The Bible
I added these pages on the sincere hope that I can help save the 'lost.' For, as the great commission tells us in Mark 16:16, "Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature," we must as Christians do what is commanded us to save our own souls (Heb. 5:8-9). Below you'll find different lessons on various subjects of the Bible. But please, open your Bible and study along, for John , through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, tells us to,"believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world."(1 John 1:1)Note, all scripture is in italics.
I. What Must I do to be Saved?
A. Hear The Gospel . (Romans 10:17) (John 20:30-31)
B. Believe (Hebrews 11:6) (Romans 10:17)
C. Repent. (Luke 13:3) (Acts 17:30-31)
D. Confess Christ. (Romans 10:10) (Matthew 10:32)
E. Be Baptized. (Mark 16:16) (Acts 2:38)
F. Continue being Faitful until Death (2 Peter 1:1-11)(Revelation 2:10)
Now, you might be saying to yourself, " well that's not what my 'church' teaches!" And my answer to you would be, is to read those passages above, because if you believe the Bible is the inspired word of God, and it is(2 Tim.3:16-17)(1 Cor.2:12-13)(1 Pet. 1:10-12), you must believe those passages stated....it's all there in black and white, as the saying goes. So simply put, God and his inspired word is the authority in all things spiritual and in religion, not man and man's desires!
Some of you might have also been taught that you could be saved by Faith only...well let's see what the Bible has to say about that. James 2 :24 clearly states," Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only." So according to this, you do need faith, but the works (or how you live)that you do also plays an equally important role too! One needs to study the 2nd chapter of James, especially versus's 17 through 26, to that faith without works is dead, for it tells us even the devils believe there is one God! Now you people who teach 'faith only salvation', tell me please, are you saying the devils are now saved? I think not! People, read and study your Bible!
Some of you might also have been taught salvation without Baptism, let us again go to the Bible for guidance. In Mark 16:15-16, the Lord clearly states," Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is Baptized shall be saved; he that believeth not shall be damned." We also find on the Day of Pentecost, the people being pricked in their heart asked Peter and the other apostles what they needed to do to be saved, Peter answered them with," Repent, and be baptized everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins."(Acts 2:38).
II. What is Baptism?
A. The "Mode".
B. The Purpose.
C. The "one" Baptism.
D. Who is to be Baptized?
A. The "Mode"
Baptism is one of the requirements to men's salvation(Acts 2:38, 2:47-48, 22:16) and Ephesians chapter 4, verse 5 teaches us that there is one type of Baptism! But how do we do it? Let's go to the Bible to learn how, because God has given us many examples of how HE wants it done! Paul wrote," Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath risen him from the dead."(Col.2:12) So here, we have a burial. Let me ask you something...when you bury something, do you just sprinkle it with dirt, or do you completely cover it? John 3:23 teaches us that there has to be 'much water.' Philip and the eunuch got out of the chariot and' went down both into the water,' and when they were come up out of the water.'(Acts 8:36-38).Romans 6:5 gives an example of 'planting.'Acts 22:16 gives an example of 'and wash away thy sins.' Colossians 2:12 shows us to be buried and raised. So, we have examples of a burial and raising with much water, a going down into the water and coming up out of the water, a planting and washing.I don't believe that there is any doubt from this that Baptism is immersion.Nowhere have I found in the New Testament an example of sprinkling or pouring. If there is no example or commandment for it, then it's not scriptural and thus sinful!
B. The Purpose.
1. To be saved!
Again, Mark 16:16 states it, "He that believeth and is Baptized shall be saved; he that believeth not shall be damned." Peter also wrote, " Which also after a true likeness doth also now save us, even Baptism." ( 1 Peter 3:21). Also in John 3:3, " Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." Read these passages too. John 3:5, Luke 7:30, Galatians 3:27, Acts 2:41.
2.To wash away sins.
