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

THE
SPIRIT’S
SWORD

Volume X, Number 46 September 16, 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

  Christ, Creeds, Christians, The Church (John R. Gentry)

  Sermon Outlines:

  • The Bible is Enough (Psalm 119:33-40)
  • The Holy Spirit (John 16:8-15)

  Noteworthy News: Helping Liars Lie

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

Christ, Creeds, Christians, The Church
John R. Gentry

This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men (Matt. 15.8-9).

Simply Christians

When the church of Christ was established in Acts 2, Luke tells us that Peter commanded the people to “repent and be baptized into the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins will be forgiven...So those who received his word were baptized...And the Lord added to the church day by day those who were being saved” (Acts 2.38, 41, 47). To which church did God add them? Lutheran? Mormon? Catholic? Was Peter a member of one denomination and John another? Do these questions seem a little silly? They should. Surely no one would claim that those baptized in Acts 2, Peter, John, or Paul were anything other than simply Christians. In the New Testament, the apostles’ teaching did not make men and women Catholic or Protestant; their teaching produced Christians only.

No Creed But The Bible

A New Testament Christian will follow the teachings and practices found in the Bible and the Bible only. Peter said, “If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God” (1 Pet. 4.11). Paul said we are “not to go beyond what is written” (1 Cor. 4.6; cf. 2 Jn. 9). Therefore, a New Testament Christian will have a Bible passage (book, chapter, and verse) for everything that he teaches and practices.

You cannot take the Bible and make a Baptist, Methodist, Catholic, or anything other than simply a Christian. In order to be a Baptist one must adhere to the teachings of men found in the Baptist Manual (or similar Baptist creed). To become a Methodist one must believe and practice what is found in the Methodist Discipline. One is a Catholic who follows the Catholic Catechisms. It is the different creeds written by men that differentiates one denomination from another. New Testament Christians have no such creed.

Our Plea To You

Our prayer and plea to you is that you will desire to be a part of a church that preaches and practices what was preached and practiced in the New Testament and that you will be simply a Christian. If you are a member of a denomination, we encourage you to examine the scriptures to determine whether or not the church you are a part of (along with its creed) is mentioned in the Bible. You too can be simply a Christian and a member of the church built by Jesus (Matt. 16.18).

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

The Bible is Enough

Scripture Reading: Psalm 119:33-40

1. Warnings: Hosea 4:6; Isa. 5:13; 30:9-11; Jer. 5:26-31.
2. Many believe the Bible is obsolete for defining & directing how we live every day, 2 Tim. 4:2-5.
3. Yet, the Bible, continues to be sufficient to meet our every need, 2 Tim. 3:16-17.

I. THE BIBLE IS SUFFICIENT IN ITS ORIGIN.

A. From God, 2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Pet. 1:20-21.
B. Verbally, Completely Inspired, 1 Co 2:10-13.
1. OT: 2 Sam. 23:2; Jer. 36:2, 4.
2. NT: 1 Cor. 14:37 (Rev. 1:11; 2:1; et al.).

II. BIBLE IS SUFFICIENT IN AUTHORITY.

A. The Bible is a Conduct-Regulating Collection of Writings, 2 Tim. 3:16 (Lk. 10:16; Heb. 1:2); 1 Cor. 1:21; Col. 2:8, 20-23; 1 Tim. 6:20-21; 1 Cor. 4:6 (2 Jno. 9).
B. To Live under Christ’s Authority we must Put His Word into Our Hearts, Col 3:16-17 (Ep 3:17)

III. BIBLE SUFFICIENT IN ITS FINALITY.

A. The Bible is Complete, & has been Completely Given (Jno. 16:12-15); Jude 3 (Heb. 9:28); Gal. 1:8-10; 1 Pet. 1:22-25; Jn. 12:48-50
B. No Extra-Biblical Source is Necessary; Every Extra-Biblical Source is Superfluous, Vain & not a Standard of Authority, Gal. 1:8-9; Eph. 3:3-4 (Jer. 2:13; 17:12-13).

