IS DOCTRINE IMPORTANT?

THE DOCTRINE THAT SEPARATES

Would God want us to separate over the issue of doctrine and differences in doctrine? Would God not much rather have us unite and rally around Christ, talk about the Bible, and set aside creeds, agreements, catechisms and all the insignificant differences that divide and split us into splits, splinters, and fragments?

The fact is, the Lord would be displeased if we were to minimize those teachings that He felt were so important that He put them in the Bible for our edification. What is “doctrine?” The simple definition for doctrine is “what is believed and taught.” One that teaches that we should all unite around Christ is teaching a doctrine of ignore. Ignore doctrinal differences is a doctrine that is taught to many people.

Doctrine answers questions. Is God a loving God, why did Christ die on the cross are questions that are answer by doctrine. We must have doctrine to answer these questions. We need sound doctrine that is based upon the Word of God. Doctrine cannot be based on humanist, emotional, irrational thinking. It must be directed by the Word of God. II Timothy 2:15 – “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

It is irresponsible to minimize any teachings of God. We are directed to study, dig, get deep into the Word.

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RE: KINDS OF BAPTISTS AND THEIR ORIGIN

Jesus baptised by John the Baptist by going all the way under the water and coming back up out of the water. Yet the name Baptist did not come from John the Baptist. We find co-operation of churches in the New Testament. Acts 8:14 reveals the church of Jerusalem co-operating in Samaria where Philip was preaching the gospel and souls were being saved and baptised. We find Peter going to the Gentiles and some circumcised believers were with him when he preached and souls were saved and Peter asked the circumcised believers from the church in Jerusalem if they would forbid the baptising of these believers. The church in Jerusalem sent Barnabas to the church in Antioch for the purpose of co-operation.

1. ASSOCIATION BAPTISTS, A.D. 33.

Examples of the co-operation and association that existed in these first century (A.D.) churches are found int the book of Acts and also referenced in II Cor. 8:19-23.
Co-operation with a minimum of inter-church organisation has characterised Association Baptists in history and no doubt accounts for so little being known of their associational work of the past, though no doubt such existed.

2. AMERICAN BAPTIST ASSOCIATION, 1905.

This work began with the Baptist General Association, 1905, which was a perpetuation of associational principles practised by Baptists of many association through the centuries. The name was changed to American Baptist Association in 1925, when the Baptist Missionary Association of Texas came into this work.

3. AMERICAN BAPTIST CONVENTION, 1814.

Was organised as the Baptist General Convention and became known as the Triennial Convention. A split came in 1844 which resulted in the Southern Baptist Convention in 1845. Thus, those of the North came to be known as Northern Baptists. The Northern Baptist Conventions was adopted as the name of this group in 1907, and in 1950 they officially changed their name to the American Baptist Convention.

4. NORTH AMERICAN BAPTIST ASSOCIATION, 1950.

This resulted from a split in the American Baptist Association. Several issues brought on the split. One was the matter of representation. The American Baptist Association had always left it to the representing church as to whom they would choose to represent them. Some sought to change this, and also sought to change the matter of voting to proxy voting by non-represented church. This had never been the practice of the ABA. Still another issue seemed to be the matter of Seminaries and schools. Some thought they should not be churched-owned, but owned by the Association.

5. SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION, 1845.

This was a split from the Triennial Convention over the slavery question. They held to all the evils of convention-ism: money basis of representation, boards to hire and fire missionaries, pressure programs, interference in local church affairs.

6. NATIONAL BAPTIST CONVENTION (AFRICAN-AMERICAN), 1880.

7. FREEWILL BAPTISTS, 1770, FOUNDED BY BENJAMIN RANDALL.

8. GENERAL BAPTISTS, 1714.

9. NATIONAL BAPTIST EVANGELICAL LIFE AND SOUL SAVING ASSEMBLY OF U.S.A., 1921.

10. NATIONAL PRIMITIVE BAPTIST CONVENTION OF THE U.S.A. (AFRICAN-AMERICAN), 1907

11. NORTH AMERICAN BAPTIST GENERAL CONFERENCE (GERMAN), 1860.

12. PRIMITIVE BAPTISTS (HARDSHELL), 1825-1832, FOUNDED BY PARKER.

Most of these have deviated from the truth of God’s Word to such a great extent that some would not be recognized as a Baptist church and others have lost their candlestick and can no longer be considered the “CHURCH THAT JESUS BUILT.” To be a true New Testament Church they must maintain the doctrines that Jesus, Paul and the Apostles delivered to the Churches.Technorati Tags: Jesus, Paul, apostles, churches, New, Testament, promitive, hardshell, general, assembly

