Who
Is Jesus?
There
are those who say Jesus was a Jewish rabbi who lived a little over two thousand
years ago; no more, no less. There are, also, those who say that Christ Jesus
is the son of God. Quite logically the question arises, "How can God have
a son. 'He doesn't have a body nor a wife?'"
Jesus
once asked His disciples who others believed Him to be. Their reply was,
"Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah
or one of the prophets." "But what about you?" He asked.
"Who do you say I am?" Simon Peter answered, "You are the
Christ, the Son of the living God."
Jesus
said, " Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not
revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven."1
To
answer the question, "Who is Jesus?," we need to go way back in time
(even before time began.)
The
Bible says of Jesus, "For by Him all things were created that are in
heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or
dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and
for Him."2
Since
Jesus was born to a young girl by the name of Mary, how could He have created
all things?
Christ
Jesus did not appear on the scene when He was born a man. No, He has always
been.1
A
little over two thousand years ago, God sent Jesus into the world. Prior to
that, God spoke to mankind through the prophets. In the last days, however, He
chose to speak to mankind face to face through His Son.2
How
do we know that Jesus is whom He claims to be? Words come easy, where's the
proof?
One
day, a paralytic lying on a mat was brought to Jesus in hopes that He would
heal him. In response, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, "Take heart, son;
your sins are forgiven." Some of the religious leaders, however, accused
Jesus of blasphemy (for only God can forgive sin.) Knowing their thoughts,
however, Jesus said to them, "Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your
hearts? Which is easier: to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up
and walk'? But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth
to forgive sins . . ." Then he said to the paralytic, "Get up, take
your mat and go home." And the man got up and went home. When the crowd
saw this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God, who had given such
authority to men.1
While
here, Jesus performed many miracles. Just to name a few: He raised the dead, gave sight to the blind, healed the sick, cast out demons, calmed the storm, walked on water, fed over 5000 people with but two fish and five loaves of
bread, and most importantly, bodily rose from the grave after being crucified
on the cross of Calvary, on Golgotha, outside of Jerusalem. His life, and what
He did, testify to His claims; His resurrection being the most astonishing.
After
His resurrection, Jesus appeared to many over a period of forty days. In fact,
He appeared to over 500 of His followers before He ascended to heaven.1
At
that time there was a Jewish religious leader by the name of Saul who did every
thing he could to stop the growth of Christianity. In fact he was on his way to
Damascus to arrest all who claimed to be a follower of the Way (the Way being
Christ Jesus.) His intention was to return them to Jerusalem as prisoners. This
took place after Jesus' ascension to heaven.
While
on his way to Damascus, Jesus appeared to Saul. Suddenly a light from heaven
flashed around Saul, and when he fell to the ground, he heard a voice say to
him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?" "Who are you,
Lord?" Saul asked. "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting, " He
replied. "Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you
must do."
Saul
was taken into Damascus and for three days he was blind.
At
that time, Jesus , in a vision, instructed Ananias (a disciple in Damascus) to
pray for Saul in order to restore his sight. Ananias was hesitant to do so; he
was afraid of Saul because of all that he had been doing to destroy the Church.
Upon
placing his hands on Saul, however, something like scales fell from Saul's
eyes, and he could see again. Immediately Saul got up, was baptized as a
follower of Jesus, and after taking some food, regained his strength.2
From
that point forward, Saul (who became the apostle Paul) was one of the greatest
Christian evangelist of his time. Ultimately, he was martyred in Rome under
emperor Nero's orders.
Not
only was the apostle Paul martyred proclaiming the resurrection of Christ
Jesus, but ten of the original twelve apostles likewise died a martyr's death
proclaiming the resurrection. No one would be willing to die, as they did, for
a lie.
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research by the Living Testimonies Ministries Evangelical Christian Church
Transmitted every
What to
do with our feelings
Fear, guilt, shame, low self-esteem, etc.
Fear, guilt, shame, low self-esteem, etc.
