The Word of God

 

By Dan C. Bailey     The word of God is God's revelation to mankind. God inspired men to write down His word. We read in Il Timothy 3:14-15, "But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus." The apostle Paul had personally instructed Timothy. Timothy had the assurance that he was taught the truth. The scriptures are holy because they are from God, they are from heaven. We read again in Il Timothy 3:16-17, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works." The word "inspired" means "God breathed." So when we read the Bible, study the Bible, or preach the Bible, we are reading, studying or preaching from an inspired book. If we do not reverence the word of God, then we do not reverence God.      There are many who do not give due diligence to the word of God. We are instructed in Il Timothy 2:15, "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." The word of God or the gospel, is God's power to save the lost. "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek" (Romans 1: 16). It is able to save our souls. "Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls" (James 1:21).      If we are serious about living right and about going to heaven, we will be serious about studying and learning the word of God. Let us all come to our Bible study classes on Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings. Each class that we attend will increase our knowledge of the word of God. It is God's inspired word! We must take it seriously! It is God's word that will judge us one day. "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). That should prompt us to learn more about the word of God. "For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart" (Hebrews 4:12).

- Dan C. Bailey serves as a minister with the State Street Church of Christ in Bristol, VA. He may be contacted through the congregation's website at https://www.thelordsway.com/statestreetchurchofchrist/framedindex.asp?Group=Home

“I Learned Something Today”

By Bill Brandstatter     In a Bible study with a man recently, in looking at the Scripture, he told me he learned something he didn’t know. This man is in his eighties, maybe close to ninety. It made me realize again that a person is never too old or too young to learn something from the Bible.     The Bible is for all ages. Some might think there is no need to bring their baby to a “cradle roll” class because the baby won’t learn anything. If the baby can just say “God” something has been accomplished. Getting a child taught early about God, Christ, and the Bible is essential to the child growing to be a good Christian. Paul reminded Timothy, “From childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” (2 Tim. 3:15) Paul learned something throughout his life. He stated, “I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content.” (Phil. 4:11) Life is indeed a learning process.     The Bible tells us the truth every time. In my years of preaching, I have read a lot of sections of scriptures many times. Each time I read the Bible, I learn or see something I didn’t the time before. The Bible is always right. It tells us what was, what is, and what is to come in our lives. It is up to us to study and rightly divide the Bible to learn from it (2 Tim. 2:15).     The Bible tells us the way to get to heaven. The Bible equips us for our life here and our journey to heaven. (2 Tim. 3:17) Jesus said He was the way in John 14:6. God has provided a way, but man often looks within himself to try to come up with a different way to do something. Sometimes this thinking extends into the realm of religion. Man will worship his own way and think God will accept it. Such worship is vain according to Mt. 15:9. Man-made rules won’t get us to heaven. We must go God’s way. The Bible tells us how to be saved and how to get to heaven. 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.” (Mt. 7:21 NKJV).     As we read the Bible let us be learners. If we learn something we didn’t know before, let us put it into our lives and be better tomorrow than we were today. Have you learned something from the Bible you didn’t know? Begin today to learn something new. It might cause you to grow and change.

- Bill Brandstatter preaches for the Marion Church of Christ in Marion, IL. He may be contacted through the congregation's website: http://marionchurchofchrist.com/

Books You Can't Read

By David Bragg

    You could, if so inclined, go to your local library and read various books about George Gordon, better known as Lord Byron. What you can't read, however, is his autobiography. Byron, a noted poet who lived a flamboyant, controversial life, left his memoir with a friend. But upon learning of Byron's death his friend, hoping to spare his Byron's reputation from the scandal that would inevitably result, burned the manuscript.
    While at the library you could check out several  of William Shakespeare’s plays. But you can't read “Love’s Labour’s Won” or “Cardenio.” Although they are found in early lists of the noted writer's plays they are nevertheless lost to history.
    If you are really motivated you could read Homer's “Iliad” and “Odyssey,” but you can't read his third installment, the “Margites.” It has not survived.
    You can read Earnest Hemingway's “For Whom the Bell Tolls” and “Islands in the Stream,” but not some of his earlier stories because they were packed inside his wife's suitcase which was stolen in a busy train station (Nate Barksdale, history.com).
    But you can read the Bible. God has preserved it through the centuries. By reading and obeying, you can live a life that is pleasing in His sight and share your hope with others as you make your way through history. You can read it, but do you?

