Book 6 GLC Basic Doctrines

BOOK 6: BASIC DOCTRINES, 4th Edition
Copyright © 2019 by Global Leadership Center
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be

reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted
in any form or by any means - electronic, mechanical,
photocopy, recording, or any other, without the prior
permission of GLC.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction page 5
How to Use this Workbook page 6
Session 1: God’s Word, The Bible page 9
Session 2: God’s Person and Nature page 21
Session 3: Jesus: His Person and Works page 37
Session 4: Salvation page 59
Session 5: The Trinity page 77
Session 6: Marriage page 91

Gender
Additional Readings page 125
WHAT’S NEXT? page 173
Appendix A: Answer Key to Session 1

EXPLORE Activity page 175
Appendix B: Answer Key to Session 3

Appendix C: Answer Key to Session 5

Appendix D: Answer Key to Session 6

Book 6: BASIC DOCTRINES

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INTRODUCTION
Strengthen your convictions on the basic doctrines of the Christian faith.

For the purpose of this module, the biblical doctrines that we will examine
are the basis for CCF’s Statement of Faith.
What we grew up believing in is something that we usually take for granted,

but it is important that each Christ-committed follower closely examines
the source for his or her beliefs especially in relation to spiritual matters.
This module will help you discover the biblical basis for all that we do and
teach as a church. You will gain a greater appreciation of God, whose
unchanging, infallible and eternal Word is our only source and final authority
for our doctrines. Additionally, this study will equip us to discern if a doctrinal
teaching that we receive is truly biblical or a distortion of God’s truth.
As you go through this study in your small group, remember that our aim is
not to accumulate knowledge but to apply God’s Word in our daily living;
growing in maturity towards Christ-likeness.
Ephesians 4:13-15
until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son
of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to
the fullness of Christ. 14 As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed
here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by
the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; 15 but speaking the
truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head,
even Christ,
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HOW TO USE
THIS WORKBOOK
This workbook is for the GLC Essentials Book 6: Basic Doctrines Bible
study for small groups. It can be used as a stand-alone Bible study
guide for small groups. There is also a video teaching resource that you
can access for free. Visit glc.ccf.org.ph, then click “RESOURCES” to
access the videos. Please note that this workbook is the most updated
version of Book 6: Basic Doctrines lessons.
Remember that the learning process is much more than just knowing
the right answers to our doctrinal questions. Obedience to God’s truth
through life application is more important. As we apply the lessons
from Book 6: Basic Doctrines, we will experience greater intimacy with
Jesus and more fruitfulness for His glory.
If you are a small group servant/facilitator, all you have to do is make

sure that you do a personal Bible study using this workbook and the
video ahead of your small group meeting. Encourage your group
members to have their own workbooks and to watch the video either
before your meeting, or at your meeting. Do not divert the teaching
topic – stick to what is in the workbook. The workbook includes the
Bible lesson and individual and small group learning activities to help
you get the most out of your meetings. There are four parts in some
sessions: Explore, Examine, Express and Experience.
• Explore — contains individual and small group activities that

help prepare you for the Bible study.
• Examine — this is where you go through the Bible lesson with

your group.
• Express — this is where the members of the group get a

chance to express more of their insights, questions and
thoughts about the Bible lesson. They can do it in writing,
doodling or drawing, and sharing to the rest of the group.
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• Experience — this section is accomplished outside the
group meeting time. There are suggested individual or
group Life Apps that will hopefully help you experience life
transformation as you apply God’s truth in practical ways.
As you begin, please remember that this workbook is just a tool

designed for us to make disciples. We need to depend on the Holy
Spirit to teach us God’s truth and transform our hearts and those of
our disciples as we go through the module.

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8
SESSION 1
GOD’S WORD,
THE BIBLE
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EXPLORE
Discover the WORD
In your group, find the names of the Bible books in the
puzzle sheet below.
HIDDEN BIBLE BOOK NAMES:

Can you find 56 books of the Bible in this paragraph?
Highlight the word, like the sample given –“luke” in the
4th sentence of the first paragraph.
The following article contains the names of all the books

of the Bible hidden within the words. See if you can find
them all! I once made a remark about the hidden books
of the Bible. It was a lulu, kept some people looking so
hard for facts. And for others it was revelation. Some
were in a jam. Especially since the names of the books
were not capitalized. But the truth finally struck home
to numbers of readers. To others, it was a real job. We
want it to be a most fascinating few moments to you.
Do these while you’re watching TV, sitting on the john,
eating tuna, humming your favorite reggae tune--- a
song of Sol, “O Mon, I believe you!”
Yes, there will be some really easy ones to spot. Others

may require judges to help them. I will quickly admit it
usually takes a minister to find one of them, and there will
be loud lamentations when it is found. A little lady says
she brews a cup of tea so she can concentrate better.
There are those among us who might need music – a
banjo, electric guitar, or drums! See how well you can
compete. Relax now, listen to Genesis on the radio, or
play your banjo! Nah, just concentrate on the task at
hand. Find them all and be a pro! Verbs and subjects
don’t always agree in this article, but don’t let that stand
in your way!
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I even asked for help from my ex. “O, Du!” she said.
I replied, “Corinth, I answer your questions,” but she
said, “Come back at Ramadan.” I eloquently thanked
her. Frustrated, she said, “The puzzle is a … I ... ah..
I don’t find these EZ. Ek! I elect not to do them!” I
thought about offering her a juju decoration or
perhaps alms, but decided not to pursue it. This just
about chronicles our relationship.
Some of the hardest books to hide were Leviticus,

Deuteronomy, Joshua, Samuel, Nehemiah,
Ecclesiastes, Jeremiah, Obadiah, Micah, Habakkuk,
Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi, Galatians,
Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Timothy, and
Philemon. Remember that ten of the names are
duplicated like First and Second Thessalonians, so
you will only find fifty-six distinct names.
This puzzle is not EZ – rather, it is quite difficult. It

would be simpler if the books were in a list that you
could pick from. Answer can be anywhere in this
article, so that makes this format the worst! Do your
best and God bless
LEARNING NUGGET
The Bible has 66 books — 39 in the Old Testament and
27 in the New Testament. How well do you know what
is taught in these books? We may have our “favorite”
books and some we overlook because they are harder
to understand and apply. However, if we truly believe that
the Bible is God’s Word to us, then we will diligently read,
study, memorize and apply all that the Bible teaches us
to do and avoid what it tells us not to do. As we do, we
will know Jesus more and we will be transformed into His
likeness more and more.
See Appendix A for the answer key

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EXAMINE
& EXPRESS
WHY STUDY DOCTRINES?
What we believe about God influences everything in our
lives. If we don’t understand doctrine well, we can be
misled.
Theology is simply the study of God; even if it is impossible

to fully understand God, as believers in Christ our deepest
desire is to grow in love and knowledge of Him.
And He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your

God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and
with all your mind.’
Matthew 22:37
To love God, we need to know Him.
WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT?

Challenges to the Bible
• “Whatever you believe is OK for you”
• Authority cannot be trusted
• The Bible is full of errors and contradictions
• The Bible isn’t relevant today
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Discussion 1
Describe a typical objection to the authority of the Bible

that you have heard.
How did you respond?
What do you wish you would have known so that you could
have responded better?
CCF Statement of Faith about the Bible

We believe that the Bible, composed of 39 Old Testament
books and 27 New Testament books, is the Word of
God, supernaturally inspired, inerrant in its original form,
infallible, so that it is our supreme authority in all matters
of faith, doctrine and conduct.
1. The Bible claims to be authoritative because it is

God’s Word.
All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for

teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in
righteousness; 17so that the man of God may be
adequate, equipped for every good work.
2 Timothy 3:16-17

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Inspiration is the work of the Holy Spirit to guide the
authors of the Bible to compose and record in words,
without error, God’s revelation to man.
For we did not follow cleverly devised tales when

we made known to you the power and coming of
our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses
of His majesty. 17For when He received honor
and glory from God the Father, such an utterance
as this was made to Him by the Majestic Glory,
“This is My beloved Son with whom I am well-
pleased”— 18and we ourselves heard this
utterance made from heaven when we were
with Him on the holy mountain. 19So we have the
prophetic word made more sure, to which you do
well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a
dark place, until the day dawns and the morning
star arises in your hearts. 20But know this first of
all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of
one’s own interpretation, 21for no prophecy was
ever made by an act of human will, but men
moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.
2 Peter 1:16-21
The words, “Thus saith the Lord” or “God said…” are

found more than 1900 times in the Bible!
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Discussion 2
What do you understand Paul to mean when he says, “all

scripture is inspired by God?”
How do these passages clarify the meaning of

inspiration? Why is this important?
2. The Bible’s claims are supported:
a. Internally
Fulfilled prophecy
Over 300 prophecies on the life of Jesus alone

have been fulfilled in the New Testament.

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Jesus’ use of the Bible
But that the dead are raised, even Moses

showed, in the passage about the burning bush,
where he calls the Lord the God of Abraham, and
the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. 38Now
He is not the God of the dead but of the living; for
all live to Him.”
Luke 20:37-38
‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand,

Until I put Your enemies beneath Your feet”’? 45If
David then calls Him ‘Lord,’ how is He his son?”
Matthew 22:44-45
Internal consistency
• Written over 1500 years in 3 languages…
• By over 30 authors from different backgrounds…
• In 2 different continents…
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b. External Evidence
Manuscript Evidence
• Earliest manuscripts (copies of the original) of

the Bible written as early as 50 years after the
original writings
• About 50,000 manuscripts are still existing

today
• the Bible has remained uncorrupted based on

the existing original manuscripts we still have
today
Archaeology
• Sodom and Gomorrah
• Ebla tablets
• The Bible is one of the best historical references

for archaeologists

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Influence
There are many Bible teachings that have been

brought into societies that have changed the world.
Discussion 3
How would you answer someone who says, “The Bible is

just another book? Why should I believe what it says?”
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EXPERIENCE
How should we respond?
1. Knowing that the Bible is reliable, what hinders you

from really believing it? What stops you from
sharing this to others? Choose at least 3 among
the 6 that you would like to highlight in sharing the
reliability of the Bible.
• Fulfilled prophecy
• Jesus’ use of the Bible
• Internal consistency
• Manuscript evidence
• Archaeology
• Influence
Share these evidences with your Dgroup or

someone who is doubting the bible. Make sure
to use the explanation in the book. You may add
more research you have found.
2. As a result of what I have learned today, before

next week I will….
__________________________________
__________________________________
Share with your group your personal application of

this session. Pray together that God would allow
you to follow through on your commitment.

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SESSION 2
GOD’S PERSON
AND NATURE

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EXPLORE
GOD IS
Give everyone a blank sheet of paper and pen.

Invite the group to draw their own symbol, image or
picture to represent their own understanding, belief
or unbelief in God. They cannot use words, lettering
or numbers. The picture should represent what they
think about God. Emphasize that you are not looking
for a work of art!
Allow five minutes to complete the picture and ask

the group to reveal their picture to the rest of the
group in the Express Part Discussion 1 later on. Invite
the group to guess what they think each symbol
represents about God, after which the ‘artist’ or the
one who draws it can confirm if anyone got it right.
Then proceed to answering the discussion questions.
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EXAMINE
& EXPRESS
Theological Truth
In the previous session, we saw that God has

revealed Himself through His Word. For this
reason we can know God, and understand what
He is like. However, God did not choose to
organize His revelation into a statement of faith, a
book of doctrines or an FAQ. So how can we be
sure about the nature of God?
Limits of Theology
The Creation Account
Possible Interpretations:
• Literal - creation in 7 days
• Not literal - creation on a longer duration

Definitely not biblical: The
universe is a product of blind
Clearly biblical: chance with no god involved
God created the world
Possibly biblical:
God created the
world in seven literal
days

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Our Response
• Give leeway on certain issues.
• Agree on the common core of theology.

There are many views about God today
• Mystical view: We are all god(s)
• Other religions:
• There are many gods
• There is one God, but Jesus is not God
• Atheist view: There is no God
Even among Christians
• The cosmic genie: God is here to make you happy
• God is distant: God is so busy, He probably

doesn’t have time for me
• God is angry: He is waiting for me to blow it so

He can smack me down
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There are times that the way we learned about God also
influences how we see and understand God.
Discussion 1
Before you came to Christ, what was your picture of God?
Do any of your wrong ideas about God from before

continue to affect you as a believer? How?
What should we know?
CCF Statement of Faith about God

We believe that there is only one GOD eternally
existent in three persons – Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
He is the Creator of Heaven and Earth.
What the Scripture Says About God
God’s Person
1. Infinite
God is not subject to any of the limitations of
humanity or of creation. He is not limited to
our understanding.

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1
Then Job answered the Lord and said,
2
“I know that You can do all things,
And that no purpose of Yours can be
thwarted.
3
‘Who is this that hides counsel without
knowledge?’
Therefore I have declared that which I did not
understand,
Things too wonderful for me, which I did not
know.”
4
‘Hear, now, and I will speak;
I will ask You, and You instruct me.’
5
“I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear;
But now my eye sees You;
6
Therefore I retract,
And I repent in dust and ashes.”
Job 42:1-6
2. Triune
One God in three persons. The triunity in Himself
are three persons that have relationships
between them.
3. Personal
God interacts with us as a person and we can
relate to him as persons. He wants to have a
relationship with us.
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15
The idols of the nations are but silver and gold,
The work of man’s hands.
16
They have mouths, but they do not speak;
They have eyes, but they do not see;
17
They have ears, but they do not hear,
Nor is there any breath at all in their mouths.
18
Those who make them will be like them,
Yes, everyone who trusts in them.
Psalm 135:15-18
We can create idols in our own lives but the only

one who can truly satisfy is the God who is infinite,
triune, and personal.
Discussion 2
What are some ways we might diminish God because

of our limited perspective?
What do you wish you understood more about God?

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God’s Attributes
God’s attributes are qualities of God that He has revealed

to us so we can know, love and worship Him more.
Incommunicable: things we don’t share with God
• God is Sovereign
9
“Remember the former things long past,
For I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and there is no one like Me,
10
Declaring the end from the beginning,
And from ancient times things which have not
been done,
Saying, ‘My purpose will be established,
And I will accomplish all My good pleasure’;
Isaiah 46:9-10
• God is Omniscient
Great is our Lord and abundant in strength;

His understanding is infinite.
Psalm 147:5
28
“God knows instantly and effortlessly all matter and
all matters, all mind and every mind, all spirit and all
spirits, all being and every being, all creaturehood and
all creatures, every plurality and all pluralities, all law
and every law, all relations, all causes, all thoughts,
all mysteries, all enigmas, all feeling, all desires,
every unuttered secret, all thrones and dominions, all
personalities, all things visible and invisible in heaven
and in earth, motion, space, time, life, death, good,
evil, heaven, and hell… Because God knows all things
perfectly, He knows no thing better than any other thing,
but all thing equally well. He never discovers anything.
He is never surprised, never amazed. He never wonders
about anything nor (except when drawing men out
for their own good) does He seek information or ask
questions.”
A.W. Tozer 1
“Omniscience means that God knows everything, things

actual and possible, effortlessly and equally well.”
Charles Ryrie 2
“God knows every detail of our lives. There is nothing

that escapes His attention. ‘The very hairs of your head
are all numbered,’ Christ said (Luke 12:7)…Perhaps this is
the most astounding fact about God’s omniscience: He
knows every detail about us, yet He still loves us…He
knew all about our sins, yet willingly gave His Son to die
for us on the cross.”
John MacArthur 3
1
As cited in the online article sourced from
https://www.allaboutgod.com/define-omniscient-faq.htm
2
Ibid.
3
Ibid.

