1. God grants you the wisdom to correctly handle the word of truth! 2Tim.2:15
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and
who correctly handles the word of truth.
2. Believe Jesus not in church of Christ?
a. Bible declares: Denomination is warped, sinful and self-condemned! Titus 3:10-11
b. They openly declare we belong to so and so denomination!
*****Watch! How we handle the word of truth!
A. God saves or man saves self?
1. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--
not by works, so that no one can boast. Eph.2:8-9
2. What does the Scripture say? Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness. Ro.4:3
3. With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them.
Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.Ac.2:40
4. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith apart from works is barren?
Was not Abraham our father justified by works, in that he offered up Isaac his son upon the altar? James 2:20-21
***There are two kinds of works!
a. Work that was required in obedience to O.T. law! Ro.3:20
b. Work that show a living faith! James 2:26
c. Saul was saved at the time he got up and was baptized! Ac.9:18, 22:16
B. Obey God or obey man? ***Caution: Do not answer too fast!
1. But Peter and John replied:
Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God's sight to obey you rather than God. Ac.4:19
2. Peter and the other apostles replied: We must obey God rather than men! Ac.5:29
3. Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men:
Whether to the king, as the supreme authority. 1Peter 2:13
4. Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities,
for there is no authority except that which God has established.
The authorities that exist have been established by God. Ro.13:1
5. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted,
and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. Ro.13:2
6. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong.
Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority?
Then do what is right and he will commend you. Ro.13:3
7. For he is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing.
He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Ro.13:4
C. Further instructions from Paul and Peter!
1. I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone--
for kings and all those in authority,
that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 1Tim.2:1-2
2. Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king. 1Peter 2:17
D. In church of Christ you are granted to know these scriptures!
1. Ac.18:12-16.
While Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews made a united attack on Paul and brought him into court.
"This man," they charged, "is persuading the people to worship God in ways contrary to the law."
Just as Paul was about to speak, Gallio said to the Jews, "If you Jews were making a complaint about some
misdemeanor or serious crime, it would be reasonable for me to listen to you.
But since it involves questions about words and names and your own law—
settle the matter yourselves. I will not be a judge of such things. So he had them ejected from the court. Ac.18:16
2. Ac.25:15-19
When I went to Jerusalem, the chief priests and elders of the Jews brought charges against him and asked
that he be condemned. "I told them that it is not the Roman custom to hand over any man before he has
faced his accusers and has had an opportunity to defend himself against their charges. When they came here
with me, I did not delay the case, but convened the court the next day and ordered the man to be brought in.
When his accusers got up to speak, they did not charge him with any of the crimes I had expected.
Instead, they had some points of dispute with him about their own religion and about a dead man named
Jesus who Paul claimed was alive.
Written May 10, 2019.