BIBLE STUDIES

to do at home

Have a relationship with God

that you never thought was possible.

David Sims
BIBLE STUDIES
to do at home

i
 USA Print: July 2006
Copyright © 2005 David Sims
[email protected]

Cover illustration with appreciation from Denise Docherty.

Illustrations throughout with appreciation from various artists
at Stock Xchange, www.sxc.hu
Trish Splonko - page ii, Werner Braun - page 1,
Benjamin Turner - pages 2 & 10,
Carien van Hest - page 3, Alex Y - page 4,
Fleur Suijten - page 5, Armend M - page 6,
Crissy Watkins - pages 7, 13, 28 & 35,
Maurício Karsten - page 16,
Roy Mattappallil - page 18,
Guy-Claude Portmann - page 27,
Nikolaj Bourguignon - page 33
Yogesh Bhagchandani - page 34,
Kathryn McCallum - page 36, Fekete Zoltán - page 38.

Cover design and book layout by Bethany Turner,

Turner Technologies - [email protected]

Published by THE BOOK PUBLISHERS

ISBN 0-9757226-5-4

The Book
yPublishersp

ii
 — Table of Contents –

This is Life Eternal - 1

A Casual Acquaintance with God is Not Enough 2
Intimate Fellowship with God is Possible 3
Fellowship with God was Broken 4
It has been Made Possible Through Christ 4

Personality of God - 5
To Know God, We Must First Believe that He Exists 5
Man was Made in the Image of God 6
They Knew God as a Personal God 7
God was Seen on Various Occasions 7
God Has a Dwelling Place 8
This Place is in Heaven 8
This Knowledge Changes Cold, Formal Religion to Genuine Worship 9
Revelation’s Testimony 9

That They Might Know Thee - 10

Christ Revealed the Personality and Character of the Father 10

The Father and the Son - 13

“The Only True God” - 16

Christ is in Voluntary Submission to His Father 17

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 — Table of Contents –

To Know Christ - 18
Christ Existed Before His Birth in Bethlehem and He Created All Things 20
Christ is Divine 21
Christ is the Son of God 22
Christ at His Incarnation 22
Christ at His Ascension 25
Jesus is the Author and Finisher of Our Faith 26

The Holy Spirit - 27

(co-authored by David Sims and Bethany Turner)
The Comforter 27
Christ in You 28
The Agency of Angels and the Holy Spirit 33
The Agency of Men and the Holy Spirit 34

New! A Day With God - 36

The Best Gift 36
A Particular Day 37
Ten Commandments 38

Appendix - 39
Christ: Begotten Son and Everlasting Father 39
The Holy Spirit: Defining Terms 40
Elohim: A Plural Word for God? 41

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 This is Life Eternal

In John 17 we have the transcript of a

prayer of Christ. He was already
standing in the shadow of the cross, yet
His burden is for His disciples. In this
touching prayer, rich with meaning,
Christ gave a lesson which should be
engraved on the mind and the soul.
“This is life eternal,” He said, “that
they might know Thee the only true
God, and Jesus Christ, whom Thou
hast sent.” John 17:3.
This is true education. It imparts power.
The experimental knowledge of God
and of Jesus Christ whom He has sent,
transforms man into the image of God.
It gives to man the mastery of himself,
bringing every impulse and passion of
the lower nature under the control of the higher powers of the mind. It makes
its possessor a son of God and an heir of heaven. It brings him into
communion with the mind of the Infinite, and opens to him the rich treasures
of the universe.
This is the knowledge which is obtained by searching the word of God. And
this treasure may be found by every soul who will give all to obtain it.
If thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding;
if thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; then
shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of
God. Proverbs 2:3-5.
Human beings are infatuated with knowledge. Some spend years on an education;
others find out everything there is to know about sports and can tell you every
statistic. Others study all about cars and can tell you the smallest differences in the
different years and models, while still others know all the movie stars and the
intricate details of their personal lives. But what is the value of such knowledge?
How can it compare with a knowledge that will enable us to obtain eternal life?

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A Casual Acquaintance with God is Not Enough
One day my daughter and I were playfully talking and laughing. Then she said
something in a joking way, but with some sarcasm about someone. When I
didn’t respond, she exclaimed, “You are talking with your eyes!” So I asked,
“Well, what did I say?” “You said I am being mean.” She knew me well. I
didn't have to say anything, she already knew what I was thinking.
Perhaps you have a grandmother, husband or wife, sister or brother, or good
friend, with whom you have, or have had, such a relationship. You know them
so well, you can tell what they are thinking. You have been together so much,
and admire one another so much, that you have come to think alike. When
your eyes meet, you can read each other’s thoughts. A look, a hand on the
shoulder, a hug or a touch on the hand; all communicate a thousand things.
You love to be together and you hate being separated.
Have you ever thought of
the possibility of having
that close a friendship with
God? Have you imagined it
possible to know Him, to
love Him, and to know you
are loved by Him that much?
Have you thought it
possible to trust Him so
much that no circumstance
can shake your confidence
in His love? Do you
expect answers to your
prayers and receive the things needed, because you asked exactly what He
wanted to give you anyway? Do you think just like Him, so that before He
asks, you are already thinking of His desires for you and performing them?
Have you ever longed for His presence like a weary deer pants for water?
Jesus had such a relationship with His Father and this is what we need as well.
His intimate relationship with His Father and the relationship we can have
with the Father was the subject of Christ’s last public prayer, recorded in
John 17.
I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that
the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou
hast loved me. John 17:23.

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And from the following verse also, we learn of the closeness, the intimacy, that
God wants us to have with Him.
I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will
guide thee with mine eye. Psalms 32:8.
Recently I had the opportunity to ride a friend's horse. My friend was training
this horse with a special method. The horse was trained to go in the direction
its rider looked or pointed, without the rider having to do anything else.
God wants us to be living so close to Him that when we just look to Him, we
will understand what His thoughts are and be ready to work in harmony with
Him.

Intimate Fellowship with God is Possible

In Hebrews we read of those:
Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained
promises, stopped the mouths of lions,
quenched the violence of fire, escaped
the edge of the sword, out of
weakness were made strong, waxed
valiant in fight, turned to flight the
armies of the aliens. Women received
their dead raised to life again: and
others were tortured, not accepting
deliverance; that they might obtain a
better resurrection. Hebrews 11:33-35.
What kind of relationship was this, that
they could have such experiences!
Daniel was greatly beloved. Abraham was called the friend of God and ate and
talked with God. Enoch walked so close with God, that God took him to be
with Him. Moses spoke face to face with God as a man speaks with his friend.
Job declared concerning God, “Though He slay me yet will I trust in Him.”
John leaned on Jesus' breast and was referred to as the beloved (loved of
Christ). We can have this same kind of relationship with God, for “this is life
eternal.”

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Fellowship with God was Broken
Adam enjoyed this kind of communion and fellowship with God. Morning
and evening, in the “cool of the day” (Genesis 3:8), God came and talked
with Adam and Eve. But because of sin, God, living in glory unapproachable,
could no longer communicate with man.
Without communication even possible, how could man ever hope to know
God, much less have a close relationship with Him? We are living in a
helpless and powerless state, subject to the assaults of a powerful foe; it is so
different to His situation. We are constantly tempted, but He cannot be
tempted. How could we ever hope to discover what He is really like; to know
how He would respond in an environment like ours; or how He thinks about
things? How could we, sinful defiled creatures, hope to ever be able to
approach into His presence, and communicate with the high and holy Creator?
Besides, our situation, living in a world of sin, is so vastly different to the pure,
holy, sinless and glorious environment of heaven.

