New Believers Study Guide

New Believer’s Study Guide “If you abide in My Word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the Truth, and the Truth shall make you free.” John 8:31-32P.O. Box 224Manitowoc, WI 54221-0224(920) 682-6163 2

We are assured in the Bible that “. . . as It is our desire here at Calvary Chapel ofmany as received Him (Jesus), to them He gave Manitowoc that you, as a child of God, wouldthe right to become children of God, to those continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of ourwho believe in His name.” John 1:12. So once Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. This growth isagain welcome to the family of God! obtained as you study the Word of God and apply those lessons that He is teaching you to your life. This little booklet is designed to help yourealize how much God loves you and the blessings Romans 10:17 says, “So then faith comes byand privileges that are yours as a child of God. If the hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.” Andrichest man in the world decided to adopt you as his Jesus said in John 15:3, “You are already cleanson or daughter you would automatically receive because of the word which I have spoken tomany privileges and blessings just by becoming a you.” God is increasing your faith and making youmember of his family. You would become a more like Him as you study the Word of God.millionaire without lifting a finger. In this booklet we will cover 5 important In Ephesians 1:5 God says, “. . . having topics relating to your life with Christ.predestined us to adoption as sons by JesusChrist to Himself, according to the good 1. Salvationpleasure of His will.” You see, God has adoptedyou into His family. And likewise, as a child of God, 2. Jesus Christyou have automatically received many blessings andprivileges just by becoming a member of His family. 3. God the Father We are told in Ephesians 1:3, “Blessed be the 4. The Holy SpiritGod and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, whohas blessed us with every spiritual blessing in 5. The Biblethe heavenly places in Christ.” As a child of Godyou are spiritually rich and as you read the Word of 4God you will see those spiritual blessings that Godhas given to you as His child. 3

The Bible tells us in Romans 3:23, “For all I Peter 1:18-19 says, “Knowing that youhave sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” were not redeemed with corruptible things,You see, God’s standard is perfection, and no one can like silver or gold, from your aimless conductattain perfection on their own. We all miss that received by tradition from your fathers, butmark. And it doesn’t matter if you miss by a few with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lambinches or a few miles, you still come up short. without blemish and without spot.” Isaiah 59:1-2 explains this for us, “Behold, So as Jesus Christ died on the cross of Calvarythe Lord’s hand is not shortened, That it cannot for our sins and rose on the third day from the grave,save; Nor His ear heavy, That it cannot hear. He paid in full the penalty for our sins. As Paul said ,But your iniquities have separated you from “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ allyour God; And your sins have hidden His face shall be made alive.” I Corinthians 15:22. Paulfrom you, So that He will not hear.” reminds us in Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Thus, sin has separated us from God with no Christ Jesus our Lord.”hope of reconciliation by our own efforts. But Godprovided a way for man to be reconciled to God We are all born from Adam and because ofthrough the substitutionary death of His Son, Jesus that we have inherited the sin nature. We also haveChrist. our own acquired sin in our lives. We miss the mark of perfection. We are sinners. Because we are Paul tells us that God “. . . desires all men to sinners, the penalty is death. But because of thebe saved and to come to the knowledge of the work of Christ applied into our life, He has taken thetruth. For there is one God and one mediator sting out of death and given us true life!between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus.”I Timothy 2:4‑5. What do you need to do to receive Jesus Christ into your life and be forgiven of your sins? Many people today would have you believethat all roads lead to God. They want you to believe 1. ADMIT THAT YOU ARE A SINNER.that there are many ways to reach God. But they arewrong and not speaking the truth. There is only one 2. REPENT AND TURN FROM YOUR SIN.way! TURN TO JESUS. Jesus made this point clear when He said, 3. BELIEVE THAT JESUS CHRIST,“. . . ‘I am the way, the truth and the life. No ALMIGHTY GOD, DIED FOR YOU ON THEone comes to the Father except through Me.’” CROSS OF CALVARY.John 14:6. It is only through Christ that we can cometo the Father, and not on our own good merits or 4. RECEIVE, THROUGH PRAYER, JESUSsacrifices. CHRIST INTO YOUR HEART AND YOUR LIFE AS YOUR LORD AND SAVIOR. 5 6

