Questions answered from The Basics
510 questions from The Basics by Gene Cunningham. Every answer carries the Scripture it rests on, the pages that teach it, and the questions it connects to.
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The Basics
Lesson 1–1: The Problem—Sin
- According to the Bible, what is mankind's basic problem?
- Why did God allow the Fall?
- What was the temptation to Eve?
- What is death in the Bible, and what are its seven kinds?
- What is sin, and how does the Bible define it?
- How do we know how serious sin is?
- What are the three kinds of sin?
- What are the three categories of sins?
- What was God's solution to sin?
- Where in the Bible is the first promise of a Savior?
- What act in the Bible is the first picture of redemption?
- How were Adam and Eve saved?
- What does the Bible teach about spiritual death?
- What is the Bible's teaching on the sin of Adam and its effects on humanity?
- What is the Bible's teaching on confession and its role in the Christian life?
Lesson 1–2: The Plan—Redemption
- How do we know God operates by a plan?
- What does it mean that God causes all things to work together for good?
- For whom does God cause all things to work together for good?
- Using the life of someone from the Old Testament, explain how Romans 8:28 works.
- What does “predestined” (proorizo) mean in Scripture?
- Who are the called?
- Explain how God calls people.
- What is God's goal for each of His children?
- What is the age of accountability, and how does it relate to God's offer of life?
Lesson 1–3: The Provision—The Cross
- Who is Jesus Christ?
- Who is the angel of the LORD in passages like Genesis 16, Exodus 3, and Judges 6?
- How do we know Jesus is God?
- Why did Jesus become flesh?
- What happened to Jesus on the cross?
- What are the four most important facts in the Gospel?
- Can a Christian lose his salvation? How do you know?
- Why was Greek the perfect language for explaining New Testament truth?
- What is the Bible's teaching on the Angel of the Lord?
- What does salvation mean?
- How can I be saved?
- Can I lose my salvation?
- What does the Bible teach about the Kingdom of Israel?
- What is the Gospel?
- What is the biblical doctrine of propitiation?
Lesson 1–4: The Power—The Holy Spirit
- What was Jesus' first promise about the Holy Spirit?
- If we love Jesus, what will be our attitude to His Word?
- Describe the Holy Spirit - what is He like and what does He do?
- Why is the third Person of the Trinity called the Spirit of truth?
- What is truth, according to Scripture?
- What did Jesus say the Spirit would do in the lives of believers?
- What is the Holy Spirit's goal in His work in the believer?
- What is the meaning of Parakletos, and the five pictures it brought to a Greek's mind?
- How was the Spirit's OT ministry different from His Church Age ministry?
- What three things does the Spirit say to unbelievers?
- What is the nature of the angelic conflict and man's role in it?
Lesson 1–5: The Potential—Faith
- How can we lay hold of God's perfect provision?
- Retell the story of Zaccheus' encounter with Jesus.
- What did Jesus come to do on Earth?
- What does it mean to seek the lost?
- What do we have to do for salvation?
- What do we have to do after salvation for growth?
- How can we increase our faith?
- Explain seven things the Bible says about faith.
- Explain the progression of faith using the five Hebrew words.
- Describe the three basic ways of learning.
- What are the five Hebrew word-pictures of faith found in the Old Testament?
- What is the Bible's teaching on empiricism and its limitations in understanding God?
- What is the Bible's teaching on how to discover Truth?
Lesson 2–1: The Manual—The Bible
- What is the Bible's doctrine of inspiration, and how does it ensure the accuracy and authority of Scripture?
- What is the Bible's role in training believers in righteousness?
- What is the Bible's teaching on hermeneutics, and how does it guide us in understanding Scripture?
- What is the Bible's teaching on interpretation, and how can we accurately understand its meaning?
- What is exegesis, and why is it essential for understanding the Bible?
- What is the purpose and importance of isagogics in understanding the Bible?
Lesson 2–2: The Base—The Church
Lesson 2–3: The Commission—Evangelism
- What is regeneration, according to the Bible?
- What is the biblical teaching on sealing, and what does it mean for a believer's eternal destiny?
- What is divine viewpoint, and how does it differ from human viewpoint?
- What does the Bible teach about the Exodus generation's spiritual experience?
- What is the biblical definition of meekness?
