February 4, 2019

Are we thinking small enough? by Gary Rose



I find this fascinating. Imagine, being able to view every aspect of the the world around you at a glance. To see everything, to know how everything fits together and understand the complexities of your world at a glance. Take this just a bit farther and try to see yourself in this microcosm. How do you fit in it? More importantly, how should you fit in it? In the Scriptures, someone came to Jesus, looking to simplify his understanding of pleasing God and fitting in.

Mark puts it this way…


Mark 12 ( World English Bible )
  28  One of the scribes came, and heard them questioning together. Knowing that he had answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the greatest of all?”
  29  Jesus answered, The greatest is, ‘Hear, Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one:   30  you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’  This is the first commandment.   31  The second is like this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’  There is no other commandment greater than these.” 

  32  The scribe said to him, “Truly, teacher, you have said well that he is one, and there is none other but he,  33 and to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbor as himself, is more important than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” 

  34  When Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, You are not far from the Kingdom of God.” 


Why did the “commandment” question in the first place? The obvious answer would be to please God, but perhaps to obey God might be a bit more accurate. After all, obeying God’s laws was paramount for the Jews. But to look for a centralization of obedience in the form of a condensation?

Jesus responds with a dual answer of God; God first, others second. Fortunately, the Scribe understands. Ritual is subordinate to obedience and obedience is motivated by love. Truly love and you will truly obey.

Are we thinking small enough yet?

Bible Reading February 4 and 5 by Gary Rose


Bible Reading February 4 and 5

World English Bible

Feb. 4
Genesis 35

Gen 35:1 God said to Jacob, "Arise, go up to Bethel, and live there. Make there an altar to God, who appeared to you when you fled from the face of Esau your brother."
Gen 35:2 Then Jacob said to his household, and to all who were with him, "Put away the foreign gods that are among you, purify yourselves, change your garments.
Gen 35:3 Let us arise, and go up to Bethel. I will make there an altar to God, who answered me in the day of my distress, and was with me in the way which I went."
Gen 35:4 They gave to Jacob all the foreign gods which were in their hands, and the rings which were in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the oak which was by Shechem.
Gen 35:5 They traveled, and a terror of God was on the cities that were around them, and they didn't pursue the sons of Jacob.
Gen 35:6 So Jacob came to Luz (that is, Bethel), which is in the land of Canaan, he and all the people who were with him.
Gen 35:7 He built an altar there, and called the place El Beth El; because there God was revealed to him, when he fled from the face of his brother.
Gen 35:8 Deborah, Rebekah's nurse, died, and she was buried below Bethel under the oak; and its name was called Allon Bacuth.
Gen 35:9 God appeared to Jacob again, when he came from Paddan Aram, and blessed him.
Gen 35:10 God said to him, "Your name is Jacob. Your name shall not be Jacob any more, but your name will be Israel." He named him Israel.
Gen 35:11 God said to him, "I am God Almighty. Be fruitful and multiply. A nation and a company of nations will be from you, and kings will come out of your body.
Gen 35:12 The land which I gave to Abraham and Isaac, I will give it to you, and to your seed after you will I give the land."
Gen 35:13 God went up from him in the place where he spoke with him.
Gen 35:14 Jacob set up a pillar in the place where he spoke with him, a pillar of stone. He poured out a drink offering on it, and poured oil on it.
Gen 35:15 Jacob called the name of the place where God spoke with him "Bethel."
Gen 35:16 They traveled from Bethel. There was still some distance to come to Ephrath, and Rachel travailed. She had hard labor.
Gen 35:17 When she was in hard labor, the midwife said to her, "Don't be afraid, for now you will have another son."
Gen 35:18 It happened, as her soul was departing (for she died), that she named him Benoni, but his father named him Benjamin.
Gen 35:19 Rachel died, and was buried in the way to Ephrath (the same is Bethlehem).
Gen 35:20 Jacob set up a pillar on her grave. The same is the Pillar of Rachel's grave to this day.
Gen 35:21 Israel traveled, and spread his tent beyond the tower of Eder.
Gen 35:22 It happened, while Israel lived in that land, that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah, his father's concubine, and Israel heard of it. Now the sons of Jacob were twelve.
Gen 35:23 The sons of Leah: Reuben (Jacob's firstborn), Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun.
Gen 35:24 The sons of Rachel: Joseph and Benjamin.
Gen 35:25 The sons of Bilhah (Rachel's handmaid): Dan and Naphtali.
Gen 35:26 The sons of Zilpah (Leah's handmaid): Gad and Asher. These are the sons of Jacob, who were born to him in Paddan Aram.
Gen 35:27 Jacob came to Isaac his father, to Mamre, to Kiriath Arba (which is Hebron), where Abraham and Isaac lived as foreigners.
Gen 35:28 The days of Isaac were one hundred eighty years.
Gen 35:29 Isaac gave up the spirit, and died, and was gathered to his people, old and full of days. Esau and Jacob, his sons, buried him.