We can read the account of how Saul of Tarsus washed away his sins that he commited in persecuting Christians in the 22nd chapter of Acts. Acts 22:16," And now why tarriest thou? arise and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord."
C. What is the "One Baptism"?
1. Not the Baptism of John the Baptist!
Acts 19:3-5 makes this clear," And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized?And they said, Unto John's baptism. Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus."
2. Not Holy Ghost Baptism.
Acts 1:1-8. John 14:16-17, 25-26; 15: 26-27 and 16:7-13. The Holy Ghost was promised as another Comforter to the twelve apostles after Christ ascended unto Heaven, not unto men today, as John 14:17 states,"Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot recieve." They recieved this great gift on the day of Pentecost, as recorded in the 2nd chapter of Acts.
D. Who is to be Baptized?
1. All Nations that are taught.
Matthew 28:19-20. "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world."
2. Believers.
In Mark 16:15-16 the Lord commands, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned."
3.Infants?
No. One must believe and repent of sins before he can be baptized for their remission. Infants are saved already until the 'age-of-accountability.' Matthew 18:3 shows that infants and children as innocent. David also shows an example in 2 Sam.12:23.
III. Mechanical Instruments in the Church
A. Is it Scriptural?
1. A Command? No!
2. An Example? No!
3. By Inference? No!
I believe this one subject here, has caused more faithful brothers to 'turn-away' from God's word more than any other, simply because they desire something God hasn't approved for us to use in worship! Turn with me now to Ephesians 5:19 to see a command given by Paul to the Church at Ephesus," Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord." Now, tell me, do you see anywhere in that command to use a piano, banjo, etc..? I think it is very clear for us to sing. Besides, I have yet to see a piano be able to speak or sing, and they certainly don't have a heart! Here is another command given by Paul to the Church of Colossae in Colossians 3:16," Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord." Now, notice again that it clearly states singing.
Well, what about an example? Turn with me to Matthew 26:30," And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives." Here's another found in Acts 16:25," And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisioners heard them." And yet another in Romans 15:9," And the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy; as it is written, For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name." And again in 1 Corinthians 14:15," What is it then?I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also." Read also Hebrews 2:12," Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethern, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee." So by these commands and examples, we as Christians can know that the denominational 'churches' who practice this, is in error! Nowhere in the New Testament can you find one single verse authorizing mechanical instruments for our worship unto God!
B. The Old Testament.
1. 'Nailed to the Cross!'
Now some of you might be saying to yourselves, 'they done it in the old testament, why can't we do it in the new?' For the simple reason the Lord has told us we can't! Galatians 2:16," We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by faith of Christ, and not by the woks of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified." And again in Hebrews 10:9-10," 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 and for all."
C. The 'Greek' Argument.
1. Psalmos and Psallos.
Here's a last ditch effort, in my opinion, for the denominations to bring David's harp or the piano into God's worship. They bring out the Greek word Psalmos and Psallos. So let us look into the word Psalmos and see what we find. The Greek word for psalms is psalmos, a Greek word that derives from Psallos. I got out my Greek dictionary to find the definition of psalmos, here it is: Psalmos- a set piece of music, the book of Psalms. Psallos is the present participle of psallontes. Psallo has the following meanings; to pluck the hair, twang with the bow string, to twich the carpenter's line, to touch the chords of a musical instrument, to touch the chords of the human heart, to celebrate with the hymns of praise. But which one is used in Eph. 5:19? Here it is in Greek.Lalountes (speaking) one to another in psalmos (psalms) and hymnos (hymns) and spiritual songs, adontes (singing) kai(and) psallontes(making melody) in your kardia(heart) to the Lord. The first part of the verse tells us use psalms and hymns and spirtitual songs how? By speaking! Now look at the rest of the verse...Singing and plucking the hair in your heart? No! Singing and twanging the bow string in your heart? No! Singing and to touch the chords of a musical instrument in your heart? No! It can only be the last two. How many of you can play a instrument in your heart?
