Church of Christ Sermons

The Good Old Days

2012-05-17T14:44:00.001-05:00

By J. C. Bailey

Apparently men have talked about the good old days for a long time, for Solomon had this to say:

"Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? For thou dost not enquire wisely concerning this" (Eccl. 7:10).

So in Solomon's time it was not wise to say that the old days were the good days. What about now?

I am going to suggest that what was true in Solomon's time is true in our time. That some things were better in the old days we shall have to admit but the general picture is not better. I remember the day that war was declared in 1914 with the terrible war that continued for more than four years. We could hardly call that the good old days. I remember the grinding years of the depression when my wife made our own mattresses. She made shoes for her boys. With seven children we lived in a house that was so cold that my wife stayed up nearly all night to keep the fires burning. Even then it froze in the house. I was in Ontario in a meeting and all five boys had small pox. The depression began to lift when World War II began. We could hardly call those the good old days.

You say that people were more moral then than now. Ever since I was born there has been murder, suicide, rape and self-abuse among people. These things may have increased and the attitude of the general public towards them has grown worse, but I worked among the men of the world for several years, and any one that would talk about the good old days does not know or has a poor memory. Men beat their wives when they were drunk. Children were starved by drinking fathers in what was called the good old days. I remember my father served on a jury when a man and his two sons were tried for abusing 12 and 14 year-old girls that had been adopted. Our attitude toward foreigners was certainly not as good as it is today.

You say spiritually things were better. Were they? That some things were better we would have to admit but what about the general picture? There were some who argued that a nigger did not have a soul. There were some who argued that we did not need to preach to the heathen. Some white churches would not even let their baptistry be used to baptize black people. That was in the good old days. Black people could not attend school with white people and we could go on and on. Many believed in the superiority of the white race. In the light of our actions in those days of yesteryear we can hardly say those were the good old days.

A brother recently died in India. He was a little younger than I am. Yet, he was the first person to go to school in his village. He went on to be a school teacher, and was the first person to embrace Christianity in that village. There are now some 80 churches of Christ in the area. What a change from the good old days.

There have been efforts before the present one, to evangelize India but in the good old days two of the preachers left the truth and joined a denomination. In the good old days we were told that we did not need to send missionaries to India. We could leave it to the native preachers when there was work only among one tribe and that represented less than one tenth of one per cent of the population of India. In the good old days, we did not have any work in Nigeria and now there are tens of thousands of members of the church. I am told there are churches that have as many as 1000 members.

In the good old days there was work only in a few of the countries of Central and South America. Back in the good old days there were works in Brazil but they joined a denomination. In the various countries of the world there are thousands of native preachers who were not there in the good old days.

The Spanish Literature Ministry puts out more material to Latin America than was put out in all the world except the U.S.A. in the good old days.

It is true that it may be harder to win souls for Christ in Canada or the United States than it was 50 years ago, but in a great part of the world it is much easier.

More people will obey the gospel now than ever in the history of the world. These are the good days. Jesus could have said of now, "Lift up your eyes unto fields that are white unto harvest." It was not yesterday, it is not tomorrow, it is now. These are the good days. How good? Our faith will answer that question. J. C. Bailey, 1986, Bengough, Saskatchewan Published in The Old Paths Archive (http://www.oldpaths.com)

They Are Without Excuse

2011-10-03T19:24:00.003-05:00

We all tend to make excuses.

Adam blamed Eve, and Eve blamed the serpent. But God had given them clear instructions. When He reveals His will to us, we have no excuse for disobeying. Jesus said: "If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin" (John 15:22).

Ignorance is no excuse.

The eternal power and deity of God are observed by all.

"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened" (Romans 1:18-21).

Even those who do not know the Scriptures are without excuse because, all around them, they can see ample evidence of the eternal power and deity of God. This should cause them to seek God. Israel was told that even in captivity they could find God if they diligently sought Him: "But from there you will seek the Lord your God, and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul" (Deuteronomy 4:29). God has promised: "I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently will find me" (Proverbs 8:17). "And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart" (Jeremiah 29:13). Jesus said: "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened" (Matthew 7:7,8).

Ignorance is no excuse.

The evidence of God's existence is overwhelming, and God has promised that those who truly seek Him will find Him.

Preoccupation is no excuse.

Many people who believe in God are so occupied with their daily activities that they neglect to serve Him.

"A certain man gave a great supper and invited many, and sent his servant at supper time to say to those who were invited, 'Come, for all things are now ready.' But they all with one accord began to make excuses. The first said to him, 'I have bought a piece of ground, and I must go and see it. I ask you to have me excused.' And another said, 'I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to test them. I ask you to have me excused.' Still another said, 'I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.' So that servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house, being angry, said to his servant, 'Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in here the poor and the maimed and the lame and the blind.' And the servant said, 'Master, it is done as you commanded, and still there is room.' Then the master said to the servant, 'Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. For I say to you that none of those men who were invited shall taste my supper''' (Luke 14:16-24).

The man who gave the great supper represents God. The supper represents the spiritual blessings God has prepared for us. It is an honor when someone invites us to a banquet. What a great honor to be invited to the supper of the Lord.

God gave advance invitations to the people of Israel through the Old Testament prophets and Scriptures. When all was ready, He sent His Son to call His people to the feast. But the religious leaders and scholars of Israel were so preoccupied with worldly pursuits that they did not value spiritual manna. To such people Jesus said:

"Assuredly, I say to you that tax collectors and harlots enter the kingdom of God before you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him; but tax collectors and harlots believed him; and when you saw it, you did not afterward relent and believe him" (Matthew 21:31,32).

Although the guests had been invited beforehand, when the time came, they all began to make excuses! What an insult to the one who had invited them!

Three examples are given of excuses offered. They all indicate preoccupation, self-centeredness and indifference to the invitation.

"The first said to him, 'I have bought a piece of ground, and I must go and see it. I ask you to have me excused.'"

When someone makes an important purchase, he is excited about it and wants to examine and admire it. Everything else tends to be neglected for a while.

It is interesting that different verbs are used in the three examples. In this case he says "I must go and see it." In his mind this was absolutely essential even though it prevented him from attending the great feast to which he had been invited. He was self-centered. He just had to go see that new piece of land he had purchased.

This represents people who give priority to their possessions and are so occupied with them that they neglect to serve God. This reminds us of the parable of the sower: "Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful" (Matthew 13:22).

"And another said, 'I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to test them. I ask you to have me excused.'"

The first man was a proud property owner. This man is a busy businessman. He does not say "I must go," he says, "I am going"! He was already on his way. The first man was preoccupied with his property; this man is preoccupied with his business.

Obviously, both the viewing of the property and the testing of the oxen could have waited until the next day. The great feast simply was not important to these men. Their own affairs were more important than the affairs of God.

Material possessions were more important than the blessings of God. This is also true of many today. "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you" (Matthew 6:33).

"Still another said, 'I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.'"

The first man said, "I must go" do something else. The second man said, "I am going" to do something else. This man says, "I cannot come"! It was simply impossible for him to come, because he had just been married. Once again, it was just an excuse, given because he did not value the invitation.

This represents people who let preoccupation with family prevent them from serving God. Jesus warned: "He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me" (Matthew 10:37). He also promised: "Everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name's sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit everlasting life" (Matthew 19:29).

None of those who had been invited were coming! The master of the house was furious. God will be angry with us if we undervalue the spiritual blessings He offers, if we are preoccupied with worldly affairs, and neglect to come to His feast.

The prior invitation had been given to a select few, the people of Israel. Now the invitation is for all. Going out "into the streets and lanes of the city" and bringing in "the poor and the maimed and the lame and the blind" represents the gospel being preached to the unlearned among the Jews. Jesus prayed, "I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes" (Matthew 11:25).

Going "out into the highways and hedges" represents the gospel call to the Gentiles. When all believers among the people of Israel have accepted Christ, there is still room in the banquet hall of God. The Gentiles are also invited to the feast of God.

Jesus told the Jewish leaders who rejected Him: "Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it" (Matthew 21:43). After commending the faith of a Roman centurion, Jesus said:

"And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth'' (Matthew 8:11,12).

Paul wrote: "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek" (Romans 1:16). As Paul went from city to city preaching the gospel, he first gave the Jews an opportunity to hear, then he preached to the Gentiles:

"When Silas and Timothy had come from Macedonia, Paul was constrained by the Spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus is the Christ. But when they opposed him and blasphemed, he shook his garments and said to them, 'Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean. From now on I will go to the Gentiles'" (Acts 18:5,6).

"Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold and said, 'It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; but since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles'" (Acts 13:46).

We have no excuse.

The invitation to the great spiritual feast prepared by God has gone forth to all men. It echos down through the ages and comes to us. "And the Spirit and the bride say, 'Come!' And let him who hears say, 'Come!' And let him who thirsts come. And whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely" (Revelation 22:17).

Let us not make excuses, preoccupied with the affairs of this world. Let us accept the invitation, and attend the spiritual feast prepared for us by God.

Roy Davison

Published in The Old Paths Archive
(http://www.oldpaths.com)

It is Time to Wake Up

2011-06-03T03:47:00.000-05:00

By Roy Davison.

"Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light" (Ephesians 5:14).

God tells us to wake up. We all need physical sleep, so there is nothing wrong with sleeping at the proper time. But when it is time to wake up, it can be disastrous not to do so.

"The Herald of Free Enterprise" was a car ferry plying between Dover, England and Zeebrugge, Belgium. The whole front of the ship opened so cars and lorries could be loaded onto the lower decks.

One winter night, with the vehicles loaded and 563 passengers on board, Captain David Lewry put to sea. It was dark, 7 pm. All went well in the sheltered harbour. But one mile out, when they hit high seas, the ship capsized in 90 seconds and sank within five minutes. It was the 6th of March, 1987. One hundred ninety-three people drowned.

The ship put to sea with its front loading doors wide open. There was no indicator light on the bridge. The captain assumed that the seaman responsible for closing the doors had done so. Instead, he was asleep in his cabin. Because assistant bosun Mark Stanley was asleep on the job, one hundred ninety-three people died.

In Proverbs we are warned about sleeping too much or at the wrong time.

"Do not love sleep, lest you come to poverty; Open your eyes, and you will be satisfied with bread" (Proverbs 20:13). It is not wrong to sleep, but it is wrong to love sleep. Sleep is not an end in itself, but is a means to an end. We sleep for rejuvenation so we can work again the next day.

"He who gathers in summer is a wise son, But he who sleeps in harvest is a son who causes shame" (Proverbs 10:5). There are occasions when no extra time may be taken for sleep. When the grain is ripe and the weather favorable, the harvest must be brought in without delay, or a whole summer's work can be lost to decay.

One fall, when I was fifteen, I helped with the harvest in Saskatchewan. We shovelled grain from early morning till late at night. Three hearty meals were none too much. The night's sleep was soon over and a new day's work began.

Even if we are not farmers, we all have our times of harvest, times when hard work must be done without delay.

"How long will you slumber, O sluggard? When will you rise from your sleep?" (Proverbs 6:9).

"A little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to rest; So your poverty will come like a prowler, And your want like an armed man" (Proverbs 24:33,34).

"Slothfulness casts one into a deep sleep, And an idle person will suffer hunger" (Proverbs 19:15). There are different kinds of sleep. This "deep sleep" of slothfulness is not physical sleep. It is a lazy lifestyle in which one does not meet his responsibilities.

We are also warned not to sleep spiritually. And if we are asleep spiritually, we are told to wake up. The Bible is our spiritual alarm clock. And just because we get out of bed to go to services on Sunday, does not necessarily mean we are awake spiritually. Most of the wake-up calls in Scripture are addressed to believers.

God told Jonah to preach to Nineveh. He took a ship for Tarsus instead. God was angry with Jonah and sent a storm. The ship was overwhelmed by the waves and was sinking. The others were praying to their non-existent gods to no avail. What was the prophet of God doing?

"But Jonah had gone down into the lowest parts of the ship, had lain down, and was fast asleep. So the captain came to him, and said to him, 'What do you mean, sleeper? Arise, call on your God; perhaps your God will consider us, so that we may not perish'" (Jonah 1:5,6). A pagan had to wake up the prophet of God and tell him to pray.

God wanted Jonah to warn Nineveh that they would perish if they did not repent. Jonah did not want to do it.

Of what value is a lazy watchdog? "His watchmen are blind, They are all ignorant; They are all dumb dogs, They cannot bark; Sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber" (Isaiah 56:10).

