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Category: Doctrine

About Roger – TalkofJESUS.com Doctrine & teaching

What do Christians believe?

Doctrine = Teaching

What do you know about Biblical teaching and preaching?

WHAT DOCTRINES DO YOU BELIVE?

WHAT DOCTRINES DOES YOUR PASTOR PREACH (or avoid)?

Convicted Characters of Christ’s Church
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Continuing with the characters of Bunyan's allegory, THE PILGRIM'S PROGRESS.
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Church of the Lost Pilgrims

In our last Saturday Post we met many familiar faces of our own ‘church.’

The MAN FLEEING THE CITY OF DESTRUCTION with a burden on his back ASKED EVANGELIST the question every preacher would like to hear:

What must I do?

And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed.
Acts of the Apostles 16:25-26 KJV

What must I do?

Convicted! And Now Facing Punishment

Then said Evangelist, Why not willing to die? since this life is attended with so many evils?

The Man answered, Because, I fear that this burden that is upon my back, will sink me lower then the Grave; and I shall fall into Tophet (Isa. 30:33). And Sir, if I be not fit to go to Prison, I am not fit (I am sure) to go to Judgement, and from thence to Execution; and the thoughts of these things make me cry.

– READ it from our source.

Characters without Character

DEATH & the Question of Eternal Life

Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?
Gospel of Matthew 19:16
- Does YOUR church proclaim the hard truth?
Bunyan has introduced us to some characters of his century seemingly alien to our own experience.
- What can I learn from these acquaintances of Christian to apply anything to 21st century christians of MY local church?
Oh sure, there’s, Talkative of my Bible Study, Formalist of my former church, Hypocrisy who used to sing in the praise band but has left now.. I’ve heard rumors about Demas the donator who (with conditions) made the building of our church possible. Pliable used to come to our church but his friend Obstinate got him into the Sunday golf league.
- What do these characters have to do with ME?
AND on Sunday,
- Won’t MY pastor preach the BIBLE as written with the same TRUTH as EVANGELIST?
Confession and Profession

Without spoiling the ending, (if you have never read THE PILGRIM’S PROGRESS of John Bunyan), I must confess reluctance to share my own worst fears of conviction. (No, it’s not the Burden of Christian which I left at the foot of the Cross years ago.)

One is a fearful scene and the other a fearful character.

The END of Ignorance

You remember Ignorance from earlier in Christian’s pilgrimage to the heavenly city. We chuckled knowingly each time Bunyan observed, “and Ignorance followed.”

But HELL is no laughing matter. Tophet (mentioned above from Isaiah), Sheol, Hades, Abaddon and Apollyon – ALL fearful, because of our SIN and the wrath of GOD against SIN.

The evil one is not caricature of man’s invention, but a questioner of man’s salvation.
Roger@TalkofJesus.com

Jesus Christ confronts Satan quoting Scripture – do not be deceived. The enemy of Christian is an enemy to you; for evil one is a fallen angelic enemy of the Lord God our Father in Heaven and the Son Jesus Christ, our Redeemer sacrificed on the Cross for sinners.

CHRIST IS the only Way to the Celestial City.

Christian, Hopeful and Faithful pilgrims must follow the Way, the Truth and the Life.

Fearful Scenes: A Byway to Hell

Then I saw in my dream that the shepherds took them to another place in the bottom of a ravine, where there was a door in the side of the hill.

.. it was very dark and smoky.. they heard a rumbling noise like that of a fire and the cries of someone being tormented, and they smelled the scent of brimstone.

This is a byway to Hell, a way that hypocrites enter by doing such things as [Bunyan provides us with some Biblical examples]..

Then said Hopeful to the Shepherds,

“I perceive that all of these people you have mentioned had the appearance of being pilgrims, just as we do, did they not?”

“Yes, and for a long time too,” the Shepherds replied.

“Now why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?
Gospel of Luke 6:46 – a question of Jesus to disciples of the crowds

Ignorance at the Gate of Heaven

When he was come up at the gate, he looked up to the writing that was above, and then began to knock, supposing that entrance should be quickly administered to him..

“Whence came you? And what would you have?

“I have eat and drank in the presence of the King, and he has taught in our Streets?

