Emory Baptist Church

Finally Some Good Teaching...

Jesus is Calling; Are You Answering?

I want you to take your Bibles and turn to Mark 1.  This morning we will be looking at verses 14-20 of this first chapter and the beginning of Jesus’ earthly ministry.  I invite you stand for the reading of God’s Word.  God bless you, and you may be seated.

 

This morning I want to share a message with you entitled Jesus is Calling; Are You Answering?  I can’t remember when caller ID began, but it can be a great resource whether you are using it on your home phone or on your mobile phone.  You know what I mean right?  You get a call.  You wait to see who it is.  Then you decide whether or not you want to take the call.  If yes, you answer it.  If not, you wait to see if they leave a voicemail.  We all do it.  If it is Christy, I always answer.  If it is anybody else, I probably will answer, but maybe not.

 

What about when Jesus is calling?  Do you always answer?  Or, do you see if he leaves a voicemail?  Today, Jesus is calling.  He is calling some to be saved, and he is calling others to be disciples. 

 

 

Exposition

Take your Bibles and look at verse 14.  We see that after John the Baptist had been arrested and thrown in jail, Jesus went to Galilee preaching the gospel of God.  So we know that Jesus’ earthly ministry was first of all composed of preaching.  What did He preach?  He preached the gospel of God.  What does that mean?  It means He was issuing the call of salvation. 

 

You can see in verse 15 that the word “saying” is used in place of “preaching” that was used in the previous verse.  Jesus is preaching or saying, and His message is made up of two parts.  The first part of His message is that “the time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand.”  What does that mean?  It means that the promised Messiah is here.  He has arrived.  You have been waiting for Him and looking for Him, and now He is finally here.  It is also means that your opportunity to respond is now.  Time is running out, and you don’t want to be left behind.

 

As a result, the second part of Jesus’ message is repent and believe.  For simplicity sake, let’s break this message down into two parts even though they actually are one.  The only requirement for salvation is belief in Jesus Christ, but it must be a belief in Jesus Christ that changes your life.  In other words, salvation requires repentance and belief.  These two cannot be separated.  They are different sides of the same coin. 

 

When you talk about repent, many people immediately turn off their ears, because their experience with repentance has to do with a holier than thou hypocrite telling them they need to turn or burn.  How dare anyone tell you you need to change?  Well, from my lips to your ears, Jesus said you need to change!

 

Another reason we shut down when someone talks about repentance is because we have a shallow view of sin.  We don’t really believe that God hates any and every sin. 

 

Finally, we shut down when someone talks about repentance because we have a shallow view of repentance.  We have heard it so many times, we have become callused to it, and it doesn’t mean anything to us anymore.

 

I want you to understand this morning that repentance does not mean the changing of some external characteristics or actions, but it means a change of everything on the inside and outside.  It is a change of life.  Furthermore, it is essential to the gospel and essential to salvation. 

 

I want to take just a moment and remind you of prominence of repentance in the New Testament.  The following are those who preached repentance:

 

 

• John the Baptist, Matthew 3:2, 2 and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!”
• Jesus Christ, Luke 13:3, 3 I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.
• Twelve disciples, Mark 6:12, 12 So they went out and preached that people should repent.
• Peter, Acts 3:19, 19 Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.
• Paul/God, Acts 26:20, 20 but declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance.

 

As you can see, repentance is essential to the gospel of God and the New Testament.

 

Of what are to repent?  If you have never received Jesus Christ, you are to repent of your rejection of the Messiah.  You are to repent of your sin of trying to get to heaven on your own. 

 

If you are saved, we must repent of our materialism, and our adulteries, and our pride, and our gossip, and our envy, and our jealousy, and our lying.  We too must repent of our sin.

 

The other part of this second aspect of Jesus’ message is belief.  We usually don’t find this to be too difficult.  We must believe that we are sinners.  We must believe that Jesus died on the cross for our sins.  We must believe that Jesus is the only way to heaven. 

 

Therefore, again, salvation is belief in Jesus that changes your life.  In other words, salvation is repentance and belief in the Messiah who has come. 

 

There are those of you here this morning, whose lives have never changed.  You may have believed, but it wasn’t life-changing belief.  If I were a betting man, I would bet that you don’t have a place in heaven as we speak.  Jesus is calling today with the call of salvation.  Will you answer the call?

 

 

The second call that Jesus is issuing is the call to discipleship.  We see that in verses 16-20.  In verse 16, Jesus encountered Simon or Peter and Andrew, his brother.  They were fishermen and fishing at the time.  Jesus called them to discipleship.  He said to them, “Follow Me.” 

 

Now I want you to see something very interesting.  The call to be a disciple of Christ means that you will be a fisher of men.  There are no two ways about it.  It doesn’t have anything to do with the type of personality you have or what you are comfortable with or about your amount of courage.  Inherent in the call of discipleship is the act of becoming a fisher of men.

 

Brothers and sisters, if God has saved you, He has also equipped you to share the gospel.  It may take the form of sharing a certain presentation or your salvation testimony or a gospel tract.  That process may start by you inviting someone to church or praying with a waiter or waitress as a restaurant.  Regardless, to be saved includes being fishers of men.

 

Let me now go back to the text and give you three characteristics of discipleship.  First of all, it means immediately.  Notice that Mark used that word twice to describe the reaction of these two sets of brothers.  Peter and Andrew immediately left their nets and followed him.  James and John immediately left their father and fishing and followed him. 

 

In the OT, we see this with Abraham.  Turn to Genesis 22:1-3.  God called Abraham to sacrifice his only son.  If Abraham was like Christians today, he would have told God that he needed to pray about it and get back with him.  You don’t need to pray about being obedient.  Just do it, and that is what Abraham did.  He got up first thing the next morning and off he went doing exactly what God told him to do.  It has been well said that delayed obedience is disobedience.  Discipleship means acting just as soon as Jesus calls.

 

Secondly, discipleship might mean leaving your present circumstances.  For Peter and Andrew, it meant leaving their job.  Notice that we don’t any record of them asking a lot of questions or lining up stuff for their future.  They just left.  They trusted Jesus and honored His authority in their lives and answered the call lock, stock and barrel. 