Ancient cities posted watchmen on the walls to warn of approaching danger. God appointed Ezekiel as a spiritual watchman:

"Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore hear a word from My mouth, and give them warning from Me: When I say to the wicked, 'You shall surely die,' and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life, that same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand. Yet, if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered your soul. Again, when a righteous man turns from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and I lay a stumbling block before him, he shall die; because you did not give him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he has done shall not be remembered; but his blood I will require at your hand. Nevertheless if you warn the righteous man that the righteous should not sin, and he does not sin, he shall surely live because he took warning; also you will have delivered your soul" (Ezekiel 3:17-21).

As Christians, we too are watchmen. We must warn the lost of pending destruction. We must call them to repentance. Do we run away like Jonah? Do we sleep like lazy watchdogs?

When Jesus was in the garden, praying to His Father, knowing that His hour of suffering had come, He asked Peter, James and John to stand guard.

"Then He said to them, 'My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch'" (Mark 14:34).

"Then He came and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, 'Simon, are you sleeping? Could you not watch one hour? Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak.' Again He went away and prayed, and spoke the same words. And when he returned, He found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy; and they did not know what to answer Him. Then He came the third time and said to them, 'Are you still sleeping and resting? It is enough! The hour has come; behold, the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners'" (Mark 14:37-41).

Do we sleep when we should be praying?

The night is dark. But then the sun comes up and a new day begins. It is time to wake up. We remove our night clothes and put on our day clothes. This imagery is used in Scripture to describe our spiritual awakening from the darkness of sin.

"And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in licentiousness and lewdness, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts" (Romans 13:11-14).

A new day is dawning. We must lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. We are to put on the Lord Jesus Christ. "For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ" (Galatians 3:27). "These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb" (Revelation 7:14).

"Awake, Awake! Put on your strength, O Zion; Put on your beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city!" (Isaiah 52:1).

"And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light. Therefore He says: 'Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light.' See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil" (Ephesians 5:11-16).

"But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation. For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him" (1 Thessalonians 5:4-10).

"Awake to righteousness, and do not sin; for some do not have the knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame" (1 Corinthians 15:34).

Jesus said:

"Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is. It is like a man going to a far country, who left his house and gave authority to his servants, and to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch. Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming -- in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning -- lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping. And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!" (Mark 13:33-37).

Published in The Old Paths Archive
(http://www.oldpaths.com)

From Darkness to Light

2011-05-25T15:46:00.000-05:00

By Roy Davison.

Our society is bathed in artificial light, and submerged in spiritual darkness. Everywhere there is light, except in the hearts of the people. Spiritual enlightenment is our greatest need.

Two thousand years ago a man came preaching in the wilderness of Judea. He was called John the Baptizer. He cried out against the spiritual darkness of his time, warning people to repent of their sins, to change their ways, to submit to God.

Thousands responded. They decided to turn their lives around and to live the way God wanted them to live. They were immersed in water, baptized, that their sins might be forgiven (Mark 1:4).

John's task was to get people ready for Someone else who was coming: the Messiah, the Christ, who was coming to bring spiritual enlightenment and forgiveness of sins to all mankind.

We read about this in the Gospel of John, chapter one:

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God; all things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came for testimony, to bear witness to the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness to the light. The true light that enlightens every man was coming into the world" (John 1:1-9 RSV).

Jesus is the true light, sent from the Father, that we might have spiritual enlightenment. He is the morning star, who has come:

"To give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, To guide our feet into the way of peace" (Luke 1:79).

Why is there still so much spiritual darkness even though Jesus came to bring us light? We find the answer in the Gospel of John, chapter 3, verses 19 through 21:

"And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God."

To be enlightened spiritually, one must find the light, believe in the light, come to the light, put on the armor of light, and walk in the light.

Where can we find the light?

It is not difficult to distinguish light from darkness. Darkness is simply the absence of light. But as we read in John, chapter three, some people hate the light because it exposes their evil deeds.

So first we must want spiritual enlightenment, we must want to find the light. But where can light be found?

Can you find spiritual light in a disco? I have never been to one, but I understand that they often have hypnotic flashing lights of many colors, and loud, deafening music. No, discos and dance halls are dens of darkness, places to avoid if you are searching for spiritual light. The flashing lights are to prevent you from seeing, and the loud music is to prevent you from hearing. You will become blind and deaf.

Can you find spiritual light in the universities? The Apostle Paul said: "The wisdom of this world is foolishness with God" (1 Corinthians 3:19). There is not much spiritual light in the universities. Philosophy and theology are human endeavors of limited value, but they have never been significant sources of spiritual enlightenment.

Can you find spiritual light in the traditional churches? Some light is there, but it is hidden under a basket of human dogmas, religious politics and financial interests. Jesus said to the pious traditionalists of His time:

"Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition. Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying: 'These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men'" (Matthew 15:6-9).

Can you find spiritual light in the sects? Some people are attracted to sects because they require extreme devotion from their members. The problem with a sect, however, is that it is a human system based on social pressure, brain-washing and mind control, rather than being an expression of spontaneous personal faith in the word of God. A sect usually has one, powerful leader at the top. He is sometimes called 'father'. He is often considered to be infallible, and the ordinary members must always submit to his authority. A sect uses hierarchical, army-like control.

Jesus said:

"But you, do not be called 'Rabbi'; for One is your Teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren. Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. And do not be called teachers; for One is your Teacher, the Christ" (Matthew 23:8-10).

God is our spiritual father and we may not have any other father in a spiritual sense. Jesus is our spiritual Leader, and we may not have a spiritual guide, mentor or 'discipler' other than Jesus Himself.

Jesus also said:

"You know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant" (Mark 10:42,43).

All hierarchical religious systems are fundamentally anti-Christian. Beware of anyone who tries to control you in the name of religion. Your service to God must be spontaneous, coming from your heart. It may not be based on social pressure, coercion or hierarchical control.

Jesus Himself is our source of spiritual light. We must go directly to Jesus for spiritual enlightenment, and not allow the divine light to be filtered and obscured by traditions and hierarchies of human origin.

Jesus said: "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life" (John 8:12).

We must believe in the Light

Jesus is the light of the world, He is our God-given source of spiritual enlightenment. But we must believe in the light. Jesus said: "While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light" (John 12:36). And: "I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness" (John 12:46).

Many people continue to stumble along in spiritual darkness because they do not believe in the light. As the Apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians:

"But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ" (2 Corinthians 4:3-6).

We must come to the Light

Many pious people have been deluded into thinking they can be saved by faith alone. It simply is not true. As we read in the Letter of James: "You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only." ... "For as the body without the spirit is dead; so faith without works is dead also" (James 2:24,26).

Faith in the Light is the first step, but we must also come to the Light. This means that we must turn away from our sins, and dedicate our lives to God. This is called 'repentance' in the Scriptures.

"For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed" (John 3:20).

Many people have a superficial faith in God and in Jesus. They know exactly where the light is! And they hate that light, because it exposes their evil deeds. To come to the Light, we must be willing to have the evil in our lives exposed by the word of God.

To be saved it is not enough to believe in the light, we must also be willing to turn away from our evil deeds and come to the light.

Jesus told Paul that he was being sent as an apostle to the nations

"to open their eyes and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me" (Acts 26:18).

And as Paul wrote to the people at Rome:

"The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in licentiousness and lewdness, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts" (Romans 13:12-14).

We must put on the armor of light

This passage tells us to "put on the armor of light" and to "put on the Lord Jesus Christ." What this means is clarified in Galatians 3:26,27. "For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ."

We put on the armor of light by being baptized into Christ on the basis of our faith in Him.

This must be our own, personal decision. The so-called baptism of babies, for example, is contrary to the word of God.

Just as John the Baptizer told people to repent and to be baptized to prepare for the coming of Christ, we too must repent, turn away from the works of darkness, come to the Light, and be baptized. As Peter said:

"Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:38).

When we put on Christ in baptism, God removes us from darkness and clothes us with an armor of light. We can then rejoice "giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has delivered us from the power of darkness and translated us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins" (Colossians 1:12-14).

We must walk in the light

After finding the light, believing in the light, coming to the light, and putting on the armor of light, we must walk in the light.

"For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), proving what is acceptable to the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light. Therefore He says: 'Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light'" (Ephesians 5:8-14).

Notice that walking in the light means that we must separate ourselves from the works of darkness. As Paul warned the believers at Corinth: "Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?" (2 Corinthians 6:14).

And as he explained to the brethren at Ephesus:

"For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places" (Ephesians 6:12).

It is not easy to walk in the light, surrounded by a world of darkness. Paul encouraged the believers at Philippi:

"Do all things without murmuring and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life" (Philippians 2:14,15).

Jesus is our source of light. We learn about Him, we learn to be like Him, not via some tradition or some sect, but through the word of life, the Holy Scriptures:

"We also have the prophetic word made more sure, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit" (2 Peter 1:19-21).

The Holy Scriptures are a beacon of light in a dark world. Through the Scriptures we learn of God the Father and of His Son Jesus Christ.

"Again, a new commandment I write to you, which thing is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away, and the true light is already shining. He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now. He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him. But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes" (1 John 2:8-11).

"But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation" (1 Thessalonians 5:4-8).

"But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy" (1 Peter 2:9,10).

"This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin" (1 John 1:5-7).

To be a church of Christ, we must be a congregation of believers who have found the light, who believe in the light, who have come to the light, who have put on the armor of light, and who walk in the light.

By the grace of God, through the blood of Jesus Christ, you can come to the light, become a child of God, and walk in the light of the gospel. If you believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, that He died for your sins, that He rose from the dead the third day, if you are willing to turn your back on the works of darkness and come to the Light of God, if you desire to put on the armor of light, to put on Christ in baptism, let us know, and we will put you in contact with believers in your area who can help you.

Profane Speech

2011-04-19T16:35:00.000-05:00

By Steve Hale.

"Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one" ( Colossians 4:6, NKJV).

What about profane speech or swearing or cursing (or, as we said out in the country, 'cussin')? What about those famous four-lettered words? What about crude language that sometimes gets quite, how shall we say, "anatomical?' Webster defines profane as: '1. not concerned with religion or religious matters; secular; as profane art; profane history, that is, history other than biblical' (p. 1436).

This use of profane doesn't sound so bad ... it just means dealing with things not of a religious nature. And certainly, there are times we must do that.

But, his next definition really hits home: '2. irreverent toward God or holy things; speaking, spoken, or acting, or done in contempt of sacred things; blasphemous; as profane words or language' (p. 1436).

We are positively bombarded with profanity. It blasts through our radios, C.D. players, and cassette decks as music lyrics become more and more profane. Silly disc jockeys seem to be contesting one another for who can be the most outrageous, and among some, the most profane.

Our sitcoms climax with a flurry of profanities for the sake of a cheap laugh. Comedians have gotten more and more irreverent. We are becoming a profane and pagan society.

Jesus said: 'A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned' ( Matthew 12:35-37, NKJV).

Solomon said: 'A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold In settings of silver' ( Proverbs 25:11, NKJV). Paul told Timothy:

'O Timothy! Guard what was committed to your trust, avoiding the profane and idle babblings and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge -- by professing it some have strayed concerning the faith. Grace be with you. Amen' ( I Timothy 6:20, 21).

In his farewell epistle, Paul warned Timothy: 'But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness' ( II Timothy 2:16). Yes, for as a man thinks in his heart, so is he ( Proverbs 23:7). He who dwells on the profane will become profane.

Where does your heart dwell? Where do the hearts of your children dwell? Are they holy or profane?

Wars and Rumors of Wars

2011-04-08T06:25:00.000-05:00

By Roy Davison.

Man likes to forget how evil he is. War is a grim reminder.

"Their feet are swift to shed blood; destruction and misery are in their ways; and the way of peace they have not known" (Romans 3:15-17).

In Paul's time the swiftest means of bloodshed was a horse-drawn war chariot or a Roman galley, rowed by slaves. Man has come far since then.

Now he sits in his comfortable control room and directs a rocket to the far side of the earth. From a plane he drops bombs and watches the smoke of destruction billowing toward the sky. He only hears the whine of the engines. He's too far away to hear the moaning and the weeping of those left alive in the rubble. From a hovering helicopter he rains deadly bullets on his fellow man. A pilot in Vietnam had painted on his helicopter: "Killing is our business. Business is fine."

Yes, man has come far since Paul's day. "Their feet are swift to shed blood; destruction and misery are in their ways; and the way of peace they have not known."

