The Christian life is to be a life of growth and development. “We are to desire the sincere milk of the word that we may grow thereby unto salvation” (1 Peter 2:1-2). In 2 Peter 3:18 we read, “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” We also learn from Hebrews 5:12-14 that with time and opportunity God expects us to grow as His children. One of those avenues of development is to make sure that our lives are characterized by purity. In Matthew 5:8 in the Sermon on the Mount, the Savior said, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” First, one must purify his soul in obeying the truth. Peter wrote in 1 Peter 1:22-23, “Seeing ye have purified your souls in your obedience to the truth unto unfeigned love of the brethren, love one another from the heart fervently.” As a penitent believer who has confessed his faith in his Lord, one must be baptized into Christ for the remission of his past sins (John 8:24; Luke 13:5; Romans 6:3-6; 10:9-10; Acts 2:38). Peter stressed the need of growth and development in the Christian life (2 Peter 1:5-11). Second, one must be concerned with purity of heart or life. Psalm 24:3-4 reads, “Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? Or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart.” “But the end of the charge is love out of a …

There is no greater unifying doctrine among those professing to be Christians than the topic of faith. Most would agree that faith is necessary to please God and to receive everlasting life (John 3:16). Yet, the doctrine of faith that unites the religious world is also the source of great division. The division occurs when the question is asked, “What type of faith leads to salvation?” James addressed this query by asking two rhetorical questions in James 2:14, “What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? Can faith save him?” These questions are constructed to indicate that James expected negative answers, and in the verses that follow, he explained why negative answers were a foregone conclusion. Faith with the absence of works is not saving faith, because faith cannot be reduced to words only. To illustrate, James provided an impractical, inexcusable and sinful interaction between a Christian in need and a Christian who was capable of helping (15-16). Instead of helping, the well-to-do brother responded, “Depart in peace be ye warmed and filled,” without providing any care to the one in need (16b). It is evident that the one who was needy was dismissed and treated as an inconvenience. When action is replaced with words, words become meaningless. In like manner James added, “…faith, if it hath not works is dead, being alone” (17). When faith is reduced to words only, it becomes a dead faith! Will Christ return to gather a people …

Last year, Brenna Martin graduated from high school. One of the things that she will remember most is the graduation gift that she received from her parents. She posted her thoughts about her gift not long after she received it. Here are her words. I graduated High School this week. When my Dad said he had a present for me, I thought I was getting some cheesy graduation card. But what I received was something truly priceless… Following the ceremony he handed me a bag with a copy of Oh, The Places You’ll Go! by Dr. Seuss inside. At first I just smiled and said that it meant a lot and that I loved that book. But then he told me, “No, open it up.” On the first page I see a short paragraph written by none other than my kindergarten teacher. I started tearing up but I’m still confused. He tells me, “Every year, for the past 13 years, since the day you started kindergarten, I’ve gotten every teacher, coach, and principal to write a little something about you in this book.” He managed to keep this book a secret for 13 years, and apparently everyone else in my life knew about it! Yes the intended effect occurred… I burst out into tears. Sitting there reading through this book there are encouraging and sweet words from every teacher I love and remember through my years in this small town. My early teachers mention my “pigtails and giggles,” while my high school …

“Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. …your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you…” (Matthew 6:1, 4 NKJV). Most of the acts of service done in the name of Christ go unrecognized by people. They are done behind-the-scenes by people who are not in the “limelight.” Not every time we do something to expand the borders of the Lord’s kingdom in our world will we be recognized for doing such. Jesus said if our motivation is to garner the praise and attention of men, we are sinning. However, this does not mean that it is wrong to receive praise for right-doing or give praise to others for right-doing. We all need encouragement, affirmation and validation (Romans 12:10; 1 Thessalonians 5:11; Hebrews 10:24-25). If we do not get it, sometimes we can get down on ourselves and start to believe what we are doing is not important. As Christians, we are in the business of building each other up, and we should not neglect opportunities to give praise where it is due. To you who visit the lonely and the sick when no one sees, who prepare meals for those who cannot, who pray unceasingly for your brethren, who send cards, who spend hours of your time planning and organizing church functions, who wash countless dishes and clean mountains of clothes so your family can function to serve …

