Self Paced Lessons
The Seven Self-Paced Lessons are designed to provide a understanding of essential church doctrines, enabling participants to explore their faith deeply and at their convenience. Each lesson focuses on a specific foundational aspect of Christian theology, allowing learners to build their know.
Lesson 1: God/The Trinity
One Supreme Being
Each Person is called God.
One Supreme Being
As Christians we believe that there exists only one Supreme Being called God.
1. Deuteronomy 6:4 2. Isaiah 45:5-6
3. 1 Timothy 2:5 4. James 2:19
Both Old and New Testaments teach that there exists only one God, however within this one God there are three co-eternal and co-equal Persons named God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. Therefore God must be a trinity.
Trinity
Each Person is called God.
One Supreme Being
Although the word trinity is not found in the Bible, the concept represented by the word is taught in many places throughout Scripture. The word trinity means “tri-unity” or “three-in-oneness.” Even though the doctrine of the trinity is a mystery that we will never be able to fully understand, there are two major teachings found within Scripture that convince us of its reliability:
Each Person is called God.
Each Person is called God.
Each Person is called God.
1. Each Person is called God.
2. Each Person possesses attributes (characteristics) that only God has.
Each Person Is Called God
The Father The Son The Holy Spirit
1. Phil. 1:2 1. John 1:1-2, 14 1. Acts 5:3-4
2. John 17:1-3 2. John 20:24-28 2. 1 Cor. 2:10-11
Lesson 2: Understanding the Church
The Nature of the Church
We believe that the church is both visible and invisible. In its true spiritual reality as the fellowship of all genuine believers, the church is invisible. This is because we cannot see the spiritual condition of people’s hearts.
Invisibility --2 Timothy 2:19
Visibility--1 Corinthians 1:2
The teaching of a body of called out believers devoted to God is proven to be taught in both the Old and New Testaments.
- Numbers 20:6, 8
- Exodus 12:6
- Matthew 16:18
The definitions of both the Hebrew and Greek words for church describe “a called out assembly, or congregation.” Therefore to both the Old and New Testament authors “the church “is a called out assembly of believers devoted to the Lord.
- Ephesians 2:14-19
- Hebrews 12:22-23
Lesson 3: Understanding Baptism
The Mode and Meaning of Water Baptism
The Greek word baptismo means “to plunge, dip or immerse” something in water. This is the mode in which baptism was carried out in the New Testament.
1. Mark 1:5-8 2. John 3:23 3. Acts 8:38-39
The pattern revealed in Scripture in several places of the New Testament is that only those who give a believable profession of faith should be baptized.
1. Acts 2:41 2. Acts 10:44-48 3. Acts 8:12
Within the text of Scripture the teaching of water baptism suggests the immersion in water rather than the sprinkling or pouring on of water.
As Christians we keep this ordinance because it is a command from our Lord Jesus Christ and because of the teaching and observance of His Apostles.
1. Matt. 28:19-20 2. Acts 2:38 3. Rom. 6:1-11
Baptism serves three distinct purposes within the life of a Christian
- It shows affiliation and allegiance to the body of Christ.
- It shows a cleansing and denouncement of their sin.
- It shows repentance from dead works and renewal to a new life in Christ.
Lesson 4: Salvation
The Fall of Man
The Atoning Death of Jesus Christ
The Need of a Savior
Humanity, by nature, is fallen, having inherited the condition of sin from Adam, the first man. The Bible teaches that in Adam, all mankind sinned, resulting in separation from God and deserving His righteous wrath.
Understanding Sin
is any failure to align with the moral law of God, whether in actions, attitudes, or nature. It encompasses individual acts like lying and stealing, as well as sinful attitudes such as jealousy, selfishness, covetousness, and anger. These stand in contrast to the attitudes God requires of humanity.
The Origin of Sin in Humanity
Sin Before Adam and Eve
Sin first appeared in the angelic realm with the rebellion of Satan and his demons. However, the introduction of sin to humanity occurred through Adam and Eve's disobedience in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:1-19).
Sin as a Distortion of Truth
In the Garden, sin struck at the foundation of truth. God declared that Adam and Eve would die if they ate from the forbidden tree (Genesis 2:17). However, the serpent contradicted this, saying, "You will not die" (Genesis 3:4). Satan distorted God’s Word, and Eve, choosing to trust Satan’s lie, tested God’s truthfulness.
Sin as a Redefinition of Morality
Sin also undermined the standard of moral right and wrong. God commanded Adam and Eve not to eat from the tree (Genesis 2:17), establishing His moral authority. The serpent, however, enticed them by suggesting they would "be like God" if they disobeyed (Genesis 3:5). Eve trusted her own judgment of what was right and beneficial rather than relying on God’s command, redefining morality on her own terms.
The Result: The Fall of Humanity
This act of disobedience resulted in humanity's fallen state, with every person inheriting Adam’s sin and its consequences:
- Separation from God (Psalm 51:5, Romans 5:12-21)
- Condemnation to Death (Romans 6:23)
- Universal Sinful Nature (Romans 5:12-21)
Thus, the fall of man marked the beginning of humanity's need for redemption, fulfilled in Jesus Christ.
The Need of a Savior
The Atoning Death of Jesus Christ
The Need of a Savior
We Need a Savior because no one is righteous, all humanity is at risk of God’s wrath, which must be poured out on sin. This highlights our need for Jesus to make atonement for us. Four Reasons We Needed Jesus to Make Atonement:
We Deserved Death as the Penalty for Sin (Romans 6:23)
- All have sinned and earned death, both physically and spiritually.
