Tag Archives: salvation

To The Elders

Posted on November 15, 2023 by bibleteacherorg

1 Peter 5:1-4 The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: 2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; 3 Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.

When I came across this the other day, I thought of Jerry Bridenbaugh, our Worship Leader and resident Lawyer. The man who told it to me started out with, “This is a true story, and there are court records that prove it”. This is from the British Newspaper, The Guardian:

“A lawyer in Charlotte, North Carolina, bought a box of very rare and expensive cigars, then insured them against fire. A month later, after smoking all the cigars, he filed a claim against the insurance company, claiming that the cigars had been destroyed “in a series of small fires”. Naturally, the insurance company refused to pay, arguing that he had consumed the cigars in the normal way. The lawyer sued and won…. Continue reading →

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The Golden Petition

Posted on November 10, 2023 by bibleteacherorg

… As Jesus came into Jerusalem this last time, crowds formed around Him. They believed that Jesus was the Miracle Worker Who would help overthrow Rome and Roman rule, and return Israel to its rightful place in the world. As these people cheered Jesus, our Lord knew their hearts, and knew that before the week was out they would be demanding His crucifixion before Pilate (Mark 15:12-13). They wanted a Jesus, a Messiah Who would conquer the enemy, which they believed was Rome.

Jesus did come to conquer the enemy called SIN.
Not just for Israel, but the whole WORLD.

As Jesus rode into Jerusalem, He rode in on a donkey, not on a stallion horse. This was a fulfillment of the Prophecy of.. Continue reading →

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The Righteous Scarcely Saved

Posted on November 8, 2023 by bibleteacherorg

1 Peter 4:16-19 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf. 17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? 18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? 19 Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator…. Continue reading →

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Anointing Jesus

Posted on November 3, 2023 by bibleteacherorg

John 12:1-3 Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead. 2 There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of … Continue reading →

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Above All Things

Posted on October 31, 2023 by bibleteacherorg

1 Peter 4:7-8 But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer. 8 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.

As Peter looked at the madness of society around him, he declared “the end of all things is at hand”. Both Israel and Rome had become so decadent and divorced from the God of Scripture, that he knew it was not long before both nations would collapse. Israel would collapse in 70 AD, as Jerusalem and the Temple were destroyed. Rome would fall a little over 400 years later, in 476 AD. Moral corruption, the political division of the empire, and invasions by what we would call “illegal aliens” who attacked the citizenship. The Bible tells us:

Psalm 33:12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people whom he has chosen as his heritage!

What kept the Roman Empire going for 400 years after Israel was scattered?

God’s Church, the people for whom Christ died.

Nations have come and gone since Christ walked this earth. These once great nations are now only found in history books:… Continue reading →

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We All Shall Give An Account

Posted on October 24, 2023 by bibleteacherorg

1 Peter 4:5-7 Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead. 6 For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit. 7 But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.

Last week we saw how the Christian – a person saved by Grace – would be considered at odds with the world. Though we used to walk in (see verse 3):

lasciviousness (Greek aselgeia), wanton unbridled lust, shamelessness
lusts (Greek epithymia), desire for the forbidden
excess of wine (Greek oinophlygia), drunkenness
revelings (Greek kōmos), carousing, rioting, partying
banquetings (Greek potos), bar hopping, drinking about
abominable idolatries (Greek athemitos eidōlolatria), wokeness

we no longer do this. God through the Apostle Peter tells us why the Gospel is preached. Why do we tell people about Jesus? Why do we ourselves focus on the Gospel? Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Peter, Sermons Preached | Tagged being judged, Following Christ, great white throne, Holiness, judgment seat, love God, salvation, stewardship | Leave a comment

Martha Faith, Mary Faith, and Religious Faith

Posted on October 24, 2023 by bibleteacherorg

John 11:21-27 Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. 22 But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee. 23 Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again. 24 Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. 25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: 26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? 27 She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.

There’s three kinds of faith that has always been in the world. There is Martha Faith, Mary Faith, and Religious Faith. Everybody in this room has one of these types of faith.

Martha Faith Saves, But Is Weak

Those who have Martha Faith are saved by grace.

The Pharisees that followed and persecuted Jesus were not saved by Grace. They believed that they could be saved by their works, by keeping sacraments, performing blood sacrifices, and by serving the Law faithfully. They dressed in a certain way, and faithfully attended synagogue, keeping the sabbaths that the Law established. God said through the Prophet:… Continue reading →

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The One God Helps Part 2

Posted on October 13, 2023 by bibleteacherorg

John 11:17-22 Then when Jesus came, he found that he had lain in the grave four days already. 18 Now Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off: 19 And many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother. 20 Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house. 21 Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. 22 But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee.

Last week we started looking at one of the greatest miracles Jesus did, the resurrection of Lazarus. This is not the first time Jesus resurrected the dead. A ruler of the Synagogue named Jairus (Luke 8:41) came to Jesus because his daughter lay dying. When Jesus got to his home, the daughter was dead. But Jesus …

Luke 8:54-55 (AP) … took her by the hand, and said “maiden, rise”, and she arose and ate …

In Luke 7:12 Jesus met a funeral procession. A widow of Nain, her only son, was being carried to his tomb. The Bible says … Continue reading →

Posted in John, Sermons Preached | Tagged blessed hope, death, Dying, rise again, salvation | Leave a comment

Arm Yourselves

Posted on October 11, 2023 by bibleteacherorg

Please turn with me in your Bibles to

1 Peter 4:1-2 Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; 2 That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.

Opening: Last week Andy Stanley’s Church, North Point Community, held what they called an “Unconditional” conference. Two of the speakers were men “married” to other men. During the conference, LGBTQ was recognized as legitimate categories of human identity. When criticized, Stanley replied:

“We’re dealing with real people and real relationships. … It is not political for me. … It is relational, because we are in ministry, and because we’ve learned to distinguish between theology and ministry, we can figure this out.”

What Stanley is saying is that we should unhitch ministry from theology, that is, from what the Bible says. Yet Jesus never did this. When Jesus addressed His critics, it was always with “It is written”. … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Peter, Sermons Preached | Tagged Following Christ, God Is Faithful, gospel, Jesus Christ, salvation, sin, sin is death, sin not my master, Suffering | Leave a comment

The Great Ark Of God

Posted on October 3, 2023 by bibleteacherorg

It should not surprise you if I tell you people make mistakes, that people are fallible, and prone to evil. Yet God never makes mistakes. People can be ignorant, dense even, but God knows all things. He is ever faithful, ever dependable, ever trustworthy, and very precise. His precision is seen in the Heavens, in their clockwork movement, in their complexity. It amazes me that people are constantly looking for space aliens and ufo’s, but will not look around the beauty of this earth and see God’s handiwork. Only a fool would look at creation and ascribe it to random chance. The Bible says:

Psalm 14:1-3 (ESV) The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds; there is none who does good. 2 The Lord looks down from heaven on the children of man, to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God. 3 They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one.

To do good is to look around you, to look up, to see the clear design of the Creator’s loving hand, and to rejoice that He cares so much for us. Of the thousands of worlds that are seen by astrologers, only earth has been so blessed by God. It is here that He planted us, it is here that He loves us…. Continue reading →