And take…the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Ephesians 6:17
THE
SPIRIT’S
SWORD
Volume 18, Number
10
09/13/2015
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
Deacons
Aaron Bass
Rich Brooks
Mike Finn
Dan Head
In this issue:
Gospel Meeting September 20-25, 2015
The Mt.
Baker
Church of Christ
1860
Mt. Baker Highway • Bellingham WA
Invites you to our
GOSPEL MEETING
With Evangelist
Brett Hogland
(Blue
Springs, Missouri)
September 20-25, 2015
Monday-Friday at
7:00 PM
Sunday,
September 20th at 9:30 and 10:30 AM; 6:00 PM
Bring your Bible and join us in learning God’s word and will for our lives!
(From
I-5 take Exit # 255 and go East 4.2 miles)
For more information please call (360) 752-2692
Doctrine and Salvation
Joe R. Price
Doctrine is teaching; that which is taught (Acts 2:42). Some brethren (not unlike the denominations) believe (some) doctrine does not affect a person's salvation. Consequently, they see little urgency to warn against false doctrine (2 Tim. 4:2-4). By challenging (and even opposing) the belief that what a person teaches impacts his salvation, one puts himself in the unenviable position of having to define exactly which parts of the word of Christ will judge us in the last day, and which may be viewed as optional (Jno. 12:48). Any doctrine that allows men to become judges over God's law is patently false (Jas. 4:11).
The Holy Spirit-inspired apostle Paul said we remove ourselves from the grace of Christ when we believe and receive teaching (doctrine) that differs from what Christ's apostles preached and from what Christians received in the first century:
“I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed” (Gal. 1:6-9).
Perverted gospel teaching does not grant access to the grace of Christ, nor does it secure one in His grace (cf. Rom. 5:1-2). We would ask those who reject doctrine affecting salvation, with how much of the apostolic doctrine may one differ and remain in the grace of Christ: 1%? 5%? 30%? 50%? 80%? 90%? Who will tell us?
Must a person be in error on every point of doctrine before God’s grace is forfeited? Not according to Galatians 5:3-4, where one error - the binding of circumcision upon Gentiles as a condition of their salvation - was all it took to be severed from Christ and fallen from grace. Without equivocation, Paul taught doctrinal error (false teaching) causes one to fall from grace. Therefore, doctrinal error (false teaching) is sin against God, producing eternal death (Rom. 6:23).
How much of God’s will did Nadab and Abihu have to violate before they died before God (Lev. 10:1-2)? One thing God had not commanded. One error by Uzzah cost him his life (1 Chron. 13:9-10). Was straying from one point of truth enough to jeopardize the salvation of Hymenaeus and Philetus (2 Tim. 2:17-18; cf. 1 Tim. 1:18-20)? Yes.
Rather than
helping people feel content in the sin of error, we call on all to believe
and obey "the word of the truth of the gospel" that teaches "the grace of
God in truth" (Col. 1:5, 6). Abiding in the doctrine of Christ assures
fellowship with God and the hope of heaven (2 Jno. 9). But, any other
doctrine leaves one groping in the darkness of sinful error, lost without
God and without hope.
Top
You can find the complete outline of this sermon
plus PowerPoint and MP3 Audio files
at
BIBLE ANSWERS
Scripture Reading: 1 Timothy 6:3-5
1. Review Part 1: Defining
godliness and its power in the Christian's life, 1 Tim. 4:7-8.
2. Godliness cannot be a facade hiding internal corruption, 2 Tim. 3:5.
3. Continue to be exhorted by the power of godliness to shape individuals,
churches and nations.
--THE POWER OF GODLINESS...
I. IN THE CHURCH.
A. Godliness Affected by our Knowledge of the Truth, Titus 1:1; 2 Pet.
1:3.
B. Our Doctrine, 1 Tim. 6:3.
1. Must affect what we teach, practice and fellowship. cf. 1 Cor. 5:1-2,
6.
2. Eldership must know the godliness of prospective members, Acts
9:26-28; 18:27.
II. IN THE HOME. 1 Tim. 5:4.
A. Obedience to Parents (3:2), Rom. 1:30; Eph. 6:1-2; Prov. 1:8; 23:22.
B. Thankfulness of Children (3:2).
C. Natural Affection toward Each Other (3:3); Rom. 1:31.
III. IN SOCIETY, 1 Tim. 2:1-2.
A. Nations Fall when Godliness Evaporates, Prov. 14:34; Psa. 144:15; Dan. 2:21; Matt. 5:13.
Conclusion
1. We must be driven by the power of godliness. Begins with the
individual -- church -- the home -- the nation -- the world.
