Don McClainW. 65th St church of Christ ~ May, 21, 2006 1.

Don McClain W. 65th St church of Christ ~ May, 21, 2006

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1.Absolute Truth (Guide -One Faith)

2.Gospel Plan (Entrance - One Baptism)

3.Undenominational (Unity - One Body)

4.Biblical Authority (Head - One Lord)

Worship, Mission, Appeal


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Truth is relative, not fixed or absolute; subjective, not objective.

Truth is not discovered ― but constructed.

One can never know something without question.

What is true for one person may not be true for another.

One “truth” is as valid as another.

What Is Truth? John 18:37-38; “Thy word is truth” – John

17:17


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Individuals and cultures Individuals and cultures construct truths that work construct truths that work for them.for them.

All perceived truths are All perceived truths are open to re-interpretation open to re-interpretation and can be revised and can be revised without contradiction. without contradiction.

In postmodernism – “spin” In postmodernism – “spin” is everything. Truth is not is everything. Truth is not knowable, at least not knowable, at least not absolutely knowable.absolutely knowable.


17:17


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“What we call truth is relative truth, relative to the person

who has it. Your truth is true for you, but not necessarily for me or anyone else. Our truths are

necessarily different, and that’s why we’re able to argue about

them. Each of us can only believe such truth. We can

never know that we’ve arrived at the perfect last word.” ~

Introduction to the Nature of Truth by Sufi George


17:17


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The reason that Church of Christ people have a problem with things like polygamy and slavery in the Bible is Church of Christ people think the Bible is a fixed pattern. They don't see right or wrong as something that changes with time and circumstances but as something that is fixed. . . Church of Christ Mailing List (2/22/06)


17:17


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17:17John 8:44 (NKJV)

You are of your father the devil, and You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the to do. He was a murderer from the

beginning, and does not stand in the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in truth, because there is no truth in

him. When he speaks a lie, he him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for speaks from his own resources, for

he is a liar and the father of ithe is a liar and the father of it.


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17:17John 8:31-32 (NKJV)

Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If

you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. [32] And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."


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“There are a lot of people who seem to think that the only sense in which God changes people is that he gives us the Bible, a self-help book, and we have to follow it and change ourselves by doing so…. Nicocstudy.com


17:17


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17:172 Tim. 3:16-17 (NKJV)

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable

for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in

righteousness, [17] that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly

equipped for every good work.


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17:17Ephes. 4:4-6 (NKJV) There is one body and one

Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; [5] one Lord, one faith, one baptism; [6] one God and

Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.


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“…immersion alone is the baptismal act…”

Baptist Church Manual, p. 65

“‘Baptize’ means to apply water by washing,

pouring, sprinkling, or immersing.” Luther’s

Small Catechism, p. 170


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“The allusions to baptism in the apostolic epistles for-bid the supposition that in-fants were baptized.” Bap-tist Church Manual, p. 87

“The baptism of young children is to be retained in the church.” The Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church, p. 59


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“Doctrine isn’t important . . . The only

thing that matters is that we are sincere . . .

“They continued steadfast in the apostles doctrine,

(Acts 2:42) we MUST obey the truth (1 Pet. 1:22,23;

1 Tim. 4:13-16)


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“Church affiliation doesn’t matter, . . . We’re all

heading to the same place, just different paths . .

There is but ONE body, (Eph. 4:4) ONE church

(Eph. 1:22,23) the saved – (Eph 5:23-26) –ONE path – (Mat 7:13,14; Acts 4:12)


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Hear

Believe Repent

Confess

Be Baptized

Luke 8:11; Rom. 10:17

John 8:24; Heb 11:6Luke 13:3,5; Acts

17:30Mat. 10:32,33; Rom

10:9Acts 2:38; 1 Pet 3:21


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“We believe… that all are justified on the single ground of faith in the shed blood of Christ, and that only by God's grace through faith alone are we saved “Statement Of Faith” on

Salvation www.livingwaters.com

You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by

faith only. James 2:24 (NKJV)


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“Baptism is not essential to salvation… but it is essential to

obedience, since Christ commanded it. It is also essential to membership in the church...” Hiscox Standard Manual for

Baptist Churches pp. 20-21

And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him, - Heb 5:9

(NKJV)

Baptism is NOT essential to salvation –

Baptism IS essential to obedience –

Therefore – Obedience is NOT essential unto salvation!