Your prayer may go something like this: 1. When Adam sinned and that sin nature was passed down to the human race, what happened to “Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner and I our relationship with God? (Isaiah 59:1-2) come to you asking you to forgive my sins and to be Lord in my life. I believe by faith, 2. According to Romans 3:23 how many people are according to the what the Bible says, that you guilty of sin before God? have forgiven my sins and that you are Lord of my life. Thank you Lord for your love and 3. Is there anyone who is “good enough” to escape forgiveness. Thank you for saving me. Amen.” this penalty? (See Romans 3:10-12) Welcome to the family of God. This booklet isdesigned to help you grow in your relationship withGod. Therefore, it is important that you open yourBible, the Word of God, and look up the followingScriptures. Before you do, please pray that God’sSpirit would open your eyes and your heart to Histruth. This first section will cover “Salvation.” Maythe Lord bless you as you study His Word and learnabout Him.78

4. According to Matthew 18:11, 14, what is the desire 7. When we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord andof God’s heart for all men? Savior, what happens to our lives according to II Corinthians 5:17?5. In Luke 19:10 we are told the reason that Jesus 8. According to I John 5:13, can we actually know ifChrist became flesh, what is that reason? we are saved or must we wait until we die to be really sure? (Also look‑up John 5:24)6. Acts 4:11‑12 is speaking of Jesus Christ being the 9. Look up Galatians 2:16 and Ephesians 2:8‑9. Are“chief cornerstone.” What important point is Peter we saved by being good before God? If not, then howmaking in these verses? are we saved?9 10

10. In John 15:4‑5 Jesus explains what we can do B. I John 1:9outside of a relationship with Him. What does He sayregarding all good things we do if we are not saved?11. Today it seems that everyone has solutions to the C. John 1:12stress and anxiety in our lives. What does Jesus D. John 3:16Christ call us to do according to Matthew 11:28‑30? E. II Timothy 1:712. Look up the following Scripture verses that dealwith what God does when we receive Christ andexpound on them. A. Revelation 3:2011 12

13. Is repentance necessary before we can believe the In this section we are going to be looking atgospel and be saved? (See Mark 1:15, Luke 24:46-47, the person of Jesus Christ. It is important to knowActs 2:38, Acts 17:30) His character so that you can draw close to Him by trusting in Him. That can only be done as you study14. Now that Christ has come into your heart, what His Word, the Bible, and then apply those lessons toshould you do from this point on, according to Acts your life, allowing the Holy Spirit to lead you in all2:42 and Colossians 3:1‑7? truth. If Jesus is the only way to the Father, the only Please understand that every other religiondoor that leads to salvation, then think of the gospel differs from Christianity because they are basedas the key that unlocks the door and allows a person upon human effort and good works to reach up toto enter into Christ and find salvation. The gospel is God. But, as we have seen, there is none who areto salvation what a key is to a lock. good, not even one. However, we all know that a key won’t open a Christianity is not based upon good works,lock if it has somehow gotten bent or twisted. And being a good person. Christianity it is based upon theneither will the door of salvation be opened to a finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary.person with a gospel that has been bent or twisted. We need to understand that the heart and soul of Christianity is Jesus! If Satan can twist and distort the gospel hecan keep the door of salvation locked to people. That You see, Jesus never claimed to be justis why we must begin our study with a careful another teacher who was pointing man to God. Heexamination of the gospel itself. That is why it is so claimed to be God Incarnate or that God becameimportant to know the Bible because it will set you flesh and dwelt among us. Jesus never claimed tofree from all the lies that are out there. God’s Word have a way to God but He clamed to be God and theis truth and it helps us to walk accordingly, to walk only way to the Father in heaven!in the truth! John 14:6 tells us, “Jesus said to him, ‘I am 13 the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’” He is the only way and therefore, all other ways lead to death and not to life. 14

