Foundational Basics

In the times that we live, the basic doctrines of Christianity are under attack by not only the cults, and various religions of the world, but also some main line denominations are in stages of APOSTASY ( a falling away ). A falling away from the doctrines and principles that Christians through out the ages have embraced and held dear to.

Just as a house must have a good foundation and solid structure to be strong, so too must a Christian. If a Christian isn’t founded on solid biblical doctrines they can be easily moved from their Faith.

Ephesians 4:14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine.

Matthew 7:24-25 Whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
Vs.25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.

In this study course, a house under construction will be used as an illustration of Christian growth; using the foundation,
( Foundational Basics ) the wooden structure, ( Structural Truths ) and the building bricks ( Solid Building Blocks ) as an example.

Just as a house is built from the foundation up, brick upon brick, so too is our Christian growth in understanding and knowledge of God.

Isaiah 28:9-10 Whom shall He teach knowledge? And whom shall he make to understand doctrine? Them that are weaned from milk, and drawn from the breast.
Vs.10 For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little and there a little.

1 Corinthians 3:11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid. which is Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ is the only foundation that we can build on for eternal life and a relationship with God. Just as the foundation of a house has various components such as, cement, sand, gravel, and water, so to does our foundation, Jesus Christ and the different doctrines concerning him.

Jesus Christ is not a god but is God. Existing before his physical birth at Bethlehem, from eternity he was always with God the Father ( the first person of the trinity ) as God the Son ( the second person of the trinity ). Although he was God manifested in the flesh, here on earth, he lived as a perfect sinless man and ministered by the anointing of the Holy Ghost
( Acts 10:38 ). At no time was Jesus ever an angel ( Hebrews 1:4-5, 13 ) but in truth, as part of the God Head, he created them ( Colossians 1:16-17 )

John 1:1-3   In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God and the Word was God.
Vs. 2   The same was in the beginning with God.
Vs. 14   And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory as the only begotton of the Father, full of grace and truth.

1 Timothy 3:16   And without controversy great was the mystery of godliness. God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles believed on in the world, received up into glory.

Titus 2:13   Looking for the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.

Philippians 2:6   Who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God.

1 John 1:2   For the life was manifested and we have seen it and bear witness and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father and was manifested unto us.

Isaiah 9:6   His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

1 Corinthians 10:9 Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, were destroyed of serpents. ( see Numbers 21:6 )

John 6:38   For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.

John 8:58   Jesus said to them, verily verily. I say unto you. before Abraham was, I am.

John 17:5   And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self, with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.

God shares his glory with no one, only God can partake of Gods glory.

Isaiah 42:8. I am the Lord: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.

Another reference to the Divinity of Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 1:8-9   But unto the Son he saith Thy throne O God is forever and ever: sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.
Vs.9   Thou hast loved righteousness and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.

Revelation 1:8, 11, 17, 18   I Am Alpha Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.
Vs.11   Saying, I Am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Peramos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelhia, and unto Laodicea.
Vs.17.   And when I saw Him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I Am the first and the last:
Vs.18 I Am he that liveth and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

Jesus Christ was not created and in his pre-Bethlehem existence as God the Son, was indeed the Creator of all the Universe and every thing in it, visible and invisible.

John 1:3, 10   All things were made by him and without him was not anything made, that was made.
Vs.10   He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.

Ephesians 3:9   And to make all men to see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ.

Colossians 1:16   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.

Hebrews 1:1-2   God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds.

The virgin birth of Jesus Christ was necessary because of Original Sin that passed upon the human race through Adam, being born of a virgin, he never inherited original sin, and therefore was able to offer himself up as a sin offering for all of mankind.

Isaiah 7:14   Therefore, the Lord himself shall give you a sign; behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a Son and shall call his name Emmanuel.

Matthew 1:18   Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: when as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.

Matthew 1:23   Behold, a virgin shall be with child and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name, Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

Luke 1:26, 27, 31, 34, 35   And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto the city of Galilee, named Nazareth.
Vs.27   To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David;
and the virgins name was Mary.
Vs.31   An behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a Son, and shalt call his name Jesus.
Vs.34   Then said Mary unto the angel, how shall this be, seeing I know not a man?
Vs.35   And the angel answered and said unto her, the Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee; therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

Hebrews 10:5   Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me.

Jesus Christ was the perfect sin offering, for the sins of all humanity, because he was without the spot and blemish of original sin and personal sin. Although he was God manifested in flesh, he was also fully man, and therefore, because of his humanity, was able to sin. Resisting every temptation from Satan and the weakness of his flesh, he is the only person who has never sinned.

