E412: Biblical Traditions and Traditions of Men

Speaker 0 (0:00): Few weeks ago, it's been two weeks, and I did a sermon called the Lord's Supper or the Eucharist. If you recall that sermon, I mentioned in the third point about traditions, specifically apostolic traditions or man made traditions, and this is not a continuation or a part two of that sermon at all. But I want to revisit that last point. I want to talk more about traditions as well. And our our subject this morning is called biblical traditions and traditions of men.

Speaker 0 (0:32): You have your Bible, open it up, please, to Colossians chapter two, and we'll get there in just a moment. The last month or so, I've learned a lot more or been reminded about some things about the Catholic church. I'm thinking about conversations that I had with a brother in Christ who left the faith, left the truth, and and went back into denominationalism last year. And that always, is is is sad to hear and thinking about traditions and how things like that came up in our conversations. And even thinking about two weeks ago, just hearing the announcement of two other brethren here who have left the faith as well and following a denominational denominational church and teaching, which also emphasizes or puts a heavy emphasis on traditions, whether it's Catholicism or the Eastern Orthodox Church, there's a lot out there about traditions of men.

Speaker 0 (1:22): When denominations start speaking about their ancient traditions, it's often very appealing to the masses too. Very appealing. But something that is ancient and something that may be a tradition doesn't necessarily make it a right thing. The standard, brothers and sisters and friends who are here who are seeking the truth, is God's word. The apostolic doctrine, Abiding steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine.

Speaker 0 (1:51): And this is what I wish to demonstrate to protect our faith. It hurts anytime when a brother or sister leaves the Lord, whether it's my own brother-in-law or a brother, another brother or sister for denominationalism teaching, whatever the case may be, it's devastating to go back into darkness. And I want us to protect our faith and hopefully even pull some from the fire. In Colossians chapter two, the apostle Paul, by the way, did warn the saints all the different philosophies and doctrines that are out there. He reminded them number one about the wisdom that's ultimately found in Jesus Christ.

Speaker 0 (2:27): He said in verse number two that their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love and attaining to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding. Resulting in a true knowledge of god's mystery, that is Christ himself. In whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. That's where we turn to. I say this so that no one, I want you to listen to this word very carefully, will delude you with persuasive argument.

Speaker 0 (2:56): You can make a line or you can just drop your eyes down to verse number eight as well. He says, making sure that no one takes you captive. How? Back to verse four with persuasive argument. For even though I am absent in body, nevertheless, I am with you in spirit rejoicing to see your good discipline and the stability of your faith in Christ.

Speaker 0 (3:14): We should and can have stability in faith in Christ. We can stand on a sure foundation from God's word. Therefore, as you have received Christ Jesus, the Lord, so walk in him, have it been firmly rooted and now being built up in him and established in your faith. It is possible to be established in our faith, to know truth, to know what it is that god wants us to do, and to walk in it as well. How?

Speaker 0 (3:46): Verse seven, just as you were instructed, it was through the teaching of the apostles that they would be able to have the stability and to be able to be established, not being tossed to and fro in their faith and overflowing with gratitude. See to it verse eight that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception. That's a possibility being deluded taken captive by empty deception according to the tradition of men. According to the elementary principles of the world rather than according to Christ. He's gonna emphasize this later on, but he warns them about the traditions of men.

Speaker 0 (4:30): Teachings that are not from Jesus. Teachings that are not from god. Later on in the chapter, he's gonna talk about self made religion like in verse number 23, an appearance of wisdom, and we face the same challenges today. And it's why we need to understand what God's word has to say about this. I wanna begin by talking about tradition itself.

Speaker 0 (4:56): As we think about tradition, we can describe tradition, I believe, in at least three different categories. When we talk about tradition, tradition is what has been handed down from one generation to the next to believe and practice, and there's not necessarily something wrong with tradition. We do have to define what we're talking about, though. There are teachings and practices that are meant to be passed down. Tradition is often necessary and often unavoidable and really, I don't think anyone is without tradition of some kind even if we don't like tradition.

Speaker 0 (5:30): But here's the key. We must be very careful in our thinking of tradition. We need to distinguish what we're talking about when we say tradition. Number one, when I say tradition, that's tradition and that's biblical tradition. It is based in truth.

