First Baptist Church Laredo
SUNDAY WORSHIP 11-3-19

      • Psalm 24:8–10HCSB

  • Come, Thou Almighty King
  • Glorious Day

      • Psalm 119:1–8HCSB

      • Psalm 116:2HCSB

  • This I Believe (The Creed)
  • Who You Say I Am

      • Ephesians 6:16–17HCSB

  • Word Of God Speak
  • On Thursday, we celebrated Reformation Day. I am not really sure how we are supposed to celebrate Reformation Day, but in any case October 31st is Reformation Day. On October 31, 1517, the German monk Martin Luther nailed 95 theses to the door of a church in Wittenberg, Germany sparking the Reformation. The Reformers didn’t want to leave the Catholic church, but they knew there were things wrong with what was being taught. Eventually, they were expelled from the Catholic church and became known as Protestants because they protested the abuses of the church. The Reformers had five doctrines that were central to what they believed. They are in Latin and are called the five Solas. Each week, we will explore one of their teachings, starting with Sola Scriptura or the scriptures alone.
    One of the reasons the Reformers put forward the concept of Sola Scriptura was because the Catholic church, over time, elevated its traditions over the clear teachings of Scripture. Some of these traditions were even in conflict with clear biblical teachings. Some of the Catholic teachings which elevated themselves over the clear teachings of Scripture were prayers to the saints and to Mary. Another errant doctrine was indulgences. This is the idea that you could purchase a document from the church which allowed you to sin in someway. You wanted to commit sexual immorality, just give some money to the church and you are good to go. Another problem was the primacy of the papacy. The teaching was that the pope’s authority was equal, maybe even superior to the authority of the written word of God in the Bible. Another error in teaching was the perpetual virginity of Mary. The teaching was that somehow Mary kept her virginity throughout her life, even though the Bible teaches us that she had other children and that Joseph was intimate with her after Jesus was born. Think about the problem of forcing priests to be celibate has caused, which is not something the Bible teaches is necessary to serve God.
    Another was the perpetual virginity of Mary. Think about the problem of forcing priests to be celibate has caused. Jesus warned about teaching as commandments the doctrines of man and allowing traditions to override God’s commands in . This is not to say all traditions are bad, but rather our traditions need to be based on the Word of God. Traditions can provide a solid foundation on which we build when they are based on the Word of God. Traditions based on traditions are no good.
    Jesus warned about teaching as commandments the doctrines of man and allowing traditions to override God’s commands in .
    Mark 7:6–9 CSB
    6 He answered them, “Isaiah prophesied correctly about you hypocrites, as it is written: This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. 7 They worship me in vain, teaching as doctrines human commands. 8 Abandoning the command of God, you hold on to human tradition.” 9 He also said to them, “You have a fine way of invalidating God’s command in order to set up your tradition!
    This is not to say all traditions are bad. We have our own traditions and ways of worship, but our traditions need to be based on the Word of God. Traditions can provide a solid foundation on which we build when they are based on the Word of God. Traditions based on traditions are no good and can lead people away from the Word of God.
    Which brings me to another reason for the Reformation. A major problem at the time of the Reformation was allowing people to read the Scriptures. They didn’t want people to read the Scriptures because they thought only the church’s leadership could interpret the Scriptures. Instead of teaching people how to properly handle the Scriptures, they simply denied access to the Scriptures. They wouldn’t even allow the Bible to be translated into the native language of the people. This led to major abuses on the people who had no access to understand what God’s Word actually said.
    Please understand this. The one book I want you to read is the Bible. You need to be in the Scriptures, examining the Scriptures, and being illuminated by the Scriptures. The Bible is like a mirror. It shows us what we really are, what we need to do, and what we need to change.
    James 1:22–25 CSB
    22 But be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 Because if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like someone looking at his own face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of person he was. 25 But the one who looks intently into the perfect law of freedom and perseveres in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer who works—this person will be blessed in what he does.
    The Reformers wanted people to read the Bible and understand the Bible. They taught the concept of Sola Scriptura, which is Latin for “the Scriptures alone”. They taught that all truth necessary for our salvation and spiritual life is taught either explicitly or implicitly in the Scriptures.
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    Sola Scriptura means all truth necessary for our salvation and spiritual life is taught either explicitly or implicitly in Scripture.

    The Bible is the highest and supreme authority on any matter on which it speaks. This is not to say that the Bible talks about every matter. There are things the Bible does not talk about, but it is the authority on any matter on which it speaks.
    2 Peter 1:3 CSB
    3 His divine power has given us everything required for life and godliness through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.
    God, through his written word, has given us everything we need for life and godliness. Everything we need to know about how we are to live in a manner pleasing to God is contained in God’s Word. Everything we need to know about how we relate to others is contained in God’s Word. The Bible is our “how to” book. It is our supreme authority.

