) From G1 (as a negative particle) and G3551; lawless, that is, (negatively) not subject to (the Jewish) law; (by implication a Gentile), or (positively) wicked: - without law, lawless, transgressor, unlawful, wicked.
(2) Transgression H6588 (peh'-shah) From H6586; a revolt (national, moral or religious): - rebellion, sin, transgression, trespassive H6586 (paw-shah') A primitive root (rather identical with H6585 through the idea of expansion); to break away (from just authority), that is, trespass, apostatize, quarrel: - offend, rebel, revolt, transgress (-ion, -or).
(3) Sin G266 (hamartia) From G264; sin (properly abstract): - offence, sin (-ful). G264 (hamartan) Perhaps from G1 (as a negative particle) and the base of G3313; properly to miss the mark (and so not share in the prize), that is, (figuratively) to err, especially (morally) to sin: - for your faults, offend, sin, trespass.
Summary Iniquity is a turning aside from the straight path, curving like an arrow, hence perversity, depravity and inequality a conception which finds an echo in the words of a psalmist (Psalm 78:5) who complained that Israel had turned aside from Jehovah like a deceitful bow, and in those of the prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 53:6) who confessed that all we like sheep have gone astray, and have turned every one unto his own way, and in those of his countryman Hosea (Hosea 7:16) who lamented that Israel like a deceitful bow had returned, but not to the Most High.
Transgression is a falling away from God and therefore a violation of His commandments; which agrees with the description John gives that sin is a transgression of the law (1 John 3:4), and Paul when he writes (Romans 4:15), Where no law is, there is no transgression.
Sin is missing of the mark, a coming short of ones duty, a failure to do what one should, for which reason the term is fittingly applied to sins of omission; with which again agrees with John when he states (1 John 5:17) that all
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unrighteousness [or defect in righteousness] is sin, or Paul when he affirms (Romans 3:23), that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God, and Christ when He accuses the Scribes and Pharisees of leaving undone the things they ought to have done (Matthew 23:23; Luke 11:42).
So the Biblical conception of sin is fairly summed up in the words of the Westminster Confession: Sin is any want of conformity unto or transgression of the law of God;
Group Activity 1
Form a group of at least 4 to 6 believers and draw a comparison between the Greek and Hebrew words used to convey the concept of sin and give at least three examples of iniquity, transgression and sin in a believers life.
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CHAPTER 2 THE ORIGIN OF SIN
Sin has featured throughout the history of the church, and the church at large has been quick to judge sin and the sinner. Now, let us search the scriptures to determine the true origin and nature of sin as taught in the Bible. Read Genesis chapters 1 through 3. Let us follow the creation story as written in the first three chapters of Genesis
Genesis 1:26-27 MKJV And God said, Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the heavens, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over all the creepers creeping on the earth. 27 And God created man in His image; in the image of God He created him. He created them male and female. Genesis, the book of beginnings, says that God chose to make man and that man was created in the image and in the likeness of God; therefore man started as the mirror image of God.
Genesis 2:8-9 MKJV And Jehovah God planted a garden eastward in Eden. And there He put the man whom He had formed. 9 And out of the ground Jehovah God caused to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food. The tree of life also was in the middle of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil. In Genesis 1 God reveals his plan and in Genesis 2 we have the account of God fulfilling his plans. God creates a garden and puts man into that garden. In the middle of this Garden of Eden He places two trees; the Tree of everlasting life and the Tree of knowledge of good and evil, with explicit commands.
Genesis 2:16-17 MKJV And Jehovah God commanded the man, saying, You may freely eat of every tree in the garden, 17 but you shall not eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. For in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die. Man is left to tend the garden when the woman is deceived by the serpent/devil to doubt God.
Genesis 3:4-5 MKJV And the serpent said to the woman, You shall not surely die, 5 for God knows that in the day you eat of it, then your eyes shall be opened, and you shall be as God, knowing good and evil.
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Genesis 3:17 MKJV And to Adam He said, Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree, of which I commanded you, saying, You shall not eat of it! The ground is cursed for your sake. In pain shall you eat of it all the days of your life.
What is the sin that Adam committed?
God said, because you listened to the voice of your wife, because you listened to another, because you listened to another advisor. Mankind as a whole still commits the same sin, we choose to listen to others rather than listen to God. In practise we doubt God, but we gladly accept advice from men. This is the essence of sin. When Jesus was tempted in Matthew 4, He answered it is written every time, choosing to listen and obey His Fathers voice. I only do what I see my Father does and say what I hear Him say Hebrews 5:8 MKJV though being a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. Man has always been tempted to doubt God and believe that God will not really carry out his threats because after all He is love. The moment man and woman ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, they and mankind after them became independent.
The tree of knowledge of good and evil is us choosing our will over Gods Will. It doesnt matter what God says, I decide what is right or wrong for me. So it is rebellion and disobedience towards Gods divine order. 1 Samuel 15:22-23 And Samuel said, Does Jehovah delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the voice of Jehovah? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice! To listen is better than the fat of rams! 23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idol-worship. Because you have rejected the Word of Jehovah, He has also rejected you from being king! Samuel puts rebellion and stubbornness in the same class as witchcraft, iniquity and idol-worship. The word for rebellion (H4784) means to rebel, be disobedient or to provoke; iniquity means trouble, vanity and wickedness. Samuel says that because Saul rejected (H3988), spurned, snubbed, despised with disdain, Gods word, God would do the same to him and remove him as king.
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Adam and King Saul are two examples that God takes his word and instructions seriously and if we choose to know better we will suffer the full extent of his judgement. Hebrews 2:2-3 MKJV For if the word spoken by angels was steadfast, and if every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward, 3 how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by those who heard Him;
Genesis 3:6-7 MKJV And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasing to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make wise, she took of its fruit, and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate. 7 And the eyes of both of them were opened. And they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made girdles for themselves.
Satan says in v5, your eyes will be opened, v7 says; then the eyes of both of them were opened and they knew that they were naked. They sowed fig leaves together and made themselves a covering. The moment they ate of the Tree, the eyes of their flesh opened and they knew that they were naked; nobody needed to tell them, they saw it for themselves. The end result of the knowledge of good and evil is that our conscience was activated and we know that we have sinned. Because of our conscience we cannot plead ignorance and say I did not know; the knowledge is inside us. They knew they were naked. The temptation is still the same today, we are enticed by our senses, things that satisfy our flesh, things that are appealing to our eyes, and things that make us appear wise.
Genesis 3:9-11 MKJV And Jehovah God called to Adam and said to him, Where are you? 10 And he said, I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I am naked, and I hid myself. 11 And He said, Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree which I commanded you that you should not eat?
After man sinned, he knew he was naked and he hid from God. Revelation draws a parallel between clothing and righteousness; so in effect Adam realised that he was no longer righteous before God and that made him hide from God. The same applies to us, our unrighteousness causes us to hide from God and we try to cover our nakedness with good works, such as attending church and other religious activities. For the original man, created in the likeness of God, it was the most natural thing to walk in the presence of God, in the cool of the day, (Genesis 3:8), because he was the exact image and likeness of God. The Hebrew word that is translated cool (H7307) is rach which refers to Gods spirit. In effect the bible says
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that Adam and the woman walked in the spirit, (see Romans 8:1&4, Galatians 5:16&25), but after the fall they walked in the flesh. The parallel is clear, Adam walked in Gods presence when his conscience was clean, and when his conscience was troubled he hid from God. Today we too hide from God because of our conscience.
