The Foundation Series – DOCTRINE - Lesson 2

There are three things that define the true Church:
1. Apostolic Doctrine
2. Pentecostal Experience
3. Christian Lifestyle


Let's look at what the Bible says about “The Nature of God”: (Deuteronomy 6:4/ KJV) says, “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:”

NOT ONLY is God ONE, but (John 4:24/ KJV) says, “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” So our understanding of the nature of God begins with “God is a Spirit.”

Jesus proclaimed this truth in (John 4:24). The Bible reveals it consistently beginning in (Genesis 1:2/ KJV) where it says, “….And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters ”

Webster’s Dictionary defines “spirit” as a supernatural, incorporeal, rational being usually invisible to human beings but having the power to become visible at will. The Hebrew word translated as spirit is ruwach, and it can mean wind, breath, life, anger, unsubstantiality, region of the sky, or spirit of a rational being. The Greek word translated as spirit, pnuema, can mean a current of air, breath, blast, breeze, spirit, soul, vital principle, disposition, angel, demon, or God. All three definitions emphasize that a spirit does NOT have flesh and bones. Jesus even said in (Luke 24:39/ KJV), “Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.”

So, when the Bible says that God is a Spirit, it means that He cannot be seen or touched physically by human beings. As a Spirit, he does NOT have a physical body!


“God is Invisible”: Since God is a Spirit, He is invisible unless He chooses to manifest Himself in some form visible to man. God told Moses in (Exodus 33:20/ KJV) that “Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live.”

(John 1:18/ KJV) says, “No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.”

(1 John 4:12/ KJV) says, “No man hath seen God at any time.”

Several times the Bible describes God as invisible: (Colossians 1:15/ KJV) says, “Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:”

(1 Timothy 1:17/ KJV) says, “Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever.”

(Hebrews 11:27/ KJV) says, “By faith he (Moses) forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.”

Although man can see God when He appears in various forms, no man can directly see the invisible Spirit of God!


“God is Omnipresent (Everywhere Present)”: Because God is a Spirit He can be everywhere at the same time. Some examples of God’s Omnipresence are:

Solomon recognized God’s omnipresence when he prayed at the dedication Temple in (1 Kings 8:27/KJV) saying, “behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee.”

(Isaiah 66:1/ KJV) says, “Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool.”

Paul preached in (Acts 17:27-28/ KJV) “That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: 28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being.”

Perhaps the most vivid description of God’s omnipresence is found in (Psalms 139:7-13/ KJV) where it says, “Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? 8 If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. 9 If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; 10 Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. 11 If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me. 12 Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee. 13 For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb.”


“Does God have a Body?” Since God is an invisible Spirit and is omnipresent, He does NOT have a body as we know it. He did assume various forms and temporary manifestations throughout the Old Testament so that man could see Him. However, the Bible does NOT record any permanent bodily manifestations of God until the birth of Jesus Christ. After the birth of Christ, God had a human body.

Outside of temporary manifestations of God and outside of the New Testament revelation of God in Christ, there were two ways God showed Himself to man: anthropomorphisms and theophanies.

Scriptural references to the eyes, hands, arms, feet, heart, and other bodily parts of God are examples of figurative language or anthropomorphisms (interpretations of the nonhuman in terms of human so that man can understand). In other words, the Bible describes infinite God in finite, human terms in order that we may better comprehend Him.

For example, the heart of God denotes His intellect and His emotions, not a blood-pumping organ (Genesis 6:6; 8:21). When God said heaven was His throne and earth was His footstool, He described His omnipresence, not a literal pair of feet propped up on the globe (Isaiah 66:1) When God said His right hand spanned the heavens, He described His great power and not a large hand stretching through the atmosphere (Isaiah 48:13). In (Proverbs 15:3) where it says, “The eyes of the Lord are in every place,” it does not mean that God has physical eyes in every location but indicates His omnipresence and omniscience. When Jesus cast devils out by the finger of God in (Luke 11:20), He did not pull down a giant finger from heaven, but He exercised the power of God. The blast of God’s nostrils in (Exodus 15:8) was not a literal giant set of nostrils blowing, but the strong east wind sent by God to part the Red Sea.

