New Beech Grove Baptist Church
Midweek Bible Study
What Christians REALLY Believe
September 12, 2007
AN INTRODUCTION
What is the essence of Christianity? What is the core of Christian belief? The unfortunate reality is the that our beliefs may be as varied as the number of people that you ask. This is no less true for Baptists. The belief may differ widely from one church to another. How we act out our faith can vary and is impacted by geography, culture, church history, or for many other reasons. But what we believe as Baptist should be similar in each local congregation.
This 10 week study is intended to increase your foundational belief system as a Baptist. Through this course you should be able to go out and tell the world what you believe as a Baptist and give scriptures that speak to your faith. You should be able to apply these beliefs in everyday situations. We have traditionally called each topic, “The Articles of Faith.” We call them today… “What Christians REALLY Believe.” I understand that this is basic Baptist belief. As a former military Chaplain I can appreciate the universality of the Christian Church, its ecumenical nature. Consequently, as we go through each topic I will try to mention when others vary greatly from basic Baptist beliefs and how others might be similar.
COURSE SCHEDULE
Week 1-September 12-An Introduction-
The Scriptures God, Who are You?
Week 2-September 19-What is Humankind? (The Fall of Man)
The Way of Salvation
Week 3-October 10-How to be Justified
Is Salvation Really Free
Week 4-November 7-The Regeneration Generation
Repentance and Faith
Week 5-November 14-Grace
Sanctified Folks
Week 6-November 21-Perseverance of Saints
The Harmony of the Law and the Gospel
Week 7-November 28-The Gospel Church
Baptism and the Lord’s Supper
Week 8-December 5-Stewardhip
Evangelism and Missions
Week 9-December 12- The Righteous and the Wicked
Christian Education
Week 10-December- The Resurrection
The Return of the Lord
TO BE SUCCESSFUL
Be on Time
Do your homework
Be attentive
Turn off Cellular Phones
Participate
Be Prayerful-Ask God for Revelation
New Beech Grove Baptist Church
Midweek Bible Study
What Christians REALLY Believe
September 12, 2007
The Scriptures
We Believe that the Holy Bible was written by men divinely inspired, and is a perfect treasure of heavenly instruction; that it has God for its author, salvation for its end, and truth without any mix of error for its matter; that it reveals the principles by which God will judge us; and therefore is, and shall remain for the end of the world, the true center of Christian union, and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds and opinions should be tried.
Discuss 2 Timothy 3:16, 17. All_______________ is given by __________________
Of God, and is profitable for ________________, __________________________, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, Thoroughly furnished unto all good works. 2 Peter 1:21; 2 Samuel 23:2; Acts 1:16; John 10:35; Luke 16:20-31; Psalm 119:111; Romans 3:1,2
Compare 2 Timothy 3:15; 1 Peter 1:10-12; Acts 11:14; Romans 1:16; Mark 16:16; John 5:38, 39. These suggest that Scriptures are our source of _______________ for life.
What does the Word say about the sanctity of the Scriptures? Read Proverbs 30:5,6. Every word of God is ________... Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar. Also John 17:17; Revelation 22:18, 19; Romans 3:4.
The Scriptures as our standard. Romans 2:12. As many as sinned in the law shall be judged by the law. John 12:47, 48. If any man hear my words…the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the day. What do these say about the Scriptures?
Compare Philippians 3:16; Ephesians 4:3-6; Philippians 2:1,2; 1 Corinthians 1:10; 1 Peter 4:11.
What is the theme of these texts? 1 John 4:1. Isaiah 8:20; 1 Thessalonians 5:21; 2 Corinthians 13:5; Acts 17:11; 1 John 4:6; Jude 3; Ephesians 6:17; Psalm 119:56; Philippians 1:9-11.
God, Who Are You?
We believe that there is one and only one living and true God, an intelligent, spiritual and personal Being, the Creator, Preserver and Ruler of the universe, infinite in holiness and all other perfections to whom we owe the highest love, reverence and obedience. He is revealed to us as Father, Son and Holy Spirit, each with distinct personal attributes, but without division of nature, essence or being.
