And take…the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Ephesians 6:17
THE
SPIRIT’S
SWORD
Volume 21, Number
46
10/06/2019
Published
by
Mt. Baker
church of Christ
Location:
1860 Mt. Baker HWY
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 30821
Bellingham, WA 98228
(360) 752-2692
Sunday:
Bible Classes..........9:30 AM
Worship..10:30AM; 6:00PM
Wednesday:
Bible Classes.........7:00 PM
All sing last Wednesday
Web sites:
Mt. Baker church
Bible Answers
Editor......Joe R. Price
In this issue:
If Christ Was Not Raised
Joe R. Price
The resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead is the keystone of the gospel. Without it, everything crumbles. With it, the claims, commands, and conditions of eternal salvation preached by His apostles and prophets are verified and valid. If false, the gospel may be legitimately discarded. If true, the gospel must be accepted as God’s word and will for us all.
The evidence for the resurrection of Jesus includes:
1) The empty tomb (Lk. 24:1-3; Matt. 28:1-6; Mk. 16:1-6). Even the enemies knew the problem of the empty tomb, and bribed the guards to lie about why it was empty (Matt. 28:11-15).
2) Eyewitness accounts of the resurrected Christ (Acts 2:32; 10:40-41; 1 Cor. 15:5-8; Lk. 24:13-35; Jno. 20:14-18).
The death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus is the distinctive message of the gospel. This gospel was preached and received as God’s power to save all who hold it fast (1 Cor. 15:1-4). That is why it was so incomprehensible that some Christians were actually teaching there is no resurrection from the dead (or that it had already happened, 1 Cor. 15:12; 2 Tim. 2:17-18).
In 1 Corinthians 15:12-19, the apostle Paul makes quick work of exposing the false teaching of no resurrection of the dead by explaining its consequences. If there is no resurrection from the dead, then Christ was not raised (v. 13). If Christ was not raised from the dead, then:
1) Gospel preaching is vain (v. 14),
2) Faith produced by gospel preaching is vain (v. 14),
3) The apostles are false witnesses of God when they claimed God raised Jesus from the dead – they are liars (v. 15),
4) Faith is futile, empty, and worthless (v. 17),
5) There is no hope after death, and Christians who have died have perished (v. 18),
6) Christians are a pitiful group of people who have been deceived into hoping in Christ beyond this life (v. 19).
But, Christ has been raised from the dead. His resurrection constitutes the beginning of the resurrection of the dead (1 Cor. 15:20-23).
Each person must assess
the evidence for the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. If true,
trust and obey Him. If false, cast it aside. But know this, you will give
account of your answer on the day of judgment (Jno. 12:48; Rom. 14:12; 2
Cor. 5:10). What will your answer be?
The Fruit of Moral Decline
Joe R. Price
For the LORD brought Judah low because of Ahaz king of Israel, for he had encouraged moral decline in Judah and had been continually unfaithful to the LORD. (2 Chronicles 28:19, NKJV)
The Lord allowed the
kingdom of Judah to be oppressed by enemy states during the 8th
century B.C. Assyrians, Edomites, and Philistines plundered Judah because
king Ahaz was “continually unfaithful to the Lord,” and because he
“encouraged moral decline in Judah” (2 Chron. 28:16-18). It is undeniable
that this country has been encouraging moral decline for a very long time.
Feminism and the “sexual revolution” of the 1960s promoted fornication and
adultery, fracturing the home and paving the way for accepting the
homosexual lifestyle as normal and natural (which it is not, Rom. 1:24-28).
It is legal to kill the unborn child. Alcohol (and other illicit drugs)
decimates lives and destroys families (1 Pet. 4:1-5). Pornography has
captured and corrupted countless souls – fueled by lust and internet
accessibility on cell phones, tablets, and computers. “Sin is a reproach to
any people,” and America is no exception (Prov. 14:34). The Old Testament
shows that God does not long endure any nation that mocks faith in Him while
rushing headlong into faithlessness and immorality. It is past time for our
nation to heed God’s warning: “Cast away from you all the transgressions
which you have committed, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit.
