CFF Foundational Doctrines Manual

CAMPUS CHRISTIAN FAMILY

KNUST

Foundational Doctrines Manual

8/5/2011

Foundational Doctrines Manual 2011

CAMPUS CHRISTIAN FAMILY – KNUST

INTRODUCTION

Heb 5:12-6:3 12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one

teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.

13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.

14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

6 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto

perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,

2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.

3 And this will we do, if God permit.

God’s desire is for the temple of Christ to be completed unto a holy temple. It is not His

intention or desire for us to lay only the foundation of the temple and not complete it.

This is what Paul, the apostle was teaching the Hebrews. He admonished them to grow

from knowing the foundational teachings to becoming mature. In the book of Haggai,

the Israelites who returned from captivity laid the foundation of the temple and

stopped building when they faced opposition. The word of the Lord from the prophet

showed God’s disapproval towards leaving His temple at the foundation stage. To God

it was equivalent to leaving the building in ruins.

Having said this, it does not mean that having foundations are not good. As have been

indicated already, it is the most important part of the building. In fact no building can

stand without foundations. Our desire is not to have foundations only but to build a

strong one on which the whole building can stand. These are foundational principles

and are not in themselves separate doctrines as together they are referred to as “The

Doctrine of Christ” and it is important we see them as such. The foundational doctrines

that will be considered are as follows:

Repentance from dead works

Faith toward God

Baptisms

Laying on of hands

Resurrection from the dead

Eternal judgment.



THE FOUDATION A foundation is one of the necessary parts of a building or structure. Where there is a

building, there must be a foundation. Hence, to consider this aspect of teaching

presupposes that we are comparable to a building. This is true and the Holy Spirit

taught it in the following scriptures.

1 Cor 3:9 9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are

God's building. KJV

1 Cor 3:16-17

16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple

of God is holy, which temple ye are. KJV

1 Cor 6:19 19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is

in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? KJV

A foundation has three basic meanings:

In the Hebrew comes from the word YACAD and it means to set, to found, to

settle and to establish.

From the etymology of this word, foundation actually means the beginning.

The Collins Cobuild Advanced Dictionary defines it as the layer of bricks or

concrete below the ground that a building is built on. The Greek word used is

THEMELIOS which means the substructure of a building.

In some languages it is possible to describe a typical foundation in ancient times as

'large stones underneath the walls.' In other languages, however, this may seem to be

quite a meaningless type of expression, since foundations are only made secure by

driving stakes deep into the ground. Therefore, it may be best to describe the function

of a foundation by 'what keeps the walls firm' or 'how the walls are made not to move'

or 'what goes beneath the walls.' [Louw and Nida Greek-English Lexicon of the New

Testament.]

The foundation is therefore the beginning of the building. Christian foundation

doctrines are also the elementary teachings that begin the Christian faith and form the

foundation for building on to maturity. The foundation of the Christian faith is not a set



of principles as these constitute the foundation doctrines (teachings) of Christ. The

foundation itself is the person of Jesus Christ our savior.

1 Cor 3:9-13 9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are

God's building.

10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.

11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;

13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.

This foundation as we have seen earlier was mainly maid of huge and large precious

stones so that the entire weight of the building can safely rest on it. The temple which

Solomon built in the 2nd book of Kings is a type of what the church is in the mind of

God. 1 Kings 5:15-18

15 And Solomon had threescore and ten thousand that bare burdens, and fourscore thousand hewers in the mountains;

16 Beside the chief of Solomon's officers which were over the work, three thousand and three hundred, which ruled over the people that wrought in the work.

17 And the king commanded, and they brought great stones, costly stones, and hewed stones, to lay the foundation of the house.

18 And Solomon's builders and Hiram's builders did hew them, and the

stonesquarers: so they prepared timber and stones to build the house. KJV

The foundation of the Christian requires great stones, costly stones and hewn stones.

Without this nature of foundational stones, the temple is not approved of God. Hence,

these doctrines are great, costly and needed for our establishment in the Christian faith.

As the building of God, Christ is the chief corner stone and the sure foundation. Isa 28:16 16 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation, a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.

Eph 2:20

20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;



1 Peter 2:3-5 3 If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.

4 To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,

5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

The purpose of the foundational doctrines is to give us the principles that guide a

successful walk with God. It will also help us to be established in the teachings that will

help us to go on to maturity in Christ. From Hebrews 5, we must identify some essential

things.

Heb 5:12-13 12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one

teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.

13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.

Heb 6:1



Explaining Hebrews 5:12 – the meaning of the words: first, principles and

oracles.

First:

The Greek word for first is ARCHE: "the account of the beginning of Christ. That is to

say, the account of how we begin our walk in and with Christ. It has the same meaning

as the elementary teaching concerning Christ.

It also means the elementary and preliminary aspects defining the nature of

something - 'elementary aspect, simple truth. The message concerning the elementary

aspects of Christ' or '... the simple truths about Christ'.

Arche always signifies "primacy," whether in time: "beginning," principium, or in

rank: "power," "dominion," "office." Primacy of something is the most important or the

most powerful thing in a particular situation.

Arch¢¡ ‎may also denote the first occurrence in a series.



This means the commencement or the beginning. It is applied to mean, rehearsing from

the beginning.

Principles: STOICHEION

The basic principles which underlie the nature of something - 'basic principles,

elementary concepts.

Another rendering of Hebrew 5:12 is “Again you have need of someone to teach you the

basic principles about the elementary aspects of God's message”. In some languages it

may be extremely difficult to find the lexical equivalents of 'the basic principles about

the elementary aspects.' In Greek this represents highly generic vocabulary, and in

many languages the closest equivalent is 'how to understand the simple truths.'

Therefore, this expression in Heb 5:12 may be rendered as 'again you have need for

someone to teach you how to understand the simple truths about God's message.'

The Greek word here used again means any first thing, from which the others

belonging to some series or composite whole take their rise; an element, first principle.

Consider these four explanations:

1. the letters of the alphabet not however the written characters (which are called

‎gra/mmata‎), but the spoken sounds:

In and of itself ‎ STOICHEION ‎means "what belongs to a series," as it ‎denotes the

"series" to which an individual person or thing belongs.

‎In most ancient grammar, the main ref. is to spoken parts of words

Or the number one in mathematics, for what is primary,

2. the elements from which all things have come, the material causes of the

universe

3. something that is orderly arranged and forms the fundamental or the initial

constituents of something.

4. the elements, rudiments, primary and fundamental principles

Oracles This word means "saying," "pronouncement," "oracle."

This word LOGOS means the Divine Expression who is Christ the Word.

From the above definitions therefore it is clear that the first principles of the oracles of

God actually mean:

‚the number one of the numerals in the pronouncements of God; or the first syllables

of the alphabets that constitute the words of God; or the beginning of the most



important and the most powerful teachings in the series of the oracles of God [the

pronouncements of God].

The word Principles in Hebrews 5 is different from the one used in Hebrews 6. Principle

in Hebrews 5 comes from the Greek word STOICHEION: something that is orderly

arranged and forms the fundamental or the initial constituents of something. The word used

for first in Hebrews 5:12 is ARCHE and this is the same word used in Hebrews 6:1 for

the word principles. This means the commencement or the beginning. It is applied to

mean, rehearsing from the beginning. The first principles of the oracles of Christ

therefore mean the same thing as the principles of the doctrine of Christ.

In Hebrew 6:1

The word Principle in Heb 6 corresponds to the word first in Heb 5. While the word

doctrine in Heb 6 corresponds to the word oracle in Heb 5.

The word oracle [legion from logos] used in Hebrews 5 has the same root meaning as

the word doctrine [logos] in chapter 6. This word LOGOS means the Divine Expression

who is Christ the Word.

The first principles of the oracles of God is therefore the same as the principles of the

doctrine of Christ.

These two scriptures are therefore speaking on the same thing and have the same

meaning. The foundational doctrines are therefore the first teachings of Christ that must

be known and rehearsed thoroughly before one can be built up or perfected.

ASSIGNMENT: Discuss the importance of the foundation of the Christian faith and how it is relevant to

maturity. Scripture reference: Matt 7:24 – 29.



1. REPENTANCE FROM DEAD WORKS

Repentance from dead works is the first foundational doctrine. To repent means to

change one's mind for the better, heartily to amend with abhorrence of one's sins. It

involves having godly sorrow over sins committed and the eagerness to obtain God’s

pardon. Since repentance deals with the mind and the heart, it is worth noting that it is

something spiritual.

WHAT IS DEAD WORKS? Anything done without the life of God or that which is not initiated by God is dead

works. In order to understand what is meant by dead works it is important to take note

of Rom 5:12.

Rom 5:12 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:

It tells us that sin came into the world through one man and death was the result of

that sin. We can say therefore that dead works are acts of a man living in sin or acts of a

person who has not surrendered his life to Christ yet. Since sinful acts are death in

themselves we can say that repentance from dead works is repentance from sin.

The Greek word translated WORK is ERGON: ‎denotes "a work" (Eng., "work" is

etymologically akin), "deed, act." When used in the sense of a "deed or act," the idea of

"working" is stressed, it frequently occurs in an ethical sense of human actions, good or

bad.

work,

1. business, employment, that with which anyone is occupied: Mark 13:34

2. any product whatever, anything accomplished by hand, art, industry, mind 1

Cor 3:13-15

3. an act, deed, thing done: James 1:25; Titus 1:16

There are two main categories of dead works:

The life and works of an unbeliever Eph 2:1-5

2 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;

5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)



Col 2:13

13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;

The life and works of a believer done without faith Rom 14:23

23 And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.

James 2:26 26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead

also.

It is virtually impossible to identify something you do not know. It is imperative that

we try to explain what sin is so that the young believer will not find himself in that

deadly trap.

SIN Our understanding of what sin is will be clear if we consider who brought it into the

world first. In Genesis 2: 15 we are told that Adam was placed in Eden and commanded

to eat any fruit from all the trees in the garden except the tree of the knowledge of good

and evil. In Genesis 3, however, the man disobeyed this commandment. This is the first

act of sin in the Bible. With this background we can say sin is simply disobedience to

the commandment of God either by going beyond boundaries that God has set or not

doing what He said you should do.

By reason of Adam’s sin death was introduced into the world and since every man

afterward carried that corrupted seed from Adam, death was passed on to every man.

Rom 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:

Because of the inherited nature from Adam, every man born into this world was an

automatic enemy of God because he was born in sin and his acts were sinful and

considered dead before the Lord. Even this man’s good acts are filthy rags before the

Lord. The fate of man was hell fire unless he finds a way of escape. This way of escape

from the wrath of a righteous God is first of all through repentance. It is no surprise that

John the Baptist and Jesus Christ started their ministry by preaching repentance. Luke 13:3-5

Sin is simply

disobedience to the

command of God



3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

4 Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem?

5 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

If repetition means emphasis then the scripture above reveals how important

repentance is to the sinner. The sinner is doomed without repentance.

Sin did not offer any good to the first man who tasted it and never has it done so. It

rather robbed man of many valuable treasures. It still does!

The scriptures use the following three parameters to define sin:

1. Anything done without faith

Rom 14:22-23 22 Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth.

23 And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of

faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin. KJV

2. Knowing the good and not doing it

James 4:17 17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

KJV

3. The transgression of the Law

1 John 3:4 4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the

transgression of the law. KJV

WHY YOU MUST REPENT. There is no fellowship with God without repentance-

Without repentance, there is no forgiveness- Acts 3:19

19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;

There is no eternal inheritance and glory without repentance-

The sinner is

doomed without

repentance.



Heb 12:17 17 For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the

blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.

Repentance saves from eternal damnation.

REPENTANCE MADE POSSIBLE

Repentance is through the riches of the goodness, patience and forbearance of God. Not

all men are able to repent though it is available to all. Repentance is also an act of the

riches of God’s grace and the riches in His mercy. Consider what Paul taught:

Rom 2:4

4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to

repentance? KJV

It should be noted that it takes the riches of God’s goodness to lead us to repentance.

The preaching of the Kingdom of Heaven is therefore the message that we must preach

as a premise for the repentance of the people. It does not take the preaching of sin and

condemnation to produce genuine repentance but the preaching of the riches of God’s

goodness. That is why the message both Jesus Christ and John the Baptist preached

calling the people to repentance is not of God’s judgment but of His coming kingdom.

Matt 4:17 17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the

kingdom of heaven is at hand. KJV

It is no wonder that guilt and remorse are not enough for repentance but the knowledge

of God’s goodness. This is clearly displayed in the life of Esau the ungodly man who

sorrow over his sin yet not after a godly sorrow out of the riches of God’s goodness and

hence could find no place of repentance though he sought with tears.

Heb 12:16-17 16 Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one

morsel of meat sold his birthright.

17 For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he

sought it carefully with tears. KJV



WHAT REPENTANCE IS NOT 1. Repentance is not merely the shedding of tears. While someone may shed tears

in repentance, this act is not necessarily what repentance is about. The condition

of the mind and the heart is more important than the physical act of shedding

tears. In Hebrews 12:17 Esau shed tears but had not repented.

2. Repentance is not regret or remorse. It goes beyond these things.

2 Cor 7:9-10

9 Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing.

10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.

