WHAT GOD WANTS FROM US
Micah 6:1-8

V. 1,2...The scene in Micah 6 is like that of a courtroom. God is calling His people to account for their sins.
God is calling on the prophet to plead His case before the people calling on the mountains to witness.
It was from Mt. Sinai (Horeb) that God first spoke to Moses and later gave the 10 commandments to Israel
It was on the mountains that the Israelites built pagan altars and worshipped idols I Kgs. 14:23; Jer. 17:2,3; and Ezek. 20:28.
These mountains are now witnesses that give evidence against them.

V. 3-5...The Israelites are silent because they have no defense. God has never done them wrong, He has been only loving, patient, and forgiving.
God had delivered them from their cruel Egyptian bondage,
God had given them good leaders; Moses, Aaron, and Miriam.
God had reversed the attempted cursings of King Balak and Balaam.
Balak hired Balaam, a non-Israelite prophet, to curse Israel but Balaam was forbidden to do so by God and ended up blessing them three times instead.
Shittim was Israel’s campsite just before they crossed the Jordan into the Promised Land (Josh. 2:1)
Gilgal (Josh. 4:19) was the first campsite of the Israelites after the miraculous parting of the waters crossing and where the Israelites renewed their covenant with God (Josh.5:3-9).

However, By Micah’s time Israel had forgotten their covenant with God, and the blessings and fell into idolatry and inter-married with the pagans, Num. 25:1ff.
Israel listened to Balaam’s bad advice, Num. 31:6.

V. 6,7...In light of God’s blessings and faithfulness, they could continue to be outwardly religious and inwardly sinful.
Through the ages people have tried all kinds of ways to worship and please God on their own terms.

V. 8...They have offered God everything but the things He wanted.
God has made His desires known as to how He wants to be worshipped and how He wants His people to live: To do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with their God.

When Jesus called His disciples, He said, “Follow me.” (Matt. 4:19, 9:9) then He spent three years teaching them to do justly and love mercy.
He did this by ministering to people of all kinds of people: Jewish men, Samaritan women, and children. The rich and powerful had no advantage over the poor and weak. The religious leaders had no advantage over the sinners.

This brings us to tolerance. Jesus accepted all people who came to Him, He did not tolerate all their views.

The traditional definition, (negative tolerance)...“to recognize and respect others' beliefs, practices, etc. without necessarily agreeing or sympathizing.” The idea was summed up in the expression, "Love the sinner; hate the sin."
The modern definition, (positive tolerance)...Every individual's beliefs, values, lifestyle, and truth claims are equally valid.

Jesus believed in justice and mercy, but He did not believe in today’s definition of tolerance.
He did not believe in and condone everything that was being taught in that day:
Matt. 7:13,14…Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat. Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
Jn. 14:6…”I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father but by me.”
Jn. 8:31,32….If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed. And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
1. Truth is absolute and does not change
Absolute is true in all places at all times for all people. Truth does not change with time, culture, and the whims of man.
2. Truth is knowable, not mysterious and hidden.
3. Truth has no alternative.

Jesus was not tolerant of sin.
The moneychangers in the temple, Mk. 11: 15-18.
The Pharisees, Matt. 23:13-33
The demons, Mk 1:23-26
The “many ways to God” crowd, Jn 14:6

John 8:1-11...Jesus dealt justly and mercifully with the woman taken in adultery.
V. 7...The sense is that any of her accusers who was without the sin of adultery against them could cast the first stone, then everyone else (sinless or not) could throw stones also.

When Jesus was tolerant, there was no sin involved. When Jesus was intolerant there was sin involved.
V. 11...Jesus dealt with the woman in justice and mercy without condoning her sin.
“Go and sin no more.”

Jesus was tolerant and displayed ultimate justice and mercy when He was betrayed, spit on, beaten, ridiculed, and crucified..
Often we are intolerant over much less.
Walking humbly with our God means doing just by all, loving to be merciful, and following Jesus

The Work of the Holy Spirit

John 16:7-14

In his last moments with his disciples, Jesus:
1. warned them about further persecution,
2. told them where, when, and why he was going, and
3. assured them that they would not be left alone, but that the Spirit would come.
Jesus knew what lay ahead, and he did not want the disciples' faith to be shaken or destroyed.
God wants us to know that we are not alone. We have the Holy Spirit to comfort us, teach us the truth, and help us daily.

Here, Jesus is explaining to them why it is important for Him to return to the Father. It is so that the Holy Spirit could come to empower the church.
The church was already in existence, but it was empowered for service on the Day of Pentecost.
Again, it is important to notice that the Holy Spirit comes to the church, not the world. The Holy Spirit does His work in the world through the ministry of the church.
The world is not empowered, the church is.
God the Son needed a body to do His work in the world, so does the Holy Spirit and that is the church the body of Christ, Rom. 12:5; I Cor 12:27; Eph 4:11,12.

The key word in this passage is "reprove." That is, to convict, to expose, to bring to light.

To expose what’s wrong and reveal what’s right,
To expose our sin and reveal God’s righteousness.
Future tense...The Holy Spirit will do this when He comes
Active voice...The Holy Spirit alone does this; not the preacher
Indicative mood...A simple statement of fact; The Holy Spirit will do this without fail.

We live in a world that is upside down. This world thinks it is passing judgment Christians, the Church, the Bible, and even Christ Himself. But the Holy Spirit is the prosecuting attorney and one day their thoughts, words, and actions will stand as a testimony against them.