New Testament scriptures that highlight the importance of the conscience: The Pharisees and the woman caught in adultery John 8:9 Paul defending himself before the council Acts 23:1, Acts 24:16 Mankind is without excuse before God Romans 2:15 Paul links a clear conscience with the Holy Spirit witness Romans 9:1 We are to be obey the rule of the day for conscience sake Romans 13:5 We are to be sensitive to the conscience of weaker brothers 1 Corinthians 8 & 1 Corinthians 10:23 - 33 Pauls conscience allowed him to rejoice about God's grace 2 Corinthians 1:12 Pauls defence of his ministry 2 Corinthians 4:2 Timothy charged to heed to a good conscience 1 Timothy 1:5 & 19; 1 Timothy 3:9 Those who have departed from the faith have cauterised their conscience We serve God with a clear conscience 2 Timothy 1:3 Titus to rebuke those with a defiled conscience Titus 1:15 Priests could only minster with a clean conscience Hebrews 9:9, 9:14, 10:2, 10:22, 13:18 Suffering unrighteousness for conscience sake commended 1 Peter 2:19 & 1 Peter 3:16 & 3:21 Charles G Finney - The way of Salvation.pdf Sermon VI, Page 56 If we cannot approach Gods throne of Grace, chances are good our conscience is condemning us.
It their fallen state man does not seek God, so God seeks us.
Jeremiah 31:3 MKJV Jehovah has appeared to me from afar, saying, Yea, I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore with loving-kindness I have drawn you. John 6:44 MKJV No one can come to Me unless the Father who has sent Me draw him, and I will raise him up at the last day.
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John 15:16 MKJV You have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you and ordained you that you should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain; that whatever you shall ask of the Father in My name, He may give it to you. Romans 5:8 MKJV But God commends His love toward us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us. Ephesians 1:3-6 MKJV Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenlies in Christ; 4 according as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, 5 having predestined us to the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, in which He has made us accepted in the One having been loved.
God calls and man responds that he is naked. God asked who told you, you must have eaten from the tree because the tree of knowledge of good and evil brings the knowledge that we are wrong, that we have sinned. Nobody needs to tell you, you know you are a sinner before God.
All of mankind knows that they are sinners before a Holy God John 16:8
After Adam and Eve sinned, they knew that they were naked and they sewed fig leaves in an attempt to cover their nakedness and sin - a quick fix. Immediately after sinning they display the characteristics of sin, making their own plans. Before they ate from the tree they did not know they were naked, after they ate from the tree they were ashamed and tried to cover it. When God appeared they were ashamed and they hid, they recognised their sin and hid from God. Our sinful nature makes us run away from God. Our automatic response to a guilty conscience is to hide from God. Gods Glory, Holiness and Righteousness cause us to hide when we are in sin, but God knows where we are. When our conscience is clear we can approach God with confidence. Hebrews 13:18 MKJV Pray for us; for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly.
Identity Theft
When man chose to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil he lost his identity. Genesis 2:7 and man became a living soul and man walked in the spirit
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(cool) of the day. Man is a soul person and their identity was in the spirit, after they sinned, their identity moved to the flesh, then the eyes of both of them were opened. This is why God said, you shall surely die; because God knew they would become mortals when their spirits died. Romans 3:23 KJV For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. Falling short of the glory of God means we have become fleshly creatures, instead of being spiritual as God is.
The problem is that the majority of mankind seeks salvation outside of God, we were created in the image and likeness of Almighty God and we will never find rest for our souls until we return to our original status. All of mankind still stands before these two trees today, do I choose my own way or Gods way, the Tree of life or the Tree of knowledge of good and evil?
Deuteronomy 30:19-20 19 I call Heaven and earth to record today against you. I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing. Therefore, choose life, so that both you and your seed may live, 20 so that you may love Jehovah your God, and that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him. For He is your life and the length of your days, so that you may dwell in the land which Jehovah swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give it to them.
Note the three items Satan used to tempt the woman Genesis 3:6: the tree was good for food it was pleasing to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make wise. Matthew 4:1-11 the Devil tempted Jesus with the same items. v3 If You are the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. v5 Then the Devil took Him up into the holy city and set Him upon a pinnacle of the Temple. v8 Again, the Devil took Him up into a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory.
The plan was, and is still today, to place our attention on the soul, be selfconscious, rather than focussing on God and being God-conscious. 1 John 2:16 MKJV because all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
Adam and the woman were created in the image and likeness of God, meaning that their identity was in the Spirit, God-conscious. The serpent tempted them by focussing on their flesh, self-conscious, and they chose the flesh above the spirit.
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Jesus was tempted with the same temptation but chose to be God-conscious rather than self-conscious. All of mankind is placed before the same decision, will you choose the spirit over the flesh as Christ did, or the flesh over the spirit as Adam did.
Group Activity 2
Romans 8:14 MKJV For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. Form a group of at least 4 to 6 believers and discuss the practical implications and obstacles in fulfilling this verse. Each group members contribution is to be written down followed by a summary that gives clear guidelines that will assist other believers.
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CHAPTER 3 THE FALL OF MAN
But man fell, and after a time the result was described by the Lord Himself as, every imagination3336 of the thoughts4284 of his heart3820 was only evil continually (Genesis 6:5) Lets look at the words imagination, thoughts and heart as expressed in the original Hebrew text. Every imagination: or, the whole imagination, The Hebrew word signifies not only the imagination, but also the purposes and desires. H3336 - - yetser - yay'-tser - From H3335; a form; figuratively conception (that is, purpose): - frame, thing framed, imagination, mind, work.
Genesis 8:21 And Jehovah smelled a sweet odour. And Jehovah said in His heart, I will never again curse the ground for man's sake, because the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth. And I will not again smite every living thing as I have done. Deuteronomy 29:19 and it happens when he hears the words of this curse, that he shall bless himself in his heart, saying, I shall have peace, though I walk in the stubbornness of my heart, to snatch away the drunken with the thirsty. Proverbs 6:16-19 These six Jehovah hates; yea, seven are hateful to his soul: 17 a proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, 18 a heart that plots wicked plans, feet hurrying to run to evil, 19 a false witness who speaks lies, and he who causes fighting among brothers. Ecclesiastes 7:29 Lo, this only I have found, that God has made man upright, but they have sought out many inventions. Ecclesiastes 9:3 This is an evil among all things that are done under the sun, that there is one event to all. Yea, also the heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they live, and after that they go to the dead. Jeremiah 17:9-10 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it? 10 I Jehovah search the heart; I try the reins, even to give to each man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings. Ezekiel 8:9-12 And he said to me. Go in and see the evil abominations that they do here. 10 And I went in and saw. And behold, every kind of creeping thing, and hateful beast, and all the idols of the house of Israel, was carved on the wall all around. 11 And seventy men of the elders of the house of Israel, and Jaazaniah the son of Shaphan, standing among them, these were before them, and each man with
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his censor in his hand. And the odour of the cloud of incense was rising. 12 And He said to me, Son of man, have you seen what the elders of the house of Israel do in the dark, each man in his image room (KJV imagery)? For they are saying, Jehovah does not see us; Jehovah has forsaken the earth. Matthew 15:18-20 But the things which come out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile the man. 19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies; 20 these are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man. Mark 7:21-23 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, 22 thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: 23 All these evil things pass out from inside and defile the man. Ephesians 2:1-3 And He has made you alive, who were once dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now works in the children of disobedience; 3 among whom we also had our way of life in times past, in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the thoughts, and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. If we turn this verse around; if we fulfil the desires and thoughts of the flesh as the children of disobedience, who are ruled by the prince of the power of the air like those who are in the world we are dead in trespasses and sin
Thoughts - H4284 - - machashabah machashebeth - makh-ash-awbaw', makh-ash-eh'-beth - From H2803; a contrivance, that is, (concretely) a texture, machine, or (abstractly) intention, plan (whether bad, a plot; or good, advice): - cunning (work), curious work, device (-sed), imagination, invented, means, purpose, thought. Jeremiah 4:14 O Jerusalem, cleanse your heart from evil so that you may be saved. How long shall your vain thoughts lodge within you?
Heart - H3820 - - leb labe - A form of H3824; the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect; likewise for the centre of anything: - + care for, comfortably, consent, X considered, courage [-ous], friend [ly], ([broken-], [hard-], [merry-], [stiff-], [stout-], double) heart ([-ed]), X heed, X I, kindly, midst, mind (-ed), X regard ([-ed)], X themselves, X unawares, understanding, X well, willingly, wisdom. Genesis 17:17 And Abraham fell upon his face and laughed, and said in his heart3820. Shall a child be born to him that is a hundred years old? And shall Sarah,
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who is ninety years old, bear? This verse shows that when the bible refers to the heart it is not the blood pumping muscle that is in us.
