Good News Seminar
The Bible Contains Good
News for Modern
Filipinos
Bob Marshall & Dick Ady
Bad News
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
US Heat Wave-summer 1995
Medical Tragedies
Mothers Killing their Babies
Unemployment in the Philippines
Health Problems & Hunger
Wars, Revolutions, Population Crisis
Government Waste
Abortion
Ebola Virus
• Spiritual Tragedies
The Good News
• "Gospel" (Greek "euangelion")
Means "Good News."
• The Message about Jesus is
Good News!
• Reconciliation with God.
• Joy, Joy, Joy!
God's Blessings
•
Bad News Helps Us Appreciate
Good News. Imagine:
•A bullet misses your head.
•You are cured of cancer.
•A truck misses you on a bridge.
•
Biblical Examples:
•
The woman with a back deformity
"rejoiced at all the glorious things that
were done by him [Jesus]" (Luke
13:17).
Paul was amazed and said, "the grace
of our Lord overflowed for me"
(1 Timothy 1:14).
•
God's Blessings
We Can Be Rescued from Sin
• Romans 3: 23:"All have
sinned and fall short of the
glory of God.”
• Romans 3:26: " The wages of
sin is death, but the gift of
God is eternal life in Christ
Jesus our Lord.”
The Bible Pictures Sin
as . . .
• Gangrene - (2 Timothy 2:17).
• Death - "You were dead through
your trespasses and sins" (Ephesians
2:1-2a).
• Blindness - (John 9:39-41).
• Slavery - "You are slaves of the one
whom you obey, either of sin, which
leads to death, or of obedience, which
leads to righteousness" (Romans
6:16).
The Bible Pictures Sin
as . . .
•
Prostitution (Revelation 17:1-6)
•
Heart-disease "For from within, out
of the heart of man, come evil
thoughts, fornication, theft, murder,
adultery, coveting, wickedness,
deceit, licentiousness, envy, slander,
pride, foolishness (Mark 7:21-22).
•
Defilement "Let us cleanse
ourselves of every defilement of
body and spirit, and make holiness
perfect in the fear of God" (2
Corinthians 7:1).
The Amazing Grace of
God
• "Grace" is mentioned 150
times in the New Testament.
• Words are not adequate to describe
it. Paul exhausts his vocabulary:
"Thanks be to God for his
unspeakable gift"
(2 Corinthians 9:15).
Grace is Rich
•
"God is rich in mercy" (Ephesians
2:4).
•
"In Christ "God has blessed us with
"every spiritual blessing according to
the riches of his grace which he has
lavished upon us"
(Ephesians 1:3, 7-8).
•
"To me ... this grace was given, to
preach to the Gentiles the
unsearchable riches of Christ"
(Ephesians 3:8).
Grace…is Rich
•
God extends his grace to us in times
of trouble. Paul had a thorn. God said
to him, "My grace is sufficient for you" (2
Corinthians 12:8-10).
•
Paul said that we are able to give
liberally because we have confidence in
"the surpassing grace of God"
(2 Corinthians 9:8-14).
The grace of God is even more
amazing when we consider
where and what we were.
• "While we were still weak, at the right time
Christ died for the ungodly. But God shows
his love for us in that while we were yet
sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:6,8).
• "While we were enemies, we were reconciled
to God by the death of his Son" (Romans 5:10).
• "And you he made alive, when you were dead
through the trespasses and sins in which you
walked, following the course of this world,
following the prince of the power of the air, the
spirit that is now at work in the sons of
disobedience" (Ephesians 2:1-2).
• "But God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great
love with which he loved us, even when we
were dead through our trespasses, made us
alive together with Christ.”
(Ephesians 2:4-5).
That
is
What Has God Done for
Us?
• He has "blessed us in Christ with every
spiritual blessing in the heavenly
places” (Ephesians 1:3).
• "In him we have redemption through his
blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses"
(Ephesians 1:7).
• "In his divine power, "God "has granted us
everything pertaining to life and
godliness" (2 Peter 1:3).
• He is the source of comfort, hope, and
consolation" John 14:1-6).
• He came that we might have life, and have
it abundantly (John 10:10). That is, life
that is filled with value, purpose, and
meaning.
"Meaninglessness" is a serious
problem in the modern world.
It Is Possible to Have
Everything and to
End Up with Nothing
•
•
•
The story of Homer & Langley
Collyer.
Paul's warning: "As for the rich in this
world, charge them not to be haughty,
nor to set their hopes on uncertain
riches, but on God who richly
furnishes us with everything to enjoy”
(1 Timothy 6:17).
"They [the rich] are to do good, to be
rich in good deeds, liberal and
generous, thus laying up for themselves
a good foundation for the future, so
that they may take hold of life which
is life indeed" (1 Timothy 6:18-19).
End Up with Nothing
• Jesus' Parable of the Sower
(Matthew 13:3-9; 18-23). Some people
hear the Good News and receive it with
joy, then fall away.
• The Story of the Pennsylvania
Farmer: He grew tired of watering his
cattle from a slimy creek near Titusville,
PA. Sold his farm for $833 and moved to
Canada to work in the oil fields. Oil was
discovered in Titusville. Within 10 years,
the oil income in Titusville was
$100,000,000. By 1900, it reached
$1,000,000,000. The farmer searched for
something right under his feet.
• William Randolph Hearst searched
for a valuable piece of art and found it in
his own collection. He searched for
something what was right under his nose.
End Up with Nothing?
WORD PICTURES OF
SALVATION
I. Reconciliation: From to friends.
a. Broken relationships are painful
b. The restoration of a broken relationship
with God is the essence of Christianity.
(1) The parable of the Lost Son. (Luke
15: 11-31).
