The theme for 2010 was “Answers to Questions.”


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JANUARY SELECTOR DESCRIPTION
01/03/2010 Baptist Distinctives - Part 1 Baptist Origins & Baptist Beliefs - Distinct
01/10/2010 Baptist Distinctives - Part 2 The Bible - The Sole Authority
01/17/2010 Baptist Distinctives - Part 3 Salvation - grace, faith & Christ's finished work
01/24/2010 Baptist Distinctives - Part 4 Regenerated Church Membership
01/31/2010 Baptist Distinctives - Part 5 Eternal Security of the Believer

FEBRUARY SELECTOR DESCRIPTION
02/07/2010 Baptist Distinctives - Part 6 Only Two Ordinances Given To Church
02/14/2010 Baptist Distinctives - Part 7 Independent Autonomous Church
02/21/2010 Baptist Distinctives - Part 8 Priesthood of All Believers
02/28/2010 Baptist Distinctives - Part 9 Biblical Chain of Command

MARCH SELECTOR DESCRIPTION
03/07/2010 Baptist Distinctives - Part 10 Biblical Separation - false teachers, apostates
03/14/2010 Question & Answer #1 Who was before Adam & Eve? (replenish)
03/21/2010 Question & Answer #2 What happens to those alive at the rapture?
03/28/2010 Question & Answer #3 Where did Cain get his wife?

APRIL SELECTOR DESCRIPTION
04/04/2010 Question & Answer #4 How do I study the Bible?
04/11/2010 Question & Answer #5 Was Phebe a deaconess in the church?
04/18/2010 Question & Answer #6 Who were the Sadducees?
04/25/2010 Question & Answer #7 Who were the Pharisees?

MAY SELECTOR DESCRIPTION
05/02/2010 Question & Answer #8 Why do we not use the Apocrypha?
05/09/2010 Question & Answer #9 Did the body of Moses not return to dust?
05/16/2010 Question & Answer #10 How can I get the most out of services?
05/23/2010 Question & Answer #11
Why are we called Cozaddale Baptist Temple and not Cozaddale Baptist Church?
05/30/2010 Question & Answer #12 Why is it important to learn Baptist History?

JUNE SELECTOR DESCRIPTION
06/06/2010 Question & Answer #13 Are the beatitudes literal, are they written to the church or generally.
Especially verses 5, 8, and 30?
06/13/2010 Question & Answer #14
What are the seven seals in the book of Revelation?
06/20/2010 Question & Answer #15
Did God create Eve on the same day as He created Adam?
06/27/2010 Question & Answer #16
Why does our church not remember the Sabbath to keep it holy?   What word tells us to worship on Sunday?

JULY SELECTOR DESCRIPTION
07/04/2010 Question & Answer #17 Are all ghosts of the devil? Could friendly ghosts be that of a passed away family member? Two other questions about friendly ghosts are covered by this answer
07/11/2010 Question & Answer #18
Where did the Christian flag come from?
If it is not Baptist why do we pledge to it?
07/18/2010 Question & Answer #19
When I die and go to heaven, will I know those that are already in heaven by name, and will I have memories of things we felt and did here on earth?
07/25/2010 Question & Answer #20
If a church ceases to exist, do they cease to be a part of the Bride?


Baptist Distinctives - Part 1 (01/3/2010)

BAPTIST ORIGINS & BAPTIST BELIEFS - DISTINCT

The next several weeks we are going to look at what are called Baptist Distinctives. Two things separate us from all other denominations - our origins and our beliefs that are distinct to us.

As to our origin

"We believe that Baptists are the original Christians. We did not commence our existence at the Reformation... We never came from the church of Rome, for we were never in it, but we have an unbroken line up to the apostles themselves." — Charles Spurgeon

As to our distinctives:

  1. The Scriptures are the sole authority for faith and practice.
  2. Salvation is by grace alone through faith alone by the work of Christ alone.
  3. A regenerate church membership.
  4. The eternal security of the believer.
  5. The church has two ordinances, believer's baptism and the Lord's Supper.
  6. The independence and autonomy of the church.
  7. The priesthood of the believer.
  8. Separation of church and state.
  9. The liberty of conscience.
  10. Separation from false teaching and apostasy.

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Baptist Distinctives - Part 2 (01/10/2010)

THE BIBLE - THE SOLE AUTHORITY

Throughout the centuries men have accepted the Bible and many other authorities as their rule of faith and practice (to name a few: Church Authority, Creedal Authority, Cultic Authority, Charismatic Authority, Cranial Authority, Conscience Authority, Critical Authority). This morning I would like to suggest to you four reasons why we as Baptists have always stood for “SOLA SCRIPTURA” simply meaning “THE BIBLE ALONE.”

  1. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 teaches that the Scripture is all we need for faith and practice.

  2. We know the Bible is the complete word of God because we are told in Jude 3 that the faith was “once” delivered to the saints.

