What Must I Do?

Introduction:

• Acts 2:37          “…men and brethren, what shall we do?”
• Acts 9:6            “Lord, what do You want me to do?”
• Acts 10:32-33    “…we are all present before God, to hear all the things commanded you by God.”
• Acts 13:15        “Men and brethren, if you have any word of exhortation for the people, say on.”
• Acts 16:30        “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
• Acts 17:19        “May we know what this new doctrine is of which you speak?”
• Acts 22:10        “What shall I do, Lord?”

 

Whether from idle curiosity or fervent desire, men have asked the question which ought to fill the minds of all men: 

 

“Lord, what must I do to be saved?”

 

This lesson deals with the answer of the Lord and His men to this question.

 

Discussion:

I)                 Definition of terminology and explanation of need.

a)     What Must I Do To Be Saved?

i)       “What” – requires an answer

ii)      “Must” – indicates essentiality

iii)    “I” – makes it personal

iv)     “Do” – indicates the presence of individual response

v)      “To” – indicates “in order to” or purpose

vi)     “Be Saved” – is to be rescued or preserved unharmed and it is passive, i.e., God does the saving (1^st person, singular, aorist 1, subj. passive of sozo)

Literally, “Sirs, what does it behoove me to do that I might be saved?”

b)     Saved from what?

i)       Punishment due to one as a result of sin.  Eze. 18:20; Rom. 6:23; Rom. 1:18; Rom. 2:5 (Sins must be forgiven, Eph. 1:7)

ii)      Everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, II Thess. 1:7-9

II)               So the question is:

a)     What must I personally do in order that I might receive the salvation of my soul?

i)       Some would say:  Nothing, salvation is wholly of God and there is nothing you can do.

(1)   Contra – John 3:16 – “whosoever believeth” = act of the mind and will as a result of hearing of the gospel of Christ. (cf. Romans 10:17)

(2)   II Thess. 2:14

(3)   Rom. 1:16

(4)   These alone indicated that there is something to do.

ii)      Some would say:  “Believe Only”

(1)   Contra James 2:24 – “You see then that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.”

(2)   Heb. 5:9

(3)   Rom. 1:5-6

(4)   Rom. 10:16

iii)    Some would say:  “Called directly by H.S.”

(1)   Contra II Thess. 2:14

iv)     Some would say:  “Call on His name.”  Meaning come down to the alter and “pray through”

(1)   Contra Matt. 7:21; etc.

b)     What Does The Bible Say?

i)       What did people teach and how did others respond in N.T.?  This will answer our question.

ii)      Look at God’s teachers and the people they taught in the book of ACTS.

iii)    Remember our question:  “What must I do to be saved?”

(1)   Acts 2:1-47 Pentecost

(a)   Jesus was preached

(b)   The people believed

(c)   Their hearts were smitten

(d)   They asked the question

(e)   There were told what to do (vs. 38) Repent and be baptized for the remission of sins (note:  remission of sins came before or after baptism?  AFTER, not before!  Also note:  they were added to the church by the Lord (vs. 47)

(2)   Acts 8:5-12 Samaritans

(a)   Jesus was preached

(b)   The people believed

(c)   They were baptized

(3)   Acts 8:26-38  The Ethiopian Eunuch

(a)   Jesus was preached

(b)   He confessed his faith in Jesus

(c)   He was baptized

(4)   Acts 9:1-19; 22:16 Saul of Tarsus

(a)   Jesus appeared (for the purpose of making him an apostle)

(b)   He was baptized, calling upon the name of the Lord

(5)   Acts 10:1-48 Cornelius

(a)   Jesus was preached

(b)   H.S. fell on them evidencing God’s acceptance of the Gentiles (see 11:17-18)

(c)   They were baptized

(6)   Acts 16:13-15 Lydia

(a)   Taught

(b)   Baptized

(7)   Acts 16:25-33 Philippian Jailer

(a)   Jesus preached

(b)   Baptized the same hour of the night

(8)   Acts 18:1-11 Corinthians

(a)   Jesus preached

(b)   People believed

(c)   Were baptized

(9)   Acts 19:1-5  Ephesian 12

(a)   Were believers

(b)   Told about proper baptism

(c)   Were baptized in the name of Jesus Christ

iv)     Note what we have seen:

(1)   As a result of the preaching of Jesus, people in the 1^st Century…

(a)   Believed in Jesus Christ as God’s Son and their Savior.

