BIBLE WORDS OFTEN MISUSED BY RELIGIOUS PEOPLE

Intro:

	1.	The religious world uses many terms that are found in the Bible. However, many times they create 

		different meanings for these words, than the meaning that the Bible gives them. 

	2.	We must be careful not to make up things or situations and then stick a Bible name on them. 

	3.	Let’s look at some examples of Bible words that have been misused by religious people.

I.	Baptism

	A.	Baptism has become known as a religious ritual in which a person is sprinkled with water, 

		has water poured on them, or is completely immersed in water. 

	B.	However, the greek word "baptizo" from which "baptism" is translated in the Bible originally only 

		meant "immersion." Instead of translating this word most English Bible translators have merely 

		transliterated the word to "baptism." 

	C.	The Bible uses other words for pour and sprinkle. The Greek word "cheo" is translated "pour" 

		and "rantizo" is translated sprinkle. 

	D.	We can also see that the Bible uses of the word "baptism" support the definiton of "emmersion." 

		1.	We are told that baptism required "much water" (John 3:23). 

		2.	It involved a going "down into the water" and a coming "up out of the water" (Acts 8:38-39). 

		3.	It is described as a burial (Rom. 6:4).

II.	Church

	A.	As used in the Bible the term "church" does not describe a material building, but a group of people. 

	B.	It is tranlated from the Greek work "ekklesia" which is defined as an assembly that is 

		"called out" for some special purpose. 

	C.	In the Bible the word usually carries one of two meanings. 

		1.	It describes the body of all saved people who have been called out of the world to serve God 

			(Acts 2:47). 

		2.	It also is used to describe a local congregation of God’s people or Christians in a certain location 

			who meet for edification and carrying out God’s work (Rom. 16:16; Rev. 1-3). 

	D.	The church of the Bible has no earthly headquarters. Each local congregation is completely autonomous 

		and independent with no to answer to but God. 

	E.	We also might note that there is no such thing as "the church’s position" on different doctrines, because the 

		church is not a giver of doctrine, but a follower of the doctrine taught by its "Head", Jesus Christ (Eph. 1:22-23)

III.	Sabbath Day

	A.	Commandment of the Old Testament. (Ex. 20:8-11) 

	B.	In New Testament, Christians are authorized to meet on first day of the week. (Acts 20:7) 

	C.	Sunday is not the Sabbath. (Not "Christian" Sabbath or any other kind.) 

II.	Religious Titles

	A.	Father. 

		1.	Catholics call their priests "Father". 

		2.	We are taught differently. (Matt. 23:9)

	B.	Reverend. 

		1.	Most denominations call their clergymen "Reverend". 

		2.	The Bible limits this quality to God. (Ps. 111:9)

	C.	Pastor. 

		1.	Many denominations call their minister "Pastor". 

		2.	In the New Testament, a pastor was the same thing as an elder. 

		3.	The word "pastor" referred to his duty of tending God’s flock. (Eph. 4:11; Acts 20:28; 1 Pet. 5:1-4)

	D.	Bishop. 

		1.	Catholics and some other denominations have Bishops within their organizations. 

		2.	These are clergymen over several other clergymen or churches. This was developed early on in the 

			falling away of the church after the first century. 

		3.	In New Testament times, bishops were overseers only of local churches — same thing as elders 

			or pastors. (Tit. 1:5-7) 

		4.	They had special qualifications. (1 Tim. 3:1-7)

Concl:

	1.	Let’s be sure to call Bible things by Bible names.

	2.	Let’s not apply Bible names to things of our own invention or pervert good Bible things