Samaritans - Bonus Sermon!

-Here's another one I neglected to post in May, 2008.-

John 4:1-42 - Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well

• Jesus speaks with a Samaritan woman, which was regarded as unusual
• The question of worship (a major difference between Jew and Samaritan) was discussed
• We see the development and growth of faith

Let us look at the Samaritans and see what we can learn from them as a group, as they appear in scripture.

In the Old Testament:
II Kings 17:22-33 - Resettling of Samaria, the necessity of right worship
II Chronicles 30:1-12 - Hezekiah calls for the passover, the Samaritans scorn the invitation
II Chronicles 34:1-7 - Josiah destroys Samaritan idols
Nehemiah 4:1-9 - "Army of Samaria" opposes the rebuilding of Jerusalem, in opposition to God's people
Micah 1:3-7 - Samaria is held to be as evil as sinful Jerusalem, putting the whole of Samaria as equal to the sins of god's people

In the New Testament:
In the New Testament, Samaritans are sometimes shown in a positive light, and sometimes in a negative light. We will look at the negative first.

Negative:
Matthew 10:5-6 - Samaritans are grouped with gentiles by Christ, denoting that they are not God's people
Luke 9:51-56 - Jesus is rejected in a Samaritan town, shows that unlike those in John 4, not all accepted Christ (much as many Jews did not)
John 8:48 - In the Jewish mind, being a Samaritan and demon possessed were both insults and bad things

Positive:
Luke 10:25-37 - The Good Samaritan, showing (among other things) that everyone can do what is right in the sight of God
Luke 17:11-19 - Samaritan healed of leprosy. The Samaritans were not inherently evil, just wrong. But they could repent and follow Christ.

Acts 1:6-8 - Apostles will go to Samaria
Acts 8:25 - Apostles go to Samaria, where they teach Christ

Have you chosen to follow Christ? Or are you separated as the Samaritans were in their sin and vain worship?

Faith, Love, and Works - Bonus Sermon!

-Somehow I neglected posting this one back at the beginning. So here it is.-

Often we try to combat the false doctrine of “Faith Only” by saying, “No! You have to do works too!” While this is certainly a true statement, the way we usually handle it allows everyone involved to use their precomposed responses and answers and defenses for their respective doctrine, and sadly, opportunities are lost this way. Perhaps it behooves us to consider it from a different perspective, yet still well within the confines of scripture. Perhaps if we come at it from a slightly different scriptural perspective, we can get past the immediate responses, and be more effective, as well as enhancing our understanding of God’s will and word.

Matthew 22:34-40 -First of all, Love God
Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 -Fear and obey

Is Solomon, using God’s wisdom and inspired to write this book, contradicting Jesus? Obviously not. Perhaps they write of two different things, and the most important thing for us to do is not the same as the whole of man? I don’t think so. I think they are saying the same thing, yet in different words. Love is fear (I think we can correctly define this as reverential faith) and obedience (actually doing the works God wants us to do).

The Greek (although I do not claim to be a Greek scholar whatsoever) of what we’re looking at bears this out nicely, I think.

Faith = pistis = a firm persuasion or trust
Works = ergon = work, employment, or a task
Love = agapao = an active love of service, sacrifice, and working for the good of another

So, essentially:

pistis + ergon = agapao

Let us recognize that love, faith, and works are all necessary for us:
I Corinthians 16:22 -If no love, then be anathema
Hebrews 11:6 -No faith, then no pleasing God
Hebrews 5:9 -Salvation is for those who obey

Let us consider the close relationship between these three things.

Works and Love
John 14:15 -If you love Christ, obey Him
I John 2:15-17 -Love not the world (ie, love God) and do His will
I John 4:7-12 -Love requires action, even on God’s side of things
I John 5:3 -Love is keeping His commandments
II John 6 -Love is walking in obedience

Faith and Love
I Corinthians 13:13 -Love is greater than faith
I Peter 1:8 -See and love what we do not yet see
II Thessalonians 2:10-12 -No faith, then no love
John 8:42-47 -They have no love for Christ, so they lack faith
John 5:36-47 -They lack faith in Christ, so they have no love for God

Faith and Works
John 6:29 -Faith is a work
Mark 16:16 -Faith is coupled with obedient action for salvation
Acts 2:38 -Inherent (in their question) faith must be acted on for salvation
James 2:14-26 -Living faith requires works
Romans 10:17 -The word leads to faith
II Timothy 3:16-17 -The word leads to and prepares for works
Hebrews 11:6 -Faith is coupled with active seeking
Hebrews 3:16-19 -Unbelief is equated with wrong actions and sin

