[Biblemat] Walking in the Light (2/25/07)

Sun Feb 25 15:53:52 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 25, 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:

"Am I Forsaking?" (Jarrod Jacobs)

"A Threefold Salvation" (Richard Thetford)

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AM I FORSAKING?

Jarrod Jacobs

Hebrews 10:23-25 is a passage well-known among those who love the Lord and
have respect for the truth. As the inspired writer was arguing the case for
Christ, and how He is "better" than angels, Moses, and all other things that
had come before, he had to also encourage those brethren to continue in
their duties to the Lord. They had been persecuted and treated cruelly. Yet,
if they remained faithful, they were promised, "in heaven a better and an
enduring substance" (Heb 10:34). Among the things the persecuted Christians
were encouraged to do was, "Let us hold fast the profession (confession,
NKJ, ASV) of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)
And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not
forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is;
but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day
approaching" (Heb 10:23-25).

Sometimes when folks read Hebrews 10:25, we forget that this statement is
actually a part of a longer statement which started in verse 23. When we
read the entire sentence, we see that "not forsaking the assembling of
ourselves together" is the result of holding fast our confession without
wavering, and provoking one another to love and good works. When we forsake
the assembling of ourselves together, we become wavering in our faith, and
our absence will not provoke one another to love and good works!

"I Am Not Forsaking!"

Those guilty of this sin may say that they do not deny the words of
Scripture, but they deny that they are guilty of sin. I have often heard,
"Just because I do not come to church, does not mean I am forsaking." To me,
this is tantamount to a student telling his teacher, "Just because I wasn't
here at school yesterday, doesn't mean I was absent."

To "forsake" means, "to leave behind, desert" (Strong's). Mr. Vine says the
word "forsake" comes from the Greek word "enkataleipo," and means, "to leave
behind . abandon, leave in straits, helpless" (Vine's Complete Expository
Dictionary, p. 252). For those who say their absence is not an abandonment,
remember that we have brethren responsible for "duty lists" in each
assembly. Ask them how many times they have been left in "straits" because
certain ones forsook the assembling of ourselves together in "just one
service"!

Some may respond that just because they are not assembled with the saints
does not mean they have forsaken, because they have not "abandoned God."
Friend, if being absent when one could be here is not an abandoning, then
what is it? When one decides to stay home and not be present with the Lord's
people, to hold fast his confession, and to provoke one another to love and
good works, how can it be anything but abandonment? When a father or mother
refuses to come home on certain days, have they not abandoned their family?
Even if it is "only" for a night or two, have they not abandoned their
family when they simply do not come home with no explanation or excuse, and
expect all to be "normal" the next time they enter the house? Some may
protest their "abandoning God" and may say they "love God," but remember
Hebrews 10:25 speaks of not forsaking our "assembling together." One who
willfully absents himself has abandoned the work! There is no other way to
say it except, "Yes, you have forsaken"! It is evident we have
double-standards when comparing our behavior in religion with our behavior
at other times. How foolish!

What My Forsaking Did

When Christians forsake (abandon, leave in straits, or helpless) an
assembling of the saints, it is not without consequences. These consequences
are felt not only by the one who sinned in contradicting God's command, but
it is also felt by the innocent "bystanders" (brethren). In what way are
these consequences felt? Please read the following.

Christians are told to sing praises to God, and to teach one another in song
(Eph 5:19; Col 3:16). One place this singing takes place is in the assembly
(Col 3:16; Heb 2:12). How can I take part in praise to God and the
instruction to one

another if I am not here?

In our assembling, prayers are offered to which those participating say,
"Amen." Simply put, when a man says "Amen," it means, "Let it be so." He is
stating that he wants the petition in prayer to take place according to the
Lord's will. If I absent myself from these assemblies, then how can I say
"Amen" to the prayers? When one prays for the spiritual health and strength
of this congregation, I cannot say, "Let it be so." All my protests to the
contrary will never take away the impression felt when folks notice my
"empty seat" and become discouraged.