(2) Man was made for fellowship with
God, but because of sin, became God's
enemy. Paul says, "God shows his love
for us in that while we were yet sinners,
Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8).
"...while we were enemies, we were
reconciled to God by the death of his Son"
(Romans. 5:10).
(3) The good news is: Enemies can
become good friends.
Salvation…Reconciliation
c. The Greek word for "reconciliation" is
"katallasso" which, in N.T. times, meant a
change of enmity into friendship.
(1) This word was used by Paul in five
passages of scripture: (Romans 5:10-11;
11:15; 2 Corinthians 5:18-20; Ephesians
2:14-17; Colossians 1:19-22).
(2) In 2 Corinthians. 5:18-20, Paul says that
God, through Christ, reconciled us to
himself...that is, in Christ, God was
reconciling the world to himself, not
counting their trespasses against them."
Then,
(a) Paul explains how God reconciled us to
himself: "For our sake, he [God} made him
to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we
might become the righteousness of god: (2
Corinthians. 5:21). God put our sins on
Jesus.
Salvation…Reconciliation
(b) By "sending his own son in the likeness
of sinful flesh, "God “condemned sin in the
flesh, in order that the just requirement of the
law might be fulfilled in us" (Romans 8:3-4).
(3) This peace offering brought peace to
heaven and earth: "Through Christ, God
was happy to bring all things back to himself
again-things on earth and things in heaven.
God made peace by using Christ’s blood
(death) on the cross. At one time, you were
separated from God. You were God's
enemies in your minds, because of evil things
you did were against God. But now, Christ
has made you God's friends again. Christ ...
brings you before God as people who are
holy, with no wrong in you, and with nothing
that God can judge you guilty of. Christ will
[continue to] do this if you continue to
believe in the Good News" (Colossians 1:2023a). ETR Version.
Salvation…Reconciliation
(4) This peace offering even brought peace
between people and other people: "The Jews
and the non-Jews were separated like there
was a wall between them. They hated each
other. But, Christ broke down that wall of
hate by giving his own body. “... through the
cross, Christ ended the hate between the two
groups.
And after the two groups became
one body, Christ wanted to bring
them both back to God. Christ did
this with his death on the cross."
(Ephesians 2:14).
Salvation…Reconciliation
Three points stand out in the
passages:
(1) Reconciliation between God and man
was brought about by the death of
Christ.
(2) Man is reconciled to God, not God
to man. God didn't leave man. Man,
through his sin, left God.
(3) Reconciliation was brought about by
what God did, not by what we did.
Salvation…Redemption
Redemption: Paying the price for
release.
a. In ancient times, a "ransom" was the
price paid to secure the release of a slave
or a prisoner of war.
b. This term is used by Jesus to describe the
purpose of his coming and his death: "For
the Son of man also came not to be
served, but to serve, and to give his life as
a ransom for many" (Mark 10:45).
(1) Jesus gave his life in order to set us
free from bondage to sin and Satan.
(2) He died that we might live.
Salvation…Redemption
c. Paul says to the Christians in Corinth, "He
[God] has delivered us from the dominion
of darkness and transferred us to the
kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we
have redemption, the forgiveness of
sins" (Colossians. 1:13-14)
d. The writer of Hebrews says that Christ
"entered once for all into the Holy Place,
taking ... his own blood, thus securing an
eternal redemption" (Hebrews 9:12).
e. We were slaves of sin trapped in the
Enemy's prison. But, Christ paid the
price that set us free from Satan's
dominion forever. That's Good News!
Salvation…Justification
3. Justification: Pronounced, "Not
guilty." Acquittal.
a. The term "justification" comes from the
language of law courts.
b. Paul uses it to describe what Christ has
done for us.
(1) "Since all have sinned and fall short
of the glory of God, they are justified by
his grace as a gift, … he justifies him who
has faith in Jesus" (Romans 3:23, 24, 26).
(2) In 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, Paul
describes people engaging in all kinds of
sinful activity. Then, he says, "And such
were some of you. But, you were washed,
you were sanctified, you were justified in
the name of the Lord Jesus Christ..."
(I Corinthians 6:11).
Salvation…Justification
c. A modern illustration of justification.
d. Justification makes us right with God,
saves us from the past, gives us access to
god in the present, and secures our future.
(1) Paul asks, "Who will bring any charge
[future of 'egkaleo'] against those whom
God has chosen? It is God who justifies
[present]. Who is he that condemns?
[present and future] Christ Jesus, who died,
more than that, who was raised to life is at
the right hand of God and is also
interceding for us? Who shall separate us
from the love of Christ?"
(Romans 8:32-35).
(2) The answer comes back, nothing will
be able to separate us from the love of God
in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:39).
Salvation…Rescue
4. Salvation.
a. In the secular realm, the word "salvation" is
used with reference to rescuing someone or
something from danger and/or destruction.
Example: Edmund Hillary was saved by his
guide Tenzing Norgay.
b. In the Bible, "salvation" is used with
reference to our deliverance from spiritual
death - eternal separation from God. It is
being saved from our sins.
(1) The angel of the Lord told Joseph that
Mary would bear a son, "and you shall call
his name Jesus, for he will save his people
from their sins" (Matthew 1:21).
(2) Peter said, "There is salvation in no one
else, for here is no other name under heaven
given among men by which we must be
saved" (Acts 4:13). Saved from spiritual
death.
SALVATION
The good news is:
•
•
•
•
•
God has given us Salvation
Safety,
Victory,
Deliverance, and
Liberation
through Jesus Christ
our Lord.