The Holy Spirit will reprove:
V. 8...Of sin, because they believe not on me…Believing on Jesus means that we believe every claim He made about Himself:
His virgin birth, sinless life, substitutionary death, resurrection, ascension, and second coming. How can one say that they believe in Christ and at the same time call Him a liar?
There is only one sin that will condemn a person and that is unbelief; rejecting Christ.
The Holy Spirit comes to convict the world of its sin of unbelief.
The goal is not to condemn, because we are condemned already. The goal is convert the lost.

V. 9...Of Righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more.
As we saw this morning, God’s standard of righteousness of Jesus Christ who fulfilled all righteousness.
Our self-righteousness is worthless and good for nothing, Isa. 64:6.
When we repent and trust Christ for the forgiveness of sins God declares us righteous in His sight and saves us from the judgment and subsequent penalty of our sins.
The world rejected Jesus, but the Father received Him back into Heaven at His own right hand.
Jesus is God’s righteousness, Rom. 3:21,22, 25

V. 10...Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.
Key words are judgment and judge,...that is, “condemned.”
Perfect tense...Completed action; once and for all, an action that never needs repeating.
Passive voice...The subject receives the action; Satan does not judge, but rather Satan is judged.
Indicative mood...Again, a simple statement of fact; this action is settled and will take place.

The Holy Spirit will show that Christ vanquished Satan and that He was judged at the cross, Jn. 12:31,32.

V. 12...Jesus had many other things to teach them but they weren’t read to receive them just yet. The truth of the crucifixion and the resurrection would have to sink in first before it all made sense.

V. 13,14...But Jesus assured them that God’s plan of redemption would come together, and that the Holy Spirit would guide them into all the truth they needed to know about Jesus.
Not everything they wanted to know, but everything they needed to know.
For example, the time of His return would remain secret, Acts 1:4-8.

The Holy Spirit would lead them into all truth without injecting Himself into the mix. He would do His work quietly, efficiently, and without applause.
The Holy Spirit would inspire these men to preach, teach, and some would write the New Testament.
An inerrant, infallible, and inspired New Testament,...that is our record of revealed truth and it is still binding on the church today.

To Fulfill All Righteousness

Matthew 3:13-17

A few years ago a man came by here in need of some help and as we talked he told me he was a believer, then he told me which church he belonged to and said, “I don’t know much about Baptists, but I suppose you are followers of John the Baptist.”
I said, “No, we are followers of Jesus Christ. We are called Baptists because we hold strict views of Baptism. We insist on a baptism that is taught in the New Testament.” Our view of baptism may not agree with your view, but after all, this is a Baptist Church and we are not shackled with the chains of church tradition, and the reason we hold to a strict interpretation and observance of baptism is because Jesus did.

In our text we see that Jesus traveled from Galilee to the wilderness of Jordan to find a man named John to baptize Him.
Usually it is the lesser who seeks out the greater, but in this case it was the greater who sought the lesser.
And when Jesus located John, He insisted that John baptize Him because it was fitting that they (together) should fulfill all righteousness, Dan. 9:24.
In v. 16 both the Father and the Holy Spirit endorsed this baptism of the Son of God.

In that day there were a lot of self proclaimed holy men going around and baptizing followers, but John was a man sent from God, Jn 1:6.
Jesus purposely chose John the Baptist to baptize Him.
Jesus was not baptized in order to wash away His sins, because He had none.
Jesus was not baptized for any dedication or purification rite, or priestly consecration because He was not a levitical priest, Heb. 7:14.

Jesus was baptized by John so that in order to fulfill all righteousness.
In His baptism He pictured, or acted out symbolized His death, burial, and resurrection which is the sum total of the gospel message, I Cor. 15:1-4

What Does “To Fulfill All Righteousness” Mean?
I. Christ Fulfilled All Righteousness On the Cross, Rom 3:25
In His baptism Christ pledged Himself to go to the cross.
What made Christ’s death on the cross a necessity?
In the Garden of Eden, when our first parents Adam and Eve gave into temptation and plunged the world into sin, mankind lost all righteousness, Rom. 5:18-21
As a result, we are born with a sin nature. Not only are we inclined to sin, we do sin. Everyone of us, without exception, Rom.3:23; 5:8.
No one is a natural born Christian; everyone is a natural born sinner.

2. Christ Was Baptized As An Example Of Righteousness.

“Thus it becometh us” (or, in this way)
No other mode of baptism pictures the death, burial, and resurrection, but immersion only. Sprinkling and pouring won’t do as a fit symbol.
The word “baptize” has only one meaning in the New Testament and that is “to dip, to immerse, or to plunge under.”
We believe baptism must be observed as John and Jesus observed it because only immersion can adequately portray death, burial, and resurrection.
Jesus and John obeyed the pattern or else why would John be baptizing in a river when just a glass full would do?

“Thus it becometh us” (or, this way is becoming for us)
Jesus said it was fitting, proper, and right to do it in this manner. His baptism was a pledge to give His life as a ransom for many, Matt. 20:28.

The “us” signifies our union with Christ. Baptism is the one thing we can do as Jesus did, Rom. 6:3,4,8.
We cannot walk on water, multiply bread & fish, calm the stormy sea, raise the dead, etc.
But we can be baptized in the same way He was, and when we do we are brought into the most intimate union with Him.
Because in our baptism, we identify with Him in our death to the old way of life, burial in a watery grave, and raised to walk in a newness of life.

3. Christ is the righteousness of God, II Cor. 5:21
The righteous Son of God died in the place of unrighteous sinners.
In His baptism, Christ was pledging to die and rise again for our righteousness. And His baptism had the stamp of approval of the Father and the Holy Spirit.
In His baptism, Christ pledged His life as a ransom price for all who will believe.
Jn. 16:7-14...The proof that Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection were accepted and approved by the Father as full payment for sin is seen in the fact that He received Jesus back into Heaven.
Once we become a child of God through faith in Jesus Christ and wonderful transaction takes place. On the cross our sin was imputed to Christ, and His righteousness is imputed to us, II Cor 5:17, 21.