You can remove Buddha from Buddhism, 1. What does Micah 5:2 tell us of Christ?Mohammed from Islamism, Confucius from 2. What do the following verses tell us about theConfucianism and nothing would change because pre‑existence of Christ? (He has always existed)those religions aren’t built on their leaders. They arebuilt on their teachings; not on them personally. But A. John 8:58remove Jesus Christ from Christianity and it ceasesto exist because Christianity is inextricably linked to B. II Timothy 1:9and built upon the Person and work of Jesus Christ! C. John 1:3 C. S. Lewis put it like this, “I am trying hereto prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that 16people often say about Him: ‘I’m ready to acceptJesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept Hisclaim to be God.’ That is the one thing we must notsay. A man who was merely a man and said the sortof things Jesus said would not be a great moralteacher. He would either be a lunatic - on a levelwith the man who says he is a poached egg - or elsehe would be the devil of hell. You must make yourchoice. Either this man was and is the Son of God; orelse a madman or something worse.” You see, if Jesus Christ was just another man,if He was not the Son of God, Almighty God, then He,like every other descendant of Adam, was a sinner.And if that is true, then Jesus could not have died forsinners because He Himself was a sinner! Make no mistake about it, Jesus was 100%God and 100% man in the Incarnation. That is whatthe Scriptures teach. Paul said in Hebrews 2:17-18,“Therefore, in all things He had to be made likeHis brethren, that He might be a merciful andfaithful High Priest in things pertaining toGod, to make propitiation for the sins of thepeople. For in that He Himself has suffered,being tempted, He is able to aid those who aretempted.” 15

3. What do the following verses say regarding the 4. Look up the following verses that deal with thedeity of Jesus Christ? (He is God) attributes of God and expound on them. A. Isaiah 9:6 A. Matthew 28:18 and Colossians 1:16‑17B. John 14:9‑11 B. Mark 4:22, Hebrews 4:13, John 16:30, and John 21:17C. Romans 9:5 C. Jeremiah 23:23‑24 17 18

D. Hebrews 13:8 and James 1:17 6. The Bible tells us that Jesus was 100% God andE. John 1:1-3 100% man. We have seen verses that deal with His Deity. Now, from the following verse expound on what the Bible teaches us regarding His humanity. A. Galatians 4:4 B. Luke 2:525. In Isaiah 7:14 we are told that His name will be C. Hebrews 4:15called “Immanuel.” According to Matthew 1:23 D. I Corinthians 15:3what does Immanuel mean?19 20

E. John 4:6 7. According to Hebrews 9:24‑25 and I Peter 3:18,F. Matthew 8:24-25 why did Christ have to die?G. Matthew 4:2H. Luke 22:44 8. According to Matthew 16:21, did Jesus know what was going to happen to Him or did this come as a 21 complete surprise to Him? 22

9. Did Jesus willingly go to the cross according to The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the singleJohn 10:17‑18? greatest event in the history of the world, and the cornerstone of the Christian faith. The resurrection10. We are some 2,000 years after Christ’s was the central message of all Apostolic preaching inResurrection. Can we know for sure Jesus rose from the Book of Acts and is the very bedrock uponthe dead according to I Corinthians 15:3‑8? which the gospel is built. It is so foundational to Christianity that anyone who denies it cannot be a11. According to Hebrews 10:12‑14 and Romans true Christian.4:2‑5, can anything be added to Christ’s deathwhich will make you more accepted before God? Paul tells us in I Corinthians 15:17-20, “And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you 23 are still in your sins! Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable. But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.” Dr. Simon Greenleaf of Harvard University was a very verbal skeptic of Christianity. One day he was challenged by his students to apply the principles of evidence from his book, “The Laws Of Legal Evidence” to the resurrection of Jesus Christ. He accepted the challenge, and in the process he became a Christian. His conclusion was as follows: “The resurrection of Jesus Christ is one of the best established events of history, according to the laws of legal evidence administered in the courts of justice.” In other words, you can place Jesus on trial and try to prove that He did not rise from the dead. But, according to the evidence we have before us, He will win the case. He rose from the dead! The tomb is empty! So the resurrection of Jesus is the evidence that He is God, that He has conquered death and because He rose from the dead, so shall we! 24

