Explaining and Giving Evidence

"And according to Paul's custom, he went to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and giving evidence that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, 'This Jesus whom I am proclaiming to you is the Christ'" (Acts 17:2-3)

These verses are talking about Paul's teaching in the synagogue in Thessalonica. He came with the message that Jesus was the Messiah who had been prophesied of in the Old Testament.

Notice how Paul taught this message. He did not simply state his premise that Jesus was the Christ and therefore had to suffer and rise again. He explained and gave evidence. His explanations and evidence were from the Scriptures.

Paul's main point was true: the Christ had to suffer, die, and rise again and that Jesus was the Christ. But Paul did not expect them to accept this simply because he said it. He pointed them to the Scriptures and reasoned from them. He later wrote to the ones here who accepted his message, "we also constantly thank God that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God" (1 Thessalonians 2:13). They could accept it as the word of God because they were shown that it was the word of God.

We must teach in the same way today. Never expect someone to accept a point you make, even if it's true, simply because you say it. Reason from the Scriptures. Explain and give evidence why the point is true. Our aim is to bring people to faith. Faith, the type of faith that saves, does not come by hearing what men say, but hearing that comes "by the word of God" (Romans 10:17).

A Better Sacrifice

"Every priest stands daily ministering and offering time after time the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins; but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, sat down at the right hand of God" (Hebrews 10:11-12).

Throughout this book, the Hebrew writer has been demonstrating why Jesus Christ and His new covenant are better than the system put in place by God through Moses. The above passage continues in this theme. It contrasts the work of the Levitical priests and the work of Christ.

The contrast is a simple one. The priests of old stand daily. Jesus sat down.

The implication is that the priests stand daily because their work was never done. Every time they offered a sacrifice, they would later have to offer another. And these sacrifices themselves would never atone for sins.

On the other hand, Jesus sat down. His work of sacrificing is done. He offered one perfect sacrifice, His life. He will never have to offer His life again, because the first offering was fully sufficient.

The lesson for the Hebrews was for them not go back to the old system. Atonement for sins and salvation is in Christ. If they deserted Him, they had no hope.

Today, there are probably not many Christians tempted to go back to Judaism. But the basic point still applies. Salvation is found only in Christ. If we desert Him, we will be lost. Let us remain faithful and devote our lives to the One who offered His life on the cross for us.

BOTC - February 2008

The new issue of Banner of the Cross is now online and contains the following articles:

What is the Church of Christ? by Andy Sochor
Allegiance to Christ by Andy Sochor

Banner of the Cross

PBT - February 2008

The February issue of Plain Bible Teaching is now online with the following articles:

Living in View of Christ's Return by Andy Sochor
Safeguards Against False Teaching by Robert A. Sochor
Who Is Qualified to Preach the Gospel? by Andy Sochor
Prayer and the Christian Soldier by Andy Sochor

You can read the new articles by clicking on the link below. I hope you may find the new material helpful to you.

Plain Bible Teaching

Some Thoughts from 2 Timothy

In February we're going to start studying 1 & 2 Timothy and Titus in the Sunday morning Bible class I teach. Tonight I've been working on the study guides. When I write a study guide, I divide them up a lesson per chapter. At the top of the page in each lesson I list a key verse in the chapter that states one of the main points.

After I finished 2 Timothy, I noticed a pattern in the verses I had chosen. 2 Timothy 1:13, 2:15, 3:16, and 4:2.

What are we to do?
"Retain the standard of sound words" (1:13). Hold fast the pattern and live by it, no matter what the cost.

How do we do this?
"Be diligent (study, KJV) to present yourself approved to God...accurately handling the word of truth" (2:15). Study the word. That is our standard. We cannot retain the standard if we are not familiar with it.

Why should we do this?
"All Scripture is inspired by God" (3:16). Why bother following the Bible and not some other standard? Because the Bible is the only book that is from God. Nothing can compare with it.

What should we do with it?
"Preach the word" (4:2). Do not hide the truth. Do not insert your opinions or those of others. Simply preach the pure, unadulterated word of God.

These instructions were written to the evangelist Timothy. But all Christians can learn from this. Hold to, practice, study, preach and teach the word because it is in fact from God. The more we work at these things, the more we will please Him.

New Website

About a month ago I started working on a new website to post sermon outlines and ideas. I went back and posted most of my sermon outlines from the last few years. Eventually I'm going to make my own template for it, but I'm using a free template for now. The content is there though, so you can check it out.

DIY Sermon Outlines

I will not be posting full outlines, only the main points and passages. You are free to use any of the outlines, but you will have to fill them out yourself and make them your own. (Hence the reason for the name.)

I hope you might find this new site helpful in some way.

His Name is John

Luke records that an angel appeared to Zacharias, a priest serving in the temple. The angel told Zacharias, "your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will give him the name John" (Luke 1:13). The angel went on to tell Zacharias that this child would grow up and be the forerunner of the Messiah, as prophesied by Malachi (Luke 1:17; Malachi 4:5-6). Zacharias did not immediately believe the angel, so he was struck with silence until the time the child was born (Luke 1:20).

After the child was born, their neighbors and relatives gathered to rejoice over the birth (Luke 1:57-58). The question came up about what to name the child. The friends and family suggested naming him Zacharias, after his father (Luke 1:59). Elizabeth said, "No indeed; but he shall be called John" (Luke 1:60). The others, however, could not see any reason to name the child John, and essentially questioned Elizabeth's decision (Luke 1:61).

Then they asked Zacharias. Since he still could not speak, he wrote, "His name is John" (Luke 1:63). Luke then records, "at once his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he began to speak in praise of God" (Luke 1:64).

Zacharias' statement was worded in a way to show that this was already determined. Not, 'he will be called John,' but 'he is John.' Before and while others were discussing possible names, the child's name was John. Why? That was God's will. No suggestion from anyone else could change what God said.

This must be our attitude in all things relating to our service to God and response to His word. When God's word instructs us to do something, we should determine that that is what we will do, even before the situation arrives that requires us to act and regardless of what others think.

Right is right. Sin is sin. No amount of deliberation will change that. "His name is John." That is what God determined. That is the way it is.