And take…the sword of the Spirit, which  is the word of God.   Ephesians 6:17

THE
SPIRIT’S
SWORD

Volume 22, Number 51
01/03/2021

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:


Teach Your Children Diligently
Joe R. Price

6 And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. (Deuteronomy 6:6–7, NKJV)

Young minds are impressionable, pliable, teachable. Moses charged parents with teaching their children God’s law, and this responsibility remains true under the gospel of Christ (Eph. 6:4).

Make no mistake; forces of error want to impress and persuade your children that sin is not sin. Even now, preschool children and older are being taught in public schools, through media, by friends, and parents that lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender behavior is loving, good, and natural. Children are taught people should take pride in LGBTQ+ conduct. They are taught that to say otherwise is an act of bullying, bigotry, and hate.

The Bible speaks on this subject, not with “hate speech,” but with words of truth and reason (Acts 26:24-25). It says such behavior is “against nature,” shameful, against the will of God, and dishonors the body’s natural use (Rom. 1:24-29; 1 Cor. 6:9-11). Many have exchanged the truth of God for the lie and are teaching children the lie is the truth (Rom. 1:24-25; Isa. 5:20-21).

Real love tells the truth about the danger of sin, not lies that lead souls to hell. The one who tells you God’s truth is not your enemy (Gal. 4:16).

The world teaches children God’s truth is a lie. Keep training your children with God’s truth and take nothing for granted. 

-Sword Tips #2132

Top
 


The Progression of Sin
Joe R. Price

In Romans 1:18-32, the inspired apostle of Christ described the progression of sin in the Gentile world that placed them under God’s wrath. Sin always places the sinner under God’s wrath. Sin will “proceed further in ungodliness” unless the sinner repents (Rom. 2:1-5; 2 Tim. 2:16). There is a universal need to repent and obey the gospel to be saved from sin since “all have sinned” (Rom. 3:23; 1:16; 6:1-4; 1 Tim. 2:3-4). The degradation of the Gentile world, as reviewed in Romans 1, is a sobering reminder of the raging, soul-destroying effects of sin.

Sinners who ignore God and sin against Him are without excuse because the evidence of God’s eternal power and deity is “clearly seen” (Rom. 1:20). God revealed His presence in His creation, and He has revealed His mind through His word of truth (Rom. 1:16-19). Yet, many people refuse the evidence and reject God. The destructive power of sin takes over when they do. Things have not changed to this present hour. The progression of sin still happens and stands as a warning to Christians: “And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God?” (Rom. 2:3) Beware (1 Cor. 10:12)!

Scripture reveals the progression of sin. We can identify it, interrupt it, and resist it with God’s help (Jas. 4:7-10).

Note the progression of sin portrayed in Romans 1:18-32:

1) One chooses to disregard God and live in unrighteousness. Sin begins to occupy a place in his life (Rom. 1:18-20).

2) The sinner stops worshiping and thanking God. His heart becomes darkened, producing only futile thoughts (Rom. 1:21).

3) The sinner turns to human wisdom, which invariably changes the glory of God into profane things. Man becomes an idolater, worshiping his creations rather than the true and living God (Rom. 1:22-23).

4) The sinner exchanges the truth of God for a lie and is led by the lusts of his heart, producing unclean and dishonorable conduct (Rom. 1:24-25).

5) Sin continues to consume the sinner, often leading him into shameful, vile, and unnatural passions (Rom. 1:26-28).

6) As the sinner refuses to retain a knowledge of God, he refuses to be guided by the truth of God. He increasingly fills his life with all sorts of unrighteous conduct (Rom. 1:28-31).

7) The person who lives in sin is worthy of death yet continues to practice it while also approving of sin in others (Rom. 1:32).

Sin overwhelms us in the depths of wickedness when it is left unattended. Sin does not turn us toward God; it produces eternal death. God’s “goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering” should lead us to repent (Rom. 2:4). God has provided the remedy to our sins through His Son Jesus (Jer. 10:23; Acts 4:12). Christ saves us from “the wrath to come” when we believe, repent, and obey His gospel (1 Thess. 1:9-10; Rom. 3:21-26; 1:16-17; Matt. 7:21-23; Heb. 5:9).

