STUDIES FROM BRETHREN IN CHRIST

SERMON MENU SELECTIONS

8/10/2013 ~ Simplicity of the Gospel


The Great Commission
PREACH THE GOSPEL

... "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature."
~ Mark 16:15

The Bible has one theme, the salvation of the soul.
With the knowledge of the gospel, each of us is commanded
to share this message of God’s salvation brought to man.

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power
of God to salvation for everyone who believes, ... ~ Romans 1:16

A Glorious Word housing no shame.
GOSPEL
OF CHRIST
   → GOD's POWER  → SALVATION

The Gospel - It reveals the power of God.
● It speaks to the individual.

... do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord
Jesus Christ. These shall be punished with everlasting destruction
from the presence of the Lord ... ~ 2nd Thessalonians 1:7-9

The Gospel must be obeyed if one seeks eternal salvation.

I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you
in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, ... ~ Galatians 1:6-12

All Christians are warned not to turn to "different gospels".
⭧                                                                     
"Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, ..." ~ Acts 20:28

How can we begin to understand the sure truth of God?

For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, ...
~ Romans 15:4

Now all these things happened to them as examples,
and they were written for our admonition, ... ~ 1st Corinthians 10:11

Any slight variation in the word is a Different Gospel.

... you must continue in the things which you have learned ...
~ 2nd Timothy 3:14-15

God’s fishing rod
OLD
LAW 		 →  TEACHER  →  TO BRING US
TO CHRIST 		 →  JUSTIFIED
BY FAITH

Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ,
that we might be justified by faith. ~ Galatians 3:24

Christ has always been God’s redeeming force.

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. ~ Hebrews 13:8

... He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should
be holy and without blame before Him in love, ... ~ Ephesians 1:3-6

Psalms 90:2

B
E
F
O
R
E

T
I
M
E
 BEFORE TIME
2nd Timothy 1:8-11
      ... TIME ...
Psalms 104:19
LIFE ON
EARTH
Genesis 8:22

~ AND SPACE ~
Amos 5:8
 		     
Prov.8:25-26

B
E
F
O
R
E

T
I
M
E
 HOLY
Ep.1:3-6
 		   CHRIST WAS   
John 1:2-3
 		PROMISED
Titus 1:2-3  
Omnipresent(here) + Omnipotent(commands) + Omniscient(knowing) = He Is

The eternal plan is for free willed creatures to unconditionally love God.
~ FREE WILL ~
 It is about regarding God as Holy.

... all His work is done in truth. He loves righteousness and justice; ...
~ Psalms 33:4-5

God’s holiness is demonstrated in His
justice and love toward His creation.

JUSTICE
  
LOVE
A Steadfast Universe

'And you shall be holy to Me, for I the LORD am holy, ...' ~ Leviticus 20:26

God demands moral uprightness
in His creatures because He is Holy.
\   |   /
 → He desires a relationship;
a spiritual fellowship with a Holy God.

 God abhors all things that are wrong.

You are of purer eyes than to behold evil, And cannot look on wickedness. ...
~ Habakkuk 1:13

It is sin that separates us from God.

But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins
have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear. ~ Isaiah 59:2

SPIRITUAL DEATH = SEPARATION FROM GOD

... dead in trespasses and sins, ...
~ Ephesians 2:1

SIN ↔ DEATH

... for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, ... ~ Romans 3:23

If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar,
and His word is not in us. ~ 1st John 1:10

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God
is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. ~ Romans 6:23

WAGES OF SIN = DEATH
  GIFT OF GOD = ETERNAL LIFE IN CHRIST

"... For dust you are, And to dust you shall return." ~ Genesis 3:19

The CONSEQUENCES of Sin
The PRICE for Sin
DEATH ⭧
⭨ 		SPIRITUAL
              →
MORTAL


LIFE

... without shedding of blood there is no remission. ~ Hebrews 9:22

The judgment of God is that every sinner must die.
~ Life is required for payment for sin.

SINNER = BREAKER OF GOD'S LAW

... no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is knowledge of sin.
~ Romans 3:20

God’ Love provides a way to pay the price.

GRACE
MERCY
BLOOD

... by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, ...
~ Romans 3:23-26

... justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. ...
~ Romans 5:6-11

A fiery indignation awaits all unrighteousness.

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness
and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth ... ~ Romans 1:18

● All sinners are deserving of shocking death.

... God who shows mercy. ~ Romans 9:15-16

Amazingly, the life, death, and resurrection of JESUS CHRIST
reconciles us with our merciful Holy God.

LIFE IS IN THE BLOOD

This mercy is defined through the Blood.
* A sinner must acquire atonement to regain Holiness.
God made provisions for atonement exposed in the Old Testament.