God is Spirit-John 4:24. Psalm 147:5 His understanding is infinite. Psalm 83:18 (Also Hebrews 3:4; Romans 1:20; Jeremiah 10:10)
God is Holy-Exodus 15:11; Isaiah 6:3; 1 Peter 1:15, 16; Revelation 4:6-8
God deserves our worship. Mark 12:30; Revelation 4:11; Matthew 10:37; Jeremiah 2:12,13
God is revealed in Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Matthew 28:19; John 15:26; 1 Corinthians 12:4-6; 1 John 5:7. John 10:30; John 5:17; 14:23; 17:5, 10; Acts 5:3, 4; 1 Corinthians 2:10, 11; Philippians 2:5;6.
What it All Boils Down To
We Believe that Holy Scriptures reveal the nature and person of God and as such are the guides for our life.
New Beech Grove Baptist Church
Midweek Bible Study
What Christians REALLY Believe
September 19, 2007
Humankind
We believe that man was created by the special act of God, as recorded in Genesis. “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.” ) Genesis 1:27).” And the lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul” (Genesis 2:7. He was created in the state of holiness under the law of his Maker, but through the temptation of Satan, he transgressed the command of God and fell from his original holiness and righteousness; whereby his posterity inherit a nature corrupt and in bondage to sin, are under condemnation and as soon as they are capable of moral action, become transgressors.
Humankind (used to be gender appropriate) was created by God and in God’s righteousness and fell from a state of holiness through transgression or sin. Consequently, all humankind is heir to the sin of the first person and are similarly condemned.
Read and discuss the Genesis narrative in Genesis 1:27 and 1:31. What did God think of His creation? Compare Ecclesiastes 7:29; Acts 17:26-29; Genesis 2:16, 17.
What happened to God’s creation? Read Genesis 3:6, 24. Compare Romans 5:12.
What did the fall do to our posterity? Read Romans 5:19; Psalm 51:5; Romans 5:15-19; 8:7. Compare Isaiah 53:6.
What is the result of our brokenness? Read Ephesians 2:1-3 and Romans 18. Compare Ezekiel 18:19,20; Romans 1:20; Romans 3:19 and Galatians 3:22.
The Way of Salvation
We believe that the salvation of sinners is wholly of grace, through the mediatorial office of the Son of God, who by the Holy Spirit was born of the Virgin Mary and took upon him our nature, yet without sin; honored the divine law by his personal obedience and made atonement for our sins by his death. Being risen from the dead, he is now enthroned in Heaven, and uniting in his person the tenderest sympathies with divine perfections, he is in every way qualified to be a compassionate and all sufficient Saviour.
We are saved by Grace through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
We are saved by grace. Read Ephesians 2:8; Matthew 18:11; 1 John 4:10; 1 Corinthians 3:5,7; Acts 15:11
Why? Because of God’s love. John 3:16; John 1:1-14; Hebrews 4:14; 12:24
How? In Christ God took on the frailty of humankind. Philippians 2:6, 7; Hebrews 2:9, 14; 2 Corinthians 5:21. Compare Isaiah 42:21; Philippians 2:8; Galatians 4:4,5; Romans 3:21.
Compare Isaiah 53: 4,5; Matthew 20:28; Romans 4:25; 3:21-26; 1 John 4:10; 2:2; 1 Corinthians 15:1-3; Hebrews 9:13-15.
And Now? He sits enthroned to compassionately intercede for us. Hebrews 1:8; Colossians 3:1-4; Hebrews 7:25; Colossians 2:9; Hebrews 2:18; Hebrews 7:26; Psalm 89:10; Psalm 34.
What it All Boils Down To
We are all sinners in need of salvation. Jesus stood as our atoning sacrifice and still interceded for us before God. What love! What does this mean to how we should live as Christians?