INTRODUCTION
Outline.
1. Causes Divisions and Offenses
Introductory Remarks.
1. This is lesson one in this sermon series: “Paul’s Solemn Plea To Rome.” This was an urgent and solemn plea from the beloved apostle Paul to the saints at Rome. His message began with a sincere plea to the brethren faithful to the Lord and part of the body of believers in the church in Rome. This solemn plea is given to the faithful saints: to mark and turn away from those causing divisions and offenses in the body of Christ. These are those who serve not the Lord Jesus Christ but their (own) bellies and are making merchandise of babes, the unlearned, unsuspecting, and innocent. Nothing is more important to the church of Christ than to warn her of this solemn message of Paul and all the other apostles.
2. We will consider Paul's concern regarding those who cause divisions and offenses in the body of Christ. The apostle begins this solemn plea with his softest word: “Brethren, I beseech you, not command you.” We, like Paul, understand that though we have the authority to demand, it serves best when we humbly ask, pray, or beg in the “name of Jesus Christ” for the saints to be persuaded rather than directed. Some military men, like myself, struggled with this after giving and receiving “orders” for decades. It took my wife to help me in this area of communication. Paul’s solemn plea included two things: 1) to mark them and 2) to turn away from them: “who cause divisions and offenses within the body of Christ,” Romans 16:17. Let’s consider lesson 1.
BODY OF LESSON
I THAT CAUSES DIVISIONS AND OFFENSES
A. Now I beseech you, brethren: “Mark them that cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine that you have learned, and avoid them,” Romans 16:17.
NOTE: The EGNT reads: “But I exhort (urge) you, brethren, to consider those who make the divisions and the offenses, and turn away from them,” Page 435. He encouraged them to consider and turn away from them (those)who cause, encourage, or commit divisive behaviors.
1. Paul’s acclamations. After the apostle had given sincere compliments to all those saints in Rome, he turned his attention to the evils of those who would cause divisions and offenses among them. He begins,
2. With a solemn plea. “Now I beseech you, brethren.” He does not demand or command such to these saints. He warns and urges them to do these things as an apostle because: “That which comes upon him daily, the care of all the churches,” 2 Corinthians 11:28. Nothing is more attractive to the evil one and his disciples than their assaults, temptations, and divisive works against, unto, and within the church of the Lord. Especially when,
a. Fruit-bearing congregations are busy doing the Lord's work and growing in numbers and (the) faith of the gospel.
b. Its ministers are “doing the work of an evangelist.” Like Timothy and Archippus, whom he wrote,
1) To Timothy, “But watch thou in all things, endure affliction, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry,” 2 Timothy 4:5.
2) And to Archippus, “Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfill it,” Colossians 4:17.
3) My sons, continue the ministry's work and do not turn away from “preaching the sound word to strengthen the saints” in all good things. Guard thyself and the church from “evil men and seducers that wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived,” 2 Timothy 3:13.
c. A church’s leadership team is committed to “Equipping the saints into the work of the ministry, and the edifying of the body of Christ,” Ephesians 4:11-12.
d. The whole congregation is dedicated to winning souls for Christ.
3. He wrote: “I beseech you, brethren.” The word beseech in Gr., is parakaleo, which means to call for, comfort, desire, appeal, and intreat through prayer. The Greek word also means: “to call to one’s side, call for, to beg or entreat (plead) earnestly,” Romans 12:1-2; Romans 15:30-33.
4. You brethren. Paul uses the word brethren in Gr., is adelphos, which means one born from the same womb. Recall, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, neither bond nor free, neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus,” Galatians 3:28-29.
5. Born from the same womb. Christians are born from the Gr., “ek,” or “out of” the same womb: “The water and of the Spirit,” John 3:3; John 3:5. If the Lord says so (LSS), we will discuss this process in the invitation. Paul now directs what the saints do with those that cause divisions and offenses.
