The idea that “prepositions matter” may seem like a superfluous point, but one may be surprised how careless one can be with the use of prepositions. Generally speaking, prepositions provide detail as to when or where something occurred, and these words may also indicate how something occurred. It is not uncommon for people unfamiliar with our English language to struggle to choose the correct preposition. Since English is our common language, we take many of the rules we were taught for granted. Of course, sometimes we pick up bad habits and commit errors relating to prepositions without thinking about it. Sometimes I feel like I need to take a class on remedial English myself! Koine Greek also has prepositions. One may think that knowing the proper use of prepositions in Greek is a minor matter, but that is a mistake. Consider Acts 2:38 and the expression “for the remission of sins.” The preposition “for” can be used in such a way that does not match what the preposition εἰς means. Translations sometimes prefer to retain “for” so people can argue that baptism is not a salvation issue but a demonstration of salvation that was received prior to baptism. These efforts attempt to argue the term “for” has the meaning “because of,” but this is misleading. Questions I like to ask those that argue baptism is for salvation already obtained is, “Then why is baptism even in the New Testament? Why are baptisms in Acts treated with urgency?” Take for example this common prepositional chart …

The Book of Hosea is unique from this perspective: God took charge of a priest’s life and sent him on a journey of love, heartbreak, desertion and reclamation. Before Hosea uttered a word of prophecy, according to the account, he was commanded to marry either a prostitute or a woman with wandering eyes. This was a technical violation of the law, for priests were to marry only virgins (Leviticus 21:14). As expected, the wife proved herself unfaithful, and Hosea had to deal with the betrayal. Finally, she deserted him, was kidnapped and was taken into slavery. Hosea found her and had to buy her back for himself. He told her the new rules of the house to try and reclaim her heart (Hosea 3:1-3). God used Hosea’s worn, broken heart to voice His prophecy to unfaithful Israel. The mournful tones are evident to the reader. “…‘She decked herself with her earrings and jewelry, And went after her lovers; But Me she forgot,’ says the LORD” (Hosea 2:13b). “O Ephraim, what shall I do to you? O Judah, what shall I do to you? For your faithfulness is like a morning cloud, And like the early dew it goes away” (Hosea 6:4). “How can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I hand you over, Israel? How can I make you like Admah? How can I set you like Zeboiim? My heart churns within Me; My sympathy is stirred” (Hosea 11:8). How sad and terrible that we would treat God so! …

Worship is an essential feature of the assemblies of the saints. It is a time for the family of God to join together in praising the Father. Acceptable worship must involve both spirit and truth (John 4:24). We might use the heart to describe what is meant by the word “spirit.” Our hearts must be filled with purity. The Psalmist said the one who would be with God in His holy place must have clean hands and a pure heart (Psalm 24:3-4). God’s instructions to Jacob to go to Bethel resulted in him telling his family, “…Put away the foreign gods that are among you, purify yourselves and change your garments” (Genesis 35:2 NKJV). David keenly felt the guilt of his sin and asked God to create in him a clean heart (Psalm 51:10). Our hearts should bow in humility. One singer declared, “…I, by your great mercy, will come into your house; in reverence will I bow down toward your holy temple” (Psalm 5:7 NIV). Peter instructed scattered Christians to humble themselves before God (1 Peter 5:6). Habakkuk reported, “But the Lord is in His holy temple. Let all the earth keep silence before Him” (Habakkuk 2:20 NKJV). We should also raise our voices in praise to God because of what is in our heart. “I will praise the Lord according to His righteousness, And will sing praise to the name of the Lord Most High” was proclaimed by a singer of Israel (Psalm 7:17). Another singer said, “I will be …

First Kings 13 records that a young prophet went and prophesied against Jeroboam. God had told him not to stop and eat or drink, but to go straight back by a different way than he came. An older prophet wanted to spend some time with him on his way back. Here is what Scripture says at this point: “He said to him, ‘I too am a prophet as you are, and an angel spoke to me by the word of the Lord, saying, ‘Bring him back with you to your house, that he may eat bread and drink water.’ (He was lying to him.)” (1 Kings 13:18 NKJV). As you know, the young prophet was killed by a lion after he believed this lie and disregarded what God had told him to do. I could not help but think of some points right here. There are many who lie in the name of Jesus. It may be that some lie in the name of Jesus because of ignorance of the truth. Others may lie in the name of Jesus because others have deceived them. Some lie in the name of Jesus, knowingly and willingly. The fact is that when anyone teaches anything concerning religion other than what is authorized by the Word of God, he spreads lies. Paul called it a “different gospel,“ which is not “another” (Galatians 1 :6-7)—a “gospel” of a different kind, one that is not from God. There are always consequences to believing a lie. Believing a lie, …

