2/4/19

"THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS" The Superior Sacrifice (10:1-18) by Mark Copeland


"THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS"

The Superior Sacrifice (10:1-18)

INTRODUCTION

1. In showing the superiority of the New Covenant, we have seen the author discuss...
   a. The better promises - He 8:7-13
   b. The better sanctuary - He 9:1-28

2. The author now reaches a climax in his discussion with a look at 
   "the better sacrifice"...
   a. Not that he hasn't already made mention of it - He 7:26-27; 
      9:11-14,24-26
   b. But now there is a contrast to the Old Covenant sacrifices in the
      clearest of terms

3. In this section, we will find the author...
   a. Bring together the main ideas he has alluded to earlier
   b. Add a further thought not stressed before

[In the first four verses of chapter ten, then, we find...]

I. THE SUPERIOR SACRIFICE:  ITS NEED (1-4)

   A. ANIMAL SACRIFICES DID NOT PROVIDE TRUE REMISSION OF SIN...
      1. The Law was only "a shadow of the good things to come" - He 10:1a
         a. Its gifts and sacrifices were a "copy and shadow" of the heavenly things - He 8:4-5
         b. They symbolized what Jesus would actually do - He 9:11-12, 24
         c. The "good things" included such things as:
            1) His better sacrifice
            2) The better hope
            3) The eternal redemption and the eternal inheritance
      2. The sacrifices did not make the worshippers "perfect" - He 10:1b-2
         a. Perfect in regard to the conscience - He 9:9
         b. The repetitive nature of the sacrifices prevented this

   B. ANIMAL SACRIFICES  PROVIDED A REMINDER OF SIN...
      1. Every year there was the constant reminder of sins - He 10:3
         a. In addition to the daily and monthly sacrifices, there were
            the annual sacrifices on the Day of Atonement
         b. The constant sacrifices reminded them of their sin and need for cleansing
      2. It was not possible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins - He 10:4
         a. The blood of animals could not really take away sin
         b. Their purpose was to impress upon the people their need, 
            and to foreshadow what would one day be accomplished in Christ

[The sacrifices of the Old Covenant accomplished their purpose; they 
served as "a shadow of the good things to come".  Those "good things"
involved the sacrifice found in the New Covenant, of which we now read...]
         
II. THE SUPERIOR SACRIFICE:  ITS PROVISION (5-9)

   A. IT WAS PROVIDED BY GOD...
      1. From Ps 40:6-8, we see the attitude of Christ when He came
         into the world
      2. Burnt offerings and sacrifices did not meet His Father's 
         ultimate desire - He 10:5-6
      3. But what did meet God's desire, God provided Himself:  a body - He 10:5
      -- This reminds us that propitiation for sin was provided by God,
         not man - 1Jn 4:10

   B. IT WAS OFFERED FREELY BY CHRIST...
      1. Christ came as prophesied to do the will of God - He 10:7-9a
      2. Here is a striking difference between Christ's sacrifice and
         the animal sacrifices...
         a. Animal sacrifices were offered against their will
         b. Jesus freely offered Himself in accordance with His 
            Father's will! - cf. Jn 6:38

   C. IT ESTABLISHED A NEW COVENANT...
      1. In doing the will of His Father, Jesus has taken away the 
         first covenant - He 9:9b; cf. Col 2:14-17
      2. Making it possible to establish the second covenant, of which 
         He is the mediator - cf. He 9:15

[So what animal sacrifices could not accomplish, God did by the sending
of His Son who freely accepted the task of offering Himself for sin.  

But was His sacrifice adequate?  Read on...]

