THE SPIRIT'S SWORD
Published by
Mt. Baker church of Christ
Bellingham, WA (1860 Mt. Baker HWY)
(360) 752-2692

Editor/Evangelist  Joe R. Price
Volume IX,  Number 17
  January 01, 2006

"All material is written by Joe R. Price, unless otherwise noted."
 


Times of services:

Sunday:
Bible Classes............9:30 AM
Worship......10:30 & 6:00 PM

Wednesday:
Bible Classes............7:00 PM

Web sites:
Mt. Baker church of Christ  Bible Answers

"...Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers..." (1 Peter 5:2)
Elders
Morris Bass, Rick Holt , Joe Price

"...let them serve as deacons, being found blameless..." (1 Tim. 3:10)
Deacons
Aaron Bass, Rich Brooks, Mike Finn
John Hague, Dan Head

"And take...the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God" (Eph. 6:17)

In this issue:


We Preach Christ Crucified
Joe R. Price

     “We preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness” (1 Cor. 1:23).  Let there be no mistake:  Preaching “Christ crucified” is gospel preaching.  The “word of the cross” is the power of God to save the lost (1 Cor. 1:18, 21; Rom. 1:16).  It reveals how God forgives sinners and what sinners must do to receive God’s forgiveness (Rom. 1:17; 3:21-26; Acts 2:37).  It must be preached.

     The apostle Paul observed that when he preached at Corinth he “determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified” (1 Cor. 2:2).  Some hastily conclude that to preach Jesus is to preach only the life and death of Jesus and not the doctrine recorded in the inspired epistles by Christ’s apostles and prophets.  We are told, in effect, that Jesus is more important than His doctrine.  Yet, He is “the Truth,” which indisputably involves His doctrine (Jno. 14:6; 7:16-17).  Such minimizing of doctrine allows for the subjective interpretation of Scripture (“choose the doctrine of your choice”).  Such a view affirms that Jesus approves of each person deciding what doctrine is important and what is unimportant.  We are scolded when we teach there is one body of doctrine (teaching) that is truth for all (Jno. 17:17).  “Just preach Christ and leave others alone,” we are told.

     In order to preach the “message of the cross” we must know what that preaching includes (1 Cor. 1:18, 21).  Does it include the plan of salvation?  Does it include principles of divine authority?  Does it include the work and organization of the church?  Does it include teaching about sin?  Does it include instruction on human obedience?  Does it include preaching the fulfillment of prophecy?  The Scriptures answer “yes” to each of these questions.  Let us see what it means to “preach Christ crucified.”

     In Acts 8:5, Philip “preached Christ” to the city of Samaria.  What did that entail?  In Acts 8:12 we learn that he preached the “things concerning the kingdom of God.”  Without question, preaching Christ is preaching about His kingdom, the church of Christ (Matt. 16:18-19).  After all, the church is His body and fullness (Eph. 1:22-23).  How can one preach Christ and not preach about His body, the church?  How can one preach Christ and not preach that He is the savior of His body, the church (Eph. 5:23)?       

When Philip “preached Christ” he preached concerning “the name of Jesus Christ” (Acts 8:12).  He proclaimed Christ’s authority; His right to rule our lives (Matt. 28:18-19; Eph. 1:20-23).  To fully preach Christ we must preach His authority.  Preaching how the authority of Christ is established and applied in Scripture should not be denounced as not preaching Jesus.  Just the opposite is true; we will preach about Bible authority when we preach Christ.  Whatever we say and do must be supported by His authority (Col. 3:17).  And, by the way, His authority is revealed to us in “the word of His power,” His New Testament - “the word of the truth of the gospel” (Col. 1:5; Heb. 1:1-3; Jno. 16:13; 2 Tim. 3:16-17).

