One of the most basic needs of any society of people is that of authority. Without it, you have anarchy. It matters not whether it is in the home, in the school, in government, or even on the play-ground, there must be rules and someone invested with power to enforce those rules. It is still true that "You can have many Indians but only one chief."

Several decades ago there was an ecumenical movement afoot, supposedly an effort to unify the many divided churches of America. The only merger of any significance was that of the United Brethren with the Methodist Church. Even this was not a success for some of them refused to be a party to it and so instead of the two groups, it resulted in three: two smaller of the older groups and one new one!

If all of the existing churches should suddenly decide to recognize the same exclusive authority, there could be true unity. "But," says one," we do have the same authority, the Bible." Not exclusively for most churches insist on having their own distinctive creeds, confessions of faith, etc. If we all had the same doctrine, this would be completely unnecessary. It is argued that we cannot agree on what the Bible means. Are creeds written by men more understandable than the Bible authored by Almighty God? With the constant revisions of creeds, it is fairly obvious that people within the same fellowship do not agree on their creeds, so meetings are called and changes made.

Isn’t it great that we have a Book that does not need changing? Oh, the wording may need to be changed in the light of the changes made in our language. But, the meaning remains the same.

How does this work in the area of religion? There are Mormons because they do not believe the Bible alone is enough, so, they have the Book of Mormon. Islam has its Koran. Denominations have their creeds. Christians need only the Bible and to live by it. Jesus said, "The word which I have spoken to you shall judge you in the last day." John 12:48.

He also said "All authority in heaven and on earth is given unto me." Matthew 28:18-20.

     A CURE FOR OLD AGE     back to topics

A longtime friend came by today and gave me a copy of an obituary which was published in The Daily Oklahoman quite sometime ago. This man knew he was dying and had written his own obituary! Very unusual, to say the least.

What would you expect one to say about himself? He did not toot his own horn. He was merely factual.

Among other things, he said, "Well, it appears that the cigarettes finally nailed me." He proceeded to tell how he had enjoyed fifty years of smoking. He concluded by saying, "I just want to say one thing in closing, ‘Let’s not be too critical of the tobacco industry, after all, they did give us a cure for old age.’" I do not care for his cure for old age.

Elvis did not want to grow old. Dissipation saw to that. I did not like his cure either.

I have conducted funeral services for twenty-five or thirty people who took their own lives. I cannot recommend their cure for old age.

Ponce de Leon made his place in history by spending his time searching for the Fountain of Youth. When I was a child, many times I heard our mother sing gospel songs as she did her housework. One refrain which stuck in my mind was "Never grow old, never grow old, In a land where we’ll never grow old."

Jesus Christ said, "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." John 10:10. On the death of his good friend, Lazarus, Jesus told , Martha, "I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die." John 11:25-26.

Of course, it is appointed unto all men once to die, Hebrews 9:27, but it is not permanent. All that are in the graves shall come forth, the wicked to everlasting condemnation, and the righteous unto everlasting life. John 5:28-29.

Jesus died to bring us hope of life after death. It is the purpose of gospel preaching to turn men from darkness to light and from death to life. I hope you will accept the gift of life from our Lord Jesus Christ.

     A DIVINE CALLING?     back to topics

In some churches there has been strife and confusion over the role of women in those churches. Can they serve as pastors, or not?

It has been argued by some ladies that "if God calls me to a ministry, who are you to tell me I cannot fulfil my ministry to which God has called me?"

This sounds convincing, but not to everyone. There is another side to it. The July 26, 2000, issue of OKLAHOMA GAZETTE, page 37, quotes Max Barnett, "I would say this: God does not lead contrary to his word. If God has told us in black and white, what you feel should not supercede that."

Mr. Barnett has touched upon an issue that applies to far more than the role of women in churches. Is the word of God our final appeal in matters religious? I believe he is right. But, will Mr. Barnett make the same application in other areas?

For instance, here comes a person before the church to give his personal testimony. A certain church manual refers to this as his "experience" of salvation. A vote is taken as to whether or not this experience is accepted as genuine. If so, he is accepted as a candidate for baptism. Now, are we going to say "God does not lead contrary to his word . . what you feel should not supercede that"?

Since the word of God requires a belief that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and a confession of that faith (Acts 8:35-37), repentance and baptism for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38), can one’s feelings, his "experience" supercede what "God has told us in black and white" as Mr. Barnett said?

Do we believe that God’s word is our "final answer" with reference to the role of women but not in everything else?

I take this stand: If I am preaching requirements not found in Scripture, tell me and show me what the word of God says and I will change my preaching to agree with the Bible. If I am omitting anything the Bible requires, point this out to me and I will begin preaching it.

We need a return to the word of God as our authority in all things.

     A MATTER OF CONCERN     back to topics

The Mormons recently made the news, in fact, front page news with quite a spread on the inside pages. What was it all about? They are building a temple in the north-west part of Oklahoma City. They have many throughout the world so why did this make news? It is a new thing in our city. Oh, they have been here, but without a temple.

The newspaper reported that the building of this temple was a matter of concern to churches of the area.

What is the real concern? It could be that churches are afraid the Mormons will "steal sheep", proselyte their members. I doubt it. There are huge church buildings being built all over town. I have not read any report that this is causing any concern to other churches. But, you see, Mormons are different. Most denominations view them as a cult. They are home grown, native to America. They deny this but it is true. They have many doctrines that are rejected and offensive to most who claim to be Christian. It is not likely that you will see any public rebuttal of those doctrines. You are not likely to hear any proposals of a public discussion of those differences. When a group blatantly disregards Biblical teachings on any subject, they are not in a position to challenge others who do the same.

What I am saying is this: The concern is that Mormons will lead people astray, that they endanger the souls of those they convert to Mormonism.

But, if "one church is as good as another", why be concerned. I happen to reject the idea that "one church is as good as another." No church of human origin is as good as the one Christ built. Even those built by men are not all as good as some others. Why? Some advocate homosexuality, others oppose it. Some countenance gambling; others oppose it. Some will not oppose men and women living together without benefit of marriage; others will vigorously oppose it. The list could be very long.

Churches of Christ have always been willing to defend what we believe, even in a public forum. We have engaged Mormons in such in years gone by. It has been years since we have been able to interest them in doing it again. If we are truly concerned, why do not men do something about it? Do others have a right to propagate their views and make converts. YES. We also have to right to show from the Bible where they are wrong, if they are.

     A SENSE OF SIN     back to topics

Strangely, a person’s very ‘goodness’ may be a barrier between him and God. How could that be? It keeps him from realizing any need of salvation. I have heard many people say, "I’m not a bad person." One dear friend who was approaching seventy years of age said, "Preacher, I have never done anything bad in my life." You know what he was saying to me. He was saying he was not lost, he had nothing for which he needed forgiveness. Not so.

A friend recently indicated to me that he was neither saved nor lost. He was not clear in his meaning. He said, "I don’t believe it either way." I hope he realizes his error before it is too late.