And of course, we recognize that works/obedience is not the action of earning your way into heaven, but simply fulfilling what we were designed to do. It’s nothing exception, just fulfilling a basic function. Just as people do not earn raises and promotions through the minimum, so doing works does not earn heaven.
Ephesians 2:8-10 -We are made for good works
I Corinthians 9:17 -Simply fulfilling a charge
Hebrews 13:20-21 -Equipped by God to do His will

These three things are inseparable. Faith and works are both necessary for love. If you properly love someone, do you not seek out things to DO to please them? And can you love someone you have no faith or trust in, or do now know? Of course not! We understand this in our physical, mortal lives. How can we not understand and apply this to our spiritual life and relationship with God?

And of course, as in all things, there is an opposite side. What if you do not live obediently? What if you lack faith? What if you do not love God?

Philippians 3:18-19 -Enemies of Christ have their mind (ie love) on earthly things
II Timothy 3:1-5 -Lovers of self (not God) are disobedient
Titus 1:16 -Those who do not know God (and thus, no faith) are disobedient
Revelation 21:8 -Outside are the unbelieving, idolaters (who love something more than God), and those who practice evil (are disobedient)

So the question we have to ask ourselves is, quite simply, do we love God? We have looked at what it is to love God. Do you put your faith in Him? That’s more than just believing that He is, but rather putting your trust and confidence in Him. Are you obedient to His will? Are you willing to do the simple things He requires? Are you willing to not do the things He says not to do? Do you love Jesus? Will you not now put your faith in Him and obey?

The Greatest Commandment - 3/1/09pm

Deuteronomy 6:1-3 -The law was for them and their descendants
Deuteronomy 6:4-9 -Love the Lord your God
Deuteronomy 6:10-12 -Love requires remembering the Lord
Deuteronomy 6:13-19 -Fear and obey as part of love
Deuteronomy 6:20-25 -Love requires we teach our descendants
We see here a chapter dedicated to the idea of love for God. Love, both coming from God and directed towards God, is not a concept new to the New Testament. We see here that from early on, love for God was necessary. In fact, it’s repeated several times throughout this same book:
Deuteronomy 5:8-10 -God shows love to those who love Him
Deuteronomy 7:7-10 -God is faithful, keeping the covenant with those who love Him
Deuteronomy 10:12-13 -The Lord asks that we fear Him, walk in His ways, and Love Him
Deuteronomy 11:1 -Love the Lord and keep His commandments
Deuteronomy 13:1-5 -Tests to see if we wholeheartedly love God

Matthew 22:34-40 -The greatest commandment
Here we see Christ quoting from a passage we read earlier in Deuteronomy 6. We must love the Lord. Not just a little bit, but with our entirety.
Matthew 10:37-39 -Must love Christ more than others
Romans 12:9-13 -Love must be without hypocrisy
We cannot be hypocritical in our love: we must put Christ above all others, and live accordingly. We cannot claim to love God full time, but only serve Him part time.
John 14:15-24 -If you love me, keep my commandments
John 15:9-14 -You are my friend if you do as I have said

Thinking back to when Christ was asked what the greatest commandment was, remember that he tied another to it: love your neighbors.
I John 4:19-5 -Love for God requires love for others
John 21:15-19 -Do you love me? Feed my sheep.

Luke 10:25-37 -The good Samaritan
We often look at this passage and apply it to loving others. And rightly so! We must be like the Samaritan. Instead of trying to decide if someone is our neighbor, we make him our neighbor. And our love causes us to go beyond what we may be “required” to do. It causes us to do our best and go as far as we can. Our attitude towards God should be the same. We do not only try to do the minimum, but we should try to go the extra mile, do as much as we can.

If you have not obeyed in baptism, you do not love God. If you have been baptized but have ceased to love the Lord with all your heart, mind, and soul, now is the time to make correction.

God's Forgiveness - 3/1/09am

Romans 3:23 -All men are in need of forgiveness
Luke 24:45-49 -Forgiveness is available for all
We have all sinned and are in need of forgiveness. Fortunately, we have a God who loves us enough to make forgiveness available to us.

