INTRODUCTION TO BIBLE BASICS

In doing this study it is important that you recognize your feelings about God, the Bible and Bible study.  In order to benefit you, you must desire to draw closer to God and improve your relationship with Him.   It is also necessary for you to avoid any hint of self-deception and answer all questions sincerely and honestly.  To reach a truthful understanding of God’s will, you must be willing to give up all personal and preconceived ideas regarding what God’s word teaches and accept and obey the pure word of God.  You will note that this study does not engage in opinions or traditions of men but requires the direct reading and application of God’s word.

To provide the maximum benefit, carefully read the given Scripture and then answer the question(s).  Unless otherwise indicated, the questions must be answered from the given Scripture and not from our opinions, beliefs or previously held teaching. 

WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE?  This section is designed to help define and reinforce belief in God and to make application of these truths. 

1. What do you believe about God?

  • Do you believe God exists?  Yes – No
  • Do you believe He created our world? Yes – No
  • Do you believe He loves you? Yes – No
  • Do you believe He sustains our world? Yes – No

2. What do you believe about the Bible?

  • Is it from God, containing His word? Yes – No
  • Must we obey it to please God?  Yes – No

3. Describe any previous study of the Bible that you have done?

  • Have you done personal studies with individuals?  Yes – No 
  • Have you done studies offered by a church or denomination?  Yes – No 
  • Do you like to do private studies on you own?  Yes – No 

4. Why do you want to do this study?   What do you hope to gain from it?

  • Do you wish to draw closer to God and improve your relationship with Him? Yes – No
  • Do you hope to gain assurance of your salvation? Yes – No 
  • Do you wish to become a teacher of God’s word?  Yes – No 
  • Are you curious or looking for fault?  Yes – No 

A Study About God

Do you feel anger?  Yes – No 

How can a loving good God allow bad things – pain, suffering & death – to happen to us?  See “Why Do Bad Things Happen?” in ADDITIONAL HELPS.

 WHAT DOES GOD SAY ABOUT THE BIBLE?  Note: If you believe that God exists and that He has created all things, it logically follows that He has communicated with us, revealing His purposes, plans and will for us.

14. 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Do the Scriptures in the Bible come from God?  Yes – No

NOTE: The word “doctrine?” simply means “teaching.”  The word “inspiration?” means “God breathed.”  

(See Strong’s Greek Lexicon.)  

God has given the Scriptures to teach, instruct, reprove and correct us in righteous living.   True – False 

To be complete as God desires, this verse says that we need nothing more than what is given in the Scriptures.  True – False

For how many good works will the Scriptures equip us?  __ Some   __A few   __Every (all)

To please Him, what does God want you to do that is not revealed in the Bible?  __Anything. we can imagine.  __Whatever we desire or pleases us.  __Whatever we think is good and right.   __Nothing

15. 2 Peter 1:2-3

Has God already revealed to man His complete will regarding life and godliness? Yes – No

Since the will of God has been revealed in the Bible, we do not need any additional instruction to please Him.  True – False 

16. John 14:25-26; John 16:12-13   (Note: To correctly interpret the Scriptures, it is important to note if something is said to certain individual(s) or to all people.)

Those to whom Jesus is speaking in these verses are described as those who were present with Him, who would remember things He had already spoken and to whom He had many things to say, but they could not bear them.  True – False

The promises made in these verses were made to the Apostles who were present with Him while He was on earth rather than to all Christians.  True – False

In what 3 ways did Jesus say that the Holy Spirit would help the Apostles? 

1). Would He “teach them all things?”  Yes – No 

2). Would He cause them to remember “all things” Jesus had said to them?  Yes – No  

3). Would He guide them “into all truth?”  Yes – No 

Since the Apostles were given all truth, what additional truth will be revealed in later times? 