The basis of this theme runs deep. There is more than meets the eye. It involves the very nature of both God and man. To believe in God carries with it the obligation to submit to God. As Creator, God has the right to expect and demand of man conformity to His will. I am responsible to God. To violate the law of God is to sin. "Sin is the transgression of law." 1 John 3:4. We have all sinned and come short of the glory of God. Rom. 3:23. "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." 1 John 1:8. "If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us." v. 10.

Even if we realize that we have sinned, we are likely to regard it as of no real consequence. It surely is not something serious enough to cause us to go to hell! Man is no judge of the magnitude of sin. Only God is qualified to judge that. How serious is my sin? It is so bad that it took the death of Jesus Christ to remove it. God was so concerned over my sins that He gave His only begotten Son to take away my sins. He says, "The wages of sin is death." Rom. 6:23. "The soul that sinneth shall die." Ezek. 18:4.

Does this mean that once we have sinned, we are without hope? Of course not! The blood of Christ cleanseth us from all sin. 1 John 1:7. Christ said, "No man cometh to the Father but by me." John 14:6. We cannot come on our own terms; we must submit to the conditions laid down by the Lord Jesus Christ. But, why should we resent having to submit to his will?

Yes, we are sinners. Yes, there is hope. Claim it before it is too late.

     A SERIOUS CLAIM     back to topics

Have you ever seen a TV advertisement which invites you to send for a free copy of "The rest of the Bible"? It is an offer to send you a copy of the Book of Mormon. The Mormon church was officially organized on April 6, 1830, at Fayette, New York. It has since become a large and highly and efficiently organized movement. Its size and influence neither proves nor disproves its divine origin. The Muslim faith is much larger and has a much wider influence but that does not make it right either.

Orson Pratt, an early LDS apostle, wrote a series of tracts Divine Authenticity of the Book of Mormon in 1830. In his first tract he said, "This book must be either true or false. If true, it is one of the most important messages ever sent from God. . . If false, it is one of the most cunning, wicked, bold, deep-laid impositions ever palmed upon the world, calculated to deceive and ruin millions who would sincerely receive it as the word of God, and will suppose themselves securely built upon the rock of truth until they are plunged with their families into hopeless despair.

"The nature of the message in the Book of Mormon is such, that if true, no one can possibly be saved and reject it; if false, no one can possibly be saved and receive it."

With this last paragraph I most heartily agree. This is a most serious claim. If the Book of Mormon is true, I am lost. If it is false, those who follow it are lost.

I do not question the sincerity of its devotees. They are zealous and they take care of the needs of their people. This is true of many cults. I admire them for their forthrightness in claiming to be the only way to heaven.

I have often asked their missionaries, "Were there true Christians before Joseph Smith gave the world his Book of Mormon? If Peter and Paul could be Christians without it, why can’t I be?"

Are the teachings of that book identical with the gospel which Paul preached? Read Galatians 1:6-9. No other gospel will do!

     A SERIOUS IMPLICATION     back to topics

The Apostle Paul wrote that when Jesus returns it will be "In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord." 2 Th 1:8-9. Peter wrote, "Judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?" 1 Pet. 4:17.

This is a serious implication as to the importance of knowing the gospel. How could one obey the gospel if he is unaware of what the gospel is and what it demands?

Many people seem to think that the gospel has no commands. However, the gospel has truth to be believed, commands to be obeyed and promises to be enjoyed.

You can believe or disbelieve a statement of fact. But, you cannot obey facts. You can obey commands. The very fact that the gospel must be obeyed implies that the gospel has commands to be obeyed.

Jesus sent the apostles to go into all the world and preach "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved. He that believeth not shall be damned." Mark 16:16. Jesus clearly taught that the one who does not believe the gospel will be damned. Of course, if one does not believe it, he will not obey it. Many good people think that faith alone is enough to save. Disbelief alone is enough to condemn us, but, faith alone will not save us. "Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only." James 2:21. Unless we also obey the gospel, we will be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord.

If we call on the name of the Lord, we will be saved, Acts 2:21. That requires more than saying, "Lord, Lord." Jesus said, "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." Matt. 7:21. He also asked, "Why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?" Luke 6:46. We must obey him or perish.

     A TRUE PROPHET OF GOD?     back to topics

The Mormons are getting set to make a big push to recruit new members in the Oklahoma City area. Do they have a constitutional right to do this? Certainly! Do we have a right to point out what we believe to be errors in the Mormon religion? Certainly! If we are opposed to their views, keep in mind that they are opposed to ours. We both have a right to speak up. This article will deal with one of those issues.

One cannot become a Mormon unless he confesses that he believes that Joseph Smith was a true prophet of God. A belief in the Book of Mormon demands that. After all, he claimed that God guided him unerringly to translate cryptic messages from plates of gold.

A lesser known "inspired" translation of Joseph Smith is the Book of Abraham. Joseph Smith came into possession of a manuscript written in Egyptian hieroglyphics. By "inspiration" he translated it. It was supposed to be a fuller account of Abraham’s offering of Isaac. The cover had a drawing of a slab which Joseph Smith called an altar. There was a body on the slab. A man stood alongside with upraised hand. This was supposed to be Abraham lifting his knife to slay Isaac. Any good Mormon accepted such an inspired translation by their true prophet of God.

The hitch to all of this was simple. Up to this time, no one knew how to read hieroglyphics. Not much later, the code was broken and thousands of such writings have been deciphered, translated, if you please. Now it is known that The Book of Abraham has nothing to do with Abraham. It is a manual on how to embalm bodies!

So what? You can already see the implications. If the Book of Mormon is an inspired translation of golden plates on a par with an inspired translation of The Book of Abraham, where does that leave Mormons? With a hoax.

If the Book of Mormon is true, you cannot go to heaven unless you are a Mormon. If it is false, you cannot be a Mormon and go to heaven.

If Mormons knock at your door, ask them "Was Peter or Paul a Mormon?" Then ask, "Were they Christians?" Next, ask, "Can I be a Christian without being a Mormon?" It is time to be open and above board.

     A VOICE NOT HEARD     back to topics

Recently, America mourned the loss of a well-known leader in his church, John Cardinal O’Connor. He was outspoken in his beliefs. Among other things, he called for excommunication of Catholic politicians who support abortion rights. If Catholics stood united on any political issue, it could constitute the largest political bloc in America. The cardinal went unheard and unheeded. His church does not stand united on this issue.

The Bible is clear on the sanctity of life. The official doctrine of the Catholic church is against abortion. There was a time when people of that faith would stand by whatever the church recognized as its official doctrine. Today, that church is divided over many issues.

There is a more important issue here. If one will not respect what the Bible teaches on any given matter, why should he be concerned about what his church teaches?

I am often asked what the doctrine of the church of Christ is on some particular matter. Of course, I always reply that the church has no doctrine separate from the Bible. We have no creed drawn up by conferences, synods or councils. Each congregation simply takes the Bible according to its under-standing of what it teaches. Each congregation is totally independent of all other congregations.

There is much disagreement and confusion in the religious world. It is not a result of the Bible’s being unclear and contradictory. It results from unbelief. Most people are simply unwilling to accept what the Bible teaches. Why? A moment’s reflection will reveal the answer.