Another way that God revealed Himself in the Old Testament and dealt with man on man’s level was through the use of theophanies. A theophany is a visible manifestation of God, and is temporary in nature. To make Himself visible, He manifested Himself in a physical form. Even though no one can see the Spirit of God, he can see a representation of God.

For example, God appeared to Abraham in a vision, as a smoking furnace and burning lamp, and as a man. God appeared to Jacob in a dream and as a man, actually wrestling with the man and proclaiming he had “seen God face to face.” (Genesis) God appeared to Moses in a burning bush, a cloud of glory and in fire on Mount Sinai, spoke to him face to face in the Tabernacle, and revealed His back to him. (Exodus) God manifested Himself in the sight of Israel through thunder, lightnings, a cloud, a voice of a trumpet, smoke, fire, and earthquakes. Job saw God in a whirlwind (Job 38:1).

In short, we believe God as a Spirit does not have a body unless He chooses to manifest Himself in a bodily form, which He did in the person of Jesus Christ. There is no possibility of separating God and Jesus, and there is NO God visible outside of Jesus!


“God is Omniscient (All Knowing)”: (Psalms 139:1-6/ KJV) says, “O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me. 2 Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. 3 Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. 4 For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether. 5 Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.”

In other words, God knows everything, including our movements, thoughts, paths, ways, and words. Like omnipresence, omniscience is an attribute that belongs solely to God. He is “the only wise God” (1 Timothy 1:17/ KJV). The Bible does not identify any other being (including Satan) who can read all the thoughts of man, foresee the future with certainty, or know everything there is to know.


“God is Omnipotent (All Powerful)”: God calls Himself the Almighty many times throughout the Bible. He has all the power there is, and no being can exercise any power unless God allows it. (Romans 13:1/ KJV) says, “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.”

The only limitations God has are those He willingly places on Himself or those resulting from His moral nature.


God is Eternal: God is eternal, immortal, and everlasting. He is the first and the last. He had no beginning and will have no ending.


God is Immutable (Unchanging): (Malachi 3:6/ KJV) says, “I am the LORD, I change not.” God’s character and attributes never change.


In the Old Testament, God chose to reveal aspects of His nature to man through various theophanies and anthropomorphisms. The New Testament records no theophanies of God in human form outside of Jesus Christ. Of course, Jesus Christ was more than a theophany; He was not just God appearing in the form of man but He was God clothed with a real human body and nature. In the New Testament era, the progressive revelation of God through theophanies culminated and found perfect fulfillment in Jesus Christ. God is fully expressed in Jesus Christ.

(John 1:1, 14-18/ KJV) says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

15 John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me.

16 And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. 17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. 18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.”

(Colossians 1:9-19/ KJV) says, “For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;

11 Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; 12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: 13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: 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: 16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: 17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

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. 19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;”

(Colossians 2:8-10/ KJV) says, “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. 9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. 10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:”

Jesus declares and reveals the Father. Jesus is the express image of the invisible God.

There's an old song that we used to sing in the church titled, "IT’S ALL IN HIM." The words went like this:

Verse 1.
The mighty God is Jesus, the Prince of Peace is He
The everlasting father, the king eternally
Wonderful in wisdom by Whom all things were made
The fullness of the Godhead in Jesus is displayed

Chorus
It’s all in Him it’s all in Him
The fullness of the Godhead is all in Him
It’s all in Him, It’s all in Him
The might God is Jesus, and it’s all in Him

Verse 2.
He’s Emmanuel God with us, Jehovah, Lord of Hosts
The omnipresent Spirit who fills the universe
The Advocate, the High Priest, the Lamb for sinners slain
The Author of redemption, Oh, glory to his Name


It's all IN HIM!

