Despair to Proclamation (Part B)

Believes and is baptized will be saved, but he who does not believe will be condemned to distinct and significant events and that one sentence.

You have saving faith. They are presented to us and you have that faith that saving faith demonstrated by the act of water baptism, but water baptism saves no one. Ephesians 2. For by grace. For by grace you have been saved through faith and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, lest anyone should brag. This is cross reference radio with our pastor and teacher Rick Gaston.

Rick is the pastor of Calvary Chapel Mechanicsville.

Pastor Rick is currently teaching through the book of Mark, please stay with us after today's message to hear more information about cross reference radio, specifically how you can get a free copy of this teaching despair to proclamation the title of Pastor Rick's message today. He will be teaching in Mark chapter 60 Jesus did not expound when he met those two disciples on the road to Emmaus. He did not sing them a song not talk to them about ritual. Well you got in a light this candle and put it just over here to the east. What did Jesus expound one with his disciples once he was risen. The word Luke's gospel 24 verse 27 and beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself, so he dealt with prophecy prophecy fulfilled application of the prophecy I what good is it if you know that you have an end time scenario and you do nothing with it. We don't learn these things we can just go home. As a boy, that was really nice is tempting.

I mean, I love reading sermons from the old pastors but I have to do something with it is not just way that was like watching a play of something usually turns into work, scribbling notes and is not as enjoyable as it is just I mean I could probably read war and peace in our but is exaggeration, but of course they come to Bible material is it can read it because I'm busy boy this is a point I want to forget this. Thank you Lord and on and maybe you're the same way. Or maybe you just hear someone else preaching. It's okay if you have the same what I just depositing it so I can think about that. Write it down there of bookworms and their tapeworms.

It's it's okay to be one of the other. Anyway the age of the apostles was accompanied by miracles for a long part of that. But because of their work because of the signs and wonders that followed their work.

We now have the truth in written form under does not mean I'm not saying I do not believe in the gifts, signs and wonders what it does me that it is not like it was. We covered this last session as it was in the days of the apostles physical miracles are not as widespread.

Presently, as they were in biblical times.

Since we are now in the age of truth by faith through grace. The word is the dominant vehicle. There are other vehicles but Scripture is by far dominant. Remember Farrell, he saw signs and wonders they still did not believe Deuteronomy 26 verse eight so Yahweh brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and with an outstretched arm, with great terror and with signs and wonders.

All this has to do what were talking about.

Does it not because Jesus is going to use signs and wonders in the early church to establish the church and he but but he gives them something to think about through Scripture.

That's what happened with the disciples on the road to Emmaus. He gave them something to think about, to develop and to apply that ain't easy. But his delight is in the law of the Lord and in his law he meditates day and night because that's what it takes, that's what it takes to be used by God, should we say Lord I want you to honor me and use me to preach in all the world. I just don't want to know your word about course would be crazy. Verse 14. Later, he appeared to the 11 as they sat at the table, and he rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart because they did not believe those who had seen him after he had risen. He wanted them to believe the preaching and didn't say to Mary, okay, you've seen me now. I'm going to give you a sign in wonder to take back so they'll believe me Mark again condensing the appearances of Christ, Peter, and Thomas present at some point and this is I think verse 14 would have that materialize in their midst. He ate food he demonstrated that his body was real, but that it could all also a fannish that there will physical laws in place, but there are also other laws in place and he had mastered them where he rebukes them, hear their unbelief. Love must rebuke what is wrong in order to restore and to preserve and to advance in situations like this.

If you have a child and the child is doing something that is wrong and harmful, that child must be rebuked, dealt with by me doesn't have to be hard. Some children are very responsive to you know don't do that good. My father could just look in my direction and would all stop until he went away and I could go back at it… Anyway, this is part of our faith as Christians. Galatians 6 brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in the spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. That's a verse that every Christian should memorize every Christian should look to apply that instead of walking around the microscope instead of trying to take you know beams out of people's eyes.

It's easier to take her to spot a beam and take it out of someone else's eye, than to get the motor out of your own despair hardened their hearts.

That's why they did not believe what a lesson I want to hear this when I'm in a state of despair instead of the spirit is what relief or whatever is causing me this lack of faith. But that's not how it works.

Not all the time. I have to remember okay I'm supposed to endure. Take the pain despair hardened their hearts lesson for me. Scripture warms the hearts again. Luke's gospel 24 verse 32 and they said to one another.

This is the to again on the road to Emmaus after they realize Christ had been with them did not our heart burn within us while they talked with us on the road and Wiley opened the Scriptures to us. Interesting point.

Their hearts were burning as he was giving them lessons on Scripture even though they still thought he was dead us the power of the word of God.

It it warm their hearts in the midst of their grief and then when they all when they realize that they put it all together. That's where victories are. That's where I want to be. Verse 15 and he said to them go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.

