Our Heritage - Bob Smith 7/24/05

This morning we would like to talk about our heritage.

This is an encouraging thought and one I hope to convey and

encourage you to being part of the great family of God.

Of course we have a we all have a family heritage and American

Standards dictionary says a Heritage is properly that which

can be inherited something passed down from preceding

Generations, such as possessions, or Traditions, or

character. I find in myself the character

of my dad and mother and the, you know, it's funny as I get

older, I see it more and more, but that's something we inherit

you. Each of us have the character

and genes of our parents. And also, what is passed down

the, what is gained? And perhaps the possessions of

my Will be passed down to us, children and will do the same as

we grow old, will pass on our gains in life, and our

character, and our the traditions of our family on to

our children. And so it is that the family of

God, we have God as our father and we as his children, take on

his character and follow in his ways and and walk in the

righteous path. Of course everyone claims to

have God as their father as the Creator and sure in that sense.

All man are children of God and he is their father because he

has created them. In Genesis it talks about God's

creation. Let me read a few verses there,

Genesis 1, beginning with verse 20 then God said let the waters

abound with an abundance of living creatures and let birds

fly above Above the Earth across the face of the firmament of the

heavens. So God created great, sea

creatures. And every living thing that

moves with which the waters abounded according to their kind

and every Winged Bird according to its kind and God saw that, it

was good and God blessed them and saying be fruitful and

multiply and fill the waters in the seas and let Birds multiply

on the earth. So the evening and morning were

the fifth day, then God said let the Earth.

Bring forth the living creatures, according to its

kind, cattle and creeping things, Beasts of the earth

each. According to its kind, and it

was so. And Matt God, made the beasts of

the Earth, according to its kind cattle.

According to its kind and everything that creeps on the

Earth, according to its kind and God saw that.

It was good. You see each creature, the

cattle or the the Buffalo or the whatever kind of Teacher there

is on the earth and in the air. And in the sea, God created and

each produced after its kind. You see the cattle?

Gather together and they reproduce cattle, they don't

reproduce Buffalo or, you know, some or dogs, they reproduce

cattle and each creature according to its kind. and then

it says, Verse 26, then God said let us make man in our image.

You see man's different from the animals.

The animals were created by God and they were to reproduce after

their kind. Man is made in the image of God.

That's the kind of creature he is.

He's made in the image of God, according to our likeness, he

says let them have dominion over the fish of the sea over the

birds of the air, over the cattle, over all the Earth and

over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.

So God created, man in his own image in the image of God.

He created him male and female, he created them, then God

blessed them and God said unto them, be fruitful and multiply

fill the Earth and subdue it. We have dominion over the fish

of the sea over the birds of the air over every living thing that

moves on the earth man is made unique in the creation, because

he's made in the likeness of God in the image of God.

And the animals are made for his use, mayonnaise to made dominant

to have dominion over all of the creation of the world.

The animals are not the same as man.

They don't have the same value as man.

The life of an animal is not the same value of the life of men of

mankind. People today, have that all

messed up. And and in part it's because of

their ignorance of the scriptures or their disregard of

the scriptures as true. And so, they come up with their

own concoction or own idea of what God is.

They think God is in the life of animals or that God is in the

life of plants. And that we are the same.

We have that same kind of life, no, man is made in the likeness

of God, the animals, the creation of the world is made

for his use. And there's a difference, First

Corinthians 15 and 39 says all flesh is not the same flesh, but

there are one kind of Flesh of men, another flesh of beasts and

other officials and other birds. So there's a difference between

not that man should take advantage of that and be

ruthless or cruel. I don't Advocate that at all.

In fact, I think we should take care.

That's what we should do as, as those who that they're made for

our use and we should use them properly and not abuse our place

in the world. so, man, the B, the main point of this whole

discussion here is that we are created by God and we are

created in his likeness and In His Image.

So we are by virtue of being the creation of God and being in His

image God's children, but sin. Sin and the flesh separates us

from God. Now, I think a great verse is

Genesis, the third chapter and verse 8, where it says,

according to the new King James rendering and they heard the

sound of the Lord. God Walking In The Garden, in

the cool of the day. God walked with it Adam and Eve

he was close to them and he could talk to them and it seems

that God was was present with Adam and Eve.

