Arithmetic Spiritual 4 Basics of Faith Jesus was the greatest teacher of all time, Why do we say that? The reason is He would take His lesson to give us, and put it in everyday terms. He would talk to people when they came up to Him and teach spiritual lessons about everyday things. He would take concepts that may be hard to understand and make them extremely easy so that everyone present could understand His message So this morning we are going to take something that is very easy to understand from everyday life, and look at common principles, the 4 basics of faith If I were to ask you “Do you know basic arithmetic?” Most would say yes: addition, subtraction, multiplication, division. And no matter how advanced you become in your knowledge of the mathematical world, you have to know these basic principles When we study the Bible, God talks about these very basic principles too, not math, but our spiritual lives. We want to look at these basic principles of faith so that no matter how much we learn or grow as Christians, we cannot forget about the basics of the Christian faith 4 Basics of Faith

1. Addition Incorrect Additions: 1 Cor. 4:6 – “not to go beyond that which is written” Rev. 22:18 – “adds to” Addition Incorrect Additions: A. 1 Corinthians 4:6 B. Rev. 22:18 1. Addition

“that you may learn not to go beyond the things which are written” 1 Cor. 4:6 “that you may learn not to go beyond the things which are written” A. 1 Corinthians 4:6 – “that you may learn not to go beyond the things which are written” – beyond. Paul writing to Christians and he is well aware that people are coming in the church trying to teach all different kinds of things (mix old and new laws). And here he says, you need to stick to what has been written down as God’s holy Word. Do exactly what the word says, do nothing beyond what the word teaches. - we learn this idea of not going beyond the law as young people. “John don’t go there, don’t do that” - God says to His children: don’t go here, don’t do this, don’t go beyond what I have taught you

Rev. 22:18 “For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book”

1. Addition Incorrect Additions: Rev. 22:18 – “adds to” 1 Cor. 4:6 – “not to go beyond that which is written” Rev. 22:18 – “adds to” Wearing Human Names / Incorrect Names (1 Cor. 3:4-7) Unrighteousness (1 Cor. 6:9-12) Worship – Instruments (Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16) Contribution (1 Cor. 16:1-2) d. Head of church – Eph. 1:22-23 1. Wearing Human Names / Incorrect Names (1 Cor. 3:4-7) “For when one says, "I am of Paul," and another, "I am of Apollos," are you not carnal? Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one? I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. a. They thought so highly of theses men they wanted to be called after their name – Apollos, Paul, Cephas b. Today Wesleyan, Lutheran Methodist, Baptist, Presbyterian, Catholic. But who died for you on the cross? Christ, Just Christians 2. Unrighteousness (1 Cor. 6:9-11) “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God” If we add any of these things to our lives, we are making additions to our lives that are not commanded by God 3. Add to in worship there is no authority given in the NT to use instruments in worship. Only places we have concerning music in worship: a. Eph. 5:19 “speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord “ b. Col. 3:16-17 “teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus” 4. Many will add to God’s word and take up a collection (offering) on days other than 1st day of the week (1 Cor. 16:1-2) 5. Some add to the word by making a man like the pope, the head of the church, making his words gospel. Yet the Bible clearly teaches Jesus is the head of His church. Eph. 1:22-23 “He put all things under His (Jesus) feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body” *** We cannot go beyond the commands of God by adding things just b/c we like them – yet done all the time in the religious world 1. Addition

1. Addition Correct Additions: Acts 2:37-41, 47– “added to church” B. Correct Additions: 1. We make sure we are added to the church, among those who are saved Acts 1. Addition

Acts 2:37-41, 47 ”Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?“ Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call. Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.” 47 “And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved” a. Read b. Now that is biblical addition, when we obey God’s commands, become a new testament Christian, the Lord adds us to the church, the only ones being saved c. So many have the idea that good, moral people can be saved. Some say just believe in God and you will be saved. Only obedience to gospel can save us

1. Addition Correct Additions: Acts 2:37-41, 47– “added to the church” 2 Pet. 1:5-10– “Add to your faith” 2. Add to our faith Christian Virtues 2 Peter 1:5-10 1. Addition

2 Pet. 1:5-10 “But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, 7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. 8 For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. 10 Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble” a. Read b. v.8 – if we add to our faith we will be fruitful. c. v.9 – if we do not add to our faith we act as if we are still in our sins.