This year we had a great couple of weeks of camp. Someone observed during Junior Week that our campers, who are from the ages of 7-12 years old, “did very well during the worship services, and they did not even have coloring books during worship services.” Each day at camp we had two worship services, an evening campfire and Bible classes. The campers were attentive to the speakers, sang and prayed during those times they were supposed to in worship. This is a lot of paying attention and sitting still for a kid, but they showed it can be done. Of course, this did not just happen; our camp staff and counselors communicated with the campers on the first day what is expected of them in our times of worship and Bible Study. Now, sometimes we had to remind the campers before we began what was expected of them, but they followed directions very well. You know it is good to be reminded from time to time, even as adults, what is expected of us as we come into worship and Bible study on The Lord’s Day and for mid-week Bible Study. It is the way we learn, grow and mature in our relationships with Christ and our worship of God. Hebrews 12:28 states, “Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe.” Our worship of God is to be done with the …

Peter said, “Lord I am ready to go with thee, both into prison and to death” (Luke 22:33). Peter, though, was not ready; he just thought he was. He later denied the Lord (Luke 22:55-62). We should follow Jesus for He is our example (1 Peter 2:21). Following him necessitates self-denial (Matthew 16:24), but even a dog will follow his master. Following Jesus is like a sailor sailing under sealed orders. The question of obedience has been settled before the orders are read. “Be ye ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear” (1 Peter 3:15). It takes study to do this (2 Timothy 2:15; 4:13). It also takes the right disposition of heart to do it in the manner commanded. One might win a discussion and lose a soul. Let us win the soul as well as the discussion. “He that winneth souls is wise” (Proverbs 11:30). Paul said, “I am ready to preach the Gospel” (Romans 1:15). Why? He believed it to be “the power of God unto salvation” (Romans 1:16). He was not ashamed of the Gospel. He recognized that he was a debtor (Romans 1:14). Those same reasons will motivate us to preach the Gospel, “that they be ready to distribute” (1 Timothy 6:18). Sharing with others is a Christian principle of life; God shared His Son with us. This indicates unselfishness and kindness. It was a mark of …

We had friends (husband and wife) visit with us. Mind you, though, they are not just “friends, “but they are “friends!” Like me, he is a preacher, and the reason for their visit was not a good one as he was here to preach a funeral of another friend. However, it gave us a chance to remember “the good ole days.” These friends were like family. (1) We worked together. At one time, he and I owned a used car lot together; we worked and served in the Lion’s Club together; we worked for the Lord side by side. (2) We played together. As we’ve gotten older, we don’t do much “playing” any more, but at one time, about once a week or so, several friends would all get together to play games, eat meals or treats and visit. (3) We shared good times together. As kids growing up and traveling around together, we had friends and acquaintances in common, etc. (4) We shared bad times together. We cried together at the loss of family and friends; we shared disappointments when things didn’t go so well; we ached together as we struggled with health problems, etc. In a word, we shared all things in common. That’s exactly what Luke said of the early Christians in Acts 2:44ff, “All who believed were together and had all things in common. They sold their possessions and goods and parted them to all men as every one had need. And, continuing daily with one accord in the temple and breaking bread from house to …

