[Biblemat] Walking in the Light (4/8/07)

Sun Apr 8 16:24:30 CDT 2007

Walking in the Light

"For with You is the fountain of life; In Your light we see light."
"The entrance of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the
simple." 

"But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with
one another...."
(Psalm 36:9; 119:130; 1 John 1:7a)

April 8, 2007

www.thetfordcountry.com <http://www.thetfordcountry.com/> 

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INFORMATION: My WEB Site  <http://www.thetfordcountry.com/>
www.thetfordcountry.com has just been updated to include the articles and
sermons listed below. All the sermons posted each week to my web site are in
.pdf format.  The PowerPoint charts are also included with ALL the sermons
that are posted to the web site. To access the sermons page, visit the site
and click on "Richard's Page" and then click on "sermons." Please visit the
"Reference Works" links page for updated links to various Bible study
resources. If you are a newcomer to the area or wanting information
concerning the Valley church of Christ here in Grand Junction, Colorado,
then click on the Valley church of Christ Web Site,
<http://www.valleychurchofchrist.net/> www.valleychurchofchrist.net. Thank
you for visiting my web site and as always, your comments are welcome. 

If you know of someone that would like to receive the "Walking in the Light"
electronic bulletin each week, please send an e-mail message to
<mailto:Richard at Thetfordcountry.com> Richard at Thetfordcountry.com  with their
name and e-mail address and I will add them to the list.

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CONTENTS:

"Remembering His Resurrection Annually?" (Richard Thetford)

"Where Did You Get Faith?" (Richard Thetford)

"Sadly, Some Choose Not To Obey" (Richard Thetford)

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REMEMBERING HIS RESURRECTION ANNUALLY?

Richard Thetford

The calendar reads "Easter Sunday." As a result, many people throughout the
world will be attending the "church of their choice" to remember the
resurrection of Jesus. It won't be the "normal" service, but rather a
"special" service of remembering the resurrection of our Lord that no doubt
will include different plays, skits, and dramas. The world calls this day
"Easter Sunday", the day of our Lord's resurrection from the grave. But is
it really?

I don't recall reading anywhere in the Bible of the day nor the special
celebration of the resurrection mentioned. Yet many "good intentioned
people", honestly believing that they are commemorating the resurrection of
Christ, celebrate this "holy day" having no biblical authority whatsoever
for the practice. Because of tradition, most people today believe that
Easter has always been observed from apostolic times and is authorized in
the scriptures. But how could they get such an idea?

There is an unfortunate translation in the King James Version of the New
Testament which has, perhaps, led some astray. The Greek, PASCHA, is
translated by the word, "Easter" in Acts 12:4. This same word is properly
translated in other versions and in every other passage where it is used in
the King James Version, as Passover. Undoubtedly it was mistranslated here
in Acts. And even if the word was properly translated, there is still no
authority here for the observance of anything. That is why "Easter" as we
know it is celebrated without proper Bible authority. The text of Acts 12:4
was in regard to the apostle Peter when he was put into prison during the
days of Unleavened Bread or "Passover" as the NKJV, ASV, NASV, & NIV
indicates. It is obvious that this passage of scripture is referring to the
seven-day Passover festival. There is no place indicated in the New
Testament that a "yearly" celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ
was ever practiced. Yet today, thousands of people remember Him only this
one day per year and they make it a grand festival.

Where Did Easter Come From Anyway?

The word "Easter" is derived from the Anglo-Saxon word "Eostre," the name of
the goddess of Spring. Sacrifices were offered in her honor at the first
full moon that came at the time of the vernal equinox. By the 8th century,
the term came to be applied to the anniversary of Christ's resurrection
(ISBE, Vol 2, page 6). There has been much controversy about the time of
this celebration. The Jewish Christians and Gentiles could not agree on a
set date. But as time passed an increasing number of people celebrated the
anniversary of the resurrection on the first day of the week annually. By
the 7th century the practice of religious groups had become universally
uniform. The agreed upon time is now the first Sunday following the full
moon that comes on or after the vernal equinox and that date was set as
March 21st. This is why there is a variation in Easter dates from March 22nd
through April 25th. There has even been talk among the different religions
as setting the date permanently on one Sunday between March 21st and April
25th.

The Proper Remembrance Of Jesus

I've filled you in on the history of this word "Easter" so that you will
understand that it originated as a pagan holiday festival and later became a
yearly festival to remember the resurrection of Christ among different
religious groups across the world.

