2. The main Core Beliefs or Teachings are as follows - 1.The Word of God 2.God 3.Man 4.Jesus Christ 5.God’s Purpose  Understanding these core teachings and concepts is the key to understanding the whole Bible.  Men and women in all ages have believed these things, and held them as fundamental to their faith.

3. Last Week, we looked at –  God – His Character and His Characteristics  Man’s sin & its consequences  Hope for man  The general condition of man  The promise of eternal life This Week, we will look at –  The Word of God – to have an effect upon us  The Word of God – produces faith  The New Creation – born again, born from above.  The purpose of God revolves around Jesus Christ

4. The word is designed to have an effect To cause us to think and act like God Instincts and beliefs The word is transformational The word is like a seed The importance of knowledge

5. God has not revealed his Word for academic reasons. His word is designed to have an impact, and to work in us. Mark.16:15-16. And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned”. 1.Thes.2:13. For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe.

6. Rom.6:3-7. Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. For he who has died has been freed from sin.

7. God’s word is designed to create a new man in us. That is, one in the image of God, just like Christ himself was (2.Cor.4:4, Col.1:15, Heb.1:3). (Just as God’s word made man in the beginning Gen.1:26-28) Col.3:10. “And have put on the new man, who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him that created him ” Eph.4:23-34. And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God (i.e. after God’s likeness) is created in righteousness and true holiness.

8. INPUT via Our Senses See Hear Smell Touch Taste Others OUTPUT via Language Body Words Actions Choice is the exercise of Will. Choice is Governed by – 1)Our Instincts 2)Our Beliefs Our Instincts Pre-programmed thinking & control mechanisms, designed to protect the individual. Breathing, Heartbeat, Hunger, Urges, Self Protection Our Beliefs Acquired thinking, which is generally the product of our upbringing, our education and our associations. Beliefs can regulate instincts, to some extent Nevertheless, it does show how vitally important knowledge and the beliefs it creates really are. This is a ‘static’ model that only maps macro processes. Memory & habit adds more complexity.

9. The beliefs that are communicated in the Word of God are meant to be transformational (Greek = Metamorphoses) Rom.12:1-2. I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. This objective is towards the completion of God’s original purpose, in Gen.1:26 => To make man in God’s image & likeness

10. There are two steps to this transformational change. They occur at different times. Both will be as a consequence of God’s word being understood and believed. The First – Occurs now, when we come to understand and believe the Word. The word will effect a mental & moral change, so that we see things differently. We have already looked at some of the references that speak of this. These are the concepts of the ‘new man’ & ‘new life’ in Christ. The Last = Occurs when our bodied are changed, and we are given immortality. This is called ‘the redemption of the body’ Rom.8:23, ‘a partaker of the divine nature’ 2.Pet.1:4, or being made ‘equal to the angels’ Luke.20:36.

11. Both in parable and in plain statement, the Word of God is likened to a seed sown. The seed is to take root and grow, and be fruitful. The Parable of the Sower Luke.8:11. Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God The Words of Peter 1.Pet.1:22-23. Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever, because “All flesh is as grass, And all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, And its flower falls away, …. But the word of the LORD endures forever.” Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you.

12. Hos.4:6. My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me; Because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children. Paul said the following, with reference to Natural Israel – Rom.10:2. Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. Jesus said the following – John.17:3. And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.

13. Peter says that spiritual growth follows a path of adding features to ones faith. Faith is not static. 2.Pet.1:5. But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue (moral goodness or excellence), to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Chris t.

14. The word produces faith Faith defined, & examples The gospel = the word of God Trials of faith Seeing God by faith God’s word is for a purpose

15. In the Bible, Faith is spoken of as being essential to pleasing God. Faith is said to come from hearing the Word of God.  Heb.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.  Rom.10:17. So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

16. Faith is much more than simply believing that God exists. It is defined by both word and example as ‘believing God’, i.e. what he says and promises. To believe God, we must first understand and know Him.  Heb.11:1-2. (ESV) Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation. (Read all of Heb.11)  Rom.4:1-3. What then shall we say that Abraham our father has found according to the flesh? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness”

17.  Rom.4:18-22. Who (Abraham), contrary to hope, in hope believed (what God had promised to him), so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, “So shall your descendants be.” And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb. He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. And therefore “it was accounted to him for righteousness.”