B. Paul commands that the church must “mark them.” Let’s consider what the apostle means in this term. Observe,
1. The word mark in Gr., is skopeo, which means to “aim at (set or fix one’s eyes on), to regard, consider, take heed, look at (on), mark or identify.” Paul uses this word to mark as to follow or as to avoid. Notice,
a. In Romans 16:17, he penned: “Mark (consider) to turn away from them, not to follow, or permit their teachings, which are contrary to the (sound) doctrine.”
b. In Philippians 3:17, he inscribed: “Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark (consider) them which walk so as you have us for an ensample.”
c. What is the “sound doctrine?” He beseeched Corinth: “Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there are no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment,” 1 Corinthians 1:10.
d. He wrote Philippi: “Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if anything, you be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule and mind the same things,” Philippians 3:15-16. Paul had to point out and correct the Corinthians’ abuse of the Lord’s Table. Notice,
2. The apostle wrote to Corinth: “Now in this that I declare unto you, I praise you not, that you come together not for the better, but for the worse. First, when you come together in (as) the church, I hear you have divisions, and I partly believe it. For there must also be heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest (known) among you,” 1 Corinthians 11:17-19.
a. The word divisions in Gr., is schisma, which means “a split or gap, a division (‘schism’), a rent or to shred.” Other words that describe this behavior are “splintered, fragmented, or shattered.” These words, by themselves, warn us of problems that will destroy the work of Christ. We must never allow any man: “Through covetousness with feigned words to make merchandise of the church, whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, for their sin liest at the door,” 2 Peter 2:1-3; Genises 4:7. God will judge such men and women, they shall not escape the judgment seat of Christ,” Acts 17:30-31; Romans 14:10-12; 2 Corinthians 5:10-11.
b. The schisma or heresies troubling the church at Corinth was their “abuse of the Lord’s table,” 1 Corinthians 11:16-17; 21. In a religious sense, it refers to a diversion from what one was taught to be sound doctrine to a different idea, teaching, or religious practice.
DEFINITION: “A schismatic is a person who creates or incites a schism in an organization or is a member of a splinter group. Schismatic as an adjective means pertaining to a schism or schisms, or to those ideas, policies, (practices), etc., that are thought to lead towards or promote schism (division).” Wikipedia, Schism. See References below. This might include a division between people, teaching, parties, or groups seeking to deceive or mislead other members for political or religious reasons. [Sound familiar?] As you well know,
1) We live in a time when disinformation, misinformation, and false information are perceived and believed to be “the truth.” These divisive and corrupt messages are sown to deceive and mislead others and distract them from the truth they seek to distort.
2) A religious or any other society that no longer seeks truth but instead promotes lies can never be expected to do what is right in the sight of God, the world, or the church.
3) The church of Christ must be a beacon of truth and hope for the world. It is yet “a city set on a hill that cannot be hidden,” Matthew 5:14.
4) The church must expose and correct errors and divisions whenever they occur. It cannot be silent but speak out against them in love and with the word of God. So, we might preserve the faithful and call those seeking “the truth” into the light of Jesus Christ, 2 Corinthians 4:5-7.
c. The New Testament addresses such men as heretics. Paul wrote: “But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law, for they are unprofitable and vain. A man (or a woman) that is an (heretick) or a schismatic: after the first and second admonition reject (turn away from); knowing that he, (or she) that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself (or herself),” Titus 3:9-11. (Inclusions are mine). Such a person is self-condemned!
3. Paul mentions another thing in this warning: offenses. In Gr., the word offense is skandalon, or skandalon (“scandal”), from which we get our English word “scandal.” The idea is to place a trap or snare in one's way to cause them to error or sin. Christians are charged not to put “a stumbling block in their brother or sister’s way, so not to cause them to offend or sin.” Paul wrote,
a. First, to Rome: “Let us not, therefore, judge one another anymore: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way,” Romans 14:13.
