Introduction

"Truths stand on their own; they don’t need external support. However, if we have something that we say believe, then those things are subject to change. Our beliefs can change, but the Truth always stays the same," … Pastor Ron Crenshaw.

Be Ready to Defend the Doctrine

I Peter 3:15-17

15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;
16 Having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed.
17 For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.

II Timothy 2:15-16
15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth.
16 But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness.

All scripture is given by inspiration of God; it doesn’t matter who penned it.

II Timothy 3:14-16
14 But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them,
15 And that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness…

God Is Not a Man that He Should Lie

Titus 1:1-2
1 Paul, a bondservant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect and the acknowledgement of the truth which accords with godliness,
2 In hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began.

Numbers 23:19
God is not a man, the He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?

II Peter 3:14-16
14 Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless;
15 And consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation – as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you,
16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures

How Long Should We Contend with Someone? Until you perceive that they are truly not interested in hearing the truth.

II Timothy 2:23
23 Avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife.

a.  Ye are gods

Psalms 82:6-7
6 I said, "You are gods, and all of you are children of the Most High.
7 But you shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes."

John 10:33-36
33 The Jews answered Him, saying, "For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy, and because You, being a man, make yourself God."
34 Jesus answered them, "Is it not written in your law, ‘I said, "You are gods?"’
35 "If He called them gods to whom the Word of God came (and the scripture cannot be broken),
36 Do you say of Him whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God?’ "

b.  On the Question of Women

The Role of Women in Creation

Genesis 2:18
And the Lord God said, "It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.

Genesis 3:16
To the woman He said: "I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception; in pain you shall bring forth children. Your desire shall be toward your husband, and he shall rule over you."

The Role of Woman is Tied to Her Womb

I Corinthians 11:11-12
11 Nevertheless, neither is man independent of woman, nor woman independent of man, in the Lord.
12 For as woman came from man, even so man also comes through woman; but all things are from God.

I Timothy 2:13-15
13 For Adam was formed first, then Eve.
14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression.
15 Nevertheless, she will be saved in childbearing if they continue in faith, love, and holiness, with self-control.

The Head of Woman is Man

I Corinthians 11:3
3 But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.

The Woman Needs a Symbol of Authority on Her Head

I Corinthians 11:10
For this reason the woman ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels.

(Reference Genesis 6)

What is the Woman’s Role?

I Peter 3:1-6
1 Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the Word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives,
2 When they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear.
3 Do not let your adornment be merely outward – arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel
4 But rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.
5 For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands,
6 As Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose daughters you are if you do good and are not afraid with any terror.

Titus 2:3-5
3 The older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things
4 That they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children,
5 To be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed.

Colossians 3:18
Wives, submit to your own husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.

I Timothy 2:9-11
9 In like manner, also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing,
10 But which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works.
11 Let a woman learn in silence with all submission.

Ephesians 5:22-24
22 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.
23 For the husband is the head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the Church; and He is the savior of the Body.
24 Therefore, just as the Church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.

The only time that the wife exercises any authority in the marriage is over her husband’s body in the marriage bed.

I Corinthians 7:4
The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. And likewise, the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does.

Women’s Role in the Church

I Corinthians 14:34-35
34 Let your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive as the Law also says.
35 And if they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is shameful for women to speak in Church.

I Timothy 2:12
And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence.

The Role of Women in Exercising the Gifts of the Spirit

The gifts of the Spirit are all manifestations of the Holy Spirit, and they are not, as such, off-limits to women. They are not manifestations of the five-fold ministry, and operating in any of these gifts is not a license to exercise authority in the Body of Christ.

I Corinthians 12:7-11
7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all;
8 For to one is given the Word of Wisdom through the Spirit, to another the Word of Knowledge through the same Spirit,
9 To another Faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit,
10 To another the working of Miracles, to another Prophecy, to another Discerning of Spirits, to another Different Kinds of Tongues, to another the Interpretation of Tongues,
11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.

If a woman is operating in one of the gifts of the Spirit, it is the Spirit of God speaking, not the woman. Everything should be judged though. It doesn’t seem like a woman would be used to rebuke a specific man, nor would the Lord ever use a woman to rebuke the Man of God.

Women Are Not Called to Discipleship, Only Men Are

Mark 10:29-30
29 So Jesus answered and said, "Assuredly, I say to you, there is not one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for my sake and the gospel’s,
30 Who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time- houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions – and in the age to come, eternal life.

Luke 14:26-27
26 "If anyone comes to Me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple.
27 And whoever does not bear his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple."

Gender Disorder – The devil’s plan to homogenize the genders so that they meet somewhere in the middle is against God’s order.

