Historical Posts
Preaching with Honesty
“Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men. For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.” – Acts 20:26-27
Preachers must be honest with the people to whom they preach. One might think that much is obvious, but most preachers are under constant pressure to tell people what they want to hear, rather than what they need to hear. The apostle Paul felt this pressure acutely, and indicated as much, when he wrote to his brethren in the churches of Galatia: “Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?” (Galatians 4:16).
Many preachers dare not to say anything that might be perceived as controversial, lest they cause someone in the congregation to be offended. The result of this policy is sermons that are only loosely based on the Scriptures, and that are designed to make the hearers feel better about themselves as they are, rather than challenging them to improve. As a result, ecclesiastical cowardice rules the day – and many people will be lost because of it.
Preachers do not need to preach only on controversial subjects, but they need to do as Paul did, when he was in Ephesus: preach all the counsel of God (Acts 20:26-27). The fact of the matter is that every soul needs to hear everything that God has to say. Preachers who will not be honest with their hearers about God’s will for them are only guaranteeing that the people to whom they preach will be lost eternally.
Preachers who are honest with themselves know that when they preach the Word of God to any group of people, there will be those who will not accept it. But they must not allow this fact to cause them to “water down” the message. It is their task to boldly stand and speak the truth, with love in their hearts (Ephesians 4:15).
Content by Russell Kline
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Preaching with Authority
“If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God…” -1 Peter 4:11
Jesus captivated multitudes of thousands of people at a time because, when He preached, “he taught them as one having authority, and not as the Scribes” (Mark 7:29). People were hungry and thirsty for righteousness, and Christ gave them food for their souls (Matthew 5:6; John 6:35). Biblical preaching is supposed to do the same thing for people in the modern world: it is supposed to feed their souls (1 Peter 5:1-3).
That is why Biblical preaching must be authoritative. If it is not, then it will not provide the spiritual sustenance that people need so very much. The vast majority of souls walking the Earth are withered and emaciated – starving for what only authoritative Biblical preaching can provide. Paul described the condition of those whose souls are lost as being “dead” while they “liveth” (1 Timothy 5:6). Only the message of God’s Word can bring these dead souls back to life (Ephesians 2:1).
The problem with most preaching that is done in churches today is that it lacks authority from the Word of God to back it up. In most churches, sermons consist of one or two quotations from the Scriptures and then a series of illustrations, jokes and inspirational stories. In 2 Timothy 4:1-2, preachers are charged to “preach the word.” God does not want preachers to entertain people with anecdotes, but to “persuade men” to obey the will of the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:11). To accomplish this lofty goal, preaching must be authoritative.
As indicated earlier, it is the Word of God, which is the source of all religious authority. Colossians 3:17 reads, “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.” To speak or to act in someone’s name is to do so by their authority. Therefore, preachers are required to preach and to teach in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ-having the authority of His Word to verify everything that is said.
Beware of preachers who overuse the phrase, “I think.” Frankly, it does not matter what any preacher thinks about anything. It only matters what the Bible says. Preaching that is not reinforced with multiple references in Scripture is not authoritative preaching. When I was learning to be a preacher, my teachers would say, “Always include lots of Scripture in every sermon. Then, you can be sure that at least that much of your sermon is correct.” That admonition still rings true today.
Content by Russell Kline
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It’s My Pleasure
“It’s my pleasure!” This is often said after someone does something nice for somebody else, or gives them something they always desired. Perhaps you have said it yourself a few times. A giver should take pleasure in giving as much as a receiver does receiving.
God takes pleasure in doing things for us!
Jesus says, “…It is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom (Luke 12:32).” We can all be a part of the kingdom of God, and it is something that will last forever (Daniel 2:44).
Next time someone gives you something and says, “it’s my pleasure,” think of what all God gives us. It’s His pleasure!
Content by Richard Dillon
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Greatness of America
For some nine months in late 1831 and early 1832, Alexis de Tocqueville and his friend, Gustave de Beaumont, toured America studying prison reform. They traveled throughout the country talking to people from all walks of life.