 

Some of you are saying that is not realistic and wouldn’t happen today.  You are right, and is it any wonder that our churches and our country are in the shape we are in?  I would suggest it is because all to often Christians are issued a call for discipleship and they simply look at the caller ID and let it go to voicemail. 

 

In Luke 9:57-62, we see Jesus issuing a call to discipleship, and notice His words to those who don’t come immediately leaving their present circumstances. 

 

Luke 9:57-62, 57 Now it happened as they journeyed on the road, that someone said to Him, “Lord, I will follow You wherever You go.”  58 And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.”  59 Then He said to another, “Follow Me.”  But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.”  60 Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God.”  61 And another also said, “Lord, I will follow You, but let me first go and bid them farewell who are at my house.”  62 But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”

 

Is Jesus calling you to discipleship this morning?  Is he calling you to leave your present situation?  That may mean leaving a lifestyle situation or a work situation or whatever.  When He calls, won’t you answer?

 

The final aspect of answering the call to discipleship might be the most difficult.  It involves leaving family or friends or any relationship.  You see in verse 20, James and John left their father.  They left the family business.  They left their security.

 

In your relationship with Jesus Christ, your family can so many times make you.  However, so many times they can also break you.  I’m going to make a pretty strong statement and some of you aren’t going to like, but here goes.  It is a sin to be more loyal to your family than to the Lord Jesus Christ.  Heaven help us! 

 

Listen to the words of Christ in Matthew 10:34-39:

 

Matthew 10:34-39, 34 “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. 35 For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’; 36 and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’ 37 He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. 38 And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. 39 He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.

There is only one person who is worthy of your worship and it isn’t your spouse or your son or your daughter or your parents.  It is the Lord Jesus.  What this means is that some of husbands need to say some difficult things to your wives, and some of you parents need to say some difficult things to your children, and just remember, the call to discipleship is to the call to put your relationship with Christ above your relationship with any other human being.

 

 

Conclusion

So what about you this morning?  Is Jesus calling you to salvation?  Is He calling you to repent and believe for the very first time? 

 

Is He calling you to discipleship?  I challenge you to respond immediately to change a lifestyle situation, to change a relationship, to follow through with believer’s baptism, to join this church, to rededicate your life or whatever He is calling you to do. 

 

Jesus is calling. Are you answering?

 

 

The Temptation of Christ...

I want you to take your Bibles this morning and find two passages of Scripture.  The first is Mark 1:12-13, and the second is Matthew 4:1-11.  Our main text is this Mark passage as we continue in our new study that we began last Sunday.  However, we find a fuller version of this experience in Jesus’ life from Matthew’s gospel.  Now, I invite you to stand for the reading of God’s word.

 

 

Exposition

As I mentioned earlier, our original text comes from Mark 1.  However, Mark doesn’t provide as many details for this event or experience as Matthew or Luke does.  Therefore, we will turn to Matthew’s gospel in just a minute. 

 

In Mark’s text, I want you to see three application points from this text for our lives, and here is the first:

 

1. As with Jesus, God allows temptations in our lives to grow us.

 

Notice that verse 12 says that the Holy Spirit drove Jesus into the wilderness.  However, in verse 13, we see that it was Satan who tempted Jesus. 

 

This word for “drove” means that it was “divine necessity.”  In other words, it was part of God’s plan for His Son.  The NASB uses the impelled Jesus to go into the wilderness or the desert.  The KJV says driveth.  The NIV says sent.  The NLT says compelled. 

 

How do we explain this reality that God drove Jesus by divine necessity but it was Satan who did the tempting? The best explanation that I can give you is that when it comes to temptation, God allows Satan to tempt us. 

Satan has limited power and limited control.  The devil only does what he has been given permission to do.  We see this in the book of Job when Satan came to God looking for someone to tempt.  God doesn’t tempt.  Satan tempts.

 

Also, please understand and remember that in the midst of EVERY temptation, there is an opportunity for you to grow and your faith strengthened and an opportunity for you to fail and your faith weakened. 

 

1 Corinthians 10:13, 13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

 

Regardless of what your temptation is, there is always the opportunity to be obedient.  Yours maybe alcohol or food or materialism or pornography or cigarettes or gossip or whatever.  There is ALWAYS an escape.

 

 

2. Satan is a real adversary who is daily opposing every believer.

 

Another truth from this Mark text is that Satan or the devil is a real person.  Unfortunately, there are many professing Christians who don’t believe in a real, literal, personal devil.  If you say you believe the Bible, you must believe in a real devil.  And if you say you’ve never seen Satan, it might be that you are walking the same direction he is.  In Isaiah 14:12-15, we a brief OT commentary on how Satan came to be.

 

Isaiah 14:12-15, 12 “How you are fallen from heaven,

O Lucifer, son of the morning!  How you are cut down to the ground, You who weakened the nations!  13 For you have said in your heart: ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation On the farthest sides of the north; 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.’  15 Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, To the lowest depths of the Pit.

 

Now let’s go the Matthew text.  We see again from Matthew 4:1 that Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness or the desert and was tempted by Satan or the devil. 

 

Matthew 4:1-11, Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry. 3 Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.”  4 But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’”  5 Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, 6 and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written: ‘He shall give His angels charge over you,’ and, ‘In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone.’”  7 Jesus said to him, “It is written again, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’”  8 Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.” 10 Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’” 11 Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him.

 

In verse 2, we see another dynamic to the temptation of Christ.  He fasted for forty days and forty nights.  That is almost incomprehensible, and there is no reason to believe that this was anything other than a complete fast meaning no food and no water.  Therefore, and obviously, Jesus became extremely hungry.

 

In verse 3, Satan entered the picture, and he came to tempt Jesus.  The first temptation that we see is the temptation of provision.  As I said earlier, Jesus was extremely hungry.  Therefore, Satan propositioned Him to turn some stones or rocks into bread and feed Himself.  Jesus refused.  He responded to Satan by quoting Deuteronomy 8:3, Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. 

 

Has Satan ever presented you with the temptation of provision?  Maybe he did it with food or finances or intimacy with your spouse.  Regardless, has Satan ever tempted you to satisfy your human desires rather than be obedient to God?  I want you to hear me this morning.  God’s way is always better than Satan’s way regardless of how painful it is for you at the time. 

