The Trinity belief is the very foundation of Christianity. You have to believe that Jesus is LORD and God in order to be saved, but certain Scriptures seem to cast doubt upon this belief. Is there a contradiction in Scripture? Or is the Trinity doctrine false? Was Jesus created by God? Or did Jesus always exist because He is God? Join ArieRashelle as she searches through Scripture to find the answers to these questions and more in her video, Is Jesus The Beginning of God’s Creation?
Revelation 3:14 John 1:1-3 John 8:58 John 10:35 Jeremiah 1:12 John 1:14 Philippians 2:5-7 Colossians 1:13-20 1 Corinthians 15:20-23; 42-45; 50-53 Matthew 3:13-18 John 14:6 Acts 4:12 Genesis 5:3 1 Corinthians 15:47-49 Romans 8:15
Is Jesus The Beginning of God’s Creation?
Was Jesus Created?
The Account of The Creation Story
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.
9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, yet the world did not know Him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive Him. 12 But to all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 1:1-14
Jesus is the Word of God. He’s the Word that created all of creation. Therefore, Jesus created all things, so then how could Jesus be created? The answer is Jesus wasn’t created. Jesus is God and the second member of the Trinity.
Many people in the Church take the term salvation for granted. We take the confidence that we have in our salvation in Christ Jesus for granted. If someone were to ask for reassurance on how they know they are saved, would you know how to answer them? Do you know how you know that you have salvation? Join Reverend Kenny Yates as he eases our minds on our confidence in our salvation through Jesus Christ in his video, Salvation Pt. 4: How Do I Know I Have Salvation?
Romans 10:9-13 Ephesians 2:8-9 John 3:16 Psalms 24:1 1 John 1:9-2:1 1 John 3:3-10 Hebrews 10:26-29
How Do I Know I Have Salvation?
What is Salvation?
Salvation is the process of being forgiven and redeemed from sin.
How Do I Know I Have Salvation?
9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. 11 For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in Him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing His riches on all who call on Him. 13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Romans 10:9-13
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
Ephesians 2:8-9
16 So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. 17 By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as He is so also are we in this world.
Many people in the Church take the term salvation for granted. How many of us would be able to explain what salvation is, why we all need it, as well as how to get/receive it to someone who has never heard? How can we spread the Gospel to the ends of the earth if we don’t fully know how to explain it ourselves? Peter told us to be ready to give a reason for our hope; therefore, wouldn’t why we need salvation and how we obtained it fall under that category? Join Reverend Kenny Yates as he lays out the foundation for our salvation that all Christians should have in his video, Salvation Pt. 3: How Do I Get Salvation?
Acts 2:37–41 John 14:5–6 Ephesians 2:8-9 Isaiah 53:5 (KJV) Acts 10:34-35 1 John 1:9 1 John 2:1–6 Psalms 32:5 Matthew 11:28–30 1 Corinthians 10:13 Psalms 32:5
How Do I Get Salvation?
What is Salvation?
Salvation is the process of being forgiven and redeemed from sin.
How Do I Obtain Salvation?
37 Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to Himself.” 40 And with many other words He bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” 41 So those who received His word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.
Acts 2:37–41
8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); 9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.
We’ve all heard that we all need salvation, but how many of us can truly say we understand and know why that is? If we were asked by someone who has never heard, would we be able to explain it to them? This should be the foundation that every Christian has, but sadly many of us don’t have this foundation. Join Reverend Kenny Yates as he lays the foundation to fully explain why we need salvation in his video, Salvation Pt. 2: Why Do I Need Salvation?
John 3:16-18 Romans 3:23-25a Romans 6:23 Isaiah 64:6a Romans 3:10–12 Malachi 3:6 Matthew 19:3–9 Romans 3:19–20 Romans 5:12; 18-21 1 Corinthians 15:45 Ephesians 2:3 Psalms 58:3 Matthew 25:41
Why Do I Need Salvation?
What is Salvation?
Salvation is the process of being forgiven and redeemed from sin.