And, and this verse gives me the indication that God enjoyed that

because it pictures, something that I would could relate to,

I'd love to be in the garden in the cool of the day and you

know, the freshness of a garden and all that goes with that God

was enjoying. It seems the company of His

creation and enjoying his creation, but then Adam and Eve

sinned. And and in the next verse he

looks for Adam and he calls for them and of course, Adam and Eve

sinned. And so God had to separate

himself from them, he got God, is sinless, and he can't have to

do with sin sin, separates us from God.

But God had a plan all along to redeem, man to him, to reconcile

to him, sin separates us from God.

But God's plan was to bring us back and to bring us close to

him again in Ephesians. The second chapter verses 1

through 6, says, and you hath, he quickened who were dead in

trespasses and sins sins sin puts us to death to God, we were

dead. Dead in trespasses and sins, but

God made us alive. We're in times past ye walked

according to the course of this world, according to the prince

of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the

children of Disobedience among whom also, we all had our

conversation in times past, in the lusts of our flesh,

fulfilling the desires of the Flesh, and of the mind, and

we're by Nature the children of Wrath, even as others.

But God, who is rich in Mercy for his great love wherewith.

He loved us even when we were dead in sins.

Hath quickened us together with Christ by Grace ye are saved and

hath raised us up together and made us sit together in Heavenly

places in Christ Jesus God has done that for us and of course

it could. It only happens of course

through our belief and our acceptance of the gospel and our

belief in Jesus and our obedience to it, God's able to

do that. But God's provided it for us.

And if we do this, this our sins are removed, were reconciled to

God. There's no longer any thing that

separates us from God and we in Heavenly places.

That's the church. The church is a Heavenly place,

you know, we've talked and it's recently, been outlined how the,

the Tabernacle is a picture and a type of the church.

And the holiest of holies is a type of Heaven.

The veil between the holy place and the most.

Holy place was torn apart when Jesus died indicating the way

into the holy of holies was made.

We in the church. Have have perfect access to God.

So, so you see we in Christ are in Heavenly places.

We can talk to God and and we can God hears us, God hears is

his children and that is through Jesus Christ.

We're given spiritual life. We were dead in sins, but we're

Made Alive through through the Plan of Salvation in Romans that

the 6th chapter and verse beginning with verse 3,

know, ye not that. So many of us as were baptized

into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death.

Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death that like

as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the father.

Even so we also should walk in newness of life.

For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his

death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection.

Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him that the

body of sin might be destroyed. Destroyed that henceforth.

We should not serve sin for, he that is dead, is freed from sin.

Now, if we be dead with Christ, We believe We Shall also live

with him knowing that Christ being raised from the dead,

dieth no more death hath. No more dominion over him for in

that he died. He died unto sin wants, but in

that he liveth he liveth unto God.

Likewise reckon ye also yourselves.

To be dead, indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus

Christ. Our Lord, when we are baptized,

we are put to death were buried with Christ and were raised to

walk in newness of Life. Were raised for walk.

A new creature raised to walk spiritually alive in Acts 22 and

16. It says Paul is re lading his

meeting with ananias and ananias says to Saul arise and be

baptized and Wash away, thy sins calling on the name of the Lord.

In baptism, our sins are washed away.

So what has separated us from God, what had made us dead unto?

God is washed away, were reconciled to God.

Now, there's nothing between us which which separates us X2. +

38, repent, and be baptized every one of you.

In the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and ye

shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

In Romans 8, 10 and 11. It says and if Christ be in you,

the body is dead because of sin. But the spirit is life because

of righteousness. But if the spirit of him that

raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you he that raised up

Christ from the dead shall also Quicken your mortal bodies by

his spirit that dwelleth in you God makes us spiritually alive.

We were dead, but through our obedience to the gospel, We Are

Made Alive and Alive unto God through Jesus Christ.

In John 1:12 through 13, it says, but as many as received

John 1:12–13

him to them gave he power to become become sons of God.

Even to them, that believe on his name, which are born not of

blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of, man.

But of God were born of God. We're children of God, as

through our obedience, Mark Romans.

Romans 8 and 13 through 17 for if we live after the flesh, ye

shall die. But if ye through the spirit do

mortify, the Deeds of the body ye shall live for as many as are

led by the spirit of God, they are the sons of God for you.

Have not received a bit of the spirit of bondage again to fear.

