The best way to study the Bible is to do word studies.
A.W. Pink - Calvinist
Cruden's
Young's
James Strong's [W&H] is more complete.Religious Book Discount House
Topical - Evangelistic
Textual -
Expository - verse by verseOxford Bibles have poor binding.
Thompson Chain references - 1950 ed.
I. The Marks of the New Testament Church
1. It accepts ONLY SAVED people as members.
"(41)Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. (42)And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. (43)And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. (44)And all that believed were together, and had all things common; (45)And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. (46)And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, (47)Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved." (Acts 2:41-47)It is a REGENERATED church.
Dakes annotated Bible (Charismatic)
2. It practices ONLY BELIEVER'S baptism. (It will baptize ONLY those who are SAVED.)
"(35)Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. (36)And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? (37)And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. (38)And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. (39)And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing." (Acts 8:35-39)"(33)And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway. (34)And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house." (Acts 16:33-34)"And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized." (Acts 9:18)
"Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls." (Acts 2:41)
3. It has ONLY ONE plan of salvation (repentance & faith).
"(3)Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. (4)Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? (5)Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." (John 3:3-5)"(8)For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9)
"For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus." (Galatians 3:26)
4. Is has ONLY TWO Church ordinances (BELIEVER'S Baptism & the Lord's Supper). These are symbols, pictures, figures, etc.
"(1)Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ. (2)Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you." (I Corinthians 11:1-2)"And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body." (Matthew 26:26)
"For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come." (I Corinthians 11:26)
5. It has the Bible ONLY as their final authority.
6. It believes in the priesthood of ALL believers. We can go directly to God in prayer.
"For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;" (I Timothy 2:5).
Verse 4 hurts Calvinists:
"Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth." (I Timothy 2:4)
7. It is a pure theo/cracy (God ruled).
"(22)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." (Ephesians 1:22-23)"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." (Colossians 1:18)
There 4 types of church government.
i. Episcopal (Roman Catholic Church and Lutherans): An hierarchy system; Pope rules.
ii. Presbyterial (Presbyterians and Lutheran 'Brethren'): Elder system; Elders rule.
iii. Congregational (Methodists, United 'Church of Christ', Congregational and American 'Baptists'): Majority rules; they vote this, vote that; this is unscriptural.
iv. Theocracy (Baptists): God ruled.
The Order:
First -- the Lord Jesus Christ is the Head; the Holy Spirit is the Superintendent
Second -- Pastor
Third -- Officers (deacons) -->
Forth -- Congregation8. It has genuine separation of church and state. This is from the biblical standpoint. We MUST be specific. God intends for the spiritual to run the non-spiritual. They are NOT totally separate.
First Amendment -->
'Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.'
To prohibit the establishment of a national religion and guarantee the free exercise of religious belief.
Congress was to protect.
Isaac Baachus - First Amendment. He had the preachers' support.
What happened?
Courts and Education System
In the beginning faith was encouraged. But this changed to indifference (ignored it.)
By 1940, Congress was opposed to the Christian Faith.
Supreme Court declared that Humanism is a religion.
This neutralized our Faith.
The next step is State surveliance-sp?
The concept of God is now New Age.
Kenneth Copeland
"Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men." (Acts 5:29)
The State is NOT above God. The State is NOT equal to God.
"Now I know that the LORD is greater than all gods: for in the thing wherein they dealt proudly he was above them." (Exodus 18:11)
"(1)For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. (2)Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. (3)For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: (4)For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. (5)Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. (6)For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. (7)Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour." (Romans 13:1-7)"Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers."
"(10)Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold. (11)For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it. (12)I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions." (Proverbs 8:10-12)Obey the law ordained by God FIRST.
God ordained power.
We shall have NO other gods before us.
87% of Americans receive a check of some sort today.
Sodomy is NOT in the genes. It is in the pants.
The Government is suppressing good for evil.