18. The attitude of the Jews at Berea was commendable, for they searched the OT Scriptures, to see whether the things that Paul was speaking were so. Why? Because what Paul taught was different to what they had been taught by their teachers and by their tradition. Yet his teaching was fully based upon scripture.  Acts.17:10-11. Then the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.

19.  Acts.8:4. Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word.  Acts. 8:5. Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them.  Acts.8:12. But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized.  Acts.8:14. Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John  Acts.8:25. So when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans.  Acts.8:35. Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him.

20. We should have no doubt. Both the OT & NT repeatedly tell us that God has spoken in various ways through chosen agents; whether they be angels, prophets, apostles or His Son. Heb.1:1-2 Faith is believing God’s revelation and testimony to be true. Faith comes from hearing the word of God, and being fully persuaded as its origin, purpose, power & truth. Paul says – “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” Rom.10:17 “And he said unto them, Go into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believes and is baptized shall be saved” Mark.16:15-16 “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name” John.1:12

21. We are told that we need experiences that exercise our senses, and that these will help us spiritually grow, from babies to adults. God allows believers to experience trials. At times, God brings them, while at other times God allows them (Rom.8:28 & 1.Cor.10:13).  Heb.5:14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age (mature), even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good (καλο ῦ ) and evil (κακο ῦ ).  Jam.1:2-4 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect (mature) and entire, wanting nothing.  1.Pet.1:7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

22. Our Faith should be like Moses’ faith – Although the scriptures tell us - Exod.33:20.. for there shall no man see me, and live. Yet Moses did see God - Heb.11:27 By faith he (Moses) forsook Egypt, not fearing t he wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible. In like manner, after all Job’s troubles and the foolish and philosophical reasoning advanced by his ‘friends’ (called darkened counsel), God spoke to Job out of the whirlwind (Job.38:1). After hearing God’s words and perceiving his power & wisdom, Job says - Job.42:5 I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee. Job is clearly speaking metaphorically, not literally or physically. He only heard God speaking, and from that perceived or saw God in a clarity of understanding that was in advance of his previous understanding. For now God can only be seen by the mind.. Not by the eyes of flesh…

23. Again, in the NT we read – John.1:18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him. (1John.4:12 No man hath seen God at any time). We read constantly of another type of sight. One not dependent on the physical-carnal senses, but one based upon faith and understanding - John.14:7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him. 3.John.11 Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God. This same sense of sight has been found in all of God’s people since the beginning. Consider - Hebrews.11:13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

24.  It is by faith that we can understand God.  By faith we can learn to walk with God.  Without faith, it is impossible to please him.  Faith allows us to see and know God.  It is NOT about believing in ourselves, or serving self (Jam.4:3)  Faith is the most powerful force available to us today. Luke.17:5-6 And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith. And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you. Matt.17:20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.

25. The New Creation Born of God Born of the word, renewed in knowledge God will be at one with his creation The two federal heads (Adam & Christ)

26. God’s purpose has not changed, even though sin has entered the world and rules in the heart of man. In the NT, we are introduced to terms such as; born again, born from above, born of God, the new creation etc. All of these terms have some relationship to God’s original intention, to make man like himself. Sin corrupted the original creation, so God established principles by which His purpose will be completed in mankind and in the earth. Today it works by faith. The means by which this happens is the major theme of the NT scriptures about Jesus Christ.

27. Consider the whole record of Jesus’ discussion with Nicodemas, a teacher in Israel (John.3:1-10). John.3:1-5. “There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, "Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him." Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." Nicodemus said to Him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?" Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God”.

