September 8, 2013
Morning Service

1.       We have mentioned that at the top of what we teach is that the Bible is the infallible Word of God.

2.      The Church is the pillar, and ground of truth.(I Timothy 3:15)
....A. All authority is given to the leadership of the local fellowship by God.
....(Acts 14:23), (I Peter 5:1-3), (Matthew 16:19), (John 20:19-23)
....B. The leadership of the church consists of qualified elders(I Timothy 3)
....filling the offices of Bishop, Presbytery, and Deacons.
....C. We also believe that the five fold ministry of the church given in (Ephesians 4:11-13)
....is still very much needed today, and for the same reasons.
....D. We also believe that God still gives the spiritual gifts to the church as we have need of them.
....(I Corinthians 12), (Romans 12)
....E. We find also the Altar of God in the church. In which a man must not separate himself from this Altar, nor should he do anything that would cause the leadership of the church to bring forth disciplinary action to cause his separation from the Altar of God. (Hebrews 13:10)

We got down to what the Hebrew writer said in chapter 13, and he said:

Heb 13:8-10  Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.  (9)  Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.  (10)  We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle.

·         The Hebrew letter was written to show how much better the New Testament covenant is than the Old covenant.

·         Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines.   These different, and strange doctrines were coming from teachers of Judaism.

·         The writer tells them that the heart should be established with grace, and not with the Old testament works.  Such as not eating certain meats.

·         Then he says “we have an altar, whereof the Jews that serve the tabernacle have no right to eat.

 

On our altar is the body, and blood of our Savior Jesus Christ.  His sacrifice on Calvary far exceeds the sacrifice of bulls, and goats.   You gotta read this letter to the Hebrews.  It is so rich and powerful.

 

Justin Martyr. — Of the Eucharist.

And this food is called among us Εὐχαριστία74 [the Eucharist], of which no one is allowed to partake but the man who believes that the things which we teach are true, and who has been washed with the washing that is for the remission of sins, and unto regeneration, and who is so living as Christ has enjoined. For not as common bread and common drink do we receive these; but in like manner as Jesus Christ our Saviour, having been made flesh by the Word of God, had both flesh and blood for our salvation, so likewise have we been taught that the food which is blessed by the prayer of His word, and from which our blood and flesh by transmutation are nourished, is the flesh and blood of that Jesus who was made flesh.75 For the apostles, in the memoirs composed by them, which are called Gospels, have thus delivered unto us what was enjoined upon them; that Jesus took bread, and when He had given thanks, said, “This do ye in remembrance of Me, (Luk_22:19) this is My body;” and that, after the same manner, having taken the cup and given thanks, He said, “This is My blood;” and gave it to them alone. Which the wicked devils have imitated in the mysteries of Mithras, commanding the same thing to be done. For, that bread and a cup of water are placed with certain incantations in the mystic rites of one who is being initiated, you either know or can learn.

 

 

Something to remember;  Ecc 12:12  And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.

 

LET’S GO ON WITH WHAT WE TEACH:

1.       The Bible is our rule of faith.

2.      The church is the pillar, and ground of truth.  Jesus being the Chief Cornerstone, and Head of His church.  Fed, and nurtured by the Apostles.  Now, being autonomous,  has been left in the hands of the 5 fold ministry, for nourishment, and guideance.

3.       The plan of salvation.

A.     One must hear the Word of God. (Romans 10:14)
B. One must believe the Word of God. (Romans 10:9-10)
C. One must repent of his sins. (Luke 13:3), (Acts 17:30), (Acts 2:38)
D. One must be baptized for the remission of his sins. (Acts 2:38)
....Baptism also adds one to the church. (Acts 2:41)
....Baptism also is for regeneration. (John 3:5), (Titus 3:5)
....Baptism also places one into Christ. (Galatians 3:27)

We find as we read the Bible that Christian baptism is a very important part of salvation.  All the steps of salvation are important, and followed will give you great confidence, and faith that you are a child of God, by choice, and remove the doubt of fear that many are tormented by.

E. One must strive, with the help of the Holy Spirit, to live a holy and sanctified life. (II Corinthians 7:1), (Hebrews 12:14), (II Thessalonians 2:14)
F. The Holy Spirit is given by the laying on of an Apostle's hands. (Acts 8:18)

….By asking God for Him to abide with you.  Luk 11:13  If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?

….And Acts 5:32;  Act 5:32  And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.

And the way we obey Him is to obey the gospel plan of salvation.

 

There are several examples of people who accepted this plan of salvation in this manner in the book of Acts.  This should build our faith that this is the plan that God wants followed.

 

I trust that if you have questions you will take these notes, and follow the scriptures that are written here.  There is no substitute for reading your Bible.  You will find the more you read, the more you will begin to understand God’s will for mankind.

 

2Co 11:3-4  But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.  (4)  For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.

 

The simplicity that is in Christ.  The plan of salvation is very clear in the scriptures.  It goes without saying that some of the prophecies, and upcoming events leave us wondering, but that is okay, for we know that God is in control, and we are, by choice, His people.

 

We thank you Father for this simplicity that is in Christ, and our understanding of our being in Christ.