Christian Foundational Principles

By Pastor Gary W. Murray

I have written this book for you! As you journey through life's distractions, you will need to be equipped with understandings which will guide you in making decisions. This will help you know who God is and what He wants you to be: His disciples. Your life, as it spreads over years, matures as should your understanding of Christ. While the Bible speaks of us becoming mature (i.e., Luke 8:14; Hebrews 5:14, 6:1; Colossians 1:28; Ephesians 4:13; James 1:4), this book lays a solid foundation to that end.

"Not that I have already attained all this or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me." This gives me grace, direction, and hope. Philippians 3:16 encourages us to "live up to what we have already attained."

So I challenge you to grow in your understanding, and I offer this book as an aid, a flashlight in dark times.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Covenant Books, Inc.
• Release date: Jul 7, 2023
• ISBN: 9781638145363

Book preview

Table of Contents

Title

Copyright

Key Concepts of the Kingdom of God

Acknowledgments

1: The Knowledge of God

2: The Nature of God and Man

3: New Testament Church Structure

4: The Fall and Law versus Grace

5: The Commandments

6: Repentance—Sometimes a Scary Word But Welcome In Our Lives!

7: Sanctification—Walking in the Spirit of Faith

8: Jesus, God and Man

9: The Holy Spirit

10: Prayer, Fasting, Giving

11: Hermeneutics—The Principles of Interpretation

12: How to Get the Most Out of Your Problems

13: Unity

14: Self-Acceptance

15: Water Baptism

16: Bitterness Versus Forgiveness

17: The Christian Family

18: The Lord's Supper

19: Some Tips On Guidance

Bibliography

About the Author

cover.jpg

Christian Foundational Principles

Pastor Gary W. Murray

ISBN 978-1-63814-535-6 (Paperback)

ISBN 978-1-63814-536-3 (Digital)

Copyright © 2023 Pastor Gary W. Murray

All rights reserved

First Edition

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Covenant Books

11661 Hwy 707

Murrells Inlet, SC 29576

www.covenantbooks.com

Key Concepts of the Kingdom of God

The purpose of this course is to introduce you to the key concepts of the kingdom of god.

Acknowledgments

I want to thank some friends and partners in the ministry. I have come to admire their varied attributes and skills. One is Pam Row, whom I value. Her varied help in the organization of my many doctrines of teachings and putting them into readable teachings is greatly appreciated. I have written the foundations for the few who want a deeper walk with Jesus, such as my spiritual son Tom Row, who would become my associate pastor, missionary, and teacher. He also encouraged me not to quit when things seemed off the rail.

To my wife, Mary, who has stood beside me through the many years with courage, dedication, and, when necessary, correction. She has provided a perspective that I would not have thought about! Her love for me has kept me going when I would want to throw in the towel. She would remind me of God's word, and I would listen. Thank you, Mary!

To my teachers at C.O.S.M. (Christian Outreach School of Ministry), who taught me to take the original and unadulterated word of God as gospel, not a message from some preacher who insists on their way as the only way. Thank you! My spiritual father, Dr. Lyn Heitz, God rest his soul. A missionary, my teacher, and my friend. Thank you!

Lastly, the gospel teachers, specifically Paul. Thank you!

1

The Knowledge of God

The Natural Knowledge of God

The heavens are telling of the glory of God; and their expanse is declaring the work of his hands. (Psalm 19:1)

This scripture tells us that by looking at nature (the heavens, the firmament, the sky), we can know there is a God. Indeed, we can see His handiwork in all of nature.

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. (Genesis 1:1)

This is the very first verse in the Bible. The Bible starts by assuming that you know there is a God. That is, you have a natural knowledge of God's existence. It doesn't try to prove that God exists.

Two Ways to Know God through Nature

The external evidence

For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God. (Hebrews 3:4)

Men, why are you doing these things? We are also men of the same nature as you, and preach the gospel to you in order that you should turn from these vain things to a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and all that is in them. And in the generations gone by, He permitted all the nations to go their own ways; and yet He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good and gave you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts. with food and gladness. (Acts 14:15–17)

As these Scriptures point out, nature around us witnesses to the existence of God. Because nature works to a plan and is in harmony, we also can know that God is a good and intelligent creator.

The internal evidence

For when Gentiles who do not have the law do instinctively the things of the law, these, not having the law, are a law to themselves, in that they show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness, and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them. (Romans 2:14–15)

God has written into our very nature the knowledge of right and wrong. Often, this is clouded, but it is still there. Part of this law is that we are responsible to God, and we should worship Him. There never has been a people who have not worshipped something. This is because of the law in their hearts.

What You Can Learn Through Nature—Only Three Things

God is powerful. Think of the power it takes to create and sustain the universe!

God is wise. Think of how complex a tree is as all its parts that God made work together in harmony.

God is good. As Acts 14:15–17 above points out, He gave us rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness.

What You Don't Learn through Nature

Who God is. That is, you don't learn that He is the Triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Or that His name is Yahweh (Jehovah). Or that the Son's name is Jesus.

The redemptive plan which is God sent Jesus into the world to suffer and die for our sins.

The Purpose of the Natural Knowledge of God

He made from one, every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times, and the boundaries of their habitation, that they should seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us. (Acts 17:26–27)

From this Scripture, we see that the purpose of the natural knowledge of God is to cause men to look for Him.

The Revealed Knowledge of God

Some facts

The Old Testament was written between about 1500 and 400 BC.

The New Testament was written between about AD 45 and 98.

