Abounding Grace - An Exposition of Romans 5.18 - 21

When judgement shows up, grace has already been there. - Orpheus Haywood

The Well Spoken Scribe - Mark 12 - 2 July 2017

John the Plunger - A Trailblazer of Faith!

John the Plunger - Questions 

 Lesson 5 – VBS – “Trailblazers of Faith”

Archdale church of Christ – 07.26.17

1.      Ioannes ho Baptistes.  B____________ is a T________________

Greek word.  It literally means to D_________ or to P___________ coming from the manufacturing of D________ clothing.   We are referring to him tonight as “John the P______________.”

2.   His given name was Ionnes bar Zacharia.  Translated, “John son of Zacharias” which means “Jehovah has shown F________” son of “The Lord has R_________________.”

3.   The most important event in all human history is what?  _________________________________________________

4.   Name the 7 most important personalities in all of human history BEFORE this singularly important event:

a.    __________________________________________

b.    __________________________________________

c.     __________________________________________

d.    __________________________________________

e.     ___________________________________________

f.      ___________________________________________

g.    ___________________________________________

5.   VIDEO

6.   Malachi 4: The reason that God did N_____ “smite the earth D___________” was: ______________________

_____________________________________________

7.   Elijah & John are alike how?

Elijah C_____________ the OT and John O________ the new

Elijah D_____________in the cave, John in the P___________

Elijah T_____________ Ahab, John troubled H_____________

Elijah gave his ministry to E____________, John to J_________

Elijah was scorned by J____________, John by H____________

Elijah took meals by C___________, John in the W__________

Elijah was H__________ & wore L______________, John wore   camels H__________ and had a L_____________ girdle

Elijah called for R____________, John called for R___________

Elijah was T_______________ & John was the G____________

Born of women B____________ The K_______________ he proclaimed!

Both appealed ONLY to the W_____ of G_____ and neither appealed to T__________________

John the Plunger - Answers 

 Lesson 5 – VBS – “Trailblazers of Faith”

Archdale church of Christ – 07.26.17

1.      Ioannes ho Baptistes.  BAPTIST is a TRANSLITERATED

Greek word.  (Taking a word from one language and placing it in another with little or no change).  It literally means to DIP or to PLUNGE coming from the manufacturing of DYED clothing.   We are referring to him tonight as “John the PLUNGER.”

2.   His given name was Ionnes bar Zacharia.  Translated, “John son of Zacharias” which means “Jehovah has shown FAVOR” son of “The Lord has REMEMBERED.”

3.   The most important event in all human history is what?  THE DEATH, BURIAL, AND RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST.

4.   Name the 7 most important personalities in all of human history BEFORE this singularly important event:

a.    ADAM

b.    NOAH

c.     ABRAHAM

d.    MOSES

e.     DAVID

f.      ELIJAH

g.    JOHN THE PLUNGER

5.   VIDEO

6.   Malachi 4: The reason that God did NOT “smite the earth DOOM” {FROM TEXTUS RECEPTUS} was: ELIJAH CAME BEFORE THE ONE THAT TURNED THE HEARTS OF BOTH THE FATHER AND HIS CHILDREN BACK TO EACH OTHER ON PENTECOST IN RECONCILIATION THROUGH THE DEATH, BURIAL, AND RESURRECTION OF THE KING OF KINGS.

7.   Elijah & John are alike how?

Elijah CLOSED the OT and John OPENED the new

Elijah DOUBTED in the cave, John in the PRISON

Elijah TROUBLED Ahab, John troubled HEROD

Elijah gave his ministry to ELISHA, John to JESUS

Elijah was scorned by JEZABEL, John by HERODIOUS

Elijah took meals by THE BROOK  CHESIR, John in the WILDERNESS

Elijah was HARIRY & wore LEATHER, John wore CAMELS HAIR and had a LEATHER girdle

Elijah called for REPENTENCE, John called for REPENTENCE.

Elijah was TRANSLATED & TRANSIGURED while John was the GREATEST BORN OF  WOMEN.

That is, Born of women BEFORE  The KINGDOM he proclaimed was about to come!

Both appealed ONLY to the WORD of GOD and neither appealed to THEMSELVES

Link the Gospel to Your Friends with: http://gospelcall.blogspot.com

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Did Christ Preach in Hell Before His Resurrection? - I Peter 3.19

I asked the class tonight this question;"Where do we find this passage;

"(He) was crucified, died, and was buried.  He descended into hell.  The third day he arose for the dead."?  

