Pictures from previous Wayside Bible Conferences

Pastor David Morris (left), and Pastor Jeffery (right)

The 3rd Annual Wayside Bible Conference

Sunday, September 12, 2004

Pastor John G. Reisinger (left), and Pastor Jeffery (right)

The 1st Annual Wayside Bible Conference

Sunday, March 26, 2000

Pastor's Note - A Brief Report on The Fifth Annual Wayside Bible Conference - January 5-7, 2007

Pastor Jeffery (left), Pastor Morris (right)

Guest Preacher: David Morris

First Session: Friday, January 5, 2007

Title: Behold, My Servant

Text: Isaiah 53:10

Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.

Owen's dilemma [see Appendix]

Five Gospels?!?! - Matthew, Mark, Luke, John and Isaiah

Two triplets in verse 10:

1. (a) Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; (b) he hath put him to grief: (c) when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin,

2. (d) he shall see his seed, (e) he shall prolong his days, and (f) the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.

1. The Reason for Messiah's Suffering - Isaiah 53:10a-c - The Person of the Servant

Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin,...

compare Isaiah 7:14 and 9:6 -

7:14 - Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
9:6 - For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

compare also Isaiah 11:1 and 10 -

11:1 - And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:
11:10 - And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious.

Christ was both Rod and Root, human and divine

Brother Morris knows the right answer to the question:

"Do you want cornbread or biscuits?"

His answer: "Yes!"

compare Isaiah 42:1 - Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.

"I fear that sometimes we are too familiar with the Gospel!"

2. The Result of Messiah's Suffering - Isaiah 53:10d-f - The Success of the Servant

...he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.

Our theology needs to include "Seedology"!

Second Session: Saturday, January 6, 2007
Title: God's Compelling Love
Text: John 6:44-45

[44] No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. [45] It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.

"Gypsy Smith preached until a ripe old age. He came into the Life of God through the ministry of D.L. Moody, having grown up among a family of gypsies and was known for his joy-filled disposition. The Lord used him greatly as he preached between Europe and America and on one such junket, as he sailed across the Atlantic on his way to yet another speaking engagement, an admirer asked him, “How do you do it, Mr. Smith? How do you stay so fresh in the things of the Lord?”
His answer itself was fresh and insightful: “Because, dear friend, I’ve never lost the wonder of it all.” "

[Source: http://revonwheels.wordpress.com/2006/09/29/the-wonder-of-it-all/]

1. Amazing Wonder - An Impossible Act for Man

No man can come to me

no ability - there is a distinction between "can" and "may"!

2. Arresting Word - The Irresistible Activity of God

except the Father which hath sent me draw him

"draw" - compare other usages of this word - Peter drawing his sword from its scabbard, and dragging the net to shore

Ralph Erskine said that he was "saved against his will with his full consent"!

Pastor's Note: this statement of Erskine's is found in Spurgeon's sermons as follows -

"Erskine, in speaking of his own conversion, says he ran to Christ "with full consent against his will," "

[Source: http://www.spurgeon.org/sermons/0442.htm]

"...as Ralph Erskine paradoxically puts it, the man is saved "with full consent against his will" "

[Source: http://www.spurgeon.org/sermons/0182.htm]

John G. Reisinger - "Coming to Christ was the most willing thing I ever did in my life!"

Pastor's Note: Pastor Reisinger has also stated it this way -

"We insist that the most willingly thing any sinner ever did was to freely repent and believe the gospel."

[Source: http://www.soundofgrace.com/apr98/page1.htm]

3. Awakened Willingness - The Inevitable Action

and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.

Third Session: Sunday, January 7, 2007
Title: The Missing Note
Text: Hebrews 3:12-14

[12] Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. [13] But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. [14] For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;

1. A Grave Danger, or a Serious Peril - 3:12 and 3:13b - The Progress of Evil

Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God....lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

The 3-fold focus of the warning:

1) evil heart of unbelief

2) hardened through the deceitfulness of sin

3) departing from the living God

2. A Godly Duty, or a Healthy Preventative - 3:13a - The Duration of the Duty

But exhort one another daily, while it is called Today

Until we are relieved of that duty!

