Ewe & I In The Kingdom of God

By D. A. Buckley

I like very much the picture of you and I as "EWE & I" alluding, of course, to sheep. Almost everyone, in Western countries, has heard of the Shepherd's Psalm, "The Lord is my shepherd..." and warmly recognizes that the shepherd spoken of is none other than God Himself. The Bible's illusion to believers as "sheep" is born out of the loving and compassionate heart of our Father in Heaven who loves us and is committed to lead us, feed us, protect and direct us into His perfect will.

• Language: English
• Publisher: D. A. Buckley
• Release date: Jan 18, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301470617

D. A. Buckley

Born again, spirit filled disciple of Jesus Christ looking for the consummation of the age and the catching away of the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ. Anticipating the soon beginning of the millennium reign of Christ on earth and after that a new heaven and a new earth.

Book preview

Ewe & I In

The Kingdom Of God

A New Believer’s Guide

To Basic Bible Doctrines

D. A. Buckley

Smashwords Edition, Copyright 2009 D. A. Buckley

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient as you would with a printed paper version. If you are reading this book and you did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your personal use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

CHAPTER 1 - THE AUTHORITY OF THE BIBLE

CHAPTER 2 - THE DOCTRINE OF CHRIST Part 1

CHAPTER 3 - THE DOCTRINE OF CHRIST Part 2

CHAPTER 4 - REPENTANCE FROM DEAD WORKS

CHAPTER 5 - FAITH TOWARD GOD

CHAPTER 6 - BAPTISMS, PART 1

CHAPTER 7 - BAPTISMS, PART 2 THE BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT

CHAPTER 8 - BAPTISMS, PART 3 THE BAPTISM OF JESUS

CHAPTER 9 - THE LAYING ON OF HANDS

CHAPTER 10 - THE RESURECTION FROM THE DEAD

CHAPTER 11 - ETERNAL JUDGMENT

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Introduction

I was asked to preach at a funeral once many years ago. The representative from the church where the service was taking place asked me how he should introduce me. I said, I’m just Don. That’s exactly how I was introduced then and that is exactly how I introduce myself to you today. I’m just Don. I’m just a believer that has walked with Jesus for over forty years. I thought that you might benefit from my experience and study in the things written about in this book. This is the book that I would leave for my own family as a compilation of those thing that I have found to be true.

It may be that you are reading this book because you have very recently received Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior. If so, then welcome to the Kingdom of God. It may be that you have been a believer for some time but desire to lay a clear and certain foundation of bible doctrine in your life. Whatever your reasons, you have set out to accomplish a noble and worthy goal.

I like very much the picture of you and I as EWE & I alluding, of course, to sheep. Often the Bible refers to believers as sheep. Almost everyone, at least in Western countries, has heard of the Shepherd’s Psalm, The Lord is my shepherd…, and warmly recognizes that the shepherd spoken of is Jesus. The Bible’s allusion to believers as sheep is born out of the loving and compassionate heart of our Father in heaven who loves us and is committed to lead us, feed us, protect us and direct us into His perfect will.

As you look ahead to your new life in Christ Jesus it must, at times, appear that you are now part of something very much larger than you thought possible. After all, our God is an awesome God. He has created everything that exists in heaven and on earth and wherever there may be anything else. Every man, woman and child that ever existed was created by the God of the Bible. Every bird, reptile, mammal, fish or other beast from microscopic to gargantuan in size our God spoke into existence. Every angel and every demon, yes there are demons, are the workmanship of His hands and his intellect. You don’t meet many people with credentials like that!

With this and so much more in mind, perhaps you may feel somewhat sheepish at the realization of the scope of this new life into which you have entered. Perhaps you feel a bit intimidated or overwhelmed at the majesty and awesome power of this living God, to whom you are now related by way of adoption and the new birth in the Holy Spirit. However, have no fear. God’s thoughts toward you every day are more than the sands of the sea and they are for good and wholesome things. These wholesome things we will begin to discover as we study together in the Word of God the basics of the Christian faith.

Here’s a good Bible verse upon which to begin our journey together:

Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Luke 12:32

By the way, if you are not accustomed to reading Bible references like the one above, it is really quite simple. Luke 12:32 refers to the book of the Bible titled The Gospel of Luke or just Luke. And the numbers refer to chapter twelve and verse thirty-two of that Bible book. Using the table of contents at the beginning of your Bible will help you find these references quickly until, sooner than you think, you are turning to these references without even thinking. Inexpensive tabs, with which you can tab your Bible, are available at most Bible book stores and can speed up the process of finding references.

Jesus, our wonderful and compassionate shepherd, in essence, told his disciples two thousand years ago, and through them tells us today through the Bible scriptures, Don’t be sheepish, afraid or intimidated. Your heavenly Father is very happy and pleased to give you entry into His wonderful Kingdom. Remember, I will never leave you or forsake you. Together we will accomplish all of the Father’s will.

Let’s take time up front to set some things in order so that this study in God’s word may indeed be fruitful. Let’s establish exactly what it is that we are studying.

Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. And this will we do, if God permit. Hebrews 6:1-3

In the above verse we see that the beginning point of our understanding is the doctrine of Christ. As we move on to full maturity in our faith we lay a foundation of understanding concerning repentance from dead works, faith toward God, baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment. Don’t you want to know about those things? This is the path laid out for us. As this is a book for new Christians our study will not be difficult and therefore not exhaustive. But it will serve as a useful introduction. Let’s get at it!

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THE AUTHORITY OF THE BIBLE

In order to begin our study we have to settle the question of the credibility of our text. Exactly what is the Bible? Where did it come from? How did it get to us? Can we trust it?

Since, as Christians, we derive our faith from this book we ought to know the answer to these questions. The subject at hand concerns our eternal souls. Therefore we ought to have the utmost confidence in the things which we believe.

Fair enough. Let’s get at it.

"But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. 2Timothy 3:14-17

The Apostle Paul wrote a letter to a young pastor named Timothy. Timothy had been raised by a mother who taught him from the Old Testament scriptures from his childhood. These Old Testament scriptures were, assured the Apostle, sufficient to make Timothy, wise unto salvation through faith which is in Jesus Christ. That is, they sufficiently instructed young Timothy in God’s plan of salvation in which God would save all mankind from the dreadful effects of sin by providing Himself as the sacrifice for every man that God Himself could then except as a just payment for the penalty of sin.

That, in itself, is quite a statement. But the Apostle goes on to make a greater statement, that is, that, all scripture is given by inspiration of God. Now the Bible is a book of words, like all books. However, words are important. Obviously, the more important the speaker of the words; the more important are the words themselves.

There was a time in Jesus’ ministry when many of His followers became offended at Him and would no longer follow Him. Jesus turned to His twelve, hand-picked, disciples and asked them if they too would like to leave. Simon Peter, who would later become the Apostle Peter, answered for the group with, Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life. John 6:68

There were many philosophers and religious teachers in Peter’s day, just as there are in ours. And they all had many words to say. But, Peter, and the other disciples and many of Jesus’ followers understood that the words that Jesus spoke were unlike any other words being spoken. Jesus spoke words not full of men’s conjectures, conclusions and perceptions, but words that were actually infused with the life of God Himself. In fact Jesus boldly proclaimed, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things. John 8:28

Jesus also explained to His followers that, unlike the words others were speaking, "the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and