Speaker 0 (5:53): This tradition is to be accepted as truth and is to be passed down through the generations. Think about Deuteronomy chapter six. Moses instructed the people. Here's what God wants you to do, and you need to be diligent teaching them to your children. I'm turning over in first Corinthians chapter 11.

Speaker 0 (6:13): Actually, I'll just look at the slide here. I'll go a little bit faster. In first Corinthians chapter 11, notice what Paul said, be imitators of me just as I also am of Christ. Now, I praise you because you remember me in everything and hold firmly to the traditions just as I deliver them to you. This is important to understand these traditions that Paul is saying he is saying this is truth.

Speaker 0 (6:42): This is from God. These are inspired teachings that have to be kept and practiced. Here's what we know. You turn back to first Corinthians chapter two. Paul made it clear that he was inspired by the Holy Spirit.

Speaker 0 (6:58): In first Corinthians chapter two and verse twelve and thirteen, these traditions that Paul is talking about is truth inspired words from God. In verse twelve and thirteen, Paul said in first Corinthians two, now we have received not the spirit of the world but the spirit who is from god so that we may know the things freely given to us by god which things we also speak not in words taught by human wisdom but in those taught by the spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words. The words of the apostles were the very words of God. See, that's what Paul was sharing and giving these saints in Corinth and to everyone else. When he speaks of traditions here, he's talking about the very word of god.

Speaker 0 (7:46): Truth that is from god. Here's something else we know that we can be sure of as well. In first Corinthians in the same book in chapter 14 and verse number 37, we can be sure that that is the case that these traditions he's talking about to hold firmly to, and to, because of how he had delivered them to him. These are the very words of God. In first Corinthians 14 and verse 37, Paul says, if anyone thinks he is a prophet or spiritual, let him recognize that the things which are right to you are the lord's commandment.

Speaker 0 (8:18): So, he's not talking about some opinion or think so or tradition that he has created on his own. I'm sharing with you the very word of God. We know this as well because in chapter four in verse sixteen and seventeen and chapter four and verse sixteen and seventeen uses very similar language about being imitators of him, but he's also going to remind us that in every church he went to, he's preaching the same thing. He's preaching the gospel. He's preaching the truth of God in verse 16.

Speaker 0 (8:45): Therefore, I exhort you be imitators of me For this reason, I have sent to you Timothy who is my beloved and faithful child in the Lord and he will remind you of my ways which are in Christ just as I teach everywhere in every church. There is a pattern that was given and you cannot have that pattern when you start adding traditions of men. So here's what I want you to understand. Number one, as we talk about traditions, we're talking about truth from God. This tradition that Paul speaks up was to be accepted as the very word of God.

Speaker 0 (9:18): He used that same language in second Thessalonians chapter two. If you wanted to turn over there or you can look on the slide as well. In second Thessalonians chapter two and verse number 15, Paul said, so then, brethren, stand firm. Here it is, and hold to the tradition. Something that they knew, something that they had received.

Speaker 0 (9:37): Hold to their traditions which you were taught, whether by word-of-mouth or by letter from us. He's emphasizing God's truth, God's word. In second Thessalonians chapter three and verse number six, he uses tradition again. In verse six, he says, now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from every brother who leads an unruly life and not according to the tradition which you receive from us. See, that tradition, those words, that truth that Paul delivered made a line in the sand.

Speaker 0 (10:11): This is what is true, and everyone needs to abide in this truth. We know that these words and this tradition that he speaks of is pertaining to the truth. Because in first Thessalonians chapter two and verse number 13, will you turn there with me, please? We know that the saints in Thessalonica that they received his words and they understood it to be the very word of god. First Thessalonians two and verse 13.

Speaker 0 (10:39): For this reason, we also constantly thank god that when, here it is, you receive the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it, it is not as the word of men. This is not something made up by man, but for what it really is, the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe. We know that they believe that what Paul had delivered to them, what Paul had shared with them were inspired words of truth. We know in Acts chapter 17 that when Paul made his way to Thessalonica, that he went into the synagogue, that was his custom, and he reasoned from the scriptures. Not from a council, not his own opinions, but from the very word of god.

