.: Home Bible Studies
We proudly offer to anyone a chance to study the Word of God
in the convenience of your own home. We find there are so
many that believe the Bible is the true Word of God, but have
not had a chance to really study it enough to understand it
fully. These Bible Studies just help you to read God's Word
to where you can learns its truths for yourself and not be
confused in your beliefs.
- These studies are of the Word and not man's ideas
- We promise not to teach anything that is not biblically based
- They last only one hour and at your convenience
- We have one that is for women alone that meets your needs
in dealing with life's situations
- We have one for youth that is exciting and also informative
in helping teens today in your search for truth and finding
your place in this world
- If you are not satisfied after the first lesson, you can
end the study at any time
- There is never any pressure from us - you will love the
relaxed atmosphere you'll feel
If you feel confused or are having a hard time understanding
God's Words to us, or want to be reassured you on the right
road, or are searching for answers in this vast religious
world we live in - these Home Bible Studies are your answer
and The Pentecostals of Richmond are here to serve you.
Feel free to contact us and let us know you are interested
via the net or by calling us at 276-1105 and pressing 93.
We will respond as soon as possible.
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.: Bible Study
When walking out of a dark room into the sunshine, light can be
blinding. As our eyes become accustomed to the light, we can see more
clearly and enjoy the scenery that surrounds us.
Likewise, when we look into the light of the scriptures, the
brightness of truth can sometimes hurt. However, as our spiritual
eyesight becomes adjusted we can enjoy "walking in the light".
This Bible study is designed to allow us to "walk" into the
marvelous light of the Word of God. We will be journeying into the
scriptures by imagining we are back in the days of Jesus and the
Apostles, listening to them teach and preach the plan of salvation. In order to do this, we will be careful to "rightly" divide
the word of the truth (2 Timothy 2:15) by concentrating on the
highlights of the three main divisions of the New Testament in chronological order, including:
1.THE GOSPELS -
covering the words and works of Jesus Christ
2.THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES -
covering the actions and preaching of the Apostles
3.THE EPISTLES -
covering the letters written by the Apostles
to the churches they
started in the Book of Acts.
We believe the scriptures are divinely inspired and,
"of no private interpretation" (2 Peter 1:20-21). Therefore,
every effort has been made to present the pure Word of God without
adding to, or taking away from its teachings (Deuteronomy 4:2, Proverbs
30:5-6).
It is not our intention to diminish any personal
relationship you may have with our Lord. Neither do we desire to
convince you of our own personal ideas or the creeds of any denomination. We
simply desire to share the truth as it is written. Only by claiming
the Bible as our sole authority can any of us be confident of our
salvation, for it is the Word of God and not the traditions of men
that will judge us all in the end.
Let us read 2 Timothy 3:15-16 as we begin our
journey into the Word of God...
John 1:1-5 & 14
In the beginning, the Word was
God and became flesh. Jesus
Christ is the Living Word of God.
John 1:11-13
If we believe in Him and receive Him,
Jesus gives us power to become the
sons of God by a supernatural birth. He spoke further
about this new birth
one night to a ruler of the Jews...
John 3:1-8
The Lord told Nicodemus that everyone
who wanted to see or
enter into the Kingdom of God, must be born again of water and
the Spirit.
John 3:16-21
Jesus also told Nicodemus that whosoever believeth in Him should
have eternal life. Jesus mentioned two seemingly different
requirements for salvation. One is being born again. The other is
believing. yet, this is not a contradiction. The next scripture
explains how believing is related to experiencing the birth of the
Spirit...
John 7:38-39
Here, we discover that if we believe on Him (according to the
Word), we will receive the Spirit. We find that scriptural belief is
more than just a change in the way we think. It also results in a
scriptural experience.
John 12:35-36 & 42-43
Today, just as in Jesus' day, many believe on Him. But, they will
not confess Him for fear of what others will do or say.
John 12:44
In response to their fearfulness, Jesus warns that His Spirit will
judge us, so we must be careful not to reject it. Rather, we should
believe and obey it... no matter what others say...
John 17:17-20
In Jesus' prayer for his disciples, just before His crucifixion, He
said God's Word is truth. He also prayed for us; and for all those
who would believe on Him through the Apostles' word.
To find out what the Apostles' word was to be, let us read what
Jesus told them to proclaim. The setting of the following great
commission scripture in Luke 24:45-49 is just after the Lord's death,
burial and resurrection... and just before His ascension into
heaven.
"Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand
the scriptures, And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it
behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third
day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be
preached in His name among all nations, beginning in Jerusalem.
And ye are witnesses of these things. And, behold, I send the
promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of
Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high."
DID THE APOSTLES PREACH THE MESSAGE JESUS
COMMANDED THEM TO PROCLAIM?
HOW WAS THE PROMISE OF THE FATHER FULFILLED?
Let us continue our journey into the Word of God by seeing what was
preached and what happened at Jerusalem...
Acts 1:3-5
As we enter the Book of Acts, we discover almost immediately that
the promise of the Father is the baptism of the Holy Ghost.
Acts 2:1-17
When the Apostles were at Jerusalem, they, along with many
others, were joyously filled with the Holy Ghost and began to
speak with other tongues as the Spirit gave the utterance (ability to
speak). The amazed onlookers from many nations who heard them
speaking with tongues asked, 'What meaneth this?" Then Peter
explained the promised coming of the Spirit and went on to preach
Christ and the original apostolic plan of salvation.
