Historical Posts
Getting on Target
Have you been getting on target to reach the important goals you set for your life?
What do you want out of life? How do you define success? What goals have you set for yourself? How are you getting on target to reach them?
- Wealth?
- Happiness?
- Power?
- Success?
Those are the targets many people shoot for, and there is nothing inherently evil in any of them. But, when they become the central focus of our life, our definition of success, they take on a whole new meaning.
Look at money. In and of itself it is neither good nor evil, but when we become obsessed with the desire to have more and more of it, it takes on a sinister note. “The love of money is the root of all evil” (1 Timothy 6:10). It promises much but delivers little of lasting value. Many a life has been ruined by greed.
The same could be said of happiness. Those who make their chief aim in life the quest for happiness are never happy for long. It was the Greek philosopher, Epicurus, who said: “To whom little is not enough nothing is enough. Give me a barley cake and a glass of water and I am ready to rival Zeus for happiness.” When someone asked him the secret to happiness and contentment, he responded: “Add not to a man’s possessions but take from his desires.” Happiness, in and of itself, is not a worthy goal.
Helen Keller wrote: “Many persons have a wrong idea about what constitutes true happiness. It is not attained through self-gratification, but through fidelity to a worthy purpose.” With that in mind, listen to the Apostle Paul: “Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13-14 NASB).
Heaven was his goal. It should be ours! Have you started in the right direction? Have you been getting on target for the goal of heaven? Can we help?
Salvation: Hear - Believe - Repent - Confess - Be Baptized - Live Faithfully
Color-Blind
God is color-blind. In Jesus Christ all racial, religious, social, and cultural barriers are destroyed.
Palestine, twenty centuries ago, was a divided land much like it is today. Division on the basis of race, social standing, and sex were all present, but the gospel of Jesus Christ was designed to destroy those barriers, making us “color-blind”. The apostle Paul wrote that for Christians “there is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28). The lesson was, and continues to be, a difficult one to learn.
The disciples had difficulty with the concept of equality. When they found Jesus talking with the Samaritan woman they were amazed. They were amazed because she was a Samaritan, and because she was a woman (John 4:27). Women were second class citizens in Palestine. Further, the Jews were to have no association with those of other races (Acts 10:28). Jesus did not accept the prejudice of the day. He was color-blind in that respect. He had come to seek and to save the lost regardless of sex, ethnic origin, or social standing. His was indeed a new message.
Peter had trouble becoming truly color-blind. It was necessary for God to provide a miraculous vision before that apostle could accept the fact that God was “no respecter of person” (Acts 10:34). Even after he learned this important principle he had difficulty with it. On one occasion Paul had to rebuke him for his prejudicial conduct toward Gentiles (Galatians 2:11-12).
But, we should not be too hard on Peter. How many of us have shown a similar prejudice toward others and not been color-blind ourselves? Folks, God is color-blind. He is no respecter of persons. Those who follow His Son must also be color-blind. In Jesus Christ all racial, religious, social, and cultural barriers are destroyed (Colossians 3:11). Jesus Christ died for all men (John 3:16)!
God and His people look beyond the externals. Every man is made in God’s image and deserves to hear the salvation provided through Christ. Are you a Christian?
Salvation: Hear - Believe - Repent - Confess - Be Baptized - Live Faithfully
A Christ Centered Religion
Christ Centered Religion – No creed but Christ, no head but Him, and no law but His!
We can never overemphasize the importance of being obedient students of the Bible. In God’s great scheme for the salvation of man, He provided for the preservation of His divine will through the written word. The Bible is no ordinary book. It is the word of the Almighty. It should be studied, learned, obeyed, and lived.
He who rejects the Bible and the Christ centered religion that results makes a terrible mistake. Paul wrote: “If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to the wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness, he is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself” (1 Timothy 6:3-5).
The fact is that our eternal well-being depends upon our devotion to the sacred text. It is through the Scriptures that we learn of the Savior. We cannot know God’s will apart from His word. Therefore, we must be careful students of the Bible. All that we believe, teach, and practice must originate in the Bible, which will cause us to have a Christ centered religion. Peter wrote, “If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God” (1 Peter 4:11).
