TSC FOUNDATION CLASS PART 3

FOUNDATION CLASS PART 3

You can either watch the video alone as it is the full class, read the text alone, or do both. 

DOCTRINES OF THE SUPER CHURCH

Every society or organization has doctrines they leave by and the church is no different. What we need first to understand is what a doctrine is. A doctrine is defined as -

- A recognizable principle of beliefs, teachings, values or instructions adhered to, believed, taught and practiced by a given set of people.

Most doctrines are transferrable concepts handed down to us.  It can be likened to traditions handed down from generation to generation in our societies as every society have certain doctrines they live by which didn’t start with the current generation. So also does the church have doctrines they live by handed down to us by Jesus Christ through the apostles.  Examples include; Righteousness, sanctification, Baptism, prosperity etc. each of which ensures that we live sound victorious lives.

SCRIPTURAL DOCTRINE

These are founded in the Word of God and its context and doctrines handed over to us by the Apostles whom our Lord Jesus taught in the very beginning.  We see in Acts 1:1 where it says - The former treatise have I made, O  Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, (other words for treatise: book, memoirs, thesis, doctrine) and Acts 2:42  which says - And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. Examples of such doctrines are Communion, Baptism, Righteousness, and Sanctification. These lists are not exhaustive but are examples of scriptural doctrines.

4.1.2    MAN-MADE DOCTRINE

Manmade doctrines are based on or patterned after the fleshly minds of the human being i.e. they are based on the five senses. Things we can see, feel, touch, and hear. A typical example is circumcision in the New Testament. Others are celibacy, poverty.

CHARACTERISTICS OF MAN-MADE   DOCTRINES

1. They are totally based on the five physical senses, not on faith. This is contrary to what the bible tells us because we are not supposed to live by sight but by faith. The Bible tells us the Just shall live by faith.
2. They are not based on the understanding of the divinity of Christ. The divinity of Christ refers to God the father, son, and Holy Ghost.
3. They make a poor specimen out of the New Creation not fully understanding the characteristics of the new creation bearing in mind that as God is so are we in this world.
4. Their end is destruction without a spiritual base.
5. They exalt the flesh but often hidden under the cloak of humility and self-discipline. Under the guise of humility they proclaim things like celibacy and poverty for no other reason but to feel more spiritual or righteous than those that don’t thereby exalting the flesh i.e. their ego while pretending to be humble.
6. They do not offer liberty to the New Creation as we have been called unto liberty. These doctrines are to bind not to liberate.

 

4.1.3    FALSE DOCTRINES

This is based on the perversion of the truth of God’s Word. Perversion in the sense that the word of God is twisted and misinterpreted.  We as believers are not supposed to give our ears to these false doctrines. We see in Romans 16:17 exactly how we are to react. It says “Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.”  We are not supposed to stand and argue with false doctrines but to avoid them.

1 Peter 2:2 clearly states that as newborn babes being born again should desire the sincere milk of the word of God.  This alludes to the fact that there is insincere milk which is referring to these false doctrines.  As in the case of babies eating bad milk leading to various illnesses and malnourishment so also would insincere milk of the word lead to premature spiritual death.  What we need to take away from here is that at this point as new believers or new converts it is important we listen to only what our man of God says because we are not yet able to discern good from evil. There would come a time when we would be mature enough to spot false doctrines on hearing it at that point we have the right to listen to whatever we want to knowing fully well that if we hear something wrong we would know and avoid it. Our man of God gives us an example of a new convert of his while he was on campus who read one of his books and because he was not mature enough for the book yet instead of the book uplifting him spiritually it cause him to lose faith. It is thus important we put first things first and not just open up our ears to every wind of doctrine.

The scriptures below also emphasize the presence of false doctrines and the impact they can have in the life of a believer.

•      1 Timothy 4:1-3 - Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.

•      1^st Timothy 1:3-4 - As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine, Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.

•      Galatians 1:6-12 (…7-9…) - Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preaches any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.

