What Does The Bible Say?
30 Minute Discussions Of Bible Subjects
What Does The Bible Say?
What Does the Bible Say About Why Am I A Member of the Church of Christ #16?
Arnie, Fred and Glenn begin this episode by looking at what Paul said about his conversion and specifically what Ananias told him about his baptism. We look at a number of other passages that say something about baptism that tell us how important it is. We briefly look at hearing the gospel and believing it and what believing entails. We encourage our listeners to compare what the Bible says with what the church you are a member of teaches, with the purpose ultimately to follow what the Bible says because it is the word of God, our guide and pattern to follow. We move on to notice that the Lord adds the saved to His church. One does not join the Lord's church like so many denominations teach. We talk about the phrase "obey the gospel" and note that it is used in 2 Thessalonians 1:8 showing us it is a scriptural phrase and has meaning. We discuss its meaning and how that is related to salvation. We note how Paul relates salvation to running a race and how he makes that application. The Hebrew writer also mentions this, and we look at that. We talk about how obeying the gospel is more than just a mental belief in God and Jesus. Jesus had mentioned two paths at one point, and we take some time to discuss them. We close this episode out by beginning a discussion of faith and works and what the Bible says as opposed to what many denominations teach. We will begin our next episode with a continuation of this subject. Take about 30-minutes to listen in on our discussion. Have your Bible handy so you can verify what we are saying. There is a transcript of this Buzzsprout episode provided for your convenience.
This is a presentation of the Woodland church of Christ meeting at 3370 Broad Street in Sumter, South Carolina. We meet for worship on Sunday at ten thirty am and five thirty pm. We meet for bible study at nine thirty am on Sunday and seven pm on Wednesday. If you have questions or comments on this lesson, you may email them to Fred Gosnell at fgosnell@-i.net or to Arnie Granke at agranke44078@twc.com or to Glenn Landrum at scbamaboy2003@yahoo.com
Arnie:Good afternoon. This is Arnie Granke and Fred Gosnell and Glenn Landrum with Woodland church of Christ in Sumter, South Carolina. Unfortunately, one of our members, Eric, wasn't able to be with us, and so the three of us will have to handle that with without his assistance. But we're talking about Bible things, and we're interested in not only sharing some things that we know about the Bible with you, but we'd like for you also, if you wish to reply to those and and speak with us. We hope that you'll do what the Bible teaches. And we've been looking at a number of passages about Cornelius. One of them, one of the passages that we want to look at, though, is this afternoon is Acts 22 and verse 16, it says, And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized and wash away your sins calling on the name of the Lord. Glenn, what would you like to tell us about that?
Glenn:Well, I'm gonna, I'm gonna go back a little bit and refresh everyone's memory about what we were talking about last week. We've been talking about and and giving further scriptures, more scriptures, about those things that we find in the Bible that Christians should do in order to be saved, to become Christians. And we've, we've talked about hearing, we gave you scriptures on that, on believing, on repenting, on confessing. And now we've, we've given you a few scriptures already on baptism. We had no we ended up with Acts 10, 48, last week. And that was when, when Philip had gone to to meet the eunuch on the way to to Ethiopia, and he joined the eunuch, and he taught, taught the eunuch Jesus. And when they came to some water, the eunuch says, What guy can anyone permit bid me from water that these they should not be baptized, who have been received the Holy Spirit? I'm sorry, it's not that's this is not with Philip and the eunuch.. This is with Cornelius, but that's when the Gentiles were had first received the Holy Spirit, and they were to identify to the Christians that they were accepted to God as his family, just as they were. Now. Acts 22, 16 that Arnie just read. And now, why are you waiting? Why arise to be baptized and wash away your sins calling on the name of the Lord. Paul was telling of his conversion. If we go back to Acts nine, you would, you would read the actual account of that when he met Jesus on the road to Damascus. But he had, he had gone into Damascus after meeting Christ on the road and being blinded. Christ had told him to go into Damascus and meet a man named Ananias, and he would be told what to do. He did that, and the passage we just mentioned is what Ananias told him. This is important. What Ananias has said to Paul, Arise and be baptized. Wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord. We learned some important things in this passage. First, Ananias told Paul to get up and be baptized, and asked why he waited. It was important, and Paul needed to do it right away. Second, Ananias connects baptism with washing away sins. We learn here that this is the point at which baptism that sins are forgiven being that it is at this point that sins are forgiven that is the point at which salvation is granted. This is a point of contention with many denominations. Most denominations say and teach that salvation is granted at the point a person says, I believe and ask Christ to come into their life. Nowhere in the Bible is that mentioned. That is a concocted idea of man, and it is not of God. The third thing we learn is also important. Ananias identified it what calling on the name of the Lord is. Paul called upon the name of the Lord by being baptized and washing away his sins. What happens is that a person has said that they believe in Christ, and what they he had done for them, they have turned away from their sins, and they have not that they have been involved in they confessed with their mouth that they believed in Christ, the Son of God, and they submitted to the watery grave of baptism, washing away their sins and calling on the name of the Lord by their submission.