Roy Deaver has a wonderful study book on this very subject and brought up a point in which I had never thought of. Deaver points out that 'singing and making melody' are both commands, and if psallontes meant what the denominations wanted it to be, then it would command everyone in worship to both sing and play while worshiping! That would mean the whole congregation! Can you imagine the chaos of 300 people singing and banging on banjos and pianos?
In conclusion, we know that the old testament was nailed to the cross of Calvary and a whole new testament was ushered forth for our salvation, that means the old law is dead to us. We also know that the mechanical instrument was not part of the first century Church, and was later added by the Catholics, probably by pope Vitalian. None of the apostles used it, nor is it mentioned in any of their worship, but singing sure is! Friends, please don't let your soul be lost over your desire for the mechanical instrument.Is the addition of a piano really worth risking an eternity of Hell, torment, and misery? When put that way, any sane person would say no....but unfortunately too many souls refuse to believe in the Bible and it's teachings. They comfort themselves falsely by saying that 'the Bible says not to.' When God told Noah what to build the Ark from, did he have to explain every item NOT to build with? Of course not. If Noah had made the Ark out of some other wood than Gopher, would the Ark had saved them? Again, no. The Lord wanted Gopher and when he said Gopher, that automatically excluded every other type. Another example is Nadab and Abihu in Leviticus 10: 1-7. Nadab and Abihu were priests, the sons of Aaron, and they transgressed the Lord's commandments and offered strange fire before the Lord. Because they went beyond what the Lord had commanded they were devoured by fire. These examples should give us warning even in todays time that we need to take very seriously, because the dire results of going beyond what the Lord has commanded will be the same. The Lord has taken the time to give us the Bible that contains His instructions of how we may behave properly and still be in accordance to His will, and to say that the LORD said not to, when He has already said what to do, speaks of disrespect and outright apathy for our Lords desire's.
IV. Apostasy.
1. What is apostasy?
Some denominations believe that 'once saved, always saved. No matter what you do, what sin you commit, you're still saved without repenting of that sin(s). A sort of 'eternal security.' What does the Bible say? Turn with me now Galatians chapter 5, verse 4. " Christ has become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace." 1 Corinthians 10:12," Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall." Does that sound to you that the saved cannot fall from grace and salvation? In Hebrews 3:12," Take heed, brethern, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief , in departing from the living God." In order to 'depart' from something, a person must first had to been there, and in this case, this would mean that a Christian can depart from Christ and God!
2. Is it scriptural?
No, this is simply another man-made 'dogma'. Man is lazy, when they find something that's too hard, in their minds, they do the best to try and ignore it and change it. If you'll study the Bible, you will find that they're plenty of warnings for Christians to remain obediant and not turn away from our Lord Jesus Christ. Here are some more scripture for your study: Romans 8:12-13, Revelation 2:4-5 and 3:1-5, James 5:19-20, 1 Timothy 4:1-3, Galatians 5:4, 1 Corinithians 10:12 and 9:27, 2nd Timothy 2: 17-18, Hebrews 3:12, 1 John 1:7-10, 2nd Peter 3:17 and 2:20-21.
V. What Church do I need to join?
There are many so-called 'churchs' and denominations out there and it can be really confusing as to which one is the right and True Church to join. Now please don't misunderstand me, I'm not judging any one here, but the Bible and Lord has set out in clear, and concise language what constitutes a real Church and what is not, let's study together in the Bible, the only authority in this and all religious matters!
A. One Church, Many Congregations.
1. One body.
In Ephesians 1:22-23 we learn that Christ is the body and his body is the Church," And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, which is his body , the fulness of him that filleth all in all." Again in Colossians 1:18," And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence." So what does this tell us? Well, we already knew that there is only one Christ, and from these versus's, we can now safely conclude from the authority of the Bible that there is only one Church and one body! Now, some have believed that the 'one-church' is literal and that somewhere in the vast world there is one and only one church! This is not the case, for in Romans 12:4-5 we find," For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another."
