Understanding and Applying God's Word
We recently began a series of Sunday messages on the Foundational Christian Doctrines of our Faith. You’ll recall that the word “doctrine” simply means “a particular teaching”. We are considering the particular teaching that comes from the source of God’s Word – The Holy Bible, about the various topics that we find in the Bible. We began with this simple, yet vital understanding of Christian Doctrine:
A proper understanding and application of Christian doctrines provides a foundation for all aspects of our faith. An improper understanding or application of these doctrines will cause a misalignment of our lives with God’s purpose for us, both as His Children and His Church.
These proper understandings and applications of God’s Word, along with the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives, becomes a dynamic force for living the abundant life that Jesus mentions in John 10:10…
10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.
We get to choose this abundant life as followers of Christ! But we must study to show ourselves approved, rightly dividing the Word of God. (2 Timothy 2:15).
Here’s a list of the basic Christian Doctrines which we have explored so far, along with a brief summary and a corresponding Scripture:
1. The Doctrine of the Bible. The Bible (Scripture) is God’s supernatural presentation of His Holy, inspired Word.
II Timothy 3:16-17- All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of Godmay be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
2. The Doctrine of the Trinity.God is present through all of time and eternity in three persons: The Father, The Son, and the Holy Spirit. Each part of the Trinity reveals one God who has been, is and will be accomplishing His purposes with specific assignments attributed to each of these three persons of the Trinity.
Hebrews 9:14- “How much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?”
3. The Doctrine of Christ.Jesus Christ came to the earth as the Messiah, who offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of humanity when he died on the cross. Through His sacrificial death, Jesus atoned for the sins of the World for all who believe, thus restoring believers into a right relationship to the Heavenly Father. Through His resurrection from death, Jesus confirms resurrection from death for all believers into eternal life in Heaven.
John 3:16 – “For God so loved the World that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life.”
4. The Doctrine of the Church.The Church is God’s Heavenly Embassy on earth with the mandate of representing God Kingdom purposes. The Church belongs to Christ and is made up of all True Believers who are called to work together to accomplish these mandates to the glory of God, in the name of Jesus, by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Matthew 16:16-18 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”17 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. 18 And I tell you that you are Peter,and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hadeswill not overcome it.
We have just scratched the surface of these vital doctrines. I pray that you will dig deeper into all of these so that the miraculous work of God in your life will become dynamic, like never before! Join us each Sunday as we continue to firm up our faith and prepare for all of the wonderful ways that God will be at work in and through His Church in Carolina Beach and around the world.
A proper understanding and application of Christian doctrines provides a foundation for all aspects of our faith. An improper understanding or application of these doctrines will cause a misalignment of our lives with God’s purpose for us, both as His Children and His Church.
These proper understandings and applications of God’s Word, along with the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives, becomes a dynamic force for living the abundant life that Jesus mentions in John 10:10…
10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.
We get to choose this abundant life as followers of Christ! But we must study to show ourselves approved, rightly dividing the Word of God. (2 Timothy 2:15).
Here’s a list of the basic Christian Doctrines which we have explored so far, along with a brief summary and a corresponding Scripture:
1. The Doctrine of the Bible. The Bible (Scripture) is God’s supernatural presentation of His Holy, inspired Word.
II Timothy 3:16-17- All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of Godmay be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
2. The Doctrine of the Trinity.God is present through all of time and eternity in three persons: The Father, The Son, and the Holy Spirit. Each part of the Trinity reveals one God who has been, is and will be accomplishing His purposes with specific assignments attributed to each of these three persons of the Trinity.
Hebrews 9:14- “How much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?”
3. The Doctrine of Christ.Jesus Christ came to the earth as the Messiah, who offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of humanity when he died on the cross. Through His sacrificial death, Jesus atoned for the sins of the World for all who believe, thus restoring believers into a right relationship to the Heavenly Father. Through His resurrection from death, Jesus confirms resurrection from death for all believers into eternal life in Heaven.
John 3:16 – “For God so loved the World that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life.”
4. The Doctrine of the Church.The Church is God’s Heavenly Embassy on earth with the mandate of representing God Kingdom purposes. The Church belongs to Christ and is made up of all True Believers who are called to work together to accomplish these mandates to the glory of God, in the name of Jesus, by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Matthew 16:16-18 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”17 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. 18 And I tell you that you are Peter,and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hadeswill not overcome it.
We have just scratched the surface of these vital doctrines. I pray that you will dig deeper into all of these so that the miraculous work of God in your life will become dynamic, like never before! Join us each Sunday as we continue to firm up our faith and prepare for all of the wonderful ways that God will be at work in and through His Church in Carolina Beach and around the world.
