The Spirit’s Sword, July 17, 2011

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

THE
SPIRIT’S
SWORD

Volume 14, Number 22
07/17/2011

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
All sing last Wednesday

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:

Truth is not Advanced by Accommodating Error
God's Plan of Salvation
Sermon Outlines:
- Faith at Work (1) - Lessons from James
- Jesus the Preacher
Noteworthy News: Sacrifice: Lose a Hand to Save a Life

Truth is not Advanced by Accommodating Error
Joe R. Price

The gospel continues to spread around the world as faithful Christians live in truth and teach the saving gospel to the lost. As it was in the first century, it will continue to be so until the Lord returns (Matt 28:19-20). God’s way of saving the lost remains the message of the cross. The sword of the Spirit cuts to the heart of the sinner to expose and remove sin by the power of the blood of Christ and faith in His name (Acts 2:37-41; Rom 1:16; 1 Cor 1:21-24; Heb 4:12).

The unyielding march of truth in the first century is unmistakable; it gave no quarter to the corrupt doctrines of men. Whether in the Jewish synagogues (where unbelievers were confounded with the truth that Jesus is the Christ, Acts 17:2-4), or among the Greek philosophers of the day (as on Mars Hill, Acts 17:22), or among brethren who showed themselves to be false due to their teaching of Judaizing error (Acts 15:1-6; Gal 2:4-5), the truth of the gospel advanced because brethren contended earnestly for the faith (Jude 3-4). They did not relinquish the high ground of truth. Neither must we.

How misguided it is for Christians now to think that false doctrine among brethren is just “the way it is and has always been.” They forget the examples of unity among the saints in Acts 2:42; 4:32-37; 9:31; Ephesians 4:1-6. Today these brethren prefer to accommodate or ignore error under the guise of “love” and “unity”; the very idea! (Phil 2:1-5; 1 Cor 1:10-13; Eph 5:11)

The cause of the gospel is not advanced but hindered when brethren have fellowship with those who teach and practice error. “Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them” (Rom 16:17). We cannot ignore those whose error divides and destroys: we cannot cajole them, comfort them or promote them. When the sword of the Spirit is sheathed for the sake of “peace” in spite of the presence of doctrinal and moral error, there is no peace (Jer 8:9-12)! With compromise comes death (1 Cor 15:33; 2 Jno 9-11).

The gospel of Christ tears down the strongholds of Satan when used to persuade unbelievers, skeptics and false teachers (2 Cor 10:3-6). Souls are saved when no place is given to the devil. However, the lost and misguided will never be rescued and saved if our words and deeds give them comfort and confidence to continue in their error and sin.

God's Plan of Salvation
Joe R. Price

“What must I do to be saved?” A more important question could not be asked or answered. It (or its variation) was asked and answered three times in the book of Acts, Acts 2:37-38; 9:6; 16:30-31. Each time an answer was given that depended on the person’s position on the way to salvation.

The question implies several important things worthy of our consideration:

1) Some things that must be done in order to be saved. Man bears responsibility for his salvation. Action on man’s part is necessary in order to be saved (Heb 5:9).

2) What must be done is essential to be saved. “Must” is not discretionary, it is mandatory.

3) Obtaining salvation is an individual privilege and responsibility. “I” must do what is needed for “me” to be saved. Someone else cannot do what is necessary for me, and I cannot do what is necessary of others.

4) Salvation is not received until God’s conditions of salvation are fully met. One cannot fail to fully obey the Lord’s plan of salvation and expect to be saved. One might as well conclude God’s plan of salvation is not necessary as to say one may be saved without doing all that God says is necessary.

God has done His part. Have you done your part and obeyed His plan of salvation? Are you saved? If not, do so now.

Chart by John Gentry

Chart

You can find the complete outline of this sermon plus PowerPoint and MP3 Audio files at BIBLE ANSWERS

Faith at Work (1) - Lessons from James

Scripture Reading: James 1:2-8

1. Faith is at the center of the Christian’s life, Jno 20:30-31; Eph 2:8; Heb 11:6.
2. The Epistle of James: Faith must work; it must produce; it must be visible.
3. James: Faith at work.

I. FAITH ENDURES TRIALS, Jas 1:2-11.

A. The Discipline to Remain Joyful, Jas 1:2-4; Jno 16:22, 33; 2 Cor 4:16-18.
B. The Discipline to Continually Pray for Wisdom, Jas 1:5-8; Prov 2:6-9; Psa 119:98; Prov 8:17; 1 Jno 5:14-15.
C. The Discipline to Know that Possessions Test Faith, Jas 1:9-11; Lk 1:52; 1 Cor 3:21-23 (Eph 1:3; 2:6); Phil 3:7.