So impressed were they with what they saw and heard that when they returned to Paris, Alexis set out to write of his experiences. The result was a two volume set entitled Democracy in America. One quotation from that work stands out. Alexis de Tocqueville wrote: I sought for the greatness and genius of America in her commodious harbors and her ample rivers, and it was not there. I sought in the fertile fields and boundless forest, in her rich mines and vast world commerce, and it was not there. I sought for the greatness and genius of America in her democratic Congress and her matchless Constitution — it was not there. Not until I went into the churches of America and heard her pulpits flame with righteousness did I understand the secret of her genius and power. America is great because America is good, and if America ever ceases to be good, America will cease to be great.
I can’t help but wonder if a Frenchmen visiting churches in America today would come away with a similar appraisal.
God calls His people to righteous living. We are to “live soberly, righteously, and godly” lives (Titus 2:12). The challenge is to “come out from among them [the world] and be ye separate, saith the Lord” (2 Corinthians 6:17). The pulpits of this land should thunder with a call to righteousness. But, instead, a call to compromise is often heard. Pulpits are deafly silent when it comes to sin.
Paul charged Timothy: “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season, reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine” (2 Timothy 4:2).
What America needs today is a return to old-fashioned Bible preaching.
What America needs is a call to righteousness. Churches and nations which turn their back on righteousness cannot stand long. As Solomon observed, “Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people” (Proverbs 14:34).
Real power resides, not in the president, but in the pulpit when it is aflame with righteousness!
May God help us to recapture that power before it is too late!
Content by Roger Rush
Visit Roger at the 6th and Washington Street Church of Christ in Marietta OH.
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Sit Upon the Throne
It is a special privilege to sit upon a throne. Judges, kings, queens, princes, princesses, and chancellors are perhaps a lucky few to have this honor. One must be born in a royal family or receive special recognition to sit in such a special place.
Imagine what it would be like to sit upon the throne with Jesus!
He told the church at Laodicea, “To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne (Revelation 3:21).” Jesus has overcome the world (John 16:33), and through Him we can too.
We are born of God through baptism into Christ (John 3:3ff.). If we remain faithful till death, we will receive the crown of life (Revelation 2:10).
We have a royal birth! Let us continue to do the will of God so we can wear that crown and sit upon His throne with Him.
Content by Richard Dillon
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Bear it in Mind
When I was six years old, I wanted a very unusual present: a pulpit and a microphone. Since this was very unusual, my parents kept the matter in mind. Sure enough, when the time was right, I received a short, hand-crafted pulpit and a Fisher Price microphone. Now, years later, I am doing what I always wanted to do; and my parents still remember how it all got started.
When Joseph was seventeen, he dreamed two dreams. One where sheaves bowed down to his sheaf and another where the sun, moon, and eleven stars bowed down to him. His brothers envied him for it, but his father “kept the matter in mind (Genesis 37:11).” Later, Joseph helped save his family and all Egypt from a severe famine.
In the first year of Belshazzar’s reign, Daniel had a vision of four beasts and the “Ancient of Days.” This greatly disturbed Daniel, and he sought its meaning. He was informed of the kings that would come, destroying the whole earth; the Lord’s kingdom, however, would be everlasting. Thus, Daniel “kept the matter in his heart (Daniel 7:28).”
When Jesus was born, shepherds told Mary and Joseph how they had seen the angels proclaiming His birth, and many people marveled. Mary “kept all these things and pondered them in her heart (Luke 2:19).”
Later, Jesus went to the temple at the age of twelve. Many were amazed at His understanding and answers as He was about His Father’s business. Mary “kept all these things in her heart (Luke 2:51).”
Maybe there is something you don’t understand now. Just be patient, bear it in mind, and perhaps God will make it all clear later!
Content by Richard Dillon
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Remember God in Youth
Solomon wrote: “Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth; before the evil days come and the years draw near when you will say, `I have no delight in them’” (Ecclesiastes 12:1). He knew what he was talking about.
Recent studies have shown that teens who regularly attend worship live much different lives than those who do not. Martha Sawyer Allen, in an article in the COLUMBUS DISPATCH (1-19-94), reported on the results of two major studies and a Gallup survey regarding teen religious activity. According to the studies, teens who are not active in church are almost twice as likely to have driven drunk in the past year. In addition, these same non-church-goers are almost twice as likely to be sexually active. Older teens are less likely to worship regularly than younger teens. A Gallup survey indicated that fifty-four percent of teens 13 to 15 worship regularly, while only 44 percent of teens 16 and older are regular church attenders.