Apart from repentance, what should one do? This is where the doctrine of faith toward God comes to play. In the next chapter we are

going to consider what is faith and how true faith is always heavenly and directed

toward God. The study will comprise:

Believing in the finished work of Christ by which we are brought from the state

of death to life and our consciences are purged from dead works. Roman 10:9, 10

and Eph 2:8-10

Doing the work of God. John 6:28, 29 and John 17:3

Doing good works or working by faith. Eph 2:8-10

DEAD WORKS AND THE CONSCIENCE Heb 9:13-14

13 For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:

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?

Dead works exist in the conscience of the unregenerate man. It is therefore important to

understand the conscience and its relation to dead works in order to fully understand

this doctrine. What then is the conscience?

SUNEIDESIS, [soon-i'-day-sis]: co-perception, i.e. moral consciousness. SUNEIDO

[soon-i'-do] is the root word from which suneidesis is derived and this to see completely;



to understand or become aware, and to be conscious or (clandestinely) informed of:--

consider, know, be privy, be aware of.

Conscience is therefore the moral consciousness that is in the spirit of man and acts as

the voice speaking to him concerning all his works and actions. It is that voice of the

spirit of man which makes man aware of his moral life and makes him to know,

understand and walk conscious of his moral standing with God.

When we are living without Christ, the conscience is dead and therefore gives birth to

all manner of dead works since it is not alive to God to cause man to walk after the

righteous requirements of God. A dead conscience is the source or the root cause of all

dead works. In the old covenant, the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of an heifer

can only sanctify to the purification of the flesh and leaves the root cause of sin

unattended to. Sin clearly was an inward law that causes men to become slaves of

unrighteousness. The book of Hebrews explained that, we sin because we do have the

conscience of sin. Heb 10:1-4

10 For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of

the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.

2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins.

3 But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year.

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

The consciousness of sin is due to an unpurged conscience which still powers the life of

dead works. The issue of sin is clearly an issue of the nature of man and the conscience.

Heb 9:8-9

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:

9 Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as

pertaining to the conscience; KJV

The solution to sin is therefore laying the axe to the root of it and this is that the

conscience should be dealt with. The evil conscience out of which proceeds dead works

must be purged in order for the believer to serve God. We need to come to God so our

conscience can be cleansed with the efficacious blood of the Lamb of God, who is Jesus.

Only the blood of Christ can purge our consciences.

Col 1:21 21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled



Paul said that the conscience is the abode of dead works and the efficacy of the blood of

Christ is applied against the dead conscience in order to cleanse it from all dead works

so that man can serve God. In other words, we serve God with or through the

conscience which is void of dead works but made alive in moral consciousness toward

God.

This is what true repentance delivers to the believer and makes him acceptable in Christ

so that he can serve God.

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

Consider the following things that E W Kenyon in his book ‚The Two Kinds of Life‛;

copyright 2002, page 77 taught on conscience as follows:

Conscience is the voice of your spirit. It is your spirit speaking out against

certain things and approving of other things. The moment you are born

again, your spirit becomes the voice of a recreated spirit in fellowship

with the Father. It becomes the vehicle through which God speaks to us.

Man’s spirit is the point of contact between God and man and between

satan and man in a very large measure. The problem is that of ‚renewing

the mind‛, bringing it into fellowship with a recreated spirit so that the

two together can govern the body and bring it into subjection to the Word.



2. FAITH TOWARD GOD

Apart from repentance, what should one do?

This is the doctrine of faith toward God. The study will comprise:

Believing in the finished work of Christ by which we are brought from the state

of death to life and our consciences are purged from dead works. Roman 10:9, 10

and Eph 2:8-10

Doing good works or working by faith. Eph 2:8-10

Doing the work of God. John 6:28, 29 and John 17:3

When a man repents from sin, it does not automatically save him. All he has done is to

change his mind or mental disposition towards sin. Without faith towards God that

man’s act will still be considered dead. So repentance from dead works and faith

toward God go together. It can be said that faith gives life to the works of a repented

man.

WHAT IS FAITH? Heb 11:1

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Moffatt's translation of Hebrews 11:1 reads:

"Now faith means that we are confident of what we hope for, convinced of what

we do not see."

Another translation reads: "Faith is giving substance to things hoped for."

From the original translation, hupostasis is the word used for substance and it means

a setting under (support), essence, or confident assurance. Evidence also comes from

‎elegchos to mean the proof or conviction of something. What God is simply telling us

is that faith is laying hold of the unseen realm of hope and bringing it into the realm of

reality. The amplified version has this to say:

Heb 11:1 1 NOW FAITH is the assurance (the confirmation, o the title deed) of the

things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to

the senses]. AMP



Faith is always in the now while hope is in the future. Now faith is< true faith brings

the conviction that what the eyes of hope see is present with us and we can reach out to

receive even now.

ORIGIN OF FAITH Rom 10:17

17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

The word of God is the source of our faith. The faith we have originates from the Gospel

which was preached to us and by hearing it faith came alive in us. Faith comes out of

the word of God. The word of God is not faith but God releases faith into us through

His word.

Heb 4:2 2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word

preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.

It is amply clear from this scripture that when the gospel is preached, faith is released in

those who hear it. The action of acting on that word of faith is therefore left to the hearer

who must mix the word he hears with the faith that is generated. This is the

responsibility of the hearer. Faith therefore is not available outside the word of God.

This implies that faith originates from God. Why would God give faith to men? God

speaks and expects all creation to believe His word and act on His word by the faith it

generates. This means that not all men have faith. Those who have faith are people who

have first heard the word of God, accepted it and acts on it.

2 Thess 3:2 2 And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all

men have not faith.

Deut 32:20 20 And he said, I will hide my face from them, I will see what their end shall

be: for they are a very froward generation, children in whom is no faith.

Salvation is not possible without faith and as such, it is important we know that faith is

a gift of God and the operation of God. There is no faith without God.

Faith therefore always works toward God from whom it originates. Faith is neither

earthly nor centered on earthly things; it is always heavenward and works towards

God. True faith does not work towards any other. After repentance from dead works, it

is important we base our faith in God through His word. Remember that dead works

are works done either without the life of God or works done without faith – which is

sin. A change of mind from dead works and a new attitude towards God must therefore

be most important for our foundation as Christians. This requires that we live fully



having faith in God consistently in all our life activities. Why should our faith after

repentance be always towards God?

Acts 20:21

21 Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

When we repent, we repent from dead works and repent towards God. It is not enough

we turn towards God. He requires us to fully please Him. We can only come to Him

and fully please Him when we have faith in Him.

Heb 11:6 6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God

must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

He that comes to God through repentance must have faith in Him in order to please

Him. Faith originates from God and works towards Him.

BELIEVING IN THE FINISHED WORK OF CHRIST When a man has realized his doom, he either seeks redemption or rejects it. If he seeks

redemption, he can only get it by having faith in the finished work of Christ on the cross

for his redemption. Believing that Jesus Christ died and resurrected as a substitute for

him is crucial as far as faith toward God is concerned. Scripture teaches that there is no

other name given on earth and heaven by which men can be saved except the name

Jesus Christ.

Acts 4:12- Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

This faith is not the giving of mental accent to truth in the word; it believes from the

heart. This faith toward God is expressed by our confession and our belief in the heart.

Rom 10:9-10 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. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Salvation only comes when you confess the Lordship of Jesus and believe in your heart

his resurrection. Believing in the resurrection means that you believe that He died and if

you believe that Jesus died then you believe that he came in the flesh. This is the

foundation of our faith.



1 Cor 15:12-17 12 Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?

13 But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:

14 And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.

15 Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.

16 For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:

17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.

Faith is vain without the resurrection of Christ. The life of faith finds its power and

essence from the finished work of Christ. This is why after repentance from dead works,

we must believe in the finished work of Christ for our faith to be one that is towards

God and make us acceptable before Him. Jesus is the only one who fulfilled all the

righteous requirement of God and paid the penalty for our sins. It is His blood that even

purges our consciences from dead works so we can be acceptable in Him and acceptable

as Him.

Heb 9:14 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?

When we put on the Lord Jesus Christ, we are accepted by God in place of Jesus Christ.

When we have faith towards God what it means is that, we accept God’s only provision

for sin, His only provision for our justification and His only provision for our

righteousness. Faith in Jesus Christ is what delivers all these things to us. The word in

the new testament which describes what happened to us when we come to Jesus is

JUSTIFIED. It means that you are pardoned of every sin which you have ever

committed. It means that you are seen by God as if you have never sinned before, at all.

It means that you are now accepted by God as if you are the Lord Jesus Himself.

Eph 1:4-6 4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world,

that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

All that God requires of man is fulfilled in the Last Adam. Jesus’ crucifixion, death,

burial and resurrection is the complete work of the Father and believing that the whole



work is finished and perfected in Jesus Christ changes the faith with which we come to

God [ the man-kind of faith] to the faith of Jesus Christ [the God-kind of faith].

THE FAITH OF GOD Rom 3:3

3 For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?

Gal 2:16

16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

Gal 3:22 22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith

of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.

Rev 14:12

12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

Clearly, the above scriptures give us the basis of our justification – the faith of Jesus

Christ. It was this faith that God accepts and this is the God-kind of faith. Our faith in

Jesus Christ affords God the place of replacing the faith by which we come to Him

with the faith of Christ. True faith is to have the faith of God by believing in the

finished work of God which is concluded in the resurrection of Jesus. This is the faith

that justifies us and brings us into the righteousness of God in Jesus Christ.

God will justify and declare a man who believes in the finished work of His son

because he has the right kind of faith – His faith, borne out of a Father – son

relationship with Him. This is the true faith that cannot fail because it belongs to God

and exercised at the instance of God. Only the faith of God can move mountains no

matter the size – Benson Idahosa.

It takes this kind of faith to live in righteousness. In the Old Testament, the

righteousness must come from the obedience of the law of commandments. Without it,

there is no righteousness.

Deut 6:25 25 And it shall be our righteousness, if we observe to do all these

commandments before the LORD our God, as he hath commanded us.

Men failed at this and it took Christ to fulfill the law and obtain for us the faith that

produces the righteousness of God. Since His death and resurrection, no one is counted



righteous without the faith of Jesus Christ. No longer are we justified by the works of

the law. No longer is our righteousness in the law and works done by law but through

faith in the finished work of Christ are all justified and made the righteousness of God

in Christ Jesus.

Rom 3:21-22 21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being

witnessed by the law and the prophets;

22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

Rom 4:5 5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the

ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

Phil 3:9 9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the

law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

Other references are Hebrew 11:7, 33; Rom 4:9-11.

Is this a license for irresponsible righteousness and justification? Does faith alone make

us justified and righteous? Certainly not!

THE WORK OF FAITH Faith is not irresponsible it works for justification and righteousness. We are the

righteousness of God in Christ Jesus and have been freely justified in Him by faith.

2 Cor 5:21 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.

In the light of this we understand that God did not call us to idleness or to live without

works. We have been sanctified so that we can do good works instead of dead works.

Though we have been saved by grace and not the works of the law, we have however

been saved and given the faith of Jesus to do the good works of God.

Eph 2:8-10

8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.



10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Titus 2:14 14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

2 Tim 3:17 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

Other references: Matt 5:16; 1 Tim 6:18; Titus 3:4, 18.

We have been justified and counted righteous so that through faith in God, we can now

outwork that righteousness which is imputed upon us and so be justified by this faith of

God that is producing results in us.

James 2:17-26 \17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.

19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?

22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?

23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.

24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?

26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

Our faith towards God is only alive when it is accompanied with the work for which it

comes forth. Remember faith come by hearing the word of God. The faith that comes

through the word is given so that we can do the work for which God sent forth His

word. The word of God comes so we can by it work and the faith is through the word

FAITH GIVES LIFE

TO THE WORKS OF A

REPENTED MAN



so we can work the works of righteousness and receive a reward for it. This is what the

Holy Spirit teaches through James when He said:

James 1:22-25 22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own

selves.

23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:

24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.

25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, But A Doer Of The Work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

There is no disputing of the fact that the word of God is the source of faith for faith

comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. So also James puts it that we should

hear the word and have the accompanying faith. But our act should not remain in the

realm of hearing alone for in that we will deceive ourselves. In other word, the faith

comes so we can do the works of the word by mixing the word with the faith it

producing as we act on the word which we have heard. This is the essence of faith

towards God. Faith and works is a main lesson under Maturity Classes and will be

considered into detail in the next level.

Whoever does righteousness is righteous.

1 John 3:7 7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is

righteous, even as he is righteous.

Our righteousness and works of righteousness is no longer of our selves or from the law

but from the faith of God which makes it acceptable to Him. God will reward our works

of righteousness which are done in faith.

Heb 11:6 6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God

must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Rev 22:12

12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

This is the place where we need faith such that all that we do will have life and not be

counted as dead works. We need faith towards God in order to please Him and live

righteousness. Faith therefore works.



THE WORK OF GOD What is the work of God? How can we work the works of God?

John 6:28-29 28 Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works

of God?

29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

This is the work of God that ye believe on Him whom He has sent. This is Jesus Himself

speaking and defining the scope of the work of God. Having faith in Jesus is the work of

God nothing else. We are working the works of God so far as we keep believing in Jesus

Christ because faith towards God is a faith that works. True faith is believing in Jesus

Christ. Rick Joyner in his book ‚There Were Two Trees in the Garden‛ said: Our

ultimate calling is to ultimately believe. Eternal life is to know the only true God and Jesus

Christ.

