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

THE
SPIRIT’S
SWORD

Volume 23, Number 30
08/22/2021

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

In this issue:

• "O Wretched Man That I Am!"
• What Jesus Will Not Do When He Returns
• Sermon Outlines:
  • Why Nations Fall
  • When Nations Fall
• Noteworthy News: Counterfeit Cards Seized

"O Wretched Man That I Am!"
Joe R. Price

24 O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin (Romans 7:24–25, NKJV).

In Romans 7:14-25, the apostle Paul uses himself to portray the person who is under law, under sin. He is lost, outside of Christ, being ruled by sin. His spiritual condition is “wretched” (miserable, afflicted, impure). He is shrouded in spiritual death as he serves sin (Rom. 7:24; 6:16, 23). This condition describes every person lost and outside of Christ (Rom. 3:23). Who can rescue the wretched person from the bondage of sin’s rule and the death it brings?

(1) The sinner cannot save himself. He is dead because of his sin (Rom. 7:9).

(2) Another sinner cannot save a sinner. Both are guilty before God and worthy of death (Rom. 6:23).

(3) The law of God that the sinner violated cannot save him. It indicts and convicts him as guilty (Rom. 7:13-14; 3:19-20).

(4) More sin will not save the sinner. Giving in to sin only increases guilt, imprisoning the soul in evil (Rom. 7:14-21).

(5) Only Jesus Christ our Lord can deliver us from the body of death caused by sin (Rom. 7:25; 5:6-11; Acts 4:12). We escape sin’s condemnation and obtain life in Christ by choosing not to “walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit” (Rom. 8:1-2).

Christ’s gospel is God’s power to save the wretched soul from sin’s guilt, pain, and death (Rom. 1:16-17). The gospel calls us to believe, repent, and be baptized into Christ to escape the misery and eternal death caused by sin (Rom. 6:3-11; Heb. 5:9).

-Sword Tips #2302

What Jesus Will Not Do When He Returns
Joe R. Price

Jesus Christ died, was buried, and rose from the dead (1 Cor. 15:3-4). He ascended into heaven with an angelic assurance of His return: “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven” (Acts 1:11). Jesus is coming back.

From the first century until the present there have been many unfounded speculations about when Jesus will return and what will happen when He does. False doctrines about “the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him” will not trouble or deceive those who believe the word of God (2 Thess. 2:1-2). God’s word is clear that:

(1) Jesus will not return to the earth. There is not a single passage in the Scriptures that teaches Jesus will ever set foot on the earth. His return is certain, but He will not set his foot upon terra firma. Scripture assures us when the Lord descends, the saints, whether dead or living, “meet the Lord in the air” and in this manner “always be with the Lord” (1 Thess. 4:16-17). Upon His return, the heavens and earth will “pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up” (2 Pet. 3:10). When Jesus returns, the earth will be no more.

(2) Jesus will not return to establish His kingdom and reign from Jerusalem for 1,000 years. Since the earth will be destroyed when He returns, the Lord will not establish an earthly kingdom. Scripture says, “at His coming” Jesus will “deliver the kingdom to God the Father” (1 Cor. 15:23-24). The kingdom of Christ is “not of this world” (John 18:36). It is a spiritual kingdom composed of Christians; it is the church of Christ, established on the Pentecost following His ascension into heaven (Acts 2:41; Matt. 16:18-19; Luke 17:20-21; Col. 1:13). A thousand-year reign of Christ on the earth is the fanciful false doctrine of those who refuse to accept the church, not an earthly kingdom, is God’s eternal purpose (Eph. 3:10-11). King Jesus reigns today (Ps. 2:6-7; Acts 13:32-34).

(3) Jesus will not return to gather the nation of Israel to its homeland. God promised the descendants of Abraham the land of Canaan (Gen. 12:7). God kept His promise: “So the Lord gave to Israel all the land of which He had sworn to give to their fathers, and they took possession of it and dwelt in it” (Josh. 21:43). It is false hope to expect God to do what He has already done.

Those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ will suffer eternal punishment when Jesus returns (2 Thess. 1:7-9). At the same time, the righteous will receive eternal rest and glorify His name (2 Thess. 1:7, 10). Let us “be ready” because we do not know when Jesus will return. But we do know that He will return and usher in eternity (Matt. 24:44; 1 Thess. 5:1-11).

-The Spirit’s Sword (11/14/2010)

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

Why Nations Fall
Joe R. Price

Scripture Reading: Daniel 4:34-37

1. God is sovereign over nations, Acts 17:26.
2. Nations rise and fall in relation to their
a. Choices of good and evil, Jer. 18:7-11.
b. Respect for the true God, Psa. 144:15.
3. More specifically, what leads to the downfall of nations?

