If you hear someone speaking about salvation in an incorrect manner, it is your duty as an ambassador of Jesus Christ to be able to defend the gospel. We should never attempt to be rude or condescending towards someone that may be ignorant of the truth, nor should we allow ourselves to sit silent as lies are spread, knowingly or not. Many people confuse the idea of being silent as being a friend or loving someone... The truth is, you speaking truth may cause that person to look at you as if you are the one that is in the wrong and you are not one who works or operates in a manner of love. But what is love; Being everybody's friend and never speaking truth or being everyone's friend by making sure that you speak the truth, no matter the outcome?
You can silently love someone straight to hell... No one has ever been saved "just" by having Christian friends. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God! Do not think that silent assassins only exist in the form of ninjas. Many of Christ ambassadors are the ones who do the majority of eternal death sentencing.
All because of a fear of man... Speak truth!
Galatians 1:10
For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.
Monday, September 29, 2014
Speak the Gospel, Clearly!
Had a wonderful time preaching in Cherokee last night! Had many people to stop by, shaking my hand, to say that they had never heard the gospel so clearly put. To that I say, Praise the Lord!
May that always be the testimony of our preaching. Clarity!
That was one sermon... May we, everyday, speak the Gospel of Jesus Christ, His death for our sin and ressurection for our justification, clearly & without shame!
If someone asks you, "What must I do to be saved?" And you don't know how to respond.. make sure of 2 things.
1.) Make sure you, yourself, are saved.
2.) Next time, speak boldly the gospel.
Galatians 1:9
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.
1 Corinthians 15:1-4
Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
Romans 4:24-25
But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.
Romans 4:5
But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
Ephesians 2:8-9
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Ephesians 1:13
In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
Romans 1:16
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
Romans 16:25-27
Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith: To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen.
2 Corinthians 5:20-21
Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
May that always be the testimony of our preaching. Clarity!
That was one sermon... May we, everyday, speak the Gospel of Jesus Christ, His death for our sin and ressurection for our justification, clearly & without shame!
If someone asks you, "What must I do to be saved?" And you don't know how to respond.. make sure of 2 things.
1.) Make sure you, yourself, are saved.
2.) Next time, speak boldly the gospel.
Galatians 1:9
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.
1 Corinthians 15:1-4
Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
Romans 4:24-25
But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.
Romans 4:5
But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
Ephesians 2:8-9
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Ephesians 1:13
In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
Romans 1:16
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
Romans 16:25-27
Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith: To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen.
2 Corinthians 5:20-21
Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
Tuesday, September 23, 2014
Preach, Preacher! Part 2
Back to the question that was asked at the end of Part 1, "Am I in that audience?"
Now that doesn't seem like such a bombshell like question, does it? Well, not from the onset...
How much weight does that question actually carry in light of studying the Bible? Glad you asked, because it actually carries the weight of the WHOLE bible. Why? Allow me to give you a quick illustration.
Imagine yourself standing out by your mailbox, either on your street or at the post office, and you reach in to retrieve the mail that has been placed there that afternoon... You may find a couple of envelopes, maybe, and a couple of advertisement postcards from the local businesses in town. As you are walking to your car from the inside of the post office or as you are making your way back to the house from your street side mail box, the idea pops into your head, I am not really content with what I got in the mail today, surely there are some other boxes around here with better contents, besides, we all have mailboxes and receive mail... It's all the same.... right? If you are in the market for attempting to break a federal law by stealing the mail of your neighbors, then sure! It's more than fine.
Now that may seem like a more than exaggerated point. Surely, no one, that is sane that is, really thinks that it would be ok to just walk up to someone else's mailbox and take their monthly magazine subscription as if it were their own... Right?
Would you believe it happens every single day. Not the actual mail, although I am more than sure that people really do that kind of thing, but I am talking about people when reading the Bible.
HOW?!
