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BASIC BIBLE TRUTHS
Written by Dr. Lester Hutson

Copyright - Lester Hutson - 1986
This material is copyrighted and may not be copied or reproduced without the express written permission of Dr. Lester Hutson.

Chapter One

Looking at the World Through the Eyes of God

'But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.'

I Samuel 16:7

1. This first lesson will set the tone of the classes. To achieve an atmosphere of learning and favor toward the truths to be presented. Your first objective is to establish a friendly and relaxed atmosphere. Your student(s) will almost always be a little apprehensive as you begin these studies. Quite often someone religious has previously tried to ram something 'down his throat.' He is not sure you are not going to attempt the same. So, in almost every case, his guard will be up to some degree. It is imperative that you put his fears and reservations at ease in this first lesson; not so much by verbal assurances as by your manner and approach.

Do not seek, in this lesson or the others, to bring about conviction in your student through your finesse, great knowledge of the Bible, pressuring for 'a decision,' or by some other energy of the flesh tactic. Such activity not only produces empty professions (when there is a profession at all); but it also greatly undermines the confidence of the student in you and in what you are doing. The true success of your whole effort can be negated right here. Never forget that true conviction which leads to genuine decisions (by both the lost to receive Christ and the believer to true commitment to the Lordship of Christ) is wrought by the Holy Spirit through the word of truth. The Word, which Heb. 4:12 declares to be both quick (alive) and powerful, will do the job when presented faithfully in love. "Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God,' Rom. 10:17. According to Mark 16:15, your assignment is to make sure men hear. Paul referred to it in I Cor. 3:6-7 as planting and cultivating the spiritual seed; but, in the final analysis, it is God who gives the increase. Anything short of that is in God's opinion no more than wood, hay, and stubble,' I Cor. 3:11-15.

To establish this atmosphere in which your student will trust you sufficiently to lower his guard to the point of really listening to what you have to say, be kind and gracious, and do not "push" your student. Let him follow you voluntarily; do not push him. The minute you enter the house, be friendly. Express a real interest in how your student is doing. Visit three or four minutes, but do not sit down except at the table where the lesson is to be taught. Once you've suggested that you get to the table and begin the lesson, assure your student right off that there'll be no pressure and that you will not be attempting to force him into any decision. You may point out to him that he may indeed make some decisions; but assure him any decision he makes will be his own with no duress or pressure from you. Assure him that your mission is simply to share with him in a systematic, orderly way, truths which you've seen, and which have become precious and revolutionizing to your own life. Perhaps as you share, your student will want to make these truths his own; but he will find himself under no obligation or pressure from you to do so.

Once you've made that promise, live up to your promise. As your student opens his ears to listen, teach him these truths in the most excellent, efficient, loving, and zealous manner possible. Do all within your power to help him to see. Be compassionate and patient; and you will no doubt be joyously amazed as you watch the Spirit of God work through His Word.

2. The actual teaching objective of Lesson One is to bring your student, who may or may not have confidence in the Bible, to a belief that the Bible really is God's word, and that our only sure way to know what God thinks is through His word. To achieve this primary objective, the following secondary objectives should be pursued in the order listed:

a. See that your student understands these to be "fundamental or basic truths of the Christian faith."

b. See that your student sees that a primary objective of these lessons is to look at the points we consider from God's point of view; not man's.

c . See that your student realizes that it is only possible to get God's point of view by considering His book, the Bible.

d. Make sure your student understands that if we limit our positions to those set forth in the Bible, our doctrine becomes not just religious denominational doctrine, but rather Bible doctrine.

e. See that your student realizes that from an eternal standpoint, a consideration of Bible doctrine now is imperative.

f. Conclude this lesson by pointing out to your student that God has divided the whole human race into two basic divisions.
This is the basic approach in presenting Lesson One. Depending upon the background of the student, the delivery and emphasis of the lesson may vary considerably (as is true in each of the six lessons), but each of these points and objectives needs to be established.

 

Teacher, to insure your success in teaching each lesson, you should learn the title, thought, and application of each lesson. Do not merely memorize to "parrot' this book. Get this into your heart so that you can put it in your own words. To help you, this information is being included at the beginning of each lesson in this Teacher's Manual.