Feb. 5
Genesis 36

Gen 36:1 Now this is the history of the generations of Esau (that is, Edom).
Gen 36:2 Esau took his wives from the daughters of Canaan: Adah the daughter of Elon, the Hittite; and Oholibamah the daughter of Anah, the daughter of Zibeon, the Hivite;
Gen 36:3 and Basemath, Ishmael's daughter, sister of Nebaioth.
Gen 36:4 Adah bore to Esau Eliphaz. Basemath bore Reuel.
Gen 36:5 Oholibamah bore Jeush, Jalam, and Korah. These are the sons of Esau, who were born to him in the land of Canaan.
Gen 36:6 Esau took his wives, his sons, his daughters, and all the members of his household, with his livestock, all his animals, and all his possessions, which he had gathered in the land of Canaan, and went into a land away from his brother Jacob.
Gen 36:7 For their substance was too great for them to dwell together, and the land of their travels couldn't bear them because of their livestock.
Gen 36:8 Esau lived in the hill country of Seir. Esau is Edom.
Gen 36:9 This is the history of the generations of Esau the father of the Edomites in the hill country of Seir:
Gen 36:10 these are the names of Esau's sons: Eliphaz, the son of Adah, the wife of Esau; and Reuel, the son of Basemath, the wife of Esau.
Gen 36:11 The sons of Eliphaz were Teman, Omar, Zepho, and Gatam, and Kenaz.
Gen 36:12 Timna was concubine to Eliphaz, Esau's son; and she bore to Eliphaz Amalek. These are the sons of Adah, Esau's wife.
Gen 36:13 These are the sons of Reuel: Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah. These were the sons of Basemath, Esau's wife.
Gen 36:14 These were the sons of Oholibamah, the daughter of Anah, the daughter of Zibeon, Esau's wife: she bore to Esau Jeush, Jalam, and Korah.
Gen 36:15 These are the chiefs of the sons of Esau: the sons of Eliphaz the firstborn of Esau: chief Teman, chief Omar, chief Zepho, chief Kenaz,
Gen 36:16 chief Korah, chief Gatam, chief Amalek: these are the chiefs who came of Eliphaz in the land of Edom; these are the sons of Adah.
Gen 36:17 These are the sons of Reuel, Esau's son: chief Nahath, chief Zerah, chief Shammah, chief Mizzah: these are the chiefs who came of Reuel in the land of Edom; these are the sons of Basemath, Esau's wife.
Gen 36:18 These are the sons of Oholibamah, Esau's wife: chief Jeush, chief Jalam, chief Korah: these are the chiefs who came of Oholibamah the daughter of Anah, Esau's wife.
Gen 36:19 These are the sons of Esau (that is, Edom), and these are their chiefs.
Gen 36:20 These are the sons of Seir the Horite, the inhabitants of the land: Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah,
Gen 36:21 Dishon, Ezer, and Dishan. These are the chiefs who came of the Horites, the children of Seir in the land of Edom.
Gen 36:22 The children of Lotan were Hori and Heman. Lotan's sister was Timna.
Gen 36:23 These are the children of Shobal: Alvan, Manahath, Ebal, Shepho, and Onam.
Gen 36:24 These are the children of Zibeon: Aiah and Anah. This is Anah who found the hot springs in the wilderness, as he fed the donkeys of Zibeon his father.
Gen 36:25 These are the children of Anah: Dishon and Oholibamah, the daughter of Anah.
Gen 36:26 These are the children of Dishon: Hemdan, Eshban, Ithran, and Cheran.
Gen 36:27 These are the children of Ezer: Bilhan, Zaavan, and Akan.
Gen 36:28 These are the children of Dishan: Uz and Aran.
Gen 36:29 These are the chiefs who came of the Horites: chief Lotan, chief Shobal, chief Zibeon, chief Anah,
Gen 36:30 chief Dishon, chief Ezer, and chief Dishan: these are the chiefs who came of the Horites, according to their chiefs in the land of Seir.
Gen 36:31 These are the kings who reigned in the land of Edom, before any king reigned over the children of Israel.
Gen 36:32 Bela, the son of Beor, reigned in Edom. The name of his city was Dinhabah.
Gen 36:33 Bela died, and Jobab, the son of Zerah of Bozrah, reigned in his place.
Gen 36:34 Jobab died, and Husham of the land of the Temanites reigned in his place.
Gen 36:35 Husham died, and Hadad, the son of Bedad, who struck Midian in the field of Moab, reigned in his place. The name of his city was Avith.
Gen 36:36 Hadad died, and Samlah of Masrekah reigned in his place.
Gen 36:37 Samlah died, and Shaul of Rehoboth by the river, reigned in his place.
Gen 36:38 Shaul died, and Baal Hanan, the son of Achbor reigned in his place.
Gen 36:39 Baal Hanan the son of Achbor died, and Hadar reigned in his place. The name of his city was Pau. His wife's name was Mehetabel, the daughter of Matred, the daughter of Mezahab.
Gen 36:40 These are the names of the chiefs who came from Esau, according to their families, after their places, and by their names: chief Timna, chief Alvah, chief Jetheth,
Gen 36:41 chief Oholibamah, chief Elah, chief Pinon,
Gen 36:42 chief Kenaz, chief Teman, chief Mibzar,
Gen 36:43 chief Magdiel, and chief Iram. These are the chiefs of Edom, according to their habitations in the land of their possession. This is Esau, the father of the Edomites.