The churches of Christ make a concerted effort to be governed by the Bible, and the Bible alone. We have no creed but Christ, no head but Him, and no law but His! If you are interested in a Christ-centered religion, then give us a try. With Paul we say, “We preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake” (2 Corinthians 4:5).
What Went Wrong?
What went wrong with our nation?
The school tragedies in so many states have shocked and dismayed us. What would possess kids to do such terrible things? What went wrong? I don’t claim to have all the answers, but some things are obvious.
First, children are being fed a steady diet of violence on television and at the movies. Much of what they view is pure filth. The language is atrocious. Nudity and illicit sexual activity are common place. Violence has become more and more graphic. But, do I blame Hollywood for exposing our kids to this kind of garbage? No! What went wrong? I think the fault lies with parents who fail to adequately monitor their children’s activities, and especially what they watch on television.
Second, faith in God has been undermined by the teaching of godless evolution as fact. When kids are raised to believe that they evolved from lower life forms, it’s not surprising to see them act like animals.
Third, life in this country is cheap. How can kids who have been fed a steady diet of the pro-choice tripe, grow up with a profound respect for the sanctity of life? They do not!
Fourth, there is no sense of accountability. Rather than hold people accountable for their actions, we make excuses. What went wrong? People (including kids) are not responsible for bad choices. Instead, we blame the system. They are merely products of their environments. Government has let them down. The educational system has failed them. Poverty is to blame. They have a genetic flaw – it’s all because of faulty DNA. Until people are once again held accountable for their actions, there will be no incentive to make good choices.
Fifth, parents have neglected their parental duties. I suspect all the others are really by-products of parental failure. What went wrong? Where are the parents? For too many years, kids have been raising themselves. Parents are often so selfish and self-involved that they never think of the welfare of their own offspring. Marriages are crumbling. Homes are being destroyed. And, children are the ones who suffer most.
What this nation needs is not stricter gun laws, but more loving and caring parents (especially fathers) who are willing to take an active role in raising their children. Listen to the apostle Paul: “…fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4). God’s plan from the beginning involved the union of one man and one woman in the loving bonds of holy wedlock for life. Children were to be reared in the home formed by this union. When God’s plan is circumvented, disaster is inevitable! Only by returning to God’s plan for the family can we truly address what went wrong. Are you following His plan in your life?
Salvation: Hear - Believe - Repent - Confess - Be Baptized - Live Faithfully
Contrast in Character
Will we imitate the character of Diotrephes or Demetrius? The choice is ours.
“I wrote something to the church; but Diotrephes, who loves to be first among them, does not accept what we say. For this reason, if I come, I will call attention to his deeds which he does, unjustly accusing us with wicked words; and not satisfied with this, neither does he himself receive the brethren, and he forbids those who desire to do so, and puts them out of the church” (3 John 9-10 NASB).
Do you know Diotrephes? Have you seen his character? He is everywhere. He is at school, at work, even in the church. He is a child in adult disguise. He demands his way, or no way! He has an inflated view of himself. Nothing, and no one, is more important. He is center stage, or he walks off the stage.
Cross him and he goes on the attack. He will lie and spread idle gossip. Not content with his personal barrage of lies and insults, he will solicit others to join with him. If possible, he will drive you away, kick you out, or get you fired.
Diotrephes is not to be feared or tolerated, he is to be rebuked. Like any other bully, stand up to him and he will turn tail and run.
“Demetrius is well spoken of by everyone, and even by the truth itself. We also speak well of him, and you know that our testimony is true” (3 John 12 NIV).
The character of Demetrius can be found most everywhere, too! He is a selfless person always willing to help. Need a shoulder to cry on? He is there. Feeling blue? He knows just what to say. He has character. He has convictions which he will not compromise. He is admired and respected. He is everything we would like to be, but aren’t.
We should remind ourselves that we are what we choose to be. John admonished: “Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. The one who does good is of God; the one who does evil has not seen God” (3 John 11 NASB).
What will it be? Will we imitate the character of Diotrephes or Demetrius? The choice is ours. Choose the good character and start by modeling you life after Christ.
Salvation: Hear - Believe - Repent - Confess - Be Baptized - Live Faithfully
The True Church
It is possible and desireable to have one true church. Jesus died to purchase it.