28. Nicodemas had come to Jesus, and Jesus chastised him for not understanding a very elementary teaching and concept found in the OT scriptures. i.e. of the need to be ‘born again or born from above’ (the meaning of the original Greek) To summarize -> We all (Jew and Gentile) have been born under a constitution of sin, and we have all personally sinned. This connects us to the Law of Sin and Death, and thereby we are naturally far off from the presence of The Holy God. There is no escaping this Law, as we are all the descendants of Adam. This should have be obvious to Nicodemas. We all need a new start, a new beginning, a new life with God as our Father, so that we are no longer connected to Adam & the curse attached to him and his descendants.

29. By the word of God….understood and believed. This is what the gospel message is all about. 1.Pet.1:23-25. Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever, because "All flesh is as grass, And all the glory of man [fn] as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, And its flower falls away, But the word of the LORD endures forever." Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you.

30. The word of God states repeatedly the idea of God continuing to work in the lives of people, reshaping their thinking, their mind and their way of life, so that it reflects God’s way and is manifest in their words & works … This principle is spoken of throughout the WORD in many different ways. Col.3:10 “And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him ” Eph.4:24-25 “And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created (ie to be created like God – versions) in righteousness and true holiness” Eph.2:10 “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto (for) good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them”

31. This idea of God continuing his creative work is also spoken of throughout the Bible in many different ways. We have only listed some of the simpler/clearer NT examples here. OT examples are imbedded in the symbols of the law (e.g. Clothing of priests, symbolic meaning of the Cherubim, substances like Silver & Gold used in articles of worship, the layout & order of both the tabernacle & the temple). Each of these usages is connected to the central theme of God’s original purpose with mankind, Gen.1:26-28. Once you are aware of this, you will see it everywhere in the word. For Example – 2.Cor.5:17 “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” Gal.6:15 “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature”

32. Adam The (federal) head of all In Adam - by Birth - Naturally We inherit from Adam, not punishment for his sins, but the consequences of his sin The Law of sin & death. A nature prone to sin, and mortality IN ADAM - ALL DIE CHRIST The (federal) head of believers In Christ – Born Again – By Faith We receive from Christ freedom from the law of sin & death, so that sin no longer reigns in us Even so we also should walk now in newness of life (eternal life) IN CHRIST - MADE ALIVE I.Cor.15:22

33. We will develop this theme as we continue, but note the connection between Christ and those whom he came to save. This is God and Christ dwelling in us. Col.1:27. To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect (mature- complete) in Christ Jesus: Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.

34. God is and always has been seeking to dwell in and with his people. Today, this is to be a reality in the lives of those who seek to know God and His ways. This faith or belief is powered by our understanding of God. We are called upon to so ‘walk with God’, just as Enoch, Noah and all the faithful did in their times ( Gen.5:29, 6:4 & Heb.11:5, 11:7 ). In the future, when Christ’s work is finished, we will be one with God in both mind and body – thus completing God’s original purpose. Rev.21:3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. Rev.21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

35. 1.Cor.15:24-28. Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. The last enemy that will be destroyed is death. For "He has put all things under His feet." But when He says "all things are put under Him," it is evident that He who put all things under Him is excepted. Now when all things are made subject to Him, then the Son Himself will also be subject to Him who put all things under Him, that God may be all in all.

36. God’s Purpose centres on Jesus. Finding the authentic Jesus We must understand his OT heritage Jesus was not just a remedy for sins, but the realisation of God’s purpose He comes again to complete God’s purpose

37. The things concerning Jesus have been surrounded by myth and superstition. We must look beyond these if we are to find the authentic person of Jesus Christ Jesus is the most remarkable person in all human history Even his enemies were astonished at his words, his works and his demeanour and presence. They inevitably tried to measure him by their own standards, and therefore could not understand him. He unnerved Pilot, even when he apparently had no power. If we are to know the authentic person we need to grasp his background from the OT, and the principles that he lived by, the promises that went before concerning him, and what he taught over the 3 ½ years of his public ministry.

