And take…the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Ephesians 6:17

THE
SPIRIT’S
SWORD

Volume X, Number 44 September 02, 2007

Published by

Mt. Baker
church of Christ

Location:
1860 Mt. Baker HWY
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 30821
Bellingham, WA 98228
(360) 752-2692

Sunday:
Bible Classes..........9:30 AM
Worship..10:30AM; 6:00PM
Wednesday:
Bible Classes.........7:00 PM

Web sites:
Mt. Baker church
Bible Answers

Editor......Joe R. Price

Elders
Morris Bass
Rick Holt
Joe Price

Deacons
Aaron Bass
Rich Brooks
Mike Finn
John Hague
Dan Head

In this issue:

• Gospel Meeting Mt. Baker church of Christ, September 23-28, 2007

  The Days of Creation

  Sermon Outlines:

  • Emotions, not Emotionalism (Acts 26:9-11)
  • The Church of Christ (Matthew 16:13-19)

  Noteworthy News: Trial of Jesus on Trial

Gospel Meeting

Mt. Baker Church of Christ
Gospel Meeting

September 23-28, 2007

Evangelist
David Baker
(Mesa, Arizona)

Bible lessons Nightly Mon-Fri at 7:00 PM
Sunday: 9:30 & 10:30 AM; 6:00 PM

Preaching Jesus

-WHAT KIND OF PREACHING?
-Acts 2 – PETER’S SERMON ON PENTECOST
-Acts 8 – PHILIP’S SERMONS IN SAMARIA
-Acts 8 – PHILIP’S SERMON TO THE EUNUCH
-Acts 10 – THE CONVERSION OF CORNELIUS
-Acts 15 – PREACHING JESUS INVOLVES PREACHING TRUTH ON THE ISSUES
-Acts 24 – FELIX AND DRUSILLA
-REACTIONS TO PREACHING JESUS

(From I-5 take Exit # 255 and go East 4.2 miles)
For more information please call (360) 752-2692

The Days of Creation
Joe R. Price

The Genesis account of God’s creation of “the heavens and the earth” is divinely inspired. God’s power created all things, and his powerful word of inspiration faithfully records the event.

The things which are seen (the heavens and the earth) convince the discerning observer that they were not made out of things that are visible (Heb. 11:3). “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse...” (Rom. 1:20).

While the observable evidence in this universe shouts out the presence of the creative God who possesses all power, it is only through the revelation of His word that we are given accurate information about how God created the heavens and the earth. That revelation is given in Genesis 1.

The Bible says, “By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, and all the host of them by the breath of His mouth…For He spoke, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast” (Psa. 33:6, 9).

Many deny the Bible account of creation. They reject the evidence of God’s powerful existence and the Biblical record of His creative acts. These are “without excuse” and under divine wrath for their sins (Rom. 1:18-23).

The Genesis record of creation affirms that God created everything in six days, and then rested the seventh day.

Some Christians have suggested that “days” in Genesis 1 are not literally 24 hour days. Other Christians say that the “days” in which God spoke were 24 hours, but there were long periods of time (millions and millions of years) between each creative day. Both of these are false doctrines that deny the God-given account of creation.

1) Before there were six days of creation, there was God. “In the beginning, God…” (Gen. 1:1). God alone was present at creation. His word should be heard about the days of creation above any other voice.

2) There were six days of creation. No more, no less. God based Israel’s week of six work days followed by the Sabbath upon his six days of creation, after which “He rested on the seventh day” (Gen. 2:2). None can successfully redefine God definition of the days of creation.

3) Each day contained “the evening and the morning.” The Bible says each day of the week of creation was twenty-four hours in length.

4) After one day, “then” another day followed. There were not long periods of time between each day of creation. To assert that is to read into the text what is not there. What is there is plain: “So the evening and morning were the first day. Then God said…” (Gen. 1:5-6, emp. mine). Following the events of the first day, God immediately continued his creative work on the second day. There is no “gap” of time between Genesis 1, verses 5 and 6, just as there is no gap of time between verses 1 and 2. Such views are error, the false assumptions and assertions of men who rely upon “what is falsely called knowledge” instead of trusting the accuracy of God’s word (1 Tim. 6:20; Psa. 119:160).

5) The days of creation compel us to fear, worship and obey our Creator. “Let all the earth fear the Lord; Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him. For He spoke, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast.” (Psa. 33:8-9) “Let them praise the name of the Lord; for He commanded, and they were created.” (Psa. 148:5)

You can find the complete outline of this sermon at BIBLE ANSWERS

Emotions, not Emotionalism

Scripture Reading: Acts 26:9-11

1. Emotions express our convictions & attitudes, whether right or wrong.
2. Emotions can deceive, Acts 26:9-11.
3. Two extremes about emotions.
4. What is the role of emotions within the life of faith (2 Cor. 5:7)? How do legitimate emotions (in serving Christ) occur? How do we guard against emotionalism?