When Philip “preached Christ” he preached baptism, since “both men and women were baptized” (Acts 8:12).  This means he preached about sin and how sinners are saved (Acts 2:37-38, 40).  This means he taught the plan of salvation when he preached Christ to the Samaritans (Mk. 16:15-16; Acts 1:8; 8:1, 4).  Those who believed the gospel obeyed it and were saved (Acts 8:12-13).  We conclude that Philip preached the continuing responsibilities of faithful, obedient discipleship (Acts 8:13).  None should object to preaching the responsibilities of discipleship (such as moral purity, Rom. 12:1-2) as not preaching Christ.  “As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving” (Col. 2:6-7).

When Philip “preached Christ” he preached fulfilled prophecy.  In Acts 8:35, Philip “preached Jesus” from Isaiah 53:7-8, instructing the Ethiopian that Jesus fulfilled Isaiah’s prophecy.  The Jesus whom we preach is the suffering Christ of Old Testament prophecy (Acts 17:2-3).

The New Testament of Christ is the apostles’ doctrine that was preached in the first century (Rom. 16:25).  It is what lost souls heard, believed and obeyed in order to be saved from their sins (Acts 2:40-41).  The gospel they preached was not their own; it was revealed to them by the Spirit of God (Jno. 16:12-15; Gal. 1:11-12; 1 Ths. 2:13).   It was the “word of the cross” then, and it continues to be the “word of the cross” today (1 Cor. 1:18; 1 Pet. 1:22-25).

We will not make distinctions in God’s word where there are none.  To “preach Christ crucified” includes preaching that Jesus fulfilled God’s prophetic plan to save sinners.  It includes His life, death, resurrection and exaltation; it includes man’s faith and obedience; it includes the church of Christ and the authority of Christ over our lives.  We must preach the “whole counsel of God,” the inspired scriptures (2 Tim. 3:16-4:2; Acts 20:27).  To do less is not preaching Christ crucified to the world.

“…but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.”  (1 Corinthians 1:23-24)

Top


Things to "Mix" in 2006
Joe R. Price

Every New Year’s Eve we hear of people mixing things they shouldn’t (like drinking and driving), with deadly results. Similarly, we cannot mix service to God with the things of this world without it resulting in eternal death (Matt. 6:24; Mk. 8:34-38; 1 Jno. 2:15-17).

As another year fades into memory and a new year dawns, let us join the prophet Samuel and raise our Ebenezer: “Thus far the Lord has helped us” (1 Sam. 7:12). We thank God for His gracious blessings that have brought us to this point and filled our lives with the joy of eternal hope in Christ (Eph. 1:3). Truly, our cup overflows (Psa. 23:5). Since we are not promised tomorrow, today is the day of salvation – the day to get right with God (2 Cor. 6:2). Today is a good day to start mixing the right things together:


• Mix love for Christ and obedience to Christ, John 14:15.
• Mix belief and baptism to be saved, Mark 16:16.
• Mix repentance and baptism to have remission of sins, Acts 2:38.
• Mix obedient faith and love for truth, Galatians 5:6-7.
• Mix works of faith and professions of faith, James 2:17-18.
• Mix words of love and works of love, 1 John 3:17-18.
• Mix your words and gracious appropriateness, Colossians 4:6.
• Mix justice, mercy, faith and obedience, Matthew 23:23.
• Mix mercy and truth, Psalm 85:10.
• Mix righteousness and peace, Psalm 85:10.
• Mix prayer for laborers and personal labor, Matthew 9:37-38.

Top


You can find the complete outline of this sermon at BIBLE ANSWERS

Steps toward Apostasy

Scripture Reading:  2 Tim. 4:1-5

Intro.

1. Satan never leaves Christians alone (Rev. 12:17).
2. This is a personal battle; God is with us (Eph. 6:10-13; Rom. 8:37-39).
3. Apostasy: lit., a standing away from.
4. Apostasy is defection from…
    a. The word of God, Lk. 8:13.
    b. The faith, 1 Tim. 4:1.
    c. God, Heb. 3:12.
5. Christ’s disciples warned, Matt. 10:22; 24:12-13; 1 Cor. 10:12; Rev. 2:4-5.