    1. The Bible is our supreme authority ()

    This is why you hear me talk to you so often about the need to read and study God’s Word. If you want to know what God expects from you and what you need to do, read his Word. God has provided everything you need for life and godliness through his Word. Every problem, every situation, and every circumstance to which you need answers, is answered by God’s Word. Of course, there are many subjects on which the Bible is silent. There are subjects on which the Bible does not speak. If the Bible doesn’t talk about it, then it must not be a big deal and good people can disagree on how to deal with it. However, when the Bible does speak about a subject, then we need to submit to the authority of the Scriptures. There is no excuse for not doing what is right when you have recieved everything you need to know about living righteously.
    The danger is in simply taking what some person says at face value without checking it out in the Bible. Throughout history, people have twisted God’s Word, taken God’s Word out of context, and misrepresented what God has said. Be people of the Bible. Be like the Bereans.
    Acts 17:10–11 CSB
    10 As soon as it was night, the brothers and sisters sent Paul and Silas away to Berea. Upon arrival, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11 The people here were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, since they received the word with eagerness and examined the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.
    Acts 17:11 CSB
    11 The people here were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, since they received the word with eagerness and examined the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.
    ​
    They didn’t just take Paul and Silas’ word for it. They received what Paul said, but they searched the Scriptures to make sure it was true what was being said. They trusted, but they also verified. If Paul was not above being checked against the Scriptures, no person is above the need for verification. The Bible, no person, is our supreme authority and the Scriptures are interpreted through the person and work of Jesus Christ who is the incarnation of the Word of God. The Bible is our supreme authority.

    2. The Bible is sufficient. ()

    2 Timothy 3:16 CSB
    16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness,
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    God inspired the writing of the content of the Scriptures. Throughout the years, people have tried to do their very best to understand what was meant by “inspired”. The word “inspired” is a compound word in the Greek.
    Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains: Greek (New Testament) 2535 θεόπνευστος

    θεόπνευστος (theopneustos)

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    θεόπνευστος (theopneustos) - God breathed

    "Theos” is the word for God and “pneustos” is the word for “breath or spirit”. The idea is that God caused the Scriptures to be written. The Bible didn’t originate from the ideas or words of man, but rather God caused the people to write down what he wanted written. This is why the Bible is so exhaustive over so many years and so many subject matters. God wanted us to have everything we need to teach, to educate others on what is right and what is wrong. The Bible is our source book for educating on what God has said.
    The Bible is profitable for rebuking or pointing out our errors in thinking and doing. The Bible teaches us what need to change about how we are living and what we are thinking. We start at the Bible and allow it to mold our thinking. Too many times we start somewhere else and we insert man’s values and ways of thinking into the Scriptures.
    The Bible is profitable for correcting. Sometimes we drift. Sometimes we get off the right path. The Bible is what brings us back on track. It is our navigational beacon. There is an old story told about an aircraft carrier captain. The weather was stormy and he was on the bridge of the vessel. He looked into the dark night and saw a light in the distance. Immediately he told his signalman to send a message, “Alter your course ten degrees south.” He promptly received a reply, “Alter your course ten degrees north.”
    The furious captain sent another message, “Alter your course ten degrees south. I am a captain!” Soon another reply was received, “Alter your course ten degrees north. I am a seaman third class.”
    The captain sent a final message, “Alter your course ten degrees south. I am the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz.” The reply was, “Alter your course ten degrees north. I am a lighthouse.” The Bible is our lighthouse showing us the right way of living. It makes us complete and ready to do every good work.
    The Bible is our supreme authority. The Bible is sufficient.

