 Good morning everyone. Good to see all of you this morning. Good morning Nicholson. I've been well, thank you. Sorry for the, you know, we couldn't take your question on the class on Monday. I actually had some problem with my headset, but I realized that when I was zooming in and, you know, putting it on that I had been used to moving my hands, I was not able to cure all of you. And in the next class when I had the third hour it was like, I totally not cure anybody. I thought there was some problem with the headset, but I realized that the volume had gone down completely and hence I was not able to cure and I was trying to fix it through all possible ways. Anyway, are you able to hear me clearly? Yes ma'am, you are very clear ma'am. Okay, thank you. Yeah, okay. Before we begin class today, can one of you lead us in prayer please? Can I ask Paul to lead us in prayer? Let's pray. Father Almighty God, your word says where two or three are gathered in your name, you are there. We are gathered in this class to hear your word. We intend to go and spread your word to the congregation as your disciple. Father, give us the wisdom and understanding. You pray and declare this in Jesus Christ's name, our Lord. Amen. Amen. Thank you Paul. So, last week we looked at which chapter in doctrine, foundations, systematic theology. We want to remember what we learned, which chapter we looked at. Do you want to remember us? Okay, thank you. The person, Trinity. Here we looked at the doctrine of Trinity. Thank you Anupam. You have to remember what are the things that we learned in the doctrine of Trinity. You can unmute your mice and answer or you can even type it out in the chat section. Just one of the points that you gathered when you learned about Trinity. We learned that God is in three persons and each is full of good. Okay, thank you Lubega. We learned that we serve, we worship, we have one God who eternally exists or who believes himself as two persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. And each of them are equally God. So, that is the definition of Trinity. Thank you Lubega. Anyone else? Do you remember the Trinity? He is one in a sense and three in person. It's okay, thank you. The 12 of us, and I'm sure each of us has mentioned one thing that you have learned and waiting for more answers about what we learned in the doctrine of Trinity. Father creates Jesus in humans and the Holy Spirit ministers. So, what you just mentioned is what the roles that each one of them have. Okay, they are one in a sense, but three in person. So, each one of them are equally God, each one of them are God. So, how are they different in just in the way they, their roles. Okay, so we said that the Father creates Jesus in humans and the Holy Spirit ministers. Okay, thank you John for mentioning that. Thank you John for writing and stating the three statements that we try to summarize the teachings in the Bible about the doctrine of Trinity. Father is three persons, each person is three God, and there is one God. Okay, good. Thank you all for answering. Anyone else wants to share what you learned about the doctrine of Trinity last week when we studied about the chapter 4. Okay, so just a recap of what we studied in chapter 4. Let's go ahead Lubega. Yes, Lubega, I will go ahead and raise your hand. Okay, I was saying that you told us about two, three verbs, plan, implement and administer where the Lord God plans and our Lord Jesus Christ implements sometimes the Holy Spirit administers. Yes, thank you Lubega. We just looked at it because Nikolson has also given us the same answer in the chat section. And we said that when we were talking about the essence and the person of Jesus or the Trinity, sorry, we said that they are one essence but three persons and we try to understand what is the meaning of essence and what is the meaning of person. And he said that they are not the same terms, they don't mean the same thing but they are different. And then we looked at what each of those terms meant and the differences, but how they relate to what we study about the Trinity, the doctrine of Trinity. And we said God is one and we try to understand or comprehend this whole thing, opportunity with our finite minds, we try to understand this infinite God. We said that they are different in their roles and not in their being because they all of them have the same being that is what makes each one of them God and they are God. And so we said that in their roles, they are different, the Father creates the Jesus implements and the Holy Spirit administers but even in their roles there is both the unity and oneness in the way they function. Thank you Lubega. Okay, so in lesson 4 we studied about the doctrine of Trinity. We looked at what the meaning of the word Trinity is, we define Trinity. We also looked at the passages in the Old Testament which suggest or imply that God exists as more than one person. And we looked at a few passages in the New Testament where all three persons of the Trinity are mean together. And we also saw in a few passages where the Trinity in action and then we tried to summarize the biblical teachings on the doctrine of Trinity. We mentioned three statements as John Paul has put in the chat section that God is three persons, each person is fully God and there is only one God and we examine each of these statements. We looked at it in the light of scripture and we came to an understanding about Trinity. Then we saw how God is one, He is one in essence. We saw how God is three, He is three in person and then we looked at what is the meaning of essence and person. And we said they are not the same thing, they differ and also how they relate, we saw how they relate with each other so that we can have a complete understanding of Trinity. Okay, so we saw how they relate and that's what Nicholson and Lubega has mentioned. Okay, so thank you for, you know, giving, just sharing about what you learn about Trinity. So with that we will move on to chapter five unless any of you went through your notes and you have any questions or any doubts, anything on chapter four? I have a doubt, so some people ask if Jehovah is same as Jesus or Jehovah is same as Father God, so how do we answer them? Okay, for that we need to go back to the name of Jehovah. What is to be studied about Jehovah, right? It's actually the word, the two word is Yahweh and because people could not pronounce the name Yahweh, they had an equivalence name that is Jehovah which they would say. So Jehovah is a name exclusively just made for God other than Adonai and which means Lord which we saw, we studied about the names of God that Lord also is ascribed to people who are masters in authority. But the name Yahweh is exclusively just used for God, the God of the Testament and since they could not take this, they feared to take the name of Yahweh. So we have this another name which is Jehovah and if you have to answer them, John, then you can answer them from all that we have learned in chapter one where we look at, you know, how Jesus is God in Christology, his equality with God the Father and when he uses, when he says, you know, before Abraham was I am. So he uses the name that was, you know, which God ascribed to himself I am and as Yahweh as Jehovah, he says, you know, I am who I am. And Jesus is describing that name as I am, proves that he is God and proves that he is equal to God the Father. Because we believe in Trinity that God, you know, God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit, you know, God, they have the same essence of the being of God and what makes them work. And so we see that, you know, we can't bifurcate them and say, you know, can we ascribe the name Yahweh or Jehovah, you know, because they are God. And so the name Yahweh is exclusively used for God and we can, you know, when we talk about it, yes, we think about Jehovah as, you know, as Jesus also because he is equal with the Father. And we see that people can try to understand Yahweh as only God the Father because they see more God the Father in action in the Old Testament rather than God the Son and, you know, God the Holy Spirit. And we see that the work of the Holy Spirit was, you know, just came on people for a certain period of time when God had a specific purpose for them to fulfill the Holy Spirit to come and enable them. And when the work was done, the Holy Spirit would ease them. But we see that the work of the Holy Spirit and we see Jesus more in the New Testament. And hence, you know, so people can have this whole idea, but yes, Yahweh is God and Jesus is God. So yes, we could use the term even for the, because Jesus says, I am. And we also study that he is God. Does that answer your question, James? Yeah, yeah. Thank you. Good question. Thank you. Okay, so anyone else has any question about Trinity? Okay, it's not even moved to chapter five. Yes, John, go ahead. Sorry, I do. I have this question about when we are praying. And we have these three concepts and these three persons. And how can we differentiate them? Like, when do I know that I'm speaking to the Holy Spirit and the Father and the Son? And if I'm speaking to Holy Spirit, it's not the Father and the Son answering either. You know, like all these concepts that can just make like a little bit of a relationship confusing. Because sometimes people say you have to pray to Jesus or you have to pray the Father or you have to pray the Holy Spirit. But if they are one, how does that affect their relationship or maybe they are praying? Okay, thank you for that question, John. Good question. It does not affect God in any way. Because all of what we are trying to understand about Trinity is about us with our private minds trying to comprehend and understand our infinite God. And hence we have come up with the doctrine of Trinity, trying to understand God. But, you know, God is not, there's no complications within themselves because he is just one God. And so there's no misunderstanding, there's no confusion. We think there is confusion because we think about three persons. If we think about three persons, we think about in human terms, you know, three people which were totally different from each other. Okay, and we try to understand about persons. In the previous class, we studied, we said, you know, it's not the same way we try to understand God who is one God and three persons. But all of it is, God has revealed himself in person. So as a person, as a personality, let me say that, that's like a lot of personalities that we can try to understand. Here with me, with our logical thinking, reasoning, our finite mind should be able to comprehend and understand God. Okay, but within themselves, there is no confusion because there exists no confusion because there is only one God. And we both work in perfect unity. Okay, and so we saw, when we tried to understand Trinity, we said, you know, they are one, the same being. But, you know, for our understanding, you know, they differ in their roles. And so we said that, you know, the father is the one who creates, the one who plans things. The supreme authority is the one who speaks, who influence it, and the Holy Spirit is the one who acquires us. Okay, so when we pray, we just pray to God, but you know, sometimes we can tap on each one's roles. For example, you know, when we want to understand what God's will is, we can ask the Holy Spirit, because we know that the Holy Spirit is the one who teaches us, who guides us, who reveals things to us. And he's the one who reveals the heart of God, the mind of God, okay, to us. So whatever is in the heart and the mind of God, when we're talking about God here now, we're talking about the father, is what the Holy Spirit will reveal to us. It will reveal to us because he's the one who's our teacher, our counselor, our guide, and who reveals to us, who makes known the will of God to us. But it's God, the father who, you know, who plans, so we can ask God, you know, thank you God for the plans that you have for me, plans to prosper me, you know, plans to give you hope and a future. Please, Holy Spirit, reveal the heart of God, you know, what is God's plan for my life in this area. Whether it's for the education or whether it is for marriage or whatever, okay, then if you are, you know, you are trying to pray for something or somebody and you don't know what to pray for, then we have the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit says, you know, who intercedes for us on behalf of the Father. It goes with words like, you know, it goes cannot express, you know, so he is the one who intercedes on us. And we also see that we have a way to intercede in Christ, please. Jesus will intercede on behalf of us, so we tap on him as well. I mean, we just go to him and we mentioned Jesus, you know, please help me or the, you know, when we forgive ourselves, Jesus, please forgive me for my sins. You know, when we just praise him, we just praise him for his grace, his mercy, his compassion, his favor, his love, so in general. But when we say, you know, when we thank him, we thank him specifically for what we have done. Thank you Jesus for dying on the cross for my sins. We need cleansing, we need washing, you know, we can ask him to cleanse and wash us. He also sanctifies us, the Holy Spirit also sanctifies us. So, you know, just depending on each one's roles, you know, we can, you know, at those points just mention their names and, you know, pray and ask help or, you know, whatever need we have. But if it's too confusing for you, then don't worry, just generally pray God, you know, or to say, God, I thank you, God, I thank you, or Father, I just thank you. That's enough. I mean, they understand this. It's not going to confuse them. Like, okay, now who's going to go and answer joy about this thing or that thing? It's not as complicated for them as we think or imagine. It just works for a different purpose. So you can, if it's a conclusion in your mind, you can just talk to God. But if it's not confusing, you can always talk to each one of them based on their roles as revealed in the Word cards. Okay, thank you so much. Thank you, Joy. Good question. Okay, any other questions? No questions then. We will move on to chapter five, the doctrine of man. Okay, and we look at man in the image of God. Some will read Genesis chapter one verse two, please. It requires all of you to have your Bible open so that, you know, when I call out references, it will be for all of us to read. Usually just two or three of them in class will read, but we are 16 of us and I would like to hear all of your voices. So I would request you all to open your Bible and unmute your minds and please read. We would love to hear your other voices as well. Okay, so can one of you read Genesis chapter one verse two, please. Genesis chapter one verses two. Now the earth was formless and empty. Darkness was over the surface of the deep and the spirit of God was hovering over the waters. Thank you. So here we see that in the beginning, you know, the earth was formless. It was empty. There was darkness, but Spirit of God was there. Okay, that was not existed at that time. He was there. Okay, so this was clearly states to us that God created the universe out of nothing. And the Latin phrase is X universe, which means out of nothing. Okay, so there was nothing in the world and we know that God spoke and everything came into existence. Everything came into being, which means that before God began to create the universe, nothing existed except God himself. And it was God who created this universe with his word. And we study quite in depth about this in systematic theology and astrology as well. Okay, then we see that of all creations, God created man in a very, very special way. He was quite different from the rest of creation. So how did God create man? Genesis chapter two verse seven. And one of you in that case, Genesis chapter three verse seven. Genesis chapter two verses seven. The Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils, the breath of life and the man became a living being. Thank you. So here we see that God created man out of the dust of the clay, out of the earth, the ground. And he created into his nostrils. That means when he created, he imparted something that is in himself. He imparted his very life into our being. And so we all have the better thought, the life of God with us. And we see that man became a living being. Now how did God create the man? Genesis chapter two verse 21 and 22. Anyone else in that case? Genesis chapter two verse 21 and 22. And the Lord God caused deep sleep to fall on Adam and he slept. And he took one of his strips and closed up the flesh in his place. Then they read which the Lord God had taken from man he met into a woman and he brought her to the man. Thank you. So we see how created woman from man's body. Again out of his breath and he took flesh on it and he created woman and he brought woman to the man. Sorry. Can somebody read Genesis chapter five verses one and two please? Genesis chapter five verses two. This is the book of the generations of the descendant of Adam. When God created man, he made him in the likeness of God. He created them male and female and blessed them and named them Mankind at the time they were created. Thank you. So when we look at this two verses in the Hebrew, the Hebrew word for Adam for man, which is mentioned in verse one. It says in the date that God created man. So the Hebrew word for Adam man and the Hebrew word for Mankind, which is in verse two where it says and we call them Mankind. You know, all have the same Hebrew word. So the Hebrew word used for the word Adam is also used to refer to man and mankind. Which means it's used to refer to the male human being and the human race. Now when we look at this, you know, we shouldn't think that God has been partial, you know, or he's been insensitive to us as women. But this, all these words originated from God himself because he only calls man man and man to man. And since this is originated with God himself, we should not find it objectionable or insensitive. So we know that God is not partial by using the same word that means for Adam for man and for Mankind the same thing. We don't think that he's insensitive or he's been partial or we can't face any objections because we know that God has been partial. Now this is just for our knowledge, for our understanding. We know that God created man in his own. Linda Blank, God created man in his own image. Yeah, thank you. God created man in his own image. Genesis chapter 1 verse 26. Genesis 1 verse 26. Genesis 1 verse 26. Then God said, let us make man in our own image, in our likeness and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth and over all the creatures that move along the ground. Thank you. So here we see that God says, let us make man in our image and our likeness. Of course we've been talking about trinity, us through words, us in our likeness. Now what you understand by this word image and likeness. God says, let's make man in our image, our likeness, what it called we rule. Any thoughts on this? Pastor, come again, I was like, I don't comprehend the question, please. Sure. So we read Genesis chapter 1 verse 26 and we said, it says, and God said, let us make man in our image and according to our likeness. So I said, what it got me when he said, let us make man in our image or in our likeness or what do you understand that we are created in the image and the likeness of God. The super she says that emotions intellect and will. So what do you mean by that? He means that God created us. The same emotions will be like in the world just as he has. Is that what you mean, Super Shish? Okay. Thank you. Anyone else? Maybe like body, mind and spirit could be. Okay. Thank you, Joy. Yes, Tobinda. I think apart from the physical body, but before the fall of man, we were like God, not in physicality, but in spiritual, emotionally, intellectually, in the way we would think before the fall. But after the fall, some things went in out of ray, out of ray. Okay. Thank you, Rebecca. Yes. Right. Yeah. So we can't say that physically we are like God. Why can't we say that they are physically like God? Why can't we say that physically we are like God? God is not. He is a spirit. He has no physical body. Yes. Thank you. Thank you, Anita. Thank you, Rebecca. And God is spirit and he doesn't have a form for the shape. But when we studied about the doctrine of God, we said that he's not some formless, jetty like being. He would be used to us as a person. And so when we say that, you know, aren't they completely rigid about God? That means we have a mind that can think like God. You know, they have emotions. That we can respond to God. We have a will where we are able to understand the will of God or think His will. Okay. So when God created us in this image, he basically created us like him because, you know, we have a mind that we can comprehend God. We can understand what he's saying. We have ears that we can hear it. We have eyes that we can see. Of course, when we talk about it, we talk about it more. We can see God, hear God more in our spirit man. But also God uses our physical faculties to communicate to us, to speak to us. So when we're talking basically about, you know, God, you know, God, you know, God made man in the image of God. Or, you know, what do we mean? We can use this definition. The fact that man is in the image of God means that man is like God and represents God. Okay. Now, when we say God, when we say we are like God, or when we say that, you know, God made the image and like this of God, you know, it means that God planned to make a creature similar to himself. Okay. To make a creature that was similar to himself. And so we need to understand what is this word similar or image or likeness we need. The Hebrew word for image and the Hebrew word for likeness refers to something that is similar but is not identical. Okay. I repeat that the Hebrew word for image and the Hebrew word for likeness refers to something that is similar but not identical to the thing that it represents or is an image of. Okay. So what image can also be used as something that represents something else. Okay. So here when God created us his image and his likeness, he created us not just identical to him but something that represents him. Okay. So these terms had a very quite clear understanding or meaning in the minds of the readers, the original readers back then, the Jews understood or the people understood what is the meaning of image or likeness that is not something exactly identical but that is something that represents, you know, something else is not identical to the thing that it really represents. Okay. Because image and likeness had these meanings, you know, and it was very clear in the mind of the original readers, hence we see the scripture did not need to elaborate on this saying that what it really means or the fact that man is image of God means that man is like God in the following that he has intellectual ability, moral purity, spiritual nature, you know, dominion over the earth, creative ability to make ethical choices and immorality like God. So the Bible then had to explain that the span on that because it this word image and likeness had a very clear meaning in the mind of the person and the people or the original readers then back then because they knew it was not something very identical but something that represents something else. Okay. So when you say that God created us his image, we say that God was without sin created us to be without sin. Okay. God had a mind to perceive and to understand and gave us a mind to perceive and understand him. Okay. God never died and he created us never to die. God, you know, has already gave us a will to choose. That's why, you know, Adam and Eve, who had given them the free will to make their own choice. And so we see that all of these in all of these things, you know, God created us just like him. But like the beta said that when we sing, everything changed. Okay. We were, we were not like God. We were not sinless. But now we were filled with sin. We were created to never to die. But, you know, now death rains in our body. You know, we have a mind, but our minds are corrupted. You know, are darkened. You cannot fully comprehend or fully understand God and ends a lot of things that have changed. We have, we have a will or will to just obey God and do his will. But now when we sing, you know, or sing into existence, we were born in sin. We choose to at times go away from the way of God. We have a mind we were able to comprehend and understand God. But now we have a mind that finds it difficult to understand and comprehend God because it is darkened or it is covered with sin or covered with guilt and shame and disgrace. And hence we cannot fully understand God. So when we talk about, we are created in the image and likeness of God we represent God in some areas and not exactly just as he is. Okay. So we look at some specific aspects of our likeness to God. Our moral aspects. We are created, we are creatures who are morally accountable to God for our actions. And we see that corresponding to that accountability, we have an inner sense of right and wrong. Okay. And we know that believing people do not know the living God. God says we have no way to believe exclusives because their conscience holds them accountable. So it's our conscience also known as accountability. Our conscience is something that God has given us to know what is right and what is wrong. And with God's help, we can do what is right. So we have an inner sense of what is right and wrong. And when we act according to God's moral standards, our likeness to God is reflected in our behavior, in the way we act, in the way we respond. That is, you know, we respond in a holy and righteous way before man and before God as well. But by contrast, you know, when we sin, we are not like God. Okay. When God created us in His image, He basically created us without sin. We do not sin. But when we kind of do not sin, sin came into the world. And so sometimes we can be like God whenever we sin. Okay. Now let's look at the mental aspect. Okay. So Isaac has just mentioned something. Okay. For that, Nickerson says, does it matter that in verse 27, it says that God made us in His image and does not change His likeness again? No, it really does not matter because, you know, when the writer is writing sometimes, you know, as I said, for the original readers, they had this whole understanding about just the work, image and likeness. So even if we were writing something or recording something, you know, sometimes we would not use the same words. You would think, okay, I already used image and likeness before. So I'll just use image here. So maybe that's not the matter because image and likeness means one and the same. Okay. I hope I answered that, Nickerson. Isaac says, in the image of God, can we say that we have the mind of God? God created and created the non-linear things that I was just saying. So, yeah. Thank you for that question. So yes, I said that when we created the image of God, we are not exactly like God. We are not only potent or powerful that when we speak something, you know, it comes into existence. But yes, the word of God clearly says that when we declare His word, when we speak the word in the natural, we would see His word come into being through the things that was not would come to existence would happen because His God's word, He has spoken what God has already spoken. But like I said, you know, when we were talking about the image of God, the ordinary leaders had this clarity in their minds that we have intellectual ability to model clearly the spiritual nature and also the creative ability to create things and to make ethical choices. And yes, we can do things in a creative way because we have the likeness. We have the image of God in us. He's created us to be like Him in certain aspects. And so yes, we do have the creative mind of God. And can we say that we have the mind of God? Yes, because that's what Paul writes in sense. You know, we have the mind of God. When we're born again, you know, when our spirits are born again, we can have the mind of God. That means our minds can perceive, they can understand, can discern what God is speaking to us, telling us and doing what He wants us to do. Okay. So did that help Isaac? Yes, ma'am. God loves us above all creatures. So He made us exceptional in His image. Thank you. Yes. Thank you. Okay. So then we were looking at the mental aspect, how we are like God. Okay. So we looked at the modern aspect and now we look at the mental aspect. We have the ability to reason, to think logically, to learn and to have varied emotions just like God. Okay. The next one is our relationship aspect. How are we in our relationship or in our relationship aspect like God? In addition to our unique ability compared to the rest of creation to relate to God, there are other relationship aspects or relational aspects of our being in God's image like the depth of interpersonal harmony that people experience in human marriage and in a human family when it functions according to the principles or the value of God's principles. So if our marriage is according to God's principles, according to His will and according to His standards, then we experience a depth of the relationship that we have with God or even also, you know, how the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit relate to each other in perfect unity and even among the human family, you know, in the midst of the human family, you know, there is perfect unity, there's oneness and we abide by God's principles and God's laws. Again, we experience our relationship with God and how God relates with each other in the Trinity and also, you know, how daily God relates to man and how we can relate back to him. And likewise in a church, you know, in community of believers when there is unity, there is oneness, we're working in fellowship with the Lord and with each other. Again, we experience the relationship aspect with God or the likeness of God is seen in our relationships with church members, in the church community, among family members and with us powers as well. So in all of these areas, we show forth the likeness of God and that depends only when we are functioning according to God's principles and according to His standards. Before we close, we look at the next one, the spiritual aspect in our likeness to God. We know that, you know, one is finally a spirit being like God. God is also a spirit being and we relate to God in the spirit and because we are spirit beings, therefore we can relate to God in the spirit in the way we pray, praise and even we hear God speaking to us. We are spirit men, spirit men. We not only have our physical bodies, but we are made up of our bodies, soul and spirit. So our body is our outward structure, our outward form, our soul is made up of our money with our emotions and of course we have our spirit man. So we can therefore act in ways that are significant in our spiritual friend because it's a spirit man that communicates with God who is spirit, communicates in the spiritual friend. And so this means that we have a spiritual life that enables us to relate to God as persons when we pray, when we praise Him and when we can hear Him speaking to us clearly with what He is trying to tell us. So we are connected with the spiritual life. In fact, you know, our spirit man, our spirit doesn't die. You know, he never cease to exist but will live forever. When our bodies are dead, our bodies are buried, but it's a spirit that goes up and so our spirit is immortal and it never cease to exist and it will live forever. So we are spiritual. We are spirit person, our spirit faculty, our spirit man relates to God as spirit and to our spirit senses of seeing, hearing, you know, touch, where it is we can also experience God who will heal from the Holy Spirit even as He communicates to our spirit man. Any questions, any doubts? We just have one more minute. No questions. Okay, I'd like to remind you that 14th, which is the coming Monday, is the test of Christology, the first four chapters. And then I think it's March 4th, right? This is the test in doctrinal foundations, right? That's March 4th. Do you remember? I think it's March 4th, yeah. Okay, so this coming Monday will be a test in Christology. I'll just put up the question paper and I'll give you some time to answer it and also clear instructions so you have no doubts. Okay, thank you all for joining class today. Have a good day and I will see you on Friday for our next class where we continue about doctrine of man. Thank you everyone. Bye.