Greetings to you, my friend. Thanks for choosing our program of Bible study today. We are In Search of the Lord’s Way to become a Christian and to live the Christian life. We know the choices of programs you have, and you have chosen ours. And, we’re grateful. We pray we will both be blessed by our study of Things Old and New in Christ today.
I’m convinced that the Lord’s way is the best way to live this life that has ever been introduced to the family of man. And, yes, I have studied other ways. So, yes, I believe that, that the Lord’s way is the best that has ever been introduced to the family of man; and I want to tell you about it today.
If you think you might want or need a printed copy or a CD or an audio cassette tape of the study today you may have it free, simply by mailing your request to In Search of the Lord’s Way, P.O. Box 371, Edmond, OK 73083. Our e-mail address is searchtv@searchtv.org. And, our toll-free telephone number for your use is 1-800-321-8633. Some people read the message or listen to it, while there are others that see it again on our website at searchtv.org. Ken Helterbrand’s going to lead us now as we sing, and then I will be back.
Today we are reading from Paul’s second letter to the Corinthian church, and we are beginning in chapter 5 at verse 14. “For the love of Christ constrains us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again. Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.” And that is reading through verse 19. Now let’s go to God in prayer. Almighty and all loving God, we approach the study of Your word today with the assurance that it is applicable to us even today in this 21st Century; and we thank You for it and for the translation of it so that we can have it in our own language and we can study it here with so many people. And we pray Your blessings upon our studies today and Your presence with us. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen!
“Change” is the word that best describes the culture of our times. You must be aware that even one of the presidential candidates in the upcoming election is running on a platform of “change.” Oh well, no one is totally against all change. In fact, the message of this ministry and especially of this program today, is about “conversion,” which is a change from the old worldly way of living to the Lord’s Way. But, some of us seem to be for change-- any kind of change-- all change-- it doesn’t really matter what changes: changes of moral codes, so as to gain acceptance of pornography, adultery, fornication, homosexuality, bestiality, abortion, infanticide, child abuse, divorce, gambling, drunkenness, drug abuse, and well, all of that and even more. And there’s a strong advocacy of acceptance of change from the traditional (or the biblical) family-- one man and one woman and their children for life, to contemporary family styles, and that is what they are called, consisting of unmarried couples, same-sex marriages and even others.
Many take comfort-- or maybe it’s pride-- in their freedom to live and to do as they please-- or to quote one of them--“free to make our own choices.” They are heard saying, “There are no absolutes at all. What we choose to do and to be, while it may be wrong for other people, is right for us. What we ask of you is acceptance. You do your thing and I’ll accept you, and I’ll do my thing and you accept me.” Well, these people are blinded to the truth that we reap what we sow, and we reap more than we sow. Some do have a problem with “conversion” because it means a change from the old lifestyle to a new one prescribed by someone else; and in this case it is God. These people are averse to submitting to any kind of code of ethics, or rules or laws, especially anything that’s said to be from God. In spite of the popular fun-loving way, we are saying, “We love you. We love you, friend, and we believe there’s a better way, and we would like you to consider it. Will you do that today?”
There are lots of people who are really hurting today. Some are suffering innocently; others are not. It may be that the life they have chosen, even for themselves, hasn’t been too good after all of their imagining. It’s a hard lesson. We must learn it sooner or later, one way or another that their choices and deeds have their consequences-- or their rewards. The choice is always ours as to how we will live our lives, but the choice is never ours when comes to the consequences of a bad choice. Job 4 and 8 says, “Those who plow iniquity and sow trouble reap the same.” Psalm 37:23 and 24 says, “The steps of a good man are ordained by the Lord, and He delights in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; for the Lord upholds him with His hand.”
Our message today is for people who know they have goofed. And it’s about an alternative to self-victimization or self-destruction, sometimes suicide. It is an alternative, too, to a search for peace in illicit drugs or alcohol. It’s about the urgency of the beginning of a new life in Christ. It’s about abandoning the continuance in a bad choice. Why stay aboard a bus or a train or an aircraft that isn’t going anywhere?
You know of course, that our Savior referred to the process of becoming a child of God as a “new birth.” In conversation with the man Nicodemus in the gospel of John chapter three beginning with verse one, He said, “I say to you unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” And where there is a birth, there’s a new life, isn’t there? Look: The Holy Spirit referred to the new child of God as a newborn baby in 1 Peter chapter 2, verse 2. He said, “…as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby.” That just means that for the new born Christian there are many questions for which he has no answer, but he keeps on studying the word of God and the answers come as he grows to maturity in knowledge and in faith. Now, I could stand here and say, well, I could say and say it again and again, “Ya gotta not do this or you must do that or something else, and ya gotta do this.” But that turns a lot of people off-- one of whom I am which! So, let’s just notice some Scriptures that make comparisons, what do you say about that? I’m sure you believe that the Bible is the word of God to mankind today, and as such it’s authoritative. It is the word of the living God. You probably wouldn’t still be with me, if you didn’t believe that.
