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Jesus Christ was a child, only twelve years old humanly, when He was left behind in Jerusalem.  His parents traveled a day from Jerusalem before realizing the Son of God was not traveling in their caravan.  Talk about parents miscommunication, they forgot God come down in human flesh in a strange town.

In order to recover their forgotten possession, they had to travel the next day back to Jerusalem, and then on the third day, they found Him.  He was not crying about missing His human caretakers, but was sitting, listening, and asking questions of the teachers of the Old Testament Law.

There are many lessons we can learn about our Great God and Savior Jesus Christ in Luke 2:38-52.  I believe one of the most important lessons we can learn from this passage is this: if it was good for God Himself to make priority of the correct teaching of the Word of God then are we making a priority of Word of God in our lives?  When was the last time you spent time reading the Bible?  When the was the last time you sat under the teaching of the Bible?  When was the last time you asked questions about the Bible?  When was the last time you applied the teaching of the Bible?

If the answers to those questions are “never,” “seldom,” or “rarely,” would you join a solid Bible teaching ministry in town on Sunday?  Not every church teaches the Bible.  However, in Blackfoot there are some solid Bible teaching churches.  If you don’t know who teaches the Bible, judge for yourself (1

^st Thessalonians 5:21).  If they teach the plain, normal, contextual, historical, and grammatical reading of the Word of God, then they likely teach the Bible accurately (this is not a fool proof test, but is a good place to start).  Obviously we like our church, but we are not for everyone.  If you haven't checked us out in a while, come give us a try (that is if you don't have a solid Bible preaching church you attend already).

I am preaching through the book of Luke.  In Luke 2, the accurate historian, records the birth and adoration of the infant Jesus.  Luke explains where the child was born, how the angels sang to the shepherds, and how the shepherds went to see the child.  Mary and Joseph likely thought Him beautiful.  From the text, we know they wondered at all the sayings spoken of Him in prophecy.

But why did our Great God and Savior Jesus Christ come?  Why was He born?  Was He born to experience the life of humanity, as the Greek gods are reported to have done?  Or was there greater purpose?

The child grew, and became a man.   The God of the universe did experience humanity, but not in the way of the false stories of the false gods of Greece.  He was born to die.  Christ was born to give His life for us.  He was the "Lamb of God."  He spoke in Mark 10:45 "for the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and give His life ransom for many."  There it is.  Why did Jesus Christ come, why was He born?  In order to give His life for the purchase of sinners.

You are one of those sinners.  You can be saved, redeemed, ransomed through the shed blood of Jesus Christ.  How?  Through faith in Him.  As we read in Romans 10:13 "All who call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."  Will you call upon our Savior's name for salvation?

Why do some say there are some clothes for church and others are not?  Didn't Jesus say not to be anxious about clothes?  Didn't God ask us to live for Him all the time?  Or are we to only live for Him the 3 or so hours we are together on a Sunday?

1st Corinthians 10:31 says "So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God" (ESV).  That means whether you are wearing clothes on Monday, Sunday, or date night, do so to the glory of God.

This is why we have no dress code at church.  The New Testament makes very clear that we have grace and freedom in Christ.  You don't need to be made a slave to rules.  Galatians 5:1 says "For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery" (ESV).  Does this advocate sin?  No, because if we are seeking to bring glory to God wear clothes that are appropriate, and at the same time not going to be a stumbling block for others.

So, go and don't be made a slave to another's opinion.  Live in the grace and freedom given through Jesus Christ and bring glory and honor to God!

Check out Calvary Bible Church in Blackfoot at www.cbcblackfoot.com, or join us on Sunday for more of living in the grace and freedom given through Christ!

Mary, the mother of Jesus, was described by Elizabeth as being blessed. She is a blessing to us as we read her song, called the Magnificat, because of the first word found in the Latin translation. This song has three parts: God’s blessing of Mary, praising God for who He is, and God’s faithfulness to people. Mary’s words are beautiful summary of the Old Testament. The Lord is good to all, especially those who follow Him, but is also just, punishing the sins of the wicked.