Before I begin, I want to make it clear that I am only
speaking of the stronghold/behavioral aspect of fear, guilt, etc. There ARE
spirits of guilt, fear, worthlessness, etc. that can also be a factor and must
be addressed (and driven out). However, if all we do is address the spirits but
leave the strongholds in place, they are liable to return. This teaching deals
strictly with the behavioral piece of the puzzle.
Feelings do not necessarily speak truth. If you feel
guilty, it does not mean that you are guilty. Many times, feelings merely tell
us what is going on in our thought life (or what we are really believing). If
we think we are guilty, there will be feelings of guilt as the fruit of those
thoughts or beliefs. It's sort of like feeling a hot stove; feelings are
meant to help alert us of something that is wrong. Feelings should not be
ignored, but properly interpreted. For example, if you feel guilty, don't start
thinking "Oh, it must be true. I need to go confess my sins again and go
try to dot every i and cross every t." That is letting feelings tell us
what to do, and feelings can be (and often are) wrong.
When we begin to feel guilty, we need to instead get to
the root of the problem and address it with God's Word. What does God's Word
say about our guilt? It tells us that if we confess our sin and forsake it, we
are forgiven and cleansed of whatever kind of unrighteousness that we've
committed. When we choose to believe that over how we feel, then our feelings
will begin to change because they are merely the fruit of our thoughts and
beliefs. In this case, our feelings were wrong because our belief was wrong.
Remember, feelings are just the fruit of our thoughts and beliefs. If we
feel wrong, then it wouldn't hurt to stop and ask ourselves what we believe. Do
we believe that when a man confesses his sin and believes upon Christ, that he
is forgiven? Or do we, in the back of our minds, wonder if we've sinned too
badly, or if we need to do something before we can be forgiven? Our feelings
can be a great revealer of what we are really believing under the surface.
It is important to be balanced when dealing with our
feelings. I don't think it's healthy to completely ignore our feelings, but I
can assure you that it is not healthy to go by our feelings either. The key is
to learn how to discern what our feelings are really telling us, and then get
to the root of the problem. Feelings of guilt, for example, do not necessarily
mean that we are indeed guilty, but rather that our beliefs are not rooted and
grounded on God's Word like they ought to be.
A dirty conscience should not be ignored, but rather
investigated. False guilt is an indication of a faulty belief. Is a clean
conscience important according to God's Word? Yes!
How
much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered
himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to
serve the living God?
Hebrews 9:14
Hebrews 9:14
So with that said, I believe it is important to have a
clean conscience. But we can only have that clean conscience when we stand firm
on God's Word and believe what it really says about the forgiveness of our
sins. When we truly believe that the Blood of Christ has paid the full price
for our failures, only then can we have a truly clean conscience. As long as we
think that we've messed up too badly, or need to do something before we can be
forgiven, we will live with a dirty conscience. That is because we don't truly
believe we are forgiven, and when we don't believe that we're forgiven, how on
earth can we expect to feel like it? We can't!
Fear is another feeling which is completely unnecessary in
the life of a believer. How do we know this? God's Word tells us that perfect
love casts out all fear. For those who think that fear is a natural and
unavoidable feeling, God's Word tells us that "He who fears has not been
made perfect in love."
There
is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath
torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
1 John 4:18
1 John 4:18
Got fears? Don't believe them, but rather seek to be
established and made perfect in God's great love for you. That will dispel
those fears. What most people do is go by their feelings and believe them, rather
than seeing them as a warning that something isn't right in their beliefs or
thought lives. That is where many well intending Christians go in the ditch.
Another ditch is to completely ignore those feelings (or warning signs), and do
nothing about them. The question I ask you is, what are you doing about those
feelings? Are you going by what you feel as if it were truth? Or are you asking
yourself, "What am I thinking or believing that may not be aligned with
God's Word?"
Fear, like false guilt, is a result of believing something
other than God's Word. False guilt is when we choose to believe an imagination
that has risen itself against the knowledge of God (see 2 Corinthians 10:4-5),
even though God's Word assures us that when we confess our sins, He is faithful
to forgive us of any sort of unrighteousness that we've committed.