Regular church attendance is probably not the only explanation for the disparity in the statistics regarding drunk driving and sexual activity. Generally, teens who worship regularly have parents who do the same. These parents, for the most part, reinforce the lessons learned at church. The home is, after all, the place where morality is most effectively taught, and the sooner parents start, the better!
I would encourage you to get in the habit of worshiping faithfully, not only for your own spiritual well-being, but for your children, too. It will make a tremendous difference in all your lives. Tragically, however, many people wait until it is too late. It is very important that you begin when you bring the baby home from the hospital. If you wait until he is a teenager to start going to church, you have waited too long.
Less than half of all American teens worship regularly, but that isn’t surprising considering the fact that less than half of the adults in this country are regular worshipers.
Get your children started on the right track. Don’t send them to church, bring them! It will make a difference.
Content by Roger Rush
Visit Roger at the 6th and Washington Street Church of Christ in Marietta OH.
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Let Your Conscience Be Your Guide
What we call a “conscience” is defined by some as a “sense of ought,” which compels us to do what we believe to be right and to shun what we believe to be wrong.
It has been depicted as an angel perched on our shoulders, whispering into our ears (temptation is portrayed as a demon perched on the other shoulder, whispering into the other ear). The Bible tells us that our conscience can be “good” (1 Timothy 1:19) and “pure” (1 Timothy 3:9), but it can also be “evil” (Hebrews 10:22) and “defiled” (Titus 1:15). Our conscience can “bear witness” (Romans 2:15) and “give testimony” (2 Corinthians 1:12), but if we violate our conscience, it will surely “convict” us (John 8:9).
In Acts 24, the apostle Paul stated that he had always tried to live with “a conscience void of offense toward God, and toward men” (Acts 24:16). In Acts 23, he testified that he had “lived in all good conscience before God until this day” (Acts 23:1). Even though he had enthusiastically persecuted the Lord’s church, he always did what he believed to be right (1 Timothy 1:12-13).
The human conscience can be a valuable guide to help us navigate our way through life – but only if it is properly trained.
Your conscience can’t guide you to Heaven, if it’s not programmed to get you there.
A conscience is like a GPS device. It will give you directions to get you where you want to go – but only if you program it for the right destination. It is not possible for any human being to find his way to Heaven on his own (Jeremiah 10:23). When we attempt to do so, we invariably choose the wrong path (Proverbs 14:12). Only with help from the Word of God can we ever hope to find the way that leads to eternal life (Psalm 119:105).
You must train your conscience with the right tools.
The Bible is the road-map that can guide us from Earth to Heaven, but we have to follow its direction. Some people resist the gospel, because their conscience has been trained with the wrong tools (like the Koran, the book of Mormon, the doctrines of men, etc.).
They are like Saul of Tarsus, who persecuted the church; thinking that he was doing what God wanted him to do (Acts 22:1-4; 23:1). They have spent so much of their lives in a false religion that they must unlearn the errors they have come to embrace.
Only the Bible can train our conscience to guide us to Heaven (Psalm 119:11,104,130).
You must be careful that your conscience does not become “seared” (1 Timothy 4:1-2).
This happens to people, when they allow their hearts to become “hardened” toward God (Hebrews 3:12-13). This is what happens, when we become comfortable with sin (Jeremiah 6:15). Also, this is how a conscience becomes “evil” and “defiled.”
Sometimes, the process starts when someone or something “wounds” a “weak” conscience (1 Corinthians 8:12; Matthew 18:6).
We must closely guard our consciences against damage.
However, your conscience can always be repaired and retrained.
As long as there is life left in us, there is always a chance for us to make our hearts right with God (2 Peter 3:9).
The only sins that will condemn us on the Day of Judgment are those of which we will not repent and for which we will not ask forgiveness (Ecclesiastes 12:14). The Bible is a great “tenderizer” of the hearts of men (Hebrews 4:12).
It is simply a matter of our willingness to submit to the will of God.
It’s okay to let your conscience be your guide – as long as it has been trained to do so, by the Word of the Lord!
The apostle Paul was successful in his effort to live with “a conscience void of offense toward God, and toward men” – even though he had been an avowed enemy of the church of Christ. The key to his accomplishment was that, when he was confronted with the error of his way, his conscience compelled him to do the right thing (Acts 9:3-6).
If your conscience is urging you to obey the gospel plan of salvation and become a member of the Lord’s church, don’t ignore it! Don’t let your heart become hardened and your conscience seared against the call of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Your only hope of an eternal home in Heaven is to let the Lord show you the way.