1).  Would some truth be saved to be revealed to later generations?  Yes – No  

2). “All” means everything and nothing else exists to be revealed.  True – False 

If someone claims to have a revelation from God, given after the Apostles were guided into all truth, do you need it?  Yes – No

It is not necessary to study the Scriptures to learn “all truth” because our feelings guide us into “all truth.”  True – False

17. 2 Peter 1:20-21

Did the Bible originate by the will of man?  Yes – No

Did God permit the authors of the Bible to record their own interpretation (ideas) in the Bible?  Yes – No

Does God approve of each person having his own different interpretation of the Scriptures?  Yes – No

18. Matthew 7:13-14

Did Jesus say that most people will go to heaven when they die?  Yes – No

Is it safe to follow the beliefs of the majority? Yes – No

The way that leads to heaven will require little and will be easy.   True – False

Are you willing to do whatever is necessary to go to heaven?  Yes – No

19. Matthew 7:21-23

Some people who claim to be Christians practice lawlessness.  True – False

Will everyone who feels saved (or thinks he/she is saved) be saved?  Yes – No 

Will everyone who does good works in the name of Jesus be saved?    Yes – No

Does God approve of every good work done in the name of Jesus?  Yes – No

To be saved, our works must be those approved by the will of God.  True – False 

20. Proverbs 14:12; Acts 26:9

You can trust your feelings and conscience to guide you to do the will of God.  True – False

Can you know you are saved by the way you feel or by what you think?  Yes – No

21. Galatians 1:6-9

Is there more than one saving gospel message?  Yes – No

Does any man have the authority to change the gospel message preached by the Apostles?  Yes – No

These verses show that changes in the gospel message are acceptable to God, just as long as it is the same basic gospel.  True – False

If your minister, priest, pastor, pope, church or best friend teaches something different from the Bible, should you obey that teaching?   Yes – No

If an angel appears to you and teaches something different than the word of Jesus in the Bible, should you obey the angel?  Yes – No

The only way to know if a religious teacher is teaching the truth is by comparing it with God’s word in the Bible.  True – False 

22. 2 John 9, Revelation 22:18-19

Will God be pleased if you add to or change what He commanded the first century Christian?  Yes – No

If you do not follow what the New Testament reveals, how can you know that what you are doing pleases God? 

1). You can know by your feelings. True – False 

2). You can know by the assurance of a priest or some other religious official.  True – False 

3). You can’t know!  True – False 

23. Leviticus 10:1-3

Nadab and Abihu used fire in worship that had not been commanded by God.  True – False 

If you go beyond or outside of what God has commanded, He will not be pleased. True – False

To do something other than that commanded by God fails to regard God as holy and does not glorify Him. (See verse 3)   True – False 

We must be very observant to do exactly what God commands in the way He commands or we fail to honor him.  True – False

If you choose to deviate from that commanded by God, in whom are you trusting?

__ God   __Yourself

24. John 12:48

To enter heaven, will you be judged by the teachings or beliefs of men?   Yes – No

To enter heaven, will you be judged by what seems right to you?  Yes – No

To enter heaven, you must be judged righteous by the words of Jesus.  True – False

If three people teach three different things on a religious subject, how can you determine what is correct?  __ By our feeling   __By assurance from your church   __ By God’s Word in the Bible

Summary and application

Does any church or person have the right to change that which Jesus taught?  Yes – No

How are you going to treat the Bible and what it says about your life?  __Ignore it   __Ask my religious leader   __Obey it by conforming my life to what God says in His word.

How does God feel if you do something other than what He has told us?   

1). Does He feel honored and loved?  Yes – No 

2). Does He feel rejected?  Yes – No 

3). Does He feel angry?  Yes – No    (Consider Nadab & Abihu in Leviticus 10:1-3.)

MAN IS MADE IN GOD’S IMAGE?

1.     Genesis 1:24-26

Does God say man is made in His image and in His likeness?  Yes – No

“Image” seems to refer to likeness, resemblance or appearance.  True – False

2.      John 4:24

God is spirit rather than flesh.  True – False

3.  Luke 24:39

     A spirit does not have flesh and bones.  True – False              

4. Genesis 1:3-4

    From these verses, we see that God thinks, reasons, make decisions, feels and acts.  True – False

    Are these qualities also found in man?  Yes – No

5. Zechariah 12:1. Hebrews 12:9, Ecclesiastes 12:7

    God forms man’s spirit within man.  True – False    God is the Father of Spirits as He gives the spirit to man.  True – False

Prepared and published by Mark Legg, rmlegg@aol.com   Phone 580-320-4488, markleggminstery.org