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

THE
SPIRIT’S
SWORD

Volume 23, Number 32
09/05/2021

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:

• Our Father in Heaven
• Basic Principles of the World
• Sermon Outlines:
  • "You Are Not The Judge!" (1)
  • "You Are Not The Judge!" (2)
• Noteworthy News: Timed-Released Death Proposed

Our Father in Heaven
Joe R. Price

“Pray, then, in this way: ‘Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name’” (Matthew 6:9, NASB95).

Meditate with me today about “our Father who is in heaven.” Unfortunately, many do not think of God at all. Others consider Him to be a grandfatherly figure who nods approvingly toward whatever we do. Some do not believe in a personal God. These pantheists believe “reality is identical with divinity, or that all things compose an all-encompassing, immanent god” (Wikipedia).

Jesus identified God as (1) Our Father. As our Creator, God is the Father of us all (Acts 17:28; 1 Cor. 8:6). He also created our spirits and is the “Father of spirits,” in whose image we are made (Heb. 12:9). Christians are children of God by faith and have an intimate fellowship with our Father (Gal. 4:5-7). (2) Personal. Our Father is not “like gold or silver or stone” shaped by artistic expression (Acts 17:29). He knows us and calls us through the gospel to come to Him (Acts 17:27; 2:21, 39). (3) In heaven. God is Spirit and not defined by or confined to the material realm (John 4:24). Physical constraints do not limit God (Acts 7:48-50; 2 Pet. 3:8). (4) Holy. Hallowed means “to sanctify” or set apart as holy. We fail to revere His name if we define God by our will, ways, and expectations (Rom. 1:20-23). Jesus held His heavenly Father in the highest regard, and so must we (John 10:29; 14:28). (5) The One to whom we pray. We pray to God our Father, assured that He hears and answers us according to His will, which is always best for us (Matt. 7:11; 26:39-44; 1 John 5:14-15).

Think on these things. -Sword Tips #2296

Basic Principles of the World
Joe R. Price

Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ (Colossians 2:8, NKJV).

Paul gives a warning against deceivers who would plunder our spiritual treasures in Christ (2 Cor. 11:3-4, 12-15). Let us give attention to “the basic principles of the world” that are not according to Christ and fuel this deception.

The basic principles of the world are not the chemical elements that comprise the physical realm (2 Pet. 3:10, 12). They are the fundamental evil elements that oppose God, His purposes, and His truth. They enslave souls to serve sin (Gal. 4:3).

Consider four basic principles of the world: (1) Unbelief. It plunges souls into darkness, ignorance, and alienation from the true God (Eph. 4:17-19). Without faith, we cannot please God (Heb. 11:6). (2) The traditions, commands, and doctrines of men. Human philosophies appeal to the intellect, often seem plausible, yet are “empty deceit” that cannot save us and protect us from sin (Col. 2:8, 20-23). (3) Carnality and its works. The evil world is composed of the lusts of the flesh, the eyes, and life’s pride. They stimulate the works of the flesh (1 John 2:15-17; Gal. 5:19-21). Carnal-mindedness opposes God and causes spiritual death (Rom. 8:5-8). (4) The will of men instead of the will of God (1 Pet. 4:2-3). Elevating our cravings and will above God is a fundamental element of the world. Beware, lest anyone plunders your spiritual treasures in Christ (Col. 2:1-3). -Sword Tips #2293

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

"You Are Not The Judge!" (1)
Joe R. Price

Scripture Reading: Psalm 139:1-6

1. Judgment implies a standard, rule, or law that judges us.
2. Can we know God’s judgments?

I. YOU AND I ARE NOT EACH OTHERS’ JUDGE.

A. We Are Not All-Knowing.
B. Our Judgments May Be Unrighteous, John 7:24; Prov. 18:13.
C. We Cannot See Hearts, 1 Cor. 4:3-5.
D. Our Judgments May Be Inconsistent, Hypocritical, and Partial, Matt. 7:1-5; Rom. 1:32-2:1; James 2:1-4 (9).

