A STUDY BY
GARY RAY BRANSCOME
We live in a world in which religions abound. Some of those religions are
theistic, while others are atheistic. Some consist of speculation and abstract
ideas, while others consist of ceremonies and traditions. Some die out, while
new ones are continually being created. However, there is no religion on earth
like the Christian religion. For, unlike the petty systems devised by man, the
foundation of the Christian religion consists of historical events written by
God on the pages of time.
Those events
are:
1- God's creation of the
world in six days.
2- The fall of man into sin.
3- The virgin birth of Christ.
4- The death of Christ on the cross.
5- The resurrection of Christ from the dead.
6- The ascension of Christ into heaven.
7- The return of Christ to judge the world.
Since each of those events has a deep spiritual
significance, they were basic to all that the Apostles taught. And, by the end of the first century (or shortly thereafter) had
been formulated into a statement of faith which we know as the Apostles’
Creed. The spiritual significance of those events is not a matter of
conjecture, but is explicitly stated in the words of Scripture.
1- Since the historical record of God's creation of the world in six
days is basic to our knowledge of who God is, as well as His relationship to us
and our accountability to Him, it is the foundation for everything else that
the Bible says (Isaiah 64:8, Genesis 1:27).
2- The record of man's fall into sin explains the presence of evil in
the world, our sinful nature, our need of salvation, and why we cannot save
ourselves. In short, the fall explains why it was necessary for Christ to come
into the world, and why we need a Savior (Romans
3- The record of the virgin birth of Christ is basic to our knowledge
of who He is, how He could be born without sin, and how He could be both God
and man. That knowledge, in turn, is basic to our knowledge of how He could
triumph over sin, death, and the devil to win eternal life for us. Therefore,
the record of the Virgin birth is basic to all the Bible says about
Christ’s deity, as well as the entire salvation message (Matthew
4- The record of Christ's death on the cross cannot be separated from
the fact that He died for our sins, and that through His death we have
forgiveness, reconciliation to God, and eternal life. In fact, the Biblical
record of Christ's death on the cross is central to all that the Bible teaches
and essential to a sound understanding of what the Bible says, for the very reason
Christ came into the world was to save us from our sins (1Timothy 1:15), and
God’s reason for bringing the Bible into existence was to testify of that
salvation (John 5:39, 1Corinthians 15:3).
5- The record of Christ's resurrection from the dead is not only one of
the best attested facts of history, but is fundamental to our knowledge that He
defeated sin, death, and the devil. For that reason, it is basic to our faith;
that is, to our assurance that He won forgiveness and salvation for us. We
believe that because He lives we also shall live also (Romans
6- The record of Christ's ascension into heaven is basic to our
knowledge that we have an advocate with the Father (1John 2:1), as well as to
our knowledge that He will return to judge both the living and the dead
(2Timothy 4:1). It also closely relates to the outpouring of the Holy Ghost at
Pentecost, for Christ told His disciples that if He did not leave the Spirit
would not come (John 16:7).
In regard to the Holy Spirit, I might also point out that His purpose
is not to testify of Himself but to testify of Christ (John
1-
He will convict the world of sin, because they do not look to Christ for
forgiveness. The historical record of Creation and the fall is basic to the
work of the Holy Ghost in convicting the world of sin (John 16:8,9).
2- He will reprove the righteousness of this world while lifting up Christ as
the source of all true righteousness, because Christ is no longer visibly
present. The historical record of the virgin birth, Christ's death on the
cross, and Christ's resurrection from the dead is basic to the work of the Holy
Ghost in convincing the world to look to Christ for righteousness (John 16:8,10, Romans 10:4).
3-
He will convince the world of judgment, because the prince of this world is
judged already, and only those who look to Christ for forgiveness will escape
condemnation on the day in which that judgment is revealed (Romans 10:11). The
historical record of Christ's ascension into heaven, together with what God has
revealed about His future return to judge the world, is basic to the work of
the Holy Spirit in convincing the world that only those who look to Christ for
forgiveness will escape the wrath of God (John 16:8,11, Romans 5:9).
7- The record of Christ's future return to judge both the living and
the dead impresses upon us the importance of repentance and being prepared for
His return, for He could return at any time. Moreover, because those who repent
see Christ as a source of deliverance while the unrepentant see Him as a source
of condemnation; the knowledge that He will return (and that everyone will
account for their sin) brings terror to the unrepentant but comfort to those
who trust in Him (2Timothy 4:1, 1Peter 4:5).
Because the historical events that I have just
outlined are basic to the salvation message, they are of key importance to our
faith and our understanding of God’s Word. For that reason, they were
central to the teaching of the Apostles, who taught the spiritual significance
of those events from the Old Testament. And, the Apostles’ Creed summarizes
those historical events. While that creed does not explicitly mention the Fall, the Fall is part of the Creation record.
I believe in God the Father almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.
And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord; Who was conceived by the Holy
Ghost, Born of the Virgin Mary; Suffered under Pontius Pilate, Was crucified,
died for our sins, and was buried; He descended into hell; The third day He
rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven And sitteth
on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; From thence He shall come to
judge the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Ghost; The holy Christian Church, the communion of
saints; The forgiveness of sins; The resurrection of
the body; And the life everlasting. Amen.
1- What does
the foundation of the Christian religion consist of?
2- What statement of faith summarizes the historical events that are basic to
the Christian religion?
3- The Biblical record of creation basic to what?
4- What does the Biblical record of the fall explain?
5- What is the Biblical record of the virgin birth basic to?
6- What fact cannot be separated from the historical record of Christ's death
on the cross?
7- What is Christ's resurrection from the dead basic to?
8- How does Christ's ascension relate to the work of the Holy Ghost?
9- What historical truths are basic to the work of the Holy Ghost in convicting
the world of sin?
10-What should the possibility of Christ's return impress upon us?