I Jn 3:7...From then on God sees us not in our unrighteousness, nor does He see us in our “righteousness” (our good works), but the righteousness of Christ.

RETHINKING THE REDEDICATION

It is never pleasant nor popular to attack sacred cows, but the time has come for Southern Baptist pastors and evangelists to reconsider the practice of calling on Christians to "rededicate their lives to Christ" when they give an invitation. Such a practice is not only unscriptural it is also illogical and waters down historical Baptist doctrine. Let me hasten to say that I believe many people are very sincere when they come forward to make such a decision, so I am not faulting their motives as much as I am the ones who have fostered this upon us.
I do not believe in rededications, and as a pastor I never call for them when extending an invitation. There,... I've said it and here is why:
Why did this practice start? I believe it is because too many pastors and evangelists are caught up in the "numbers game" of religion. A cursory glance in the state newspapers every spring and fall will usually report many more rededications than conversions and baptisms. Among other things, this points up to the fact that unsaved people are not attending our revivals,...in fact they are staying away in droves. Therefore, if decisions are to come, they must come from our own people. Revivals are all too often mere tradition, and churches need numbers to report in order to advertise their success. Just as, the fishing guide will soon be out of work if he does not produce fish for the paying customer, the evangelist will also suffer if there are no visible results in their revival efforts. Revivals are usually done out of tradition, and not because Christians are burdened for unsaved people or earnestly desire a visitation of the Holy Spirit. This is evident in that gimmicks have replaced effectual prayer and bold witnessing in our quest for nickels and noses.
Another reason that the concept of rededication is popular in our churches is that in too many cases our people just do not know Baptist doctrine. There are many reasons for this and one is because many of our people are from diverse religious backgrounds and when they join a Baptist church they bring excess baggage with them. They do not know Baptist doctrine when they join, and worse yet, when they do join they are not taught, and as a result our churches are mottled with many shades of doctrines. When people join a Southern Baptist church from an Arminian church the rededication can be for them a reminder of Egypt. After all, rededication is as close as you can get to being saved, losing your salvation, and being saved again. In a day when many churches do not have Discipleship Training or any type of doctrine classes is any wonder that our people do not know the basic tenets of our faith?
No matter how loudly we declare that we are "sinners saved by grace", in the deep, dark recesses of our souls we still resist the personal confession that we are sinners. Oftentimes we just cannot bring ourselves to admit that we are still sinners and so we dress up our decision to make it more respectable by calling it a "rededication" instead of "confession of sin". Whether we want to admit it or not, we have our peculiarities as well as any other denominations and should remove this beam from our eyes.
Rededications water down the gospel message. When Jesus called on persons to follow him, He did so with authority and did not leave the backdoor open. Jesus would say such things as, "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me" (Luke 9:23). When a would be disciple came to Jesus and said, "Lord, allow me to go and bury my father", Jesus said , "Let the dead bury their dead, but go thou and preach the kingdom of God " (Luke 9:57-62). Another said, "Lord, I will follow thee, but let me first go bid them farewell which are at home at my house" To which Jesus answered, "No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God." Never do we read of John the Baptist, Jesus, Paul, Peter, John, or anyone else in the New Testament calling on their hearers to rededicate their lives to Christ. The call was always for total commitment. Could it be that many who feel the need to rededicate their lives do so because they made a shallow profession of faith in the first place? Or could it be that believers just do not want to admit that they are still sinners? After all, it sounds a lot more respectable to say, "I have rededicated my life", than, "I have sinned, have been convicted by the Holy Spirit, confessed my sins and received God's forgiveness, and have forsaken those sins." Rededications are an ego-builder and a more of a means of self-exaltation rather than a humbling experience for the erring one. If a person feels the need to make such a decision it should be done in the private prayer closet. No public display is needed as people will see the difference in their lives, without all the fanfare.
I do not believe that there is any such word in our Southern Baptist "church talk" that can apply to rededication. The only way that the word could apply to the spiritual life is if one could be saved, then lost, then saved again. An Illustration would be if the Statue of Liberty, which was dedicated to liberty, was captured by a communist country then dedicated to communism, and then recaptured by the United States and rededicated to liberty again. Are we saying that our lives can be dedicated to God, then dedicated to Satan and evil, and then dedicated to God again? It seems to me that we are trying to get as close to the Arminian view as possible while still holding on to the doctrine of the perseverance of the saints.
I am afraid that pastors and evangelists use this rededication device just to get more notches on their Bibles. Deep down they know that rededications are for the most part superfluous, but they do not want the word to get around. I have seen people come forward to “rededicate their lives to Christ” and not even return for the evening service, or the following Sundays.

The rededication is vague at best and dangerous at worst. When a person responds at the invitation it is because they have a definite need that needs to be met. Rather than just tell them to rededicate their lives and do better, the counselor needs to be skilled enough to draw out just what the need is and help them to deal with it. Usually, it is that they have allowed some sin to creep into their lives and most often it takes the form of spiritual laziness; haven't been reading the Bible enough, or praying enough, witnessing enough, etc. The pastor must be a competent counselor and try to draw out of the individual why they think rededication is necessary. As I see it, I John 1:9 takes care of the rededication trap. "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
I find no scriptural warrant for the rededication. Nowhere is the concept or the word found in the New Testament. What you do find is the command to repent of, confess, and forsake sin. The call is for total commitment and anything less is not new Testament theology. When the prodigal son returned home from the pig sty he did not say, "Father, I want to rededicate my life!" Rather, he said, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and in thy sight..." That is real confession. Rededications may be good for the brag board and ones self esteem, but confession is good for the soul.