Luke 5:17-25 -Christ has power to forgive sins
Ephesians 1:7-8 -Forgiveness through God’s grace
God has the ability and willingness to extend to us forgiveness that we do not deserve. He has done what is necessary to make it possible: He sent His Son.
Romans 3:22-26 -Christ is the sacrifice for our sins
I John 4:7-12 -Christ is the sacrifice for our sins
Matthew 26:26-29 -Christ’s blood is poured our sins
Hebrews 9:16-28 -His sacrifice was necessary

However, there are those things that God requires of us in order to receive His forgiveness.
Acts 10:43 -Believe for forgiveness of sins
Matthew 6:9-15 -Forgive for our sins to be forgiven
I John 1:8-10 -Confess sins for forgiveness
Luke 11:2-4 -Prayer for forgiveness of sins is shown
Acts 8:9-23 -Repent and pray for forgiveness
Acts 2:38 -Repent and be baptized for forgiveness

As in so many things, God gives us evidence that He is willing to forgive anyone who is willing to turn towards Him, no matter what life that person once led. Let us look at just one example of one person God was willing to forgive.
I Timothy 1:15-17 -Christ came to forgive sinners, of whom Paul was chief
Acts 8:1-3 -Paul approving Stephen’s death, destroying church
Acts 9:1-2 -Paul persecuting church
Acts 9:13-14 -Others knew of his persecution
II Timothy 4:7-8 -Paul awaits a crown of righteousness

The Church's Foundation - 2/22/09pm

Matthew 16:13-19 -On this rock Christ built His church
What is the rock being referred to here. Is it Peter? It is his confession? The rock that the church is founded on is the basic truth of what Peter said:

That Jesus is the Messiah, the Christ.
I John 2:22-25 -Antichrists deny that Jesus is the Christ
I John 5:1 -Children of God believe that Jesus is the Christ
That Jesus is the Son of God.
I John 5:1-13 -Not believing Jesus as the Son is calling God a liar
I John 4:12-16 -God abides in those who confess Jesus as God’s Son

Let us take a few moments to consider the foundation of the church.
I Corinthians 3:1-17 -Christ the foundation that we built ourselves upon
Ephesians 2:20-22 -Christ is the chief cornerstone
I Peter 2:1-8 -Christ is the Chief cornerstone
The church is built upon Christ. Not upon other men. But upon Christ. Who Christ was, and what Christ taught, that is, the gospel.

We must be built on His example.
John 13:13-17 -Follow Christ’s example
I Corinthians 11:1 -Follow Paul’s example, as he followed Christ’s
I Peter 2:21 -Christ set an example that we should follow

We must be built on His words.
Mark 8:38 -If we are ashamed of Christ’s words, He is ashamed of us
Luke 6:46-49 -Wise and foolish builders
John 14:23-24 -If we keep His words, the Farther will love us
I Corinthians 11:23 -Paul taught what Christ had taught
We see that we not limited only to following whichever words are in red, but also the rest of the inspired scriptures.

Jude 1:20-21 -Build yourselves ON your most holy faith
I Corinthians 2:1-5 -Paul preached Jesus, that their faith rested on God’s power, not man’s wisdom
Acts 8:26-40 -Philip preaches Jesus, the Eunuch obeys the gospel.

Rebellion - 2/22/09am

Numbers 16:1-3 -Korah rebels against Moses and God
Numbers 16:4-11 -Moses speaks to Korah, states it is God they are rebelling against
Numbers 16:12-14 -Sons of Eliab speak their “grievances”
Numbers 16:15-27 -God tells the people to move away from the rebels
Numbers 16:28-35 -The ground opens and swallows the rebels, fire consumes the 250
Numbers 16:36-40 -God reminds the people of His decisions
Numbers 16:41 -The people rebel again, blaming Moses
Numbers 16:42-50 -Moses and Aaron stop the plague
Numbers 17:1-11 -Aaron’s budding rod as proof of God’s will
We often look at these chapters and are amazed! First, we’re amazed at Korah’s rebellion against God. We’re amazed at the rebellion of the sons of Eliab. We’re amazed that the people would rebel again so shortly after that! It seems incredible that they would rebel against the God who had given them so much!
Psalm 78:12-20 -God’s works for Israel, Israel’s rebellion
We see the psalmist writing of what God had done for them, and of their rebellion. We are astonished!

Yet do we not rebel against God’s authority when we sin? Do we not reject what God has said, and do as we please in our rebellion? God tells us to help those in need, yet how often do you and I decide we have a better use of our time and money? God tells us to assemble together, yet how often do we choose to be somewhere else instead of assembled together? God tells us to follow the laws of the land, yet how often do we rebel against God by going against that?