III. THE SUPERIOR SACRIFICE:  ITS ALL-SUFFICIENCY (10-18)

   A. IT PROVIDES TRUE SANCTIFICATION...
      1. We have been sanctified through the offering of His body - He 10:10
      2. Its sufficiency is seen in that He only had to offer it "once"
         a. The repetition of the daily sacrifices illustrated their 
            inadequacy - He 10:11
         b. But with Jesus, it was "one sacrifice for sins forever" - He 10:12-13
            1) Illustrated by His sitting down at God' right Hand 
               - cf. He 1:3; 8:1
            2) Where He waits (and reigns - 1Co 15:25-26; Ps 110:1-2)
               till all His enemies are made His footstool
      3. Thus "by one offering" He has provided true sanctification - He 10:14
         a. "He has perfected forever" (doing what animal sacrifices could not - He 10:1)
         b. "those who are being sanctified"
            1) Note the present tense - sanctification is an on-going process - He 2:11
               a) In one sense we have been sanctified - 1Co 1:2; 6:11; He 10:10,29
               b) In another sense we will be sanctified - 1Th 5:23
            2) Made possible by the one-time sacrifice of Christ - 1Jn 1:7-9

   B. IT PROVIDES TRUE REMISSION OF SINS...
      1. As the Holy Spirit bore witness through Jeremiah in 
          Jer 31:31-34 (quoted earlier in He 8:8-12) - He 10:15-17
      2. With true remission of sins, there is no need for repeated 
         sacrifices for sin - He 10:18

CONCLUSION

1. By providing complete sanctification and remission of sins, the 
   sacrifice of Jesus is truly "The Superior Sacrifice"!
   a. Why would anyone want to return to sacrifices...
      1) That did not make the worshiper "perfect"?
      2) Were there is the constant reminder of sin that weighs heavy 
         upon the conscience of man?
   b. With the sacrifice of Himself, offered freely keeping with the 
      will of God, Jesus provides what the Law could not!

2. With verse eighteen, we come to the end of the two main arguments in this epistle...
   a. That Christ is superior, for He is: 
      1) Better than the prophets, as a much better Spokesman - He 1:1-3
      2) Better than the angels, by virtue of His Deity and humanity - He 1:4-2:18
      3) Better than Moses, for He is the Son who provides a heavenly rest - He 3:1-4:13
      4) Better than Aaron, as His priesthood is a superior one - He 4:16-8:6
   b. That the New Covenant is superior, for it is:
      1) Based upon better promises - He 8:7-13
      2) Based upon a better sanctuary - He 9:1-28
      3) Based upon a better sacrifice - He 10:1-18

The purpose of the author has been to encourage his Hebrew brethren to
remain true to Jesus Christ.  Though one may not be a Hebrew by race,
the same arguments should encourage all Christians to remain true to 
Jesus and abide by the conditions of the New Covenant of which He is
the Mediator!

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2016

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Are Diamonds “Life’s Best Friend”? by Kyle Butt, M.Div.

http://apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=12&article=1127


Are Diamonds “Life’s Best Friend”?

by Kyle Butt, M.Div.


The theory of organic evolution is fraught with irreconcilable errors. One of the foremost is the fact that evolution demands that living organisms arose from non-living, inorganic chemicals. As all origin-of-life researchers are well aware, this idea flies in the face of the Law of Biogenesis, the most experimentally substantiated biological law in the history of science. Be that as it may, evolutionists continue their futile efforts to explain how life could have arisen from primitive, non-living substances.
According to three German scientists from the University of Ulm, diamonds most likely helped get life off the ground. In an article reporting on the work, Robert Britt stated:
Diamonds are crystallized forms of carbon that predate the oldest known life on the planet. In lab experiments aimed to confirm work done more than three decades ago, researchers found that when treated with hydrogen, natural diamonds formed crystalline layers of water on the surface. Water is essential for life as we know it. Also, the tests found electrical conductivity that could have been key to forcing chemical reactions needed to generate the first birth (2008).
Those who read Britt’s article are struck by the numerous qualifying statements such as “diamonds may have been,” “the resulting reaction may have been,” and “the new research does not conclusively determine how life began” (emp. added). Such qualifying statements are certainly needed in light of the “evidence” that is presented. Supposedly diamonds would have made a good platform for life because they can form layers of water and can possess electrical conductivity. Yet, in labs all across the globe for the past 50 years, scientists have been able to work with an endless supply of water and electricity and still have not produced life from non-life—as if water and conductivity are equivalent to life production.
Furthermore, diamonds supposedly “predate the oldest known life forms” on Earth. The ancient age of diamonds, however, has fallen upon very hard times. In 2005, Donald DeYoung published results from a team research project referred to as RATE. The name RATE is an acronym for Radioisotopes and the Age of The Earth. This team of scientists studied 12 diamond samples, each about 50 milligrams in weight. If diamonds are as old as suggested, they certainly would not contain any traces of Carbon-14, since C-14 should have escaped from the samples billions of years ago. After closely analyzing the samples, however, Carbon-14 was present in every one. DeYoung wrote: “The presence of C-14 in ‘very old’ fossils, rocks, coal, and diamond samples is clearly a major conflict with the long-age time scale” (2005, p. 56, emp. added).
Britt appropriately included in his brief article the fact that some scientists postulate the idea of panspermia, in which aliens allegedly seeded planet Earth with life. In truth, there is as much evidence for little green men dropping off packets of bacteria as there is that life spontaneously generated on the surface of a diamond. All such concepts are devoid of experimental verification. The presence of life on this Earth is not a scientific mystery that remains to be solved. It is a historic occurrence that most elementary school children can explain: “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the Earth” (Genesis 1:1), including all kinds of living organisms.