The Importance of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ

1. Many who see the importance of the crucifixion often overlook the importance of the resurrection. But the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ is a fundamental doctrine of the Christian faith. All our hopes stand or fall on the belief that after Jesus paid the sin debt on the cross, he actually rose again from the dead. In I Cor. 15:12-19, the apostle Paul makes the importance of this doctrine abundantly clear when he wrote that if Christ is not risen:
a. Our preaching and faith are useless...v. 14
b. The apostles are liars...v. 15
c. We are still in our sins...v. 17
d. Those who have already died have perished...v. 18
e. Christians are, above all men, the most to be pitied...v. 19

2. The Resurrection Plays A Crucial Role In Our Salvation.
a. It proves that God was satisfied with Jesus' once-for-all sacrificial atonement for sin...Rom. 3:24-26; I Jn. 2:1-2, 4:10.
"Propitiation" means satisfaction; that is, God's wrath on sin was satisfied in the death of Christ.
b. By the resurrection God exalted Christ to his right hand to be the head over all things to the church...Eph. 1:20-23
c. From the very beginning of the church in the book of Acts the preaching of the resurrection was paramount to the apostles: Acts 2:24,32; 3:15,26; 4:10; 10:40; 13:30-37; 17:31.
d. The resurrection was necessary so that Jesus could prepare a place for us and come again to receive us...Jn. 14:3.
e. The resurrection was necessary in order for Christ to send the Holy Spirit.. Jn. 14:16-19; 15:26; 16:7.
f. The resurrection was necessary so that Christ could give gifts to man...Eph. 4:7-13
g. The resurrection was necessary in order for Christ to give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel, Acts 5:31
h. Paul wrote that while the death of Christ reconciled us to God, (Col. 1:20) it is His present life that saves (preserves) us...Rom. 5:8 -10. (This text is a good argument for the doctrine of Eternal Security; we are reconciled to God by Christ's death, and kept by His life.)
I. Christ's resurrection insures the resurrection of the Believer...I Cor. 6:14; 15:20,23.

Singer Peggy Lee used to sing a song entitled, “Is That All There Is?” In the song, she sang of the tragedies of losing their house to a fire and being deserted by the one she loved. Not even the circus could give real joy, and so she questioned everything. “If that’s all there is,” the song concludes, “then let’s keep dancing, let’s bring out the booze, and have a ball,if that's all there is.”

One way to try to deal with tragedies and disappointments is to try to close the mind to them and have a party. The problem is that when the party is over the problems are still there,...but now they are bigger than ever.

Christians in the 1st century would greet one another with, ”The Lord is risen!” and the expected reply would be, “He is risen indeed!” The watchword of the early church was expectation. As Christians, we have the expectation that this world with all its attendant problems, trials, disappointments, and sorrows is not all there is! Because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, we have assurance of eternal life and a hope that is certain for eternity.

In the song "Is That All There Is?" death is referred to as the final disappointment. How sad. I once knew a devout Christian man who, on his deathbed, referred to his passing as my great adventure. What a contrast.

The promise of the resurrection is that one day our faith will become sight (we will actually see and experience what we have believed) and we will receive the end of our faith which is the salvation of our souls. I Peter 1:9

For Christians, Easter is not a holiday we observe once a year, it is a reality we experience daily because the resurrection is not a day,...the resurrection is a person, Jesus Christ.

I am the resurrection and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live. And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? John 11:25

The Creator and His Creation

Heb. 11:1-6 (Gen 1:1-3)

Last week saw the 200th birthday of a very famous man. This man was born on Feb. 12, 1809,...the same as Abraham Lincoln. The man I’m thinking about is Charles Darwin, the author of Origin of the Species, and the man considered to be the father of the theory of evolution. And I emphasize the word theory because although it has been accepted as fact, it has never been proven. Nor will it ever be.
Evolution is taught in our schools, colleges, universities, and even in some seminaries.
Nova, National Geographic, and the History Channel (to name just a few) never miss a chance to promote it in their programs.
Many “Christian” denominations and churches have now embraced the theory of evolution and have denied the Word of God.
ILLUS...Last September the Church of England issued a public apology to Charles Darwin for being so slow to embrace his atheistic view, but Mr. Darwin could not be reached for comment.

Before I go any further, I want to remind you of the official stand that we here at First Baptist Church, Cannonsburg hold,...and that is simply, the Bible is true.
Even the parts we do not understand, and the parts we have a hard time reconciling,...the Bible is true.
Even if the whole world disagrees, and even if the majority of scientists, professors, politicians, and preachers disagree and deny it, the Bible is still true.
Obviously, God is not holding His divine breath anxiously awaiting man’s verdict on His Word. God has never taken a poll, nor consulted a focus group to see if what He says is pleasing to the sensibilities of mankind.


The second proposition is this,...God’s Word never changes. It is just as true today as it was when He gave His Word.
For me it is comforting to know that in this ever changing world there is one thing that there are some things that never change; God and His Word. If this rubs you the wrong way, so be it.
A lot of preachers and Bible teachers steer clear of this subject because of the opposition of the world of academia (so-called) and because they cannot articulate a reasoned argument for creation. But it is scriptural from beginning to end and the Bible tells us to be ready always to give answer for the hope that is in us (I Peter 3:15).
I Tim. 6:20,21...True science and the Christian faith never conflict!