- However, God offers a free gift of eternal life through Christ to those who repent and believe in the gospel
We Deserved to Bear God’s Wrath Against Sin (Romans 1:18)
- God’s wrath is His righteous and loving response to sin.
- Since all have sinned, humanity rightly deserves this wrath, but salvation comes through faith in Jesus Christ.
We Deserved to Be Separated from God by Our Sins (1 John 1:5-6)
- God is perfectly holy and cannot tolerate sin ("darkness").
- Sin separates us from Him, but reconciliation is possible through Jesus.
We Deserve to Live in Bondage to Sin and Satan (Romans 7:14, 24)
- Paul describes the inner struggle of wanting to obey God but being enslaved by sin.
- Despite our best intentions, our sinful nature dominates without the saving work of Christ.
The Atoning Death of Jesus Christ
The Atoning Death of Jesus Christ
The Atoning Death of Jesus Christ
The Necessity of Blood for the Forgiveness of Sin – Hebrews 9:22
Without the shedding of blood, sin cannot be forgiven. Jesus Christ shed His blood, paying for our sins so we could be saved from God’s wrath and know Him as our Father. Salvation is not earned; it requires acknowledging our inability to save ourselves and believing in the Lord Jesus Christ—His death, burial, and resurrection—as the complete payment for our sins.
We Deserve God Required a Perfect, Human Sacrifice Hebrews 9:11-15
Jesus Christ, acting as the High Priest, entered a more perfect tabernacle, offering His own blood—not the blood of animals—to obtain eternal redemption for us.
- As the Lamb of God (John 1:29), Jesus bore our sins and provided eternal life through His perfect sacrifice.
No One Else Met the Qualifications – Romans 3:9-11
Humanity is universally unrighteous, incapable of seeking God or attaining righteousness on its own.
- Only Jesus, fully divine and fully human, lived a sinless life and was qualified to serve as the perfect substitutionary sacrifice for sin (Heb. 2:14-17; 1 Pet. 2:24).
The Resurrection of Christ
In addition to His atoning death, Christ’s physical resurrection confirms the power of His work:
- Mark 16:1-8
- Luke 24:1-9
- 1 Corinthians 15:3-8
Lesson 5: Jesus' Atonement and Deliverance
Terms Describing Jesus’ Atonement
Salvation: Deliverance Through Christ
Salvation: Deliverance Through Christ
- Propitiation – Satisfying the payment for wrongdoing (1 John 4:10).
- Expiation – Removing the emotional and spiritual effects of wrongdoing (Heb. 9:14).
- Sacrifice – Jesus substituted Himself to bear God’s wrath on our behalf (Heb. 9:26).
- Reconciliation – Restoring peace and fellowship with God (2 Cor. 5:18-19).
- Redemption – Paying the ransom to free us from the bondage of sin (Rev. 5:9).
Salvation: Deliverance Through Christ
Salvation: Deliverance Through Christ
Salvation: Deliverance Through Christ
Salvation means being made whole, delivered from sin, and preserved from destruction. It is a spiritual and eternal deliverance offered to all who repent and believe. Salvation comes through:
- His Saving Name – Acts 4:12: “There is salvation in no other name.”
- His Saving Gospel – Romans 1:16, 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, Ephesians 1:13.
- His Saving Grace – Ephesians 2:5, 8.
- His Saving Word – James 1:21.
- A Saving Confession – Romans 10:9-10.
YOU Are Made Whole!
Lesson 6: Outcomes of Salvation
Eternal Life
Through salvation, believers inherit eternal life—a gift from God through faith in Jesus Christ. This promise ensures an everlasting relationship with God, free from sin and death.
- John 3:16: "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."
- Romans 6:23: "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Forgiveness of Sin
In Christ, believers receive forgiveness of their sins, made possible by His atoning sacrifice. This reconciliation restores their relationship with God.
- 1 John 1:9: "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."
- Ephesians 1:7: "In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace."
New Creation
Salvation brings wholeness and transforms believers into new creations, giving them a fresh start in Christ.
- 2 Corinthians 5:17: "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!"
- Colossians 2:10: "And in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority."
Lesson 7: Security in Christ
Salvation assures believers of their eternal security in Christ. They are sealed by the Holy Spirit and remain in God’s care forever.
- John 10:28-29: "I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand."
- Ephesians 1:13-14: "When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance."
Salvation initiates the process of sanctification, where believers are progressively transformed to reflect the character of Christ.
- Romans 12:2: "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind."
- 2 Thessalonians 2:13: "God chose you as first fruits to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth."
Access to God and Adoption into God's Family
Believers gain direct access to God, enjoying fellowship with Him through prayer, worship, and the Holy Spirit’s presence.
- Hebrews 4:16: "Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need."
- Romans 8:15: "The Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, 'Abba, Father.'"
Salvation brings adoption into God’s family, making believers His children and co-heirs with Christ.
- John 1:12: "Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God."
- Romans 8:17: "Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ."
Victory Over Sin and Death
Salvation guarantees victory over sin, death, and the power of the enemy through Christ’s resurrection.
- 1 Corinthians 15:57: "But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."
- Romans 8:37: "In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us."
- Joy and Hope
Salvation fills believers with unshakable joy and hope, rooted in God’s promises and the assurance of eternal glory.
- Romans 15:13: "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."
- 1 Peter 1:8-9: "Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy."
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