Heritage Bible Church

It Ain't Gonna Reign No More is my theological homophonic pun on the title of a catchy 1920's nonsense song that sold over 2 million copies. If you look it up online and play it (only about a minute long), I can almost guarantee you will get an earworm. We saw last time, from Romans 6:1-11, that by dint of your identification with Christ once you trust in His finished work on the cross to atone for your sin and give you new life, you have a new identity. Now sin is no longer your master, Jesus is your Master. In verse 11, the word consider is connected to the same root word as logic. The core meaning is to determine by a mathematical process, to reckon or calculate. From that basic idea come the more common meanings and uses: to count, take account of, to evaluate, estimate, look upon as, consider, to give careful thought to a matter, think (about), consider, ponder, let one's mind dwell on, believe, be of the opinion. How do you consider yourself dead to sin and alive to God? Based upon knowing that you have been baptized into His death and knowing that your old man was crucified with Him, 1) Consider yourself dead to sin (verse 11). 2) Present yourself to God (verse 13). Three commands in the next three verses shape what to do. They're followed by some wonderful explanations, which we will survey. Here's an outline based upon the structure and nuances of the passage. 1 - Do Not Keep On Letting Sin Reign (12) 2 - Do Not Keep On Presenting (13a) 3 - Urgently Present Yourselves To God (13b) 4 - For You Are Under Grace (14) 5 - Here Is What I Mean (15-23)

1 - Jacob Arrives in Haran (1-8) 2 - A Happy Family Reunion (9-14) 3 - Jacob Works 7 Years for Rachel (15-20) 4 - Jacob is Deceived and Works 7 More Years for Rachel (21-30) 5 - Jacob and the Unloved Leah's First 4 sons (31-35)

Today we will continue to build our understanding of how we function and how God works to conform us to the image of Jesus Christ. Many people act as if being a Christian is defined by conforming to acceptable standards of behavior, getting along with others, and not getting in trouble. I'm all for those things, but to be a Christian is something far more profound. 2 Corinthians 5:17: Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. 1 Peter 1:3, 22–23: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, . . . Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart, for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God. Today we will explore a foundational passage on what it means to be born again. It's in the book of Romans, which is the inspired treatise on the meaning and significance of the gospel. Our passage occupies a crucial place in the flow of the argument. The section at the core of the book of Romans is where we are headed: Sanctification: The Demonstration of God's Righteousness (6:1–8:39). Perspectives: 1 - You have died to sin 2 - You have been baptized into Christ's death 3 - You have "newness of life" in Christ 4 - You share in the life of the risen Christ 5 - You are crucified with Christ 6 - You are freed from sin 7 - You are commanded to act on all these facts

Access the full class notes here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1pf3eIzLNA-rA3ROe0V95siVNzls6acLrkwLgpfTIL3I/edit?usp=sharing

4 Features of Direction that Reveal Your Path 1 - Where We've Been (chapters 1-27) 2 - Where We're Going (1-5) 3 - Who's Guiding Their Own Path? (6-9) 4 - What's the Other Path Look Like? (10-22)

The Apostle Peter wrote an admonition and prayer that expresses my desire for you. 2 Peter 3:17–18: You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of unprincipled men and fall from your own steadfastness, 18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen. To that end, we're beginning a new sermon series today, but not a sequential study through a book of the Bible. Instead, it will be a series of studies of crucial passages which help us learn how to take what we know and apply it in the most helpful ways possible. The goal: I want you to grow in your ability to nourish your soul from the word of God. Our first passage is 1 Timothy 1:5. The previous verses give the background. + In Ephesus certain ones + Teach a different doctrine + Pay attention to spiritual poisons + Speculate rather than being faithful to Scripture Then comes a phrase that is introduced by the glorious word BUT. The but is the Greek word that connotes both a connection and contrast. The connection is that there are certain ones who are altering sound doctrine and introducing spiritually poisonous ideas. The contrast is BUT the goal of OUR instruction is LOVE. 1 Timothy 1:5: But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. 1 - A Pure Heart 2 - A Good Conscience 3 - Unhypocritical Faith

Access the full class notes here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1pf3eIzLNA-rA3ROe0V95siVNzls6acLrkwLgpfTIL3I/edit?usp=sharing

Access the full class notes here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1pf3eIzLNA-rA3ROe0V95siVNzls6acLrkwLgpfTIL3I/edit?usp=sharing

This year's final instalment of Provoke The Pastor focuses on three primary questions. There's a good chance you might learn a new word when we get to the final one. But I have a Labor Day special for you! Two questions that aren't in our sermon title. The answers are brief and simple to understand. 1 - (Bonus Question): Can an unmarried man be a deacon or elder? 2 - (Bonus Question): What about people who trust in Christ alone by faith alone but reject the natural meaning of Genesis? 3 - Cremation: Where in the Bible do we go to support cremation? 4 - Temptation: Does Satan have the ability to put thoughts in the mind of a believer? If I am indwelt by the Holy Spirit, how can Satan target my mind? What are his "schemes" against me? 5 - Intercalation: How did it come to be that some Bible translations include phrases or whole verses not in other translations?