ILLUSTRATE: Christ a “stumblingblock to Israel,” Romans 9:32-33; Romans 11:9; Isaiah 28:16.
b. Further, to Corinth: “But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak…Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend,” 1 Corinthians 8:9-13. [Text shortened for brevity]. Peter also wrote of Israel’s offense,
c. Finally, to the scattered Jews: “Unto you therefore, which believe He is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. But you are a chosen generation…into His marvelous light,” 1 Peter 2:7-9. [Text shortened for brevity].
1) Peter also quotes this text in his discourse after healing the lame man in Acts 4:10-12.
2) This quotation refers to David’s prophecy regarding the Jews' rejection of Jesus, Psalms 118:22-23.
d. The Lord in His parable of “the householder” unto the chief priests and the elders of the people who questioned His authority while teaching in the Temple, Matthew 21:23-41. Jesus refers to this prophecy in Matthew 21:42-45. Observe,
NOTE: The chief priests and elders questioned Jesus on His doctrine being preached unto the people. The Master responded: “If you answer my question, I will likewise answer yours. He asked: “Was the baptism of John from heaven or men?” They went aside to analyze His question and, after some debate, returned and said: “We cannot tell. And He said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things,” Matthew 21:23-27. Jesus knew these leaders’ hearts. As they rejected John’s baptism, they would in like manner reject “the baptism of Christ,” which His apostles would later preach beginning on the Day of Pentecost, Acts 2:38-41; Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:15-16.
4. Conclusion: Paul's first plea was to mark those who cause divisions and offenses. This mark was not made with evil intent but to identify those possessing such a spirit and behavior. The church should be advised of such a person(s) so they may guard themselves against schismatic (rhetoric) and false teachings. At the end of point 1, we’ll discuss Paul’s plea: “To turn away from them.”
C. Luke wrote of the early church: “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread (communion), and in prayers,” Acts 2:42.
1. The early church followed the apostles’ doctrine. They earnestly continued in the apostles’ doctrine, teaching, fellowship (giving), communion (the Lord’s Supper), and prayers. They were instructed, learned, and commanded to follow the apostles’ doctrine in obedience to the faith, evangelism, and worship of God. This pattern is described as,
2. The doctrine of Christ. John wrote: “Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath (both) the Father and the Son,” 2 John 1:9. Notice John's pronouncement,
a. Those who abide in the doctrine of Christ hath both the Father and the Son.
b. Those who abide not in the doctrine of Christ, transgresseth (sin) and hath not God.
c. The Lord knows “those that are His, and they abide in His doctrine,” John 10:27-30; John 18:37-38.
d. Those that “name the name of Christ departs from iniquity,” 2 Timothy 2:19.
3. The common faith. Paul wrote: “To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour,” Titus 1:4.
4. The common salvation. Jude indited: “Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort that you should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints,” Jude 1:3.
5. Conclusion: True believers of the apostles’ doctrine “had all things in common,” Acts 2:44; Acts 4:32. The faith of God’s elect was considered: “common, unclean and defiled by the Jewish leaders and people.” This is the same word Peter used to describe his abstinence from “certain meats” because they were considered “common or unclean, even as the Gentiles,” Acts 10:14; Acts 11:8.
a. God has made what was considered “common and unclean”: the Gentiles part of the body of Christ, Acts 10:28. Peter was told: “What God hath cleansed, call thou not common nor unclean,” Acts 10:15. Peter’s revelation: “God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean,” Acts 10:28. God hath cleansed both the Jews and the Gentiles through their “faith and obedience to the gospel,” thus “by (the) faith having purified their hearts,” Acts 15:9. The definite article is part of the Greek but was not translated, EGNT, page 358. Therefore,
b. They, who were once unclean, are now clean and part of “the faith of God's elect,” Titus 1:1-3.
c. Only to the “unclean and defiled” are the things sanctified by God considered “unclean and defiled,” Titus 1:15; Romans 14:14. Paul continued,
D. Which you have learned. Paul wrote much of “the sound doctrine.” He wrote: “If any man thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord,” 1 Corinthians 14:37; 1 Corinthians 7:25; 1 Thessalonians 4:1-2. Observe,
1. The sound doctrine. The doctrine of the church is called “sound doctrine.” Healthy teaching!
a. Paul reminds Timothy, his son in the faith:
1) First, “As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightiest charge some that they teach no other doctrine,” 1 Timothy 1:3. Again, he charges Timothy.
