[Biblemat] Walking in the Light (4/29/07)

Sun Apr 29 15:14:34 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 29, 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:

"The Day of the Lord" (Richard Thetford)

"Can Faith Alone Save Us?" (Richard Thetford)

"The Forgiveness of Sin" (Richard Thetford)

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THE DAY OF THE LORD

Richard Thetford

Peter, the apostle, writes some words which each one of us should take to
heart. In 2 Peter 3:9-11 he writes: "The Lord is not slack concerning His
promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not
willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. But
the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens
will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent
heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.
Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons
ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness." In these verses Peter
encourages each and every one of us to repent and live our lives here on
this earth in holy conduct and godliness. Why? Because there will come a
time that no man knows, when the Lord will return. When the Lord does
return, we better be ready or we'll burn in eternity. Let's look at some key
points concerning "the day of the Lord."

How Do We Know "the day" Will Come?

Every Bible student knows that "the day of the Lord" will come simply
because God said so. In 1 Thessalonians 5:1-3 the apostle Paul wrote: "But
concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I
should write to you. For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the
Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, "Peace and
safety!" then sudden destruction comes upon them." Peter said that the day
of the Lord would come in 2 Peter 3:10 and Jesus Himself told us: "But know
this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would
come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into.
Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do
not expect" (Matt 24:43-44). We learn from these scriptures that the day of
the Lord will come but no man knows when it will come.

What Will Happen When "the day" Comes?

It should be plain by Peter's explanation of the event that this means that
the end of the world is taking place. When the earth is melted with fervent
heat all will be destroyed. But what will happen to those that are righteous
in the sight of God? The inspired writer Paul said: "deliver such a one to
Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the
day of the Lord Jesus" (1 Cor 5:5). Those that are in sin should be made
aware of their sin, that it is lawlessness to God (1 John 3:4). Being aware
of sin (Rom 3:23), man must make themselves right before God so when the day
of the Lord happens we can be saved. Truly there will be some that will
rejoice when the Lord returns. In Paul's letter to the Philippians he said:
"holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ
that I have not run in vain or labored in vain" (Phil 2:16). If we will
strive to be obedient to the Word of the Lord while we live, then we can
rejoice when Christ returns because we know that we have obeyed His Will
(Matt 7:21).

How Should We Be Found When "the day" Comes?

If we are living as we should be living in holy conduct and godliness then
we should be found looking forward to Christ's second coming. "looking for
and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens
will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent
heat? Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a
new earth in which righteousness dwells" (2 Pet 3:12-13). If we are walking
in the light we have nothing to fear. However if we should be walking in
darkness, which has NO fellowship with the light, then we better be
concerned. If we are in darkness the day of the Lord will come upon us as a
thief. Paul said: "But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day
should overtake you as a thief" (1 Thes 5:4). True disciples, lovers of
Christ, will be ready for Jesus! Each Christian should possess a genuine
desire to be found in favor with God when His Son returns. When we are
walking in the light, favorably toward God then we will glory when the day
of the Lord comes upon us.

How Can We Be Found Obedient When "the day" Comes?

For us to be ready to meet the Lord on His return we must prepare right now!
We must get rid of sin in our life and be determined to follow the ways of
the Lord. In Romans 12:1-2 it says: "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by
the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy,
acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed
to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may
prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." We must
understand that heaven is the MOST important goal to obtain in our life.
Understanding this, then how should we act? What must we do? We must
transform ourselves, having our mind set on things above, not on things of
the earth (Col 3:2). We must constantly live in such a way that we approve
of only those things that are good and acceptable to God. Paul said that we
"Test all things; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil"
(1 Thes 5:21-22). The Christian must live their life in such a way as to
show others that they are determined to live for Christ and not for man. The
alien sinner, those not IN CHRIST, must get In Christ to be saved. The way
to get IN Christ is through baptism (Gal 3:27). If you are not IN Christ why
not do so today? "Repent and be baptized for the remission of sins" so you
can be saved when "the day of the Lord" comes!

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CAN FIATH ALONE SAVE US?

Richard Thetford

The best Bible definition of faith is found in Hebrews 11:1 which says: "Now
faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not
seen". One that has faith in God will long for the hope of everlasting life
with Him based on all the Bible evidence that tells us what we must do to
gain everlasting life. When one truly has faith in God's word one will then
carry out God's commandments. Noah had faith and as a result of his faith he
built the ark. Abraham had faith and as a result of his faith he offered
Isaac to be sacrificed. These men did this because their faith in God moved
them to do what God expected or commanded them to do. Would they have
demonstrated total faith in God if they had not followed through with what
God asked them to do? In James 2:14,17 we read: "What doeth it profit, my
brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save
him? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone". Noah's and
Abraham's actions were a demonstration of their faith. Our faith today is in
like manner demonstrated by our actions. Therefore, can faith alone save us?

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THE FORGIVENESS OF SIN

Richard Thetford

It is a fact of life that man is going to sin (Rom 3:23). Knowing this, and
the fact that if we die in our sins we will die eternally (Rom 6:23), we
should eagerly want to seek forgiveness of our sins. Only God can forgive
our sins (Micah 7:18). God has made provision for forgiveness of sins. In
Acts 5:31 it says: "Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince
and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins."
The way to get forgiveness of sins has been revealed by God through
scripture. In Acts 2:38 the inspired apostle Peter said: "...Repent, and be
baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of
sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." How do we get
forgiveness of sins? By repenting (turning our life around, determined to
serve God), and being baptized. God is always ready to forgive us of sin.
But the problem usually is that we are not ready to turn to God, seeking
forgiveness. Can you admit that you have sinned and need God's forgiveness?
If so, why not repent and be baptized for forgiveness of your sins?

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SERMONS

THE ALIEN SINNER AND MARRIAGE (with PowerPoint Charts)

ATTITUDES TOWARD ERROR AND SIN (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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