Content by Russell Kline
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Onesimus
Have you ever thought what a biography of your life would be like?
Would it be a long narrative, or only a brief summary? You may say it depends on how long you live, or how important you make your life to be.
What would God write about you in the Bible if He could?
Consider a man named Onesimus. Very little is known about him; in fact, he is only mentioned in 2 places in the entire Bible! Colossians 4:9 tells us that he is a “faithful and beloved brother” to Paul. He was being sent with Tychicus to inform the Colossians of what all was happening to Paul. Apparently he was a very dedicated brother in Christ to Paul and others.
Later, Paul described him in detail to Philemon. While in prison, Paul led him to Christ after he ran from slavery. Hence he is “profitable” to both Philemon and Paul spiritually, and so Paul wanted Philemon’s consent to use him in the best way for the Lord.
Little may be known about our lives, but God knows it all!
What can we do, like Onesimus, to serve our Lord? What impact can we have on our brothers and sisters in Christ, and the rest of the world?
Content by Richard Dillon
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Do You Ever Wonder Why?
In my work I spend a lot time dealing with grieving families. Death is always sad. There is a natural sense of loss and sorrow connected with death. Even our Lord wept when he went to the tomb of his dear friend, Lazarus (John 11:35). There is no shame in shedding tears.
But, from time to time I encounter families which are clearly not prepared to deal with the loss of a loved one. For them life seems unbearable. How can they possibly go on? Life is no longer meaningful. Their grief is overwhelming. They enter into a state of depression that can last for months and sometimes years.
How is it that some are able to handle the loss of a loved one so well, while others struggle to regain any sense of normalcy in their lives?
I think the answer can be found in a brief passage in one of Paul’s letters. He wrote:
Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him…the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so shall we ever be with the Lord. Therefore comfort each other with these words (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).
Christians do not see death as defeat. It is not the end.
We know our loss is only temporary. We will be reunited. Death is victory, not defeat (1 Corinthians 15:57). It is that knowledge which bolsters the spirit and lifts the heart in the hour of grief. When a Christian dies there is sorrow, but not like the world experiences. Our sorrow is tempered by the knowledge that awaiting us is “a building of God, an eternal house in heaven” (2 Corinthians 5:1).
What legacy will we leave to our loved ones?
Will they come to our graveside with hearts filled with hope or despair? May God help us to live right and die ready so that our loved ones will “sorrow not as others which have no hope.“
Content by Roger Rush
Visit Roger at the 6th and Washington Street Church of Christ in Marietta OH.
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Come and See
Have you ever heard someone tell you that they saw something, and you just didn’t believe it?
Someone may say, “There’s a zebra in the bathroom!” Naturally, a zebra would not be in a bathroom; therefore you would not believe it. When that person keeps insisting, you finally agree to go when they say, “come and see!” Sure enough, there is a zebra in the bathroom because one got loose from the zoo and happened to wander in.
John pointed out Jesus to his disciples, and they asked where He was staying. Jesus told them, “Come and see” and they followed Him (John 1:39).
Later, Nathanael asked Philip if anything good could come out of Nazareth. Philip’s response was, “Come and see (John 1:46).”
When Jesus heard Lazarus had died, He inquired where his body lay. The response was, “Lord, come and see (John 11:34).”
John was shown the seven seals, and the four living creatures each told him “Come and see (Revelation 6).”
Imagine what response you could give if someone asked about your faith:
- “Where do you go to worship God?”
- “How can I receive eternal life?”
- “Can I get to Heaven?”
A natural response could be: “Come and see!” See you this coming Lord’s Day, Lord willing!
Content by Richard Dillon
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The Law of Exclusion
It has been rightly observed that the Bible reveals to humanity certain concepts, which are not expressly quantified in specific terms, but are manifestly present in the Scriptures, nonetheless. Some call these the “unwritten laws” of God.
They are no less important than any of God’s other laws, and an understanding of them is essential to living a faithful Christian life and to a sound interpretation of the Bible. Among them is what some call, “The Law of Exclusion,” to which I would like us to give some thought today.
The Law of Exclusion is a simple concept: “When God specifically commands us to do something, every other possible action is automatically excluded.”