2) Further, “Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast learned of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus,” 2 Timothy 1:13. He continues his directives,
3) Next, to Timothy, “But continue thou in the things which you have learned and have been assured of, knowing of whom you have learned them: And that from a child thou hast known the holy Scriptures, which can make thee wise unto salvation through (the) faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God…unto all good works,” 2 Timothy 3:14-17. [Text shortened for brevity]. He concludes,
4) Finally, “And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also,” 2 Timothy 2:2. Timothy, remember the things given unto you from me, and many witnesses: and commit them to faithful men, who are competent to teach others also, to be faithful in discharging their duties: “in preaching and teaching the sound doctrine,” 2 Timothy 4:5; Colossians 4:17-18. Similarly,
b. Paul admonishes Titus, that he:
1) First, should: “Speak thou the things which become sound doctrine,” Titus 2:1. Speak the things given you through the Old Testament Scriptures and the words I have imparted unto you. So, all believers might be built up in “the most holy faith,” Jude 1:20, 1 Timothy 1:4, and Colossians 2:7. This must be our charge today to all our beloved brothers and sisters in the faith.
2) Further, must: “In all things shewing himself a pattern of good works…Sound speech that cannot be condemned,” Titus 2:7-8. [Text shortened for brevity].
3) Next, strive: “To be an example that enlightens and strengthens the body of Christ.” Charge the leadership that you appoint to do the same, Titus 1:4-5. Observe,
4) Finally, should charge the bishops (elders) to “Hold fast the faithful word, [as they had been taught] that they may be able by sound doctrine, both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers,” Titus 1:9. Who taught these bishops the faithful words as he had been taught? Titus! Let me be clear regarding the minister and the evangelist’s work in the church of the Lord!
5) Conclusion: Some of our congregations have relegated (reduced) the minister's work to only a “pulpit preacher.” The ministers and evangelists are instructors, teachers, and examples before and to the congregation. This includes the “eldership or leadership” as well. The ministers and evangelists are “leaders” in the assembly; the only difference is that they are not considered part of the leadership team. Their work among the saints is as vital as the elders and deacons. And please don’t forget that there would be no “eldership” without their “teaching and the laying on of hands,” 1 Timothy 5:22. In the same fashion as the apostles in the first century, Acts 6:1-7. I might add,
NOTE: The eldership exists because of the minister's and evangelists’ work in the church. If the eldership and deaconship have been properly and scripturally set up among the membership, they have been ordained by the evangelist or minister of Christ, Titus 1:5-9; 1 Timothy 3:1-13.
c. Paul wrote: “He gave some apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists and some, pastors and teachers. For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,” Ephesians 4:11-12. Notice the “pecking order” if you would.
1) The ministers and evangelists are under the watchful eyes of the eldership, but the eldership is charged to follow their preaching of the word, just like the membership.
2) If this is not the case in your assembly, the eldership is out of their lane!
3) That charge is also given unto us today: “To teach no other doctrine.” We once believed sincerely in this charge as a congregation of God’s people. But something has happened along the way? We have been “removed from faithfully teaching and preaching sound doctrine.” Why? It may be that we are no longer being influenced by the charge of the “restoration movement.” That is: “to speak where the bible speaks, and to be silent where it is silent.” Continuing,
d. Paul admonished all the churches to be united in the teachings and “commandments of the Lord,” 1 Corinthians 1:10; Ephesians 4:1-6; Philippians 1:27, etc. This charge has not been rescinded. Every generation of God’s people must continually strive together for the faith of the gospel. Observe,
3. He wrote Philippi: “Only let your conversation (manner of life) be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one minded striving together for the faith of the gospel,” Philippians 1:27; Philippians 3:16. Notice,
a. He penned Galatia: “Stand fast therefore, in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage (the law),” Galatians 5:1. And,
b. To Corinth, he inscribed: “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord,” 1 Corinthians 15:58.
c. To Colosse, he inscribed: “If you continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which you have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under the heavens, of which I Paul am made a minister,” Colossians 1:23.
