SOTERIOLOGY / CHRISTIAN FOUNDATION

SECTION 1 - SALVATION

SECTION 2 - NEW LIFE IN CHRIST

SECTION 3 - ASSURANCE OF SALVATION

So far in our Christian Foundation Teachings we have considered 'Salvation', explaining it as 'the state of one's sins being forgiven, and one justified and freed by God from the power of sin@ (eg. Lk. 7:48, 50; 1Cor. 1:18). We have also considered ANew life in Christ@, explaining it as 'having an entirely different, new and virtuous life, made possible by the Spirit of Christ which one receives when one is saved@ (cons. Rom. 8:3-4). In the topic, ANew Life in Christ@, we saw that if one must be credited with having new life in Christ, one must have had the following:- (i) transformation of character, (ii) new thoughts; (iii) new ambition/interest and (iv) new friendship and fellowship. With the above, we now come to the next experience in the series of foundation exp.eriences that a genuine Christian must have; 'Assurance of salvation'.

SECTION 4 - TRUE RENEWAL - AN URGENT NEED

Text: Romans 12:1-2 Memory Truth: '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: (Rom. 12:2). Renewal of the mind on one=s religious beliefs is common with man all the world over. In some religions, the practice is more regular than others. Just as not every religion is a true one, so it is with religious renewals. In the Christian faith, renewal of the mind is an instruction given to both the ministers of the gospel and the laity to observe after they might have received the initial experience of salvation which is by the Holy Ghost (Rom. 12:2; Eph. 4:23; Jn. 8:31; Tit. 3:5). After one has gotten saved, a believer is required to renew his relationship with God from time to time. Now and again in the Christendom, renewal programs and exercises are conducted or undertaken by churches and individuals. However, not all the renewal programmes are true. In this Study, we will show what true renewal is, then the reason for true renewal, and how to get true renewal.

SECTION 5 - PERSECUTION OR TRIBULATION (Part 1)

Text: Jn. 15:20; Mtt. 10:21- 25; 5:10-11; 2Tim..3:12. In the line-up of the foundation experiences that any true disciple of Christ passes through, the experience of persecution is very prominent. Once a person puts on new life in Christ, evidenced by a transformed character, new thoughts, new interests and ambition, new friendship and fellowship, the next thing that naturally and usually follows is persecution. Let us learn on this experience as we consider the following:- (1) Persecution defined, (2) Why persecution, (3) Response of the persecuted.

SECTION 6 - PERSECUTION OR TRIBULATION (Part 2)

SECTION 7 - PERSECUTION AND TRIBULATION (Part 3)

Text: Jn. 15:20; Matt. 10:23,13,21; 5:10-11; 2Tim. 3:12

SECTION 8 - BEARING TESTIMONY

Texts: Mark 1:38-45; 5:1-15, 18-20; Jn. 9:1-17, 24-33. So far in our teachings on the foundation experiences any true child of God must have passed through, we have considered Salvation, New Life in Christ, Assurance of Salvation, and Persecution (tribulation). Here, we come to yet another experience in the line-up C bearing testimony. In fact, when somebody has been truly saved, and the old life has given way to the new. Apart from the assurance in the heart of being a child of God, there is this quest for bearing testimony as well as actual testimony of what things the Lord has done for the person (Mk. 1:43-45; Jn. 9:1-15, 17; Acts 9:18, 20). Indeed it is the combination of the person=s oral testimony and that by the new life that bring persecution which we have already treated (eg. Jn.9:30-34; Acts 9:22-25). Let us learn further on the issue as we consider the following points: ( i) Bearing testimony defined, (ii) Bearing Testimony commanded (iii) Purpose of Testimony (iv) Hindrances To Bearing Testimony.