The fall began in the intellectual department of the soul, for it is said that Eve saw that The tree was to be desired to make one wise (Genesis 3:6). The appeal of the serpent was not made to the vessel of clay, or the outer man, for the body was then perfectly dominated by the Spirit; but it was directed to the intellect and understanding of man, and based on a desire to advance in knowledge and power in the unseen realm of another world. Ye shall be as God, said the serpent, not ye shall be as the beasts, created by God! The temptation was KNOWLEDGE.
The words of the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 1:19 are therefore very significant in connection with this aspect of the fall, for the word of the Cross, is said by the Apostle to be the power of God to destroy the wisdom of the wise. Since sin entered through the avenue of the intellect, salvation comes by a Cross which destroys the fallen wisdom by the very acceptance of its message, for the preaching of Christ crucified is to the wisdom of men foolishness (1 Corinthians 1:18-25) Thus God, in His wisdom, provides salvation in a way which deals with the cause by which the fall came about! Therefore Paul writes, If any man thinks that he is WISE among you ... let him become a fool, that he may become wise, for the WISDOM OF THIS WORLD IS FOOLISHNESS WITH GOD (1 Corinthians 3: 18, 19)
Eve, moreover, fell through yielding to the very temptation which had caused the fall of Satan himself, for lie had said I will be like the Most High . . . (Isa. 14:13, 14) The tempter knew how to attract Eve, by suggesting to her something higher than she possessed, for she was limited by a body made of dust, but had a soul capable of appreciating knowledge and growth, through the higher part of the three-part being.
We do not see the full effect of the fall until years afterward, when the record of the condition of the race shows that the road down was rapid, for the wisdom which gave knowledge of good and evil in the Garden of Eden reached its ultimate in due course, in a complete sinking into flesh, so that the part of mans three-part nature which he had in common with the animal creation, obtained the upper hand. Then it was that God looked down upon the fallen race, and said, My Spirit shall not abide in man ... for in their going astray they are flesh (Gen. 6:3) And so it is, that not only has death reigned over the fallen race of Adam, but every human being born in the
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likeness of the first Adam is of the earth or earthy, and is dominated by the flesh instead of the spirit. The soul, which is the personality of himself (see Luke 9: 23) became a slave of the flesh and the earthly life, instead of being a handmaid of the spirit.
Mr Fausset writes, In the three-fold division of mans being ... the due state of Gods design is that the spirit . . . should be first, and should rule the soul, which stands between body and spirit, but through the fall the spirit has become inferior to the animal-soul, which is earthly in its motives and aims. The carnally minded sink even lower, for in these the flesh, the lowest element ... rules paramount . At rebirth it is the fallen spirit of man, which is quickened again and renewed. This is the meaning of the Lords words, Ye must be born FROM ABOVE (John 3:3 & 5:7), and later on to His disciples, It is the Spirit that quickens; the flesh profits nothing (John 6:63).
The way that the new life from above reaches the fallen spirit of man is shown in the Lords words. The Spirit breathes where [He] desires ... so is every one that is born of the Spirit (John 3:8); and the reason for the Spirit of God quickening the spirit into new life is given in John 3:14 as the death of the God Man upon the Cross in the place of the sinner, that whosoever believeth into (lit. Greek) Him should not perish, but have eternal life.
The Cross and the fall exactly and perfectly correspond, the one as the remedy for the other. First by the death, of the Saviour on the Cross, the sin had to be put away, and the way made possible for the Holy God to pardon the sinner, and secondly the sinner must be given a way of escape from the bondage of soul and body into which he had fallen. The three-part nature of man can then be adjusted, with the spirit once more in domination, and the body acting merely as the outward and material vessel, an implement of the spirit through the soul.
This way of escape is made clear in many parts of Scripture where we are shown the death of the sinner with the Saviour. We shall see its mode of application for deliverance, as we consider the full meaning of the Cross.
What is our response?
How do we as believers undo the effects of the fall?
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Ephesians 6:10-18 KJV Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, G2962 {supreme in authority} and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to standG2476 {to stand, abide, continue, covenant, establish, hold up} against the wilesG3180 {travesty, (trickery): wile, lie in wait} of the devilG1228 {false accuser, slanderer}. 12 For we wrestle not against fleshG4561 {sarx flesh (as stripped of the skin), that is,
(strictly) the meat of an animal (as food), or (by extension) the body (as opposed to the soul (or spirit), or as the symbol of what is external, or as the means of kindred, or (by implication) human nature (with its frailties (physically or morally) and passions), or (specifically) a human being (as such): - carnal (-ly, + -ly minded), flesh ([-ly]).} and blood, but against principalities,G746 {chief (in order, time, place or rank): - beginning, corner, (at the, the) first (estate), magistrate, power, principality, principle, rule.} against powers,G1849, {privilege, that is, (subjectively) force, capacity, competency, freedom, or (objectively) mastery (concretely magistrate, superhuman, potentate, token of control), delegated influence: - authority, jurisdiction, liberty, power, right, strength.} against the rulersG2888 {a world ruler} of the darknessG4655 {shadiness, that is, obscurity} of this world, against spiritualG4152 {non-carnal, that is, (humanly) ethereal (as opposed to gross), or (demoniacally) a spirit (concretely), or (divinely) supernatural, regenerate, religious:} wickednessG4189 {depravity, that is, (specifically) malice; plural (concretely) plots, sins: G2032 iniquity, wickedness} in high { above the sky: - celestial, (in) heaven (-ly), high}
places. 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstandG436 {to stand against, that is, oppose: - resist, withstand} in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.G2476 14 Stand therefore, having your loinsG3751 {the loin (externally), that is, the hip; internally (by extension) procreative power} girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; G1343 {equity (of character or act); specifically (Christian) justification: righteousness}; 15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospelG2098 {a good message, that is, the gospel.} of peace; G1515; {peace (literally or figuratively); by implication prosperity: one, peace, quietness, rest, + set at one again.}
16 Above all, taking the shieldG2375 {a large shield (as door shaped)} of faith,
G4102
{persuasion, that is, credence; moral conviction (of religious truth, or the truthfulness of God or a religious teacher), especially reliance upon Christ for salvation}, wherewith ye shall
be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17 And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the wordG4487 {an utterance (individually, collectively or specifically); by implication a matter or topic (especially of narration, command or dispute)} of God:
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18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
What or rather Who is the armour that I am to put on? JESUS CHRIST v14 Jesus is the Truth (John 14:6) Jesus is my Righteousness (1 Corinthians 5:21) v15 Jesus is the Gospel of Peace, the good news that we can live in Gods rest (Hebrews 4) v16 Jesus is the basis of our faith (Hebrews 11:6) v17 Salvation belongs to God (Psalm 3:8 & Jonah 2:9) Word in this case is Rhema, Gods spoken intentions and purposes v18 Prayer is the vehicle
The armour of God is Christ Himself, we need to wrap ourselves with Christ so that we can resist every deception to doubt God and listen to another voice (Genesis 3:17)
2 Corinthians 10:3-5 For though walking about in flesh, we do not war according to flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal,4559 {pertaining to the flesh}, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds; 3794{meaning to fortify, through the idea of holding safely); a castle (figuratively argument)}, 5 pulling down imaginations,3053 {(computation, that is, (figuratively) reasoning (conscience, conceit): - imagination, thought)} and every high thing5313 {(an elevated place or thing, that is, (abstractly) altitude, or (by implication) a barrier)} that exalted itself1869 {(to raise up (literally or figuratively): - exalt self, poise (lift, take) up)} against the knowledge1108 {(knowing (the act), that is, (by implication) knowledge)} of God,2316 {(a deity, especially (with G3588) the supreme Divinity; figuratively a magistrate)} and bringing into captivity163 {(to make captive: - lead away captive, bring into captivity - properly a prisoner of war)} every thought3540 {(From G3539; a perception, that is, purpose, or (by implication) the intellect, disposition, itself: device, mind, thought - to exercise the mind (observe), that is, (figuratively) to comprehend, heed: - consider, perceive, think, understand)} to the obedience 5218 {(From G5219; attentive hearkening, that is, (by implication) compliance or submission: - obedience, (make) obedient, obey (-in) - to hear under (as a subordinate), that is, to listen attentively; by implication to heed or conform to a
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command or authority: - hearken, be obedient to, obey)} of Christ;5547 {(anointed, that is, the Messiah, an title of Jesus: - Christ)} Spiritual warfare is bringing our thoughts, desires and intentions into submission to the purposes of God.