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• God is Omnipresent
Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I

flee from Your presence? 8 If I ascend to heaven,
You are there; If I make my bed in Sheol, behold,
You are there. 9 If I take the wings of the dawn,
If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea, 10 Even
there Your hand will lead me, And Your right
hand will lay hold of me.
Psalm 139:7-10
• God is Omnipotent
Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh; is

anything too difficult for Me?
Jeremiah 32:27
• God is Immutable
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today

and forever.
Hebrews 13:8
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Discussion 3
Of the incommunicable attributes of God, what is most

significant to you? Why?
Communicable: things we do share with God
• God is eternal
“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord

God, “who is and who was and who is to come,
the Almighty.”
Revelation 1:8
• God is righteous
“The Lord is righteous in all His ways And kind

in all His deeds.”
Psalm 145:17

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• God is just
The Rock! His work is perfect, For all His ways

are just; A God of faithfulness and without
injustice, righteous and upright is He.
Deuteronomy 32:4
• God is Love
We have come to know and have believed the

love which God has for us. God is love, and the
one who abides in love abides in God, and God
abides in him.
1 John 4:16
• God is Truth
Now, O Lord God, You are God, and Your words

are truth, and You have promised this good
thing to Your servant.
2 Samuel 7:28
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Discussion 4
Of the communicable attributes of God, what is most

significant to you? Why?
God’s Incommunicable Attributes – those we don’t

share
• God is Sovereign Isaiah 46:9-10
• God is Omniscient Psalm 147:5
• God is Omnipresent Psalm 139:7‑10
• God is Omnipotent Jeremiah 32:27
• God is Immutable Hebrews 13:8
God’s Communicable Attributes – those we share

• God is eternal Revelation 1:8
• God is righteous Psalm 145:17
• God is just Deuteronomy 32:4
• God is love 1 John 4:16
• God is truth 2 Samuel 7:28

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Summary
1
Then Job answered the Lord and said,
2
“I know that You can do all things,
And that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted.
3
‘Who is this that hides counsel without
knowledge?’
Therefore I have declared that which I did not
understand,
Things too wonderful for me, which I did not
know.”
4
‘Hear, now, and I will speak;
I will ask You, and You instruct me.’
5
“I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear;
But now my eye sees You;
6
Therefore I retract,
And I repent in dust and ashes.”
Job 42:1-6
34
EXPERIENCE
1. Knowing the attributes of God is a great way of

getting to know the Lord. Let’s explore ways on how
God will help us in our relationships by knowing
more of Him.
Give your favorite attributes. Give a verse/story

that shows this attribute of God. Explain this in your
own words. In what ways will this improve your
relationship with your family, Dgroup, and work
environment.
Attribute of Verse/Story What this How will this How will this How will this
God Reference means to you affect your re- affect your affect your re-
(Paraphrase) lationship with relationship lationship with
your family? with your your work
Dgroup? environment?

__________________________________
__________________________________
Share with your group your personal application

of this session. Pray together that God would allow

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36
SESSION 3
JESUS: HIS
PERSON AND
WORKS

37
EXPLORE
Individually, guess the right answer to the following trivia
questions then compare your answers with your group
members.
1. You can find the tallest building in the world in

which country?
a. China
b. Dubai
c. Germany
2. In which place will you find the smallest dog in the

world (as of February 2013)?
a. Kentucky, USA
b. Hokkaido, Japan
c. Dorado, Puerto Rico
3. Which is the most-populated city in the world?

a. Tokyo, Japan
b. Mumbai, India
c. Shanghai, China
LEARNING NUGGET
It’s quite interesting to find out about the most unique
characteristics of people, things and places in our world.
To be unique is to be one-of-a kind; to stand out or to
surpass others in the same category in quality or quantity.
In our lesson today, we will learn about the uniqueness of
Jesus Christ. Truly, He is one-of-a-kind in His person and in
His work — eternally unsurpassed by anyone or anything
in heaven, earth or anywhere else in all creation.
See Appendix B for the answer key
38
EXAMINE
& EXPRESS
• In many circles, belief in God is OK, just don’t talk

about Jesus!
• Some doubt His historical existence
• Others claim He was human but not God
• Still others doubt His supernatural works
• Misunderstanding about being God and man
• Misunderstanding about what was accomplished

on the cross

39
Discussion 1
Jesus asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?”

How would you answer that question today?
Before you came to Christ, what was your understanding

of Jesus?
CCF Statement of Faith about Jesus Christ

We believe that Jesus Christ in the flesh was both God
and Man, that He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and
born of a virgin. He lived a sinless life. He was crucified
and He died to pay the penalty of death for our sins.
By His shed blood, the Lord Jesus Christ made a perfect

sacrifice for sin once and for all time and was raised from
the dead on the third day.
Later He ascended to the Father’s right hand where He is

the Head of the Church and intercedes for believers. We
believe He is coming again to the Earth bodily and visibly
to set up His Kingdom.
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The Person Jesus: His Humanity
• Born of a virgin
“Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign:

Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a
son, and she will call His name Immanuel.”
Isaiah 7:14
This is the fulfillment of the prophesy of Isaiah:
“Behold, the virgin shall be with child and

shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name
Immanuel,” which translated means, “God with
us.”
Matthew 1:23
This means that God is coming to man, He is

going to be living among us.
…when His mother Mary had been betrothed

to Joseph, before they came together she was
found to be with child by the Holy Spirit. 19 And
Joseph her husband, being a righteous man
and not wanting to disgrace her, planned to
send her away secretly.
Matthew 1:18-19

41
• He was human with intellect, will, emotions
Jesus had emotion, intellect, and was just like

any other human being.
“And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature,

and in favor with God and men.”
Luke 2:52
• Normal physical limitations
He became hungry.
And after He had fasted forty days and forty

nights, He then became hungry.
Matthew 4:2
He became thirsty.
After this, Jesus, knowing that all things had

already been accomplished, to fulfill the Scripture,
said, “I am thirsty…”
John 19:28
Jesus had physical needs just like all of us.
42
Jesus also had limitations
“But of that day and hour no one knows, not

even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the
Father alone.”
Matthew 24:36
The Life of Christ
• Sinless
“For we do not have a high priest who cannot

sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who
has been tempted in all things as we are, yet
without sin.”
Hebrews 4:15
• His mission: to seek and save the lost
For the Son of Man has come to seek and to

save that which was lost.
Luke 19:10
Jesus had a very clear mission, He knew what

God called Him to do.

43
• His method: making disciples
“Go therefore and make disciples of all the

nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father
and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching
them to observe all that I commanded you; and
lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the
age.”
Matthew 28:19-20
Jesus had a clear mission and a clear methodology

and if we want to be like Him, we need to follow
what He did.
Discussion 2
What is most significant to you about the fact that Jesus

lived as a human on earth? Why is that important to you?
Jesus only ministered for three years, but the impact

changed the world. Why was discipleship His method to
fulfill His mission?
44
Jesus: His Deity
• Direct and indirect claims
• Received worship
• Did things only God can do
• Rose from the dead
Direct and Indirect Claims
“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them,

and they follow Me; 28 and I give eternal life
to them, and they will never perish; and no
one will snatch them out of My hand. 29 My
Father, who has given them to Me, is greater
than all; and no one is able to snatch them
out of the Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father
are one.”
John 10:27-30
• Jesus claims that He and the Father are one. In

claiming this, He states that He and the Father
are of the same essence.

45
“Jesus answered them, “I showed you many
good works from the Father; for which of them
are you stoning Me?” 33The Jews answered Him,
“For a good work we do not stone You, but for
blasphemy; and because You, being a man,
make Yourself out to be God.”
John 10:32-33
• The audience wanted to stone Jesus for

blasphemy because they saw Jesus as a
man who was claiming to be God.
“Jesus said to them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you,

before Abraham was born, I am.’ 59Therefore
they picked up stones to throw at Him, but Jesus
hid Himself and went out of the temple.”
John 8:58-59
• Jesus is claiming, “before Abraham was, I am”
• “I am who I am.”
• “YHWH” translated into Greek is “ego eimi”,

this is exactly what Jesus said.
• The Jews clearly understood that He was

claiming to be God because He pre-existed
Abraham and used the very name of God to
identify who He was.
46
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word
was with God, and the Word was God.”
John 1:1
• Rule in the Greek language - “the” or “a”
“And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among

us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only
begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
John 1:14
• He is God in the flesh, He is Jesus.
Jesus Received Worship
“And they left the tomb quickly with fear and

great joy and ran to report it to His disciples.
9
And behold, Jesus met them and greeted them.
And they came up and took hold of His feet and
worshiped Him.”
Matthew 28:8-9
• The only person that would be worshipped in

the Jewish religion is God.

47
“For this reason also, God highly exalted Him,
and bestowed on Him the name which is above
every name, 10so that at the name of Jesus every
knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and
on earth and under the earth, 11 and that every
tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to
the glory of God the Father.”
Philippians 2:9-11
• We are all going to worship Jesus.
“I am the LORD, that is My name; I will not give

My glory to another…”
Isaiah 42:8
• Only the Lord is supposed to get the glory.

Only the Lord is supposed to be worshipped.
He will not share His glory with anyone else.
• Philippians 2:10-11
If Jesus isn’t God, there isn’t any way that

God will allow people to worship Him in
heaven because only God deserves worship.
48
Jesus Did Works Only God Can Do
Forgive Sins
“And Jesus seeing their faith said to the paralytic,

‘Son, your sins are forgiven.’”
Mark 2:5
• Only God can forgive sins because only God

is sinned against.
Create
“For by Him all things were created, both in

the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible,
whether thrones or dominions or rulers or
authorities—all things have been created
through Him and for Him.
Colossians 1:16
• Genesis 1 and Colossians 1
• Jesus was as instrumental to Creation as God

the Father

49
Grant eternal life
“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and

they follow Me; 28and I give eternal life to them,
and they will never perish;”
John 10:27-28a
• Only God has authority to give people eternal

life.
Judge all the nations
“But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and

all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His
glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered
before Him; and He will separate them from one
another, as the shepherd separates the sheep
from the goats…”
Matthew 25:31-32
• Who is going to be judging the nations at the

final judgement?
• Only God can judge--that is His job. This is

not delegated to someone else.
50
Predicted His own death and resurrection
“Jesus answered them, ‘Destroy this temple, and

in three days I will raise it up.’”
John 2:19
• Jesus not only knew that He was going to die

and rise again, but He predicted how it was
going to happen.
…and said, “This man stated, ‘I am able to destroy

the temple of God and to rebuild it in three days.’”
Matthew 26:61
• Not the physical temple
• The Jews knew that Jesus was claiming that

He will rise from the dead. That was why when
Jesus died and was buried, they asked a Roman
guard to be put in front of the tomb of Jesus.

51
“He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said.
Come, see the place where He was lying. ⁷Go
quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen
from the dead; and behold, He is going ahead of
you into Galilee, there you will see Him; behold, I
have told you.”
Matthew 28:6-7
• We know that Jesus is who He claims to be

because He made the claims and predictions
early on in His ministry.
• What happened at Pentecost?
“…this Man, delivered over by the predetermined

plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a
cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to
death. 24But God raised Him up again, putting an
end to the agony of death, since it was impossible
for Him to be held in its power.”
Acts 2:23-24
• The greatest proof of the deity of Jesus is His

resurrection.
52
Discussion 3
Imagine that you are having lunch with group of officemates

who hear that you are a Christian. They challenge you to
explain why you believe Jesus is God. How would you
answer them?
The Work of Christ: Atonement
The most important thing that Jesus did was the work
on the cross that made reconciliation with us possible.
This is what theologians refer to when they talk about the
“finished work of Christ” on the cross.
“Now all these things are from God, who

reconciled us to Himself through Christ and
gave us the ministry of reconciliation, 19namely,
that God was in Christ reconciling the world to
Himself, not counting their trespasses against
them, and He has committed to us the word of
reconciliation.”
2 Corinthians 5:18-19
• Jesus came to reconcile us with God, this is

the primary reason that He came to earth.

53
“My little children, I am writing these things to you
so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we
have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ
the righteous; 2and He Himself is the propitiation
for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for
those of the whole world.”
1 John 2:1-2
• Jesus is the propitiation which means He is

the complete satisfaction of what is required
for us to be forgiven.
• The Old Testament atonement was just a picture

of the perfect, final solution, that Jesus did on
the cross many years later.
Three-fold Barrier Between God and Man
Wrath
God Slavery Man
Death
54
Christ’s Death Overcame All!
• Wrath: Propitiation
• The abiding anger of God against sin
• Wrath satisfied by the atoning sacrifice of Jesus
• Slavery: Redemption
• We are slaves of sin and Satan.
• The solution to slavery is redemption.
• Spiritual Death: Substitution
• Before we come to Christ we are spiritually dead.
• Jesus died as a substitute (Romans 5:8)
Through His atoning sacrifice, He deals with the wrath of

God, our slavery to sin, and spiritual death. This barrier is
no longer in the way, what is left is for us to be reconciled
with God.

55
Perfect Atonement
• Jesus took the place of the lamb that was

supposed to be slaughtered for the sins of Israel.
• It was prophesied that all the sacrificial system

would be eliminated after the Messiah would
come.
• This whole system of animal sacrifice is no longer

used, because it is no longer needed.
• Jesus was the one that paid the sacrifice that

eliminated the need for the sacrificial system in
the temple.
“Every priest stands daily ministering and offering

time after time the same sacrifices, which can
never take away sins; 12but He, having offered
one sacrifice for sins for all time, sat down at the
right hand of God, 13waiting from that time onward
until His enemies be made a footstool for His feet.
14
For by one offering He has perfected for all time
those who are sanctified.”
Hebrews 10:11-14
We do not need to sacrifice for our sins anymore because

there is one sacrifice that has paid the penalty for everything
wrong that we have ever done--past, present and future.
Jesus has provided the perfect atonement for our sins.
56
EXPERIENCE
1. To understand Jesus is to know Him more and to

further see His attributes. We need to clarify
unbiblical thoughts about Him. What are the things
you hear that are biblically not true of Jesus? Find
verse references answering these concerns. Who
will you share this new found information to?
Unbiblical
Verse New Meaning Person You Will
Thoughts Clarification Share this to

__________________________________
__________________________________

this session. Pray together that God would allow

57
58
SESSION 4
SALVATION

59
EXPLORE
Which item would you most likely line up for if it were
given away for free?
1. Gift certificate for two in a Michelin Star restaurant

that serves your favorite dishes.
2. Family vacation in one of the top tourist attractions
in the world.
3. Air fare to a travel destination of your choice.
4. Latest mobile phone or tablet.
5. Voucher for an Eat-All-You-Can buffet.
6. Spa and beauty treatment at a well-known salon
in the city.
7. Grocery items in time for Noche Buena (Christmas
Eve dinner), New Year’s Eve, or other special
celebration.
8. Latest book from your favorite Christian author.
9. Movie passes for two for the premier showing of
the latest offering of your favorite action/adventure
trilogy.
10. Weekend stay at one of the highly-recognized
hotels in the city.
LEARNING NUGGET
Most people will line up quickly ahead of the others for
something that is given away for free. But have you ever
wondered why most people will not line up for the gift
of salvation that God offers to all of us for free? What is
it about the nature of salvation that we need to share so
that people will highly desire it? Today we will study CCF’s
Statement of Faith on the nature of salvation.
60
EXAMINE
& EXPRESS
Why is this important?
• Today people are not even sure they have a problem
• Not only do they reject God, but they see no need

for salvation
• What is important is their own happiness today
• Still much misunderstanding about how people are

saved
• Are they saved forever?
• Can you know for sure that you are saved?
• What is the basis for our salvation?
Discussion 1
What did you understand about salvation when you

were younger? Was it biblical? Why or why not?
What changes do you see in people’s attitudes to

salvation today?

