12 Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.13 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you.

16 Only let us hold true to what we have attained. 17 Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. 18 For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. 20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.

 Instrumental music  “Modes” of baptism  Women leadership  Plan of salvation  Church organization  Church centralization  Praying to saints  Falling from grace  Etc., etc., etc.

Merriam Webster's…  Hermeneutic: method or principle of Bible interpretation Do you have one?

Principles for living to last a life time #1 The Pattern Principle

1 Corinthians 4:6 …have applied all these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, brothers, that you may learn by us not to go beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up in favor of one against another. 2 Timothy 2:2 …and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.

Principles for living to last a life time #1 The Pattern Principle #2 The Command Principle

Matthew 28:19-20 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”. 1 Corinthians 14:37 If anyone thinks that he is a prophet, or spiritual, he should acknowledge that the things I am writing to you are a command of the Lord.

Principles for living to last a life time #3 The Example Principle #1 The Pattern Principle #2 The Command Principle

Matthew 19:3-6 And Pharisees came up to him and tested him by asking, “Is it lawful to divorce one's wife for any cause?” 4 He answered, “Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, 5 and said, ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? 6 So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.” He answered divorce questions with examples

Matthew 10:29-31 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. 30 But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. He taught lessons with examples

Matthew 12:1-4 At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry, and they began to pluck heads of grain and to eat.2 But when the Pharisees saw it, they said to him, “Look, your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath.” 3 He said to them, “Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, and those who were with him: 4 how he entered the house of God and ate the bread of the Presence, which it was not lawful for him to eat nor for those who were with him, but only for the priests? He rebuked hypocrisy with examples

Matthew 12:41-42 The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here. 42 The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here. He rebuked stubborn hearts with examples

 He used parables  Historic references  Word pictures  And more…  And all were examples

Romans 15:4 For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. The OT examples are given to give us hope

1 Corinthians 10:11 Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come. Israel was an example of warning

Philippians 3:16-18 Only let us hold true to what we have attained. 17 Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. 18 For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Paul was an example in life

1 Corinthians 11:1 Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ. Paul called Christians to imitate him in Christ

1 Thessalonians 1:6-7 And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit, 7 so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. Thessalonians were commended as imitators and examples

1. To explain clearly 2. To erase confusion 3. To build confidence Sometimes a plain verbal or textual reading is difficult to apply… “Show me a picture!”

Can we answer questions like when? Why? Where? And how? Acts 20:7 On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul talked with them, intending to depart on the next day, and he prolonged his speech until midnight. 1 Corinthians 11:23-25 For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”

Simple faith, repentance, baptism, and grace can confuse… Examples seen in Acts demonstrate the pattern however Hearing, faith, and action to obtain grace and forgiveness The examples are all consistent The examples erase confusion and build confidence

They expected Christians to follow their example/pattern and imitate their life in order to please their Lord Are we?

 #1 Pattern Principle - The Bible, specifically the New Test. is a pattern, to be followed for life  #2 Command Principle – N.T. commands by Jesus and His apostles are authoritative  #3 Example Principle – Examples taught or modeled by the apostles are authoritative Where Do You Stand?