What If I Haven’t Sinned?
We all have sinned. Either lying, stealing, lusting, gluttony, greed, etc. all of us have sinned to some capacity, this is why we all need salvation.
21 But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— 22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by His grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by His blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in His divine forbearance He had passed over former sins.
Romans 3:21-25
Because we have all sinned, we all deserve death because sin brings spiritual and physical death to those who give in to it.
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 6:23
Even though sin leads to death, Christ has given us the option of salvation in Him because He died for all who would believe.
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
Those who grew up in the Church are familiar with the term salvation and what that means. In fact, many of us take it for granted and expect everyone to know what it means to accept salvation and be saved. If someone were to ask for a definition of salvation, would you be able to give it? Are you someone who doesn’t fully understand what salvation is and wants to build a strong Christian foundation? Join Reverend Kenny Yates as he searches through Scripture for the best definition in his video, Salvation Pt. 1: What is Salvation?
2 The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
Psalms 18:2
11 I, I am the LORD, and besides me there is no savior.
Isaiah 43:11
12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.
Acts 4:12
Webster’s Dictionary Definition of Salvation
1. A saving or being saved from danger, evil, difficulty, destruction, etc.; rescue
2. A person or thing that is a means, cause, or source of preservation or rescue
3. Theol. Deliverance from sin and from the penalties of sin; redemption
Webster’s Dictionary Definition of Redeem
1. To buy back
2. To get back; recover, as by paying a fee
3. To pay off (a mortgage or note)
Salvation means to be redeemed which means to be purchased back.
Redeemed or Purchased Back From What?
12 Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all menbecause all sinned— 13 for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. 14 Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come.
Jesus tells many parables throughout His ministry on earth, many pertaining to the numerous analogies of the Kingdom of Heaven. A notable analogy is that of the Laborers in the Vineyard. This parable compares the Kingdom of Heaven to that of a man that owned a vineyard. The owner of the vineyard goes out five times a day to bring in workers. Then, at the end of the day, the owner pays each of the workers the same amount of money no matter what time of day they began working—this confused and upset the first of the workers. Today, we’re still confused by this parable. Who is the master of the vineyard? What is the vineyard? Who are the laborers in the vineyard? And why is each laborer in the vineyard paid the same amount? Join Reverend Kenny Yates as he opens our eyes to the purpose of this analogy of the Kingdom of Heaven in his video, The Laborers in the Vineyard Parable.
Matthew 20:1-16 Ephesians 2:8–9 Matthew 10:40-42 Hebrews 13:2 John 9:4–5 Matthew 24:12 Luke 18:7–8 Mark 6:1–6 2 Corinthians 12:10 Matthew 19:26 Matthew 17:20 Mark 9:20-23 1 Corinthians 4:20 (NIV) 2 Timothy 3:1-5 (NIV)
The Laborers in the Vineyard Parable
Dissecting The Parable
1 For the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. 2 After agreeing with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. 3 And going out about the third hour he saw others standing idle in the marketplace, 4 and to them he said, ‘You go into the vineyard too, and whatever is right I will give you.’ 5 So they went. Going out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour, he did the same. 6 And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing. And he said to them, ‘Why do you stand here idle all day?’ 7 They said to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You go into the vineyard too.’
8 And when evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last, up to the first.’ 9 And when those hired about the eleventh hour came, each of them received a denarius. 10 Now when those hired first came, they thought they would receive more, but each of them also received a denarius. 11 And on receiving it they grumbled at the master of the house, 12 saying, ‘These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.’ 13 But he replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? 14 Take what belongs to you and go. I choose to give to this last worker as I give to you. 15 Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or do you begrudge my generosity?’ 16 So the last will be first, and the first last.
Matthew 20:1-16
Who is the Owner of the Vineyard?
God (Jesus) is the owner of the vineyard in the parable.
What is the Vineyard?
The vineyard in the parable represents the world.
Who are the Laborers?