The significance of being “in Christ” is seen in the fact that all spiritual blessings are in Him. God is certainly to be praised for providing “every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ” (Ephesians 1:3). For clarity, the phrase “in the heavenly” refers to the spiritual realm. In Ephesians 1:3, “the heavenly” likely refers specifically to the church, the spiritual body of Christ. One “in Christ” is the beneficiary of many wonderful blessings (Ephesians 1:3-7). Those “in Christ” are chosen in Him (v. 4). Those “in Christ” are adopted as sons through Jesus Christ (v. 5). God’s grace is “freely bestowed on us through the Beloved” (v. 6). “In Christ” we have redemption through His blood and the forgiveness of sins by the grace of God (vs. 7-8). If you’re keeping count, that’s at least five specific spiritual blessings that are to be found only “in Christ”! It is important to know what the Bible teaches about how one comes to be “in Christ.” The apostle Paul very clearly and distinctly taught, “for as many of you as were baptized into Christ did put on Christ” (Galatians 3:27). How does one get into Christ? We are baptized into Christ. The brethren in the churches of Galatia “were baptized.” That is, they were immersed, and therefore, they were “in Christ” wherein lie all spiritual blessings. To be “in Christ” one must have accepted the evidence presented in Scripture that Jesus is the Christ, confessed faith in Christ, repented of sins, …

It seems that just about all memorials erected by mere men lose their significance in the passing of years. I was born in Brooklyn, New York, and like all large cities, monuments are plentiful. These monuments are built to preserve remembrance of the dead or a past event. However, in the fleeting of time, memories of these deeds become unknown by most of us. Recently, the World War One Memorial in Washington, D.C. has become known again because of the death of the last USA WW1 veteran, Frank Woodruff Buckles (February 1, 1901 – February 27, 2011). In his advanced age of one hundred plus years, Frank visited the World War One Memorial and was shocked because of its deterioration over the years. The memorial had been neglected, and the reminder of those who served was forgotten. Trees and shrubbery had blocked viewing this once prominent monument. Sadly, in the passing of years, people forget. “And Joseph died, and all his brethren, and all that generation. And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty; and the land was filled with them. Now there arose a new king over Egypt, who knew not Joseph” (Exodus 1:6-8 ASV). After all the wonderful works Joseph did for Egypt, there “arose a new king over Egypt, who knew not Joseph.” So it goes with the memory of past generations. We forget! I find this fact very sad and proof of a lack of appreciation for past …

The Bible speaks of those who are dead in sin, and those who are dead to sin. Sadly, there are some connected with the church that seem to be about halfway between. That is, they gave the impression that they died to sin when they were baptized. However, as we look at their lives, the questions raised in Romans 6:1-2 are pertinent. “Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? God forbid. We who are dead to sin, how shall we any longer live therein?” Paul said in Romans 6:6-7, “Knowing this, that our old man was crucified with him, that the body of sin might be done away, that so we should no longer be in bondage to sin; for he that hath died is justified from sin.” Is it possible that instead of crucifying the old man, we just stunned him? Our baptism is supposed to be a symbol of burying the old man of sin into the death of Christ, and then rising to walk in newness of life (Romans 6:3-4). However, it is possible to have a form of Godliness and deny the power thereof (2 Timothy 3:5). We probably have the answer to the fruitlessness in the lives of many who profess membership in the church as we examine carefully such passages as 1 Corinthians 15:36, “Thou foolish one, that which thou thyself sowest is not quickened except it die.” Although Paul is here talking about the resurrection of the body at the Second Coming of …

Let’s begin today with a few numbers. As of the time of this writing, the U.S. National Debt is $16,658,047,122,041, and by 2017, this number will have jumped at the current rate to over $22 trillion. The U.S. Total Debt is $58,221,519,401,846. Every year, some US citizens make donations to help reduce the over $16 trillion national debt. Since the government began to accept gifts for that purpose in 1961, almost $100 million has been given. That is a lot of money, but it does nothing to scratch the surface of the level of debt in this nation. How much is $16 trillion? Think about it like this: The population of the United States is about 310 million. If we could collect $53,056 from every man, woman and child alive in the United States today, we could pay off our current debt. Or, how about this: According to United Nations estimates, there are approximately 7 billion people alive in the world today. If we could collect about $2,000 from each of them (every man, woman and child in the world), we’d still be about $2 trillion short. It would take approximately $2,350 per person to cover the entire current debt. Or put another way, scientists have estimated the total number of human beings born since the beginning of time at approximately 106 billion. If we had about $155 for every person ever born, we’d have just enough to pay off our national debt. Or, in terms of real estate, the total value …

