* Fundamental Truths

 

And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.  John 8:32

The sure foundation of the true believer’s faith; the very solid basis of our faith is based on the word of God – the bible.  Without the word of God, we have no basis on which to stand.  Of all the varying religious beliefs, every last one of them is based on or connected to the word of God.  Various religions can have differing opinions, which they often do, but it still leads back to the word of God.  Nothing is more important than that which has to do with the basis of our spiritual and religious knowledge.  At the end of the day, when all has been said and done, the only true and dependable source for the foundation of the Christian’s faith is found in the word of God – the bible.  

The bible is absolutely vital to true believers and it is a vital key that we must be taught and that we must practice if we are to be considered a part of the body of Christ and not just a name on the local church’s roster.  There is a difference in being a member of the body of Christ and a member of the church.  The true believer in God are those who surrender their will to actually do what the Bible says. They will obey God's word even if it brings them test, trials tribulations or even persecution.  The first Christians written about in the book of Acts took their very lives in their hands when they followed Jesus and the original apostles. They were continuously persecuted, sometimes martyred—and often harassed out of their jobs, their cities or even their families.

And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.  Acts 8:1

Jesus told all who would follow Him:

If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.  And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. Luke 14:26–27

When challenged about which power healed a crippled man, Peter quickly and firmed the people:

Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.  This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.  Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.  Acts 4:10–12

We take this statement,   Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved, as it is written in the word of God as gospel truth.  To be a part of the body of Christ, we must sincerely follow Peter's inspired instruction which was given by him on the day of Pentecost:

Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.   Acts 2:38–39

When we come to the point of being willing to sincerely repent of breaking God's statue —

Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.   1 John 3:4

—we must be baptized in the name of Jesus and receive His Holy Spirit. At that moment, the new Christian will be totally forgiven of past sins, and will become a member of God's Church.

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

Remember, this is more than having your name added to the church roster.  We don’t join the body of Christ; we are ingrafted in as we follow and do as God’s word instructs and teaches.  Apostle Paul explains:

But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.  Romans 8:9

For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.  1 Corinthians 12:13

Through the total surrender of our heart, mind and body to God through Jesus Christ as Savior, we are planted—put into—the Church of God, which is Christ's body.   God requires all of us

And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.  Mark 12:30

With Jesus as  our Lord and Savior, we no longer belong to ourself anymore.

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?  For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.   1 Corinthians 6:19–20

What you have just read are some basic fundamental truths found in the word of God upon which we are to build our lives in God.  Through the scriptures, take God at His word and see how you are aligning yourself to it.

Biblical Studies