In Old Testament times even God's people were involved in war. They longed for peace, just as we do. Through Isaiah, God made a promise. He spoke of a time when the word of the Lord would go forth from Jerusalem and God's people would learn war no more (Isaiah 2:3,4).

God sent His Son to teach us the ways of peace. Two thousand years have passed. Millions give lip service to His words but few really do what He says.

What does Jesus say about war? "You will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom" (Matthew 24:6,7).

"Wars and rumors of wars," that's human history in a nutshell. When men are not fighting a war, they are preparing for one.

And being troubled is the natural reaction to war. When we recall the destruction of recent wars, when we consider the possibility -- if not the probability -- that nuclear weapons will be used again, our hearts skip a beat and our blood runs cold.

Yet Jesus says: "See that you are not troubled," "Do not be afraid." How is this possible? How can we remain calm?

The answer is found in the basic attitudes Jesus taught us to have toward God, toward this world, and toward our fellow man.

War does not alarm a Christian because he trusts in the providence of God.

With the Psalmist we can say: "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea" (Psalm 46:1,2).

"Do not be afraid." These words appear more than 25 times in the New Testament.

Even in difficult days the Christian knows, "that all things work together for good to those who love God" (Romans 8:28). "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?" (Romans 8:35). "So we may boldly say: 'The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?'" (Hebrews 13:6).

The words of Jesus are written on our hearts: "Do not be afraid; only believe" (Luke 8:50).

Our Lord is Ruler of the kings of the earth. What does the King of kings and Lord of lords tell us? "When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be troubled" (Mark 13:7).

War does not alarm a Christian because his mind is not set on earthly things.

"If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God" (Colossians 3:1- 3).

A Christian is not devoted to possessions. Many people loose their lives in times of war because they try to save their goods.

In connection with the destruction of Jerusalem, Jesus told His disciples to leave their possessions behind: "Let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let him who is on the housetop not come down to take anything out of his house. And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes" (Matthew 24:16-18).

Christians are not to be alarmed by war, but they are instructed to flee the dangers of war, without regard for their goods.

When a Christian's property is destroyed or confiscated, he does not react as worldly people do. We read in Hebrews 10:34, "You had compassion on me in my chains, and joyfully accepted the plundering of your goods, knowing that you have a better and an enduring possession for yourselves in heaven."

A Christian is not alarmed at the loss of his property because his true wealth cannot be taken away. His treasures are in heaven.

Because a Christian sets his mind on things above, he is not even devoted to his physical life.

Jesus says in Luke 12:4,5:

"My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him!"

A Christian has already died to this world in Christ. He has eternal life. He is not dismayed at the thought of being killed, because his life is hid with Christ in God.

War is a carnival of Satan. But Satan has no power over a Christian.

"Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, 'Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death'" (Revelation 12:10,11).

With Paul, a Christian can say: "But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself" (Acts 20:24). "For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain" (Philippians 1:21).

A Christian does not war against his fellowman, even for spiritual values, much less for physical life or worldly goods, because his citizenship is in heaven (Philippians 3:20). Jesus told Pilate:

"My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here" (John 18:36).

A Christian does not war against his fellowman because he is engaged in a nobler battle, a battle, not against nations or men, but against evil.

"For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds" (2 Corinthians 10:3,4).

Paul tells us to put on the whole armor of God: "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places" (Ephesians 6:12).

The armor of God protects us against the evils of war:

The Christian is not deceived by the false propaganda of war, because his waist is girded with truth.

He is not carried along with the unrighteousness of war, because he wears the breastplate of righteousness.

He has peace in the midst of war, because his feet are shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace.

He is not overcome by doubt, because he holds the shield of faith.

He does not fear destruction, because he wears the helmet of salvation.

He does not dread the sword of man, because he wields the sword of the Spirit.

War is an attempt to overcome evil with evil, at best; or at worst, an attempt to overcome good with evil. A Christian can overcome evil with good because he sets his mind on things above. "Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, 'Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,' says the Lord. Therefore if your enemy hungers, feed him; if he thirsts, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good" (Romans 12:17-21).

War does not alarm a Christian because he trusts in the providence of God. His mind is not set on things of this world. He is not enslaved to possessions or even to physical life. His citizenship is in heaven. He overcomes evil with good. With this mentality, he is able to obey the command of Christ: "When you hear of wars and commotions, do not be terrified" (Luke 21:9).

A Christian is not alarmed by war because he loves his fellowman.

Motivated by this love, he is a peacemaker, not a warmonger. And when does the world need peacemakers more than in times of war. "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God" (Matthew 5:9).

In 1 John 4:18 we read: "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear." Hate for our enemies makes us afraid. When we love our enemies and do good to them, we foil Satan and overcome fear.

How should we treat our enemies? Are we to shoot them? Drop bombs on their cities? Destroy or pollute their water supply? What does Jesus tell us?

"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect" (Matthew 5:43-48).

With this attitude toward our enemies, war becomes a special opportunity to do good and to demonstrate to the world that we are truly followers of Christ.

Peter had trouble learning this lesson.

He was ready to fight and die for Jesus. He drew his sword to defend Christ, and cut off a man's ear.

Jesus reprimanded Peter and healed the man -- someone who came out to arrest Him so He could be crucified.

Peter had learned to love his Lord. But he had not yet learned to love his enemy. And because of that weak love, he was afraid -- so afraid that he denied Christ three times to avoid admitting that he had been in the garden.

Like Peter, many Christians have learned to love the Lord but they have not yet learned to love their enemies. They place more trust in worldly force than in the providence of God. And they are afraid of war.

Christians who wage war have reason to be afraid. The warning Jesus gave to Peter also applies to them: "Put your sword in its place; for all who take the sword will perish by the sword" (Matthew 26:52). This principle is repeated in Revelation 13:10: "He who kills with the sword must be killed with the sword."

Peter learned his lesson. After that he did battle with the sword of the Spirit. And many years later he penned these words:

"For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully. For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer for it, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: 'Who committed no sin nor was guile found in His mouth'; who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously" (1 Peter 2:19-23).

"And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you are blessed. And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled" (1 Peter 3:13,14).

What is the Christian attitude to war?

Wars and rumors of wars: automatic rifles, tanks, helicopters, planes, missiles, land mines and bombs. War will be with us until that Day when the Father says, "Enough!" and a new age begins.

Meanwhile Christians are not troubled. We trust in the providence of God. Our treasures are in heaven. Our physical life is not precious to us if only we may serve the Lord during the time He gives us. For us, to live is Christ and to die is gain. We fight the good fight of faith. With our whole heart we fight against evil by doing good. We love our enemies, and follow Christ to the cross, and beyond the cross to the eternal city where rumors of wars shall be heard no more.

"And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows. Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name's sake. And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved" (Matthew 24:6-13).

What Are You Worth?

2011-04-07T12:21:00.000-05:00

By Sandra F Coble.

"I am that I am", God told Moses (Exodus 3:14). And Genesis 1:21 says, "So God created man in his own image; in the image of God Created he him; male and female created he them." If, then, we are created in the image and likeness of God, why do we count ourselves to be of little worth? Why do we practice self- deprecation? What should be our attitude toward ourselves?

It is widely taught in the denominational world that Adam WAS created in the image and likeness of God, but that he sinned, and thus the rest of mankind inherited his sinful nature which causes us to sin. Well ... what, then, was there in Adam's nature which caused HIM to sin? But the primary purpose of this article is not to examine doctrine. Many knowledgeable brethren have already done that.

This false doctrine does, however, cause many of us to think less of ourselves than we should. Some go so far as to refuse to use a capital "I" when writing in reference to themselves! And even sayings in which there is much merit, such as "God first, others next, self last" need to be examined to see if all the applications we make of them are true. Are these attitudes of self- deprecation ones we should have toward ourselves? Let us examine what the Scriptures teach.

First, the Scriptures teach that we are worthy of salvation! No, I do NOT mean to imply in any way that we, of ourselves, can do anything to merit salvation. But think a minute. How is worth determined? Is it not determined by the price the purchaser is willing to pay? And Peter says,

"Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, -- but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot" (1 Peter 1:18,19).

Paul, having spoken to the Jews of Antioch in Pisidia, said,

"It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, AND JUDGE YOURSELVES UNWORTHY of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles" (Acts 13:46).

If they judged themselves unworthy of everlasting life when they rejected the Savior, we judged ourselves WORTHY of everlasting life when we believed and obeyed the gospel by following our Lord and Savior in baptism for the remission of our sins. Why now should we think ourselves to be of little worth?

And when we heard and believed the Gospel, did we first run and tell others the good news? Or did we, ourselves, first obey, then go and tell others? Think about it! The saying, "God first, others next, self last" does embody a good principle in its proper context. Certainly we should prefer others before ourselves (Romans 12:10). And Jesus said,

"Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it. Thou shalt love thy neighbor AS thyself" (Matt. 22:37,38).

If we think of ourselves to be of little worth, and love our neighbor as ourselves, does it not follow that we will also think him to be of as little worth as ourselves?

In Philippians 2:5-9 Paul writes, "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God; But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." Jesus KNEW and recognized that He was the Son of God. For Paul, in Galatians 4:4-7 writes,

"But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God sent forth the spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a SON; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ."

If we are to let the mind of Christ be in us, should we not also recognize that WE are sons of God? Should we not "be conformed to the image of His Son (Rom. 9:29)?

How can we who have been redeemed by God and who have been made His sons consider ourselves to be of little worth? And if we let the mind of Christ be in us, will we not then be willing to give of ourselves for others, even as did our Lord? If one should say, "Yes, Christians are NOW worth something, but it is only because we NOW belong to God", let us inquire, "Did you not belong to God BEFORE you became a Christian?" And did not the fact that HE considered you worth something -- more than all the world -- lead him to pay that purchase price for you? Would God have paid the price of redemption He DID pay for a worthless piece of junk? Shall we presume to deprecate that for which God paid such a great price?

Rene Descartes, French philosopher and mathematician, may have said more than he realized when he made his famous statement, "Cogito, ergo sum" (I think, therefore I am). God said, "I AM", and since I am made in His image, I am worth enough that He sent his Son to die for ME! So, whether or not I think, I am!

Many People Believe Lies about Baptism

2011-03-30T15:40:00.000-05:00

By Roy Davidson.

Jesus is "the way, the truth, and the life" (John 14:6). He tells His followers: "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (John 8:31,32).

The devil is a liar and the father of lies (John 3:44). He lied to Eve in the garden (Genesis 3:4), and he fills the world with lies today.

Jesus brought grace and truth (John 1:17).

The devil brings lies and destruction. Jesus said: "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly" (John 10:10).

So, the choice is ours. Will we believe the truth of the Lord, or the lies of the devil?

We who love the truth, must find the truth among all the lies.

People believe the devil's lies and are lost because they do not love the truth (2 Thessalonians 2:10-12). Paul told Timothy: "Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables" (2 Timothy 4:2-4).

Some of the devil's most destructive lies relate to baptism. Millions of pious people will be lost because they believed the devil's lies about baptism.

How can we know they are lies? By comparing them with the word of God. Jesus said: "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed" (John 8:31). The bright light of God's word can expose the devil's dark lies about baptism.

Lie number one: Infant baptism is valid.

Because of this lie, many people think they have been baptized because someone else decided to have them christened when they were babies. What happened to them, however, bears no resemblance to the baptism we read about in the New Testament.

Jesus said: "He who believes and is baptized will be saved" (Mark 16:16). When the Ethiopian asked Philip, "See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?" Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you may" (Acts 8:36,37). Baptism must be based on personal faith. A baby is not yet able to believe or to make a personal decision to follow Christ.

Peter said: "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins" (Acts 2:38). A baby cannot repent. He has committed no sins of which he needs to repent. Nor can he be baptized for the remission of sins, since he has committed no sins.

If you have only been christened as a baby, you have been deceived. You have not been baptized at all.

Lie number two: Sprinkling and pouring are valid forms of baptism.

The word "baptism" is a transliteration of a Greek word meaning "immersion". The context also makes this clear. "Now John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was much water there" (John 3:23). Baptism requires much water. Paul writes: "Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death" (Romans 6:4). We are "buried with Him in baptism" (Colossians 2:12). Baptism is an immersion, a burial in water.

If you have never been immersed, you have been deceived. You have not experienced Christian baptism at all.

Lie number three: Baptism is not for the forgiveness of sins.

