Victory Through Christ

In Romans 8:37, Paul says, "...We are more than conquerors through Him who loved us." The word "conquerors," as Paul uses it, has the sweet smell of success, the ring of victory, the shout of triumph. It also indicates there must be a contest or a battle before the victory.

Christianity never promises to shield from the trials and tribulations of life. It does promise to sustain us and grant us the victory. Paul tells us that the victory is accomplished "through Him that loved us," and that, of course, is Jesus Christ our Lord.

Our ability to rely on ourselves is a wonderful thing, but it isn't enough in living the Christian life. Jesus said in John 15:5, "...Without Me you can do nothing." If the victory is won, it won't be achieved by our own might or strength, but by the superpower of Christ.

In Philippians 4:13, Paul said, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Through Christ, we can triumph over temptation, gain the mastery over sin, and endure all of the hardships of life. Isaiah 40:29-31 says, "He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, but those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint." "But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Corinthians 15:57). 

Some Impossiblilities

We have all heard someone say “that’s impossible” when responding to something that someone had just told them that they could do, knowing that it could not be done. Webster defines impossible as “not capable of being, being done, or happening.” Certainly, there are many things which are impossible for man to do here on this earth.

In the religious realm there are also some impossible things to consider. God has told man that unless one has faith it is impossible to please Him. “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6). If we are not determined to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior (2 Peter 3:18), gaining faith by reading His word (Romans 10:17), then we are not going to be pleasing to God. Do you think that individuals who are not pleasing to God will enter heaven? Think about it.

In Hebrews 6:18 we read “....in which it is impossible for God to lie...” Now if it is impossible for God to lie and he has told us that He is a rewarder of those who DILIGENTLY seek Him, then if we do not seek Him (Matthew 6:33; Colossians 3:2), then it is certain that we will not see Him in heaven. Again, the Hebrew writer penned, “how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him” (Hebrews 2:3). We see that it is impossible to neglect salvation and be saved. If we want to be saved, then we will strive to do whatever God asks of us (Matthew 7:21).

Let’s consider some other impossibilities. It is impossible to be saved without the shedding of blood (Hebrews 9:22). It took Christ’s death on the cross, the sacrifice for our sins in order for us to be saved. Therefore, it is impossible to believe in Christ and obey Him and not be saved (Mark 16:15-16; Matthew 28:18-20). It is impossible to enter into heaven without a birth of water and the Spirit (John 3:3-5), and it is impossible to enter into the Kingdom (heaven or church), except through Jesus Christ (John 14:6; Galatians 3:27). If you think that you can and will be saved in eternity AFTER this life is over, without being obedient to Christ while living on this earth, that’s impossible (Luke 16:19-31)! We must all seriously think about these truths from the Bible, the inspired Word of God.

Where's the Bible?

Have you ever found yourself asking at the conclusion of a church service “where’s the Bible?” Have you gone to church services, taken your Bible with you, and then realized after leaving that you never were asked to open it? In many churches today, sermons are given with little to no scripture included. Many times, lessons are developed and presented around the events of the day. This can help us to learn to deal with life, but it does not teach us, from the Bible, how to live our life. 

In our society, many churches have tried all kinds of things in an effort to bring people to church services. The one thing that is usually missing in most of these efforts is an appeal for people to come and learn more about the Bible. You may have even felt that churches seem to emphasize how the Bible should be made to fit our lives, rather than how our lives should be made to fit the Bible. Many churches today practice various doctrines and traditions that are not found anywhere in the Bible (Matthew 15:8-9). It would seem that if one is trying to please God in all aspects of their life, then one would want to make sure that everything that they are doing religiously is in accordance with the Bible — the Word of God (Matthew 7:21).

If you are interested in knowing this wonderful book of God, the Bible, we encourage you to visit the Poudre (Pooh-der) Valley church of Christ where only the Bible is preached, taught, and practiced. Many people today are interested in church sponsored entertainment to fulfill their needs. We, however, emphasize the necessity of learning and knowing the Bible; we emphasize the need for Christ in our life based upon His Word. We teach only the Bible because we understand the importance of what Jesus said in John 12:48: “He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him — the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day.”

The Poudre Valley church of Christ is a place where you can attend and learn the Bible. In our Bible classes, we study the words of Jesus and the inspired apostles. In this way, we can learn what individuals had to do back in the first century in order to be saved and then make those same applications to our lives. Today, most denominations trace the establishment of their church to a specific person on a specific date: anywhere from 600 A.D. to present time. However, Christ promised to build His church (Matthew 16:18), and we learn from the Bible that His church was established on the first Pentecost after His resurrection (Acts 2). The church of Christ is the church in which we belong; therefore, we strive diligently to practice only that which is authorized by God in His Holy inspired Word, the Bible (2 Timothy 3:16-17). 

We want to encourage you to come and visit the Poudre Valley church of Christ where you will quickly realize that the Bible is emphasized above all else. You will leave feeling loved and appreciated, not having to ask yourself “where’s the Bible?”

Why Did Jesus Come to Earth?

Jesus answers this question in John 10:10 by saying “...I have come that they may have life and have it more abundantly.” This abundant life is something we can enjoy now and, in the age, to come (Luke 18:29-30). Can anyone else give us life but Jesus? In John 14:6 we read “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” We see that only Jesus can give us life. But not everyone can have this life that Jesus came to give. Only those that do the will of the Father can receive it (Matthew 7:21). The will of the Father is to listen to His Son Jesus (Matthew 17:5). Jesus tells us in John 8:24 “I told you that you will die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am the one I claim to be, you will die in your sins.” Those that do receive Jesus have the right to become children of God (John 1:12). To do His will means everything that He commands of us. Besides believing in Him we must repent, or we will perish (Luke 13:3). What does this word repentance mean? It’s a turnaround; change of mind or heart; to be sorry for what we did. A biblical example of this is found in Matthew 21:28-30.