REFERENCES

Britt, Robert Roy (2008), “Diamonds May Have Jumpstarted Life on Earth,” LiveScience.com, [On-line], URL: http://news.yahoo.com/s/livescience/20080726/sc_livescience/ diamondsmayhavejumpstartedlifeonearth.
DeYoung, Don (2005), Thousands...Not Billions (Green Forest, AR: Master Books).

Anything Finely Tuned Demands a Fine Tuner by Eric Lyons, M.Min.

http://apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=12&article=2771


Anything Finely Tuned Demands a Fine Tuner

by Eric Lyons, M.Min.


I have owned two new cars in my lifetime, both of which were fine-tuned machines. The pistons moved with remarkable precision. The spark plugs repeatedly ignited the gasoline at an intended time. Just the right amount of oxygen was mixed with the fuel for ideal performance. The front end was perfectly aligned. The tires were properly balanced. Thousands of intended actions took place at precisely the right times so that I could swiftly and safely drive from place to place, time and again. Until it was totaled in 2007, my 1997 Saturn SL1 ran amazingly well, and my 2008 Toyota Corolla is still functioning as a fine-tuned machine.
A fine-tuned machine demands a fine-tuner. Everyone knows that cars and computers, pianos and projectors all require engineers, technicians, and tuners for them to function properly. New machines are built by intelligent people. Older machines receive tune-ups by intelligent tuners. Surely, no one believes that tune-ups happen by accident. How can anything be finely tuned without a fine tuner?
Atheistic evolutionists continually find themselves in a conundrum, because of their admittance that our Universe is fine-tuned. If the physical laws of the Universe (e.g., gravity) are merely “inherent in the physical universe” and simply evolved to their current status by time and chance along with everything else that exists (Davies, 2007, 194[2610]:33), the question arises, “Why, then, is the Universe so fine-tuned?” Why do planets and moons not crash into each other during their orbits? How can astronomers predict with amazing accuracy where a planet will be in the distant future? Why is the force of gravity on Earth just right for life to exist?
In a recent New Scientist cover story about gravity, Michael Brooks described the force as strange, mysterious, and puzzling. He insisted that one reason gravity does not make sense (to him) is because it is “fine-tuned”: “If it [gravity—EL] were a tiny bit stronger, none of us would be here to scoff at its puny nature” (2009, 202[2712]:30, emp. added). Regarding the expansion of space (after the alleged Big Bang) and the pull of gravity, Brooks wrote:
It turns out that the struggle between these two was balanced on a knife-edge. If the expansion of space had overwhelmed the pull of gravity in the newborn universe, stars, galaxies and humans would never have been able to form. If, on the other hand, gravity had been much stronger, stars and galaxies might have formed, but they would have quickly collapsed in on themselves and each other. What’s more, the gravitational distortion of space-time would have folded up the universe in a big crunch. Our cosmic history could have been over by now.
Only the middle ground, where the expansion and the gravitational strength balance...allows life to form (p. 31, emp. added).
Brooks then asked, “Why does G [the designation for the gravitational constant—EL] have the value that allowed life to form in the cosmos?” (p. 31). His answer: “The simple but unsatisfying answer is that we could not be here to observe it if it were any different. As to the deeper answer—no one knows....We have never explained any basic constant of nature” (p. 31, emp. added).
Evolutionists like Michael Brooks admit that “no one knows” why the force of gravity is so perfect as to allow life to exist on Earth. Evolutionists acknowledge: “We have never explained any basic constant in nature.” Atheistic evolutionists allege that the Universe and its laws are the result of mindless, naturalistic, random processes, yet at the same time they contend that it is “uniquely hospitable,” “remarkable,” and “ordered in an intelligible way” (Davies, pp. 30,34). In a New Scientist article titled “Laying Down the Laws,” Paul Davies of Arizona State University admitted the many examples of “uncanny bio-friendly ‘coincidences’” and “fine-tuned properties” of the Universe (p. 30). He then wrote: “Like Baby Bear’s porridge in the story of Goldilocks, our universe seems ‘just right’ for life. It looks, to use astronomer Fred Hoyle’s dramatic description, as if ‘a super-intellect has been monkeying with
physics’” (p. 30).
In truth, it “looks...as if a super-intellect” lies behind the precise, fine-tuned, law-driven Universe, because there is a Super-intellect behind it all. The simple, satisfying answer for why the Universe works so well, and for why Earth is so perfect for life’s existence, is because the Universe has a fine-tuner. Just as a fine-tuned automobile demands a tuner, so our fine-tuned Universe demands a designer. Nothing makes sense if an ultimate Tuner does not exist, but everything makes sense if He does. Indeed, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the Earth” (Genesis 1:1). He ordained the moon and the stars. The heavens are the work of His fingers (Psalm 8:3). They declare His glory (Psalm 19:1). “He upholds all things by the word of His power” (Hebrews 1:3, NASB). The infinite, eternal Creator “is before all things, and in Him all things consist” (Colossians 1:17). He is the ultimate tuner of all that is finely tuned.

