ACBC: The Covenant

ACBC: The Covenant • Sermon • Submitted 4 years ago

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Intro:

Shortly after I got saved someone came up to me and asked me if I wanted to become a member of First Assembly of God in Clover SC. I had been saved for a few months, baptized, started learning how to preach, and doing some outside ministry. I thought I was already part of the family of God.

I got saved

I got baptized

We do ministry together.

...

EXP

There are plenty of reasons why a person should become a member of a local body. It’s Biblical. It gives you a defined body of believers for you to help and to help you.

Today however, I do not want to plead the case of becoming a member, I simply want to start a series on what the benefits are to being one.

I’m going to use our membership covenant as a back drop for all of this.

No I was not there when this was written, however, I find it to be Bionically sound. and I will use the Bible to demonstrate that.

Today we begin a series on what it means to be a member of a local body of believers, specifically here but abroad as well.

Having been led by the Spirit of God to receive, by faith, Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, and having publicly confessed Him by baptism in the name of God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, we freely and joyfully in the presence of God enter into covenant with one another as one body in Christ.

We agree, by the aid of the Holy Spirit:

to walk together in Christian love, faithfully seeking by all means to grow in grace and in understanding of the truth of God;

to pray and work for the kingdom of God, seeking to have His will done in our lives, in our homes, in the affairs of our community and world, and to contribute to the support of the Church at home and abroad;

to be faithful to our commitments, watchful of our manner of life and speech, and careful to guard the name of the Church and its members;

to faithfully take the Word of God as the guide for our conduct, to remember each other in prayer, aid each other in sickness and distress and do unto others as we would have them do unto us, remembering always to set a worthy example.

When we remove from this place we will, as soon as possible, unite with some other Christian Church where we may carry out the principles of God’s Word.

The plan is to work through these commenting as we go. My desire is that we grow together as a body so that when people are invited in they experience the things we read in this covenant.

Freely

John 8:36 ESV

So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

Galatians 5:1 ESV

For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.

NOTE THE US

1 Corinthians 6:12 ESV

“All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be dominated by anything.

Joyfully

Philippians 4:4 ESV

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.

Proverbs 17:22 ESV

A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

2 John 12 ESV

Though I have much to write to you, I would rather not use paper and ink. Instead I hope to come to you and talk face to face, so that our joy may be complete.

NOTE THERE IS SOMETHING ABOUT THE FACE TO FACE THAT MAKES JOY COMPLETE.

Covenant

Luke 22:20 ESV

And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.

WHEN CHRIST MADE A PROMISE IT WAS IRREFUTABLE

2 Corinthians 1:20 ESV

For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.

ALL OF HIS PROMISES ARE ABSOLUTELY TRUE.

ONE ANOTHER

Acts 10:34–36 ESV

So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. As for the word that he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace through Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all),

Acts 10:34–35 NIV

Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right.

Acts

No favorites… if God is not a respecter of persons, neither should we be. We make a promise to make sure we all make it.

Hebrews

Hebrews 3:13 ESV

But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.

Conclusion

I want to stop there for now and I want us to meditate on these things. I deliberately went all over the Bible today so that you can see that theses principals were all through the Bible.

You see, we made a covenant a promise. We signed the contract. We were not coerced, but we need to understand that it is our responsibility to make sure we all make it. Theres not room for offenses and other things that cause disunity.

Romans 12:18 ESV

If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.

Matthew 7:3–5 ESV

Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.

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