If one reasons on a human level that abortion is simply a matter of choice on the part of the mother, then he rejects whatever the Bible says about it.

Men reason that when human beings reach a point where there seems to be no quality of life left, then euthanasia is acceptable.

The world of ‘Christianity’ has been greatly influenced by the theory of evolution. If we do not believe in a Creator, why should we be bound by what He says? When men reject the idea that the Bible is the inerrant word of God, is it strange if they reject its teachings in favor of what seems right and reasonable to them? A man may go unheard. Do not let God go unheard.

     AGREEING IN ERROR     back to topics

In the 60's there was a lot of publicity about ecumenicity. The ecumenical movement did not last long. Two groups, the United Brethren and the Methodist Church merged and became the United Methodist Church. No one else took the movement seriously. Most recently, the Metro Church and the Henderson Hills Baptist Church have proposed a merger.

This would only involve two local churches and have no impact on churches as a whole. About a week later, the Lutherans and Roman Catholics announced an agreement about how men are saved by faith only. We seriously doubt that both parties mean the same thing and we doubt that it will create any effective change in either church. What men may agree upon will not in any way change what the Bible has to say on any subject. "Let God be true but every man a liar." Romans 3:4. When man and God are in conflict, God is always right.

The Bible teaching on the necessity of unity is plain: "Let there be no division among you, but be perfectly joined together in the same mind and same judgment." 1 Cor. 1:10. Christ, on the night of his betrayal, prayed, "That they all may be one; as thou, Father, are in me and I in thee, that they also may be one in us." John 17:21. He also said "Other sheep I have [Gentiles] which are not of this fold [Jews]. Them also I must bring and there will be one fold and one shepherd." John 10:16. There is not to be a Gentile church and a Jewish church. Christ reconciled both Jew and Gentile in one body, his church, by the cross. Eph. 2:16.

If there is to be unity, how can it be accomplished? "Let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing." Phil. 3:16. If everyone would agree to the same standard, the New Testament, we could be one. We would have to agree to wear no name but what is found in scripture. Preach no condition of salvation but for which we can give book, chapter and verse. In congregational worship we would only do what is authorized in scripture, no more and no less. We would leave nothing out, and add nothing to it. No one would be asked to give up anything that is authorized in the word of God. Nor would anyone practice anything but what is authorized in the word of God.

      AN INFALLIBLY SAFE COURSE     back to topics

Aquila and Priscilla heard Apollos preaching an imperfect gospel. What he preached was good so far as it went but"they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly." Acts 18:26. We want to make our salvation as sure as we can. Pilate told the Roman guards who secured the tomb of Jesus, "Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can." Matthew 27:65.

If you had a serious illness and went to your doctor and he told you, "I have here a tried and true medication that never fails. It has no side effects and is inexpensive. I also have here a highly exper-imental drug whose side effects are unknown. Its effectiveness is suspect in the opinion of some highly respected colleagues." Which drug would you choose? To ask is but to answer. Your soul is much more important than your body. Why would you accept what is suspect in the area of Christianity? Why not follow a way that is right and cannot be wrong?

Someone says, "I think sprinkling is as good as immersion for baptism." Many people disagree. Does anyone question whether or not immersion is acceptable as baptism? No one would question it.

Another says, "Baptism is alright but not necessary to salvation." Again, there is disagreement. Ask: "Is it safe to be baptized for the remission of sins?" Since Acts 2:38 says to do it for this reason, how could anyone question its being acceptable?

Another says, "I think it is enough to take the Lord’s Supper quarterly." Again, many disagree. Ask, "Does anyone question that it is acceptable to observe the Lord’s Supper on the first day of each week?" Not one person says that it is wrong and contrary to scripture.

Others contend, "I like instrumental music when I sing and surely it cannot be wrong." Quakers, Greek Orthodox and churches of Christ do not agree. Maybe several others. Question: "Does anyone say it is not safe to sing without playing music." No one says it is a sin to leave off the mechanical instruments of music when we sing. This is a safe way.

Why not follow a course that is right and cannot be wrong? Do what is infallibly safe. Your soul is at stake.

      "AS GOD COMMANDED"     back to topics

It would be difficult for me to imagine any person’s saying that one could safely defy a direct command of Almighty God. Yet, there are many who will tell you that if you have faith, nothing else is necessary. A man recently said to me that if any man says that Christ is Lord, he would not attempt to evangelize him. He said, "If he says Christ is Lord, he has the Spirit of God and that is good enough."

Christ said, "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." Matthew 7:21.

How important are God’s commandments? One hundred and four times the Bible says, "the Lord commanded". Two hundred fifty-eight times the Bible says "the word of the Lord". Two hundred twenty-one times it says "the Lord said". There are dozens of other times it says something similar.

Christ put great importance on God’s commands. He said, "Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 5:19.

In spite of such plain teaching, there are those who seriously teach others that the Bible is not a book of rules but only a love letter from God. Christ is the greatest expression God has ever given of his love for mankind. However, the offering of Christ on the cross was never intended to diminish the importance of man’s doing the will of God. We must never think that our doing the will of God pays for our sins. They were paid for by the blood of Jesus. However, if we fail to do the will of God, the blood will not save.

Faith is fundamental. "Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone." James 2:17. Hebrews 11 is a great chapter on faith. If you will read that chapter again, notice how in every case the faith that pleased God was a faith that did something. By faith, Noah built an ark. By faith, Abraham offered his son Isaac. Etc., etc.

     "AS YOU WISH"     back to topics

I read a story about three boys who decided to show up an old man who was reputed to be very wise. They caught a small bird and went to him with it concealed in the hand of one of the boys. He asked, "Old man, what do I have in my hand?"

He said, "A bird. I see a feather sticking out."

"But, is he dead or alive?," he asked. The boys had conspired that if the old man said alive, the boy would crush the bird and present him a dead bird. If he said the bird was alive, the boy would turn the bird loose to fly away.

The old man was too wise to be taken in. He said, "As you wish, my son, as you wish."

Too many of us go through life feeling like we are victims of fate, or at least victims of circumstance. We like to shift blame and refuse to accept responsibility for our actions. But, for most of us the choice is ours.

The world is apprehensive because of Y2K. It has made us edgy. People are storing groceries, taking money out of the bank, and no telling what else. Software programmers were shortsighted enough to generate some real computer problems but those can be solved on a human level. Others are trying to create hysteria in the spiritual realm. Y2K has no religious significance whatever. The Bible knows nothing of such nonsense.

The call is yours. You can regard the coming millennium with dread and fear. Or, you can approach it with optimism and courage and view it as a great opportunity to draw closer to God and be of service to your fellow man. Many people are accustomed to making New Year’s Resolutions. You have the rare opportunity to make some New Millennium Resolutions! However, making resolutions are useless unless you have the determination to follow through with them. The Prodigal Son said "I will arise and go to my father’s house." But, he did more. He arose and went. Without that follow-through, he would never again have enjoyed the fellowship and joy of his father’s house. Neither will you.