Now of course, not all feelings should be interpreted as a
fault in our thoughts or beliefs. There are times when then Holy Spirit will
give a person an uneasy feeling about a situation (discernment), or maybe a
burden to pray over somebody that we normally wouldn't pray over. These types
of feelings are used by God as a means to communicate with our spirits, and
should not be ignored.
However, what I am talking about in this teaching is
feelings of low self-esteem, fear, false guilt, shame, etc. Feelings along
these lines are spelled out clearly in God's Word as being completely
unnecessary for the children of God. What these types of feelings (false guilt,
fear, etc.) have in common is that they are rooted in a belief or imagination
that has risen itself against the knowledge of God (what is spoken clearly in
His Word).
For
the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the
pulling down of strong holds; Casting down imaginations, and every high thing
that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity
every thought to the obedience of Christ;
2 Corinthians 10:4-5
2 Corinthians 10:4-5
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MINISTRIES EVANGELICAL CHRISTIAN CHURCH
What
to do when you are experiencing Fear
(2 Timothy 1:7 KJV)
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
(Romans 8:15 KJV)
For ye have not received the spirit of bond- age again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
(1 John 4:18 KJV)
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
(Psalm 91:1 KJV)
He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
(Psalm 91:4-7 KJV)
(4) He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth {shall be thy} shield and buckler. (5) Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; {nor} for the arrow {that} flieth by day; (6) {Nor} for the pestilence {that} walk- eth in darkness; {nor} for the destruction {that} wast- eth at noonday. (7) A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; {but} it shall not come nigh thee.
(Psalm 91:10-11 KJV)
(10) There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. (11) For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.
(Proverbs 3:25-26 KJV)
(25) Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh. (26) For the Lord shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.
(Isaiah 54:14 KJV)
In righteousness shalt thou be established: thou shalt be far from oppression; for thou shalt not fear: and from terror; for it shall not come near thee.
(Psalm 56:11 KJV)
In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me.
(Psalm 23:4-5 KJV)
(4) Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou {art} with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. (5) Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup Runneth over.
(Romans 8:29,31,35-39 KJV)
(29) For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate {to be} conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many breth- ren. (31) What shall we then say to these things? If God {be} for us, who {can be} against us? (35) Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? {shall} tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? (36) As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. (37) Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. (38) For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, (39) Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
(Psalm 31:24 KJV)
Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord.
(John 14:27 KJV)
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
(Psalm 27:1,3 KJV)
(1) The Lord {is} my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord {is} the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
(3) Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this {will} I {be} confi- dent.
(Hebrews 13:6 KJV)
So that we may boldly say, The Lord {is} my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.
(2 Timothy 1:7 KJV)
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
(Romans 8:15 KJV)
For ye have not received the spirit of bond- age again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
(1 John 4:18 KJV)
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
(Psalm 91:1 KJV)
He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
(Psalm 91:4-7 KJV)
(4) He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth {shall be thy} shield and buckler. (5) Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; {nor} for the arrow {that} flieth by day; (6) {Nor} for the pestilence {that} walk- eth in darkness; {nor} for the destruction {that} wast- eth at noonday. (7) A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; {but} it shall not come nigh thee.
(Psalm 91:10-11 KJV)
(10) There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. (11) For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.
(Proverbs 3:25-26 KJV)
(25) Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh. (26) For the Lord shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.
(Isaiah 54:14 KJV)
In righteousness shalt thou be established: thou shalt be far from oppression; for thou shalt not fear: and from terror; for it shall not come near thee.
(Psalm 56:11 KJV)
In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me.
(Psalm 23:4-5 KJV)
(4) Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou {art} with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. (5) Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup Runneth over.
(Romans 8:29,31,35-39 KJV)
(29) For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate {to be} conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many breth- ren. (31) What shall we then say to these things? If God {be} for us, who {can be} against us? (35) Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? {shall} tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? (36) As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. (37) Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. (38) For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, (39) Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
(Psalm 31:24 KJV)
Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord.