- David Bragg serves as one of the ministers at the Northwest Church of Christ in Greensboro, NC and is co-editor of BulletinGold. He may be contacted through the congregation's website: http://www.nwchurchofchrist.com/ or his blog: http://davidbragg.blogspot.com/

Beyond Disappointing

By Ron Thomas

   In Hosea the Lord said His people are destroyed for lack of knowledge (4:6). In Romans, Paul said faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the words of Christ (10:17). In 2 Peter, Peter said the saints are to grow in knowledge, that is, knowledge of God’s word. In 2 Corinthians, Paul wrote one does not walk by sight, but by faith (by God’s word). In each of these passages we learn those who love the Lord are people/saints who know the Lord’s will. They don’t find reasons to not read, but instead make opportunities to read and learn. 

   No doubt, it is beyond disappointing for the Lord to see those who say they belong to Him fail in desiring to gain understanding of His will. Why would anyone operate in this way? 

1) they don’t like to read, 

2) so many activity involvements, 

3) not really redeemed, but Christian in name only. 

It’s not their lack of knowledge, but their lack of effort and even desire to gain knowledge. 

   When these people are put in stressful situations, they fail the Lord and themselves because they took no time to hear the Lord by reading His word, thus learning what can be and needs to be done. Will the Lord hear them when they call out? “Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me: For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the Lord” (Proverbs 1:28-29, KJV). 

   There is a correlation between this failure to learn and the exhortations from the Lord when He said many are called, but few are chosen AND why call me Lord when you do not hear me (Luke 6:46). 

- Ron Thomas preacher for the Sunrush Church of Christ, Chillicothe, OH. He may be contacted through the congregation's website. http://sunrushchurchofchrist.com/

Imitation vs. Transformation

By Joe Chesser
 
     You may not have read it, but I know you have heard of it. The book In His Steps: What Would Jesus Do? has sold over 50,000,000 copies It’s one of the best-selling books of all time. More recently the concept of WWJD was popularized with wristbands, t-shirts and jewelry. It’s an awesome concept. In all situations, ask yourself “what would Jesus do?” and act on it. After all, we all want to imitate Jesus in everything we do … right? Well, yes and no.
     An article written by John Coe challenged me to think more deeply about this (the article: Resisting the Temptation of Moral Formation). While imitating Jesus is quite good, there can also be something about it that can be quite wrong. You see, character imitation that does not come from a transformed heart is not fully what Jesus came to produce in his disciples. Behavioral modification because that’s what Jesus did is only “me” choosing externally to be conformed to his actions. So, in every situation that arises I would need to stop and think, “What would Jesus do?” Then “I” would have to determine what Jesus would do in that situation, and then decide if “I” would act like him.
     There is something better.  It’s called transformation (Romans 12.2). So, what’s the difference between the two? Imitation makes decisions with the head. For example, I know Jesus was compassionate, so my head tells me I need to be compassionate. One flaw is that I can’t do everything Jesus did. Another is that I can act with compassion without being compassionate at all. Imitation does not require my heart to be in it. In fact, my heart may even oppose the action my head says is the right thing to do. Perhaps that’s one reason why there is sometimes conflict within us: my heart’s not in the things I know I should be doing.
     But when my heart is transformed, things are different. I don’t want to just act like Jesus, I want to be like Jesus. I want my transformed heart to guide my head to act like him. I not only want to be compassionate like he was, I also want to be compassionate why he was. I want to love people so much that whenever I see a need for compassion, I won’t have to ask, “What would Jesus do?”, I’ll just do it … like the Good Samaritan Jesus told us about (Luke 10). That’s not to say that the head is not engaged. It is. It is a necessary part of being like Jesus. In fact, a renewed mind is a necessary step in a transformed heart (Romans 12.2). But now my head and my heart are acting in unity. There’ll be no internal conflict when my transformed heart guides my head into acting like Jesus.
     So now, when I ask WWJD, it will be because I have Jesus in my heart and want to be like him in every way possible. It will not be a burden to act like him or to keep his commandments because our hearts are filled with his love (John 14.15; 1 John 5.3).  Turmoil and guilt are replaced with joy and peace. The need for perfection is eliminated when our transformed hearts are walking in the light with Jesus (1 John 1.7).
     Imitation or transformation? Which have you been choosing?

