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

Introduction

• Matthew 12:35
• What is the reasoning we need to have in place to determine what is obscene?
• Ephesians 5:12

Principles

• Ephesians 1:3-14 – If you have hope in Christ, there is a direct connection between your thoughts, conduct, and speech.
  • Why did God adopt us?
  • What was God’s aim in choosing us?
• Ephesians 2:1-10 – Paul describes a transformation in the Gentiles (and himself). They had died to sin, as we should.
• Ephesians 4:17-24 – Is what we are doing, saying, and watching after the likeness of God?
• Matthew 7:15-20 – We are known by our words!
• Matthew 12:33
• Ephesians 4:29 – What should our speech be? Something that is timed appropriately and will build another up.
• Ephesians 5:1 – Be imitators of God.
• Ephesians 5:4
  • Filthiness: disgraceful or improper
  • Silly talk / foolish talking: the talk of the unwise
  • Coarse jesting / crude joking: speaking in a crude, debased way
• Ephesians 5:3, 5 – See II Corinthians 12:21; Galatians 5:19; I Thessalonians 4:3

Application

• Is it wholesome?
• Who am I trying to impress?
• Galatians 5:12
• Harsh language in the Bible was used to point out sin.

Introduction

• I John 3:16
• Luke 10:30

We ought to look for opportunities to help people

• Luke 10:30-37 – Parable of the good Samaritan.
• Helping people means some amount of sacrifice.
  • The Samaritan sacrificed time, money, and goods to help.
  • The more we can live with a little bit of margin, the better we position ourselves to be able to help when the need arises.
  • I Timothy 6:18
• Love your neighbor! Luke 10:27-29
  • The Samaritan felt compassion for the man.
  • Ephesians 4:28, 22-27 – Work so that you can give to others.
  • James 1:27 – God always made provision for widows and orphans.
• Generosity is part of our service to God.
  • Matthew 25:40

When a Christian is in need, the church can jump in

• Pertinent passages:
  • Acts 2:44-45
  • Acts 4:32-35
  • Acts 6:1-3
  • Acts 11:27-30
  • Romans 15:25-26
  • I Corinthians 16:1-3
  • II Corinthians 8:3-4, 14
  • II Corinthians 9:1
  • I Timothy 5:16, 5
• There is a difference between personal funds and church funds. God has limited what church funds can be used for.
• II Corinthians 9:12 – Being generous builds fellowship between saints.

What’s the best way to help someone?

• Acts 6:1-2; Philippians 3:7-11
• Money is not the answer to everything. The most valuable things are spiritual.
• The best thing to give someone is the gospel.