SECTION 9 - PRAYERS AND QUIET TIME (1)

Text: Matt. 6:5-7; Mk. 1:35; Lk. 1:1; Phil. 4:6 A personal relationship has begun between the God of heaven and us, a father-son relationship. This began from the day we got our salvation from the sinful nature, which was manifest in the new life that followed. The assurance of salvation convinced us of God=s forgiveness, love and mercy upon us, therefore we began to bear testimony to God and His Christ and also what He has done in our lives Persecutions can come but we now know that others had them and we cannot give up the faith on that account. With all the above established in us we go on to consolidate our stands and gain in the LORD through prayers and quiet time as we consider the following: 1. Prayers and quiet time defined. 2. The purpose of prayer and quiet time. 3. How to pray and do quiet time.

SECTION 10 - PRAYERS AND QUIET TIME (2)

Text: Matt. 6:5-7; Mk. 1:35; Lk. 1:1; Phil. 4:6 HOW TO PRAY AND DO QUIET TIME

SECTION 11 - CHRISTIAN GIVING AND RECEIVING

Text: Luke 6:38; 2Cor. 9:7 Christian giving first entails one giving ones soul and entire life to God, in full realization that all the one owns and possesses belong to God, by virtue of the fact that the one has given one=s all to God. It is the person who has given or surrendered his life totally to Christ that will be effective in the principle of Christian giving and receiving. It should always be remembered that it is by God=s grace and enablement that we are what we are, and that all we have, we received from God 1Cor.4:7. A man=s degree of closeness to God depends on his level of openess and willingness to give to God whatever God demands of him no matter the difficulty that may involved. Gen. 22:1-2, 10-12, 15-17. God Himself taught us to give by giving His best for us Jn. 3:16; Rom. 8:32. One way of receiving freely and bountifully from God is by giving freely, cheerfully and bountifully also, both material and non material things as the LORD may need. Let us look at these other points.

SECTION 12 - RESTITUTION AND SEPARATION

Text: Luke 19:1-9; 2Cor. 6:14-18 . We are progressing in our series on Christian foundation teachings, so far we have covered seven topics, and today we have come to the eight. It is believed that these teachings are making the expected necessary impacts on our lives, or else it could be considered a waste. Like the other seven we have already had, this 8th teaching has some definite purpose to achieve in our lives as we listen and put it to practice.

SECTION 13 - SANCTIFICATION

Text: 1Thess. 4:3-5; 2Thess. 2:13; 1Pt. 1:1-2. So far we have seen a number of experiences which any child of God should naturally pass through in the course of the Christian life. These experiences determine to a great extent the genuiness or otherwise of ones Christian faith. While all the other experiences we had been discussing all along are primarily fundamental, the one at hand today titled Sanctification is secondarily fundamental. By this we mean that it comes after one will have had a prior (primary experience) of at least salvation. No one experiences sanctification before salvation, rather the two may possibly be experienced almost simultaneously as the LORD may allow. Sanctification experience occupies such a place in the Christian faith that a successful Christian life depends to a very great extent on it.

SECTION 14 - WHAT THE BIBLE TEACHES (PART 1)

A Christian is one who has accepted to follow the faith which is according to the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. To be successful in the Christian faith therefore, one has to be acquainted and conversant with what the Bible teaches. The reason being that, the bible is the only authoritative document divinely given by God to guide every one that has ought to do with God. To be Christian and yet ignorant of what the Bible teaches is like traveling on a road without a sense of direction or sailing in a ship without a guiding compass (Jn. 5:39; Col. 3:16). The above has made it necessary for this study on what the Bible teaches which things we believe as Christians and also propagate as outlined below:

SECTION 15 - WHAT THE BIBLE TEACHES (PART 2)

A Christian is one who has accepted to follow the faith which is according to the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. To be successful in the Christian faith therefore, one has to be acquainted and conversant with what the Bible teaches. The reason being that, the bible is the only authoritative document divinely given by God to guide every one that has ought to do with God. To be Christian and yet ignorant of what the Bible teaches is like travelling on a road without a sense of direction or sailing in a ship without a guiding compass (Jn. 5:39; Col. 3:16). The above has made it necessary for this study on what the Bible teaches which things we believe as Christians and also propagate as outlined below: