The Etymology Of Our English Word: ‘Edification’

This study is produced from the Booklet published by RBT Bible Ministries, entitled “Edification Complex of the Soul,” with permission. We will begin by looking at several Greek words, which will help us understand certain points of doctrine. We begin with the word Edification.   Etymology of the Word “Edification.” This term comes to us in Scripture from the Koiné Greek…

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A Culture In Decline

Let’s begin with God! Life begins and ends with God! To leave God out of life’s equation is the epitome of arrogance.    We Americans must look inward and we must look back to God if we are to preserve our freedom. The conscience and direction of our Western civilization is dramatically declining in subtle ways. Americans seem to be…

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Grace Notes

As that timeless hymn tells us, “GRACE, grace, God’s Grace! Greater than all the world to me.” There is perhaps no greater word brought over from the Greek Language that can more adequately describe our undefinable God, than Grace. GRACE may be defined as: “All that God is free to do for man based on the Cross sacrifice of His…

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Divine Guidance

DIVINE GUIDANCE “The pure thoughts of Biblical Truths, illumined by the Holy Spirit, not the deceptive thoughts of man, are the basis for Divine Guidance. The Father, through the Son, by the Holy Spirit, is the light by which everything is enlightened, that has enlightenment.” —C. S. Craig. Do not depend on human viewpoint. Do not depend on the thinking of…

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Right Lobe Of The Brain

The dominant lobe of the mentality of the soul, designated by the Greek word kardia. The right lobe circulates Bible Doctrine through the soul’s stream of consciousness — frame of reference, memory center, vocabulary, categorical storage, the conscience, momentum and wisdom compartments — to support the spiritual life of the believer.

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Legalism – 2

The trend of mankind’s sin nature that makes futile attempts through human efforts to earn salvation, spirituality, or the approbation of God by some system of strict conformity to a code of conduct, ethics, religion, works, or morality. It is common to all religion and the Occult. Please note: Christianity is not a religion, it is a “relationship” with God…

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Grace Apparatus for Perception (GAP)

The Divine provision for spiritual comprehension, growth, and  advancement “empowered” by the filling of the Holy Spirit that enables every believer to understand, learn, enjoy and apply the entire realm of Bible Doctrine, regardless of education or human IQ. There are basically two kinds of IQ: human and spiritual. This definition and concept originated with Robert B. Thieme, Jr.

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Human Good

“Human good” is deeds and works done in the flesh while out of fellowship (sin unconfessed), therefore produced by the flesh, NOT by the Spirit. Divine Good is produced by the Holy Spirit when the believer is “filled” of the Spirit. When filled with the Spirit, God the Holy Spirit is able to lead, guide and direct our path through…

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Divine Good

Divine Good is ‘Christian service and deeds produced by the believer filled with the Spirit.’ Only Divine Good is acceptable by Perfect God. “Human good” is deeds and works done in the flesh while out of fellowship (sin unconfessed). Human Good is NOT acceptable to God because human good is the production of the sin-nature. Only what is done IN…

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When Faith Becomes Faith-Rest

FAITH Faith is the acceptance of an established criterion as the basis of reality; it is confidence or belief in the authority and veracity of another. The assent (assent is the expression of approval or agreement) of the mind to the truth of a proposition, followed by acceptance and confidence. In theology, it is the assent of the mind to…

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Civil Disobedience

Breaking the law. Civil disobedience refers to the action of disobedience (negative attitude followed by negative action), which is a manifested arrogance against the local civil, state, or federal laws. It is also a direct action (rebellion) against God and the laws of Divine establishment, in that God sets up the principles of law for the benefit, protection, orderly function,…

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Degeneracy

Degeneracy is the process of passing from a higher to a lower status — to decline progressively. Christian degeneracy is the decline to false or inferior standards, accompanied by loss of integrity. It is the subnormal status of fragmentation and reversionism, or “backsliding.”

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Election

Election is the expression of the sovereign will of God in eternity past before creation of the universe, before anything existed (except the Godhead). Election is the sovereign right of God over His Creation. Election is a Biblical term that is applied to the believer and to angels. God ordained history based on His foreknowledge. See “Foreknowledge.”

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Abundant Life

John 10:10b: “I am come that they (Jews and Gentiles — all mankind) might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” This abundant life has application to the believer’s walk through fields of grace-life with the Lord, who leads the way home to heaven. But, it also speaks to Eternal Life (which is received at the point…

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The Christian Objective

The Christian Objective is to be conformed to the “Image  of Christ” (Romans 8:29) by the renewing of our minds. We must continually renew our minds with the “Mind of Christ” (1 Corinthians 2:16). Our objective is to be “imitators” of Christ (1 Cor. 4:16;  Eph. 5:1). We are to become a Spiritually Mature Believer at which point we have…

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Maturity In Christ

Maturity in Christ means we have become “adult sons” occupied with Christ. “Occupation with Christ” is living life in the Grace Place, filled with the Holy Spirit on a consistent basis, by the consistent volitional exercise of 1 John 1:9, and the Inculcation of Bible Doctrine. The Ascent to Spiritual Maturity involves the literal transformation  from human viewpoint to Divine…

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Your Grace-Place

The grace place is “OCCUPATION WITH CHRIST,” which is reached at Spiritual Maturity. Spiritual Maturity should be every Believer’s goal/objective. There is no sweeter place than occupation (communion or fellowship) with our Savior in the grace place. Living in fellowship with the Lord is a life lived in resting faith (See also: “Faith Rest“). OCCUPATION WITH CHRIST SHOULD BE EVERY…

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Peace With God

The believer is at peace with God based on the cross-sacrifice of the perfect man — Jesus Christ, who died on the Cross as payment for the sins of mankind. Therefore to have peace with God, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved (Acts 16:31);  Peace with God (John 14:27). Reference also  Rom. 5:1;  Eph. 2:14;…

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Acceptable

The believer is made “acceptable” to God (Eph. 1:6; 1 Peter 2:5) because of Christ’s spiritual death in your place on the Cross. This relates to the doctrine of “propitiation.” God accepts Christ’s sacrifice for all who will believe in Christ (John 3:16, 36), therefore there is no condemnation to the believer.  Also reference “Reconciliation.“

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Adoption

For reference, please see Romans 8:15, 23, (future adoption); Ephesians 1:5. The Biblical concept of Adoption in the New Testament is based on the Roman  aristocratic function of adoption during the first century. In Scripture, adoption means to be recognized by God as an adult son. This is our actual position at salvation. However, experientially at salvation, we are adopted…

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Positional Truth

The Church Age believer in Christ is superior to all angels, including Satan (Heb. 1:4, 13-14, 2:9-11). It is in our position in Christ that we are to view ourselves … this is how God sees us. Please note: God accomplishes the Church Age believer’s sanctification in three stages: positional, experiential, and ultimate.

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Soteriology — Part Four — Imputation

The Doctrine Of Imputation/Gift of Volition God created angels and mankind, and God gave both angels and mankind Volition — our own individual freedom to choose. Imputation of original sin from Adam; imputation of original Righteousness through Jesus Christ. The doctrine of Imputation is one of the most important in Scripture because it explains our desperate need for a Savior,…

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The Doctrine Of Sanctification

The doctrine of sanctification teaches that God’s purpose is to make each Church Age believer like the humanity of Christ. Each is “conformed to the image of His Son,” the glorified Lord Jesus Christ (Rom. 8:29). God accomplishes the Church Age believer’s sanctification in three stages: positional, experiential, and ultimate. Positional sanctification is the Church Age believer’s union with Christ,…

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Thinking with God — Daily

“Blessings in fields of Grace” is not a cliché, it is an everyday walk in fellowship with the Lord. ‘Fields of Grace’ are real. These fields refer to your walk with the Lord. They are literally your daily experiences … wherever your steps take you, so why not plan each day in discussion with the Lord? Meditate each morning. Get used…

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King of kings and Lord of lords

Jesus Christ truly is the King of kings Preeminent. Jesus Christ is the “Preeminent One” in the universe and He earned the right to this title. Colossians 1:18 concludes with a purpose clause: “that in all things He might have the preeminence.” God the Father declared that His Son would be the preeminent one in this verse in Colossians. THE…

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The Rich Man and Lazarus

THE RICH MAN AND LAZARUS Compiled from a book published by RBT Bible Ministries Only God could take us to the underworld, and He did so in Luke Chapter 16: 19 – 31, in the story of the Rich Man and Lazarus. Please open your Bible to: Luke 16:19-31 This is a parable, told by Christ to His disciples, but,…

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Paradise And The Underworld

Parts One & Two Bible Teaching Class at Purcellville Baptist Church, Virginia. C.S. Craig teacher.  April – May, 2017. There are basically FOUR Parts to our Study: 1). Compartments of Hades – The Underworld 2). Paradise Luke 16:22.       A). The Ascension 3). The Rich Man and Lazarus –       A).  View of Hell. Luke 16:19-31….

