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| Volume 18 Number 4 April 2016 | Page 6 |
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| Volume 18 Number 4 April 2016 | Page 6 |
Mark McWhorter
The father of John the Baptizer, Zacharias, gave a very interesting speech at the circumcision of John. He said that his son would prepare the way for the Highest (meaning the Christ). Then in Luke 1:78, he stated, “Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us.”
Zacharias called Jesus “the dayspring.” The Greek word translated as “dayspring” refers to the springing of the sun over the horizon each day. It is translated “east” several times in the Scriptures. The wise men who came to visit Jesus when He was a small child came from the “east.” That is the same word used for Jesus by Zacharias. It is interesting that those from the east came to see the One called the East – the Dayspring. The special star they saw which declared that he had been born led them to the True Star that would bring a new spiritual day.
Jesus is the Light of the world (John 8:12). He brings light to those in the darkness of sin (John 1:5; 3:19). He wants all men and women to come to Him. Zacharias said that Jesus would bring us to peace. Jesus Christ is the Prince of Peace. Only through Him can we have peace with the Father.
Study your Bible. Learn all you can about the Dayspring. Obey what He wants you to do. If any of this is hard to understand, ask an adult to help you.
What Is Right with the Church? #2
Mark N. Posey
When sinful people try to damage the church, it hurts Christ and His people (Acts 9:4; Matthew 25:45). However, do not be discouraged. The church is so right it cannot be wrong because it was built and founded by Jesus Christ (Matthew 16:18; 1 Corinthians 3:11). Consider some reasons why the church is right! The church is right because:
The price was right!
The price paid for the church was the death of God’s only begotten Son upon the cruel cross for man’s redemption. One hymn says, “Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe; sin had left a crimson stain, He washed it white as snow” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20; 1 Peter 1:18-19). Paul said that Christ “purchased the church with his own blood” (Acts 20:28).
The plea is right!
We plead for the Scriptures as the final and the authoritative rule in religion. We speak as the oracles of God (1 Peter 4:1). We plead for a restoration of the New Testament system in every essential aspect. We must return to the Word of God in all essential matters, such as the plan of salvation (Acts 2:38; 22:16), the plan for worship (Acts 20:7; 2:42), the plan for church organization (Philippians 1:1; 1 Timothy 3:1-13) and the plan for Christian purity (Galatians 5:22-23; 2 Peter 1:5-8).
The promise is right!
God promises Heaven to the church. Jesus said, “If I go… I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, you may be also” (John 14:3). Heaven is “reserved” for the “born again” (1 Peter 1:3-5). If you love the church as Jesus did, make it your first priority (Matthew 6:33) and the Lord will grant unto you all spiritual blessings (Ephesians 1:3).