Today we hear people use the word “God” and In Romans 1:20-25 Paul tells us, “For sincewe are not sure what they mean. Thus, can we be the creation of the world His invisibleconfident what that word means? I believe that the attributes are clearly seen, being understoodScriptures are very clear on this issue and it is very by the things that are made, even His eternalcritical that we understand who God is. We must power and Godhead, so that they are withoutpresent to the world the true and living God as He is excuse, because, although they knew God, theyrevealed to us in the pages of Scripture. did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their What we see as we read the Bible is that it foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to bereveals to us a God who is infinite and eternal. A God wise, they became fools, and changed the glorywho has no beginning and no end. He is the Creator of the incorruptible God into an image madeand Sustainer of all things! Because He alone is life like corruptible man – and birds and four-that means that He is the only source of life. footed animals and creeping things. Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the What is interesting as you read the Bible is lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodiesthat you will not find anywhere in the Scriptures among themselves, who exchanged the truth ofGod proving His existence. What we do see in the God for the lie, and worshiped and served thefirst verse of the Bible, “In the beginning God creature rather than the Creator, who iscreated the heavens and the earth.” (Genesis blessed forever. Amen.”1:1) In this study we are going to be looking at You can accept that or reject that. It is your God the Father and as we will see, He is the firstchoice. Apparently God did not feel it necessary to person of the Holy Trinity. He, like Jesus, is fullyprove His existence to man since God created man God. Interestingly enough, in the very first verse ofintelligent enough to realize that creation must have the Bible we read, “In the beginning God createda Creator to exist. It is utter foolishness to believe the heavens and the earth.” (Genesis 1:1).otherwise. The word “God” is Elohim in Hebrew, which In Psalm 19:1-2 we are told, “The heavens speaks of a plurality of God or three or more. If itdeclare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the was speaking of God in the singular, then thework of His hands. Day after day they pour Hebrew word El would have been used.forth speech; night after night they displayknowledge.” 26 25

What becomes confusing to many is that Thus, we see God in three distinct persons:Deuteronomy 6:4 says, “Hear, O Israel: The Father, Son and Holy Spirit. All three are God andLORD our God, the LORD is one!” That seems to yet they exist as one being and function in perfectindicate that there is only one God and yet we have harmony. Think of it this way:seen Jesus is God, the Father is God, and in our nextstudy we will see that the Holy Spirit is God. That No matter what form it is in, itseems to indicate three God’s which contradict the is still the same substance!Scriptures. The Bible clearly teaches that there isonly One God. So what is the answer to this question Donald Grey Barnhouse put it like thisabout God, how many God’s are there? regarding the Trinity or our Triune God! He wrote, Let me explain. The word “LORD” is Any one of you may hold your hand before youYAHWEH, which speaks of God’s name, and it is and look at it. Between your eye and your hand aresingular. But the word “God” is the Hebrew word three things which are one, and which are also three.Elohim, which again speaks of the plurality of God. Each may be studied separately, but it is impossibleWe then see this passage in Deuteronomy close with to have one without the others. Between your handthe word “one” which makes things very confusing and your eye at this moment are light and heat andonce again. air. Your eye can see your hand because of the light waves that are in the visible spectrum. Even when The Hebrew word that is used for “one” is there is no visible light, there are invisible raysEchad, which literally means a “united one.” The below the red and beyond the violet – infrared andsame word for “one” is used in Genesis 11:6, which ultraviolet. Darkness is only a matter of human eyessays, “And the LORD said, ‘Indeed the people – that which stimulates the rods and cones of ourare one and they all have one language, and retina we call visible light; the rest, no less real, isthis is what they begin to do; now nothing that invisible light.they propose to do will be withheld fromthem.’” 28 It does not mean that they are physicallyunited into a single being but these individuals stillretain their personal identity and distinctpersonage. Thus, here and in Deuteronomy 6:4 theword “one” implies a “compound unity.” Now if the writer of Deuteronomy wanted tospeak of one and only one, he would use the Hebrewword Yachiyd. This word means “only one” or“solitary one.” 27