How do we know this is a lie? Because we are commanded to be baptized for the remission of sins. Listen to what happened on the Day of Pentecost. "Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, 'Men and brethren, what shall we do?' Then Peter said to them, 'Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit'" (Acts 2:37,38).

Many people refuse to obey this simple command because they have believed another lie, namely, that one is saved by faith only. How do I know this is a lie? Again, because the Bible says exactly the opposite! "You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only" (James 2:24). Who shall we believe, God or man? God says we are not saved by faith only. Evangelicals say we are saved by faith only. And because they have been deceived on this point, they also refuse to obey the command of Peter: "Be baptized ... for the remission of sins." As a consequence, Evangelical baptism, although immersion, is invalid because it is not done for the commanded purpose. It is an ineffectual ritual.

Even if you have been immersed, if you were not baptized for the remission of sins, you did not obey the command Peter gave on the Day of Pentecost. You have been deceived. You have believed a lie. You have not been baptized at all.

Lie number four: Baptism does not wash away sins.

How do we know this is a lie? Because the Bible says exactly the opposite! Ananias told the penitent Paul, who had been praying and fasting for three days: "And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord" (Acts 22:16).

If you were deceived by the doctrine of salvation by faith only, thinking that you were already saved before baptism, you were not baptized to wash away your sins! What you experienced, although it was immersion, was not the same baptism Paul experienced. You have been deceived. You have not been baptized at all.

Lie number five: One does not have to be baptized to be saved.

How do we know this is a lie? Because Jesus said: "He who believes and is baptized will be saved" (Mark 16:16), and Peter wrote: "There is also an antitype which now saves us, namely baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 3:21).

Baptism saves because of its relation to the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is not a cleansing of the body, it is a cleansing of the soul, a cleansing of the conscience by the power of Christ's resurrection. "Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection" (Romans 6:3-5).

Baptism is essential for salvation because God has ordained that our union with the death, burial and resurrection of Christ is accomplished through baptism.

When someone asserts that salvation is possible through faith in Christ without baptism, he is lying because he thereby proves that he does not believe Christ. Jesus said: "He who believes and is baptized will be saved," but he does not believe what Jesus said.

If you were immersed thinking you were saved before baptism, or that baptism was not necessary for salvation, you have not experienced the baptism we read about in the Bible. You have been deceived.

Lie number six: The rebirth is separate from baptism. Water baptism is not essential.

We know this is a lie because Paul wrote that there is "one Lord, one faith, one baptism" (Ephesians 4:5), and because Jesus told Nicodemus: "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God" (John 3:5). Both the water and the Spirit are involved in the one baptism commanded by Christ. The rebirth is realized by the Spirit of God when a penitent believer is immersed into the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. From the watery grave of baptism, he rises to walk in newness of life.

If you think you were baptized by the Spirit, separate from, or without, baptism in water, you have dismembered the one baptism. You have been deceived. What you experienced was not the baptism Christ commanded.

What is true baptism?

If we simply preach and obey what Jesus and His apostles said about baptism, our baptism will be valid.

There is "one baptism" (Ephesians 4:4). "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" (Matthew 28:19). "He who believes and is baptized will be saved" (Mark 16:16). "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins" (Acts 2:38). "And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord" (Acts 22:16).

Roy Davison

Great Bible Heroes - The Faith of Abraham

2011-03-29T14:23:00.001-05:00

Join Ben Bailey from THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST in Ardmore, Oklahoma as he begins a new series of lessons on the topic, "Great Bible Heroes." Lesson 1 is titled, "The Faith of Abraham."

Even Christians know sorrow

2011-03-27T07:46:00.001-05:00

By David Chadwell

I am telling the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience testifies with me in the Holy Spirit, that I have great sorrow and unceasing grief in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed, separated from Christ for the sake of my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh, who are Israelites, to whom belongs the adoption as sons, and the glory and the covenants and the giving of the Law and the temple service and the promises, whose are the fathers, and from whom is the Christ according to the flesh, who is over all, God blessed forever. Amen. Romans 9:1-5

In this existence, sorrow comes in many forms. There is no escaping sorrow in this life. Even if there were no sickness, no disease, no pain, no needs based on privations, no struggles, no accidents, and no reverses, sorrow would exist.

"Oh, if I had all my needs met and never experienced physical pain, I would have no sorrow." Really? Consider just two sorrows.

First is the sorrow produced by the unwise decisions or wasteful choices made by one we care about deeply. All of us experience seeing someone we care about doing or deciding something "dumb." It is horrible to see one important to us make foolish choices! It is worse than horrible, it is the agony of a torn heart!

Second is the sorrow produced by aging. Picture a lifetime as an hour glass. In youth, there is so much sand in the top that life seems to stretch before you endlessly. When middle age comes, there is no reason for alarm. There is as much sand in top of the glass as at the bottom. Yet, the moment comes when the sand in the bottom is much larger than in the top. Strength diminishes. Energy diminishes. All desires diminish. The gnawing awareness is what "I could do" and what "I can do" are separate discussions. Often in that fact is the regret only sorrow understands.

Good news! There is something much, much larger than human sorrow. It is so big that not even an execution on a cross could end it! It is so huge that not even a tomb could hide it. It is so powerful that it is available to everyone! It is so wonderful that it can make any life endlessly meaningful! Incredibly, it has no age limit on its hope it is for the old, the young, and all in between!

At the core of this good news is personal transformation. One of today's advertising campaigns makes an "easy button" a popular concept. This is a superior button: it is the "renewal button."

In Jesus Christ God provides us opportunity to start over. There is opportunity to become what God intended when He made us. We can be new creatures with new values and new purposes. Those values and purposes are not dependent on physical need, and they do not produce pain. They produce hope arising from the discovery of a new reality. Interested? Read Ephesians 4:17-24 and Colossians 3:1-11.
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This article was originally published by the West Ark church of Christ

Maintaining Our Lighthouses

2011-03-25T06:52:00.000-05:00

By John Parker.

Cape Hatteras off the coast of North Carolina is known as the "Graveyard of the Atlantic" because of the dangerous waters that have endangered ships there. Since 1870 the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, the nation's tallest, has beamed its powerful light out over the ocean to warn sailors and guide them though the treachery. In recent years, however,, the waters have eroded the beach where the lighthouse sits, threatening to eventually topple it. later this spring the International Chimney company of Buffalo, New York, will move the structure to a point 1600 feet away where it will be safe.

Jesus came as a great light in a world consumed by the darkness of sin.

Matthew 4:16: "The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, And upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death, light has dawned."

The Lord also calls on us as his disciples to be lights to the world, guiding people to His salvation. Consequently, it is important that we maintain our lights, keeping them burning brightly with Chrisstian character and proclaiming Christ to a threatened world, not hiding them through fear or indifference.

Matthew 5:14-16:

You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

Praying on a bad day

2011-03-22T11:35:00.002-05:00

By David Chadwell.

Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

Hebrews 5:7 In the days of His flesh [speaking of Jesus], He offered up both prayers and supplications with loud crying and tears to the One able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His piety.

Most Christians enjoy praying on a good day. We enjoy thanking God for blessings we see and glorifying Him for kindnesses obviously surrounding us. To the Christian, it is a real pleasure to say, "Thank you!" to God when life is wonderful and going our way.

However, praying to God on a bad day is an entirely different story. While the Christian is glad God is there to pray to on a bad day, it is much more difficult to see blessings on a bad day than on a good day. Yet, I suspect all of us have had bad days and prayed the following prayer in some form on those days.

"Lord, this is a horrible day. I am so shook up all I feel is anxiety! If something could go wrong, it has gone wrong. I feel awful! I am so discouraged and feel so blah! I feel like there is one knight fighting ten dragons, and I am that knight. My Christian armor may be protecting me, but it is getting uncomfortably hot in here.

"Most of the time my life flies by, but this bad day seems to be dragging on forever. I surely wish this bad day would come to a conclusion, and I could start fresh with a good day tomorrow could you do that for me? God, I know You are there, but I surely have trouble seeing You. This bad day makes everything so dark I just do not see You at work as I did day before yesterday when everything was going great.

"Father, help me feel Your presence. Things are so bad I do not even know what to ask to make the day better. Just be close enough to me that I can sense Your presence, and please help this bad day come to an end."

Everyone has bad days. Jesus had Gethsemane. Paul had the Damascus Road. Stephen was stoned to death. Out of Jesus' "bad day," God made a Savior. Out of Paul's "bad day," God made an apostle to the Gentiles. Out of Stephen's "bad day," God made a martyr whose faith encourages us 2000 years after his death.

Wonder what God will make out of your bad day? He is able to take your bad day and fashion it into something incredible and unbelievable just like He made a Savior, an apostle, and an example from bad days. However, there is a price! The price is the faith of surrender. When we have the faith of surrender, God can fashion the incredible from our bad days.

Do not ask God to end your bad day. Ask God to use your bad day for His purposes. Then God can turn our bad days into salvation days.

This article was originally published by the West Ark church of Christ

To Whom Was The Great Commission Given?

2011-03-03T16:01:00.000-06:00

By J. C. Bailey

When I was a boy it was argued by some that Matthew 28:19 and Mark 16:15 applied only to the apostles and that we therefore are no longer under obligation to take the gospel to the whole world. I would like to make a rather detailed study of this matter.

As we study the Great Commission in Matthew and Mark, the context shows that these commands were indeed directed to the apostles.

"Afterward He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen. And He said to them, 'Go into all the world ...'" (Mark 16:14-15).

"Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. And when they saw Him, they worshipped Him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, 'All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore ...'" (Matthew 28:16-19).

He also told them: "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth" (Acts 1:8).

It was the purpose of the Lord to have twelve witnesses whom He called apostles. So we read:

"Therefore, of these men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John to that day when He was taken up from us, one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection. ... And they cast their lots, and the lot fell on Matthias. And he was numbered with the eleven apostles" (Acts 1:21,22,26).

A witness can testify to what he has seen, heard or touched. This was the basis of John's teaching:

"That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life - the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us - that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. And these things we write to you that your joy may be full" (1 John 1:1-4).

The twelve apostles were the witnesses of the resurrection. Although Paul saw Jesus on the way to Damascus, he acknowledges that the twelve were the witnesses. In his sermon at Antioch of Pisidia he says: "But God raised Him from the dead. He was seen for many days by those who came up with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are His witnesses to the people" (Acts 13:30,31). Peter explains further:

"Him God raised up on the third day, and showed Him openly, not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before by God, even to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead. And He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead" (Acts 10:40-42).

    At first some of the apostles doubted (Matthew 28:17; Mark 16:14). Thomas was among them. He was not present one Sunday evening for the meeting when Jesus came to them (John 20:19,20,24). The other disciples told him of Jesus' appearance. "But he said to them, 'Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe" (John 20:25). He was asking for the evidence of sight and touch.

    The apostles were assembled again a week later. This time Thomas was there. Jesus, knowing in His divine wisdom what Thomas had said, told him: "'Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.' And Thomas answered and said to Him, 'My Lord and my God!'" (John 20:27,28).

    Jesus said men must believe the gospel in order to be saved (Mark 16:16). Paul said that the gospel is the power of God unto salvation to the believer (Romans 1:16). Paul said that the gospel is the death, burial and resurrection of Christ attested by faithful witnesses (1 Corinthians 15:1-8). Jesus said that we are to become believers by the words of these chosen men: "I do not pray for these alone [the apostles], but also for those who will believe in Me through their word: that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one is Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me" (John 17:20,21). We are saved by faith in that gospel which was made known by the apostles.

    We can have a blessing the apostles could never have. Thomas, after seeing the risen Lord, said: "My Lord and My God!" (John 20:28). How precious to each of us are the following words of Jesus: "Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed" (John 20:29).

    When we accept the evidence of the chosen witnesses we are blessed according to the promise of Christ. We are to be believers in the written word. "And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name" (John 20:30,31).

    We have learned what the gospel is. Men are to be saved by that gospel. The gospel was to be preached by the apostles. Their witness of the resurrection is to be believed. A great blessing is ours when we accept the written word.

    This gospel was never to be changed. We read:

"I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed" (Galatians 1:6-9).

    I want to emphasize one thing in the gospel. Jesus said after He arose from the dead: "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth" (Matthew 28:18). By the power of the Holy Spirit Paul said that Christ was "declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead" (Romans 1:4). Jesus saves those who obey (Hebrews 5:9). We are not to go beyond the things that are written (1 Corinthians 4:6; 2 John 9).