THE
HOLY SPIRIT
THE HOLY SPIRIT
1. Is a person, a member of the Godhead.
a. Personal pronouns are used with
reference to him. Example: "He will
teach you all things" (John 14:26).
b. He is eternal. (Hebrews 9:14).
c. He is everywhere. (Psalm 139:7-12).
d. He knows everything.
(1 Corinthians 2:10-11).
e. He has emotions. "Do not grieve the
Holy Spirit of God"
(Ephesians 4:30).
THE HOLY SPIRIT
2. What he did:
a. He took part in the creation
(Genesis 1:2).
b. He inspired men to write the
Bible (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Pet.
1:20-21).
c. He inspired men and women to
speak for God as prophets and
prophetesses (Acts 13:10-11;
21:9).
d. He gave some the power to work
miracles.
(1 Corinthians 12:4-11).
Temporary
(1 Corinthians 13:8-10).
GOOD NEWS ABOUT
THE HOLY SPIRIT
1. Pentecost: 2 Commands,
2 Promises
a. Commands: "Repent" and "Be
baptized.”
b. Promises: "Forgiveness of sins"
and "the gift of the Holy Spirit."
(Acts 2:38-39).
c. These promises are universal.
d. These gifts are made possible at
great cost - by the death of
Christ.
ABOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT
. . .helps us become like Jesus.
2. The Holy Spirit helps us become
like Jesus.
a. "God decided that those [his] people
would be like his Son (Jesus).
Then, Jesus would be the firstborn of
many brothers and sisters. God
planned for those people to be like his
Son" (Romans 8:29-30). ETR
b. An impossible assignment - unless we
get help from God.
We have a Helper!
ABOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT
. . .helps us become like Jesus.
c. Jesus referred to the Holy Spirit as
"the Helper" (Greek, "parakletos”)
Meaning ”One who stands beside
another as an advocate, counselor,
comforter, exhorter, and helper).
(See John 14:15-17; 14:25-26; 16:711, 12-15).
ABOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT
. . .dwells in us
d. Paul says that the Holy Spirit "dwells
in us. "
(1) "But, you are not in the flesh,
you are in the spirit, if in fact the Spirit
of God dwells in you. Any one who
does not have the spirit of Christ does
not belong to him" (Romans 8:9).
The Spirit lives in Christians.
(2) "Do you not know that you are
God's temple and that God's Spirit
dwells in you" (1 Corinthians 3:16).
ABOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT
"dwells in & leads us "
(3)."Do you not know that your body is
the temple of the Holy Spirit within
you, which you have from God?"
(1 Corinthians 6:19).
e. The Spirit leads us and walks
beside us.
(1)"Walk by the Spirit, and do not
gratify the desires of the flesh. ... But, if
you are led by the Spirit, you are not
under the law" (Galatians 5:16,18).
(2) "If we live by the Spirit, let us
also walk by the Spirit"
(Galatians 5:25).
ABOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT
"dwells in & leads us "
f. The Spirit bears spiritual fruit in
our lives: "But, the fruit of the Spirit
is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,
goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, selfcontrol" (Galatians 5:22-23).
Paul adds, "God's love has been poured
into our hearts through the Holy
Spirit which has been given to us"
(Romans 5:5).
ABOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT
"dwells in us "
g. The Spirit is helping us become
like Jesus Christ, that is, like God.
(1) Jesus Christ "is the image
[likeness] of the invisible God"
(Colossians 1:15). "He reflects the
glory of God and bears the very
stamp of his nature" (Hebrews 1:3).
(2) "And we all, ... beholding the
glory of the Lord, are being changed
into his likeness from one degree of
glory to another; for this comes from
the Lord who is the Spirit"
(2 Corinthians 3:18).
(3) The Holy Spirit is a person ... a
divine being who lives and works
within us, changing us into the
likeness of God.
ABOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT
supplements us
3. The Spirit help us but does not
override our personality.
a. He supplements us but does not
replace us.
b. He penetrates our life, lives in
our heart, and influences us at the
deepest level, but he doesn't
overpower us.
(1) He functions in us like
power steering functions in a
car.
(2) He is not coercive. He helps
us.
ABOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT
“Free”
4. When we are baptized into Christ, we
arise to "walk in newness of life"
(Romans 6:4).
a. Our old sinful self is "crucified with
him so that the sinful body might be
destroyed, and we might no longer be
enslaved to sin" (Romans 6:6).
b. We are "made free from sin's
control" (Romans 6:7). ETR
c. But, being baptized does not deliver
us from all contact with sin. It plunges us
into a conflict with sin.
d. A life-and-death struggle.
ABOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT
e. Paul's three imperatives:
(1) "Don't let sin control you"
(Romans 6:12). ETR
(2) "Do not yield your members to sin
as instruments of wickedness". (Romans
6:13a). A military term. It is translated
"weapons" in 2 Corinthians 10:4 where
Paul describes the war that we are fighting
against the forces of evil: "For the
weapons of our warfare are not worldly.”
(3) "But, yield yourselves ... to God
... and your members to God as
instruments of righteousness" (Romans
6:13b). We must cooperate.
ABOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT
But how?
How can we
conquer sin?
ABOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT
“POWER”
5. We can't conquer sin by our own power.
a. Everyone who has tried to do so has
failed.
b. Paul said, "I do not understand my own
actions. For I do not do what I want,
but I do the very thing I hate"
(Romans 7:15).
c. Paul uses personal pronouns 32
times in Romans 7.
d. Finally, Paul cries out, "Wretched
man that I am! Who will deliver me
from this body of death?" (v.24).
ABOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT
“POWER”
6. Paul answers his own question:
a. "Who will deliver me?" God will,
"through Jesus Christ our Lord"
(Romans 7:25). Victory is ours!
b.