Before you in the light that you see there is also 1. What does John 4:23‑24 say regarding the Father?air. If you blow on your hand you can feel the air. Youbreathe it in; you breathe it out. You live by it. And there 2. If God is spirit, then what do the following versesis heat between you and your hand; take a thermometer tell us? (See John 10:30 and John 14:9)and measure it – see its variations as you go from awarm room to the winter snow without. You cannot have 3. How does the Father show His great love for usheat, or light, without having them in some relationship according to John 3:16?to our atmosphere. And you cannot have heat or airwithout having them in some relationship to ouratmosphere. Science can use any one of them apart from theothers, but can never separate them totally. To allintents and purposes they are three, and they are one. We Christians do not believe that there are threeGods, but that there is one true God who is in threepersons. - Donald Grey Barnhouse, Timeless Illustrations for Preaching and Teaching, p. 245 As we are told in Isaiah 48:16, “Come near toMe, hear this: I have not spoken in secret from thebeginning; from the time that it was, I was there.And now the Lord GOD and His Spirit have sentMe.” Our Triune God! In this section our focus is going to be on God theFather.29 30

4. According to Deuteronomy 8:5 and Proverbs 7. According to Matthew 6:9, who can pray to the3:11‑12, why does God chasten us? Father?5. Another reason God chastens us is spoken of inJeremiah 3:22. Expound on this verse. 8. According to Ephesians 1:3, what has the Father given to us and what is that based upon?6. What does Paul tell us has happened in our lifewhen we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savioraccording to Galatians 4:6‑7?31 32

9. According to Genesis 1:26 and Matthew 3:16‑17, D. Psalm 90:2, Isaiah 57:15, Psalm 102:24-27does the Bible speak of God being a Trinity? (OneGod in three persons) E. Numbers 23:19, Malachi 3:610. Look up the following verses and expound on the 11. Look up the following verses and expound on thenatural attributes of God that are spoken in these moral attributes of God.verses. A. Psalm 16:4-7, Isaiah 45:21 A. Job 37:16, Isaiah 42:9, Psalm 139:1-4 B. Jeremiah 23:23-24, Psalm 139:7-10C. Genesis 1:1, Isaiah 40:28, Psalm 33:6-11 B. Jeremiah 31:3, Romans 5:8, I John 4:7-1133 34

C. Exodus 3:5, Isaiah 6:1-7, I John 1:5 F. Psalm 23:6, Psalm 107:31, James 1:17D. Genesis 6:8, Exodus 33:12-17E. Psalm 86:5, Isaiah 55:7, Hebrews 2:17 12. As we have seen all that God is, how are we toF. Lamentations 3:22-24, Psalm 119:89-90 respond to Him? 35 A. I Chronicles 28:9 B. I Thessalonians 4:1 C. Hebrews 11:6 13. James 4:8 says, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” If you want to draw near to God, what should you do? (See Ephesians 4:22-24, Philippians 4:8-9) 36

14. According to Luke 11:1-4 and John 16:23, who When it comes to the Holy Spirit , who He isare we to direct our prayers to? and what His function is in this world, there is much confusion today. Yet, when you look at the Old As we close out this section on God the Father Testament the Holy Spirit is mentioned some 90we must properly define what is meant by the times with at least 18 different titles that areTrinity. We covered this as we opened up this section assigned to Him. In the New Testament we see thatbut it is very important that we understand what is He is mentioned more than 260 times with 39meant as we speak of the Triune God. different names and titles that are assigned to Him. What we mean when we speak of the Triune In fact, out of the 27 New Testament books,God is One God revealed in three separate Persons; only the books of II John and III John do not mentionthe Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. This is a the Holy Spirit. Is this an important subject? You betfoundational belief of Christianity! it is. God took the time to mention the Holy Spirit in 25 of the 27 New Testament books! God does not As you have seen these attributes of God the want us to be confused about the Holy Spirit!Father and seen all that He is; His character, Hisnature, what flows from Him, I pray it has moved Where does this confusion come from? Some of ityou to love Him even more. And in loving Him more comes from the fact that the Old Testament HebrewI also pray that it has moved you to learn even more word for “spirit” is “RAUCH” and it means “breath.”about Him. The more you know Him the more youwill love Him and the more you love Him the more Then, as we get to the New Testament theyou will want to know Him. Greek word for “spirit” is “PNEUMA” and it also speaks of “wind” or “air.” Now if that is all we were 37 told of the Holy Spirit, if that is all the information we had, we too may come to the conclusion that the Holy Spirit is some kind of “power” or “force” and not a person at all. But, as we will see, the Scriptures speak much more in regards to the Holy Spirit and they will clearly show us who He is. He is the Third Person of the Holy Trinity. Many today would have you believe that the Holy Spirit is some impersonal force like the wind or electricity. That is not what the Bible teaches. It teaches us that the Holy Spirit is God, just as the Father and Jesus are. 38