 

TITLE

"LOOKING AT THE WORLD THROUGH THE EYES OF GOD"

 

THOUGHT

The only way to look accurately at any thing is to look at it from God's viewpoint, which is only possible through the Bible.

 

APPLICATION

To bring the student face to face with the reality of God's superior knowledge, and the realization that no mortal can really be sure of truth and reality apart from God's revelation which is the Bible. Although, as long as any man is true to the Bible, he can be sure he is right.

 

Once you are seated at the table, the actual teaching should begin in earnest. Although the material is flexible and should be adapted to meet specific situations, here is the basic order I follow. In each case, I shall attempt to give you the point at hand, the appropriate scriptures, and an appropriate illustration. Each teacher should choose the scripture(s) with which he feels most adequate, and develop his own set of illustrations.

1. See the section here explaining the first objective of this lesson.

2. Be sure and do this even though you have already done so when you set up the lessons.

I. Next, make the point that this course is designed to cover primarily the fundamentals or basics of the Christian faith:

A. How to achieve the objective:

1. Explain that you are making no attempt to teach the whole Bible. It is far too big and broad for six one-hour lessons. Admit that you do not claim to be capable of teaching the whole Bible; and that no one knows all there is to know of the Bible. But, explain that there are some things you do know, and these are the things you are going to teach.

2. Explain that what you are going to teach will constitute the basics or fundamentals of the Christian faith.

B. ILLUSTRATE HERE:
Even as the foundation and framework of a house does not constitute a whole house, likewise these lessons do not constitute the whole of Christianity. Although, the six lessons do equate to the framework of a house. Even though when a house is framed up, there is much remaining, at that point the overall concept and picture is established. Likewise, once the truths of these lessons are established, a great frame of reference for all other Bible truths is set.

C. Next explain to your student that this course is not only designed to reveal the fundamentals of Christianity, but also to set these truths in order so as to establish a proper order which will present the big picture of Christianity:

1. Explain that many people have much general knowledge of Christianity, but that knowledge is in a jumbled up order:

a. They know Christianity involves faith and works, God and the devil, heaven and hell, baptism, church membership, and good works; yet they have little grasp of how these pieces fit; thus, there's no grasp of the true picture of Christianity.

b. This course will arrange these pieces in the proper order to show the picture.

2. ILLUSTRATION HERE:
Again build on the house illustration. Point out that a lot with every item necessary to the formation of a complete house on it does not necessarily constitute a house. To have a house, the building materials must be properly arranged. That's what these lessons will attempt to do with these fundamental or basic Bible truths.

D. This is a good place to mention:

1. That each point will build upon the previous points. The material is ordered and structured.

2. Thus, questions should be kept primarily to the material of the course.

a. Invite your student to ask questions they have as the lessons progress, but to limit them to the material. Explain that you will not have time to deal with nonrelated questions; but will deal with those after the classes, if necessary.

b. Also, explain that many questions will automatically be answered as the lessons develop. Where you realize that will occur, you will ask your student to wait briefly for a complete answer.

3. Explain the chart to be developed, and ask your student to keep up with the chart so you can build on it from week to week.

II. Now explain to your student that a primary objective of these lessons will be to look at all the points we consider as God looks at them; and that God has a very different view of things than men:

A. At this point, put God at the top of the chart sheet, and add I Samuel 16:7.

B. How to establish this point.

1. Point out that among men there are about as many opinions about spiritual points as there are men. What real reason is there to think one man's opinion is substantially better than any others. Time passes and opinions change.

2. God too has an opinion on spiritual points, but His opinion never changes. Time after time has proven God to be always right; whereas man has been wrong again and again. So, tell your student that the objective here is not to swap opinions or teach human concepts. The objective here will be to come to a knowledge of what God's opinion on the issues is.

3. Explain that the reason God's opinion is so far superior to man's, and thus the one that really counts is because of God's far superior basis of judgment. Whereas men form their opinions mainly upon the basis of what they see and hear, God knows the heart. He knows everything that has ever been, all that is, and all that shall ever be. He never forms an opinion based on what He sees and hears. What He sees and hears (which is all) merely confirms what God already knew to be true. Teacher, refer to I Sam. 16:7 here. It states that God looks on the heart while man looks on the outward appearance. Another excellent reference at this point is Isaiah 55:8-9.

