“You’re a Backward Church!” Justifying present-day moral changes: – “It’s the 21 st century” “Tory traditionalists should accept ‘we live in the 21 st century’ and back gay marriage.” (Sir John Major, former Prime Minister of England, The Daily Mail, 09Dec12) -It’s WA state law … now, society must ‘move on’! Divine warning: Isaiah 5:20-21; Prov. 17:15 2

Truth Is Not Changed… By the passing of time or by the will of men, 1 Pet. 1:23-25; 2 Jno. 2; Matt. 24:35 Christ’s church looks backward and forward as we live in this present evil age 3

We Look Backward… To the old paths, Jer. 6:16-20; 18:15 – The path of truth, Matt. 7:13-14; 15:14 (Psa. 119:97, 105) – Inspired Scriptures, 2 Tim. 3:16-17 – Pattern of sound words, 2 Tim. 1:13 For moral living, Eph. 5:3-12 For doctrinal purity, 1 Jno. 4:1, 6 4

We Look Backward… To Jesus, Heb. 2:9-18 – His death and glory, 2:9 – His suffering that brings salvation, liberty and glory, 2:10-15 (Gal. 1:4) – For present blessings, 2:17-18 Eph. 1:3 5

We Look Forward… To things that are ahead, Phil. 3:12-14 – Death, Phil. 1:21-23; 2 Cor. 4:16-18; 5:2-4 – Resurrection, 1 Cor. 15:19-20, – Judgment, Matt. 25:21, 23, 34-40; Rom. 14:10, 12 – Inheritance, 1 Pet. 1:3-5; 2 Tim. 4:7-8; Heb. 4:11 6

We Look to Jesus in the Present (Heb. 12:1-2) To help us run our race with endurance, Heb. 10:35-39; 6:10-12 To help us in our time of need, Heb. 4:14-16 (2:18) To dwell in our hearts through faith, Eph. 3:17 (Gal. 2:20) 7

The Church of Christ Honors Christ, not the wisdom and will of men, Col. 1:18; 3:17 The lusts of men do not define the will of God, 1 Ths. 4:3-7 8 Christ and His living word of truth Our hope of eternal life