Born Again Ministries

The Time for Half Steps and measures is over

Tina

Cornerstones - Foundational Truths of the Faith

who is God?
Thousands of yeas ago, Pharaoh, the Egyptian ruler, posed a question people are still asking today: "Who is the Lord that I should listen to him?" That's a good question, but it is not an easy subject to tackle. It is difficult for our limited minds to grasp the limitless, eternal God. It has been said, "If God were small enough for your minds, he wouldn't be big enough for your needs." For that reason, don't be exasperated if you can't fully understand who God is or why he does certain things. One day, Scripture promises, everything about God and his character will be made perfectly clear to us (1 Corinthians 13:12). But until then, we will find everything we need to know about him in his Word. Look up the following notes and passages to find out who God is.
1. God is All-Knowing, Ever Present, and All-Powerful
The Creator of the universe knows every intimate detail of his creation (see Matthew 10:29-31).
2. God is Holy
God's incomparable holiness merits our worship (see Revelation 15:2-4).
3. God is Loving and Just
God's justice is tempered by his love (see 2 Peter 3:3-9).
4. God is Personal
This characteristic of God sets him apart from the so-called "gods" of other religions (see Acts 17:22-31).
5. Gos Is In Control
It is important to remember that Gos is still in control, even if things around us seem to be in chaos (see Romans 11:33-36).
6. The God of the Bible is the One True God
While some insist on the existence of many gods, only the God of the Bible is the true, living God, worthy of our devotion (see 1 Corinthians 8:4-6).

who is Jesus?
Throughout history many people have attempted to answer this question. Some have done so accurately, but many have not. Our best source for answering this question is - once again - God's own Word. The Bible presents us with some inescapable truths about Jesus that demand a response. Anyone who seriously studies Scripture to learn more about Jesus must answer two probing questions: (1) What do you think of Jesus Christ? and (2) Who is he? The writer C.S.Lewis made this observation: "You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God: or else a madman or something worse. You can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon; or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God. But let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to" (Mere Christianity, rev. ed.(New York: Macmillan, 1952), 41). Jesus was not just a good man. He was - and is - the God-man. Let's examine what the Bible has to say about Jesus.
1. Jesus is Human
Jesus became our supreme example as God in human form (see Philippians 2:5-11).
2. Jesus is Divine
Even though Jesus became human, he still remained God (see Colossians 1:15-20).
3. Jesus Had A Specific Mission To Accomplish
Jesus came to save humankind from sin (see Luke 4:16-21).
4. Jesus Made The Ultimate Sacrifice
Jesus endured tremendous pain so that we could enjoy eternity with him (see 1 Peter 2:24).
5. Jesus Has Great Power To Transform People
Jesus can change the most unlikely person into one of the most powerful witnesses on his behalf (see Acts 4:13).
6. Jesus Had An Eternal Dominion
Jesus' Kingdom extends beyond the boundaries of space and time (see Revelation 1:4-8).

who is the Holy Spirit?
The Holy Spirit is the most mysterious member of the Trinity, which includes God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ), and God the Spirit (or the Holy Spirit). Many struggle with the idea of God being three persons, yet one. Quite honestly, we will never fully grasp the concept this side of heaven. Some, however, have wrongly thought of the Holy Spirit as more of an "it" than a "he". That is probably due in part to biblical descriptions of him as being like the wind or coming upon Jesus in the form of a dove, among other comparisons.
Yet these descriptions must be balanced with the descriptions of the other members of the Trinity. For instance, Jesus referred to himself as "the bread of life" and "the good shepherd." In the same way, God the Father is referred to as "a refuge" and "a consuming fire." Does this mean that Jesus is a loaf of bread or a sheep farmer, or that the Father is a pile of rocks or a blast furnace? Of course not! These are simply metaphors used in Scripture to help communicate God's character. Likewise, the unique descriptions attributed to the Holy Spirit do not imply that the Holy Spirit is merely some "force" or "power." Jesus said this about the Holy Spirit: "When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth...He will tell you about the future" (John 16:13). Note the use of the pronoun he. The Holy Spirit has a distinct personality, and he also has specific work that he wants to do in our lives as followers of Jesus Christ. Explore what the Bible has to say about him.
1. Whom the Holy Spirit Helps.
The Holy Spirit strengthens and empowers followers of Christ (see Acts 2:1-41).
2. How the Holy Spirit Works with the Father and the Son.
The Holy Spirit works alongside God the Father and Jesus, God's Son, to make our lives pleasing to God (see 1 Peter 1:2).
3. Why God Gives us the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit's presence in our lives is God's mark of ownership (see Ephesians 1:13-14).
4. How the Holy Spirit Works in Our Lives
The Holy Spirit draws us to Christ, enters our lives at conversion, and empowers us as we allow him to work in our lives (see John 14:15-17).
5. When the Holy Spirit can be Sinned Against
There are six specific ways we can sin against the Holy Spirit (see Acts 5:1-10).
6.Why Christians Need the Holy Spirit
Living the Christian life is impossible without the Holy Spirit's help (see Galatians 5:16-26).