We make use of this law in our everyday lives. For example, when a wife makes a shopping list for her husband, she simply writes down a list of items that she wants him to buy at the store. She does not have to list all of the items in the store that she does not want him to buy. It is understood that, when she lists the items she wants, every other item is automatically excluded. We all understand this concept and we make use of it every day. Is it not reasonable to conclude that God understands the same concept and makes use of it in the Bible?
There are quite a few examples of the Law of Exclusion in action, in the Scriptures.
One is seen in the account of the construction of Noah’s ark. In Genesis 6:14-16, the Lord said to Noah, “Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch. And this is the fashion which thou shalt make it of: The length of the ark shall be three hundred cubits, the breadth of it fifty cubits, and the height of it thirty cubits. A window shalt thou make to the ark, and in a cubit shalt thou finish it above; and the door of the ark shalt thou set in the side thereof; with lower, second, and third stories shalt thou make it.”
Noah was given some very specific commands about how he was to build the ark. For instance, he was commanded to make it with “gopher wood.” No one knows exactly what kind of wood gopher wood is, but Noah knew, and the Lord did not have to tell him about the kinds of wood He did not want him to use.
Another example of the Law of Exclusion in action is seen in the account of the fatal blunder committed by Nadab and Abihu. In Leviticus 10:1-2, the text says, “And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the Lord, which he commanded them not. And there went out fire from the Lord, and devoured them, and they died before the Lord.”
These two men died because they offered incense to God, using a source of fire, “which he commanded them not.” In the Law of Moses, God had specified where He wanted the fire used to offer the incense to come from. In doing so, He automatically excluded every other source of fire – making these other sources illegal, under Old Testament law. Nadab and Abihu died, not because they did something God had commanded them not to do, but because they had done something God had not authorized them to do.
Under the Law of Christ, the Law of Exclusion still applies.
In passages like Ephesians 5:19, God has specified that Christians must sing, as a part of the worship they offer Him. Playing mechanical instruments of music is automatically excluded by the Lord, since their use is not listed in the command to sing. Yet, in most denominational churches, such instruments are used to accompany the singing that is done.
Some say, “Well, the Bible doesn’t say not to use it.” But, according to the Law of Exclusion, the Lord does not have to list all of the things He does not want us to do in our worship. He simply tells us what He wants and everything else is automatically excluded.
God’s unwritten laws exist for our benefit.
Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them that are called according to his purpose.”
On some level, this passage bears reference to the Law of Exclusion. We may not be able to point to a book, chapter and verse where it is stated directly, but we may rest assured that it exists, and that it has a direct bearing upon how we perceive the Lord’s commandments.
Let us all learn the Law of Exclusion and make application of it when we read the Bible.
Content by Russell Kline
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Are You Out Of Your Mind?
It seems like less and less people are getting along these days.
Players have different ideas on how to approach a game than their coaches; politicians can rarely agree on issues; family members can’t reunite due to lifestyle differences. Sadly, this even happens within the Lord’s church!
Paul implored Euodia and Syntyche to “be of the same mind in the Lord (Philippians 4:2).” One can only wonder what they were divided over, but one does know that Paul begged them to reconcile.
As Christians, we may have our differences; however, we are all members of the same body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12). What if we all looked out for ourselves? We would be divided, not united. This is not what Jesus prayed for (John 17:21), nor what Paul pleaded for (1 Corinthians 1:10).
We can be of the same mind toward one another when we put away our own minds. “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus (Philippians 2:5).” If we think more like Christ and less like ourselves, we can get along!
If you are Euodia, who is your Syntyche? Get out of your own mind, and put on the mind of Christ!
Content by Richard Dillon
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As Good As I Can Do
My grandchildren (they’re seven now) recently had friends over for a play date. As they sat down to dinner that evening Andy said to their guests, “We have to have a prayer before we eat. I’ll say it.” He proceeded to thank God for their food, for their friends, and even prayed for the sick. When he had said “Amen,” he looked up and exclaimed, “That’s as good as I can do!”
What an attitude! That’s all God wants from any of us. Just give it our best shot.
If we do the best we can, He will not ask more of us. When it comes to prayer, He really is not interested in our grammar, nor whether or not we use those oft repeated phrases that have become too common in public prayer. He wants us to speak from the heart. It does not have to be long or follow a prescribed pattern, as long as it is according to His will and in the name of Jesus.
When it comes to living the Christian life, He knows our limitations and weaknesses.