"There is therefore now no
condemnation for those who are in
Christ Jesus ... who walk according
to the Spirit" (Romans 8:1, 4b).
ABOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT
“POWER”
c. We have victory in Christ because
the Spirit of God is living in us and
helping us 24 hours a day.
(1) The "Spirit" is mentioned 17
times in Romans 8. What does he do?
(2) He helps us conquer sin: "If by
the Spirit you put to death the deeds
of the body, you will live" (Romans
8:13).
ABOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT
“POWER”
(3) He give us inner strength. He
strengthens us "with might through his
Spirit in the inner man" (Ephesians
3:16). Ben Alexander.
(4) He leads us: "For all who are led
by the Spirit of God are sons of
God" (Romans 8:14).
(5) He bears witness with our spirit
"that we are the children of God"
(Romans 8:16). (See Galatians 4:6).
ABOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT
“POWER”
(6) He "helps us in our weakness"
(Romans 8:26).
(a) "We do not know how to pray as
we ought,”
(b) "but, the Spirit himself intercedes
for us with sighs too deep for words"
(Romans 8:26b).
(c) "The Spirit intercedes for the
saints" (Romans 8:27)
ABOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT
“POWER FOR GOOD”
7.
Consequently (because the Spirit is
helping us):
"We know that in everything
God works for good with those
who love him, who are called
according to his purpose"
a.
(Romans 8:28).
My Golden Text.
Nothing and no one can
separate us from the love of God
in Christ. (See Romans 8:35-39).
b.
ABOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT
“GOD’S PEOPLE”
8. The Holy Spirit marks us as God's
people and guarantees our
inheritance.
a. God "puts the Spirit in our hearts to
be a guarantee - a proof that he will
give us what he promised" (2
Corinthians 1:22).
b. We were "sealed with the Holy
Spirit which is the guarantee of our
inheritance until we acquire possession
of it, to the praise of his glory"
(Ephesians 1:13-14).
THE GOOD NEWS
ABOUT FORGIVENESS
1. There is no sin in today's
world that God will not
forgive.
a. Only one unforgivable sin
is mentioned in the Bible
(Matthew 11:22-23).
Blasphemy against the H.S.
b. Aside from this exceptional sin,
we can bring any sin to God
for forgiveness.
ABOUT FORGIVENESS
Forgiven
c. Paul told the Corinthian Christians
that some of them had been
"immoral," "idolaters,"
"adulterers," "sexual perverts,"
"thieves," "greedy," "drunkards,"
"revilers," and "robbers."
(1 Corinthians 6:9-10).
Yet, all of them had been
forgiven.
d.On Pentecost Sunday, Peter offered
forgiveness to those who had
killed Jesus.
ABOUT FORGIVENESS
Forgiven
e. The book of Acts shows people from
every kind of background being
forgiven.
(1) Samaritan (Acts 8).
(2) Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8).
(3) Saul of Tarsus (Acts 9).
(4) A Roman soldier, Cornelius
(Acts 10)
.
(5) A Philippian jailer (Acts 16).
ABOUT FORGIVENESS
Forgiven
2. God's grace is
larger than
our capacity to sin.
ABOUT FORGIVENESS
Forgiven
a. There are
9 words for sin
in the N.T.
ABOUT FORGIVENESS
Forgiven
b. But the are also many words that suggest
forgiveness.
(1) Rescue (Matthew 1:21).
(2) Cleansing (Acts 22:16).
(3) Not putting sin on our account
(Romans 4:8): An accounting term. "Blessed is
the man against whom the Lord will not
reckon his sin."
(4) Release, like releasing a slave (Romans
6:22): "You have been set free from sin."
(5) Drawing a veil over our sins: "Blessed
are those whose...sins are covered"
(Romans 4:7).
(6) Wiping out our sins: "Repent therefore, and
turn again, that your sins may be blotted out"
(Acts 3:19).
THE GOOD NEWS
ABOUT FORGIVENESS
We are Forgiven
(7) Forgetting our sins
forever:
(a) Isaiah 43:25 "I am He who blots
out your transgressions … and I
will not remember your sins.”
(b) Jeremiah 31:34 "I will remember
their sin
no more." Our sins.
(c) See Psalm 103:11-12.
THE GOOD NEWS
ABOUT DEATH
1. Philip of Macedon.
2. Reminders of death:
funerals, cemeteries
3. Many people avoid the
subject. Freud.
ABOUT DEATH
4.
The Bible does not evade it.
a. Job calls death "the king of terrors"
(Job 18:14)
b. One reason Jesus came to earth was
that, through his own death, "he might
destroy him who has the power of
death, that is, the devil, and deliver all
those who through fear of death were
subject to lifelong bondage" (Hebrews
2:14-15).
c. Paul said to the Thessalonians,
"Brothers, we do not want you to be
ignorant about those who fall asleep (in
death), or grieve like the rest of men,
who have no hope"
(1 Thessalonians 4:13).
ABOUT DEATH
gloom
5. Quotations from non-believers:
a. Theognis, the Greek poet who lived in
the 6th century B.C. "It is best of all
things for the children of men not
to be born, nor to see the rays of keen
sunlight; but if born to pass as soon as
may be the gates of Hades (death), and to
lie beneath a vesture of much earth"
(Elegies, 425).
b. Euripides, the Greek playwright of the
5th century B.C. "It is better that we
should call our friends together to
lament over the newly born, that
he has come to such a world of sorrows"
(Oresphontes).
ABOUT DEATH
gloom
c. Bertrand Russell, a brilliant 20th century
philosopher in England, was as hopeless
as the ancient Greeks "The life of Man is
a long march through the night,
surrounded by invisible foes, tortured by
weariness and pain."
d. Madame Curie of France wrote in her
diary, upon the death of her husband "Your
coffin was closed and I could see you no
more... We saw you go down into that
deep, big hole... Everything, everything,
everything!"
e. Such writings reflect pessimism and
gloom.