I had several answers; "Corinthians."  "Psalms."  A third person gave a 3rd book.  Granted I used the word "passage."  But...the passages is not from the Bible.  It simply is not there.  It sounds Bible.  But is it?  No..it is not.  It is not from the Bible and it is not a biblical statement.  The passage is found in "The Apostles Creed," a man made document.

Please find below a copy of our lesson sheet AND a copy of my answer sheet so you can share this info with either a class you, your elders or your gospel preacher can present to the congregation where you attend.

Did Christ Preach in Hell on Saturday?

Archdale church of Christ / Russ McCullough – 14 June 2017

I Peter 3.19 Question

1.      Where do we find this statement; “(He) was crucified, died, and was buried.  He descended into hell.  The third day he arose from the dead.”?

2.      What was generally believed by people in Catholic Europe during the middle ages? 

3.      This L____________ dates back to the _______ century based upon a book known as P____________ Augustine who allegedly says in a sermon that the A___________ C___________ was given by the “inspiration of the Holy Spirit” to each of the 12 A_____________ who each wrote a 1/12 of the creed.  Augustine uses as a S_________ that this was asserted by St. A_____________ in the ________ century. 

4.      The CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA cites at least ________ versions of the creed.  There are 3 versions of the Old R_____________ Creed as supposedly quoted by Tertullian as well as _______ more “modern” versions.

5.      “What saith the Scriptures?”

6.      The traditional interpretation of I Peter 3.19 is that while in the tomb on S_______________ Christ went to H________ and preached to the OT S_________ so as to set them F_________.  This is generally held to be true by C_____________, most P_____________ and most members of the L_______ C__________ as well.

7.      This traditional approach is based on 2 passages: I Peter 3.18 – 20 & I Peter 4.4 – 6.

8.      There are two            questions we must ask of these texts: 1) Where does it say in the text that Christ went to hell?  2) “IF” He did, where does it say in the text that He went to Hell while in the Tomb?

9.      The context for I Peter 3.18 – 20 spans vs.13 – 21.  The focus of the overall text is not H_________, not those who are D_____________ but instead it is about B____________.  The portion of the text regarding the “spirits in prison” is A__________ and not P______________.

10.  The key to this auxiliary portion is found in vs. 3 as well as in vs. 1.10 – 11.

11.  Conclusion: Christ did not go to H__________ on S_____________.  He did not literally preach to anyone while in H_________ so that they might have a 2^nd C___________.  He did C_________________ to the dead but did so while they were A__________ by the same Spirit that raised Him from the D___________, a Spirit that was, is, and shall be O_________________.  We cannot interpret Scripture by way of medieval C______________ creeds and D_____________.

Public Domain Image Courtesy of Wikipdia.org

1.      Where do we find this statement; “(He) was crucified, died, and was buried.  He descended into hell.  The third day he arose from the dead.”?

2.      What was generally believed by people in Catholic Europe during the middle ages? 

3.      This LEGEND dates back to the SIXTH century based upon a book known as PSEUDO Augustine who allegedly says in a sermon that the APOSTLES CREED was given by the “inspiration of the Holy Spirit” to each of the 12 APOSTLES who each wrote a 1/12 of the creed.  Augustine uses as a SERMON that this was asserted by St. AMBROSE in the FOURTH century. 

4.      The CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA cites at least FIVE versions of the creed.  There are 3 versions of the Old ROMAN Creed as supposedly quoted by Tertullian as well as TWO more “modern” versions.

5.      “What saith the Scriptures?”

6.      The traditional interpretation of I Peter 3.19 is that while in the tomb on SATURDAY Christ went to HELL and preached to the OT SAINTS so as to set them FREE.  This is generally held to be true by CATHOLICS, most PROTESTANTS, and most members of the LORD’S CHURCH   as well.

7.      This traditional approach is based on 2 passages: I Peter 3.18 – 20 & I Peter 4.4 – 6.

8.      There are two questions we must ask of these texts: 1) Where does it say in the text that Christ went to hell?  2) “IF” He did, where does it say in the text that He went to Hell while in the Tomb?

9.      The context for I Peter 3.18 – 20 spans vs.13 – 21.  The focus of the overall text is not HELL, not those who are DEAD but instead it is about BAPTISM.  The portion of the text regarding the “spirits in prison” is AUXILLARY and not PRIMARY.