I actually am not real big on short slogans because they can be misleading in their brevity. Cutesy phrases often do not express the fullness needed to understand a subject; they merely sound good. However, this little phrase above is very powerful in its simplicity. There is no true hope outside of a relationship with the God Who created heaven and earth. Occasionally, I will read where someone will write or quote a writer who tries to give meaning to life without God. It is amazing and amusing to see the doublespeak and convoluted attempts to explain the significance of life without God. Here is a quote, and I will let you explain to me what he is saying, if you can. The author Eckhart Tolle claims to be a “spiritual” teacher combining thoughts from various world religions, though he is very vague about a “god” of any kind. “There is only one perpetuation of evil on the planet: human unconsciousness. That realization is true forgiveness. With forgiveness, your true power emerges, the power of Presence. Instead of blaming the darkness, you bring on the light.” HUH? Really? How about this instead? “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter, Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.” Tolle is right that we do need to leave the darkness and go to the light. The light is only found in Jesus Christ, with the hope that only comes from God though the Gospel. …

Hell, it seems, has lost a lot of its fire over the last few decades, and perhaps even through recent centuries. The reason for this lies in the fact that mankind has forgotten one simple precept: God hates sin, and He will punish those who refuse to repent and turn to Him. When you deny the existence of hell, you deny the Bible. When you overemphasize attributes like love and mercy, and neglect attributes like wrath and justice, you deny God. While God most certainly is a God of love and mercy, He is also a God of vengeance (Deuteronomy 7:4; 2 Thessalonians 1:6-9). It does not take long to find proof of this; simply read Genesis, and you will find two major events in the first 19 chapters. Genesis 19 records the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, as well as the neighboring cities in the valley, on account of their great wickedness. Prior to this is the greatest catastrophe this planet has ever seen – the great flood. Genesis 6-7 details the account of the flood that destroyed “all in whose nostrils was the breath of the spirit of life, all that was on the dry land…” (Genesis 7:22 NKJV), man and animal, because of sin. Since the Bible unequivocally declares that the wicked will be punished, it behooves us as Christians to make sure that we warn as many as we can, and show them the way to safety. “Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men…” …

Occasionally, people will ask me, “What is the unpardonable sin?” Often this question comes after the person has read, “Therefore I say unto you, Every sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men; but the blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven. And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him; but whosoever shall speak against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, nor in that which is to come” (Matthew 12:31, 32). What is the meaning of this perplexing section? First some clarification of terms. “Son of man” is one expression Jesus used of Himself, highlighting His humanity (John 1:1-3, 14; 8:28). “Blasphemy” is essentially to speak against or a rejection and disdain for what is holy. Second, the time sequence must be considered. When Jesus made the statement, He had yet to be crucified. Some had been accepting Him, but many were rejecting His Messiahship. However, following His resurrection, Jesus would return to the Father (John 16:10) and send the Holy Spirit upon the apostles (John 14:26). Those who rejected Jesus during His personal ministry, even those who called out for His crucifixion, would have another opportunity to be forgiven. Thus speaking against the “Son of man” (Jesus) could be forgiven (Acts 2:22, 23, 36-38). Third, speaking against the Holy Spirit is equivalent to speaking against His message. Consider a parallel. Some unscrupulous men lied against Stephen and said, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses…” (Acts 6:11). …

My wife and I were eating lunch recently at a local restaurant. The server was a petite, pretty young lady, exceptionally nice, and she attended to our every need. I said to Virginia that I hoped she was as good and pleasant in every way as she was in her demeanor toward us. As we were finishing our lunch and as she approached our table, I noticed some kind of ring on her left hand. So, I asked, “Are you married?” There was a slight pause before she answered, and then she replied, “No, I suppose you could say I am engaged. My boyfriend and I have been living together for five years, and we have one child.” While I was disappointed, I was not surprised. I offered to marry them for just a free lunch, but she refused my offer. The complete disregard toward the teaching of the Word of God concerning marriage is not a gray matter. It is either black or white. Living together without the marriage vows is a violation of God’s law, or it really doesn’t matter at all because there are no rules governing such cohabitation of unmarried couples. Sad to say, married couples are now in the minority in this country. People who are living in what the Bible calls fornication should straighten out their own lives before condemning couples of the same sex who are marrying one another. Now, having said that, it is to be understood in no uncertain terms that …