John 17:3 3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and

Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

This is our ultimate calling that we will believe in God and Jesus Christ whom He sent.

This is true faith and it always work toward God and not men.

Again Rick Joyner said: True faith is simply the recognition of the One in whom we believe.

True faith is knowing Jesus; it is the ability to see Him in the power of His resurrection, as

Abraham was able to do even before He came. Faith is not just believing the words of the Lord,

but believing the Word Himself. True faith is the ability to see eternity; this delivers us from the

grip of the cares and worries of this world that is passing away.

Abraham saw Jesus in his days and was glad. True faith is to have the vision of God as

Moses who endured all the afflictions of the world because of his faith which the bible

recorded as follow;

Heb 11:27 27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as

seeing him who is invisible.

This is faith: Heb 11:1

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

We see the substance of God and we have the evidence in us that He is living in us.

Though we have not seen Him with our naked eyes yet we believe He is and this is faith

towards God. Faith is therefore an issue of our vision into the invisible realms of hope



and bringing it to the manifest realm of faith. True spiritual vision is not seen with the

eyes or the mental pictures but with the eyes of the heart.

Faith is therefore an issue of the heart and not the mind.

Eph 1:17-19 17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto

you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:

18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,

19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to usward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power.

The revelation in the knowledge of Christ is what we need. The eyes of our

understanding are the eyes of our heart. This is the place of faith in the life of the

believer. Faith works is a heart issue and comes as a conviction in the human spirit such

that we do not consent only with our minds but we live all our lives for it. Kenneth

Hagin said this in the Bible Study Faith Course:

We need to realize that faith is of the heart and not of the head. I used to have a sermon I

preached when I was a young denominational preacher called, "Head Faith vs. Heart Faith." I

was reading John Wesley's books and found that he had a better expression for head faith than I

had. He called it "mental assent." So I adopted his expression. Wesley said, "People mentally

agree that the Bible or the Word is true, but they don't believe it from their heart."

Rom 10:9-10 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.

10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

I want you to notice the words in this verse, "For with the heart man believeth. . . ." It's

with the heart that man believes. Mark 11:22-23

22 And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.

23 For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.

Kenneth Hagin continued thus< I want you to notice the phrases in both of these verses of

Scripture pertaining to believing with the heart. From these scriptures we can see that it's with

the heart that man believes. To further explain what it means to believe with the heart, we must

understand that the heart of man is the spirit of man. Man is a spirit; he has a soul; and he lives

in a body. No, the word "heart" does not refer to the human physical organ of the body. You



couldn't believe with your physical heart any more than you could believe with your physical

hand or finger. The word "heart" is used to convey a thought. And when God speaks of the

human heart, He is speaking about the main part of man, the very center of man's being, which

is his spirit.

This is the place of faith. Not a mental ascent but a heart decision that comes from

conviction.

FAITH AND SIGHT Is seeing believing?

John 11:40 40 Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe,

thou shouldest see the glory of God?

Seeing is not believing, that is a demonic fallacy and is inconsistent with scripture. It

takes faith for us to see the manifestation of the invisible. This was the error of Thomas

and an attitude of doubt which also springs from the heart.

John 20:24-29 24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus

came.

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.

26 And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.

27 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.

28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.

29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.

This is true faith. What we believe we shall see. Faith is the substance of hope and no

man yet hopes for what he has seen. This is the heart of faith.

Rom 8:24-25 24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man

seeth, why doth he yet hope for?

25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.

What are you walking by? 2 Cor 5:7

7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)



Faith towards God is not a one day affair. It is for life. You must walk in faith every

day as a believer. You don’t outgrow faith. You must grow in and with faith. Faith is

a lifestyle without which the life of the believer is a dead life and his works are dead

works. Faith is the life of the regenerated spirit and that which gives life to our

works.

Hab 2:4 4 Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by

his faith.

Heb 10:38-39 38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no

pleasure in him.

39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.

FAITH AND CONSCIENCE We considered dead works and the conscience and realized that dead works are found

in the conscience and must the conscience must therefore be purged with the blood of

Christ in order for the believer to have the boldness in serving God. Throughout

scripture, the emphasis of true faith in God and the ability to maintain your faith

towards God is contingent on the convicting power of the conscience. Without a strong

conscience that is totally alive to the righteous requirements of God you can even make

a shipwreck of your faith. 1 Tim 1:19

19 Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:

1 Tim 3:9 9 Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.

We must give more attention to the topic of conscience in this study.

The conscience is the place of conviction and as far as the walk of the believer is

concerned, it must be a daily walk of conviction in the Holy Ghost. The power of

conviction which comes from the conscience should not be neglected because it is the

voice that saves us from error and shipwreck of faith. John 8:9

9 And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.



A dead conscience is therefore given life by the convicting power of the Holy Spirit

through the life and spirit of the word of God. This voice of the spirit of man ought to

grow strong until we walk in full assurance of faith without being tossed to and fro.

The conscience is also the place of receiving the witness of the Holy Spirit concerning

our state of spiritual being and our place of faith in God. How do we know we are not

condemned with the world? It is the witness of the Spirit that comes through the

conscience. Also, the witness of condemnation and death in the unbeliever comes

through the conscience. Rom 2:15

15 Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;

Rom 9:1

9 I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in

the Holy Ghost,

For us to know the state of our faith in Christ we need the witness of the Spirit of God in

our spirit and this will come through the conscience. 2 Cor 1:12

12 For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward.

As we have noticed in the first doctrine, dead works and sin is an issue of dead

conscience that is evil. In repentance, God quickens our conscience and makes it

sensitive to Him again. There is a change from an evil conscience to a good conscience

through the resurrection of Christ. We have obtained a pure conscience from God

which we must take heed to sharpen until it becomes good and not seared through

disobedience. The strength of our conscience must not be weak but strong. Remember

that after repentance from dead works our evil consciences are purged from sin and

from dead works. As such we now have a pure conscience, with which we serve God. 2 Tim 1:3 3 I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day; 1 Tim 3:9

9 Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.

Haven been saved, we now have a pure conscience to serve God. From a pure

conscience, we must exercise our senses to develop a strong and good conscience before

God and man.

1 Peter 3:21



21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:

GOOD CONSCIENCE 1 Peter 3:21

21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:

Salvation comes with the answer of a good conscience towards God and not only the

removal of the filth of the flesh. The answer of a good conscience simply means the

demand of a good conscience toward God. A good conscience is demanded from all

who must have faith toward God. A good conscience is very important in our walk of

faith as the scriptures teach us. Acts 23:1

23 And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived

in all good conscience before God until this day.

Paul will always commend his good conscience first before God then before men. He

lived in all good conscience before God until his departure on earth. Acts 24:16

16 And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men.

A good conscience is required of us if we will live in faith towards God. The end of the

commandment of God is to love, have faith unfeigned but also to have a good

conscience. The presence of these three things sums up the righteous requirements of

the law. 1 Tim 1:5-6

5 Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:

6 From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling;

The letter to timothy explains that without the presence of a good conscience together

with love and faith, we can easily turn aside unto vanity and fall from the grace of God.

The word used for the END in the above scripture is TELOS, [tel'-os]: from a primary

word TELLO which means to set out for a definite point or goal; properly, the point aimed at

as a limit, i.e. by implication the conclusion of an act or state. It also means the purpose

of. The end of the commandment is the point that is aimed for as the limit or purpose

for which the law was given. The purpose of the law is to make men love, have faith

and also make men have a good conscience.



1 Tim 1:19 19 Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning

faith have made shipwreck:

Again, the absence of a good conscience is the gateway to making a shipwreck of our

faith that we have toward God. In order to maintain and continue steadfastly in our

faith toward God we need to give a great attention to developing a good conscience

before God. 1 Peter 3:1616 Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.

Heb 13:18 18 Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live

honestly.

We cannot trade a good conscience for anything else. In all that we do we need to have

a good conscience so that we can maintain our faith towards God. We need to develop

our senses and spirit man in order to be more sensitive to the voice of God that is deep

within our conscience.

DANGERS OF A WEAK CONSCIENCE Remember that in the new covenant, the just or the righteous shall live by faith. The

walk of the believer after the repentance is the walk of faith toward God. However

depending on the strength of our conscience, our walk of faith can be fruitful or even

cause us to walk in condemnation. A good conscience will help the believer sustain his

faith in God and at the same time help us not to cause condemnation to those who are

of a weak conscience. Having a weak conscience before God is a dangerous realm to

live in because we can easily make a shipwreck of our faith. Chapter 8 of 1 Corinthians

developed the argument for which the believer must not live in faith toward God with a

weak conscience but rather develop a good conscience in order not to sin against Christ. 1 Cor 8:4-13

4 As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one.

5 For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,)

6 But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.

7 Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled.

8 But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse.



9 But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak.

10 For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol's temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols;

11 And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?

12 But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ.

13 Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.

A weak conscience is easily defiled but a good conscience commends us to God. In the

10th chapter of this same epistle to the Corinthian church, Paul set forth again the reason

why we ought to develop a good conscience before God while we consider the weak

conscience of others lest we sin and cause others to sin against Him. 1 Cor 10:24-29

24 Let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth.

25 Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience sake:

26 For the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof.

27 If any of them that believe not bid you to a feast, and ye be disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake.

28 But if any man say unto you, This is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof:

29 Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another man's conscience?

Our life of righteousness in God is out of faith with a good conscience before God.

SEARED CONSCIENCE When our conscience is revived and made alive, it becomes sensitive to God such that

God can use this voice of the spirit to speak to us and cause us walk worthy of Him as

we live in faith towards God. However through disobedience and negligence of the

intuitive abilities of the conscience which makes us alive unto God through faith, we are

causing the sensitivity of the conscience to be numbed and will finally fall into the state

where it is no longer sensitive to the promptings of God. This is a seared conscience. 1 Tim 4:1-2

4 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from

the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;

2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;



One Greek word, KAUTERIAZO, [kow-tay-ree-ad'-zo] was translated as seared with

hot iron. This means to render insensitive. Our conscience must always be sensitive to

the voice of God.

IMPORTANCE OF FAITH TOWARD GOD 1. Faith toward God brings justification.

Rom 5:1- Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our

Lord Jesus Christ:

2. Faith opens to the believer the door of grace.

Rom 5:2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand,

and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.



DOCTRINE OF BAPTISMS

The third of the foundational doctrines is the doctrine of baptisms. The word baptize is from

the Greek word baptize, which also originates from the simple basic root „bapto‟. The word

„bapto‟ occurs three times in the Greek text of the New Testament which form the basis of

the English King James Version. In every one of these three instances, the word „bapto‟ is

translated as „to dip‟. These three instances are as follows:

Luke 16:24

“And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may

dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.” KJV

John 13:26

“Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. And when he had

dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon.” KJV

Rev 19:13

“And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of

God.” KJV

It is evident from the use of the word „bapto‟ in the above stated verses that its meaning is

„to dip something into a fluid and then take it out again‟ or „to cover wholly with fluid‟. In

effect to baptize is to immerse something wholly into a fluid.

In the New Testament, four types of baptisms are mentioned. These are:

The Baptism of John

The Baptism of Suffering

The Christian Baptism

The Holy Ghost Baptism

CHRIST'S BAPTISM OF SUFFERING

There is one baptism in the New Testament which we will call the baptism of suffering. This

baptism is spoken of by Jesus:

„But I have a baptism to be baptized with: and how am I straitened till it be accomplished.‟

(Luke 12:50).

This baptism is the same as what is mentioned in Mark 10:38 where the sons of Zebedee asked

for the honor of sitting with Christ on His right and left sides in Heaven. Jesus answered: "Ye

know not what ye ask: can ye drink of the cup that I drink of? and be baptized with the

baptism that I am baptized with?" Jesus was speaking of the suffering awaiting Him through

His death for the sins of all mankind. He was to be immersed in suffering, buried in the tomb,



and resurrected in a new body.

The Christian walk is a call to glory but the path to this glory is one of suffering. Christ Jesus

himself in the preceding verses mentioned that this life of glory comes with suffering.

Mark 10:30

But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and

mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.

KJV. In the sermon on the Mount, Christ Jesus said “Blessed are they which are persecuted for

righteousness‟ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” ( Matt 5:10).

Throughout the New Testament, this truth is brought to light. Below are a few scriptures that

consent to this fact:

Rom 8:17

And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer

with Him, that we may be also glorified together.

Acts 14:22

Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that

we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God. KJV

2 Tim 3:12

Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. KJV

1 Peter 5:9-10

Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your

brethren that are in the world.But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal

glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish,

strengthen, settle you. KJV

THE BAPTISM OF JOHN

The baptism of John the Baptist was baptism in water connected with the message of

repentance. John the Baptist was born miraculously to Zacharias and Elizabeth (Luke 1). God

had a special plan for his life. He was to serve as the "forerunner" of Jesus Christ:

For thou child shalt be called the prophet of the highest for thou shalt go before the face of

the Lord to prepare His ways;

To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins. (Luke 1:76-77)

The word "forerunner" means one who goes before and prepares the way. John was to preach

the message of repentance and baptism to Israel to prepare them for the coming of their

Messiah, Jesus Christ:

I [John the Baptist] indeed baptize you with water unto repentance; but He that cometh after

me is mightier than I...He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire. (Matthew 3:11)

John made two demands on the people: Repentance and public confession of sins. Those who

were willing to meet these God-given requirements were baptized in the Jordan River as a



public testimony. It was an outward sign that they had repented of their sins.

