First, I encourage you to download the Literal Word app if you don’t have it. It is a Bible app that has the ability to look at the Hebrew and Greek and their definitions as you read the scripture. It also has cross references but no commentary, so you don’t get any man’s opinions involved. You will have to go to the settings and turn them all on to have all the study options.
This is how God has taught me how to teach people.
I start with laying out what the elementary teachings are. I break down one at a time going through scripture helping the disciples understand them.
Here are the elementary teachings laid out in scripture.
Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, of instruction about washings and laying on of hands, and the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment.
Hebrews 6:1-2 NASB
As I teach the elementary teachings, I also explain what maturity/teleios is and how it looks in the life of a believer. I do this by using the app and cross referencing all the places teleios is and looking at the attributes of the people who are teleios and I explain this is what we must become. I encourage you to start in Matthew 5:48 click on the word perfect which is the word teleios. You will see this is an adjective. You will also see the word perfect or mature in English is used for another word that is actually teleioó, which it is a verb. I encourage you when reading Philippians 3:8-15 to pay close attention to this difference.
Here is the information on teleios from Strong’s Concordance.
téleios (an adjective, derived from 5056/télos, "consummated goal") – mature (consummated) from going through the necessary stages to reach the end-goal, i.e. developed into a consummating completion by fulfilling the necessary process (spiritual journey). see 5056 (telos). [This root (tel-) means "reaching the end (aim)." It is well-illustrated with the old pirate's telescope, unfolding (extending out) one stage at a time to function at full-strength (capacity effectiveness).] Usage:perfect, (a) complete in all its parts, (b) full grown, of full age, (c) specially of the completeness of Christian character.
Here is the information on teleioó from Strong’s Concordance.
teleióō – to consummate, reaching the end-stage, i.e. working through the entire process (stages) to reach the final phase (conclusion). see 5056 (telos). [This root (tel-) means "reaching the end (aim)." It is well-illustrated with the old pirate's telescope, unfolding (extending out) one stage at a time to function at full-strength (capacity effectiveness).] Usage: (a) as a course, a race, or the like: I complete, finish (b) as of time or prediction: I accomplish, (c) I make perfect; pass: I am perfected.
From the very beginning God has wanted His people to master sin.
Then the LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it.”
Genesis 4:6-7 NASB
Through the new covenant promises we have been given the power to overcome sin and death. He wants people who are mature and have their powers of discernment trained to discern between good and evil. (Hebrews 5:14) To learn to master sin we must first start with repentance from sin.
Teaching Repentance
I start with the word repentance. Here is the definition of repentance in the Oxford Dictionary - change in one's way of life resulting from penitence or spiritual conversion.
The definition of repentance from Strong’s concordance is #3341 metanoia change of mind, repentance
I read the story of King Manasseh (2 Kings 20,21 and/or 2 Chronicles 33) because his life is a great example of what repentance looks like. Another wonderful story is the man who was filled with the legion of demons because once someone has been set free, they need to go and declare what has happened to them to put their house in order to stay safe. Here are the scriptures that explain this further: Mark 5:1-20, Luke 8:26-39, Matthew 12:43-45 combined with Revelation 12:11. People must understand the importance of repentance. People must be taught you can’t pray a prayer for salvation, then keep on living how you were living and you are going to heaven. People need to understand that without repentance and bearing fruit in keeping with repentance they will not see life but the wrath of God will still abide on them. Matthew 3:1-12 and John 3:36
Here are more scripture showing what repentance is.
For though I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it; though I did regret it—for I see that that letter caused you sorrow, though only for a while— I now rejoice, not that you were made sorrowful, but that you were made sorrowful to the point of repentance; for you were made sorrowful according to the will of God, so that you might not suffer loss in anything through us. For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world produces death. For behold what earnestness this very thing, this godly sorrow, has produced in you: what vindication of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what avenging of wrong! In everything you demonstrated yourselves to be innocent in the matter.
2 Corinthians 7:8-11 NASB
When they heard this, they quieted down and glorified God, saying, “Well then, God has granted to the Gentiles also the repentance that leads to life.”
Acts 11:18 NASB
We have to teach people that they can’t say they repent and then go right back into practicing sin. There are people in scripture that we see who think they can do whatever they want and because of this belief God becomes their enemy.
Examples are:
See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled; that there be no immoral or godless person like Esau, who sold his own birthright for a single meal. For you know that even afterwards, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought for it with tears.
Hebrews 12:15-17 NASB
But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, and kept back some of the price for himself, with his wife’s full knowledge, and bringing a portion of it, he laid it at the apostles’ feet. But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back some of the price of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not under your control? Why is it that you have conceived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.” And as he heard these words, Ananias fell down and breathed his last; and great fear came over all who heard of it. The young men got up and covered him up, and after carrying him out, they buried him. Now there elapsed an interval of about three hours, and his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. And Peter responded to her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for such and such a price?” And she said, “Yes, that was the price.” Then Peter said to her, “Why is it that you have agreed together to put the Spirit of the Lord to the test? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out as well.” And immediately she fell at his feet and breathed her last, and the young men came in and found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. And great fear came over the whole church, and over all who heard of these things. At the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were taking place among the people; and they were all with one accord in Solomon’s portico. But none of the rest dared to associate with them; however, the people held them in high esteem. And all the more believers in the Lord, multitudes of men and women, were constantly added to their number, to such an extent that they even carried the sick out into the streets and laid them on cots and pallets, so that when Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on any one of them. Also the people from the cities in the vicinity of Jerusalem were coming together, bringing people who were sick or afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all being healed.
Acts 5:1-16 NASB
Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, of instruction about washings and laying on of hands, and the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment. And this we will do, if God permits. For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame. For ground that drinks the rain which often falls on it and brings forth vegetation useful to those for whose sake it is also tilled, receives a blessing from God; but if it yields thorns and thistles, it is worthless and close to being cursed, and it ends up being burned.
Hebrews 6:1-8
For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a terrifying expectation of judgment and the fury of a fire which will consume the adversaries. Anyone who has set aside the Law of Moses dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge His people.” It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
Hebrews 10:26-31
But they rebelled And grieved His Holy Spirit; Therefore He turned Himself to become their enemy, He fought against them.
Isaiah 63:10
For I am afraid that perhaps when I come I may find you to be not what I wish and may be found by you to be not what you wish; that perhaps there will be strife, jealousy, angry tempers, disputes, slanders, gossip, arrogance, disturbances; I am afraid that when I come again my God may humiliate me before you, and I may mourn over many of those who have sinned in the past and not repented of the impurity, immorality and sensuality which they have practiced.