Activity 3
Explain the Armour of God in the context of this chapter with reference to Spirit, Soul and Body
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CHAPTER 4 WHAT IS SIN?
Research Document:
Charles G Finney - The Wages of Sin.pdf Charles G Finney - Converting Sinners A Christian Duty.pdf RA Torrey - The Fundamentals 3.pdf
Based on scripture, what is sin?
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The Book of Judges records that in evil days when civil war was raging in Israel, the tribe of Benjamin boasted of having 700 men who could sling stones at a hair breadth and not miss. Nearly two hundred times the Hebrew word chatha, here translated miss, is rendered sin in our English Bible; and this striking fact may teach us that while all unrighteousness is sin, the root-thought of sin is far deeper. Man is a sinner because, like a clock that does not tell the time, he fails to fulfil the purpose of his being. And that purpose is (as the Westminster divines admirably state it), to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. Our Maker intended that we should be to the praise of His glory. But we utterly fail of this; we come short of the glory of God.
Man is a sinner not merely because of what he does, but by reason of what he is.
The Greek word for sin in the New Testament is hamartano, properly to miss the mark (and so not share in the prize), that is, (figuratively) to err, especially (morally) to sin: - for your faults, offend, sin, trespass. The image given here is that if you aim at a target and you do not hit the spot you aimed at, you have missed the mark, you have sinned. To sin is missing Gods intention, which is to be in the image and likeness of God. This was Pauls prayer for the believers, Galatians 4:19 My children, for whom I again travail until Christ should be formed in you Our sole purpose is to be formed into the image of Christ.
1 John 3:2-9 Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be. But we know that when He shall be revealed, we shall be like
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THE FUNDAMENTALS - A TESTIMONY TO THE TRUTH, Volume 3, Chapter 3, Edited by R.A. Torrey, AC Dixon and Others
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Him, for we shall see Him as He is. 3 And everyone who has this hope on him purifies himself, even as that One is pure. 4 Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness, for sin is lawlessness. 5 And you know that He was revealed that He might take away our sins, and in Him is no sin. 6 Everyone who abides in Him does not sin. Everyone who sins has not seen Him nor known Him. 7 Little children, let no one deceive you. He who does righteousness is righteous, even as that One is righteous. 8 He who practices sin is of the Devil, for the Devil sins from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was revealed, that He might undo the works of the Devil. 9 Everyone who has been born of God does not commit sin, because His seed remains in him, and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God.
Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not, 1John_3:6. To sin here is the same as to commit sin (1John_3:8 & 9), and to commit sin is to practise sin. He that abides in Christ does not continue in the practice of sin. Union with the Lord Jesus broke the power of sin in the heart and nature, so continuance therein prevents the regency and prevalence thereof in the life and conduct of a believer. If we change the negative expression here for the positive: He sins not, that is, he is obedient, he keeps the commandments (in sincerity, and in the ordinary course of life) and does those things that are pleasing in his sight, as is said 1John_3:22. Those that abide in Christ abide in their covenant with him, and consequently watch against the sin that is contrary to it. They abide in the light and knowledge of him; and therefore it may be concluded that he that sins (abides in the predominant practice of sin) has not seen him (has not his mind impressed with a sound evangelical discerning of him), neither known him, hath no experimental acquaintance with him. Practical renunciation of sin is the great evidence of spiritual union with, continuance in, and saving knowledge of, the Lord Christ.4 1 John 5:17 All unrighteousness is sin
Sin Is Universal
Genesis 5:1-3 KJV This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him; 2 Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created. 3 And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, after his image; and called his name Seth:
1 John 3:4-10 Matthew Henrys Commentary on the Whole Bible (1662 - 1714)
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Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God, Since the fall, we all fall short of the Glory of God because we are no longer created in the likeness of God. Man was created in the image and likeness of God, but after he ate of the Tree he lost his identity. We are all born as sinners because we are no longer the image and likeness of God. Sin is not whether we smoke, drink, have an abortion, or kick the dog, we are sinners because we are no longer an original. That is what makes us sinners, not the things we do. We are sinners because we fall short of the Glory of God! The bible is clear that every man and woman is born a sinner because they fall short of the Glory of God; it is not something we do or do not do. Romans 5:12 Therefore, even as through one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin, and so death passed on all men inasmuch as all sinned: Because we are sinners we bring forth bad fruit Matthew 7:18 GW A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, and a rotten tree cannot produce good fruit. The things we consider to be sin is actually the fruit of a sinful tree. In nature the fruit is produced by the tree and the tree is recognised by its fruit. If a fruit is yellow, has a smooth skin, has a strong smell and is particularly sour, we recognise it as a lemon and the tree that the fruit came from is referred to as a lemon tree. Galatians 5:19-21 MSG It is obvious what kind of life develops out of trying to get your own way all the time: repetitive, loveless, cheap sex; a stinking accumulation of mental and emotional garbage; frenzied and joyless grabs for happiness; 20 trinket gods; magic-show religion; paranoid loneliness; cutthroat competition; all consuming-yet-never-satisfied wants; a brutal temper; an impotence to love or be loved; divided homes and divided lives; small-minded and lopsided pursuits; 21 the vicious habit of depersonalizing everyone into a rival; uncontrolled and uncontrollable addictions; ugly parodies of community. I could go on. This isn't the first time I have warned you, you know. If you use your freedom this way, you will not inherit God's kingdom.
We judge the fruit to be sin, instead of judging the tree.
Our sinful nature can only be changed by changing the root. Romans 11 is very clear that the fruit is determined by the root. Romans 11:16-18 For if the first fruit is holy, the lump is also holy; and if the root is holy, also the branches. 17 And if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and became a sharer of the root and the fatness of the olive tree with
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them, 18 do not boast against the branches. But if you boast, it is not you that bears the root, but the root bears you.
The Penalty of Sin
John 16:8-11 And when that One comes, He will convict the world concerning sin, and concerning righteousness, and concerning judgment. 9 Concerning sin, because they do not believe on Me; 10 concerning righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; 11 concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. What sin will He, the Holy Spirit, convict us of? v9 because they do not believe on me. When we get to Heavens judgements, God does not convict us (John 3:17), God does not judge us. We have judged ourselves because we did not believe in Him, the only begotten of the Father. God has a Yes/No question. Did you believe My Son, Yes you are saved, No you go to hell, and the choice is ours, not Gods. There has always been only one gospel; for the unsaved, they must be saved, for the saved, they must be transformed into the image of Christ. Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Isaiah 59:2 But your iniquities have come between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you, from hearing. Not accepting and acknowledging Jesus (the tree of everlasting life) but choosing my way, my will, my ideas (the Tree of the knowledge of good and evil) is sin. 1 Samuel 15:22 And Samuel said, Does Jehovah delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the voice of Jehovah? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice! To listen is better than the fat of rams!
Gods Response to Sin - Grace!