KINDS OF BAPTISTS AND THEIR ORIGIN

There are some thirty different groups of people calling themselves Baptist, and this presents the problem of just who is scriptural. It has always been the practice of true Baptists to examine the doctrine and practice of the local Baptist church in determining the scripturalness of their baptism. I propose to give a quick list and run down of what a scriptural New Testament Church believes and teaches.

I. SALVATION BY GRACE AND GRACE ALONE. EPHESIANS 2:8-10
There are those religions and denominations that claim they believe in salvation by grace. The problem is they add to this. Now I call this adding to God’s Word which we are not to do. Some add sprinkling (which they call baptism but is not) and or church membership and or the Lord’s Supper to make a person’s salvation complete. This is not Biblical. The simple statement is “For by grace are ye saved…” When we add these other things, we have added to the truth and it then becomes untruth and therefore a lie and God hates lies. If any one that calls themselves a church, adds to grace anything for salvation, they cease to be a true church. That makes them a false church.

II. SECURITY OF THE BELIEVER/PRESERVATION OF THE SAINTS.  EPHESIANS 4:30
What the Holy Spirit seals cannot be unsealed. To be held in the hand of God states preservation and safety. I know some say we can take ourselves out of the hand of God. That would make us more powerful than God and if more powerful than God we become a God unto ourselves. We are sealed unto the “day of redemption.” There is no room left there for losing ones salvation.

III. BAPTISM BY IMMERSION OF SCRIPTURAL CANDIDATE BY SCRIPTURAL AUTHORITY. MARK 1:9-11
Being a Dunkard is a wonderful thing. Now you say, what is a Dunkard? Why that is one that gets dunked all the way under the water to show the death burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Romans 6:3-5 say we are buried with him. Sprinkling can never represent a burial. So in baptism we are buried just as he was buried and we rise just as He rose in newness of life. There is no way to represent this by sprinkling. Any so-called church that sprinkles, distorts the gospel of Christ. Sprinkling disqualifies a church from being a church approved by God to represent His Son here on this earth.

A scriptural candidate is one that has been saved. After salvation come baptism. Acts 2:41 and many other scriptures. Any church that violates any one of these five proofs does not have authority to baptise.

IV. LORD’S SUPPER FOR THOSE THAT ARE MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH OBSERVING IT.  I CORINTHIANS 5:11-13
The church that is observing the Lord’s Supper must have authority to deny the Supper to people by with drawing fellowship from members that have committed any of the sins listed in verse 11. For a church to not exercise this command is disobedience. To permit those that are not members is a direct contravention of the Word of God and indicates that the church is out of the will of God. This passage proves that the church at Corinth practised closed communion. To take God’s Word and Supper and make it a social event upon the whim of humanistic thinking disqualifies a church from being called a true church.

V. THE CHURCH IS LOCAL ONLY.
There are those that saw that if they wanted to maintain some unscriptural practices that I have listed above, they would have to  change the definition of the church. To be able to practice close or open communion these people knew that they would have to have a universal church. Therefore they borrowed a little something from the Catholics. The seven churches of Asia are said to be seven individual and distinct churches. There were 2 New Testament books written to the church at Corinth. Understand that the scripture used to prove a universal church is a passage addressed to a local church and was meant for that church. Misapplication of scripture has brought heresies into the world and this is a gross misapplication of scripture.

I know some say, well now there are a number of other truths that must be applied to see if a church is scriptural. here is my basis for using these five as a criteria of Judgement.

First of all, the church is the Bride of Christ. Jesus determined what His Bride would look like. To change any of these would be to change the Bride. Take away baptism and you would have a one legged Bride. Take away closed communion and you would have a one armed Bride.