I believe in creation because it is Scriptural...Gen. 1:1ff
Not only is creation scriptural, it is also logical.
I confess to you I was a creationist, before I was a Christian much less a pastor because it is not logical to believe in evolution. I don’t need the Bible to prove creation. All I need is my shoe or my watch. If there is a shoe, logic tells me there must be a shoemaker. If there is a watch, there has to be a watchmaker. If there is a universe...well, you figure it out.
In Genesis the verb “created” is bara, which means “ to make something out of nothing.” When this verb is used in the Bible, the subject always connected with it is God, because only God can create something out of nothing. No thing has ever created itself.

Here’s the big problem people have: neither creation nor evolution has ever been observed, neither can either one be demonstrated in a laboratory setting. No experiment can prove either. So it all boils down to a matter of faith. Whom do you believe, Darwin and his ilk or God?


I believe God because I could never have enough faith to believe Darwin.

Creation is taught all through the Bible:
Beginning with Genesis 1-11; Job 38:1-7, Psalms 102:25-27; Ecclesiastes 12:1, Jonah 1:9; Amos 4:13; and Malachi 2:10 to name a few.
Continuing in the New Testament with John 1:3, and Paul in Acts 17:24-30.
God created the world and called it good, but something called sin marred God’s good creation, Gen. 3:1-13.
That’s the bad news, but the good news is that the Creator is also the Redeemer, Rev. 4:11.

The effects of the fall in Genesis extended to the cursing of the earth itself (Gen. 3:17-19). The presence of cemeteries in every city, town, village, and hamlet proves the truth of Genesis 3:19.
The earth itself will one day be redeemed, Rom. 8:22,23. The earth is not our mother, it is our fallen sister.
The innocence that mankind lost in the fall is regained in Christ when we trust Him as Savior and Lord.
And when we do, we become a new creation in Christ, II Cor. 5:17

If evolution is true then there is no fall, there is no such thing as sin and the judgment and no need for a Savior. Now you can see why the unbelieving world has a vested interest in evolution! Man has always wanted an excuse not to believe in God, sin, and the future judgment and evolution is just the vehicle that provides the excuse. If evolution is true, the Bible is not true.
But the Bible is true and there is a Creator to whom we are responsible for our sin. This same Creator is also the Redeemer, Eph. 2:8-10 and He can be your Redeemer.

The Keys of the Kingdom

Matthew 16:19

As we saw last week when Jesus met with His disciples at Casarea Philippi He revealed to them a startling new concept, a divine revelation, called “the church.”
This is the first mention of the church in the New Testament, but it would certainly not be the last.
Just as it is in our day and theirs, there were many false ideas about Jesus and many false religions. Jesus wanted to set the record straight with those upon whom He would entrust to be the first teachers and preachers of His church.
The founder of the true church would be Christ Himself and not Peter, or Luther, Calvin, Wesley, Campbell, Smith, et. al.
The one who is the truth was the only one who could establish the true church.

I Peter 3:15...We are not to be obnoxious, or go beyond what scripture teaches, but we should be ready and able to give an answer about or Christian faith and do it in a Christlike manner; respectfully and gently.

V. 18...WHAT IS MEANT BY “THIS ROCK”?
Various answers have been given:
1. Peter...but this is not supported by the Bible.
Thou art Peter...petros, a pebble
upon this rock...petra, a foundation stone, or shelf rock
Peter never claimed this for himself, nor did any of the apostles claim it for Peter.

I Peter 2:4-6...All believers are lively (living stones) which make up the spiritual house.


2. Peter’s confession of faith...V. 16; that which all subsequent Believer’s must give.

All Believer’s are joined to the church the same way; by faith in Christ.
It was not Peter, but Peter’s faith is the rock upon which the true church would be built.
Jesus found in Peter a true believer (I did not say perfect) and on that foundation He could build His church.
Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, V. 16

Eph. 2:19-21...Jesus would build His church on the revealed word of God, not a person. That revealed word was to be preached by the apostles and the prophets.

V. 19...WHAT ARE THE KEYS OF THE KINGDOM?
Here Jesus shifts gears because the church is not the same thing as the kingdom of God.
The Kingdom of God is the rule of God in the hearts and lives of His people. The church is a local, visible manifestation of the Kingdom.

The key is a symbol of authority; only the person with the key could open the door to let people in, or keep people out.
The entrance in to the Kingdom was vested in the apostles by the message they preached:
- Those who had the same kind of faith that Peter had were allowed in, those who were disbelieving shut themselves out.

As we have already noted, there is only one gospel and there are no substitutes; there is only one way, not many ways to God.
No one has ever been saved by believing a false gospel, or another gospel.
No one has ever been saved who did not make the confession that Jesus Christ is the (only) Son of God.

V. 19...WHAT IS BINDING AND LOOSING?
The Jews understood this term because it was used by the Rabbis to mean forbidding and permitting.
Matt. 18:18...This was not just for Peter; all the apostles were given this privilege.
The translators of the KJV were brilliant scholars, but they didn’t always understand verb tense, and our knowledge of the Hebrew, Greek, and even English languages have increased considerably since 1611.
You may only forbid on earth what has already been forbidden in Heaven. You shall permit on earth that which has already been permitted in Heaven.

Obviously, Heaven does not obey Peter and the apostles, they obey Heaven.

Matthew 6:10...As in the Model Prayer: Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, even as it is in Heaven.
Jesus was not teaching that God was bound to obey them—but that they should do on earth what God has already willed in Heaven!
The Church does not exist to get man’s will done in Heaven, it exists to obey God’s will on earth.