The Hebrew word for grace is khane meaning kindness, favour or beauty: - favour, grace, pleasant, precious, and [well-] favoured. Khane is derived from the Hebrew word, khaw-nan', meaning to bend or stoop in kindness to an inferior; to favour, bestow; causatively to implore (that is, move to favour by petition): - beseech, X fair, (be, find, shew) favour (-able), be (deal, give, grant (gracious (-ly), entreat, (be) merciful, have (shew) mercy (on, upon), have pity upon, pray, make supplication, X
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very. It is beyond our understanding that the Almighty Omnipotent God would bend or stoop in kindness to an inferior being such as ourselves when deserve His contempt and scorn. It is amazing that when Moses asked to see God, God replied by revealing His goodness, grace and mercy. Exodus 33:18-19 And he said, I beseech You, let me see Your glory. 19 And He said, I will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim the name of Jehovah before you. And I will be gracious (khaw-nan',) to whom I will be gracious (khaw-nan',), and will have mercy on whom I will have mercy. Psalms 8:4 what is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man, that You visit him? Job 7:17 What is man, that You should magnify him, and that You should set Your heart on him, Psalms 144:3 O Jehovah, what is man that You take knowledge of him! Or the son of man, that You esteem him? Genesis 3:22-24 And Jehovah God said, Behold, the man has become as one of Us, to know good and evil. And now, lest he put forth his hand and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever, 23 therefore Jehovah God sent him out from the Garden of Eden to till the ground from which he had been taken. 24 And He drove out the man. And He placed cherubs at the east of the Garden of Eden, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life.
It was Gods love and grace that banished Adam from the Garden of Eden. If Adam ate of the tree of life after eating from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, his sinful state would have been permanent and Jesus could not have died on the cross of Calvary. Therefore God sends them out of the garden to till the ground from which he was taken. Because God is Loving and Gracious, God removes Adam and Eve from the Garden so that God has the opportunity to send His Son for our Salvation. It is the grace of God that exiled Adam from his presence and it is the same grace of God that sent his only begotten son to die on our behalf so that we may be reconciled to the Father.
Summary of Sin
Sin is disobedience to God - Genesis 3:11 Sin is falling short of Gods Glory - Romans 3:23
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Sin is missing the mark - G264 (ham-ar-tan'-o) properly to miss the mark (and so not share in the prize), that is, (figuratively) to err, especially (morally) to sin: - for your faults, offend, sin, trespass. What is the mark? Genesis 1:26, 27 - Image and Likeness of God Christ is the express image and likeness of the Father - Hebrews 1:3 Work of the Holy Spirit is to form Christ within us - Galatians 4:19
Activity 4
1. Using the two books of Charles G Finney, summarise the following: What constitutes a sinner? Specify some of the attributes of the penal sanctions of God's law
2. In what way has man fallen short of the glory of God? Romans 3:23 Write an essay of at least 700 words comparing mans original position and purpose to his current position
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CHAPTER 5 THE BASIS OF SIN
To fully understand the basis of sin, we must look at a few words namely Spirit and Soul.
Research Document:
Tripartite Man.pdf Jessie Penn Lewis - Soul and Spirit.pdf Watchman Nee - The Latent Power of the Soul.pdf Watchman Nee - The Spiritual Man - Volume 1 - 3.pdf Ruth Paxson - Life on the Highest Plane - Part 1 - 3.pdf Mary E. McDonough - God's Plan of Redemption http://marymcdonough.ccws.org/index.html
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Ignorance between soul and spirit is general, and is a primary cause for the lack of full growth in the spiritual lives of many devoted and earnest believers. This ignorance is the popular phraseology of soul and body, which is a deficiency in the English language. Although we have the nouns spirit and soul which are treated as synonyms - we have no adjective for soul, with the consequence that this part of mans three-part nature in the versions of the English Bible, where the Greek word which signifies pertaining to the soul is sometimes rendered natural and sometimes sensual (see 1 Corinthians 2:14, James 3:15, Jude 19).
Greek scholars know the different words in the original which stand for spiritpneuma; soul-psuche; flesh-sarx; but to most Christians these distinctions are hidden, with the result that they are unable to determine what the bible is referring to. This knowledge is crucial, for the fallen Archangel, with his superhuman wisdom, knows the make-up of human beings, and is now, as an angel of light, bringing to bear all the power of the knowledge which he possesses, upon counterfeiting the working of the Holy Spirit, and CREATING IN THE REALM OF THE SOUL such perfect imitations of the pure life of the Spirit of God indwelling the mans spirit, that the most earnest Christians are likely to be deceived. The teaching of the Scripture
SOUL AND SPIRIT - Jessie Penn-Lewis
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on the distinction between soul and spirit must be made as clear as possible from the Word of God.
To grasp the truth, and receive spiritual understanding of spiritual facts set forth in the Scripture that is necessary for our growth in life and godliness we earnestly seek the aid of the Spirit of God. Pause at this point, and in an act of faith take the promise of John 14: 26-The Holy Spirit ... shall teach you all things . . . and John 16:13, He will guide you into all truth with confidence that the Spirit of God will fulfil His office to the teachable child of God. The Holy Spirit is able to teach the believer to experience the distinction between soul and spirit. The believer who has been taught by the Holy Spirit to experience the dividing of soul and spirit is better able to understand, and can rightly divide the word of truth, because the words in the Scripture are spiritual which cannot be understood by the natural man i.e., the pertaining to the soul man (1 Corinthians 2: 14)-and can only be known by revelation. (1 Corinthians 2:10-12)
We will use the word soulish to (James 3:15), signify that which pertains to the soul, 1 Corinthians 2:14 the Greek text has it, the soulman, or soulish-man. As spiritual is the adjective of spirit, so is soulish the adjective of soul. The word soulish therefore might well be generally accepted by English readers as the missing adjective, which will enable us to speak of the soulish as well as the spiritual (1 Corinthians 3:1) or carnal (fleshy), Christian, and the meaning be understood.
Now lets read Hebrews 4:12 Dividing soul and spirit and 1 Thessalonians 5:23 Sanctify you, spirit, soul and body.
The Soul (Psuche) and Its Functions
Now we have a new question; what is the soul in distinction from the spirit, and what are its functions? Quotations from other writers will help us before we turn to the Scriptures, to discover what the Apostle means by the dividing of soul and spirit, and thus more clearly understand how spirit, soul and body can be sanctified, and preserved blameless unto the coming of the Lord.
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Dr. Andrew Murray writes that the soul was the meeting place, the point of union between body and spirit. Through the body, man - the living soul (Gen.2:7) relates to the physical world and through the spirit he relates to the spiritual world.
GH Pember explains the function of each very clearly when he says, The body is the sense consciousness; the soul the self-consciousness; and the spirit the Godconsciousness6. The body gives us the five senses; the soul gives us the intellect and the emotions which come from the senses, while the spirit, the highest part came directly from God, and by which alone we apprehend and worship Him. Dr. Murray says The spirit is the seat of our God-consciousness; the soul of our self-consciousness; the body of our world-consciousness. In the spirit, God dwells; in the soul, self dwells; in the body, senses dwell
These writers define the soul as the personality, consisting of the will and the intellect or mind; a personal something standing between the spirit which is open to the spiritual world, and the body, which is open to the world of nature. Therefore the soul has the power of choice as to which world shall dominate or control man. Adam walked in the garden of Eden, the spirit breathed into him by God dominated his soul (intellect, mind, will) and the soul shone through, the earthly tabernacle of clay, the body making it radiant with light, resistant to cold and heat, and able perfectly to fulfil the object of its creation.
GH Pember - Earths earliest ages page 107
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Activity 5
1. Compare and contrast the authors with regards to Spirit, Soul & body Topics Spirit
God consciousness Tripartite Man.pdf Jessie Penn Lewis Soul and Spirit.pdf Watchman Nee The Latent Power of the Soul.pdf Watchman Nee The Spiritual Man Volume 1 - 3.pdf Ruth Paxson - Life on the Highest Plane - Part 1 - 3.pdf Mary E. McDonough - God's Plan of Redemption
Soul
Self consciousness
Body
Sense consciousness
2. Explain how a believer should apply Romans 12:1&2 to their lives. Use real life scenarios 3. Matthew 22:36 40. Using the original Greek text, describe how you would love God with your heart, soul & mind?
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CHAPTER 6 THE TEMPLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT7
Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? - 1 Corinthians 3:16
In using the illustration of the Temple as the type of Gods dwelling in us by the Holy Spirit, Scripture invites us to study the analogy. The Temple was made in all things according to a pattern seen by Moses on the Mount, a shadow cast by the Eternal Spiritual Realities which it was to symbolise. One of these realities for Divine Truth is exceeding rich and full and has many and very diverse applications. One of these realities shadowed forth by the Temple, is mans threefold nature. Because man was created in the image of God, the Temple is not only the setting forth of the mystery of mans approach into the presence of God, but equally of Gods way of entering into man, to take up His abode with him.
