TITLE: The Beginning Corner
TEXT: Luke 24:45-49 ⁴⁵And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures. ⁴⁶Then He said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, ⁴⁷and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. ⁴⁸And you are witnesses of these things. ⁴⁹Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.”
PROPOSITION: God has determined the boundaries of the church and its teachings.
QUESTION: What?
KEY WORD: Teachings
SCRIPTURE READING: Same

INTRODUCTION:

1. Survey property – surveyor needs a “beginning corner” to measure distance and angles.

2. For us to learn where the boundaries are we must begin at the beginning corner

3. Luke 24:45-49 – Beginning at Jerusalem, Pentecost, 30 AD

Immersion vs. Sprinkling

1. Word in the Greek is Baptidzo, "immersion" Rantidzo means "sprinkling"

2. But apart from study of the words, the usage tells us it is a burial.

3. Colossians 2:12 buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.

4. Baptism in water, much water, going down into, coming up out of

Baptism for Remission of Sins, vs. Praying Through

1. Matthew 26:27-28 ²⁷Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. ²⁸For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

2. The same phrase as in Acts 2:38

3. Peter -- Acts 2:38

4. All cases of conversion in Acts - baptism

5. NO example, command of anyone ever praying through

Singing vs. Instrumental Music

1. Ephesians 5:19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord,

2. Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

3. Our worship must come from the heart – That is the instrument for worship

Faithful vs. Eternal Security

1. Revelation 2:10 "Be faithful until death"

2. "Take heed, lest ye fall."

3. James 5:19-20 ¹⁹Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, ²⁰let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.

4. Notice also the parables in Matthew 13 – sower, wheat and tares, net – some are lost after being saved

5. 1 Corinthians 9:27 But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.

6. Galatians 6:9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.

Baptism if Believers vs. Infant Baptism (Acts 16:15, 33)

1. Is taken today that when a "household" is mentioned it included infants. But cannot show first that any such households included infants.

2. Second, the Lord set down the rule that candidates for baptism must be believers. Mark 16:15.

3. Consider those on Pentecost-- Acts 2

4. Based on false doctrine that children are sinners from conception.

First Day of the Week vs. Sabbath

1. Jesus arose on first day of the week. Mark. 16:9

2. Some deny that was the day Christ arose. (Sabbath)

3. Some say we should keep the Sabbath of the Old Testament.

4. Others erroneously say the Sabbath has been changed, that Sunday is the Christian Sabbath.

5. The day that Christ arose is the significance of our day of worship. The prominence of the Resurrection--that is our hope of atonement, and hope of eternal life with God.

6. Church founded on that Day.

7. Early disciples worshiped on that day (Galatians and Corinthians did, 1 Corinthians 16. The Troas church did, Acts 20:7 Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight.

8. All of the early historians substantiate this fact.

9. Some try to show that Paul worshiped on the Sabbath from the fact that he met with the Jews in the synagogues everywhere he went.

OUTSIDE THE BORDER

Faith Only vs. The Plan of Salvation

1. John 3:16. Vs. other scriptures

2. Method of interpretation -- Totality of Scriptures "Rich Young Ruler"

3. Matthew 19:20 -- "young"

4. Mark. 10:22 -- "rich"

5. Luke 18:18 -- "ruler"

6. "All Scripture. . ." 2 Timothy 3:16-17 ¹⁶All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, ¹⁷that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

7. The salvation procedure and the church addition procedure are identical. Acts 2:47.

Human Creeds vs. The Bible

1. The Bible IS our creed

2. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 – all scripture is inspired of God

3. 2 Peter 1:3 – as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue,

4. Jude 3 – Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.

Special Days

1. Many religious groups have a calendar full of special “holy days” with rituals to observe.

2. While we are free, as individuals, to observe a day any way we may choose.

3. The church cannot demand observance of days.

4. Galatians 4:10-11 ¹⁰You observe days and months and seasons and years. ¹¹I am afraid for you, lest I have labored for you in vain.

Man as Head vs. Christ

1. Ephesians 1:22-23 – ²²And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, ²³which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

2. Colossians 1:18 – And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.

INSIDE THE BORDER

Christ is the head

1. See the above point about man being the head.

Organization

1. Elders, pastors, bishops, overseers, presbyters (Philippians 1:1)

2. Deacons (1 Timothy 3:8-13)

3. Minister, preacher, evangelist (1 Timothy 4:5)

Salvation

1. Believe – Hebrews 11:6 without faith impossible to please Him

2. Repent – Acts 17:30 Now commands all men everywhere to repent

3. Confess – Romans 10:10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

4. Be baptized – Acts 2:38