2 Corinthians 12:20-21
This is why it is so important to teach what repentance is. When people repent they are NOT going to be practicing sin intentionally anymore. This starts the becoming perfect/mature/teleios process.
Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Matthew 5:48
The whole book of 1 John confirms that we can not continue to practice sin. We are either practicing sin or we practice righteousness.
The word practice is the key to this.
Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness. You know that He appeared in order to take away sins; and in Him there is no sin. No one who abides in Him sins; no one who sins has seen Him or knows Him. Little children, make sure no one deceives you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous; the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil. No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother.
1 John 3:2-10
Practice is the word poieō in Greek means - to make, produce, create, carry out, perform
We are either carrying out righteousness or lawlessness. We are either a sinner or a righteous person. Here are the definitions of a sinner and a righteous person
Sinner/hamartōlos definition - is of those specially wicked
The English definition for sinner - is a person who transgresses against divine law by committing an immoral act or acts.
Righteousness/dikaiosunē- is conformity to the Divine will in purpose, thought and action
Righteous/dikaios - of persons, custom, rule, right, righteous in performing duties to gods and men, corresponding to the Divine standard of right
Dead Works
Now we have to teach people what dead works are.
Dead/nekros - is the Greek word it means of that which is subject to death, of those immersed in worldly cares, of spiritual death, of things regarded as inoperative, devoid of power
The word works/ergon - is the Greek word it means - work, task, employment, of an enterprise or undertaking, a deed, action, that which is wrought or made, a work
Hebrews 9:13-14 says this.
For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled sanctify for the cleansing of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
Hebrews 9:13-14
The Greek word conscience/suneidēsis is - innate discernment, self-judging consciousness
Titus 2:11-12 shows us how this happens.
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age,
Titus 2:11-12
Grace is not mercy. Grace and mercy get mixed up a lot. Grace needs to be taught correctly from scripture. Grace is to instruct us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age. While the English definition of mercy is showing compassion or forgiveness toward someone whom it is within one’s power to punish or harm.
There are obvious sin practices that are all over scripture that we must teach people. But sin listed in scripture there is sin that we must learn how to not participate in that isn’t as obvious. This is where we study scripture, look at the lives of the people in scripture, learn from their lives and where the Holy Spirit will teach us as we wake up each day what is pleasing to Him and what is not.
Here are some scriptures on sin practices that are obvious.
Samuel said,
“Has the LORD as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices
As in obeying the voice of the LORD?
Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice,
And to heed than the fat of rams.
“For rebellion is as the sin of divination,
And insubordination is as iniquity and idolatry.
Because you have rejected the word of the LORD,
He has also rejected you from being king.”
1 Samuel 15:22-23
The English definition for rebellion - is opposition to one in authority or dominance, open, armed, and usually unsuccessful defiance of or resistance to an established government
If we refuse to believe that we must stop practicing sin and/or that we must learn and teach the elementary teaching or anything else in scripture we are in opposition to what God says is truth.
The Greek work for insubordination/pāsar is - to press, push, be insolent, display pushing (arrogance, presumption)
The English definition for presumption is - an idea that is taken to be true, and often used as the basis for other ideas, although it is not known for certain, behavior perceived as arrogant, disrespectful and transgressing the limits of what is permitted or appropriate.
It is dangerous to presume that what we are doing is right. We must examine the work/task/employment we are doing up against the Word to see if it is God’s ways or man’s traditions. We must examine if our lives look like the men in scripture or look like something completely different. Can we put our names beside Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Peter, James, John, Paul, Aquila and Priscilla or would our walk as a Christian look completely different than theirs? Do we speak the same words they spoke? Do our everyday lives look like theirs or is it filled with cares, riches and pleasures of this world? Do we truly love God with all our heart, mind and souls? Do we truly love others like we do our own self? Do we make sure that if we have food that the other people in His body have food and shelter? Or are we too busy making sure our kingdom is built to glorify ourselves? To not deeply consider these things is assuming we are living correctly and that is presumption.
We must consider selling all their possession/antecedent ways of doing things to actually become a disciple of Jesus.
And someone came to Him and said, “Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may obtain eternal life?” And He said to him, “Why are you asking Me about what is good? There is only One who is good; but if you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.” Then he said to Him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “You shall not commit murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; Honor your father and mother; and You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” The young man said to Him, “All these things I have kept; what am I still lacking?” Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” But when the young man heard this statement, he went away grieving; for he was one who owned much property.
Matthew 19:16-22
This word possessions is the word huparchō in Greek it means expressing continuance of an antecedent state or condition.
The word antecedent means - ancestor, precursor
So, we must give up our ancestral ways of doing things, give to the poor, and follow Jesus’ way of doing things.
Here are more obvious scriptures on sin practices. I don’t spend a lot of time looking into all the sins but people do need to understand what sin is to renounce it.
Ezekiel 16:49-50, 18:5-9
Zechariah 7:8-14, 8:16-17
Malachi 3:5
Mark 7:20-23
Romans 1:18-32, 13:8-14
1 Corinthians 5
1 Corinthians 6
Galatians 5
Ephesians 4:17-5:21
Revelation 21:7-8, 21:22-27, 22:14-15
I point out the Greek word malakos in 1 Corinthians 6:9 it is translated to the English word effeminate. This word is taken out of a lot of translations in the English bibles because to some, who don’t have an understanding of this Greek word, it doesn’t make sense to use this word since Paul also writes homosexuals in the same sentence.
The English word effeminate - means having feminine qualities untypical of a man : not manly in appearance or manner, marked by an unbecoming delicacy or overrefinement
If you dig a little deeper into the Greek for this word meaning you will find it means a few different things. Jesus actually uses this word when asking questions about John the baptizer. Stating that John was not a malakos man.
Malakas derives from the Greek word malakos (μαλακός), which means "soft" or "spoilt, well-used to luxuries of life”
It is very important to explain this word and what the scripture is talking about here since we live in America, and the American dream is the malakos life.
How to stop practicing sin
Since we know we must repent now let’s look at scripture in 1 Corinthians 10:13 and James 1 that teaches how to bear fruit in keeping with repentance.
No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man, but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.
1 Corinthians 10:13
Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith brings about perseverance. And let perseverance have its perfect work, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
James 1:2-5
2 Peter 1 teaches that if we have received the same kind of faith as Peter grace and peace will be multiplied in the knowledge of God and Jesus.
Simon Peter, a bond-servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have received a faith of the same kind as ours, by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ: Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust. Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins. Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble; for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you.