10.  The key to this auxiliary portion is found in vs. 3 as well as in vs. 1.10 – 11.

11.  Conclusion: Christ did not go to HELL on SATURDAY.  He did not literally preach to anyone while in HELL so that they might have a 2^nd  CHANCE.  He did COMMUNICATE to the dead but did so while they were ALIVE by the same Spirit that raised Him from the DEAD, a Spirit that was, is, and shall be  OMNIPRESENT.  We cannot interpret Scripture by way of medieval CATHOLIC creeds and DOGMAS .

Public Domain Image Courtesy of Wikipdia.org

Sources Consulted:

Primary: 

     I Peter 3, 4 - ESV (English Standard Version)

Secondary:

     THE CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA via wikipedia.org

     Piper, John ("Did Jesus Spend Saturday in Hell?" in the blog; DESIRING GOD, March 22,          2008

My Name is John and I'd Like You to Meet My Friend Jesus

NOTE: I began today to preach through the Gospel of John every 2nd Lord's Day of each month.  The Series is entitled; "What A Friend We Have In Jesus!"  I am preaching in the 1st person as if I am John himself.  I will, Lord willing, not take any theological license in these presentations.

Good morning!  Welcome to the Ephesus church of Christ.  My name is John and I want you to know my friend Jesus.  As we stand before you I am 95 years old and thank God for the opportunity to serve this congregation as one of your elders.  In these series of sermons I want to recall my time with Jesus Christ of Nazareth who was...AND IS... my friend.  I want Him to be your friend too!

To Be Completed...

I Am A Member of the church of Christ because She was Founded in Jerusalem - Part 3 of a Series

Dry Salvation? - Baptism Cannot be Eisegetically Interpreted

We became alarmed in 2006 when the ""emergent"  among us began to depart from the truth in regards to the instrument.(1)  That, however, was not the end but the beginning of apostasy.  That same "silence" argument has now been (mis)applied by many to reject the necessity of baptism as commanded by both Christ and His apostles. 

In today's LinkedIn feed (05.30.17), Joe Becker, the preacher for the Steamboat Springs church of Christ in Colorado Springs, CO posted this:

"One of the difficulties with the question, "Is baptism necessary for salvation?" is that the question--as it is generally presented--assumes that one's salvation can be pinpointed to specific moment in time. But that is not the picture of salvation presented to us in the New Testament. According to the Bible, salvation is made up of two major components--justification and sanctification. In justification, we receive imputed righteousness; in sanctification, we are made actually righteous. Those who have been justified are identified, in the New Testament, both as the, "saved," and as the, "being saved." Justification is granted on the basis of faith alone, but justification cannot complete one's salvation. Sanctification is required, and sanctification is a life-long process, which is inaugurated upon justification, but will not be consummated until the Last Day. We have been justified, and we are being sanctified, and the two, together, make up salvation."

Many have falsely argued that the use of the instrument is "not a heaven and hell issue" and is a matter of

choice, convenience, and tradition.  The argument begs the question, of course.  Any Bible believing Christian MUST CERTAINLY reject this allegorical eisegesis application to BAPTISM.  One is saved not by water, but in water where the "powerful working of God" is applied (2) as one is buried "into His death" (3) where the blood of Christ is contacted "for remission of sins." (4)  Justification and sanctification are not possible unless one is "in Christ."  The only way to get "into Christ" is to be baptized into Him. (5)  God's salvational work is applied at no other time or place.

In our time when the internet connects us all continuously, potential falsehood travels to every congregation faster than the speed of light.  Everyone, especially the elders, must be constantly aware of these matters so as to "convict the gainsayer." (6)  No straw man here, there is a real wolf always at Jude's metaphorical "side door" walking right in and sitting next to us.  Water is in God's Plan, Satan wants us all to stay dry as fodder for eternal fire. 

(1) For more the most detailed info available information on the so-called "emerging church" movement among churches of Christ, obtain a copy of: EMERGING TOWARDS APOSTASY.  The book is available through P & D Sales of Rock Hill, SC.  Their number is 803.817.1869.

(2) Colossians 2.11 - 12

(3) Romans 6.1 - 6

(4) Matthew 26.28; Acts 2.38

(5) Galatians 3.27

(6) Titus 1.9

Photo Courtesy of Wikipedia Commons