(b)   Repented of their sins.

(c)   Confessed their faith in Jesus Christ.

(d)   Were Baptized in water for the remission of their sins.

(2)   Friend, it ought to be the same today.  If not, why not?

 

III)             Is Baptism Necessary In Order To Be Saved?

a)     Let’s see what the Bible has to say about it:

i)       If, when baptized, you…

(1)   Put On Christ – Gal. 3:27

(2)   Wash Away Sins – Acts 22:16

(3)   Get Remission of Sins – Acts 2:38

(4)   Made Free From Sin – Rom. 6:17

(5)   Receive Benefits of His Death – Rom. 6:3-6

(6)   Enter The Body of Christ – I Cor. 12:13; Acts 2:47

ii)      Then, What Is Your State Without Baptism???

iii)    Now look at I Pet. 3:21

 

IV)             Is the problem one of the Bible’s being unclear on this subject, or, is the problem unbelief of the Bible???

a)     The BASIS of our salvation is the precious shed blood of Jesus Christ as an atonement for sin.

b)     The CONDITIONS of our salvation are:

i)       FAITH

ii)      REPENTANCE

iii)    CONFESSION

iv)     BAPTISM

v)   FAITHFUL LIVING

 

Conclusion:  READ the following:  James 1:22; Heb. 5:9; I Peter 1:22-23; Matt. 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16; Matt. 7:21.

Byron Gage

Church Discipline

Church Discipline

By Byron Gage

(from a tract written in Lafayette, LA with Ted Lafferty in 1980′s for an attorney)

See the Accompanying FlowChart

INTRODUCTION: The problems which exist and the solutions which are proposed in the area of church discipline are “legion”. That Biblically oriented church discipline is not uniformly practiced is an understatement. And, with the current concern over legal ramifications and negative publicity such as was seen in the lawsuit against a church of Christ in Collinsville, Oklahoma, the situation may get worse before it gets better.

However, those who will not have the truth must not deter those who will have nothing else. Scripturally sound and lovingly administered discipline is a requisite for the faithfulness of a local church. It is to this end that a study of this kind is formulated. This material was originally organized by Byron Gage and another member of the church (who has since left the faith) in Lafayette, Louisiana and presented to an attorney in an effort to help his understanding of the obligations of a local church in the area of corrective discipline.

CHURCH DISCIPLINE

CASE I

Luke 17:3‑4 “Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him.”

This passage tells the Christian sinned against to ‘rebuke’ (‘to allege as a crimination; hence, to reprove, chide, censure, rebuke, reprimand” Analytical Greek Lexicon) the sinning brother. When the brother repents, the sinned against party is obligated to forgive him. This passage does not deal with the unrepentant brother.

CASE II

I Thessalonians 5:14 “Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all.”

This passage exhorts the Christian to warn the unruly (‘irregular in conduct, disorderly” ibid.). His attitude must always be one of patience in correcting errors.

CASE III

Galatians 6:1‑2 “Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in the spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”

This passage commands the Christian to restore (‘to restore to a forfeited condition, to reinstate’ ibid.) one who has fallen into and been entrapped by sin. It is for the benefit of the sinner and to keep others from sinning. Brotherly support requires that Christians help one another eradicate sin from their lives.

NOTE: The three passages above deal with the individual’s responsibilities toward the erring brother. The next passage begins with the individual’s responsibility and then shifts to the responsibility of the church when the erring brother’s response is negative.

CASE IV

Matthew 18:15‑17 “Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. But if he will not hear you, then take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’ And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses to. hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.”