2 Peter 1:1-11
These scriptures tell us that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him. This is how grace teaches us to renounce ungodliness and peace is multiplied. When we stop practicing sin and it is removed out of our lives peace with God is multiplied in our lives. We have to add to our faith with diligence, moral excellence, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love.
The Greek word for diligence/spoudē means - haste, speed, zeal, diligence, earnestness spoudḗ (from 4692 /speúdō, "move quickly, speed on") – properly, swiftness to show zealous diligence, i.e. one's "best" (full effort by making haste). For the believer, 4710 /spoudḗ ("speedy diligence") means quickly obeying what the Lord reveals is His priority. This elevates the better over the good – the more important over the important – and does so with earnest swiftness (intensity).
As we look at the word definitions below we have to ponder and strive with haste how to add to our faith these things Peter has listed. We must realize that moral excellences are what God says is moral, not what the world says is moral in our culture of the day.
The Greek word moral excellence/areté means goodness, a gracious act, virtue, uprightness. arétē – properly, virtue ("moral excellence") which is displayed to enrich life.
The Greek word knowledge/ gnōsis means - 1108 gnṓsis (a feminine noun derived from 1097 /ginṓskō, "experientially know") – functional ("working") knowledge gleaned from first-hand (personal) experience, connecting theory to application; "application-knowledge," gained in (by) a direct relationship
The Greek word self-control/egkrateia means - mastery, self-control, self-mastery, self-restraint, self-control, continence. egkráteia (from 1722 /en, "in the sphere of" and 2904 /krátos, "dominion, mastery") – properly, dominion within, i.e. "self-control" – proceeding out from within oneself, but not by oneself.
For the believer, 1466 /egkráteia ("self-control, Spirit-control") can only be accomplished by the power of the Lord. Accordingly, 1466 /egkráteia ("true mastery from within") is explicitly called a fruit of the Holy Spirit (Gal 5:23).
The Greek word perseverance/hupomonē means - endurance, steadfastness, patient waiting for. hypomonḗ (from 5259 /hypó, "under" and 3306 /ménō, "remain, endure") – properly, remaining under, endurance; steadfastness, especially as God enables the believer to "remain (endure) under" the challenges He allots in life.
The Greek word godliness/eusebeia means - piety (towards God), godliness, devotion, godliness. eusébeia (from 2095 /eú "well" and 4576 /sébomai, "venerate, pay homage") – properly, someone's inner response to the things of God which shows itself in godly piety (reverence). 2150 /eusébeia ("godly heart-response") naturally expresses itself in reverence for God, i.e. what He calls sacred (worthy of veneration).
The Greek word for brotherly kindness/philadelphia means - the love of brothers, brotherly love: of Christians' mutual love as brethren
The Greek word for love/agapē means - love, goodwill, esteem
Scripture says in 2 Peter 1:8-9 if these are yours and increasing…
For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins.
2 Peter 1:8-9
If these are not yours and increasing you are useless and unfruitful.
The Greek word useless/argos means - inactive, idle, lazy, thoughtless, unprofitable, injurious.
The Greek word unfruitful/akarpos means - unfruitful.
ákarpos (an adjective, from 1 /A "not" and 2590 /karpós, "fruit") – properly, unfruitful. 175 /ákarpos ("unfruitful") refers to any thought (action) not originated and empowered by the Lord, i.e. not born of faith (birthed and empowered by God). By definition, all decisions that are not born "of faith are sin" (Ro 14:23) – which automatically renders them eternally fruitless ("a waste"). This is the case regardless of how impressive or acceptable they are in the eyes of the world.
If you lack these qualities you are blind or short-sighted.
The Greek word blind/tuphlos means - blind, physically or mentally.
The Greek word short-sighted/muōpazō means - I am short-sighted, blink, see dimly.
Now lets look at verse 10
Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble;
2 Peter 1:10
Peter tells us if we are increasing in these attributes then we will never stumble.
The Greek word for stumble/ptaiō means - to cause to stumble, to stumble Usage: I stumble, fall, sin, err, transgress.
God gives us all that we need to overcome sin, to master it in our lives.
Faith Towards God
God has taught me to teach people that if they don’t understand something in scripture to not say, they don’t believe it. Instead encourage them to ask God how or why. Just don’t say NO. To say no, cuts you off from Him teaching you, but to say how or why gives Him space to teach us what He means in His Word.
Example: “be perfect like your heavenly father is perfect.” Matthew 5:48. Don’t say it is not possible, but instead say, how God? Please teach me how to be perfect and pleasing to you in every way. Then be obedient to what you hear and learn in scripture.
Here are scriptures to show people what faith towards God looks like.
Hebrews 11
1 Thessalonians 1:2-10
I talk to people about being an imitator. I go over the definitions and really make them ponder what Paul is saying here. Becoming an imitator of these people like Paul declares our faith towards God.
Imitators in greek is mimeomai - I imitate, follow emulating a mentor or example
Imitator - a person who copies the behavior of actions of another.
Emulator - to strive to equal or excel
One Baptism
I start with explaining that there is one baptism. Ephesians 4 says this.
There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.
Ephesians 4:4-6
We know that in Matthew 3:11 John says this about Jesus.
As for me, I baptize you with water for repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
Matthew 3:11
We know that Jesus’ baptism includes water, Holy Spirit and fire so we are going to look at each one of these as individuals even though it is one baptism, Jesus’ baptism. An individual can’t choose to cut anyone part of Jesus' baptism out of their lives if they want to be a disciple of Jesus. The reason why I call it Jesus’ baptism is because Paul addresses baptism in this way in Acts 19.
It happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the upper country and came to Ephesus, and found some disciples. He said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” And they said to him, “No, we have not even heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.” And he said, “Into what then were you baptized?” And they said, “Into John’s baptism.” Paul said, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in Him who was coming after him, that is, in Jesus.” When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking with tongues and prophesying.
Acts 19:1-6
The way I was taught by the Holy Spirit to teach baptism was to look at who, what, when, where, why and how in the scripture. It helps people understand and answers questions about the baptism of water, Holy Spirit and fire which is the One baptism referred to in Ephesians 4. In the verses below we see John was preaching repentance and people were coming confessing sin. We know from Matthew 4:17 that Jesus went out preaching repentance also and that he baptized people in water John 3:22-26.
I explain to people what the word baptism means. This is important because baptism means different things to different people, so it is important to know what the Word of God says about it.
The Greek word for baptism/baptizō means to dip, immerse, sink
This clarifies the how to baptize someone in water and what being baptized in the Holy Spirit and fire will look like. It is very important that people are taught repentance before they get baptized. We see in scripture that is the standard method of teaching God has His people proclaim.
