A question that is asked often is if the gift of tongues, healing, and miracles are still in effect today. The 12 disciples of Christ and the apostles in the early church had these gifts and powers. Why did God give them? Can a person in our time have these gifts? 

Let’s first look at the office of an apostle

We must first find how the Bible defines an apostle. What was required to be an apostle?

The office or position of an apostle was given for a certain reason and for a limited time. The apostles were given to confirm the word of God and lay a foundation for the church. Many today claim they are apostles but, they do not and can not meet the requirements we find in the Bible.

Eph 2:20  And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;

I want to look at a simple but important doctrine in the New Testament, the difference between the terms “kingdom of God” and “the kingdom of heaven.” 

Many people when they read the Gospels assume they mean the same thing.

What are these two kingdoms? Are they different? If so, is it really important to make a difference between them? Yes, it is important to understand the difference.

The kingdom of God is a spiritual kingdom, while the kingdom of heaven is a physical kingdom that will come in the future.

Today we will look at the words of God. From the very beginning of man’s history, God has wanted to communicate with His greatest creation: man.

Because of this, he talked and walked with Adam and Eve in the Garden. From that time on God has given us His words. He has told us what He expects from us, He has shown us His character and what He is like, He has encouraged and rebuked us with His words, and He has shown us the way of salvation with His words.

This is a great truth and blessing that many people either take for granted or dismiss as a myth. 

The Bible tells us about how God has given us His word, how He kept it pure and given it to man generation after generation. 

We will not study manuscript evidence or the history of the Bible in great detail today. We will instead take a practical and Biblical look.

Our verses from the Bible for today are found in Psalms 12:6-7.

Psa 12:6-7  "The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever."

Last year I looked at many doctrines in the Bible that every child of God should understand. I would like to continue looking at more simple doctrines for the first part of this year.

We saw that God is a Trinity, He is just and Holy, and that His Son Jesus Christ is both 100% God in the flesh and 100% man.

Today I would like to talk about the love of God. Such a simple topic—and yet—hard to fully understand. Why does He take the time to be interested in us? And more importantly— why did God love us so much that He gave His Son to pay for our sins?

So today let’s see what the Bible says about the love of God.

In Romans chapter five we see the love of God clearly shown to His creation. God did not just say He loved man, He showed us by the act of dying for all mankind.

Let’s that in Romans 5:6-8

Rom 5:6  For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Today I want to look at the doctrine of the Humanity of Christ. Last week we looked at the deity of Jesus Christ. This is an important doctrine we need to understand and study. 

However, Jesus was also born of Mary into a human body. He had a body of flesh and blood like us. He was human in the fullest sense. I want to be careful today not to minimize the deity of Christ or cause any offense when stating Jesus was also a man. But many Bible teachers neglect this important part of who Jesus is. It will help us understand many Bible passages.

Since sin and death came upon all men through a man, Adam, then life and forgiveness of sins must also come through a man. So God had to be born into a human body, live on this earth, and suffer as a man to pay for man’s sin.

Today I would like to look at the Deity of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was and is God in the flesh and is equal with God the Father.

Some teach that Jesus was just a good man, a teacher, a prophet, or even the brother of Satan. But who does the Bible say Jesus Christ is?

This week, we will look at many Bible passages that show without any doubt that Jesus is God in the flesh. Next week we will see how He was also born into a body of flesh—a perfect, sinless man. He is both 100% God—and 100% human.

When we read the Bible it is important to understand when it is talking about His deity or His humanity. If we do not make this distinction, then many problems and so-called contradictions will arise. 

Isa 9:6  For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Today I would like to look at the doctrine of the Holiness and Justice of God.

We looked at the Trinity and how God has a personality.

He has love, compassion, mercy, grace, and many other things. In past lessons, we looked at the gift of salvation He offers Man and how He will give grace and mercy. He loved man so much that He gave His life for Man on the cross.

But God is also holy and just. Because God is sinless and holy, He cannot accept sin of any kind.

The Bible tells us in Exodus 15:11 “Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?”

God is glorious in holiness the Bible tells us. What does holy or holiness mean? 

In our world, this word does not always have a positive meaning. This is true for a few reasons. Our society does not value being holy as God is holy. In fact, our modern world mocks those who try to live a pure, holy life in the eyes of God.

I believe Jeremiah chapter 9:24 from the Bible explains this balance of God’s character the best.

Jer 9:24  But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.

The Lord is full of lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness. This verse tells us He delights in these things.

Today I would like to look at the doctrine of the Trinity. This is one of the most well-known doctrines from the Bible. Many people have heard of this doctrine and may even be able to define it.

Before we look at the doctrine of the Trinity, we need to understand that the Bible state that there is a God as a fact. It never tries to prove this.

The Bible says the fool hath said in his heart, there is no God (Ps. 14:1).

Who is the God of the Bible? There are many beliefs about who God is, how much interest He has in man, and what He approves or disapproves of. Some think God is a bully who enjoys punishing man—while others think God loves all things and approves of every sin and wickedness.

In the next few weeks, we will look at the character of God. God is a person. He has love, mercy, grace, compassion, patience—and yet He is holy, just, and righteous. Because of His holiness, He must judge the sins of men.

The Bible tells us there is but one God. 

Isa 44:6  Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.

All the other so-called gods of this world and idols. Humans since their fall in the garden have given their worship to these gods of wood and stone. Giving them worship does not make them the God of the universe.

So today let’s start with the Trinity. We will look later at the character of God.

What is the church? Who is part of the church and how do you become a member? Are there local churches or a universal Church? Who is the head of the Church and who leads an individual church?

These are all good questions that I will try to answer today.

The Bible tells us there are three main groups of people in the Bible, the Jews, the Gentiles, and the church of God:

1Co 10:32  Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:

Today we will look at this last group, the Church of God.

Today, I would like us to look at walking after the Holy Spirit versus walking after the flesh.

A few weeks ago we looked at the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer. We saw how a new Christian, a person who has trusted Jesus as their personal Saviour, is born-again by the Spirit of God. The Bible tells us we become a new creature in Christ, 2 Corinthians 5:17:

2Co 5:17  Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

A Christian has a choice: to walk after the Holy Spirit that lives inside of them, or walk after their sinful body or flesh. We have an old man and a new man.

We can produce the fruits of the Spirit in our life or the fruits of our sinful flesh. We will reap what we sow. If we plant sinful things in our life then we will reap sin and all its consequences. If we plant good spiritual fruit we will reap good things such as love, joy, and peace.

Let’s look at how we should walk as a Christian.