61
CCF Statement of Faith about Salvation
We believe that Salvation, with its forgiveness of sins,

impartation of a new nature, and eternal life, is a free gift
from God received when a person trusts in Jesus Christ
to be their only Savior and Lord. Salvation is given by
God’s grace and cannot be earned by man through good
works, baptism, church membership or any other means.
(Ephesians 2:8-9)
We believe that good works are not the means of salvation

but are the expected product in the life of a true believer
in Christ. It is every believer’s responsibility to pursue a
life of good works through the power of the indwelling
Holy Spirit.
Salvation
Our Condition
At the Fall:
• We experienced spiritual death (Romans 5:12)
• We became slaves of sin and Satan (John 8:34;

Romans 6:6)
• We became objects of God’s abiding wrath

(John 3:36)
62
Wrath
God Slavery Man
Death
And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, ² in

which you formerly walked according to the course
of this world, according to the prince of the power of
the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of
disobedience. ³ Among them we too all formerly lived in
the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh
and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath,
even as the rest.
Ephesians 2:1-3
Christ’s Death Overcame All
• Wrath: Propitiation
• Slavery: Redemption
• Spiritual Death: Substitution

63
Wrath: Propitiation
• Thumos – burst of anger
• Orge – abiding state of enmity
• Thumos is never used of God
My little children, I am writing these things to you

so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we
have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ
the righteous; ²and He Himself is the propitiation
for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for
those of the whole world.
1 John 2:1-2
Propitiation: Satisfaction, Covering
• Mercy Seat
It is the mercy of God that allows the wrath of
God to be satisfied.
• Jesus has made the perfect sacrifice. This is

the propitiation, the satisfaction of God’s just
demands for sin to be paid for.
• Satisfaction also means covering. God sees us

clothed in the righteousness of Christ.
64
You forgave the iniquity of your people; you
covered all their sin. 3You withdrew all your wrath;
you turned from your hot anger.
Psalm 85:2-3 (ESV)
Slavery: Redemption
Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you,

everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin.
35
The slave does not remain in the house forever;
the son does remain forever. 36So if the Son
makes you free, you will be free indeed.
John 8:34-36
Who can redeem?
• Someone free – not another slave
• A kinsman (Galatians 4:4-5)
• Someone willing to redeem (John 10:18)
• Someone able to redeem
But when the fullness of the time came, God sent

forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the
Law, 5so that He might redeem those who were
under the Law, that we might receive the adoption
as sons.
Galatians 4:4-5

65
For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay
down My life so that I may take it again. 18 No one
has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on
My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down,
and I have authority to take it up again. This
commandment I received from My Father.
John 10:17-18
No man can by any means redeem his brother

Or give to God a ransom for him—
8
For the redemption of his soul is costly,
And he should cease trying forever—
9
That he should live on eternally,
That he should not undergo decay.
Psalm 49:7-9
Discussion 2
What is most meaningful to you about these two aspects

of salvation? Why?
We can be tempted to think, this person isn’t that bad,

their life is OK (maybe even better than mine). How
does knowing the truth about salvation change our
perspective?
66
Spiritual Death
Therefore, just as through one man sin entered

into the world, and death through sin, and so
death spread to all men, because all sinned…
Romans 5:12
When you were dead in your transgressions

and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made
you alive together with Him, having forgiven us
all our transgressions, 14 having canceled out the
certificate of debt consisting of decrees against
us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it
out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.
Colossians 2:13-14
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in

that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5:8
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of

God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 6:23
• How many of us have sinned?
• What do we deserve because of our sin?

67
Wrath
God Slavery Man
Death
All of the barriers have been taken away but we

are still separated from God. We still need to be
reconciled to God.
Now all these things are from God, who reconciled

us to Himself through Christ and gave us the
ministry of reconciliation, 19 namely, that God was
in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not
counting their trespasses against them, and He
has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as

though God were making an appeal through us;
we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to
God.
2 Corinthians 5:20
68
Who is saved?
Those who are predestined?
Those who choose?
The Biblical answer: Yes!
• The Bible says both of these are true.
• Scripture teaches both sides.
• Both have biblical support.
Elect: Key passages
When the Gentiles heard this, they began

rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord;
and as many as had been appointed to
eternal life believed.
Acts 13:48
…who has saved us and called us with a

holy calling, not according to our works, but
according to His own purpose and grace
which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all
eternity,
2 Timothy 1:9

69
What shall we say then? There is no injustice with
God, is there? May it never be! 15 For He says to
Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy,
and I will have compassion on whom I have
compassion.” 16So then it does not depend on
the man who wills or the man who runs, but on
God who has mercy.
Romans 9:14-16
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus

Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual
blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4just
as He chose us in Him before the foundation of
the world, that we would be holy and blameless
before Him. In love 5 He predestined us to
adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself,
according to the kind intention of His will…
Ephesians 1:3-5
Choose: Key passages
As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness,

even so must the Son of Man be lifted up; 15so
that whoever believes will in Him have eternal
life. 16 For God so loved the world, that He gave
His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in
Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
John 3:14-16
70
If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the
Lord, choose for yourselves today whom
you will serve: whether the gods which your
fathers served which were beyond the River,
or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you
are living; but as for me and my house, we will
serve the Lord.
Joshua 24:15
Joshua said to the people, ‘You are witnesses

against yourselves that you have chosen for
yourselves the Lord, to serve Him.’ And they
said, ‘We are witnesses.’
Joshua 24:22
…that if you confess with your mouth Jesus

as Lord, and believe in your heart that
God raised Him from the dead, you will be
saved; 10for with the heart a person believes,
resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth
he confesses, resulting in salvation. 11 For the
Scripture says, ‘Whoever believes in Him
will not be disappointed.’ 12 For there is no
distinction between Jew and Greek; for the
same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches
for all who call on Him; 13for ‘Whoever will call
on the name of the Lord will be saved.’
Romans 10:9-13
This is a tension
• Not every tension in Scripture is resolved.
• Humanly we cannot conceive of how God’s
sovereignty and man’s will can function
together.
• The solution is not to explain away the tension.

71
A way forward?
To those…who are chosen 2according to the

foreknowledge of God the Father, by the
sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ
and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and
peace be yours in the fullest measure.
1 Peter 1:1-2
Discussion 3
How does this discussion affect your understanding of the

issue of predestination and free will?
What are we called to do as ambassadors for Christ? How

are you doing that?
72
The result of salvation
• We are saved – salvation, free from the

penalty of sin
• We are being saved – sanctification,

becoming free from the experience of sin
• We will be saved – glorification, eternally

free from the presence of sin
Our ministry
Now all these things are from God, who reconciled

us to Himself through Christ and gave us the
ministry of reconciliation, 19 namely, that God was
in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not
counting their trespasses against them, and He
has committed to us the word of reconciliation.

73
EXPERIENCE
1. Salvation can be best explained by sharing the

Gospel. Practice how you share the gospel and
the points that you give in sharing. Identify the
points and explain the background on the point.
Review how you share the gospel. Should you
tweak your process? Identify the improvements.
Doctrinal
Points in Sharing explanation Evaluation of your How you will
the Gospel (Where in the Bible own sharing improve
do we find this?)
Man has a sin

problem
God has a
solution - Jesus
died for our sins
Jesus is the
perfect sacrifice
What our
response
should be
What is the
result of
our faith
74
2. As a result of what I have learned today, before next
week I will….
______________________________________
______________________________________
Share with your group your personal application of this

session. Pray together that God would allow you to
follow through on your commitment.

75
76
SESSION 5
THE TRINITY

77
EXPLORE
True or False. Indicate whether the statements about the
Godhead (Trinity) is true or false. Put T if it is true or F if it is
false at the end of every statement.
1. Jesus Christ is God.

2. The Trinity means that there are three (3) Persons in
one God, all of these Persons having equal rank
and are of the same nature.
3. The Holy Spirit is a Divine Force.
4. Jesus Christ is half-God and half-man.
5. The Trinity means that there is only one God who
exists in three (3) forms: as Father, who became the
Son when He became man, and who became the
Holy Spirit after the resurrection.
6. The Holy Spirit is God, equal with the Father and
the Son.
7. Jesus Christ was just a man, a created being who
was sinless.
8. The Trinity means that there are three (3) Gods of
equal rank and of the same nature.
9. The Holy Spirit is Jesus Christ in spirit form.
10. Jesus Christ is God who became man and ceased
to be God.
11. Jesus Christ is the Son of God, but lesser in rank
than the Father.
See Appendix C for the answer key
78
EXAMINE
& EXPRESS
• Different groups have different teachings about

the nature of the Trinity.
• Christian cults like INC, Jehovah’s Witnesses,

United Pentecostals, and Mormons oppose
Scriptural teaching.
• Islam teaches that Christians believe in a Trinity

of God the Father, Jesus and Mary.
• The Trinity is a difficult thing to explain.
• The more detailed we become in our

explanation, often the more problems we
encounter.
• The complexity of the Trinity lends itself to

misunderstanding.
Discussion 1
Assign two people in your group to engage in a discussion.

The first is a Christian. The second is not a Christian. The
non-Christian should challenge the Christian’s belief in
the Trinity. The Christian should defend their belief in the
Trinity. Other group members should make observations
about the interaction. What did you learn?

79
We believe that there is only one GOD eternally

existent in three persons – Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
We believe that Jesus Christ in the flesh was both God

and Man.
We believe that the Holy Spirit is God and possesses

all the Divine attributes.
Right View of the Trinity
THE
FATHER
T
IS
NO
NO
IS
GOD
THE
THE
IS NOT HOLY
SON SPIRIT
80
Some Bad Illustrations
• Water
• Sun
• Human Father
• Egg
Wrong views of the Trinity
• Modalism – God is one, but at various times

reveals Himself in different modes
• Arianism – God is one, but Jesus as the Son

of God was created by the Father and is not of
the same substance
• Partialism – God is found in three parts which

together constitute the Godhead.
Right view of the Trinity
Athanasian Creed:
That we worship one God in trinity and the trinity in

unity, neither blending their persons nor dividing their
essence.
For the person of the Father is a distinct person, the
person of the Son is another, and that of the Holy
Spirit still another.
But the divinity of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is
one, their glory equal, their majesty coeternal.

81
Biblical support for the Trinity
Verses that:
• Refer to the three persons of the Godhead

together
• Directly teach that Jesus is God
• Show Jesus doing things that God does
• Directly teach that the Holy Spirit is God
• Show the Holy Spirit doing what God does
Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations,

baptizing them in the name of the Father and
the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20teaching them to
observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am
with you always, even to the end of the age.
Matthew 28:19-20
• “in the Name of”
• The Father, Son and the Holy Spirit do have

one name: God.
• The concept of the Trinity is in the Bible.
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…who are chosen 2according to the foreknowledge
of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the
Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with
His blood…
1 Peter 1:1-2
• God the Father
• Holy Spirit
• Jesus Christ
The Trinity all work together in order to

accomplish our salvation.
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love

of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be
with you all.
2 Corinthians 13:14
Then God said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image,

according to Our likeness; and let them rule over
the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky
and over the cattle and over all the earth, and
over every creeping thing that creeps on the
earth.’
Genesis 1:26
• All three of the Trinity was also part of

creation

83
but at the proper time manifested, even His word,
in the proclamation with which I was entrusted
according to the commandment of God our
Savior, 4to Titus, my true child in a common faith:
Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ
Jesus our Savior.
Titus 1:3-4
• God is our savior. And so is Jesus.
• They are both God
• They are just one and the same – God the

Father and God the Son
The use of the word “Elohim” for God
= El, god or God

= El + ohim (plural form)
Discussion 2
What have you learned so far about the nature of the

Trinity?
What strikes you as most important?
84
Biblical support for the Trinity
Verses that:
• Refer to the three persons of the Godhead

together.
• Directly teach that Jesus is God
• Show Jesus doing things that God does
• Directly teach that the Holy Spirit is God
• Show the Holy Spirit doing what God does
The Holy Spirit is God
But Peter said, ‘Ananias, why has Satan filled your

heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back
some of the price of the land? 4While it remained
unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it
was sold, was it not under your control? Why is it
that you have conceived this deed in your heart?
You have not lied to men but to God.’
Acts 5:3-4
• They lied to the Holy Spirit and to God,

Who is one and the same.
I will ask the Father, and He will give you another

Helper, that He may be with you forever;
John 14:16
“I will ask the Father, and He will give you “allos”

Helper, that He may be with you forever;”
Allos = Another of the same kind, the

same essence.
Heteros = Another of a different kind

85
how much more will the blood of Christ, who
through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without
blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from
dead works to serve the living God?
Hebrews 9:14
• Only God is eternal.
• The Holy Spirit existed from eternity past.
In the beginning God created the heavens and

the earth. 2The earth was formless and void, and
darkness was over the surface of the deep, and
the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of
the waters.
Genesis 1:1-2
• The Holy Spirit was with God when He was

creating the world
• The Holy Spirit existed before creation.
By the word of the Lord the heavens were made,

And by the breath of His mouth all their host.
Psalm 33:6
• Ruach – breath = spirit in Hebrew
86
The Spirit of God has made me, And the breath
of the Almighty gives me life.
Job 33:4
• The Holy Spirit imparts life to us
• He gives us both spiritual and physical life
You send forth Your Spirit, they are created; And

You renew the face of the ground.
Psalm 104:30
• The Holy Spirit was involved in the creation

of the world.
For to us God revealed them through the Spirit;

for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths
of God. 11 For who among men knows the thoughts
of a man except the spirit of the man which is in
him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows
except the Spirit of God.
• Nobody can really understand God.
• The only Person who can really fully

understand God is God Himself, the Holy
Spirit.

87
Implications of the Trinity
THE
FATHER
IS
NO
NO
IS
T
GOD
THE
THE
IS NOT HOLY
SON SPIRIT
• Communication within the Godhead
• Jesus is interceding for us in front of the throne

of God.
• God is not lacking anything. He is complete

within Himself.
88
Discussion 3
What is the significance for us as believers that there are

three persons of the Trinity?
How would you communicate the importance and reality

of the Trinity to a new believer?
The Trinity is a mystery
• Mysteries are by nature mysterious.
• Finite humans cannot conceive of how

God can be one essence in three persons.
• The mystery is not illogical or contradictory.
• It is beyond our experience.
The Trinity changes everything
• If God needed to create people to fulfill His

relational nature, He would be incomplete.
• If God’s nature did not include relationships,

He could be as fickle and arbitrary as the
gods of the nations.
• Love, mercy, justice, righteousness, etc.

are part of His relational nature, and make
it possible for us to be saved.

