What Is Truth Bible Study - Cgcmadison

1 Corinthians 15:1-4. 1) Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2) By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain; 3) For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and 4) And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: Some religious leaders say that all you have to do to be saved is believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul is saying it is possible to believe in vain or uselessly. As we go along, we will point out scriptures that tell us what it really means to believe. Paul is telling us that it is the application of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ that saves us. But how does it work? Let’s look further. 2 Thessalonians 1:7-8. 7) And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels; 8) In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: This seems to complicate the issue even further because the apostle Paul is telling us God will take vengeance on them that do not know Him. Jesus said in Matthew 7:23, “And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” He was speaking to people that had a relationship with him but did not place value on God’s Word. We will discuss this scripture in more depth later in this Bible study. Paul is also telling us we must obey the gospel. This seems to present a problem. How do we obey the concept of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ? It seems there is no connection between the two concepts–the knowledge of what the definition of the gospel is and our obedience to that gospel. The answer to this problem is really very simple if we rightly divide God’s Word. Jesus died, was buried, and was resurrected; and we also must be partakers of the same death, burial, and resurrection but in a spiritual sense. THE COMPONENTS OF THE GOSPEL 1. The Death. The Apostle Paul states in 1 Corinthians 15:31 “. . . I die daily”, and in 2 Corinthians 4:10 “Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus . . .” He is not speaking about a physical death but a spiritual one. He is speaking about repentance. Repentance is the recognition, on our part, that we have sinned against God and we are sorry we have offended God. We then go to God in prayer asking pardon for the offence and vowing, with His help, not to commit the offence against Him again. Romans 6:1-2. 1) What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2) God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Jesus described two news events that took place in His day that resulted in the deaths of a number of people. The people to whom He related the stories presumed that the people that Copyright Calvary Gospel Church - 2007 www.CalvaryGospelChurch.org You may freely use and distribute this Bible Study provided you do not change any text. Page 6 of 18

died had some greater degree of sin in their lives than in their own. Jesus told them in both instances, Luke 13:3 & 5 “I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” Repentance is about dying to the old sin nature that we inherited from our common ancestor, Adam. We die to that sin nature when we confess and forsake the kind of behavior disapproved of by God. 1 John 5:17. All unrighteousness is sin . Proverbs 28:13. He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy. 2 Corinthians 7:10. For Godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death. 2. The Burial. When someone dies they need to be buried. It is the same thing spiritually. When we repent and kill the old man and his sin nature, we need to bury him in order to identify with the burial of Jesus. Romans 6:3-4. 3) Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4) Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. Colossians 2:12. Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. Baptism, as we will see later in the book of Acts, is for the remission (forgiveness) of sins and it is always: administered to a person that has repented first, administered by full immersion in water, and the name of Jesus Christ is called over the person being baptized. This is where the blood of Jesus is applied to the repentant sinner. The blood of Jesus removes the record of sin forever and identifies whose blood it is that removes our sin. In the record of the book of Acts, we will see people being baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins. Revelation 1:5. And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood. Ephesians 1:7. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace. 3. The Resurrection. Jesus was resurrected on the third day. We also need to receive resurrection power from God, and we receive that power when we receive the Holy Spirit of God in our hearts. John 14:16-18. 16) And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 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. 18) I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. Romans 6:5. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection. Copyright Calvary Gospel Church - 2007 www.CalvaryGospelChurch.org You may freely use and distribute this Bible Study provided you do not change any text. Page 7 of 18

Romans 8:11. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. When we look into the book of Acts, we should see all of these components of the gospel applied. We will see people instructed to repent of their sins, baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit of God, the evidence being they speak in other tongues (languages they never learned). WHAT ABOUT BELIEVING? Believing is an absolutely essential part of the gospel, but believing in itself is not an end; it is a beginning. Romans 10:9. That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. This scripture is not an example of someone being saved. Paul is writing this letter to a group of people that were already saved. We can know this from Acts the second chapter, which tells us that on the day of Pentecost there were people from Rome present in Jerusalem receiving the gift of salvation. Paul is writing to them about faith and how it is acquired. Let’s continue reading. Romans 10:13-17. 13) For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved (not is saved). 14) How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? 15) And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent: as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! 16) But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? 17) So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Paul, in quoting the prophet Isaiah, said they had not all obeyed the gospel. Notice also that Paul is telling us the first step in receiving the message of the gospel is that we must believe. Believing is only the first step. This scripture is really talking to us about how we acquire faith, “So then faith cometh by hearing ” James 2:19. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. James is commending the Christians for believing in one God, but he says the devils believe the same thing. Does that mean the devils are saved? John 7:38-39. 38) He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. 39) (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.) In this scripture, Jesus is putting a condition on believing. He is saying that we must expect to receive an experience when we believe. We will receive the same experience that the disciples of Jesus received when they experienced the Holy Ghost for the first time on the day of Copyright Calvary Gospel Church - 2007 www.CalvaryGospelChurch.org You may freely use and distribute this Bible Study provided you do not change any text. Page 8 of 18