God’s Actual Family Model
The family of Abraham is the quintessential model of what the family is supposed to be:

Genesis 18:19
19 For I have known him (Abraham) in order that he may command his children and his household after him, that they keep the way of the Lord, to do righteousness and justice, that the Lord may bring to Abraham what he has spoken to him.

Women Being in Positions of Authority is Viewed by God as Consequences of Rebellion.

Isaiah 3:12
As for My people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people! Those who lead you cause you to err, and destroy the way of your paths.

Rebuttals Against This Doctrine

Aquila and Priscilla in Acts 18:26. There is nothing in these scriptures that says that Priscilla was in a position of authority within the Church; she was being a helpmate to her husband.

Galatians 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. This scripture is talking about salvation, not positions of authority within the Church.

What about Deborah? Deborah was chosen Judge over the Children of Israel during a time which every man did what was right in his own eyes (Judges 21:5). God did not sanction Deborah as Judge; the people elected her so. Judges 4:9 So Deborah said, "I will surely go with you (Barak); nevertheless, there will be no glory for you in the journey you are taking for the Lord will sell Sisera into the hand of a woman." This was a shameful thing.

What about the Bible saying that women are prophetesses? Being a prophet is not walking in a position of authority; they speak as the oracle of God.

c.  Homosexuality – Is it okay or is it not okay?

Lying With Sexual Intent – Also referred to as "Going After Strange Flesh"

It is Definitely Not Okay:

Leviticus 18:22
You shall not lie with a male as with a woman. It is an abomination.

Leviticus 20:13
If a man lies with a male as he lies with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination. They shall surely be put to death. Their blood shall be upon them.

Genesis 18:16- 19:29 The Story of God’s Judgement Upon Sodom and Gomorrah – Cities Rampant with Sin and Homosexuality

Judges 19-20 The Story of God’s Judgement Upon the Tribe of Benjamin Where Homosexuality and Abhorrent sin was Tolerated. This caused all but 600 of the tribe of Benjamin to be killed.

Genesis 6 – 8 The Story of God’s Judgement Upon the Earth Due to the Rampant Evil and the Sin of the Angels who Left Their Proper Domain and Went After Strange Flesh in the Daughters of Men. This caused the Lord to flood the whole earth with water.

d.  The Age of Accountability – There isn’t one.

Not everyone is known by God.

I Corinthians 8:3
But if anyone loves God, this one is known by Him. The reverse is that if you don’t love God, the He doesn’t know you.

Galatians 4:9
But now, after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage?

If You are Not Known By God, Neither Are Your Children

I Corinthians 7:14
For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband; otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are holy.

Unclean things are defiled, unholy, and against God; children who are not sanctified for the Kingdom of God by believing parents are unclean. They will die and go to the place where all of the unclean go.

Once children have been introduced to the gospel, and have the opportunity to reject the gospel, the sanctification process no longer applies.

Hosea 4:6
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me; because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.

Malachi 2:13-15
13 And this is the second thing you do: You cover the altar of the Lord with tears, with weeping and crying; So He does not regard the offering anymore, Nor receive it with goodwill from your hands.
14 Yet you say, "For what reason?" Because the Lord has been witness between you and the wife of your youth, with whom you have dealt treacherously; yet she is your companion and your wife by covenant.
15 But did He not make them one, having a remnant of the Spirit? And why one? He seeks godly offspring. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously with the wife of your youth.

God Moves in Judgement in Units of One; if the head of the household is in rebellion, the whole household will suffer.

Numbers 16:1-40 Judgment upon Korah also came upon his family.

Joshua 7 Judgement upon Achan was debited against the whole nation of Israel.

I Samuel 15:1-3 God’s judgment upon Amalek; He told Saul to destroy all that they had and not to spare them, including women and infants.

If there were an Age of Accountability, God would have separated out the children from judgment.

If the parents are living the gospel, children will receive it at a very young age.

e.  Once Saved Always Saved

What constitutes salvation?

Romans 10:8-10
8 But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart (that is, the word of faith which we preach):"
9 That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

The key to understanding this principle is realizing that your salvation isn’t reckoned until you arrive before Him. If you accept Jesus and then turn away from Him, when you arrive before Him, you were never saved.

We Can Be Assured that We are Saved

Colossians 2:1-10

I Thessalonians 1:2-5
2 We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers,
3 Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father,
4 Knowing, beloved brethren, your election by God.
5 For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance, as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake.

You Inherit the Promises through Faith and Patience

Hebrews 6:9-12
9 But, beloved, we are confident of better things concerning you, yes, things that accompany salvation, though we speak in this manner.
10 For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints and do minister.
11 And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end,
12 That you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

Hebrews 10:19-23
19 Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus,
20 By a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh,
21 And having a high priest over the house of God
22 Let us draw near with a true heart, in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
23 Let us hold fast to our confession of hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.