 

God has told us that he will meet all of our needs according to his riches in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19).  You don’t ever have to give in to the temptation of provision.

 

In verses 5-7, we see the second temptation.  Satan took Jesus from the wilderness into Jerusalem and had Him stand on the pinnacle or top of the temple.  He then presented Him with the temptation of protection.  He, as the Son of God, was to throw Himself down and see if the angels wouldn’t catch and rescue Him just before He hit the ground keeping Him completely safe. 

 

In response, He responded to Satan by quoting from Deuteronomy 6:16, Do not put the Lord your God to the test. 

 

Has Satan ever tempted you with temptation of protection?  Don’t be bold with your faith.  God won’t protect you.  Don’t live according to the Bible.  God won’t protect you.  God has promised never to leave or forsake those that are His.

 

The final temptation that we see is the temptation of prestige.  Satan presented Jesus with the opportunity to have all the kingdoms of the world and their glory, but Jesus said, “Go, Satan.”  He then quoted Deuteronomy 6:13, You shall worship the Lord God, and serve him only.” 

 

Like Jesus, I know Satan has presented many of you with this third temptation as well.  You can have all this money or all this fame or all this fortune or all these luxuries if you will just sell your soul to the devil.  Hear me this morning.  Nothing the devil has to offer is worth the hell that it will cost you. 

 

The Scripture then tells us that the devil left Jesus, and the angels came to minister to him. 

 

 

3. Angels are ministers to the body of Christ.

 

They ministered to Jesus, and they will minister to us perhaps without even us knowing it. 

 

Hebrews 1:14, 14 Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?

 

Before I close, I want you to think back just a minute in looking at these temptations in another perspective. 

 

Have you ever noticed the similarities between the temptation in the wilderness and the temptation in the garden?  Satan said to Eve that you may eat of any tree.  He said to Jesus that you may eat by changing stones to bread.  He said to Eve that you will not die.  He said to Jesus that you will not hurt your foot.  He said to Eve that you will be like God.  He said to Jesus that you will have all the world’s kingdoms.  I say all that to say that Satan is usually up to his same old tricks.

 

 

Conclusion

The main point of this text is that Jesus was victorious over temptation, and for those who are in Christ, we can be victorious as well. The keys are God’s presence, God’s Word, and God’s church. 

 

As for God’s presence, the German Reformer, Martin Luther, was asked how to overcome the devil.  “Well, when he comes knocking upon the door of my heart, and asks, ‘Who lives here?’ the dear Lord Jesus goes to the door says, ‘Martin Luther used to live here, but he has moved out. Now I live here.’”  Where God is present, Satan cannot be.

 

Second is God’s Word. On three different occasions, Satan presented Jesus with a temptation, and on three different occasions, Jesus responded by quoting the Word of God from Deuteronomy.  Do you remember what the Psalmist said in Psalm 119:11?  Your word I have hidden in my heart that I might not sin against you. 

 

Know God’s Word and use it when the devil accuses and opposes you.

 

Finally, don’t divorce yourself from God’s Church.  The devil will always try to isolate you, but when you stay connected to God’s Church and your brothers and sisters in God’s Church, it is much harder for him to do.  That is why it is important to surround yourself with God’s people on Sundays and Wednesdays, but also through the week. 

 

My invitation this morning has two parts.  Make sure Jesus is living in your heart by calling on Him to save you and surrendering your life to Him. 

 

Secondly, if you are struggling with nagging sins or habitual sins like cigarettes or alcohol or pornography or cussing or anger.  the power of Jesus Christ is available to you if you know him as Lord and Savior.  My encouragement to you is to start new today.  Go to God confessing any known sin, and then take a long serious look at your life and make sure you are taking in God’s Word and connected to God’s Church.

The Baptizer and Baptism...

This morning, I want you to take your Bibles and find the second book in our New Testament, the gospel of Mark.  I will be reading Mark 1:1-11, and I invite you to stand for the reading of God’s word.  God bless you, and you may be seated.

 

Well, we have begun a new year, and on Sunday mornings, we are beginning a new book of the Bible.  I want to give you some brief introductory comments about Mark’s gospel and then share with you a message entitled The Baptizer and Baptism. 

 

Mark’s gospel is obviously second in our New Testaments.  However, it actually might be the first gospel that was written.  Regardless, it was one of the earlier ones written possibly being dated in the 50’s AD.  It was penned by John Mark. 

 

John Mark is probably best remembered, outside of a gospel writer, as having a sharp disagreement with Paul.  As a result, Paul refused to take him on his second missionary journey. 

Even though John Mark penned this gospel account, it was more than likely dictated to him or at least the experiences of Peter.  If John Mark did not actually write down exactly what Peter told him, he at least remembered well what Peter had told him.  Therefore, even though the second gospel bears Mark’s name, it is from Peter’s vantage point. 

 

The final truth that I want to share with you is that Mark was written primarily to Gentiles, specifically Roman readers.  Whereas, Matthew’s gospel was written for a Jewish Audience, Mark wrote for a Gentile audience of which you and I would be included.

 

 

1. The Baptizer who was John

 

Now, let us consider the Baptizer and baptism.  Actually, before we get there, consider verse 1.  It is interesting to note that Mark began his gospel without including any details or mention about Jesus before His baptism.  He doesn’t mention His parents or His birth or His childhood or anything else.  That doesn’t mean all those truths aren’t important.  It simply means that Mark and Peter chose to include other vital and important truths.

 

John the Baptist or John the Baptizer is the focal point beginning verse 2, and we see that his life and ministry are fulfillments of OT prophecy.  Marked quoted from Malachi 3:1 and Isaiah 40:3 in confirming that John the Baptizer was the messenger to come before the Messiah, and he will prepare his way.  His message will be one of repentance and straight paths and clean living.

 

Let’s look more in depth at John the Baptizer, the messenger, his message, and his method.  First, who was this messenger?  By modern accounts, we would consider the Baptizer a strange and peculiar fellow.  Verse 6 tells us that he wore camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist.  Mark also told us that his diet consisted of locusts or grasshoppers and wild honey.  Again, to us, John the Baptist would have been a bird of a different feather, but remember he was the God-ordained messenger preparing the way for the Messiah.

