Posts Tagged ‘salvation’

Things That Will Help Us Live Better

// April 3rd, 2010 // View Comments // Bible Study, Mark's stuff

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By Jesse Jenkins

Benchley, March 21, 2010

Man’s Way or God’s Way?

// April 3rd, 2010 // View Comments // Bible Study, Mark's stuff

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By Joel Moore

Benchley, March 21, 2010

  • Isaiah 55:8-9
  • Matthew 6:24
  • The Word of God is our sole source of authority.  II Timothy 3:16-17
  • To supplant God’s Word with your own beliefs is to commit the sin of presumption.
  • This disposition was unacceptable in the Old Testament and is still unacceptable today under the New Testament. Deuteronomy 17:12-13
  • Salvation
    • Man’s way:  An individual can be saved by a variety of methods and may choose the one that please him the most.
    • God’s way:  It is be baptism (immersion in water) that one gains entrance into a saved relationship with God (John 3:3-5; Galatians 3:26-27; Acts 2:38; I Peter 3:21)
  • The organization of the church
    • Man’s way:  The church may be organized in any way that is determined best by man.
    • God’s way:  In each local church, there are to be elders who lead the flock in that location (I Peter 5:1-4), deacons who help the elders (I Timothy 3:8-13), and members (Romans 12:4-5).
      • The local church must be organized to the degree to which is can be scripturally organized.
  • Controlling one’s thoughts
    • Man’s way:  I can think about whatever I want.  Matthew 15:17-20
    • God’s way:  It is imperative that a Christian control his thoughts and not think about whatever he wants (II Corinthians 10:3-6).
      • Let us remember that all sin develops from desire and a response to temptation (James 1:14-15); therefore, if we control our thoughts (where desire originates and ruminates if uncontrolled), we can effectively control sin.
      • Moreover, in order to better control our thoughts, we must replace evil thoughts with good, wholesome meditation (Philippians 4:8; Psalm 1).

“I’m looking for a church…”

// March 4th, 2010 // View Comments // Bible Study, Mark's stuff

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By David Watson

Benchley, February 21, 2010

[This outline is taken from David's handout for the sermon.  Thanks, Dave!]

  • There is much religious diversity today.  Which church is right?  Look for a church which…
  • Depends upon God’s grace.
    • If God had not decided to extend His grace, then we would be utterly lost and without hope (Titus 2:11, Ephesians 1:7, 2:4-9, I Peter 1:13).
    • Look for a church which gives God the credit, depending on His grace for salvation.
  • Honors God above man.
    • The church belongs to and is subject to Jesus Christ.  He is its Head and Savior (Acts 20:28, Ephesians 5:23-24).
    • Why is it that in many churches more attention is given to the people, and maybe the preacher, than to the Savior?  A church ought to be busy giving glory to God by worshiping Him in spirit and truth and obeying His word (Romans 16:27).
    • Jesus and Paul honored God above men (John 8:29, 6:66, Galatians 1:10).
    • Churches should get back to the NT pattern of preaching of the gospel (Philippians 4:15), worshiping (I Corinthians 14), and helping needy members (Acts 6).
  • Encourages questions and independent study.
    • A church should encourage its members to follow the objective standard of God’s Word, the Bible (John 12:48).
    • All sources (preachers, churches) ought to be compared to God’s Word and either accepted or rejected based upon whether or not they harmonize with it (Acts 17:10-12).
  • Accepts the Bible as the sole authority.
    • There is “one faith” given “once for all” (Ephesians 4:5, Jude 3, Galatians 1:6-9).
    • Churches should follow the New Covenant of Christ, and not the Old Covenant of Moses (Hebrews 8:6-13, Matthew 5:17-18, Galatians 3:24-26).  The NC involves singing (Ephesians 5:19), partaking of the Lord’s Supper (I Corinthians 11:26), praying (I Thessalonians 5:17), preaching the gospel (I Thessalonians 1:8), pooling money together on the first day of the week (I Corinthians 16:1-2), etc.
  • Is not ashamed to teach that “man is justified by works and not by faith alone.”
    • This is not a popular doctrine.  Some churches vigorously teach against this.
    • What does the Bible say?  James 2:14-26 (see also Matt. 7:21, II Cor. 5:10, Hebrews 5:9).
  • Teaches the whole story of salvation.
    • What is required for a person to be saved?  God’s grace!  (Ephesians 2:5)
    • But God Himself says there is more.  We must believe (John 8:24), repent (Acts 17:30), confess (Romans 10:10), be baptized for forgiveness of sins (I Peter 3:21), and stay faithful (Hebrews 4:11).  These are required and connected to salvation.
    • Different churches stop at various points along the line.  Some say grace only, some say grace+belief only, etc.
    • Does any religious group have the right to edit the Bible?  Which one of these can we omit?  I encourage you to look for a church which teaches the whole story of salvation.
  • There are certainly more points we could consider.  I appeal to you in all sincerity to read the Bible text for yourself and see what it requires.

2009-12-27 – Jesse Jenkins – Christ’s Glorious Gospel

// January 4th, 2010 // View Comments // Bible Study, Mark's stuff

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Christ’s Glorious Gospel

By Jesse Jenkins

Benchley, December 27, 2009

2009-10-11 – David Watson – Past, Present, and Future

// October 12th, 2009 // View Comments // Bible Study, Mark's stuff

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Past, Present, and Future

By David Watson

Benchley, October 11, 2009

  • I Peter 4
  • Leave sin in the past
  • Live righteously in the present.
  • Press on toward the goal in the future.

