This is the 6th message in series, "What do you believe, and why?"
> Paul’s farewell to Ephesian elders = [Acts 20.17-27] = Focus on v.27
- This series = The necessity of preaching "the whole counsel of God"
How necessary!
- 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 = The importance of the local, visible, New Testament church = Acts 2.37-41
- 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]
- 4th Message = Coinciding with our 189th Anniversary
- Examining our original "Church Articles of Faith"
- Demonstrating in word and deed that we were a GOSPEL church
- Comparison and contrast to today = That we still ARE a Gospel church
Points we have covered:
TRINITY = 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.
INSPIRATION AND AUTHORITY OF SCRIPTURES = 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.
SINFULNESS OF HUMANITY = 3. we believe in the original depravity of man and man fell into sin by his own free will ability.
BLOOD ATONEMENT = 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.
Last week we covered:
ONLY BORN AGAIN EXHIBIT CERTAIN GIFTS / FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT = 5. we believe that evangelical or spiritual love, faith, hope, and repentance are fruits and gifts of the holy spirit and are expressed in no one except those that are born again.
SANCTIFICATION (three aspects) = 6. we believe sanctification is a work of the spirit, begun at regeneration and carried on until death; therefore it is progressive.
ETERNAL SECURITY OF THE BELIEVER = 7. we believe that everyone that is redeemed, regenerated, and justified shall persevere in grace to glory so that not one of them can ever perish, but will, through the grace of christ, be glorified in heaven.
Tonight con’t along lines of thoughts with next two points in 1815 document = 8 + 9
- Once again demonstrating that we still hold to these basic beliefs
- Using Scripture and Scipture refernces which are representative, NOT exhaustive.
8. WE BELIEVE IN THE RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD, BOTH OF THE JUST AND UNJUST, AND THAT CHRIST WILL COME AGAIN TO JUDGE BOTH THE QUICK AND THE DEAD, AND THAT HE WILL TAKE VENGEANCE ON THE WICKED AND SENTENCE THEM TO EVERLASTING PUNISHMENT, BUT THE RIGHTEOUS TO LIFE ETERNAL.
Interestingly we do not place this under "Eschatology"
- But rather under "Soteriology"
- Many place these same thoughts under Eschatology = "The Doctrine of Last Times" = Emphasize end of time / beginning of eternity
- What does placing it under "Soteriology" emphasize? = "The Doctrine of Salvation"
- "D. After Death" = a. We believe in the bodily resurrection of all men in two separate parts: the saved to eternal life and the unsaved to judgement and everlasting punishment.
> John 5:28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, 29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
> Matt. 25:31-46
9. WE BELIEVE THAT THE PREACHING OF THE GOSPEL IS AN APPOINTMENT OF GOD TO BE CONTINUED TO THE END OF THE WORLD...
...AND THAT NO MINISTER HAS A RIGHT TO ADMINISTER GOSPEL ORDINANCES EXCEPT THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN CALLED AND HAVE COME UNDER THE INSPECTION OF THE HANDS OF THE PRESBYTERY. <<< deal with this portion first
Implication = Only a pastor of a church = Why?
- "Ecclesiology: The Doctrine of the Local Church"
- C. We believe the ordinances given to the local church are two - Baptism by total immersion in water... > Acts 8.37-38
> 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:
- C. ...and the Lord’s Supper
- Instituted at the "Last Supper" = Passover Seder > 1 Cor. 11.23-26
Since these were given to the Church = Appropriate that only the recognized Spiritual authority given to the church conduct it
= According to 1 Tim. 3, Titus 1, Eph. 4 = Pastor and deacons
Now = What do these TWO ordinances show?
- The WHOLE Gospel message = Death, burial, resurrection, blood atonement, salvation
- Why important? = 9. WE BELIEVE THAT THE PREACHING OF THE GOSPEL IS AN APPOINTMENT OF GOD TO BE CONTINUED TO THE END OF THE WORLD
"Soteriology: The Doctrine of Salvation"
- B. Evangelism = We do believe it is the duty of every believer, and every church, to obey the Lord’s "Great Commission"
> Matt. 28.18 = "them" = Whom? = His disciples, the church
> Matt. 28.19 = "go ye" = Whom? = 2nd Person Pronoun, "you" = PLURAL
- EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM
CHALLENGE / CONCLUSION
YES, BUT DO WE TRULY BELIEVE THESE THINGS?????
"Soteriology: The Doctrine of Salvation" = "D. After Death"
- b. We believe that the souls of the redeemed are, at death, absent from the body and present with the Lord where, in conscious bliss, they await the first resurrection when spirit, soul, and body are reunited to be glorified forever with the Lord. The opposite is true for those who have rejected Christ as Saviour. They are conscious, aware, awake in Hell, suffering, waiting for the Great White Throne Judgement where they will be pronounced as guilty and cast into the Lake of fire.
= Mark 9 = Jesus = "gehenna" = "hell"
= Luke 16 = Jesus = Parable of Lazarus and the Rich Man
= Luke 23 = Jesus to the dying thief on the Cross > Luke 23:42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. 43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.
> 1 Thes 4.16-18
Now, we say we believe these things
- 8. WE BELIEVE IN THE RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD, BOTH OF THE JUST AND UNJUST, AND THAT CHRIST WILL COME AGAIN TO JUDGE BOTH THE QUICK AND THE DEAD, AND THAT HE WILL TAKE VENGEANCE ON THE WICKED AND SENTENCE THEM TO EVERLASTING PUNISHMENT, BUT THE RIGHTEOUS TO LIFE ETERNAL.
- 9. WE BELIEVE THAT THE PREACHING OF THE GOSPEL IS AN APPOINTMENT OF GOD TO BE CONTINUED TO THE END OF THE WORLD...
But what you DO demonstrates conclusively what you believe
- And all the rest is just religious talk
- And what are we doing about it?
> Rev. 20.5-15
- What are you going to do about it this week?
PRAYER & INVIATION