4. Conclusion: The church must remain in the sound teaching it has heard, learned, believed, obeyed, and instructed to remain “faithful to it!” Now, we will consider what the apostle means, “and turn away from them.” Please observe that he did not write: “Turn them away,” but: “Turn away from them and their divisive teaching (don’t listen or give heed to it).”
E. Turn away from them. The apostles' remaining instruction to the saints at Rome was that they should “turn away from them.” Some translations read “to avoid them.” Consider,
1. However, the verb “turn away” in Gr., is ekklino, which means to deviate, shun, or decline: —to avoid, eschew, go out of the way from, 1 Peter 3:11. The believers are to eschew (shun) evil, and do good, to seek peace, and ensue (pursue) it, Romans 12:18. We cannot allow divisive words or behavior to remain among us, no: “not for an hour,” Galatians 2:5. Observe,
2. Paul’s instruction to Thessalonica: “Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us,” 2 Thessalonians 3:6. Notice, they were to “withdraw themselves from them” rather than to “turn them away” from the assembly.
3. He continued: “And if any man obeys not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed. Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother,” 2 Thessalonians 3:14-15.
4. He wrote similar directives to Corinth: “I wrote unto you in an epistle not to (keep) company with fornicators. Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters, for then must ye needs to go out of the world. But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner, with such a one no not to eat,” 1 Corinthians 5:9-11. Have no dealings, even to eat, or have any company with them!
5. The church then must not “turn them away.” But to “turn away from their destructive words and actions.” Anyone who calls themselves a brother or sister and practices such must be avoided, and “we must withdraw ourselves from them.” Notice Paul again,
6. To Timothy, he wrote:
a. First, “If any man (teaches) otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness.”
b. Further, “He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strife of words, of which cometh envy, strife, railing, and evil surmising (suspicion).”
c. Finally, “Perverse disputing of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing to gain in godliness: from such withdraw thyself. But godliness with contentment is great gain,” 1 Timothy 6:3-6.
7. Conclusion: The church must be vigilant in identifying those who sow divisions and offenses within the body. The eldership, ministers, and members must be alert to their destructive words and deeds. The ministers and evangelists must preach and teach the “sound words” or the “healthy teaching” for the membership to remain strong and in the faith. Any deviation from “the truth” must be identified, corrected, and overturned. However, we must remember that those who behave as such are still our brothers and sisters. And we can address them as such but have no company with them. The goal of our behavior is to save them from themselves! Next week, we will consider lesson two in this series. I pray you will join us.
CONCLUSION
A. Outline.
1. Causes Divisions and Offenses
B. Summarize Main Points
1. First, we considered Paul's concern regarding those who cause divisions and offenses in the body of Christ. The apostle begins this solemn plea with his softest word: “Brethren, I beseech you, not command you.” We, like Paul, understood that though we have the authority to demand, it serves best when we humbly ask, pray, or beg in the “name of Jesus Christ” for the saints to be persuaded rather than directed. Some military men, like myself, might have struggled with this after giving and receiving “orders” for decades.
2. It took my wife to help me in this area of communication. Paul’s solemn plea included two things: 1) to mark them and 2) to turn away from them: “who cause divisions and offenses within the body of Christ,” Romans 16:17. We will learn to whom the apostle refers in this charge.
C. Invitation. Present God’s pattern of conversion. Jesus said: “Come unto me all ye that labor,” Matthew 11:28-30. [Explain the POC, i.e., hearing and believing the gospel; repentance of all past sins, Luke 24:44-47; confessing faith in Christ, as the Son of God, Matthew 10:32-33; and then, by obeying the gospel, Romans 10:16-18; Romans 6:17-18; that is to: “repent and be baptized, in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost,” Acts 2:38; Acts 5:31-32; Ephesians 1:13-14].