It has been Made Possible for us Through Christ, for:

God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself. 2 Corinthians 5:19.
[God] 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. Hebrews
1:2.
In Christ, we can see and know God. His character and attributes are the same
as His Father's.
No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the
bosom of the Father, he hath declared him. John 1:18.
It is one thing to have a knowledge of God through other's lives. But it is
another thing to experience God's providence for ourselves, to commune with
Him personally, to know our prayers are heard and recognize His leading and
involvement in our lives. To have our
faith so rooted and grounded in love that
we will have an experience like those of
Hebrews 11, “of whom the world was
not worthy.” God is calling us to this
kind of experience!

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 Personality of God

Before it is possible to have that deeper, personal experience with God, we

must start with a knowledge of God.
In Christ’s prayer, recorded in John 17,
Christ addresses His Father as a separate person.
That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they
also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
Verse 21
He goes on to say in what sense He and the Father are “one.”
This unity does not destroy their individuality.
And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be
one, even as we are one: Verse 22
They are one in the same sense that we are to be one with other believers.
Once in conversation, I was asked, “You believe God is in you, don't you?”
Because I had been studying this very subject, I
answered “No.” (Christ is to be in us in a sense, but not
contrary to sense. See page 31) My questioner was a
little bit surprised and turning to another man, repeated
his question. This time he was rewarded by a “Yes.”
This is the answer he had been looking for, and he
proceeded to share some of his philosophy with us. He
said that he believed that too, and that he also believed
that God was in the ocean, in the trees, and in the
flowers. He went on to say that he was god, I was god,
and that everything was god. Even a cup of water was god, or a “part of god.”
Our understanding of the personality of God is vital to having a relationship
with Him. Can you have a relationship with a tree, or a glass of water? Are we
to look inside ourselves for God? No, no, no!

To Know God, We Must First Believe that He Exists

But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God
must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently
seek him. Hebrews 11:6.

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Nature reveals the existence of God. We cannot honestly examine the least
creature with its intricate detail, without acknowledging the existence of an
intelligent designer, an intelligent Creator. But the creature is not the Creator,
any more than the painting is the artist. Yet, something more than mere belief
in His existence is needed, even the devils believe. We must not just know
about Him, Jesus tells us that we must know Him. Our eternal life depends on
it.
This is a life and death issue, yet mystery surrounds the character and even the
personality of God.
I recently saw a set of tapes with the title “Our Fire and our Friend.” I have no
idea what the speaker has to say, but the title serves to illustrate my point.
Surely we can be warmed by a fire, but can we be friends with a fire? Can a
fire love us? Can it understand our trials and difficulties, and sympathize with
us? Can we have a meaningful relationship with a fire, or for that matter,
something that is merely a spirit? If we are to know God personally, He must
be more than spirit, not something as inanimate and intangible as fire. God is a
person. This is one of the first points the Scripture teaches.

Man was Made in the Image of God

And God said, Let us make man in our
image, after our likeness... So God created
man in his own image, in the image of God
created he him; male and female created he
them. Genesis 1:26-27.
Notice in the following text, that the life; the
spirit of man; what makes us who we are; was
breathed into us by God. Whatever man is, then, was received from God.
And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and
breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
Genesis 2:7
Lest we miss this point, that man was made in the image of God, He says it
again.
This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created
man, in the likeness of God made he him. Genesis 5:1.
This should inspire us with a sense of closeness with God, for He is not some
mysterious entity out in space, but a person, someone that we can fellowship
with and know. The Scripture records many people who knew, or saw God as
a personal God.

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They Knew God as a Personal God.
Enoch Knew God.
And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him. Genesis
5:24
Noah knew God.
These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in
his generations, and Noah walked with God. Genesis 6:9.
More than this, Scripture shows evidence that God has a body, He has a form.

The 70 Elders at the very beginning of their commission and work were
given a view of God as a personal God.
And they saw the God of Israel: and there was under his feet as it were a
paved work of a sapphire stone, and as it were the body of heaven in his
clearness. Exodus 24:10.

God was Seen on Various Occasions

Though no man can see the glory of the face of God and live, yet many have
seen the form of God.
And he [the prophet Micaiah] said, Hear thou therefore the word of the
LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven
standing by him on his right hand and on his left. 1 Kings 22:19.
I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit,
whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure
wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire.
Daniel 7:9.

God Has a Dwelling Place

When God brought Israel out of Egypt and established them as a nation, He
first wanted to impress upon them that He was a personal God, and that He
had a specific dwelling place. He told them:

7
 And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them. Exodus
25:8.
This sanctuary was to be made after the pattern of God’s literal dwelling place.
A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord
pitched, and not man. Hebrews 8:2.
Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses
was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for,
See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to
thee in the mount. Hebrews 8:5.

This Place is in Heaven

Scripture shows us God in a specific place; heaven.
Furthermore, in a specific place in heaven. If He
had no form or body, He would need no physical
dwelling place. That would make the sanctuary in
heaven, and in fact heaven itself, nothing but fiction.
Now there was a day when the sons of God
came to present themselves before the LORD,
and Satan came also among them. Job 1:6.
The LORD is in his holy temple, the LORD’s throne is in heaven: his eyes
behold, his eyelids try, the children of men. Psalms 11:4.

This Knowledge Changes Cold, Formal Religion to Genuine Worship

We need to see God, to know and understand Him as a real personal God.
This was such a vital experience for many that it prepared them for their
work. For Isaiah, the experience of seeing God, a real physical presence, in a
real dwelling place, changed his experience.
In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne,
high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. Above it stood the
seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and
with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. And one cried
unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole
earth is full of his glory. And the posts of the door moved at the voice of
him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke. Isaiah 6:1-4.
This vision inspired Isaiah with awe and reverence. It brought conviction of

8
sin, and changed his religion from one of cold formality to one of genuine
worship.
Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean
lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes
have seen the King, the LORD of hosts. Isaiah 6:5.
See how this vision affected Isaiah’s view of God and of himself! He had
denounced the sin of others; but now he sees himself exposed to the same
condemnation. How little now appears his wisdom and talents as he looks on
the sacredness and majesty of the sanctuary. How unworthy he is! how
unfitted for sacred service! We can hear his cry, like that of the apostle Paul,
“O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this
death?” This prepared him for his work:
Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand,
which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar: And he laid it upon
my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is
taken away, and thy sin purged. Also I heard the voice of the Lord,
saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am
I; send me. Isaiah 6:6-8.

Revelation’s Testimony
From Genesis to Revelation, God has sought to reveal Himself as a real
tangible being, with a body and a form; a personal God with whom we can
communicate. One whom we can trust. In the following passages from the last
book of the Bible, He is shown sitting on a throne, with a real hand that holds
something.
And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in
heaven, and one sat on the throne. Revelation 4:2.
And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written
within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals. Revelation 5:1.

