The Ordinances Of The Church

 There are two ordinances that the Lord gave to the church. These ordinances are things that each and every Christian should be observing. Neither of these ordinances have anything to do with obtaining salvation. They are steps the believer should follow AFTER salvation.

The first is water baptism of the believer.

Romans 6:1-6- What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

When Paul speaks about Baptism, he is using it as a simile. Just like we are to imagine that our old man of sin is dead, we are to imagine that we have been buried with Jesus and risen as a new creature. Did our flesh actually die? No, we will fight with it every day! Was our body actually buried? No, we were just immersed in water. It's a picture to show those who are watching what has happened to you spiritually.

It's just like a wedding ring. Those who didn't attend your wedding wouldn't know you were married, unless they saw a wedding ring on your finger. Can someone wear a wedding ring without being married? Yes. Can someone not wear a wedding ring and actually be married? Yes.

Baptism, like the wedding ring, doesn't save. It's just there to alert others. Baptism is not a part of salvation. Those who don't get baptized don't lose their salvation if they pass the statute of limitations. If it were then Paul would have been baptizing as he went along. He did not.

I Corinthians 1:17- For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.

He says that God sent him to preach the gospel, not to baptize! If baptism were a part of salvation, then Paul would have certainly made sure to baptize everyone he led to the Lord.

The second ordinance is communion, or the Lord's Supper.

This communion is based on the last dinner the Lord had with His disciples. It is recorded in two of the four gospels.

Matthew 26:26-29- And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom. 

Jesus and His disciples were eating dinner. The Lord broke bread and passed it out to the disciples to eat. The analogy was that His body was going to be broken on the Cross. Then he passed the cup around as an analogy of His blood that was going to be shed on the Cross. His physical body was sitting there with them; he wasn't giving them His actual flesh to eat. The fruit of the vine (grape juice) was not the blood running through His veins.

Christ came to fulfill the Law. He tells us often that leaven is a type of sin. The days of Passover were where they ate unleavened bread. Why would Jesus use leavened, or fermented, wine? Christ came to fulfill the law, not break it. Wine is forbidden throughout Scripture.

Proverbs 20:1- Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.

Isaiah 28:7- But they also have erred through wine, and through strong drink are out of the way; the priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink, they are swallowed up of wine, they are out of the way through strong drink; they err in vision, they stumble in judgment.

A Nazarite was forbidden to drink wine as long as he was separated to do God's will.

Numbers 6:2-4- Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When either man or woman shall separate themselves to vow a vow of a Nazarite, to separate themselves unto the LORD: He shall separate himself from wine and strong drink, and shall drink no vinegar of wine, or vinegar of strong drink, neither shall he drink any liquor of grapes, nor eat moist grapes, or dried. All the days of his separation shall he eat nothing that is made of the vine tree, from the kernels even to the husk.

As the Priest of our Salvation, Christ would not be allowed to drink fermented wine.

Leviticus 10:8-11- And the LORD spake unto Aaron, saying, Do not drink wine nor strong drink, thou, nor thy sons with thee, when ye go into the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations: And that ye may put difference between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean; And that ye may teach the children of Israel all the statutes which the LORD hath spoken unto them by the hand of Moses.

Hebrews 4:14-15- Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

Christ was drinking unfermented grape juice at the last supper. So, why is it that some denominations use fermented liquor during communion? Especially when it is forbidden for someone who is suppose to be set apart for the work of the ministry?

The disciples had a hard time understanding the Lord. He often used similes or analogies with them so that they would understand His meaning.

Mark 14:22-26- And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake it, and gave to them, and said, Take, eat: this is my body. And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them: and they all drank of it. And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many. Verily I say unto you, I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until that day that I drink it new in the kingdom of God.

Jesus says that the cup was an analogy of His blood of the new testament. There was something happening that no one ever thought possible; Jesus was changing the parameters of what was currently understood to be the redemption of the soul.

Hebrews 9:13-17- For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth. 

In the Old Testament, people had to continuously bring a sacrifice for their sin. Their sins were covered, as in hidden from God's sight because the price had been paid. However, every time they sinned they were required to make this payment again.

Jesus blood in the New Testament not only completely forgave past sins, it paid for the future sins as well. His sacrifice only needed to be offered ONCE.

Hebrews 10:9-14- Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.

