How about this?
Resolution of Southern Baptist Convention 2008
6. ON REGENERATE CHURCH MEMBERSHIP AND CHURCH MEMBER RESTORATION
June 2008
WHEREAS, The ideal of a regenerate church membership has long been and remains a cherished Baptist principle, with Article VI of the Baptist Faith and Message describing the church as a “local congregation of baptized believers”; and
WHEREAS, A New Testament church is composed only of those who have been born again by the Holy Spirit through the preaching of the Word, becoming disciples of Jesus Christ, the local church’s only Lord, by grace through faith (John 3:5; Ephesians 2:8-9), which church practices believers’ only baptism by immersion (Matthew 28:16-20), and the Lord’s supper (Matthew 26:26-30); and
WHEREAS, Local associations, state conventions, and the Southern Baptist Convention compile statistics reported by the churches to make decisions for the future; and
WHEREAS, The 2007 Southern Baptist Convention annual Church Profiles indicate that there are 16,266,920 members in Southern Baptist churches; and
WHEREAS, Those same profiles indicate that only 6,148,868 of those members attend a primary worship service of their church in a typical week; and
WHEREAS, The Scriptures admonish us to exercise church discipline as we seek to restore any professed brother or sister in Christ who has strayed from the truth and is in sin (Matthew 18:15-35; Galatians 6:1); and now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention meeting in Indianapolis, Indiana, June 10-11, 2008, urge churches to maintain a regenerate membership by acknowledging the necessity of spiritual regeneration and Christ’s lordship for all members; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we humbly urge our churches to maintain accurate membership rolls for the purpose of fostering ministry and accountability among all members of the congregation; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we urge the churches of the Southern Baptist Convention to repent of the failure among us to live up to our professed commitment to regenerate church membership and any failure to obey Jesus Christ in the practice of lovingly correcting wayward church members (Matthew 18:15-18); and be it further
RESOLVED, That we humbly encourage denominational servants to support and encourage churches that seek to recover and implement our Savior’s teachings on church discipline, even if such efforts result in the reduction in the number of members that are reported in those churches, and be it finally
RESOLVED, That we humbly urge the churches of the Southern Baptist Convention and their pastors to implement a plan to minister to, counsel, and restore wayward church members based upon the commands and principles given in Scripture (Matthew 18:15-35; 2 Thessalonians 3:6-15; Galatians 6:1; James 5:19-20).
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Jesus -The Way, The Truth, The Life
Jesus – The Way, The Truth, The Life
John 14:1-14; Romans 5:1-2
In Chapter 11 Jesus says, “I Am the resurrection.” We will look at that “I Am” statement in a couple of weeks. Today we consider Jesus' proclamation of His being the Way, the Truth, and the Life as He prepares His disciples for His crucifixion and resurrection. In chapter 13 Jesus washes the disciples' feet after having instituted the Lord's Supper (Luke 22:19-22). Judas has gone out to betray Jesus to the religious leaders, and Jesus has foretold of Peter's betrayal that night. But Jesus tells His followers, “Let not your hearts be troubled...” and lets them know that His “going” will include His preparing a place for them (us).
He has told them that they cannot go the way He is going (13:33, 36) but that they know the way (14:4), and that Way is Jesus. He is the Way - the only Way - to the Father.
Today lets consider these questions
in regard to what Jesus said in John 14:6:
* What is this way like? Why do we need a special way? Where is the way from and to? Is Jesus not one of many ways? How does Jesus provide the way to God?
* What is truth?
* Don't we already have life? What is this life that is Jesus?
THE WAY Matthew 7:14
Ø Difficult way - (“difficult”=thlibo=affliction, tribulation, press...words that were used to describe preparing grain or fruit for use, i.e. threshing) The way to a proper relationship with God is a way of leaving behind the “husks and hulls”.
Ø Narrow entrance – Why is the entrance so narrow?What restricts entrance to God/life?
> The height of (approach to) God - Who may ascend? Psalm 24:3-4 – Clean hands; Pure heart; No idols; No lying
> The Justice of God – Hebrews 10:30
> The Moral Law of God – 1Peter 1:16
> The Requirement of Perfection – Galatians 3:10
> God's Wrath/Righteous Anger (at sin) Romans1:18; Ephesians 5:6; Colossians 3:6
Ø Therefore, the One who provides/is the Way must meet these requirements. Sinless - John 18:23; 2Corinthians 5:21; Bearing the Judgment of God without requiring judgment Himself – Romans 3:25-26; Romans 5:6-11; Met God's MoralRequirement and the Requirement of Perfection – 1Peter 3:18; Bore God's Wrath toward you and me – Isaiah53:5-6, 10; Romans 3:25, 1John 2:2
Ø The Way is to God, but Where is the Way from?
> From the Curse... Deuteronomy 11:26-28 NOTE: “turn aside” = to disobey or to fail to obey
The Curse = the opposite of Numbers 6:24-26
> the curse of Sin – Hebrews 5:1-3 Every priest(even the priest), except Jesus, had to first sacrifice for his own sin.
> Galatians 3:13 Jesus delivered us from the curse that the law revealed.
Ø What will Coming to the Father Look Like? Personal, Present, Powerful Relationship with God the Father John 14:15-21; 17:20-26
Ø What Other Ways Have Been Proposed? Decency, Descent, Denominations, Deeds, Denial/Disagreement.
Jesus did not just teach the way or point the way, He is the
Way.
THE TRUTH
Ø Thy Word is truth – John 17:17; John 1:1,14
THE LIFE
Ø 1John 5:11; John 3:16; John 1:4; John 20:31; John 10:10
Ø Set free from slavery to the world John 8:23-24
Ø Made alive with Jesus Romans 6:6-11
Ø Spirit Powered Resurrection Life Romans 8:11
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)