ESSENTIAL BELIEF ASSESSMENT #5
ANSWER GUIDE
1 The Bible is outdated and could use a few updates to be more useful for today.
False,
The Bible is timeless and fully sufficient for today. For today, the principles and truths of Scripture remain the same and are completely relevant. (2 Tim. 3:16)
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Videos: “The Bible vs Other Ancient Texts” – Voddie Baucham
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"Is the Bible Still Relevant Today?" - Joel Kim
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2 God is Triune in nature, which like H20 having three parts: liquid water, ice, or evaporated fog.​​​
False,
This is the false teaching referred to as Modalism. It fails to recognize God as three persons in one and attempts to rationalize God into taking three different forms that He manifests himself in as opposed to being three distinct persons. Mark 1:9-11 shows all three persons of the trinity present at the same time. Therefore, it is impossible for God to change “modes” from Father to Son or Holy Spirit to Father, etc. as God is present in all three simultaneously. It is evident here and elsewhere that God is three distinct persons yet one.
3 For spiritual formation to happen in a person, they only need God’s Spirit and God’s Word.​
False,
A person must have three ingredients present in their life to be spiritual formed into the image of Christ. If they are missing one of these three essential parts, then it is impossible for them to be spiritually formed into Christlikeness. The three components are God’s Word, Spirit, and People. (2 Tim. 3:16; Eph. 4:15-16; Rom. 5:5)
4 All sins are equal in severity.​
False,
All sin is sin in the sense that it makes every person a sinner; however, there are varying different degrees of sin that are more severe than others. In addition, there are those whose sins reap greater consequence and will earn them greater punishment in eternity.
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Articles: “Degrees of Sin” – Stephen Wellum
“Degrees of Punishment in Hell” – Albert N. Martin & Fred Zaspel
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5 The Holy Spirit is the person of the Trinity who breathes life into humanity.​
True,
At creation, God breathed the breath of life into the nostrils of man. It is made clear in Job 33:4 when Job says, “The Spirit of God has made me, And the breath of the Almighty gives me life.” (Job 27:3, 34:14-15; Isaiah 42:5)
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6 The word of God is living and active.​​
True,
Hebrews 4:12-13 explicitly states, “For the word of God is living and active,” In addition, Genesis 1 gives clear example that when God speaks, He acts. There is no distinction between the two with God. God’s speech always leads to action or accomplishing that which was spoken. Isaiah 55:11 says, “so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.”
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7 The purpose of the Christian life is to become more like Christ in his character and nature.​
True,
The purpose of the Christian life is to be transformed "into the same image from one degree of glory to another." (2 Cor. 3:18) "Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ." (Col. 1:28) "until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ . . . we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ." (Eph. 4:13, 15)
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8 The Great Commission is Evangelism and Discipleship.​​
True,
The Great Commission is to evangelize or proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ to the world and make disciples of Jesus Christ. Fulfilling the Great Commission is not solely evangelism. In addition, it is also discipleship. The goal is not to convert the world to Jesus; rather, instead, it is to make disciples who follow Jesus. (Matt. 28:19-20; Col. 1:28; Gal. 4:19)
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9 A relationship with God is personal and private.​
False,
A relationship with God is always personal and immanent in that God is with us, close to us, near, and intricately involved in the everyday parts of our life. However, our faith is never private. We are not our own but were bought at a price. Additionally, we were bought and brought into the family of God, the Church. We are the body and bride of Christ so that we personally have a relationship with Christ; but, likewise, we have a corporate identity with Christ’s church his bride. (Eph. 3:17-19, 4:15-16, 5:23-24; 1 Peter 2:5, 9-10; 1 Cor. 12:12-13)
10 When God speaks, his word almost always comes true.​
False,
When God speaks, he acts. His Word is true and always comes to pass as he says it. There are countless examples and evidences of God's Word coming true in the Scriptures. Isaiah 55:10-11 says, "For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven . . . so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it." (Gen. 1:3; Mark 4:39;
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Article: "What does it mean that the Word of God will not return void" - Got Questions.org
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