You Can Know Beyond Every Shadow of Doubt that You Are Saved

I John 5:13
These things I have written to you who believe in the Name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the Name of the Son of God.

f.  Communion

Jesus was about to fulfill the Passover by being the sacrificial Lamb

Matthew 26:17 – 29

The Lord’s Supper was an actual meal. When we celebrate it, we are calling God into remembrance of His covenant with us. We need to honor one another when we partake of this meal.

I Corinthians 11:17-34

g.  Muzzling the Ox – How We Should Treat the Man of God, the Ox

I Timothy 5:17-18
17 Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the Word and doctrine.
18 For the scripture says, "You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain," and, "The laborer is worthy of his wages."

If you say that the Man of God is worthy of double honor, not merely honor, your monetary contributions should reflect that.

James 2:14
What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him?

I Corinthians 9:11-18
11 If we have sown spiritual things for you, is it a great thing if we reap your material things?
14 Even so the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel.

Galatians 6:6-9
6 Let him who is taught the Word share in all good things with him who teaches.
7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.
8 For he who sows to the flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.
9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.

Hebrews 13:7
Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the Word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct.

h.  Conforming to the Image of the World – Don’t do it!

Romans 12:1-2
1 I beseech you therefore brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.
2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

What Attributes of the World Should We be Transformed Out of?

Colossians 3:5
Therefore, put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

The Church applies this doctrine to the things that don’t really matter and don’t apply it to the things that really do.

Titus 1:15
To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled.

Romans 14:14
I know and am convinced by the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean of itself; but to him who considers anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean.

How Women Should Dress

I Timothy 2:9-10
9 In like manner, also, that the women adorn themselves with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing,
10 But which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works.

Don’t let the outward trappings be what makes you beautiful

I Peter 3:3-4
3 Do not let your adornment be merely outward – arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel –
4 Rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.

Some denominations say that women can’t wear pants due to Deuteronomy 22:5 which says that a woman shall not wear anything that pertains to a man, nor shall a man put on a woman’s garment, for all who do so are an abomination to the Lord Your God. However, pants are not germane to men only.

i.  Body Piercing and Tattoos

Leviticus 19:27-28
27 You shall not shave around the sides of your head, nor shall you disfigure the edges of your beard.
28 You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor tattoo any marks on you; I am the Lord.

Piercing is a sign of allegiance; God said not to do it because it signifies your allegiance to someone other than Him. It is only to be limited to females and one hole per ear.

j.  Generational Curses

Deuteronomy 28:15
"But it shall come to pass, if you do not obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all His commandments and His statutes which I command you today, that all these curses will come upon you and overtake you."

How Far Do these Curses Extend? Do they die with the original person who was cursed?

Numbers 14:18
The Lord is longsuffering and abundant in mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression; but He by no means clears the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generation.

If nothing happens to break the curse, it will continue to be passed on.

k.  Turn the Other Cheek

It is a natural human instinct, when someone does you wrong, to respond in the flesh. Jesus is saying not to follow that first instinct and respond in the flesh:

Matthew 5:38-42
38 "You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’
39 But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.
40 If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also.
41 And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two.
42 Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away."

Jesus is not saying that we should be a punching bag. There is a time for war, but not every time.

Romans 12:17-20
17 Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men.
18 If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.
19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord.
20 Therefore, if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in doing so, you will heap coals of fire on his head."

l.  Idol Worship

We should not lust after evil things, things that would separate us from our relationship with the Word of God. Would you be willing to violate the Word of God for something? If so, it has become an idol for you.

I Corinthians 10:1-7

Crosses symbolize the curse that Jesus became.

I Peter 2:24
Who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness – by whose stripes you were healed.

Galatians 3:13
Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree.")

m.  The Mystery of Marriage

Marriages Exemplify the Great Celestial Marriage Between Christ Jesus and the Church

Ephesians 5:22 – 33

Divorce - God Hates It

Matthew 19:1-10

Malachi 2:13-16

God Instituted Marriage

Genesis 2:18-25

I Corinthians 7:10-11
10 Now to the married I command, yet not I but the Lord: A wife is not to depart from her husband.
11 But even if she does depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband. And a husband is not to divorce his wife.

There is no excuse for divorce under the New Covenant.

n.  How Does God View Suicide?

God doesn’t say anything about suicide; it is not mentioned in the Bible.

People commit suicide because they become hopeless; what they are enduring is more than they can bear. Each person is different, and only God Himself can determine about suicide.

