Title: Let’s Learn and Become Convinced!
The essential and fundamental meaning and purpose of the history of mankind is the History of Redemption. Hence, the central figure of the History of Redemption is Jesus Christ. And, the movement of the History of Redemption flow through the movement of the church.
There have been many kinds of movement of the church in history but the essence of the movement of the church is the work of preaching. Through the work of preaching of the Bible, Jesus has to be taught to the congregation. Therefore, the church teaches Jesus through the Bible is the central figure of God’s Redemptive History of today
When it comes to the principle of the movement of salvation, it has to be :-
1) God-centered
2) Church-centered
3) World-centered
In order to become the believers that God is pleased with, we have to teach and learn the Bible, because that is what the church is supposed to do (2 Timothy 3:15).
- Learn (2 Timothy 3:14)
Greek word for ‘to learn’ is ‘Manano’ which means ‘to follow’, ‘to be disciplined’ and ‘to be in the habit of.’ To learn Jesus in the church means, we have to read the Bible, study the Word, find the truth, and accustom ourselves to what we have learnt.
What do we have to learn?
- Who God is (the doctrine of God)
It means to learn the origin of existence. All the existing world is the creature that God created. Many people believe an evolution theory and scientists studied that through a great explosion which is called big bang, the universe was created. But even these scientists cannot answer how come there was space and how come there was time. If there was completely nothing, no space, no time, no light, no dust, no nothing, there could not be any evolution.
If we admit that we are the creatures, then we can move on to think about the purpose of my being and existence. Then, we can think about God who is in control and God who administrates His will (Genesis 1:1).
- Who Man is (the doctrine of Man)
The Bible does not tell us what kind of protein God used to create man or what kind of chromosome God used but it teaches that God created man in His image and likeness (Genesis 1:26). Also, man is consisted with spirit and flesh (Genesis 2:7). Man needs to work with each other: male and female (Genesis 2:18-25). Then, man is the fallen being and cannot save himself with his own ability because the fallen attribute and nature are being inherited to generations after (Genesis 31-14).
- Who Jesus is (Christology)
The reason why God sent the savior is because God loves mankind (Genesis 3:21; John 3:16). Since the movement of the fall, God promised to send Jesus to save mankind, and indeed Jesus came to save us (Genesis 3:15; John 1:14-15). Jesus came, lived, ministered, died, resurrected, ascended to heaven and now intercedes for us according to the Word of God. Therefore, He will come again according to the Word of God too (John 14:1-3).
- The way to salvation (Soteriology)
The way to salvation is to believe in Jesus and there is no other way (John 3:16; John 14:6). To confess Jesus as our Lord cannot be done with our own intention but only through being reborn in the Holy Spirit (John 3:5; 1 Corinthians 12:3).
- Church (Ecclesia)
The church is a faith community that people who believe in Jesus togather, confess faith together, serve Him together and enjoy happiness together. Also, the church is the place for nurturing. By learning and studying in the church, we have to grow and attach to Jesus who is the head of the church (Ephesians 1:22-23).
- The end (Eschatology)
We should learn to look at the end at all time. There is a personal end also universal end. When the end comes, those who believe will go to eternal life and those who do not believe will go to eternal punishment (Matthew 25:45-46).
2. Become convinced of (2 Timothy 3:14)
Greek word for ‘be convinced’ is ‘Pisto-o’ but it is used in passive stem. Thus, it means the faith or belief comes into our heart irresistibly by God’s grace.
As we learnt about 6 topics mentioned before, by God’s grace, we are moved to believe and convinced of it. It is not that we force ourselves to believe something but by the touch of the Holy Spirit, we are made to believe. Then, the knowledge of the Bible does not remain in us as the knowledge but become life (Romans 10:17; Luke 24:32; Acts 13:48).
Conclusion: We should become the workers of the gospel
2 Timothy 4:2 preach the word; be ready in season (and) out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.
Man is to learn things from the cradle to the tomb. All other things we learn ends with accumulating knowledge into our brain but the Word of God we learn goes further, changes our heart, implants faith in our heart and eventually brings us to eternal life. Then, once again, we have to invite and guide others to the same way of life: This is evangelism and the movement of the gospel. If we learnt and become convinced of Jesus and the Word of God, we should become the workers of gospel. Let the eternal life we receive from Jesus spread in our house, in our family, in our business and in our countries.
The Lord's Covenant Church Malaysia 