The Old Testament contains types of New Testament anti-types. A type is a “representative form” or “characteristic” of something else. There are striking similarities between the liberation of Israel from Egyptian captivity and the freedom enjoyed in Christ from the slavery of sin. Judaism was never intended by God to be his final revelation to man, but it contains figures, types, patterns, shadows and examples of New Testament counterparts (1 Corinthians 10:1-11; Hebrews 10:1). Old Testament types perfectly fit the New Testament church and its doctrine. Therefore, one can learn valuable principles relating to the Lord’s church and its teaching by examining Old Testament types. Types confirm that the church of the first century is the fulfillment of the long standing will of God (Ephesians 3:10-11). The background to the deliverance of Israel from Egyptian slavery begins when Joseph invited his father and brothers to resort from famine to the land of Goshen in Egypt (Genesis 46:27, [70 souls]; 47:1-12). Later, a different line of kings ruled Egypt, during which time the Israelites were enslaved. Moses was born during this period of oppression. Eighty years later, while a shepherd in the wilderness of Sinai, to which area he fled from Egypt 40 years earlier, Moses was commissioned by God to liberate Israel (Exodus 4). By the mighty hand of God, Egypt was punished and Moses was enabled to lead Israel across the Red Sea to freedom. These points especially need emphasis: (1) All the power at the command of Pharaoh was ineffective in his argument with God, (2) Pharaoh’s attempts to bargain with God were useless,

“Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them” (Romans 16:17). The object of the apostle’s admonition in Romans 16:17 pertained specifically to Judaizing Christians who as Lenski notes were false teachers because they “mixed the law with the gospel.” MacKnight, Whiteside and Barnes respectively observe: The apostle had in his eye the Jewish teachers, who in many churches set up separate assemblies for the worship of God . . . on the pretense of greater orthodoxy and sanctity than others, and who would admit none into their communion but such as joined them in their peculiarities, and who represented all others as erroneous and impious. Judaizing teachers were the main trouble-makers in the territory of Paul’s labors; they were determined to convince all Gentile Christians that they had to be circumcised and keep the law, or they could not be saved. . . . he refers here to Jewish teachers, or those who insisted strenuously on the observance of the rites of Moses, and who set up a claim for greater purity and orthodoxy than those possessed who received the Gentile converts as Christian brethren. The Jews were perpetually thus recalling the Christian converts to the law of Moses; insisting on the observance of those rites; troubling the churches, and producing dissensions and strifes. In the Romans 16:17 context, the divisions and offenses addressed for which marking and avoiding were to occur resulted directly from false teaching

Who nailed Jesus to the cross? Roman soldiers drove the actual nails through the hands and feet of our Savior (John 19:23; 20:25). The governor Pilate ordered the soldiers to crucify Jesus Christ (Mark 15:15). A Jewish mob demanded Pilate crucify Jesus (Matthew 27:22-24; Mark 15:11-14) and further intimidated Pilate by threatening to implicate him in treason if he did not agree to crucify Jesus (John 19:12-15). The Jewish priests, elders, scribes and the Sanhedrin, who delivered Jesus to Pilate, prompted the mob to call for the crucifixion of Christ (Matthew 27:20; Mark 15:1, 11). Did the Romans crucify Jesus? Yes. Did the Jews crucify Jesus? Yes, they were responsible for the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Now consider for whom Jesus was crucified. Jesus said that he came to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10). By inspiration, the apostle Paul wrote that all mankind sins. “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Also by divine inspiration, the apostle John recorded the same message. “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 1:8-10). For whom, then, was Jesus crucified upon the cross? Our Lord was crucified for the Roman soldiers who nailed him to the cross. Jesus died for Pilate who sent Jesus to be crucified and the Jews who clamored for the death of the Son of God. Jesus Christ died

“Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out . . .” (Acts 3:19). A few verses earlier, the apostle Peter accused the Jews of first denying Jesus Christ and then of murdering Jesus. Yet, he assured them that even the sin of murdering the Son of God could be blotted out if they would repent and be converted. In Acts Chapter Two, Peter made a similar charge followed by the assurance that even this sin could be forgiven. “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ” (Acts 2:36). “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins . . .” (Acts 2:38). The apostle Paul listed several sins of which the Corinthian Christians were formerly guilty but for which they had been forgiven. “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Corinthians 6:9-11). From these passages, we learn that any sin for which we will repent

Out of boundless love, God the Father sent his Son Jesus Christ into the world to die for our sins. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him” (2 Corinthians 5:21). The sacrifice of Jesus Christ for us was part of God’s grace and mercy by which we are saved. The sacrifice of Christ and grace permits a just God to grant forgiveness of sins; Christ’s sacrifice and mercy permits a just God to withhold punishment for sins. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8). “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost” (Titus 3:5). Through grace, God gives men what they do not deserve (salvation), and through mercy, God does not give men what they do deserve (punishment). However, the grace and mercy of God that results in salvation is conditional upon man’s obedience to the Gospel. With no less love for our souls, Jesus Christ willingly died for us. “For I came

Introduction The word perks means payoffs. Synonyms include: boon, advantage, bonus, reward, prerogative, privilege, vantage and accommodation. The word preaching encompasses spiritual leadership, ministry, exhortation, to sermonize, to evangelize, to moralize, to teach and to lecture. Biblical preaching conveys a message from God to mankind in expressions that both fairly represent God and are intelligible to mortals. One of the most concise and descriptive definitions of biblical preaching occurs in Nehemiah 8:4-8. “And Ezra the scribe stood upon a pulpit of wood, which they had made for the purpose; and beside him stood Mattithiah, and Shema, and Anaiah, and Urijah, and Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, on his right hand; and on his left hand, Pedaiah, and Mishael, and Malchiah, and Hashum, and Hashbadana, Zechariah, and Meshullam. And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people; (for he was above all the people;) and when he opened it, all the people stood up: And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God. And all the people answered, Amen, Amen, with lifting up their hands: and they bowed their heads, and worshipped the Lord with their faces to the ground. Also Jeshua, and Bani, and Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites, caused the people to understand the law: and the people stood in their place. So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.” (Emphasis added, ler.) Verse Eight in the above passage essentially

The New Testament was originally written in the Greek language, which in the time of our Lord Jesus was common to a large portion of the world. Greek is a precise and descriptive language that was used by all classes of people. It was especially useful as the language through which God communicated his divine will to man. Five different New Testament Greek words are translated by the words: “minister,” “evangelist” and “preacher.” Each of the Greek terms has a slightly different meaning that adds a more complete definition to what it means to be God’s preacher. The Greek word “diakonos” is sometimes translated as “minister” and means: one who serves or an attendant; it emphasizes one’s activity in his work. The Greek “leitourgos” is also translated “minister” and is defined: one who publicly serves another person, perhaps at his own expense; the emphasis is on the public nature of the service. Still another word translated “minister” is “huperetes.” It means under rower or low ranking crewmember of a ship, also an assistant in any work; the emphasis is on the relationship between the servant and the one saved. The Greek word “euangelistes” is translated “evangelist” and means: a messenger of good news with an emphasis on the quality of good. The term “kerux” is translated “preacher.” It is defined as: a messenger with public authority to deliver official or formal messages of kings or military leaders; the emphasis is on the work of one who delivers messages by the authority

Romans 1:16 Without exception, all men are sinners (Romans 3:9-10; 3:23; 1 John 1:8). Sin constitutes a barrier between man and God (Isaiah 59:1-2), the consequence of which is spiritual death or eternal separation from God (Romans 6:23; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9). To remove the barrier of sin from between man and God, Christ died upon Calvary’s cross even while man remained in the pleasures of sin (Romans 5:8). Not only did Christ come to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10), but only through the blood of Christ can man be saved (Romans 5:9). Jesus Christ alone has the words of eternal life (John 6:68). The words of Christ will judge all men (John 12:48). Those who love Jesus Christ will keep his words or commandments (John 14:15, 21). Jesus is also the author of eternal salvation to all them that obey him (Hebrews 5:8-9). These considerations are sufficient to cause thoughtful men to desire to become disciples of Christ. The application of the Lord’s blood to the souls of sinful men is the only means through which the barrier of sin between men and God can be removed. Without coming in contact with the blood of Jesus Christ, one can neither be saved nor be a disciple of Jesus Christ. One who remains outside the blood of the Lord chooses for himself an eternity away from the presence of God. The New Testament contains a formula for discipleship. Formula means “A set form of words for use in a ceremony

There are blessings in which both the sinner and the saint bask, courtesy of the grace of Almighty God (Matthew 5:45). These blessings are physical in nature and come upon all men alike. However, the Christian enjoys additional blessings over the sinner. These latter blessings are spiritual instead of physical and superior to the physical blessings in which all men participate. Furthermore, the extra blessings bestowed upon Christians are given to Christians exclusively. No one outside Christ can acquire these special blessings from above! Souls outside Christ may legitimately attribute their physical blessings to God. All men should realize that the natural blessings in which we all share owe their origin not to chaotic accident but to the design of our Creator. Non-Christians, however, are wrong when they claim to possess spiritual blessings and attribute their possession of spiritual blessings to God! Even Christians saying that non-Christians possess the spiritual blessings only attainable in Christ does not make it so! Further, Christians have neither business instructing manmade churches how to grow nor extending to them open fellowship with the church for which Christ died and over which he is head. Ephesians 1:3 decidedly identifies the location of all spiritual blessings. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.” The “us” of verse three are the “saints” and “faithful in Christ Jesus” of verse one. Christians or disciples of Christ, therefore, are the exclusive recipients of “all

The apostle Paul wrote: “. . . behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2). There is no better time to obey the Gospel and receive the forgiveness of sins than NOW. It is impossible today to do anything yesterday, for that day is gone and will not come again. Further, it is too dangerous to put off salvation until some future day; none of us can be certain that we will live beyond the present moment. “Go to now, ye that say, today or tomorrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that” (James 4:13-15). Now is the accepted time to be saved because all men have sinned. “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us” (1 John 1:8). Now is the accepted time to be saved because it is possible to receive the forgiveness of sins. The Gospel message in the New Testament tells how to be saved: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one

One April day in 1994, a woman was jogging in Placer County, California. Suddenly, unexpectedly and without provocation, a mountain lion pounced on her from the peripheral of the trail. As they tumbled down the stony hillside together, the lion mauled her to death. What a tragic encounter with wildlife! What a hurtful empty void that tragedy must have left in the lives of her loved ones! In view of the catastrophic consequences of being on that trail at that moment, who could imagine that such a victim would want her husband or one of her children to be the next person to follow in her footsteps that day? Surely, no one would exclaim that to choose another trail to safety would be a dishonor to the memory of the beloved but departed victim of that attack. Doubtless, she would not fault her family for choosing a trail to safety. A wife and mother would earnestly hope that her family would not fall prey to the mountain lion also. The Bible records this thought provoking conversation between departed spirits. “There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; And

Aggressive Discipleship is depicted emphatically in both testaments of the Bible. That passive discipleship is displeasing to our Lord is evident from Revelation 3:15-16. Furthermore, neither does fanatical discipleship possess inspiration’s stamp of approval (Acts 15:1; 3 John 9-10). Aggressive discipleship lies midrange between the passive and the fanatical. Fruitful, aggressive discipleship, then, is a balanced discipleship. As in the first century, our generation boasts of disciples, many of whom are passive Christians, a few of whom are aggressive disciples and several of whom whose zeal overrides the authority and balance of the Scriptures. For instance, many are the elderships and congregations who are content merely to sit upon orthodoxy. Comparatively few congregations and their elders, armed with the sword of the Spirit, appear genuinely concerned about lost souls. At the same time, some other brethren have undertaken the intensified distribution of their own and peculiar brand of zeal. Aggressive discipleship is the medium and biblical stance between two extremes. Old Testament characters bring to mind an aggressiveness that has always been characteristic of God’s most useful servants. Hebrews, Chapter Eleven, appropriately portrays many Old Testament worthies in some of their most aggressive or active roles. Examination of the Bible’s Hall of Fame discloses the activity with which they demonstrated their faith, often in the face of personal peril. The New Testament also records an aggressiveness with which the Lord’s disciples demonstrated their faith. Remember how John the Baptizer boldly proclaimed God’s Word before the Pharisees and Sadducees (Matthew 3:7) and

Part One: Homiletics “Here We Are But Straying Pilgrims” is one of my favorite songs. I once heard that song sung in a crescendo/decrescendo fashion; it sounded as though a happy band of Christians, at first singing in the distance, marched past and continued the glad, songful march toward the horizon of heaven itself. I desperately want to make that pilgrimage, and travel with as many family members, friends, neighbors, co-workers and brethren as possible. In the here and the now, though, we are not only pilgrims but strangers, too. “Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation” (1 Peter 2:11-12). Abraham was a stranger and a pilgrim in the literal sense of the words. Doubtless, the accent and pronunciation of Abraham and his fellow travelers readily identified them as aliens (Matthew 26:73; Acts 2:7; Judges 12:5-6). The speech of Christians also either identifies them as part of the world or apart from the world (John 17:15-16; James 4:4; 1 John 2:15-17). Intermingling with the heathen once corrupted the Jews’ language and caused many of them to speak the language of Ashdod (Nehemiah 13:23-24). Christians must be careful lest they too (figuratively) speak the language of Ashdod (i.e., worldly language). Sometimes our speech betrays us! As nomadic people, sojourners in a land not theirs, the patriarchs

