Author: Art Davison

THE DOCTRINE OF THE ATONEMENT FOR SIN–EPH. 2:8,9

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 THE DOCTRINE OF THE ATONEMENT FOR SIN
MEMORY VERSE: EPH. 2:8,9

The extreme importance of salvation is emphasized in our Confession of Faith. It is the subject of 5 (25%) of our 20 Articles of Faith.
1. The word “atonement” is found in our English Bible only once in the N.T. (Rom. 5:11).
2. The Greek word “KATALLAGE” – noun; “KATALLASSO” – verb; is translated atonement (1), reconciliation (2), reconciling (1), reconcile (6). This word “denotes reconciliation, a change on the part of one party, induced by an action on the part of another; in the N.T., the reconciliation of men to God by His grace and love in Christ.” Vine. God is never said to be reconciled. It is man that must be reconciled.
3. The O.T. word for atonement “KAPHAR” (has to do with a covering), is translated 70 or more times “make atonement”, and is translated “make reconciliation” 4 times. It is also translated a number of other ways–pacify, pardon, purge away, etc. It is definitely related to the N.T. mercy seat and propitiation.
4. While it is helpful to consult word studies on atonement, reconciliation, etc., we must be careful not to take a restricted meaning of a word that may not harmonize with the overall usage in the Bible.
I. SALVATION IS BY GRACE.

A. God Saves Only Sinners. (See Article “VI. Of The Fall).

1. Man is a sinner by birth, nature and practice.

2. Sin is transgression of the Law. I John 3:4. (Anything that is not in the will of God is sin).

B. Salvation Is Wholly By God’s Grace.

1. Grace is God’s unmerited favor. No man merits it.

2. It is wholly of grace. Not part grace and part works. See (a)-1-2-3

II. SALVATION IS BY THE SAVIOUR.

A. What The Saviour Did For Sinners.

1. He became the mediator, the go-between who possessed the nature of both God and man. I Tim. 2:5

2. He was appointed by the Father. (b)-1 John 3:16

3. He freely took upon Him our nature, yet without sin. (b)-3 Phil. 2:7

4. He personally obeyed all the Laws of God, and lived a life completely and perfectly in the will of God.

5. By His death He made full and vicarious atonement for our sins. “Vicarious” means on behalf of, or in place of another. Through the sacrifice of Christ, God is propitiated and the sinner is reconciled unto God. See (b)-5-67-8-9

B. The Saviour Took The Sinner’s Place.

1. He was a perfect example, but it was not through His perfect example that men are saved. He did not die as a martyr.

2. He voluntarily became our substitute. (c)-1-2-3

3. He bare our sins in His own body. (c)-4 I Pet. 2:24; (c)-5 1 Pet. 3:18.

4. His sacrifice completely satisfied the Father. (c)-6 Isa. 53:11; (c)-7 Heb. 12:2

C. He Is Now Our [Believer’s] High Priest And Intercessor.

1. He was raised from the dead. (d)-1 I Cor. 15:20; I Cor. 15:4

2. He is now sitting at the right hand of the Father, making intercession for us. I John 2:1,2; (d)-3 Heb. 9:12-15; (d)-4 Heb. 7:25. See also Heb. 10:10-14 and Rom. 5:8-11.

A NEW COMMANDMENT–JOHN 13:34-35; 1 JOHN 2:8-10

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A NEW COMMANDMENT
JOHN 13:34-35; 1 JOHN 2:8-10
Introduction:
The Lord knew that the only way these disciples would be able to continue in unity was through the bond of His love, John 17:21, “That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.” So the Lord gave them a “new commandment” in v. 34, “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.”
I. THIS IS MY COMMANDMENT

John 15:12, 17, “This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.”

A. This is the commandment of JESUS CHRIST, vs. 17, 34, “These things I command you, that ye love one another. 34-A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.”
B. This commandment comes DIRECT from the THRONE OF GOD.
C. This is a commandment, NOT A REQUEST, John 13:34, “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.”
1. WHY are we commanded to love? John 13:35, “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”
2. Without love we are,..
a. As sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal, 1 Corinthians 13:1, “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.”
b. We are nothing, 1 Corinthians 13:2, “And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.”

II. THIS IS A NEW COMMANDMENT

1 John 2:8-10, “Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth. 9-He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now. 10-He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.”
A. Now you walk in the true light, 1 John 1:7, “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.”
1. If we walk in the light, we are TO WALK IN LOVE, Ephesians 5:2, “And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.”
2. Followers of God walk in love, Ephesians 5:1-2, “Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; 2-And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.”
B. We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren, 1 John 3:14, “We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.”
1. Evidence of salvation, “because we love the brethren.”
2. Evidence of a lack of salvation, “He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.”
C. This is HIS commandment, 1 John 3:23, “And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.”
D. We are to ABOUND in love one toward another, 2 Thessalonians 1:3, “We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth;”
1. Increase in love, 1 Thessalonians 3:12, “And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you:”
2. Increase more and more, 1 Thessalonians 4:9-10, “But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another. 10-And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more;”

III. THIS IS A COMMANDMENT TO LOVE ALL THE SAINTS OF GOD

Colossians 1:3-4, “We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, 4-Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints,”
A. In bearing each other’s burdens, Galatians 6:2-4, “Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. 3-For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. 4-But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.”
B. Do good to those of the household of faith, Galatians 6:10, “As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.”
C. Show kindness to the brethren, Colossians 3:12-13, “Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; 13-Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.”

