Monthly Archives: March 2022

To Know The Greatness of Christ’s Power

Wednesday Evening Sermons

To Know The Greatness of Christ’s Power

Pastor Don Carpenter

Greater Vision / Ephesians 1:20–23

In his book, The Family of God, Batsell Barrett Baxter says the following:

“There are some who think of the church as an organization like other organizations. It is true that the church is an organization, but it is not primarily an organization. Rather, it is a new way of life. Those who have the view that being a part of the church is like being a member of a lodge, a luncheon club, a political part, or even a business are seriously mistaken. Such people feel that they should give to the church the same kind of support and loyalty which they give to these other organizations. It becomes my church, as it is ‘my club, or lodge, or party, or team.’ The Christian’s loyalty to Church, however, should be unique, for in reality it is a loyalty to Christ and His way of life. The church is like no other institution on earth and a person’s membership in the church is like no other membership which he may sustain. The church is more like a vibrant, living organism, than it is like a cold, structured organization…

Some make the mistake of thinking that the church…exists for the entertainment and enjoyment of its members. On the contrary, the church exists in order that its members may have an intimate relationship with Christ and God, as well as a close relationship with mankind.”

As we come to the last sermon in the series “Greater Vision” let us review what we have learned from Paul’s prison prayer for the Ephesian believers.

Of all the things he could have prayed for, it was for the believers to have a more intimate relationship with Jesus. For their eyes to be opened to His love for them and their standing with Him. Last week we saw praying that believers may know more fully the hope of their calling, and their rich value to Christ and the greatness of Christ’s power toward believers. It is that great power that is expounded upon here in our passage. Paul takes the time to put mind blowing details to that power of Christ that works toward us.

The Great Power of Christ Works in Us

Ephesians 1:19 KJV

And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,

Ephesians 2:1–2 KJV

And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 

Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

1 Corinthians 12:6 KJV

And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.

The Great Power of Christ Was Displayed In Jesus.

When He Was Raised From The Dead

 Ephesians 1:20 (KJV)

 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead…

raising him from the dead Jesus’ resurrection displayed God’s power over death and His approval of His Son (compare Isa 53:10 and note; Isa 53:12 and note)1

1 Barry, J. D., Mangum, D., Brown, D. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Ritzema, E., Whitehead, M. M., Grigoni, M. R., & Bomar, D. (2012, 2016). Faithlife Study Bible (Eph 1:20). Lexham Press.

When He Was Exalted to His Father’s Right Hand

 Ephesians 1:20 (KJV)

 … and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,

Acts 2:34–35 KJV

For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, 

Until I make thy foes thy footstool.

It was the power mentioned in Verse 19 that raised Jesus from the dead. His resurrection was only the firstfruits of the saved who have passed from this sphere. The same power that raised the firstfruits will also bring forth all of His brethren in their order and place them at God’s right hand in heaven. The expression “right hand” is a borrowed phrase. In the Sanhedrin—house of judgment—there were ever two scribes who were before the judges, one upon the right, the other upon the left side of the judge. It was the business of the scribe upon the right to write the approval or acquittal. The scribe upon the left wrote the sentence of condemnation. Jesus came not to condemn, John 3:17, hence His place is always at the right hand, where He may write pardons for men who are captives to the Devil. Just such power is manifest in all true believers as was wrought in the raising Christ from the grave. There must be the same Divine power in the members that there is in the Head, or there can be no unity. There can be no natural body at all unless the members are the same nature with the head. Any other kind of body is unnatural; it is a monstrosity. The power that moves in the tree moves in the branches also.1

1 Haynes, W. A. (1911). The Beautiful Word Pictures of the Epistle to the Ephesians: Or, the Busy Man’s Commentary upon the Bible (p. 36). Busy Man’s Bible Company.

When He Was Raised Far Above Every Principality and Power.

Ephesians 1:21 KJV

Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:

Ephesians 6:12 KJV

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Exorcists and magicians tried to manipulate powerful spirits by invoking their names (see comment on Acts 19:13); the supremacy of Jesus’ name above all other names means that he is higher than all the spirit-powers being invoked and could not be exploited.

Paul uses standard terms of his day for the demonic and angelic powers at work behind the political structures of the world, powers that were thought to direct the earthly rulers and peoples (v. 21). Most people in Paul’s day believed that the world was run by Fate, which was usually expressed by the stars (which were viewed as heavenly beings), and most of these people did not believe one had any hope of escape from Fate. Some of the mystery cults, however, like the cult of Isis, gained popularity by claiming power to free initiates from Fate.