Any student of the Bible knows that the New Testament speaks of only one church, the true church. In Matthew 16:18, following Peter’s confession of the divinity of Christ, Jesus promised: “I will build my church.” The emphasis is on the fact that Jesus promised to build his church, not churches. The apostle Paul wrote: “There is one body” (Ephesians 4:4). The body and the church are one and the same (Colossians 1:18). If there is one body, there can only be one church. There is no mention of present day denominationalism in the New Testament. Denominationalism is non-biblical and anti-scriptural. Jesus’ prayer for his disciples was that they would all be one (John 17:21).
Conditions in the religious world today portray anything but a united church. Those who profess to follow Christ are divided into hundreds of factions. For one seeking to find the church of the Bible, it is an exceedingly difficult task. Each denomination believes that it is the true church, but that all other churches are acceptable, too! How can that be? It is generally argued that the various denominations comprise the visible church, and that the invisible church consists of the true believers from all denominations. Is that the case? The Bible says nothing about the visible and the invisible church!
We believe that it is possible to have one true church. We believe that it is desirable to have one true church. We believe that Jesus died to purchase one true church. It is not our purpose to condemn denominationalism, but it is our desire to preach the truth! We do not seek to sit in judgment of others, but we do want to teach what the Bible says about Christianity. Paul pleaded with the church at Corinth that they all speak the same things, and that there be no divisions among them, but that they be perfectly joined together in the same mind and judgment (1 Corinthians 1:10). Why should it be any different today?
Foolish Questions
Don’t waste your time with foolish questions.
A young man, seeking to entrap the Scottish preacher, John McNeil, sent the following note to the preacher with the request that it be answered publicly: “Dear Mr. McNeil, if you seek to enlighten young men, would you kindly tell me who Cain’s wife was and where he got her?” McNeil read the note and then responded, “I love young men – inquirers for truth especially – and should like to give this young man a word of advice: Don’t lose your soul inquiring about other men’s wives.” Talk about foolish questions.
Critics of the Bible are always looking for ways to entrap believers with foolish questions. “If your God is omnipotent (all powerful),” they ask, “can he make a square circle? If your God is so great and can do anything, can he make a rock so big he cannot lift it?” Obviously, both are foolish questions that seek the impossible! What is the Christian’s response?
Paul admonished Timothy: “But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes. And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; and that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who was taken captive by him at his will” (2 Timothy 2:23-26).
We can have great confidence in the Bible and the God it reveals. There is no reason for us to doubt the divine record or anything it says about our God or His Son! The Bible is the most important book ever written. It was not the product of human minds, but the divine mind (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Doubters may wish to throw suspicion upon the sacred text with foolish questions, but it will stand long after every critic has been silenced.
The Bible may not answer every question we ask, but we may be confident that the answers found therein are right. With the Psalmist, we should cry out, “Open thou mine eyes that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law” (Psalm 119:18).
Would you like to know more? Asking about the salvation of your soul is not on the list of foolish questions.
Salvation: Hear - Believe - Repent - Confess - Be Baptized - Live Faithfully
Cause to Weep
Until we all embrace God’s laws and live by them, there will be cause to weep!
The Bible speaks of tears being shed on many occasions. David had cause to weep when he learned of the death of Absalom (2 Samuel 18:33). The captives sat by the rivers of Babylon and wept as they remembered Zion (Psalm 137:1). Jesus was moved to weep as He made his way to the tomb of his dear friend Lazarus (John 11:35). He wept again as He looked upon Jerusalem and foresaw her impending destruction (Luke 19:41).
As I read each of the accounts mentioned in the previous paragraph, as well as others like them, I am reminded of something from the Psalmist’s pen. He wrote: “Rivers of waters run down mine eyes, because they keep not thy law” (Psalm 119:136). As I get older I understand more and more what the Psalmist meant, what caused him to weep.
Tears should come to our eyes and we should weep as we gaze upon the moral decline which has swept through our land. Long held standards of decency and morality have crumbled before us. A few decades ago the prospect of abortion on demand, the acceptance of homosexuality, the staggering rates of illegitimacy, and the brutal violence of today were unthinkable.