When some of the religious leaders came to John to be baptized, he refused to do it. He

demanded that they show evidence of real change in their lives before he would baptize

them:

But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto

them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance. (Matthew 3:7-8)

Repentance and remission of sins was required by John before he would baptize. The phrase

"baptism unto repentance and remission of sins" does not mean that these two experiences

followed the act of being baptized in water. Baptism was a visible confirmation that those

being baptized had already experienced repentance and forgiveness.

The baptism of John however is no longer relevant because of the death, burial and

resurrection of Christ Jesus. In Matthew 26: 28, Jesus spoke of „the blood of the ne

wtestament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.‟ Also in Hebrews 9:22, it is

stated that without the shedding of blood there is no remission; hence by His blood we obtain

forgiveness. The essence of John‟s baptism is better and fully accomplished by the efficacious

blood of the cross; making the baptism of John null.

THE BAPTISM OF JOHN

The baptism of John the Baptist was baptism in water connected with the message of

repentance. John the Baptist was born miraculously to Zacharias and Elizabeth (Luke 1). God

had a special plan for his life. He was to serve as the "forerunner" of Jesus Christ:

For thou child shalt be called the prophet of the highest for thou shalt go before the face of

the Lord to prepare His ways;

To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins. (Luke 1:76-77)

The word "forerunner" means one who goes before and prepares the way. John was to preach

the message of repentance and baptism to Israel to prepare them for the coming of their

Messiah, Jesus Christ:

I [John the Baptist] indeed baptize you with water unto repentance; but He that cometh after

me is mightier than I...He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire. (Matthew 3:11)

The ministry of John the Baptist was the beginning of a new spiritual age:

The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the Kingdom of God is preached,

and every man presseth into it. (Luke 16:16)

Before the time of John the people lived under the law. Prophets and priests served as

spiritual leaders and interpreters of the law. Only the priests had access to the presence of

God in the temple. They served as mediators between the people and God and offered

sacrifices for sin as God had commanded. This all changed with the coming of Jesus Christ.

Through His life, death, and resurrection, Jesus made access to God possible for all men.

Jesus now serves as the mediator between sinful man and a righteous God.



John made two demands on the people: Repentance and public confession of sins. Those who

were willing to meet these God-given requirements were baptized in the Jordan River as a

public testimony. It was an outward sign that they had repented of their sins.

When some of the religious leaders came to John to be baptized, he refused to do it. He

demanded that they show evidence of real change in their lives before he would baptize

them:

But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto

them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance. (Matthew 3:7-8)

Repentance and remission of sins was required by John before he would baptize. The phrase

"baptism unto repentance and remission of sins" does not mean that these two experiences

followed the act of being baptized in water. Baptism was a visible confirmation that those

being baptized had already experienced repentance and forgiveness.

Paul‟s discourse with the Ephesian disciples proves the irrelevance of John‟s Baptism in the

New Testament – which is the era after the death, burial and resurrection of Christ.

Acts 19:1-5

And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper

coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, He said unto them, Have ye received

the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard

whether there be any Holy Ghost. And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized?

And they said, Unto John's baptism.Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of

repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after

him, that is, on Christ Jesus. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the

Lord Jesus. KJV

CHRISTIAN BAPTISM

The passage of Scripture which best describes this baptism is shown below:

Matt 3:13-17

Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. But John forbad

him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? And Jesus answering

said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then

he suffered him. And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water:

and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a

dove, and lighting upon him:And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in

whom I am well pleased. KJV

The requirement for John‟s baptism was repentance and confession but Christ Jesus knew no

sin and had nothing to repent of. His submission to baptism was not what was supposed to be

done because John testified that Jesus was greater than Him. However, to fulfill all

righteousness and set a pace or leave an example for believers, he underwent this baptism.



In the account of Matthew 3:16, Jesus came out of the water, implying that he went into the

water and was immersed in the water. This has become and remains the set standard for

Christian baptism: IMMERSION.

CONDITIONS FOR CHRISTIAN BAPTISM

There were spiritual conditions to be met by those who sought baptism from John. There are

also requirements to be met by those seeking Christian baptism.

Repentance

Belief

Good Conscience

THE PREACHING OF THE GOSPEL

The hearing of the gospel brings conviction which leads to repentance as shown in the case of

the people who heard Peter preach on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2: 37, “ Now when they

heard this, they were pricked in their hearts and said unto Peter and to the rest of the

apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?” The preaching of the word and the hearing of

the word are very relevant to repentance. Jesus therefore taught the disciples to go into the

world and preach the good news, so that those who believe are baptized.

Another scripture that buttresses this point is Romans 10:13-15:

“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 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? 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!” KJV

REPENTANCE:

The first condition for baptism is repentance from sin. Peter stressed this during his sermon

on the day of Pentecost:

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? (Acts 2:37)

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. (Acts 2:38)

Note that conviction of sins is not enough. Action must be taken. The two commands Peter

gave were repent and be baptized. Repentance comes before baptism.

BELIEF:

The second condition for baptism is believing [faith]:

And He said unto them, Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.

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

(Mark 16:15-16)



This requirement of believing is illustrated by the story of Philip and the Ethiopian man who

he met on the road from Jerusalem to Gaza (Acts 8). Philip heard the Ethiopian read from the

book of Isaiah. He joined him in his chariot to explain the Gospel. As they continued on their

journey the road led past water. Upon the Ethiopian's request and his confession of faith,

Philip baptized him:

And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See,

here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?

And Philip said, if thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said,

I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

And He commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both

Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.

(Acts 8:36-38)

Philip said to the eunuch: "If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest be baptized."

The eunuch replied: "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son God." A person who desires

Christian baptism first must confess to faith in Jesus Christ as the Son of God.

A GOOD CONSCIENCE TOWARD GOD:

A third condition for Christian baptism is a good conscience toward God. Peter compares

Christian baptism in water to the experience of Noah and his family who were saved from

judgment as they entered into the ark:

The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us [not the putting away of the

filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God] by the resurrection of

Jesus Christ. (I Peter 3:21)

Peter dismisses any idea that the purpose of baptism is any kind of cleansing of the physical

body. He says the condition of Christian baptism is the inner relationship of the believer's

heart toward God. He calls it "a good conscience toward God."

In summary, The practice of the early church in relation to baptism was as follows:

Before baptism they taught the basic facts of the Gospel centering on the life, death,

and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

They related these facts to the act of baptism.

They verified understanding, repentance, and confession of faith in the new believer,

then baptism in water followed immediately.

After baptism the new believers received further instruction for spiritual

development.

ARE INFANTS ELIGIBLE FOR BAPTISM?

Jesus was not baptized as a baby. When He was an infant His parents brought Him to

Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord, but He was not baptized (Luke 2:22). Jesus was not

baptized until He knew what He was doing and the reason why He was doing it.



Babies should not be baptized. Children can be presented to the Lord for dedication and

blessing by the laying on of hands. But they should not be baptized until they understand the

meaning of the act and have met the Biblical requirements. There is no set age at which this

understanding comes. It depends on the mental and spiritual development of each child.

SIGNIFICANCE OF CHRISTIAN BAPTISM

The following text reveals the spiritual significance of Christian baptism:

What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?

God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His

death?

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.

(Romans 6:1-4)

When you repent and accept Jesus Christ as Savior, death to sin and the old life occurs. There

is creation of a new life of righteousness lived for God:

Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through

Jesus Christ our Lord.

Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey the lusts thereof...

For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

(Romans 6:11,12,14)

Christian baptism in water is a symbol of the death and resurrection of Jesus. It symbolizes

death to sin as you are immersed in that "grave" of water and resurrection into a new life

lived for God in righteousness as you come up out of the water.

The believer who is raised up out of the water to live this new life does not do this in his own

power. The new life is lived by the power of God, the same power that raised Jesus from the

grave. (We will learn more about living the new life in Chapter Eleven). The effect of water

baptism depends on the repentance and faith of the one being baptized. Without this,

baptism is of no value.

True Christian baptism means we are baptized into Jesus Himself, not into a particular church

or denomination:

For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. (Galatians 3:27)

It is worth noting that the outward act of baptism does not in itself produce the inward

spiritual condition; rather, it is the seal and affirmation that this inward condition has been

produced already, by faith, in the heart of the person baptized.



THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

Jesus‟ life teaches us what the baptism of The Spirit is. It is more than the grace by which we

turn to God, are saved and seek to live as God‟s children. When Jesus reminded His disciples

of John‟s prophecy (Acts 1:4-5), they were already partakers of grace. Their baptism with The

Spirit meant something more. It was to be the conscious presence of The glorified Lord come

back from heaven to dwell in their hearts. And it was their participation in the power of His

new life. It was a baptism of joy and power. All that they were to receive of wisdom,

courage, and holiness had its root in this: What The Spirit was to Jesus when He was baptized,

the living bond with The Father‟s power and presence, He was to be the disciples, through

The Spirit, The Son would manifest Himself, and Father and Son would make their home with

them.

FIRST LESSON

The baptism of The Holy Spirit is the crown and glory of Jesus‟ work and we must

acknowledge this we are to live the true Christian life:

i. It is more than the working of The Spirit in regeneration. It is the personal Spirit of

Christ present within us abiding in the heart in the power of His glorified nature.

ii. It is The Spirit of the life of Christ Jesus making us free from the power of sin and

death and bringing us by personal experience into the freedom from sin for which

Christ redeemed us.

iii. It is this power that fills us with boldness in the presence of temptation and gives us

victory over the world and the enemy.

iv. It is the fulfillment of what God meant when He said, “I will dwell in them and walk

among them” (2 Corinthians 6:16).

SECOND LESSON

It is Jesus who baptizes us whether we look upon this baptism as something we already have

and of which we only need a firmer grasp, or something we still must receive, all will agree.

It is only in relationship with Jesus, in faithful fellowship and obedience to Him, that a Spirit –

filled life can be maintained (John 7:38).We need a living faith in the indwelling Jesus. Faith

is the instinct of the new nature that recognizes and receives divine nourishment.

OUTWARD EVIDENCE

It is perfectly spiritual to use The Word manifestation in connection with The Holy Spirit. We

acknowledge of course that The Holy Spirit Himself is, by His very nature, invisible. In this

respect, He is compared by Jesus to the wind in John 3:8. The wind itself is invisible so is The

Spirit. But the effects which The Holy Spirit produces when He begins to work can often be

seen or heard (Acts 2:33).



The demonstration and manifestation of The Spirit shows clearly that the presence and

operation of The Holy Spirit can produce effect which can be directly perceived by our

physical senses.

Examples: Acts 2:2-4, Acts 10:44-46, Acts 19:6

If we now carefully compare these three passages, we shall find that there is one-and only

one-outward manifestation which is common to all three occasions where people received the

baptism of The Holy Spirit. In each case, the scripture explicitly states that those who

received this experience spoke with tongues-or spoke with other tongues.

NOTE: Every Christian who has had a genuine experience of conversion and salvation has

automatically received The Holy Spirit in that experience, and therefore does not need any

further experience, or any other evidence, in order to have the assurance of having received

The Holy Spirit. It is possible for a Christian to have received The Holy Spirit in one use of the

expression, but not in the other.

A simple way to distinguish these two experiences is to compare the events of two Sundays,

each of which was uniquely important in the history of The Christian Church. The first is

RESURRECTION SUNDAY; the second is PENTECOST SUNDAY.

On resurrection Sunday (John 20:22), when He appeared to The Apostles in a group for the

first time after His resurrection, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive The Holy

Spirit.” The Apostles received The Spirit on this day. In this first encounter with The

Resurrected Christ, The Apostles passed from Old Testament salvation to New Testament

salvation. The believers of The Old Testament had looked forward by faith, through

prophecies and types and shadows, to a redemptive act which had not yet taken place. Those

who enter into NT salvation look back with clear vision to a single historical event, the death

and resurrection of Christ. The salvation is complete.

This was the point at which they experienced the new birth. The Holy Spirit breathed into

them by Jesus imparted to them a totally new kind of life-eternal life-life which had

triumphed over sin and satan, over death and the grave.

Yet even after this wonderful encounter, Jesus made it plain to The apostles that their

experience of The Holy Spirit was still incomplete. In His final words to them before His

ascension, He commanded them no to go out and preach immediately, but to go back to

Jerusalem and to wait there until they were baptized in The Holy Spirit and thus endued with

power from on high for effective witness and service (Luke 24:49, Acts 1:5 & 8, Acts 2:4) .

It was on Resurrection Sunday that The Apostles received the inbreathed Spirit from Christ

and thus entered into salvation and the new birth. Yet it was not until Pentecost Sunday,

Seven weeks later, that they were baptized in-or filled with The holy Spirit. This shows that

salvation or the new birth, is a distinct and separate experience from the baptism in The Holy

Spirit, although each of them is described as “receiving the Holy Spirit”.



HOW TO RECEIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT

By grace through faith (Romans 11:6, Ephesians 3:13-14, 2:8-9).

