"Into
His Marvelous Light" (Bible
Study) 
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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:
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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... And that
from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make
thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for
doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
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John 1:1-5 & 14
In the beginning,
the Word was God and became flesh. |
Jesus Christ is the Living Word
of God.
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John 1:11-13 If
we believe in Him and receive Him, Jesus gives us power |
to become
the sons of God by a supernatural birth. He spoke further
about this new birth one night to a ruler of the Jews...
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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 water and the
Spirit.
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John 3:16-21 Jesus
also told Nicodemus that whosoever believeth 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...
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John 7:38-39 Here,
we discover that if we believe on Him (according to the |
Word), we
will receive the Spirit. We find that scriptural belief is more
than
just a change in the way we think. It also results in a scriptural
experience.
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John 12:35-36 &
42-43 Today, just as in Jesus' day, many believe on Him. |
But, they will not confess Him for fear of what others will do or
say.
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John 12:44 In
response to their fearfulness, Jesus warns that His Spirit will |
judge us, so we must be careful not to reject it. Rather, we should
believe
and obey it... no matter what others say...
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John 17:17-20 In
Jesus' prayer for his disciples, just before His crucifixion, |
He
said God's Word is truth. He also prayed for us; and for all those
who
would believe on Him through the Apostles' word.
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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?
HOW WAS THE PROMISE OF THE
FATHER FULFILLED?
Let us continue our journey
into the Word of God by seeing what was preached and what happened at
Jerusalem...
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NOTICE: Acts 2:38 is the
fulfillment of the birth requirements Jesus mentioned in John 3:5
that were necessary to enter the Kingdom of God.
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water birth baptism in the
name of Jesus Christ! |
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filling of the Holy Ghost! |
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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...
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Phillip preaching to
the Samaritans in Acts 8
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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
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Did they have great joy? |
Acts 8:12
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Were they baptized in His
name? |
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Did they believe in Jesus
Christ? |
Acts 8:14-17
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Did they receive the Holy
Ghost as a separate and distinct experience? |
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Peter preaching to
the Gentiles in Acts 10
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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 the Word shows us through Cornelius' experience that this
is not true... then it is not....
Acts 10:1-2
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Was Cornelius a religious
man? |
Acts 10:5-6
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Did God have more for him
to do? |
Acts 10:44-46
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Did they receive the Holy
Ghost and speak in tongues after the day of Pentecost? |
Acts 10:47-48
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Did they still have to be
baptized in Jesus' name? |
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Paul preaching to
John's disciples in Acts 19
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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-baptize (if you were baptized by John the Baptist, would you think it
would be necessary to be re-baptized using a different baptismal
formula?) Others say it does not matter what is spoken when you are
baptized. If the Bible indicates it does not matter, then it does not
matter...but, what if the Bible shows us it DOES matter?
Acts 19:1-2
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They were believers, but
had they heard of or received the Holy Ghost? |
Acts 19:3-5
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Did those baptized by John
the Baptist have to be re-baptized in Jesus' name? |
Acts 19:6
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Was receiving the Holy
Ghost accompanied by the initial evidence of speaking
in other
tongues?
We have found that the
Apostles preached the following 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)
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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.
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Supplemental Study
Scriptures
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.
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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 gospel is preached unto you." (I
Peter 1:22-25)
Peter asked a question:
"...What shall the end
be of them that obey not the gospel of God?" (I Peter
4:17-18)
(1) 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.
(2) Matthew 16:15-19
NOTE: Peter was given the
"keys of the kingdom" because of his revelation of who
Jesus Christ was.
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 the 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)
What did Paul say?
"I marvel that ye are
so soon removed from him that called you into 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..."
(3) 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.
(4) 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.
(5) 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 root word for
baptize is "bapto", which literally means to cover wholly
with fluid, to dip. (see also Romans 6:3-4).
(6) Acts 10:34-43
NOTE: Peter preached the
life and lordship of Jesus Christ as well as His death, burial and
resurrection.
(7) I Peter 3:20-21
NOTE: According to Peter
baptism is an essential part of the plan of salvation.
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