2.Christ's Church.
There's no doubt about this, He built it and died for it, but yet people will still try and say this is not true! Here are some scriptures for your study to prove to you that the ownership of the Church is Christ's!
A. Savior of the Church- Eph. 5:23
B. Head of the Church/Body- Eph. 1:22-23, Col. 1:18
C. Christ died for the Church, his bride-Eph. 5:22-32
D. Salvation found in Christ-Acts 4:12
E. I will build my Church- Matt. 16:18
B. Authorized Names.
You know something that never ceases to amaze me? It's all these sectitarian names floating about the world today... I mean, Christ owns the Church and if you are a part of His Church and are wed unto it, then we should use His name! The Bible also tells us that names are very important in Acts 4:10-12.
1. The Church. Acts 2:47; 8:1
2. The Body. Col. 1:18
3. Church of Christ. Rom. 16:16
4. Body of Christ. Eph. 1:22-23
5. Church of the Lord. Acts 20:28
6. Bride Of Christ. Rev. 21:9
Now some of you are saying that the'church' you attend is not named that, and I say to you that it had better be! In case you didn't read Acts 4:12 above, I'll quote it here." Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." This a pretty clear warning for those wise enough to accept it!
VI. Miracles today?
You see all kinds of people on the television today that say they have seen or done a miracle. There has been many "TV evangelists" that have made fortunes off the naive and gullible over this topic. But do we really still have miracles today? What does the Bible say about it? Turn with me and lets read together in the Bible.
A. What are Miracles?
Miracles were signs, special manifestations of God. They were used to accredit God's messengers. They were things that humans could not do unaided by God.
B. Examples of Miracles.
This is a short list, the Bible is filled with miraculous events and happenings.
1.Water turned to wine. John 2:1-11.
2.Burning Bush. Exod. 3.
3. Parting of the Red Sea. Exod. 14.
4. Balaam's mule spoke. Num. 22.
5. Virgin birth of Christ. Luke 1.
6. Eutychus raised from dead. Acts 20.
C. Examples of Apostles using Miracles.
1. Speaking with other languages. Acts 2:4
2. Raising the dead. Acts 9:36-42
3. Instantly healing the sick. Acts 9:33-34
4. Healing the Lame. Acts 3:1-10
5. Healing the cripple. Acts 14:8-11
6. Confer miraculous gifts. Acts 19:1-6
7. Striking false teachers blind. Acts 13:8-11
D. Can People do Miracles today?
No! The Bible is very clear on this topic. In 1 Corithians 13:8 Paul says," Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether they be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away." Still unclear whether or not people today can do miracles? Then please turn to Ephesians 4:11-13. " And he gave some apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of faith, and the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ:"
What that says is that the age of Miracles was to be in effect until the Word of God was fully revealed, and we know that it has fully revealed by Revelation 22:18. So all of these people who teach and claim that they can prophesy and heal people are False Teachers! And we should mark them as such and not to have any fellowship with them Eph. 5:11. So if you still believe in these charlatans, ask them to heal a blind man! Or, even to bring the dead back to life! They won't because they can't!
Unfortunately they're many people in this world who are earnestly searching for the true church of the Bible,the church of the new testament, who are not using the scripture as a guidebook, a road-map to life, to find the true church of Christ and these people are being led astray by the unjust.The Bible was written so that we would have a guide to keep us from being decieved and led awry. We all need to use it daily and continue steadfastly in measuring what we are being told to what the Bible actually says.
In conclusion, friends I pray that you will get out your Bible and study along with these short lessons, it's the Lord's hope that none be lost, but you must obey his word and commands!A very wise man(Solomon) once said,"the whole duty of man was fear GOD and keep his commandments." This all for now, but I will be adding more to this page from time to time. If you have any questions, please feel free to e-mail me at delalantaylor@setel.com