C. ILLUSTRATE HERE:

1. The context of I Sam. 16:7 is dealing with the anointing of David to be the future king of Israel. Knowing the basis of human judgment to be the outward appearance, God warned Samuel, who was to do the anointing, not to make the decision as to who to anoint. God instructed Samuel that He (God) would tell him who to anoint. When Samuel arrived in Bethlehem at Jesse's house stating that he had come to anoint one of Jesse's sons to be the future king, Jesse didn't even bring his youngest son, David, out for consideration. This is a vivid illustration as to the weakness and unreliable nature of human judgment. Even a dad didn't know how to judge his own sons. As Samuel went down the row of Jesse's seven oldest sons, God refused them all. They looked outwardly far more like future kings than David; but when he was called, God instructed Samuel to anoint him.

Several months passed, and Israel found herself at war with the Philistines. The three older brothers of David, who looked outwardly so much like kingly material, were drafted into King Saul's army. But, when a face-off with the enemy, particularly Goliath, came, the three men, along with all of Saul's army, fled in retreat and fear. See I Sam. 17:24 at this point. Although, when David (just a lad) came to the battle site and perceived what was happening, he sought permission from Saul; and singlehandedly ran toward Goliath and slew him. See I Sam. 17:48-50. He went on to become by far the greatest Israeli king and general of all time. In fact, he is the greatest among all of history's generals, kings, and leaders, Jew or Gentile. What men saw in David on the battlefield surprised everybody .... except God. With His superior knowledge and judgment, He already knew the truth about David long before Goliath. He was looking on the heart while others were looking on the outward appearance, which is how He always does it.

After the illustration, point out that we are all still forming opinions daily just like Jesse did, based on the outward appearance of what we see and hear. For example, I often point out that should we be given the task of dividing ten people into two groups, the lost and the saved, we'd do it based solely upon what we know of them, what claims they make, their track records, and by their answers to our questions. Should suddenly Jesus show up, He'd probably tell us that some of those we rated saved were not, and visa versa. His judgment would not be on the basis of outward appearance or conduct at all. His judgment would be based upon the true condition of their hearts, and their personal relationship (or lack of it) to Him.

And, lest your student think this judgment discussion is a nonrelated point to current real life, remind him that all of us do it all the time. For example, suggest to your student that should you ask him to write down ten names of people he knows (some for years, others he's just met), he could easily rate them as to the ones he thinks are saved and the ones who aren't. In fact, he has already subconsciously done so with all the people he knows, and he did it upon the basis of what he saw and heard.

Likewise, God has done the same, but not on the basis of outward conduct; but upon the basis of the true condition of the heart.

III. Next, teach your student that since we do not know all things and see hearts as God does, the only way we can be sure our opinions are God's opinions and thus right opinions is by lining our thinking and opinions up with his expressed thinking and opinions. The Bible is where He has expressed His thinking and opinions.

A. How to teach this point:

1. Tell your student that we claim the Bible is God's word, His thinking, but point out to him that many people do not believe it is. Thus, the question is, "Is it, and how do we know it is?" Acknowledge to him that the case of Christianity really rises and falls on the Bible. If it is not God's word, we have nothing; if it is God's word, then our top priority should be to know what it says and think accordingly.

2. With that groundwork established, tell your student that there are ways to prove the Bible to be the word of God, and that you are now going to look briefly at three of them:
NOTE: As you develop this proof of the Bible, you should begin adding the related points on the upper right hand corner of the chart, writing down a point as you verbally establish the point.

a. The first major proof that the Bible is God's word is its construction or the way it came to be the book of perfect harmony that it is. Tell your student that he can check out the fact that the Bible is sixty-six separate books in one, each book having its own theme, plot, and complete development. Yet, it is a single book with a single theme (Jesus Christ) and single plot (Christ's redemptive work for fallen man). In spite of the tremendous scope of its subject matter and all its types, foreshadowing, and symbolism, yet it is amazingly a book of perfect harmony. Though many have tried; not one person has ever found even one error in it. Couple that fact with the realization that it was written over sixteen centuries by more than forty men who wrote often separate from and without knowledge of each other in separate generations and without intent of collaboration, and one must admit only God could have engineered and directed the project we call the Bible. It is absolutely impossible that it could have happened otherwise.