  3. A seal was placed on the final chapter of the final book of the Bible, signifying its completion and warning every man not to add to or subtract from it.
    (Revelation 22:18-19)

  4. Passages that urge Christians to follow tradition refer to the inspired tradition given by the apostles; it does not refer to the traditions of men who have come after them.

  5. Vocabulary Words

    1. Verbal — Very words of God
      (Matthew 24:35)

    2. Plenary — Extending to all parts alike
      (2 Timothy 3:16)

    3. Inerrant — Without error in its recording
      (Hebrews 6:18)

    4. Infallible — Without error in its teaching
      (Psalm 119:160)

    5. Preservation — Without error in translation
      (Psalm 12:6-7)

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Baptist Distinctives - Part 3 (01/17/2010)

SALVATION - GRACE, FAITH & CHRIST's FINISHED WORK

Even before the completion of the New Testament there were false teachers coming into the churches teaching a false gospel. The New Testament writers warned of false teachers. One of our distinctives as Baptists is that we have always taught that salvation is by grace alone through faith alone and by the work of Christ alone.

  1. Grace Alone
    1. Grace defined is “unmerited favor of God shown to the sinner.” When we say unmerited we simply mean that we have not nor can we ever merit the favor of God for our own salvation.
    2. Ephesians 2:8-9 and Romans 3:24 make this truth very plain. We come to Christ without any merit of our own. We come to Him as a sinner deserving of hell and no way of obtaining salvation on our own.

  2. Through Faith Alone
    1. Faith defined in the New Testament is a conviction or belief respecting man's relationship to God and divine things, generally with the included idea of trust and holy fervor born of faith and joined with its …
      1. Relating to God — the provider and bestower of eternal salvation through Christ.
      2. Relating to Christ — a strong and welcome conviction or belief that Jesus is the Messiah, through whom we obtain eternal salvation in the kingdom.
    2. Hebrews 11:1 — Salvation is when I come to Christ knowing I have no merit of my own. I believe the Word of God is true.

  3. By the Work of Christ Alone
    1. John 19:30
    2. It is finished.
Conclusion:

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Baptist Distinctives - Part 4 (01/24/2010)

REGENERATED CHURCH MEMBERSHIP

So far we have looked at sole authority (the Bible alone is our only authority for faith and practice), and grace alone through faith alone in the finished work of Christ alone for our salvation. This week we are going to look at regenerated membership. To be a member of a Baptist church there must be a time when you have believed on the Lord Jesus Christ to be your personal Saviour. In a day when many churches are trying to boost their membership by almost any means, it is important that we understand that the Scriptural mandate for membership is baptism; and the prerequisite for baptism is regeneration.

Six Reasons Why We Practice Regenerated Membership

  1. A regenerated membership is all we find in the Word of God (Acts 2:47).
    They were saved and baptized before they were added to the church.

  2. A regenerated church membership will have unity within the congregation
    (1 Corinthians 12:12; Ephesians 4:3)

  3. A regenerated church membership will have a heart to promote the gospel.
    (Matthew 28:19-20)

  4. A regenerated membership will love one another
    (John 17:26; John 13:34)

  5. A regenerated membership will all take part in the work of the church
    (1 Corinthians 12:12-18)

  6. A regenerated membership will submit to the Word of God
    (2 Tim. 2:1; 1 Thessalonians 2:13)
These are just some of the reasons why it is so important that we maintain our history and distinctive of a person being regenerated before they become a member of the local church. We will see in days ahead, that much persecution and many false doctrines came about simply because churches did not follow this distinctive.

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Baptist Distinctives - Part 5 (01/31/2010)

ETERNAL SECURITY OF THE BELIEVER

Seven Reasons Why We Believe in Eternal Security

  1. Salvation is a birth — John 3:5,6
    Is it possible to be “un–born again?”

  2. Salvation is a gift — Ephesians 2:8,9; Romans 6:23
    A gift is something the receiver does nothing to earn.
    It is not a gift if it can be taken back.

  3. Salvation is a satisfaction — John 4:14; 6:35
    • Never thirst again
    • Never hunger again
  4. Salvation brings both eternal and everlasting life
    • Eternal — no beginning and no ending (believer in Christ) John 10:28,29
    • Everlasting — no ending (Christ in the believer). John 5:24
  5. Salvation is an inward change — II Corinthians 5:17
    As the sinner cannot change his sinful nature, neither can the saint change
    his divine nature.

  6. Salvation is a total work of grace
    It is finished!

  7. Salvation places us positionally in Heaven — Ephesians 2:5,6; Colossians 3:3

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Baptist Distinctives - Part 6 (02/07/2010)

ONLY TWO ORDINANCES GIVEN TO CHURCH

We believe there are only two ordinances given to the local church. Lets read I Corinthians 11:2, I Corinthians 11:23, and I Corinthians 15:3. The Lord's Supper reminds us of His broken body and baptism reminds us of the gospel. (Circle in your Bible “delivered them unto you.”)