Defiling the temple as stated in I Corinthians 3:17 is referring to abusing and not esteeming the Body of Christ, who is the temple of the Holy Spirit.

o.  Music and Dancing

Music is used for entertainment, enjoyment, expression of oneself, as a way of releasing anger, to communicate, to uplift, to minister, to teach and educate, and to inspire.

Dancing is rhythmic movement of the body, physically expressing oneself. It is also used as a form of worship.

Is it forbidden for Christians to be entertained? To enjoy things? To express themselves?

In and of itself, there is nothing intrinsically evil about either one. However, anything can be used to serve the dark side.

There are three types of music: music to praise the Lord, music to serve the devil, and music designed merely to entertain.

Is it wrong for Christians to listen to secular music? No. In and of itself, secular music is not evil. However, if you consider it a sin, so does the Lord. If your conscience doesn’t condemn you, neither does the Lord.

Anything can be twisted and perverted into something evil. Unless music is found to be serving the devil, it lies within the realm of "taste".

There is nothing intrinsically wrong with dancing. It is wrong, however, to elicit unlawful sexual attention from someone other than your husband or wife through dance.

Titus 1:15
To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled.

Romans 14:14
I know and am convinced by the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean of itself; but to him who considers anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean.

Hebrews 9:13-14
13 For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling the unclean sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh,
14 How much more shall the Blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

God won’t reckon something as sin unless we do.

James 4:17
Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.

p.  The Law of Confession. Also known as "Name it and Claim it" and "Blab it and Grab it".

Mark 11:22-24
22 So Jesus answered and said to them, "Have the faith of God.
23 For assuredly I say to you, whomever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.
24 Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask, when you pray believe that you receive them, and you will have them."

Mark 5:25-34 The woman with the issue of blood said it, she did what she said, and she got what she said:
28 For she said, "If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well."
29 Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction.

Proverbs 18:21
Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.

The law of confession is the fruit of your faith.

q.  Honor

Honor is the quality of high value intrinsic to someone or something. Something is honorable because it is ordained by God to be that way, and it is honorable in and of itself.

You should render honor to whom honor is due (this does not mean that you blindly follow them; only a covenant binds someone to do that).

Children Should Honor Their Father and Mother

Ephesians 6:1-3
1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.
2 "Honor your father and mother," which is the first commandment with promise:
3 "That it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth."

If your parents want you to do things that are contrary to the Word of God, you have to be willing to part company with them and bear the consequences.

If the occupant of a position is legitimate, you must honor them; whether they behave honorably or not is irrelevant.

We Should Submit to Every Ordinance of Man (to the extent that human government is not contrary to the Word of God):

I Peter 2:13-17
13 Therefore, submit to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme,
14 Or to governors, as those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good.
15 For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men-
16 As free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God.
17 Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.

We Should Honor our Bosses

I Peter 2:18-19
18 Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh.
19 For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully.

Ephesians 6:5-8
5 Bondservants, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ;
6 Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart,
7 With goodwill doing service as to the Lord, and not to men,
8 Knowing that whatever good anyone does, he will receive the same from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free.

We should also honor Teachers and Men of God

r.  Lawful and Unlawful Ways to Run a War

Even in war, there are rules to be followed and honor to be engaged in.

One army is not allowed to wear the uniform of the other army.

You are not to utilize your army in a vehicle with a red cross on it because those vehicles are supposed to be used to help those who are wounded.

s.  Passing Judgment

Jesus spoke these words under the Old Covenant

Matthew 7:1-5
1 Judge not, that you be not judged.
2 For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.
3 And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye?
4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye?
5 Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

Under the New Covenant, We are Commanded to Make a Judgment

I Corinthians 5:9-13
9 I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people.
10 Yet I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world.
11 But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner – not even to eat with such a person.
12 For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside?
13 But those who are outside God judges. Therefore, "Put away from yourselves the evil person."

I Corinthians 6:1-2
1 Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints?
2 Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters?

When they ask you, "Who are you to judge me?"

Your reply should be, "One who has been found faithful with the Word, who has been given authority to judge."

t.  Cremation – Burning the Natural Body

God does not need your physical remains to raise you up.

It is your right to give your body to be burned or to bury it.

I Corinthians 13:3
And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.

Our physical bodies are not tied to a spiritual body.

u.  The Cross

The cross served the purpose of being the door that Jesus would walk through. Once it served the purpose, it was no longer important.

Galatians 3:13-14
13 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, "Cursed is every one who hangs on a tree"),
14 That the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

Jesus became cursed for us by hanging on the cross. Moses stood over here in time and looked forward to Jesus saying this:

Deuteronomy 21:22-23
22 "If a man has committed a sin deserving of death, and he is put to death, and you hang him on a tree,
23 his body shall not remain overnight on the tree, but you shall surely bury him that day, so that you do not defile the land which the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance; for he who is hanged is accursed of God."