Feb. 4, 5
Matthew 18

Mat 18:1 In that hour the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Who then is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?"
Mat 18:2 Jesus called a little child to himself, and set him in the midst of them,
Mat 18:3 and said, "Most certainly I tell you, unless you turn, and become as little children, you will in no way enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.
Mat 18:4 Whoever therefore humbles himself as this little child, the same is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.
Mat 18:5 Whoever receives one such little child in my name receives me,
Mat 18:6 but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to stumble, it would be better for him that a huge millstone should be hung around his neck, and that he should be sunk in the depths of the sea.
Mat 18:7 "Woe to the world because of occasions of stumbling! For it must be that the occasions come, but woe to that person through whom the occasion comes!
Mat 18:8 If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off, and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life maimed or crippled, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into the eternal fire.
Mat 18:9 If your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out, and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into the Gehenna of fire.
Mat 18:10 See that you don't despise one of these little ones, for I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven.
Mat 18:11 For the Son of Man came to save that which was lost.
Mat 18:12 "What do you think? If a man has one hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, doesn't he leave the ninety-nine, go to the mountains, and seek that which has gone astray?
Mat 18:13 If he finds it, most certainly I tell you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine which have not gone astray.
Mat 18:14 Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.
Mat 18:15 "If your brother sins against you, go, show him his fault between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained back your brother.
Mat 18:16 But if he doesn't listen, take one or two more with you, that at the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
Mat 18:17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the assembly. If he refuses to hear the assembly also, let him be to you as a Gentile or a tax collector.
Mat 18:18 Most certainly I tell you, whatever things you bind on earth will have been bound in heaven, and whatever things you release on earth will have been released in heaven.
Mat 18:19 Again, assuredly I tell you, that if two of you will agree on earth concerning anything that they will ask, it will be done for them by my Father who is in heaven.
Mat 18:20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am in the midst of them."
Mat 18:21 Then Peter came and said to him, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Until seven times?"
Mat 18:22 Jesus said to him, "I don't tell you until seven times, but, until seventy times seven.
Mat 18:23 Therefore the Kingdom of Heaven is like a certain king, who wanted to reconcile accounts with his servants.
Mat 18:24 When he had begun to reconcile, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents.
Mat 18:25 But because he couldn't pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, with his wife, his children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.
Mat 18:26 The servant therefore fell down and kneeled before him, saying, 'Lord, have patience with me, and I will repay you all!'
Mat 18:27 The lord of that servant, being moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt.
Mat 18:28 "But that servant went out, and found one of his fellow servants, who owed him one hundred denarii, and he grabbed him, and took him by the throat, saying, 'Pay me what you owe!'
Mat 18:29 "So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, 'Have patience with me, and I will repay you!'
Mat 18:30 He would not, but went and cast him into prison, until he should pay back that which was due.
Mat 18:31 So when his fellow servants saw what was done, they were exceedingly sorry, and came and told to their lord all that was done.
Mat 18:32 Then his lord called him in, and said to him, 'You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt, because you begged me.
Mat 18:33 Shouldn't you also have had mercy on your fellow servant, even as I had mercy on you?'
Mat 18:34 His lord was angry, and delivered him to the tormentors, until he should pay all that was due to him.
Mat 18:35 So my heavenly Father will also do to you, if you don't each forgive your brother from your hearts for his misdeeds."

