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Questions

  • Who are you?
  • List the top four topics that are currently very controversial.
  • Name three characteristics, features, qualities, and abilities that are unique to only you.
  • What are your two primary purposes for your life?
  • Why do you believe God gave us local works, congregations, spiritual families?
  • What comes to mind when you read these verses?
    • Genesis 1:26-27
    • Romans 6:23; Acts 2:38
    • Hebrews 6:11-12
    • I Timothy 4:16
    • II Timothy 2:23-26
    • John 4:35

Applications

  • Ephesians 1:3-14 – We should be a child of God first.
  • Philippians 3:12-17
  • Acts 26:28-29 – We should look to share the gospel.
  • We need to take advantage of our spiritual family!
    • Galatians 6:10
    • Romans 12:4-9
  • How can you start a spiritual conversation with …
    • Someone you know?
      • What do you think happens when you die?
    • With strangers?
      • Are you happy?

For further study, see also:

Questions or comments? Join our Discord server for further study.


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Introduction

  • I Samuel 15:3 – Saul was told to annihilate the Amalekites.
  • Genesis 7:23 – God destroys the earth in the flood.
  • Marcion, 140 AD – He thought the God of the Old Testament was different from the New Testament. He edited a new Bible to remove the violence.

This is a huge source of criticism and confusion

  • Deuteronomy 32:42
  • Steve Wells: Drunk with Blood: God’s Killings in the Bible

God is just and will punish those who reject Him

  • Genesis 6:5
  • Genesis 18:20
  • Deuteronomy 9:5
  • Deuteronomy 18:9-12
  • Deuteronomy 20:16-18

God is compassionate and wants to bless people

  • Exodus 34:6-7
  • Ezekiel 33:11
  • II Peter 2:5-7; 3:9 – Even in God’s fury, he provides salvation for the faithful.
  • Joshua 6:21; 2:11; 6:25 – God saved Rahab because of her faith.
    • Hebrews 11:31; James 2:25; Matthew 1:5
  • Jonah 3:4, 10; 4:2, 11 – Ninevah repents and God relents, deciding not to destroy the city.

But what about the children?

  • Consider the eternal perspective.
    • Matthew 19:13 – Children are innocent. At death, they go to be with God.
  • God is sovereign as creator.
    • Job 1:21
    • Romans 8:18
    • As the creator, God has the right to create and destroy.

Application

  • Be wary of how critics frame the issue.
  • Don’t start with the bias of “modern society is right.”
  • Keep the eternal perspective.
    • Luke 12:4-5

For further study, see also:

Questions or comments? Join our Discord server for further study.


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No condemnation in Christ (Romans 8:1-17)

  • Romans 8:1 – Choose the good path!
  • Romans 8:2 – See Romans 6:5. This is a contrast between the paths of good and bad.
  • Romans 8:3 – We could not save ourselves through the law.
  • Romans 8:4 – See Hebrews 9:22. This possibly refers to blood as the requirement of the law. Or it could mean perfect obedience. Hebrews 7:19; 12:23; I John 1:7
  • Romans 8:5-8 – Flesh vs. spirit. What is my heart centered on?
    • A spiritually-minded person follows the Holy Spirit.
    • Romans 6:11-13
    • James 4:4 – You can’t have it both ways!
  • Romans 8:9 – “Spirit of God” here probably means the “disposition of God.” Compare the phrase “spirit of Christ” later in the same verse.
  • Romans 8:10-13
    • Romans 8:10 - Colossians 3:16; I John 4:12 – “Abide” here is influence, not a physical indwelling.
    • Romans 8:11 – See Galatians 2:19; 5:24; Colossians 3:3
    • We must put to death the sinful deeds of the fleshly body.
  • Romans 8:14-17 – New metaphor: slaves of sin vs. adopted as sons of God. See Galatians 4:4; I John 3:1

For further study, see also:

Questions or comments? Join our Discord server for further study.


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The reasons I am a member of the church as God would have it

The right authority

  • Acts 20
  • II Timothy 3:16-17
  • II Peter 1:3
  • Jude 1:3 – “the faith,” delivered once for all
  • John 14:26
  • II John 1:9

The right name

The right plan of salvation

  • Matthew 7:24 – One must hear and obey.
  • Romans 10:17 – Faith comes from hearing, and hearing from the word of God.
  • John 8:24 – One must believe.
  • Faith must be active. He must confess faith in Jesus.
  • Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38 – Baptism is required. The gift of the Holy Spirit is salvation.
  • I Peter 3:21

The right congregational worship

  • Acts 20:7 – “on the first day of the week,” “Paul preached”
  • I Corinthians 14:26
  • Singing – Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16
  • Prayer – I Timothy 1:8; Acts 2:42
  • Lord’s Supper - I Corinthians 11:25-26
  • Giving – I Corinthians 16:1-2
    • This is the only way a local church is authorized to purpose to make money to do the work God has specified.

The right congregational work

  • Support preaching - I Corinthians 9:6-14
  • Benevolence under some circumstances
  • Discipline under particular circumstances – I Corinthians 5

The right structure or oversight

The right life

  • James 1:27

For further study, see also:

Questions or comments? Join our Discord server for further study.


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© 2026, Mark Watson

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