    Finally we want to go back to the Great Commission. We have learned that the gospel was given to the apostles. The message they proclaimed is never to be altered. It is only by their word that men become disciples of Christ being baptized into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19). These baptized believers are to receive further instruction: "teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you" (Matthew 28:20). What had Jesus commanded the apostles? Among other things He commanded them to preach the gospel to the whole creation! So this command of Jesus to the apostles also applies to every baptized believer.

    Paul by the power of the Holy Spirit said to Timothy: "And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also" (2 Timothy 2:2).

    After the command, Jesus also gave a promise: "and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:20). The Great Commission, originally given to the apostles, is to echo through the ages until the end of time. Amen.

    J. C. Bailey

Published in The Old Paths Archive (http://www.oldpaths.com

The Destructive Nature of Sin

2010-09-11T16:26:00.001-05:00

By Ben Bailey via The Gospel of Christ.

For a person to be saved, he first must understand the destructive nature of sin. How does the Bible define sin? What is the nature of sin? How does God describe it, and to what does He compare it? Why is sin so deadly to humans? These are some of the questions I would like to address from the Word of God as we consider the destructive nature of sin. As we think about sin, the Bible tells us what sin is. It tells us when we do sin and fall short of God’s will. So, from Scripture, what is sin?

We know first that sin is a transgression of God’s law. The text of 1 John 3:4 teaches us this very principle. Sin is a transgression of the law of God. When we go beyond what God tells us to do, or when we do not live up to His expectations, then we have transgressed His law. It is like a parent who tells a child to do something like cleaning his room, doing his homework, or returning to the house at a certain time of night. When that child fails to do those things, he has transgressed the law set down by his parents. The same is true with us. When God tells us to do something and sets forth laws in the Bible, and we fail to keep those laws, then we have transgressed the law of God. We need to understand that there is a law for Christians as God’s people today. James 1:25 describes the Word of God as “the perfect law of liberty.” So, yes, we today are under a system of law—the Word of God. We know that it is a law because on the Day of Judgment, we are going to be judged by the words of Christ. Jesus said in John 12:48, “He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him—the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day.” Thus, there is a law that we must obey—the Word of God. When we study it, know it, and do not keep God’s law, we have gone beyond what our God wants us to do and we have sinned.

A second way that sin could be described would be as “unrighteousness.” The text of 1 John 5:16-17 says that “all unrighteousness is sin.” The idea of righteousness is that of “right doing”—the keeping of God’s law and living correctly. When we live in an unrighteous way, then we are doing things that are not in accordance with the will of God. When God tells us to talk or act in a certain way, and we do the opposite of that, then we are viewed as unrighteous in God’s sight. Thus, whether it is our actions, our thoughts, things that we say, or things that we do, whenever we do the opposite of what is right and good, then we have sinned against God. God is a righteous Judge, and He is going to judge us according to the way that we live our lives in the here and now.

Third, we should recognize that sin is knowing what God wants us to do, but not doing it. James defined it this way in James 4:17—“To him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.” This is what we might refer to as a “sin of omission.” We knew what the right thing was to do, but we failed to act upon that knowledge. For example, maybe we know that it is the right thing to do to assemble with the saints. But we fail to do that so we can worship God. Maybe we know that it is right to study the Bible, but we fail to do that. Maybe we know that it is right to encourage those who need encouragement, but we fail to do that. When we fail to keep God’s law, then we have omitted to do things that are necessary for our salvation.

Thus, sin is a transgression of God’s law. But it also is unrighteousness, as well as knowing what the right thing is to do, but failing to do it. As we think about the nature of sin, we need to inquire as to how sin is portrayed in the Bible. To what does God compare sin so that we can know exactly what it is?

First, sin is a defilement. The text of 2 Corinthians 7:1 teaches us that sin is a defilement of the body and of the spirit. To comprehend the idea of “defilement,” think of a beautiful painting. Imagine taking a glass of red Kool-Aid and splashing it all over that painting. The painting has been defiled. It is no longer good for anything. It is not to be viewed in a beautiful way because it has been defiled. The Jew would naturally understand the concept of defilement. If you were to offer a Jew a plate of pork during the time of Jesus, that would be one of the worst types of defilement that they could imagine. The same is true in a sense for us today, except that sin is a defilement of our body and our spirit. When we do things that are wrong or that are contrary to God’s will, then we have defiled our spirit. When we do things against our bodies (like ingesting beverage alcohol or doing drugs), we defile our bodies. When we fail to keep God’s law, and when we do not live up to His standards, then we defile our spirit because it is no longer holy. It is defiled because it no longer has the pure character that it should have. The text of 1 Peter 1:15 teaches us, “But as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct.” When we bring sin into our lives, we are no longer holy or pure. We have defiled ourselves.

The Bible also defines sin as a spot or a stain upon a beautiful garment. James 1:27 teaches us that we must keep ourselves unspotted from the world. James wrote: “Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.” This presents the idea of sin being a spot or stain upon our garment. Isaiah 64:6 says that “all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags.” Here is a vivid illustration as to how sin is like a stain or a spot. When my son was young, we brought him a beautiful white suit to wear to worship. It had rained the night before, and as he walked down the steps of our porch, he slipped and fell into a mud puddle. That beautiful suit that we had bought for him was stained with mud and dirt. That is a vivid illustration of how our spirit looks when we have sin in our lives. We ought to be pure, holy, and righteous before God. But when sin comes in, it stains our garments. Maybe you have gotten paint on your hands in the past, and you understand how hard it is to get it off. It stays on you, even though you wash and wash. But it still refuses to come off. That is what sin is like. It is like a stain or a spot on a beautiful garment. When we are baptized into the body of Christ, we have our sins washed away. We should be pure, holy, and righteous in God’s sight. But when sin enters our lives, it stains the beautiful garment that we should possess.

Read the rest of the article at The Gospel of Christ.

The Importance of Words

2010-06-28T20:32:00.000-05:00

by Bill Watkins.

"And I say unto you, that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgement. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned." ( Matthew 12:36,37).

In light of this statement of Jesus, it is apparent that the significance of words can hardly be overstressed. Words not only convey meaning but also play a part in determining our eternal destiny.

Then let us give much though to insure that our words are "fitly spoken." ( Proverbs 25:11).

First of all, it behooves us to speak words that are healthy. Paul's admonition to Titus was, "speak thou the things which befit sound doctrine." ( Titus 2:1).

The words "sound" mean more than accurate. It conveys the idea of healthy or health-giving.

So many detrimental and hurtful things are said in our world. Why not spend your time in spreading abroad healthy, life-giving words.

Secondly, we would do well to speak gracious and graceful words.

"Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer each one." ( Colossians 4:6).

We sometimes seem to pride ourselves in gruffness and seek to justify it by the claim that we are staunch defenders of the faith. Why not just admit that such a spirit is really, basically unloving and unkind, and then, by practice and empathy, develop words and expressions of refinement and elegance.

Let our words be filled with love, so that we may grow spiritually.

"But speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into him, who is the head, even Christ." ( Ephesians 4:15).

Finally, and above all, speak the words of the good news.

"But even as we have been approved of God to be intrusted with the gospel, so we speak." ( 1 Thessalonians 2:4).

More than anything else, men need to hear the good news from God. Be absolutely certain, then that through ourselves, they will not be robbed of the opportunity to hear it.

"If any stumbleth not in the word, the same is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body also." ( James 3:2).

Is Baptism Essential For Salvation - 2

2010-03-21T14:13:00.003-05:00

By Stephen Kingery.

Baptism is perhaps the most misunderstood and misinterpreted concept in the Bible. There are those who would have us believe that baptism is not necessary for salvation. Others will say that it a good thing to do, and we really ought to, but it is strictly optional. Still others say that baptism is necessary, but only to join the local church.

Not only do Christians disagree on whether baptism is a necessary part of salvation, there is also disagreement as to the form and who should receive it. Some say that infants can, should, or even must be baptized. While others contend that one should be of the age of accountability. There is disagreement as to whether the form of baptism should be by immersion, sprinkling, or pouring.

All the disagreement noted above is purely on the part of mankind. The Scriptures are in full agreement on all these points. If one reads the New Testament he will find no place where more than one form of baptism is used and he will not find a multitude of opinions as to the necessity of baptism for salvation. So, let's see exactly what the Scriptures have to say about the subject of Baptism.

Is baptism necessary for salvation? Well, Jesus commanded it, and the apostles taught and practiced it. Jesus said,

"He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned." (Mark 16:16)

How much clearer must we have it said by the Lord Himself than this.

He clearly says salvation is dependant upon our being obedient and submitting ourselves to baptism. In another place Jesus told His disciples,

"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:19,20)

Why would Jesus tell His disciples to baptize if it were not necessary? Don't you think that if the Lord had intended baptism to be optional that He would not have made such a strict command out of it here. And if it were not necessary at all, why would He even mention it here in what we call "The Great Commission."

We saw in the above passage that Jesus commanded His disciples to baptize. We see in the book of Acts that they did just that. We could call Acts the book of conversions, because only in this book do we see actual cases of people being converted to Christian. As a matter of fact, there are eight specific cases of people being converted in the book of Acts.

We believe, and teach, that salvation consists of five acts or actions on the part of the one being converted. These acts are, belief in Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the living God; repentance; confession of one's faith before man; baptism; and faithful living till the end. In the eight occasions of conversions in the book of Acts, baptism is the only one that is specifically mentioned in each and every case. Let's take a look at each case and what is said concerning baptism.

The three thousand at Pentecost:

"Then Peter said to them 'Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.'" (Acts 2:38)

The Samaritans:

"But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized. Then Simon himself also believed; and when he was baptized he continued with Philip, and was amazed, seeing the miracles and signs which were done." (Acts 8:12,13)

The Eunuch:

"Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, 'See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?' Then Philip said, 'If you believe with all your heart, you may.' And he answered and said, 'I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.' So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him." (Acts 8:36-38)

Saul of Tarsus:

"Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized." (Acts 9:18);

and

"And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord." (Acts 22:16)

Cornelius:

"Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay a few days." (Acts 10:47,48)

Lydia:

"And when she and her household were baptized, she begged us, saying, 'If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.' And she constrained us." (Acts 16:15)

The Jailor:

"And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized." (Acts 16:33)

Corinthians:

"Then Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his household. And many of the Corinthians, hearing, believed and were baptized." (Acts 18:8)

Again we say, how much clearer must it be for us all to agree that baptism is a necessary part of salvation? There are those who say that faith is all that is necessary. Then why does the book of acts show us that in every case recorded for us to learn from, baptism was practiced?

Who is baptism for? I have a dear friend who is in a brotherhood that teaches and practices infant baptism. Is baptism for infants? Or is baptism only for those who know the significance of the act and what it represents?

Let's consider those things which the Scriptures teach that must precede baptism. First, the person must believe. This is emphasized strongly by Jesus, read again Mark 16:16. Can an infant have faith that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God? Do you remember what you "believed" when you were just a few months old? How significant are those "beliefs" to you today? Can an infant be taught about God? Can an infant respond to that teaching? We all know the answer to these questions: Of course not! Another act which must precede baptism is repentance. Can an infant repent? Again, the answer is no. And for what sins would the infant be repenting for? Confession of one's faith that Jesus is the Son of God is another act which must precede baptism. It is equally clear that an infant cannot confess to have a faith that they are incapable of having.

So, who should (must) be baptized? If you still don't know the answer to this question, then you should read again the eight accounts of the people being converted in the book of Acts. This time read the full accounts. They are found in the following chapters of Acts: two, eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve, fifteen, sixteen, and eighteen. However, the answer is one who believes that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God; one who has repented for all the sins he/she has committed and strives to sin no more; and one who is willing to and has confessed his/her faith in Jesus as the Son of God. Only for these people is baptism appropriate, and a meaningful act. Remember, you can fool man most of the time, but you can never fool God!

The form of baptism is also the subject of much false teaching. Here again, the Bible is quite clear as to the form. The Greek word we translate as baptism is "baptizo." It means to dip, immerse or plunge. There is no one who is a serious student of the Word that can deny this fact. If Jesus had intended for the disciples to pour as a method of baptism, He would have used the word "ekcheo." But He didn't! If He had meant for the disciples to sprinkle He would have used the word "rantizo." But He didn't! And if He had intended for the method of baptism to be any and all of these He would have used the words interchangeably. But He didn't! God's word tells us the method of baptism: immersion, and that's all.

