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  • Some observe it as Jesus’ birthday.
  • Some observe it as a legal holiday.
  • Some say it is a sin to observe it in any way.
  • Which is correct?
  • The question that needs to be considered is:
    • Can a Christian do some things without religious significance that others do with religious significance?
  • I Corinthians 8:4, 8-11
    • A Christian could eat meat that had been sacrificed to an idol if:
      • He knew the idol was nothing; thus, did not eat it with any religious significance.
      • In eating he did not cause a weak brother to stumble.
    • A Christian can observe December 25 if:
      • He knows the day is nothing; thus, does not observe it with any religious significance.
      • In observing it he does not cause a weak brother to stumble.
    • I Corinthians 10:25-29, 32
      • A Christian could eat whatever was sold in a meat market if:
        • He did not eat in service to an idol.
        • A non-believer invited him and did not declare it to be in service to an idol.
      • Romans 14:2-3, 13-15
        • A Christian could at meat that had been forbidden under the law if:
          • He ate it as food without religious significance.
          • In eating he did not cause a weak brother to stumble.
        • A Christian can observe December 25 if:
          • He does it as a custom without religious significance.
          • In observing he does not cause a weak brother to stumble.
        • Acts 21:17-26
          • Many Jews circumcised and kept the customs as a service to God.
          • Paul taught against this. He never practiced it. But he never taught the Jews to forsake the customs as customs. Paul so observed the customs.
        • Who places religious significance on the day?

For further study, see also:

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  • Galatians 1:13-2:10
  • Galatians 1:15 – Some believe that this verse is stating that God chose Paul from birth to preach to the Gentiles. It is possible that Paul is just using worshipful language of God. See Acts 9:1-16. God’s calling came to Paul later in life, but He did call Paul specifically to preach to the Gentiles.
  • Galatians 1:19 – James, the Lord’s brother was not one of the original 12 apostles. The word “apostle” just means one who is chosen and sent. In this sense, James was an apostle in the same sense as Paul.
  • Galatians 2:2 – Paul compared the gospel he was preaching to what Peter, James, and John were preaching (see Galatians 2:9) and found they were in complete agreement.
  • Galatians 2:5 – Paul did not tolerate false teaching at all. He stood up to them and refuted their teaching.
  • Galatians 2:10 – Some try to use this passage to prove that the church should practice unlimited benevolence. The context, however, is preaching. Peter, James, and John wanted Paul to make sure to bring the gospel to the poor. Even if this passage is talking about benevolence, Paul was the one being instructed to do so – not the church!

For further study, see also:

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  • Galatians 5:4 – Refutes the doctrine of perseverance of the saints.
  • Acts 7:54 – Refutes the doctrine of irresistible grace.
  • Limited atonement: the doctrine that Christ died to save only a limited number of people – His death was designated to save some and not others.
  • Consequences of the doctrine:
    • Denies the free will of man (Revelation 22:17)
    • Makes God a respecter of persons (Romans 2:11)
    • Makes preaching the gospel to sinners a mockery, i.e., tantalizes him with an invitation to come when he cannot come.
  • Proof texts examined:
    • Matthew 1:21 – Only “his people” would be saved. This is talking about those who would answer His call – not about a group selected by God before time began.
    • Matthew 20:28
    • John 10:11 – “the sheep” are those that decide to follow Jesus – not those who God selected before time began.
    • Acts 20:28
  • Proof of its falsity
    • Hebrews 2:9 – Jesus tasted death for everyone.
    • II Peter 3:9 – God wants all to be saved.
    • Matthew 11:28-29
    • I Timothy 2:3-4
    • Revelation 22:17
  • The Calvinists’ dilemma
    • God clearly states that He wants all to be saved, yet the doctrine of limited atonement requires that God only selected some to be saved.
  • The dilemma solved
    • The Bible does offer salvation to all.
    • But God has not ordained any individual to be saved.
    • God offers salvation to all, but has ordained that only those who accept salvation on His terms will be saved.

For further study, see also:

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  • Luke 9:23
  • Ephesians 5:25-32
  • Ephesians 2:10; 4:1; 5:1-2, 15 – Our relationship to Christ is a walk.
  • Ephesians 6:24
  • Jesus is always there for us.
    • Colossians 1:16-17 – Christ is our creator. His power holds all things together.
    • Philippians 2:5-8
    • Romans 5:6; 6:3-4
    • Hebrews 7:23-25
  • Are we always there for Him?
    • He wants everything (Matthew 5:46-48)
    • He wants priority in our relationships (Matthew 10:34-37)
    • He wants our speech (Matthew 12:33-37)
    • He wants our actions (Matthew 12:46-50)
    • He wants our hearts (Matthew 15:16-20)
    • He wants our very lives (Matthew 16:24-27)
  • What about Christians and Easter?
    • The birth and resurrection of Jesus are absolutely important!
      • Genesis 12:3; Luke 1:30-33, 54-55; 2:11; Galatians 3:16
      • I Corinthians 15:12-19; 6:14; 11:24-26; Acts 20:7
    • I’m trying to get us all to remember Jesus for the other 363 days of the year!
      • Matthew 15:3
      • Luke 9:23

For further study, see also:

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  • Luke 12:32-13:17
  • Luke 12:32-34 – See I Timothy 5:8; Colossians 3:1-5; Luke 16:13
  • Luke 12:35-48 – Luke 12:40 is the key idea here – be ready! Don’t procrastinate on spiritual matters.
  • Luke 12:49-53 – See Matthew 10:34-39; Mark 10:38-40. We have to put God first in our lives.
  • Luke 12:54-57 – Jesus rebukes the people for not perceiving spiritual things as much as we pay attention to physical things.
  • Luke 12:58-59 – Jesus expresses his disappointment in people that would not simply do the right thing.
  • Luke 13:1-5 – Tragedies are not necessarily punishments from God. See John 9:1-3.
  • Luke 13:6-9 – God gives us time to bear spiritual fruit, but we must take the opportunity.
  • Luke 13:10-17 – Jesus heals a woman on the Sabbath and rebukes those who disapprove. This is the king of illogic that comes from going beyond God’s law.

For further study, see also:

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