Today we come to our second installment of Provoke the Pastor and the questions we'll be focusing on are primarily those of hermeneutics or Bible interpretation. We've repeatedly stated the importance of a consistent biblical hermeneutic which is able to be applied to every passage of Scripture from Genesis to Revelation. A methodology which does not need altered no matter which text of Scripture, which type or genre of Scripture, and which will always result in a consistent understanding of God's intended meaning to His church. New: I'm sure you must have answered this question before, but here goes again. In the Book of John 3:5 Jesus says, "Truly, truly, I say to you , unless one is born of water and the spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." Does this say that Baptism is necessary for salvation? Old: My question is on the meaning of "permanent statute" in Leviticus 16:29 and 34. Using the hermeneutical rule of understanding the meaning of Scripture the way the audience would understand it, these verses seem to indicate that the annual day of atonement was prescribed for Israel to be perpetual. How should we understand these verses? Never: It's hard at times to tell in the Old Testament, who Jehovah or Yahweh is - Father or Son. With Lord = usually Son. With LORD = mostly Father. Does it really matter in most cases? Forever: A question arose during our discussion of Genesis as to the eternality of the Abrahamic Covenant.

Books for Week 13: 2 Peter 1 John 2 John 3 John Jude Revelations

Why do we like to spend time answering questions? + To understand and help with things on your mind + To show examples of good hermeneutics + To demonstrate the sufficiency of Scripture Today's Questions: 1 - I'm trying to find a good book that breaks down the chronology of Revelation: what happens before 3.5 year break and what happens after 3.5 years. 2 - Pastor Scott once made a comment during announcements saying one should reconsider partaking in communion if they haven't been baptized. During communion we always explain from Scripture that only those who have trusted in Christ should partake, but we have never added baptism as a prerequisite. Please explain why this should be considered. 3 - Since a woman is prohibited from serving as a pastor or elder, is it Biblically acceptable for her to serve as a hospital chaplain? 4 - Why are folks opposed to church membership? Culture? Carnality? Is this a newer challenge, or timeless? What's the trend and relationship between attendance and membership? 5 - I recently heard a comment made that "Heaven is tainted by sin." Is this an accurate statement?

Word of the day: Discernment

Books for Week 12: 2 Timothy Titus Philemon Hebrews James 1 Peter

3 Critical Elements Unveiling Your Faith 1 - Faith & Works In Action (14-17) 2 - Faith Without Works (18-20) 3 - Faith, Works, & Justification (21-26, next time)

Books for Week 11: Philippians Colossians 1 Thessalonians 2 Thessalonians 1 Timothy

Paul identified the church in Thessalonica as a model church. The testimony of their faithfulness was spreading throughout the region and encouraged other suffering churches. However, even this model church was not immune from the devastating pain of loss. Even though they knew that the resurrection was true, in the moment of grief, some members of the church were shaken. Paul wrote these words to remind those who had lost loved ones that they could find comfort in the certainty of their hope. Hope in Christ's return is the source of Christian comfort. The death of loved ones is a tragically common part of life. Death is inevitable in a fallen world. Whether because of a sudden disaster like a car crash, the gradual encroachment of cancer, or slow decay of age, death comes to us all. When death invades your life, where will you find comfort in the midst of grief? The answer is found in 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18. Our passage presents two promises that fix our hope on the return of Christ so that we can be comforted in times of loss. 1 - The Promise of the Resurrection that Fixes Our Hope (13-16) a - Grounded in the Gospel (14) b - Realized by Christ's Return (15-16) 2 - The Promise of Reunion that Focuses Our Hope (17-18) a - Reunion with One Another b - Reunion with Christ

Books for Week 10: Romans 1 Corinthians 2 Corinthians Galatians Ephesians

For Paul, Departure Time is imminent. In my tangled thinking, two acronyms came to mind to outline our text. 1 - AARP: An Apostolic Retirement Plan (6-9) 2 - BOGO: Bad Ones, Good Ones (10-22)

Books for Week 9: Mathew Mark Luke John Acts

As we are on final approach to landing this letter, we encounter a watershed passage about the power and authority and importance of God's word. Joined to it is the perfect three-word summary of what Paul wanted Timothy to do: Preach The Word. 1 - Continue In The Sacred Writings (3:14-15) 2 - Be Equipped And Equipping (3:16-17) 3 - Preach The Word (4:1-5)