What does baptism do? Well, first of all it is a picture of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Paul tells us this in a beautiful way:

"Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life." (Romans 6:3,4)

It is also a picture of birth, for Jesus said,

"Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God." (John 3:5)

Baptism is necessary for the remission of sins. In Acts chapter 2 the three thousand that responded to the gospel on that day had said, "What shall we do?" (Acts 2:37b)

"Then Peter said to them, 'Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." (Acts 2:38)

Brothers and sisters, don't accept false teachings. Go to God's word for yourself and learn what It says about these and other subjects which are important to your salvation. May God be with you in your studies.

All scriptures quoted are from the New King James Version unless otherwise noted.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Stephen Kingery is an author, preacher, teacher and founder of Be Ye Doers Of The Word.
Visit site at http://www.james1-22.org

Are you ready for the judgment?

2009-11-18T17:09:00.001-06:00

By Roy Davison.

God is "the Judge of all the earth" (Genesis 18:25). "The LORD shall judge the peoples" (Psalm 7:8 // Hebrews 10:30). "God shall judge the righteous and the wicked" (Ecclesiastes 3:17). "He has prepared His throne for judgment. He shall judge the world in righteousness, and He shall administer judgment for the peoples in uprightness" (Psalm 9:7,8). "If one man sins against another, God will judge him" (1 Samuel 2:25).

"Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether it is good or whether it is evil" (Ecclesiastes 12:13,14).

Judgment is coming. Life is short. All must die. Are we ready? "It is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment" (Hebrews 9:27).

We will be judged by Christ.

He said: "For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son, that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father" (John 5:22,23).

Because Jesus is both the Son of God and the Son of Man, He has been appointed to judge mankind. Jesus said:

"For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself, and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man. Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth -- those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation. I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me" (John 5:26-30).

As Paul said to the men of Athens:

"Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead" (Acts 17:30,31).

"It is He who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead" (Acts 10:42 -- See also 2 Timothy 4:1).

The word of Christ will judge us.

Jesus said:

"If anyone hears My words and does not believe, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him -- the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day" (John 12:47,48).

Paul speaks of "the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel" (Romans 2:16);

he speaks of "the righteous judgment of God, who 'will render to each one according to his deeds': eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness -- indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek; but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For there is no partiality with God" (Romans 2:5-11).

"So then each of us shall give account of himself to God" (Romans 14:12).

"For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad" (2 Corinthians 5:10).

"And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one's work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your sojourning here in fear" (1 Peter 1:17).

How can we get ready for the judgment?

We must know the will of God. We must do the will of God. Our sins must be forgiven through the blood of Christ.

Unfortunately, there are many who do not know the will of God, and yet think they are wise. This mistake was made by Israel many times. The Lord rebuked them:

"Even the stork in the heavens
Knows her appointed times;
And the turtledove, the swift, and the swallow
Observe the time of their coming.
But My people do not know the judgment of the Lord.
How can you say, 'We are wise,
And the law of the Lord is with us'?
Look, the false pen of the scribe certainly works falsehood.
The wise men are ashamed,
They are dismayed and taken.
Behold, they have rejected the word of the Lord;
So what wisdom do they have?"
(Jeremiah 8:7-9).

People who reject the word of God do not know 'the judgment of the LORD'. The scribes, the religious leaders, were leading the people astray. They had a 'false pen' that worked falsehood! Many people will be lost on the day of judgment because they reject the word of God and listen to religious leaders.

It is only through God's word that we can know His will.

Yet, to know the will of God is not sufficient. We must also do the will of God.

Jesus said:

"Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!' Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall" (Matthew 7:21-27).

We must both know and do the will of God. But what about our sins?

Our sins must be forgiven by the blood of Christ.

Jesus said:

"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life" (John 5:24).

Repentance is required. Jesus said:

"Unless you repent you will all likewise perish" (Luke 13:3). This means that we must be sorry for our sins and must determine to live according to God's will. We must be baptized. Jesus said: "He who believes and is baptized will be saved" (Mark 16:16).

Get ready for the judgment.

"For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?" (1 Peter 4:17).

Judgment begins with the house of God. We Christians can be thankful that we have escaped from condemnation through forgiveness by the blood of Christ. Yet we may not be complacent. We must seriously study the Scriptures so we can know and do the will of God.

What will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? All who have not yet obeyed the gospel are not ready for the judgment. Their sins still separate them from God. They can be saved from the judgment by believing and obeying the word of Christ.

Are we ready for the judgment?

We must know the will of God. We must do the will of God. Our sins must be forgiven through the blood of Christ. Let's get ready! Let's be ready. Then we can "come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need" (Hebrews 4:16).

Hope in a hopeless world

2009-11-10T17:28:00.001-06:00

By David Chadwell

"But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. AND DO NOT FEAR THEIR INTIMIDATION, AND DO NOT BE TROUBLED, but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence; and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame."1 Peter 3:14-16

In the past we were able to live in the isolation of "nothing bad will happen to me (us)" mindset. "Bad things" happened to others, but not "me" ("us"). "I" am protected! Being a Christian, or an American, or a Southerner, or a "law abiding citizen," or an asset to the community protects "me." "Our security is provided by 'who we are'!"

When we felt a sense of security in the past's "isolation," our worlds were pretty simple. Every family in our neighborhood knew each other. Life was confined to work [always local], home, church, and community. Some even remember when little was locked, sharing was common, and most everyone knew the name of every family in the community. You were not afraid to invite a stranger in your home, pick up a hitchhiker [or be one!], and trust [without questioning] that someone was "down on his luck."

Times have changed! Drugs and alcohol invade all our extended families. Laughable "pranks" were exchanged for deadly incidents of rage, hate, and greed. Businesses open in late night or early morning hours increasingly are robbery targets. Robbery easily escalates to murder. Jobs unexpectedly end. Careers are quickly redirected. A loved one has a life-threatening illness, or loses a job, or faces difficult times, or has his/her "personal world cave in."

Seemingly the world gets smaller daily. American deaths in Iraq are on our morning news programs. Details of a suicide bomber's moment of horror in the Mid-East are on at 5:30 p.m. Europe's natural disasters are our headlines. Our loss of jobs is related to the economies of third world countries. Much of what we consume comes from places we have not visited -- and never intend to!

Our hope is not some imaginary shield built by isolation. It is not based on the false confidence that "bad things" never happen to us. It is not obvious to our circumstances. It is produced by a risen Savior who teaches us that "now" is temporary but "after death" is permanent. We endure "bad things" when they happen to us with the assurance of hope and the patience most are unaccustomed to seeing.

From Christianity's beginning, those who caused suffering were amazed. After the suffering, they asked, "How did you do that?" The Christian patiently, gently, respectfully explained Jesus Christ gave, nurtured, and sustained his/her hope.

Be ready to explain! Without doubt, we will have many opportunities!

Nicodemus, You Must Be Born Again

2009-10-13T21:56:00.004-05:00

By David Chadwell through West Ark Church of Christ

Nicodemus in his fascinating visit with Jesus sought information from the Messiah (John 3:1-15).

Jesus responded to the opportunity by telling him about the essentiality of the new birth. Jesus made a single point: Understanding and participating in the new birth are essential to recognizing and entering God's kingdom.

As a Pharisee, Nicodemus' convictions were founded on these understandings.

One must know the Mosaical law.
One must apply the meaning of the law.
One must clearly practice the laws of purity and proper worship of God.

As a member of the Jerusalem Sanhedrin, Nicodemus was a member of Israel's highest, most prestigious court of 70 prominent leaders recognized as experts in Mosaical law. They protected Israel from false teachers and religious heresy.

Nicodemus came to Jesus in sincerity and honesty. He genuinely believed that Jesus was a teacher sent from God. As an honest observer, he acknowledged the obvious: no person performed Jesus' miracles unless God was with him.

With his background, position of religious leadership and knowledge of Scripture, Nicodemus should have understood the new birth. Amazingly, this learned man could not comprehend that teaching.

All knowledgeable, devout Israelites held two basic understandings.

Anyone born of Jewish parents and circumcised on the eighth day was in covenant relationship with God (Genesis 17:10-14; Exodus 12:48; Leviticus 12:1-4).
Faithful obedience to the Mosaical law was essential for maintaining that covenant relationship with God (Deuteronomy 4:1-8). Circumcision placed one in covenant relationship with God; obedience kept one in covenant relationship with God.

Devout Pharisees defined all aspects of faithfulness in terms of obeying the law. These ultimate legalists applied the law to every area of life. In their conscientious commitment to applying the law, they created applications based on their perception of the law's intent.

The laws of purification were prominent in Pharisaic lifestyle. Purity was the result of ceremonial purity. Purification occurred when one cleansed his body in exact obedience to purification ordinances.

When a woman gave birth, she was unclean for a specified time (Leviticus 12). She could not touch anything sacred or go to the temple. When that time ended, she offered a sacrificial animal at the temple and cleansing occurred.

A person who touched a corpse, a human bone, or a grave was impure for seven days (Numbers 19:11-22). A clean person offered a sacrifice for the unclean person, took the ashes, and mixed those ashes in a single container with water from a flowing stream. The clean person sprinkled the unclean person with that water on the third and seventh day. After the final sprinkling, the unclean person washed his clothes, took a bath and was clean at nightfall. In that process, if the clean person touched the water of impurity, he also was unclean for seven days.

On must understand these teachings and convictions if he is to understand the way Nicodemus thought.

Nicodemus said, "We know you are a teacher sent by God because no one can perform your miracles unless God is with him." Perhaps Nicodemus attempted to lead Jesus into a discussion of his identity. However, Jesus did not wish to discuss His identity.

Jesus replied,

"Nicodemus, I tell you the truth: Unless a person is born anew (born again, born from above) he cannot see the kingdom of God."

To Nicodemus, this was a strange, new condition for entering the anticipated kingdom. His study verified that any circumcised Israelite who kept the law was assured a place in that kingdom. Also, his training taught him to consider religious truths in literal, physical terms. A literal rebirth to become part of a physical kingdom was impossible.

Nicodemus responded, "How can that be possible? Can anyone re-enter his mother's womb and experience a second physical birth?" Nicodemus' legalistic training in literalism controlled his thinking. It never occurred to him to think in terms other than the literal, the physical. He was not being frivolous or foolish! He was giving serious response in the only way he was trained to think!

Jesus answered, "Again, I tell you the truth: If a person is not born of the water and the spirit, he cannot enter God's kingdom. That born of the physical body is physical; that born of the spirit is spirit (spiritual).

"Does the thought of a second birth dumbfound you? Is that idea beyond comprehension? You cannot explain the wind; you cannot see it; but you know it is real because you see its effect. Explaining the new birth or actually seeing the spirit working in the new birth is unnecessary. It really is obvious in the effects of the new birth produced by the working of the spirit."

A confused Nicodemus replied, "I do not see how any of this is possible."

Jesus answered, "You are this nation's teacher, and you do not understand this? I know what I am saying, but you cannot accept it. If you cannot understand things happening on earth, how can you believe heavenly realities if I reveal them?"

An obvious lesson is easily missed. If a person spends his entire life thinking legalistically as he studies Scripture, he will become incapable of seeing or understanding the true spiritual perspective. The spiritual perspective is unnatural and confusing to him.

Legalistic thinking has three focal points.

Definitions: Exactly what is happening? The occurrence must be explainable.
How: How can that happen? A visible cause and effect relationship must be obvious.
What: What actually occurs? What occurs must be demonstrable in clear, visible steps.

Consider the Pharisees' concept of purity. Definition of impurity: The physical body touches something defined by law as impure and becomes unclean. How does that happen? The impurity residing in the impure thing is transferred to one's body by physical contact. What takes place in cleansing? A special purification water destroys the contamination and separates the body from the impurity. A step-by-step, visible procedure cleanses in seven days.

Purification occurred because there were proper definition, proper answers for how and what, and proper, visible procedural steps performed.

Jesus said God's work through the spirit is not that simple. Even under Mosaical law, the power was not in the sacrifice, the water, the ashes, the sprinkling, the clothes washing, or the bath. The power was in God who granted the cleansing through the person's obedient faith, which trusted God's promise.

Tragically, the Pharisee endowed human deeds with divine power. He believed the water, the procedure and feeble human acts contained intrinsic power. Foolishly, he believed the power was generated by doing the right thing.

Jesus challenged Nicodemus to realize such thinking was foolish. Nicodemus did not think about the wind with that restricted thought process. He did not know where it came from, where it went, or why it began and stopped. He certainly could not see it. However, he knew the wind was a fact, a reality that could not be denied. Its existence was not dependent on an analytical, demonstrable cause-and-effect explanation. An element of mystery was beyond explanation, but that element did not make the wind any less real.