 

John the Baptist is often seen or pictured as this hard-nosed crazy guy who preached against sin but didn’t have any compassion.  Actually, the Baptizer was a very humble man, and you see his humility in verse 7 as he always remembered his condition in light of Christ. 

 

Mark 1:7, 7 And he preached, saying, “There comes One after me who is mightier than I, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to stoop down and loose.

 

He said that he was not even worthy to bend down and untie Jesus’ sandal.  It was also John the Baptist who spoke in John 3:30.

 

John 3:30,   30 He must increase, but I must decrease.

 

Secondly, what was his message?  Simply put, his message was repentance.  Repentance is a word that means to change direction or change your mind or change your life. 

 

That was also the message of Jesus Christ.  The very first instance that we have of Jesus preaching is in Matthew 4:17, and what was his message?  Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. 

 

Matthew 4:17, 17 From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

 

Repentance is a great message here at the beginning of 2019.  For those who are lost, repent, and turn your life toward Christ and receiving him as Lord and Savior.  For those who are saved, repent, and turn from your sins and the ways of the world and more toward the ways of God.  Again, John’s message and Jesus’ message and my message for today is repentance.

 

Thirdly, what was his method or methods?  I first want you to see that the Baptizer was a preacher.  In verse 4, he was preaching, and in verse 7, he was preaching.  Matthew’s gospel tells us that he preached to anyone who would listen, and he didn’t waver in his preaching regardless of who was in the congregation.  He didn’t mind preaching to the Pharisees.  He didn’t mind preaching to the Sadducees. 

 

However, not only was John a preacher, he perhaps is better knowing for being the Baptist or the Baptizer, and his preaching and his baptism are directly related.  John preached a baptism of repentance according to verse 4.  We see from verses 5 and 8 that in response to John’s preaching, that many (all the county of Judea…and all the people of Jerusalem) were coming to him to hear him preach and then be baptized in the water of the Jordan River as they confessed their sins. 

 

Now, I need to try to answer some questions regarding John’s theology and John’s baptism.  Did John believe that baptism could save?  No, he did not.  Look at verse 4.  It wasn’t the baptism of verse 4 that resulted in the forgiveness of sins.  It was the repentance, and that message is the message that I am preaching today. 

 

It isn’t saying a sinner’s prayer that saves you or walking an isle that saves you or being baptized that saves you or joining a church that saves you.  It is repentance and faith in Christ alone that saves you, and if you have never repented of your sins and turned to the ways of Christ, you are not saved and can’t be saved until you do just that.  

 

Another question that often comes up is how is John’s baptism different from Jesus’ baptism.  First of all, John’s baptism was physical with water.  Jesus’ baptism was and is spiritual with the Holy Spirit and your heart. 

 

John’s baptism looked forward.  Jesus’ baptism looks back to the life of Christ and the coming of the Holy Spirit.

 

One final question is how is John’s baptism different from believer’s baptism?  Again, John’s baptism looked forward to the Messiah.  Believer’s baptism looks back to the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ and the spiritual death, burial, and resurrection of the individual being baptized, and that is the Baptizer: the messenger, his message, and his methods.

 

 

1. Baptism of Jesus.

 

Now, we turn our attention to verses 9-11 and to baptism and specifically the baptism of Jesus Christ.  We see in verse 9 that Jesus was baptized by John even though according to Matthew’s gospel that John originally rejected this idea.  In verse 10 as Jesus came up out of the water, the Holy Spirit descended upon him, and in verse 11, God the Father announced that this Jesus was and is God’s beloved son in which he is well-pleased.  In these three verses, you a see another great picture of tri-unity or Trinity of God.  There is one God in three persons.  There are three persons in one God.

 

The next question that is on many minds is why was Jesus baptized.  Let me suggest at least three reasons.  First, Jesus was baptized out of obedience to God’s complete plan and the part that John the Baptist played in it.  Second, it was an act of identification with the nation of Israel and humanity as sinners.  He would be the one to offer salvation to Israel and the world through his death and resurrection, and therefore, he would leave an example for sinful man to follow in his steps.  Finally, it was act of initiation into his gospel ministry.  He accepted his roles as Messiah and Savior and Lord, and he would fulfill them. 

 

I now want to look at the issue of baptism and answer three questions.  First of all, when is a person to be baptized?  Many churches today baptize individuals as infants.  However, is that the pattern of the New Testament? 

 

What about Acts 8:34-38? 

 

34 So the eunuch answered Philip and said, “I ask you, of whom does the prophet say this, of himself or of some other man?” 35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him. 36 Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, “See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?”  37 Then Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.”  And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”  38 So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him.

 

According to verse 37, the Ethiopian Eunuch believed and then was baptized. 

 

In Acts 9:18, Paul first believed and then was baptized. 

 

18 Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized.

 

In Acts 16:31-34, the Philippian jailer believed and then was baptized. 

 

31 So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” 32 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. 33 And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized. 34 Now when he had brought them into his house, he set food before them; and he rejoiced, having believed in God with all his household.

 

Finally, in Acts 18:8, we have the example of a Jew named Crispus who believed and then was baptized. 

 

8 Then Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his household. And many of the Corinthians, hearing, believed and were baptized.

 

My point is this.  There is a biblical order that is set forth, and that order is belief, which includes repentance and faith, then baptism.  In the New Testament, you don’t ever see baptism then belief.  Therefore, the pattern of the Bible is believer’s baptism not infant baptism or another baptism.

 

The second question answers why should believers be baptized.  First and foremost is because Jesus himself was baptized.  He wasn’t baptized because he believed, but he was baptized nonetheless.  Secondly, Jesus commands it according to Matthew 28:19.  The Great Commission means baptizing them or converts in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

 

19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

 

The final question is how should a believer be baptized.  Is pouring the biblical model?  Is sprinkling the biblical model?  Is immersion the biblical model? 

 

Consider the evidence.  The word baptize literally means to plunge or immerse.  Again, notice the description of Jesus’ baptism.  Mark 1:10 speaks of him coming up out of the water.  That is not possible with pouring or sprinkling. 