We see the Holy Spirit actively engaged in the Thousands of ministers, Christian workers,work of creation along with the Father and the Son. and Christians in the humblest spheres of life haveIn the Old Testament the Holy Spirit came upon spoken to me or written to me of the completemen to empower them for service; but when they transformation of their Christian experience thatwere disobedient, He departed from them. That is came to them when they grasped the thought - notwhy when David sinned against the Lord, he prayed, merely in a theological, but in an experiential way -“Take not thy Holy Spirit from me.” Psalm that the Holy Spirit was a person and consequently51:11. came to know Him. But in the New Testament, after Pentecost, - R. A. Torrey, The Person And Work Of Thewe see that the Holy Spirit indwells the believer, Holy Spirit, pp. 10-11never to leave him, filling him and empowering himfor service. It is extremely important that the new Another reason so many are confused today isbeliever understands that the Holy Spirit is God, because of what has been said in the past regardingequal to the Father and the Son. the Holy Spirit. One of the early church scholars, Arius, who lived around 280 - 336 A. D., taught that R. A. Torrey wrote this regarding the Person only the Father was the true God. He said thatof the Holy Spirit, Jesus was a created being and that the Holy Spirit was an essence. This doctrine is known as the Arian It is of the highest importance from the heresy. Many still believe this lie and you can clearlystandpoint of experience that we know the Holy see that many of the cults have picked up on thisSpirit as a person. Thousands and tens of idea.thousands of men and women can testify to theblessing that has come into their own lives as they In fact, the Nicaean Counsel stripped Ariushave come to know the Holy Spirit, not merely as a from his position and branded his teachings asgracious influence (emanating, it is true, from God), heresy! And yet, many still believe this idea butbut as a real person, just as real as Jesus Christ clearly the Scriptures don’t support this theory andHimself, an ever-present, loving friend and mighty that is why we call it a heresy!helper, who is not only always by their side butdwells in their heart every day and every hour, and Also, the Jehovah Witnesses teach, “The Biblewho is ready to undertake for them in every use of ‘Holy Spirit’ indicates that it is a controlledemergency of life force that Jehovah God uses to accomplish a variety of His purposes. To a certain extent, it can be 39 likened to electricity, a force that can be adapted to perform a great variety of operations.” Again, they are agreeing with what Arius taught and he was wrong and so are the Jehovah Witnesses! That is what we will see here in our study of the Holy Spirit, that He is GOD! 40

1. According to John 14:16‑17, 26, why was the Holy C. Hebrews 10:29Spirit sent to us?2. We have said that the Holy Spirit is the third D. I Thessalonians 5:19person of the Holy Trinity. Expound on the following E. Acts 5:3verses that describe his personhood, that He is realand not just a force. A. Ephesians 4:30B. Acts 7:51 F. Matthew 12:31‑32 41 42

3. Being the third person of the Holy Trinity, what E. Hebrews 9:14do the following verses tell us of His deity? (He isGod) F. Acts 5:3‑4 A. Job 33:4 4. Look up the following verses and expound on the work of the Holy Spirit in a believer’s life. B. Psalm 139:7‑10 A. Romans 8:16 C. Luke 1:35 B. John 16:13 D. I Corinthians 2:10‑1143 44

C. Romans 8:26 G. Galatians 5:22‑23D. John 14:26 5. What are some of the results of the Holy Spirit’sE. John 4:24 and Philippians 3:3 presence in the life of a believer? (See II Timothy 1:7)F. Ephesians 6:18 6. If we are to live that victorious spirit filled life, 45 what must we do? (See Ephesians 5:18 and Galatians 5:16) 7. According to John 16:7-11 what kind of work is the Holy Spirit doing in the world today? 46