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 That They Might Know Thee (John 17:3)
I recently heard a missionary story of a boy who got malaria. The widowed
mother had already lost her husband to the same terrible fever. She was given
instructions by the witch doctor, of how to get her son well. The prescriptions
included building a fire on the boy's chest, beating him, forcing him to swallow
terrible mixtures, and finally required knocking out all of the boy's teeth. For
all of this the witch doctor was paid richly. The widow's water buffalo, her
only means of plowing and earning a living; her last bit of rice, even a beam
holding up her house had to be removed to pay the “doctor’s” bill.
Perhaps we don't do the things mentioned above, but still our lives are shaped by
our beliefs about God. Who is God? What is He like? How can we know Him?

Christ Revealed the Personality and Character of the Father

Moses “spoke face to face” with God, yet even he was not allowed to see the
glory of the face of the divine person, but only the “back parts.” Others have
seen His hair, hands, feet, and form, but since sin entered the world and
brought about a separation between man and his Creator, no man has ever
been able to penetrate the surpassing glory of the face of God. (John 1:18)
For this reason Christ, the Light of the world, veiled the dazzling splendor of
His divinity and came to live as a man among men. He did so that men might
become acquainted with their Creator. He who is in the “express image of
His person” (Hebrews 1:3) is our “one mediator between God and man.”
(1 Timothy 2:5)
“I and My Father are one,” Christ declared. “No man knoweth the Son, but
the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to
whomsoever the Son will reveal Him.” (John 10:30; Matthew 11:27)
Christ came to teach human beings what God desires them to know about
Himself. In the heavens above, in the earth, in the broad waters of the ocean,
we see the handiwork of God. All created things testify to His power, His
wisdom and His love. But God saw that a clearer revelation was needed to
portray both His personality and His character. He sent His Son into the world
to reveal, so far as could be endured by human sight, the nature and the
attributes of the invisible God. “That they might know thee.” (John 17:3)
Christ’s Identity was Preserved in His Humanity. In the gift of Christ, a
channel of communication was opened, between God and us. When Christ
laid down His divine form, His power and His glory and became a helpless
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babe in Bethlehem, did He lose His identity? Did He cease being the divine
Son of God? No! He was “Immanuel,” God with us. He said, “if you've seen
me, you've seen the Father.” He was still the divine Son of God, bearing the
express image of His Father's character, even though He had divested Himself
of His divine form, which was in the express image of His Father's person.
Thus when we see Christ, who of Himself “can do nothing” (John 5:30) in
the varied circumstances, trials, and temptations, “that are common to man”
(1 Corinthians 10:13), we are seeing the mind of the Father. When He was
being tempted in the wilderness and would rather die than commit sin we are
seeing the abhorrence with which God views sin. When He was nailed to the
cross, and prayed, “Father forgive them for they know not what they do,” or
when we see Him telling Mary Magdalene, “Neither do I condemn thee, go
and sin no more,” we are seeing the forgiving heart of God. He spoke and
acted just as His Father would have.
…but he that sent me is true; and I speak to the world those things which
I have heard of him. John 8:26.
Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then
shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my
Father hath taught me, I speak these things. John 8:28.
When we see His life, one of constant self denial, hardly stopping to eat or
rest, constantly healing the afflicted and speaking encouraging words, we are
seeing the loving, self-sacrificing heart of God.
Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son
can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things
soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise. For the Father loveth the
Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him
greater works than these, that ye may marvel.” John 5:19-20.
We are seeing the orderly mind of God when Christ, paying attention to
details, folded with His own hand His grave clothes before leaving the tomb.
And we see the compassion of God when Christ ministered to the physical
wants of the people in feeding the 5,000, and when He thought of the
emotional needs of His mother at the cross.
In all of this we are seeing the great heart of God. When having such a close
personal friendship with John who leaned on His breast, or when being so
humble as to wash His disciples feet, calling them "friends" (John 15:15), in all
of this we are seeing the personal, friendly, humble ministering traits of our
Father. We are seeing just what the Father would do in the same situation.
In the life of Christ we see the character of God manifested in the very same

11
circumstances we are placed in, with the very same capabilities and liabilities.
It is thus that we can get to know Him intimately. Only by studying the life of
Christ, can we know the heart of God. And it is by contemplating and
appreciating His character, that we are transformed into the same image.
But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord,
are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit
of the Lord. 2 Corinthians 3:18.
That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have
seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have
handled, of the Word of life; (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;) That which we have seen and heard
declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our
fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. 1 John 1:1-3.
When we truly have this fellowship with our Father and His Son, we will come
to love him with all our hearts, love Him for what He is and who He is. And
we will become like Him.
Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we
shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for
we shall see him as he is. 1 John 3:2.
Then we shall receive answers to our prayers, and we will know that they are
heard. Then we shall understand how His going forth is prepared as the
morning.
And thus we will find the truthfulness of Christ's words,
And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and
Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. John 17:3.

Only by studying
Only by studying
the life of Christ,
the life of Christ,
can
can we know
we know
the
theheart ofGod.
heart of God.
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 The Father and the Son

Christ addressed His Father.

In Jesus’ prayer recorded in John 17, He was
addressing His Father.
These words spake Jesus, and lifted up
his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father,”
John 17:1.

The Old Testament testifies that God

had a son even before the creation of
this earth.
Who hath ascended up into heaven, or
descended? who hath gathered the wind
in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath
established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and what is his
son’s name, if thou canst tell? Proverbs 30:4
He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of
the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son
of God. Daniel 3:25
In His incarnation He gained in a new sense the title of the Son of
God.
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. Luke 1:35

After the resurrection, in His glorified state, Christ calls God His Father.
Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my
Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my
Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God. John 20:17
The measure of God’s love for us is recorded in John 3:16, “For God so loved
the world, that He gave His only begotten Son…” Can we trust God to tell us
the truth? To know God, we must believe His word, and we must believe His
love for us. But, I have actually heard church people say that Jesus was just
playing a role. They said that the Father could have been the Son and the Son
could have been the Father. In fact that is what the majority of churches

13
teach. But is that what we have just read in the passages above? Other
Scriptures testify to the fact as well, that Jesus is really the Son of God and
God is really the Father of Christ.
Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the
Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love. 2 John 1:3.
That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father
of our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 15:6.
“Christ” was synonymous with “Son of God” to the Hebrews.
The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Mark 1:1.
And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living
God. John 6:69.
She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son
of God, which should come into the world. John 11:27.
The condition for baptism was believing that Jesus was the Son of God.
And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he
answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. Acts
8:37.

This was the first thing Paul preached.