CONCLUSION

The Lord commanded us to love one another as He loved us. That was a sacrificial love. He gave His all to redeem us from sin. Therefore, what is it if we give our all in loving one another in order to glorify our Saviour?

GREAT AND PRECIOUS PROMISES–2 PETER 1:1-4

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GREAT AND PRECIOUS PROMISES“Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”

2 PETER 1:1-4

INTRODUCTION:

There are many promises given to the believer in Christ. The very first promise to him is that of Salvation or Eternal Life, when that person puts their faith in Jesus Christ as their personal Savior. This is without doubt the greatest blessing that a person can receive on this earth.


That first blessing is only the beginning of what God has for the believer during his life on this earth. As Peter has said; these promises are “exceeding great and precious promises.” Consider some of these promises:
I. I WILL GIVE THEM ETERNAL LIFE

JOHN 10:28, “And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.”


A. This is the ONE THING everyone seeks to obtain, MATTHEW 19:16, “And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?”
B. There is ONLY ONE THING that can be done to obtain eternal life, FOLLOW JESUS, MATTHEW 19:21, “Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.”
C. Eternal Life ACCORDING TO HIS WORD, JOHN 5:24, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”

1. The PRESENT tense: Hears; Believes; Has Life.
2. The FUTURE tense: Never comes into CONDEMNATION!!
3. The PRESENT tense again: IS PASSED from death to life!

II. “MY KINDNESS SHALL NOT DEPART FROM THEE”

ISAIAH 54:10,  “For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the LORD that hath mercy on thee.”


A. God’s KINDNESS will NEVER DEPART from us, PSALM 89:33, “Nevertheless my lovingkindness will I not utterly take from him, nor suffer my faithfulness to fail.”

1. His kindness is compared to the mountains around Jerusalem (a sign of stability), PSALM 125:2, “As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the LORD is round about his people from henceforth even for ever.”

B. God’s promise of PEACE will NEVER BE REMOVED,

1. It is an everlasting covenant of peace, EZEKIEL 37:26, “Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them; it shall be an everlasting covenant with them: and I will place them, and multiply them, and will set my sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore.”
2. The Lord will KEEP His Word, PSALM 89:34, “My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips.”
3. He will NOT ALTER His Word, NUMBERS 23:19, “God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?”

C. From the Mercy of God comes all of this, EPHESIANS 2:4-5, “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5. Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)”

1. The declaration of the saved is, PSALM 118:4, “Let them now that fear the LORD say, that his mercy endureth for ever.”
2. The declaration of the thankful is, PSALM 118:29, “O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.”

CONCLUSION:

Since God promised us eternal life when we put our faith and trust in Jesus Christ as our personal Savior; what more can we ask? There are many more precious promises God has given those who receive Christ as Savior.

When we put our trust in Him, knowing that the Bible says that God can not lie; in Titus 1:2 “ In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;” we can have confidence in Him to take care of everything else in our lives.

FAITH THAT IS SEEN–LUKE 5:17-20

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FAITH THAT IS SEEN
LUKE 5:17-20

Introduction:
How can faith, being an invisible quality or attitude, be seen? New Testament faith acts in accordance with what it asserts to be true. Faith that claims validity but sees obedience as a nonessential extra is bogus. Jesus taught that those who LOVE (ie, trust, believe in) HIM will also DO what He commands, JOHN 14:15, “If ye love me, keep my commandments.”
Let’s look at faith:



I. WHAT IS FAITH?

A. The PERSUASION of the mind that a certain statement IS TRUE.


1. Faith in the GOSPEL of Christ, Philippians 1:27,  Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;
2. Faith is the BELIEF of the TRUTH, 2 THESSALONIANS 2:13,  “But we are bound to give thanks always to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:”
3. The PRIMARY IDEA of faith is TRUST, PROVERBS 3:5, “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.”

a. God’s WAYS are INCOMPREHENSIBLE, ISAIAH 55:8,9, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.  9- For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
b. His judgments are UNSEARCHABLE, ROMANS 11:33,34 “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!  34- For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?”
c. Yet the Lord is RELIABLE and FAITHFUL, 1 THESSALONIANS 5:24, “Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.”

B. Belief, a FORM of doctrine, EPHESIANS 4:5, “One Lord, one faith, one baptism,”

1. There is only ONE GOSPEL of Christ, i.e., one faith, GALATIANS 1:6-7, “I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:  7- Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.”
2. It is the BELIEF OF THE TRUTH that opens the gates of heaven, Isaiah 26:2, “Open ye the gates, that the righteous nation which keepeth the truth may enter in.”

