Recognizable Traits Part Six
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Introduction:
Introduction:
19 Now those who were scattered after the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to no one but the Jews only.
20 But some of them were men from Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they had come to Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists, preaching the Lord Jesus.
21 And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord.
22 Then news of these things came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent out Barnabas to go as far as Antioch.
23 When he came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord.
24 For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord.
25 Then Barnabas departed for Tarsus to seek Saul.
26 And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.
1. These are traits that can be observed in the true Christian and when they are displayed, they will be recognized.
1. These are traits that can be observed in the true Christian and when they are displayed, they will be recognized.
Body:
Body:
1. Christians are good people (Acts 11:24).
1. Christians are good people (Acts 11:24).
A. First, to understand what a good person is we have to understand what good is.
A. First, to understand what a good person is we have to understand what good is.
1. No one is good except God.
1. No one is good except God.
16 Now behold, one came and said to Him, “Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?”
17 So He said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.”
2. Good is determined by God and not man.
2. Good is determined by God and not man.
12 There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.
A. Our heart is deceitful and desperately wicked.
A. Our heart is deceitful and desperately wicked.
9 “The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?
3. No one is righteous.
3. No one is righteous.
10 As it is written: “There is none righteous, no, not one;
A. No one is righteous in and of themselves. We are only righteousness when it is accounted to us like it was to Abraham.
A. No one is righteous in and of themselves. We are only righteousness when it is accounted to us like it was to Abraham.
23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God.
1. If we want righteousness to be accounted to us as it was to Abraham we need to understand how to become a friend of God.
1. If we want righteousness to be accounted to us as it was to Abraham we need to understand how to become a friend of God.
14 You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.
A. Being a friend of God’s is fairly simple to understand—obedience.
A. Being a friend of God’s is fairly simple to understand—obedience.
B. Obedience to God is God’s definition of good.
B. Obedience to God is God’s definition of good.
5 Through Him we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for His name,
6 among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ;
7 To all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
B. A Good man is full of the Holy Spirit.
B. A Good man is full of the Holy Spirit.
1. How is a good man full of the Holy Spirit?
1. How is a good man full of the Holy Spirit?
A. At baptism we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
A. At baptism we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
1. Is it the gift the Holy Spirit Himself as a gift or is the gift that which the Holy spirit gives?
1. Is it the gift the Holy Spirit Himself as a gift or is the gift that which the Holy spirit gives?
A. What did the Holy spirit give the Apostles.
A. What did the Holy spirit give the Apostles.
1. The Helper was to teach them all things.
1. The Helper was to teach them all things.
26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.
2. Holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. (Scripture is the written word of God).
2. Holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. (Scripture is the written word of God).
18 And we heard this voice which came from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain.
19 And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts;
20 knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation,
21 for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.
3. We recieved the written word (Scripture) as a gift given by God through the Holy Spirit.
3. We recieved the written word (Scripture) as a gift given by God through the Holy Spirit.
16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,
17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
4. When do we start moving beyond the first principals into deeper understand and how does that understanding come.
4. When do we start moving beyond the first principals into deeper understand and how does that understanding come.
1 Simon Peter, a bondservant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have obtained like precious faith with us by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ:
2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord,
3 as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue,
4 by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
5. When do we truly understand what it means to have all things that pertain to life and godliness.
5. When do we truly understand what it means to have all things that pertain to life and godliness.
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,
6. This is when we truly start to grow and understand in God.
6. This is when we truly start to grow and understand in God.
14 Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless;
15 and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation—as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you,
16 as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures.
17 You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked;
18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.
B. If you write the word upon your heart. You will always have the Holy Spirit with you.
B. If you write the word upon your heart. You will always have the Holy Spirit with you.
4 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one!
5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.
6 “And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart.
2. A Good man is full of faith.
2. A Good man is full of faith.
A. Faith is being full of the gift that God gave us and putting it into practice.
A. Faith is being full of the gift that God gave us and putting it into practice.
17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
Conclusion:
Conclusion:
1. Are you a Good man?
1. Are you a Good man?
A. Are you good as God describes good?
A. Are you good as God describes good?
1. Full of the Holy Spirit and Faith.
1. Full of the Holy Spirit and Faith.