Consider the impact of one godly father, Jonathan Edwards. This famous early American pastor, writer, and one-time president of Princeton University had 11 children. Of his known male descendants: More than 300 became pastors, missionaries or theological professors 120 were professors at various universities; 110 became attorneys; 60 were prominent authors; 30 were judges; 14 became presidents of universities or colleges; 3 served in the U.S. Congress; 1 became vice president of the United States.
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W H A T W E B E L I E V E & W H Y

W H A T W E B E L I E V E & W H Y

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S T U D Y # 1

W H A T W E B E L I E V E & W H Y

In the letters of Peter, John and Jude to the church, they warned of False Teachers. That we are to guard ourselves from such people, so that we are not carried away, but are growing in the Grace and Knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ, and testing everything against the Scriptures. So, we need to be rooted and grounded in the basic truths of our faith, to make our calling and election sure, and be able to give an answer to anyone who asks of what we believe and why.

I thought it would be a good study to Look Up and Learn those Scriptures that state our basic beliefs.

Why Is It Important That:

1. Jesus was born of a Virgin?

Because if He was born of a man then He would have been born with the sin nature of Adam like the rest of us and could not have been that sinless substitute for our sins.

Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord Himself shall give you a sign: Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son and shall call His Name Immanuel.

Matthew 1:23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call His Name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

  1. Jesus is the Son of God?

For the same reason as Question 1: only the sinless Son of God (born not of man, but of God and of a woman: for the sins are passed down from the father) could pay the price for a man. But he had to be a man to be a true substitute.

Exodus 34:7 Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and upon the children’s children unto the third and to the fourth generation.

1 Corinthians 15:21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.

15:22 For as in Adam all die, even so In Christ shall all be made alive.

Romans 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.

5:18 Therefore as by the offence of one, judgment came upon all men to condemnation: even so by the righteousness of one, the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.

5:19 For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.

Galatians 4:4 But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law.

Luke 1:30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not Mary: for thou hast found favor with God.

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:31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shall call His Name JESUS.

:32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of His father David:

:33 And He shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever, and of His kingdom there shall be no end.

:34 Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?

:35 And the angel answered and said unto her, the Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

See also II Samuel 7:12-16 & Psalm 89:19-37: I will set the Seed of David on His Throne Forever

Matthew 1:20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.

Matthew 1:21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call His name JESUS: for He shall save His people from their sins.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

3:17 For God sent not His Son into the World to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

3:18 He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the Name of the only begotten Son of God.

Psalm 2:7 I will declare the decree: the Lord said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.

Hebrews 1:5 For unto which of the angels said He at any time, “Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to Him a Father, and He shall be to me a son?”

1st Timothy 2:13 For Adam was first formed, then Eve.

2:14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.

2:15 Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.

? Amplified 2:15: Nevertheless (the sentence put upon women of pain in motherhood does not hinder their souls’ salvation, and) they will be saved (eternally) if they continue in faith and love and holiness with self-control, (saved indeed) through the Childbearing or by the birth of the divine Child.

Mark1:11 And there came a voice from Heaven, saying, ‘Thou art My Beloved Son, In Whom I Am Well pleased.

John 9:35 Jesus heard that they had cast him out: and when He had found him, He said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God?

9:36 He answered and said, Who is He, Lord, that I might believe on Him?

9:37 And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen Him and it Is He that talketh with thee.

9:38 And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped Him.

John 17:1 These words spake Jesus, and lifted up His Eyes to Heaven, and said,’Father, the hour is come; Glorify Thy Son, that Thy Son also may glorify Thee.

Matthew 16:63 But Jesus held His peace, And the high priest answered and said unto Him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God.

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Matthew 16:64 Jesus said unto him, “Thou hast said. Nevertheless, I say unto you, ‘Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven’.

3. Jesus Is God?

Only the divine sinless nature could be the substitute payment for our sins. Jesus is God because He is the Son of God conceived by the Holy Spirit, True God of God and Declared to be His Son and Declared to be

God by God. David said, The Lord said unto my Lord (Acts 2:34). God the Father said to His Son, “Thy throne, O God is for ever and ever. The Father called Him God. And He said in Hebrews 1:6 “let all the angels of God worship Him.”

