Christianity has a pattern that is to be followed
1) As Christians we should not be afraid of have our beliefs challenged.
2) If we have the truth let those with an opposite view come forward and state their case.
3) Some are willing to do this, and one of the allegations frequently heard is this:
4) The Bible is not a rulebook or even a guidebook.
5) It is more or less a general document from God that is in no way a pattern.
a) If the Bible is a pattern, we are obligated to follow it.
b) If it is not, then we face no real restrictions on how we do tings.
6) Tonight I want to consider whether or not the New Testament may be viewed as a pattern.
7) This study is solely based upon God’s word.
8) We want to see what the scriptures say about the idea of a pattern.
a) The word I have chosen to examine is tupos.
b) There are other forms of this word but this single term is sufficient for tonight.
c) In the New Testament tupos is used 16 times.
d) You can find this term twice in Acts 7.
e) It is used in Acts 7:43 and 44.
9) In verse 43 it is translated “figure.”
10) The ASV translates it “figure” in verse 44; the KJV says “fashion.”
11) The people of Israel made statues (verse 43).
a) Consider this question.
b) How were these figures made?
c) Did the craftsmen simply take a piece of wood, stone, or metal and start cutting?
d) Did they cut according to a plan or did they make the idols by making random cuts?
e) The word “figure” has the sense of a pattern.
f) That is, the Hebrew people copied the idols made by others.
g) Verse 44 refers to another object (the tabernacle)--a portable place of worship.
h) This place of worship was a “figure” (a pattern).
i) We will say more about this a little later.
12) Now let’s turn our attention to other verses which contain this term.
a) After the book of Acts we come to Romans.
b) Tupos—this word that describes a pattern--is found in Rom. 6:17.
c) Here Paul said – READ.
13) Notice the word “form.” This is the same term that occurs in Acts 7:43-44.
14) A synonym would be pattern.
15) Paul knew about a “form of doctrine” (a pattern).
16) What did this pattern (form) do? How was it related to Christianity?
17) The apostle said it was something to be obeyed.
18) Who was to be obedient: Christians or non-Christians?
19) The first part of the verse says these people had been “servants of sin.”
a) This tells us the “form of doctrine” was associated with becoming a Christian.
b) If someone it outside of Christ they must obey a pattern of doctrine.
c) This pattern includes “obedience from the heart.”
20) To hear some tell the message of the cross, obedience to God is not required.
21) All we need is a good heart. Have faith and an interest in going to heaven and all is okay.
22) God says this is not true.
23) We do need a good heart, but we also need an obedient heart.
24) An obedient heart is a person who obeys God’s pattern.
a) I have had religious discussions with people about becoming a Christian just as you.
b) Quite often someone will say they have done everything the Bible describes.
c) They had faith, they were baptized, they confessed Jesus; they repented; they did it all.
25) More than once I have shown that God has an order for faith, repentance, confession, and baptism.
26) A common response is, “It doesn’t matter what order I used.”
27) Is this what we find in Rom. 6:17?
28) Paul affirmed the existence of a pattern.
29) He spoke about obeying this pattern (form of doctrine).
30) In the New Testament this pattern is faith, repentance, confession, and baptism.
31) When people obey the pattern the result is in verse 18 – READ.
32) There is a pattern to becoming a Christian; God has specific steps in a specific order.
33) We either use heaven’s pattern or a pattern devised by men.
34) Patterns by men will not save us.
THIS WORD WE ARE STUDYING OCCURS IN THE NEXT BOOK AS WELL (FIRST CORINTHIANS).
a) The exact location is 1 Cor. 10:6 and 10:11.
b) These verses are similar to each other and both refer to the people of Israel.
c) The Israelites had some unpleasant experiences.
d) Many of them died because of idolatry and fornication.
e) Here is what Paul said about them in verse 6 – READ.
2) The word example is identical to the word in Rom. 6:17 and Acts 7:43-44.
3) Here we have a pattern of bad behavior.
4) God says a pattern of sinful activities has been recorded to help us.
5) Going the direction the people of Israel went leads to destruction.
6) If we follow this model we will be consumed.
7) Does not this usage of the word tell us something about the scriptures?
a) Are we not to conclude that they are a pattern, a guide, a map, a blueprint, and a model.
b) Rom. 6:17 says they give us a blueprint for conversion.
c) Here we find they are a negative model for Christian living.
d) The map of life in the Bible is partly negative.
e) We are shown how not to live. We are also shown what is right.
8) Someone might say, “Can you prove that the Bible is a positive example.”
9) Yes.
10) Let’s move from 1 Cor. 10 to the third chapter of Philippians.
11) In this part of his epistle Paul said he pressed on towards the goal.
12) He was trying to live a good, clean, Christian life.
13) The first part of verse 17 is where he told the Philippians to imitate him.
14) The information we want is at the end of the verse – READ.
a) Paul and others were “examples” (tupos).
b) This apostle and his Co-workers are no longer here.
c) Because they are gone, is it still possible for them to function as examples?
d) Can they still be a pattern since they are gone?
e) Yes, because many details about them and their lives are found in the scriptures.
f) By saying what he did, Paul again affirmed that the Bible is an example to be followed.
g) It is a true guide from God that has specific directives we need to abide by.
15) A similar thought (and the same word is used) in 1 Thess. 1:7.
16) The verses that have been given cover the basics.
17) The Bible says it contains a pattern for conversion (Rom. 6:17).
18) It covers the positive and negative aspects of Christian living.
19) What about another area: worship?
a) Our next reference comes from Heb. 8:5.
b) What the Hebrew writer said is very similar to Acts 7:44.
c) Under the Old Testament the Hebrew nation had been freed from captivity.
d) The new nation needed a way to properly worship God.
e) How would the people know what to do?
f) The Hebrew writer answers this question in 8:5 – READ.
20) Moses was given a “pattern” (same word).
21) There is no question about a pattern appearing in the Old Testament.
22) How fully was this pattern to be used?
23) God told His servant to make “all things” according to heaven’s pattern.
24) Moses was not allowed to selectively choose what he wanted to do.
25) God was not interested in his input.
a) I do not know how anyone can deny that Old Testament was a pattern religion.
b) If you are even the least bit curious about this pattern, go back to the Old Testament sometime.
c) Read or quickly skim the material in Ex. 25.
d) God told the people what colors to use, what woods to use, and what animals to use.
e) Detail after detail was given.
f) The chapter then ends with this warning: Do it like you were showed on the mountain.
g) Before the time of Moses God used pattern with people.
h) Noah did “according to all that God commanded” (Gen.6:22; 7:5).
26) We are under a different testament that is described in Heb. 8:6 – READ.
27) We have a “better” covenant and “better” promises.
a) Can we have a better covenant if there is no pattern.
b) If the Bible is not a concrete guide, how can we say the New Testament is really better?
28) Denying the existence of a pattern in the New Testament presents other problems.
a) How can the Bible say there are false teachers if there is not a pattern?
b) How can the Bible repeatedly tell us to “walk” if there is not a pattern?
c) How can the New Testament say there is one faith and one way if there is not a pattern?
29) God has given us a pattern. We can know it, follow it, and teach it.
30) The pattern starts with conversion and extends to Christian living and worship.
31) Tonight we hope each one here has obeyed heaven’s pattern.