(John 14:27 KJV)
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
(Psalm 27:1,3 KJV)
(1) The Lord {is} my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord {is} the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
(3) Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this {will} I {be} confi- dent.
(Hebrews 13:6 KJV)
So that we may boldly say, The Lord {is} my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.
Online
research by the Living Testimonies Ministries Evangelical Christian Church
What
the Bible has to say about Obedience
(Deuteronomy 11:26-28 KJV) (26) Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse; (27) A blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you this day: (28) And a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the Lord your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go after other Gods, which ye have not known.
(1 Samuel 15:22 KJV) (22) And Samuel said, Hath the Lord {as great} delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey {is} better than sacrifice, {and} to hearken than the fat of rams.
(Isaiah 48:18 KJV) (18) O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments! then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea:
(Jeremiah 7:23 KJV) (23) But this thing commanded I them, saying, Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you.
(John 14:15,21 KJV) (15) If ye love me, keep my commandments. (21) He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
(Acts 5:29 KJV) (29) Then Peter and the {other} apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.
(1 John 2:3-6 KJV) (3) And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. (4) He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. (5) But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. (6) He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
(1 Kings 3:14 KJV) (14) And if thou wilt walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as thy father David did walk, then I will lengthen thy days.
(Psalms 143:10 KJV) (10) Teach me to do thy will; for thou {art} my God: thy spirit {is} good; lead me into the land of uprightness.
(Deuteronomy 5:1,32,33 KJV) (1) And Moses called all Israel, and said unto them, Hear, O Israel, the statutes and judgments which I speak in your ears this day, that ye may learn them, and keep, and do them. (32) Ye shall observe to do therefore as the Lord your God hath commanded you: ye shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left. (33) Ye shall walk in all the ways which the Lord your God hath commanded you, that ye may live, and {that it may be} well with you, and {that} ye may prolong {your} days in the land which ye shall possess.
(Colossians 3:22-24 KJV) (22) Servants, obey in all things {your} masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God: (23) And whatsoever ye do, do {it} heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; (24) Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.
(1 Peter 2:13-20 KJV) (13) Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; (14) Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. (15) For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: (16) As free, and not using {your} liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God. (17) Honour all {men}. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king. (18) Servants, {be} subject to {your} masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward. (19) For this {is} thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. (20) For what glory {is it}, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer {for it}, ye take it patiently, this {is} acceptable with God.
(Ephesians 6:1 KJV) (1) Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.
(Colossians 3:20-24 KJV) (20) Children, obey {your} parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord. (21) Fathers, provoke not your children {to anger}, lest they be discouraged. (22) Servants, obey in all things {your} masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God: (23) And whatsoever ye do, do {it} heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; (24) Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.
(Deuteronomy 11:26-28 KJV) (26) Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse; (27) A blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you this day: (28) And a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the Lord your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go after other Gods, which ye have not known.
(1 Samuel 15:22 KJV) (22) And Samuel said, Hath the Lord {as great} delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey {is} better than sacrifice, {and} to hearken than the fat of rams.
(Isaiah 48:18 KJV) (18) O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments! then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea:
(Jeremiah 7:23 KJV) (23) But this thing commanded I them, saying, Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you.
(John 14:15,21 KJV) (15) If ye love me, keep my commandments. (21) He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
(Acts 5:29 KJV) (29) Then Peter and the {other} apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.
(1 John 2:3-6 KJV) (3) And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. (4) He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. (5) But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. (6) He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
(1 Kings 3:14 KJV) (14) And if thou wilt walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as thy father David did walk, then I will lengthen thy days.
(Psalms 143:10 KJV) (10) Teach me to do thy will; for thou {art} my God: thy spirit {is} good; lead me into the land of uprightness.
(Deuteronomy 5:1,32,33 KJV) (1) And Moses called all Israel, and said unto them, Hear, O Israel, the statutes and judgments which I speak in your ears this day, that ye may learn them, and keep, and do them. (32) Ye shall observe to do therefore as the Lord your God hath commanded you: ye shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left. (33) Ye shall walk in all the ways which the Lord your God hath commanded you, that ye may live, and {that it may be} well with you, and {that} ye may prolong {your} days in the land which ye shall possess.
