Teaching Notes are Bible studies we taught before GraceLife Ministries began publishing articles online in 1995. Some were presented as sermons, others as group studies.
Our hope is that these older studies will be a blessing to you in your life and ministry. Please use them in any way God leads you.
This study is about the importance of the Bible in a Christian’s life.
[These notes are from a Bible study taught more than 40 years ago. The notes are in outline form.]
I love the Bible because it tells us about God!
A. It tells us about God the Father
- and His holiness – by the holiness of God we mean that He is absolutely separate from and exalted above all His creatures, and that He is equally separate from moral evil and sin. Exodus 15:11 reads – “Who is like unto thee, O Lord, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?” Psalm 99:9 reads – “Exalt the Lord our God, and worship at his holy hill; for the Lord our God is holy.” Isaiah 6:3 reads – “And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.” Revelation 15:4 reads – “Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.”
- and His love and affection – by the love of God we mean that perfection of the divine nature which He is eternally moved to communicate Himself. It is a rational and voluntary affection, having its ground in truth and holiness and its exercise in free choice. 1 John 4 tells us that “God is love.” 2 Corinthians 13:11 speaks of God as “the God of love.” The Scriptures teach us that the Father loves the Son and the Son loves the Father. God loves the world, His true children, and His people Israel. He loves righteousness and judgment. “God is love.”
- and His mercy and grace – By the mercy of God we mean His goodness manifested towards those who are in misery or distress. Other terms in Scripture are compassion, pity, and loving kindness. By the grace of God we are speaking of the goodness of God manifested toward the ill-deserving. A difference in the two terms might be that grace has respect to sinful man as guilty, while mercy has respect to him as miserable. The exercise of grace, like that of mercy, is optional with God. God has manifested His grace towards the sinner in two special ways. First, God has been forbearing and long-suffering in delaying the punishment of sin. Second, God has provided a plan of salvation, the Word of God that describes and reveals the plan, the convicting work of the Holy Spirit, the influence of God’s people, and prevenient grace.
B. It tells us about God the Son
“And the Word (Christ) became flesh, and lived among us; and we [actually] saw His glory, glory as belongs to the [One and] only begotten Son of the Father, [the Son who is truly unique, the only One of His kind, who is] full of grace and truth (absolutely free of deception).” John 1:14 Amplified Bible
- and His incarnation in a stable – “And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.” (Luke 2:8-12).
- and His life on earth – “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.” (Acts 10:38)
- and His death upon the Cross – “And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.” (Luke 23:33)
- and His resurrection from the dead – “Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them. And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre. And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus. And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments: And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again. And they remembered his words, And returned from the sepulchre, and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest.” (Luke 24:1-9)
- and His ascension into Heaven – “And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven.” (Luke 24:51)
C. It tells us about God the Holy Spirit
- and His convicting power – “Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: Of sin, because they believe not on me; Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.” (John 16:7-15)
- and His regenerating power – “Jesus answered him, ‘I assure you and most solemnly say to you, unless a person is born again [reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, sanctified], he cannot [ever] see and experience the kingdom of God.’ Nicodemus said to Him, ‘How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter his mother’s womb a second time and be born, can he?’ Jesus answered, ‘I assure you and most solemnly say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot [ever] enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh [the physical is merely physical], and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be surprised that I have told you, ‘You must be born again [reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, sanctified].’” (John 3:3-7 Amplified Bible). Verse 5 in the Expanded Translation of the Greek reads – “Jesus answered, most assuredly, I am saying to you, unless a person is born of the Spirit as a source, he is not able to enter the kingdom of God.”
- and His indwelling power – “Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.” (John 14:17) “But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.” (Romans 8:9)
- and His sanctifying power – “Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.” (1 Peter 1:1-2)
- and His filling power – “Do not get drunk with wine, for that is wickedness (corruption, stupidity), but be filled with the [Holy] Spirit and constantly guided by Him.” (Ephesians 5:18 Amplified Bible)
[Thank you for reading these teaching notes from more than 40 years ago. My prayer is they will be a blessing to you, your family and your ministry.]
