OceanSide church of Christ

 Previous Return to Sermons Next  Click to download Audio

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS (68)

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.    There are a lot of “Greeting and Introduction” questions that we often ask each other.

1.      How are you?

2.      How’s it going?

3.      What’s up?  Or, if you are a little out of date you might just say:  “S’up!”

 

B.      Be careful about the introduction question you choose.  The answer just might be an ear-full (Ex., Sister Isom at Pocahontas).

 

C.     Our Q&A lessons do not fall into the realm of introduction question unless the question and the answer is the first time you have ever hear it.  Then, you are being introduced to new knowledge.

 

D.    In our lesson today, we want to look at three questions that have been submitted in the Q&A box or just given to me.

 

I.                   QUESTION #1:  Son of Peace (Luke 10:6)

 

A.    Stated:  What is the meaning of the phrase “son of peace” found in Luke 10:6?

 

B.      Answer:

1.      Luke 10:6

 

And if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon it:  if not, it shall turn to you again.

 

2.      The context:

a.      Jesus was sending the “seventy” out on the Limited Commission (Luke 10:1).

b.      In the next 15 verses, Jesus gave these individuals instructions and warnings about their mission.

c.       When they entered into various cities, they would go from house to house with their message (See Luke 10:5-6).

 

And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace be to this house.   And if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon it:  if not, it shall turn to you again.

 

3.      Explanation:  Every house produces many different qualities within it.  These qualities can be referred to as “children of the house.”

a.      Kindness can be in a house.

b.      Love can be in a home.

c.       Joy can be in a home. 

d.      When Jesus said:  “And if the son of peace be there,” He was talking about the individuals in the home being people of peace.

 

4.      NOTE:  Not all homes have raised a son of peace.  They have raised children named anger, wrath, strife, and hatred.  In Luke 10:10-12, Jesus told His disciples to avoid those homes.

 

But into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you not, go your ways out in the streets of the same, and say, Even the very dust of your city, which cleaveth on us, we do wipe off against you:  notwith-standing, be ye sure of this, that the kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.  But I say unto you, that is shall be more tolerable in that day for Sodom, than for that city.

 

II.                QUESTION #2:  Renovated or Rejuvenated Earth Doctrine

 

A.    Stated:   What is the Renovated or Rejuvenated Earth Doctrine?

 

B.      Answer:

1.      This is a theory that is spreading throughout the church that has to do with where a Christian will live eternally after the Judgment.

2.      Some are proclaiming that we will live on what they call a renovated or rejuvenated earth. 

a.      This present earth, they say, will be cleansed with fire by God in the last day.  This cleansing will remove all of the impurities, all of the sin, and everything that harms and defiles man.

b.      The veil between heaven and earth will be removed at that time.  Heaven and earth will be united as one.

c.       All of God’s faithful will dwell eternally on this newly renovated earth.

d.      One of their proof-texts for this teaching is II Peter 3:13.

 

Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

 

3.      A book that has been promoted that advances this teaching is entitled, Heaven, by Randy Alcorn. 

a.      Randy Alcorn pastored the Good Shepherd Church in Boring, OR for 14 years.  He is now an author and the founder of Eternal Perspective Ministries.

b.      Quote from page 17:

 

“By the time you finish reading this book, you will have a biblical basis for envisioning the eternal Heaven.  You will understand that in order to get a picture of Heaven – which will one day be centered on the New Earth – you don’t need to look up at the clouds; you simply need to look around you and imagine what all this would be like without sin and death and suffering and corruption.”

 

4.      There are many passages that refute this doctrine.  Let’s look only at one right now (II Cor. 4:17-18).

 

For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen:  for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

 

a.      Randy Alcorn tells us that all we need to do is look around us to see Heaven.  Paul, however, affirms that we “look not at the things which are seen.”

b.      He also tells us that we are too at the things which are not seen.  Heaven is not here on earth.  Heaven is somewhere else that cannot be seen at this present time.

5.      This doctrine is making headway in the church.  In future lessons, we will deal with some of the teachings of the Renovated Earth Theory.

 

 

 

III.             QUESTION 3#:  The Way

 

A.    Stated:  Why were Christians in the first century said to be of “the way” (Acts 9:2).  And, also, when some did not believe Paul (Acts 19:8), they spoke evil of “the way (Acts 19:9).  Why is the church of Christ today not referred to as “the way”?

 

B.      Answer:

1.      The first passage that came to my mind as I read this question was John 14:6.

 

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life:  no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

 

2.      The word “way” means literally a road.  Three things can be referred to when the word “way” is used as a road.

a.      A road:  “Take this way.”

b.      A direction:  “Go this way.”

c.       A destination:  “This is the way to…”

d.      Thus, a way is a road, a road travelled in a certain direction, a road travelled in a certain direction to a specific place.

3.      Christians in the first century were “of the way” (Acts 9:2).  In other words, they were on a road travelling a certain direction in order to get to a certain place.

a.      It was the way of Jesus Christ that leads to the heavenly Father.

b.      It was the way of Christ that leads to strait gate through which one enters into Heaven.

4.      There are at least two ways this term may have gotten attached to the Christians of the first century.

a.      It could have been because of their teaching about the way.

1)      It is a narrow way (Matt. 7:14)

2)      It is the way of righteousness (Matt. 21:32; II Pet. 2:21).

3)      It is the way of peace (Luke 1:79; Rom. 3:17)

4)      It is the new and living way consecrated by Jesus (Heb. 10:20).

5)      It is the right way (II Pet. 2:15).

b.      It could have been a term that was placed upon the Christians in a derogatory manner because they taught Christ is the only way to God (See Acts 24:14).  Instead of rejecting it; the Christians could have adopted it. 

5.      The questioner also asks:  “Why aren’t we referred to as ‘the way’ today?

a.      The main reason we are not referred to as “the way” is because we do not teach that we are “the way.”  If we did, and, if people understood what we mean by those words, we, too, would be evil spoken of (Acts 19:9). 

b.      NOTE:  One reason we do not refer to ourselves as “the way,” is because it would bring confusion as to who we are.  Others might think that we are a group that is different from the churches of Christ.

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.    You questions have once again provided us with a lesson of much variety.

1.      We have looked at a unique phrase found in the Bible, “the son of peace.”

2.      We have briefly introduced a very controversial teaching within the church known as “The Renovated Earth” doctrine.

3.      We have considered the fact that the early church was known as “the way.”

 

B.      We may not preach that we are “the way” in the manner of the early church, but the fact remains that we are the people of “the way.”

1.      There is only one way to heaven, not many, regardless of what the world may teach.

2.      The way to heaven is through Jesus and His precious body, the church.  The culminating act that enables you to put on Christ and to become a member of His body is baptism.

a.      Galatians 3:27

 

For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

 

b.      I Corinthians 12:13

 

For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body…