(LESSON ONE)

INTRODUCTION

    For you to benefit from this study, you must accept by faith two basic precepts. First, you must accept by faith that there is a God. Without faith there is no way to prove His existence to you. Nature shows you the handiwork of God, but if you do not believe in your heart of God’s existence, then nature would not convince you of His reality. Your belief in God’s existence must stem from an act of your faith.

    The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. . . (Psalm 14:1)

SAY: I AM NOT A FOOL, I BELIEVE IN THE EXISTENCE OF GOD.

A second precept that is necessary to be accepted by faith is that God has chosen to reveal Himself to mankind. Mankind in his natural state cannot enter the realm of the Divine in order to find God. So God chose to reveal Himself through His Word. His Word is given to us in two forms—the written Word, better known as the Bible and the Living Word whom we know as Jesus.

As you are going to learn, there is no difference between the two. The Bible and Jesus are one and the same, just in different forms. The two are inseparable. Everything in the Bible points to Jesus. He is the central focus of all the Scripture. You need to know that the Bible is the only authoritative revelation of God to man.

As Jesus is revealed in the Bible, so is the plan of salvation. It is important for you to know that the whole story of Jesus and the whole story of salvation fill the whole Bible. Therefore, the Bible does not just contain the Word of God; it is the Word of God beginning with Genesis and ending with Revelation. The Bible was inspired by God to present the complete plan of salvation by giving the story of Jesus.

For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. (2 Peter 1:21)

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: (2 Timothy 3:16)

The literal translation of the word inspiration is God breathed. God breathed upon the spirits of holy men that which was to become the history of mankind. The story of Jesus as told in the Bible is His-story. God declared that His Word would be for all eternity and would be a source of life for all who would believe it.

SO REPEAT THE FOLLOWING: I MAKE A QUALITY, FAITH-FILLED DECISION TO ACCEPT AS FACT THERE IS A GOD.  I BELIEVE THAT GOD IS AND THAT HE HAS MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR ME TO KNOW HIM THROUGH THE BIBLE AND THROUGH JESUS.

But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. (Hebrews 11:6)

Ever since the fall of Adam, mankind has had the desire to know God. For some it may be a conscious desire. For others it may be an unconscious desire. God knew that this desire would be manifested in mankind, so as He formed Adam, He placed within mankind a supernatural ability to commune with Him. This supernatural, God-given ability to commune with God is called faith.

For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. (Romans 12:3)

This is not to say that every single person communes with God through faith, only that the possibility is present within mankind to do so if he or she chooses. Many people never take advantage of their measure of faith. Instead they rely on their senses and never allow God to be a part of their lives. But that is not you—or is it?!!!

ONE MORE TIME CONFESS: I BELIEVE IN GOD AND I BELIEVE THAT I CAN KNOW HIM THROUGH HIS WORD.

It takes the whole Bible to give the full explanation of God, but here is a nut-shell definition. God is a self-caused , self-existent, self-conscious, personal Being who is the origin of all things, and who transcends the entire creation, but at the same time immanent in every part of it. This definition will be explained in detail as you continue in this study.

THE GOD-HEAD BEFORE CREATION

There was a time when there was no universe, but there has never been a time when God did not exist.

For I lift up my hand to heaven, and say, I live for ever. (Deuteronomy 32:40)

Not only is God eternal, but He has always existed as one God, existing as three distinct persons, namely, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. The three Persons are in so much harmony that They function as one. In no way are Father, Son, and Holy Ghost three gods. They are one God-head.

What do you suppose that the God-head was doing before anything else was brought into existence?

God in a God-head council meeting planned our total salvation. Every minute detail of the plan of salvation was determined. When there was nothing except God, God the father was expressing love to his Son. The Son was expressing love to the Father, and it was by the binding force of the Holy Ghost that this love was being expressed. Their love for each other was perfect. It was so strong that it is actually a part of God’s very being. God is love and love is of God.

Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world. (John 17:24)

And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and

he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. (1 John 4:16)

With God being Love, it was decided to share this love beyond the God-head. A creation would be spoken into existence and a creature called mankind would be put upon the creation. God’s love would be extended to creation and, especially, to mankind. The love of God would actually be the foundation for all creation and causing it to be a glorious inheritance for his Son.

More specifically, mankind would be formed in God’s likeness. He would have the capability to receive love from God and also able to return love to God. Secondly, God was declaring himself to be eternally true to his Word, even before creation.

Forever, O Lord, thy Word is settled in heaven. (Psalm 119:89)

Forever includes the time before creation as well as eternity future.

A third decision that God made before creation was that since He is a spirit, the creature that was to be called mankind should also be a spiritual being as well as a physical being. With man being a spirit, he could be a part of God’s spiritual kingdom. So God went ahead and prepared a spiritual kingdom for mankind even before He created the earth.