The clash between Paul and Peter, the two most influential leaders in the early church, is one of the most dramatic confrontations in the Bible. It took place at the church in Antioch, which was the first predominately Gentile congregation. Peter decided to visit the brethren in Antioch despite the prejudice many Jews felt toward Gentile Christians. Thus, Peter was in Antioch eating and having fellowship with the Gentiles until something took place that resulted in an intense confrontation (Galatians 2:11, 14). Paul described why he rebuked Peter in front of the entire church. Why did this happen? The Cause of the Clash (v.12) Peter fellowshipped the Gentiles until some brethren from Jerusalem came to visit. These men were Christians, but prejudiced against Gentiles – even Gentiles who had become Christians. When these men arrived, Peter quit eating and fellowshipping the Gentiles. Note: The word translated “withdrew” means, “a strategic military move.” Peter was more concerned with pleasing the men from Jerusalem, even though he knew how Gentile Christians should be treated. This issue had been settled years earlier, with Peter’s help, at the Jerusalem council, as recorded in Acts 15:5-9. Peter gave in to the pressure of a few narrow-minded Jewish Christians and returned to his old ways. Paul confronted him about it because he saw a biblical principle at stake. Paul wasn’t trying to attack or hurt Peter; he was trying to help his brother. The Consequences of the Clash (v.13) Peter’s actions resulted in two negative things happening in the church at Antioch: The …

“The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule on their own authority; and My people love it so! But what will you do at the end of it?” (Jeremiah 5:31). In this passage of Scripture, the word translated “authority” is the Hebrew term “yad,” which literally means “hand.” It can be used of one’s hand on his or her body, or the wrist, but it is often used metaphorically to signify strength or power, authority. God through His prophet was warning the people of Judah they were listening to words that had no real authority behind them; they came from false prophets and priests who did things their own way, not God’s way. While this may have appealed to them, the bigger question was how would it all end? In the day of truth they would be disillusioned and under judgment. The opportunity to respond to the authority of God would be over; repentance would be past. Indeed, what would they do? As one person has put it, “A dreadful question mark hung over the future.” Later, Jesus would be asked a similar question by the religious rulers of His day; “By what authority are You doing these things, or who gave You this authority to do these things” (Mark 11:28). There was a difference regarding the matter of authority between the rulers and Jesus. Like the priests of old, the rulers’ authority came from themselves, or by their own hand. It was based on their desires and from their …

The word “autonomy” is defined as, “right of self-government; a self-governing state; an independent body.” In the first century, each congregation of God’s people constituted an independent body. It was independent of every other congregation. Elders did not parcel out power like pearls. There was not tyranny or threats of one church over another. All recognized their individual right of existence. The church in Rome or Jerusalem had no authority in extending their tentacles of power over other self-governing bodies in other communities. Men outside a given congregation had no right to exercise authority and power within another congregation (Titus 1:5-9; 1 Timothy 3:1-7). It is most important, brethren, that all understand that elders and deacons in one church have no authority to exercise despotic rule or any other kind of rule over the elders and deacons of another congregation. Such is also true of a congregation without elders and deacons (Acts 20:17-38; 14:23). In the first century, each congregation was free and independent, under the teachings of Christ and the apostles, to govern itself, carry out its own work and manage its own business (Acts 14:23; 1 Peter 5:1-3). Nowhere does the Bible authorize a group of elders and preachers representing several congregations to meet and dictate policy and demands to another congregation. Such action smacks of ecclesiasticism and is going beyond what is written (2 John 9-11). Such saintly façade masks the worst form of evil! The New Testament teaches no system of church government larger or smaller …