    3. The Bible is clear. ()

    Psalm 19:7 CSB
    7 The instruction of the Lord is perfect, renewing one’s life; the testimony of the Lord is trustworthy, making the inexperienced wise.
    Psalm 19:7 CSB
    7 The instruction of the Lord is perfect, renewing one’s life; the testimony of the Lord is trustworthy, making the inexperienced wise.
    The Bible is so clear and accessible in what it says, even the inexperienced, the unlearned, can understand it and put it into practice. God told his people to teach his commands to their children.
    Deu
    Deuteronomy 6:6–7 CSB
    6 These words that I am giving you today are to be in your heart. 7 Repeat them to your children. Talk about them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.
    We might say it this way, the Bible is clear enough for a caveman to understand it. Perhaps, sometimes, we make the Scriptures harder to understand than it really needs to be. This does not mean that pastors or Bible teachers are out of a job, thankfully. Pastors and teachers assist in helping understanding.
    Ephesians 4:11–12 CSB
    11 And he himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, 12 equipping the saints for the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ,
    My job is to equip you for the work of the ministry. My job is to give you the tools so that you can rightly divide the word of truth. I want you to be able to go to the Scriptures and understand what it says.
    Now you might be thinking, you just said the Bible is clear, so why are there so many interpretations and misunderstandings about what the Scriptures say? Sometimes we fail to understand because we aren’t allowing for the future to be revealed. We need to wait for further events to unfold. Sometimes it is the hardness of the heart which cause us to misunderstand and misinterpret. We don’t like what the Bible clearly states. Other times we can be guilty of reading things into the Scriptures rather than allowing the Scriptures to speak first. For example, we already think something and so we go to the Bible to try to prove our viewpoint. We need to remember than the Bible is not to be of private interpretation.
    2 Peter 1:20–21 CSB
    20 Above all, you know this: No prophecy of Scripture comes from the prophet’s own interpretation, 21 because no prophecy ever came by the will of man; instead, men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
    The Reformers wanted people to study and understand the Bible for themselves. We can be confident that everything the Bible says is true. We can be confident that we have everything we need for our salvation and spiritual life contained in the Bible. The Bible is our final authority. What this means is that you are responsible to learn and study the Scriptures. Make use of the Bible reading plan for November. If you didn’t get a copy, we will post in on Faithlife and Facebook. Get into the Word and know it. Memorize it. Immerse yourself in it. Allow the Scriptures to change you from the inside out.
    Before we close, perhaps you haven’t really thought much about spiritual matters. In your mind, perhaps the Bible is just another religious book. Maybe it is not so much that you have actively rejected Jesus so much as you have chosen to delay a decision. You may have intended to think more of spiritual things, but you really have never gotten around to it. The danger does not seem apparent to you. Because of your indifference you have become insensitive to the destruction which lies ahead.
    I urge you to face the fact that the passing of time will not bring you any nearer to salvation. Every day takes you farther away from God and renders you that much more insensitive to the Word of God. You are being seduced by the evil one into thinking you are okay. You are not okay if you have never accepted Jesus as your Savior. If you are not actively believing that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. I urge you to acknowledge the reality of your situation and trust in Jesus Christ as God’s provision for your salvation. He died in your place on the cross, taking your guilt and punishment. By trusting in Him as God’s provision of righteousness, you will be saved. To reject Him is to reject life. To delay this decision is to continue on in the way that leads to destruction.
    “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world; but that the world should be saved through Him. He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God” ().
    John 3:16–18 CSB
    16 For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Anyone who believes in him is not condemned, but anyone who does not believe is already condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God.
    This morning, if you are here and you know that you need God’s forgiveness for your sins; realize that you are not here by accident. Will you surrender your life to God and experience his forgiveness? Will you pray this prayer with me expressing that you are trusting in God’s ability to forgive you and save you?
    “Heavenly Father, forgive me for my sins, make me new. I ask Jesus to be my Savior and to be the Lord of my life, first in every way. My life is not my own, I give it to you. Thank you for new life. In Jesus’ name, I pray.
    With heads bowed and eyes closed, if you prayed that prayer for the first time and believe in your heart that Jesus is Lord, will you raise your hand this morning?
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    Father God, I pray that you would seal your word in our hearts. I pray that you would stir in us a passion to learn and study your word. I pray that you would deliver us from dead orthodoxy and lead us in the paths of righteousness for your name sake. Thank you for the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
    Time of Response
    Our deacons will be coming forward to pray with you and for you. If you prayed to receive Jesus, please come and let us pray with you and celebrate your new life in Christ. If God is dealing in your heart and life right now, don’t let this moment pass.
    As you stand and we sing together.
    <after closing the time of invitation>
    Perhaps you didn’t come forward for one reason or another, but you really do want to talk with us about what is going on in your life. Perhaps you need help, prayer, or you just want to know more about being a follower of Jesus. I would encourage you to do one of two things. After we are dismissed, just stay where you are. One of our deacons will come and talk with you and pray with you. The other thing you can do is check one of the boxes on the Connection Card. Put it in the offering plate as it passes. We will get in touch with you this week. You see, this church exists to minister to one another. We are here to support you in your walk with God.

      • Mark 7:6–9CSB

      • James 1:22–25CSB

      • 2 Peter 1:3HCSB

      • 2 Peter 1:3CSB

      • Acts 17:10–11CSB

      • 2 Timothy 3:16CSB

      • 2 Timothy 3:16HCSB

      • Psalm 19:7CSB

      • Psalm 19:7HCSB

      • Deuteronomy 6:6–7CSB

      • Ephesians 4:11–12CSB

      • 2 Peter 1:20–21HCSB

      • John 3:16–18CSB

  • O Come To The Altar
  • Jesus Son Of God
First Baptist Church Laredo
https://fbclaredo.org
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