- What is the biblical teaching on the priesthood of the believer?
Lesson 2–4: The Equipment—Spiritual Gifts
Lesson 2–5: The Supply Line—Prayer
Lesson 3–1: The Race—The Christian Life
- To what does the writer of Hebrews compare the Christian life?
- What does he mean by “the race set before us”?
- Are believers who have died aware of what is happening on Earth? How do we know?
- What are the encumbrances and the entanglements that believers are to watch out for?
- Describe the three phases of an endurance race and compare them to the Christian life.
- On what are we to focus as we run our race? What happens if we focus on anything else?
- What is the “old sin nature”? Describe it.
- What are the three aspects of the will of God for our lives?
- Name at least five things that you know absolutely are the will of God for your life and give biblical references for your answers.
- How would you describe to a friend the way the Christian life resembles a race? What Scriptures would you use to back your claims?
- What are the three dimensions and seven requirements of the will of God for a believer?
Lesson 3–2: The Danger—Spiritual Retreat/Reversion
- What is spiritual retreat/reversion?
- What are the seven steps of reversion?
- What are the seven steps from spiritual retreat to recovery?
- Describe the sin of Ahithophel and its results.
- Were the adultery and murder committed by David any less serious than the sins of Ahithophel? Why did God’s treatment of the two men differ?
- How could Hushai remain loyal to David? Where did he learn this kind of loyalty?
- What are the five strengths and kinks of the soul of man?
- What is the purpose of God’s discipline?
- What is the difference between discipline and punishment?
- What are the three stages of God’s discipline?
- How would you explain spiritual retreat/reversion to a friend? What Scriptures would you use to back your claims?
- What are the seven steps downward that lead to death and the seven steps that lead to recovery?
- What does the Bible teach about mentality as a soul strength and soul kink?
- What is self-consciousness according to the Bible?
- What does the Bible teach about God's discipline of His children?
Lesson 3–3: The Promise—Spirituality
- What is the only source of power for living the Christian life?
- Based on the illustration of Jeremiah 17, describe the life of the person who relies on human power. Describe the life of the person who relies on God’s power.
- What does the river in Jeremiah 17 illustrate? In what New Testament passage does Jesus talk about this same river?
- What is the fruit that the believer living by the river will produce?
- What is the biblical definition of the “heart”?
- What produces spiritual thirst in a believer?
- How is water a picture of the Holy Spirit?
- What four commands must we obey in order to harness the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives?
- What is the difference between the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and the filling of the Holy Spirit?
- Describe a “spiritual” person. How does one become spiritual?
- Name at least five biblical terms that are synonymous with spirituality.
- How would you explain spirituality to a friend? What Scriptures would you use to back your claims?
- What are the ten biblical terms synonymous with spirituality and carnality?
- What makes a person spiritual according to the Bible?
- In what five ways is water a picture of the Holy Spirit, and how do we harness His power?
- What does the Bible teach about spirituality?
- What is the nature of the human heart, and how does God relate to it?
Lesson 3–4: The Climb—Spiritual Growth
- What are the seven stages of faith described in Psalm 27?
- What does the local church have to do with the individual believer’s spiritual growth?
- What does Paul mean in Ephesians 4:13 by “the unity of the faith”?
- What does he mean by “the knowledge of the Son of God”?
- What does Paul mean by “a mature man” in Ephesians 4?
- What does he mean by “the fulness of Christ”?
- What qualities will characterize the lives of people who choose to remain spiritual infants?
- What is God’s goal for every believer?
- According to 2 Peter 1, what is the first prerequisite for growth?
- What are the seven steps of spiritual advance outlined in 2 Peter 1?
- How would you explain spiritual growth to a friend? What Scriptures would you use to back your claims?
- What are the seven steps of spiritual advance?
- What is the relationship between spiritual gifts, natural talents, and the Holy Spirit?
Lesson 3–5: The Goal—Spiritual Maturity
- In what sense is the achievement of spiritual maturity the beginning of the normal Christian life?
- What is the only thing of ours that God can use?
- What does it mean to be a “living and holy sacrifice”?
- Where are Christians to worship?
- What is the difference between being conformed and being transformed?
- How are we to be transformed?
- What is the purpose of the transformation process?
- What does it mean to have the attitude, the mind, of Christ?
