9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. 10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: 11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds. PRINCIPLES OF THE DOCTRINE OF CHRIST: ***Hebrews 6:1,2*** A Bible Study On The Foundational Doctrines Of The Faith Of Jesus Christ Our Lord And Saviour ... the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. This Bible study has been prayerfully prepared so that the people of the living God can know and be established in the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. All too often in todays churches, there are multitudes who profess to be in Christ, yet are actually ignorant and unable to explain or teach the doctrine they say they believe. There is not a great deal of commentary in these studies: but instead there is a lot of scripture. Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God; and it is the prayer of this teacher that you, the reader and disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ, will be prayerful in this endeavor, and take the time not only to look up the scripture verses referenced herein, but to search the scriptures daily to see whether these things are so. My earnest prayer for you, beloved, is that, being established in the doctrine of Jesus Christ our Lord, rooted and grounded in him, you may be granted the grace to walk acceptably before him with reverence and godly fear, and that you may be used of him to teach these things to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also. Remember the final command our Lord gave to his apostles, which is also for all of us in the true body of Christ Jesus: All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen . -Matthew 28:18-20- Part 1 - Repentance From Dead Works * What is repentance? Jeremiah 3:7, 18:8, 25:5, Ezekiel 18:30, Acts 26:20, (1 Thessalonians 1:3,9) * What are dead works? --Good deeds? No. Acts 9:36, 10:4, John 10:32, Titus 3:8 --Sins or evil deeds? No. 1 John 3:4, 1 Corinthians 3:13-15 Dead works are: *The rituals and ordinances of the ceremonial law, Hebrews 9:1-14, Galatians 2:16, 3:10, Ephesians 2:9, Titus 3:5, Isaiah 64:6, Hebrews 4:10 *And / or the rituals and ordinances of idolatry and false religious worship. 1 Thessalonians 1:3,9, Acts 17:29-31, 1 Corinthians 12:2, Revelation 9:20,21, Amos 5:21-27, Ezekiel 8:1-18, Jeremiah 7:17-19, Exodus 20:1-6, 1 Corinthians 10:20-22 ...And they worshipped the Dragon... (Revelation 13:4) *** Dead works come from DEAD PEOPLE! *** Genesis 1:11,12, 8:22 Matthew 7:18, 12:34 Isaiah 8:19,20, 66: 2-4 John 4:22-24 ...Ye must be born again... John 3:7 Part 2 - Faith Toward God What is faith? 1. A doctrine or teaching- Romans 1:5, Acts 14:22, 16:5, 1 Corinthians 16:13, Ephesians 4:5,13, Philippians 1:27, Colossians 1:23, 2:7, Jude 3, etc ... 2. The act of believing- Acts 6:8, 14:9, Romans 1:8,17, 1 Timothy 1:5, Hebrews 4:2, 11:1, John 20:27 * Faith IN God is believing his testimony is true. Hebrews 11:3, 1 Peter 1:21, 1 John 5:10 * Faith TOWARD God is when true belief is manifested, or proven, by works of sacrifice and obedience. Acts 20:21, 1 Timothy 1:5, Acts 24:15, Philippians 3:14, Philemon 5-7, Hebrews 6:10, 1 Peter 2:19, 1 John 4:9 ...Shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works... Faith without works is dead. James 2:18, 20 Part 3 - The Doctrine Of Baptisms There are seven (7) baptisms in the scripture for the people of God: 1. The Flood Genesis 7:1 - 9:17, Hebrews 11:7, 1 Peter 3:20,21 Through the water the world was destroyed, Noah and his family were saved, and God established a new covenant with him and his seed. (Genesis 9:9) 2. The Red Sea Exodus 14:13-30, Psalm 106:8-12, 1 Corinthians 10:1,2 Through the water the Egyptians were destroyed, Israel was saved, and God established a new covenant with them through Moses at Mount Sinai . 3. The Jordan River (Joshua) Joshua 3:7 - 5:9 Through the water the wilderness was left behind, Israel entered into ( a type of ) the rest, or promised land, and, being circumcised at Gilgal, their reproach was rolled away (Joshua 5:9). 