“Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us
go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance
from dead works, and of faith toward God, Of the
doctrine
of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of
resurrection
of the dead, and of eternal judgment.”
Hebrews 6:1-2
1. “Repentance from dead works”: The first and
foremost principle of the doctrine of Christ is REPENTANCE, it is what
sets our hearts in order. How we come to repentance is vital, we can not
come without a broken and contrite heart which are the fruits worthy of
repentance (Luke 3:8) What are dead works? These are all works that do
not have the life of Christ in them. Before we were in Christ we walked
after the flesh but now that we have accepted Christ that old man is dead
anything we do outside of Christ is dead works!
2. “Faith toward God”: Fundamental to every believer
and future disciple of Christ is “faith toward God”. A persuasion
based on the conviction that God does exist as Creator and supreme ruler,
as well as bestower of eternal salvation through Jesus Christ. Equally
important is the fact that all trust must be placed in God for every area
in life.
3. “The doctrine of Baptisms”: John’s Baptism
of water or that of repentance, Jesus’ Baptism(Luke 12:50), the baptism
into the body of Christ (1 Cor. 12: 12-13), Baptism in the Holy Ghost with
fire (Luke 3:16).
4. “Laying on of hands”: The teaching of laying
on of hands is a sign that should follow the believer according to Mark’s
gospel chapter 16 verse 18. The Bible is replete with examples of
this principle of the doctrine of Christ. Jesus is seen over and
over again during His ministry laying His hands on people for various reasons,
and as the above scripture indicates believers are to be seen doing the
same thing. The purpose is for: healing, impartation(Acts 8:18), and ordination(Acts
13:3).
5. “Resurrection of the dead”: This principle
of the doctrine of Christ separates Christianity from the rest of
the pack. Many religions profess to have life after death, but only
one has the “proof of the pudding”. Jesus Christ was dead three days,
plenty of time to ensure that without a doubt life had definitely gone
from Him. Resurrection to life eternal is the greatest hope a person
can have hence Christianity the greatest religion because eternal life
is in Christ alone. It is the power of our salvation! The other side
of the resurrection coin is a resurrection of unbelievers (the second death)
to eternal torment (Rev.20:13-15), resurrection is a fact for every soul!
6. “Eternal Judgment”: Judgment simply put means
to make a decision. God has already judged the world in Christ. That
is Christ is the only way that man can come into right relationship with
the Creator. Therefore for all those who accept the truth of the
atonement of Jesus Christ there is eternal life, however for those who
reject there is eternal death or separation from God which is eternal torment.
This is an established fact, there are no other alternatives. There is
no other way!
"Kingdom Living"
(Part 2)
|
| Matt. 4:17 from that time Jesus began to preach, and say REPENT
FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS AT HAND.
Kingdom living is what it’s all about! It is the priority of
a child of God. If that is true, and it is, we must understand it and endeavor
to live there on a daily
basis.
*Kingdom- to walk a pace
from a foundation of power which comes from the King, a royal realm, and
reign.
1. Repentance has and always will be the one thing and first step that
aligns us to right standing with God. But as John the Baptist said in Luke
3:8 we must
come to repentance with the Fruit worthy of repentance
and that is a broken and contrite heart ready and willing to turn away.
Repentance will prepare the
way of the Lord in your life and by it Jesus has
a straight path to fill your valleys and bring every mountain low. (Luke
3:3-8)
2. When questioned concerning His walk of power Jesus
explained how we see and how we enter into this walk, this kingdom of heaven
(John 3:3). We are
not walking in the kingdom just because
we’re born again. The born again experience allow us to see the kingdom,
but being born of water and of the
spirit allows you to enter in, to walk
the pace!
* Born of water-
water baptism-repentance, dying to self, (Luke 3:3) being washed by the
water of the word (Eph.5:26)having a progressive full
knowledge and understanding of the word, His ways and order (1 Chron.
13:9 through 15:13).
* Born of the
Spirit- to be baptized with the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:4) this is a strong
prayer life! Be not drunk with wine wherein is excess (an
abandoned, dissolute life) but be filled (to fill to the
top so that nothing shall be wanting, to full measure, stuffed) with
the Spirit
(Eph. 5:18).
Jesus said: "My house shall be called a house of prayer!"
Matt. 21:13 House: 1. Any building or house, dwelling place.2. And all
that are in the house, household. He said that his dwelling
place, YOU, shall be called a house of prayer! It must be the primary function
in a Christians’ life. This is a life that is lived consecrated unto God
that is lived in an ascended position with Christ. Where you connect with
Christ and have an experience and come down and are kept by the power of
God. Daily!! |
A. “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the
evidence
of things not seen.”
Hebrews 11:1
1. Substance; Greek
term is hupostasis, hoop-os`-tas-is (5287). A setting under,
beneath, below, to stand.
