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BACKGROUND
GOD
GOD
I. His Being
II. His nature
III. His character
IV. His will
V. His subsistence
VI. His Fatherhood
MAN
WOMAN
FALL OF MAN
MAN
a. Man in nature
b. Man’s destiny
c. Man ‘s structure
d. Man’s sin
e. Man in God’s image
WOMAN
The
full background to this teaching is available online at this link
DEFINITIONS (For serious students)
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Online links to scriptures (New International Version [NIV] unless otherwise stated) are shown in blue
| THE SOUL
THE ESSENCE OF YOU AND ME |
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The soul is the part of our being that reveals us as an individual. The world often tries to identify us by our physical form but in reality, it is our soul, (our personality, nature or character) that is the essence of our being, the part of us which God wants and wants in its entirety.
Since mankind lost the vital balancing influence of God's Spirit on our soul at the time of the fall, we have been and still are, subject to a continuing, on-sided barrage of influence from satan (as demonstrated in last week's illustration). We are born sinful (as a result of Adam's fall) and in the natural, live a sinful life. The balance in our life can only be rebuilt by rebuilding our relationship with God.
God has stipulated that the only acceptable way to Him of mending this relationship is through man establishing a personal relationship with His son, Jesus Christ.
Our 3 part soul is a reflection of our 3 part body, made in the likeness of a 3 part God. It consists of:
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| MIND (thinking) |
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 Under satan's Influence: Natural sinful thoughts
Under God's Influence (Through faith in Jesus): Centred on the HOPE of the glory to come in eternal life.
1 Thessalonians 5:8b
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| EMOTIONS (feelings) |
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 Under satan's Influence: Self-centred, personal pleasure
Under God's Influence (Through faith in Jesus): Centred on FAITH, belief in the grace of God and the saving power of Jesus.
Ephesians 3:17a
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| WILL (doing) |
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 Under satan's Influence: Self achievement
Under God's Influence (Through faith in Jesus): Centred on LOVE, both for God and for mankind.
John 15:9-14 (v12,14)
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| WHICH PART OF THE SOUL IS MOST IMPORTANT TO GOD? |
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| 13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. (1 Corinthians 13:13)
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The greatest problem of contemporary Christians and the Church as a whole is:
a. They believe the facts about Jesus in their mind and
b. They have faith in Jesus in their hearts as expressed through their emotions but
They are not prepared to commit their will, their total being, to the love of God and the love of their fellow man. (Good works)
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| Salvation is obtained through God's grace alone. However, to be proven to be real, true salvation must also be reflected in love, in commitment, both to God and to others. |
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Ephesians 2:8-10
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Jesus warned about the consequences of the shallow, low commitment style of faith and salvation so often found in the Christian church today.
The Wide and narrow Gate: There are 2 ways we can go.
Matthew 7:13-14
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The Narrow Door (A type of Christians - 'ate and drank with you. ie. communion.)
Luke 13:22-9 (v26-7)
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| HAVE YOU ENTERED THE DOOR OF SALVATION BY BEING 'A DOER' OR ARE YOU JUST A THINKING AND FEELING CHRISTIAN? (You think you feel you might do it some day!) ONLY BE DOING GOD'S PERSONAL WILL FOR YOU WILL YOU ENTER THE KINGDOM OF GOD. |
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Matthew 7:21
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| <i>NEXT WEEK</i> GOD AND MAN continues
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 We will start to look at the commands of Jesus to us on how we are to live.
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| A NOTE FROM DAVID |
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 The basic content of this teaching was written 12 years ago, yet the application of it to our lives hasn't changed at all.
It is still a challenge to me, as well as I hope, to you, too! May we truly live for the Lord today.
THE SILENT YEARS: Maccabean Revolt
The Maccabean Revolt erupted shortly after the desecration of the Temple and lasted for 24 years. 166-142 B.C. Led by Mattathias and his five sons, Judas (Maccabeus), Jonathan, Simon, John and Eleazar, a form of guerrilla warfare was successfully carried out against large Seleucid armies. This led to the recapture Jerusalem and dedication of the temple in 164 B.C. This resulted in Judah's independence which lasted until the Romans took over in 63 B.C. The victory is still celebrated today in the Festival of Lights or Hanukkah. These events are recorded in the first four chapters of the Apocryphal book 1 Maccabees.
During this period the Jews were split between the Hellenistic camp and the Maccabean camp. Civil war and fighting between the two parties ended with the death of Mattathias's son Simon. Finally under Simon there was political independence which led to the Hasmonean dynasty named after one of the Maccabee's ancestors.
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So until next week.......
MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND YOU BLESS GOD!
His servant and yours
Learn more about us at...
www.wwj.org.nz/about.php
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A DAVID'S DOODLING
513. To submit our will to another is the ultimate love commitment.
David Tait
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Check
out the WWJ website for….
More David's Doodlings: www.wwj.org.nz/dd.php
Waxing Lyrical: http://www.wwj.org.nz/waxing.php
If Only I'd Thought of it: http://www.wwj.org.nz/thought.php
Laughing at Ourselves: http://www.wwj.org.nz/laugh.php
A look at some of lifes curious questions: http://www.wwj.org.nz/why.php
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