II. BOGUS FAITH

A. Faith that SPEAKS, but DOES NOTHING, JAMES 2:17, “Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.”

1. NOT BASED in God’s LOVE, 1 CORINTHIANS 13:3, “And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.”
2. FEIGNED faith, 2 PETER 2:1-3, “But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. 2- And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. 3- And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.”

B. Faith that FOCUSES ON MAN, JEREMIAH 17:5, “Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD.”
C. Faith that is HYPOCRITICAL, (a person who pretends to have virtues, moral or religious beliefs, principles, etc., that he or she does not actually possess), MATTHEW 23:27, “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness.”

III. AUTHENTIC FAITH

A. Faith that BRINGS SALVATION, Hebrews 10:39, “But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.”
B. Faith that is ACTIVE, JAMES 2:20-22, “But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?  21- Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?  22- Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?”
C. Faith that is KNOWN, EPHESIANS 1:15,16 “Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, 16- Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;”
D. Faith that PLEASES God, HEBREWS 11:6, “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”

CONCLUSION:
The faith of the Word of God is faith that is seen. It is faith that is active, accomplishing the will of God. It is not a put-on to be seen, but, rather, a trust in the Lord motivated by God’s love for man. It is an authentic faith.

COME AND DINE–JOHN 21: 1-14

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COME AND DINE
JOHN 21: 1-14
INTRODUCTION:

One day in the not too distant future (3rd appearance) we will hear the word of our Lord when He says in verse 12, “Come and dine.” At present He is preparing us a place and soon He will come and receive us to Himself. He will speak as a Friend, the one who loves us with an everlasting love.

I. NOTICE HERE HOW FREE CHRIST WAS WITH HIS DISCIPLES.

A. He treated them as FRIENDS, JOHN 15:13-14, “Greater love hath no man that this that a man lay down his life for his friends. 14-Ye are my friends if ye do whatsoever I command you.

B. HE DID NOT SAY to His disciples, Come, and wait, Come, and attend me, but COME AND DINE, JOHN 21:12, “Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, who art thou? Knowing that it was the Lord.

C. When the Lord calls, you will not ask, WHO ARE YOU? JOHN 21:12, “Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, who art thou? KNOWING THAT IT WAS THE LORD.”

1. Saul of Tarsus got acquainted with the Lord, ACTS 9:5, “And he said, who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I AM JESUS whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.”

2. You WILL KNOW that it is the Lord as Samuel knew, 1 SAMUEL 3_10, “And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, SPEAK; FOR THY SERVANT HEARETH.”

II. THE CALL OF CHRIST IS…

A. “All things are now READY; COME,”  MATTHEW 22:4, “Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage.”

B. Come, to the feast, come, and DINE UPON HIM.

1. His flesh is meat indeed, JOHN 6:55, “For my FLESH IS MEAT indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.”

2. His blood is drink indeed, JOHN 6:56, “He that eateth my flesh, and DRINKETH MY BLOOD, dwelleth in me, and I in hi

III. CHRIST IS A FRIEND

A. “Come, ye blessed of my Father;”  MATTHEW 25:34, “Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:”

B. Come, sit down with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob,  MATTHEW 8:11, “And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven.”

C. There is room and BREAD ENOUGH for all, LUKE 15:17, “And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!”

1. Without doubt there is FAMINE in this world as there was in the Lord’s day, Luke 15:14, “And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.”

2. However, there is a GREATER FAMINE of the Bread of Life in the world:

a. Eat this roll (the Word of God), EZEKIEL 3:1, “Moreover he said unto me, Son of man, eat that thou findest; eat this roll, and go speak unto the house of Israel.”

b. It was as sweet as honey, EZEKIEL 3:2-4  2- “So I opened my mouth, and he caused me to eat that roll.  3- And he said unto me, Son of man, cause thy belly to eat, and fill thy bowels with this roll that I give thee. Then did I eat it; and it was in my mouth as honey for sweetness.  4- And he said unto me, Son of man, go, get thee unto the house of Israel, and speak with my words unto them.”

D. The Fellowship will be WONDERFUL, 1 JOHN 1:3, “That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.”

1. Fellowship with believers, ACTS 2:42, “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.”

a. …In the apostles’ doctrine,

b. …In fellowship, what is common to all.

c. …In breaking of bread,

d. …In prayers.

2. Fellowship is with the Father, JOHN 17:3 “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

3. Fellowship is with Jesus Christ,  I CORINTHIANS 1:9, “God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.”

4. Fellowship is with the Spirit of God,

PHILLPIANS 2:1-3,  1- “If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,  2- Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.  3- Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.”

CONCLUSION

An old hymn says, “Come and dine,” the master calleth, “Come and dine, “You may feast at Jesus’ table all the time; He who fed the multitude, Turned the water into wine, to the hungry calleth now, “Come and dine.”