And in Colossians 2:9 the Holy Spirit said, “In Him Dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.”

Psalm 110:1 the Lord said unto my Lord, “Sit thou at my right hand until I make thine enemies thy footstool.

Hebrews 1:6 And again, when He bringeth in the First Begotten into the world, He saith, “And let all the angels of God worship Him.”

1:8 But unto the Son He saith, “Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of Thy Kingdom.”

12:2 Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, Who for the joy that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

1 Corinthians 15:24 Then cometh the end, when He shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when He shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.

15:25 For He must reign, till He hath put all enemies under His feet.

15:26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.

Acts 2:32 This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.

2:33 Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, He hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.

2:34 For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, ‘The Lord said unto my Lord, ‘Sit Thou on My right hand

2:35 Until I make Thy foes Thy footstool.

2:36 therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, Whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.

Colossians 2:9 For In Him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

2:10 And ye are complete In Him, Who is the Head of all principality and power.

3:1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sits on the right hand of God.

John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God.

1:2 The same was in the beginning with God.

1:3 All things were made by Him: and without Him was not anything made that was made.

1:14 And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His Glory, the Glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of Grace and Truth.

Fulfilling Isaiah 40:5 And the Glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.

He Showed Himself to be God by the Miracles He did:

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John 15:22 If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloak for their sin. 15:23 He that hateth Me hateth My Father also.

15:24 If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but

now have they both seen and hated both me and My Father.

And Nicodemus, when he came to Jesus by night, said:

John 3:2 . . . Rabbi, we know that Thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.

And in Mark 2 when the four men brought the paralyzed man to Jesus and lowered him down through the roof of the house

Mark 2:5 When Jesus saw their faith, He said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.

2:6 But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts,

2:7 Why does this man speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?

2:8 And immediately when Jesus perceived in His spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, He said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts?

2:9 Which is easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise and take up thy bed, and walk?

2:10 But that ye may know that the Son of man has power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy),

2:11 I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house.

2:12 And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion.

Answer: Which is easier to say, Your sins are forgiven, or rise up and walk? Neither! They said it themselves: only God can forgive sins. And only the healing power of God can tell a paralyzed man to stand up and walk. It was right before their eyes! They even glorified God but they didn’t recognize Him standing right in front of them!

And the man born blind, to whom Jesus gave sight, was being cross-examined by the Pharisees for the third time, and they said to him John 9:29 We know that God spoke to Moses: as for this fellow, we know

(mgn: understand) not from whence he is.

John 9:30 The man answered and said unto them, Why herein is a marvelous thing, that ye know not from whence He Is, and yet he hath opened mine eyes.

John 9:31 Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth His Will, him he heareth.

John 9:32 Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind.

John 9:33 If this man were not of God He could do nothing.

Jesus even told all the Jewish people in the temple who were listening to Him, P L A I N L Y that He Is God: John 8:42 Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love Me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of Myself, but He Sent Me!

John 8:43 Why do ye not understand My Speech? Even because ye cannot hear My Word (Mgn: under-

stand my message).

And John 9:56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day: and he saw it, and was glad.

John 9:57 Then said the Jews unto Him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast Thou seen Abraham?

John 9:58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, Verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I AM !

And in the Upper Room, celebrating His Last Passover with His disciples, and the First Communion, He Said: John 14:6 I Am the Way, the Truth and the Life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.

John 14:7 If ye had known Me, ye should have known My Father also: and from henceforth ye know Him and have seen Him.

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John 14:8 Philip said unto Him, Lord, show us the Father and it sufficeth us (Mgn:will satisfy us).

John 14:9 Jesus said unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen Me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father?

John 14:10 Believest thou not that I Am in the Father, and the Father in Me? the words that I speak unto you, I speak not of Myself: but the Father that dwelleth in Me, HE DOETH THE WORKS.

John 14:11 Believe Me that I A M IN the Father, and the Father IN Me: or else believe Me for the very works’ sake.

John 16:27 For the Father Himself loves you, because ye have loved Me, and have believed that I Came Out from God.

John 16:28 I Came Forth from the Father, and Am Come Into the World: Again, I Leave the World, and Go To the Father.

John 16:29 His disciples said unto Him, Lo, now speakest thou plainly, and speakest no proverb.

