Tag Archives: Salvation

The Impossible Dream?

Posted on by under Doctrine

Fergusonhug-v2     Unity.  Too often today we look for unity, only to find division and strife.  Whether in regards to race relations, politics, sports, or our outlook on life, we as a people seem to have gravitated towards focusing on what divides us rather than what unites us.  But how do we achieve unity?  Is it achievable?  How do we begin?

     First we need to realize that unity is only achievable if we are all using the same standard to measure our beliefs and behaviors.  That standard is the Word of God.  If we would all go to the Bible for the foundation of our beliefs, our behavior, our religious practices, and what we say and do, then we would have unity.  Not possible, you say?  Well, just look at Jesus’ own Apostles.  One of them was Simon, a zealot (Luke 6:15).  The zealots were known for political assassinations of Romans and for stirring the people up in revolt.  Another of the Apostles was Matthew, who was a tax collector for the Romans (Matthew 10:3).  Yet, the two of them worked together in unity as Apostles, because they were united in Christ, the Word of God (John 1:1-2, 14).

     If we were to use the Bible as our guide, not our own understanding or our own thoughts and ideas, then we could fulfill Jesus’ prayer in the garden.  Jesus said, “I do not pray for these alone, 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 in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me” (John 17:20-21 NKJV).  Jesus wanted His followers to be one, to all be on the same page, to be united, so that the world would believe.  Many point to divisions between religious groups as proof that there is no God.  They are right about the divisions, but not about atheism.

     The Scriptures often speak of unity.  We are to be of the same mind (Rom. 12:16; 1 Cor. 1:10; Phil. 2:2; 3:16; 4:2; 1 Peter 4:1).  We are to speak the same things (1 Cor. 1:10; 2 Cor. 4:13).  We are to have the same foundation (1 Cor. 3:10-11; Eph. 2:19-20).  Paul wrote, “I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Eph. 4:1-3 emphasis added).

     We are to have unity, but not a unity where we water down God’s word to the point that it is no longer recognizable.  We can preach tolerance for others and diversity to the point where we accept two mutually opposite points as both being true.  How can that be?  No, if we are to have unity, then that unity must be based upon the same standard.  It must be based upon the truth of God’s Word.  We do not achieve unity by capitulating on the truth or by trying to make truth relative.

     You may not believe that we can have unity.  However, in looking at how much the Bible speaks of unity ask yourself one question.  Would God ask us to do something that is not possible?  God as told us to be unified.  He has given us His standard to guide us in that unity.  His Son prayed for that unity.  Why do that if it is not achievable?  If we would just go to His Word, study what it really says, and then do that, we could have unity.  We could be one in Christ like as the Apostles.  That would be a better way!

How Did They Know That?

Posted on by under Christian Evidences

The_Earth_seen_from_Apollo_17      Have you ever been amazed by a child, perhaps your own, who shows that they have been paying attention to something that was said? Maybe they show a grasp of a new idea, and you can see that light bulb going off in their head for the first time. Sometimes we may wonder, “How did they know that,” or “how did they pick up on that idea.”

    In the Bible there are many examples that can be studied where the writers of the Holy Scriptures had a knowledge of scientific facts that would not be discovered by man for many, many years. This should lead us to the same question that we have with the child. Just how did they know that? For instance, consider what we read in the book of Isaiah. “Have you not known? Have you not heard? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth? It is He who sits above the circle of the earth, And its inhabitants are like grasshoppers, Who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, And spreads them out like a tent to dwell in” (Isaiah 40:21-22 NKJV).

      Notice that as Isaiah is speaking about our God, the Creator of the universe, he mentions that God sits above the circle of the earth. Isaiah is writing this sometime around 750 B.C., and he knows that the earth is round – it is a circle. Today we take this knowledge for granted, but it took a long time for man to come to the realization that the earth is round. We no longer worry about sailing over the edge of the earth. But how did Isaiah know this? He had never circumvented the globe or traveled into space to see this for himself.

       Furthermore, Job states “He stretches out the north over empty space; He hangs the earth on nothing” (Job 26:7). Job had never traveled into outer space either, so how does he know that the earth hangs on nothing? The ancients had all sorts of theories about what the earth was like and how it was held up. One theory was that Atlas held the world on his shoulders. Another was that the earth was on the back of some great tortoise. Now that we have traveled beyond our atmosphere, man can see that the earth indeed hangs on nothing.

       Did these men just get lucky with their knowledge of scientific facts that would not be discovered for a long, long time? That is unlikely. The only way these men could have known this information to be true is that God revealed this to them. “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 1:20-21). This is just one small proof that the Bible is not from man, but indeed has been penned by God through His Holy Spirit!

