Bible Authority
By David Bonner
Benchley, November 8, 2007
II Timothy 3:15-16 – The word of God is inspired
I Corinthians 4:6 – Don’t go beyond what is written
John 17:17 – God’s word is truth.
How to establish Bible authority?
Precept – a positive statement
Example – an approved example
Inference – something that must necessarily be implied.
Bible
Generic
Forbidden
Expedients
1810-1860 – Restoration movement. Churches of Christ arise spontaneously and become the fourth largest religious group in USA. In 1849, the American Christian Missionary Society was started. In 1869, a church added mechanical music. By 1900, 90% of the people had turned to error and became the Christian church.
1900-1952 – Small remaining churches continue to grow. In 1952, the Herald of Truth was started. About 90% of the people fell into institutionalism.
1952-2007 – Liberal church build gyms, social halls, are involved in unlimited benevolence.
Morality
By David Bonner
Benchley, November 4, 2007
I Timothy 4:16 – People see your example.
Nine principles of morality:
Sinful? If so, it’s immoral.
Harmful? I Corinthians 6:19
Doubtful? Romans 14:23
Stumbling block? Romans 14:13
Wrong associations? Romans 15:33
Wrong fleshly appetite? I Corinthians 6:12
Conflict with duty as a Christian? Matthew 6:33
Hurt influence? Matthew 5:16
Would Jesus do it? I Peter 2:21
A few examples:
Gambling – it’s based on greed and therefore sinful. It’s harmful to your finances and family. It involves wrong associations, a wrong fleshly appetite, and hurts your influence.
Drinking – Proverbs 20:1; 23:29 – It is sinful, harmful, a stumbling block, and involves wrong associations and wrong fleshly appetites.
Dope – Galatians 5:19-21 – It is sinful, harmful to the body, etc.
A Brief Study of Colossians
By David Bonner
Benchley, November 4, 2007
Gnostics believed that all material things were evil. Since God is good, He cannot have created the earth. They believed that Jesus was a created being and thus not fully deity. They believed that Jesus created the world. They also believed that man could get closer to God by studying human philosophies. Part of Paul’s purpose in writing Colossians was to combat and refute Gnosticism.
The word gospel literally means “good news.” Let’s examine the good news about Jesus Christ.
The story of Jesus.
Jesus prepared people for the transition away from the Old Covenant (Matthew 5:17-18), and began revealing the New Covenant which would offer complete forgiveness of sins!
This was the very reason Jesus came to earth (John 1:29, Luke 19:10), and everything else Jesus said and did was in keeping with this Divine mission.
He chose 12 apostles, taught many, and exposed hypocrisy (Matthew 21:37-45, 23:13-14).
Jesus’ enemies couldn’t deny the miracles He performed (John 9:16, 32-33,Matthew 15:31).
Jesus was crucified, completing the perfect sacrifice for sins (Ephesians 1:7, Acts 20:28).
His resurrection sealed His Lordship and our hope (I Corinthians 6:14, 15:1ff, Acts 2:36).
The command of obedient faith.
Salvation is a gift from God (Ephesians 2:8), but most do not receive it (Matthew 7:13).
What is the deciding factor? Why do some people receive this free gift and not others?
God’s condition for the gift of salvation is obedience (Matthew 7:21-27, 28:18-20, Acts 10:35, II Corinthians 5:10, Philippians 2:12, Hebrews 5:9, James 2:24).
Therefore, what is faith in Ephesians 2:8? It means faith which spurs one into obedient action (James 2:14-26).
The steps to salvation.
The first step is faith.
We must believe the truth about Deity (Acts 2:36, John 8:24, Hebrews 11:6).
Faith develops as a result of God’s Word affecting our hearts (Romans 10:17).
The second step is repentance (Matt. 4:17, Luke 24:46-47, Acts 2:38, 17:30, II Peter 3:9).
Repentance is a decision to turn away from sin and toward God (Matthew 12:41, Jonah 3:5-10) which is prompted by godly sorrow (II Corinthians 7:9-10).
True repentance leads to action (Luke 3:8, Acts 26:20).
The third step is confession.
The Ethiopian was prompted to confess his faith (Acts 8:35-38).
Confession is commanded by God (Romans 10:9-10).
The fourth step is baptism.
Baptism saves us (Mark 16:16, I Peter 3:21), is for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38, 22:16), makes us partakers of Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection (Romans 6:3-4, Colossians 2:12), adds us to the church (I Corinthians 12:13, Colossians 1:18), and clothes us with Christ (Galatians 3:27).
Baptism is urgent (Acts 2:41, 8:36, 16:33, 22:16).
The fifth step is growth and service.
Christians must always try to improve (II Peter 3:18, Hebrews 12:28).
Though one is in a saved relationship with God, he has to maintain it (I Cor. 10:12).
