Category: Salvation

Do not add to or take from God’s commands

Do not add to or take from God’s commands

 

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?

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

“Put On The Full Armour Of God” (Eph. 6:11)

“Put On The Full Armour Of God”

(Eph. 6:11)

Why do we need God’s armour? Christians are in a real spiritual struggle against supernatural foes – it is life or death, spiritually!

Will you guard your spiritual welfare in the way God has prescribed (Eph. 6:10-17)?

But be assured that we have all we need to win the battle for our souls:

  • 6:13 Therefore, take up the full armour of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.
  • Jam 4:7 Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

 

Note: Jesus was able to remove Satan’s armour:

  • 11:22 “But when someone stronger than he attacks him and overpowers him, he takes away from him all his armour on which he had relied and distributes his plunder.

The Door Will Shut (Luke 13:22-30)

The Door Will Shut (Luke 13:22-30)

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:

  1. Strive to enter through the narrow door (13:24)
  2. The head of the house will get up and shut the door (13:25-27)
  3. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth (13:28-30)

Will you and I be among the saved when the door is shut?

  • Let’s “strive to enter through the narrow door” ( 13:24)!

Not yet a Christian?

  • 16:16 “He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.

Erring as a Christian?

  • Acts 8:22 “Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray the Lord that, if possible, the intention of your heart may be forgiven you.

Already a Christian?

    • Rev 2:10 ‘Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.

The Lord Is My Shepherd (Psalm 23)

The Lord Is My Shepherd

(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!

Three Different Receptions of the Holy Spirit in “Acts”

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

 

  1. No “baptism with the HS” today, despite the claims of the false teachers to the contrary (cf. # 1 above).
  2. But there is indwelling of the HS today (= sealing, strengthening, interceding, etc.) for those who become Christians (cf. # 2 above) – rejoice!
  • Recall Isa 44:3 ‘For I will pour out water on the thirsty land And streams on the dry ground; I will pour out My Spirit on your offspring And My blessing on your descendants;
  1. No miraculous gifts of the HS today (e.g., tongues, prophecy, healings), despite the claims of the false teachers to the contrary (cf. # 3 above).

An Ideal Audience

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?

1. “We are all here”
2. “Present before God”
3. “To hear”
4. “All that you have been commanded by the Lord”

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