 

In Acts 8:38, Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch both went down into the water and both came up out of the water.  The biblical mode of baptism is immersion.

 

 

Conclusion

My invitation this morning is two-fold.  First of all, I am issuing a call for repentance.  If you have never received Christ as your Lord and Savior and do not have assurance of where you will spend an eternity when you die, God, through His word, is calling you to repent and believe and be saved this morning for the very first time. 

 

Secondly, if you are here this morning and are a believer already, but you are living in sin, God is calling you to repentance, turning from your sin and to Him and His ways.  On the first Sunday of a New Year, He wants a new you! 

 

The second part of my invitation is for you to examine your own baptism experience.  Does it follow the biblical model?  Were you baptized after salvation as a believer by immersion to demonstrate your new life?  If not, I am calling you today to come forward and begin the process of making that right. 

 

Make sure that you were baptized as a believer after salvation by immersion.  That is the biblical way.  That is God way. 

 

If your baptism experience is right and God is leading you to join this church, today’s invitation is for you as well.  The doors of church membership are open this morning.  If God is leading you this morning to make a public decision with your life, you come during this time of response.

 

What is a Daughter-In-Law Worth?

Hope for the Hopeless...

Introduction

This morning, I want to share a message with you entitled, “Hope for the Hopeless.”  Many folks in our world today and maybe even in our church this morning feel like their situation is hopeless.  Your situation may be health related or loved-ones related or job related.  Regardless, you feel hopeless.

 

Where do we look for hope?  Some look to family, but family will disappoint.  Some look to finances, but finances will discourage.  Some look to favor.  Our hope today is often tied up in likes and retweets and followers.  However, favor will disappear. 

 

As we continue in our study of Ruth, I want to show you a picture of hope for the hopeless.  In Ruth 1, Naomi and Ruth could be seen as hopeless.  Evil was dominating because there was no king in Israel.  Nature was destroying in the form of a 10-year famine, and loved ones were dying.  Naomi lost her husband and her two sons of which one was married to Ruth.  Therefore, Ruth lost her husband too. 

 

At the end of chapter 1, God brought Naomi back to Bethlehem, and Ruth went with her, and it was the beginning of barley harvest.  That lets us know that good is coming.  There is hope for the hopeless.

 

In chapter 2, Ruth met Boaz, and hope for hopeless begins to materialize.  The grace and favor that Boaz gave to Ruth and Naomi foreshadowed and was symbolic of the grace and favor that God gives to anyone who receives His Son, Jesus Christ, as Lord and Savior. 

 

 

1. A Certain Plan: Ruth 3:1-4

 

In these first two verses, we see that Naomi recognized a need that Ruth had.  Ruth had the need of a husband.  Ruth had the need to be cared for and loved.  Naomi described this need as “security.” 

 

Related to this need of a husband is Ruth’s deceased husband’s need.  Mahlon had a need for someone to carry on his legacy since he and Ruth didn’t have a son.  He had a need for a relative to father a son with Ruth to carry on his name and family history.

 

Another need we see from the text is Ruth’s need for happiness or sense of wellness.  Most certainly this would come with a new husband and parenting an heir to her family name. 

 

Beginning in verse three, Naomi outlined a certain plan that would bring hope to the hopeless so Ruth and Boaz’s relationship could continue to progress.  She was to take a bath, anoint herself, put on her best clothes and go find Boaz.  She was to wait for him to finish eating and drinking and after he goes to sleep, lay down beside him. 

 

Naomi outlined a certain plan to bring hope to the hopeless, and God has outlined a certain plan for you to bring hope to the hopeless, and it is called the Bible. 

 

Yes, the Bible can give hope to your hopeless family situation.  The Bible can give hope to your hopeless financial situation.  The Bible can give hope to your hopeless favor situation.

 

And hope for the hopeless begins with a certain plan.

 

 

1. A Submissive Posture, Ruth 3:5-8

 

Beginning in verse 5, Ruth’s response is worth noting.  Remember that Ruth had every reason to feel hopeless, but with Naomi’s plan, she began to have hope for her situation. 

 

Consequently, notice Ruth’s posture started with obedience.  In verse 5, she told Naomi that she would do all of her certain plan, and in verse 6, we see that Ruth did all of her certain plan.  Ruth was obedient. 

 

Brothers and sisters, make sure that in the midst of your hopelessness that you don’t walk away from God’s plan but remain committed to obeying God and His Word.  Obedience and bearing fruit as a follower of Christ must be at the top of our priority list if we are going to find hope for the hopeless.

 

Notice also that Ruth’s posture included making herself vulnerable to Boaz in verse 7.  In this text, according to what goes on in our world in the 21^st century, this may all sound somewhat suspect, but bear with me.  Ruth waited for Boaz to go to sleep and then went to lie down at his feet.  This verse says she came softly.  She didn’t come demanding or announcing her entitlement.  She came vulnerable because she trusted Naomi’s plan.

 

Thirdly, as a part of her submissive posture, Ruth not only was obedient and vulnerable, but she was surrendered.  Verses 7-8 tell us that Ruth lay down at Boaz’s feet.  She wasn’t standing, but she got low.  She had surrendered to Boaz and whatever he might do to her and for her.

 

Even though all of this interaction might sound strange to our 21^st century ears, you can’t point to any place in this text and find immorality.  However, Ruth’s submissive posture was one of obedience, vulnerability, and surrender as she sought to follow Naomi’s certain plan.

 

 

• A Specific Provider, Ruth 3:9-17

 

In verse 9, Ruth indirectly proposed marriage to Boaz, and Boaz agreed so that he was willing to become her kinsman-redeemer or her special provider. 

 

“Kinsman” meant relative or family member.  “Redeemer” meant to buy or purchase or pay for or provide.  Boaz would be Ruth’s kinsman-redeemer or her special provider which brings us to the topic of levirate marriage. 

 

In the Old Testament, levirate marriage took place when a man died with no male children like Mahlon and Chilion did.  As a result, his brother or another relative was to marry his widow and father a son for the deceased brother.  In short, it was the practice of raising up a son for a deceased relative.  This is exactly the context when Jesus was questioned in Matthew 22:23-28.