Books for Week 8: Zephaniah Haggi Zechariah Malachi

This text doesn't require searching out golden nuggets of doctrine. It's better suited to an overview and letting it have the intended effect of helping us keep our guard up. Our passage begins with a conjunction, so you can't grasp its command without recalling what it connects to: 2 Timothy 2:24-26: The Lord's bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will. There are people who believe they are Christians, but they don't really understand the gospel. They have not humbled themselves before the Lord. They contend for their own way, their own comfort, and for their own version of what it means to be a Christian. As Paul clearly wrote, they are in opposition, they need repentance and they need the knowledge of the truth. They profess to know Christ and to be part of His church, but they are unwittingly in the snare of the devil. Wow! That's strong! 1 - The Warning (1) 2 - 19 Ways To Harm A Church (2-5) 3 - Bad Examples (6-9) 4 - What You Need To Know (10-13)

Books for Week 7: Obadiah Jonah Micah Nahum Habakkuk

YHWH – The self-existent creator 1 - YHWH – tsabaoth – the LORD of hosts - sovereign control over everything 2 - YHWH – yireh – the LORD who provides 3 - YHWH – rophe – the LORD our healer 4 - YHWH – nissi – the LORD our standard 5 - YHWH – meqaddishkem – the LORD who sanctifies us 6 - YHWH – shalom – The LORD who gives us inner peace 7 - YHWH – roiy – the LORD is our shepherd, provider, caregiver 8 - YHWH – tsikenu – the LORD our righteousness 9 - YHWH – shammah – the LORD our companion 10 - YHWH – qanna – the Lord is Jealous

Books for Week 6: Ezekiel Daniel Hosea Joel Amos

Jesus' parable of the dragnet (Matthew 13:47-50) relates to our passage. The analogy is that just as the net pulls up many fish, the gospel message draws many people to it. The net gathered all types of fish, some worthwhile and some not good. Likewise the gospel attracts many people who neither repent nor desire to follow Christ, but they hang around "in the net." Just as the fish could not be sorted until the net was pulled ashore, so false believers masquerading as true Christians will not be fully exposed until the end of the age. A day of reckoning will come in which God will separate the true believers from mere pretenders, and those found to be false will be cast into hell. As we have done several times lately, it's easy to title this based on the commands in the passage: Flee, Pursue, Refuse. 1 - Two Kinds Of Vessels (20-21) 2 - Three Commands (22-23) a - Flee (22a) b - Pursue (22b) c - Refuse (23) 3 - Five Honorable Traits (24-26)

Books for Week 5: Ecclesiastes Song of Solomon Isaiah Jeremiah Lamentations

We are into a section of God's word that has, in practice in most churches and tragically across entire denominations, been forgotten or ignored in our generation. It has become the norm to think that in order for the Church of our Lord Jesus Christ to grow, we have to be innovative in what we do. Many seminaries have been telling students to figure out what the felt needs of people are, and to build a ministry around meeting those needs. That pragmatic mindset tragically ignores the fact that God's word tells us what our real need is, and it is not what most people "feel." The truth is that it doesn't matter what I feel. What matters is that I understand my need to be reconciled to God from whom I am alienated by sin. This portion of God's word, indeed the whole book of 2 Timothy, is not hard to understand. It's not esoteric. It's not abstract. It is bold and direct, and it tells us what God wants from His Church and its leaders. Church is not meant to entertain, and it's not meant primarily to address unbelievers. It is for the people of God to worship Him in spirit and in truth, so they are equipped to take the gospel to the world. As we have been seeing paragraph by paragraph, there are direct and clear commands we must heed. In our passage, there are four more imperatives which help frame it for us. If you ever wonder what is required to be approved to God, you need wonder no more. The answer is in our passage, which is built around the four imperatives. 1 - Remind (14) 2 - Be Diligent (15) 3 - Avoid (16-18) 4 - Abstain (19)

Books for Week 4: Nehemiah Esther Job Psalms Proverbs

Our current chapter began with the famous instruction to pass along the sound doctrine Paul had given to Timothy, to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. Immediately after saying that, Paul reminded Timothy that there is always opposition to the message of the gospel, and that he needed to be ready to face the opposition and not be surprised or disheartened by it: 2 Timothy 2:3: Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. As we put our boat in the water today at verse 8, we come to three examples to bolster the understanding that to be a Christian includes facing hardship and it is worth it. It is the example of Jesus, it is the reason Paul suffered hardship, and it is all for the good of all who believe in Jesus Christ. This is a reminder of Your Trustworthy Savior. 1 - Remember Jesus Christ (8-10) 2 - What To Remember (11-13) A - If we died with Him B - If we endure C - If we deny Him D - If we are faithless