ABOUT DEATH
hope
6.
a.
Quotations form
believers:
Psalm 116:15 "Precious in the sight
of the Lord is he death of his saints."
b. Paul "For me to live is Christ, and to
die is gain"
(Philippians 1:21).
"My desire is to depart and be with
Christ, for that is far better" (Philippians
1:23).
c. Peter "By his great mercy we have been
born to a living hope through the
resurrection of Jesus Christ from the
dead" (1 Peter 1:3).
ABOUT DEATH
hope
d. Catacomb inscriptions
(1) "Gordian, the courier from Gaul,
strangled for the faith. Rests in peace.”
(2) "Alexander is not dead, but lives
above the stars."
ABOUT DEATH
hope
e.
The 1st century world
was amazed at the joy
and optimism of
Christians in the face of
death.
ABOUT DEATH
hope
7. The death of death:
a. "...It is appointed for men to die once,
and after that the judgment" (Hebrews
9:27). But, death is not final.
b. As Jesus was raised from death, so all
people who have died will be raised from
death when he comes: "For the trumpet
will sound, and the dead will be
raised imperishable" (1 Corinthians
15:52b).
c. Then it can be said, "Death is swallowed
Victory
up in
"
(1 Corinthians 15:54b).
ABOUT DEATH
death of death
8. The second death.
a. The Bible speaks of the "second death"
(Revelations 2:11; 20:6, 14).
b. We have no choice about the first
death. All must die.
c. But, we can avoid the second death.
ABOUT DEATH
death of death
d. The second death is
spiritual...eternal separation from
God:
"They shall suffer the punishment of
eternal destruction and exclusion from
the presence of the Lord and from the
glory of his might" (2 Thessalonians 1:9).
e. If, in this life, we reject Jesus
Christ, we will die
eternally.
THE GOOD NEWS
ABOUT DEATH
f.
But, the good news
is: we don't have to
experience the
second death.
Christ is offering us
eternal life.
THE GOOD NEWS
ABOUT HEAVEN
1. The NT's word-pictures about
heaven are attempts to describe
things we have never seen:
a. "...No eye has seen, nor ear heard,
nor the heart of man conceived
what God has prepared for those
who love him" (1 Corinthians 2:9).
b. Now, God has revealed some of
these things "to us through the
Spirit"
(1 Corinthians 2:10a).
c. Some are powerful images with
strong emotional impact.
ABOUT HEAVEN
word-pictures
2. Jesus said, "Let not your hearts be
troubled; believe in God, believe also
in me. In my Father's house are
many rooms; if it were not so, would
I have told you that I go to prepare a
place for you? And, when I go to
prepare a place for you, I will come
again and will take you to myself,
that where I am you may be also"
(John 14:1-4). Notice:
a. Jesus is going to prepare a place for
us.
b. He is coming back to get us.
c. There are plenty of rooms in his
Father's house.
ABOUT HEAVEN
a place
d. In heaven, we will be with God and his
Son, Jesus, and will have loving
fellowship with them forever.
e. There, our deepest needs and longings
will be satisfied.
f. It is a tragedy that people cut
themselves off from God by trying
cheap substitutes: drugs, sex, booze.
ABOUT HEAVEN
a city
3. A beautiful city.
a. During his life, Abraham lived in
tents, but he "looked forward to the
city which has foundations, whose
builder and maker is God"
(Hebrews 11:10).
b. Christians also seek the heavenly city.
"For here we have no lasting city, but
we seek the city which is to come"
(Hebrews 13:14).
c. John describes heaven as "the holy
city, new Jerusalem" with streets of
pure gold, gates of pearl, and walls
adorned with precious jewels
(Revelations 21:1-21).
ABOUT HEAVEN
a city
d. But, the most compelling descriptions of
life in the heavenly city is this: God
"himself will be with them; he will
wipe away every tear from their eyes, and
death shall be no more, neither shall there
be mourning nor crying nor pain any
more, for the former things have passed
away. … There shall no more be anything
accursed, but the throne of God and of
the Lamb shall be in it, and his servants
shall worship him; and they shall see his
face, and his name shall be on their
foreheads. And, night shall be no more;
they need no light of lamp or sun, for the
Lord God will be their light, and they
shall reign forever and ever" (Revelations
21:3-4;22:3-5).
THE GOOD NEWS
ABOUT HEAVEN
e.The Good News is:
God has made it
possible for us
(you and me)
to go there.
BAPTISM
1. Baptism is important.
a. Baptism is mentioned or referred
to more than 100 times in the
N.T.
b. Jesus walked more than 100
kilometers to be baptized
(Matthew 3:13).
BAPTISM
immersion
2. Baptism is an immersion in
water.
a. The Greek verb "baptizo" (baptize)
means "to dip, plunge, or submerge.”
b. John baptized people at Aenon
"because there was much water
there" (John 3:23).
c. When Philip baptized the Ethiopian
official, "they both went down into
the water" and then "they came up
out of the water" (Acts 8:38-39).
d. Paul calls baptism a burial.
BAPTISM
Paul… immersion
(1) He says, "When we were baptized,
we were buried with Christ
and shared his death. We were
buried with Christ so that we could
be raised up and live a new life"
(Romans 6:4) ETR.
(2) Again, Paul say, "When you were
baptized, your old self died and you
were buried with
(Colossians 2:12).
Christ"
BAPTISM
Paul… immersion
e. Historical records indicate that the
early church baptized people by
immersing them in water.
