Week 1:
Welcome to class. You're a scholar in search of knowing more about the Bible. You've come to the right place. This first semester will be about learning the great doctrines of the Christian faith. Doctrine is an important word to know. It means a belief or a teaching. In the Christian faith, these doctrines are what give us the foundation steps of what we believe will lead us to Heaven. It's important to know them because if you don't, you might be led astray by a cult or a wrong form of teaching. Think of it like trying to drive a car if you never saw a driver's manual or have been taught by someone who has never seen a car. You're going to get into a lot of trouble. These doctrines are more than just a set of rules; they're a guide. You might also think of them as important pieces of a gigantic puzzle which, when assembled, make up the answers to the Universe's biggest questions about existence. |
WHAT IS THE BIBLE ALL ABOUT?
Some people say it's all about love. Some say it's about judgment. Others say it's nothing but a bunch of rules about what you can't do.
Really, it can be answered in this passage in 1 Corinthians 15, in the first four verses:
Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand,
by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain.
For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,
and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,
and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.
After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep;
then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles;
and last of all, as to one untimely born, He appeared to me also.
This passage touches all of the bases, and if you think of it like baseball, you'll get my point.
You must touch all three bases in order to get to home. You must understand these three truths in order to get to the home plate of Christianity.
Let's break it down:
Point 1:
Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures
Jesus the Messiah (that's what "Christ" means: "Messiah" or "the Anointed One.") came as God in the flesh and He died according to plan. The plan was God's plan, and Christ died in following the overall design.
Point 2:
He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,
He then was buried, sealed behind a multi-ton rock, but was resurrected and rose out of death. Christ predicted that he would come out of death three days later, and he did exactly what he predicted. The Scriptures said he would and He did - according to plan.
Point 3:
He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.
After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep;
then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles;
and last of all, as to one untimely born, He appeared to me also.
Anyone could write a novel and make up some fantastic plot and answer all of the challenges and problems that the book laid out, but this was not fiction. This was an actual breathing. moving God/man who was risen. The best way to verify that was to have witnesses to attest to that. Paul writes down that there were more than 500 who witnessed to it, and if you want to interview some of them, why go right ahead - they're still alive and just down the road.
THE DOCTRINES WE STUDY ARE ESSENTIAL TO UNDERSTANDING WHAT IT IS TO BE A CHRISTIAN.
You would be amazed at how many people - who say they are Christians - don't know these important teachings.
Some people say it's all about love. Some say it's about judgment. Others say it's nothing but a bunch of rules about what you can't do.
Really, it can be answered in this passage in 1 Corinthians 15, in the first four verses:
Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand,
by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain.
For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,
and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,
and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.
After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep;
then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles;
and last of all, as to one untimely born, He appeared to me also.
This passage touches all of the bases, and if you think of it like baseball, you'll get my point.
You must touch all three bases in order to get to home. You must understand these three truths in order to get to the home plate of Christianity.
Let's break it down:
Point 1:
Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures
Jesus the Messiah (that's what "Christ" means: "Messiah" or "the Anointed One.") came as God in the flesh and He died according to plan. The plan was God's plan, and Christ died in following the overall design.
Point 2:
He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,
He then was buried, sealed behind a multi-ton rock, but was resurrected and rose out of death. Christ predicted that he would come out of death three days later, and he did exactly what he predicted. The Scriptures said he would and He did - according to plan.
Point 3:
He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.
After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep;
then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles;
and last of all, as to one untimely born, He appeared to me also.
Anyone could write a novel and make up some fantastic plot and answer all of the challenges and problems that the book laid out, but this was not fiction. This was an actual breathing. moving God/man who was risen. The best way to verify that was to have witnesses to attest to that. Paul writes down that there were more than 500 who witnessed to it, and if you want to interview some of them, why go right ahead - they're still alive and just down the road.
THE DOCTRINES WE STUDY ARE ESSENTIAL TO UNDERSTANDING WHAT IT IS TO BE A CHRISTIAN.
You would be amazed at how many people - who say they are Christians - don't know these important teachings.
Special thanks to pexels.com for all of the great pictures