For why should you die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the
death of one who dies,” says the Lord GOD. “Therefore turn and live!” (Ezek.
18:31-32)
-Sword Tips #1051 edited
Let Worries Drift Away
Heath Rogers
Several people have devices that play relaxing sounds. Isn’t it interesting how often water is used as the source of sounds that are supposed to relax us? For some, the sound of waves crashing upon a beach is a reminder of their “happy place” and it allows them to “get away” in their mind for a few moments. Perhaps it is the sound of rain gently falling outside a window. I prefer the sound of water that is flowing gently down a stream. It reminds me of times I would be fishing with my Grandpa or catching crawdads in the creek with my sister. Happy memories of a time without the worries or stresses of life.
As you sit on the bank of a winding stream, you can't see where the water is coming from, or where it is going, but you can enjoy the water that happens to be flowing in front of you. Toss in a leaf or flower, and you can watch as the water takes it downstream, gently flowing away.
As Christians, we face a number of struggles as we take up our cross and follow Jesus daily. Sometimes life can get hectic, troubles can begin to stack up, and we desire some momentary relief. At other times, life can hit us very hard and we want to escape.
The Lord specifically tells us “do not
worry” (Matt. 6:25, 31, 34). So, what are we to do with the burdens and
cares of this life? We are instructed to “cast” them on the Lord (Ps. 55:22;
1 Pet. 5:7). The Christian’s worries do not drift away in avoidance or
drunkenness or any number of “escapes” employed by the worldly-minded
person. Our worries drift away in prayer, knowing that God is greater than
any problem we face, and that He has promised to sustain us until we reach
our home with Him in Heaven.
-Knollwood
Reminder, August 2019
You can find the complete outline of this sermon plus PowerPoint and MP3 Audio files at BIBLE ANSWERS
Ready When the Lord Shall Come
Scripture Reading: Matthew 25:1-13
1. Readiness is something we value
and depend on every day.
2. The Son of Man is coming, Matt. 25:10-13. Are we ready for His coming?
I. CHECKLIST TO GET READY FOR CHRIST’S RETURN.
A. Stop Idle Words, Matt.
12:33-37; Eph. 4:25, 29, 31 (evil speaking). Tongue restraint takes heart
restraint, Matt. 12:35; Jas. 3:2, 5, 8, 10.
B. Refuse the Works of the
Flesh, Gal. 5:19-21 (Col. 3:5-8). Gal. 5:18; Rom. 8:14; 1 Cor. 2:14-16.
C. My Conduct Toward My Family,
Eph. 5:25-28 (1 Pet. 3:7); Eph. 5:22-24 (Titus 2:4-5); Eph. 6:1-3 (Rom.
1:30); 6:4.
D. Become a Christian (be
saved), Jno. 6:44-45; 8:23-24; Lk. 13:5; Rom. 10:9-10; Mk. 16:16. Be
proactive, Acts 2:40-41.
E. Be a Faithful Member of
Christ’s Church (His body), Eph. 1:22-23; 2:16-19, 21-22.
1. Love God with all I am,
and my neighbor as myself, Mk. 12:29-30.
2. Set and maintain
priorities, Matt. 6:33-34.
3. Meet my responsibilities,
Rom. 12:3-8.
4. Help spread gospel, Acts
8:4 (2 Tim. 2:2).
5. Correct the sin in my
life, Acts 8:19-24; 1 Jno. 1:9; Jas. 5:15-16. James 4:6-10
Conclusion
1. The unprepared will not escape punishment when Christ returns, 1
Thess. 5:1-3; 2 Thess. 1:6-9.
2. The prepared will be received into glory, 1 Thess. 5:4-6; 2 Thess. 1:10.
(Are you ready?)