II. FAITH UNDERSTANDS AND ENDURES TEMPTATION, Jas 1:12-20.

A. Blessing of Resisting Temptation, 1:12; Rom 5:3-4; 2 Tim 4:7-8.
B. Temptation is Common to Us All, Jas 1:13-16; 1 Cor 10:12-13.

III. FAITH OBEYS THE WORD, Jas 1:21-27.

A. People of Faith Lay Aside Sin, 1:21; 1 Pet 2:1; Col 3:5-9; Eph 5:6-11; Rom 12:2.
B. People of Faith are Doers of the Word, Jas 1:22-24; Matt 7:21-27; Jno 13:17.
C. People of Faith Live Pure Religion, Jas 1:26-27; cf. Micah 6:6-8; Matt 6:1-4.

Conclusion

1. Faith is put to the test every day.
2. Faith (at work) overcomes the world, 1 Jno 5:3-4.

You can find the complete outline of this sermon plus PowerPoint and MP3 Audio files at BIBLE ANSWERS

Jesus the Preacher

Scripture Reading: Matthew 7:24-29

1. God’s word made known through preaching, Titus 1:3 (Rom 10:13-15).
2. Preaching was a central part of Jesus’ work, Matt 4:17. (Lk 14:25; Jno 6:66)
3. What do you want from a preacher? What do you try to accomplish when you preach?

I. HIS PREACHING WAS AUTHORITATIVE, Matt 7:28-29.

A. Authority of Heaven was behind what He Said, Jno 12:48-50; 1 Tim 4:11; 5:7; 6:2; Tit 2:15.

II. HIS PREACHING WAS URGENT. (2 Tim 4:2)

A. Urgent in Content, Lk 4:16-19.
B. Urgent in Manner, Jno 7:28, 37; 12:44.

III. HIS PREACHING WAS INSTRUCTIVE, Matt 5:2; 13:54.

A. Jesus Imparted God’s Will, Matt 4:23; Mk 4:2. Matt 13:9-10; Jno 16:29-30 (Acts 10:33).

IV. HIS PREACHING WAS COMPASSIONATE, Matt 9:35-38.

A. Compassion for Sinners without Condoning Sin (Lk 15:1-2); Jno 8:7, 11.
B. We must always be Sensitive to the Plight of the Lost and the Weak, Rom 10:1; 1 Ths 2:7.

V. HIS PREACHING WAS VEHEMENT WHEN NECESSARY.

A. Jesus Denounced Sin in the Strongest Terms, Matt 15:7-9, 12-14; Acts 20:27.

VI. HIS PREACHING WAS DEMANDING, Matt 7:13-14, 21.

A. Jesus Demanded Repentance, Mk 1:15.
B. Jesus Demanded Self-Denial, Matt 16:24.

VII. HIS PREACHING HAD A COMMON TOUCH, Mark 12:37; 1 Cor 2:2.

NOTEWORTHY NEWS
(Current events in the light of Scripture)

Sacrifice: Lose a Hand to Save a Life
Joe R. Price

Army Ranger Sgt. First Class Leroy Petry, who lives in Steilicum WA, is the latest recipient of the Medal of Honor. Petry is a hero. He saved the lives of fellow Rangers in Afghanistan when he threw away an enemy grenade that landed nearby; his right hand was blown off.

Sacrifice. It seems instinctive in the person who gives of himself for others. But one is born with it. No, the soldier’s willingness to sacrifice himself for others is developed through years of training and commitment to the greater good. Sacrifice becomes his nature.

So it is with the sacrifice of the Christian. “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Rom 12:1-2). Such sacrifice does not “just happen”; it is the result of one’s faith in Christ and commitment to the greater good – the will of God. Sacrifice becomes his nature.

Sacrifice for Christ means giving of ourselves for one another (and even for our enemies, like Jesus did on the cross). When we sacrifice for “one of the least of these my brethren,” we sacrifice for Christ (Matt 25:34-40).

Jesus said we must lose our life through self denial to find it (Lk 9:23-24). Heroes of faith “suffer the loss of all things” to gain Christ (Phil 3:7-8). Be a hero of faith. Sacrifice yourself for Christ and save a life – your own.