89
EXPERIENCE
1. The Trinity is a tricky truth to understand. Further digest

what you have learned by answering the table. Once you
know what is clear, indicate who you will share this to.
Who will you share

What is clear? What is not clear?
the clear things to?
Jesus
God the Father
Holy Spirit
Trinity

week I will….
_____________________________________
_____________________________________

this session. Pray together that God would allow you
to follow through on your commitment.
90
SESSION 6
MARRIAGE
AND GENDER

91
92
MARRIAGE

93
EXPLORE
Find out how well you know these biblical couples and
their circumstances by answering this fun trivia. Underline
the letter of the correct answer.
1. What was the name of Abraham’s wife?

a. Rachel b. Sarah c. Rebekah d. Leah
2. How was Isaac’s wife chosen?

a. His father chose a local girl for him to marry
b. Isaac fell in love with his friend’s daughter
c. His father sent a servant back to Mesopotamia
to choose a wife from his own family
d. Isaac fell in love with his servant girl
3. Which of his wives did Jacob love the most?

a. Leah b. Zilpah c. Rachel d. Bilhah
4. What happened to Shechem, the prince who fell in

love with Dinah, daughter of Jacob?
a. He married Dinah
b. He, his father, and the men of his city were slain
by Dinah’s brothers
c. He invited Dinah’s family to live in his city
d. He eloped with Dinah, who never saw her family
again
5. Where did Moses meet his future wife?

a. At a well in the land of Midian
b. In Pharaoh’s palace in the land of Egypt
c. In the wilderness on the journey to the promised
land
d. At the house of one of the Israelites
94
6. What were the restrictions on marriage for the
daughters of Zelophehad?
a. They must only have one husband each
b. They must marry within their tribe
c. They must marry before the age of thirty
d. They must marry whoever is chosen by the
priest for them
7. What was the name of Ruth’s second husband?

a. Elimelech b. Mahlon c. Chilion d. Boaz
8. Samson loved Delilah so much that she persuaded

him to tell her what?
a. The secret of his strength
b. Where the Ark of God was
c. How to defeat the Israelites
d. How many Philistines he had killed
9. What was the name of Abigail’s first husband?

a. Goliath b. Uzzah c. Joash d. Nabal
10. What convinced David he was in love with

Bathsheba, to the extent that he was prepared
to commit adultery?
a. He saw her take a bath, and saw she was
beautiful
b. He had dinner with her, and saw she was
beautiful
c. He saw her with her husband, and saw she was
beautiful
d. She was his servant, and he saw she was
beautiful

95
11. Who did Amnon love, and then hate even more
than he had loved her?
a. Dinah b. Tamar c. Leah d. Abigail
12. Who told his wife not to worry that she was barren
and said, “am not I better to thee than ten sons”?
a. Abraham b. Jacob c. Elkanah d. Manoah
13. What was the occupation of Hosea’s wife?

a. Housekeeper
b. Dyer of cloth
c. Harlot
d. Money lender
14. Which married couple did Paul become friends

with at Corinth?
a. Ananias & Sapphira
b. Aquila & Priscilla
c. Jason & Lydia
d. Peter & Mary
15. Of what is the husband’s love for the wife a symbol?

a. God’s love for us
b. Christ’s love for the church
c. Man’s love for woman
d. Adam’s love for Eve
See Appendix D for the answer key
96
EXAMINE
& EXPRESS
• Family is one of our core values
• Family breakdown is rampant
• Our culture assumes, if two people love each

other, sexual intimacy is normal
• The LGBT movement is influencing global media

and society
• Many reject Christ because they see believers as

judgmental and hypocritical
Even among Christians…
• Questions about divorce and remarriage, especially

for new believers
• Christians also struggle with sexual identity
• Lack of openness about gender issues causes

people to hide struggles
• Tendency to judge and condemn

97
Discussion 1
Do you know people who have experienced broken

marriages or families? What are their questions and
struggles?
Have you known people who struggle with sexual

identity? How does that affect their faith in Christ?
CCF Statement of Faith about Marriage
We believe that marriage is the uniting of one man and

one woman in a single, exclusive union, as delineated in
Scripture. (Genesis 2:18-25) We believe that God intends
sexual intimacy to occur only between a man and a woman
who are married to each other. (1 Corinthians 6:18; 7:2-5;
Hebrews 13:4)
I. God’s Design
earth.’ 27God created man in His own image,
in the image of God He created him; male and
female He created them.
Genesis 1:26-27
98
Then the Lord God formed man of dust from the
ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath
of life; and man became a living being.
Genesis 2:7
Then the Lord God said, ‘It is not good for the man
to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for
him.”
Genesis 2:18
• The original Hebrew word is, ‫וּדְגֶנְּכ רֶזֵע‬

“ezer kenegdo”, meaning, “a helper
suitable”.
• God has designed the wife to be a strong

support that will help the man because it
is not good for him to be alone.
The man gave names to all the cattle, and to the

birds of the sky, and to every beast of the field, but
for Adam there was not found a helper suitable
for him. 21So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to
fall upon the man, and he slept; then He took one
of his ribs and closed up the flesh at that place.
22
The Lord God fashioned into a woman the rib
which He had taken from the man, and brought
her to the man.
Genesis 2:20-22
• Woman was “God fashioned,” or molded

exactly the way that He wanted her to be.

99
“The man said, ‘This is now bone of my bones,
And flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman,
Because she was taken out of Man.’”
Genesis 2:23
• In Hebrew, this is an exclamation!
• God created Woman, exactly to be the right

person for Adam.
• From the very beginning, the intention of

God was to create a couple, a Man and a Wife
that would perfectly complement each other.
• This reflects the relational image of God as

seen in the Trinity.
For this reason a man shall leave his father and

his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they
shall become one flesh.
Genesis 2:24
• Being created in the image of God, they are

one being - a reflection of how God is one
with three persons.
• God never intended that the husband and

wife would be separated. Later on, the
Israelites were allowed to divorce but that
was not the original intention!
• From the very beginning, the intention of the

marriage relationship was to reflect what
God is like, a perfect unity, that is never
broken. This has implications for how we
view divorce and re-marriage.
100
“Some Pharisees came to Jesus, testing Him and
asking, ‘Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for
any reason at all?’ 4 And He answered and said,
‘Have you not read that He who created them
from the beginning made them male and female,
5
and said, “For this reason a man shall leave his
father and mother and be joined to his wife, and
the two shall become one flesh’”? 6So they are no
longer two, but one flesh. What therefore God has
joined together, let no man separate. 7They said
to Him, ‘Why then did Moses command to give
her a certificate of divorce and send her away?’
8
He said to them, ‘Because of your hardness
of heart Moses permitted you to divorce your
wives; but from the beginning it has not been
this way. 9 And I say to you, whoever divorces his
wife, except for immorality, and marries another
woman commits adultery.’ 10The disciples said to
Him, ‘If the relationship of the man with his wife is
like this, it is better not to marry.’”
Matthew 19:3-10
• During that time, it was acceptable in that

culture to divorce.
• In His answer, Jesus was saying that from

the very beginning, the intention of marriage
is for a permanent union Divorce was
never intended to be acceptable.
• Moses gave the certificate of divorce to

protect the woman so that she could not be
wrongly accused of adultery, and that she
would have a legal document to support it.

101
Parallel passages:
Some Pharisees came up to Jesus, testing Him,

and began to question Him whether it was lawful
for a man to divorce a wife. 3 And He answered
and said to them, ‘What did Moses command
you?’ 4They said, ‘Moses permitted a man to write
a certificate of divorce and send her away.’ 5 But
Jesus said to them, ‘Because of your hardness of
heart he wrote you this commandment. 6 But from
the beginning of creation, God made them male
and female. 7For this reason a man shall leave his
father and mother, and the two shall become one
flesh; so they are no longer two, but one flesh.
9
What therefore God has joined together, let no
man separate.’
Mark 10:2-9
In the house the disciples began questioning Him

about this again. 11 And He said to them, ‘Whoever
divorces his wife and marries another woman
commits adultery against her; 12and if she herself
divorces her husband and marries another man,
she is committing adultery.’”
Mark 10:10-12
Everyone who divorces his wife and marries

another commits adultery, and he who marries
one who is divorced from a husband commits
adultery.
Luke 16:18
102
• There is no escape clause here; the passage
is clear, that marrying after getting divorced
is adultery. This is for everyone with no
exceptions.
• What is expected from God’s side is marriage

relationships should stay together permanently.
• God desires forgiveness and restoration

for every marriage relationship facing
challenges and difficulties.
But to the married I give instructions, not I, but

the Lord, that the wife should not leave her
husband 11 (but if she does leave, she must
remain unmarried, or else be reconciled to
her husband), and that the husband should
not divorce his wife.
• Context: Paul was speaking to the

Corinthians who came from a very pagan
environment
• Paul’s advice:

103
But to the rest I say, not the Lord, that if any
brother has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she
consents to live with him, he must not divorce
her. 13 And a woman who has an unbelieving
husband, and he consents to live with her, she
must not send her husband away.”
• Paul’s opinion: don’t divorce your

unbelieving spouse if they are willing to
stay together
Yet if the unbelieving one leaves, let him leave;

the brother or the sister is not under bondage in
such cases, but God has called us to peace.
1 Corinthians 7:15
• If the unbelieving party wants to divorce,

you cannot do anything about it.
Only, as the Lord has assigned to each one, as

God has called each, in this manner let him walk.
And so I direct in all the churches… 20 Each man
must remain in that condition in which he was
called.
1 Corinthians 7:17,20
• Don’t try to unscramble scrambled eggs.
• Strive to have a Christ-centered relationship

from this point forward.
104
• The basic tenor of Scripture is marriage is a
permanent union between a man and a
wife.
• Don’t look for a way out of the marriage
“Irreconcilable Differences?”
I have known many happy marriages, but never

a compatible one. The whole aim of marriage
is to fight through and survive the instant when
incompatibility becomes unquestionable. For a
man and a woman, as such, are incompatible.
G. K. CHESTERTON
• Jesus’ intent is for us to be more like

Christ. And often it is conflict and friction
that makes Christlikeness happen. God’s
intent is for marriage to be a permanent
union until death.

105
II. Marriage – A Permanent Covenant
A. Marriage was God’s idea; it is integral to who

we were created to be.
• Being single does not mean that one is

incomplete.
1. It is a reflection of His Triune nature
• The unity of the Trinity can never be

broken. This is why marriages should not
end in divorce.
2. It is at the center of spiritual warfare – the

focus of the rebellion of Satan
• Satan attacks the husband and wife.
• It is always spiritual warfare.
106
III. CCF Policy on Remarriage
A. CCF encourages couples whenever possible

to seek forgiveness and reconciliation
1. For those who cannot reconcile, in general

we recommend separation, not divorce/
annulment
2. For those in a second relationship, we

generally do not perform re-marriages
3. Exceptions are considered by the elders

on a case-to-case basis.
B. Some common questions
1. “If we are in love, then what is wrong with

being physically intimate?”
• Sex is part of God’s design. He made this

for procreation, for unification as a couple,
but is specific for the marriage
relationship.
• We need to follow God’s plan.
• Pre-marital sex actually damages

relationships later on.
• People who engage in pre-marital sex

have less sexual satisfaction than those
who have been married for many years.
• Pre-marital sex is not honoring to God.

107
2. “How will we know if we are compatible?”
• Josh McDowell says, “The plumbing almost

always works”. The physical attributes of
sex will almost always work.
3. “What if we are no longer in love?”
• Love is not a feeling. Love is essentially a

commitment that we make to love another
person.
• Feelings are not the determinant of

whether you will stay committed in a
relationship.
4. “What about abusive relationships?”.
• One needs to be protected and leave the

situation for a period of time to be able to
get help.
• But this is not grounds for divorce. This is

just a chance to step back from the
relationship to be able to reboot.
• For physical abuse, get out of the situation

and seek to address the issues that
caused this abuse. For verbal abuse, seek
counseling and get disciplers involved.
108
Discussion 2
How would you counsel an unmarried couple who feels

there is nothing wrong with being intimate?
Under what circumstances would you say that divorce is

acceptable biblically? What about separation? What about
remarriage?

109
EXPERIENCE
1. The world has many lies that make our minds not
believe in God’s truth. Name the lies of the world
about marriage, divorce and remarriage. For each lie,
give the biblical truth. Then write down names of who
you will share this to.
Who you will share

Worldly Lies Biblical Truths
this to
Marriage
Divorce
Remarriage

week I will….
_____________________________________
____________________________________
Share with your group your personal application of this

session. Pray together that God would allow you to
follow through on your commitment.
110
GENDER

111
EXPLORE
Take turns in sharing to the group your thoughts or opinion
on the following:
1. What will be your reaction if your child or someone

you care about admits that he is a gay/lesbian? Why?
2. How will you respond to this situation?
112
EXAMINE
Because God has ordained marriage and defined it as

the covenant relationship between a man, a woman, and
Himself, CCF will only recognize and solemnize marriages
between a biological man and a biological woman who are
committed to follow Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.
We believe that God wonderfully and immutably creates

each person as biologically male or biologically female.
These two distinct, complementary genders together
reflect the image and nature of God. (Genesis 1:26-27)
Rejection of one’s biological sex is a rejection of the image
of God within that person.
I. God’s Design

earth.’ 27God created man in His own image,
in the image of God He created him; male and
female He created them.
Genesis 1:26-27

113
A. What is God’s Image?
1. Moral
2. Intellectual
3. Creative
4. Spiritual
5. Relational
The man gave names to all the cattle, and to the

birds of the sky, and to every beast of the field, but
for Adam there was not found a helper suitable
for him.
Genesis 2:20
So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon

the man, and he slept; then He took one of his
ribs and closed up the flesh at that place. 22The
Lord God fashioned into a woman the rib which
He had taken from the man, and brought her to
the man. “
Genesis 2:21-22
114
B. God’s Nature: Trinity
THE
FATHER
IS
NO
NO
IS
T
GOD
THE
THE
IS NOT HOLY
SON SPIRIT
• Man and woman are different from one

another and complement each other.
• These differences reflect the image of God,

just like the Godhead is one but different
from each other.
God’s nature is Triune – Father, Son and Holy

Spirit.
Each person of the Godhead is different, but

each is in perfect relationship with each other.

115
Man in the image of God is also relational – but his
most intimate relationship cannot be with someone
that is the same as himself.
• Man and man or woman and woman cannot

reflect the image of God.
But since sexual immorality is occurring, each

man should have sexual relations with his own
wife, and each woman with her own husband.”
1 Corinthians 7:2 (NIV)
• God’s intention for sex has always been

man and woman, a husband and wife,
within the confines of marriage.
C. Is homosexual sex sin?
1. Scripture says repeatedly that it is.
For this reason God gave them over to degrading

passions; for their women exchanged the natural
function for that which is unnatural, 27and in the
same way also the men abandoned the natural
function of the woman and burned in their desire
toward one another, men with men committing
indecent acts and receiving in their own persons
the due penalty of their error.
Romans 1:26-27
116
• Man disobeyed God; sin (lawlessness and
rebellion) was never God’s intent for man.
realizing the fact that law is not made for a

righteous person, but for those who are lawless
and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinners, for
the unholy and profane, for those who kill their
fathers or mothers, for murderers 10 and immoral
men and homosexuals and kidnappers and liars
and perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to
sound teaching…
1 Timothy 1:9-10
If a man has sexual relations with a man as one

does with a woman, both of them have done
what is detestable. They are to be put to death;
their blood will be on their own heads.
Leviticus 20:13
Do not have sexual relations with a man as one

does with a woman; that is detestable.
Leviticus 18:22
• The sin of homosexuality is not worse than

any other sin. The penalty for homosexuality
is the same penalty for children who
disrespect their parents.

117
Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not
inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived;
neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers,
nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, 10 nor thieves,
nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor
swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. 11Such
were some of you; but you were washed, but
you were sanctified, but you were justified in the
name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of
our God.
• In all these passages, homosexuality is not

singled out as a unique sin. This is in the
same category as disobedience and
drunkenness.
2. What is worse than homosexuality?
In addition to homosexuality, there are numerous

sinful behaviors that are condemned. These
include: murder, swindling, adultery, immorality,
fornication, perjuring, stealing, kidnapping,
idolatry, lying, being covetous, drunkenness, or
reviling.
• There is no hierarchy of how bad a sin is.

They are all in the same category as
disobedience to God.
• There is a wrong perception on homosexuality

that it is the worst kind of sin. They are all
at the same level.
118
3. Who is a worse sinner?
Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which

are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry,
sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of
anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, 21envying,
drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of
which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned
you, that those who practice such things will not
inherit the kingdom of God.
Galatians 5:19-21
• In this passage, homosexuality is not

mentioned but it is listed under the general
sin of immorality.
• As Christians we have been guilty of making

homosexuality far worse than any other
sin.
• This is unfortunately reflected in our

judgment of people.
• We are also guilty of thinking that

homosexuality is worse than the sin we
commit. This is why homosexuals feel
judged and condemned by Christians.

119
Straightening up, Jesus said to her, ‘Woman,
where are they? Did no one condemn you?’ 11She
said, ‘No one, Lord.’ And Jesus said, ‘I do not
condemn you, either. Go. From now on sin no
more.’
John 8:10-11
• Jesus doesn’t excuse the sin of the woman.
• Jesus doesn’t condemn her.
• When we see people sin, we have to be able

to call out the sin and hold off on the
condemnation.
• Love the person because this is what Jesus

would have done.
In summary
• Homosexual sex is sin.
• Clearly representing oneself as the opposite

sex, when they are not such is sin.
• We should not reject the humanity of other

people and condemn them.
• Jesus is our prime example, in Romans 5:8,

it states that while we were yet sinners Christ
died for us.
120
D. Some Common Questions
1. Is attraction to the same sex sin?
• No. Attraction to a person of the same sex

is not sin. Sin is acting on the attraction and
having sexual relations with the person of
the same sex.
• Temptation is not sin. Giving in to the

temptation and acting out on the temptation
is sin.
2. What is wrong with having a committed same

sex relationship?
• God’s intention for a marriage is for man and

woman.
• Even if we Insist that there is no difference

with homosexual relationships, one will see
that the biology clearly states differently.
3. What if I have tried to change but I just can’t?
• One’s goal is to act purely before God.
• It is possible to be attracted to the opposite

sex and to the same sex. The goal is not to
eliminate the attraction. The goal is to live
according to the design of God.