Speaker 0 (11:32): He reasoned from god's word. That's what they had received. And we also know when you go back to second Thessalonians chapter two and verse number two I'm sorry. In second Thessalonians chapter, two verse number one and two, that he makes another clear distinction between what he had delivered, what the apostles had delivered compared to other things that may have shaken some of these disciples. In second Thessalonians chapter two, he said, now we request verse one, brethren, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to him, that you not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit or a message or a letter as if from us to the effect of the day of the lord has come, which means there were some things already circulating around that time, but it also means that they could distinguish between truth and error because of the words that they had received by Paul.

Speaker 0 (12:22): Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first. What Paul delivered to these Christians here were the very words of God. You stay in second Thessalonians chapter two and verse number 13. It says, but we should always give thanks to god for you, brethren, beloved by the lord because god has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the spirit and faith in the truth. That's where their faith resided.

Speaker 0 (12:57): In words delivered by Paul, these traditions, these very words of truth. That's how they had been called by the gospel in verse 14. It was for this he called you through our gospel that you may gain the glory of our lord Jesus Christ. That is what was delivered to them. Not man made traditions and this is how they would be able to abide and stand firm in those traditions.

Speaker 0 (13:25): So when we talk about biblical traditions, we are talking about the very word of God. We're talking about truth that's been inspired by God, delivered by the apostles. There's another category of traditions as well and that is error. There are erroneous traditions that can also be passed down. These are not words of God, but these are words that have been developed by bishops or priests or councils throughout the century.

Speaker 0 (13:58): The Eastern Orthodox Church and other churches for that matter highly respect the Bible but does not view scripture as complete and final standard by itself. This is in the email that, Steven had sent out some background information about the Eastern Orthodox Church. I'll just read it here. You read it here for you. Highly they highly respect the Bible but it does not view Scripture as a complete and final standard by itself.

Speaker 0 (14:21): Well, that's the problem right there. That's it. They're elevating man's words and saying it's equal or or on par with God's Word and that's not the only church that does that. The church says the Bible is central and that in everything in the church must be biblical but also says the Bible receives its proper interpretation and significance only within the life of the church. The Bible does not contain holy.

Speaker 0 (14:51): Listen to this. Holy god's revelation but is one expression of revelation within traditions. Now, traditions of men are now conflicting with the words of the holy spirit because the Holy Spirit makes it clear that God's word, His words are sufficient. If you turn over to second Timothy chapter three and verse 16, why should we even talk about this and be so passionate about it so we're not deluded, so we're not taken captive, so we're not deceived, so we're not shaken or disturbed. All scripture in second Timothy three and verse 16, all scripture, old and new testament alike, is inspired.

Speaker 0 (15:31): It is God breathed. It is from God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training and righteousness. In other words, it's sufficient so that the man of God may be adequate equipped for every good work. You turn over to Jude and Jude verse number three, and Jude Jude was writing and then he's gonna change what he's gonna talk about. In Jude verse number three because he says in verse three, beloved, while I was making every effort to write to you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing.

Speaker 0 (16:05): You contend earnestly for the faith. Why? Because there were those who had creeped in trying to get people to deny their master and abusing the grace of God. He says that you contend earnestly for the faith, which was once for all handed down to the saints. Don't take my word for it.

Speaker 0 (16:25): Let me let me share with you what Paul said to the saints in Galatia, the churches of Galatia in Galatians chapter one. This is how serious this is. In Galatians chapter one and verse eight and nine, Paul, his introduction is short here and because he's amazed and he's shocked that some had already turned away from the gospel for a different gospel. In Galatians chapter one and verse seven, but he says there's really not another gospel. Only there are some in verse seven who are disturbing you.

Speaker 0 (16:54): The fact that Paul says these words in Galatia or to the church churches in Galatia and, in Colossae as well, it's a reminder for us that we can be disturbed too, that we need to rest and trust in what the apostles have delivered. There are people in 2026 who want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed. As we have said before, I so say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, that would be from the apostles, he is to be accursed. We cannot change the the message.

Speaker 0 (17:35): We cannot add anything to what has been delivered already. And many traditions today are air and contrary to the scripture. Any man made religion and or religion and and tradition and what's interesting is these traditions that are elevated and propped up and and are said, well, these are given by the spirit. They negate the very thing that the holy spirit has said in the word of God. In our Bible Basics class on Thursdays from 06:30 to 07:30, we're going through color bible marking, and we're going through Acts chapter 16.

