The Nature of Sin – Romans 6:12

1. The Nature of Sin – Romans 6:12
   1. Sin is: – Rom. – 6:16
      1. Sin is a Fact – Gen. 4:7
         1. A fact of experience. – I experience it in my own heart.
         2. A fact of observation. – I see sin in others
         3. A fact of revelation. – Sin is revealed in the Bible – Genesis 6:5,6
            1. The policeman pursues it.
            2. The physicians prescribes because of it.,
            3. The law discovers it.
            4. Conscience condemns it.
            5. God punishes it.
            6. Nobody likes to say “Commit it.”
      2. Sin may be defined but cannot be explained. – John 8:34
         1. To explain sin is to explain it away.
         2. Sin had no place in the original creation.
         3. Sin is a parasite that sucks the soul dry.
         4. Sin made its appearance in a garden of delights.
      3. Sin is: – John 16:8 – “And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin.
         1. A Cheat. – It promises pleasure and pays off in pain.
         2. A deceiver. – It promises life and pays off in death.
         3. A destroyer. – It promises profit and pays off in poverty.
         4. Moses looked at sin and chose to suffer affliction with the people of God, rather than enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season.
   2. Sins True Definition:
      1. “Sin is any lack of conformity to, or transgression of the law of God.”
      2. “Sin is any lack of conformity to the law of God, whether in act, disposition, or state.”
      3. The Apostle John: “Sin is the transgression of the law” – I John 3:4b
      4. Sin is violation of the moral law of God and cries out for just retribution.
   3. Sin is: – John 16:9
      1. Missing The Mark.
         1. Missed the Mark in rejecting the Son.
         2. Missed the Mark in serving after salvation.
         3. Missed the Mark in faithfulness.
      2. Man turning aside. –Isaiah 53:6
      3. Competition with God.
         1. In authority – you bought with a price. – I Peter 1:18,19
         2. Adam and Eve decided to become independent of God and create their own law.
         3. They rejected the law of God and became a law unto themselves.
   4. Sin is Certain.
      1. The Reality of Sin
         1. Ask Adam if sin is real in his loss of Eden.
         2. Ask Cain if sin is real in his cry – “My punishment is greater than I can bear.
         3. Ask David when we hear him say – “I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.”
      2. The Potentiality of Sin
         1. The sin committed reveals a heart of rebellion.
         2. The sin committed reveals a mind bent to the world.
   5. Sin Forgiven through a Mediator. – Romans 5:15
      1. Sin is God’s competitor
      2. The Savior is God’s Mediator –
      3. The First Adam Competed with God for Sovereignty and ruined us all. – I Corinthians 15:45
      4. The last Adam, Jesus Christ, cooperated with God for our salvation.
      5. The first Adam said – “I will.” – Genesis 3:6 – “He did eat.”
      6. The last Adam said – “Not my will, but thy will be done.” – Matthew 26:39
      7. The last Adam said -: I delight to do thy will, O God.” – Psalm 40:8
      8. God’s will led Him along the rough road of suffering through gloomy Gethsemane to bloody Calvary where Jesus cried – “It is Finished.” – John 19:30

Romans – 6:11-14

TRANSFORMED BY God; Not Conformed to the World

Romans 12:1-4

1. The Living Sacrifice.

   1. I Beseech you: – Paul appeals to our Will. God calls us to make a choice about the way that we live for Him.

   2. Therefore brethren. – Paul begins this letter with a strong doctrinal section and follows with exhortations to Christian living. Paul begs Christians to live a certain way in light of what God did for them.