Chapter 11 BAPTISM by CA Feenstra

http://www.oldpaths.com/Archive/Feenstra/C/A/1931/ch11.html

Chapter 11
BAPTISM
Q. Does GOD'S WORD teach that man is saved by the grace of God?
"For the grace of God hath appeared, bringing salvation to all men..." Titus 2:11
"Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus." Rom. 3:24
"But we believe that we shall be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in like manner as they." Acts 15:11
"But by the grace of God I am what I am..." I Cor. 15:10
"For by grace have ye been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not of works, that no man should glory." Eph. 2:8-9
Q. According to GOD'S WORD, how is a man saved by grace?
"For by grace have ye been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not of works, that no man should glory." Eph. 2:8-9
"Not by works done in righteousness, which we did ourselves, but according to his mercy he saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit..." Titus 3:5
"Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except one be born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God ... Ye must be born anew." John 3:5, 7
"And he (Jesus) said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to the whole creation. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved..." Mark 16:15-16
Q.1 Does GOD'S WORD teach that baptism is for the remission of sins?
"And Peter said unto them, Repent ye, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins; and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." Acts 2:38
Q.2 Does GOD'S WORD teach that all men must be baptized to be saved?
"And he (Jesus) said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to the whole creation. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved..." Mark 16:15-16
Q.3 Does GOD'S WORD teach that baptism washes away sins?
"And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on his name." Acts 22:16
Q.4 Does GOD'S WORD teach that baptism puts us into Christ?
"Or are ye ignorant that all we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?" Rom. 6:3
"For as many of you as were baptized into Christ did put on Christ." Gal. 3:27
Q.5 Does GOD'S WORD teach that by baptism we put on Christ?
"For as many of you as were baptized into Christ did put on Christ." Gal. 3:27
"Abide in me, and I in you." John 15:4
Q.6 Does GOD'S WORD teach that God gives us the gift of the Holy Spirit at baptism?
And Peter said unto them, Repent ye, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins; and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." Acts 2:38
"And we are witnesses of these things; and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God hath given to them that obey him." Acts 5:32
Q.7 Does GOD'S WORD teach that it is necessary for one to be baptized in order to enter the kingdom of God?
"Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except one be born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." John 3:5
Q.8 Does GOD'S WORD teach that baptism saves?
"Which also after a true likeness doth now save you, even baptism, not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the interrogation of a good conscience toward God, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ..." I Pet. 3:21
Q.9 Does GOD'S WORD teach that when we are baptized we are added to the church by the Lord?
"Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls...
And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved." Acts 2:41, 47 AV
"And he is the head of the body, the church..." Col. 1:18
"For in one Spirit were we all baptized into one body..." I Cor. 12:13
Q.10 Does GOD'S WORD teach that in baptism our old man or nature is put to death and buried?
"Or are ye ignorant that all we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him through baptism into death ... For if we have become united with him in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection; knowing this, that our old man was crucified with him, that the body of sin might be done away, that so we should no longer be in bondage to sin; for he that hath died is justified from sin. But if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him ... Even so reckon ye also yourselves to be dead unto sin, but alive unto God in Christ Jesus." Rom. 6:3-11
Q.11 Does GOD'S WORD teach that in baptism we are raised to walk in newness of life and to be alive unto God?