“In the kingdom of God faith functions as support upon
which our hope can stand, until we get the victory!”
2. evidence; Greek term
is elegehos, el`-eng-khos (1650). Proof, to confute, or to
tell a fault.
“Biblical faith also proves that God is real and the devil is
defeated. Faith proves that God is the way, truth, life, and every
rebellious thought, deed, word or reality that exhalts itself against the
Word of God is a lie. Faith sides with the Word, anything else sides
with reality.”
What To Do With
This Faith, Living From The Kingdom Down!
B. “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world:
and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.”
I
John 5:4
1. overcometh; Greek
term is nikao, nik-ah`-o (3528). To subdue, have conquest,
means of success.
2. world: Greek
term is kosmos, kos’-mos (2889). Orderly arrangement, decoration;
by implication the entire world including the universe,
the entire creation good and bad. Including its inhabitants, seen
or unseen.
3. The Faith Hall
of Fame-Hebrews 11:2-39.
As Christians we are to rule in life from God’s perspective
by living in biblical faith. We as Christians are to subdue, have conquest
over, be successful in all of life no matter what the circumstance.
The only way this is done in the Kingdom of God is by biblical faith
that comes only from the Word of God!
|
|
"Splace of Faith"
(Part 4)
|
| A. “So then faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the
word
of God”. Romans 10:17
“The Word of God is the sole Source of Faith
for all believers!”
1. faith: Greek term is pis`-tis,
verb (4102). Persuasion, to cause to do or believe by means of
reasoning, argument, or entreaty.
a. Persuasion to be
healed; Luke 17:11-19,Mark 10:46-52.
b. Persuasion to be
prosperous; Luke 19:11-27.
c. Persuasion to be
powerful; John 14:12.
d. Persuasion to be
victorious; John 16:33.
e. Persuasion to be
successful; Mark 10:28-30.
f. Persuasion to be
delivered; Mark 9:17-27.
g. Persuasion to be
willing
& obedient; Isaiah 1:18-20.
The word cometh in Romans 10:17 is italicized, meaning that it was added
by the translators for ease of interpretation. It was not in the
original Greek text. More succinctly we read – So then faith (persuasion)
by hearing. The connotation here is as we hear the word, we are
persuaded to have the faith of God which calls those things which be not
as though they were.
B. “But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this
wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that
is, to bring Christ down from
above:) Or, Who shall descend into the
deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.) But what
saith it? The Word is nigh thee, even in thy
mouth, and in thy heart that is, the
word of faith, which we preach;” Romans 10:6-8.
Paul, in the above scripture is telling the church in Rome
that Christ in His exalted and glorified state has distributed Himself
among the believers through the gospel. As we hear the Word which
is the source of faith, the heart and speech of every believer becomes
the place of faith. Again, unless our agenda is in agreement
with that of God our confession stands alone, God is not in it. “For
how can we walk together with your sins between us?”Amos 3:3(Living Bible)
|
|
"Purpose of Faith"
(Part 5)
|
A. “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ; for it is
the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew
first, and also to the Greek.
For therein is the righteousness of God
revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, The just shall live
by faith”. Romans 1:16-17
1. righteousness; Greek term is dikaiosune,
dik-ah-yos-oo`-nay, noun (1343). To show equity, character,
innocence, right, principal.
a. God is holy;
Leviticus 11:44-45.
b. Righteousness
by Proxy; I Corinthians 6:6-11.
c. Righteousness
commanded by God; Jeremiah 22:1-3.
d. Blessings
of obedience to righteousness; Jeremiah 22:4.
e. God is equitable;
Psalm 98:4-9, Psalm 99:1-4, Isiah 11:4-5.
f. Effects of
a life of righteousness; Malachi 2:5-6.
“More than anything else God is interested in you and I receiving a
revelation of His righteousness. The purpose of our faith is to obtain
a revelation of God’s righteousness. Character is produced
as believers obey the truth of the Word of God. Faith and character
go hand- in- hand, character developed facilitates faith, and conversely
undeveloped character hinders faith. The plan of the enemy against
the Church in these days is to water down her effectiveness by compromise
that
produces apathy and complacency, which stops the work and effect of righteousness.”
B. “Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat?
or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? For
after all these things do the Gentiles seek; for your heavenly Father knoweth
that you have need of all these things. But seek ye first the Kingdom
of God and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto
you”, Matthew 6:31-33
“Jesus knows that one of the biggest stumblingblocks to our faith
is the temptation to worry over our basic needs food, clothing, and shelter.
In fact He went as far as to say that the whole system of this world, the
Gentiles, have as their focus, the basic needs of life. The goal of
our faith should not be to receive the basic needs of life but rather to
seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. Our faith
then serves us to the optimum when it stays focused on God’s Righteous
Kingdom. Then as we ask God for our natural needs they are simply
added unto us, because He is righteous!”
|
|
|