“Then the Lord said to Satan, ‘Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil? And still he holds fast to his integrity, although you incited Me against him, to destroy him without cause” (Job 2:3 NKJV). It may seem that with so many people living on this earth today, we are so small and insignificant that God might not care to observe our day to day actions. If this were true, we might be able to hide our sometimes sinful actions from the Almighty Creator of the universe. That is not now, nor has it ever been, a possibility. God created the universe of stars, planets, comets and moons. He made the human body with all of its functioning systems to make us live, breathe, walk and talk. Then, He placed us exactly where He wanted us, in an environment perfect for our ability to sustain life and to grow. Consequently, He has an eye on each of us as His creation. The proof of that is evident when God conversed with Satan concerning His servant Job. God knew the very heart of the man Job. He knew there was no other man like him on the earth, blameless, upright, always fearing God and always turning away from evil. Job was a man holding his integrity even in the face of Satan’s onslaught to do total evil to Job. Satan’s goal …

They walk in all humility and kindness, and falsehood is not found among them. They love one another. They rescue the orphan from violence. They do not refuse to help widows. He who has, gives ungrudgingly to him who lacks. If they see a stranger, they take him home and entertain him as a brother. When one of their poor passes from the world, any one of them who sees it provides for his burial according to his ability. And if they hear about one of their number being in prison or being oppressed for the name of the Messiah, all of them provide for his needs. Thus, they labor to become righteous as those who expect to see their Messiah, and to receive from him the glorious fulfillment of the promise made to them. Truly this is a New People, and there is something divine in them. (Written by Emperor Hadrian 117-138 A.D., just a few years after the death of the Apostle John.) It would be good to remember that at this time there was no “Holy Roman Catholic Church.” There was no pope, no moon god, no Islam, no Mormons, no Jehovah’s Witnesses and, not even one single denomination. Hadrian did not describe any of these simply because they didn’t exist, and they would not exist for several hundred years. He was describing Christians and only Christians.

The Attitude “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake” (Matthew 5:10). One characteristic of a citizen of the kingdom of God is that one must be ready and willing to endure persecutions (2 Timothy 3:12). This follows closely to the attitude of the peacemaker. In order to keep peace, one must be ready and willing to endure persecutions. The work of a peacemaker is not a light and easy one; it often carries with it persecutions of the world, even from those who should be restored to God. The blessing is received by those who are “persecuted for righteousness sake” and not by those who are persecuted for their opinions or their evil doings. Jesus was bitterly hated and reviled because He was seeking to please God (Mark 3:6; Luke 6:7, 11). Persecutions can manifest themselves in different ways: by misrepresenting a person, by slandering a person’s character, by trying to make a person’s motives look bad or by taking a person’s property. Persecutions are usually the result of hatred of God (John 15:20-23), ignorance of God (John 16:1-3), hatred for Christ (1 Thessalonians 2:14-15), for preaching the cross of Jesus (Galatians 5:11; 6:12) or for one’s godly living (2 Timothy 3:12). Yet, what should be the Christian’s attitude when persecutions come? A Christian should pray (Matthew 5:44), be patient (1 Corinthians 4:12), glorify God (1 Peter 4:16) and flee from it (Matthew 10:23). The Reward “For theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:10). We are to …

I have before me a book entitled, Broken Homes and Handicapped Children, written by V.E. Howard (1972). Brother Howard was an outstanding Gospel preacher and an early radio speaker. He continually preached on radio beginning in 1934. He was also an astute businessman. The published book was the result of a series of radio sermons presented by brother Howard on the “World Radio Gospel Hour.” I had not looked at this book in a very long time. As I browsed the contents of this book, two things stood out in my mind. (1) As V.E. Howard presented the sad moral and ethical state in the generation of the 1970’s, he presented the facts in a shocking manner. (2) I was also stunned to know that what was shocking in the 1970’s is now readily accepted to the point of normalcy in this current generation. A generation is normally understood as a period of about thirty years. Brother Howard wrote: Ladies and gentlemen, would you believe this? There is a homosexual church in Los Angeles, California. I quote from the San Antonio Express, December 11, 1969: “Los Angeles Church First Catering to Homosexuals. The membership totals about 255 and the ‘pastor’ is a twenty-nine years old, self-admitted homosexual. The membership is divided about 70% males, 15% females and 15% heterosexuals. The minister admits to having his first experience at the age of 9.” A report in U.S. News & World Report, June 29, 1970, stated: “Recently a Commission on Obscenity and Pornography, soon to …