Then they asked him for his Certificate, that they might go in and shew it to the King…

“When once the Master of the house has risen up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open for us,’ and He will answer and say to you, ‘I do not know you, where you are from,’
Gospel of Luke 13:25 New King James Version

“Have you none?” .. So they told the King, but he would not come down to see him, but commanded the two Shining Ones..

go out and take Ignorance, and bind him hand and foot, and have him away..

And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you evildoers.’
Gospel of Matthew 7:23 Revised Standard Version

Then I saw that there was a way to Hell even from the Gates of Heaven, as well as from the City of Destruction.

But NOW we return with Christian to visit with my most fearful character or Bunyan’s allegory.

Bunyan’s Professor

Yet except for the grace of God this professor of Christ might have been me or so many members of our own church!

Bunyan, must certainly have glanced out over his congregation while preaching and observed this Professor of faith.

Now, said Christian, let me go hence.

Nay, stay, said the Interpreter, till I have showed thee a little more, and after that thou shalt go on thy way.

So he took him by the hand again, and led him into a very dark room, where there sat a man in an iron cage.

Source for MORE of the scene

Now the man, to look on, seemed very sad; he sat with his eyes looking down to the ground, his hands folded together, and he sighed as if he would break his heart..

Then said Christian to the man, What art thou? The man answered, I am what I was not once.

Christian: What wast thou once?

The Man: The man said, I was once a fair and flourishing professor, Luke 8:13, both in mine own eyes, and also in the eyes of others: I once was, as I thought, fair for the celestial city, and had then even joy at the thoughts that I should get thither.

Christian: Well, but what art thou now?

The Man: I am now a man of despair, and am shut up in it, as in this iron cage. I cannot get out; Oh now I cannot!

Christian: But how camest thou into this condition?

The Man: I left off to watch and be sober:
- I laid the reins upon the neck of my lusts;
- I sinned against the light of the word, and the goodness of God;
- I have grieved the Spirit, and he is gone;
- I tempted the devil, and he is come to me;
- I have provoked God to anger, and he has left me:
- I have so hardened my heart, that I cannot repent.
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DO YOU KNOW THESE CONVICTING SCRIPTURES THE MAN QUOTES?
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Then said Christian to the Interpreter, But is there no hope for such a man as this? Ask him, said the Interpreter.

Christian: Then said Christian, Is there no hope, but you must be kept in the iron cage of despair?

The Man: No, none at all.

Christian: Why, the Son of the Blessed is very pitiful.
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The former professor of Christ then quotes these Scriptures:
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- Hebrews 6 – The Peril of Not Progressing
For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come and they have fallen away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.
- Luke 19 – The Parable of the Minas
“A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and to return. So he called ten of his servants, delivered to them ten minas, and said to them, ‘Do business till I come.’ But his citizens hated him, and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We will not have this man to reign over us.’ ..

‘But bring here those enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, and slay them before me.’ ”
Gospel of Luke 19:27 New King James Version – Jesus, just prior to entering Jerusalem for His Crucifixion
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Has YOUR Pastor and Professor of Christ ever preached this? Most certainly John Bunyan would have preached the fearfulness of our punishment for sin as well as the saving grace of Christ's Cross for sinners.
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The Man: I have crucified him to myself afresh (Heb. 6:6); I have despised his person (Luke 19:14); I have despised his righteousness; I have counted his blood an unholy thing; I have done despite to the spirit of grace (Heb. 10:29), therefore I have shut myself out of all the promises and there now remains to me nothing but threatenings, dreadful threatenings, faithful threatenings of certain judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour me as an adversary.
- Hebrews 10: Hold Fast Your Confession; The Just Live by Faith
Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
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These cautions are NOT for the unbeliever, but for the CHURCH. 

Confessors of Christ must remain more than simply Professors of christianity.

Christ's redeemed must also live the faith for which our Lord sacrificed Himself on the Cross for our sins.
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For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries..

Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace?
It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
Hebrews 10:29,31 New King James Version

But canst thou not now repent and turn?

The Man: God hath denied me repentance.

His word gives me no encouragement to believe; yea, himself hath shut me up in this iron cage: nor can all the men in the world let me out.

Oh eternity! eternity!

how shall I grapple with the misery that I must meet with in eternity?

Then said the Interpreter to Christian, Let this man’s misery be remembered by thee, and be an everlasting caution to thee.

Well, said Christian, this is fearful! God help me to watch and to be sober, and to pray that I may shun the cause of this man’s misery.