Second, a church that believes these five will believe in the virgin birth, the inspiration of scripture, and the depravity of man. A church begins, normally, going wrong in the Lord’s Supper, baptism, or the church being universal and invisible. A church that holds the line on these five things will hold the line on women preachers and many other truths of the Word.

WHAT THE BIBLE TEACHES ABOUT HEAVEN

I Peter 1:4; Philippians 3:20

Heaven stands for all that is good and enduring. Perhaps the reason so little is given us in the Bible concerning Heaven is that we are of such low thought and so influenced by sin that we can-not understand more than is given. However, there are some things that we can understand, and we can accept by faith all other things revealed about heaven.

I. THERE IS THE HEAVEN OF THE AIR, JUST ABOVE THE EARTH.
    This is the atmosphere where the birds fly (Rev. 19:17; Gen 1:20; 7:23).

II. THERE IS THE HEAVEN WHERE THE SUN, MOON, AND THE STARS ARE.
    (Matt. 24:29; Luke 21:11; Isaiah 13:10).
    1. Paul was caught up to this heaven (II Cor. 12:2).
    2.This is where Jesus ascended to (Acts 1:11).
    3. This is where Jesus mediates (I Tim. 2:5).
    4. This is where He advocates the cause of Christians (I John 2:1).
    5. Elijah ascended to heaven (II Kings 2:11).
    6. This is where the martyrs wait (Rev. 6:9-11).
    7. This is where all saints rest from their labors (Heb. 4:9,10).
    8. This is where Jesus is preparing a place for His bride (John 14:1-3; Rev. 21:9-27).

III. THE FINAL HEAVEN OR ABODE OF THE BELIEVERS (REV. 21:1).
    Where will it be?
    1. Jesus promised the earth to the meek (Matt. 5:5).
    2. Evidently, this earth is to be purged by fire (II Peter 3:10-13).
    The language used seems to suggest a dissolving – melting – of this present earth and the emergence of a new earth (Rev. 21:1,10).

V. THE FINAL STATE OF THE SAVED AND THEIR ENVIRONMENT.
    1. The happiness described in the new earth (Rev. 21:3,4).
    2. Employment of those who inhabit the new earth – what they shall do.
        a. They shall praise God (Rev. 19:1).
        b. They shall perform service to God (Rev. 22:3).
        c. They shall worship God (Rev. 21:22).
        d. They shall obey God and do His bidding (Rev. 21:24).
        e. They shall maintain God’s order among the nations (Rev. 21:26).
        This is suggested in the terms used: kings, nations.

    3. The Bride will be the center of the Eternal Home (John 14:2,3; Rev 21:10-27).
    4. All sin will be forever banned. No sinners are ever allowed to enter (Rev. 21:27).
    5. These will be real people, in a real place, doing real things, for a real God, with real happiness that will really last forever!

DECENCY

WHAT ARE WE THINKING?

Christianity Today Poll
Should Christians resist full body ‘nude’ scans and invasive pat-downs at the airport?
Results:
Yes, because it violates our civil liberties. – 24%
Yes, because the Bible calls us to modesty. – 10%
No, our country’s security is at stake. – 27%
No, I don’t know what the big deal is. – 28%
I don’t know. – 12%

And there are those that wonder about the United States not being called a Christian Nation. We have a marvellous God that has clothed the fields in great beauty. He has cast across the vast heavens a cloud of stars that are absolutely gorgeous in the night sky. He two people and clothed them so that they would be modest and decent in appearance. These values have been taught in the Lord’s Churches since Jesus walked this earth. The Old Testament standards of decency and being clothed is unparalleled. Virtuousness has been taught and emphasised in God’s Word. So why only 10% of the people answering this poll say no to these invasive procedures based on the modesty of the Bible.

Now I presume that those that read Christianity Today, would call themselves Christians. That leaves me with the thought that they maybe don’t understand what modesty truly consists of. I drift to the thought of personal licentiousness. Christianity today has no problem with exposing the body to leering looks from the opposite gender. Sinful desensitation has taken place and leering and lusting is no longer condemned. In fact there are those that seek this form of sensuality and attain the only value and worth that they possess from this.