Though often characterized as a Christian nation, America is really filled with idolatry. Furthermore, millions of religious souls, among whom are many Christians, unwittingly practice this idolatry. Proportionately, there is as much idolatry in our esteemed and beloved country as the apostle Paul found in Athens (Acts 17:16-23). Since God views idolatry as spiritual adultery (Jeremiah 3:26; Judges 2:17; Ezekiel 6:9), these equate to highly serious charges. One idol god often worshipped in the world’s prosperous nations is the god of materialism. This type of idolatry dominates much of the western civilization of which Americans are major stockholders. There is no question that the world in which we live is becoming increasingly more materialistic. The many blessings and relative prosperity with which Christians have been endowed also pull them toward the worship of the idol god of materialism. Therefore, materialism poses a threat even to the Lord’s church. A myriad of people sincerely but mistakenly engage the following type of idolatry, too. That popular idol god on which much homage is bestowed in America is the god of denominationalism. Really, there are thousands of denominational gods competing among themselves and with the God of heaven for the hearts and souls of men. This type of idolatry is strikingly similar to the idolatry with which the heathen and the children of God have been beset throughout human history. Though denominational peoples purportedly believe in and worship Almighty God, such simply is not the case! Forasmuch as denominational people boast of and urge others to attend the church of their choice, they also worship the god

To what do the words churches or church of Christ (Romans 16:16) really refer? Does this biblical phrase have any reference to denominationalism? Is the church of Christ today merely one of several denominations that comprise the religious community? What is the church of Christ? Ironically, at least one prominent commentator exhibits in his writings a notion of the true nature of the church of Christ. Yet, he completely fails to realize that he and his fellows can or need to personally attain membership in it. Adam Clarke, for instance, refers to the “Church of Christ” as something that is aloof and distinct from denominationalism. Clarke treats the “Church of Christ” as a spiritual structure — built by Jesus Christ. Commenting on Galatians 6:10, Clarke writes: Let us help all who need help according to the uttermost of our power but let the objects of our regards be those who are of the household of faith — the members of the Church of Christ, who form one family, of which Jesus Christ is the head. In his comments on 1 Corinthians 14:36, he pens: “Are you the mother church? that you should have rules, and orders, and customs, different from all others; and set yourselves up for a model to be copied by all the Churches of Christ?” Clarke also freely uses other biblical terminology descriptive of the one church of the Bible: “Church of God” (referring to the same verse). Of false teachers addressed in Romans 16:18, Clarke writes: “. . . they have intruded themselves into the Church of

The New Testament contains a divine pattern for worshipping God. At the inauguration of Judaism, God gave patterns to his people for the construction of the Tabernacle, its furniture and instruments and their worship (Exodus 25:9; Ezekiel 43:10; Hebrews 8:5; 9:23). There is no less direction for worshipping God under the New Covenant than there was under the Old Covenant. John 4:24 says, “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” Whereas worshipping God in spirit pertains to a proper attitude, worshipping God in truth corresponds to adhering to the pattern for worship of the divine law now in effect. The New Testament has superseded the Old Testament and is the religious law to which all people today are amenable (Hebrews 8:6-13; Ephesians 2:15). There are similarities and dissimilarities between Old and New Testament worship practices. For instance, the New Testament neither requires nor authorizes the worship of God with sacrificial animal offerings, lighted candles or burning incense. One must turn to the New Testament alone to identify how God desires people living in the Gospel Age to worship him. There are five avenues of worship prescribed in the New Testament through which God desires to be worshipped today. Each of these must comprise Christian worship each first day of the week (Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:1-2). Music The most obvious contrast between worshipful music employed by churches of Christ versus other churches is the absence of mechanical instrumental music among churches of Christ. This

True unity is an identifying mark of the New Testament church (John 17:20-23). Divine unity results from agreement on and practice of the Gospel alone as the final and absolute standard of religious authority today (Romans 1:16; Luke 6:46; John 6:68). Biblical unity is not companion to the motto of at least one ministerial association: “We have agreed to disagree.” The prophet Amos established a principle that applies to such agreements (facades of unity), “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” (Amos 3:3). The implied answer to this rhetorical question is a resounding, “No!” The unity that should characterize the New Testament church is more than a mere union, as one contemporary proverb well illustrates. “Tying the tails of two cats together and tossing them over a clothesline is union, but it is not unity.” A Common Doctrine Is Essential to Biblical Unity The New Testament is the sole doctrine by which the church Jesus built must be guided (John 12:48; Jude 3). There is no basis for unity wherein something less than, additional to or instead of the New Testament is the premise for religious cohesion (Revelation 22:18-19; Galatians 1:6-9). Sandwiched between the verses, “Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:3) and “Till we all come in the unity of the faith . . .” (Ephesians 4:13) are seven ones upon which unity in the Christian faith is predicated. “There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called

The divine origin of the New Testament church is evident since: (1) its conception was first in the mind of God, and (2) the church was established by the power and authority of God. After the careful Bible student learns these truths, he will have no difficulty identifying the church of the Bible, despite much denominational confusion. While explaining God’s plan of salvation to the Ephesian church, the apostle Paul wrote that God always planned to save mankind through the church. Therefore, according to Acts 2:47, the Lord adds the saved to the church. The church was God’s idea, not man’s idea. “And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Ephesians 3:9-11) (emphasis added) The establishment of the church or kingdom in complete fulfillment of numerous Old Testament prophecies is remarkable testimony of the establishment of the church by God. The apostles made no distinction between the church and the kingdom. Paul addressed the “church” at Corinth (1 Corinthians 1:2) and used the word “kingdom” referring to the church in Colosse (Colossians 1:13). John also referred to the church as the kingdom (Revelation 1:9). Jesus, too, used the words church and kingdom interchangeably (Matthew 16:18-19). Isaiah 2:1-5, Joel 2:28-3:2 and

Unlike many contemporary churches, the New Testament church has no chain of command through which newly formed dogma filters down to the masses. It has no clergy, earthly headquarters or human creed. Each congregation is autonomous and independent from every other congregation. The New Testament church is governed in matters of doctrine solely by God’s Word, overseen by elders, served by deacons, taught by preachers and teachers, and supported morally and financially by all its members. Heavenly Headquarters Instead of an earthly head or a select group of men heading the church, the Lord’s church is headed by Jesus Christ alone. Jesus has all authority in heaven and on earth (Matthew 28:18, ASV). Further, the Lord is the head of the body, the church (Ephesians 1:22-23). Jesus Christ has not surrendered his throne, but is ruling now (1 Corinthians 15:24-28). Not on earth, but from a heavenly headquarters, Jesus exercises his headship over the church (Ephesians 1:3; Philippians 2:9-11; 20-23; Hebrews 8:1; Acts 7:55). The degree of and place from which Jesus Christ demonstrates his authority is concisely noted in Ephesians 1:20-23. “Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all

Biblical fellowship should be the only spiritual fellowship in which the people of God have the least interest. Furthermore, the definition of fellowship that can be gleaned from Scripture is the only definition sanctioned by God, and the only fellowship that will carry any weight in judgment. Isn’t it, therefore, rather pointless to subscribe to a counterfeit definition of fellowship, which can only mislead man now and certainly condemn him in eternity? However, does the Bible (and especially the New Testament or Gospel) clearly define biblical fellowship? Further, granting a Scriptural definition exists, is it necessary to accept and practice that fellowship? With whom may one have fellowship, and under what conditions (or are there any conditions)? Are there also others with whom the children of God are forbidden to practice fellowship? What does the Bible teach concerning the subject of fellowship? There are books devoted to the biblical doctrine of fellowship, so the following is obviously only an abbreviated examination of this topic. It is this writer’s firm conviction and understanding of Scripture that biblical fellowship must be established and maintained with God, and with those who are in fellowship with God. “That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ” (1 John 1:3). Further, man is wholly unauthorized to redefine fellowship or extend it to those outside the scope of the biblical definition. The beginning of

The early church was taught an aversion to humanly devised creeds. Jesus declared a cardinal abuse under Judaism was the substitution of human doctrine for teaching of divine origin (Matthew 15:9). “But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” The apostle Paul heartily affirmed the Gospel alone effects the salvation of men (Romans 1:16; Galatians 1:6-12). The Gospel (New Testament) is comprised of: (1) instruction (doctrine or teaching), (2) God’s unfolded scheme for man’s redemption, and (3) God’s assignment of a three-fold mission to the church. New Testament: Only Creed of the Church Creeds of human origin are the source of vast religious division around the world. Whereas human creeds change periodically, New Testament ink long ago dried, making the doctrine of the New Testament changeless. Even from a human perspective, accepting the New Testament as sole creed and doctrine in religion is more likely to achieve the unity for which Jesus prayed (John 17:20-21) than the sum of all alternatives some ecumenical movement may promote. Before the judgment bar at times end, all men will be judged by the covenant of God under which they lived (Revelation 20:12-15). Men cannot be sanctified by substandard, humanly devised righteousness (Romans 10:1-3; Matthew 7:21-23). Neither will people living in the Gospel (New Testament) Age be received into heaven through compliance with the Old Testament standard from which we have been delivered (Colossians 2:14; Ephesians 2:15; Romans 7:6-7; Hebrews 8:6-13). Anyone trying to live by the Old Law (Testament)

Repentance is first a decision to stop sinning. Second, repentance is the practice of righteousness instead of sin. Repentance, then, begins in the mind and afterward is demonstrated outwardly. However, repentance is neither a mental process alone nor is repentance reformation of life alone. True repentance involves the combined reformation of mind and body. John the Baptist gave the following instruction to some who claimed to have repented. “Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance” (Matthew 3:8). He called upon those to whom he preached to repent not only in word but also in action. Repentance is essential to obtain the forgiveness of sins; those who do not repent will be lost. “I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3). Repentance and baptism will take away sins. “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins . . .” (Acts 2:38). Since “all have sinned” (Romans 3:23), all must repent. “And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent” (Acts 17:30). God does not want anyone to be lost, but he desires everyone to repent. Though God patiently waits now, someday time will cease and judgment will begin. “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord

There is an important difference between worldly sorrow and godly sorrow. Worldly sorrow leads to spiritual death and sometimes it leads to physical death, too. Godly sorrow leads to salvation and eternal life. “For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death” (2 Corinthians 7:10). The apostles Peter and Paul demonstrated godly sorrow and repentance for their sins against Jesus Christ. Peter publicly denied Christ and Paul was once a persecutor of the church. Both became life-long, faithful servants of Christ. Judas, though sorrowful after he betrayed Jesus for a bribe, hanged himself. He did not seek forgiveness and allowed his great sorrow to overpower him. A thief might be sorrowful only because he has been caught and he cannot avoid punishment. This thief will steal again. Another thief might be sorrowful for stealing, although he may not have been caught. This thief will stop stealing and attempt to return what he has stolen. The first thief had only worldly sorrow, but the second thief had godly sorrow. A biblical example of godly sorrow is found in Matthew 21:28-30. “. . . A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard. He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went. And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not.” The first son changed his mind

Perhaps no passage better underscores that sin is a great separator than Isaiah 59:1-3, which reads: “Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue hath muttered perverseness.” No more tragic separation can exist than separation between any soul and the Father of Spirits. This truth was demonstrated at the crucifixion of Jesus Christ precisely when he took on himself the guilt of sin for humanity of all time; consequently, Jesus uttered: “. . . My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me” (Matthew 27:46). A biblical definition for what constitutes sin is concisely stated in 1 John 3:4. “Whosoever committed sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.” That New Testament era people are under a law of God is evident from James 1:25; 2:8. The law by which we are bound today and will be judged someday is variously alluded to in Scripture additionally as the Word of Christ (John 12:48; 14:23), the Gospel (Romans 1:16; Galatians 1:6-9), the Truth (John 8:32), Doctrine (Titus 1:9; 2:2; 2 John 9-11) and Commandments (John 14:15, 21). Throughout the New Testament (e.g., 1 Corinthians), especially through catalogs of sins (e.g., 1 Corinthians 6:9-10; Galatians 5:19-21; Revelation 21:8), God has abundantly revealed to man what conduct (sin) which if