After one repents then Jesus must be acknowledged before men (Matthew 10:32-33), this is called confession. It’s important to note here that we are confessing Jesus as being the Son of God - not our sins. We confess Jesus the same say Peter did in Matthew 16:16 when he said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God”. We can also compare Romans 10:10 with Acts 8:37. Paul tells the Romans that “...it is with your mouth that you confess…” and in Acts 8:37 Philip said to the Eunuch “If you believe with all your heart, you may. The Eunuch answered and said I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” Confession is simply stating publicly that “Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” Is there anything else Christ wants us to do? In Matthew 28:18-20, Jesus says to “...go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,” We can further learn that if we believe and are baptized, we shall be saved, but if we don't believe we will be condemned (Mark 16:16).

Jesus wants us to be baptized because it’s through baptism that we get into Christ (Galatians 3:26-27). Why is it important that we want to be in Christ? Romans 8:1 tells us that “Therefore there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” We also learn from the apostle Peter that our sins are washed away in baptism (Acts 2:38). Baptism must be a burial as opposed to sprinkling because it represents the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus (Romans 6:3-4). If one is not baptized, then he cannot enter the kingdom of God (John 3:3-5). Jesus, even without sin, was baptized to show obedience to God’s commandments (Matthew 3:13-17). Peter explained what baptism symbolizes in 1 Peter 3:20-21. Belief, Repentance, Confession, and Baptism are commandments of God and must be obeyed to receive His gift of eternal salvation. If we know the right thing to do and don’t do it, we sin (James 4:17). Do we love Jesus? If so, then we’ll keep His commandments (John 14:15) and receive the abundant life that Jesus came to give.

When studying the Bible often times the obvious is overlooked. The Bible, God's Holy Word plainly teaches that baptism is essential to eternal life. We can’t keep part of His word and discard the other. We must keep the whole commandments of God to be acceptable in His sight. We need to open up the Word of God and see for ourselves all that is required of us to be saved in accordance with what God our Father has instructed? “Let the word of the Lord richly dwell within you…” (Colossians 3:16).

 

Defending Jesus to Others

In Acts 26:18, we find the Apostle Paul before Agrippa, defending his faith. He explains to Agrippa what happened to him on his journey to Damascus. He then explains the words of Jesus and that he is to tell others about Jesus so that others can be saved through Him. “To open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, in order that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me” (Acts 26:18).

We too can have life if we live up to what Jesus told Paul. We must first turn from darkness (sin) to the light (walking with God). “For you were formerly darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light” (Ephesians 5:8). “For He delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son” (Colossians 1:13). We must then set our sights on having our domain with God and not with Satan. “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, {even} to those who believe in His name” (John 1:12). Through our obedience to the Word of God we will be moved to turn around so that our sins can be forgiven. Only those who determine to follow God, not Satan, can have forgiveness of sins. “And that repentance for forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem” (Luke 24:47). The Apostle Peter wrote, “.... repent, and let each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38).

Once we have been forgiven of our sins and continue to follow God, then we will receive an inheritance! “And now I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build {you} up and to give {you} the inheritance among all those who are sanctified” (Acts 20:32). That inheritance is everlasting life with God our Father to those who are sanctified (which is set apart from sin and drawn near to Jesus)! Paul understood that for someone to do those things, they would have to have faith in Jesus. We will not put aside the world and draw near to Christ unless we have a true faith in Him. “But let him ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea driven and tossed by the wind” (James 1:6). Thomas would not believe in Jesus until he felt the scars of His wounds and realized that he really was looking at Jesus! We must believe in Jesus with a true faith - even though we have not personally seen Him. “Jesus said to him, "Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed {are} they who did not see, and {yet} believed. Many other signs therefore Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these have been written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name” (John 20:29-31). Are we really defending Jesus to others as Paul did in his day? If so, we can praise God.

Time: A Precious Commodity

One of the most precious commodities known to man is time. We only have so much of it and none of really knows how much we will actually have. It is scarce. A wasted opportunity is gone forever, as time will not bring it back. The opportunity presented to us to teach a friend, relieve a burden, lend a helping hand comes along and then marches along. We must take advantage of that time while we have that time. We must be aware of our time and make the most of it as God has allotted it for us. Time is an important commodity that we must plan to use, just as we plan to budget our money. If we do not schedule our time wisely, it will fade away and we will soon find ourselves at the end of our lives realizing that we may not have used our precious time wisely. Like talents, how we use time spells the difference in success and failure. Time is wealth – how are we really using it?

Procrastination

Most of our weaknesses is procrastination. We don’t get as much done today because we may say “I can do it tomorrow.” We are all too inclined to use the old philosophy of “never do today what you can put off until tomorrow.” This of course, is a take-off on the much wiser one of “never put off till tomorrow what you can do today.” We may find ourselves saying “Oh how I wish I had talked to that person about his sins, and how to obtain salvation – but he is gone now.” The Lord is forgiving, and we do have today, so we should be determined to use it to His glory and the advancement of the kingdom of heaven. We have all lost yesterday, but let’s use today so that tomorrow we won’t have to say, “I wish I had used yesterday better.” If we will not procrastinate and strive to use today to its fullest potential, then we will be able to sleep well knowing that “I have done what I could.”

Wasting Time

Wasted time is wasted money, souls, opportunities and accomplishments. Someone said, “time is money.” Therefore, we should not waste it. A wasted today is a lost yesterday, and then we may worry about what should have been done. It is always refreshing to know that we have used each day to its fullest! There are so many ways that we may find that we have wasted time. Perhaps one way is that we realize that we sleep too much, or much more than we really need to. God’s word says, “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going” (Ecclesiastes 9:10). Instead of reading the Bible, people will read a lot of useless literature. The Bible will build us up and give us all we need to know in order to have an eternal home with God. A lot of time is wasted today on entertainment such as television and various electronic devices. We must strive to make the best use of our time that we have been granted by investing in that which will develop our mind in a good and positive way.

