Author: Art Davison

A LOCAL VISIBLE CHURCH–LESSON 2

Art Davison BIBLE DOCTRINE 0 Comment
A LOCAL VISIBLE CHURCH
LESSON 2

Basic Scripture reading: Ephesians 3:6-11, “That the Gentiles should be fellow-heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel: 7- Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power. 8- Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; 9- And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: 10- To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, 11- According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:”

Key text: 1 Timothy 3:15, “that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God,”

I. THE USE OF THE WORD “CHURCH” IN THE NEW TESTAMENT.

A. Of the 115 times that the word “church” appears in the New Testament, it refers to, at least 93 times, the churches whose localities are mentioned. The majority of the other references should be explained as the “institutional, collective, or generic use of the word. That use we see in verses such as Ephesians 3:10 and 5:23-27. We can compare that use of the word to phrases like: “The American man…” It is understood by this generic phrase a certain quality of man. No one would imagine an enormous man made up of all American men! In the above text no reference is made of all believers in the world. When the institution called “the church” is expressed, it will always take the form of local, visible, organized churches.

B. The current use of the word church can be illustrated from the book of 1 Timothy. In 1 Timothy 3:5, Paul said that a pastor should govern well “his own house,” to the contrary he would not know how to take care of the “church of God.” No one will imagine the sense of “universal” in this case. How could a pastor that is “local,” and that has a local house and family, take charge of a universal church of believers scattered through out the whole earth? In the same chapter (1 Timothy 3:15, our key text) Paul affirms that the church “is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.” It would be difficult to understand this verse in another sense if not the local churches. All believers scattered through out the world are divided into thousands of groups, or denominations, that teach varied doctrines. Only a local church, that defends and practices “the faith which was once delivered unto the saints” (Jude 3) will be able to fulfill the requirements to be “the pillar and ground OF THE TRUTH!” 1 Timothy 5:16 also refers to the local church that realizes beneficial works for the widows.

C. All of the types used in the New Testament have a local sense: building, body, field, bride, flock, temple, house, lamp. Who would ever see a “universal house,” a “universal bride,” (what a woman!); a “universal flock” that includes all of the sheep of the world? It is much easier to understand a word in its basic, Biblical and simple sense: a group of believers united in the same confession of faith in Christ, baptized scripturally and organized by the authority of Christ to carry out His great commission to evangelize, baptize and teach the disciples that are made (Matthew 28:19-20).

D. All of the churches of the New Testament had a local address: the Church in Jerusalem, Acts 1:8; the Church in Antioch of Syria, Acts 13:1; the Church in Corinth, 1 Corinthians 1:2; the seven churches of Asia, Revelation 1:4; the Church in Thessalonica, 1 Thessalonians 1:1; the churches of Galatia, Galatians1:2; the churches in Judea, Galatians 1:22; the churches in particular houses, Romans 16:5; 1 Corinthians 16:19; Philemon 2; Colossians 4:15; etc. Christ directs each church in particular (Revelation 2 and 3).

II. CONCLUSION

If you have already accepted Christ after repentance and faith and you have already been converted to the truth, you are certainly a child born of God and saved eternally! However, until you confess Christ publicly and ask for baptism and join a local, scriptural Baptist church, you continue outside of the church that Jesus organized and left here in order to accomplish His work on earth! (Acts 2:41, 47). Put your light, now shining for Christ through salvation, on a “candlestick” so that it can shine along with the other members! (Matthew 5:16). Unite with a local, visible church.

Points To Ponder:

1. Explain the institutional or generic use of the word “church.”

2. Explain why the church of the key text could not be understood in the universal sense.

3. Comment on the figures used in the New Testament.

4. How does the idea of the locality of the church reinforce the fact that we encounter the “address” of many of the churches of the New Testament?

A CHURCH OF ONLY SAVED BELIEVERS–ACTS 2:37-47

Art Davison BIBLE DOCTRINE 0 Comment
A CHURCH OF ONLY SAVED BELIEVERS
ACTS 2:37-47
Introduction:

This is not only Baptist doctrine, but it is Bible doctrine as well.

I. Baptist churches have always insisted on three things before someone is baptized and enrolled as a member of the local church:

A. That the professing Christian has assurance of his salvation, 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 John 5:13, “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.”