      1. Paul is saying that the Christian life is dependent on the great Bible doctrines.

   3. By the mercies of God.

      1. Reminds us that we do this because of the mercy shown to us by God.

      2. We are only able to offer ourselves to God as He works His mercy in us.

      3. God commanded us to do this, and He makes it possible for us to do it.

      4. The heathen sacrifice in order to obtain mercy.

      5. Biblical faith teaches that the mercy provides the basis of sacrifice as our reasonable response.

      6. Think of the mercies of God Paul has explained to us so far:

         1. Justification

         2. Adoption in Jesus and identification with Christ.

         3. Under grace not law.

         4. The gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit.

         5. Help in all affliction.

         6. The certainty of coming glory.

         7. The confidence of no separation from the love of God.

         8. Total confidence in God’s continued faithfulness.

   4. Present your bodies

      1. Spiritually speaking, our bodies are brought to God’s altar.

      2. Present your bodies means God wants you not just your work.

      3. The WILL is to control the body, not the body control the will.

   5. A living sacrifice.

      1. The sacrifice is living because it is brought alive to the altar.

      2. The sacrifice is living because it stays alive at the altar; it is ongoing.

   6. Holy, and acceptable to God

      1. Holy, acceptable to God, not what we think is acceptable to us.

      2. Leviticus I:9; An offering made by fire a sweet aroma to the LORD.

      3. Whole burnt offering – completely yielded to God.

      4. Holiness; we are make Holy in Jesus Christ and should be determined by our will to live a Holy life.

   7. Reasonable Service

      1. Under the New Covenant, we have far greater mercies, so it is reasonable to offer a far greater sacrifice than just an animal.

2. Being transformed we are not to conform

   1. The popular culture and manner of thinking is rebellion against God.

      1. We are not to be conformed to it.

      2. It is an ungodly pattern.

      3. This process must be resisted.

      4. Let us be very clear on this.

         1. Provocative dress is conforming to the world. – I Timothy 2:9

         2. Tattoos are conforming to the world – Leviticus 19:28

         3. Multiple face piercings and gaping holes in ear lobes and cheeks is conforming to this world.

         4. Cursing is conforming to this world. – James 5:12

         5. Partaking of alcoholic beverage is conforming to this world. – Proverbs 23:29-35

   2. Be Transformed.

      1. By renewing of your mind.

      2. To many Christians live based on feeling so are only concerned about doing.

      3. The life based on feeling is ruled by emotion and ignores the renewing of the mind.

      4. The life based on doing is not interested in Theology but is looking for some one to give them the four points for this or that and never know the transforming power of God and therefore ignores the renewing of the mind.

      5. God wants us to be passionate and doers yet our feelings are insufficient foundations for the Christian life.

      6. The first questions cannot be “How do I feel?” or “What do I do?” Rather, it must be “What is true here? What does God’s Word say?”

   3. Transformed

      1. From the Greek – metamorphoo – describing a metamorphosis.

      2. The same word used to describe the transfiguration of Jesus. – Mark 9:2-3

      3. This word, transformed is used in – II Corinthians 3:18.

      4. This transformation and renewing of our minds takes place as we behold the face of God, spending time in His glory, His Word and in Pray to Him.

   4. Prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

      1. As we are transformed on the inside, the proof and evidence is reflected outwardly, so that others can see it.

      2. Some call this legalism which is evidence that they have not experience that renewing of the mind and are in rebellion to God.

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!

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).
       

Technorati Tags: Jesus, saints, armageddon, tribulation, religion, Antichrist, peace, millennium

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

WHAT THE BIBLE TEACHES ABOUT THE LORD’S SUPPER

I Corinthians 11:17-34; Matthew 26:26-29; Mark 14:22-26; Luke 22:14-20

There are those that say they love the Lord and want to be more like Jesus. There are those that call themselves Christian but want to ignore the very things that qualify them for that title. There are those that literally deny the authority of God’s Word by ignoring the plain teachings of those words. Yes we are talking about the LORD’S SUPPER. Notice, it is not the churches supper to do with what the church decides. It is not an individual’s decision who is invited and how to observe it because it is the LORD’S SUPPER.

If you decided to have a formal sit down dinner for your most intimate friends, and carefully laid a menu that was very elaborate; carefully selected the invitations for beauty of color and design, numbered your chairs to invite the right amount of guests, then carefully fit all of this into your budget; your presumption would be that every thing you had prepared for was under your control and guidance. The theme of this dinner was the sacrifice that each friend had made for the sake of each one’s friendship. A distant cousin hears of this dinner prepared for intimate friends and decides they want to come to just be social and decide to invite a few of their friends; what would your reaction be? That action would totally destroy the very purpose, planning and budget of every thing you wanted to do. For that distant relative, their ignorance would be displayed, their narcissism would be exhibited, and their boorishness behavior would be made known to all.

The Lord wants us to do – Luke 6:46 “And why call ye me Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say.”  The Lord desires obedience. He does not need us deciding who to invite to HIS table. Simply follow and do what this lesson points out.