- Joe Chesser preaches for the Fruitland Church of Christ, Fruitland, MO.  He may be contacted at joeandareva@yahoo.com           

Are You Searching for the Truth?

By Ron Bartanen

    Are you searching for truth? Some are not searching because they don’t believe in absolute truth—everything to them is relative.  Others are not searching because their church tells them what the truth is,  These feel they already have the fullness of truth.  All should heed Paul’s warning: “Of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things” (Acts 20:30).  Others seek the truth in their own hearts, though the Bible warns, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked” (Jeremiah 17:9).  The importance of seeking truth is emphasized in Scripture.  The wise man Solomon advised, “Buy the truth and sell it not” (Prov. 23:23).  In the marketplace of ideas one must be careful to distinguish the true from the counterfeit.  Jesus said, “Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free” (John 8:32).  
    How will we know the truth when we see it? Ultimate truth is found in Jesus, who said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No man comes to the Father but by me” (John 14:6).  Truth is found in His word, the Scriptures, of which Paul wrote, “All scripture is inspired of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for instruction in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
    Where are you searching for truth?   

- Ronald Bartanen preaches for Arthur Church of Christ, Arthur, IL.  He may be contacted through the congregation's website: http://arthurcoc.com/       

The Challenge of Relevance

By Joe Chesser

    One of the most fascinating truths about the Bible is its relevance.  Though written thousands of years ago in varying cultures and times, though written by thirty-five to forty different men with varying educational backgrounds, though written in several different literary styles, the Bible is as relevant to our culture and lives as today’s newspaper. And that is true whether we are native to Jackson, Jamaica or Japan.  The Bible speaks to us, works on us, transforms us today.  Paul told the Thessalonians that they had received the word of God “which is at work in you who believe” (1 Thess. 2:13).  And it’s been at work in every generation since.
    But the relevance of the Bible should be no surprise since the “Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us (John 1:14). The incarnation (God becoming flesh) took place in part so that we could know that God knows what it is like to live where we live.  Jesus met us on our turf.  He dealt with cheating government officials, blind and lame beggars, proud politicians, loose-living streetwalkers, radical extremists, grieving parents, course fishermen, victims of demonism, honest truth-seekers – and he was able to purposefully relate to them on their level, all the while without stooping to their level.  Perhaps we need to rethink how we present the gospel.  Read carefully George MacLeod’s challenging words:

I simply argue that the cross be raised again
At the center of the market place
As well as on the steeple of the church.
I am recovering the claim that
Jesus was not crucified in a cathedral between two candles:
But on a cross between two thieves;
On a town garbage heap;
At a crossroad of politics so cosmopolitan
That they had to write His title
In Hebrew and in Latin and in Greek ...
And at the kind of place where cynics talk smut,
And thieves curse and soldiers gamble.
Because that is where He died,
And that is what He died about.
And that is where Christ’s men ought to be,
And what church people ought to be about.

    One of the glaring needs of the world today is for Christians to not only declare the message of the gospel, but also to demonstrate daily the relevance of how that message is lived out in every situation of life. The word of God still must become flesh in us to be relevant.

 - Joe Chesser preaches for the Fruitland Church of Christ, Fruitland, MO.  He may be contacted through the congregation's website.

