Intro:

1. I thought I would reflect this Labor Day weekend on what the Bible says about work/the Christian work ethic/ and the Christian in the workplace.

2. Work is a mixed blessing. Work is both rewarding and a toil as the result of the fall of man [Gen. 3:17].

Transition: The Christian is to take on God’s view and a Christian view in regard to work. I want to share some thoughts on the Christian work ethic.

1. God ordained work and work ethics in the garden of Eden [Gen. 1:27-30; 2:15-20].

2. What was intended to have joy in the original creation, has become a struggle because of the curse due to sin [Gen 3:17-19].

3. We must do everything without complaining to be a good witness before the world [Phil. 2:14].

4. We are to obey our employers [Eph. 6:5-9; Col. 3:22-25].

5. We are to stay away from the able bodied who don’t work and can work [2 Thess. 3:6-13].

6. We work to provide for our family [1 Tim. 5:8].

7. We are to be honest in our work [Titus 2:9-10].

8. We are to share with those in need [Eph. 4:28].

9. The value of work is not measured by the wealth it produces for us, but the opportunities it provides for ministry.

We are living in a day where one is accused of being a narrow minded bigot if they believe that the only way to God and heaven is through Jesus Christ, the Eternal Son of God. We are told by a pluralistic society that there are many gods and many ways to these gods. To teach one way to one God is exclusive and intolerant in our politically correct world system.

What did Jesus say in John 14:6? He was the only way, not one of many. Neither did Jesus say there were many gods. There is only one true God, the God of the Bible, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

The Apostle Paul wrote (Galatians 1:6-10) that if any one comes to us with another gospel other that what he or Jesus preached, let them be accursed (Damned). There are many perversions of the gospel out there. Most pervert the person and work of Jesus. It doesn’t matter what we are right about, if we are wrong about Jesus.

What is the true gospel that Paul and the other Apostles preached? It is the good news that salvation is totally by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. (Ephesians 2:8-10). If we add any work, merit, or unbiblical teaching to the gospel, then we have perverted the gospel.

The professing church today is compromising the truth of scripture in order to be accepted by the world. We are more concerned with being politically correct than Biblically correct. Let us hold fast to the gospel first preached to us, unless we believed in vain (I Corinthians 15:1-2). Only those who continue are truly regenerate.

What is fasting?

The Greek word is “nesteia” which means to abstain from food, either totally or partially. Usually only water was drunk during a fast. It was accompanied with an intense prayer for spiritual reasons. One fasts to get the Lord’s will in a certain matter. It seems to be a voluntary act not a spiritual duty to be observed regularly.

What is wrong fasting? (Matt 6:16).

To the Pharisees of Jesus’ day it had become a religious show of hypocrisy. They fasted two times a week, usually on the second and fifth days of the week. This was on the major market days when there was a bigger audience. They fasted to be seen by men and to appear religious.

What is right fasting? (Matt 6:17-18).

Jesus assumes His followers will fast on certain occasions, but does not give a command or a specific time, place, or method.

Fasting is always associated with prayer. Here are some instances in the Bible about fasting:

1. Associated with mourning over a loss (Matt 9:14-15; I Sam 31:13; 2 Sam 12:16; 3:35).
2. Associated with mourning over sin (Joel 1:14, 2:12).
3. Associated with a time of testing, trial, or struggle (Matt 4:1-11).
4. Associated with understanding God’s word or seeking His will (Dan 9:2-3,21-22;10:3).
5. Associated with the beginning of a ministry or task (Matt 4:1-11).
6. Associated with spiritual warfare (Matt 4:1-11, 17:21).
7. Associated with the setting apart of spiritual leaders (Acts 13:2-3, 14:23).
8. Associated with self-discipline (I Cor 7:5).

I believe that by denying the physical, and concentrating on the spiritual, we become more open to God’s illumination.

Part 1

Intro:

1. What’s wrong with these two statements- “We don’t attend one particular church, we like to visit several and go when we feel like going,” or this one, “We don’t believe in church membership, we are saved but don’t think membership is commanded or needed.

2. To neglect or refuse to join a local church after salvation reflects a misunderstanding of the believer’s responsibility to the body of Christ and the head of the body.

Transition: It is essential that every believer understand what church membership is and why it matters. Membership matters, it is important and carries certain responsibilities and privileges.

Two thoughts- The Biblical definition of church membership, and the Biblical basis of church membership.

