Truth in Love (011424)

But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

As we have been studying through the book of Acts, it is very evident that the first century church took seriously this matter of Proclaiming the Gospel.

Peter declared the Gospel on the Day of Pentecost in Acts chapter 2.

Acts 2:21 KJV 1900

And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Peter declared the Gospel in Acts chapter 3.

Acts 3:19 KJV 1900

Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;

Peter declared the Gospel in Acts chapter 4.

Acts 4:12 KJV 1900

Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

Peter declared the Gospel in Acts chapter 5.

Acts 5:30–31 KJV 1900

The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.

Upon the martyrdom of Stephen, one of the first deacons, and the persecution which followed, we read:

Acts 8:4 KJV 1900

Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.

Philip, the evangelist, declared the Gospel in Acts chapter 8.

Acts 8:5 KJV 1900

Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.

While Scripture may not record for us the opportunities that Saul had to hear the Gospel message, it is nevertheless true that at some point in time (and probably multiple times) Saul had heard the Gospel message of Christ’s death, burial and resurrection for it was Saul who was used by the Holy Spirit to pen the words of Romans 10:17

Romans 10:17 KJV 1900

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

In Acts chapter 9 we have the record of Saul’s salvation experience - when he got saved!

And while we do not see, in Acts chapter 9, anyone going over the “Romans Road to Salvation” (It hadn’t been written yet!) with Saul, we do know that Saul understood knew the Gospel message.

1 Corinthians 15:1–4 KJV 1900

Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

This is the first part of our purpose: Proclaiming the Gospel!

The second part of our purpose…

Experiencing the Miracle of Changed Live

In Acts chapter 9, again, we see the miracle of Saul’s changed life! He met Christ on the road to Damascus.

In Acts chapter 9, Saul went from being a persecutor of the Gospel to being a proclaimer of the Gospel!

Turn to and read Galatians 1:11-24.

Vs. 24 sums up the change which Saul experienced once he accepted the Gospel message!

Galatians 1:23 (KJV 1900)

…he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed.

We also see this change in Saul’s life in his letter the the church in Thessalonica:

1 Thessalonians 2:7–9 KJV 1900

But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children: So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us. For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail: for labouring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God.

Saul also spoke of that change to the church in Corinth:

2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV 1900

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Note: It is here that I want to stop for just a moment to make sure that we do not forget our purpose in this coming year.

Reach 1

Would you please consider wearing this little silicone wristband that has these two words printed on it to serve as a reminder to, this year, seek to be used by God to simply reach one other person with the Gospel message and see them saved?

This now brings us to this year’s theme…

Truth in Love

Turn to and read Ephesians 4:11-24.

While there is much more in this passage than we will have the time, today, to consider; Paul, in his letter to the church in Ephesus wrote these words:

Ephesians 4:15 KJV 1900

But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

Just because you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior and experienced the miracle of a changed life does not mean that your journey on this earth is complete.

In simple terms, the context of this passage of Scripture in Ephesians can be summed up in one word: Maturity.

We see that goal throughout this passage.

Vs. 12: for the perfecting of the saints

Vs. 12: for the edifying of the body of Christ

Vs. 13: a perfect man

Vs. 13: the fulness of Christ

Vs. 14: be no more children

Vs. 15: grow up

Vs. 16: maketh increase

Vs. 16: the edifying of itself

Vs. 22-24: put off/be renewed/put on

What is the purpose of this maturity?

The answer to that question is, from this passage of Scripture, two-fold:

#1: To establish a firm foundation

Ephesians 4:14 KJV 1900

That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

#2: To demonstrate a Christ-like lifestyle

Ephesians 4:17 KJV 1900

This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,

Ephesians 4:22–24 KJV 1900

That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

What is the process to achieve this maturity?

The answer to that question is found in vs. 15:

Ephesians 4:15 KJV 1900

But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

Our 2024 Theme: Truth in Love or we might say it this way, Truth administered with Love!

Once Saul accepted Christ as his Savior, he was miraculously changed. He then gave his life to proclaiming the Gospel message so that others would be saved and experience the miracle of a changed life.

Then, while Saul continued to proclaim the Gospel, he also sought to encourage believers to grow - to mature in Christ!

We see this ministry in 1 Thessalonians.

Turn to and read 1 Thessalonians 2:4-13.

Our theme from 2022 and 2023 focused on our purpose as a church.

SCBC Purpose

Our theme for this coming year focuses on our mission as a church.

SCBC Mission(1)

SCBC Mission(2)

Truth in Love

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