He doesn’t demand perfection, but He does expect faithfulness. Even Christians sin, but we must not be slaves to sin. We wake up each morning determined to make the most of the day. We want to serve Him, not in order to be saved, but because we are saved. Some days are harder than others. Sometimes we fail miserably, but our goal ought to be, because we are His children, to do as good as we can do.
Worship involves the same approach. We want to bring to the assembly the best we have to offer.
We will immerse ourselves in every aspect of worship with the desire to do our best. Every note we sing will not be flawless, our mind will tend to drift, and we may even lose sight of the fact that we assemble to worship Him, not entertain ourselves, but if we seek to give Him our best, He will not demand more than that from us.
The prophet Malachi indicted his contemporaries when he wrote for God: “A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If then I am a father, where is my honor? And if I am a master, where is my fear? says the Lord of hosts to you, O priests, who despise my name. But you say, ‘How have we despised your name?’ By offering polluted food upon my altar. But you say, ‘How have we polluted you?’ By saying that the Lord’s table may be despised. When you offer blind animals in sacrifice, is that not evil? And when you offer those that are lame or sick, is that not evil? Present that to your governor; will he accept you or show you favor? says the Lord of hosts” (Malachi 1:6-8). God deserved and demanded the best, but they gave Him the blind, lame and sick. He was not pleased, nor is He pleased when we offer anything less than our best today.
What a difference it would make if we resolved each day to do our best in prayer, in worship, and in service to our Lord!
Content by Roger Rush
Visit Roger at the 6th and Washington Street Church of Christ in Marietta OH.
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What is the “Sin Unto Death”?
Many times, in the more than 20 years I have been preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ, I have been approached by people who were genuinely distraught, because they believed that they had committed a “sin unto death,” and that they could not possibly be forgiven for it.
They have convinced themselves that they have committed a sin so heinous… so perverse… so offensive to God that He will not possibly forgive them for it. They are beside themselves with grief over their spiritual situation, and they are looking to a preacher for answers. Is there a sin for which God will not forgive us?
What is the “sin unto death?” The Bible has the answers!
The Bible indicates that there is only one sin, which the Lord will not forgive. In Matthew 12, Jesus’ enemies whispered to others that He had the power to cast out demons only because He was in league with the Devil (Matthew 12:22-24). Christ responded to this accusation with a firm denial, and then pointed out that His enemies were putting their own souls in jeopardy by attributing the power of God to the Devil (Matthew 12:25-30).
Then, the Savior said this: “All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men” (Matthew 12:31).
According to Thayer, the Greek word rendered, “blasphemy” in the text is one that literally refers to “speech injurious to another’s good name.” In the very next verse, Jesus added: “And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come” (Matthew 12:32).
The Lord’s enemies had been slandering the Holy Spirit by attributing Jesus’ power to the Devil and not to divinity. We must be careful not to do the same thing today, lest we find ourselves in a similar position.
It is important to note that Jesus said, “All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men.” that means that God will forgive us for even the sins that we consider the most serious.
Sexual sins… violent sins… deviant sins can all be forgiven, if only we will repent and obey the Lord’s instructions in the Scriptures (1 Timothy 1:15).
But if our contempt for the Holy Spirit is so great that we are willing to verbally slander Him, then we will not repent, we will not obey, and there remains no hope for us (Hebrews 6:4-6).
As for the “sin unto death,” that is a fairly simple concept. Such a sin is one that we take with us to our graves.
By definition, it is a sin of which we will not repent and for which we do not receive forgiveness; so we take it with us to our death beds (1 John 1:9). A classic example of a “sin unto death” is suicide. By definition, suicide is the murder of oneself. It renders the one who commits it incapable of repenting and being forgiven for his sins. Judas, for example, could have repented and gone back to the other apostles and been forgiven for his betrayal of the Son of God, but he sealed his own eternal destiny when he chose to end his own life (Acts 1:16-20).
That is why it is so important for Christians to keep sin out of their lives and to immediately repent and ask God for forgiveness when sin does get into their lives.
Christians who languish in unfaithfulness run the risk of being unprepared, when the hour of their departure from this world arrives (Matthew 25:1-13). We may not know the day or the hour in which the Lord shall return, or how much time is left until we reach the end of our own lives on Earth, but we cannot afford to assume that there is plenty of time for us to repent. We must make our hearts right with God right now—for we may not have another chance in
the future!