Any “Christian” (so called) that does not object to these procedures do not deserve the title “Christian.” There is not one reason to subject a person to this degraded, satan inspired humiliation.

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Thanksgiving

Psalm 100:1-5 Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. 2. Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing. 3. Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people , and the sheep of his pasture. 4. Enter into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. 5. For the Lord is good: his mercy is everlasting: and his truth endureth to all generations.

1. the bounty of the Lord, My how he has blessed us. The world and the economy is failing but God cares and watches over His own, those who have entrusted their soul to Him. The Bible says that because of “Him we exist and function every day.” We truly have been blessed beyond what we deserve.

2. the blessings of love, What does I love you truly mean. I see the term love meaning that one is truly unique and special in the eyes of others. God sees that in each one of His children a uniqueness that is different from all others. My mom and dad had seven children and to my mother each one was unique and she always remembered what each one preferred on their birthday. That is something special. My God sees me as unique and special. I AM LOVED!!!!

3. the beauty of the Holiness of God. This day of Thanksgiving, I get to praise God for His Holiness within which is great beauty. There is nothing or no one that is Holy except for God and His vision of us as He sees us through the blood of His dear Son, Jesus Christ. What joy, and deep felt appreciation we should have for this greatest of beauties, the Holiness of God and His acceptance of us.

PSALM 26:6 – I will wash mine hands in innocency: so will I compass thine altar, O Lord: PSALM 26:7 – That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all thy wondrous works.

Hebrews 13:14,15 –For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come. [15] By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.

The habitation of God, whether it was in the Tabernacle, the Temple, or individual local Churches, wherever it was or is, it was always meant to be a gathering place to seek truth while growing in faith, hope, and love. It was, and is, to be a place where children of God learn to behave themselves after they have been saved by the grace of God. The habitation of his Spirit in his house is where his honor dwells by the presence of his Son.

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WHAT THE BIBLE TEACHES ABOUT HELL

Luke 16:19-31; Revelation 20:7-15

Penitentiaries and jails speak of man’s belief in the punishment of men for wrongdoing. Man believes the criminal should be separated from the law abiding. God also believes in separating the righteous from the unrighteous. Hell is a reality.

I cannot imagine a death more horrible than death by burning. The pain and suffering that has to be involved with this type of death is totally unimaginable to me. I would not wish this type of death on my worst enemy. What is worse, is the people that make light of  dying  and descending into  a place of eternal burning and suffering; that place called HELL!!

Let us examine this place.

I. THE GREAT WHITE THRONE JUDGEMENT.    (REVELATION 20:7-15)
    1. The judge. John 5:22; “For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son.”
    2. The subjects. (Rev. 20:12; Eph. 2:1-3). All who have never repented and trusted in Jesus.
    3. Basis of judgement (John 20:13).
        a. According to works (Rev. 20:13).
        b. In the Great White Throne, judgement because of unbelief (John 3:18).
    4. The reason for this judgement. That each unbeliever might receive his just part in the lake of fire (Rev. 21:8; Matt. 10:15; 11:24).
NOTICE THIS; The Great White Throne Judgement is not to determine whether one is saved and going to heaven or unsaved and going to hell. It is strictly for the unsaved/lost and determines how bad they were and all are cast into the lake of fire.

II. HELL IS THE FINAL ABODE OF THE DEVIL, FALLEN ANGELS, AND UNBELIEVEERS.
    1. Origin of Hell and why (Matt. 24:41; II Peter 2:4; Jude 6).
    2. Those in Hell.
        a. The Devil (Rev. 20:10).
        b. Fallen Angels (Jude 6).
        c. Unbelievers (Rev. 20:13-15).
    3. The final Hell (Rev. 20:13-15).

III. WHAT HELL IS LIKE.
    1. A lake of fire and brimstone (Rev. 21:8). If this is figurative language, how awful the reality!
    2. A place of torment. (Greek: odunaomai, mental and/or physical pain, agony, suffering, Luke 16:23.) Revelation 20:10: “Tormented day and night forever.”
    3. Read Luke 3:17.