4. The Baptism Of John Isaiah 40:3, Malachi 4:5,6, Matthew 3:1-12 In the same (Jordan) river, Gods circumcised, covenant people were baptized unto repentance for the remission of sins (Mark 1:4), so they could know their Messiah. (Luke 7:29,30, John 1:31) 5. The Baptism Of Jesus In The Jordan River Matthew 3:13-17, Mark 1:9-11, Luke 3:21,22, John 1:29-34 In the same (Jordan) river, Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of God, was baptized; not unto repentance, for he did no sin (1 Peter 2:22), and there was no sin in him (1 John 3:5); but rather to fulfill all righteousness (Matthew 3:15). Being the last Adam (1 Corinthians 15:45-49), and the only righteous man who ever lived since the first Adam (Romans 3:10-18, Isaiah 63:5), he became the forerunner (Hebrews 6:20) of all the Israel of God, and the first (and only) to be born of water and Spirit based on his own righteousness; thereby beginning his ministry, being a man and being in the Father (John 14:11), and, at the same time God himself in the flesh, ...and the Father in me (John 14:11); God was in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:19). It was through this baptism (of water and Spirit-John 3:5) that Gods righteous servant (Isaiah 53:11), the man Christ Jesus (1 Timothy 2:5) came to be in the Father, thereby making it possible for whosoever believeth in him(John 3:16), and them that believe on his name(John 1:12), to be in the Father as well by coming to be in him through the New Testament way of salvation(Acts 2:38). 6. The Baptism Of The Cross Luke 12:50, Matthew 20:22, Mark 10:38 As surely as the Lord Jesus was baptized in Jordan and became the first man since Adam to be in the Father, he also, being found in fashion as a man(Philippians 2:8), of necessity to fulfill the scripture, had to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day (Luke 24:46) in order to ...destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; and to deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. (Hebrews 2:14). By this baptism, the Son of God was literally plunged, or immersed, into every facet of death caused by sin and brought into existence by the disobedience of the first Adam (Romans 5:12, James 1:15). This included : physical suffering (Isaiah 53:4,5, 1 Peter 4:1), physical death (Isaiah 53:9, Romans 5:8), and spiritual death (Matthew 12:40, Ephesians 4:9, Revelation 1:18), literal burial (1 Corinthians 15:4, Luke 23:53), and real bodily resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:4, Luke 24:6,7, Revelation 1:18, Luke 24:39); ...all of which was voluntarily entered into (Philippians 2:5-8) because of the great love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:39) , and was necessary to fully redeem fallen man from the curse of sin and the laws penalty (Galatians 3:13, Romans 5:12-21) that the elect of God might walk in newness of life(Romans 6:4), and bring forth fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.(Romans 6:22). Now, being a man, and being in the Father by baptism in the Jordan river, our Lord Jesus Christ became fully baptized into every facet of the penalty of sin, which is death in its fullest form and absolute entirety; and, as the Christ of God, overcame death, hell, and the grave by his own righteousness, and became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him(Hebrews 5:9), thus fulfilling his own words in John 14:6, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.. 7. New Testament Baptism In Jesus Name Matthew 28:19, Acts 2:38, 8:16, 19:5, Romans 6:3 This is the final baptism given by God in the realm of time and literal history. It is a baptism of water and Spirit, typed out and foreshadowed by all the previous baptisms beginning with the flood in Genesis 7-9, and it is, in the realm of time and literal history, the culmination of the plan of God for his chosen people to come into personal covenant relationship and fellowship with him in a way equal to, and even surpassing, that which he had with Adam in the beginning. Those who are ordained to eternal life (Acts 13:48), whom the Lord calls his own sheep (John 10:4) know his voice, and become converted(Acts 3:19) through this baptism by the power of the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. As the Lord himself became the way of salvation, and, being the forerunner, entering into death, burial, and resurrection; and being victorious therein made a perfect and effectual atonement for the sins of all mankind with his own blood (Hebrews 9:12, Leviticus 17:11); so those who believe in him receive: remission of sins, the power of his resurrection, and full adoption into the household of God with all the rights and priveleges thereof, through his name by obeying the New Testament gospel he gave to his holy apostles (Hebrews 2:3,4, John 17:20, Ephesians 2:20), which was first preached by Simon Peter in Jerusalem at the feast of Pentecost in the year of our Lord 33 A.D. (Acts 2:14-42). By the power of the name of Jesus Christ (Acts 4:12, John 20:31, etc...), the actual death, burial, and resurrection he accomplished for all mankind is literally imputed to, and made effectual in, the life of whosoever will obey this New Testament gospel command by: believing on the name of the only begotten Son of God, repentance from sin, and water baptism by immersion in the name of Jesus Christ, wherein his blood is made effectual upon the individual’s life, justification occurs, and resurrection(the gift of the Holy Ghost) shall ensue, according to the promise of scripture (Isaiah 44:3, Luke 24:49, Acts 2:39,etc...). It is by this baptism that a believer comes to be in Christ, and a member of the body of Christ (Ephesians 4:5, Galatians 3:27, 1 Corinthians 12:13, Romans 6:3, Colossians 2:11,12). This is why Jesus said to his disciples in John 14:20, At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. I AM IN MY FATHER As we saw earlier, Jesus, the Son of God, came to be in the Father by his baptism in the Jordan river, when by his own righteousness he went down into the water, came up, was anointed with the Holy Ghost (Acts 10:38), and received public confirmation of his Sonship by a voice from heaven. He became the first to be literally born of water and of the Spirit, and from this point forward (not from his physical birth), he was called the Son of God (Romans 1:4, Matthew 3:17, Luke 1:32, 3:22, Mark 5:7, etc...). AND YE IN ME And, as the scripture declares, the only way to be in Jesus Christ the Lord is by baptism in his name. (Romans 6:3, Galatians 3:27, Colossians 2:11,12) AND I IN YOU Finally, as the scripture declares, the hope of eternal life is, Christ in you, the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27). This is the gift of the Holy Ghost (Acts 2:38), the Spirit of Jesus Christ (Philippians 1:19). This gift is paid for in full (John 19:30), received by faith in the name of Jesus Christ (Galatians 3:14), and is a necessary element of the baptism, although it may be received and manifested before(Acts 10:44-48) or after (Acts 19:5,6) water baptism. It is the resurrection imputed to the believer (Romans 8:11), and the Spirit of adoption (Romans 8:15), and is always manifestly evidenced by the believer speaking in other tongues (real languages he has never learned) (Mark 16:17, Acts 2:4, 10:45,46, 19:6, etc...). It is Jesus Christ himself in us (John 14:21-23), the Father and the Son, the fullness of the Godhead indwelling the obedient believer. This is the gospel of Christ, which is the power of God unto salvation... (Romans 1:16) -AMEN- Part 4 Laying On Of Hands The laying on of hands is a Biblical and necessary practice for the people of God in both Old and New Testaments, and is both effectual and profitable when exercised within the guidelines of scripture for the following purposes: 1. To confer a blessing (to prophesy) Genesis 48:14-20, Hebrews 11:21, Mark 10:16 2. To ordain ministry or specific assignment Numbers 27:23, Jeremiah 1:9, Acts 6:6, 13:3, Titus 1:5 3. To minister spiritual gifts Deuteronomy 34:9, Acts 8:17, 19:6, 1 Timothy 4:14, 2 Timothy 1:6 4. To impart virtue or strength Daniel 9:21, 10:9-19, Revelation 1:17 5. To minister healing Matthew 9:18, Mark 6:5, 16:18, Luke 4:40, 13:13, Acts 28:8 6. [O.T.] To impute guilt to an animal for substitutionary sacrifice *From human priest (type) to animal sacrifice (type)* Leviticus 3:2, 8:14, 16:21 7. [O.T.] To impute guilt to a sinner for judgment to cleanse Israel Leviticus 24:14, Deuteronomy 13:9, 17:7 --Also-- In the New Testament (after Acts chapter 2), the practice of anointing with oil is used only for ministering to the sick; and only for those who are