Simply put, to bind and loose (forbid and permit) is the God given authority to declare what is right and what is wrong according to God’s word, II Tim. 3:16,17:
for doctrine...what’s right
for reproof...what’s wrong
for correction...how to get right
for instruction in righteousness...how to stay right.

John 20:21-23...If people respond to the preaching of the gospel by repenting of their sins and placing their faith in Christ they will be forgiven of their sins. But if they refuse and rebel against Heaven’s will there is no forgiveness,...not in this world nor in the next.

V. 20 Then he charged his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ...Why would Jesus instruct the disciples thus, and then tell them not to tellanyone about it? Because they were still learning and did not yet fully grasp the death,burial, and resurrection. The time would not be right for evangelizing until after the resurrection and the ascension on the Day of Pentecost, (Acts 2) when Peter would use the "Keys" to open the door to the Kingdom to 3,000 souls.

101 REASONS WHY I AM A BAPTIST

(This list is not original with me and if I knew who to give the credit to I would, but it's too good not not share.)

1. I am a Baptist because Baptists accept the Bible to be the inspired word of God. II Tim. 3:16; II Peter 1:20, 21
2. I am a Baptist because Baptists believe the gospel to be the power of God unto salvation. Rom. 1:16.
3. I am a Baptist because Baptists believe that everyone should search and study the Bible. John 5:39a; II Tim. 2:15.
4. I am a Baptist because Baptists do not believe in adding to the Scriptures. Rev. 22:18b.
5. I am a Baptist because Baptists do not believe in subtracting from the Scriptures. Rev. 22:19.
6. I am a Baptist because Baptists do not accept any other gospel whether preached by men or angels. Gal. 1:8, 9.
7. I am a Baptist because Baptists believe in the Bible as the final verdict for man's eternal home. John 12:48b; Matt. 25:45, 46.
8. I am a Baptist because Baptists believe in One Lord, One Faith, and One Baptism. Eph. 4:5.
9. I am a Baptist because Baptists believe that the name of that One God is Jehovah. Ps. 83:18.
10. I am a Baptist because Baptists believe that God is a Spirit. John 4:24.
11. I am a Baptist because Baptists believe that God created the heavens and the earth. Gen. 1:1.
12. I am a Baptist because Baptists believe that God created man in His image and likeness, good and very good. Gen. 1:26, 31.
13. I am a Baptist because Baptists believe that man voluntarily transgressed God's holy law. Gen. 3:6.
14. I am a Baptist because Baptists believe that man's transgression affected him and all of his children forever. Rom. 5:19.
15. I am a Baptist because Baptists believe that all men everywhere are sinners. Rom. 3:9, 10.
16. I am a Baptist because Baptists believe that Christ was man's promised Redeemer. Gen. 3:15.
17. I am a Baptist because Baptists believe that Christ is God's love-gift to the world. John 3:16.
18. I am a Baptist because Baptists believe in the virgin birth of Christ. Matt. 1:20.
19. I am a Baptist because Baptists believe in the sinless perfection of the life of Christ. Heb. 4:15.
20. I am a Baptist because Baptists believe that Jesus died for our sins and in our stead. I Peter 4:1.
21. I am a Baptist because Baptists believe in the miraculous resurrection of Jesus Christ. Matt. 28:2-6.
22. I am a Baptist because Baptists believe in the ceaseless intercession of Jesus Christ. Heb. 7:25; I John 2:1.
23. I am a Baptist because Baptists believe that everyone is responsible to God for himself. Rom. 14:12.
24. I am a Baptist because Baptists believe that the only way that you can enter the Kingdom of God is by New Birth. John 3:3.
25. I am a Baptist because Baptists believe all who would be born again, or saved, must repent. Luke 13:3.
26. I am a Baptist because Baptists believe that all who would be saved must believe in Jesus Christ. John 3:18.
27. I am a Baptist because Baptists believe that God's invitation included all. Isa. 55:1.
28. I am a Baptist because Baptists believe that we are saved by grace. Eph. 2:8, 9.
29. I am a Baptist because Baptists believe that salvation is wholly of God. John 1:13.
30. I am a Baptist because Baptists believe that salvation is a gift of God. John 3:16; Rom. 6:23.
31. I am a Baptist because Baptists believe that justification is an act of God. Rom. 8:33.
32. I am a Baptist because Baptists believe that believers are justified by faith in Christ and his work of righteousness. Rom. 4:5; 5:1.
33. I am a Baptist because Baptists believe that when God Justifies, there is no one to condemn. Rom. 8:33, 34.
34. I am a Baptist because Baptists believe that Faith in Christ makes one an heir of God and a joint-heir with Christ Jesus. Rom. 8:16, 17.
35. I am a Baptist because Baptists believe in Eternal Salvation. John 3:15, 16; John 10:28-30.
36. I am a Baptist because Baptists believe that we are kept by the power of God. II Tim. 1:12.
37. I am a Baptist because Baptists believe that Christ can save unto the uttermost. Heb. 7:25.
38. I am a Baptist because Baptists believe that there is nothing that can separate us from the love of God. Rom. 8:33-39; Judg. 16:28-30; Heb. 11:13, 32.
39. I am a Baptist because Christ not only accepted, but requested the baptism of a Baptist Preacher. Matt. 3:13-15.
40. I am a Baptist because the baptism of John pleased the heavenly Trinity. Matt. 3:15-17.
41. I am a Baptist because the Baptist Church has a Spiritual Head (Christ, and only Christ). Matt. 16:18; Mk. 3:13-18; Col. 1:18.
42. I am a Baptist because Baptists believe that the Church will not be destroyed. Matt. 16:18.
43. I am a Baptist because Baptists believe in a Regenerated membership. John 3:3, 7.
44. I am a Baptist because Baptists believe that all members in the church are equal. Matt. 23:8.
45. I am a Baptist because in a Baptist Church all Ministers are of the same rank; none to be called Master or Father. Matt. 23:8, 9.
46. I am a Baptist because in a Baptist Church no minister has the right to exercise authority over another. Matt. 20:25, 26.
47. I am a Baptist because Baptist Churches are local independent bodies. Rev. 22:16.