 

23 The same day the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Him and asked Him, 24 saying: “Teacher, Moses said that if a man dies, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife and raise up offspring for his brother. 25 Now there were with us seven brothers. The first died after he had married, and having no offspring, left his wife to his brother. 26 Likewise the second also, and the third, even to the seventh. 27 Last of all the woman died also. 28 Therefore, in the resurrection, whose wife of the seven will she be? For they all had her.”

 

The kinsman-redeemer had specific responsibilities.  He was to redeem property: the kinsman acted on behalf of an impoverished relative to purchase and return the land the poor man or woman was forced to sell. 

 

He was to redeem persons: the kinsman redeemed a relative who was forced to sell herself into slavery.

 

He was to redeem blood or justice: the kinsman acted as an avenger.  When a relative of his was murdered, as the kinsman-redeemer, he was to avenge the death.  It was his duty to protect the honor of the family and exact vengeance.

 

The kinsman-redeemer also needed specific qualifications.    He must be related by blood.  He must be able to pay the price.  He must be willing to redeem.  Boaz would become Ruth’s kinsman-redeemer. 

 

Brothers and sisters, we have a kinsman-redeemer today, and his name is Jesus Christ.  His is related to us by blood because he was not only the Son of God but also the Son of man.  He is able to pay the price because of His sinless life.  He was willing to redeem as evidenced by His voluntary death on the cross.

 

 

Conclusion

If the hopeless is going to find hope, and we have a certain plan and a submissive posture and a specific provider, what else do we need?

 

We need a special patience.  After the arrangement of levirate marriage was set in motion, Boaz gave Ruth a large quantity of barley for her and her mother-in-law to last them some time, and Ruth returned to Naomi in verses 14-17.

 

Verse 18 shows us the need for special patience.  Naomi told Ruth to sit still or wait or be patient.

 

Brothers and sisters, when we are hopeless, it is not in our nature to sit still or wait or be patient, but we must and as we wait, trust God to provide through His Son, our specific provider. 

 

Where are looking for hope this morning?  My invitation is for you to look to Jesus Christ, who is the hope for whatever is your hopelessness this morning. 

 

What Does That Church Believe: Catholics?

Where did they come from?

• Roman Catholics believe in an unbroken continuity from the early New Testament church to modern Catholicism.  Peter is believed to be the first Pope of Rome (Matthew 16:18).  However, there is no historical evidence to this assertion as well as no evidence of Peter ever having been to Rome.
• Roman Catholic belief about the unbroken continuity is very similar to historic and traditional Churches of Christ and Landmark Baptists. 

 

Where did the Pope come from?

• In its beginnings, individual churches were led by elders.  Bishops were in authority over a particular city and all of the elders in that city.  A bishop became prominent when his city became prominent such as Alexandria, Antioch, Rome, and Carthage. 
• Leo the Great (440-461) perfected the theory of papal power over other churches.
• Gregory the Great (590-604) may be considered the first of the absolute popes.
• The Roman Catholic hierarchy includes: pope, members of the college of cardinals (70), archbishops presiding over one or more dioceses, bishops, and priests.
• As successor to the apostle Peter, the pope exercises authority over the 3200+ bishops in the church.  When he speaks ex cathedra on issues pertaining to faith and morals, he is believed to be infallible (Romans 3:23) and considered as the third source of authority with the Bible and tradition (teachings of the apostles apart from the Bible).

 

What are their significant historical events?

• 4^th century: authority of the bishop of Rome increased.
• 5^th century: Pope Leo I (Leo the Great as mentioned above) claimed authority over all other churches.
• 1054: Eastern and Western churches split.
• 1517: Martin Luther calls for reform regarding power of the pope, the sale of indulgences, and the doctrine of purgatory. 
• 1545-1563: The Council of Trent defined many Roman Catholic doctrines for the first time.
• 1565: First Catholic parish began in what is now St. Augustine, FL. 
• 1869: The Vatican Council I met in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome and formulated the supremacy and infallibility of the pope.
• 1962-1965: The Vatican Council II met in Rome and decided that all who are named “Christian” are a part of God’s family regardless of membership in the Catholic Church.

 

What do they believe?

1. Word of God: includes the Bible and oral tradition; the Roman Catholic Bible includes the 66 books from Genesis to Revelation plus the apocryphal books including 7 complete books and 4 partial books that were written in the inter-testamental period.  However, the Jews of Palestine never accepted the inspiration of these books, and Jesus never quoted from them.  The Apocrypha teaches that salvation depends on deeds of virtue.  See Deuteronomy 4:2, Revelation 22:18-19.
2. Salvation: all humans are born with original sin of Adam and Eve; salvation comes through sanctifying grace; God reaches out to individuals and gives them the grace to seek him; individuals must respond to this grace that is given by performing certain acts that prepare his/her soul for baptism and justification; salvation is further realized through the administration of the 7 sacraments (see below).
3. Sin: Catholics distinguish between two types of sin. The two types of sin are mortal and venial, CCC #1854. Mortal sin destroys the sanctifying grace of God within the individual and necessitates forgiveness through a sacrament of reconciliation, CCC #1856. It causes exclusion from heaven and results in "the eternal death of hell," CCC #1861. Catholics classify a sin as mortal when it meets the following conditions: the sin is serious or "grave" (murder, adultery, stealing, bearing false witness, etc.), is committed with "full knowledge and complete consent," CCC #1857-59. A venial sin is a sin that either is not serious or grave, or does not involve full knowledge or complete consent, CCC #1862. Unlike mortal sin, venial sin does not destroy the saving grace of God in the individual. "Venial sin does not deprive the sinner of sanctifying grace, friendship with God, charity, and consequently eternal happiness," CCC #1863.
4. Veneration of Mary: viewed as “immaculately conceived” and therefore sinless; is a co-redeemer and mediatrix of grace (Luke 1:46-47).  She is also considered to have remained a virgin throughout her life (Matthew 12:46, Matthew 13:55).  However, she is not considered to be part of the Trinity. 
5. Purgatory: exists for those who die in God’s friendship but are still imperfectly purified, so that, following a time of purging, they can finally enter the joys of heaven (2 Corinthians 5:8).
6. Baptism: removes original sin and infuses sanctifying grace; performed on infants as well as adults and the person baptized experiences “initial justification”; immersion was practiced until the twelfth century.
7. Church: up until the Vatican Council II, believed that salvation was not available outside of the Catholic Church.
8. Eucharist/Mass: it is believed that during the Mass, the bread and wine miraculously turn into the actual body and blood of Christ called transubstantiation (John 6:52-58). By receiving the Eucharist, Catholics believe they are receiving Christ.
9. Sacraments: a visible sign instituted by Christ, by which grace is conveyed or dispensed to souls; the Catechism of the Catholic Church states, “The Church affirms that for believers the sacraments of the New Covenant are necessary for salvation (Catechism of the Catholic Church, New York: Doubleday, 1994) page 249.
   1. Baptism: all sins are forgiven, original sin and personal sins, as well as all punishment for sin, CCC #1263.
   2. Confirmation: completes baptismal grace by increasing the gifts and strengths of the Holy Spirit in the recipient, CCC #1303.
   3. Eucharist/Mass: see above.
   4. Penance: confession of sin and sorrow for failure; assigned acts of penance for all mortal sins and instructed to say an Act of Contrition; the priest then extends his right hand toward the parishioner and absolves him of his sins (Hebrews 10:19-25; 1 Peter 2:9; 1 John 1:9).
   5. Holy Orders: Catholics believe this sacrament confers sacred power of service, CCC #1592.
   6. Anointing the Sick: may be given when a Catholic is in danger of death because of illness or old age, CCC #1592.
   7. Marriage: remarriage by a divorced Catholic while the lawful spouse is alive is not allowed, CCC #1665.

