THE SPIRIT’S SWORD
published by
Mt. Baker church of Christ
1860 Mt. Baker Hwy · Bellingham, WA 98226
Volume V, Number 3 - March 25, 2001
Editor..................Joe R. Price
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Link of the Week: MORMONISM: THE WORD & WISDOM OF MAN, by Joe Price
In this issue:
DON'T CALL US "THE MORMON CHURCH!"
"The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is calling on its members, news organizations and others to use its full and correct name and to avoid use of the term "Mormon Church."
A letter from the First Presidency-the faith's highest governing body-is being sent to more than 25,000 congregations worldwide calling on Church members to "use the full name wherever possible."("Official Name of Church Re-emphasized," 5 March 2001; http://www.lds.org/media/article/0,5422,116-4497,FF.html)
The Mormons believe God revealed the official name of their church to Joseph Smith, Jr. on April 26, 1838 (Doctrine & Covenants 115:4). Sorry, but the Mormons are 1800 years too late!
Jesus said He would build His church, and He did (Matt. 16:18; Heb. 3:3-4; 1 Tim. 3:15). But, we never read about "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints" in the Bible (Gal. 1:8-9).
Of course, the Mormon Church (oops, old habits die hard) will tell us that "many parts" of the gospel which are "plain and most precious" were taken away by "that great and abominable church" so that any who says we have all the Bible today is a fool (1 Nephi 13:26; 2 Nephi 29:3-10, Book of Mormon) The Mormon Church attempts to discredit the Bible, to eliminate its veracity, authenticity and incorruptibility in order to make room for their "inspired" scriptures and their "latter-day" church.
Wrong again! The apostles of Christ were guided by the Holy Spirit into "all truth" (Jno. 16:13). They preached a gospel which is "incorruptible" (1 Pet. 1:22-25). Plain and very precious parts of the gospel were not taken away, thereby necessitating a restoration via Joseph Smith, Jr. The gospel (the faith, Gal. 1:11, 23) did not "fall away" (it was not "taken away"). No, just as the Spirit expressly said, some did indeed fall away from the faith (1 Tim. 4:1)!
It is also worth noting that the Mormons have a purely institutional and ecclesiastical concept of the church. While they have "an official name" we read of no such nonsense in the NT. Instead, we read of a called out group of sinners, saved by the blood of Christ and added by Him to His church (Acts 2:37-47). We reach of "churches of Christ" - separate and distinct congregations of disciples, Christians, saints (Rom. 16:16; Acts 14:23; 11:26; 1 Cor. 1:2).
The evidence compels us to continue to call the Mormon Church by its correct name: a church of Satan (who say they are Christians, but are not, cf. Rev. 2:9; 3:9).
Steven F. Deaton
Luke records a time when the physical family of Jesus was looking for him. He wrote, "And it was told Him by some, who said, 'Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, desiring to see You.' But He answered and said to them, 'My mother and My brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it'" (Lk. 8:20-21). Jesus emphasized those thing that are truly important--the spiritual!
We should all have the desire to be in the family of God, with Jesus as our "Brother." The Hebrew writer says of Jesus, "Both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren" (Heb. 2:11). Being a part of this family, one has the hope of an inheritance, since he is an heir of God and joint heir with Christ (Rom. 8:17). This inheritance is nothing less than a home in heaven, eternal life with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (1 Pet. 1:3-5). Let us understand, however, that this inheritance is not given to just anyone and everyone, though it is available for all.
Jesus said those "who hear the word of God and do it" are His brothers. There are a lot of people who simply "hear" the word of God. The foolish man heard the word of God, but he did NOT do it (Matt. 2:26-27). Thus, his house did not stand. Some people "hear" what God says about sacrifice, but they do on do it (Rom. 12:1-2). Some people "hear" what Jesus said about loving their enemies, but do not do it (Matt. 5:44-48). Some people "hear" what the Son of God said about salvation, but do not do it (Mk. 16:16). These are not a part of the family of the Lord, because they do not do what He has commanded them.
Are you in Jesus' family? Do you hear the word of God and do it? Have you believed in Jesus as the Son of the living God (Jn. 14:6; 8:24)? Have you confessed this belief (Rom. 10:9-10; Lk. 12:8-9)? Have you turned from your sins, repented (Lk. 13:3; Acts 3:19)? Have you been baptized for the remission of sins, for salvation (Acts 2:38; 22:16; Mk. 16:16)? If you have not done these things, then you are not a part of the family of God. You must be born again (Jn. 3:3-5).
For the complete text of this sermon, visit BIBLE ANSWERS
Scripture Reading: Exodus 12:24-28
Intro.
1. God wants us to use this opportunity to teach our children of Him - Exo. 12:26;
Deut. 6:20; Josh. 4:6.
2. What will you say...
I. WHEN YOUR CHILDREN ASK YOU ABOUT:
A. THE CHURCH OF CHRIST: Matt. 16:18; Eph. 1:21-23; 4:4; 5:23; 1 Tim. 3:15.
1. Why are we different from other churches? - Jno. 18:36; 1 Pet.
2:9-10
2. Does it matter which church you are a member of? - Acts 2:47; 1 Cor.
1:12-13
3. Why are we "so small?" - 1 Cor. 1:26-29; Matt. 18:20
4. Why don't we use instrumental music? - Eph. 5:19
5. Why don't we have women preachers? - 1 Tim. 2:11-12
B. OUR WORSHIP SERVICES: Acts 2:46; 20:7.
1. Why do we go to services? - Psa. 122:1; 1 Jno. 5:3; 1 Cor. 14:26;
Col. 3:16; Acts 11:26; Heb. 10:25.