2. A life devoted to pleasing God can make a difference.
3. Let the power of godliness work in your life.
You can find the complete outline of this sermon
plus PowerPoint and MP3 Audio files
at
BIBLE ANSWERS
Scripture Reading: Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
1. The influence of Calvinism's
predestination is felt whenever someone says "God has a plan for you"
(meaning every detail of your life is arranged and directed by God).
2. Freewill challenges and nullifies predestination, 1 Cor. 7:39.
3. Does God micromanage our lives? (If so, He is a respecter of persons,
Acts 10:34-35.)
a. Not discounting the power of prayer.
b. Not discounting providence.
c. Challenging Calvinism's reach into the thinking and teaching of
Christians.
I. GOD HAS A PLAN FOR YOU: TO USE YOUR FREE MORAL AGENCY TO FEAR AND OBEY HIM, Eccl. 12:13.
A. God Created Us with Free Will and Moral Agency, Gen. 2:16-17; Josh.
24:15.
-Consequences come with our choices, Gen. 2:17; 3:16-19; 13:11; Deut.
28:1-2, 15; 30:15-20; Psa. 119:173... but, 119:161.
B. God Has a Plan to Save Sinners in Christ, but the Sinner must Choose to
be Saved, Acts 2:40; 22:16; Rom. 1:16.
C. God has a Plan to Give You Spiritual Blessings in this Life, although
it will Include Some Suffering, Mk. 10:29-30 (Eph. 1:3; 2 Tim. 3:12).
II. GOD'S PLAN FOR YOU ALLOWS FOR "TIME AND CHANCE", Eccl. 9:11-12 (1).
A. Life is Common to Us All, Eccl. 3:1-15.
III. GOD'S PLAN FOR YOUR LIFE ON EARTH IS ABOUT ETERNITY.
A. God's Plan for Us Involves the World to Come, Titus 2:9-14.
B. "All things Work Together for Good", Rom. 8:28-30 (2 Cor. 11:23-31);
Phil. 1:12-20
Conclusion
1. God's plan for your life, Eccl. 12:13-14; 2 Cor. 4:16-5:2.
2. God works as you choose to obey, Phil. 2:12-13.
NOTEWORTHY NEWS
(Current
events in the light of Scripture)
The Indignity of "Right-to-Die"
Joe R. Price
California legislators moved closer this week to passing a "Right-to-Die" bill that would make it the fifth state (joining Washington, Oregon, Vermont and Montana) to legalize the terminally ill obtaining life-ending medication ("California Assembly Passes Controversial Right-to-Die Bill", Josh Sanburn, time.com).
Assisted suicide is a selfish act. Although it is defended as a supreme act of compassion (aka "mercy killing"), the euphemistic phrases describing assisted suicide reveal its self-centered nature.
1) "Right-to-die" and "end of life" decisions. These phrases suggest life and death are entirely up to the individual. The will of God, who gives life and sustains it, is not consulted (Gen. 2:7; Deut. 32:39; Psa. 139:13-16). Who gave a person the "right" to terminate what God gave? Not God. We do not belong to ourselves, we belong to God. It is inconceivable to think a person glorifies God by ending his God-given life (1 Cor. 6:19-20). The end of life decision to commit assisted suicide glorifies self, not God (1 Cor. 10:31).
2) "Death with Dignity". This phrase also suggests the selfish intent of assisted suicide. Self-defined and assigned dignity does not make it genuine. The greater dignity is found in accepting torture for one's faith instead of deliverance (Heb. 11:35). Yet, delivering self is what "right-to-die" is all about. What about the dignity of the courageous person who endures the painful trial of terminal illness with grace, hope and faith in the Lord? True lessons on dignity are extinguished by the counterfeit "death with dignity".
I venture to say many of those who support "right-to-die" also support abortion. (Politically, at least, this is often the case.) Why don't those who advocate for abortion and for assisted suicide use these expressions to defend a woman's "right-to-choose"? Why not say, "Every baby has a right-to-die"? Or maybe, "the unborn child should experience death with dignity". Or, "abortion is an end of life decision that empowers the child". Or, "abortion is such a compassionate choice for the child". Outrageous!
Life is being
devalued in America by abortion and by assisted suicide laws. A society can
be measured by how it treats its most helpless and vulnerable.
"Right-to-die" convinces people to feel good about murder. Truly, evil is
being called "good" to the shame of our nation (Isa. 5:20).
Created by Chuck Sibbing, last updated. 09/14/2015
The Spirit's Sword is a free,
weekly publication of the Mt. Baker church of Christ, Bellingham, WA
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