NEXT God-willing, our Saturday Post series on doctrine for the Church will conclude with some Scriptures for our consideration as the Body of Christ tarrying in this City of Destruction. – RH
October 22, 2022
Church of the Lost Pilgrims
The Pilgrim’s Progress in our Church

Many Christians are familiar with John Bunyan’s, THE PILGRIM’S PROGRESS, but IF you will look around you at church this Sunday, you may be surprised to see some of these allegorical characters sitting right next to you in the pew or carrying on conversation at a table in your Sunday school social group.

Hopefully you will recognize some of our own local (yet well-worn) doctrinal drifts among lost ones of the flock where we claim Christ as a ‘professor‘ of the faith.
Below: order and read any of the three editions used and quoted for this post.– RH

Dover
Penguin
Crossway – edited by C. J. Lovic

John Bunyan, b.1628-d.1688, a Spirit-led seer of a DREAM of similitude, writes an allegory while imprisoned (for illegal preaching) illuminating a pilgrimage of challenges to everyday faith and exhortation from Scripture as practical cautions to the flock of everyday Christians. – RH
From THIS LIFE To The Next
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The Pilgrim's Progress From This World to That Which Is to Come
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Oh, that You would rend the heavens!
That You would come down!
That the mountains might shake at Your presence—
As fire burns brushwood,
As fire causes water to boil—
To make Your name known to Your adversaries,
That the nations may tremble at Your presence!
When You did awesome things for which we did not look,
You came down,
The mountains shook at Your presence.
For since the beginning of the world
Men have not heard nor perceived by the ear,
Nor has the eye seen any God besides You,
Who acts for the one who waits for Him.
- Isaiah 64 [A Prayer for Help] vs. 1-4, NKJV
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As I walked through the wilderness of this world, I came to a certain place where there was a cave.. As I slept I dreamed a dream.. I saw a man clothed in rags, standing in place with his face turned away from his own house.

“He had a BOOK in his hand and a heavy burden upon his back,” says Bunyan.

It is the same BOOK of Scripture, the BIBLE which Christians claim as HOLY.

(This is where it all fits into Doctrine – Christian TEACHING claimed in the PULPIT to come from the book.)

“So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.

– Gospel of Luke 14:33 NKJV

“ONLY SCRIPTURE?”

+ But we have DROPPED ‘THE BOOK’

Roger@TalkofJESUS.com

A Christ-like concern for preaching, learning and following the doctrines of an authentic Scriptural faith permeated the writings of Augustine, Luther, Bunyan and many others.

Some Key Moments of Pilgrims passing through THIS LIFE

I looked then, and saw a man named Evangelist coming to him, and asked, Wherefore dost thou cry?

Sir, I perceive by the BOOK in my hand, that I am condemned to die..

And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.
Hebrews 9:27-28 NKJV

.. AND after that to come to Judgment!

.. AND I find that I am not willing to do the first, nor able to do the second.

Then said Evangelist,

Why NOT willing to die, since THIS LIFE is attended with so many evils?

The Man answered,

Because I fear that this burden that is upon my back will sink me lower than the Grave, and I shall fall into [the place of passing thru the fire]..

IF THIS is your condition, why do you stand still?
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The man's pilgrimage begins here (and it's only somewhat different for his wife) -- that difficult journey of faith and hope even before coming to the Cross with the BOOK. 

Bunyan points to our destined damnation as a result of this LIFE and Salvation only in the Cross of Christ Jesus.
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Christian’s dilemma which he shares with Evangelist is the BURDEN of every unsaved man, the BURDEN of every unsaved woman: JUDGMENT, our destined damnation as a result of THIS LIFE

BUT THE BOOK has shown him Salvation found only in the Cross of Christ Jesus.

DEATH, JUDGMENT and pointing so many SOULS of LOVED-ONES we know are not saved is the Gospel of the Christian Evangelist. So few find the narrow gate and follow the only path of pilgrimage prescribed to THE WAY of ETERNAL LIFE by grace of the Cross of Christ.

To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.
Hebrews 9:28

WHAT MUST I DO?

“Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”
The Revelation of Jesus Christ to the Apostle John 7:10b NKJV

Some Characters Confronting Pilgrims
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As I have already mentioned, YOU will have met some of these on your own journey of faith, perhaps even 'in church.' 