     AUTHORITY IS ESSENTIAL    back to topics

Just how important is authority? It is all-important. A school principal cannot run a school without authority. A treasurer cannot pay bills without authority. Christ could not be the actual head of his own church without authority. While authority is very important in secular matters, it is absolutely necessary in religious matters. The Mormon Church could not exist without the authority of Joseph Smith as it resides in his writings, chiefly, the Book of Mormon. The group known as "Jehovah's Witnesses" could not exist without the authority of their council of men in Brooklyn, New York, presumably inspired of God to tell the rest of the world what the Bible really means. What is our authority, our final word?

Before Jesus ascended back to his Father, he laid upon the apostles a very serious obligation. Matt. 28:18-20 "And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen." The word 'power' is from the Greek word exousia, and it means 'power, force, right, authority.'

Jesus has all authority, but where? In heaven and in earth. That takes in everything. God has put everything under subjection to Christ except Himself, 1 Cor. 15:27. Christ is sovereign enough to delegate authority. Having all power or authority, he sent the apostles out to teach all nations, baptize them, and to teach them all things that he commanded them. This involves two very serious responsibilities: 1) teach all that they were commanded; 2) teach nothing but what they were commanded. This included all that Christ commanded; it excluded all that Christ did not command.

Paul admonished, "Whatever you do, in word or in deed, do all in the name of the Lord." Col. 3:17.

       AUTHORITY      back to topics

How would you like to risk your soul on what some person related to you by word of mouth which they had received from another by word of mouth, who had received his message from another by word of mouth, ad infinitum? If you have ever played the parlor game of "gossip" you would know how unreliable that would be!

The only way I would trust an oral message would be to know that the messenger was inspired of God. During the first century the gospel was delivered orally by men filled with the Holy Spirit. What they delivered orally was then committed to writing.

The people of Berea checked the things spoken by the great apostle Paul against what was found in scripture, Acts 17:10-11. Those who rely on oral traditions today would do well to check their traditions against what is found in scripture.

More than once, Christ asked, "Have ye not read in the scriptures?" He also said to the Sadducees "Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures." Matt. 22:29. He never once said this about "not knowing the traditions." Following his resurrection, "Beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself." Luke 24:27. He also said, "Scripture cannot be broken." John 10:35. He never once said, "Tradition cannot be broken."

Scriptures are what has been written after having been spoken by the Holy Spirit. "This scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit by the mouth of David spake." Acts 1:16.

It is through the scriptures that we have hope, Rom. 15:4. It is the holy scriptures which make wise to salvation through faith in Christ. 2 Tim. 3:15. This was said of Old Testament scriptures which foretold the coming of Christ. It further says that these scriptures furnish the man of God completely unto every good work. The Old Testament scriptures were a complete guide while in effect. The New Testament scriptures are a complete and all-sufficient guide for those of us under the new covenant.

We need authority for all that we do. Christ has all authority and his will and his way are found only in the New Testament scriptures.

     THE BABE OF BETHLEHEM     back to topics

Nearly everyone loves babies (babies that are already born; unborn babies are often aborted). The very innocence of a baby is charming. Grandbabies and great-grandbabies are especially wonderful! Babies pose no threat to our ego nor our power. We can enjoy their sweetness without dread or fear. Many Christians think of Jesus even now as the Babe of Bethlehem. It is not the baby that draws men unto God. Christ said "And I, if I be lifted up, will draw all men unto men." John 12:32.It is the crucified savior who redeems men unto God. Christ "loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood" Rev. 1:5.

We are at a season of the year when carols are already being sung. I enjoy them as much as the next person. However, most of those carols do nothing to call us to an obedient faith. They are pretty and they are sentimental but most of them center on the events surrounding the birth of Jesus.

Of course the life and death and resurrection of Jesus would never have been possible if he had not been born. Are we glad he was born? Absolutely! On the night of his birth, angels announced, "For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord." Luke 2:11. "Christ" is a Greek word meaning "anointed". And "Lord" means "ruler". He is God’s anointed king. A lord is one who rules or governs.

Most of us do not like being ruled, ordered around. But, God has the right to rule us, to tell us what to do and what not to do. Early in life many children resent being told what to do. That is especially true if the one giving orders is not a parent. "You are not my boss!’

Until we come to the point we are willing to say, "Speak, Lord, thy servant heareth. Command and I will obey" we will never be submissive to God and thus be saved.

Yes, sing about the Babe of Bethlehem. But, obey the Lord of Glory. "Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he that doeth the will of my Father." Matt. 7:21.

     BACK TO THE BEGINNING     back to topics

It is easy for us to think in terms of reformation or even restoration and feel that we are on solid footing. To do either of those things is to work on something present and try to reform it or restore it to its original condition. There may some value in that but why not just go back to the Bible and learn what people did when they heard the gospel from the lips of men sent out by Jesus himself?

The apostles were empowered by the Holy Spirit. They were even told that their words would not be their own but the Spirit of God speaking in them, Matt. 10:19-20. What these men taught was recorded in what we know as the New Testament. It was some time later that what they taught was written down. But, what was written was not different from what they taught. We are bound by what they bound and we are loosed from what they loosed. Matt. 16:19.

We tend to make religion too complicated. We get bogged down in a lot of ritual and ceremony. The beauty of the gospel is found in its simplicity.

If one will open his Bible to the Acts of the Apostles and read the story of how the apostles carried out the Great Commission of Christ it will be an eye-opener. He had told them to go and preach the gospel to every creature. That is exactly what they did. Over and over you will find that they told the story of Jesus, how that he was the divine Son of God and died for our sins and was raised again on the third day, ascended back to heaven and there rules from the right hand of God. When men were convicted of being sinners and wanted to know what to do to be saved, they were told to believe on Christ as the Son of God, repent of their sins and be baptized for the remission of their sins. Those who did this were added to the church.

These new Christians continued in a strong bond of fellowship with each other. Those who had goods shared with those who did not have goods. They continued in the teaching of the apostles. They also continued in the breaking of bread and in prayer.

We can have the same church as they had in the first century. Just believe what they believed and do what they did and we will be what they were.

      "BE THOU AN EXAMPLE"     back to topics

We find amusement in many colonial laws, especially those regulating religion. There is one which is no longer on the books but still in the minds of many.

In February, 1632, the Virginia Assembly ruled: ‘Mynisters shall not give themselves to excess in drinkinge, or riott, spendinge theire tyme idellye by day or night, playinge at dice, cards, or any other unlawful game; but at all tymes convenient they shall heare or reade somewhat of the holy scriptures, or shall occupie themselves with some other honest study or exercise, alwayes doinge the thinges which shall apperteyne to honesty, and endeavour to profitt the church of God, alwayes haveinge in mynd that they ought to excell all others in puritie of life, and should be examples to the people to live well and christianlie."

Many still think that ministers "ought to excell all others in puritie of life." The scriptures teach that those who teach others will receive stricter judgment from God. James 3:1. Elders were taught to be examples to the flock. 1 Peter 5:3. Paul wrote, "Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ." 1 Corinthians 11:1. He also said, "Those things which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you." Philippians 4:9.