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

zqephesianso zqephesianshxo zqephesianshxvkzo zqmatthewo zqmatthewhmjo zqmatthewhmjvkfo zqmatthewhmjvmbo zqactso zqactshmo zqactshmvpzo zqactshmvpjo zqactshmvpfo zqactshmvqbo zqactshmvqko zqromanso zqromanshko zqromanshkvkxo zqkcorinthianso zqkcorinthianshko zqkcorinthianshkvmko zqkcorinthianshkvmmo zqkcorinthianshkvmpo zqkcorinthianshkvmqo zqhebrewso zqhebrewshqo zqhebrewshqvkmo zqactshkzo zqactshkzvmo zqactshkzvpo zqactshkzvqo zqactshkzvmmo zqactshkwo zqactshkwvko zqactshkwvmo zqactshkwvpo zqactshkwvqo zqactshkwvwo zqactshkwvxo zqgalatianso zqgalatianshmo zqgalatianshmvqo zqgalatianshmvwo zqjudeo zqjudehpo zqactshqo zqactshqvpmo zqactshqvppo zqactshqvpqo zqactshqvpwo zqactshqvpxo zqactshqvpzo zqactshfo zqactshfvpko zqephesianshqo zqephesianshqvko zqephesianshqvmo zqephesianshqvpo zqephesianshqvqo zqephesianshqvwo zqephesianshqvxo zqphilippianso zqphilippianshmo zqphilippianshmvko zqphilippianshmvmo zqphilippianshmvpo zqphilippianshmvqo zqphilippianshmvwo zqkcorinthianshkvkbo zqkcorinthianshkvkko zqkcorinthianshkvkmo zqkcorinthianshkvkpo zqephesianshwo zqephesianshwvkko zqromanshkxo zqromanshkxvkzo zqjeremiaho zqjeremiahhjo zqjeremiahhjvfo zqjeremiahhjvkbo zqjeremiahhjvkko zqjeremiahhjvkmo zqkcorinthianshkwo zqkcorinthianshkwvppo zqmjohno zqmjohnhfo zqmcorinthianso zqmcorinthianshkbo zqmcorinthianshkbvpo zqmcorinthianshkbvqo zqmcorinthianshkbvwo zqmcorinthianshkbvxo zqactshfvxo zqactshkxo zqactshkxvpbo zqactshkxvpko zqhebrewshwo zqhebrewshwvfo zqjameso zqjameshko zqjameshkvmo zqjameshkvpo zqjameshkvqo zqjameshkvwo zqjameshkvxo zqjameshkvzo zqjameshkvjo zqjameshkvfo zqjameshkvkbo zqjameshkvkko zqjameshkvkmo zqjameshkvkpo zqjameshkvkqo zqjameshkvkwo zqjameshkvkxo zqjameshkvkzo zqjameshkvkjo zqjameshkvkfo zqjameshkvmbo zqjameshkvmko zqjameshkvmmo zqjameshkvmpo zqjameshkvmqo zqjameshkvmwo zqjameshkvmxo zqjameshkvmzo zqjameshkvmjo zqjameshkvmfo zqjameshkvpbo zqjameshkvpko zqjameshkvpmo zqjameshkvppo zqjameshkvpqo zqjameshkvpwo zqjameshkvpxo zqjameshkvpzo zqjameshkvpjo zqjameshkvpfo zqjameshkvqbo zqjameshkvqko zqjohno zqjohnhmbo zqjohnhmbvpbo zqjohnhmbvpko zqephesianshmo zqephesianshmvjo zqhebrewshkko zqhebrewshkkvxo zqjohnhkxo zqjohnhkxvmmo zqmcorinthianshqo zqmcorinthianshqvkxo zqmcorinthianshqvkzo zqmcorinthianshqvkjo zqproverbso zqproverbshmo zqproverbshmvxo zqproverbshmvzo zqproverbshmvjo zqproverbshmvfo zqpsalmso zqpsalmshkkfo zqpsalmshkkfvfjo zqproverbshjo zqproverbshjvkzo zqkjohno zqkjohnhwo zqkjohnhwvkqo zqkjohnhwvkwo zqlukeo zqlukehko zqlukehkvwmo zqkcorinthianshpo zqkcorinthianshpvmko zqkcorinthianshpvmmo zqkcorinthianshpvmpo zqephesianshko zqephesianshkvpo zqephesianshmvxo zqphilippianshpo zqphilippianshpvzo zqromanshwo zqromanshwvpo zqromanshwvqo zqmtimothyo zqmtimothyhqo