Philippians 3:20 -Our citizenship is in heaven
So what happens next, after you’ve obeyed the gospel call and been baptized? What do you do next? Do you just sit there? Or are there things that we are supposed to be doing? Let us, as in all things, consult the Bible!
First things first…Rejoice!
It is a great day when someone comes to Christ! That person should rejoice in their salvation and the promise of eternal life. In fact, don’t just rejoice then, but continue in your rejoicing over it for the rest of your life.
Acts 8: 38-39 -Ethiopian Eunuch rejoices
Philippians 4:4 -Rejoice always in the Lord
Acts 5:40-41 -Rejoice even when persecuted
Now, why would you rejoice at being beaten? Think about it: that means that people are seeing you living the life of a Christian! That means that people can tell where you stand! And if they can see that, then they see the example you’re setting. Which means they’re probably learning from you. So even if you are persecuted (and we are fortunate to not face beatings in this place and time), rejoice!
I Peter 4:16 -Glorify God when we suffer as Christians
Study and Learn More About God’s Truth
Baptism is truly the starting point of it all. Once you have obtained your citizenship, you must continue to study God’s word, that you can better understand what God’s will is, and how to accomplish it.
Ezra 7:10 -Ezra’s example of setting our heart to study
Romans 15:4 -The things written are for our learning
Acts 18:24-28 -Apollos, mighty in the scriptures, was taught
It is something that never ends. We never “know it all.” We must continue to study and search out in the scriptures what God wants.
Live a Christ-like Life
As a Christian, you must begin molding your life to match Christ’s. This takes a great deal of time and study to do. We must shape ourselves to His will and example.
I Corinthians 11:1 -Follow Paul’s example in following Christ
I Peter 2:21-22 -Called to follow Christ’s example
I Timothy 1:15-16 -The example of patient teaching
This is what it means to “walk with God.” If we wish to walk in the light, then we must match ourselves to Christ. We must be in agreement with Him.
I John 1:5-7 -Walk in the light
Amos 3:3 -Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?
Colossians 2:6-7 -As you received Christ, walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him
Grow as Christians
After we convert and come to Christ, we must grow and develop. Part of this is an outcome from studying God’s word.
II Peter 3:18 -Grow in grace and knowledge
Hebrews 5:12-14 -The milk of the word, the first principles
II Peter 1:5-8 -Growth by adding these things
Part of growing as a Christian is to actually get out and practicing what you learn. We cannot stop with study, but as we have seen, we must put it into practice.
James 1:22-25 -Do not merely hear the word, but do it
We should, as Christians, be eagerly looking for ways in which we can grow. We should be looking intently at ourselves, looking for our failings so that we can improve in those areas. We should be looking for ways we can serve each other. We should be looking to take on more responsibility in our service to God, perhaps looking to be a teacher or an Elder some day.
I Timothy 3:1-7 -Elder must not be a new convert
Titus 2:3 -Older women should be able to teach the younger women
Teach Others
We must strive to teach others. As we talked about earlier this week, teaching is an integral part of what we must do. And there is no one who cannot teach. After all, if you have obeyed the gospel, then you can explain to others why you did so, can you not?
Matthew 28:18-20 -Go to all the world, teaching
Acts 8:4 -The church is scattered, and goes teaching
Endure to the End
We must continue our walk with God until the end. We must not give up. We cannot stop. We cannot “retire” from being Christians. It’s a life-long commitment. And as the song says, “the longer I serve Him, the sweeter He grows.”
Matthew 24:13 -He who endures to the end will be saved
Revelation 2:10 -Be faithful unto death
If we do not endure, if we do not continue to walk with God, then it has all been for nothing. And make no mistake, it is possible to reject your salvation!
Luke 8:11-15 -Seed on the rock = fallen away
Hebrews 6:6 -If one falls away
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Entering the Kingdom - Gospel Meeting Sermon 4 - 4/22/08
Romans 1:16 -The gospel is the power of God for salvation to all
How does a person enter the kingdom? What does it require? What are the steps to gain citizenship? If you look around you in the world, you will find many answers to this question. Let us consult the Bible, and see what God says about entering His kingdom.
God Has Provided for us:
A plan
God has always had a plan. He has always been prepared and ready. And He has been fully successful in carrying out His plan. After all, who can thwart God? His plan took all things into account, and He made all things ready for our salvation.
Genesis 3:15 -First prophecy of Christ
John 19:23-30 -Fulfillment of scripture: indicates preparation
Acts 2:14-21 -The church was a fulfillment and part of this plan
An Atoning sacrifice
Throughout the Old Testament, people offered sacrifices to roll their sins forward. The Father sent His Son to die in our place as a final, perfect sacrifice. It is because of this Sacrifice that we can have entrance into His kingdom.
I John 1:7 -Christ’s sacrifice, atoning of sins, and obedience
I John 4:10 -Christ was sent as an atoning sacrifice for our sins
Grace: what it is and what it isn’t
Grace is a gift. It is something that is extended to us by God. This does not mean that we are forced to take it. Nor does it mean that we do not have to carry out our part. God offers the gift, He makes salvation available. But we have to fulfill the proper conditions and actually reach out for it.
Ephesians 2:4-10 -By grace, not by works that we should boast
Jude 1:4 -Changing the grace of God to a license for immorality
Joshua 6:2-20 -God gives, Israel obeys, Israel takes (conditional)
Instructions
Fortunately, God tells us exactly what we need to do to reach out and take hold of His gift. The Bible contains directions and guiding examples, teaching us exactly what we need to do.
II Peter 1:3 -God has given us everything we need
II Timothy 3:16-17 -All of His instructions are useful and good
James 2:8-13 -We will be judged by the Law of liberty
We Must Respond:
In Faith
We must have faith. Faith serves as a basis for the rest that we must do. After all, if we do something that happens to be right, but don’t have any faith, what good is it? It is an essential part of our walk with God, and it is essential for entrance into the kingdom.
Hebrews 11:6 -Without faith it is impossible to please Him
Hebrews 11:1 -Definition of faith
However, we cannot stop with faith. That is not the full extend of how we must respond to God’s merciful offer. And when you really think about it, faith is a requirement. Having faith is a form of obedience!
John 6:29 -The work of God is to do believe
Some people teach that this passage means that God is doing the work of faith. Let us break it down in context and see who it is that must believe.
John 6:24-27 -Christ teaches the crowd that they must work for the food unto eternal life
John 6:28 -The people ask what they must do to do this work
John 6:29 -Christ tells them the work is to believe
John 6:30 -The people respond and ask what signs they have so that they can believe
Also, if this is the case, then how can I John 3:23 be explained? Faith is a commandment. We know we must believe, and so we do. It is obedience to what was written. If we must obey in this, we must obey in all matters. If we do not have to obey in this, then the Bible is invalidated.
In Obedience
As with faith, we are expected to obey Him in all things, if we wish to enter the kingdom. Let us not balk at obeying the things that have been commanded!
Repentance -II Corinthians 7:10
Confession -Romans 10:9-10
Baptism -Acts 2:38
(Baptism is unto remission of sins, not because of - Matthew 26:28 - was Christ’s blood poured out unto or because of the forgiveness of sins?)
This is what is necessary to enter into the kingdom. Tomorrow night we will talk about what to do after you have become a citizen of the kingdom, and of what is expected of you.
How does a person enter the kingdom? What does it require? What are the steps to gain citizenship? If you look around you in the world, you will find many answers to this question. Let us consult the Bible, and see what God says about entering His kingdom.
God Has Provided for us:
A plan
God has always had a plan. He has always been prepared and ready. And He has been fully successful in carrying out His plan. After all, who can thwart God? His plan took all things into account, and He made all things ready for our salvation.
Genesis 3:15 -First prophecy of Christ
John 19:23-30 -Fulfillment of scripture: indicates preparation
Acts 2:14-21 -The church was a fulfillment and part of this plan
An Atoning sacrifice
Throughout the Old Testament, people offered sacrifices to roll their sins forward. The Father sent His Son to die in our place as a final, perfect sacrifice. It is because of this Sacrifice that we can have entrance into His kingdom.
I John 1:7 -Christ’s sacrifice, atoning of sins, and obedience
I John 4:10 -Christ was sent as an atoning sacrifice for our sins
Grace: what it is and what it isn’t
Grace is a gift. It is something that is extended to us by God. This does not mean that we are forced to take it. Nor does it mean that we do not have to carry out our part. God offers the gift, He makes salvation available. But we have to fulfill the proper conditions and actually reach out for it.
Ephesians 2:4-10 -By grace, not by works that we should boast
Jude 1:4 -Changing the grace of God to a license for immorality
Joshua 6:2-20 -God gives, Israel obeys, Israel takes (conditional)
Instructions
Fortunately, God tells us exactly what we need to do to reach out and take hold of His gift. The Bible contains directions and guiding examples, teaching us exactly what we need to do.
II Peter 1:3 -God has given us everything we need
II Timothy 3:16-17 -All of His instructions are useful and good
James 2:8-13 -We will be judged by the Law of liberty
We Must Respond:
In Faith
We must have faith. Faith serves as a basis for the rest that we must do. After all, if we do something that happens to be right, but don’t have any faith, what good is it? It is an essential part of our walk with God, and it is essential for entrance into the kingdom.
Hebrews 11:6 -Without faith it is impossible to please Him
Hebrews 11:1 -Definition of faith
However, we cannot stop with faith. That is not the full extend of how we must respond to God’s merciful offer. And when you really think about it, faith is a requirement. Having faith is a form of obedience!