  1. What is the Lord's Supper?
    (1 Corinthians 11:26-28; 10:16-17)

    1. An Act of Obedience — “This do”
      (1 Corinthians 11:24-25)

    2. An Act of Remembrance — “In Remembrance of me”
      (1 Corinthians 11:24-25)

    3. An Act of Testimony — “Ye do shew the Lord's death till he come”
      (1 Corinthians 11:26)

    4. An Act of Examination — “Let a man examine himself”
      (1 Corinthians 11:28)

    5. An Act of Communion — 1 Corinthians 10:16-17

  2. Who is the ordinance of the Lord's Supper given to?

    1. The local church was instructed to keep the ordinances (the church at Corinth)

    2. The Supper was first instituted in a local church - Luke 22:14

    3. The Lord's Supper chapter (1 Corinthians 11) teaches, “ye come together” in
      vs. 17,18,20,22,33,34.

  3. What is Scriptural baptism?

    1. There needs to be a Proper Candidate:   Saved person

    2. There needs to be a Proper Method:   Immersion not sprinkling

    3. There needs to be a Proper Motive:   Obedience not regeneration

    4. There needs to be a Proper Authority:   Matthew 28:19-29

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Baptist Distinctives - Part 7 (02/14/2010)

CHURCH GOVERNMENT - INDEPENDENT, AUTONOMOUS CHURCHES

Independent, autonomous according to definition is self-governing; independent; subject to its own laws only.

When we say that we as Baptists believe in an independent autonomous church it is because of the following pattern of church government found in the Scriptures. Matthew 16:18-19 Christ founded the church and gave it its authority.

  1. According to Acts 14:23; 15:22, 23; 20:17-28 that each church has the absolute right of self government, free from any interference of any hierarchy of individuals or organizations.

  2. In Ephesians 5:23; Colossians 1:18; I Peter 5:1-4, we see that the one and only Head of each church is Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit.

  3. While in 2 Corinthians 8-9; and in 2 Corinthians 11:8; we see that it is Scriptural for churches of like faith and order to cooperate with each other in contending for the faith and for the furtherance of the gospel. We never see an example of New Testament churches coming together to form any kind of organization or denomination. They remained independent and autonomous even in their cooperation.

  4. Matthew 16:18-19 shows us that in all matters of membership, policy, government, discipline, and benevolence, the will of each church is final.

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Baptist Distinctives - Part 8 (02/21/2010)

PRIESTHOOD OF ALL BELIEVERS - DIRECT ACCESS TO GOD

This is the belief that all born-again believers have the privilege of direct access to God. It is not necessary to go through any other human channel. Because of the shedding of the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ we can go directly to God as a result of our right standing before Him. Let us see a brief history of the priesthood.

OLD TESTAMENT PRIESTHOOD
Leviticus 21:17-23 — no blemish

Ezra 2:62 — proof of genealogy

Exodus 28:40-41 — special garments

Exodus 29:21 — purified by blood

Exodus 19:6 — compared to I Peter 2:9

NEW TESTAMENT PRIESTHOOD
Ephesians 5:25-27 — no blemish

John 1:12 — proof of genealogy

Romans 13:12-14; Revelation 19:8 — special garments

I Peter 1:18-19 — purified by blood

ENTRANCE MADE POSSIBLE
Matthew 27:50-51 — temple veil is rent (torn)

Ephesians 2:14-18 — partition broken down

Ephesians 3:12 — access made available

KEY VERSES
1 Peter 2:9 — royal priesthood

Revelation 1:6 — Kings and priests

Hebrews 4:14-16 — come boldly before the throne

Hebrews 10:19-22 — enter through the blood

1 Peter 2:5 — offer spiritual sacrifices

1 Timothy 2:1-6 — intercession for all

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Baptist Distinctives - Part 9 (02/28/2010)

BIBLICAL CHAIN OF COMMAND - GOD's AUTHORITIES

As we saw in our first distinctive the Bible is our sole authority for faith and practice. The Bible does give a chain of command for our protection and well being. These authorities draw their jurisdictional boundaries from the Word of God and are subject to the Word of God.

  1. Family: Husband — wife — children
    See Ephesians 5:21-6:4 and Proverbs 6:20-21

  2. Government: National leaders — local officials —
    See I Peter 2:13-17 and Romans 13:1-5

  3. Church: Church leaders — church members
    See Ephesians 4:11-16; Hebrews 13:17 and I Peter 5:1-11

  4. Business: Employers — employees
    See Colossians 3:22-4:1 and I Peter 2:18

We as Baptists have long stood for the state having no control over our churches. The Bible commands it and our constitution promotes it, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or of the right of the people peaceable to assemble.” Scriptures and the framers of the Constitution's intent were not to keep the church out of government but to keep the government out of the church.

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Baptist Distinctives - Part 10 (03/07/2010)

BIBLICAL SEPARATION FROM FALSE TEACHING AND APOSTATES

Many New Testament books warn us of the dangers of false teaching, apostates and of the need to separate ourselves from them.