b. The prophecies of the Bible also prove the Bible to be the thinking of God. About two-thirds of the Bible is prophecy. Hundreds of the Bible prophecies have already been fulfilled. They've been being fulfilled for right at 4,000 years; and so far the Bible has a 100% accuracy record. There is no way those writers could have known people and events that would occur hundreds of years after their deaths; yet they wrote of them with 100% accuracy. There is no way to account for such a phenomenon except that God authored the Bible simply telling the writers what to say.
NOTE: Teacher, if you see the need is there with a given student, you can point out a few cases of specific prophecies and their fulfillment. Be careful that you do not bog down and spend too much of your time doing so.

C. The Bible also claims to be God's word. Teacher, at this point, I usually quote or read a few of the claims, listing them on the sheet as I do. Those I've found to be most effective are, in this order, II Pet. 1:21, II Tim. 3:16, and I Cor. 2:9-10. The key words are "inspiration' and "revealed. "You can especially show from I Cor. 2:9-10 that the Bible did not come about through (1) the scientific method of observation, (2) the general opinion or public consensus method, or (3) the introspection or logic method. God "revealed" the information of the Bible (His own thinking) to men who merely wrote it down as He directed. This explains its perfect harmony and accuracy.

B. Now make this point:
If the Bible is God's word, and the evidence says it is, then once we line our thinking up with the thinking of the Bible, our positions and opinions become Bible positions and opinions. Thus, our positions and doctrine become not just Baptist or denominational positions and doctrine. Our positions and doctrine become Bible positions and doctrine. Teacher, this is a very important point to establish. Do not fail to establish it.

IV. Next, suggest to your student that some people do not think that what God says or thinks about spiritual and eternal things really matters. But assure him that if the Bible is true, and we've just seen that it is, then what God thinks is more important than anything:

A. As you teach this point, fill in the appropriate information on the upper left hand corner of the chart.

B. How to establish this point:
Tell your student that according to the Bible, every person will ultimately give account of himself to God in a face to face judgment. The basis of that judgment will be the opinions or truths of God. Romans 14:11-12 predicts the judgment of God for every person. Romans 2:2 says it will be according to truth, And, John 17:17 says the Word of God is truth. Teacher, you should either quote or quickly turn to these passages to establish these points as you write them down.

C. A GOOD ILLUSTRATION FOR THIS POINT:
When I was in school, I knew tests were a certainty. The announcement of a test was no big, unexpected news. Although, if the teacher gave the questions in advance, my odds for success were greatly enhanced. If my teacher had also given the correct answers in advance, there'd have been no legitimate reason for failure.
Basically, that is what God has done for all men. He has announced there is going to be a judgment or test for every man. He has given both the questions and correct answers in His book, the Bible. He has said no other answers will pass. The only thing He hasn't said is just when the test will be. Point out to your student that there is really no reason why any man should be unprepared and fail God's judgment. So once again it becomes obvious why taking this time to take careful look at the basic or fundamental truths God has set forth in the Bible is so important.

V. Tell your student that you will now conclude this first lesson by pointing out the fact that in God's opinion, there are only two basic groups of people in the world:

A. As you teach this point, draw the vertical line from the box with God to the bottom of your sheet. Also, as you talk, write in "No Relationship" and "Relationship"; and add in "lost" and "saved" as shown on the sample chart.

B. How to teach this part:
Tell your student that as the next lesson will fully show, God views the world's people as those who have no spiritual relationship to Him as contrasted to those who are in a spiritual relationship to Him. Those not spiritually related to Him, He calls the "lost"; and those spiritually related to Him, He calls the saved." Tell your student that in the next lesson, you will present a full look into and explanation of these two divisions of people as God sees it. At this point, tell your student that this concludes Lesson One.

1. Ask your student to keep up with the chart, and have it for next week's lesson. Explain that it can be a handy review sheet for your student, and that you'll add to it each week. Use of the same chart will prevent the delay of having to start from scratch each time.

2. Remind your student that you'll be back at the same time next week to teach Lesson Two, which is "The Hopelessness of a Wrong Relationship with God." Give a brief preview.

3. Invite him to church.

4. Rise up and begin making your way to the door with a friendly goodbye.

 

"It Does Make a Difference What You Believe"