And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son
of God. Acts 9:20.
This was the reason the gospels were written.
But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son
of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name. John
20:31.
The Scriptures probably contain more testimony referring to Christ as the Son
of God than any other subject. If we deny this truth, we make God a liar, and
we might as well deny the entire Bible.
Anti-Christ denies this father and son relationship.
Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist,
that denieth the Father and the Son. 1 John 2:22.
The antiChrist is a professedly Christian power, and the verse above says that
this power denies the relationship of the Father and the Son. The Scripture
never even hints that we are to understand these verses talking about Christ as
the Son of God to mean anything other than the obvious. Believing the
doctrines taught to us by our pastor, priest, or the creeds of our church has no

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power to sanctify us. It is by believing the truth, as revealed in the Bible, that
we are sanctified. (John 17:17)
But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved
of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to
salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth.
2 Thessalonians 2:13.
If we will take the word of God for just what it says without bringing our pre-
conceived ideas to it, we will know the truth.
And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. John 8:32.
The truth that Christ is the Son of God, is the gospel.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that
whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
John 3:16.
This truth is the foundation of the Christian church.
And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the
living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou,
Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my
Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter,
and upon this rock [the truth that Christ is the "Son of the living God"] I will
build my church. Matthew 16:16-18 (see 1 Pet 2:4-8)

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 “The Only True God”
“...Thee, the only true God...” John 17:3

In this phrase “the only true God,” the first point is the obvious contrast
between the Creator, the source of all life, with all other gods men make for
themselves. Men make gods of gold, silver, and stone and even their stomachs.
But there is another point. The Father, Himself, calls His Son “God” and
elsewhere, the Scripture clearly calls Jesus “God.”
But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a
sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. Hebrews 1:8.
How then do we harmonize these Scriptures with those which speak of the
Father as the only true God?
But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we
in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.
1 Corinthians 8:6.
Who is Christ if His Father is the only true God? Does that make Christ a
false god?
I can't believe that Christ was in these words, denying His own divinity or that
He is a false god. There must be a harmony in these passages. After many
months of prayer and study the effort was richly repaid with precious light on
the character of God that I would have missed otherwise. Nothing in God's
word is unimportant, even if we don't readily discern them. Whenever we
come across texts that seem to contradict, it is because we are missing some
vital points. Here is what I found.
Though Christ:
?has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than the angels -
the name of His God, His Father (Hebrews 1:4)
?has all the attributes of His Father, “For in him dwelleth all the fulness of
the Godhead bodily” (Colossians 2:9)
?has life in Himself (John 5:26)
?is before all things, and by Him all things consist (Colossians 1:17).
Though all of these things are true of Him, notice what is said of Him.
“Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with
God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a
servant, and was made in the likeness of men.” Philippians 2:6, 7.

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This describes what Christ did in His incarnation, but much more than that as
we shall see. There is no contradiction in the Bible’s reference to the Father as
the “only true God” (John 17:3) or the “one God” (1Corinthians 8:6) and
those verses that speak of Christ’s divinity, such as Isaiah 9:6, which calls Him
the “mighty God.” Because even still, Christ, as a son, voluntarily submits to
His Father’s greater authority.
Though Jesus is rightfully called God by His subjects, He recognizes/honors
His Father as the higher authority. (“...to my God and your God” John 20:17)
This is only reasonable, for though my son may grow to adulthood and
become equal to me in every way, or even exceed me in strength, talents and
abilities, yet, if he is a loving, dutiful son he will always respect my greater
authority, because I am the father and he the son. So with Christ. As a Son,
He will ever maintain submission to His Father.

Christ is in Voluntary Submission to His Father

1. On earth
He was in submission to His Father while on earth. In this He has set the
perfect example for us in how we ought to treat our parents.
I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these
things... I do always those things that please him. John 8:28-29.
2. Not only on earth did He set an example of submission, but even in
heaven prior to His coming to earth as a babe in Bethlehem.
The Son wrought the Father's will in the creation of the world, for we read;
...[God] created all things by Jesus Christ. Ephesians 3:9.
3. He is in submission now, after His ascension
Upon His ascension, Christ stated, “All power is given unto me in heaven and
in earth.” Matthew 28:18. Yet He is still in submission to His father. Jesus
calls His Father, “my God.”
Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my
Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my
Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God. John 20:17.
4. And His example of submission will continue even into eternity.
Although
...it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him,
and he will save us. Isaiah 25:9.
Yet,
...when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also
himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may
be all in all. 1 Corinthians 15:28.
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 To Know Christ
“...and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” John 17:3

The blessings of redeeming love, our Savior

compared to a precious pearl. He illustrated
His lesson by the parable of the merchant
seeking goodly pearls “who, when he had
found one pearl of great price, went and sold
all that he had, and bought it.” Christ Himself
is the pearl of great price. In Him is gathered
all the glory of the Father, the fullness of the
Godhead. He is the brightness of the Father's
glory and the express image of His person.
The glory of the attributes of God is expressed in His character. Every page
of the Holy Scriptures shines with His light. The righteousness of Christ, as a
pure, white pearl, has no defect, no stain. No work of man can improve the
great and precious gift of God. It is without a flaw. In Christ are
...hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Colossians 2:3.
He is
...made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and
redemption. 1 Corinthians 1:30.
All that can satisfy the needs and longings of the human soul, for this world
and for the world to come, is found in Christ.
A knowledge of Christ means our eternal life. It is more important than
anything else in this world. Paul was led to exclaim:
Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the
knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of
all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ. Philippians
3:8.
Knowledge of Christ is the means by which the sinner being re-created
And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image
of him that created him. Colossians 3:10.
Through this knowledge we partake of the divine nature.
According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain
unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us
to glory and virtue. 2 Peter 1:3.
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 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might
be filled with all the fulness of God. Ephesians 3:19.
We are commanded to grow, to increase in the knowledge of Christ.
But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus
Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen. 2 Peter 3:18.
Consider Christ.
We are told to consider Christ; to keep Him in mind and contemplate His life
of ministry on earth and in heaven.
Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the
Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus. Hebrews 3:1
It would be well for us to spend a thoughtful hour each day in contemplation
of the life of Christ. We should take it point by point, and let the imagination
grasp each scene, especially the closing ones. As we meditate on His great
sacrifice for us, our confidence in Him will be more constant, our love will
grow, and we will be more deeply imbued with His spirit. If we would be
saved, we must learn the lesson of penitence and humiliation at the foot of
the cross.
By considering Jesus continually it will transform us and make us like
the one we adore.
But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord,
are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit
of the Lord. 2 Corinthians 3:18.
Paul tells us how important the knowledge of Christ was to him as a
minister.
For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and
him crucified. 1 Corinthians 2:2.
Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I
should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ.
Ephesians 3:8.

There is salvation in none other.

Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under
heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. Acts 4:12.
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh
unto the Father, but by me. John 14:6.

He is to be lifted up in all His beauty.

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the

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 Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not
perish, but have eternal life. John 3:14-15.
But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power
of God, and the wisdom of God. 1 Corinthians 1:24.
But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom,
and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption. 1 Corinthians 1:30.
We should honor the Son as we honor the Father
For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the
Son quickeneth whom he will. For the Father judgeth no man, but hath
committed all judgment unto the Son: That all men should honour the
Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son
honoureth not the Father which hath sent him. John 5:21-23.

Christ Existed Before His birth in Bethlehem,

and all Things were Created Through Him
In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of
sins: Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every
creature: 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.
Colossians 1:14-16.
But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands
of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in
Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.
Micah 5:2.
Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I
proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he
sent me. John 8:42.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the
Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things
were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was
made. John 1:1-3.
The Word was with God in the beginning–so far back in the days of eternity
as to be far beyond the grasp of the mind of man. He was before this world
and before the angels, “And he is before all things, and by him all things
consist.” Colossians 1:17-19

20
The ages comprehended in this phrase cannot be grasped. It is not for us to
know when or how Christ was begotten; but we know that He was the Divine
Word before this world was created.
The last prayer of Christ (John 17) also reveals that Christ existed with the
Father before the worlds were created.
And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory
which I had with thee before the world was. John 17:5.