But you have received the spirit of adoption whereby we cry Abba,

Father the spirit itself. Beareth witness with our spirit

that we are the children of God and if children then heirs Heirs

of God and Joint heirs with Christ.

If so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also

glorified together. God makes us his children.

Through our faith and obedience and and that's just the

wonderful thought. The world cannot claim.

That only God's only, the faithful only those who are

obedient to the gospel can claim to be sons of God and Heirs of

God joint heirs with Christ. We cry, Abba, Father, you know,

Jesus called God, Abba, Father in the Garden of Gethsemane and

account of Mark, that just literally means father, father,

but it's a name, it's a name, a special name and, and God's

children are able to call him that, you know, I call my dad

Dad, Charlotte calls him Dad. We can call him dad, you can't.

Because we're his children, we can call god, father, because

we're his children through faith and obedience in the gospel.

And we are joint heirs with Christ.

Part of our heritage is preaching, the gospel, and Jesus

course, gave the commission to the apostles, to go and to

preach to all the world. He said in Mark, 16 and 15, he

said unto them, go into all the world and preach the gospel to

Every Creature. He that believeth and is

baptized shall be saved. He that believeth not shall be

damned. In Acts 2 and 41.

It says, and then those who gladly received the word were

baptized and that day about three thousand Souls were added

to them. The First Gospel, sermon

preached, and people accepted, and obeyed it.

And when they did 3,000 3,000 that day, obeyed the gospel and

were added to the number of save verse. 47 praising, God and

having favor with the people and the The Lord added to the church

daily. Those who were being saved.

The first time, people are actually added to the church

here in this account. Today we have, we obey the same

gospel. We preach the same gospel that

they preached that day, and, and we obey it the very same were

added to the same body and the same church, Paula Paul such a

such a great preacher, and evangelist and Apostle work so

hard and diligently in his calling, in the, in the, in the

church. And he says, in Romans, 15 and

19 through Mighty signs and wonders by the power of the

spirit of God. So that from Jerusalem and

roundabouts until their lyric, mm, I have fully preached.

Hospital of Christ and in Romans 1 and 15.

He says, so as much as in me is I am ready to preach the gospel

to you that are at Rome also for I'm not ashamed of the gospel of

Christ for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone

that believeth Paul definitely showed through his action and

his work that he was not ashamed of the gospel.

And he was not afraid of putting his life on the line for the

gospel. And he did many times he was, he

was imprisoned and he was abused and stoned even and left for

dead, but the Apostle continued to preach and to work in the in

the gospel. And this is part of our heritage

too. Spreading the gospel and taking

the gospel, we have the gospel, the gospel is here, and we have

obeyed it. And we as part of God's family,

want others to join the family of God.

So our commission today as well, is to spread the gospel to all

the world and not be ashamed. It's a Great Khali.

It's a great place to be in the family of God and we want

others. The Bible says God does not want

any to perish. What, commands, all to repent,

and Jesus died for the world. Anyone who will accept the

gospel, the same power that added the disciples added, the

Believers to the church, in the first century will add them to

the church today. The same power will will wash

them of their sins, the same blood, the same sacrifice, the

same steps of obedience. The gospel Plan of Salvation.

So that's our, that's our heritage, as well to spread and,

and preach the gospel as much as possible, as much as we are able

and, and we do that. Also the hold on to the truth

and to teach the truth. Of course, the world.

It's just hard to comprehend the denominations and how they go

about. And how do they decide?

What to do? How to worship it seems like

it's Well, I think that they take the scriptures as just kind

of a guide and they have Liberties to do what they want,

they just think God will accept that instead of taking the

scriptures as God's command and just obeying them as God

delivered them. The, the denominational world,

the religious world is not even recognized in the scriptures,

you can't find them. You can't find their name, you

can't find their practice. It has developed over many, many

years of man's ideas being incorporated or even Pagan ideas

being incorporated into so-called Christian worship.

And it has, it has over the years evolved into something,

which Now, they have to have their own book to show what they

do and why they do them. Instead of just the scriptures.

We need to hold on to the scriptures.

Hold on to the truth. Keep the, the truth as it is

delivered to us. And that is also part of our

heritage part of our, what's handed down from the Apostle to

his, to his son's, the Evangelist that he taught and

who followed and and taught with him.

