Let’s face it; people do not always come to a Bible classes or worship services to hear the word of God. Some come to please someone else. Others come with an expectation of being entertained. Still others come looking for a chance to object to whatever is said or done. These are ungodly traits. Others do have ears to hear, and come in order to “sit at the feet of Jesus” and intently hear, learn and live the gospel of the Savior (Lk 8:8; 10:38-42).

     God’s inspired word is designed to draw sinners to God and to the salvation in His Son. It is sufficient to the task (Rom 1:16; 2 Tim 3:16-17). Jesus said, “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all be taught by God.’ Therefore, everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me” (Jno 6:44-45). To deny the power of the word of God to draw sinners to Christ is to deny the power of God.

     Brethren must trust the word of God to draw the lost and to preserve the saved. It is the message that must draw the lost to salvation (1 Pet 1:22-25). For example, why is it some brethren prefer to use recreational activities to advertise and encourage young people to attend special services intended for their spiritual benefit? Are young people only interested in hearing the gospel when it is associated with wiener roasts, volleyball and overnight lock-in games and activities? I do not believe so, and those who are interested in feeding their souls will not be lured by offers intended to feed the belly (Jno 6:26). It is revealing that in the same context in which people thought they could come to Jesus to have their stomachs fed that Jesus said He feeds the soul as the bread of life (Jno 6:27-38). Jesus did not use food to draw people to Himself; we dare not attempt it today.

     Some, while emphasizing faith in Jesus, tell us not to put our faith in the Bible. We cannot do one without the other. Jesus is “the Word” we must hear and follow (Jno 1:1-3, 14-18; 14:6). The inspired Psalmist said, “I have an answer for him who reproaches me, for I trust in Your word” (Psa 119:42). He put his faith in God’s word. We must, too. Jesus teaches us truth (Eph 4:20-21). Faith in Jesus is not and cannot be separated from faith in His word, the Bible (Rom 10:17; 2 Tim 3:16-17).

     Like the apostles, we must go and “speak to the people all the words of this life” (Acts 5:20). We need not add games and gimmicks to the drawing power of God’s word. Divine truth is sufficient to draw good and honest hearts to Christ (Lk 8:14-15; Acts 17:11-12).

Top

1. Proves Jesus is the Son of God. The resurrection was the means by which God declared Jesus to be His Son. “Concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead” (Rom. 1:3-4).

2. Validates Our Faith. In 1 Corinthians 15:12-19, Paul indicated that there are some consequences to our faith if Jesus did not rise from the dead: the preaching of the apostles is vain (v. 14), our faith is vain (v. 14), the apostles were false witnesses (v. 15), we are still in our sins (v. 17), the dead have perished without hope of a resurrection (v. 18), Christians are the most pitiable of all people upon the earth (v. 19).

3. Assures Us of Future Judgment. The resurrection of Jesus from the dead is the assurance of our own resurrection – to be followed by judgment. “Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead” (Acts 17:30-31).

Christianity stands or falls with the resurrection. Either Jesus rose from the dead like He said He would, proving Himself to be the Son of God and gaining victory over death, or He did not rise from the dead, proving to be the greatest hoax that the world has ever known.

If you believe that Jesus rose from the dead, why not act upon that belief by repenting of your sins, confessing your faith, and being baptized in water for the remission of your sins!

-The Knollwood Reminder, April 24, 2011

NKJ 1 Corinthians 15:20-26
 20.  But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.  21.  For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead.  22.  For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.  23.  But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ's at His coming.  24.  Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power.  25.  For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet.  26.  The last enemy that will be destroyed is death.

Top

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

1. Question: “Did the early Native Americans such as the Aztecs, Incas, and Mayans have any knowledge of the word of God?  If not, what happened to their souls?” Col 3:11
2. Answer lies in understanding the nature of sin, the progression of sin in this world, and salvation from sin by the gospel.

