## Some B.A. Degrees

## John 7:14-18

Throughout His brief ministry here on earth, the Lord Jesus Christ continually amazed men. He amazed them with His great love, His great power, and His great wisdom. In our text this morning we see one response to the teaching of the Savior.

(JOHN 7:15) "AND THE JEWS MARVELLED, SAYING, HOW KNOWETH THIS MAN LETTERS, HAVING NEVER LEARNED?"

WHEN JESUS WAS JUST A YOUNG BOY OF 12 YEARS OLD, HE SPENT TIME IN DISCUSSION WITH THE DOCTORS AT THE TEMPLE. (LUKE 2:47) "AND ALL THAT HEARD HIM WERE ASTONISHED AT HIS UNDERSTANDING AND ANSWERS." AT OTHER TIMES THE RESPONSE WAS SIMILAR. ONCE A GROUP OF PHARISEES WHO HAD HEARD HIM REPORTED BACK TO THE CHIEF PRIESTS. (JOHN 7:46) "THE OFFICERS ANSWERED, NEVER MAN SPAKE LIKE THIS MAN."

Now in today's society many folks put education high on the list of priorities, if not for themselves, at least for their children. I think that is commendable. I am not anti-education, we should always be seeking to learn more. However, we should keep everything in proper perspective.

Thousands of people in colleges and universities around the world recently have just been awarded their B.A. degrees for successfully completing four years of study in their particular fields. I want to use the term "BA Degree" this morning to draw your attention to some areas that each of us need for a successful Christian life.

I. The Blessed Assurance Degree

(2 TIM 1:12) "FOR THE WHICH CAUSE I ALSO SUFFER THESE THINGS: NEVERTHELESS I AM NOT ASHAMED: FOR I KNOW WHOM I HAVE BELIEVED, AND AM PERSUADED THAT HE IS ABLE TO KEEP THAT WHICH I HAVE COMMITTED UNTO HIM AGAINST THAT DAY."

A. Here is a simple question

1. Do you know that you have eternal life?

2. Do you know that you would go to heaven if you were to die today?

B. Some standard answers given:

1. "I hope so," "I think so," and "I'm trying to be"

2. What if someone gave those answers if asked, "Are you alive?" "Are you awake?" "Are you here?"

C. The scriptural answer

1. "...I KNOW whom I have believed..."

2. Is that true of you today?

3. Do you know whom you have believed?

II. The Born Again Degree

(JOHN 3:7) "MARVEL NOT THAT I SAID UNTO THEE, YE MUST BE BORN AGAIN."

Note: Before we can have Blessed Assurance, we must be Born Again.

A. It is a prerequisite.

1. "Ye MUST be born again"

2. It is not an option; it is required.

3. It is a prerequisite to eternal life, to blessed assurance, to heaven.

B. It is prepaid.

1. It is earned, but not by the recipient.

2. It was paid for by the Lord Jesus Christ, by His dying for our sins according to the scriptures, His burial, and His rising again the third day according to the scriptures.

C. This degree is a privilege.

1. It is an honor to be a son of God!

(JOHN 1:12) "BUT AS MANY AS RECEIVED HIM, TO THEM GAVE HE POWER TO BECOME THE SONS OF GOD, EVEN TO THEM THAT BELIEVE ON HIS NAME:"

(1 JOHN 3:2) "BELOVED, NOW ARE WE THE SONS OF GOD, AND IT DOTH NOT YET APPEAR WHAT WE SHALL BE: BUT WE KNOW THAT, WHEN HE SHALL APPEAR, WE SHALL BE LIKE HIM; FOR WE SHALL SEE HIM AS HE IS."

2. We simply receive it as a gift.

3. We receive it when we trust the blood of Christ to pay for our sins and take us to heaven.

I. The Blessed Assurance Degree

II. The Born Again Degree

III. The Believing All Degree

(ACTS 24:14) "BUT THIS I CONFESS UNTO THEE, THAT AFTER THE WAY WHICH THEY CALL HERESY, SO WORSHIP I THE GOD OF MY FATHERS, BELIEVING ALL THINGS WHICH ARE WRITTEN IN THE LAW AND IN THE PROPHETS:"

"...BELIEVING ALL THINGS WHICH ARE WRITTEN..."

A. Some people believe EXCERPTS from the Bible

1. The Lord's prayer, the 23rd Psalm; the Sermon on the Mount.

2. They doubt the miracles of Christ, the story of Jonah and the whale, Noah and the ark, the Genesis account of creation.

3. They say, "...after all any intelligent person knows that..."

B. Some people believe the ESSENTIALS of the Bible -- the "Fundamentals"

1. The virgin birth of Christ

2. The inspiration of scripture

3. The deity of Christ

4. The blood atonement

5. The bodily resurrection of Christ

6. The personal return of Christ

C. But we ought to believe EVERY WORD of the Bible!

1. We are to live by EVERY WORD.

(LUKE 4:4) "AND JESUS ANSWERED HIM, SAYING, IT IS WRITTEN, THAT MAN SHALL NOT LIVE BY BREAD ALONE, BUT BY EVERY WORD OF GOD."

2. If Jesus said it was important that we live by every word, then we must believe every word!

3. Some would say that it is not important, but it is not up to us to determine what is or is not important when it comes to the Word of God.

4. Paul instructed Timothy that ALL Scripture is given by God...

(2 TIM 3:16) "ALL SCRIPTURE IS GIVEN BY INSPIRATION OF GOD, AND IS PROFITABLE FOR DOCTRINE, FOR REPROOF, FOR CORRECTION, FOR INSTRUCTION IN RIGHTEOUSNESS:"

I. Blessed Assurance

II. Born Again

III. Believing All

IV. The Busy Activity Degree

(ACTS 2:42) "AND THEY CONTINUED STEDFASTLY IN THE APOSTLES' DOCTRINE AND FELLOWSHIP, AND IN BREAKING OF BREAD, AND IN PRAYERS."

(ACTS 5:42) "AND DAILY IN THE TEMPLE, AND IN EVERY HOUSE, THEY CEASED NOT TO TEACH AND PREACH JESUS CHRIST."

A. What God expects of every Christian.

1. Every Christian should be baptized.

2. Every Christian should belong to a local church where the Gospel is preached and seeing others come to Christ is emphasized.

3. Every Christian should be at the church when its doors are open.

4. Every Christian should give tithes and offerings through their local church.

5. Every Christian should thank God daily and intercede for others in prayer.

B. We have no inactive membership list.

1. We believe that every member of Grace Baptist Temple should be actively serving Christ in and through this church.

2. There is ample opportunity for each member to get involved in ministry here.

3. Every church has a certain amount of 'hitchhikers' who are just along for the ride, but God's Word is clear on this matter.

C. Have you received your BA degree?

1. It doesn't take four years.

2. Each of these BA degrees can be yours this morning.

3. The decision is ours to make.

The Blessed Assurance degree and the Born Again degree are simply received by faith. They are a gift. Will you receive Christ this morning and make sure your salvation? We will meet you here with the Bible and show you how to get saved and how to be sure it. Come this morning.

Will you decide this morning to start Believing All of the Bible. By faith believe His Word. If you have never been baptized you need to come this morning. If you are not a member of this church, you need to come this morning. Will you decide this morning to get ACTIVE and BUSY in the service of the Lord Jesus Christ.