If Christ's blood is so perfect and so potent that it can take away the sins of whosoever asks Him, why is it that there are some denominations who believe that the communion they perform is them offering Christ over and over again as a sacrifice?

We understand that what Christ was saying was symbolic because at no time in history did God ever allow drinking blood. 

BEFORE the law was given: Genesis 9:3-4- Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things. But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat.

AFTER the law was given: Leviticus 7:26- Moreover ye shall eat no manner of blood, whether it be of fowl or of beast, in any of your dwellings.

AFTER Christ was crucified and risen: Acts 15:19-20- Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God: But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.

If God is against the consumption of blood, why is it that there are some denominations that say they are turning the wine into the literal blood of Jesus to be consumed?

Paul tells us that communion is to be a memorial to the sacrifice that Christ made for us. It's to remind ourselves of the price that had to be paid for our redemption.

I Corinthians 11:23-32- For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come. Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.

Paul also warns us that this ordinance has consequences associated to its abuse. He says that those who eat and drink unworthily shall bring damnation to himself. It's not an eternal damnation, like you go to hell for, but rather a temporal condemnation that affects the body- many are weak and sickly and many sleep (die).

When you are asked to partake in communion, you need to make certain that you are truly saved. An unbeliever has no business taking the Lord's Supper! 

This to remind you of the price paid for your sin; it is NOT a requirement to be saved.

Every Christian has the right to be included in the ordinance of the Lord's Supper. It has nothing to do with being a member of a specific local church. It has everything to do with being a member of the Bride of Christ, the spiritual church that is made up of all believers from the time of Christ's resurrection until the rapture.

You also need to understand that it is not sacrificing Christ again for your sins. Christ took care of that once on Calvary. You need to observe it as a memorial, remembering that He has already paid for your sins.

Thirdly, you need to judge yourself- this means you need to examine your life and confess your sins.

I John 1:9- If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

If we judge ourselves and confess our sins and get our hearts and mind right with the Lord, when we partake of the Lord's Supper, or communion, then He won't need to judge us or chasten us for our unrepentance.

These are the two ordinances that Christ has left for the church to observe, and this is the meaning and the requirements to fulfill each of them.

The Simple Salvation Message

 

1) Recognize your condition.

ROMANS 3:23- For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.

No one is good enough to go to Heaven on his own merit. No matter how much good we do, we still fall short.

Isaiah 64:6- But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

How could we be unclean in God's sight? Because even one sin mars us and we are no longer able to keep the standard of perfection that is required.

James 2:10- For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

Have you ever lied? Did you ever steal? How about covet?

Then you're already a sinner that has violated God's law. 

2) Realize sin's penalty.

ROMANS 6:23a- For the wages of sin is death...

A wage is a payment. The payment for your sin is death and separation from God in a place that the Bible calls Hell.

REVELATION 20:14-And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

First the body dies and is buried. But that's not the end for the soul.

The soul goes before God to account of the choices made during the your lifetime.

Unless you can prove that you've kept the law perfectly, God's justice demands payment for the infraction. That means that your soul pays. This is the second death; the death of the soul.

3) Believe Christ died for you.

You don't even realize what the requirement for a soul is.

Leviticus 17:11- For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.

To make an atonement (the process by which people remove obstacles to reconcile), it requires blood. But not just any blood will do. It has to be sinless blood.

ROMANS 5:8- But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

The word commendeth means "proved." God proved His love for you by giving His own Son, Jesus, to die on the cross for your sins.

If you could have paid for your own sins, you would never have known the proper protocols to go before the God of the universe. You don't even know the proper protocols required to stand before an earthly ruler!

Hebrews 5:1,5,9 - For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins: So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee. And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;

Jesus Christ was born as a human so that He could be a mediator between God and mankind. As a man, He is able to live a perfect life which satisfies the law's demand. As God made flesh, He is able to sacrifice Himself as the perfect offering to satisfy God's justice. And as God, He knows the proper protocols to follow to submit the payment for sin before the throne of God as a perfect High Priest.

No one else can ever do this!

I Timothy 2:5-6- For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

You cannot approach God because you are a sinner. You don't know the proper protocols. However, Christ does. You cry out to Him and He intercedes before God on your behalf.

4) Trust Christ alone as your Savior.