A BIBLE MIRACLE is a SUPERNATURAL event where NATURAL law is temporarily suspended. The difference between supernatural (miracles) and natural law (without miracles) is apparent when CREATION is contrasted with PROCREATION; though God initially made everything through miracles, subsequent generations of plant, animal and human life are the result of natural law (without miracles). To further illustrate, the so-called “miracle of birth,” though awesome, is a NATURAL rather than a SUPERNATURAL phenomenon; therefore, BIRTH ordinarily does not qualify as a Bible miracle. However, the birth of Jesus Christ truly did involve a miracle in order for his virgin mother to conceive (Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:26-37). The Bible is rich with references to miracles; Mark 16:17-18 and 1 Corinthians 12:8-10 each list types of miracles that are recorded in the New Testament. The PURPOSE of New Testament miracles was to: (1) identify the Messiah and instill belief in him (John 20:30-31); (2) provide a means by which man could receive new revelation from God (1 Peter 1:20-21; Matthew 10:20-21); and (3) confirm revelation to be God’s Word (Mark 16:20; Hebrews 2:3-4). The purpose of miracles has been fulfilled; and this fulfillment resulted in the collection and preservation of the New Testament. Today, the New Testament: (1) identifies the Messiah and instills belief in him; and (2) provides a complete revelation of God’s will for man in this age. Miracles, then, are no longer necessary. Additionally, Scripture foretold that the partial revelations received by miracles would be replaced with permanent, “perfect” revelation (we call it the New

To what do the words churches or church of Christ (Romans 16:16) really refer? Does this biblical phrase have any reference to denominationalism? Is the church of Christ today merely one of several denominations that comprise the religious community? What is the church of Christ? Ironically, at least one prominent commentator exhibits in his writings a notion of the true nature of the church of Christ. Yet, he completely fails to realize that he and his fellows can or need to personally attain membership in it. Adam Clarke, for instance, refers to the “Church of Christ” as something that is aloof and distinct from denominationalism. Clarke treats the “Church of Christ” as a spiritual structure — built by Jesus Christ. Commenting on Galatians 6:10, Clarke writes: “Let us help all who need help according to the uttermost of our power but let the first objects of our regards be those who are of the household of faith — the members of the Church of Christ, who form one family, of which Jesus Christ is the head.” In his comments on 1 Corinthians 14:36, he pens: “Are you the mother church? that you should have rules, and orders, and customs, different from all others; and set yourselves up for a model to be copied by all the Churches of Christ?” Clarke also freely uses other biblical terminology descriptive of the one church of the Bible: “Church of God” (referring to the same verse). Of false teachers addressed in Romans 16:18, Clarke writes: “.

Though it may seem incredible to many sincere religious people, the following statement is, however, true. God never intended the Old Testament to be his final revelation to mankind. Further, even more inconceivable to countless honest and devout individuals is the biblical fact that God has replaced the Old Testament with the New Testament. Jesus did not come to “destroy” (annihilate as though it never existed) the Old Law, but he did come to “fulfill” it (Matthew 5:17-18; Luke 24:44). The Old Covenant (Testament or Law) had a purpose, which once fulfilled, it was replaced by the New Testament. The Apostle Paul described the purpose of the Old Law in Galatians 3:22-29. “Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster” (Galatians 3:24-25). John 1:17 informs us that Moses delivered the Old Law, whereas Jesus personally brought the New Law (Gospel, the system of faith). One way in which it can be seen that God did not intend for the Old Testament to be his final revelation to man is by the Old Law’s inability to “justify” sinners. “And by him [Jesus] all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses” (Act 13:39). “Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of

Long before “being gay” became a political issue, it was dubbed a divergent – but acceptable – lifestyle or was announced to be a natural orientation with which some are born, it was a moral issue. It is still a moral issue! Almighty God sternly condemns homosexuality and lesbianism. “For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: For even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet” (Romans 1:26-27). Because of these sins Sodom and Gomorrah suffered destructive temporal fire and their inhabitants will also suffer God’s “vengeance of eternal fire” (Jude 7). For these reasons, the churches of Christ urge anyone guilty of this sin to change. According to the inspired apostle Paul, one not only can change, some have changed and no homosexuals will inherit the kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 6:9-11).

God communicates with mankind today through the Bible. Christians speak to God through prayer. Further, prayer is an expression of the heart to God and may include praise, requests and thanksgiving. However, not all prayers are acceptable to God. God requires that prayers be sincerely offered for the right reasons. “And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward” (Matthew 6:5). Jesus spoke a parable in which he taught that acceptable prayers are offered with true humility (Luke 18:9-14). Prayers are not to be offered thoughtlessly but should be offered with great desire; the apostle Paul felt strongly about the subject of his prayers. “Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved” (Romans 10:1). Christians are urged in the New Testament to pray frequently; “Pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). However, only righteous souls who practice good Christian living can offer acceptable prayers. “The Lord is far from the wicked: but he heareth the prayer of the righteous” (Proverbs 15:29). “And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight” (1 John 3:22). Jesus prayed “Thy will be done” (Matthew 6:10) and the children of God must also pray according to the will of God. “And this

Many of the names for God’s people that appear in the Old Testament are found in the New Testament, too. These names include: “members” (1 Corinthians 12:27), “disciples” (Acts 6:1; 20:7), “believers” (Acts 5:14), “saints” (Acts 9:13; 1 Corinthians 1:2), “brethren” (Romans 8:14) and “children of God” (1 John 3:1-2). Additional New Testament names for God’s people include: “beloved of God” (Romans 1:7), “heirs of God” (Romans 8:17) and “royal priesthood” (1 Peter 2:9). There is also a special, new name for God’s people used in the New Testament; that name is “Christian.” Several hundred years before the time of Jesus Christ the prophet Isaiah foretold of a new name that God would give his people. By divine inspiration he wrote: “For Zion’s sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth. And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory: and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the Lord shall name” (Isaiah 62:1-2). (emphasis added) Isaiah taught that once the Gentiles gained entrance into the kingdom (which is the church), all of God’s people would “be called by a new name, which the mouth of the Lord shall name.” After the admission of Cornelius and his household the new name, CHRISTIAN, was given to God’s people. The new name Christian appears three times in the New Testament: “. . . And the disciples were

The Devil, also known as Satan, is real. Though he is a spirit being without a fleshly body, the devil is a real person. (God the Father, the Holy Spirit and the angels are other spirit beings who do not have fleshly bodies. They are all real persons, too.) We can know that Satan is a real person since: (1) He is mentioned along with other real persons, including Jesus Christ. (2) He is described with personal characteristics such as speaking, tempting and lying. (3) The devil is one of several angels who sinned and was punished by God. (4) God has prepared an eternal place for Satan and his angels. See Matthew 4:1-11; 25:41; John 8:44; and 2 Peter 2:4. The devil is evil and desires people to become evil like him. Further, Satan will be punished forever in and he wants everyone to suffer the same punishment. In a figure, Scripture views the devil as a vicious lion stalking his prey. “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8). Fortunately, the power of Satan today is limited by God. See 2 Peter 2:4 and Jude 6. Therefore, mankind is able to resist the influence of Satan. “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7). However, evil people are servants of the devil and they influence others around them to become evil also. The apostle Paul called a man a

Matthew 7:21-23 is one of the saddest Scriptures in the Bible. It reads: “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” What could be sadder than to sincerely practice a religion, but be eternally lost? Yet, Jesus taught that some sincere but lost souls will plead with him at the final judgment. Jesus did not criticize them for being sincere. Other Bible verses teach that a person must sincerely practice Christianity to please God. However, Jesus condemned the souls described in Matthew 7:21-23 because they did not do or obey the will of God. Their mistake was to obey the teaching of men instead of obeying the teaching of God (which is found in the Bible). According to Jesus, religion that practices the teaching of men is vain. “But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men” (Matthew 15:9). Jesus Christ is the true Savior. His church is the only real church. Further, the Bible is God’s only teaching for men today; the New Testament (or Gospel) is the portion of the Bible that tells

The apostle Paul preached and taught the Gospel to everyone everywhere he went. Once, he explained the Gospel to King Agrippa, but the king did not obey the Gospel. “Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian” (Acts 26:28). There is no evidence that King Agrippa ever decided to become a Christian. It appears that the king remained lost! He was almost saved when he almost became a Christian. However, almost saved is still lost! Have you become a Christian yet? Are you thinking of becoming a Christian? Remember King Agrippa. Do not be almost a Christian because almost is still lost. Friend, decide today to become a Christian. To become a Christian is the most important decision anyone can make. Do not make the same mistake King Agrippa made. Be saved now! Believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and Savior (John 8:24); repent of your sins (Luke 13:3); profess your belief in Jesus (Romans 10:10); and be baptized for the remission of your sins (Acts 2:38).

“And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers” (Acts 2:42). “I want to be a worker for the Lord, I want to love and trust His holy word; I want to sing and pray, and be busy every day In the kingdom of the Lord. I will work, I will pray In the vineyard, in the vineyard of the Lord; I will work I will pray, I will labor every day In the vineyard of the Lord,” says the first stanza of the popular song: I Want To Be A Worker. The Book of Acts is called by many names that attest to its uniqueness among the great company of epistles comprising the Holy Bible. These designations include: the Hub of the Bible, the Book of Conversions and the History of the first century church. Therefore, the Book of Acts is an appropriate place to begin a study of “Want-To-Religion and Church Attendance.” The Lord’s church is first acknowledged in Scripture (KJV) in the present tense, already in existence, in Acts 2:47. Before Acts Two, references to the church clearly indicate the church was not yet established (e.g., Matthew 16:18). The church, or kingdom as it was sometimes called (Matthew 16:18-19), was still only a promise in Acts 1:8. However, the Lord’s promise that it should be established with power (Mark 9:1; Matthew 18:18) was fulfilled when the apostles received the baptism of the Holy Spirit in Acts Two (verses 1-4). The power

(1 Peter 4:16) Bible History A study of Acts Chapter Two (with special emphasis upon verses 41 and 47) shows that the Lord’s church was begun on the Pentecost following the Ascension of Jesus Christ, at Jerusalem and in about A.D. 33. Verse 47 is the first passage to address the church as a present rather than future entity. However, the cost of discipleship with the apostles and several other disciples predated the eventful establishment of the church of Christ (1 Corinthians 15:5-8; Matthew 10:16ff; Mark 6:21-28; Matthew 19:27-30). Moreover, not long after the inception of the church, the cost of discipleship was again incurred upon the disciples of Christ. The preaching of the Gospel shortly after the beginning of the church (Acts, Chapter Three) had two results. First, the apostles Peter and John were imprisoned; second, about five thousand men plus women believed and were added to the church by the Lord (Acts 4:1-4). Acts 4:17-21 records that the Jewish religious leaders threatened the disciples and commanded them not to preach Jesus. The apostles, though, undauntedly affirmed before the council that they would continue to prefer God’s Word to the commandments of men and that they would continue to preach the Gospel of Christ. Doubtless, the apostles knew that their lives were imperiled, but they were willing to pay whatever costs were necessary to be and remain faithful disciples of the Lord. In the next chapter of Acts, one can observe that the cost of discipleship, among other things, requires that the children of

Remarkably, the church nobody wanted is man’s only hope for true happiness in this life and a blissful eternity in heaven above. The kingdom of prophecy is the church of prophecy, too. Yet, the first century Jews overall rejected the spiritual kingdom in favor of a merely physical kingdom, although, God did not offer them a physical kingdom. In essence, the Jews and the Gentiles (through the Romans) formed a conspiracy to thwart God’s plan for the establishment of his kingdom or church; they crucified the Son of God and sealed his tomb. Of course, mortals are incapable of overcoming the immortal. God used the wickedness of men to accomplish the sacrifice purchase of fallen men and establish his church anyway. First Century That the Jews longed for the restoration of a physical kingdom similar to the kingdom over which Solomon reigned is evident. Because of his miracles, many Jews realized Jesus was the Prophet of whom Moses spoke, the Messiah. Therefore, the Jews desired to take Jesus by force and make him king over a physical kingdom (John 6:14-15). The close disciples of our Lord also harbored grave misconceptions regarding the nature of the kingdom or church, even after Jesus’ resurrection and immediately prior to his Ascension (Acts 1:6). Ironically, one of the few persons to understand Jesus did not aspire to reign over a physical kingdom was the very man who officially condemned him to death (John 18:36-38). Neither the Jews nor the Gentiles wanted a spiritual kingdom or church in the first

LITTLE FAITH: “Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?” (Matthew 6:30). (See also Matthew 8:26; 14:31; 16:8.) GREAT FAITH: “When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel” (Matthew 8:10). (See also Matthew 15:28.) NO FAITH: “And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?” (Mark 4:40). (See also Mark 6:6.) TAUNTING FAITH: “He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him” (Matthew 27:42). SAVING FAITH: “And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee” (Luke 5:20). “And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace” (Luke 7:50). STOLEN FAITH: “Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved” (Luke 8:12). LOST FAITH: “And he said unto them, Where is your faith? And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, What manner of man is this! for he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey him” (Luke 8:25). HEALING FAITH: “And he said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort:

Several related responses to the Gospel work together to save a soul. For example, when an honest person hears the Word of God, he believes it, repents of sins, confesses that Jesus is the Son of God and is baptized. These responses in this order are God’s plan for saving a soul and are recorded in the New Testament. Though one cannot do enough to earn salvation, our loving God has promised to save a soul from his past sins when he sincerely makes these responses. However, sometimes a person chooses one of these responses and ignores the rest. Often belief (faith) is the single response chosen. God, though, has not promised to forgive the sins of a person who only believes or has faith only. No single response alone will result in salvation. God clearly stated in the Book of James that a person is saved “not by faith only” (James 2:24). Part of Jesus Christ’s charge to take the Gospel to the world plainly shows that several responses, in this case belief (faith) and baptism, work together and result in salvation. “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be” (Mark 16:15-16). If you are an honest person and desire forgiveness of sins, when you understand the Gospel, you will believe it, repent of sins, confess Jesus and be baptized. An honest person who understands the Gospel responses that God expects

TEXT: Ephesians 3:3-11 THESIS: To identify and exalt the church of the Bible; secondly, to distinguish the church of the Bible from imitations. SONG: The Church’s One Foundation INTRODUCTION: Only the church for which Jesus died deserves exaltation. It is HIS CHURCH, Matt. 16:18; Rom. 16:16. His church is the BODY, 1 Cor. 12:27; Eph. 5:30. Jesus is the HEAD of the church and the body, Eph. 1:22-23; Col. 1:18. Further, this church is the BRIDE OF CHRIST, 2 Cor. 11:2; Eph. 5:27; Rev. 21:2; 22:17. Churches of human origin do not deserve praise and exaltation that rightfully belongs to the Lord’s church alone. (a) A denominational church is neither correctly styled HIS CHURCH,  the BODY OF CHRIST or the BRIDE OF CHRIST. (b) Jesus Christ did not die for a denominational church, Matt. 15:13. (c) Denominational churches are NOT DIVINE, but DIVISIVE, 1 Cor. 1:10-13. BODY:  THE CHURCH FOR WHICH JESUS DIED IS DIVINE IN ORIGIN: The church originated in the mind of God, Eph. 3:3-11 (10-11). The church was not an after-thought. The church of the Bible is, therefore, DIVINE IN ORIGIN. Denominational churches were never in the mind of God. Some of the most popular denominations are outgrowths of the human minds of Martin Luther, Henry the VIII, John Calvin, Robert Browne, John Smythe, John Wesley, Joseph Smith, William Miller, Mary Baker Eddy and Charles T. Russell. Therefore, denominational churches ARE NOT divine in origin. THE CHURCH FOR WHICH JESUS DIED IS DIVINE IN ESTABLISHMENT. Jesus built his church, Matt. 16:18. Our Lord built the FOUNDATION of

Loving parents desire the best of everything for their precious children (howbeit, sometimes parents and children disagree respecting what is in the best interest of the children). Of paramount concern to parents and of extreme importance to the temporal and eternal happiness of maturing children, is a child’s selection of a spouse. Suppose a son introduced a young woman to his father as his choice for a bride. Further, imagine that the father in this case was aware of the despicable past of the woman just presented to him as his future daughter-in-law. She was from a family whose members were thieves, adulterers, prostitutes, homosexuals, drunkards, liars, even murderers; and this woman herself had been guilty of many of these same crimes. Remarkably, his son’s espousal presented herself somewhat audaciously at this meeting, though she certainly knew that her future father-in-law was fully apprised of her (earned) reputation. Were this father to ask you for advice, what would you say? At the risk of discord between parent and child, most parents probably would discourage the young man regarding his wedding plans. Brethren, you and I, along with every other faithful Christian, together comprising the church, identify with this bride in the narration above. We were guilty of such sins in the past, but we changed (1 Cor. 6:9-11). “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous,

Sometimes walking-wounded soldiers of Christ limp along in the service of God. These wounded saints need to be encouraged to persevere in daily, life-long faithful service. Young Samuel was taught by Eli to say, “Speak Lord, for thy servant heareth” (1 Samuel 3:1-10). Isaiah answered God, “Here am I, send me” (Isaiah 6:8). These are admiral dispositions worthy of imitation by every child of God. Each Christian ought to offer himself to God as: (1) a servant, (2) ready to hear, and (3) eager to be sent to his duty-station. However, servant-soldiers of Christ sometimes are wounded in the battle of life. Servants of God may be wounded by others or they may suffer self-inflicted injuries. Often, God’s people have inflicted wounds upon the servants of God. Elijah fled twice from his people in Israel (1 Kings 17-19). The Jews in Jerusalem repeatedly beat and imprisoned Jeremiah (Jeremiah 20, 32, 38). Disobedient Jews killed the prophets (Acts 7:51-52). Jesus Christ’s death on the cross is the supreme example of wounds inflicted upon the servants of God by the people of God. Also, the enemies of God wound the servants of God. Job obviously was harmed by the devil. The ancient Egyptians enslaved Israel and caused Hebrew babies to be killed. Heathen rulers caused Paul and Silas to be beaten and imprisoned (Acts 16:16-24). Further, former faithful service does not guarantee that one will not falter. Remarkably, Noah persevered in righteousness for hundreds of years. Yet, after the flood Noah became drunk. Though Moses led Israel from captivity, because of sin he

Joshua 6:1-5 is a remarkable passage, but with which a comedian could doubtless secure a few laughs. Picture this in your mind. The king of Jericho and the mighty men of war are inside the fortified city walls, while the Israelites are on the outside of the locked city gates (verses 1-2). The Lord says to Joshua, “See, I have given into thine hand Jericho, and the king thereof, and the mighty men of valour” (verse 2). The comedian would make a funny face, laugh and say something like, “Yah, Sure!” Then the Lord says: “And ye shall compass the city, all ye men of war, and go round about the city once. Thus shalt thou do six days. And seven priests shall bear before the ark seven trumpets of rams’ horns: and the seventh day ye shall compass the city seven times, and the priests shall blow with the trumpets. And it shall come to pass, that when they make a long blast with the ram’s horn, and when ye hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city shall fall down flat, and the people shall ascend up every man straight before him” (Joshua 6:3-5). The comedian responds, “Yah, right! Now, what’s the real plan?” After a little pause and surveying the face of the Lord, the comedian scoffs, “You’re serious aren’t you? Man, you’re crazy! I’m outa here.” God made several similar promises regarding the conquest of Palestine. God promised the Trans-Jordan

Flippantly she said regarding eternity, “I don’t want to go to heaven, because none of my friends will be there!” Nothing my mother has ever said is more memorable (and lamentable) than her stated resignation to spend eternity in a devil’s. Unfortunately, from what I have been able to observe, and glean from the Bible, the dear woman who bore me, nursed me and reared me in this world, seems determined to act out her self-fulfilling prophecy. No, not one of either my wife’s or my parents, brothers or sisters affectionately embraces the Gospel of Christ. Once my grandfather, who is now deceased, literally covered his ears against the Truth. Our folks and their friends worked hard, lived hard, played hard and died hard — outside of Christ. Though not acknowledged in this life, Jesus will not be ignored in eternity (Romans 14:11-12; Revelation 1:7). Aside from the myriad of souls who delude themselves with a false hope of heaven (Matthew 7:21-23; Romans 10:2-3), besides perhaps billions now living who may have never even heard of Jesus (Romans 10:13-17), vast multitudes who ought to know better have no aspiration of going to heaven. Included in that number are many erring Christians (Romans 10:16, 18). A few years ago, I was called to a city several hours distant from my home to visit a preacher friend of mine. I became painfully aware that (1) he had ceased to preach, (2) he moved out and left his wife and son, (3) he abandoned the church,

Please explain Deut twenty-two five in light of women wearing ladies pants? Deuteronomy 22:5 reads, “The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman’s garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the LORD thy God.” The Book of Deuteronomy was given to the Israelites after the inauguration of Judaism, which took place at Mt. Sinai. Obviously, the precepts that are in Deuteronomy, as such, have no regulatory power respecting the God-given law that preceded Judaism (i.e., Patriarchy), unless something given by God under Patriarchy was also included in Judaism. However, does a law under Judaism necessarily apply to the religious age, in which we live (i.e., Christianity)? Again, if a law under Judaism is repeated under Christianity, then such a requirement has force now, not because it was a law under Judaism, but because it is a law of God under Christianity. Additionally, something that was a law under a previous God-given system of religion (i.e., Patriarchy, Judaism), though the specifics do not apply now since they are not included in the New Testament, may have some bearing today due to the principle involved. In this case, the New Testament does not forbid women from wearing garments usually worn by men. However, the principle that Deuteronomy 22:5 addressed is applicable today. That is, it has always been the case from creation through the present that God intends for men and women to occupy distinctive, complementary but different roles (1 Corinthians 11:3; 14:34-35; Ephesians 5:22-26;

My name is John Thurne, I have been preaching to the deaf in Alabama and Tennessee. I am not presently preaching because I have been informed by the elders of my home congregation that I have to cease preaching to the deaf because we do not have a scriptural authority for a separate services. … My question is, 1. Is it wrong to have a separate service for the deaf? 2. The elders said it was wrong because of the Lord’s Supper, is it wrong to have the Lord’s Supper separately? 3. Did not Jesus command us to preach the gospel to every creature? Typically, interpretation, whether for the deaf or for other spoken languages, takes place in the same assembly of a congregation. In the case of the deaf, the interpretation occurs simultaneously with the spoken lesson without interruption or confusion since only one audible voice at a time is heard. Where two or more spoken languages characterize an audience, such as on some mission fields, a preacher speaks and then pauses while his words are translated to the other language. This latter situation is precisely what the inspired apostle Paul instructed the church at Corinth (1 Corinthians 14:26-33). Sometimes, in areas where a number of worshippers speak a language that is not shared by a larger number of worshippers, the two language groups will form separate congregations. Two such groups may have an agreement where they use the same facilities at different times, though they are essentially two distinct

How God can say of David a man after my own heart when he did all of those wicked things as recorded in the Bible? God wanted King Saul to be his favored servant, but Saul disobeyed God. More than that, Saul was not penitent. Therefore, God removed Saul from being king and sought another. “But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the LORD hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the LORD commanded thee” (1 Samuel 13:14). At least initially, God found his favored servant in David (1 Samuel 16:6-13). David did the bidding of God, and yet, like all mortals, sometimes he sinned. Some of his more notable sins, of course, include adultery and murder. Yet, with penitent heart, David turned back to God. The favorable reference to David does not gloss over David’s sins and may have applied to David more before the sins that we remember against him. It is possible, though, the favorable reference to David refers as much to him after his penitence as before he committed those ignoble sins. “And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will” (Acts 13:22). The Acts 13:22 reference is part of a summary of Hebrew history, which does not

The proper use of physical blessings is essential to salvation. Like airplanes, automobiles or even fire, physical blessings of themselves possess neither good nor bad propensities for their employment. However, they have the potential of being used for good or evil. For instance, the airplane, neither good nor bad of itself, can be used for rescue and medical missions or for war. Automobiles may serve as ambulances or “get-away” cars. Fire can be used for warmth and cooking or to destroy. Blessings enjoyed by Christians, neither good nor bad themselves, can be abused to the harm of one’s spiritual welfare. Great intellect, higher education and abundant knowledge may be a curse to some Christians. While no depreciation of brainpower, scholarship or proficiency is intended, Christians must use lawfully and wisely whatever it is with which God has blessed them. Christians must demonstrate a humble and teachable disposition, like children (Matthew 11:25). “. . . Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:3-4). However, Christians must also exercise intellect in religion (Matthew 22:37). “. . . we . . . desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding” (Colossians 1:9). Yet, particularly secular knowledge can make one “puffed up” and arrogant. God found the world in general and the Corinthian church

Patience is a godly quality that each child of God should develop. “. . . O man of God . . . follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness” (1 Timothy 6:11). Patience in the life of a Christian is pleasing to God and contributes to personal happiness. “That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness” (Colossians 1:10-11). The development of patience often occurs by enduring unpleasant circumstances. “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience” (James 1:2-3). One word translated “patience” literally means “abiding under”; another word translated “patience” or “longsuffering” is defined as “long tempered.” Patience, then, is learning to live with inconveniences and difficult moments. The apostle Paul taught Christians at Rome that proper reaction to life’s difficulties can result in patience. Therefore, these unpleasant circumstances are not to be despised. “. . . we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience” (Romans 5:3). Paul also taught the Thessalonians to “be patient toward all men” (1 Thessalonians 5:14). Further, patience is especially useful to the Christian as he WAITS for the return of Jesus Christ. “Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive

What a beautiful day! From my vantage point, the horizon was framed beneath with green trees and a magnificent, perfect blue sky above. Puffy white clouds accented the sky and a friendly, warming sun shone overhead. A gentle, cool breeze complemented this delightful panorama. Adding to my appreciation of the day, former days were much less stunning. Though the calendar pages signaled the passing of seasons, the previous winter left only stubbornly, and it seemed that spring likewise gripped us jealously. When finally the lingering snow (upper Ohio River valley) and the relentless rain subsided, summer arrived in a fury of heat and humidity. This day, though, all that for now at least, was merely a memory. After all, August is expected to be hot and humid here. However, for a while, this day and perhaps a few coming, was flawless. Doubtless, even a beautiful day such as this would appear less promising if I were encountering hurtful circumstances, which I was not. I was not hungry (perhaps too well fed). I was not suffering. No worries especially pressed me or prompted any anxiety (though of course we all have anxious moments occasionally). I had a place to live and clothes to wear. My family was healthy and happy. All of my immediate family faithfully practiced primitive Christianity. I had purpose in life for now and eternity. I was happy, which was not a bad disposition through which to view the world. It was true, though, that not everyone shared the same enthusiasm for that day. For instance, I saw a funeral procession go

My sins (and your sins) grieve God. However, until my sins grieve me, my sins will continue to grieve God. Better than anyone else (including particularly insightful and pseudo-omniscient brethren), I am aware of my sins. I remember the sins of which I have been guilty and they bring me much personal pain. I regret every one of them and with renewed vigor through prayer and reliance on the Word of God, I hope to prevent their reoccurrence in my life. Grief for sin is a difficult disposition for mortals to adopt, though it is a spiritual posture that is essential and a prerequisite to forgiveness. Nehemiah wept and said, “Let thine ear now be attentive, and thine eyes open, that thou mayest hear the prayer of thy servant, which I pray before thee now, day and night, for the children of Israel thy servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against thee: both I and my father’s house have sinned” (Nehemiah 1:6). (See also Psalms 106:6.) When confronted with his sins (at an earlier time in Jewish history than the last reference), King “. . . Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned: for I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord, and thy words . . .” (1 Samuel 15:24). However, as in this instance, the consequences of sin cannot always be undone (1 Samuel 15:26). Following Nathan’s parable and the pronouncement of the sins of adultery and murder, King David responded, “.