REFERENCES

Brooks, Michael (2009), “Seven Mysteries of Gravity,” New Scientist, 202[2712]:28-32, June 13.
Davies, Paul (2007), “Laying Down the Laws,” New Scientist, 194[2610]:30-34, June 29.

What Do Other See When they Look at you? by Ben Fronczek


http://granvillenychurchofchrist.org/?p=1473


What Do Other See When they Look at you?

What Do Others See   
(Readings Matthew 5:14-16 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
and Galatians 5:19-23a  “The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. 
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control.”
Opening Story:  One day a little girl who was on her way home from Church, turned to her mother and said, “Mommy, the preacher’s sermon confused me.”  Her mother said, “Oh! Why is that?”       The girl replied, “Well he said that God is bigger than we are. Is that true?” Her mother replied, “Yes.”     “Well,” she continued,, “if God is bigger than us and He lives in us, wouldn’t He show through?”
In many ways this little girl was quite right. If I am a Christian and God the Spirit lives in me, it is only logical that He should somehow show through.
God should show through. If His Spirit lives in us it should be evident. Just like you can sometimes tell where a person is from by their accent or other physical features, in a similar manner people should recognize something God-like in us if He is indeed living in us.
In Galatians 5 Paul talks about how a person acts if they choose to live in a worldly manner (some translators refer it as a living according to the flesh). Everything about that kind of life stems from a self centered, self gratifying, selfish way of thinking, living and acting.
But the Apostle Paul tells us that as Christians we should not live that way. Rather we should walk or follow the lead of God’s Holy Spirit which is now living inside of us.
And then in verse 5:22-23, Paul makes an amazing statement. He says, “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control.”
I thought a lot about this verse this past week and prayed that God would open my eyes so that I could understand it better. And so I want to share with you what I believe He revealed to me.
When you and I think of God and His character traits and nature, what do we usually think of? In most cases His Awesomeness, His holiness, His power, His Love, His patience with us, His mercy and kindness, and the fact that He is peace loving, and good, and kind to us, and so much more like this.
 Then I thought about what Paul wrote here in Gal. 5:22.   For years when I considered this verse, I was under the assumption that if I wanted to become a better Christian I had to learn to love others more, and try to be good and kind, and gentle, and somehow learn to become more faithful and be more self controlled. And if I got to that point where I had faith, well, I would somehow please God, and be happier and find peace.
…As if having all these blessed traits depended on my effort to be a better Christian.
But this week, I believe with the Lord’s help, I realized that I have miss-understood this verse and what Paul was saying in this passage. When we consider what fruit is, we know that it is a natural by-product so something, (like fruit from a plant or fruit of the womb).
But I don’t think these attributes mentioned here are natural by-products of ‘the man of flesh’. People are just naturally selfish, and self seeking. Consider a child. They think they are the center of the world and everyone is going to drop everything when they cry out. Yes we do demonstrate these behaviors to some degree because we are created in God’s own image; but not to the extent of what Paul is portraying here.
As a matter of fact if you look carefully at this verse, it does not even say that these attributes are fruits of our nature, rather, they are fruits of the Spirit.Spirit with a big ‘S’. They are fruit of God Himself, of HIS SPIRIT, not ours.
And God’s Spirit, which is loving, and joy-filled, and peaceful and patient, and kind and good and gentle, now lives in us!
So what does that mean for you and me? The Christian does not have to do this, that, and the other thing to attain these attributes they are already in us.
Just like the God’s Spirit makes available, His wisdom, insight, instruction, and can convict certain areas of our life, the Spirit came into us to share these attributes and blessing with us.
We just need to recognize the fact that we already have them and then we need to learn how to access what we already have inside us.
But just like we can ignore the Holy Spirit’s advice, promptings, tugs on our life, and bury them under a thick layer of self centered indulgence, desire, and wants, we can just as easily bury that God-infused love, peace and mercy that He wants to surface in our life.
