Jesus said … "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me.
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
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
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
(Psalm 23)
Not all are the Lord’s sheep! This is evident even in the psalm itself
But for those who are the Lord’s sheep, Psalm 23 is a truly wonderful psalm!
(i) From creation
(ii) From Noah
(iii) Under the Law of Moses
(iv) Jesus’ teaching
(i) The issue
(ii) The resolution
(iii) The letter
(iv) The circulation of the letter
The Bible is comprised of 39 OT books and 27 NT books = 66 books in total.
What’s it all about?
Today’s lesson:
The Theme/Subject of the Bible
1. The Hebrew Scriptures (predominantly the OT) = Christ is coming!
2. The so-called Gospels (so-called Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) = Christ has come!
3. The rest of the NT books = Christ is coming again!
We have several recently baptized Christians among us who might like to have an overview of the
contents of the Bible.
And those of us who have been Christians much longer can always benefit from reminders.
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!
What makes an ideal audience?
Some audiences are clearly not ideal:
– Acts 13:44-45 Some are full of jealousy, or have other hidden agendas.
– And are we an ideal audience here this morning?
Conclusion
An ideal audience says,
– Acts 10:33, 24
1. Let’s all be here always (barring illness, etc.), on time, and with as many others as we can bring.
2. Let’s know that God sees all that we do and strive to please God.
3. Let’s come to listen carefully and not sleep through the message.
4. Let’s hear only the word of God and hear all of the word of God.
Note: We will also do God’s will:
– Matt. 7:24-27
And Cornelius and his friends also did God’s will:
– Acts 10:48
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)