Now in those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
Matthew 3:1-2
Then Jerusalem was going out to him, and all Judea and all the district around the Jordan; and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, as they confessed their sins. But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance; and do not suppose that you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham for our father; for I say to you that from these stones God is able to raise up children to Abraham. The axe is already laid at the root of the trees; therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. “As for me, I baptize you with water for repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clear His threshing floor; and He will gather His wheat into the barn, but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”
Matthew 3:5-12
A point to make about these scriptures is that confessing doesn’t always mean the person is repenting. People confess things all the time but it doesn’t mean they have a heart change to stop practicing the sin they are confessing. It is important to go over the fact that John tells the people that they must “bear fruit in keeping with repentance” after baptism of water.
So, we see here John baptized those who came out to him. We see they were coming confessing sin. We see that John is telling the people that think they are righteous not to count on their family relations to keep them safe. It’s no different now when people rely on the fact that they prayed a prayer of salvation and think they can do whatever they want. This is one in the same concept. The point John is making is that after confessing and getting baptized you had better strive to bear good fruit in your life and not rely on a false sense of security.
Baptism of water
By using who, what, when, where, why and how we will look at the following stories and pull the following information from them. Who is to get baptized? What is baptism? When should someone get baptized? Where should they get baptized? Why do we get baptized? How should someone get baptized? We will do this by comparing the following stories to each other and examine the details in the stories.
4 Therefore, those who had been scattered went about preaching the word. 5 Philip went down to the city of Samaria and began proclaiming Christ to them. 6 The crowds with one accord were giving attention to what was said by Philip, as they heard and saw the signs which he was performing. 7 For in the case of many who had unclean spirits, they were coming out of them shouting with a loud voice; and many who had been paralyzed and lame were healed. 8 So there was much rejoicing in that city. 9 Now there was a man named Simon, who formerly was practicing magic in the city and astonishing the people of Samaria, claiming to be someone great; 10 and they all, from smallest to greatest, were giving attention to him, saying, “This man is what is called the Great Power of God.” 11 And they were giving him attention because he had for a long time astonished them with his magic arts. 12 But when they believed Philip preaching the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were being baptized, men and women alike. 13 Even Simon himself believed; and after being baptized, he continued on with Philip, and as he observed signs and great miracles taking place, he was constantly amazed. 14 Now when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent them Peter and John, 15 who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. 16 For He had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then they began laying their hands on them, and they were receiving the Holy Spirit. 18 Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was bestowed through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, 19 saying, “Give this authority to me as well, so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” 20 But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money! 21 You have no part or portion in this matter, for your heart is not right before God. 22 Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray the Lord that, if possible, the intention of your heart may be forgiven you. 23 For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bondage of iniquity.” 24 But Simon answered and said, “Pray to the Lord for me yourselves, so that nothing of what you have said may come upon me.”
Acts 8:4-24 NASB
We see here that Philip baptized Simon. We don’t know if he repented for anything before he was baptized but we do see the Holy Spirit was not given to him. So we see from this account that just because someone got or gets baptized it doesn’t mean that God will have anything to do with this person if their heart is not one of repentance. We also see that the Holy Spirit was not given to these people at the time of water baptism. In scripture we see sometimes the Holy Spirit is given at water baptism and sometimes it is not. As we look at different stories, we will see most of the people who are devout God-fearing people receive the Holy Spirit immediately but the ones just hearing the truth for the first time don’t always receive the Holy Spirit immediately. We see that situations are different and we can’t assume someone receives the Holy Spirit at the time of water baptism although this does happen with devout God-fearing people in scripture.
In Acts 8:25-39 an Ethiopian receives Christ
25 So, when they had solemnly testified and spoken the word of the Lord, they started back to Jerusalem, and were preaching the gospel to many villages of the Samaritans. 26 But an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip saying, “Get up and go south to the road that descends from Jerusalem to Gaza.” (This is a desert road.) 27 So he got up and went; and there was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure; and he had come to Jerusalem to worship, 28 and he was returning and sitting in his chariot, and was reading the prophet Isaiah. 29 Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go up and join this chariot.” 30 Philip ran up and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?” 31 And he said, “Well, how could I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. 32 Now the passage of Scripture which he was reading was this:
“HE WAS LED AS A SHEEP TO SLAUGHTER;
AND AS A LAMB BEFORE ITS SHEARER IS SILENT,
SO HE DOES NOT OPEN HIS MOUTH.
33 “IN HUMILIATION HIS JUDGMENT WAS TAKEN AWAY;
WHO WILL RELATE HIS GENERATION?
FOR HIS LIFE IS REMOVED FROM THE EARTH.”
34 The eunuch answered Philip and said, “Please tell me, of whom does the prophet say this? Of himself or of someone else?” 35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture he preached Jesus to him. 36 As they went along the road they came to some water; and the eunuch said, “Look! Water! What prevents me from being baptized?” 37 [And Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”] 38 And he ordered the chariot to stop; and they both went down into the water, Philip as well as the eunuch, and he baptized him. 39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; and the eunuch no longer saw him, but went on his way rejoicing.
Acts 8:25-39 NASB
Here we see that Philip baptized the Ethiopian immediately in water and he told him he must believe with all his heart. We also see that they went down into the water. Another detail we can take from this passage is that this man was a God-fearing man. He traveled a long way to worship, he was seeking truth. Something we don’t see in this situation is him being filled with the Holy Spirit.
The next example we will look at is Acts 10. I read the whole story with disciples so they understand the whole situation. They need to understand this man is a godly man already devoted to the things of God. It is important for people to understand this man’s desire and his love of God.
