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Next Entries »Bible Roots Video
Tuesday, September 1st, 2009Many Christians today lack an understanding of WHY Jesus had to come, therefore leaving them without answers when new beliefs or ideas arise. Others just are confused because so many religions have different ways to get to heaven. This computer-animated video takes you through the rise of the Israelites and their fall into captivity. It shows how the tabernacle was used to cover their sins, and how Jesus came to permanently PAY for their sins. In only 40 minutes the video shows concepts that aren’t easily understood through preaching alone and concludes with the Bible’s plan of salvation by grace of God through our faith.
WHO ARE BAPTISTS AND WHAT DO WE BELIEVE? (parts 1- 10 in review)
Thursday, June 25th, 2009**(These articles are not presented as representative of all Baptists. There are many Baptist groups in addition to the denomination with which Emmanuel is affiliated: the Southern Baptist Convention. But these statements on Bible doctrines reflect basic shared beliefs with, at times, my personal thought interjected.) Pastor Sam Hamilton
WHO ARE BAPTISTS?
Church leaders sometimes assume that all members and guests within a church have long understood everything about the particular denomination. This, of course, may be a VERY inaccurate assumption. Therefore, expect to see pieces in your newsletter that address issues concerning Baptists.
PRIESTHOOD OF ALL BELIEVERS
Southern Baptists affirm the priesthood of all believers. This means that Christians have equal rights to go to the Father in prayer, and to minister in His Name. We do not embrace a notion that the clergy, the “official” ministers, are the only ones who represent the church before the Lord. For that reason, on all levels of SBC work, there is a strong push to involve laymen on boards and in decision-making processes. When the veil was split from top to bottom in the Temple at Christ’s death on the cross, it was signified that man no longer needed a human “go-between.” As the Apostle Peter would say, God has made us ALL a “royal priesthood.”
GOD THE FATHER
God as Father reigns with providential care over His universe. he also reigns over His creatures and the flow of human history. He does this according to His purposes and according to His grace. God is Father in truth and in a special eternal sense to those who become His children by faith in Jesus Christ.
GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT
The Holy Spirit is NOT a ghost. He is the eternal Spirit of God. He exalts Christ Jesus. He convicts people of sin, of righteousness and of judgment. He enlightens and empowers the believer and the church in worship, evangelism and in service.
GOD THE SON
Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God. In his incarnation He was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He honored divine law by His personal obedience, and in His death on the cross, He made provision for the redemption of men from sin.
GOD
There is one and only one living and true God. The Eternal God reveals Himself to us as Father, Son and Holy Spirit, with distinct personal attributes, but without division of nature, essence or being.
MAN
Man was created by the special act of god, in His own image, and is the crowning work of His creation…By his free choice man sinned against God and brought sin into the human race…The sacredness of human personality is evident in that God created man in His own image, and in that Christ died for man; therefore every person possesses dignity and is worthy of respect and Christian love. And as a dearly departed pastor friend said, “I believe God has a sense of humor because He made monkeys and some people I know!” (He also believed as do I, God made us all.)
AUTONOMY
By and large, Baptists affirm the autonomy of the local church. Each church is free to determine its own membership and to set its own direction. Thus a church may enter into alliance with other churches as it chooses, in accord with the similar wishes of other churches or groups of churches.
What is true of each local church is also true of other Baptist Bodies: such as local associations of churches. We are part of Bay Baptist Association, the Baptist State Convention of Michigan, and the Southern Baptist Convention. Each of these bodies also freely determine their own membership and decide their course.
There is a common misconception that the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) to which Emmanuel belongs, “runs” the local church. Not true– as stated at the first, each local church is autonomous. ALL Southern Baptist entities derive their authority from the thousands of local churches.
e” which He certainly possesses and the statement from the Bible which says, He “is not willing that any should perish.” (I Peter 3:9)
PREDESTINATION
This month’s doctrinal statement takes up an “easy” topic, predestination!:)
From the Father’s point of view, he certainly KNOWS who will and who will not accept His Son as Savior and Lord. But there is NO contradiction between that “foreknowledge” which He certainly possesses and the statement from the Bible which says, He “is not willing that any should perish.” (I Peter 3:9)
MOST Baptists believe that Hell was never intended for ANY human to go there, but for Satan and his demons when they are finally judged and sent to that place of punishment.
Paul taught that those who hear God’s call to them and are born again are predestined to be conformed to the image of Jesus Christ, His Son. Read Romans 8:29-30. For OUR purposes, we should assume that NO person is beyond the reach of God’s grace. God knows who will reject His Son, but WE DO NOT KNOW! Since none who are saved are saved BECAUSE of their holiness, we ought to agree with the Apostle Paul again as he said, “I am obligated (or I am a debtor) to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and to the foolish. That is why I am so eager to preach the Gospel also to you who are at Rome.” (Romans 1:14-15) We AGREE with God who is willing that ALL be saved!
(1 Timothy 2:4)
APOSTASY AND THE SECOND COMING
Having previously taken on topics such as predestination, I have decided to launch into another “easy” topic.
Apostasy refers to a “falling away.” Different religious groups view just what that means in MANY different ways, and some actually do not think about it at all. I take the New Testament “red letter” approach. In other words, I have always tried to be mostly guided by the words attributed to our Lord Jesus Himself.
Jesus said a couple of things about the Apostasy that I want to focus upon. One thing is that He said the Church WOULD fall away. And the second thing is that this would be a forerunner of His second Advent. Getting right to the nitty gritty as I see it, this has meant His Second Coming could have come at about any time up until now. I say this because I believe the Apsotasy about which He warned, and which He assured would happen, began shortly after, if not even during the during the lives of the Apostles. The Church fell away and continues to do so greatly from the power we observe as recorded in Acts. This falling away from God corresponds to a falling away from one another which has occurred simultaneously! The pace of this dual falling away has continued to increase and the most serious implication of this is that we have failed, and done so hopelessly, to fulfill the Lord’s Great Commission. I defy any one to name a MORE splintered or divided entity in the world today than the Church, which is to be built upon ONE faith, ONE baptism, ONE God and Father. Pray that all UNITY may one day be restored! (See Eph. 4:13)
Christ’s Second Coming
There is wide variation of view among Baptists and Believers in general when it comes to the doctrine of the Second Coming. It seems a good idea to focus on the critical aspects of MOST importance to the Savior, after all, He is the One who taught, promised and is the Hope for which His followers should long and pray! Jesus on at least one occasion indicated that occupants of the planet might ought to check their enthusiasm at His coming back. When SOME of His advocates seem largely
focused on their enemies getting what is coming to them in the Lord’s return, Judgment, maybe this is NOT the kind of faith Jesus Indicated he would hope exists at His return. The old adage, “actions speak louder than words” comes to mind. If we REALLY believe the Savior of mankind is coming soon then wouldn’t we be about our BEST efforts to spread His love, plead with unbelievers to turn to Him, and strive to walk daily in His Word and by His Love? Motive is a big key as to whether Baptists and ALL professing followers are REALLY ready for the Trumpet Call and the Shout of the Archangel!
Your comments and questions are welcomed. If you wish to contact our pastor by e-mail: samuelatemmanuel@yahoo.com
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