And take…the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Ephesians 6:17
THE
SPIRIT’S
SWORD
Volume 24, Number
18
06/19/2022
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:
Joe R. Price
The apostle Paul wrote, “Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified.” (2 Corinthians 13:5, NKJV)
The possibility of Christians becoming disqualified and lost (severed from Christ, fallen from grace, Gal. 5:4) is both implied and explicitly stated here.
To be “disqualified” means to be “unapproved, i.e., rejected” (Strong, G96). Conversely, the one who is accepted is “in the faith,” that is, “Jesus Christ is in you.”
Christians must do three things to know which is true of us.
(1) Examine ourselves. Like an assayer who tests “a metal or ore to determine its ingredients and quality” (Merriam-Webster), we must “endeavor to discover the nature or character” (BDAG) of ourselves. Am I “in the faith” (in harmony with the gospel, Eph. 4:1), or am I deceiving myself (Gal. 6:3; James 1:22-26)?
(2) Test ourselves. This word means to “try, prove, put to the test,” “to make a critical examination of something to determine genuineness” (Thayer, BDAG). We must test all things, then hold fast to what is good, and reject evil (1 Thess. 5:21-22). This includes a close, careful examination of our own work and responsibilities (Gal. 6:4-5).
(3) Know ourselves. This requires humility (1 Cor. 8:2). The Scriptures help us know ourselves the way God knows us (Heb. 4:12-13). God’s word corrects us so we may live in the faith, have Christ in us, and be approved before God (2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2:15; Eph. 3:17). -Sword Tips #1846
Heath Rogers
God was specific when He commanded Noah to build the ark. He was to make it of gopher wood, supply it with rooms, and cover it inside and outside with pitch. It was to be 450 feet long, 75 feet wide and 45 feet tall (Gen. 6:14-15). The instructions continued, “You shall make a window for the ark, and you shall finish it to a cubit from above; and set the door of the ark in its side. You shall make it with lower, second, and third decks” (v. 16).
I find it disappointing today to see so many pictures depicting Noah’s ark with multiple windows. The Bible says there was only one window – and only one door.
The ark was a vessel of salvation. God’s wrath was being poured out on the entire world. The only air-breathing creatures (man and animal) that survived the global flood were those inside the ark. The only way into the ark was through this one door. Everything outside the ark perished in the flood.
We know that God’s wrath will again be poured out on the earth one day. Instead of water, God will completely destroy the earth with fire (2 Peter 3:10-13). The ark of safety from this coming destruction is the Lord’s church. Those who are in the church (the body of God’s people) will survive the wrath of God’s coming judgment. Those who are outside will perish.
Just as there was only one ark in Noah’s day, there is only one body of saved people today. And just as there was only one door to Noah’s ark, there is only one way to enter the church. One must believe Jesus is the Son of God (John 8:24), repent of their sins (Luke 13:3), confess their faith in Christ (Rom. 10:9-10), and be baptized into Christ (Gal. 3:27).
There is no other way into Christ. There is no other way to be saved. The world abounds with various religions, but they can’t all be right. “Christianity” abounds with groups believing and practicing different things, but they can’t all be right. There is only one door.
God closed the door of the ark in Noah’s day (Gen. 7:16). Those who were inside were protected from the outpouring of His wrath. Those who were outside perished. One day God will close the door of His church. God’s longsuffering will come to an end, the gospel invitation will stop being extended, the trumpet will sound, and judgment will take place.
Once God closes the door, it will not be reopened. “And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut. Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming” (Matt. 25:10-13).
Why would you wait another moment? Prepare yourself for eternity right now by obeying the gospel. -Knollwood Messenger
You can find the complete outline of this sermon plus PowerPoint and MP3 Audio files at BIBLE ANSWERS
We Must Believe God Is
Joe R. Price
Scripture Reading: Psalm 25:1-11
1.
Cannot be saved unless one first believes “God is,” Heb. 11:6.
2. Existence of God forms the basis for everything that has been, or every
will be, Gen. 1:1; Acts 17:28; Col. 1:17; Heb. 1:3.
3. Who God is impacts every part of our lives. We must believe God is.
I. GOD IS…
A.
Spirit, John 4:24; Num. 23:19 (Isa. 55:6-9); John 1:14, 18.
1. We
are made in His image, Gen. 1:26-27; Matt 16:24.
2. We
must conform to the image of Christ, Col. 3:10.
B.
True, John 3:33; Deut. 32:4 (Jn. 14:6); Jn. 17:17; 1 John 5:10, 20.
- We
must hear and obey His truth, John 8:45-47.
C.
Light, 1 John 1:5; 1 Tim 6:16; Jn. 1:1-5; 3:19.
-We
must come to and walk in the light, Jn. 3:20-21; 8:12; 1 Jn. 1:7.