 

Name	Founded	Members	Congregations	Website
Roman Catholic Church	1st century	More than 62,000,000	More than 19,000	www.vatican.va
Eastern Rite Catholic Church	1500-1700	500,000	Unknown	Unknown
Old Catholic Church	1871	More than 600,000	Unknown	www.oldcatholic.org
Polish National Catholic Church of America	1897	270,000	More than 150	www.PNCC.org

What Does That Church Believe: Episcopalians?

Where did they come from (Church of England/Anglican)?

• King Henry VIII of England wanted a son, and when Pope Clement VII denied his divorce from Catherine, he took matters into his own hands and influenced the English Parliament in such away that they denied the pope any authority or jurisdiction over the Church of England; the COE declared its independence from the RCC, and Henry VIII declared himself to be the chief authority.
• Henry forced the selection of Thomas Cranmer as the Archbishop of Canterbury, and Cranmer granted Henry an annulment.
• Edward VII took the throne after the death of his father; however, being only 9 years of age, his uncle Edward Seymour guided the decisions of Edward’s throne taking the COE in a very Protestant direction; Bloody Mary returned the COE back to the RCC as she oversaw the burning at the stake of at least 300 Protestants, including Thomas Cranmer; Elizabeth I tried to find a “middle way” between the RCC and Protestantism.

 

Where did they come from (Episcopal Church)?

• Anglican Churches were seen in the 13 colonies as earlier as 1607 in Jamestown, Virginia; by 1775, there were over 400 Anglican Churches in the colonies.
• The Revolutionary War caused a split between those clergy who supported England and those who supported freedom for the American colonies.
• In 1789, two clergy, William White and Samuel Provost, sailed to England and were consecrated by the Archbishop of Canterbury; earlier, the English Parliament had met and rescinded the requirement that all bishops must swear allegiance to the British crown; this previous requirement no longer applied to bishops who resided in “foreign parts” (like America); the Protestant Episcopal Church or the Episcopal Church in America was officially started in 1789; they were separate from the RCC and ruled by bishops.

 

Where can their doctrines be found?

• The Apostles’ Creed
• The Nicene Creed
• The Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion
• The Book of Common Prayer

 

What are their unique beliefs?

• Reject RC doctrines of the pope’s authority over the church, the infallibility of the pope on Christian doctrine and moral truth, the doctrine of purgatory, and the doctrine of transubstantiation (Lord’s Supper).
• Baptism is necessary for salvation (baptismal regeneration).
• Church government is Episcopal in nature; the local parish is the basic unit of worship; a diocese is composed of not less than six parishes in a specific geographical region and is overseen by a bishop; each bishop is elected by a diocesan convention; the diocesan convention meets annually and is composed of all clergy and lay representatives of the local parishes; every three years, the General Convention meets to make broad decisions about policy and worship; the House of Bishops is composed of all diocesan bishops; the House of Deputies is composed of four priests and four laymen from each diocese. 

 

 

 

Major Points of Contention

1. Physical baptism does not remove or forgive sins: a better understanding of Acts 2:38; John 1:12, 3:16, 5:24, 11:25-26; Acts 10:43; Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-9; Hebrews 9:22.  George W. Truett, “Immersion only does not constitute scriptural baptism.  One must be immersed because he is already saved, and not, in any sense to secure salvation.”
2. Election of Katharine Jefferts Schori in June 2006 in Columbus, Ohio to the presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church is contrary to 1 Timothy 2:12.

1. Is a marine biologist with a doctorate specializing in squids and oysters.
2. Preached at the convention’s closing Eucharist, “Colossians calls Jesus the firstborn of all creation, the firstborn from the dead. That sweaty, bloody, tear-stained labor of the cross bears new life.  Our mother Jesus gives birth to a new creation—and you and I are His children.”

1. Homosexuality is sin regardless.

1. ECUSA confirmed Bishop V. Gene Robinson in 2003, openly homosexual bishop.
2. ECUSA leaders have viewed the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah as having nothing to do with sex, but rather with their lack of hospitality; have said that Paul condemns temple prostitution in Romans 1:18-32, not loving, committed same-sex relationships.
3. Interpreted properly, Scripture presents no impediment to the inclusion and celebration of homosexuality.

 

Who have they been?

• Two-thirds of signers of DOI were Episcopalians.
• At least 9 presidents including Washington and Jefferson.

 

Name	Founded	Members	Congregations	Website
Episcopal Church USA	1789	1,877,271	7364	www.ecusa.anglican.org
Reformed Episcopal Church in America	1873	6400	125	www.recus.org
Episcopal Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of America	1963	6000	200	Eoc.orthodoxanglican.net
Anglican Catholic Church	1977	12,000	200	www.anglicancatholic.org

 

 

 

What Does That Church Believe: Mennonites?

