Weekly Bulletin Article 2012
By Bro Jim Brasseal, Pastor Landmark MBC
2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006
Feb 19, 2012 - Twelve W’s of Baptism
Feb 12, 2012 - Resurrection Pictured
Feb 05, 2012 - The Body of Christ
Jan 29, 2012 - Commitment to God and From God
Jan 22, 2012 - Looking for Trouble
Jan 15, 2012 - The Evangelistic Mind-set
Jan 01, 2012 - Do Not Count on Four More Months
Twelve W’s of Baptism
Matthew 21:25
Feb 19, 2012
“The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven, or of men? And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say unto us, Why did ye not then believe him?” (Matthew 21:25).
The title of this article comes from a book of 133 pages published in 1906. The author, Joseph B. Moody D.D., was born in 1838 in Clarksville, Virginia. He was pastor of churches in Kentucky, Tennessee, and, at the time of this publication, was pastor in Hot Springs, Arkansas. The book was given to me by my pastor, C.A. Walker, in 1958. In this article, we will consider the first three questions in Dr. Moody’s book.
I. Which baptism?
This question is asked because the New Testament does use the term “baptism” in reference to actions other than the immersion of a saved person in water. In Matthew 20:22-23, Jesus speaks to his disciples about the cup of his suffering. He knew that in drinking that cup (Matthew 26:42) he would be overwhelmed and buried under the suffering on the cross, so he uses the word “baptism” to describe the extent of his suffering.
Both John the Baptist and Jesus use the word “baptize” to describe the Holy Spirit empowering the Lord’s first church on the day Pentecost (Matthew 4:11, Acts 1:5). The disciples (about 120) were in one place, in one accord, when the Holy Spirit filled that room, thus they were completely immersed in the power of the Holy Spirit.
The baptism commanded in the commission of Jesus Christ, which the Lord’s churches practice, is water baptism “in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:18-20).
II. Whence was it?
The question that Jesus asked in Matthew 21:25 can be answered from John 1:6 and John 1:28-34. John did not authorize himself to baptize or receive any authority from men. His work was by the plan, the purpose, and the authority of the God of heaven. The Lord’s churches do not work by the authority of men or by the governments of men. We work under the authority of Jesus who said, “All power [authority] is given unto me in heaven and in earth” (Matthew 28:18).
III. What purpose in baptism?
The text for Dr. Moody’s third chapter is from the answer of Jesus in Matthew 3:15, “Thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness.” The righteousness of Jesus is shown in his complete submission to the will of the Father. “He humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross” (Philippians 2:8). The baptism of Jesus was not the reality of his death and resurrection, but was a “likeness” and a “figure” of his death and resurrection. Baptism does not save us, but it is a picture of the gospel, which is the power of God unto salvation (Romans 1:16). Baptism does not give the disciple the new life, but it is a commitment and a promise that the disciple will walk in the righteousness of the new life, which was received by grace through faith. “Yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God” (Romans 6:13).
Resurrection Pictured
Romans 6:4-5
Feb 12, 2012
“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” (Romans 6:4-5).
In the baptism service that we have planned for February 19, 2012, the importance of the resurrection of Jesus Christ will be taught in an object lesson.
The entire fifteenth chapter of I Corinthians shows us that the gospel of our salvation would not be complete and effective if our Savior had not come forth from the tomb after three days and three nights. Consider some of the plain statements made in that chapter.
If there were no resurrection:
- Then Christ is not risen,
- Those who testified that he rose are false witnesses,
- Your faith in Christ is vain and useless and our preaching is also vain,
- Those who have died believing in Christ are perished, and
- This life is most miserable for those whose hope is in Christ (I Corinthians 15:13-19).
Please notice that in the administration of scriptural baptism, there are lessons that look to the past, the present, and the future.
The Past. Christ suffered and died on the cross, bearing our sins in his own body on the tree (I Peter 2:24). His body was prepared for burial and placed in the burial cave of Joseph of Arimathea. After three days, Christ came forth in victory from the tomb in his glorious resurrected body. When a disciple of the Lord is buried in the baptismal water and then lifted up from that figurative grave, the resurrection of Jesus Christ is portrayed.
The Present. The words “even so we also should walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4) show that baptism is a commitment to live for the Lord. We are saying, “By grace through faith, I am a new person. As a child of God, I will live in a way that shows by my outward action that I have new purpose in life.” Fellowship, study, and work with the other church members can help the new disciple to grow in grace and knowledge of the Lord.
The Future. In the baptismal ordinance, the disciple is not left buried in the water. The raising up of the disciple is a picture of the future resurrection of the physical body. “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord” (I Thessalonians 4:16-17) .
