God SentGod Sent

1. God Sent Man Out to Die

• “therefore the LORD God sent him out of the garden of Eden to till the ground from which he was taken. So He drove out the man; and He placed cherubim at the east of the garden of Eden, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life” (Gen. 3:23, 24, NKJV).– while God is a God of love, he is also severe– Romans 11:22

2 Kings 17:18

• “Therefore the LORD was very angry with Israel, and removed them from His sight; there was none left but the tribe of Judah alone.”– He removed Israel from His sight– He can remove you too!

God Requires the Church To

• put away the evil people who are among them– 1 Cor. 5:2, “And you are puffed up, and have

not rather mourned, that he who has done this deed might be taken away from among you.”

– 1Co 5:13, “But those who are outside God judges. Therefore ‘put away from yourselves the evil person.’”

– Pergamos had brethren within the church “holding” to false doctrine (Rev. 2:14, 15).

The Ultimate Sending Out

• “But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him!” (Lk. 12:5, NKJV)– “And anyone not found written in the Book of Life

was cast into the lake of fire” (Rev. 20:15, NKJV)

– “These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power” (2 Thess. 1:9, NKJV)

2. God Sent to Preserve Life

• Joseph, “But now, do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life” (Gen. 45:5, NKJV)– a chain of events of “downs” and “ups” led to

the deliverance of Jacob’s posterity (45:7)– as well as a preservation of life for other

nations– typified Christ’s deliverance

Jesus & Joseph

• brought a bad report of brethren (Gen. 37:2; cf. Jn. 4:44; 8:44; Matt. 23)

• were hated by brethren (Gen. 37:4; cf. Lk. 19:14; Lk. 21:17; Jn. 7:7; 15:23, 24)– without a cause (Jn. 15:25)

• sold by brethren (Gen. 37:28; cf. Matt. 27:9)

• preserved the life of many (Gen. 45:5; cf. Mk. 10:45; Jn. 10:10)

sent by God

3. God Sent Moses to Rule

• “This Moses whom they rejected, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge?’ is the one God sent to be a ruler and a deliverer by the hand of the Angel who appeared to him in the bush” (Acts 7:35, NKJV)

MOSESGod’s Choices Are Frequently

Rejected by Men

Rejected by Men

Accepted by God

God’s Choice

• in Jesus being chief was rejected by men– “The stone which the builders rejected Has become

the chief cornerstone” (Ps. 118:22, NKJV)

• in the sufficiency of the word is rejected by those who supplement it with creeds/opinions– “So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the

word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified” (Acts 20:32, NKJV)

God’s Choice

• in the sufficiency of the local church is rejected by those who supplement human institutions to carry out the work of the Lord– “So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not

grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work” (2 Cor. 9:7, 8, NKJV)

The Work GOD’S CHOICE

MAN’S CHOICE

EVANGELISMLocal Church

(Phil 4:15)

sponsoring church, missionary society

EDIFICATIONLocal Church (Eph. 4:11, 12)

human Institution (e.g., church sponsored college)

BENEVOLENCE (limited)

Local Church(1 Tim. 5:16; 1 Cor. 16:1ff)

human Institution (e.g., church sponsored home)

God’s Choice Versus Man’s Machinery

God’s Choice

• in limiting benevolence to needy saints is rejected by churches that funnel the treasury to “human benevolent societies” and to non-Christians– “But now I am going to Jerusalem to minister

to the saints. For it pleased those from Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor among the saints who are in Jerusalem” (Rom. 15:25, 26)

LIMITED Benevolence

27 And in these days prophets came from Jerusalem to

Antioch. 28 Then one of them, named Agabus, stood up and

showed by the Spirit that there was going to be a great

famine throughout all the world, which also happened

in the days of Claudius Caesar. 29 Then the disciples, each according to his ability,

determined to send relief to the brethren dwelling in

Judea. 30 This they also did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and

Saul.

God’s Choice

• in using the crucified Christ as the means to draw the world into the church is rejected by those who add a social agenda to the gospel– church kitchens– church camping retreats– church BBQ’s– church breakfasts/dinners– church carnivals – family crisis center– church gyms

““You shall not add to the You shall not add to the word which I command word which I command you, nor take from it. . .” you, nor take from it. . .” (Deut. 4:2; cf. Rev. 22:18, 19)(Deut. 4:2; cf. Rev. 22:18, 19)

God’s Choice

• in using the crucified Christ as the means to draw the world into the church is rejected by those who add a social agenda to the gospel– church kitchens– church camping retreats– church BBQ’s– church breakfasts/dinners– church carnivals – family crisis center– church gyms

““And I, if I am lifted And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will up from the earth, will

draw all peoples to draw all peoples to Myself” Myself”

(Jn. 12:32, NKJV)(Jn. 12:32, NKJV)

God Sent the Carnal Agenda AWAY FROM THE CHURCH!