The laborers in the vineyard in the parable are those who harken to the clarion call of Jesus to work in the harvest fields. In other words, those who save souls through the faithful teaching of the word, and the witnessing of those who believe, as well as those who support or help another worker.
What is the Work the laborers did in the vineyard?
1He went away from there and came to His hometown, and His disciples followed Him. 2 And on the Sabbath He began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard Him were astonished, saying, “Where did this man get these things? What is the wisdom given to Him? How are such mighty works done by His hands? 3 Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not His sisters here with us?” And they took offense at Him. 4 And Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor, except in his hometown and among his relatives and in his own household.” 5 And He could do no mighty work there, except that he laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. 6 And He marveled because of their unbelief.
Mark 6:1–6
13 You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.
14 You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
Matthew 5:13-16
The work the laborers do in the vineyard in the parable is doing the work of God:
Ministering Sharing your testimony Sharing the Gospel Using your Spiritual Gifts
In the Church today, we have an uncomfortable relationship with the Holy Spirit and His gifts, especially prophecy and speaking in tongues. We hold to the belief that the Spirit of God no longer works in the Church today and that all of the gifts of the Holy Spirit were only for a time. One of the verses cited to prove this is Revelation 19:10, which states that the “… testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” This now begs the question, what does this mean? Join ArieRashelle as she searches through Scripture to find the answers in her video, The Spirit of Prophecy Pt. 2: The Testimony of Jesus.
Revelation 19:10 John 1:1-5, 14-18 Genesis 15:1 Jeremiah 1:1 Joel 1:1 Malachi 1:1 Judges 13:2-5 Exodus 3:1-2 Hebrews 1:1-2 1 Samuel 3:1 Acts 2 Joel 2 1 Timothy 2:5 Jeremiah 1:12 Isaiah 55:10-11
The Spirit of Prophecy
The Testimony of Jesus
19 And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, 20 knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. 21 For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
2 Peter 1:19-21
10 Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, “You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God.” For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
Revelation 19:10
The Gift of Prophecy
The Prophecy of The Spirit/Gift of Prophecy
14 But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. 15 For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. 16 But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel:
17 ‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; 18 even on my male servants and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy. 19 And I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke; 20 the sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day. 21 And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’
Acts 2:14-21
The Importance of The Spirit/Gift of Prophecy
4 The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church. 5 Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up.
6 Now, brothers, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching? 7 If even lifeless instruments, such as the flute or the harp, do not give distinct notes, how will anyone know what is played? 8 And if the bugle gives an indistinct sound, who will get ready for battle? 9 So with yourselves, if with your tongue you utter speech that is not intelligible, how will anyone know what is said? For you will be speaking into the air. 10 There are doubtless many different languages in the world, and none is without meaning, 11 but if I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be a foreigner to the speaker and the speaker a foreigner to me. 12 So with yourselves, since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church.
Throughout Scripture, there are stories of spiritual warfare and how answered prayers can be held up by these spirits. Paul even writes that our battle isn’t against flesh and blood but against spiritual beings around us and in the heavenly places. So, if our battle is against the spirit realm, how do we fight the spirit realm if we are in the physical? How can we get our prayers answered? Join ArieRashelle as she searches through Scripture for the answers to these questions and more in her video, Territorial Spirits Pt. 2: Getting Prayers Answered.
Daniel 10:12-14 Genesis 30:24-30 Hosea 10:3-4 Romans 10:17 Romans 12:3 Daniel 10:2-3 Psalms 69:10 1 Corinthians 9:27 2 Corinthians 11:27 Luke 18:1-8
Getting Prayers Answered
Evidence of Territorial Spirits
12 Then he said to me, “Fear not, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand and humbled yourself before your God, your words have been heard, and I have come because of your words. 13 The prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days, but Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I was left there with the kings of Persia,14 and came to make you understand what is to happen to your people in the latter days. For the vision is for days yet to come.”
Daniel 10:12-14
1 They came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gerasenes. 2 And when Jesus had stepped out of the boat, immediately there met Him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit.3 He lived among the tombs. And no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain, 4 for he had often been bound with shackles and chains, but he wrenched the chains apart, and he broke the shackles in pieces. No one had the strength to subdue him. 5 Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains he was always crying out and cutting himself with stones. 6 And when he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and fell down before Him.
7 And crying out with a loud voice, he said, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me.” 8 For He was saying to him, “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!” 9 And Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” He replied, “My name is Legion, for we are many.” 10 And he begged Him earnestly not to send them out of the country.11 Now a great herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside, 12 and they begged him, saying, “Send us to the pigs; let us enter them.” 13 So He gave them permission. And the unclean spirits came out and entered the pigs; and the herd, numbering about two thousand, rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned in the sea.
The Armor of God is one of the first things we learn about as believers. Your average Christian knows each piece of armor, from the Breastplate of Righteousness to the Sword of the Spirit. The only problem is that many don’t know what these pieces of armor really are, nor do they know how to use them. In fact, many who preach against things such as the Gifts of the Holy Spirit inadvertently also preach against the Sword of the Spirit without ever realizing it. If this is true, then that begs the question, What Exactly is the Sword of the Spirit? And more importantly, how do you use the Sword of the Spirit? Join ArieRashelle as she searches through Scripture for the answers to these questions and more in her video, The Armor of God Pt. 2: The Sword of the Spirit.
Acts 2:17-21 Ephesians 6:17-18a John 1:14 Matthew 16:15-17 Matthew 28:18 Ephesians 6:18 1 Corinthians 14:14-15 Matthew 17:20 Mark 9:29 Romans 10:17 John 4:24 Matthew 26:41
The Sword of the Spirit
What is the Sword of the Spirit?
When we talk about the Sword of the Spirit, we’re referring to the last spiritual weapon given to us by God, through Paul, in the book of Ephesians.
17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,
Ephesians 6:17-18
How to activate the Sword of the Spirit?
You have to speak in tongues
To activate the Sword of the Spirit, you have to speak in tongues. This is different than the kind of speaking in tongues, which allows those who hear you speak, hear the words in their own language.
5 Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. 6 And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. 7 And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? 9 Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, 11 both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.” 12 And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” 13 But others mocking said, “They are filled with new wine.”
Acts 2:5-13
This is also different than the kind of speaking in tongues that needs to be interpreted by you or another because it is a word from God.
4 The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church. 5 Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up.
1 Corinthians 14:14-15
This kind of speaking in tongues is a personal tongue that is specific to your spirit. See, in order to activate the Sword of the Spirit, you have to build up your spirit. If you don’t build up your spirit, your spirit will be to weak to pick up the Sword of the Spirit, let alone wield it with all of its power.
14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is unfruitful. 15 What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also; I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind also.
It’s a common belief that Jesus is the only way to Eternal Life, but is that truly what the Scripture says? Isn’t believing in God enough to get us salvation? Why do we have to go through Jesus? Many believe that as long as you believe in the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is enough to receive salvation. Is there something that we aren’t seeing in Jesus’ statement in John 14:6, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life.’ Join ArieRashelle as she searches through Scripture to find the answers to these questions and more in her video, Is Jesus Really The Only Way?
Exodus 3:1-6 Exodus 3:13-14 John 14:6 John 8:58 Acts 4:11-12 1 Timothy 2:5-6 John 3:16-17 Hebrews 9:11-15 James 2:19
Is Jesus Really The Only Way?
Why Do I Need Jesus?
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
John 14:6
11 This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. 12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.
Acts 4:11-12
If we could save ourselves, Jesus wouldn’t have needed to die 2,000 years ago, but because we can’t save ourselves, Jesus came to save us.
Where Does Salvation Come From?
1My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.
1 John 2:1-2
11 But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) 12 He entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of His own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption.
13 For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, 14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God. 15 Therefore He is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.
Hebrews 9:11-15
How Do You Get Salvation?
16 For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him.
John 3:16-17
9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. 11 For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. 13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
