Handouts

Students registered for Christian Beliefs RELB 152 your Examination Scheduled for Wednesday 17 August,2011, 10-11 am.
OUTLINE
Law of God
Ex. 20:1-17; Ps. 40:7, 8;
Matt. 22:36-40; Deut. 28:1-14;
Matt. 5:17-20; Heb. 8:8-10;
John 15:7-10; Eph. 2:8-10; 1
John 5:3; Rom. 8:3, 4;
Ps. 19:7-14
The great principles of God's law are embodied in the Ten Commandments and exemplified in the life of Christ. They express God's love, will, and purposes concerning human conduct and relationships and are binding upon all people in every age. These precepts are the basis of God's
covenant with His people and the standard in God's judgment. Through the agency of the Holy Spirit they point out sin and awaken a sense of need for a Saviour. Salvation is all of grace and not of works, but its fruitage is obedience to the Commandments. This obedience develops Christian
character and results in a sense of well-being. It is an evidence of our love for the Lord and our concern for our fellow men. The obedience of faith demonstrates the power of Christ to transform lives, and therefore strengthens Christian witness.God’s laws protect our health and happiness. When we are following Jesus, we are obeying God’s laws.
The Gift of Prophecy
Joel 2:28, 29; Acts 2:14-21;
Heb. 1:1-3; Rev. 12:17; 19:10
One of the gifts of the Holy Spirit is prophecy. This gift is an identifying mark of the remnant church and was manifested in the ministry of Ellen. G. White . As the Lord's messenger, her writings are a continuing and authoritative source of truth which provide for the church comfort,guidance, instruction, and correction. They also make clear that the Bible is the standard by which all teaching and experience must be tested.
God gave Ellen White the gift of prophecy. He gave her messages that have helped our church grow around the world.
Spiritual Gifts and
Ministries
Rom. 12:4-8;
1 Cor. 12:9-11, 27, 28;
Eph. 4:8, 11-16; Acts 6:1-7; 1
Tim. 3:1-13; 1 Peter 4:10, 11
God bestows upon all members of His church in every age spiritual gifts which each member is to employ in loving ministry for the common good of the church and of humanity. Given by the agency of the Holy Spirit, who apportions to each member as He wills, the gifts provide all abilities and
ministries needed by the church to fulfill its divinely ordained functions. According to the Scriptures, these gifts include such ministries as faith, healing, prophecy, proclamation, teaching, administration, reconciliation, compassion, and self-sacrificing service and charity for the help and encouragement of people. Some members are called of God and endowed by the Spirit for functions recognized by the church in pastoral, evangelistic, apostolic, and teaching ministries particularly needed to equip the members for service, to build up the church to spiritual maturity, and to foster unity of the faith and knowledge of God. When members employ these spiritual gifts as faithful stewards of God's varied grace, the church is protected from the destructive influence of false doctrine, grows with a growth that is from God, and is built up in faith and love.
God gives each one of us special gifts or talents so that we can work
for Him.
Lord's Supper
1 Cor. 10:16, 17; 11:23-30;
Matt. 26:17-30; Rev. 3:20;
John 6:48-63; 13:1-17
The Lord's Supper is a participation in the emblems of the body and blood of Jesus as an expression of faith in Him, our Lord and Saviour. In this experience of communion Christ is present to meet and strengthen His people. As we partake, we joyfully proclaim the Lord's death until He comes again.
Preparation for the Supper includes self-examination, repentance, and confession. The Master ordained the service of foot washing to signify renewed cleansing, to express a willingness to serve one another in Christlike humility, and to unite our hearts in love. The communion service is open to all believing Christians. We share the Lord’s Supper to remember what Jesus said and what He did for us on the cross.
Foot washing reminds us to care for each other the way Jesus did.
Baptism
Rom. 6:1-6; Col. 2:12, 13;
Acts 16:30-33; 22:16; 2:38;
Matt. 28:19, 20
By baptism we confess our faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and testify of our death to sin and of our purpose to walk in newness of life. Thus we acknowledge Christ as Lord and Saviour, become His people, and are received as members by His church. Baptism is a symbol of our union with Christ, the forgiveness of our sins, and our reception of the Holy Spirit. It is by immersion in water and is contingent on an affirmation of faith in Jesus and evidence of repentance of sin. It follows instruction in the Holy Scriptures and acceptance of their teachings.
The Bible teaches that we should be baptized to show the world that we
choose Jesus as our Savior and that we want to grow to be more like
Him.