If the erring brother’s initial response is one of repentance, the sinned‑against party is to forgive him and forget the matter. If it is one of denial or refusal to repent, then the sinned‑against party is to take witnesses and try again to gain the brother. If the response is again rejection, then the matter is to be brought before the church. If the response is again negative, and the evidence indicates that the charges are valid, the church is obligated to treat the brother as an outsider. In this case, the sin was private in nature but becomes public as a result of the rejection of efforts to restore the erring party.

NOTE: The next four passages deal with the church’s responsibility in matters of sin which are public knowledge.

CASE V

I Corinthians 5:1‑13 “It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and such sexual immorality as is not even named among the Gentiles‑‑that a man has his father’s wife! And you are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he who has done this deed might be taken away from among you. For ! indeed, as absent in body but present in spirit, have already judged, as though I were present, concerning him who has so done this deed. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, along with my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole batch? Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new batch, since you are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

“I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people. Yet I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone who is called a brother and is a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner‑ ‑not even to eat with such a person. For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? But those who are outside God judges. Therefore, put away from yourselves that wicked person.”

Here is an actual case of a man in the church whose conduct was not consistent with Divinely established moral codes. It was publicly known. The church at Corinth was reprimanded by the apostle Paul for not dealing with the situation. He then gave instructions for the disciplining of the erring brother. He was to be ‘put away from’ them. This was done in an effort to (1) cause him to want to repent, and, (2) to purge (cleanse) the church of the influence (leaven) of such an one. This is a social ostracism (‘not even to eat with such a person’). The action was formalized in an assembly of the church (‘when you are gathered together’).

Should the violator cease attending the assemblies to avoid disciplinary action or for any other reason, the duty of the church remains virtually the same. The need to ‘purge’ (cleanse) the church of the ‘leaven’ (influence) of the erring individual remains because the influence remains. Should obvious and open violation of God’s laws be ignored, others may be tempted to follow the erroneous course (see Romans 16:17, below, on ‘offences’.)

NOTE: The passage below indicates the conclusion of the case described in the passage above and tells of the favorable result of the Corinthian church’s action and their attitude toward the repentant brother.

2 Corinthians 2:3‑11 “And I wrote this very thing to you, lest, when I came, l should have sorrow over those from whom I ought to have joy, having confidence in you all that my joy is the joy of you all. For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you, with many tears, not that you should be grieved, but that you might know the love which I have so abundantly for you. But if anyone has caused grief, he has not grieved me, but to some extent‑‑not to be too severe‑‑all of you. This punishment which was inflicted by the majority is sufficient for such a man, so that, on the contrary, you ought rather to forgive and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one be swallowed up with too much sorrow. Therefore I urge you to confirm your love to him. For this end I also wrote, that I might put you to the test, whether you are obedient in all things. Now whom you forgive anything, I also forgive. For if indeed I have forgiven anything, whom I have forgiven I have forgiven it for your sakes in the presence of Christ, lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices. “

As a result of the putting away of the man, he repented of his error (See the passage from I Corinthians). The church was now obligated to receive him back into their midst with full forgiveness and confirmation of love.(5) the one being disciplined must be advised of his sin and the effects the sin has on his spiritual condition (as is consistent with the definitions of words such as ‘admonish’, ‘encourage’, and ‘tell’); and (6) the one being disciplined must not be considered an enemy but as an erring brother who is still a member of the church who is subject to the conditions of discipline established in the Scriptures.

The apostle indicates that his prior command to put him away was also for the benefit of the church to see if they (the church members) were obedient to the truth or not and to see if they would be cleared of the matter (of not having administered discipline to the erring brother in the first place).

CASE VI

Romans 16:17 “Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offences, contrary to the doctrine which you have learned, and avoid them.”

Any who would cause division in the church and any who would cause offences (Gk. skandala, Eng. scandal, ‘scandal, offence, cause of indignation, stumbling block’ ibid.) must be ‘noted’ and ‘avoided’.

CASE VII

11 Thessalonians 3:6‑7, 14,‑15 “Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from us. For you yourselves know how you ought to follow us, for we were not disorderly among you …And if anyone does not obey our word in this epistle, note that person and do not keep company with him, that he may be ashamed. Yet do not count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.”

