Study of Great Bible Truths – Lesson 21
Lesson 21: The Creation of ManCon’t
In our last lesson we learned we are made by God and made for God.
I. The Divine Image of God in Man
a. Man was created in the image and likeness of God. Genesis 1:26-27, Genesis 5:1,3
b. Made in the image of God means that God made us in such a way that we are a kind of a reflection of Him.
c. When Adam sinned against God, he lost something. He lost an aspect of the image of God. However, he did not lose the entire image. Something essential to the image of God remained.
d. The likeness of God refers to the souls or the spirit; our spiritual nature. John 1:18
e. Just as God is invisible, our soul and our spirit is invisible.
f. God made man His representative in the earth. God gifted man with high intelligence.
II. The Possibilities
1. God created man in His image with intellectual, moral and rational abilities. He was also holy and righteous. God placed him in the garden, made him Lord of creation reflecting something of God in his body with two (2) great possibilities:
a. If he (Adam) obey God, he would remain in fellowship with Him.
b. If he rebels and does not go God’s way, he will fall and all human kind coming after him will be born into sin.
Unfortunately, Adam chose B
Thought: In the beginning, man (Adam) was in a state of positive holiness, and true righteousness. Man’s relationship to God was one of dependence (as of a child). He gave God implicit obedience. His communion, his fellowship, his interactions with God was entirely without fear.
Next Lesson: The Fall of Man
Study of Great Bible Truths – Lesson 20
Lesson 20: The Creation of Man
In our last lesson we learned that people are responsible for their own sin.
Key points before we get into creation:
a. Let us remember that we have no knowledge of God apart from what He reveals to us in His Word.
b. The Scriptures have been given to us in order that we may arrive at a knowledge of the truth concerning ourselves and our relationship to God.
c. Based on Scripture (Genesis 1:26) the Trinity (God, the Father, Jesus, the Son and the Holy Spirit) held counsel together before man was created.
1. Man is made in the image of God. He was not created after any other kind of being.
2. God breathed into man’s nostrils the breath of life and make him lord over God’s whole creation ,i.e., over all nature, over all creatures, and over all beasts.
3. Certain things make man different from other created beings. Man has self–consciousness, moral freedom, is capable of abstract thought, and capable of religion and worship.
4. Evolution states man started LOW and grows into perfection over time. The Bible tells us man started at the TOP and fell from that.
5. The whole Biblical case for salvation rests upon the fact that man was made perfect, fell and became imperfect.
6. Scripture tells us that the human race is one . The whole of mankind has originated from two people. Adam and Eve Deut. 32:8, Genesis 11:1-9 and Acts 17:26
7. The human race is one, it has all come out of Adam, so when Adam fell, the whole human race fell with him. Romans 5:18, 1 Corinthians 15:21-22
8. Spirit is that which puts us in relationship with God and enables the Spirit of God to act upon us.
9. Soul is the part of the immaterial (invisible) element which animates the body. The soul makes us capable of thinking, willing and feeling. The soul is that part of us which links us to the body and enables us to communicate with other people.
10. Man has Spirit, but is a soul.
11. The soul can exist apart from the body. When the body is buried, the soul goes on and still exists. The soul is eternal.
12. Every soul born into the world is born into a fallen condition. That includes you, me and everybody else.
Thought: I am made by God and am made for God.
You are made by God and are made for God.
You are made by God and are made for God.
Study of Great Bible Truths – Lesson 19
Lesson 19: Miracles and God’s Relationship to Sin
In our last lesson we learned that Providence is concerned with salvation and everything is kept going in the world for the sake of God’s people. Were it not for God’s people the world would be destroyed.
I. Miracles are according to God’s providence
1. Miracles are extraordinary Providences. A miracle is something we can’t explain.
2. If you can explain a thing scientifically, IT IS NOT A MIRACLE.
3. A miracle is God working, not contrary to nature, but in a SUPERNATURAL WAY.
4. In miracles, God works
a. Immediately
b. Directly
c. And without a secondary cause.