121
• If you are struggling with trying to change but
not changing, you have two options:
1. Live a celibate life. Honor God by

keeping yourself pure by not having
sexual relations with anyone for life.
2. Wait for God to change you. This many

not happen instantly but in the
meantime, commit to being pure.
4. If I don’t speak out against homosexuality, am I not

condoning it?
• Check yourself, are you speaking out the same

way against other sins such as lying?
• Loving people, lovingly confronting their sinful

behavior, but not condemning them and
bringing them to faith in Christ, is a much more
productive way to address things.
• God will deal with the sin, our job is bridge

people to Christ.
• We need to extend more grace than usual to the

LGBTQ community.
Discussion 3
How would you respond to a gay person who says they

don’t want to believe in Christ because they feel judged by
Christians?
122
EXPERIENCE
1. What are your perspectives about same-sex

relationships before? What are your attitudes
towards the LGBTQ community before? And now
after this session, what changes occurred in your
perspectives or attitudes towards them? Use the
chart below to indicate those.
Before After
Perspective Attitudes Perspective Attitudes
Ex. It is fine as Condoning the

long as they are homosexual act
happy

week I will….
__________________________________
__________________________________

this session. Pray together that God would allow you
to follow through on your commitment.

123
124
ADDITIONAL
READINGS
Source: Dr. Jim Whelchel
Building Foundations for Life
Foundations for Christian Leadership

125
GOD: HIS CREATION AND SOVEREIGNTY
God is not the product of someone’s imagination, nor is

He the result of some philosopher’s great insight. The
God of the Bible, the God who has revealed Himself to us,
is a God who is known by His great works among us on
earth. Most theologians speak of two major categories
of the works of God: His creation and His sovereignty.
Although we will see that God is personally involved in all
of our lives at all times, we will see that these two areas
cover His works as well.
God’s Creation
The opening verses of the Bible give us a record of God’s
most remarkable act prior to Christ: His creation of the
world. When an artist “creates” a masterpiece, he takes
things that already exist (paint and canvas) and forms them
into a painting. God’s creation was entirely different. The
Hebrew word used, bara, is used in this form only about
God. We as people can make something out of existing
material; only God can create something out of nothing.
God created the entire universe by simply speaking it
into existence (Gen. 1:1). Where nothing existed before,
God spoke and the universe was called into being.
What did God create? Scripture lists many things

that were part of the creation: the physical universe,
including the sun, moon, stars and the earth;
plant and animal life (Gen. 1,2); the spiritual world,
including angels and Satan, who was later to lead a
rebellion against his Creator (Col. 1:16 cf. Eph. 6:12;
Ps. 148:2-5); and ultimately man, the crown of His
creation (Gen. 2:7). John 1:1-3 tells us that nothing
that now exists has come into being except through
the creative work of the Word who became flesh.
126
Why did God create the world? The ultimate
purpose of God in creation, as in all things, is to
reveal His own glory. It is through the creation that
He displays His great power and majesty, so that we
may see the greatness of God (Ps. 8:1-9; 19:1). Our
response should be as the Psalmist says,
Declare His glory among the nations,

His marvelous deeds among all peoples.
For Great is the Lord and most worthy
of praise; He is to be feared above all gods.
For all of the gods of the nations are idols,
but the Lord made the heavens. Splendor
and majesty are before Him; strength
and glory are in his sanctuary.
Psalm 96:3-6
God’s Sovereignty
All around us our world appears to be in chaos.
Wars rage around the world. Famines, storms and
earthquakes strike millions every year. Poverty
increases, while the continuing struggle for
prosperity has put great stress on the resources
of the world. Pollution, global warming and
overpopulation promise to be difficult problems in
the decades ahead. Is the world spinning out of
control?
If we understand who God is, we can answer a

resounding “No!” The world is, and always has
been, within the loving and sovereign grasp of our
great God. All of these events are actually evidence
that the completion of His plan is coming soon. He
will reign victorious!

127
The question of whether God is in control is actually
related to God’s sovereignty. As mentioned under God’s
attributes, God’s sovereignty means that He rules over
all. He is the King over all His creation, and ultimately all
of the creation answers to Him. How does He rule?
The Decree of God -- God’s Plan for Creation

God’s rule is governed by what theologians call, “God’s
decree.” A decree is an order given by a ruler. Since
God is sovereign, and since He is omnipotent as well,
whatever God orders to take place will take place. The
decree of God is His plan in which He foretold from
eternity past (Eph. 1:4) everything that would take place
(Eph. 1:11).
The Bible records many of the specifics that are

governed by His decree. These include: The physical
world (Ps. 33:6-11); the boundaries of the nations (Deut.
32:8; Acts 17:26); governments (Rom. 13:1-7); the rulers
of nations (Dan. 2:21; 4:35); Israel’s elect role (Gen.
12:1-3); the rule of the Messiah over Israel (Ps. 2; Zech.
14:12-21); the length of one’s life (Job 14:5); how we are
to die (John 21:19); how the family should work (Gen.
2:18); that marriage should be permanent (Matt. 19:1-9);
that families should have children (Gen. 1:28; 9:1, 7); and
many other aspects of life.
Few believers would ever consciously doubt that God is

sovereign. But His decrees raise two critical questions:
If God is sovereign, can man actually choose his

own destiny? While Scripture shows us clearly
that God is sovereign, it shows equally that man is
responsible for his choices. In Josh. 24:15 Joshua
tells the people, “...choose for yourselves this day
who you will serve...but as for me and my house, we
will serve the Lord.” From Joshua’s perspective, the
choice was in the hands of the people. This is clear
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in many other passages of Scripture, particularly
those passages related to our salvation.
Yet, whatever the decision of the Israelites, or our

decisions concerning salvation or ordering our
lives, God remains in control. Many decisions are
intended by man for evil, which is certainly against
God’s will. Yet God can and does cause them to
result in good (Gen. 45:4-7). While God considers
the response of man in exercising His sovereignty
(Jer. 8:7-10), He never relinquishes his sovereignty
because of man’s choices. While it remains a
mystery how God retains sovereign control and yet
allows for meaningful choices by His creation, the
Bible affirms that both are true.
If God is sovereign, why is their evil and suffering

in the world? This is actually just another way of
asking the question above. If God did not allow man
to make any choices, certainly there would be no
evil or suffering. Yet God sovereignly has chosen
to allow man some degree of freedom to choose,
which resulted in the fall of Adam and all of the
consequences of that fall.
Habakkuk once asked God this very question.

Alarmed at the evil he saw in Israel, Habakkuk asked
God to intervene (1:2-4). But he was shocked when
God’s instrument to rebuke Israel was Babylon,
a country far more evil than Israel, and again he
complained to God (1:12-2:1). God’s answer (2:2ff)
was that, though the Babylonians were evil, even
their evil was within the limits He had set, and
ultimately they would be judged by God themselves
for their sin.

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This dialogue between God and Habakkuk helps
us to understand more fully when evil and suffering
happen to us. All of us are tempted to question God
when adversity comes. What would you think if a
typhoon destroys your home, or if a member of your
congregation gets AIDS from a blood transfusion
during an emergency operation at the hospital? We
all feel that somehow God should do something
about it, so that the righteous do not suffer with the
unrighteous.
God’s answer is basically this: wait. God is just, He

is loving, and He knows what you are going through.
While it may seem that He is not acting, in the proper
time and in the proper way He will make things right.
We are assured that in the future He will wipe away
every tear from our eyes, and all will be as it should
have been all along.
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SOME BASIC PRINCIPLES ON SUFFERING
Most of the time we are only aware of the problem
of pain and suffering when we are experiencing it.
Our first response is usually, “Why is this happening
to me? Is it because of something I did wrong?
Doesn’t God love me?” Here are several biblical
principles to help you through those tough times:
Accept God’s Work in Your Life.

• Accept trials as from God. Trials are part of
God’s purifying process in my life. Accepting
that this trial or difficulty is part of God’s
purpose for my life opens me to learn what He
intends to teach me. Trials and tribulations are
normal in the Christian life (1 Pet. 2:20-24; John
12:24-26). God does not promise a life free
from trials, but the strength to face the trials
and come through them victoriously (Phil. 4:13).
• Accept the lessons God gives you. Trials teach

us perseverance (James 1:3-5); anticipation of
heaven (Heb. 2:9-18; 1 Pet. 5:10); how to minister
to others in need (2 Cor. 1:5-7); and how to live
in obedience to Christ (Heb. 12:11). More than
anything, trials teach us to appreciate the pain
Jesus went through on our behalf (Phil. 3:10,
11). If anyone has experienced suffering, Jesus
has.
• Accept yourself as you go through trials.
There are times we condemn ourselves
because we feel that we are not “spiritual”
enough. But being spiritual does not mean not
being sad when a loved one dies, or not being
lonely when we are struggling with a crisis in
our lives. We may be depressed or grieve like
anyone else, but still learn more about trusting
the Lord in the process.

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• Accept others as well. Like Job found, trials
often bring out the best, and worst, in those
you love. When Job’s wife said, “Curse God
and die,” I doubt that Job was encouraged by
her thoughtfulness and concern. But friends
and loved ones around you are human too.
Some may minister to you; others may offend
you. Be willing to learn from their mistakes in
the future when you minister to someone else
in pain. And enjoy the blessing of those who
truly do minister to you in times of trial.
Practice the Presence of Christ

• Through His Word. It is often when we are
struggling that God speaks to us most clearly
through His Word. Even when it seems most
difficult, find comfort and direction in His Word.
• In prayer. David cried out to the Lord when

he was down, and poured out his tears to the
Lord. He was called a man after God’s own
heart because he shared his deepest thoughts
with the Lord. Spend time talking to God when
trials come. He is eager to respond to your cry.
God may not answer your request to know
why something happens. But He will surely
give you strength to endure.
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GOD: HIS PERSON AND NATURE
We have seen in the last sessions that God has chosen

to reveal Himself because He wants to be known, and
to restore the relationship with us that He originally
intended. The message of His revelation in Scripture
is aimed at bringing a lost world back into a proper
relationship with Himself. This being the case, the first
question usually asked in theology is, “What is God like?”
If He has chosen to make Himself known, what has He
revealed about Himself? This, in theological terms, is
what is known as “Theology Proper,” or the study of God
the Father.
Who is God?
In Exodus 2 the Bible records a very important
conversation between Moses and God at the burning
bush. Before Moses agreed to ask Pharaoh that the
children of Israel be set free, he needed to know the
name of the One who had sent him. In the Bible, we
find that often a name was much more important than
just what someone is called -- it often defined the nature
of the person. The answer that God gave to Moses, the
name He chose to reveal Himself by, was very significant:
He is YHWH, which in Hebrew means, “I AM,” or “I Am
That I Am.”
While this name has many implications, certainly one of

them is that God’s existence is certain -- He is in a way
that none of us are. He is, was and always will be, not
because of anything or anyone, but because He simply
is. God’s existence is the basic fact of the universe. God’s
existence is a certainty which makes sense of everything
else in our lives and in the world around us -- if God did
not exist, there would be no purpose or meaning in life.
Scripture tells us some other important things about God

which help us to understand what He is really like.

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God’s Nature
God is Spirit. John 4:24
The Bible tells us that God is Spirit. That

means that God is not material (He has no
material body), He is invisible (we cannot see
Him with our eyes), and He is not limited by
time or space. He is not like us with a physical
body or physical limitations.
God is Infinite. 2 Chronicles 2:5 6
God has no bounds or limits. He is separate

and different from all else (Is. 46:9 10). God is
not like anyone else in His creation, because
everyone else is limited in some way.
God is Personal. Genesis 1:26 27
Even though He is far greater than us, or than

anything or anyone we know, He is also very
personal. He wants to be known, and desires
fellowship with the people He created. God is
not an “it.” The words used to refer to Him are
always personal...
“Let us make man in our image” Gen. 1:26 27

“I am the Lord...He is my maker”
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Food for Thought
Many people worship gods who are far

away, distant and unconcerned. But the
God of the Bible, the God of History, the
true and living God, our God, is personal
and deeply concerned for His creation.
How is your view of God? Do you sometimes

feel that He is far from you, or not aware of
how you are or what you are going through?
God has taken great pains to allow us to
know Him, because He deeply cares for
each of the people He has made.
On the other hand, perhaps you sometimes

feel that God just cannot take care of all
the problems you face. Somehow you feel
He is in some way limited. He might want
to help, but He can’t. This is also not true
of the God we serve. Some years ago a
Christian leader in England wrote a book
entitled, “Your God is Too Small.” How big
is your God?
These descriptions of who God is lead to another way of

describing God -- by seeing God’s attributes in the Bible.

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God’s Attributes
The attributes of God are those characteristics of God
which identify or distinguish Him as God. They tell us what
God is like. Just as you have certain characteristics by
which you are known—your height, your way of talking,
your personality, etc.—so God has attributes by which He
is known. Just what are these attributes? In this section
we will discuss 10 attributes. Some theologians list more,
some subdivide these further, but these give an idea of the
main attributes of the personal, infinite God we love and
worship.
God is Sovereign. 1 Chronicles 29:11-12

Sovereign means that God has the authority to rule
over all. God makes decisions and sets up principles.
He doesn’t ask permission, but rules as He pleases.
Eventually all of history will turn out the way that God had
intended it from the beginning. God never loses control.
There are times that we may not yet see the purpose that
He is accomplishing through His deeds. But we can be
certain that in the end everything will work out according
to His plan.
God is omniscient. 1 John 3:20

God knows all things. He never learns something new
—He already knows everything. Before there is a word
on our tongue, God knows what we are about to say (Ps.
139:4). He always has and always will know everything
that has happened, that is happening or that ever will
happen.
Nothing ever takes God by surprise, including those

things which surprise you. You may be surprised that
you are capable of a certain sin, or that someone in your
church could hurt you or say things about you as they
do. But God is not surprised. He died for both of you
knowing full well how sinful all of us are.
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God is omnipresent. Psalm 139:7-10
God is everywhere all the time. There is nowhere you
will go that He is not there. The directions seen in this
passage are very interesting. Heaven is up, Sheol is
down, the dawn is in the East and the great sea, for
David, is in the West. The picture David shows is that
anywhere you try to go to flee God, He is already there.
God has the whole map covered.
While we know that God is everywhere, for the believer

this has a special significance. No matter what the
circumstances, God promises His personal presence is
always there (Heb. 13:5). God is not like the super-heroes
in the comics—we are not quite sure if they can make
it back in time to save the heroine. Our God is already
there.
God is omnipotent. Job 42:2

God is all powerful. There is nothing impossible for Him.
Nothing you face is too hard for Him. God’s rebuke to
Job was simple: Who are you to talk back to me—can
you do the things I can? Of course, we cannot. But God
can do anything that is consistent with His nature.
Sometimes we are afraid to pray for miracles because

God might look bad if He doesn’t answer. What will our
children think if they pray for something really difficult
and God does not answer? Perhaps the problem is that
we do not believe He can answer. God can do whatever
He chooses, and prayer often moves Him to act in clearly
supernatural ways.