who is the devil?
What is the devil like? Does he really look like the red-suited, pitchfork-holding cartoon caricature seated on a throne in hell? Or does he roam through the earth disguised as an angel of light? Unfortunately, far too many people do not have an accurate view of who the devil is. Many underestimate him and his prowess, even going so far as to doubt his very existence. Someone once asked the great evangelist Charles Finney, "Mr. Finney, do you believe in a literal devil?" Finney replied, "You try opposing him for a while, and you see if he's literal or not." You will find out how literal the devil is the moment you make a commitment to Jesus Christ.
The Bible clearly shows us just how active and conniving the devil really is. At the same time, Scripture also lets us know about the devil's limitations and ultimate demise. The more we understand the tactics of this intelligent spirit being, the better equipped we will be to ward off his attacks. Below are some key passages of Scripture that answer some of the most commonly asked question about the devil - who is also referred to as Satan.
1. Where did Satan come from?
Satan's pride led to his fall from heaven (see Revelation 12:7-9).
2. What are Satan's abilities?
Satan does have the power and access to do certain things in this world (see 2 Corinthians 4:3-4).
3. What are Satan's limitations?
While we should not underestimate Satan's power, we should realize that it is limited (see 2 Timothy 4:18).
4. How does Satan attack people?
Satan masterfully uses manipulation and distortion to deceive people (see 2 Corinthians 11:13-15).
5. Who can thwart Satan's agenda?
Those who lay down their lives for Christ will defeat this evil foe (see Revelation 12:10-12).

what are angels?
According to recent surveys, most people believe in the existence of angels. A glut of books on the subject fills bookstore shelves. Still, our only reliable source on angels and their activity is the Bible. Just who are these mysterious creatures? What do they look like? Do they wear long, flowing robes and have large birdlike wings? And what is their purpose?
You might call angels "God's secret agents." They basically work undercover. Most of the time these secret agents remain invisible - except on those special occasions when God allows people to see them. No doubt God realized that if we were allowed to see them all of the time, they would become an object of our worship, which is to be reserved for God alone. Let's take some time to see what the Bible has to say about angels and their role in this world.
1. Why did God create angels?
God created angels as unique spiritual beings who worship Christ and care for his followers (see Hebrews 1:4-14).
2. What do angels do in the life of a christian?
God has ordered the angels to protect the followers and keep them from harm (see Acts 27: 23-24).
3. How are angels involved in our prayers?
Our prayers can trigger spiritual warfare (see Luke 22:42-44).
4. What role will angles play in the End times?
Angels will play a strategic role in spreading the everlasting gospel (see Revelation 14:6-7).

what are demons?
Just as there are angles who look out for your welfare, there are angels who are bent upon your destruction. The Bible teaches that when Satan fell from heaven, he took one-third of the angels with him (Revelation 12:4). Although we do not know their exact number, Scripture tells us there are multitudes (Luke 2:13) and legions (Matthew 26:53) of angels. So Satan has a sizable, highly organized force under his control. These fallen angels, also known as demons, help Satan accomplish his purpose, which, in the word of Christ, is to steal, kill, and destroy. While the Bible does not give us specific details as to how demons work, we can be confident that everything we need to know about them is found in Scripture. We do not need to look elsewhere for insights into the spiritual world. See what God's Word has to say about these evil agents.
1. What do demons believe?
Strange as it may seem, demons acknowledge that there is only one God (see James 2:19).
2. Can demons personally harm you?
Those people who have a true relationship with Christ cannot be overcome by demons; those who do not are "fair game" for these servants of Satan (see Acts 19:13-20).
3. What makes demons powerless?
The name of Jesus used by the followers of Jesus makes the demons tremble (see Luke 10:1-20).

what is heaven?
The Bible gives us wonderful, vivid descriptions of heaven. From Scripture we know that heaven's streets are made of gold, and that pain, fear, and sorrow are not present there. But even with all this detail, we still fall short of understanding "the big picture." That is because it is difficult for us to grasp the absolute perfection and glory of heave. All splendor aside, though, what truly makes heaven spectacular is that we will be forever in God's presence. As the psalmist so poignantly expressed, "You will show me the way of life, granting me the jot of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever" (Psalm 16:11). While we may not be able to have all of our questions about heaven answered here on earth, the Bible does answer some of our most probing questions.
1. Who will enter heaven?
Heaven is a place for those who have received Jesus Christ as Lord (see John 14:2-6).
2. When does a christian enter heaven?
When we take our last breath here on earth, we take our first breath in heaven (see 2 Corinthians 5:6-9).
3. Will we recognize people in heaven?
While our heavenly bodies may resemble our earthly bodies, we will in some ways be like the angels (see Matthew 22:23-33).
4. What will life in heaven be like?
Our lives in heaven will no longer be consumed by the cares of this life, but we will be filled with joy being in the presence of our heavenly Father. (see Revelation 7:13-17).

what is hell?
According to the Bible, you have two options to choose from when it comes to deciding where you will spend your life after death. One option is heaven. The other is hell. Interestingly enough, while there seems to be an increased belief in a place called hell, most people don't believe they are headed there. Instead, they believe that hell is reserved for only the most hardened of criminals and other "evil" elements of our society. But God's Word judges people by a different set of criteria. You are not sent to hell for being a bad person any more than you are sent to heaven for being a good person. We all deserve to spend eternity in hell (Romans 3:22-23).
While God clearly says that hose who reject the salvation offered through his Son, Jesus Christ, will spend eternity in this place of torment, he repeatedly gives each person ample opportunity to choose life - abundant life on earth and eternal life in heaven (2 Peter 3:9). If you haven't made that choice yet, or if you have decided and want a better understanding of what your non-believing friends will have to face, consider these facts about hell from the pages of Scripture.
1. What is hell like?
Hell is a place of unending, isolated torment (see Luke 16:19-31).
2. Who will go to hell?
Those whose name do not appear in the Book of Life are destined to everlasting punishment (see Revelation 20:11-15).
3. What is the worst punishment of hell?
Hells' worst punishment is everlasting separation from God's presence (see 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10).

these notes are taken from the new believer's bible, new living translation

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