i pledge allegiance

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Deuteronomy 23:21-23

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The Pledge was first written for school children in 1892 for

Columbus Day.

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Columbus Day. It first appeared in print on September 8, 1892.

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It read: “I pledge allegiance to my Flag and the Republic for which

it stands—one nation indivisible—with liberty and justice of for

all.”

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all.”

The author of the pledge was Francis Bellamy.

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all.”

The author of the pledge was Francis Bellamy. She wrote it for a one-time recitation on Columbus Day 1892.

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all.”

The author of the pledge was Francis Bellamy. She wrote it for a one-time recitation on Columbus Day 1892.

But, it became quite popular, became a Columbus Day tradition,

& then began to be used in classrooms throughout the country.

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The Pledge of Allegiance has undergone two major revisions.

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The Pledge of Allegiance has undergone two major revisions. In 1923, the National Flag Conference of the American Legion

changed “my Flag” to “the Flag of the United States of America.”

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In 1954, amid fears of Communism, Dwight Eisenhower signed a

bill to add the words “under God.”

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We have each repeated that pledge countless times.

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We have each repeated that pledge countless times. We likely don‟t even pause to contemplate the words‟ meaning.

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But, there are some pledges we dare not take lightly.

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But, there are some pledges we dare not take lightly.

This morning, we want to explore what Moses taught about

pledges & apply that teaching to today.

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OLD TESTAMENT PLEDGES

Deuteronomy 23:21-23

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THE PURPOSE OF THIS LAW IS

TWO-FOLD.

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One: This commandment points to the speed with which these

vows were to be fulfilled.

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vows were to be fulfilled. It does little good to pledge but never get around to fulfilling it.

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God has no interest in delay.

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God has no interest in delay.We cannot delay in exhorting one another, lest our hearts become

hard.

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hard: “Exhort one another every day, as long as it is called „today,‟ that

none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin” (Heb 3:13,

ESV).

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hard: (Heb 3:13).

We cannot delay, for each day may be our last.

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hard: (Heb 3:13).

We cannot delay, for each day may be our last: “You do not know

what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that

appears for a little time and then vanishes” (Js 4:14, ESV).

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Second: This commandment points out that these pledges are

absolutely voluntary.

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absolutely voluntary. The one who does not vow is not guilty of sin, and any pledge

that is made has been “voluntarily vowed to the LORD your God.”

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KJV: “That which is gone out of thy lips thou shalt keep and

perform; even a freewill offering, according as thou hast vowed

unto the LORD thy God” (v 23).

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unto the LORD thy God” (v 23). The Hebrew term “a freewill offering” is often used in the Old

Testament for a freewill offering.

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unto the LORD thy God” (v 23). The Hebrew term “a freewill offering” is often used in the Old

Testament for a freewill offering.

However, the term is also used for any act of service to God that is

completely voluntary.

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unto the LORD thy God” (v 23).

Regardless of the precise translation, the meaning is abundantly

clear: This is a vow you have voluntarily made to God.

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God continues to deal with us on a voluntary basis.

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“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my

voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with

him, and he with me” (Rev 3:20, ESV).

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him, and he with me” (Rev 3:20, ESV). Jesus isn‟t going to force us to open the door, but he stands there

& knocks.

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& knocks.

Granted, there are blessings for opening the door & dire

consequences for refusing to do so.

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& knocks.

Granted, there are blessings for opening the door & dire

consequences for refusing to do so. But, the decision is fully

ours.

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EACH OF US HAS A VOLUNTARY

DECISION TO MAKE.

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EACH OF US HAS A VOLUNTARY

DECISION TO MAKE.Shall we serve God?

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OUR PLEDGE

Baptism

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When we are baptized into Christ, we make a solemn vow to

follow Jesus.

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follow Jesus. “Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a

removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good

conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ” (1 Pet 3:21,

ESV).

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ESV).

The phrase “an appeal to God for a good conscience” is difficult

to translate.

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ESV).


to translate.KJV: “the answer of a good conscience toward God.”

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ESV).


to translate.KJV: “the answer of a good conscience toward God.”

NIV: “the pledge of a good conscience toward God.”

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Which translation is correct?

