LET THE BIBLE SPEAK.

The Jehovah's Witnesses: A False Religious Organization. Mike Willis. The Jehovah's Witnesses is a religious organization which had its beginning in the early twentieth century. It was founded by Charles Taze Russell in the latter half of the nineteenth century. Through the years, this religious group has been characterized by a missionary zeal which is commendable. The Jehovah's Witnesses teach several major false doctrines; hence, in their missionary work, they confuse people who have little or no Bible knowledge. Most of us have been confronted by the Witnesses on one or more occasions; we need to know their doctrines and how to refute them. Cardinal Tenets of the Witnesses There are several key doctrines which the Witnesses hold. If anyone does not agree with these doctrines, the Witnesses believe him to be in a false church. Here are several of their major tenets: 1. The Jehovah's Witnesses deny the deity of Jesus Christ. The Witnesses do not believe that Jesu...

The Bible Doctrine of Sanctification. By Tom Moore. 1 Thessalonians 4:1-7 INTRODUCTION: As we begin this sermon on sanctification: A. Sanctification is a Bible term often obscured by the theories of men. 1. The view is held by many that sanctification comes initially by a direct operation of the Holy Spirit in a miraculous and mysterious conversion process; some theorists allege that later the baptism of the Holy Spirit may be obtained, which puts the recipient beyond the possibility of committing sin of any kind. 2. This is not a scriptural view. a. Peter had received Holy Spirit baptism, and yet he committed sin… Galatians 2:11-14 b. The apostle John likewise had obtained this baptism, but wrote that he and all saints are capable of sin… 1 John 1:6-10 c. No one in this life stands beyond the reach of temptation and disobedience… 1 Corinthians 10:12 B. This study will focus on learning what the Bible teaches on this significant subject. 1. We have no pe...

Anatomy of a Command. By G. E. Watkins. INTRODUCTION: Read Gal. 6:10. 1. Many in the world and in the church are confused by how the Bible authorizes actions. 2. Because of this confusion many: 1) loose where God has not loosed. 2) bind where God has not bound. 3. God is not pleased by either of these options. Deuteronomy 4:2 is representative of God’s attitude here. see also. Proverbs 30:5-6. 4. This hour we are going to look at an ANATOMY OF A COMMAND. 5. I hope, in some small way, to give you information on how to avoid… 1) loosing where God has not loosed. 2) binding where God has not bound. DISCUSSION. I. A COMMAND IS BINDING. 1. Old Testament Principle. Deuteronomy 4:2; 6:1, 2. 2. New Testament Principle. John 14:15; 1John 2:4; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9. II. A COMMAND IS ELABORATED BY ITS IMPLICATIONS. 1. A command to perform a duty implies (for one thing) that one must learn how to perform that duty. 2. Illus. “Write a book on motorcycles....

A Study of Bible Authority (Aids and Additions). Intro. 1. God has expressed His authority in the Scriptures generically & specifically: a. Generic authority includes choices related to the commandment. b. Specific authority excludes choices, since God has specified what He wants. 2. How do we scripturally tell the difference between an aid (that helps us obey God’s word) & an addition that violates God’s word? I. THE BIBLE DOCTRINE OF AIDS. A. Definition ( sumphero): “lit., to bring together…to be an advantage, profitable expedient…” (Vine , 218). cf. John 16:7 1. “To bear together or at the same time; to carry with others; to collect or contribute in order to help, hence to help, be profitable, be expedient…” (Thayer , 597). 2. “Aid” is virtually synonymous with “expedient” here, since these terms are used to refer to things that assist or help in obeying God. 3. “In order for a thin...

Generics, Specifics And Expedients. Mark Mayberry. Bible authority falls into two categories: General and Specific authority. We are very familiar with these concepts, and it is easy to see the difference between the two. For example, one father might send his son to the store, saying, "Go buy some groceries." This is a general command. If the boy comes home with milk and eggs, apples and oranges, cookies, and coke, he has obeyed his father. All those things come within the scope of his father's commandment. However, another father might send his son to the store saying, "Go buy some milk and eggs." This is a specific command. If the boy comes home with milk and eggs, and also coke and cookies, he has not faithfully obeyed his father. In purchasing coke and cookies, he went beyond his father's command. Some definitions are here in order: The Random House Dictionary defines the word "general" as "1. of or pertaining to all persons or thin...

