And take…the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Ephesians 6:17
THE
SPIRIT’S
SWORD
Vol 13, Num 07, 03/21/2010
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
Elders
Morris Bass
Rick Holt
Joe Price
Deacons
Aaron Bass
Rich Brooks
Mike Finn
John Hague
Dan Head
In this issue:
- Offer God True Worship (Psalm 100:1-5)
- Knowing Good and Evil (Genesis 3:1-7)
Gospel Meeting April 25-30, 2010
The
Mt. Baker Church of Christ
1860 Mt. Baker Highway
• Bellingham WA
Invites you to our
GOSPEL MEETING
With Evangelist
Tom Roberts
(Mansfield, TX)
Back to the Bible Preaching!
April 25-30, 2010
Monday-Friday at 7:00 PM
Sunday, April 25th at 9:30 & 10:30 AM; 6:00 PM
(From I-5 take Exit # 255 and go East 4.2 miles)
For more information please call (360) 752-2692
Sin
Previously Committed
Joe R. Price
Christ Jesus died for the sins of the whole world. His blood effectively redeems sinners of all ages (Jno 3:14-17; 12:31-33; Heb 2:9; 1 Tim 4:10).
In the first three chapters of Romans the apostle Paul developed and sustained the premise that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom 3:23, 9). Gentiles had long ago turned away from the knowledge of God (Rom 1:19-23). The Jews also fell into sin (Rom 2). The Law of Moses was holy yet inept to justify sinners. It did its job of identifying sin, but it could not save the lost (Rom 3:19-21; 7:7). It fulfilled its task as a tutor to bring men to Christ so they could be justified by faith (Gal 3:23-25; Rom 10:4).
Some may wonder whether the blood of Christ was applied to the sins of those who died in faith before the cross. We do not doubt it. Christ’s blood saves the faithful who lived prior to the death of Jesus. The Scriptures teach these were “made perfect” (complete) through the sacrifice of Christ (cf. Heb 11:39-40; 10:11-18). The Hebrew writer boldly affirms that “for this reason He (Christ, jrp) is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance” (Heb 9:15, emp. mine). Faithful ones are redeemed by the blood whether they lived before or after the cross.
God’s redemptive plan to save sinners and appease His wrath against sin is accomplished through the blood of Christ Jesus (Rom 3:24-25). God had provided sinners with the evidence of His presence and power and He revealed His will to them (Rom 1:18-21; 2:11-16). God set forth Christ Jesus “as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed” (Rom 3:25).
God was forbearing toward sinners as He executed His redemptive purposes in Christ. When “the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son” (Gal 4:4). Before the fulfillment of Christ’s redemptive work God “winked at” sin – He did not immediately impose punishment (yet He did not clear the guilty, Acts 17:30; Exo 34:7). How could God do this and remain just? His provision for redemption through the blood of Christ would cleanse those who lived by faith before the cross. By this, God showed Himself to be just (Rom 3:25-26).
Paul rhetorically asked, “Or is He the God of the Jews only? Is He not also the God of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also, since there is one God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith” (Rom 3:29-30). For Jews, justification is “by” faith – faith is the agent or means of their justification (not the Law of Moses). For Gentiles, justification is “through” faith – the process is completed or finished in faith without adding anything to it (i.e., binding the Law of Moses upon them).
The gospel of Christ proclaims the blood of Christ completely saves all sinners who will live by faith, whether they lived before or after the cross (Rom 1:16-17). Thank God for His wonderful provisions of redemption in the Son!
You can find the complete outline of this sermon plus PowerPoint and MP3 Audio files at BIBLE ANSWERS
Offer God True Worship
Scripture Reading: Psalm 100:1-5
1. Men have always searched for something or someone to worship.
2. When men are left to their own ways they have bowed down before images
graven by human art and device, Acts 17:29; Isa 44:9-20.
3. Even when man refuses to worship the true God he will worship something
of his own choosing, Rom 1:18-23; Col 2:23.
I. GOD HAS ALWAYS EXPECTED MANKIND TO APPROACH HIM WITH REVERENT WORSHIP, Lev 10:3; Gen 4:1-5; Heb 11:4.
II. THOSE WHO WORSHIP GOD MUST KNOW HIM, Acts 17:22-23.
A. One must be a “True Worshipper”, Jno 4:23-24 (“in spirit and truth”).
III. NT PATTERN OF ACCEPTABLE WORSHIP.
A. The Lord’s Supper (Matt
26:26-29); 1 Cor 10:16; 11:23-29; Ac 20:7; 2:42.
