Tag: Parkersburg Bible College

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Bible Teaching

Image & Likeness

Apostolic Life Cathedral | March 5, 2024 | 7 pm

1 Thessalonians 5:23-24, “And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.  (24)  Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.”

Man is made up of spirit, soul, and body: see handout[1]

As Christians and ministers, we must understand the tri-part nature of man in order to help people at the root (the source) of what has plagued them for years (sometimes their lifetime).

Genesis 1:26-27, “(26) And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.  (27)  So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.”

God created Man in His Image and Likeness:

  • Image = Total Man (trichotomy)
  • Imago Dei = “Image of God”
    • Spirit = Transformed, New Creature, Born Again. This is where the Holy Ghost dwells. If unregenerated the spirit is empty of God’s presence and open to demonic spiritual attack.
      • Proverbs 20:27, “The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly.”
      • When you receive the Holy Ghost, both your spirit and God’s Spirit are hermetically sealed together until the judgment seat of Christ.
    • Soul = Mind, Will and Emotions. Subject to attack by tormenting, oppressive spirits through the thought life. Your mind sets your will. Your emotion is a direct result of your mindset.
      • The Battleground: “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” (Ephesians 6:12).
      • 2 Corinthians 10:3-6, (3) For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:  (4)  (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)  (5)  Casting down imaginations [carnal reasoning and fleshly calculation], and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;  (6)  And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.
    • Body = Subject to attacks by spirits of infirmity (weakness and disease) through improper habits of health, nutrition, safety.
  • Likeness = goings and doings (choices we make)
    • Free will
    • Man, in God’s Image, chooses the likeness he pursues
      • Mark 12:13-17, “(13) And they send unto him certain of the Pharisees and of the Herodians, to catch him in his words.  (14)  And when they were come, they say unto him, Master, we know that thou art true, and carest for no man: for thou regardest not the person of men, but teachest the way of God in truth: Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not?  (15)  Shall we give, or shall we not give? But he, knowing their hypocrisy, said unto them, Why tempt ye me? bring me a penny, that I may see it.  (16)  And they brought it. And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? And they said unto him, Caesar’s.  (17)  And Jesus answering said unto them, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s. And they marvelled at him.”
      • Whose image is on you, and what likeness do you display?
    • Why does a man do the things he does?
    • A key to life is to learn to accept responsibility for your actions: the likeness you choose.

PLEASE NOTE![2]

Unless there is an open door, evil spirits cannot freely attack. We do not pick up an evil spirit while walking down the street.

Many have opened the door before they were filled with the Holy Ghost and when the spirit level of God is low in their natural life, satan starts invading their mind.

Why? The spirit of the man has allowed the Holy Spirit of God to become low in their life.

You, through the power of the Holy Ghost, have the right to evict all unwelcome guests to your body, soul and spirit.

This brings us to the point of renewing your mind. We renew, or refresh, our body by sleep and nourishment.

Likewise, we need to renew our mind in the Holy Ghost. This can best be accomplished through prayer and praise.

Ephesians 4:22-24, “(22) That ye put off concerning the former conversation [lifestyle = goings and doings] the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; (23) And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; (24) And that ye put on the new man, which after God [Image of God] is created in righteousness and true holiness.”

The mind cannot maintain a common relationship with the Lord if the heart, for instance, holds to things, such as resentment, bitterness and hatred. Body, soul and spirit must be purged to maintain a productive spirit level.

“The Holy Ghost can only flow through you as pure as you are in your body, soul and spirit.” –Johnny Garrison

A sick body naturally can come under attack spiritually. God wants us to maintain body, soul and spirit to the very best of our knowledge.

We all will be held accountable for what we know to do.

There is a strong link between sickness and sin, or sickness and fear (anxiety), which manifests itself in what has been called “psychosomatic disorders” (mind-body).

James gave us an antidote for these issues:

(13 )Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.  (14)  Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:  (15)  And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.  (16)  Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much (James 5:13-16).

Christians who have obey the Word and God and follow Jesus with an undivided heart bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.

That obedience is the best revenge of our past disobedience when we were the servants of sin.

As Christians we have a choice regarding whose Image and Likeness we choose to carry and model: Romans 6:15-23

(15)  What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.