IV. HOW LONG HELL LASTS – ITS DURATION.
    1. It is called an everlasting destruction (II Thess. 1:9).
    2. It is said to be forever and ever (Rev. 14:10,11).
    3. Figurative speech describes it as eternal (Mark 9:44, 46, 48).

V. THE STATE OF THOSE WHO GO TO HELL.
    1. Their condition is final and there is no escape (Luke 16:24-26).
    2. There is no future chance (Rev. 22:11; Eccl. 11:3).
    3. Why they are there (Luke 16:27-31).
    4. Those who go there remain in a conscious state (Luke 16:23).

VI. HELL, THEN, IS A DEFINITE PLACE OF REALITY, AND IS NOT THE GRAVE.
    1. All of the foregoing scriptures teach the consciousness of those in Hell, therefore it could not be the grave.
    2. Some questions with scriptural answers show that Hell is not the grave.
        a. Are angels buried in graves? II Peter 2:4: “Cast down to hell.” Can this be construed to mean that they are in the grave? (Jude 6).
        b. Are none but the wicked in the grave? Psalm 9:17: “The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.” What about the righteous who die?
        c. Can a man put another man in Hell? He could if Hell is the grave. Matthew 10:28: “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather feat him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”

THE MOST IMPORTANT DECISION YOU WILL EVER MAKE IN LIFE IS WHERE WILL YOU SPEND ETERNITY.

Technorati Tags: hell, wicked, angels, Luke, Peter, grave, soul, body eternity

THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST

Luke 24:50,51; Acts 1:10,11; John 14:1-3; Revelation 22:12

No more important subject can occupy our minds, since most men have false concepts about the return of Jesus. Some believe that it is His coming when one dies. Others believe that He comes every time one is saved. Such ideas, if true, would make it necessary for many returns and would destroy hope of His coming again (Titus 2:13). Some have set dates for His return and we must not fall into that error. Nonetheless, the Bible does teach that Jesus is coming back to the earth again.

I. THE FACT STATED, – “I will come again” (John 14:3).

II. CONDITIONS PREVAILING ON EARTH AT THE TIME OF HIS COMING AGAIN.
    It is a mistake to think the church will take the world for Christ before He comes again. Post-millennialists teach this. What does the Bible teach?
    1. It will be as it was in the days of Noah (Matt. 24:36-42).
    2. There will be scoffers and unbelief (II Peter 3:1-8).
    3. There will come a falling away before that day (II Thess. 2:3,4).
    4: Formalism in religion will prevail, and there will be a general break-down of morals and true religious principles of righteousness (II Timothy 3:1-5).
    5. There will be a Laodicean condition in the churches (Rev. 3:14-22).
    6. The fig tree sign will be plain (Matt. 24:32-35; Jer. 24:1-5).
    7. The man of sin will arise to afflict the people of God (II Thess. 2:3-13; Rev. 13:6-18).

III. JESUS IS COMING FOR HIS SAINTS.
    1. Resurrection and rapture (I Thess. 4:13-18; I John 3:1,2; I Cor. 15:51-57).
    2. Heavenly Activity.
        a. Judgement for reward (II Cor. 5:10; Rom. 14:10; I Cor. 3:11-15).
        b. Marriage of the Lamb (Rev. 19:7,8).
    3. Earthly Activity.
        a. The rise of the man of sin (II Thess. 2:3-12; Dan. 11:21).
        b. A peace pact made with the Jews. (Dan. 9:26,27).
        c. A one-world religion (Rev. 17).
        d. A one-world government will be associated with a one-world religion (Rev. 18).
        e. Peace pact broken (Dan. 9:27), and Antichrist sits in the temple saying he is God (II Thess. 2:4).
        f. God’s vials of wrath poured out upon the earth (Re. chapters 15,16).
IV. JESUS IS COMING WITH HIS SAINTS.
    1. Jude 14 Zechariah 14:5.
    2. At His coming with His saints, He will put an end to the battle of Armageddon (Zech. 14:1-4; Rev. 19:11-21).
    3. He shall judge the nations (Zech. 14:4; Matt. 25:32; Joel 3:2, 9-16).
    4. This will clear the way for the millennium (Ezekiel 39:12-14, 17-24).