B. Singing (Heb 2:12; Heb 13:15); Eph 5:19; Col 3:16.
C. Prayer (1 Cor 14:15-16); Matt 6:5-8; Acts 2:42; Eph 6:18; 1 Tim 2:1-2;
Acts 4:24-30; 1 Tim 2:8.
D. Giving (Acts 4:34-35); 2 Cor 8:5, 12; 9:7; 1 Cor 16:2.
E. Teaching God’s Word (Psa 119:97); 2 Tim 4:2-4; 1 Cor 14:26; 2 Tim 2:2.
F. Do not Change the Worship God Approves and Accepts, Matt 15:7-9; Col
2:23; cf. Mal 1:12-14 (Jude 11).
Conclusion
Are you worshipping God by faith or by
sight (2 Cor 5:7)?
You can find the complete outline of this sermon plus PowerPoint and MP3 Audio files at BIBLE ANSWERS
Scripture Reading: Genesis 3:1-7
1. Conflict between good and evil is as old as mankind (Gen 2-3).
2.
God created man morally pure, (innocent), Eccl 7:29; Deut 1:39.
3. God did not create man and woman ignorant of what sin is and what it
would do, Gen 2:16-17 (Rom 4:15; 5:13).
I. KNOWING GOOD AND EVIL.
A.
Defining what it is to “Know”.
B. What is Meant by “Knowing Good and Evil”? Gen 2:9, 17; 3:5, 22
1.
Possessing the moral capacity to choose good and evil, Deut 1:39 (Rom 7:9);
Gen 3:22.
2. God’s will for man is that we know good and evil by trusting and obeying
Him! Psa 119:104, 130
II. THE LIES OF SATAN, Gen 3:1-7.
A. Satan
Lies about God, Gen 3:1, 5.
B. Satan Lies about Sin, Gen 3:4-5 (2:17); Rom 5:12; 7:9-11.
C. Satan Lies about Man and Woman, Gen 3:5; Heb 4:15; Jas 1:13-16 (Gen
1:28-31); Isa 5:20.
III. HOW HIS LIES AFFECT US.
A.
When we believe the Devil’s Lies we fail to see the Seriousness of Sin, Rom
12:9.
B. When we Believe the Devil’s Lies we will not See the Good in Obeying God
(Gen 2:15), Mal 1:12-13; 1 Jno 5:3.
C. We Easily Convince Ourselves and Others that Sin Produces Good Results.
IV. DEATH AND REDEMPTION, Gen 2: 17; 3:10, 22-24.
A. Sin’s Product (Rom 5:12) and Consequences (Gen 3:10, 16-19). Gen 3:15, 22-24; Rev 2:7 (Psa 97:10; Amos 5:15)
NOTEWORTHY NEWS
(Current events in the light of Scripture)
Numbering the People
Joe R. Price
The time has arrived for citizens of the U.S. to fill out the Census, a numbering and categorizing of those who live in these United States. The number of U.S. Representatives from each state is allocated based on the census. Over $400 billion is distributed annually by the federal government to states and communities based on census population data (census.gov). Census data form the basis of many, many governmental and non-governmental studies and programs.
Numbering the citizenry of a country is not new. The Bible tells of several censuses. Israel was numbered shortly after leaving Egypt to constitute a standing army (Num 1:1-3). The Levites were numbered to redeem the firstborn (Num 3:14-15, 40-51), and to service the tabernacle (Num 4:29-49). Just before entering the land of promise the nation was again numbered (Num 26). King David foolishly numbered the people and 70,000 died in a plague (2 Sam 24; 1 Chrn 21). Joseph took his betrothed wife to Bethlehem to be registered in the Roman census (Lk 2:1-5).
During the U.S. Census let us remember that…
1) God knows the number – and the lives – of every person on the earth. No one escapes His presence and knowledge (Psa 139:7-12; Heb 4:13).
2) Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s (Matt 22:15-22). Although our citizenship is in heaven, we are commanded to honor and submit to the governing authorities as long as they do not command us to violate the will of God (Rom 13:1-2; 1 Pet 2:13-17). Do not suffer as an evildoer by failing to obey the laws of the land (1 Pet 4:15).
3) Not a single saint will miss out on the blessings of heaven (1 Ths 5:14-18). The Lord “knows those who are His” and He will safely bring them all before the throne of God (2 Tim 2:19; Rev 7:4, 13-17; 14:1-5).
Created by Chuck Sibbing. 06/10/2010
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