[Biblemat] Walking in the Light (2/11/07)

Sun Feb 11 15:11:47 CST 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)

February 11, 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:

"Oldness or Newness of Life?" (Richard Thetford)

"Where Should We Be Looking?" (Richard Thetford)

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OLDNESS OR NEWNESS OF LIFE?

Richard Thetford

Are we walking in the oldness or newness of life? When we became a Christian
we were born again (John 3:3). When being born again would that make us new
or old? When we think of a newborn baby we think of a new born, not an old
born. The baby has received newness of life. When a Christian is baptized
they are "born again" which would make them new. I ask the question because
as a Christian we should be walking in "newness of life" not in oldness of
life. A baby isn't born old and a Christian isn't born doing the old things.

Yet, I know Christians that after baptism, have taken up doing the old
things of life. A truly converted individual that wears the name Christian
understands that to be "born again" means to start fresh, to be obedient to
the commands of Jesus Christ.

Dead To Sin - Living In Sin?

The apostle Paul asks some questions in Romans 6. He first asks: "What shall
we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?"  Grace will
only abound when we strive to live our lives righteously before God. Sin is
a transgression of the law of God (1 John 3:4). Paul then asks: "How shall
we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?" When we are born of God
we do not sin. The seed of righteousness dwells within us when we are
baptized (born again), and therefore if we are born new then our old ways
are dead and we now live a new life for Christ (1 John 3:9).

Once we die to sin then we can no longer live in sin. Yet some want to
resurrect the old self and make it live in their Christian body. A true
disciple of Christ will NOT do this because they understand that to die to
something means it is no longer living!

The Newness Of Life

The apostle Paul points out that our oldness of life, our sins, can no
longer live as he describes how we are "born again" in Romans 6:3-4. "Know
ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized
into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that
like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even
so we also should walk in newness of life." Our old life was buried when we
became baptized into Christ. All of our sins were washed away (Acts 22:16),
our old life is now dead. Then as we rise up out of the watery grave of
baptism we are "born again", a new babe in Christ and as Christ was raised
from the grave we too shall walk as a new creature wanting only to obey the
will of God our Father!

Planted In The Likeness

If we are planted in the likeness of His death, we shall also be in the
likeness of His resurrection (Rom 6:5). Paul points out that once we
understand that our old man has been killed, as Christ was crucified, then
now we can serve Christ and sin no longer. We can only live with Christ when
we are planted in the likeness of His resurrection (Rom 6:6-8). 

Let Sin Reign No More!

When we put on Christ (Gal 3:26-27), and wear His name (Christian), we are
taking on a big responsibility. Our mortal bodies must no longer obey the
lusts of sin or yield our members as instruments of unrighteousness (Rom
6:12-13). We are going to be held accountable for our deeds (Rom 2:6), and
therefore we must ensure that we are living our life for God and ensure that
our old life of sin has been forever buried! We need to take a good hard
look at ourselves - can others see that our oldness of life has been
crucified with Christ, and we are now living in newness of life as a
Christian? "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal
life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Rom 6:23).

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WHERE SHOULD WE BE LOOKING?

Richard Thetford

All too often we have a tendency to look back on what we have done or
haven't done instead of concentrating on the future. We are told to
"...remember lot's wife. Whoever seeks to save his life shall lose it, and
whoever loses his life shall preserve it" (Luke 17:28-33). Jesus is making a
serious point here. Lot's wife had a longing for that which she had left,
consequently she was overtaken and consumed. Her trust was not in her God,
but the things of the world. Do we have this trouble today? Sometimes
"looking back" may simply be filling our lives up with "good" things while
neglecting God that gave those things to us. "No man, having put his hand to
the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God" (Luke 9:62). We
all should be looking forward and running toward God! The Hebrew writer
tells us to run with endurance the race that is set "before" us, looking to
Jesus (Hebrews 12:1-2). We must realize that everything we do as we follow
Jesus is another step in our race to our eternal victory! When you feel
enticed by the world - remember Lot's wife. Let's press on toward heaven!

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SERMONS

The Confession of Our Faith (with PowerPoint Charts)

Christian Characteristics - Knowledge (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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