(Go ahead, 'What's the NEW Name they go by in YOUR local church?' 
Later you can see what Bunyan thought to do with their doctrine.) 
Why not SHARE in a comment (without 21st c. names) the fruit of what they do in YOUR church LIFE.)
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- Mr. Worldly Wiseman
- Obstinate
- Pliable
- The Professor
- Talkative
- Ignorance
- Lord Hate-good
- Hopeful, Faithful & many others
a Quick-glance at Character in the Characters

Obstinate represents an intolerant class of people who think it is foolish and senseless to give up all the comforts of this world.. — its friendships, opportunities, riches, security and approval. – C.J. Lovik

Pliable and Obstinate are neighbors. One tends to stand in his worldly comfort against any change, but Pliable is a curious sort always looking to ‘something better’ than he has in THIS LIFE.

Pliable: “And do you think the words of your book are certainly true?”

(Later, as both are stuck in the mire of the Slough of Despond)

“Is this the happiness you have told me all the while of?”

.. with that he.. got out of the mire, on that side of the slough which was next to his own house, Bunyan notes of his turning back, so away he went, and Christian saw him no more.
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I waited patiently for the LORD;
And He inclined to me,
And heard my cry.
He also brought me up out of a horrible pit,
Out of the miry clay,
And set my feet upon a rock,
And established my steps.
He has put a new song in my mouth—
Praise to our God;
Many will see it and fear,
And will trust in the LORD.
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Do YOU know this from PSALM 40 in the BOOK?

Does your church’s ‘worship team’ sing about the LORD like this?

Almost immediately on our Journey of Faith

Worldly-Wiseman told him, “You will find the relief you seek in a nearby village called Morality. In that village resides a gentleman whose name is Legality, a judicious man of very good reputation.’

A current version of Mr. Worldly Wiseman is any liberal, broad-minded, and compromising person who has no regard for the atoning work of Jesus Christ and would rather believer a “gospel” advancing morality and social reform.. He is everywhere today, disguising his error and heresy by proclaiming a gospel of contentment and peace..
IF he mentions Christ, it is NOT as the Savior who took our place, bur as a GOOD EXAMPLE of an exemplary life.
– C.J Lovic

Evangelist: “How is it that you have so quickly turned aside? .. The man you have met is Mr. Worldly-Wiseman, and he is well named because he loves only the DOCTRINE of THIS WORLD.

They are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them.
First Letter of John to the Church 4:5 NKJV

Evangelist continues:

“Now these are three things in this man’s counsel that you must utterly abhor:
1. His convincing you to leave the right path.
2. His effort to make the cross repulsive to you.
3. His sending you on the very way that leads to death.
“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.
“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits.
The Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Matthew 7:13-16a, New King James Version

Evangelist: “From this narrow gate, and from the way that leads to it, has this wicked man turned you, and by so doing he has almost brought you to your own destruction.

a few ‘not-so-honorable mentions’
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Once again, it's seems I'm going a bit long on my Character mentions. So let's step quickly ahead in the Pilgrims Progress.
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“Talkative is my most familiar brother whose like I have listened to listlessly in many a Bible study and small group. – RH

The theoretical talk is one dimension that is in constant contrast and disharmony with the behavior.. the high-sounding rhetoric is set alongside the double-dealing, self-centered, and abusive behavior that litters the path down which he has trod.
C. J. Lovic
- Does your local church try to hide Talkative’s character because they bought his talk into a position of leadership or teaching?
Ignorance (another familiar follower): “I know my Lord’s will, and have been a good liver; I pay every man his own; I pray, fast, pay tithes, and give alms, and have left my country for whither I am going. “..I know you not: be content to follow the religion of your country, and I will follow the religion of mine. I hope all will be well.

Do you see a man wise in his own eyes?
There is more hope for a fool than for him.
Proverbs 25:12 NKJV

Hopeful: “.. let us pass him by, if you will, and talk to him anon, even as he is able to bear it.

Bunyan adds, “So they went on, and Ignorance followed.

As a Pastor looked out over the congregation he observed three men asleep. Bunyan gives them a mention and you can read of their consequence.

John Bunyan also points to at least two scenes which convict me of my own need to continue in the pilgrimage which at times becomes difficult. For today we must look past his most convicting character who brings a chill to the darkness apart from the Light, the Professor in the iron cage.