3. A Great Demand, or a Sweet Promise - 3:14

For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end

"The faith that fizzles before the finish was fickle and flawed from the first!"

Appendix: Owen's "dilemma" -

"To which I may add this dilemma to our Universalists --

God imposed his wrath due unto, and Christ underwent the pains of hell for,

1. either all the sins of all men,
2. or all the sins of some men,
3. or some sins of all men.

If the LAST, some sins of all men, then have all men some sins to answer for, and so shall no man be saved; for if God entered into judgment with us, though it were with all mankind for one sin, no flesh should be justified in his sight: "If the LORD should mark iniquities, who should stand?" [Ps. cxxx.2] We might all go to cast all that we have "to the moles and to the bats, to go into the clefts of the rocks, and into the tops of the ragged rocks, for fear of the Lord, and for the glory of his majesty." [Isa. ii. 20, 21]

If the SECOND, that is it which we affirm, that Christ in their stead and room suffered for all the sins of all the elect in the world.

If the FIRST, why then, are not all freed from the punishment of all their sins? You will say, "Because of their unbelief; they will not believe."

But this unbelief, is it a sin, or not?

If not, why should they be punished for it? If it be, then Christ underwent the punishment due to it, or not. If so, then why must that hinder them more than their other sins for which he died from partaking of the fruit of his death? If he did not, then did he not die for all their sins.

Let them choose which part they will."

[Source: Salus Electorum, Sanguis Jesu; or, The Death of Death in the Death of Christ, by John Owen, in Vol. 10 of The Works of John Owen, ed. William H. Goold (Carlisle, PA: The Banner of Truth Trust, n.d.; 1976 reprint of Johnstone & Hunter ed., 1850-1953, from 1642-1653 originals), pp. 173-174.]

Pastor's Note: This is the first of twenty-seven such dilemmas Owen poses to the objector in The Death of Death. Together they constitute what I term his "Cavalry of Questions". This onslaught of multiplied dilemmas has not been satisfactorily or convincingly responded to by any opponent to the doctrine of Particular Redemption (Substitutionary Atonement) to this day, in my humble opinion, either in whole or in part.

Members and Friends

You will notice on the left hand side of this blog there are some links to blogs of fellow members and friends of Wayside Gospel Chapel. Should you be either a "friend" or a "member" of Wayside Gospel Chapel and you have a blog and you would like it added as a link so as to provide easy access for each and all then post a comment to this post with your URL. Please note, these will be screened; you must be a friend or member of Wayside Gospel Chapel for your blog to be linked. In other words either I or Jack must personally know you!

Pastor's Sermon Notes - January 28, 2007

Sermon Title: The Difficult Doctrine of the Discipline of the Disobedient, Part One:

The Requirement of Separation

Scripture Reading: Jeremiah 23
Sermon Text: Romans 16:17

Now I beseech you, brethren,

mark them which cause divisions and offences

contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned;

and avoid them.

Introduction:

Contrast to preceding context - end of salutations, no holy kiss extended to those specified here

Outline:
Part One - The Requirement of Separation - vs. 17
Part Two - The Reason for Separation - vs. 18; The Result of Separation - vs. 19

1. The Objects of Separation
them which cause divisions and offences
contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned

1) The two-fold effect of their evil influence -
them which cause divisions and offences

(1) Divisiveness

(2) Carnality

Matthew 7:15 - Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
1 Tim. 6:3-5 - [3] If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; [4] He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, [5] Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.

2) The standard they must be measured by -
contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned

Let’s talk a stroll down Memory Lane:

Galatians 1:8-9 - But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. [9] As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
2 Thes. 3:6 - Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.
2 Thes. 3:14 - And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed.
1 Tim. 1:3 - As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine,
1 Tim. 6:3-5 - [3] If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; [4] He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, [5] Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.
2 John 10 - If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:

The practical measure of doctrine -

Doctrine is practical - there can be no division between doctrine and practice - There must be a direct connection between what is taught and learned, preached and believed, and the manner of the lives we live

Why do you think folks badmouth doctrine and theology?
(1) They don’t appreciate the power of its purifying effects
(2) They want to be free from its sanctifying influence

Preaching that doesn’t get to meddling is not worthy of the name!

Sound theology is the solid foundation of a secure building!

Good doctrine is healthy medicine for a needy people!

Christ's teachings are a protective hedge against dangerous foes!

2. The Nature of Separation
mark them....and avoid them

The two negative requirements for purity in the Church

1) Awareness - Warning - Identification - mark them

Only other usages of same word:

Luke 11:35 - Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee be not darkness.
2 Cor. 4:18 - While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
Galatians 6:1 - Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
Philip. 2:4 - Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
Philip. 3:17 - Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.

How do we mark or note such a person?
compare Nathaniel Hawthorne, The Scarlet Letter
Public announcement in the Church

Letters to other churches in the area

Synonym:

2 Thes. 3:14 - And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed. [Take special notice of, "hang a sign on"!]

Examples:

John the Baptist and Christ vs. the Pharisees (Mt. 23);

Paul vs. the Galatian Judaizers (Gal. 1:6-10; 5:12) , Peter (Gal. 2:1-14), and Alexander the coppersmith (2 Tim. 4:14-15); and

John vs. Diotrophes (2 Jn. 9-10)

Also: Paul concerning the Cretians (Tit. 1:12)

2) Avoidance - Shunning - Excommunication - avoid them

Let’s take a another walk down Memory Lane:

1 Cor. 5:9-13 - [9] I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: [10] Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world. [11] But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. [12] For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? [13] But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.
Galatians 1:8-9 - But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. [9] As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
2 Thes. 3:6 - Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.
2 Thes. 3:14 - And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed.
1 Tim. 6:3-5 - [3] If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; [4] He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, [5] Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.
2 Tim. 3:5 - Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
Titus 3:10-11 - [10] A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject; [11] Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself.
2 John 10 - If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:

Why do you think folks resist doing this, oppose church discipline?
(1) False teaching, especially concerning what love is and does!
(2) Lack of personal holiness, and concern for the purity of the Church! They are out of tune with the mind of Christ!

There are only four possible approaches to church membership and discipline, and only one of them is Scriptural!

(1) Easy in - Easy out -
Result: unregenerate mixed multitude, constant church discipline, a mess, and not a New Covenant church at all!

(2) Easy in - Hard out -
Result: unregenerate mixed multitude, little or no church discipline, a social club, and not a New Covenant church at all!

Never apply the parable of the wheat and the tares (Mt.
13:24-30, 36-43) to the Church!
Remember, the field is the world (Mt. 13:38)!

(3) Hard in - Hard out -
Result: regenerate membership with a toleration of heresy and carnality, a whited sepulchre, and not a New Covenant church at all!

(4) Hard in - Easy out -
Result: regenerate church membership with Scriptural discipline, a pure church!

Discipline is one of the marks of a true Church!
Failure to obey Christ in this, to exercise church discipline, puts that church, falsely so-called, in jeopardy of being judged by Christ:
- having its candlestick removed by the Head of the Church (Rev. 2:5),
- having Christ fight against them (Rev. 2:16),
- having Christ cast them into great tribulation (Rev. 2:22),
- having Christ come on them as a thief (Rev. 3:3), or -
- having Christ vomit them out of His mouth (Rev. 3:16)!
Discipline is not an option!

What many bring up as an excuse for not doing this is actually the opposite of the truth as it is in Christ! Love should motivate us to do this, not stop us from doing so. Love for Christ, love for the church, and love for those who need to exposed and excommunicated cries out for the discipline of Christ! This must be done so that His testimony, and the unity, safety, and purity of His people may be maintained!

Study Guide on Amos, Part One

Deo volente (Lord willing), I will be preaching through the Old Testament book of Amos in the near future. Below are some things you should do to prepare yourself for our time in this book!

The following are general guidelines applicable to the study of any book of the Bible.

