Act I: Introducing the Main Characters
In this session, we will look at the major characters that influence our existence both here and now as well as eternally. Understanding them will help us to determine what difference a!! this makes in the first place!
I. You and Me
A.Genesis 1:27 tells us that we were created in the image of:
1. our parents
2. our great-grandfather Mortimer
3. our pet dog
4. God
From this we get our spiritual, moral, and intellectual image Bonus: No matter how bad, there is a little bit of good in everybody!
B.Humans, that’s you and me, are made of…? (Hint: took in
IThessalonians 5:23.)
1. body
2. soul
3. spirit
We got our start from Adam and Eve, who were sinless. When they fell, sin entered into the human race. Now everybody is born with the compulsion to…
1. eat
2. play Ping Pong
3. sin
(and all are sinners, I Kings 8:46; Isaiah 64:6; Romans 3:9; 5:12, 19; 7:14).
“For aLL have sinned”(Romans 3:23).
“For the wagesof in is death ” (Romans 6:23; Hebrews 2:2,3).
Sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death”(James 1:15).
We are all guilty of sin and sentenced to die. The only way to escape the sentence of sin is by the saving work of Jesus Christ. But who is He? Where did He come from, and what is His significance?
To understand Jesus, we first need to understand who God is and what He is like.
11.The Doctrine of God
“God is a Spirit : and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24).
Although we cannot see God, we can be sure He exists! David said in Psalm 19:1, “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handiwork.”
A.God is (match the definition with the attribute):
2 omnipresent (Jer. 27:24;Proverbs 15:3) 1. all knowing
3 omnipotent (Revelation 19:6) 2. everywhere present
1 omniscient (Job 34:21; Psalms 147:5) 3. all powerful
Bonus: We never need to feel afraid, alone, or ignorant. Our Father, who lives in us, is all we need!
B.God is 2 – love(I John 4:8).
1. holy 2. love 3. judgment 4. one
No other religion equates God so totally with love
C.God is 1 – holy(I Peter 1:15-16).
1. holy 2. love 3. judgment 4. one
Holymeans spiritually pure and sinless. It is because of this attribute of God that He cannot condone man’s sinfulness. (Note: Adam and Eve were spiritually and morally pure until they disobeyed God by eating the fruit of the tree that gave knowledge of good and evil. This sin defiled their spiritual and moral purity.)
D.God is 4 – one(Deuteronomy 6:4).
1. holy 2. love 3. judgment 4. one
9 Nowhere does the Bible speak of God as a trinity or three persons. However, there are several descriptive titles mentioned to describe the different manifestations, roles, relationships to man, and modes of activity.
On the other hand, many verses emphasize God’s oneness: Isaiah 42:8; 43:10-11; 44:6-8; 24; 45:21-23; 46:5-9; Mark 12:28-30; Galatians 3:20; I Timothy 2:5; James 2:19.
Let’s look at some of the titles of God mistakenly understood by some to represent different persons:
E. Father. This title describes God as the Father of creation Father of Jesus, and the spiritualFather of all who have received His Spirit (Deuteronomy 32:6; Malachi 2:10).
F. Son. This title refers to God coming in the flesh as Jesus. Jesus was conceived by the Holy Ghost, who was literally His Father (Matthew 1:18-20; Luke 1:35).
G. Holy Spirit. This title identifies God in activity. This descriptive title helps us to understand how God works in our lives and in the world (Genesis 1:2; Acts 1:5-8).
To simplify God’s relation toward us, look at it this way:
Father describes God in His family relationship to man.
Son refers to God in flesh
Spirit identifies God in activity
John 1:1 says it well: “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” This verse is further clarified when we look at John 1:14: “And the Wordwas made flesh , and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” I Timothy 3:16 identifies Jesus Christ as God in flesh: “God was manifest[shown plainly, revealed] in the flesh , justifiedin the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory”
III. The Identity of Jesus Christ
Who is Jesus? Is he God’s Son? Is He God coming as a Son? Let’s take a look at a few specific points regarding Jesus’ identity:
A. Jesus Christ is both Godand man-. Very simply, Jesus Christ is God come to us in the flesh.
” Godwas manifest in the flesh” (I Timothy 3:16).