Paul brings out two important and interrelated facts. First the gifts of The Holy Spirit is made

available to man through the redemptive work of Christ upon the cross; That is to say, it is

part of the total provision made for man by the grace of God through Jesus Christ. Second,

this gift, like every other provision of God‟s grace, is received simply through faith and not by

works.

In other words, the basic essential preparation for believers to receive The Holy Spirit is that

they should be instructed out of the scriptures on the nature of God‟s provision for them, and

how they may claim this provision through faith in the redemptive work of Christy on the

cross.

SIX STEPS OF FAITH

We find six steps set forth in scripture which mark the pathway of obedience leading to gift of

the Holy Spirit.

Repentance and. Acts 2:38

Baptism. Acts 2:38

Thirsting. John 7:37-38, Matthew 5:6, Luke 1:53

God responded to our sincere inner longings, but He is not impressed by our religious

profession

Asking (Luke 11:13)

Drinking-After asking, the next step is receiving (John 7:37)- Drinking represents an

active process of receiving

Yielding (Romans 6:13) - In yielding ourselves-our wills-we yield obedience to the

revealed will of God, but we still retain the exercise of our own understanding. We are

willing to do what God asks of us, provided that we first understand what is asked.

However, in yielding our physical members we go beyond this. We no longer seek even to

understand intellectually what God asks of us. We merely hand over unreserved control of our

physical members and allow God to use them according to His own will and purpose, without

demanding to understand what God is doing, or why He is doing it.

PURPOSES OF THE HOLY SPIRIT FILLING A BELIEVER

1 Corinthians 12:7

We have seen that The Holy Spirit will not do for us or-through us-more than we allow Him to.

There are three main areas to which we may apply this principle.



The life of the individual believer.

The worship and service of a congregation as a whole

And:

The ministry of a preacher of the gospel.

A. BELIEVER

1. Power and glory (Luke 24:49)-Power to witness.

2. Glorification of Christ (Acts 2:33)- The baptism in The Holy Spirit, which Peter and

the other disciples had just received, contributed for each of them direct, personal

evidence and assurance that their risen Lord was now both exalted and glorified at

the Father‟s right hand.

3. A gateway to the supernatural (Hebrews 6:4-5)- It gives to the believer a fore state

of an altogether new kind of power- a supernatural power that belongs, in its

fullness, to the next age (Ephesians 1:13-14

4. Spirit empowered prayer (Romans 8:26-27)- Paul here speaks of The Spirit as a

person who indwells the believer, and who makes the believer a vessel or a

channel, through which He, The Spirit Himself offers prayer and intercession. This

is prayer of kind which is far above the level of the believer‟s own natural

understanding or ability.

Ephesians 6:18, 1 Thessalonians 5:17-19, Leviticus 6:13

5. Revelation of the scriptures- The Spirit may become our guide and teacher in

relation to the scriptures (John 14:26 & 16:13)

6. Daily guidance in the path of God‟s will (Romans 8:14)- In order to become a true

Christian, a person must be born again of The Spirit of God. In order to become an

effective witness for Christ, a person must be baptized in The Holy Spirit. But the

work of The Holy Spirit should never end there. In order to live daily as a Christian,

a person must be led by The Spirit.

The new birth transforms sinners into children of God. But it requires the continual leading of

The Holy Spirit to make and transform children into mature sons (Ephesians 2:10)

7. Impartation of life and health to the believer‟s physical body.- The continual

guidance of God in the life of the believer opens the way for yet another provision

of The Spirit: Overflowing life for his whole personality.

Isaiah 58:11, Romans 8:11, 2 Corinthians 4:14

8. It imparts God‟s love (Spirit of love).- We need to grasp the significance of that

phrase: THE LOVE OF GOD. Paul is not speaking here merely about human, nor

even love for God. He is speaking about the love of God- that is, God‟s own love-

which The Holy Spirit pours out in the believer‟s heart. This love of God imparted

by The Holy Spirit, is as high above any form of mere human love, as heaven is

above earth.



1 John 4:7-8, 1 Peter 1:22-23, Romans 5:5

Agape denotes the perfect love which exists between the persons of The Godhead. It denotes

the love of God towards man- that is, the love which caused God The Father to give His Son

and Christ The Son to give His life, that man might be redeemed from sin and its

consequences.

Amongst the various purposes for which God gives the gift of The Holy Spirit, this pouring out

of divine love within the believer‟s heart occupies a place of unique and special importance.

The reason for this is that, without the all-pervading influence of divine love in the believer‟s

heart all the other results which may be produced by the baptism in The Holy Spirit lose their

true significance and fail to accomplish their true purposes.

B. CONGREGATION

i. 2 Corinthians 3:17- Under Spirit‟s Lordship

ii. 1 Corinthians 14:32-33- Any spiritual manifestation that is truly directed and

controlled of God, will tend to produce peace and harmony, not confusion and

disorder.

iii. The NT pattern reveals that the gifts or manifestations of The Holy Spirit are not given

primarily to the individual believer; rather they are given, through the vessel of the

individual believer, to the church or congregation as a whole. Therefore they can

achieve their proper purpose, unless they are freely manifested and exercised in the

life of the congregation (! Corinthians 12:7-11 & 27-28)

C. MINISTER OF THE GOSPEL

i. Conviction of eternal issues- Sin, Righteousness and Judgment (John 16:8)

ii. Supernatural Attestation 2-3-4- One main ministry of The Holy Spirit , in relation to

the preaching of The Gospel, is to bear supernatural testimony, through signs,

wonders, miracles and gifts, to the divine authority and truth of the message

preached. (Mark 16:15 & 17-18)



THE LAYING ON OF HANDS

INTRODUCTION

The practice of laying of hands is a custom practiced in Bible times during the Patriarchal

times (Jacob and his sons), as well as the Mosaic period. This very same practice was not

uncommon in the ministry of Jesus as well as the early church. In the book of Hebrews 6:1-2,

it is included in the elementary principles or the foundational doctrines of our Lord Jesus

Christ. Its essence in the present day church has been questioned and somehow kept in the

dark, however upon study into the Scriptures, laying of hands comes across as one of the main

tools, or rather the fourth principle of the doctrines of Christ, that cannot be done without.

We begin our study by studying the essence of „laying of hands‟ in four different era, namely:

the Old Testament times; the days of Jesus on earth; the times after the resurrection and

ascension of Jesus (the days of the early church) and the modern church.

IN THE OLD TESTAMENT

Throughout the Old Testament, hands could be laid in

in bestowing blessing.

Gen 48:17-20

And when Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand upon the head of Ephraim, it

displeased him: and he held up his father's hand, to remove it from Ephraim's head unto

Manasseh's head.

And Joseph said unto his father, Not so, my father: for this is the firstborn; put thy right hand

upon his head.

And his father refused, and said, I know it, my son, I know it: he also shall become a people,

and he also shall be great: but truly his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his seed

shall become a multitude of nations.



And he blessed them that day, saying, In thee shall Israel bless, saying, God make thee as

Ephraim and as Manasseh: and he set Ephraim before Manasseh.KJV

In calling blessings upon his grandsons, Jacob laid hands on them- taking care to place the

right hand on the younger, Ephraim and his left hand on Manasseh, the elder. In this

particular act, he shows that not only are the hands through which God transfers and bestows

his blessing on man, but his greater favour and blessings are given also through the right

hand.

The essence of the right hand:

The right hand of God, in Exodus 15:6, is said to be of „power and glory‟ and by it He wrought

His great works among the Israelites through the wilderness. David also spoke of God‟s right

hands as full of strength, righteousness, wonder, victory, deliverance (Psalm 20:6, 48:10,

60:5; Isaiah 41:10). Throughout the Old Testament, like in Gen. 24:49, when the servant of

Abraham met Rebekah and went to see Nahor, he asked him if he should turn to his right hand

to indicate that he would deal well with him, by giving the hand of Rebekah to Isaac for

marriage. This further supports the fact that the right hand stands for favour and well- being.

In situations where a single hand is laid, the right hand is used. Nevertheless it is not the

specialty of the hand itself, but that which God has proven to do through it that makes it the

preferential one.

in offering sacrifices...

After Moses completed the building of the tabernacle and the glory of the Lord was revealed,

God spoke to Moses concerning the sacrifices that would be offered, stating specific

requirements and procedures. One of the requirements was the laying of hands on the

sacrifice. Some instances in the Testament are seen below:

Peace offerings, sin offerings, and burnt offerings were done in this manner, whether

it was being performed (Lev 3:1-2, 8, 13; 4:4). Hands were laid on the sin offerings

offered in the ordination of the Aaronic priesthood (Lev 8:14,22) and the dedication of

the Levites. (Num 8:12)

http://bible.logos.com/passage/nkjv/Lev%203.1-2

http://bible.logos.com/passage/nkjv/Lev%203.8





Sacrifice offered on the annual day of atonement, by the high priest. Lev 16:21-22

This included laying hands on the head of the live goat (scapegoat) and the confessing

the iniquities of the children of Israel

On the Day of Atonement, the laying on of hands involved actual transference of guilt from

the culprit to the animal being sacrificed. By this sacrifice, the person was cleansed on

account of the death of the scapegoat. It is in the same manner that Christ, the Lamb of God,

took the sins of the world upon himself that through Him we might be made righteous and

cleansed unto God.(Romans 5:21)

in ordaining to service...

1. During the inauguration of Joshua by Moses, in obedience to the command of God in Num

27:18-23, Moses laid his hands on Joshua.

Note: It is important to note that the ordination of Joshua was done before the priest and

the whole congregation. By so doing, the authority of Joshua in leading the Israelites was

shown to be approved by God (the heavens), represented by the priest and Moses, and also

acknowledged and honored by the people of Israel; the subordinates. Similarly, David was

anointed in the presence of his brethren and father as a king to remove any doubts and

disapproval of what God had approved. This also placed a demand on them to render David

the necessary as their anointed leader.

2. Joshua already had the spirit in him, but the spirit of wisdom was given unto him by the

laying of Moses‟ hands upon Him- Num 27:18; Deut 34:9

in relation to judgment

Before a blasphemer was stoned, the witnesses to the crime, by the law, had to lay hands on

the blasphemer prior to his stoning - Lev 24:14 - perhaps to show acceptance of the verdict.

The laying on of hands formed a solemn public testimony against the crime and also legalized

the punishment.


http://bible.logos.com/passage/nkjv/Num%2027.18-23



http://bible.logos.com/passage/nkjv/Num%2027.18

http://bible.logos.com/passage/nkjv/Deut%2034.9




II. IN THE MINISTRY OF JESUS

There were so many instances that Jesus Christ laid his hands in ministering to the people.

1. Jesus blessed children by laying on of hands with prayer - Mt 19:13-15; Mk 10:13-16; Lk

18:15-17

2. On certain occasions, He healed people by the laying on of hands. Some are stated below.

He healed a few sick people in Nazareth - Mk 6:5

He healed the blind man that was brought to him at Bethsaida when he spat on his

eyes and laid His hands on him. (Mark 8:22-25).

Note that the second time in verse 25, the fact that He put His hands on the blind eyes was

stressed. This explains why hands are normally laid on affected parts of the body when prayer

is being offered for healing

He healed all who came to Him in Capernaum with diverse kinds of sicknesses.

delivered them that were inhabited by demons by the laying on of hands. (Luke 4:31-

36)

NOTE: The Bible says Jesus rebuked the unclean spirits for they knew that he was Jesus.

Jesus has commissioned us to cast out demons and we must be confident of our source and

our authority. We must have complete faith in the authority vested in us as servants of the

Most High God and use the authority in the name of Jesus to rebuke the enemy.

The spirits confessed and testified of the Holiness of Jesus. They therefore submitted to him

in his power. There must be fruits of holiness and the real fruits of the Holy Spirit in our lives

to affirm the disposition that we have in Christ.

The woman with infirmity of eighteen years was also healed when Jesus laid hands on

her- Luke 13:11-13

III. IN THE EARLY CHURCH...

http://bible.logos.com/passage/nkjv/Mt%2019.13-15

http://bible.logos.com/passage/nkjv/Lk%2018.15-17



http://bible.logos.com/passage/nkjv/Mk%206.5

http://bible.logos.com/passage/nkjv/Lk%2013.13



The early church highly esteemed and used the doctrine of laying of hands to the glory of God

1. The apostles healed by the laying on of hands

As foretold by Jesus in giving the Great Commission - Mk 16:15-20

As described by Luke in the book of Acts - Acts 5:12; 19:11; 28:8

2. Saul's sight was restored by the laying on of hands by Ananias in Acts 9:12, 17. He was also

filled with the Holy Ghost.

3. Many received the Holy Spirit by the laying of hands. They also spoke in new tongues: the

Samaritans, by Peter and John - Acts 8:14-17; Ananias laid his hands on Saul Acts 9:17;

certain disciples at Ephesus received the Holy Ghost and spoke in new tongues and prophesied

(Acts 19:6)

4. Spiritual gifts were imparted by the laying on of hands on Timothy

By prophecy and laying of hands of the presbytery - 1Ti 4:14

By the laying of Paul‟s hands - 2Ti 1:6

5. Appointment or dedication to service was accompanied with the laying on of hands

a. By the apostles in appointing the seven to serve tables -Acts 6:1-6

b. By prophets and teachers in sending out Paul and Barnabas- Acts 13:1-3

IV. IN THE CHURCH TODAY

a. in some respects, its purpose has ceased...