1. The Biblical definition of church membership.

1]. When saved, the believer becomes a member of the body of Christ. He identifies with Christ thru baptism, and then yokes himself with the local expression of that body, the local church.

2]. To become a member of a church is to commit oneself to an local body of believers who have joined together for divine purposes.

I want to share 6 purposes:

1. To come under the teaching of God’s Word.

1 Tim. 4:13, “Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.”

2. Serving and edifying one another through the proper use of spiritual gifts [Rom. 12:3; 1 Cor. 12:4-21; 1 Pet. 4:10; Eph. 4:11-12].

3. Participating in the ordinances [Acts 2:38-42]. The ordinances were given to the church not the individual.

4. Proclaiming the gospel to the lost [Matt. 28:18-20].

5. To meet for public worship and prayer [Acts 2:41-47].

6. When one becomes a member of a church, he submits himself to the care and authority of qualified church leaders that God gave and placed in the church.

2. The Biblical basis for church membership. Share 4- the example of the early church, the existence of church government, the exercise of church discipline, and the exhortation to mutual edification.

1]. The example of the early church calls for church membership.

1. In the early church, coming to Christ meant coming to the church. When someone repented and believed in Christ, they were baptized and added to the church [Acts 2:41, 47; 16:5]. Yes they had a private and personal commitment; but they also joined with other believers in a local assembly and devoted themselves to teaching, fellowship, ordinances, and prayer [Acts 2:42].

2. Paul’s letters of the N.T. were written to local churches. The N.T. letters give evidence the Lord expected saints to be together.

3. The early church kept a list of members that grew as people were saved [Acts 2:41, 47; 16:5]. They kept a list of widows who qualified for support [1 Tim. 5:9].

4. The early church wrote letters of recommendation when members went to another city and church [Acts 18:27; Romans 16:1-2; 2 Cor. 3:1-2].

5. Acts records certain terminology that fits only church membership. “The whole congregation” [6:5], “The church in Jerusalem” [8:1], “the disciples in Jerusalem” [9;26], “the whole church” [15:17], the church was defined by boundaries.

6. The believers gathered together. We are “called out ones,” yet called to be together [1 Cor. 5:4; 14:23; Heb. 10:25].

I am often asked about home churches, or meeting in homes. Remember that the local church is not a building but a people [Rom. 16:5].

I see nothing wrong with a church in your home or small cell groups, if we do what a church is supposed to do. I see 3 questions we must answer:

1. Why did the early church meet in homes? The early church met in homes because there was no buildings and because of persecution.

2. Why are you meeting in your home? If you are meeting in your home to counter the “traditional church,” then you are meeting for the wrong reasons. Many times these people have a problem submitting to authority and have selfish egos and a “bone to pick,” with the traditional church.

3. Who is meeting in your home? If it’s only your family, then its not a N.T. church, its no more than a family devotional? Everywhere I read in the N.T. where the church met in a home, there were others present besides their families.

Next time we look at the remaining 3 Biblical reasons for church membership: The existence of church government, the exercise of church discipline, and the exhortation of mutual edification.

Part 2

Intro:

1. What’s wrong with these two statements- “We don’t attend one particular church, we like to visit several and go when we feel like going,” or this one, “We don’t believe in church membership, we are saved but don’t think membership is commanded or needed.

2. To neglect or refuse to join a church after salvation reflects a misunderstanding of the believer’s responsibility to the body of Christ and the head of the body.

Transition: It is essential that every believer understand what church membership is and why it matters. Membership matters, it is important and carries certain responsibilities and privileges.

Two thoughts- We looked at the Biblical definition of church membership and we examined 6 purposes of the church. We began to look at the Biblical basis of church membership-

1]. The example of the early church calls for membership.

1. When someone was saved they joined with a local church and devoted themselves to Acts 2:42

2. Paul’s N.T. letters were written to local fellowships.

3. The early church kept a list of its members.

4. The early church wrote letters of recommendation when its members moved to another church.

5. They met for public worship with other believers.

6. A believer is to submit to qualified church leaders.

2]. The existence of church government calls for church membership.

1. The N.T. teaches that Pastor/Pastors is to oversee local body of believers. This would presuppose a clearly defined group of church members who are under their care.

2. These pastors are to shepherd God’s people [Acts 20:28; 1 Pet. 5:2], to labor among them [1 Thess. 5:12], to have charge over them [1 Thess. 5:12; 1 Tim. 5:17], and to watch over their souls because they will give an account of those allotted to their charge [Heb. 13:17].