"We were buried therefore with him through baptism unto death: that like as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we also might walk in newness of life ... Even so reckon ye also yourselves to be dead unto sin, but alive unto God in Christ Jesus." Rom. 6:4, 11
Q.12 Does GOD'S WORD teach that baptism is a form of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, and that when sinners obey this form of teaching, they are delivered and made free from their past sins?
"We who were baptized...
Our old man was crucified...
We were buried...
Like as Christ was raised … so we also might walk in newness of life ... Whereas ye were servants of sin, ye became obedient from the heart to that form (or pattern) of teaching whereunto ye were delivered; and being made free from sin, ye became servants of righteousness. Rom. 6:3-8, 17-18
Q.13 Does GOD'S WORD teach that the gospel is the good news of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ for sinners, and that in baptism man obeys this gospel in order to benefit from Christ's sacrifice?
"The gospel which I preached unto you ... by which also ye are saved ... That Christ died ... and that he was buried ... and that he hath been raised..." I Cor. 15:1-4
"And he (Jesus) said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to the whole creation. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved..." Mark 16:15-16
"What shall be the end of them that obey not the gospel of God?" I Pet. 4:17
"Inflaming fire, rendering vengeance ... to them that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus: who shall suffer punishment, even eternal destruction from the face of the Lord and from the glory of his might..." II Thess." 1:7-9
Q.14 Does GOD'S WORD teach that what happens at baptism causes men to rejoice?
"And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they both went down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip; and the eunuch saw him no more, for he went on his way rejoicing." Acts 8:38-39
"And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, immediately. And he brought them up into his house, and set food before them, and rejoiced greatly, with all his house, having believed in God." Acts 16:33-34
Q.15 Does GOD'S WORD teach that even sinless Jesus in taking the sinner's place, had to be baptized to fulfil all righteousness?
"Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to the Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. But John would have hindered him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? But Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffereth him. And Jesus when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water." Matt. 3:13-16
Q.16 Does GOD'S WORD teach that Jesus, who was given all authority, commanded baptism?
"And Jesus came to them and spake unto them, saying, All authority hath been given unto me in heaven and on earth. Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." Matt. 28:18-19
Q.17 Does GOD'S WORD teach that the apostles of Jesus commanded men to be baptized?
"And he (Peter) commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ." Acts 10:48
Q.18 Does GOD'S WORD teach that we reject the counsel of God when we refuse to have ourselves baptized?
"But the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected for themselves the counsel of God, being not baptized of him." Luke 7:30
Q.19 Does GOD'S WORD teach that baptism is the answer of a good conscience toward God?
"The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ." I Pet. 3:21 AV
Q.20 Does GOD'S WORD teach that baptism is the washing by which the Spirit regenerates and renews the repentant believer?
"Not by works done in righteousness, which we did ourselves, but according to his mercy he saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit..." Titus 3:5
"Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except one be born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." John 3:5
Requirements of GOD'S WORD
BaptismImmersionSprinkling
Water - Acts 8:36YesYes
Much water - John 3:23YesNo
A going into the water - Acts 8:36YesNo
A going down into the water - Acts 8:38YesNo
Both the baptizer and the one to be baptized
going down into the water - Acts 8:38-39
YesNo
A burial - Rom. 6:4YesNo
A planting - Rom. 6:4 AVYesNo
A resurrection - Col. 2:12YesNo
A birth - John 3:5-7YesNo
Body washed - Heb. 10:22YesNo
A coming up out of the water - Matt. 3:16, Acts 8:39YesNo
Q. Does GOD'S WORD teach that believing and repenting are always to preceed baptism?
