Notes from November 30, 2008

Here are the notes from this morning's study. Have a great week.

Study Notes and Questions for November 30, 2008

1. We will cover what we believe the Church is
   
2. We will cover what we base our belief on
   
3. We will cover what we do based on this belief
   

Why do you come to Church here?


What we believe the Church is:
Headed by Christ
Fellowship
Building Each other Up
United
Evangelistic
Devoted to God’s Purpose
All are priests
Church is married to Christ / One with Christ
Disciplined to pure doctrine
Provides service to the community

What do we base this belief on?
Headed by Christ – Gal 3:28 and Ephesians 5:23-24
Fellowship – Luke 22:19 and Acts 12:5
Building Each other Up – Ephesians 4:12 and Galatians 6:10
United as One Body – 1 Cor 12:12 and 12:25-26
Evangelistic – Matthew 28:19-20 and Acts 1:8
All are priests – 1 Peter 2:5
Church is married to Christ / One with Christ – 2 Cor 11:2 and Ephesians 5:25-27
Disciplined to pure doctrine / Accountability – 1 Cor 5:7
Provide service – Acts 10:38
Joined together by God – Eph 1:22-23

Based on this – who should NOT be accepted into the CHURCH? What would you base your answer on?

In a prior class we described Christian Fellowship as the ‘gathering together to glorify God’ – our purpose is to Glorify Him.

What should we DO based on this?


One Body – Headed by Christ -
Read Ephesians 5:30 – Why does Christ care about the Church?

The reason why Christ cares for the church is made clear in verse 30. It is because Christians are living parts of His body. In Ephesians 4:25 (remember the start of last Sunday’s lesson) Paul has dealt with the relationship of the member to one another individually. Here he is concerned with their relationship as a whole. Earlier in the letter he has spoken about the church as a body whose head is Christ (1:22, 23; 4:12; 16). Here he stresses the closeness of the Christian’s communion with Christ as a part (mele) of Himself, just as the branches are part of the vine.

Do we see our church family as part of our own body?

Do we let our hand on our own body wither or do we take care of it?

How should we take care of our own body (our family and especially our spouse)? - What SPECIFIC things can you site about how you ensure the love for your family helps the family live?

Read Genesis 2:24

Paul introduces the verse from Genesis at this point to substantiate his argument from Scripture, as did Jesus himself. It had already been shaping his thought in this section.

“For this reason” (anti toutou) is not a preface to the quotation but part of it. When Adam recognized that Eve was part of himself (“bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh” Gen 2:23), Genesis 24 adds: “Therefore a man leaves his father and mother and cleaves to his wife and they become one flesh”. The marriage tie takes precedence over every other human relationship and for this reason is to be regarded as inviolable. Nevertheless, what is basically a divine ordinance is graciously designed for mutual satisfaction and delight. “United” means closely joined (proskollesthesetai, literally, “will be glued”). It is because of this exalted biblical view of marital relations that the church has taken its stand on the indissolubility of the marital bond.

Why is it important that Christ would be the head of the church?

What would happen if Christ was not the head of the church? Who or where would we look for guidance – (systems of church government have been stood up as we look elsewhere for guidance)?

References for 'The Church'

Here is an excerpt from the Baptist Faith and Message - Doctinal information from the Southern Baptist Convention. The great part here is the bible references used.

References for Ordinances and Sunday Worship

Here is an excerpt from the Baptist Faith and Message - Doctinal information from the Southern Baptist Convention. The great part here is the bible references used. I will post one on 'the church' in the next few minutes.

Notes for December 7, 2008

The last chapter of Paul Little's book - Chapter 10 - includes discussion on 'Things to Come'. Certainly prophecy in the bible has been shown to be accurate as we look back on these. That said, it is also true that most all of those involved in the prophecy at the time it was being given had no idea what it meant (Ref Isa or Daniel). Even more interesting is that they didn't know when it was going to happen. As we discussed two weeks ago, the angels don't even know when things will happen and instead of wrestling with that, consistently follow and look to God.