V. THE MILLENNIUM IS TO FOLLOW (REV. 20:1-6).

VI. THE RETURN OF JESUS IS THE BELIEVER’S GLORIOUS HOPE (TITUS 2:11-14).
       

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WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT THE LORD’S DAY

Colossians 2:14-17 – “Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us,
and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross. And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made
a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink,
or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to
come; but the body is of Christ. 

The idea that the seventh day Sabbath is still binding today is promoted by “works for salvation” folks and their rejection of the Bible teaching that all the Law of Moses was “blotted out” by the sacrifice of Christ on the cross for those saved or born again. When I have time, I will delve into this further so that clarity is applied about the Law and what it’s relationship to the lost and the saved. For now we are looking at the Sabbath. 

I. THE OLD TESTAMENT SABBATH.
A. It was instituted by God before the giving of the Law. (Gen. 2:2,3)
B. It is clear that God gave the Sabbath to Israel as a law. (Exo. 20:8)
C. In the Law of Moses this commandment is put on an equality with all other commandments. (James 2:10)

II. THE SABBATH WAS DONE AWAY WITH THE REST OF THE LAW.
Colossians 2:14-17
It was written in the hand writing of ordinances.

III. THE SABBATH WAS A COVENANT OR SIGN BETWEEN ISRAEL AND GOD.
Exodus 31:12-17

IV. SOME MODERN OBJECTIONS TO THE LORD’S DAY INSTEAD OF THE SABBATH.

A. It is objected that a Catholic Pope changed the Sabbath to the first day of the week. There is no history to prove this, and if it did it would not change the facts simply because a Catholic Pope issued a decree. (Jesus actually did away with it. he did not change it.)
B. It is objected that Jesus kept the Sabbath, so should we. He FULFILLED the law. he observed it in its highest sense, then He did away with it. (Galatians 4:4,5; Matt. 5:17)
C. It is objected that Paul observed the Sabbath. So should we (Acts 18:4). Paul preached to the Jews who were gathered on the Sabbath, but he preache that the law was done away (Col. 2:14-17).
D. It is objected that the Sabbath was instituted by God before the Law of Moses was given, therefore we should observe the Sabbath. it is also true that animal sacrifices were made before the giving of the law but all of this was done away by Jesus. if we must observe the Sabbath for this reason, then we must also have the animal sacrifices for the same reason.

V. WHY THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK IS OBSERVED BY BAPTIST.

A. Jesus arose from the dead on the first day of the week (John 20:19).
B. Jesus appeared to the ten disciples on the first day of the week (John 20:19).
C. The day of Pentecost and the baptism of the holy Spirit came on the first day of the week (Acts 2; Lev. 23:16).
D. Peter preached and 3,000 converts were added to the church on the first day of the week (Acts 2:41).
E. The converts were baptized on the first day of the week (Acts 2:41).
F. The church in Troas assembled for worship on the first day of the week (Acts 20:7).
G. The church took the Lord’s Supper on the first day of the week (Acts 20:7).
H. Paul preached to the church in Troas on the first day of the week (Acts 20:7).
I. Paul instructed the Corinthian church to make contributions on the first day of the week (I Cor. 16:2).
J. John was worshipping on the first day of the week when Jesus appeared to him and gave the Revelation (Rev. 1:10).
K. The Great Commission was given on the first day of the week (matt. 28:19,20; Mark 16:9-15).

VI. WE HONOR THE RESURRECTION OF OUR LORD EACH FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK BY ASSEMBLING FOR WORSHIP.

A. He is the firstfruits from the dead (I Cor. 15:20).
B. The great harvest from the grave, in the resurrection, is guaranteed by the resurrection of Jesus from the dead (I Thess. 4:14-17).
C. There is no scriptural proof that we wear the mark of beast by keeping the first day of the week.
D. If the law is still in force then we are bound to keep all of it (James 2:10). We must have animal sacrifices, earthly priests, must not eat hog meat, must not eat catfish, a man must marry his brother’s widow, disobedient sons must be stoned to death, sabbath breakers must be killed, and many other like ordinances.
E. The keeping of the Sabbath law is impossible on a world-wide scale – it was given to a particular people in a particular region.
F. Sabbath keeping cannot give life (Gal. 3:19-21).
G. CHRIST IS THE END OF THE LAW OF RIGHTEOUSNESS TO EVERYONE THAT BELIEVETH (Rom. 10:4).