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Operation: Footstool — An Outline Summary

I. DEFINITION: ‘Operation Footstool’ is a somewhat elaborate term for when the Lord Jesus Christ returns to earth (at His Second Coming) where He will establish His Kingdom and personally remove Satan and all the fallen angels. When Christ returns in glory, Satan’s rulership of the world is terminated and Satan and his followers are incarcerated for a thousand years…

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The “Heathen”

Heathenism, or The “Heathen” The definition of Heathenism exists for two reasons: where the gospel has been preached and rejected, or where people have reached God-consciousness and rejected God (Isaiah 40:17-21; Romans 1:18-30; 10:18; 2 Thessalonians 1:8). Since God is Perfect Righteousness, Perfect Justice, and Omniscient (all-knowing), it is impossible for God to be unfair to any member of the…

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Facts Of The Resurrection

“UP FROM THE GRAVE HE AROSE WITH A MIGHTY TRIUMPH OVER HIS FOES” The greatest eight days in human history begins on Palm Sunday and ends on Resurrection Sunday, yet the resurrection of Jesus Christ is only the beginning for those who have received Christ as personal Savior. Have you accepted Him? The resurrection is trampled under the feet of…

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Grace Awakening: Defining Divine Truth — Part One – The Divine Decrees

KEEPING IT SIMPLE — Our objective is centered around our Savior, Jesus Christ, because everything that God the Father does for mankind flows through the Cross. The Cross of Christ is man’s contact point with God, it is man’s restoration point, the place of forgiveness and mercy. The place where God’s Justice and Love are displayed for all mankind to accept…

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What Is Love? — A Summary

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE TEACH US ABOUT  LOVE? Love is a deep subject. The purpose of this summary of love is to challenge both the unbeliever and the believer to examine Scripture. What does the Bible say? Following is a twenty-one point dissertation for consideration. Think on these things … there are two viewpoints in life: Human viewpoint and Divine…

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The Power House of God

In Acts 10, Peter spoke these words: “You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him” (Acts 10:38). God’s Plan provided Christ our Savior with Power from on High — the power…

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Meditate: God Is Available At The Cross

Meditate on these things: Every verse of Scripture has it’s place in the believer’s soul-life … the resting place. Submission to the moral authority of God is to live by God’s Words. There is a Divine prelude to the harmonic symphony of the Scriptures — an absolute majesty. Whenever you read Scripture, listen carefully for the music of Heaven. The…

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The ‘If’ Factor

Once a person has received Christ as personal Savior (John 1:12; 3:15-18, 36; Acts 16:31), the new believer must continuously learn as a child of God; as a student under the teaching ministry of a Pastor and teacher (John 8:30-32; Acts 20:28). Therefore “volition” becomes the key issue in the believer’s life … “if” we are to be victorious Christians…

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Importance of Systematic Theology

WHAT IS DOCTRINE? The word doctrine is found in both the Old and New Testaments and expresses teaching. This teaching may be referred to as subjects or categories of truth. Bible doctrine is the teaching of the word of God on any given subject. In other words, Bible doctrine is the organized, systematic presentation of Biblical Truths. Bible doctrine may…

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Soteriology – Part Three – Justification

Justification (justified) is a legal term which means: to declare righteous, to secure a favorable verdict, to acquit. It means vindication; therefore, it is the judicial act of God whereby He imputes His Righteousness to the new believer at the point of salvation, thereby vindicating or justifying the believer. The meaning is derived from three Greek words: a. DIKAIOO: “to…

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Soteriology – Part Two – Reconciliation

You cannot fully appreciate Christ or what Christ accomplished for YOU if you do not understand all the issues that were involved in your salvation. RECONCILIATION: to adjust something or someone to a specific standard. As used in the New Testament, man’s position is described as “at enmity” (Ephesians 2:12-16) with God, viewed as out of harmony with God. Reconciliation…

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Counterfeit Addictions

COUNTERFEIT WORLDS Fleshly Addictions Christ Himself told us that we have three enemies: the World, the Flesh, and the Devil. The ‘world’ refers to other people, temptations, and counterfeit living without God in the Devil’s world. The flesh is our most powerful enemy … the flesh is most attracted to the world and its addictions. The Devil is the most…

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