Into His Marvelous Light
Into His Marvelous Light is a Bible study that has been used to teach the Gospel of Jesus Christ for many many years. I took this study myself before I was born again in 2002.
The Bible study is available here for purchase in English at Pentecostal Publishing House.
Below you will find the IHML in English that you can convert, if you so choose, to other languages using Google Translate. The instructions are given below on how to convert to any language available on Google Translate.
IHML in English for Translation Using Google Translate
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Walking into His Marvelous Light
1 Peter 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:
Let's take a walk through the Word of God and see how the Early Church responded to the Gospel Message!
Open Your Bible
With an Honest Heart
When walking out of a dark room into the sunshine, the light can be blinding. As our eyes become accustomed to the light, we can see more clearly and enjoy the scenery that surrounds us.
Likewise, when we look into the light of the scriptures, the brightness of truth can sometimes overwhelm. However, as our spiritual eyesight becomes adjusted we can enjoy "walking in the light."
This Bible Study is designed to allow us to 'walk" into the marvelous light of the Word of God.
We will be journeying into the scriptures by imagining we are back in the days of Jesus and the Apostles, listening to them teach and preach the plan of salvation.
In order to do this, we will be careful to "rightly divide the word of truth"
2 Timothy 2:15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
By concentrating on the highlights of the three main divisions of the New Testament in chronological order, including:
1. The Gospels: Covering the words and works of Jesus Christ.
2. The Acts of the Apostles: Covering the actions and preaching of the Apostles.
3. The Epistles: Covering the letters written by the Apostles to the Churches they started in the Book of Acts.
We believe the scriptures are divinely inspired and, "of no private interpretation"
2 Peter 1:20-21 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
Therefore every effort has been made to present the pure Word of God without adding to, or taking away from it's teachings.
Deuteronomy 4:2 Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.
Proverbs 30:5-6 Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. 6Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.
It is not our intention to diminish any personal relationship you may have with our Lord. Neither do we desire to convince you of our own personal ideas or the creeds of any denomination. We simply desire to share the truth as it is written. Only by claiming the Bible as our sole authority can any of us be confident of our salvation, for it is the Word of God and not the traditions of men that will judge us all in the ends.
Let us read 2 Timothy 3:15-16 as we begin our journey into the Word of God.
2 Timothy
3:15-16 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. 16All scripture is given by inspiration of
God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for
instruction in righteousness:
Into the Gospels:
John 1:1-5 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2The same was in the beginning with God. 3All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4In him was life; and the life was the light of men. 5And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
John 1:1-5 and 14
In the beginning, the ______________ was God and became flesh. Jesus Christ is the Living Word of God.
John 1:1-13 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2The same was in the beginning with God. 3All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4In him was life; and the life was the light of men. 5And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. 6There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. 8He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. 9That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. 10He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. 11He came unto his own, and his own received him not. 12But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
John 1:11-13
If we believe in Him and receive Him, Jesus gives us power to become the sons of ___________ by a supernatural birth. Jesus spoke further about this new birth one night to a ruler of the Jews by the name of Nicodemus.
John 3:1-8 There
was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: 2The
same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a
teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except
God be with him. 3Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily,
I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. 4Nicodemus saith unto
him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into
his mother’s womb, and be born? 5Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I
say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter
into the kingdom
of God. 6That
which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is
spirit. 7Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. 8The
wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst
not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born
of the Spirit.
John 3:1-8
Jesus told Nicodemus that whosoever ____________ in Him should have eternal life. Jesus mentioned two seemingly different requirements for salvation. One is being born again and the other is believing. Yet this is not a contradiction. The next scripture explains how believing is related to experiencing the birth of the Spirit.
John 7:38-39 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. 39(But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)
John 7:38-39
Here, we discover that if we believe on Him, according to the Word of God, we will receive the _____________ ____________. We find that scriptural belief is more than just a change in the way we think. It also results in a scriptural experience.
Mark 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
Mark 16:16
He that ______________ and is ____________ shall be saved.
John 12:35-36 Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth. 36While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them.
John 12:42-43 Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: 43For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.
John 12:35-36 and 42-43
Today, just as in Jesus' day, many believe on Him. But, they will not _____________ Him for fear of what other will do or say.
John 12:44-48 Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me. 45And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me. 46I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness. 47And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. 48He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.
John 12:44-48
In response to their fearfulness, Jesus warns that His _______ will judge us, so we must be careful not to reject it. Rather, we should believe and obey it….no matter what others say of do.
John 17:17-20 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. 18As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. 19And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth. 20Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;
John 17:17-20
In Jesus' prayer for His disciples, just before His crucifixion, He said God's Word is __________. He also prayed for us; and for all those who would believe on Him through the Apostles' Word.
To find out what the Apostles' Word was to be, let us read what Jesus told them to proclaim. The setting of the following great commission scripture is Luke 24:45-49, which is just after the Lord's death, burial, and resurrection…and just before His ascension into heaven.
Luke 24:45-49 Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, 46 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: 47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 And ye are witnesses of these things. 49 And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.
Did the Apostles Preach the Message that
Jesus Commanded Them to Proclaim?
How was the Promise of the Father Fulfilled?
Let us continue our journey into the Word of God by seeing what was preached and what happen at Jerusalem…………………
Acts 1:3-5 To whom also he showed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God: 4And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. 5For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
Acts 1:3-5
As we enter the Book of Acts, we discover almost immediately that the "Promise of the Father" is the baptism of the ________________ ________________.