48. I am a Baptist because Baptists believe in a spiritual or God-called Ministry. Rom. 11:29.
49. I am a Baptist because Baptists believe in a God-sent Ministry. Rom. 10:15.
50. I am a Baptist because Baptists believe in a God-appointed Ministry. Acts 20:28.
51. I am a Baptist because Baptists believe in a Spirit-directed Ministry. Acts 13:2-6.
52. I am a Baptist because our great leaders are not dictators, but servants. Mk. 10:43, 44.
53. I am a Baptist because our Pastors are under-shepherds and Overseers. Acts 20:28.
54. I am a Baptist because Baptists believe that the Scriptural Deacon is the Pastor's helper, his final and definite appointment comes from the Pastor. Acts 6:2-4.
55. I am a Baptist because Baptists believe in two church ordinances: Believers' Baptism and The Lord's Supper, both of which are symbolic and memorial in nature. Mk. 16:16; Matt. 28:19, 20; I Cor. 11:23-28.
56. I am a Baptist because Baptists believe in Baptism as an act of obedience to fulfill righteousness. Luke 6:46; Matt. 3:15.
57. I am a Baptist because Baptists believe in baptism as a symbol of death with Christ. Rom. 6:3.
58. I am a Baptist because Baptists believe in baptism as a symbol of burial with Christ. Rom. 6:4a.
59. I am a Baptist because Baptists believe in baptism as a symbol of resurrection with Christ. Rom. 6:4b.
60. I am a Baptist because Baptists believe that symbolic baptism gives glory to God. Matt. 3:15; Rom. 6:4c.
61. I am a Baptist because Baptists believe that Christian baptism must be preceded by a New Birth, and be followed by a New Life. Jn. 3:3; Rom. 6:4d.
62. I am a Baptist because Baptists do not believe that baptism is essential to salvation, but salvation is essential to baptism. Luke 23:42, 43.
63. I am a Baptist because Baptists believe that baptism should always precede, and never follow, the Lord's Supper. Matt. 28:19, 20.
64. I am a Baptist because Baptists believe that the Lord's Supper was given to the Church. Luke 22:17-20; I Cor. 11:18.
65. I am a Baptist because Baptists believe that the Lord's Supper is a memorial to the death of our Lord. Luke 22:19b.
66. I am a Baptist because Baptists believe that the bread is a symbol of his broken body. I Cor. 11:24.
67. I am a Baptist because Baptists believe that the cup is a symbol of his shed blood. I Cor. 11:25.
68. I am a Baptist because Baptists believe that the admonition to self-examination was given to the church and not out-siders. I Cor. 11:18, 28.
69. I am a Baptist because Baptists believe that divisions in the church can disqualify members for the Lord's Supper. I Cor. 11:18.
70. I am a Baptist because Baptists believe that heresy, or false teaching and practices, disqualify one for the Lord's Supper. I Cor. 11:19.
71. I am a Baptist because a Baptist Church is a Missionary Church. Matt. 28:19, 20.
72. I am a Baptist because a Baptist Church is a Spiritual Church. Acts 1:8; 2:4.
73. I am a Baptist because a Baptist Church is the church of the sanctified. John 17:17.
74. I am a Baptist because a Baptist Church is an educational institution. Matt. 28:19, 20.
75. I am a Baptist because Baptists believe in the separation of church and state. Matt. 22:21.
76. I am a Baptist because the work of a Baptist Church is worship and getting the people saved. Mk. 16:16.
77. I am a Baptist because the weapons of a Baptist Church are spiritual and not carnal. Eph. 6:10-20.
78. I am a Baptist because Baptists believe in and die for religious liberty. Rom. 14:5.
79. I am a Baptist because Baptists believe in the Lordship of Christ. Luke 6:46; Rev. 19:16.
80. I am a Baptist because Baptists believe that Christ is Lord also of the sabbath. Mk. 2:28.
81. I am a Baptist because Baptists follow Christ and his disciples in the observance of the first day of the week as the Sabbath or Lord's Day after the resurrection of our Lord. John 20:19; Acts 20:7.
82. I am a Baptist because Baptists believe that we should bring our offering to God on this, the first day of the week. I Cor. 16:1, 2.
83. I am a Baptist because Baptists believe that Jesus called or invited little children, but not infants; hence we condemn infant church membership. Matt. 18:3.
84. I am a Baptist because Baptists denounce the worship of Mary and all other saints. Matt. 4:10.
85. I am a Baptist because Baptists believe in honoring the law. Rom. 3:31.
86. I am a Baptist because Baptists believe that the law serves God's purpose in bringing us to Christ. Gal. 3:23, 25.
87. I am a Baptist because Baptists believe that Christ is the end and fulfillment of the law. Matt. 5:17; Rom. 10:4.
88. I am a Baptist because Baptists accept Christ as their Prophet, Priest, and King. Acts 3:22; Heb. 5:6; Rev. 19:16.
89. I am a Baptist because Baptists believe in the immortality of the soul. Gen. 2:7; I Cor. 15:42, 52.
90. I am a Baptist because Baptists believe in the resurrection of the body. I Cor. 15:44.
91. I am a Baptist because Baptists believe in the second coming of the Lord. Acts 1:11; II Thess. 1:10.
92. I am a Baptist because Baptists believe that all must appear before the judgment seat of Christ. Rom. 14:10.
93. I am a Baptist because Baptists believe that everyone will be justly rewarded according to their deeds. Rom. 2:6; 14:12.
94. I am a Baptist because Baptists believe that the wicked will be separated from the righteous. Ps. 1:5; Matt. 25:31-33.
95. I am a Baptist because Baptists believe that the wicked shall be driven from the presence of God. Ps. 9:17; II Thess. 1:8, 9.
96. I am a Baptist because Baptists believe that the sinners' punishment will be conscious suffering. Matt. 13:42; Rev. 1:7.
97. I am a Baptist because Baptists believe that the Judgment is a just act of God's righteousness. II Thess. 1:7, 8.
98. I am a Baptist because Baptists believe that sinners are lost because they do not believe in Christ Jesus. John 3:18; Acts 4:12.
99. I am a Baptist because Baptists believe we are saved because we do believe in Christ. John 3:15, 16.
100. I am a Baptist because Baptists believe that the unfaithful believer will be chastised in this life for all of his unfaithfulness. Heb. 12:5-12.
101. I am a Baptist because Baptists believe that the faithful believer is saved by grace, but is rewarded for his faithfulness. Eph. 2:8, 9; Matt. 5:11, 12; 25:21.