•      Colossians 2:20-23

FOUNDATIONAL DOCTRINES OF CHRIST

These are the fundamental doctrines of the way. Every believer should have a clear knowledge about these doctrines to enable them stand firm in the lord and not lose their way.  These doctrines have been highlighted in Hebrews 6:1-2

“Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again 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 the resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.”

Here we are told that after fully understanding the doctrines of Christ we can now go unto perfection no longer needing to be taught these foundational doctrines. The foundational Doctrines are further listed as:

1.      Repentance from dead works

2.      Faith towards God

3.      Baptism

4.      Laying on of hands

5.      The resurrection of the dead

6.      Eternal judgment

 

REPENTANCE FROM DEAD WORKS

When we say repentance from dead works we need to know what these dead works are fortunately for us the bible has described what these dead works are in Galatians 2:16 –

“Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.”

This describes the dead works as works of the law, works of the flesh meaning no matter the deeds we do on earth according to the works of the law no matter how perfect we are we can never be justified by this (Justification would be described in the next class). The bible tells us in Isaiah 64 that all our good deeds are like filthy rags before the Lord. No the works of the law of the flesh can never take us to heaven.

Now we know what the dead works are, we now need to know how to repent from these dead works.  How then do we repent from these dead works?  We are told in Romans 10:9-10 that it is by confessing the Lordship of Jesus and believing in the power that raised Him from the dead. No act of sacrifice on our part is acceptable but by the blood of Jesus, we are justified. Also, take note of Hebrews 9:11-14

 

4.2.2    FAITH TOWARDS DEAD WORKS

God called us to live by faith, not by sight. We also need to understand that we are not to live a life full of struggles but live by faith. These we see in 2 Corinthians 5:7 - For we walk by faith, not by sight and also in Romans 1:17 - For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, the just shall live by faith.

Faith is defined as a strong belief in God or in the doctrines based on spiritual apprehension (understanding) rather than proof. Our reality is not what we can see or what people say it is but what the word of God says it is.

So now we know that as believer’s we must live by faith, we also know what faith is the question then is how we acquire this faith. The scripture that is about to be quoted is heard regularly but that should in no way diminish the significance and the gravity of what is being said. We see in Romans 10:17 -          So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. The only way to grow our faith is by constantly hearing the word of God.  Our man of God frequently tells us it’s not by having heard but by continually hearing. This is why we need to be in all church activities listening and feeding on the word of God since this is the only way our faith can grow and by nothing else.

 

 BAPTISM

Baptism refers a total immersion into something and there are basically two types of baptism namely:

Ø  Baptism into Christ

Ø  Baptism by immersion in water

 

BAPTISM INTO CHRIST

This is usually called Holy Ghost baptism. This happens when a man gets born again being buried into Christ by identification with our thoughts partaking in His death, burial and consequently into a new life.  If we remember the only three criteria that need to be fulfilled to receive salvation are to believe Jesus Christ died for you, to believe God raised him from the dead and to proclaim him as our lord and savior. The first two criteria clearly signify us partaking in this death and resurrection in the form of our thoughts as highlighted earlier.

The following scriptures  clearly state that we were baptized into his death and raided from the dead with him to work in the newness of life as new creations  - Romans 6:3-4 - Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? ⁴ Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so, we also should walk in the newness of life. This is also seen in 1^st Corinthians 12:12-13 says -  For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. 

In summary, being baptized into Christ means when we become born again our spirits die and are totally immersed with that of Christ and when he arose from the dead our new spirits arose with him. 

On the surface this might be a little unclear but as we pay close attention to the explanation and meditate on it, it would become clearer. 

BAPTISM BY IMMERSION INTO WATER

This is one of the sacraments of the Church of Christ. (A Sacrament is a Holy ordinance that has the ability to transform).  This Baptism represents to the world that someone has identified with Christ and is the Believers final separation from the world. It shows that someone is completely immersed in Christ.

In order for us to clearly understand this, an analogy given to us by our man of God would be used. He likens baptism by immersion to the wedding ring or wedding band.   In explaining this a few questions would be used.