I encourage all of us to think seriously about how we are using our time. Souls are dying, unprepared for heaven. Men are suffering without our help. People are in distress, and we may be wasting our time – when we could be making ourselves very useful in our service to God and our fellow man. The apostle Paul wrote, “See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore, do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is” (Ephesians 5:15-17).

Who Christians are Also Known As

Children of God: I became a child in the Thetford household by natural birth. I became a child of God by Spiritual birth. When I was born, nobody asked if this baby would be in the Thetford household. No one had to ask what my last name would be - because they already knew. When Jesus told Nicodemus that he must be born again, he was very confused, but then Jesus told him he must be born of the water and spirit. This is baptism. Notice the passage of scripture: Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God” (John 3:3-5).

If you want to know what the new birth is, look at the practice of the inspired apostles as they taught and practiced the new birth under the great commission. This is found in the Acts of the apostles. To the Galatian brethren, Paul said: “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (Galatians 3:26-27). Some say the new birth is affected by faith only. Jesus said one must be born of both water and spirit. To say “water” here refers to natural birth from the mother's womb is nonsense and Jesus did not talk that way. That is why when Nicodemus responded to Jesus’ question concerning the new birth, thinking that one must literally be born again of woman, Jesus made sure that he understood that it is only through the water and spirit that one can enter into heaven. Have you been born again? If not, you will not get to be with Jesus in eternity. Why not put Christ on in baptism before it is everlastingly too late.

Saints: When you hear the word saint, what comes into your mind? There is a popular idea that a SAINT is one who has served well in life and has been honored in death. He is “canonized” and so honored. One can travel to the Vatican and see statues of such men circling the famous St. Peter’s square. But on close examination of the Bible, I find no such idea for the word “saint.” Paul, in his letter to the church in Corinth addresses Christians as SAINTS. Yet he found many evils in the lives of these living saints. A saint is a Christian, a child of God, and carries the idea of his holiness or godliness. But how did these Corinthians become saints? In Acts 18 Paul preached in Corinth on his second tour, and in verse 8 the record says, “Then Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his household. And many of the Corinthians, hearing, believed and were baptized.”

We can look to the Bible and find many other occurrences on how one becomes a saint. In Acts 2, on the day of Pentecost, Peter preached to the Jews, and they were pricked in their heart because they knew for sure that they had just crucified the Son of God, Jesus Christ. They asked: “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call. And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, be saved from this perverse generation. Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them” (Acts 2:38-41). We can learn from this passage of scripture that when a person is baptized, he is baptized into Christ, his sins are forgiven, and he becomes a saint, or a Christian.

Members of the Body: In 1 Corinthians 12:12-20, the apostle Paul compares the church to a physical body. Members have a definite relationship to the head. The spiritual head is Christ. Paul writes: “For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body-- whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free-- and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. For in fact the body is not one member but many. If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body," is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body," is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. And if they were all one member, where would the body be? But now indeed there are many members, yet one body.”

As the arms, legs and eyes, etc., take orders from the head in our bodies, so the members of Christ’s body takes orders from Christ. How does one become a member? The Corinthians were members of the body. How did they get that way? We read where they were “all baptized into the one body.” Note two things: First to get into the body, baptism is necessary. It is absolutely irresponsible to speak of getting into the body by faith only. It is contrary to this passage of scripture. Next, he says there is one body. There are not hundreds of churches, or bodies, as the religious world says, but only ONE. He says, “but now there are many members, but one body.” Nothing can be plainer. One body, and that one body is the church says Paul in Ephesians 1:22-23.  

How Does One Become a Christian?

Do you really want to be a Christian? If so, it is a very simple procedure, and yet there is much confusion as to how in the world today. One popular church discipline says that the doctrine of Faith only is a most wholesome doctrine and very full of comfort. But listen to what the Bible says, “You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only” (James 2:24). There’s quite a difference in the two. There is no question whatsoever that salvation is by faith, all admit that. The question is, IS SALVATION BY FAITH ONLY? To answer that question, we must define faith. What kind are you talking about? Are you saved by a vain faith? Are you saved by a dead faith? Are you saved by an active faith? Isn’t it noteworthy that in the book of conversions (Acts), that each person saved was saved when their faith led them to be baptized. There was never a saved person in the New Testament dispensation who had not been baptized. Baptism was then, and is now, the consummating act that puts one into Christ. In fact, the Galatian letter tells us just that. “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (Galatians 3:26-27).

How do we gain faith? The Bible answers that question in Romans 10:17, “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” For an example of grace, faith, and works read Joshua, chapter 6 and 2 Kings 5. You will gain a clear understanding of how these three ties together. The first two things that every soul must do is to hear about God and the gospel of Christ, and then believe God and the teaching of Christ and the inspired apostles as they direct us in what we must do in order to gain salvation.

Repent or Perish

Surely people do not think when they say that faith alone will save, that this is really true. If so, this would mean we would be saved while in sin, for it would mean they could be saved without repenting. Repentance is a change of heart, determining to change our life. Can a person be saved without a change of heart or mind? The very idea of conversion demands it. Then if repentance is necessary, then salvation is not by faith only. There are three specifics necessary to remission of sins and becoming a child of God. Faith is necessary. This is the mental assent of mind, or faith in the savior, a deep trust. Then there is repenting, or turning away from sin and turning to God. Jesus said, “unless you repent you will all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3). The process of salvation is climaxed by the faithful act of baptism which Paul says in Galatians 3:27 puts us INTO Christ. Therefore, faith alone is not enough. James said the demons believed (James 2:19). Will the demons be saved? We should all agree that the Bible says no!