Pentecost nearly 2000 years ago. They began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them the utterance (more on this later in this Bible study). 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. This is probably the most quoted scripture in the Bible, and it is unquestionably true. It does not, however, stand alone as a truth by itself. When we begin to examine what the rest of the Bible tells us about what it really means to believe, we understand that John 3:16 is a scripture that is given in support of the message of the gospel in itself it is not the gospel. Through these scriptures, we understand the act of believing alone does not make one saved. When we believe on Jesus, that belief is called faith. If our faith is in Jesus, that faith will lead us to a place of acting on that belief. Acting on faith is called obedience, and when we obey the Word of God, we can find salvation. Obedience is not works. Obedience is what God is looking for in response to His commandments. When we obey God’s Word, we are telling God that we believe Him and demonstrating that we love Him (John 14:15 “If ye love me, keep my commandments.”). Acts 5:32. And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him. Hebrews 5:9. And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him. “Only he who believes is obedient, and only he who is obedient believes.” Dietrich Bonhoeffer WHAT IS THE NEW BIRTH? This is when we identify ourselves with Jesus Christ through obedience to the gospel. Salvation results from obedience to the gospel (2 Thes. 1:8) and is about being born again or partaking of the new birth (similar terms). The new birth is the experience of salvation. Jesus is literally telling us that we can start over with a new life. 2 Corinthians 5:17. Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. John 3:1-8. 1) There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: 2) The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, 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. 3) Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. 4) Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? 5) Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6) That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit. 7) Marvel not that Copyright Calvary Gospel Church - 2007 www.CalvaryGospelChurch.org You may freely use and distribute this Bible Study provided you do not change any text. Page 9 of 18

I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. 8) The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. Jesus is the one telling Nicodemus that he must be born again in order to go to heaven. He then qualifies His statement by telling Nicodemus that he must be born of the water and of the Spirit. He is speaking about being baptized in water AND the Holy Ghost. In Verse 8, Jesus tells us there is a common and observable phenomenon that happens to EVERY PERSON when they are baptized with the Spirit of God. We will see in the book of Acts that people began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. The book of Acts shows us also how this experience came to all groups of people. THE BOOK OF ACTS It is the history book of the New Testament. (The Acts of the Apostles) The best way to bring all of the previous scriptures and comments together is to study the book of Acts. We must understand the book of Acts is the spiritual activity record of the disciples of Jesus. It is the history book of the New Testament. The book of Acts is the only place in the New Testament where we see people actually being saved except for the thief on the cross. The thief on the cross, however, was an example of mercy extended under the Old Testament. In the book of Acts, we will observe what was said and done by the Apostles under the covenant of the New Testament. We will also see all of the components of the gospel, in evidence or their implied use, when we study each recorded act of salvation. Today, many people in the church world say that to be saved, all one must do is accept the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal savior. If this is true, there should be eyewitness accounts of this being said or done in the book of Acts. Others say to be saved one must only believe on the Lord Jesus. Again, if this is true, there must certainly be record of such in the book of Acts. 2 Corinthians 13:1. . . . In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established. Acts 1:4-5, 8. 4) And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. 5) For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. 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 Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. Power comes from the Holy Ghost to overcome sin, disease, the world, Satan, and all other impediments to a successful walk with God. Copyright Calvary Gospel Church - 2007 www.CalvaryGospelChurch.org You may freely use and distribute this Bible Study provided you do not change any text. Page 10 of 18

In the book of Acts, there are two examples of people being saved with all of the components of the gospel displayed, and there are five examples of salvation which employ some of the components of the gospel, the missing components implied. THE JEWS Acts 2:1-4. 1) And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2) And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3) And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 4) And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. This phenomenon of a rushing, mighty wind and cloven tongues of fire were never repeated again in the Bible. It is a day similar to when Moses brought to Israel the commandments from God and his face shined with the glory of God so brightly that no one was able to look at him. Again, this phenomenon was not repeated. Both of these events appear to have been used by God to usher in a new covenant by God, and they were never used again. The whole community of Jerusalem witnessed this event. God drew the whole city to the location of this phenomenon by these supernatural signs. They witnessed people under the powerful influence of the Spirit of God doing very strange things. The presence and power of God was so great upon the disciples that the residents of Jerusalem thought they were drunk. Peter, under the anointing of the Spirit of God, began to preach “Jesus,” and the people became convicted of their sin and guilt. Acts 2:37-39, 41. 37) Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? 38) Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 39) For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. 41) Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. Acts 2:38 is considered to be a pivotal scripture which means it is a turning point in the Bible. From this point forward in time, man’s relationship with God would never be the same. Notice that Peter’s instruction in response to the question asked by the crowd includes all of the components of the gospel. Death, in telling them to repent; burial, in instructing them to be baptized in Jesus name; and resurrection, in telling them to expect to receive the Holy Spirit of God. The crowd responds in Verse 41. Acts Chapter 9 records the conversion of Saul (Paul). Verse 17 tells us that Ananias went to Saul and told him that Jesus had sent him to talk to him and, “that thou mightest receive thy Copyright Calvary Gospel Church - 2007 www.CalvaryGospelChurch.org You may freely use and distribute this Bible Study provided you do not change any text. Page 11 of 18

sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.” This particular account tells us nothing about the actual baptism of Paul nor does it tell us what took place when he received the Spirit of God. We will see in our examination of Chapter 19 that Paul baptized the disciples he found in Ephesus in the name of Jesus, and when those same disciples received the Holy Spirit, they spoke in other tongues as the Spirit came into their hearts. We know also that Paul in his letter to the Corinthians said in 1 Corinthians 14:18, “I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all.” THE SAMARITANS Acts chapter 8 records the revival that took place in Samaria. Verse 12 says, “Jesus” was preached, and “But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.” Acts 8:14-17, 14) Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: 15) Who, w

The "What is Truth" Bible study has been designed to help people see the Word of God is the only true and reliable source of truth about God. This is also a Bible study about God's plan of salvation. We will focus our attention on ten categories: 1. Why is it necessary to know the truth about God? 2. Where can we find the truth about God? 3.