Unknown Speaker (18:12): And in Acts chapter 16, if you turn over here, we're I just made this point in class, and I'll make it here to everyone right now. Know, one of the traditions that is really prevalent today is infant baptism. Am I right? So many people talk about this. Folks, that is a tradition of man.

Unknown Speaker (18:29): That is not the tradition that Paul delivered, handed down, or saints were to hold on to. You will not find it in your bible. Not one time. But here's what happens. People say in Acts 16 and verse 31 or verse 30, when the Philippian jailer asked, sirs, what must I do to be saved?

Speaker 0 (18:45): They said, believe in the lord Jesus and you will be saved, you and your household and they spoke the word of the lord to him together with all who were in his house and he took them that very hour of the night and washed their wounds and immediately he was baptized. He and all his household and so they say, well, see, there were babies, there were infants in the household. Well, first of all, that's an unnecessary inference. Doesn't say anything about potentially having babies in the household And you have to read a lot into that to even find or reach that conclusion. But secondly, if you just stay within the context, Paul did say, believe in the Lord Jesus.

Speaker 0 (19:26): And no baby is able to believe in the Lord Jesus. The tradition of infant baptism, not just one of many contradict the very words of the Holy Spirit himself. These kinds of traditions must be abandoned, rejected, rejected, and not even considered. They go against God's word. There's a category of truth, a category of error, and the third category with respect to tradition could be choice.

Unknown Speaker (19:57): And here's what I mean by that. Many, if not most traditions, are not necessarily right or wrong, and there has to be some variance, in them. So, for example, I think about the Lord's Supper on the first day of the week, and let me just read these here. When I say choice, here's what I mean. They're not sinful in nature, and they don't invalidate God's word.

Speaker 0 (20:18): That's key. They don't invalidate God's word. They're matters of judgment. They're subject to be changed. They're deemed necessary for the betterment of a local congregation.

Unknown Speaker (20:28): I thought about that with COVID where we change the worship time and, things like that. Well, that's a matter of judgment and that's a choice that we can make as well. And one example of this is the time we meet on the first day of the week. What is specifically authorized for us is we have to meet on the first day of the week. We know that the apostles under the underside of a oversight of an apostle, the saints gathered together on the first day of the week, and they took the Lord's Supper on the first day of the week.

Speaker 0 (20:57): Right? Now, with respect to what time is our assembly, well, that would fall under generic authority. And some, we've had traditions of meeting at 09:00 or 10:00 and sometimes even 05:00. That's what I mean with this kind of tradition, as well. But whatever we decide, it cannot, invalidate or violate anything that's in God's word.

Speaker 0 (21:25): And so there are three categories and what I'm emphasizing primarily today, as we think about traditions, the traditions that Paul spoke of in first Corinthians eleven and second Thessalonians, those are words or traditions are truth. They are from God. They are authoritative and must be taught and practiced. Traditions that are error, that's the second category, go against what's been revealed by the Holy Spirit and must be abandoned and rejected immediately. No man made tradition, no matter the age of it, has the power to set aside the Holy Spirit's given revelation.

Speaker 0 (22:07): And this is what will happen when people start to elevate man made religions. When those things are elevated and taught and proclaimed, they eventually just replace the word of God. They negate the very things that the Holy Spirit has said. It's only a matter of time before tradition negates what the spirit has revealed. And that's what we are seeing in many churches around the world today.

Speaker 0 (22:31): But there may be an another objection as we think about tradition. Some may say, well, wait a second. I hear you talking about these traditions. And, you know, these traditions are also tied up to centuries of these churches. They've been around for a long time, and these traditions can be traced back centuries all the way back to the first century.

Speaker 0 (22:49): Right? People often make the argument about, what about the traces of the church throughout the centuries? I've heard that from people and on podcasts. One reason I believe so many people flock to these churches is because they're ancient. They are old in nature, and there are many traditions that they have done for a long period of time.

Speaker 0 (23:13): And the the the thought is, well, if something is ancient, then it can't be wrong. Right? Well, it depends on what we're talking about. We're talking about God's holy scriptures. Yeah.