(16)  Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?

(17)  But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.

(18)  Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.

(19)  I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.

(20)  For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.

(21)  What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.

(22)  But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.

(23)  For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

When you decide to carry the Image and Likeness of God you live in victory because of these truths:[3]

  1. You are separated from the power and enticement of sin: “How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?” (Rom. 6:2).
  2. You are alive unto God: “Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:11).
  3. The finished work of Calvary satisfied the demands of the Law and payment for our sin: “Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ…” (Romans 7:4).
  4. Sin no longer has control over you: “Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.” (Romans 6:12-14).
  5. There is still a battle going on between the Law of God and the law of sin, which presents a choice between the Image and Likeness you choose: “For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin” (Romans 7:22-25).
  6. The Law of the Spirit is more powerful than the low of sin and death: “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death…. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live” (Romans 8:1-2, 13).
  7. The victory Christ purchased for you helps you to approach every temptation from a position of victory: “And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:…And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 1:19-21, 2:6-7).

[1] Notes: Dr. Joe Nelson. Techniques of Counseling 1. Parkersburg Bible College. Fall 2001.

[2] Ibid. (italicized parts are directly quoted from the PBC notes from the textbook on page 101)

[3] Ibid. p. 105-106.

Categories
Bible Teaching

Reason, Foundation & Eternity

The Library of Celsus (Getty Images)

A Sure Foundation[1]

The New Testament Church is built on a sure foundation whose reason for existence is that the Creator would have a relationship with His creation, and the final state of that relationship is the eternal communion of Man with God – – Eternal Life. It is imperative for the Church to constantly reassess the integrity of its walls and foundation as it looks forward to everlasting life:

  • 2 Timothy 2:19-21, “(19) Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.  (20)  But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.  (21)  If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.

Time unfolds for Man the special arrangement that God has made in continuing the spread of His Word and Gospel, and it has successfully grown in scope and magnitude for over 6,000 years with each dispensation, each covenantal period, adding a particular stone or brick to relevant to its age and purpose with special emphasis on Man’s obedience or disobedience to the plan.

The ending of one dispensation didn’t necessarily indicate a failure, but rather a finishing of a specific step in the continuation and completion of the plan of God that began with the foundation of the World and a Lamb slain for the procurement of eternal life:

  • Ephesians 2:19-22, “(19) Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;  (20)  And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;  (21)  In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:  (22)  In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.”
  • Revelation 13:8, “And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.”

God placed Man into a position where he had complete authority and dominion over all God’s creation on earth and the only way Adam could jeopardize his position in this new structure was by proving himself unfaithful to God’s architectural plan, which he did:

  • “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat. And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so” (Genesis 1:26-30).

In the Old Testament you will observe God continually working and establishing a better operation whereby the overall purpose of God could be realized – – reconciliation between Himself and Man.  Since sin is the line of demarcation between Creator and creation a bridge was needed to span that gap, and that bridge is Jesus Christ:

  • Romans 5:12-21, “(12) Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:  (13)  (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.  (14)  Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.  (15)  But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.  (16)  And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification.  (17)  For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)  (18)  Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.  (19)  For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.  (20)  Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:  (21)  That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.”

The New Testament establishes the plan for mankind and God to be in communion again and reconciled to each other and it is a better in all points than the Old Testament plan.  The writer of Hebrews wrote that this new covenant was just better:

  • 1:4, “Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.”[2]
  • 6:9, “But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak.”
  • 7:7, “And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better.”
  • 7:19, “For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.”
  • 7:22, “By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament.”
  • 8:6, “But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.”
  • 9:23, “It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.”
  • 10:34, “For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance.
  • 11:16, “But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.”
  • 11:35, “Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:”
  • 11:40, “God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.”
  • 12:24, “And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.”

Without the organization of this better plan, this better covenant, you would have not received such a super great salvation.  Your obedience and faith is necessary to receive its reward – – eternal life:

Hebrews 2:1-4, “(1) Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.  (2)  For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward;  (3)  How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;  (4)  God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?”