Christ is Divine
In many places in the Bible Christ is called God.
God has, in direct address to the Son, called Him by the same title.
Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever; the scepter of Thy kingdom is a
right scepter. Psalm 45:6.
The casual reader might take this last verse to be simply the Psalmist's
ascription of praise to God, but when we turn to the New Testament, we find
that it is much more. We find that God the Father is the speaker and that He
is addressing the Son.
But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a
sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. Hebrews 1:8.
This name was not given to Christ in consequence of some great achievement,
but it is His by right of inheritance. Speaking of the power and greatness of
Christ, the writer to the Hebrews says that He is made so much better than the
angels, because:
He hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.
Hebrews 1:4.
A son always rightfully takes the name of the father; and Christ, as “the only
begotten Son of God,” has rightfully the same name. A son, also, is, to a
greater or less degree, a reproduction of the father; he has, to some extent, the
features and personal characteristics of his father; not perfectly, because there
is no perfect reproduction among mankind. But there is no imperfection in
God, or in any of His works, and so Christ is the “express image” of the
Father's person. (Hebrews 1:3) As the Son of the self-existent God, He has by
nature all the attributes of Deity.
Christ is Worthy of Worship.
And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith,
And let all the angels of God worship him. Hebrews 1:6

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Christ is the Son of God
Angels are sons by creation.
When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted
for joy? Job 38:7.

Adam was the son of God by creation.

Which was the son of Enos, which was the son of Seth, which was the
son of Adam, which was the son of God. Luke 3:38.

We are sons by adoption.

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have
received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. Romans
8:14-15.

Christ is a son by right, not elevated to that position.

But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold
fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.
Hebrews 3:6.
For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch
as he who hath builded the house hath more honour than the house.
Hebrews 3:3.

Christ is the only begotten Son.

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

Christ at His Incarnation,

took human flesh, degenerated by thousands of years of sin.
Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of
God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby
know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is
come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that
Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of
antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now
already is it in the world. 1 John 4:1-3 .
For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him
the seed of Abraham. Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made
like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest
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 in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the
people. Hebrews 2:16-17.
Man is composed of a concrete portion and an abstract portion. We call these
body and mind or flesh and spirit. The mind is our identity, it is who we are.
Christ had a divine mind. It was His identity, it was who He was. He had this
mind in a fleshly body. Just as we can have this same mind that was in Christ
Jesus, in our fleshly bodies.
Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus. Philippians 2:5.
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of
your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect,
will of God. Romans 12:1-2.
A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and
I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an
heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk
in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them. Ezekiel
36:26-27.
Christ did not exercise divine power that we can not also have.
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do
shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go
unto my Father. John 14:12.
When Jesus was awakened to meet the storm, He was in perfect peace. But
He rested not in the possession of almighty power. It was not as the “Master
of earth and sea and sky” that He rested peacefully. That power He had laid
down, for He said, “I can of Mine own self do nothing.” John 5:30. He
trusted in the Father's might. It was in faith–faith in God's love and care–that
Jesus rested, and the power of that word which stilled the storm was the
power of God.
He came in human flesh for a number of specific reasons:
1. That God could communicate to man through Christ
To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not
imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the
word of reconciliation. 2 Corinthians 5:19.
2. That He could reconcile man and God
For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man
Christ Jesus. 1 Timothy 2:5.
Communication was cut off between man and God because of sin. To
intercede, to mediate, to restore that communication, is a great object in the

23
plan of salvation. He began this work from the moment Adam fell.
And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for
the sins of the whole world. 1 John 2:2.
He was:
...the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. Revelation 13:8.
3. That He could be tempted as a man
It was necessary to see God's character tested by our earthly, sinful
environment in order to really know God. If Christ used His divine power for
Himself, there could have been no temptation for Him.
...for God cannot be tempted... James 1:13.
For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour
them that are tempted. Hebrews 2:18.
4. That He could be our perfect example
For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us,
leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps. 1 Peter 2:21.
5. That He could die for man
Divinity cannot die, so Christ had to lay down the powers of His Divine
nature so that He could die.
That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the
appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ: Which in his times he shall shew, who
is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;
Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can
approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour
and power everlasting. Amen. 1 Timothy 6:14-16
And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became
obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Philippians 2:8
But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the
suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace
of God should taste death for every man. Hebrews 2:9
6. That He could be a prophet and priest before reigning as king
• Jesus while on earth held the office of a prophet.
The glory of God must be veiled for man to behold God. Christ took
humanity, laying aside His glory that He might speak to man on behalf of
God. This is the work of a prophet.
This is that Moses, which said unto the children of Israel, A prophet shall

24
 the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him
shall ye hear. Acts 7:37.
• When He ascended, He took up the work of priest.
To be a priest–one who speaks to God on behalf of men–He had to take on
our human nature.
For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him
the seed of Abraham. Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made
like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest
in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the
people. Hebrews 2:16-17.
Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the
heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. Hebrews
4:14.
• And when Jesus comes again He will reign as king
And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF
KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. Revelation 19:16.
Jesus exercised no power we cannot have. He had trials, was tempted, and
knows by experience what we have to go through. We can overcome in the
same way, and by the same power that He overcame with.

Christ at His Ascension

Shortly before His ascension, Christ said “all power is given unto me in heaven
and in earth.” (Matthew 28:18) He is not lacking any power. This includes the
power to be with us wherever we are. Though Christ still bears His humanity,
He says:
...lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Matthew 28:20.
For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in
the midst of them. Matthew 18:20.
Christ did not lose any of His divine powers. He is just as much divine now as
He ever was. He can still be with us each, wherever we are. He is our
Comforter.
How is Jesus with His children all over the earth and at the right hand of the
Father at the same time? The same way as His Father can be: in Spirit.
Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy
presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in
hell, behold, thou art there. Psalm 139:7-8.

25
 Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my
thought afar off. Psalm 139:2.
With human technology, the internet, I can be seen and heard and both see
and hear many people all over the earth from one specific location wherever I
am located. My voice, my image, my thoughts may be present in many places
while physically, I am in one place. It can be said that my spirit is present with
others miles away from where I am physically. How much more can God and
Christ hear, and see, and communicate, and even act anywhere and yet still
have a physical form, a body in the temple in heaven?

Jesus is the Author and Finisher of our Faith

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of
witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily
beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy
that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set
down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that
endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied
and faint in your minds. Hebrews 12:1-3.

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 The Holy Spirit
(co-authored by David Sims and Bethany Turner)

The Comforter
Jesus speaks of the coming Comforter in John 14.

And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that
he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world
cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye
know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave
you comfortless: I will come to you. Yet a little while, and the world seeth
me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also. At that day ye
shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. He that
hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he
that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will
manifest myself to him. Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it
that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? Jesus
answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words:
and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our
abode with him. John 14:16-23

Jesus speaks of this Comforter in the third person, but in describing who this
Comforter was, Jesus said, “you know him, for he dwelleth with you and shall
be in you,” Jesus, in a personal, physical way, was the “Comforter” that was
with them. (“…for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was
not yet glorified.” John 7:39)

He was to continue to be their Comforter, but now instead of them being able
to see Him with their eyes, and hear Him with their ears, He would be seen in
their minds, He would be heard by them in their thoughts. He confirms this
in the next verse; 18, “I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you,”
verse 20, “I in you,” and verse 23, “my Father will love him, and we will
come unto him, and make our abode with him.”