You can find the complete outline of this sermon plus PowerPoint and MP3 Audio files at BIBLE ANSWERS
Edification and the Word of God
Scripture Reading: Colossians 2:1-10
1. Every Christian
needs spiritual edification, 1 Cor. 12:25-27; 1 Thess. 5:11.
2. Churches of men make vain attempts to offer spiritual strength through
“food, fun and frolic;” Social activism; Community services; etc.
I. UNDERSTANDING SPIRITUAL EDIFICATION.
A. Edification is
Defined and Achieved by Spiritual Means, Acts 9:31; Jude 20-21.
B. The Edification of the
Church is Connected to the Word of Truth, Eph. 4:7-16, 17-24.
II. USING THE WORD OF GOD ACCOMPLISHES SPIRITUAL EDIFICATION IN OUR LIVES.
A. Growth in Bible
Knowledge, 2 Pet. 3:17-18; 11, 14; 2 Tim. 2:15; 1 Pet. 2:2.
B. Growth toward Our Final
Salvation, Phil. 2:12-16 (Rom. 13:11-14); 1 Pet. 1:5.
C. Growth to Resist
Temptations, Heb. 5:14 (1 Cor. 10:5-13); 1 Thess. 5:21-22; 1 Cor. 9:26-27.
D. Growth in Grace, 2 Pet.
3:18; Tit. 2:11-12; Acts 20:32.
E. Growth as Teachers, 2 Tim.
2:2.
F. Growth through Worship,
Heb.10:24-25; Col. 3:16 (Jno. 4:24).
Conclusion
1. Christians are built up in Christ by living His word, Col. 2:6-7.
2. We are knit together in love as we attain the riches of “full assurance
of understanding” that is in Christ, Col. 2:2-3. (Treasures of wisdom and
knowledge are in His word.)
3. Christ’s word equips us with the tools we need to be built up in Him.
4. “Build each other up,” 1 Thess. 5:11.
NOTEWORTHY NEWS
(Current events in the light of Scripture)
Bible Gender Teaching Ruled “Incompatible with Human Dignity”
Joe R. Price
British doctor David Mackereth lost his government job because he would not refer to “any 6ft-tall bearded man” as “madam” (David Mackereth: Christian doctor loses trans beliefs case, bbc.com). “Dr. David Mackereth, 56, a National Health Service employee, was fired from his post at the Department for Work and Pensions in July because he would not use a transgender pronoun, saying he believes ‘gender is defined by biology and genetics’ and the ‘Bible teaches us that God made humans male or female.’ This week he lost his case before an Employment Tribunal in England, where the judge ruled his beliefs were "incompatible with human dignity” (Christian doctor of 30 years loses job for refusing to use transgender pronoun, Caleb Parke, foxnews.com).
Do you think this is irrelevant to us here in the far corner of NW Washington? If so, think again. To illustrate, in 2017-2018 the Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) implemented new health and physical education standards that require teaching gender identity beginning in kindergarten. They are to be taught about the many ways to express gender, including cross-dressing as one form of gender expression Washington State Health Education K-12 Learning Standards, pp. 29, k12.wa.us). By the seventh grade, students will be expected to “distinguish between biological sex, gender identity, gender expression, and sexual orientation” (Washington Schools to Teach Gender Identity Curriculum in Kindergarten, June 2, 2016, Family Policy Institute; op cit., p. 32).
When I was a child a TV
commercial ran at 10:00 p.m. which said, “It’s 10 o’clock – do you know
where your children are?” Now we must ask, “Do you know what your children
are being taught in school?” The culture wars are raging, and Christians
must fight the good fight of faith (1 Tim. 6:12). Sacrifices for truth and
righteousness will be required. “Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave,
be strong” (1 Cor. 16:13).
Created by Chuck Sibbing, last updated. 10/07/2019
The Spirit's Sword is a free,
weekly publication of the Mt. Baker church of Christ, Bellingham, WA
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