It was almost time to get up Sunday morning and I dozed, sleeping just a little longer. I began dreaming of a large boisterous public gathering. These people were my neighbors. These were my people. They were angry and glad at the same time. Three besides me (two other men and a woman) were in the midst of this multitude, though not by choice. It seemed like just a dream (and of course, it was). But then, it seemed very real, as dreams often do. Suddenly, with a quick noise and a dull thud, reality echoed as a brother in Christ was beheaded. All sense of dreamland vanished. The mob cheered. As the sister in Christ was being led away to the same fate, she, calmly, looked back and said to me, “It’s my turn now, then yours and he will follow you.” I marveled at her composure and peaceful resolve. In the same instant, horrified, I woke from my sleep. For a brief moment I felt as though I had visited a century long past. It was a time in which Christians were severely persecuted for no other reason than for their Gospel faith. I had not been there. Those things did not happen, but it seemed so real, and frightening. Events such as these about which one can read in both testaments transpired thousands of years ago. To us, they seem little more than “just Bible stories.” It is difficult for you and me, as we sit comfortably in our auditoriums

The apostle Peter made this observation about the apostle Paul’s epistles: Some of the Scripture that Paul wrote is difficult to understand. Therefore, uneducated and careless readers twist it or wrestle with it to make Scripture teach something false. To treat the Word of God in this manner is spiritually hurtful. “And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction” (2 Peter 3:15-16). To “wrest” means to wrestle with, fight against, twist or pervert. Also, some teachers and preachers pervert the Bible. Their false teaching condemns them and those who are taught by them. “But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of” (2 Peter 2:1-2). Every student of the Word of God has a great responsibility to properly study the Bible to learn what it truly teaches. “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the

Acts Chapter Two decisively proves “verbal inspiration” to be the true definition of “inspiration” as it pertains to the Word of God (Bible). That some sort of “thought inspiration” instead was bestowed upon the apostles and other writers of the Bible is absurd. Thought inspiration as a means of transmitting divine communication to mortal men would be ineffective and therefore useless in the production of a standard moral code. The inefficiency of supposed thought inspiration would completely negate definitive religion (no patterns, just a vague and subjective “love letter”). The Bible confirms the validity of verbal inspiration. Presumably, both proponents of thought inspiration as well as adherents to verbal inspiration concede that God is the Divine Author of the Bible. Surely, each acknowledges “For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost” (2 Peter 1:21). Incidentally, however, the two preceding verses forcefully, though indirectly, utterly dispel the possibility of thought inspiration. The definitive character of God’s Word is easily discerned from: (1) “We also have a more sure word of prophecy” (2 Peter 1:19a), (2) “no prophecy of scripture is of any private interpretation” (2 Peter 1:20). The two verses preceding these refer to the literal “voice” and words of God (2 Peter 1:17-18). The context, then, of 2 Peter 1:17-21 pertains to verbal inspiration — not thought inspiration. Now, consider the conclusive evidence for verbal inspiration found in Acts Chapter Two. First, as either thought or verbal inspiration disputants admit,

I am dying! Yet, I am not surprised. I knew my life ultimately would come to this. Simple reflection on the births, lives and deaths of people around me, teaches me that death is a common experience of humanity. Further, the Bible instructs me of the certainty of death — and judgment. “Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble. He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not” (Job 14:1-2). “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27). No, as far as I know, I am not afflicted with a terminal illness. I have never been so sick that I was in danger of dying. Neither have I sustained a mortal wound. I have never suffered an injury from which I was not expected to recover. However, I adamantly affirm again that I am dying. Further, you are dying, too. Every living thing is in the process of dying. From the moment babies are born and begin to mature, they march throughout life toward their ultimate deaths (untimely and prematurely or expiration at the conclusion of several decades, Psalm 90:10). Since we refuse to acknowledge our vulnerability, we often live as though we will never die. Were a doctor to tell us we have only three months to live, we would with great urgency and much carefulness do those things that are the

After Jesus resurrected Lazarus, the Jewish religious leaders were thrown into a quandary. “Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many miracles. If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation” (John 11:47-48). Off the record, even the enemies of Jesus Christ acknowledged the miracles that he performed (John 3:2; 12:42). These miracles were intended to cause belief in the Lord and his Word (John 2:11, 23; 20:30-31). How wonderful to think, unobstructed in anyway, every honest heart would believe on Jesus Christ. Yet, this proposition horrified the religious leaders of the day, for they would lose their position at the helm of contemporary religion and the worldly esteem that accompanied it. Their solution was to erase the miracle under consideration; they plotted to murder Lazarus. “But the chief priests consulted that they might put Lazarus also to death; Because that by reason of him many of the Jews went away, and believed on Jesus” (John 12:10-11). Unfortunately, there is still a council against faith today. The chief-executive-officer (CEO) is the devil himself. “But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them” (2 Corinthians 4:3-4). The

Recognizing Jesus Christ to be the Son of God and the willingness to publicly state that belief is essential to salvation. “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” (Romans 10:9-10). Such a confession of Christ was required of the Ethiopian nobleman in Acts Chapter Eight. Immediately after he stated his faith in Christ, the nobleman was immersed in water for the forgiveness of his sins. “And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him” (Acts 8:36-38). Following a person’s baptism into Jesus, his whole life as well as his words become public statements of belief in Christ. Then, Jesus also confesses that one to the heavenly Father. “Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 10:32). Do you believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God? Are you willing to tell

After one is saved from his past sins, and while he waits for the reception of eternal life following the return of Jesus Christ, a soul is called upon by the Bible to practice faithful Christian living. Titus 2:11-13 is one passage that speaks of this salvation, Christian living and hope of eternal life.  “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:11-13). Christian living involves one’s responsibility to conform to the moral code authored by God and recorded through divine penman in the form of the New Testament. This responsibility is shared by elderly men, elderly women, young women, young men, servants and elders — according to Titus chapters one and two. All of these groups of people must practice Christian living before God, in the Lord’s church, toward each other, among family members and in submission to civil government. The Book of Titus is filled with references to these relationships or Christian living and is worthy of careful and prayerful study. A summary of how a person can “live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world” includes being: blameless, not self-willed, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy money, not covetous, hospitable, sober, just, holy, temperate, one who holds fast the faithful Word of

Religious leaders write and preach, “We have not arrived; we don’t have the unity of the faith yet.” Although maybe highly educated, those who espouse some such sentiment could not be more wrong. Further, words like these are really blasphemous and pose great potential harm to the church. The biblical phrase to which reference is made appears in Ephesians 4:13, in the context of verses 11-14. Much like the context of 1 Corinthians 13:8-13, the Ephesians 4:11-14 passage teaches the then partial revelations of God were to be replaced with complete, permanent revelations. Namely, the ministry of miraculously endowed apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers (Ephesians 4:11) was coming to an end. “Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away” (1 Corinthians 13:8-10). Partial revelations persisted “Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ” (Ephesians 4:13). The “unity of the faith” here addressed is equal to “that which is perfect” (1 Corinthians 8:10) or “the perfect law of liberty” (James 1:25; 2:12). “Unity of the faith” is also synonymous with “the faith which was once delivered” (Jude 3), “the law of faith”

Jesus prayed for unity. “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me” (John 17:20-23). (Emphasis added.) The apostle Paul also encouraged the Corinthian church to practice unity. “Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?” (1 Corinthians 1:10-13). (Emphasis added.) From both passages of Scripture, one learns that biblical unity requires singleness or oneness. Both passages place Jesus

Nothing should be more obvious than that sound, developed minds are able to make choices; this is called freewill. Dear reader, you freely exercised your willpower and chose to read these words. The fact that you make many choices or decisions daily proves that you have freewill. Mankind can and must also make religious choices; we have freewill in religion, too. However, these choices are more important than any of the choices we make every day. Choices made in religion affect one’s relationship with God. Therefore, making wrong religious choices or failing to realize that God expects one to exercise freewill is very serious. Such mistakes will prevent souls from living with God in heaven forever, after this life. Happily, our loving God recorded in the Gospel (New Testament) what choices in religion he desires us to make; God has not left us without guidance. Your friends in the churches of Christ are interested in making the correct religious choices, based on God’s teaching in the Bible. May we help you learn more about God’s teaching — so you, too, can more easily make the correct religious choices? The Bible is filled with references to freewill and religious choices mankind must make. One outstanding example is found in Joshua 24:15. There, Joshua, a famous Old Testament character, made this sober charge to the nation he was leading: “. . . choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served . . . or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me

Thousands of years ago, the God of heaven made three promises to a man best known as Abraham. Later, God repeated these promises to Abraham’s son, Isaac; much later, God again repeated these promises to Abraham’s grandson, Jacob. Two of these promises affect every living person today in a small way. However, one of those promises directly affects the salvation of everyone who ever lived, who lives now and those who will be born in the future. God told Abraham: “And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered” (Genesis 13:16). This promise to multiply the descendants of Abraham was repeated to him in Genesis 22:17 and told to Isaac in Genesis 26:4 and Jacob in Genesis 28:14. References to numbering Abraham’s descendants (commonly called the Jews) in Scripture and observation of millions now living proves that God caused this promise to come true. This is important to us because God also caused Jesus Christ our Savior to be born as one of Abraham’s descendants. Second, God promised Abraham that he would receive a large portion of land, stretching from the Euphrates River to the River of Egypt in the desert. “In the same day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates” (Genesis 15:18). Other verses in Genesis repeat

There is no convenient season to be saved; there will never be a better time to be saved than now. There will never be a better time to begin a life of Christian service than now. The apostle Paul stood as a prisoner before a Roman governor named Felix and preached the Gospel. “And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee” (Acts 24:25). Though Felix had several other opportunities to hear Paul explain the Gospel, it appears that Felix never found his “convenient season” to be saved. Do not make the same mistake Felix made. Do not wait for a convenient season. Be saved now! Believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and Savior (John 8:24); repent of your sins (Luke 13:3); profess your belief in Jesus (Romans 10:10); and be baptized for the remission of your sins (Acts 2:38). Contact the churches of Christ today for encouragement and help to make your life right with God.