The Greek word used for Comforter in John 14 is parakletos, the same word
used in 1 John 2:1, where it was translated Advocate and clearly refers to
Christ.

27
Cumbered with humanity, Christ could not be in every place personally;
therefore it was altogether for their advantage that He leave them, go to His
father, and send the Holy Spirit to be His successor on earth. The Holy Spirit
is Himself divested of the personality of humanity and independent thereof.
Thus, no one could then have any advantage because of his location or his
personal contact with Christ. By the Spirit the Saviour would be accessible to
all. In this sense He would be nearer to them than if He had not ascended on
high.

Christ in You
We cannot all have the physical presence of Christ with us in all our various
locations at the same time. But we can
and must have the Spirit/Mind of
Christ dwelling in us.
I am crucified with Christ:
nevertheless I live; yet not I, but
Christ liveth in me: and the life
which I now live in the flesh I live
by the faith of the Son of God,
who loved me, and gave himself
for me. Galatians 2:2
To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this
mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
Colossians 1:27
That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be
strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may
dwell in your hearts by faith. Ephesians 3:16-17

The Mind Connection

It was a glorious morning. As I was washing the breakfast dishes, the words
from a psalm that I had been memorizing filled my mind and an amazing
sense of peace flooded me. I was interrupted when my husband called me to
see an Email forward that had just come in. The pictures were of a huge dead
bear and they were almost gruesome.
When I got back to the dishes I soon noticed that my mind was now filled
with thoughts of the bear and hunter that had killed it, rather than the Word
of God. And the peaceful atmosphere had broken.

28
With an effort to train my mind back to the Word I prepared to make our bed.
On the covers sat a booklet on the evils of Harry Potter. Being a reader, I
picked it up. I didn't read much but the next thing I knew the words from the
Psalm that I was meditating on were being mixed with words from Harry
Potter.
This started me thinking about the role of the mind in the life of the Christian.
We have confessed our sins and given our hearts to Jesus. It is the daily walk
that concerns us now – how to grow into mature men and women in Christ.
We want victory in our lives and freedom from sin. How? “Abide in me” Jesus
said. “Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not.” 1 John 3:6 But how do we
abide in Him and how does He abide in us?
Does the person Christ Jesus, come down from heaven to us and physically
take up residence in our bodies? Does He 'possess' us in the way that demons
did in the New Testament times? Speaking through our mouths and taking us
where we don't want to go? Certainly not!

Indwelt by the Spirit

In John fifteen, where Jesus drew the illustration of the vine and told His
disciples the importance of abiding, He explained His meaning in practical
terms.
If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you... John 15:7.
Words convey thoughts. Christ abides in us and we in Him, by listening to His
voice through His Word and taking them into our minds; meditating. It's all
about the mind!
Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus. Philippians 2:5.
The mind is the intangible part of the body – you can't touch it, see it or
handle it. What is it that dwells in the mind? Is it not the thoughts? And in
words we have an expression of the thoughts. For, “out of the abundance of
the heart, the mouth speaketh.” Matthew 12:34.
So we can say,.
(produces) (expressed by)
Heart/Mind ð Thoughts ð Words
Let's look at a few texts in this connection.
That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith. Ephesians 3:16.
Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus. Philippians 2:5.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly. Colossians 3:16.

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 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by
these ye might be partakers of the divine nature. 2 Peter 3:4.
So we see that it is by God's promises (His thoughts, or words) that we
become partakers of the divine nature. Thus, He dwells in us.
The Bible also speaks of our being in-dwelt by God's Spirit.
What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost
which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
1 Corinthians 6:19.
Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was
in them did signify. 1 Peter 1:11.
Having Christ dwell in us and having the Holy Spirit dwell in us are talking
about the same thing.

The Spirit of Man

Man is composed of two parts. There is the tangible and the intangible parts.
We call these the body and mind, or the flesh and the spirit. This is illustrated
in the following text.
They angered him also at the waters of strife, so that it went ill with
Moses for their sakes: Because they provoked his spirit, so that he spake
unadvisedly with his lips. Psalm 106: 32, 33.
The children of Israel did not hurt Moses' physical body, but his spirit. It goes
without saying however, that is was Moses' himself that they provoked and not
someone other than Moses.
The idea that man's spirit somehow can have a separate existence from his
body is an idea borrowed from paganism. It is founded on Satan's first lie,
spoken to Eve in the garden that, “ye shall not surely die.” (Genesis 3:4) The
scripture testifies that when a man dies, “in that very day his thoughts perish.”
(Psalms 146:4) And in another place it says “The living know that they shall
die: but the dead know not anything.” (Ecclesiastes 9:5) Jesus referred to
Lazarus as “sleeping” when he was dead. (John 11:11) The righteous must be
resurrected before going to heaven (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18) and the wicked
must be resurrected before they are judged (Revelation 20:5, 13).
It is true that this mortal “flesh and blood will not inherit the kingdom of
God.” But nevertheless “there is a spiritual body, an immortal body.” (Read
1 Corinthians 15:35-56). The spirit does not exist as a separate intelligent
entity outside of a body. Man was made in the image of God, after His
likeness. And in writing to the Corinthians, Paul likens God's Spirit to our
spirit.
30
 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which
is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of
God. 1 Corinthians 2:11.
Two parallel Bible verses also witness to this connection.
By the prophet Isaiah the question is In quoting this Old Testament
asked, passage, Paul wrote,
Who hath directed the Spirit of For who hath known the mind
the LORD, or being his counsellor of the Lord? or who hath been
hath taught him? Isaiah 40:13. his counsellor? Romans 11:34.

So when inspiration speaks of God's Spirit, it is speaking, at least in part, of

His innermost person – His mind and emotions.

How does God pour His Spirit upon us?

Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will
make known my words unto you. Proverbs 1:23.
By making known (or giving us understanding of) His thoughts, and as we
mediate on them and fill our minds with them and they become our thoughts,
we become partakers of His Spirit.
This conversion is not immediate. Our heart is naturally evil and at variance to
God, it is desperately wicked. Our thoughts also are naturally so different to
Jehovah's that He tells us,
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,
saith the LORD.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than
your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:7, 8.
We need a new heart, a new mind, a new spirit. This, God has promised us.
But we have a part to play of co-operation.
When Jesus was explaining this truth to a crowd at Capernaum, they were
offended and many of his disciples left him. Let us examine this message of
Christ’s in John chapter six that brought so much opposition.
We must eat His flesh and drink His blood to have life
Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the
flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. Verse 53

He is talking about eternal life

Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will
raise him up at the last day. Verse 54
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By this Christ is speaking of the ‘abiding.’
He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in
him. Verse 56

What did Jesus mean when he spoke of eating his flesh and drinking his
blood? We know he was not speaking of a literal cannibalistic meal. A little
further on in the chapter He explains His meaning:

We abide in Him and He in us by having His word in us and living by it.

