Jesus said … "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me.
1. Community misunderstanding of the question
2. The proper understanding of the question
3. How to recognise the church of Christ today
4. How to be in the church of Christ today
(a) How to BE saved
(b) How to STAY saved
We may feel that we are crying in a wilderness today:
But let’s continue to be committed to the Lord and do His will, as John did!
| 1. In the first century |
(a) The sect of the Pharisees added to the word of God
(b) The sect of the Sadducees took away from the word of God
(c) Jesus and His disciples simply obeyed the word of God
| 2. Today |
(a) Modern sects/denominations also add to the word of God
(b) Modern sects/denominations also take away from the word of God
(c) Like Jesus, we must simply obey the word of God
| Conclusion |
Our lesson today has been: Do not add to or take from God’s commands
Reject all modern sects/denominations which add to or take away from the word of God!
Simply be added to and remain in the church that Jesus built
(1Cor. 14:34)
let’s all be reminded of:
| Rules of
Speech |
Elaboration | Justification | |
|
Tongues |
2 or 3,
in turn, one interprets |
no interpreter
= keep silent |
speak to himself
and God, not church |
|
Prophets |
2 or 3,
others weigh, one by one |
revelation to
one sitting, first keep silent |
spirits of prophets
are subject to prophets |
|
Women |
keep silent,
subjection, as Law says |
learn by asking
men at home |
improper for
a woman to speak in church |
Paul’s 4 arguments against women speaking in church
What about women singing, etc. in church?
Universal application (not just to the church in Corinth, not just the culture of Paul’s day, not just to the time of “gifts”) – this subjection was God’s plan from the beginning!
————————————————
This is not a matter of superiority/inferiority – but different roles God has assigned in the church!
Justification – Grace, Faith & Works
(“Faith alone” is false!)
1. Justified by grace, faith & works. “Faith alone” is false!
2. Does James contradict Paul? Never! (Both men were inspired – how can the Holy Spirit contradict Himself??)
3. What about baptism (in water)? Part of the obedience of faith – it is not earning salvation by works according to the inspired apostle Paul.
4. The example of Naaman the leper. Naaman had to obey in order to be healed!
1. Are tongues/prophecy evidence of salvation?
2. There is one baptism – which is it?
We can only be forgiven of our sins through the blood of Jesus (Rev. 1:5).
But when does that blood become effective in our lives? Jesus said:
Mk. 16:15-16 He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.
o These are plain words which are easy to understand!
o i.e., Belief and baptism are essential to salvation.
But many today are saying/teaching that baptism is not essential to salvation!
e.g., Many claim today that Cornelius and the rest were saved before and without baptism in water.
Was Cornelius forgiven BEFORE his baptism in water?
No! Cornelius (and his) spoke in tongues to change the Jews way of thinking about the Gentiles.
It wasn’t evidence of salvation any more than it was with Balaam’s donkey!
Cornelius and his were forgiven when they were baptized in water, as Jesus said (Mk. 16:15,16)!
1. What were the miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit and why were they given?
2. Why have the miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit ceased?
3. Other Scriptures showing that the miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit have ceased
4. There are many false claims today
There is much false teaching today concerning The Covenants.
We’ll see in today’s lesson:
The old covenant began at Sinai ( 1450 BC) and ended at the death of Christ ( AD 30).
The new covenant began at the death of Christ ( AD 30) and has no end (while the earth remains).
Note:
The Jewish nation continued to exist politically until the Roman invasion and destruction of Jerusalem
in AD 70.
The old covenant was started in the time of Moses, by the offering of animal sacrifices.
The new covenant was started by the shedding of Jesus’ blood on the cross.
At that time the old covenant ended, and there was a change in God’s laws, so that we are no longer under the laws of the old covenant.
Whatever Happened To Sin?
1. Whatever happened to sin?
2. Whatever happened to the penalty for sin?
3. Whatever happened to the remedy for sin?
The world may be ignoring these, but they are real nonetheless!
Where has sin gone today?
Is there anything in the world today which is considered to be sin?
Is sin only that which we decide is sin today? (i.e., Sin is being greatly watered down these days)
As cultures change, does sin really change?
Let’s keep teaching about sin, its penalty, and its remedy – to help those caught in the devil’s trap (like we ourselves once were)