I. THE ROLE OF EMOTIONS IN THE CHRISTIAN’S LIFE.

A. Emotions do not Determine True Doctrine, 2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2:7.
B. Emotions do not Determine our Life of Faith, 2 Cor. 5:7; 10:3-6 (Matt. 7:21); Prov. 14:12; Jer. 10:23.
C. Worthy Emotions Grow out of Convictions that are Based Upon Revealed Truth.
1. cf. Godly sorrow, 2 Cor. 7:10 (Acts 2:37, 41-42; (Peter, Matt. 26:75; Lk. 22:31-32).
2. cf. Joy & gladness, Phil. 4:4 (Jno. 16:22-23, 33); Eph. 1:3 (Matt. 5:3-12); Phil. 4:5-7.
3. cf. Provoked & grieved over the sins of others, Mk. 3:5; Matt. 9:36-38.
D. Emotions are Good & Beneficial when Produced by a Truth-Based Conviction, Gen. 37:33-35; cf. Acts 8:39.

II. RULE OF EMOTIONS: EMOTIONALISM.

A. When Emotions Rule Us, the Authority of God’s Revealed Word Becomes Clouded and Minimized.
1. Areas of doctrine (Matt. 7:21-23).
2. Areas of worship (Jno. 4:23-24).
3. Areas of evangelism (Jno. 4).

Conclusion

1. Keep emotions in their proper place: the result of the power of truth in your life (Acts 8:39; 1 Cor. 9:25).
2. Obey the gospel; Walk by faith, not by sight (2 Cor. 5:7; 4:16-18).

You can find the complete outline of this sermon at BIBLE ANSWERS

The Church of Christ

Scripture Reading: Matthew 16:13-19

1. Jesus would build his church on the truth that he is the Christ, the Son of the living God (v. 16).
2. The Church of Christ is too often viewed as “just another denomination,” which it is not.

I. WHAT IS THE CHURCH OF CHRIST?

A. The Church of Christ Is Not… (1 Cor. 1:10).
B. The Church of Christ Is… (Acts 2:47; Heb. 12:23); Acts 2:39-41 (2 Ths. 2:13-14); Eph. 5:24.

II. WHOSE CHURCH IS IT, ANYWAY?

A. “Church of Christ” Denotes Possession, Matt. 16:18 (Rom. 16:16; 1 Cor. 1:2).
B. Jesus Built His Church on the Rock that He is the Christ, the Son of the Living God, Matt. 16:16-18 (1 Cor. 3:11); Eph. 2:20-21.
C. Jesus Built His Church on the Day of Pentecost, Acts 2 (Matt. 16:18-19; Acts 1:8; 2:21, 36-41, 47).

III. THE CHURCH OF CHRIST IN THE N.T.

A. Composed of Christians, not Churches, Acts 2:47; 1 Cor. 12:13, 14, 18, 24-28.
B. Church of Christ is Applied Two Ways: Universally (Matt. 16:18; Heb. 12:23) & Locally (1 Cor. 1:2; Gal. 1:2; Rom. 16:16).
C. The Church of Christ is the Fullness of Christ, Eph. 1:22:23.

IV. RECOGNIZING THE CHURCH OF CHRIST:

A. Worship, Acts 2:42 (1 Cor. 14:26).
B. Work of the Churches of Christ, Acts 6:1-4 (2:42; 1 Ths. 1:8).
C. Organization of Churches, Acts 14:23; Phil. 1:1; only local, 1 Pet. 5:2.
D. Entrance (how to be saved), Acts 2:47 (hear, believe, confess, repent, baptized).

Conclusion

1. Churches of men are not the church of Christ.
2. Don’t be satisfied until you are member of the church of Christ, because only then are you saved in Christ (Eph. 1:23).

NOTEWORTHY NEWS
(Current events in the light of Scripture)

Trial of Jesus on Trial
Joe R. Price

A religious group called Friends of Jesus has petitioned the High Court of Kenya to clear the name of Jesus:

“A group called Friends of Jesus is seeking to clear the name of Jesus Christ. They say his human rights were violated when he was convicted and crucified without a fair trial. They also want a ruling on whether Jesus' sentencing was legal, arguing that the correct penalty for blasphemy at the time was stoning, not crucifixion.” (“Jesus case before Kenyan court,” reuters.com)

Why is this legal action being pursued? According to the man leading the legal effort, Jesus remains a “convicted criminal” and, due to the illegal nature of his trial, that ruling should be reversed.

There is no doubt that Jesus did not receive a fair trial, “In his humiliation his justice was taken away” (Acts 8:33). But, does one really believe that a human court has jurisdiction to overturn the ruling of both a Jewish court (the Sanhedrin) and the Roman court (Pilate) two thousand years later? Furthermore, is Jesus really a criminal because a human court said so?

The resurrection of Jesus declared him to be the Son of God (Rom. 1:4; Acts 10:39-43). That pretty much renders null and void any ruling of human courts. Rulings from above overthrow the rulings of men (Acts 4:19-20; 5:38-39).

The courts of men do not establish divine truth. The trial of Jesus shows this to be so. While Pilate acted with authority given him from above, he abused his power to judge and sinned in condemning Jesus, as did the Jewish rulers (Jno. 19:10-11; Acts 2:23; 3:13).

Jesus does not need a ruling from a Kenyan court to pronounce his innocence. The gospel does that; and it is His gospel that we must preach to the world (1 Cor. 15:1-4; Rom. 1:16-17).

The Spirit's Sword is a free, weekly publication of the Mt. Baker church of Christ, Bellingham, WA
Send all questions, comments and subscriptions to the editor at: ssword@bibleanswer.com