“What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and shame those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you in this? I do not praise you” (1 Cor. 11:22, NKJV)

“What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and shame those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you in this? I do not praise you” (1 Cor. 11:22, NKJV)

Two Errors Addressed:

1. DESPISING THE CHURCH, viz., placing a common meal into the church (note: “when you come together as a church” v. 18).

• Answer: do you not have houses to eat and drink in?

(1)

God Sent the Carnal Agenda AWAY FROM THE CHURCH!

“What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and shame those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you in this? I do not praise you” (1 Cor. 11:22, NKJV)

“What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and shame those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you in this? I do not praise you” (1 Cor. 11:22, NKJV)

Two Errors Addressed:

2. SHAMING THE POOR, viz., parading food before those who have none (some are hungry, v. 21); class warfare/division (cf. v. 18; Jas. 2:1-7).

• Answer: wait for one another to eat the Supper (v. 33), eat your common meal at home (v. 34)

(1)

(2)

God Sent the Carnal Agenda AWAY FROM THE CHURCH!

“Don’t you have homes in which to eat and drink? Do you despise God’s church and embarrass people who don’t have anything to eat? What can I say to you? Should I praise you? I won’t praise you for this.”

(1 Cor. 11:22, GWV)

“Don’t you have homes in which to eat and drink? Do you despise God’s church and embarrass people who don’t have anything to eat? What can I say to you? Should I praise you? I won’t praise you for this.”

(1 Cor. 11:22, GWV)

What organization is it that God wants to provide common meals for hunger?

• The church?

• The home?

• ABSURDITY would suggest that the family cannot eat in a restaurant, in a park, out in the yard, in a car, etc.

Authority

MOSES(Lawgiver)

God Chose Moses to Rule/Deliver

Dathan

Miriam

Korah

Abiram

On

Aaron

LEVI(Priesthood)

Ephraim

Judah

Dan

NaphtaliReuben

Priesthood

Heb. 7:12-14Acts 7:35

Authority & The Church

PoorSaints

Church Benevolence

non-saints

rich saints

lazy saints

SpeakingSpiritualSongs

hum &drum

mech. S.1

secular S.

immoral S.

Church Songs

Rom. 15:242 Thess. 3:10 Eph. 5:19

1 S. = Songs

Authority & The Church

evangelismedification

(gospel)

Church Work

camp. retreat

secular ed.

other gospel

Lord’sSupper

espresso& donuts

carnal meal

church kitchen

Church Eating

1 Tim. 3:15Mt. 28:18-20

1 Cor. 11:20Rom. 14:17

Example of Generic Authority

evangelismedification

(gospel)

Church Work

teaching aids

secure meet.place

various media

Lord’sSupper

sink

servingcontainers

refrigerator

Church Eating

1 Tim. 3:15Mt. 28:18-20

1 Cor. 11:20Rom. 14:17

Lord’sSupper

sink

servingcontainers

refrigerator

1 Cor. 11:20Rom. 14:17

COMMAND

• church builds a facility to eat a common meal in (fellowship hall)

• church rents a restaurant to feed people

• church purchases espresso machines

• church sponsored chili feeds

Innovations VIOLATING Bible Authority

Early Example of Paul’s Teaching

42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. . . .44 Now all who believed were to-gether, and had all things in common,45 and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart,

Lord’s SupperLord’s Supper

Common MealCommon Meal

in the temple, “as a church”

(1 Cor. 11:18), “in one place” (ibid. v. 20).

at home (1 Cor. 11:22)

Calvin’s Comment“We know for what exercises a Church should assemble -- to hear doctrine, to pour forth prayers, and sing hymns to God, to observe the sacraments, to make confession of their faith, and to engage in pious observances, and other exercises of piety. If anything else is done there, it is out of place. Every one has his own house appointed him for eating and drinking, and hence that is an unseemly thing in a sacred assembly” (Calvin’s Commentaries, 1 Corinthians 11:22)

“for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking” (Rom. 14:17)

4. God Sent Forth His Son

• “But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.” (Gal. 4:5, NKJV)– He sent His Son to be born of a woman– He sent His Son to be born under the law– He sent His Son to redeem men

Redemption

• redemption is in the blood “In Him we have redemption through His blood. . .” (Eph. 1:7; cf. 1 Pet. 1:18, 19)

• baptism is into the blood-death (Rom. 6:3-4)

• therefore people are redeemed when baptized (Acts 22:16; 1 Pet. 3:21)

1 PETER 3:211 PETER 3:21

“There is also an antitype which

NOW SAVES

us—baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the

resurrection of Jesus Christ”

1 Peter 3:21,“There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ”

Baptism Saves

Baptism has nothing to do

with a physical cleansing

Baptism is an answer of a good

conscience

Baptism is something done

“toward God”

1 Peter 3:21,“There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ”

1 Peter 3:21,“There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ”

The Power In Baptism Is Not The Water,But Through The Resurrection!

To contend that baptism is not necessary is to insult the

RESURRECTION!