2. Subtraction Incorrect Subtraction: Rev. 22:19 – “Takes Away” 1. Incorrect Subtraction: Revelation 22:19 – “takes away” 2. Subtraction

Rev. 22:19 “and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city” a. Revelation 22:19 – “and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city” a. We are not to subtract in any way from the word of God b. There is no “grey area” for us to make our own decisions. c. Its not up to you and I to say “I think God would be pleased if I worshipped this way, or if I live in this manner” d. Its up to us to become a Christian the way He says, to worship the way He says, and to live the way He says

2. Subtraction Incorrect Subtraction: Rev. 22:19 – “Takes Away” Lord’s Supper – Acts 20:7 Baptism – Acts 2:38; Acts 22:16 Correct Subtractions: Jas. 1:21; 2 Cor. 7:1; 1 Pet. 2:1; Eph. 4:25, 31; Eph. 4:22-23 a. Examples: (1) Acts 20:7 we have example to partake of the Lord’s Supper every 1st day of the week (2) subtract baptism as a requirement for salvation, yet Acts 2:38 tells us that we receive forgiveness of sins only at the point of baptism (CLICK) 2. Correct Subtractions 2. Subtraction

Jas. 1:21 “ lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls”

2 Cor. 7:1 “ let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God”

1 Peter 2:1 “Therefore, putting aside all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander”

Ephesians 4:25,31 “Therefore, putting away lying, "LET EACH ONE OF YOU SPEAK TRUTH WITH HIS NEIGHBOR," for we are members of one another. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.”

Ephesians 4:22-23 “you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind”

2. Subtraction Incorrect Subtraction: Revelation 22:19 – “Takes Away” Lord’s Supper – Acts 20:7 Baptism – Acts 2:38; Acts 22:16 Correct Subtractions: Jas. 1:21; 2 Cor. 7:1; 1 Pet. 2:1; Eph. 4:25, 31; Eph. 4:22-23 2. Subtraction

3. Division Incorrect Division: 1 Cor. 1:10 “speak the same thing, no divisions among you” God seeks His children to be “joined together” Correct Divisions: Rom. 16:17 “Now I urge you brethren, note those who cause division and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them” Division 1. Incorrect Division: a. 1 Corinthians 1:10 “Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment” b. God seeks His children to be “joined together” – doesn’t want us to have different names. But in every way, if the Word of God is our standard and we practice it, we will come together and teach the same things, practice the same things, worship in the same way, we will be unified c. Jesus prayed for all His disciples in Jn. 17 “that they may all be one” 2. Correct Divisions: 1. Romans 16:17 “Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them” a. Avoid who? Anyone causing division in the church. Christians, non-Christians. Anyone who is causing division in the church b/c they are not following the doctrine of God, we are to avoid them b. Certainly we would want to go to that person and from the Bible show them the error of their ways so they might correct that, but if they are not willing to follow what God has said, we are to avoid them, we are to divide ourselves from them 3. Division

4. Multiplication Acts 6:7 Acts 9:31 Acts 12:24 2 Cor. 9:10

Acts 6:7 “Then the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith” a. God’s Word Being Spread = Disciples Multiplied

Acts 9:31 “Then the churches throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were edified. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied”

“But the word of God grew and multiplied” Acts 12:24 “But the word of God grew and multiplied”

2 Cor. 9:10 “Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness” a. If God can multiply physical things for us when we are obedient, how much more can He multiply Christians in this world when He has a sincere and obedient heart to work with

Spiritual Arithmetic 4 Basics of Faith Addition Subtraction Division Multiplication These are 4 basics of faith, and if we take these things and apply them to our lives 2 things will happen: We will grow We will be pleasing to God 4 Basics of Faith

Plan of Salvation Hear John 12:48 Believe John 8:24 Repent Luke 13:3 Confess Matt. 10:32 Baptized Mark 16:16 Faithful Matt. 24:13