(Colossians 3:22-24 KJV) (22) Servants, obey in all things {your} masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God: (23) And whatsoever ye do, do {it} heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; (24) Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.
(1 Peter 2:13-20 KJV) (13) Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; (14) Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. (15) For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: (16) As free, and not using {your} liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God. (17) Honour all {men}. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king. (18) Servants, {be} subject to {your} masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward. (19) For this {is} thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. (20) For what glory {is it}, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer {for it}, ye take it patiently, this {is} acceptable with God.
(Ephesians 6:1 KJV) (1) Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.
(Colossians 3:20-24 KJV) (20) Children, obey {your} parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord. (21) Fathers, provoke not your children {to anger}, lest they be discouraged. (22) Servants, obey in all things {your} masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God: (23) And whatsoever ye do, do {it} heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; (24) Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.
Online
research by the Living Testimonies Ministries Evangelical Christian Church
What
the Bible has to say about Faith
(Hebrews 11:1 KJV)
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
(Romans 10:17 KJV)
So then faith {cometh} by hearing, and hear- ing by the word of God.
(Romans 12:3 KJV)
For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think {of himself} more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
(Hebrews 12:2 KJV)
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of {our} faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
(Matthew 17:20 KJV)
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 moun- tain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
(Mark 11:22-24 KJV)
(22) And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. (23) For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. (24) Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive {them}, and ye shall have {them}.
(Romans 1:17 KJV)
For therein is the righteousness of God re- vealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
(2 Corinthians 5:7 KJV)
(For we walk by faith, not by sight:)
(Hebrews 11:6 KJV)
But without faith {it is} impossible to please {him}: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and {that} he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
(1 Peter 1:7-9 KJV)
(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: (8) Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see {him} not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy un- speakable and full of glory: (9) Receiving the end of your faith, {even} the salvation of your {souls}.
(1 John 5:4 KJV)
For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, {even} our faith.
(Matthew 9:20-22 KJV)
(20) And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind {him}, and touched the hem of his garment: (21) For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole. (22) But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.
(Matthew 9:28-29 KJV)
(28) And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea, Lord. (29) Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you.
(Mark 9:23 KJV)
Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things {are} possible to him that believeth.
(James 5:14-15a KJV)
(14) Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: (15) And the prayer of faith shall save the sick.
Online
research by the Living Testimonies Ministries Evangelical Christian Church(Hebrews 11:1 KJV)
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
(Romans 10:17 KJV)
So then faith {cometh} by hearing, and hear- ing by the word of God.
(Romans 12:3 KJV)
For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think {of himself} more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
(Hebrews 12:2 KJV)
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of {our} faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
(Matthew 17:20 KJV)
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 moun- tain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
(Mark 11:22-24 KJV)
(22) And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. (23) For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. (24) Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive {them}, and ye shall have {them}.
(Romans 1:17 KJV)
For therein is the righteousness of God re- vealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
(2 Corinthians 5:7 KJV)
(For we walk by faith, not by sight:)
(Hebrews 11:6 KJV)
But without faith {it is} impossible to please {him}: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and {that} he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
(1 Peter 1:7-9 KJV)
(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: (8) Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see {him} not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy un- speakable and full of glory: (9) Receiving the end of your faith, {even} the salvation of your {souls}.
(1 John 5:4 KJV)
For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, {even} our faith.
(Matthew 9:20-22 KJV)
(20) And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind {him}, and touched the hem of his garment: (21) For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole. (22) But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.
(Matthew 9:28-29 KJV)
(28) And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea, Lord. (29) Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you.
(Mark 9:23 KJV)
Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things {are} possible to him that believeth.
(James 5:14-15a KJV)
(14) Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: (15) And the prayer of faith shall save the sick.
What does the Bible mean when it says Christ descended into
hell?