As long as we are alive, we can make things right with God.
Let us make our peace with Him while we still can, and carry none of our sins with us, when we enter into eternity!
“If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.” – 1 John 5:16
Content by Russell Kline
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What’s New
A common greeting is, “what’s new?” Has anything changed since the last time you saw someone? If so, they may be eager to hear all that is in your world.
What if God asked you, “What’s new?” What would you say?
“Sing to the LORD a new song, and His praise from the ends of the earth (Isaiah 42:10)…” Have we changed our tune? Since becoming children of God, our whole outlook on life should be different.
God made the world, us, and everything and everyone else. All we do should give praise and glory to God! “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new (2 Corinthians 5:17).”
Next time you are asked, “What’s new?” you can simply say, “my life in Jesus Christ!”
Who knows, but maybe you can lead someone to a new life in Christ Jesus.
Content by Richard Dillon
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Day of Worship
The Seventh Day Adventists, and a few others, argue that the day on which Christians are to assemble for worship is Saturday, not Sunday. The proponents of Saturday, or Sabbath Day worship support their stance based entirely on the demand: “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy” (Exodus 20:8), and the subsequent practice of the Jews in both the Old and New Testaments.
A careful student of the Bible will quickly recognize that the Sabbath (Saturday) was the day of rest for the Jews. But one will not find a similar command for Gentiles. With the coming of Christ, His death, burial, and resurrection, and the establishment of His church, Christians met on the first day of the week (Sunday).
- It was on the first day of the week that Jesus rose from the dead (John 20:1).
- It was on the first day of the week that the church became a reality (Acts 2:1). Pentecost always fell on a Sunday.
- It was on the first day of the week that the early disciples came together to break bread (observe the Lord’s Supper – Acts 20:7).
- It was also on Sunday (the first day of the week) that the disciples were commanded to contribute financially to the work of the church (1 Corinthians 16:1-2).
Sunday is not the “Christian Sabbath,” it is the Lord’s Day.
Christians were never commanded to keep the Sabbath. Those who argue for the Sabbath Day (Saturday) as the day to be set aside to worship and rest are clinging to a law that Christ fulfilled (Matthew 5:17), Paul called weak (Romans 8:1-3), and Gentiles were never subject to.
We live under a new law today. It is the “perfect law of liberty” (James 1:25).
Jesus Christ is our great High Priest. The priesthood being changed, “there is made of necessity a change also of the law” (Hebrews 7:12).
We cannot appeal to the Old Testament to justify a practice intended only for the Jews, and found in a law which is no longer in force. The early disciples understood this! Some, today, do not! They are in error, and when they advocate Sabbath Day worship they are espousing false doctrine!
Content by Roger Rush
Visit Roger at the 6th and Washington Street Church of Christ in Marietta OH.
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Do the Right Thing
In the fifteenth Psalm, King David posed an important question: “Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? Who shall dwell in thy holy hill?” (Psalm 15:1). In essence, he was asking, “Who will be in Heaven?”
In response to his own question, the psalmist listed almost a dozen qualities that are consistently found in everyone who will one day walk the streets of gold. The first two of those qualities are of immediate concern, in this article.
“He that walketh uprightly,” is one who journeys through life with his head held high, because his sins are forgiven and he has nothing to fear (Hebrews 10:19-22).
“…and worketh righteousness” refers to one who consistently does the right thing, when he is confronted with a choice between right and wrong courses of action (Romans 6:16-18).
Every day, God’s children are confronted with temptation to sin, and must choose to do the right thing, in order to go to Heaven (1 Corinthians 10:13). We must learn to do the right thing, in every situation, if we want to go to Heaven.
The Right Thing Is Usually Not Easy to Do
In almost every moral/ethical dilemma we may face, the right thing to do is not going to be the easiest thing to do. As a matter of fact, the right thing to do is usually inconvenient, and problematic. By way of contrast, the wrong thing to do is typically the easiest way out of a dilemma. It is almost always the choice that promises to make light work out of the heaviest difficulties.
The difference between the right and wrong ways to handle a dilemma is best illustrated in the Savior’s teaching on the difference between the way to Heaven and the way to Hell. “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth to life, and few there be that find it” (Matthew 7:13-14).
The way to Heaven is difficult and fraught with obstacles, but the way to Hell is easy and much less difficult to navigate.