1. Read it in one sitting!

In the beginning of a book study it is a good idea to familiarize yourself with "the big picture" by digesting the book as a whole first. Read it in one sitting. Then do it again in another translation. Time yourself. You may be surprised how quickly you can do this if you do not stop to take notes or run down cross references. The time will come for that later. The more you do this the more you will learn of the "terrain". Then when you do dig in to the details you will have a better understanding for how these details fit together with the larger context. "Sandwich" these readings with prayer!

Recommended translations for doing this besides the King James Version are as follows: New American Standard (NASB), English Standard (ESV), New International (NIV), New Berkeley (Modern Language Bible), and New Living (NLT). Some of us will also be reading it in John Nelson Darby’s translation, the New King James (NKJV), Young’s Literal (YLT), the American Standard (ASV), the New English (NEB), and the Revised Standard (RSV). Note: These recommendations are not given as an endorsement of either the textual basis or the approach to translation of any of the above mentioned versions.

2. Memorize it!

Select some verses or passages that you have come to appreciate and treasure and commit them to memory. Add more as you grow in your appreciation for the book during your study. For example: Amos 1:2; 2:6-8, 13-16; 3:1-8, 10; 4:11-13; 5:8, 14-15, 18-20, 24; 6:1, 12-13; 7:7-9, 14-17; 8:11-12; and 9:11-15. Do this with prayer, and comtemplate ways to work these passages into your prayers.

3. Meditate on it!

As you continue to read and memorize the book spend quiet time reflecting on and absorbing what is revealed there. Your profit from this book will be in direct proportion to the amount of time you invest in this exercise! Do this prayerfully! Anything you gain is a grace gift of God, the Author of His Word!

4. Journal it!

Use your "third eye", a pen or pencil with a notepad, to record your questions and observations as you continue to read and study the book. Try to get beneath the surface, and to comprehend the flow of the book as you do this. These questions and observations may have to do with the book as a whole or with the details you are noticing as you read, memorize and meditate.

Here are some suggested questions you might consider to get you started:

a. What earthquake? (1:1)
b. What is the significance of the expression "for three...and for four"? (1:3-2:6)
c. What is "the bar of Damascus"? (1:5)
d. What is "the brotherly covenant"? (1:9)
e. What is "the wine of the condemned"? (2:8)
f. Why "like David"? Was it wrong for David to do this? (6:5)
g. Why "the house of Joseph" (5:6), "the remnant of Joseph" (5:15), and "the affliction of Joseph" (6:6)? Why not Jacob (3:13; 9:8), or Israel (5:1, 3, 4, 25; 6:14; 7:10; 9:9)? And along the same lines, why "the high places of Isaac" (7:9), and "the house of Isaac" (7:16), rather than Judah or Israel?

5. Use your tools!

a. Bible Dictionary

Now comes the time when you should check out the nouns in Amos such as the names of people and geographical place names in a good Bible Dictionary like Zondervan’s, Unger’s, or the New Bible Dictionary. These would include, but not be limited to, the following (from the first three chapters of this book): Amos, Tekoa, Israel, Uzziah, Judah, Jereboam, Joash, Zion, Jerusalem, Carmel, Damascus, Gilead, Hazael, Benhadad, Aven, Eden, Syria, Kir, Gaza, Edom, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Ekron, Philistines, Tyrus, Teman, Bozrah, Ammon, Rabbah, Moab, Kirioth, Amorite, Egypt, Nazarites, Samaria, and Bethel.

b. English Dictionary

If you come across any words that are unfamiliar to you a good English dictionary is also a helpful resource. Remember, "the beginning of understanding is precise definition"!

c. Concordance

In order to bring the teaching of the rest of Scripture to bear on passages in Amos a concordance like Strong’s or Young’s will connect you to other contexts where the same words are used. Scripture interprets Scripture, so this will shed light on what you are reading, and help you to add to your understanding.

6. Check out other resources!

Bible atlases, encyclopedias, introductions to the Old Testament, study Bibles, commentaries and journal articles all contain information that you might find valuable in your study. Resources like these may lead you to answers to your questions, may correct some of your initial observations, or may give you food for thought in directions you had not yet considered.