Acts 2:36-38
When the people who heard Peter's words believed that Jesus
Christ was their Lord and Savior, they were sorry for their sins and
asked Peter and the Apostles what they should do. Peter replied by
preaching the message Jesus commanded to be preached in Luke
24:45-49. In light of this, consider the three elements of the Plan of
Salvation that Peter preached in verse 38:
1. REPENTANCE
2. REMISSION OF SINS THROUGH BAPTISM IN
JESUS' NAME
3. RECEIVING THE GIFT OF THE HOLY GHOST
NOTICE: Acts 2:38 is the fulfillment of the birth requirements Jesus
mentioned in John 3:5 that were necessary to enter the Kingdom of
God.
-
water birth baptism in the name of Jesus Christ!
-
filling of the Holy Ghost!
Now, let's look at some more examples of people being born again of water and the
Spirit as the Word Jesus gave His apostles continued to be preached throughout
the Book of Acts...
Phillip preaching to the Samaritans in Acts 8
NOTICE: Some people say when they experienced joy; or when they
believed in Jesus, or when they were baptized, they were automatically
filled with the Holy Ghost. But what does the Word say?
Acts 8:5-8
Did they have great joy?
Acts 8:12
Were they baptized in His name?
Did they believe in Jesus Christ?
Acts 8:14-17
Did they receive the Holy Ghost as a separate and distinct
experience?
Peter preaching to the Gentiles in Acts 10
NOTICE: Some people say being religious is enough, or that the
Spirit-baptism evidenced by tongues was only for the day of
Pentecost. If the Bible says this is true, then it is true. But the Word shows us through
Cornelius' experience that this is not true... then it is not....
Acts 10:1-2
Was Cornelius a religious man?
Acts 10:5-6
Did God have more for him to do?
Acts 10:44-46
Did they receive the Holy Ghost and speak in tongues after the day
of Pentecost?
Acts 10:47-48
Did they still have to be baptized in Jesus' name?
Paul preaching to John's disciples in Acts 19
NOTICE: Many people who are believers have not even heard about the
Holy Ghost that is promised to them. Also, some people say it is not
necessary to be baptized or re-baptize (if you were baptized by John the
Baptist, would you think it would be necessary to be re-baptized using a
different baptismal formula?) Others say it does not matter what is
spoken when you are baptized. If the Bible indicates it does not matter,
then it does not matter...but, what if the Bible shows us it DOES matter?
Acts 19:1-2
They were believers, but had they heard of or received the Holy
Ghost?
Acts 19:3-5
Did those baptized by John the Baptist have to be
re-baptized in
Jesus' name?
Acts 19:6
Was receiving the Holy Ghost accompanied by the initial evidence
of speaking in other tongues?
We have found that the Apostles preached the following message:
...the life of Christ and His death, burial and resurrection
...repentance toward God and belief in Jesus Christ baptism in
water by immersion in Jesus' name
...receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost (which was accompanied by
the initial evidence of speaking with other tongues)
Now, let us read what the Apostles had to say about the message of
salvation they proclaimed in the Book of Acts. We can do this by
reading the epistles (letters) they wrote to their converts.
Supplemental Study Scriptures
As we read the Epistles, we will notice how strongly the Apostles felt about the
gospel (good news) of salvation. This is not because they were being
judgmental, it is because they knew the Word Jesus had given them to proclaim
was going to judge all men.
What did Peter say?
"Ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth.. being born again.. by the word of God..
and this is the word which by gospel is preached unto you." (I Peter 1:22-25)
Peter asked a question:
"...What shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of
God?" (I Peter 4:17-18)
(1) Matthew 7:13-24
NOTE: God's warning regarding false prophets and the importance of being a doer
and not just a hearer of the Word.
(2) Matthew 16:15-19
NOTE: Peter was given the "keys of the kingdom" because of his revelation of who
Jesus Christ was.
Paul gave the answer:
"The Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking
vengeance on them that know not God, and
the obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus
Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and
from the glory of his power." (2 Thessalonians 1:7-9)
What did Paul say?
"I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into grace of Christ unto
another gospel: 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 preach any other..."
(3) Other "Great Commission" scriptures":
NOTE: In Matthew 28:18-20 the word "name" is singular in this command to baptize.
The Apostles obeyed this command when they
bapitzed only in the name of Jesus, and did not
use the titles mentioned here. (see Acts 4:12) Mark 16:15-18. The importance of water
baptism and the signs following believers.
(4) Matthew 16:15-19
NOTE: Peter, who was given the "keys of the
kingdom", uses them to open the "kingdom door" by preaching the original apostolic
message of salvation for the first time.
(5) Acts 8:35-39
NOTE: Philip must have mentioned baptism
when he preached Jesus to the Eunuch, because the Eunuch asked to be baptized in
water. The Greek root word for baptize is "bapto", which literally means to cover wholly
with fluid, to dip. (see also Romans 6:3-4).
(6) Acts 10:34-43
NOTE: Peter preached the life and lordship of
Jesus Christ as well as His death, burial and resurrection.
(7) I Peter 3:20-21
NOTE: According to Peter baptism is an essential part of the plan of salvation.
We encourage you to read through the Gospels... in detail... and
continue to walk "into His marvelous light"!
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