Introduction
When walking out of a dark room into the sunshine,
light can be blinding. As our eyes become accustomed to the light, we can see
more clearly and enjoy the scenery that surrounds us. Likewise, when we look
into the light of the scriptures, the brightness of truth can sometimes hurt.
However, as our spiritual eyesight becomes adjusted we can enjoy "walking in the
light".
This Bible study is designed to allow us to
"walk" into the marvelous light of the Word of God. We will be journeying into
the scriptures by imagining we are back in the days of Jesus and the Apostles,
listening to them teach and preach the plan of salvation. In order to do this,
we will be careful to "rightly divide the word of the truth" (2 Timothy 2:15) by
concentrating on the highlights of the three main divisions of the New Testament
in chronological order, including:
1. THE GOSPELS - covering the words and works of
Jesus Christ
2. THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES - covering the
actions and preaching of the Apostles
3. THE EPISTLES - covering the letters written by
the Apostles to the churches they started in the Book of Acts
We believe the scriptures are divinely inspired
and, "of no private interpretation"(2
Peter 1:20-21). Therefore, every effort has been made to
present the pure Word of God without adding to, or taking away from its
teachings (Deuteronomy
4:2,
Proverbs 30:5-6). It is not
our intention to diminish any personal relationship you may have with our Lord.
neither do we desire to convince you of our own personal ideas or the creeds of
any denomination. We simply desire to share the truth as it is written. Only by
claiming the Bible as our sole authority can any of us be confident of our
salvation, for it is the Word of God and not the traditions of men that will
judge us all in the end.
Let us read
2 Timothy 3:15-16 as we begin
our journey into the Word of God…
Into the Gospels
John 1:1-5
&
14
In the beginning, the __________ as God and become flesh. Jesus Christ is the
Living Word of God.
John 1:11-13
If we believe in Him and receive Him, Jesus gives us power to become the sons of
__________ by a supernatural birth. He spoke further about this new birth on
night to a ruler of the Jews…
John 3:1-8
The Lord told Nicodemus that everyone who wanted to see or enter into the
Kingdom of god, must be born again of ____________ and the ____________.
John 3:16-21
Jesus also told Nicodemus that whosoever ________________ in Him should have
eternal life. Jesus mentioned two seemingly different requirements for
salvation, one is being born again, the other is believing. Yet, this is not a
contradiction. The next scripture explains how believing is related to
experiencing the birth of the Spirit…
John 7:38-39
Here, we discover that if we believe on Him (according to the Word), we will
receive the ___________. We find that scriptural belief is more than just a
change in the way we think. It also results in a scriptural experience.
John 12:35-36
&
42-43
Today just as in Jesus' day, many believe on Him. But, they will not _________
Him for fear of what others will do or say.
John 12:44-48
In response to their fearfulness, Jesus warns that His ____________ will judge
us, so we must be careful not to reject it. Rather, we should believe and obey
it…no matter what others say or do!
John 17:17-20
In Jesus' prayer for His disciples, just before His crucifixion, He said God's
Word is ___________. He also prayed for us; and for all those who would believe
on Him through the Apostles' word.
To find out what the Apostles' word was to be,
let us read what Jesus told them to proclaim. The setting of the following great
commission scripture in
Luke 24:45-49 is just after
the Lord's death, burial and resurrection…and just before His ascension into
heaven.
"Then opened he their
understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, And said unto them,
Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the
dead the third day: And that
repentance and remission of sins should be preached
in His name among all nations, beginning in Jerusalem.
And ye are witnesses of these things. And behold, I send the
promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem,
until ye be endued with power from on high"
DID THE APOSTLES PREACH THE
MESSAGE JESUS COMMANDED THEM TO PROCLAIM?
Let us continue our journey into the Word of God by
seeing what was preached and what happened at Jerusalem…
HOW WAS THE PROMISE OF THE FATHER FULFILLED?
Into the Acts of the
Apostles
Acts 1:3-5
As we enter the book of Acts, we discover almost immediately that the promise of
the Father is the baptism of the _______________ ______________.
Acts 2:1-17
When the Apostles were at Jerusalem, they, along with many others, were joyously
filled with the Holy Ghost and began to speak with other ___________ as the
Spirit gave the utterance (ability to speak). The amazed onlookers from many
nations who heard them speaking with tongues asked, "What meaneth this?" Then
peter explained the promised coming of the Spirit and went on to preach Christ
and the original apostolic plan of salvation.
Acts 2:36-39
When the people who heard Peter's words believed that Jesus Christ was their
Lord and Savior, they were sorry for their sins and asked Peter and the Apostles
what they should do. Peter replied by preaching the message Jesus commanded to
be preached in
Luke 24:45-49. In light of
this, consider the three elements of the Plan of Salvation Peter preached in
verse 38:
1. REPENTANCE
2. REMISSION OF SINS THROUGH BAPTISM IN JESUS' NAME.
3. RECEIVING THE GIFT OF THE HOLY GHOST
NOTICE:
Acts 2:38 is the fulfillment
of the two "new birth" requirements Jesus mentioned in
John 3:5 that were necessary
to enter the Kingdom of God! Water birth=baptism in the name of Jesus Christ!
Spirit birth=infilling of the Holy Ghost!
Now, let's look at some more examples of people
being born again of water and the Spirit as the word Jesus gave His apostles
continued to be preached throughout the Book of Acts…
PHILIP PREACHING TO THE SAMARITANS IN
ACTS 8…
NOTICE: Some people say when they experienced
joy, or when they believed in Jesus, or when they were baptized, they were
automatically filled with the Holy Ghost. But what does the Word say?