II. God’s relationship to sin
1. What is God’s relationship to sin?
a. God constrains and controls sin . Psalm 76:10
b. God overrules sins for good. Genesis 50:20
c. Sinful acts are under divine control, they only occur by God’s permission, and according to His ultimate purpose.
d. God never causes sin, nor approves of sin. He only permits, restrains, limits and overrules sin.
Thought: People are responsible for their own sin. James 1st chapter.
Next Lesson: The Creation of Man
Study of Great Bible Truths – Lesson 18
Lesson 18: God’s Providence
In our last lesson we learned that creation means calling into existence something which did not exist before.
1. Providence means the continuation (or causing to continue) of that
which has been called into existence.
which has been called into existence.
2. Providence is the continued exercise of divine energy whereby the Triune God upholds all His creatures, is operating in all that transpires in the world and DIRECTS ALL THINGS TO THEIR APPOINTED END.
3. There are three aspects of God’s Providence.
A. Preservation– the Bible teaches that God preserves everything He has made. Acts 17:28, Colossians 1:17, and Hebrews 1:3
B. Governmental—is the continuous activity of God whereby He rules ALL THINGS to a definite end and object in order to accomplish His own divine purpose. Psalm 97:1, Isaiah 40:15, Daniel 4:34-35
C. Concurrence– is the cooperation of God’s power with all subordinate powers according to pre-established laws of their operation causing them to act as they do. There are powers and laws of nature but not apart from God. (Example Jesus telling the waves, “peace be still”).
4. God’s Providence is exercised over the whole universe. Psalm 103:19, Ephesians 1:11
A. Over the physical world– Psalms 10:14, Matthew 5:45, Matthew 6:26, Matthew 10:29
B. Over the affairs of nations—Job 12:24, Acts 17:26
C. Over answers to prayer
Thought: The whole of God’s Providence is for the sake of God’s people. Romans 8:28
Next Lesson: God’s Providence continued (Miracles, and God’s Providence in relation to sin)
Study of Great Bible Truths – Lesson 17
Lesson 17:
The Creation of the World
In our last lesson we learned that Christ in His life, His death and His resurrection has already vanquished the devil. Satan is defeated.
1. Creation is the work of the Triune God: God the Father, Jesus Christ the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Genesis 1, John 1:3, 1 Corinthians 8:6, Colossians 1:16
2. What is creation?
Creation is “that free act of God whereby He in the beginning brought forth the whole visible and invisible universe without the use of preexisting materials, and thus gave the world an existence distinct from His own, and yet ALWAYS dependent on Him.” _ Berkhof
3. In creation the world and time started together.
4. The sequence of creation spoken into existence by the Triune God.
Day 1– light was created, light and darkness were separated.
Day 2– the firmament was established separating the waters above from the waters below.
Day 3 – separation of land and sea. The vegetable kingdom of plants and trees was created.
Day 4– creation of the light bearers ( Sun, Moon and Stars)
Day 5– creation of birds and fish
Day 6- creation of man Acts 17:26
Day 7—God rested and evaluated His work.
5. Notice the order of creation. On day 1 God created light and on day 4 He created light bearers. On day 2 He separated the waters and day 5 He created birds to fly in the firmament and fish to live in the waters below the firmament. On day 3, He separated land and sea and established the plant kingdom and day 6 He created man to live on the land and provided food for man.
Thought: Close your eyes. What do you see ? Nothing.
Just think God created this magnificent world out of nothing.
Next Lesson: God’s Providence
Study of Great Bible Truths – Lesson 16
Lesson 16:
The Devil and Fallen Angels
In our last lesson we learned that God uses angels to bless and care for His own People (Hebrews 1:14)
1. The devil (means Slanderer) has several names as found in Scripture: Satan (means adversary), Beelzebub (means the prince of the devils), Apollyon (means angel of the bottomless pit, and ‘Prince of this World’).
2. Other descriptions of the devil are: the dragon, Lucifer, ‘that old serpent’, and the evil one.
3. The devil is a person! He’s a created being. He is not eternal. Luke 4:1-13, Ezekiel 28:11-19
4. The devil was created by God as the anointed cherub, the chief of all cherubs.
5. Satan was perfect in beauty, but he became lifted up and consumed with pride.
Instead of leading the worship and adoration of God, he desired to be worshipped himself, and to be equal with God. He was cast down and cast out by God. Ezekiel 28, Isaiah 14.