- Based on Philippians 2:1–11, describe the attitude of Jesus Christ toward people, toward Himself, and toward His mission in life.
- Describe the five stages of spiritual growth. Relate each stage to one of the five Hebrew words for faith.
- How would you explain spiritual maturity to a friend? What Scriptures would you use to back your claims?
- What are the five stages of spiritual growth on the path from the cross to the crown?
- What is the biblical nature of the person of Jesus Christ?
Lesson 4–1: Perspective—Grace
- Describe (with biblical references) the development of Paul’s “self-image” as he matured.
- What is God’s evaluation of the good that man can produce?
- What is the difference between sins and dead works?
- To whom did Jesus direct the story of the Pharisee and the publican in Luke 18?
- Describe the Pharisees of Jesus’ day.
- Describe the tax collectors of Jesus’ day.
- Describe the prayers of the Pharisee and the publican in Jesus’ story.
- Who was justified before God? Why?
- If equal grace is given by God to all, why do some believers seem to be more blessed than others?
- What is the royal code of conduct? Name and explain its five laws.
- What is grace in the Bible?
- How would you explain grace to a friend? What Scriptures would you use to back your claims?
- What is the Royal Code, and what are its five laws?
- What does the Bible teach about the relationship between works and grace?
- What does the Bible teach about discernment?
Lesson 4–2: Perception—Discernment
- What is evil, and how does it differ from sin?
- Where was sin judged?
- Where will evil be judged?
- With what are we to overcome evil?
- What is divine good?
- What is biblical wisdom?
- What is discernment, according to the Bible?
- How do we get discernment?
- What is the relationship of love to discernment?
- How would you explain evil and the ability to discern evil to a friend? What Scriptures would you use to back your claims?
- What are the characteristics and requirements of divine wisdom?
- What does the Bible teach about emotions and their role in living a life pleasing to God?
Lesson 4–3: Testing—Temptation
- What was the Lord’s view of temptation?
- What is the first step in overcoming temptation?
- Are some people’s temptations more difficult than other people’s temptations?
- What limit does God set on our temptations?
- What are the three sources of temptations and how are we instructed to deal with each?
- What does James say we are to consider when we are tempted?
- What does James mean by “various” trials?
- What is God’s purpose in allowing us to be tempted?
- What is the difference between a temptation and a test (or trial)?
- Using the illustration of the goldsmith, describe the process and purpose of trial.
- Name five daily disciplines that will prepare us for facing tests and temptation.
- Explain the meaning and derivation of the term “faith-rest.”
- Describe the faith-rest technique. Give an example of a problem you might face and promises you might claim in meeting that problem.
- How would you explain temptation and testing to a friend? What Scriptures would you use to back your claims?
- What are the three sources of temptation?
- What are the five daily disciplines for a believer?
- What does the Bible teach about our inherent power to overcome temptations?
Lesson 4–4: Proving—Faith-Rest
- Why did the Exodus generation have to wander in the wilderness for 40 years?
- What is the Promised Land a picture of?
- What is one thing every Christian should fear?
- What were the Israelites required to do in order to take Jericho?
- What is Paul’s solution for anxiety in Philippians 4:6–7?
- Describe how Daniel illustrates faith-rest.
- Why does God sometimes give strange tests? Give examples of at least four strange tests from the Bible.
- What is the sabbath? Name the eight sabbaths mentioned in the Bible.
- What is faith-rest and how is it attained?
- What is the Millennium, and what does it entail?
Lesson 4–5: Empowering—The Spirit
- Why did God allow a messenger of Satan to buffet Paul?
- Why did God say no to Paul’s prayer that He take away the thorn in Paul’s flesh?
- What was Paul’s reaction to God’s answer?
- What was Paul’s secret to contentment?
- What does Paul mean in 2 Corinthians 4:7 when he says “we have this treasure in earthen vessels”? What are the vessels? What is the treasure?
- What Old Testament story might Paul have had in mind when he wrote this verse (2 Corinthians 4:7)? Tell the story.
- Why does God allow suffering in the lives of Christians?
- Explain the five techniques of the Christian life.
- Name at least five small things related in the Bible that God used for great purposes.
- How does the Bible define and characterize faith?
- How would you explain to a friend how the power of the Holy Spirit works in a believer’s life? What Scriptures would you use to back your claims?