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Which translation is correct? Does Peter envisions converts asking for a good conscience,

answering from a good conscience, or pledging to serve God

from a good conscience?

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The KJV translates the term most literally.

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The KJV translates the term most literally. The term Peter uses here does mean “answer.”

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The KJV translates the term most literally. The term Peter uses here does mean “answer.”

But, it really seems that both the KJV & NIV get it correct.

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In Peter‟s day, the word he uses meant far more than simply

answering a question.

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answering a question. This is the only occurrence of the term in the New Testament.

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When Jesus is on trial & answers questions, a different term is

used.

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used.

In this era, contracts were often entered into verbally.

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used.

In this era, contracts were often entered into verbally. There was a back-and-forth exchange about the terms of the contract.

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used.


When individuals answered questions & thus entered into the

contract, this was the term that was used.

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used.


When individuals answered questions & thus entered into the

contract, this was the term that was used.

The term implies an agreement to carry out the terms of a

contract.

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The imagery of 1 Peter 3:21, then, is where a convert formally

pledges to follow God.

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The imagery of 1 Peter 3:21, then, is where a convert formally

pledges to follow God.

He makes such a pledge from a “good conscience.”

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A NEGATIVE PLEDGE

To put away sin.

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“All of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were

baptized into his death” (Rom 6:3, ESV).

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“All of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were

baptized into his death” (Rom 6:3, ESV).

“In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made

without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the

circumcision of Christ, having been buried with him in baptism,

in which you were also raised with him through faith in the

powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead” (Col

2:11-12, ESV).

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Shortly after the days of the apostles, converts made a verbal

pledge at baptism to put away sin.

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pledge at baptism to put away sin. Hippolytus (writing about AD 215): Converts would declare, “I

renounce you Satan, all your service, and all your works.”

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Tertullian (AD 160-220): “When we are going to enter the water,

but a little before, in the presence of the congregation and under

the hand of the president, we solemnly profess that we disown

the devil, and his pomp, and his angels.”

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Tertullian (AD 160-220): “When we are going to enter the water,

but a little before, in the presence of the congregation and under

the hand of the president, we solemnly profess that we disown

the devil, and his pomp, and his angels.”

Whether or not we verbalize it, we make a vow at baptism to

“disown the devil, and his pomp, and his angels.”

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We must make such a pledge, for we come to Christ so full of

sin.

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sin. “You were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once

walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of

the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of

disobedience—among whom we all once lived in the passions of

our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and

were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind” (Eph

2:1-3, ESV).

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sin. Eph 2:1-3.

Jesus “freed us from our sins by his blood” (Rev 1:5, ESV).

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sin. Eph 2:1-3.

Jesus “freed us from our sins by his blood” (Rev 1:5, ESV).

Therefore, we dare not live in sin.

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Of course, we cannot live above sin.

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Of course, we cannot live above sin. If we claim to be without sin, “we deceive ourselves, and the truth

is not in us” (1 Jn 1:8, ESV).

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Of course, we cannot live above sin. If we claim to be without sin, “we deceive ourselves, and the truth

is not in us” (1 Jn 1:8, ESV).

God‟s grace is just as great toward a Christian who sins as it is

toward a non-Christian (Acts 8:18-24).

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But, we dare not use our human frailties as an excuse for sin.

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But, we dare not use our human frailties as an excuse for sin. “Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By

no means!” (Rom 6:15, ESV).

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If we persist in sin after baptism, there only remains an

expectation of judgment.

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If we persist in sin after baptism, there only remains an

expectation of judgment: “If we go on sinning deliberately after

receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a

sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury

of fire that will consume the adversaries” (Heb 10:26-27, ESV).

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“We have recently been converted and because of our

conversion we want to try to help. We won‟t ever need these

again. Can you use them for something?”

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HAVE YOU MADE THAT PLEDGE?

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HAVE YOU MADE THAT PLEDGE?Are you living up to your pledge?

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A POSITIVE PLEDGE

We pledge to follow Jesus.

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“Go . . . and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the

name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Mt

28:19, ESV).

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28:19, ESV). The idea of a “disciple” is one who learns from someone whom

he is following.

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he is following.

