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THE CHURCH 3–"THOU ART ALL FAIR, MY LOVE." SONG OF SOLOMON 4:7

Art Davison GREAT BIBLE WORDS 0 Comment
GREAT BIBLE WORDS

THE CHURCH 3
“Thou art all fair, my love.”
Song of Solomon 4:7

Introduction:

The Lord’s admiration for his Church is very wonderful, and his description of her beauty is very glowing. She has a special place with the Lord because she is and has been faithful down through the ages preaching the whole counsel of God.
She is the Bride of Jesus Christ, the Lamb’s wife and as such she will be honored by the Lord.
I. CHRIST VIEWS HIS CHURCH IN LOVE
A. She is not merely fair, but “all fair,” Song of Solomon 4:1,  7, “Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair; thou hast doves’ eyes within thy locks: thy hair is as a flock of goats, that appear from mount Gilead. 7- Thou art all fair, my love; there is no spot in thee.”
B. He considers her to be full of comeliness and beauty, 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.”
C. She is not simply pure, or well proportioned, she is positively lovely and fair! Song of Solomon 4:9, “Thou hast ravished my heart, my sister, my spouse; thou hast ravished my heart with one of thine eyes, with one chain of thy neck.
D. She has actual merit! 2 Corinthians 4:6, “For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”
1. Her deformities of sin are removed, Psalms 103:12, “As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.”
2. Believers have a positive righteousness given to them when they become “accepted in the beloved,” Ephesians 1:6, “To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
II. CHRIST VIEWS HIS CHURCH IN HIMSELF
A. Washed in his sin atoning blood, Revelation 1:5, “And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,”
B. Clothed in his meritorious righteousness, Isaiah 61:10, “I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.”
1. Nor is the Church barely lovely, she is SUPERLATIVELY LOVELY, the Bride of Christ, vv. 2-5; Revelation 21:9, “And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife.”
2. Her Lord styles her “Thou fairest among women,” Song of Solomon 5:9, “What is thy beloved more than another beloved, O thou fairest among women? what is thy beloved more than another beloved, that thou dost so charge us?”
C. The Church, the Lord’s Bride is seen in the Beauty of Holiness, 1 Chronicles 16:29, “Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come before him: worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.
1. God’s glory is the beauty of His holiness, Psalms 29:2, “Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.”
2. The glory of the Lord’s church is His doing, 1 Peter 2:9, “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:”
D. One day soon the Lord will call his Bride to Himself, 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:”
CONCLUSION

THE CHURCH 2–A CHURCH OF ONLY SAVED BELIEVERS

Art Davison GREAT BIBLE WORDS 0 Comment
GREAT BIBLE WORDS
THE CHURCH 2
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 Savior 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, 32-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. 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. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 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 CHURCH 1–A LOCAL, VISIBLE CHURCH

Art Davison GREAT BIBLE WORDS 0 Comment
GREAT BIBLE WORDS
THE CHURCH 1
A LOCAL, VISIBLE CHURCH


Basic Scripture Reading: 1 Timothy 3:14-15, “These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly: 15- But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
Key Text: 1 Corinthians 4:17, “For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church.”

Introduction:
Here is another doctrine that distinguishes the Baptist from other evangelical denominations. We believe in a church that is ONLY LOCAL AND VISIBLE. The believer will give importance to his affiliation with a local Baptist church according to his understanding of the Bible definition of this word.

I. THE POPULAR DEFINITIONS OF THE WORD “CHURCH.”
A. The definitions well known are:
1. The DEMOMINATIONAL idea: “the Presbyterian, Methodist, etc. church”
2. The CATHOLIC idea: a Roman Catholic Church with all of its popes, bishops, cardinals, etc. makes up “the Universal VISIBLE Church with an earthly director, the pope of Rome.”
3. The PROTESTANT idea: The total number of saved since the day of Pentecost until the “rapture,” constitutes what is called the “UNIVERSAL, INVISIBLE church, the MISTICAL BODY OF CHRIST.”
4. The BAPTIST and NEW TESTAMENT idea: A church is a LOCAL, VISIBLE CONGREGATION of believers scripturally baptized and organized to carry out.
B. The definition most popular is number 3 above: An INVISIBLE church. The defenders of this definition see TWO CHURCHES in the New Testament: the true church, that, according to them, is made up of all the believers; and the VISIBLE church, that is subject to total apostasy (leaving Biblical truth). Believing the universal idea, they have a tendency to despise the doctrine of the local, visible, organized church.
C. We believe that this problem of “TWO CHURCHES” will be resolved when we stop calling the totality of believers “the church.” All believers, born again by faith in Christ, pertain to the FAMILY and the KINGDOM OF GOD:
1. John 3:3, 5, “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. 5- Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.”
2. John 1:12-13, “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13- Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”
3. 1 John 3:1-2, Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. 2- Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.”
4. This family of God takes in the total number, not only of the believer of the New Testament, but also those of the Old Testament since Adam until the last to be saved before the Second Coming of Christ, John 11:51-52, “And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation; 52- And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad.”