Jewish people commonly believed that the heavenly powers ruled all the nations except Israel; some later teachers explained that Israel had been lifted above those heavenly powers in Abraham their ancestor. Paul says that those united with Christ had also been raised above those powers. His words would be a great encouragement to Christians who had been converted from an occult background (cf. Acts 19:18–20).

Jewish people especially viewed these heavenly powers as “angels of the nations,” spiritual beings who stood behind earthly rulers and guided their rule (cf. Dan 4:35; 10:13). (Although the details are developed more in later Jewish texts, the roots of the idea are as early as Daniel and the LXX of Deuteronomy.)1

1 Keener, C. S. (1993). The IVP Bible background commentary: New Testament (Eph 1:21–23). InterVarsity Press.

When The Father Put all Things Under His Feet.

Ephesians 1:22 KJV

And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,

Psalm 8:6 KJV

Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; Thou hast put all things under his feet:

Psalm 110:1 KJV

The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, Until I make thine enemies thy footstool.

Paul finishes by speaking of the conquest of Christ in a sphere which does not mean so much to us today. As the Authorized Version has it, God has raised Jesus Christ ‘far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named’. In Paul’s day, people strongly believed both in demons and in angels; and these words which Paul uses are the titles of different grades of angels. He is saying that there is not a being in heaven or on earth to whom Jesus Christ is not superior. In essence, Paul’s prayer is that we should realize the greatness of the Saviour God has given to us.1

1 Barclay, W. (2002). The Letters to the Galatians and Ephesians (p. 105). Westminster John Knox Press.

The Great Power of Christ Works Through the Church.

Ephesians 1:22–23 KJV

And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, 

Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

Ephesians 3:21 KJV

Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

Ephesians 4:15 KJV

But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

Matthew 28:18 KJV

And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

Christ was given all this power and prestige, and given as Head of all things to be the Head of the Church.

Christ is the head; the Church is the body. The head must have a body through which it can work. The Church is quite literally hands to do Christ’s work, feet to run his errands, a voice to speak his words.

In the very last phrase of the chapter, Paul has two tremendous thoughts. The Church, he says, is the essential element in the work of Christ. Just as the ideas of the mind cannot become effective without the work of the body, the tremendous glory which Christ brought to this world cannot be made effective without the work of the Church. Paul goes on to say that Jesus is bit by bit filling all things in all places; and that act of filling is being worked out by the Church. This is one of the most tremendous thoughts in all Christianity. It means nothing less than that God’s plan for one world is in the hands of the Church.1

1 Barclay, W. (2002). The Letters to the Galatians and Ephesians (p. 107). Westminster John Knox Press.

___

There is a legend which tells how Jesus went back to heaven after his time on earth. Even in heaven, he bore upon him the marks of the cross. The angels were talking to him, and Gabriel said: ‘Master, you must have suffered terribly for men and women down there.’ ‘I did,’ said Jesus. ‘And,’ said Gabriel, ‘do they all know about how you loved them and what you did for them?’ ‘Oh no,’ said Jesus, ‘not yet. Just now, only a few people in Palestine know.’ ‘What have you done,’ said Gabriel, ‘to let everyone know about it?’ Jesus said: ‘I have asked Peter and James and John and a few others to make it the business of their lives to tell others about me, and the others still others, and yet others, until the furthest person on the widest circle knows what I have done.’ Gabriel looked very doubtful, for he knew well what poor stuff human beings were made of. ‘Yes,’ he said, ‘but what if Peter and James and John grow tired? What if the people who come after them forget? What if, way down in the twenty-first century, people just don’t tell others about you? Haven’t you made any other plans?’ And Jesus answered: ‘I haven’t made any other plans. I’m counting on them.’ To say that the Church is the body means that Jesus is counting on us.1

1 Barclay, W. (2002). The Letters to the Galatians and Ephesians (pp. 107–108). Westminster John Knox Press.

Exported from Logos Bible Software, 6:27 PM March 9, 2022.