John 6:29 -The work of God is to do believe
Some people teach that this passage means that God is doing the work of faith. Let us break it down in context and see who it is that must believe.
John 6:24-27 -Christ teaches the crowd that they must work for the food unto eternal life
John 6:28 -The people ask what they must do to do this work
John 6:29 -Christ tells them the work is to believe
John 6:30 -The people respond and ask what signs they have so that they can believe
Also, if this is the case, then how can I John 3:23 be explained? Faith is a commandment. We know we must believe, and so we do. It is obedience to what was written. If we must obey in this, we must obey in all matters. If we do not have to obey in this, then the Bible is invalidated.
In Obedience
As with faith, we are expected to obey Him in all things, if we wish to enter the kingdom. Let us not balk at obeying the things that have been commanded!
Repentance -II Corinthians 7:10
Confession -Romans 10:9-10
Baptism -Acts 2:38
(Baptism is unto remission of sins, not because of - Matthew 26:28 - was Christ’s blood poured out unto or because of the forgiveness of sins?)
This is what is necessary to enter into the kingdom. Tomorrow night we will talk about what to do after you have become a citizen of the kingdom, and of what is expected of you.
Monday, April 21, 2008
Keys of the Kingdom - Gospel Meeting Sermon 3 - 4/21/08
Matthew 16:19 -The keys of the kingdom of heaven
There is much confusion about what these keys are, and what their importance is. What do they signify? What does it mean? Let us consider what the verses says, and what the Bible has to teach us.
~The keys of the kingdom is the gospel of Christ~
The keys indicate the ability to open and close. So the question is, what was about to be opened? The church! The church was about to be made open to all people. Not only the Jews, but to gentiles as well. And as we will see, this is exactly what Peter did.
Acts 2:1-41 -Peter preaches the church to the Jews for the first time
Acts 10:24-48 -Peter teaches Cornelius, the first Gentile convert
Romans 1:16 -The gospel is the power of salvation to all
The kingdom was opened to all! And of course, this was not only the duty of Peter, but of all who follow Christ.
Matthew 28:18-20 -Go to all nations, teaching them
Moreover, Christ states that what they will bind will have been bound in heaven, and what is loosed will have been loosed in heaven. This does not mean that Peter and/the apostles had the right to make laws for the church, and that what they created would be made binding. But rather that they will strive to make the binding and loosening they teach in accordance with what has been established in heaven already.
Think of it in this way: when we teach, we do not teach what we want and expect God to back us up. Rather, we teach in accordance with what God has mandated. We bind what God has bound, and we loose where God has loosed in our teaching.
I Timothy 6:3-5 -Condemnation of one who teaches what does not agree with Christ’s teaching
Ephesians 4:15 -We must speak the truth in love
Galatians 1:6-92 -If anyone teaches another gospel, let him be accursed, but rather, we should teach what God has revealed
The Apostles, and we today, must teach in accordance with God wants. He does not change His will to match our, but we must change ours to match His.
The basis for what we teach is the gospel, the scriptures contained in the Bible.
I Peter 4:11 -Let us speak as the oracles of God (ie. Only what God wants said)
Acts 17:1-4 -Paul teaches by reasoning from the scriptures
I Corinthians 2:2 -Christ, and Him crucified
Paul reasoned from the scriptures to teach Christ. As he did, so must we.
Acts 8:4-8, 26-40 -Phillip and the Ethiopian Eunuch
We see an example of our teaching here in this passage.
-Philip preached about Christ to Samaria and the Eunuch
-Philip preached from the scriptures, using what God had provided
-Philip’s teaching of Christ included baptism and information about salvation
Have you obeyed the gospel of Christ? Have you taken advantage of what has been opened for you, of the keys of the kingdom?
There is much confusion about what these keys are, and what their importance is. What do they signify? What does it mean? Let us consider what the verses says, and what the Bible has to teach us.
~The keys of the kingdom is the gospel of Christ~
The keys indicate the ability to open and close. So the question is, what was about to be opened? The church! The church was about to be made open to all people. Not only the Jews, but to gentiles as well. And as we will see, this is exactly what Peter did.
Acts 2:1-41 -Peter preaches the church to the Jews for the first time
Acts 10:24-48 -Peter teaches Cornelius, the first Gentile convert
Romans 1:16 -The gospel is the power of salvation to all
The kingdom was opened to all! And of course, this was not only the duty of Peter, but of all who follow Christ.
Matthew 28:18-20 -Go to all nations, teaching them
Moreover, Christ states that what they will bind will have been bound in heaven, and what is loosed will have been loosed in heaven. This does not mean that Peter and/the apostles had the right to make laws for the church, and that what they created would be made binding. But rather that they will strive to make the binding and loosening they teach in accordance with what has been established in heaven already.
Think of it in this way: when we teach, we do not teach what we want and expect God to back us up. Rather, we teach in accordance with what God has mandated. We bind what God has bound, and we loose where God has loosed in our teaching.
I Timothy 6:3-5 -Condemnation of one who teaches what does not agree with Christ’s teaching
Ephesians 4:15 -We must speak the truth in love
Galatians 1:6-92 -If anyone teaches another gospel, let him be accursed, but rather, we should teach what God has revealed
The Apostles, and we today, must teach in accordance with God wants. He does not change His will to match our, but we must change ours to match His.
The basis for what we teach is the gospel, the scriptures contained in the Bible.
I Peter 4:11 -Let us speak as the oracles of God (ie. Only what God wants said)
Acts 17:1-4 -Paul teaches by reasoning from the scriptures
I Corinthians 2:2 -Christ, and Him crucified
Paul reasoned from the scriptures to teach Christ. As he did, so must we.
Acts 8:4-8, 26-40 -Phillip and the Ethiopian Eunuch
We see an example of our teaching here in this passage.
-Philip preached about Christ to Samaria and the Eunuch
-Philip preached from the scriptures, using what God had provided
-Philip’s teaching of Christ included baptism and information about salvation
Have you obeyed the gospel of Christ? Have you taken advantage of what has been opened for you, of the keys of the kingdom?
Sunday, April 20, 2008
The King of the Kingdom - Gospel Meeting Sermon 2 - 4/20/08pm
Hebrews 7
What does this passage teach us about Christ?
King of Righteousness (v 2)
Christ is the King of Righteousness. His kingdom is made up of the Righteous, and His decrees are righteous.
Ephesians 4:22-24 -Put on the new self, created to be like God in righteousness
II Timothy 3:16-17 -Scripture is for equipping in righteousness
II Timothy 4:8 -The Lord awards a crown of righteousness
King of Peace (v 2)
Christ is the King of Peace. He does not guarantee peace between His followers and the world, quite the opposite. But He makes peace between believers possible, and grants us an individual peace, knowing our eternal outcome.
Romans 15:13 -The Hope of God will fill us with joy and peace
Philippians 4:4-7 -The hope that surpasses all understanding
Psalm 119:165 -Those who love God’s word have peace
Acts 10:36 -The gospel of peace
Priest Forever (v 3)
Not only is Christ our king, but He is also our chief priest. He provides for us spiritually, forever.
I Peter 2:9-10 -Christians are a royal priesthood
Hebrews 4:14-5:10 -How Christ is our high priest
Able to Save Completely and Forever (vv 23-25)
Christ has the power to save us. Not only can He save us, but His salvation is complete. And it has no expiration date on it. Our salvation will not disappear unless we reject it.
Acts 4:8-12 -Salvation is found only in Christ
Romans 8:35-39 -There is no external force that separates us from God
He Was Our Perfect Sacrifice (vv 26-28)
Christ fulfilled the Old Law and served as our perfect, final sacrifice. It is because of what He gave that we can have salvation and eternal life. Is it through His sacrifice that we have forgiveness of sins.
I Peter 2:24 -He bore our sins so that we might die to sin
Hebrews 9:27-10:4 -Christ died for our sins
I John 2:2 -He is our atoning sacrifice
He Has All Authority (Matthew 28:18-20)
Christ has been given complete authority by the Father. His will shall be done. His decrees are firm, and His judgments are set. What He says is what goes.
Mark 1:21-28 -Authority over the demons, people recognize His authority
Hebrews 2:6-8 -Everything is put under His feet
He Does Not Require Great Feats to Follow (Matthew 11:28-30)
Christ’s commands as King are all fairly simple and straightforward. He does not require greats feats and accomplishments. Just simple faith and obedience.
Luke 17:7-10 -We are just servants, doing what is asked
I John 2:3-6 -Obey His commands, walk as He did
Are you willing to follow Him? Are you willing to make Him your King and walk as He did?
What does this passage teach us about Christ?
King of Righteousness (v 2)
Christ is the King of Righteousness. His kingdom is made up of the Righteous, and His decrees are righteous.
Ephesians 4:22-24 -Put on the new self, created to be like God in righteousness
II Timothy 3:16-17 -Scripture is for equipping in righteousness
II Timothy 4:8 -The Lord awards a crown of righteousness
King of Peace (v 2)
Christ is the King of Peace. He does not guarantee peace between His followers and the world, quite the opposite. But He makes peace between believers possible, and grants us an individual peace, knowing our eternal outcome.