6.Satan has a kingdom of which he is head, which is highly organized, and his one great concern is to destroy the works of God (Ephesians 6:12)
a. The power of Satan is greater than human power. He can affect and influence our bodies.
b. Satan’s power is limited though. He is not almighty. He is finite an can only be in one place at one time. He is not omnipresent. Job 1:12, 2:6
7. God in His eternal wisdom has allowed Satan to maintain a certain amount of power until the end, and yet that power is ultimately under God’s control.
a. The greatest objective of Satan is to destroy the works of God, and to set himself up as God.
b. Satan controls all unbelievers who are not Christians, in their lives and in the whole of their activities.
c. Satan blinds unbelievers to the truth 2 Cor 4:3-4
d. Satan is the believers’ adversary. He opposes believers in every way. He is also the accuser of believers. He accuses us to God and accuses us to ourselves.
Thought: Christ in His life, His death and His resurrection has already vanquished the devil. He is defeated. In the power of the Lord, we can resist the devil. Rev. 12:11, 1 John 4:4
Next time: The Creation of the World……………
Study of Great Bible Truths – Lesson 15
Lesson 15: Good Angels
In our last lesson we learned that God never had a plan B.
1. Before God made the world, or before He made anything in connection with men and women, He first brought into being those heavenly beings called Angels. Col. 1:16
2. The term Angel means messenger.
3. Angels have spiritual bodies and can appear in the form of human
beings. Genesis 18, Judges 13:3-7
4. Angels never die. Luke 20:36, Hebrews 2:9
5. Angels are inferior to the Lord Jesus Christ, but are superior to man.
6. In Hebrews 1:14, Angels are described as ministering spirits.
7. Names of Angels include (a) Cherubim- Psalm 99:1, Seraphim – Isaiah 6:2, Living Creatures – Revelation 5
8. The Cherubim, and Seraphim always dwell in the presence of the Godhead.
9. There are thousands upon thousands of angels. Matthew 26:53, Luke 2:13, Revelation 5:11.
10. There is a division in status and work amongst angels.
a. Michael–the Archangel_Thessalonians 4:16, Jude 9, Daniel 10
b. Gabriel– stands in the presence of God, He is a messenger of God. Luke 1:26, Luke 1:19
11. Angels are great in power. They excel in strength — Psalm 103:20
12. Good Angels exist in heaven. They spend their time adoring God and the Lamb. They are God’s servants in waiting.
13. Scripture teaches us that when Christians meet together in prayer the Angels of God are present. Women are to be covered when they take part in public prayer because of the presence of Angels.
14. When we come, Angels are there to receive our spirit and take us to Paradise. Luke 16:22-23.
15. Good Angels execute God’s judgment on His enemies.
Thought: Good Angels help Christians throughout their journey on earth.
Next time: Bad Angels (The Devil and Fallen Angels)
Study of Great Bible Truths – Lesson 14
Lesson 14: God’s Manner of Working
In our last lesson we learned that The Holy Trinity has existed in the Godhead from all eternity.
1. Certain great principles underlie and characterize God’s work. Before God created the world and man, there are certain things which God determined and ordained before He began his creations.
2. From eternity God has had an unchangeable plan with reference to His creations. The plan of God comprehends and determines all things and events of every kind that comes to pass.
3. The salvation of men and women, and of angels, and of certain men and women in particular, was determined before the foundation of the world. Ephesians 1:4 and Galatians 4:4, Matthew 11:25-26, John 6:37, Acts 13:48, 2 Thessalonians 2:13, 2 Timothy 1:9
4. Everything that God has done and has brought to pass is according to His own eternal plan, and it is fixed, certain, unchangeable and absolute.
5. If everything is determined by God, it must include of necessity, the free actions, the voluntary actions of free and voluntary agents. Ephesians 1:10-11, Proverbs 16:33, Matthew 10:29, Proverbs 21:1, Ephesians 2:10, Philippians 2:13.