  1. It is not hard to convince people to separate from blatant false teaching but we also see in Acts 16 a need to separate from lifestyles as well. We see in Acts 16 the message was correct but was marred by the messenger.

  2. In Acts 15 Paul and Barnabas “had no small dissension and disputation with them” that were teaching false doctrine.

  3. In Galatians 1:9 Paul tells us “if any man preach any other Gospel… let him be accursed.”

  4. 2 John 7-10 tells us to receive them not.

There is a biblical principle found in the Word of God called separation. Since creation when God divided the light from the dark, God has taught separation. Separation is seen all throughout the Word of God and throughout church history. If we as Baptists today do not hold to this important principle set forth in the Word of God and practiced by our Baptist forefathers we will lose our identity and our doctrine will become polluted with many false doctrines.

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Question & Answer - Part 1 (03/14/2010)

WHO WAS BEFORE ADAM & EVE?    (REPLENISH THE EARTH)

Who was before Adam and Eve? In Genesis 1:28 God told Adam and Eve to replenish the earth. Great question, when studying the Bible always remember the Bible is written correctly in the English language, (we have the benefit of looking up words in the original language.) In this case we looked up both. As always the answer was there.

The Hebrew word male from which God correctly preserved into our English language is the word replenish. The Hebrew definition of male is to fill or to be full.

An examination of the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) shows that the word was used to mean “fill” from the thirteenth to the seventeenth centuries. In no case quoted in these five centuries does it mean re-fill. The OED defines “replenish” as having 10 meanings through-out its history:

Replenished (adjective):
  1. Fully stocked; provided, supplies;
  2. Filled, pervaded;
  3. Physically or materially filled;
  4. Full, made full.
To replenish: make full, fill, stock with, as in:
“This man made the Newe Forest, and replenished it with wylde bestes” (AD 1494):
  1. Inhabit, settle, occupy the whole of;
  2. Fill with food, satiate;
  3. Fill (space) with; fill (heart) with (a feeling);
  4. Fill up again; fill up (a vacant office) (AD 1632);
  5. Become full, attain to fullness.

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Question & Answer - Part 2 (03/21/2010)

WHAT HAPPENS TO THOSE ALIVE AT THE RAPTURE?

Since Enoch and Elijah were taken to heaven but are going to die later, what about those taken at the rapture? Here is another great question. I believe Paul had been asked many questions from the church at Corinth and this was one of them.

He seems to answer this in I Corinthians 15:51 —
“Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,”

Mystery — Something previously hidden; God is about to reveal a previously unknown truth to the church at Corinth and to future believers through Paul.

But — a conjunction that shows contrast.

We shall all be changed. Because (I Corinthians 15) verses 50 and 53 tell us that flesh and blood cannot enter into heaven, here is where the mystery comes in. Paul reveals a truth that believers who are alive at the time of the rapture will not have to pass through the door of death, but will be “changed” in a moment in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump.

Since the bodies of Enoch and Elijah will not be among those that are alive and remain at the time of the rapture they will still need to keep their appointment. The mystery applies to those who are alive and remain according to I Thessalonians 4:15 and 4:17.

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Question & Answer - Part 3 (03/28/2010)

WHERE DID CAIN GET HIS WIFE?

This week's question has been asked by many skeptics. The question was asked at the infamous Scopes trial in 1925. “WHERE DID CAIN GET HIS WIFE?”

  1. Consider these thoughts when looking up answers.
    1. KJV is written correctly in the English language.
    2. Scripture interprets Scripture.
    3. Context determines definition.
    4. When common sense makes sense seek no other sense.

  2. Critical verses to take into account.
    3. Genesis 3:20 — Eve was the mother of all living.
    Genesis 5:30 — Adam and Eve had many other children male and female.
    Genesis 1:28 — Adam and Eve were told to replenish the earth.

  3. Context of Scripture shows no other people but Adam and Eve

  4. Common sense reasons why Cain could have married his sister.
    1. Lev. 18-20 — was not yet given.
    2. Biological deformities were why Lev. 18-20 were given.
    3. Genesis 4:16-17 does not say Cain found a wife but that “Cain knew his wife.”

The only conclusion one can draw when studying this question is that Cain married his sister.

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Question & Answer - Part 4 (04/04/2010)

HOW DO I STUDY THE BIBLE?

Question of the week, how do I study the Bible? When studying the Bible I believe there are eight simple things to do.

  1. We need to begin our Bible study with prayer. Psalm 119:18 is a great prayer before we begin study.

  2. Keep in mind that God means what He says and says what He means.

  3. To help us understand, ask four important questions:

    • Who is speaking?

    • To whom is He speaking?

    • About what is He speaking?

    • When was He speaking?

  4. We must have a definite Bible reading schedule.

  5. Keep a notebook to write down truths, insights, and questions.

  6. Treat the Bible as a personal letter from God. Jeremiah 31:3

  7. Keep in mind that all Scripture interprets Scripture. 2 Peter 1:20

  8. You must resolve to obey the Word of God as you receive it. John 15: 4

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Question & Answer - Part 5 (04/11/2010)

WAS PHEBE A DEACONESS IN THE CHURCH?

