Youthful Days

Christian Fundamentals

There has never been a day when it is so essential for each one of us, older or younger, to be firmly established in basic Christian principles that are set out for us in the Bible, in God's holy Word.  Those principles are increasingly ignored and considered irrelevant by many, and for us all to stand firm, we must be well grounded and able to stand on our own feet, both in word and in practice.

With this in mind, we have drawn together into a series of booklets the articles entitled 'Christian Fundamentals' that have appeared in issues of Youthful Days since 2008.  As well as serving as a reminder to us all of their importance, the intention is that in this format, they can be kept handy for reference, and they may perhaps be useful for any who are considering further study of the Scriptures.

It is our earnest prayer that these simple presentations may promote interest and enquiry, not least to look up the scriptures that are quoted, and that this may promote the desire to learn and to grow in the knowledge of the truth.

The reader can access the three volumes of Christian Fundamentals by clicking or tapping the images below:


Contents (Issue 1):

  1. Forgiveness
  2. Redemption
  3. Justification
  4. Reconciliation
  5. Sanctification
  6. Salvation
  7. Grace
  8. Piety
  9. Faith
  10. Righteousness
  11. Holiness
  12. Dependence





Contents (Issue 2):

  1. Jesus our Lord
  2. Jesus our Deliverer
  3. Jesus our Friend
  4. Christ Our High Priest
  5. Christ our Head
  6. Christ our Hope
  7. The Work of the Holy Spirit
  8. Resurrection
  9. Ascension
  10. Repentance
  11. Assurance
  12. Consecration




Contents (Issue 3):

  1. Atonement
  2. Propitiation and Substitution
  3. Christ our Advocate
  4. Baptism
  5. Confession
  6. Testimony
  7. The Body of Christ
  8. The Lord's Supper
  9. Worship
  10. The Coming of the Lord
  11. The Red Sea
  12. The Jordan




Some examples which were included in Youthful Days but not included in the above booklets are shown below:

Is the Bible divinely inspired?

In addition to the plain statements in the New Testament affirming the inspiration of the Old Testament that we considered in November, there are many prophecies which foretell important events recorded in the New.  The birth, the death, the resurrection and the coming again of the Lord Jesus, and much else about Him, all confirm that fact that ALL SCRIPTURE IS GIVEN BY INSPIRATION OF GOD.

The birth of Jesus is foretold by the prophet Micah as having to take place in Bethlehem.  We read, “But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall He come forth unto Me that is to be Ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting” (Micah 5:2).  This scripture was quoted to Herod the king soon after Jesus was born (Matthew 2:5).

His name should be called Immanuel, as Isaiah tells us, “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and shall bring forth a son, and call his name Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14). It is fulfilled in Matthew 1:23.

His offering for sin is also foretold – “… thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin” (Isaiah 53:10).  It was then that He was wounded for our transgressions, and our sins were laid upon Him, as Isaiah also tells us.

The death of Jesus, and even the manner of His death, is stated for us too, “They pierced my hands and my feet” (Psalm 22:16), referring to His crucifixion, all the more amazing when we consider that when the Psalms were written, this would not have been the way a person would be put to death.

His resurrection is also clearly foretold in the Psalms: “Thou wilt not … suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. Thou wilt show me the path of life” (Psalm 16:10-11).

His present place of exaltation at the right hand of God is also announced, “Sit Thou at my right hand, until I make Thine enemies Thy footstool” (Psalm 110:1).

His coming again is promised in more than one place in the Psalms: “For He cometh to judge … the world with righteousness, and the people with His truth” (Psalm 96:13).

His glorious reign is strikingly foretold – “He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth … Yea, all kings shall fall down before Him: all nations shall serve Him (Psalm 72:8 & 11).

His eternal existence when heaven and earth shall have passed away is grandly and solemnly stated in Psalm 102, “Of old hast Thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of Thy hands. They shall perish, but Thou shalt endure; yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt Thou change them, and they shall be changed: But Thou art the Same, and Thy years shall have no end” (Psalm 102, 25-27).  These words appear again for us in Hebrews 1:10-12.

How wonderful that most of these scriptures were written nearly one thousand years before Christ came!  The prophecies from the Old Testament waited for New Testament days to be fulfilled.  Let us not only search the scriptures, but come to Christ that we may have life.

                                        M W Biggs
Adapted from an article in The Shining Light

extracted from the Jan 2019 issue of Youthful Days


Help from the Psalms

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters” (Psalm 23:1-2)

An Introduction

This further short series of articles bears upon the fundamental principles that govern every Christian’s pathway, drawing from the experiences of the writers of the Psalms.  Because the truths of the Gospel are particularly opened up to us in the New Testament, we may tend to overlook their presentation in the Old, but the scriptures are one.  This new series will seek to link references in the Old Testament, particularly the Psalms, to the practical working-out presented to us in the New.

Why read the Psalms?

The psalms are a collection of 150 hymns and poems by several Old Testament authors, Moses and King David among them. Many are quoted in the New Testament. Many also look forward to the coming, and even to the second coming, of the Lord Jesus. They all tell us something about the writers, their knowledge of God, and its effect upon them. This series of articles looks at some of these effects which are just as important for us today.

What do the Psalms tell us about the Scriptures?

Of course the psalmists did not have the New Testament. But they often spoke of what they did have:
“Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly… but his delight is in the law of God” (Psalm 1-2).
“The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times” (Psalm12.6).
“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path” (Psalm 119.105).
What did Jesus say about the Psalms?
“David himself saith in the book of Psalms, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand , till I make thine enemies thy footstool” (Luke 20.42).
“All things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the Psalms, concerning me” (Luke 24.44).

What does all this mean for us?

1.    If we read our Bible prayerfully God will use it to show us His way for us through this world (“a light unto my path”).
2.    We can rely completely on what God says (“pure words”) and we can enjoy them (“his delight is in the law of God”).
3.    Jesus Himself relied on the Psalms, and so can we.
4.    The whole of the Old Testament, including the Psalms, has something to tell us about Jesus. It is well worth our reading it to find out for ourselves! 

Don’t be discouraged if you find there are things that you don’t understand! The Ethiopian eunuch did not understand what he was reading in the Old Testament (Acts 8.30-31). But God sent Philip to explain that he was reading about Jesus, and he soon went on his way rejoicing (Acts 8:35,39). God will find a way to explain His word to us if we ask Him.

“Let my cry come near before thee, O Lord: give me understanding according to thy word” (Psalm 119:169)

extracted from the July 2017 issue of Youthful Days