ROMANS 6:23b- But the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Everlasting life of the soul is a gift purchased by the blood of Jesus and offered freely to those who call upon Him by faith.

Romans 10:9- That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

Some people will believe that Jesus was a prophet, but that's not enough.

Some people will even believe that Jesus was God manifest in the flesh, but that's still not enough.

You don't get saved by believing that Jesus was a person in the past. You get saved by believing that He did what the Bible prophesied He would do.

I Corinthians 15:1-4- Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

You must believe that Christ died as it was prophesied in the Scriptures. And that He was buried. And that He rose again the third day as it was prophesied in the Scriptures.

ROMANS 10:13- For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

5) Claim God's promise for salvation.

You have to believe in your heart and then go one step further and confess your belief before God with your mouth.

ROMANS 10:9-10- That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

To believe on Jesus Christ as Savior means to believe that He paid the price for your sin by His death on Calvary, and believe that He is the only way for your sins to be paid in full so your soul can go to Heaven. You can express your belief on Jesus' payment for your sins by calling to Him in prayer.

An example of a salvation prayer: (Realize it's not mere words that save, but your faith in Jesus Christ.) The words don't matter. You tell Jesus the best way you know how that you believe and want to be saved.

“Dear Jesus, I know that I am a sinner and there is nothing that I could ever do that would ever be enough to pay the debt for my sin. I believe that you died on the cross and paid the penalty for my sin with your blood. I believe that you rose from the dead three days later proving that you have eternal life and that you can give this gift to anyone who asks. I am placing my faith in your work on Calvary alone to forgive my sin and save my soul. Please apply your blood to my sin debt and forgive me of my sin, and bring my soul to heaven when my body dies, just as you promised in the Bible. Thank you for giving my soul eternal life, in Jesus' name, AMEN.”

Amen is a Hebrew word that means "So let it be done".

When you ask for something in Jesus' name, God honors that request.

Acts 4:10,12- Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

If you made a decision to trust Christ as Savior after reading this, I would like to know that I might pray for you. Simply reply to this and let me know that you've trusted Christ as your personal Savior.

God Is Present (video sermon)

 

Dirty Genes book review

If you are searching for answers to some health problems or are seeking to live a healthier life, Dirty Genes by Ben Lynch is a wonderful book for anyone to read.

Genes can be “born dirty”, meaning that you have a genetic mutation, or merely “act dirty”, meaning that somewhere along the lines those genes weren't supplied with the raw materials they need to do their job properly. This can be a response from your body that is directly related to your environment, diet, or lifestyle choices, and it can manifest in many different side effects or illnesses.

Most people have heard of the MTHFR genetic mutation, but there are literally hundreds or thousands of different mutations that each and every person has. Dirty Genes goes through seven of the most common and describes the problems they can cause and how they interact with each other.

Then he tells you how you can "clean up" your diet and lifestyle to help your body as it works with your "born dirty" genes as well as how you can support your "acting dirty" genes. Not only that, but he also gives you some great guidance on different nutritional or digestion problems you may be experiencing. 

So, if you've been searching for answers, or you simply want to make wise choices for the sake of your health, I highly recommend this book!

Hang It On The Cross (poem)

If you have a secret sorrow,
A burden or a loss,
An aching need for healing…
Hang It On The Cross.

If worry steals your sleep
And makes you turn and toss,
If your heart is feeling heavy…
Hang It On The Cross.

Every obstacle to faith
Or doubt you come across,
Every prayer unanswered…
Hang It On The Cross.

For Christ has borne our brokenness
And dearly paid the cost
To turn our trials to triumph...
Hanging On The Cross.

-Lisa O. Engelhardt

The Blood is Still There (song)

Out Of Bounds

 We recently had an incident in our service where we had a first-time visitor from out of state get reprimanded by a person who only occasionally comes to our church. The person said that God had told him to tell this visitor what the Lord requires in his personal life, and then proceeded to get mad and confrontational when a church elder told him it wasn't his job to confront other Christians in that manner.

I have heard from many missionaries passing through where they've been to churches and the pastor wouldn't let them present their ministry because they didn't have facial hair, or they did have facial hair, or they weren't wearing cowboy boots, or they didn't have a 3-piece suit with a tie on, or their vehicle had trash in it.

I always wonder what chapter and verse in Scripture they use to back up their standards and why they think it's okay to expect others to have to submit to their preferences. 