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God is immutable. Hebrews 13:8
God never changes His nature or His attributes. When
God says He will do something you can count on it.
We are often disappointed in relationships with friends

or family members because they change. They promise
something, and do not keep their promise. They might
normally do something for us, but when we really
need them, they let us down. But God does not. He
doesn’t have “bad days,” doesn’t suddenly become
unreasonable, or get angry without reason. He remains
consistent with what He promises to do.
God is eternal. Revelation 1:8

God is self existent. His existence has no beginning or
no end. There has never been a time when God did not
exist and there will never be a time when He ceases to
exist. Even before time began, He was there.
Our assurance of heaven is based on the sure fact that

God is eternal. God is not dooming us to never-ending
reincarnation until our karma is overcome, but promises
eternal communion with our Creator in perfect enjoyment
and peace. Though we do not deserve it, we share in the
eternal inheritance of His own Son.
God is righteous. Psalm 145:17

God is morally perfect. It is impossible for Him to do
anything wrong, and even if it was He wouldn’t! Both His
motives and His actions are always right.
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Before we accuse God of doing something bad to us
when we experience difficulties and trials, remember
that He always does what is right. While we may feel
bad, or struggle in times of sorrow or pain, we can have
the assurance that God’s choices for us and for our lives
are good. They may be hard, or they may even be painful
—but they are always right.
God is just. Deuteronomy 32:4

He is absolutely fair. It is impossible for Him to be unfair.
He does not discriminate due to race, gender, status,
position or power. He will never give someone else
special treatment. He executes justice in accordance
with His righteousness. Though we may not see His
justice executed immediately, He will always act justly in
the end.
We should be careful when we pray for justice. If you pray

for justice to be done to another (perhaps vengeance is
a better term), ask yourself if you are prepared to receive
God’s judgment for every time you have done harm to
another. It is very likely that, if God gave us what we
really deserve, we would not like it. It is better to pray—
in humility—for grace and mercy.
God is love. 1 John 4:16

God’s love is perfect. Because He is eternal, His love
has no beginning or end. Because He is infinite, His love
has no limit. Because He is righteous, His love is perfect
and right. He freely gives His perfect love to all who will
accept it.
You and I can do nothing to cause God to love us more.

No amount of service, sacrifice or sentiment can make
Him love you more than He already does. Do not try
to make Him love you by working harder—take time to
experience the love that He already has for you.

139
God is truth. 2 Samuel 7:28
God’s words are absolutely true. Anything that is in
conflict to His word is not truth.
Often our circumstances are used by Satan to cause us to

doubt what we know from God’s Word is true. But God’s
Word is truer than our circumstances, our feelings and
Satan’s promises. We must cling to God’s truth without
doubting (James 1:5-7).
God is Three Persons in One God

All God’s attributes work together in harmony, and all are
true of each of the members of the Trinity.
The Attributes of God

_______________________________________
Incommunicable Communicable
Not shared by His Creatures Shared by His Creatures
Sovereign Eternal
Omniscient Righteous
Omnipresent Just
Omnipotent Love
Immutable Truth
_______________________________________
FATHER SON HOLY SPIRIT
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All members of the Godhead (Father, Son and Holy
Spirit) possess all the attributes of God. If you study the
Scriptures you can find these attributes for each member
of Godhead that is one of the best proofs of the deity of
Jesus and the deity of the Holy Spirit. The only distinction
is in personality and function.
For instance, consider our salvation. God the Father

planned it, and sent His Son be sacrificed for us. Jesus
obediently gave Himself as a sacrifice to make salvation
possible. The Holy Spirit completes the work of salvation
in the individual believer by convicting him of sin and
causing him to be born again. It is all one salvation
supplied entirely by our great God, but each member of
the Trinity has an important role in bringing it about. We
will be seeing in later sessions that Jesus and the Holy
Spirit are equal with the Father in the Godhead according
to Scripture.
THE TRINITY
Throughout Christian history one of the most critical

issues of theology has been to understand and properly
represent the nature of the Godhead through the doctrine
of the Trinity. In the early church, great discussions were
held in order to properly define the relationship between
the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Throughout history as
well, error concerning the Trinity has been one of the
key dividing issues identifying heresies and cults. The
Apostle John made it clear that a wrong view of the
relationship of Jesus with the Father was the critical
issue in determining which teachers were from God and
which were not (1 John 4:1-6). That issue remains critical
for us today.
Many cultic groups claim to be Christian, but on closer

examination are found to be heresies. The Jehovah’s
Witnesses believe that Jesus is the Son of God, but
not God. Likewise the United Pentecostals (Oneness)
do not believe that Jesus is equal with the Father.
Quiboloy teaches a similar doctrine to Oneness
(Jesus is not God), but goes further in claiming that his

141
status is equal to that of Jesus Christ. The Mormons
believe that Jesus became a god, and each of us can
become gods as well. This is a very cleverly disguised
form of polytheism—the belief that there are many gods.
The Unification Church of Son Yung Moon (known also
as “Moonies” or the Holy Spirit Association) believes that
Moon is another incarnation of Jesus because Jesus
failed in his first mission. In the Philippines, the Iglesia ni
Kristo denies the Deity of Christ as well.
How do we discern what groups are teaching the truth

and which are not?
What is the Trinity?

One of the greatest challenges for theology is to try to
put into simple words concepts that are unlike anything
else in our experience. Since there is nothing in our
experience exactly like God, and since He is beyond our
comprehension, our explanations of His nature are of
limited help. This is particularly true of an understanding
of the Trinity. The Bible makes a number of clear
statements about God, and the relationship between
Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We can assert that it is true
because God has so revealed it. But we have never met
a person who is a perfect unity, yet subsists in three
persons. To try to explain such a being is very difficult.
Actually, the word “Trinity” is not in the Bible, as most

cultic groups will be quick to point out. The word “Trinity”
may not even be the best description of what God is like.
But the Bible strongly supports two important aspects to
the nature of God, and we must uphold these if we are to
remain faithful to what Scripture says:
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1. God is One in regard to His essence. Essence means
His basic being—what He is made of. In Deuteronomy
6:4, the Jews were instructed that the most basic thing
to know about God was that He is a unity. While all the
nations around them had lots of gods, and each god
has a small territory he or she controlled, the God of
the Israelites was very different. He was the only God,
and no other god could claim to be God compared to
Him. The word for “one” used, “Echad” in Hebrew,
denotes unity, just as Adam and Eve were called “one”
(echad) in Gen. 2:24. The word “God” in Deut. 6:4 is
“Elohim,” a plural form. This appears to leave room
for the three persons of the Godhead, while making
it absolutely clear that there are not many gods, but
only One.
2. God is Three in regard to His Persons. The word

“persons” is again not the best term to use, but is
helpful in a limited sense. God’s essence is both
One and composed of three “persons”—the Father,
Son and Holy Spirit. These three are equal in all
ways regarding their essence. They are all three
God, and all one. They each bear the fullness of God
(Col. 1:19). There is none which is of higher position
or importance. There are two important aspects to
further understand the nature of the three persons:
• The three persons have distinct relationships within

the Godhead. The Father sent Jesus to earth. Jesus
is called the only “begotten of the Father,” a term
that theologians describe as “eternal generation of
the Father.” Likewise, Jesus and the Father sent the
Holy Spirit after His ascension, and thus the Holy
Spirit is said to “proceed” from the Father and the
Son. These relationships are eternal within the
Godhead. They do not imply that one is less than
the other, but that there is an inner harmony within
the unity of the Godhead allowing for the proper
relating of each member.

143
• The three persons are equal in authority within the
Godhead. While the interrelationships of generation
and procession indicate a relationship within the
members, scripture makes it clear that each carries
the full authority of God. The Father is seen as
authoritative and sovereign (1 Cor. 8:6), and so are
the Son (John 5:21-23) and the Spirit (Matt. 12:31).
How do we determine if a person is a true believer?

There are many popular heresies around, most of
which have existed for centuries. Here are some of
them:
Arianism/ Jesus is less than God (the Son of God,

INK, JW a Prophet, etc.) Moonies
Moonies The Holy Spirit is less than God (an

impersonal force, another spiritual
being, etc.)
Polytheism/ There are several gods (the Father,

Mormon Son and Holy Spirit are all gods; or
there are many gods, not just these
three)
Unitarian/ There is one God, but no persons

Muslim
Modalism/ There is one God, but appearing in

Jesus Only three modes, not unique persons in
the Trinity.
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THE PERSON OF JESUS CHRIST
The center of Christian faith is Jesus Christ.
Understanding who He is and what He is like is
critical in order to grow in our faith in Him. Not
only that, but many cults and false doctrines have
resulted from wrong teaching about Jesus. It is
very important for us to see what the Bible teaches
concerning the person, Jesus Christ.
The Importance of the SEED
The story of God’s work to redeem man did

not begin in the New Testament, but in the first
chapters of Genesis. Even as God sent man out of
the garden of Eden after the fall, He also promised
that there would be a provision made to restore
right relationship with God. This was the “seed” in
Genesis 3:15. The seed meant that there would be a
special person physically related to Eve who would
return us to fellowship with the Father. This idea of a
special seed repeated periodically through the Old
Testament, and its fulfillment is seen in Jesus Christ.
Some of the key passages:
Gen. 3:15—The first mention of the Seed is when

God lists the consequences of the Fall. There would
be enmity between the woman’s seed (one of her
descendants) and Satan. And while Satan would
bruise the Seed of the woman, the fatal blow would
be to Satan.
Gen 12:3—The Seed was further identified as coming

from the offspring of Abraham. This descendent of
Abraham would be a blessing to all nations.
Gen. 49:10—The future ruler of the whole world that

would come is from the tribe of Judah. This future
King will rule over the whole earth forever.

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Deut. 18:15—God would send a Prophet like Abraham
from the midst of Israel. This Prophet would be from
among the brethren—a flesh and blood descendant
of Israel.
Ps. 110:4-6—The descendent of David would not

only be a king (v. 1-3), but also a priest of the order
of Melchizedek (see also Heb. 7). As High Priest he
would intercede on behalf of all men, not only the
house of Israel.
Is. 53—God would send one who would redeem His

people through personally suffering and dying for the
iniquities of others.
Without a real person to fulfill these promises, God

could not have redeemed us.
The Seed: Jesus the Man
Although it may seem obvious to us today, one fact

has at times been overlooked: Jesus was a human
being just as we are. Many passages of Scripture
support this fact:
• He is called a man—John 8:40; Acts 2:22;

Rom. 5:15; 1 Cor. 15:21
• His lineage is defined clearly—Matt. 1:1ff;

Luke 3:23ff
• He is said to be revealed in the flesh—

John 1:14; 1 Tim. 3:16; 1 John 4:2
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EVIDENCE OUTSIDE THE BIBLE
The Bible is not the only record of Jesus’ life. There

are several other ancient sources that record
information concerning Jesus which support the
claims of Scripture. Some of these are:
Non-Jewish--Pliny (Epistles X.96); Tacitus (Annals
XV.44); and Suetonius (Lives XXV.4). These were
each written within one century of the life of Jesus.
Jewish--Josephus (Antiquities XVIII.3.3; XX.9.1)

and the Talmud. Josephus was writing during the
same time the epistles were being composed, and
it is likely Jesus was still alive while Josephus was
growing up in Palestine.
While the evidence for his existence is clear, these

sources from outside the Bible give us little data
concerning his actual life and ministry. The Bible
still gives us the clearest picture of His life and
ministry.
What was Jesus like as a man?
• He was a normal person

We may sometimes wonder if Jesus was normal
—was he just like us? The Bible shows that He
possessed a real human nature. He had:
• A Material body
He ate, he drank, he slept, and he was thirsty.
He experienced human growth (Luke 2:40).
He suffered and died as a normal human
(John 19:34). As a carpenter, He probably
occasionally smashed His fingers when He
missed a nail with the hammer. Jesus, like all of
us, was subject to the frailty of a human body.

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• A Human Soul
This is stated directly in Scripture (Matt. 26:38;
John 11:33). Jesus demonstrated these human
“soulish” characteristics:
Intellect. (Luke 2:52) Note that in Luke 2:40 it

literally says that He grew full of wisdom. It
was not that He needed to be corrected in
what He thought, but that He needed to gain
more wisdom as he grew.
Will. (Luke 9:51-53; Luke 22:42) When He faced

the decision of going to the cross, it was a
struggle. He had to choose not to obey the
human will, but to do the Father’s will.
Emotions. Jesus experienced the full range of

human emotions. He was angry (Matt. 21:12ff,
Matt. 23:13ff): sad (John 11:35-38); and felt
love (Matt. 23:37ff).
• He was a Perfect Person

We can be certain that Jesus was a normal human
being just as we are. But being the Son of God
also meant that He was different from us in certain
ways as well. Some ways that He was different
include:
His Virgin Birth

Teaching of Scripture. Scripture predicted that
Jesus would be born of a virgin. The prophecy
is found in Isa. 7:14, which says that a sign would
be given, and the sign was that a young woman
would bear a child. The Hebrew word used
was “Almah,” which could mean either a young
woman or a virgin. Many scholars believe this
was because the prophecy was fulfilled in two
senses. It was fulfilled first during the time
that Isaiah made the prediction (which was a
sign specifically given to King Ahaz). And the
fulfillment was completed at the birth of Christ
(Matt. 1:18-25; Luke 1:26ff).
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Significance. Some people have sought to
prove that Jesus’ sinlessness was because
He was born only of the seed of the woman.
But this actually has no biblical basis. Jesus
was sinless because He was the product of
the Holy Spirit from inception (Luke 1:35). Yet
the Virgin Birth does prove that Jesus was not
like any other person who has ever lived. It
also points out two important things about our
salvation: (See Erickson, Christian Theology,
p. 757)
• Our salvation is supernatural, not natural.

Jesus came to save us. But He was not like
an ordinary man. Even His life began as the
direct result of the Holy Spirit’s power.
Jesus was not a normal man who, through

His great self discipline or personal striving,
became good enough to be our savior. He
became our Savior through the supernatural
work of God Himself.
• Our salvation is a gift of God’s grace. Mary

was chosen by God. But there is nothing in
the Bible that gives us the idea that only Mary
was worthy of carrying Jesus in her womb.
She was chosen by God, that is why she is
called blessed more than any woman who
has lived.

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QUESTIONS ABOUT THE VIRGIN BIRTH
Some people today deny the virgin birth of Christ. There have
been many arguments against this doctrine. One common
argument is that the people were just uneducated. They
did not know the medical facts about birth so they believed
Mary’s incredible story. Yet the Jews clearly understood the
way that babies were made. Joseph offered to have Mary
sent away to avoid the shame she would surely face. But she
refused, maintaining her innocence.
Perhaps the most common objection today is the contention

that it is just a myth. Some liberal scholars say it is part of
the “folk-lore” that arose about Jesus after His death to prove
what His disciples claimed was true. Some say the Virgin Birth
is actually syncretism (a mixture of Christianity and another
religion). They say this because in Greek mythology there
are stories of “supernatural conceptions.” They say the early
Christians borrowed from mythology to make Jesus appear
as important as the Greek gods.
However, there is no evidence that this could have been true.

If one reads the strange stories about the Greek gods, it is
clear that they were mythical. The Greeks never claimed to
have historical evidence that any of their “superhero” gods
really lived.
In addition, the source of the records of the virgin birth are

primarily Jewish, not Greek. There is no record of any such
Jewish myth. The only similarity is in the fulfillment of the
prophecy of Isaiah, where the characters involved are clearly
historical people. The words used to describe the virgin
birth were common descriptions of ordinary life, not science
fiction or myth. Although it was miraculous, it was historically
verifiable -- one could check the story out by interviewing
people who were there and see if it really happened.
This is not “mythical” language. C.S. Lewis, a great scholar of

medieval literature at Cambridge University in England, was
asked what he thought about the theory that Jesus’ birth was
only a myth. His response was that the idea was backwards.
Rather than trying to see Jesus birth as a reflection of the
ideas of mythology, actually all mythology of offspring born
from the seed of gods could be traced to the truth of the birth
of Christ. The virgin birth of Christ was the real thing, and all
the myths about gods being born in miraculous ways were
only poor copies of the original.
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His Sinless Life
In His Conception. As mentioned above, this is

not because there was no transmission of the sin
nature. The sin nature is not passed on physically.
Scripture chooses not to fully reveal how the sin
nature is passed on, but it does make clear that in
Jesus’ case, He was not imputed the sin of Adam.
Jesus was sanctified by the Holy Spirit from the

moment of conception. He was not like John the
Baptist in this respect. Luke records that John
the Baptist was filled with the Holy Spirit in the
womb (Luke 1:15, 41). But Jesus was conceived
by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit was part of
the process, and Jesus was fully sanctified from
conception. Luke 1:35
In His nature. Scripture teaches that He did not

have a sin nature like ours. He was completely
free from the corruption of sin—the second
Adam, able to reflect perfectly what man was
intended to be. 1 Cor. 15:45-49 also gives us hope
that, in the future, we too will be released fully
from the corruption of sin. At that time we will be
given a chance to experience life in a spiritual,
resurrected body, without the effects of the fall.
has lived.
In His Experience. Scripture teaches us that

Jesus was totally without sin (Heb. 4:15; 7:26;
1 John. 3:5, 7). Although He faced temptations
like we did, and even more severe than ours,
He never gave in to those temptations. He was
experientially without sin.