Study the wonderful promises in I Corinthians 15 and then apply this admonition of verse 58. “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.”
The Body of Christ
I Corinthians 12:27
Feb 05, 2012
“Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular” (I Corinthians 12:27).
The physical human body is described in this chapter, beginning with verse 14, as an example of the body of Christ. The verses speak of the foot, the hand, the eye, the nose, and the head. The different parts, having different functions, are connected to form one body (Verse 12). “…God hath tempered the body together” (Verse 24). Our text shows the cohesive union of the body, yet shows the individual position and responsibility of each member in the words, “and members in particular.”
Pastor Dewayne Hoppert of the Tulare Missionary Baptist Church in California in his excellent book, Free, gives this definition of the Lord’s church: “A local visible assembly of saved, Scripturally baptized believers, called out and covenanted together for the purpose of giving glory to the Lord through obedience to His Word” (page 206).
On pages 192-202, Pastor Hoppert gives the background of the Greek word “ekklasia.” He shows that the word as used before the writing of the New Testament can only refer to a visible body of citizens who were called out and assembled to act on behalf of their civil government.
Jesus used a possessive term in Matthew 16:18: “I will build my church” (my ekklasia). Jesus was speaking of that body of disciples that he had called out to take care of his business and working under his leadership and authority. The word “keys” in Matthew 16:19 refers to that responsibility and authority.
The phrase “the body of Christ” is a possessive term showing ownership (Ephesians 1:22-23). This same church at Corinth is described with another possessive term in I Corinthians 1:2: “Unto the church of God which is at Corinth.” The possessive language is also found in Romans 16:16, “The churches of Christ salute you.” Christ is the owner of his churches because he established his church, he commissioned his church, he gave himself to purchase his church, and now he is espoused as a bridegroom to his church-bride (Ephesians 5:22-33, II Corinthians 11:2).
When a person meets the conditions set forth in the Word of God to be joined with other members in the local church body, then it is God that adds that person to the church (Acts 2:47). What a blessing to work in a body of disciples who belong to Jesus Christ.
Commitment to God and From God
II Timothy 1:12 and I Timothy 1:11
Jan 29, 2012
“For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day” (II Timothy 1:12). “According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust” (I Timothy 1:11).
Paul describes himself before his conversion as “a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious” (I Timothy 1:13). He also tells us that he was the chief of sinners (I Timothy 1:15). He testifies that “the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus” (I Timothy 1:14).
Paul said, “he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him.” He could be speaking of his heart, his soul, or even of his entire life. That which was committed was turned over to God and placed into the care of God with the full assurance that God would keep it safe and secure. This act of commitment to the Lord is another way to describe believing on Jesus Christ (Acts 16:31) and receiving Him (John 1:12).
Peter encourages the suffering Christians to make a commitment to the Lord. “Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator” (I Peter 4:19).
Paul not only had a commitment to God, he had a commitment from God. “But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour” (Titus 1:3). Paul wrote, “A dispensation [a stewardship] of the gospel is committed unto me” (I Corinthians 9:17). The Amplified Bible gives this translation: “I am [still] entrusted with a [sacred] trusteeship and commission” (AMP). “According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust” (I Timothy 1:11). Paul understood his call from God as a personal responsibility.
The gospel is the power of God unto salvation (Romans 1:16). Jesus Christ is not in this world in bodily presence to preach his gospel. He did commission his church to preach the gospel to all the world (Mark 16:15), and God still calls men today to be preachers of the word.
Looking for Trouble
Ezra 10:16
Jan 22, 2012
“And the children of the captivity did so. And Ezra the priest, with certain chief of the fathers, after the house of their fathers, and all of them by their names, were separated, and sat down in the first day of the tenth month to examine the matter” (Ezra 10:16).
The title of the article does not mean that we are to look for ways to start trouble or to get into trouble. We can learn from examples in the scriptures that we can examine and investigate the causes that are hurting our work for the Lord. The exiles that had returned to the land of Israel were facing serious problems because the people, even the Levites, had disobeyed the commandments of God by not remaining a separated people. There was intermarriage with other nations that worshiped false gods. The leaders of the nation had to carefully examine the problem and take steps to correct the problem.
Acts 15 shows us a problem in the church at Antioch where false teachers were corrupting God’s plan of salvation by teaching that keeping certain practices of the law of Moses were necessary for salvation. “When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question” (Acts 15:2). Men who had been taught by Jesus Christ looked for the cause of the trouble and looked for the solution to this trouble. One of their main conclusions is shown in verses 7-11. God’s way of salvation is the same for Jews and Gentiles because God has put no difference between these two classes, “purifying their hearts by faith” (Acts 15:9).