in the body of Christ, in covenant with God. The oil is a symbol of the anointing of the Holy Ghost, and, when applied in obedience to scripture, ...the prayer of faith shall save the sick... (Mark 6:13, James 5:14). For those who are not in Christ and need physical healing, there is the laying on of hands. (Acts 28:8, Mark 16:18) * * *Always remember 1 Timothy 5:22 and 2 John 1:11*** 1 Timothy 5:22 Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other mens sins: keep thyself pure. This admonition from the apostle Paul warns us of a very real danger. To lay hands suddenly on any man, without being specifically led by the Spirit of God can be very hazardous to us as sons of God. Many people today are walking in the error Jeremiah warned of: Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the LORD. They say still unto them that despise me, The LORD hath said, Ye shall have peace; and they say unto every one that walketh after the imagination of his own heart, No evil shall come upon you. (Jeremiah 23:16,17) And they are doing it because it is popular. Everybody is doing it. But the ministry of the laying on of hands is not for us to just go and bless whoever we please in the holy name of our God. Doing so without being led of the Lord specifically (to a particular person with an inspired word) can make us partakers of hidden sins we may not know of; and only those with clean hands and a pure heart shall ascend into the hill of the LORD! (Psalm 24:3,4) 2 John 1:11 For he that biddeth him Godspeed is partaker of his evil deeds. How do we bid someone God speed? By offering a blessing or encouragement to someone. Just as when we say, God bless you (a blessing intended for the people of God only- Numbers 6:22-27), ...or even call someone brother, or sister, or shake their right hand, or break bread with them as a privilege of covenant, we are bidding them God speed. To bid God speed is to literally say, May God grant you good speed in your works (see Genesis 24:12); ...and to say so to anyone, as a priest of the Lord, is to attach the Lords name to that persons works, and to give your approval to the same as a Christian; a priest of God. Certainly to lay hands on a rebellious person, false teacher, or any person who is not abiding in the doctrine of Christ, and therefore has not God (2 John 9), and to confer a blessing upon that person in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, is error - and indeed a most grievous one! If we seek the Lord earnestly, obey his commandments, and desire spiritual gifts, he will make manifest in the church the prophetic gifts (word of wisdom, word of knowledge, prophecy, tongues and interpretation). But let us take good heed to the warnings of his holy apostles and prophets, and wait on the Lord, keep his word diligently, and serve him acceptably with reverence and godly fear. Let us not abuse his power and grace, but rather yield our members servants to righteousness unto holiness, that the holy name of Jesus Christ may be reverenced and lifted up in the churches, and that the world may see the true life of God in us, and that they may know— either today, or at the last day— that God has sent us. ...Then shall they know that a prophet hath been among them. Ezekiel 33:33 Part 5 Resurrection Of The Dead Adam, the son of God (Luke 3:38), was made a living soul. (Genesis 2:7, 1 Corinthians 15:45) Being created in the image of God (Genesis 1 :26,27), Adam was innocent (Ecclesiastes 7:29, Genesis 1:31): and because he knew no evil (Genesis 2:17, 3:5), death was not a part of his existence--it was to him a strange thing he was warned of, but had never known. But Adam sinned (Genesis 3:6), and when sin was brought into the world, death came with it (Romans 5:12,14)unto all men. All unrighteousness is sin (1 John 3:4, 5:17), and Adams sin brought death with all of its cursed facets: ***Physical corruption: Romans 7:24, Job 17:14, 1 Corinthians 15:53 ***Moral corruption: 2 Peter 2:12,19, 2 Chronicles 27:2, 2 Kings 15:35, Romans 1:28, Genesis 6:11 ***Physical death: Genesis 6:17, 2 Samuel 14:14, James 2:26, 1 Corinthians 15:22 ***Decomposition: Acts 2:27,31, 13:34-37, Genesis 3:19 ***Hell: Isaiah 66:24, Mark 9:43-48, Luke 16:22-26 ***Eternal destruction: Revelation 14:11, 20:14 -BUT- God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ. (Ephesians 2:4,5) God, who created all things by Jesus Christ (Ephesians 3:9), had the plan all worked out from the very beginning. The Bible calls this plan the Word(John 1:1), and, when the fullness of time was come (Galatians 4:4), the Word became flesh (John 1:14), for, Since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection from the dead. ( 1 Corinthians 15:21 ) Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, first being in the Father(John 14:10) by fulfilling the law of Moses (Matthew 5:17), and, being baptized by John in the Jordan river and becoming the first and only man ever to be born of water and of the Spirit (John 3:5, Acts 10:37 ,38) based on the merit of his own righteousness (1 Peter 2:22, 1 John 3:5, 2 Corinthians 5:21), was then baptized into death in every aspect of its curses and punishments (Luke 12:50, Hebrews 2:14). Then, having descended into hell (Ephesians 4:9, Matthew 12:40) , and conquering it completely (Psalm 68:20, Revelation 1:18), he raised his own body from the dead (John 2:19-21), and became, the firstfruits of them that slept, or, the first to rise from the dead incorruptible, never to die again (Romans 6:9, Hebrews 7:16), and, as a human man, conquered death, hell, and the grave (Revelation 1:18, Psalm 16:10), and is ascended into heaven (Luke 24:51, Acts 1:9-11)and seated on the right hand of God (Mark 16:19, Hebrews 1:3), until the times of restitution of all things(Acts 3:21), or until his enemies are made his footstool (Psalm 110:1). Therefore, the Lord Jesus Christ is the forerunner (Hebrews 6:20), the firstborn from the dead (Colossians 1:18), and the firstfruits of them that slept (1 Corinthians 15:20). It is by him that many sons are being brought unto glory (Hebrews 2:10)! Resurrections In Scripture 1 . The Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:20) 2. Some Old Testament Saints (Matthew 27:52,53) 3. The Resurrection Of The Just (Luke 14:14, John 5:29, Daniel 12:2, 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17, 2 Corinthians 5:10, Luke 21:36) At a predetermined time, which is known only to God the Father, (Mark 13:32) Jesus Christ will return for his bride, the church (John 14:3). At that time, the dead in Christ will be raised incorruptible, living saints will be instantly changed (1 Corinthians 15:51,52), and we will meet the Lord in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:17), and be with him forever! We will then face judgment for our service in this life (1 Corinthians 3:13-15), and then we will get married (Revelation 19:7,8)! O.T. saints will be there, too (Hebrews 11:40). 4. The Resurrection Of Tribulation Saints (Revelation 6:9-11, 7:9-17) These saints will be resurrected during the great tribulation (see Revelation 7:14), or, the time of Jacobs trouble(Jeremiah 30:7). 5. Resurrection Of The Two Witnesses (Revelation 11:11,12) These two anointed ones (Zechariah 4:14) will prophesy during the great tribulation for 1,260 days (Revelation 11:3), and their words will so torment the evil people of this earth(11:10) that they will be murdered and left in the street for 3½ days, and all the world will see them and celebrate (vv. 9,10). Then, they will be raised from the dead, and ascend into heaven in front of their enemies (v.12). 6. Resurrection / Transformation Of Kingdom Saints (Isaiah 65:20-23, Hosea 2:14-23, Amos 9:11,12 Matthew 13:40-43) During the literal 1,000 year reign of Jesus Christ (Isaiah 66:1 -24, Revelation 20:6), there will be mortal people, both Jews and Gentiles, living in Jerusalem and all over Israel, and other nations all over the world. The curse (Genesis 3:16-19) will be no more upon the earth (Isaiah 11:6-9), there will be marriages (Jeremiah 33:11), buying and selling of lands (Jeremiah 32:43,44), procreation (Isaiah 65: 20), agriculture (Hosea 2:21,22, Isaiah 65:21), and rest from all wars (Ezekiel 38:8, Micah 4:3,4). At the end of this period, the angels of God will be sent to gather out all the evil people (Matthew 13:41 49-50), and those remaining will be resurrected and/or transformed (Matthew 13:43, Daniel 12:3). 