[Biblemat] Hilliard Bulletin for October 2007
GLClair at aol.com
GLClair at aol.com
Tue Oct 2 21:23:08 CDT 2007
HILLIARD BULLETIN
Published by the church of Christ
4840 Cemetery Road – P.O. Box 96 – Hilliard, OH 43026
Phone: (614) 876-4089
ELDERS:
Owen Gary Brewer – (614) 832-2569
John Buchanan – (614) 893-3277
Preacher & Editor: Garreth L. Clair
Phone: (614) 850-7252
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Volume 9 Number 10
October 2007
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AS TIME PASSES
[i.e. THE LATTER DAYS]
TEXT:
1 Timothy 4:1-2 (ASV)
“1 But the Spirit saith expressly, that in later times some shall fall away
from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons,
2 through the hypocrisy of men that speak lies, branded in their own
conscience as with a hot iron;” ASV
1 Timothy 4:1-3 (ESV)
1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from
the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons,
2 through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared,
INTRODUCTION:
The phrase ‘In the last days’ or in the latter days’ and similar phrases in
the New Testament may refer to several events or specific occurrences. The
passage here in 1st Timothy surely refers to the last dispensation and events
that will occur during that period of time. These last days in the text
surely mean that period of time beginning with the establishment of the church or
the destruction of Jerusalem. It is my opinion that this period covers the
time from Pentecost of Acts 2 until the resurrection and judgment at the last
Day.
REFERENCE:
I. IN THE LAST DAYS FROM Acts 2:17, “And it shall be in the last
days, saith God, I will pour forth of my Spirit upon all flesh: And your sons
and your daughters shall prophesy, And your young men shall see visions, And
your old men shall dream dreams:” ASV
NOTE: Surely this refers to the establishment of the church on Pentecost day
{Acts 2:1-47}.
SEVERAL EVENTS ARE TO OCCUR [i.e. possibly over and over with each
generation].
THESE THINGS WILL HAPPEN “… in later times”
1. Some [people] will fall away from the truth. This does not state
that they will abandon religion or that they will never go to a religious
service again, the passage says they will abandon the “TRUTH”.
THE CONSEQUENCE OF LEAVING THE TRUTH IS SERIOUS:
A. Without truth on cannot be free from sin – John 8:32, “and ye
shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” ASV
B. Without truth we cannot know God – 2 Tim 3:7, “ever learning, and
never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.” ASV
2. Some [people] will “… give heed to seducing spirits”
Many will be tricked by seducing philosophies originating in the mind of
fallible [i.e. mortal] men.
The Roman Pope – Calls himself “Holy Father” --- A title reserved for God –
cf. Matthew 23:9, “And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is
your Father, which is in heaven.” KJV
3. Some will follow the “… doctrines of demons,”
***** Some people will follow the devil’s advocates [i.e. Anton Lev –
church of satan], etc.
4. The promoters of false teaching or doctrines of demons will
deceive many through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared,
II. IN THE LAST DAYS FROM 2 Timothy 3:1-7,
“1 But know this, that in the last days grievous times shall come.2 For men
shall be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, haughty, railers,
disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 without natural affection,
implacable, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, no lovers of good,
4 traitors, headstrong, puffed up, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of
God;
5 holding a form of godliness, but having denied the power therefore. From
these also turn away. 6 For of these are they that creep into houses, and
take captive silly women laden with sins, led away by divers lusts, 7 ever
learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.” ASV
III. IN THE LAST DAYS FROM 2 Peter 3:3-4, “3 knowing this first, that
in the last days mockers shall come with mockery, walking after their own
lusts, 4 and saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for, from the day that
the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning
of the creation.” ASV
CONCLUSION:
These passages do not tell us about the timing of the judgment for no man
knows when that will be.
But these passages tell us about the continuing condition of people
generation after generation. For in this last dispensation of time some will come to
God on His terms and many will not.
So, what should we do in view of these facts about time and people’s
actions?