Acts 8:5-8
… Did they have great joy? yes____
no_____
verse 12 …Did they believe in Jesus
Christ yes_____ no____
verse 14-17 …Were they baptized in
His name? yes_____ no_____
Did they receive the Holy Ghost as a separate and distinct experience? yes______
no_____
PETER PREACHING TO THE GENTILES IN ACTS
10
NOTICE: Some people say being religious is
enough, or that the Spirit-baptism evidenced by tongues was only for the Day of
Pentecost. If the Bible says this is true, then it is true. But if the Word
shows through Cornelius' experience that this is not true….then it is not.
Acts 10:1-2
…Was Cornelius a religious man? Yes___ No___
verse 5-6 …Did God have more for him
to do? Yes___ No___
verse 44-46 …Did they receive the
Holy Ghost and speak in tongues after the Pentecost? Yes___ No__
verse 47-48 …Did they still have to
be baptized in Jesus' name? Yes___ No___
PAUL PREACHING TO JOHN'S DISCIPLES IN
ACTS 19…
NOTICE: Many people who are believers have not
even heard about the Holy Ghost that is promised to them. Also, some people say
it is not necessary to be baptized or re-baptized. (If you were baptized by John
the Baptist, would you think it would be necessary to be re-baptized using a
different formula? If the Bible indicates it does not matter, then it does not
matter. But…what is the Bible shows us it DOES matter?
Acts 19:1-2
They were believers, but had they heard of, or received the Holy Ghost? Yes___
No___
vs. 3-5
Did those baptized by John the Baptist have to be re-baptized in Jesus' Name?
Yes___ No___
vs. 6
Was receiving the Holy Ghost accompanied by the initial evidence of speaking
with other tongues? Yes___ No___
We have found that the Apostles preached the
following salvation message:
…
The life of Christ and His death, burial and
resurrection
…Repentance toward God and belief in Jesus Christ
…Baptism in water by immersion in Jesus' Name
…Receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost (which was accompanied
by the initial evidence of speaking with other tongues)
Now, let us read what the Apostles had to say about
the message of salvation they proclaimed in the Book of Acts. We can do this by
reading the epistles (letters) they wrote to their converts.
As we read the Epistles, we will notice how strongly
the Apostles felt about the gospel (good news) of salvation. This is not because
they were being judgmental. It is because they knew the Word Jesus had given
them to proclaim was going to judge all men.
What did Peter say?
"Ye have purified your souls in obeying the
truth…being born again…by the word of God…and this is the word which by
the gospel is preached unto you". (1
Peter 1:22-25)
Obedience to God's Word purifies our souls!
Peter asked a Question:
"…What shall the end be of them that obey not the
gospel of God?"(1
Peter 4:17-18)
Paul gave the Answer:
"The Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with
his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God,
and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished
with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory
of his power." (2
Thessalonians 1:7-9)
It is eternally important to obey the
gospel!
What did Paul say?
"I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of
Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble
you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from
heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto
you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man
preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be
accursed." (Galatians
1:6-9)
There is only one gospel!
What did James say?
"…Receive with meekness the engrafted word, which
is able to save your souls. But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only,
deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer,
he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass; For he beholdeth
himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he
was." (James
1:21-24)
The Word is able to save our souls!
JAMES TELLS US THAT IF WE SEE SOMETHING WE NEED
TO DO, AS WE LOOK INTO THE "MIRROR OF THE WORD", WE SHOULD DO IT. LET US NOW
CONSIDER WHAT WE WILL DO WITH WHAT WE HAVE HEARD…
Conclusion
DO YOU BELIEVE the Word of God is true and will
judge us?
DO YOU BELIEVE Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior?
DO YOU BELIEVE it is necessary to repent by
determining to turn from sin and giving your life to God?
DO YOU BELIEVE water baptism in the name of Jesus
Christ is the biblical way to be baptized?
DO YOU BELIEVE the baptism of the Holy Ghost is
for you today, and when you receive it you will speak in other tongues, just as
they did in the bible?
IF YOU BELIEVE THESE THINGS, PRAY RIGHT
NOW, ASKING GOD TO ALLOW YOU TO EXPERIENCE ALL THAT HE HAS FOR YOU!
Supplemental Study Scriptures
-
Matthew 7:13-24
NOTE: God's warning regarding false prophets and the importance of being a
doer and not just a hearer of the Word.
Matthew 16:15-19
NOTE: Peter was given the "keys of the kingdom" because of his revelation of
who Jesus Christ was.- Other "Great Commission" scriptures
NOTE: In
Matthew 28:18-20 the word "name"
is singular in this command to baptize. The Apostles obeyed this command
when they baptized only in the name of Jesus, and did not use the titles
mentioned here. (See
Acts 4:12).
Mark 16:15-18. The importance of
water baptism and the signs following believers.
Matthew 16:15-19
NOTE: Peter, who was given the "keys of the kingdom", uses them to open the
"kingdom door" by preaching the original apostolic message of salvation for
the first time.-
Acts 8:35-39
NOTE: Philip must have mentioned baptism when he preached Jesus to the
Eunuch, because the Eunuch asked to be baptized in water. The Greek word for
baptize is "bapto", which literally means "to cover wholly with fluid, to
dip"
(also see
Romans 6:3-4).
Acts 10:34-43
NOTE: Peter preached the life and lordship of Jesus Christ as well as His
death, burial and resurrection.
1 Peter 3:20-21
NOTE: According to Peter, baptism is an essential part of the plan of
salvation.
We encourage you to read through the Gospels, Acts
and Epistles in detail …
and continue to walk, "… Into His marvelous light"!
