Personal notes:

• Today is Jesse Jenkins’ last Sunday as a local preacher at Benchley. He’s been working with the church in Benchley for 24 years.

Introduction

• Each individual is ultimately the architect of His own life.

• I Corinthians 15:19 – Without Jesus, life is not worth living.

• John 10:10

Have THE faith by which to live.

• One may have a decent life by having a faith to live by. Such a faith will bring comfort in this life but will do no good after death.

• Romans 1:16; John 14:6

Have your faith by which to live.

• We must have our own faith in the faith.

• II Corinthians 5:7

• Acts 15:29

• II Peter 1:3-11

• Romans 10:17

• Your faith can’t be any stronger than the time you spend with the word of God.

• An inherited faith will not stand. Only a personal faith will help you attain salvation.

• II Corinthians 4:13; 5:7

• Ephesians 4:14

Have a work for which to live.

• If you want something done, don’t call a lazy man. Call a busy, industrious man.

• John 9:4

• I Corinthians 10:31

• II Timothy 2:2

• James 5:19-20

• John 9:4

• II Corinthians 6:2 – Today is the day of salvation!

• Hebrews 4:9, 11

• A lazy man can’t find rest. A spiritually lazy man can’t find contentment.

Have a fit self with which to live.

• The only way I can make my self fit to live with is to live for God.

• True happiness comes from within.

• Romans 14:22

• John 15:11

• I John 1:4

Philippians 3:17

I Corinthians 11:1

Humility

• Philippians 2:1-4

• Acts 18:26 – Apollos learned with humility from Priscilla and Aquilla.

Service

• Acts 9:36-42 – Tabitha was a great example of service.

• Galatians 6:1, 9-10

• Acts 28:30-31

• “Any time!” – Jesse Jenkins

Love

• II Corinthians 11:28 – Paul was concerned for the brethren.

• Philippians 1:8

• I Corinthians 13:5

• “You just have to throw the mantle of love over it and go on.” – Jesse Jenkins

• Ephesians 5:28

Introduction

• Romans 5:1

• Acts 16:31

• John 3:16

• We studied about baptism being required for salvation, but these verses all talk about belief only!

Something’s going on

• What about repentance? (Acts 3:19; II Peter 3:9; Galatians 5:19-21)

• … and the demons? (James 2:19)

• … and these Jews? (John 12:42-43; Matthew 10:32-33)

• … and Saul? (Acts 9; 22:16)

  • Saul believed, but still had sins until he was baptized!

• … and these other Jews? (Acts 2:36-38)

Figurative language?

• John 2:19-21; 6:51-52; Matthew 16:6, 12

• Synecdoche – a figure of speech in which a part is made to represent the whole, or vice versa.

  • Example: “give me a hand”

• A synecdoche would explain how ALL the passages about salvation are true and not contradictory.

• If taking a statement literally forces it to contradict a known truth, then the statement is either wrong or figurative.

  • John 3:3; 10:9; Luke 13:32

• “whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life”

  • But … repentance (Acts 3:19), confession (Romans 10:9), baptism (I Peter 3:21)

Synecdoches are commonly used in the Bible.

• Genesis 3:19; Romans 10:15; Acts 11:21

• Acts 16:31-34

Every obligation a man has grows out of a relationship.

Adam – humanitarian

• God: I Corinthians 15:45-49

• Man

  • Train children à schools

  • Good citizen à civil government (Romans 13:3-4)

  • Compassionate à Benevolent society

  • No authority for:

    • Worship society

    • Missionary society

    • Edifying society

Christ – spiritual

• God: Galatians 3:26-27

• Man

  • Worship God

  • Edify the saved

  • Save the lost

  • Benevolence for needy saints (I Corinthians 16:1-2; etc.)

  • Discipline unruly/disorderly

  • All these are achieved with the local church. God provided the structure in which we are to do all these things.

  • No authority for:

    • Worship society

    • Edifying society

    • Missionary society

    • Benevolent society

    • Disciplinary society