If sin is progressing in your life, respond with faith in God, repent, and go to your heavenly Father (Lk. 15:17-24). Do so now. Obey God instead of living in ways that lead to your eternal death (1 Jno. 2:15-17). Do not let sin destroy your soul (Rom. 6:23). Our merciful God will save you through the gospel of Christ (Matt. 11:28-30; Rom. 1:16). -The Spirit’s Sword, revised 

Top
 


You can find the complete outline of this sermon plus PowerPoint and MP3 Audio files at BIBLE ANSWERS

"I Make All Things New"
Joe R. Price

Scripture Reading:  Revelation 21:1-5

1. Two words translated “new” in NT.
2. God makes all things new in Christ: Unprecedented, of a new kind, superior to what preceded, 2 Cor. 5:17; Rev. 21:5.

I. A NEW COVENANT, Matt. 26:28.

  A. A Better Covenant, Heb. 8:6-13.
    1. Old covenant was holy, just, and good, but couldn’t save the lost, Rom. 7:12; Heb. 10:1-4.
    2. New covenant dedicated (put into force) with the blood of Christ, Heb. 9:16-20.
    3. New covenant redeems, forgives, and gives life, Heb. 9:13-15; 10:11-12; 8:12; Jer. 31:34; 2 Cor. 3:6.

II. A NEW CREATURE, 2 Cor. 5:17 (NASB).

  A. We are a New Creation (creatures) in Christ (a new person), Rom. 6:3-12; Eph. 4:20-24.

III. A NEW COMMANDMENT, Jno. 13:34-35.

  A. Love Each Other “As I Have Love You.”
    1. Self-sacrificial love, Eph. 5:2.
    2. New (fresh) in quality; Lev. 19:18; Rom. 15:3, 2; 2 Jno. 4-6; 1 Jno. 4:19, 11.

Conclusion
1. New heavens and a new earth: Fresh, unworn, unprecedented, heavenly habitation is our longing, 2 Pet. 3:13-14.

2. Under a new covenant we become new creatures who keep a new commandment so that we may enter the new Jerusalem, there to dwell eternally with God and the redeemed of the ages, Rev. 21:1-5.

Top


NOTEWORTHY NEWS
(Current events in the light of Scripture)

To Tell the Truth
Joe R. Price

About twenty years ago, I wrote a short article, When It Was A Crime To Read The Bible, about William Tyndale’s persecution for translating and printing the New Testament into English, which occurred 500 years ago. It is still illegal to possess a Bible in some countries and extremely dangerous in others.

I remembered this article when I read about Zhang Zhan, a Chinese citizen journalist who was sentenced this week to four years in prison for “picking quarrels and provoking trouble.” Her crime? She “reported on crowded hospitals and the conditions in Wuhan earlier this year” in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak there (Citizen journalist in China who reported on COVID-19 sentenced to 4 years, Edmund DeMarche, foxnews.com).

Perhaps we have been blinded by liberty. Perhaps the advancements in the Western world over the past 500 years in communication, science, technology, industry, medicine, etc., have numbed us to the reality that many people suppress the truth. Governments, religions, corporations, etc., have interests that entice and persuade them to pressure and even punish people for telling the truth.

Jesus spoke truth to power (Matt. 26:57-68; Jno. 18:36-38). So did His apostles and prophets (Acts 4:5-22; 5:27-32; 7:1-53; 22:30-23:6; 24:22-27; 26:1-23). Space fails to give the many references when Old Testament prophets did the same (1 Kgs. 22:1-28). Our question is, “Will we?”

Christians are servants of Christ first, before every other allegiance (Matt. 6:33; Lk. 9:23). We must speak the truth of God in the face of threats to humiliate, harass, and harm us (Matt. 5:10-12). Failing to do so would make us “slaves of men” at the expense of our faith (1 Cor. 7:23). We must be ready to stand with the truth and trust the God of truth when it becomes a crime to tell the truth (Jno. 17:17). 

Top
 


Created by Chuck Sibbing, last updated.  01/03/2021

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