3. The believers are to submit to their leaders [Heb. 13;17]. If one refuses to join a church and place himself under their care, then they have no leaders. This means he disobeys Heb. 13:17.

3]. The exercise of church discipline calls for church membership.

1. God outlines a four-step process for restoring a sinning so-called believer in Matt. 18:15-17.

Other passages give directives as well [1 Cor. 5:1-13; 1 Tim. 5:20; Titus 3:10-11].

2. What does this mean in relation to church membership?

The leaders of the church must know who their members are if they are to administer discipline.

We are not responsible for the members of any other church, but Trinity Baptist.

Acts 20:17, 28

1 Peter 5:1-3

4]. The exhortation to mutual edification calls for church membership.

1. Every member of Christ’s body is to be devoted to the growth of the body. We are to practice the “one anothers” and exercise our spiritual gifts.

Heb. 10:24-25

2. What does this mean in relation to church membership?

Mutual edification can only take place in the context of the corporate body of Christ.

Con: Membership matters-

We are to live out our commitment to Christ thru a local church.

That entails living a godly life before a lost world.
Exercising our spiritual gifts in the body.
Giving financially to the Lord’s work thru the local church.
Praying for the Lord’s work thru the local church.
Giving and receiving instruction in the church.
Faithfully participating in corporate worship.

Membership matters- We come to faith in Christ, and then we come to the local church to be baptized and grow as Christians.

The Bible does not specifically answer this question. Will babies and children who die still be babies? Will there be children in Heaven? What about elderly people who die, do they remain elderly in Heaven?

We can only speculate where Scripture is silent. Many guess that babies are given a resurrection body (1 Corinthians 15:35-49) that is “fast-forwarded” to the “ideal age,” just as those who die at an old age are "re-wound" to the ideal age.

What is the ideal age? I do not know, again it is mere speculation. Some guess around 30, while others guess 33, since that is approximately the age Jesus was when He died and some believe the created age of Adam.

1 John 3:2 declares, "Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when He appears, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is."

The word paradise is used as a synonym for Heaven.

2 Corinthians 12:4, "How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which is not lawful to utter."

Paul tells of a time when he was taken to the third heaven, whether in the body or out, he didn't know [v.2]. He tells us very clearly, that paradise is in the third heaven [abode of God and Jesus]. Jesus came from the third heaven and went back to the third heaven at his ascension. The first heaven is the sky and atmosphere, the second heaven is the stars and planets. The third heaven is where the throne of God is.

Paradise in the Old Testament

In O.T. times the righteous dead went to paradise and the wicked dead to Hades or torments [Luke 16:19-31]. There was a great gulf fixed between the two. Hades was divided into a place of comfort [Paradise], and a place of torments.

Paradise in the New Testament

Jesus, after his resurrection, took the departed souls of believers from paradise into the third heaven [Acts 2:2:27, 31; Eph. 4:9]. Also, after the resurrection of Christ, believers no longer go to paradise below, but to paradise above, into the presence of the Lord in the third heaven [Luke 23:24; 2 Cor. 12:2-4; Rev. 2:7]. Today, when a believer dies, he is "present with the Lord" in the third heaven in paradise [2 Cor. 5:6-9].

The final state of the righteous and wicked

Believers will one day abide in the New Jerusalem on the new heavens and the new earth [Rev. 21-22]. The wicked will be taken out of Hades and cast into the Lake of Fire and stay there forever [Rev. 20:11-15].

Jehovah witnesses believe that in paradise the righteous will have eternal life on earth, and the unrighteous will be annihilated. They do not believe in a literal hell with conscious punishment forever. They do not believe this present earth will be destroyed, but become a peaceful paradise. This is contrary to what the Holy Scriptures teach [Rev. 20:10-15]. Note v. 10 says "day and night forever." Also, this present earth is not paradise [Rev. 21:1, 5]. Noticed this present earth passes away, and He makes all things new. This takes place after the Great White Throne judgment of the wicked. In fact, we are told how it happens, it shall be destroyed by fire [2 Peter 3:10-13].

God's program for Israel is 70 weeks of 7 years each, or 490 years.

Daniel 9:24-27



Back to Questions

---

What do the Feasts of Israel Represent?



Back to Questions

---

The Glorification of the Believer



Back to Questions

---

What is Appropriate Christian Dress?


Back to Questions