The Church is commanded to withdraw (‘to shrink, withdraw from, avoid, shun’ Ibid.) from every brother who walks disorderly (the same Greek word as ‘unruly’, see 1 Thessalonians 5:14) above, ‘irregular in conduct, disorderly’, ibid.). He is to be ‘noted’ and no company is to be kept with him. He is still counted as a brother and is not ‘kicked out of the church, but is to be admonished (warned, see I Thessalonians 5:14, above). This admonition continues even after withdrawal in hope of his repentance.

Conclusion: In summary, the obligations of the individual and the church in disciplinary matters are clear from the Scriptures. The twofold purpose of all discipline is

(1) to affect the repentance and reformation of the erring brother, and

(2) to purify the church of the influence of sin in order to protect the other members from participation in the same.

Since the church of Christ uses the Bible exclusively as its sole rule of faith and practice in all religious matters, we strive to keep our doctrines and actions as consistent with the teachings of the Bible as is humanly possible. The accompanying flow chart entitled ‘Church Discipline’ will illustrate Biblical directives concerning Church Discipline to those who may be unfamiliar with the subject. One must consider all of the passages listed on the chart to obtain an overall picture. After considering what the Bible says on the subject, one must conclude that, when considered cumulatively, the Scriptures indicate:

(1) Church discipline is not a choice or a right to be exercised by the members, but rather is an obligation to be carried out by them;

(2) when the offences are private in nature, the discipline is to be conducted in a private manner (one‑on‑one if possible) unless such an approach proves fruitless after which the matter becomes the concern of the church as a whole;

(3) when offences are public in nature, the church is obligated to make a judgment in the matter and act as the Scriptures direct in a manner consistent with that judgment;

(4) church discipline is to be conducted with patience and concern for the erring brother;

(5) the one being disciplined must be advised of his sin and the effects the sin has on his spiritual condition (as is consistent with the definitions of words such as ‘admonish’, ‘encourage’, and ‘tell’); and

(6) the one being disciplined must not be considered an enemy but as an erring brother who is still a member of the church who is subject to the conditions of discipline established in the Scriptures.

 

Back To The Bible

Google “Back To The Bible” and you’ll get 155,000 or so hits. Although opposed by atheists, agnostics and infidels, it is the mantra of thousands and the focus of nearly all “primitivist” religious groups. It is especially prominent among the somewhat more conservative Evangelical groups who are increasingly “non-denominational” in their approach. It is not a new idea but is as old as the written record of Jehovah’s will for mankind; first to Israel and then to all. “To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” (Isa. 8:20, KJV) Just what is involved in getting “Back To The Bible” anyway?

The answers one gets to that question are almost as varied as the number of religious groups claiming to be “Christian.” David W. Barrett’s World Christian Encyclopedia lists some 33,800 of them. Most, I would venture to guess, claim to be a 21^st Century representation or iteration of what the “church” was intended by God to be. I mean, after all, who would suggest that the group of which they are a part is making every effort to be something different than what the Lord had in mind when He said, “…upon this rock I will build My church…”? And, by the way, what did Jesus mean when He said “church”? Did he have in mind a denomination or group of denominations? Did He have in mind a world-wide religious organization with an earthly visible head? Did He have in mind a building, a sect, a party, a religious organization into which one must get in order to be saved? That is a question that can only be satisfactorily answered by getting “Back To The Bible”.

Really, when we get down to it, it is first up to each individual to “…seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us…” (Acts 17:27, KJV) It is the individual who has the responsibility to “…understand what the will of the Lord is.” (Eph. 5:17, NKJV) That is why each one of us ought to get “Back To The Bible” and learn for ourselves what God wants from us. We can and we must understand what God wants from each one of us. We do not need any intervening religious elites to tell us what to believe, tell us what to do or to stand between us and God. The relationship that the true Christian sustains to God does not depend on the “institutional church” or any man or group of men on earth today. We have “…one Mediator between God and man; the Man Jesus Christ.” (I Tim. 5:2, KJV)

I will be posting, from time to time, articles, studies and resources dealing with Bible topics for those who are interested in getting “Back To The Bible.” For now, if you would like a really rewarding study, read and listen to the lessons by Robert Turner on “The People of God” located on this site (links to audio provided).