In the new birth Jesus was discussing baptism. God's work in baptism contains a great element of mystery. God is working through the blood of Jesus, the power of the Resurrection and His Spirit as He cleanses the person of all evil.

At what moment is the sin destroyed? How does He give spiritual life? How does the person participate in Jesus' Resurrection? We do not know.

It happens! We cannot explain it or see it occur. It occurs because God is active and using His power. No human power makes it happen. The power is not in the water or in the physical washing, but in Jesus' Resurrection (I Peter 3:20, 21). God uses water to implement our salvation, but the water is not responsible for our salvation. Salvation occurs because a faith-filled, penitent conscience reaches out to God and Christ.

Some reject baptism because it contains elements of mystery. Because God's use of the blood and Resurrection power cannot be explained, baptism has no bearing on salvation. Just as the new birth made no sense to Nicodemus, baptism makes no sense to them.

Others place their faith in baptism, not God. Their faith is in the human act, not in God's power working through the act. Thus, their children are baptized at an early age before they are lost, before they are sinners. Have you watched a child lay down a toy to take communion? Also, they pressure a dying, unbaptized loved one to submit to baptism. They stress "doing it" with little or no teaching about Jesus. If the sick adult submits to the act, the act destroys the Christian's concern. In both instances, is there intrinsic power in the water or the act?

Jesus was discussing conversion. To Nicodemus, Jewish birth combined with circumcision, made one a part of God's chosen people. To Nicodemus conversion was a strange, difficult concept. To the person who reduces salvation and godliness to mere rules and regulations, conversion is still a strange, difficult concept.

A Better Path than Pornography

2009-09-14T15:18:00.001-05:00

By David Shannon

The problem of Pornography is ancient, but the modern day method of the internet is fueling the lust, causing more destruction than any California wild fire ever has. Forty-percent of all homes say pornography is a major problem in their home. The convenience of the internet has helped spread it into an epidemic. Its lure is in part to men and women feeling they are anonymous. Often the product is free. More than 25 million Americans a week are viewing pornography online. Twenty-five percent of all internet searches are porn related. With 372 million pornographic pages online the search is never unsuccessful. You may be saying, "Men have a real problem with porn." Yes, about half admit to struggling with looking at porn, but don't forget that women are also fighting this dragon. Almost 30% of viewers online are women. And if you think the problem is with young men, think again, the largest consumer base is men between 35-49 years of age. Perhaps the saddest of all is the average age for an American to see pornography for the first time is eleven-years-old. Children are finding what their mothers, father, and older siblings are addicted to at a young age.

Pornography destroys souls, healthy relationships, and reputations. There is a better path to travel. Solomon informs his son that the Lord ponders the path that we travel ( Proverbs 5:21). No wonder, every path leads to a destination. One who travels the path toward things that are sexually impure are devoid of understanding ( Proverbs 7:7-8). If they realized the destination at the end of the path, they would surely change.

"Do not stray into her paths...all who were slain by her were strong men. Her house is the way to hell, descending to the chambers of death" (Prov 7:25-27).

But how do you change paths? A man once said he was angry at God because he had prayed and prayed asking God to deliver him from pornography and God had not answered his prayer. Take a book and lay it on a table. Begin pushing it to the edge of the table. As you do this begin to pray, "Lord, please do not let this book fall to the floor." Pray over and over as you push the book over the edge. Did it still fall to the floor? The Lord will forgive if we repent, but the Lord will not make you repent (stop viewing pornography). You must decide to change paths. No amount of prayer will change your path! That is a decision you must make. You won't be able to do so alone.

Read the rest of this article at Mt. Juliet website

Growing Up in Christ

2009-07-31T12:03:00.002-05:00

By Joseph Andrasik

We must come to Jesus as a Child.

Our Lord expects everyone who comes to Him to come as if he/she were a child. Whether one is ninety years old or an adolescent who has just realized what sin is, GOD has established the pattern of His plan.

"Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven" Matthew 18:3-4.

A child will always look to his parents for guidance and this is what our Father in heaven expects from His children.

Feeding the new child in Christ.

When an infant is first born, most of its waking time is spent feeding and growing up into a child. Unfortunately many newly born Christians do not recognize that they also have many of the same needs as any newborn infant in the world. The apostle Peter readily reminded Christians how important it was to feed their spiritual life with the Word of GOD.

"As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious" 1 Peter 2:2-3.

Unfortunately many new Christians die spiritually following their baptism into Christ because mature Christians and ministers of the Gospel do not emphasize the importance of a regular spiritual feeding on the Word of GOD. Our Lord Jesus clearly made this distinction as He contrasted the bread of the world with the Word of GOD when He was being tempted in the wilderness.

"But He answered and said, 'It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God'" Matthew 4:4.

The Lord Jesus was the living Word of GOD as proclaimed in the Gospel of John.

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God" John 1:1-2.

Later in this same Gospel, Jesus explains that He is the very food of eternal life.

"For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world. Then they said to Him, Lord, give us this bread always. And Jesus said to them, I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst" John 6: 33-35.

Infants in the very early stages of life need to feed often, even more than an adult. Yet many Christians fail to feed regularly much less daily on the Word of GOD. The spiritual foundation of every Christian is his faith in Jesus Christ. Paul in his letter to the Romans explains from whom our faith comes.

"So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" Romans 10:17.

Remaining free from sickness.

As in our earthly lives, for a child to grow into adulthood he/she must remain free of sickness and disease. The same principle applies to our spiritual lives. Sin in a Christian's life is just as damaging to our spiritual health as any cancer is to our fleshly bodies. All Christians must continually repent or turn away from sin in their lives. Nothing will destroy a Christian's spiritual life faster than harboring sin in one's life. The Word of GOD often describes the forgiveness of sin as 'healing.'

"Who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness -- by whose stripes you were healed" 1 Peter 2:24.

Christians are warned by the writer of the Hebrew letter how easily it is for Christians to become entangled in sin.

"Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls" Hebrews 12:1-3.

GOD's Word has always explained the need for every Christian to strive to walk as Jesus walked.

"This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us" 1 John 1:5-10.

As Christians, if we walk in the light of GOD's Word and if we continue to confess that we are sinners and repent of our sins, we gain GOD's promise that He will continue to cleanse us of our sins. Part of our spiritual strength comes from our Heavenly Father's reassurance of forgiveness as we attempt to walk as Jesus walked.

Children need exercise.

Children have a need to grow up strong physically through constant exercise. The same can be said for a new child in Christ. New Christians must exercise their faith in order to grow spiritually. Jesus compares doing the will of GOD with a man who built his house on a foundation of bedrock in Luke 6: 46-48.

"But why do you call Me 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do the things which I say? Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like: He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock."

The house is a Christian's life built on a strong faith in Christ. By putting into practice what he reads and understands as GOD's will as he reads GOD's Word, he exercises his faith in Jesus. The more he reads and then puts the Word into practice, the stronger a Christian's faith grows. In James' letter he explains that GOD will bless those who put His Word into practice.

"Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does" James 1:21-25.

Finally the apostle Peter reassures all Christians that they can make their salvation sure if they practice all the principles of Christian growth.

"Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble" 2 Peter 1:2-10.

Christians of the churches of Christ may reproduce this Bible tract to advance the Gospel of Christ as long as the content is not changed.

All references are from the New King James version of the Bible.

Published in The Old Paths Archive (http://www.oldpaths.com)

Probably The Hardest Part of Salvation - Repentance

2009-06-29T23:10:00.000-05:00

By David Shannon through Mt Juliet Church of Christ

How many of us have heard folks say, "They just won't be baptized. What can we do to persuade them to be baptized?" These statements seem to overlook the greatest challenge of salvation for most folks. Have you ever seen one who believed in the Lord ( John 8:24), was not ashamed, but willing to confess Him before others, ( Matthew 10:32-22; John 12:42-43) had repented of their sins, ( Luke 13:3, Acts 26:20, 2 Corinthians 7:10) and not be baptized? I'm sure there are exceptions, but the general rule in Acts is that penitent believers asked to be baptized.

Repentance is a change which begins in the mind which changes lives. In Acts 19 the city of Ephesus, the home of the Temple of Diana and capitol of worship to this goddess, was presented with the Gospel of Jesus. For the pagans to become Christians, what changes did "repentance" demand? In verse 19 they brought their books of magic into one pile and burned them. The value was 50,000 pieces of silver. This was a considerably large sum of money. Books were valuable passions and very expensive in those days. Remember Jesus was betrayed for 30 pieces of silver ( Matthew 26:15), which brings their sacrifice of burning their books into perspective. Instead of selling them and advocating false doctrine, the repentance of the Ephesians led them to suffer financial loss. A second sign of their repentance was the fear their actions brought upon Demetrius the silversmith. He was in the business of selling shrines of the goddess Diana. He realized penitent Christians changed their behavior. Their change in behavior would mean they would no longer buy his shrines. The more Christianity spread (the more people repented) the less business he would have! He started a riot, hoping to defeat Christianity. Some are never willing to repent, others give up all!

Jonathan Winchester is a fine young missionary we worked with in El Salvador. He wrote me this note:

"We had some good and sad results. The area where we worked was one of the poorest and most dangerous areas in Ica, Peru. One woman had decided to be baptized, and had changed into the baptismal robe, but then decided she could not. She knew that repentance was necessary. She told us that her only way of providing for her children was to go out and steal people's wallets, and she knew that she was not going to stop."

Should she have been advised to be baptized anyway? What would God say : repent or perish ( Luke 13:3). Folks do not need to be "talked into baptism." What folks need is to be taught the doctrine of Christ and see if they are ready to repent! Penitent believers have always responded by saying, "What hinders me from being baptized?" ( Acts 8:36)

Choose to be a winner - Follow through

2009-05-23T08:09:00.001-05:00

(This is the second part of the article "Choose to be a winner - Participate". The article continues as "Choose to be a winner - Follow through")

By Eugene C. Perry

Follow through!

The challenge is for us, with a view of eternity, to live as Paul lived. "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain" (Phil.1:21). Faith in eternity gives us strength, peace and courage, because working, playing and living, we know that, come what may, there is a life, infinitely better than what we know now, waiting for us. We thus have "the peace of God, which transcends all understanding," guarding our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus (Phil.4:7).

How do we live with this in view? Although he preferred "to be away from the body and at home with the Lord" (II Cor.5:8), Paul had decided (made it his goal) to please the Lord, "whether we are at home in the body or away from it." Anticipating the judgement, he stated, "Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men." Again, although he confidently stated that "to die is gain", and that his desire was to "depart and be with Christ" which is "far better", Paul was ready to continue in the flesh - to do God's will. His hope was that he would "in no way be ashamed" and that "Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death" (Phil.1:20). He was willing to abide, which would mean "fruitful labor" for him and which was "more necessary" for the Christians.

As with Paul, as long as we live, we have a useful purpose in life, we are vessels for God's use. This is not meant to be an unwilling but a voluntary service, "faith expressing itself through love" (Gal.5:6). We love Him and want to please Him who loves us so much that He gave his Son to restore our relationship and is so patient with us.

Realizing the fate of those who fail to decide for God, we persuade men out of love and concern rather than out of duty. Loving our brothers and sisters in Christ, we work for their well-being, especially the eternal well-being resulting from continued faithfulness.

Involved in all of these matters is the necessity of making decisions regarding both the general trend of our lives and the myriad of lesser choices which present themselves to us each day. In Galatians 5, Paul lists the "acts of the sinful nature" which prevent participants from inheriting the kingdom of God, and by way of contrast, "the fruit of the Spirit", which, by implication make it ours. In the next chapter, he used the sowing and reaping analogy to emphasize the same truth.

"Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life" (Gal.6:7,8).

"By the 'sowing' the apostle appears to be referring to the whole pattern of our thoughts and habits, our life-style, life direction and life-discipline. It includes the company we keep, the friendships we cultivate, the literature we read and the films we watch..., the kind of pursuits with which we occupy our leisure and everything which engrosses our interest, absorbs our energy and dominates our mind... For by these things we are sowing, sowing, sowing all the time; and according to what and where we sow, this shall we reap" (John R. Stott, Baptism and Fullness, pp. 81,82).

These all involve decisions. By sowing to the Spirit we reap eternal life. Stott describes this life as "a deepening fellowship with the living God now (to know whom is eternal life, John 17:3); together with that fullness of fellowship with him which defies imagination and which awaits us in the last day."