Jesus, in speaking of the Holy Spirit, said in The Bible is God’s progressive revelation ofJohn 14:16‑17, “. . . and I will pray the Father, Himself to His creation. You see, from Genesis toand He will give you another Helper, that He Revelation, 66 books, we have one unfolding story ofmay abide with you forever; the Spirit of God’s love and salvation to His rebellious creation.Truth, who the world cannot receive, because The Bible tells us who He is, what He is like, whatit neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you He has done for us, and what we must do inknow Him, for He dwells with you and will be in response to what He has done.you.” God has revealed Himself through His Word. The Holy Spirit dwells “with” unbelievers All that we know about God comes from the Bible,drawing us to Christ. When we accept Jesus Christ which is the only source of specific, personalas our Lord and Savior then the Holy Spirit comes revelation about God that we have.“in” us or indwells us. That speaks of our salvationthrough Christ and the Holy Spirit will never leave Understand this, the Bible has only one mes-you. sage. That is Christ and His redemption. From Genesis to Revelation this is the one unfolding Then in Acts 1:8 we read, “But you shall message. Many other things are taught, but this isreceive power when the Holy Spirit has come the predominant theme.upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me inJerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and When we speak of the inerrancy of the Bibleto the end of the earth.” we mean that these 66 books, written from 1500 B. C. to 96 A. D. by 40 different authors from Jesus is telling us here that the Holy Spirit every walk of life imaginable (shepherds, kings,will come “upon” us or empower us for service to be generals, prime ministers, fishermen, doctors, etc.),His witnesses. If you are lacking that power in your writing on three continents (Asia, Africa, andlife just ask the Father to empower you with His Europe), in three languages (Hebrew, Aramaic andSpirit to be a witness of Him to a world that is dying Greek), is one continuous story withoutin their sins! contradiction or errors. I pray that as you search the Scriptures you The Bible is thewill believe what the Scriptures are saying regarding Word of God!the Holy Spirit. Listen to what God is saying and notwhat men are saying! Bring everything into the light 48of God’s Word. You will not be hurt or mislead by it. Ithink we have clearly seen that the Holy Spirit is aperson, the third Person of the Holy Trinity – GODTHE HOLY SPIRIT! 47

1. What does II Timothy 3:16‑17 tell us about the 4. Look up the following verses that deal with God’sBible? Word and expound on them. A. John 17:172. Wasn’t the Bible written by men? (See II Peter B. Matthew 24:351:20‑21 and Galatians 1:11‑12)3. How can we as mere men and women understand C. Psalm 138:2the Word of God, the Bible? (See I Corinthians2:12‑13)49 50

D. Hebrews 4:12 5. According to the following verses, how can we getE. Ephesians 6:17 to know God more and understand His characterF. Psalm 40:7 and John 5:39 more? 51 A. Romans 10:17 B. Revelation 1:3 C. Acts 17:11 52

D. Psalm 119:9‑11 6. According to Matthew 22:29, what rebuke didE. Psalm 1:2‑3 Jesus give to the Sadducees?F. Deuteronomy 17:19‑20 7. What does Peter admonish us to do in I Peter 3:15? 53 54

As you spend time in God’s Word it is 3. Have a plan:important to memorize it, meditate upon it and then a. Begin with prayerapply it to your life. The world has many differentideas, many philosophies, but God has what is b. Read your Bible and mark versesperfect for our life. Thus, the Bible is God’s way to important to you.help you with all the different questions you haveabout life. The more you know and do, the better off c. Memorize as much Scripture as youyou will be. can. “But be doers of the word, and nor d. Spend time in silence. (Psalm 46:10)hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” James 1:22 e. Keep a journal to write down your God wants you to stop and think about what thoughts.He is telling you in His Word. Do more than justread it – ponder it and ask the Lord to show you f. Make it a goal to read the Biblewhat He means. through once a year! We have on our web page: www.ccmanitowoc.org the This is how the Bible communicates to us. daily reading you will need to do toThrough Revelation, this concerns the discovery of complete the Bible in one year. You cantruth. (Hebrews 1:1-2) Then there is Inspiration, use this or there are many others but itand that concerns the communication of truth. is a great way to learn the Word of God.(II Timothy 3:16-17, II Peter 1:20-21) And lastly,Illumination, and that concerns the understanding May you grow in the grace and knowledge ofof truth. (I Corinthians 2:14, I Corinthians 2:10). our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ as you read His Word opened up to you by the Spirit of God! Here are some ways to help you in your walkwith the Lord as you read the Word of God and apply 56it to your life. 1. Establish a specific time each day to be alone with God and His Word. 2. Choose a place that is quiet and secluded. 55