... that you may be clean from all your sins ... ~ Leviticus 16:30

SANCTIFICATION → RECONCILIATION

'... life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon
the alter to make atonement for your souls; ...' ~ Leviticus 17:11

... without shedding of blood there is no remission. ~ Hebrews 9:22
⭧                                  
Openly, blood is required for remission of sins.
At some point, animal sacrifice began as an atonement for sin.
Faith is part of sacrifice, which is a two way street.

FAITH ↔ BELIEF

... without faith it is impossible to please Him, ... ~ Hebrews 11:6

God has made it clear that action is part of faith.
Belief that sacrfice sanctifies has been established.
Sacrifice may have started during Adam and Eve’s fall,
and then passed on to succeeding generations as required.

... And the Lord respected Abel and his offering, but He did not respect
Cain and his offering. ... ~ Genesis 4:3-5

... deliver us, and provide atonement for our sins ... ~ Psalm 79:9

Shadow of things to come
       Animal Sacrifice    
  GOD        
        ←    SINS    ←                 ↕      
↓             ↑    
 JUSTICE     INNOCENT  
SACRIFICE
(Lamb)		    LIFE →  
(FOR SIN)  		   SINNER  
(Guilty)		   (RECONCILED)
(JUSTIFIED)
  SANCTIFIED  		   MERCY 
  →  
 
  ↓   ↑  
→    REPRESENTATIVE DEATH    →
 

In mercy and truth Atonement is provided for iniquity;
And by the fear of the LORD one departs from evil. ~ Proverbs 16:6

... in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. ...
~ Hebrews 10:1-9

Instructions were given to be obeyed.

Payment
BLOOD REPRESENTS →   LIFE
INNOCENT LIFE  ATONES FOR →   SINNER
INNOCENT LIFE   REPRESENTS →   GUILTY LIFE

It was by faith that animal sacrifice worked.

So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
~ Romans 10:17

By Faith ...
Abel OFFERED
Noah PREPARED
Abraham OBEYED
Abraham LIVED
Sarah CONCEIVED
Abraham OFFERED
Isaac BLESSED
Israelites PASSED THROUGH
Walls of Jericho ENCIRCLED

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for; the evidence of things not
seen. For by it the elders obtained a good testimony. ~ Hebrews 11:1-2

Genuine FAITH requires Belief-based ACTION

TRUE FAITH = REAL ACTION

On the pivot of faith, extremes can blur sensibility.

Saving Faith
 
      WORKS
ALONE
   (Obedience)   
 		  BELIEF
ALONE
       (HEART)      
 		     
  ────────────┬────────────
▲
"Balanced Faith"
James 2:14-26
 
   

... if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him?
~ James 2:14

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. ...
~ James 1:22-25

You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.
~ James 2:24

... Even the demons believe -- and tremble! ... ~ James 2:14-26

The Old Testament was our teacher to understand God's Plan.

... the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ,
that we might be justified by faith. ~ Galatians 3:24

SIN
 
 
HOLINESS
 
SACRIFICE
 
   
 
FAITH
 
GRACE
 
 
JUSTICE
 
ATONEMENT
 
REDEMPTION
TEACHER
(Galatians 3:24)		        
MERCY
       
 

RECONCILIATION
   
BLOOD
   
   
 
SANCTIFICATION
 
   
 
REPRESENTATIVE DEATH


Christ came to earth to offer the cup of His life.

... "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" ~ John 1:29

The sacrifice of Jesus was no accidental death.

... we have been sanctified through the offering of the body
of Jesus Christ once for all. ~ Hebrews 10:10

"... the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve,
and to give His life a ransom for many." ~ Matthew 20:28

He was as pure as an innocent lamb.

And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins,
and in Him there is no sin. ~ 1st John 3:5

It is Jesus that removes our sins.

... without shedding of blood there is no remission. ~ Hebrews 9:22
⭧                                  
"For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many
for the remission of sins." ~ Matthew 26:28

750 years before Christ, Isaiah wrote of Him.
That He would take our punishment as our sin offering.

