3C's Bible Study

In Hebrews 6, the writer expands on what it takes to go on to maturity. He begins by examining the consequence remaining stuck spiritually and not pressing on in maturity, which is the possibility of turning away from God. The writer then goes on to present hope as the antidote to lethargic faith, signalling that the longevity of our faith and its eventual effectiveness, will be determined by the...

Having established rest as the essential principle on which all fruitful human living depends, the writer now goes on to examine the problem that is raised by our natural proclivity for weakness, anxiety, fear and all other miseries of sin. The principle of rest itself, for sinful humanity, depends on the availability and qualification of a high priest or mediator who can transition us through eve...

Hebrews chapter 4 surveys the meaning and layers of God's rest, highlighting its centrality in the gospel of God to creation. What is God's rest, why is it at the heart of the gospel and how do we enter into it? Join us as we uncover this great principle.

Is it possible for a Christian to be in unbelief? If so, what does unbelief in one's life look like? What are the consequences to continuing in such a state? Hebrews chapter 3 challenges our view of what it means to believe, moving believing from creed to deed - from only confessing, to responding to what we hear. Jesus describes believing as a work (John 6:28-29) and thus invites us to lay hold o...

We summarise the first two chapters of the letter, covering the nature of God's speaking to us, His final message to us personified in Christ, the necessity for the Son of God as the chief messenger and the reasons that Christ had to take on our physical human nature in His incarnation.

To address our tendency to drift away from the foundations of faith, Hebrews 2 offers us the mystery of the incarnation of Christ in human form.  Christ took on human nature, and not any other in salvation, so He could taste death (the justice of God) for everyone, redeem us back to our glorious calling in God, defeat the stronghold of death, and restore us in times of weakness and failure. T...

God speaks prophetically both to creation and to us His children. Why does He speak this way and what are the implications? The answers to that lead us on to why a message meant for humanity could not be adequately delivered by prophets or angels. What is this message and what impact does its content have on our standing with God and our longing for Him? Let's find out together in this first chapt...

The writer of Hebrews writes to first-century Jewish Christians on the back of the gradual drift away from Christ that was instigated by the intense persecution of Christians in the Roman empire. The letter argues that nothing we return to is greater than God's final word to us, which is summed up in His Son.  Jesus is greater than the angels and the prophets, and he is the pioneer of a great...

In this final part of the doctrine of Christ, we contemplate the deep waters of eternal judgement, covering the meaning and basis of judgement and the character of God's eternal judgement. We also address the common questions and objections raised against this principle and offer Biblical answer to universalism and annihilation.

The resurrection of Jesus is the lynchpin of Christian belief because it changed everything for Christ, for us and for the world. How are the dead raised? What hope do we look forward to in resurrection? Can we taste of its riches now? Let's find out in this episode.

There are two sides to each of the pillars of the doctrine of Christ - the origin or spiritual reality behind the principle and the outworking or physical expression of it. The reality is what is behind the outworking. The laying on of hands is the pillar that most depicts this dichotomy, because without the knowledge of the reality behind it, this practice would be nothing more than a culturally...

Having previously laid the doctrinal foundations for the baptism in the Holy Spirit, we now focus on the organics of the gift of the Holy Spirit. We examine the promise of the Father, the two dimensions of this promise - the indwelling and outpouring of the Spirit, receiving the promise and life in the Spirit.

This short clip addresses the question that often arises and goes this way - does the requirement of baptism in water mean that a new believer who has not been baptised can't or won't be considered a proper believer or that their salvation is incomplete?

John the baptiser knew that though his ministry was effective, it was limited by definition. The baptism of water could cleanse people from their past sins but could not keep them clean or offer them a motivation against future sin. His baptism had to be supplemented with a power that would produce purity and unity, the power to be and to do.  As a result, John preached expectantly about the...

The process of the new birth in Christ which begins with repentance from dead works and faith towards God, is completed and made certain by our submission to the principle of baptisms. In this episode, we cover the baptism of water, exploring its meaning and significance and highlighting the Scriptural imperatives that Jesus presents with it. 

At the heart of enduring and productive faith is the animating principle of faithfulness. We expound on this principle in this episode, while clearing up the common misappropriation of confession as the central theme of faith.

New Testament faith is separated from nominal and secular faith by its object and origin, which is the living God. The quality and durability of our faith rests on the object of our confidence, which is the person, life and ministry of Christ.  Likewise, the effectiveness of our faith in moving mountains is bound to its origin. It is the faith that is "of" God, born in fellowship with Him, th...

We open our discussion on the principles of the doctrine of Christ by examining the foundational pillar of this doctrine, which is repentance. What does repentance mean, and what are dead works?  The gift of repentance is the first miracle of our salvation and our understanding of its origin and purpose is not only necessary for our entrance into the kingdom, but also for our continued spirit...

In Jesus' words, His doctrine is what sets Him apart from every other person in history. That doctrine became the pillar of the first apostolic community in the New Testament and remains the foundation of a fruitful and enduring Christian experience.  What is His doctrine? How do we know it? What principle activates the fullness of this doctrine? We address this and more in this opening episo...

Jude concludes his letter by presenting the positive side of our defence against deception which is "building up yourselves". The basis of this building is the faith, which is centred on the doctrine of Christ. The doctrine of Christ is about His life, which everyone who receives Him can live by. We come into the experience and power of the doctrine of Christ, through prayer, because the doctrine...

Jude goes on to predict the judgment that awaits the false teachers that he contends with in this letter. We consider the doctrine of eternal judgment, the necessity of judgment in God's creation and the principle by which God judges.

Jude turns to the character of apostasy highlighting its core principles. The first is a downplaying of the justice system of God, displayed in moral degradation, and the second is despising of spiritual authority, displayed in rebellion. These two form the test for the genuineness of a believer or minister. Spiritual authority is the most relevant principle in the universe because it is the princ...

Jude invites us to contend for the faith and to do so earnestly. What is at stake is God's dream for the church which is that we all come in the unity of faith to a mature bride for His Son. This contention involves an intense and often painful struggle for the truth. It is an inevitable part of our believing because enduring personal faith is founded on "the faith" and relies on true corporate co...

Money, like everything material, has in it, the seed of death and decay. As a result, more possessions cannot bring lasting fulfilment or satisfaction. It is God’s will, therefore, that we have the mindset of stewardship towards money. The essential skill required to come into the riches of the kingdom of God is the mindset of a farmer - the ability to endure a process, for the sake of the preciou...

The believer can live from one of two sources - the wisdom of our human nature or the wisdom of the divine life within. The first operates by the principle of self-seeking and the latter by the principle of submission. James makes the case that every unanswered prayer desire can be traced to the principle of abiding. God is always either pruning our faith through the delay or drawing us away from...