No Time To Be A Man

Concerning famous composer, Richard Wagner, Deems Taylor wrote,  “What if he was faithless to his friends and to his wives? He had one mistress to whom he was faithful to the day of his death: Music. Not for a single moment did he ever compromise with what he believed, with what be dreamed. There is not a line of his music that could have been conceived by a little mind. Even when he is dull, or downright bad, he is dull in the grand manner. There is greatness about his worst mistakes. Listening to his music, one does not forgive him for what he may or may not have been. It is not a matter of forgiveness. It is a matter of being dumb with wonder that his poor brain and body didn’t burst under the torment of the demon of creative energy that lived inside him, struggling, clawing, scratching to be released; tearing, shrieking at him to write the music that was in him. The miracle is that what he did in the little space of seventy years could have been done at all, even by a great genius. Is it any wonder that he had no time to be a man  (emphasis mine, bgg)?”  Deems Taylor, A Monster, Of Men and Music Published in Hardcover by AMS Press (June, 1937)

It is a matter of perspective isn’t it? From a secular viewpoint, we stand in awe at what men have been able to accomplish in art, music, literature, science, engineering and the like. It seems odd that so many men of surpassing intelligence, even genius can be so thoroughly ignorant, possibly even disdainful of what it means to be a real man. Yet we see them every day. We live under their political influence and governance. We read their literature. We watch their athletic endeavors. Our lives are made easier by their inventions or our lives are made a nightmare by their inventions of war. From those who grace the respected halls of the academy to men in the gutters of impoverished and drug infested slums, from media moguls to the man on the corner selling papers, from multimillion dollar athletes to the foul mouthed, alcohol smelling bully yelling at his son at the little league game we see them: Men who ought to be real men but who are failing miserably at the task. Worst of all, we see them in too many churches. 

We are living in an age of crises. War, terrorism, energy costs, immigration, unemployment and a host of other issues beg for our attention and for solutions. I would suggest that one of the greater crises in our day, in our country, in our town, maybe even in our own church or family is the “Vacancy” sign hanging where the godly, dedicated and sacrificial father and head of the home used to be.

In a Press Release from the National Fatherhood Initiative and Advertising Council concerning the “It Takes A Man To Be A Dad” campaign we read, “In 1960, less than 8 million children were living in families where the father was absent. Today the number of children living in fatherless homes exceeds 24 million, which translates into one out of three children in America. Children living in father absent homes are more likely to be suspended from school, drop out, be treated for an emotional or behavioral problem, commit suicide as adolescents and experience child abuse or neglect.” 

We shake our heads and click our teeth at those who father children and abandon both them and their mother. We wish the law would do something to hold them accountable. Could it be though, fathers, that we may be guilty of similar dereliction of duty in our own homes? When is the last time you seriously and prayerfully considered just how you are doing as a husband and father? When you look in the mirror do you see a man who loves his wife and children more than himself? Do you see a man who will sacrifice time, money and even career for his family? Do you see a man too busy for the assemblies of God’s people, too busy for prayer and Bible study at home, too busy for quiet meals with the family, too busy to take an active role in the lives, training, discipline, education and conversion of his children? If so, you may be looking at someone who has “no time to be a man.” 

Dear friend, read the following anew and vow to obey from the heart the will of the Lord for a man who is a Christian, a husband and a father:

“Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her…” Eph. 5:25 ESV

“Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.” I Pet. 3:7 ESV 

“Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” Eph. 6:4 ESV

Brother Jim Ward tells the story of an Austin lawyer (I believe) who gave his son an airplane (full size) on his 21^st birthday. With tears in his eyes the son rejected the gift saying that he would rather have had a father who would have just played ball with him when he was growing up. The busy and successful man didn’t have time. Fathers, when it comes to rearing your children, if you don’t do it right the first time, when will you have time to do it over? Think about it.

(Re-written from an article by the same name in about 1980)

Ecclesiates 12 and the long home