6. There are events which appear to be accidental, but they too are controlled by God. The decrees of God are not dependent in any sense on human actions. They only depend of God’s own will and God’s own holiness.
7. God does not cause evil in any sense or in any degree. God DOES NOT APPROVE OF EVIL, but He permits the wicked agents to perform it and then He overrules it for His own wise and holy ends.
8. The same decree of God which ordains the moral law that prohibits and punishes sin, also permits sin to occur. However, it limits and determines the precise channel to which it shall be confined, and the precise end to which it shall be directed, and overrules it’s consequences for good. Genesis 5:20
Thought: We must realize that If we are a child of God, it is because He has determined it. That’s why all believers should praise Him.
Next time: Did you know that there are Good Angels and Bad Angels? Next time we will discuss Good Angels.
Study of Great Bible Truths – Lesson 13
Lesson 13: The Holy Trinity
In our last lesson we learned that the names of God tells us about His character.
1. The Holy Trinity has existed in the Godhead from all eternity.
2. The doctrine of the Holy Trinity is the most distinctive doctrine of the Christian faith. (Deuteronomy 6:4, John 10:30)
3. While God is one, He exists as three (3) persons which are equal in substance, equal in power and equal in glory. God, the Father, Jesus Christ, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (the Comforter).
4. God and Jesus have the same attributes ascribed to them.
A. Eternal (John 8:58)
B. Holy
C. Life (John 5:26, John 17:2)
D. Immutability (Non-changing) (Hebrews 13:8, Malachi 3:6)
E. Omnipotent (Matthew 28:18)
F. Omnipresent (Matthew 28:20)
G. Omniscient (John 1:48, 2:25)
C. Life (John 5:26, John 17:2)
D. Immutability (Non-changing) (Hebrews 13:8, Malachi 3:6)
E. Omnipotent (Matthew 28:18)
F. Omnipresent (Matthew 28:20)
G. Omniscient (John 1:48, 2:25)
5. The doctrine of the Trinity became more visible when Jesus was born, and when Jesus ascended to Heaven and sent the Holy Spirit.
6. The Economic Trinity means that a division is made among the Godhead. God, the Father creates, elects and planned salvation. Jesus, the Son was sent by the Father to work out the plan of salvation on earth. The Holy Spirit applies the salvation to man. In the Economic Trinity there was a division of labor with a unity of purpose amongst the Godhead.
7. The Son (Jesus Christ) put Himself at the disposal of the Father, and the Holy Spirit put Himself at the disposal of the Father and the Son. (2 Cor. 5:19)
8. Examples of the Holy Trinity found in Scripture are below:
A. Elohim– God speaks of Himself in the plural
B. Genesis 1:26- ‘Let us make man in our image.’
C. Genesis 3:22—’Behold the man has become like us.’
D. Genesis 11:7 -’ Let us go down’
E. Isaiah 6:8-’ Whom shall I send and who will go for us?’
Next lesson: God’s manner of working.. The more we know about God , the more we are inclined to worship Him.
Study of Great Bible Truths – Lesson 12
Lesson 12: The Names of God and the Holy Trinity cont.
In our last lesson we learned that the names of God tells us about His character.
Names of God associated with Jehovah are:
g. Jehovah Sabaoth– means the LORD of hosts. He is the ruler of the angelic hosts.
h. Jehovah Jireh– means the LORD will provide. Genesis 22:14
i. Jehovah Raphe– means the LORD that heals. Exodus 15:26
j. Jehovah Nissi– means the LORD is my banner. Exodus 17:15
k. Jehovah Shalom- means the LORD is our peace. Judges 6:24
l. Jehovah Ro’eh– means the LORD is my shepherd. Psalm 23
m. Jehovah Tsidkenu– means the LORD is our righteousness. Jeremiah 23:6
n. Jehovah Shammah-means the LORD is present. Ezekiel 48:35
Please review these Scriptures as you do this study. They tell us a lot about our God.
Next Lesson- The Trinity (which is the most mysterious of all the Bible truths)….. Stay tuned