Sunday at Vanity Fair

A contemporary Evangelist once observed a Vanity Fair along a well-traveled road (even on Sunday) – a highway to all the places with shops and sport and the lure of lucre where passing pilgrims to buy every worldly treasure. This Evangelist in the 21st century of our Lord Jesus Christ WARNED of Mr. Hate-Good, the Prince of the Fair, Envy, Superstition and Flattery; Lord Old man and Sir Greed and many others in his preaching (though many lost of his flock were not present).

Bunyan relates the trouble and trial resulting from Christian and Faithful passing through Vanity Fair:

One merchant, observing the strange conduct of the pilgrims, mockingly said to them, “What will you buy?”

But they, looking sternly at him, answered, “We buy the truth.”

This caused great offense, Bunyan notes.
- Does your witness to the Way the Truth and the Life in Jesus Christ offend any at Vanity Fair?
“Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?”
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
Gospel of John 14:5b-6 NKJV

The Great One of the Fair (could it have been Jeff or Bill, perhaps a less common name like Elon 🙂 presides over Bunyan’s trial of Christian and Faithful (who is condemned to death). The Judge * ‘elected by the Fair’ is Lord Hate-good. Jurors * include: Mr. Blind-man, Mr. Malice, Mr. Love-lust, Mr. Live-loose, Mr. Hot-head, Mr. Hate-light and others.
- * Juries now must include Ms. Guided, M. Undetermined and a M/Ms. Color-character.
Faithful is sentenced to death for his witness of Jesus Christ.

The question is not mine, but remains valid:
- IF a jury of ‘your peers’ examined your Christian witness, would they have enough evidence to convict you?
Pages: 1 2
October 15, 2022
Preaching Biblical Doctrine to Ourselves
FROM the Word of God

TO the saints of Christ’s Church

Anyone who does not remain in Christ’s teaching but goes beyond it does not have God. The one who remains in that teaching, this one has both the Father and the Son.
Second letter of the Apostle John 1:9 – CSB

ONLY Scripture – Sola Scriptura

IF you squirmed a bit while reading my last Saturday Post laser-focused on your PASTOR and mine, prepare to become even more uncomfortable this week as we point the BIBLICAL TEACHING finger back at ourselves.

‘Upbuilding the saints‘

By review, in our look at the theology of Dr. Martyn LLOYD-JONES on the Christian Life, subtitled: DOCTRINE AND LIFE AS FUEL AND FIRE, we observed his teaching of important distinctions.

Best NOT Preach This

“Preaching is the primary business of the church, and preaching should have two main objects in view: ..

Upbuilding the saints AND evangelizing the lost.

SAINTS & HOLY ONES
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WE are the saints of Christ's Church and Kingdom to come.
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O when the saints go marching in,
O when they crown Him Lord of all,
O Lord, I want to be among the number..

O when all knees bow at His name,
O when they sing the Saviour’s praise,
O Lord, I want to be among the number
When the saints go marching in!

excerpt source:
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Gotta love them ole hymns evangelizing Jesus as Lord and Saviour!

The Spirit-led saints of the Church proclaim the victory of Christ on the Cross.
- “Our church is really good at evangelism, but as for our membership we might as well have a revolving door.
Sound familiar? (It’s a common challenge.)

Is that YOUR church too?
- Multitudes of evangelized faces — yet so many souls forgotten as they slipped out some Sunday through the revolving doors of our ‘church’.
THREE Marks of a true church:

In the fourth of his key distinctions, The Distinction between Right and Wrong – Understandings of the Marks of the Church, Lloyd-Jones states THREE Marks of a true church:
1. the Word is truly preached (our current focus)
2. the sacraments are truly administered (can’t go there today) and (3)
3. discipline is truly exercised. (Today: a bit of admonition to self-discipline concerning Scripture)
more about Jason Meyer, author of the Lloyd-Jones resource used here & his church

While proclaiming and evangelizing the Gospel to evangelize ‘outsiders‘ through missions distant to our personal lives, WE as Christ’s saints must NOT neglect a personal relationship within our local church, our fellowship of the saints to each other.

So in addition to EVANGELIZING the lost (to come take a look at our ‘church‘), the other oft’-neglected responsibility of church leadership to the Lord of the harvest is the upbuilding of Christ’s flock, the saints of our local church.

But DON’T blame your Pastor

He’s just one evangelist with a high roof over a pulpit lit up on Sundays.