The English word “baptize” comes from a The Christians took this seriously. As soon asnearly identical Greek word “baptizo” which is the the church was born, about 3,000 new believers werelanguage of the original New Testament writings. baptized (Acts 2:41). Belief always comes first, thenThe simplest meaning of the word is to “soak, baptism.plunge, drench, or sink in water.” It is with thismeaning that it appears in the New Testament, the It has been said that, “Baptism signifies thatBible, 74 times. the old self in us is drowned, and the new person is risen to life before God in righteousness and purity In the Old Testament the priests were wash forever.”themselves in this sea of bronze or laver beforeengaging in worship (Exodus 30:17-21). Paul said, \"And you are complete in Him, who is the We also see this in the New Testament, if head of all principality and power.people wanted to be converted to Jewish belief, they Buried with Him in baptism, in whichwent through ceremonial washing referred to as you also were raised with Him throughbaptism (Mark 7:4, Luke 11:38, Hebrews 9:10). faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. And you, being dead The second reference to baptism concerns the in your trespasses and thework of John the Baptist. This was, in a sense, a uncircumcision of your flesh, He haspre‑Christian baptism. It was the outward symbol of made alive together with Him, havinga repentant heart (Matthew 3:6. 11; John 1:25). forgiven you all trespasses.” Colossians 2:10, 12, 13. The most common use of the word baptism inthe New Testament refers to Christian baptism. And Jesus said,After Jesus Christ rose from the dead He appeared “‘Go therefore and make disciples of allto His disciples. In His final charge, known as “The the nations, baptizing them in the nameGreat Commission” Jesus included a command to of the Father and of the Son and of thebaptize. (Matthew 28:19-20) Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and This was not to provide or be a prerequisite of lo, I am with you always, even to the endsalvation, but was intended as an outward sign and of the age.’ Amen.”mark of a believer who was obediently following Matthew 28:19‑20.Christ. If you have not yet been baptized and would 57 like to be, baptized please contact the church office and we would be happy to make arrangements with you. 58

We pray that you have grown in your Our heartfelt desire for you is, that you growrelationship with the Lord and that these lessons are in the knowledge and the grace of our Lord andstepping stones to your future growth. Savior Jesus Christ. May God continue to bless you as you grow in Him. As a child of God you can bring your concerns,your questions, directly to the Lord and allow Him to A great place to start after you have finishedcomfort and teach you. You can also bring your this book is our study called, “Foundation ofprayer requests to other brothers or sisters in the Faith.” In these studies we deal with God theLord so they can pray for you as well. Father, The Triune God, Jesus Christ, The Holy Spirit, The Baptism of the Holy Spirit, The Gifts of In the years to come you will be faced with the Holy Spirit, The Bible, The Study of Salvation,many circumstances that are different from any you The Study of the Church, Heaven and Hell, Angels,have faced before, but you will be looking at them and Spiritual Warfare.with a different perspective now. You can find these studies on our web page: Rest assured in one thing, Jesus loves you, www.ccmanitowoc.org. There you will find theknows you and cares for you. He is the answer in written notes and audio files of each of these studies.your changing circumstance. You will find comfort, Besides that series we have all our study notes fromstrength, peace and direction in Him and through the Genesis through Revelation on our web page andwritten Word (the Bible). they are free for your use. Paul wrote in II Timothy 3:16-17, “All If there is any way that we can be of service toScripture is given by inspiration of God, and is you in your new found walk in Christ, please feel freeprofitable for doctrine, for reproof, for to contact us here at Calvary Chapel of Manitowoc.correction, for instruction in righteousness, Our phone number is: 920-682-6163 and our e-mailthat the man of God may be complete, is: [email protected] equipped for every good work.” In His Love, In II Corinthians 1:3-4 Paul wrote, “Blessedbe the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Joseph GuglielmoChrist, the Father of mercies and God of all Pastorcomfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation,that we may be able to comfort those who are Calvary Chapel Manitowocin any trouble, with the comfort with which we Philippians 1:6ourselves are comforted by God.” The Lord Reigns! 59 60