If Christians followed these righteous examples, it would not mean that these ministers EXCELLED all others in purity of life, but rather LED others in purity of life.

All Christians are to be "blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world." Philippians 2:15.

"If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God." Colossians 3:1-3.

Preachers and teachers of God’s word should live above reproach and so should all of God’s children. Let us say, "Christians should excel all others in purity of life."

     BEWARE OF FALSE PROPHETS     back to topics

Christ himself warned his disciples, "Beware of false prophets." Matthew 7:15. Much later, Peter warned, "There were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you." 2 Pet. 2:1. We have just experienced a siege of wild predictions of gloom and doom. Someone asked me, "What will these false prophets do now?" If history repeats itself, they will just keep on as if it doesn’t matter if they missed it!

Sir Isaac Newton said the world would end in 1715. Charles Taze Russell, founder of the so-called Jehovah’s Witnesses, said Christ would return in 1874, revised that to 1914. His successor, Judge Rutherford wrote a book "Millions Now Living Will Never Die". They have tried to call in all those copies! Hal Lindsey in "The Late Great Planet Earth" said Christ would return in 1988. Now he says it will be 2007.

Many prophesied Christ would return at the beginning of this millennium and there would be a Battle of Armageddon. God gave a sure-fire rule for measuring a prophet: "When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, not come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him." Deut. 18:22.

Jesus said, "No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father." In the parable of the pounds, he said "Occupy until I come." Luke 19:11-27. Keep busy, do business. You are in the world but not of the world. Be a Christian at all times and be ready whenever Christ comes or else when we go. It is all the same to us. Live by faith not by fear. Fear paralyzes. Faith energizes. Never let wars, earthquakes, floods, storms or famines govern your life. Jesus said, "Ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free." John 8:32.

The fact that Jesus is coming is important. When he comes is of no consequence unless he finds us unprepared. Do not be misled by false prophets. Anyone can write a book if he or a friend can pay to have it published! Do not believe everything you read. Test it by the Bible.

     BLESSED ASSURANCE     back to topics

I have always enjoyed singing "Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine, O what a foretaste of glory divine." However, we can sing that song with gusto and never really have that assurance. We may imagine we have it without truly having it. "But," says one, "I just feel it in my very soul!"

What is the evidence that I am saved which can give me that blessed assurance? I do not want to have to guess. I want to know for sure.

Someone says, "You’ll know it when you get it!" Yes, but how?

Years ago, a friend heard gospel preaching over and over. He knew what Jesus said to do to be saved but he did not want to do it that way. So, he went to revival meetings conducted by various denominations. He would go to the "mourner’s bench" and pray and be prayed over. He later told me, "Elderly women would cry on me and I would cry on them but I knew that I wasn’t getting anything."  After nearly a year of this, he came to church one Sunday night. After services, he grabbed me by the arm and asked, "Will you baptize me right now?" I said, "I will if you believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and have repented of your sins."

Later, in the dressing room, I said, "I haven’t seen you in months. What made you change your mind?"

His answer was simple and direct. He said, "I don’t want to go to hell. I have known a long time what the Bible says to do but I kept hoping I could find something a different way."

If he would have had an "experience", he would later have wondered, "Was that something self-induced, or, did it really come from God?" Now he can open his Bible and read, "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved." Mark 16:16. He can say, "I know I did that and I have the assurance that Jesus will keep his word."

     "THE BUCK STOPS HERE"     back to topics

Harry S. Truman was well known for many reasons but none better than his famous statement "The buck stops here." He was the one who made the decision to drop the A-Bomb on Japan. Right or wrong, Harry accepted the full responsibility for his action.

In every affair of life, someone has to be the ultimate authority, the court of last appeal.

Why would we expect to find it any different in the area of religion? Who has the right to make all final decisions? If not God, who else?

A dear sweet lady in our neighborhood visited church services two or three times. On visiting her, we learned that she liked almost everything about our worship services. However, she said she would not be coming again because she wanted to go to church where they used instrumental music. She said, "I like the piano." I did not argue with her. She knew what she liked and what she wanted. We did not offer what she wanted.

It was significant that this lady did not object on the grounds that we were doing something God prohibited. Nor that we were leaving off anything which God commanded. Her disapproval was based solely on what she liked.

Should churches gear their worship to what people like or do not like? Should God have any voice in the matter, or, does it matter what God thinks about it? You know the answer to that.

The buck does indeed stop with God. But, how does God express himself regarding any subject? Some would say he is heard through men who are today inspired to speak for God. Others would say God's will is expressed through the traditions of their church. Peter would say to us, "If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God." 1 Peter 4:11. Paul wrote to Timothy that the scriptures furnish the man of God completely to every good work and will make one wise unto salvation. 2 Timothy 2:15.

Would you listen if God were to audibly speak to you today? If so, why would you? He does speak to you today, not audibly, but by means of the Holy Bible. Will you listen to the voice of God?

     CAFETERIA CHRISTIANITY     back to topics

Some anonymous person described a great many people’s religion as being "Cafeteria Christianity." When one goes to a cafeteria to eat, he goes through the line and has many choices of foods. He can "pick and choose." He takes what he likes and leaves what he doesn’t like. Is the word of God really like that? Does God allow us to "go through the line" saying, "I’ll do this but I’ll not do that"?

The writer James spoke to this issue, "For whoso-ever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law." James 2:10-11.

Was James saying that we might as well not try because if we fail at some point, we are lost? Surely not for "We have all sinned and come short of the glory of God." What James IS saying is that the law of God is a unit. One does not just transgress part of the law, but to transgress any part is to transgress law. As in my body, if my foot is injured, it is not that just my foot is injured. My body is injured.

Any man who deliberately sets aside one point of God’s law is guilty of the whole. If you live by 99 points and set aside 1 point, you are guilty of all. Why? The 99 were kept because you agreed with them, not because you respected the authority of the source. If you could set aside one, you could set aside another, and another.

We need to understand the nature of obedience. To do what one is told to do is not necessarily obedience. It is not obedience unless we respect the authority of the one who commands it. As the poet said, "Ours not to question why; ours but to do or die." It may be helpful to know why, but, we must be willing to do something just because God said to do it.

In fact, the less sense it makes to us, the greater faith it takes to do it anyway. I have heard people say, "I don’t see any sense in being baptized." The only sense it makes is the fact that God commanded it.

It is amazing how some churches can be so insistent on following the Bible on some points and totally disregard others. Do it all!

      CALLING SIN WHAT IT IS: SIN     back to topics

Have you been hearing about "felt needs"? If you go to church you like have. Are there such things as felt needs? Yes. But that is not why Christ died. He stated his mission better than anyone else could: "For the son of man is come to seek and save that which was lost." Luke 19:10. As John put it, "For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil." 1 John 3:8.

There are many good activities: grief recovery, drug and alcohol rehabilitation, divorce recovery, youth programs, senior programs, meals on wheels programs, etc., etc. As good as they are, not one of those things is the reason the church exists. It exists for the same reason Christ came: to seek and to save the lost. That is the main thing and people of the world are interested in everything but the main thing.