B. That he confess his faith and submission to Jesus Christ as his personal Saviour and Lord of his life publicly, Matthew 3:6, “And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.” Romans 10:9-10, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10- For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”

C. That the professed believer demonstrate in his life, before baptism, a complete change.

1. A transformation effected by the Holy Spirit, the new spiritual birth, Matthew 3:3-10, “For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. 4- And the same John had his raiment of camel’s hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey. 5- Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan, 6- And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins. 7- But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8- Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: 9- And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. 10- And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Titus 3:5, “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;” 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

2. This transformation will manifest itself through:

a) The abandonment of vices, Ephesians 4:17, 32, “This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”

b) A new love for God and His church, 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.”

c) By the positive conduct of “good works,” Ephesians 2:8-10, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9- Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10- For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

II. Old Testament Types Prove This Doctrine.

A. Baptism, while important for the obedience of the believer after his conversion, is useless for the unbeliever because it has no power to save. The great slogan during the middle ages was “The blood first before baptism,” and “The Holy Spirit before water.”

B. A figure of this truth is seen in the Exodus of God’s people from Egypt. The Israelites were freed from death by the blood of the lamb, Exodus 12:6-7, “And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening. 7- And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it.”

1. This is a figure of our salvation from eternal death by the blood of Jesus Christ, Ephesians 1:7, “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;” 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.”

2. The Israelites were guided by the cloud and pillar of fire even before they arrived at the Red Sea, Exodus 13:21-22, “And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night: 22- He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people.”

a) Their passage through the Red Sea on dry ground became a figure of baptism, 1 Corinthians 10:1-2, “Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; 2- And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;

b) The cloud and pillar of fire are figures of the presence and direction of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer, Romans 8:14-17, “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 15-For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.16- The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17-And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.”

Conclusion:

These figures teach us that the believer, before his baptism, shall be saved by the blood of Jesus Christ and led by the Holy Spirit! In fact, it is the Holy Spirit that leads the believer to want to be baptized Scripturally.

THE SUPERLATIVE LIBERALITY OF THE LORD–JOHN 17:22

Art Davison THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 0 Comment
THE SUPERLATIVE LIBERALITY OF THE LORD
JOHN 17:22, “And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:”

INTRODUCTION:

It would have been surprising grace if he had allowed us to eat the crumbs of his bounty beneath the table of his mercy. However, the Lord does nothing half way; He makes us sit with Him and share the feast.

The Lord will have His Bride as rich as He Himself. She will share His Glory and His Grace. He has made us joint-heirs with Himself.

I. HE HAS GIVEN HIS CHURCH HIS GLORY

A. The Glory is the INCARNATE WORD OF GOD, JOHN 1:14, “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”

1. He manifested His Glory by His Miracles, JOHN 2:11, “This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.”

2. He is the Truth, JOHN 14:6, “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

B. He is the Eternal Word of God, JOHN 17:24, “Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.”

C. He is the GLORIOUS HEAD of the church, EPHESIANS 1:22, “And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,”

1. The Lord LOVES His church, EPHESIANS 5:29, “For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:”

2. The Lord purposes to present her to Himself a GLORIOUS church, EPHESIANS 5:27,” That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

II. HE HAS GIVEN HIS CHURCH HIS AUTHORITY

A. To preach the glorious Gospel of Christ, MATTHEW 10:7, “And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

B. To Teach His Disciples the all things of the Scriptures, MATTHEW 28:19,20 “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”

1. The boundless limit of His Glory is as free to you as the air he breathes, if you believe, JOHN 11:40, “Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?”

2. The cup of God’s love and grace is at the believer’s lips, and he is invited to drink of it forever, PSALM 36:8, “They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house; and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures.

CONCLUSION

The last phrase of our text says, “that they may be one, even as we are one.” In order for us to manifest His glory we must in agreement. Amos said in AMOS 3:3, “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” The Lord is greatly glorified when His people are agreed on doing His will.

PODE O SENHOR FORNECER UMA MESA NO DESERTO?–SALMO 78:14-42

Art Davison PORTUGUESE MESSAGES 0 Comment
PODE O SENHOR FORNECER UMA MESA NO DESERTO?
SALMO 78:14-42
Introdução:
O Senhor fez coisas maravilhosas para Israel quando Ele os tirou do Egito. Israel viu o Senhor trazer dez pragas sobre Faraó e seu povo por causa da dureza do coração de Faraó.

Agora Israel entrou na viagem para a terra prometida, mas onde estava a sua fé? Quando as coisas ficaram dificeis o povo culpou Moisés e Aarão. Então o Deus do Céu forneceu a mesa no deserto.