2009-08-23 – David Watson – Romans 13:11

// September 8th, 2009 // View Comments // Bible Study, Mark's stuff

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Romans 13:11

By David Watson

Benchley, August 23, 2009

2009-05-10 – David Watson – The Parable of the Older Son

// May 18th, 2009 // View Comments // Bible Study, Mark's stuff

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The Parable of the Older Son

By David Watson

Benchley, May 10, 2009

  • Luke 15:11-32
  • Know the goal:? saving the lost.
  • We should rejoice when people come to the Lord.
  • We should not follow our sense of fairness.

2009-03-22 – Jesse Jenkins – Salvation is Available to All

// March 30th, 2009 // View Comments // Bible Study, Mark's stuff

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Salvation is Available to All

By Jesse Jenkins

Benchley, March 22, 2009

  • John 3:16; I Timothy 2:3-4; II Peter 3:9; Titus 2:11
  • That which God requires one to understand, he can understand.
    • We must put forth effort to understand.
    • John 8:43?- One must have a disposition to hear the word of God.
  • That which God requires one to believe, he can believe.
    • Hebrews 11:6
    • We must believe in the resurrection of Jesus.
    • We must believe that the new covenant is God’s directive for our lives.
  • That which God requires?one to do, he can do.
    • God requires us to believe, repent, confess, be baptized, grow, teach, give according to his prosperity, and live faithfully.
  • That which God requires one to be, he can be.
    • I Peter 1:16?- We?can be holy.
    • Ephesians 3:21?- We can be a light to the world.
    • God requires us to be Christians, and we can be Christians.

2009-03-08 – Jesse Jenkins – Two Sides of Man’s Salvation

// March 10th, 2009 // View Comments // Bible Study, Mark's stuff

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Two Sides of Man’s Salvation

By Jesse Jenkins

Benchley, March 8, 2009

2008-08-10 – David Watson – Studying the Whole Bible

// August 28th, 2008 // View Comments // Bible Study, Mark's stuff

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Studying the Whole Bible

By David Watson

Benchley, August 10, 2008

When we want to find the truth on a given topic, we shouldn?t just find one verse that mentions it and then assume we have a comprehensive knowledge of the topic.? The best way to study any topic is to examine any and all related passages so that we get the full picture of God?s Word.? Let?s study the topic of salvation, especially the conclusion many have drawn?that faith, without works, is all we need to be saved.

 

  • Faith saves!
  • But does faith save by itself?
    • Does any passage say that faith is the only thing we need to be saved?
    • Someone might argue the point that faith is all we need, but the argument and the verses don?t match exactly.? The verses say that faith saves.? The argument is that faith alone saves.
    • James 2:14-26.
      • Are the demons saved?? They certainly believe.
      • The only verse in the Bible where the words ?faith? and ?alone? appear together is James 2:24, and it teaches the opposite of salvation by faith alone.
    • John 12:42-43, Mark 8:38.? Were the rulers saved at this point?
    • Does faith save?? The Bible says Yes.? Does faith save by itself?? The Bible says No.
  • Study the whole Bible.
  • IV)? Questions.
    • By accepting one point, do we deny another?
      • If we read a verse that says baptism saves, does that mean God doesn?t save, or grace, or Christ?s blood?? No.
      • If we read a verse that says faith saves, does that mean baptism doesn?t save, or repentance, or God?? No.
      • The reason the answer is No is that none of these passages have used the terms ?only? or ?alone? or ?by itself? or some synonymous term.
      • None of the passages about faith/baptism/grace/blood of Christ/etc. teach us that they are the only things necessary to salvation.
      • The Bible is not contradicting itself.? It is giving us all the pieces of the puzzle.
      • We make a mistake any time we pick one thing, such as faith, and declare that that?s the only ingredient necessary for salvation.? It?s just not true, because that ignores and contradicts what the rest of the Bible has to say.
    • Do works earn our salvation?
      • The answer is No.
      • Remember what we read in James 2:21-22, ?Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar?? You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected.?
      • Now read what at first may seem to be a direct contradiction, Romans 3:28, 4:1-3.? Was Abraham justified by works or not?
      • It depends on what kind of works you?re talking about, and this is the point that is so often missed and which leads to wrong conclusions.
      • The context here in Romans is talking about works of merit, or works by which a person would earn salvation for themselves, without God?s help.
      • If Abraham was justified by works of merit, living so perfectly that God owed him salvation, verse 2 says Abraham has something to boast about.
      • Romans 4:4.? If you go to work for 40 hours one week, your employer owes you 40 hours worth of wages.? When he gives it to you, it?s not a gift.? You earned it, through your works all week.? So verse 4 is telling us what kind of works are being discussed.
      • We definitely know that God is not saying something in Romans that contradicts what He says in James.
      • James is talking, not about works of merit, but works of obedience.? Verse 21 refers to Abraham?s offering of Isaac on the altar.? Was that a work that would earn him a place in Heaven?? No.? God told him to do it, and he obeyed.? It was a work of obedience.
      • When we read the Bible and understand that we are supposed to get baptized, or repent, or love God, or obey God in any number of ways, that doesn?t mean that by doing so we are earning salvation?that now God owes it to us.? Heaven is still a gift, which God says He will give to those who obey Him.? And so we do works of obedience.
      • Do you believe you must do God?s will to enter Heaven?? Jesus said, ?Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter? (Matthew 7:21).

Psalm 119:160, ?The sum of Your word is truth, And every one of Your righteous ordinances is everlasting.?

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