Not like some of the histories are talking about going preaching to ants or you know mosquitoes want to preach the mosquitoes just anyway. Clearly when he says to them go into all the world. This is the church age because it would be was physically impossible for the 12 to go throughout the whole world this would this is looking down the telescope going to all the world and preach the gospel to every creature were not supposed to be separatists, isolationists, spiritual hermits living in monasteries. I mean, when they first started monasteries.

They were of you know they they did have a plan. It was not intended to be what monasteries became but anyway we're not there now. We're not supposed to be isolated from the world. We are supposed to seek and engage as spirit gives opportunity. Philippians chapter 2 verse 15. I love reading these verses is one of the bonuses of of preaching the not so bonuses of preaching is when you mess up your guy gets all the credit for the good stuff and I get all the bad stuff. Anyway, that's the contract verse 15 of Philippians 2 that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life. How profound is that how many that name praise don't want to hear that Christian life is to be dominated by truths through the word where else to go to get it from God is not trusted Christianity to start writing for similar when I go to do today only comes a plane or read what it says is from God, the church age is one of faith by truths, not by sight and before the church age. Israel was the primary mission field.

Matthew chapter 10. These 12 Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying, do not go into the way of the Gentiles and do not enter the city of the Samaritans and Mississippian, but to the lost sheep of Israel. Now he is saying go into all the world after the resurrection. Now it's time to expand the ministry and will see this and again ask chapter 1 verse eight you shall be witnesses to me in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria the end of the earth as the collectively as the church, not any one individual. I like watching an old food channels and travel channels because I don't want to go to any of those places eat any of those things I'm always entertained by people who Google eat those things and live in those places.

They may say the same about me.

But anyhow we have a perfect message.

It is a perfect message that is to be delivered by an imperfect people get used to that.

Remember that you feel like you're not worthy because you are not yet God, the love of God, the abilities of God and as he confronted those men we reprove them for their reluctance to believe and yet he encourage them to go out and thank you Lord that you are this way.

Verse 16 he who believes and is baptized will be saved, but he who does not believe will be condemned to distinct and significant events in that one sentence. You have saving faith. They are presented to us and you have that faith that saving faith demonstrated by the act of water baptism, but water baptism saves no one. Ephesians 24 by grace. For by grace you have been saved through faith and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, lest anyone should brag who look at me.

I got baptized why he saw some goofy thing we know that's not how it works but there may be others that don't know it and we should pointed out to them. Those who believe are to be baptized with the Bible. It is a commandment, Jesus will tell his disciples go into all the world, baptizing them in the name of the father the son and the Holy Spirit, then that baptism.

It declares this union with Christ in his death, the burial the resurrection it preaches this lesson by that one action, God commands and expects believers to be baptized. We see this in acts will see it in acts as there are those converts to Christianity, but I'm sure the part that some of your eager to get to his but he who does not believe will be condemned and comment to he who believes and is baptized. Some of you want to know this might want to know an answer for that, and me knowing that I would like to skip over North how just too easy. It's what you do with a sibling of anyway all you want to chocolate I got you vanilla you also think that way just like perfect people. Anyhow, but he who does not believe will be condemned so the condemnation is pronounced on unbelief, not immersion.

It doesn't say what he who does not believe, and is not baptized. He says he does not believe will be condemned. That closes it right there leaving on the outside, the, the connection between water baptism and salvation and get you know the thief on the cross. Didn't you know the Lord and say, well, too bad, because the church really needs at the pool water baptized in you missed it, know that of course is not the case, God can get people into heaven without water baptism, and to suppose that sinners must be baptized to be saved is a miss interpretation of that verse. The emphasis is on believing you want versus just a couple of them. John 316 through 18, and John 336 are excellent versus two not down anyone that you that and not on the argument… Anyone that would be a different class but anyway if a person does not believe they are condemned, even if they are baptized. You can be baptized and go to hell if you insist he who believes and is baptized shall be saved and never says he that is not baptized, shall be damned. This is the clear teaching of the Scripture verse 17. These signs will follow those who believe in my name they will cast out demons will speak with new tongues. These signs will follow those back you up here saying to his apostles sign indicates something something else. It is pointing to the sign is not the thing itself. The sign is always less than the thing that is it. It is indicating if you were driving to the airport you sold as a sign of the airport you don't stop there and wait for the plane, you can just won't land there.

These these signs that he is speaking of this not the first time God has given his people power to do signs and wonders, of course, just the ministry of Elijah.

For example, this is the transition. Prices transitioning these 40 days after the crucifixion, resurrection he's transitioning his believers from a juju deistic centered system to the church in the early chapters of acts are loaded with the following signs and more that he is going to mention here. I will also point out know the early church met in homes, not by choice said by by necessity have a choice they had to meet. They they would love love to have been able to meet like the synagogues, when Paul gave so many instructions.

The church was built on what the synagogues were doing it because was a sensible thing he gets to the hall of tire any us and he begins to again you don't have service in a more formal environment than incident in someone's home today. If you do have a Bible study in someone's home and church starts to grow to be on for people with kids.

