Historical Posts
Being Prepared in 2014 – audio
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As the new year begins, many people have made new year’s resolutions.
Have you made yours? As children of God, there may be some things we could do better. Consider our text: 1 Peter 3:15-17. Let’s focus on three things that Peter encourages Christians to do.
Be ready to give an answer (1 Peter 3:15).
Peter encourages Christians to show why we believe what we believe! Many times we are asked about our faith, but how often can we steer someone to the right place in God’s Word for an answer?
When Jesus was faced with temptation by the devil, he often said, “It is written (Luke 4:4-12).” He knew what His Father wanted Him to do, and so should we!
Paul taught Timothy the importance of studying God’s Word (2 Timothy 2:15), which we can all do better this year.
Peter teaches us to “desire the pure milk of the word, that we may grow thereby (1 Peter 2:2).”
Have a good conscience (1 Peter 3:16).
The Hebrew writer wanted to have a good conscience, and asked others to pray for him in that regard (Hebrews 13:18-19). It should be our goal to have a clear conscience before God and live honorably before Him.
Be prepared to suffer for doing good (1 Peter 3:17).
Jesus Christ is the perfect example for suffering for good. Many people persecuted Him, and He even died on the cross for our sins. If we are to follow Him, we need to be prepared to stand up for the truth when others oppose us.
Paul taught the Philippians, “For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake (Philippians 1:29).” Similarly, Paul told Timothy: “Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution (2 Timothy 3:12).”
We know that this coming year will bring tests of our faith in Jesus Christ.
Let us be prepared to give an answer for our faith, stand before God with a good conscience, and even suffer for doing good when necessary. May God bless us all as we serve Him this year!
Content by Richard Dillon
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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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What is Right and What is Wrong – Hebrews 5:12-14 – audio
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Text: Hebrews 5:12-14
Introduction
A. What is “spiritual maturity?” Able to have our “senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”
B. We are to be able to prove or to determine the good, perfect and acceptable will of God – Romans 12:2
C. How?
Body
I. QUESTIONS AND BIBLICAL ANSWERS.
A. Is it condemned in the Bible? – Galatians 5:19-21; 2 John 9
B. Will it harm me spiritually? – Romans 8:1-17; Galatians 5:16-26
C. Will it harm me physically? – 1 Corinthians 6:15-20; Romans 12:1; 2 Corinthians 7:1
D. Will it hurt others, causing them to go astray? – Romans 14:1-15:3; 1 Corinthians 8
E. Will it take too much of my time and money? – Luke 12:16-21; Ephesians 5:15-16
F. Will it hurt my influence for Christ and the church? – Matthew 5:14-16; 1 Timothy 4:12
G. Will it hurt my conscience? – Romans 14:21-23
H. If Christ was here, would He disapprove? – 1 Peter 2:21; 1 Corinthians 11:1
II. TWO THOUGHTS!
A. Sin is not hereditary.
1. Sin is of such a nature in its very meaning that it cannot be inherited.
2. Sin is something committed – 1 John 3:4; John 8:34
3. We neither inherit the act or the guilt of our parent’s sins.
4. We suffer the consequences of their sins – Exodus 20:4-5
5. We do not suffer the guilt of their sins – Ezekiel 18:20; Matthew 18:1-4
B. Sin is no laughing matter.
1. Sin is rebellion, lawlessness, perversity, and failure.
2. It is a disease that needs curing.
3. It is a taskmaster that needs forsaking.
4. It is an insanity that needs healing.
5. It is a filth that needs cleansing.
6. It is a debt that needs paying.
7. It is a stain that needs removing.
8. It is a darkness that needs light.
Conclusion
A. An understanding of “what is sin” constitutes a strong argument against sinning.
B. Obey the Gospel of Christ – quit the sinning business – John 8:32
Content by Donald W. Treadway
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Matthew 21:23-25 Authority in Religion
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Text: Matthew 21:23-25
Introduction
1. The Lord’s church can expect to confront many challenges
a. Opposition by Satan was foretold in the parable of the tares – Matthew 13:24-30, Matthew 13:36-43
b. Attacks from within and without foretold by Paul – Acts 20:29-30
c. Apostasy was foretold, and began very early – 2 Peter 2:1-3; Jude 4
2. The local church will be at the front of the confrontation
a. As the church universal is a spiritual entity well preserved by Jesus
b. But the church local is subject to many things that can threaten its existence
c. How can the church local stand strong and firm in the service of Christ?