Confession

If you came to me and demanded to be baptized, I would ask you a simple question. “Do you believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God?” I would not ask: “Do you believe that God for Christ’s sake has pardoned your sins?” I would not because I find no such command or example in the Bible. But over in Acts, chapter 8, I do note that the Eunuch demanded baptism after hearing Jesus preached to him. What did Philip say when the Eunuch asked? “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” Then what happened? The next verse of scripture says, “So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him.” An important point here is that Philip and the eunuch went down INTO the water. That eliminates sprinkling and pouring because Bible baptism is immersion.

The reason I would not ask if one believed that God for Christ’s sake had pardoned his sin, is that pardon comes, not when one believes, but when one is baptized unto the remission of sins (Read Acts 2:38). But if we confess Christ as Lord, we are saying that He is the Son of God and is the master of my life, and if one believes that, baptism is no problem. Confession of faith is outward profession of the inward trust one has in Christ.

Baptism

Believing in Christ is so very important because if one truly believes in Jesus, then they will have no problem keeping the commandments of Jesus. Baptism is a commandment of Jesus. It is a commandment not to the Christian to be baptized but to the alien sinner. Cornelius, an alien, though he was a good moral man, was commanded to be baptized in Acts 10:48.

Is baptism really commanded? Listen to what the Bible says, “He who believes and is baptized will be saved” (Mark 16:16); “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins” (Acts 2:38); “The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us" (1 Peter 3:21); “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19); “And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.” (Acts 22:16). These scriptures are but a few from the Word of God that clearly shows that faith must be accompanied with action on our part. Baptism is necessary for remission of sins and the hope of everlasting life. Have you been baptized into Christ for the forgiveness of your sins?

The Blessings of Being a Christian

The Forgiveness of Sins

When I entered my earthly family by natural birth, there were certain privileges and blessings which came with this birth. Once I was born others knew what my family name would be. No one had to ask if the other 2 children in the family were my siblings. That was understood. They did not vote me into the family. Being a child of my parents and receiving the blessings and privileges of the family were mine. It was something that was understood.

When I became a child of God, I received certain blessings also. In Ephesians 1:3 it says: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.” Every spiritual blessing that man has can only be if one is in Christ and one gets into Christ through baptism. Again, notice what Paul says in Galatians 3:26-27: “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” When I was baptized into Christ God also promised to forgive me of all my sins. In Acts 2:38 it says: “Repent and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins.” I never had to wonder if they were forgiven, for He promised me that they would be and I simply believed it. What a wonderful thing it is to know that I did not have the burden of sin any longer. I was in God’s family, and remission of sins came also.

Fellowship with Christ

A Christian has, as one blessing of being a Christian, the fellowship with God and Christ. 1 Corinthians 1:9 says: “God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” These very same Corinthians had been baptized into Christ, and therefore had forgiveness of sins as is stated in Acts 2:38, and now fellowship with Christ. On Pentecost those that were baptized, having their sins completely forgiven understood that they were now in full fellowship with Christ.

They were so happy, Peter writes: “Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. So, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved” (Acts 2:41-42,46-47). What a wonderful thought! Remission of sins; fellowship with God and His Son and membership in the Lord’s body. Having fellowship with God is saying that one is right with God and participates with God in the blessings that only He can give to an individual. To be eternally saved we MUST be IN Christ. 

Fellowship with Other Saints

Another beauty of the Christian life is the fellowship in the local church with those of like faith. This also brings the hope of eternal life. One terrible thought of eternal hell is that we will have to spend eternity with the thieves, the whoremongers, the liars, adulterers, murders and all the other wicked people of all ages. There are many wonderful experiences we gain by being in fellowship with good people. And where is this fellowship found? In Christ - in the body of Christ, or the church of Christ. Fellowship means joint participation, and to have this mutual participation in the work of the Lord with other saints is a privilege indeed. If you have not yet been baptized into Christ, you are missing one of the greatest blessings in the world!

Heaven

When we obey the doctrine of Christ in all things, then the greatest blessing of all for the Christian is where we will spend eternity. The Apostle Paul comforts the Thessalonian brethren with this very thought. Paul says: “But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words” (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). Only Christians can have this comfort - the comfort of knowing that our eternal resting place will be with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

The Mission of the Church

Do you know what the mission of the church is today? Some may be confused as to what the mission of the church really is in a society that places emphasis on the physical needs of people. I want to discuss exactly what the mission of the church is so that we can gain a better understanding of what the church is really supposed to do.

A Spiritual Mission

Jesus said: “I came to seek and save the lost” (Luke 19:10). Christ had a mission and that was to save man from the awfulness of sin! When the apostles went out preaching under the commission, what did they preach? Their preaching centered on the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, for He had come to save man from sin. What is it that your preacher preaches about each week where you attend? Is the emphasis placed on the same things that the apostles placed the emphasis on in the first century? I encourage everyone to sit down and read the book of Acts. Notice the sermons that were delivered by Peter and Paul. Everyone was centered on Jesus Christ. They did not preach on politics, economics, psychology, or social issues. They preached a crucified and risen savior of the world, our redeemer. These apostles were inspired by the Holy Spirit, but we today have their inspired Word, the spirit revealed in the Bible, so why would our preaching be any different? What they preached, they recorded for us in the Bible. So as Jesus sent His apostles out to preach salvation through Him, we too must preach that same message today, the message of salvation. Therefore, our mission, which is the church’s mission, is in effect the mission of Christ, which is a “spiritual mission.” Please think about this because why would we want to preach or teach things that were not taught back in the first century concerning spiritual matters?