D. Exhortation. “The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved,” Jeremiah 8:20.
E. Motivation. Do as Peter directed: “Save thyself,” Acts 2:40; Acts 2:36-39; Acts 2:41.
Consultations and Commendations
I submit this verse unto you that I may: “Render therefore to all their dues: tributes to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; and honor to whom honor, (is due),” Romans 13:7. I acknowledge my consultation with these distinguished authors in this lesson.
References
1. Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Bible, by Matthew Henry, Christian Classics Ethereal Library, Grand Rapids, MI, 1706.
2. The People's New Testament, by B. W. Johnson, Christian Publishing Company, Grand Rapids, MI, 1891.
3. Textus Receptus, taken from the Greek Text of Stephens 1550, The Englishman’s Greek New Testament, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan, First Zondervan Printing, Copyright 1970.
4. The New Greek-English Interlinear New Testament; United Bible Societies,’ Fourth, Corrected Edition, Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, IL, Copyright 1990.
5. The Greek–English Interlinear, ESV New Testament, Published by Crossway, Wheaton, IL 60187, Copyright 2018.
6. The New Greek/English Interlinear, NRSV, New Testament, United Bible Societies,’ Fifth Revised Edition, Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, IL 60188, Copyright 2020.
7. The Greek-English Interlinear CSB New Testament, Holman Bible Publishers, 28th Revised Edition, Christian Standard Bible, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN 37234, Copyright 2022.
8. The Epistle to the Galatians, by Dr. Ronald Y. K. Fung, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 255 Jefferson Ave., S. E., Grand Rapids, Michigan, 49503, Copyright 1988. Dr. Fung is one of our distinguished Chinese brothers.
9. Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words, by W. E. Vine, Fleming H. Revell Company, Old Tappan, NJ, Copyright, 1981.
10. Smith's Bible Dictionary, by William Smith, Grand Rapids, MI: Christian Classics Ethereal Library, Printing 1884.
11. Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary © 2015 by Merriam-Webster, Incorporated; Springfield, Massachusetts, 01105.
12. Merriam-Webster Online Thesaurus © 2015 by Merriam-Webster, Incorporated; Springfield, Massachusetts, 01105.
13. Wikipedia, Schism. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schism. (2024, June 19).
14. Wikipedia, White Nationalism. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_nationalism. (2024, May 21).
15. “Divine Revelation and Inspiration,” a dissertation, by Ron Freeman, Worldwide Ministry Church of Christ.org, TM; Registration Number TX-9-402-610, Copyright, June 22, 2024.
16. “The Necessity of Baptism,” a dissertation, by Ron Freeman, Worldwide Ministry Church of Christ.org, TM; Registration Number TX-9-328-902, Copyright, November 08, 2023. Click on this link to download the dissertation: https://archive.org/search?query=Ron+Freeman%2C+Evangelist /.
17. The BlueLetterBible.org, (BLB’s) Interlinear, Textus Receptus; and the Morphological GNT, © 2022, by the Blue Letter Bible. This tool allows you to access the Greek New Testament in both manuscripts. http://www.blb.org /. The BLB also provides tutorials to help you learn how to use it. Link, (www.BLB.org).
A word of thanks to BLB.org:
Thank you for this valuable study tool, BLB.org. It has been an excellent instrument for me to learn and use the Interlinear to bring my sermons alive to the audience. Thank you very much for this great Application to help study the scriptures.
Author’s Information
Ron Freeman, Evangelist
Worldwide Ministry Church of Christ.org. TM
Post Office Box 1112
Anniston, AL 36202
Communications and Websites
Email: wwmcoc@earthlink.net
https://wwmchurchofchrist.org/
Website: https://en.gravatar.com/refreeman
Visit and worship with the Church of Christ at Pickensville, AL, every Sunday at 11:00 AM and Wednesday at 6:00 PM. The call-in number is 1-302-202-1110, and the PIN is 214733. These men "know the Shepherd!"