Christ during his ministry promised the apostles the baptism of the Holy Spirit. He said, "And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment." John 16:8. (NKJV) No sinner will be saved until he has been convicted of sin. Sinners do not want to admit to being sinners. Call it a mistake, or bad judgment, or anything else but sin.

There would be no need for grace except for our sins. We cheapen the death of Christ on the cross by offering all kinds of programs but never offering saving grace.

We live in the day of "market driven" churches. They market what-ever the public will buy: gymnasiums, concerts, fun and games. As Bill Hybels said in effect on the Peter Jennings show, "What we are doing is not worship. It is entertainment to get the crowd off the street and into our building." At least he was being honest.

Jesus never once catered to the crowd. He was not crucified because he pleased people but because he told the truth.

You cannot save souls by telling people what they want to hear. You do it by presenting Christ and him crucified.

Let’s do the right thing by doing the main thing: save souls!

      "CHOOSE LIFE"     back to topics

God created man to be a creature of choice. Sometimes people ask me, "Why didn’t the Lord just make us so we could not sin?" If God had done that, we would not be human. We would be robots. When God told Adam and Eve not to eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, He meant it. He did not want them to eat but He did give them the power to make a choice. Sadly, they made the wrong choice. 

Moses said to Israel,"I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: That thou mayest love the LORD thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice." Deut. 30:19-20. In a very real sense, we have set before us life and death. God wants us to choose life. How many of us in our daily lives face a choice of sinning or not sinning and look on those choices as a matter of life and death?

God wants to forgive us our sins but we must be willing to forsake our sins, Ezek. 18:31 "Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel?"

When Joshua was old and about to die, he impressed upon Israel the need to make right choices. He cited his own choice as an example for them to follow. Josh 24:15, "And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

God is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9. Jesus knew what would befall Jerusalem, but, he did not want it to happen. "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!" Matt. 23:37.

     CHOOSING A CHURCH     back to topics

Have you heard it said that "One church is as good as another"? If you are around people who discuss religion you have. Others will go further and declare that no church at all is as good as any church. It is popular to say, "I can worship God as well, or better, on the lake as I can in a cathedral." All this is intended to denigrate church.

Any student of the Bible would know that Christ loved the Church and gave himself for it, Eph. 5:22-25. And that he purchased the church with his own precious blood, Acts 20:28. He is the builder and founder of the church, Matt. 16:18. The church is made up of all saved people because Christ adds to the church all those who are saved, Acts 2:47. The church was important to Christ and should be to us.

Since the church is so very important, I should be a member of it. But, how does one choose a church?

Some people look for a popular church, one to which many people flock. They find security in numbers. It would not have done to be in the big crowd in Noah’s day. Only eight people were saved.

Others look for an affluent church. They are impressed by money. Jesus said rich people can go to heaven, but, with great difficulty.

Still others are looking for a good show. They like the beautiful music and highly talented singers. In other words, performers. The audience is the one to be pleased rather than God. They like to applaud but they are applauding the performers, not God.

Some choose a church because of the preacher. They like an entertaining speaker, a good showman. They like a good storyteller.

It seems to never occur to some people to look for a church that is patterned after the New Testament church of the first century. The people on Pentecost heard the gospel, believed, repented and were baptized and were added to the church, Acts 2:37-42. Why not look for a church that preaches the pure gospel of Christ and pleads with sinners to do exactly what the Bible teaches in order to be saved and to worship properly. The Lord has a church. Seek it out.

     CHRIST OR THE BIBLE?     back to topics

Perhaps you saw a recent advertisement inviting those connected with the Southern Baptist Convention to a meeting. It seemed to be appealing to those in Southern Baptist churches who might not agree with a recent decision to ban women from being pastors in Southern Baptist churches. It implied that it was a matter of either following Christ or the Bible.

Four decades ago I heard endless arguments over whether or not we preach a man (Christ) or a plan. Many did not seem to realize that the Man has a plan. The idea that we are to follow Christ rather than the Bible is sheer folly. What would one know about Christ apart from the Bible? How would you know where he leads? It certainly is not by a direct revelation. You cannot rely on tradition. It would leave every man free to do as he pleases.

When Southern Baptists took a stand against women pastors, it was justified by saying "It is a matter of black and white." One on the committee which drew up the resolution for a vote said there was very little debate because the Bible is very clear on the subject. He was right.

In the first place, no synod, diocese, council nor convention has any business in voting on whether or not something is right. That has already been settled in Scripture. At least their vote agreed with the Bible.

How did those who opposed justify their opposition? The best they could do was to say "We ought to follow Jesus rather than the Bible." That seems to a tacit admission that the Bible is against having women pastors. Where does "following Jesus" lead one to have women pastors?

People who want their own way always try to discredit the Bible. Jesus said, " He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day." John 12:48. John wrote, "These [signs] are written that you might believe." John 20:30-31. Paul told the Ephesians that what had been revealed to him he had written to them so they could know what he knew. Eph. 3:3-6. The written word furnishes the man of God completely to every good work. 2 Tim. 3:16-17. Stay with the Bible!

     CHRIST YES; CHURCH NO     back to topics

It seems that some folk are more impressed with a catchy phrase than they are with truth. What about the idea "You can have the church. Just give me Jesus"? It sounds pretty good to say "Just give me Jesus." What if Jesus comes with other things attached? Can one come to Jesus and keep his sins, or, does coming to the Lord include giving up a sinful life?

The apostle Paul asked the Romans, "Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?" He answered ,"God forbid!" His reasoning is clear. You were baptized into Christ. You became dead to sin. You were raised from the grave of baptism to walk a new life. If you continue in sin, you are a slave to sin. If you practice righteousness, you are a slave to righteousness. Fairly simple. Romans 6:1-18.

But what about Jesus and the church? They come as a package. Jesus is to the church what the head is to the human body. Eph. 1:22-23; Col. 1:18. To sever Christ from his church is to sever the head from the body.

Christians are not only members of the body of Christ, but, 'every one members one of another." Romans 12:5. Paul wrote the Corinthians about this in a more detailed manner. 1 Corinthians 12:13-22. He pointed out that eyes, hands, feet, etc., are each dependent on the others. There are many members in the body, but only one body. v. 20. He then said that every member of the body is necessary! v. 22. That means that the church does not have even one unnecessary member. Does it make you feel good to know that you are necessary? It should. Well, you are if you are a Christian. Every sinner who becomes saved is automatically added to the church by the Lord himself. Acts 2:47.

Why would anyone who is washed in the blood of Christ want to disassociate himself from people who are also born again? Remember, the foot cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you." Nor the hand say to the eye, "I don't need you." We all need each other. Independence is fine up to a point. But, Christians cannot be independent of each other. To need Christ is to need his church. He is the savior of his body, the church. Ephesians 5:23. Members of the church are warned against forsaking the assemblies of the church. Hebrews10:25.