Fred Gosnell:Well, there's a number of other passages that you might look at. Let's, let's go ahead and read some of those Romans, six, three and four. Well there, Paul told the Romans. He says, Know you not that so many of us, as we're baptized into Jesus, Christ, we're baptized into his death. Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death, and like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. Now someone might say, Well, why, why is it we have to be buried in baptism? Well, because we're dead in sin from a spiritual standpoint, before we obey the gospel, we are separated from God, and we're dead in sin. So we bury dead things. So so we're baptized into Christ's death, and then we're raised up to walk in newness of life. So then we are now alive again, from a spiritual standpoint. Then in Matthew 28 verse 19, there, of course, Jesus was telling the apostles to go to all the world, preach the gospel to every creature, and in verse or Go therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you. Then Galatians chapter three, and notice all of these passages mentioned baptism. So in Galatians 3, 26, and 27 there Paul writing to the Galatians again, he says, Now, for you are all children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. So, the only way that you can get into Christ is to be baptized into Christ. Then, first, Corinthians, 12, verse 13. Read it. Go ahead.
Glenn:I've got it right here. Yeah, For by one Spirit, we were all baptized in one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves are free and have all been made to drink in to one spirit
Fred Gosnell:In Colossians. Chapter two, verse verse 12. There, of course, Paul again, all of these people Paul's writing to are Gentiles, by the way. Chapter two, verse 12, there, Paul says, Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God who hath raised him from the dead. And notice verse 13, he says, And you being dead in sins, notice and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together or made alive together with Him having forgiven you all trespasses. So again, these passages point out to us how important it is to get to be baptized.
Glenn:The next one is First Peter 3, 21, There is also an anti type which now saves us, baptism, not the removal of the filth of flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Fred Gosnell:In the last passage we have, here's Ephesians, chapter four, verse five, and this is very important. Now pay attention. He says, There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism. Now there's a number of different baptisms that people subject to. Babies are sprinkled for baptism. Sometimes they pour water on on people, but there's only one baptism that's immersion in water in the name of Christ or by his authority. So if you haven't been baptized by the Lord's authority according to the New Testament way, then that baptism is of no benefit.
Arnie:You know Fred, the the Greek word that the baptism comes from, baptizo, actually means immerse. So command, the command was to immerse, not to sprinkle or pour or anything of of that sort there. So, a number of passages here that Fred and Glenn have both have both mentioned and hearing the gospel, of course, is is one essential thing. It's necessary to be able to know and to understand the truth and what Christ has done for us, and what He expects us to to do in response to the gospel. A second item in the in our obedience to the gospel is believing. If we don't believe the gospel, we just totally out of the game altogether. There there's no help hope for us at all, unless we believe the gospel, and because it's the beginning of the process of coming to salvation, not to the end of it. So many teach that believing is the culmination of one's salvation, not so at all. We have to understand that believing is a continuing process. It's not a one time thing. We if we stop believing, at some point, we have just peeled off our salvation as if we'd taken off a shirt there. So it's a continuing process. It's not that one time thing that people think. Jesus spoke about that in John chapter 14, and beginning in verse 15. I'm not there right now. So give me a second to to get there. John, chapter 14 and and verse 15 is, is where Jesus is, is speaking, and he said, If you love Me, keep My commandments. This is further supported by First John, chapter two and verse three. Now this we know that we know Him if we keep His commandments. So both of those passages fit together there and and we need to be conscious of that. We need to follow that and obey it. Knowing this lets us know that it is a way of life that Christ wants and demands.