You'll learn real quick.

This home things. Not a good idea.

Hypnotism work well for anybody is gauging what you think about that looking at you anyway that these early chapters of acts is where I am a transitional. The church transition from the home to the to the public arena and it's a good thing. Of course, the Caesars outlawed the church stop you from doing that at times and is not only the Caesars even to this day there places where the church cannot assemble anyway in my name they will cast out demons. Well it is true that when you share the gospel with someone and they convert to Christianity. You just had cast out a heavy demonic influence.

First John chapter 3 verse eight. For this purpose. The Son of Man was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. And preaching the word of God does that. Thus, the emphasis on the word of God. Thus, the attacks by Satan on the word of God, be it through it. The direct attack on the Bible as we saw in Genesis chapter 3 attacking God's word. Or, as we see in the universities and other forums and also in the individual heart in my name they will cast out demons. They will speak with new tongues. What's the new tone you know when the Lord spoke these words to them tongues as we know it. They didn't know it. You know what that is static, to praise God in his spiritual language they they did not have that knowledge with their first encounter with tongues is me speaking praises to God in their language being received by people inland with a foreign language and will cover that in in acts chapter 2. Tongues can mean various languages that can mean spiritual language acts chapter 10 when Peter's preaching in the house of Cornelius. You know the Holy Spirit interrupted his sermon.

They began to speak in tongues and Peter said they need to be baptized with water, having been baptized with the spirit at the neck situation, God used the subject of tongues in the church, even as a warning sign to unbelieving Jews see in Isaiah 28 Isaiah writes, for with stammering lips and another tongue. He will speak to his people.

While originally Isaiah meant the Assyrian tongue. The Assyrians conquered the northern kingdom is his judgment coming that tongue was not a blessing in that case it was a curse, but over 700 years, here comes Paul and Paul is going to quote this verse from Isaiah, and the Holy Spirit gives him an application for the church. First Corinthians 14 verse 21 in the law it is written with men of other tongues and other lips. I will speak to this people nice quoting Isaiah and yet for all that they will not hear me, says the Lord. Therefore, tongues are for a sign to those who believe not to those who believe but to unbelievers that usage of the tongue is a warning that this something spiritual going on and they insist on remaining outside of that spiritual source for the tongues. So again, Paul's quotation of Isaiah 28 in first Corinthians 14 is reminder that unknown tongues are not always God's ministry of ecstasy in the heart of a believer, but can also be used in judgment and we have it today where you know Christians hear the word tongues, they automatically think of this is static speech of praising the Lord and that's it. Sometimes you feel like when using Scripture with people like that is used as a war going on between the 21 just wants to be hysterical and the other one is trying to do all things orderly before the Lord and it should. That's why would anybody want to resist that what people do come into a church and the church is established order and policies and people.

This think that I need exception and I get very defensive of the ushers and the children of workers.

For example, because I don't like when they put in a position where they gotta tell somebody something that the person is going to cause in all the little scuffle with a verbal or you know more verbal. Of course it doesn't usually get much more than that. You have to go to Brooklyn for that. Anyway, it doesn't get that way there. Not all believers in every age would see sensational signs as we have in the age of the apostles. Most of us hear the gospel and believe how many post folks see a miracle then become a believer nowadays.

Well, I don't think that many. So Paul writes so then faith comes by hearing and hearing the word of God.

No emphasis on the signs and wonders not to reduce their value the participation of God.

Scripture does not say the signs will cease that we you know there are many that again think that they stop with the apostles. Once we have the written word is no need for any more signs and wonders will wait a minute now what about in those places where there are no Bible about North Korea. What about amongst people who are illiterate at one point in church history people using stained glass to learn theology because they were illiterate. They deftly go you know they work in the fields and farms in the didn't have that all the things that we enjoy so let's be careful before we say other no more signs and wonders, but let's also not say I'm expecting one of the sun one for me is my drive home and is no one else on the road. That is a miracle and I rejoice all the way home anyway.

I think that those who say well the gospel of Mark stops at verse eight. In fear I think they're driven because they don't want to face the signs and wonders still exist in the church and they want to try to dismiss it.

I understand that hysterical abuse within churches and among some Christians concerning miraculous things and tongs are enough to sicken sometimes like you know that's just that is not Scripture and the Lord says he gives the spirit of those who are obedient. Many times someone claims to know you can, tongues, and there's no other good nothing else going on with her life move. Thanks for tuning into cross reference radio for this study in the book of Mark cross reference radio is the teaching ministry of Pastor Rick Gaston of Calvary Chapel Mechanicsville in Virginia to learn more information about this ministry. Visit our website cross reference radio.com what you're there you'll find additional teachings from Pastor Rick. We encourage you to subscribe to our podcast. When you subscribe will be notified of each new edition of cross reference radio you could search for cross reference radio on your favorite podcast app that's all we have time for today, but we hope you'll join us next time. As Pastor Rick continues to teach through the book of Mark Reiki on cross reference radio