Rom 5:1-3, “1 Being therefore justified by faith, we have peace with God
through our Lord Jesus Christ;
2 through whom also we have had our access by faith into this grace wherein
we stand; and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
3 And not only so, but we also rejoice in our tribulations: knowing that
tribulation worketh steadfastness;” ASV
_glclair at aol.com_ (mailto:glclair at aol.com)
considermagazine.com
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Do not forget our GOSPEL MEETING taking place the first week of October
[i.e. October 7 - 12, 2007]. There will be different speakers each night during
the meeting, do plan to be with us each night. A meeting announcement is
inserted in this bulletin for your information.
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Some help with personal work assignments - WHAT IS PERSONEL WORK?
1. It is discussing the truth with a friend or neighbors either at your
home of their home.
2. It is giving someone you know a gospel tract.
3. It is telling your neighbor about the happiness you have found in
Christ.
4. It is inviting the mailman, the plumber or someone else to attend
services with you
5. It is picking up your phone to inquire about some member that has
not been in services for awhile.
6. It is setting up a regular Bible study in your home.
7. It is going from house to house inviting everyone to worship.
8. It is diligence in inviting friends to Gospel Meetings, etc.
9. It is feeling the need to help the lost understand their need of
Christ.
10. It is using your automobile to bring friends to services of the church.
11. It is consciously serving and glorifying God.
WORK FOR THE NIGHT IS COMING WHEN MAN WORKS NO MORE!
HOW IS UNITY POSSIBLE? - #3
As we finished lesson number 2 of this series it became evident that there
is much more to the subject of unity than we had first thought.
Unity is impossible unless religious minded people return to the attitude
that prevailed according to Gen 11:1-6, “1 And the whole earth was of one
language and of one speech. 2 And it came to pass, as they journeyed east, that
they found a plain in the land of Shinar. And they dwelt there. 3 And they
said one to another, Come, let us make brick, and burn them thoroughly. And they
had brick for stone, and slime had they for mortar. 4 And they said, Come,
let us build us a city, and a tower, whose top (may reach) unto heaven, and let
us make us a name. Lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole
earth. 5 And Jehovah came down to see the city and the tower, which the
children of men builded. 6 And Jehovah said, Behold, they are one people, and they
have all one language. And this is what they begin to do. And now nothing
will be withholden from them, which they purpose to do.” ASV
CONSIDER THIS:
As we can observe by reading the account of the construction of the tower of
Babel, whenever mankind unites in such a way as to cause all of the people
to have one mind and one desire [i.e. hope], great accomplishments will
follow. Indeed, these people united to build a tower to heaven – perhaps thinking
that they could go to the place where God exist. Of course this was impossible
but God saw a wicked streak in the people He had created. Apparently God
understood that the kind of unity that these people possessed was contrary to
HIS WILL; consequently he made a decision to stop this kind of unity –--
unauthorized unity for an unauthorized project.
>From these facts we may deduct that man cannot attain to unity of religion
until a decision is reached by all to work toward unity with one heart.
Whenever people unite they could perhaps attain to unity but the history of mankind
since the tower of Babel indicates that they will not as a whole people
appeal to GOD for instruction pertaining to God approved matters.
IS IT POSSIBLE FOR 21st Century man to agree whole heartily on acceptance
of the BIBLE [i.e. the Written Word of God], in all things religious with one
accord.
I do not know if this is possible! Man has proven himself in past history to
be stubborn and hard-headed when dealing with God’s Word [i.e.
instructions]. Since God does not speak from a smoking mountain and does not communicate
directly with man [example, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, etc] but
communicates with mankind today through His Written Word it require all men of all
nations to accept this BOOK [i.e. the BIBLE] as a standard in all religious
questions. Until all of those seeking religion’s unity come to the Bible as the
only rule of faith and practice there can never be a return to the Tower of
Babel type of unity [i.e. where the people are of one mind]. glclair at aol.com
….. Hilliard Bulletin – October 2007 …..
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