In this lesson we begin with the message titled Baptism and The Church … “37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” 38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the [a]remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:37-38). I often find it beyond the realm of explanation that at just the mention of the word “baptism” people are sent into a myriad of red flag responses. In Acts 2 verses 37 through 38 which you just read, and as you see in your own bibles, the text is simple, straightforward and easy to understand. Yet, to the many denominations in our world today, baptism is extremely contentious, controversial and even a combative subject. Honestly, I don’t understand why. When you read from Acts 2 and verse 38 it seems so simple, and is in harmony with every other scripture concerning baptism. Yet many, because of teachers that refuse to allow scripture to be right—have confused many by their opposing doctrine and contradictions.

But if you contend, as so many do, about the purpose of baptism—then you also must argue against many other simple verses on the subject—and prove they don’t mean what they clearly say. Many have confused the majority with their teaching hewing for, “themselves—broken cisterns that can hold no water” as Israel did in Jerusalem in the days of Jeremiah when God brought charges against the people for forsaking Him (Jer. 2:13). What I hope to accomplish in this lesson is to simplify. . .What must precede baptism, hopefully—stripping away any misunderstanding for the reason, and purpose of baptism.

There is a game that children played, at least when I was younger, called hide and seek. The object was for one person to cover their eyes and count to 100 while everyone else sought a hiding place, then the one counting would shout, ready or not here I come, and begin to search out the other friends one by one. Everyone who has not found a hiding place—they are immediately counted out. I say this to illustrate the fact that Jesus is coming, He will judge, and that will happen whether we as an individual, or we as a church are ready or not. Paul wrote, “No one can hide from God. His eyes see everything we do. We must give an answer to God for what we have done” (Heb. 4:13). When Jesus comes we know this, there will be no place to hide—so we better get it right. Jonah though he ran, he was found by God.

We don’t know when the Lord will come, but I can almost here Jesus “Ready or not, here I come”. In our lesson today—we will focus on just that—are we ready or not—or spiritually speaking when Jesus does come will we be found “Faithful or Not!”

What we must devote ourselves to is the work God ordained and nothing more so that, we will be as the church in Philadelphia? (Rev. 3:7-13). Will Jesus say, “and to the angel of the church in Bedford Ohio write, I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name. Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name. I pray this is so. 

When all is said and done, in the eyes of the Lord, will He find us, “Faithful or Not”? This question must be asked, and we must give an answer—good or bad—we must answer.

“And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.” (Heb. 4:3). “Before I even speak a word, you know what I will say” (Psa. 139:4 CEV). “The eyes of the LORD are in every place, Keeping watch on the evil and the good” (Prov. 15:3), and finally, “For My eyes are on all their ways; they are not hidden from My face, nor is their iniquity hidden from My eyes” (Jer. 16:17). If the answer is yes—then we must just continue to do what we have been doing. If the answer is no—then we must come together and resolve what is lacking and eliminate everything that is in discord with God’s will for this church.

Let’s strive to be faithful in all things that the Lord our God commands us.

WHEN YOU LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEAR, MIND AND SOUL KEEPING THE COMMANDS ARE – NOT BURDENSOME: Then—as for the rest Paul wrote, “For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” [b]“You shall not bear false witness,” “You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law” – Romans 13:9-10.

IF I LOVE THE LORD MY GOD WITH ALL MY HEART-MIND AND SOUL—THESE ARE THINGS I DON’T RESTLE WITH—Not a burden
LOVING GOD IN THIS WAY MAKES THE DISCISION EASYER. . .
Listen—every time we struggle with our time—things we want to do—having friends over—should I leave them and come to worship.
Every time there is a temptation to stay home to watch a game – or just to relax.
Every time we struggle—should I go to the study—should I go to that gospel meeting—should I go to the fellowship meeting.

“The Church Must Have Purpose” The meaning behind the word purpose: It is “the reason for which something is done or created or the reason for which something exists. [Oxford Languages]” – Implies – conviction and force. Jesus speaking of His death, “Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour” (John 12:27).

Our Purpose Must Not Be: To Please Men – “But as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts” (1 Thess. 2:4). There are many religious people in the world whose purpose is to be pleasing in the eyes of men—which opens the floodgate of error.  One way this happens is when the church starts to accept Human Tradition.  God’s purpose was for the church to assemble on the first day of the week—and to break bread, pray, sing songs, hymns and spiritual songs, and take up an offering are commands, not traditions. But Human tradition says you can assemble and serve the Lord’s Supper any day of the week—collect funds any way you chose—it’s up to your church. If that’s your church, you are in the wrong church. We must be careful that we do not intermingle God’s commands with our traditions.
Our purpose is to evangelize, preach Jesus (Matt. 28:19-20).
Our Purpose Must Not Be: To Meet The Minimum Requirements – By that I mean we shouldn’t be searching the scripture for proof that our lack of involvement is “Ok, approved by God”. Should we forget Luke’s record from Acts 2 verse 46, “So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart” – Is that not an example of the early church?
Consider one thing that Jesus said we, the church is to be…Our Purpose Must Be Lights of the World (Matt. 5:14), to Keep All the Commandments – Matt. 22:36-37. Remember Solomon’s conclusion: “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all” (Eccl. 12:13). 

