[Biblemat] The Messenger Vol 002 Iss 007

[T. Sean Sullivan]

The Messenger

Published Weekly by Main Street Church of Christ

306 West Main Street, Newbern, TN 38059   731-627-3514



bibleanswers at charter.net                                    www.mainstreetchurchofchrist.org

 

Bulletin Editor: T. Sean Sullivan

 

VOLUME TWO::ISSUE 007::February 18, 2007  

 

ARTICLE ONE: God Expects Love from A Good Conscience Pt.2

ARTICLE TWO: Wishful Thinking

 

 

God Expects Love From A Good Conscience Pt.2

 

 

We are continuing to look at the expectations of our Creator-God. Our main passage, 1 Timothy 1:5, tells us that God's commands were given for the purpose of generating love from pure hearts, good consciences, and faith that are sincere. Our last article was focused on, "Love From A Good Conscience" and the elimination of guilt in order to make our conscience good. This article, let's consider together another part of a good conscience. Instead of looking back concerning guilt we need to consider the things ahead that cause worry.  

 

Again, for sake of clarity, what is a conscience? Your conscience is your personal awareness: Your awareness of right and wrong; the center of feelings within each of us that allows us to realize things like remorse or sorrow, even joy and peace. Our main scripture declares that we are expected to have a good conscious. Many things can clog our conscience, let's consider a major problem that many of us have, or may yet, encounter in our lives. We must also learn how we remedy the problem.

 

We must remedy the problem of conscience clogging "worry".  By worry I don't mean: Concern, caution, carefulness, or apprehension. These things are usually wise and keep us out of trouble. The worry that I want to deal with this evening can be defined with words like: Fretting, anxiety, agonizing, stewing. We have all been there, at one time or another, haven't we? We have all had something that is just out of our reach and we worry if we will have it, or not. Please open your Bibles and follow through these thoughts with me as we consider: Love from good conscience.

 

We Can Clog Our Conscience With Worry:

 

Worry can be a big battle and can affect us mentally, physically and spiritually. Worry is a consuming notion and it can keep us from living up to our ability and the expectations of God. 

There are some things will inevitably cause worry: We worry about money: Some of us simple shudder at an unexpected bill or those three little letters-IRS.  As with any other worry: It is usually what we don't know that worries us the most. We worry about maintaining our lifestyle. Worry is not exclusive to the rich or the poor. We worry about maintaining our lives at our present level. We know that we are responsible for providing for our own (1 Timothy 5:8) so sometimes we worry that we will fail in that responsibility.

Certainly many also worry about our health, which is ironically very unhealthy. Many things can cause our minds to be occupied by worry.

 

Does Worrying Make Anything Better?

 

Think for a moment how many times you have worried. How many times have you been consumed with worry, for what every reason? Now, take a deep breath and let it out slowly. Did you see that? You are still breathing. You are still alive and all of that paralyzing worry has amounted a waste of your time, hasn't it? 

 

Jesus tells us about the uselessness of worry in Matthew 6:25-27 "Which one of you can add one cubit to your stature for worrying?" Again the scripture declare to each of us, "Be anxious for nothing." (Philippians 4:6).  In other words worry has never changed a thing. By worrying you 

cannot change what will happen tomorrow; by worrying you only accomplish the wasting away the day today. 

 

How Can I Reduce Worry?

 
In one word-trust, you must have deep set unwavering trust.  Trust God: Paul makes a blanket declaration concerning God's trustworthiness three separate times in his writings by stating, "God is faithful" (1 Corinthians 1:9, 10:13, 2 Corinthians 1:18). Our Creator-God- will never let us down (Numerous examples O.T. and N.T). 

 

To battle the worry monster go to the scriptures: Consider the thoughts of Romans 8:31-39. If you truly believe what Paul is saying you will fearlessly trust God and quickly relieve yourself of needless worry. Things that cause worry for most people should not at all worry God's faithful. To win the battle, go to God: Draw near to Him through prayer (Philippians 4:6-7; 1 Peter 5:7). Take your worries (your cares) to Him and leave them there. 

 

Christianity is not free from worry. We do however have the advantage of knowledge and understanding. We understand that God is over the world. He created us (Acts 1:26-28), He sustains us (Matthew 5:45), He started time, He will end time (Matthew 24:36; 2 Peter 3:10-12), and He will judge every soul (Acts 17:31). We should not be ignorant of the end and the judgment nor should we worry about that day (1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 "Awake, sober, waiting").