Simple. All over the world and in many "Christian" circles, people start in Genesis and work their way through the whole content of the bible(Not giving that much credit as though most individuals read their bible) and select verse that seem to be suitable for his or her present desire. As a matter of fact, I heard one this morning on the radio. It was taken from Genesis and applied by the man reading it to every Christian that exists in 2014.
Genesis 28:15-
And, behold, I am with you, and will keep you in all places wherever you go, and will bring you again into this land; for I will not leave you, until I have done that which I have spoken to you of.
The heading the DJ gave this verse was, "The Good News Bible Verse of the week." Let me say, this verse is good, actually great news for the receiver of this promise. But unless your name is Jacob (Israel) and you are to be the father of the 12 tribes of Israel waiting to inherit an actual perimeter of land, without doing a bunch of twisting and Spiritualizing, this verse just simply does not and cannot apply to you. Well, you may think I'm being not only picky, but pesky. To which I say, I'd rather be a picky pest than a man who proclaims stolen promises.
Literally, taking verses that do not belong to you and personalizing it is the exact same as stealing mail, except you won't receive a federal fine or imprisonment, but something far worse... Possibly eternal damnation; not for being a theif, but because you are trusting promises not made to you as your eternal destination ticket. Many people today are still attempting to follow the Mosaic Law as a means of justification before God, but the problem is, God is not making covenants or requiring the following of the Law as means of Righteousness, but we know that God will judge man's soul of this dispensation by the Gospel given to the Apostle Paul to proclaim,
Romans 2:16
In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.
Which is what? The Gospel I mean...
Is it "Repent and be Baptized?"
No.
Is it "Repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand?"
No.
Is it ask Jesus into your heart???
No, sir. No, ma'am.
Paul tells what "his" gospel is in his first epistle to Corinth.
1 Corinthians 15:1-4
Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
He elaborate in Romans even more...
Romans 4:24-25
But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.
Christ died for our sins and resurrected for our justification. That's it. This the Gospel Paul says you will be judged by. So, the next logical question must be, "What do I do with this information? "
Glad you asked.
He tells us in Ephesians.
Ephesians 1:11-14
In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
You hear the Gospel... you believe it... you trust it and you are saved. In the next chapter of Ephesians, Paul writes how we are saved by grace, through faith. What wonderful news.
But how do we know to go with this information over other scriptures that contain different instructions for salvation?
We conclude this as our answered due to "Rightly Dividing. " (see 2 Timothy 2:15)
Much more to cover in the future... but this gives us a GREAT starting place in what the "Preacher should preach..."
Please Share with your Friends
Alan
Now that doesn't seem like such a bombshell like question, does it? Well, not from the onset...
How much weight does that question actually carry in light of studying the Bible? Glad you asked, because it actually carries the weight of the WHOLE bible. Why? Allow me to give you a quick illustration.
Imagine yourself standing out by your mailbox, either on your street or at the post office, and you reach in to retrieve the mail that has been placed there that afternoon... You may find a couple of envelopes, maybe, and a couple of advertisement postcards from the local businesses in town. As you are walking to your car from the inside of the post office or as you are making your way back to the house from your street side mail box, the idea pops into your head, I am not really content with what I got in the mail today, surely there are some other boxes around here with better contents, besides, we all have mailboxes and receive mail... It's all the same.... right? If you are in the market for attempting to break a federal law by stealing the mail of your neighbors, then sure! It's more than fine.
Now that may seem like a more than exaggerated point. Surely, no one, that is sane that is, really thinks that it would be ok to just walk up to someone else's mailbox and take their monthly magazine subscription as if it were their own... Right?
Would you believe it happens every single day. Not the actual mail, although I am more than sure that people really do that kind of thing, but I am talking about people when reading the Bible.
HOW?!
Simple. All over the world and in many "Christian" circles, people start in Genesis and work their way through the whole content of the bible(Not giving that much credit as though most individuals read their bible) and select verse that seem to be suitable for his or her present desire. As a matter of fact, I heard one this morning on the radio. It was taken from Genesis and applied by the man reading it to every Christian that exists in 2014.