There is cause to weep when we see man’s inhumanity to man and the staggering toll in human lives. In Africa and the Middle East, thousands have died and continue to die, innocent victims of man’s brutality. Right here in our own country violence claims lives daily. Some see what is happening and blame God, but the fault is not His, it is ours!
The restraints of space will not permit a detailed listing of all the problems which fill our land and bring tears to our eyes. Now I simply must ask, “What is the real cause for our tears?” The Psalmist gives us the answer. It is because men do not keep God’s law (Psalm 119:136)! What a different world it would be if only men would acknowledge God and honor His commands.
We may not be able to change the world, but we can change ourselves. We must adopt God’s laws as our own, and live by them every day. Then, and only then, can we begin to make a difference in our community and the world. Until we all embrace God’s laws and live by them, there will be cause to weep!
Many Believed
Many believed when they examine the evidence with a fair and open mind.
As Peter and John made their way to the temple one afternoon, they encountered a lame beggar. The apostles had no money that day, but they had something much better. Peter said to him, “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk” (Acts 3:6). Instantly the man was healed. Soon a large crowd had gathered. To them the gospel was proclaimed and many believed.
When the Jewish authorities discovered what had taken place, Peter and John were arrested. But, as a result of what had happened, and what the apostles had taught, “many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand” (Acts 4:4). What led to their faith? Why was it many believed?
First, it was undeniable that a miracle had taken place. The hand of God was clearly at work that day. Even the enemies of Christ acknowledged “that indeed a notable miracle” had been done (Acts 4:16). It was clear that forces beyond the powers of mere mortals were at work that day. Obviously, Peter and John deserved a hearing.
Second, Peter and John conducted themselves, both at the temple, and in jail in an exemplary fashion. Their accusers marveled at their knowledge and boldness, and acknowledged that they had been with Jesus (Acts 4:13). They not only proclaimed their faith in Jesus, they lived it!
Thirdly, they did not hesitate to plainly and forcefully proclaim the truth. To those who gathered that day to hear them preach, Peter leveled the following charge: “ye delivered up, and denied…the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you, and killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead” (Acts 3:13-15). And, it was true! They could not deny it.
It was an irresistible combination, and many believed. The appeal is just as valid today. Examine the evidence with a fair and open mind, and I am convinced you will be a believer, too!
Church Growth
People may not have expected it, but God provided church growth when they were scattered.
“…they that were scattered abroad went everywhere preaching the word” (Acts 8:4).
One cannot help but admire the dedication of early Christians. Everywhere they went they preached, and where they preached they were persecuted. Yet, there was church growth as they continued to uphold Christ before the world.
Our circumstances are not nearly so difficult, yet our efforts are often meager in comparison. Perhaps it is because we lack the dedication, determination, and diligence which so often characterized first century Christians.
Their dedication is seen throughout Luke’s history of the church in Acts, from the first account of persecution in chapter 4 to the close of the book. Their faith was unshakable. They would gladly forfeit their freedom (Acts 4:1-3), their wealth (Acts 4:36-37), and even their lives (Acts 7:59) for Jesus.
Their determination was such that no matter what, they preached Christ crucified. When told not to preach anymore in his name, Peter and John responded, “We cannot help but speak the things which we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:20). Those who fled from Jerusalem because of persecution “went everywhere preaching the word.” The story of Jesus could not be censored. Early Christians were determined to tell others of Him and church growth resulted as the lost came to Christ.
And, they were diligent. Theirs was not a once a week religion. “Daily in the temple and in every house they ceased not to preach Jesus” (Acts 5:42), and the church “increased in number daily” (Acts 16:5). Church growth was fast. The church grew and multiplied because early Christians worked diligently.
Yes, it takes dedication, determination and diligence to do the Lord’s work. But, God promises success to those who are willing to give it everything they have. Are you working for Him? Are you a child of His?
Salvation: Hear - Believe - Repent - Confess - Be Baptized - Live Faithfully
No Ordinary Man
Examine the evidence. You will be forced to admit Jesus was no ordinary man. He was the Son of God!
One night a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews, called on Jesus. “Rabbi,” he said, “we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him” (John 3:2). There was no mistaking it, Jesus was no ordinary man.