I. VIEWS TAKEN BY DIFFERENT FAITHS ON THE LORD’S SUPPER.
    a. TRANS-SUBSTANTIATION (Roman Catholic view) – That the elements of the Lord’s Supper actually become the body and blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.

    b. CON-SUBSTANTIATION (Lutheran view) – That, while not actually becoming the body and blood of Jesus, in some mysterious way the real body and blood of Jesus, is so connected with the bread and wine as to be actually imparted to those who partake. This differs little with the Roman Catholic view.

    c. MYSTICAL PRESENCE (Presbyterian view) – Although they reject the previous views, they believe that in some mystical sense Jesus is spiritually present in the elements; that because of this the Lord’s Supper is a medium through which certain blessings are conferred.

    d. FIGURATIVE ONLY (Baptist view) – That nothing is conferred but that it is a symbolic ordinance depicting the death of Jesus; His body broken for us and His blood shed for us.

II. THE BIBLE TEACHING OF THE LORD’S SUPPER.

    a. Instituted by the Lord Himself, before His crucifixion (Matt. 26:26-29).

    b. Given to an institution, te churches (I Cor. 11:2; Matt. 28:20).

    c. Given to show the Lord’s death until He comes again (I Cor. 11:25,26).

III. WHAT BROUGHT ABOUT THE PRACTICE OF OPEN COMMUNION?

    Who is responsible for this practice? It is based on division; a recognition of division, and a will to ignore that division so that all can partake together. It pretends a unity that does not exist. God is not the author of confusion or division among Christians (I Cor. 14:33), therefore cannot be its author.

    If Baptists are bigots for holding to closed/restricted communion then cannot others be charged likewise when they demand that we accept their views in order to allow them to participate? This restriction is not based on love but upon God’s standard. The decision to allow or not allow is not mine but the Lord’s.

IV. THE BIBLE MAKES CLEAR THE CONCEPT OF COMMUNION WITH CERTAIN RESTRICTIONS UPON THOSE WHO PARTICIPATE.

    a. Who can come to the Lord’s table? Acts 2:41,42 gives the order of approach.
        1. Receive the Word.
        2. Be baptized.
        3. Become members of the church.
        4. Be faithful to the doctrines.
        5. Be in fellowship with the brethren.

    b. To be observed by the church as such (I Cor. 11:2,18). The church at Corinth was commanded to correct certain abuses before they could observe the Lord’s Supper properly (I Cor. 11:20).

    c. From this we gather that conditions governing participation are those governing church relationship, and that the ordinance is to be guarded by the church as well as presented to partakers (I Cor. 5:12,13).

V. RESTRICTIONS AROUND THE SUPPER AS SET FORTH IN THE BIBLE.

    a. Restricted as to purpose or design (I Cor. 11:26).

    b. Restricted to baptized believers (Acts 2:41,42).

    c. Restricted to the discipline of the church, therefore none but members of the local church can partake (I Cor. 5:11; 11:18-20).

    d. Restricted to the fellowship of the church (Acts 2:41,42; I Cor. 11:21,22).

    e. Restricted to self-examination (I Cor. 11:28).

    f. Restricted to a united church (I Cor. 11:16-20).

    g. Restricted to the examination and will of the church (I Cor. 5:11-13). Simply put – if you are not a member of the church that is observing the Lord’s Supper, that church has no authority over you and therefore you have no right to observe the Lord’s Supper with them. By the way, don’t be like one preacher that said to me, “I am not sure this is the Lord’s Supper in verse 11.” This only reveals a persons ignorance because there is only one supper that the Lord observes. If this is not the Lord’s Supper, there are many family and friends that we would not be able to eat with socially.

    h. Restricted to the elements used. FRUIT OF THE VINE and unleavened bread (Matt. 26:29; I Cor. 5:6-8). That doesn’t say wine does it.

This privilege is open to all who meet the conditions imposed by God. The Supper is closed only to those who have no scriptural right to eat it. The Lord did not give an ordinance that is impossible to keep, therefore it should be observed.

   

Technorati Tags: sacrament, communion, Lord, supper, church

WHAT THE BIBLE TEACHES ABOUT BAPTISMAL REGENERATION

All most all religions teach that baptism saves, helps to save, or is in some way essential to salvation. This cannot be sustained by the Scriptures. Baptism is NOT essential to salvation.

I. Some Scriptures used to prrove that baptism is essential to salvation.
    A. Acts 2:38: “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptised every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”

Examine the verse: In the previous verse Peter had been asked: “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” Notice it is not “what shall we do to be saved?” Peter told them what they must do. “Repent” is second person plural. “Every one of you” is first person singular: thus, only those who had repented were instructed to be baptised. “For the remissi9on of sins” refers to those who were to be baptised. This does not indicate that through baptism they would receive remission of sins but that they were to be baptised with reference to remission of sins received through repentance. The Greek word “eis” is the word translated FOR. In this case it means “with reference to.” See Matthew 12:41 where the word is translated “at.” The same word is used in I Corinthians 10:2; “And were all baptised unto (eis) Moses.” Scripture must not be made to contradict scripture.