Thousands of years ago, a preacher of God lived among many sinful people. This preacher preached for over a century to these wicked people about the coming punishment of God. Yet, not one person in the whole world besides this preacher’s family was obedient to God. This must have made the preacher very sad and it greatly displeased God. For 120 years, this preacher with the help of his family also built a large boat as God instructed them. Sinners laughed at the preacher and his family because of what he preached, for the godly way his family lived and because of the large boat that they built. Finally, God decided to flood all the earth and drown every person — except this preacher and his family (and the animals they took with them on the large boat). It was a terrible day since almost all people on earth died in that flood; only the preacher and his family survived. This preacher, of course, was Noah. The account of this universal flood is found in Genesis chapters six through eight. The apostle Peter called Noah “a preacher of righteousness” (2 Peter 2:5). In a sense, the same floodwater that killed the ungodly world also saved Noah and his family. These eight souls were separated by that water from the wicked world that died in the flood. The apostle Peter compares the saving affect of that floodwater in Noah’s time with the water of baptism. “Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while

I realize that I Thessalonians 5:22 says, “Abstain from all appearance of evil.” I would like for you to elaborate on the meaning of that verse. Is it right to watch something that is wrong to do? For example, on the television there are many shows and movies that contain sinful things. Is it right to watch them? Is it right to watch a movie in which a man is murdered? Is it right to watch a movie that contains cuss words? Is it right to watch a movie in which a man fights with another man? There are even cartoons that contain what some might consider violent. Even in the various comic books, violence is found. In sports violence is found in a way. Is it right to watch football, of course not putting it or anything else before God? Football contains football players running into one another. Some are even injured. Is it right to watch that? Would that be considered violent? Is it right to watch professional wrestling? Professional wrestling contains fights, brawls, and wrestling among the wrestlers. Sometimes they are injured. Professional wrestling, of course, is fake and the wrestlers do not intend to hurt one another usually and they are trained in their ability to wrestle one another as in a play of actors, yet professional wrestling contains wrestlers getting revenge on other wrestlers, wrestlers insulting one another, among other things. In professional wrestling’s matches, wrestler wrestles against wrestler, this could be considered violent by

Beverage Alcohol When all is said and done, Scripture is still explicitly plain that alcoholic beverages are disapproved of God regarding its pleasurable consumption by mankind. That there was an intoxicating wine in antiquity is not denied. The Bible and early secular writers however are clear in their denunciation of such wine. (W.D. Jeffcoat, The Bible and “Social” Drinking, c. 1987, p. 35.) These two following verses summarize the biblical teaching about the pleasurable consumption of alcohol. “Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright. At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder” (Proverbs 23:31-32). “Woe unto him that giveth his neighbour drink, that puttest thy bottle to him, and makest him drunken also, that thou mayest look on their nakedness!” (Habakkuk 2:15). Sober Rather than approving some degree of intoxication, the New Testament teaches sobriety. Christians are forbidden to surrender control of their faculties to drugs, inclusive of alcohol. “Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation” (1 Thessalonians 5:6-8). “Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:13). “But

The following account was related to the Editor, but to protect the innocent (as well as the guilty), the names of all parties are withheld. A preacher and his wife were visiting an Ohio town, in which the preacher was applying for the pulpit work with the local church. The preacher and his wife were lodging with one of the elders and his wife. As the elder and the preacher conversed into the night, their respective wives retired for the evening. Finally, the elder and the preacher also decided to retire for the night, at which time the elder advised the preacher that the room in which he was to sleep was at the top of the stairs on the right. The preacher promptly ascended the stairs and opened the first door on the left, whereupon he happened upon the elder’s wife standing there completely naked! By the way, the preacher didn’t get the job! [Editor’s Note: Preachers are invited to submit amusing incidents that have occurred over the years during their ministries for possible inclusion in the pages of Gospel Gazette Online. Someday, these stories may also be converted to book format.]

Before we can discuss the miracles of Jesus in the Gospel according to Mark, we must render a biblical definition for what we mean by miracles. Easton’s Bible Dictionary, in part, says a miracle is “an event in the external world brought about by the immediate agency or the simple volition of God, operating without the use of means capable of being discerned by the senses, and designed to authenticate the divine commission of a religious teacher and the truth of his message (John 2:18; Matt. 12:38).”1 The first definition in Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary likewise represents the biblical sense in which the word miracle is used: “an extraordinary event manifesting divine intervention in human affairs.”2 Both of these definitions note that a miracle involves (1) divine intervention in the affairs of men, and (2) not the effect but the affect of the miracle is clearly discernible to mortal observers. Importantly, Easton’s also (3) denotes that a miracle has a purpose, namely to: (a) bring forth new revelation from God and (b) validate that message and its messenger. Incidentally, miracles and providence differ chiefly in that though they both derive from divine power and involve divine intervention, the former is designed to be observable whereas the latter is not open to inspection. The former may provide new revelation and proves something through its discernible evidence. The latter does not provide new revelation directly and because it is not discernible, it is not designed to prove anything. The purpose of miracles is concisely stated in Mark 16:20, “And they went forth, and preached every

Luke 15:8-10 Introduction The parable of the Lost Coin is the second illustration of a three-part parable that was introduced in the preceding chapter. The sub-parables of the Lost Sheep, the Lost Coin and the Prodigal Son (or the Lost Son) were spoken in a single discourse by Jesus to a single audience. Together, they form the response of Jesus to his critics, the Pharisees and the scribes (Luke 15:2). The catalyst for the unfavorable review by those religious leaders was the popularity Jesus enjoyed among Israel’s spiritual untouchables, namely “the publicans and sinners” (Luke 15:1-2). . . . the basic thrust of the parable of the lost coin concerns our attitude toward the sinner, viz., the value we place on a sinner is revealed by how diligently we search for them and by how we rejoice at their conversion!1 Like Jesus Christ, the primitive church pursued sinners. Even more, the first century church (and indeed it is the same in every generation) was comprised of sinners (1 Cor. 6:9-11). “The church of the first century was not afraid to come in contact with sinners, teach them the gospel and welcome them into their fellowships when they repented.”2 Understanding somewhat the perceived value of the lost coin and surroundings in which it was lost contribute immeasurably to the word picture to which Jesus resorted in this parable. The paragraph by Neil R. Lightfoot which follows provides that necessary insight into the parable of the Lost Coin. The coin specified by Luke was a Greek drachma, which was almost the equivalent of

Is there to be a 1000 years reign on earth as the Baptist people proclaim? Coincidentally, I was asked recently to preach a sermon regarding Premillennialism. Below, is the outline that I used. It should answer most of the questions one may have regarding this topic. Premillennialism 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 Thesis: To examine the denominational doctrine of premillennialism and contrast it with what the Bible really teaches about the end of time. Song: I Love Thy Kingdom Lord Introduction: For centuries, extending nearly to the first century, Bible believers have entertained essentially three conflicting views of millennialism or a 1,000-year reign of Christ on earth. Postmillennialism: “This interpretation maintains that present gospel agencies will root out evils until Christ will have a spiritual reign over the earth, which will continue for 1,000 years. Then the second advent of Christ will initiate judgment and bring to an end the present order.”1 “Another position views Christ’s spiritual rule as working through preaching and teaching to bring gradual world improvement leading up to Christ’s return. This is the postmillennial view.”2 Postmillennialism is typically viewed today as unproven and thus false since, historically through the present, the Gospel of Christ has not prevailed over the world’s populace despite the passing of about 2,000 years. Amillennialism: “Advocates of this view maintain that no Millennium is to be looked for except that which, it is claimed, is in progress now in this gospel age. This theological interpretation spiritualizes or, rather, gives a mystical meaning to the vast kingdom promises in the OT. Zion

Amusingly, some passionate proponents of alcoholic beverages audaciously assert that all references to “wine” in the Bible pertain to an intoxicating drink. Of course, irrespective of the political or social mood of America, the Bible is not in any real sense subject to contemporary interpretation. Unlike a dictionary, the meanings of biblical words are changeless and are not dependent upon current usage for their definitions. General Appeal to the Bible Starting in 1820 there was a growing movement to outlaw alcohol. Over the next 100 years, these ‘Drys’ as they were called, were to have a huge effect. In 1880, Kansas became the first dry state. Text books, and even literature, had the mention of wine and alcohol removed from them, nationwide. The Bible, with its many mentions of wine, was a problem, so a campaign was started to convince people that the wine of the Bible was nothing more than grape juice. (Stephen Reiss, Ph.D., C.W.E., “History of Wine,” Wine Education Site, https:// www.Wine Education.com/WineEducation/Text/history.html /. [17 Sep 1998]) To imagine that religious people would attempt, for whatever reason, to distort biblical information is to picture them at their worst. To suppose that generally religious people would heartily accept politically motivated distortion of biblical information is uncomplimentary toward religious people and our government. Such an accusation concurs nicely with efforts by even pious souls to champion beverage alcohol. However, in truth, it is utterly false that every reference to “wine” in the Bible refers to an alcoholic drink. It is true

In John 10:1-3, we read, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice; and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.” And verse 9 reads, “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.” The shepherds would take turns being the porter at the entrance of the sheepfold. The porter was to make sure that no one broke into the sheepfold and stole any sheep. The porter knew all of the shepherds and would not let a stranger come to the door and lie about being a shepherd. The porter would turn him away as a liar, knowing that the liar only wanted a sheep so he could kill it and eat it. The porter would sleep at the entrance. He would lie down across the entrance way. This made him the door. There was no man-made door, so the porter by lying down across the entrance became the door. Nothing could get in the sheepfold without the porter moving. And nothing could get out of the sheepfold without the porter moving. As long as the sheep went through the entrance of the sheepfold and stayed there

There is just something about the smell of a new car. (Old cars have an odor, too, but it is just not the same.) That new car is just waiting for someone to take it home. Surely, somehow the new car is much the same as any other car, yet it may look radically different from our last vehicle. It seems every new car has more buttons and gadgets than the last one. A glance at the specifications page in the operator’s manual tells the story of dissimilarities between this car and perhaps another car we once had. Driving down the street, we reach for a familiar knob or button, now in an unfamiliar place. Bump! The hand ignorantly crumples against the dashboard, reaching for the lights or windshield wipers. Where is the dimmer switch? How much gas does this thing hold anyway? There is a light on the dash that will not go off; I wonder what it is for? Whether it is driving a new car or assembling a bicycle, man typically tries to accomplish the task according to his own ingenuity. Often mankind only consults an operator’s manual or assembly instructions when he cannot figure things out for himself, and then he is driven to them, reluctantly. Unfortunately, man also uses the same approach concerning himself, God’s creation. While we were not made on an assembly line in some plant, we nevertheless have a Creator. As new cars have operator’s manuals and nearly every manufactured item comes

The phrase “the faith” appears frequently throughout the New Testament and refers to the Gospel. “Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel” (Philippians 1:27). “The faith” stands distinct from the Law of Moses (Old Testament) that it superseded (Galatians 3:23-25). “The faith” is styled as “the word of God” and that to which we must be “obedient” (Acts 6:7; Romans 1:5). “The faith” must be preached (Galatians 1:23) and results in the establishment of both individuals and congregations (Colossians 2:7; Acts 16:5). Not only will some attempt to turn others from “the faith” (Acts 13:8), regrettably, even Christians will “depart” (1 Timothy 4:1), deny (1 Timothy 5:8) and err (1 Timothy 6:10, 21) from it. We, though, are encouraged to “continue” (Acts 14:22; Colossians 1:23) and “stand fast” (1 Corinthians 16:13; 1 Peter 5:9) in “the faith.” Scripture admonishes Christians to examine themselves to ascertain if they are indeed in “the faith” (2 Corinthians 13:5). If we are not found in “the faith,” we are “reprobates” (2 Corinthians 13:5; 2 Timothy 3:8). Christians are further urged to be “grounded and settled” (Colossians 1:23) and “sound in the faith” (Titus 1:13). Consequently, we are charged to “earnestly contend for the faith” (Jude 3). According to the inspired apostle Paul, “the faith” is the

Luke 15:1-7 Introduction The parable of the Lost Sheep is unique to Luke’s Gospel record, though a similar reference appears in Matthew’s account. It should not be thought strange for the same or nearly the same illustrations to be used at different places, at different times by the same speaker. Contemporary speakers (including preachers) do it all the time. Besides, as noted below, the biblical use of sheep and shepherds to illustrate truth appears frequently upon the pages of inspiration. Lockyer concludes that the parable of the Lost Sheep in Luke “. . . must not be confused with The Parable of the Lost Sheep . . . (Matthew 18:1-14), even though the two are told in similar vein.”1 Most of us have our favorite passages of Scripture. Luke Chapter Fifteen is among the chapters of the Bible that provide special encouragement to many souls whose spiritual eyes are trained on the ever approaching eternity, at which time we will meet our Great God and Creator. It is comforting to know of the emotional investment and concern God expends on each individual soul. The fifteenth chapter of Luke is perhaps the most priceless chapter in the Bible. Certainly no chapter is more tender and more lovely. For centuries it has been called “the Gospel in the Gospels” . . .2 Luke 15 contains one parable in which there are embedded three sub-parables: the parable of the Lost Sheep (vv. 4-7), the parable of the Lost Coin (vv. 8-10) and the parable of the Prodigal Son (vv. 11-32) Usually this renowned

If no where in the New Testament their is no mentioning of the use of musical instruments, and many Churches of Christ do use instruments, how do they defend that? If the restoration movement Churches, copied the first church, and they didn’t use any form of musical instruments, then at what time did the division come? Do you know, or can you defend with scripture that God would be unhappy with a simple Piano to accompany the people in their singing? King David played an instrument when he sang. Many of today’s songs use the Psalms of David for their lyrics. I can find plenty of material from Churches of Christ who stand firm on the non use of musical instruments. I would like to find someone to defend the use of Pianos, Organs, Guitars, Tape Players, CD Players, and the like. What if the person using a form accompaniment is still making Melody in his heart to God? Maybe the people of the first Church would have used instruments to help them along if they would have been available. Any help will be appreciated. ~ Bill Suffel Characteristically, the churches of Christ do not use mechanical instruments of music in their worship services. There is a very good reason for that, as we will see below. Any churches of Christ that do use instrumental music in their worship neither represent the norm among churches of Christ nor reflect the New Testament doctrine of what God prescribed for worshipful music. The Christian Church and