Romans 15:13 -The Hope of God will fill us with joy and peace
Philippians 4:4-7 -The hope that surpasses all understanding
Psalm 119:165 -Those who love God’s word have peace
Acts 10:36 -The gospel of peace
Priest Forever (v 3)
Not only is Christ our king, but He is also our chief priest. He provides for us spiritually, forever.
I Peter 2:9-10 -Christians are a royal priesthood
Hebrews 4:14-5:10 -How Christ is our high priest
Able to Save Completely and Forever (vv 23-25)
Christ has the power to save us. Not only can He save us, but His salvation is complete. And it has no expiration date on it. Our salvation will not disappear unless we reject it.
Acts 4:8-12 -Salvation is found only in Christ
Romans 8:35-39 -There is no external force that separates us from God
He Was Our Perfect Sacrifice (vv 26-28)
Christ fulfilled the Old Law and served as our perfect, final sacrifice. It is because of what He gave that we can have salvation and eternal life. Is it through His sacrifice that we have forgiveness of sins.
I Peter 2:24 -He bore our sins so that we might die to sin
Hebrews 9:27-10:4 -Christ died for our sins
I John 2:2 -He is our atoning sacrifice
He Has All Authority (Matthew 28:18-20)
Christ has been given complete authority by the Father. His will shall be done. His decrees are firm, and His judgments are set. What He says is what goes.
Mark 1:21-28 -Authority over the demons, people recognize His authority
Hebrews 2:6-8 -Everything is put under His feet
He Does Not Require Great Feats to Follow (Matthew 11:28-30)
Christ’s commands as King are all fairly simple and straightforward. He does not require greats feats and accomplishments. Just simple faith and obedience.
Luke 17:7-10 -We are just servants, doing what is asked
I John 2:3-6 -Obey His commands, walk as He did
Are you willing to follow Him? Are you willing to make Him your King and walk as He did?
What is the Kingdom? - Gospel Meeting Sermon 1 - 4/20/08am
Matthew 6:33 -Seek first the kingdom of God
It is worth asking ourselves the question: what is the kingdom that we are to be seeking? After all, how can we seek it if we don’t even know what it is? And so we will spend some time examining what the scriptures tell us about the Kingdom of God. Let us consider some New Testament passages which give us a brief timeline, and see if we can nail down the appearing of the kingdom.
The Kingdom, the Church, and Believers
Mark 1:15 -The kingdom is “at hand;” indicating it’s coming soon
Mark 9:1 -The kingdom will come in the lifetime of some hearers
Acts 1:6-8 -Disciples ask when if He will now restore the kingdom. He tells them it will happen with the Holy Spirit
Acts 2:1-21 -The Holy Spirit comes on the apostles
Acts 8:12, Acts 19:8 -The kingdom and the gospel
Matthew 16:16-19 -”kingdom” and “church” are used interchangeably
We have an indication here that the Kingdom and church are one and the same! Indeed, they cannot be separated. And as we can continue on, we can see that the kingdom is indeed here now!
Ephesians 5:3-5 -We must not be this way to be part of the kingdom
Colossians 1:13 -Paul writes that Paul and the church in Colossi had already been brought into the kingdom!
I Thessalonians 2:10-12 -The church in Thessalonica were called into the kingdom
Hebrews 12:28 -The church is receiving the kingdom already!
Revelation 1:4-6 -The churches have been made into a kingdom
Revelation 1:9 -John writes than he and those he writes to are members of the kingdom
Does this mean that once we die, if we die in Christ, we are no longer part of the kingdom? Of course not! Such an assumption is absurd. The kingdom is an inclusive term. It includes the church established by Christ, and those who have “fallen asleep” in Christ.
I Corinthians 15:17-24 -Those who have fallen asleep still have their reward and citizenship in the kingdom
Hebrews 11:13-16 -The heavenly citizenship of the faithful in the OT
As God and Christ are eternal, so is the kingdom. Those who followed Him have that assurance. The Kingdom is the body of the saved.
The Nature of the Kingdom
John 8:36 -Christ’s kingdom is not of this world, but is spiritual
If we make the assumption that Christ’s kingdom is a physical kingdom, we make the same mistake that the early opponents of Christ made!
Luke 17:20-21 -The Pharisees were expecting an earthly kingdom, yet it was already in their midst!
We, as Christians, should not expect an earthly nation or kingdom. We are plainly told that such is not going to happen. Instead, we are part of the spiritual kingdom. If we expect an earthly nation, then we set ourselves opposed to Christ’s kingdom as much as the Pharisees did.
Won’t the Kingdom Come in the Last Days?
Of course! The last days have already begun, actually. And not in 1947, either. The last days began on Pentecost, with the establishment of the church.
Acts 2:16-17 -”The last days” are fulfilled
Hebrews 1:1-2 -”These last days” defined by being spoken to by the Son
Isaiah 2:1-5 -In the last days shall be the mountain of the Lord’s Temple
Daniel 2:31-45 -In the time of the 4th kingdom (Rome), the Kingdom of God will be established, enduring forever.
Won’t you become a citizen of this kingdom? Won’t you join yourself to those who follow Him, the church? Won’t you recognize the King?
It is worth asking ourselves the question: what is the kingdom that we are to be seeking? After all, how can we seek it if we don’t even know what it is? And so we will spend some time examining what the scriptures tell us about the Kingdom of God. Let us consider some New Testament passages which give us a brief timeline, and see if we can nail down the appearing of the kingdom.
The Kingdom, the Church, and Believers
Mark 1:15 -The kingdom is “at hand;” indicating it’s coming soon
Mark 9:1 -The kingdom will come in the lifetime of some hearers
Acts 1:6-8 -Disciples ask when if He will now restore the kingdom. He tells them it will happen with the Holy Spirit
Acts 2:1-21 -The Holy Spirit comes on the apostles
Acts 8:12, Acts 19:8 -The kingdom and the gospel
Matthew 16:16-19 -”kingdom” and “church” are used interchangeably
We have an indication here that the Kingdom and church are one and the same! Indeed, they cannot be separated. And as we can continue on, we can see that the kingdom is indeed here now!
Ephesians 5:3-5 -We must not be this way to be part of the kingdom
Colossians 1:13 -Paul writes that Paul and the church in Colossi had already been brought into the kingdom!
I Thessalonians 2:10-12 -The church in Thessalonica were called into the kingdom
Hebrews 12:28 -The church is receiving the kingdom already!
Revelation 1:4-6 -The churches have been made into a kingdom
Revelation 1:9 -John writes than he and those he writes to are members of the kingdom
Does this mean that once we die, if we die in Christ, we are no longer part of the kingdom? Of course not! Such an assumption is absurd. The kingdom is an inclusive term. It includes the church established by Christ, and those who have “fallen asleep” in Christ.
I Corinthians 15:17-24 -Those who have fallen asleep still have their reward and citizenship in the kingdom
Hebrews 11:13-16 -The heavenly citizenship of the faithful in the OT
As God and Christ are eternal, so is the kingdom. Those who followed Him have that assurance. The Kingdom is the body of the saved.
The Nature of the Kingdom
John 8:36 -Christ’s kingdom is not of this world, but is spiritual
If we make the assumption that Christ’s kingdom is a physical kingdom, we make the same mistake that the early opponents of Christ made!
Luke 17:20-21 -The Pharisees were expecting an earthly kingdom, yet it was already in their midst!
We, as Christians, should not expect an earthly nation or kingdom. We are plainly told that such is not going to happen. Instead, we are part of the spiritual kingdom. If we expect an earthly nation, then we set ourselves opposed to Christ’s kingdom as much as the Pharisees did.
Won’t the Kingdom Come in the Last Days?
Of course! The last days have already begun, actually. And not in 1947, either. The last days began on Pentecost, with the establishment of the church.
Acts 2:16-17 -”The last days” are fulfilled
Hebrews 1:1-2 -”These last days” defined by being spoken to by the Son
Isaiah 2:1-5 -In the last days shall be the mountain of the Lord’s Temple
Daniel 2:31-45 -In the time of the 4th kingdom (Rome), the Kingdom of God will be established, enduring forever.
Won’t you become a citizen of this kingdom? Won’t you join yourself to those who follow Him, the church? Won’t you recognize the King?
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Even if We Don't Understand... - 4/13/08pm
Deuteronomy 29:29 -The secret things are God’s, but we obey what God revealed
Isaiah 55:8-9 -My ways are higher than your ways
I Corinthians 1:25 -The “foolishness” of God is greater than man’s wisdom
Sometimes, we don’t understand something in the Bible. Sometimes we struggle to grasp what it says. But we need to be careful to not use that as an excuse to ignore what it says. We may not fully understand something, but that does not excuse us from doing what it says, even if we don’t understand why we’re supposed to do it.
Easy Things and Hard Things
Some things are easy for us to grasp and follow through with. Some things are harder.
II Peter 3:15-16 -Paul wrote some things that are hard to understand
Hebrews 5:12-6:3 -The first principles, which we should move on from
We must grow as Christians, and develop past the first principles. As we grow, more things become understandable for us. It is a building process. We cannot understand everything right up front, but rather it takes us time to grow and mature as Christians. Even if we don’t understand at first, if we study, we can learn much as we grow.
The Apostles Didn’t Always Get it Either
The apostles spent a great deal of time with the Messiah, yet they didn’t always understand what He was teaching either.