I. THERE IS A UNIVERSAL NEED FOR THE GOSPEL BECAUSE ALL ARE SINNERS, Rom 3:9 (10-18), 19, 23; 5:12.

  A. The Gospel is God’s Power to Save Sinners, Rom 1:16-17.
  B. Therefore, the Gospel is to be Preached to All World, Mk 16:15-16; Matt 28:19-20.

II. THE PROGRESSION OF SIN IN THE GENTILE WORLD, Rom 1:18-32.

  A. The Ungodliness and Unrighteousness of Men Hinders the Truth of God, 1:18
  B. Historical Rejection of God and His Revealed Truth due to Sin, Rom 1:18-23.
  C. When Men Reject God and His Truth, They Plunge Deeper and Deeper into Sin, Rom 1:21-32.  (Progression of sin)
  D. God “Gave them Up” to their Sins, Rom 1:24, 26, 28.
  E. Over Time, as People Rejects God and His Truth, Whole Societies and Cultures Forget God and His Truth, Rom 1:25, 28.

Conclusion

1. Those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel will die due to their own sins, 2 Ths 1:8-9. God will be just (Rom 2:2).
2. Must get right with God now! Rom 2:3-6
3. Faithful Christians must take the gospel to the lost. (Jno 4:35)

Top

Christian: Not Catholic or Protestant

1. Someone asks you what religion you are, what do you say? Acts 11:26
2. What does “Catholic” and “Protestant” mean? Do these     designations have any standing in the NT? (Matt 28:18; Col 3:17)

I. CHRISTIAN: Follower of, belonging to Christ, Acts 11:26; 26:28; 1 Pet 4:16.

  A. A Christian is a Disciple of Jesus Christ, Acts 11:26; Lk 6:40, 46; Acts 2:42.
  B. Being a Christian is not about… 
    1. Wearing a name, but living a life. (Titus 1:16)
    2. Joining a club, but about being added to the church. (Acts 2:47; 1 Cor 1:12-13)
    3. Selfish conduct, but self-sacrifice. (Lk 9:23)
    4. Not about worn out “rules”, but the law of love. (1 Jno 5:2-3)
  C. One Becomes a Christian by being Obedient to the Faith, Acts 10:34-35; Heb 5:9.
  D. A Christian is Added to the church of Christ by Christ, Acts 2:47; Heb 12:23; Acts 2:41; 9:26; 14:23.
  E. A Christian departs from iniquity, 2 Tim 2:19; Acts 3:19; Rom 12:1-2; Col 3:1-4.

II. WHO ARE CATHOLICS AND PROTESTANTS? (Catholic – “universal”)

  A. Catholic: Member of the Catholic Church – An Apostate Church, 1 Tim 4:1-3.
    1. Apostasy in organization (Acts 14:23).
    2. Apostasy in doctrine.
    3. Apostasy in morality.
  B. Protestant: Protestant Reformation (1517-1648): Protest against Roman Catholicism.
  -Thousands of denominations (Jno 17:20-21).

Conclusion Just a Christian, Acts 11:26; Col 2:20-23.

Top

The death of Osama bin Laden was the execution of punishment in accord with divine justice. Civil government is ordained by God to govern as “God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil” (Rom 13:4). This wrath was applied last week.

Individuals are warned not to avenge themselves but instead to give place to the wrath of God. “Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, ‘VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY,’ says the Lord” (Rom 12:19). Hence, civil rulers “are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same” (Rom 13:3). Those who do evil ought to fear just retribution for their crimes. When governments will not protect the innocent and punish the guilty this God-given deterrent against evil vanishes and wickedness prevails (Eccl 8:11).

Justice is served by the judgments of God. Paul assured the brethren in Thessalonica of God’s righteous judgment against those who troubled them by saying, “it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you” (2 Ths 1:4-6). God’s judgments are always according to truth; therefore, they are thoroughly righteous (Rom 2:2, 5). While men do not always render complete justice, God always does in His good time (Rom 2:1-11). We thus conclude that “many seek the ruler’s favor, but justice for man comes from the LORD” (Prov 29:26).

Top

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