- What are the five techniques for appropriating the power of God?
Lesson 5–1: The Enemy—Satan
- Who are the only three angels specifically named in Scripture?
- What would lead you to believe that there is a system of rank and authority in the angelic realm?
- Who is Satan? Explain where he came from and how he came to be the enemy of God.
- Give at least five names or titles by which Satan is known in Scripture.
- Explain man’s role in the spiritual war.
- What is God’s purpose in allowing the spiritual war to be played out on Earth?
- After the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ, how did the nature of the spiritual war change?
- What is the difference between the strategic victory and the tactical victory in spiritual war?
- What is the source of daily tactical victory?
- Who are the overcomers?
- In what sense is religion the ace up Satan’s sleeve? If Christianity is not a religion, what is it?
- Name nine denials the Bible says will characterize the end times.
- How would you explain Satan and spiritual war to a friend? What Scripture would you use to back your claims?
- Why is believing in Jesus the only way to heaven?
Lesson 5–2: The Arena—The Souls of Men
- What is the arena of the spiritual war?
- The book of Job is a treatise on what New Testament promise?
- Who was Job and when did he live? Describe what kind of man he was.
- Describe the exchange between God and Satan laid out in Job 1:6–8.
- What charge does Satan bring against Job?
- What theological “secret” does Satan reveal in his accusation of Job?
- What does Satan want Job to do?
- Job 1:12 is an illustration of what New Testament promise?
- Where is Jesus Christ right now and what five activities is He involved in on behalf of every believer?
- Name at least five things the Bible declares that God is able to do and five things He is faithful to do.
- How would you explain the arena of spiritual war to a friend? What Scriptures would you use to back your claims?
- What are the seven things God is able to do?
Lesson 5–3: The Attack—Satan’s Strategy
- How can we know that the enemy operates according to a well-thought-out plan?
- What five tactics does Satan use against Job in the attacks described in Job 1:13–19?
- Why is it dangerous for us to harbor fears?
- How does Job deal with his sorrow and pain after Satan’s first assault?
- Describe the exchange between God and Satan in Job 2:1–
- What new accusation does Satan bring against Job?
- What does Satan do to Job in his second assault?
- What three doctrinal principles are illustrated in Job’s response to his wife?
- What are seven disciplines for producing peace?
- Why are even the smallest of decisions we make so important?
- Is it possible for a Christian to take a vacation from the spiritual war? What marathon runner’s tactic can we use to enable us to last out our race?
- What are ten principles of physical warfare that can be applied to spiritual warfare?
- How would you explain the tactics of Satan to a friend? What Scriptures would you use to back your claims?
- What is the Bible's teaching on blessing and reward?
Lesson 5–4: The Victory—Grace and Truth
- What tactic of Satan finally worked on Job?
- Describe Job’s three friends and the “comfort” they offered.
- Describe an incident in the life of Jesus that illustrates the principle that sin in our lives is not the only explanation for suffering.
- When God breaks His silence, how many of Job’s questions does He answer? Basically, what does He say to Job?
- What is Job’s response to God’s words?
- Do you think that Job today would say that his suffering was worth the pain he experienced? Give reasons for your answer.
- What are the five stages of suffering outlined in 1 Peter? How do they relate to the five stages of growth?
- What is “the good fight of faith”? Why is it good?
- How would you explain to a friend the purpose behind human suffering? What Scriptures would you use to back your claims?
- What are the five stages of suffering outlined in 1 Peter?
- Why is the spiritual war described as the good fight of faith?
- What does the Bible teach about the stages of suffering?
Lesson 5–5: The Prospect—The Rapture
- Why is it important for us to have some understanding of prophecy?
- What is the difference between the kingdom of Israel and the kingdom of God?
- Why was the establishment of the kingdom of Israel postponed?
- With what are the “mystery doctrines” concerned? To whom were these doctrines revealed?
- What is the difference between the day of the Lord and the day of Christ?
- How can an understanding of the Rapture give balance to our lives?
- What does it mean to redeem the time?
- What are two reasons why we should redeem time?
- What are seven things we can do to redeem time?
- Draw a timeline to illustrate four dispensations of human history, giving the name of each dispensation and portions of Scripture in which each dispensation is described.
