by Pastor Jason Hudson
Scripture
The Scriptures are God-breathed, living and active, useful for teaching, reproof, correction and training in righteousness, fully-capable for equipping the believer to do every good work to which they are called, without error as written by the Holy Spirit through men and preserved accurately for our benefit, made understandable by the same Holy Spirit, to be read, taught and preached in public, able to make one wise for salvation, every word together used to display the perfect purpose and plan of God for salvation fulfilled only through Jesus, containing His words of eternal life and, therefore, worth dying for. (2 Timothy 3:15-17; Hebrews 4:12; 2 Peter 1:20-21; 1 Corinthians 2:6-16; 1 Timothy 4:13; 2 Timothy 4:2; Revelation 1:2-3, 1:9, 6:9-11, 20:4; Luke 24:27, 44-49)
The Godhead
The Trinity is the Father, His Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit — three persons existing in one Godhead. All three are equal in deity, nature, power, glory, and purpose. Each, along with individual personhood, has distinct roles and duties. From Genesis 1 through Revelation 22, the Scriptures account for the Trinity. (Genesis 1:1-2, 26-27; Deuteronomy 6:4; Psalm 110:1-4; Matthew 3:16-17; Matthew 21:19-20; John 1:1-4,14,18; John 8:53-59; John 14:26; John 16:7-11; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Colossians 1:15-20, 2:9; Hebrews 1:1-13; Revelation 22:6,12-13,17)
The Person and Work of the Father
The Father set the eternal decree of the divine will. In the Father is life and love, and He extends both to those he chooses through the birth, sacrifice and resurrection of His Son, Jesus Christ. The Father sent the Son and bears witness to His Son. Likewise, He has sent the Holy Spirit to guide believers into all truth. In the Father is neither change nor unfair judgment of each person’s work. From Him comes everything good and perfect. (Isaiah 53:10; Matthew 10:29; John 3:16; John 3:35; 1 John 4:16; John 5:26; John 6:44; John 8:18; John 14:26; 1 Thessalonians 1:9b-10, James 1:17, 1 Peter 1:17)
The Person and Work of Christ
In Jesus Christ exists everything pertaining to the attributes of the Godhead in a physical body — fully God and fully man. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of His nature. He created the world and upholds the universe by the power of His Word. He is the only begotten Son of God, conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He lived a perfect life, died on a cross as the only acceptable substitutionary sacrifice for the sins of people, suffered under the wrath of the Father, and conquered the grave by rising on the third day from the dead. He now sits at the right hand of the Father advocating and interceding on behalf of believers, leading His people in worship as High Priest. He is the eternal King, fulfilling the promise made to David and through the prophets. He is the Head of the church, and there is nothing left outside of His control, though we do not yet recognize everything in subjection to Him. He has been appointed heir of all things. Jesus loves me. (Colossians 1:15-20, 2:9-10; Luke 1:34-35; John 1:1-18, 29-34; John 3:16; 1 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Timothy 1:17; Hebrews 1; Hebrews 2:8; Hebrews 7:1-8:7; Hebrews 10:5-14; 1 Peter 2:24)
The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit
I believe the Holy Spirit convicts the world of sin, righteousness and judgment. He is the supernatural agent of regeneration and renewal. The Spirit baptizes every believer, indwelling them, giving them life in their mortal bodies and gifts for the building up of the church. The Spirit is God’s seal and guarantee for every believer unto the day of redemption. He intercedes for us, helps us in our weakness, and bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God. The Scriptures were written by the Holy Spirit as He guided men to speak, and He is responsible for giving us understanding of the Scriptures. The Spirit is our Helper, sent from the Father, promised to the believer forever, and joins with the the Bride of Christ in calling upon the Lord to come again. (Ezekiel 36:26-32; John 14:16-17; John 16:8-11; Romans 8:9-27; Ephesians 1:13-14; Titus 3:5; 1 Corinthians 12:4-13; Revelation 22:17)
Mankind
Humanity was originally created, both male and female, in the image and likeness of God. However, through Adam’s sin the race fell, resulting in apartness from the Holy God — that is, physical and spiritual death for all mankind. All people are born with a sinful nature and as enemies of God. No one seeks God on their own, and one can only be redeemed by putting their faith in the life-giving work of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is destined for each man to die once and after that to face judgment. (Genesis 1:26-27; Psalm 14:1-3; Romans 3:3-26; Isaiah 53:6; Romans 5:6-21)