The great leader Moses died, and the Lord God chose the faithful warrior Joshua to be the leader of the children of Israel. They were encamped on the east side of the Jordan River, and the time had come for them to cross over it into the land of “milk and honey,” the land of Canaan. God had assured Joshua several times that He would be with him as he was about to enter the promised land (Joshua 1:6-9). In Joshua 3, the priests carrying the ark of the covenant were to lead the people across the Jordan River and into the land that God had promised to Abraham (Genesis 12:1-3). Joshua, in charging the people to follow the priests at a certain distance, said this to the people, “For you have not passed this way before.” The children of Israel were about to enter a land they did not know. As we enter the new year, it could also be said of us, “For you have not passed this way before.” We do not know what this new year will bring. It might be joy or woe, happiness or sadness, life or death, success or failure, etc. For the child of God, we should read what God said to Joshua and know that basically He tells us the same: “Be strong and of good courage,” “Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord you God is with you wherever you go” (Joshua …

Christmas and Easter are both manmade holidays that carry religious significance. Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Jesus, and Easter is the celebration of our Lord’s resurrection. I fully acknowledge that the Bible says nothing about either of these days, but I want you to think about why Easter should be much bigger than Christmas in the eyes of those who do view these days as religiously significant. As important as the birth of Jesus is, the resurrection of Jesus is the cornerstone of Christianity. The Bible is crystal clear on the subject: If Jesus did not raise from the dead our faith is useless because we are still in our sins (1 Corinthians 15:17). Encourage others to think about this monumental truth and what it means not just one day a year but every day. [Editor’s Note: While brother Baxley did not recommend recognizing Christmas and Easter as religious holidays for Christians to embrace, he did make an appropriate emphasis on the resurrection of our Lord from the grave—the precursor to His ascension to and coronation in Heaven (Romans 8:34; Hebrews 2:7). ~ Louis Rushmore, Editor]

Each of us remember fondly the day we were baptized into Christ. There was a warm glow in our hearts, a feeling of security—salvation! Never before had we felt just that way. How wonderful it was! To please and obey Christ meant everything, so we resolved to give our lives to Him. Hopefully, we have faithfully kept this resolution. We now have another New Year before us; hopefully, these seven resolutions will help us remain faithful or rededicate our lives to keep our promised commitment to God. Please open your Bibles and read each Scripture. First, I resolve to seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness first. He will then help me take care of my material needs (Matthew 6:33-34). Second, I shall continue to strive to lay up my treasures in Heaven and not upon earth. I want my most prized possessions beyond rust, moth and thieves. These cannot reach my treasures in Heaven. I hope also to put and keep my heart more in Heaven than upon this earth (Matthew 6:19-21). Third, since I was once buried with my Lord in baptism and died to past sins, I shall strive hard to keep my affections on things above. I know that Jesus sits on the throne and knows how well I am doing. I want to stay dead to sin and alive to Christ (Romans 6:3-6; Colossians 3:1-2). Fourth, I want to rededicate my body as a living sacrifice to my God. I want to keep it pure and holy. To do …

Many people believe that the Bible is the most difficult book to understand. Yet, the truth is, the Bible is the book of God’s message to man everywhere. Through the pages of the Bible, God, man’s Creator, has revealed and communicated His will for all humans. God desires all people to know and to follow His will, as He wants all to be saved and none to perish in ignorance (2 Peter 3:9). He is not a respecter of persons (Acts 10:34), and He has revealed His will for man in such a manner and in words that all should understand and follow. On the other hand, if He is unable to do this, then how can we say that He is the Almighty God? Being God, the Creator of man, He knows man better than man knows himself. He knows exactly what and how much man is able to understand. Just as we humans know how to communicate with our children, so God knows how to communicate with His children. He is capable to so reveal His will to man that we can all understand it alike. What it reads to you, it also reads to me, and this is true globally. His Word—the Bible—doesn’t tell people to do different things in various places. What it says to an individual in China, Britain or America, it says the same to me here, in whatever language I want to read it. Christ taught that God’s Word is the seed of the …