All of the above said, our last study in the book should raise interesting and important questions about what is to come. I am sure that as we look back (when we are in heaven) on what did occur we will more fully see what God was telling us in the bible about what is to come for us. I do encourage you to concentrate on the section 'what is certain' in the book as it is a fundamental teaching important to both those that have been saved and those that have not. The remainder of the book gives great and concise information about what we believe and scholars think with regard to end times. I also know that the great mysteries of God and His prophecies (not ours!) have been thought to be understood in the past and have shown to be His timing and His meaning, not ours.

It will be a great overlay to begin the book of Daniel at the end of this book and right before we celebrate the one and only gift of God incarnate. At the end of Daniel the prophetic information will certainly lead us into continued discussion around our future and the glory of Jesus Christ.

Only one question of the week for this chapter - Do YOU desire to depart and be together with Christ? Phil 1:23?

What is the purpose of the Church

To continue our discussion on November 30, 2008 -

From Gotquestions.org

Question: "What is the purpose of the church?"

Answer: Acts 2:42 could be considered a purpose statement for the church, “They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” So, according to this Scripture, the purposes / activities of the church should be: (1) teaching Biblical doctrine, (2) providing a place of fellowship for believers, (3) observing the Lord’s supper, and (4) praying.The church is to teach Biblical doctrine so we can be grounded in our faith. Ephesians 4:14 tells us, “Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming.” The church is to be a place of fellowship, where Christians can be devoted to one another and honor one another (Romans 12:10), instruct one another (Romans 15:14), be kind and compassionate to one another (Ephesians 4:32), encourage one another (1 Thessalonians 5:11), and most importantly love one another (1 John 3:11).The church is to be a place where believers can observe the Lord’s supper, remembering Christ’s death and shed blood on our behalf (1 Corinthians 11:23-26). The concept of “breaking bread” (Acts 2:42) also carries the idea of having meals together. This is another example of the church promoting fellowship. The final purpose of the church according to Acts 2:42 is prayer. The church is to be a place that promotes prayer, teaches prayer, and practices prayer. Philippians 4:6-7 encourages us, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”Another “commission” given to the church is proclaiming the Gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ (Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 1:8). The church is called to be faithful in sharing the Gospel through word and deed. The church is to be a “lighthouse” in the community – pointing people towards our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The church is to both promote the Gospel and prepare its members to proclaim the Gospel (1 Peter 3:15).Some final purposes of the church are given in James 1:27, “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” The church is to be about the business of ministering to those who are in need. This includes not only sharing the Gospel, but also providing for physical needs (food, clothing, shelter) as necessary and appropriate. The church is also to equip believers in Christ with the tools they need to overcome sin and remain free from the pollution of the world. This is done by the principles given above – Biblical teaching and Christian fellowship.So, with all that said, what is the purpose of the church? I like the illustration in 1 Corinthians 12:12-27. The church is God’s “body” – we are His hands, mouth, and feet in this world. We are to be doing the things that Jesus Christ would do if He were here physically on the earth. The church is to be “Christian” – “Christ-like” and Christ-following.

References from November 2, 2008

References from November 2, 2008 – Are you alone in your sin?

Sin?
Psalm 51:5 – David – we are born in sin
Rom 3:23 – All have sinned
Rom 6:20-23 – Are we slave to sin
James 2:10 – If we are guilty of one sin we are guilty of all
James 4:1 – this comes from the inside
Matt 12:33-37 – What comes out of you?