We are not talking about blatant sin that the Bible continuously teaches against. If there’s more than three Scriptures calling something a sin, then we should humbly share those verses with our brother, and then pray for them.

What I’m mainly speaking about is some decision a person made before they were saved (like getting a tattoo), or an issue that has no verses calling it out (like whether a Christian wears a necktie to church). I’m speaking about Christian legalism.

God told Samuel way back in the beginning of the time of the kings of Israel that man looked on the outward appearance, but God looked on the heart. These self-righteous Christians are always focused on appearances.

Paul dealt with this in his time, too. There were some Jewish Christians that were going around telling Gentile Christians that they had to get circumcised to actually be saved. Do you ever wonder how these self-righteous Jews knew whether these Gentiles had been circumcised? That seems a bit personal, doesn't it?

Paul and Barnabas went to the Apostles in Jerusalem to speak with them regarding the matter.

Acts 15:18-20- Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world. Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God: But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.

There were four basic regulations that the Apostles set forth for the Gentiles to observe: don't mess with idols, don't have sex unless it is with the person you are currently married to, don't eat things that were killed by being strangled, and don't drink blood.

Were people smoking in Paul's day? Did they drink alcohol in Paul's time? Did any of those Gentiles have tattoos on their bodies? Were people always wise with their time and money back then? Why weren't any of these things mentioned by the Apostles? Aren't they important?

When Annanias and Saphira lied to Peter, he told them that it was their money to do with as they pleased. He wasn't about to get involved in something as personal as their finances. They were judged and condemned for trying to appear more spiritual than they were.

The Apostles knew that each Christian was to have a personal relationship with their Savior. They were to search the Scriptures and heed what God told them to do. As a Christian's relationship with the Lord grew, they would get direct revelation from God on how to conduct their personal affairs. 

Romans 14:4- Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.

Christ is the Christian's master. He is the one who tells them what they need to change, add, or subtract from their lives. What one Christian may be able to handle, another might not be able to tolerate. 

The Lord gave us pastors, evangelists, and teachers that are to teach us the Word. They are to instruct us in how to study the Bible for ourselves. And then they are to lead by example. But they are not to insert themselves into our personal lives and tell us how to conduct our daily affairs!

The miracle of preaching is that when the pastor preaches the sermon the Lord gives him, the Christians in the pews that are praying and asking God to speak with them get exactly what they need through the moving of the Holy Spirit in their hearts. One may need edification. Another may need comfort. Someone may need guidance. While yet another needs reproof. Each person will get exactly what they need, but not because some "spiritual" Christian gets in their face and demands that they submit themselves to the standards that person believes is necessary for a holy life.

Perhaps God is more interested in the bitterness in this person's heart than He is in the ink on their skin. Maybe God is dealing with them over the amount of television they are watching, and He doesn't intend to broach the subject of their dietary restrictions. There may be something that God is working on in the heart of the Christian that is now going to take much longer because some rule pushing Christian has just made the mistake of butting in where they had no business.

"But the Holy Ghost has declared to me that I have to tell this person they are sinning by not conforming." they may say. In fact, they may shout it until they are red in the face! But just because they are passionate about what they are saying doesn't make them right, nor does it mean that what they are stating is God's individual will for that person's life.

Titus 2:2- That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience.

A minister of the Lord is supposed to have self-control. They are not to be quick to get angry or offended. They are to meekly instruct others in the Word (not personal standards), taking heed that they could be in a similar situation and they might not emerge victorious.

I Corinthians 9:27- But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

You believe the Lord wants to speak through you who cannot control your temper when someone points out where you have erred?

Are you getting angry because you are righteous, or is it because there's a different spirit actually at work here?

I John 4:1- Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

Was it really the Holy Spirit leading you or was it your own spirit that was driving your because you saw what you believe is a gross violation of your personal principles. You are out of bounds. God hasn't called anyone to be a Spiritual Policeman.

2 Corinthians 11:13-15- For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

Brethren, we are called to tell the lost, unsaved world how to escape from the eternal damnation of their souls. We are not called to tell Christians how they are to live their lives. 

Should a brother or sister in Christ come to you and ask your opinion on how they should handle their daily affairs, you better pray and have Scriptural backup for what you advise them. 

I Corinthians 8:9, 12- But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak. But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ.