And the Spirit and the Bride say, "Come". And let him that hears say, "Come". And let him that is thirsty "Come". And whoever will, let him take the water of life freely!                                                                    Rev. 22:17

 

 

 

 

  

 ~ THREE PURPOSE FOR THE CHURCH ~

 

  • KNOWING: We are all sinners & need salvation
  • GROWING: Into mature Christians, being able to digest solid food.
  • GLOWING: Setting an example with our life styles

 

  1. KNOWING: Romans 3:1-31 What advantage, then, is there in being a Jew, or what value is there in circumcision? 2 Much in every way! First of all, the Jews have been entrusted with the very words of God. 3 What if some were unfaithful? Will their unfaithfulness nullify God’s faithfulness? 4 Not at all! Let God be true, and every human being a liar. As it is written: “So that you may be proved right when you speak and prevail when you judge.” 5 But if our unrighteousness brings out God’s righteousness more clearly, what shall we say? That God is unjust in bringing his wrath on us? (I am using a human argument.) 6 Certainly not! If that were so, how could God judge the world? 7 Someone might argue, “If my falsehood enhances God’s truthfulness and so increases his glory, why am I still condemned as a sinner?” 8 Why not say—as some slanderously claim that we say—“Let us do evil that good may result”? Their condemnation is just!

 

No One Is Righteous

 

9 What shall we conclude then? Do we have any advantage? Not at all! For we have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under the power of sin. 10 As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one; 11there is no one who understands;     there is no one who seeks God. 12 All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.”13 “Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit.” “The poison of vipers is on their lips.”14“Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.” 15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood; 16ruin and misery mark their ways, 17 and the way of peace they do not know.”18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.” 19 Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. 20 Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.

 

Righteousness Through Faith

 

21 But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22 This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 25 God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— 26 he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.

 

27 Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. Because of what law? The law that requires works? No, because of the law that requires faith. 28 For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law. 29 Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too, 30 since there is only one God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith. 31 Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law.

 

1 Corinthians 1:2  To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be his holy people, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ—their Lord and ours:

 

2. GROWING: John 15:5 5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

 

1 Peter 2:2 2 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation;

 

Luke 9:49-50, 53-54 49 “Master,” said John, “we saw someone driving out demons in your name and we tried to stop him, because he is not one of us.” 50 “Do not stop him,” Jesus said, “for whoever is not against you is for you.” 53 but the people there did not welcome him, because he was heading for Jerusalem. 54 When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, “Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?”

 

Matthew 19:13 13 Then people brought little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked them.

 

Acts 17:6 6 But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some other believers before the city officials, shouting: “These men who have caused trouble all over the world have now come here,

 

  • 3. GLOWING: Luke 9:1-2 When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, 2 and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.

 

Mark 3:14-15 14 He appointed twelve that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach 15 and to have authority to drive out demons.

 

Matthew 5:14-16 14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

 

 11 Apostles died a martyr death except John and Judas Iscariot  

 

  1. Peter Simon: Crucified upside down
  2. James the Lesser or Younger: Was Thrown down 100 feet from the southeast pinnacle of the temple, when they discovered he survived the fall, he was beaten with a club.
  3. John: Died of old age in the Isle of Patmos. But he was thrown into boiling oil, but didn’t get hurt.
  4. Andrew: Crucified on an X-shaped cross. Was whipped severely by seven soldiers in Greece, then he was crucified. As he was being led to the cross he commented: “I have long desired and expected this happy hour” He continued to preach to his commented: “I have long desired and expected this happy hour” He continued to preach to his tormentors for two days until he died.
  5. Bartholomew or Nathanael: Flayed alive with knives, flogged to death.
  6. James, The Great: First apostle martyred. Was beheaded in Jerusalem. Sawn in pieces
  7. Judas Iscariot: Hung himself from a tree.
  8. Jude or Thaddeus: Killed with arrows
  9. Matthew or Levi: Was killed in Ethiopia by a sword
  10. Philip: Died by hanging
  11. Simon The Zealot: Died a martyrs death
  12. Thomas: Was stabbed with spear in India during one of his missionary trips.
  13. Mathias: replaced Judas Iscariot: don’t know how he died.