Don’t Kid Yourself

Sunday Evening Sermons

Don’t Kid Yourself

Pastor Don Carpenter

A Beautiful Mess / 1 Corinthians 3:18–23

Michael McCartney tells the following story:

I was at Boy Scout Camp when I discovered the terrible damage a fire storm could do to my life. It was a lazy afternoon very hot and dry. John and I were sent back to camp to start dinner for the guys. When I got back to camp, I discovered that the camp fire looked as if it had gone out. So I decided to rebuild the fire to get it ready for our meal. So I gathered firewood and placed it on the coals and tried to get it to burn. It would not start, so I decided to pour some kerosene on the wood, figuring it would help get the fire started sooner so that John and I could start dinner sooner for the troop.

So I poured the kerosene on the wood, and all of a sudden the fire ignited. It then traveled up the liquid and into the can I was holding in my hand. Within seconds, the can exploded in my hand, sending burning kerosene streaming in every direction. Most of the burning fuel landed on my lower right leg, and it burst into flames.

It was so surreal. I looked down as the heat started piercing through to my leg, and I began screaming. I was 12 years old, and my leg was burning out of control. I screamed for help and threw myself to the ground. I began to roll and roll, and the more I rolled the more the ground burst into flames around me. I rolled into a tent, and it caught on fire. I was screaming because of the pain and crying out for help. I started thinking, “This is it. I am going to burn to death,” and right at that moment another Boy Scout came to my rescue. John had a blanket in his hand, and he grabbed me and wrapped it around my leg to put out the fire. Once he put out my leg, he then proceeded to put out the tent and the burning ground around us.

I laid there in shock and disbelief with horrible pain throbbing up my leg. John held me and asked me to hang in there, because he was going to get me help. He ran like the wind for about a mile to the first aid head quarters in the park. I laid there all alone on the ground thinking, “Why did I do that!” Then the thought crept in: “Is this it?” It seemed as if I laid there forever starring up into the blue sky.

The Park Rangers came and the troop leaders came as fast as they could. As they pulled the blanket off of my leg, part of my jeans and burnt flesh came off with it. They cut my jeans off immediately and started cleaning out my badly burned leg. I screamed in pain. I heard one man get sick and throw up and another say, “Oh my Lord!”

I was burned from my ankle to just above the knee. I still remember the awful smell of burnt flesh rising off my leg. All I could do was moan and cry because of the excruciating pain inflicted from this fire. All I could do was keep asking questions, “What happened? Where did the fire come from? Why did this happen to me?” I was stunned by how quickly I had caught on fire.

It took the troop leaders 4 hours before they finally got me to a hospital. It was a horrible 4-hour trip from the mountains to the hospital. As I rode in a truck, I just moaned as my driver, a Boy Scout leader, just encouraged me to hang in there. I remember he turned his air conditioning onto the floor section so that cold air could blow onto my leg. My flesh was hanging off, and I was wishing for a miracle as I looked at my deformed leg. I thought this could not be my leg.

When we arrived at the hospital the doctors started to work on my leg immediately. They cleaned it up and put salve on it then wrapped with burn wrap. My mom showed up at the hospital in tears asking, “What happened?” The doctors informed my mom that I had second and third degree burns on the lower half of my leg. I remember the doctor telling her the importance of making sure that my leg did not become infected.

So daily she would clean my leg off. I would not look at my leg – my mom said it looked horrible, almost like hamburger. But eventually I did heal.

I often think about that day. It is etched into my memory forever. It was the painful day because I became a victim of a fire storm. I learned a few lessons that day that I will never forget: “Do not dump Kerosene on hot coals!” The biggest lesson I learned that day was not to be careless with a fire. I discovered the hard way that fire is hot and it burns very quickly and it does maximum damage in short amount of time. The firestorm I experienced lasted for minutes but caused major damage to my leg and it took months to heal. I still have scars on my lower leg from that fire storm. It reminds me as I look at that scar the danger of fire storms and how painful they can be.

Firestorms happen in this world every day–firestorms in relationships flare up doing maximum damage in a short period of time. A situation or word is misunderstood and the fire ignites scorching and burning up everything in sight.

A few years back I read the book “Firestorms.” The author Susek warned about the danger, the destruction and the damage that firestorms can do to a church, an organization or even a family unit. He shared true to life horror stories of Christians acting like raging firestorms and leaving a path of destruction in churches, in communities, in families and in individual lives. He shared the tragic stories to warn us Christians, leaders, and pastors how to prevent firestorms in our relationship’s, he stressed how to put fires out quickly in relationships, and even how to rebuild relationships after a firestorm.