 

1.      Questions: what is the physical evidence that a person is married?

Ans: The Wedding ring or wedding band.

 

2.      Question: If a person is not wearing a wedding ring does that mean he/she is not married?

Ans: NO. The fact that someone isn’t wearing a ring does not mean he/she is not married the person could be married but choose not to wear the ring or could have misplaced the ring.

 

3.      Question: In an ideal situation if a young lady see two men. One wearing a ring and one not wearing a ring. Who is she more likely to approach with marriage in mind?

Ans: The one not wearing the ring. This is so because showing no outward evidence of being married she feels she has a greater chance of success with him. As not earlier the fact that he is not wearing a ring does not mean he is not married it just means there is no outward evidence that he is.

 

In summary the wedding band is an outward declaration to the world and anyone who cares to know that a person is married and no longer available to the opposite sex.

Now what does all the above have to do with baptism by immersion? Simple – Baptism by immersion like the wedding band is an outward declaration to the world and anyone who cares to know that we are now publicly declaring that we are under the banner of Jesus Christ and have fully identified with him. As a person not wearing a ring is still married if he/she has gone through the marriage process so also is a born-again believer still going to heaven as long as he/she has done what is necessary I.e. give their life to Christ. The question then is what is the use or the benefit of baptism? As singles are less likely to approach those wearing wedding rings so also are demons less likely to approach those that have publicly declared their identity with Christ. This does not mean that they won't be tried or face certain attacks but it means if these demons had to choose between one that is baptized and one that isn’t, it is highly likely they would first approach the person that isn’t. Same as the wedding ring not completely shielding married men from single ladies as some would still try their luck.

 

LAYING ON OF HANDS

The main reason for laying on of hands is for the impartation of grace to an individual either for healing, ordination into ministry, empowerment, or spiritual gift. It is important we grasp the gravity of what it means to allow someone to lay hands on us. We should not let just anybody lay hands on us because we are never sure the spirit in them and innocently by giving ourselves to them we allow unclean spirits to be passed unto us.

RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD

This doctrine clearly teaches us that the dead in Christ shall be raised on the last day. We see this in Hebrews 9:27 which says - And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment. John 5:28-29 also supports the notion and reads as thus - Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.

Other supporting scriptures are 2^nd Timothy1:2-10, 1st Thessalonica 4:13-17

For a more in-depth knowledge of the resurrection of the dead it is important we read the book - “Two Types of Resurrection” By Reverend Walter.

 

ETERNAL JUDGEMENT

When we hear the word judgment the picture or emotion that comes to mind is that of doom and punishment. The word Judgement also evokes images of the courtroom with the Judge proclaiming you either guilty or innocent. It is important to note that though this is one form of judgment it is not the only form of Judgment. For those that watch talent shows e.g. American Idol, we realize these competitions also have people known as judges but they do not determine the guilt or innocence of the contestant they determine their reward i.e. who comes first, who comes second, and who comes third. This is clearly another form of judgment quite different from that experienced in the courtroom.

These two forms of Judgement are similar to the two forms of Judgement experienced by the believers and unbelievers in the sense that the courtroom judgment with sentencing and condemnation is what would be experienced by Unbelievers while the sort of Judgment seen in competitions with rewards is given based on performance is what would be experienced by Believers.

With regards to the judgment for believers, we see in the Judgment Seat of Christ: 1^st Corinthians 3:1-15, where believers will receive rewards for deeds done on earth. The believer is not standing to be condemned but to receive a reward according to his good deeds.   This is buttressed in 1^st Corinthians 4:5- believers will receive commendation from God and Romans 8:1 - There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.   This tells us clearly that there is no condemnation to those in Christ.  It is evident that the Believer will not be condemned during judgment as it will be a miscarriage of justice to do so because Jesus was condemned on our behalf.

On the other hand, the great white throne judgment is where unbelievers will be judged and sentenced to hell. It is important to note that believers will be part of judging them.  (Revelation 20:11-15, 1^st Corinthians 6:2-3)