Romans 16:1 — “I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea:”

Question:

  • Some commentaries and books describe Phebe as a deaconess at the church of Cenchrea, was she? Are not deacons servants of the church?
Thought:
  • Deacon defined according to Noah Webster Dictionary is “a minister or servant”; to serve in this sense we should all be “servants” (as KJV says Phebe did).

  • I Timothy 3 Qualifications for the office of pastors and deacons.
    1 Timothy 3:12 “Let the deacons be the husband of one wife…“
Answer:
  • Phebe was a servant of the church. As we all ought to be but she never held the office of the deacon as described in Acts 6:1-5; I Timothy 3:8-13; Philippians 1:1. Yes, the role of the deacon is to serve. One can fulfill the role of the deacon without holding the office of the deacon.

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Question & Answer - Part 6 (04/18/2010)

WHO WERE THE SADDUCEES?

The Sadducees: Religiously, the Sadducees were more conservative in one main area of doctrine. The Pharisees gave oral tradition equal authority to the written Word of God, while the Sadducees considered only the written Word to be from God. The Sadducees preserved the authority of the written Word of God, especially the books of Moses (Genesis through Deuteronomy). While they could be commended for this, they definitely were not perfect in their doctrinal views. The following is a brief list of beliefs they held that contradict Scripture:

  1. They were extremely self-sufficient to the point of denying God's involvement in
    everyday life.

  2. They denied any resurrection of the dead. (Matt. 22:23; Mark 12:18-27).

  3. They denied any afterlife, holding that the soul perished at death, and therefore

    denying any penalty or reward after the earthly life.
  4. They denied the existence of a spiritual world, i.e., angels and demons (Acts 23:8).

The Sadducees ceased to exist in A.D. 70. Since this party existed because of their political and priestly ties, when Rome destroyed Jerusalem and the temple in A.D. 70, the Sadducees were also destroyed.

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Question & Answer - Part 7 (04/25/2010)

WHO WERE THE PHARISEES?

The Pharisees: In contrast to the Sadducees, the Pharisees were mostly middle-class businessmen, and therefore were in contact with the common man. The Pharisees were held in much higher esteem by the common man than the Sadducees. Though they were a minority in the Sanhedrin and held a minority number of positions as priests, they seemed to control the decision making of the Sanhedrin far more than the Sadducees did, again because they had the support of the people.

Religiously, they accepted the written Word as inspired by God. At the time of Christ's earthly ministry, this would have been what is now our Old Testament. But they also gave equal authority to oral tradition and attempted to defend this position by saying it went all the way back to Moses. Evolving over the centuries, these traditions added to God's Word, which is forbidden
Deuteronomy 4:2), and the Pharisees sought to strictly obey these traditions along with the Old Testament. The Gospels abound with examples of the Pharisees treating these traditions as equal to God's Word (Matthew 9:14; 15:1-9; 23:5; 23:16; 23:23; Mark 7:1-23; Luke 11:42). However, they did remain true to God's Word in reference to certain other important doctrines. In contrast to the Sadducees, they believed the following:

  1. They believed that God controlled all things, yet decisions made
    by individuals also contributed to the course of a person's life.

  2. They believed in the resurrection of the dead (Acts 23:6).

  3. They believed in an afterlife, with appropriate reward and punishment
    on an individual basis.

  4. They believed in the existence of angels and demons (Acts 23:8).
Though the Pharisees were rivals of the Sadducees, they managed to set aside their differences on one occasion — the trial of Christ. It was at this point that the Sadducees and Pharisees united to put Christ to death (Mark 14:53; 15:1 John 11:48-50).

While the Sadducees ceased to exist after the destruction of Jerusalem, the Pharisees, who were more concerned with religion than politics, continued to exist. In fact, the Pharisees were against the rebellion that brought on Jerusalem's destruction in A.D. 70, and they were the first to make peace with the Romans afterward. The Pharisees were also responsible for the compilation of the Mishnah, an important document with reference to the continuation of Judaism beyond the destruction of the temple.

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Question & Answer - Part 8 (05/02/2010)

WHY DO WE NOT USE THE APOCRYPHA?

“The reasons assigned for not admitting the Apocryphal books into the canon, or list of inspired Scriptures are briefly the following:

  1. Not one of them is in the Hebrew language, which was alone used by the inspired historians and poets of the Old Testament.

  2. Not one of the writers lays any claim to inspiration.

  3. These books were never acknowledged as sacred Scriptures by the Jewish Church, and therefore were never sanctioned by our Lord.

  4. They were not allowed a place among the sacred books during the first four centuries of the Christian Church.

  5. They contain fabulous statements and statements which contradict not only the canonical Scripture but themselves; as when in the two books of Maccabees Antiochus Epiphanes is made to die three different deaths in as many different places.