Dr. Robert said, “No church is more than twenty-four hours away from a major conflict breaking out. In less than a year, it can destroy years of hard work and growth” (Firestorms, page 12).

He spoke about the danger and the ferocity of firestorms. He warned us that once a firestorm ignites it causes damage quickly to the surrounding terrain and races off to burn up whatever is in its path. They move fast and quickly across the landscape burning everything up in sight. They are dangerous and destructive. They have even been known to be brief but so intense that they cause maximum loss in a short period of time.

So we need to learn how to become fire fighters if we want to preserve our family relationships, our friendship relationships, our church relationships, our community relationships and our individual relationships.

Firestorms come in many forms and can ignite in any type of a life situation.

(From a sermon by Michael McCartney, Experience the Spirit in Conflict, 4/7/2011)

___

Paul has been addressing the problem of carnality within the “Beautiful Mess” that was the church at Corinth. He had been explaining how our fleshly attitudes and strife and destroy a local assembly. At the heart of any interpersonal conflict is the clash of prideful people.

We have been learning that there is a way that seems right to us, and that way is wrong unless our “common sense” has been reworked by the transforming wisdom and grace that only comes from God.  

Often in order for God to be able to work freely within a congregation, we need to stop kidding ourselves and realize that we don’t have the wisdom we think we do… we really are not “all that”.

You Are Not All That Wise

1 Corinthians 3:18 KJV

Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.

It comes as a shock to some church members that you cannot manage a local church the same way you run a business. This does not mean we should not follow good business principles, but the operation is totally different. There is a wisdom of this world that works for the world, but it will not work for the church.

The world depends on promotion, prestige, and the influence of money and important people. The church depends on prayer, the power of the Spirit, humility, sacrifice, and service. The church that imitates the world may seem to succeed in time, but it will turn to ashes in eternity.1

1 Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 581). Victor Books.

Galatians 6:3 KJV

For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.

Ephesians 5:6 KJV

Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.

The World’s Wisdom is not “All That”

1 Corinthians 3:19–20 KJV

For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness. 

And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.

Romans 1:21–22 KJV

Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 

Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

Isaiah 19:11–14 KJV

Surely the princes of Zoan are fools, The counsel of the wise counsellers of Pharaoh is become brutish: How say ye unto Pharaoh, I am the son of the wise, The son of ancient kings? 

Where are they? where are thy wise men? And let them tell thee now, And let them know what the LORD of hosts hath purposed upon Egypt. 

The princes of Zoan are become fools, The princes of Noph are deceived; They have also seduced Egypt, even they that are the stay of the tribes thereof. 

The LORD hath mingled a perverse spirit in the midst thereof: And they have caused Egypt to err in every work thereof, As a drunken man staggereth in his vomit.

Isaiah 5:21 KJV

Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, And prudent in their own sight!

2 Timothy 3:13 KJV

But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.

James 1:22 KJV

But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

Psalm 94:11 KJV

The LORD knoweth the thoughts of man, That they are vanity.

The church in the Book of Acts had none of the “secrets of success” that seem to be important today. They owned no property; they had no influence in government; they had no treasury (“Silver and gold have I none,” said Peter); their leaders were ordinary men without special education in the accepted schools; they held no attendance contests; they brought in no celebrities; and yet they turned the world upside down!1

1 Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 581). Victor Books.

Relax, There Is Nothing to Brag About.

1 Corinthians 3:21–23 KJV

Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours; 

Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours; 

And ye are Christ’s; and Christ is God’s.

Romans 14:8 KJV

For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s.

Finally, we must build with the right motive (vv. 21–23). That motive is the glory of God. The members of the Corinthian church were glorying in men, and this was wrong. They were comparing men (1 Cor. 4:6) and dividing the church by such carnal deeds. Had they been seeking to glorify God alone, there would have been harmony in the assembly.

Paul closed this appeal by pointing out that each believer possesses all things in Christ. Each one of God’s servants belongs to each believer. No member of the church should say, “I belong to Paul!” or “I like Peter!” because each servant belongs to each member equally. Perhaps we cannot help but have our personal preferences when it comes to the way different men minister the Word. But we must not permit our personal preferences to become divisive prejudices. In fact, the preacher I may enjoy the least may be the one I need the most!

“All are yours”—the world, life, death, things present, things to come! How rich we are in Christ! If all things belong to all believers, then why should there be competition and rivalry? “Get your eyes off of men!” Paul admonished. “Keep your eyes on Christ, and work with Him in building the church!”