D.
Love, 1 John 4:8; 1 Jn. 4:9-10 (Jn. 3:16).
-We
must love God, neighbors, enemies, one another, Matt. 22:37-39; 5:44-45; 1
Jn. 4:7, 11-12, 16.
E.
Faithful, 1 Cor. 1:7-9; 10:13; 2 Cor. 1:18.
-We
must be trustworthy, James 3:9-10; Eph. 6:10; Gal. 6:2; Luke 6:46.
F. One,
Gal. 3:20; Deut. 6:4; 1 Cor. 8:5-6.
-We
must be sons of God by being one (united) in Christ, Jn. 17:20-21; 13:34-35;
Eph. 4:3-6.
Conclusion
Isaiah
46:8-11: There is no other god except Jehovah, who saves and punishes, Rom.
6:23; 2 Thess. 1:8-9.
You can find the complete outline of this sermon plus PowerPoint and MP3 Audio files at BIBLE ANSWERS
The Appeals of Baptism
Joe R. Price
Scripture Reading: Titus 3:4-8
Gospel shows the role of baptism in our salvation from sin as an earnest appeal of faith made to God to be saved by grace (Eph. 2:8-9).
I. BAPTISM IS AN APPEAL. (plea, petition, call)
A. It
is an Appeal Made by Sinners to God, Acts 2:21, 36-41 (Rom. 10:12-14).
B.
Without Making this Appeal You Will Not be Saved, Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38;
16:30-34.
II. THE APPEALS OF BAPTISM.
A. An
Appeal for Salvation, Mark 16:16; 1 Pet. 3:21.
B. An
Appeal for Mercy, Titus 3:4-7.
1. Plea
for forgiveness, Acts 2:38.
2. Plea
to be saved from death, Acts 16:30-34.
3. Plea
to wash away sins, Acts 22:16.
4. Plea
to enter kingdom, John 3:3-5; Acts 8:12.
C. It
is an Appeal of Faith, Acts 8:30-38; Mark 16:15-16; Acts 18:8; 16:14-15;
James 2:14-17.
D. An
Appeal of a Good Conscience, 1 Pet. 3:21; 2 Cor. 5:17; 1 Pet. 1:22-23.
E. An
Appeal for New Life, Rom. 6:3-4; Col. 2:11-13.
F. An
Appeal to be United with Christ, Rom. 6:4; Gal. 3:26-27; Matt. 28:19; Acts
19:4-5.
G. An
Appeal that Justifies God, Luke 7:29-30; Matt. 3:15.
Conclusion
1. Now you must decide whether you have the faith to appeal to God for His
grace and be saved in Jesus Christ:
a. If
you believe, you may (will) be baptized, Acts 8:36-37 (Heb. 11:6); 22:16.
b. If
you receive God’s word you will be baptized to be saved, Acts 2:41.
2. Obey
in faith and be saved by grace, Heb. 5:9; Eph. 2:8-9 (1 Pet. 1:22-23).
NOTEWORTHY NEWS
(Current events in the light of Scripture)
"The Floods Have Lifted Up"
Joe R. Price
Did you see the video of a house floating down the Yellowstone River this week? After torrential rains and rapid snowmelt in southern Montana and northern Wyoming, powerful flooding cut away roads and washed-out bridges as it slashed new paths through the scenic terrain. As a result, the national park has been closed for at least a week. As a result, many roads will be closed for extended periods for repairs and rebuilding (“Floods leave Yellowstone National Park landscape ‘dramatically changed,’” AP, koat.com).
Consider two Bible passages that focus our attention on flood waters and God.
Psalm 29:10: “The Lord sat enthroned at the Flood, and the Lord sits as King forever.” God’s glory, strength, holiness, and sovereignty are fully seen in the flood during the days of Noah. “The voice of the Lord is over the waters; The God of glory thunders; The Lord is over many waters. The voice of the Lord is powerful; The voice of the Lord is full of majesty” (Ps. 29:3-4). Divine judgment was executed as the flood “destroyed them all” (Luke 17:27). Floods remind us to prepare for God’s judgment when His power, holiness, and righteousness execute His will (Acts 17:30-31).
Psalm 93:3-4: “The floods have lifted up, O Lord, the floods have lifted up their voice; The floods lift up their waves. The Lord on high is mightier than the noise of many waters, than the mighty waves of the sea.” When the floods rise and unleash their mighty fury we ought to recall that God is stronger than the force of many waters. He reigns supreme, saves us from our sins, and secures us in life’s storms (Ps. 93:1-2; Heb. 13:5-6). We are safe when we build our lives on the solid rock by hearing and doing the words of Jesus (Matt. 7:24-27).
Created by Chuck Sibbing, last updated. 06/20/2022
The Spirit's Sword is a free,
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