Why Can’t I Use Any Wood?

Posted on by under Article

Gopherwood     In today’s modern culture there is an emphasis on self sufficiency. That is, man believes that he is to be the ultimate judge and determiner of his own destiny. He does not need to rely on any one else. In such a spirit, we can imagine a modern day Noah asking the title question when God instructed him to make an ark.

     In the story of Noah, we see that God specified that Noah was to use a particular type of wood for the ark. God said, “Make yourself an ark of gopherwood; make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and outside with pitch” (Genesis 6:14 NKJV). While we do not know today just exactly what gopherwood was, it is clear that this is the wood that God specified that Noah was to use. It would not do for Noah to use any type of wood. When God specifically told him to use one kind of wood, He expressly eliminated all other types of wood. We see Noah’s righteousness in that he did just what God had commanded him to do (Genesis 6:22). Noah would not have been blessed had he not obeyed what God told him to do and used another type of wood.

     God did not need to provide Noah with a list of all the types of wood that were forbidden. He only needed to specify which wood was acceptable for the task. Today, many want to take the pages of Scripture and say that they are allowed to do whatever God has not specifically condemned. However, this is a misapplication of God’s Holy Word. For instance, God did not command us to make music, but instead told us to sing (Col. 3:16; Eph. 5:19). Had He told us to simply make music, we could do whatever we wished. Instead, He commands us to sing. That command to sing eliminates all other forms of music. He does not need to list all that is forbidden, since He has specified what is acceptable. It is the same as a sign on the restroom that specifies “Men.” That sign does not need to list who is not allowed, since it only authorizes men to enter.

     There are many other examples that can be used to show the same line of reasoning.  The fire that Nadab and Abihu used would be another indication that God specified what He wanted, and it eliminated all other types of fire (Lev. 10:1-3).  Just as Noah could not use any wood that he saw fit to use, we cannot be of the opinion that we can wander from what God has specified with regards to our worship to Him in our singing.  Let us not be guilty of going beyond what God has commanded!

Graduation Day

Posted on by under Current Events

10408708_292224034286727_3125514176653518821_n     Well, it’s that time of year again. Young men and women all across the country are completing one phase of their life and are preparing to move on to their next step. It is scary to leave what we know for the unknown, but it is also exciting to begin something new. Someday each of us will face a similar transition as we graduate from this life and move on into eternity. Thus we should also look to prepare ourselves for that graduation day.

     We see that Jesus spoke of this time of transition when He told His disciples that He would separate mankind as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats (Matthew 25:32ff). In every graduation ceremony there are those who achieve honor by graduating with high grades or perhaps being named valedictorian. Likewise we see that Jesus will reward the faithful by bidding them to, “Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” (Matthew 25:34b NKJV). Sadly those who fail at life’s test will meet a far different end, as they will depart into everlasting destruction, which is reserved for the devil and his angels (Matthew 25:41).

     Therefore, just as it is important for the student to prepare himself so that he may graduate with honors we also should prepare ourselves by living faithfully for that Great Day to come. Our future depends upon what we do in this life. Graduation day is approaching, are you ready?

Remember Me

Posted on by under Article

 remember me     In William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, the title character has suspicions about his uncle regarding his father’s death. Those suspicions are confirmed when Hamlet speaks with his father’s ghost. The ghost admonishes Hamlet to action in his final words to his son by saying, “Remember me.”

     Although not in the form of a ghost, Jesus asks us to remember Him in one of His last acts before going to the cross. As He was gathered in that upper room with His twelve apostles, Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper. He took from the unleavened bread and the fruit of the vine and He instructed them to eat and drink (Matthew 26:26-28). In so doing, they were to remember His sacrifice for their sins and the sins of all mankind. Jesus told them to “do this in remembrance of me” (Luke 22:19b NKJV).

     Later in his writing to the church in Corinth, Paul would repeat this admonition to remember the Lord by partaking in the Lord’s Supper. “For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes” (1 Corinthians 11:26). We also see in Scripture that it was upon the first day of the week, Sunday, that this memorial of the Lord was observed (Acts 20:7).

     There are many things that we may remember and make remembrances regarding them. It may be a special day in history. It may be a group of people who gave their lives in the defense of freedom. It may be in remembering some great leader or president. However, there is no one more deserving of our remembrances than the One who died to give us life. Let us be sure to remember Him each and every Lord’s Day especially. If you would like to know more about the One who died for your sins, come and see what God’s word has to say about Him.