Paul warrant. Paul warned that the church that

there would be straying from the truth.

He warned, he said to the Ephesian Elders in Acts 20 and

28, he said, take heed, therefore unto yourselves.

And to all the flock among which the Holy Spirit has made you

overseers to Shepherd the Church of God, which he purchased with

his own blood for. I know this that after my

departure, Savage wolves will come in among you.

You not sparing. The flock also from among your

own selves men will arise speaking perverse, things to

draw away disciples after them. Paul says, I know that after my

departure men will come teaching perverse things and of course he

told the Galatians. I Marvel that ye are so soon

removed from him that called you into the grace unto another

gospel. He was amazed that they were

already. Turned aside and we know from

history, that's exactly what happened.

And even from the Elders of the church Paul says to the elders

that this is the Church of God that he purchased with his own

blood. Take care of the flock feed the

flock and Shepherd, the flock. That was their job.

This was the Lord's church and he purchased it with his own

blood. He said, take care of it.

I know that Grievous wolves are in going to enter in among you

not sparing. The flock even from your own

cells and what? What a prophecy history, just

declares that the things just went down.

And, and so far, it's hard to for us to comprehend, but But

today, we still have the same truth that the Apostle preached

and we can still obey the same gospel.

As that they did. Again, Galatians, 1 6 through 8

says, I Marvel at you, you are turned away.

So soon from him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a

different gospel, which is not another, but there be some who

trouble you and want to pervert. The gospel of Christ, that's

what the world does. And Many religious bodies today,

just simply pervert the gospel of Christ, it's not, it's not

the same gospel anymore, they have perverted it but Paul says,

but if even if We or an angel from heaven, preach any other

gospel to you than that, which we have preached to you.

Let him be accursed a curse. Listen this is not a man

speaking to us. This is God's holy writing.

This is a man inspired by God declaring to us that if we

preach anything other than the gospel of Christ, we are cursed.

I think that was scare people to death to do anything other than

what what what we read. I would not want to face God in

the day of judgment with such a curse on my head.

It says, in First Corinthians, the fourth chapter, 16 through

17, therefore, I beseech. You be ye followers of me for

this cause I've have, I sinned unto you timotheus who is my

beloved, Son and faithful in the Lord who will bring you into

remembrance of my ways, which be in Christ as I teach everywhere

in every church as Paul taught. And he instructed Timothy to go

and and to remind them, remind them in Corinth what I taught

them so that they will keep the Commandments as I Them as I

follow Christ. In Titus 1 and 9.

It says holding fast the faithful word as he hath been

taught that he may be able by sound Doctrine both to exhort

and to convince the gainsayers verse 13 and 14, this witness is

true, wherefore rebuke them sharply that they may be sound

in the faith. Not giving heed to Jewish

fables, and Commandments of men and turn from the truth.

Titus was instructed to give the elders instruction.

To buy holding fast the faithful word.

Holding fast the faithful word, as he had been taught that he

may be able by sound Doctrine, both to exhort.

And to convince the gainsayers, this is our weapon.

This is how we fight a false teaching and this is our guide

in truth. If we will just follow these

words, then we will be keeping the teachings that Paul taught

in every city in every church and that Titus taught.

And that Timothy I taught. Second Timothy 3 and 16 all

scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is

profitable for Doctrine for reproof for correction for

instruction. In righteousness.

That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished

unto all good works. What more do we need?

We can be completely furnished. This is good for Doctrine.

Some people don't like to be taught Doctrine, but listen Paul

taught Doctrine And we need to teach Doctrine and we need to

know the doctrine of Christ and follow it for reproof for

correction. When their correction is needed,

these words here are good for that there, by inspiration of

God, and they're profitable for all this.

That the man of God may be perfect.

That is complete and thoroughly furnished unto every good work.

So, so we don't need more. We have all that.

We need to lead us in the ways of As of God and the ways of

righteousness. And it is our, it is our

heritage. It is part of our part of our

job, as the family of God, to preach these words.

And just, as Paul said not to be ashamed of them, this is the

power of God to save And, of course, we have a great

inheritance waiting for us an inheritance that Fades not away.

First Peter 1 + 3. + 3 through 5, the new King James rendering

blessed, be the God, and father of our Lord, Jesus Christ who

according to His, abundant Mercy, has begotten us again to

a Living Hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

From the dead to an inheritance Incorruptible and undefiled.