The Logos (word, decree, mandate, reason)[3] of God became flesh and when you believe on Him (Jesus Christ) you have the promise of everlasting (eternal) life, and it all started with a plan, an organized plan of salvation that would put Man back in right relationship with His Creator and the creation he was to have dominion over:

  • “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not…. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth” (John 1:1-5, 14).
  • “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved” (John 3:16-17).

It is God’s plan for you to have eternal life by turning towards Him in faith and obeying the blueprint He has established for all mankind – – The New Birth:

  • “There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit” (John 3:1-8).
  • “Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call” (Acts 2:37-39).

There is also the necessity of looking after the house and keeping it in proper working order through a life of holiness. To do otherwise will result in the destruction of that house:

  • “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are” (1 Corinthians 3:16-17).
  • 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, “(19) 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?  (20)  For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”

When you adhere to the plan of God for Man’s salvation; continue building on the sure foundation of Jesus Christ, the apostles and prophets; and, move ever closer to your eternal reward while maintaining a holy house, you will know the Word that became flesh and who is in fact “the true God and eternal life,” our Lord Jesus Christ:

  • 1 John 5:13-20, “(13) I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.  (14)  And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us.  (15)  And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.  (16)  If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask, and God will give him life—to those who commit sins that do not lead to death. There is sin that leads to death; I do not say that one should pray for that.  (17)  All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin that does not lead to death.  (18)  We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning, but he who was born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him.  (19)  We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.  (20)  And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.”

[1] Originally written as an assignment for the Church Government course taught by Allen McMillan at Parkersburg Bible College (WV) on 10/6/2001 (“Why Organization Is Important”), edited on 9/3/2005, and revised on 10/24/2023.

[2] Jesus Christ, our Mediator and Savior, the Word of God made flesh, is the only begotten Son of God and therefore “so much better than the angels.”

[3] G3056. Logos. Thayer’s Greek Definitions.

Featured Image: Jesus Christ The Chief Cornerstone (Tyree AME Church, Philadelphia, PA, est. 1870)

Categories
Bible Teaching

Why Is Obed Called Naomi’s Son?

Why is Obed called Naomi’s son, and what did Boaz mean by this statement?

“Moreover Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, have I purchased to be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance, that the name of the dead be not cut off from among his brethren, and from the gate of his place: ye are witnesses this day” (Ruth 4:10).  

He was actually stating here that part of his intention for marrying Ruth is to restore the family lineage of Mahlon who was the deceased son of Naomi.  Thus, when the child is born the people and elders of the city remember that they had made themselves witnesses to the intention of Boaz (Ruth 4:11). Acting as witnesses, the women neighbors name the child Obed, which means “a servant, to thee, to nourish, and comfort, and assist thee; which duty children owe to their progenitors.”[1]

            These same neighborly women also state, “There is a son born to Naomi” (Ruth 4:17). By this we deduce that these women knew of Naomi’s loss.  She had lost two sons and a husband and had nobody who would take their place as caretaker for her in her old age, continue her husband’s name, or receive her son’s inheritance.  Obed served in all three capacities and became a great joy to Naomi and one who would carry on the family name.  Thus, he became her son (grandson) by restoring Naomi’s family and their part in the lineage of King David and the Messiah.

According to the opinion of Mary Sisseck, “Naomi has now been given a child (a child is born) a grandchild from one of her dead sons! The law determined that Obed was Naomi’s child! Genealogy, under the law, determined that Obed was also her grandchild!”[2] The question then serves to teach us that Boaz, acting as the kinsman-redeemer, provided a miracle for Naomi, which is comparable to the miracle of salvation that Jesus Christ, our Kinsman-Redeemer, has given to us. Through Jesus Christ we have been given a new life through the miracle of restoration and He, like Obed was to Naomi, has become our nourishment, comfort, and assistance.

[1] Wesley, John. “Commentary on Ruth 4”. “John Wesley’s Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible.” https://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/wesleys-explanatory-notes/ruth/ruth-4.html.

[2] Sisseck, Mary. Ruth: the Hidden Pictures. Accessed: 9-23-2004

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NOTE: I wrote this as part of a homework assignment on September 23, 2004, for a Women of the Bible class taught at Parkersburg Bible College by Sis. Nelson.