- How do we earn eternal reward? What is the relationship between blessing in time and reward in eternity?
- Name four categories of reward described in the Bible. Name five kinds of crowns and the reasons for which they will be given.
- How would you explain to a friend the events that will close out human history? What Scriptures would you use to back your claims?
- How do I redeem time?
- What are the five categories of blessing in time and the four categories of reward in eternity?
- What does the Bible teach about being careful how we walk and redeeming time?
- What does the Bible teach about prophecy and its purpose?
- What does the Bible teach about the Kingdom of God?
- What does the Bible teach about the Tribulation?
- What does the Bible teach about the Day of the Lord?
- What does the Bible teach about redeeming time?
- What are the categories of rewards described in the Bible?
- What does the Bible teach about crowns of righteousness and other eternal rewards?
Across The Basics
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- How are believers supposed to look at other people?
- How can we discover our spiritual gift?
- How can we live the Christian life and apply the Word of God to our daily lives?
- How does a person cleanse himself?
- How important are spiritual gifts in the life of a believer?
- How should a believer respond to fear?
- How would you explain prayer and the priesthood of the believer to a friend? What Scriptures would you use?
- How would you explain spiritual gifts and the ministry of the believer to a friend? What Scriptures would you use?
- How would you explain the ambassadorship of the believer to a friend? What Scriptures would you use?
- How would you explain the nature and function of the Church to a friend? What Scriptures would you use?
- How would you explain to a friend the importance and purpose of the Bible? What Scriptures would you use?
- How would you explain to an unbelieving friend how to be saved? What Scriptures would you use?
- How would you explain to an unbelieving friend the fact that God had a plan for man even before man had a problem? What Scriptures would you use?
- How would you explain to an unbelieving friend the meaning of Christ's death on the cross? What Scriptures would you use?
- How would you explain to an unbelieving friend the origin of and reason for evil in the world? What Scriptures would you use?
- How would you explain to an unbelieving friend who the Holy Spirit is and what is His message to that person? What Scriptures would you use?
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- What are the five reasons why God allows pressure and crisis in our lives?
- What are the five works of the Holy Spirit in regard to the Word?
- What are the seven figures in the Bible for Christ and the Church?
- What are the spiritual disciplines of the Christian life?
- What are the three functions of every believer?
- What are the three functions of every believer?
- What are the three kinds of sin and how is each dealt with?
- What are the three promises and the three conditions to those promises in Matthew 7:7–8?
- What did Jesus say is the number-one requirement for attaining greatness?
- What does it mean that Christ is the Head and the Church is His Body?
- What does it mean to be, and how can we become, “vessels of honor”?
- What does the Bible teach about God's promises?
- What does the Bible teach about Hell?
- What does the Bible teach about Israel?
- What does the Bible teach about availability in the Christian life?
- What does the Bible teach about baptisms?
- What does the Bible teach about carnality in the Christian life?
- What does the Bible teach about conscience?
- What does the Bible teach about death?
- What does the Bible teach about energized prayer?
- What does the Bible teach about eternal security?
- What does the Bible teach about faith-rest and sabbaths?
- What does the Bible teach about faith-rest?
- What does the Bible teach about forgiveness?
- What does the Bible teach about free will?
- What does the Bible teach about freedom?
- What does the Bible teach about godliness?
- What does the Bible teach about grace and truth?
- What does the Bible teach about human power versus God's power?
- What does the Bible teach about judging in the Christian life?
- What does the Bible teach about making decisions?
- What does the Bible teach about mercy?
- What does the Bible teach about reconciliation?
- What does the Bible teach about religion?
- What does the Bible teach about righteousness?
- What does the Bible teach about small things and their significance in God's plan?
- What does the Bible teach about spirituality?
- What does the Bible teach about suffering?
- What does the Bible teach about temptation, including its sources and how to overcome it?
- What does the Bible teach about the Age of Israel?
- What does the Bible teach about the Day of Christ?
- What does the Bible teach about the Rapture?
- What does the Bible teach about the Resurrection?
- What does the Bible teach about the Trinity?
- What does the Bible teach about the purpose and manifestation of God's Glory?
- What does the Bible teach about the righteousness of God?
- What does the Bible teach about the sinless humanity of Jesus Christ?
