By
Jeff Arnette Five of the books of the New Testament
have traditionally been attributed to the apostle John, the son of Zebedee and
brother of James. The gospel of John; 1, 2, 3 John; and Revelation. Most of the
early church fathers claimed these books as written by John and the earliest
copies have John listed in the title. The works of John are connected by common
themes and vocabulary. For example, there is a common emphasis on love,
remaining in Christ, and the Light. Some have suggested that as much as 80
percent of the verses in 1 John reflect themes and ideas found in the gospel of
John. There are also connections between 2 and 3 John. Take for instance the
word “antichrist” found in these two books. The Greek word used for
“antichrist” is only in these two books of the New Testament. Beyond that they
also have similarities in structure, content, and the vocabulary used. 1 John was written by a man who had
followed Jesus most of his adult life. As a young and brash man, he wanted to
call down fire from heaven to destroy a whole town for rejecting Jesus (Luke
9:54) but with time and experience, he learned to live and love like Jesus. Now
an old man, John being led by the Holy Spirit, writes these powerful letters
(1, 2, and 3 John) helping us learn how to live for and love like Jesus. This letter was written for a group of
Christians who are troubled by false teachers whose behavior clearly showed
them to be false disciples. John demonstrates for us how concern for correct
doctrine, Christlike behavior, and love for God and others creates an
environment where genuine fellowship can exist. He also shows us the importance
of testing everything taught to us by comparing it to the revealed word of God.
Apparently, these false teachers were denying that Jesus had come in the flesh
(1 John 2:22; 4:1-2). They were boasting about being without sin (1 John 1:8,
10) and knew God even though their behavior proved otherwise (1 John 4:20). |
- Jeff Arnette preaches for
the Central Haywood church of Christ, Clyde, NC. He may be contacted
through the congregation's website: https://centralhaywoodcoc.com/  |
Sunday, January 1, 2023
Introduction to 1 John
Hear
By
Clifton Angel “Whosoever
shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call
on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of
whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?”
(Romans 10:13–14). The fact that we need to hear implies that
someone has spoken and something has been said. Who
has spoken? God. The Hebrews writer began his letter: “God, who at sundry times
and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath
in these last days spoken unto us by his Son” (Hebrews 1:1-2). Yes, God has
spoken! Many have claimed and do claim that God has spoken directly to them,
but their words can be tested against the Bible and found to be untrue. “For
the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake
as they were moved by the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter 1:21). Let’s be sure that the
things we believe concerning God are truly from God. What is it that God has said that we need
to hear? We need to hear everything that God has recorded and preserved for man
to read and study. The Psalmist said, “The sum of thy word is truth; And every
one of thy righteous ordinances endureth for ever” (Psalm 119:160, ASV). More
specifically, we live under the New Testament today, so we especially need to
give heed to its teachings. Hebrews 1:2 informs us that God has spoken unto us
in these last days by his Son. On a special occasion in which Peter was allowed
to see the transfigured Jesus, and Moses, and Elijah, Peter wanted to worship all
three, but “The voice of God came from Heaven and said, This is my beloved Son,
in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him” (Matthew 17:5). Therefore, it is not
the words of Moses, nor the words of Elijah, but the words of Jesus and His
will and testament which I need to pattern my life after today. What of Jesus do I need to hear? “That
Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried,
and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures” (1
Corinthians 15:3–4). Paul calls this the gospel (good news). Furthermore, I
need to hear, “He is head over all things to his church, which is his body” (Ephesians
1:22-23), and that “He is the Savior of the body” (Ephesians 5:23). I need to
hear the entire New Testament, but these two principles are at the heart of the
entirety of it: (1) Sinless Jesus died, was buried, and rose again to fulfill
God’s will; (2) Jesus has one church (body), and He is the only Savior of it. |
- Clifton Angel preaches
for the Coldwater Church of Christ in Coldwater, MS. He may be contacted
through that congregation's website: http://www.coldwatercofc.com/ |
Singing Is God’s Idea
By Joe Chesser I love to worship in
song. I always have. My mother instilled this in me at an early age. We of
course sang during our worship at church assemblies. But there were many other
times when we sang “church” songs together at family gatherings, or with
friends, or at area-wide singings, or at Bible camps and VBS. I was privileged
to sing with Christian choirs in high school and college, and on several other
occasions. Sometimes my wife and I would just open up a song book and sing
together. I just love to sing. Singing moves my heart closer to God. However, not everyone
was raised to love singing like I was. Not everyone enjoys singing like I do.