2. Some things have been commanded to occur only in the assembly of the
saints - Lord's supper - 1 Cor. 16:2; 11:20-22, 33; Acts 20:7.
C. DATING AND MARRIAGE:
1. What is wrong with living with someone before marriage? - 1 Cor. 7:2
(Heb. 13:4); Matt. 19:4-6.
2. Why can't I divorce and remarry for any cause? - Matt. 19:3-9; Rom.
7:2-3.
D. DANCING AND DRINKING:
1. Why don't we dance? -1 Pet. 4:3.
2. Why don't we drink alcohol? - 1 Pet. 4:3; Prov. 20:1; 23:29-35; 1
Ths. 5:21-22.
E. HOW WE SHOULD TREAT OTHER PEOPLE:
1. What's wrong with treating others the way they treat me? - Matt.
7:12; 1 Pet. 2:19-23.
2. Why do you spank me? - Prov. 13:24 (3:12); 19:18; 22:15.
F. SIN AND SALVATION:
1. Why do the people we love sin?
2. Why doesn't everyone obey the gospel? - Matt. 7:21; 2 Cor. 4:3-4
3. What must I do to be saved? - Acts 16:30-34
4. What must I do, as a Christian, to be forgiven of my sins? - Acts
8:22-24; 1 Jno. 1:9
For the complete text of this sermon, visit BIBLE ANSWERS
Scripture Reading: Proverbs 4:1-9
Intro.
By asking & answering Bible questions, our goal is to apply knowledge so as to gain wisdom - 1 Cor. 8:1; Jas. 3:13.
Question #1: "How did Paul get in jail?"
Paul imprisoned many for their faith. In turn, he was often imprisoned for his! Acts 22:19-20; 2 Cor. 11:23; Acts 9:16
A. Not Because He Was A Criminal - Acts 28:16-20.
B. Because Of The Gospel He Preached - Acts 28:20; Eph. 4:1.
1. In Philippi: (Acts 16:16-24).
2. In Jerusalem...Rome: (Acts 24:5-21).
C. The Effect Of Paul's Imprisonments - Phil. 1:12-14; 2 Tim. 4:6-8.
D. Lessons For Us:
1. We will be mistreated when we obey Christ.
2. We had rather be right with God than with any man - Matt. 10:28.
3. Current trials are not comparable to eternal glory - Rom. 8:18.
4. Blessed when we endure wrongs for Christ's sake - Matt. 5:8-10.
Question #2: "A statement we hear is: 'We sin because we are human...or, to err is human!" Does this accurately reflect the relationship between being human and sin?"
{No, it does not accurately reflect man's relationship to sin.}
A. The Presence Of Sin Does Not Prove Our Humanity, It Proves That Human
Beings Violate The Word & Will Of God. 1 Pet. 2:22; 2 Pet. 2:4.
B. Sin Is The Violation Of God's Will By Morally Responsible Individuals - 1 Jno.
3:4.
1. Sin is the result of choices, not chromosomes! Rom. 3:23;
Ezek. 18:20; Rom. 5:12.
2. Sin does not spring from humanity - Rom. 7:7-9.
C. Man And Sin - Jas. 1:12-16 (1 Cor. 10:12).
D. So, What About These Passages?
1. Psa. 51:5: "I was brought forth in iniquity." cf. Eccl.
7:29.
2. Eph. 2:1-3: "By nature children of wrath..."
("Habit, course of conduct"). cf. 1 Jno. 3:4-10
Conclusion
-"If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them." (Jno.
13:17)
(Current events in the light of Scripture)
University Buries Books To Cut Costs
Wednesday, March 21, 2001
SYDNEY, Australia (Reuters) - Pressed by a lack of funds, an Australian university buried thousands of books under ground in order to save money on storage costs.
"Instead of being stored which would have been most appropriate, some idiot got rid of surplus books by burying them," University of Western Sydney spokesman Steven Matchett told Reuters Wednesday.
The university said it faced unique financing problems due to a rapid four-fold growth in student numbers since it was established in 1989.
Matchett said the university did not know who was responsible for burying the textbooks in 1996 in the university's grounds, next to a cricket oval.
The tomes were now of little use to the temple of learning. "They are not in terrific shape," Matchett said, adding that dumping books in the ground would not happen again.
The Daily Telegraph newspaper, which broke the story, said 10,000 books had been buried. It said it was a sign of the financial pressure Australian universities were coming under due to federal cut-backs. Copyright (c)2001 Reuters Limited.
The Bible tells of a king who destroyed a book. But it wasn't because he didn't have the funds or room to store it in his palace. Rather, he did not have room for it in his heart.
The king was Jehoiakim and the book contained "all the words of the LORD which He has spoken" to His prophet Jeremiah. The story is found in Jeremiah 36. The book had been written "that the house of Judah will hear all the adversities which I purpose to bring upon them that everyone may turn from his evil way, that I may forgive their iniquity and their sin" (36:3). But faithless king Jehoiakim "cut it with the scribe's knife and cast it into the fire" and "was not afraid" of the word of the Lord (36:23-24). But, this did not destroy God's word. Another scroll was written, and in it were additional words from God - words of judgment against the king and his faithful nation (36:27-32).
Man cannot and will not destroy the word of the Lord (Matt. 24:35; 1 Pet. 1:22-25). Instead of fighting against God we must humble ourselves and obey His word. Otherwise, we will surely be destroyed in our sin. (Jno. 12:48)
The Spirit's Sword is a free, weekly publication of the Mt. Baker church of Christ, Bellingham, WA
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