Dear Mr. Rushmore: Can you tell me what bible verses I can share with homosexuals to let them know that they can be changed in Christ? People are born gay, just as we are all born in sin, so they should be loved and comforted and led to Christ, not despised as something inferior to heterosexuals. We are all God’s children. I appreciate any help you can offer. Michael Lane, Florence, SC It is a correct assessment of Scripture that homosexuality is sinful and therefore homosexuals need to be led by the Word of God to repent of their sins, including their homosexuality. It is also correct that homosexuals can change that behavior. By Divine inspiration, the apostle Paul listed homosexual behavior in the catalog of sins of 1 Corinthians 6:9-10. “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate [homosexuals, NKJV], nor abusers of themselves with mankind [sodomites, NKJV], Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God” (1 Corinthians 6:9-10, KJV). Happily, homosexual behavior can be changed. Some of the Corinthian Christians to whom the apostle wrote formerly were homosexuals. “And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Corinthians 6:11). Upon repentance, they received the forgiveness of their sins, including the

Often unrecognized, alcohol consumption has serious ramifications on the dietary intake. “One ounce of pure alcohol contains about 163 calories (or about 105 calories in a 1 1/2 ounce glass of whiskey or gin), but itdoes not contain vitamins or other physically beneficial nutrients.” (Gail Gleason Milgram, Ed.D., “Facts On: The Effects of Alcohol,” Center of Alcohol Studies, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey 1997, https://www.rci.rutgers.edu/~cas2/clearinghouse/factSheet/fact15.html. [14 Sep 1998])  The small amount of nutritive material in beer is more than offset by the alcohol content. Enough beer to furnish any significant amount of nutriment would contain enough alcohol to cause considerable damage to the body (W.D. Jeffcoat, The Bible and “Social” Drinking, p. 83). The United States Department of Agriculture says that 100 grams of “table wine” (12.2 percent alcohol by volume) has 85 calories while 100 grams of “dessert wine” (18.8 percent alcohol by volume) has 135 calories. (Anonymous, Physiologic Notes on Wine, https//sbwines.silcom.com/usenet_winefaq/physiologic.html [21 Sep 1998]) Not only does alcohol not contribute to a healthy diet, the substitution of alcohol for any portion of one’s ordinary food intake creates a substantial health risk. Alcohol Induced Malnutrition AB’s [alcoholic beverages] contribute to malnutrition by replacing foods needed for essential nutrients and by interfering with absorption, storage or metabolism of the essential nutrients. Ethanol may suppress appetite and consumption of food. (Dr. Sidney Cohen, “Alcoholic Beverages and Alcohol Abuse,” Environmed Research Inc., https://www.nutramed.com/ alcohol/alcohol.htm. [14 Sep 1998]) These risks include rapid water loss, electrolyte depletion, vitamin deficiency and toxicity to digestive organs. There is rapid water loss (diuresis) within the first several

Recently, I wandered on to the site of what must have been a horrific battlefield. From near the dawn of man’s habitation of earth through the present, warfare has raged with little relief from its consequential atrocities and devastation. Battlefields, both ancient and modern, continue to yield artifacts carelessly discarded by fallen soldiers. Many battlefields have been memorialized to commemorate the principles for which armies fought and the soldiers who became casualties of those conflicts. I have visited several such sites, including: Kings Mountain, associated with our nation’s war of independence; Fort Niagara, involved in the War of 1812; the Alamo; and Gettysburg. One of the most widely known memorialized battlefields is at Pearl Harbor. Especially one battlefield in biblical history was noteworthy, in part, for the things left behind by the Syrians as they fled Samaria (2 Kings 7). The battlefield on which I happened was the auditorium of the meetinghouse after worship. Scattered about and unattended were spiritual swords, or Bibles. The “. . . sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God . . .” is part of the Gospel armor (Ephesians 6:12-17). The sword was an effective weapon of both defense and offense. The Word of God is depicted as such an effective tool. “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of

We lament the absence of a cure for the “common cold” and resign ourselves to combating the symptoms. Tragically, there are also several medical maladies for which there are no cures yet, some of which are lethal. It is no less than pathetic when real cures do exist for some illnesses, and they are not applied to the patients who desperately need them. Even more difficult to understand is the patient who refuses or neglects to obtain the cure for what ails him, especially should the disease be particularly hurtful or life threatening. While not a medical cure, the Bible is the cure for much of what ails mankind. Not religion, as such, but the Bible, from which Christianity springs, is this potential cure. Like any cure on earth, the Bible cure is useless until applied. Man is a composite or dual being, body and soul. The Bible addresses the whole man, his spiritual and physical self. In a sense, the Bible is a spiritual road map, able to guide one in his earthly pilgrimage toward the celestial city of heaven. Yet, the Bible is no less a map for man’s physical trek on this sphere. To the extent the Bible serves as a map to be used during our earthly existence, it is also the potential cure for the various things we encounter in this life. For instance, the Bible is the cure, if heeded, where there is no “work ethic” (2 Thessalonians 3:10). Further, it is the cure

Luke 14:15-24 Introduction This parable also is peculiar to Luke. The parable in Matthew 22:1-14, though similar, is different from the parable of the Great Supper. The Royal Marriage Feast was spoken at an early date in our Lord’s ministry; The Great Supper, at the end of His ministry during the Passion Week. The former was addressed to the multitude in the Temple; the latter to the guests in a private house. The former displays messengers treated with violence; the latter shows them receiving excuses. In the former, the invited are destroyed and their city burned; in the latter, despisers of the invitation are merely excluded.1 The background preceding the parable of the Great Supper begins in Luke 14:1. Verse one prepares the setting as it reveals that Jesus was guest of a “chief pharisee” among several others who also were invited. This meal and the subsequent speeches by our Lord, inclusive of the parable now under review, occurred on “the sabbath day.” Verses 2-6 concern an event that may have been staged to entrap Jesus. An unlikely attendee to this gathering, a man afflicted with what Scripture notes as “dropsy,” was conspicuously before Jesus. Intently, the host and other guests watched him, perhaps supposing that Jesus faced a dilemma. Our Lord directly addressed the potential predicament: “And Jesus answering spake unto the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath day? And they held their peace. And he took him, and healed him, and let him go; And answered them, saying, Which of you shall have an or an ox

I have a matter at hand that is bothering me very much. I will explain. The congregation that I am a member of participates in an annual family retreat at a camp that I went to last night as a representative. I find that it is controlled by the Christian church. There was dinner and a business meeting after and discussion. One of the things discussed was the matter of Christian rock music to be supplied by a certain musician at a future event. I find that this is contrary to my beliefs and I intend to voice my rejection of being a representative at our next business meeting. Am I being too picky in this matter? Any advice given will be greatly appreciated. Thank You, I remain Alfred Vidal, Jr., Chula Vista, Calif There are especially two reasons for which it would be preferable for you to not continue in association with the camp of which you wrote. First, to continue in the capacity mentioned above is an obvious violation of your conscience, which itself is described as sinful in Romans 14:23. To avoid sin in this regard in the future, you have little choice but to extricate yourself from this situation. Second, a fundamental difference between the churches of Christ and the Christian Church pertains to the type of religious music respectively employed by them. The churches of Christ conform to the prescription in Ephesians 5:19 and Colossians 3:16 about singing for worshipful music. However, the Christian Church presumes to

…considering that cake walks, pitching pennies, betting on sports, etc. are gambling, would a tournament which you pay to enter in order to win the “pot” be gambling? (name withheld upon request) “Gamble” is defined as ‘playing a game of chance for money or property’ or ‘to bet on an uncertain outcome.’ A tournament to which one pays an entry fee is not usually considered the same as playing a game of chance or betting, even if prizes awarded to winners are monetary. First, tournaments typically involve activity in which skill instead of chance is the primary determining factor of the outcome (e.g., a golf tournament). Second, even a monetary prize in a sporting event, for instance, is comprised of sums exceeding the entry fees, which may be derived largely from spectator admission fees and advertising (e.g., auto racing). Third, entry fees to a tournament fund more than prizes, such as expenses associated with hosting the event (e.g., county fair). I would be slow to condemn someone’s participation in a tournament, though entry fees may be associated with it. However, if I personally had a troubled conscience regarding tournaments, I would refrain from such myself to avoid violating my conscience (Romans 14:23).

In the context of 1 John chapter one in verse 7 where it says “we have fellowship one with another,” is it talking about God or Godhead, other Christians or both; who is the fellowship with? In Christ and Christian Love, Randy H. Sturgess The verse under consideration reads: “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin” (1 John 1:7). The answer to your question lies in verse 3, which reads: “That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.” In short, biblical fellowship is a triangular relationship between the Godhead, a faithful Christian and every other faithful Christian (who also has fellowship with the Godhead). Every faithful child of God enjoys fellowship with the Godhead and with every other faithful child of God. Biblical fellowship extends across every geographical and topographical feature of our planet (where Christians may be), across the barriers of time past, present and future among faithful Christians, and across the threshold on either side of which is this physical world and timeless eternity in the spiritual realm.

In Hebrews 10, is the “them” in verse 16 the same “them” of verse 14, and the same “their” of verse 17? Thank you, In Christ, Rea Buttermore The verses involved in the inquiry are: “or by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more” (Hebrews 10:14-17). The short answer to your inquiry is yes! The Book of Hebrews is a running contrast between Judaism and Christianity. Its purpose was to re-establish Jewish Christians whose faith in the Gospel system was wavering. Many Jewish Christians in the first century were tempted to dispense with Christianity and return to a strict allegiance to Judaism. The mention of a “covenant” in this passage contrasts the New Covenant, which was the subject of Old Testament prophecy, but had been implemented in the first century with the Old Covenant or Testament. The “them” of verse 14 who were “sanctified” or saved persons when Hebrews was written were the objects of salvation contained in the Old Testament prophecy cited (Jeremiah 31:33-34) and designated in the prophecy as “them” in verse 16 and as “their” in verse 17. The word “perfected” in verse 14 means “completed” or “fulfilled”; see Strong’s Greek

I read Judges 11:29-33 and wonder what is going on. Jephthah makes a vow to God to “offer” whatever comes through the door as a burnt offering. V. 31. It couldn’t be an animal because they usually didn’t enter people’s houses through the doors so I don’t think he meant to sacrifice a person coming through the door. I don’t think he meant a human sacrifice because his daughter had no relations with man after he “did to her according to the vow.” V. 39. What are your thoughts? David Peery. Jephthah’s vow has been a source of controversy throughout modern history. Essentially, two contrasting views argue for either Jephthah literally offering his daughter as a blood-spilt burnt altar offering, or that she was dedicated to lifelong, celibate service to God. God raised Jephthah to be a Judge in Israel to liberate the Israelites from the oppression of the Ammonites (Judges 11:29). Further, God is directly involved as the one with whom the vow was made and at least indirectly through providence in the turn of events that led to the application of the vow to Jephthah’s daughter. Therefore, whatever conclusion to which one arrives also affects one’s view of God, too. According to Keil and Delitzsch, the verbal construction of the vow anticipated that to whomever the vow would eventually be applied was a human and not an animal. Also, Jephthah apparently determined to allow chance or providence to select the immediate application upon his return home. Jephthah’s daughter

What is the difference between private and public sins? I realize that most say that sins of a private nature can be forgiven by praying to God for forgiveness, while sins of a public nature need to be repented of. I realize that God doesn’t hear the prayers of Christians who have committed public sins. … If a man told a lie in public, yet no one knew it was a lie, but he and God, would that be considered a public sin? If a man didn’t give as he should in the offering would that be considered a public sin? Are public sins, sins that are done in public in which people identify as a sin or do public sins also include sins done in public, in which only God and the person doing them, know to be a sin? … Also, would breaking the law by going above the speed limit be considered a sin? Would that be public or private? I realize that many brethren probably go above the speed limit, but would that be considered a sin? I realize that we are to obey the laws of the land, but yet I ask would it be a sin to break the law of speeding? The context of Matthew 18:15-17 makes the distinction between what we might call private sins and public sins, primarily by defining private sins. “Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone:

What is the definition of a creed (in the unscriptural sense)? I have seen a congregation adopt written rules of what to wear (specific articles of clothing) or who can use the building (what type of weddings, what type people can have showers) in written policy format, would that be a creed? (name withheld upon request) Religiously, a creed is “a fixed formula summarizing the essential articles of the Christian religion” (Early Christian Creeds, 1972, p. 1). Such a creed is also defined as “a brief authoritative formula of religious belief” [Merriam Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, (Springfield, Massachusetts: Merriam-Webster, Incorporated) 1993] or “an authoritative formulated statement of the chief articles of Christian belief” [Webster’s Talking Dictionary, (Random House, Inc.) 1995]. Jesus described creeds in Matthew 15:9, “But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” The short answer, then, to your question is, “No.” The things you mention do not pertain to either worship or one’s manmade concept of the essential articles of the Christian religion. On the other hand, there are a number of decisions that every congregation makes in the area of expediency which do not pertain to creeds, which often are written down. For instance, a time and place for worship and Bible classes must be decided, announced and is usually written (e.g., church signs, yellow pages, advertising, bulletins, etc.). Likewise, local decisions by the elders may be announced and even written respecting the use of the building other than for worship. At

