BASIC BIBLE COURSE Facilitated by S B Mdlalose

BASIC BIBLE COURSE Facilitated by S. B. Mdlalose Part 4: Lesson 6, 7 & 8 (April 2011) © Buhle Park Church of Christ 2011

LESSON 6: PREACHING AND BAPTISM OF JOHN THE BAPTIST Definitions of key words (provided by e-sword & R. Dickson’s dictionary) Preaching ke russo (Greek) Of uncertain affinity; to herald (as a public crier), especially divine truth (the gospel): - preach (-er), proclaim, publish. Baptism baptizo (Greek) To immerse, dip or to make whelmed (that is, fully wet); used only (in the New Testament) of ceremonial ablution

WHO WAS JOHN THE BAPTIST? Prophecy v. He was to prepare for the Lord (Isaiah 40: 3 -8) v. He will be a Messenger Proclaim about coming of Christ (Malachi 3: 1) v He will have the SPIRIT & POWER of Elijah (Malachi 4: 5 -6) v He was to live in the wilderness His Birth -Parents, Elizabeth & Zacharias the Priest , (Luke 1: 5 -22) -Birth & Naming (Luke 1: 57 -64) -Born six months before Christ’s Birth Fulfilment • He prepared the way for Christ (Matt 3: 1 -3, John 1: 23) • He proclaimed the message: The Kingdom is coming! (Matt 3: 1 -3, Mark 1: 1 -4) • He preached with Power as Elijah (Luke 1: 13) • He lived in the wild (Luke 1: 80, 7: 24 -27) His main purpose: -To prepare the way as the forerunner of Jesus Christ -To bear witness of Christ (John 1: 68, 15, 10: 41) His Lifestyle His Death -Food & clothing of the wild (Matt 3: 4, Mark 1: 6) -He was a preacher -He had disciples (Luke 11: 1) -Imprisonment (Luke 3: 19 -20) -Death, beheaded by Herod (Mat 14: 3 -12)

WHAT JOHN TAUGHT HIS DISCIPLES Principles to live by: Fasting, Repentance, Prayer, Sinless life, Sharing contentment, and Many more ( Luke 3: 14) What they must believe: -His Baptism was for ‘remission of sins’ (Luke 3: 3), Except? -All good gifts are from heaven (John 3: 27) -The kingdom of heaven is near (Mat 3: 2) -He that comes from heaven is above all (John 3: 31) He lead by example through: -Temperance (Mat 11: 18) -Humility (John 3: 30) -by Rebuking those who were at fault (Mat 3: 7 -12) - Performed no miracles (John 10: 41) What he taught about Christ -He (John) was not Christ (Luke 3: 15 -16) -Christ is superior & mightier than him (Mat 3: 11, 13 -14) -Jesus Christ is the Son of God & will take away sin of men (John 1: 29 -26) -Those who believe on Jesus Christ have everlasting life (John 3: 16) Through John the Baptist: We are introduced to “DESCIPLESHIP” & “BAPTISM” with WATER for REMISSION of SINS for the first time!!

BAPTISM OF JOHN Purpose: For Remission of Sins (Luke 3: 3) Although they are both done the same way & Have the same purpose Except For Christ it was to fulfil all righteousness (Mat 3: 13 -17) Medium: Water & in much water (John 1: 26, 3: 23 -24) WHY? Baptism commanded by Christ -Not of John (Acts 18: 24 -28, 19: 1 -5) -Must be in the NAME of The SON, FATHER, & HOLY SPIRIT (Mat 28: 19 -20) - Must first believe in Christ Jesus that He is from God and that He died & was raised from the Dead! (Mark 16: 15 -16)

LESSON 7: THE NATURE, PREEXISTENCE & ETERNAL PURPOSE OF JESUS CHRIST The NATURE of JESUS CHRIST The New Test. Presents Christ as MORE THAN MAN: i. He claimed to be ONE with God (John 10: 30, 14: 10 -11) ii. EQUAL with GOD (Phil 2: 5 -11) i. EXISTED as GOD (Heb 1: 8 -9, John 1: 1 -2) i. He is WORD from the beginning & was clothed by flesh (John 1: 1, 14) The PRE-EXISTENCE of Jesus Christ • He existed before John the Baptist (John 1: 15, 30) • He was before ABRAHAM (John 8: 35) • He Existed before the world began (John 17: 5, 24) • The WORLDS & ALL THINGS were made by HIM (John 1: 3, Eph 3: 8 -9, Col 1: 1617) • He was in the BEGINNING (John 1: 1 -2) • He existed FROM ETERNITY, before time (Heb 13: 8)

GOD’s ETERNAL purpose concerning Jesus Christ 1. GOD sent his SON to RECONCILE man unto HIMSELF -As a SACRIFICE (atonement) for man’s sin (Rom 5: 8 -11) 2. HIS coming was according to God’s Eternal Purpose (Eph 3: 11 -12, 2: 10 -13) Since CHRIST is GOD, and He is IN GOD WHY was HE Sent to the WORLD? Men & Sin Solution Dilemma! Man’s Sacrifices (animal blood) could NOT take away sin (Heb 10: 3 -4) -Just after creation God said… Gen 2: 16 -17, “Thou shall not eat of it” -Sin came to men first by Adam & Eve (Gen 3: 1 -19, 1 John 3: 4) -Sin brought DEATH (Rom 5: 12) -Sin SEPARATED men from GOD (Isaiah 59: 1 -2)

LESSON 8: WHY CHRISTIANS BELIEVE IN JESUS CHRIST AS THE SON OF GOD In this Chapter: We are Given PROOF that JESUS is the SON of GOD and that HE is GOD It was said about him that He is the SON of GOD by: -Angel Gabriel (Luke 1: 32) -A Voice from Heaven & the Cloud (Mat 3: 13 -17) -Devils (Luke 4: 40 -41) -And many more (See page 59, textbook) Fulfilled all PROPHECIES about HIM - About 38 prophecies were all fulfilled (Page 60 -66, Textbook) Done ACTS of DIVINITY -About 41 miracles done by Christ were recorded (Page 66 -67) -More miracles were performed by Jesus, the recorded miracles were enough to prove that Christ is the Son of God (John 20: 30 -31)