Are you wicked? You may think not, but don’t evaluate yourself in light of men. Look at God’s Word, as Christ Jesus encouraged, “search the scriptures.”

Romans 3:10 says "There is none righteous no not one."

Romans 3:23 says "All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God."

Romans 6:23 says "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

The Scriptures teach we are sinful, and deserve the punishment of God, but Jesus Christ intervenes His blood for us.

Romans 5:6-9 "For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him."

We receive this intercession through faith, and not works.

Ephesians 2:8, 9 clearly tells us we are unable to do enough works to save our selves, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”

You are unable to work for salvation. You must believe in the Lord Jesus Christ to be saved. What is it to believe? It is having the faith of Abraham, who had faith when looking at the stars, and God said his children would out number those very stars. Don’t blindly follow the brethren into a Christ-less eternity, but find saving faith in Jesus Christ. A church, organization, amount of giving, times of service, or even good work cannot save you from the eternal justice God requires. Faith in the shed blood brings salvation. As Paul told the Philippian Jailor "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved ..." (Acts 16:31)

So, Halloween is Saturday.  I am always torn.  I love free candy day.  I love to eat candy, and I enjoy giving happy children free candy.  However, I don't like Halloween.  I don't like the morals of Halloween (i.e. dressing children in terrifying, and gruesome costumes), nor do I enjoy the ethics (i.e. go knock on strangers doors). 

We have decided not to allow our daughter (who is 16 months and not going to eat candy anyway) to participate in Halloween.  We will pass out candy and Gospel tracks, but that is the extent of our involvement. 

Focus on the Family had a broadcast about a witch doctor that came to faith in Jesus Christ.  His true testimony included sharing about the faces of the masks during Halloween being the faces of demons he could name from the time in his life when he would lock himself into a room in order to invite demons to possess him, in order to heal those who were sick in the village.  The broadcast is titled Finding the One True God (parts 1 and 2) and can be heard at www.listen.family.org and searching for "Finding the One True God."

I am not convinced Halloween is as innocent as we presume.  What do you think?

Do you know the One True God? Did you know the One True God is clearly defined as being triune? Though some attempt to mislead others by saying the triunity of God is a man-made teaching, in reality it is the self revealed Word of God.

God, when spoken of in the Bible, is the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. They are One God. God is not three seperate God's we serve, nor is He one person who is manifested in three different ways. He is the co-equal and co-eternal God of the Universe.

If you don't believe me, study the Word of God yourself. Deut. 4:4-6; Isaiah 45:21, 22; John 1:1-18; John 10:28-36; Acts 5:1-11; 2nd Corinthians 13:14

What comes to mind when you think of the Gospel? Do you envision angels, heaven, gold, Jesus Christ upon the cross? Do you consider what work you need to complete? Do you know what it takes to make the Gospel apart of your life?

The Bible teaches there is only one Gospel. Paul defines this Gospel in 1st Corinthians 15:3, 4 "For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures." This is the Gospel. God has made very clear when a person believes the Gospel, they are saved from their sin. Those who do not believe, will not receive salvation from their sin. 1st Peter 4:17 says "For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?" The outcome for those who do not believe will be everlasting destruction in the Lake of Fire.

Will you believe the Gospel? Romans 1:16, 17 encourages us saying "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, "The righteous shall live by faith."" It is not enough to say you believe in the Gospel, the Gospel must be lived out in faith.

I will be preaching my last sermon from Exodus this Sunday.  This book closes with the arranging of the Tabernacle, and the presence of the Lord filling the Tabernacle.  For the next several hundred years, the presence of the Lord remained with Israel.

Those who believe in Jesus Christ are also to go in the presence of the Lord.  Though we do not have a pillar of smoke or a pillar of fire leading us, we do have the Holy Spirit and the Word of God.  Those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ are sealed by the Holy Spirit for the day of redemption (Ephesians 4).  Have you been sealed by the Holy Spirit?  This is not a ceremony, this is the Lord's work the moment we place our faith in Jesus Christ. 