1. There is certainly no need to lay hands on sacrifices as in the Old Testament because:

The sacrifices offered in the Old Testament could not truly remove sin as emphasized

in the fourth verse that the blood of bulls and goats cannot take away our sins.- He

10:1-4

The Old Testament sacrifices came to an end with the sacrifice of Christ because in

verse 9, the first form of sacrifice has been taken and in its stead the sacrifice of

Christ Jesus, the second, has been established forever.- He 10:5-14

http://bible.logos.com/passage/nkjv/Ac%205.12

http://bible.logos.com/passage/nkjv/Ac%2028.8

http://bible.logos.com/passage/nkjv/Ac%208.14-17

http://bible.logos.com/passage/nkjv/1Ti%204.14



http://bible.logos.com/passage/nkjv/He%2010.1-4






b. in other respects, its symbolism can have meaning...

1. In ordaining those who serve

a. Indicating acceptance and approval of those who have been selected by the

leadership of the church. The leadership represents the authority of God and hence their

approval shows that the selected people are approved by God and have the mandate from

God to serve in whatever positions they have been called to. Acts 6:1-6; 1Ti 5:22

NOTE: Throughout the Old and New Testament, hands laid were always those of persons

in higher authority than the selected or separated people. Below are some examples:

In the days of Joseph, Jacob laid hands to bless the two sons of Joseph; Manasseh and

Ephraim; and blessed them.

Moses who had been appointed by God to lead the Israelites was the one God mandated to lay

hands on Joshua to appoint him as the next leader after his death.

The apostles were the highest authority of the first century church and hence were

responsible for ordinations. In their absence, any person who was of the “highest spiritual

standing or authority” laid hands as in Acts 13:1-3.

IT IS THEREFORE EXPEDIENT THAT ONLY THOSE THAT HAVE A HIGHER SPIRITUAL MANDATE

OR AUTHORITY OR ARE SOUND SPIRITUALLY ARE ALLOWED TO LAY HANDS ON INDIVIDUALS

TO SYMBOLISE THE TRANSFER OF GIFTS, WISDOM ETC. FROM A HIGHER AUTHORITY,

SUPREMELY GOD, TO THE PEOPLE IN QUESTION. (Heb 7:7)

Also other leaders present may be asked to lay hands as a form of approval of the entire

leadership of the church as in the case of Timothy with Paul being the main person and

the presbytery supporting him in 1Tim 4:14 and 2 Tim 1:6.

b. Honour is given to the separated ones and this makes the people respect his authority.

Deut. 34:9- Acts 13:1-3

c. The authority of the separated ones is enforced. This causes the subordinates to show

support and respect to the leader. It also makes the separated one accountable to the people

before whom he was charged and honored. Numbers 27:18-23; Deut. 34:9






In the Old Testament after Joshua‟s leadership over the Israelites, it was not mentioned again

that hands were laid on any other person being set apart as leader over Israel by the laying of

hand of his predecessor or leaders of Israel.

Throughout the Book of Judges, the few who acted as judges were people that encountered

angels or messengers of God, like Gideon (Judges 6:18-19); or chosen by consensus by a

family or tribe like Jephthah (Judges 11:6) or was foretold before birth by an angel of God,

like Samson (Judges 13:3-5). However one thing that was said of all the judges was that the

Spirit of the Lord came upon them (Judges 11:29; 14:6,19) or God‟s hand was with them and

they judged by the Spirit of God.

After the leadership of judges had come to an end, Samuel appointed the first king by

anointing him with oil, pouring the oil on his head (1 Samuel 10:1) and the ordination of David

(1 Samuel 16:13) was also by anointing with the oil. Most of the kings of Israel that followed

this dispensation were also anointed into rulership according to the command of God.

Prophets like Elisha were anointed into office (1 Kings 19: 16) and so were priests like Aaron

and his sons were anointed by Moses at the command of God. Oil was poured on their heads.

The altar was also sanctified and anointed for sacrifices.

Just as the prophets, priests and kings who were vessels used by God in the Old Testament to

minister unto His people, apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers are also

ordained by anointing and by laying of hands.

In the New Testament however the only two instances in which the anointing with oil was

mentioned were in Mark 6:13 when the disciples that Jesus sent out by twos, anointed the

sick and healed them and James 5:14 where the elders were to anoint the sick with oil in

prayer for healing. The power to heal, deliver or anoint is not in the oil. It only serves as a

medium through which the power of God is transferred from one person to another.

LESSONS FROM THE BIBLE’S ACCOUNT OF THE DOCTRINE OF LAYING OF HANDS



Having learnt about the importance of laying of hands, it is necessary to note that laying on

of hands is a Biblical action. It is however not necessarily a prerequisite for certain spiritual

ministries. For example, Jesus certainly laid His hands on many of those He healed; however,

He also healed without laying His hands on people. In fact, there were times when He was

nowhere near the vicinity of those He healed. Matthew 8:8 describes Jesus healing the

servant of the centurion without going near the centurion‟s house.

Hence basically as illustrated in the Gospels, the healing of an individual is dependent

basically on faith. First of all, faith in the authority and power in the name of Jesus because

Jesus himself said in Mark 16: 16 and 17 that in His name we shall lay hands on the sick and

they shall recover. Hence the healing or signs that come by the laying of hands are not works

of man but rather the doings of the Holy Spirit in us and our belief in the power that God has

made available in the name of Jesus. To buttress this is what James said in the 5th chapter of

his book in verses 14 & 15: “the prayer of faith offered by the elders of the church and the

anointing of the oil shall heal the sick”.

The filling and reception of the Holy Spirit may not necessarily be by the laying of hands as

illustrated in the book of Acts:

"Paul said, „John's baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the

one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.‟ On hearing this, they were baptized into the name of

the Lord Jesus. When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they

spoke in tongues and prophesied." (Acts 19:4-6).

"While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the

message. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of

the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. For they heard them speaking in

tongues and praising God?" (Acts 10:44-46).

This is the work of the Holy Spirit and must be accomplished according to His will: hence if he

wills that hands be laid then in obedience hands are laid for the reception of the Spirit.

THE CAUTION THAT GOES WITH LAYING ON OF HANDS

In 1 Timothy 5:22, Paul admonished Timothy saying “Lay hands suddenly on no man; neither

be partaker of other men‟s sins; keep thyself pure”.

http://bible.logos.com/passage/niv/Matthew%208.8

http://bible.logos.com/passage/niv/Acts%2019.4-6

http://bible.logos.com/passage/niv/Acts%2010.44-46



This caution is very important because the laying of hands must always be preceded by the

following:

1. Prayer: In Numbers 27:15-17, Moses inquired of the Lord to choose a person that could act

as a shepherd over the people of Israel, and in obeying the commands of God, which were

actually the response to his prayer, he put Joshua before the priest and the congregation, laid

hands on him and charged him. Similarly in Acts 1:6, the apostles prayed before laying hands

on the six selected by the approval. This was to inquire of God‟s approval for the chosen

ones. Again, in Acts 13:1-3, the prophets and teachers gave themselves to fasting and prayer

before the separation and ordination of Saul and Barnabas for the work the Holy Spirit had

called them unto.

2. The people chosen must be of unquestionable reputation and spirituality among the people.

They must be of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom even among the people.

The seven chosen men: Stephen, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas and Nicolas

were people of good report in the church.

The basic requirements listed are explained further in1 Timothy 3: 2-7:

“A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good

behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of

filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; one that ruleth well his own house,

having his children in subjection with all gravity; (For if a man know not how to rule his own

house, how shall he take care of the church of God?). Not a novice, lest being lifted up with

pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover he must have a good report of

them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.”

In summary, it is necessary that an individual chosen matches up to the standards above. This

will save the authority from partaking in the sins of the person being ordained. Once hands

are laid on an individual, the ones that ordained have testified publicly, standing in the

authority of God, that the individual is approved of God. Any ill behavior of the person stains

not only the image of the leaders that ordained the person but also God in whose authority all

leaders act.



RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD

INTRODUCTION Heb 6:1-3




And this will we do, if God permit.

This is the continuation of the foundational principles of the doctrine of Christ. So far,

we have covered the following foundational doctrine of Christ in the order given in the

scripture above. These are:

The foundational principles of –

1. Repentance from dead works

2. Faith towards God

3. The doctrine of Baptisms

4. Laying on of hands

The doctrine of Resurrection of the Dead is therefore the fifth (5th) foundational

principle of the doctrine of Christ. After this comes the last final principle as listed in the

scripture above, which is the principle of Eternal Judgment.

These are foundational principles and are not in themselves separate doctrines as

together they are referred to as The Doctrine of Christ. The focus would be to present

the doctrine of Christ by these principles as the foundation to this doctrine. In so doing,

our main emphasis is Christ who is the foundation of all Christians instead of

something termed ‚foundational doctrines‛. Christ is the foundation and not a doctrine.

Under this foundational principle of the resurrection of the dead, we would cover the

three major types of resurrection which are:

1. The resurrection unto mortal life (normal life)

2. The resurrection unto rebirth

3. The resurrection unto eternity



Throughout this study, we would dwell on how this principle can help us understand

(lay the foundation) the doctrine of Christ and come to the knowledge of His person.

What then is resurrection?

The word Resurrection comes from the Greek word ‚ANASTASIS‛. This means- A

standing up again; raised to life again; rise from the dead or rising again. It literally

means resurrection from death. Anastasis comes from the root word anistemi, meaning,

to stand up; lift up, raise up (again), or rise (again).

Resurrection is simply bringing to life what is dead. Resurrection occurs when that

which is dead is raised up again so it continues to live and never to die. One important

factor for resurrection to take place would therefore be the testimony or the valid proof

of death. Without death there is no resurrection and this would be the basic principle

with which we would tackle this topic.

As believers we have to live with the cross at the foreground but eternity in the

background because we are not only living for today but for eternity. There is no

resurrection if there is no death. The principle of resurrection is that what is dead is

brought back to life again. This fifth doctrine is therefore called the resurrection of the

DEAD. It is the dead that need resurrection. This word death has two meanings.

Literally it means mortality of the physical life; but figuratively it means spiritual death

– separation from the life of God. We will therefore consider this doctrine in the light of

this understanding.

In this lesson we will look at three aspects of resurrection which are:

A. The physical

The resurrection of Jesus (past)

The ultimate resurrection of all who are dead (future)

B. The spiritual

The spiritual resurrection of the believer in Christ (present)

Before we go into the three aspects of resurrection, let us consider the resurrection of the

dead in the days of scripture and even our days.

RESUSCITATION UNTO MORTAL LIFE True resurrection is not bringing a man back from the dead and making him live this

natural life. The use of the word resurrection goes beyond this. We will call it

resurrection in the sense that we bring back the mortal back from death into the mortal

life but not an immortal life. True resurrection is coming from death into immortality.



The proof of death is essential. This brings us to the one nature of the life of the fallen

man, mortality. Man is mortal, that is, man has to die and has not the power to live

forever on this earth. Though the breath of life which is the spirit in man continues its

eternal existence even after death, the body in which it is clothed is corruptible and will

die in order for that eternal spirit in man to be released into eternity. Since this is the

inescapable fate of all human beings, the call of death brings along with it the

supernatural power of resurrection of those who are dead so they could continue this

mortal life.

This is the basis for the discussion under this topic, the resurrection unto mortal life. It

is raising to life again those who are dead. In scripture, there are the following records

of men, women and children who were dead but received the gift of resurrection unto

life again so they could have a second chance to live though they would die again

because it is a resurrection unto mortality or the normal life. Resurrection is a

supernatural operation of God since there had not been any record of the dead raised to

life by any other form of god or religion outside the reign of the only true God, Jehovah.

It is unique and wholly attributable to the power of God who had declared by His

eternal Word that:

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

Again, this scripture bring us to the important reason why the foundational principles

of the doctrine of Christ are sequentially arranged and therefore be studied in the order

given us in Hebrews 6. We see that, the only thing men wait after death is judgment

and this is also the reason why resurrection from the death precedes the principle of

eternal judgment.

Man has one appointment with death and for this to be violated, it takes only Him that

has the power over death to do so, which is Christ Jesus.

The following people had this gift of God made manifest in their lives as they had

double appointment with death when the power of God was appropriated by His holy

servants in both the old and New Testament.

a. Resurrection in the Old Testament:

The son of the widow of Zarephath whom Elijah the prophet raised up. 1

Kings 17:17-24

The son of the Shunamite woman whom Elisha the prophet raised up. 2

Kings 4:32-35

The dead man who resurrected after he was thrown into the sepulcher of

Elisha and he fell on the dead bones of Elisha. 2 Kings 13:21



b. Resurrection in the New Testament.

Jesus Christ raised up the following people in His ministry:

i. Jairus’ daughter. Mark 5:35-43

ii. The son of the widow of Nain. Luke 7:11-17

iii. Lazarus the brother of Mary who died for four days. John 11:1-45

Apostle Simon Peter also raised Dorcas from the dead. Acts 9:36-42

The apostle Paul raised up a man called Eutychus when he fell from the

third floor of a house and died while Paul was preaching an all night

sermon. Acts 20:9-12

c. Resurrection in our days. Countless number of people were raised from the dead

by men of God all over the ages after the history of the early fathers and the dark

ages. Some few examples are Arch Bishop Benson Idahosa of Nigeria, Smith

Wigglesworth of England, Bishop Oyedepo and several numbers of ministers of

God in these present days all over the world.