So you have sin…
1 John 1:8 – If you say you have no sin you lie
1 John 1:5 – God can have NO sin / darkness
Luke 16:19-31 – Rich Man did not argue that he sinned and would be separated for eternity

Where do we go then?
1 John 1:9 – He saves from ALL unrighteousness
John 15:5 – Only with Christ can you do anything
Phil 4:8-9 – What should you think and dwell on and who to follow?
Eph 1:7 – Redemption is only through Christ (match to 1 John 1:5 separation)

What do we do?
1 Pet 3:18 – No action by you
1 Pet 1:14-16 – By holy – really? Can you? No
Eph 3:20 - Trust in the Lord
Psalm 119:9-16 – Commit to His Word to your heart and mind
Eph 3:16 – Pray – He alone can save you
Eph 3:20 – Trust

References - October 26, 2008 - God's Holiness and Wrath go perfectly together with His Love in Jesus Christ

References from class on October 26, 2008

A few had requested that I put out the scripture references from today's lesson. Here the are:

We referred to 2 Corinthians 5 vs 11 to the end of the chapter. Verse 15, 17, 20, and 21 emphasized.

He is Intentional and provided proof of him being intentional:

Luke 24:25-26
Mark 10:45
Rom 5:8
John 10:30
Please reference the book as well, multiple scripture references are there


He ALONE is redemptive

2 Cor 5:17, 21
Rom 8:1
Heb 9:26
Matt 26:56 - even the disciples fled
Rom 3:25
Heb 2:17
1 John 2:2
1 John 4:10
1 John 5:13
Heb 9:26
Then reference the book and the below from www. gotquestions.org:

He is the only, unique Son of God (Psalm 2:7, 11-12; John 1:14; Luke 1:35).2. He is eternal. He existed from eternity past, He exists in the present, and He will exist for all eternity in the future (John 1:1-3, 14; John 8:58).3. Jesus alone is the One who bore our sins so that we could have forgiveness and be saved from them (Isaiah 53; Matthew 1:21; John 1:29; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 Corinthians 15:1-3).4. Jesus is the only Way to the Father (John 14:6; Acts 4:12; 1 Timothy 2:5); there is no other way to salvation. He is the only righteous One who exchanged that perfect righteousness for our sin (2 Corinthians 5:21).5. Jesus alone had power over His own death and the ability take back His life again (John 2:19; 10:17-18). Note: His resurrection was not a “spiritual” one, but was physical (Luke 24:39). His resurrection from the dead, never to die again, distinguished Him as the unique Son of God (Romans 1:4).6. Jesus alone accepted worship as an equal with the Father (John 20:28-29; Philippians 2:6), and indeed God the Father states that the Son is to be honored as He is honored (John 5:23). All others, whether Jesus’ disciples or angelic beings, rightly reject that worship (Acts 10:25-26; Acts 14:14-15; Matthew 4:10; Revelation 19:10; 22:9).7. Jesus has the power to give life to whom He will (John 5:21).8. The Father has committed all judgment to Jesus (John 5:22).9. Jesus was with the Father and directly involved in the creation, and it is by His hand that all things are held together (John 1:1-3; Ephesians 3:9; Hebrews 1:8-10; Colossians 1:17).10. It is Jesus who will rule the world at the end of this present age (Hebrews 1:8; Isaiah 9:6-7; Daniel 2:35, 44; Revelation 19:11-16).11. Jesus alone was born of a virgin, conceived by the Holy Spirit (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:20-23; Luke 1:30-35).12. It is Jesus who demonstrated that He had the attributes of God [e.g., the power to forgive sins and heal the sick (Matthew 9:1-7); to calm the wind and waves (Mark 4:37-41; Psalm 89:8-9); to know us, being perfectly acquainted with us (Psalm 139; John 1:46-50; 2:23-25), to raise the dead (John 11; Luke 7:12-15; 8:41-55), etc.]13. There are a great number of prophecies concerning the Messiah’s birth, life, resurrection, person, and purpose. All were fulfilled by Him and no other (Isaiah 7:14; Micah 5:2; Psalm 22; Zechariah 11:12-13; 13:7; Isaiah 9:6-7; Isaiah 53; Psalm 16:10).