I. NATIONS FALL BECAUSE OF THEIR PRIDE, Dan. 4:28-33, 34-37.

A. Edom: Pride, Obad. 2-4, 10-11 (10-16).
-Thought they were impenetrable.
B. Rome, Dan. 7:21-27; Rev. 13:5; 19:19-20.
-Proud of her strength, she was pompous in word/deed.

II. NATIONS FALL WHEN THEY REFUSE TO HONOR GOD.

A. Nations Fall When They Serve False Gods, Isa. 21:9.
1. Idols (false gods): N. Israel, 2 Kings 17:15-18; Egypt (568 BC), Ezek. 29:19-20; 30:13, 19; Rom. 1:20-25.
2. Military power: Babylon, Hab. 1:5-11 (in one night, Dan. 5:30).
3. Economic security: Tyre, Ezek. 27:25-28.
4. Political concepts and institutions, cf. Matt. 15:7-9; 1 Pet. 2:13-17; Rev. 13:15-18.

Conclusion
1. God’s day of judgment against nations is fierce (Assyria against Israel), Isa. 5:26-30.
2. Yet, God’s hand of mercy is still stretched out for all who will repent and call on His name, Isa. 5:24-25; Jer. 26:1-6.
3. What can the righteous do when nations fall? Psalm 11:3

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

When Nations Fall
Joe R. Price

Scripture Reading: Psalm 121

1. What are the righteous to do when nations collapse? Psalm 11:3
2. The wicked seek shelter from God’s judgments where none can be found: Samaria, Hosea 10:7-8; Israel, Isa. 2:19-21; Rome, Rev. 6:12-17 (Psalm 33:10-17).
3. The righteous fear God, hope in His mercy, and wait on Him, Psalm 33:18-22.

I. WHAT CAN THE RIGHTEOUS DO WHEN NATIONS FALL? Psalm 11

A. Keep Trusting God, 11:1; Ps. 62:1-2, 8, 9-12; Rev. 6:9-11; Heb. 13:5-6; Rom. 8:31-39; Psalm 61:1-2 (3-8).
B. Be Strong in the Lord, 11:2; Eph. 6:10-17; 1 Cor. 16:13; Gal. 5:19-26.
C. Submit Reverently to God, 11:4; Hab. 2:20; Zeph. 1:7; Psalm 76:7-9; 46:10.
D. Be Ready for God’s Judgment, 11:5-7; Luke 17:23-37.

II. SAINTS REMAIN LOYAL TO THE LORD DURING PERIODS OF NATIONAL DECLINE.

A. Satan is Behind the Nations that Refuse God, Rev. 13:1-2; Rev. 12:10-12; Eph. 6:10-13.
B. Our Citizenship is in Heaven, Phil. 3:20; Matt. 22:21; 1 Tim. 2:1-4; Heb. 12:28.
C. Saints Continue to be Salt and Light, Matt. 5:13-16; 1 Pet. 2:11-12 (Gen. 18:32); 2 Pet. 3:15, 9.

Conclusion

1. Psalm 11:3: Courageous faith is necessary in the face of national turmoil and upheaval.
2. Put treasures in heaven, Matt. 6:19-21.
3. Our help, protection, and salvation are in the Lord, Psalm 121.

NOTEWORTHY NEWS
(Current events in the light of Scripture)

Counterfeit Cards Seized
Joe R. Price

Fraudulent covid vaccination cards are being seized at U.S. ports of entry. For example, this week U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) in Anchorage, Alaska, seized more than 3,000 counterfeit vaccine cards arriving from China (cbp.gov). Earlier this month, similar seizures occurred in Memphis, TN.

The Scriptures warn us of spiritual counterfeits. We should learn about them so we do not become faith frauds and avoid their influence. Christ charges us to judge what is right to turn from evil and do good (Luke 12:57; John 7:24; Matt. 7:6).

We must recognize and avoid counterfeit teachers. Jesus warned of false prophets “who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves” (Matt. 7:15). The fruit of false teachers reveals their fraud (Matt. 7:16, 20). Their doctrine does not conform to godliness and violates the faith delivered to the saints (1 Tim. 6:3; Jude 3; Gal. 1:8-9). Elymas was one such fraud (Acts 13:8-10).

May we recognize and avoid counterfeit confessors of faith in God. Paul warned Titus of the “defiled and unbelieving.” They “profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work” (Titus 1:15-16; James 1:26). Faking faith can deceive others, but be assured, it does not deceive the Lord (Heb. 4:13).

We must recognize and avoid counterfeit churches. Many churches of Christ have abandoned the “straight ways of the Lord” for the broad way of tolerance, convenience, and the approval of men (Acts 13:10; Rev. 2-3). Let us do all things with the authority of heaven first and always (Col. 3:17).

The Spirit's Sword is a free, weekly publication of the Mt. Baker church of Christ, Bellingham, WA
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