Temporary Things

							Temporary Things
1. Some things are never supposed to last. a. A sunset may be beautiful, but you know it is temporary b. Some man-made things last hundreds of years, but most things men make are made to wear out. i. We have to buy groceries every week. ii. Here is how long it takes the following to degrade? (1) A banana peel? 3-4 weeks (2) A paper bag? 1 month (3) A cotton rag? 5 months (4) A piece of wood? 10-15 years (5) A leather shoe? 40-50 years (6) A tin can? 80-100 years (7) An aluminum can? 200-500 years (8) Disposable diapers? 500-600 years (9) A plastic jug? 1 million years c. Likewise some things in the Bible were clearly never intended to last forever. This is not to say that ALL things are temporary--some are eternal. a. God is eternal (Deut 33:27) The Eternal God is thy refuge b. Christ is an Eternal King (I Tim 1:17) c. The Kingdom is eternal (Heb 12:2) But lets look at some thing in the Bible that are temporary The Law of Moses. A. It sounded like it would last (Deut 4:40) Forever... B. But this was a long time, of indefinite end, but not eternity 1. Matt 5:17-18) Would not be destroyed, but fulfilled (Matt 5:17-18) a. But Jesus came to fulfil the law, and thus take it away! 2. Jesus TOOK AWAY the first (Heb 10:9-10). 3. We are NO LONGER UNDER this schoolmaster (Gal 3:23-5). 4. The law had to be changed for a new priest (Heb 7:12) 5. (Eph 2:15) He abolished it in His flesh C. We are not without law today, but under a law to Christ 1. Fulfill the law of Christ (Gal 6:2). 2. Not without law, but under law to Christ (I Cor. 9:21). 3. Under this will we are sanctified in Christ (Heb 10:10). 4. So the Old Testament law was not eternal, but temporary The Office of Apostle. A. Some people teach a succession of apostles through this age on up until the present time. Catholics teach Peter was the first pope Mormons teach they have the successors of the apostles Several churches claim they are “Apostolic,” whatever that means B. Was the office of apostle supposed to continue generation to generation in the church?

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The word Aapostle@ simply means Aone sent forth@ a. One could be sent forth by the church of Christ and thus be an apostle of the church. (1) Barnabas (Acts 14:14). (2) Epaphroditus is “your messenger”--one sent (Phil 2:25). b. But these were not apostles of CHRIST--not one sent by the Lord. (1) Paul was called an apostle of Christ (I Cor. 1:1) . (2) Ambassadors for Christ (II Cor. 5:20) (3) Speak for Christ on forgiveness (II Cor. 2:10). (4) Apostles of Christ had to see Him in person after His resurrection Had to be a witness of His resurrection (Acts 1:21-22) . Eyewitness testimony (II Pet 1:16) They had seen Him and did testify (I Jn 1:1-3) c. We have no eyewitness messengers sent out among us by Jesus Christ Himself today. No apostles beyond the original few. d. There are no apostles who succeed the original twelve into our present day. (1) These are all Afalse apostles.@ (2) False apostles, deceitful workers (II Cor. 11:13) (3) Tried them that say they are apostles, are not (Rev 2:2).

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Spiritual gifts. A. Some think they are to last until Jesus comes. 1. Follow them that believe. Purpose: to confirm the word (Mar 16:17-20). 2. The work of confirmation was completed (Heb 2:3-4). B. But it is evident they were intended to be temporary 1. They were to keep the church pure in doctrine (Eph 4:10-16). 2. That which is perfect was coming like a Achild growing up@ (I Cor. 13:8-10) a. The church needed help when young (Jam 1:25). b. The Perfect thing was the Perfect law of liberty. 3. Gifts only by apostles= hands (Acts 8:12-17). a. The apostles would die--no one else given this authority b. These gifts had an end. AMiracles@ today are not miracles. They are not even pale imitations of what Christ and the Apostles did in the first century. The dead are not raised. Ears are not put back on. This earth. A. Many people believe the earth is eternal--that it will not be destroyed at the end of time. They see people living here in an ideal state of material bliss some day. B. This sounds like an end to me (II Pet 3:9-10). C. Don=t trust in material things--they are all of short life. These things all will be dissolved (II Pet 3:11-12) D. Value and cleave to ETERNAL THINGS.

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Our life here. Lots of people live like they have all the time in the world (Luke 12:12-21). Others live like there is “no tomorrow.” We ought to learn to live soberly, righteously, godly... We know our life here is temporary, even if we won=t face facts Man is like a shadow (Psalm 144:4). As grass, here, then gone (Psalm 103:15-16). Vapor, vanisheth away (Jam 4:14). Few days, full of trouble (Job 14:1-2). Seeing this is so, how much more important is it that we make preparation for ETERNITY. (II Pet 3:10-14) Are you making the right preparations? Conclusion There are many temporary things mentioned & described in the Bible Why not make preparation for ETERNAL things now. Eternal soul--will live ETERNALLY either with God ETERNALLY in Heaven or with the Devil and His angels ETERNALLY in Hell. Lay hold on an ETERNAL hope today by faith and obedience!