Where did they come from?

They emerged out of the radical reformer movement of the 1520s, which involved a number of individuals who went far beyond the teachings of Swiss Reformer Ulrich Zwingli.  For example, Zwingli allowed infant baptism, but the radical reformers argued staunchly for believer’s baptism.  Because of their emphasis on rebaptism, these individuals came to be known as Anabaptists, which means “to rebaptize.”  Since they weren’t Roman Catholics, the RCC was against them.  Since they took a stand against Zwingli, the Protestants were against them.  Since they advocated a separation of church and state, the state was against them.  Enter Menno Simmons.  He was an influential Dutch leader of radical reformation born in 1496 in the Netherlands.  He was educated for the Roman Catholic priesthood and ordained in 1524, but he converted to the Anabaptist movement in 1536.  Persecution and harassment caused the Anabaptists to flee to America, specifically Pennsylvania where many of them settled in Germantown, PA in 1683.  Distinctive among the Mennonites were the followers of seventeenth-century Swiss Mennonite bishop named Jakob Amman.

 

What are their unique beliefs (Mennonites)?

• Believer’s Baptism; Symbolic Lord’s Supper, Separation of Church and State
• Foot washing: see John 13:1-17.
• A Cappella worship
• Major emphasis on leading quiet lives, uninvolved in secular society, and godly living.

 

What are their unique beliefs (Amish)?

• See above.
• Men ought to wear untrimmed beards and modest attire, including broad-brimmed hats.  Women ought also to wear modest clothing, including bonnets and aprons.
• They are to refrain from using electricity, alarm clocks, motorized vehicles, telephones, mirrors, and the like.

 

Pacifism

Mennonite Confession of Faith; Article 22: Peace, Justice and Nonresistance

We believe that peace is the will of God. God created the world in peace, and God's peace is most fully revealed in Jesus Christ, who is our peace and the peace of the whole world. Led by the Holy Spirit, we follow Christ in the way of peace, doing justice, bringing reconciliation, and practicing nonresistance even in the face of violence and warfare.

Although God created a peaceable world, humanity chose the way of unrighteousness and violence. 1 The spirit of revenge increased, and violence multiplied, yet the original vision of peace and justice did not die. 2 Prophets and other messengers of God continued to point the people of Israel toward trust in God rather than in weapons and military force. 3

The peace God intends for humanity and creation was revealed most fully in Jesus Christ. A joyous song of peace announced Jesus' birth. 4 Jesus taught love of enemies, forgave wrongdoers, and called for right relationships. 5 When threatened, he chose not to resist, but gave his life freely. 6 By his death and resurrection, he has removed the dominion of death and given us peace with God. 7 Thus he has reconciled us to God and has entrusted to us the ministry of reconciliation. 8

As followers of Jesus, we participate in his ministry of peace and justice. He has called us to find our blessing in making peace and seeking justice. We do so in a spirit of gentleness, willing to be persecuted for righteousness' sake. 9 As disciples of Christ, we do not prepare for war, or participate in war or military service. The same Spirit that empowered Jesus also empowers us to love enemies, to forgive rather than to seek revenge, to practice right relationships, to rely on the community of faith to settle disputes, and to resist evil without violence. 10

Led by the Spirit, and beginning in the church, we witness to all people that violence is not the will of God. We witness against all forms of violence, including war among nations, hostility among races and classes, abuse of children and women, violence between men and women, abortion, and capital punishment.

We give our ultimate loyalty to the God of grace and peace, who guides the church daily in overcoming evil with good, who empowers us to do justice, and who sustains us in the glorious hope of the peaceable reign of God. 11

Commentary

1. The biblical concept of peace embraces personal peace with God, peace in human relations, peace among nations, and peace with God's creation. The Old Testament word for peace (shalom) includes healing, reconciliation, and well-being. Peace is more than the absence of war; it includes the restoration of right relationship.

Justice and peace belong together, since right relationship involves both. According to Greek and Roman ideas of justice, people should get what they deserve. According to the Bible, justice involves healing and restoring relationships. That is a reason for the special concern for the poor and the oppressed evident in the Bible (Deut. 24:10-22; Matt. 20:1-16; James 2:5).

Nonresistance means "not resisting." Our example is Jesus, who endured accusation and abuse without retaliating. Jesus did sometimes confront wrongdoers (Matt. 23:1-36; John 2:13-22), but he did so in a nonviolent way that shows us how to overcome evil with good (Rom. 12:21; see 1 Pet. 2:21-24).

2. Peace and justice are not optional teachings, counsel that Christians can take or leave. They belong to the heart of gospel message. Sometimes the Mennonite peace position has been based only on the teachings of Jesus. A biblical understanding of peace is also based on the atoning sacrifice of Christ: the atonement is the foundation for our peace with God (Rom. 5:10) and with one another (Eph. 2:13-16). Similarly, justice is based not only on Jesus' teachings (Luke 4:18-19), but also on his atoning death. Jesus' death on the cross accomplished justice. His crucifixion brought forgiveness and thus restored sinners to right relationship with God. On the cross Jesus cried out to God on behalf of a world mired in sinful, unjust relationships. This cry was amplified by the shedding of his blood, which creates a just, forgiving community of the new covenant (Heb. 5:7-10).
3. In continuity with previous Mennonite confessions of faith, we affirm that nonparticipation in warfare involves conscientious objection to military service and a nonresistant response to violence. Our peace witness also includes peacemaking and working for justice. Peace witness is needed even when the nations in which we live are not at war. Ministries of mediation, conciliation, and nonviolent resolution of everyday conflict can express our commitment to Christ's way of peace.
4. There is no simple explanation for the practice of war in the Old Testament. The Old Testament repeatedly points toward peace (Exod. 14:13-14; Judg. 7:2; Ps. 37; Isa. 31; Hos. 2:18). Both the Old and New Testaments proclaim the vision of a coming peaceable kingdom (Isa. 9:1-7), preached and revealed by Jesus Christ (Acts 10:36).

The Widow's Might...