In my mind it’s like having this great talent, maybe the ability paint great portraits or master pieces, or sculpt, or write music or a bestselling novel, and you don’t even know that you have that talent hidden inside you. But it does not mean that it is not there buried somewhere inside you.
Or maybe you do realize you have a particular talent to do something but then never use that talent. You don’t draw, you don’t ever pick us a paint brush, or pen to write, or sing, or teach or let that ability come out for whatever reason.
In the same way that God has anointed us with certain talents and abilities, He has also given or anointed us with these wonderful fruits, His own attributes to use and develop in our own live (just like a talent).
But what do we do? Either we bury or hide them under our own selfish desires, sometimes intentionally and sometimes unintentionally.
If we are not allowing God’s blessed attributes to shine thru our life, either we don’t realize we have them or we are like that guy who lights a lamp and covers it over with a bowl called selfishness.   (LAMP PROP ILLUS.) (Turn a small lamp on and slowly bury with sheets of paper with ‘no love’, ‘no forgiveness’, ‘no kindness or gentleness’, ‘no generosity’, ‘no self control, and ‘no faith’… until the light is very dim.)
And explain: Even though we have God’s love somewhere inside us and it should burst forth like a bright light, sometimes we don’t want to love someone because they hurt us. We don’t want to forgive them because we already forgave them once before. We don’t want to be kind or gentle because you simply don’t feel like it. You don’t want to be generous because you reason that you worked too hard for that money just to give it away.
Or you maybe could you care less about having self control in certain regarding certain things because if you want to eat or drink too much you feel that ‘that’s your right.’ And if you want to swear or curse like a sailor, or scream, or yell at people all the time, or even act like a pervert because you like to do it, not one has the right to tell you to stop. It’s a free country.
Or maybe being faithful in certain areas of your life isn’t your thing either. You show up when you fell like showing up, even if it’s a hour or two hours late. If you feel like shortchanging your employer, you friend, or even cheat on your spouse every once in a while, it’s no big deal because it makes you feel good.
We don’t like to admit that we do or say any of these things. They sound sooo selfish. And that’s what they are. And when we act like this those attributes which are meant to bless us and bless others remain hidden.
 Peter wrote in 2 Peter 1:3-4 “…God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.”
God has given us everything we need to live a good and Godly life. It’s all right inside us because He is inside us. We just need to realize it and claim those blessings and make a choice to deny those foolish, even childish desires of the flesh and choose His way over our own.
When we feel those selfish stirrings we need to push that aside and claim God’s blessing. When we feel greedy or stingy we need to fight those impulses and push them aside and grab a-hold of God generous and giving nature for our self. (Remove the sheets of paper off the lamp one at a time)
When we feel hostile and angry, and mean, we need to realize those are acts of flesh and not deserving to inherit the Kingdom of God. We need to push them away and realize that we are heading in the direction that the devil wants us to go. And then you need to look down and inside yourself and pray that the Spirit will help you to find God’s love, and ability to forgive, and act in a way that seeks peace.
When you feel like you are getting out of control you need to remind yourself that you have God’s Spirit inside you to ready and willing help you get back on track. He is now going to force you, but you have to decide that you are not going to let that selfish, self centered, sinful nature get the best of you and remember that God wants to share these attribute with you.
Claim those blessings. Push away those ungodly negative urges knowing that you can act like God because He has given you everything you need to do it. It’s not something you have to earn. You already have the ability to show and feel God’s love, joy, and peace, and show patience. We can be kind, and good, and faithful, and gentle and have self-control like never before because He’s already given you those traits. They are in you and part of you. We just need believe it, claim it, and enjoy what He has given us. So don’t bury them. Let you light shine!

