This is the 4th message in series, "What do you believe, and why?"
- 1st Message - 2 Timothy 3:16 All scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
- 2nd Message - Literally, to obey the Great Commission = Matt. 28.18-20 = Make disciples, baptize them and then "teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you"
3rd Message - Practical implication of obeying the Great Commission = Joining the church > [Acts 2.37-41]
- And how important the "local and visible" church is = Established by Christ = Authorized by Christ = Empowered by Christ = Believers added to it by the Lord > 1 Corinthians 12:18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.
- Purchased by the blood of Christ = He is Her Head, Savior, Sanctifies and cleanses Her, Presents Her to God faultless = Nourished and cherished by Christ
- And especially that She is to be the "pillar and ground of the truth"
Esp. in our last message stressed how within the context of the church Christ’s desire is that we move from being believers to becoming disciples = [Acts 2.42]
- And God’s plan and purpose down through the ages = 2 Timothy 2:1 Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 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.
- Our church is a testament and a testimony to the wisdom of this plan
- Testament = "Strong evidence for something" = The fact of our beginning
- Testimony = "Something that serves as evidence" & "An assertion offering firsthand authentication of a fact" = The fact of our continued existence
- While I didn’t necessarily plan this series with respect to the date = I do believe in "Divine Quinkidinks" as it were
- And so the occasion of our 189th Anniversary TODAY works in well into this series
CHURCH ARTICLE OF FAITH ADOPOTED 1815
Be it remembered that on the 23rd of August 1815, Gamaliel Barnes, Brothers Barnet Whipple, Wm. R. Huntley, James Roberts, Samuel Manwarren, John Manwarren, Asa Barnes, Stutelyl Palmer Jr., and Sisters Hannah Barnes, Hannah Roberts, Fanny Manwarren, Eunice Manwarren, Prudence Car, Lawry Barnes, Lydia Barnes, Caroline Barnes, Polly Morse and Bethiah Williams received the right hand of fellowship as a Gospel Church of Christ by a large council from the Black River Association. As may be seen by the record, the church called the First Baptist Church of Christ in Mexico, fellowshipped on the following articles of faith and convenant.
CHURCH ARTILCES OF FAITH 1815
> We have some significant differences today in our Articles of Faith than this list
> Some issues probably never imagined they would have to address in 1815
> EG: Women preachers; Spiritual gifts (tongues and healings); Ecumenical movement; Evolution; Assisted suicide; Abortion; Marriage and homosexuality
> Also, I note that we might express some of these beliefs slightly different
> EG: Original statement on God -- 1 paragraph, 39 words = Our (online) statement -- 10 paragraphs, 320 words + 1 paragraph of Scripture references
> HOWEVER, "in Spirit and in truth," this 1815 statement stands
> I really do believe this is a wonderful addition to this series, so I don’t want to just rush through it, so...
> ...I intend to cover about 1/2 (???) of this document this week, and "rest" next week, Lord willing...or possibly the next two weeks
> The Scripture references I will quote / refer to should be considered to be representative, not exhaustive
1. WE BELIEVE THERE IS BUT ONE LIVING AND TRUE GOD; AND THAT THERE ARE THREE PERSONS IN THE GOD-HEAD; THE FATHER, THE SON, THE HOLY GHOST, AND THESE ARE ONE IN NATURE, BEING EQUAL IN POWER AND GLORY.
- Interesting that some catechisms, confessions of faith and theological / divinity texts start out with the Scriptures
- For by the Scriptures and the Scriptures alone can we know any Spiritual truth with certainty = IE [Ps. 19.1 (-6) -vs.- 19.7-ff]
- Our online statement begins with "Bibliology" (Doctrine of the Word of God) THEN "Theology" (Doctrine of God)
- 1815 statement begins with God = And how appropriate = Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God...
- Our statement also is a bit more specific = We have additional statements concerning "Christology" (Doctrine of Christ) and "Pneumatology" (Doctrine of the Holy Spirit)
Proof texts = Deuteronomy 6:4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God [is] one LORD: > On the word Elohim ("God"), Simeon Ben Joachi says: "Come and see the mystery of the word Elohim: there are three degrees, and each degree is by itself alone, and yet they are all one, and joined together in one, and are not divided from each other."
- Matthew 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
- Acts 5:3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost... 4 ...thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.
- 1 John 5:7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.
2. WE BELIEVE THE SCRIPTURES OF THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENT ARE GIVEN BY INSPIRATION OF GOD AND ARE THEREFORE HIS WORD AND THE ONLY RULE OF FAITH AND PRACTICE.
Proof texts = Psalms 119:89 For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.
- Ps. 12.6 The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. 7 Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.
- Matthew 4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
- John 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
- 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (already referenced above)
> We must note our Statement includes a positive affirmation of our faith in the King James version as "God’s Word kept intact in the English language, without exception."
> In 1815 this was unnecessaray = Satan hadn’t used Dr. Westcott & Dr. Hort to muddy the waters yet with their revised AND COMPROMISED Greek text from which all subsequent "modern" versions proceed
3. WE BELIEVE IN THE ORIGINAL DEPRAVITY OF MAN AND MAN FELL INTO SIN BY HIS OWN FREE WILL ABILITY.
Proof texts = Story of Gen. 2 and Gen. 3
- "Roman’s Road"
- Romans 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
- Ephesians 5:6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
- 1 Timothy 2:14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.
4. WE BELIEVE THE ETERNAL REDEMPTION WHICH CHRIST OBTAINED BY HIS BLOOD IS, SPECIAL AND PARTICULAR, THAT IS, IT WAS INTENTIONALLY DESIGNED FOR THE ELECT OF GOD AND THE BODY OF CHRIST.
Proof texts = Colossians 1:14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, [even] the forgiveness of sins:
- 1 Peter 1:1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.
- 1 John 2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for [the sins of] the whole world.
- John 3.16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God...36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
CONCLUSION
This seems to be a wonderful place to take a break from these considerations
- Ending with that which is to be the main thing = Salvation offered to all through Christ and Christ alone = John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
- But even in this we’ve raised some important issues and considerations
- Let’s breifly review with an eye to be challenged / confirmed...as the need is for you
- Especially with regard to our main theme = Knowing what you believe and why you believe it
- Philippians 1:17 But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel.
- Philippians 1:7 Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace.
- 1 Peter 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and [be] ready always to [give] an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
Point 1 > Do you believe in the One, True, Living Triune God? = Amen!
Can you successfully prove His existence from His Word?
Point 2 > Do you believe that the Word of God is in fact the Word of God? = Amen!
Do you believe it is the only rule of faith and practice? = Amen!
Are you a "living epistle? = 2 Corinthians 3:2 Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men:
Or perhaps do you need to be, as Moody put it, a "Revised Version?"
Points 3 + 4 > Do you believe in man’s sin nature? = Amen!
Do you believe that it is is by his own choice!
Furthermore...Do you believe we have "redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins?" = Amen!
Well, could you help convince a man there is another choice?
But only one?
And to help "whosoever" understand the dangers of rejecting Christ?
How able an apologist are you in this vital area?
Have you "sanctified the Lord in your (heart)" so that you "(are) ready ALWAYS to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you" >>> "WITH MEEKNESS AND FEAR?"
Or perhaps do you and God need to have a little meeting of the minds
You humbling your head and heart before Jesus Christ and minding what His Word says?
The altar is open for you...
