Sorry, no outline available for this class.

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?

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

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

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