They Really Needed That

By Larry Pasley

    An elderly woman, who lived just a block from the church, never missed a Sunday service for most of her life. Each week, as she greeted the preacher after church, she would always say, “Preacher, that was a wonderful sermon. THEY really needed that!”
    One cold winter day, after a heavy snowfall with most of the town buried in deep drifts, she was the only one who showed up for church. The preacher decided that he would take advantage of the situation by preaching a sermon on the evils of being self-righteous and hypocritical.
    As she left the church, the woman greeted the preacher as usual and exclaimed, “Preacher, that was one of the best sermons you ever preached. It was really great. It’s too bad THEY weren’t here. THEY really needed to hear that!”
    Are we guilty of applying Bible teachings to others but not to ourselves? It is easy sometimes to fall into the trap of not seeing our own sins but seeing those of others.
Matthew 7:1-5  "Judge not, that you be not judged. ² For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. ³ And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? ⁴ Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me remove the speck from your eye'; and look, a plank is in your own eye? ⁵ Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.
    The Bible directs commands specific to individuals on how they are to act. Husbands/wives; slaves/masters; parents/children; saints/sinners; elders/deacons; etc. the scriptures are intending for us to apply them to ourselves personally not to others.
    We only profit from the scriptures when we apply them personally.
Hebrews 4:1-2  Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it. ² For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it.
    May we all strive to take the scriptures personally and apply them to ourselves as God intended.

- Larry Pasley serves as a minister with the Jackson Street Church of Christ in Alexandria, LA. He may be contacted through the congregation's website.

Prove All Things

By Ron Bartanen

   The Christians in the city of Thessalonica had among them those who possessed the spiritual gift of prophecy, and Paul admonished the people, “Despise not prophesyings” (1 Thess. 5:20). At the same time, he then cautioned, “Prove all things: hold fast that which is good.” Some could claim they had a message from God, but anyone could make the claim. Any message should be subjected to verification. In other words, there must be on our part a willingness to listen to what is claimed to be God’s word, but at the same time putting it to the test. For churches in the days of the apostles, that verification was through the gospel and “apostles’ doctrine”.  (See Acts 2:42; Galatians 1:8-9). For us today, while we no longer have the apostles with us bodily, we have a sufficiency of their teachings in our New Testament scriptures by which we can “prove all things.”
    When Paul would write the young evangelist Timothy, he would give such warnings as in 1 Tim. 4:1 (NKJV): “Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons.” In light of this prophecy, as well as others, we can never take for granted that what we believe is truth without verification from Scripture. All congregations and religious groups should welcome investigation. In fact, God’s word makes all responsible for checking out what we may assume to be truth, testing it with God’s word. No church is infallible. No preacher or priest or pope is infallible. The apostles were to be led by the Spirit into “all truth” (John 16:13-14). What they have written and verified stands as a Constitution by which all teachings and practices should be examined and determined to be true or false. We should recall that the Bereans were declared to be noble in that not only did they listen with an open mind to Paul’s preaching, but verified it by searching the scriptures “to see whether these things were so” (Acts 18”11). This would be the Old Testament scriptures at that time, which prophesied of the coming Christ whom Paul preached. We would be noble to do the same.
    As Paul warned, numerous departures from New Testament standards have occurred. Many who claim to be Christian have called into question, and even denied, the deity of Christ and the blood atonement, Jesus’ bodily resurrection and the inspiration and authority of Scripture. There are multiple departures from what the apostles of Christ required of people that they might be saved. Departures have occurred in church government, worship, divisive names and doctrine. Many are choosing political correctness over Scripture to approve of such moral offenses as abortion and homosexuality, even approving of same-sex marriage. 
    We are encouraged when any group will compare its teachings and practices with those of the New Testament church, as they were led by the apostles. We who teach and preach should ourselves to open enough to test all things by God’s word, admit departures where found, and to teach and preach the faith even when it may conflict with tradition. We all need to ask ourselves, “What do I believe simply because that’s the way my parents or my preacher taught it?” and “What do I believe because I’ve taken the time and trouble to ‘prove all things and hold fast to that which is good”?