    B. Romans 6:3; “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptised into (eis) Jesus Christ were baptised into (eis) his death?”

The teaching is that of being baptised with reference to Jesus and with reference to His death. Surely none believe that a person is literally baptised into His death. The Israelites (I Cor. 10:1) were baptised with reference to Moses and not literally into him.

    C. Galatians 3:27; “For as many of you as have been baptised into Christ have put on Christ.”

The same Greek word “eis” is translated “into” and means the same as in the previous verses, “with reference to.” The argument put forth by some is that the phrase “have put on Christ” speaks of a spiritual birth and therefore it means baptised into Christ or baptismal salvation. There is a similar phrase in Romans 13:14: “But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof.” This is admonition to a people already justified by faith (Rom. 5:1), and a people already baptised (Rom. 6:3,4). They were to put on Christ in their daily walk and daily life. (Rom. 6:11-13), therefore the phrase “put on Christ” does not mean salvation by baptism.

Those addressed in this verse had become children of God by faith (Gal. 3:26). They had put on the livery of a Christian; had dressed up that Christ might be seen in them – that is, in their obedience.

II. If Baptism is essential to salvation then the following is also true.
    A. It would make the preacher the mediator between God and man. There is one mediator (I Tim. 2:5).

    B. It would make it impossible for one to be saved in a hospital, on the battlefield, or any place away from a preacher and water for baptism. No matter how much one might repent, pray, or believe on Jesus, he would be lost forever if he were not baptised.

    C. It would make Paul to leave out something in his address to the Athenians. Acts 17:30; “And the times of this ignorance God winked at but now commandeth all men everywhere to repent.” Why didn’t he add “and be baptised”?

    D. It would make Paul guilty of rejoicing that he had left off an essential part of the salvation of some of the Corinthians. I Corinthians 1:14: “I thank God that I baptised none of you, but Crispus and Gaius.”

    E. If baptism is essential to salvation then salvation must be both by works and by grace.
Baptism is an act or work of righteousness. Matthew 3:15: “And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness.”
(See also Titus 3:5; Eph 2:8-10; Rom. 11:6).
The unregenerate man cannot be subject to the law of God, for he is under the law of sin and death (Rom. 8:2-8. He must repent and believe in Jesus.

    F. Some object that baptism is an act of faith, therefore acceptable to God though the candidate be unregenerate. If it is an act of faith, who had the faith? If the one being baptised has it before he goes into the water, then he is already saved, before baptism. I John 5:1: “Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God.” If the one going into the water does not have faith, then the very act would be sinful. Romans 14:23: “For whatsoever is not of faith is sin.”

This puts the “baptism essential to salvation” advocate in a dilemma. If he baptises one who says he has faith in Christ then he baptises one who is already saved. If he baptises one who says he has no faith in Christ then he baptises one to whom even baptism is a sin.

    G. If baptism is essential to salvation then the following examples are meaningless.

                PERSONS SAVED WITHOUT BAPTISM
        1. Thief on the cross (Luke 23:42,43). Where is paradise? (II Cor. 12:1-4; Revelation 2:7; I John 5:4).
        2. The publican (Luke 18:14).

III. Scriptures which teach salvation but which make no mention of baptism.

Rom. 1:16,17; 3:21-26; Eph. 2:8-10; Acts 10:43; John 3:14-16; 3:18; 3:36; 5:24; 6:40; Acts 13:38,39,48; Rom. 5:1,2; I Cor. 3:8; Gal. 3:26; Phi. 3:9; Rom. 10:4,8,9-11. In all of these passages baptism is omitted. if it were necessary to salvation surely it would have been mentioned.

IV. Baptism’s Message.

    A. Baptism affirms that Jesus died and rose again (Rom. 6:4).
    B. Baptism is a figure of the death, burial, and resurrection (I Peter 3:21).
    C. Baptism is a pictorial ordinance (Rom. 6:4-12).
    D. Every Christian ought to submit to scriptural baptism (Matt. 28:19,20).Technorati Tags: baptism, regeneration, essential, Peter, Paul Lord, Jesus Christ, death