I Samuel 15:20-23 -Rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, stubbornness as the sin of idolatry
Rebellion against God is a serious sin. It is something that is wide encompassing. We see here that Saul’s rebellion was that of deciding he had a better way. We don’t have to outright reject God’s authority to be in rebellion. All we have to do is go our own way. All we have to do is follow our will and not His.

Rebellion was not only an Old Testament problem. We are admonished to rebel against God.
Hebrews 3:7-19 -Do not rebel as they did
Jude 8-15 -These have perished in the rebellion of Korah
Are you in a state of rebellion against God? Now is the time to make correction. As the Hebrew writer said in the verse we just read, “Today” is the day.

Two Cubits of Quail - 2/15/09pm

Numbers 11:1-9 -The people are not satisfied with manna, want meat
Exodus 16:31 -The taste of manna was like wafers made with honey
As we’ve looked at before, the Israelites did a lot of grumbling. This time, they’re dissatisfied with the food that God has provided them. How often do we grow dissatisfied with the blessings God has given, and want more and more?
Philippians 4:6 -Thanksgiving to God
I Corinthians 10:1-13 -An example to us, do not grumble
II Corinthians 12:7-10 -Thorn in the flesh, grace is sufficient

Numbers 11:10-15 -The Lord and Moses are both angry with the people
When the people complain against God, Moses reacts with anger. Do we grow angry over sin? Do we have much of a reaction at all?
John 2:13-17 -Jesus clearing the temple
Jeremiah 6:13-15 -They do not even know how to blush

We also see Moses essentially asking, “Why me?” It seemed to him that God had given him more than he could bear. Do we ever feel that way?
I Corinthians 10:12-13 -God will not allow us to be tempted beyond what we can bear
Matthew 11:28-30 -His yoke is easy, His burden is light

Numbers 11:16-23 -The Lord tells Moses that He will provide much meat
Numbers 11:31-34 -The Lord provides an overabundance of quail, and creates a plague
When the Lord gave them quail, He did not provide simply a little bit. He quite literally flooded the camp 3 feet deep in quail, and covering such an area that it was thick with quail that you’d have to walk a full day out of camp to get away from it!
II Thessalonians 2:1-12 -God will send a strong delusion
Romans 1:18-27 -God gave them up to sin

We also see that God’s anger burned against those who yielded to their own will.
I Peter 4:1-6 -Have the same attitude as Christ: live for God’s will
Hebrews 10:35-36 -When you have done His will, you will be rewarded

Before Pentecost - 2/15/09am

Acts 1:1-3 -Second letter to Theophilus, infallible proofs
This was the second letter Luke wrote to Theophilus. In introducing this second letter, he briefly recaps the previous letter, the Gospel of Luke, presenting the evidence as infallible and unmistakable.
I Corinthians 15:3-11 -Christ appeared to over 500, at one time

Acts 1:4-8 -The coming of the kingdom and Holy Spirit
The disciples ask if it is time for the Lord to bring about the kingdom. He answers that they will receive power in Jerusalem.
Matthew 6:28 -Some were alive who would see the kingdom
Luke 24:44-49 -Christ opened their minds to the scriptures

Acts 1:9-11 -The ascension of Christ
Christ, after His resurrection, ascended back to heaven. Since then, we await His return and eternal life with Him.
I Thessalonians 4:15-18 -Christ will return, the faithful will be with Him

Acts 1:12-14 -Continuing in one accord with prayer
As the disciples did, so must we: to gather ourselves together, to be of one mind, and to pray constantly.
Philippians 2:1-11 -Be of one mind: requires humility like Christ had
James 5:13-18 -Prayer for a variety of reasons and circumstances

Acts 1:15-22 -The apostles understand the scriptures, and begin to replace Iscariot
The apostles not only understood what the scripture meant, they took the knowledge and made application. We too much make application of God’s word to our lives.
Matthew 7:24-27 -The wise and foolish builders
James 1:22-25 -Do not only listen to the word, do what it says

Acts 1:23-26 -Matthias is chosen by lot
Matthias is chosen over Barsabas. Why? It does not seem to be because Barsabas was unrighteous (or why would he have been considered to begin with?). It was because Matthias was better suited to that particular role.
I Corinthians 12:12-31 -Different members for different purposes