zqmtimothyhqvzo zqmtimothyhqvjo zqkcorinthianshkbo zqkcorinthianshkbvkmo zqkcorinthianshkbvkpo zqkpetero zqkpeterhmo zqkpeterhmvko zqcolossianso zqcolossianshpo zqcolossianshpvwo zqcolossianshpvxo zqcolossianshpvzo zqcolossianshpvjo zqcolossianshpvfo zqephesianshwvxo zqephesianshwvzo zqephesianshwvjo zqephesianshwvfo zqephesianshwvkbo zqromanshkmo zqromanshkmvmo zqmatthewhzo zqmatthewhzvmko zqmatthewhzvmmo zqmatthewhzvmpo zqmatthewhzvmqo zqmatthewhzvmwo zqmatthewhzvmxo zqmatthewhzvmzo zqjohnhkpo zqjohnhkpvkzo zqmicaho zqmicahhxo zqmicahhxvxo zqmicahhxvzo zqmicahhxvjo zqmatthewhxo zqmatthewhxvko zqmatthewhxvmo zqmatthewhxvpo zqmatthewhxvqo zqkjohnhwvpo zqkjohnhwvqo zqmatthewhzvmjo zqmatthewhzvmfo zqmatthewhzvpbo zqmatthewhzvpko zqmatthewhzvpmo zqmatthewhzvppo zqmatthewhzvpqo zqmatthewhzvpwo zqmatthewhzvpxo zqmatthewhzvpzo zqmatthewhzvpjo zqmatthewhzvpfo zqmatthewhzvqbo zqmatthewhzvqko zqmatthewhzvqmo zqmatthewhzvqpo zqmatthewhzvqqo zqmatthewhzvqwo zqmatthewhzvqxo zqmatthewhzvqzo zqmatthewhzvqjo zqmatthewhzvqfo zqmatthewhzvwbo zqmatthewhzvwko zqmatthewhzvwmo zqmatthewhzvwpo zqmatthewhzvwqo zqmatthewhzvwwo zqmatthewhzvwxo zqmatthewhzvwzo zqmatthewhzvwjo zqmatthewhzvwfo zqmatthewhzvxbo zqmatthewhzvxko zqmatthewhzvxmo zqmatthewhzvxpo zqtituso zqtitushko zqtitushkvpo zqromanshkbo zqromanshkbvkpo zqromanshkbvkqo zqromanshkbvkwo zqmatthewhqo zqmatthewhqvkzo zqlukehkqo zqlukehkqvmwo zqjohnhxo zqjohnhxvxxo zqjohnhkmo zqjohnhkmvqjo zqjohnhkmvqfo zqjohnhkmvwbo zqktimothyo zqktimothyhqo zqktimothyhqvkko zqktimothyhwo zqktimothyhwvzo zqktimothyhxo zqktimothyhxvmo zqtitushmo zqtitushmvkwo zqmtimothyhqvmo zqlukehqo zqlukehqvkxo zqlukehqvkzo zqlukehqvkjo zqlukehqvkfo zqjohnhzo zqjohnhzvmjo zqmatthewhwo zqmatthewhwvmo zqmatthewhkpo zqmatthewhkpvwqo zqmatthewhqvmpo zqmarko zqmarkhqo zqmarkhqvmo zqmatthewhkpvfo zqmatthewhkpvkbo zqjohnhkxvmfo zqjohnhkxvpbo zqactshkbo zqactshkbvppo zqmatthewhfo zqmatthewhfvpwo zqmatthewhfvpxo zqmatthewhfvpzo zqmatthewhfvpjo zqlukehkwo zqlukehkwvko zqlukehkwvmo zqjohnhjo zqjohnhjvzo zqromanshkbvko zqmatthewhkwo zqmatthewhkwvzo zqmatthewhkwvjo zqmatthewhkwvfo zqactshmbo zqactshmbvmzo zqmatthewhzvkpo zqmatthewhzvkqo zqmarkhko zqmarkhkvkwo zqmatthewhkxo zqmatthewhkxvmqo zqmarkhkmo zqmarkhkmvpzo zqkcorinthianshmo zqkcorinthianshmvmo zqromanshkmvko zqmatthewhmwo zqmatthewhmwvpqo zqmatthewhmwvpwo zqmatthewhmwvpxo zqmatthewhmwvpzo zqmatthewhmwvpjo zqmatthewhmwvpfo zqmatthewhmwvqbo zqlukehfo zqlukehfvmpo zqlukehfvmqo zqphilippianshpvjo

From Bible Answers, https://www.bibleanswer.com/spirits-sword/2011-07-17. Permission is granted to use the Bible study and teaching material found on this website to the glory of God and the spread of His gospel. We request that proper citation and/or hyperlinks are included when republishing material from website.