  6. It inculcates doctrines at variance with the Bible, such as prayers for the dead.

  7. It teaches immoral practices, such as lying, suicide, assassination and magical incantations.

For these and other reasons, the Apocryphal books which are all in Greek, except one which is extant only in Latin, are valuable only as ancient documents, illustrative of the manners, language, opinions and history of the East.”

-- copied

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Question & Answer - Part 9 (05/09/2010)

DID THE BODY OF MOSES NOT RETURN TO DUST?

Scripture References:

Deuteronomy 34:5 — Moses died in the land of Moab before the children of Israel crossed the Jordan River to go in to possess the land.

Deuteronomy 34:6 — Moses was buried by the Lord, and the place of his burial was kept secret from all men. As you can see, the Bible is very clear that Moses was buried.

Jude 1:9 — The reference here seems to be at the burial of Moses. Satan was trying to secure the body; we are not told why, just that he was and that he failed.

Matthew 17:3 — We see that Moses appears on the mount of transfiguration with Elijah.

We believe from the above scriptures that Moses did die, was buried by the Lord, and at the burial the Devil tried to take away the body of Moses but failed. It is therefore natural that the body would have begun to decay. We see him on the mount of transfiguration clothed upon with a temporary body for this appearance.

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Question & Answer - Part 10 (05/16/2010)

HOW CAN I GET THE MOST OUT OF SERVICES?

As always we need to go to the Word of God for each of our answers and this is no exception. Proverbs 18:1 gives us the answer and we see the illustration of it in Proverbs 2:1-5

As we recognize the importance of church services to our families we will have a desire that our families' needs be met. We then will separate whatever hindrances that hinder (late Saturday night, oversleeping for church Sunday morning, family in total chaos when we arrive at church) the services. As we seek God's blessing for our families the devil will fight, we will have to intermeddle (contend) with him. We see in Proverbs 2:5 because we have done our part that God blesses and gives wisdom.

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Question & Answer - Part 11 (05/23/2010)

FIRST QUESTION:
Why are we called Cozaddale Baptist Temple and not Cozaddale Baptist Church?

SECOND QUESTION:
In the Bible doesn't the temple refer to the meeting place of the Jews and believer's bodies only?

First Question
We are called Cozaddale Baptist Temple because the Loveland Park Baptist Church (which gave birth to us) and the 11 charter members present at the organizational meeting voted on and approved that name.

Second Question
Yes, the Bible refers to several different temples in relation to the Jews and their history.

  1. Solomon's temple as seen in 1 Kings 5:8.
  2. The temple built by Zerubbabel found in the book of Ezra. Ezra 5:2.
  3. Herod's temple is found in Matthew 24:1.

The Bible also refers to the physical bodies of believers as temples of the Holy Spirit in
1 Corinthians 6:19-20.

In 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 the context seems to be that of the local church which Paul is referring to when he says “which temple ye are.“

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Question & Answer - Part 12 (05/30/2010)

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO LEARN BAPTIST HISTORY?

God's word gives important principles on remembering. Here are five biblical principles why we as believers should remember our days of old and teach them to our children.

  1. Remember the days of old because we are instructed to.
    Deuteronomy 32:7 — Remember the days of old, consider the years of many generations: ask thy father, and he will shew thee; thy elders, and they will tell thee.

  2. Remembering the days of old can be spiritually uplifting.
    2 Corinthians 9:2 — For I know the forwardness of your mind, for which I boast of you to them of Macedonia, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal hath provoked very many.

  3. Remembering the days of old helps us see the providence of God at work in the world.
    Psalm 75:7 — But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another.

  4. Remembering the days of old gives us a better foundation for the stormy days ahead.
    Psalm 11:3 — If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?

  5. Remembering the days of old keeps us from repeating the same mistakes
    as those before us.
    Psalm 78:1-8 ; especially v.7-8…
    v. 7 — That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments:
    v. 8 — And might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation; a generation that set not their heart aright, and whose spirit was not stedfast with God.

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Question & Answer - Part 13 (06/06/2010)

ARE THE BEATITUDES LITERAL, ARE THEY WRITTEN TO THE CHURCH
OR GENERALLY.   ESPECIALLY VERSES 5, 8, AND 30?

Matthew 5-7 records the Sermon on the Mount and contains what we call the beatitudes. The word beatitude is not found in the Bible, it simply means “blessing” and comes from the Latin word for blessed.   Matthew 5:3-11 are referred to as the beatitudes.

Are the beatitudes literal?   Yes, the purpose of the beatitudes is to show the disciples what true righteousness produces. We know our righteousness is as filthy rags, but Christ's righteousness imputed to our account allows us the blessings we see here.
2 Corinthians 5:21.

Are they written to the church or generally?   According to verses 1 and 2 He was teaching the disciples. The disciples were the first church; the kingdom of heaven refers to all born again believers alive at that time (at that time all members of a Baptist church).
Verse   5.  We have an inheritance because of Him.
Verse   8.  We will see God because of Him.
Verse 30.  Showing the severity of these sins, handle it quickly and decisively.