And that’s ok. But what’s not ok is to have a negative attitude about singing.
Why? Because singing is God’s idea. In seems that in lots of
churches singing is becoming an afterthought, even a drudgery. It seems that
some are only doing it because that’s what they’ve always done or because it is
an “item of worship.” It seems that many
song leaders just select their songs without much forethought or planning, and
that church leaders and church members fail to attach much importance or value
to singing. This may be an exaggeration, but my point is to encourage us all to
refocus our attention on the fact that singing is God’s idea. And because it is
His idea, perhaps we need to reevaluate why He wants us to sing, and even more
so, why He wants me to sing. Singing is not just for
those who can sing well. It is awesome and inspiring when singing is beautiful,
and we should work at singing the best we can. But a beautiful sound is not the
main point. According to Colossians 3.16 the reason for singing is for teaching
and admonishing one another with the word of Christ that dwells richly in our
hearts. Certainly we can teach and admonish each other without music. That what
preachers and teachers and parents do. But it’s God’s idea to also do it with
singing. God knows music has a way of moving and influencing us in ways that
nothing else can. Different kinds of songs (psalms, hymns, spiritual songs)
teach and admonish us in different ways than merely speaking the words can do.
When music is combined with spiritual lyrics, we can be affected deeply as we
make melody in our hearts (Ephesians 5.19). PLUS, we can impact others, and
that is one thing God wants us to do in worship, according to the above
Scriptures. |
- Joe Chesser preaches for
the Fruitland Church of Christ, Fruitland, MO. He may be contacted
at joeandareva@yahoo.comg |
Identity Theft
By Joe Slater According to the Federal
Trade Commission a fraction more than two people’s identity is stolen every minute
on average in the U.S. Specific incidents range from credit card fraud to
buying cars or taking out loans in someone else’s name. Whole companies exist
to warn you of suspicious activity and protect you in case your bank account
gets drained, or someone racks up a huge debt in your name (all for a fee, of
course). What about your
spiritual identity? If you’re a Christian, you aren’t the same person you were
before you came to Christ; you have a new identity. “Therefore, if anyone is in
Christ he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things
have become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17). Satan may bludgeon you
with your past sins to steal your new identity. Paul instructed the Corinthian
church to forgive and comfort their formerly incestuous brother “lest Satan
should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices” (2
Corinthians 2:6-11). Satan would have liked nothing better than for the
repentant brother be “swallowed up with too much sorrow” (v. 7), thus giving up
on being a Christian at all. Paul himself was painfully aware of his wicked
past but refused to surrender his new identity in Christ. I wonder if any of the
Corinthians said, “Well, I’m just not sure he was sincere!” Folks tend to look
with a jaundiced eye at the repentance of people who have committed outrageous
sins. But what makes us think we should question anyone’s sincerity? Do we
doubt the sincerity of others whose sins are more like our own? |
- Joe Slater serves as
minister of the Church of Christ in Justin, TX. He may be contacted through the
congregation's website: http://justinchurchofchrist.com |
Oh Be Careful . . .
By Donna
Wittlif “Keep
your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life”
(Proverbs 4:23, ESV). One of my favorite cartoons is “The Family
Circus.” Sunday’s paper showed Billy turning around and around. Then we see him
lying on the floor beside his dog, Barfy. “I learned that from you, Barfy,” he
says. “Turn around three times before lying down.” We
learn everything through our senses, but mostly by seeing and hearing. My son
informed me that my ten-year-old grandson has learned much from his classmates that
no kid his age should know. Already his mind is being turned away from God. Every child should be taught the children’s
song “Be Careful Little Eyes What You See.” Every adult should know it and sing
it no matter how old he or she is. Sadly, it is not so. What a person sees
usually stays in his heart. Proverbs 30:17 speaks of “the eye that mocks a
father and scorns to obey a mother.” Teachers and law officials know that there
are many young children who have no respect for God or man. “Be careful little ears what you hear”
starts the second verse. At the transfiguration, God spoke, “This is my beloved
Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” Most children and adults
alike want to hear everything but the gospel. The third verse begins with “Be careful
little feet where you go.” How true are Jesus’ words. “For the gate is wide and
the way is easy that leads to destruction” (Matthew 7:13). Most choose to enjoy
the pleasures of sin for a season. The fields are ready for harvest. Whether
we teach the children or their parents, it is not too late. May we not become
weary or discouraged and stop taking God’s word to our family, friends, and