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The Perfect Result
Because Jesus was completely sinless from
conception to His death, Jesus was not
condemned, like the rest of mankind, to die. You
and I are under a death sentence: the Bible says,
“the soul that sins will surely die...the wages of
sin is death.” Only Jesus had no sins of His own
to die for. Therefore, only Jesus was qualified to
die in our place (Rom. 5:14-19).
As we saw from the beginning, had Christ not

been a real man, we would still be in our sins.
Only a real man, without the staining influence of
sin, could possibly buy us out of the slave market
of sin.
The SEED: God Incarnate

Throughout history many people have struggled
to understand how Jesus could be both God and
man. Scripture does not answer all of our questions
concerning how it is possible, but it consistently tells
us it is true.
Because many groups today do not believe that Jesus

is God incarnate, the following is a summary of several
arguments from Scripture to prove that He truly is God.
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Proof 1: Names and Titles Used Describe Jesus as God
The Bible uses a number of terms to describe Jesus.
Many of them can only be used if Jesus is God. Some of
these are:
• Lord (kurios)
This term can mean a wide variety of things, from
the master of a slave to a person deserving respect,
to a religious leader or teacher. But it is also the
word the Septuagint uses to translate Yahweh and
Adonai, the most common terms for God in the Old
Testament.
Jesus is referred to as the Lord when New Testament
authors cited Old Testament passages originally
clearly dealing with Yahweh. (Acts 2:20, 21; Rom.
10:13; 1 Pet. 3:15)
Kurios is used interchangeably between Jesus and
the Father in the N.T. There are times you do not
even know for sure who is being spoken of. (Acts
1:24; 2:47; Rom. 14:11 and John 3:3)
• Isa. 9:6 Emmanuel. Emmanuel in Hebrew means
“God with us.” When the Bible says that Jesus is the
fulfillment of this prophecy, it means that truly God
is with us.
• Logos, John 1:1, 14. The grammar in John 1:1 makes
it clear that the Logos is God (this is called “Caldwell’s
rule,” which defines whether John was identifying the
Word as God or as a god). When connected to John
1:14, it is clear that Jesus is the Logos. Therefore,
Jesus is God.
• Son of God. According to the International Dictionary
of the Bible this title of Jesus “is to be understood
both as a synonym for Messiah (Ps. 27; Matt. 16:16;
26:63; 27:40) and as implying deity through a unique
relation with the Father (John 5:8).” The description
of Jesus as the “only begotten” of the Father means
not only that He was God’s only direct offspring, but
also that He was unique, one of a kind.

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• Messiah, Anointed one. The Messiah was
God’s chosen instrument to deliver His people
(Ps. 2:2 cf. 7; Heb. 1:3). At the time, the Jews were
expecting the Eternal King of David’s lineage
who would restore the kingdom. For Him to be
called Messiah, the Christ, implied they wanted
Him to establish that kingdom. Therefore he
avoided it, yet eventually that became the most
commonly given title, because that was truly
who He was.
• Son of Man. The term “Son of Man” was used

in Daniel to refer to the One who would be given
the dominion over all the earth for all eternity
(Dan. 7:13, 14). This Son of Man was historically
linked to the time when the promised Messiah
would rule. Yet it is also the term Jesus used
most often to describe Himself. He saw Himself
as the fulfillment of Daniel’s vision. He was the
King to whom all authority would be given (Matt.
25:31-33).
Proof 2: The Bible Makes Direct and Indirect Claims

to His Deity
• John 8:58—I Am. Jesus used a term that was

familiar to the Jews, because it was the name
God gave Himself in Exo. 2 at the burning bush:
I AM (YAHWEH). He even claimed to have
existed before Abraham. The Jews immediately
took up stones to stone Him because they
knew He was claiming to be God.
• John 1:1, 14—John said that the Word was God,

Jesus was the Word, and therefore Jesus was
God.
• John 10:30—“I and the Father are one.” Again,

the Jews understood that He was claiming
equality with God, not just that they were of one
heart. They tried to stone Him “because you,
being a man, make yourself out to be God.”
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• Col. 2:9—“In Him all the fullness of Deity dwells
in bodily form.” Here Paul seeks, in limited
human language, to describe how God can also
be man. This is a clear picture of the union of
the two natures in Jesus. He is both God and
man.
• Phil. 2:6—“Who, being in very nature God...”

The term used for nature is the Greek word
morphe—the “essential form.” This means that
Jesus had the essential attributes of God, and
those attributes were the same before and after
the incarnation. What change was the voluntary
exercise of His divine nature, which He chose to
limit in order to become a man (v. 7).
• Tit. 2:13—“The appearing of our great God and

Savior.” Jesus is both our great God and Savior.
• 2 Pet. 1:1—“...the righteousness of our God and

Savior Jesus Christ.” Another clear identification
of Jesus as both God and Savior.
• John 10:33 The Jews answered Him, “For a

good work we do not stone You, but for
blasphemy; and because You, being a man,
make Yourself out to be God.”
The religious leaders wanted to stone Him

because He made Himself out to be God. The main
accusation of the religious leaders at Jesus’ trial was
blasphemy. Jesus’ enemies were clear about the
message that Jesus was presenting: He was God.

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Proof 3: Jesus Does Divine Works
Jesus demonstrated that He was God by the works

that He did. Only God is capable of the following:
• Total Authority—Matt. 8:26; Matt. 7:29; 7 miracles

of John
• Forgives sins—Mark 2:5
• Created the World—Col 1:16
• Has power to raise people from the dead—
John 11:23-27. Jesus did not just raise Lazarus,
but claimed to be the resurrection and life!
• Gives eternal life—John 10:27ff
• Will Judge all things—Matt. 25:31-32
Proof 4: Jesus Receives Divine Worship
The Ten Commandments made it clear that no one

should be worshipped except for God alone (Ex.
20:1-4). If a Jew was to offer worship to anyone else,
he was to be stoned. The Jews would rather be
arrested than bow down before the Roman rulers.
Yet Jesus, the great Jewish teacher, accepted the
worship of those who followed Him.
• Jesus taught that honor should go to him

— John 5:22,23; 14:1
• Various people worshipped Him, and Jesus

accepted their worship
John 9:38: “He said, ‘Lord, I believe,’ and he

worshipped him.”
Matthew 14:33: “Those in the boat worshipped

him, saying, ‘Truly you are the Son of God.’”
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Matt. 28:17: “…when they saw him they
worshipped him.”
John 20:28: “Thomas answered and said to Him,

“My Lord and my God!”
• Prayers in New Testament are addressed to

Him—Acts 7:59-60; 1 Cor. 16:22
• Ultimately all will worship Jesus—Rev. 5:13; 7:10;

Phil. 2:10-11
Proof 5: Jesus Shares Divine Attributes
Another proof that Jesus truly was God is that He

shares the same attributes that God has. Some of
those attributes include:
• Eternal—Rev. 1:8; John 1:1,2

• Immutable—Heb. 1:10-12; 13:8
• Omnipotent—Phil. 3:21
• Omniscient—John 21:17; Col. 2:3
• Omnipresent—Matt. 18:20; 28:20

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A CAUTION ABOUT DEBATES
No one ever is argued into the kingdom of God.

As you are witnessing to those who do not believe
that Jesus could be God, maintain a loving, gentle
spirit (1 Pet. 3:15). Some principles of sharing Christ
with others:
• Don’t overwhelm people with your knowledge

• Keep the issue focused on Christ
• Don’t be sidetracked from the Gospel
• Rely on the Holy Spirit
• Make the Bible your basis
• Beware of spiritual pride
The Trilemma
(From Mere Christianity by C. S. Lewis,
adapted by Josh McDowell in various writings.)
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THE RESURRECTION: THE FINAL PROOF
As the “Trilemma” points out, Jesus claimed to be

God. That is an amazing claim. The people who heard
Jesus speak and saw the miracles He performed still
sought more complete proof that He really was God
the Son. What proof did Jesus offer?
John 2 relates the incident of the cleansing of the

temple. At that time, Jesus was asked what gave Him
the authority to condemn the sin of the merchants in
the temple. Actually, they were questioning His right
to call the temple “His Father’s house.” John records
this in John 2:19, 21, 22:
Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and

I will raise it again in three days”...But the temple
he had spoken of was his body. After He was
raised from the dead, His disciples recalled what
he had said. Then they believed the Scripture and
the words that Jesus had spoken.
In Matt. 12:39-40, Jesus said:
A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a

miraculous sign! But none will be given it except
the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was
three days and three nights in the belly of a huge
fish, so the Son of Man will be in the heart of the
earth.
While many people have claimed to do great deeds,

no one has ever successfully predicted His own death
and resurrection. Only Jesus.

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How do we know the resurrection actually took place?
There are several clear evidences from Scripture:
• The lives of the disciples. Prior to the resurrection,

they were so scared they were hiding in upper
room of a house, hoping not to be discovered
by the Jews. After Pentecost, they were
transformed into bold witnesses. Ten out of the
remaining eleven disciples were martyred for
their faith, and John, the lone survivor, died in
exile after being boiled in oil. Why would they
die for a lie if Jesus had not risen?
• The testimony of eyewitnesses. 1 Cor. 15:3-6

says that over five hundred people personally
witnessed the post-resurrection appearances
of Jesus. Since most of those were still alive at
the time the church was growing, why did the
Jews not call on those witnesses to reveal what
really happened, if Jesus did not actually rise
from the grave?
• The Roman seal and guard. A Roman seal

was placed over the entrance to the tomb. This
meant that anyone who broke the seal could
be sentenced to death. In addition, a 24-hour
guard was on duty to ensure that no one tried
to steal the body. If they failed to protect the
tomb, the members of the guard could be
imprisoned or killed themselves. It is doubtful
that the disciples were capable, or willing, to
overpower trained Roman guards. This is why
the guards were bribed to keep quiet—they
knew the disciples didn’t steal the body.
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THE WORK OF CHRIST
At the end of Jesus’ life He told His Father, “I completed
the work that you gave me to do.” What did Jesus do?
What is His role and responsibility in the Godhead?
There are two main areas which should we should
discuss to understand Jesus’ work—His “Offices” and
His Atonement.
The Offices of Christ
What are the “Offices of Christ?” Many people think

of going to an office when they go to work. But we
also speak of “the office of the president,” or “aspiring
for an office.” These are not places at all. This is what
is meant by the “Offices of Christ.” They are the major
positions which He holds to govern His creation.
These offices were actually first seen in the major
responsibilities God gave within the nation of Israel:
Prophet, Priest and King.
When we speak of Jesus’ offices, there are certain

things to keep in mind:
• The one who holds the office does not act on His
own initiative, but fulfills a God-given commission.
Isa. 45:1-4 cf. John 17:3.
• God’s selection is shown by anointing. Lev. 4 (priests);

1 Kings 19:16 (prophet); 1 Sam. 16:1-3, 13; 24:7 (king)
• The Messiah is the ultimate fulfillment of the offices

of the Old Testament
1. The Messiah literally means, “the Anointed One.”

Isa. 61:1
2. Jesus was perfect in the exercise of His offices
3. He is the final fulfillment of the offices of the Old
Testament

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Actually, God intended to provide all that the nation
of Israel needed Himself. But remember when the
Israelites prayed for a king like the rest of the nations?
God gave them what they wanted, and then they didn’t
want what they got. God intended that He would be
sufficient to meet all of their needs, because He alone
could fulfill all of the offices perfectly.
Prophet
The Old Testament term is Nabi (which is different
from roeh, a seer—someone only concerned with
the future). Nabi is a spokesman, speaker or prophet.
The idea is that the prophet is the person who reveals
what God has to say to His people.
Fulfillment: Jesus completely fulfilled this role

by revealing God to man during
His earthly ministry. (John 14:7-10;
Heb. 1:1; Deut. 18:15-19 cf. Acts
3:22f). Jesus revealed God to
man by speaking God’s Word, by
physically living among us, and
by foretelling the future on God’s
behalf. Jesus was known as a
teacher.
But unlike other teachers with limited knowledge,

Jesus was the Truth incarnate.
Present ministry: Sends the Holy Spirit to bring

to remembrance all that He said.
He continues to be the human
picture of the nature of God for
us. He is also in a real way “truth,”
the Logos. The Bible is the word
of God, but Jesus is the Word of
God.
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Priest
The Old Testament term is Cohen: A priest or priest-
ruler. Being a priest included serving in the tabernacle
(Deut. 18:5); praying on behalf of people (Joel 2:17);
setting an example of perfect holiness (Deut 33:19);
and teaching the Law (Lev. 10:11, Mic. 3:11).
Fulfillment: : During his earthly ministry Jesus

prayed for disciples and those
who would come to faith in
Him; He lived a sinless life; He
opened the Scriptures. But most
importantly, He offered Himself as
an atonement (Heb. 9, 10).
Present ministry: Continues to act as our advocate

when we are accused by Satan
(1 John 2:1,2). Brings us into direct
fellowship with God (Heb. 4:15).
Intercedes on our behalf (Rom.
8:34; Heb. 7:25).

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King
The Old Testament term is Melek: a king; chief ruler
or magistrate; those who rule. In the Old Testament
kings rule because they have been given authority by
God to do so. Pro. 8:15-16, shows that Melek includes
the idea of being able to give judgment, unshakable,
one of recognized authority, noble in character, one
who stands in front. It also carries with it not only the
present rule but the idea of a dynasty—something
that will outlive the king himself.
Fulfillment: Jesus accepted the title of king

on several occasions (John 1:49;
Mark 15:2; 16-20 cf. Luke 24:42-
43). Those around Him sought to
make Him king by force, recognizing
that He had authority to overcome
the Roman government. Jesus
consistently proclaimed His
message as “the kingdom of God
is at hand”—since He was at hand,
the kingdom truly was at hand!
Present Ministry: He is seated at the right hand

of the Father—the place of highest
authority (Matt. 28:18) He is the
Head of the Church (Col. 1:18; Eph.
5:23ff). Since the kingdom today
is primarily in the hearts of people
who acknowledge Jesus as King,
He continues to rule through us.
Future Ministry: He will come to reign with glory in

the Millennial kingdom; and
ultimately He will rule for eternity
in heaven. He will also act as the
Sovereign judge of all men and
nations.
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The Atonement
The most crucial work that Jesus did is the Atonement.
Jesus’ death on the cross is the basis for our salvation.
Since it is so central in our faith, we should understand
exactly what He did when He went to the cross for us.
Why is the Atonement so Important?
• It was foretold in the Old Testament
The Old Testament often points to the “Scarlet

Thread,” the story of how God would one
day send a sacrifice to make atonement for
our sin. From the sacrifice of Abel in Gen.
4:4, to the ram He provided in the place of
Isaac on Mt. Moriah (Gen. 22:13); from the
story of the Passover (Exo. 12) to the Levitical
sacrifices (Lev. 1-7) all the way to Nehemiah
(Neh. 10:32ff), the Old Testament prepares us
to look forward to a final, perfect sacrifice in
Christ. It was also foretold through numerous
prophecies (Ps. 22:1, 7ff Isa. 53:5; Dan. 9:26).
• It was central in the New Testament
20% of the Gospels are devoted to recording

the events of Jesus’ trial, crucifixion and
resurrection. Through the rest of the New
Testament, Jesus death and resurrection are
referred to as the heart of the gospel.
• It was the chief purpose of the incarnation
Jesus did not come primarily to give us an

example, but to give Himself a ransom for
many. This was the purpose of His life (Mark
10:45).