We are familiar with the division of the Temple into three parts. There was its exterior, seen by all men, with the outer court, in to which every Israelite might enter, and where all the external religious service was performed. There was the Holy Place, into which alone the priests might enter, to present to God the blood or the incense, the bread or the oil, they had brought from without. But though near, they were still not within the veil; into the immediate presence of God they might not come. God dwelt in the Holiest of all, in a light inaccessible, where none might venture nigh. The momentary entering of the High Priest once a year was but to bring into full consciousness the truth that there was no place for man there, until the veil should have been rent and taken away.
Man is Gods temple. In him, too, there are the three parts. In the body you have the outer court, the external visible life, where all the conduct has to be regulated by Gods law, and where all the service consists in looking to that which is done without us and for us to bring us nigh to God. Then there is the soul, with its inner life, its power of mind and feeling and will. In the regenerate man this is the Holy Place, where thoughts and affections and desires move to and fro as the priests of the sanctuary, rendering God their service in the full light of consciousness. And then comes within the veil, hidden from all human sight and light, the hidden inner most sanctuary, the secret place of the Most High, where God dwells, and where man may not enter, until the veil is rent at Gods own bidding.
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Andrew Murray - The Spirit of Christ.pdf Chapter 24
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Man has not only body and soul, but also spirit. Deeper down than where the soul with its consciousness can enter, there is a spirit-nature linking man with God.
So fearful is sins power, that in some this power is given up to death: they are sensual, not having the Spirit. In others, it is nothing more than a dormant power, a possibility waiting for the quickening of the Holy Spirit. In the believer it is the inner chamber of the heart, of which the Spirit has taken. Possession, and from out of which He waits to do His glorious work, making soul and body holy to the Lord.
And yet this indwelling, unless where it is recognised, and yielded to, and humbly maintained in adoration and love often brings comparatively little blessing. And the one great lesson which the truth that we are Gods temple, because His Spirit dwells in us, must teach us, is this, to, acknowledge the Holy Presence that dwells within us. This alone will enable us to regard the whole temple, even to the outmost court, as sacred to His service, and to yield every power of our nature to His leading and will. The most sacred part of the Temple, that for which all the rest existed and on which all depended, was the Holiest of all. Even though the priests might never enter there, and might never see the glory that dwelt there, all their conduct was regulated, and all their faith animated, by the thought of the unseen Presence there. It was this that gave the sprinkling of the blood and the burning of the incense their value. It was this made it a privilege to draw nigh, and gave confidence to go out and bless. It was the Most Holy, the Holiest of all, that made the place of their serving to them a Holy Place. Their whole life was controlled and inspired by the faith of the unseen indwelling glory within the veil.
It is not otherwise with the believer. Until he learns by faith to tremble in presence of the wondrous mystery that he is Gods temple, because Gods Spirit dwelleth in him, he never will yield himself to his high vocation with the holy reverence or the joyful confidence that becomes him. As long as he looks only into the Holy Place, into the heart, as far as man can see and know what passes there, he will often search in vain for the Holy Spirit, or only find cause for bitter shame that his workings are so few and feeble. Each of us must learn to know that there is a Holiest of all in that temple which he himself is; the secret place of the Most High within us must become the central truth in our temple worship. This must be to us the meaning of our confession: I believe in the Holy Ghost.
And how is this deep faith in the hidden indwelling to become ours? Taking our stand, upon Gods blessed Word, we must accept and appropriate its teaching. We
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must take trouble to believe that God means what it says. I am a temple; just such a temple as God commanded to be built of old; He meant me to see in it what I am to be. There the Holiest of all was the central point, the essential thing. It was all dark, secret, hidden, till the time of unveiling came. It demanded and received the faith of priest and people. The Holiest of all within me, too, is unseen and hidden, a thing for faith alone to know and deal with. Let me, as I approach to the Holy One, bow before Him in deep and lowly reverence. Let me there say that I believe what He says, that His Holy Spirit, God, one with the Father and the Son, even now has His abode within me. I will meditate, and be still, until something of the overwhelming glory of the truth fall upon me, and faith begin to realise it: I am His temple, and in the secret place He sits upon His throne. As I yield myself in silent meditation and worship day by day, surrendering and setting open my whole being to Him, He will in His divine, loving, living power, shine into my consciousness the light of His presence.
As this thought fills the heart, the faith of the indwelling though hidden presence will influence; the Holy Place will be ruled from the Most Holy. The world of consciousness in the soul, with all its thoughts and feelings, its affections and purposes, will come and surrender themselves to the Holy Power that sits within on the throne. Amid the terrible experience of failure and sin a new hope will dawn. Though long I most earnestly strove, I could not keep the Holy Place for God, because I knew not that He kept the Most Holy for Himself. If I give Him there the glory due to His name, in the holy worship of the inner temple, He will send forth His light and His truth through my whole being, and through mind and will reveal His power to sanctify and to bless. And through the soul, thus coming ever more mightily under His rule, His power will work out even into the body. With passions and appetites within, yea, with every thought brought into subjection, the hidden Holy Spirit will through the soul penetrate ever deeper into the body. Through the Spirit the deeds of the body will be made dead, and the river of water, that flows from under the throne of God and the Lamb will go through all the outer nature, with its cleansing and quickening power.
O Brother, do believe that you are the temple of the living God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you! You have been sealed with the Holy Spirit; He is the mark, the living assurance of your sonship and your Fathers love. If this has hitherto been a thought that has brought you but little comfort, see if the reason is not here. You sought for Him in the Holy Place, amid the powers and services of your inner. Life which come within your vision and you could hardly discern Him there. And so you could not appropriate the comfort and strength the Comforter was meant to bring.
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No, my. brother, not there, not there. Deeper down, in the secret place of the Most High, there you will find Him, Within you! in your inmost part! their faith will find Him. And as faith worships in holy reverence before the Father, and the heart trembles at the thought of what it has found, wait in holy stillness on God to grant you the mighty working of His Spirit; wait in holy stillness for the Spirit, and be assured He will, as God, arise and fill His temple with His glory.
And then remember, the veil was but for a time. When the preparation was complete, the veil of the flesh was rent. As you yield your souls inner life to the inmost life of the Spirit, as the traffic between the Most Holy and the Holy becomes more true and unbroken, the fullness of the time will come in your soul. In the power of Him, in whom the veil was rent that the Spirit might stream forth from His glorified body, there will come to you, too, an experience in which the veil shall be taken away, and the Most Holy and the Holy be thrown into one. The hidden glory of the Secret Place will stream into your conscious daily life: the service of the Holy Place will all be in the power of the Eternal Spirit.
Brother, let us fall down and worship! Be silent, all flesh, before the Lord; for he is waked up out of His holy habitation. Most Holy God! in adoring wonder I bow before Thee in presence of this wondrous mystery of grace: my spirit, soul, and body Thy temple. n deep silence and worship I accept the blessed revelation, that in me too there is a Holiest of all, and that there Thy hidden Glory has its abode. O my God, forgive me that I have so little known it. I do now tremblingly accept the blessed truth: God the Spirit, the Holy Spirit, who is God Almighty, dwells in me. O my Father, reveal within what it means, lest I sin against Thee by saying it and not living it. Blessed Jesus! to Thee, who sittest upon the throne, I yield my whole being. In Thee I trust to rise up in power and have dominion within me. In Thee I believe for the full Streaming forth of the living waters. Blessed Spirit! Holy Teacher! Mighty Sanctifier! Thou art within me. On Thee do I wait all the day. I belong to Thee. Take entire possession of me for the Father and the Son. Amen.