It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I
speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. Verse 63
I would like you to notice something here – God's word contains a power and
life that ours does not. When God speaks, things happen. There is creative
power in His word. Just so, when we partake of His word and it becomes a
part of us, it changes us. Christ's words taken into the heart have a power to
recreate our carnal minds and stamp on us the impress of the divine.
The battle for our eternal life lies in our minds.
We have not only to put the Word of God into our minds, but also to watch
what other input we are receiving. We are to painstakingly protect our minds.
Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.
Proverbs 4:23.
How is it that God communicates with us? It is through our minds. But how
will we ever hear that “still small voice” if our minds are always occupied? The
experience expressed in the following verse needs to be ours.
Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself
against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought
to the obedience of Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:5.
We need to train ourselves to think on heavenly things. Have you ever noticed
how difficult it is to have quiet time with God immediately after watching
television? Or to meditate on Scripture after reading the news?
There is a battle over our minds, and we must guard the entrance so that only
the good will have a place there.
And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your
hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatsoever
things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just,
whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever
things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any
praise, think on these things. Philippians 4:7-8.

32
If we desire to partake of God's Spirit, we have our part to play. We must
choose to listen to that “still small voice,” and not crowd it out with many
other thoughts. We must choose to be in communication with God. We must
choose to read His word and believe it. We must go where it is being spoken,
praying that we might hear His voice through it.

Christ dwells in us when we choose to listen to that still small voice, and not
crowd it out. Rather than reading His word to look for proofs to support our
ideas or treating it as ordinary words on paper, we need to hear God’s voice
speaking to us personally through it. We must choose to familiarize ourselves
with it by meditation and memorization. And we must choose to trust His
promises and obey them.
What means do we know of by which God communicates his Spirit, His
thoughts and feelings with men?

The Agency of Angels and the Holy Spirit

Another term for being “moved by the
Holy Ghost” is “inspiration of God.”
All scripture is given by inspiration of
God, and is profitable for doctrine, for
reproof, for correction, for instruction
in righteousness. 2 Timothy 3:16.
For the prophecy came not in old time
by the will of man: but holy men of
God spake as they were moved by the
Holy Ghost. 2 Peter 1:21.
This inspiration/communication from God comes through certain channels.
The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto
his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and
signified it by his angel unto his servant John. Revelation 1:1.

God gave the revelation to Jesus who sent it by his angel to John. When the
writers of Scripture were “moved by the Holy Ghost” or “inspired of God,”
God was speaking through Christ and/or angels to men. The following verse
is another example of this:
And it came to pass, when I, even I Daniel, had seen the vision, and
sought for the meaning, then, behold, there stood before me as the

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 appearance of a man. And I heard a man’s voice between the banks of
Ulai, which called, and said, Gabriel, make this man to understand the
vision. Daniel 8:15-16.
We need to become familiar with the ministry of angels, God’s ordained
means of communication with man after his fall.
And he (Jacob) dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the
top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and
descending on it. Genesis 28:12.
Christ is represented by the ladder. He is the mediator, and the angels are the
messengers.
And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see
heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the
Son of man. John 1:51.
Angels are ministering spirits/messengers
But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until
I make thine enemies thy footstool? Are they not all ministering spirits,
sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation? Hebrews
1:13,14.

The Agency of Men and the Holy Spirit

When Christ sent His disciples out to preach the gospel, He gave them the
promise that God would speak
through them.
But when they deliver you
up, take no thought how or
what ye shall speak: for it
shall be given you in that
same hour what ye shall
speak. For it is not ye that
speak, but the Spirit of your
Father which speaketh in
you. Matthew 10:19-20
Each one is given a measure of the Spirit, that he might be a blessing to
others.
But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
1 Corinthians 12:7

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Each disciple is heaven’s appointed channel for the revelation of God to men.
Angels wait to communicate through you heaven’s light to souls perishing in
sin. And what if you refuse to be that channel? Then to that degree is the
world robbed of the promised influence of the Holy Spirit!
It is not because of any restriction on the part of God that the riches of His
grace do not flow earthward to men. If all were willing to receive, all would
become filled with His Spirit.
There is nothing that Christ desires so much as agents who will represent to
the world His Spirit and character. And there is nothing that the world needs
so much as human examples of the Saviour's love.
Dear reader, turn your eyes on Jesus. Take time to fill your soul with His word
and commune with him as you walk life’s pathways. As you look to Christ, He
will draw near to you and ravish your heart with the joy and peace that comes
with a sense of the abiding presence of Christ in the soul. As your thoughts
are exchanged for His, you will be changed also and will reflect the beauty of
His character.
Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given
us of his Spirit. 1 John 4:13

35
 A Day With God
The Best Gift
We can be ever thankful to God for the gift of life, and
everything good and lovely. But the most precious of all
gifts He has given man is the gift of Himself. His
presence, and involvement in our lives is the greatest
of His gifts. In the garden of Eden the scripture
tells us how God walked in the garden at the cool
of the day (morning and evening) to commune with
our first parents. God knew we needed instruction,
guidance, and fellowship. Not only did we have a need,
but He wanted our fellowship.
Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for
thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.
Revelation 4:11.
Among all the gifts that one can give in a relationship is the gift of their time.
All the gifts that money can buy will not equal the spending of time together.
This is a gift God gave to man. Besides spending morning and evening with
man every day, God also spent man's entire first day of life with him, as well as
every seventh day after that. (Man was created Friday, and at sunset, the
seventh day, the Sabbath began.)
Consider the fact that time is governed by the celestial bodies and their
relationship with one another.
And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to
divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons,
and for days, and years. Genesis 1:14.
The day is determined by the rotation of the earth, the month by the rotation
of the moon around the earth, and the year by the rotation of the earth
around the sun. But have you ever wondered where the week comes from?
The only reason we can point to is the fact that creation week was seven days.
Let’s bear in mind also that it took God just six days to create the heaven and
the earth. So why seven days? God created one more day, and concerning this
day we are told “And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because
that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.”
Genesis 2:3.

36
This day was created for the express purpose of blessing us.
Moreover also I gave them my sabbaths, to be a sign between me and
them, that they might know that I am the LORD that sanctify them.
Ezekiel 20:12.
This is the day upon which God especially wanted us to remember Him. God
knew we would be prone to forget, so He said “remember.”
Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and
do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God:
in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy
manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is
within thy gates: For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea,
and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD
blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it. Exodus 20:8-11.
God is jealous of our time on this day. He says:
If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on
my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the LORD,
honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding
thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words: Then shalt thou
delight thyself in the LORD; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high
places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father:
for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it. Isaiah 58:13-14.

A Particular Day
God has set apart time for us, one whole day a week, for the people of this
planet. Ought we not set apart time for Him? Will just any day be okay? God
didn't say, remember to spend time with me, and then leave it up to us to
decide when was convenient. He specified a certain day of the week, and a
particular time that He wanted us to devote to Him. And lest this time be
confused when translated into different languages, he calls it by its number, the
seventh. This day of the week is His memorial of creation. It points to His
creative power, and testifies that the same power that created the heavens and
the earth, can re-create us, and change us into His likeness.
Is there any confusion as to which day the seventh is? The day the Bible
writers, the prophets and apostles, as well as Jesus Himself kept, was the day
we call Saturday. This day has been kept from the time of Christ continually by
Jews and some Christians. There is no confusion which day is the seventh day,
the Sabbath. The Scripture says that Jesus rose on the “first day,” and the
whole world recognizes that as Sunday. That makes Saturday the seventh day.