Christians Are Interested in All Phases of Life

The church of our Lord is made up of individuals that have been washed clean by the blood of the Lamb, Jesus, through baptism (Acts 2:38; Acts 22:16; and Galatians 3:27). Once this happens, then one can wear the name Christian, and a Christian must be a Christian twenty-four hours per day. A genuine Christian, and there are many pretenders who are not genuine, is interested in economics, political affairs (usually), the social things of life and of course their relationship to God or religion. But the genuine Christian is primarily interested in that relationship with God. A devout servant of the Lord understands that each and every day they “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness” (Matthew 6:33).

The spiritually minded, genuine Christian, is interested in the salvation of his soul and the souls of others. It is the soul that never dies, and this is clearly understood. However, many modern churches of today have the concept that it is not good enough that we simply make more Christians so that the community will be better, but rather that the church must get caught up in, and engaged in politics, economics and philosophy. I would like to remind us of this very important fact: The church in the first century DID NOT engage itself in the political, economic, and philosophical interests of life. The early church preached the gospel of Jesus Christ to save men’s souls. That is exactly what we should be doing today. Because of that, I encourage all of us to take a good hard look at what we might be doing in the name of religion. Are we truly practicing only those things which are approved of in the New Testament of our Lord? If not, why not? Jesus said: “Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven” (Matthew 7:21).

The Emphasis of the Early Church

Everyone should consider and think about the type of preaching that the apostles did in the first century, the only kind of preaching that we can read about in the pages of our New Testament. In Acts, chapter 2, Peter’s message was the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. In Acts, chapter 3, it was the same. In Acts, chapter 9, Saul of Tarsus was converted and was told to be baptized to wash away his sins. He told of his conversion in Acts, chapter 22 and what Ananias told him what he needed to do to be saved. Paul was told to: “Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.” (Acts 22:16).

Philip preached in Samaria, and it was said that he “preached Christ unto them.” He did not preach the philosophy of men. Paul later condemned that idea in 1 Corinthians, chapter 1. The emphasis of Peter, Paul, and Philip’s preaching, along with the rest of the apostles was on Christ. The mission of the church today is the very same. It is a “spiritual mission”, a mission in which we must preach Jesus Christ for the salvation of souls. 

The Mission of Christ

Have you ever thought about what the mission of the church really should be? Is it social, or political, or economic? Is it the purpose and mission of the church to feed the hungry, or to solve all the political problems of the time? Is it to raise the people to the top of the social ladder? This is something that all of us should think about. I would like us to think back to the purpose of Jesus’ mission in the world. Why did Jesus come to earth? John 10:10 says: “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” Luke writes: “for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10). Now that is a mission statement if I have ever heard one. We should be able to determine from that passage of scripture that Jesus’ purpose for coming to earth was to save man from sin so that we can have eternal life if we obey what He has asked of us.

The apostle Paul wrote to Timothy: “And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also” (2 Timothy 2:2). He also said: “Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching” (2 Timothy 4:2). Jesus came to save man from sin. That was His purpose for going to the cross. Now, the gospel is God’s power to save. Romans 1:16 says: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.” Our preaching must be directed to that end. I would encourage you to take a look at the church where you attend. Can it be said that the mission of that church is the same as that what Jesus taught, “to seek and save the lost?” 

Jesus Came to Save Man from Sin

When Jesus came to the world, mankind was in sin without a way of salvation. True, the law of Moses pointed to the way of Christ, but up to that time the Jews relied on the law - which was God’s law - but it could not take away sin. The Bible says, “For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect” (Hebrews 10:1). It took the blood of Christ to take away sin. Jesus came for that purpose, and when we preach the gospel today, it is for the purpose of telling mankind about the saving power of God and to make men know of the Christ who came to die for sins. Our mission is not to entertain or preach philosophy. It is not to teach economics, but to spread the good news that Jesus died for our sins, and in believing and obeying Christ, we can have the salvation of our eternal spirits.

Only Jesus could do what He came to do - to die for man’s sins. He was both human and divine. He was and is God’s Son, being deity Himself, the one who could save. Jesus came to save us and left a message (the Bible) for us to deliver to the world. Christians are the ones responsible for spreading the message of salvation. Thus, our message is a spiritual one. It is our sincere conviction that our preaching must be to try to get men to listen to Jesus, the savior of the world. Such is the true mission of the church.

Things Men Consider Cheap

Someone said, “Riches are a golden key that opens every door except the door of heaven.” Men may consider things like money, security, property, or pleasure valuable. But often times men have their values confused and we tend to think of things as valuable, when truly they are of very little value. Keep this thought in mind ---- that which man considers valuable is not so considered by the Lord. Jesus said: “For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matthew 16:26). John D. Rockefeller is supposed to have said, “I would give all my millions for a working man’s stomach.” Money is not all. Men must train themselves to think of things valuable if the Lord thinks them to be valuable. Christ is the best judge of a bargain. What is my evaluation of things in contrast to His? Jesus said: “Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth" (Colossians 3:2), and “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (Matthew 6:33). Our soul should be regarded as the most valuable thing that we possess.

Righteousness

Something is cheap to a person if he would give just a little for it. Anything that exalts a nation must be very valuable. The wisest of all men said, “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people” (Proverbs 14:34). This would eliminate the oppression of one group by another. It would end racial hatred and political prejudices. It would eliminate the waste of money spent for liquor as well as on welfare that people do not deserve - when they won’t work. It would do away with dishonesty in business and government. Truly the Lord knows what is valuable, but it seems that most men won’t accept the formula given to us by God.