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Psalms 77:13 KJV Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary: who is so great a God as our God? Hebrews 8:5 KJV Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount
Activity 6
The Tabernacle of Moses is given to us as a shadow of the heavenly things. 1. Draw a scale layout of the Outer Court with including the Brazen Altar and the Brazen Laver (Exodus 25 40) 2. Compare the Altar of Sacrifice with the sacrificial death of Christ 3. Compare the cutting of the sacrifices with Hebrews 4:12 and the implications for the believer
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SELF ASSESSMENT
It is time for me to check how much I have learned in this unit. I can tell if I am not yet confident or confident or very confident of what I have learned. Specific Outcome 1 Assessment criteria Compare the Old Testament & New Testament terminology with regards to the meaning and extent of sin Understand and critique God's original plan for mankind and his current fallen state Divide between Spirit, Soul and Body If I am not yet confident I must speak to my Facilitator and peers so that I become confident very quickly. Not yet confident Confident Very Confident
Understand the key Christian Doctrine of Sin
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CHAPTER 7 SALVATION
Research Document:
Charles G Finney - The way of Salvation.pdf AW Pink - Fourfold Salvation.pdf
The need for salvation
8
What must I do to be saved? Saved from what? What is it you wish to be saved from? Hell? That proves nothing. Nobody wants to go there. The issue between God and man is SIN. Do you wish to be saved from it? What is sin? Sin is a species of rebellion against God. It is self-pleasing: it is the utter ignoring of Gods claims: being completely indifferent whether my conduct pleases or displeases Him. Before God saves a man He convicts him of his "sinnership". By this I do not mean that he says with everybody else, O yes we are all sinners, I know that. Rather do I mean that the Holy Spirit makes me feel in my heart that I have been a life-long rebel against God, and that my sins are so many, so great, so black, that I fear that I have transgressed beyond the reach of Divine mercy. Have you ever had that experience? Have you seen yourself to be totally unfit for heaven? For the presence of a Holy God? Do you now perceive that there is no good thing in you, nothing good credited to your account, that all the way through you have loved the things God hates and hated the things God loves? Has the realisation of this broken your heart before God? Has it made you mourn that you have so despised His Sabbaths, neglected His Word, and given Him no real place at all in your thoughts, affections and life? If you have not yet seen and felt this personally, then at present there is no hope for you, for God says, Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish Luke 13:3. And if you die in your present condition you will be lost forever. But if you have been brought to the place where sin is your greatest plague, where offending God is your greatest grief, and where your deepest desire is now to please and honour Him; then there is hope for you. The Son of man came to seek and to save that which was lost Luke 19:10. And He will save you providing you
"The Way of Salvation" by A.W. Pink
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are ready and willing to throw down the weapons of your warfare against Him, bow to His Lordship, and surrender yourself to His control. His blood can wash the foulest clean. His grace can support and uphold the weakest. His power can deliver the tried and tempted. Behold now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation II Corinthians 6:2. Yield yourself to Christs claims. Give Him the throne of your heart. Turn over to Him the regulation of your life. Trust in His atoning death. Love Him with all your soul. Obey Him with all your might and He will conduct you to heaven. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved Acts 16:31.
Righteous judgement of God
Isaiah 59:2-3 But your iniquities have come between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you, from hearing. 3 For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue has muttered perverseness.
What kind of punishment is appropriate for offending an infinitely Holy and Righteous God? Hebrews 2:2-3 For if the word spoken by angels was steadfast, and if every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward, 3 how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by those who heard Him;
God instructed Adam not to eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil with the penalty of death, those who commit sin must die and be punished; Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. The Bible teaches that those who die as sinners will receive eternal separation from God in hell; Matthew 25:46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into everlasting life. Sinful man is doomed to condemnation, which is why mankind needs salvation. Apostle Paul who understood the consequences of sin and also knew that mankind was unable to save himself, asks, in Romans 7:2425 O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death? 25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord!
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God who created the heavens and the earth is gracious and a God of mercy and compassion. Exodus 34:5-7 And Jehovah came down in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of Jehovah. 6 And Jehovah passed by before him and proclaimed, Jehovah! Jehovah God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, 7 keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of fathers on the sons, and on the sons of sons, to the third and to the fourth generation.
Romans 5:8 But God commends His love toward us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.
Let us remember that Christ was crucified before the foundations of the earth. While God was forming Adam from the dust of the earth, He knew man would fail and had already committed His son for our redemption. When God knelt down, so to speak, to breathe into mans nostrils, Jesus was already crucified.9
If there was no sin (missing the mark), there would be no judgement and no need for salvation. God is a God of righteousness and justice meaning that sin (missing the mark) must receive its just reward but He is also a God of infinite grace, mercy and compassion. It is only the God of the universe that can demand judgement and offer grace at the same moment. Hebrews 1:8 But to the Son He says, "Your throne, O God, is forever and ever. A sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of Your kingdom. Exodus 34:7, and who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of fathers on the sons, and on the sons of sons, to the third and to the fourth generation. Leviticus 17:11 For the life of the flesh is in the blood. And I have given it to you on the altar to make atonement for your souls. For it is the blood that makes an atonement for the soul Genesis 2:16-17 And Jehovah God commanded the man, saying, You may freely eat of every tree in the garden, 17 but you shall not eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. For in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.
Matthew 13:35, Ephesians 1:4, Hebrews 1:10, Hebrews 9:26, 1 Peter 1:20
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God warned man that if he ate from the tree he shall surely die. Leviticus teaches that the life is in the blood, so the shedding of blood fulfils Gods righteousness. After mans sin, salvation was secured by the blood of an innocent animal and the first animal sacrifice was made in the Garden of Eden when God gave them skins to cover their nakedness. By animal sacrifices were only a temporary solution and had to be repeated regularly.
God is not blood thirsty, but he is Righteous
Hebrews 10:6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You have had no pleasure. When God appeared to Moses on the mountain, God introduces himself as follows: Exodus 34:5-7 GW The LORD came down in a cloud and stood there with him and called out his name "the LORD." 6 Then he passed in front of Moses, calling out, "The LORD, the LORD, a compassionate and merciful God, patient, always faithful and ready to forgive. 7 He continues to show his love to thousands of generations, forgiving wrongdoing, disobedience, and sin.
God meets His righteousness by killing an animal while showing His mercy and grace by accepting the blood of an animal in the place of man. God is a God of righteousness, so His law must be fulfilled, you will surely die, but his grace allows an animal to be killed in their place. Secondly, God killed the animal; God provides mans salvation, not mankind. Adams fig leaf version was rejected and replaced with Gods version. God knows that mankind is unable to save itself, therefore he provides the solution. Salvation is only through God and the sacrificial death of his son, Jesus. Acts 4:12 And there is salvation in no other One; for there is no other name under Heaven given among men by which we must be saved. Once we accept Gods salvation, God starts the process of sanctification 10where we are restored to the original creation, the image of Christ. Along this path of restoration, God will raise certain habits or character traits as unacceptable which then becomes sin for us but not necessarily for your neighbour or spouse.
Animal sacrifices form a common thread from the Garden through the Old Testament with Moses and the tabernacle. As bloody and unappealing as the
10
Sanctification is the act of setting apart someone or something for a holy purpose and use. Christians are in a continuing state of sanctification.
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animal sacrifices were, it pointed to a permanent solution where God would provide one lasting sacrifice. A purpose of the sacrifices was to highlight the severity of sin (missing the mark) and the dire consequences of sin. Hebrews 8:5 who serve the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was warned of God when he was about to make the tabernacle. For, He says "See that you make all things according to the pattern shown to you in the mountain." The Old Testament was a shadow and type or example for us that would follow. God showed his intentions in Genesis when he told Abraham to sacrifice his son, a son that was promised when Abraham and Sarah were past child bearing age.
Genesis 22:8 & 13 And Abraham said, My son, God will provide Himself a lamb for a burnt offering. So they both went together. 13 And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked. And, behold, a ram behind him was entangled in a thicket by its horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son.