37
Ten Commandments
Scripture is entirely silent concerning any change of the Sabbath to any other
day. The excuse some give that the law was done away with at the cross is
without any true Scriptural evidence, and it is unreasonable. The Sabbath is the
fourth commandment of the Moral Law. If the law was done away with, then
we are at liberty to kill and steal and commit adultery and take God's name in
vain, etc. No one ought to assume that the Moral Law was done away with.
Why do some Scriptures seem to indicate that the law was done away with?
Because it is talking about the law of types and shadows that were for the
specific purpose of bringing to mind and explaining the prophecies
concerning the coming of Christ. Things such as the Passover, and Pentecost,
the sacrificial system, as well as the National Civil Laws that pertained
specifically to the Jews as a nation.
The Ten Commandments written with the finger of God on tables of stone,
are expressive of the whole duty of man to God and man to man, they were
not done away with. They are summed up in the two principles,
v Love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and
v Love thy neighbour as thyself.
Can we love our neighbour as ourselves and still steal from him, commit
adultery with his wife or kill him, breaking the last six of the commandments?
Then neither can we love God with all our hearts without observing the first
four commandments including the fourth which requires us to set apart the
time that He has asked us to spend with Him.

38
 Appendix
Christ: Begotten Son and Everlasting Father
Isaiah 9:6:
How can Christ be both the “begotten Son of God” (John 3:16), and the
“everlasting Father” (Isaiah 9:6)?
Firstly, He is the Father of His children, not the father of Himself or of His
Father.
Secondly, the word everlasting in these verses, is not what we might think. It
comes from the Hebrew word `ad, or `Ad. It has a Strong’s number of 5703.
...the everlasting <5703> Father, The Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6
That same word translated everlasting above, is translated in the following verse
“of old,” where it obviously doesn't mean without beginning.
Knowest thou not this of old <5703>, since man was placed upon earth. Job
20:4
And here in Habakkuk it speaks of everlasting mountains.
He stood, and measured the earth: he beheld, and drove asunder the nations;
and the everlasting <5703> mountains were scattered, the perpetual hills did
bow: his ways are everlasting. Habakkuk 3:6.
Micah 5:2
The same is the case with the word translated everlasting in Micah 5:2. It is the
Hebrew word `owlam, or `owlam. It has a Strong’s number of 5769.
...whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting <5769>.
Micah 5:2.
The way this is used elsewhere also shows that it does not necessarily mean
without beginning.
Feed thy people with thy rod, the flock of thine heritage, which dwell
solitarily in the wood, in the midst of Carmel: let them feed in Bashan and
Gilead, as in the days of old <5769>. Micah 7:14.
Bashan and Gilead certainly are not without beginning! And here is another of
countless examples that could be shown:
Then he remembered the days of old <5769>, Moses, and his people, saying,
Where is he that brought them up out of the sea with the shepherd of his
flock? where is he that put his holy Spirit within him? Isaiah 63:11.
Was Moses without beginning? Certainly not! We are forced to conclude that the
meaning of this word is not “without beginning or end.” Everlasting means

39
unmeasured duration. In the reference above it indicates the old days, a long time
ago, without a specific reference for time.
This is also the meaning for similar words such as forever, eternal, etc. The cities
of Sodom and Gomorrah were burned with eternal fire, (Jude 7 ) yet they are not
burning today. Eternal in this verse emphasizes, the fire could not be put out, as
long as there was something to burn. And again, the wicked are to be tormented
‘for ever’ (Revelation 20:10) and yet Malachi 4:3 tells us that the wicked are
reduced to ashes; entirely burned up. Forever is, in this case, only until there is
nothing left to consume.

The Holy Spirit

Defining Terms
The context of the verses below indicate that the Spirit that moved upon the face
of the waters at creation, and by which God created the earth is the same Spirit
which was upon Moses and which came upon the 70 elders causing them to
prophecy, and the same Spirit that Jesus was anointed with. (Genesis 1:2; Numbers
11:17; Isaiah 63:11; Genesis 6:3; Psalms 51:11; Isaiah 42:1.)
The various English terms used in these passages, Spirit, Spirit of God, Holy
Spirit, My Spirit are translated from the same Hebrew word xwr (ruwach roo’-akh)
with the Strong’s number 7307.
The verses in the New Testament just below, use the Greek word pneuma
(pneuma pnyoo’-mah) with the Strong’s number 4151 to refer to the same spirit.
Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit <4151> of Christ which
was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ,
and the glory that should follow. ...by them that have preached the gospel
unto you with the Holy Ghost <4151> sent down from heaven. 1 Peter 1:11-
12.
Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit <4151> of
God dwelleth in you? 1 Corinthians 3:16.
(But this spake he of the Spirit <4151>, which they that believe on him
should receive: for the Holy Ghost <4151> was not yet given; because that
Jesus was not yet glorified.) John 7:39.
If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how
much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit <4151> to them
that ask him? Luke 11:13.
And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of
my Spirit<4151>; and they shall prophesy. Acts 2:18.

40
From the verses quoted above we can see that various English terms have been
used for a single Hebrew or Greek word. The context of the passages quoted
above, testify that they are speaking of the same thing. Here they are summarized.
The Spirit = My Spirit (when God is speaking) = Spirit of God = Spirit of
Christ = Holy Ghost = Holy Spirit

Elohim
A plural word for God?
Elowah is the Hebrew word for God. Sometimes, its plural form Elohim is used
(as in Genesis 1) and is also translated “God.” Does this indicate that there is
some kind of plurality in God? Actually, it doesn't. With Hebrew words, the
plural form does not always indicate number. In fact, when referring to the true
God, Elohim is almost exclusively accompanied by singular verbs and is not
indicating “Gods” (plural). Rather it is indicating the comprehensiveness, the
majesty of God. This is common in Hebrew.
Here are some other examples:
Bamah (singular) is translated “high place,” and even “high places” at times, but in
the plural, it is translated both as the name of a place and as “great high place.”
Uwr the singular for fire, when found in the plural form, is translated Urim (one of
the stones on the breastplate of the high priest).
So, rather than indicating that there are multiple persons in God, it is our
understanding that Elohim was used by the writers of the Bible to indicate the
greatness and majesty of God.

41
 BIBLE STUDIES
to do at home

Have a relationship with God

that you never thought was possible.

52
David Sims

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BIBLE STUDIES
to do at home
...this is life eternal...

A look in her eyes and you know what she is thinking.

You finish each other’s sentences. Maybe it is your
mother, your husband or your best friend. But can you
imagine having such a relationship with God?

In John 17:3 Jesus said, “And this is life eternal, that

they might know You...” But how can we know God?
These studies have been written to explore what He has
told us about Himself.

Learn about His person, His personality, His great gift,

and the Holy Spirit. Get to know Him, trust and love
Him.

The Book
yPublishersp
ISBN 097572265-4

9 780975 722657