- Ronald Bartanen preaches for Arthur Church of Christ, Arthur, IL.  He may be contacted through the congregation's website

The Need for Personal Study

By Robert E. Guinn

    Why has attendance been greatly stressed among God’s people in the past? We cannot ignore that the attendance changes between different Bible classes and worship services on Sundays and Wednesday evenings. Are elders and spiritual leaders just being “nit-picky,” or is there a deeper issue that concerns our fellow Christians when they see our lack of participation?
    We have approximately 168 hours in a week. If we attend ALL of the regular congregational worship services and studies, we have made a four hour investment in our spiritual development. That is roughly 2.4% of our week’s time that we dedicate to God. What about Christians that are a part of congregations that only meet once or twice a week? Then that percentage theoretically will go down. If we invest nothing else into our spiritual lives, these numbers look sad compared to the amount of time we spend on entertainment and other non-spiritual things.
    It seems that, even though attendance has been the measure of faithfulness in the past, congregational worship and study should be viewed as the mountain top of what we are consistently investing in our personal spiritual development. We know that faith is built upon our access to, meditation on, and devotion toward God’s word (Romans 10:17). The great salvation provided through Jesus Christ should provoke us to want an intimate relationship with the Creator, desiring to seek His ways over ours. As the Psalmist said: “I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you,”  (Psalm 119:11, ESV).
    Why is personal study so important? Faith is described in the New Testament as the starting point of spiritual development and growth (2 Peter 1:5-10). Faith is also the Christian shield that protects us against the flaming arrows of the enemy (Ephesians 6). What happens when that shield is splintered, shattered, and/or broken? It needs to be repaired. Like a plant needing maintenance and care, so our faith needs to be watered, tended, and matured. Consider these five reasons we need to develop and grow our personal study of God’s word:
      1. Personal study enables us to have a better understanding of spiritual things (Psalm 119:99).
        2. Personal study is connected to our salvation, and the salvation of others who witness our faith (1 Timothy 4:11-16).
        3. Personal study can help us better protect our minds and hearts (Philippians 4:6 -9).
        4. Personal study gives us experience to better handle God’s word (2 Timothy 2:15).
        5. Personal study better prepares us for fighting off temptation (Matt. 4;  Luke 4). 
    The bottom line, however, is that no one can do this for us. We are responsible for our own spiritual growth and development. Are you satisfied with your current spiritual investments? I know I am not always satisfied with mine. Let’s take and make personal study personal!
    “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time… Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is,” (Ephesians 5:15-17, ESV).

 - Robert Guinn preaches for the Central Church of Christ in Paducah KY.  He may be contacted through the congregation's website.

Getting the Most out of Sermons and Bible Lessons

By R. W. McAlister

     Have you ever left a Bible class or worship service and thought, “I just didn’t get much out of that.” I daresay we all have at one time or another. Let me offer some suggestions that may help us.

• I know it’s not always possible, but come to worship or Bible class well-rested. If you’re tired, it’s going to be difficult to pay attention and stay awake.
• Before you arrive at the service, prepare yourself to be a good listener and have your mind on God. Some read their Bibles or pray. Others may watch, “A Bible Answer” or “In Search of the Lord’s Way” on TV. Whatever helps you get your mind focused, do it.
• Remind yourself of how important it is to hear God’s Word proclaimed. There is always something new for us to learn or be reminded of.
• When it comes to Bible class, come prepared to participate. If you have some insight on the topic being discussed, share it so that all can benefit from it.
• Don’t be afraid to ask questions in Bible class.
• When it comes to listening to the sermon, have a positive attitude – decide that you’re going to hear something that will help you or someone else. Don’t focus on the mispronounced words or the unintentional errors. Instead, focus on the overall message and what you can learn from it.
• Follow along with the Scriptures, or, if so many are used that you can’t turn to them quickly enough, write the references down and look at them later.
• If taking notes helps you stay focused, then take notes.
• If the lesson being taught reminds of something you need to be doing, do it, because we’re not supposed to be just hearers only, but doers of God’s Word (Jas. 1:22).

     Are you getting as much as you can from the Bible class and the sermons? Let us all be “swift to hear” and “doers of the Word” (Jas. 1:19 & 22).

- R. W. McAlister preaches for the Anna Church of Christ in Anna, IL.He may be contacted through the congregation's website: http://www.annachurchofchrist.com/

Eat Right!