The Lord’s Supper has been lovingly practiced upon the first day of every week by faithful members of the church of Christ since the birth of the church on Pentecost (Acts 2:42; 20:7). This distinctive feature of worship in the Lord’s church is to be recognized as a sacred and holy event in memory of our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ and His cruel death on the cross of Calvary for our sins, as well as reminding us that He will come again. This sacred memorial, given by the Lord Himself, is strictly a New Testament ordinance, and one which was never practiced in the Old Law of Moses. It is a permanent kingdom institution, to be observed among the Lord’s disciples who have entered into the Lord’s church, until He comes again (Luke 22:29-30). Jesus’ Teaching Clear “The Lord’s Supper” (1 Corinthians 11:20), “the Lord’s table” (1 Corinthians 10:21), “the breaking of bread” (Acts 2:42) and “the communion” (1 Corinthians 10:16) are all Bible terms that have reference to the blessed memorial instituted by our Lord on the night of His betrayal before the cross (Matthew 26:26-29; Mark 14:22-25; Luke 22:14-20). However, due to various confusing denominational teachings concerning the communion, about which Catholics make reference in speaking of one of seven “sacraments” (ordinances made by their church) and Protestantism defines as one of two sacraments, ignorance reigns with the multitudes, and often questions arise in the minds of the honest Bible student! It has always been our plea, …

Jesus used illustrations from daily life to help His hearers understand the nature of His kingdom. The Parable of the Sower demonstrates this point and helps us grasp a number of lessons important to followers of Christ. The Lord said, “The seed is the word of God” (Luke 8:11). Farmers might have to be careful with their money, but they will never scrimp on seed. The reason is simple, the only way to have a harvest is from seed sown. Seed left in a bag in the shed does not produce. Neither will God’s Word left unscattered produce a harvest. Paul said, “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase” (1 Corinthians 3:6). The Lord said the farmer does not know how the seed sprouts and grows (Mark 4:26-29). The soil in which God’s Word grows is the human heart. It is not our place to decide which heart contains which type of soil. We know some hearts are like the packed earth of a footpath. Other hearts have shallow topsoil. Still others have hearts filled with the weeds of the cares, riches and pleasures of this life. Some have hearts filled with good soil ready to take in the seed and produce fruit to the glory of the Almighty (Luke 8:12-15). The oldest known mature seed to sprout is the seed of the Judean date palm. It was found in Herod the Great’s fortress at Masada and is believed to be 2,000 years old (https://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/06/080612-oldest-tree.html). God’s seed does …

Fire ants are a significant, costly problem across the southeastern United States. One means of extermination is by mixing equal amounts of powdered sugar and baking soda, sprinkling it where the ants are visible. The ants love the sugar but are unable to separate the baking soda from the composition, and the chemical reaction in their bodies brings death. Equally deadly to the Christian, spiritually speaking, is the combination of Gospel truth with foreign elements of human or satanic origin. Evil workers in the disguise of “angels of light” (2 Corinthians 11:13-15) often supply their adherents a portion of the sweet as they speak about the love, mercy, grace, power and promises of God. However, they are eager to supplement with portions of opinion, human tradition, philosophy and feel good options for a semi-spiritual – carnal blend. Like the ant, so many are either unable or unwilling to distinguish the good from the harmful. Time and again the Scriptures sound the warning to God’s faithful children not to be duped by error or avoid deception by false teachers (cf. 1 Timothy 4:1-8). Paul grieved over the harmful influence certain people were gaining in Galatia while altering or perverting the Gospel of Christ (Galatians 1:6-9). He knew how life-threatening the danger was (and continues to be). In Philippians 3:18 Paul used a word that meant “to sob” or “wail aloud” when he had warned of false brethren (Judaizing teachers) who opted for and promoted a blend of Judaism and Christianity. They …