Therefore, it took a total of about 1,600 years to complete the Bible.

God used thirty-six different men to write it.

There are sixty-six books in all.

How the Word Works in Us

So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. (Romans 10:17)

This verse tells us that we can get the Word of God into our hearts by hearing it or through our ears. We also can comprehend it through reading it through our eyes. Even a heathen can come to a certain understanding of the Scripture this way. Yet look at the next Scripture.

Yet we do speak wisdom among those who are mature; a wisdom, however, not of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are passing away; but we speak God's wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom, which God predestined before the ages to our glory; the wisdom which none of the rulers of this age has understood; for if they had understood it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory; but just as it is written, things which the eye has not seen and ear has not heard, and which have not entered the heart of man, all that God has prepared for those who love Him. For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man, which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things freely given to us by God, which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words. But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. (1 Corinthians 2:6–14)

So we see it takes more than the eye or the ear or man's natural heart to get the spiritual understanding of God's Word deep within our spirits. It comes only through the teaching of the Holy Spirit. Ask God to give you spiritual wisdom each time you study His Word, hear a sermon, receive a teaching, or read a spiritual book!

The Whole Word Points to Jesus

The Old Testament lays a foundation of the need for the blood atonement of Jesus. It also tells us of God's historical preparations for His coming. The New Testament tells the facts of Jesus coming and why. It also explains all that Jesus has won for us on the cross!

How We Got the Bible

The Old Testament

The Christian church has received as part of God's Word, all those Old Testament books universally accepted by the Jews as God's Word.

The New Testament

Very early in the history of the church, it decided to accept only those books written by the apostles. It also accepted those books written with apostolic approval by close associates of the apostles.

Authorship of the Bible

Divine

Which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words. (1 Corinthians 2:13)

For no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God. (2 Peter 1:21)

All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness. (2 Timothy 3:16)

As these Scriptures point out the true author of the Bible is God the Holy Spirit. He inspired certain men to reveal His Word.

The Old Testament—we may speak of the Old Testament as being written by the prophets.

The New Testament—we may speak of the New Testament as being written by the apostles and evangelists. Evangelists here technically means the four Gospel writers.

Attributes of the Bible

Inspired

All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness. (2 Timothy 3:16)

All Scripture, every word, was put there by God.

Inerrant

This means that since God inspired every word, the Bible contains no mistakes. Yet as copyists copied the Bible through the centuries, copiers' errors have appeared. The vast majority of these are correctable and have been corrected. Only a few are still disputed by some. Yet this we can rely on: the God who wrote the Bible is well capable of preserving His Word! The Bibles we have today are for all important intents and purposes error-free.

Clear

And so we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts. (2 Peter 1:19)

Thy word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path. (Psalm 119:105)

I shall give thanks to Thee with uprightness of heart, when I learn Thy righteous judgments. (Psalm 119:7)

And that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. (2 Timothy 3:15)

I am writing to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I have written to you, children, because you know the Father. (1 John 2:13)

The passages above reflect the fact that Scripture (except perhaps for some prophecies and parables) is like a clear light, plain enough that a child can understand it. Made obscure by:

Lack of study

And that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which a able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Chris, Jesus. (2 Timothy 3:15)

Like Timothy, to whom Paul wrote, we should make the study of the Word a lifetime endeavor.

Lack of familiarity

But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. (Psalm 1:2)

Thy word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against Thee. (Psalm 119:11)

Meditating and memorizing will help us gain insight into what God means in His Word.

Infallible

However, they did not all heed the glad tidings; for Isaiah says, Lord, who has believed our report? (Romans 10:16)

Infallible means that what Scripture says will happen, will happen. In our example above, Paul is pointing out that not all obeyed the gospel, just as the Scripture in Isaiah said would happen.

Being a Doer of the Word

But He said, On the contrary, blessed are those who hear the word of God, and observe it! (Luke 11:28)

But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror, for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man shall be blessed in what he does. (James 1:22–25)

As these Scriptures say, the purpose of the Word is not just to have something godly to listen to.

No, its purpose is to get us to respond to it. To live it out! We should always read the Bible with this purpose in mind.

How Does This Happen?

First, as we read, the Holy Spirit shows us a change that should take place in our lives. He reveals some part of our lifestyle, which needs to come into line with God's Word.

Next, we ought to pray for God's Spirit to enable us to make that change in our lives. We often are not strong enough to do it ourselves. Yet scripture says we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us! So pray for His strength to change.

The testing to see if we really have changed will usually come within twenty-four hours. James tells us:

Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. (James 1:2–5)

James says that it is through this testing process, the trying of our faith, that we become perfect. Knowing that, we can have joy even when life is at its worst! Joy because we know that this is part of God's process for bringing our lives in line with His Word. James also reminds us to pray. Ask God for the wisdom and strength to go through the testing and come out the other side an overcomer!

2

The Nature of God and Man

God: What God Is

A spirit

God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth. (John 4:24)

God has everything except a fleshly body, Jesus excepted.

See My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself; touch Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have. (Luke 24:39)

Then What Does the Bible Mean When It Speaks of the Right Hand of God?

Wondrously show Thy loving kindness, O Savior of those who take refuge at Thy right hand from those who rise up against them. (Psalm 17:7)

Thou hast also given me the shield of Thy salvation, and Thy right hand upholds me; and Thy gentleness makes me great. (Psalm 18:35)

But He kept silent, and made no answer. Again the high priest was questioning Him, and saying to Him, are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?