He Kept His Integrity

Posted on by under Article

Tom_Brady_2011     There is much ado in the news lately regarding the issue of integrity.  For fans of the NFL this is especially true as the defending Super Bowl champions were just punished for a lack of integrity regarding the rules for proper inflation of the game balls used in one of their playoff games last season.  At stake is the integrity of the game.  At stake is whether it is desirable to endure future punishment for a reward now.  However, what is really at stake is something that is so much more important than just that.

     We have been told that cheaters never win.  That lies will eventually unravel and the truth will be known.  Today, some seem to think that our integrity and reputations are not that important.  If an advantage can be gained so we can win today, then we will deal with the consequences later with the prize in our hands.  That philosophy, unfortunately for them, is severely short sighted.

     There is value in having a good name.  Solomon wrote in Proverbs, “A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, Loving favor rather than silver and gold” (Proverbs 22:1 NKJV).  Silver and gold will perish.  Prizes and trophies will all gather dust or turn to rust.  There will be a time, however, when the quality of our name and the integrity of our lives will come into play.  There will be a time when we will be judged by something much more important than public opinion.  There will be a Day of Reckoning when all that we have done, whether good or bad will be brought into judgment by the God of the universe (2 Corinthians 5:10; Ecclesiastes 12:13-14).

     Just consider Job for a moment.  Job was a man who had great riches (Job 1:1-3).  He was a man who lost all that he had, including his children and his own health.  Even his own wife tormented him. “Then his wife said to him, ‘Do you still hold fast to your integrity? Curse God and die!’” (Job 2:9).  Job kept his integrity.  He did not stop doing what was right for some temporary relief.  He held fast to what was right.  Job said he would hold on to his integrity even to the point of death (Job 27:5).  That is who Job was.

     Who are we?  Will we hold fast to our integrity and do what is right even if it means we do not receive some temporary prize?  Or will we trade away our future, trade away our good name, for something that will one day perish in the dust?  Rest assured, what we do will find us out, either one way or the other. “He who walks with integrity walks securely, But he who perverts his ways will become known” (Proverbs 10:9). “The integrity of the upright will guide them, But the perversity of the unfaithful will destroy them” (Proverbs 11:3).  “Better is the poor who walks in his integrity than one perverse in his ways, though he be rich” (Proverbs 28:6).  Let us never trade our integrity for that which we think makes us rich.  Let us hold fast to the prize that is to come, which no one can take away from us!

I Know Whom I Have Believed

Posted on by under Article

I Know WhomAs Paul is giving his final instructions to the young evangelist, Timothy, he writes, “For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day” (2 Tim. 1:12 NKJV). Let us notice a few things about this particular verse.

First, Paul says that he knows whom he has believed. Paul does not have any doubt about the God that he serves. From the time that Paul first saw the light on the road to Damascus and spoke to our Lord and Savior, he never turned away. Paul was steadfast in his faith, even with all of the trials he had to endure (2 Cor. 11:23-28). Paul knows God, and we can know God too. He has left us sufficient evidence (Rom. 1:20).

Second, Paul is convinced that God is able to do anything He desires. God is all powerful. He is the God who spoke all of creation into existence (Gen. 1). He is the God who parted the Red Sea for the Israelites to cross on dry ground (Ex. 14:21-22). He is the God who was gracious to Paul by giving him a second chance, when he was persecuting God in his pursuit of Christians (Acts 9:1-5). God wants to give us a second chance also. He is able to cleanse our sins in the precious blood of His Son. He is able to make us whole.

Third, Paul has committed something to God. Like Jesus on the cross, Paul has committed his spirit, his soul, his very existence into God’s hands. Paul trusts that God is able to keep his soul well guarded. Peter also spoke of God’s ability to keep our inheritance in heaven under guard (1 Pet. 1:3-5). For those who follow God, their inheritance is reserved. No thief will break in and steal it, and rust will not corrupt it. It is ours, if we will obey and remain faithful to God.

We, like Paul, can have confidence in God. We can believe. We can know that He is able. We can trust Him with our very souls. If you would like to know more about God, please come and see us at the South Stokes church of Chirst.

Honey Thieves Caught in Sting Operation

Posted on by under Christian Living, Current Events

 honey-bees-326336_640    Recently in Pasco, Florida three men were hospitalized when their attempt to steal honey from a bee hive went horribly wrong.  Neighbors of the bee keeper reported hearing screams for help and seeing the three men rolling on the ground covered in bees.  Local firefighters were called out to rescue the men, who each received about fifty bee stings each for their folly.