Genesis 28:15-
And, behold, I am with you, and will keep you in all places wherever you go, and will bring you again into this land; for I will not leave you, until I have done that which I have spoken to you of.
The heading the DJ gave this verse was, "The Good News Bible Verse of the week." Let me say, this verse is good, actually great news for the receiver of this promise. But unless your name is Jacob (Israel) and you are to be the father of the 12 tribes of Israel waiting to inherit an actual perimeter of land, without doing a bunch of twisting and Spiritualizing, this verse just simply does not and cannot apply to you. Well, you may think I'm being not only picky, but pesky. To which I say, I'd rather be a picky pest than a man who proclaims stolen promises.
Literally, taking verses that do not belong to you and personalizing it is the exact same as stealing mail, except you won't receive a federal fine or imprisonment, but something far worse... Possibly eternal damnation; not for being a theif, but because you are trusting promises not made to you as your eternal destination ticket. Many people today are still attempting to follow the Mosaic Law as a means of justification before God, but the problem is, God is not making covenants or requiring the following of the Law as means of Righteousness, but we know that God will judge man's soul of this dispensation by the Gospel given to the Apostle Paul to proclaim,
Romans 2:16
In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.
Which is what? The Gospel I mean...
Is it "Repent and be Baptized?"
No.
Is it "Repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand?"
No.
Is it ask Jesus into your heart???
No, sir. No, ma'am.
Paul tells what "his" gospel is in his first epistle to Corinth.
1 Corinthians 15:1-4
Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
He elaborate in Romans even more...
Romans 4:24-25
But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.
Christ died for our sins and resurrected for our justification. That's it. This the Gospel Paul says you will be judged by. So, the next logical question must be, "What do I do with this information? "
Glad you asked.
He tells us in Ephesians.
Ephesians 1:11-14
In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
You hear the Gospel... you believe it... you trust it and you are saved. In the next chapter of Ephesians, Paul writes how we are saved by grace, through faith. What wonderful news.
But how do we know to go with this information over other scriptures that contain different instructions for salvation?
We conclude this as our answered due to "Rightly Dividing. " (see 2 Timothy 2:15)
Much more to cover in the future... but this gives us a GREAT starting place in what the "Preacher should preach..."
Please Share with your Friends
Alan
Monday, September 22, 2014
Preach, Preacher! Part 1
A little Background about Mr. Jaynes.
I am a 21 year old preacher from Alabama. I have been preaching now for 9 years. I served in youth ministry in a couple of local Baptist churches for the last several years, that was until about 2 months ago. I am married to a beautiful young woman named Karen. We are currently doing a home bible study on Thursday nights, which we jokingly call, "The Church of the Living Room." Why we are coming out of our living room instead of a "church' building is a fun story.
Up until the last couple of months, I have always proudly(yes.... pride-filled) called myself a Southern Baptist. What changed? Glad you asked. I trusted the Gospel at a very young age, which means I started my journey in God's Word at a young age. I would like to think that many, hopefully all, Believers NEVER settle for what is handed to them in regurgitated sermons from preachers as absolute truth without having searched God's Word for truth themselves. I was the annoying kid(for many reasons), but mostly due to the fact that I would always question the reasoning for "Why we do what we do."
There is nothing more annoying to many "SEASONED" pastors than to be questioned on their motives and theology. Don't believe me, try it? Go up at the end of the next church service you attend, but instead of just casually shaking his hand... tell him you have a couple of points from his sermon you would like to review. Please, do let me know if you receive an immediate body language response of 'apt to teach.' Now, I will be the first admit... I have been and can be, if not prayerfully surrendered,be.. well, OBNOXIOUS. Ask my wife ;-)!
I spent a few semesters at a Baptist Seminary and the questions list began to quickly outweigh the answer list for this guy.
With each passing day, and with every class and discussion, my questions went unanswered by the professors, master level students and even fellow pastors(including my own). Simple questions. But, Important Questions.