Mark 8:13-21 -Disciples didn’t understand the Pharisee’s leaven
Mark 9:30-32 -His disciples didn’t understand what He was saying
John 20:6-9 -Apostles didn’t understand the scriptures of the resurrection yet
If the people who spent that much time around Christ, and who had been chosen by Christ, didn’t understand everything all at once, then we probably can’t expect to either. But notice, that didn’t keep them from following Him. That did not prevent them from learning from the Master.
We Do Not Fully Understand God’s Nature
I think it’s safe to say that none of us fully comprehends the full power and nature of God.
I Corinthians 1:3 -God the Father
John 1:1-14 -God the Son
Acts 5:3-4 -God the Holy Spirit
I don’t think any of us fully understands how this works, but we accept that it is so. In it all, we remember that God is Spirit (John 4:24) and that at some level, it is being put into physical terms so that we can understand it as well as we can. Simply because we may not understand how the Son is God as well as the Father is God as well as the Holy Spirit is God, does not mean we are allowed to fail to recognize God and render Him what is due.
Willful Ignorance is Not Acceptable, Though
Some things we don’t grasp at all. And some things we learn over time. But we cannot use it as an excuse to close our ears and hearts and remain willfully ignorant of what we can know!
Hosea 4:6 -My people are destroyed for a lack of knowledge
Matthew 13:10-17 -Wanting to know vs. refusing to see
There is a difference between striving to understand God’s will, and not having matured enough to grasp things and not caring enough to learn more. There are certain things (the first principles, for example) that we can definitely understand. The difference is between “can’t” and “won’t.” God will know whether you are trying or not. He will recognize those who diligently seek to be His disciples, and those who do not (Hebrews 11:6).
Obedience if Rewarded, Even Without Full Understanding
Even if we don’t fully understand why we are to do something, but know we must do it, then we must do it.
II Kings 5:9-15 -Naaman
Romans 6:1-7 -Baptism : it seems like a little “pointless“ thing by human reasoning, yet we know what it reflects and that proper baptism results in the forgiveness of sins. We do not know why God chose this particular method, we accept that He did.
Acts 22:16 -Arise, be baptized, and wash away your sins
Sometimes we know only that we are to do something, and not the reasons why we are to do it. Or we understand that something has a certain outcome, even if we are not completely sure of why it has that outcome. We are still held accountable for obeying in that way, regardless of our level of comprehension.
We Must Have Faith and Trust
We must believe that God knows best, and put our trust in Him. God’s knowledge and wisdom is greater than our own, and we must depend on Him.
Psalm 118:8-9 -Better to trust in God
Titus 1:2 -God cannot lie
II Peter 1:3 -He has give us all things that pertain to life and
godliness, through knowledge of Christ (thus, we CAN learn and know)
John 14:1-4 -Trust in God, trust in Christ, that the reward is there (even if we don’t fully understand the reward!)
We trust that when God, the Almighty, says something is so, that it is so. We depend on Him for the truth, and we accept that what He says is true is true.
Isaiah 55:8-9 -My ways are higher than your ways
I Corinthians 1:25 -The “foolishness” of God is greater than man’s wisdom
Sometimes, we don’t understand something in the Bible. Sometimes we struggle to grasp what it says. But we need to be careful to not use that as an excuse to ignore what it says. We may not fully understand something, but that does not excuse us from doing what it says, even if we don’t understand why we’re supposed to do it.
Easy Things and Hard Things
Some things are easy for us to grasp and follow through with. Some things are harder.
II Peter 3:15-16 -Paul wrote some things that are hard to understand
Hebrews 5:12-6:3 -The first principles, which we should move on from
We must grow as Christians, and develop past the first principles. As we grow, more things become understandable for us. It is a building process. We cannot understand everything right up front, but rather it takes us time to grow and mature as Christians. Even if we don’t understand at first, if we study, we can learn much as we grow.
The Apostles Didn’t Always Get it Either
The apostles spent a great deal of time with the Messiah, yet they didn’t always understand what He was teaching either.
Mark 8:13-21 -Disciples didn’t understand the Pharisee’s leaven
Mark 9:30-32 -His disciples didn’t understand what He was saying
John 20:6-9 -Apostles didn’t understand the scriptures of the resurrection yet
If the people who spent that much time around Christ, and who had been chosen by Christ, didn’t understand everything all at once, then we probably can’t expect to either. But notice, that didn’t keep them from following Him. That did not prevent them from learning from the Master.
We Do Not Fully Understand God’s Nature
I think it’s safe to say that none of us fully comprehends the full power and nature of God.
I Corinthians 1:3 -God the Father
John 1:1-14 -God the Son
Acts 5:3-4 -God the Holy Spirit
I don’t think any of us fully understands how this works, but we accept that it is so. In it all, we remember that God is Spirit (John 4:24) and that at some level, it is being put into physical terms so that we can understand it as well as we can. Simply because we may not understand how the Son is God as well as the Father is God as well as the Holy Spirit is God, does not mean we are allowed to fail to recognize God and render Him what is due.
Willful Ignorance is Not Acceptable, Though
Some things we don’t grasp at all. And some things we learn over time. But we cannot use it as an excuse to close our ears and hearts and remain willfully ignorant of what we can know!
Hosea 4:6 -My people are destroyed for a lack of knowledge
Matthew 13:10-17 -Wanting to know vs. refusing to see
There is a difference between striving to understand God’s will, and not having matured enough to grasp things and not caring enough to learn more. There are certain things (the first principles, for example) that we can definitely understand. The difference is between “can’t” and “won’t.” God will know whether you are trying or not. He will recognize those who diligently seek to be His disciples, and those who do not (Hebrews 11:6).
Obedience if Rewarded, Even Without Full Understanding
Even if we don’t fully understand why we are to do something, but know we must do it, then we must do it.
II Kings 5:9-15 -Naaman
Romans 6:1-7 -Baptism : it seems like a little “pointless“ thing by human reasoning, yet we know what it reflects and that proper baptism results in the forgiveness of sins. We do not know why God chose this particular method, we accept that He did.
Acts 22:16 -Arise, be baptized, and wash away your sins
Sometimes we know only that we are to do something, and not the reasons why we are to do it. Or we understand that something has a certain outcome, even if we are not completely sure of why it has that outcome. We are still held accountable for obeying in that way, regardless of our level of comprehension.
We Must Have Faith and Trust
We must believe that God knows best, and put our trust in Him. God’s knowledge and wisdom is greater than our own, and we must depend on Him.
Psalm 118:8-9 -Better to trust in God
Titus 1:2 -God cannot lie
II Peter 1:3 -He has give us all things that pertain to life and
godliness, through knowledge of Christ (thus, we CAN learn and know)
John 14:1-4 -Trust in God, trust in Christ, that the reward is there (even if we don’t fully understand the reward!)
We trust that when God, the Almighty, says something is so, that it is so. We depend on Him for the truth, and we accept that what He says is true is true.
Why Do We Sing? - 4/13/08am
Matthew 26:30 -Christ and the apostles sing a hymn
Acts 16:25 -Apostles sing in prison
We see the example of singing in the New Testament. And often we discuss why we don’t use instrumental music in our worship, and things like that. However, today I want to talk about the why of it. I want to talk about the reasons the Bible tells us to sing.
…To Praise and Glorify God
James 5:13
Hebrews 2:12
Romans 5:9-11
I Corinthians 1:5
We should be praising God in our singing. We should be extolling His greatness and giving Him the glory, as in all things. Our songs should be offered up for this reason.
We should praise Him for the things He has done
Exodus 14:15-31 -Parting of the Red Sea
Joshua 10:9-14 -Stopping the sun in the sky
Psalm 139 -His wisdom, knowledge, and power
We should praise Him for the things He has promised
Matthew 25:31-46 -Separating out evil from good in the last day
Ecclesiastes 3:16-17 -Lack of justice on earth will be exchanged for true justice
We should praise Him and glorify Him to avoid punishment
(Not our primary focus, of course, but it is useful to look at how God views lack of praise, or failing to give Him the proper credit. It gives us an idea of how important it is to God.)
Numbers 20:6-12 -Moses
Daniel 4:28-35 -Nebuchadnezzar
Acts 12:21-23 -Herod
Songs that we sing that praise and glorify God:
5 How Great Thou Art
9 Our God, He is Alive
21 Praise the Lord
35 O Worship the King
54 Praise Him! Praise Him!
…To Show our Gratitude
Colossians 3:16
Ephesians 5:19
Our songs should reflect the thanks we have for the things God has given us. They should reflect how much God has given us.
For what He has done (sacrifice, church, the word, blessings, etc.)
John 3:16 -God sent His son
Ephesians 1:3 -Jesus has blessed us spiritually
For what He has promised (salvation)
Hebrews 5:7-10 -Salvation for those who obey
Songs we sing that thank God for what He has done
392 Count Your Blessings
10 We Thanks Thee, Lord
420 O Thou Fount of Every Blessing
…To Teach Each Other
Colossians 3:16
Ephesians 5:19
We should be using our songs to speak to one another and teach each other. Our songs should be useful for teaching and learning from. It is worth noting that this is a form of teaching that is aimed primarily at those in the church, and not outside.
We must be careful of what we teach
II Peter 2:1 -False teachers bring destruction on themselves
Matthew 12:36-37 -Give an account of what we say
Songs we sing that Teach
460 The World’s Bible
416 Do All in the Name of the Lord
630 Watch and Pray
326 Trust and Obey
An Outcome of Singing is Emotion
Believe it or not, it is ok to have emotion. We should not be ruled by our emotions, and our emotions should not be the basis for our faith. But we should be touched to the heart by the Word, and I do not know many people who are not touched emotionally by singing. Emotion is an outcome of our faith. Emotion is based on faith, not our faith is based on emotion.