John 16:30 Now are we sure that Thou knowest all things, and needest not that any man should ask Thee:

By this we believe That Thou Camest Forth From God.

John 16:31 Jesus answered them, Do ye now Believe?

Do you want to know what God is like? Look at Jesus. He came to show us the Father. Because we see Jesus is Good, we see God is Good. So many times through the Gospels we read that Jesus had compassion on someone or on the multitudes. Compassion is much deeper than just sympathy or empathy for someone. It is a deep love, deep in your being, that you feel their suffering and want to do something to help them. That is the way Jesus loved the people. This is the way God loves us. Jesus Is God.

4. That Jesus Never Sinned?

Again, He had to be a spotless Lamb of God, without blame, to be the perfect sacrifice. He could have sinned, that’s why the devil tempted Him. But only His divine nature could enable him to resist the devil and

endure the temptation without giving in to it. Thank You, God that You sent Your Divine Son to be a man Who NEVER SINNED and take our punishment AND JUDGEMENT THAT WE DESERVED, because His Powerful Divine Nature and being Anointed with the Holy Spirit could withstand the Full Brunt of the forces of evil.

And think about it, even those seemingly little meaningless slips that we hardly take notice of like saying something unkind, which comes out of your mouth before you realize it, or a resentment against someone who hurt your feelings, even if we just hold it in our mind for a little while, evil thoughts, pride: Jesus said in Mark 7:23 all these things that come from within defile a man. Or the Sins of Omission – that which we did not do: Love your neighbor as yourself; I was hungry and you didn’t feed me; I was sick or in prison and you never visited me. And Because of His Divine Nature for 30 YEARS of His life before He started His ministry He never once committed A N Y of these.

John 14:30 Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and has nothing in Me.

Mark 10:45 For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give His life a ransom for many.

Exodus 12:5 Your lamb shall be without blemish (Mgn: without wrong), a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep or from the goats.

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Jesus was even thought of as Holy and Righteous by the people of Israel. He even asked them directly if any of them found fault with Him.

John 8:45 And because I tell you the truth, ye believe Me not.

John 8:46 Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe Me?

John 8:47 He that is of God heareth God’s Words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.

And again the man born blind:

John 9:31 Now we know that God Hears Not Sinners . . .

II Corinthians 6:21 For He hath made Him to be Sin for us, Who Knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God In Him.

Hebrews 9:28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for Him shall He appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

Hebrews 12:4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. Amplified: You have not yet struggled and fought agonizingly against sin, nor have you yet resisted and withstood to the point of pouring out your (own) blood.

So Christ is our Great Example. (Exercise: In the following 4 verses, substitute I and Me for Us and We):

1 Peter 2:21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow His steps.

2:22 Who Did No Sin, Neither was Guile found in His Mouth:

2:23 Who, when He was reviled, reviled not again; When He suffered, He threatened Not; but Committed Himself to Him that judgeth righteously;

2:24 Who His Own Self bare Our Sins in His Own Body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: By Whose Stripes YE were healed.

Revelation 5:5 And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah,

the Root of David, hath prevailed (Mgn: Qualified; Strong’s Concordance #3528: to subdue: – conquer, overcome, prevail, get the victory) to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.

5. Jesus D I D Die. And He died on a CROSS. And He died O N P U R P O S E of His Own Free

Will to Pay for O U R Sins?

Just as Jesus lived as every man on earth does, He was born a baby, grew up a child into a man and lived and worked, so He also had to die and be buried just as every person does. Hebrews 4:15 For we have not a high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but was in all points tempted (mgn: tested) like as we are, yet without sin.

In John 20:31 the Jews asked that the knees of the men on the cross be broken so that they would die quickly by not being able to raise themselves up to get air. But when the Roman soldier came to Jesus, he saw that He was already dead.

John 19:34 But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced His Side, and forthwith came there out blood and water. The NIV note says this is a result of piercing the pericardium (the sac that surrounds the heart – water?) and the heart (blood).

Nevertheless, to receive a wound this large would cause Him to lose all of His life giving blood quickly.

John 19:35 And John writes: And he that saw it bare record and his record is true; and he know that he says the truth, that you might believe.