My forsaking the assembling of the saints declares to folks that I consider
Christ's blood as unclean (ALT), profane (ESV), unholy (KJV, ASV), or common
(YLT). (See: Heb 10:29) Why do I say this? It is because Christ died for us,
and His blood purchased His church (Acts 20:28). Therefore, when a group of
Christians (redeemed by His blood, Matt 26:28) of which I am a member,
assemble as the church in a certain locality, my forsaking that assembling
actually shows my wrong thinking toward the very blood of Christ! He died so
that we can be forgiven and worship Him. How can I abandon or leave helpless
this group of God's people, and at the same time claim to love them and be
one of them?

Please read Hebrews 10:23-25. My forsaking did not provoke anyone to love
and good works! In fact, my absence is quite discouraging to folks who are
looking for me! In my absence, I was not here to encourage anyone.
Therefore, edification is absent when I purposely absent myself from the
assembling of the saints. The Thessalonians had many problems, but one thing
that impressed the apostle was their edifying spirit. He said, "Wherefore
comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do" (1
Thes 5:11). Am I edifying brethren as I should when I willingly absent
myself from the assembling of the saints? (See: James 4:17)

What Of Sicknesses, Injuries, Etc.?

Are there times when a Christian can be absent and yet not be guilty of the
sin of "forsaking"? Absolutely! God even provided for such possibilities in
the Old Testament (Num 9:6-11). Examples today include that one could be
sick at home, or in the hospital for some reason. Perhaps, we are well, but
need to care for a sick loved one, thus we cannot assemble at a certain
time. There might be an emergency at work, etc. Such circumstances change,
and we again assemble as soon as we can. Yes, there are "chronic" health
problems, too. In these cases, we deal with them as best we can, remembering
our first duty is to God (Matt 6:33; John 14:15; Acts 5:29).

The above reasons for being absent are far different from the spiritual
problems we observe when someone consciously absents himself because he
doesn't like something or someone, or he thinks he doesn't need the
brethren, etc. When such is the case, I am reminded of Hebrews 10:23-24, and
the need for faithfulness and caring for others to provoke them to love and
good works. These statements then lead us to the command to not forsake the
assembling of ourselves together as is said in Hebrews 10:25.

Conclusion

I do not think it is a coincidence that immediately after saying we need to
"hold fast" our confession, and need to provoke one another to love and good
works, through not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, the Holy
Spirit then speaks of sinning willfully! He says, "For if we sin willfully
after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no
more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and
fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. He that despised
Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: Of how much
sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden
under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant,
wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the
Spirit of grace?" (Heb 10:26-29). That sounds serious to me!

I have sat with brethren who literally cried because their physical
condition prevented them from assembling to worship God with the saints.
Such ones often ask for prayers, and express their gratefulness when
brethren come to visit. I have also sat and argued with some brethren over
whether they "had to" assemble "every time". After all, they say, they have
not "abandoned." They just don't think they need to be present every time!
They were not happy to see me, and any tears that were shed were often my
own after observing such obstinance.

What kind of spirit do you possess, friend? Are we forsaking? If so, repent
today before it is too late! (2 Cor 6:2)

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A THREEFOLD SALVATION

Richard Thetford

In 1 Timothy 4:10 we read "For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach,
because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially
of those that believe". We strive to do our best for the Lord because we
know that we have been blessed with a threefold salvation. The three
salvations are from the grave (John 5:28), past sins (Matt 1:21), and
eternal life (Heb 5:9; 1 Pet 1:5). But these salvations have terms. The
salvation from the grave is an unconditional salvation (John 5:29). To gain
salvation from past sins requires us to hear the gospel of our Lord and to
persevere in these things (1 Tim 4:16). We must also have faith (Mark 16:16;
Acts 16:31), repent of our past sins (2 Cor 7:10), confess Jesus as being
the Son of God (Rom 10:9-10), and as an act of our obedience to keep all the
commandments of the Lord we then are to be baptized INTO Jesus Christ (Mark
16:16; 1 Pet 3:21). The third term of salvation is a life long commitment of
obedience to Christ as we can see in Hebrews 5:9. We need to always hold
fast to the Word of God (1 Cor 15:1-2). Salvation has terms that go with it.
Are you keeping the terms of God's commandments?

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SERMONS

Calling Black Black and White White (with PowerPoint Charts)

Christian Characteristics - Self-Control (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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