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I. God
created the universe through Christ in the presence of the Holy Spirit. God
was present in His three persons - Father, Son, Spirit - from the beginning
of time. 1
II. Mankind was created in the image of2 God for the purpose of
communing forever with Him in a state of perfection3 and to rule
over God's Creation.4
III. Mankind, when tempted by Satan, chose to go against God's will and
attempted to be equal to God.5 Through this act, both mankind
and creation experience physical and spiritual separation from God in a
world of pain and suffering.6 Today, each of us experiences
death through Adam.7
IV. But even in God's curse of man was contained a promise of victory
(embodied in Christ) over death (embodied in Satan.)8
V. God's plan of restoration was worked out through the lives of Abraham
and his offspring and was expressed in the covenant which contained this
promise: "All through our offspring all the nations on earth will be
blessed because you have obeyed me."9 Because Abraham believed
this covenant, he was righteous in God's sight. 10
VI. This covenant was fulfilled by
the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, who was conceived
by the Holy Spirit in the virgin Mary. Jesus Christ was fully human and
fully God. 11
VII. Although Christ Himself was in every way perfect, 12 He
took on the sins of the world and bore the just punishment for our sins on
our behalf 13 when He was crucified on a cross at a place called
Golgotha just outside of Jerusalem. 14
VIII. After three days in a tomb, Jesus arose from death bodily, 15
and for forty days appeared to those who had followed him. 16
After this, He ascended into heaven, 17 where He is now at God's
right hand, speaking to Him on our behalf. 18 One day Christ
will return as He departed. 19
IX. The Holy Spirit is personally
present, leading people to the conviction of sin, and after salvation,
indwells believers, giving comfort, knowledge, and counsel. 20
X. Those that don't accept Christ
are already condemned to death (eternal separation from God.) 21
XI. Anybody who is convicted of his
own sinfulness and believes that Christ's death and resurrection were done
on his behalf has his guilt removed and is set free from slavery to his
sinful nature, and is free to live according to the Spirit. 22
He is already resurrected to eternal life, and will be returned someday to
perfect communion with God. 23
XII. The life-purpose of every
believer and every Christian ministry is to fulfill the commission given to
the first followers of Jesus Christ: "Go into all the world and preach the
good news to all creation" 24 and to care for those in need.
25
1 - Genesis 1, John 1
2 - Genesis 1:26-27, Genesis 3:8
3 - Genesis 1:28, Genesis 2:1-20
4 - Genesis 3:1-6, Genesis 3:4 -5
5 - Genesis 3:13-24
6 - I Corinthians 15:22, Romans 5:12-14
7 - Gen. 3:15, Is. 7:14, Matt. 1:23,
Rom. 16:20
8 - Genesis 23:9
9 - Genesis 15:6
10 - Matthew 1:18-32
11 - Matthew 27:19
12 - I Corinthians 5:21
13 - John 19:17-19
14 - Matthew 28:1-10
15 - Acts 1:3
16 - Acts 1:9
17 - Hebrews 4:14-16
18 - Acts 1:11, I Thessalonians 16-17
19 - John 16:5-15, John 14:15-18
20 - John 3:18, Revelation 21:8
21 - John 3:16-18, Romans 8:1-4
22 - Rev. 21:3-4, Philippians 3:20-21
23 - Mark 16:15
24 - Isaiah 58:6-11
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