"(18)Woe unto them that draw iniquity with cords of vanity, and sin as it were with a cart rope: (19)That say, Let him make speed, and hasten his work, that we may see it: and let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel draw nigh and come, that we may know it! (20)Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! (21)Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight! (22)Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink: (23)Which justify the wicked for reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him! (24)Therefore as the fire devoureth the stubble, and the flame consumeth the chaff, so their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust: because they have cast away the law of the LORD of hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel. (25)Therefore is the anger of the LORD kindled against his people, and he hath stretched forth his hand against them, and hath smitten them: and the hills did tremble, and their carcases were torn in the midst of the streets. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still. (26)And he will lift up an ensign to the nations from far, and will hiss unto them from the end of the earth: and, behold, they shall come with speed swiftly: (27)None shall be weary nor stumble among them; none shall slumber nor sleep; neither shall the girdle of their loins be loosed, nor the latchet of their shoes be broken: (28)Whose arrows are sharp, and all their bows bent, their horses' hoofs shall be counted like flint, and their wheels like a whirlwind: (29)Their roaring shall be like a lion, they shall roar like young lions: yea, they shall roar, and lay hold of the prey, and shall carry it away safe, and none shall deliver it. (30)And in that day they shall roar against them like the roaring of the sea: and if one look unto the land, behold darkness and sorrow, and the light is darkened in the heavens thereof." (Isaiah 5:18-30)They think Good is Evil, and Evil is Good.
The State is to have spiritual leadership.
If the government hinders our worship in any way then we may oppose it.
Daniel would NOT compromise in the area of worship.
Turn the other cheek, walk that extra mile.
"For the kingdom is the LORD'S: and he is the governor among the nations." (Psalm 22:28)
"(11)Thine, O LORD, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O LORD, and thou art exalted as head above all. (12)Both riches and honour come of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand is power and might; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all." (I Chronicles 29:11-12)When a Nation or State declares it own self above God, it writes its own death warrant.
"Destroy thou them, O God; let them fall by their own counsels; cast them out in the multitude of their transgressions; for they have rebelled against thee." (Psalm 5:10)
"But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death." (Proverbs 8:36)
"(11)Hath a nation changed their gods, which are yet no gods? but my people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit.
(12)Be astonished, O ye heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid, be ye very desolate, saith the LORD.
(13)For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water." (Jeremiah 2:11-13)i. The local church is to be an administrator of grace.
ii. The State is to be an administrator of justice.
iii. Both are to serve the Lord God Almighty.
iv. Christian have an responsibility to govern those who govern their civil affairs.
Large signature - Hart
Horace Mann --> National School System
& John DeweyTrue Christian education--Deuteronomy Chapter 6:
"(1)Now these are the commandments, the statutes, and the judgments, which the LORD your God commanded to teach you, that ye might do them in the land whither ye go to possess it:
(2)That thou mightest fear the LORD thy God, to keep all his statutes and his commandments, which I command thee, thou, and thy son, and thy son's son, all the days of thy life; and that thy days may be prolonged.
(3)Hear therefore, O Israel, and observe to do it; that it may be well with thee, and that ye may increase mightily, as the LORD God of thy fathers hath promised thee, in the land that floweth with milk and honey.
(4)Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:
(5)And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.
(6)And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:
(7)And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.
(8)And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.
(9)And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.
(10)And it shall be, when the LORD thy God shall have brought thee into the land which he sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give thee great and goodly cities, which thou buildedst not,
(11)And houses full of all good things, which thou filledst not, and wells digged, which thou diggedst not, vineyards and olive trees, which thou plantedst not; when thou shalt have eaten and be full;
(12)Then beware lest thou forget the LORD, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.
(13)Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God, and serve him, and shalt swear by his name.
(14)Ye shall not go after other gods, of the gods of the people which are round about you;
(15)(For the LORD thy God is a jealous God among you) lest the anger of the LORD thy God be kindled against thee, and destroy thee from off the face of the earth.
(16)Ye shall not tempt the LORD your God, as ye tempted him in Massah.
(17)Ye shall diligently keep the commandments of the LORD your God, and his testimonies, and his statutes, which he hath commanded thee.
(18)And thou shalt do that which is right and good in the sight of the LORD: that it may be well with thee, and that thou mayest go in and possess the good land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers,
(19)To cast out all thine enemies from before thee, as the LORD hath spoken.
(20)And when thy son asketh thee in time to come, saying, What mean the testimonies, and the statutes, and the judgments, which the LORD our God hath commanded you?
(21)Then thou shalt say unto thy son, We were Pharaoh's bondmen in Egypt; and the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand:
(22)And the LORD shewed signs and wonders, great and sore, upon Egypt, upon Pharaoh, and upon all his household, before our eyes:
(23)And he brought us out from thence, that he might bring us in, to give us the land which he sware unto our fathers.
(24)And the LORD commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear the LORD our God, for our good always, that he might preserve us alive, as it is at this day.
(25)And it shall be our righteousness, if we observe to do all these commandments before the LORD our God, as he hath commanded us."Love the LORD thy God.