3. I believe the key is respecting the proper authority
a. How shall we determine what is right or wrong, good or evil?
b. What shall be our authority in matters of religion?
c. Is a particular doctrine or practice from heaven or from man? – Matthew 21:23-25
Body
I. WHAT MANY CHURCHES ACCEPT AS AUTHORITY
A. THE OLD TESTAMENT
1. From the beginning of the church, many have appealed to the OT – Acts 15:1-5
2. The OT has its place, when properly handled – Romans 15:4; 1 Corinthians 10:11; 2 Timothy 3:14-17
3. But it can be misused, to authorize things no longer required – Galatians 5:1-4; 1 Timothy 4:1-3
4. We cannot assume that just because something is in the OT, it is authorized!
B. TRADITIONS OF MEN
1. The handing down of traditions was common in Rabbinic Judaism – Mark 7:1-5
2. Traditions of God are not wrong – 1 Corinthians 11:2; 2 Thessalonians 2:15; 3:6
3. But Jesus condemned the traditions of men
a. When they are taught as doctrines of God – Mark 7:6-7
b. When they displace the commands of God – Mark 7:8-13
4. Uninspired traditions cannot be equated with or replacements for the Word of God!
C. MODERN DAY PROPHETS
1. Throughout church history, many have claimed to be prophets of God – Revelation 2:20
2. Christ and His apostles warned against false prophets – Matthew 7:15; 2 Peter 2:1; 1 John 4:1
3. The OT gives us two ways to test the prophets
a. Do their prophecies come to pass? – Deuteronomy 18:20-22
b. Even if they do, is their doctrine consistent with God’s Word? – Deuteronomy 13:1-5
4. Since the 1st century A.D., all prophets have failed either one or both tests!
D. MAJORITY RULE
1. Many people and church councils decide doctrine or practice based on majority rule
2. Yet Jesus warned of the danger of following the majority – Matthew 7:13-14
3. If we had followed the majority
a. In Noah’s day, we would have perished in the flood
b. In Joshua’s day, we would have perished in the wilderness
4. Following the majority is not a good guide for authority in religion!
E. CONSCIENCE
1. Let your conscience be your guide is the motto of many
2. But our conscience cannot always be reliable
a. Paul had served God with a good conscience throughout his life – Acts 23:1
b. Even at a time when he was persecuting Christians! – Acts 26:9-11
3. The conscience is like a clock, which works properly only if set properly
4. Our conscience is not always a reliable guide in matters of religion
F. HUMAN WISDOM
1. Many feel that through their own wisdom they can determine right and wrong
2. But God’s thoughts and ways are not always our own – Isaiah 55:8-9
3. In fact, God has chosen to save man in a manner specifically designed to confound those who depend solely upon human wisdom – 1 Corinthians 1:18-29
4. For us to know God’s will, it was necessary for Him to reveal it to us – 1 Corinthians 2:9-12
5. This He has done through His Spirit-inspired apostles – Ephesians 3:1-3
6. Who in turn shared it with us through their writings – Ephesians 3:4-5
7. Human wisdom is often the exact opposite of God’s wisdom!
G. FEELINGS
1. This is often the standard of authority for many people and churches
a. Who go by whatever ‘feels right’
b. Who place stock in a religion ‘better felt than told’
c. Who will follow societal trends that may seem good and right
2. Yet the Bible declares the danger of trusting in feelings
a. There is a way which seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death – Proverbs 14:12
b. He who trusts in his own heart is a fool – Proverbs 28:26
c. O LORD, I know the way of man is not in himself; It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps. – Jeremiah 10:23
3. Such subjective feelings are from the heart of man, not the mind of God!
These seven standards of authority in religion are from men, not from heaven, and are the main reason for much religious confusion and division that exists today.
II. WHAT CHURCHES SHOULD ACCEPT AS AUTHORITY
A. THE WORDS OF JESUS CHRIST
1. Jesus has been given all authority in heaven and on earth – Matthew 28:18
2. He expects us to observe all things whatsoever He commanded – Matthew 28:19-20
3. He is the head of the church, which is to be subject to Him – Ephesians 5:23-24
4. As the body of Christ, we must submit to our Head!
B. THE DOCTRINE OF THE APOSTLES
1. To receive Christ, we must receive His apostles – John 13:20
2. They were sent as His ambassadors – 2 Corinthians 5:20
3. To ensure reliability, Jesus promised them the Holy Spirit – John 14:26; 16:12-13
4. The apostles’ wrote so that we might have their understanding – Ephesians 3:1-5
5. They wrote their epistles that we might always be reminded – 2 Peter 1:12-15; 3:1-2
6. Their writings were the commandments of the Lord – 1 Corinthians 14:37
7. They received their word as the word of God – 2 Thessalonians 2:13
8. Thus the early church continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine – Acts 2:42
9. Any true local church of Christ respects the doctrine of the apostles as their authority
C. THE FAITH REVEALED ONCE FOR ALL
1. The faith or doctrine of Christ was delivered once for all time (NLT) – Jude 3
2. The apostles did not hesitate to proclaim the whole counsel of God – Acts 20:27
3. They proclaimed all things pertaining to life and godliness – 2 Peter 1:3
4. The Scriptures provide everything needed to make one complete – 2 Timothy 3:16-17
5. With the Scriptures as an all-sufficient guide, we need no other authority!
Conclusion
1. The only proper authority in religion
a. Is that which emanates from Jesus as the head of His church
b. Which has come to us through the doctrines of His Spirit-inspired apostles
c. Which has been preserved in the form of the New Testament
2. All other authority in religion comes from:
a. Either misapplication of the Scriptures (e.g., the Old Testament)
b. Or uninspired men (and women) who usurp authority based on feelings, etc.
3. When confronted with any challenge, the church today needs to:
a. Look to the words of Christ, and the writings of His apostles
b. Observe all things He commanded, and continue steadfastly in their doctrine
Content by Donald W. Treadway
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