IV. THE BIBLE IS SUFFICIENT IN ANSWERS, 2 Tim. 3:17 (1 Pet. 3:15; Isa. 8:19-22).

A. it Meets all our Spiritual Needs, 2 Pet. 1:3-4 (grow in grace & knowledge, 3:14-18).

Conclusion

1. We must maintain the distinctive plea: “Give me the Bible!”
2. We must learn it, live it & lean on it, Prov. 3:5-6; Psa. 119:105.

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

The Holy Spirit

Scripture Reading: John 16:8-15

1. Must disagreement & division over the Holy Spirit, Eph. 4:3-4; 1 Cor. 14:33.
2. Bible answers you can use in study & teaching.

I. WHO THE HOLY SPIRIT IS (HIS NATURE).

A. He is Deity (God), Acts 5:3-4.
B. He is a Divine Person, not an Impersonal Force, Jno. 16:13; Acts 1:16; Jno. 14: 26; 1 Cor. 2:11; 12:11.

II. WHAT THE HOLY SPIRIT HAS DONE.

A. He Inspired the OT Prophets of God (1 Pet. 1:10-11) 2 Pet. 1:21.
B. He Immersed the Apostles of Christ with Himself (Power; HS baptism), Matt. 3:11; Acts 1:2-5 (2:1-4); Acts 1:8:
1. Revelation, Jno. 16:13; 1 Cor. 2:10.
2. Inspiration, 1 Cor. 2:13.
3. Confirmation, 1 Cor. 2:4-5 (Heb. 2:3-4).
C. He Fell on Cornelius & House to Testify that Gentiles can also be Saved by the Gospel, Acts 15:7-9 (11:15; 10:44-47).
D. He Gave Miraculous Gifts to Christians to Confirm and Spread the Gospel, Heb. 2:3-4; Mk. 16:17-20 (Acts 8:14-18; 1 Cor. 12:11).

III. WHAT THE HOLY SPIRIT IS DOING TODAY.

A. He is Using His Product, the Word of Truth, to Accomplish Human Redemption. {Agency} Jno. 16:8-13; 2 Ths. 2:13-14; Ro. 8:14, 16; Js. 1:21-22
B. He has Fellowship with Christians, Phil. 2:1 (1 Jno. 3:23-24; 4:12-13).

IV. WHAT THE HOLY SPIRIT IS NOT DOING TODAY.

A. He is not Baptizing People with Himself.
B. Not Distributing Miraculous Gifts, 1Cor13:8ff
C. He is not Revealing New Truth, Jno. 16:13.
D. He is not Enlightening People apart from the Word, Rom. 1:16 (2 Cor. 4:3-4; 3:8-9).
E. He is not Personally Indwelling People’s Bodies, 1 Cor. 6:19. (Fellowship)

NOTEWORTHY NEWS
(Current events in the light of Scripture)

Helping Liars Lie
Joe R. Price

I should not have been surprised when I saw an interview of a woman from an internet business that provides alibis (translated: “lies”) but I was disgusted. Alibinetwork.com provides people with all the false documentation they need to keep anything secret (translated: “lie without getting caught”), from adultery to purchases and more. For $75 a year they will help a person be a convincing liar. Here is one of the offerings posted on this web site:

“Having a Discreet Affair?
We invent, create and provide customized alibis and excuses for attached adults involved in discreet relationships.
“Customized Alibis for People Involved in Discreet Relationships and Extramarital Affairs.

We offer a perfect solution so you can enjoy complete personal freedom. Whether you need to come home late for one or two weeks or for an extended period of time...You can do it now… and best of all… this can be arranged for periods varying from 1 to 6 months or even longer. You can use the cover of being an employee of our partner company. We can send you a job offer letter, invitation to attend career training, employee manual and all other supporting documentation. We offer complete phone support and any other backup you might need. Please e-mail or call us for details.”

People think they can get away with lying; and sometimes they do, for awhile. But, nothing is hidden from the eyes of God (Heb. 4:13); “Be sure your sins will find you out” (Num. 32:23). Lies will be discovered.

Helping others sin (lie) is sinful. Being a stumbling block will cause you to be lost (Matt. 18:6-7).

Encouraging dishonesty will not go unpunished by our God. Honesty must be at the heart of who we are and how we treat others. If not, we are sons of the devil (Jno. 8:44).

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