Now grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift.
Ephesians 4:12 CSB +(every version from the Bible points to Christ’s gift)

The finger of response points back to ALL of the church — including the Pastor AND including YOU and ME.

And he himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, equipping the saints for the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ, until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of God’s Son, growing into maturity with a stature measured by Christ’s fullness.
- some evangelists
- some pastors and teachers
- EQUIPPING THE saints (That’s US, beloved brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus)
- FOR THE WORK of ministry (YES, saints, we are ministers + AND WHY?)
- to build up the body of Christ (that is, His Church)
Then we will no longer be little children, tossed by the waves and blown around by every wind of teaching, by human cunning with cleverness in the techniques of deceit.

But speaking the truth in love, let us grow in every way into him who is the head — Christ.
Ephesians 4:15 [context 4:12-15] + Grow up in Christ.

For your Upbuilding (Edifying, Building up)

Of grace and freedom of the saints Paul writes to the church at Corinth:
- All things are lawful, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful, but not all things build up. – 1 Corinthians 10:23 LSB
Be encouraged by Scripture and the Word of God through the Apostles.

Paul writes to the church at Thessaloniki:
- Therefore, [encourage] comfort one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing. – 1 Thessalonians 5:11 LSB
..We speak in Christ in the sight of God. And all these things, beloved, are for your building up.
a Second Apostolic Letter to the Church at Corinth 12:19b

What do YOU and your LOCAL Church believe?

Last year I shared a post on BIBLICAL Doctrines of the Church from an agreed statement of the International Council of Biblical Inerrancy.

(It may help you to first, sort out what you believe about the inerrancy of the Holy Bible and secondly, give you some insight into the theology you hear from the pulpit of your church.)

Do YOU AFFIRM True & DENY False DOCTRINES?

Article IV: The Church and Its Mission are not detailed in this post, but below. – RH

Source: ICBI – THE CHICAGO STATEMENT ON BIBLICAL APPLICATION

The Church and Its Mission
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We affirm that the inspiration of the Holy Spirit gives the Bible its canonical authority, and the role of the
church was and is to recognize and affirm this authority.
We affirm that Christ the Lord has established his church on earth and rules it by His Word and Spirit.
We affirm that the church is apostolic as it receives and is established upon the doctrine of the apostles
recorded in Scripture and continues to proclaim the apostolic gospel.
We affirm that identifying marks of local churches are faithful confession and proclamation of the Word of
God, and responsible administration of baptism and the Lord's Supper.
We affirm that churches are subject to the Word of Christ in their order as in their doctrine.
We affirm that in addition to their commitment to a local church, Christians may properly involve
themselves in parachurch organizations for specialized ministry.
We affirm that Christ calls the church to serve Him by its worship, nurture, and witness as His people in the
world.
We affirm that Christ sends the church into the whole world to summon sinful humanity to faith, repentance,
and righteousness.
We affirm that the unity and clarity of Scripture encourage us to seek to resolve doctrinal differences
among Christians, and so to manifest the oneness of the church in Christ.
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- HOW ARE YOU DOING WITH THESE AFFIRMATIONS OF YOUR FAITH?
  - All “YES’ & Amen?
NOW think about the doctrine you hear preached each Sunday and what you do NOT believe & therefore must stand firmly AGAINST.
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We deny that the church can grant canonical authority to Scripture.
We deny that the church is constituted by the will and traditions of men.
We deny that the church can bind the conscience apart from the Word of God.
We deny that the church can free itself from the authority of the written Word of God and still exercise valid
discipline in Christ's name.
We deny that the church can accommodate itself to the demands of a particular culture if those demands
conflict with scriptural revelation, or if they restrain the liberty of Christian conscience.
We deny that differing cultural situations invalidate the biblical principle of male-female equality or the
biblical requirements for their roles in the church.
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These are the very doctrines -- the lines in the sand -- of the PROTESTANT REFORMATION.
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HOW’D YOU SCORE?
- Can you DENY false preaching and false doctrine?
- Do you recognize false preaching and false doctrine when you hear it?
Returning now to the first letter of the Apostle John to the Church:

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world.

1 John 4:1-3 LSB
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Do you hear this preached as written by God in Scripture through the Apostle John? 
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In our NEXT Saturday Post we’ll take a look at some familiar characters from your local church as described by one of the theologians mentioned previously: John Bunyan.

Jesus Christ is Lord!
October 8, 2022