It may be that the Lord did descend into the place of confined
demonic spirits (tartarus) to make a glorious proclamation of the fact of the
victory accomplished through the cross (1 Pet. 3:18-20). But Christ did not go there to redeem anyone
nor to release Old Testament saints. As I understand it, God’s redeemed were in
Paradise or Abraham’s bosom, probably some place in the heavenlies and when the
curtain in the temple was rent, signifying the way into the Holy of Holies had
been opened, they were allowed immediate access into God’s presence.
Some try to take the reference in Ephesians 4:8, “When He ascended on high, He led captive a
host of captives, And He gave gifts to men.” to refer to the emptying of
Paradise or Abraham’s bosom, but such an understanding of this statement is
really contrary to its cultural and biblical usage. Behind this is the ancient
picture of the Roman triumph where the victorious general in the field of
battle road up to the Capitaline Hill on a white horse leading his captives,
enemies taken in war, in a triumphant procession. Also in the procession were
his troops and the spoils of war which he gave to his soldiers. The Old
Testament souls in paradise were not the enemy. This is simply an idiom which
means he defeated the enemy and made the enemy his captives. Thus, he was free
to give gifts to the church.
The reference to Christ descending to the lower part of the earth
is simply a reference to the grave though it may simply be a reference to his
incarnation. The following is a good summary of the different opinions on
Ephesias 4 taken from The Bible Knowledge Commentary:
Verses 9-11 serve as a commentary
on two words of the quotation in verse 8, namely,ascended (vv.
9-10) and “gave” (v. 11). In verses 9-10 Paul commented on the words He ascended. These two verses are parenthetical in
thought because the issue of the passage is the giving of gifts. Before Christ
could ascend He had to descend. What is meant by to the lower, earthly regions, literally, “into
the lower parts of earth”? The genitive “of” can be taken in three ways: (1)
“Into the lower parts, namely, the earth” (a genitive of apposition). This
would refer to Christ’s incarnation, His “descent” to the earth. (2) “Into the
parts lower than the earth” (a genitive of comparison). This would mean that
Christ descended into hades between His death and resurrection. (3) “Into the
lower parts which belong to the earth” (a genitive of possession). This would
refer to Christ’s death and His burial in the grave. The third view best fits
the context because in His death Christ had victory over sin and redeemed those
who would be given as “gifts” to the church.
In Revelation 6,
“Hades” refers to the underworld, the prison and temporary quarters of the
souls of unbelievers between their death and the time of the Great White Throne
Judgment. This is the compartment called torments in Luke 16:23 and is where all unbelievers are held
until the Great White Throne Judgment of Revelation 20. The point of Revelation 6:7-8 is that the aftermath the pale horse rider
is war, famine, and death. With war and famine people fall prey to a plague and
the wild beasts of the earth and since most are unbelievers, they end up in
hades.
Below
are definitions of hell and related words:
HELL In common usage,
this term refers to the place of future punishment for the wicked. The word
properly translated “hell” in the New Testament is the Greek Geenna or Gehenna,
a place in the Valley of Hinnom where human sacrifices had been offered and
where continuous burning of rubbish made it an apt illustration of the eternal
lake of fire (cf. Matt. 5:22). Other words like sheol or hades are improperly translated by
this term.
SHEOL The general idea
of this word is “the place of the dead” including the grave (cf. Num. 16:30,33; Ps. 16:10), and the unseen place of those who have departed from this life,
the place of departed spirits of both the righteous (Gen. 37:35) and the wicked (Prov. 9:18).
HADES This word is
basically the New Testament counterpart of the Sheol. It refers to the unseen
world in general, but specifically to the abode of the unsaved dead between
death and the final judgment at the great white throne (cf. Lk. 16:23 and Rev. 20:11-15). It differs from hell in that it
is temporary while hell is permanent.
LAKE OF FIRE Refers
to the eternal state of the wicked who are forever separated from God and
consigned to a special abode of suffering because of their rejection of Christ
or their lack of the righteousness of Christ. It is equivalent to and
identified with the second death in Revelation 20:14.
Online research by the Living
Testimonies Ministries Evangelical Christian Church
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