(1) Tertullian of Carthage (about A.D. 200)
wrote, "Baptism itself is a bodily act,
because we are immersed in water"
(On Baptism, 7).
(2) Ambrose of Milan (A.D. 340) said,
"You were asked, 'Do you believe in
God Almighty?' You said, 'I believe';
and thus you were immersed. That
is, you were buried" (On the
Sacraments III.i.1.2).
(3) John Chrysostom, Basil the Great, and
other church leaders also describe
baptism as a burial in water.
BAPTISM
variations
(4) The first known case of sprinkling
for baptism is that of Novation about
A.D. 251. Novation was apparently
about to die of a threatening disease, so
he was sprinkled in bed. Later, when
he recovered, he was criticized for not
having been baptized properly.
(5) The first official statement favoring
the practice of pouring water on the
head was made in A.D. 753. Pope
Stephen II was asked if, in a case of
necessity due to illness, it was lawful to
baptize by pouring water on the head.
He replied, "If such a baptism were
performed, in such a case of necessity, in
the name of the holy trinity, it should be
held valid."
BAPTISM
variations
(6) In the year 1311, a council in
Ravenna, Italy (attended by 214
bishops) declared that
sprinkling and pouring are as
good as immersion.
(7) These departures from the N.T.
came so
slowly that nobody
seemed to notice.
BAPTISM
biblical characteristics
3. Baptism is for penitent believers.
a. Teaching comes before baptism.
Jesus said to his apostles, "Go and make
disciples (learners) of all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father
and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
and teaching them to obey everything I
have commanded you"
(Matthew 28:19-20).
b. Faith comes before baptism. Jesus
said, "Whoever believes and is
baptized will be saved" (Mark 16:16).
c. Repentance comes before baptism.
Peter said, "Repent and be baptized,
every one of you..." (Acts 2:38).
BAPTISM
history
d.There is no
evidence that babies
were baptized in
New Testament
times.
Baptism was for
penitent believers.
BAPTISM
history
e. Historical records indicate that baptism
was for people old enough to believe
and turn away from sin, not for
infants.
(1) Justin Martyr (about A.D. 150) wrote:
"As many as are persuaded and
believe that the things taught and said
by us are true, and promise to … live
accordingly, these are taught to fast,
pray, and ask God for the forgiveness
of past sins, while we pray and fast with
them. Then, they are led by us to where
there is water, and ... they are born
again" (Apology I.61).
BAPTISM
history
(2) Clement of Alexander (about A.D. 200),
said, "We who have repented of our
sins, renounced our faults, and are
purified by baptism run back to the
eternal light, as children to their
father" (Instructor I.vi.32.1).
(3) All church leaders until the late 2nd
century taught that infants are
innocent and sinless.
BAPTISM
history
(4) The practice of baptizing infants (by
immersion) evidently began late in
the 2nd century.
(5) Tertullian (about A.D. 200) argued
against baptizing infants and small
children (On Baptism 18).
(6) Origin (about A.D. 250) argued in
favor of infant immersion on the
ground that infants are born tainted
by sin (Homily of Leviticus VIII:3).
(7) In A.D. 418, the Council of Carthage
ruled in favor of infant baptism.
BAPTISM
history
f. Jesus taught that little children are
innocent. "Let little children come to
me. Don't stop them, because the
kingdom of heaven belongs to
people who are like these
children" (Matthew 19:14).
g. Paul said he was spiritually alive
(innocent) as a child. Then sin
came into his life, and he died
(Romans 7:9-10).
h. Infants were not baptized in the
early church because baptism is for
the forgiveness of sins.
BAPTISM
biblical purpose
4. Baptism is for the forgiveness
of sins.
a. On the Day of Pentecost, Peter said,
"Repent and be baptized, every
one of you, in the name of Jesus
Christ for the forgiveness of
your sins" (Acts 2:38).
b. Ananias said to Saul, "And now
what are you waiting for? Get up,
be baptized and wash your sins
away, calling on his name" (Acts
22:16).
BAPTISM
biblical plea
c. And that is the question I leave with
you this evening.
(1) If you are old enough to understand the
Good News,
(2) to believe in Jesus Christ as the Son of
God,
(3) and to turn away from sin in
repentance,
(4)
Jesus is calling you, inviting you
to come and be his follower today. Be
baptized for the forgiveness of
your sins.
WHAT MAKES THE BIBLE
DIFFERENT?
1. The Bible is unique in it's
claims:
a. Eternal "The word of our God will
stand forever" (Isaiah 40:8).
b. Inspired - God breathed - "All
scripture is inspired by God"
(2 Timothy 3:16).
c. Truth "Thy word is truth"
(John 17:17).
THE BIBLE
unique
2. The Bible is unique in the way it was
written.
a. Over a time-span of 1,500 years.
b. By 40 human writers who came from
diverse backgrounds:
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)
(7)
(8)
Samuel was a judge
Amos, a sheep breeder
Ezra, a priest
Nehemiah, a statesman
David, a poet and King
Matthew, a tax collector
Luke, a physician
Peter, James and John were
fishermen, and
(9) Paul was a tentmaker
(10) Some were educated, and others were
uneducated.
Yet, their writings form one united book,
the Bible.
THE BIBLE
unique
3. The Bible is unique in its
preservation.
a. Men have tried to ban it and
destroy it, but without success.
b. Voltaire in France.
c. Enver Hoxha in Albania.
d.
Today the world's best seller.
THE BIBLE
unique
4. It is unique in accurately
predicting the future.
a. Isaiah 13:19-22 - Babylon
b. Ezekiel 26:3-5 - Tyre
5. It is unique in its historical
accuracy.
a. Historians have challenged the
Bible, but archaeology has
vindicated it.
b. For example, Belshazzar
(Daniel 5) Vs. Nabonidus.