Why do you stress fruit so much as "proof of salvation" if we are justified by faith?
Why do we not stress water baptism as profession?
Why do we preach grace one week, but then preach law and works the next?
Why do we work so hard to change verse meaning in order to fit our theology (Acts 2:38, Mark 16:16, James 2:24)?
You know... simple, but real, questions.
What do you do when everything you believe hinges on a set system of theological thought that you no longer feel apt to defend because you yourself disagree with it? Hopefully you seek truth no matter the consequences. My real hang up initially, for actually over 2 years, was definitely water baptism. As stated above... I struggled with the evident attempts of men,I respect even today, attempting to re-word or change the context of "trouble verses' such as Acts 2:38, where Peter clearly instructs water Baptism as NECCESITY for remission of sins. I found myself against a rock and a REALLY hard place(my denomination and reputation). It was literally to the point that I was almost desiring to be "re-"baptized in the "right" way, despite my understanding being save by grace through faith... wow!
Why the dilemma?
Simple.
God's Word is, has, and hopefully always will be my final authority. I desire, with everything within me, to follow God's Word. So... what happened? Did I follow through with correct baptism...!?! To the sigh of the local Church of Christ, NO! I did not!
Instead...
I asked the right question for the first time:
"Am I in that audience?"
Meaning, am I, and also you, a part of the group of individuals being addressed in Acts chapter 2? And Boisterously I content, NO! No we are not. Unless you fit the description of Acts 2:5, a devout Jew, you do not match the picture. (Side Note: Even if you were a full blooded Jew and could prove it by your lineage, to which I say good luck, you still cannot be saved today by the prescription of Acts 2).
"How do you figure that?" you may ask... Cannot wait to address it in the next post, Part 2.
One answer to a simple question led to more changes in our lives(my wife and me) than one could imagine.
Please Share With Your Friends
Alan
I am a 21 year old preacher from Alabama. I have been preaching now for 9 years. I served in youth ministry in a couple of local Baptist churches for the last several years, that was until about 2 months ago. I am married to a beautiful young woman named Karen. We are currently doing a home bible study on Thursday nights, which we jokingly call, "The Church of the Living Room." Why we are coming out of our living room instead of a "church' building is a fun story.
Up until the last couple of months, I have always proudly(yes.... pride-filled) called myself a Southern Baptist. What changed? Glad you asked. I trusted the Gospel at a very young age, which means I started my journey in God's Word at a young age. I would like to think that many, hopefully all, Believers NEVER settle for what is handed to them in regurgitated sermons from preachers as absolute truth without having searched God's Word for truth themselves. I was the annoying kid(for many reasons), but mostly due to the fact that I would always question the reasoning for "Why we do what we do."
There is nothing more annoying to many "SEASONED" pastors than to be questioned on their motives and theology. Don't believe me, try it? Go up at the end of the next church service you attend, but instead of just casually shaking his hand... tell him you have a couple of points from his sermon you would like to review. Please, do let me know if you receive an immediate body language response of 'apt to teach.' Now, I will be the first admit... I have been and can be, if not prayerfully surrendered,be.. well, OBNOXIOUS. Ask my wife ;-)!
I spent a few semesters at a Baptist Seminary and the questions list began to quickly outweigh the answer list for this guy.
With each passing day, and with every class and discussion, my questions went unanswered by the professors, master level students and even fellow pastors(including my own). Simple questions. But, Important Questions.
Why do you stress fruit so much as "proof of salvation" if we are justified by faith?
Why do we not stress water baptism as profession?
Why do we preach grace one week, but then preach law and works the next?
Why do we work so hard to change verse meaning in order to fit our theology (Acts 2:38, Mark 16:16, James 2:24)?
You know... simple, but real, questions.