Following Christ

If you consider something cheap, you won’t give much for it. That’s the reason I know that men consider following after Christ very cheap. They don’t put any money or effort into it. If they considered following Jesus Christ a valuable thing, they would do so at all costs. Only a very few people do. Jesus saw Simon and his brother fishing on the sea of Galilee and Jesus said, “come and I will make you fishers of men.” The Bible says they left their nets and followed Him. Jesus puts great value on following Jesus the Christ. In fact, we must leave all, as did His beloved disciples. Jesus said, “He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me” (Matthew 10:37). Most people must consider Christ cheap, because very little value is placed on their salvation.

Don’t Set Your Hope on Riches

All the solid evidence points to the wisdom of setting our affections on heavenly things. Men depend too much on material things. If we have money, we feel secure. The Bible says: “Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth” (Colossians 3:2). One corrupts, corrodes, rusts and rots, while the other remains. One promises much and delivers little. The other promises much and God has the power to deliver. We sing the song, “Jesus is all the world to me” but do we really believe it and trust in Him? There have been many men on their death bed wishing they could buy back the past, but it is too late. One cannot do so. If one could only buy back a few days to accept the Lord, how secure he would be, but he comes to his death realizing that money now will do absolutely no good. It truly is my hope and prayer that all men would “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness” (Matthew 6:33). That is not cheap at all – that is where true value is. 

God Hates Sin

Can God hate? The Bible says He can. In the Proverbs, chapter 6, it says "These six things the Lord hates..." Each of these is sin. God hates sin so much that He was willing to let His son die to destroy it. This is the love, or the mercy of God. The Bible says: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life" (John 3:16). It also says, "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God," (Ephesians 2:8). Let no one tell you that members of the church of Christ do not believe in the grace of God. But grace alone will not save any more than faith only. When Paul said we are saved by grace, he did not say we are saved by grace alone. Without man's faith and obedience, one could never be saved. The Bible says "though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him," (Hebrews 5:8-9). This passage clearly states that He is the author of eternal salvation to those who obey Him. Without obedience to Jesus, we cannot be saved. Have you made a determination within your life to obey Him?

The Cleansing Agent

If a worker comes in with dirty hands, there are several things necessary to get them clean. First, he must recognize that they are dirty. Without this realization he would not wash his hands. Secondly, he must have a cleansing agent. This probably is soap and water. Without this he may never get the grease or dirt off his hands. But before that cleansing agent of soap and water will do any good, he must apply that cleansing agent to his hands. No matter how much soap and water one has, without application of it, then he would never get his hands clean. In like manner, Christ shed His blood for sinful man. But first man must realize that He is a sinner. The Bible tells us that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," (Romans 3:23). This is probably the most difficult thing in preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. Most people are defensive about admitting that they have sin in their life, saying that they are really pretty good folks. But in reality, they know that they are sinners. Next, they must have a cleansing agent to get rid of the sin and that cleansing agent is Jesus Christ. This has been provided for the taking. Paul wrote: "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23). Jesus has provided the most wonderful gift ever for mankind - it is there for the taking. But without application of the blood of Christ, then there is no cleansing. Wishing will not make it so. Paul also writes: “Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?" (Romans 6:3). There is the application! It is not until we are baptized into Christ, into His death, that we put on Christ. The Bible also says: "For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ" (Galatians 3:27). It is baptism that provides the means of cleansing for man's sins. Just as soap and water is needed to cleanse our dirty hands, baptism is the application needed to cleanse us from sin.

The Sacrifice of Christ
How does one take advantage of the sacrifice of Christ? Most Bible believers admit that it takes the blood to wash away sins, but how is this blood applied to the human heart? The apostle Paul wrote: "For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ" (Galatians 3:27). What does it mean to be baptized into Christ? Simply, that we are baptized into the benefit of the death of Christ which is eternal salvation. Christ died for our sins. To benefit from the blood, we must get into Christ, which means getting into a right relationship with Christ. Thus, being baptized is simply being saved, or accepting the offer of Christ's salvation. Peter said: "Repent and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins;..." (Acts 2:38). How did these individuals obtain remission of their sins? By repenting and being baptized. How does one get into Christ? By baptism. The same act that saves you puts you into Christ. Baptism brings salvation, remission, church membership, and puts one into Christ. The destruction of sin can only be had through our obedience to Jesus.

Newness of Life
Becoming a Christian is likened to the death of Christ. The Bible says in Romans 6:3-6: "Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore, we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin." In verses 3-4, it says that these New Testament Christians had just been baptized into Christ. That means into the benefits of the death of Christ. In so doing, the sinner puts off the old man of sin and puts on the new man in Christ. When did this happen? When they were baptized into Christ. The idea that one does not need to be baptized in order to be saved has been invented by man and is without Bible authority. The Bible clearly says that to be in Christ one must be baptized. One is baptized into the death of Christ. There the sinner puts off the man of sin and puts on Christ Jesus. There is no way under heaven to put on Christ outside of baptism into Christ. Please read what God says in His word, and then be submissive to His teaching.

Sin Separates Us from God

The person who believes in God wants always to enjoy his fellowship, yet the consequences of sin is separation from God. Listen to Isaiah: “But your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear” (Isaiah 59:2). The consequences of sin is that it causes us to be separated from God. A person is lost because of his sin. Paul said, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23). Death means separation, so the sinner is separated from God. This is true whether or not you have once become a Christian.

There are some human creeds that tell us that you or I cannot fall from grace once we have become a Christian. This can’t be so because Paul says in Galatians 5:4: “You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.” The apostle Peter writes: “For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them” (2 Peter 2:20-21). Paul also states in Romans 11:22: “Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off.” We can learn from these and many other scriptures that even the Christian may be cut off from the fellowship of God by not continuing to live in obedience to Him. Revelation 2:10 says we must be “faithful until death.” The terrible consequences of sin is that it causes God to withdraw himself from His children. God does not desire it, but justice demands it, and God cannot deny Himself. If one does not repent of their sin, and live faithfully, then separation from God will be the consequence of that.