neighbors. |
- Donna Wittlif, the
founder and first editor of BulletinGold, lives in Denver, CO. Donna is also a
writer of fiction. Her novels, World Eternal: Promises and World Eternal: Proselytes,
and World Eternal: Perils, and her newest book, Finding Her Heart, are
available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other book outlets. For more
information visit her website. http://www.donnarwittlif.com/ |
Sunday, December 25, 2022
Wholly Holy
By Edd
Sterchi Toward the end of his first epistle to the
Thessalonians, Paul had these words for his Christian friends, “Now may the God
of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and
body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thess. 5:23). Interestingly, we have contained within
this verse the whole makeup of every human in the description “spirit, soul,
and body”. Let’s look at them in reverse order. We are a composite of... ...physical nature - The Greek word translated “body” is
“soma” and is defined as, “a body; the body of both men and animals”
(Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon). ...emotional/intellectual nature - The Greek word translated
“soul” is “psuche” and is defined as “the seat of the feelings,
desires, affections, aversions” (Thayer’s). ...spiritual nature - The Greek word translated “spirit” is
“pneuma” and is defined as “the soul” (Thayer’s). It is God’s desire that we keep every
aspect of our being pure and whole. We are to be wholly holy. God has promised
to help us with this. But we must be actively seeking holiness in
our lives. I believe that the list Paul gives in the previous seven verses are
some things we can do along that line: * Think about things that bring heavenly joy (v.16) * Stay close to God through prayer (v.17) * Be thankful for all that God has given us (v.18) * Give God access to all of our lives (v.19) * Read and love God’s Word (v.20) * Keep good things in our life (v.21) * Stay away from sin (v.22) If we do these and stay faithful to God, He
will be faithful in keeping us wholly holy and blameless. “He who called you is
faithful, who will also do it” (1 Thess. 5:24). |
- 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/ |
Faith Developing
By Joe Chesser In Mark 9 there is a
story about a man’s son who was brutally afflicted by an evil spirit. The man had taken his son to Jesus’
disciples, but they couldn’t do anything to help the boy. So the father pleaded with Jesus, “If you can
do anything, take pity on us and help us.”
It seems as if Jesus was somewhat shocked by this statement when he
responded, “If you can? Everything is possible for him who believes.” The man’s
reaction is what I want us to consider for a few minutes. He said, “I do believe; help me overcome my
unbelief.” Not all faith is the
same. Not everyone who believes has the
same degree of faith. Some have strong faith (like Abraham); some have weak
faith (like this man). Some have faith that never grows; some have faith that ever
grows. Some have active faith; some have dead faith. The man in the story above realized that,
though he did believe, his faith wasn’t perfected. There was still some
unbelief that had to be overcome. We all know that without faith it is
impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6). This verse goes on to say that more
than just belief in the existence of God is necessary to please him; the faith
that pleases God must also develop to the point of believing that God rewards
those who earnestly seek him. Abraham,
the father of the faithful, serves as an illustration of this. In Hebrews 11:8 we are
told that Abraham had sufficient faith to begin his journey with God. When God
called him to pack up and move to some unknown place, he “obeyed and
went.” We say, “Wow! What great faith!”
And we are right. To just pack up and go
wherever God led him was an awesome demonstration of the kind of faith we need
to have. Like Abraham, it takes great faith
just to begin our journey with Jesus, to take up our cross daily and follow him
(Luke 9:23). But obedient faith is just
the beginning of our walk with God. In Hebrews 11:9-10 we
learn that Abraham also developed a long-term faith in God based on promises,
not commands. It’s one thing to have faith to obey a command; it’s another
thing to have faith that waits patiently on God to fulfill his promises, never
knowing when (or even if they will be fulfilled in your lifetime. If “obeying” faith doesn’t develop into
“staying” faith, our walk with God will be a constant struggle. And then in Hebrews
11:17-19 we see evidence of an even deeper faith, a faith willing to sacrifice
everything for God, a faith that will hold nothing back, even his one and only
son. Now we can truly say, “WOW!!” Right before our eyes we witness faith
developing from obeying a command to patiently waiting on the promise to a
willingness to sacrifice the most important thing in life. It’s great to have
enough faith to obey God’s commands.
It’s greater to develop a faith that trusts God to fulfill his future
promises when he chooses. But it’s the
greatest faith of all to be willing to sacrifice everything you have because
you trust God so much. |
- Joe Chesser preaches for
the Fruitland Church of Christ, Fruitland, MO. He may be contacted
at joeandareva@yahoo.com
|