Jesus saw Simon & Andrew casting nets into the sea “and he

said to them, „Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.‟

Immediately they left their nets and followed him” (Mt 4:19-20,

ESV).

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he is following.




ESV). The Greek term doesn‟t mean that Simon & Andrew followed Jesus

on the seashore.

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he is following.




ESV). The Greek term doesn‟t mean that Simon & Andrew followed Jesus

on the seashore.

The term means “be a disciple.”

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Jesus often encouraged his hearers to learn from him.

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Jesus often encouraged his hearers to learn from him. “Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and

lowly in heart” (Mt 11:29, ESV).

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After washing the disciples feet, Jesus says, “I have given you an

example, that you also should do just as I have done to you” (Jn

13:15, ESV).

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After washing the disciples feet, Jesus says, “I have given you an

example, that you also should do just as I have done to you” (Jn

13:15, ESV).

As Jesus‟ baptized disciples, therefore, we must go to his

teachings & example to know how to live.

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In being baptized, we are raised to live like Jesus.

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In being baptized, we are raised to live like Jesus. “We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in

order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of

the Father, we too might walk in newness of life” (Rom 6:4, ESV).

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In being baptized, we are raised to live like Jesus. “We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in

order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of

the Father, we too might walk in newness of life” (Rom 6:4, ESV).

“As many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ”

(Gal 3:27, ESV).

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DO WE CONTINUE TO WEAR THAT

GARMENT?

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Our pledge to the Lord in baptism is a solemn & serious

pledge.

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pledge.

The Lord has no desire that we turn back to sin.

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pledge.

The Lord has no desire that we turn back to sin. “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for

the kingdom of God” (Lk 9:62, ESV).

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pledge.

The Lord has no desire that we turn back to sin. “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for

the kingdom of God” (Lk 9:62, ESV).

“My righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my

soul has no pleasure in him” (Heb 10:38, ESV).

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Pledging to follow Jesus & then turning back to sin is serious,

serious business.

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serious business. Heb 10:26-31.

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“If, after they have escaped the defilement of the world through

the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are

again entangled in them and overcome, the last state has

become worse for them than the first. For it would have been

better for them never to have known the way of righteousness

than after knowing it to turn back from the holy commandment

delivered to them” (2 Pt 2:20-21, ESV).

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2 Pt 2:20-21. It‟s better, says Peter, never to become a Christians than to turn back

from it.

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from it.

I‟m convinced that‟s because a more fearful judgment awaits the

fallen Christian.

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from it.

I‟m convinced that‟s because a more fearful judgment awaits the

fallen Christian: “That servant who knew his master‟s will but did not

get ready or act according to his will, will receive a severe beating.

But the one who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, will

receive a light beating” (Lk 12:47-48, ESV).

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While that pledge is serious, the God in heaven stands ready

to help us with our lives.

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to help us with our lives. “Because [Jesus] himself has suffered when tempted, he is able

to help those who are being tempted” (Heb 2:18, ESV).

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to help us with our lives. “Because [Jesus] himself has suffered when tempted, he is able

to help those who are being tempted” (Heb 2:18, ESV).

“We do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with

our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted

as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near

to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace

to help in time of need” (Heb 4:15-16, ESV).

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WE DO NOT WALK THE

CHRISTIAN LIFE ALONE!

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WE DO NOT WALK THE

CHRISTIAN LIFE ALONE!Jesus stands ready to help us—if we’ll let him!

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Maybe you have turned “back from the holy commandment.”

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Maybe you have turned “back from the holy commandment.” Granted, that is a serious predicament.

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Maybe you have turned “back from the holy commandment.” Granted, that is a serious predicament. But, God, full of grace,

stands ready to forgive.

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Maybe you have turned “back from the holy commandment.” Granted, that is a serious predicament. But, God, full of grace,

stands ready to forgive.

Peter says to Simon the sorcerer, “Repent, therefore, of this

wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the

intent of your heart may be forgiven you” (Acts 8:22, ESV).

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DO YOU NEED TO REPENT &

PRAY TO THE LORD THIS

MORNING?

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DO YOU NEED TO MAKE THE

PLEDGE OF BAPTISM THIS

MORNING?

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