The Bible is a book full of answers. The Bible furnishes us with everything we need for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3). However, the Bible is also a book filled with questions. Sometimes there are questions asked by those who feel as if God deserted them (Psalm 10:1). God had a host of questions from Job when He appeared out of the whirlwind after Job complained about His absence (Job 38:1-3). The Pharisees had questions for Jesus, and Jesus had questions for them that they would not answer (Matthew 21:23-27). The Book of Genesis is the book of beginnings. The word Genesis means beginning. As we open our Bibles to the first book in the Bible, we read of the beginning of the world, the beginning of God’s fellowship with man, the beginning of sin and the beginning of questions. There are several important questions asked in the first few chapters of Genesis that still need to be answered today. Where Are You? After Adam and Eve sinned and disobeyed God, He confronted them in the Garden (Genesis 3:1-6). God came to them, but He was not welcomed by Adam and Eve. Instead, they hid from Him as their guilt consumed them (Genesis 3:7-8). God asked Adam, “Where are you?” God was not asking Adam where he was because He could not find him. God created the Garden and all of its intricacies (Genesis 1:31). God knows everything and does not need anyone to teach Him anything (Romans 11:33-36). So, why …

The word “prejudice” simply means to “prejudge” or to make a determination before looking into the truth of the matter. Webster says of the word, “(1) preconceived judgment or opinion (2) an adverse opinion or leaning formed without just grounds or before sufficient knowledge.” Another word that often is used to define “prejudice” is “bias.” Webster says that “bias” is “an inclination of temperament or outlook; a highly personal and unreasoned distortion of judgment; one’s tendency.”  Here is the unfortunate thing; people confuse “prejudice” with “judgment.” If I make a judgment about a certain doctrine, lifestyle or practice, then I may be accused of prejudice by someone! This is not the case at all! Oftentimes, I may be called prejudiced in an attempt to divert the attention from the issue and discredit my character. Judgment is something that should be exercised in all aspects of life. Jesus insisted that we “judge righteous judgment” (John 7:24). Jesus named “judgment” along with “mercy” and “faith” as important matters that we should exercise (Matthew 23:23). The Greek word for “judge” is “krino.” It means to “judge,” “determine,” “condemn,” “go to law,” “call in question” or “esteem.” Webster says “judge” is “to form an opinion about a matter through careful weighing of evidence and testing of premises; to determine or pronounce after inquiry and deliberation.” To have an opinion (judgment) about anything without knowing about it is indeed folly! However, to abstain from an opinion (judgment) after studying the facts is irresponsible! I must come to a conclusion (judgment) concerning …

For some, this is the time of year more attention is focused on Jesus as the “babe in a manger.” Unfortunately, too many want to leave Jesus as that seemingly powerless, gentle baby “wrapped in swaddling clothes,” instead of making Him Lord over their lives. For others, this is the time of year all about gifts, gift, gifts! Unfortunately, many of these are either oblivious or forgetful of the most amazing gift this side (or any side) of eternity, Jesus Christ! Paul summarized this great significance, “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9 NKJV). Up to this point in this section of Scripture, where the apostle was encouraging participation in the collection he was taking from Gentile churches of Christ to help the saints in Jerusalem, Paul encouraged the Corinthians to continue their contribution by appealing to the example of the Macedonians (2 Corinthians 8:1-5), to their own gracious beginning (2 Corinthians 8:6), to their abounding spiritual diligence (2 Corinthians 8:7) and to the dedication of the Macedonians (2 Corinthians 8:8). The “grace of our Lord” (2 Corinthians 8:9) connects the giving of God’s Son for our salvation with the love and sacrifice necessary for the giving of our lives to him (2 Corinthians 8:9a). Jesus Was Rich Paul’s acknowledgment that “He was rich” was in reference to Jesus’ preincarnate glory as God. Jesus …

The early church made its way in a social world that parallels life today in many ways—an era of widespread confusion, unrest and decay. Rome imposed its military will over an empire including widely different peoples. Political and social privilege was granted only to a small minority. The religious scene was one of chaos and decay. Life went on amid the debris of old regional religions, superstition and the hollow practices of the state-supported emperor cult. New religions from the East with secret rituals attracted some and offered escape from the rigors of daily life. Competing beliefs and practices jarred and clashed. Paganism, which would take a long time dying, was entering its last stages. In this environment, sexual perversion, infanticide and brutal forms of entertainment cheapened the value of human life. Men and women found themselves living meaningless lives, powerless victims of forces beyond their understanding or control. For many, life was marked with a deep sense of despair and helplessness. It was into this confused setting that Christianity appeared and under these harsh conditions that Christianity spread throughout the ancient world. Christianity was neither a set of magical rites nor an assortment of private beliefs. Christianity was a fundamentally new understanding of all reality—God, the universe and human existence. Unlike the religions in which morality did not play a major role, Christianity was a new way of life. Early Christianity spread not only because of the convincing nature of the message but also because of the compelling power …