 

Conclusion: 

 

Worry cannot be completely eliminated, until faith is fully realized. We can follow the commands of God and rid ourselves of the worries that hinder our service. Worry is a crippling hindrance and will detract us from the service God deserves. I have heard it been said, "Every moment spent worrying about your life is a moment you didn't spend living." If your conscience is clogged with worry, cleanse it with trust: trust God. ~tss

 

Wishful Thinking

 

Man has "from the beginning" attempted to forego, ignore, or refuse God's will. It is interesting that God, who has continually revealed His expectations (Hebrews 1:1-2) and who has always let man know what He desires, can be so easily ignored by men. When mankind allows their egos to tell them that they know a better way, we begin to place our faith in wishes instead of the truth.

 

Consider Eve in Genesis 3. She knew God's law: "Do not eat the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden". Then she allowed her own perspectives to change her actions. She began to think that the fruit looked good. She imagined that such good-looking fruit must taste good. Her ego convinced her to think that she needed whatever it was that God was holding back from her by banning that fruit. So she set her faith on her own wish to change the rules and she found out that is not the way to please our Creator.

 

How often does mankind base their faith on wishful thinking instead of on the truth of the word of God? This morning let's look at a few examples of the wishful thinking that many today are basing their faith on. 

 

Men Wish That "Good" is "Good Enough"

 

How often have you heard others described as "good people"? "Oh they are a good person." This seems to be the set standard by which the world measures one's acceptability before God. We want to think that our individual good actions can merit our release from any punishment for wrongdoing. What is interesting about this description is that it is often given to one who has not followed the instructions of the Bible. 

 

What is the problem with this thought? It is not based on the truth about sin (Ezekiel 18:18-20; Romans 3:23). It is not based on the reality of sin's price (John 14:6; 1 Peter 1:17-21). It is self-righteousness not God's righteousness (Romans 10:1-3). 

 

God's perspective is that "good" is not good enough-man still needs the blood of Christ found through a full submission to the will of God (Acts 10:1-6; 47-48). We must do the will of the Father to be pleasing to Him (Matthew 7:21-23). 

 

Man Wishes "That Baptism Is Not Essential For Salvation"

 

One of the first things a denominational follower will blame us with is that we believe in "Water Salvation".  This is certainly not what we teach, although our teaching of the necessity of baptism is prevalent. Modern religious groups have mostly done away with baptism; they have adopted the false doctrine of "faith only" for salvation. Through misapplied scriptures they attempt to rationalize away the necessity of baptism for salvation. They instead offer some "prayer" or "statement of acceptance" that is suppose to bridge to cross over into salvation.

 

What is the problem with this thought? It is not based on the clear unmistakable teaching of many passages such as: Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:16; Romans 6:1-4; 1 Peter 3:21. It is not based on any example(s) of baptism found in any case of conversion found in the New Testament.         It disregards God's divine plan of salvation as delivered through His will.

 

God's perspective is that only those "in Christ" will be accepted. The only way to enter "into Christ" is through baptism (Romans 6:3; Galatians 3:27). Simple logic must prevail and it must therefore be understood that baptism is necessary for acceptance and salvation. 

 

Man Wishes That God's Love Cancelled Out Condemnation:

 

Often 1 John 4:8 is abused to the extent of saying, "God is a God love and not condemnation."  This is what many wish were true, and many continue to teach as true. Many believe that God will simply love everyone into that wonderful place called Heaven.                             . 



What is the problem with this thought? It goes against the long-standing actions of God. Genesis 3 God drove Adam and Eve out of the Garden as punishment for their sin. Genesis 6-9 God destroyed the earth and all of its people as punishment for their sin.

Both testaments record situations of punishment rendered for lack of obedience. It ignores direct teachings in regard to that great Day of Judgment: Matthew 7:21-23 those did not do the will of God were sent away. Matthew 25:31-46 all people will be separated righteous and unrighteous and those who are unrighteous will be sent away into everlasting punishment. 2 Corinthians 5:10 we must all appear before the judgment seat. 

 

God's Perspective is that He is certainly a God of Love who give to all "Life, breath, and all things" (Acts 17:24-25). But He also expects His creation to a willingly submit to His will (Acts 17:27-30). Because God has chosen a day in which He will judge all people in righteousness (Acts 17:31).

 

Conclusion:

 

The wishful thinking of mankind will likely not be stopped. Wishful thinking does not remove God ability to hold us responsible for our own sins.  Wishful thinking does not remove necessity of God's righteousness. Wishful thinking does not remove the necessity of doing all the things that God requires. 

The time to stop wishful thinking and start truth seeking is now. Romans 10:17 "Faith comes by hearing the word of God." Let's determine to base our faith on the solid ground of truth. You cannot wish your way into Heaven, but you can make your life right and be prepared to enter that wonderful place if you will submit to God's simple plan. ~tss

 

 

If you are enjoying The Messenger and you know someone else who would like to receive it. Please forward it to them or send me their email address and I will add it to the list.   Sean

 
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