Brother Rushmore, We were studying this chapter in class last Wednesday night. Came to these verses and we really weren’t sure what they meant especially the last part of verse 19, “preached to the spirits in prison.” Would appreciate your help in understanding verse 19. Thank-you, Billy Roughton The biblical reference in the inquiry is: “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water” (1 Peter 3:18-20, King James Version). Most translations read about the same as the quotation above. Some read as below with the inclusion of the added word “now” in italics by the translators, which indicates their understanding that the spirits addressed were once the ungodly people who died in the universal flood of Noah’s day, but these souls are now in “prison.” “in which also He went and made proclamation to the spirits now in prison, who once were disobedient, when the patience of God kept waiting in the days of Noah, during the construction of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through the water” (1 Peter 3:19-20, New American Standard). Many

I was reading 2 Thessalonians and I am confused on chapter 2 especially verse 8-9 “And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,” Is this two separate beings? “that wicked” is not Satan because he is “after the working of Satan” so who is he? and what does it mean “destroy with the brightness of His coming”? Thank you, David Peery First century Christians supposed that Jesus Christ would execute his second coming within their lifetime. Various New Testament references attempt to disarm that first century erroneous conviction, such as 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 where the apostle Paul assures the living saints that deceased saints are not disadvantaged because they died before the Second Coming. In the second epistle to the Thessalonians, the apostle again tries to alleviate the misconception that Jesus Christ must necessarily come immediately. It was then as even now, as far as mortals know, the case that Jesus Christ could return soon while we yet live or at any time in the future. We just don’t know when Jesus Christ is coming again and therefore must be prepared always (Matthew 24:36-44). Second Thessalonians 2:1-2 identify the chapter’s topic to concern the misgivings the Thessalonians had regarding the imminent return of Christ, and even that some would falsely persuade them of

Would you please help me with Matt.3:11. John quotes to the people there present that Jesus will baptize “you” with the Holy Spirit. To whom was he referring? I know the apostles were the ones baptized on Pentecost, but I need help to explain this passage. Bob Douglas, California Joel 2:28-3:2 prophesied that miraculous power would visit Jews and Gentiles at some magnificent event in the then future. The city of Jerusalem would figure prominently in the unfolding of these events. Young and old, male and female would be the recipients of miraculous power. It is clear from Acts 2:16-21 where the apostle Peter referred to Joel’s prophecy, quoted it and applied it to the baptism of the Holy Spirit on the apostles (Acts 2:1-4) that Joel’s prophecy included the baptism of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles. Referring to Joel 2:28-3:2, one easily sees that others in addition to the apostles were to receive miraculous power, too (women, Gentiles, gifts of the Holy Spirit as opposed to the baptism of the Holy Spirit, Acts 8:14-18; Hebrews 2:4). However, the prophecy of Joel itself does not say in so many words the baptism of the Holy Spirit was intended for the apostles alone and that gifts of the Holy Spirit would be available through the imposition of apostolic hands on other Christians. One must turn to other passages such as Acts 2:16-21; 2:38; 8:14-18; Hebrews 2:4 to see that distinction. John the Baptizer’s reference to the baptism of the Holy

“We are now producing alcoholics at the staggering rate of about 1,500 every day . . .” (Garland Elkins and Robert R. Taylor, Jr., Social Drinking: Unjustified, Unsocial, Unwise, Unscriptural, Memphis, Getwell Church of Christ, p. 2.) Alcoholism affects both men and women, though women who drink are more susceptible to alcoholism than the male population that drinks. “The process of becoming an alcoholic is of shorter duration” for women. (Edith S. Lisansky Gomberg, Ph.D. is a Professor of Psychology at the Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan Alcohol Research Center, Ann Arbor, Michigan. Her statement appears in an internet article hosted by the Center of Alcohol Studies, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, 1996, https://www. rci.rutgers.edu/~cas2/clearinghouse/factSheet/fact20.html. [15 Sep 1998]) Alcoholism can begin as a subtle shift from social drinking to a dependence on alcohol. Often the alcoholic is unaware of his dependency or later when rationally one could not refute his alcoholism he adamantly denies the obvious. Alcoholism may also go unnoticed by one’s friends at first. Some elderly alcoholics have successfully masked their addictions until their later years, at which time the effects of alcoholism may be confused with the onset of old age. Warning Signs Alcohol affects various individuals differently. One cannot know when he begins to practice social drinking that his body is especially susceptible to addiction to alcohol. The best way to avoid alcoholism is not to start drinking alcoholic beverages. Warning signs of alcoholism include the following. Frequent and constant use of any type of alcohol can lead to physical

Dear Friend, Thank you for reading my article on canonicity and your subsequent letter to correct my “omissions and misstatements.” Though I wonder, how seriously should one consider a critique in which the critic is neither named nor introduced? However, I will presume that you are sincerely interested in this topic and that the omission of your name, etc. was an oversight on your part. I must admit that I am saddened by your apparent low regard for the Bible. Uninspired men writing equally uninspired Scripture is hardly a useful transmission of a divine message from God to man. It would seem, then, we can truly know little if anything certain about God, redemption, worship, Christian service or eternity. You wrote: Most of the writers did not know they were writing Scripture. Paul certainly did not. . . . The first 100 hundred [sic] years of the writings of the New Testament, the early Christians did not know or believe these writings were the word of God. That is when all the differences in the early manuscripts crept in. That is why we have 5,000 Greek manuscripts of all or parts of the New Testament, yet there is not one verse in the New Testament were [sic] there is absolute agreement. The King James Version . . . the original version contained the Apocrypha. We hold ourselves up to ridicule (the unnecessary type) when we don’t get our facts straight. First, though you, from the overall tenor of your letter,

Luke 13:1-9 Introduction The backdrop to this parable concerns the perennial and common misconception that bad things happen to people as retributions from God. Some in the audience of Christ on this occasion told of Galilean Jews who were slaughtered in the Temple, while they were in the act of offering sacrifices. Evidently, Roman soldiers who were chargeable to Pilate killed those worshippers. “There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices” (Luke 13:1). Our Lord denied that those Galilaeans or those, for instance, upon whom the tower of Siloam fell, were more deserving to die for their sins than anyone present in the crowd. Jesus used this moment as an opportunity to teach about repentance. All mankind has a common need to repent of sins (Acts 17:30-31). “And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish” (Luke 13:2-5). An aunt of mine became pregnant with her last child, somewhat unexpectedly, when she was 40 years old. Unfortunately, the baby was born with some medical difficulties. My aunt proceeded to pronounce this as retribution

Proponents of social drinking often claim that alcohol in moderation is harmless. Even Christians sometimes claim that the Bible condemns drunkenness — not drinking alcohol. Other Christians who recognize that Scripture prohibits the pleasurable consumption of alcohol sometimes characterize even a single drink of alcohol as being “one drink drunk!” Of course, proponents of alcohol scoff at such a summary statement regarding even meager amounts of beverage alcohol. However, just how much alcohol must one drink before intoxication occurs? How does intoxication occur? Defined When someone drinks an alcoholic beverage it flows into the stomach. While it is in the stomach, the drinker does not feel the effects of the alcohol, but alcohol does not remain in the stomach very long. Some of it is absorbed through the stomach walls into the bloodstream, but most alcohol passes into the small intestine and then into the bloodstream, and this circulates throughout the body. Once alcohol is in the bloodstream it reaches the brain and the drinker begins to feel its effects. (Gail Gleason Milgram, Ed.D., “Facts On: The Effects of Alcohol,” Center of Alcohol Studies, Rutgers, The State University  of New Jersey 1997, https://www.rci.rutgers.edu/~cas2/clearinghouse/factsheet/fact15.html. [14 Sep 1988]) Irrespective of the variables between persons who consume alcohol, the process that results in intoxication is the same for everyone. Irrespective of the amount of alcohol one drinks, the body processes alcohol in the same way. However, the discernible effect of alcohol can be mitigated by a number of factors, including the size and weight of a drinker, how

Sundry Passages “And all that believed were together, and had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need” (Acts 2:44-45). Christians in Jerusalem sold possessions and distributed to needy Christians (who had remained in Jerusalem after their conversion beyond the preparation they had made to attend the feast of Pentecost).  The manner of the distribution is not here cited.  The recipients of the benevolence, called “all” in vs. 45, were the needy ones of those “that believed” of vs. 44. “And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common. … Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, And laid them down at the apostles’ feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need” (Acts 4:32, 34-35). Christians in Jerusalem are again noted for selling possessions and generally sharing their resources. The proceeds were presented to the apostles for distribution to the needy. Individual Christians practiced benevolence through the church. The recipients, called “every man,” were the needy ones of “them that believed” of vs. 32 and “among them” (referring to saints) of verse 34. “And kept back part of the price, his wife

Luke 12:13-21 Introduction The parable of the Rich Fool appears only in Luke.  The topic that the parable treats, though, is neither new nor found singularly in Luke’s Gospel record.  Our Lord here spoke about covetousness. “And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth” (Luke 12:15). God only needs to say something once for it to be so and incontrovertible.  However, some subjects are addressed many times in the Bible.  The repetition with which the Scriptures speak about a subject emphasizes the difficulty that mankind generally has complying with the respective divine mandate.  Money is such a biblical theme.  Evidently, we are especially vulnerable to temptation through improper attitudes toward material wealth.  One does not have to be especially blessed with this world’s goods to manifest a malignant disposition toward material prosperity.  The rich, though, seem more disposed to suffer this sin. “They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches” (Psalm 49:6). The Lord’s people are not immune to the sin of covetousness. It is “. . . very easy . . . to overlook the sin of covetousness.”1 If the Parable of the Good Samaritan is the most practical of all the parables, the Parable of the Rich Fool is the most necessary. . . . Even among professed Christians it is so prevalent that it is scarcely recognized for what it is — a deadly sin.2 “The Sin

“…there is only one church that is structured the same, and is run the same as was the primitive (or beginning) church.  That would be The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (LDS), or Mormon church…. I have study long, read the scriptures, and prayed, and I know that this is the only true church restored by God after the Apostasy. It contains all the authority to the ordinances, restored through Joseph Smith.” ~ Joshua Caplin I respectfully submit to Joshua and every reader that indeed there is only one true church, about which anyone can read in the New Testament, but that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (LDS) or the Mormon Church is not that church. The facts simply do not support Joshua’s sincere but erroneous assertion. Both biblical and historical evidences conclusively prove the LDS claim to be unfounded and false. Additionally, the most damaging information countering LDS claims to be the one true church comes from the massive archives of miscellaneous and contradictory official LDS documents. The first hint that the Mormon Church is not the one true church about which one can read in the Bible is that its name is unscriptural (not in the Bible). Instead of finding Mormon Church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints or LDS in the Bible, the New Testament records several other appellations or descriptive terms by which the divine institution was known: “church of God” (1 Corinthians 1:2), “churches of Christ” (Romans 16:16), “house of God” (1 Timothy

Respected sir: This email is regarding the information you have displayed in the following link https://www.gospelgazette.com/gazette/2000/jul/page7.shtml regarding prophet Jesus (peace be upon him) like Prophet Moses (peace be upon him). What you have mentioned is wrong the prophet like unto Moses is prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Please consider the following with an aspect in search of the truth and leave all rational differences behind. The following is the reasoning and matter: – this is an article by Mr. Ahmad Deedat please read it and I am sure it will spread some knowledge: WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT MUHAMMED (PEACE BE UPON HIM) THE PROPHET OF ISLAM, A lecture by Ahmed Deedat ~ email from mohammed akbar ali khan The petitioner above and the article he submitted propose that Deuteronomy Eighteen’s prophecy about God raising up a prophet like unto Moses refers not to Jesus Christ but to Muhammad. How can one tell whether the prophecy refers to Muhammad or Jesus Christ? The Scripture reads: “The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken…I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him” (Deuteronomy 18:15, 18). First, the New Testament, possessing the same divine inspiration with which the Old Testament was penned, tells precisely who fulfilled this prophecy. There

A 10 year old, “… would like to know how many of the Israelites died while wandering in the wilderness?” The exact number of Israelites who died during the wilderness wandering cannot be known. That number is not revealed in the Bible. Further, since neither the exact number of persons who left Egypt in the Exodus nor the exact number of persons who proposed to enter Canaan after the 40 years were complete is known, it is not possible to know precisely how many Israelites died in that period. However, we may make some educated guesses about how many Israelites left Egypt, arrived to enter Canaan 40 years later and perhaps also guess about how many died during the wilderness wandering. From Exodus 12:37 and Numbers 1:45-47, one learns that about 600,000 (603,550) men from 20 years old upward who could wage war were numbered in the Exodus. The tribe of Levi, males under 20 years old and all females were excluded from that census. The Methodist commentator, Adam Clarke, made the following suppositions to calculate the total population of Israelites at the time of the Exodus. He estimated that two-thirds the number of fighting men or 400,000 wives could be deduced and added to the 600,000. Further, supposing that each family had an average of six children, Clarke added another 2,000,000 persons. Next, he added 45,000 Levite men (not included in the 600,000), 33,000 Levite wives, 165,000 Levite children plus a 20,000 mixed multitude. Clarke estimated the total population of