The Foundation Series - DOCTRINE - Lesson 1

There are three things that define the true Church:
1. Apostolic Doctrine
2. The Pentecostal Experience
3. Christian Lifestyle

The Spirit draws but Doctrine Holds! (2 Timothy 3:14-16/ KJV) says, “But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; 15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:”

(Acts 17:1-12/ KJV) says, “Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews: 2 And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures, 3 Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ. 4 And some of them believed, and consorted (joined) with Paul and Silas; and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few.

5 But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people. 6 And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also; 7 Whom Jason hath received: and these all do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, one Jesus.

8 And they troubled the people and the rulers of the city, when they heard these things. 9 And when they had taken security of Jason, and of the other, they let them go.

10 And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. 12 Therefore many of them believed;”

There is GREAT value in studying the Bible, the Word of God! Jesus even challenged us in (John 5:39) to “search the scriptures.” The Word reveals “the way” to salvation and eternal life. It is the final authority for faith and morals, Doctrine and lifestyle. It is basically plain, meant to be understood, and meant to be read and obeyed by all.

Tonight, we will begin our journey with the first thing that identifies us as His church: Apostolic Doctrine

We will begin with a study on “Monotheism.” (Deuteronomy 6:4/ KJV) says, “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:”

There is one God. There is ONLY one God. This doctrine is central to the Bible message, for the Old Testament and the New Testament. The belief in only one God is called monotheism, which comes for two Greek words: monos, meaning alone, single, one; and theos, meaning God.

Anyone who does not accept monotheism can be classified as one of the following:
1. an atheist—one who denies the existence of God
2. an agnostic—one who asserts that the existence of God is unknown and probably unknowable
3. a pantheist—one who equates God with nature of the forces of the universe
4. a polytheist—one who believes in more than one God

The most popular polytheistic group would be trinitarianism (trinity). Within the ranks of trinitarianism, one can discern two extreme tendencies. On the one hand, some Trinitarians emphasize the unity of God without having a carefully developed understanding of what is meant by three distinct persons in the Godhead. On the other hand, other Trinitarians emphasize the three-ness of the trinity to the point that they believe in three self-conscious beings.

Trinitarianism defined is the belief that there are three persons in the one God—namely, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, each being co-equal, co-eternal, and of co-essence. The concept of three persons in one God was gradually introduced into Christian theology in the second and third centuries and became the predominant view of Roman Catholicism. Trinitariansim continues to be the official position within the vast majority of Christian denominations.

However, true Monotheists believe in one God and that the fullness of the Godhead is manifested in Jesus Christ. They believe that Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are manifestations, modes, offices, or relationships that the one God has displayed to man.

In the twentieth century, those who believe in both the indivisible oneness of God and the full deity of Jesus Christ frequently use the term Oneness to describe their belief. They also use the terms One God and Jesus Name as adjectives to label themselves, while opponents sometimes use the misleading or derogatory designation “Jesus Only.” However, Oneness believers do NOT deny the Father and Spirit, but rather see Father and Spirit as different roles of the One God who is the Spirit of Jesus.

Having surveyed the range of human beliefs about the Godhead, let’s look at the Word of God—the Bible—has to say about monotheism (Oneness).


“Old Testament Teaching of the Oneness” includes but is not limited to:

(Deuteronomy 6:4-9/ KJV) says, “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: 5 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. 6 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: 7 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. 8 And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. 9 And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.”

The Ten Commandments begin with “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” (Exodus 20:3/KJV)

(2 Samuel 7:22/ KJV) says, “Wherefore thou art great, O LORD God: for there is none like thee, neither is there any God beside thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears.”

(Psalms 86:10/ KJV) says, “For thou art great, and doest wondrous things: thou art God alone.”

(Isaiah 43:10-11/ KJV) says, “Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. 11 I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour.”