First, let’s look at Romans chapter 1-- and, oh, well, let’s see-- we’ll begin at verse fourteen, I think. The apostle Paul is the penman, and he says, “I am debtor…both to the wise and to the unwise. So, as much as is in me, I am ready to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome.” (Friend, may we pause for a moment from that reading, just here. Personally, I relate to that sense of indebtedness to you and to all the others who hear me. And, that is why I’m here. That’s why I have given my life to preaching the Gospel.) “I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, the just shall live by faith. For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were they thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man-- and birds and four-footed beasts and creeping things. Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting, being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.” Friend, did it ever, ever occur to you that we are living in such a culture? No? Then, you need only to turn to the evening news or read your local newspaper. And later in the same letter Paul wrote: “But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. And having been set free from sin, you became the slaves of righteousness (chapter 6, verse 17). Had they changed? Oh yes! Did they ever change?
Let’s look at another letter. This one is addressed to “those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints” in the very, very wicked city of Corinth (1 Corinthians chapter 1, verses 1 to 2). Corinth was a typical seaport city on a major trade route from east to west. In those days to be called “a Corinthian” was about the biggest insult one person could hurl at another. The apostle Paul is God’s penman again, and he wrote: “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” Oh! That’s powerful, friend. Those people were some of the moral dregs of the earth, but they changed! And you can, too-- change.
Here are some thoughts from letter to the church at Ephesus, too. Ephesus is one of the major cities of Asia-minor. The inhabitants were Gentiles. So they were not taught in the Scriptures, as the Jews were, and as we are today. They were idol worshipers. The Temple of Diana or Artemis was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World; and it was there at Ephesus. Bacchus was another one of their gods; he was the god of wine. Again, the apostle Paul is God’s penman; and he said to the Lord’s church there, the Christians there, the disciples of Jesus, “that you should no longer walk (or live) as the rest of the Gentiles walk (or live)...having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness...that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness. Therefore, putting away lying, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor...Be angry, and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil. Let him who stole steal no more, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give to him who has need. Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers...Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be you kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another even as God in Christ forgave you.” Well, now, these are some of the verses that are selected from chapter four.
Oh, there are other passages-- many, many more, but our time is short. We are about to run out of time. And so let us pray to God and then you think about what we have said. Will you? Holy Father, we are thankful to You for the privilege of studying with so many people. And we pray that we have reached some tender hearts and some honest hearts, some souls that want to turn from the burdens of the old life style in the world; and turn to live Your way. We pray, Lord, that we might have shown somebody that Your way is a better way than that which is offered in our world and our environment today. Forgive us our sins, and keep us always in the hollow of Your hand; protect us and keep us, Lord. We pray You in the name of Jesus. Amen!
Well, from these passages that we have studied (without any commentary from me) you can see there is an anticipated or expected change in the life of a person who becomes a Christian. You can see now why I keep saying that the Lord’s way to live is the best way that has ever been introduced to the family of man. The life of sin becomes “old”-- outdated, put away. And the new “life” in the Spirit is “put on.” In the process (1) in becoming a Christian, a person has a change of things that he loves. Whereas he once loved the things of the flesh, he now loves the Lord Jesus Christ and the things of the Spirit. (2) In becoming a Christian, there’s also a change of life which is wrought by repentance; and that is what repentance is! Jesus defined repentance in a parable in Matthew 21, verses 28 to 31. He said, “A man had two sons, and he came to the first and he said, Son, go, work today in my vineyard. And he answered and said, I will not, but afterward he regretted it and went. There’s also a change of allegiance-- from the devil and his evil ways to Jesus Christ. It’s made obvious in a confession of Christ before others. And (4) and final, there is a change of relationships. We hear a lot about relationships in today’s preaching. Second Corinthians 5:17 says, “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things are passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself...” Alright then: how does one come into Christ? Galatians 3:26-27 tells us, “For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” And that is when conversion is consummated, friend. There are four changes in conversion then: (1) The heart by faith, (2) the life by repentance, (3) the allegiance by confession of Christ, and (4) the relationship by baptism. If you are not a Christian, I hope and I pray you will change that now-- today. Call me at 1-800-321-8633 if I can be helpful to you.
Oh say, it has been good to have you with us for Bible study In Search of the Lord’s Way to become and to be a Christian. Christians are the salt of the earth and the light of the world. But, if they are like the world, if they are living like the world-- well, the world would be lost in decay and moral putrefaction. There must be-- there simply must be a difference between Christians and the church-- and the unconverted. There must be a difference between the church of Christians and the unconverted. This program is a ministry of some churches of Christ in the area of this station. Say, they would really like to have you visit them for worship or Bible study. And, we would like that too. And if we can help you locate a congregation near you, please let us hear from you. Will you?
If you would like a free printed copy, a CD, or an audio cassette tape of the program, you may have it simply by mailing your request for it to In Search of the Lord’s Way P.O. Box 371, Edmond, OK 73083. Or by e-mail our address is searchtv@searchtv.org; and by internet it is at searchtv.org. Our toll-free- telephone number is 1-800-321-8633. Many thousands of people see us on the website, and they study with us again. Say, we are glad you were with us today. We hope you will be next Sunday. God bless you. We love you.
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