Chapter 11 BAPTISM by CA Feenstra

http://www.oldpaths.com/Archive/Feenstra/C/A/1931/ch11.html

Chapter 11
BAPTISM
Q. Does GOD'S WORD teach that man is saved by the grace of God?
"For the grace of God hath appeared, bringing salvation to all men..." Titus 2:11
"Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus." Rom. 3:24
"But we believe that we shall be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in like manner as they." Acts 15:11
"But by the grace of God I am what I am..." I Cor. 15:10
"For by grace have ye been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not of works, that no man should glory." Eph. 2:8-9
Q. According to GOD'S WORD, how is a man saved by grace?
"For by grace have ye been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not of works, that no man should glory." Eph. 2:8-9
"Not by works done in righteousness, which we did ourselves, but according to his mercy he saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit..." Titus 3:5
"Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except one be born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God ... Ye must be born anew." John 3:5, 7
"And he (Jesus) said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to the whole creation. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved..." Mark 16:15-16
Q.1 Does GOD'S WORD teach that baptism is for the remission of sins?
"And Peter said unto them, Repent ye, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins; and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." Acts 2:38
Q.2 Does GOD'S WORD teach that all men must be baptized to be saved?
"And he (Jesus) said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to the whole creation. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved..." Mark 16:15-16
Q.3 Does GOD'S WORD teach that baptism washes away sins?
"And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on his name." Acts 22:16
Q.4 Does GOD'S WORD teach that baptism puts us into Christ?
"Or are ye ignorant that all we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?" Rom. 6:3
"For as many of you as were baptized into Christ did put on Christ." Gal. 3:27
Q.5 Does GOD'S WORD teach that by baptism we put on Christ?
"For as many of you as were baptized into Christ did put on Christ." Gal. 3:27
"Abide in me, and I in you." John 15:4
Q.6 Does GOD'S WORD teach that God gives us the gift of the Holy Spirit at baptism?
And Peter said unto them, Repent ye, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins; and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." Acts 2:38
"And we are witnesses of these things; and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God hath given to them that obey him." Acts 5:32
Q.7 Does GOD'S WORD teach that it is necessary for one to be baptized in order to enter the kingdom of God?
"Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except one be born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." John 3:5
Q.8 Does GOD'S WORD teach that baptism saves?
"Which also after a true likeness doth now save you, even baptism, not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the interrogation of a good conscience toward God, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ..." I Pet. 3:21
Q.9 Does GOD'S WORD teach that when we are baptized we are added to the church by the Lord?
"Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls...
And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved." Acts 2:41, 47 AV
"And he is the head of the body, the church..." Col. 1:18
"For in one Spirit were we all baptized into one body..." I Cor. 12:13
Q.10 Does GOD'S WORD teach that in baptism our old man or nature is put to death and buried?
"Or are ye ignorant that all we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him through baptism into death ... For if we have become united with him in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection; knowing this, that our old man was crucified with him, that the body of sin might be done away, that so we should no longer be in bondage to sin; for he that hath died is justified from sin. But if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him ... Even so reckon ye also yourselves to be dead unto sin, but alive unto God in Christ Jesus." Rom. 6:3-11
Q.11 Does GOD'S WORD teach that in baptism we are raised to walk in newness of life and to be alive unto God?
"We were buried therefore with him through baptism unto death: that like as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we also might walk in newness of life ... Even so reckon ye also yourselves to be dead unto sin, but alive unto God in Christ Jesus." Rom. 6:4, 11
Q.12 Does GOD'S WORD teach that baptism is a form of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, and that when sinners obey this form of teaching, they are delivered and made free from their past sins?
"We who were baptized...
Our old man was crucified...
We were buried...
Like as Christ was raised … so we also might walk in newness of life ... Whereas ye were servants of sin, ye became obedient from the heart to that form (or pattern) of teaching whereunto ye were delivered; and being made free from sin, ye became servants of righteousness. Rom. 6:3-8, 17-18
Q.13 Does GOD'S WORD teach that the gospel is the good news of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ for sinners, and that in baptism man obeys this gospel in order to benefit from Christ's sacrifice?
"The gospel which I preached unto you ... by which also ye are saved ... That Christ died ... and that he was buried ... and that he hath been raised..." I Cor. 15:1-4
"And he (Jesus) said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to the whole creation. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved..." Mark 16:15-16
"What shall be the end of them that obey not the gospel of God?" I Pet. 4:17
"Inflaming fire, rendering vengeance ... to them that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus: who shall suffer punishment, even eternal destruction from the face of the Lord and from the glory of his might..." II Thess." 1:7-9
Q.14 Does GOD'S WORD teach that what happens at baptism causes men to rejoice?
"And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they both went down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip; and the eunuch saw him no more, for he went on his way rejoicing." Acts 8:38-39
"And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, immediately. And he brought them up into his house, and set food before them, and rejoiced greatly, with all his house, having believed in God." Acts 16:33-34
Q.15 Does GOD'S WORD teach that even sinless Jesus in taking the sinner's place, had to be baptized to fulfil all righteousness?
"Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to the Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. But John would have hindered him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? But Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffereth him. And Jesus when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water." Matt. 3:13-16
Q.16 Does GOD'S WORD teach that Jesus, who was given all authority, commanded baptism?
"And Jesus came to them and spake unto them, saying, All authority hath been given unto me in heaven and on earth. Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." Matt. 28:18-19
Q.17 Does GOD'S WORD teach that the apostles of Jesus commanded men to be baptized?
"And he (Peter) commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ." Acts 10:48
Q.18 Does GOD'S WORD teach that we reject the counsel of God when we refuse to have ourselves baptized?
"But the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected for themselves the counsel of God, being not baptized of him." Luke 7:30
Q.19 Does GOD'S WORD teach that baptism is the answer of a good conscience toward God?
"The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ." I Pet. 3:21 AV
Q.20 Does GOD'S WORD teach that baptism is the washing by which the Spirit regenerates and renews the repentant believer?
"Not by works done in righteousness, which we did ourselves, but according to his mercy he saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit..." Titus 3:5
"Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except one be born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." John 3:5
Requirements of GOD'S WORD
BaptismImmersionSprinkling
Water - Acts 8:36YesYes
Much water - John 3:23YesNo
A going into the water - Acts 8:36YesNo
A going down into the water - Acts 8:38YesNo
Both the baptizer and the one to be baptized
going down into the water - Acts 8:38-39
YesNo
A burial - Rom. 6:4YesNo
A planting - Rom. 6:4 AVYesNo
A resurrection - Col. 2:12YesNo
A birth - John 3:5-7YesNo
Body washed - Heb. 10:22YesNo
A coming up out of the water - Matt. 3:16, Acts 8:39YesNo
Q. Does GOD'S WORD teach that believing and repenting are always to preceed baptism?
"And he (Jesus) said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to the whole creation. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that disbelieveth shall be condemned." Mark 16:15-16
"And Peter said unto them, Repent ye, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins; and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." Acts 2:38
"But when they (the Samaritans) believed Philip preaching good tidings ... they were baptized..." Acts 8:12
"And as they went on the way, they came unto a certain water; and the eunuch saith, Behold, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? (And Philip said, If thou believest with all thy heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.) And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they both went down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him." Acts 8:36-38
"And he (the jailor) called for lights and sprang in, and, trembling for fear, fell down before Paul and Silas, and brought them out and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus, and thou shalt be saved, thou and thy house. And they spake the word of the Lord unto him, with all that were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, immediately. And he brought them up into his house, and set food before them, and rejoiced greatly, with all his house, having believed in God." Acts 16:29-34
Q. Where in GOD'S WORD do we find one example of a person who was baptized before he believed and repented?
Q. Does GOD'S WORD teach that households heard the WORD, believed, were baptized, and rejoiced because they were saved?
"And brought them out and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus, and thou shalt be saved, thou and thy house. And they spake the word of the Lord unto him, with all that were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, immediately. And he brought them up into his house, and set food before them, and rejoiced greatly, with all his house, having believed in God." Acts 16:30-34
"And Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed in the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized." Acts 18:8
Q. Since babies today cannot hear, believe, and rejoice, what proof do we have from GOD'S WORD that the babies in Philippi and Corinth could hear, believe, and rejoice?
* * *
"And having found the disciples, we tarried there (at Tyre) seven days ... And when it came to pass that we had accomplished the days, we departed and went on our journey; and they all, with wives and children, brought us on our way till we were out of the city..." Acts 21:4-5
"They therefore that were scattered abroad, went about preaching the word. And Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and proclaimed unto them the Christ. And the multitudes gave heed with one accord unto the things that were spoken by Philip, when they heard, and saw the signs which he did ... But when they believed Philip preaching good tidings concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women." Acts 8:4-6, 12
Q. Why did Luke the inspired writer mention "children" at such an unimportant event as when the Christians at Tyre brought Paul on his way, but did not mention "children" when the people in the city of Samaria heard the gospel, believed and were baptized?
Q. If small children were baptized in Samaria, why did he not refer to them with the "men and women" in Acts 8:12?
Q. According to GOD'S WORD, who only are those added to the Lord?
"And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women..." Acts 5:14
* * *
Q. Since Matt. 28:18 teaches that Jesus has all authority in heaven and on earth, where in GOD'S WORD do we find His command to us to sprinkle babies?
Q. From GOD'S WORD, can you give the names of some apostles and others who sprinkled babies?
Q. From GOD'S WORD, can you give the names of some babies who were sprinkled?
Q. Where in GOD'S WORD is baptism ever called a "sign and seal"?
* * *
Q. According to GOD'S WORD, how many baptisms do we have in this present gospel age?
"There is... one baptism." Eph 4:4-5
* * *
"Learn not to go beyond the things which are written." I Cor. 4:6
"Whosoever goeth onward and abideth not in the teaching of Christ, hath not God: he that abideth in the teaching, the same hath both the Father and the Son." II John 9
"Jesus... said
He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my sayings, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I spake, the same shall judge him in the last day." John 12:44, 48