A person who has been having a difficult struggle in all areas of life sought the advice of the pastor. After an explanation of many different issues, this question was posed by the pastor. “Since you claim to be a child of God and have knowledge of Bible teaching, are you willing to take a hard look at your life style, examine those areas where you are definitely living contrary to God’s will, repent of sin, and make a fresh commitment to surrender to the will of Jesus Christ, take up your cross, and follow Him?” (Luke 9:23).
The answer was given. “I don’t think that I’m ready to do that now, but please keep praying for me.” The pastor replied, “You are looking for trouble, and you will find it. You need to be serious about looking for God’s answer for the trouble.”
“Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon” (Isaiah 55:6-7).
The Evangelistic Mind-set
II Timothy 4:5
Jan 15, 2012
“But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry” (II Timothy 4:5).
The word “evangelist” (Greek: euaggelistes) means “a messenger who declares the gospel.” The word is used in Acts 21:8 describing “Philip the evangelist.” It is also used in Ephesians 4:11 in the list of servants that the Lord placed in his church: they are (1) apostles, (2) prophets, (3) evangelists, and (4) pastors-teachers.
One form of the word “gospel” (Greek: euggelion) is used 76 times in the New Testament. The words “to preach the gospel” (Greek: euaggelizo) are used 50 times.
The title of this article was used many times in the Seminary in Little Rock, Arkansas, by the late Brother Paul Goodwin as he taught the classes on personal witnessing. He would remind us that the mind and heart of Jesus Christ was filled with love and compassion for the lost who needed to be saved. He illustrated that fact with lessons about our Lord’s witness to Nicodemus (John 3), to the woman at Jacob’s well (John 4), and to the man born blind (John 9). Paul was shown to be an example of one having a burden and a compassionate heart. “Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved” (Romans 10:1). “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek” (Romans 1:16).
We were taught that the evangelistic mind-set would affect the way that we interacted with people on our jobs, in our church communities, and with the people with whom we did business. We could see the checker at the grocery store or the attendant at the gasoline station with this mind-set: “Jesus Christ loves and died for this person. This person will spend eternity in hell or in the joyful presence of the Lord. I can take just a moment to give them a gospel tract and, if there is an open door, to speak a word about God’s gift of everlasting life. If they already know the Lord as Savior, they will usually respond with a positive testimony.”
The little country church where I served as pastor was about 60 miles from Little Rock and did not have Wednesday services. I often attended the Wednesday services where Brother Goodwin was pastor. He taught the same lessons on witnessing in his church, and it was common to see people bringing their friends and neighbors to the services. An evangelistic revival atmosphere filled the services. In many of the services, lost souls were saved, and professions of faith in Christ were made.
The lessons that I learned in the classroom and in those Wednesday services bore fruit in my ministry. Please bear with me as this old preacher reminiscences of “the good old days.” Let us pray for each other that we would let our thinking be influenced by the examples of those lessons taught by our compassionate Savior and his early disciples.
Do Not Count on Four More Months
John 4:34-35
Jan 01, 2012
"Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work. Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest" (John 4:34-35).
The lost sinner can learn of God's grace in this chapter.
- Jesus was not hindered in his compassion for this woman because she was of a different race, a Samaritan. "Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans" (John 4:9). God's gracious invitation is for all mankind. "That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life" (John 3:15).
- Jesus offered the water of everlasting life to a woman whose life was filled with sin. "For thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: in that saidst thou truly" (John 4:18). Jesus offered her no approval for her way of life. His offer of eternal life included the forgiveness of sin (Acts 10:43).
- He showed her that the living water was a gift from God that could be received by asking. "Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water" (verse 10).
Those who desire to do the will of God and witness to lost, condemned sinners (John 3:18) can also learn lessons from this chapter.
- We have the example of Jesus to follow. When he speaks of "my meat" (John 4:34), he shows us that he had a hunger and desire to do God's will.
- Witnessing for the Lord needs to be done now. Paul wrote, "Behold, now is the day of salvation" (II Corinthians 6:2). Do not count on tomorrow. "Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth" (Proverbs 27:1). Jesus may return at any time. "Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come" (Matthew 24:42).
- The blessing of one person coming to faith in Jesus Christ can be multiplied as others are reached with the gospel. Notice the example in John 4:39-42. The testimony of the woman bore fruit with many other Samaritans. "And many more believed because of his own word" (John 4:41).
Somewhere within the reach of our church's testimony, there is a lost person that needs our compassion, prayers, and the same gospel of Jesus Christ that changed our heart.