I. HOW APOSTASY DEVELOPS, 2 Tim. 4:1-4.

A. First Step: A Wrong Attitude toward Truth, 4:3. (Prov. 4:23; 23:7).
    1. “Will not endure sound doctrine” 4:1-2 (Psa. 119:140).
    2. Complacency, compromise, convenience & shame toward word of God – heart is being prepared to fall away (Heb. 3:12-13).
    3. Prevention: Seek, welcome & use truth, 1 Ths. 2:12.
B. Second Step: Becoming Comfortable with Error, 4:3. (“According to their own desires”)
    1. Lustful cravings choke word of God, Mk. 4:18-19; Jas. 4:1-4 (1 Jno. 2:15-17); cf. Jer. 5:30-31; 1 Kgs. 22:5-8, 22; 2 Cor. 11:4; Eph. 5:8-13 (2 Jno. 9-11).
    2. Prevention: Instead of being comfortable with sin & error, we must contend for the faith with all humility, Jude 3; Jas. 4:7-10.
C. Third Step: Abandon Truth & Replace it with Error, 4:4. (“will turn their ears away…”); cf. Col. 2:18-19; 1 Tim. 6:20-21; 2 Pet. 1:16.
    1. Repeated warnings, 1 Tim. 1:4; 4:7; 2 Tim. 4:4; Tit. 1:14.
    2. Prevention: Be watchful, endure & work…keep hearing & heeding all truth (Rom. 10:17; Jno. 8:31-32).

Conclusion

    1. Any step toward apostasy is too far (1 Jno. 2:1).
    2. Remedy: Repent & do first works (Rev. 2:4-5; Matt. 6:33); 1 Tim. 4:2; Heb. 3:13; 6:4-6 (Acts 8:20-24).

 Top


You can find the complete outline of this sermon at BIBLE ANSWERS

Bible Authority (#6): Aids and Additions

Scripture Reading:  1 Corinthians 10:23-33

Intro.

1. God has expressed His authority in the Scriptures generically & specifically.
2. How do we scripturally tell the difference between an aid (that helps us obey God’s word) & an addition that violates God’s word?

I. WHAT IS AN AID?

A. Definition: “lit., to bring together…to be an advantage, profitable expedient…” (Vine) Jno. 16:7.
  -“Aid” or “expedient” helps obey God’s will.
B. For a Thing to be Expedient (an aid), it Must be Lawful, l Cor. 6:12; 10:23 (31-33).
C. Aids do not Change the Force or Effect of the Authorized Action. (Incidentals or non-essentials)
    1. Noah’s tools, song books, a pitch pipe & song leader, trays & cups are aids to help obey command to eat LS (1 Cor. 11:23-26).
    2. Apply to the work of the local church:
      a. Preach (1 Ths. 1:8): Pulpit, sound system, power point…
      b. Edify (1 Cor. 14:26): Classes, material, bulletin, building…
      c. Relieve saints (Acts 2:44-45): How to distribute (mail, by hand)…
D. Aids involve Choices (are non-essential).
E. Aids must Edify, 1 Cor. 10:23, (31-33, 24).

II. WHAT IS AN ADDITION?

A. Definition: “to put to, to add, join to.”
B. Concerning Bible Authority, an Addition to God’s Will Changes the Force & Effect of the Authorized Activity.
C. Additions are Forbidden, not Approved, (no authority of Christ), 2 Jno. 9 (Gal. 1:8-9; Rev. 22:18).

Conclusion
When we add to the will of God, we turn away from gospel of Christ to a different gospel; we pervert His gospel & part from His grace, Gal. 1:6.

Top


Created by Chuck Sibbing - 03/11/2009

The Spirit's Sword is a free, weekly publication of the Mt. Baker church of Christ, Bellingham, WA
Send all questions, comments and subscriptions to the editor at: ssword@bibleanswer.com