“Ye are Christ’s”—this balances things. I have all things in Jesus Christ, but I must not become careless or use my freedom unwisely. “All things are yours”—that is Christian liberty. “And ye are Christ’s”—that is Christian responsibility. We need both if we are to build a church that will not turn to ashes when the fire falls.

How we need to pray for ministers of the Word! They must feed the family and bring the children to maturity. They must sow the seed in the field and pray for an increase. They must mine the treasures of the Word and build these treasures into the temple. No wonder Paul cried, “And who is sufficient for these things?” But he also gave the answer: “Our sufficiency is of God” (2 Cor. 2:16; 3:5).1

1 Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, pp. 581–582). Victor Books.

Exported from Logos Bible Software, 7:10 PM March 3, 2022.

Individual Soul Liberty

Sunday Morning Sermons

Individual Soul Liberty

Pastor Don Carpenter

Baptist Basics

Individual soul liberty. We believe that each person must make a personal decision of repentance and faith in Christ. (See Romans 10:9–17, 14:1–23.)

A young couple moved into a new house. The next morning while they were eating breakfast, the young woman saw her neighbor hanging the washing outside.

“That laundry is not very clean; she doesn’t know how to wash correctly. Perhaps she needs better soap powder. Her husband looked on, remaining silent.

Every time her neighbor hung her washing out to dry, the young woman made the same comments.

A month later, the woman was surprised to see a nice clean wash on the line and said to her husband, “Look, she’s finally learned how to wash correctly. I wonder who taught her this?”

The husband replied, “I got up early this morning and cleaned our windows.”

And so it is with life… What we see when watching others depends on the clarity of the window through which we look.

So don’t be too quick to judge others, especially if your perspective of life is clouded by anger, jealousy, negativity or unfulfilled desires.

“Judging a person does not define who they are. It defines who you are.”

______ 

Welcome to week 5 of our 7 week study of the Baptist Basics. We have been learning the implications of the sign in the front of our church. We have learned that anyone who names the name of Jesus can call themselves “Christian”… but since that includes everyone from the Catholic to the Mormon, JW, Baptist Congregationalist and Pentecostal, we need a little more specifics in order to see what kind of spiritual medicine is in the bottle. A simple way to identify the Biblical doctrines that combine to become Baptist Distinctives, is to break it down to an acrostic.

B -Biblical Authority

A- Autonomy of the Local Church

P -Priesthood of all Believers

T – Two Ordinances

I – Individual Soul Liberty

S 

T

Definition: Every individual, whether a believer or an unbeliever, has the freedom to choose what his conscience or soul dictates is right in the religious realm. Soul liberty asks the believer to accept responsibility for his own actions and not try to force anyone else to do or believe anything contrary to his own conscience. However, this liberty is not a justification for disobeying God. The believer must still act according to the principles of Scripture and honor the doctrinal position of the Bible-believing Baptist church to which he belongs.

Individual soul liberty is a particularly Baptist principle. Most denominations attempt to exercise control over their members to some extent, but Baptists limit such control by demanding that every believer is ultimately responsible to God. Individuals have the right to disagree with others, follow their own conscience, and not feel compelled to adopt any views they disagree with. This does not suggest that every believer is a “lone wolf” or that believers need not submit to the leadership of their church. Soul liberty simply asserts that every believer has the right to act in accordance with his own conscience, and that no one can force anyone to believe or act against his theological viewpoint.

When studying the individual priesthood of the believer, we found that no believer has the right to impose views, practices, etc., on any other believer. The priesthood of the believer and individual soul liberty overlap a bit as they both deal with the issue of freedom within the confines of the will of God.

There appears to be widespread ignorance of this Baptist distinctive, at least in practice if not in belief. Since it is a biblical issue, it is certainly worthy of serious study and consideration. Let us dig deeper into the implications of this truth together.

Individual Responsibility to Stand Before God

Romans 14:10–12 KJV

But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. 

For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. 

So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.

We Will Answer for OUR OWN Actions

Matthew 12:36 KJV

But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.

Galatians 6:5 KJV

For every man shall bear his own burden.

1 Corinthians 3:13 KJV

Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.

We Are To Allow Individuals to Have Personal Relationships with God Even if They Make Different Choices.

John 21:22 KJV

Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.

Romans 14:4 KJV

Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.

Acts 15:39 KJV

And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus;

Individual Responsibility to Obey the Bible.