38. If we are to understand who Jesus is, then we must see him as he is declared = ‘ the word made flesh ’ (John.1:14) All God’s designs and purposes (His Word) centre on him. Heb.10:7, Psalm.40:7. Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come— In the volume of the book it is written of Me— To do Your will, O God.’ ” If you count up the pages in your Bible, you will find that the 4 Gospel Accounts of Jesus’ life (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John), occupy 10% of the total Bible (OT & NT) Interestingly, the ‘tithe’ or ‘10%’ was an OT concept, where it was used to represent the whole (Gen.14:20, 28:22), usually dedicated to God in service.

39. Unfortunately, because many people do not understand or believe the OT scriptures, they end up with a distorted understanding of who Jesus actually is. We run the risk of being like the Jews, who believed in Moses and Abraham, but did not really know what these Patriarchs believed in or stood for, or what they hoped in. i.e. believing in the messenger but not in the message… We also must come to understand that - Jesus did not only come to die for sinners, but in him were all the purposes and designs of God centred. Remember God’s original purpose: ‘To make man in his image and likeness’, and to have dominion over the earth. How was Jesus connected to this purpose ?

40. We are told many times in the NT scriptures that this Jesus was the image of God, a clear echo from the purpose of God declared in Gen.1:26. Heb.1:3. who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 2.Cor.4:3-4. But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.

41. We have learnt from the OT that Adam was made to be in God’s image, and that he was to be the Lord of all creation, to exercise the dominion over all. We learn that Adam fell from this pre-eminent position because of his Sin (purposeful sin 1.Tim.2:4). In the same context that Jesus was first publicly declared to be the ‘Son of God’, Lk.3:22, we are told that Adam himself was also ‘the Son of God’ Lk.3:38. We are told by Paul that this Adam was a type or figure of him that was to come, even Jesus. (Rom.5:14). We are also told by Paul that Jesus is the last Adam, or the second man 1.Cor.15:45,47.

42. Jesus is both similar to Adam, and yet far more than just a replacement for Adam. For, as a result of his unique birth (Heb.1:4-6), and his unique obedience to the point of death (Phil.2:8-11), he is marked out as being superior to all men, and even to the angels of God. In him all the works of God converge - He has the keys to unlock the grave, and reverse death. Rev.1:18. I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death. (That is, just as death came as a consequence of the actions of the one man, even Adam = Rom.5:12, so the promise of life came by the faith of one man, even Jesus Christ = Rom.5:19) Col.1:15. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. (Adam was both of these)

43. However Adam, because of his sin, fell from the position of his natural pre-eminence and birthright, as Lord of all creation. The OT tells us of the rights of the firstborn. As the firstborn, he had 3 main advantages – 1) The right of the priesthood = represent his people to God 2) The double portion = of his father’s goods. 3) The pre-eminent position = authority over the house. Adam lost the right to be God’s firstborn. God raised up another to exercise these privileges/responsibilities. God’s plan has not changed, and He raised up another through whom that plan would be executed. This is one reason why Jesus is called the ‘Lord of All’ (Acts.10:36).

44. The NT emphasises the exalted position of Jesus. He has been exalted as Lord of All, and heir of all things. It was with him in mind that God made all things, and adjusted all the ages. Phil.2:9-11. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Heb.1:1-2. God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds (α ἰώ ν = ages).

45. Paul hoped in the coming of Christ. 2.Tim.4:1, 8. I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom : …………….. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing. He Comes to complete the purpose of God, to establish God’s kingdom and dominion over all the earth.

46. This Week, we looked at –  The Word of God – to have an effect upon us  The Word of God – produces faith  The New Creation – born again, born from above.  The purpose of God revolves around Jesus Christ Next Week, we will look at –  Jesus – his conception and birth  Death and Resurrection  Finding the Authentic Jesus  Jesus – his nature