2Cor
6:14-17
I.
Introduction
A.
Why stand out? Why can’t we all just “get along?”
1.
God has
always drawn a line in the sand and said choose your path (Josh
24:15)
2.
Stay on
the narrow way
3.
Who is on
the Lord’s side
4.
There are
so many different opinions
5.
There is
just one Bible
B.
What is at stake – what difference does it make how particular you are?
1.
People
need to get the ONE message of the Gospel.
2.
With all
the variations, there is confusion, and damnation
3.
Stay
simple, and Biblical (See 2Cor 11:2-4)
C.
How distinctive is the Bible? So much so that the majority of people
won’t take it (2Tim 4:2-4)
II.
Lesson
A.
The Body of Christ is the group of all saved individuals
B.
The Church is an assembled (linked) group of saved individuals
1.
It is
Assembled
a.
Not just
a club
b.
It is an
assembly, not just a gathering
c.
Assembled
with:
1)
Purpose
2)
Glue, or
bonding
2.
It is
Active – not apathetic, or passive
a.
Evangelising
the lost
b.
Equipping
the saints
c.
Endeavouring
to please the Lord in all they do, both individually, and as a whole
3.
It is
Particular – not vague - doesn’t just believe anything that seems right, or
good
a.
Careful
in what it as a group believes
b.
Careful
in how it as a group acts and lives – standards
c.
Careful
to stay doctrinally pure (Rev 2 & 3)
d.
Not
traditional though – just doctrinal
1)
Traditions
come from man’s ideas
2)
Doctrines
come from God’s word – what saith the scriptures
C.
There are eight Baptist Distinctives, that are more than just the basics
of what a person must believe to be born again
1.
These
eight things do not determine if someone is saved or not – it just determines
if you are a Bible believer or not
2.
There are
only two things you must believe to be saved
a.
That you
are a sinner, headed for a devil’s hell
b.
That
Jesus will save you and change you if you just surrender to His grace – His
work in your life
3.
All of
that implies
a.
A belief
that God’s word is right
b.
An
acceptance of God being right in all He does
c.
An
understanding of Jesus going onto the cross in the place of the sinner
4.
All that
means that people need a lot more teaching than just about the “love of God”
which without context, has no meaning, and no worth!
5.
The list
a.
B –
Biblical Authority Only
b.
A –
Autonomy of the local church
c.
P –
Priesthood of the believer
d.
T –
Three Ordinances
e.
I –
Individual Soul Liberty
f.
S –
Saved and Secure Membership
g.
T –
Three Church Offices
h.
S –
Separation of Church and State
6.
When you
take ONLY the Bible as your authority, you will comes out believing these 8
great truths
III.
Conclusion