THE BIBLE
unique
6. Unique in its scientific accuracy.
a. Isaiah speaks of "the circle of
the earth" (Isaiah 40:22).
b. David writes of "the paths of
the seas" (Psalm 8:8).
c. Job says that God "stretches
out the north over the void, and
hangs the earth upon nothing"
(Job 26:7).
THE BIBLE
unique
7. The Bible is unique in its effect
upon people.
a. No other book has so profoundly
influenced the culture and
history of the world.
b. No other book has changed so
many lives, building character
and producing hope, joy and
purpose.
WHY WE BELIEVE
THE BIBLE
1. The Old Testament writers said
they were speaking the Word of God.
"Thus says the Lord," or something
similar, is found more than 2,000 times
in the O.T.
2. Jesus Christ regarded the Scriptures
as the Word of God (Matthew 5:18;
John 10:35).
3. The apostles regarded the Scriptures
as the inspired Word of God
(2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:21).
4. Fulfilled prophecy demonstrates that
the Bible is the Word of God.
WE BELIEVE
THE BIBLE
5. Archaeology confirms the accuracy
of the Scriptures.
6. Human experience proves the Bible
is the inspired Word of God.
a. Its promises
b.
are fulfilled
It works in human experience.
WE BELIEVE
THE BIBLE
PSALMS 19:7-11
1. The Word of God is
a. Perfect - without error,
complete
b. Trustworthy - reliable, doesn't
mislead.
c. Right - straight, not crooked
d. Radiant - gives light,
illuminating
e. Pure, enduring forever - not
corrupt
f. Sure and altogether righteous
g. More precious than gold valuable
h. Sweeter than honey.
THE BIBLE
benefits
2.
Benefits received from
God's Word:
a. Reviving the soul - from sin,
trouble
b. Making wise he simple
c. Giving joy to the heart happiness
d. Giving light to the eyes.
e. By them is your servant warned;
in keeping them there is great
reward.
SOMEONE IS COMING
1. He will be a male descendant of Eve:
God said to the serpent (Satan), "I will
put enmity between you and the
woman, and between your seed and
her seed; he shall bruise [crush] your
head, and you shall bruise his heal"
(Genesis 3:15).
2. He will be a descendant of Abraham:
God said to Abraham, "through your
offspring, all nations on earth will be
blessed" (Genesis 22:18).
3. He will be a descendant of Isaac:
God said to Isaac, "Through your
offspring, all nations on earth will be
blessed" (Genesis 26:4).
SOMEONE
4. He will be a descendant of Jacob:
"All peoples on earth will be blessed
through you and your offspring"
(Genesis 28:14).
5. A descendant of Judah.
"Men from Judah's family will be
kings. The sign that his family rules
will not leave his family before the
real king comes"
(Genesis 49:10) ETR.
SOMEONE
6. He will be a prophet like Moses.
God said to Moses, "I will raise up
for them a prophet like you from
among their brothers; I will put my
words in his mouth, and he will tell
them everything I command him"
(Deuteronomy 18:18).
7. A descendant of Jesse. "A shoot will
come up from the stump of Jesse;
from his roots a Branch will bear
fruit. The Spirit of the Lord will
rest on him" (Isaiah 11:1-2)
8. He is the source (root) of Jesse. "In
that day the root of Jesse will stand
as a banner for the people" (Isaiah
11:10).
SOMEONE is Coming
Branch/shoot
Jesse
Root
SOMEONE
9. A descendant of David who will sit on
David's throne. Nathan said to
David,
"Your house and your kingdom will
endure forever before me; your
throne will be established forever" (2
Samuel 7:16).
10.Born of a virgin, and called
"Immanuel," meaning "God with
us".
"Therefore, the Lord himself will
give you a sign: The virgin will be
with child and will give birth to a
son, and will call him Immanuel"
(Isaiah 7:14).
SOMEONE is Coming
THE LORD
(God)
MY LORD
(Jesus)
DAVID
SOMEONE is Coming
11. He will be born in Bethlehem.
"But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
though you are small among the
clans of Judah, out of you will
come for me one who will be ruler
over Israel, whose origins are from
of old, from ancient times" (Micah
5:2).
12. He will be David's Lord. David
said, "The Lord said to my Lord:
'Sit at my right hand until I make
your enemies a footstool for your
feet" (Psalm 110:1).
SOMEONE is Coming
13. He will reign on David's throne
forever. "For to us a child is born, to
us a son is given. ... And he will be
called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty
God, Everlasting Father, Prince of
Peace. ... He will rule on David's
throne and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it with
justice and righteousness from that
time on and forever" (Isaiah 9:6-7).
14. He will enter Jerusalem as a king,
riding on a donkey. "Rejoice greatly,
O Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your
king comes to you, righteous and
having salvation, gentle and riding on
a donkey" (Zechariah 9:9).
SOMEONE is Coming
15. He will be betrayed by a friend.
"Even my close friend, whom I
trusted, he who shared my bread,
has lifted up his heel against me"
(Psalm 41:9).
16. He will be betrayed for 30 pieces
of silver. "So they paid me thirty
pieces of silver" (Zechariah 11:12).
SOMEONE is Coming
17. He will die for the sins of others.
"He was pierced for our
transgressions, he was crushed for
our iniquities; the punishment that
brought us peace was upon him, and
by his wounds we were healed. ...
The Lord has laid on him the
iniquity of us all" (Isaiah 53:5-6).
18. He will die by crucifixion. "They
have pierced my hands and my feet"
(Psalm 22:16).
SOMEONE is Coming
19. He will be offered gall and
vinegar. "They put gall in my food
and gave me vinegar for my thirst"
(Psalm 69:21).
