Are You Drifting?
Drifting away from obedience to God’s word (Heb. 2:1-4)
- The possibility of drifting
- Some reasons for drifting
- The great ruin of drifting
- Ways to prevent drifting
- The great reward for not drifting
Jesus said … "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me.
Are You Drifting?
Drifting away from obedience to God’s word (Heb. 2:1-4)
| 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
Have you not Read?
What Happened at the Beginning? Where God Spoke and it was So? Gen 1:6-7; Gen 1:9; Gen 1:14-15; Gen 1:24; Psa 33:8-9 Where God gave Commandments to Adam Gen 2:15-18 Where Mankind Believed a Lie? Gen 3:1-6; 1Ti 2:14 What Jesus Said in His Day? Jesus uses the Word of God as his Sword to defeat Satan Mat 4:3-10 Jesus warns followers about the unfaithful teachings of the religious leaders Mat 23:1-3; Mat 15:1-3; Mat 22:1-5 What we need to do? Where Jesus gives the great Commission? Mat 28:18-20 How we know that we know Him? 1Jn 2:3-6 If you Don’t do his Will? Mat 7:21-23; Rev 21:7-8
Someone asked Jesus a very relevant question: And someone said to Him, “Lord, are there just a few who are being saved?”
Let’s consider Jesus’ teaching in Lk.13:24-30 today under the following headings:
Will you and I be among the saved when the door is shut?
Not yet a Christian?
Erring as a Christian?
Already a Christian?
Please note, We understand that the Woman caught in Adultery wasn’t in the original manuscripts and was probably added at a later date.
Did God’s Character Change Between the Old and New Testaments? Mal 3:6-7 ESV (6) “For I the LORD do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed. (7) From the days of your fathers you have turned aside from my statutes and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you, says the LORD of hosts. But you say, ‘How shall we return?’
Lessons Learnt
Gods Nature Old Testament
God is righteous and just Psa 145:17; 1Ki 21:13; 1Ki 21:19; 1Ki 22:38
God is loving and Kind Psa 63:3; Jon 3:10; Jon 4:1-2
God is patient and longsuffering Psa 145:8-9; Gen 15:16
Gods Nature New Testament God is Righteous and Just Joh 8:3-11
God is Loving and Kind Joh 3:16-17; 1Jn 4:9-10
God is patient and longsuffering 2Pe 3:9; Mat 26:73-75; Joh 21:17
So, What Has Changed?
Old Testament/Covenant Exo 24:3-8; Jer 31:31-33 New Testament/Covenant Mat 5:17-18; Joh 19:28-30; Joh 17:18-21
A Question of Authority The Chief Priest Question Mat 21:23-24 ESV What things was Jesus doing? Mat 21:12-17 Mat 21:12 ESV(12) Mat 21:14 ESV(14) By What Authority Mat 12:22-28 ESV Who Gave you this Authority Joh 3:1-2 ESV Jesus’ Question and the priests lack of an answer Mat 21:25-27 ESV John’s baptism of repentance Mat 3:1-2 ESV The Fathers Will Attitudes to the father’s instruction Mat 21:28-30 ESV A change of Mind 1st Son Isa 55:6-7 ESV Practice what you preach 2nd son Mat 23:1-3 ESV Jesus warns the religious Mat 21:31-32 ESV Too stubborn and hard hearted Zec 7:11-13 ESV Scripture bears witness of Jesus Joh 5:37-40 ESV Tenants of the Vineyard The unrighteous Tenants Mat 21:33-36 ESV Stephens warning to the tenants Act 7:51-53 ESV Disciple of Hell Mat 23:13,15 ESV Judgement on the unrighteous tenants Mat 21:41-46 A person producing its fruit Joh 4:23-26 ESV
Three Different Receptions of the Holy Spirit in “Acts”
| Three Different Receptions of the Holy Spirit in “Acts” | |||
| 1. Baptism with
the Holy Spirit |
2. Indwelling of
the Holy Spirit |
3. Laying on of
Apostles’ Hands |
|
| WHO? | Apostles (1:2,5)
Cornelius+ (11:16) |
All Christians
(2:38,39; cf. Rom. 8:9b) |
Some Christians
(8:14-19) |
| HOW? | From heaven (2:2)
Fell (10:44; 11:15) |
Received at baptism
(2:38; cf. 1Cor. 12:13) |
Apostles’ hands
(8:18) |
| PROOF? | Miraculous
(2:4,8; 10:46) |
Promise, not miraculous
(2:38,39; cf. 8:12-16) |
Miraculous
(19:6) |
| WHY? | God accepts them
(2:32,33; 10:47; 11:17,18) |
Seal (Eph. 1:13f.)
Strengthen (Eph. 3:16) Intercedes (Rom. 8:26) |
Sign to unbelievers
Edification (1Cor. 14:22,26) |
| WHEN? | Temporary
(Eph. 4:5; 5:26) |
To the end of the age
(Matt. 28:19,20) |
Temporary
(8:18; cf. 1Cor. 13:8f.) |
Lessons |
Job 28:1-11 Job describes the exploits of miners over 3½ thousand years ago (probably)
Job 28:12-22 Even though people have been successful in mining precious metals and precious stones from the earth (recall Job 28:1-11), they have not been successful on their own in discovering what according to Job in Job 28:12?
Job 28:23-28 Don’t despair! How are the questions asked in Job 28:12,20 answered in Job 28:23?