This handbook is prepared for all people who may choose to trust God at this special time in history. The average person today is largely unfamiliar with the Bible and when they study the Bible they find only contradictions and confusion. This is a victory for the enemy. The enemy is the “father of lies” that seeks our destruction with lies. The intent is that everything in this handbook is verifiable with scripture and everyone should verify it.
1 Thess. 5:21 Test all things; hold fast what is good.
2 Thess.2:9 “The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, 10and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.”
Rom 1:18 “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness.”
Our enemy knows that lies are not believable unless mixed with truth. Instead of confronting what we already know he will try to deceive us in the things we are not sure of. Here is a simple test; if someone believes Noah had two of each animal on the ark then they rely on men for knowledge. Read Genesis, Chapter 7 and see the whole truth.
Acts 17: 11 These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.
Lies are the enemy that will destroy us and Truth holds a wonderful reality that is perfect in logic, beautiful in concept and reveals the love that makes everything possible. This truth that can overcome the lies is found in the Bible and available to all mankind. Be warned that we have been brought up to believe many of the lies, and letting go of them can be very difficult. Realize that we are children of children and have inherited many wrong traditions and philosophies. Trusting God and moving forward, again, “test all things, hold fast what is good”, is the path to understanding.
James 1:5”If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”
Mark 4:24 to you who hear, more will be given.
This handbook is meant to be simple and clear, so anyone, of any background, may understand the basic truths of the Gospel. It is intended to then show them how to move forward on a sure path as Christians. It is also prepared as a handbook to be used while studying the Bible. This is truly the Truth which will “set you free”, showing that it’s easier to be “saved”, and ultimately leading to understand the meaning of life.
If, in the past, you have been betrayed by hypocritical religious leaders, do not give up like most people and turn away from the Creator and His Word. In this Handbook you will find something completely different. God does allow men to let us down sometimes to show us that He is the only one that can be trusted completely.
Finally, do not fall into the trap of thinking that you need to “clean” up your life or become a better person before you may approach God. This is a form of “Works” and, as you will come to understand, is one of the enemy’s lies. As we study the Bible, our teacher is the Holy Spirit and our understanding depends on Him, not ourselves.
1 Cor 2:9”Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for those who love Him. 10But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.”
While studying the Bible it is usually useful to have a dictionary on hand as well as a Concordance. Some Bibles are printed with a concordance, which is an index of words and the verses they occur in. This handbook includes one of these indexes with a significant difference from the others. This handbook’s Biblical Cyclopedic Index (BCI) is not based on words, but subjects, ideas and doctrine that may or may not contain a common word. This BCI has been reduced and is somewhat limited to be directly relevant to this handbook and basic Bible doctrine. However, empty space has been included so it may be added to during Bible studies. This BCI is a fundamental and important example of how to study the Bible, whether studying doctrine, direction or prophecy.
Words in Bold are found in the BCI.
As an introduction, here is the first little known Truth.
Prov 8:13 The fear of the LORD is to hate evil;
God’s people fear the Lord, but do not live in fear. They are mindful of everything they do to serve the Lord first and mankind as well, but peace and happiness is their promise from God.
John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
The fear of the Lord will be expanded upon later.
The Chosen Ones
A potentially important idea is presented like “Christ is the Creator”
and scripture is given as possible reference such as;
Colossians 1:16, John 1:1-14, Romans 1:2, Acts 19:22, Proverbs 8:22-30, Revelation 3:14, 2 Timothy 1:9, Hebrews 1:2, 10-12, Micah 5:2,
1 Corinthians 10:1-4, Philippians 2:6.
Most people, relying on themselves, will discard the idea as false because it is not what they believe or want to believe. But a few “chosen” will look up the verses to discover the truth. These who trust God instead of themselves are the “Chosen of God”.
2 Timothy 3:1-7, 2 Thess. 2:9-10.
Amen
Rom 10:17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
John 14:20 Jesus said “At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you.
When ships laden with grain came into view from the coast of Egypt the hungry people referred to the joyous event with the word “Gospel”, meaning “good news”. This word was picked up by the early Christians to refer to the “good news” that Jesus Christ brought to the whole world.
The Crucifixion is usually the only event discussed when studying the Gospel but is far from the whole picture. The apostles spent hours, days and years teaching the Gospel to early Christians. They had two references, their personal experiences and the scripture we know as the Old Testament. Most Christians today discount the Old Testament as only being useful to the Jewish religion and a book of history. In reality it is as much about the Gospel as the New Testament. When the New Testament writers referred to the “scriptures” they meant the Old Testament for the New had not yet been written.
Now the Apostle Paul was a Pharisee, meaning highly trained in scripture, i.e. Old Testament. Paul frequently used the phrase “In Christ” and uses stories from and quotes the Old Testament to describe the “In Christ” aspect of the Gospel.
One of the most boring and seemingly useless parts of the Old Testament is the lineages. What could be the purpose for Christians to know who begat who? A quick study of these reveals the lineage traces from Adam all the way to Jesus. As a descendant of Adam, Jesus could be defined as the “Son of Man”, a frequently used title. This is how a “Man” lived a perfect life.
To further understand the significance here, the very important corporate nature of mankind needs to be understood as well.
Hebrews 7:9 Even Levi, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, so to speak, 10for he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him.
The Apostle Paul in Hebrews illustrates the corporate nature of man with the story of Melchizedek from the Old Testament, and how Levi, who only received tithes from the Hebrews, paid tithes long before he was even born of Abraham’s grandson, Jacob, because he was “in” Abraham when he paid tithes.
Angels were created as unique beings, but not Adam, meaning “mankind”. All of mankind was created at once, being in Adam or in his loins. When Adam sinned, all of mankind sinned. This sounds like bad news but it is just the opposite. We could have all died in Adam. Instead, God, in the Garden of Eden, promised the “Seed” that would save us all from not only Adam’s sin but our own. (Ref Hebrews 7, Genesis 3:15)
Now, with an understanding of our corporate nature and Jesus having a human lineage, we will add the aspect of Jesus being the “Son of God”. The first chapter of the Gospel of John makes it clear that Jesus Christ is also the Creator. That also means He is the next ancestor up the line from Adam. Mankind is then descendants of Jesus Christ the Creator. The purpose of the Immaculate Conception in the womb of a virgin was to unite man and God. (Ref Philippians 2:5-11)
Taking these three aspects together reveals the “Son of Man” as the “second Adam”. By living the perfect life and dying as mankind, Jesus Christ changed the history of Mankind. “In Christ” all Mankind stands innocent before God. In Adam we are sinners, In Christ we are not. We who choose Christ will be judged “In Christ” being innocent, having lived the perfect life. The implications of this new history are profound.
Before the cross Jesus Christ is referred to as “the Only Begotten of the Father”. (Ref John 1:14,18, John 3:16,18, 1 John 4:9)
After the Cross, Jesus Christ is referred to as “the First Begotten of the Father”, and us the children of God.
(Ref Galatians 4:51, Heb 2:11, 1 John 3:1, Revelation 1:6.)
This is truly “good news” for all people and why the early Christians used the word “Gospel” to go beyond simple good news. No person will be lost for their sins but only for the choice they make. The incredible inheritance for those who choose to trust God to save them is to be called “the sons of God”. For us to make this choice it is obvious that God left us with our free will. If He was going to take away our free will, He would not have had to die on the cross but simply not allow us to ever sin.
Paul’s use of the term “free gift” in Romans becomes clearer. We can contribute nothing to our salvation. “It is done” is the way Christ said it on the cross. We may choose to believe it, which means, we now, by faith, trust God. This goes completely against our human nature that makes us want to do something to save ourselves, i.e. works.
How and for what great reason could God, the Heavenly Father ever allow His Son to give up His life for us should also be understood, at least as much as we humans can. God’s love for us is the answer.
“Agapao” or “Agape” is one of the Greek words commonly used for “love” in the New Testament, along with “Phileo”. “Phileo” refers to brotherly love, which is conditional love. If a man has “Phileo” love for someone he will love them as long as they conform to his conditions. If they intentionally proceed to hurt him, at some point he will stop loving them. “Agape” love refers to God’s love and is unconditional and unending. This is the Agape love that sent His only Begotten Son to suffer and die on earth for mankind. The same mankind, believing a lie, hated him. A common limiting misinterpretation is equating Agape love with charity, which it is often translated as.
Further, “Justification” is a commonly used word that should also be understood in the context of the Gospel because it is the result of God’s great sacrifice. It simply means we “In Christ” are “innocent” before God despite our sins. Because we were “In Christ” during his life and death (as Levi was in Abraham) we are legally justified in the “judgment” of God. This applies to all mankind, before and after the cross and is accepted by those before Christ as well as us. This is an important aspect of the Gospel for no law of man or God allows one to suffer the punishment of the sins of another. If a man kills his brother, no one else can be put to death to pay for the sin he alone is guilty of. Mothers will sometimes come forward and request that they suffer the punishment for their child. But no earthly court will accept this and Heaven’s won’t either. But thanks to God’s perfect plan, we, mankind, corporately, as “one in Christ” did live a perfect life. Also we “In Christ” all died on the cross that paid the price for all of mankind’s sins.
Deut 24:16 “Fathers shall not be put to death for their children, nor shall children be put to death for their fathers; a person shall be put to death for his own sin.”
To look ahead a little, if we believe and trust this by faith, this justification allows the Holy Spirit to come in to us, change us, and work in and through us, producing good works (sanctification). This can only be done with our permission and belief in the Gospel.
2 Corinthians 5:21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
John 14:20 At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you.
With this knowledge that God has already forgiven us, we can go to Him boldly without preparation and we must come to Christ just as we are. When God, the Holy Spirit, calls us, we will see our sinfulness and feel its burden. We are not to wait until we have made our self acceptable to God, because we can not. No one should ever think of himself as too unworthy to come to Christ. We cannot become better on our own as a “leopard cannot change his spots.” Remember, Christ died for sinners, so we go to him with our sins. This is the beginning of taking all things to the Lord in prayer.
Matthew 11:28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
If we now are “in Christ”, how could anyone ever commit the “unforgivable sin”? The Holy Spirit comes to each of us individually, respecting our free will, and convicts us of our sin, to lead us to our need for a Redeemer or Savior. A man will initially put off or completely reject this. Some will eventually accept it and come to Christ. Sadly the rest will, after continuously rejecting Him, be beyond the point where they will ever come to the Lord. This final point of rejection is the “unforgivable sin” against the Holy Spirit and the worst thing that can happen to us happens. We are left completely to our own desires, a slave to sin, no longer susceptible to the influences of God’s love.
BCI Ref: Corporate man, Gospel
Note: The Bible uses about 80 words in reference to Jesus Christ, including The Word, YHWH, Michael and the Alpha and Omega.
1 Cor 8:6, Acts 7:38, Isaiah 63:9, Exodus 23:20-23
John 1:1-3, 1 Peter 1: 10-11.
Amen