1 Peter 2:22   Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth.

1 John 3:5   And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.

Hebrews 1:9   Thou hast loved righteousness and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.

Hebrews 4:15   For we have not an High Priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

2 Corinthians 5:21   For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew not sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

Jesus Christ came to this earth the first time, for one purpose, to save sinners, in the fulfillment of Old Testament prophesy and the Fathers will. He died for our sins, was buried and rose again on the third day. The scriptures teach that he is the only way of salvation, for all of mankind. Without him there is no way to God.

John 3:16   For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotton Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

John 3:17   For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

John 14:6   Jesus saith to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by me.

Luke 2:11   For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

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.

1 Timothy 1:15   This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.

Isaiah 53:5   But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

1 Peter 3:18   For Christ also hath suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened ( made alive ) by the Spirit.

If you have never seen Jesus Christ and believe in him, then consider yourself blessed. Thomas said “ He would not believe unless he could see and feel the nail scars”, Later Jesus appeared to him and said “ Blessed are they that have not seen and yet believe” The word of God gives birth to our faith and that faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. ( Hebrews 11:1 ) The resurrection of Jesus was bodily, as the first fruit, of them that sleep. ( 1 Corinthians 15:20 )

In Luke 24:36-43...Jesus appeared to his disciples, ate food with them and they touched him.

Matthew 16:21   From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples how that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things of the elders and the chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the 3rd. day.

Luke 24:46   Thus it it written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the 3rd. day.

Acts 26:23   That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the people and to the Gentiles.

1 Corinthians 15:3-4   For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures:
Vs.4   And that he was buried, and that he rose again the 3rd. day according to the scriptures.

Romans 4:25   Who was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification.

1 Thessalonians 4:14   For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

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Our Advocate

The Bible says in 1 Timothy 2:5 that there is only one Mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus. In order for him to be our Mediator, he had to become our High Priest, a Priest that knew what it felt like to suffer the temptations of the flesh and Satan, yet without sin.

Because he can identify with us, he can represent us before God as our Advocate ( a lawyer or one who pleads the cause or case of another ) based upon the blood he shed at Calvary for the remission of our sins. The bible says we can come boldly unto the throne room of grace and find help in time of need. Hebrews 4:16 )

1 John 2:1-2   My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not, and if any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.
Vs.2   And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

1 Timothy 2:5   For there is one God, and one Mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.

Hebrews 4:15-16   For we have not an High Priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; But was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.
Vs.16   Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Hebrews 7:25   Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come to God by him, seeing he ever live to make intercession for them.

Hebrews 9:12   Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.

1 John 1:9   If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

* Admitting to God that you have sinned, and asking for forgiveness keeps us in right standing with him.

The first coming of Jesus Christ was one of suffering and rejection, Throughout the Old Testament, it was proclaimed that the Messiah was to come; while some scriptures speak of him suffering and dying, yet others speak of him reigning as a King. Needless to say this was perplexing to many, who read and interpreted the scriptures throughout the ages.

In the times that Jesus was manifested, Israel was under the rule of the Roman Empire and the people were looking for a deliverer, to lead them out of their oppression, and not a lamb who was to die for the sins of the world. As a whole, Jesus was rejected by the religious leaders of his day because of this and also their jealousy over his ministry and popularity with the common people. God's plan was the salvation of the whole world, the 1st. Coming of Jesus was to provide the means for this and the second will be to reign as King over all the world. Israel failed to understand this.

1 Peter 1:11   Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ who was in them did signify, when it testified before hand its sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.

Mark 8:31   And he began to teach them, that the Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.

Luke 24:26   Ought not Christ to have suffer these things, and to enter into his glory?

Isaiah 53:3   He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

Psalms 22:16   For dogs have compassed me: the assemble of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.

A. VISIBLE

ACTS 1:11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into the heavens? This same Jesus, which is taken
up from you into heaven, shall so come in
like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

REVELATIONS 1:7 Behold he cometh with the clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.

B. GLORY AND POWER

Revelation 19:11, 12, 15, 16   And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. Out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. He hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Revelation 11:15   The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.

                                                  ( Other references: Isaiah 11, Jeremiah 23, Zechariah 14 )

His Divinity	His Eternal Existence	As the Creator	His Virgin Birth	Jesus was Sinless
Christ is the Only Way	His Resurrection	Our Advocate	His First Coming	His Second Coming