Concerning Human Traditions in the Church – part 24
Scripture Text: 1 Peter 3:13–16
Do you have hope? If so, what is the reason for your hope? The Apostle Peter says that we should be ready to give a reliable reason for the hope that is in us.
Concerning Human Traditions in the Church – part 23
Scripture Text: Galatians 5:1–6
Christ alone has the authority to institute rites in the Church that justify, reconcile, and forgive. Why is it though, that the Church or its bishops cannot establish these ceremonies?
Concerning Human Traditions in the Church – part 22
Scripture Text: Revelation 3:7–13
If we are going to follow a command of God, let us keep this one: believe in his Son, Jesus Christ. For “this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us.”
Concerning Human Traditions in the Church – part 21
Scripture Text: Romans 3:27–28
When one takes time for study of the Scripture, it is easily discovered that no one merits God’s favor, forgiveness, et cetera through these human traditions in the Church.
Concerning Human Traditions in the Church – part 20
Scripture Text: Colossians 1:24–27
How can there be a secure and sincere hope of glory when that hope is based in one’s own ability to perform? That would be to despair of glory. Our hope is based on a truer self than self.
Concerning Human Traditions in the Church – part 19
Scripture Text: Colossians 3:18–24
There is no need to enter a religious order to be righteous or lead a holy life. Christ makes husbands, wives, and parents as holy as priests.
Concerning Human Traditions in the Church – part 18
Scripture Text: Luke 18:10–14
Human righteousness tends to look down its nose at those not religious in the same way. It is always watching to see what others are not doing so that it can compare all it does.
Concerning Human Traditions in the Church – part 17
Scripture Text: Colossians 2:20–22
I have enjoyed wearing the most comfortable jeans. But it seems that just a few months after I get them broken in, they wear out and I have to start all over. Who knows how many pairs of jeans I have worn out in my life?
Concerning Human Traditions in the Church – part 16
Scripture Text: Isaiah 1:10–11
Maintaining rites for the sake of order in the Church is one thing. But to contend that these rites justify God is in opposition to the doctrine of the Apostles, and contrary to both the Old and New Testaments.
Concerning Human Traditions in the Church – part 15
Scripture Text: Matthew 14:28–31
We will surely sink, for our focus has become the wind of our opinions, instead of Christ. When this happens, even those things meant for good order will divide us.
Concerning Human Traditions in the Church – part 14
Scripture Text: Revelation 14:9–12
The face of Christianity is changing in many places. Things that were once considered true because they are the testimony of Scripture, are now cast aside in favor of personal and public opinion.
Concerning Human Traditions in the Church – part 13
Scripture Text: Colossians 2:1–5
Since rituals invented by people—instead of those instituted by God—have no testimony in the Word of God and no demand on his people, how could they have anything to do with real unity in the Church?
Concerning Human Traditions in the Church – part 12
Scripture Text: John 1:10–13
Our own will—and willpower—has nothing to do with being part of the family or kingdom of God. We are reborn into the kingdom of Christ because of faith in the King of the kingdom.
Concerning Human Traditions in the Church – part 11
Scripture Text: Revelation 22:14–17
Our robes are washed and whitened—that is to say, we are cleansed from sin—through the blood of the Lamb. This is not done at the neighborhood laundromat; it must be believed.
Concerning Human Traditions in the Church – part 10
Scripture Text: 1 Peter 1:6–7
The highest service of God is to have faith in him. There is nothing you can do that is more precious to God than to trust him, believing his promises—to have faith, which is “more precious than gold.”
Concerning Human Traditions in the Church – part 9
Scripture Text: 1 Timothy 2:5–6
“You can’t make this stuff up,” people sometimes say when they hear something incredible—like the guy who called 911 because he was locked in his car. You can’t make this stuff up.
Concerning Human Traditions in the Church – part 8
Scripture Text: Matthew 15:6–9
There is no clearer teaching in all of Scripture than that which teaches us how and why we receive grace. God’s grace is received by faith, and only for Christ’s sake.
Concerning Human Traditions in the Church – part 7
Scripture Text: Philippians 1:3–7
God does not start a process that we must then finish. The Father sent his Son to accomplish a mission, not to partially complete the task. That task was to save the world through faith in Christ.
Concerning Human Traditions in the Church – part 6
Scripture Text: Galatians 3:7–9
God did not tell Abraham that if he kept certain traditions and fulfilled various commands, that he would be blessed. Rather, he promised him a son and descendants that would bless the whole world.
Concerning Human Traditions in the Church – part 5
Scripture Text: Hebrews 12:18–24
The traditions of the Church, though often useful for devotional purposes, can not make us right with God. Pastors and priests are not mediators between God and sinners. But they can point the way. And that way—the only way—is Christ.
Concerning Human Traditions in the Church – part 4
Scripture Text: Romans 3:21–25
I do not have a truck payment this month. In fact, I have not had to make my monthly payments for years. By making regular payments until my debt to the bank was paid off, I received the title to the truck.
Concerning Human Traditions in the Church – part 3
Scripture Text: Isaiah 29:13–14
God has accomplished something wonderful that the wisdom of the wise will never comprehend, the strength of the strong will not possess, and the piety of the religious can never earn.
Concerning Human Traditions in the Church – part 2
Scripture Text: John 8:43–45
We love a lie, especially when it seems like it just might be true. That kind of untruth seems to be especially attractive.
Concerning Human Traditions in the Church – part 1
Scripture Text: Romans 3:19–20
Our works will never earn us salvation, nor were they meant to do so. We cannot reconcile ourselves to God, earn his grace, or otherwise make satisfaction for our sins by keeping the law.
Concerning Ecclesiastical Order – part 4
Scripture Text: Luke 6:31–35
The Golden Rule is another way of stating the second half of the greatest commandment. It helps us put the commandment into action by telling us how to love our neighbor as ourselves.
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