26-0701wc - Detailed Summary

Jim introduces a new series of lessons on the elementary teachings of God, suitable for young people in the congregation and as a refresher for others. He references Hebrews 6:1-2, where Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit, lists six foundational teachings for young Christians: repentance from acts that lead to death, faith in God, instruction about baptisms (noted as plural), laying on of hands, resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.

The teacher explains that these basics were highlighted because the Hebrew Christian audience had stagnated in their spiritual growth. They should have been teachers by that point but had slipped into a retired mindset of letting others do the work. Paul provokes and stimulates them to get back on track. Jim plans to cover each of these elementary teachings over time in the class.

When approaching the study of God’s Word, it is essential to understand the Bible’s layout and how the Hebrews viewed it, as they were entrusted with preserving it. Jim references Romans 3:2 from Steve’s Sunday class, where Paul notes the great advantage of the Jews: they were entrusted with the very words of God. Moses wrote the Torah around 3,500 years ago, and the Jews have steadfastly preserved it across generations through careful copying.

Scribes, acting as lawyers of the time, washed their hands and faces before transcribing God’s name, showing deep reverence. This preservation involved both divine providence and human diligence, passing the Word accurately from one generation to the next, as commanded in the Great Commission. The church continues this tradition since Pentecost.

The Jewish Bible is called the Tanakh, consisting of three main sections. The first is the Torah (instruction, teaching, or law), also known as the Pentateuch: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy, written by Moses. The second section is the Nevi’im, the books of the prophets. The third is the Ketuvim, containing other writings like poetry and history.

Jim contrasts this with the Christian Bible’s division into Old Testament and New Testament. The actual writings of the Hebrew Tanakh and the Christian Old Testament are identical, copied from the same sources, supported by evidence like the Septuagint and Dead Sea Scrolls.

The Dead Sea Scrolls, discovered after World War II by a shepherd boy who heard a clink from a broken clay pot in a cave, confirm the remarkable accuracy of today’s Bible when compared to ancient manuscripts. This demonstrates God’s preservation of His Word, unlike human writings such as Homer’s Iliad, which have many varying versions due to copying errors, similar to the children’s game of Telephone.

Jim emphasizes that God’s Word remains reliable and unchanged, highlighting the divine protection behind its transmission over thousands of years.

The Torah (law) covers the creation of the world, early human history, genealogies, and establishes the law of sin and death from God’s command to Adam and Eve. It details humanity’s moral decline leading to the global flood, Noah’s family repopulating the earth, the patriarchs, Jacob (renamed Israel), the move to Egypt, 430 years there including 400 years of slavery, the Exodus, wilderness journey, law at Sinai, and conquest of Canaan.

Subsequent sections include historical books (Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 Samuel, 1 Kings, 1 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther) covering conquest to post-Babylonian exile. Wisdom and poetry books are Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Solomon. Prophets divide into major (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel) and minor (the twelve others).

Jeremiah, a major prophet, foretold the end of the old covenant and the coming of a new one (Jeremiah 31:31-33), where God would put His law in minds and write it on hearts. The Old Testament had an expiration date fulfilled at Christ’s death on the cross, nailing the old system of worship, festivals, and holy days to the cross.

While on earth, Jesus gave new teachings for the New Testament. Paul instructs Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:15 to rightly divide the word of truth. Jim turns to Matthew 3:1-2, where John the Baptist preaches repentance, for the kingdom of heaven is near, introducing elementary teachings like repentance and baptism.

John the Baptist fulfilled Old Testament prophecy from Malachi, coming in the spirit of Elijah. Jesus declared him the greatest of the prophets. Jim notes details of John’s miraculous birth to elderly parents Elizabeth and Zechariah, paralleling aspects of Christ’s birth, and the prophecies surrounding their children.

Jim continues discussing John the Baptist as the one who would usher in the Messiah, acting as the herald preparing the way by calling people to make straight paths for the Lord, reconcile relationships, and make things right. John announced the coming of the Savior, the Messiah, the King—the third promise to the patriarchs that the world would be blessed through this King.

Turning to Matthew 4:12-17, after Jesus' 40-day temptation and John’s imprisonment, Jesus moves to Capernaum in Galilee to fulfill Isaiah’s prophecy about light dawning on those in darkness and the shadow of death. From then on, Jesus preaches the same message: repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near. Both John and Jesus emphasize repentance and baptism as elementary teachings.

As Jesus taught, including in the Sermon on the Mount and debates with religious leaders, he laid the foundation for the New Testament. Some argue Jesus' teachings were still under the Old Testament since he had not yet died, but Jesus was preparing his last will and testament. In Luke 16:16, Jesus states that the law and the prophets were proclaimed until John; since then, the good news of the kingdom of God is preached.

The "until" and "since" mark the shift: the old system stopped at John, replaced by the gospel. People tried to forcibly make Jesus king after feeding the 5,000, but he was already the anointed King, receiving the full measure of the Godhead at his baptism. This verse is crucial in debates about when New Testament teachings began. Jesus' teachings form the foundation for his kingdom and church, not merely Old Testament content.

In John 8:31-32, Jesus tells believing Jews that holding to his teaching makes them true disciples; they will know the truth, and the truth will set them free. This freedom is from the old sinful self, as the old self dies with Christ and sin loses its power through baptism. Christians may still stumble into sins like gossip or dishonesty but receive ongoing forgiveness by confessing, as in 1 John 1:9, and are continually cleansed by Christ’s blood.

Paul reminds in 1 Corinthians 15:1-2 that the gospel saves if held firmly; otherwise, belief is in vain. This is an if-then logic statement requiring active commitment, not just hearing. True discipleship shows in loving one another, avoiding backbiting, envy, or covetousness. If trapped in negative emotions, one should confess and repent privately in prayer for blessing.

Jesus' prayer in John 17:17 sanctifies by truth—God’s word sets believers apart for holy purposes. Sanctification comes through the word, Christ’s blood, and the Holy Spirit’s seal. Believers do good works prepared in advance (Philippians), not to earn salvation but out of gratitude, as God’s workmanship (Ephesians 2:8-10). Verse 10 emphasizes works expected of the saved, countering "faith only" views and once-saved-always-saved ideas from Calvin.

In Galatians 1:11-12, Paul confirms the gospel he preached came by revelation from Jesus Christ, not human invention. On the Damascus road, Christ appeared to Paul, who later learned directly from Jesus in the Arabian desert. Paul asserts in 1 Corinthians 14:37 that his writings are commands of Christ.

Jim lays this foundation before diving deeper into the elementary teachings. The class closes with prayer thanking God for preserving His accurate Word, asking for open minds to understand and share it joyfully, in Jesus' name.