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• It is essential to the Gospel
Paul makes it clear in this brief summary of the

gospel that what was most important was that
Jesus died for our sins, He was buried and
rose again. That is the message of the gospel
(1 Cor. 15:3-6).
• It is essential for our salvation
Salvation depends on the fact that Jesus was

raised up as a sacrifice. Had He not died, we
could not be saved (John 3:14ff; 12:24; Luke
24:7).
• It is central to heavenly worship
When we join the heavenly chorus around the

throne, it will be because of “the Lamb that
was slain” is worthy to receive our praise and
worship. It is His sacrifice which makes Him
worthy of eternal worship (Rev. 5:8-10).
Some Inadequate Views of the Atonement
Many explanations have been proposed to explain

the atonement. Many of them do not fit what the Bible
says. Some of them, while not completely correct, do
point out some interesting aspects of Jesus’ death.
Others miss the mark completely. The following are
some of those theories of the atonement.
Accident theory—there was no real benefit from

Christ’s death. Jesus was not able to accomplish what
God intended for Him to do because evil men took His
life. His death was a mistake which God will someday
correct. (Moonies, liberation theology)
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Martyr (Example) Theory—He followed His principles
to death, and gave the perfect example of selfless
dedication to that which is right. However, His death
did not accomplish anything more than giving us an
example to try to follow. This implies that man needs
reformation, not rebirth.
Moral Influence Theory—Jesus died a pitiable and

unfortunate death which softens the heart of man
as they see the pain and suffering He endured. He
suffered with the sinner, not for the sinner. People
who see how much He suffered will try not to hurt
and brutalize their fellow men, and have softer hearts
toward God.
The Ransom Theory—Satan was holding the world

hostage, and Jesus offered Himself as a payment to
buy the world back from Satan. Unfortunately, Satan
could not hold Jesus in the tomb, and through the
resurrection Jesus escaped and the hostage taker,
Satan, was left empty-handed.
Governmental Theory —Jesus was our representative,

not our substitute, on the cross. Jesus became the
token payment for sin, but did not actually pay for the
full amount of sin. He showed that God must punish
sin harshly and, if he does not repent, the sinner will
be judged. This is the traditional Arminian view of the
atonement.
Commercial (Satisfaction) Theory—Sin violates the

honor of God, and therefore must be punished. Since
sin violates an infinite God, it must be punished by
infinite punishment. While God’s honor requires Him
to punish sin, His love pleads for the sinner. Jesus
suffered exactly enough to cover the punishment of
the elect, not for all people. His honor is satisfied by
the voluntary offering of His Son as an infinite sacrifice.

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An Adequate Explanation of the Atonement
A correct explanation of the atonement must explain

all of the biblical issues regarding the atonement.
These can basically be categorized under one simple
question: What was really necessary for God to do to
save man?
What did God have to do to save man?
The best way to understand the atonement is to

understand that there is a three-fold barrier which
separates us from Him. While each of these areas will
be developed in a later session, it is good to know
by way of introduction what Christ’s death had to
accomplish.
Wrath
God Slavery Man
Death
Barrier 1: Wrath of God.
John 3:36 Wrath abides on unbelievers

Rom. 1:18 Wrath against ungodliness
Eph. 2:3 Children of wrath by nature
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Barrier 2: Slavery to sin and Satan
Sin John 8:34 - Everyone who sins is a slave to

sin
Romans 7:14 - All men are sold under
bondage to sin
Satan 1 John 5:19 - Whole world is in Satan’s power

Ephesians 2:1-2 - Satan is the master of slaves
Colossians 1:13 - Lived in domain of darkness
Barrier 3: Spiritual Death
Ephesians 2:1, 5 - We were dead in our

trespasses
Colossians 2:13 - We were under a death
sentence
Because of God’s Holy and just nature, He could

not simply say we could go free. Justice demands
payment for our sin. But because He loves us, His
love caused Him to pay the penalty for our sins. That
is the true meaning of the atonement: Jesus dying
as a substitute to free us from the penalty of our sin.
Because of His love, He provided a solution to each of
these barriers to salvation.
Solution to wrath: satisfaction or propitiation
Atonement is Hebrew term kaphar, which generally

means to cover or remove. Yet the atonement also
includes the idea of a turning away of God’s wrath.
This is represented in the Greek term exilaskomai
“to propitiate, appease,” which is one of the terms
the LXX uses for atonement. Propitiation is the same
Greek word used as that of the mercy seat in Heb 9:5.
Jesus is spoken of as a propitiation (1 John 2:2; 4:10,
Rom. 3:25). The idea is that the sin which was the
object of God’s wrath has been done away—the
whole wrath of God against sin has been shunted to
the Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Cor. 5:21 cf. Gal. 3:13

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Objection: how could a loving God be wrathful? Is
Jesus the loving one and the Father the wrathful one?
No. They are one. Second objection: it is not fair that
someone without sin is punished for something He
did not do. But Jesus willingly laid down His life (John
10:17, 18).
Solution to slavery: redemption
The problem of slavery was one the whole Roman

empire must have understood well—over 50% of
those in the Roman empire were slaves. Jesus
redeemed us by paying the price of the redemption
(Eph. 1:7 through His blood; Tit. 2:14 from sin; Col. 1:14
from Satan’s domain).
Redemption in a sense could be also a ransom—

payment to free a person in bondage. But this ransom
is paid not to Satan, but to God for the release of
sinners who could not secure their own release from
the sentence of death.
Solution to spiritual death: substitution
We deserve the death penalty, for “the wages of sin

is death.” The penalty must be paid for the justice of
God to be upheld. Jesus therefore died in our place,
to pay the penalty for our sins (Isa. 53:5f; 1 Cor. 15:3;
2 Cor. 5:21; 1 Peter 3:18 et al.).
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CONCLUSION
The central message of the gospel is the good news

that Jesus has made a way to reconcile men to God.
His death was sufficient for all who turn to Him in faith
to receive salvation from the eternal penalty of sin.
Paul points out an amazing thing in Romans 5. While
we might even die for a good man, if we knew one,
we probably would not die on behalf of a righteous
man. How much more we, as normal people, would
never consider dying for people who had intentionally
hurled insults at us, mocked us, spat upon us and put
us to public shame. How much love would we have
for such people?
Yet we ourselves could have been part of the unruly

crowd which did all of those things to Him while He
was on His way to the cross! Before we came to know
Him, many of us would have gladly joined in mocking
Him. Yet, because of His great love, while we were yet
sinners, Christ died for us— the godly for the ungodly,
the lover of man for the haters of God. Is there any
other response we can give but to humbly bow and
worship our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ?

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HOW MANY DID JESUS DIE FOR?
One of the great theological debates over the centuries has

been for whom did Christ die -- for the elect (those God has
already chosen for salvation) or the whole world, everyone He
has created?
Calvinists (Reformed theologians) believe that the atonement

is only for the elect. They cite such verses as Matt. 20:28;
John 17:9; and Eph. 5:25 to support their position. They reason
that, if the atonement is for the sins of every individual, then
every individual will be saved. If God is sovereign, and Jesus
died to pay the penalty for the sins of a particular person, how
could God allow that person not be saved? Such a God, they
reason, is not sovereign at all.
Arminians on the other hand believe that Jesus died for the
sins of the whole world, not just for the sins of the elect.
They cite verses such as John 1:29; 1 Tim. 2:6; Tit. 2:11; and
1 John 2:2 to support this position. They believe that, while not
all people are saved, the sins of the whole world have been
paid for. It is up to the individual to choose whether to accept
the gift of forgiveness offered through the atonement.
Is it possible to resolve this conflict? God has removed the

barrier between Himself and man, but man remains to be
reconciled (2 Cor. 5:18-20). Until a person accepts the gift, it is
only potential, not actual. So Jesus’ death was sufficient for all,
but only “efficacious” (effective) for those who put their faith
in Christ. In one sense, Jesus died for the sins of all men, for
all men can be saved if they place their faith in Christ. Yet in
another sense it can be said that He only died for the sins of
the elect, because only they actually experience the result of
forgiveness offered in Christ.
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WHAT’S NEXT?
BOOK 7: FAMILY LIFE
Now that you know the basic Bible doctrines on which our
Christian faith and conduct is based on as a local body of believers
in CCF, what’s next? Your discipleship journey will now take you to
a study of God’s plan and purpose for your family.
It is said that healthy families result in healthy churches and

nations. Thus, our next module in the GLC Essentials Series is
“Family Life”. In this module, you will discover God’s design for the
family, its importance and the role of its members. You will also
learn how to have good communication and restore strained or
broken relationships within the family. And in order to have a next
generation of Christ-committed followers, it is important that each
one of us will leave a Godly legacy through our
biological and spiritual children.
So be ready to receive the blessings that God has in store for

you and your family, as you go through your next set of lessons in
Book 7: Family Life. Enjoy your time together and may our families
become what God has intended them to be for His glory!

173
174
APPENDIX A
ANSWER KEY
TO SESSION 1
EXPLORE Activity

175
HIDDEN BIBLE BOOK NAMES:
56 Books of the Bible underlined
The following article contains the names of all the

books of the Bible hidden within the words. See if
you can find them all! I once made a remark about
the hidden books of the Bible. It was a lulu, kept some
people looking so hard for facts. And for others it
was revelation. Some were in a jam. Especially since
the names of the books were not capitalized. But the
truth finally struck home to numbers of readers. To
others, it was a real job. We want it to be a most
fascinating few moments to you. Do these while
you’re watching TV, sitting on the john, eating tuna,
humming your favorite reggae tune--- a song of Sol,
“O Mon, I believe you!”
Yes, there will be some really easy ones to spot.

Others may require judges to help them. I will quickly
admit it usually takes a minister to find one of them,
and there will be loud lamentations when it is found.
A little lady says she brews a cup of tea so she can
concentrate better. There are those among us who
might need music – a banjo, electric guitar, or drums!
See how well you can compete. Relax now, listen to
Genesis on the radio, or play your banjo! Nah, just
concentrate on the task at hand. Find them all and
be a pro! Verbs and subjects don’t always agree in
this article, but don’t let that stand in your way!
I even asked for help from my ex. “O, Du!” she said.
I replied, “Corinth, I answer your questions,” but
she said, “Come back at Ramadan.” I eloquently
thanked her. Frustrated, she said, “The puzzle is a
… I ... ah.. I don’t find these EZ. Ek! I elect not to do
them!” I thought about offering her a juju decoration
or perhaps alms, but decided not to pursue it. This
just about chronicles our relationship.
176
Some of the hardest books to hide were Leviticus,
Deuteronomy, Joshua, Samuel, Nehemiah,
Ecclesiastes, Jeremiah, Obadiah, Micah, Habakkuk,
Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi, Galatians,
Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Timothy, and
Philemon. Remember that ten of the names are
duplicated like First and Second Thessalonians, so
you will only find fifty-six distinct names.
This puzzle is not EZ – rather, it is quite difficult. It

would be simpler if the books were in a list that you
could pick from. Answer can be anywhere in this
article, so that makes this format the worst! Do your
best and God bless!

177
178
APPENDIX B
ANSWER KEY
TO SESSION 3
EXPLORE Activity

179
1. The tallest building in the world is the Burj Khalifa
Tower in Dubai. It is the tallest man-made structure
in the world; however, without it’s “vanity height”,
the building would be dwarfed by 11 other European
skyscrapers.
Source: www.newsfeed.time.com/2013/09/05
2. The smallest dog living, in terms of height, is a

female Chihuahua called Miracle Milly, who
measured 9.65 cm (3.8 in) tall on 21 February
2013 and is owned by Vanesa Semler of Dorado,
Puerto Rico.
Source: http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/
world-records/size/smallest-dog-living
3. Tokyo, Japan: Tokyo tops the list and remains

the world’s largest city with 38 million dwellers.
Though the UN has predicted a decline in the
city’s population, it will still remain the world’s most
populous city in 2030 with 37 million inhabitants.
Source: http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/world-
population-day-2014-top-10-most-populous-
cities-revealed-1456214
180
APPENDIX C
ANSWER KEY
TO SESSION 5
EXPLORE Activity

181
T 1. Jesus Christ is God.
T 2. The Trinity means that there are three (3) Persons

in one God, all of these Persons having equal rank
and are of the same nature.
F 3. The Holy Spirit is a Divine Force.
F 4. Jesus Christ is half-God and half-man.
F 5. The Trinity means that there is only one God who

exists in three (3) forms: as Father, who became
the Son when He became man, and who became
the Holy Spirit after the resurrection.
T 6. The Holy Spirit is God, equal with the Father and

the Son.
F 7. Jesus Christ was just a man, a created being who

was sinless.
F 8. The Trinity means that there are three (3) Gods of

equal rank and of the same nature.
F 9. The Holy Spirit is Jesus Christ in spirit form.
F 10. Jesus Christ is God who became man and ceased

to be God.
F 11. Jesus Christ is the Son of God, but lesser in rank

than the Father.
182
APPENDIX D
ANSWER KEY
TO SESSION 6:
MARRIAGE
(PART 1)
EXPLORE Activity

183
1. b. Sarah
2. c. His father sent a servant back to Mesopotamia to

choose a wife from his own family
3. c. Rachel
4. b. He, his father, and the men of his city were slain
by Dinah’s brothers
5. a. At a well in the land of Midian
6. b. They must marry within their tribe
7. d. Boaz
8. a. The secret of his strength
9. d. Nabal
10. a. He saw her take a bath, and saw she was

beautiful
11. b. Tamar
12. c. Elkanah
13. c. Harlot
14. b. Aquila & Priscilla
15. b. Christ’s love for the church
184
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Book 6 GLC Basic Doctrines

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BOOK 6: BASIC DOCTRINES, 4th Edition

Copyright © 2019 by Global Leadership Center

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be

Session 1: God’s Word, The Bible page 9

Session 2: God’s Person and Nature page 21

Session 3: Jesus: His Person and Works page 37

Session 4: Salvation page 59

Session 5: The Trinity page 77

Session 6: Marriage page 91

Additional Readings page 125

WHAT’S NEXT? page 173

Appendix A: Answer Key to Session 1

Appendix B: Answer Key to Session 3

Appendix C: Answer Key to Session 5

Appendix D: Answer Key to Session 6

Book 6: BASIC DOCTRINES

Strengthen your convictions on the basic doctrines of the Christian faith.

What we grew up believing in is something that we usually take for granted,

If you are a small group servant/facilitator, all you have to do is make

• Explore — contains individual and small group activities that

• Examine — this is where you go through the Bible lesson with

• Express — this is where the members of the group get a

As you begin, please remember that this workbook is just a tool

Book 6: BASIC DOCTRINES

HIDDEN BIBLE BOOK NAMES:

The following article contains the names of all the books

Yes, there will be some really easy ones to spot. Others

Some of the hardest books to hide were Leviticus,

This puzzle is not EZ – rather, it is quite difficult. It

See Appendix A for the answer key

Book 6: BASIC DOCTRINES

Theology is simply the study of God; even if it is impossible

And He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your

To love God, we need to know Him.

WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT?

• Authority cannot be trusted

• The Bible is full of errors and contradictions

• The Bible isn’t relevant today

Describe a typical objection to the authority of the Bible

How did you respond?

CCF Statement of Faith about the Bible

1. The Bible claims to be authoritative because it is

All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for

Book 6: BASIC DOCTRINES

For we did not follow cleverly devised tales when

The words, “Thus saith the Lord” or “God said…” are

What do you understand Paul to mean when he says, “all

How do these passages clarify the meaning of

2. The Bible’s claims are supported:

Over 300 prophecies on the life of Jesus alone

Book 6: BASIC DOCTRINES

But that the dead are raised, even Moses

‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand,

• Written over 1500 years in 3 languages…

• By over 30 authors from different backgrounds…

• Earliest manuscripts (copies of the original) of

• About 50,000 manuscripts are still existing

• the Bible has remained uncorrupted based on

• Sodom and Gomorrah