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Join me as I do a refresh of basic doctrinal topics of the gospel, these are personal study notes. KJV is used for Bible references. You can go to the referenced verse by clicking the citation number (in red), next to the verse, and go back to where you left off, by clicking the return icon (⮐) at the end of the reference

All men need to be saved because all men are BLIND

The unbeliever is blinded by satan

2 Corinthians 4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them

  • What name is the devil called? the god of this world. The word world may be translated age. This verse teaches that satan blinds certain people in order that the light of the gospel might not shine unto them.
    • Are these people believers or unbelievers? unbelievers
  • In verse 3, there is a word that describes this same group of people. What is that word? (see 2 Corinthians 4:3) But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost
  • According to these verses, does satan want people to understand and believe the gospel, the good news about Christ? No. (the gospel is summarised in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 [1])

Let's see what Jesus said in the parable of the sower in Luke 8:11-12
Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved

  • According to Luke 8:12, what are 2 things that satan does not want people to do:
    • Be religious
    • Believe the Word of God
    • Go to church
    • Become saved
    • Give money to the poor
    • Draw pictures of the devil with horns and a long red tail

The unbeliever is blinded by his inability to understand God's truth

1 Corinthians 2:14
But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

In John 14:26, Jesus spoke about the perfect teacher. Let's see what Jesus said: But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

  • Who is the perfect Teacher that Jesus spoke about in John 14:26? the Holy Ghost

    • What are the two names that this Teacher is called in John 15:26 (But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:)?
      • The Comforter
      • The Spirit of Truth

  • The Word Comforter means Helper, One who comes to our side to help us and aid us. The Holy Spirit is the One who comforts and helps and encourages and teaches the believer.

  • The Lord Jesus promised His disciples (the apostles) in John 16:13 (Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.)

    • that this Teacher would guide them into? all Truth
      As we read 1 Corinthians 6:19 what is it we discover about the Holy ghost?
      1 Corinthians 6:19 - What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
    • We discover that the Holy Ghost lives and dwells in every believer.

  • Read Romans 8:9 (But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his)

    • If a person does not have the Holy Spirit dwelling within, does he really belong to Christ? No

  • Who dwells in every true believer according to Romans 8:11? (But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.)? The Holy Spirit

  • According to Romans 8:15-16, what did we receive the moment we were saved? (For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:)? The Holy Spirit

  • Therefore, how many Christians have the Perfect Teacher, the Spirit of Truth, living in them? All

Cross References

  1. 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: ↩︎