Psalm 119:105 KJV

NUN. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, And a light unto my path.

James 1:22–25 KJV

But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. 

For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: 

For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. 

But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

 • The Bible is the Authority

 • The Individual is Responsible to learn follow, and obey.

Individual Responsibility to Follow Their Own Conscience.

Romans 14:5–9 KJV

One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. 

He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks. 

For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. 

For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s. 

For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.

 • The Bible is the Authority

 • Often the Bible is not specific on specific applications.

 • The individual in responsible to take what they know before God in prayer and come up with a plan of action.

 • One’s plan may look different than another… that is not your concern. Each individual is free to develop that part of their relationship privately before God.

Individual Responsibility to Teach and not Fight.

2 Timothy 2:24–26 KJV

And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, 

In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; 

And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

 • Gentle

 • Teaching

 • Meek

 • Instructing… commending them to their own conscience before God.

 • Then back off and let God work.

James 1:20 KJV

For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.

So one of the doctrines that serves to separate Baptists from other Bible Believing Christians is the doctrine of Individual Soul Liberty. As mentioned above, soul liberty is often misunderstood and more often not allowed in many conservative churches. Strong leaders tend to portray a “my way or the highway” style that will not put up with dissenting opinions. Some even exalt their own personal standards to the level of biblical principle, and anyone who disagrees is seen as “liberal.” Soul liberty comes into play in areas the Bible does not address either directly or in principle. Christians have freedom to come to their own conclusions on such matters. Church leaders may teach and advise on such issues, but they should not force members to subscribe to convictions without biblical warrant. Baptists have historically allowed members to exercise their liberty of conscience.

May God help us to be true to scriptures and true to our label and embrace the Biblical doctrine of individual soul liberty.

Exported from Logos Bible Software, 11:36 AM March 3, 2022.

That You May KNOW!

Wednesday Evening Sermons

That You May Know

Pastor Don Carpenter

Greater Vision / Ephesians 1:18–19

Dr. Kenneth Chafin, a well-known Baptist author, tells about the pastor and deacon who were visiting prospective members and drove up to a beautiful suburban home surrounded by a velvet lawn and gorgeous landscaping. Two expensive cars stood in the driveway, and through the picture window, the men saw their prospect, lounging in an easy chair and watching color TV. The deacon turned to his pastor and said, “What kind of good news do we have for him?”

How prone we are to confuse prices and values. Ephesus was a wealthy city. It boasted the temple of Diana, one of the wonders of the ancient world. Today, Ephesus is an archeologist’s paradise, but all of its wealth and splendor are gone. But the Christians who once lived there are today in heaven, enjoying the glory of God!

Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 15). Victor Books.

As we continue to explore this prison prayer for enlightenment that Paul records in scriptures, we come to the reason Paul is praying this prayer. He yearns that the light of their understanding is turned on, not simply so they can comprehend or articulate great and deep theological truths, but so they can KNOW Christ more intimately.

 Ephesians 1:18 (KJV)

 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know…

 oida (Perf. of ????, 1492), “to know by perception,” is the word in Pilate’s remark “make it as sure as ye can” (marg. “sure, as ye know”), Matt. 27:65. The phrases “cannot tell,” “canst not tell,” etc., are in the rv rendered “know not,” etc., Matt. 21:27; Mark 11:33; Luke 20:7; John 3:8; 8:14; 16:18; 2 Cor. 12:2–3. See know1

1 Vine, W. E., Unger, M. F., & White, W., Jr. (1996). In Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words (Vol. 2, p. 88). T. Nelson.

To Know The Hope of Christ’s Calling

 Ephesians 1:18 (KJV)

 … that ye may know what is the hope of his calling…

The first is that they may know “what is the hope of their calling.” The word “what” is tis (???), not “how great,” nor “of what kind,” but “what”—what the hope really is. “The ‘His calling’ is the call of which God is the author, and that is an effectual call.… The hope is not the object hoped for, … but the attitude of mind, the subjective hope, the assured Christian expectation” (Expositors).1

1 Wuest, K. S. (1997). Wuest’s word studies from the Greek New Testament: for the English reader (Vol. 4, p. 53). Eerdmans.

Ephesians 4:4 KJV

There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;

Some callings offer no hope, but the calling we have in Christ assures us of a delightful future. Keep in mind that the word hope in the Bible does not mean “hope so,” like a child hoping for a doll or a bike at Christmas. The word carries with it “assurance for the future.” The believer’s hope is, of course, the return of Jesus Christ.

Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 15). Victor Books.

1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 KJV

But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 

For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 

For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 

For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 

Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 

Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

1 John 3:1–3 KJV

Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. 

Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 

And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

To Know The Riches of Christ’s Inheritance In Us!

 Ephesians 1:18 (KJV)

 …that ye may know …what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,

This phrase does not refer to our inheritance in Christ (Eph. 1:11), but His inheritance in us. This is an amazing truth—that God should look on us as a part of His great wealth! Just as a man’s wealth brings glory to his name, so God will get glory from the church because of what He has invested in us. When Jesus Christ returns, we shall be “to the praise of the glory of His grace” (Eph. 1:6).

God deals with us on the basis of our future, not our past. He said to cowardly Gideon, “The Lord is with thee, thou mighty man of valor” (Judg. 6:12). Jesus said to Andrew’s brother, “Thou art Simon … thou shalt be called Cephas [a stone]” (John 1:42).

Gideon did become a mighty man of valor, and Simon did become Peter, a rock. We Christians live in the future tense, our lives controlled by what we shall be when Christ returns. Because we are God’s inheritance, we live to please and glorify Him.

This truth suggests to us that Christ will not enter into His promised glory until the church is there to share it with Him. He prayed for this before He died, and this prayer will be answered (John 17:24). Christ will be glorified in us (2 Thes. 1:10), and we will be glorified in Him (Col. 3:4). Knowing this should lead the believer into a life of dedication and devotion to the Lord.1

1 Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 16). Victor Books.

Psalm 28:9 KJV

Save thy people, And bless thine inheritance: Feed them also, and lift them up for ever.

Ephesians 1:12 KJV

That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.

Philippians 2:13 KJV

For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

To Know The Greatness of Christ’s Power Toward Us.

Ephesians 1:19 KJV

And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,

Paul offered something to challenge our faith: “the exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward who believe” (Eph. 1:19). So tremendous is this truth that Paul enlisted many different words from the Greek vocabulary to get his point across: dunamis—“power” as in dynamo and dynamite; energeia—“working” as in energy; kratos—“mighty”; ischus—“power.” Ephesians 1:19 can be translated, “What is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the operation of the might of His strength.” He is talking about divine dynamic, eternal energy, available to us!

1 Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 16). Victor Books.

Ephesians 1:19 KJV

And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,

Ephesians 3:7 KJV

Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.

2 Corinthians 13:4 KJV

For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you.

Romans 8:11 KJV

But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

1 Peter 1:5 KJV

Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

1 Corinthians 2:5 KJV

That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

Ephesians 3:20 KJV

Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

At first I saw God as my observer, my judge, keeping track of the things I did wrong, so as to know whether I merited heaven or hell when I die. He was out there sort of like the president. I recognized His picture when I saw it, but I didn’t really know Him. But later on when I recognized this Higher Power, It seemed as though life was rather like a bike ride, but it was a tandem bike, and I noticed that God was in the back helping me pedal. I don’t know just when it was that he suggested we change places, but life has not been the same since—life with my Higher Power, that is. God makes life exciting! But when He took the lead, it was all I could do to hang on! He knew delightful paths, up mountains and through rocky places—and at breakneck speeds. Even though it looked like madness, he said, “Pedal!” I worried and was anxious and asked, “Where are you taking me?” He laughed and didn’t answer, and I started to learn trust. I forgot my boring life and entered into adventure. When I’d say, “I’m scared,” He’d lean back and touch my hand. He took me to people with gifts that I needed, gifts of healing, acceptance, and joy. They gave me their gifts to take on my journey, our journey, God’s and mine. And we were off again. He said, “Give the gifts away; they’re extra baggage, too much weight.” So I did, to the people we met, and I found that in giving I received, and our burden became light. At first I did not trust Him in control of my life. I thought He’d wreck it. But He knows bike secrets—knows how to make it lean to take sharp corners, dodge large rocks, and speed through scary passages. And I am learning to shut up and pedal in the strangest places. I’m beginning to enjoy the view and the cool breeze on my face with my delightful constant Companion. And when I’m sure I just can’t do any more, He just smiles and says, “Pedal!”

James S. Hewett, Illustrations Unlimited (Wheaton: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc, 1988) pp. 247-248.

Exported from Logos Bible Software, 4:35 PM March 2, 2022.