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“Baptism is not essential to salvation… but it is essential to

obedience, since Christ commanded it. It is also essential to membership in the church...” Hiscox Standard Manual for

Baptist Churches pp. 20-21

. . . Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. Ephes. 5:23 (NKJV)

Baptism is NOT essential to salvation –

Baptism IS essential to church membership –

Therefore – church membership is NOT essential unto salvation!


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““Baptists believe that no one is Baptists believe that no one is a scriptural subject for baptisma scriptural subject for baptism

till he is already savedtill he is already saved. . What Baptists Believe And Why They What Baptists Believe And Why They

Believe It, J. G. Bow, pp. 36-37:Believe It, J. G. Bow, pp. 36-37:

He who believes and is baptized will be saved;

but he who does not believe will be condemned.

Mark 16:16 (NKJV)

Mark 16:16 - Mark 16:16 - B+B=SB+B=S


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Acts 2:38 (NKJV) . . . "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ

for the remission of sins; . . . .

Mark 16:16 - Mark 16:16 - B+B=SB+B=S

Acts 2:38 – Acts 2:38 – R+B=SR+B=S


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Acts 22:16 (NKJV) And now why are you waiting?

Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the

Lord.’

Mark 16:16 - Mark 16:16 - B+B=SB+B=S

Acts 2:38 – Acts 2:38 – R+B=SR+B=S

Acts 22:16 – Acts 22:16 – A+B=sA+B=s


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Believe Repent Confess Baptized

Pentecost – Acts 2:14-41Pentecost – Acts 2:14-41 2:37,382:37,38 2:38,412:38,41

Samaria – Acts 8:5-13Samaria – Acts 8:5-13 8:128:12 8:12,138:12,13

Eunuch – Acts 8:35-39Eunuch – Acts 8:35-39 8:36,378:36,37 8:378:37 8:388:38

Saul – Acts 9,22,26Saul – Acts 9,22,26 22:1622:16

Cornelius – Acts 10:34ffCornelius – Acts 10:34ff 10:4310:43 10:4810:48

Lydia – Acts 16:13-15Lydia – Acts 16:13-15 16:1416:14 16:1516:15

Jailor – Acts 16:30-34Jailor – Acts 16:30-34 16:3116:31 16:3316:33

Corinthians – Acts 18:8Corinthians – Acts 18:8 18:818:8 18:818:8

Ephesians – Acts 19:3-5 Ephesians – Acts 19:3-5 19:219:2 19:519:5


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Romans 6:3-4 (NKJV)

Or do you not know Or do you not know that as many of us as that as many of us as

were baptized into were baptized into Christ Jesus were Christ Jesus were baptized into His baptized into His

death? Therefore we death? Therefore we were buried with Him were buried with Him through baptism into through baptism into

death, . . .death, . . .


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Romans 6:3-4 (NKJV)

. . . that just as Christ that just as Christ was raised from the was raised from the dead by the glory of dead by the glory of

the Father, even so we the Father, even so we also should walk in also should walk in newness of life. newness of life.


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Galatians 3:26-27 (NKJV)

For you are all sons For you are all sons of God through faith in of God through faith in

Christ Jesus. For as Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were many of you as were baptized into Christ baptized into Christ have put on Christ. have put on Christ.


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1 Peter 3:21 (NASB)

And corresponding to And corresponding to that, baptism now saves that, baptism now saves you – not the removal of you – not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a an appeal to God for a

good conscience – good conscience – through the resurrection through the resurrection

ofofJesus Christ.Jesus Christ.


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1.Absolute Truth (Guide -One Faith)

2.Gospel Plan (Entrance - One Baptism)

3.Undenominational (Unity - One Body)

4.Biblical Authority (Head - One Lord)

Worship, Mission, Appeal


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Hear

Believe Repent

Confess

Be Baptized

Luke 8:11; Rom. 10:17

John 8:24; Heb 11:6Luke 13:3,5; Acts

17:30Mat. 10:32,33; Rom

10:9Acts 2:38; 1 Pet 3:21


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Don McClainW. 65th St church of Christ ~ May, 21, 2006 1.

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Transcript of Don McClainW. 65th St church of Christ ~ May, 21, 2006 1.