(Isaiah 44:6, 8, 24/KJV) says, “Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God… 8 Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it? ye are even my witnesses. Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any… 24 Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself;”

(Isaiah 45:5-6, 18, 21-22/ KJV) says, “I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me: 6 That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the LORD, and there is none else… 18 For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else… 21 Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time? who hath told it from that time? have not I the LORD? and there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me. 22 Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.”

(Isaiah 46:5, 9/ KJV) says, “To whom will ye liken me, and make me equal, and compare me, that we may be like?... 9 Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me.”

(Zechariah 14:9/ KJV) says, “And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one.”

The Old Testament speaks of God in terms of being ONE. Many times the Bible calls God the “Holy One” but NEVER the “holy two,” the “holy three,” or the “holy many.”



“New Testament Teaching of the Oneness" includes but is limited to:

Jesus emphatically taught (Deuteronomy 6:4) calling it the first of all the commandments. For example, (Mark 12:29/ KJV) says, “The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:”

(Romans 3:29-30/ KJV) says, “Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also: 30 Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.”

(1 Corinthians 8:4-6/ KJV) says, “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.”

(Galatians 3:20/ KJV) says, “Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one.”

(Ephesians 4:4-6/ KJV) says, “There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.”

(1 Timothy 2:4-5/ KJV) says, “Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;”

(James 2:19/ KJV) says, “Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.”

(Revelation 4:2/ KJV) says, “And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.”

God is absolutely and indivisibly ONE! His eternal nature contains no essential distinctions or divisions. All names and titles of the Deity such as God, Jehovah, Lord, Father, Word, and Holy Spirit refer to one and the same being. Any plurality associated with God is only a plurality of attributes, titles, roles, manifestations, modes of activity, or relationships to man.

God’s oneness is emphasized throughout the entire Bible. God is NOT defined by or limited to an essential threeness. The Bible nowhere speaks of God as a “trinity” or as “three persons” but often calls Him the Holy One.

The whole Bible teaches a strict monotheism. God’s people have always been identified with the One-God message. For example, God chose Abraham because of his willingness to forsake the gods of his nation and his father and to worship the one true God (Genesis 12:1-8). God chastised Israel every time she began to worship other gods, and polytheistic worship was one of the main reasons that God finally sent her into captivity (Acts 7:43). The Savior came to the world through a nation (Israel) and through a religion (Judaism) in which the people had finally purged themselves of polytheism. They were thoroughly monotheistic.

Today, God still demands a monotheistic worship of Him. We in the church are heirs of Abraham by faith, and this exalted position demands that we have the same monotheistic faith in the God of Abraham (Romans 4:13-17). As Christians in the world we must NEVER cease to exalt and declare the message that there is ONLY ONE true and living God!

I am in the midst of teaching our church some foundational truths that are Biblically sound. There seems to be so many opinions, ideas, philosophies, theories, and certainly traditions that are promoted and believed in more than the actual words of God.

When you read (Acts 17) and interesting principle is revealed when Paul and Silas went into Berea. The Bible says in (Acts 17:11) that the Bereans were "were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so." Did you catch that? The people who listened to Paul and Silas did two things with what they heard: one, they received the WORD with all readiness of mind, and two, they searched THE SCRIPTURES daily to see if they were true! If people would just read the WORD (NOT a book about the WORD, but THE WORD) with an open mind to let it say EXACTLY what it SAYS, and NOT drag their opinion, their next door neighbor's opinion, their momma's opinion, the TV Evangelists opinion, they might not be so confused. Also, by reading the WORD, and studying the WORD daily and not some "other" book about the WORD, you'd be able to see whether what "the preacher" was saying is found in the WORD and therefore, true!

This series of lessons should not be believed on because I taught them. This series of lessons should be believed because the Bible declares these truths to be so. I'm NOT attempting to pass out "the Kool-aid" or "brainwash" anybody. This series is about teaching those who will receive the WORD with a ready mind and search the WORD daily to make sure they're on The Foundation!

I will post each week's lesson notes as a separate Blog entry.

May God impart understanding and His Spirit bring Revelation to those who are hungry,

Pastor Clack