By Edd Sterchi

“Why do you spend money for what is not bread, And your wages for what does not satisfy?  Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, And let your soul delight itself in abundance.” (Isa. 55:2).
    Let’s admit something up front: There is food that is good for us and there is junk food. There is food that builds the bones and muscles, and there is food that clogs the arteries. There is food that provides energy, and there is food that adds fat. In short, there is good food and bad food.
    Now, understanding that, let us ask this: Why would people spend good money on bad food? I know the answer, because I have done this (and so have you). We do it because we like the way it tastes.
    God asked a similar question twenty-seven hundred years ago about how His people were feeding their souls. They seem to have been more interested consuming spiritual junk food than in eating a healthy spiritual diet. They were doing this by disobeying God and living in ways that dishonored Him. As a result of consuming the wrong spiritual diet, they were bringing spiritual sickness and harm to themselves.
    But God did not just give the warning of what would happen if they continued eating spiritual junk food, He gave them a dietary plan that would bring them back to spiritual health. They were to “forsake” their wicked ways and thoughts (Isa. 55:7) and “return to the LORD” (Isa. 55:7). And they were to consume the food that was good for their souls – the word of God (Isa. 55:11). Doing this would cause spiritual health which brings joy and peace (Isa. 55:12).
    There’s a great analogy in this for us. When the arteries of the soul are clogged through a bad spiritual diet, cardiac arrest of the spirit can happen. Instead of beating regularly and powerfully with love for God, the heart becomes cold and heavy and spiritual activity stops.
    Christian, do you desire a spiritually healthy life? Then hunger for His word. Feed on it, digest it, and allow it to generate spiritual strength and energy for your life. Eat some “soul food” every day.

- Edd Sterchi preaches for the Broadway Church of Christ in Campbellsville, KY. He may be contacted through the congregation's website: http://www.broadwaychurchofchrist.net/

The Proper Use of the Old Testament

By Ron Cosby
      The proper way to use the Old Testament is as our example (Rom. 15:1-4; 1 Cor. 11:1-13). Thus, we must first determine what the New Testament teaches on the subject. This is accomplished by proper consideration of the New Testament itself. Then, one may seek to find Old Testament illustrations on the subject.
      For instance, the New Testament teaches that covetousness is idolatry (Col. 3:5). When Bible students search the Old Testament, several excellent examples illustrate God's abhorrence of covetousness. King Ahab coveted Naboth’s vineyard (1 Kin. 21:1ff). Because of Israel's inheritance law, Naboth would not sell the vineyard. Greedy Ahab killed Naboth and took his land. Thus, by this event, we see the wickedness of covetousness.
      Now, consider how we might misuse this same event. Suppose I contend that it is sin for “brother Smith” to sell his land. To prove my contention, I quote the words of Naboth: “Jehovah forbid ... that I should give the inheritance of my fathers unto thee” (1 Kin. 21:3). Is this a proper use of the Old Testament? Don’t think so. I must first determine by the law of Christ, not the law of Moses, whether or not it is sinful to sell property. Where is the New Testament teaching that forbids a Christian to sell his inheritance? There is none. Thus, for me to conclude that the Lord forbid “brother Smith” from selling the inheritance of his fathers is an erroneous conclusion.
      Consider the following perversions of Old Testament concepts.
1) Since David married several wives, some conclude that polygamy is not sin.
2) The use of mechanical instruments of music is acceptable in Christian worship because David played a harp when he worshiped God.
3) The ceremonial priesthood for Christian service and worship is right in God’ s sight because priests mediated David's worship.
      Shall we pick and choose which one of these we want? For those who desire to worship as Heaven said in “spirit and in truth” (John 4:24), all such erroneous practices will be strenuously avoided. However, the religious world has failed to properly divide Old Testament doctrine from the Law of Christ (Gal. 6:2). They seek to follow the saints of old instead of Christ. Some practice polygamy. Many use the mechanical instrument of music in Christian worship. Others have their priesthoods. According to the teaching of the New Testament, such practices should be cast aside.
      For the cults, the denominations or the church to seek justification by practicing Old Testament law displeases God (Acts 15:10; Gal. 5:1, 6).