II. GOD IS OUR JUDGE.

A. God is All-Knowing, Ps. 139:1-12.
B. God’s Judgments Are Always True, Righteous, and Never Impulsive, Rom. 2:2, 4-5 (Ps. 19:9).
C. God Sees and Knows Our Hearts, 1 Sam. 16:7; Heb. 4:13; 1 Cor. 4:5 (Rom. 2:16).
D. God’s Judgments are Consistent, Just, and Impartial, Rom. 2:2, 6, 11.

III. GOD’S WORD IS THE STANDARD THAT JUDGES US.

A. The Word of Christ is True and Will Judge Us in the Last Day, John 12:48 (Rom. 2:16); Rev. 20:12; John 12:49-50 (5:30).
B. His Word Announces His Judgments in Truth, John 8:31-32; 5:30; 2 Cor. 5:9-10.

Conclusion
1. Jesus said judge what is right (Luke 12:57).
2. We can do so with right standard (Christ’s word) and right motive (John 5:30).
3. Yes, we can know God’s judgments.

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

"You Are Not The Judge!" (2)
Joe R. Price

Scripture Reading: John 5:24-30

1. God’s word is His standard of judgment, John 8:12, 31-32; 6:63, 68 (12:48).
2. Let God’s word judge what is right.

I. WHAT PEOPLE DECIDE, AND WHAT GOD’S WORD JUDGES.

A. About Salvation.
1. “Good people of all churches saved.”
-God’s word judges: Matt. 7:21-23; Heb. 5:8-9; Acts 2:37-41, 47; Eph. 5:23
2. “One church is as good as another.”
-God’s word judges: Matt. 16:18-19; Acts 20:28; Eph. 1:22-23; 5:23; 4:4.
3. “Water baptism is unnecessary.”
-God’s word judges: Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 22:16; 1 Pet. 3:21
4. “Sprinkling water will do for baptism.”
-God’s word judges: Rom. 6:3-6; Col. 2:12; Acts 8:35-38
5. “I feel like I’m saved.”
-God’s word judges: Prov. 14:12; Acts 23:1; 26:9; 2 Thess. 2:10-12
6. “Christians cannot fall from grace.”
-God’s word judges: Gal. 5:4; 1 Tim. 4:1
B. About Worship.
1. “Lord’s Supper monthly is enough.”
-God’s word judges: Acts 2:42; 20:7
2. “Instruments, bands, and choirs are OK.”
-God’s word judges: Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16
C. About Moral Living.
1. “Social drinking is acceptable.”
-God’s word judges: Prov. 20:1; 23:29-32
2. “Immodest clothing is decent.”
-God’s word judges: 1 Tim. 2:9-10
3. “Divorce and remarry without restraint.”
-God’s word judges: Matt. 19:6, 9; 1 Cor. 7:10-11; Heb. 13:4

NOTEWORTHY NEWS
(Current events in the light of Scripture)

Timed-Released Death Proposed
Joe R. Price

Suicide and euthanasia all wrapped up into one. That would be the effect of using an “advance directive implant” (ADI) proposed by Margaret Battin, an 80-year-old philosopher, medical ethicist, and Distinguished Professor at the University of Utah, and Brent Kious, an assistant professor at the University of Utah (liveaction.org). In their article, Ending One’s Life in Advance, they view Alzheimer’s and dementia as fates worse than death. They believe “having dementia would turn someone into a burden, causing family members to suffer financial and emotional costs” (Ibid). So, committing suicide would end suffering and relieve others of burdens.

The idea of an “advanced directive implant,” timed to release a lethal drug, devalues life. Life is God’s gift. Taking it from someone (or ourselves) is murder (Rom. 13:8-10). Suicide is not a heroic act.

We understand no one wants to be a burden to others. But, as one reviewer put it, “A person’s life is still valuable even if elderly, sick, disabled, or dying. These authors take euthanasia activism to a new level to propose that automated murder devices be implanted so people can be killed on the appropriate time schedule so as not to inconvenience those around them. Such devices, and those who recommend them, perfectly encapsulate a culture of death” (Cassy Fiano-Chesser, liveaction.org). Caring for loved ones nearing the end of life can be exhausting, but it is also fulfilling in ways we may not fully appreciate unless we have gone through that experience. To serve someone in such a condition is a true mark of love – something the ADI advocates miss in their short-sighted attempt to remove a “burden” (Gal. 6:2; 1 John 4:7-11).

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