INTO HIS MARVELOUS LIGHT

[BroGary]

(please note: if there are any group members who do not believe this basic apostolic salvation doctrine, that is your free will choice to believe how you will, but I am not here to debate this, simply to share info people can use to help reach souls with the gospel)

Here is a relatively short but very good Bible study I found online that some of you may not have
seen before that I thought you might appreciate reading and sharing with those who you are trying to reach with the truth -

INTO HIS MARVELOUS LIGHT
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Introduction



When walking out of a dark room into the sunshine, light can be blinding. As our
eyes become accustomed to the light, we can see more clearly and enjoy the
scenery that surrounds us. Likewise, when we look into the light of the
scriptures, the brightness of truth can sometimes hurt. However, as our
spiritual eyesight becomes adjusted we can enjoy "walking in the light".

This Bible study is designed to allow us to "walk" into the marvelous light of
the Word of God. We will be journeying into the scriptures by imagining we are
back in the days of Jesus and the Apostles, listening to them teach and preach
the plan of salvation. In order to do this, we will be careful to "rightly
divide the word of the truth" (2 Timothy 2:15) by concentrating on the
highlights of the three main divisions of the New Testament in chronological
order, including:

1. THE GOSPELS - covering the words and works of Jesus Christ

2. THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES - covering the actions and preachings of the
Apostles

3. THE EPISTLES - covering the letters written by the Apostles to the churches
they started in the Book of Acts


We believe the scriptures are divinely inspired and , "of no private
interpretation" (2 Peter 1:20-21). Therefore, every effort has been made to
present the pure Word of God without adding to, or taking away from its
teachings (Deuteronomy 4:2, Proverbs 30:5-6). It is not our intention to
diminish any personal relationship you may have with our Lord. Neither do we
desire to convince you of our own personal ideas or the creeds of any
denomination. We simply desire to share the truth as it is written. Only by
claiming the Bible as our sole authority can any of us be confident of our
salvation, for it is the Word of God and not the traditions of men that will
judge us all in the end.

Let us read 2 Timothy 3:15-16 as we begin our journey into the Word of God...

Don't forget to print this page...


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Into The Gospels


(Fill in the Blanks)


John 1:1-5 & 14
In the beginning, the ____ was God and became flesh.
Jesus Christ is the Living Word of God.

John 1:11-13
If we believe in Him and recieve Him, Jesus gives us power to become
the sons of ____ by a supernatural birth. He spoke further about this new
birth one night to a ruler of the Jews...

John 3:1-8
The Lord told Nicodemus that everyone who wanted to see or enter into the
Kingdom of God, must be born again of _____ and the ______ .

John 3: 16-21
Jesus also told Nicodemus that whosoever ________ in Him should
have eternal life. Jesus mentioned two seemingly different requirements
for
salvation, one is being born again, the other is believing. Yet, this is
not a
contradiction. The next scripture explains how believing is related to
experi-
encing the birth of the Spirit...

John 7:38-39
Here, we discover that if we believe on Him (according to the Word), we
will
receive the ______ . We find that scriptural belief is more than just a
change in the way we think. It also results in a scriptural experience.

John 12:35-36 & 42-43
Today, just as in Jesus' day, many believe on Him. But, they will
not ______ Him for fear of what others will do or say.

John 12:44-48
In response to their fearfullness, Jesus warns that His ______ will judge
us, so we must be careful not to reject it. Rather, we should believe and
obey it...no matter what others say or do!

John 17:17-20
In Jesus' prayer for His disciples, just before His crucifixion, He said
God's
Word is ______. He also prayed for us; and for all those who would be-
lieve on Him through the Apostles' word.



To find out what the Apostles' word was to be, let us read what Jesus told them
to proclaim. The setting of the following great commission scripture in Luke
24:45-49 is just after the Lord's death, burial, and resurrection..and just
before His ascension into heaven.


"Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the
scriptures, And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ
to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and
remission of sins should be preached in His name among all nations, beginning in
Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things. And behold, I send the promise
of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued
with power from on high."
DID THE APOSTLES PREACH THE MESSAGE JESUS
COMMANDED THEM TO PROCLAIM?

HOW WAS THE PROMISE OF THE FATHER FULFILLED?
Let us continue our journey into the Word of God by seeing what was preached and
what happened at Jerusalem...


Don't forget to print this page...


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Into
The Acts of
the Apostles


(Again, Fill In The Blanks)


Acts 1:3-5
As we enter the Book of Acts, we discover almost immediately that the
promise of the Father is the baptism of the ________________ .

Acts 2:1-17
When the Apostles were at Jerusalem, they, along with many others, were
joyously filled with the Holy Ghost and began to speak with other _______
as the spirit gave the utterance (ability to speak). The amazed onlookers
from many nations who heard them speaking with toungues asked, "What
meaneth this?" Then Peter explained the promised coming of the Spirit and
went on to preach Christ and the original apostolic plan of salvation.

Acts 2:36-39
When the people who heard Peter's words believed that Jesus Christ was
their Lord and Savior, they were sorry for their sins and asked Peter and
the
Apostles what they should do. Peter replied by preaching the message Jesus
commanded to be preached in Luke 24:45-49. In light of this, consder the
three elements of the Plan of Salvation Peter preached in verse 38:

1. REPENTANCE
2. REMISSION OF SINS THROUGH BAPTISM IN JESUS' NAME
3. RECIEVING THE GIFT OF THE HOLY GHOST

NOTICE: Acts 2:38 is the fulfillment of the "new birth" requirements Jesus
mentioned in John 3:5 that were necessary to enter the Kingdom of God! Water
birth=baptism in the name of Jesus Christ! Spirit birth=infilling of the Holy
Ghost!