Biblical Authority And Expediency. Forrest D. Moyer A. We have, I believe, sustained the fact that everything authorized for God's church is in the N.T. We must have book, chapter and verse for everything we do religiously. Problems, however, arise in the realm of expediency - that is, in carrying out God's orders in ways that are decently and in order and without violating God's order. 1. God's teaching, whether to the individual or to the congregation, authorizes everything that is necessary to obedience to the command. For example, we realize that the command to baptize authorizes water in which to baptize. The command to assemble authorizes a place of assembly. The command to sing authorizes the words that we sing. 2. May I suggest that there is no such thing as a "law of expediency." There are expedients because there is law. Where there is no law, there can be no expedients. a. The Bible is not "silent" regarding the words of a song - it a...

Qualifications For Expedients. Don Partain. An expedient is a spiritually advantageous method for carrying out the Lord's revealed will. The Lord instructed us to sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs (Eph. 5:19) and to do so in an orderly manner (1 Cor. 14:40). Expedients to carrying out this command would include hymn books, pitch pipes, song leaders, certain styles of singing, etc. What qualifies a practice as an expedient? Is an expedient just any practice that seems to work - that seems to produce the desired result? Is it just whatever is easiest or most convenient for us to do? An expedient is first lawful (see 1 Cor. 6:12). It does not violate any scriptural principle. For example, the Lord instructed us to preach the gospel to all nations (Mk. 16:15). But using any kind of trickery, gimmickry, or force cannot be justified as an expedient - even if it yields some desirable results. Why? Because these practices violate clear scriptural principles (Eph. 4:25; Jn. 6:44,4...

What Is an Expedient? Warren Rainwater. All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any" (1 Cor. 6:12). This passage of scripture introduces the subject under consideration. What is an expedient? Webster says that an expedient is that which is "apt and suitable to the end in view etc." Sometimes we think a thing to be in the realm of an expedient when it is actually unscriptural. For anything to be expedient, it first must be lawful! There is no expedient way to do an unlawful thing. It is implied in the scriptures that expediency presupposes Lawfulness. The Assembly. For an example, it is expedient to have a building in which to assemble. We are commanded in the Hebrew letter to "not forsake the assembling of ourselves together..." (Heb. 10:25). This command implies a place to assemble. It might be under a tree or in a hotel or we may build a place. It is la...

The Faithful Christian Woman. By Kevin Cauley. PROPOSITION: To study the responsibilities of the faithful Christian woman–ecclesiastically, connubially, parentally. Objective: To help all become aware of the importance of the role which God made for woman. INTRODUCTION: 1. Read: 1 Corinthians 11:2-3 2. About the Text: 1) We see God’s authority structure. 2) It is not about value–it is about expediency. DISCUSSION: The faithful woman is faithful in each aspect of her life. I.   THE FAITHFUL WOMAN IN ECCLESIASTICAL RESPONSIBILITIES. 1. A faithful Christian. 1) One who is faithful in attendance . Hebrews 10:25. 2) One who is faithful in example. Philippians 3:17 “Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.” 3) A faithful woman in modesty. 1 Tim. 2:9 “In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, ...

Marry Outside the Faith? By Wayne Jackson     Is it wrong for a Christian to marry outside the faith? If so, how does he or she repent? This is a multifaceted question, and it would not do it justice to answer it hastily. A preliminary foundation must be laid. We would offer the following thoughts for careful study. Marriage Is a Sacred Relationship Designed by God. First of all, we must observe that marriage is a sacred relationship which was initiated by the Creator for the benefit of humanity as a whole (Gen. 2:18ff). Any two eligible people (male and female, unfettered by a previous marital tie) may enter into this divine relationship with the assurance that the union is recognized by God. This is a universal circumstance and has been since the beginning of time, although a lower marriage standard was tolerated in the pre-Christian ages (cf. Matt. 19:8). Paul acknowledged that some of the Corinthian saints had been guilty of the sin of adultery prior to the ti...