1 Now there was a man at Caesarea named Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian cohort, 2 a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, and gave many alms to the Jewish people and prayed to God continually. 3 About the ninth hour of the day he clearly saw in a vision an angel of God who had just come in and said to him, “Cornelius!” 4 And fixing his gaze on him and being much alarmed, he said, “What is it, Lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and alms have ascended as a memorial before God. 5 Now dispatch some men to Joppa and send for a man named Simon, who is also called Peter; 6 he is staying with a tanner named Simon, whose house is by the sea.” 7 When the angel who was speaking to him had left, he summoned two of his servants and a devout soldier of those who were his personal attendants, 8 and after he had explained everything to them, he sent them to Joppa. 9 On the next day, as they were on their way and approaching the city, Peter went up on the housetop about the sixth hour to pray. 10 But he became hungry and was desiring to eat; but while they were making preparations, he fell into a trance; 11 and he saw the sky opened up, and an object like a great sheet coming down, lowered by four corners to the ground, 12 and there were in it all kinds of four-footed animals and crawling creatures of the earth and birds of the air. 13 A voice came to him, “Get up, Peter, kill and eat!” 14 But Peter said, “By no means, Lord, for I have never eaten anything unholy and unclean.” 15 Again a voice came to him a second time, “What God has cleansed, no longer consider unholy.” 16 This happened three times, and immediately the object was taken up into the sky. 17 Now while Peter was greatly perplexed in mind as to what the vision which he had seen might be, behold, the men who had been sent by Cornelius, having asked directions for Simon’s house, appeared at the gate; 18 and calling out, they were asking whether Simon, who was also called Peter, was staying there. 19 While Peter was reflecting on the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are looking for you. 20 But get up, go downstairs and accompany them without misgivings, for I have sent them Myself.” 21 Peter went down to the men and said, “Behold, I am the one you are looking for; what is the reason for which you have come?” 22 They said, “Cornelius, a centurion, a righteous and God-fearing man well spoken of by the entire nation of the Jews, was divinely directed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house and hear a message from you.” 23 So he invited them in and gave them lodging. And on the next day he got up and went away with them, and some of the brethren from Joppa accompanied him. 24 On the following day he entered Caesarea. Now Cornelius was waiting for them and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25 When Peter entered, Cornelius met him, and fell at his feet and worshiped him. 26 But Peter raised him up, saying, “Stand up; I too am just a man.” 27 As he talked with him, he entered and found many people assembled. 28 And he said to them, “You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a man who is a Jew to associate with a foreigner or to visit him; and yet God has shown me that I should not call any man unholy or unclean. 29 That is why I came without even raising any objection when I was sent for. So I ask for what reason you have sent for me.” 30 Cornelius said, “Four days ago to this hour, I was praying in my house during the ninth hour; and behold, a man stood before me in shining garments, 31 and he said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your alms have been remembered before God. 32 Therefore send to Joppa and invite Simon, who is also called Peter, to come to you; he is staying at the house of Simon the tanner by the sea.’ 33 So I sent for you immediately, and you have been kind enough to come. Now then, we are all here present before God to hear all that you have been commanded by the Lord.” 34 Opening his mouth, Peter said: “I most certainly understand now that God is not one to show partiality, 35 but in every nation the man who fears Him and does what is right is welcome to Him. 36 The word which He sent to the sons of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ (He is Lord of all)-- 37 you yourselves know the thing which took place throughout all Judea, starting from Galilee, after the baptism which John proclaimed. 38 You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. 39 We are witnesses of all the things He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They also put Him to death by hanging Him on a cross. 40 God raised Him up on the third day and granted that He become visible, 41 not to all the people, but to witnesses who were chosen beforehand by God, that is, to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead. 42 And He ordered us to preach to the people, and solemnly to testify that this is the One who has been appointed by God as Judge of the living and the dead. 43 Of Him all the prophets bear witness that through His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins.” 44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who were listening to the message. 45 All the circumcised believers who came with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. 46 For they were hearing them speaking with tongues and exalting God. Then Peter answered, 47 “Surely no one can refuse the water for these to be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we did, can he?” 48 And he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay on for a few days.
Acts 10
From this situation we can glean that people can be filled with the Holy Spirit before they are baptized in water. Most likely it happened this way here to show the Jews that God approved of these people. This is not the normal way people get filled with the Holy Spirit because typically we see the people hearing about repentance first then being baptized but it definitely does happen this way from time to time. I have seen this happen with people who are obediently following the scriptures; they just don’t have anyone to baptize them. When I have come across people like this who have been baptized in the Holy Spirit before water, these people have already repented and asked to be filled with the Holy Spirit on their own. So we have baptized people in this situation to fulfill all righteousness. We see from scripture baptism is still important to fulfill even if God has already approved of them and filled them with His Holy Spirit.
In 1 Peter 3:21 we see what water baptism does.
21 Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you--not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience--through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
1 Peter 3:21 NASB
It is an appeal to God for a good conscience. People need to be told this.
The Greek word for good/agathós means - good Usage: intrinsically good, good in nature, good whether it be seen to be so or not, the widest and most colorless of all words with this meaning. agathós – inherently (intrinsically) good; as to the believer, describes what originates from God and is empowered by Him in their life, through faith.
The Greek word for conscience/suneidésis means - consciousness, conscience Usage: the conscience, a persisting notion. syneídēsis (from 4862 /sýn, "together with" and 1492 /eídō "to know, see") – properly, joint-knowing, i.e. conscience which joins moral and spiritual consciousness as part of being created in the divine image. Accordingly, all people have this God-given capacity to know right from wrong because each is a free moral agent ["Conscience (4893 /syneídēsis) is an innate discernment, self-judging consciousness
So, when people get baptized in water they are asking God for a good conscience. This allows for God’s kindness/grace to work in the person’s life. Because they should no longer have a hard heart or seared conscience. Their desire should be for whatever God wants for them. This is where I talk about Titus 2:11-12 that grace teaches/instructs us.
11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, 12 instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age,
Titus 2:11-12
So many people have a misunderstanding of grace. It has been taught as mercy, but grace and mercy are two very different things.
The Greek word for grace/charis is - grace, kindness Usage: (a) grace, as a gift or blessing brought to man by Jesus Christ, (b) favor, (c) gratitude, thanks, (d) a favor, kindness. 5485 xáris (another feminine noun from xar-, "favor, disposed to, inclined, favorable towards, leaning towards to share benefit") – properly, grace. 5485 (xáris) is preeminently used of the Lord's favor – freely extended to give Himself away to people (because He is "always leaning toward them”). 5485 /xáris ("grace") answers directly to the Hebrew (OT) term 2580 /Kaná ("grace, extension-toward"). Both refer to God freely extending Himself (His favor, grace), reaching (inclining) to people because He is disposed to bless (be near) them.
So because of God’s kindness He has sent Jesus to show us how to live this life on earth. He has given us the Holy Spirit to instruct us how to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age. When we ask for a good conscience we should be asking the Holy Spirit to teach us how to live the life Jesus lived on this earth. So we will be able to pick up our cross and follow Him.
Here is an overview of water baptism.
We see people who get water baptized should understand repentance first or at least be told about repentance first. Their heart should be one of repentance.
They should fully believe that Jesus is the son of God.
After someone gets baptized, they should be producing the fruit that comes from a repentant life.
People should be water baptized immediately upon request.
They should be immersed into water.
Baptism is an appeal to God for a good conscience
Baptism is to fulfill all righteousness
Baptism of the Holy Spirit
Now we will look at the who, what, when, where, why and how of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Jesus tells us this from John chapter 14, 15 and 16.