"And he (Jesus) said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to the whole creation. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that disbelieveth shall be condemned." Mark 16:15-16
"And Peter said unto them, Repent ye, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins; and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." Acts 2:38
"But when they (the Samaritans) believed Philip preaching good tidings ... they were baptized..." Acts 8:12
"And as they went on the way, they came unto a certain water; and the eunuch saith, Behold, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? (And Philip said, If thou believest with all thy heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.) And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they both went down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him." Acts 8:36-38
"And he (the jailor) called for lights and sprang in, and, trembling for fear, fell down before Paul and Silas, and brought them out and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus, and thou shalt be saved, thou and thy house. And they spake the word of the Lord unto him, with all that were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, immediately. And he brought them up into his house, and set food before them, and rejoiced greatly, with all his house, having believed in God." Acts 16:29-34
Q. Where in GOD'S WORD do we find one example of a person who was baptized before he believed and repented?
Q. Does GOD'S WORD teach that households heard the WORD, believed, were baptized, and rejoiced because they were saved?
"And brought them out and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus, and thou shalt be saved, thou and thy house. And they spake the word of the Lord unto him, with all that were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, immediately. And he brought them up into his house, and set food before them, and rejoiced greatly, with all his house, having believed in God." Acts 16:30-34
"And Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed in the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized." Acts 18:8
Q. Since babies today cannot hear, believe, and rejoice, what proof do we have from GOD'S WORD that the babies in Philippi and Corinth could hear, believe, and rejoice?
* * *
"And having found the disciples, we tarried there (at Tyre) seven days ... And when it came to pass that we had accomplished the days, we departed and went on our journey; and they all, with wives and children, brought us on our way till we were out of the city..." Acts 21:4-5
"They therefore that were scattered abroad, went about preaching the word. And Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and proclaimed unto them the Christ. And the multitudes gave heed with one accord unto the things that were spoken by Philip, when they heard, and saw the signs which he did ... But when they believed Philip preaching good tidings concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women." Acts 8:4-6, 12
Q. Why did Luke the inspired writer mention "children" at such an unimportant event as when the Christians at Tyre brought Paul on his way, but did not mention "children" when the people in the city of Samaria heard the gospel, believed and were baptized?
Q. If small children were baptized in Samaria, why did he not refer to them with the "men and women" in Acts 8:12?
Q. According to GOD'S WORD, who only are those added to the Lord?
"And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women..." Acts 5:14
* * *
Q. Since Matt. 28:18 teaches that Jesus has all authority in heaven and on earth, where in GOD'S WORD do we find His command to us to sprinkle babies?
Q. From GOD'S WORD, can you give the names of some apostles and others who sprinkled babies?
Q. From GOD'S WORD, can you give the names of some babies who were sprinkled?
Q. Where in GOD'S WORD is baptism ever called a "sign and seal"?
* * *
Q. According to GOD'S WORD, how many baptisms do we have in this present gospel age?
"There is... one baptism." Eph 4:4-5
* * *
"Learn not to go beyond the things which are written." I Cor. 4:6
"Whosoever goeth onward and abideth not in the teaching of Christ, hath not God: he that abideth in the teaching, the same hath both the Father and the Son." II John 9
"Jesus... said
He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my sayings, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I spake, the same shall judge him in the last day." John 12:44, 48