What do you do when everything you believe hinges on a set system of theological thought that you no longer feel apt to defend because you yourself disagree with it? Hopefully you seek truth no matter the consequences. My real hang up initially, for actually over 2 years, was definitely water baptism. As stated above... I struggled with the evident attempts of men,I respect even today, attempting to re-word or change the context of "trouble verses' such as Acts 2:38, where Peter clearly instructs water Baptism as NECCESITY for remission of sins. I found myself against a rock and a REALLY hard place(my denomination and reputation). It was literally to the point that I was almost desiring to be "re-"baptized in the "right" way, despite my understanding being save by grace through faith... wow!
Why the dilemma?
Simple.
God's Word is, has, and hopefully always will be my final authority. I desire, with everything within me, to follow God's Word. So... what happened? Did I follow through with correct baptism...!?! To the sigh of the local Church of Christ, NO! I did not!
Instead...
I asked the right question for the first time:
"Am I in that audience?"
Meaning, am I, and also you, a part of the group of individuals being addressed in Acts chapter 2? And Boisterously I content, NO! No we are not. Unless you fit the description of Acts 2:5, a devout Jew, you do not match the picture. (Side Note: Even if you were a full blooded Jew and could prove it by your lineage, to which I say good luck, you still cannot be saved today by the prescription of Acts 2).
"How do you figure that?" you may ask... Cannot wait to address it in the next post, Part 2.
One answer to a simple question led to more changes in our lives(my wife and me) than one could imagine.
Please Share With Your Friends
Alan
Blog Intro
So... This is my first time to "Blog" about anything. I realize that there are endless topics to not only write about, but to read up on. To actually be able to contain all of the information that is presented on the World Wide Web in one's mind is actually quite impossible. So, I make it my goal not to present a WIDE variety of topics, but simply one:
God's Word (the Bible) "Rightly Divided."
I get that quotation locked phrase from a well known verse in 2 Timothy 2:15-
"Study to shew thyself approved unto God a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."
The goal of my typing is to push forward TRUTH. Yep, there's a word commonly forgotten. It matters. I won't go with popular opinion or the status quo. Nope. "Road less traveled..." Yea... It's the bible friends. There you have it, folks. I am narrow minded; it is not an accident. It is actually quite daring.
If you have not ever taken a minority sized topic and tried to proclaim it, I would encourage you to do it. Why? because it is not only humbling, but enlightening.
1.) Cliché: You find out who your friends are.
2.) You begin to see how much you are willing to lose for your beliefs.
3.) You get to know yourself in pain and in joy.
4.) You learn perseverance.
MOSTLY-
5.) You figure out the contentment in allowing God to be true and every man a liar. (Romans 3:4)
So...
Possibly vague in introduction, but we will get there. There will be personal posts. Personal Experience posts. Topical posts (Salvation, Sanctification, Sin, Faith, etc.). Probably some rants :-).
Hopefully, most every read you find yourself in will be for edification and instruction in God's Word.
Enjoy! (or criticize)
Alan
God's Word (the Bible) "Rightly Divided."
I get that quotation locked phrase from a well known verse in 2 Timothy 2:15-
"Study to shew thyself approved unto God a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."
The goal of my typing is to push forward TRUTH. Yep, there's a word commonly forgotten. It matters. I won't go with popular opinion or the status quo. Nope. "Road less traveled..." Yea... It's the bible friends. There you have it, folks. I am narrow minded; it is not an accident. It is actually quite daring.
If you have not ever taken a minority sized topic and tried to proclaim it, I would encourage you to do it. Why? because it is not only humbling, but enlightening.
1.) Cliché: You find out who your friends are.
2.) You begin to see how much you are willing to lose for your beliefs.
3.) You get to know yourself in pain and in joy.
4.) You learn perseverance.
MOSTLY-
5.) You figure out the contentment in allowing God to be true and every man a liar. (Romans 3:4)
So...
Possibly vague in introduction, but we will get there. There will be personal posts. Personal Experience posts. Topical posts (Salvation, Sanctification, Sin, Faith, etc.). Probably some rants :-).
Hopefully, most every read you find yourself in will be for edification and instruction in God's Word.
Enjoy! (or criticize)
Alan
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