This website contains bible study topics that represent the collaborative effort of individuals working together to serve God according to His law and written word (1Cor. 12:12-31; Lk. 4:8), under the direction of Jesus Christ who is the head of the church (Mt. 17:5; Eph. 1:20-23; Col. 1:18).
As the Adversary is the god of this world (Jn. 12:31; 2Cor. 4:4; Eph. 6:12), he has managed to deceive all mankind (Rev. 12:9; Eph. 2:2). This fact is evident even within the early church (Gal. 1:3-7; 2:12). Consequently, Satan’s deceptions have affected all religions, including; Christianity, Islam, and Judaism. Satan has deceived the entire planet so that all believe his lies and follow his evil ways (Jn. 8:44), resulting in sin and ultimately death (1Jn. 3:4; Rom. 6:23).
A perfect system must allow free moral agency so that the problem of evil can be dealt with individually, nationally and globally, as its occurrence is inevitable. Therefore, there is a need to reconcile sinners to God.
From before the foundation of the earth, Almighty God, the Father, had perfect foreknowledge that creation would fall and a means of salvation from death would be needed (Rev. 13:8; Isa. 46:9-13; Jn. 1:29, 36; Jer. 31:31-34). Since all have sinned and come short of the glory of God (Rom. 3:23) and sin is the transgression of God’s law (1Jn. 3:4), the wages of sin is death (Rom. 6:23; Ez. 18:4), therefore everyone is in need of forgiveness and salvation from the death penalty.
The Bible says only life can atone for life and God will require everyone’s life for having sinned (Gen. 9:5; Jb. 27:8). As a result, if an individual is to be delivered from the sentence of death and receive everlasting life, the removal of the debt they incur through committing sin is necessary (1Cor. 6:8-11). This was accomplished through a substitutional sacrifice that was without sin, thereby qualifying to pay our debt to the law (2Cor. 5:21; Heb. 4:15; Rom. 8:4). Thus God ordained a process where He leads sinners by His spirit to understand the consequences for breaking His law and brings them to repentance and baptism in Christ (Rom. 2:4; 6:3-4; Ac. 2:37-38; 5:32; 1Jn. 3:4, 24).
Jesus Christ is that perfect unblemished offering (Ex. 12:5; Jn. 1:29, 36; 1Pet. 1:19), who fulfilled the law regarding animal sacrifice and associated ordinances (Mt. 5:17; Eph. 2:15-19), built the church (1577 Gk. ekklesia, called out ones) and instructed his followers to disciple the nations as they walked (Mt. 28:19-20). This work is to continue until Christ’s return (Mt. 10:22-23; 16:18; 24:14; Ac. 1:11), and must continue in the teachings and examples of the early church in the 1st century CE (Jd. 1:3; Rev. 14:12).