The great phenomenon of the resurrection from the dead can only be attributed to the

Church of the living God and no other religion has any such record of even one

resurrection.

The significance of this principle of the resurrection unto mortal life cannot be over

emphasized. It is the core of our faith in Christ Jesus as it is He who has given

commanded His authority over death upon such people who shall believe in Him. This

is a sign of the true believer and a confirmation of the witnessing Church of the true

God and Jesus Christ whom He sent.

Specifically, Jesus gave us the power to raise the dead when He said:

And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give. (Matthew 10:7, 8)

This is the operation of God alone and non duplicable in any other god or religion.

Indeed, it is God alone who raises the dead, no demon can.

Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead? Acts 26:8

This is part of the foundational principle of the doctrine of Christ as there is no

resurrection of the dead unless it is done in the name of Jesus Christ who has destroyed

the devil who has power of death.



Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the

power of death, that is, the devil; (Heb 2:14)

This is a foundation because, as believers we are ultimately victorious over everything

as long as we remain and abide in Christ Jesus, both in this life and even in death. This

faith is an important part of the whole walk of the child of God. It is the faith in the

resurrection of the dead by God that the promise of God to Abraham was sealed and

the confirmation of the death of Christ was also sealed. It took the faith of women in

God to receive their dead raised to life again. The writer of the book of Hebrews gave

two major words concerning the resurrection of the dead unto mortal life again and so

counting them among the hall of fame of the men and women of faith who pleased

God.

By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure. (Heb 11:17-19)

Again, we see that only God could raise men from the dead. Even so, the father of Faith

Abraham obtained the seal of the great promise for which he came out of his father’s

house because he believed in God on the resurrection of the promised son Isaac from

the dead. What could be more pleasing to God than such a leap of great faith

demonstrated in Abraham?

The second mention of the faith resulting in the resurrection of the dead in the same

chapter also speaks of the resurrection unto mortal life.

Women received their dead raised to life again… (Heb 11:35)

It is important that the scriptures reveal two basic forms of resurrection in this one

chapter as the act of true faith in God. The resurrection of the dead which is quoted

above is the literal resurrection unto mortal life again. It means that these people really

died and were brought back to life again though they later died again, which is the

scope of this topic under discussion. However, the resurrection of Isaac as it were was

symbolic and the scriptures stated clearly that Abraham accounted < that God was

able to raise him (Isaac) up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a

figure. The resurrection of Isaac was in a figure and this will be the main focus of our

next topic. If the resurrection of the dead played such an awesome role in the validation

of the promise of God to Abraham, so it is fundamental to our understanding of the

doctrine of Christ.



THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS 1 Cor 15:1-4

15 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;

4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

According to the scriptures, Jesus Christ died and rose again on the third day so that

His body did not see corruption. Paul was writing about the Old Testament which was

the only scripture they had in their days for by that time there was no portion of the

New Testament. The prophecy of the resurrection of Christ is therefore important for

this discussion. From this prophecy in Psalms we know that Jesus Christ could not

remain in the grave because his body must not see corruption nor should his soul

remain in hell where he fulfilled the final payment of sufferings for our penalty. Ps 16:9-11

9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope.

10 For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

The apostle preached the resurrection of Christ and made reference to the above

scripture when they said: Acts 2:23-32

23 Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:

24 Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.

25 For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved:

26 Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope:

27 Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

28 Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance.



29 Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day.

30 Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne;

31 He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.

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

Jesus was killed through his crucifixion and he died for our sins according to scripture.

Christ died and therefore he could experience resurrection. Death must always precede

resurrection. In his death on the cross he died for our sins. The gospels present to us the

historical account of the death of Christ and how it was all perpetrated by the hatred of

the Jews yet in the will of God. In these same gospels we read the account of his

resurrection.

Matt 28:1-7

28 In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the

week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.

2 And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.

3 His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow:

4 And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.

5 And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.

6 He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.

7 And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you.

How was Jesus raised from the dead? By the power of the holy spirit which God

wrought in Christ when he lied in the grave for three days. This is the greatest

demonstration of the power of God to overcome his last enemy. The exceeding great

power of God. Resurrection therefore comes by the power of God through the Holy

Spirit. Rom 8:11

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.



God raised Christ from the dead with His power by the Spirit. Eph 1:19-20

19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to usward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,

20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places.

This is a very important doctrine for the believer to know that Jesus is attested as the

son of God by His resurrection from the dead. Without the infallible proofs of His

resurrection our faith is incomplete. There would be no Christianity is Christ is not

accepted as the son of God whom God raised from the death on the third day. This

doctrine is very fundamental to our faith that it must be upheld strongly.

The resurrection has the following significance to our Christian faith.

That Jesus Christ is supreme over all things and has preeminence in all things

Eph 1:19-23

19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to usward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,

20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,

21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:

22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,

23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

Col 1:18

18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

Jesus Christ is the son of God. He is called the firstborn of the dead and the

firstborn among many brethren (the believers). By reason of the resurrection

Christ was born again as the son of God.

Rom 1:3-4 3 Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh;

4 And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:



It was not during the incarnation that Christ was declared as the son of God but

through his resurrection he became the firstborn son of God from the dead. Col 1:18

18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

In his incarnation he was the only son of God but in the resurrection he became the

firstborn of the new creature which after God is created in true righteousness and

holiness. Col 1:14-15

14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:

Christ is the firstborn of every creation because in Him all things have become new and

He is the forerunner of the new creation. He was the last Adam and now the firstborn

son of God in the new creation of God. 2 Cor 5:17

17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

That is why the church is called the church of the firstborn.

Heb 12:23

23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect.

Believers are justified through the resurrection of Christ.

To be justified means that one is taken to the court of law on account of sin charges for

which he deserves to die but during the ruling his charges of sin were forgiven, cleared

and forgotten such that he is declared right as one who had not sinned at all. Just as if

we have not sinned is the summary of justification and this is only available to us

because Christ resurrected from the death. Rom 4:25

25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.

Death is defeated.

Resurrection power is the only ultimate power that can deliver men from the fear of

death and lose them from their bondage of death. It is the place where life goes through

death and comes out untainted and unscathed by death such that the power of death is

made void and eternally abolished. This is what Christ fulfilled in His resurrection. Rom 6:8-9

8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:



9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.

Future judgment if secured

Acts 17:31 31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.

The resurrection of Christ is the assurance of God to the entire world that there is

eternal judgment. This is the link between this fifth foundational doctrine and the sixth

doctrine of Eternal Judgment.

There is a new birth into a living hope.

1 Peter 1:3 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to

his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the

resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, KJV

Without this doctrine of resurrection of the dead there is no hope for us and we become

false witnesses of God. The resurrection of Christ is that which we must believe in order

to become born again. Our new birth came through faith in the crucifixion, death, burial

and resurrection of Christ from the dead. Without this doctrine our faith is vain.

1 Cor 15:12-21 12 Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some

among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?

13 But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:

14 And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.

15 Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.

16 For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:

17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.

18 Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.

19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.

20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.

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



THE SPIRITUAL RESURRECTION OF THE BELIEVER One would not be a Christian without believing that Christ was raised from the dead.

This means that the resurrection of the dead is a vital knowledge and revelation which

underlines our victorious Christian living. Without proper understanding of the new

birth which comes by our faith in the resurrection of Jesus, we will not fully outlive the

resurrection life which is in Christ. Rom 10:9-10

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.

10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

We believe with our heart that God raised Christ from the dead and that is what formed

the basis we becoming the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus.

The principle of resurrection states that there must be death and that in death the life

which is mortified is not the one that is revived but a new life which can no longer be

terminated by death. The spiritual resurrection is therefore very much also dependent

on the proof of our spiritual death. This has been well covered in the doctrine of

repentance from dead works. The rebirth of the believer from the life of spiritual death

into the eternal life is the spiritual resurrection

1. THE RESURRECTION UNTO REBIRTH (NEW CREATION)

Remember the basic condition that makes resurrection of the dead, the fifth

foundational principle of the doctrine of Christ applicable is death. Only the dead can

(and need) resurrection.

Our second type of resurrection is so named, the resurrection unto rebirth or new

creation, because in Adam we all died spiritually and so there is a spiritual resurrection

that can bring us back to life again. This topic is a deliberate reiteration of the truth

found under the principle of the doctrine of baptisms.

For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. (1Cor 15:21)

DEATH FROM SIN

1 Cor 15:21 obviously is not talking about literal death but spiritual death which is

separation from the life of God which comes through fellowship with Him. This death

occurred when Adam sinned in the Garden of Eden. Sin separates us from God and that

is what is called spiritual death. The following scriptures clearly reveal that all men

born into this world were conceived in sin and so we all sinned and therefore we have

all been separated from God, hence we all have died.



Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. (Psalm 51:5)

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:23)

But your iniquities have separated between you and your God… (Isaiah 59:2)

For the wages of sin is death; …. (Romans 6:23)

It is important to emphasize this aspect as it also occurs under this foundational

principle and would increase the depth of our understanding in it.

Eph 2:1


Since we died through sin even from birth, the only way we can be made alive is to be

brought back from this death and given a new nature called the new creation. This can

only be fulfilled in our death to sin when we are finally freed from its grasp on us. We

died through sin and we must now die to sin.

DEATH TO SIN

Why do we need death to sin in order for us to be resurrected to a new life? Simple,

resurrection brings back to life only what has died. At birth we died to God and freed

from righteousness but we became alive to Satan and slaves to unrighteousness which

is sin. This order must therefore be reversed so that we now die to Satan and free from

sin so we can be resurrected unto a new life of God and so become slaves of

righteousness leading to holiness whose end result is eternal life.

Death to sin is therefore a basic path to this process of reversal so we can experience

resurrection unto a new life called the new birth.

This course of death to sin and life unto God was what Christ Jesus did for us on the

Cross when He was crucified unto death and God raised Him up unto life and now He

never dies. Our part to play in this death process is to believe and accept the finished

work of Christ. Paul in his first letter to the Corinthians expressly emphasized that the

gospel which is preached and that which saves is the death, burial and resurrection of

Christ Jesus.

Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. 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 that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: 1Cor 15:1-4



Thus, the process of death to sin in us is not that we too should carry crosses and die for

our sins literally but rather Dave Hunt puts it this way: ‚not that Christians must all die

on literal crosses, though martyrdom has been the fate of many. Victory is in His cross,

not in some other cross one might bear. Christ alone could pay the full debt for sin.

Through faith in His substitutionary death upon the cross for all mankind, those who

believe are eternally set free from sin’s penalty‛.

Fully, this is what God has to say about our death to sin.

Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 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. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

For he that is dead is freed from sin.

Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.

Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. (Romans 6:3-13)

It should be noted that just as this principle of the new birth through baptism in Christ

is the spiritual transformation represented by the ritual of the literal baptism in the

name of Christ during water baptism, so also the resurrection we would discuss is the

spiritual symbolism of what our death and rebirth in Christ through water baptism

represents.

Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 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. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: (Romans 6:3-5)

Metaphorically, we died with Christ when we are baptized into Him. When we

therefore came out of water that signifies resurrection from the dead. The present life of

the believer is the resurrection life which is the new life. It means that we were dead,



buried in Christ and through faith in Him we are brought back to life again. This life

that we now have is not the life to which we were born but a higher life – the Zoe. This

new life is created in Christ and cannot be tainted or touched by death.

Eph 2:1-6


2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,

5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

We have already been quickened from death into the resurrection life.

By the power of the Holy Spirit in the process of regeneration, we receive the power of

resurrection and brought from death into the life of God. Believers already have the life

of resurrection in them and therefore live from resurrection into eternal life. The basic

life we have is the resurrected life.

The walk and exercise of this life is the issue. In order to multiply this life and live it as

abundantly as Christ has delivered to us we must keep dying daily for the sake of

Christ through afflictions, sufferings and persecutions from the world. We have

abundant life but not all believers experience it because of our choice to live unto God.

John 10:10 10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am

come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

How do we walk in this more abundant life? Live your life dying for the sake of Christ

daily. We have been crucified with Christ and we no longer live but Christ lives in us.

The life of Christ is the righteousness that we have within us. It constrains us and we

cannot but live righteous. By reason of the righteousness of God who we are by

believing in the resurrection of Jesus Christ, we are persecuted daily. 2 Tim 3:12

12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

1 Cor 15:30-31

30 And why stand we in jeopardy every hour?



31 I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.

Our daily death is death to this world where we are crucified to the world and the

world to us. We must live dead to sin continually. The demand of sin is death and the

sons of death are sicknesses, sufferings, afflictions and persecutions. That is why the

scriptures admonish us to count it all joy when we are tempted in diverse ways and

when we are persecuted for righteousness sake. Matt 5:10-12

10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

James 1:2-4

2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;

3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire,

wanting nothing.

The perfection of our life in Christ is the result of persecutions that arise out of our daily

life of righteousness which is contrary to sin and the normal way of the life of this

world. Maturity comes by reason of the increase of the divine life in us which is the

exercise of the resurrection life. Participation and experience in this life comes through

fellowshipping with the likeness of the sufferings of Christ so we can come in the

likeness of His death and attained to the resurrection of Christ.