Speaker 0 (23:23): Those are ancient and they are right. But if we're talking about man made traditions, well, no, we can't do that but the argument often goes, well, these these churches have been around around for centuries and these traditions that they've had like infant baptism. It's been around for a long time. It can't be wrong. Another argument that some make is this idea of secession of where, hey, we can trace our church in every century all the way back to the apostles.

Speaker 0 (23:56): The argument of secession, the belief that church authority and legitimacy are transmitted through an unbroken line of leaders extending back to the apostles, and that may often be taught and and and shared and that makes a compelling argument that look, we can go all the way back. Isn't the Church of Christ? Didn't you guys get started in the eighteen hundreds? What's important is not secession of going back and finding in every year or decade or century, but rather authority. It rests in God's revealed word, not in a historical chain of secession.

Speaker 0 (24:44): People look for the wrong thing when they do that. The issue is not whether a church can trace its leadership lineage back to the first century, but whether it follows the apostolic pattern revealed in scripture. Authority rest in God's revealed word, not in a historical chain of secession. What's important is that are we following the pattern that is to be followed and the pattern of sound words that have been preserved for us, those ancient words. In second Timothy chapter one, Paul told Timothy to retain, to hold.

Speaker 0 (25:30): In second Timothy chapter one and verse number 13, he says, retain the standard of sound words. That's what we have to stand on, which you have heard from me in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. Folks, that's the standard. In Acts two and verse number 42, you turn there with me, please. When about three thousands, 3,000 souls were added to the church by the lord on the day of Pentecost in Acts chapter two and verse number 42.

Speaker 0 (26:03): We get a snapshot of what they did in the first century. In Jerusalem, they were continually devoting themselves to the apostles teaching. We must know the apostles teaching. That's how we'll have stability in our faith, be established in our faith. And that's what they did in the first century.

Speaker 0 (26:23): And that's where we have to follow what we have to follow as well. In the twenty first century, the apostles doctrine, sound words. We don't have to show someone in every century that this, unbroken chain going all the way back to the day of Pentecost. I think about what happened in second Kings chapter 23. Remember that story with that young king by the name of Josiah?

Speaker 0 (26:48): And and the days of Josiah, they found the word of god. Remember that? And when they found the word of god, they found something that also needed to be observed again. Will you read with me in second Kings 23? Because in verse twenty two and twenty three actually, starting in verse number 21, then the king commanded all the people saying, watch this, celebrate the Passover to the Lord your God as it is written in this book of the covenant.

Speaker 0 (27:24): They found the word of God, and now they were to celebrate the Passover. And it says in verse 22, surely such a Passover had not been celebrated from the days of the judges who judged Israel nor in all the days of the kings of Israel and of the kings of Judah. But in the eighteenth year of king Josiah, this Passover was observed to the Lord in Jerusalem. The Passover, it either had stopped or had not been celebrated to its fullest extent as God had commanded and desired, but they were able to pick up the book and find the pattern and find instructions centuries later and say, okay, we need to start observing this exactly in this manner. They could go back to sound words.

Speaker 0 (28:19): They could go back to the pattern that was written by god. That's what people were actually trying to do in the eighteen hundreds with the restoration movement. Whether it was the Campbell's who used to be Presbyterian or others and in fact, there were other restoration movement attempts even before that time because people kept seeing why are we following traditions of men and why are these councils and bishops and priests setting the tone? Let's go back to the Bible. And that's what they did.

Speaker 0 (28:51): Why? And how? Because there's a pattern to follow that can easily be done today. If the NFL, I know this may scare some of us, stopped existing for the next fifty years, and then someone said, let's bring it back. How do we play it?

Speaker 0 (29:11): You go back to the playbook. Right? Oh, it's a 100 yard field, and there's four downs. Gotcha. There's that many players on the offense and the defense.

Speaker 0 (29:19): It's the same thing. We go back to what does God say? What's the pattern that's been preserved for us? So the argument of, well, you know, what about these churches that have all this ancient history? That's not the that's not the authority.

Speaker 0 (29:33): The authority is God's word. And it's not just some historical chain of secession. I wanna know, are we abiding in the doctrine of Christ? That's is that's what ultimately matters and the reality is ancient doesn't always mean accurate. We talk about God's word.

Speaker 0 (29:52): God's word is ancient. We just sang the song ancient words, long preserved. Those words indeed are accurate. But unfortunately, many people are not talking about the words of God when they say ancient. They're talking about traditions of men and Jesus put it in its proper place when it comes to the traditions of men in Matthew chapter 15.