I. ELE TIROU ÁGUA DA ROCHA

A. A Necessidade de Água, Exodo 17:2-3, “Então contendeu o povo com Moisés, e disse: Dá-nos água para beber. E Moisés lhes disse: Por que contendeis comigo? Por que tentais ao SENHOR? 3- Tendo pois ali o povo sede de água, o povo murmurou contra Moisés, e disse: Por que nos fizeste subir do Egito, para nos matares de sede, a nós e aos nossos filhos, e ao nosso gado?”

1. Os Israelitas foram queixosos, Exodo 16:3, “E os filhos de Israel disseram-lhes: Quem dera tivéssemos morrido por mão do SENHOR na terra do Egito, quando estávamos sentados junto às panelas de carne, quando comíamos pão até fartar! Porque nos tendes trazido a este deserto, para matardes de fome a toda esta multidão.”

2. Não tinham fé que Deus supreriria suas necessidades, Filipenses 4:19, “O meu Deus, segundo as suas riquezas, suprirá todas as vossas necessidades em glória, por Cristo Jesus.”

3. Eles aprenderam aquilo que é realmente necessario para sobreviver, Deuteronômio 8:3, “E te humilhou, e te deixou ter fome, e te sustentou com o maná, que tu não conheceste, nem teus pais o conheceram; para te dar a entender que o homem não viverá só de pão, mas de tudo o que sai da boca do SENHOR viverá o homem.”

B. A Água da Vida, Exodo 17:5-6, “Então disse o SENHOR a Moisés: Passa diante do povo, e toma contigo alguns dos anciãos de Israel; e toma na tua mão a tua vara, com que feriste o rio, e vai. 6- Eis que eu estarei ali diante de ti sobre a rocha, em Horebe, e tu ferirás a rocha, e dela sairão águas e o povo beberá. E Moisés assim o fez, diante dos olhos dos anciãos de Israel.”

1. Aquela Rocha foi Cristo, 1 Corintios 10:4, “E beberam todos de uma mesma bebida espiritual, porque bebiam da pedra espiritual que os seguia; e a pedra era Cristo.”

2. Deus deu água da rocha; será que Ele possa dar pão também? Salmo 78:15, 20, “Fendeu as penhas no deserto; e deu-lhes de beber como de grandes abismos. 20- Eis que feriu a penha, e águas correram dela: rebentaram ribeiros em abundáncia. Poderá também dar-nos pão, ou preparar carne para o seu povo?”

II. COMIDA DOS ANJOS

A. Maná dos Céus, Exodo 16:15, “E, vendo-a os filhos de Israel, disseram uns aos outros: Que é isto? Porque não sabiam o que era. Disse-lhes pois Moisés: Este é o pão que o SENHOR vos deu para comer.”

1. Israel continuou queixar sem fé até que Deus os deu pão, Deuteronômio 8:16, “Que no deserto te sustentou com maná, que teus pais não conheceram; para te humilhar, e para te provar, para no fim te fazer bem;”

2. Ainda eles não confiou no Senhor, Neemias 9:16, “Porém eles e nossos pais se houveram soberbamente, e endureceram a sua cerviz, e não deram ouvidos aos teus mandamentos.”

B. Pão verdadeiro do Céu, João 6:32, “Disse-lhes, pois, Jesus: Na verdade, na verdade vos digo: Moisés não vos deu o pão do céu; mas meu Pai vos dá o verdadeiro pão do céu.”

1. O maná do Velho Testamento APONTOU ao PÃO VERDADEIRO, João 6:33, “Porque o pão de Deus é aquele que desce do céu e dá vida ao mundo.”

2. O PÃO VERDADEIRO é Jesus Cristo que desceu do Céu, João 6:48-50, “Eu sou o pão da vida. 49- Vossos pais comeram o maná no deserto, e morreram. 50- Este é o pão que desce do céu, para que o que dele comer não morra.”

III. CODORNIZES PARA JANTAR
A. Deus os deu Codornizes para suprir sua necessidade de carne, Exodo 16:12-13, “Tenho ouvido as murmurações dos filhos de Israel. Fala-lhes, dizendo: Entre as duas tardes comereis carne, e pela manhã vos fartareis de pão; e sabereis que eu sou o SENHOR vosso Deus. 13 E aconteceu que à tarde subiram codornizes, e cobriram o arraial; e pela manhã jazia o orvalho ao redor do arraial.”