Knowing what we have in Christ let us allow His righteousness to flow
through us so others may see Him.

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Question & Answer - Part 14 (06/13/2010)

WHAT ARE THE SEVEN SEALS IN THE BOOK OF REVELATION?

Daniel 9:24-27 prophecies eight separate events that were yet to take place. Of those eight, four have been fulfilled already, one is being fulfilled up until the second coming of Christ and three will be fulfilled during the 70th week of Daniel. Revelation chapters 6-19 describe the events of Daniel's 70th week (3 sets of judgments, the seals, the trumpets and the vials). Each set will grow worse as Daniel's 70th week (the tribulation period) draws to a close. The seal judgments are the first set of judgments that are recorded.

  1. Revelation 6:1-2
    THE RIDER ON THE WHITE HORSE
    — Anti-Christ Rises to Power —

  2. Revelation 6:3-4
    THE RIDER ON THE RED HORSE
    — Great War —

  3. Revelation 6:5-6
    THE RIDER ON THE BLACK HORSE
    — Famine —

  4. Revelation 6:7-8
    THE RIDER ON THE PALE HORSE
    — Death — one-fourth population dies —

  5. Revelation 6:9-11
    TRIBULATION MARTYRS
    — Their martyrdom and their prayer —

  6. Revelation 6:12-17
    DIVINE WRATH SEEN
    — Seals 1-5 we see man's actions toward men; seal 6 is God's actions toward men —

    Revelation chapter 7 has been called a parenthetical chapter since “it does not advance the narrative, but is a by the way (explanatory) insert.”

  7. Revelation Chapter 8:1-2
    REVEALING OF THE SEVEN TRUMPET JUDGMENTS
    — In the OT trumpets were used to announce special events —

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Question & Answer - Part 15 (06/20/2010)

DID GOD CREATE EVE ON THE SAME DAY AS HE CREATED ADAM?

Genesis 1:27 & 31

27 “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.”

31 “And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.”

Genesis 1:1-2:3 records the seven literal 24 hour days of creation.

Genesis 2:4 “These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the Lord God made the earth and the heavens,”

Keep in mind the second chapter of Genesis verses 4-25 is not a continuation of the creative acts of God; instead, it expounds in greater detail certain of the events of the sixth day of creation, especially of the formation of the first man and woman. It does not in any way contradict the account in the first chapter, but instead is complementary to it.

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Question & Answer - Part 16 (06/27/2010)

WHY DOES OUR CHURCH NOT REMEMBER THE SABBATH TO KEEP IT HOLY? WHAT WORD TELLS US TO WORSHIP ON SUNDAY?

The Sabbath day has been the topic of many questions ever since the early church. Looking into Scripture we learn the following truths: first that the Sabbath was a special day between God and Israel (Exodus 31:16); secondly we see that although God instituted the Sabbath in Gen. 2 it was God's rest, not man's. There is no record of the Sabbath being kept until the command is given to Israel in the wilderness.
Here are a few Scriptures why we as believers worship on Sundays and not on the Sabbath.

  1. Jesus rose from the dead on the first day.
    Mark 16:9.

  2. Jesus first appeared to His disciples on the first day.
    Mark 16:9.

  3. Jesus repeatedly met with the disciples at different places on the first day after the resurrection.
    Mark 16:9-11; Matthew 28:8-10; Mark 16:12-13; John 20:19-23.

  4. The first day became the day of joy and rejoicing to the disciples.
    John 20:20; Luke 24:41.

  5. On the first day Jesus explained the Scriptures to the disciples.
    Luke 24:27, 45.

  6. On the first day the purchase of our redemption was completed.
    Romans 4:25.

  7. The first day was for worship and offerings.
    Acts 20:6-7; 1 Corinthians 16:2.

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Question & Answer - Part 17 (07/04/2010)

FIRST QUESTION:
Are all ghosts of the Devil?

SECOND QUESTION:
Could friendly ghosts be that of a passed away family member?

OTHER SIMILAR QUESTIONS:
There have been two other questions about friendly ghosts; this answer will cover them as well.

The Bible refutes the idea that the spirits of our deceased loved ones whether believers or non-believers remain on earth and “haunt” or “watch over” the living.

For believers the result of death is seen in 2 Corinthians 5, verse 6. “Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:”
verse 8. “We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.” (Instantaneous) An example of death for the non-believer is given in
Luke 16:22-23. “…the rich man also died, and was buried; And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments…” (Instantaneous)

The Bible teaches very clearly that there are indeed supernatural beings that were created to serve God. The Bible speaks of two major groups of angels — good and evil.

One group of angels rebelled against God and followed Satan. These fallen angels are called demons or evil spirits. Demons are evil, deceptive and destructive and are organized under Satan's command to carry out his evil designs in this world.
(Matthew 25:41; Ephesians 6:12; Revelation 12:3, 4)

Those angels which did not follow Satan in the rebellion are called the elect angels and continue to serve and worship God. (1 Timothy 5:21). These angels worship, serve and obey God. They minister to and protect God's people. They accompany the saints who die to heaven.
(Revelation 5:11; Psalm 103:20; Luke 16:22; Acts 27:23)

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Question & Answer - Part 18 (07/11/2010)

FIRST QUESTION:
WHERE DID THE CHRISTIAN FLAG COME FROM?