Because we have eternity in mind, we set our "minds on things above, not on earthly things." And, "When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory" (Col.3:1-4).

"All through the inspired word the prize set before us, the goal to attain, the motivation to service is always eternal life. Not a phenomenon to be feared but a paradise to be desired" (Gary Beauchamp).

If this goal becomes or is unreal or secondary in our thinking, we will tend to make the wrong decisions and consequently fail to glorify God in our lives.

We have been deeply touched by stories or scenes of the emotional welcoming home of POW's or hostages, long separated from their families. This cannot be compared to the reunion with our heavenly Father when we go home. Yet, with many, there remains a dread of this transition instead of it being viewed with anticipation.

We are God's family. He cares for us. We can't lose. In 1990, sister Joan Smith who had patiently endured a valiant but losing 10 year battle with caner, wrote a series of articles for the Women's Page of this paper (The Gospel Herald). She tells in detail of the way she came to look at and face this affliction. During the time of her battle, including operations, chemotherapy, much suffering and the accompanying mental stress, she was a faithful wife and mother and served with dedication and efficiency at Great Lakes Christian College and in the church. She began the series by quoting, "My help comes from the Lord" (Ps.121:2). She explained her positive attitude, and continuing and dedicated service beyond "the call of duty" in the following statement: "I am a survivor. I am not a loser. God is allowing me to stay here a while longer. I can be with my family and still work for Christ. If I don't survive, I am still not a loser. I have a home in heaven waiting for me. Sister Smith has since gone on to that eternal home.

All Christians should think of this life as the journey, the preparation for eternal life. We are sojourning here. Like the faithful of old, we must confess by life and word that we are "aliens and strangers on earth. People who ... show that they are looking for a country of their own ... longing for a better country a heavenly one." God is not ashamed to be the God of such. He "has prepared a city for them" (Heb.11:13-16).

Those who become sick and are in hospital look forward to going home. Sometimes it means going home to the joys of reunion with a loving family; sometimes going home to a loving Father in heaven. In either case, they are winners.

The crown of righteousness is, according to II Timothy 4:8, "to all who have longed for his appearing". We long for his appearing only if we are confidently prepared and in the process of fighting "the good fight", finishing "the race" and keeping "the faith".

As the Jews journeyed from their various villages on their pilgrimages to Jerusalem, trudging on foot through unfamiliar places, they would sing songs of encouragement. As they approached Jerusalem, the men would sing:

"I lift up my eyes to the hills
Where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord
The Maker of heaven and earth."

The women and children would then reply:

"He will not let your foot slip
He who watches over you will not slumber;
Indeed, he who watches over Israel
Will neither slumber nor sleep."

Then the men would sing:

"The Lord watches over you
The Lord is your shade at your right hand;"

The women and children would reply:

"The sun will not harm you by day,
Nor the moon by night."

The men would sing:

"The Lord will keep you from all harm -
he will watch over your life:"

Then everyone would join to affirm:

"The Lord will watch over your coming and going
Both now and forevermore" Psalm 121.

As these people "went out" from their familiar villages and "came in" to a city in which things were strange to them, they moved from one world to another. Heartened by the lines, "The Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore," they pushed on. Surely, these lines have a similar application for us as we journey to our Holy City.

Having in mind a beautiful view of eternity, let us live each day in anticipation, hope and faith, repeating to ourselves the powerful words of Paul, "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain."

Choose to Be a Winner - Participate

2009-05-21T08:07:00.001-05:00

By Eugene C. Perry

Participate

Personal experience and observation show that there are many losers and few winners, even among those who are frequent participants. Take for example raffles, sweepstakes, or even races and other athletic contests. The prizes go to only a few. There may be thousands of entrants, but there are very few winners, sometimes only one.

Like us, you likely receive an abundance of junk mail offering fabulous prizes in various forms of sweepstakes almost every day. We are encouraged to participate, often at little or no cost other than a postage stamp. Although it is claimed that there are winners, such seem to be very rare. The odds are discouraging. Why bother to enter?

Even in the case of races and athletic contests, where formal entry requirements are met and much effort is spent in preparatory practice, the prize goes to the few. In each case, we must decide whether or not to participate, to make the necessary preparations and meet the other required conditions.

There is a race in which we cannot lose and each person is encouraged to make a decision to enter it - a race in which all who complete the course are winners. The Christian life is frequently compared to a contest, a fight or a race, but there is a great difference. Unlike these other contests, in it, all are potential winners.

We face opportunities to make choices or decisions in many areas of life. Some are small and inconsequential whereas others are very important and have profound and far reaching consequences. These are decisions that no one else makes for us. There will be people and circumstances that encourage or discourage the right and beneficial decision, but in the final analysis, we must, personally, decide. If we make the wrong decision we can only blame ourselves. We, and likely others influenced by us, will pay the price in this life and the future life. In contrast, if we make the right decisions, we thank God for the benefits to ourselves and the many others who benefit. This is because God provides the blessings resulting from the right decisions. God is the prize-giver.

Decisions we make in regard to vocation, location, companionships and relationships contribute to us not being losers in respect to the eternal prize. Basic to all of this, of course, is the decision to accept God's gift of salvation in Christ by deciding to obey the terms of the "good news". In doing this, we enter the race, we confess our faith in the divinity of Christ, we acknowledge Him as Lord and we commit ourselves to serve Him.

Having thus become a participant in this race, one must realize that faithfulness and fruitfulness are the expected results. This involves following a spiritual leader while living in a physical body in a material world and making appropriate decisions along the way, We are in the world but not of it. Jesus prayed for his followers saying, "they are still in the world . . . they are not of the world any more than I am not of the world. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth" (John 17:11, 14, 15-17).

Loyalty to this Lord will mean decisions resulting in self-denial, hardship, sacrifice, service and growth into His likeness. We make those decisions because we love our Lord, but also, like Moses of old, because we look ahead to the "reward". "By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh's daughter. He chose to be mistreated along with the other people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time. He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward" (Heb.11:24-26).

The decisions we face regarding resisting temptation, being steadfast in our labour for the Lord (I Cor.15:58), a proper and permanent marriage, responsible parenting and loving and caring relationships with others - all of these should result from our first choice, to enter the "narrow way". Jesus encouraged this decision. He said, "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate, and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it" (Mt.7:13,14).

An elderly African lady was dying. Friends and loved ones from the entire community had gathered to her home and were quietly comforting one another with prayers, handclasps and tears. Maude had been an inspiration to all who knew her, having raised five children, cared for her neighbours and steadily worked for her church. She would be gravely missed. A handful of her closest family stood now above her bed, whispering all the appropriate epitaphs, when Maude spoke up with her typical wit and wisdom, "Why's everyone cryin'? I'm not lookin' for the undertaker, I'm lookin' for the uppertaker!"

How do we look at death or at the coming of the Lord? Do we have the undertaker or the uppertaker view of death? Are we among those like Paul who "desire to depart and be with Christ" (Phil.1:23); those who "have longed for his appearing" (II Tim.4:8)? Do we welcome this event as Jehovah does, "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints" (Ps.116:15)?

Although many believe in and sometimes talk about eternal life, most people, even Christians, look on the transition to such with fear and uncertainty. Why? In general the pain involved in death does not appear to be that dreadful! Do we fear change? Do we fear the loss of associations and possessions here on the earth? Truly, we have many meaningful and precious relationships and, in our culture, an over-abundance of material possessions, and the security provided by them in a stable society. But how dependable and durable are these things that we can feel and touch? "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (Mt.6:19-21).

We must be careful that our treasure is not in the wrong place, if we would be winners. In one place it is secure while in the other it is insecure.

Note the contrasts. "Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling ... For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life" (II Cor.5:1,2,4). "I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us" (Rom.8:18).

"Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away" (Rev.21:3,4).

How real is this better life? Would that we all had the confidence of G. C. Brewer who once said, "Someday you will read in the newspaper that G. C. Brewer is dead. Don't you believe a word of it. At that moment I shall be more alive than I am now."

Understanding the Bible Alike

2009-05-19T20:03:00.001-05:00

By T. Pierce Brown

Those of us who believe that God gave us a revelation that can be understood and obeyed, and that there is no room in it for denominational doctrines and practices, usually answer the question something like this: "We must understand the Bible alike, for if we come up with different views, then one or both of us have not understood it." When the Bible says, "Arise and be baptized and wash away thy sins" it is impossible for a person to understand it to mean, "Arise and be baptized because your sins are already washed away." When the Bible says, "Baptism doth also now save you" it is impossible for a person to understand it to mean, "Baptism doth not save you."

These kinds of statements may all be true, but they leave out something that is very important for us to realize. That is, one may understand properly what he does understand about a scripture without understanding all that he might understand. There may be a significant difference in MIS-understanding a scripture and not understanding its meaning or significance as deeply as one might. I do not remember anyone ever writing about this, but I think it significant enough to emphasize.

If you have ever grown any in your comprehension of anything, you can understand something of what I am saying. However, the implications or value of what I am saying may not have occurred to you. It would help us to overcome some arrogance, divisive tendencies and unnecessary bickering if we realized these truths.

Let us give some examples, so we may see more clearly some of the implications of these principles. Take the expression in 1 Peter 3:20-21 which partially reads like this in the ASV, "Eight souls, were saved through water: which also after a true likeness doth now save you, even baptism, not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the interrogation of a good conscience toward God, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ." Both of us may understand the truth that baptism saves us, but neither of us may understand some of the things involved in what that statement says. How it saves us, when it saves us, where it saves us and why it saves us are also important. Do you not see that it is possible for us both to understand the truth -- and if we understand it, we understand it alike -- yet not understand it alike in the sense that one of us may understand it more deeply than the other? To say it another way: If we understand the Bible, there can be no contradiction in what we understand, but there can be a growth in understanding, and therefore a difference in what we understand. If one of us claims to understand that baptism saves us, and one claims to understand that baptism has nothing to do with our salvation, one of us is wrong. It is not a matter of understanding differently, but a matter of misunderstanding.

This was suggested to me as I meditated on Ephesians 3:10, "to the intent that now unto the principalities and the powers in the heavenly places might be made known through the church the manifold wisdom of God." The word manifold is from the Greek "polupoikilos" which means "many colored." I may not be able to distinguish as well as you the various shades of blue and green in a picture, but that does not mean that either of us has the right to deny that the picture is there.

This suggests some of the things that are wrong with the doctrine of "unity in diversity" which many of our brethren are now upholding. If it only meant that in a forest there are many different kinds of trees, yet they are all trees, or that in the church there are many different kinds of persons, yet all may be Christians, or that we may emphasize different aspects of truth differently because we have different degrees of understanding of those truths, we would have no objection to the doctrine. It is apparent, however, that it is often used to uphold the idea that one person may teach that baptism is sprinkling, another that it is immersion and both be satisfactory. One may teach that the Lord's Supper is to be taken each Lord's day and another that it may be taken whenever we choose, and both equally acceptable. One may teach that only acapella music is authorized of God, and another teach that mechanical instruments are equally pleasing, and both be right. This denominational concept of "unity in diversity" is as old as denominationalism, and is false and dangerous. That a rainbow has diversity of colors, yet there is one rainbow is a kind of "unity in diversity." This is not the kind of "unity in diversity" the denominational world, and some of our brethren are advocating. Those of us who deny the validity of the "unity in diversity" doctrine are not denying that in every congregation there are and must be as many different concepts as there are individuals. What we are denying is that when any of those concepts contradict the scriptures, they are all equally valid.

God's wisdom is manifold (polupoikilos) -- marked with a great variety of colors. You may see one more clearly than I and emphasize it. To that degree, and in that manner, we may understand the Bible differently. If, in emphasizing the green, you teach that there is no yellow, then you do not understand the rainbow, and it is not a matter of understanding it differently. It is a matter of denying reality.

One of our problems is that we may have those who feel that if one emphasizes grace more than we do, he is teaching false doctrine. Or if he goes more deeply into an interpretation of a word or phrase, because he has a deeper understanding of it than we do, he has no right to do it, for we must all understand it alike. The "bottom line" is that if we understand it, we will all understand it alike in the sense that there can be no contradiction in our concepts of it. However, we may all understand it differently if we mean that there are different degrees or depths of our understanding. If you have no deeper understanding of any of God's word than you did last year, you have not grown in the grace and knowledge of God, and should be ashamed. That does not necessarily mean your concept was wrong. It was perhaps simply not as complete or deep as it now is.