16 I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; 17 that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you. 18 “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 After a little while the world will no longer see Me, but you will see Me; because I live, you will live also. 20 In that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you. 21 He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him.” 22 Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, “Lord, what then has happened that You are going to disclose Yourself to us and not to the world?” 23 Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him. 24 He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine, but the Father’s who sent Me. 25 “These things I have spoken to you while abiding with you. 26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful. 28 You heard that I said to you, ‘I go away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved Me, you would have rejoiced because I go to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. 29 Now I have told you before it happens, so that when it happens, you may believe. 30 I will not speak much more with you, for the ruler of the world is coming, and he has nothing in Me; 31 but so that the world may know that I love the Father, I do exactly as the Father commanded Me. Get up, let us go from here.
John 14:16-31 NASB
“When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, that is the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify about Me, and you will testify also, because you have been with Me from the beginning.
John 15:26-27 NSAB
But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.
John 16:13 NASB
Here is what we can glean from these sections of scriptures about the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit is given from the Father.
The Holy Spirit is our Helper.
He is the Spirit of truth.
He abides with the disciples, but will be in them when they are filled with the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit will teach you all things.
The Holy Spirit will bring to remembrance all that Jesus says to you.
The Holy Spirit testifies about Jesus.
The Holy Spirit will guide you into all truth.
He will not speak on His own initiative but whatever He hears, He will speak and disclose to you what is to come.
Now we are going to use some of the same scripture that we looked at with water baptism to examine more on the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
Please read Acts 8:4-24.
Here are some points we can glean from this section.
Notices that not everyone will be able to take part in the Holy Spirit.
We also see here that the Holy Spirit was not always given at the same time as water baptism.
The Holy Spirit was given after Philip went to the Samaritans and they had received the Word of God.
Philip was baptizing people in water and the apostles heard about it.
Peter and John went to them and began laying hands on them and then the Samaritans received the Holy Spirit.
So, from this story we know that the Holy Spirit was given some time after being water baptized.
Now let’s ponder why Simon couldn’t receive the Holy Spirit. Scripture tells us in Acts 5:32 that those who obey God are the ones who are given the Holy Spirit.
32 And we are witnesses of these things; and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him.
Acts 5:32 NASB
So, we know the obedient people are the ones God will give the Holy Spirit to. The Holy Spirit does not make anyone be obedient though. Everyone must choose obedience each and every day. In Isaiah 63:10 says this.
But they rebelled
And grieved His Holy Spirit;
Therefore He turned Himself to become their enemy,
He fought against them.
Isaiah 63:10
We see people who are disobedient grieve the Holy Spirit. It also talks about this in Hebrews 10:26-39. It is important for people to understand the important of obedience.
Please read and examine Acts 10
Here are some points we can glean from Acts 10
Cornelius is a gentile who is a devout man and feared God as did all his household.
We see that God will send angels and people so that His people can learn the truth.
We know the Holy Spirit was given to the people before baptism of water.
Baptism of water took place after they received the Holy Spirit
In Acts 9 and 19 we see this.
10 Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and the Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” 11 And the Lord said to him, “Get up and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying, 12 and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him, so that he might regain his sight.” 13 But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he did to Your saints at Jerusalem; 14 and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name.” 15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel; 16 for I will show him how much he must suffer for My name’s sake.” 17 So Ananias departed and entered the house, and after laying his hands on him said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road by which you were coming, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 And immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he regained his sight, and he got up and was baptized; 19 and he took food and was strengthened.
Acts 9:10-19 NASB
1 It happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the upper country and came to Ephesus, and found some disciples. 2 He said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” And they said to him, “No, we have not even heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.” 3 And he said, “Into what then were you baptized?” And they said, “Into John’s baptism.” 4 Paul said, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in Him who was coming after him, that is, in Jesus.” 5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking with tongues and prophesying. 7 There were in all about twelve men.
Acts 19:1-7 NASB
So, from all these different accounts we can see that the Holy Spirit is given at different times. You see sometimes the Holy Spirit is given after people are water baptized and sometimes the Holy Spirit is given before people are water baptized, either way all people still must get water baptized. You see though that the Holy Spirit is always only given to those who are obedient and genuinely seeking God.
The next section we will look more at is what the Holy Spirit does in our lives.
In Galatians 5 we see the fruit that the Holy Spirit will produce in our lives as we are obedient to what He shows us.
But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law. Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.
Galatians 5:16-25
As we choose obedience to the life God has for us we will not be obedient to the lustful desires of the flesh. We will find that we are not practicing sin anymore because we will be refusing sin to have its way in our lives. By doing this we are refusing fleshly desires and taking on more of God’s heart and mind.
There are also gifts of the Holy Spirit. These gifts flow through the lives of people they are meant to help His body. They are not meant to get glory for oneself.
Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons. But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills. For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ.
1 Corinthians 12:4-12
It is very important to understand gifts of the Spirit are different from the fruit of the Spirit. The gifts are meant to build up His body. They show God’s goodness, love, power and authority on this earth. The fruit of the spirit shows what is happening in the life of an individual person. It shows how they are being refined and purified. The fruit shows the obedience in the life of a disciple. Jesus says, you will know the tree by the fruit. He does not say you will know a person is Godly because of the gifts that flow through them. It is actually contrary to that. God will use people to flow gifts through to test His children to see if they truly love His Word or if they love signs and wonders. Refer to Deuteronomy 13:1-5 ( I don’t get into this much unless the person really needs clarification on this at the moment.)
“Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they? So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. So then, you will know them by their fruits. “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’
Matthew 7:15-23 NASB
In Acts 1 Jesus tells His disciples that they will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon them.
but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”
Acts 1:8 NASB
From all these sections of scripture we can see who can receive the Holy Spirit and what the Holy Spirit does in our lives. We can see from scripture when someone is to be baptized in the Holy Spirit. We can see where, how, and why it is important for us to receive the Holy Spirit.
Baptism of Fire
In Matthew we see Jesus will baptize with fire.
“As for me, I baptize you with water for repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clear His threshing floor; and He will gather His wheat into the barn, but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”
Matthew 3:11-12 NASB
In Malachi 3 we see the purpose of this fire is for refinement.
“Behold, I am going to send My messenger, and he will clear the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple; and the messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight, behold, He is coming,” says the LORD of hosts. “But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap. He will sit as a smelter and purifier of silver, and He will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, so that they may present to the LORD offerings in righteousness. Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the LORD as in the days of old and as in former years. “Then I will draw near to you for judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers and against the adulterers and against those who swear falsely, and against those who oppress the wage earner in his wages, the widow and the orphan, and those who turn aside the alien and do not fear Me,” says the LORD of hosts.