“For in him f Jesus a dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily” (Colossians 2:9).
B.God the Father dwells in the man Christ Jesus
“To wit, that God was in Christ reconciling the world [you and me] unto himself” (II Corinthians 5:19).
Jesus said, “I and my Father are one” (John 10:30)
“The Father is in me,and I in him “(John 10:38).
“He that hath seen me hath seen the Father …. The Father that dwelleth in me , he doeth the works” (John 14:9-10).
C.Believing that Jesus is God is essentialto salvation.
God said, “I, even I , am He that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins” (Isaiah 43:25).
Jesus said, “I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he [Messiah, the Savior], ye shall die in your sins” (John 8:24).
If Jesus is not God, then how can He forgive sin? (Circle one)
1.By special permission from God
2.Because after Isaiah 43:25, God changed His mind
3.Because He is the only person whose words are printed in red in the Bible
4.None of the above
Point: Only Godcan forgive sin, so in order for Jesus to cleanse our sin, He must be God
D.Believing in Jesus’ humanity is essential to salvation.
“And every spirit that confessethnot that Jesus Christ is come
in the fleshis not of God” (I John 4:3).
If God did not come in the flesh , then there was no sacrifice to shed blood to satisfy the penalty of sin.
E.Conclusion
1.Revelation 1. Who was speaking to John? Jesus
Clue: The answer is found in Revelation 1:18.
2.Revelation 4:2 “And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and c – one sat on the throne.”
a. a committee
b. the holy trinity
c. one
d. none of the above
3. Revelation 4:3. “And d – none that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.”
a. they
b. those
c. them
d. none of the above
IV. Angels and Demons
God created (circle one)
1. everythinq
2. everything but the devil
3. everything but the devil and some people
“Thou art worthy, 0 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).
A.Angels
Angels are spirit beings , with different ranks and responsibilities. (See Hebrews 1:14)
Note: As exemplified by Lucifer, they have their own will.
1.It appears that there are different types or ranks of angels:
a. seraphim(Isaiah 6:2,6)
b. cherubim (Psalms 80:1; 99:1)
c. archangel (Jude 9)
2.Angels have both a heavenly and an earthly ministry:
In heaventhey surround God’s throne and worship Him (Isaiah 6:1-6).
On earth, they
a. strengthen
b. encourage
c. protect and
d. deliverthe saints (Hebrews 1:13,14).
They are also instrumental in performing God’s work, particularly His judgment. (Genesis 19:15,24,28)
B. Demons
Devils are fallenangels : (Jude 6; Revelation12:4) they are hopelessly lost.
Editor’s Note: The scriptural word for “demon” is “devil”. Although there is no place in the King James Version of the Bible which uses the word “demon”, we use this word here as being understood in the current usage.
Demons are led by one called Lucifer a fallen angel who was
originally second in commandto God
Lucifer’s sin was pride (Isaiah 14:13) and rebellion (Isaiah 14:13). The Bible calls him the tempter (Matthew 4:3) , dragon (Psalm 91:13 , roaring lion (I Peter 5:8) , god of this world (II Corinthians 4:4) , prince of the power of the air (Ephesians 2:2) , and prince of devils (Matthew 12:24 .
Satan’s agents are called demons . They are thought to be former angels who got caught up in Lucifer’s (Satan’s) sin!
Bonus: See what negative peer pressure will do to you! Demons seek to
1. possess human bodies(Luke 8:22)
2. cause physical and mental disease(Mark 5:2)
3. tempt(Matthew 4:3)
4 oppress(Acts 10:38)
Helpful Insights:
Neither Satan nor his demons are
1. omniscient
2. omnipresent
3. omnipotent
God’s Spirit gives believers power over Satan (James 4:7, 1 John 4:4)
Christians have power to cast out demons in Jesus’ name. (Mark 6:13, 16:17, Acts 16:18)
The above material was published by The General Youth Division. This material may be copyrighted and should be used for study and research purposes only.