What God Has Cleansed - 2/9/09pm

Leviticus 11:1-8 -Land animals must chew the cud AND have cloven hooves
Leviticus 11:9-12 -Fish must have fins AND scales
Notice the concern with detail. More instruction was given than just generalities, specific examples have been named, illustrating what the Israelites could and could not eat. We too must be concerned with the details of what
Leviticus 11:13-19 -Restrictions on birds
Leviticus 11:20-23 -Restrictions on insects
Leviticus 11:24-30 -Further unclean animals
Leviticus 11:31-38 -If an animal carcass contacts is, is it unclean?
Imagine the care that a person must have taken to ensure that their produce, their water, and all their food remained clean. It would require dedication to keeping the commandments of God. Are we so determined to keep God’s commandments? Or are we somewhat more relaxed about the Lord’s will?

Keeping in mind the stringent detail of God’s instruction, and how much effort would be put into keeping it, it makes what occurs later a much bigger deal than what we usually think.

Acts 10:1-8 -Cornelius the centurion sends men to Peter
Acts 10:9-16 -Peter’s vision of unclean animals on a sheet
Acts 10:17-23 -The men reach Peter, Peter travels with them
Acts 10:24-29 -Peter understands the vision
Acts 10:30-33 -Cornelius tells of the voice he heard
Acts 10:34-48 -Peter preaches, the household of Cornelius believes and is baptized
Peter understood what has been told to him: that no man is unable to come to Christ or set apart from the word. And while we usually look at this passage and are glad, as the majority of us are of gentile heritage, there is another application for us. We must teach all men, not just the ones we view as being more “clean.” No matter how “common” or “unclean” a person seems, we must bring them the word, as Peter did here.
Acts 11:1-3 -Other Christians contend with Peter for eating with gentiles
Acts 11:4-17 -Peter explains the vision and the meaning of the vision
Acts 11:18 -The gentiles are granted repentance to life
What God has cleansed, let us not call unclean. Of course, it’s entirely possible to give up being clean, isn’t it? Just as in the Old Testament, the Israelites could, through their actions, make themselves unclean, we do the same when we choose to disobey the Lord. If you have never obeyed the gospel, you must do as these first gentile converts did: believe, and obey through baptism. If you have obeyed and come to God, yet turned away and made yourself unclean, you must “repent unto life” again.

He Is Risen - 2/8/09am

Matthew 26:47-56 -Jesus is betrayed and arrested
Although Jesus knew Judas would betray Him, remember that the other disciples did not. It’s easy to know the anger and dismay this would cause the apostles

Matthew 26:57-66 -Jesus is brought before the Sanhedrin
If you are Peter, having followed Christ, you see the Lord being obviously falsely accused, mocked, and smitten. You see Him obviously unjustly condemned by the council of those who are supposed to be judging according to the Law.
Matthew 26:67-68 -Jesus is mocked and struck

Matthew 26:69-75 -Jesus is again betrayed by one close to Him
With all of this, it is easy to understand why Peter would deny the Lord. And yet, we see his remorse after doing so. Truly, at this point, it must seem to Peter that everyone had lost faith.

Matthew 27:11-26 -Jesus is brought before Pilate
And now we see Christ before Pilate, the hand of Rome in Judea. Pilate, who had no great regard for Jews, finds the man obviously innocent. Nonetheless, in order to sate the crowd, he hands him over and frees Barabbas. In a sense, taking the man’s place.

Matthew 27:27-31 -Jesus is again mocked and beaten
And now Christ is mocked and beaten again, this time by gentiles. It is as though the entire world, Jews, gentiles, and His disciples, have turned against Him.

Matthew 27:32-44 -Jesus is crucified and mocked

Matthew 27:45-56 -Jesus dies
Jesus, the Son of God, God the Son, gave up the spirit. How dark an hour this must have been for His disciples.

We often complain about how bad things are now, in the year 2009. Yet consider that moment in time. It seemed as though the entire world had rejected Christ, Satan had won, and God had been shown powerless and unable to bring about His will.
Matthew 27:57-61 -Jesus is buried

Matthew 28:1-10 -Jesus is risen
And yet, at this darkest hour of history, God overcomes! Jesus is risen from the dead. And those who follow Him have the victory because of this.

No matter ho bad things may seem to be, whether in politics, the economy, world affairs, or whatever else may trouble us, we have the victory, if we are baptized into the Lord’s death, and rise a new creature. If we do not deny and betray Him, if we follow Him, then salvation awaits us. Have you obeyed the gospel?