Speaker 0 (30:15): In Matthew chapter 15, in verse number one, with the Pharisees and the Scribes, they came to Jesus in verse number one from Jerusalem and said, why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat. And he answered and said to them, why do you yourselves transgress the commandment of God? You're worried about the traditions of the elders and you need to be more mindful about the very commandment of God. The tradition of the elders is not the standard.

Speaker 0 (30:45): The commandments of God are for the sake they are transgressing the commandment of God for the sake of their traditions. For god said, honor your father and mother, and he who speaks evil, a father or mother, is to be put to death. But you say, whoever says to his father or mother, whatever I have that would help you has been given to God trying to get out of their responsibilities. He is not to honor his father or his mother. And by this, you invalidated the word of God for the sake of your tradition.

Speaker 0 (31:15): Jesus says, no. The standard is always the commandments of God, not traditions of men. It doesn't matter if these traditions have been ancient. Ancient does not necessarily mean that they're accurate. That's not the standard.

Unknown Speaker (31:29): Error does not become truth because it's old. The question is not which church is oldest historically. It's the Lord's church that he established in the first century. That's the answer to that. But people often say that with respect to denominations.

Speaker 0 (31:49): It's a church that follows the doctrine of Christ. That's what really matters. Error does not become truth just because it's old. Israel repeatedly drifted from the pattern that god gave. I think about Jeroboam in first Kings chapter 12.

Speaker 0 (32:08): He essentially created alternative worship. People today would call it contemporary worship. A new feast day, a new priesthood, a convenient religion, and it sounds like what a lot of people are doing today. But god said what he did was sin, and the same is true today. And as a result, by Josiah's day, they're finding the word of god.

Speaker 0 (32:34): Yet, god expected a return to his pattern. We can see this in other places too. Read Nehemiah. Nehemiah chapter eight. They're they're hearing god's word being preached.

Speaker 0 (32:43): They're learning about the feast of booths and then they're gonna follow and begin to observe it again because that was left for them in god's word. The standard is not history or something that is old but rather it's the word of god. And even if people say, well, we've always done it this way or our church or my church I go to, it's been around for a long time. And what if millions believe it? It surely can't be wrong.

Speaker 0 (33:11): Right? Well, those aren't the standards that we follow. The question is not, which is Otis, what church is following the doctrine of Christ? Here's what really matters. What really matters is what what does God's word have to say?

Speaker 0 (33:28): Jesus said in John seventeen seventeen, your word is truth as he prayed to the father. Paul emphasized in Colossians three and verse 17, whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the lord. John wrote that we have to abide in the doctrine of Christ and a warning for those who do not. Jude wrote that the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints. And while people can look at history and evaluate it and consider it, that's not our standard.

Speaker 0 (34:01): That's not our authority. What's our authority are these ancient words. These words from god that have been preserved for us. That was true in the days of Josiah. That was true in the first century.

Unknown Speaker (34:20): And brothers and sisters, it is true in 2026. This is important because we can be deceived, deluded, and even taken captive. And the scarier thing is we can deceive ourselves according to James chapter one, which means that we have to keep going back to what do the scriptures have to say. For all of us, what foundation are we standing on? Is it solid footing?

Speaker 0 (34:52): Is it the traditions delivered by the apostles? Or have we been shaken and disturbed? If we have, we have hope because we can go back to what god says, and we can reason together as brothers and sisters in Christ. And we can be confident that what the apostles delivered, we can know and we can abide in and we can remain in. And that is my hope for myself and for all of us, to stand firm in these ancient words, these traditions passed down from the apostles.

Speaker 0 (35:32): These are words, the very word of god. As we think about this, when we go back to the Bible, Jesus says, he who believes and is baptized shall be saved. Paul said, believe in the lord Jesus and you and your household will be saved. The Philippian jailer and his entire household were baptized that very night. There was a sense of urgency.

Unknown Speaker (35:57): There was no baptismal Sunday or a month or two later down the line because they knew, oh, I'm not right with god. I need my sins washed away. Let's follow that pattern, and let's remain confident in what God has delivered to us. If you need to be saved, if you have questions, please let us know as we stand and as we sing.