Then shall the king say unto them on his right hand, come, ye blessed of my father,

inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

(Matthew 25:34)

God was not finished with His plans. But, before the next point is given, a definition of the word foreknowledgeneeds to be given. Foreknowledge is the ability to realize that something is going to happen before it happens. For instance, if you are standing on a mountain looking across a valley at another mountain and you notice a narrow road which has one car going up the mountain and another car coming rapidly down the mountain on the same narrow road, you know that those two cars are going to meet. You know that something is going to have to give or something bad is going to happen. Now, you are able to know ahead of time that a wreck is in the making. You, in no way are the cause of the wreck, you just know that it is going to occur. Likewise, God, in his foreknowledge, knew that mankind was going to be in need of a Savior. Understand, God sees all time as one eternal present. So He knew that after mankind was placed on the earth, man would sin. God in no way would cause man to sin, but He knew ahead of time that man would fall short of the mark and need to be redeemed. There would be no way for mankind to enter into the spiritual kingdom that had been prepared unless something was done to restore him to his original relationship with God. Therefore, the God-head council determined even before one particle of dust was created to send the Second Person of the Godhead to the creation. This was so that He could be the Redeemer and Savior of mankind. He would deliver mankind from his sin.

This is exciting! Just to think about how much our God really cares for us. He loves us so much that even before creation He was aware that each of us would need a Redeemer. Actually, God put it this way, “My grace will be sufficient for man’s salvation.”

Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began. (2 Timothy 1:9)

This means that God’s grace incorporated every detail necessary for the salvation of mankind. God would not have to try one idea and then another, hoping to stumble upon a satisfactory means by which man could be saved. No, God’s total plan of salvation was established in all of its minute details before creation was ever started. The God-head council determined that the plan of salvation would be revealed to mankind a step at a time, requiring hundreds of years before the entire plan would be revealed. In fact, it would take a little more than 4000 years.

Step-by-step mankind would be directed toward the Savior. God knew His plan would work, so He went ahead and wrote in the Lamb’s book of life the names of every single individual who would ever live.

“. . .and the lord said unto Moses, whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book. (Exodus 32:33)

For the sinner’s name to be blotted out of the book, it has to be written in the book first.

“. .notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.” (Luke 10:20)

“He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my father, and before his angels.” (Revelation 3:5)

God blotted out of the Book of Life only the names of those who would refuse to accept the plan of salvation. His foreknowledge allowed Him to know who these people would be, so, He went ahead and blotted out those names. This is not predestination. God does not in any way keep people from accepting the plan of salvation. It is God’s will for all to be saved. There are some people who do not accept Jesus, so God in His perfect foreknowledge knew who they would be. He went ahead and took their names out of the Book of Life.

7 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.

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.

(Revelation 13:7-8)

The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were

written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is. (Revelation 17:8)

You must understand that before the foundation of the world, God through foreknowledge was able to blot out of the Lamb’s Book of Life the names of those people that would not accept Jesus as Savior. To those whose names remain in the Lamb’s Book of Life, God promised eternal life.

Titus 1:2

In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began; (KJV)

God also declared before creation that those who receive eternal life will be called the children of God.

Ephesians 1:4-5

4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we

should be holy and without blame before him in love:

5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself,

according to the good pleasure of his will, (KJV)

The finishing touches were put on the plan of salvation before creation. The God-head Council unanimously agreed that the Son of God would be the only means by which mankind could be saved.

Again, look at Revelation 13:8.

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.

(Revelation 13:8)

This verse states that the Lamb of God was slain from the foundation of the world. We know the Lamb of God to be the Son of God.

Let’s review for a moment. We have learned what God was doing before he created the earth. God was expressing love within the God-head. God said that he would always be true to his Word. God prepared a spiritual kingdom for the people who would accept the plan of salvation. God wrote everybody’s name in the Lamb’s Book of Life and, through foreknowledge, removed the names of the people who, of their own choosing, would not accept Jesus as Savior.

MAKE THIS DECLARATION: I BELIEVE IN THE EXISTENCE OF GOD. HE HAS ALWAYS BEEN IN EXISTENCE. I BELIEVE THAT HE REVEALS HIMSELF TO ME THROUGH THE BIBLE. GOD IS ONE GOD, EXISTING IN THREE PERSONS, NAMELY, FATHER, SON, AND HOLY GHOST. LOVE BINDS THE GOD-HEAD IN PERFECT UNITY. GOD IS LOVE. GOD DECLARED HIMSELF TO ALWAYS BE TRUE TO HIS WORD. GOD HAS PREPARED A KINGDOM FOR ME. HIS GRACE IS SUFFICIENT FOR MY SALVATION. MY NAME IS WRITTEN IN THE LAMB’S BOOK OF LIFE. I AM GOING TO LIVE FOREVER! I AM A CHILD OF GOD. JESUS IS MY SAVIOR. HE IS MY LORD! GLORY TO HIS NAME!

If this study has been a blessing to you and you would like to continue this type of study, contact REVELATION OF THE WORD MINISTRIES. (See the CONTACT US page.)

Further studies are available on video tapes, DVD’s and/or loose-leaf notes which you can bind. Each one of these is available for an offering sufficient to cover the cost of duplication, handling, and postage. Ask God how much your offering should be.