7. Resurrection Of The Damned (Daniel 12:2, John 5:28,29, Revelation 20:11-15) At the end of time, all the wicked dead will be literally, bodily resurrected to stand before God (Jesus Christ) to be judged according to their works. No one will escape (Revelation 20:11), and no one will be excepted(v.15)!!!!!!! Part 6 - Eternal Judgment The first man Adam was made a living soul (Genesis 2:7, 1 Corinthians 15:45); he was created as such spiritually, emotionally, and physically, in the image of God: ***Spiritually- innocent and incorruptible - Genesis 1:31, 2:7, 3:5-7, Proverbs 12:28, Ecclesiastes 7:29, 1 John 1:5 ***Emotionally- having love and a desire to love - Genesis 2:18-25, 3:6, Ephesians 5:28, 1 Timothy 2:14, 1 John 4:7,8 ***Physically- the figure of him that was to come Romans 5:14, Genesis 1:26, Ephesians 3:9 After the fall (Genesis 3:6), Adam was no longer in the image (eikon#1504) of God-as a son (Luke 3:38), but remained inherently in the likeness (homoiosis#3369) of God - as a creature (Romans 8:19-21). [See Genesis 5:3 and James 3:9; also John 3:3-7, Colossians 3:10.] Being no longer in the image of God, but still retaining the likeness of God, Adam, because of his rebellion against God, had brought together two very definite and real things: 1. The fact that he was created a living soul by the eternal God, and thereby a creature bound for eternity from his creation, did not change when he rebelled. (Ecclesiastes 12:7, Isaiah 41:4) 2. The fact that he brought death upon all mankind (1 Corinthians 15:22, Romans 5:12), including himself (Genesis 2:17, 3:19), also did not change his inherent eternal existence (NOT from eternity past, as only God is, but from the point of creation into the future eternally-Isaiah 41:4). So, just as surely as Adam brought death by his disobedience (Romans 5:12), and the wages of sin is death (Ezekiel 18:4, Romans 6:23), we are assured that death itself is not a solitary event in time, but a continuing, eternal state of destruction and separation from God and all that is light, holy, love, and peace. 2 Peter 2:17, Jude 13, Matthew 25:46, Daniel 12:2,2 Thessalonians 1:9 *******HELL******* The word hell is in the Bible 54 times; 31 in the Old Testament, and 23 in the New Testament. The doctrine of the reality of hell, the location of hell, and the nature of hell is very explicitly taught in the scripture, and is one of the most prominent doctrines of the Bible; which is chiefly why the Spirit of the Lord calls it one of the principles of the doctrine (Hebrews 6:1)—something that should be, and must be understood by all who profess to be servants of Jesus Christ in the very beginning, before moving on to the deeper teachings of the scriptures. 1. The Reality Of Hell: Hell is not a state of being, or a concept of suffering. It is an actual, physical place, as real as any city or country in the earth, and is a real part of Gods creation. Psalm 9:17, 16:10, 139:8, Proverbs 23:14, Isaiah 5:14, Matthew 5:22,29,30, 10:28, 11:23, 18:9, Luke 12:5, Acts 2:31, Revelation 1:18 Right now the angels which left their first estate are there (Genesis 6:4, 2 Peter 2:4, Jude 6), along with every soul since Adam that died outside of Christ (Old and New Testament alike) - (Psalm 55:15 Luke 16:22,23, Matthew 23:33). Also, possibly angels that have fallen since the flood and been cast into the abyss (abussos#12 ), the deep (Luke 8:31), or the bottomless pit (Revelation 9:1, 20:3), by Jesus Christ himself, or his church (Mark 16:17, Luke 10:17). Hell is not a metaphor! It is REAL! 2. The Location Of Hell: The Bible teaches conclusively and repeatedly that hell is a real, physical place which exists right now in the center of the earth. The lower parts of the earth cannot be searched out by men (Proverbs 25:3, Jeremiah 31:37), and the Bible teaches with clarity that hell is located there. Deuteronomy 32:22, Psalm 55:15, 86:13, Proverbs 9:18, 15:24, Isaiah 14:9,15, Ezekiel 31:16,17, 32:27, Amos 9:2, Matthew 11:23, Luke 10:15, 2 Peter 2:4 Because the earth is a sphere, there is only one possible place that can be down wherever one is on the planet. Also, because of the earths gravitational pull within itself, the center thereof is theoretically (and practically) bottomless, because in descending downward, without reaching any definite point, one would eventually be found to be going upward again. Therefore, we must conclude without question that hell is not only literally and physically real, but also that it is located in the center, or heart, of the earth. 