     Whatever these men thought that they could gain in grabbing some free honey went by the wayside, as they found themselves stung instead.  Stories like these can often bring a wry smile to our faces, but let us consider what is at the heart of the matter.  The real issue is with trying to find easy gain that we have not worked for or earned.  This shows an attitude of discontent for what we already have been blessed with.

     The pages of scripture are rich in admonitions for us to be content with what we have.  Paul wrote, “I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need” (Philippians 4:11b-12 NKJV).  Later, in writing to Timothy he would say, “Now godliness with contentment is great gain.  For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.  And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content” (1 Timothy 6:6-8).

     Paul would go on to instruct Timothy that those who desire to be rich fall into a destructive pattern and pierce themselves with many sorrows.  Those three men who were pierced by bee stings would certainly say that this is correct!  Jesus said that if we would first seek His kingdom and His righteousness, that we would have all of the needs of our daily lives taken care of by Him (Matthew 6:33).  Let us learn to be content with what we have, and to seek Him first and foremost in our lives!

God’s Path to Salvation – Step Five – Be Baptized

Posted on by under Doctrine

baptism     After hearing and believing the Word, if we are willing to submit to God by confessing our allegiance to Christ and repent of the things we are doing that are wrong, we can become a child of God by being baptized for the remission of our sins.  This step in God’s path to salvation seems to be the most misunderstood and most debated of all of what God requires of us.  Yet, it is a simple step, which the pages of scripture call us to do.  Jesus commands baptism.  The apostles commanded baptism.  Paul was instructed to be baptized.  All of those who converted to Christianity that we can read about in the book of Acts were baptized as part of their conversion.  If you do not believe me, see what God’s Word says about the subject!

     As Jesus was bidding His disciples farewell just before ascending into heaven, He gave them His final instructions.  “And He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.  He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned’” (Mark 16:15-16NKJV).  Notice here that Jesus states that the one who is a believer and has been baptized will be saved.  It is the same as saying, he who has a ticket and gets into line will be admitted to the game.  We have to have the ticket first in order to get into the game.  If we do not have a ticket, there is no sense in getting into line.  Thus, we have to believe before we are baptized.  If we do not believe, then baptism alone will not affect us.  Additionally, it does us absolutely no good to have a ticket for the game, but to never get into line to enter the building.  Just buying our ticket does not grant us admittance.  Likewise, in order to be saved one must believe and be baptized.

     In Matthew’s recording of the great commission, he writes that Jesus told them to make disciples from all of the nations (Matthew 28:19).  How is it that they were to make disciples?  Jesus tells them how.  He said that they were to baptize them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and to teach them to observe all of Christ’s commandments (Matthew 28:19-20).  That is how disciples are made.  If you have not been baptized, you are not a disciple (follower) of Jesus Christ.

     It is the act of baptism that washes away our sins.  God did His part in sending His one and only unique Son to die on our behalf, so that our sins might be covered.  Jesus died so that we could be cleansed, sanctified, made holy, and set apart (Romans 5:6-11).  But we also have to do our part in accepting that grace of God.  It is not enough for us to receive a great prize notification, and say that we are rich.  We must claim that prize in order for it to have the intended effect.  It is the act of baptism that puts us in contact with the blood of Christ.  The water has no magical properties, but the act of obedience to what the Lord commanded means that His blood cleanses us from sin.  Paul wrote to the church in Rome, “. . . 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).  Being buried with Him in the likeness of His death signifies how we come in contact with the blood He shed, so that our sins can be covered.  Being compared to a burial also tells us of the method of baptism.  It is an immersion, a complete covering.  Otherwise, it is not a burial.

     Peter said that baptism was the act that removes our sins when he preached to the crowd on the day of Pentecost.  On that day the doors of the church were opened for the first time.  Peter explained that those Jews in Jerusalem had been responsible for rejecting Christ and having Him crucified.  They were responsible for His death.  Imagine how they must have felt when Peter showed them that they had put the one and only Son of God to death!  This news pricked them in their hearts.  They were convicted by the word.  They were convinced that they had done wrong.  They wanted to know what they could do to get out of such a terrible predicament (Acts 2:22-37).  “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).  Notice what Peter did not tell them to do.  He did not say to just accept Jesus in your heart and all would be well.  He did not say to repeat a “sinners prayer,” which is not found in Scripture, in order to be saved.  He told them to repent and be baptized.  One is no good without the other.  They were to be baptized for the remission of sins.  Since baptism is the way to remit our sins, if we are not baptized our sins are not remitted.  Later Peter would write that baptism now saves us (1 Peter 3:21).