... And He bore the sin of many, And made intercession for the transgressors.
~ Isaiah 53:4-12

God's Service to man
       Christ's Sacrifice    
  GOD        
        ←    SINS    ←                 ↕      
↓             ↑    
Heb.7:26-27
  JUSTICE  
 Heb.9:11-14
 		  INNOCENT  
SACRIFICE
(Lamb of God)		    LIFE →  
(FOR SIN)  		   SINNER  
(Guilty)		   (RECONCILED)
(JUSTIFIED)
  SANCTIFIED  		   MERCY 
  →  
 
  ↓   ↑  
→    REPRESENTATIVE DEATH    →
  Proverbs 21:3 James 2:13  
God opens our eyes to see His Love

... who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, ... ~ 1st Peter 2:24

... redeemed ... with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb
without blemish and without spot. ~ 1st Peter 1:18-19

"... I did not come to destroy but to fulfill." ~ Matthew 5:17

... He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, ... ~ 2nd Corinthians 5:21

... so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. ~ Hebrews 9:28

... that the body of sin might be done away with,
that we should no longer be slaves of sin. ~ Romans 6:6

... in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy,
and blameless, and above reproach in His sight -- ~ Colossians 1:22

The Death & Burial & Resurection of Christ
(1st Corinthians 15:1-8)
       (1st Peter 2:24)   APPEARANCES
  
    †   DEATH  
  
R
E
S
U
R
E
C
T
I
O
N

 ↑ 
              LIFE             
  
  (Ephesians 2:15-16)


 ↓ 



    (Revelation 1:18)



   (Matthew 12:40)




               (Romans 6:10)



   (Romans 1:4)
                             BURIAL
   (1st Corinthians 15:4)    
A main goal is Love of God over the hatred of man.

... Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was
buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures,
... ~ 1st Corinthians 15:1-8

... declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit
of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead. ~ Romans 1:4

For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all;
but the life that He lives, He lives to God. ~ Romans 6:10

... He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross,
thereby putting to death the enmity. ~ Ephesians 2:15-16

Christ’s death reresents the death of a believer.
Our sins will not be forgiven unless we allow Jesus to be our savior

Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin,
but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. ~ Romans 6:11

CONDITIONS MUST BE MET:
    ● Die with Him – To Live with Him
     ● Crucified with Him
     ● Dead to Sin – Alive to God in Christ

This is a faithful saying: For if we died with Him,
We shall also live with Him. ~ 2nd Timothy 2:11

I have been crucified with Christ; ... ~ Galatians 2:20

... For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus:
that if One died for all, then all died; ... ~ 2nd Corinthians 5:14

HIS DEATH PAYS THE PRICE FOR ALL

WHEN are these conditions met to be in this salvation plan of Christ?
~ Defining faith is a most spiritual introspection.

When do I die to sin?
When do I die with Christ?
When does God view me in Christ?

We can not rely on ourselves for these most crucial answers.
We must look to the Bible for what God declares His truth is.

... Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not!
How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? ~ Romans 6:1-2

Romans 6:1-2 speaks of being dead to sin as in past tense.

Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized
into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? ~ Romans 6:3

Or do you not know ...?
Baptized into Christ Jesus = Baptized into His DEATH

... we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as
Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so
we also should walk in newness of life. ~ Romans 6:4

Buried with Him
through Baptism
into DEATH
=
We also should
walk in newness
of LIFE
=
NEW BIRTH
 NEW CREATION

Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of
water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God." ~ John 3:5

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed
away; behold, all things have become new. ~ 2nd Corinthians 5:17

God calls for us to come to Him
Entering into Christ’s Eternal Plan
(Romans 6:1-23)
       (Galatians 2:20)   Ephesians 5:1-2
  
    †   DEATH  
  
R
E
S
U
R
E
C
T
I
O
N

 ↑ 
    LIFE   2nd Cor. 5:17  
  (Romans 5:10)


INTO
DEATH
↓



 ↓ 



           (Titus 3:7)  





   (Hebrews 10:14)  
   (Hebrews 10:10)  



   (Romans 6:4)   		              (Ephesians 2:1)
              (Colossians 2:13)

(Romans 5:11)    
(Romans 6:5)    
↑
NEW
LIFE

          Romans 6:8
        Colossians 1:23
                               John 3:5   BURIAL
   (1st Corinthians 6:11 )    

... For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life
in Christ Jesus our Lord. ~ Romans 6:1-23

And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, ...
~ Ephesians 2:1

... He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses,
... ~ Colossians 2:13

... But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in
the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God. ~ 1st Cor. 6:11

For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly
we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, ... ~ Romans 6:5

Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, ...
~ Romans 6:8

For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death
of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.
~ Romans 5:10

... Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.
~ Romans 5:11

... that having been justified by His grace we should become
heirs according to the hope of eternal life. ~ Titus 3:7

For by one offering He has perfected forever
those who are being sanctified. ~ Hebrews 10:14

... be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ
also has loved us and given Himself for us, ... ~ Ephesians 5:1-2

GOSPEL  = 
 DEATH, BURIAL, & RESURECTION

In example: when was the apostle Paul saved?

