Tag Archives: salvation

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 →

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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 →

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You are gods

Posted on September 29, 2023 by bibleteacherorg

The Jews had so twisted and re-interpreted the Law, that it was but a shadow of what it should be. As The Messiah Jesus came to FULFILL the Law. He came as the “Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). He came to be the “once for all” sacrifice for sin (Hebrews 7:27; 9:26). He came to give His people – and us – a clear and concise understanding of God’s Law and what He expects of His people. Jesus is actually quoting:

Psalm 82:1-7 God standeth in the congregation of the mighty; he judgeth among the gods. 2 How long will ye judge unjustly, and accept the persons of the wicked? Selah. 3 Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy. 4 Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked. 5 They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of course. 6 I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High. 7 But ye shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes.

What is God speaking of in Psalm 82? How does this apply to Jesus? In the passage Jesus is quoting, Psalm 82, God is speaking to the Judges and Leaders of Israel. The Word of God came to these Judges and Leaders, and God Himself appointed these people to represent Him before the people. The Enduring Word Commentary notes:… Continue reading →

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Jesus The Good Shepherd

Posted on September 22, 2023 by bibleteacherorg

Please turn with me in your Bibles to:

John 10:11-18 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. 12 But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. 13 The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. 15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. 17 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. 18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.

Jesus spent a great deal of time describing Himself and His mission by using every day items that people would understand. For instance, last week Jesus described Himself:… Continue reading →

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A Double Amen Door

Posted on September 8, 2023 by bibleteacherorg

John 10:1 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.

The Double Amen Emphasizes Truth

Jesus loved to ask His hearers questions, questions to make them think. But Jesus also loved to use illustrations. He looked at the world around Him, and used truths from that world to explain Heavenly things.

Word Study: Today Jesus starts out with “Verily, verily”, which is literally “amēn amēn”. When the Preacher is speaking in the Church, sometimes the people (if they’re not asleep) say “amēn”. When a prayer is said, we generally end it with “amēn”.

Have you ever thought about what “amēn” means?

In the Old Testament, God used the word “amēn” (also the Hebrew ‘āman) to refers to “something that is faithful, established, or unshakable”. Through Isaiah, God prophecies that Israel is going to be punished for rejecting His leadership. Though God will set up a King named Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, and promises that …

Isaiah 22:23 And I will fasten him as a nail in a sure {‘āman} place; and he shall be for a glorious throne to his father’s house.

Nonetheless Israel will fall, because they continue…. Continue reading →

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Do You Believe?

Posted on September 6, 2023 by bibleteacherorg

We have been studying the longest passage in Scripture on Jesus’ healing a man born blind. Jesus healed other blind people, but the entirety of chapter 9 deals with this one man. Interestingly, we never know this man’s name. But God knows it. Jesus knows his name. Jesus healed this man to show us that, as Messiah, He came to give sight to the blind. God told Moses:

Exodus 4:11 (ESV) … Who hath made man’s mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the LORD?

It is God who makes a person. People say, “How can a loving God allow that child to be born blind, or with cancer, or with some horrid disease?” Yet what we are saying in reality is,

We have created a false god, an image of the true, in what we think is our image and in our likeness. God is not like what we want Him to be. God is as He is. God does what He does for a purpose. He is God, and we are not.

It is God – the LORD God Almighty – that makes each person according to His will. He made this man on purpose. God made this man blind so that, as we found out in verse 3, “that the works of God should be made manifest in him”. He was made blind from birth so that we all could see the power of Jesus over those who believe in Him. This man’s blindness could be healed – but the blindness of the Pharisee, the self righteousness of man made religion – cannot be fixed. … Continue reading →

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Jesus Christ Our Example

Posted on September 6, 2023 by bibleteacherorg

Several years ago a horrible lie was pushed through the Protestant pulpits and seminaries, a lie that continues to this day. This lie caused a lot of harm. It basically said this:

“Salvation is a free gift of God. Once you are saved,
you don’t have to do anything else. There is a…. Continue reading →

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The People Of God

Posted on August 30, 2023 by bibleteacherorg

In an article entitled “What’s Behind America’s ‘Great Dechurching’?” John Stonestreet and Shane Morris of the Colson Center Breakpoint note:

“U.S. church membership, as a percentage of the population, is now at a record low—down more than 20 points in the twenty-first century. … the Southern Baptist Convention, America’s largest Protestant denomination, lost half a million members last year … ”

Why is this happening? The article goes on to note what I’ve believed for years. I want to read you what they wrote:

“If Christianity is merely a kind of hobby or weekly pep talk designed to enhance psychological well being or career success, then we can find better stuff on YouTube or Spotify. Why make time for this type of church every week? … Continue reading →

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Jesus Healing The Blind

Posted on August 25, 2023 by bibleteacherorg

Last week we started looking at “the man born blind that Jesus healed” in John chapter 9. This was not the only blind man Jesus healed. When John the Baptist had a crisis of faith, and sent messengers to ask if Jesus was indeed the Messiah, our Lord said:

Matthew 11:5 The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.

Jesus listed “The blind receive their sight” first, making it more important than “the dead are raised up”. Jesus came to give spiritual sight to whosoever would listen to Him. He illustrated this by “being Light” (“I am the Light of the world” – John 8:12), but also by healing the blind. Jesus healed two blind men in Matthew 9:27-31, one of whom was called Bartimaeus (Mark 10:46-52). Jesus also healed a blind man in Bethsaida (Mark 8:22-26).

This Passage in John 9 Is The Longest And Most
Detailed Account Of Christ Healing The Blind

The other passages dealing with the blind are covered in about 17 verses of Scripture – but here we have an entire chapter devoted to blindness. The man born blind from birth starts the chapter, and triggers other events. But he is not the only blind person in this chapter. … Continue reading →

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Wherefore, Part 2

Posted on August 22, 2023 by bibleteacherorg

Sadly, we have yet another scandal in the Southern Baptist Convention. In our paper The Baptist and Reflector I saw the headlines,

MCLAURIN RESIGNS AS INTERIM PRESIDENT OF SBC EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

I thought it might be good news, that Willie was being called as President of the SBC Executive Committee. Willie took over as Interim President when it was alleged that Ronnie Floyd was guilty of sexual abuse. To quote another article, “McLaurin … brought calm to a battered organization in the wake of former president Ronnie Floyd’s resignation and to the EC’s handling of sexual abuse claims related to SBC churches. ”

Sadly, that was not the case. Brother McLaurin submitted a resume that – Willie admits – “included schools I did not attend or complete the course of study”. McLaurin wrote, “To the Southern Baptists who have placed their confidence in me and have encouraged me to pursue the role of President & CEO of the SBC Executive Committee, including pastors, state partners, entity servants, colleagues, and SBC African American friends, I offer my deepest apologies. Please forgive me for the harm or hurt that this has caused”.

Though I do not endorse what Brother McLaurin did – it is a violation of God’s Word to lie and misrepresent – I personally am praying for our entire Convention. We are not recognizing elders who are Spirit Filled and God Led, but are approaching God’s Word in the power of the flesh. It does not matter how many degrees you have. The reported Prince of Preachers, C.H. Spurgeon had no seminary training whatsoever. He was God led.

Beloved, are we GOD led, or are we FLESH led?
What is our goal every Sunday at this Church?… Continue reading →

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