3. The Nature Of Hell: 1. Hell is an inferno, a real place, burning with literal burning fire. Matthew 5:22, 18:9, Mark 9:47, Luke 16:23,24 2. Hell is totally void of light. Psalm 88:6, Proverbs 20:20, Isaiah 47:5, Matthew 25:30, 22:13, 2 Peter 2:4,17, Jude 6,13 3. The punishment of hell is eternal, but its present location is temporary. Eventually, hell will be forced to give up its dead, and will be cast into the lake of fire, which is the eternal continuation of hell (Revelation 20:13,14, 21:8), and the earth will be made anew (Revelation 21:1, Isaiah 65:17), and will no longer have her belly full of the damned (Matthew 24:8, Mark 13:8, Isaiah 26:19). The Bible teaches that, ...it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment. (Hebrews 9:27), ...and that immediately upon the death of a human (when the spirit leaves the body-James 2:26, Psalm 104:29), the flesh goes back to the dust (Genesis 3:19, Ecclesiastes 3:20) to await the resurrection (this is what is called sleep in the scripture--) Deuteronomy 31:16, 2 Samuel 7:12, Daniel 12:2 , John 11:11, 1 Corinthians 11:30, 15:51, 1 Thessalonians 4:14, 5:10 ...and, ...the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.(Ecclesiastes 12:7); which means that spirit will instantly and forever be either present with the Lord, 2 Corinthians 5:8, Philippians 1:23, Luke 23:43, Revelation 6:9-11 ...or present in the fiery torments of hell. Luke 16:22,23, Mark 9:43-48, Revelation 20:13,14 According to the Bible, there are only two ways to die: in Christ, or without Christ. (John 3:1-7, Romans 2:5-11) The accepted time, the day of salvation, is NOW. (Proverbs 27:1,2 Corinthians 6:2) There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. (1 Corinthians 15:44) As we have seen previously, the Bible clearly teaches that the physical bodies of those who have died (both righteous and wicked) will be actually and really resurrected (Daniel 12:2, John 5:28,29) and, raised in incorruption (1 Corinthians 15:42). So, we can know from the word of God that those who are punished with everlasting destruction (2 Thessalonians 1:9) will suffer actual, relentless, terrible pain in a real and incorruptible (can never, ever be destroyed from existence) body forever and ever: ...not some ethereal, metaphoric kind of suffering; but exactly the same as if one were completely engulfed in fire in this present life, except the spiritual body will never be diminished, and the torture will go on without rest forever and ever. This is clearly evidenced in scripture. Luke 16:24, Romans 2:8,9, 2 Thessalonians 1:9, Revelation 14:11, 20:10 And, although the resurrection of the damned has not yet occurred, we know from the scripture that the souls of the righteous and wicked alike can see, hear, and feel (Luke 16:22-31, Revelation 6:9-11); and that the people and angels who are in hell right now are most certainly being tormented in fire and darkness. ******************************************* Contrary to popular belief, there is no limbo, and no purgatory; and the Devil is not in hell: he is walking about as a roaring lion (1 Peter 5:8), and operating in high (heavenly) places (Job 1:6,7, Ephesians 6:12). But, his day is coming (Revelation 20:10), and he knows it (Revelation 12:12). All men are born under condemnation (Psalm 51:5, Romans 5:12), and the only way to escape the condemnation of hell is to be in Jesus Christ by a baptism, or birth, of water and Spirit, according to the New Testament gospel, witnessed and proclaimed by the holy apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 2:14-42). Only through faith in the name of the only begotten Son of God can any person escape the wrath and condemnation of hell. This teaching is at the very center of scripture from Genesis to Revelation, and was, is, and ever shall be true whether men choose to believe it or not. Romans 3:4 2 Timothy 2:13 Even so, come, Lord Jesus. (Revelation 22:20) -AMEN-
Posted on: Tue, 12 Aug 2014 16:02:56 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015