Return toReturn tothe Old Pathsthe Old Paths
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God Pleads with Man God Pleads with Man to Return to Him to Return to Him
Days of Noah, Days of Noah, 2 Peter 2:52 Peter 2:5 Isaiah, Isaiah, Isaiah 1:16-20Isaiah 1:16-20 The remnant, The remnant, Zech. 1:3; Mal. 3:7; 4:4Zech. 1:3; Mal. 3:7; 4:4 John the baptizer, John the baptizer, Matthew 17:11-13Matthew 17:11-13 God’s pleas were mostly ignored, God’s pleas were mostly ignored,
Jeremiah 6:16-21; 8:4-7Jeremiah 6:16-21; 8:4-7
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The ONLY Way of SalvationThe ONLY Way of Salvation God’s will through Jesus, God’s will through Jesus, Acts 4:12 Acts 4:12
(Jno. 14:6)(Jno. 14:6) Returning to God’s ways… Returning to God’s ways…
OLD PATHSOLD PATHS…is at the heart of the …is at the heart of the gospel we believe, obey and teach, gospel we believe, obey and teach, 2 Pet. 1:12-15 (1 Peter 4:11)2 Pet. 1:12-15 (1 Peter 4:11)
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Return to Absolute Respect Return to Absolute Respect for the Inspired Scripturefor the Inspired Scripture
The word of God,The word of God, 1 Cor. 2:6-13; 1 Cor. 2:6-13; 14:37; 1 Ths. 2:13; 2 Tim. 3:16-14:37; 1 Ths. 2:13; 2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:317; 2 Peter 1:3
Respect for Bible has been and Respect for Bible has been and continues to be erodedcontinues to be eroded
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Return to Absolute Respect Return to Absolute Respect for the Inspired Scripturefor the Inspired Scripture
Secular humanismSecular humanism ““We believe...that traditional dogmatic We believe...that traditional dogmatic
or authoritarian religions that place or authoritarian religions that place revelation, God, ritual, or creed above revelation, God, ritual, or creed above human needs and experience do a human needs and experience do a disservice to the human species.”disservice to the human species.” (Humanist Manifesto II, 1973) (Humanist Manifesto II, 1973)
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Return to Absolute Respect Return to Absolute Respect for the Inspired Scripturefor the Inspired Scripture
ImmoralityImmorality (Col. 3:5-6)(Col. 3:5-6) HypocrisyHypocrisy (Matt. 23:2-3)(Matt. 23:2-3) Doctrines that deny ScriptureDoctrines that deny Scripture
New revelation doctrines, Holy Spirit New revelation doctrines, Holy Spirit guidance apart from the word guidance apart from the word doctrines, liberal theology, etc.doctrines, liberal theology, etc.
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Return to using Bible as our Return to using Bible as our Only Source of AuthorityOnly Source of Authority
Return to Book-Chapter-Verse Return to Book-Chapter-Verse PreachingPreaching, , Acts 17:2-3; 18:28 Acts 17:2-3; 18:28 (Rom. 3:9-19)(Rom. 3:9-19)
Return to contending for the Return to contending for the faithfaith, , Jude 3-4 (Acts 6:9-10)Jude 3-4 (Acts 6:9-10)
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Returning to the Returning to the Old Paths of the GospelOld Paths of the Gospel
Will return hearts to GodWill return hearts to God, , Mal. 4:5-6 (Luke 1:16-17)Mal. 4:5-6 (Luke 1:16-17) The gospel has the power to turn The gospel has the power to turn
sinful hearts to God, sinful hearts to God, Eph. 4:20-24 Eph. 4:20-24 (Acts 2:37; Luke 8:15)(Acts 2:37; Luke 8:15)
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Returning to the Returning to the Old Paths of the GospelOld Paths of the Gospel
Will return to Christ’s law of pardonWill return to Christ’s law of pardon, , Acts 3:17-20, 26Acts 3:17-20, 26 Unity on how to be saved Unity on how to be saved (Eph. 4:5)(Eph. 4:5) Not prayer…faith only…HS experienceNot prayer…faith only…HS experience New Testament: Hear, believe, confess New Testament: Hear, believe, confess
faith, repent, baptized faith, repent, baptized (Acts 2: 21, 38, (Acts 2: 21, 38, 40-41; 8:35-38; 16:30-34)40-41; 8:35-38; 16:30-34)
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Returning to the Returning to the Old Paths of the GospelOld Paths of the Gospel
Will return to purity in worshipWill return to purity in worship (Lev. 10:1-2) John 4:24(Lev. 10:1-2) John 4:24 Sing Sing (Eph. 5:19);(Eph. 5:19); Pray Pray (Acts 2:42);(Acts 2:42);
Give Give (1 Cor. 16:2);(1 Cor. 16:2); Lord’s supper Lord’s supper (Acts 20:7);(Acts 20:7); Preach Preach (Acts 20:7)(Acts 20:7)
When the heart is not right what When the heart is not right what it offers to God is not accepted, it offers to God is not accepted, cf. Isa. 1:10-15 (Jas. 4:6-10)cf. Isa. 1:10-15 (Jas. 4:6-10)
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Returning to the Returning to the Old Paths of the GospelOld Paths of the Gospel
Will return the local church to its Will return the local church to its proper orderproper order, , Acts 16:4-5Acts 16:4-5 Organization, Organization, Acts 14:23; 1 Pet. 5:2Acts 14:23; 1 Pet. 5:2 Work, Work, Acts 6:1-4, 7Acts 6:1-4, 7 Unity, Unity, 1 Cor. 1:10 (Eph. 4:16)1 Cor. 1:10 (Eph. 4:16)
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Returning to the Returning to the Old Paths of the GospelOld Paths of the Gospel
Will return to doctrinal accuracyWill return to doctrinal accuracy, , 1 Tim. 4:1 (1:3); Gal. 1:6-101 Tim. 4:1 (1:3); Gal. 1:6-10 End the spirit of compromiseEnd the spirit of compromise End acceptance “as long as you End acceptance “as long as you
are sincere and open to study…” are sincere and open to study…” (1 Kgs. 18:21)(1 Kgs. 18:21)
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Returning to the Returning to the Old Paths of the GospelOld Paths of the Gospel
Will return to pure morals and holy Will return to pure morals and holy livingliving, , 1 Peter 1:13-161 Peter 1:13-16 Modest clothing, Modest clothing, 1 Tim. 2:9-101 Tim. 2:9-10 Not adulterous remarriages, Not adulterous remarriages, Matt. 19:9Matt. 19:9 Self-control (not smoking, drinking, Self-control (not smoking, drinking,
drugs, profane language) drugs, profane language) 1 Cor. 9:251 Cor. 9:25
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Returning to the Returning to the Old Paths of the GospelOld Paths of the Gospel
Not idealistic fairy taleNot idealistic fairy tale, , 2 Pet. 1:162 Pet. 1:16 Not brainwashed fanaticism, Not brainwashed fanaticism, Gal. 4:19Gal. 4:19 Jesus requires it! Jesus requires it! Matthew 7:21-27Matthew 7:21-27
Old path is the good way of rest for the Old path is the good way of rest for the soul, soul, Jer. 6:16 (Col. 3:17; Matt. 28:18)Jer. 6:16 (Col. 3:17; Matt. 28:18)
Pattern of sound words, Pattern of sound words, 2 Tim. 1:132 Tim. 1:13