And if the Lord wills, and I live, I will be here to continue this lesson. . .

I saw a sign! Not a sign from God though–but a sign in front of a church building that said, “Church for Sale”. I couldn’t believe my eyes. Who in their right mind would sell the church, but wait! Who in their right mind would think that they have a right to sell the church! The church doesn’t belong to any man, it was bought and paid for by the blood of Jesus.

You may guess that I am making a play on words, but there is a real, and powerful application here concerning the Church of Christ, the authority or lack of which its members have and don’t have. Fact is the church belongs to Jesus, is headed only by Jesus who possesses all authority over it. We can’t change one little thing about the church that we read about in the Bible. We cannot add to it, nor take from it. We worship as commanded, we work as commanded, and we are organized as commanded. Bottom line, we have no say in how the church is to worship and work.

I saw a sign!  Not a sign from God though–but a sign in front of a church building that said, “Church for Sale”. I couldn’t believe my eyes. Who in their right mind would sell the church, but wait! Who in their right mind would think that they have a right to sell the church! The church doesn’t belong to any man, it was bought and paid for by the blood of Jesus. 

You may guess that I am making a play on words, but there is a real, and powerful application here concerning the Church of Christ, the authority or lack of which its members have and don’t have. Fact is the church belongs to Jesus, is headed only by Jesus who possesses all authority over it.  We can’t change one little thing about the church that we read about in the Bible. We cannot add to it, nor take from it. We worship as commanded, we work as commanded, and we are organized as commanded. Bottom line, we have no say in how the church is to worship and work. 

Paul begins with the subject Pray, “Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified, just as it is with you, 2 and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men; for not all have faith. 3 But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one. 4 And we have confidence in the Lord concerning you, both that you do and will do the things we command you. 5 Now may the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the patience of Christ” (2 Thess. 3:1-5).
Still, when you think of the power of a strong prayer life you must realize that it is our primary access for divine assistance, divine intervention. Remember how often and how much Jesus prayed—It must have been important to Him! Here Paul will ask for prayers in different categories. • First, Paul says. . .

Apparently, there were some members who are claiming that the day of the Lord has already come and gone. This was and still is a false teaching. To say such means Jesus will not come again, that we have no hope or expectation of any future Day of the Lord.
Paul wrote the saints in Thessalonica, “Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, 2 not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of [a]Christ had come.” (2 Thess. 2:1-2). 
Brethren and friends, if Christ has already come then, where was I and why didn’t I see Jesus “coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him” (Rev. 1:7), how did I miss Jesus, “come in the glory of His Father with His angels” (Matt. 1:16:27), and why do the many false “churches” that teach this damnable heresy, still practice the Lord’s Supper (1Cor. 11:26)?

In psychology there is a response to suffering and danger: The fight or flight response is an automatic physiological reaction to an event that is perceived as stressful or frightening. The perception of threat activates the sympathetic nervous system and triggers an acute stress response that prepares the body to fight or flee. When we are targeted by wicked people because of our faith, it is a natural inclination to want to give up our faith. When our faith is under trial and pressure leads to the temptation to no longer walk by faith in God. The we turn to self-preservation and self-pity rather than holding to hope in God for our deliverance. This is what we see Paul encouraging these Christians in Thessalonica about in the opening of this second letter, Thanksgiving For Faith (1:3-4), Evidence of God’s Righteous Judgment (1:5), God will repay and relieve (1:6-7), Judgment Pronounced (1:8-10), and God’s Purpose (1:11-12).

We have everything we need to be kingdom ready. . .

I must admit that I am that guy, who picks up a book and turns to the last page to get the conclusion. Even when I was handed my first Bible, I turn to Revelation 22 and read John: He spoke ”of the pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb, of tree of life and how the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. of the throne of God and of the Lamb and His servants shall see His face. He speaks of the promise of Jesus, “behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me”, “And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely. Then the wonderful words, “I Am Coming Quickly” and “Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!” (Rev. 22).

What wonderful hope we have, and all reason to be ready for that day, all reason to strive to be exactly what God wants us to be. Paul wrote, “Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify[d] you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Thess. 5:23). That is the ultimate goal, to be blameless with the LORD at His coming! Paul outlines four attitudes they needed to adopt, so that they might be blameless at the coming of the Lord. Let us see them revealed . . .