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Sermons - Benchley church of Christ

The Human Experience

Garren Stroud

March 07, 2011

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What we know or appreciate is based on our experience.
- We can have an understanding of an action or place without being present.
  - I have never performed surgery, but I have an understanding of the process.
  - I have never seen Paris, France, but I have seen pictures and know people that have been there.
Man’s experience cannot tell him of the spiritual.
- Note Paul’s experience - II Corinthians 12:1-5
  - v2,4 - He speaks of his location as: in the “third heaven”, “paradise” - Luke 23:43
  - v4 - He heard “unspeakable” words
Heaven is described to us based on human experience.
- Revelation 21:10-22
- We can have some appreciation.
Hell is described to us based on human experience.
- Mark 9:44 - Worm dieth not
- Matthew 8:12 - Outer darkness, weeping and gnashing of teeth
- Revelation 20:6 - Second death
- Revelation 20:10 - Lake of fire and brimstone, tormented day and night
God’s love is described to us based on human expressions.
- Ephesians 3:14-20
  - v18 - The breadth, length, depth, and height (full measure of God’s love)
  - v19 - The love that passeth knowledge (beyond man’s capabilities)
  - v20 - “exceeding abundantly above” - Paul still could not fully express the idea
- We can have some appreciation.
The glory of a relationship with God is described based on human experience.
- Colossians 1:12 - Partakers of the inheritance
- Colossians 1:21-23 - Holy, unblameable, unreproveable
- Romans 8:14-18 - Sons, children, heirs, joint-heirs
- Romans 8:29-30 - Called, justified, glorified
- Ephesians 1:6 - Accepted in the blood
- We can have some appreciation
Where do we look for answers?
- Do we look to God or man for spiritual answers? (I Corinthians 2:12-16
  - v12 - Man doesn’t know the spiritual.
Conclusion
- Fast: the love of God cannot be fully appreciated while in the flesh (John 3:16
- Fact: our relationship with God cannot be fully appreciated while in the flesh (Hebrews 12:6-11
- Fact: the glory of heaven cannot be fully appreciated while in the flesh (Matthew 25:34
- Fact: the damnation of hell cannot be fully appreciated while in the flesh (Luke 16:23-26
- The only way to have a full appreciation is to be there.
- Where will you be to fully know?

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Sermons - Benchley church of Christ

Fig Leaf Religion

Garren Stroud

March 06, 2011

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What fig leaf religion is:
- Genesis 2:16-17
- A religion that attempts to cover shame
- A religion that is insufficient in content and outcome
Fig leaf religions
- Calvin’s TULIP is fig leaf religion
  - Total hereditary depravity - a shame in accusation that God created man evil (James 1:13-14
  - Unconditional election - a shame in saying that God is a respecter of persons (I Timothy 2:4
  - Limited atonement - a shame in saying the blood of Christ was not offered for all (Hebrews 7:25
  - Irresistible grace - a shame that God would overcome the will of man that He gave man (Titus 2:11-12
  - Persistence of the saints - a shame in saying that God is weak (II Peter 2:9
- Faith only is a fig leaf religion
  - Faith only takes away obedience (I John 2:3-5
  - Faith only takes away discipleship (Luke 14:26-27
  - Faith only takes away true faith (James 2:19
- Praying through is fig leaf religion
  - Praying through nullifies obedience (Acts 8:35-37
  - Praying through omits God’s will (Acts 9-10
  - Praying through discounts the blood-bought relationship offered to believers (I Peter 3:12
Some of our brethren are practicing fig leaf religion.
- A greater, grander work
  - A world-wide effort (Matthew 7:21-23
- A religion to please people
  - “Preach the man, not the plan” (III John 9
- The method of understanding scripture is outdated
  - Purpose, principle, precedent (I John 4:4-6
Do we practice fig leaf religion?
- Do we put our wants ahead of God?
  - No time for study, too busy (I Peter 3:15
  - No time for worship, too much to do (Matthew 3:13-15
  - No time for visiting, I miss “my life” (Isaiah 28:9-10
  - No time for mentioning Jesus to others (Isaiah 28:16-17
Conclusion
- There certainly is shame to cover (Acts 2:36-37
- That shame can only be covered by God (Romans 2:4-11
What religion are we practicing?

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Sermons - Benchley church of Christ

This Sunday

Garren Stroud

March 06, 2011

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Matthew 5:20
Colossians 3:16-17 - singing
Acts 17:11 - how to listen to a sermon
Malachi 1:7-8 - vain offerings
Colossians 1:22-23
Matthew 6:19-21 - lay up treasure in heaven
Romans 14:11-12 - everyone will give an account to God
John 5:28-29
James 2:19
Hebrews 11:6

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Classes - Benchley church of Christ

A New Covenant (Hebrews 8:7-12)

Garren Stroud

March 06, 2011

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What was the “fault” in the Mosaical law?
- Romans 7:10-12
- Hebrews 10:4 - The old law was not intended for eternal salvation.
- Exodus 19:5-6
Hebrews 8:8 - “finding fault with them” refers to the Israelites, who failed in keeping the law.
- Hebrews 4:2
Hebrews 8:8-9 - The promise of something to come was referring to the New Covenant.
Hebrews 8:9 - God does not “regard” those who do not obey Him.
Hebrews 8:10
- The new covenant would take effect after the old covenant was put away.
- Exodus 34:1 - The old law was written on stone tablets. The new law is written on the hearts of men.
- The Jews were God’s chosen people, but they rejected Him by not doing His will. (They were chosen in the sense that Christ would come through them.)
  - Deuteronomy 11:18-20
Hebrews 8:11 - In the old covenant, people entered into the covenant at circumcision. In the new covenant, knowledge is required before one can enter the covenant.
Hebrews 8:12 - Under the old covenant, the sins of the people were brougth to rememberance once a year and forgiven for a year at the scapegoat ceremony. Christ’s blood is the only thing that can truly forgive sins.