Published in The Old Paths Archive
(http://www.oldpaths.com)

Are we thinking small enough? by Gary Rose



I find this fascinating. Imagine, being able to view every aspect of the the world around you at a glance. To see everything, to know how everything fits together and understand the complexities of your world at a glance. Take this just a bit farther and try to see yourself in this microcosm. How do you fit in it? More importantly, how should you fit in it? In the Scriptures, someone came to Jesus, looking to simplify his understanding of pleasing God and fitting in.

Mark puts it this way…


Mark 12 ( World English Bible )
  28  One of the scribes came, and heard them questioning together. Knowing that he had answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the greatest of all?”

  29  Jesus answered, The greatest is, ‘Hear, Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one:   30  you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’  This is the first commandment.   31  The second is like this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’  There is no other commandment greater than these.” 

  32  The scribe said to him, “Truly, teacher, you have said well that he is one, and there is none other but he,  33 and to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbor as himself, is more important than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” 

  34  When Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, You are not far from the Kingdom of God.” 


Why did the “commandment” question in the first place? The obvious answer would be to please God, but perhaps to obey God might be a bit more accurate. After all, obeying God’s laws was paramount for the Jews. But to look for a centralization of obedience in the form of a condensation?

Jesus responds with a dual answer of God; God first, others second. Fortunately, the Scribe understands. Ritual is subordinate to obedience and obedience is motivated by love. Truly love and you will truly obey.

Are we thinking small enough yet?