     CHURCH MEMBERSHIP     back to topics

While a great many people deny there is any connection between salvation and church membership, most of those who claim to be Christians seek membership in some church. The Bible teaching is clear that Jesus is the Head of the church and also its Savior. Eph. 5:23. When 3000 repentant sinners were baptized on Pentecost, they were added to the church and the Lord continued to add to the church day by day those who were being saved. Acts 2:47.

Becoming a member of the church in New Testament times was a very simple matter. Being saved automatically made one a member of the Lord’s church. It cannot get much simpler than that.

In spite of the clarity of scripture, one very popular church manual of a very large denomination takes a very different view. Notice:

It is most likely that in the Apostolic age when there was but "one Lord, one faith and one baptism," and no differing denominations existed, the baptism of a convert by that very act constituted him a member of the church, and at once endowed him with all the rights and privileges of full membership. In that sense "baptism was the door into the church." Now it is different; [who made it different? lgh] and while churches are desirous of receiving members, they are wary and cautious that they do not receive unworthy persons. The churches therefore have candidates come before them, make their statement, give their "experience," and then their reception is decided by a vote of the members. And while they cannot become members without baptism, yet it is the vote of the body which admits them to its fellowship on receiving baptism.

The folly of such a course should be self-evident. By their own admission, Christ does not make people members of that denomination. Why? Because "it is the vote of the body which admits them". They cannot be voted in without baptism but it is not the baptism that makes them a member, it is the vote of the body. See 1 Corinthians 12:13.

Do you really want to be a member of a church where they, instead of Christ, add you to their fellowship? Follow the Bible not a manual.

     CONFESSING AND FORSAKING SIN     back to topics

Prov. 28:13 "He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy." Recently the world was greatly moved and im-pressed by the highly emotional confession and request for forgiveness by the pontiff of Rome. I know of no one who would question the genuineness of his tears and sorrow. There are some elements of it that bear a closer look.

At no time did he ask for forgiveness for his church. He asked for forgiveness for Christianity for the crimes against Jews, Muslims and others. There were no Protestant churches to lead the Crusades against Muslims who held the ‘holy land’. The Spanish Inquisition was wholly the work of the Roman church. It was his "infallible" spiritual leader who looked the other way when Hitler conducted the holocaust against Jews. In fact, his own country of Poland suffered greatly at the hands of Hitler without one reprimand from Pious XII.

The Roman pontiff has no right to speak for Christianity, only for his own church. His confession and request for forgiveness would have been very noble had he come clean and asked for forgiveness for his church. This would have been accepting blame where it belonged. What he said could be interpreted as having been done by any of us who claim to be Christians.

It was his church which persecuted Copernicus for teaching that the sun, not Earth, was the center of our system. It was his church which persecuted John Wycliffe, John Huss, and others for the crime of translating the scriptures into the language of the people. It was a crime to put Bibles into the hands of the common people who were not allowed to read the Bible for themselves. This would have been more than a confession. It would have been a concession, a disastrous concession. It would mean a reversal of a stand by several prior "infallible" pontiffs by the present "infallible" pontiff.

The church that began on Pentecost following the resurrection of Christ had nothing to do with any of the crimes confessed by the pope of Rome. Let us not blame Christianity for the sins of those who claim to be its adherents.

We all have enough sins of our own without being charged with sins which we have not committed. Let us confess and forsake them.

      CONTINUING IN SIN     back to topics

Paul asked the Romans, "Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we that are dead to sin continue therein?" Rom. 6:1, 2. He went on to say that we were baptized with Christ into his death and became dead to sin. The result: we walk in a newness of life. We no longer serve sin, we now serve righteousness.

What is the danger of continuing in sin? Paul answers that in the same chapter. "The wages of sin is death." Rom. 6:23.

In spite of all that the Bible has to say about the need to be faithful, there are still a very large number of people who sincerely believe that once you are saved you can never again be lost!

If those in Christ cannot possibly continue in sin, why would God have Paul to warn people against it? What would be accomplished by putting up a highway sign that warns against driving above 500 miles per hour?

We can deceive ourselves into accepting error as being truth. People can sincerely believe they will not have to pay the price of living in sin. Paul also warns against this. Romans 6:16, "Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?" If we live a life of sin, we are slaves to sin. But, if we live in obedience to God, we are slaves to righteousness. Slaves belong to their owners. If we are slaves to God, it is because we belong to God. If we are slaves to Satan and to sin, it is because we belong to Satan.

Just how far will some people go with the doctrine of "once saved, always saved"? Many years ago, a preacher at Antlers, OK, said to me, "If I were to die in a bed of adultery tonight, I would go straight to heaven." He based this on his belief that once a person is saved, God no longer cares what happens to a man’s flesh; all that matters is the spirit. But Paul taught, "Let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God." 2 Cor. 7:1.

There is a way to avoid being lost. Romans 8:1 "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." Do not continue in sin!

     DECIDING ON A RELIGION     back to topics

A popular syndicated columnist invites question. One person wrote, "Friends have invited me to explore other religions, but I’ve refused. What do you think of an adult who unquestioningly accepts the teachings of his parents’ religion and doesn’t consider alternatives?"

The response? "Religions cannot be proved true intellectually. They come from the heart - and your parents - not the mind." That answer certainly cannot by proved intellectually!

Consider the consequence of such a conclusion. Here are two people whose religions are directly and violently in conflict. Since both religions came from their hearts and their parents, both religions are right! Do you seriously believe such?

Paul said the gospel which he preached came as a direct revelation from God, not from his heart. Galatians 1:6-9. He also told the people of Ephesus that they could know what he knew by reading what he had written. Ephesians 3:1-6. The apostle John said that people could come to believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God by what he wrote in his gospel account. John 20:30-31.

Mormons are Mormons because they accept the teachings of the Book of Mormon and other so-called revelations of Joseph Smith. Muslims are Muslims because they accept the "revelations" of the prophet Mohammed as found in the Koran.

Paul wrote "Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." Romans 10:17.

How do lawyers prove their cases in court? By the testimony of reliable and believable witnesses. Would you wish it to be any other way? How is Christianity proved? By reliable witnesses. 1 Corinthians 15:4-8. Many of them gave their lives to tell the story. It is true.

     DOES CHURCH MATTER?     back to topics

Recently I spoke to a friend about coming to church. He answered, "I am not into church. I have my own relationship with God." That may sound very noble to some people, but it is not. That idea is not correct. In fact, it contradicts all that the Bible has to say about Christ and his church. If church is not important, there would be several serious consequences.

Paul told the Ephesian elders to take heed to the church over which the Holy Spirit had made them overseers. He then reminded them that Christ had purchased the church with his own blood. Acts 20:28. How important is the blood of Christ? When you answer that question, you will know how much the church is worth.

Paul wrote a letter to the same people in which letter he said Christ loved the church and gave himself for it so he might present the church to himself as a glorious church without spot or blemish. Eph. 5:25-27.

Paul, in writing to Timothy, spoke of the church as the family of God, the children of God. 1 Tim. 3:5, 15.