B. Corpo e Sangue do Salvador, João 6:54, “Quem come a minha carne e bebe o meu sangue tem a vida eterna, e eu o ressuscitarei no último dia.”

1. O pecador tem que identificar com a sua oferta de pecado, Levítico 4:23-24, “Ou se o pecado que cometeu lhe for notificado, então trará pela sua oferta um bode tirado das cabras, macho sem defeito; 24- E porá a sua mão sobre a cabeça do bode, e o degolará no lugar onde se degola o holocausto, perante a face do SENHOR; expiação do pecado é.”

2. Jesus disse que tem que comer sua carne, querdizer, identificar com Ele como teu Salvador, Romanos 10:11, “Porque a Escritura diz: Todo aquele que nele crer não será confundido.”
IV. JESUS DIZ “VINDE, COMEI”

João 21:12, “Disse-lhes Jesus: Vinde, comei. E nenhum dos discípulos ousava perguntar-lhe: Quem és tu? sabendo que era o Senhor.”
A. Venha, come a carne de Cristo e toma Seu sangue, João 6:53, “Jesus, pois, lhes disse: Na verdade, na verdade vos digo que, se não comerdes a carne do Filho do homem, e não beberdes o seu sangue, não tereis vida em vós mesmos.”
B. Venha tomar o Pão da Vida, João 6:35, “E Jesus lhes disse: Eu sou o pão da vida; aquele que vem a mim não terá fome, e quem crê em mim nunca terá sede.”
C. Venha beber da Água da Vida, João 7:37-38, “E no último dia, o grande dia da festa, Jesus pós-se em pé, e clamou, dizendo: Se alguém tem sede, venha a mim, e beba. 38-Quem crê em mim, como diz a Escritura, rios de água viva correrão do seu ventre.”
CONCLUSÃO:

O Senhor tem fornecido Sua mesa com o Pão da vida. Muitos dos judeus recusaram o que Deus ofereceu lhes no deserto e morreram sem esperança lá. Será que você sairá daqui recusando o que Deus tem providenciado para salvar sua alma deste deserto de pecado em que você vive todos os dias?
Jesus oferece você vida hoje. Não rejeita sua oferta!

OUR TASK AND TEMPTATION–ACTS 2:36

Art Davison BOOK OF ACTS 0 Comment
OUR TASK AND TEMPTATION
ACTS 2:36
Introduction:
We have a TASK to perform and that task is to preach the Word of God. That includes testifying of our faith and hope in Christ as well as preaching from a pulpit or teaching in Sunday School.
The second part of this is about our TEMPTATION to be argumentative or defensive about what we believe. It does not good to dispute with anyone about the Bible. However, it does great good to discuss and persuade folks to receive Christ as Saviour.
I. OUR TASK
A. To reason from the Scriptures about the Son of God, Acts 9:20, “And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.”

1. Persuading men, Acts 19:8, “And he went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God.”

a. That Jesus is the Son of God, Acts 9:20, “And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.”
b. That Jesus is the Saviour of men, 1 Timothy 4:10, “For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.”
2. Declaring plainly our Saviour, Acts 2:36, “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.”
B. Proving from the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ, Acts 9:22, “But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ.”
1. Opening their minds to the truth, Acts 17:3, “Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ.”
2. Expound (EXPOSE) the Word of God to them, Acts 28:23, “Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ.”
a. Saying what the Bible says, Acts 26:22, “Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come:”
b. Witnessing both to small and great, Acts 20:21, “Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.”

II. OUR TEMPTATION

A. To strive or engage in a war of words with men, 2 Timothy 2:23-25a, “But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes. 24And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, 25-In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves;”
1. Avoid foolish questions, 2 Timothy 2:14, “Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers.”
2. We are not to strive, 2 Corinthians 10:4, “(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)”
3. Be gentle to all men, Galatians 5:22-23, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”
B. To be defensive, Philippians 1:14, “And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.”
1. As those who have been with Jesus, Acts 4:13, “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.”
2. Let our speech “bewray” us, Matthew 26:73, “And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee.” [manifest]
C. To be contentious (to put one’s self forward or to be self seeking), Jude 3, “Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.”
CONCLUSION:
Remember to be faithful in all things. The Lord will give us His message to share with others. Our task is set before us, and our testimony will help people to look to the Author and Finisher of our Faith. Remember; we are a reflection of Christ by our lives.