Published in The Old Paths Archive
(http://www.oldpaths.com)

What Do Other See When they Look at you? by Ben Fronczek


http://granvillenychurchofchrist.org/?p=1473


What Do Other See When they Look at you?

What Do Others See   
(Readings Matthew 5:14-16 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
and Galatians 5:19-23a  “The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. 
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control.”
Opening Story:  One day a little girl who was on her way home from Church, turned to her mother and said, “Mommy, the preacher’s sermon confused me.”  Her mother said, “Oh! Why is that?”       The girl replied, “Well he said that God is bigger than we are. Is that true?” Her mother replied, “Yes.”     “Well,” she continued,, “if God is bigger than us and He lives in us, wouldn’t He show through?”
In many ways this little girl was quite right. If I am a Christian and God the Spirit lives in me, it is only logical that He should somehow show through.
God should show through. If His Spirit lives in us it should be evident. Just like you can sometimes tell where a person is from by their accent or other physical features, in a similar manner people should recognize something God-like in us if He is indeed living in us.
In Galatians 5 Paul talks about how a person acts if they choose to live in a worldly manner (some translators refer it as a living according to the flesh). Everything about that kind of life stems from a self centered, self gratifying, selfish way of thinking, living and acting.
But the Apostle Paul tells us that as Christians we should not live that way. Rather we should walk or follow the lead of God’s Holy Spirit which is now living inside of us.
And then in verse 5:22-23, Paul makes an amazing statement. He says, “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control.”
I thought a lot about this verse this past week and prayed that God would open my eyes so that I could understand it better. And so I want to share with you what I believe He revealed to me.
When you and I think of God and His character traits and nature, what do we usually think of? In most cases His Awesomeness, His holiness, His power, His Love, His patience with us, His mercy and kindness, and the fact that He is peace loving, and good, and kind to us, and so much more like this.
 Then I thought about what Paul wrote here in Gal. 5:22.   For years when I considered this verse, I was under the assumption that if I wanted to become a better Christian I had to learn to love others more, and try to be good and kind, and gentle, and somehow learn to become more faithful and be more self controlled. And if I got to that point where I had faith, well, I would somehow please God, and be happier and find peace.
…As if having all these blessed traits depended on my effort to be a better Christian.
But this week, I believe with the Lord’s help, I realized that I have miss-understood this verse and what Paul was saying in this passage. When we consider what fruit is, we know that it is a natural by-product so something, (like fruit from a plant or fruit of the womb).
But I don’t think these attributes mentioned here are natural by-products of ‘the man of flesh’. People are just naturally selfish, and self seeking. Consider a child. They think they are the center of the world and everyone is going to drop everything when they cry out. Yes we do demonstrate these behaviors to some degree because we are created in God’s own image; but not to the extent of what Paul is portraying here.
As a matter of fact if you look carefully at this verse, it does not even say that these attributes are fruits of our nature, rather, they are fruits of the Spirit.Spirit with a big ‘S’. They are fruit of God Himself, of HIS SPIRIT, not ours.
And God’s Spirit, which is loving, and joy-filled, and peaceful and patient, and kind and good and gentle, now lives in us!
So what does that mean for you and me? The Christian does not have to do this, that, and the other thing to attain these attributes they are already in us.
Just like the God’s Spirit makes available, His wisdom, insight, instruction, and can convict certain areas of our life, the Spirit came into us to share these attributes and blessing with us.
We just need to recognize the fact that we already have them and then we need to learn how to access what we already have inside us.
But just like we can ignore the Holy Spirit’s advice, promptings, tugs on our life, and bury them under a thick layer of self centered indulgence, desire, and wants, we can just as easily bury that God-infused love, peace and mercy that He wants to surface in our life.