And that does not fade away. Reserved in heaven for you an

inheritance incorruptible. It's hard for us to relate to

something like that. Everything here, corrupts

everything here decays and we have to keep renewing.

It, we have to keep restoring it and and we grow old.

We Decay and we die. We've recently laid to rest are

our brothers and fathers and and and Friends.

Several of our, of our own this last year.

And but We have an inheritance, we know when we don't have to

sorrow. As Paul said, we don't have to

sorrow as those which have no hope.

We're comforted because there they await Us in the place that

Jesus went to prepare for us. Jesus said, In John 14 + 1 + 1

through 3, let not your heart be troubled, you believe in God

believe also in me for in my father's house are many

mansions, if it were not. So I would have told you I go to

prepare a place for you and if I go and prepare a place for you,

I will come again and receive you unto myself that where I am

there, ye may be also the Des he was about to leave.

He was about to. He had risen from the dead.

He was with his his Disciples and he was about to ascend into

heaven, he said don't be downhearted, don't be

discouraged or troubled. I'm going to prepare a place for

you. That when I come, I'll receive

you to myself and where I am. There you may be also What a

wonderful comfort. And what a wonderful thought

that we have a mansion prepared for us.

In Heaven by, Jesus are our brother, and we will be with God

and Jesus forever. That's our inheritance

Incorruptible, and that Fades not away.

Matthew 25 and 34 says, then shall the king say, unto them on

his right hand. Come you blessed of my father

inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the

world. You know, it's interesting that

God from the beginning had this plan.

It's a it's also interesting that it took so long to develop

thousands of years. But all of those things, all

those things that transpired in that we read about in the Old

Testament, was to bring about God's plan for the Redemption of

man to bring Christ into the world, and, and for God to

fulfill and to bring about his plan of the Redemption of, man,

in fact, Abraham, Abraham was a looked forward to heaven.

It wasn't promised him, it wasn't promised the children of

Israel, but they wandered about as strangers and pilgrims even

in the land of promise. In Hebrews the eleventh chapter

verses 8 through 10, it says by faith Abraham, when he was

called to go out into a place which he should after receive

for an inheritance obeyed. And he went out, not knowing

whether he went By faith. He sojourned in the land of

promise as in a strange country dwelling in Tabernacles with

Isaac and Jacob. And are The Heirs with him of

the same promise for, he looked for a city which hath

foundations, whose Builder and maker is God, the word

Tabernacle cannot be translated tent, you see?

They were they were Nomads. They were shepherds.

They moved their flocks about so they didn't live in in houses.

Like we do with foundations, they lived in tents, that could

be taken up and moved to better pasture and they move their

sheep around and their and their flocks and herds to pastures

that were agreeing. Abraham was in the land that God

had promised him but still, he lived as a stranger.

And as a pilgrim, it says he looked for a city that had

Foundation whose Builder and maker was God.

That's what Abraham looked for now.

They again, didn't have the promise, but that's what they

look. They look forward to that and by

faith. They looked ahead because they

look for something better. Verse 13 and 16.

These all died in faith, not having received the promises but

having seen them afar off and were persuaded of them and

embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims

on the earth. And we are to like them.

We're strangers here. Our home is in here.

Our treasure isn't here our home and our treasure.

Our inheritance is in heaven. in second Peter, the third chapter

Verses 10 through 18, but the day of the Lord will come as a

thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a

great noise. And the elements will melt with

fervent heat both the earth and the works that are in.

It will be burned up. Therefore since all these things

will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in

holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening.

The coming of the day of God because of which the heavens

will be dissolved being on fire and the elements will melt with

fervent heat. Nevertheless, we according to

his promises look for new heavens and a new Earth in which

dwelleth righteousness. Therefore, beloved looking

forward to these things, be diligent to be found by him in

peace, without spot and blameless.

That's the lesson this morning where the lesson is an

encouragement to you. Look at your inheritance, look

at what you have laid up for you.

And the diligent to be faithful and to live Faithfully in this

life looking forward, even hastening unto the coming of the

day of God, when he will come and we will receive his own into

the air. And there, shall we ever be with

the Lord? We thank you for listening to

our podcast, put on by the Church of Christ at 22:15 plans.

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