- Ron Cosby; - via the Belvedere Beacon, the weekly bulletin of the Belvedere Church of Christ, Belvedere, SC.  Ken Chumbley preaches for this congregation, and he may be contacted at their website: http://www.belvederechurchofchrist.org 

Loving the Word of Christ

By Nathan Brewer

      Did Jesus hide His saving message from some of the people but reveal it to others? In Matthew chapter 13, Jesus teaches many lessons in parables. Parables are special lessons that use everyday situations to illustrate spiritual points.
     In verses 3 through 9, Jesus teaches about a sower who goes forth sowing seeds. Some of the seeds fall by the wayside and the birds eat them. Some of the seeds fall on soil with lots of rocks in it. They germinate and spring up, but the sun scorches them and they wither away.
     And some of the seeds fall in soil that has lots of thorns. The thorns choke out the seeds and they die. But finally the sower sows seed in good ground. The seeds in the good ground produce a bountiful harvest. When He finishes the lesson, the disciples ask Him why He is teaching in parables.
     In verses 11 through 16, Jesus explains that He is speaking in parables so that those who want the truth will understand His message, but those who don't want the truth will remain in the dark. In fact, Jesus says that this fulfills a prophesy from Isaiah 6:9-10. "By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; Lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them." (Matt. 13:14-15). Jesus gave the same message to all of the people, but some of them understood it while others did not. The condition of our hearts is what determines whether we understand Jesus' teaching.
     That is exactly the point of the parable that Jesus told about the sower who sowed the seeds in different kinds of soil. Jesus goes on to explain the parable to his disciples in Matthew 13:18-24. He says the seed that fell in the wayside soil represents those who hear the word of the kingdom but don't understand it, and that word is quickly taken out of the hearer's heart. The stony soil represents someone who hears the Gospel and receives it gladly, but when persecution comes he falls away.
     The soil with thorns represents someone who hears the word but allows cares of this life — things like work, family and money — to choke it out. Someone like this becomes "unfruitful." But the good ground that the seeds fell into — the soil that finally produced an abundant crop — represents someone who understands the word and lets it bear fruit in his life.
     In a parallel passage, Luke 8:15, Jesus says that the one who understands the word is one who has an honest and good heart. The first three kinds of soil represent people who ultimately refuse the word because of the condition of their hearts.
     Jesus goes on to say in Luke 8:18, "Take heed therefore how ye hear." Our understanding of what Jesus teaches depends on the condition of our heart. If we are honest and want to know the truth, we will investigate and find the truth. If we don't want the truth, or if we don't care, we will remain spiritually deaf and blind and that will cost us our soul. Jesus said that when some of the people refused to hear and understand His message, they fulfilled prophecy. That prophecy said the hardhearted would refuse to be healed and converted. Those today who close their ears to the truth of the Gospel will remain in their sins. That means they will ultimately be consigned to spend eternity in hell, away from all that is good and holy.
     There is a lot of disagreement about what the Bible teaches, and because of this many people have decided that it's impossible for people to understand it alike. But Jesus explains in the parable of the sower and the soils in Matthew 13 why many don't understand the Bible. It isn't the Bible's fault. The problem is with the people. While there is honest disagreement among sincere people over a few matters, Jesus and the apostles are plain about what to do to be saved, how to worship God, which church is actually the church of Christ, and what activities are immoral and thus forbidden. The New Testament plainly lays out these matters. Those who refuse to accept the truth on these matters are shutting their eyes and ears, just like Jesus said. And this results in people hearing the saving truth but rejecting it and remaining in their sins.
     Do you love the truth? Are you willing to accept the truth regardless of the consequences? These are requirements for being saved and going to heaven.

- Nathan Brewer [http://www.gospelpreceptor.com/BreweN11.htm] via the Belvedere Beacon, the weekly bulletin of the Belvedere church of Christ, Belvedere, SC.  Ken Chumbley preaches for this congregation, and he may be contacted at their website: http://www.belvederechurchofchrist.org