Malachi 3:1-5 NASB
We also see in both sections of scripture that Jesus will not tolerate sin practices in His body.
In Luke 12:50 we see Jesus talking about a baptism He must undergo.
“I have come to cast fire upon the earth; and how I wish it were already kindled! But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is accomplished!
Luke 12:49-50 NASB
“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples. Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.
John 15:1-11 NASB
The word prune/kathairó means - I cleanse, purify, prune, make clean by purging (removing undesirable elements); hence, "pruned (purged)"; eliminating what is fruitless by purifying (making unmixed).
Jesus had to undergo suffering and so do we. It is for our refinement process.
For every high priest taken from among men is appointed on behalf of men in things pertaining to God, in order to offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins; he can deal gently with the ignorant and misguided, since he himself also is beset with weakness; and because of it he is obligated to offer sacrifices for sins, as for the people, so also for himself. And no one takes the honor to himself, but receives it when he is called by God, even as Aaron was. So also Christ did not glorify Himself so as to become a high priest, but He who said to Him,
“You are My Son,
Today I have begotten You”;
just as He says also in another passage,
“You are a priest forever
According to the order of Melchizedek.”
In the days of His flesh, He offered up both prayers and supplications with loud crying and tears to the One able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His piety. Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered.
Hebrews 5:1-8 NASB
Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin; and you have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as sons,
“My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord,
Nor faint when you are reproved by Him;
For those whom the Lord loves He disciplines,
And He scourges every son whom He receives.”
It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline? But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits, and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness. All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness. Therefore, strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble, and make straight paths for your feet, so that the limb which is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather be healed. Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled; that there be no immoral or godless person like Esau, who sold his own birthright for a single meal. For you know that even afterwards, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought for it with tears.
Hebrews 12:1-17
This discipline is the purification process. It gives us the desire to remove sin out of our lives. We know that pressure and hardships expose what is in us. This exposure helps us examine ourselves and remove impurities out of our lives.
James and Romans talks about why this process is good for us.
Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
James 1:2-5 NASB
Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
Romans 5:1-5 NASB
We see more on why we are to rejoice in 1 Peter.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.
1 Peter 1:3-9 NASB
The word proof/dokimion in Greek means - a test, trial, what is genuine, dokímion (a neuter noun) what is found approved (genuine) after testing, focusing on the inevitable results of this.
The word tested/dokimazō in Greek means - I put to the test, prove, examine; I distinguish by testing, approve after testing; I am fit, dokimázō (from 1384 /dókimos, "approved") – properly, to try (test) to show something is acceptable (real, approved); put to the test to reveal what is good (genuine), dokimázō ("to approve by testing") is done to demonstrate what is good, i.e. passes the necessary test. 1381 (dokimázō) does not focus on disproving something (i.e. to show it is bad).
These tests that we are put through will prove if we will continue on the path of righteousness or if we will choose to walk away and be in disobedience/disbelief.
We see in Luke 8 different kinds of grounds/people and how they handle what comes at them in the testing and trials process.
“Now the parable is this: the seed is the word of God. Those beside the road are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their heart, so that they will not believe and be saved. Those on the rocky soil are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no firm root; they believe for a while, and in time of temptation fall away. The seed which fell among the thorns, these are the ones who have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked with worries and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to maturity. But the seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word in an honest and good heart, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with perseverance.
Luke 8:11-15 NASB
We must choose each day to be obedient/hold fast to the Word of God and stay on the path of righteousness. We must remember what grace is for and ask God for help when we feel overwhelmed. The grace/kindness of God that is given to us by giving us the Holy Spirit is to teach us how to renounce ungodliness and worldly desires. If we choose not to listen and be disobedient then we will not be pleasing to God.
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age,
Titus 2:11-12 NASB
The Greek word grace/charis means - grace, kindness xáris (another feminine noun from xar-, "favor, disposed to, inclined, favorable towards, leaning towards to share benefit") – properly, grace. 5485 (xáris) is preeminently used of the Lord's favor – freely extended to give Himself away to people (because He is "always leaning toward them"). 5485 /xáris ("grace") answers directly to the Hebrew (OT) term 2580 /Kaná ("grace, extension-toward"). Both refer to God freely extending Himself (His favor, grace), reaching (inclining) to people because He is disposed to bless (be near) them.
Hebrews 6 tells us this.
For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame. For ground that drinks the rain which often falls on it and brings forth vegetation useful to those for whose sake it is also tilled, receives a blessing from God; but if it yields thorns and thistles, it is worthless and close to being cursed, and it ends up being burned.
Hebrews 6:4-8 NASB
We must all take part of the baptism of Jesus. This baptism includes water, Holy Spirit, and fire. We cannot get out of any part of this cleansing process if we want to be a part of the new convent.
Laying on of Hands
In laying on of hands we will look at when to lay hands on people and when we are not to lay hands on people. It is obvious we lay hands on people for healing, casting demons out of people and baptism of the Holy Spirit, but we will also see spiritual gifts come with laying on of hands and people being sent off to do their jobs had hands laid on them to send them off to do God’s work.
While the sun was setting, all those who had any who were sick with various diseases brought them to Him; and laying His hands on each one of them, He was healing them. Demons also were coming out of many, shouting, “You are the Son of God!” But rebuking them, He would not allow them to speak, because they knew Him to be the Christ.
Luke 4:40-41 NASB
And they came to Bethsaida. And they brought a blind man to Jesus and implored Him to touch him. Taking the blind man by the hand, He brought him out of the village; and after spitting on his eyes and laying His hands on him, He asked him, “Do you see anything?” And he looked up and said, “I see men, for I see them like trees, walking around.” Then again He laid His hands on his eyes; and he looked intently and was restored, and began to see everything clearly.
Mark 8:22-25 NASB
These signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues; they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
Mark 16:17-18 NASB
Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you, which was bestowed on you through prophetic utterance with the laying on of hands by the presbytery.
1 Timothy 4:14 NASB
For this reason I remind you to kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.
2 Timothy 1:6 NASB
Now there were at Antioch, in the church that was there, prophets and teachers: Barnabas, and Simeon who was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. While they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Then, when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia and from there they sailed to Cyprus. When they reached Salamis, they began to proclaim the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews; and they also had John as their helper.
Acts 13:1-5 NASB
Then they began laying their hands on them, and they were receiving the Holy Spirit. Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was bestowed through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, saying, “Give this authority to me as well, so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money! You have no part or portion in this matter, for your heart is not right before God. Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray the Lord that, if possible, the intention of your heart may be forgiven you. For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bondage of iniquity.”