Sin Causes an Eternal Separation from God

Hell is eternal separation. Sin separated a man from God here on this earth, but it will also cause him to be eternally separated in the next life. Can you fathom eternity? I cannot. To be in Hell for even a short time would be bad; to be in hell eternally, forever separated from God, is much worse. But that’s what sin will do. After the death in this life a man in Hades, in the place of torment, begged Abraham to have Lazarus to cool his tongue with some water, for he was in torment in the flames. But it was impossible, for the Bible says: “And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us” (Luke 16:26). To avoid hell, man must take advantage of the death of Christ in obeying the gospel. The Roman brethren did this, and Paul said they were baptized into Jesus’ death (Romans 6:4). As long as one remains in sin, then there is no hope of gaining an eternal home with Jesus in heaven when we take our last breath on this earth. We must live for Jesus daily now, so that we can live with Him eternally. 

Salvation and the Cleansing of Sin

Man does not inherit the guilt of sin as he does the color in his eyes. Man was not born a sinner as many teach. Yet man does sin. The Bible affirms this truth, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). If there were no remedy for this awful sin then all would be doomed to eternal damnation, for “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23).

While there is no escape from physical death, there is an escape from the final separation from God and the Bible alone supplies that information. The Bible is the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and the apostle Paul wrote: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek” (Romans 1:16). If we would ever hope to have eternal salvation in Jesus, then we better open up the Gospel of Christ and read what we must do in order to be saved. So many say they believe in God, Jesus, Death, Heaven, and even Hell. Yet these same individuals do not open up the Word of God to find out what God has directed for them to do in this life, in order to be saved! The Bible tells us to “lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls” (James 1:21).

The Bible is available, and it is the complete and perfect guide which supplies our needs for salvation. Creeds, manuals, prayer-books, catechism, disciplines and the like are completely unnecessary and are in fact additions to God’s Word. The Bible is God’s book, and every other book is man’s book. We must make the right decision in this life in order to gain eternal salvation. Will it be God’s book, the Bible, or the creeds of man? 

"Cleanliness is next to Godliness" it is said. This has been said with reference to the cleanliness of the body or physical surrounding. But we might say in matters that are spiritual, "Cleanliness IS Godliness". For when one is cleansed from sin, he is godly. Just as water is a cleansing agent for the filth of the flesh, just so there is a cleansing agent for the sins of man. That agent is the blood of Christ. Listen to the Bible as it says: “Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” (Hebrews 9:12-14).

But how is it that we gain such spiritual cleansing? The Bible says: “You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you” (John 15:3). In order for us to become clean spiritually, we must then obey the words of Christ. It is the Words of Christ that tell us of his saving blood and when we are baptized into the death of Christ, we have our sins washed in the blood of the lamb. The Bible says: “Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore, we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection” (Romans 6:3-5).

We cannot be saved without the blood of Christ, and we cannot be saved without His Word. It is through the Bible, the complete and perfect guide, that we learn that it is through the blood of Christ that we are cleansed from sin. All that will truly matter when we die is that we have been baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of our sins and have lived a life pleasing to God so that we can gain eternal life. Please let the Bible guide your steps (Jeremiah 10:23). 

Appealing to the Spiritual Interest of Man

According to Matthew 10:28 we can read where man consists of a soul and a body. We can learn from this reading that the soul is more valuable than the body. Jesus said “do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” The soul is more valuable because the soul is eternal and body is mortal. The soul of man is that part which was made in the image of God, while the body was made from the dust of the earth.

In the first book of the Bible we read: “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being” (Genesis 2:7). The Word of God, or the gospel, is that which appeals to the soul, and as the soul is more important than the body, we must present to everyone the gospel, which is God’s power to save the soul from eternal condemnation. The inspired apostle Paul wrote: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek” (Romans 1:16). What is it that has the power to save souls? It is the gospel of Jesus Christ!

Therefore, we must learn and understand that it is our soul that is to be cherished. Jesus again tried to make this very clear when Matthew wrote His Words in Matthew 16:26. Jesus said, “For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” Have you really thought about this question that Jesus asked? Could it be that you have exchanged your soul for the material wants and desires of this world?

While the Christian is taught to care for their body, the thrust of the gospel of Christ is directed toward the saving of the soul. Too many churches today overemphasize the material, the social, and even the political. But that is not the mission of the church that Jesus built, and was bought and paid for by His blood (Matthew 16:18). Jesus said that He came to “...seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10). The church which belongs to Christ is to do the very same thing today; to seek, teach, and save lost souls. May God richly bless you as you nourish your soul daily with the precious words of Jesus.

What Does God Want of Us in This Life?

As we struggle with the challenges of life and death, the most challenging question of all is this: What does God want of us in this life?  God answers that question in the Bible. He has made it clear from the beginning until now that He wants our love, trust, and obedience.

Adam and Eve were commanded to care for the Garden of Eden, to enjoy its fruit, but not to eat "of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil"--a tree which drew the boundary between good and evil. When they ate of that tree, they were driven in shame from the Garden and suffered the ravages of death (Genesis 2-3). Later, God commended Abraham as one who "will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment" (Genesis 18:19). That is what God wants of all men.

The Bible is full of passages summarizing what God wants of us. "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man" (Ecclesiastes 12:13). Our love, trust, and respect for God are shown by obeying His Word. Though God commands formal worship, He also teaches us to translate our worship into daily action. At all times and in all situations, we are to "hate the evil, and love the good, and establish judgment in the gate....let judgment run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream" (Amos 5:15, 24).

When God taught the Jews to bring animal sacrifices for sin, He made it clear that "thousands of rams" were no substitute for sincere, daily submission to His will. "He hath showed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?" (Micah 6:6-8). Life is brief and uncertain, filled with "labor and sorrow."  Knowing our time is short, our prayer should be, "So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom" (Psalms 90:10-12). We find God's wisdom in God's Word.