Glenn:You need to compare what the Bible teaches with the teachings and the doctrines of the church that you are a member of. You will probably find there are a number of differences. You cannot get around these truths presented in the passages that we have cited. There are more passages for each point, but we have given you enough to help you understand what God has included in his word so that we can understand and know the truth. You remember, we've read a number of times that Jesus said, I am the truth, or I am the Way, the Truth and Life. No one comes to the Father except by me. That's in John 14, verse six. If you find that we have misrepresented anything, we would like to hear from you so that we can examine those things and correct ourselves if we find them to be true, this is another trait that you will find among members of the Church of Christ. They are willing to read, study, evaluate what the Scriptures say. All of us are subject to making mistakes or even understanding what we read incorrectly. Our goal is to learn, grow and understand God's word as he would want us to. We have mentioned second, Timothy, 3, 16, and 17 and second. Peter, one, verse three, many times, because they are so important. We we mentioned another one in this lesson. First, Peter, 4, 11, If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do so. It as he has the ability which God supplies that in all things, God may be glorified through Jesus, Christ, to whom belong the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen, whether we are speaking or ministering, we must do it by the will of God and the way that he would have us to do it. He has given us abilities to do do things such as teach and minister, therefore, we must honor Him by being respectful of His authority. The word he has given us is sufficient for us in everything we do. We pray that you will have the same respect for His word and carefully examine the things we have have and continue to present to you,
Fred Gosnell:Yes, and of course, to this point, of course, we hope that you, we have impressed upon you as the Bible, which is the word of God, is our guide, our pattern, our blueprint for learning of God and doing what he wants us to do. And one passage that we haven't read yet, I don't think, is John 12, verse 48 now. Now notice what Jesus says here. He says, He that rejecteth me and receiveth not my words hath one that judgeth him, the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. So so ultimately, the standard of judgment, we will all we're all accountable for what we do, and at some point we will stand before the Lord and give account of what we have done in this life, and and that account would be according to what we've done, and then he will use the standard of his words to judge us. So that's why we have tried to impress upon our listeners the importance of following the bible. And of course, for us, the New Testament is our our guide. So this applies to both the way we live our lives and how we worship Him in the church he established for us to be members of it he adds us to.So remember Acts two, verse 47 notice what he said. Luke wrote there. He said, Praising God and having favor with all the people and the Lord added to the church those who were being saved. So when people answer God through their belief, their repentance, their confession, their submission to baptism, the Lord adds them to the church. At this point, you ought to be able to answer the question, which church were they added to? Of course, they were added to the church that belongs to was built by paid for by his blood, and that he continues to act as the husband and protector of, those who obeyed the gospel of our Lord. Second Thessalonians, one eight more responded to the teaching of the New Testament concerning the things God tells us to do and be saved are added to His church. Now take note, they didn't join a church. Yes, they made a choice to obey the gospel, but it was not the person who joined, him or herself to the church, you may ask. Well, why does this make a difference? Of course, it simply makes a difference because that is what God's Word says.
Glenn:We quoted Second Thessalonians one eight just a moment ago, as a passage in support of the use of the phrase obey the gospel, and here it is, In flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God and those who obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. This example is in a negative context, but it establishes that the phrase obey the gospel is a scriptural phrase, and it has meaning. To obey the gospel is to do the things which are demanded by God's word. Specifically, to obey the gospel is to respond to those things mentioned in the New Testament related to what God wants us to do, to acknowledge and take to heart what Jesus has done, gave his life, was buried, raised from the dead on the third day, seen alive by over 500 witnesses, and ascended to heaven to sit on the right hand of God, ruling over his church, the kingdom of God. We have given scriptural affirmation of all that in our lessons, giving the script, scriptural affirmation of those things is to confirm and affirm that they are true. Also, this phrase establishes that obedience is something that is required, even though many denominations teach that nothing is required of us for salvation other than believing that Jesus is the Son of God. Salvation is compared to a race or an athletic event in several scriptures, and we will look at a few of those,
Arnie:One of those that Glenn referred to is First Corinthians, chapter nine. And we'll start at verse 24 and go down to verse 27, Do you not know that those who run in a race all run but one receives the prize. Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. Therefore I run thus not with uncertainty. Thus, I fight not as one who beats the air, but I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified. So as Paul is writing to the Corinthians, he's referring to himself and and recognizing the fact that this isn't just applicable to people that are listening to a radio program centuries later, but it's it was applicable to him as well. Second Timothy chapter four is another passage that Fred was referring to. Verse seven, says, I have fought the good fight. I've finished the race. I have kept the faith. And and I think one other passage that would be applicable here is in the Hebrew letter chapter 12, beginning in verse one, verses one and two together, Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Fred Gosnell:So you can see clearly that from these verses that obeying the gospel is more than just a mental belief in God and Jesus. It is something that requires action on our part. First, we must make a choice to accept the teaching, the gospel. Then we must make a response to it. Remember when we read Matthew 7, 13, and 14? Now let's just listen to it again, here. Real, real quick. Jesus said, Enter ye in at the straight gate. For wide is the gate, and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction, and broad is the way that leadeth to to destruction. And many there be which go in thereat, because straight is the gate, and narrow is the way which leadeth to life. And few there be that find it. So there's two paths that Jesus refers to. One is wide to be easy to follow. There's many people, matter of fact, most people go on that path and that path leads to destruction. Of course, that's a reference to Hades. The other path was narrow and difficult to stay on. There were very few on the narrow, difficult path. It was the path that led to everlasting life, to heaven. In a race, it's one who puts in the most work to achieve the goal and follows the path set before them who wins the race. Simply, what are we trying to teach is that God requires things of us both to initially accept or obey the gospel and to continue to serve him after we have called upon the Lord.