 The Word of God is also our guide.  Many claim it is not translated or interpreted correctly.  Yet, it continues to survive after 3500 years.  When more recent books are changed, corrected, and have to be updated, the Bible remains unchanged (though we translate it from the Greek, Hebrew, and Aramaic into modern English since many, including myself, struggle with early modern English, which is the language of the 1611 KJV of the Bible).  Read the Bible for yourself.  Understand what it says in a literal, historical, and grammatical context.  Unless the text itself, and not a commentator, says it was a parable, illustration, dream, vision, or allegory, take the Bible in the literal, historical, and grammatical context (including passages like Proverbs 31).  See how God's love letter is not a mystery, but a passionate plea for you to glorify Him in everything you do (1st Corinthians 10:31)!

 

Calvary Bible Church

1248 Camas St. which is on the corner of Camas St. and Riverton Rd.

(208)785.4490

www.cbcblackfoot.com

Morning Worship Service at 11:00 am.

September 29 - Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University 7th of 13 week course at 7 pm! 

 

October 4 - Special Service Sunday with Potluck to follow 11:00 am Morning Worship Service.

Moses spent forty days and forty nights upon Mount Sinai, twice.  During the second occurrence upon Mount Sinai, the Lord gave Moses further instructions concerning the Old Covenant.  After Moses had been in the presence of the Lord for that long, he descended back to the camp of the Children of Israel.  He was unaware of the radiance of his face, which was reflecting the glory of God.  This reflection was just as the moon reflects the sun.  When the Children of Israel witnessed that radiance, they forced him to veil his face.

In 2nd Corinthians 3 and 4 the Apostle Paul explains a veil continues upon the hearts of all who do not receive salvation from Jesus Christ.  "And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled only to those who are perishing.  In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God" 2nd Corinthians 4:3, 4.  Have you believed in the Lord Jesus Christ?  Or, are you blinded to the truth, thinking you are following the One True God, yet deceived by the "god of this world," Satan?  Come to the truth of the Bible.  "Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ an you will be saved."

If you have believed in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation, as the moon reflects the sun, are you reflecting the Son?  Jesus commanded in Matthew 5, "Let your good works shine before men that they might glorify your Father who is in Heaven."  There are unsaved people who desperately need salvation.  If those who believe do not share, who will?  Proclaim loudly the gospel of the glory of Christ!

In Exodus 32, we read of the children of Israel’s incredible sin against God.  Israel whored themselves to sin.  They committed adultery against God, breaking the terms of the covenant they agreed to follow. 

God threatened destruction. In wholly holy righteous anger God told Moses He would destroy Israel.  Then using Moses, God said He could rebuild the nation through Moses.  The wrath of God burned against Israel for their adulterous idolatrous actions.

Moses pleaded for grace.  Remembering the Lord's gracious mercy in the two and a half months it took to get to Mount Sinai from Egypt, Moses pleaded for that same mercy.  The Lord relented.  Not that He is fickle, God is not indecisive, nor is He wishy-washy, but compassionate, and has not dealt with us according to our sin.  The Lord held off from utterly destroying the people, but there were still serious consequences for their sin. 

Are we really any different than the nation of Israel?  “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” Romans 3:23.  Though we have not all entered a covenant with God, we are all sinners.  Each of us, whether or not we admit it, has committed sin.

We all deserve the payment of sin.  “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” Romans 6:23.  Each of us, because we each commit sin, deserves eternal death in the Lake of Fire.  The wrath of God burns hot against us.  But the blood of Jesus Christ cools that wrath.  The blood of Christ was the payment for our sin.  Those who place their faith in Jesus Christ are saved from the penalty of sin.  Those who will not believe face the hot wrath of God.  Have you placed your faith in Jesus Christ?

Don't whore yourself to sin.  Join yourself to God.  The forgiveness of God is amazing.  Like a pig wallows in mud, wallow in the forgiveness of God.  My dog, Tucker, when he meets other dogs, is fixated, excited, and unable to be swayed from the way dogs introduce themselves.  Be that way with the forgiveness of God.  Be fixated, excited, and unable to be swayed from God’s forgiveness.  Attach yourself to 1

^st John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”  When we fail, we can be forgiven.  Live in light of the Word of God!