The blind man, whose sight Jesus had restored, said to those who denied that Jesus had come from God: “Now that is remarkable! You don’t know where he comes from, yet he opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly man who does his will. Nobody has ever heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing” (John 9:30-33).
John recorded a limited number of Jesus’ miracles (seven in all), but they were sufficient to prove him to be the Son of God, no ordinary man. John’s conclusion: “Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name” (John 20:30-31). Temple guards, dispatched to arrest him, returned empty-handed. Their only defense: “No one ever spoke the way this man does” (John 7:46). It was a compelling combination. What he did and said offered ample proof that he was the Son of God. Jesus was no ordinary man.
Nearly twenty centuries have passed since the events of the Gospels, but nothing has happened which would cause us to doubt the deity of Christ. There had never been another like him, nor would there ever be another like him again. He was unique, and the evidence shows him to have been divine.
Yes, there were many who questioned his identity. There were many doubters. There were many who died in unbelief. But, those who examined the evidence carefully with an honest heart and an open mind, could not help but say, “Truly this was the Son of God” (Matthew 27:54).
Before you dismiss him, examine the evidence. I am convinced you, too, will be forced to admit that he was no ordinary man. He was the Son of God!
Would you like to know more?
Christian Conduct
Are our lives characterized by Christian conduct?
“Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel” (Philippians 1:27).
Make no mistake about it, God makes specific demands of His people. Christians must not adopt the ways of the world. We are commanded to conform to a higher standard. Our conversation (conduct) must be governed by the word of God. It must be Christian conduct. We must look to the Scriptures to determine the direction our lives take. Anything less can spell disaster.
Man is incapable of charting the correct course without proper guidance. Solomon wrote: “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the ends thereof are the ways of death” (Proverbs 14:12). Jeremiah, the prophet, echoed those sentiments when he wrote: “O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps” (Jeremiah 10:23). God, knowing our limitations, sent Jesus into this world to show us the way to Him. In fact, Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6). He lived a perfect life. He showed us how to live. He left an example for us to follow (1 Peter 2:21-22).
It is impossible to follow Christ without paying careful attention to our conduct. We cannot be faithful children of God while living like the devil! We must have Christian conduct. No, Christians are not perfect, but they are also not slaves to sin. “Know ye not, that to whom yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness” (Romans 6:16-18).
Who do we serve? How do we live? Are our lives characterized by Christian conduct? If not, then we are not Christians!
Just Grow Up!
Are you a mature Christian, or do you need to just grow up?
Every parents wants to raise children to be mature adults. This involves growth in five specific areas encompassing the physical, mental, emotional, social and spiritual development of the child. We see this kind of growth in Jesus. Following the incident at Jerusalem when He was twelve, Luke wrote of Him, “And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men” (Luke 2:52). Mental, emotional and physical growths are indicted by wisdom and stature, and the spiritual and social elements are found in His growing in favor with God and men. It is a sad thing when a child fails to properly develop.
There is a spiritual dimension to growth in Christ which is often overlooked or played down. Paul described the organization of the early church as being structured for the purpose of bringing children of God to maturity. We ought to “all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head – Christ” (Ephesians 4:13-15).
The reality is, however, that many babes in Christ remain perpetual babies. They need to just grow up! These are the folks who are always demanding things go their way. They threaten to leave if others don’t bow to their will. Their feelings are always getting hurt, and they never accept responsibility for their condition. Everything is the fault of someone else. They are always right, and everyone else is wrong. There comes a time when you want to say to these folks, “Just grow up!”
Such growth is possible only when we are brought up on a proper diet. Peter urged, “as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby” (1 Peter 2:2). Spiritual nourishment comes from the word for which we should hunger and thirst. Are you a mature Christian, or do you need to just grow up?
What Are You Looking For?
What are you looking for in a church?
It is not at all uncommon to hear someone speak of “church shopping.” By that, they mean that they are looking for a church which satisfies their needs, fulfills their desires, and provides what they want. Usually, but not always, they are looking for an entertaining worship experience, an active program providing day care, organized activities for the kids, and some social opportunities for themselves. All of which are well and good in a fraternal or social club, but is that really what the church is all about? What are you looking for that is meaningful?
The value of the worship experience is not determined by how it makes us feel, but how it pleases God. Worship is unacceptable when it offers people what they want, but does not give to God what He demands. Jesus condemned those who drew near to God with their lips while their hearts were far from Him. Their worship was vain because they taught as doctrine the commandments of men (Matthew 15:9). That kind of worship is more interested in what people want than what God has commanded. It is unacceptable, no matter how good it may make a person feel or match what they were looking for.
The attitude among many churches today is a reflection of attitudes in the political arena. Politicians are notorious for taking polls to determine positions. Sime preachers are often no different. Find out what the people want and give it to them. After all, the name of the game is seeing who can have the largest attendance, the biggest budget, attract the masses. Didn’t Paul have something to say about all of that? Seems to me he did (2 Timothy 4:1-5).
Think more about what you should be looking for. Acceptable worship must be directed toward the right object (GOD), done in the right spirit, and governed by God’s word (John 4:24). Personal preferences are irrelevant when it comes to determining what should or should not be done in worship. Ours is not a search for the church of our choice, but for the church of Christ’s choice. He has clearly spelled out in His word what the church is to be, how the church is to worship, and how Christians are to live. Those decisions have all been made for us. We must decide whether or not we will listen to Him and be looking for the things that matter to Him.
If you are looking for a church intent on pleasing God, not men, we would like to hear from you.
Just a Symbol
Baptism is much more than just a symbol.
Over the years I have written many times regarding the subject of baptism. It is no secret that we in churches of Christ preach that baptism is essential to our salvation, not just a symbol of salvation. We believe this to be plainly declared in Scripture (Acts 2:38; 22:16; etc.). Jesus was baptized (Matthew 3:16). He preached baptism (Mark 16:16). He made and baptized more disciples than John (John 4:1). Few would dispute these assertions. Yet, when these things are called to the attention of folks, they are ignored.
The common refrain today is “believe and invite Jesus into your heart.” Nothing more is demanded. Anything more, it is argued, would make salvation a matter of works, and it is asserted that work has no relationship to man’s salvation. I do not dispute the fact that we are undeserving of the sacrifice of Jesus. Nor do I dispute the fact that there is nothing we can do to save ourselves. We are wholly dependent upon Christ. However, that is not to say that we have no obligation to Him beyond the acknowledgement of His divinity. The devil would not argue with us regarding His identity, but the devil would never submit to His will. Those who claim to believe but will not obey are siding with Satan.
Further, when we teach that baptism necessitates a burial in water, we are told that we are merely dealing with symbolism, and we should not confuse the symbol with the substance.
- First, from a linguistic standpoint there is no doubt that baptism involves an immersion or submersion. Sprinkling and pouring do not satisfy the true meaning of the word.
- Second, baptism is described as a burial in the New Testament (Romans 6:4; Colossians 2:12).
- Third, in the detailed accounts of baptism in the Bible there is a going down into and a coming up out of water (Acts 8:38-39).
I do not deny the symbolism involved in baptism. Again, according to the Bible, baptism is a symbol of the death and burial of the old man and the resurrection of the new man in Christ (Romans 6:3-14). How can this be symbolized by sprinkling or pouring a few drops of water on someone’s head? That does not constitute a burial or a resurrection! And, if it is all a matter of symbolism, why not drop the water altogether? Surely, if a few drops are sufficient to satisfy the symbolism, can it not be completely eliminated? Some have already done so!
If I have misrepresented what the Bible teaches, then it should be ignored. But, if the truth on this subject has been presented, and I am convinced that it has, ignoring it jeopardizes our hope of heaven.
Salvation: Hear - Believe - Repent - Confess - Be Baptized - Live Faithfully
Christ and His Church
One cannot accept Christ and reject His church, or accept the church and reject Jesus. The two are inseparable.
“Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it” (Ephesians 5:25).
It is impossible to separate Christ from his church. Without Christ there would be no church, and without the church Christ’s mission would have been incomplete. It must be clearly understood that one cannot accept Christ and reject his church, or accept the church and reject Jesus. The two are inseparable.
His relationship to the church is set forth in Scripture. The purpose of his coming was to build the church (Matthew 16:18). His love for the church moved him to give himself for her (Ephesians 5:25) His blood was shed to purchase her (Acts 20:28). And, he is her head today (Colossians 1:18).
What is the church? It is not a building, a social club, or a political action committee. It is God’s spiritual family (1 Timothy 3:15). In relationship to its government it is called a kingdom. In regard to its organization it is called a body. In respect to its relationship to the world it is called the church, meaning the “called out.”
The church consists of saved men and women. The Lord adds the saved to the church (Acts 2:47). How, then, does one become a part of the church? According to the Bible, the only real authority on the subject, citizenship in the kingdom comes through the new birth (John 3:3,5,7). Membership in the body comes by baptism into it (1 Corinthians 12:13). And, one is added to the church by the Lord upon the basis of faith, repentance, and baptism (Acts 2:37-47).
Is it possible to accept Jesus, but reject his church? No! Can one be saved outside of the church? No! All of the saved are in Christ’s church today (Acts 2:47;4:12). Hear God’s word, believe it, and obey it. The Lord will add you to his church and you will be a Christian, nothing more, nothing less (Acts 11:26).
Salvation: Hear - Believe - Repent - Confess - Be Baptized - Live Faithfully
Jesus Our Savior
We are all drowning spiritually. And, there is a Savior. But sadly, most reject his help. It makes no sense.
Have you ever been lost? It’s a frightening thing to be lost and alone and need a savior! Maybe as a child you were separated from your mother in a larger department store. Perhaps you were a hunter on new terrain. Unfamiliar with the topography, you became disoriented. Or, you took the wrong exit on the freeway and ended up in unfamiliar surroundings. Whatever the situation, we have all been there and needed help.
- The heart races.
- The palms sweat.
- Panic sets in.
- An overwhelming sense of helplessness and despair fills the soul.
- It seems hopeless.
- Something terrible is bound to follow.
Do you remember how relieved you were when a clerk calmly reassured you that everything would be all right and helped you locate you mother (or child)? Or, you saw a familiar landmark and found the path back to camp? Or, you saw a sign pointing you in the right direction, and were soon on track again? Whoever, or whatever the savior, there was a deep sense of relief and gratitude.
Now, imagine something even more frightening. Your boat has capsized in the middle of the Ohio river. You neglected to wear your life jacket, and you are a mediocre swimmer at best. You can stay afloat for a few minutes, but if help does not come soon, it will be over. Suddenly, out of nowhere, a boat pulls alongside and offers assistance. How would you respond? No right thinking person would reject such an offer, would they?
The fact is, we are all drowning spiritually. And, there is a Savior. But sadly, most reject his help. It makes no sense. He is the only Savior (Acts 4:12). Reject Him, and there is no hope. Death is inevitable without His help. Again, you would think no one would reject his offer, but they do. Millions do!
Let me urge you not to make the mistake of turning your back on the only Savior there is. John Rowe wrote: “I was sinking deep in sin, far from the peaceful shore, very deeply stained within, sinking to rise no more; but the Master of the sea heard my despairing cry, from the waters lifted me, now safe am I.”
Jesus came to rescue all of us, but He can only save those who reach out to Him. Do you believe (John 8:24)? Have you repented (Luke 13:3)? Have you been baptized (Acts 2:38)? Is He your Savior?
Salvation: Hear - Believe - Repent - Confess - Be Baptized - Live Faithfully
Good Medicine for any Ailment
A merry heart is still good medicine!
“A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bone” (Proverbs 17:22).
We are what we think. Solomon said of man, “as he thinketh in his heart so is he” (Proverbs 23:7). Attitude plays an important part in our lives. A good attitude is a key to physical, emotional and spiritual wellbeing.
Physically, many health problems are the result, either directly or indirectly, of anxiety. It has been estimated that as many as two-thirds of all patients who see physicians have symptoms caused or aggravated by mental stress. Headaches, high blood pressure, hay fever and a host of other health problems can be directly linked to emotional stress. The key to good physical health begins with good mental health. Use good medicine. “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine.“
Emotionally, the greatest threat to our wellbeing is depression. I have in mind the kind of depression which results from our outlook. We must avoid the negative gloom and doom thinking which leads to discouragement. I realize that we all have good days and bad days, but for some the bad far outweighs the good, at least in their own eyes. These folks feel bad when they feel good for fear they will feel worse when they feel better. “A broken spirit drieth the bones.“
Spiritually, sin is a cancer eating away at the soul. It finds its greatest nourishment in an evil heart. Jesus said, “Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh” (Matthew 12:34). It was also Jesus who said that from the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, and all things which defile a man (Matthew 15:19-20). What is needed is good medicine. In Christ we find a cure for the soul’s cancer (Romans 6:23).
“Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life” (Proverbs 4:23). Here is the key to real physical, emotional, and spiritual health. A merry heart is still good medicine!
The Passing of Time
The passing of time can be deceptive. Spend it wisely.
For years I’ve heard others say, “The older I get, the faster time goes.” I really didn’t understand what they meant until recently. I suspect that’s a sign that I’m getting older, myself.
When we are young we don’t think a lot about time. We have a lifetime ahead of us. There is no need to contemplate the future and the passing of time. As we get a little older, we start thinking about getting out of school, getting a job, making money, and having a family. Before we realize it, we’ve done those things and the passing of time happens. Our family is raised, and we’re left scratching our heads and asking, “Where did the time go?”
It’s no wonder Moses wrote: “…we spend our years as a tale that is told. The days of our years are threescore and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is there strength, labor and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away” (Psalm 90:9, 10). James, the brother of our Lord, said much the same thing when he asked, “What is your life?” His answer: “It is even a vapor (a puff of smoke), that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away” (James 4:14).
I suspect one of the most frequent mistakes we make is our failure to utilize our time wisely. The devil likes delays. Whatever it is, if we ought to do it, he’s saying, “Put it off! Wait until tomorrow! It will keep! Don’t get in any hurry!” Sadly, we are prone to listen and the passing of time gets away from us. But, there are some things that are too important to delay. If we do, life and eternity will be filled with regret.
We could all profit from the Psalmist’s example. He wrote: “This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118:24). Yesterday is lost forever. Tomorrow is only a promise. But, today is mine. It is a mistake not to make the most of it. It will quickly pass. There’s no time to delay. For those who use the precious moments well, life is an adventure.
Listen to the words of the apostle Paul: “Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men, but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:15-16). We should not lament the passing of time, only our failure to use it wisely.
Indisputable Facts – II
The advent of choirs, the use of solos, and various other forms of religious entertainment were late comers to the worship of the church and lack any New Testament authority. The Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological, and Ecclesiastical Literature (Vol. VI, page 758) says: “These innovations were first made in the 4th century; and though the people continued to enjoy their ancient privilege of all singing together, it is conceivable that it gradually was forced to die…An artificial style of music, having no affinity with the worship of God, soon began to take the place of those solemn airs which before had inspired the devotion of his people.”
Further, Neander writes of the consequences of bringing secular music into the church as follows: “We have to regret that both in the Eastern and Western Church their sacred music had already assumed an artificial and theatrical character, and was so far removed from its original simplicity that even in the 4th century the abbot Pambo of Egypt complained that heathen melodies [accompanied as it seems with the action of the hands and feet] had been introduced into their Church psalmody” (Kirchengesch, ii, 681: comp. Scriptores Ecclesiastici, De Musica, i [1784] 3).
These innovations ultimately lead to the demise of congregational singing. “Thus it soon came about that the many, instead of uniting their hearts and their voices in the songs of Zion, could only sit coldly by as spectators” (Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological, and Ecclesiastical Literature (Vol. VI, page 758). These are indisputable facts of history.
Further, the New Testament knows nothing of the present state of division within Christendom. From Acts 2 to the close of Revelation there was only one church. Denominationalism did not exist! The Bible makes it clear that Jesus came to build one church (Matthew 16:18; Ephesians 4:4; Colossians 1:18). One church is all we find in the Bible. These are also indisputable facts.
If it is important to respect the authority of the New Testament, then these are matters of extreme significance. If, on the other hand, it is more important to do what we deem best rather than what is clearly authorized in Scripture, then these are matters of little concern. I am convinced by Scripture that it is far more important do what God authorizes in His word than to do what appeals to men (Galatians 1:10). Therefore, I am committed to teaching the truth on these matters whether others agree or not!