Acts 2:1-7 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 4And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. 5And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. 6Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. 7And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?
Acts 2:1-7
When the Apostles were at Jerusalem, they alone with many others were joyously filled with the Holy Ghost and began to speak with ______________ ______________ as the Spirit gave them utterance, ability to speak. The amazed onlookers from many nations who heard them speaking with tongues asked, "What Meaneth This? Then Peter explained the Promised Coming of the Spirit and went on to preach Jesus Christ and the Original Apostolic Plan of Salvation.
Acts 2:36-39 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. 37Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? 38Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 39For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
Acts 2:36-39
When the people who heard Peter's words believed that Jesus Christ was their Lord and Saviour, they were sorry for their sins and asked Peter and the rest of the Apostles what they should do? Peter replied by preaching the message that Jesus had commanded to be preached in Luke 24:45-49. In the light of this, consider the three elements of the Plan of Salvation Peter preached in verse 38.
1. Repentance.
2. Remission of sins through baptism in Jesus' name.
3. Receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Notice: Acts 2:38 is the fulfillment of the two "New Birth" requirements Jesus mentioned in John 3:5 that were necessary to See or Enter the Kingdom of God! Water Birth = Baptism in the name of Jesus Christ! Spirit Birth = Infilling of the Holy Ghost!
Now let's look at some more examples of people being Born Again of Water and of the Spirit as the Word, Jesus gave His Apostles, continued to be preached throughout the Book of Acts.
Philip Preaching To The Samaritans In Acts 8..
Notice: Some people say when they experience joy, or when they believed in Jesus, or when they were baptized, they were automatically filled with the Holy Ghost. But what does the Word of God say?
Acts 8:
5-8 Did they have great joy? Yes_____ no _____
12 Did they believe in Jesus? Yes_____ no _____
14-16 Were they baptized in His name? Yes_____ no _____
17-19 Did they receive the Holy Ghost?
as a separate and distinct
experience? Yes_____ no _____
Peter Preaching To The Gentiles In Acts 10:
Notice: Some people say being religious is enough, or that the Spirit Baptism evidence by tongues was only for the Day of Pentecost. If the Bible says this is true, then it is true. But if the Word shows us through Cornelius' experience that this is not true... then it is not.
Acts 10:
1-2 Was Cornelius a religious man? Yes____ no ____
5-6 Did God have more for him to do? Yes____ no ____
44-46 Did they receive the Holy Ghost and Yes____ no ____
speak in tongues after the Day of
Pentecost? Yes____ no ____
47-48 Did they still have to be baptized in
the name of the Lord Jesus Christ? Yes____ no ____
Paul Preaching to John's Disciples in Acts 19:
Notice: Many people who are believers have not even heard about the Holy Ghost that is promised to them. Also, some people say it is not necessary to be baptized or re-baptized. If you were baptized by John the Baptist, would you think it would be necessary to be re-baptized using a different baptismal formula? Others say it does not matter wht is spoken when you are baptized. It the Bible indicates that it does not matter, then it does not matter. But…what if the Bible shows us it DOES MATTER?
Acts 19:
1-2 They were believers, but had they
heard of or received the Holy Ghost Yes____ no __
3-5 Did those baptized by John the Baptist
have to be re-baptized In Jesus' name? Yes____ no ____
3-66 Was receiving the Holy Ghost accompanied
by the initial evidence of speaking with
other tongues? Yes____ no ____
We have found that the Apostles preached the following salvation message:
The life of Jesus and His death, burial and resurrection.
Repentance toward God and belief in Jesus Christ.
Baptism in water by immersion in Jesus' Name.
Receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost (which was accompanied
by the initial evidence of speaking with other tongues.)
Now, let us read what the Apostles had to say about the message of salvation they proclaimed in the Book of Acts. We can do this by reading the Epistles (letters) they wrote to their converts.
Into the Epistles:
As we read the Epistles, we will notice how strongly the Apostles felt about the "Gospel Message" (Good News) of Salvation. This is not because they were being judgmental. It is because they knew the Word tat Jesus had given them to proclaim was going to Judge All Men!
What did Peter say?
1 Peter 1:22-25 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: 23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. 24 For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: 25 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.
Obedience to God's Word Purifies Our Souls!
Peter Asked A Question:
1 Peter 4:17-18 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? 18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?
Paul Gave The Answer:
2 Thessalonians 1:7-9 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, 8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: 9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;
It is Eternally Important to Obey the Gospel!
What Did Paul Say?
Galatians 1:6-9 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: 7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
What Did James Say?
James 1:21-24 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. 22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. 23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: 24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.
The Word is Able to Save Our Souls!
James tells us that if we see something we need to do, as we look into the "Mirror of the Word," we should do it. Let us now consider what we will do with what we have heard………………...
Conclusion:
Do You Believe the Word of God is true and will Judge Us?
Do You Believe Jesus Christ is Lord and Saviour?
Do you Believe it is necessary to Repent by determining to turn from sin and giving your life to God?
Do you Believe Water Baptism in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ is the Biblical Way to be Baptized?
Do you Believe the Baptism of the Holy Ghost is for "YOU" today and when you receive it, you will speak in tongues, just as they did in the Bible?
If you believe these things, pray right now, asking God to allow you to experience all that He has for you!
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