Glenn:It may seem counter to the concept or teaching, but there is a truth that is very important in this. Even though there are things we must do both to obey the gospel initially, accept Christ as our Savior, we must understand that nothing we do earns us anything in regards to salvation. This is one of the areas of rightly dividing, or completely understanding comes into play. This is also why so many get it wrong. You probably know that many denominations teach that we are saved by faith or belief and faith alone, and that there is nothing that we can do to be saved. In studying and learning God's Word, we learn that we must use all of it to know that His word is really not difficult to understand. I'm going to go back a little bit. We we learned that we must use all of it to determine the truth. Why did God make it as difficult as he did? We don't know, but we do know that His word is really not difficult to understand if we pay attention to what it says. Let us look at this idea of faith versus works, or really faith and works. Ephesians, two, eight and 10, and it is the primary proof text used by those who teach faith only for salvation. Ephesians, two, eight through 10, For by grace, you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves. It is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast, For we are His workmanship, created in Christ, Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. Primarily only verses eight and nine are used as a proof text for the faith only teaching. We do not try to refute this text at all. It is absolutely true. Grace is unmerited favor, or a gift that is given to us, not because God owes it to us.
Arnie:One of the passages that Glen was referring to, or another one, anyway, is Romans, chapter 11 and verse six. It's a passage that talks about works and grace and offers a good explanation, although it's easy to misunderstand. We recognize that. And here it is a quotation. And if by grace, then it's no longer of works. Otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace. Otherwise, work is no longer work. This is a passage where you must understand the context of the time and the people being referred to. The explanation is very good, and we all need to understand it. Grace, an unmerited, an unearned, unearned gift cannot be a gift if it's something that has been worked for and earned. We know of work situations in which we earn money for the work we've done, that money is not a gift because we worked and earned it. The company or person that we work for owes it to us because we exchanged our time and effort for it. This situation was when Paul was speaking of the Jews who lived and worshiped God under the Law of Moses, in which they were required to keep, here's the number. 613 laws. Can you imagine learning all of those, knowing all of them, and then obeying all of them. And of course, none of them were capable of doing that. 613 laws or or rules to be considered righteous. No one could ever do that, except Jesus, and he did. But the principle is a good one. If you work for something, it cannot be a gift. And vice versa, if it's a gift, you cannot work for and earned it. Thus we have to abide by the principle when we are talking about the gift of salvation. So yes, God has graciously offered salvation to us without us doing anything. But just like any gift offered by someone, the recipient must accept the gift. God does not force us to accept the gift, and as a matter of fact, many will not and do not accept the gift. Glenn or Fred rather would you read second Peter, chapter three and verse nine please.
Fred Gosnell:Okay. Peter says, The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness, but is long suffering toward us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. Of course, we have to repent, something we have to do. So God wants everyone to be saved, come to repentance, but we know most do not. He offers it to everyone as a gift, but only a few accept the gift. So how do we accept the gift? Well, we have been through the things we must do in order to be saved, but we need to understand this principle of faith and works. There is no better place to go to understand it than James 2, 14, through 24. So we're going to go through that that passage a little bit at a time, rather than reading the whole passage itself.
Glenn:Starting in verse 14 of James two. It says, What does it profit my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? James asked the question that introduced this idea or concept that he's presenting. Can faith alone save a person? Verse 15, If a brother or a sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, Depart in peace and be warmed and filled, but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body. What does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if, if it does not have works is dead. James gives a great example. It does nothing for us, nor the ones who are in need of food and clothing, for us to simply say, Hey, I'm sorry. I hope you find what you need. In order to actually help them out, we have to supply them with what what they need. Thus, faith, James says, is dead. You do not have any faith that's dead, none or what you did have at one time no longer exists. We have to do something for them. This example is a very good one, that when somebody comes to us and asks for something, if we just say, Well, I hope you get to get along, we're not doing anything for them. Therefore we are not demonstrating our faith. Our faith is dead. That that's about the end of our time for for this week, so we'll pick up there next week, talking more about faith and works.