Now, let's look at some more examples of people being born again of water and
the Spirit as the Word Jesus gave His apostles continued to be preached
throughout the Book of Acts...


PHILIP PREACHING TO THE SAMARITANS IN ACTS 8...

NOTICE: Some people say when they experienced joy, or when they believed in
Jesus, or when they were baptized, they were automatically filled with the Holy
Ghost. But what does the Word say?

Acts 8:5-8 Did they have great joy? yes no
vs. 12 Did they believe in Jesus Christ? yes no
vs. 14-17 Were they baptized in His name? yes no
Did they recieve the Holy Ghost as a
separate and distinct experience? yes no



PETER PREACHING TO THE GENTILES IN ACTS 10...

NOTICE: Some people say being religious is enough, or that the Spirit-baptism
evidenced by tongues was only for the Day of Pentecost. If the Bible says this
is true, then it is true. But if the Word shows us through Cornelius' experience
that this is not true..then it is not.

Acts 10:1-2 Was Cornelius a religious man? yes no
vs. 5-6 Did God have more for him to do? yes no
vs. 44-46 Did they recieve the Holy Ghost and
speak in tongues after the Day of Pentecost? yes no
vs. 47-48 Did they still have to be baptized in Jesus' name? yes no



PAUL PREACHING TO JOHN'S DISCIPLES IN ACTS 19...

NOTICE: Many people who are believers have not even heard about the Holy Ghost
that is promised to them. Also, some people say it is not necessary to be
baptized or re-baptized. (If you were baptized by John the Baptist, would you
think it would be necessary to be re-baptized using a different baptismal
formula?). Others say it does not matter what is spoken when you are baptized.
If the Bible indicates it does not matter, then it does not matter. But...what
if the Bible shows us it DOES matter?

Acts 19:1-2 They were believers, but had they
heard of, or recieved the Holy Ghost? yes no
vs. 3-5 Did those baptized by John the
Baptist have to be re-baptized in Jesus' name? yes no
vs. 6 Was recieving the Holy Ghost
accompanied by the initial evidence
of speaking with other tongues? yes no




We have found that the Apostles preached the following salvation message:

a.. ...The life of Christ and His death, burial, and resurrection

b.. ...Repentance toward God and the belief in Jesus Christ

c.. ...Baptism in water by immersion in Jesus' name

d.. ...Recieving the gift of the Holy Ghost (which was accompanied by the
initial evidence of speaking with other tongues)


Now, let us read what the Apostles had to say about the message of salvation
they proclaimed in the Book of Acts. We can do this by reading the epistles
(letters) they wrote to their converts.


Don't forget to print this page


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Into
The Epistles


As we read the Epistles, we will notice how strongly the Apostles felt about the
gospel (good news) of salvation. This is not because they were being judgmental.
It is because they knew the word Jesus had given them to proclaim was going to
judge all men.


What Did Peter Say?
"Ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth...being born
again...by the word of God... and this is the word which by the gospel
is preached unto you." (1 Peter 1:22-25)


Obedience to God's word purifies our souls!


Peter Asked A Question:
"...What shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?"
(1 Peter 4:17-18)

Paul Gave The Answer:
"The Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,
In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that
obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished
with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from
the glory of his power." (2 Thessalonians 1:7-9)


It is eternally important to obey the gospel!


What Did Paul Say?
"I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into
the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but
there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto
you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other
gospel unto you that that ye have received, let him be accursed."
(Galatians 1:6-9)


There is only one gospel!


What Did James Say?
"...Receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save
your souls. But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only. (deceiv-
ing your own selves). For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a
doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he
beholdeth himself, an goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what
manner of man he was." (James 1:21-24)


The Word is able to save our souls!

JAMES TELLS US THAT IF WE SEE SOMETHING WE NEED TO DO, AS WE LOOK INTO THE
"MIRROR OF THE WORD", WE SHOULD DO IT. LET US NOW CONSIDER WHAT WE WILL DO WITH
WHAT WE HAVE HEARD...

Take a moment to print this page


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Conclusion


DO YOU BELIEVE the Word of God is true and will judge us?

DO YOU BELIEVE Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior?

DO YOU BELIEVE it is necessary to repent by determining to turn from sin and
giving your life to God?

DO YOU BELIEVE water baptism in the name of Jesus Christ is the biblical way
to be baptized?

DO YOU BELIEVE the baptism of the Holy Ghost is for you today, and when
you receive it you will speak in other tongues, just as they did in the Bible?


IF YOU BELIEVE THESE THINGS, PRAY RIGHT NOW, ASKING GOD TO
ALLOW YOU TO EXPERIENCE ALL THAT HE HAS FOR YOU!


Once again, print this page

[Heather]

This was the first Bible study I did upon stumbling upon an apostolic church 

[BroGary]

Neat !

It is an especially good study for reaching people who it might not have the time for a longer study.

(it may have "seemed" like you "stumbled" upon an apostolic church sis, but I'm sure that somehow God had a hand in it because He knew you were ready to receive truth :-)

[sunlight]

Do you have the link to this site?

[Scott]

Do you have the link to this site?

I have it in email somewhere, I will PM it to you on FB.

I had a different one ''The New Birth Experience'' - it is similar and takes 20 to 40 minutes to teach or can be dropped into an email.  Check your in box.

[BroGary]

Do you have the link to this site?

Here is the link, they offer a free PDF IMHL version for church web sites -

http://www.intohismarvelouslight.com/

[sunlight]

Thanks