Pastor's Sermon Notes - January 21, 2007

Sermon Title: The Yearbook of the First Baptist Church of Rome
Scripture Reading: Romans 16:1-16

Sermon Text: Romans 16:5b-7

[5b] Salute my wellbeloved Epaenetus,

who is the firstfruits of Achaia unto Christ.
[6] Greet Mary, who bestowed much labour on us.
[7] Salute Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen, and my fellowprisoners,
who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.

Introduction:

It is nice to have a church directory which includes snapshots of the folks in the church and their families. Such a directory doesn’t tell you much about these people though.

What does your spiritual snapshot look like?

What if the church had a yearbook like many high schools and colleges do?
What kind of sayings would be under your picture?

Note the possible historical progression in the passage, along with the decreasing degree of familiarity. Note also how many of those who had been with Paul ended up in Rome.

Today we will only be considering Romans 16:5b-7

Outline:
I. The Firstfruits [16:5b]
II. The Friend Indeed [16:6]
III. The Fellow Prisoners [16:7]

I. The Firstfruits - Epaenetus (16:5b)

Salute my wellbeloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia unto Christ.

1 Cor. 16:15 - I beseech you, brethren, (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints,)

There is a harvest going on!

Imagine yourself in pioneer missionary work, and after laboring long and hard to get to the field, and then sowing the seed there, what excitement and glorious emotions you would experience at seeing your first convert added to the Body of Christ by the Spirit of God!

II. The Friend Indeed - Mary (16:6)

Greet Mary, who bestowed much labour on us.

Jesus, what a Friend for sinners!

Mt. 11:19 - The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children.
Jn. 13:1 - Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.
Jn. 15:14 - Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.

You and I need friends who will step in when we need them, and "bestow labor" on us.

Proverbs 17:17 A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
Eccl. 4:9-10 - Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. [10] For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.


III. The Fellow Prisoners - Andronicus and Junia (16:7)

Salute Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen, and my fellowprisoners,
who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.

1. my kinsmen

Rom. 16:21 - Timotheus my workfellow, and Lucius, and Jason, and Sosipater, my kinsmen, salute you.
Rom. 9:3 - For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:

2. my fellowprisoners

Col. 4:10 - Aristarchus my fellowprisoner saluteth you,
Phile. 1:23 - There salute thee Epaphras, my fellowprisoner in Christ Jesus;

3. of note among the apostles

Acts 1:13 - And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James.
Acts 1:26 - And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.
1 Cor. 15:5-9 - And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: [6] After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. [7] After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. [8] And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. [9] For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

An apostle is defined in Scripture as one who had been with Christ, and been an eye-witness of the Resurrection. Despite the claims of some today, there have been no apostles since the First Century. Therefore, any claims to possess the gift of apostleship, the office of an apostle, the apostolic sign gifts, or the ability to transmit those gifts are spurious, unscriptural, and impossible!

4. who also were in Christ before me

Gal. 1:22 - And was unknown by face unto the churches of Judaea which were in Christ:
2 Cor. 5:17 - Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
2 Cor. 12:2 - I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven.
Rom. 8:11-14 - But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. [12] Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. [13] For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. [14] For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

"Inness" is the essence of Christianity under the New Covenant. Being "in Christ", and being indwelt by Christ (Him being in us), i.e. our union with Christ, are realities, truths, that characterize our relationship as Christians, and permeate Pauline theology. 2 Cor. 3 marks this reality out as a distinctive of the New Covenant believer's experience, and significantly differentiates this Covenant from the Old Covenant. Any emphasis on externals contradicts this reality, and violates the essence of the New Covenant.

Conclusion:

What does your spiritual snapshot look like?

What caption could be put under your photo in the "yearbook" of the Lord?

Welcome to Wayside Gospel Chapel

Welcome to the blog for Wayside Gospel Chapel. This blog, though open to any and all who wish to view it, has been created primarily for the members of Wayside Gospel Chapel. On this blog you will find sermon notes, songs sung, prayer requests, etc. I trust that you will take advantage of this blog and post comments often.