In the course of a religious discussion, it’s not uncommon to hear someone say, “I’m good enough. I’m just as good as” this person or that person. In one’s mind, such is justification for one’s lifestyle, that if God is pleased with this person, then surely, He is pleased with me. Sometimes, one will offer a qualification to it, as well. For example, people may say, “I’m good enough because I believe in God.” Yet, believing in God isn’t enough by itself. James wrote, “You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder” (James 2:19). While faith is essential to a relationship with God, a faith that doesn’t respond in obedience isn’t good enough. Others may say, “I’m good enough, because I have served God in the past.” We know there is no way we can earn our salvation through our own merit. Jesus told the parable of an unworthy slave in Luke 17:7-10 and concluded, “So you too, when you do all the things which are commanded you, say, ‘We are unworthy slaves; we have done only that which we ought to have done.’“ While past deeds are commendable, the past alone isn’t good enough, as life in Christ is always in the present. We must obey today to please the Lord. “Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward …

Christians have been commanded to take an active part in congregational worship in song (Ephesians 5:19). I trust we know that singing is truly a morally upright spiritual activity (Psalm 92:1). In the Old Testament, those who were encouraged to sing included the saints (Psalm 30:4) and the righteous (Psalm 33:1-2). On various occasions, the record indicates that all of the children of Israel sang, including Moses (Exodus 15:1), the Levites (2 Chronicles 29:30), King David (2 Samuel 22:1), Deborah and Barak (Judges 5:1), and the singers of Israel (2 Chronicles 29:28). In the New Testament, members of the church are commanded to sing in worship (1 Corinthians 14:15, 26), including every member (Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16). This is supported by the example of Jesus singing with His disciples (Matthew 26:26-30) and by the example of Paul and Silas singing in prison (Acts 16:23-25). Both in the Old and New testaments, the record indicates that righteous men and women should direct their worship in song unto the Lord (Psalm 7:1; Ephesians 5:19) and unto one another (1 Samuel 21:11; Ephesians 5:19). Such stirring spiritual activity should be engaged in the assembly of the church (1 Corinthians 14:15, 26; Hebrews 2:12) and even at unexpected times of duress (Acts 16:23-25). The biblical portrait of the character of our singing is manifestly clear. We should sing with the whole heart (Psalm 9:1), with understanding (Psalm 47:6-7), with reverence (2 Chronicles 29:30), with gladness (Psalm 9:1-2) and with joy (Psalm 6:1). The New …

An honest young man saw the truth from the Bible that he needed to be baptized into Christ to put on Christ (Galatians 3:27). He hesitated, though. He loved and honored his honest parents, and they had never been baptized. He could not bring himself to do something that might imply they did not go to Heaven. His parents owned a country store. The teacher suggested, “Suppose, unknown to them, their scales were not correctly calibrated. Every time they charged for a pound, absolutely incorrect, the customers received less than for which they paid. Then, suppose a man from the State Bureau of Weights and Measures came by and showed them their scales were off. Wouldn’t they immediately change them?“ If they saw the truth that you now see, wouldn’t they obey? Wouldn’t they want you to obey the truth?

In 2 Kings 18, there is a powerful truth that needs to be called to our attention. There is a story of a brazen serpent on a pole. It had been ordained of God and could have served for good as a reminder of the love of God for them and as a warning not to turn aside after their own ways, but instead, it had been perverted into an idol. The background of this incident is in Numbers 21 when the people were grumbling, and God sent fiery serpents to punish them. Then, for their deliverance, He had commanded that there be lifted up a brazen serpent on a pole so whosoever looked upon it would be saved. So important was it that it was mentioned again in John 3:14-15 as a type of Christ. However, Hezekiah was not afraid to simply call it by its right name—Nehushtan, “a thing of brass”—and remove it from its idolatrous position. Whole articles could be written or sermons preached about the effect of calling things by certain names. I remember when a person could say, “This is my affair” without meaning he had an improper relationship with some woman. A person could be thought of as gay or even slightly queer without engaging in homosexual activity. Calling it “an alternate life-style” does not keep it from being sinful. Some time ago, a woman told me her daughter was “in a family way.” Since it had been many years since I had heard …