SECOND QUESTION:
IF IT IS NOT BAPTIST WHY DO WE PLEDGE TO IT?


“Where did the Christian flag come from?” According to Wikipedia (and other reliable sources), the Christian flag was created in 1897, by Charles C. Overton, the Sunday School Superintendent at Brighton Chapel on Coney Island. It seems that the scheduled speaker failed to arrive for a patriotic Sunday, and so Mr. Overton gave an impromptu address on the American flag. In the heat of patriotic fervor, Overton wished out loud for a flag that could represent all of Christendom. The details get a bit sketchy as to when the flag was completed. Lynn Harold Hough, a Methodist Pastor, wrote the pledge itself in 1908.

“If it is not Baptist why do we pledge to it?” The first of the year we looked at our Baptist Distinctives. We saw that the two things that separated us from all other denominations were our origin and our beliefs. The last distinctive we looked at was Biblical Separation from False Teaching and Apostates. The Christian flag was designed by a non Baptist to unite all believers no matter their doctrine. The pledge was written by an even then liberal who believed you could lose your salvation, baptized infants and taught evolution was not contradicting Scripture. The origin of the Christian flag and pledge was by men who opposed our doctrines, our beliefs and our heritage. How can we pledge to what has its roots in and stands for what our Bibles teach contrary to? Acts 15; Galatians 1:9; 2 John 7-10.

See... The Baptist Standard



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Question & Answer - Part 19 (07/18/2010)

FIRST QUESTION:
WHEN I DIE AND GO TO HEAVEN, WILL I KNOW THOSE THAT ARE ALREADY IN HEAVEN BY NAME?

SECOND QUESTION:
WILL I HAVE MEMORIES OF THINGS WE FELT AND DID HERE ON EARTH?

“When I die and go to heaven, will I know those that are already in heaven by name?” We want to look at two well known passages in the New Testament. The first instance is found in Luke 16:19-31, where we see a true account of the deaths of two men, the rich man and Lazarus. After their deaths, Abraham, the rich man and Lazarus were able to recognize one another. Not only did they recognize one another, but notice the rich man had his memory. The second instance is at the transfiguration recorded in Matthew 17:3-4. Moses and Elijah were able to recognize one another. Also when Jesus appeared in His resurrected body on earth His body was recognizable to them. These examples lead us to believe that we will be able to recognize one another after our deaths.

“Will I have memories of things we felt and did on earth?” Some point to the story of Lazarus and the rich man as proof that the dead remember their earthly lives. The rich man asked Abraham to send Lazarus back to earth to warn the rich man's brothers not to come to hell. So he remembered his relatives. He must have also remembered his own life of sin because he never asked to be released from hell, nor did he ask why he was there or claim there had been some kind of mistake. He remembered enough about his earthly life to know that he deserved hell. But this is no proof that those in heaven remember their earthly lives. The rich man's remembrance was part of his misery. If we have memories in heaven, they will only be of things that will bring us joy.

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Question & Answer - Part 20 (07/25/2010)

QUESTION:
If a church ceases to exist, do they cease to be a part of the Bride?

Answer - Part 1.
First a basic outline on the Bride of Christ.

  1. The Doctrine of the Bride is found in Revelation 19:7-9 and 22:17.

  2. The Identity of the Bride is found in 2 Corinthians 1:1, 2 Corinthians 11:2
    and Ephesians 5:32.

  3. The Preparation of the Bride is seen in Ephesians chapter 5.

     Here we see Christ's love for his churches
    1. His selfless love in verse 25.
    2. His nurturing love and  possessive love in verse 29.

  4. Bible words used to describe the bride now

    1. Espoused:
      ( 2 Corinthians 1:1 ) A period of time where neither party saw one another:
      period of engagement. As binding as marriage. For example, Joseph and Mary.
    2. Marriage:
      The consummation, accompanied by a wedding feast.

  5. The Presentation and Responsibility of the bride

    1. Ephesians 1:1; Ephesians 5:26-27.
    2. 2 Corinthians 1:1; 11:2-4.

Answer - Part 2.
The Lord established the local New Testament Baptist church. His word teaches that these churches are espoused to be his bride. Just as Joseph could have put away Mary before the wedding if she would have been found unfaithful so Christ will not accept us as the bride if we or our church has not been found faithful to the faith once delivered to the saints. If a church ceases to exist or no longer remains faithful while I am alive I have the responsibility to join myself to another church of like faith and practice. We see in Revelation chapters 2  through 
chapter 3  the Lord speaks to the churches in the present tense and always with time to repent. Once we pass away our works do follow us and we are no longer held accountable for what we have no control over.

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