"... 'What shall I do, Lord?' And the Lord said to me,
'Arise and go into Damascus, ...' " ~ Acts 22:10
                         ● Believed ("What shall I do, …")
                         ● Confessed ("What shall I do, Lord?")
... being led by the hand of those who were with me, I came into Damascus.
~ Acts 22:11
                         ● Obeyed ("... go into Damascus")
... he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank. ~ Acts 9:8-9
                         ● Fasted (neither ate nor drank)
"... Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying." ~ Acts 9:11
                         ● Prayed (for he is praying)
" '... receive your sight.' And at that same hour I looked up at him."
~ Acts 22:12-13
                         ● Repentance and a miraculous healing ("I looked up")

                       ↓ Commanded ↓
'And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away
your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.' ~ Acts 22:16
↑                                                                          
Clearly, sins are retained until through baptism they are released.
Not only does it follow Old Testament patterns, Jesus proclaims it.

... "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven
them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained." ~ John 20:22-23

When was the apostle Paul saved?
  ENCOUNTERED JESUS?  X 
  BELIEVED?  X 
  CONFESSED? X
  OBEYED? X
  FASTED, SACRIFICED? X
  PRAYED? X
  REPENTANCE? X
  MIRACULOUS HEALING?   X
  BAPTIZED √

"Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.
He who believes and is baptized will be saved; ..." ~ Mark 16:15-16

"... make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the
Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all
things that I have commanded you;" ~ Matthew 28:19-20

INACTION ≠ ACTION

God used the Apostles through Jesus Christ to establish His church.

"... the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you
all things, and bring to your remembrance all things ..." ~ John 14:25-26

... when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; ...
~ John 16:12-13

... to do and teach, until the day in which He was taken up, after He through
the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles ... ~ Acts 1:1-2

... be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets,
and of the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord ... ~ 2nd Peter 3:2

The Apostles were given God inspired instructions by Jesus Himself
and the Power of the Holy Spirit; that we may know the will of God.

 The ageless fulfillment of God’s salvation plan for all of mankind
is found in the crosshairs of His sacrificial death upon the cross.


  C  
R
E
A
T
I
O
N
   OLD TESTAMENT PERIOD   ┬

 ↕
†

 ↕

┴		   NEW TESTAMENT PERIOD     J  
U
D
G
M
E
N
T


PATRIARCHAL →
          
MOSAIC →
CHRISTIAN →
←           ←           ←       →           →           →

If God so gave His life for ours, we ought to give our life to Him.

... the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that
we might be justified by faith. ~ Galatians 3:22-27

If you want to die with Christ that you may have eternal life,
one must follow the Word of God to inherit this blessing.
→ Justified through faith in His called for way.

... by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of
Christ, buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him
through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.
~ Colossians 2:1-12

BAPTISM
Working of God

There is also an antitype which now saves us - baptism (not the removal of
the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God),
through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, ... ~ 1st Peter 3:21

Plainly, infant baptisms are invalid as conscience is required.

Personal Note:
I was baptized as an infant and have no memory of this event.
I did not know the pastor that certified my official certificate.
I was raised told of my baptism but not of my conscious choice.
Commitment of faith is made by the individual, never by another.


Christ’s church is sanctified by the
washing of water by the word.

... Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her that He might
sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, ...
~ Ephesians 5:25-27

 1. ● one body
 2. ● one Spirit
 3. ● one hope
 4. ● one Lord
 5. ● one faith
 6. ● one baptism
 7. ● one God and Father of all  

Historically, immersion baptism has not been disputed,
until the introduction of the multiple methods of recent times.
This Biblical list declares unequivocally one baptism and
not the many whimsical constructions devised by man.

... one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your
calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, ...
~ Ephesians 4:3-6

A most personal question for each is what does one need to do.
~ To be in unity with God’s Spirit.

... and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles,
"Men and brethren what shall we do?" ~ Acts 2:36-37

The answer is clear.

... "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name
of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; ... ~ Acts 2:38

... What hinders me from being baptized?" Then Philip said,
"If you believe with all your heart, you may." ... ~ Acts 8:35-39

Preaching God’s Word is His underlining choice.

... believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God
... name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized. ~ Acts 8:5-13

... by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body
... all been made to drink into one Spirit. ~ 1st Corinthians 12:12-13

Though we are a diverse lot of people,
God calls for us to drink into one way; His way.

Would you not choose to enjoy
the blessing over inviting the damnation?
Ask, when does opinion change to belief?
~
Opinion is less than belief.
Belief is more than opinion.
Submission to God holds truth.

Fundamentals are not so hard to understand,
it is in their application that difficulty arises.
Trust in Him and He will reveal it.

I would like to give thanks to my extraordinary brother in Christ, Ken Craig.



 

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