Salvation
Jesus is salvation, as represented by His very Name, Jesus, meaning Jehovah is salvation. Salvation was accomplished through the plan of the Father fulfilled in Jesus Christ as He, though without sin, bore our sins on the cross, suffering under the wrath of the Father as a substitutionary sacrifice, washing us clean by His blood and Word, adopting us as children and baptizing us by the Holy Spirit into the Body of Christ, His bride. There is no work of ours in salvation, as every primary work is an action of God, so we may not boast and so our salvation may be perfect, complete and eternal through the person and work of Christ alone. Even faith is given to us, so that our “decision to believe” is more a submission to the work of the Spirit forming Christ in us as we listen to His Word. (Genesis 15; Isaiah 12:1-2; Isaiah 35; Isaiah 52:13-53:12; Hosea 6:1-6; Matthew 1:20-25; Mark 9:24; Luke 2:25-38; John 1:12-13; John 6:22-71; Acts 15:7-11; Romans 1:1-16:27; Galatians 2:15-3:14; Ephesians 1:2-14; Ephesians 2:1-10; 1 Corinthians 12:13; 2 Corinthians 5:14-21; Titus 3:4-7; 1 Peter 1:17-25; 1 Peter 2:9-12; Jude 24-25; Revelation 1:4-5; Revelation 19; Revelation 21:5-7)
The Church
The Church consists of all those who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, being washed clean of their sin by His blood, and baptized into the Body of Christ by the Holy Spirit. Christ is the head of the Church, which has been commissioned to preach the gospel, making disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything Jesus commanded. Having been made saints, all believers share in a living faith within the Body of Christ, communing in fellowship with God. In the Church, we worship together, building up one another for ministry through the instruction of Scripture and the use of the gifts of the Spirit, and calling one another to listen and obey our Lord. The Church shares a common meal, the Lord’s Supper, remembering the body and blood of Christ given for us and proclaiming the Lord’s death until He comes. (Matthew 28:18-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; Ephesians 4:11-16; Colossians 1:18; 1 John 1:1-9)
The Resurrection
Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life. Having resurrected from the dead, He is the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. There will be a resurrection of both the just and the unjust, all judged by what is written in the books and thrown into the lake of fire (the second death), unless their name is found in the Book of Life, wherein there is given everlasting life through salvation in Christ. I believe there is a real hell, a lake of fire. I believe it is possible for creatures, including humans, to be tormented there day and night forever and ever. I believe the cup of God’s wrath will be force-fed in the presence of Jesus to those not found in Him, causing them not to find rest, day or night, and the smoke of their torment to go up forever and ever. The second death is an apartness from Christ in salvific union, and, therefore, a complete absence of His grace and mercy according to His justice. Immortality is being connected with Christ, forever abiding in Him as priests in His everlasting Kingdom. My main concern is to be simply found in Him and with Him for eternity. (Daniel 12:1-2; John 5:28-29; Acts 24:15; 1 Corinthians 15:1-58; 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10; Revelation 1:4-5; Revelation 20:10-15; John 14:1-3; Revelation 14:9-11; Revelation 16:19; Revelation 21:3)
The Second Coming of Christ
Jesus is coming soon, as He promised. He will return with wrath for His enemies and salvation for His people. This is the believer’s blessed hope and vital truth, which is an incentive to holy living and faithful service. He will come at a time no one knows, but we are to be aware Jesus Himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. He will come on His war horse with the armies of heaven riding behind Him. He will strike down the nations with the sword of His mouth, rule them with a rod of iron, and tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. He will come as the King of kings and Lord of lords, and His people will be caught up with Him in the clouds, never again to be apart from Him. He will destroy the current heavens and earth by fire, and will create new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. I eagerly await my Lord’s return. (Matthew 24; Mark 13; Luke 21; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:11; Titus 2:11-14; 2 Peter 3:1-13; Hebrews 9:28; Revelation 19:11-16; Revelation 21:5-8; Revelation 22:20)
Jason Hudson
Summer 2020
jason@digbiblestudy.com