Acts 8:17-23 NASB
The elders who rule well are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle the ox while he is threshing,” and “The laborer is worthy of his wages.” Do not receive an accusation against an elder except on the basis of two or three witnesses. Those who continue in sin, rebuke in the presence of all, so that the rest also will be fearful of sinning. I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of His chosen angels, to maintain these principles without bias, doing nothing in a spirit of partiality. Do not lay hands upon anyone too hastily and thereby share responsibility for the sins of others; keep yourself free from sin.
1 Timothy 5:17-22 NASB
These last two scriptures sections show us who we should not lay hands on. There are times we are not to lay hands on people to be filled with the Holy Spirit because God knows the heart of the person and He will have no part with them. We also need to be very aware of who we put into leadership positions because we are in agreement with them if we put them in a place of leadership.
Resurrection of the Dead and Eternal Judgment
Please, as you read the scripture posted here, ask the Holy Spirit to help you take it in and not think on anything else you have ever heard but only look at scripture for what it says. First, we will look at when the Word says Jesus is coming back. Obviously, we don’t know the time or the hour, but scripture does let us in on some clues and a very specific clue is this.
Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.
1 Corinthians 15:50-52 NASB
But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 NASB
Then the seventh angel sounded; and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ; and He will reign forever and ever.” And the twenty-four elders, who sit on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshiped God, saying, “We give You thanks, O Lord God, the Almighty, who are and who were, because You have taken Your great power and have begun to reign.
Revelation 11:15-17 NASB
So, we see here Jesus is coming back at the last trumpet. In Revelation starting in chapter 6 we see seven seals. In the 7th seal there are 7 trumpets. The last trumpet is the 7th trumpet. So Jesus is coming at the 7th trumpet. We see that in Revelation 11:15.
Here are the addresses for the 7 seals and then the 7 trumpets.
1st seal Revelation 6:1
2nd seal Revelation 6:2
3rd seal Revelation 6:5
4th seal Revelation 6:7
5th seal Revelation 6:9
6th seal Revelation 6:12
7th seal Revelation 8:1
1st trumpet Revelation 8:7
2nd trumpet Revelation 8:8
3rd trumpet Revelation 8:10
4th trumpet Revelation 8:12
5th trumpet Revelation 9:1
6th trumpet Revelation 9:13
7th trumpet Revelation 11:15 The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ! This is when Jesus comes back at the 7th trumpet which is the last trumpet.
Before the time of the sound of the last trumpet there are a lot of events that take place. During this time there are one-time events such as specific earthquakes that happen and events like the sun becoming black. There are also events that don’t seem to have an end but just continue such as Death and Hades having authority to kill a 4th of the earth in different ways. We have no idea if this will be a one-time event or will take time between seals to have this fulfilled. What we do know is the believers will be here walking on the earth until the 7th trumpet is blown.
Now we see from Revelation 19 and 20 this timeline.
Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready.” It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. Then he said to me, “Write, ‘Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.’” And he said to me, “These are true words of God.” Then I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “Do not do that; I am a fellow servant of yours and your brethren who hold the testimony of Jesus; worship God. For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war. His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems; and He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself. He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses. From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty. And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.” Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and he cried out with a loud voice, saying to all the birds which fly in midheaven, “Come, assemble for the great supper of God, so that you may eat the flesh of kings and the flesh of commanders and the flesh of mighty men and the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them and the flesh of all men, both free men and slaves, and small and great.” And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies assembled to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army. And the beast was seized, and with him the false prophet who performed the signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image; these two were thrown alive into the lake of fire which burns with brimstone. And the rest were killed with the sword which came from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse, and all the birds were filled with their flesh.
Revelation 19:7-21 NASB
We know from 1 Thessalonians 5 and Ephesians 5 that we who are obedient are not destined for God’s wrath which we see from Revelation 19 Jesus treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God.
For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him.
1 Thessalonians 5:9-10 NASB
Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma. But immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints; and there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them; for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret.
Ephesians 5:1-12 NASB
We see the 7 bowls of God’s wrath are poured out in Revelations 16. We know from scripture this happens after the 7th trumpet which is when the obedient children of God will be called out of the graves and/or those walking on this earth will be caught up in the air to be with Jesus. (I don’t go into the wrath of God much here because we are focusing on the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment in the elementary teachings.) Now I continue to look at what takes place as Jesus returns to the earth to rule over the earth for 1000 years.
Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold of the dragon, the serpent of old, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; and he threw him into the abyss, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he would not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were completed; after these things he must be released for a short time. Then I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark on their forehead and on their hand; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were completed. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years.
Revelation 20:1-6 NASB
We see here the first resurrection is Jesus coming back and ruling over the earth for 1000 years and those who have washed their robes will be with him to rule ( Revelation 19:7-9, 14) along with those that are listed in Revelation 20:4. Then we see this.
When the thousand years are completed, Satan will be released from his prison, and will come out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together for the war; the number of them is like the sand of the seashore. And they came up on the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, and fire came down from heaven and devoured them. And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
Revelation 20:7-15 NASB
In 1 Corinthians 15 we have some more information on these events.
But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep. For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ’s at His coming, then comes the end, when He hands over the kingdom to the God and Father, when He has abolished all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet. The last enemy that will be abolished is death. For He has put all things in subjection under His feet. But when He says, “All things are put in subjection,” it is evident that He is excepted who put all things in subjection to Him. When all things are subjected to Him, then the Son Himself also will be subjected to the One who subjected all things to Him, so that God may be all in all.
1 Corinthians 15:20-28 NASB
We see Satan will be released and come to deceive people that are living on this earth during the 1000 years. We see that Satan will fail and be thrown into the lake of fire. We see after this event judgment day is going to take place. Here is where all the rest of the dead will be raised and books will be opened and people will be judged according to their deeds. After death and hades give up the dead they are thrown into the lake of fire. This is where the last enemy is abolished. We see from 1 Corinthians 15 Jesus will rule on the earth until the last enemy, death is abolished. Revelation 20 and 21 give us a description of what it will be like after that happens.
This covers the 1st and 2nd resurrection and judgment day. There are a lot more scriptures all over the prophets such as Joel 2 that I love to show people but this is a good overview of it. It helps people understand the timeline of events and that there is no word rapture in the Bible and if they are still alive, they will have to live through the events in scriptures.
If you want to show people Joel 2:1-11 it describes Jesus’ army. These people are fierce people who have been trained in self-control. It gives a beautiful description of a teleios person.