Jesus summed it all up in these words: “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets” (Matthew 22:37-40). All the commandments of God teach us the true meaning of love for God and for our fellow men. To violate God's Word is to violate that love.

Knowing we have sinned and yet wanting us to be saved, God desires all men to hear, believe, and obey the gospel of Christ. Christ died as the perfect sacrifice for our sins. On the basis of that faith, we must repent of all sin, confess Christ as God's Son, and be immersed in water to receive pardon through his atoning blood. Truly, God "is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9; Acts 2:38; 8:37-38).  

When we obey these first steps of the gospel, God adds us to the church of Christ and then teaches us how to worship Him and how to live for Him each day. Thus, He redeems us from the destiny of hell and leads us to an eternal home in heaven. Ultimately, that is what God wants--for us to spend eternity with Him in heaven!

Written By: Ron Halbrook

Prepare to Meet Our God

According to Matthew 10:28 we can read where man consists of a soul and a body. We can learn from this reading that the soul is more valuable than the body. Jesus said "...do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell." The soul is more valuable because the soul is eternal and the body is mortal. The soul of man is that part which was made in the image of God, while the body was made from the dust of the earth. In the first book of the Bible we read: "And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being" (Genesis 2:7). The Word of God, or the gospel, is that which appeals to the soul and as the soul is more important than the body, we believe that the best service we can render to mankind is to present the gospel, which is God's power to save the soul. The inspired apostle Paul wrote: "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek" (Romans 1:16). What is it that has the power to save souls? It is the gospel of Jesus Christ!

Therefore, we must learn and understand that it is our soul that is to be cherished. Jesus again tried to make this very clear when Matthew wrote His Words in Matthew 16:26. Jesus Himself speaking says: "For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?" Have you thought about this question that Jesus asked? Have you exchanged your soul for the material wants and desires of this world?

While the Christian is taught to care for their body, the thrust of the gospel of Christ is directed toward the saving of the soul. It is unfortunate that too many churches today overemphasize the material, the social, and the political. It is our soul that must be prepared to meet our God! 

 

Obedience to His Will

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1). Not only did God create the heavens and the earth, God also, “created man in His own  image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them” (Genesis 1:27).

Every person of the whole human race is loved mightily and tenderly by God our Creator. Whatever God has ever done for the human race, He has done out of genuine love, and with an intense desire to see man happy. In the Book, the Bible, our loving heavenly Father and Creator has revealed to the human race His divine will.

Everything God has ever said to us in His Holy Book has been said for our own good, and is conducive to our happiness here in this life, and in the life that is to come. Our obedience, therefore, to God’s holy will as revealed in the Bible, is for our own personal happiness and eternal welfare.

A study of the Bible and of human history reveals that man’s obedience to God’s will has always brought man happiness, and disobedience has always brought unhappiness. For this reason we have in the Bible an emphasis on obedience. God said, “Whatever I command you, be careful to observe it; you shall not add to it nor take away from it.” (Deuteronomy 12:32). Again, “If you are willing and obedient, You shall eat the good of the land” (Isaiah 1:19).

Christ himself set the example of obedience to the Father's will. “Though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him” (Hebrews 5:8-9). Christ said, “For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me” (John 6:38). Again Christ said, “Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven” (Matthew 7:21). The inspired Apostle John said, “And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever” (1 John 2:17).

Man must come to know God and his Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus said, “And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” (John 17:3). We learn that eternal life depends on our knowing God. But how do we know that we know God? “Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments.” (1 John 2:3). We cannot claim scripturally to know God, if we refuse to keep His commandments. Obedience shows we know God.

Man needs friendship with God and his Son. Jesus said, “You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.” (John 15:14). Obedience is an expression of our friendship with Jesus. What a marvelous friend we have in Him! Every human being needs this close friendship with our blessed Lord. Obedience shows our friendship. Faith in Jesus Christ as God’s Son is essential to our salvation from sin. “So they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household” (Acts 16:31). But our faith is not a saving faith unless it expresses itself in obedience to God’s will. The inspired James said, “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also” (James 2:26). Saving faith expresses itself in obedience to God’s will. Certainly we know that love for God on our part is indispensable. But love expresses itself in obedience. “If you love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15).

Vocal claims of love for God and His Son are empty sounds unless they come from the hearts of faith, finding expression in willing, loving obedience to God’s will and not our own will. Faithful obedience to God is what truly shows we love God. May God bless us richly in our obedience to His will.

Eternal Salvation to Those Who Obey Him

We often talk about the fact that we must obey God and for the most part every Christian will quickly agree that this is a fact. Unfortunately there are many Christians who are not obeying God in all aspects of their life. We cannot say that obedience to God is necessary and then not try to obey God. Jesus clearly stated that we cannot serve God and mammon (Matthew 6:24). The disciples were willing to be severely persecuted, even put to death, for the honor and privilege to be able to proclaim God’s Holy and inspired word so that others may be saved (Acts 5:29).

Why is it so important that we obey all the teachings of God? Because Jesus clearly tells us that He will only save those who obey Him. The Hebrew writer says, “And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him” (Hebrews 5:9). Jesus will judge us by His word. He said, “He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him — the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day” (John 12:48). We must take this very seriously. If we go through life here on earth understanding that Jesus will judge us according to what we have done, then we must DO His will and not just talk about it. We will only be able to reap the benefits of eternal life with our Lord when we are truly faithful to Him as we live here on earth (Revelation 2:10). I want to encourage all of us to please think about what we are doing. Does God really see us living in such a way that we are 100% committed in our life and service to Him. Remember, Jesus will judge us and His judgment is fair. Heaven or Hell - We make the choice.