- What does the Bible teach about the soul, including its strengths and weaknesses, and how it relates to spiritual warfare and the filling of the Holy Spirit?
- What does the Bible teach about the substitutionary death of Christ?
- What does the Bible teach about the virgin birth?
- What does the Bible teach about the will of God?
- What does the Bible teach about worship?
- What does “inspired” mean in regard to the Bible?
- What does “manifestation” (phaneroo) mean in 1 Corinthians 12?
- What does “sanctified” mean in Scripture?
- What five works does the Holy Spirit perform in the believer at the moment of salvation?
- What is a dispensation in the Bible?
- What is a spiritual gift and what is its purpose?
- What is baptism? What are the two types of baptisms described in the Bible?
- What is confession, and how does it cleanse the believer?
- What is divine production, and how does it relate to the Holy Spirit's work in a believer's life?
- What is faith-rest?
- What is hermeneutics in Bible interpretation?
- What is our reward in eternity?
- What is revelation, and how does God reveal Himself to man?
- What is spiritual death, according to the Bible?
- What is spiritual growth?
- What is spiritual maturity, and how does one achieve it?
- What is spiritual warfare, and how do believers engage in it?
- What is the Bible's teaching on ministry and how does it relate to believers' lives?
- What is the Bible's teaching on rationalism?
- What is the Church Age and how does it relate to God's plan for history?
- What is the Greek word for “church” and what does it mean?
- What is the believer's commission?
- What is the biblical definition of a local church and its role in spiritual growth?
- What is the biblical definition of good, and how does it differ from human good?
- What is the biblical teaching on being a hero of faith?
- What is the biblical teaching on redemption?
- What is the biblical teaching on temptation and testing?
- What is the character of God, and how does it relate to sin?
- What is the concept of rest in the Bible?
- What is the difference between asking, seeking, and knocking?
- What is the difference between human viewpoint and divine viewpoint?
- What is the difference between the Church and the church?
- What is the doctrine of the filling of the Spirit, and how does it relate to our lives as believers?
- What is the faith-rest technique, and how can we exercise it to produce peace in our lives?
- What is the goal of a Christian's life, and how can it be achieved?
- What is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit?
- What is the love of Christ, and how does it relate to believers in the Church Age?
- What is the ministry of reconciliation, and what does it entail for believers?
- What is the ministry of reconciliation? What is the message of reconciliation?
- What is the nature of Satan's activity in the last days?
- What is the nature of faith according to the Bible?
- What is the nature of humility, and how does it relate to our relationship with God?
- What is the nature of man?
- What is the nature of sin?
- What is the origin of evil in the world?
- What is the plan of God?
- What is the purpose of redeeming time?
- What is the relationship between Bible study and prayer?
- What is the relationship between Bible study and spiritual growth?
- What is the relationship between truth, grace, and legalism?
- What is the role of edification in the Church's mission?
- What is the role of illumination in understanding Scripture?
- What is the role of the Holy Spirit in a believer's life?
- What is the role of the Holy Spirit in evangelism?
- What is the secret of spiritual power?
- What is the service of spiritual power — identifying and developing our spiritual gift?
- What is the significance of the phrase 'the times and the epochs' in 1 Thessalonians 5:1?
- What is the spiritual life, and how do we live it?
- What is the spiritual life?
- What is the spiritual significance of letting God do great things in our lives?
- What is the substance of spiritual power?
- What is the true test of spirituality?
- What is the two-fold mission of the Church?
- What is the value of wisdom in the Bible and how do we acquire it?
- What is the “rock” upon which the Church is built?
- What is “energized prayer”? How can we know that our prayers are energized?
- What should motivate us to fulfill our commission?
- What three spiritual requirements must be met before we can understand what we study in the Word?
- What two prayers are always right and always honoring to God?
- What was God's purpose in creating the Church and what is its destiny?
- What were the four priorities of the early Church?
- When the dispute arose between Hellenistic and Hebrew Christians in Acts 6, why did the apostles say it was not desirable for them to wait tables?
- Where does motivation to study the Word come from?
- Who chooses a believer's spiritual gift?
- Who gives spiritual gifts?
- Who is forming and empowering the Church?
- Who is the uniquely born Son and why did He enter the human race?
- Why did Christ die, according to Paul in 2 Corinthians 5:15?