In my mind it’s like having this great talent, maybe the ability paint great portraits or master pieces, or sculpt, or write music or a bestselling novel, and you don’t even know that you have that talent hidden inside you. But it does not mean that it is not there buried somewhere inside you.
Or maybe you do realize you have a particular talent to do something but then never use that talent. You don’t draw, you don’t ever pick us a paint brush, or pen to write, or sing, or teach or let that ability come out for whatever reason.
In the same way that God has anointed us with certain talents and abilities, He has also given or anointed us with these wonderful fruits, His own attributes to use and develop in our own live (just like a talent).
But what do we do? Either we bury or hide them under our own selfish desires, sometimes intentionally and sometimes unintentionally.
If we are not allowing God’s blessed attributes to shine thru our life, either we don’t realize we have them or we are like that guy who lights a lamp and covers it over with a bowl called selfishness.   (LAMP PROP ILLUS.) (Turn a small lamp on and slowly bury with sheets of paper with ‘no love’, ‘no forgiveness’, ‘no kindness or gentleness’, ‘no generosity’, ‘no self control, and ‘no faith’… until the light is very dim.)
And explain: Even though we have God’s love somewhere inside us and it should burst forth like a bright light, sometimes we don’t want to love someone because they hurt us. We don’t want to forgive them because we already forgave them once before. We don’t want to be kind or gentle because you simply don’t feel like it. You don’t want to be generous because you reason that you worked too hard for that money just to give it away.
Or you maybe could you care less about having self control in certain regarding certain things because if you want to eat or drink too much you feel that ‘that’s your right.’ And if you want to swear or curse like a sailor, or scream, or yell at people all the time, or even act like a pervert because you like to do it, not one has the right to tell you to stop. It’s a free country.
Or maybe being faithful in certain areas of your life isn’t your thing either. You show up when you fell like showing up, even if it’s a hour or two hours late. If you feel like shortchanging your employer, you friend, or even cheat on your spouse every once in a while, it’s no big deal because it makes you feel good.
We don’t like to admit that we do or say any of these things. They sound sooo selfish. And that’s what they are. And when we act like this those attributes which are meant to bless us and bless others remain hidden.
 Peter wrote in 2 Peter 1:3-4 “…God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.”
God has given us everything we need to live a good and Godly life. It’s all right inside us because He is inside us. We just need to realize it and claim those blessings and make a choice to deny those foolish, even childish desires of the flesh and choose His way over our own.
When we feel those selfish stirrings we need to push that aside and claim God’s blessing. When we feel greedy or stingy we need to fight those impulses and push them aside and grab a-hold of God generous and giving nature for our self. (Remove the sheets of paper off the lamp one at a time)
When we feel hostile and angry, and mean, we need to realize those are acts of flesh and not deserving to inherit the Kingdom of God. We need to push them away and realize that we are heading in the direction that the devil wants us to go. And then you need to look down and inside yourself and pray that the Spirit will help you to find God’s love, and ability to forgive, and act in a way that seeks peace.
When you feel like you are getting out of control you need to remind yourself that you have God’s Spirit inside you to ready and willing help you get back on track. He is now going to force you, but you have to decide that you are not going to let that selfish, self centered, sinful nature get the best of you and remember that God wants to share these attribute with you.
Claim those blessings. Push away those ungodly negative urges knowing that you can act like God because He has given you everything you need to do it. It’s not something you have to earn. You already have the ability to show and feel God’s love, joy, and peace, and show patience. We can be kind, and good, and faithful, and gentle and have self-control like never before because He’s already given you those traits. They are in you and part of you. We just need believe it, claim it, and enjoy what He has given us. So don’t bury them. Let you light shine!