20. They will cast lots for his
clothing. "They divide my
garments among them and cast lots
for my clothing" (Psalm 22:18).
21. His bones will not be broken.
"He protects all his bones, not one of
them will be broken" (Psalm 34:20).
SOMEONE is Coming
22. He will be buried with the
wicked and the rich. "For he
was cut off from the land of the
living; for the transgression of my
people he was stricken. He was
assigned a grave with the wicked,
and with the rich in his death"
(Isaiah 53:8-9).
23. He will be raised from death
before his body decays. "You will
not abandon me in the grave, nor
will you let your holy one see decay.
(Psalm 16:10).
SOMEONE is Coming
24. He will ascend to the Ancient of
Days and be given dominion
over an everlasting kingdom.
"Behold, with the clouds of heaven
there came one like a son of man,
and he came to the Ancient of Days
and was presented before him. And
to him was given dominion and
glory and kingdom that all peoples,
nations, and languages should serve
him; his dominion is an everlasting
dominion, which shall not pass
away, and his kingdom one that
shall not be destroyed"
(Daniel 7:13-14).
SUMMARY
A King is coming.
He will be . . .
1. A male descendant of Eve.
2. A descendant of Abraham.
3. A descendant of Isaac.
4. A descendant of Jacob.
5. A descendant of Judah.
6. A prophet like Moses.
7. A descendant of Jesse.
8. The source of Jesse.
9. A descendant of David.
10.The Lord of David.
11. Born of a virgin.
SUMMARY
A King is coming.
12. Born in Bethlehem.
13. Reign on David's throne forever.
14. Enter Jerusalem on a donkey.
15. Be betrayed by a friend.
16. For 30 pieces of silver.
17. Die for the sins of others.
18. Die by crucifixion.
19. Be offered ball and vinegar.
20. People will cast lots for his clothing.
21. His bones will not be broken.
22. He will make his grave with the
wicked and with the rich.
23. He will be raised from death.
24. He will ascend into heaven to rule
over an everlasting kingdom.
THE BIBLE IS OUR
AUTHORITY
1. All authority ultimately rests in
God.
a. As the Creator of the universe,
God has the right to command his
creation, because he owns it.
(1) If you own a piece of property,
buy some lumber, and build a house
on it, whose house is it?
(2) If you buy some writing paper
and a pen and write a poem, whose
poem is it?
THE BIBLE IS OUR
AUTHORITY
b. God says, "Every beast of the forest is
mine, the cattle on a thousand hills.
know all the birds of the air, and all
that moves in the field is mine"
(Psalm 50:10-11).
c. David prayed, "Everything in
heaven and earth belong
God.
to you,
You made the world and
everything in it" (Psalm 89:11). ETR
I
THE BIBLE IS OUR
AUTHORITY
d. God spoke with authority in Old
Testament times.
(1) Moses said to the Israelites, "You
shall be careful to do, therefore, as the
Lord you God has commanded you;
you shall not turn aside to the right
hand or to the left" (Deuteronomy
5:32). (See 4:2).
(2) God said, "Everything that I
command you, you shall be careful to
do; you shall not add to it or take from
it" (Deuteronomy 18:32).
(3) When Nadab and Abihu disobeyed
God by offering strange fire on the
alter, God sent fire from heaven and
consumed them. (Leviticus 10:1-2).
THE BIBLE IS OUR
AUTHORITY
2. In New Testament times, God
transferred all his authority to
his Son, Jesus Christ.
a. Jesus said, "All authority in
heaven and earth has been given to
me" (Matthew 28:18).
b. The writer of Hebrews said, "In
the past, God spoke to our forefathers
through the prophets at many times
and in various ways, but in these
last days he has spoken to us by
his Son ..." (Hebrews 1:1-2).
THE BIBLE IS OUR
AUTHORITY
c. The entire book of Hebrews is
designed to convince us that Jesus is
the person through whom God
speaks today. (See your manual.)
d. Jesus, himself, claimed to speak
with the authority of God: "For I
have not spoken on my own
authority; the Father sent me has
himself given me commandment what
to say and what to speak"
(John 12:49).
THE BIBLE IS OUR
AUTHORITY
e. And Jesus demonstrated the
authority of God in his actions.
(1) He cast out demons.
(Mark 1:21-28).
(2) He healed people of incurable
diseases. (Mark 1:40-42).
(3) He brought dead people back to
life: "Lazarus; come forth."
(John 11).
(4) He even stilled a storm on the Sea
of Galilee. "Peace; be still"
(Mark 4:39).
(5) And he forgave sins (Mark 2:5).
THE BIBLE IS OUR
AUTHORITY
3. Jesus appointed twelve apostles,
empowered them to perform miracles,
and commissioned them to be his
witnesses and representatives.
a. The apostles and a few other inspired
men wrote the New Testament as they
were moved by the Holy Spirit.
b. Jesus said to his apostles, "The Holy
Spirit … will teach you all things and
will remind you of everything I have
said to you" (John 14:26). "When the
Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you
into all the truth" (John 16:13).
c. So, the writing of the apostles in the
New Testament are the words of God.
THE BIBLE IS OUR
AUTHORITY
d. The apostles Paul said, "Even if we, or
an angel from heaven, should preach
to you a gospel contrary to that which
we preached to you, let him be
accursed" (Galatians 1:8).
e. The apostle John warned at the end of
the New Testament, "I warn everyone
who hears the words of the prophecy
of this book: if any one adds to them,
God will add to him the plagues
described in this book, and if any one
takes away from the words of the book
of this prophecy, God will take away
his share in the tree of life and in the
holy city, which are described in this
book" (Revelations 22:18-19).