II. THE BAPTIST POSITION
The word translated “church” (ekklesia, in Greek) never flees from the basic sense in the Greek language: “An assembly or congregation called out for a definite purpose.” In the history of that language you never hear of a “ekklesia” (church) THAT DOES NOT COME TOGETHER! How could they come together (before the Second Coming of Christ) in a so-called “universal” church? Such a church is nothing more than an unrealizable idea, and an impractical idea, because it does not have function to realize here on the earth. But the Biblical church, visible and local, has a function, that is, to act as the representative of Christ.
A. The local church represents THE LORD until He returns! Mark 13:34-35, “For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. 35- Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning:”
B. The local church takes charge until He returns, Luke 19:13, “And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.”

POINTS TO PONDER:

1. Give the four definitions most common of the word “church.”
2. How many types of churches do the Protestants believe exist?
3. All of the believers in Christ make the FAMILY or the CHURCH of God?
4. Why is the idea of a universal church unrealizable and impractical?
5. What is the function of the local and visible church?

THE BLOOD OF CHRIST–JOHN 19:31-35–WITH ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

Art Davison GREAT BIBLE WORDS 0 Comment
GREAT BIBLE WORDS

THE BLOOD OF CHRIST
John 19:31-35

Ephesians 1:7, “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;”
Introduction:
Moses wrote in Deuteronomy 21:22-23, “And if a man have committed a sin worthy of death, and he be to be put to death, and thou hang him on a tree: 23- His body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but thou shalt in any wise bury him that day; (for he that is hanged is accursed of God;) that thy land be not defiled, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.”
Jesus was hanged on a tree and therefore, cursed of God for our sins. The Jewish law require that a man hanged on a tree must be buried before sunset the same day. Pilate ordered the soldiers to break the legs of those who were crucified in order to hasten their death.
On arrival at the sight the soldiers found that Jesus was already dead and did not break his bones, Psalm 34:20, “He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken.” However, one of the soldiers was not convenced and thrust a spear into his side, Zechariah 12:10b, “and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced.”
Blood and water poured out the side of the Lord Jesus. The spear had penetrated the first membrane around the heart callled the PERICARDIUM which contains a watery substance. The spear continued piercing the heart itself from which came the blood. NOW THERE WAS NO DOUBT!! JESUS WAS DEAD! Everyone present saw it. They were eyewitnesses that Jesus died on the Cross.
If there had been no other injury the spear thrust would have killed Him. Now the Sadducees who did not believer in the resurrection, could not make the people believe that Jesus was in a coma and not dead. The resurrection is one of the greatest proofs that Jesus was the Son of God.
Jesus shed His blood because the life is in the blood, Leviticus 17:11, “For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.”
The blood of Christ is the ground, or basis, for many precious blessings:
1. It is the basis for the blessing of PROPITIATION: that which turns away the wrath of God, Romans 3:25, “Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;”
2. It is the basis for our JUSTIFICATION, Romans 5:9, “Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.”
3. It is the basis of our PEACE with God, Colossians 1:20, “And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.”
4. It is the basis for our BEING BROUGHT NIGH to God, Ephesians 2:13, “But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.”
5. It is the basis for our REDEMPTION and FORGIVENESS OF SIN, Ephesians 1:7, “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;”
6. It is the basis for our SANCTIFICATION, Hebrews 13:12, “Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.”
7. It is the basis for our being CLEANSED FROM SIN, 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.”
8. It is the basis for our VICTORY OVER THE DEVIL, Revelation 12:11, “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.”

SANCTIFICATION–JUDE 1–PART 2

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GREAT BIBLE WORDS
SANCTIFICATION
Part 2
Jude 1, “Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called:”

Introduction:

II. SET APART UNTO MATURITY IN CHRIST
A. He has set us apart by His own blood, Hebrews 13:12, “Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.”
1. Jesus also suffered outside the city gate (camp) to make the people holy, Hebrews 2:11, “For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,”
2. By His offering on Calvary He has perfected those who are sanctified, Hebrews 10:10, 14, “By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 14- For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.”
3. Being set apart unto Him the believer has abandoned the old camp or city for a new country, Hebrews 11:10, 16, “For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. 16- But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.”
B. Jesus has offered Himself for our perfection, Hebrews 10:14, “For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.”
1. This perfection is not sinlessness, but a growing process that leads to maturity, 1 Peter 2:2, “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:”
2. The sanctification process is God’s will, 1 Thessalonians 4:3,“For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:”
3. Sanctification is God’s purpose for calling us by the Gospel, 1 Thessalonians 4:7, “For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.”
C. Sanctification is a process of learning from the Word of God, Psalm 17:4-5, “Concerning the works of men, by the word of thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer. 5- Hold up my goings in thy paths, that my footsteps slip not.”
1. By taking heed to your “WAY” (of living) by the Word of God, Psalm 119:9, “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.”
a. Outside of Christ we were void of understanding, Proverbs 7:7, “And beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, a young man void of understanding,”
b. Now we are set apart or clean before the Lord, John 15:3, “Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.”
2. Study and meditation in the Word gives us strength to overcome temptation, Psalm 119:11, 15-16, “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. 15- I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways. 16- I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.”
3. The Word of God must dwell in us “RICHLY,” Colossians 3:16, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”

a. Timothy was well taught from his childhood, 2 Timothy 3:15, “And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”
b. We must know the Scriptures, John 5:39, “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.”
c. We must become so well verse in the Scriptures that we become “TEACHERS” to those around us, Hebrews 5:12-14, “For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. 13- For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. 14-But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”