Awe -Luke 5:26 -The people are full of awe and glorify God
Joy -Philippians 4:4 -Rejoice always in the Lord
Sorrow -Matthew 25:69-75 -Peter weeps after denying Christ
Peace -Philippians 5:6-7 -The peace of God
Fear -II Corinthians 7:15 -Fear and trembling
We even have songs about the emotions that we find in the Lord
223 Peace, Perfect Peace
186 I Stand Amazed
251 I’m Happy Today
Acts 16:25 -Apostles sing in prison
We see the example of singing in the New Testament. And often we discuss why we don’t use instrumental music in our worship, and things like that. However, today I want to talk about the why of it. I want to talk about the reasons the Bible tells us to sing.
…To Praise and Glorify God
James 5:13
Hebrews 2:12
Romans 5:9-11
I Corinthians 1:5
We should be praising God in our singing. We should be extolling His greatness and giving Him the glory, as in all things. Our songs should be offered up for this reason.
We should praise Him for the things He has done
Exodus 14:15-31 -Parting of the Red Sea
Joshua 10:9-14 -Stopping the sun in the sky
Psalm 139 -His wisdom, knowledge, and power
We should praise Him for the things He has promised
Matthew 25:31-46 -Separating out evil from good in the last day
Ecclesiastes 3:16-17 -Lack of justice on earth will be exchanged for true justice
We should praise Him and glorify Him to avoid punishment
(Not our primary focus, of course, but it is useful to look at how God views lack of praise, or failing to give Him the proper credit. It gives us an idea of how important it is to God.)
Numbers 20:6-12 -Moses
Daniel 4:28-35 -Nebuchadnezzar
Acts 12:21-23 -Herod
Songs that we sing that praise and glorify God:
5 How Great Thou Art
9 Our God, He is Alive
21 Praise the Lord
35 O Worship the King
54 Praise Him! Praise Him!
…To Show our Gratitude
Colossians 3:16
Ephesians 5:19
Our songs should reflect the thanks we have for the things God has given us. They should reflect how much God has given us.
For what He has done (sacrifice, church, the word, blessings, etc.)
John 3:16 -God sent His son
Ephesians 1:3 -Jesus has blessed us spiritually
For what He has promised (salvation)
Hebrews 5:7-10 -Salvation for those who obey
Songs we sing that thank God for what He has done
392 Count Your Blessings
10 We Thanks Thee, Lord
420 O Thou Fount of Every Blessing
…To Teach Each Other
Colossians 3:16
Ephesians 5:19
We should be using our songs to speak to one another and teach each other. Our songs should be useful for teaching and learning from. It is worth noting that this is a form of teaching that is aimed primarily at those in the church, and not outside.
We must be careful of what we teach
II Peter 2:1 -False teachers bring destruction on themselves
Matthew 12:36-37 -Give an account of what we say
Songs we sing that Teach
460 The World’s Bible
416 Do All in the Name of the Lord
630 Watch and Pray
326 Trust and Obey
An Outcome of Singing is Emotion
Believe it or not, it is ok to have emotion. We should not be ruled by our emotions, and our emotions should not be the basis for our faith. But we should be touched to the heart by the Word, and I do not know many people who are not touched emotionally by singing. Emotion is an outcome of our faith. Emotion is based on faith, not our faith is based on emotion.
Awe -Luke 5:26 -The people are full of awe and glorify God
Joy -Philippians 4:4 -Rejoice always in the Lord
Sorrow -Matthew 25:69-75 -Peter weeps after denying Christ
Peace -Philippians 5:6-7 -The peace of God
Fear -II Corinthians 7:15 -Fear and trembling
We even have songs about the emotions that we find in the Lord
223 Peace, Perfect Peace
186 I Stand Amazed
251 I’m Happy Today
Sunday, April 6, 2008
Basic Salvation - 4/6/08pm
To give credit to where credit is due, my brother in law originally developed this as a Wed. night invitation, and then let me take it and flesh it out a bit more into a "full length" sermon, but it is really his. I just like it enough to steal it.
Basic Salvation
Why should I become a Christian?
Because it is man’s basic purpose…
Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 -Fear God and keep His commandments
Matthew 22:34-40 -Love the Lord your God
It is our calling…
I Peter 5:10 -Called us unto his eternal glory
Because of heaven…
I Peter 1:3-5 -Incorruptible inheritance in heaven
I John 2:24 -Promise of eternal life
Because God wants it…
II Peter 3:9 -God wants all to repent, not perish
Because of God’s love…
John 3:16 -For God so loved…
Mark 15:15-39 -The crucifixion
How do I become a Christian?
God has done His part:
Grace…
Ephesians 2:4-10 -Saved by God’s grace
The Church…
Ephesians 5:25 -Christ gave Himself for the church
Instructions…
II Timothy 3:16-17 -All scripture
Now we have to do our part:
Trust His grace…
Ephesians 1:7, 13-14 -In Him you trusted
Join His church…
Acts 2:38, 41, 47 -The baptized were saved, added to the church
Obey His instructions…
Matthew 28:18-20 -Obey all things Christ has commanded
Who is the Invitation for?
All Men
Romans 3:21-23 -All have fallen short and need salvation
Romans 5:18 -All are condemned, all can be justified
When should you heed the invitation?
Before you die…
James 4:13-14 -Life is a vapor
II Corinthians 4:16-18 -Our outward man is dying
Before the Lord comes…
II Peter 3:10-13 -We don’t know when it will be
What if I should lose my salvation?
It IS possible to forfeit your salvation…
Galatians 5:4 -Fallen from grace
Hebrews 6:4-6 -Those who fall away
It is possible to repent and receive salvation after you lose it…
II Corinthians 7:9-10 -Paul commends Corinth for doing so
I John 1:9 -God promises to forgive our sins
To maintain our saved status…
II Timothy 4:6-8 -Fought the good fight, finished the race
Galatians 6:9 -Read the harvest if we do not give up
Basic Salvation
Why should I become a Christian?
Because it is man’s basic purpose…
Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 -Fear God and keep His commandments
Matthew 22:34-40 -Love the Lord your God
It is our calling…
I Peter 5:10 -Called us unto his eternal glory
Because of heaven…
I Peter 1:3-5 -Incorruptible inheritance in heaven
I John 2:24 -Promise of eternal life
Because God wants it…
II Peter 3:9 -God wants all to repent, not perish
Because of God’s love…
John 3:16 -For God so loved…
Mark 15:15-39 -The crucifixion
How do I become a Christian?
God has done His part:
Grace…
Ephesians 2:4-10 -Saved by God’s grace
The Church…
Ephesians 5:25 -Christ gave Himself for the church
Instructions…
II Timothy 3:16-17 -All scripture
Now we have to do our part:
Trust His grace…
Ephesians 1:7, 13-14 -In Him you trusted
Join His church…
Acts 2:38, 41, 47 -The baptized were saved, added to the church
Obey His instructions…
Matthew 28:18-20 -Obey all things Christ has commanded
Who is the Invitation for?
All Men
Romans 3:21-23 -All have fallen short and need salvation
Romans 5:18 -All are condemned, all can be justified
When should you heed the invitation?
Before you die…
James 4:13-14 -Life is a vapor
II Corinthians 4:16-18 -Our outward man is dying
Before the Lord comes…
II Peter 3:10-13 -We don’t know when it will be
What if I should lose my salvation?
It IS possible to forfeit your salvation…
Galatians 5:4 -Fallen from grace
Hebrews 6:4-6 -Those who fall away
It is possible to repent and receive salvation after you lose it…
II Corinthians 7:9-10 -Paul commends Corinth for doing so
I John 1:9 -God promises to forgive our sins
To maintain our saved status…
II Timothy 4:6-8 -Fought the good fight, finished the race
Galatians 6:9 -Read the harvest if we do not give up
David's Mighty Men - Bonus Sermon!
I found it! I hadn't posted this one earlier because I had seemed to misplace my notes. So here it is for you. I think this was the evening sermon for March 9, 2008, if I remember correctly.
David's Mighty Men
I Corinthians 10:6, 11 -The Old Testament is an example for us
II Timothy 3:16 -All scripture is good and useful
II Samuel 23:8-19 (I Chronicles 11:10-47) - Description of David's mighty men
Vs 8 - Josheb-Basshebeth
-He was chief of the three
-He once killed 800 men with a spear
-God provides strength (Philippians 4:13)
-God is more powerful than man (II Samuel 24:15)
Vs 9-10 -Eleazar
-Fought so long his hand froze to his sword
-Stood his ground when others retreated
-We must stand firm to the end to be saved (Matthew 10:22)
Vs 11-12 -Shammah
-Defended the center of the field
-Won victory
-God provides victory to those who serve Him (Hebrews 11:6)
Vs 13-17 -Water from Bethlehem
-Broke through the Philistine army
-Brought water back to David
-God does not require such great feats to serve Him (I Corinthians 9:17, Ephesians 2:8-10)
-Insurmountable odds are possible with God (Luke 1:37, 18:27)
-Are we as eager to serve out King as they were to serve theirs?
Vs 18-19 -Abishai, brother of Joab (I Chronicles 11:6), brother of Asahel (vs 24)
-Commander over the three
-Killed 300 men with a sword
-We all have out own roles (I Corinthians 12:14-31)
-Families can support/aid each other (Ephesians 5:22-6:4, II Timothy 1:5-6)
Vs 10-23 -Benaiah
-Killed heroes of the Moabite army, climbed into a pit to kill a lion, and killed a 7 1/2 foot Egyptian with his own spear
-Head of David's bodyguard
-Again, everyone has a different role they are most adequately suited for
Vs 24-39 -"The Thirty"
-Uriah the Hittite (II Samuel 11)
-Man may let you down, but God will not (II Peter 3:9-13)
-The mighty men are form different places, like Christians (Matthew 28:18-20)
If the list were assembled of the mighty men of God, would you be on the list? Are you living in such a way that you could make the list of the three? The thirty? Or not at all?
David's Mighty Men
I Corinthians 10:6, 11 -The Old Testament is an example for us
II Timothy 3:16 -All scripture is good and useful
II Samuel 23:8-19 (I Chronicles 11:10-47) - Description of David's mighty men
Vs 8 - Josheb-Basshebeth
-He was chief of the three
-He once killed 800 men with a spear
-God provides strength (Philippians 4:13)
-God is more powerful than man (II Samuel 24:15)
Vs 9-10 -Eleazar
-Fought so long his hand froze to his sword
-Stood his ground when others retreated
-We must stand firm to the end to be saved (Matthew 10:22)
Vs 11-12 -Shammah
-Defended the center of the field
-Won victory
-God provides victory to those who serve Him (Hebrews 11:6)
Vs 13-17 -Water from Bethlehem
-Broke through the Philistine army
-Brought water back to David
-God does not require such great feats to serve Him (I Corinthians 9:17, Ephesians 2:8-10)
-Insurmountable odds are possible with God (Luke 1:37, 18:27)
-Are we as eager to serve out King as they were to serve theirs?
Vs 18-19 -Abishai, brother of Joab (I Chronicles 11:6), brother of Asahel (vs 24)
-Commander over the three
-Killed 300 men with a sword
-We all have out own roles (I Corinthians 12:14-31)
-Families can support/aid each other (Ephesians 5:22-6:4, II Timothy 1:5-6)
Vs 10-23 -Benaiah
-Killed heroes of the Moabite army, climbed into a pit to kill a lion, and killed a 7 1/2 foot Egyptian with his own spear
-Head of David's bodyguard
-Again, everyone has a different role they are most adequately suited for
Vs 24-39 -"The Thirty"
-Uriah the Hittite (II Samuel 11)
-Man may let you down, but God will not (II Peter 3:9-13)
-The mighty men are form different places, like Christians (Matthew 28:18-20)
If the list were assembled of the mighty men of God, would you be on the list? Are you living in such a way that you could make the list of the three? The thirty? Or not at all?
Our Passover Lamb - 04/06/08am
Our Passover Lamb
A portion of why we have the Old Testament still with us and for us is that it provides foreshadowing. We can look at the Old Testament and see a glimmer of what was to come with the New Covenant And of course, we look back to the Old Testament to help us understand the New Testament. Many of the concepts found in the New are found in the Old: often with the new covenant focusing on the spiritual side of the concept, and the old focusing on the physical.
Hebrews 8:5 -Tabernacle/temple a shadow of what’s in heaven
Hebrews 10:1 -The Old Law was shadow of what was to come
Colossians 2:16-17 -OT holidays were a shadow of the reality of Christ
I would like to take some time today to examine one of the celebrations in the Old Covenant that found it’s reality and fulfillment in Christ.
Exodus 11:1-10 -God promises the plague on the firstborn
-God makes a clear separation between those who do and do not follow Him
Exodus 12:1-30 -The Passover is instituted
-The Israelites must obey to be passed over
-If you were the firstborn, would you have put just a little blood on the doorframe, or lots? Would they have been eager to obey, or hesitant?
-The Israelites were saved by the blood of a sacrificed, and eaten, lamb
-The lamb was to be an unblemished 1 year old males (taking the place of firstborn males)
-The bones of the lamb were not to be broken (Exodus 12:46)
-God kept His promise, and destroyed the firstborn of Egypt
John 19:16-37 -The crucifixion of Christ
-If you remember, the time for this was the feast of unleavened bread, as described in Exodus.
-Christ was or sacrifice for us, and the fulfillment of the Passover.
He was an unblemished lamb (I Peter 1:18-21)
His bones were not broken (John 19:36)
Through His blood we are passed over for death
(Romans 5:9, I John 1:7)
The result is freedom from bondage (John 8:31-38, Rev 1:5)
We must partake of the Passover lamb, as the Israelites were to partake of the Passover lamb (John 6:51-58)
Christ is the fulfillment of the Passover. He was the ultimate sacrifice. As our Passover Lamb, He took our place in death. For the sins we are guilty of, He offered Himself, so that we could be passed over in the final day, and not suffer the second death. Through His sacrifice, we have opportunity to have life everlasting.
-Much as the Passover and feast of unleavened bread were to be remembered, so it is with Christ’s sacrifice for us (Mark 14:12-26)
Just as they were to remember, we are to remember (Acts 20:7)
Anytime we sin, we make the sacrifice of Christ, our Passover, of no account. We try to make it meaningless by those sins.
Hebrews 6:4-6 -Through sin, we crucify Christ again
So the question is, are we crucifying Christ again? Have we made His death of no account? Do we ignore His sacrifice for our sins?
A portion of why we have the Old Testament still with us and for us is that it provides foreshadowing. We can look at the Old Testament and see a glimmer of what was to come with the New Covenant And of course, we look back to the Old Testament to help us understand the New Testament. Many of the concepts found in the New are found in the Old: often with the new covenant focusing on the spiritual side of the concept, and the old focusing on the physical.
Hebrews 8:5 -Tabernacle/temple a shadow of what’s in heaven
Hebrews 10:1 -The Old Law was shadow of what was to come
Colossians 2:16-17 -OT holidays were a shadow of the reality of Christ
I would like to take some time today to examine one of the celebrations in the Old Covenant that found it’s reality and fulfillment in Christ.
Exodus 11:1-10 -God promises the plague on the firstborn
-God makes a clear separation between those who do and do not follow Him
Exodus 12:1-30 -The Passover is instituted
-The Israelites must obey to be passed over
-If you were the firstborn, would you have put just a little blood on the doorframe, or lots? Would they have been eager to obey, or hesitant?
-The Israelites were saved by the blood of a sacrificed, and eaten, lamb
-The lamb was to be an unblemished 1 year old males (taking the place of firstborn males)
-The bones of the lamb were not to be broken (Exodus 12:46)
-God kept His promise, and destroyed the firstborn of Egypt
John 19:16-37 -The crucifixion of Christ
-If you remember, the time for this was the feast of unleavened bread, as described in Exodus.
-Christ was or sacrifice for us, and the fulfillment of the Passover.
He was an unblemished lamb (I Peter 1:18-21)
His bones were not broken (John 19:36)
Through His blood we are passed over for death
(Romans 5:9, I John 1:7)
The result is freedom from bondage (John 8:31-38, Rev 1:5)
We must partake of the Passover lamb, as the Israelites were to partake of the Passover lamb (John 6:51-58)
Christ is the fulfillment of the Passover. He was the ultimate sacrifice. As our Passover Lamb, He took our place in death. For the sins we are guilty of, He offered Himself, so that we could be passed over in the final day, and not suffer the second death. Through His sacrifice, we have opportunity to have life everlasting.
-Much as the Passover and feast of unleavened bread were to be remembered, so it is with Christ’s sacrifice for us (Mark 14:12-26)
Just as they were to remember, we are to remember (Acts 20:7)
Anytime we sin, we make the sacrifice of Christ, our Passover, of no account. We try to make it meaningless by those sins.
Hebrews 6:4-6 -Through sin, we crucify Christ again
So the question is, are we crucifying Christ again? Have we made His death of no account? Do we ignore His sacrifice for our sins?
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Are There Two Types of People in this World? - Bonus Sermon!
This is another of my "try out" sermons I gave. This one was from November of 2007, I think.
I have often encountered the belief that some people are just naturally more spiritual. The belief is that some people are just more inclined religiously, and so become Christians easily. And of course, everyone else isn’t really religiously minded, so it’s more difficult for them to be religious. The outcome is that Christians are a different sort of people, a sort of person that makes us similar to all other Christians, in that we easily conform to Christ. We are often pictured in the world as being “goody two shoes,” “all alike,” “boring,” and “unrealistic.”
So I would like to take some time to look at Biblical Christians, look at the differences between different Bible Christians, and see what that means to us today, in our efforts to follow Biblical Christianity.
Apostles
Matthew 10:2-4 -The Twelve Apostles. We often group them all together in our minds, and take little time to consider what we know about them.
Simon, who is named Peter,
Andrew, his brother
Matthew 4:18-20 -Fishermen
Matthew 16:21-23 -Peter leaps before he looks
Compare with his hurry to promise he wouldn’t deny Christ, his quickness to use the sword to protect Christ, and the many other times Peter doesn’t seem to think things through completely before taking action. He seems to be largely driven by impulse, not rational thought.
James, the son of Zebedee
John, his brother
Luke 5:8-11 -Fishermen
Mark 3:17 -Sons of thunder
Luke 9:51-55 -Rebuked for brashness
Apparently fairly loud and explosive. Not timid, but brash and bold
Philip
John 1:43-45 -Philip brings Nathaniel.
Some think the early appearance of Philip indicates that he was first John the Baptist’s apostle. Notice his eagerness to teach others, and where he put the emphasis. Rather than argue with Nathaniel, he goes straight to the source.
Thomas
John 11:16 - Let us die with Him
Thomas appears to be extremely loyal to Christ, at least at this time
John 20:26-29 - “Doubting Thomas”
Thomas appears to be fairly skeptical. He seeks knowledge of, not just accepting the word of others. Compare him with Peter, and Peter’s willingness to dive in before he knows what he’s diving into!
Matthew, the tax collector
Matthew was a publican, a tax collector. His job was, working for the Romans, to go and collect taxes from people. We’ll see who this stands in contrast to in a moment.
James, the son of Alphaeus
Mark 15:40 - James the younger
Apparently younger than the other James. Notice we have a bit of difference in ages, apparently. At least enough to differentiate him in this way.
Simon the Zealot
Simon was a Zealot. Which means he was fanatic in his hatred of Roman rule and the Hellenization of Judea. He would have thought of himself as a true patriot. Contrast this with Matthew the tax collector, one who worked for the Roman government. Can you imagine two such individuals working together? Yet they did, for years!
Judas Iscariot
Christ’s betrayer. Even as one of Christ’s closest followers and friends, he still turned his back on Jesus. If he can do it, then so can we. It is something to be watchful for.
1 Corinthians 12:12-30 -A body has many parts
-Not only do we fulfill different roles, we do so because we are suited to different roles. Each of us is different. As a hand cannot fulfill the function of an eye, so one person cannot always fulfill the role of another. We are each necessary for our own skills, abilities, talents and insights.
1 Corinthians 9:19-23 -I have become all things to all men
Although this deals specifically with how Paul worked to convert people to Christ, it also serves as a model for how the church functions. Think about it. We each associate with different sorts of people throughout our day. We each have different mannerisms, we each have different ways of speaking to people and of teaching others.
If nothing else, Paul here notes the differences in people, and the necessity of recognizing that fact.
So, now that we’ve established we’re each different, are we all the same in that we do not struggle with sin?
Hebrews 12:4-16 -Advice given to Christians in struggling against sin
Ephesians 6:12-18 -The whole armor of God
-Equips us individually that we can stand strong
1 Peter 2:11-12 -War against our souls
Remember Judas, who after walking with and talking to Christ for years, betrayed Him! The matter is not a simple one for any of us. Throughout the scriptures we are given help and advice in struggling against sin in our lives. There is not an honest Christian today who will tell you it is easy. It is difficult. Simply because it seems difficult, it does not mean that you are an unlikely candidate for Christ.
Consider Paul:
1 Corinthians 15:9 -Persecutor of the church
Acts 8:1 -Stoning of Stephen
Galatians 1:13-2:14 -Persecuted the church…but became accepted among the apostles, even to the point of rebuking Peter!
Or perhaps consider the church in Corinth:
1 Corinthians 6:9-11 -Such were some of you
Christians have sinned. That is why Christ had to come to earth as our atoning sacrifice. And some of the things Christians have been guilty of are some of the “worst” sins imaginable. Look at this list. Yet they were able to put off these things through Christ.
Or think on what Peter writes:
1 Peter 4:2-4 -In the past…
The way Christians lived was one of sinfulness. A life of serving self, and of gratifying self. The easy way. The way that seemed right, that seemed easiest and most natural.
Christians are not all of the same mould. Much as the apostles were varied, so is the church today. Each of us serves a different function, each of us has a different background, different temptations, and different mannerisms. And each Christian struggles daily in their walk with Christ. They are not some different breed of people. They are not inherently different from everyone else. They have simply put on Christ, and work to live for Him.
Galatians 3:26-28 -Neither bond nor free…
In Christ, we find common ground. In Christ, we are united. In Christ, we can work together. We, who are sinners, are able to follow Christ together.
Have you been baptized into the body of Christ? Have you begun your walk with Him?
I have often encountered the belief that some people are just naturally more spiritual. The belief is that some people are just more inclined religiously, and so become Christians easily. And of course, everyone else isn’t really religiously minded, so it’s more difficult for them to be religious. The outcome is that Christians are a different sort of people, a sort of person that makes us similar to all other Christians, in that we easily conform to Christ. We are often pictured in the world as being “goody two shoes,” “all alike,” “boring,” and “unrealistic.”
So I would like to take some time to look at Biblical Christians, look at the differences between different Bible Christians, and see what that means to us today, in our efforts to follow Biblical Christianity.
Apostles
Matthew 10:2-4 -The Twelve Apostles. We often group them all together in our minds, and take little time to consider what we know about them.
Simon, who is named Peter,
Andrew, his brother
Matthew 4:18-20 -Fishermen
Matthew 16:21-23 -Peter leaps before he looks
Compare with his hurry to promise he wouldn’t deny Christ, his quickness to use the sword to protect Christ, and the many other times Peter doesn’t seem to think things through completely before taking action. He seems to be largely driven by impulse, not rational thought.
James, the son of Zebedee
John, his brother
Luke 5:8-11 -Fishermen
Mark 3:17 -Sons of thunder
Luke 9:51-55 -Rebuked for brashness
Apparently fairly loud and explosive. Not timid, but brash and bold
Philip
John 1:43-45 -Philip brings Nathaniel.
Some think the early appearance of Philip indicates that he was first John the Baptist’s apostle. Notice his eagerness to teach others, and where he put the emphasis. Rather than argue with Nathaniel, he goes straight to the source.
Thomas
John 11:16 - Let us die with Him
Thomas appears to be extremely loyal to Christ, at least at this time
John 20:26-29 - “Doubting Thomas”
Thomas appears to be fairly skeptical. He seeks knowledge of, not just accepting the word of others. Compare him with Peter, and Peter’s willingness to dive in before he knows what he’s diving into!
Matthew, the tax collector
Matthew was a publican, a tax collector. His job was, working for the Romans, to go and collect taxes from people. We’ll see who this stands in contrast to in a moment.
James, the son of Alphaeus
Mark 15:40 - James the younger
Apparently younger than the other James. Notice we have a bit of difference in ages, apparently. At least enough to differentiate him in this way.
Simon the Zealot
Simon was a Zealot. Which means he was fanatic in his hatred of Roman rule and the Hellenization of Judea. He would have thought of himself as a true patriot. Contrast this with Matthew the tax collector, one who worked for the Roman government. Can you imagine two such individuals working together? Yet they did, for years!
Judas Iscariot
Christ’s betrayer. Even as one of Christ’s closest followers and friends, he still turned his back on Jesus. If he can do it, then so can we. It is something to be watchful for.
1 Corinthians 12:12-30 -A body has many parts
-Not only do we fulfill different roles, we do so because we are suited to different roles. Each of us is different. As a hand cannot fulfill the function of an eye, so one person cannot always fulfill the role of another. We are each necessary for our own skills, abilities, talents and insights.
1 Corinthians 9:19-23 -I have become all things to all men
Although this deals specifically with how Paul worked to convert people to Christ, it also serves as a model for how the church functions. Think about it. We each associate with different sorts of people throughout our day. We each have different mannerisms, we each have different ways of speaking to people and of teaching others.
If nothing else, Paul here notes the differences in people, and the necessity of recognizing that fact.
So, now that we’ve established we’re each different, are we all the same in that we do not struggle with sin?
Hebrews 12:4-16 -Advice given to Christians in struggling against sin
Ephesians 6:12-18 -The whole armor of God
-Equips us individually that we can stand strong
1 Peter 2:11-12 -War against our souls
Remember Judas, who after walking with and talking to Christ for years, betrayed Him! The matter is not a simple one for any of us. Throughout the scriptures we are given help and advice in struggling against sin in our lives. There is not an honest Christian today who will tell you it is easy. It is difficult. Simply because it seems difficult, it does not mean that you are an unlikely candidate for Christ.
Consider Paul:
1 Corinthians 15:9 -Persecutor of the church
Acts 8:1 -Stoning of Stephen
Galatians 1:13-2:14 -Persecuted the church…but became accepted among the apostles, even to the point of rebuking Peter!
Or perhaps consider the church in Corinth:
1 Corinthians 6:9-11 -Such were some of you
Christians have sinned. That is why Christ had to come to earth as our atoning sacrifice. And some of the things Christians have been guilty of are some of the “worst” sins imaginable. Look at this list. Yet they were able to put off these things through Christ.
Or think on what Peter writes:
1 Peter 4:2-4 -In the past…
The way Christians lived was one of sinfulness. A life of serving self, and of gratifying self. The easy way. The way that seemed right, that seemed easiest and most natural.
Christians are not all of the same mould. Much as the apostles were varied, so is the church today. Each of us serves a different function, each of us has a different background, different temptations, and different mannerisms. And each Christian struggles daily in their walk with Christ. They are not some different breed of people. They are not inherently different from everyone else. They have simply put on Christ, and work to live for Him.
Galatians 3:26-28 -Neither bond nor free…
In Christ, we find common ground. In Christ, we are united. In Christ, we can work together. We, who are sinners, are able to follow Christ together.
Have you been baptized into the body of Christ? Have you begun your walk with Him?
The King for Seven Days - Bonus Sermon!
This is the first sermon I delivered for the Eastside congregation, when we were first trying to see if I would fit here. That was back in October 2007, if I remember correctly. I've also delivered this one at 2 other congregations.
1 Timothy 3:16-17
All scripture is good ans useful, so what can we learn from Zimri, king of Israel for seven days?
1 Kings 15:33-16:20
The Sins of Zimri
Murder
1 Kings 16:10, 16:18
Zimri evidently had little value in life. To achieve his goal, he was willing to take life. And to avoid probably humiliation and death he killed himself!
Exodus 20:13
Matthew 5L21-22
Now, most of us are not guilty of murder, but do we qualify under the extreme and unrighteous andger Christ describes in Matthew? Do we fall into the same trap? If so, we are following the same path laid down by Zimri.
Pride
1 Kings 16:10, 16:16
Zimri evidently thought highly enough of himself to think that he should be king. It's easy to imagine Zimri as being arrogant and full of pride, but can you honestly picture him as humble?
Zephaniah 2:8-11
Proverbs 16:18
1 Peter 5:5
So we ever do things, or think things, or aim for things based on how highly we think of ourselves? Do we let pride interfere? Are we truly humble? If we fail in this, we once more find ourselves like the seven day king.
Failure to Sumbit to Authority
1 Kings 16:9-10
Zimri doesn't seem to care what position someone else held. It certainly wasn't enough to concern to keep him from killing the king, son of the previous king!
Romans 13:1-7
Hebrews 13:17
2 Peter 2:10
Are we willing to follow civil laws (so long as they are con accordance with God's law)? Do we listen to the elders of the congregation? Do we heed the authority given to Christ and follow the word? If not, we are like Zimri!
Idolatry
1 Kings 16:19
Notice the time given to him: 7 days. In that time he did not undo Jeroboam's sin, and so was held accountable for it. When we din, we must act immediately to correct the problem, not put it off. We can see pretty clearly that, "I was going to get around to it," won't count.
Deuteronomy 5:7
1 Corinthians 10:14
Colossians 3:5
Do we let other things interfere with our service towards God? Are we allowing material posessions, people, or ideas become more important than the Almighty? Guess what? If we do this, we are once more following in the footsteps of Zimri, and who wants that?
Encouraging Others to Commit Wrong
1 Kings 16:9, 16:20
Zimri was part of a conspiracy. It was his rebellious conspiracy to achieve his own aims. He had recruited other people to rise up against the more rightful king, thus encouraging them to sacrifice their souls. Although it does seem unlikely that he chose upright men to assist him.
1 Corinthians 10:32
Do we lay down stumbling blocks for others through our actions, speech, way of dressing, or apaprent lack of concern? We are like Zimri. Or are we allowing ourselves to be influenced by others in ways that would offend Christ? Do we let ourselves be led astray? Is so we're not like Zimri, we're like the ones that followed Zimri!
Wrong Focus
His focus was on earthly things, not the spiritual or righteous. Apparently, to him, being king was more important than anything else, and so he worked towards it, regardless of cost. And he achieved his goal! But at what cost?
Matthew 6:33
What is your goal? Do you put everything behind Christ in living for Him? Or are you focusing on work, money, retirement, or fun? What is your purpose? Where are your priorities? If we are pointing the wrong way, we walk like Zimri.
What Else Can We Learn?
Men Do Not Change
I'm not talking about individuals, I'm speaking of humanity. People are people. Look around, and you will find people like Zimri, those who do not respect authority, those who murder, those who are proud. You will see many who put other things before God, and many who will encourage you to stumble and sin.
Ecclesiastes 1:9-11
Romans 1:28-32
1 Timothy 4:1-3
Hebrews 4:8-11 (If we are so different, then why the warning not to follow their example?)
Which example do you follow? Those who follow God or those who do not? Do you heed the scriptures and learn how to address others? Do you understand the parable of the sower in this contxt?
God Can Make Use of You
1 Kings 16:19, 16:11-13
Regardless of how evil a man Zimri was, no matter how much he strove against God, the Lord found a use for him, and Zimri found himself carrying out God's will. Imagine how much more productive we can be if we strive to follow Him! Regardless, no matter how evil we may be, we cannot thwart God's will.
2 Timothy 2:20-21
Matthew 25:14-30
Is God going to look at us as a faithful servant who has furthered His cause, or will He see us as unprofitable? Are we working for Him or against Him? Those are the only options we have.
God Keeps His Promises
1 Kings 16:1-4
God promises punishment on the house of Baasha, and through Zimri that promise is fulfilled. Notice that it isn't done immediately, but occurs in the generation after Baasha. Nonethless, God's judgement is carried out.
2 Peter 3:9
Revelation 21:1-9
That is God's promise to us. If we obey Him, if we are truly His disciples and follow Him, we will have our reward for eternity. If, however, we do not obey Him, if we choose to serve sin and ourselves, then we are promised eternal punishment. God keeps his promises either way. Will you be saved?
1 Timothy 3:16-17
All scripture is good ans useful, so what can we learn from Zimri, king of Israel for seven days?
1 Kings 15:33-16:20
The Sins of Zimri
Murder
1 Kings 16:10, 16:18
Zimri evidently had little value in life. To achieve his goal, he was willing to take life. And to avoid probably humiliation and death he killed himself!
Exodus 20:13
Matthew 5L21-22
Now, most of us are not guilty of murder, but do we qualify under the extreme and unrighteous andger Christ describes in Matthew? Do we fall into the same trap? If so, we are following the same path laid down by Zimri.
Pride
1 Kings 16:10, 16:16
Zimri evidently thought highly enough of himself to think that he should be king. It's easy to imagine Zimri as being arrogant and full of pride, but can you honestly picture him as humble?
Zephaniah 2:8-11
Proverbs 16:18
1 Peter 5:5
So we ever do things, or think things, or aim for things based on how highly we think of ourselves? Do we let pride interfere? Are we truly humble? If we fail in this, we once more find ourselves like the seven day king.
Failure to Sumbit to Authority
1 Kings 16:9-10
Zimri doesn't seem to care what position someone else held. It certainly wasn't enough to concern to keep him from killing the king, son of the previous king!
Romans 13:1-7
Hebrews 13:17
2 Peter 2:10
Are we willing to follow civil laws (so long as they are con accordance with God's law)? Do we listen to the elders of the congregation? Do we heed the authority given to Christ and follow the word? If not, we are like Zimri!
Idolatry
1 Kings 16:19
Notice the time given to him: 7 days. In that time he did not undo Jeroboam's sin, and so was held accountable for it. When we din, we must act immediately to correct the problem, not put it off. We can see pretty clearly that, "I was going to get around to it," won't count.
Deuteronomy 5:7
1 Corinthians 10:14
Colossians 3:5
Do we let other things interfere with our service towards God? Are we allowing material posessions, people, or ideas become more important than the Almighty? Guess what? If we do this, we are once more following in the footsteps of Zimri, and who wants that?
Encouraging Others to Commit Wrong
1 Kings 16:9, 16:20
Zimri was part of a conspiracy. It was his rebellious conspiracy to achieve his own aims. He had recruited other people to rise up against the more rightful king, thus encouraging them to sacrifice their souls. Although it does seem unlikely that he chose upright men to assist him.
1 Corinthians 10:32
Do we lay down stumbling blocks for others through our actions, speech, way of dressing, or apaprent lack of concern? We are like Zimri. Or are we allowing ourselves to be influenced by others in ways that would offend Christ? Do we let ourselves be led astray? Is so we're not like Zimri, we're like the ones that followed Zimri!
Wrong Focus
His focus was on earthly things, not the spiritual or righteous. Apparently, to him, being king was more important than anything else, and so he worked towards it, regardless of cost. And he achieved his goal! But at what cost?
Matthew 6:33
What is your goal? Do you put everything behind Christ in living for Him? Or are you focusing on work, money, retirement, or fun? What is your purpose? Where are your priorities? If we are pointing the wrong way, we walk like Zimri.
What Else Can We Learn?
Men Do Not Change
I'm not talking about individuals, I'm speaking of humanity. People are people. Look around, and you will find people like Zimri, those who do not respect authority, those who murder, those who are proud. You will see many who put other things before God, and many who will encourage you to stumble and sin.
Ecclesiastes 1:9-11
Romans 1:28-32
1 Timothy 4:1-3
Hebrews 4:8-11 (If we are so different, then why the warning not to follow their example?)
Which example do you follow? Those who follow God or those who do not? Do you heed the scriptures and learn how to address others? Do you understand the parable of the sower in this contxt?
God Can Make Use of You
1 Kings 16:19, 16:11-13
Regardless of how evil a man Zimri was, no matter how much he strove against God, the Lord found a use for him, and Zimri found himself carrying out God's will. Imagine how much more productive we can be if we strive to follow Him! Regardless, no matter how evil we may be, we cannot thwart God's will.
2 Timothy 2:20-21
Matthew 25:14-30
Is God going to look at us as a faithful servant who has furthered His cause, or will He see us as unprofitable? Are we working for Him or against Him? Those are the only options we have.
God Keeps His Promises
1 Kings 16:1-4
God promises punishment on the house of Baasha, and through Zimri that promise is fulfilled. Notice that it isn't done immediately, but occurs in the generation after Baasha. Nonethless, God's judgement is carried out.
2 Peter 3:9
Revelation 21:1-9
That is God's promise to us. If we obey Him, if we are truly His disciples and follow Him, we will have our reward for eternity. If, however, we do not obey Him, if we choose to serve sin and ourselves, then we are promised eternal punishment. God keeps his promises either way. Will you be saved?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)