Learning how to see the good

• II Peter 2:4-9 – God can still see good among the evil. We should develop this ability as well.

• John 4:34-35, 41 – Jesus said there was opportunity! He could see the good and the potential.

Being challenged to be righteous

• II Timothy 3:16; 4:2-4

• Titus 2:12, 15

• We need to recognize we are at war with Satan and constantly work to do better.

• We can’t be afraid to step on each other’s toes when necessary.

Getting glimpses of Heaven

• Genesis 28:11-22 – God renews His promises to Jacob.

• Exodus 33:18-23 – Moses gets a glimpse of God.

• Acts 7:55-60 – Stephen glimpsed Heaven.

• Romans 8:18

Parts of the vehicle of salvation:

• The Father – I Timothy 1:1

• The Son

• Holy Spirit – Titus 3:5

• Grace – Ephesians 2:8

• God’s love – John 3:16

• Mercy – Hebrews 8:12

• Blood of Christ – Romans 5:9

• Intercession of Christ – Hebrews 7:25

• Gospel – Romans 1:16

• Inspired preachers of the gospel – Romans 10:14-15

• Reception of the gospel – Luke 8:15

• Faith – Romans 5:1

• Repentance – II Corinthians 7:10

• Confession – Romans 10:9

• Baptism – I Peter 3:21

• Works – James 2:24

• Obedience - Hebrews 5:9

• Endurance – Revelation 2:10

Supplementary, not contradictory

• Matthew 27:57-61 – Who put Jesus’ body in the tomb? Compare John 19:38-40. John mentions more detail but does not contradict Matthew.

• I Peter 3:21 vs. Ephesians 2:8 – Does baptism save or grace? Both have a part!

• Ephesians 1:7 – Jesus’ blood and grace are both necessary. They supplement each other!

Beware of the false dilemma fallacy.

• John 9:1-3 – Neither the man nor his parents sinned.

• “Either you believe in God or you believe in rational thinking.”

• Genesis 6:8, 14; Hebrews 11:7 – What saved Noah from the flood? God’s grace and mercy, Noah’s faith, and Noah’s obedience were all involved.

• Ephesians 2:8; James 2:20-26 – It’s not grace or works. Both are required!

Emphasis does not mean exclusion.

• John 6:27 – Is it wrong to work for our food?

• I John 3:18 – Is it wrong to act out of love?

• This is a figure of speech, a Hebrew idiom. The New Testament was written is Greek, but Hebrew figures of speech were used.

• I Peter 3:3-4

• Philippians 2:4

• II Timothy 1:8-9; Titus 3:5 – Examples of “not-but” passages.

Acts 4:15

II Corinthians 5:17

Ephesians 3:2-11

• God’s plan (Ephesians 1:4) was to save the world. The mystery of how He would do this has now been revealed.

• Galatians 3:26-27

• Romans 6:3

• Acts 22:16 – The only way to be in Christ is to call on the name of the Lord. Baptism is part of that.

• Ephesians 3:10 – “Heavenly” refers not to heaven, but the highest of the category concerned.

  • Ephesians 6:12

  • Ephesians 1:20; 6:2; 3:1

Man cannot improve upon God’s most glorious work. Many have tried, but all have failed.

Ephesians 1:23 – The church is the fulness of Christ – it needs no addition.

I Timothy 5:16, 22 – Individual responsibilities as Christians.

Acts 20:28, 32

Colossians 3:16 – Singing commanded in the local church.

Acts 20:7

The local church is all we need in order to do collective things required by God.

Hebrews 10:24-25

Philippians 4:15-16

Acts 1:6; II Corinthians 8:9 – The church’s role in benevolence.

I Corinthians 5:4-8 – Church discipline.

Ephesians 3:7 – Like Paul, we must consider our work for God to be an act of grace.

Proverbs 14:12

Humanist beliefs

• Humanist Manifesto III - https://americanhumanist.org/what-is-humanism/manifesto3/

  • “without supernaturalism” – based on atheism

  • Humanists believe that people can live good, ethical lives without God.

• Humanism International - http://humanists.international/what-is-humanism/

  • Rejects God and divine revelation.

  • There is no divine plan or purpose.

But…

• God exists.

  • Romans 1:18-20 – The universe shows evidence that God exists. The design of the universe implies a designer.

  • Apologetics Press

  • To deny God’s existence:

    • You have to deny evidence.

    • You must believe in something else.

  • You can’t answer the question, “Where does a fish live?” if you can’t talk about water!

  • II Corinthians 10:3-6

• He is our basis of morality.

  • Romans 10:1-3; 1:22-25 – This is exactly what humanism does!

  • If God doesn’t exist, where does morality come from?

  • Atheists have no basis for morality outside of their own opinions.

  • “… no design, no purpose, no evil and no good.” – Richard Dawkins, River Out of Eden

  • Created from Animals: The Moral Implications of Darwinism by James Rachels

  • David Silverman, quoted in Stealing from God

• Eternity is our goal!

  • Romans 1:28-32

  • Hebrews 10:32-34

  • Hebrews 11:8-10 – How could Abraham do all this? He had hope!

  • Matthew 6:19-21