The Lord's church does not celebrate "Easter." Members of the Lord's church
celebrate the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ on the first
day of every week as we are instructed in the New Testament. We can turn to
the book of Acts and read: "Now on the first day of the week, when the
disciples came together to break bread..." (Acts 20:7). We have an approved
example from this text that lets every Christian know when one is to partake
of the emblems which represent Christ's shed body for us. It says the first
day of the week. It does not say "The first day of the week, once a year!"
In 1 Corinthians 11:23-29, we can further understand the significance of
this memorial feast that we partake of weekly. We learn that it represents
the body and blood of Jesus and it says: "For as often as you eat this bread
and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes." Again, how
often should a Christian eat the bread and drink the cup? The first day of
the week! There are many religious denominations out there today that do not
partake of the Lord's Supper once per week. Some will do it bi-monthly,
others monthly, still others just once or twice per year. Any individual
that is striving to do "all the oracles of God" (1 Pet 4:11), must
understand that God sets the standard (rules) that we must go by today - not
man (Acts 5:29). The New Testament is our standard. I urge you to examine
the Bible, and then look at what you may be practicing in your religion, and
then determine whether it is from God or from man.

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WHERE DID YOU GET FAITH?

Richard Thetford

I can't help but wonder with so many religious bodies in the world today
"how did one get their faith?" Does one practice their religion and belong
to their respective church because their parents did? Or is it because their
best friend, neighbor, or a relative attends there? Often times this is the
case. In many cases one cannot even explain to another why they believe the
things they practice in their particular religion. So, where did one gain
their faith? Did your faith come from the Bible, or was it passed down to
you? The inspired word of God tells us that "faith cometh by hearing, and
hearing by the word of God" (Rom 10:17). The only way one can gain Bible
faith is by listening to what God has said. And the only way one can listen
to what God has said is to READ His word! The Hebrew writer tells us:
"without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God
must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently
seek him" (Heb 11:6). We learn what God has said through His word, which
gives us Bible Faith! Are you practicing your religion by faith in God or
faith in man?

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SADLY SOME CHOOSE NOT TO OBEY

Richard Thetford

Jeremiah records in Jeremiah 6:16: "Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the
ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk
therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not
walk therein." When reading this passage of scripture you are probably
saying to yourself "I can't believe that these people would have the nerve
to come right out and say that they will NOT walk in the paths of
righteousness". Yet many today might as well be proclaiming the same thing!
Many CHOOSE NOT to walk in God's way and as a result will suffer the eternal
punishment (2 Thes 1:7-9). As the Lord promised rest for their souls if they
would walk in His way long ago, Jesus promises rest for our souls if we will
obey Him today. In Matthew 11:28-29 He says: "Come unto me, all ye that
labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you,
and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest
unto your souls."  Won't you obey Jesus and come into His eternal rest?

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SERMONS

THE SOULS OF HELL'S ETERNITY (with PowerPoint Charts)

CHRISTIAN CHARACTERISTICS: BROTHERLY KINDNESS (with PowerPoint Charts)

Sermons can viewed at my web site:  <http://www.thetfordcountry.com/>
www.thetfordcountry.com

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Valley

CHURCH OF CHRIST

Meets at:
491 Sparn Street
Grand Junction, CO   81504
(970) 245-5112

 <http://www.valleychurchofchrist.net/> www.valleychurchofchrist.net

ASSEMBLY SCHEDULE

SUNDAY
Bible Study..................9:45 A.M.
Morning Worship.......10:45 A.M.
Evening Worship.........5:00 P.M.

WEDNESDAY
Bible Study..................7:00 P.M.

Evangelist
Richard Thetford

Building: (970) 245-5112
Home:     (970) 314-7261

E-Mail:  <mailto:Richard at Thetfordcountry.com> Richard at Thetfordcountry.com

Web Site:  <http://www.thetfordcountry.com/> www.thetfordcountry.com

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Richard Thetford

E-Mail:  <mailto:Richard at Thetfordcountry.com> Richard at Thetfordcountry.com

1918 Barberry Court, Grand Junction, CO  81506

Home: (970) 314-7261

Please visit my web site:  <http://www.thetfordcountry.com>
www.thetfordcountry.com

Evangelist, Valley church of Christ

 <http://www.valleychurchofchrist.net> www.valleychurchofchrist.net

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