The Church Jesus Built

Matthew 16:13-19

January 25, 2009

Caesarea Philippi is located about 25 miles north of the Sea of Galilee, near Mt. Hermon. Originally it was called Paneas in honor of the god of spring, Pan. The whole region was given over to paganism. Today, it is one of Israel’s national parks and the ruins of the shrine to Pan are still there to be seen. It must have been huge and glorious in its day, but now it is just a pile of rubble, picnic grounds, gift shop and restaurant.
They were far from Jerusalem, the holy City, far from the temple, and surrounded by blatant paganism.
It is easy to say “Jesus is Lord” here at church surrounded by Christian people. But not quite so when we are in the world with its temptations to lure us away
It was here, in the real world where we live most of the time, that Jesus wanted to impress upon His disciples (and us) the truth about Himself and of His church.

V. 13 Whom do men say that I the Son of Man am?
The terms Christ and Messiah were pretty much interchangeable and meant “the anointed one”
However the term Messiah had more of a political meaning to the Jews than spiritual.
The average Jew looked for the promised Messiah but thought that He would be a king like David who would defeat their enemies, the Romans and restore the Kingdom of Israel.
It was very important that the disciples knew what kind of Messiah Jesus came to be and so our Lord would get alone with them and teach them lessons that no one else was privy to. Such as here at Caesarea Philippi.

V. 14 Some say that thou art John the Baptist,...Elias...Jeremias...or one of the prophets. Sure enough, there were a lot of conflicting ideas

Even today people argue over who Jesus is. Some say that Jesus was just a good teacher, or a mere prophet,...and they are wrong. Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and the Savior of mankind, and the builder of His church..

V. 15 But whom say ye that I am? Now we see the real reason for this pop quiz.

V. 16 Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. Peter gave the right answer, although it is unclear how much he understood about it, vss. 21-23.
This is the benchmark of all religion and the central question, not only for the disciples, but for everyone of us as well.
Def...A benchmark is the standard by which something is evaluated or measured. The reference point by which all else is measured, evaluated, or known.

The benchmark of the true church is what she believes and teaches about Jesus Christ.
What do you believe about Jesus Christ and His Church, and what are you willing to sacrifice for that belief?
- For the disciples and millions of others they were willing to lay down all they had including their lives.
- For many others, the answer is “not much.”
A religion that won’t take you to church, probably won’t take you to heaven either. And that’s the problem, many people have some religion, but they don’t have Christ.
A crowd is not necessarily a church. It was easy for Jesus to draw a large crowd as long as He was multiplying bread and fish, healing the sick, and raising the dead. But when He began to talk about commitment, the crowd began to drop off big time.

John 6:47ff…They didn’t want Christ for Himself alone, they wanted what He could give, the comforts of this life. As long as He gave them bread and healing.

The false church will promise health and wealth for the here and now.

V. 17 Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-Jona, for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my father which is in heaven.
Note the contrast here between the two sources of information:
flesh and blood...a mere man who is created and sinful.
my Father...divine revelation from God.

Without divine revelation we’ll say that Jesus is just a prophet, just a good man; good teacher, or prime example, and we’ll be wrong.

V. 18 ...I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
This is the first mention of the church in the New Testament. There was no church in the Old Testament, and it was still future here.
The Jews were God’s chosen people, but they rejected their Messiah.
Jn 1:11 He came unto His own, and his own received Him not.
Now Jesus is announcing to His disciples that His church would be the only instrument and the only institution commissioned by God to preach to the world the gospel terms and would be the agency through which God would usher in His Kingdom. There are two revelations here: Christ and His Church. The two are woven together and cannot be separated.

Doctrine Does Matter,...I Tim. 3:15,16
The true church has one founder & builder,...Jesus Christ Matt 16:18
The true church has one Mediator,...Jesus I Tim 2:5
The true church has one Comforter (helper),...the Holy Spirit Jn 16:7,8
The true church has one authority for faith and practice,...the Bible II Tim 4:16
The true church has one gospel,...the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ I Cor 15:1-4
The true church has one plan of salvation,...faith in Christ Gal 3:26
The true church has one commission,...Mk 16:15