     One last example to consider is the conversion of Paul.  Paul was a persecutor of the church.  He did not believe in Jesus.  As he was on the way to Damascus to round up more Christians for trial and execution, he saw a bright light and heard the voice of Christ.  Surely that would be enough to save Paul, right?  Notice what Paul was told to do by Jesus.  “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do” (Acts 9:6b).  So Paul went into Damascus.  There he was told what he must do in order to be saved.  When Ananias came to him, Paul had been praying and fasting for three days (Acts 9:9).  Ananias said to Paul, “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).

     Notice that Paul was not saved by seeing Jesus.  He was not saved by speaking to Jesus.  He was not saved by praying and fasting for three days.  If he had been, then why would Ananias have to tell him to be baptized to wash away his sins?  If he had already been saved prior to baptism, there would be no sins that still needed to be washed away.  Notice also that Ananias tells Paul how to call upon the name of the Lord.  You may recall from step one of God’s path to salvation that in Paul’s writing to the Romans in chapter 10 of that letter, Paul told them that those who are saved are those who call upon the name of the Lord.  How do we call upon the name of the Lord?  We do so by obeying Him.  Ananias told Paul that baptism is how we wash away our sins, and how we call upon the name of the Lord.

     The Bible tells us that all of our spiritual blessings are to be found in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 1:3).  Those who are in Christ are no longer condemned (Romans 8:1).  Those who are in Christ are new creatures, having been born again (2 Corinthians 5:17).  Salvation is only to be found in Christ (2 Timothy 2:10).  In Christ, we can have eternal life (1 John 5:11).  So how do we get in Christ in order to receive all of these blessings?  We get in Christ by being baptized into Christ.  “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” (Galatians 3:26-27, emphasis added).  We must be in Christ to receive the blessings.  We get in Christ by obeying what He has told us to do.  For that, He commanded us to be baptized.

God’s Path to Salvation – Step Four – Repent

Posted on by under Doctrine

14130441997_a4c5a31a2d_o     The next step in God’s path to salvation is to repent of the things that we have done, or are doing, which are not in accordance with God’s word.  Jesus Himself taught that repentance was necessary when He taught His disciples about those Galileans who were killed by Pilate, or about those upon whom the tower of Siloam had fallen upon.  He told them that unless they repented they would all likewise perish (Luke 13:3, 5).

     Similarly, Paul stood upon Mars’ Hill in Athens and preached to those who were listening about the “unknown” God.  In that address, Paul stated that repentance was necessary for salvation.  Regarding their past ignorance of God’s will he told them, “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).  Notice that God calls upon all men, all of mankind to repent.  Notice also that He calls upon all men everywhere.  That means that no one is exempt from the command to repent.

     Later, Paul would tell young Timothy that God wants all men to come to a knowledge of the truth and to be saved (1 Timothy 2:4)  Additionally, Peter explains that God is not willing for anyone to perish spiritually.  He wishes for all men, again that is all of mankind, to repent of what they have done wrong.  Peter writes, “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).  Because it has been almost 2,000 years since the sacrificial death of Jesus upon the cross, men are likely to wonder about the second coming.  It is God who is holding off on the end of the world, because He does not want anyone to perish.  He wants all men everywhere to come to repentance and be obedient to His will.

     Therefore, we need to repent of our sins in order to lay hold of eternal life, but just what is involved in that repentance?  Is it just saying that I am sorry for what I have done?  Is it just saying that I am sorry that I got caught doing something wrong, or is there more to it than that?  We must not be misled into thinking that repentance is just a feeling of momentary sorrow with no change in our actions.  There is much more to repentance than just that feeling of sorrow.  Repentance means that we make a change in our life.  We do not just feel sorry for what we have done, but if we are sinning against God then we change our lifestyle to reflect His wishes, His commands, His will.  Paul explains this difference in writing to the church at Corinth:

Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing.  For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.  For observe this very thing, that you sorrowed in a godly manner: What diligence it produced in you, what clearing of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what vehement desire, what zeal, what vindication! In all things you proved yourselves to be clear in this matter (2 Corinthians 7:9-11)

Notice that Paul is not rejoicing in their sorrow, but in the fact that their godly sorrow produced repentance, a change of direction.

     It is our godly sorrow that will lead us to repentance.  Our repentance, our change of mind, our change of direction will then lead us to God and His salvation.  It is not like the sorrow of the world whereby we might just be sorry that we were caught in wrongdoing.  Let us all put our sins behind us, and throw off that weight so that we may run our race unencumbered by sin (Hebrews 12:1).  Let us learn to repent of what we do that does not match God’s will, so that we can have that hope of eternal salvation when our life here is done!