He will Renew you both now and forever

2 Cor 5:15, 17, 20
John 10:10
2 Cor 6:2
Prov 26:11 and 2 Pet 2:22 bring us to the realization - we should not return to our own vomit as dogs do and our sin
Rom 6:13-25 remind us we cannot be overtaken by our sin when we look to the Redeemer

And more from the book and from gotquestions.org:

The punishment for sin is deathGod created earth and man perfectly. But when Adam and Eve disobeyed God’s command, He had to punish them. A judge who pardons law-breakers isn’t a good judge. Likewise, overlooking sin would make the holy God unjust. Death in hell is Allah’s just consequence for sin. “For the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). Even good works cannot make up for wrongs against the holy God. Compared to His goodness, “All our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment” (Isaiah 64:6b). Ever since Adam’s sin, every human has been guilty of disobeying God’s righteous laws. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Sin is not just big things like murder or blasphemy but also includes lying, lusting, and stealing. Even the love of money or hatred of enemies is sin. Because of sin, everyone deserves death – eternal separation from God in hell. The promise required an innocent deathAlthough God banished Adam and Eve from the garden, He didn’t leave them without hope of paradise. He promised to send a sinless Sacrifice to take the punishment they deserved (Genesis 3:15). Until then, men would sacrifice innocent lambs as a substitute for their punishment. Sacrificing an animal showed men’s acknowledgement that their sin required death, repentance from that sin, and faith in the future Sacrifice from God who would bear their penalty. God reaffirmed His promise of the perfect Sacrifice with men such as Abraham (Ibrahim) and Moses (Musa). The prophets foretold Jesus’ deathFrom Adam to Isa, God sent prophets to mankind, warning them of sin’s punishment and foretelling the coming Savior. 700 years before the Savior was born, the prophet Isaiah described Him:
“Who has believed what they heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth. By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people? And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth. Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for sin, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors” (Isaiah 53:1-12).
The prophet compared the coming Sacrifice to a lamb, slaughtered for the sins of others. Centuries later, Isaiah’s prophecy was fulfilled in the perfect Lord Jesus, born of the virgin Mary. Jesus had no earthly father, for He was from God. When the prophet John the Baptist saw Him, he cried, "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29). God sacrificed Jesus for sinBy sending Jesus to earth, God fulfilled His promise of a Savior from sin. Unlike us, Jesus never sinned. Thus, God sacrificed Jesus as our perfect Substitute. He took the punishment we deserve for sin: death. “God made Him [Jesus], who knew no sin, to be sin for us that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:21). Thus, Jesus was more than a Prophet. God made Him Savior and Lord! (See Philippians 2:6-11.) During His life, crowds thronged Him for healing and teaching, but the religious leaders scorned Him. At God’s appointed time, He delivered Jesus to be sacrificed for sin. Mobs cried out, “Crucify Him!” Soldiers beat, mocked, and crucified Him. As Isaiah foretold, Jesus was crucified in between two criminals and was buried in a rich man’s tomb. But He didn’t remain in the grave. Because God accepted His sacrifice, He fulfilled another prophecy by raising Jesus from the dead (Psalm 16:10; Isaiah 26:19). Why did Isa/Jesus have to die? Jesus had to die because we cannot reach paradise on our own merit. Remember, the holy God cannot let sin go unpunished. If we bore our own sins, we would suffer judgment in the flames of hell. Praise God, He kept His promise to send and sacrifice the Substitute who bore the sins of those who trust in Him. The Injeel (Gospel) says, “For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified [made righteous/good] by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. For if while 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. And not only this, but we also exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation [restored relationship]. “Therefore, just as through one man [Adam] sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned. . . . So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men. For as through the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous. The Law came in so that the transgression would increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, even so grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 5:6-12; 18-21). Therefore, Jesus had to die to provide the only way to paradise. If you believe Jesus died and resurrected to save you, turn from your own ways and trust Jesus alone! Follow Him as your beloved Master, for He will strengthen you through His Word, the Bible.