Someone may say, "Oh, I am a member of the family of God but that does not mean that I have to meet with other people in church." That, too, is an erroneous idea. Paul also told the church at Ephesus, "we are members one of another". Eph. 4:25. He also wrote, "That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honored, all the members rejoice with it. Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular." 1 Cor. 12:25-27. The church is the body of Christ. Col. 1:18. Christians are a part of a great fellowship. We do not stand alone. We care for each other, we suffer with each other, we rejoice with each other.

Six times in 1 Cor. 11 & 14, Paul speaks of the church's coming together. The writer of Hebrews commanded them to not forsake the assembly. Heb. 10:25. God knew we needed the strength that comes from our fellowship with each other.

Why would anyone who loves the Lord not love the people of the Lord and desire their company? Yes, church matters!

       DOES IT MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE?     back to topics

Sometimes we hear people say, "It doesn’t make any difference what you believe. We are all headed for the same place." They are not purposefully making a false statement. It just has not been carefully thought out. No serious-minded person would make such a statement except perhaps in the area of religion. Yet, this is the one area where we cannot afford to be mistaken.

Think about it. As long as you think you are on the right interstate, will it take you to the destination you desire?

I recently visited a hospital patient where a nurse brought the patient a medication. The patient said, "I don’t think this is for me." The nurse looked at the name and said, "Oh, this is for someone else!" Why didn’t the patient just say, "It doesn’t matter. One medication is as good as another." Did the sincerity of the nurse made the medication safe?

Does it make any difference in whether or not a diabetic eats salt or sugar? His thinking it is safe does not make it safe.  Does it make any difference whether one is a Hindu or a Christian?  A Mormon does not think it is safe to be a Catholic.  A Jehovah’s Witness does not think it is safe to be a Mormon.

Does it matter whether or not one believes that Jesus Christ is the Son of God? Christ said, "Except ye believe that I am he, you shall die in your sins." He also said, "If you die in your sins, whither I go, ye cannot come." John 8:21, 24.

Christ also said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man cometh to the Father but by me." John 14:6. He was either right or he was wrong. If he was right, no man can be saved except through Jesus Christ.  If he was wrong, the Bible is not a safe guide for anyone.

"But," says one, "even if the Bible is right we cannot be sure of what it means." There are some deep truths in the Bible. The way of salvation is not among the things hard to understand. When we are told to believe that Christ is the Son of God, that is easy to understand. When we are told to repent, that is also easy to understand. When we are told to be baptized for the remission of sins, Acts 2:38, that is easy to comprehend.

     DOES MAN HAVE A SOUL?     back to topics

Many times over a span of many years, I have had someone (usually two at a time) to knock on my door for the purpose of presenting their views of their religion. They invariably will tell me that I do not have a soul, that I am a soul. There is no question but that many times in the Bible the word "soul" is used to mean a person, as in Acts 2:43, "Fear came upon every soul."

Does that mean that it always means no more than a person, our flesh and blood? Absolutely not. To say that soul means only what gets on the scales and weighs is to pervert the scripture. Most of the time it means that part of us which will live on after our bodies die.

Jesus said, "Fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul." Matt. 10:28. God spoke of Himself as having a soul, "Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased." Matt. 12:18. Christ said of himself, "My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death." Matt. 26:38.

There is a spirit in man, given by God, "The dust shall return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it." Our bodies are made of dust, but our spirits came from God. "The body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also." There is a distinction between the body and the spirit.

We need to realize the value of a human soul and treat it with the respect due it. Jesus emphasized its value when he said, "For what is a man profited if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" Matt. 16:26. There is nothing as important as the saving of the soul."We are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul." Heb. 10:39.

The wages of sin is death, Rom. 6:23, but the gift of God is eternal life. We need to make sure our sins are forgiven and claim eternal life.

Paul said, "I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." 1 Thess. 5:23.

The Bible teaches that on the return of Jesus, Christians will be raised from the dead in a state of glory, in a new body that pleases God, because flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God. 1 Corinthians 15.

     "DON’T GAMBLE WITH FOOD!"     back to topics

Holiday Quality Foods, a major grocery chain in California, ran an ad with this headline. They were not talking about taking chances on eating bad food. This chain had participated in selling lottery tickets for the California state lottery. This ad was their announcement that they would no longer participate and gave their reasons why. Lewis G. Hale The statement read: "Since the California state lottery program started, we have sold in excess of one million dollar’s worth of lottery tickets. Our food business during this period of time has declined by the same amount. Morally, we feel it is wrong to offer our customers the opportunity to gamble with their food dollars, and therefore we will no longer be selling California state lottery tickets. Thank you for understanding."

Most people are unaware of the real sin involved in gambling. It is not a matter of taking chances. We do that when we drive on the streets and highways. It is a matter of coveting what another has. We are willing to deprive others for selfish gain. Any thing you can gain by gambling is paid for by another’s loss. This is wrong. When you look at what gambling does to ruin people’s lives, you can see how evil it is.

A California study showed that four of every ten lottery players were unemployed. Twenty-four percent of the heavy players were people who made under $15,000 per year. In Maryland, a study showed that people earning less that $10,000 annually buy more lottery tickets than any other income group. It hurts the people who can least afford the loss.

States with lotteries have seen increases in the number of compulsive gamblers, family failures, welfare costs, crime and business failures.

You do not have to bet money on a game to have fun. Playing for fun does not rob the family of grocery money, or shoes, or any other of life’s necessities. Avoid even ‘petty’ gambling. The principle is wrong.

Some would justify gambling by saying, "I only spend what I budget and no more. It is part of my entertainment budget." Even so, the person who participates is supporting an evil institution. Avoid it.

      "DULY ORDAINED"     back to topics

There are many sincere people who believe that in order to be baptized one must be baptized by a "duly ordained" preacher. Of course if he were not baptized by a "duly ordained" preacher, then he himself would not have been truly baptized. Such churches would never ordain a preacher they consider to have never been truly baptized. You already see where I am headed. This would require an unbroken line of succession all the way back to the apostles. Would you risk your baptism on such a claim which would never be proved to be true?

There are other considerations. Would you claim that the apostles, all or any, were "duly ordained" Baptist preachers? Or, Methodist preachers? Or, Presbyterian preachers? Or, Catholic priests? I doubt it.

Many people are caught up in a "clergy\laity" syndrome. The Bible knows no such distinctions. Peter taught that every Christian is a priest before God, 1 Peter 2:5. Jesus Christ is our High Priest. He never authorized a special order of priests. Christ is our only Mediator. We do not need any man to stand between us and our Lord. It is enough that we be submissive to him.

When I was in the U. S. Navy in wartime it was not possible to leave the base many times. When a group of Christian men would meet in barracks and have a worship service, there were those who were critical of it. This was especially true when the Lord’s Supper was served (as it was each Lord’s Day). Why? It was charged that there was no one in the group authorized to bless and serve communion. The Bible does not teach there is a special order of men who can serve at the Lord’s Table nor to baptize those who have confessed their faith in Christ.

Would I prefer that a devout Christian baptize me? Of course I would. However, how could I ever be sure that the one who did baptize me was truly in a right standing with God? I might assume that from all appearances but my assumption may miss the mark. Its validity depends on the person who is obeying his Lord.