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Friday, October 22, 2010

What is in a name?

I am always saying this Hebrew or Greek word means this or that.  Then we read  scripture with the word's definitions in place and it can mind blowing what the Bible is saying when we look at it that way!  The stories we read seem to come into a new light when we look at what each word means!  If you don’t know what I mean about the Bible stories being in a new light I encourage you to make a true attempt to study with this in mind.
I have been recently studying church doctrines of several denominations and how these denominations are named after MEN!  IF YOU HAVE A FRIEND THAT ATTENDS A DENOMINATIONAL CHURCH AND YOU HAVEN’T TOLD THEM THE TRUTH, SHAME ON YOU.  You are 1 of 3 things: ashamed of the word, afraid of what they will think of you, or weak in doctrine and don’t put God first.  Forgetting that denominations are NOT God’s plan.  You could also be considered a bad friend because you have a friend that is in trouble and is probably forfeiting their opportunity at eternity with God and YOU ARE JUST SITTING BACK AND WATCHING!  Tonight’s message is all about a name.
      Some names are famous- ABRAHAM LINCOLN!  Some names are notorious OSAMA BIN LADEN!  Let's look at the name "Jesus Christ" and the things we have in that name.
I. SALVATION IN THE NAME OF CHRIST.
From the previous read scripture we know there is no name that men by which we must be saved!  NOT THE POPE,  LUTHER, WESLEY(Methodist), SMYTHE(Baptist), SEYMORE(Pentecostal), or CALVIN(Presbyterian)!  It is that reason that I prefer the name CHURCH OF CHRIST as opposed to Christian Church!
          A. REMISSION of sins.      (Acts 2:38)
Without Christ we are not forgiven of our sins.  We can see the purpose of baptism.  Those men who teach salvation without baptism are ignorant! 
ASK THESE QUESTIONS:
1.  IF YOU ARE NOT BAPTIZED HOW DO YOU GET FORGIVENESS OF YOUR SINS?
 The will say through Christ’s sacrifice or through the blood of Christ!
2.   ARE YOU REALLY TRYING TO CLAIM THE BLOOD OF CHRIST OR HIS SACRIFICE BUT REFUSE TO COME INTO CONTACT WITH THAT BLOOD THROUGH BAPTISM, AND IGNORE WHAT IS COMMEMORATED TO RESEMBLE THAT BLOOD IN THE LORD’S SUPPER?
At this point they will either get upset or change the subject because you just put a whole in their beliefs!
         

B. ETERNAL life in heaven.
Without Christ we are hopelessly headed for eternal damnation!  Acts 4:12  said there is no salvation in any other name.  NOT, ALA, MOHAMMED, BUDDHA, OR ANY OTHER IDOL YOU CAN THINK OF!  We can’t get to the Father without Christ!  

II.  PRAYER IN THE NAME OF CHRIST
Where do we get the teaching of praying in his name?  

A. GOD ALWAYS ANSWERS PRAYERS OF HIS CHILDREN!
Notice I said his children. 
God has 3 answers to our prayers:  YES       NO        NOT RIGHT NOW!
The answers we get are based on a few other conditions:
1. Faith of the one in prayer!    (Cornelius as opposed to unbeliever)
2. Willingness of to do God’s will of the one in prayer.

God gave us his very best when he sent Jesus.  We need to repay him by living obedient lives.  God Bless

Have a red a letter day,
Chad

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