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Just as the Jews were busy in the temple offering their passover lambs, the LAST passover lamb was dying, and died on the cross at 3 P.M. AND NOT A BONE WAS BROKEN!

So it was another sign to the Jews, that Jesus Is their Passover Lamb as the First Passover Lamb was being eaten back in Exodus 12:46 . . . Neither shall ye break a bone thereof.

And when the Lord gave Moses the rules for the Observance of the Passover in Numbers 9:12, He said, They shall leave none of it unto the morning nor break any bone of it.

Deuteronomy 21:23 His body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but thou shalt in any wise bury him that day: (for he that is hanged is accursed of God;) that thy land be not defiled, which the Lord thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.

That He DID die on a cross, according to many witnesses who watched Him be crucified and the events that took place at the crucifixion and the testimony of the Roman Centurion and the soldiers. Also, Roman documents and the report of the Jewish historian Josephus in the 1st century, the Scriptures, and the Apostles.

He took OUR curse!

Galatians 3:13 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, ‘Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree (Mgn: is crucified).‘

He did die, because He was also buried. The burial of His body in a tomb and being packed with about 100 lbs. of oils and aloes and wrapped in linen, and His Face wrapped separately in a Linen Napkin was done by 2 of His disciples: Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea and placed in a tomb and a stone rolled in front of it.

All this was observed by several people.

Mark 15:43 Joseph of Arimathea, an honorable counselor, who also waited for the kingdom of God, came, and went in boldly unto Pilate, and craved the body of Jesus.

15:44 And Pilate marveled if He were already dead: and callng unto him the Centurion, he asked him whether he had been any while dead.

15:45 And when he knew it of the Centurion, he gave the body to Joseph.

John 19:39 And there came also Nicodemus, who at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pound weight.

19:40 Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury.

19:41 Now in the place where He was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulcher (tomb), wherein was never man yet laid.

Mark 15:46 And he bought fine linen, and took Him down, and wrapped Him in the linen, and laid Him in

a sepulcher which was hewn out of a rock, and rolled a stone unto the door of the sepulcher.

That He died on purpose: He purposely released His Spirit to God: Matthew 27:50, Mark 15:37,

Luke 23:46 "Father, into Thy Hands I commend My Spirit", and having said that He gave up the Ghost. and John 19:30.

And 3 times He forecasted to His disciples and others listening His Death and Resurrection:

1st time in Caesarea: Matthew 16:21-26 Mark 8:31-37 Luke 9:22-25

2nd time in Galilee " 17:22-23 " 9:30-32 " 9:43-45

3rd time near Jordan " 20:17-19 " 10:32-34 " 18:31-34

on His way up to Jericho and Jerusalem.

Luke 9:51 And it came to pass, when the time was come that He should be received up, He steadfastly set His Face to go to Jerusalem.

Luke 9:52 And sent messengers before His face: and they went and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for Him.

9:53 And they did not receive Him, because His Face was as though He would go to Jerusalem.

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And on the last day that He was in the temple teaching the people, before the Passover, Andrew and Philip came to tell Him that some Greeks were desiring to see Him, John 9:20-33.

John 9:23 And Jesus answered them, saying, ‘The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified.

9:27 Now is My Soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save Me from this hour?: but for this

cause came I unto this hour.

9:31 Now is the judgement of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.

9:32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth will draw all men unto me.

That His purpose and Determination had not changed since the beginning of His ministry when He told Nicodemus in John 3:14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 3:15 That whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have eternal life.

Though He was fully God, He was fully Man. And man’s instinct is self-preservation. No One wants to die.

1 Corinthians 15:26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.

So He struggled in the Garden of Gethsemane to be obedient to his Father’s Will in Matthew 26:36-46,

Luke 22:42, Mark 14:36. Specifically in

Matthew 26:39 And He went a little farther, and fell on His Face, and prayed, saying, "O My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me: nevertheless not as I will, but as Thou wilt."

26:42 He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, "O My Father, if this cup may not pass away from Me, except I drink it, Thy Will be done."

26:44 And He left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words.

It took 3 hours of stressful prayer with strong crying and even sweating blood to overcome His natural flesh to come into agreement and be at peace with His Father’s Will. Not resigned – but in agreement. Yet for the Joy set before Him, from that moment in the Garden of Gethsemane, He took on the role of the Sacrificial Lamb, determined to complete His mission and bring the lost children to His Father. No One ever strove with sin like He did: even sweating blood in His fight against the temptation of disobedience, or perhaps it was because of the anxiety of enduring unbearable, excruciating pain and humiliation. That He might become Our Spotless Lamb of God and complete the Salvation of the World. We have never experienced such agony. Jesus resisted temptation and the devil to the fullest, because He never gave I N to it! He went all the way to the limit of it without giving in! Thank God He did! Or our sentence would be Hell. Jesus defeated the devil and death, because the devil had nothing on Him.

Because His Divine Nature wouldn’t allow Him to sin.

HE DIED FOR US O N P U R P O S E OF HIS OWN FREE WILL! HALLELUJAH!

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6. Jesus Rose Bodily from the Dead? That His Resurrected Body was a P H Y S I C A L Body and not a S P I R I T U A L Body?

If Christ did not rise from the dead then there is no resurrection from the dead to eternal life for us. Then our faith is in vain and we are still in our sins. (1 Corinthians 15: 12-19)

And if Jesus’ Resurrection was not a PHYSICAL resurrection, then neither would ours be. But we will have the same glorified body that Jesus has. Luke 24:36-43, specifically verses 39, 42, 43:

Luke 24:39 Behold My Hands and Feet, that it is I Myself: Handle Me and See: for a spirit hath not flesh and bones as ye see Me have.

24:42 And they gave Him a piece of a broiled fish, and a honeycomb.

24:43 And He took it, and did eat before them.

Philippians 3:21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto His Glorious Body..

But Thomas wouldn’t believe unless he saw Him himself, John 20:24-29

John20:25 The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them,

Except I shall see in His Hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into His Side, I will not believe!

Verse 27: Reach here your finger, and behold my hands; and reach here your hand and thrust it into My side: and BE NOT FAITHLESS, but BELIEVING !

And we today especially walk by faith, and not by sight, and without faith it is impossible to please God.

There comes a point when we have to decide to believe God and the Scriptures or else reject Him. For the testimonies of our Christian faith and the Scriptures were inspired and directed by the Holy Spirit through the Apostles, and eyewitnesses to these things.

Oral Roberts said – notice that Jesus gave Thomas exactly what he had asked for to believe. That God will give any honest doubting person who really wants to know, what he or she needs to bring him to the faith of Jesus Christ and Salvation.

But Jesus’ Physical resurrection was attested to by many witnesses: by Angels, by the women that ministered to and traveled with Him, by the 2 disciples on the Road to Emmaus, and by the 11 Apostles

(Matthew 28:1-20, Mark 16:1-18, Luke 24:1-49, John 20:1 – 21:25, Acts 1:2-8) on several occasions and at different locations over a period of 40 Days. According to Paul the Apostle, Jesus was also seen by His brother James, by 500 people at one time, and finally also by Paul himself (1 Corinthians 15:5-7).

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7A. Jesus Ascended into Heaven?

In the Upper Room, Jesus told the 11 disciples:

John 14:1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in Me.

14:2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I Go to prepare a place for you.

14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself: that where I Am, there ye may be also.

And in John 17, Jesus prayed to the Father for His Disciples and all those who would believe in Him that they would be with Him:

John 17:19 And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.

17:20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on Me through their word:

17:24 Father, I will that they also, whom Thou has given Me, be with Me where I Am: that they may behold My glory, which Thou has given Me: for Thou lovedst Me before the foundation of the world.

And Jesus told them that His Ascension was necessary, so that the Holy Spirit could be sent.

Jesus said in John 16:7 . . . It is expedient for you that I go away: for If I go not away, the Comforter will not come to you. But if I depart, I will send Him to you.

John 14:12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on Me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto My Father.

John 15:16 And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you for ever;

15:17 Even the Spirit of Truth; Whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him: but ye know Him; for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

15:18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.

15:19 Yet a little while, and the world seeth Me no more; but ye see Me: Because I live, ye shall live also.

15:20 At that day ye shall know that I Am in My Father, and ye in Me, and I in you.

And after Jesus’ Resurrection, He said to Mary Magdalene in the Garden:

John 20:17 Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I Am not yet ascended to My Father: but go to My brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto My Father, and your Father; and to My God, and your God.

Jesus is the First Fruits. As joint heirs with Christ we are to receive everything that He receives that pertains to Eternal Life.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that He gave His Only Begotten Son, that whosoever believeth

in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

1 Corinthians 15:20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first fruits of them that slept.

15:21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.

15:22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

15:23 But every man in his own order: Christ the first fruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at His Coming.

Hebrews 6:19 Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which entereth into that within the veil:

6:20 Where the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made a high priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.

Hebrews 9:8 The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into The Holiest of All was not yet made manifest while as the first tabernacle was yet standing:

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Hebrews 9:9 Which was a figure for the time then presen, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience.

9:11 But Christ being come a High Priest of good things to come, by a Greater and More Perfect Tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;

9:12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, BUT BY HIS OWN BLOOD HE ENTERED IN

ONCE INTO THE HOLY PLACE, HAVING OBTAINED ETERNAL REDEMPTION FOR US.

9:14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, Who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

9:22 And almost all things are by the law purged (Mgn: cleansed) with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission (Mgn: forgiveness).

9:24 For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:

9:25 Nor yet that He should offer Himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others;

9:26 For then mustHe often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world (Mgn: time) hath He appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.

9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

9:28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and UNTO THEM THAT LOOK FOR HIM SHALL HE APPEAR THE SECOND TIME WITHOUT SIN UNTO SALVATION.

Hebrews 10:4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.

10:9 Then said He, Lo, I come to do Thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that He may

ESTABLISH the second.

10:10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ ONCE FOR ALL!

Hebrews 4:14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.

4:15 For we have not a high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

5:8 Though He were a Son, yet learned He obedience by the things which He suffered;

5:9 And being made perfect, He became the Author of Eternal Salvation unto all them that obey Him; 5:10 Called of God a High Priest after the order of Melchizedek.

7:25 Wherefore He Is Able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them.

10:19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the Holiest by the Blood of Jesus,

10:20 By a New and Living Way, which he Has consecrated for us, through the Veil, that is to say, His Flesh;

10:21 And having a High Priest over the house of God:

10:22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full asurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

10:23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for He is faithful that promised)

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When God gave Moses the Law and the regulations for the Offerings of Sacrificial animals for the forgiveness of their sins for a year, it was a type and shadow of things to come. The Lord told Moses, see

that you make everything as I have showed you on the Mount. Every ordinance God gave them was pointing to the Messiah to Come Who would save them from their sins. They ignored God, And Murmured and

complained. But He was trying to get them to see how hopeless their situation was to try to save themselves.

They couldn’t keep His laws. Their nature was sin All The Time. The blood of bulls and goats couldn’t save them from their sins – just push them back for a year. But they would start looking forward to this Messiah,

Who would save them from their sins, their own selves and their persecutors. He would be their Salvation.

And the sacrifices were meant to show them they needed a Redeemer. They never guessed their Redeemer was their God !

God showed Moses the Heavenly Sanctuary, and how the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies should be designed, and in the Placing of the ShowBread, and the Sprinkling of the Blood of the Sacrifice. So Christ Completed our Sacrifice – Once – For All – WHEN HE ENTERED THE SANCTUARY IN HEAVEN AND LIKE THE HIGH PRIEST, SPRINKLED HIS OWN, HOLY, SINLESS, PURE, PERFECT, LIFE-GIVING BLOOD ON THE ALTAR FOR THE REMISSION OF OUR SINS.

AND HE ENTERED INTO HEAVEN, WHICH IS HIS HOME TO SIT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF THE FATHER UNTIL HIS ENEMIES ARE MADE HIS FOOTSTOOL.

TO INDICATE WHERE WE WOULD BE ALSO, FOR HE PRAYED THAT WE WOULD BE WHERE HE IS: ETERNAL LIFE IN HEAVEN WITH CHRIST, THE FATHER AND THE HOLY SPIRIT. CHRIST THE FIRST FRUITS, AND THEN HIS CHURCH.

Christ’s Resurrection, and then His Ascension into Heaven was to show us that those who are born again and believe in Him would LIVE again after death, and have Eternal Life in Heaven with God the Father. His Ascension to Heaven was also the completion of His Sacrificial Offering for us by the Sprinkling of Blood. Whether the Lord ascended more than once: once that Easter Morning to sprinkle the Blood on the Altar, and again after 40 days, I do not know.

Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

Acts 1:9 And when He had spoken these things, while they beheld, He was taken up; and a cloud received Him out of their sight.

Acts 1:10 And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;

His Ascension into Heaven was witnessed by the l l Apostles as recorded in Mark 16:19-20, Luke 24:50-53 and in Acts 1:9-12 where the Angels said to the Apostles in

Acts 1,Verse 11: Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This SAME Jesus Who is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him Go Into heaven.

Acts 1:12: Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a

sabbath day’s journey.

Luke 24:49 And, Behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem until ye be endued with power from on high.

24:50 And He led them out as far as to Bethany, and He lifted up His Hands, and blessed them.

24:51 And it came to pass, while He blessed them, He was parted from them, and carried up into heaven.

24:52 And they worshiped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy:

24:53 And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. A-men.

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Mark 16:19 So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, He was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.

16:20 And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the Word with signs following. A-men.

H E ‘ S A L I V E ! !

7B. That we finish Our Lord’s Assignment? What is that Assignment He gave to His Disciples

and Who Are the Disciples of Jesus?

What was Christ’s Assignment?

Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord Himself shall give you a sign: Behold, a virgin shall conceive, ad bear a son and shall call His Name Immanuel.

Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His Name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

9:7 Of the increase of His Government and Peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon His Kingdom, to order it and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The Zeal of the Lord of Hosts will perform this.

Isaiah 42:1 Behold My servant, Whom I uphold; Mine Elect, in Whom My Soul Delighteth. I have put My Spirit upon Him: He shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.

42:6 I the Lord have called Thee in Righteousness and will hold Thine Hand, and will keep Thee, and give Thee for a covenant of the people, for a Light of the Gentiles.

42:7 To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.

Matthew 1:21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call His Name Jesus: for He shall save His people from their sins.

Luke 1:32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of His father David:

:33 And He shall reign over the House of Jacob for ever; and of His Kingdom there shall be no end.

Luke 2:10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy wich shall be to all people.

Luke 2:11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.

John 3:13 And no man has ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of Man Who is in heaven.

3:14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:

3:15 That whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.

3:16 For God so loved the world, that He gave His Only Begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

3:17 For God sent not His son into the world to condemn the world: but that the world through Him might be saved.

3:18 He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the Name of the Only Begotten Son of God.

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And after Christ’s Resurrection, before He Ascended to the Father in Heaven, He gave these instructions to His Disciples.

Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

28:19 Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and lo, I Am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Mark 16:14 Afterward He appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen Him after He was risen.

16:15 And He said unto them, Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature.

16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

16:17 And these signs shall follow them that believe: In My Name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;

16:18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

16:19 So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, He was received up into Heaven, and sat on the right Hand of God.

16:20 And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them and confirming the Word with signs following. Amen.

Luke 24:44 And He said unto the, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the Psalms, concerning me.

24:45 Then opened He their understanding that they might understand the scriptures.

24:46 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day.

24:47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His Name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

24:48 And ye are witnesses of these things.

John 20:21 Then said Jesus to them again, peace be unto you: as My Father hath sent Me, even so send I you.

20:22 And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost.

20:23 Whosesoever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whosesoever sins ye retain, they are retained.

Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive Power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto Me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

Who are Christ’s Disciples?

John 13:34 A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

John 13:35 By this shall all men know that ye are My disciples, if ye have love one to another.

John 15:8 Herein is My Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be My disciples.

John 8:31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on Him, If ye continue in My Word then are ye My disciples indeed.

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  1. Jesus Is Coming Again?

  1. What Scriptures Support His Coming Back for His Church?

10.Why is it Important that Jesus is the Same: Yesterday And Today And Forever?

11.That the Holy Spirit Indwells Believers?

12.Do Miracles, Signs and Wonders still happen today to those who believe?

13.Why Should we pray?

14.Is there power in prayer? Does Prayer Accomplish anything?

15.What did God mean when He said, “And I wondered that there was no one to stand in the Gap before Me? – Ezekiel 22:30-31

16.Why Should we spend time in the Word?

Prepared by Marilyn Stanecki, June 27 2005