Technorati Tags: law, Moses, Jesus, sunday, sabbath

MAN AND SOME MEANINGS

I want to take a look at the word man and how it is used in God’s Word. We will look at some definitions and take a look at some scripture and see how different definitions impact the meaning of scripture.

DEFINITIONS:
1. MAN – aner –
    1. with reference to sex
        1a. of a male
        1b of a husband
        1c. of a betrothed or future husband.
    2, with reference to age, and to distinguish an adult man from a boy.
    3. any male
    4. used generically of a group of both men and women.
Part of Speech: noun masculine.
Primarily and almost exclusively this word is used to refer to a male.

2. MAN – ANTHROPOS
    Of the Greek terms anthropos stands for man9kind0 generally – a human being (Matt 12:12; Mar 10:27); though it is sometimes used to indicate man in his imperfection and weakness (I Cor. 3:3,4), in such expressions as “to speak as a man” (Rom 3:5), and several other examples.

3. WOMAN – GYNE
    1. a woman of any age, whether a virgin, or married, or a widow.
    2. a wife
        a. of a betrothed woman
PART OF SPEECH: feminine noun.

Let us do a little scripture comparison. Ephesians 5:22 which most are familiar with relates a husband and a wife and their relationship and that relationship demonstrated between Christ and His Church. The word husband is the Greek word aner which is a male/husband according to the Greek. The wife is Greek Gyne which is definitely a female/wife. Now to infer that the term husband used here could refer to a woman would be blasphemous. It would be in direct contradiction to the instruction of Romans 1:26 where women and women came together. I know that those that say they worship God and trust in Jesus would never consent to changing this husband in these passages to mean a woman or the term woman to mean a man. By the way, Ephesians 5:25-27 pretty much corresponds with the passage in Revelation speaking of a pure bride. Here we have the church represented as a bride of Christ.

Now I will proceed to anger some to a great extent. Not because of a desire I have to anger, but I will be plain in what I say about this next passage and what it means and how it is applied and the bottle babies; those that are still on milk and not able to handle meat; those that are all wrapped up in emotion and its physical demonstration will choke on this passage. I Corinthians 14:34 is a passage that the word woman is gyne meaning, yes you guessed it – female/wife/woman. Notice the term – keep silence in the churches. Before you pass out from spiking blood pressure run quickly back to verse 33. Paul says “God is not the author of  confusion but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.” Just an aside hear – notice the plural word churches. Paul did not know of a universeral invisible church. He personally planted churches. Back to the subject – Paul was addressing a particular problem here in this church. Apparently people were getting emotional and calling it “being led by the Spirit,” and causing such a ruckus in the church that the message being preached could not be heard. Paul addressed the guilty ones. Paul make a clear statement to the women – God was not the author of what they were doing. Now go ahead and deny the word of God given to Paul. Say, Paul was not inspired here but in the previous chapter he was. Now this scripture is not to be taken as far as some have taken it, and yet it is clear in that it addressed women and their disruption of God’s worship. Notice verse 40 “Let all things be done decently and in order.”

One more verse for now will suffice to be an example of not mixing up the words that have been used in different scriptures. I Timothy 2:8 “I will therefore that men pray every where lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.” Yes I heard it too, the minds clicking shut because they don’t want to hear this. Today this is a personal passion for many people. That men – aner – male and you cannot substitute female here. It is male  that is to lift Holy hands. Ladies if it is your desire to do this then get a sex change operation so that you will at least outwardly be in compliance with this command. Follow this further. The term every where means every where. In the grocery store – lift holy hands. At the gas station – lift holy hands. In the the cafe – lift holy hands. Right now some of you want to lift “holy hands” and yet it says to do it “without wrath” and you are so angry over this that you cannot do it stay true to the Word of God. But then if staying true to the Word of God were that important to a person, they would quit doing what the scripture says to quit doing and they would do what the scripture says to do. Shame on you if you can’t be true to GOD’S WORD.Technorati Tags: man, woman, emotion, Paul, church