It is a continuance of what God did in Genesis 1 and points to the ultimate sacrifice of His son, Jesus, Gods provision for permanent salvation Hebrews 10:1-14 For the Law which has a shadow of good things to come, not the very image of the things, appearing year by year with the same sacrifices, which they offer continually, they are never able to perfect those drawing near. 2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? Because the worshipers, when they had been once for all purged, would have had no more conscience of sin. 3 But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again of sins every year. 4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. 5 Therefore when He comes into the world, He says, "Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, but You have prepared a body for Me. 6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You have had no pleasure. 7 Then I said, Lo, I come (in the volume of the Book it is written of Me) to do Your will, O God." 8 Above, when He said, "Sacrifice and offering, and burnt offerings and offering for sin You did not desire, neither did You have pleasure in them" (which are offered according to the Law), 9 then He said, "Lo, I come to do Your will, O God." He takes away the first so that He may establish the second. 10 By this will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 11 And indeed every priest stands daily ministering and offering often the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right of God, 13 from then on expecting until His enemies are made His footstool. 14 For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are sanctified.
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The blood of bulls and goats and animals were never intended to remove sin, but merely covered our sins and had to be repeated until Jesus, the promised, spotless Lamb of God died on Calvary.
Jesus came to do what man, Adam, could not do.
Adam could not resist the Tree of knowledge of Good and Evil but Jesus did. Man is restored to his original relationship through the cross of Calvary, through Jesus Christ the sacrificial Lamb. Man can once again be like his Creator. Because of Jesus we can once again become the image and likeness of God through the working of the Holy Spirit.
2 Corinthians 5:21 21 For He has made Him who knew no sin, to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness11 of God in Him. To satisfy Gods righteousness Jesus offered His blood on our behalf. His blood is so pure that it is able to pay for the sin of every man, woman and child, past, present and future on the cross of Calvary. Because he was perfect and sinless, His blood is able to atone for mans sins for all eternity.
Herein is the power of the Cross, this is what makes the cross so powerful. Romans 1:16-17 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith, as it is written, "The just shall live by faith."
1 Corinthians 1:18 KJV For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
11
An important theological concept in Christianity. It is an attribute that implies that a person's actions are justified, and can have the connotation that the person has been "judged" or "reckoned" as leading a life that is pleasing to God. William Tyndale remodelled the word after an earlier word rihtwis, which would have yielded modern English *rightwise or *rightways. He used it to translate the Hebrew root ( TzDYQ), tzedek, which appears more than five hundred times in the Hebrew Bible, and the Greek word (dikaios), which appears more than two hundred times in the New Testament.
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Hebrews 10:12 KJV But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God;
Hebrews 10:19 KJV Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,
On the cross of Calvary the righteousness of God was met because of Christs shed blood, and at the same time God shows His grace and mercy because we get to live.
Process of Salvation
Know that God will never turn any person away that turns to Him for salvation. John 6:37 All that the Father gives Me shall come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will in no way cast out.
Lets look at three portions of scripture that deals with salvation. Acts 2:37-39 And hearing this, they were stabbed in the heart, and said to Peter and to the other apostles, Men, brothers, what shall we do? 38 Then Peter said to them, Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ to remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all those afar off, as many as the Lord our God shall call.
Acts 17:30-31 Truly, then, God overlooking the times of ignorance, now He strictly commands all men everywhere to repent, 31 because He has appointed a day in which He is going to judge the world in righteousness by a Man whom He appointed, having given proof to all by raising Him from the dead.
When Peter addressed the crowds at Pentecost, the peoples response was, what do we do now? Peter told them to repent and be baptised. The original Greek word metanoia, is derived of 3 words namely meta, noia and nooce. Metanoia means to think differently or afterwards, that is, reconsider (morally to feel compunction): repent. Meta meaning afterward and noia meaning to exercise the mind (observe), that is, (figuratively) to comprehend, heed: - consider, perceive, think,
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understand and nooce meaning the intellect, that is, mind (divine or human; in thought, feeling, or will); by implication meaning: - mind, understanding. If we put all these words together, repentance means to change your thinking; if I change my thinking it stands to reason that my behaviour will also change. Proverbs 23:7 for as he thinks in his heart, so is he;
Romans 12:2-3 KJV And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. 3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
Peter stated that salvation starts with repentance, or thinking differently, followed by baptism. Baptism is a vast subject and will be addressed separately but in short it is the outward demonstration of death. Romans 6:3-8 KJV Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: 6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. 7 For he that is dead is freed from sin. 8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:
Salvation requires us to transform to Gods way of doing things resulting in me continually dying to my ideas, aspirations and desires. In effect we are back in the garden where we need to submit Gods commands at my own expense?
Romans 10:8-11 But what does it say? "The Word is near you, even in your mouth and in your heart"; that is, the Word of Faith which we proclaim; 9 Because if you confess the Lord Jesus, and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth one confesses unto salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, "Everyone believing on Him shall not be put to shame."
The Greek word for confession is homologeo, meaning to assent, that is, covenant, acknowledge: - con- (pro-) fess, confession is made, give thanks, promise. In short
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confession in biblical terms is to agree. Now lets look at Romans 10, If I agree that I am in need of a saviour and acknowledge and give thanks to God for Jesus Christ the bible says I am saved.
John 3:3-7 & 12 Jesus answered and said to him, Truly, truly, I say to you, Unless a man is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. 4 Nicodemus said to Him, How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother's womb and be born? 5 Jesus answered, Truly, truly, I say to you, Unless a man is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, You must be born again. 12 If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how shall you believe if I tell you heavenly things?
This is a very well known portion of scripture. When Nicodemus asked Jesus about salvation, Jesus uses the image of a person being born. Jesus says that a person can only enter the kingdom of heaven if he has been conceived by the spirit and come through water. In the same manner that birth signifies a new life as a human, so too a spiritual birth points to a new life in God. v6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Jesus uses a common human experience to highlight a spiritual truth; natural life starts at birth, so too our spiritual life starts with a Rebirth. Rebirth is the result of the Holy Spirit, who cannot be seen but the evidence of his working is evident to all. God is so far beyond our comprehension, that he has to use weak human elements to convey spiritual matters that are beyond our understanding. Jesus ends the discussion by asking, if you do not understand when I use earthly references, how will you understand heavenly things?
Summary of Salvation
Salvation is the result of man hearing Gods word 12 (Romans 10:17 Then faith is of hearing, and hearing by the Word of God), believing it (Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him), repenting of my sin (Acts 17:30 Truly, then, God overlooking the times of ignorance, now He strictly commands all men everywhere to repent), confessing Jesus as Christ (Matthew
12
Two Greek words are translated word. 1. Logos which refers to the intentions or thoughts and 2. Rhema which is the utterance
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10:32 Then everyone who shall confess Me before men, I will confess him before My Father who is in Heaven) and being baptised for the remission of sins (Acts 22:16 And now what do you intend? Arise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord).
Fundamental as salvation is, it is only the beginning of our Christian experience.
Activity 7
In his book, Fourfold Salvation, AW Pink refers to four areas in mans life that needs salvation. Discuss each of these, with cross references to The way of Salvation written by Charles G Finney
SELF ASSESSMENT It is time for me to check how much I have learned in this unit. I can tell if I am not yet confident or confident or very confident of what I have learned. Specific Outcome 2 Assessment criteria Understand the need for salvation Understand the key Christian Doctrine of Salvation The righteous requirements of salvation Not yet confident Confident Very Confident
If I am not yet confident I must speak to my Facilitator and peers so that I become confident very quickly.
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PORTFOLIO ASSESSMENT
Design a New Believers Course using the first eleven chapters of The Fundamentals - A testimony to the truth, Volume 3, edited by R.A. Torrey, A.C. Dixon and others as a guide. Ask your Mentor for assistance.
SUMMARY
In this Unit Standard you have learned: Compare the Old Testament & New Testament terminology with regards to the meaning and extent of sin
The key Christian Doctrine of Understand and critique God's original plan for Sin mankind and his current fallen state Divide between Spirit, Soul and Body The key Christian Doctrine of Salvation Understand the need for salvation Understand the righteous requirements of salvation
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CONCLUSION
You have just completed: Sin and Salvation
Courses still to be completed: Doctrine of Baptisms
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