God’s people are always formed by His Spirit. That was true in the beginning when “the LORD God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature” (Genesis 2.7). And it was true when God made Israel into His special... Continue Reading →

As we previously noted, being created in God’s image has moral implications, for just as God is holy, righteous, faithful, etc., so was man who was created in His image. Thus, everything God created was “very good” (Gen. 1:31). Yet, as we know man did not remain very good. Because of his sin, unholy man... Continue Reading →

It cannot be stressed enough just how wretched each of us become. Even if our sins seem trivial or relatively minor compared to the horrific things that take place in our world, our sinful conduct corrupts our very nature (Eph. 2:1-3). What God created as holy, we make unholy. What God made as living and... Continue Reading →

Getting Started: why were you baptized (or why should you be)? What did baptism accomplish? The book of Exodus not only describes how Israel became a great nation, but how they were figuratively born as God’s people. First, they were rescued from Egyptian bondage and brought to God so that they could be “my treasured... Continue Reading →

Getting started: in Ephesians 2.3 the apostle Paul declared that when we “lived in the passions of our flesh” we “were by nature children of wrath”. What do you think Paul meant by that? When reviewing some of my old sermons on the Holy Spirit, I concluded that they weren’t very good. They weren’t unScriptural,... Continue Reading →

Getting started: what do you think Jesus meant by His statement in Matthew 28.20, “And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age”? In a previous lesson we noted how in the Old Testament, when the Lord promised that He was with someone that meant more than God was favorably inclined... Continue Reading →

Getting started: if Jesus is the Son of God (Luke 1.32) and God in the flesh (Matthew 1.21; John 1.1,14), why did He receive the Spirit (Matthew 3.16)? In this study we have proposed that the Spirit’s activity can be traced throughout Scripture in the following ways: The Spirit is instrumental in forming the people... Continue Reading →

Getting started: read the dimensions of the temple from Ezekiel’s vision (Ezekiel 42.15-20). What stands out to you? We concluded our last lesson by noting how in a vision the prophet Ezekiel saw the Lord’s glory leaving the Jerusalem temple (Ezekiel 10.18-19). Furthermore, the Lord revealed that He was going to “profane my sanctuary, the... Continue Reading →

Getting started: read Solomon’s prayer of dedication following the building of the Temple (1Kings 8.22-53). What stands out to you in Solomon’s words? “For how shall it be known that I have found favor in your sight, I and your people? Is it not in your going with us, so that we are distinct, I... Continue Reading →

“‘You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; and you shall be... Continue Reading →