The Right Thing Is Usually Unpopular
As Jesus state in the preceding verses, “many” will choose to follow the way to Hell and “few” will follow the way to Heaven.
When confronted with a choice between doing what is morally right and doing what is morally wrong, most people choose to do wrong – often because that is what everyone else is doing.
This is why the Bible discourages us from using popularity to justify our actions. As the Lord advised the people of Israel, “Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil” (Exodus 23:2).
It was the majority of people who perished in the great flood (Genesis 6-9), and the majority of people who shouted for the crucifixion of Jesus Christ (John 19).
Just because a particular course of action is popular – it does not necessarily follow that it is the right thing to do. The right thing is not usually the popular thing to do.
The Right Thing Offers Few Worldly Rewards
Many times, when confronted with a dilemma, doing the right thing is not easy, because it offers us no personal gain. We are a society of mercenaries, who are more interested in how we may profit from a situation than in suffering a personal loss for the greater good.
Yet, the Word of God urges us to be self-sacrificing and to place the good of others ahead of our own advancement (1 Corinthians 6:7). We must imitate the example of our Lord, who came to Earth, not for His own good, but for ours (Mark 10:45).
Simply because a given course of action is advantageous to us – it does not necessarily follow that it is the right thing to do.
These spiritual principles could be applied to any sinful act. Take lying, for example. Some of the reasons why it is so tempting to lie, when confronted with a situation in which telling the truth might not be so advantageous to us, are because it is easy to tell a lie, it is something that most people do every day, and it can save us from personal embarrassment. The problem with lying, of course, is that it is a sin, which will surely condemn us to eternity in Hell (Revelation 21:8). Like any sin, lying can carry with it some dire consequences, which can have a lasting negative effect upon our lives on Earth (Galatians 6:7,8).
Verily, it is always better to do the right thing, than to do the wrong thing, in any situation.
Content by Russell Kline
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Testing Your Faith
A couple of weeks ago, everything seemed to be all worked out. The house in Alabama had a buyer, contracts were about to be signed, and we could officially close on a house in Ohio in a matter of weeks.
Suddenly, things began to take a different turn. A clause in the contract means the house has not been sold, and the buyer is walking away. However, all hope is not lost! A former interested party is still interested in the house, and a decision is forthcoming. What will happen? Only God knows.
Does this sound like you? Everything seems to be going your way, and all of the sudden – BOOM! Something happens and plans have changed. What are you to do?
Remember the words of James: “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience (James 1:2-3).”
Therefore, I am glad all this is happening! My faith is being tested, and is becoming stronger every day. I am becoming more patient to endure whatever life may throw at me.
If I am found faithful, I will be rewarded. What about you?
Content by Richard Dillon
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Woman’s Role in the Church
The apostle Paul wrote: “Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law. And if they will learn anything, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church” (1 Corinthians 14:34,35). To Timothy he wrote: “Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence” (1 Timothy 2:11,12).
From the advent of Christianity it was the practice for men to lead in the assembly. Women’s roles were limited in the public assembly. They were prohibited from preaching, teaching and assuming other leadership roles when men were present. In recent years this practice has been called into question, and people have gone to great lengths to discredit the apostle and what the Scriptures say regarding this issue.
Some argue that Paul was a woman hater. They conclude that his remarks merely express his personal prejudice, and are not binding on the church. Such an attitude undermines the authority of the entire Bible. Using this approach, anything one finds personally objectionable can be ignored. This is how many people approach the word of God.
Others argue that the limitations placed on the woman’s role were cultural. They claim that although these limitations were enforced in Paul’s day, they are no longer binding on the church. There is nothing in the Bible which suggests that this is the case.
Paul also wrote: “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). This passage is sometimes used to justify the practice of women preachers. The apostle does not set aside previous legislation in this text. He simply underscores the equality which exists in the church regardless of ethnic, social, or gender differences. God loves us equally. This does not, however, negate the fact that he has established different roles for us!
Radical feminists and liberal theologians would like to discard the Biblical prohibitions regarding a woman’s role in public worship. In many churches they have been successful. But, we are committed to respecting what the Bible teaches whether it is socially acceptable or not.
Women are not inferior to men, and men are not superior to women. But, God has ordained different roles for us, and we must respect them if we respect Him.
Content by Roger Rush
Visit Roger at the 6th and Washington Street Church of Christ in Marietta OH.
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