Introduction: Spiritual Growth

I. The Bible is the inspired Word of God:

A. 1. Witness of the Church.

2. Definition of Bible.

3. Inspired Word of God.

4. Infallible

5. God speaking to you.

B. Concepts of Bible Composition:

1. Revelation

2. Inspiration

3. Authority

C. Personnel Importance:

1. Useful for teaching the faith.

2. Useful for resetting the direction of a man’s life.

3. The Scriptures are the complete equipment of the Man

God.

II. Jesus - The Foundation of Our Faith

1. 1 Cor. 3:17

2. 1 Tim. 1:15

3. 2 Tim. 2:19

4. Heb.. 1: 1-3

5. Heb. 12:2

Staying on Solid Ground

Last week Mark discussed the New Creation;

you are a New Creation - eternal - created by God, through your acceptance of Jesus as your Savior.

As a new spiritual creator - a godly being- you need to walk in a godly life.

The way to do that is be strong in basic teaching and build on those basic fundamental truths, so that you grow spiritually.

It is your duty to grow spiritually.

God expects it!!

Paul tells us to press on toward the goal.

"Not that I have already obtained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.

Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended: but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."

Phillipians 3: 12-14

Read the above in the Phillips translation.

Peter tells us in 2 peter to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord.

"but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."

2 Peter 3: 18.

Paul tells us to renew our minds.

"And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God. " Romans 12:2

God expects you to grow

It will not happen overnight.

It will not happen in one week, one month or one year.

It is an ongoing process!

Just as you grow physically, mentally and emotionally- you must grow spiritually.

This is the purpose of this class. To teach solid foundational beliefs, so that you can start to or continue to grow so that you can strengthen your relationship with God and live a successful Christian life.

In this class we are going to discuss 3 basic truths.

1. The Bible is the inspired Word of God.

2. Jesus is the foundation of our belief.

3. God exists eternally in Three Persons;

God the Father

God the Son

God the Holy Spirit.

The Bible as the Inspired Word of God:

(pass out The Witness of The Church.)

The first statement of Faith we as a church - a body of believers- believe is that

The Bible is the inspired Word of God.

Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Dictionary defines the Bible as:

The sacred book or collection of books accepted by the Christian Church as

uniquely inspired by God.

2 Timothy 3:16-17, Phillips New Testament in Modern English:

"All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching the faith, correcting error, for resetting the direction of a man’s life and training him in good living. The scriptures are the comprehensive equipment of the man of God, and fit him ful

for all branches of his work."

Nelson’s Study Bible defines "inspiration of God" as breathed out from God.

Webster’s New Riverside Dictionary defines inspiration as : to guide or direct by divine influence.

So- The writers of the various books of the Bible were guided by God through the Holy Spirit, not only in the thought to which they gave expressions but also to the choice of words they used.

Nelson also says in 2 Tim. 2:15 not only says it is "God Breathed" but the words also are inspired of God, so that when you read and study the Bible, it inspires you and teaches you, you understand in through faith.

Our spiritual health, growth, strength, victory over sin, soundness of doctrine, joy and peace in Christ come from the study of God’s Word.

We believe the word of God is infallible.

Infallible as defined by Webster is: not capable of making a mistake.

John Schwarz in his book, The Compact Guide to The Christian Faith,

takes this thought one step further.

He states that "The Bible is completely trustworthy, especially as to self

revelation of God in Jesus."

The Bible is literally God speaking to you. It is the result of men moved by God to prophesy.

"Knowing this first, that no prophesy of scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but Holy men of god spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit." 2 Peter 1: 20-21.

In Numbers 12:6-8 God is dealing with Aaron and Miriam after they had questioned Moses’ authority.

"Then He said,

Hear now My Words, If there is a prophet among you, I, The Lord, make

myself known to him in a vision. I speak to him in a dream.

Not so with my servant Moses; He is faithful in all My House, I speak

with him face to face, even plainly as not in dark sayings:"

God inspired men to write the Word directly and through dreams and visions.

There are three concepts that related to Bible composition.

Revelation; something revealed usually something dramatic or significant.

Inspiration; to guide or direct by divine influence.

Authority: The power to command influence or judge.

The Bible’s authority comes from it being the inspired witness to the Revelation of God.

It is the written witness to the revelations God made to the patriots, prophets of Israel and to the apostles and followers of Jesus.

Why is this important to you?

Because the Bible is

1. Useful for teaching the faith and correction of errors.

The Scriptures testify of Christ.

John 5: 24-27 tells us that life and judgment are in Christ Jesus.

Luke 24:27 tells us that beginning with Moses and all the prophets , the

scriptures tell of Jesus.

2. Useful for resetting the direction of a man’s life and training him in good living.

Titus 2:12 tells us to deny ungodliness and live soberly and godly.

Heb. 13:1 tells us to let brotherly love continue

Heb. 13:4 tells us that marriage is honorable

2 Tim. 2:15 tells us to study to shew ourselves approved.

Psalm 1:1 tells us not to walk in the counsel of the ungodly.

The Bible is God’s Will in your life. You have to believe it.

Study it and learn God’s Will for you.

3. The Scriptures are the complete equipment of the man of god for all aspects of daily living.

Deut. 6: tells us our covenant rights.

Phil. 4:19 tells us that god will supply all our needs

Heb. 13:5 tells us that The Lord will never leave you or forsake you.

Phil. 4:13 tells us that you can do all things through Christ which

strengthens you.

3 John 2 tells us that we should prosper as our soul prospers.

Gal. 5:22 lists the fruits of the spirit.

Eph.. 6:11-18 lists the full armor of God to equip you for daily living.

So it is imperative that you believe the bible is the inspired Word of God.

Jesus - The Foundation of Our Belief:

Jesus Christ is the one sent by God, the one prophesied by the prophets and witnessed by the apostles, the one sent to die for our sins, to forgive us, to judge us and to save us. He is the one sent to reconcile us with God the Father

and with each other.

Paul tells us in 1Cor. 3:17:

"for no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is in

Jesus Christ."

He tells us in 1 Tim. 1:15:

" this is a faithful saying and worth of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners."

Jesus is the foundation of our belief. He lived in the world for our sake He became a man and lived among men. What He did he did for men to see.

What He said, He said for men to hear.

He came to show us the way back to God.

"Nevertheless the solid foundation of god stands, Having this seal; The Lord

knows who are His." You are His if you believe on Jesus for salvation.

"God who at various times and in various ways spoke in times past to the Fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His son, whom He appointed Heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds, 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." Heb. 1:1-3

"Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of Our Faith." Heb. 12:2.

Belief in Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, is the second foundational belief to build on.