1 Peter 3:14 14 But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not

afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;

Why would Paul rather glory in his infirmities?

2 Cor 11:24-30 24 Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.

25 Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;

26 In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;

27 In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.



28 Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.

29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not?

30 If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities.

2 Cor 12:5-10

5 Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities.

6 For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me.

7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.

8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.

9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

The sufferings of the believer are what multiply the life of resurrection. Paul said that:

Phil 3:10-11 10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the

fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.

The day one conceives the power of what the resurrection of Jesus is, that day we we

will come into inexhaustible expression of God’s life. Conforming to the death of Christ

means that we die as he died. Christ dead for our sins and being made conformable

unto his death is to die daily to sin and never compromise our stand of righteousness

because the more we are persecuted for the sake of Christ the more His life also works

within us.

2 Cor 4:7-12

7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;



9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;

10 Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.

11 For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.

12 So then death worketh in us, but life in you.

Remember that through death the resurrection is made possible. The more we die to sin

and to the demands of sin which come in the form of lust, anger, pride, and many more;

the more we will walk in this life of resurrection. It is the only way for the believer to

fully outlive the more abundant life of Christ. Make a decision to bear in your body the

death of Christ which He did die for sins.

The true meaning of resurrection is what Jesus Himself gave us in the account of

Lazarus. He said: John 11:20-27

20 Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house.

21 Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.

22 But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee.

23 Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again.

24 Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.

25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:

26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

27 She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.

Jesus is the resurrection. Resurrection is not subject to time and has no factor of time in

it. While Martha thought the resurrection is in the future, Jesus said that the last day

which she spoke of all exists in Him and that whoever believes in Him has the

resurrection. Remember that in the resurrection of Christ, he had a body that could eat

and yet still disappear and reappear. All those who were said to have been resurrected

to life in both the Old and New Testament were not actually experiencing what is the

true resurrection. The true resurrection makes us into the image of Christ where we are

clothed on with our incorruptible body. In the true meaning of resurrection is the

teaching of 1 Corinthians 15. The resurrection is what both Enoch and Elijah



experienced in their life time when they walked into heaven because the life of Christ

overshadowed this mortal life until death in the flesh was swallowed up. This is the

power of resurrection.

In the last days at the second coming of Christ, the dead in Christ shall rise first but

even those alive will experience the complete work of the resurrection life when they

also shall be caught up together with the dead. This is the resurrection. We can however

experience that on earth as Enoch did by walking with God and enduring all things for

the sake of Christ until this immortal life in our mortal bodies overshadow us and we

also shall be translated. The inability to fully outlive this life of resurrection will

however be made possible when we should die. As long as we die in Christ, we shall

also be resurrected to our glorified bodies. Rom 6:5

5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:

We ought to be planted together in the likeness of His death in order to experience that

resurrection in this mortal flesh. The likeness of his death is death to sin and to this

world. The likeness of His resurrection is the resurrection life that makes us live as

Christ did when he rose from the dead and stayed on earth for forty days. This is the

will of God.

THE ULTIMATE RESURRECTION OF ALL WHO ARE DEAD (FUTURE) In this is the resurrection of all the dead unto eternal judgment.

Believers who died in Christ will rise again

To eternal life (Daniel 12:2)

With a body like Christ’s glorified body (Romans 6:5, Phil 3:20-21, 1John 3:2)<

With imperishable bodies (1 Corinthians 15:42).

With a body raised in glory (1 Corinthians 15:43a)

With a powerful body (1 Corinthians 15:43b )

With spiritual bodies (1 Corinthians 15:44)

To be glorified with Christ (Colossians 3:4; John 17:24)

First (Revelation 20:6)

‚As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied when I awake

with thy likeness‛



ETERNAL JUDGMENT

Heb 6:1-3




3 And this will we do, if God permit.

Eternal judgment is that part of the doctrine of Christ that indicates that a time has been

set aside by God for men to be judged; those who have done righteousness will have

eternal glory whilst sinners and the wicked ones will inherit eternal damnation in the

lake of fire. There is going to be a period of seven years according to the seventy weeks

prophecy by Daniel in which the saints who took part in the rapture will be with Christ.

The Bible refers to this as the marriage supper of Christ. After the seven years, Christ

will return with His saints to rule for a thousand years. This is called the millennial rule.

During the millennial rule the saints would have been judged and they would have

received their rewards. Also the devil would be cast into a bottomless pit for that period

of a thousand years. After the thousand year rule of Christ and his saints, the devil will

be released from his ‘prison’ and he would deceive some nations to join him in his final

rebellion against Christ. This will be his final defeat and he will be bound and cast into

the lake of fire. Then after this those who missed the first resurrection will be brought

before the Lord to be judged. Since their names will not be found in the book of life they

would be cast into the lake of fire where Satan and his demons are. It is imperative that

we also take a look at the characteristics of those who would be cast into the lake of fire.

For that let us take a look at the scripture below.

Rev 21:8:But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and

whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the

lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

Further reading: Matt 13: 24-30, 37-50.

The fate of sinners and the wicked we know already. Also we know the righteous are

going to be with the Lord forever. The righteous will be rewarded according to their

works. It is worth noting that we will all not have the same reward. (Matt. 25:14-46).



The principle of eternal judgment is closely intertwined with the resurrection of the

dead.

Dan 12:2-3 2 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to

everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.

3 And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.

THE MEANING OF JUDGMENT

The word judgment comes from the Hebrew word KRIMA, [kree'-mah]: a decision (the

function or the effect, for or against ("crime")):--avenge condemned, condemnation,

damnation, + go to law, judgment. Krima also comes from the root word KRINO, [kree'-

no]: to distinguish, i.e. decide (mentally or judicially); by implication, to try, condemn,

punish:--avenge, conclude, condemn, damn, decree, determine, esteem, judge, go to

(sue at the) law, ordain, call in question, sentence to, think.

WHAT IS ETERNAL JUDGMENT?

There are two stages that the judgment of God will be executed on man. The judgment

of God in time – or in history – that is the part of God’s judgment which is carried out

upon the scene of human history. The second is God’s judgment in eternity which is the

topic for our consideration and here called eternal judgment. Eternal judgment is the

judgment which awaits every human soul in eternity, after time and history are closed.

Eternal judgment has many references in the Bible. As we read in Daniel 12, just after

death what awaits man is judgment. Heb 9:27

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

But before this judgment is the resurrection of the dead. The resurrection is what will

bring men before God who is the judge of all and to receive eternal decree that will

separate one person from the presence of God called the second death or eternal

separation from God in the lake of fire. 2 Thess 1:7-9

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:

9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;

Rev 20:13-15



13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.

14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

This is the place of eternal punishment with eternal shame and contempt.

Secondly the saints shall be crowned with eternal life which is eternal existence in the

presence of God in Heaven.

Eternal judgment is the great day of wrath and indignation of God against all

ungodliness and the Day of Judgment and destruction.

Rom 2:2-11 2 But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against

them which commit such things.

3 And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?

4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

5 But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;

6 Who will render to every man according to his deeds:

7 To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:

8 But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,

9 Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;

10 But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile:

11 For there is no respect of persons with God.

THE REASON AND PURPOSE OF JUDGMENT

There is judgment because of sin against God’s law. Sin against the law of God simply

means disobedience to the commandment of God. The judgment of God is therefore

revealed against all unrighteousness of man.



Rom 2:12 12 For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and

as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;

2 Peter 2:9

9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:

Men shall also be judged because of their unbelief and evil deeds which is done.

THE TIME OF JUDGMENT

Judgment has occurred

Satan has already been judged

John 16:8-11 8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of

righteousness, and of judgment:

9 Of sin, because they believe not on me;

10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;

11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.

The world has already been judged and condemned John 12:31

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

Man has also been judged and condemned already John 3:16-19

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.

17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

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.

19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

Judgment is occurring

For the Christian 1 Cor 11:31-32

31 For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.



32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.

For the sinners Rom 1:28-32

28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;

29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,

30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,

31 Without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:

32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

Judgment will occur

After death

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

At the last day

John 12:48 48 He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth

him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.

At the coming of Christ 2 Thess 1:7-10

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:

9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;

10 When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.

Who is the judge?

GOD THE JUDGE OF ALL Heb 12:22-24



22 But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,

23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,

24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.

God the father is the judge of all the earth. So many scriptures reveal this. Consider the

following: Ps 94:1-2 O LORD God, to whom vengeance belongeth; O God, to whom vengeance belongeth, shew thyself.

2 Lift up thyself, thou judge of the earth: render a reward to the proud.

Gen 18:25 25 That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with

the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?

1 Peter 1:17 17 And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons

judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:

Though God the Father is the Judge of all the earth, He has delivered all judgment to

the Son who is Jesus.

JESUS THE SON OF MAN John 5:21-23

21 For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will.

22 For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:

23 That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.

The Father has committed all judgment to the Son. Jesus is now the judge of all the

earth as He has received from God who is the judge. John 5:26-27

26 For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;

27 And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.



However, Jesus also mentioned that the words that He has spoken will be what will

judge all men. John 12:47-50

47 And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.

48 He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.

49 For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.

50 And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.

The New Testament reveals three main, successive scenes upon which eternal judgment

will be carried out.

The judgment seat of Christ Rom 14:9-12

9 For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.

10 But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.

11 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.

12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.

Those who will be judged will be christ’s own followers or the true Christians. This is

based upon the principle in the teachings of Peter. The judgment of God must first

begin in His house, that is, with us. 1 Peter 4:17-18

17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?

The language and the context teach us that Peter was addressing two groups of people

whose judgment are at different times. The first group is the saints who shall be judged

first. The judgment at the judgment seat of Christ is clearly pointing to the judgment of

the saints. This is what Paul wrote to the church in both the account of the Romans as

seen above and also in the letter which he wrote to the Corinthian church. 2 Cor 5:10-11



10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

11 Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.

This is an individual time of judgment where everyone will stand before Christ to

receive the things done in the body. The Greek word for judgment seat is bema, [bay'-

ma] and this means a step, i.e. foot-breath; by implication, a rostrum, i.e. a tribunal:--

judgment-seat, set (foot) on, throne. It denotes a raised platform used for public address

in a tribunal.

The judgment seat of Christ is not for condemnation but for rewarding the saints since

the true believer is already cleared from all fear of final condemnation. The judgment of

the believer for reward is described by Paul when he wrote: 1 Cor 3:11-15

11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;

13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.

14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.

15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

This is the judgment of every man’s work and not of the soul because even if the work

of the person is totally burnt up yet his soul shall be saved as by fire. As we consider

this scene of judgment, each of us needs to ask himself: how may I serve Christ in this

life so that my works will stand the test of fire in that day? Since all believers have not

done the same things, some will receive greater reward from God than others while

some will not even have any reward. In the resurrection, we shall all not be the same

but have different rewards and even different glory. Dan 12:2-3

2 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.

3 And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.

1 Cor 15:39-44



39 All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds.

40 There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.

41 There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory.

42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:

43 It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:

44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.

When I stand at the judgment seat of Christ,

And He shows me His plan for me,

The plan of my life as it might have been,

Had He had his way and I see

How I blocked him here and checked him there

And would not yield my will,

Will there be grief in my savior’s eyes,

Grief, though he loves me still

He would have me rich, but I stand there poor,

Stripped of all but his grace,

As memory runs like a haunted thing,

Through the years I cannot retrace;

Then my desolate heart will well nigh break

With the tears that I cannot shed.

I will cover my face with my empty hands,

And bow my uncrowned head.

Lord of the years that are left to me,

I yield them to Thy hand;

Take me, melt me, mould me



To the pattern Thou hast planned.

The judgment throne of Christ’s glory

In this second judgment is found the gentile nations remaining upon the earth at the

close of the great tribulation which will come before the setting up of Christ’s millennial

kingdom upon the earth. This is vividly presented by Jesus in His teachings.

Matt 25:31-46 31 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with

him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:

32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:

33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.

34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:…. 41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

42 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:

43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.

44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?

45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.

46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

Once the sheep have been separated from the goats the judgment of the heathen nations

will be accomplished. This is the judgment that the prophet Daniel foresaw in the

revelations God gave him. The judgment will proceed the millennial reign of Christ on

the earth. Dan 7:9-14

9 I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire.

10 A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.



11 I beheld then because of the voice of the great words which the horn spake: I beheld even till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame.

12 As concerning the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away: yet their lives were prolonged for a season and time.

13 I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.

14 And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.

After this judgment at the second coming of Christ there will be the final judgment

when Satan, death and hell will finally receive the execution of God’s judgment on

them.

The Great White Throne Judgment Rev 20:10-15 10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.

12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.

14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

This is the ultimate judgment that will put an end to sin and rebellion against the

authority and holiness of God. Before the time of this great white throne judgment,

Satan will come up against Christ and the saints in the millennial reign and still

deceive some men who are on the earth. Others will not follow him but some will

and these will be the ones who will also be cast with satan into the lake of fire. The

saints who had the chance in the first resurrection already have been judged. The

people who have died through the great tribulation on account of Christ will also



receive their judgment. But the people who will die from the rapture till the end of

the millennial reign will be judged also and this will be at the great white throne.

CFF Foundational Doctrines Manual

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